Category Archives: boxing

boxing

NEWS FROM NOW BOXING PROMOTIONS & VICTORY BOXING PROMOTIONS

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January 22, 2018 – Victory and Now Boxing Promotions’ prospects are staying busy in the new year. The promotions’ top prospect, Jaron “Boots” Ennis (17-0, 15KO) is back in action this Friday, January 26th in his hometown of Philadelphia. The 20 year old boxer, widely considered the best prospect in Philadelphia, will appear on the Real Deal Boxing card at Sugarhouse Casino. Brian Norman Jr., son of super middleweight Brian Norman (17-11, 5KO) of Atlanta, won in his professional debut in Houston on Saturday, and Christian Montano advanced to 4-0 (4KO) on the same card. All three fighters are managed by Cameron Dunkin and promoted by Chris Middendorf of Victory Boxing Promotions, and Joseph Dunkin of Now Boxing Promotions.
Christian Montano
Welterweight Brian Norman, Jr., who is trained by his father, dropped Kire Lucas (0-3) with a body shot before finishing him with another body shot in one minute, 31 seconds of the first round. Montano also finished his opponent in the first round, stopping the experienced Keith Collins with a hook to the body, and straight right to the head at the 1:06 mark.

This Friday, “Boots” will face rugged Mexico City talent Gustavo Garibay (13-9, 5KO), who is the Mexican Super Welterweight Champion, and is a former WBC Latino Super Welterweight Champion. It’s the second fight in the United States for Garibay, his last being a loss to Zhankosh Turarov (22-0, 15KO) in Boca Raton.

Ennis, who trains with his father, former fighter Derrick “Bozy” Ennis in Philadelphia, last fought in December at the 2300 Arena, where he knocked out George Sosa inside of two rounds. The young pugilist is moving quickly, and fought nine times in 2017. Ennis is three months shy of his 21st birthday. Dunkin and Middendorf may not get him to 21 wins by his 21st birthday, but both feel certain that 2018 will be the real ‘coming out’ year for the young talent.
Jaron Ennis

“We always like to have Boots fight at home,” said Victory Boxing Promotions founder and Promoter Christopher Middendorf. “He’s getting great experience with veterans like Garibay. This is the first champion-caliber fighter he’s faced, and we’ll get to see how he handles that. I’m hoping the Philly boxing fans get out to support him.”

Tickets for Friday’s event are available at Ticketmaster outlets and at therealdealboxing.com, and are priced at $125 and $50. Doors to The Real Deal Showcase Series I open at 6 p.m., and first bell is at 7 p.m.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER  MAKES SEVENTH DEFENSE AGAINST UNDEFEATED CONTENDER LUIS ORTIZ SATURDAY, MARCH 3 FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN & PRESENTED BY PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS

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ALSO IN ACTION! UNDEFEATED FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JERMALL CHARLO BATTLES ONCE-BEATEN HUGO CENTENO JR. FOR INTERIM 160-POUND TITLE
 IN CO-FEATURE
BROOKLYN (Jan. 23, 2018) – Undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will face his toughest opponent to date when he meets hard-hitting Cuban southpaw Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz Saturday, March 3 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™ and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The co-feature of the evening will see the return of undefeated former 154-pound world champion Jermall Charlo, a powerful knockout artist who is looking to prove that he is a dangerous contender in the star-studded middleweight division. Once-beaten contender Hugo Centeno Jr. will test Charlo’s 160-pound credentials when they meet in a 12-round match to determine the WBC interim champion, with the winner immediately stepping into the picture for middleweight supremacy.
Tickets for the show, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, start at $50 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, or call 800-745-3000. Tickets for the event can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.
“We’re very excited to bring the heavyweight champion of the world, Deontay Wilder, back to Brooklyn for his seventh title defense and third appearance at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “This fight is happening because Deontay wanted to silence his critics by taking on the biggest challenge available. Deontay has an axe to grind with Ortiz and will swing it on March 3. Former 154-lb. champion Jermall Charlo is already a top player at middleweight and plans to prove he’s carried his power with him by facing one of the division’s best prospects, Hugo Centeno Jr., who is coming off a huge knockout victory in his last fight.”
“Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz is one of the best fights that can be made in the heavyweight division and its’ what heavyweights are all about – power versus power,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Everybody loves the knockout and that’s what Wilder and Ortiz specialize in. In the co-main event, Jermall Charlo is strictly seek and destroy in the ring. That ferocious spirit made him a force at 154 and he has brought it with him to the 160 pound ranks. Centeno is a rugged competitor and he doesn’t back down from anyone. That makes this a can’t miss fight for the boxing fans.”
True heavyweights in every sense of the word, the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Wilder and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Ortiz have 62 combined knockout victories.
The 32-year-old Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs), the only reigning American heavyweight world champion, is a knockout artist with the power to end any fight in spectacular fashion. His only professional match that went the distance was the fight in which he won his world title with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne on Jan. 17, 2015 -the birthday of legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. The champion out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama added Stiverne to his list of knockout victims in his last fight with a devastating first round destruction in their rematch at Barclays Center on Nov. 4.
Wilder was originally supposed to fight Ortiz that night, but Ortiz was pulled from the match after he tested positive for a banned substance. Ortiz was later cleared after the WBC determined he had failed to list medication that he was taking on his pre-testing paperwork, which triggered the positive test. He was assessed a fine and allowed to resume boxing.
Wilder, a Bronze Medal winner for the U.S. Olympic boxing team at the 2008 Beijing Games, has successfully defended the title six times. This will be his third title defense at Barclays Center. In his first defense at Barclays Center, Wilder scored a memorable ninth-round knockout over Artur Szpilka back in Jan. 2016.
“I’m looking forward to returning to Barclays Center to defend my title for a seventh time,” Wilder said. “Luis Ortiz is one of the toughest guys around and he’s supposed to be the boogeyman in the heavyweight division. But I’ve never been afraid of the boogeyman and I’ve knocked out every opponent that I’ve faced. I plan on keeping that streak going. Everyone standing in my way of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion has to go down. It’s Luis Ortiz’s turn.”
The 38-year-old Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs), of Camaguey, Cuba by way of Miami, Fla., will make his Barclays Center debut when he meets Wilder for his first title shot. The hard-hitting southpaw turned pro seven years ago after defecting from Cuba and has since been steadily climbing the heavyweight ladder. He cemented his standing in the division with victories over veteran contenders Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Malik Scott and is the No. 1-ranked contender by the WBC. In his most recent fight, Ortiz scored a devastating second-round knockout of Daniel Martz in Miami, Florida on Dec. 15.
If Ortiz wins, he will become the first Cuban born fighter to win a heavyweight world championship.
“This really is the best versus the best as far as the heavyweight division, and everyone who knows boxing knows that,” Ortiz said. “There’s been too much talking already. It’s time to fight. All I ask now is that the winner of this fight receives the respect from the other man, from the public, from the media and the fans that they deserve as the best heavyweight in the U.S.”
Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs) won his super welterweight title with a dominant knockout of Cornelius Bundrage in 2015 and eventually achieved the distinction of holding a world title in the same weight class (154 pounds) as his twin brother after Jermell won a title in 2016. After successfully defending his 154-pound title three times, Charlo of Richmond, Texas decided to move up to 160 pounds to win another title in a different weight class. In his debut at 160-pounds the 27-year-old scored a TKO victory over Jorge Sebastian Heiland at Barclays Center on July 29.
“I really love fighting in Brooklyn and at Barclays Center,” said Charlo. “The fans in Brooklyn always show me a lot of love. Since my last fight I’ve had a chance to work on my patience and work on improvements to my game. I’ve got the same feeling that I had before I won my first world title. I want to be a champion at 160 more than I did the first time at 154. More than anything I just want to get back in the ring. Centeno is a tough fighter. He’ll be a hard test for someone who isn’t at my level. I’m not taking anything away from him. But he’s just another fighter that’s in my way. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove to anyone else in this fight. I’m all about proving things to myself now. In the 160-pound division you’re hearing my name more and more. It’s more than you did when I was at 154 pounds.”
The 26-year-old Centeno (26-1, 14 KOs) caught everyone’s attention when he scored a stunning knockout of Immanuwel Aleem in his last fight on Aug. 25. It was enough to springboard Centeno into middleweight title contention. Centeno of Oxnard, California successfully rebounded from a tough TKO loss to Maiej Sulecki on June 18, 2016 with a victory over Ronald Montes before his match against Aleem.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” said Centeno. “I think my last outing had a lot to do with this/ It helped to put me in this position. Charlo is a great fighter with a lot of talent. I feel like we have similar statures. It’s going to be an interesting fight. I think it’s going to come down to who is the smarter fighter that night and who has more left in the tank toward the end. This is a life-changing, career-changing fight for me that could lead to bigger and better things. I’m coming to win.”
 # # #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,
follow us on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, @BarclaysCenter, @Brooklyn_Boxing and @Swanson_Comm  or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter,
and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. PBC is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, FIGHTNIGHT LIVE

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE OPENS 2018 SLATE ON FRIDAY WITH STAR BOXING LIVE FROM LONG ISLAND

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NEW YORK (Jan. 23, 2018) – Friday night fireworks are in store for fans on Facebook as FIGHTNIGHT LIVE partners with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing for its first show of the New Year. Fight fans from across the globe can catch all the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET live from Long Island, on any device wherever Facebook is available, as the combat sports platform opens 2018 with an eleventh show on the nine month-old platform.
“We’ve been extremely pleased with the growth of the series, and Friday’s show will be incredible with the addition of a mystery commentator, who will be revealed later in the week. The FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series has a chance to reach its 1,000,000th view in only 11 shows and we want to thank fight fans everywhere for their support,” said Mark Fratto, Principal of Linacre Media. “On Friday, fans from all over Long Island and all over the world will be able to tune in to catch some excellent matchups via the Star Boxing Facebook page and our FIGHTNIGHT LIVE page.”
In the main event on Friday night, Long Island’s Anthony “Showtime” Karperis (14-3, 5 KOs) fights for the 17th time at The Paramount while looking for his 13th victory at the venue, taking on Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara (17-9-4, 9 KOs). Undefeated fighters Tyrone “Pretty Boy” James (6-0, 3 KOs), Wendy Toussaint (7-0, 2 KOs) and Michael Stoute (2-0) will look to impress the Long Island crowd and Facebook audience, and fight fans will witness the pro debut of Huntington’s own Shaun Kennedy, plus musical performances and more.
“It is going to be a thrilling night of boxing. Fans will see several undefeated prospects and Anthony Karperis, who is always in fan-friendly wars. Fights from The Paramount are reminiscent of the old days at the Blue Horizon – thrilling fights, upsets and enthusiastic fans,” said Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. “It is great that the whole world will be able to see this on Facebook. The world is changing so much and for boxing and it’s great that fans can tune in from anywhere and be a part of the action. Yes, the Paramount will be sold out Friday night – but you can still see the fights by tuning into Facebook.”
Over the first eight months of programming, the numbers on the 10-show FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series have showed promise and potential for the new platform with an average of more than 93,000 fight fans tuning in per event and nearly one-million fans served. The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” from Resorts World Casino (225,000), the August CES “Super Saturday” from Foxwoods (203,000), the Sept. CES “Twin River Twinbill” from Lincoln, R.I. (157,000) all topped 150,000 views, and collectively the 10-show series saw a total of almost 17,000 total hours of Facebook video consumed by 930,933-plus users across all devices.
In addition to the raw viewership numbers, the fully-interactive, fan-friendly productions have seen more than 130,000 collective live post engagements (13,000-plus per show), including more than 91,000 “likes” or “loves,” more than 16,000 comments and 4,900-plus shares.
FIGHTNIGHT LIVE broadcasts are viewed by 76 percent men, 24 percent women. The top demographic is comprised of males ages 25-34, which encompasses approximately 30.0 percent of the audience, on average.
The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” set a new bar with 224,658 views and the Sept. 15-16 DiBella-CES doubleheader carried the series to three-quarters-of-a-million views in just over four months. The Aug. 26 Foxwoods “Super Saturday” show stands out individually with 3,336 live hours of content viewed, while the Sept. 15 DiBella card saw more than 40,000 viewer interactions including almost 39,000 “likes” or “loves.”
On Friday night, Jan. 26, live from The Paramount in Huntington, Long Island, N.Y., fans can expect a high-impact, multi-camera streaming experience complete with graphics, animations, replays, interviews and an announce team anchored by blow-by-blow announcer Marc Abrams of AWE, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 15Rounds.com and AbramsBoxing.com. Former Golden Gloves Champion Cara Castronuova, now of the Knockout Obesity Foundation, will contribute analysis and deliver post-fight interviews in the ring.  To provide spectators with a fully-interactive ringside experience, commentators will ask and respond to questions from the Facebook audience throughout the broadcast.
Created and produced by Linacre Media out of New York City, the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series features professional announcers, multiple camera angles, television graphics, replays and behind-the-scenes access and interviews. The streamed shows are available globally wherever Facebook is available. The initiative not only enables fans from around the world to tune in, but also gives up-and-coming fighters a global platform to showcase their abilities, gives promoters an accessible “broadcast” solution and gives sponsors the ability to reach a mass audience via branded content.
More FIGHTNIGHT LIVE Winter/Spring 2018 dates will be officially announced in the coming weeks.
FIGHTNIGHT LIVE is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/
Follow all the action via social media at FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Facebook,@FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Instagram and @FIGHTNIGHTLIVE_ on Twitter, or by using the hashtag #FIGHTNIGHTLIVE. For the latest Linacre Media events and broadcast schedule, follow @LinacreMedia across all social platforms or use the tags #LinacreMediaEvents or #LinacreMediaOnTV.
boxing

Two-time world champion Kermit Cintron to take on George Sosa in added welterweight attraction on Tuesday, February 13 at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center

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Cintron targeting Amir Khan
Frank De Alba battles Carlos Padilla in main event on
Mykal Fox takes on Ricardo Garcia in co-main event
Undefeated fighters Colby Madison,  Michael Coffie, Juan Sanchez, & Martino Jules in action
Heavyweight contender Joe Hanks takes on Nick Guivas

Bethlehem, PA (January 23, 2018) – Two-time world welterweight champion,Kermit Cintron has been added to an already deep card when he takes on George Sosa in a ten-round bout on Tuesday, February 13th at The Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

Already announced were two eight-round co-main events featuring Frank De Alba(22-2-2, 9 KOs) taking on Carlos Padilla (16-6-1, 10 KOs) as well as Mykal Fox(15-0, 4 Kos) battling Ricardo Garcia (14-1, 9 KO’s) in a super lightweight bout.
The card is promoted by King’s Promotions.
Cintron of Reading, PA has a record of 39-6-3 with 30 KOs.
The 38 year-old Cintron is a 18 year professional who won his first 23 fights (20 via stoppage) by defeating the likes of Leon Pearson (9-1-1), Said Ouali (7-0), Omar Davila (12-2), Ian Mackillop (14-1), Luis Rosado (29-5), Elio Ortiz (25-6), & Teddy Reid (22-5-1).
On April 23, 2005, Cintron was stopped by Antonio Margarito in his bid to win the WBO Welterweight title.

Cintron scored two wins, which included a 10th round stoppage over contender David Estrada (18-2) before stopping Mark Suarez in six-rounds to capture the IBF Welterweight title on October 28, 2006 in Palm Beach, Florida.
Cintron made two defenses of the crown which was highlighted by a two-round destruction over Walter Matthysse (26-1), before being stopped by Margarito in their rematch.
Cintron then sandwiched wins over Lovemore Ndou (46-10-1), Alfredo Angulo (15-0) and Juliano Ramos (15-2) around a draw with Sergio Martinez (44-1-1) before dropping fights with world champions Paul Williams and Carlos Molina.
In his last bout, Cintron was stopped in five round by Tyrone Brunson.
The “Philly Fight of the Year” Candidate saw Cintron score two knockdowns in round four, but Brunson came back to drop Cintron three times in round five.
“This is a fight to comeback to get back where I need to be.  After the Brunson fight, it was back to the drawing board.  this fight will start to get me back to the top one more time,” said Cintron.
“In Sosa, I was a broadcaster for his last fight, and in the brief fight, I did not see anything special.  I been working hard, and getting well prepared and I will be ready to fight.”
Cintron knows with a strong showing and his professional resume, that he can get into a big fight, and Cintron has someone in mind.
“I see that Amir Khan is coming back, and I that is a fight that I want.”

Sosa of Philadelphia has a record of 15-11-1 with 15 knockouts. 
The 31 year-old is a seven year professional who is known to take on top competition such as Emanuel Taylor, Ray Robinson, Thomas LaManna, and in his last bout when he was stopped by undefeated top-prospect Jaron Ennis on December 1, 2017 in Philadelphia.
In an eight-round bout, heavyweight contender Joe Hanks (22-2, 14 KOs) of Newark, NJ will fight Nick Guivas (14-9-2, 9 KOs) of Topeka, Kansas.
In six-round bouts:
Colby Madison (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of Owings Mills, Maryland will fight
Dante Selby (2-3-1) of Philadelphia in a heavyweight bout.
Blake Mansfield (5-1-1, 3 KOs) of Burlington, NC will fight Darryl Bunting (3-2-2, 1 KO) of Asbury Park, NJ in a middleweight tilt.
Chiase Nelson (6-1, 3 Kos) of Mansfield, OH will fight Vincent Jennings (5-4-1, 4 KOs) of Grand Rapids, MI in a featherweight battle.
In four-round bouts:
Michael Coffie (1-0, 1 KO) will take on pro debuting Nicoy Clarke of Jersey City, NJ in a heavyweight bout.
 
Martino Jules (2-0) of Allentown, PA will fight Malik Loften (1-0, 1 KO) of Suitland, MD in a featherweight bout.

Juan Sanchez (4-0, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will take on Sergio Aguilar (2-6, 2 KOs) of Homestead, FL in a featherweight bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $50, $75 and $100, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
boxing

Sampson Boxing Inks Promotional Deal with Panamanian Rising Star Jose ‘El Magnifico’ Nunez

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Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing proudly announces the signing of undefeated Panamanian lightweight Jose “El Magnífico” Nunez. 
 
19-year-old Nunez is considered one of the most exciting Panamanian prospects to watch.  He was awarded the title of “Prospect of the year 2017” by his homeland’s press and the Panamanian Boxing Commission.
 
Originally from Curundu Panama, Nunez started fighting at the early age of 10, holds an undefeated record of 5-0 as a professional.
 
“I am very grateful that Mr. Sampson is going to promote my career as a professional fighter. Now is my turn to demonstrate him and everybody else that I came to this sport to be the best and beat the best,” said Nunez. 
 
Manager and trainer José Murillo says he’s also happy with his young fighter’s new deal.
 
“We are well aware of who Mr. Lewkowicz is and what he is able to accomplish for Nunez and we can´t be more confident that he is in the best hands possible.  What Sampson promises, Sampson delivers. We have full confidence that we have taken the right decision signing this deal.”
 
“It is a great honor to work with another Panamanian, as I did with ex world champions Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno and Roberto “La Arana” Vasquez,” said Sampson Lewkowicz. “I am confident that Jose will become another world champion of their quality.”
 
Nunez is scheduled to appear in his first international fight on February 9, in Santa Fe, Argentina, against Lucio Alberto Ayala from Buenos Aires. The fight is being promoted by Sampson Boxing, Tello-Box and JEB Boxing and will be televised trough TyC Sports and VTV Uruguay.
boxing

2016 Olympic bronze medalist Nico Hernandez Fully recovered and raring to go in 1st title fight

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“KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory” for
vacant IBA Americas flyweight title vs. Jozsef Ajtai
Feb. 10 at Hartman Arena in Park City, KS
PARK CITY, Kansas (January 22, 2018) – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and hometown hero Nico Hernandez has fully recovered from an injury that postponed his December 2nd fight to Saturdeay, February 10, versus Hungarian champion Jozsef “Little Red” Ajtai in the the eight-round main event for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas flyweight title, headlining the “KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory” card, at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
“KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory” is a presentation of KO Night Boxing LLC., in association with Hartman Arena, and sponsored in part by Park City (KS), Twister City Harley-Davidson and Metro PCS.
The action will be taped live for future airing on CBS Sports Network.
The 22-year-old Hernandez (3-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Wichita, suffered an undisclosed injury that forced him to withdraw from the Dec. 2nd fight. Neither Hernandez nor his promoter, John Andersen (KO Night Boxing, LLC), have revealed any details about Nico’s injury to avoid giving his opponent any possible advantage to target in the ring.
“I feel good, ready to fight,” Hernandez commented.  “We wanted to make sure that I was injury free and I am 100-percent. I’m going to do whatever is needed to win this fight.  Fighting for my first title means a lot to me.  I didn’t think it would happen this fast.  I want everybody to see that I can be competitive with the best in my division. A win February 10th will get me there a lot closer.

“My opponent like to runs a lot and he’s quick, so I need to have my legs under me.  Other than that, though, I should be okay.  He has fought some good guys.  I can’t wait to get in the ring in front of my fans.”
Ajtai (19-9, 12 KOs), who is one year and six days younger than Hernandez, has already fought in five title fights. He also went the full 10-round distance, albeit in a loss by decision in 2016, to two-time Olympic gold medalist Shiming Zou, the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight world champion. Fighting in his opponent’s hometown isn’t a problem for Ajtai, who has vast road experience having fought as a pro in the USA, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Ukraine and Slovakia.
“Nico will not know where I will be in the ring,” Ajtai predicted. “When he looks to the left for me, I will go to the right; when he tries to find me on the right, I will be on the left. When he wants to rest, I will come forward punching; when he wants to punch, he won’t find me.
“I have a plan for this fight and I’m sure he does as well. But, in the ring, only one fighter’s plan can succeed. It’s going to be a good fight, but I can’t promise the public that Nico will be the winner.”
“I’m excited that Nico is 100-percent healthy for this fight,” Andersen said. “We couldn’t be happier to bring this great fight, and many more as we move forward, to the great city of Wichita.”
In the six-round co-featured event, Minneapolis welterweight Javonte Starks (13-2, 7 KOs), a former Future Stars National Champion as an amateur, takes on veteran Mexican fighter Cesar Soriano (28-36-1, 17 KOs), the former FECARBOX lightweight titlist.
Promising Milwaukee junior middleweight prospect Akeem Black (3-1, 1 KO) faces pro-debuting Derrick Clayton, fighting out of Bakersfield (CA), in the four-round televised opener.
Wichita middleweight Jeff Sturm (1-0) meets cross-state rival Brian Clements (0-0-1), of Toledo, in the four-round TV swing bout.
Also fighting on the under card is Washington D.C. heavyweight Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (13-2-1, 9 KOs) battles 300-pound Kansas City (MO) foe Richard “Silverback” Carmack (15-12-1, 12 KOs) in a six-round match. A pair of four-rounders find undefeated Bakersfield junior welterweight prospect Miguel Contreras (5-0, 4 KOs) throwing-down with his Georgia opponent, Archie Wey (2-9), and California junior welterweight Chazz Macias is slated to make his pro debut against an opponent to be determined.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 24 @ 10 a.m. CT) at the Hartman Arena box office and http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/50551?Brand=Hartman. Prices are $115.00 (VIP), $75.00, $50.00, $35.00, $25.00 and $20.00 (prices do not include service fees).  Student tickets are available – kindergarten through college – for $15.00 dollars but are only sold at the arena. Student Identification is requited.
This is an all-ages show. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. CT with the opening bout scheduled at 6:00 p.m. CT.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @KONightBoxing, @IBABoxing
Facebook:  /NeonStar, /IBABoxing
Follow @Nicomhernandez on Twitter and Instagram
boxing

Undefeated Bantamweight sensation Christian Carto takes on James Smith in headlining bout on Friday, March 2nd at The SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia 

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Philadelphia, Penn. (January 22, 2018)–Popular and undefeated bantamweight Christian Carto will headline a packed night of boxing when he takes on James Smith in an eight-round bout on Friday, March 2nd at The SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia.
The card is promoted by King’s Promotions.
Carto of Philadelphia has a record of 13-0 with 11 knockouts.  The 21 year-old has established himself as one of the top prospects in Philadelphia, and the popular Carto continues to draw large and enthusiastic crowds to his fights.
Carto, who had a very active 2017 as he mustered seven victories and has a signature win over Alonso Melendez (14-1).  Carto is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Fernando Saavedra on December 1st at The SugarHouse Casino.
This will be Carto’s 7th appearance at The SugarHouse Casino.
Smith of Detroit has a record of 12-1 with seven knockouts.
The 27 year-old is a seven-year professional, who won his first 11 bouts, which was highlighted by a win over Olimjon Nazarov (14-2).
After suffering his lone defeat, Smith won his last bout as he stopped Yaqub Kareem on August 4, 2017 in Detroit.
In an eight-round all-Philadelphia super middleweight bout, Christopher Brooker (12-5, 5 KOs) battle Jamaal Davis (16-12-1, 7 KOs).
In an eight-round bout, Tyrone Crawley, Jr. (7-0) of Philadelphia takes on Anthony Mercado (10-3, 9 KOs) of  Arecibo, PR  in a super lightweight bout.
David Gonzales (8-2-2, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia will fight Victor Vazquez (9-3, 3 KOs) of Yonkers, NY in a super lightweight contest.
Undefeated Marcus Bates (8-0-1, 6 KOs) of Washington, DC will take on an opponent to be named in a eight-round super bantamweight fight.
Carlos Rosario (7-3, 4 KOs) of Pennsauken, NJ will square off with Seifullah Wise (3-4, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a super featherweight fight.
 
Darius Ervin (4-1) of Los Angeles tangles with Jesus Perez (3-0, 1 KO) of Reading, PA in a super lightweight fight.
Jerrod Miner (1-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia fights Rondarrius Hunter (1-2, 1 KO) of Atlanta in a four-round super flyweight bout.
Tickets are on sale for $100, $75, $50, and can be purchased at SugarHouseBoxing.eventbrite.com.
boxing, World Boxing Super Series

World Boxing Super Series Semifinals

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LIVE IN CANADA
STARTING THIS SATURDAY
EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL
EDMONTON, Canada (January 22, 2018) – Super Channel, the No. 1 destination network for Canadian boxing fans, will air the upcoming semifinals of the popular World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) tournament, featuring world-class cruiserweight and super middleweight divisions action, live from various venues in Europe.
Super Channel acquired exclusive rights in Canada to air the entire WBSS tournament from MP & Silva, a leading international media company that provides media rights, digital, technology and sponsorship services.
“We are thrilled that the WBSS is returning to Super Channel for exclusive Canadian coverage of the highly anticipated semifinals,” said Troy Wassill, Director of Programming, Domestic Distributors and Sports.  “I have no doubt that every single bout is going to deliver exciting, must-see action for boxing fans, as these world-class fighters compete to see who is going to go head-to-head for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.”
WBSSis a revolutionary bracket-style elimination tournament featuring the world’s best boxers and a total of $50 million in prize money. The knockout format of the competition will see the best boxers ultimately compete for the Muhammad Ali Trophy, the greatest prize in boxing. The tournament is organized by newly-founded Comosa AG, a Swiss-registered company with principal owners Highlight Event & Entertainment, Modern Times Group and Team Sauerland. Comosa AG is working in partnership with boxers, promoters and managers around the world, and in alignment with the four major world boxing federations, to create a new global platform for the sport.
The first of its kind tournament, which is planned to take place on an annual basis, kicked off this past September with quarterfinals competition in two divisions, cruiserweight and super middleweight. An expert panel invited the world’s best boxers to compete, namely the top 15-ranked fighters of the four major federations: WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO. The winners of the two semifinals will advance to the championship round in both divisions this May.
Below find the WBSS semifinals schedule and a preview of the four matches and eight fighters who survived the quarterfinals:
 
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
 
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO/WBC Unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs), WBO World Champion, Ukraine – Ring #1
vs.
Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs), WBC World Champion, Latvia – Ring #3
February 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF/WBA Unificatiion
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs), IBF World Champion, Russia –
Ring #2
vs.
 Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), WBA World
Champion, Cuba – Ring #5
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
 
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA/IBO Unification
“Saint” George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs), WBA World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #2
vs.
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs), IBO World Champion, United Kingdom – Ring #4
 
February 24, Arena Nurnberger Versicherung, Nuremburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (49-3 35 KOs), Germany – Ring #10
(Former WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion)
vs.
Callum “Mundo” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), United Kingdom – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
(picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
The two winners in the cruiserweight semifinals will become the first unified world cruiserweight champion since Evander Holyfield in 1987. The eventual WBSS cruiserweight world champion will become the first ever to hold all four major sanctioning body titles – WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO — at the same time.
The four cruiserweight semifinalists, who represent four different countries, have a combined record of 83-0 with 68 knockouts. They are also the top three and fifth-highest ranked cruiserweights in the world by The Ring magazine’s independent ratings.
 
CRUISERWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
 
OLEKSANDR USYK: Captured the WBO cruiserweight world title January 17, 2016, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision over undefeated, defending champion Krzysztof Glowacki (26-0).
WBSS: In his third WBO title defense, he stopped former two-time WBO world champion Marco Huck (40-4-1) in the 11th round.
Note: 2-time Ukraine Olympian…. 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championship gold medalist….twice defeated current IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev – Russia-native now fighting out of Montreal — in the 2012 Olympics and 2011 World Championships.
World Title Fight Record: 4-0 (2 KOs)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1), defeated Glowacki and Huck
MAIRIS BRIEDIS: He became WBC world cruiserweight champion April 1, 2017, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Huck.
WBSS: Won a 12-round unanimous decision from Mike Perez (22-2-1) in his first title defense.
Note: Former professional kickboxer…..also the reigning IBA world cruiserweight champion.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (0 KOs)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1 KO), defeated Huck & Manuel Charr
 
MURAT GASSIEV: Won a 12-round split decision December 3, 2016 against three-time world cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-1) to capture the IBF title.
WBSS: Knocked out former 2-time world cruiserweight champion Krsysztof Wlodarczysk (53-3-1) in the third round of his first title defense.
Note: Now lives in Big Bear, California, which is known for its rugged training center in the mountains.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (1 KO)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-0 (1 KO), defeated Lebedev & Wlodarczysk
YUNIER DORTICOS: Knocked out interim WBA cruiserweight Youri Kalenga (22-2) May 20, 2016 in the 10th round and later upgraded to “regular” WBA world champion.
WBSS: Stopped Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1) in the second round of his first world title defense.
Note: Defected to the USA from Cuba, where he was a member of the famed Cuban National Team, and he lives and trains in Miami, Florida.
World Title Fight Record: 2-0 (2 KOs)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 1-0 (1 KO)*, defeated Kalenga
*includes interim WBA title fight
The super middleweight semifinal round is like a Battle of Britain with three Brits – George Groves,Chris Eubank, Jr. and Callum Smith – and German Juergen Braehmer. All four are ranked among The Ring magazine’s top 10.
SUPER MIDDELEWEIGHT SEMIFINALISTS
GEORGE GROVES: Knocked out defending world champion Fedor Chudinov (14-1) on May 27, 2017 in the sixth round to capture the WBA super middleweight world title.
WBSS: Stopped previously undefeated Jaime Cox in the fourth round.
Note: All three of his career pro losses have been to world champions Carl Froch twice and Badou Jack.
World Title Fight Record: 2-3 (2 KOs)
Record vs. current or former world champions: 3-3 (1 KO), defeated
James DeGale, Glen Johnson & Chudinov.
CHRIS EUBANK, JR.: Crowned IBO super middleweight champ February 4, 2017, when he knocked out Renold Quinlan (11-1) in the 10th round, and successfully defended his title July 15, 2017 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over 3-time, 2-division world champion Arthur Abraham (46-5).
WBSS: Defended his IBO belt with a third-round knockout of Avni Yildirim (16-0).
Note: The son of 2-time, 2-division world champion Chris Eubank, who manages his son’s career.
World Title Fight Record: 3-0 (2 KOs)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 1-0 (0 KOs), defeated Abraham.
*includes 3 IBO world title fights
JUERGEN BRAEHMER: Former WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion of the world who dropped down one weight class for the WBSS tournament.
WBSS: Won a 12-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten American Rob Brant(22-0).
Note: Hadn’t fought as a super middleweight in 10-years prior to the WBSS quarterfinals…30-1 (24 KOs) as a super middleweight and he avenged his lone loss…. two other career losses were to world champions Hugo Hernan Garay and Nathan Cleverly….at 39 the oldest WBSS semifinalist.
World Title Fight Record: 9-1 (6 KOs)*
Record vs. current or former world champions: 2-2 (0 KOs), defeated Javier Velasquez &Enzo Maccarinelli
CALLUM SMITH: The least tested WBSS semifinalist in terms of having faced quality opponents, in addition to being the youngest WBSS semifinalist at the age of 27.
WBSS: Took a 12-round unanimous decision from previously undefeated Erik Sjoglund (26-0).
Note: Has three brothers who are also pro boxers: Paul, Stephen and Liam….the holder of numerous regional titles including WBC International, Silver and Diamond, as well as European super middleweight champion.
World Title Fight Record: 0-0
Record vs. current or former world champions: 0-0
 
All WBSS fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
In addition to the WSBB quarterfinals, Super Channel aired major boxing events live in 2017 like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
To watch all the World Boxing Super Series action live, as well as more exciting boxing to come, 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.
boxing, women's boxing

“FIGHT NITE AT THE SCOTTISH RITE” DANIEL “DA BEAST” BIAZ SCORES UNANIMOUS DECISION

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 Photos by Robert Elizondo – TRB & PRB Entertainment
SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 20, 2018) – Tonight TMB & PRB Entertainment presented “Fight Nite at the Scottish Rite”, an eight-bout event that took place at the Scottish Rite Theatre in San Antonio, TX.  In the four-round main event, Daniel “Da Beast” Biaz (11-1, 5 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over, Ray “The Warrior” Trujillo (3-4-1, 2 KOs).
Biaz, a southpaw who is managed by Prince Ranch Boxing, wobbled Trujillo in every round, with hard shots to the head.  Trujillo was trying to force his way into the chest of Biaz throughout the fight, but was unsuccessful as he was countered with by accurate punches. Trujillo, who was a last-minute replacement, showed a lot of heart but was outgunned by Biaz, who landed the cleaner blows.  Scorecards read 40-36 across the board, all in favor of Biaz.
In the six round co-main event, female bantamweights, Brianna “Queen Bee” Gonzalez (3-1, 1 KO) and Brittny “Mi Vida Loca” Ordonez (2-2, 1 KO) went toe-to-toe for six hard fought rounds.  Both fighters were going for the knockout from the opening bell.  Gonzalez was edging out Ordonez in every round as she landed more power shots.  Ordonez was giving it her all, but it was Gonzalez who pulled out the unanimous victory.  Scorecards read 58-56, 60-54, 59-55 all in favor of Gonzalez.

UNDERCARD RESULTS
6-round bantamweight bout
“Vicious” Vic Pasillas (12-0, 5 KOs) vs. Alejandro Moreno (24-39-3, 11 KOs)
After a two-year layoff, Prince Ranch Boxing’s Victor Pasillas, shook of the rust with a spectacular performance. Pasillas used his superior boxing skills to land his shots.  Moreno was backing up the whole fight as Pasillas was on the attack.  A left uppercut to the body sent Moreno to the canvas in round two. Pasillas continued to apply pressure as he forced Moreno to take a knee in round four.  Moreno got up but did not come out for the fifth round.  Pasillas scores a TKO.
4-round middleweight bout
“Ferocious” Luis Villarreal (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Adam “Ghost” Castillo (1-6-1)
Local fighter Luis Villarreal, went the distance with Adam Castillo in a four-round bout.  Both fighters were feeling each other out in the early rounds, but it was Villarreal who was the more active fighter.  Villarreal came on strong in the final round landing hard body shots, forcing Castillo into survival mode.  Villarreal won by unanimous decision.
Scorecards read across the board 40-36.

4-round featherweight bout
Ignacio “El Alacran” Holgiun (5-0, 5 KOs) vs. Santiago Bayardo (0-1)
Bayardo, who was making pro debut, was out gunned by the more experienced Holgiun.  Bayardo came out throwing wild punches, while Holgiun stayed composed.  Holgiun landed a couple of hard right hooks before dropping Bayardo with a devastating uppercut.  Bayardo got up but did not want to continue.  The bout was stopped at the 1:45 mark of round one.
4-round heavyweight bout
Tyrell “Too Real” Herndon (7-2, 5 KOs) vs. Armando Herrera (2-6, 1 KO)
Local native Tyrell “Too Real” Herndon went to war with fellow statesman Armando Herrera.  Herndon used good footwork to set up his power shots.  Herndon landed two powerful body shots followed by a right hook that sent Herrera to the canvas at the end of round one.  In round two, Herrera showed a lot of heart as he kept coming forward trying to land some power shots of his own, but was not successful.  In the beginning of round three, Herndon landed a counter right cross flush on the face of Herrera, putting him down. Herndon then landed a plethora of punches to the head and body of Herrera after he got up.  Finally, Herndon ended the fight with another flurry of blows at the 1:06 mark of round three.
4-round bantamweight bout
Gregory “Goyo” Morales (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Ben Guerrero (0-1)
Ben Guerrero, who was making his pro debut at age 51, was no match for the young lion, Gregory “Goyo” Morales.  Guerrero came out guns blazing at the opening bell, but ran into a buzz saw, as Morales landed some viscous counter blows.  A double left hook-straight right combo blasted Guerrero who was out on his feet, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the .46 second mark of round one.
4-round lightweight bout
Frank “Bloodhound” Brown (2-1-1, 1 KO) vs. Daniel Sanchez
In a battle of local lightweights, Frank “Bloodhound” Brown dominated Daniel Sanchez from the opening bell.  Brown displayed a vicious body attack while landing at will to the head of Sanchez.  A left hook to the head put Sanchez on the deck in the early part of round two before the referee stopped the bout after a barrage of punches.  Fight was stopped at the2:22 mark of round two.
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boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

ERROL SPENCE JR. RETAINS IBF WELTERWEIGHT TITLE WITH RESOUNDING TKO VICTORY OVER LAMONT PETERSON SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOWTIME® FROM BARCLAYS CENTER

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Lightweight World Champion Robert Easter Defeats Javier Fortuna

in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Co-Feature

 

 

Don’t Miss The Replay Monday, January 22 at

10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME

 

 

Click HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

 

Click HERE for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

 

BROOKLYN (Jan. 21, 2018) – Undefeated welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr. retained his IBF title with an impressive stoppage of former two-division champion Lamont Peterson in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXINGSaturday night from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.

 

 

 

In his first defense since dethroning Kell Brook on SHOWTIME last May, Spence (23-0, 20 KOs) out boxed a tough Peterson (35-4-1, 17 KOs) from start to finish, showcasing a wide array of skills, speed and power. The fight was stopped prior to the start of the eighth round after Peterson’s trainer, Barry Hunter, called for the stoppage.

 

 

 

The fight played out similar to how both fighters predicted, starting in a cagey tactical affair before it turned into an aggressive fight in the middle rounds. Two minutes into round five, Spence used a blistering left hook to send Peterson to the canvas (Click HEREfor highlight). The Washington, D.C. native returned to his feet and continued to battle, but Spence proved to be too much. The 2012 U.S. Olympian out landed Peterson 161-45, while connecting on 49 percent of his power punches to just 31 percent for Peterson.

 

 

 

After the fight Spence spoke to SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray and was quick to give credit to his opponent. “I want to thank Lamont,” he said. “A lot of guys turned down the fight and he took it like a real warrior and I commend him for that. He’s a tough fighter.  He’s willing to die in there.” Click HERE to watch the interview highlight.

 

 

 

Despite earning the win in commanding fashion, Spence still believes he has room to improve. “I still can improve a lot on my defense,” said the unbeaten world champion. “I just have to keep perfecting my skills and keep progressing. You’re going to see a better Errol Spence next time I get in the ring.

 

 

 

“Everybody knows I’ve been waiting on “Some Time” Thurman,” said Spence, looking ahead to a possible unification match with WBC and WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman. “Since I was 15-0 I’ve been calling this guy out and he keeps making excuses.  Let’s get it on. He has two of the belts and we both have big names. It’s an easy fight to make and I want it.”

 

 

 

Peterson, who fought valiantly against the younger Spence, respected the decision of his trainer to stop the fight, “If he asks me to fight a million people, I will. If he asks me to stop. I will stop. I will never question his decision. I know he has my best interests at heart.”

 

 

 

“It was really hard, but if you know Lamont, you know he was not going to give up,” said trainer Barry Hunter. “I had to stop it. At the end of the day, this is my son right here. There’s nothing more valuable than his well-being. If it comes to him or winning, I pick him. I care about him.”

 

 

Undefeated 135-pound world champion Robert Easter (21-0, 14 KOs) earned a split decision victory over former world champion Javier Fortuna (33-2-1, 23 KOs) in the co-main event of the SHOWTIME telecast. The judges scored the bout 114-113, 113-114 and 115-112.

 

 

 

The back-and-forth bout saw two skilled fighters stay in the pocket and look to do damage from the inside. A second round point deduction from Fortuna proved costly when the Dominican was warned and then penalized for hitting Easter behind the head. Without the one point deduction, the fight would have been scored a draw. While Easter Jr. was slightly busier, Fortuna landed the more powerful punches. Easter Jr., who held a significant height advantage, out landed Fortuna, connecting on 120 of 383 (31 percent) power punches while Fortuna connected on 113 of 441 (26 percent).

 

 

 

“It was a tough fight, he’s a former world champion for a reason,” Easter told Gray. “We made it tough trying to counter punch. He wasn’t throwing much and it made it difficult for me to chase this guy around.

 

 

 

“I couldn’t get the knockout but we got the win and that’s all that matters. I knew he was going to run once he felt my power. He just wanted to grab and hold the whole fight.”

 

 

 

Looking ahead, Easter made his intentions clear as he seeks unification bouts in the near future, “I want to fight the champions and unify these belts. Fights like these aren’t in my game plan. I’m ready for Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares to sign the contract.”

 

 

 

A disgruntled Fortuna also spoke to Gray, “the public knows what happened here. They booed because they know that I won this fight.

 

 

 

“If he’s a man let’s fight again at 135-pounds,” said Fortuna, who failed to make weight on two attempts Friday, which meant that Easter’s belt would not be on the line. “I will definitely make the weight. I didn’t give myself enough time to train.”

 

 

 

Unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne (21-0, 16 KOs) made quick work of Francy Ntetu (17-2, 4 KOs) in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING PRELIMS action, as he dropped and battered his opponent early to force referee Arthur Mercante to stop the bout at just 2:15 of the first round. Fighting for his 12th time at the Barclays Center, the 27 year-old Staten Island native kept his unblemished record intact by utilizing his powerful left hand on the overmatched Ntetu.

 

 

 

Browne established his dominance from the start, landing a clean overhand left that dropped Ntetu halfway through the round. The Montreal, Québec native was never able to regain his feet and found himself cornered against the ropes just thirty seconds later. A barrage of powerful combinations landed on the defenseless Ntetu left the referee with little option but to stop the fight with 45 seconds remaining in round number one.

 

 

 

“We worked for this win. He walked into a sure shot and I made him pay,” said Browne. “The overhand left caught him and that was the beginning of the end for him. I knew he was hurt.

 

 

 

“I need a world title shot. I’m ready to take on any of the champions. I don’t have any preferences. I’m glad I put together another great performance here at Barclays Center. I’m going to keep improving until I really become Mr. Barclays Center.”

 

 

 

Ntetu, who moved up to the light heavyweight division for this fight, had a hard time dealing with Browne’s combination of speed and power on his way to the second loss of his pro career.

 

 

 

“[Browne] is very explosive, congrats to him,” said Ntetu. “He’s fast, he’s smart and I did not expect him to be that explosive. He got me with his right hook and a straight left.

 

 

 

“I was in enough shape to fight for 10 rounds. This is not my weight class, but I don’t want to make excuses.”

 

 

 

In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING PRELIMS, undefeated Adam Kownacki (17-0, 14 KOs) delivered a brutal knockout of Iago Kiladze (26-2, 18 KOs) at 2:08 of the sixth round of their heavyweight matchup. Kownacki, born in Lomza, Poland but fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, enjoyed the support of his hometown crowd as he steadily wore Kiladze down.

 

 

 

Kownacki was the more aggressive and accurate of the two fighters, landing 43 percent of his power punches and 35 percent of his total punches, compared to just 30 percent and 18 percent, respectively, for Kiladze. Despite a bloody nose that Kownacki suffered in the first round, the Polish heavyweight began to pour it on and tire Kiladze with a series of uppercuts and one-two combinations in the fourth round. The action-packed bout came to an end when Kownacki connected on a combination of two uppercuts and a right hand that sent Kiladze on his back in the final minute of the sixth round. After a stunned Kiladze returned to his feet, referee Shada Murdaugh called the fight at the suggestion of the ringside doctor.

 

 

 

“I’m so thankful to all my Polish fans who come out and give me that extra support”, said Kownacki, who fought in front of hundreds of his compatriots. “I’m going to keep fighting for the fans and give everyone a great show.

 

 

 

“I think I made the fight a lot harder than I should have. It’s another learning experience and I got the win. That’s all that matters.”

 

 

 

The Republic of Georgia-born Kiladze, who fights out of Los Angeles, was unable to speak to media as he was taken to NYU Lutheran Hospital for precautionary reasons.

 

 

 

Saturday’s telecast will replay on Sunday, January 21 at 9 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Monday, January 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

 

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports , www.premierboxingchampions.com,  follow us on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm  or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter,
and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. PBC was sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina. This event was promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions.