Category Archives: NBC

boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

LAMONT PETERSON VS. FELIX DIAZ JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

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“Fighting in front of a hometown crowd is exciting just like it is in any other sport. You have a home field advantage, a home court advantage and in boxing, you have home ring advantage.” – Lamont Peterson
 
Click HERE For Photos
Photo Credit: Delane Rouse
WASHINGTON, DC (October 15) – Two days before former world champion Lamont Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs) and Olympic Gold Medalist Felix Diaz Jr.(17-0, 8 KOs) are set to enter the ring at EagleBank Arena at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, the fighters hosted a press conference at The Hamilton Live in downtown Washington, DC. The Saturday afternoon Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC event will air live with televised coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
The two co-main event fighters, rising star Prichard Colon(16-0, 13 KOs) and the undefeated Terrel Williams(14-0, 12 KOs)were also in attendance along with undercard fighters super lightweight contender Anthony Peterson (35-1, 23 KOs) and undefeated prospect Alantez Fox (16-0-1, 6 KOs).
Here’s what the fighters had to say just days before their October 17 showdowns:
LAMONT PETERSON
“I had a very healthy and productive training camp. I’m looking forward to this fight. I always look forward to fighting. I wish I could fight every month, I swear I do. But I understand it’s a business.
“I’m looking for a tough fight. I know he’s prepared. I did my homework on him though. I wish we could fight tonight…but I guess I can wait.
“It’s the best to fight in front of a hometown crowd. It’s the best for me, and it’s the best for my fans. It’s always great to walk to the ring and have those familiar faces in the crowd.
 “Fighting in front of a hometown crowd is exciting just like it is in any other sport. You have home field advantage, home court advantage and in boxing, you have home ring advantage.  I’m blessed to be fighting at home, and I’m blessed to be fighting again.
“It’s going to be really exciting to have my daughter at my fight for the first time. She’ll be at the weigh-in too, so I’m happy I can have here there with me.
 
FELIX DIAZ JR.
“I like the opportunity but the pressure is on Lamont fighting in his hometown. I don’t feel any pressure coming into his hometown.
“I don’t feel any pressure to keep my undefeated record because I trained to win. The Olympics were the most pressure I’ve ever felt and it was my proudest moment as a fighter and as a man. It’s one of my biggest achievements.
“After this fight, I want to spend time with my family and see Halloween for the first time in the United States. My kids are excited to dress up and I’m excited to eat the candy.”
 
PRICHARD COLON
“I had a great training camp in Puerto Rico for about four to five weeks. I recently just fought in September and I was in great condition. This fight is a great opportunity for me to be seen on national television.
“I always a look for the win. Looking for that ‘W,’ that’s how we work. If the knockout comes beautiful, I’m coming off of three knockouts in a row. I’m looking to add another one to my record.
“He’s a great opponent. He’s undefeated. I know he’s hungry. I’ve faced big fighters in my career in the amateurs. No worries he’s just another fighter and I know I’m going to be the one with my hand raised on Saturday.
“I want to make my own fighting style. I just want to be me. When I started my career I wanted to be like Tito Trinidad and Hector Camacho Sr. Those were my favorite fighters growing up, but now I want to make my own brand, and that’s what I’m going to do on Saturday.
“Everybody in the area come to EagleBank Arena Saturday. Doors open at 1 p.m. and if you cant make it, tune in on NBC at 4 p.m.“
TERREL WILLIAMS
“I’m ready to go.  This is a huge opportunity for me.  I know I have a lot of support with my family, friends and fans behind me.
“I have a tough task in front of me. Prichard is a great up and coming undefeated fighter, but I’m ready.
“This is the challenge that I’ve always dreamed. I’m ready to rock and roll on Saturday.
 
ANTHONY PETERSON
“Its fight time. Make sure you tune in. It’s going to be a great show.
“Boxing in DC definitely took a big turn in 2011 when Lamont kicked in the front door and beat Amir Khan. It was a big victory for the Headbangers and a big victory for the city. Boxing is definitely big in DC again with local fights in small venues and fights like we have Saturday night at EagleBank Arena.
“I feel very sharp. I’m ready to go.  I haven’t been this focused in a long time.
“Lamont is more than a best friend. I can’t explain or describe it. I’m so excited my niece is going to come watch us fight for the first time. She’s my heart.”
ALANTEZ FOX
“It’s an honor and privilege to be on the same card as Lamont and Anthony Peterson. They are two hometown heroes that we have all looked up to in some form or another.
“I am still here to put on a show, but it is still an honor and a privilege to be on this card.”
 
BARRY HUNTER, Peterson’s Trainer
“This is what we do. Fighting has been a part of our lives for I don’t know how many years. I would like to thank Felix and his trainer. Felix is a good young man. He comes with a very good pedigree. I had a chance to hang out with them in Florida about a year or two ago and they treated us with respect and kindness.
“Fighting is what we do damn near all day everyday. It’s in the bloodline. Come Saturday, we look forward to a good fight. I don’t make predictions, but its going to be a great night for DC, and a great night for the DMV.”
# # #
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with HeadBangers Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $85, $65 and $40, plus applicable service charges, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the EagleBank Arena box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 1-800-745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. Please visit www.eaglebankarena.com for more information.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @DiBellaEnt, @KingPete26, @NBCSports, @EagleBankArena and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment andwww.facebook.com/EagleBankArena.
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LAMONT PETERSON VS. FELIX DIAZ JR. MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Click HERE For Photos
Photo Credit: Delane Rouse
ALEXANDRIA, VA (October 14) – Former world champion Lamont Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs) and Olympic Gold Medalist Felix Diaz Jr.(17-0, 8 KOs), who will headline this Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC event airing live from the EagleBank Arena at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, hosted a media workout today at the Alexandria Boxing Club. They were joined by Lamont’s brother, Anthony Peterson (35-1, 23 KOs), local favorite Jimmy Lange (38-6-2, 25 KOs) and undefeated prospect Alantez Fox (16-0-1, 6 KOs), who will also fight October 17 in separate bouts.
The fighters worked out for media and met with dozens of children from the Charles Houston Recreation Center and the nearby Boys & Girls Club to sign autographs and take photos.
Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC televised coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
LAMONT PETERSON
“I’ve seen Diaz and I think he can fight. It’s obvious he can fight. He’s undefeated, but I really think when we get in the thick of this, experience is going to take over and I don’t think he is going to have enough to finish.
“It’s times like this when you’re with kids that you really see how important it is to be around positive role models. How you can make a difference by just being there. It is always important for me to give back and fighting in my hometown lets me do that.
“When I’m on the road, you have to move around a lot and workout in a hotel gym, but the benefit of being at home is that I get to sleep in my own bed, work out at my own gym and its 100 times better for me. At the end of the day, I love to fight in front of my hometown fans.”
FELIX DIAZ JR.
 
“Just like everything in life, we have to climb. Beating Lamont would be reaching new heights in my career and my life.
“After the Olympics I took a year off to think about my future. And that break led me here.
“I know what the whole world knows about Lamont Peterson. He’s a tremendous fighter…but that doesn’t matter. I’m still going to beat him.
“A world title shot is in my future and I think this fight is what’s going to open the door for me.”
 
ANTHONY PETERSON
 
“We get our work in everyday. This is a whole family type of atmosphere.
“I’ve seen tapes on my opponent. He’s a tough southpaw. I’m looking forward to fighting him on Saturdaynight.
“I love supporting my brother. He is my best friend and I’m so happy we are on the same card and representing DC and Headbangers in front of a hometown crowd.
“I definitely want a world title shot soon and I’m staying at 135. It’s where I’m comfortable and where I will continue to become better and better.”
 
JIMMY LANGE
“I prepared for this fight the same way I prepare for every fight. There’s no film on my opponent [Mike Sawyer], so I prepared for King Kong and got in the very best shape.
“It’s an honor [to fight on a card headlined by Lamont Peterson] because he has brought boxing back to DC and the DC metropolitan area.
“I am absolutely honored to be on this card, because Lamont is a real champion in and out of the ring. You don’t hear anything bad about him, because there isn’t anything bad to say.”
ALANTEZ FOX
 
“Training camp went really well. I feel very strong. I’ve got a few more pounds to cut and that’s it.
“I know my opponent [Eric Mitchell] is tough. Normally Philly fighters are always tough.
“It’s going to be easy from round one to the end. You’re not going to want to turn away because, if you do, you could miss something good.
“Every time I fight, I want to entertain the fans, like I’m the main event, even if I’m not the main event.”
 
# # #
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with HeadBangers Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $85, $65 and $40, plus applicable service charges, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the EagleBank Arena box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 1-800-745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. Please visit www.eaglebankarena.com for more information.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing, andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @DiBellaEnt, @KingPete26, @NBCSports, @EagleBankArena and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment andwww.facebook.com/EagleBankArena.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

WELTERWEIGHTS KEVIN BIZIER & FREDRICK LAWSON SQUARE-OFF ON  PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBCSN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 AT MICCOSUKEE RESORT & GAMING IN MIAMI, FLORIDA 9:00 P.M. ET/6:00 P.M. PT

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Plus! Walter Castillo & Keita Obara Meet In Co-Main Event
 
Tickets On Sale Now!
 
MIAMI (October 14, 2015) – Welterweights Kevin Bizier (24-2, 16 KOs) and Fredrick Lawson (24-0, 20 KOs) will meet in a 12-round contest as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN comes to Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in Miami, Florida on Saturday, November 7 with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The telecast opens with an exciting clash as Walter Castillo (26-3, 19 KOs) takes on Keita Obara (15-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round super lightweight contest.
”An opportunity like this is exactly what I was waiting for,” said Bizier. “It is now my turn to prove I belong at the world class level. I am going to make the most of this opportunity.”
“I’d like to thank my whole team for this opportunity,” said Lawson. “I would also like to commend Kevin Bizier for having the courage to accept this fight. I know he is a good fighter, but this time he is way out of his league. Come November 7, I will show him why I’m the future of the welterweight division. This is the beginning of another era. Dig your graves friends, General OKUNKA the ‘Baby Face Assassin’ is in town!”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing, are priced at $25, $50 and $100, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling Warriors Boxing at (954) 985-1155 or by visitingwww.warriorsboxing.com. You may also call Ticket Force at (877) 840-0457 or visit Ticket Force online athttp://tickets.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1434.
An accomplished amateur fighting out of Quebec, Canada, Bizier is once again nearing a long-awaited world title opportunity. The 31-year-old has fought exclusively on his home soil and will be making his U.S. debut on November 7. Bizier owns victories over Lanardo Tyner, Carlos Herrera and most recently was triumphant against Fouad El Massoudi in April.
Born in Ghana but fighting out of Chicago, Lawson is unbeaten since turning pro in 2011 and stopped 19 of the first 20 opponents he faced. The 26-year-old racked up 23 wins fighting in Ghana before making his U.S. debut in March 2014. Since arriving in the U.S., Lawson has remained unbeaten with victories over Mohammed Kayongo, Ray Narh and Breidis Prescott.
The 26-year-old Castillo is an exciting brawler who never takes a step back and will look to put on a show for fans in Miami. The Managua, Nicaragua-born knockout artist ended 12 of his first professional 14 victories inside of the distance. Most recently, he stopped Ammeth Diaz in the third round of their July bout.
Since dropping his pro debut, Keita Obara has been on fire, delivering knockouts in 14 of his next 15 fights, all victories. The 28-year-old from Tokyo will be making his U.S. debut on November 7 and is looking for his third knockout victory of 2015.
# # #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.nbcsports.com/boxing, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @NBCSports and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.
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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBCSN RESULTS   GABRIEL BRACERO KNOCKS OUT DANNY O’CONNOR IN 41 SECONDS

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 JONATHAN GUZMAN MAKES IT 20-FOR-20
 
RYAN KIELCZWESKI DECISIONS VAZQUEZ IN WAR
 
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
LOWELL, Mass. (October, 10 2015) – Brooklyn welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero(24-2, 5 KOs) came into hostile territory and knocked out hometown favorite Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (26-3, 10 KOs) only 41 seconds into the first round, headlining tonight’s loaded Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN card at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Bracero, who handed O’Connor his first pro loss four years ago, used an overhand right that O’Connor, fighting out of nearby Framingham (MA) did not see coming.  O’Connor was out cold before he hit the mat.
“I worked on that punch for six weeks,” Bracero said after the fight.  “In my last fight, I fought a southpaw and made some mistakes.  I specifically worked on that punch because Danny’s a southpaw. I slipped to the side and threw the right.  This was the first time I went away to camp, away from my family.
“I’m just so humbled and grateful. I knew coming in here that all the pressure was on him (O’Connor); the crowd would try to take the beast out of me and put me on the defense.
Everything is going to work out (regarding his next fight).  I’ll let Tommy Gallagher andLou DiBella take care of my next fight.  I’m ready to go right back in the gym.”
O’Connor was taken by ambulance to the nearby Lowell General Hospital for observation.
Hometown hero “Irish” Micky Ward and National Hockey League Hall-of-Famer NBCSN analyst “Sugar” Ray Leonard returned to the same building in which he captured a National Golden Gloves Tournament title in 1973.
Undefeated Dominican super bantamweight KO artist Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (20-0, 20 KOs), fighting out of nearby Lawrence (MA), made it a perfect 20 fights, 20 KO wins via a ninth-round stoppage of a game Danny Aquino (17-3, 10 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature.
Guzman dropped Aquino, a Mexican native fighting out of Connecticut, in the second round.  The badly hurt Aquino, however, lasted until the ninth round when Guzman ended the show with a brutal left hook.  Aquino, another New England Golden Gloves champion who won his title in this very building, had never been stopped as a professional.
 
Quincy (MA) featherweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (24-1, 7 KOs), who won two New England Golden Gloves championships at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, won a 10-round, hard fought decision over Brooklyn’s Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-2, 13 KOs).
Kielczweski out boxed Vazquez in the first four rounds, but Vasquez came charging back and opened a cut over Kielczweski’s right eye in the eighth and rocked the local fighter in the final 30 seconds of the fight  The judges had Kielczweski winning the entertaining fight by scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94.
FIGHTER QUOTES
GABRIEL BRACERO:
“God bless Danny O’Connor. He’s a champion. Just because he lost here today, I still tip my hat off to him. It takes a real champion to come in here and do what he does. I wish him the best.
“It’s an amazing feeling. The truth is, I was a winner before I walked in the ring. This is a dream come true. I have dreamed about this day for a long time. I made some mistakes in my prior fights, but I went back to the drawing board, went to camp, fixed my mistakes and came in here super focused today.
On what he said to O’Connor after the fight…
“My message to Danny was, after my last fight, after my last loss, I was down. I went through a depression. I told him not to let that happen to him. To pick himself back up, to be proud of himself. To go home to his beautiful wife and kids and enjoy life. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to him, that happened to me.”
JONATHAN GUZMAN:
“I proved that I can fight and I can punch. This fight was an example of what I can do.
“From the second round I fought with two hurt hands. It didn’t matter to my hands, I was going to stop him.”
RYAN KIELCZWESKI:
“Before this fight, I knew he could punch. I thought I avoided it for the whole fight, but in the 10th round, he got me. It felt pretty good to get rocked for the first time, just to know what it feels like.”
“I kind of started off slow, but in the middle rounds, I started putting my punches together, throwing four, five, six punches at a time and it was working. But he came back every time and started trading with me.
(On going 10 rounds…)
“It’s all the same. You’re just as tired after a four-round fight as you are after six, eight or 10.  You leave it all till the end of the fight. It all feels the same.
(On getting hurt in the 10th….)
“I didn’t know where my feet were. It was a strange feeling, I had no idea what that felt like. He caught me and I could see straight, but I felt myself going left and right.
“He’s a tough guy.  I really needed that fight.
“We knew he wasn’t much of a volume pincher.  It didn’t surprise us when he came on in the middle rounds.
“The blood wasn’t in my eye. I didn’t know I was cut until the referee came over.
“I like to entertain in the ring.  I don’t need to do this.  I do it because I like to fight and entertain.
“This was my favorite venue to fight in as an amateur.  I fought here 10-15 times as an amateur.”
RAFAEL VAZQUEZ:
“He was a slick fighter, he moved and he had great power. He was in great shape. He’s young, I will be 38 this year. No excuse, I moved up to 126 pounds to face him, I’m 122 pounds.
“I thought I won the last three rounds. Especially the ninth and tenth round. The tenth round was big. He maybe connected ten punches in the whole round. I rocked him. I hurt him. But, we’re fighting in his hometown, and I’m grateful to him for giving me the opportunity.”
Undercard
Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki (12-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn, kept his undefeated record intact, turning in a workmanlike effort to win an eight-round unanimous decision (78-73 X 3) over Rodney Hernandez (8-3-1, 1 KO).
Irish junior lightweight Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland (31-1, 14 KOs), a 2012 Interim world featherweight title challenger, lived up to is nickname.  The Dubliner dropped toughDavid “El Finito” Martinez (18-7-1, 3 KOs) once on his way to a one-sided fight that ended at 18 seconds of the eighth round when Hyland caught Martinez with a vicious left hook.
Irish middleweight champion Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (22-1, 15 KOs) outclassed light heavyweight veteran David Toribio (21-16, 14 KOs) and ended the fight with a second-round knockout. Former European champion Stephen “The Rock” Ormond (19-2, 10 KOs) dropped former world title challenger Michael “Cold Blood” Clark twice en route to an opening round victory by knockout.
New York lightweight prospect Titus Williams (3-0, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten, stoppingArthur Parker (1-14-2, 1 KO) in the second round, while two-time world title challengerFernando “El Vasco” Saucedo (57-6-3, 10 KOs) registered a second-round technical knockout over lightweight Carlos Fulgencio (19-7-1, 12 KOs) in the opening bout of the evening.
O’Connor vs. Bracero was promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphy’s Boxing.
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LAMONT PETERSON MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Click HERE For Photos
Photo Credit: Wallace Barron
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 9) – Hometown hero Lamont Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs) worked out for the media Thursday at the Bald Eagle Recreation Center in Southeast Washington, D.C. as he prepares for 12-round showdown against Olympic Gold Medalist Felix Diaz Jr.(17-0, 8 KOs).  The PBC on NBC main event bout takes place next Saturday, October 17 at EagleBank Arena at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC televised coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
Peterson’s younger brother Anthony (35-1, 23 KOs), who will also be featured on next weekend’s fight card, also worked out and spoke to the media about his own fight and supporting his brother.
Below are what Lamont and Anthony Peterson had to say as well as their trainer Barry Hunter:
LAMONT PETERSON
“I’m still a 140 pounder. Any fight that comes in at 140 pounds, I will take it. If there’s no title involved or anything like that, I would fight anyone at 147, 154, any opportunity that makes sense, I will take it.
“I know a little bit about my opponent. I remember him from the amateur days. Fighting on the Dominican team in the Pan Am games and places like that where he would compete.
“I remember watching him fight. He is a pretty tough guy. He was losing big and he actually came back and won the fight so I know he has a lot of heart. At the end of the day, I don’t think if he has enough experience. He might show some experience, but I’m not going to look at it
“Its going to get tough in there. Fighting me is like being thrown into cold water…it shocks you.
“I love action and my game plan is to go in there and give fans a fun fight and show them some drama. It’s a great night of boxing over all.
“Boxing is always going to give me motivation. I love it. I am a prideful person so I am going to train hard no matter who it is. I’m going to train hard. Fans know and the boxing world knows I’m still here and I’m still learning and always getting better.
“October 17 I am anxious to show that I still want to get better and show that there are still a lot of things that people haven’t seen me do.
“I would like to avenge some defeats that I’ve had. I’m better than anyone I’ve ever lost to…I’d like to have the opportunity to go out and prove that I’m better than the people I lost to.
“I am going to show that I am confident and conditioned. This fight I trained just as hard as I have for any other fight.
“I’m sure I’ve sparred at least 500 rounds this camp. There were some weeks this camp that I would spar up to 20 rounds every day.”
ANTHONY PETERSON
“Its going to be a great event for all of us. Lamont and I fought on the same card back August at Barclays Center, but the time before that was December 2011 at the Convention Center in DC, so it is going to be a great night for both of us.
We are grown men now. We are experienced veterans. We know what goes on in this sport and we are going to go in there and handle our business.
“I am going to be a lightweight for a long time.
“There are only two fighters in this world I will not fight – my brother and my newphew and that’s it.”
 
BARRY HUNTER, Petersons’ Trainer
“I think sometimes we put too much emphasis on belts. The fight game is the fight game and it should be the best against the best.
“Training camp was great. This is what we do all day is everyday. Attitude is everything. Lamont has a fighter’s mentality. For the most part, between fighting and being with his daughter – these are the two things that make him the most happy.
“People don’t realize that before Lamont fought Amir Khan in DC, there was a 20 year window that we had big time fighting in the DC area. A lot of what you see in this area by way of fighting, you have to give Lamont and this squad a whole lot of credit for bringing boxing back to DC.
“If you look at the #FreeBoxingForAll t-shirts that a lot of fighters and fans wear, it doesn’t say boxing for me, or for Lamont – it says boxing for all. In the past it has been treated like an underground sport and people didn’t really know what was going on. Since the start of PBC, it is starting to get more exposure.”
# # #
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with HeadBangers Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $85, $65 and $40, plus applicable service charges, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the EagleBank Arena box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 1-800-745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. Please visit www.eaglebankarena.com for more information.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing, andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @DiBellaEnt, @KingPete26, @NBCSports, @EagleBankArena and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment andwww.facebook.com/EagleBankArena.
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FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC LOSS OF HIS FATHER AND TRAINER IRISH CONTENDER PATRICK HYLAND CARRIES A HEAVY HEART AS HE LOOKS TO FIND SOLACE IN THE RING ON SATURDAY NIGHT

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RETURNS ON THE UNDERCARD OF PBC ON NBCSN AT LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM IN LOWELL, MASS.
LOWELL, Mass. (10/9/15) – On Saturday night, Irish world-rated contender Patrick Hyland (30-1, 14 KOs) faces David Martinez on the undercard of the PBC on NBCSN  event from Lowell, Mass. The fight won’t be shown on television, Hyland views this is the most important fight of his career as he works his way back into world title contention.
The bout on Saturday night will be the first in a career that dates back to his days as a 9-year-old amateur in Ireland where his trainer, father and best friend Patrick Sr. will not be in his corner. Patrick Sr., better known as Paddy, tragically passed away in the spring of this year. Leaving the Irish boxing community shocked.
“I hear his voice in the back of my head every day. Every day. Especially in the gym though when I am training,” said Hyland Jr.
The loss of Hyland’s father came just weeks before Hyland’s wife Lorna gave birth to their first child, Callum, further adding to the significance of this fight.
“I challenged Javier Fortuna for the world championship,” said Hyland. “I won the Irish world title. I have fought at MGM Grand, the O2 Arena and Madison Square Garden. For me though, this is the most important fight of my career. Not only am I fighting for my newborn son, but I am fighting to keep my father’s legacy alive. He made me the man that I am today and the man that I want my son to one day become. Winning a world title was our dream that we had together. He was always pushing me and my brothers to be the absolute best that we can be, and I won’t stop until I get another crack at a world title.”
The bout on Saturday night will be Hyland’s fourth since the lone loss of his career, a highly entertaining 12-round decision for the interim featherweight title against now-reigning super featherweight champion Javier Fortuna.  Following the loss to Fortuna, Hyland was out of action for a year and a half, as he sorted through promotional issues. Hyland signed with DiBella Entertainment in June of 2014 and has since put together three impressive victories. Hyland believes that he will be knocking on the door to challenge for another world title in 2016.
“I have a great team behind me. My manager Brian Peters and promoter Lou DiBella are working hard,” continued Hyland. “As long as I continue to win and do what I need to do, I know they will get me the opportunity to prove myself and show that I am one of the best 126-pounders in the world. 2016 is going to be a big year for me and I fully expect to once again be challenging for a piece of the featherweight crown.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are on sale and priced at $125, $85, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Special student, veteran and senior ticket prices also available. For tickets, visit www.lowellauditorium.com
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.lowellauditorium.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @DOC_Boxing, @TeamBracero, @NBCSports and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys, www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

DANNY O’CONNOR VS. GABRIEL BRACERO II, RYAN KIELCZWESKI VS. RAFAEL VAZQUEZ CONTINUES BOSTON VS. NYC RING RIVALRY

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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBCSN
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 FROM THE LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM IN LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS
8 P.M. ET/5 P.M. PT
 
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
 
LOWELL, Mass. (October 6, 2015) – The great Boston vs. New York City sports rivalry continues Saturday, October 10 in the ring on national television with northeast bragging rights on the line as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN comes to historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The Boston home team sends out welterweight Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (26-2, 10 KOs) and featherweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (23-1, 7 KOs), respectively, against Brooklyn invaders Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (23-2, 4 KOs) and Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-1, 13 KOs).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are on sale and priced at $125, $85, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes.  Special student, veteran and senior ticket prices also available. For tickets, visit www.lowellauditorium.com.
O’Connorwill be seeking revenge for 2011 loss to Braceroin the 10-round main event, while Kielczweski faces the toughest test of his career versus Vasquez in their 10-round bout to open the NBCSN broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
In the other scheduled televised fight, undefeated Dominican super bantamweight KO artistJonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (19-0, 19 KOs), fighting out of nearby Lawrence (MA), takes on Connecticut’s upset-minded Danny Aquino (17-2, 10 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature.
Boston vs. New York is a classic matchup that has dominated sports headlines in the northeast for years as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox waged countless wars while the New England Patriots faced the New York Giants in two Super Bowls and continued their longtime rivalry with the New York Jets. The rich tradition of this rivalry has also spilled into the ring as many top fighters from each region have faced-off over the years.
The first significant Boston vs. NYC fight goes back to 1927 at Yankee Stadium, when Jack Dempsey stopped Jack “The Boston Gob” Sharkey in the seventh round of their heavyweight title eliminator to challenge world champion Gene Tunney.  Controversy surrounded this fight as Sharkey, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, fought his boxing idol, Dempsey, who along with Babe Ruth ruled Manhattan during America’s Golden Age of Sports in the 1920s.  Sharkey out-boxed Dempsey for six rounds until, complaining to the referee about Dempsey’s low punches, he was knocked out cold with a picture-perfect left hook.
Another legendary heavyweight champion from the Boston area, Rocky Marciano, wouldn’t have retired with his famous 49-0 record if one round or another were scored differently against Bronx favorite Roland LaStarza in 1950.  Marciano took a questionable 10-round decision from LaStarza at Madison Square Garden. Three years later at the Polo Grounds, Marciano successfully defended his world title, knocking out LaStarza in the 11thround of their 1953 Fight of the Year.
A pair of Hall of Fame heavyweights from Brooklyn, Floyd Patterson and “Iron” Mike Tyson, respectively, knocked out Boston’s Tom McNeeley and his son, Peter McNeeley.  McNeeley dropped Patterson once but he hit the deck 11 times before finally succumbing in the fourth round of their 1961 title fight in Toronto.  His son, Peter, lost by first-round disqualification to Tyson who was fighting for the first since being released from prison.
A fireman from Boston with brittle hands, Paul Pender, twice defeated arguably the consensus Greatest of All-time, Harlem’s “Sugar” Ray Robinson, not once but twice by 15-round split decisions in 1960 world middleweight title fights at the Boston Garden.
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, a transplanted New Jersey fighter who lived in Marciano’s hometown of Brockton, Mass., felt ripped off when he was given a draw in his first world title fight against Brooklyn’s defending champion Vito Antuofermo in Las Vegas. Two years later in 1981, Hagler captured the coveted crown at the Boston Garden as Antuofermo retired after four rounds.
Even Lowell’s “Irish” Micky Ward had a New York City rival in Brooklyn’s Zab Judah, who he dropped a hard-fought 12-round decision to in 1998.  For many years Judah said Ward was the toughest opponent he ever fought.
More recently, Irish Olympian Kevin McBride, fighting out of the Dorchester section of Boston, ended Tyson’s career in 2005 with a sixth-round TKO victory that left the boxing world in shock, and Boston heavyweight John Ruiz – the only Latino heavyweight champion of the world – won a 2008 fight in Mexico against Harlem’s Jameel McCline by 12-round decision in a world title eliminator.
On October 10, O’Connor, Bracero, Kielczweski and Vazquez will have their opportunity to not only represent their hometowns, but to etch themselves into the annals of the rivalry.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.lowellauditorium.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @DOC_Boxing, @TeamBracero, @NBCSports and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports,www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys,www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxingandwww.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

RISING STAR PRICHARD COLON FACES UNDEFEATED TERREL WILLIAMS TO REPLACE ANDRE DIRRELL VS. BLAKE CAPARELLO BOUT ON PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 FROM EAGLEBANK ARENA AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY  IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA

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Plus! Local Talent Including Anthony Peterson, Jimmy Lange
& David Grayton In Undercard Action
 
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (October 5, 2015) – Rising star Prichard “Digget” Colon (16-0, 13 KOs) faces undefeated Terrel Williams (14-0, 12 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC Saturday, October 17 from EagleBank Arena at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
The 10-round welterweight bout between Colon and Williams will replace the previously announced battle between Andre Dirrell and Blake Caparello after Dirrell had to withdraw for medical reasons.
The October 17 event is headlined local favorite and former world champion Lamont Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs) taking on 2008 Olympic Gold medalist from the Dominican Republic Felix Diaz Jr. (17-0, 8 KOs) with televised coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Peterson’s brother, Anthony Peterson (35-1, 23 KOs) will be featured in a 10-round super lightweight bout as part of the exciting lineup of undercard fights.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with HeadBangers Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $85, $65 and $40, plus applicable service charges, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the EagleBank Arena box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 1-800-745-3000. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. Please visit www.eaglebankarena.com for more information.
Peterson, the younger brother of main event participant Lamont, is the owner of wins over Daniel Attah, Dominic Salcido and Marcos Leonardo Jimenez, the Washington, D.C. product is looking to win his six consecutive fight on October 17. Most recently he stopped Ramesis Gil in the sixth-round on July 11.
Adding to the local flavor is Virginia’s-own Jimmy Lange (38-6-2, 25 KOs), who will be fighting for the 17th time at EagleBank Arena, as he takes on Mike Sawyer (6-4, 4 KOs) in an eight-round light heavyweight bout, undefeated 28-year-old D.C.-product David “Day-Day” Grayton (12-0, 9 KOs) taking on 26-year-old Mexican Christopher Degollado (13-5, 11 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight affair and 22-year-old Demond Nicholson (14-1, 14 KOs) facing 28-year-old Colombian Milton Nunez (28-14-1, 25 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight contest.
Rounding out the action is undefeated 30-year-old Brooklyn-native Lenox Allen (19-0-1, 12 KOs) against 25-year-old Hungarian Istvan Zeller (24-8, 7 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight bout, 20-year-old D.C.-native Kareem Martin (6-0-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round welterweight fight, 26-year-old Tommy Logan (3-1, 3 KOs) out of Winter Haven, Florida in a four-round lightweight affair and undefeated 23-year-old Alantez Fox (16-0-1, 6 KOs) of Forrestville, Maryland in an eight-round middleweight bout.
As an amateur, Colon was a five-time Puerto Rican national champion prior to turning pro in 2013. Trained by his father, Colon has been stylistically compared to fellow countryman Felix Trinidad, with all but one of his knockouts coming in five rounds or less. The 23-year-old scored a spectacular knockout over tough veteran Michael Finney in August and in September he knocked out former world champion Vivian Harris.
An undefeated fighter out of Los Angeles, Williams looks to make his mark when he faces Colon on October 17. The hard puncher has already picked up two victories in 2015 with a stoppage of Tavorus Teague and most recently, a decision over John Williams in August. Prior to the decision in his last bout, Williams had racked 12-straight victories within the distance.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @DiBellaEnt, @KingPete26, @NBCSports, @EagleBankArena and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment andwww.facebook.com/EagleBankArena.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

SUGAR RAY LEONARD RETURNS TO LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM 42 YEARS AFTER WINNING NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES TITLE THERE

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DANNY O’CONNOR VS. GABRIEL BRACERO REMATCH HEADLINES
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBCSN
SATURDAY, OCT. 10 FROM IN LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS
 
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
(Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions)
 
LOWELL, Mass. (October 1, 2015) – Forty-two years after he captured his first National Golden Gloves Tournament title at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Hall-of-Famer Sugar Ray Leonard returns Saturday, October 10 to the same historic building as a television analyst for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, airing live from Lowell, Massachusetts.
PBC on NBCSN is headlined by a 10-round rematch between Framingham (MA) welterweight Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (26-2, 10 KOs), who is fighting to avenge his 2011 loss to Brooklyn welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (23-2, 4 KOs). O’Connor and Leonard are two of only four people to ever win the National Golden Gloves and National Amateur Championship in the same year. O’Connor collected both accolades in 2008.
Leonard captured top honors in the lightweight division (132 pounds) of the 1973 National Golden Gloves Tournament, outpointing Hilmer Kenty in the championship final at Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Leonard won the National Golden Gloves Tournament at light welterweight title the following year, while seven years later Kenty became the first professional world champion from Emanuel Steward‘s soon-to-become legendary Kronk Gym in Detroit.
“One of the most precious moments of my career happened in Lowell, Massachusetts,” Leonard recently said about his aforementioned experience.  “It was priceless.”
In addition to Leonard and Kenty, five other future world champions – Marvin Hagler,Aaron Pryor, Art Frias, Leon and Michael Spinks – competed in the 1973 National Golden Gloves Tournament.  Leonard, Hagler, Pryor and Michael Spinks are International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees.
Leonard has another tie to Lowell, the fourth-largest city in Massachusetts.  In 1978, he won a 10-round decision over Dicky Eklund at Hynes Auditorium in Boston. Eklund was the head trainer of his half-brother, “The Pride of Lowell” and three-time “Fight of the Year” participant “Irish” Micky Ward, who celebrates his 50th birthday this coming October 4.
Also featured on the PBC on NBCSN telecast is undefeated super bantamweight rising star Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (19-0, 19 KOs), a Dominican Republic native who now lives in nearby Lawrence (MA), takes on upset specialist Danny Aquino (17-2, 10 KOs), of Meriden (CT), in the 10-round co-feature.
The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will showcase Quincy, Mass. featherweight prospect Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (23-1, 7 KOs) against Brooklyn’s Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, which also hosted the 1995 National Golden Gloves Tournament, represents a homecoming for O’Connor and Kielczweski, who both won New England Golden Gloves Tournament titles there.
Tickets are on sale and priced at $125, $85, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes.  Special student, veteran and senior ticket prices also available. For tickets visit www.lowellauditorium.com.
# # #
For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.lowellauditorium.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,  @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @DOC_Boxing, @TeamBracero, @NBCSports and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports,www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys,www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxingandwww.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

DOMINIC “TROUBLE” BREAZEALE READY FOR PRIME TIME

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Birmingham, Alabama (September 25, 2015) –  World heavyweight championship boxing returns to prime-time television tomorrow evening on NBCafter over thirty-years.  Two bouts will be televised and featured in the co-main event of the live Premier Boxing Champions telecast is undefeated heavyweight prospect Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (15-0, 14 KO’s).

Breazeale, who will be opening up the live telecast is truly excited and thankful for the opportunity to show that he is ready to take on the top fighters of the heavyweight division.  Speaking at the press conference yesterday, Breazeale stated the following, “I want to thank Al Haymon and Premier Boxing Champions for this opportunity.  This is a dream come true for me and I intend to make the best of it.  I respect my opponent Fred Kassi, but this is business and I am coming out looking for the early knockout.”

“I need to make a statement and what better statement than to impose my will on this man and take him out in the early rounds in front of a nationally televised audience.  Deontay Wilder is fighting in the main-event after my bout so I am sure he will be watching.  Everyone is going to know who I am after this fight and know that I am coming for those world heavyweight titles.  I want to bring that fear and respect back to American heavyweight boxing,” said Breazeale.

The Premier Boxing Champions live telecast kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST on NBC.

“Here Comes Trouble“
 
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