Category Archives: Premier Boxing Champions

Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter Undercard Complete

 
Unbeaten Polish Heavyweight Adam Kownacki Faces Massachusetts’ Jesse Barboza While Undefeated Rising Star Heather Hardy Battles Colorado’s Kirstie SimmonsSaturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
 
Plus! Puerto Rican Prospect Nicklaus Flaz Added to Stacked Undercard
 
BROOKLYN (June 21, 2016) – The stacked undercard for the highly anticipated Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter welterweight showdown is complete and will feature a pair of popular Brooklyn fighters as heavyweight Adam Kownacki (13-0, 10 KOs) battles hard-hitting Jesse Barboza (11-1-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bout while crowd-pleasing featherweight   Heather “The Heat” Hardy (16-0, 4 KOs) takes on Colorado’s Kirstie Simmons (8-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round contest on Saturday, June 25from Barclays Center.
The June 25 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS event, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, is headlined by the world title fight between defending world champion Keith Thurman and former champion Shawn Porter. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The live telecast will open with an exciting battle between undefeated super welterweight prospects Jarrett Hurd and Oscar Molina.
Additional undercard action features unbeaten prospect Jonathan Alonso taking on Los Angeles native Brian Jones in a junior welterweight match, Bronx native Josue Vargas opposing Oklahoma’s David Nelson in a four-round welterweight bout and a recent addition to the card, Puerto Rico’s Nicklaus Flaz, in a four-round junior middleweight battle against Brooklyn’s Mack Babb.
Completed matchups that were previously announced include fast-rising prospect David Benavidez (14-0, 13 KOs) taking on Francy Ntetu (16-0, 3 KOs) in an eight-round light heavyweight bout and unbeaten junior welterweight Regis Prograis (17-0, 14 KOs) versus Luis Eduardo Flores (21-3, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
A popular Brooklyn fighter who competed in Barclays Center’s first-ever professional female boxing match, Hardy has become a staple at the arena since. On June 25, she will be making her seventh appearance at Barclays Center. A little over two years after her pro debut, Hardy won an international title belt in the super bantamweight division in October 2014. In 2015, she defeated Noemi Bosques and Renata Domsodi twice. In her lone 2016 fight, she stopped Anna Donatella Hultin in the fourth round. She will be opposed by Aurora, Colorado’s Simmons who has won nine fights in a row after losing her pro debut.
A two-time New York Golden Gloves champion, Kownacki had a big 2015, notching four victories including knockouts of Maurenzo Smith and Randy Easton. Born in Lomza, Poland, the 26-year-old now calls Brooklyn home. His 2016 campaign began in January at Barclays Center when he defeated Danny Kelly in front of a raucous Polish crowd. He will take on Barboza out of Hyannis, Massachusetts. The 29-year-old Barboza was a three-time New England Heavyweight Golden Gloves champion.
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Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionswww.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

Undefeated Rising Star Sammy Vasquez Jr. Takes On Former World Champion Luis Collazo in Co-Main Event of  Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes Saturday, July 16 from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

BIRMINGHAM, AL (June 21, 2016) – Undefeated welterweight contender Sammy “The Sergeant” Vasquez Jr. (21-0, 15 KOs) is set to battle former world champion Luis Collazo (36-7, 19 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes in primetime on Saturday, July 16 from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with two more hours of boxing on FS1 and FOX Deportes to follow immediately at 10 p.m. ET. Further details will be announced shortly.
“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to showcasing my talent and skills,” said Vasquez Jr. “Luis Collazo is one of the toughest guys I’ve fought so far and he’s definitely going to test me. My job is to go in there, handle my business and beat him worse than anyone else has. I think our styles will combine for a great battle and I’m excited to give the people another great fight.”
“I’m totally stoked about this fight against Sammy Vasquez” said Collazo. “He is a talented fighter and I’m excited to test his abilities and the will that he has to keep that zero. This will be a good one.”
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at only $20 and are on sale now. For tickets please visit www.alabamatitlefight.com and www.ticketmaster.com.
Vasquez has fought professionally since 2012, after serving two tours of duty in Iraq as a member of the National Guard. He made it to the semifinals of the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials and won gold at the 2010 and 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championships. The fighter out of Monessen, Penn., notched big victories in 2015 over Wale Omotoso in June and Jose Lopez in September. In PBC on FOX action in January, Vasquez stopped veteran contender Aron Martinez in the sixth-round in Los Angeles.
One of Brooklyn’s most respected fighters,Collazo looks to make the most of his showdown with the undefeated Vazquez on July 16. A world champion in 2005, Collazo has faced top fighters his whole career. Most notably in recent years, he delivered an electrifying second round knockout over Victor Ortiz in December 2014. Collazo gave world champion Keith Thurman trouble in his last outing, staggering him with a body shot in the middle rounds before eventually losing to the undefeated fighter.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.com www.dbe1.com, www.TGBPromotions.com,http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @NightmareBoxing @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. www.facebook.com/foxsports andwww.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

UNDEFEATED SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS JARRETT HURD AND OSCAR MOLINA TO OPEN CBS PRIMETIME BOXING BROADCAST THIS SATURDAY FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN

Matchup Of 154-Pound Rising Stars Replaces Cuellar vs. Mares Fight As Opener Of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, Presented By
Premier Boxing Champions
This Saturday, June 25, Live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on CBS
BROOKLYN (June 20, 2016) – An intriguing matchup between undefeated super welterweights Jarrett Hurd and Oscar Molina will open this Saturday’s Primetime CBS broadcast from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS broadcast, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, airs live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by a welterweight blockbuster between undefeated champion Keith Thurman and once-beaten former titlist Shawn Porter.
The 10-round showdown between the 25-year-old Hurd (17-0, 11 KOs) and 26-year-old Molina (13-0-10 KOs) is a rare matchup between young undefeated prospects in one of boxing’s hottest divisions.  The winner graduates to contender status in the stacked 154-pound class, a division featuring Erislandy Lara, Jermall and Jermell Charlo, Demetrius Andrade and Julian Williams.
Hurd vs. Molina represents the toughest professional fight for either man.
“The dictionary definition of ‘Swift’ is to happen quickly or promptly,” said Hurd. “So just like my ring name, that’s exactly what you’ll see on Saturday night. I’m so grateful that this fight was made and that the whole world will be able to see my boxing skills on this highly anticipated card.”
“I’m excited for this fight and I’m grateful that it’s even bigger now that it’s on CBS,” said Molina. “I’ve seen Hurd fight.  I know what he does well and what his weaknesses are and I’ll be looking to capitalize on them. It’s important for me to defeat the top guys and this is someone I have to beat to become a world champion one day. I’m excited about fighting in Brooklyn on the big stage, but my focus will be on my trainer’s game plan and coming out victorious.”
Hurd, of Accokeek, Md., just south of Washington, D.C., has an unblemished record since turning professional in 2012.  He is coming off a career-best performance last November with a six-round destruction of previously undefeated Frank Galarza on ShoBox: The New Generation.  Hurd, who has never been down or cut as a professional, will be facing his third consecutive unbeaten opponent.
Molina, of Norwalk, Calif., just east of Los Angeles, was a 2012 Mexican Olympian.  He tore through his opposition after turning professional in 2013, registering knockouts in 10 of his 14 fights.  Molina, who has also never been down, is coming off a 10-round draw with fellow unbeaten highly regarded prospect Dominque Dolton last September.  He returns to the ring this Saturday against another undefeated opponent as he looks to make a statement in the 154-pound division.
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Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP. Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP,  @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebookat www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionswww.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

Sugar Ray Leonard & Thomas Hearns, Two Hall of Fame Welterweight Champions, Weigh-In on the Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter 147-Pound Championship Battle at Barclays Center on Saturday, June 25 Live on CBS

 
“The winner of Thurman-Porter will immediately move into the
welterweight penthouse.”  – Leonard
“I know that Porter and Thurman both have the ability to get each other out of there. It’s going to be a matter of who gets to who first.”Hearns
NEW YORK (JUNE 20, 2016) – Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns might be uniquely qualified to talk about what WBA welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and “Showtime” Shawn Porter are thinking and feeling heading into their battle that pits two men against each other who are in their primes in a highly charged battle for supremacy in the talent-laden welterweight division.
The highly anticipated showdown headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) with televised coverage starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Leonard had a record of 30-1 with 21 KOs and held the WBC welterweight title when he took on Hearns, who was 32-0 with 30 KOs and held the WBA title, in a 15-round title unification match in Las Vegas on September 16, 1981. The match was billed as “The Showdown” and had a worldwide television audience of 300 million.
The fight was a pitched back-and-forth battle, but Hearns appeared to be in control having won rounds nine through 12 on all three judges’ scorecards. It was between rounds 12 and 13 that Leonard’s trainer, the late Angelo Dundee, famously screamed at Leonard: “You’re blowing it now, son! You’re blowing it!”
Leonard, with his left eye badly swollen, turned the tide in the 14th round by staggering Hearns with an overhand right and then pinning Hearns on the ropes and unleashing a barrage of punches, which prompted referee Davey Pearl to stop the fight, giving Leonard the victory and making him the undisputed welterweight champion and king of the division. At the time of the stoppage Hearns was leading on all three scorecards – 124-122, 125-122 and 125-121.
“It was the toughest fight of my life. It took every ounce of will and strength to beat Tommy Hearns. I couldn’t have taken that many of those in my career,” Leonard said. “The Tommy Hearns fight was the one that propelled me to the penthouse.”
Leonard felt like the victory over Hearns launched him into superstardom. He believes the same thing awaits the winner of Thurman-Porter.
Hearns on the fight: “I wanted to show my world my boxing ability. They knew I could knock people out, but they didn’t know that I could box very well.”
Both Leonard and Hearns said they are anxiously awaiting the match between Thurman and Porter because they believe it will hold just as much drama as their match 35 years ago.
“Yeah, you can make the comparison,” Leonard said. “Both guys are at the top of the welterweight division. The only thing that’s different is that me and Tommy were so well known by sports fans. We were on TV a lot, and that’s what built our names and gave people the chance to see us so much. And that’s what they’re doing now with the PBC and the shows being on network TV. This could be a fight like ours. Who knows? But I do know that the fans are waiting on this fight.”
HOW DO YOU PREPARE TO FACE THE BEST MAN IN YOUR DIVISION?
 
HEARNS: “It’s always hard to get prepared for someone like that because you think about what the outcome is going to be and what are your chances of winning the fight. I never thought about losing, but I thought about what my chances were.
I knew if I went out and boxed the way I knew I could box, I would beat Ray. Just the thought of fighting Ray brought a lot of questions to my mind. Some I had answers to and some I didn’t have. Most other guys I knew I could go out there and knock them out.”
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THIS MATCHUP?
LEONARD: “Just the heart of Keith and Shawn. Both of these guys have heart and both have that will. That composure. You can’t teach composure. It’s something that you either have or you don’t. You can’t learn that. That deep, deep composure when your left eye is closed and your liver is busted and you got to get up on the canvas.”
HEARNS: “I know Thurman and Porter have the ability to get each other out of there. It’s going to be a matter of who gets to who first. I’m definitely watching. I hope to be there in person.”
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MENTAL ASPECT OF THIS MATCH?
 
HEARNS: “I know what it’s like to go against somebody that people don’t think you can beat. You have to prepare for that. It’s a mental stage that you go through, how you prepare your mind. If you can control your mind and tell your body what you’re going to do, then you can do it. You can’t worry about how good the other guy can punch. Just stay out of the way. Keep on laying that stick on him and he won’t be able to punch you.”
WHAT WAS YOUR MENTALITY GOING INTO THE MATCH AGAINST LEONARD?
 
HEARNS: “I didn’t come to go 12 or 15 rounds. I came to whip your butt and go home. I had no desire to go 15 rounds. I trained for it, but I was never going 15 rounds.”
WHAT WAS YOUR MENTALITY GOING INTO THE MATCH AGAINST HEARNS?
LEONARD: “I felt that I could beat anyone. My brother Roger didn’t think I could beat Tommy. He didn’t tell me that until it was over. In training camp I used to box Roger and he would land a lot of right hands. He figured if Tommy’s right hand landed on me it would be over. My brother didn’t have much confidence in me.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Light Heavyweight Contender Joe Smith Jr. Shocks Hometown Favorite Andrzej Fonfara with First Round Stoppage On Premier Boxing Champions on NBC from UIC Pavilion in Chicago

 
Rau’shee Warren Wins Bantamweight World Championship with Majority Decision Over 
Juan Carlos Payano in Exciting Rematch
 
Rising Star Erickson Lubin Blasts Mexico’s Daniel Sandoval On His Way to Third Round Stoppage Victory & Maciej Sulecki Stops Hugo Centeno In Final Round To Win Battle of Unbeaten Middleweights
 
Welterweight Prospect Alex Martin Remains Undefeated With Split-Decision Victory Over 
Juan Carlos Abreu In Live PBC on NBCSN Action
 
Click HERE for Photos from Leonard Wilson Jr. & Nabeel Ahmad/
Premier Boxing Champions
 
Highlights Available HERE Via PBC Youtube Page
 
CHICAGO (June 18, 2016) – Hard-hitting light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) delivered a shocking upset with a first round stoppage of crowd favorite Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) Saturday night in the main event ofPremier Boxing Champions on NBC from UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
It was a short night for the heavily favored Fonfara, who was rocked by a roundhouse right from Smith Jr. that immediately sent the Polish fighter to the canvas. Fonfara stumbled to his feet, but never regained his composure.
Smith Jr. sensed his moment and attacked, connecting with a cross-hook combo that put Fonfara back on the ground. Fonfara was able to get to his feet, but was too shaky to continue, forcing referee Hector Afu to stop the fight at 2:32 into the first round.
The opening bout of the night saw Rau’shee Warren (14-1, 4 KOs) earn a bantamweight world championship as he defeated Juan Carlos Payano (17-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their August 2015 world title bout.
The three-time Olympian Warren became the first member of the 2012 U.S. team to earn a world title when he was awarded the majority decision over the two-time Dominican Olympian Payano.
Payano was the aggressor throughout the night, as he threw 882 punches to Warren’s 514. While Payano out-landed Warren 162 to 160, it was the new world champion who threw cleaner punches all night on his way to a 31 percent connect rate to Payano’s 18 percent rate.
The southpaws went toe-to-toe again for much of the night, but it was Warren who had more success catching the champion as he lunged in. Payano picked up the aggressiveness as the fight went on, as he battled through a rib injury suffered in the early rounds.
In round 11, Warren was able to seriously stagger Payano early on and won the round on all three judges’ scorecards. In round 12 he had more success early in the round as he opened up a cut under Payano’s right eye. In the end, the judges scored the bout 115-113 for Warren twice and 114-114.
Further televised action on NBC featured rising star Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (15-0, 11 KOs) earn a third-round stoppage of Mexico’s Daniel Sandoval (38-4, 34 KOs) in their super welterweight contest.
The Orlando-born fighter looked to cement his status as a contender as he picked apart Sandoval over most of the first three rounds before delivering a fantastic flurry that ended the fight. It was a combination of hooks and a strong straight right hand that staggered Sandoval.
Referee Danny Nelson quickly jumped in and called a halt to the bout at 2:36 into the third round. The punch stats told a similar tale as Lubin connected on 80 of his 161 punches thrown while Sandoval only landed 43 of 203 punches.
In the final televised bout on NBC, Polish middleweight Maciej Sulecki (23-0, 8 KOs) defeated Hugo Centeno Jr. (24-1, 12 KOs) by 10th round stoppage in their battle of previously unbeaten fighters.
Sulecki controlled much of the action throughout the fight, using a strong jab that eventually opened up a cut over Centeno’s right eye in the ninth round. Sulecki was the better conditioned fighter, as he consistently beat Centeno to the punch, following up on his jab with strong power punches. His biggest advantage came in the power punching department as he landed 127 to Centeno’s 47.
In the final round, Sulecki connected with a powerful straight right hand that dropped Centeno to the canvas. While Centeno was able to get to his feet, he was deemed unable to continue by referee Danny Nelson, who halted the bout 1:06 into the final round.
In live action on NBCSN, Chicago prospect Alex Martin (13-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated with a split decision victory over Juan Carlos Abreu (19-3-1, 18 KOs) in their eight-round welterweight bout. Martin controlled much of the action with his jab and clean punching, but it was Abreu who scored a late knockdown in the final round with a straight right hand.
Abreu’s aggressive style made it a competitive fight as one judge scored it 76-75 for Abreu, but he was overruled by scores of 78-74 and 77-74 for Martin.
Here is what the fighters had to Saturday night:
JOE SMITH JR.
“There’s no feeling like this. I’m happy to take this victory back home to New York to all my fans.
“I’ll talk to my promoter but I’m hoping for another big fight to get myself to a world title.
“Now everybody knows who I am. This is the best thing that could have happened.
“Once I started hitting him and pushing him back he fell away and left himself open for the right hand.
“I thought this would be more of a fight, but I took him out early and it feels great.
“He was punching and I knew he leaves himself open. I was just looking for the punch and it landed.”
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“He is a heavy puncher. He hit me with a great punch. It happens.
“I threw some good punches, but I got too comfortable. I didn’t see the punch coming. That made it a great punch.
“I’m disappointed because I thought I would win the fight but it is boxing. I will rest and get back in the ring. I’ll get back to work.”

RAU’SHEE WARREN
“This feels great. It’s unbelievable. Payano came to put on a great fight but I came out victorious. It was a good fight. If he wants the rematch, we can do it again.
“I was comfortable that I had won the decision. He came to fight and he stayed active. My corner just told me I had to answer back.
“We wanted to make him miss and make him pay. I definitely made him miss a lot. He was just staying busy. I bobbed and weaved. I pressed him enough to where I could take over. Barry Hunter told me I had to take the last round and I got him cut.
“My corner just kept telling me to work. I knew I was in control but I just had to step on the pedal at the right time.
“I want to take it to another level. A third fight could be really big. I want Warren-Payano 3 in Cincinnati. If not I’ll go after all the other champions.”
JUAN CARLOS PAYANO
“I wasn’t able to completely follow my game plan. At moments I was able to do what we trained for, but not enough. I hurt my rib early in the first two rounds and it made it difficult to grab and breathe. I take nothing away from him.
“I was courteous enough to offer the rematch right away and I hope that I get reciprocated the same way.
“Rau’shee was pretty much the same as last time. I fought his pace and I didn’t follow my plan. I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do and he was able to prevail. I think I gave the fight away and Rau’shee won the fight.”
ERICKSON LUBIN
“I felt great. He’s a veteran so I wanted to take my time and get him out of there by chipping away. I saw that he was hurt with a hook. I saw that it cut him and I wanted to rush him. A flurry of punches and the ref stopped it.
“I’m looking at going higher in the rankings. My team knows I’ll fight everybody. They have to stop me from fighting people cause I’ll say yes to anyone. I just want a title and I’ll do anything to get there.
“I’m still working. I feel great right now. I’m excited to get back in the gym. I didn’t hurt anything. I just want to keep going from here.
“I will fight anybody. I’m not a ‘turkey,’ I’m a ‘pilgrim.’ Everybody is on my radar.”
DANIEL SANDOVAL
“He threw a good combination and I stopped throwing punches, so the referee did what he had to do.
“The referee had the best vantage point and I agree with his decision. Lubin was the better fighter tonight.”
MACIEJ SULECKI
“It was a milestone fight for me. This could give me a chance to fight for the middleweight world title.
“I’ve always thought of myself as a technical fighter. I just needed a small adjustment to move the technique to power. That is exactly what happened when I moved to America.
“This is unbelievable. It’s hard to put into words. Fighting on the biggest stage in American television is amazing.
“I knew from the beginning that I was going to dominate. I needed a couple of rounds to get my timing. Once I got my timing, I knew that I was physically and mentally better than this guy.
“I want to fight Daniel Jacobs. I think that would be a great fight.”
HUGO CENTENO JR.
“I had trouble making weight. I don’t want to make excuses. He did what he had to do, but I felt like I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.
“I felt sluggish by the fourth round. The fatigue set in hard. I wanted to finish the fight. I work hard for it. It is what it is, but I can’t wait to get back in the ring again.”
follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @Andrzej_Fonfara, @JC_Payano, @RausheeWarren, @EricksonHammerL, @WarriorsBoxProm, @StarBoxing and @NBCSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromowww.Facebook.com/StarBoxing andwww.Facebook.com/NBCSports. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on NBC and NBCSN was sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina and promoted by Warriors Boxing and Star Boxing

QUOTES & PHOTOS FROM DEONTAY WILDER VS. CHRIS ARREOLA BIRMINGHAM, AL PRESS CONFERENCE

 
Fighters Discuss July 16 Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) On FOX & FOX Deportes From The Legacy Arena In Birmingham
 
Click HERE For Photos
Photo Credit: Bill Hoffman/Bruno Event Team
Birmingham, AL (June 15) – Two of the biggest and best talkers in the sport of boxing met face to face today. WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder was on stage at a press conference in Birmingham, AL and two-time heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola via Skype from his training camp in San Diego to officially announce their heavyweight title showdown taking place Saturday, July 16 from the Legacy Arena live on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX and FOX Deportes.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at only $20 are on sale now. For tickets please visit www.alabamatitlefight.com and www.ticketmaster.com.
Both combatants were joined by promoters at the Legacy Arena where Wilder and Arreola will meet in the ring on July 16:
Deontay Wilder, WBC Heavyweight World Champion
“Everyone knows what happened to my last fight. I was super prepared. I put my body through everything you can go through in the gym. Of course everyone knows what happened with Povetkin with my last fight. I was super prepared and everything. Traveled to a whole other country and continued training. I was a different fighter – a different Deontay with everything I did.
“I was ready to represent my country too. Things happen. This is boxing. It is a business. The saying is, ‘One door closes and another one opens.’ This is a prime example of that. This opportunity is opened wide. I understand being patient and patience is a virtue. I’ve been patient all my life. I am not an overnight success. I don’t believe in luck.
“As you see Chris Arreola stayed patient. You wonder why he continued to get title fights. It is his time. Some guys get chances after chances and some don’t. You can’t deny him. You can’t look past him. With the circumstances that we were facing, to come back and do a short notice-type fight, as far as looking for opponents, we knew it had to be the right person.
“Placing someone in a category doesn’t define who they are. We needed a fighter that would fit the description that he would fight with his heart, give it his all.
“I’m happy to introduce you to Chris Arreola. He is the perfect person for this opportunity. I don’t think there is anyone else who could take on this situation.
“We love working with the Legacy Arena and Birmingham. Each and every time, we add to history. People have been waiting for this, to have another fight here. It is crazy how you can seed and watch the love grow and now its blooming.
“People are hungry for boxing here. They’re excited. Those that missed the first title fight, came to the second. Those who missed the second are going to come to this one. We are going to sell out the venue.
“We’ve been in camp. I am never out of shape. Just adding on to it. I’m tired, but this is what I love to do. If you love to do something, it isn’t really a job. So this is what I am dedicating my life to. This is what I am trained to do. I think it is what I was born to do.”
Chris Arreola, Two-Time Heavyweight World Title Challenger
“I’m ready for this opportunity to fight Deontay. I’m going to get up there and give everyone in Birmingham a great show. That is my job. I always come ready to fight. I always come ready for a brawl.
“Deontay is one of the biggest names. One of the better names out there because of his skills that he has shown. I have to be prepared.
“I have to make the best out of this opportunity. He is doing what he is supposed to do as a champion. He is defending his title.
“I have to approach this fight different than any others. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Deontay has a lot to lose. He is going to come prepared. He knows what kind of fighter I am. I am going to give it my all.
“Deontay is a tough S.O.B. An athlete has to be ready for that right hand and that jab. Be careful and be ready at all times.
“I love boxing. I love boxing fans whether they are with me or against me. They give energy to their fighters and it is just me and Deontay in the ring. There is no one that will be able to help Deontay and no one that can help me when that bell rings. That is what I love about boxing. It is the most gentlemanly sport there is. At the end of the day, it is going to be one-on-one.
Jay Deas, Wilder’s Trainer
“When the Povetkin fight was called off, we were gutted. Then we were told we could have a fight and do it soon. We were already in shape so when we heard about a fight, we could take it.
“The mayor [of Birmingham] called me and said he wanted this fight to be in Birmingham…This is how Birmingham works. This is why Birmingham works. They put the foot on the gas pedal and get the job done. I thank the city of Birmingham and everyone involved in his event. It is going to be fantastic.
“You cannot find a more action-packed fighter than Chris Arreola. If you’re not a Chris Arreola fan, you’re not a boxing fan. He is everything you want out of a fighter. He is tough, he is strong, he punches hard. He is determined. He is resilient. Then you have Deontay Wilder, the most athletic heavyweight in generations.
“You can see thee guys fight for 20 dollars. With an undercard of 15 fights, you’re talking about a dollar and some change per fight and its going to be on FOX for the world.
“Birmingham came through and we are thrilled they did. Deontay Wilder is the reason this is happening. He is the guy that wants to fight every three or four months. He is the guy that wants to be the most active heavyweight and he is well on his way to doing it.”
Kevin Rooney, DiBella Entertainment
“Sometimes in boxing as is in life, fortunate situations come out of unfortunate circumstances, and that is what we have here. While it was a disappointment for all of us, especially Deontay, what happened with his title defense against Povetkin, we are fortunate that Deontay will now be making the next defense of his world title back here at home in Alabama. Live on free network TV as this is a PBC on FOX event.
“From a stylistic standpoint, this is one of the most exciting fights to be made in the heavyweight division. Chris Arreola always brings it and we expect him to come out throwing bombs from the opening bell.
“Chis has twice challenged for the heavyweight world title before and he believes that the third time is the charm as he looks to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion in history.
“As Deontay has said before though, he plans on holding onto that WBC belt for the rest of his career, as well as adding a couple more to put around his waist and we know that he will be even more fired up, once again fighting in front of that hometown Alabama crowd, and we expect absolute fireworks inside an electric arena on July 16.”
Gene Hallman, Bruno Event Team
“The most remarkable thing is that this is the third heavyweight title fight in just over one year in Birmingham, Alabama and that is because of Deontay Wilder.
“The only other city that has ever done this is Las Vegas, Nevada. Birmingham is right there with them with a unique mark in boxing history.
“I truly believe that this will be substantially bigger than the other two heavyweight title fights here. We went on sale yesterday and we are far ahead of the pace that we were at last year. Fans from around the country are buying tickets.”
# # #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.alabamatitlefight.comwww.dbe1.com,www.TGBPromotions.com,http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BronzeBomber, @NightmareBoxing @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainmentwww.facebook.com/foxsports andwww.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
There will be two more hours of boxing on FS1 and FOX Deportes at 10 p.m. ET, immediately following the Wilder vs. Arreola fight on FOX. Further details will be announced shortly.

Andrzej Fonfara, Joe Smith Jr., Juan Carlos Payano, Rau’shee Warren, Erickson Lubin, Daniel Sandoval, Hugo Centeno  & Maciej Sulecki Media Workout Quotes & Photos

 
PBC on NBC Tripleheader Saturday, June 18 From 
UIC Pavilion in Chicago
8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. ET
 
Click HERE For Photos From 
Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions
 
CHICAGO (June 15, 2016) – Fight week kicked-off in Chicago on Wednesday forPremier Boxing Champions on NBC taking place this Saturday, June 18 at the UIC Pavilion headlined by light heavyweight bruiser Andrzej Fonfara battling hard-hitting New Yorker Joe Smith Jr.
Televised coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT and features a bantamweight world championship rematch between Juan Carlos Payano and Rau’shee Warren plus rising star Erickson Lubin battling Mexico’s Daniel Sandoval. At 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT, PBC coverage switches to NBCSN and will feature a battle of unbeaten middleweights as Hugo Centeno Jr. takes on Poland’s Maciej Sulecki.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing and Star Boxing, are priced at $201, $101, $61 and $41, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or UIC Pavilion Box Office at (312) 413-5740. Tickets are also available atwww.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UIC Pavilion Box Office (Thursday or Friday9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
Wednesday’s media workout took place at Oakley Fight Club in Chicago as the fighters showed off their skills for the media heading into fight night.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“I’m in great shape right now. Camp went very well. We had great sparring and conditioning. I’m definitely ready to fight.
“We’ve seen a couple of his fights. He’s a young, tough guy. I know that I must win the fight. I’m prepared and I will be victorious.
“I expect this fight to be a real battle. I’m not going to stop throwing punches. I will control the ring and find my spots. I definitely want to give my fans the knockout.
“Fighting in Chicago is a great motivation for me because I have such outstanding support here. I always want to entertain my fans so they keep coming back to watch me perform.
“I was the underdog my whole career. Now in this position, it’s even better. I’m motivated by being in this position. I know my opponent feels overlooked and that will add to his motivation, but I’m ready.”
JOE SMITH JR.
“We’ve done some traveling in camp to get excellent sparring and overall it’s just been a great camp. I’m excited to be here and ready to get in the ring. I’m happy to have this opportunity because I worked so hard for it. I’m looking to put on a show.
“This is a big chance and if I win I can open up a lot of doors. I just need to do what I do best and hopefully I’ll be in a world title fight next.
“I love representing Long Island and New York. I want to bring a title back home.
“I’m going to give it my all and at the end of the night I should come out on top.”
JUAN CARLOS PAYANO
“People can expect a great fight with the same result as the first matchup. I will come out the victor.
“As far as any controversy from the first fight, it was a close fight. I could have made it easier but nevertheless it was what it was.
“At the end of the day, I am the world champion and I took the fight to the challenger. That alone warrants a win. Warren connected at a high percentage but mostly with small body shots that didn’t affect me.
“Warren is the second best fighter in the division and I have no bad feelings towards him. I respect him as an accomplished amateur, but this is not the amateurs. This is a 12-round battle and the same result will come on Saturday night.
“I’ve prepared in the same fashion that I always do. I train all out and I give it my all in the ring.
“I understand my mistakes from the first fight and I know they’re corrected coming in. I’m sure Rau’shee has made his own adjustments. No matter how many times we fight, it will be this same kind of exciting battle.
“I’m going to prevail as the world champion that I am. I will show that there really was no controversy. I’m going to be decisive and make sure that the judges will have no option but to give me each round.
“I’ve been on the big stage before so there is no extra pressure on me. I believe I’m the underdog in this fight but with a win I can show how great I really am.”
RAU’SHEE WARREN
“This camp I’ve been sparring with a lot of bigger guys and guys with similar styles to Payano. This camp overall has been great. There’s been a lot of energy in.
“I’ve been getting ready for this since the first fight. That’s going to be the biggest difference from the last fight.
“I’m expecting Payano to try to prove himself. He’s going to bring his all and put it all on the line, just like I will.
“It’s been such an unbelievable camp working in D.C. with Lamont Peterson and his coach, Barry Hunter, along with my coach, Mike Stafford.
“This fight is going to be different. I know it. I’m coming in there to fight. He might think he has the blueprint, but it’s a different story every time. I don’t know if this fight is going 12.
“This is going to take my name up to another level.  The world can see me fight. People are ready for the rematch and they’re excited to see what we bring to the table.
“I’m going to do what I do. I’ll feel him out, then take control. It’s important to stick to my plan. I’m not thinking about anything else but me and Payano.
“I’m ready to bring something different. If he misses, I’m going to make him pay. He brought the dog out of me last fight and it will be out again. I have a lot to bring to the table.”
ERICKSON LUBIN
“Training camp was great. I had a lot of time to improve my game and I feel like this Saturday I will be more than prepared. I’m planning on putting on a show.
“I always want to be in tough matchups. It’s been tougher every time and I’ve still come out victorious. That won’t change on Saturday. I’m moving up the ladder and I’m ready.
“I’ve always known I would get here because I believe in myself and my team believes in me. I’m chasing that world title.
“I picture myself breaking my opponent down. If he makes a mistake I’ll knock him out early. No matter what, I’m going to dominate the fight and come out victorious.”
DANIEL SANDOVAL
“I’m very happy with training. It’s been a great camp and now I’m just getting ready to weigh-in and get in the ring.
“The kid is a good fighter. He’s young and skilled but I know that I am going to get this victory.
“I’m a Mexican. Mexicans are hungry and we want to win. I have better technique and I’ve done my studying. I’m going to come forward and win the fight.”
HUGO CENTENO JR.
“I’m really excited. I feel strong and ready for fight night. Fortunately, I was able to have a nice long training camp with Eric Brown.
“There’s been a long layoff but now we’re here and ready to keep it going. I’m a gym rat. So I’ve been in the gym for six months. The layoff won’t hurt me, I just love to get in the ring.
“I’m an aggressive boxer, but if I have to mix it up on the inside I will happily do it. I like to fight smart, I’m a lanky fighter and I can fight right handed or southpaw.
“I’m an aggressive boxer, but if I have to mix it up on the inside I will happily do it. I like to fight smart, I’m a lanky fighter and I can fight right handed or southpaw.”
“My opponent is about my size and it should be a really good matchup. We’re both undefeated which should make it fun. Honestly, I don’t think he’s fought someone at my caliber yet, but we’ll see on Saturday.”
MACIEJ SULECKI
“We’re going to find out how hard this fight is when I get in the ring. Only then can we see what my opponent really can do.
“No matter what, there can only be one winner and it will be me. I will win decisively.
“I’ve only seen one of his fights. He has a come-forward style and he’s tall. It won’t be about him though. It’s going to be about what I can do in there.
“I’m not a guy who thinks about how each round will go. But I have a general idea of what I want to do and how I want to get the victory.”
follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @Andrzej_Fonfara, @JC_Payano, @RausheeWarren, @EricksonHammerL, @WarriorsBoxProm, @StarBoxing and @NBCSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.Facebook.com/StarBoxing andwww.Facebook.com/NBCSports. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on NBC is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

JUAN CARLOS PAYANO “I’ll be ready for war. Warren is in trouble”

Photos By Team Pro Box Management
MIAMI, FL (June 15, 2016) – In an anticipated rematch, WBA and IBO bantamweight champion, Juan Carlos Payano (17-0, 8 KOs), is ready to defend his titles against Rau’shee Warren (13-1, 4 KOs) and show the world he’s the king at 118 pounds.  The 12-round co-main event bout scheduled for this Saturday, June 18, 2016, will take place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.  Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC will broadcast the event live starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
Payano, who won a split decision against Warren in their first bout, wrapped up his final day of training camp yesterday and vows to come out victorious when the two meet again this Saturday.  After a great camp. Payano is ready for war.
“I had a great training camp and everyone will see the improvements I’ve made since I fought Warren last August.” said Payano. “Once I settle in Chicago, I’ll be well rested and right on weight.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses.  I’ve put in a lot of work during this training camp, to better myself, and I feel I’m at the top of my game right now.  I’m going to leave everything in the ring on Saturday night.  I have the blueprint to beat Warren.  I’ll be ready for war.  There is no doubt in my mind that my hands will be raised in victory once again. Warren is in trouble”

Unbeaten Sergey Lipinets & Hard-Hitting Walter Castillo Meet in Super Lightweight Showdown On  Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN Friday, July 15 From Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino In Tunica, Mississippi – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 
Plus! Olympic Silver Medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar Takes On
Featherweight Contender Rafael Vazquez in Co-Main Event
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
 
TUNICA, MS (June 14, 2016) – Unbeaten super lightweight contender Sergey Lipinets (9-0, 7 KOs) will battle hard-hitting Walter Castillo (26-3-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN on Friday, July 15 from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar (5-0, 5 KOs) facing veteran featherweight contender Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-2, 13 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
“My opponent is a very tough and experienced guy but I want to be the first one to stop him,” said Lipinets. “Buddy McGirt is my new trainer and we’ve been having a great training camp. We will have a plan for anything Castillo can bring into the ring. I believe with my new trainer I will add even more to my arsenal.”
“I’m very motivated by this fight and I plan on giving Lipinets his first pro loss,” said Castillo. “This is going to be a war. Every fight I’m in is exciting and this one will be no different. The winner of this fight will be in line for a world title and I’m going to be the man with my hand raised.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Prize Fight, the City of Tunica the Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, are priced at $60 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.comor by calling Warriors Boxing at (954) 985-1155 or by visitingwww.warriorsboxing.com.
“Warriors Boxing is thrilled to promote this action-packed PBC event on ESPN,” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “Going back to Tunica, which has a history of hosting important boxing events, is a unique opportunity for these up-and-coming contenders to showcase their talent locally and on the national stage.”
An accomplished amateur who was born in Kazakhstan but fights out of Russia, Lipinets turned pro in April of 2014 with a decision victory over Franklin Varela. The 26-year-old recorded six knockouts in a row before stepping up in competition and impressing with a victory over Haskell Lydell Rhodes in March 2015 and a knockout of Levan Ghvamichava in March. He looks to keep the hot streak going with another tough matchup on July 15.
The 27-year-oldCastillo is an exciting brawler who never takes a step back and will look to put on a show for fans on July 15. The Managua, Nicaragua-born knockout artist ended 12 of his first professional 14 victories inside of the distance. Most recently, he stopped Ammeth Diaz in the third round of their July bout before fighting to a draw with Keita Obara in their world title eliminator in November.
A 2012 Olympic Silver medalist from Mongoloa, Nyambayar now fights out of Carson, California. The 23-year-old turned pro in March of 2015 with a first round knockout of Gabriel Braxton. Since then, Nyambayar has picked up four more stoppage victories including triumphs over veterans Juan Ruiz and Arturo Badillo.
Brooklyn’s Vazquez kept a busy schedule in 2015, going 4-1 in five fights with four knockouts. Vazquez, who lost both of his parents at an early age and endured a stint in prison as a wayward youth, turned pro in September 2010. He won eight fights in a row between 2013 and 2015 and will look to bounce back from a loss to Ryan Kielczewski in October.
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @UnionSamurai, @WarriorsBoxProm, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions
and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo.  Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Undefeated Rising Contender Mario Barrios Takes On Former Title Challenger Devis Boschiero On Saturday, July 9 Edition Of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes From Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey

 
Plus! Undefeated Super Lightweight Prospects Battles As
Kevin Watts Meets Eddie Ramirez In Co-Main Event
 
Televised Coverage Begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
Tickets on Sale Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET!
 
TRENTON, NJ (June 14, 2016) – Undefeated rising super featherweight contender Mario Barrios (15-0, 8 KOs) will take on former title challenger Devis Boschiero(39-4-1, 21 KOs) in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Saturday, July 9 from Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features an exciting battle of undefeated super lightweight prospects as Los Angeles-native Kevin Watts (11-0, 4 KOs) takes on Chicago’s Eddie Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
“This will be a great opportunity to showcase my talent to the world on ESPN,” said Barrios. “The time is now to take the super featherweight division by storm. A victory will put me one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a world champion. I will not be denied.”
“I look forward to making my American debut on July 9 in New Jersey,” said Boschiero. “I know a win over Barrios will take me towards a world title shot. I plan on coming to America and putting on a great performance and bringing a great victory back to Italy.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $75, $55, $39 and $24, not including applicable fees, and are on sale tomorrow, June 15 at 12 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased HERE, at the Sun National Bank Center box office or by calling 609-656-3234
“This will be another exciting night in Trenton,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “Barrios is one of the best prospects around and it will be interesting to see how he deals with a veteran like Boschiero. The co-feature will pit two undefeated fighters in Watts and Ramirez against each other and the winner will be looked upon as a serious contender.”
A tall super featherweight at more than six feet, the 21-year-old Barrios picked up seven victories in a jam-packed 2015 in which he stopped five opponents inside the distance, including an uppercut left hook combo that ended the night for Manuel Vides in December. The San Antonio-native turned pro in 2013 and is on the fast track towards a world title shot as he made his 2016 debut with a dominant victory over Edgar Gabejean.
An experienced fighter out of Veneto, Italy, Boschiero challenged for a world title in 2011 and won his last two fights by knockout heading into this July 9 clash. He was unbeaten in his first 34 pro fights before challenging Takahiro Ao for the 130-pound world title in a bout that he dropped via split decision. Previously he had won an Italian title with a knockout of Ivan Fiorletta and a European title by defeating Jesus Garcia Escalona. His main event showdown on July 9 will be his first pro bout in the U.S.
Born in Lancaster, California but fighting out of Los Angeles, Watts turned pro in 2013 and has been unblemished since. The 24-year-old defeated previously unbeaten Maximilliano Becerra in April 2015 and in his last two outings he took down once-beaten fighters Michal Chudecki and Manuel Damairias Lopez. He makes his first start outside the state of California on July 9.
A Chicago Golden Gloves champion, Ramirez knocked out seven of his first nine professional opponents and picked up five victories in 2015 including a decision over former world champion Cristobal Cruz. The 23-year-old debuted in 2016 with a second round stoppage of Osumanu Akaba in April.
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com andwww.sunnationalbankcenter.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @Boxer_Barrios, @KingsBoxing, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.