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Category Archives: boxing
Caleb Plant Las Vegas Media Workout Quotes & Photos
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HUMBERTO “TITO” VELAZCO CAMP QUOTES AND PHOTOS
Photo by Mario Serrano – Prince Ranch Boxing
AGUASCALIENTES, MX (February 6, 2018) – Light heavyweight prospect, Humberto “Tito” Velazco (18-1-1, 12 KOs), who is managed by Prince Ranch Boxing’s Greg Hannely and promoted by Damien Vazquez’ Sugar Promotions, talks training camp and more ahead of his showdown with Thomas Williams Jr. (20-3, 14 KOs).
This 10-round bout, takes place on the undercard of Victor Ortiz vs. Devin Alexander, which airs live in Primetime on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas onSaturday, February 17 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Here is what Velazco had to say about training camp, making his USA debut, and more…
On his current training camp in Aguascalientes, MX …
“I’ve been training with former world champion Cruz Carbajal out here in Aguascalientes, Mexico. For the first time in my career, I flew out a durable sparring partner to help me prepare for this fight. We are finalizing the last few sparring sessions this week. My body is healthy and I’m in great shape. I’ll be ready for war on fight night.”
On facing opponent Thomas Williams Jr…
“All I know about Williams is he’s a southpaw, who is coming off a couple of losses, and has fought for a world title. He’s been in the ring with some elite fighters, so I know he’s a very good opponent. I know he’s hungry to get back in the win column so I’m preparing for his best. This is a big step up in competition and I’m ready for the challenge.”
On making his USA debut…
“Where I’m from, you always dream about what it would be like to fight in the United States of America. Now that dream is coming true and I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity. There will be some very important people watching this fight. I promise I will not disappoint.”
On what a win will do for his career…
“A victory against Williams will be great for my career because I know it will lead to bigger fights. My goal is to make a statement in this fight and show those watching that I’m the real deal.”
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UNDEFEATED REGIS PROGRAIS TO FACE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION VIKTOR POSTOL FOR WBC INTERIM SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY, MARCH 9 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
Ivan Baranchyk To Meet Fellow-Unbeaten Anthony Yigit In IBF Junior Welterweight Title Eliminator
SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION Live At 10 p.m. ET/PT From Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota
NEW YORK (Feb. 6, 2018) – Undefeated 140-pound contender Regis Prograis and former world champion Viktor Postol will face off for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship on Friday, March 9 in the 12-round main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Prograis (20-0, 17 KOs), of Houston by way of New Orleans, has scored knockouts in 13 of his last 14 fights and is a rising star in the wide-open 140-pound division. The aggressive-minded southpaw will face the toughest test of his career in Postol (29-1, 12 KOs), a former WBC Super Lightweight World Champion with only one loss on his record.
In the 12-round co-feature, undefeated 140-pound contenders Ivan Baranchyk (17-0, 10 KOs) and Anthony Yigit (21-0-1, 7 KOs) will square off in a Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Sergey Lipinets. Lipinets will defend his belt the following day, March 10, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® against undefeated three-division champion Mikey Garcia.
The event is presented by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Elite Boxing, Fight Promotions Inc., Holden Productions and Sauerland Promotions. Tickets, priced at $200, $80 and $60, go on sale Friday, Feb. 9, and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 907-4726.
“I feel I’m one of the best junior welterweights in the world and this is my chance to display my belief in myself,” Prograis said. “I’m very excited to be fighting Viktor Postol – he’s a very experienced fighter that previously held the WBC world title. I want to become a world champion this year, and I know Viktor Postol wants to reclaim his title, but we have to go through each other first. This is a great fight for boxing because you have two hungry fighters. It’s a can’t-miss fight.”
“My goal is to become a world champion again and I know a win over Regis Prograis will bring me one step closer,” Postol said. “I have been training hard for the past couple of months and I’m very excited for the opportunity to face Prograis on March 9.”
“My next fight is very important for my career and I am preparing for it very seriously,” Baranchyk said. “A few months ago, I moved to Miami, Fla., where I am now being trained by Pedro Diaz. I have strict discipline for everything in my training. I’m working on improving my skills, tactics for the fight, my skill set and physical strength. I’m also maintaining a much stricter diet and eating very healthy. I want every fighter to know if I am in the boxing ring you will never have an easy fight with me.”
“My dream is to become a world champion and I need to defeat Baranchyk to continue on my path,” Yigit said. “This will be my first time fighting in the United States but I’m ready to show the boxing fans that I have what it takes to become a world champion. From Stockholm, Sweden to Deadwood, South Dakota, onward my journey continues.”
“Two excellent super lightweight matchups highlight this SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION on March 9. At the Deadwood Mountain Grand in South Dakota, the rising young gun will duel the seasoned ex-champion,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Regis ‘Rougarou’ Prograis can earn a world championship by beating his toughest foe, the respected and formidable Viktor Postol, with the interim WBC title at stake. Undefeated puncher Ivan Baranchyk is truly ‘The Beast’ in the ring and is determined to blaze a path toward a world title shot in his IBF eliminator, taking on Sweden’s European Champion, former Olympian, Anthony ‘Can You Dig It?’ Yigit.”
“Prograis and Baranchyk have appeared a combined nine times on ShoBox: The New Generation and it’s fulfilling to see their development from talented prospects to legitimate contenders,” said Gordon Hall, ShoBox Executive Producer and SVP Production, SHOWTIME Sports. “We view this progression as a validation for the ShoBox series, and we’re thrilled to see their hard work pay off with these potentially career-changing opportunities. These are two tough fights that will determine who is ready to take the next step in this exciting division.”
“We are thrilled that DiBella Entertainment is bringing big time boxing back to South Dakota,” said Susan Kightlinger, General Manager at Deadwood Mountain Grand. “Deadwood is renowned for its rough and tumble past and professional boxing fits that mold perfectly. It’s an amazing card, great fighters and SHOWTIME is the ultimate name in boxing. It’s a perfect fit!”
A consensus top-10 ranked fighter at 140 pounds, the 29-year-old Prograis has beaten three previously undefeated fighters on the SHOWTIME developmental series ShoBox: The New Generation. Prograis stamped his arrival as a legitimate contender in the 140-pound division on June 9 scoring four knockdowns of previously undefeated Joel Diaz Jr., en route to a second-round TKO. Following the fight, Prograis called out the top players in the 140-pound division, including Terence Crawford and Adrien Broner, and on March 9, he’ll get his first chance to prove he’s ready to face the division’s elite.
Prograis’ nickname “Rougarou” originates from Louisiana folklore and is defined as a werewolf-like creature. Originally from New Orleans, Prograis relocated to Houston following Hurricane Katrina.
Postol won the vacant WBC 140-pound World Championship with a stunning and dominating 10th round knockout of Lucas Matthysse in 2015. The 34-year-old Ukrainian attempted to unify the division in his first defense, losing via unanimous decision to then-WBO champion Terence Crawford in 2016. He has since bounced back with a win over previously unbeaten Jamshidbek Najmiddinov last September in his native Ukraine. A win would move him one step closer to earning back the coveted WBC title he lost.
The co-feature also pits two of the top prospects in the 140-pound division, each with an opportunity to score the biggest win of their respective careers.
The aggressive-minded Baranchyk is a former amateur standout that packs power in both hands. The 25-year-old native of Belarus is currently ranked No. 4 in the IBF at 140 pounds and owns seven wins over previously undefeated fighters. He’s gone the 10-round distance three times and is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over then-undefeated Keenan Smith last July on ShoBox in his adopted hometown of Miami, Okla.
The 26-year-old Yigit competed in the 2012 Olympics for Sweden, advancing to the second round before losing a very narrow decision to eventual Silver Medalist Denys Berinchyk. The Stockholm native has tallied 21 victories in just four years following the Olympics while campaigning in Europe. The southpaw will make his U.S. debut against Baranchyk as he looks to prove he’s ready to contend on the world stage.
The doors open and first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. More information on the Deadwood Mountain Grand can be found on their website at www.DeadwoodMountainGrand.com.
Streaking Russian Female Star Elena Savelyeva to Fight 10 Rounds in Fourth Pro Fight
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SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO PRESENT ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. JOSEPH PARKER HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION SATURDAY, MARCH 31 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
All Four Heavyweight World Championship Titles At Stake On Industry-Leading 2018 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Schedule
Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing; Click Image For High-Res Version
NEW YORK – February 5, 2018 – SHOWTIME Sports will present the heavyweight world championship unification between undefeated IBF and WBA World Champion Anthony Joshua and unbeaten WBO World Champion Joseph Parker on Saturday, March 31 live on SHOWTIME from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The British sensation Joshua, who has knocked out all 20 of his professional opponents, burst onto the global scene with a dramatic knockout of long-reigning heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko in the universally acclaimed 2017 Fight of the Year. In two fights last year, Joshua drew 168,000 spectators combined to massive stadium events in the U.K. Now, he faces another significant challenge in Parker, a native of New Zealand with 24 wins, no losses and 18 knockouts. Parker is attempting the third world title defense of his WBO belt.
With the addition of Joshua vs. Parker, all four heavyweight world championship belts will be at stake in the same month on SHOWTIME as undefeated American Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) will defend his WBC title against unbeaten Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) on Saturday, March 3 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The four top-rated heavyweights — Wilder, Ortiz, Joshua and Parker — boast a combined record of 111 wins, zero losses and 100 knockouts.
Both heavyweight championships are cornerstones of a remarkable 2018 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING schedule that now includes 16 undefeated fighters and 13 world titles fights across 11 marquee events through the first six months of the year.
“The heavyweight division is in the midst of a renaissance, and SHOWTIME is delivering all of the pivotal bouts to our subscribers,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programing, Showtime Networks Inc. “Anthony Joshua is a global superstar, and we’re proud to present his sixth, and perhaps most challenging, world title fight to the U.S. audience. Joshua vs. Parker will be the 12th heavyweight world championship match on SHOWTIME since Deontay Wilder won his title in 2015, an undisputed industry-leading offering in boxing’s preeminent division.”
Joshua vs. Parker is just the second heavyweight championship unification in history between undefeated world titleholders. The only fighter to emerge victorious from a matchup of unbeaten heavyweight world champions was Mike Tyson in 1987.
The event is promoted by Matchroom Boxing in association with Duco Events. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will televise the event live from Principality Stadium where organizers expect a sell-out of 80,000 spectators. The host of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Brian Custer. Mauro Ranallo calls the action from ringside along with International Boxing Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former two-division world champion Paul Malignaggi. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSIP BOXING is produced by David Dinkins Jr, and directed by Chuck McKean. The start time for the March 31 telecast will be announced.
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 Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Google, Xbox One and Samsung. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Channels. 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
Kermit Cintron to now take on Marquis Taylor on Tuesday, February 13th at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center
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ISSAC “CANELITO” AVELAR REMAINS UNDEFEATED, CAPTURES WBC FECOMBOX TITLE
Photo by Mario Serrano – Prince Ranch Boxing
AGUASCALIENTES, MX (February 2, 2018) – Tonight at the Explanada de Expoplaza in Aguascalientes, MX, Sugar Promotions presented “New Blood”. In the 10-round main event Issac “Canelito” Avelar (14-0, 9 KOs) captured the WBC FECOMBOX
Featherweight title with a TKO victory over Alejandro Frias (6-3-1, 3 KOs).
Avelar, a southpaw who was fighting in front of his hometown fans, applied pressure from the opening bell, forcing Frias to fight going backwards. Avelar used a lot of faints to keep Frias off balance, giving him opportunities to a land a lot of power shots. In the middle rounds, Avelar was overpowering the taller Frias, forcing him fight off the ropes. As the fight entered the later rounds, Frias was starting to fade, as Avelar maintained a steady attack. In the tenth and final round, Avelar landed a flurry of punches to the head and body of Frias, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the .40 second mark. Avelar, who is managed by Prince Ranch Boxing’s Greg Hannely, remained undefeated.
“I wanted to give my hometown fans a great victory,” said Issac Avelar. “Capturing the WBC FECOMBOX title is a goal I set for myself at the beginning of this year. I know with hard work, I’ll be able to fight for more WBC titles as I march up the rankings. I’m very grateful to all the people who helped me get to this point in my career. I’m also thankful to all my family and friends who came out and supported me tonight. My career is about to take off.”
In the 8-round co-main event, NABF Junior Flyweight champion, Damien “Sugar” Vazquez (13-0, 6 KOs), remained undefeated with at fifth round knockout over Miguel Lizardo (0-2-1). Vazquez was landing at will and wobbled Lizardo in round three. Vazquez stayed patient and used a nice counter punching attack to dominate the fight. A straight left in round five sent Lizardo to the deck, ending the bout at the 1:57 mark.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
6-round Super Flyweight Female Bout
In a very competitive action fight, Cristina Mora (7-0-2, 4 KOs) and Gabriela Sanchez (3-2-1) battled for six hard rounds. Mora used her superior boxing skills to land clean shots from a distance. Sanchez had her moments as she used her pressure style to get inside of Mora, landing some nice power shots. More landed a straight right in round two that bloodied the nose of Sanchez, who was bleeding the rest of the fight. Mora edged Sanchez in the later rounds giving her a split decision victory. Scorecards read 58-55, 57-56 for Mora and 57-56 for Sanchez. Mora remains undefeated.
6-round Featherweight Bout
Local native Edwing Davila (17-0, 10 KOs) defeated Carlos Rocha (3-2-1) with an impressive fourth round TKO. Davila dropped Rocha in round three with a vicious body shot. Rocha survived the round only to get stopped after being dropped three time in round four. Fight was stopped at the 2:24 mark of round four.
6-round Super Lightweight Bout
Denver Colorado’s Donovan Estrella (11-0, 4 KOs) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision victory against Antonio Camacho (1-5, 1 KO). Estrella controlled the fight with precise punching, lateral movement and a constant body attack. Scorecards read 60-54 twice, 59-55.
4-round Light Flyweight Female Bout
In an all-out war, Mayran Salazar (7-2) defeated Naomi Arellano (4-1, 1 KO) by unanimous decision. Arellano, who suffered her first loss, was in every round, but was out gunned by Salazar, who landed the cleaner shots. Both fighters landed nice power shots, but it was Salazar who wobbled Arellano in round three. Scorecards read 39-37 twice and 40-36 all in favor of Salazar.
4-round Light Heavyweight Bout
Las Vegas’ Kye Brooks improved to (2-0, 2 KO) with a devastating first round KO over Antonio Reyes, who was making his pro debut. A left-hook, right hand combo sent Reyes to the canvas in the opening minuet. After Reyes got up, Brooks then ended the bout with a powerful straight right hand. The bout was stopped at the 1:47 mark of round one.
RONALD ELLIS & JUNIOR YOUNAN FIGHT TO A SPLIT DRAW IN THE MAIN EVENT OFSHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FRIDAY ON SHOWTIME® FROM WINNAVEGAS CASINO RESORT IN SLOAN, IOWA
Unbeaten Prospects Montana Love and Thomas Mattice Win In Co-Featured Bouts
Watch The Replay Monday, Feb. 5 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®
Click HERE To Download Photos; Credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
SLOAN, IOWA (Feb. 3, 2018) – Undefeated super middleweight prospects Ronald Ellis and Junior Younan fought to a split draw in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday on SHOWTIME from WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa.
While Ellis was the ShoBox veteran with the stronger resume, Younan entered the fight as a highly touted prospect who had never been tested. He faced his first test on Friday in what was the first scheduled 10-round bout for both fighters.
The fight was fought in flurries, with Younan scoring from the outside and Ellis the aggressor. Except for the eighth round where Brooklyn’s Younan displayed his best work, Ellis seemed to push the action and win the second half of the fight. Ellis had a slight edge in power punch percentage and total punches, but Younan was slightly more accurate. The fighters were even with 96 total connects entering the 10th round, but Ellis (14-0-2, 10 KOs) won the 10th on all three judges’ scorecards by out-landing Younan 21-9.
The 10-round fight was scored 96-94 Ellis, 96-94 Younan, and 95-95.
“I thought I pulled it out. I closed the show at the end,” said Ellis, of Lynn, Mass. “I was pressuring him and the fans know I won. In the eighth, he landed a couple of shots but he wasted his energy. As you saw, he didn’t do anything the rest of that round, and after that round he had nothing left.
“He was running from the start, so I knew I could land shots on him anytime. My only regret is I wish that I got him out of there. It’s all knockouts from here on out. I would definitely fight him again, but I’ll do whatever my promoter lines up for me.”
After the fight, an emotional Younan (13-0-1, 9 KOs) pleaded his case for a rematch.
“I thought I won the fight, I thought [Ellis] won maybe three rounds,” Younan said. “My best round was the eighth round – I had him in the corner and I really thought they were going to end the fight then. I was surprised they didn’t stop the fight.
“I can improve a little bit, I feel I can finish stronger. I’ve only had one eight-round fight before this so this was a big step up for me. I’m growing and learning every fight.
“I’m heartbroken right now. I wanted to win that fight. I want him in a rematch. I know I would win. I know what to do and what not to do.”
Undefeated lightweight Thomas Mattice rallied from behind to score a seventh round TKO of ShoBox veteran Rolando Chinea in the telecast’s co-feature.
Chinea pushed the action as expected from the opening bell, throwing 90 punches in the first round to set a blistering pace for the scheduled eight-round fight. Chinea, who entered having beaten three previously undefeated fighters in his last four bouts, cut the ring off and pressed forward, keeping Mattice largely against the ropes. Mattice did his best work in the center of the ring, but the undefeated Cleveland native was unable to keep the fight from being contested against the ropes.
Down 59-55 entering the seventh, Mattice (11-0, 9 KOs) caught Chinea with a huge right to the chin and, sensing Chinea was hurt, unloaded with a series of combos to the head. With Chinea seemingly out on his feet and falling sideways to the canvas, referee Adam Pollack stepped in to stop the fight at 1:31 of the seventh.
“It was a rough fight,” Mattice said. “I felt like I was behind and my corner told me I needed a knockout. He buzzed me a few times. I caught him in the seventh and he wobbled. At first I was trying for one shot, then I remembered to start using the one-two. Then I landed a body shot, then a hook, and we got what we came here for, which was a knockout.”
Chinea (15-2-1, 6 KOs) was active, throwing an impressive 678 punches over seven-and-a-half rounds, compared to 414 for Mattice. But while he was aggressive and effective on the inside, his neglect of defense is what ultimately hurt him.
“I think I did well pressuring him and sticking to my game plane,” Chinea said. “I just got carried away and got caught with the right shot and, unfortunately, it ended the way it ended.
“I’m a little disappointed it ended the way it did, but that’s boxing and a lot of things can happen in the sport and that’s just the way it went.”
In the opening bout of the three-fight telecast, super lightweight prospect Montana Love kept his unblemished record intact with a majority decision over Sam Teah, scored 78-74, 78-74, 76-76.
The southpaw Love (9-0, 4 KOs) pressed the action from the start, utilizing superior speed and polished footwork to dictate the pace. Cleveland’s Love, who took the fight on just four days’ notice, was seemingly talking trash during rounds, telling Teah what was coming next. But even with the advance warning, Teah was unable to get inside or land anything of consequence. Teah (12-2-1, 5 KOs) seemed to come alive in the sixth but it was too little, too late for the Philadelphia fighter.
“I just kept boxing and pushing him back,” Love said. “I hurt three of my knuckles in my left hand in about the third round. I’m not sure if they’re fractured or not, but if I hadn’t hurt them I would have ended that fight early.
“I felt strong. I just came from a great camp with Robert Easter, which I think helped in this fight tonight. Sparring with Robert and Adrien [Broner], I’ve learned a lot from those guys.
“I give my overall performance a B or a C+. I think I could have done a lot more.”
Teah made no excuses about facing a last-minute opponent.
“He was a crafty southpaw. I knew he was slick, but he was quicker than I expected,” Teah said. “I would ball up to try to come inside and he was sharp with his right hook. Fighting guys on short-notice is the way I expect it. That’s the sport. I was preparing for a southpaw and I got a southpaw. No excuses.”
The event was promoted by GH3 Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports, Victory Promotions and Ringside Ticket.
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Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For more information visit www.sho.com/sports
FNU Combat Sports Show, February 1, 2018 (SUPERBOWL EDITION)
Tom, Tony and Rich discuss the week in combat sports news. We also recap the boxing and MMA events from last week and preview upcoming events.
Tony (Eagles Fan) and Rich (Patriots Fan) make a friendly wager for the big game and talk football during the show, too.
Listen to the show below.