Category Archives: Premier Boxing Champions

boxing, Fox Sports 1, Premier Boxing Champions

Ahmed Elbiali Pre-Fight Quotes & Training Camp Photos

Leave a comment

 
Unbeaten Prospect Battles Jackson Junior Tuesday, March 14on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes 
From the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi
 
Click HERE for Photos from Team Elbiali
 
 
TUNICA, MS (March 13, 2017) – Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Ahmed Elbiali is prepared for another opportunity to keep his perfect record intact as he faces Brazil’s Jackson Junior in an eight-round fight featured on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, March 14.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi and is headlined by rising middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko battling unbeaten Kemahl Russell in a 10-round bout.
                              
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, start at $20, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Fitz Gift Shop, at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Here is what Elbiali had to say ahead of the showdown:
On fighting on FS1…
“It’s a great situation to be fighting on national television, especially FS1. TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS has been great for all boxers who are fortunate enough to be showcased.  I’m just grateful for the opportunity and everyone tuning in will see me throwing a lot of big shots.”
On his current training camp …
“It’s been a real smooth camp going into this fight.  I’m back training in Miami with my coach Carlos Albuerae.  When I moved to Las Vegas, we had temporally split up, but now we are back together, stronger than ever.”
On facing opponent Jackson Junior…
“Jackson Junior is a big puncher, as am I, so expect to see some hard blows being traded.  Although he’s had more fights then me, I feel I’m on another level.  I know he’s coming to knock me out, but I have other plans. He will not be taken lightly.”
On continuing his run to a world title…
“If I want to continue marching up the rankings, coming out victorious against Junior is crucial. The ultimate goal is to win a world title, and I’m going to do everything in my power to get there.  This fight is the next step toward achieving that goal.  I’m not leaving any stone unturned.”
On bouncing back from an injured hand…
“It was a difficult time for me being out of the ring for over a year with my hand injury.  The good news is I’m 100% healthy and my hand feels great.  I had a lot of time to reflect on what I need to improve on so that’s what I focused on while I was out.  I stayed in great shape the whole time.  I just want to get in the ring and shake off the rust.”
#          #          #
Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.ringstar.com,http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com.  Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Fox Sports 1, Premier Boxing Champions

Ahmed Elbiali Pre-Fight Quotes & Training Camp Photos

Leave a comment
 
Unbeaten Prospect Battles Jackson Junior Tuesday, March 14 on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 &
BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes
 From the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi
 
Click HERE for Photos from Team Elbiali
 
TUNICA, MS (March 13, 2017) – Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Ahmed Elbiali is prepared for another opportunity to keep his perfect record intact as he faces Brazil’s Jackson Junior in an eight-round fight featured on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOETUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, March 14.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi and is headlined by rising middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko battling unbeaten Kemahl Russell in a 10-round bout.
                              
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, start at $20, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Fitz Gift Shop, at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Here is what Elbiali had to say ahead of the showdown:
On fighting on FS1…
“It’s a great situation to be fighting on national television, especially FS1. TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS has been great for all boxers who are fortunate enough to be showcased.  I’m just grateful for the opportunity and everyone tuning in will see me throwing a lot of big shots.”
On his current training camp …
“It’s been a real smooth camp going into this fight.  I’m back training in Miami with my coach Carlos Albuerae.  When I moved to Las Vegas, we had temporally split up, but now we are back together, stronger than ever.”
On facing opponent Jackson Junior…
“Jackson Junior is a big puncher, as am I, so expect to see some hard blows being traded.  Although he’s had more fights then me, I feel I’m on another level.  I know he’s coming to knock me out, but I have other plans. He will not be taken lightly.”
On continuing his run to a world title…
“If I want to continue marching up the rankings, coming out victorious against Junior is crucial. The ultimate goal is to win a world title, and I’m going to do everything in my power to get there.  This fight is the next step toward achieving that goal.  I’m not leaving any stone unturned.”
On bouncing back from an injured hand…
“It was a difficult time for me being out of the ring for over a year with my hand injury.  The good news is I’m 100% healthy and my hand feels great.  I had a lot of time to reflect on what I need to improve on so that’s what I focused on while I was out.  I stayed in great shape the whole time.  I just want to get in the ring and shake off the rust.”
#          #          #
Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Highlights available atwww.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

FNU COMBAT SPORTS SHOW: Lou Duva Tribute Show, Psychic Tom Padgett absolutely crushes UFC 209 Predictions, Garcia vs. Thurman Recap and Analysis

Leave a comment
Tony Penecale (left) and Lou Duva (right) at the Brockton, Massachusetts dedication of the Rocky Marciano statue.

Our show this week was dedicated to Lou Duva (above right with our co-host Tony Penecale). Lou died earlier this week at the ripe old age of 1994. He was a great friend to Rocky Marciano, a promoter of 19 world champions, and a man who had all his irons in the one fire that lit his life: boxing. The promoter/trainer/manager/legend appeared on the FNU Combat Sports show years back, but unfortunately the audio is grainy and spotty. If you listen closely the gems our talk contains outweigh the difficult spots to hear.

The full Lou Duva interview is here:

http://hosts.blogtalkradio.com/fightnewsunlimited/2009/07/03/joey-giambra-the-uncrowned-champion

I’m also posting a couple specific remastered clips here:

 

 

 

 

 

Tom, Tony and Rich also recap Garcia vs. Thurman, The latest on Mayweather vs. McGregor, UFC 209 and the many controversies attached, GSP’s dark warning about weight cutting, and Tony Bellew’s shocking upset of David Haye.

 

Here’s the tape:  (THE TAPE DOESN’T LIE)

 

boxing, Fox Sports 1, Premier Boxing Champions

Light Heavyweight Prospect Ahmed Elbiali Battles Jackson Junior While Unbeaten Jamontay Clark Faces Japan’s Gaku Takahashi Tuesday, March 14 on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes

Leave a comment
Televised Coverage Begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
From the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi
 
TUNICA, MS (March 8, 2017) – Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Ahmed Elbiali (14-0, 11 KOs) will take on Brazil’s Jackson Junior (20-7, 18 KOs) while unbeaten welterweight Jamontay Clark (10-0, 6 KOs)meets Japan’s Gaku Takahashi (15-6-1, 7 KOs) in a pair of eight round bouts featured on Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, March 14.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from the Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi and is headlined by rising middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko battling unbeaten Kemahl Russell in a 10-round bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, start at $20, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Fitz Gift Shop, at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.
Additional undercard action will feature Orlando’s Justin Pauldo (9-1, 4 KOs) in lightweight action while prospect Desmond Jarmon (1-0, 1 KO) enters the ring in a four-round lightweight bout.
A native of Cairo, Egypt now residing in Miami, the 26-year-old Elbiali had success in three TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAY appearances over the last two years. Those three contests saw him score a first round knockout of Fabiano Pena and eight-round unanimous decisions over Mariano Hilario and Andrew Hernandez. He takes on the 31-year-old Junior out of Sao Paulo, Brazil who was unbeaten in his first 15 pro fights.
An unbeaten prospect from Cincinnati, the “Quiet Assassin” Clark picked up two victories in 2016 over increasingly quality competition as he stopped Elvin Perez in six rounds and earned a unanimous decision over Edgar Ortega. The 22-year-old last fought in his hometown in 2015 when he recorded a second round TKO of Joe Wilson Jr. He will be opposed by the 29-year-old Takahashi who has fought in the U.S. for his last five bouts. He most recently defeated Kim Poulsen by second round stoppage in September 2016.
#          #          #
Fans can live stream the fights on FOX Sports GO, available in English or Spanish through the FS1 or FOX Deportes feeds. The fights are available on desktop at FOXSportsGO.com and through the app store, or connected devices including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. In addition, all programs are also available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Highlights available atwww.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Former World Champions Andre Berto & Shawn Porter Meet in Welterweight World Title Eliminator On Saturday, April 22 On SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Presented by Premier Boxing Champions, From Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Leave a comment
 
Live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 
(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)
 
Tickets on Sale Tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET!
 
BROOKLYN (March 7, 2017) – Former world champions Andre Berto and Shawn Porter are set to collide in a welterweight world title eliminator on Saturday, April 22 in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) and Porter (26-2-1, 16 KOs) will battle in a 12-round eliminator for the WBC welterweight title live on SHOWTIME with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.  The winner will become the mandatory for the WBC crown picked up this past weekend by Keith Thurman, who unified the WBA and WBC titles with a victory over Danny Garcia on CBS at Barclays Center.
“It feels great to be getting back in the ring,” said Berto. “I love being back in New York. My team has been putting in work in the gym. I’m already dialed-in and focused. I’ve had the WBC belt before and I’m itching to get it back. I beat the man who had taken it away from me in my last fight and I’m going to take down anyone who gets in my way. I know Shawn is going to work hard for this one, but so will I. I’m looking forward to this one, you don’t want to miss it.”
“The only thing on my mind right now is the WBC title,” said Porter. “I made it a goal of mine when I turned pro to get that green belt, and now I feel like it’s about to happen. I’m not looking past Andre Berto, I respect him as a man and a fighter. We’re friends. But just like when I fought Keith Thurman, it’s all about the business and getting that title. I can’t wait to be in that ring on April 22 at Barclays Center.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $50 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale Wednesday, March 8 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
“In a welterweight division that is filled with talent and marquis matchups, Berto vs. Porter is another elimination bout on the road to crowning the king of the division,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Berto and Porter are two established, offensive minded professionals who understand the significance of this showdown. I expect fireworks on April 22 when one of them stakes claim to an even bigger opportunity.”
“On March 4, Barclays Center hosted its biggest night of boxing ever and we are looking forward to continuing the momentum on April 22 with Berto vs. Porter,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “We are excited to welcome Porter back to Brooklyn after his epic performance against Thurman in PBC’s 2016 Fight of the Year. BROOKLYN BOXING continues to be defined by 50-50 fights, dramatic moments, and a regular schedule of major boxing events.”
“April 22 is sure to be an action-packed fight between two of the best fighters in the welterweight division,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “We’re in the midst of a de facto ‘welterweight tournament’ – a series of matchups between the best fighters in one of boxing’s deepest divisions.  The winner of Berto vs. Porter will land right back in the mix with the top champions at welterweight as we move toward crowning an undisputed 147-pound champion.”
An exciting and accomplished fighter from Florida, Berto represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics but now trains in Oakland with the renowned Virgil Hunter, who led him to a thrilling victory in April 2016 as Berto scored a fourth-round knockout of former champion Victor Ortiz in their rematch. Berto previously challenged retired legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2015 and has engaged in numerous Fight of the Year-worthy bouts including a 2012 war with Robert Guerrero and his first fight with Ortiz. He has twice held a welterweight title, first the WBC belt, which he successfully defended five times between 2008 and 2011, plus the IBF crown he picked up in 2011 with a victory over Jan Zaveck.
A physically-gifted fighter who had a strong amateur career, Porter returns to the ring at Barclays Center after a close loss to Keith Thurman in June 2016 that garnered unanimous Fight of the Year consideration. The 29-year-old had previously become a welterweight world champion at Barclays Center when he defeated Devon Alexander in 2013 in Brooklyn before defending the title with a dominant stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi. The Akron, Ohio-native now lives and trains in Las Vegas and he bounced back from a previous defeat to Kell Brook to knockout Erick Bone and earn a unanimous over four-division world champion Adrien Broner in 2015.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @AndreBerto, @ShowtimeShawnP, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing,www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime

MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION DANIEL JACOBS’ COURAGEOUS TRIUMPH OVER CANCER FEATURED ON 60 MINUTES SPORTS, TUESDAY, MARCH 7 ON SHOWTIME®

Leave a comment

  

Watch a Preview of Tonight’s Profile on Jacobs: http://s.sho.com/2mwTggw

 

 

When professional boxer Daniel Jacobs was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 doctors told him he’d never fight again.  But the Brooklyn-born Jacobs defied odds to defeat cancer and become middleweight world champion and one of the brightest young stars in the sport.  On the eve of one of the biggest fights of his career, Jacobs’ courageous triumph over cancer and his unlikely rise to world champion is featured on 60 MINUTES SPORTS tonight/Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

boxing, CBS Boxing, CBS Sports Network, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

CBS SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR ENCORE PRESENTATION OF THURMAN vs. GARCIA WELTERWEIGHT UNIFICATION TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. ET

Leave a comment

 

Re-Watch Keith Thurman’s Split-Decision Victory Over Danny Garcia In Main Event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions

 

Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

CBS Sports Network will air an encore presentation of Saturday’s razor-close welterweight unification between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia tonight/Monday at 10 p.m. ET.  Thurman and Garcia landed within five punches of each other across all 12 rounds of their showdown for the WBA and WBC 147-pound crowns, with Thurman narrowly edging Garcia to unify the division via split decision in front of a record crowd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 

Monday’s encore presentation of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, will also feature Erickson Lubin’s one-punch KO of Jorge Cota in a WBC 154-pound title eliminator, a victory which sets the 21-year-old on a path to become the youngest world champion in boxing today.

 

Thurman vs. Garcia will be available commercial free to SHOWTIME subscribers next week.  This offering, including bonus coverage from between rounds of the main event, will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and on the SHOWTIME Streaming Service.

 

The entire two-fight broadcast will also be available on CBS ALL ACCESS.

boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

CBS Earns Highest-Rated Primetime Broadcast with SHO BOXING on CBS

Leave a comment

NEW YORK (March 5, 2017) – CBS was the No. 1 network in prime time on Saturday night, according to Nielsen overnight ratings, with the live broadcast of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.  The broadcast, which was produced by SHOWTIME Sports, featured a welterweight world championship unification fight between undefeated champions Keith Thurman (WBA) and Danny Garcia (WBC).  Thurman won a close split decision to unify the belts.

 

The broadcast earned a 2.2 rating from 9 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. ET, up 22% over the previous June 25, 2016 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS broadcast featuring Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter (1.8 rating).

 

*Full data including viewership for the boxing broadcast on CBS will be available in the coming days.

 

BOXING DETAILS:

Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) of Clear Water, Fla., defeated Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) of Philadelphia via split decision to become the Unified Welterweight World Champion.  The main event aired live on CBS and took place at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

 

The broadcast was produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network.  The event was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, before a record-setting crowd of 16,533, the largest crowd for a boxing event in that arena.

 

The close fight, which was only the third time undefeated champions came together to unify the 147-pound division, was scored 116-112 Thurman, 115-113 Thurman and 115-113 Garcia.

boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

MARIO BARRIOS REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH SIXTH-ROUND TKO

Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp
BROOKLYN, NY (March 5, 2017) – Last night at the Barclays Center in New York, San Antonio native, Mario Barrios (18-0, 10 KOs), remained undefeated with a stellar performance, defeated his opponent Yardley Suarez (20-7, 11 KOs) by sixth round TKO.
With newly acquired trainer, Virgil Hunter, in his corner, Barrios was able to execute his game plan to perfection from the opening bell.  After landing plenty of head shots early, Barrios went to the body and ended the fight with a barrage of punches, forcing the referee to stop the bout in the sixth round.  With the victory, Barrios is now 2-0 at super-lightweight.
“I felt really strong going into this fight and it showed tonight as I was able to get the stoppage,” said Mario Barrios. “I was having success early in the fight, landing a lot of solid head-shots.  Then I started going to the body and got him out of there.”
Barrios, who recently moved up from super-featherweight to super-lightweight, feels comfortable fighting at 140-pounds.
“I plan to stay at this weight and make a run toward a world title in this division” Barrios continued. “I feel with a few more fights at super-lightweight, I’ll be able ready to fight for a world title.  The road to the top is not going to be easy, but I’m certain I’ll be ready to fight any of the champions once I climb up the rankings.”
boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

KEITH THURMAN UNIFIES WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION WITH SPLIT-DECISION OVER DANNY GARCIA SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON CBS AT BARCLAYS CENTER

Leave a comment
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Erickson Lubin Knocks Out Jorge Cota in WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator: VIDEO
Watch The Replay Monday at 10 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Click HERE for Photos from Tom Casino/SHOWTIME &
HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
 
Click HERE for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
Click HERE for Photos from Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions
 
BROOKLYN (March 5, 2017) – Keith Thurman is the unified welterweight world champion.
Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) unified boxing’s glamour division with a split-decision victory over Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday, defending his WBA belt and picking up Garcia’s WBC crown on boxing’s biggest stage in primetime on CBS from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
The event, which was produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, marked the highest-attended boxing event in Barclays Center history with 16,533 fans witnessing just the 10th unification in division history.
The close affair, which was only the third time undefeated fighters unified the 147-pound division, was scored 116-112 Thurman, 115-113 Thurman and 115-113 Garcia.
                              
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS main event, which was presented by Premier Boxing Champions, was a tale of effective aggression and ring generalship. Thurman came out swinging and was the busier and more accurate fighter in nine of the 12 rounds.  “One Time” Thurman was more tactical in the second half of the fight, utilizing lateral movement and working off his jab.  Garcia picked up the pace and was more active in the final rounds, but it was too little too late for the previously undefeated Philadelphia native.
“I thought I out-boxed him.” said Thurman, who likely earned a spot on boxing’s mythical pound-for-pound list with the impressive victory.  “I thought it was a clear victory, but Danny came to fight.  I knew when it was split and I had that wide spread, I knew it had to go to me.
“I was not giving the fight away. I felt like we had a nice lead, we could cool down.  I felt like we were controlling the three-minute intervals every round.  My defense was effective – he wasn’t landing.”
A former unified champion at 140-pound, Garcia was aiming to be the first fighter in history to unify titles at 140 and 147 pounds.
“I came up short tonight,” said Garcia, who entered the bout with a 7-0 record in world title bouts.  “I thought I was the aggressor.  I thought I pushed the pace.  But it didn’t go my way.
“I thought I won and I was pushing the fight.  But it is what it is. I’ll come back strong like a true champion. I would love a rematch to get these titles.”
SHOWTIME Sports analyst and unofficial scorer Steve Farhood scored the fight 116-112 for Thurman.
Undefeated super welterweight Erickson Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs) knocked out Jorge Cota (23-2, 20 KOs) in a WBC 154-pound title eliminator, dropping the previously once-beaten Cota with a flush overhand left at 1:25 (TKO) of the fourth round.
Lubin now becomes the No. 2 challenger to WBC Welterweight World Championship Jermell Charlo, who is due a mandatory bout against No. 1 contender Charles Hatley.
The Orlando-native Lubin landed 47 percent of his power shots across four rounds of shutout boxing.
“I baited him with the jab.  I knew he was going to come with the big shots early,” Lubin said to reporter Jim Gray.  “I put a few tricks on him, I landed that overhand and it was night-night.  I put my hands down to bait him in, I did a squat and then it was night-night.  I was ready to follow-up with a right but he was already out.”
At just 21-years-old, Lubin now has an opportunity to become the youngest world champion in boxing today.
“That would mean a lot to me; that would mean a lot to Orlando, Florida,” Lubin said.  “This is my second time knocking someone out in front of Ray Leonard.  He’s one of my favorite fighters of all time.  It’s an honor to do this on CBS.”
#  #  #
ABOUT THURMAN vs. GARCIA
Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia is a welterweight world title showdown between undefeated 147-pound titlists. The 12-round bout headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday March 4 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™. In the co-main event undefeated rising star Erickson Lubin battles once-beaten knockout artist Jorge Cota in a super welterweight title eliminator bout on CBS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @KeithFThurmanJr, @DannySwift, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.