Welterweight Prospect Eimantas Stanionis Notches Unanimous Decision Over Thomas Dulorme in WBA Title Eliminator; IBF Junior Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas Defends Title Against Jonathan Rodríguez in Televised Opener SHOWTIME®in Premier Boxing Champions Event Click HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME (Foton laddas upp inom kort) Click Here to Watch Jaron Ennis’ Sixth-Round Knockout Uncasville, Conn. – April 10, 2021 - Rising welterweight starJaron “Boots” Ennisaced the toughest test of his professional career with a sensational sixth-round knockout win over former world championSergey Lipinets in the main event on Saturday night’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The win puts Philadelphia’s Ennis (27-0, 25 Kos) one step closer to his first world title opportunity as he dismantled the former 140-pound world champion over six rounds of their welterweight battle. As he has done often throughout his career, the 23-year-old switched effortlessly between an orthodox and southpaw stance and exhibited tremendous power from both sides. Ennis finished the fight with an eye-popping 53% connect rate on his power punches and out-landed Lipinets 91 till 48.
“I’ll always be hard on myself when I look back at my performance,” said Ennis. “My goal is to keep getting better, sharper, faster and stronger so I can become world champion. As long as I keep fighting top guys, Jag är glad. I feel like I will be world champion by the end of this year or beginning of next year. Patience is the key though.”
The 32-year-old Joe Goossen-trained Lipinets (16-2-1, 12 Kos) of Woodland Hills, Calif., showed determination in weathering the onslaught of combinations from Ennis. An uppercut floored the Kazakhstan-born Lipinets and sent him to the canvas for the second time in his professional career in the fourth round. Prior to tonight, Lipinets had only been down in his other professional loss which came at the hands of four-division world champion Mikey Garcia.
“Lipinets has been in there with the best before, so I wasn’t surprised he held up for a while,” added Ennis. “I knew he’d be durable. That’s why I didn’t jump on the gas right away. I just took my time and broke him down.”
In the sixth round, Ennis poured it on Lipinets from all angles as he beautifully assembled combinations. The budding superstar has yet to go past the sixth round in his professional career as he has amassed a remarkable 89% knockout-förhållande. Ennis was up 49-45 on two scorecards and 50-44 on the final judges’ card prior to the right hook to left uppercut combination that resulted in the fight being stopped at 2:11 of round six. Saturday night marked Ennis’ first time headlining SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
“I think I graduated tonight,” stated Ennis. “It’s on the up and up now. It’s onto bigger and better fights now.”
I Showtime Championship Boxing sam-feature, a pair of hard-hitting welterweights went toe-to-toe asEimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 Kos) beat former world title challengerThomas Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 Kos) via unanimous decision in a WBA Welterweight Title Eliminator. This was the most difficult challenge of the rising 26-year-old’s career as Dulorme took him past the ninth round for the first time. The three ringside judges scored the fight 115-113, 116-112 och 117-111.
“It’s been a dream since I was a kid watching SHOWTIME to be on this stage,” said Stanionis. “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve had a long hard journey to get here, but it’s been worth it.”
The two fighters combined for nearly 1,400 punches in their exciting welterweight battle. Stanionis outlanded the 31-year-old Dulorme 232 till 193 and edged his opponent with higher connection percentages across the board. Most notably, Stanionis worked well behind his powerful jab, landning 123 total throughout the 12-round fight.
“Dulorme always threw back at me, even if I hurt him,” stated Stanionis, who is one step closer to becoming Lithuania’s first world champion. “I knew that if I was wild, he could have caught me with a good shot. I have more confidence in myself now because I know I can go 12 rounds with a good fighter. I know how the pressure will hit me now. Allt kan hända i den här sporten, so I made sure I was prepared coming into this fight.”
I 10th runda, a nasty cut opened above the left eye of Dulorme which was ruled by referee Harvey Dock to have resulted from a punch. The fight came to a fantastic finish as the Lithuanian prospect went for the knockout in the 12thround but the veteran Dulorme did not subdue to the pressure.
I telecast-öppnaren, IBF Junior Bantamweight World ChampionJerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas(31-1-2, 22 Kos) successfully defended his title for the ninth time with a unanimous decision victory overJonathan Rodríguez(21-2, 16 Kos) in an action-packed 12-round affair. The victory extends Ancajas’ streak of consecutive title defenses to nine, which marks the most of any current world champion. Fighting out of the Philippines, the 29-year-old controlled the pace of the fight with a consistent dedication to the body, where he landed 131 av hans 232 totala stansar.
“I’m very happy to get the win. I waited a long time for the opportunity to get back in the ring and it’s exciting to win in my first fight on this stage fighting on SHOWTIME,” said Ancajas. “This was my toughest fight so far. It was the hardest of any of my nine defenses and it’s exciting that it was on a big card. I trained hard for this opportunity and it feels great to get the win.”
The title fight featured back-and-forth action with Mexico’s Rodriguez pressuring and baiting the champion to fight him at close distance. At the end of the eighth round, Ancajas finished a flurry of punches with a huge right hand that sent Rodriguez to the canvas for the first time in his career.
“I thought he was going to be stopped because I saw him look at his corner and it didn’t look like he wanted to go on,” continued Ancajas. “But he got up and fought and I respect him for doing that.”
The ringside judges scored the fight 115-112, 116-111 och 117-110 for Ancajas, while unofficial ringside scorer Steve Farhood tallied the fight at 114-113. Farhood agreed with the three official judges in giving the final three rounds to Rodriguez. Despite dropping the decision, the 25-year-old Rodriguez impressed fight fans with his tremendous determination and high-level skill in his first world title fight and U.S. debut.
“I don’t think it was a just decision,”Sa Rodriguez. “I thought maybe a split decision, and I would accept it a little more. But we knew coming in that the judges were against us in this fight.”
På fredag kväll, BELLATOR on SHOWTIME took center stage at Mohegan Sun Arena with the first fight of the BELLATOR MMA Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix that saw current heavyweight champion Ryan Bader avenge his 2012 loss to Lyoto Machida with a dominating unanimous decision to move onto the next round. Bader made an appearance on Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast to reflect on his impressive victory.
“It was very sweet [to get revenge]. It was a gauge to see how far I’ve grown, sedan 2012. And I’ve done a lot, and he’s done a lot. So to go out there and implement my game plan and stick to what we do and go out there and be victorious, it couldn’t be sweeter.”
LördagensShowtime MÄSTERSKAP BOXNINGtelecast will replay Sunday, April 11 vid 9 a.m. ET/PT and Tuesday, April 13 vid 10 p.m. ET on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer hosted the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo handled blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers rounded out the telecast team: ringside reporter Jim Gray, boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The executive producer was four-time Emmy® award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The telecast was produced by Raymond Smaltz and directed by Chuck McKean. Former junior middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and sportscaster Alejandro Luna served as expert analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP).
Evenemanget marknadsfördes av TGB Promotions. Ennis vs.. Lipinets was promoted in association with D&D Boxning.
“I can’t wait to show everyone the new Andy Ruiz Jr. maj 1, because I’m more motivated right now than I ever have been before,” – Ruiz “I’m excited for May 1 because this is definitely going to be a rock ‘em sock ‘em type of fight.”– Arreola Former Unified Heavyweight World Champion Andy Ruiz, Jr. & All-Action Heavyweight Chris Arreola Preview Showdown Headlining FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Saturday, Maj 1 från Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Kalifornien Klicka HÄRfor Press Conference Video (Kredit: PBC på FOX, Password: !2ca2?qS) CARSON, CALIF. (Mars 30, 2021) – Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. and all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola previewed their heavyweight showdown during a virtual press conference Tuesday before they battle in a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View main event Saturday, Maj 1 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Kalifornien,
The pay-per-view action begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and will see this clash between two Mexican-American heavyweights top a jam-packed all-Mexican boxing extravaganza. The stacked pay-per-view undercard co-feature will see former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clash with Abel Ramos in a 12-round welterweight bout. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hittingJorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos, Jr.duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action.
Evenemanget marknadsförs av TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.
The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.99.
The heavyweights were joined by their renowned trainers during the press conference, with Eddy Reynoso discussing Ruiz’s current camp, and Joe Goossen analyzing Arreola’s preparations. Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday:
ANDY RUIZ JR.
“I’m really motivated for May 1. We’re both training hard and working every day for this one. My mentality is where it needs to be and I’m ready to put on a great performance.
“Eddy sees the potential that I have and he told me that I needed to be disciplined if I was going to work with him. I don’t think I’ve ever been truly 100 percent dedicated until now. I’m surrounded by great champions like Canelo Alvarez, Oscar Valdez and Ryan Garcia, who help motivate me and it’s a blessing to be learning from Eddy every single day.
“Working with Eddy has helped change my mentality. His mentality is that we can’t take anything for granted in this sport. We’ve been working on a lot of different things and I have the ability to do a lot of new things with Eddy. I can’t wait to show everyone the new Andy Ruiz Jr. maj 1 because I’m more motivated right now than I ever have been before.
“I learned a lot from every trainer that I’ve had and I’m grateful for all of them. With Eddy, he likes to perfect every single punch and every movement in the ring. That level of detail is something that I’ve never had on this level.
“Arreola is a warrior who can take a lot of punches. Han är stark, but we’re going to stick to the game plan and remain disciplined.
“Losing my last fight was devastating. I didn’t do the things that I was supposed to do. That was the most important fight of my career. I had been waiting to become champion my whole life and I started doing things I never thought I would be able to do. I don’t want to make those same mistakes again, and that’s a big part of what’s motivating me.
“Now that I’ve been dropping weight the right way, I feel amazing. I feel like I can do a lot more things that I couldn’t do before because of my body. Himlen är gränsen för mig.
“I still have a grudge inside of me about the second Anthony Joshua fight, because I don’t want to go down that path again. I just want to stay disciplined for this fight and all of the big fights coming up in my future.
“I learned from sparring with Arreola that we’re both warriors. We don’t give up. We love to receive punches and give them back. When we’re in that ring, it’s just business.
“This is going to be an all-action fight. I know Arreola is training really hard and I’m excited for whatever he’s going to bring. I can’t wait to show the people out there all of my improvements.”
CHRIS Arreola
“This is a fight that I’ve seen coming since the first time I ever sparred Andy. Back then he was just a pudgy kid and I thought nothing of him, until he threw those hands. Those hands were fast and lethal. I knew at that point that one day this fight would come.
“I’ve been ready for this fight for a while. At one point he wanted to be like me, and now I want to be like him and become heavyweight champion. He deserved everything he got, and now it’s my time to do everything to change history and prove I’m an elite heavyweight.
“I’ve been giving it my all in training, but we’re going to keep working. I’m excited for May 1 because this is definitely going to be a rock ‘em sock ‘em type of fight.”
“I know Andy is looking strong and that’s going to make this a great fight. This is a fight people should be talking about. There’s more work to be done, but I’ll be ready to shock the world on May 1.
“It wasn’t so much the punch output that improved for me in the Adam Kownacki fight, but it’s the fact that I could throw combos when I wanted to. I believe the worst I should have gotten in that fight was a draw. Hursomhelst, my plan is to be in even better shape for this fight against Ruiz.
“There are not too many things that I regret in my life. Ja, I found more discipline later in my career, but I’m not one who draws on the past too much. There’s nothing I can change except what happens tomorrow.
“Now that I have this new added energy inside of me and really this new love for the game, it makes it easier for me to get in the gym and listen to Joe.
“Andy was very unassuming when I first sparred him. I didn’t think he was going to have the hand speed and skills that he had. I had a rude awakening that day. We were putting hands on each other. Instead of quitting, he kept coming. It was a fun sparring session. That’s why I was one of the people who predicted that he was going to beat Joshua the first fight.
“I know that I have to bring a smart game plan. Vid slutet av dagen, we’re going to have the rock ‘em sock ‘em moments. Andy has great hand speed. So I know that if I don’t bring my hands back, I’ll get caught.”
EDDY REYNOSO, Ruiz’s Trainer
“Andy has given so much time and has been so dedicated to his work inside the gym. We’re excited for May 1. He is motivated and learning a lot every day.
“We know that on May 1 we’re going to be dealing with an aggressive fighter who is going to bring his best. Andy is excited about the challenge that Arreola presents.
“May 1 is going to be the second beginning of Andy’s career. This is the start of his pursuit to become champion again. We respect Arreola, but we’re going to go in there to get the job done on May 1.
“Andy is strong and he has a tremendous focus. I have to congratulate Andy on his effort and dedication so far. I do believe that on May 1, everyone is going to see a much different and improved Andy Ruiz Jr.
“I talked with Andy and his entire team and they gave us the confidence that Andy would work hard. He’s done exactly that. The focus is for him to once again become world champion. There are a lot of great fighters at heavyweight, but we all believe that with this hard work Andy is going to show who he really is.”
JOE GOOSSEN, Arreola’s Trainer
“These are two fighters known who are noted for what they do best, and that’s going for the knockout. They let it fly right away from the opening bell.
“Eddy is training Andy right now and that’s a great match, just like me and Chris are a great match. I expect both fighters to be in fantastic shape. I know that Eddy would not be training Andy unless he was dedicated to the program.
“We’ve been training for months now. Chris has been very dedicated and honing his skills getting ready for May 1. Both guys want to win. The pressure is on both guys to work hard for that. Neither guy believes they’re the ‘b-side’ and that’s how they should feel. When you have two skilled fighters with that mentality, det kommer att bli en stor kamp.
“When have you ever seen either Chris or Andy in a bad fight? They both give it their all and if I wasn’t training Chris, I’d definitely be watching. När allt är sagt och gjort, I believe this is going to be a fight that goes down in the history books.
“Andy’s style is Andy’s style. Like he said himself, the difference is what he can do with a different body. It’s going to be a new and improved style. It’s hard to change your whole style, but he’s going to show that he’s added on to his style.”
Tom Brown, VD för TGB Promotions
“Dignity Health Sports Park is the premier outdoor boxing venue in the U.S. It’s been home to some true modern classics. Something special happens when fighters walk down that tunnel. It’s like gladiators entering the Colosseum.
“Andy Ruiz Jr vs. Chris Arreola is guaranteed to be another great battle between two Mexican-American warriors from Southern California. Throughout their history, the minute they stepped into the ring, these fighters have electrified boxing fans.
“This fight will be a slugfest. Both fighters have fan friendly, all-action styles and it’s safe to say that both Ruiz and Arreola have never walked into the ring just to win—they want the knock-out. So It’s going to be bombs away on May 1.
“We’re really excited about this pay-per-view card with four all-action toss up fights. We open the action with the young top prospect Jesus Ramos taking on Javier Molina in a matchup that’s boxing’s future versus a veteran Olympian. We also have a rising star in Sebastian Fundora against a real contender in Jorge Cota. Mer, the co-main event with Omar Figueroa against Abel Ramos has the potential to be a Mexican-style Gatti vs. Ward type of fight.”
# # #
ABOUT FOX SPORTS PBC PPV: RUIZ VS. ARREOLA Ruiz vs. Arreola will see former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. battle all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare’’ Arreola in the main event of an all-Mexican boxing extravaganza on Saturday, Maj 1 headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Kalifornien.
The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and features former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clashing with Abel Ramos in the 12-round welterweight co-main event. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos, Jr. duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action in the pay-per-view opener.
Hard-Hitting Welterweights Eimantas Stanionis and Thomas Dulorme Duel in WBA Title Eliminator; IBF Junior Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas Defends Title Against Jonathan Rodríguez in Televised Opener
NEW YORK – March 17, 2021– Rising welterweight starJaron “Boots” Ennisfaces his most difficult test in pursuit of a world title shot as he headlines his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® mot förre världsmästaren Sergey Lipinets. These formidable contenders meet in a 12-round, crossroads fight with welterweight world title implications on Saturday, April 10 leva på SHOWTIME på 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
I Showtime Championship Boxing sam-feature, a pair of hard-hitting welterweights square off asEimantas Stanionistakes another step up in class as he faces former world title challengerThomas Dulormein a 12-round WBA Welterweight Title Eliminator. The telecast opener features IBF Junior Bantamweight World ChampionJerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas försvara sin titel mot Jonathan Rodríguezin a 12-round bout.
Evenemanget marknadsförs av TGB Promotions. Ennis vs.. Lipinets is promoted in association with D&D Boxning.
“Ennis vs. Lipinets is a fantastic fight in the welterweight division that pits an ascending force in Ennis against a former world champion in Lipinets,”Sa Tom Brown, VD för TGB Promotions. “It’s a very competitive fight that presents a fascinating clash of styles and will have big implications on the future of the 147-pound division. Another sensational young welterweight will look for a career best win in the co-feature, as Eimantas Stanionis takes on his toughest test to date in the veteran Thomas Dulorme. Adding in 115-pound champion Jerwin Ancajas seeking an impressive ninth title defense against Mexico’s Jonathan Rodríguez, and all the ingredients are in place for an action-packed night on SHOWTIME April 10.”
Ennis (26-0, 24 Kos) is the latest in the pantheon of outstanding Philadelphia fighters, combining sublime boxing skills with natural power in both hands. After numerous appearances onShoBox: Den nya generationen, the 23-year-old Ennis has graduated to headlining his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast. Heading into his last bout against Chris van Heerden, Ennis was riding a streak of 16 consecutive knockouts. That streak ended when the fight was stopped after the first round due to an accidental clash of heads that opened a severe cut on the forehead of Van Heerden.
“I’m excited to be back April 10,” said Ennis. “This is the type of fight I’ve been waiting for. I can’t wait to perform and put on a beautiful show. Y’all will see something special out of me come fight night. I’m excited to be the main event. It’s time for me to shine!"
The 31-year-old Lipinets (16-1-1, 12 Kos) established himself as a force at 140 pounds when he won the IBF world title with a victory over Akihiro Kondo in 2017. He lost the title to four-division world champion Mikey Garcia in 2018 and then moved up to welterweight in 2019. He served notice that he would be a contender at welterweight when he scored an impressive stoppage victory over two-division champion Lamont Peterson in 2019. Born in Kazakhstan and representing Russia, Lipinets now lives in Woodland Hills, California and is trained by renowned trainer Joe Goossen. Lipinets is coming off a hard-fought majority draw against undefeated Custio Clayton in October 2020.
“Training is grueling and I’m working hard with Joe Goossen to be at my best on fight night,”Sa Lipinets. “We have a tough, young fighter in Ennis who thinks I’m a stepping stone for him. But sometimes stepping stones trip you up, and I’ll be doing my best to trip him up on April 10. I’m just doing my best to get prepared for what I expect to be a dog fight. Every fan that knows boxing knows that this is going to be a real war and worth tuning in for. I expect we’ll be fighting in a phone booth at times, but I also expect him to try to use his reach and fight me at a distance at times. But no matter what he does, I’ll be ready for him.”
Stanionis (12-0, 9 Kos) has put together a string of impressive victories as he has climbed up the ranks from prospect to contender. He enters the match against Dulorme with four consecutive knockout victories. The 26-year-old from Lithuania, who now lives and trains in California, looked impressive as he picked up three solid victories in 2019, beating Samuel Figueroa via unanimous decision and scoring early stoppages against Julio Cesar Sanchez and Evincii Dixon. The undefeated welterweight has put the division on notice with back-to-back dominating main event performances in November and December 2020, when he notched ninth-round knockouts over Justin DeLoach and Janer Gonzalez respectively.
“This is my first time fighting on SHOWTIME and it feels like a dream come true,” said Stanionis. “Dulorme is experienced and has been a good fighter for a long time. På papperet, this is my toughest fight, men jag är redo. I’ll be prepared for whatever he brings. With our styles, det kommer att bli ett krig. I’m ready to fight right now. Somebody is going down and no matter what happens, the fans are going to win.”
The 31-year-old Dulorme (25-4-1, 16 Kos) has amassed a solid resume at 140 och 147 pounds during his career, climbing into the ring with world champions Yordenis Ugas, Jessie Vargas and Terence Crawford. Born in Marigot, Guadeloupe but fighting out of and representing Carolina, Puerto Rico, Dulorme rebounded from a loss to Crawford for a 140-pound title by scoring back-to-back knockouts, followed by a narrow decision loss to top welterweight Yordenis Ugas. The world title challenger is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jamal James in his last fight in August.
“I’m very excited for this fight on April 10,” said Dulorme. “I came up short in my last fight for the title, but a win against Stanionis will put me right back into the position I want. He’s young and strong, but I have a lot more experience and I will show it in the ring and it will lead me to victory.”
Representing the Philippines, Ancajas (32-1-2, 22 Kos) was only 15 years old when he was spotted by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The young fighter blossomed with Pacquiao’s guidance, becoming the first world champion under Pacquiao’s promotional banner when he outpointed McJoe Arroyo for the IBF World Junior Bantamweight title in September 2016. The 29-year-old southpaw hasn’t lost since and will be making the ninth defense of his title when he faces Rodríguez. In his most recent outing in December, Ancajas stopped Miguel Gonzalez in six rounds.
“I am really looking forward to returning to the ring on April 10 for my first fight on SHOWTIME,” said Ancajas. “Everybody knows the great rivalry between the Philippines and Mexico, and I look forward to adding another explosive fight to that history. Fight fans know where all the action fights are right now, and that’s the 115-pound division. I’m thankful for this opportunity and I plan to make the most of it.”
Mexico’s Rodríguez (22-1, 16 Kos) was given the nickname “Titan” because of his prodigious power. Since suffering a disputed split-decision loss to Jose Martin Estrada Garcia in March 2018, the 25-year-old has won six straight, including a first-round knockout victory over Julian Yedras last December. Han kommer att göra sin U.S.. debut against Ancajas.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me,” said Rodríguez. “When I started boxing, it was my dream to fight for the world title and win it. På April 10, all of my dreams and hard work will come true when I hear ‘and the new IBF champion of the world.’”
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer hosts the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo handles blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the telecast team: ringside reporter Jim Gray, boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The executive producer is four-time Emmy® award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The telecast will be produced by Raymond Smaltz and directed by Chuck McKean. Former junior middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and sportscaster Alejandro Luna serve as expert analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP).
Lightweight Sensation Isaac Cruz Earns Unanimous Decision Against Matias Romero In First Loss; Terrell Gausha Scores Emphatic TKO Victory Over Jamontay Clark in Telecast Opener on SHOWTIME® in Premier Boxing Champions Event Klicka HÄR för foton från Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME (Foton laddas upp inom kort) Click Here to Watch the Main Event’s Final Moments Click Here to Watch David Benavidez’s Post-Fight Interview Uncasville, Conn. – March 13, 2021 - Former two-time world championDavid Benavidez kept his perfect ring record intact with an 11th-round technical knockout victory against veteranRonald Ellisin their WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator main event on Saturday night’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, live on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
Phoenix’s Benavidez (24-0, 21 Kos) flashed brilliant hand speed, accuracy and power as he dominated Ellis (18-2-2, 12 Kos) av Lynn, Mass., över 11 rounds before referee Johnny Callas finally waved off the fight at 2:03 of the penultimate round. The 24-year-old star held a significant lead on all three scorecards (99-91, 98-92 x2) at the time of the stoppage.
“I rate my performance pretty good but I know I could have done better,” said Benavidez, who extended his perfect record to 24-0. “Ronald Ellis is a tough competitor. I just hope the fans like what they saw. I threw a lot of combinations, punches in bunches. There were a lot of times I thought Ellis was going to quit but he didn’t. Hats off to him, Han är en tuff kille. It was a little later than I wanted but a stoppage is still a stoppage. I hope the fans got a good show tonight.”
A boxing prodigy turned youngest super middleweight world champion in boxing history, Benavidez turned in a masterful performance as evidenced by his punch stats, landning 289 av 532 power punches thrown for an eye-popping connection rate of 54%. Benavidez connected on 50 punches in the 11thround which ultimately led to the stoppage. Both fighters combined to throw 1,403 stansar. Following his dominating win on SHOWTIME, Benavidez is one step closer to reclaiming a super middleweight world title.
“I want all the big guys,” Benavidez added. “Speaking for the fans too, they would love to see me against all the big guys because as you can see, I love throwing punches. I love stopping people so me versus any big name would be an amazing fight. Jag vill ha [Jermall] Charlo, Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Växt, all of them.”
Ellis, 31, showed tremendous determination and a very sturdy chin as he absorbed the constant onslaught from the former two-time world champion. Often working off the ropes as Benavidez pressed the action, Ellis landed 89 av hans 334 jabs.
“I could have popped the jab and controlled things a little bit more and not let him smother me,” said Ellis. “Hell yeah I wanted to finish. I didn’t want to give him that satisfaction. I could have moved a little bit more and not taken so many shots to the head. Hats off to him. He did what he had to do. Han skadar aldrig mig, that’s the funny thing. I took a lot of shots but he didn’t damage me or have me super hurt. I never thought about quitting.”
The sports world lost an icon today as the death of Marvelous Marvin Hagler was reported hours before the live telecast began. A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Hagler, som var 66 år gammal, fought in the first main event ever on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on March 10, 1986. Hagler was honored with a ceremonial 10-count prior to tonight’s main event. Click Here to Watch SHOWTIME’s Tribute to Marvin Hagler
Benavidez reflected on Hagler’s passing after the fight: “I had met Marvin once before and he was a great champion. Someone told me he fought the first fight on SHOWTIME. Someone on my team let me know a few hours before the fight that he had passed. It’s sad and he will be missed. He was a true legend.”
I co-main event, Isaac Cruz (21-1-1, 15 Kos) of Mexico City earned a unanimous decision victory over Argentina’sMatias Romero (24-1, 8 Kos) in a 12-round WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator. It marked the first time that the 22-year-old Cruz went 12 rounds in his professional career. The judges’ scorecards read 114-113, 115-112 och 118-109. SHOWTIME: s inofficiella målskytt Steve Farhood gjorde matchen 115-112, giving rounds 10 genom 12 to the rising star.
“I’m not happy about the style of the fight but I am satisfied I took the victory home and we’ve come to the No. 1 spot in the WBA,"Sade Cruz. “I didn’t know what was going to happen [as far as the judges]. We forced the fight at all times and it would have been very impossible for the judges to do something to me when I was the one pushing the fight.”
Throughout the 36-minute affair, Cruz constantly applied pressure against his opponent which led to Romero, the more seasoned professional, to hold excessively in an attempt to stall the pressure. Despite being warned frequently by referee Harvey Dock, the 24-year-old Romero was never penalized. During the rough-and-tumble contest, emellertid, Cruz was docked a point in the sixth round for a low blow.
“He was a fighter who didn’t want to exchange punches,” Cruz added, in reference to the persistent clinching. “I was very fed up with the clinches—there was never a warning toward him. I did my best out there. Not the best way I wanted to do it but thank God we won the fight and we’re taking the victory home.”
Romero presented an effective jab throughout the fight, landning 89 av 282, but it was Cruz’s power punching that ultimately earned him the victory. Kors, who is now the No. 1 contender for a world title shot at 135 pounds, landat 145 av 459 kraft stansar, Inklusive 91 body shots.
“Obviously I’m not happy with the decision,” stated Romero following his first professional loss. “I thought maybe it was a draw. Overall I’m happy with my performance. He’s supposed to the be the ‘Pit Bull’ and I went the distance. You have to take the opportunities when they are presented and I wish I would have had more time to get ready for this fight.”
In the evening’s opening bout, Cleveland’sTerrell Gausha (22-2-1, 11 Kos) scored an impressive second-round technical knockout over fellow OhioanJamontay Clark (15-2-1, 7 Kos) av Cincinnati. Gausha, 33, did not land a single power punch in the opening round but worked well behind the jab, winning the round on two of the judges’ scorecards. As the second round neared completion, Gausha beautifully countered a lunging left hand from the southpaw Clark which sent the 26-year-old to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Clark beat the count but moments later was met by a barrage of unanswered punches in the neutral corner. Referee Arthur Mercante jumped in and called a halt to the bout at 2:44 av den andra omgången.
“I knew Jamontay was a tough kid, I’ve been watching him since Cleveland so I knew about him already,” said Gausha. “I felt like I had a chance to knock him out but I didn’t know how the fight would play out. But I feel I did good, executed the game plan. My coaches had been studying film and we executed.
“I just took my time,” added Gausha. “I was setting traps. I knew he would be open eventually, but I had to be cautious too because he’s a rangy guy, has a good left hand. But I knew there were holes in his game and we executed and when the opportunity presented itself, we landed that big right hand.”
With his emphatic stoppage win, den 2012 Olympian emerges as a contender for a title shot in the super welterweight division. In his first and only world title shot in 2017, Gausha dropped a unanimous decision to current super welterweight world champion Erislandy Lara.
“I know I made a statement tonight,” added Gausha. “I put the division on notice. I’m locked and loaded and I’m ready. I want to be a world champion so I’m looking to fight whoever I need to fight to get to the belts.”
LördagensShowtime MÄSTERSKAP BOXNINGtelecast will replay Sunday at 8:55 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Monday at 10 p.m. ET on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer hosted the telecast. Versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo called the action ringside alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Two Hall of Famers rounded out the telecast team: boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. Sändningen var tillgänglig på spanska via Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former junior middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and Alejandro Luna calling the action. The executive producer was four-time Emmy®award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The director was Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy.
The event was promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
Jaron Ennis vs.. Chris van Heerden förklarade inget beslut efter oavsiktlig headbutt; Gary Antonio Russell gör teknisk seger över Juan Carlos Payano Klicka HÄR för foton från Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME (Foton laddas upp inom kort) Uncasville, Conn. - December 20, 2020 - Obesegrad bantamvikt Reymart Gaballo gjorde en kontroversiell delningsbeslutsseger över tidigare världsmästare Emmanuel Rodriguez i huvudevenemanget på lördagskvällarna SHOWTIMEBOXING: SPECIALUTGÅVA från Mohegan Sun Arena i Uncasville, Conn., i ett evenemang som presenteras av Premier Boxing Champions. Med segern, Gaballo plockade upp den lediga tillfälliga titeln WBC Bantamweight.
Lördagens headliner i det senaste SHOWTIME BOXING-evenemanget den 2020 var konkurrenskraftig från öppningsklockan. På bara tre av de tolv omgångarna var Rodriguez och Gaballo åtskilda av mer än tre landade slag. Övergripande, Bitar (24-0, 20 Kos) kastade 148 fler slag än Rodriguez (19-2, 12 Kos), men lyckades ändå ansluta 16 färre kraftstansar. Stansarna från den 28-årige Rodriguez verkade vara renare, när han vacklade den filippinska Gaballo vid mer än ett tillfälle. Emellertid, två av domarna gynnade Gaballos aggression över Rodriguezs ringgeneralskap.
SHOWTIME: s inofficiella målskytt Steve Farhood gjorde matchen 118-110 till förmån för Rodriguez och SHOWTIME-analytiker och före detta världsmästare Raul Marquez blev förfärad över domarnas beslut.
”Det finns inget sätt Gaballo kunde ha vunnit den kampen,”Sa Marquez. ”I värsta fall, du kunde ha gett honom tre omgångar. Jag gav honom inga omgångar. ”
”Jag är väldigt glad och välsignad att vinna detta bälte,”Sa den 24-årige Gaballo. ”Jag gick alltid framåt och kontrollerade takten, så jag trodde att det var en nära kamp som någon av oss kunde ha vunnit.
”Jag väntar på att mitt team ska berätta vad de har planerat för mig nästa. Jag kommer att fortsätta träna hårt så jag är alltid redo för möjligheten när det kommer. ”
”Det var en bra kamp, men han vann bara ungefär två eller tre omgångar,”Sa Rodriguez. ”Det kom två slag från mig för varje slag han landade. Han vet att han förlorade. Alla vet att vi vann. Mitt team ber mig att gå ut och fortsätta boxa honom i de sena omgångarna. Vi visste att han behövde en knockout i den tolfte omgången. Det var hans enda chans att vinna. ”
I co-main event, Philadelphias obesegrade weltervikt sensation Jaron Ennis (26-0, 24 Kos) såg hans imponerande 16-kamp knockout-rad komma till en nedslående slut efter en oavsiktlig headbutt i första omgången orsakade ett brutalt snitt i hans motståndares panna, Chris van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 Kos). Titta på huvudstöt HÄR: https://twitter.com/ShowtimeBoxing/status/1340495823474442240
Med bara två minuter och trettonio sekunder inuti ringen för att visa upp sina färdigheter, Ennis kunde fortfarande få en glimt av sin mästerskapspotential när han landade 22 av 57 stansar, 19 av dem kraftskott när han verkade avsedd att stoppa den sydafrikanska van Heerden och hålla sin KO-sträcka vid liv före huvudstöt.
”Innan headbutt hade jag redan klippt honom och kände mig stark,”Sa en besviken Ennis. ”Jag visste att han var redo att gå. Jag känner att jag blir bättre och bättre. Nu kommer jag bara tillbaka i gymmet. Som du kunde se från första omgången, Jag hanterade honom lätt. Jag känner att alla fortfarande sover på mig, men jag är redo för alla. Ta med de stora namnen. ”
I telecast-öppnaren, bantamvikt utmanare Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 Kos) behöll sin obefläckade rekord intakt med en teknisk seger över tidigare världsmästare Juan Carlos Payano (21-5, 9 Kos). Efter en oavsiktlig headbutt orsakade ett dåligt snitt i Payanos vänstra panna, domaren David Fields stoppade striden efter den sjätte omgången på råd från ringläkaren. Striden gick till styrkort, där Russell ledde på alla tre korten (58-56, 59-55, 59-55).
Innan skadan, Russell och Payano var engagerade i en skrämmande slagsmål som såg flera utbyten av maktstansar. Under de sista sekunderna av den sjätte, och slutligen sista omgången, Russell fångade Payano med ett motskott som skadade Payano. Russell landade 86 av 243 slag medan Payano landade precis 58 av 268 stansar. Russell blinkade utmärkt kroppsarbete under hela kampen, landar Payano 40 till 17 på kroppsskott.
I SHOWTIME BOXING Förhandlar action som strömmade live på SHOWTIME Sports YouTube-kanal och SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook-sida, högt ansedd 21-årig prospekt Brandun Lee (21-0, 19 Kos) utvidgade hans knockout-sträcka till 13 med tredje stopp av Dakota Linger (12-5-2, 8 Kos) och Benjamin Whitaker (15-4, 3 Kos) gjorde seger för majoritetsbeslut (76-76, 77-75, 79-73) över tidigare obesegrad prospekt Zsolt Daranyi (15-1, 14 Kos).
Lördagens SHOWTIME BOXNING: SPECIALUTGÅVA telecast spelas om på måndag kl 10 p.m. ET / PT på SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Ett branschledande produktionsteam och tillkännagivande besättning levererade alla sevärdheter, ljud och drama från Mohegan Sun Arena. Veteransändaren Brian Custer var värd för sändningen. Mångsidig kampsportröst Mauro Ranallo kallade actionringen vid sidan av Hall of Fame-analytikern Al Bernstein och den tidigare medelviktiga världsmästaren Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez som tillhandahöll expertanalys. Två Hall of Famers avrundade SHOWTIME-telecast-teamet - inofficiell ringsidescorer Steve Farhood och den världsberömda ringsignalen Jimmy Lennon Jr. Sändningen var tillgänglig på spanska via Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) med före detta världsmästaren Raul Marquez och sportscaster Alejandro Luna kallar åtgärden. Den verkställande producenten var David Dinkins, Jr, producenten var Ray Smaltz och regissören Chuck McKean.
Evenemanget marknadsfördes av TGB Promotions. Rodriguez vs.. Gaballo befordrades i samarbete med Warriors Boxing och Fresh Productions. Ennis vs.. Van Heerden befordrades i samarbete med D&D Boxning.
Obesegrad tillfällig WBA Super fjädervikt Champion Colbert kämpar hårt slående Arboleda i Main Event Live på SHOWTIME® denna lördag, December 12
NEW YORK – December 8, 2020 – Oslagna tillfällig WBA Super Featherweight Champion Chris “Primetime” Colbert kommer att se till att göra ett uttalande i hans första nationellt tv-sända huvudevenemang när han möter hårt slå Jaime Arboleda live på SHOWTIME denna lördag, December 12 vid 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT i ett evenemang som presenterades av Premier Boxing Champions från Mohegan Sun Arena i Uncasville, Conn.
”Jag visste alltid att jag skulle komma hit,”Sa Colbert. ”Det är allt Guds plan. Det här kommer bara att bli en annan dag för mig och jag ska visa alla varför jag är en av de bästa 130-pundarna i världen. ”
Den 24-årige Colbert har skjutit upp rankningen för 130 pund viktklass och tror att en seger på lördagskväll kommer att leda till större möjligheter i den fullsatta divisionen.
”Det här är en av de mest staplade divisionerna inom boxning och jag älskar att tävla i den,”Sa Colbert. ”Det är fantastiskt att bli märkt i en division som har så mycket talang, och förhoppningsvis leder det till att jag får de stora slagsmål jag behöver. Jag känner inte att det finns någon viss fighter jag riktar mig mot, men Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz och Jamel Herring skulle alla vara bra slagsmål för mig. Att slå dem skulle hjälpa mig att bli 'killen' i divisionen. "
Colberts uppgång fortsatte under hans sista kamp, när han gjorde en 10th-runda knockdown mot före detta mästare Jezreel Corrales på väg till en avgörande seger samtidigt som han visar ett imponerande utbud av färdigheter mot en kämpe som är fast besluten att sakta ner åtgärden genom att hålla och andra veterantrick.
”Mot Corrales lärde jag mig att inte rusa,”Sa Colbert. ”Det är inte en sprint, det är ett maraton. Jag kan inte bara skynda mig där och förvänta mig att alla slås ut. Jag var tvungen att ta mig tid, gör det jag gör bäst och håll mig till min spelplan. ”
I den 26-årige Arboleda, Colbert kommer att presenteras med ytterligare en stigande 130-pund utmanare med sina egna synpunkter på att växa fram bland eliten i divisionen. Arboleda har vunnit fem av sina senaste sex strider genom stopp och senast tappat Jayson Velez på väg till en avgörande seger i februari på SHOWTIME.
”Kom december 12, Jag är redo för vad han ger,”Sa Colbert. "Jag förväntar mig att han kommer att sätta press och" försöka "göra mig trött eftersom det är den enda chansen han har. Han kan inte utboxa mig. Det händer inte. Men jag älskar att slå in och jag är redo för vad han än gör. Jag hoppas att han inte springer eller klättrar mig för jag skulle gärna få knockout och få honom bort därifrån tidigt. "
Brooklyn-infödda Colbert har fortsatt att arbeta med sin långvariga tränare Aureliano Sosa i sin hemstad genom pandemins svårigheter. Dessa svårigheter har lett till att Colbert sparrar med större weltervikt och super weltervikt i lägret, vilket Colbert tror skulle kunna hjälpa honom med den makt som Arboleda kommer att föra in i kampen.
”Träningsläger har gått bra för det mesta,”Sa Colbert. ”Det har bara varit lite svårt att hitta sparringpartners. Men eftersom det har varit svårt att hitta kämpar i min vikt har jag faktiskt sparrat med 147 och 154 pund fighters. Jag älskar ärligt talat det eftersom det förbereder mig bättre, och vem ska säga att Arboleda inte kommer att ha makt som dem? Jag är i vikt nu, fast, och redo att sätta upp en show den 12 december. ”
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OM COLBERT VS. ARBOLEDA Colbert vs.. Arboleda kommer att se två av de bästa kämparna i 130 pund-divisionen mötas när obesegrad tillfällig WBA Super Featherweight Champion Chris “Primetime” Colbert möter den hårt slående Jaime Arboleda i den viktigaste händelsen i SHOWTIME BOXNING: SPECIALUTGÅVA Lördag, December 12 vid 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT live på SHOWTIME från Mohegan Sun Arena i Uncasville, Conn., i ett evenemang som presenteras av Premier Boxing Champions.
Trippelhuvudet ser stigande superlätt fenomen Richardson Hitchins tar på sig det tuffaste testet i sin unga karriär när han möter tidigare världsmästare Argenis Mendez i tio-runda co-main-tävlingen och mellanviktare Ronald Ellis och Matt Korobov slåss i den 10-runda telecast-öppnaren. Evenemanget marknadsförs av TGB Promotions och Sampson Boxing. Hitchins vs.. Mendez marknadsförs samtidigt av Mayweather Promotions. För mer information besök www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, följ på Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotions och @MayweatherPromo, på Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotionss och @MayweatherPromotions, eller bli ett fan på Facebook på www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing och https://www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions/.
"Jag tror verkligen att jag är den bästa framåtriktade kämpen i spelet"
Unbeaten Rising Super Lightweight Prospect Hitchins Battles Tidigare mästare Argenis Méndez I Co-Main Event Live på SHOWTIME® denna lördag, December 12 Klicka HÄR för foton från Mayweather-kampanjer NEW YORK – December 7, 2020 – Oslagna stigande utsikter Richardson Hitchins delade detaljer om hans träningsläger, inklusive pekare och motivation han fick från Floyd Mayweather och Gervonta Davis, före hans superlätta uppgörelse mot tidigare världsmästare Argenis Mendez live på SHOWTIME denna lördag, December 12 vid 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT i ett evenemang som presenterades av Premier Boxing Champions från Mohegan Sun Arena i Uncasville, Conn.
”Floyd hjälpte mig enormt när jag var tillbaka i Las Vegas,”Sa Hitchins. ”Jag har redan det grundläggande som en kämpe, men han visade mig små saker här och där och träningspass som jag har tagit med mig hem medan jag tränar för denna kamp. Jag är inte blyg för min förmåga som kämpe, för jag tror verkligen att jag är den bästa framåtriktade kämpen i spelet, så det här är den slags slagsmål jag behöver för att visa världen vem Richardson Hitchins är.
”Gervonta har också varit med i tidigare kampläger, och han är den typ av person du behöver. Han driver dig att gå hårdare. Vi försöker överträffa varandra, och det är den typ av tävling som behövs för att verkligen bli bäst. ”
Trots träning under hela pandemin, Hitchins har kunnat förbli på jobbet och på rätt spår under hela sitt läger som började i Las Vegas innan han slutade i sitt hemland Brooklyn under ledning av hans huvudtränare Lenny Wilson.
”Saken med mig är, Jag är fokuserad oavsett vad,”Sa Hitchins. ”Jag tar inte av efter mina slagsmål. Jag håller mig i form året runt; Jag behöver inte göra mig redo när det gäller konditionering eller att få min kropp tillbaka i form eftersom det här är mitt jobb. Jag tar mitt jobb väldigt seriöst. Den disciplin Floyd har haft under hela sin karriär är samma disciplin som jag har. Jag har tittat på mina idoler och tagit saker från dem så att jag kan sätta mig själv i en position att vinna.
”Jag tror inte att pandemin eller semestern nödvändigtvis förändrade min träning. Jag har fortfarande tillgång till mitt gym. Det finns inget som kommer att stå i min väg att bli bra. Pandemin saktar inte ner mig, det är bara en vägspärr för att testa mitt engagemang för sporten. ”
Den 23-åriga Hitchins representerade Haiti på 2016 Olympiska spelen och kommer att återvända till ringen efter debut i 2020 med en seger på tio omgångar över Nicholas DeLomba i februari. Det var Hitchins andra avgörande seger i tio omgångar efter hans tidigare kamp såg honom bäst Kevin Johnson efter 10 i november 2019.
”Jag tänker ofta tillbaka på min kamp mot Kevin Johnson, han är en tuff kämpe och det är han som jag med säkerhet kan säga tog fram det bästa ur mig,”Sa Hitchins. ”Det är de slagsmål som får mig att se tillbaka och titta noga på de saker jag behöver arbeta med. Den striden visade mig också att ingen bör förbises, så att gå in i denna kamp mot Mendez, Jag har inte utsikt över honom. ”
Méndez presenterar den mest skickliga motståndaren till Hitchins unga karriär. Den 34-åriga före detta mästaren kämpade senast Juan Heraldez och Anthony Peterson för att dra in 2019, och gjorde segrar över Eddie Ramirez och Ivan Redkach före det. För Hitchins, hans motståndares starka CV är något han tycker om som måttpinne för hans framsteg.
”Han är en veteran, han har varit där med många tuffa killar och han är en tidigare världsmästare, så han har helt klart en färdighet som jag tror att jag måste möta just nu i min karriär,”Sa Hitchins. ”Jag behöver de stora slagsmålen. Han är äldre nu, men jag känner att han fortfarande inte kunde röra vid min skicklighet. Det är mitt jobb att bevisa det.
”Jag vet att det här inte blir en lätt kamp, men jag är beredd på vad han än tar med. Min motivation är att vara mer än vanligt. Jag kommer att uppfylla mina mål när allt detta är sagt och gjort, och ärligt talat, Jag väntar bara på att denna kamp ska komma så att jag kan visa det. Oavsett om det är Méndez, eller vem som helst, den övertygelse jag har och hur jag känner mig själv är starkare än något som står framför mig i den ringen. ”
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OM COLBERT VS. ARBOLEDA Colbert vs.. Arboleda kommer att se två av de bästa kämparna i 130 pund-divisionen mötas när obesegrad tillfällig WBA Super Featherweight Champion Chris “Primetime” Colbert möter den hårt slående Jaime Arboleda i den viktigaste händelsen i SHOWTIME BOXNING: SPECIALUTGÅVA Lördag, December 12 vid 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT live på SHOWTIME från Mohegan Sun Arena i Uncasville, Conn., i ett evenemang som presenteras av Premier Boxing Champions.
Trippelhuvudet ser stigande superlätt fenomen Richardson Hitchins tar på sig det tuffaste testet i sin unga karriär när han möter tidigare världsmästare Argenis Mendez i tio-runda co-main-tävlingen och mellanviktare Ronald Ellis och Matt Korobov slåss i den 10-runda telecast-öppnaren. Evenemanget marknadsförs av TGB Promotions och Sampson Boxing. Hitchins vs.. Mendez marknadsförs samtidigt av Mayweather Promotions. För mer information besök www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, följ på Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotions och @MayweatherPromo, på Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotionss och @MayweatherPromotions, eller bli ett fan på Facebook på www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing och https://www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions/.
“I have the same hunger now that I had before I won the titles,” Spence
“We’re going to give it 110% and take these titles from him in his hometown,” Garcia
Unified Welterweight World Champion Errol Spence Jr. Faces Two-Division Champion Danny Garcia Headlining FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Event Saturday, December 5 From AT&T Stadium In Arlington, Texas
ARLINGTON, TX. (November 10, 2020) – Unified welterweight world championErrol “Sanningen” Spence Jr. and two-division world championDanny “Swift” Garcia previewed their highly anticipated FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View event during a virtual press conference Tuesday as they prepare to square off Saturday, December 5 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spence was joined during the event by his longtime trainerDerrick James, while Garcia was accompanied by his father and trainerAngel Garcia.
Biljetter för live-event, som främjas av TGB Erbjudanden, Man Down Promotions and DSG Promotions, finns det erbjudanden nu, and can be purchased at SeatGeek.com, the Official Ticketing Provider of AT&T Stadium.
VID&T Stadium, which has hosted NFL fans during the 2020 Dallas Cowboys season, will be following guidelines from the CDC with protocols regarding COVID-19 safeguards and cleaning procedures. All fans attending the event will be required to wear a mask. Tickets will be distributed in seat blocks known as “pods” to maintain distance between groups who are not known to one another. For more information on AT&T Stadium’s Safe Stadium Policy, please visit the site here: https://attstadium.com/safestadium/.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday:
ERROL SPENCE JR.
“I feel blessed and ready to go. I feel like I’m 100% fysiskt. We’ve been training hard and staying focused. I can’t wait to give my hometown fans something to cheer for when I defend my title against a great opponent.
“I didn’t want any tune-up fights. I wanted someone who is tough and who could push me to the limit, so I can get back to being Errol Spence Jr. I’m going to give a great performance and hear ‘and still’ december 5.
“I picked Danny Garcia so that I could rise to the occasion. I’m still the top dog in the division. Fighting Danny will show how great a fighter I am.
“Danny’s dad gets me hyped up talking about his son coming forward, throwing a lot of punches and taking the belts from me. So I’ll be ready for whatever Danny brings to the ring. I’m not going to get into any head games like with Shawn Porter. I fought Shawn’s game and beat him at his own game. I know Angel wants me to stand there and brawl with Danny, but I’m going to do what I have to do to win the fight.
“It’s up to me to make a big splash coming back from my car accident. Lesser opponents were for before I became champion. I finally got to the top, where I can fight the big names, so I’m not going backward. These are the guys I’ve wanted to fight forever.
“I definitely learn more from Danny’s wins. He has a lot of great wins. You learn a lot from all different kinds of fights. I’m a student of the game and a fan of the sport. All I do anyway is watch boxing. So I’m very familiar with Danny’s wins and losses.
“The accident just made me hungrier and even more focused. I have the same hunger now that I had before I won the title. I’m coming into camp much lighter and it’s helping me have an even better camp.
“I’m the champ, och i slutet av dagen, I can just fight. When it gets down to the wire, I know how to dig down deep and come out on top.
“It means everything to be fighting at home, especially with everyone going through the pandemic. I just want everyone who comes out to be safe and follow the protocols, and we’ll make it a great night.”
DANNY GARCIA
“Camp has been going great. My weight is good and I feel like we’re ahead of schedule. Now we’re just taking it one day at a time. I’m excited to be in this position to fight for the title again.
“I december 5, no stone will be unturned. We’re going to give it 110% and take these titles from him in his hometown.
“I’ve been an underdog my whole career. I’m used to playing that role. I just have to go in there and be myself. I have to believe in myself 100% and fight round by round. I’m going to show what a true champion is made of.
“After the Garcia and Porter fights, I saw some holes in his game and I knew it would be a good opportunity to become champion again. These type of fights bring out the best in Danny Garcia. They give me the extra motivation that I need and that’s why I wanted it.
“I thought Spence was the bigger and better man against Mikey Garcia. Mikey has great skills, but Errol had size and let his hands go. It made Mikey freeze, so he didn’t take any risks. He did land some good counterpunches, and those are the kind of things that I’m taking into consideration during this camp.
“My job is to fight. I can’t go in there and worry about judges. They’re going to do what they do. My job is to put in the work in the gym so that I’m ready on fight night. I have to go in there and win rounds and win the fight.
“I know that I’m a great fighter. I’ve been in these type of fights before. I know what I’m made of. As long as I’m mentally and physically at my best, nobody can beat me. I’m a dangerous man when I have this focus.
“We’re taking this fight like Errol is 100%. We’re not banking on anything hindering him. We’re taking this as seriously as possible. We wanted this fight a long time ago, but we just had to stay focused. Now the fight is finally here and I feel like we’re going to have a great performance.
“I believe that I do everything great. I can bang inside and box. That’s why I’m a three-time world champion. I’ve faced every style imaginable and I’ve come out on top.”
DERRICK JAMES, Spence tränare
“Training camp has been really good. We’ve been putting in the hard work since March. Everything is coming together leading up to December 5. We took our time and it was a gradual process getting to this point. He was already in shape by the time this camp started so we had a great head start.
“Even when Errol was getting back into his rhythm, he was still looking good. But you could see the improvement day after day as he got more comfortable being back. Everyone will see on December 5 who Errol Spence Jr. really is.
“It’s great to be able to fight at home against a fighter like Danny. Putting on a great performance will build Errol’s legend and his stock will continue to rise. Errol has always been able to handle fighting in front of his hometown fans. We love everything that the city brings us and we feed off that energy in the ring.”
ANGEL GARCIA, Garcia’s Father & Tränare
“Everything has been perfect in camp. You can see how good he’s looking right now. Danny would be ready to go tomorrow if we had to. It’s going to be a great night for me and Danny. Not taking anything from anybody, but we’re coming to take those titles.
“I never look at opponent’s tapes from past fights. We’re not going to learn anything from that. When I train Danny, I focus on Danny. All I know is how to make Danny better. We’re going to dictate the fight and be on top of Errol. We’re not going to fight like Mikey Garcia did and run all night.
“Den här gången, we’re not going to leave it in the judges’ händer. We chose to go fight him in Dallas. Danny made that call. Vid slutet av dagen, Danny just has to go in there and do his thing.”
Tom Brown, VD för TGB Promotions
“Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia is one of the most intriguing fights of this year and it is a fight that will determine who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“This will be a tremendous night of boxing and it will be at the home of the best pro sports franchise in the world, VID&T Stadium. This is the perfect host for a matchup with two fighters in their prime, both ready to put their legacies on the line.
“Spence is one of the most talked about fighters in the sport. Many consider him to be the best fighter in the world, and with good reason. He wants to be challenged and this is the type of fight that elevates our sport.
“Danny Garcia is a throwback fighter. He’s one of the most skilled and battle tested fighters in our sport. What he did at 140 pounds, before moving up, was simply amazing. Putting these two together will bring back memories of great welterweight battles of the past.”
# # #
ABOUT SPENCE VS. GARCIA Spence vs. Garcia will see unified welterweight world championErrol “Sanningen” Spence Jr. duel two-division world championDanny “Swift” Garcia in the blockbuster main event of a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Saturday, December 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super welterweight sensationSebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundoratar på Jorge Cota in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event. The lineup will also see all-action contendersJosesito “The Riverside Rocky” Lopez och Francisco “Del” Santana squaring-off in a 10-round welterweight affair, plus former championJuli Ceja faces featherweight contenderEduardo Ramirezin a WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator to kick off the pay-per-view.
Tittare kan streama PBC-programmen live på FOX Sports och FOX NOW-apparna eller på FOXSports.com. Dessutom, alla program är tillgängliga på FOX Sports på SiriusXM-kanalen 83 på satellitradio och i SiriusXM-appen.
GERVONTA DAVIS SCORES KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE OVER LEO SANTA CRUZ TO WIN TITLES IN TWO WEIGHT DIVISIONS SATURDAY NIGHT ONShowtime PPV®
Mario Barrios Retains WBA Super Lightweight Title with KO Over Ryan Karl; Regis Prograis and Isaac Cruz Both Score Stoppage Victories
Delayed Telecast of Tonight’s Main and Co-Main Event Will Air Exclusively on SHOWTIME® på lördag, November 7 vid 9 p.m. ET / PT
Klicka HÄR för Foton från Esther Lin / Showtime Klicka HÄR för foton från Sean Michael Ham / Mayweather Promotions
SAN ANTONIO – November 1, 2020 – Gervonta “Tank” Davis delivered a Knockout of the Year candidate over four-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz in the most significant fight of his career, retaining his WBA Lightweight title and picking up the WBA Super Featherweight title Saturday night on SHOWTIME PPV®at the Alamodome in San Antonio in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. It was the first major boxing event with fans in attendance since COVID-19 forced a halt to U.S. sports in March with an announced crowd of 9,024.
It was both fighters’ pay-per-view main event debut, and Davis (24-0, 23 Kos) och Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 Kos) delivered an all-action war that had the fans on their feet from start to finish. Kampen, which was contested at 130 pounds, saw both fighters stand in the pocket and press the action. It was in the sixth round when the defining moment of the night occurred, as Davis found an opening to land his trademark left uppercut, a knockout shot which Santa Cruz never saw coming. Davis proved that he is one of the most powerful punchers in the sport, stunning the crowd. Watch the KOHÄR.
“The uppercut wasn’t the key coming into the fight, but I adapted to what he was bringing,” said Baltimore’s Davis. “I knew he was taller and crouching down and moving forward. Once he moved forward, I tried to jab and make him run into the shot. He was right there for it. He punches, but he doesn’t try to get out of the way. There was nowhere for him to go on that knockout because I got him into the corner.
The power and body attack of the 25-year-old Davis was the difference as he landed 55 percent of his power punches to 29 percent for Santa Cruz, who was having his best round of the fight in the sixth round prior to the defining punch. The stronger Davis lured the 32-year-old Santa Cruz into a firefight as 34 of Davis’ 84 landed punches were body shots.
“Leo is a tough warrior and a strong Mexican fighter,” sade Davis, who is promoted by all-time great Floyd Mayweather. “He came ready for me. I was just the better fighter tonight. I want to maintain both belts. Whatever decision me and my team comes up with, we’ll go with it. I’m not ducking or dodging anybody. I’m a pay-per-view star. Everybody knows I’m number one and I showed it tonight.”
“We didn’t get the win, but I’m okay,” nämnda Santa Cruz, who was taken to a nearby hospital for observation.
Davis vs. Santa Cruz was a rare clash in boxing history in which world titles in two weight classes were at stake. Other notable instances in recent boxing history are the 1988 Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny Lalonde fight for the light heavyweight and super middleweight titles, och 2014 Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana rematch for the super welterweight and welterweight championships.
I co-funktionen, San Antonio’s hometown favorite Mario Barrios (26-0, 17 Kos) kept his unbeaten record intact and retained his WBA Super Lightweight title with a sixth-round KO over a game and bloodied Ryan Karl (18-3, 12 Kos) on Halloween night. Watch the KOHÄR.
The fight broke open in the sixth round when Barrios landed a straight right hand that sent Karl down for just the third time in his career. Karl’s problems were further exasperated after an accidental clash of heads created a brutal cut on his forehead which proved to be too much to cope with. The 25-year-old Barrios smelled blood and closed the show in emphatic fashion, landing a left hook that sent Karl down and out at 2:23 of the sixth round. Vid tidpunkten för stoppet, Barrios was ahead on all three scorecards (48-47 och 49-46 två gånger).
In the all-important sixth round, Barrios landed 29 av hans 58 power punches against a very tough Karl, som kastade 60 punches per round but landed just 18 percent of those punches.
“This fight is for everybody who came out here in San Antonio tonight,” said Barrios following the win. “I told them we’d get this first title defense, and I hope everyone enjoyed it. I was just being patient and picking my shots. I started to really land them and got him out of there. I was ready to go a hard 12 rundor, but my patience helped me get him out of there. I listened to what Virgil [Hunter] was telling me in the corner. It was great to get the job done here at home”
“I feel fine but it was a hard shot that I got hit with,” said Milano, Texas’ “Cowboy” Karl. “It was a tough, good, close fight. It was a good headbutt. I was bleeding pretty good but overall I feel fine. I’m not a sore loser. Jag kommer att kämpa, that’s what I expected. So congratulations to Mario on the win. We’ll move on from here.”
Former world champion Regis Prograis (25-1, 21 Kos) took the first step to getting back on top of the 140-pound division, scoring a third-round stoppage of Juan Heraldez (16-1-1, 10 Kos) in the second bout of the night. Watch the stoppageHÄR.
I den tredje omgången, the fight changed in an instant as Prograis took advantage of Heraldez keeping his hands too low by landing his most dangerous weapon, a dynamite left hook that sent Heraldez sprawling to the canvas. When Heraldez got back to his feet, PROGRAM, who was born and raised in New Orleans but now fights out of Katy, Texas, sensed his opponent was in danger and pounced on Heraldez, forcing referee Rafael Ramos to step in and stop the action at 1:23 of round number three.
På fredag, PROGRAM, who lost a 140-pound title unification fight to Josh Taylor last October, weighed in over the 140-pound limit.
“I’ve been out of the ring for a year so I think that had some effect on me not making weight,” said the 31-year-old Prograis. “Det finns inga ursäkter, but the bubble also had some effect. Mainly it was the layoff though. My body wasn’t adjusted to making the weight again.
In the buildup to the fight, Prograis repeatedly stated he felt he was still the best in the world at 140 pounds and vowed to get his belt back.
“I still feel like I’m the best at 140,” Prograis reiterated to SHOWTIME’s Mauro Ranallo following the fight. “I’m going to keep proving it every time I fight. Me and Josh Taylor had a close fight, and I think if it had happened in the U.S. I would have won. We know that one day we’ll have to rematch at 140 or 147.”
The Las Vegas-based Heraldez, who is signed to Mayweather Promotions, was disappointed he didn’t get the chance to continue the fight despite landing just 12 total punches landed compared to Prograis’ 35.
“I just thought it was an early stoppage,” sa han. “I was just getting warm, loose. He stunned me, but I don’t think they should’ve stopped the fight.”
In the pay-per-view telecast opener, Mexico City’s Isaac Cruz (20-1-1, 15 Kos) wasted no time in getting the fans on their feet, scoring a stunning first-round knockout of Diego Magdaleno (32-4, 13 Kos) bara 53 seconds into the night’s action. Watch the KOHÄR.
The diminutive but powerful Cruz came out swinging immediately after hearing the opening bell, using his vicious uppercut to knock down the 34-year-old Magdaleno for the 11thtime in his career inside of 30 sekunder. Bara 20 seconds after Magdaleno got to his feet, Cruz again unleashed a barrage of punches with Magdaleno against the ropes, finishing him off with back-to-back right uppercuts. In a short night of work, Cruz managed to land 21 av 31 stansar, 20 of which were power shots.
With the win in the IBF Title Eliminator, Cruz puts himself in position to challenge lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez down the line.
“The new Mike Tyson from Mexico was born tonight,” said the 22-year-old Cruz. “I thought it would go longer, but my natural instinct is always to go for it in the first round. I have confidence that I could win the world title right now. I thought it was a statement win. From now on, hopefully everyone will know my name and I’ll get the big fights. I would love a Teofimo Lopez fight. I’m very motivated right now. If he’s tough enough to take it, bring it on.”
The announce team for the SHOWTIME PPV telecast was led by the most experienced and decorated boxing team on television. Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer served as host for the evening. Versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo handled blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and four-time world champion Abner Mares. Two Hall of Famers rounded out the telecast team: boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer, and world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. Dessutom, former world champion Raúl Marquez and sportscaster Alejandro Luna served as expert analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP).
The executive producer of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The director is Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy. The pair has been guiding SHOWTIME Sports’ flagship series SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®since its inception in 1986 and has produced the three highest-grossing pay-per-view events of all time (Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-McGregor, Mayweather-Canelo).
Davis vs. Santa Cruz was promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB kampanjer, GTD-kampanjer och Santa Cruz Boxing Club.
”Jag måste bevisa att jag är den dåligaste mannen i sportenpå lördag kväll," – Davis ”Alla har sin åsikt om denna kamp. Det är mitt jobb att gå ut och bevisa att tvivlarna är felaktiga," – Santa Cruz Tre gånger världsmästare Davis och fyra divisioner världsmästare Santa Cruz möts i Halloween Thriller på Alamodome i San Antonio Headlining SHOWTIME PPV® Denna lördag, Oktober 31 i evenemang presenteras av Premier Boxing Champions Klicka HÄR för Foton från Esther Lin / Showtime® Klicka HÄR för foton från Sean Michael Ham / Mayweather Promotions SAN ANTONIO, TX – Oktober 29, 2020 – Tre gånger världsmästare Gervonta ”Tank” Davis och fyra-division mästare Leo "Jordbävningen" Santa Cruz kvadrerade på en sista presskonferens på torsdag för att förhandsgranska deras efterlängtade SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT) huvuduppgörelse som äger rum denna lördag, Oktober 31 från Alamodome i San Antonio i ett evenemang som presenterades av Premier Boxing Champions.
Två av sportens mest elektrifierande krigare, Davis och Santa Cruz kommer att slåss om WBA Super Featherweight och WBA Lightweight Championships i en matchup som ställer Davis fantastiska kraft mot det obevekliga trycket från Santa Cruz.
Davis vs. Santa Cruz marknadsförs av Mayweather Promotions, TGB kampanjer, GTD-kampanjer och Santa Cruz Boxing Club. Biljetter säljs nu och kan köpas på Ticketmaster.com. Alamodome har implementerat en omfattande hälso- och säkerhetsplan för att skydda mot spridningen av coronavirus. Alla fans som deltar i evenemanget kommer att screenas vid inträde och måste bära en mask och följa riktlinjer för social distansering. Biljetter distribueras i säteblock som kallas ”pods” för att upprätthålla avståndet mellan grupper inte från samma parti. För mer information, besök Alamodome.com.
Här är vad presskonferensdeltagarna hade att säga torsdag:
GERVONTA DAVIS
”Mitt team och jag bestämde oss för att flytta vårt läger till Las Vegas så att vi kunde ha ett perfekt läger. Vi tillbringade 15 veckor i träning, så jag är väl förberedd. Förhoppningsvis är Leo väl förberedd och vi ger fansen vad de vill se.
”Vi vet att Leo kommer att komma med många slag och jag kommer att bli explosiv. Det handlar om att ge fansen en godbit. Jag är tacksam för att vara i den här positionen och jag är redo. Lördagskvällen kommer att bli en minnesvärd natt.
”Att inte ta något från honom, Yuriorkis Gamboa försökte bara överleva mot mig. Det är svårare att få slag när någon inte försöker ta kampen. Jag vet att Leo kommer att slåss. Jag tror att den här föreställningen kommer att höja mig till nästa nivå.
”Jag tror inte att jag måste slå ut honom, Jag måste bara gå ut och vara bra. Glöm allt annat, Jag måste bara gå ut och visa alla att jag är den bästa killen i boxningsvärlden. Det är mitt huvudmål.
”Michael Jordan brukade läsa tidningen och göra vad de sa att han inte kunde göra. Det är vad jag gör. Jag måste bevisa att jag är den dåligaste mannen i sporten på lördagskvällen.
”Leo kommer att slåss och det handlar bara om att jag tar upp och gör det jag gör bäst. Du kan se potentialen i en kämpe utifrån, men du måste se att det faktiskt kommer ut i en kamp för att tro det. Det är den positionen jag befinner mig i. Alla vet att jag är fantastisk, Jag måste bara visa det.
”Leo har visat att han är en toppfighter, och han går upp mot ett sprängämne, kraftfull kämpe som jag själv. Jag tycker att vinnaren ska vara i toppen 10 i listan pund för pund.
”Floyd Mayweather har just sagt att jag ska hålla fokus trots allt som följer med pay-per-view-veckan. Jag måste få jobbet gjort först, men gör också allt som kommer med att vara nästa pay-per-view-stjärna.
”Jag är en av de kämpar som vet hur man fokuserar när jag har något stort framför mig. Ingen av de stora kämparna före mig har frusit upp när det är knäcktid. Jag har alltid kunnat fokusera när stora saker är på spel. Det var vad jag gjorde för det här träningslägret.
”Jag är inte riktigt fokuserad på någon som inte är Leo Santa Cruz. Jag kan inte förbise Leo. Så långt som någon annan fighter där ute, de spelar ingen roll för mig just nu. Jag kommer att bevisa det på vägen. Detta är ett steg närmare att bevisa den punkt som jag vill bevisa. ”
LEO SANTA CRUZ
”Det här är vad jag alltid har drömt om. När jag var liten pojke, Jag ville vara på den här scenen. Jag lever den drömmen och jag är väldigt glad och upphetsad. Jag trodde aldrig att jag skulle göra det. Jag tyckte att det var som att vinna i lotteriet. Men tack till fansen, Jag är här där jag är.
”Jag står inför den bästa kämpen i divisionen. Om du vill vara bäst, du måste slå bäst. Jag måste gå emot den bästa kämpen. Jag ville utmana mig själv. Jag vet att detta är en farlig kamp för mig, men jag vill testa mig själv.
”Vi har båda lidit och gått igenom mycket för att komma hit. Ingen av oss vill gå tillbaka dit vi började. Så jag vet att vi båda kommer att ge en fantastisk kamp för fansen.
”Jag har hjärtat av en mexikansk krigare. Min pappa har sagt till mig att slåss med en smart kamp, men även om han kommer att säga det, det finns en bra chans att jag ibland bråkar med honom. Oavsett vad, vi ska hitta ett sätt att slå honom.
”Jag oroar mig inte riktigt för att vara underdog. Alla har sin åsikt. Det är mitt jobb att gå ut och bevisa att tvivlarna är felaktiga. Jag tränade hårt för att gå ut och göra den lördagen.
”Gervonta är den bästa motståndaren jag har mött. Han är den starkaste kämpe jag har mött. Abner Mares och Carl Frampton-striderna var en fantastisk upplevelse för denna typ av slagsmål. Jag lärde mig mycket av dessa fyra slagsmål och sedan dess har jag lärt mig mycket mer.
”Det skulle betyda världen för mig att bli femdivisionsmästare. Det skulle vara en annan dröm som går i uppfyllelse. Jag skulle sätta Santa Cruz efternamn där uppe med det bästa.
”Gervonta är en stor kille och jag vet att han kommer att träffas hårt. Men jag har tränat med större killar hela lägret och jag har kunnat ta allt som kastas på mig.
”Fans vill att du ska göra det till ett fram och tillbaka krig. Jag vet att mot Gervonta måste jag slåss smart. Jag ska bara försöka så mycket jag kan för att lyssna på min fars råd.
”Jag tog definitivt denna kamp för att tysta kritikerna. Folk sa att jag inte ville slåss mot de stora namnen. Så jag gick efter den största utmaningen i divisionen och det är Gervonta Davis.
”Jag lämnar åsikterna till fansen och media. Mitt jobb är att vinna och ge fansen en fantastisk kamp. Jag ska ge det mitt bästa och lämna allt i ringen. ”
CALVIN FORD, Davis 'tränare
”Lägret har varit fantastiskt. Det var otroligt. Jag uppskattar verkligen det arbete som han gjorde. Jag kan inte vänta med att se Tank i ringen. Jag ser fram emot fantastiska föreställningar från båda kämparna.
"'Tank" åstadkom många saker som jag har bett honom att göra, men det här är toppen av dem alla här. Båda dessa familjer har gått samma linje med olika spår. De har båda en chans att bli stora med den här vinsten.
”Varje gång jag tittar på” Tank ”nu, Jag blinkar tillbaka till de yngre åren i gymmet med honom som barn. Nu är han den man som jag alltid har sett på honom att vara. Han är en familjeman, affärsman och en underbar kämpe. Det är fantastiskt att se en av mina pojkar alla vuxna upp. ”
JOSÉ SANTA CRUZ, Santa Cruz far och tränare
”Vi hade ett riktigt bra träningsläger och förstår vikten av denna kamp. Leo är helt förberedd för denna kamp på lördag och jag förväntar mig att han ska ha en fantastisk prestation.
”Jag är väldigt tacksam för att jag är här. Jag är så glad att vara här med min son för en så stor kamp och kunna vägleda honom och hjälpa honom att uppnå sin dröm.
”Vi vet att Davis är en mycket stark och skicklig kämpe. Men Leo har precis använt det för att motivera honom i gymmet varje dag och du kan se det på lördag. "
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, Sport och evenemangsprogrammering, Showtime Networks Inc.
”En av de största anledningarna till att jag älskar boxning är att vi får bevittna unga män, som 'Tank' Davis och Leo Santa Cruz, utvecklas och mognar precis framför våra ögon. Detta är vår nionde kamp med "Tank" och 13th med Leo. Vi har sett dem mogna som krigare och vi har sett dem mogna som unga män. Vi har sett dem kämpa, svettas, och triumfera. Vi har sett dem bli pappor. ”
"Jag minns första gången jag träffade" Tank ", det var april 2016 i Washington, D.C. Han var på det icke-tv-underkortet för en Adrien Broner-kamp. Han hade redan kämpat, han kom över under sändningen och Floyd presenterade honom. Jag minns hans mycket ord, ”Det här är min unga kämpe. Se upp för det här barnet. ”Och vi har tittat på det sedan dess.
”Jag minns att jag träffade Leo första gången i juni 2012. Strax före hans första världskampkamp. Han var en mycket ödmjuk, tyst, mjuk talat, nästan blyga unga män. Mycket annorlunda än killen som jag såg i ringen om 48 timmar efter det. Poängen är, vi har varit med på dessa unga mäns resa.
”De har kämpat mot oddsen, bokstavligen sedan födseln. Vi hade turen att spendera tid med dem under ALL ACCESS. De öppnade sina hjärtan, deras sinnen, och själva för att dela sina berättelser. Det jag har hört mest är att svårigheten med denna kamp inte är om folk vill titta på det eller om de ska köpa det, det är vem de ska rota till. För om du känner till dessa unga mäns historier, vad de har gått igenom, och vad de har upplevt, det är otroligt.
”Slutsatsen är att i dessa två unga män har vi två av de mest framgångsrika och populära unga krigarna i idrotten idag. Leo har varit en mästare nästan konsekvent sedan dess 2012. 'Tank' hade försäljningar eller nära försäljningar i Los Angeles, Baltimore och Atlanta, bara förra året. Vi har fått dessa två skickliga unga män att slåss på lördagskvällen. Du måste respektera deras resa, var de kommer ifrån, och respektera de lag som kommer runt honom.
”Vi vet vad som kommer att hända på lördagskvällen. Leo kommer att komma in i ringen, kasta en hel del slag och visa en aktivitetsnivå som skiljer sig från nästan alla andra i sporten. "Tank" kommer att visa makten, fart, och atletiken som har gjort honom till en av de snabbast stigande unga stjärnorna som vi har sett inom sport på en tid. Utöver det, det kommer att vara upp till dem, precis som det har varit upp till dem under hela deras liv. ”
Om Davis VS. SANTA CRUZ Davis vs. Santa Cruz kommer att se tre gånger världsmästare Gervonta ”Tank” Davis och fyrdelningsvärldsmästare Leo "Jordbävningen" Santa Cruz slåss om WBA Super Featherweight och WBA Lightweight Championships headlining en SHOWTIME PPV lördag, Oktober 31 (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT) i ett evenemang som presenterades av Premier Boxing Champions från Alamodome i San Antonio, Texas.
Det staplade underkortet kommer att innehålla obesegrad inföding från San Antonio och WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario "El Azteca" Barrios som försvarar sin titel mot den hårt slående Ryan "Cowboy" Karl i co-main-tävlingen och den tidigare superlätta världsmästaren Regis "Rougarou" Prograis kommer möta obesegrad utmanare Juan Heráldez i en 10-runda uppgörelse. I telecast-öppnaren, lätta tävlande Isaac Cruz och Diego Magdaleno kommer att slåss i en IBF-titel eliminator match.
