Category Archives: boxing

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Greg Cohen Promotions Signs Undefeated Canadian Heavyweight Champion Mladen ‘Monster’ Miljas to a Promotional Contract

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Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of Canadian Heavyweight Champion Mladen “Monster” Miljas to a promotional contract.

 

 

 

Undefeated Miljas, a perfect 8-0, 8 KOs, stands an impressive 6’ 6” and weighs in around 240 lbs. The 25-year-old Mississauga, Ontario, native won the Canadian title last December with an upset two-round stoppage of long-time champion Dillon Carman.

 

 

 

Cohen, a well-established promoter in the sport, has worked with several world champions and gained a reputation for finding hidden gems like Miljas in boxing’s less-travelled areas.

 

 

 

“It feels great to sign with a real promoter,” said Miljas. “For a long time, I didn’t have anyone arranging my fights, so it feels really good having someone on my team now. I’d like to be active and fight every month if I can.”

 

 

 

Having had just 20 amateur fights (17-3) and eight pro fights, Miljas is still a work in progress, despite being national champion in a country that has produced several world champions including Matthew Hilton, Donny Lalonde and George Chuvalo. Canada is also where several other champions learned to box, including Arturo Gatti and Lennox Lewis.

 

 

 

“I did martial arts, starting when I was four and got in a lot of fights as a kid, so it comes naturally,” he explained. “I’ve always been a hard puncher. I was that kid nobody wanted to play sports with because I played too rough. I don’t have too much in-ring experience, so I’m still learning in every fight. I get better and better, so I want to learn as much as I can in the ring and get in with a good variety of opponents.”

 

 

 

Cohen says he’s impressed by Miljas’ accomplishment already and sees tremendous potential in a fighter that big who can punch.

 

 

 

“Mladen is working hard every day to reach his full potential,” said Greg Cohen. “He’s a giant with unbelievable power and a natural gift for fighting. For a fighter with less than 30 fights in his life to take out the Canadian champ of the last four years in under two rounds, that is an amazing achievement. We are going to keep him fighting as regularly as possible and help him develop into a new force in the division. Mladen has all the gifts you need.”

 

 

 

“It felt amazing,” said Miljas of winning the championship. “It shows you I’m on the right track so far. I like to put myself in the underdog position. It’s good when you can overcome adversity. I like proving people wrong. Everyone expects you to lose and you go out there and win it anyway. I want to win bigger and better titles now. I want world titles now!”

Bellator, boxing, FNU Combat Sports Show, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, wrestling

Fight Talk Unlimited DOUBLE Episode

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Tonight, Tom, Tony and Rich recapped the last two weeks of action in combat sports. Listen to the whole broadcast to catch up on all the major news and events that you missed and what’s coming up this weekend, too.

 

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing, UK Boxing

CARL FRAMPTON vs. LUKE JACKSON & TYSON FURY vs. FRANCESCO PIANETA PUBLIC WORKOUT PHOTOS FROM BELFAST

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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Begins At 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. on SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook andSHOWTIME Sports YouTube

 

Click HERE for photos; Credit: Chris Roberts/Frank Warren

 

BELFAST (August 15, 2018) – Former two-division champion Carl Frampton and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury worked out in front of the public and media for the final time ahead of their respective bouts this Saturday, August 18 live from Belfast, Northern Ireland on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel. Frampton’s opponent for the interim WBO featherweight title, undefeated Australian contender Luke Jackson, and Francesco Pianeta, Fury’s challenger in his second comeback fight, also worked out on Wednesday at Castle Court Shopping Centre in Belfast.

 

 

 

Studio coverage of SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from New York begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with host Brian Custer and Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood providing pre-and post-fight analysis. Live coverage from Windsor Park in Belfast, which will be provided by BT Sport, will begin with the Pianeta ring walk shortly after 3:30 p.m. ET. U.K. sportscaster John Rawling will call the action with Barry Jones providing analysis, and Ronald McIntosh conducting post-fight interviews for Fury-Pianeta. SHOWTIME will air an encore presentation later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (10 p.m. ET/PT).

 

 

 

On Saturday, approximately 30,000 fans are expected to witness the first boxing event at Windsor Park, an outdoor stadium and the home of Northern Irish football.

 

 

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, subscribe to the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

 

 

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

boxing

DEVIN HANEY PROMOTIONS GRANTED BOXING PROMOTER’S LICENCE IN CALIFORNIA

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Devin Haney Becomes The Youngest Promoter in Boxing History

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 15, 2018) – Devin Haney Promotions, the promotional company owned by undefeated WBC Youth and USBA Lightweight Champion, Devin “The Dream” Haney (19-0, 13 KOs), was just granted a boxing promoter’s license by the California State Athletic Department (CSAC).

 

 

 

At 19-Years old, Devin Haney, who was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, becomes the youngest promoter in boxing history.  With the approved application, Devin Haney Promotions is off to a good start and looking is forward to showcasing events in California.

 

 

 

“Getting approved for my promoter’s license in California is something I envisioned since I turned professional,” said an elated Devin Haney, who now lives in Las Vegas. “Devin Haney Promotions will start doing shows on a modest scale that will eventually lead to mega events.”

 

 

 

“I already have a couple of young hungry prospects on my roster and will be looking to sign other talented fighters as we march forward,” Haney continued. “I plan to showcase some of the best fighters in boxing.”

 

 

 

In his last fight, Haney looked sensational in his SHOWTIME debut, scoring a 9th round TKO against a worthy opponent in Mason Menard (33-3, 24 KOs), who many boxing insiders’ thought was going to give Devin problems.  Haney’s performance was electrifying, setting him up for another date on the network.

 

 

 

“We have some big news that will be announced soon,” Haney concluded. “With the partnerships my dad and I have garnered, Devin Haney Promotions will be taking boxing to whole new level.  I couldn’t do this without the help of my dad William, and the team he assembled around me.  Together we are going to the top.”

 

 

 

“All I can say is the future is bright for Devin Haney Promotions,” stated William Haney, who has been guiding his son’s career since he made his pro debut at age 17.  “Things are about to take off for everyone on the team, and boxing in California will be on the rise.”

boxing, Granite Chin

New “Homecoming” opponent for headliner “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera

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HOMECOMING
 
Featuring the return of 3-time, 2-division world champion
“El Gallo” JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA
 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018
The Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts
 
This Friday night at The Palladium in Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 15, 2018) – Three-time, two-division world champion “El Gallo” Jose Rivera has a new opponent for his comeback fight this Friday night in “Homecoming”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) in association with Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

 

 

 

The 45-year-old Rivera (41-6-1, 24 KOs), who was matched against Ruben “Modern Day Warrior” Galvan, didn’t find out until yesterday (Tuesday) that Galvan had broken a finger the night before. Texas veteran Larry “Slomoshun” Smith (10-37-1, 7 KOs) is the late replacement for Rivera in the eight-round main event.

 

 

 

“I am not a fan of late changes,” Rivera said, “but at this point it’s either that or no fight, and I’ve trained too hard not to fight.”

 

 

 

Rivera last fought in 2011, taking an eight-round decision over Paul Mpendo, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

 

 

 

The name of the event is “Homecoming” because five fighters in action are from Worcester, including three who’ve never fought there before as professionals.

 

 

 

Super middleweight Kendrick Ball, Jr. (9-1-2, 6 KOs) and junior middleweight Khiary Gray(15-4, 11 KOs), both promoted by CES Boxing, will be fighting at home in Worcester as pros for the first time in a pair of six-round bouts. Ball faces Mexican Fabian “El Lobo” Valdez (2-3) in the co-featured event, while Gray (15-4, 11 KOs) faces Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-33, 4 KOs), of Brockton, MA, in a rematch of a fight won by Gray.

 

 

 

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in four-round bouts are Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Engelberto “Guarura” Valenzuela (11-14, 3 KOs), Springfield’s (MA) pro-debuting featherweight Joshua Orta vs. Worcester’s Edwin Rosado (1-7-1, 1 KO), Worcester’s pro-debuting welterweight Eslih Owusu.vs. Bryan “The Brick” Abraham (6-30-2, 6 KOs) and Springfield, MA welterweight Jose Angel “KO” Ortiz (4-13-1, 1 KO) vs. Somerville’s (MA) Patrick Leal (0-4).

 

 

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

 

Tickets, priced at $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general admission), are on sale and available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box office (general admission only), or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

 

 

 

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout 7 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

Event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Elm Wealth Group, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto,Championsofhealth.USANA.com, Chieftain Liquors, Centro Las America, Baystate Savings Bank, Pamela Laporte Realty, Worcester Vocero, ChrisFIT Xperience and Grille 57 (hosting the official weigh in and after party).

 

 

 

A portion of the proceeds will go to Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com: /RiveraPromotionsEntertainment, /GraniteChin Promotions

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_, @Granite_Chin

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

VIDEO: WORLD CHAMPIONS DANNY GARCIA AND SHAWN PORTER RELY HEAVILY ON FATHERS WHO ALSO SERVE AS TRAINERS AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER 8 WELTERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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“When Danny’s getting hit, I’m getting hit with him.” – Angel Garcia

 

“When he fights in the ring I see the energy that I had.” – Kenny Porter

 

 

 

 Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

Watch, View & Share Via YouTube: https://s.sho.com/2B97w7A

 

WHAT: SHOWTIME Sports® Emmy-award winning reporter Jim Gray sat down with the fathers of Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter as the two former world champions prepare to meet September 8 for the vacant WBC Welterweight World Championship on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

 

 

 

Angel Garcia and Kenny Porter, who both also serve as their sons’ trainers, are asked by Gray how they react when they watch their sons take punishment in the ring.

 

 

 

“As a dad, I have to separate the boxing,” Angel Garcia said. “So when Danny’s in there I’ve got to look at him as a coach. I can’t look at it as a dad.”

 

 

 

Said Kenny Porter: “As a former boxer, I felt what it’s like to be in that ring… So I feel differently when he’s in the ring. I have a more competitive spirit towards winning than maybe someone who’s kid is in there and they’re looking at whether the kid is getting injured. I’m looking at it like, let’s win.”

 

 

 

Gray gets Porter and Garcia to open up about challenges, regrets and the aspirations they’ve carried for their progeny both in the ring and outside of it. “I do [have regrets],” Angel Garcia said. “I said my faults. I’m not perfect.”

 

 

 

Angel called himself the “most underrated trainer” in boxing today, and Danny the “most underrated fighter.”

 

 

 

At the end of the interview, Kenny unveils a Garcia “DSG” T-shirt that reads: “Showtime Destroys Garcia” and both fathers shared a big laugh.

 

 

 

Live coverage of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also features top 147-pound contender Yordenis Ugas(22-3, 11 KOs) taking on Argentine slugger Cesar Barrionuevo (34-3-2, 24 KOs) and unbeaten Polish heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki (17-0, 14 KOs) facing former heavyweight champion Charles Martin (25-1-1, 23 KOs). The Premier Boxing Champions event takes place from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

TYSON FURY vs. FRANCESCO PIANETA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT THIS SATURDAY LIVE FROM BELFAST ON SHOWTIME SPORTS® SOCIAL PLATFORMS

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NOTE NEW START TIME: SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Begins At 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. On SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook And SHOWTIME Sports YouTube

BELFAST (August 14, 2018) – Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former two-time heavyweight title challenger Francesco Pianeta faced off on Tuesday in Belfast during the final press conference for their 10-round heavyweight bout this Saturday from Windsor Park. The second comeback fight of the former unified champion will stream live exclusively to U.S. audiences on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT (please note new start time). SHOWTIME will air an encore presentation later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (10 p.m. ET/PT).

 

 

 

Fury vs. Pianeta will serve as the chief support of Carl Frampton’s interim featherweight title defense against undefeated contender Luke Jackson on the pitch at Windsor Park, where an expected 30,000 fans will witness the first boxing event at the home of Northern Irish football.

 

 

 

Studio coverage of SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from New York begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with host Brian Custer and Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood providing pre-and post-fight analysis. Live coverage from Belfast, which will be provided by BT Sport, will begin with the Pianeta ring walk shortly after 3:30. U.K. sportscaster John Rawling will call the action with Barry Jones providing analysis, and Ronald McIntosh conducting post-fight interviews for Fury-Pianeta.

 

 

 

The former IBF, WBA and WBO champion Fury (26-0, 19 KOs) returned to the ring in June and will fight for the second time in less than 75 days following a nearly three-year layoff. Prior to his extended hiatus, the 6-foot-9 Fury established himself as the premier heavyweight boxer in the world by becoming the first man to defeat Wladimir Klitschko in more than 11 years.

 

 

 

Pianeta (35-4-1, 21 KOs), a 6-foot-5 southpaw who fights out of Germany, has twice challenged for the heavyweight world title. Pianeta faced then-unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and lost in a bid for a secondary title against Ruslan Chagaev in 2015.

 

 

 

Here’s what the fighters had to say at Europa Hotel in Belfast on Tuesday:

 

 

 

Tyson Fury

“The old Tyson Fury is gone. The Tyson Fury from three years ago and beyond is finished. Let’s face it, we all move forward in life with age and experiences and I’m not looking to dwell on the past. I’m looking to live for today and improve on who I am tomorrow. The new Tyson Fury is here now and my promise is to put on a good fight. Whether that’s better or worse than the old Tyson Fury, we’ll find out on Saturday night.

 

 

 

“What you’re likely to see from me on Saturday is a heavyweight Sugar Ray Leonard. Anything less is a failure.

 

 

 

“I do want to win a world title again so I have to raise my game. I’ve been out of the ring for three years nearly. It’s an uphill battle to lose the weight I’ve lost. It’s been challenging and a long, hard battle to get back to where I am.

 

 

 

“I study my heavyweights and I know Francesco has fought some very good men. He had a very good winning spree, he was 28-0 when he fought Klitschko. I’m not underestimating Francesco. I know he’s a very big, strong fellow and he knows if he wins this fight then he can go on to fight (Deontay) Wilder instead of me. It’s all to play for.

 

 

 

“In heavyweight boxing, if you take your eye off the goal for ten seconds you’re out of there. I know what to expect, I expect him to bring his ‘A game’ and he’s going to try to knock me out because that’s what they all do. Hopefully, he’s not successful and we put on a great show and entertain the fans.

 

 

 

“If I come through this, then Wilder has a chance to fight me for the lineal championship. I’m not the one who gets the chance to fight him. Let’s face it, he hasn’t really fought anybody. He has 40 fights and it is what it is. We’re not here to talk about Wilder at all. It may as well be a million years in the future, I’ve got to concentrate on this man in front of me. I’m sure he wants to take my glory away from me.

 

 

 

“I’ve made all the right sacrifices. I trained really well, ate right, slept well and I had four or five sparring partners that were all southpaws. If I do what I think I can do, then I’ll impress, put on a good show and win the fight. If I don’t do what I think I can do, then I’ll get chinned in about ten seconds and it will be, ‘See you later Tyson Fury and hello Francesco Pianeta.’

 

 

 

“Southpaws are a lot more awkward because there’s less of them in the division. You don’t get too much work with southpaws other than when you’re fighting with them. It’s hard to get southpaws to spar in training because there aren’t many heavyweight southpaws around the world. But I do have one interesting fact, every southpaw amateur or professional I’ve ever faced I’ve knocked out. That’s not good for Francesco.

 

 

 

“To be a two-time heavyweight champion is all right. It’s not great because there’s been plenty. To be a three-time heavyweight champion, it’s been done before. So I think I want to set a precedent of being a five-time heavyweight champion without losing a fight. That’s my goal. I always aim for the stars and set big targets.

 

 

 

“If I can beat Francesco Pianeta on Saturday night, I’ve beaten another boxer. Big deal. But if he beats me, he’s going on to something very big. It would be life-changing for him. It I can’t beat Francesco, then I’m going nowhere.

 

 

 

“I think I’m the greatest heavyweight that’s ever been born, so I should handle Francesco Pianeta. And whoever else is out there, Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, all the bums out there.

 

 

 

“It’s very easy to win all the belts back. I’ve only got to beat two bums, basically. Wilder and Joshua and that’s it. They both haven’t got a brain cell between them so it shouldn’t be too hard for a great boxer like myself.”

 

 

 

Ben Davison, Fury’s Trainer

 

 

“Everything is good with Tyson. It’s good that he’s getting straight into the ring again. It’s been a good progression since the last fight and everything is perfect. We’re just ready for Saturday night. You can’t do anything more from now.

 

 

 

“He’s lost a good amount of weight since the last fight. To me, there’s only a certain level of fitness that you can get to and Tyson runs on two very good engines anyway. There’s never been any worry with that.”

 

 

 

Francesco Pianeta

 

 

“I’m going to give my best and I’m looking forward to the fight. It’s an honor for me to box in front of such an audience.

 

 

 

“I have a high opinion on Tyson. I was very impressed with his win over Klitschko, I rate him very highly. He says that he’s knocked out every southpaw he’s ever faced, but we’ll see if he is able to do that Saturday night.”

 

 

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, subscribe to the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

 

 

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation™ Vue, and YouTube TV. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

boxing

BLAIR “THE FLAIR” COBBS VOTED PROSPECT OF THE YEAR BY NEVADA BOXING HALL OF FAME

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LAS VEGAS, NV (August 13, 2018) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s undefeated welterweight, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (10-7 KOs), who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, was voted “Prospect of the Year” by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame committee. Please join Blair Cobbs along with many other boxing greats this Friday when the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame hosts it’s meet and greet event at Caesars Palace.

 

 

 

“It’s an honor to be voted Prospect of the Year by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame,” said an enthused Blair Cobbs. “I’ve worked very hard to get to this point in my career. I want to thank my manager Greg Hannley for guiding me, and his support throughout my career has been crucial to my success.  I also want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and my family and friends for believing in me.”

 

 

 

“Blair Cobbs is a talented fighter with a bright future,” said Greg Hannley, president of Prince Ranch Boxing who manages Cobbs. “I’m ecstatic that the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame committee is honoring Blair with this award. Blair exemplifies all the good traits a prize fighter should have. I’m honored to be his manager.”

 

 

 

Cobbs, who resides in Las Vegas, NV, by way of Philadelphia, is trained by two-time world champion Bones Adams. In his last fight, Cobbs scored a 2nd round knockout over Emmanuel Valadez, a fight that took place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

For more information on the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and their upcoming events please visit www.NVBHOF.com. Their Meet & Greet/Fan Experience will take place this Friday August 17, 2018, followed by their 2018 6th Annual Induction Dinner on Saturday August 18, 2018.  Click links above to purchase tickets.

boxing

Ruben Villa Returns to Action Aug. 24 from Omega Products in Corona, CA

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Philadelphia, Penn.. Orange, Ca. (Aug. 14, 2018) – Ruben Villa (12-0, 5 KOs), one of the rising talents in the featherweight division, takes to the ring for the fourth time this year on Friday, Aug. 24 from Omega Products International in Corona, Calif.

 

 

 

The southpaw from Salinas, Calif. battles well tested veteran Jose Santos Gonzalez (23-6, 13 KOs) of Mexico in the “Locked n’ Loaded” 8-round main event.

 

 

 

Villa, 21, has fought veterans before, specifically Ernesto Guerrero and German Meraz. The seasoned Gonzalez poses a threat in the sense that he’s been in the ring against current bantamweight title holder Zolani Tete, and unbeaten contender Duke Micah.

 

 

 

“These are the types of fights that help you grow into a better fighter,” said Villa, who is managed by Danny Zamora. “We have a smart game plan in place. I’m naturally bigger than him so we’ll use that to our advantage.”

 

 

 

Villa, a two-time national Golden Gloves champion, is coming off an impressive sixth round knockout of Ricardo Lopez in June. The talented featherweight showed off his finishing ability by out boxing Lopez until the knockout moment presented itself.

 

 

 

“I was landing solid punches in every round,” remarked Villa after the fight. “I knew I would be able to take him out. I wore him down and in the sixth, I just let me hands go and I caught him with a lot of heavy punches.”

 

 

 

Villa is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

 

 

 

All fights will be live streamed on TB Presents: Locked n’ Loaded via Thompson Boxing Facebook page and ThompsonBoxing.com.

 

 

 

The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET with Beto Duran as the blow-by-blow announcer and Steve Kim providing expert, color commentary.

 

 

 

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check Banner Promotions Facebook Page , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing

 

 

 

Photo by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing

boxing, Super Channel, UK Boxing

Day of the Jackal & unleashed Fury

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AIRING LIVE AUGUST 18, 2018
EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL IN CANADA
2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT
 
Carl Frampton vs. Luke Jackson
Interim WBO Featherweight World hampionship
 
Cristofer Rosales vs. Paddy Barnes
WBC Flyweight World Championship
 
Tyson Fury vs. Francesco Pianeta
 
AIRING LIVE IN CANADA THIS SATURDAY

EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL
(all pictures courtesy of Queensbury Promotions)

EDMONTON, Canada (August 13, 2018) – One of the best top-to-bottom pro boxing cards of the year will air Saturday afternoon, August 18, in Canada exclusively on Super Channel, live from Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

 

 

 

Three-time, two-division world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton takes on Luke “Action” Jackson in the 12-round main event for the Interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) Featherweight World Championship in the 12-round main event. Three-time Irish Olympian Paddy “The Leprechaun” Barnes challenges World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight world champion Cristofer “El Latigo” Rosales in the 12-round co-featured event. In a Special Heavyweight Attraction, undefeated former unified world heavyweight champion Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury continues his comeback in a 10-round match against veteran Francisco Pianeta.

 

 

 

Frampton vs. Jackson, presented by Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions, will air across Canada exclusively on Super Channel, starting at 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT.

 

 

 

“Canadian boxing fans are going to want to tune into Super Channel this Saturday as we bring them yet another incredible major boxing showcase,” said Troy Wassill, Director of Programming for Super Channel. “With Frampton vs. Jackson as the main event and Rosales vs. Barnes as the co-feature, not to mention the highly anticipated return of Tyson Fury, all set in legendary Windsor Park, this is a high-caliber, fully-stacked card that any boxing fan is not going to want to miss.”

 

 

 

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Frampton (25-1, 14 KOs), fighting at home in Belfast, is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight and super bantamweight champion, as well as International (IBF) super bantamweight world title holder, who is 5-1 in world title fights, 7-1 versus present or former world champions. Frampton has defeated world champions Steve Molitor – a native Canadian – Kiko Martinez (twice), Hugo Fidel Cazares, Scott Quigg, Leo Santa Cruz and Nonito Donaire.

 

 

“If he performs to his best and I perform to my best,” Frampton said of Jackson, “I’m knocking him out, simple as that. I’m due a knockout. I haven’t knocked anyone out in quite a while. He sees that he’s a complete underdog and there’s no pressure on him. People are writing him off. That can help fighters. When they have no expectations on their shoulders, they can go and perform out of their skin.

 

 

 

“I’m certainly not taking Luke Jackson for granted in the slightest. I’ve done that before against Alejandro Gonzalez and I ended up on my backside twice in the first round. I’ve learned from that fight. I’m the better fighter and I feel fit and sharp. I believe I’m one of the best supported fighters on the planet and that’s down to the passionate Northern Ireland sports fans.

 

 

 

“I want to be world champion again. If I lose this fight my career is over, that’s the truth, but I’m not intending to lose it. Victory over Jackson sets up a potentially sizzling showdown with another fighter who has a massive fan base, Josh Warrington, the new IBF featherweight champion from Leeds. Lips are already being licked in anticipation of that one.”

 

 

 

WATCH A BONUS FRAMPTON FIGHT, AVAILABLE FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 ON SUPER CHANNEL ON DEMAND, TO GET READY FOR THE BIG FIGHT

 

 

 

The reigning WBO Oriental featherweight champion, Jackson (16-0, 7 KOs) represented his native Australia in the 2012 Olympics. The upset-minded Jackson believes Frampton is finished.

 

 

“Across the board,” the outspoken Australian spoke about Frampton, “but I don’t think he is as good as he once was. In the first fight against Leo Santa Cruz he boxed out of his skin and deserved to win, but he hasn’t looked the same since. Carl is a very good fighter who does everything good, but I don’t think he does anything great. I respect him as a fighter, I respect him as a man, but I am coming to beat him, not coming over to be friends.

 

 

 

“I don’t know if he wants me to call him a Hall of Fame fighter or the greatest, but I don’t think he is. He is very beatable, and I think I can beat him, simple as that.”

 

 

 

Rosales (27-3, 18 KOs), fighting out of Nicaragua, will be making the first world title defense of the title he captured last April in Japan, when he stopped Daigo Higa in the ninth round. Rosales is the cousin of Roman Gonzalez, the former pound-4-pound king of boxing.

 

 

The reigning WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion, Barnes (5-0, 1 KO) will also be fighting at home in Belfast in front of his passionate fan base. One of the greatest Irish amateur boxers of all time, Barnes will be fighting for a world title in only his sixth professional fight. He won two bronze medals (2008 & 2012) in his three trips to the Olympics, as well as gold in the 2019 European Championships.

 

 

 

“This is the fight that defines my boxing career,” Barnes claimed. “There were great achievements as an amateur including Olympic bronze medals, but that is only third place in the world, which is great. To be the best in the world at your weight, the WBC world championship is definitely the one to win. I did great as an amateur and people will remember me for what I’ve achieved, but a world professional title is what I really want. I would swap everything I did as an amateur to win this fight.”

 

 

 

Two other exciting fights on the “Frampton vs. Jackson” card, in addition to the previously mentioned main event and co-feature, will air in Canada exclusively on Super Channel.

 

 

 

(L-R) – Tyson Fury upset Wladimir Klitschko

 

 

 

Fury (26-0, 16 KOs) had been sidelined with mental health issues for the past 2 ½ years, after shocking the boxing world November 28, 2015, when he defeated future Hall of FamerWladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53 KOs) by way of a 10-round unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 115-112).

 

 

 

The 6′ 9″ Fury became the undisputed world heavyweight champion, securing the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO and The Ring championships, only to be stripped and/or relinquish his title belts without a single defense. Fury returned to the ring this past June against Sefer Seferi, who was unable to continue after four rounds.

 

 

 

Pianeta (35-4-1, 25 KOs), a native of Italy who lives in Germany, is a two-time world title challenger. The former WBO European champion is a cancer survivor.

 

 

 

Irish light heavyweight Steve Collins, Jr. (12-1-1, 4 KOs), the son of former two-division world champion Steve Collins, Sr., faces Steve “The Quiet Man” Ward (7-0, 3 KOs), of Belfast, in a regional title fight to open the broadcast.

 

 

 

To watch Frampton vs. Jackson live, as well as more exciting boxing to come in 2018, fight fans in Canada can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.

 

 

 

Super Channel aired major boxing events live the past two years like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.

Marriaga, Crawford vs. Indongo, Smith vs. Williams II, Frampton vs. Donaire, and Fury vs. Sefari, in addition to the inaugural World Boxing Super Series.