Category Archives: Showtime Boxing

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REGIS PROGRAIS vs. JOEL DIAZ JR. FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION HALL OF FAME WEEKEND TRIPLEHEADER LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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Friday, June 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

Click HERE For Weigh-In Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Click HERE For Hall of Fame Opening Bell Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 8, 2017) – Regis “Rougarou” Prograis and Joel Diaz Jr. made weight on Thursday just hours after the “Opening Bell” to kick off festivities for the 2017 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend.

 

The undefeated Prograis (19-0, 16 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Diaz (23-0, 19 KOs) will square off in the 10-round super lightweight main event of a Hall of Fame edition of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday, June 9, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

The ShoBox tripleheader will celebrate longtime analysts Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood just two days before their induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.  Farhood and Tompkins were joined at the Opening Bell on Thursday by a handful of their fellow 2017 inductees: boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, Australian trainer Johnny Lewis, and the wife of the late Johnny Tapia, Teresa Tapia.

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, undefeated super middleweight Steve Rolls (15-0, 9 KOs) will take on the hard-hitting Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round bout.  In the opening bout of the telecast, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez’s protégé, Jon Fernandez, (12-0, 10 KOs) faces Juan Reyes (14-3-3, 2 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight matchup.

 

Tickets for the event, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers, are priced at $65 for ringside, $50, $40 and $30 (may be subject to additional fees) and are available at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877-833-SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

 

10-Round Super Lightweight Main Event:

Regis Prograis – 139 ½ pounds

Joel Diaz Jr. – 137 ¼ pounds

Referee: Mark Nelson; Judges: Don Ackerman, Tom Schreck, John McKaie

 

Eight-Round Super Middleweight Co-Feature:

Steve Rolls – 161 pounds

Demond Nicholson – 162 ½ pounds

Referee: Benjy Esteves; Judges: Glenn Feldman, Don Trella, Wynn Kintz

 

Eight-Round Lightweight Telecast Opener:

Jon Fernandez – 132 ½ pounds

Juan Ramon Reyes – 131 ½ pounds

Referee: Charlie Fitch; Judges: Don Ackerman, Glenn Feldman, John McKaie

 

FINAL QUOTES:

 

Regis Prograis

“The person that wins this fight goes up, hopefully, to a title fight.  I’m 19-0, he’s 23-0.  I feel like this is a real big fight.

 

“I take all my opponents seriously, but I’m taking this one even more seriously than others in the past.  He’s 23-0, and there’s a reason he’s undefeated.  He’s good, and he has the best record I’ve ever faced.

 

“I’m at a stage in my career where every fight can lead to the next big thing and I think this fight may be it for me.  I’m patient, but I’m ready for more.  I want a shot at a title.

 

“He’s a brawler fighter, but I have the better punching power, and the speed.

 

“If I feel like he [Diaz] can’t hurt me from the first round, I’ll probably just walk him down the whole night and punish him.

 

“Seeing what [Errol] Spence did motivates me, especially the way he did it in his opponent’s hometown.  It got me thinking: that can be me one day.  We went at it in the amateurs, so I know how good he is, but I’m good too.  Just seeing him go over there and take the title away, I know my time is coming next.

 

“I grew up watching Macho Camacho, Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson, but I watched more Duran than anything.  I really liked his style.  I learned a lot watching the boxing greats on tape.

 

“Terence Crawford, Adrien Broner, Victor Postol.  Those are the type of guys I want to fight.

 

“I started boxing in New Orleans, and if it wasn’t for Katrina, I probably wouldn’t be where I am right now.  When I moved to Houston, I got into the boxing scene and started taking it seriously.  It was a horrible situation [in New Orleans], but it changed my life.

 

“My family went back [to New Orleans], but not me.  I stayed in Houston to box.  I feel it’s not time for me to go back home just yet.  I’ll come back when I become a superstar, like I’m supposed to be.”

 

Joel Diaz Jr.

“This is my chance, this is my opportunity.  I’ve been told, ‘you only get one chance’, and this is it for me.  I know Regis is good, but we’re going to put it on him.  I’m going to be on him like flies on shit.  This is one of the opportunities I can’t let pass.

 

“We’re going to break him down mentally, find our way in, and drop the bomb.

 

“He throws combos, and that’s what I have to take away from him.  I have to be on him and be the first to attack.  My power will take care of his speed.

 

“This means a lot to me, getting to show the world who the ‘secret’ is.  People haven’t really seen what I have, but there will be no more secrets after tomorrow.

 

“I’m going to show the world who the real Joel Diaz is.  I’m now at the right weight for me and I’m 110 percent.  I didn’t waste four weeks of training camp trying to lose weight.  I feel strong.

 

“A world championship after this fight, that’s what I want.  This is my opportunity to actually show who I am and I can’t let it go.  If I let this go, I might as well go back to school.  This is going to open all the doors for me.

 

“We’ve been ready for this step for a while.  I’d like to fight the winner of [Adrien] Broner- [Mikey] Garcia, but we’ll see.  I know Broner doesn’t want to fight me.  I tried to fight him and he turned it down.  He knows I’ll give him trouble.

 

“I changed trainers. I used to be with Abel Ramos, now I’m with Chris Byrd.  With Coach Chris, it’s more defense than offense.  Working with Chris is amazing.  He was a fighter, so he knows what it takes to step in that ring.  He’s been there, so he understands me from a fighter’s perspective and that’s very important for me.  The bond we have inside and outside the ring is special.

 

“You’re going to see a more active Joel Diaz and a more defensive Joel Diaz.  I’m going to show the world who Joel Diaz is at 140 and trust me, they will ask for more after they see it.”

 

Steve Rolls

“My last fight on ShoBox [against Steed Woodall in December 2015] was a learning experience. I was knocked down in the third, but I rebounded.  You never know how you are going to react in the face of adversity until you are put in that position.  I’m glad that happened early on in my career.  It taught me a lot.

 

“I’m know I’m 33, but I feel better than when I was younger.  I take care of myself.  I have a clean lifestyle.  Age is not a thing for me.

 

“Nicholson has a good jab.  I’ve seen him fight before.  I’m not sure if he’s made adjustments or if he’s coming with a different game plan.  I’m ready for whatever he brings.

 

“From what I’ve seen, he can fight.  He knows what he’s doing in there and it looks like he has some experience.”

 

Demond Nicholson

“This guy [Rolls] is not as experienced as me.  I’m a big step-up for him.

 

“My last fight [against Immanuwel Aleem] was a big step up, and I fought to a majority draw.  It was a slow start, but I’m a fighter, and I soldiered through. That fight really opened my eyes up to better my career, my future.

 

“Look at what Aleem has done since we fought.  He knocked out an undefeated guy [Ievgen Khytrov] that no one wanted to face.

 

“My experience is going to get us over the hump against this guy.  He has a dangerous right hand, but I’m going to take that away from him.

 

“I’m a natural boxer, but people were calling me a brawler after my performance with Aleem and that’s not who I am.  But I get it – I didn’t box at all in that fight.  That’s why I had to go back to the drawing board.

 

“I learned a lot training at Head Bangers in Washington, D.C. with Barry Hunter, Lamont Peterson and all those guys. I’ve learned from Lamont, from Adrien Broner, from Austin Trout. They spar with top fighters and that’s why they perform at the highest level – because they’ve sparred with the best. So I’m doing the same.”

 

“I have one loss, and that taught me a lot.  I had to lose 15 pounds in three days for that fight and that took a toll on me. There are no issues making weight for this fight.”

 

Jon Fernandez

“This is my second fight with my new trainer Tinin Rodriguez.  I always try to get better and changing trainers seemed to be the best path for me.  He’s helping me round up the fundamentals of boxing.

 

“I know I’m tall for my weight class, but I feel OK.  I think 130 is my ideal weight, but I might go up in weight in the future.  We’ll see.  I’m still young and I have a long career ahead of me.

 

“I used to watch tape of Maravilla when I was growing up.  He inspired me to be serious about boxing.  He was so good.  It’s such of honor to be working with him.  I respect him a lot.”

 

Juan Reyes

“I haven’t fought anybody that tall, but I have a good game plan. I know he’s a volume puncher, but that’s just going to get me excited.  It’ll get my adrenaline pumping.

 

“I’m excited that I’m fighting on TV and in such special weekend, it’s the Boxing Hall of Fame.  This is a dream come true.  If I beat this guy it could change my life.”

 

Sergio Martinez – Jon Fernandez Co-Promoter

“Jon is a thinker.  He knows when to attack and when to defend himself.  He’s truly gifted.

 

“Some may draw comparisons of him with Paul Williams, but I fought Williams twice and let me tell you they are not alike.  Paul was the type of fighter that would get in the ring and go from first, to second, to third gear without thinking. JonFer will read you, will go to whatever gear he needs to be to defeat his opponent.  He has a very high boxing IQ.”

 

Chris Byrd – Diaz’s Trainer

“Joel is an aggressive machine, so my main focus has been on developing his defense.  He’s a talented boxer, but his aggressiveness sometimes opens holes in his defense.  In this training camp, we worked on that.  We have a good strategy going.

 

“He already knew how to fight, but you just have to push him a little bit on defense.  He’s still aggressive as ever, but he needed to think about what’s coming back at him.

 

“My main thing is life after boxing.  I have two brothers that are messed up from boxing. That’s why I focus on defense so much.  He has an aggressive style, but he also has talent, good feet and eye coordination.  He’ll go on to do great things.

 

“You’re going to see something special.  Regis is good, I give him props, but you’re going to see something special from Joel.  And a great fight.”

 

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

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REGIS PROGRAIS vs. JOEL DIAZ JR. FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION HALL OF FAME WEEKEND TRIPLEHEADER LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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Tomorrow/Friday, June 9 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

Click HERE For Weigh-In Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Click HERE For Hall of Fame Opening Bell Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 8, 2017) – Regis “Rougarou” Prograis and Joel Diaz Jr. made weight on Thursday just hours after the “Opening Bell” to kick off festivities for the 2017 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend. 

 

The undefeated Prograis (19-0, 16 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Diaz (23-0, 19 KOs) will square off in the 10-round super lightweight main event of a Hall of Fame edition of ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, June 9, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

The ShoBox tripleheader will celebrate longtime analysts Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood just two days before their induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.  Farhood and Tompkins were joined at the Opening Bell on Thursday by a handful of their fellow 2017 inductees: boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera, Australian trainer Johnny Lewis, and the wife of the late Johnny Tapia, Teresa Tapia. 

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, undefeated super middleweight Steve Rolls (15-0, 9 KOs) will take on the hard-hitting Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round bout.  In the opening bout of the telecast, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez’s protégé, Jon Fernandez, (12-0, 10 KOs) faces Juan Reyes (14-3-3, 2 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight matchup.

 

Tickets for the event, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers, are priced at $65 for ringside, $50, $40 and $30 (may be subject to additional fees) and are available at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877-833-SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

 

10-Round Super Lightweight Main Event:

Regis Prograis – 139 ½ pounds

Joel Diaz Jr. – 137 ¼ pounds

Referee: Mark Nelson; Judges: Don Ackerman, Tom Schreck, John McKaie

 

Eight-Round Super Middleweight Co-Feature:

Steve Rolls – 161 pounds

Demond Nicholson – 162 ½ pounds

Referee: Benjy Esteves; Judges: Glenn Feldman, Don Trella, Wynn Kintz

 

Eight-Round Lightweight Telecast Opener:

Jon Fernandez – 132 ½ pounds

Juan Ramon Reyes – 131 ½ pounds

Referee: Charlie Fitch; Judges: Don Ackerman, Glenn Feldman, John McKaie

 

FINAL QUOTES:

 

Regis Prograis

“The person that wins this fight goes up, hopefully, to a title fight.  I’m 19-0, he’s 23-0.  I feel like this is a real big fight.

 

“I take all my opponents seriously, but I’m taking this one even more seriously than others in the past.  He’s 23-0, and there’s a reason he’s undefeated.  He’s good, and he has the best record I’ve ever faced. 

 

“I’m at a stage in my career where every fight can lead to the next big thing and I think this fight may be it for me.  I’m patient, but I’m ready for more.  I want a shot at a title.

 

“He’s a brawler fighter, but I have the better punching power, and the speed.

 

“If I feel like he [Diaz] can’t hurt me from the first round, I’ll probably just walk him down the whole night and punish him.

 

“Seeing what [Errol] Spence did motivates me, especially the way he did it in his opponent’s hometown.  It got me thinking: that can be me one day.  We went at it in the amateurs, so I know how good he is, but I’m good too.  Just seeing him go over there and take the title away, I know my time is coming next. 

 

“I grew up watching Macho Camacho, Roberto Duran, Mike Tyson, but I watched more Duran than anything.  I really liked his style.  I learned a lot watching the boxing greats on tape.

 

“Terence Crawford, Adrien Broner, Victor Postol.  Those are the type of guys I want to fight.

 

“I started boxing in New Orleans, and if it wasn’t for Katrina, I probably wouldn’t be where I am right now.  When I moved to Houston, I got into the boxing scene and started taking it seriously.  It was a horrible situation [in New Orleans], but it changed my life. 

 

“My family went back [to New Orleans], but not me.  I stayed in Houston to box.  I feel it’s not time for me to go back home just yet.  I’ll come back when I become a superstar, like I’m supposed to be.”

 

Joel Diaz Jr.

“This is my chance, this is my opportunity.  I’ve been told, ‘you only get one chance’, and this is it for me.  I know Regis is good, but we’re going to put it on him.  I’m going to be on him like flies on shit.  This is one of the opportunities I can’t let pass. 

 

“We’re going to break him down mentally, find our way in, and drop the bomb.

 

“He throws combos, and that’s what I have to take away from him.  I have to be on him and be the first to attack.  My power will take care of his speed.   

 

“This means a lot to me, getting to show the world who the ‘secret’ is.  People haven’t really seen what I have, but there will be no more secrets after tomorrow.

 

“I’m going to show the world who the real Joel Diaz is.  I’m now at the right weight for me and I’m 110 percent.  I didn’t waste four weeks of training camp trying to lose weight.  I feel strong.

 

“A world championship after this fight, that’s what I want.  This is my opportunity to actually show who I am and I can’t let it go.  If I let this go, I might as well go back to school.  This is going to open all the doors for me. 

 

“We’ve been ready for this step for a while.  I’d like to fight the winner of [Adrien] Broner- [Mikey] Garcia, but we’ll see.  I know Broner doesn’t want to fight me.  I tried to fight him and he turned it down.  He knows I’ll give him trouble.

 

“I changed trainers. I used to be with Abel Ramos, now I’m with Chris Byrd.  With Coach Chris, it’s more defense than offense.  Working with Chris is amazing.  He was a fighter, so he knows what it takes to step in that ring.  He’s been there, so he understands me from a fighter’s perspective and that’s very important for me.  The bond we have inside and outside the ring is special.  

 

“You’re going to see a more active Joel Diaz and a more defensive Joel Diaz.  I’m going to show the world who Joel Diaz is at 140 and trust me, they will ask for more after they see it.”

 

Steve Rolls

“My last fight on ShoBox [against Steed Woodall in December 2015] was a learning experience. I was knocked down in the third, but I rebounded.  You never know how you are going to react in the face of adversity until you are put in that position.  I’m glad that happened early on in my career.  It taught me a lot.

 

“I’m know I’m 33, but I feel better than when I was younger.  I take care of myself.  I have a clean lifestyle.  Age is not a thing for me.

 

“Nicholson has a good jab.  I’ve seen him fight before.  I’m not sure if he’s made adjustments or if he’s coming with a different game plan.  I’m ready for whatever he brings.

 

“From what I’ve seen, he can fight.  He knows what he’s doing in there and it looks like he has some experience.”

 

Demond Nicholson

“This guy [Rolls] is not as experienced as me.  I’m a big step-up for him. 

 

“My last fight [against Immanuwel Aleem] was a big step up, and I fought to a majority draw.  It was a slow start, but I’m a fighter, and I soldiered through. That fight really opened my eyes up to better my career, my future.  

 

“Look at what Aleem has done since we fought.  He knocked out an undefeated guy [Ievgen Khytrov] that no one wanted to face.

 

“My experience is going to get us over the hump against this guy.  He has a dangerous right hand, but I’m going to take that away from him.

 

“I’m a natural boxer, but people were calling me a brawler after my performance with Aleem and that’s not who I am.  But I get it – I didn’t box at all in that fight.  That’s why I had to go back to the drawing board.

 

“I learned a lot training at Head Bangers in Washington, D.C. with Barry Hunter, Lamont Peterson and all those guys. I’ve learned from Lamont, from Adrien Broner, from Austin Trout. They spar with top fighters and that’s why they perform at the highest level – because they’ve sparred with the best. So I’m doing the same.”

 

“I have one loss, and that taught me a lot.  I had to lose 15 pounds in three days for that fight and that took a toll on me. There are no issues making weight for this fight.”

 

Jon Fernandez

“This is my second fight with my new trainer Tinin Rodriguez.  I always try to get better and changing trainers seemed to be the best path for me.  He’s helping me round up the fundamentals of boxing.

 

“I know I’m tall for my weight class, but I feel OK.  I think 130 is my ideal weight, but I might go up in weight in the future.  We’ll see.  I’m still young and I have a long career ahead of me.

 

“I used to watch tape of Maravilla when I was growing up.  He inspired me to be serious about boxing.  He was so good.  It’s such of honor to be working with him.  I respect him a lot.”

 

Juan Reyes

“I haven’t fought anybody that tall, but I have a good game plan. I know he’s a volume puncher, but that’s just going to get me excited.  It’ll get my adrenaline pumping.

 

“I’m excited that I’m fighting on TV and in such special weekend, it’s the Boxing Hall of Fame.  This is a dream come true.  If I beat this guy it could change my life.”

 

Sergio Martinez – Jon Fernandez Co-Promoter

“Jon is a thinker.  He knows when to attack and when to defend himself.  He’s truly gifted.

 

“Some may draw comparisons of him with Paul Williams, but I fought Williams twice and let me tell you they are not alike.  Paul was the type of fighter that would get in the ring and go from first, to second, to third gear without thinking. JonFer will read you, will go to whatever gear he needs to be to defeat his opponent.  He has a very high boxing IQ.”

 

Chris Byrd – Diaz’s Trainer

“Joel is an aggressive machine, so my main focus has been on developing his defense.  He’s a talented boxer, but his aggressiveness sometimes opens holes in his defense.  In this training camp, we worked on that.  We have a good strategy going.

 

“He already knew how to fight, but you just have to push him a little bit on defense.  He’s still aggressive as ever, but he needed to think about what’s coming back at him.

 

“My main thing is life after boxing.  I have two brothers that are messed up from boxing. That’s why I focus on defense so much.  He has an aggressive style, but he also has talent, good feet and eye coordination.  He’ll go on to do great things.

 

“You’re going to see something special.  Regis is good, I give him props, but you’re going to see something special from Joel.  And a great fight.”

 

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, andwww.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 69 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Errol Spence Jr. and more.

boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

EIGHT TALENTED PROSPECTS RETURN TO SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION ON FRIDAY, JULY 14 QUADRUPLEHEADER

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 Undefeated Keenan Smith and Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk

Meet In Main Event

 

Live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

 

 

NEW YORK (June 8, 2017) – Undefeated super lightweights Keenan Smith and rising adopted local favorite, Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk meet in an eight-round bout in the main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, July 14 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

 

The ShoBox telecast features eight returning fighters with a combined record of 94 wins against just four losses.

 

Dangerous southpaw “Killa” Smith, (11-0, 5 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa. will make his second appearance on the series as he takes on Baranchyk, (14-0, 10 KOs), a native of Minsk, Byelorussia fighting out of Miami, Okla., who is making his fifth appearance on the ShoBox series.

 

In the co-feature, former national amateur champion Kenneth Sims Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) will look to keep his record unblemished as he meets Rolando Chinea (14-1-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight scrap.  Plus, undefeated Glenn Dezurn (9-0, 6 KOs) will take on Adam Lopez (16-1-1, KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight clash.  In the telecast opener, Joshua Greer (13-1-1, 5 KOs) will battle Leroy Davila (5-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight bout.

 

“I am excited to put on another terrific ShoBox card,” said Vito Mielnicki, founder of GH3 Promotions. “This is the type of card is what ShoBox is all about.  Four evenly matched pairings that have the potential to be action packed fights.   I think the fans who watch this show will come away thoroughly entertained.”

 

“I’m happy to have the Four State Franchise back on ShoBox,” said Tony Holden. “I am happy to have my fighter Ivan Baranchyk in a real step-up bout against an undefeated fighter southpaw like Keenan Smith. I think this will be a great fight.”

 

Tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $35, $55, $65 and $75 and are available for purchase now at buffalorun.com.

 

KEENAN SMITH vs. IVAN BARANCHYK – Eight-Round Super Lightweight Bout

 

Smith, the 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion and 2007 Junior Olympic National Champion, debuted on ShoBox in November 2016, scoring a hard-fought unanimous decision over Benjamin Whitaker. The 5-foot-7,  26-year-old, will make his third start of the year after taking 2016 off to recover from and ACL injury and the loss of both of his parents within six months of each other. Smith has knocked out both of his opponents this year, Marquis Hawthorne and Edgar Gabejan.

 

“This is a very big fight for me,” said the Smith, who turned pro in 2010. “Perhaps the biggest fight of my career.  I’m stepping up in opposition and I’m ready for what’s to come.  I am training three times a day and I’m in the best shape of my life.

 

“I know Baranchyk comes to fight, but I also know his weaknesses.  I’m ready for his wild swings.  I’m ready to be the main event in a nationally televised fight.  Needless to say, a win will bring bigger and even better opportunities.  I can’t wait.”

 

As an amateur, Smith went 72-4 with victories over Amir Iman and Abel Ramos, who fought Baranchyk in a back-and-forth brawl in his last outing.

 

Baranchyk is an offensive-minded amateur standout that packs power in both hands. He won nine consecutives fights by knockout before scoring a 10-round unanimous decisions over Wilberth Lopez and Zhimin Wang on ShoBox. In his last outing on Feb. 10, Baranchyk edged Abel Ramos in an entertaining slugfest that was closer than the judges’ scorecards indicated.

 

“I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to come back to fight on ShoBox again,” said the 5-foot-10 Baranchyk. “Smith is a tough fighter and a ShoBox alum himself, so I will enjoy knocking him out.

 

“I’m not going to downplay him – he is a good opponent.  I’ll be alert and I’ll pay attention to what he brings on, but I’m battle-tested.  He hasn’t faced anybody like me.  I’ll gladly hand him his first loss and move a step closer in my pursuit of a world title.”

 

The 24-year-old Baranchyk has scored two first-round knockouts on ShoBox in bouts that lasted a combines 2:49.  All 10 of Baranchyk’s knockouts have come inside three full rounds, including six in the first. This is his sixth start at Buffalo Run Casino.

 

KENETH SIMS JR. vs. ROLANDO CHINEA – Eight-Round Super Lightweight Bout

Sims, a 2013 U.S. National Amateur Champion and a 2012 Olympic Trials semifinalist, continues to step up in level of opposition as he meets one of the most dangerous opponents of his career in his second ShoBox appearance.

 

The Chicago native has stayed active as a pro – he fought four times in 2016 and this will be his third start of 2017. In his last outing, he stopped Israel Villela with a third-round TKO.

 

“I have seen [Rolando] Chinea fight twice.  He is a pressure fighter,” said Sims. “He is nothing that I haven’t seen before.  I’m ready for him.  Another wins keeps me moving forward to my ultimate goal of being a world champion one day.

 

“I wasn’t satisfied with my last performance.  I got the win, but I was not at my best.  A win over someone like Chinea will help me prove I’m better than what you last saw of me.”

 

The 23-year-old Sims was a sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather (when he was getting prepared for Andre Berto) and Manny Pacquiao (as he was getting ready for Mayweather).  He is known for his boxing skills and ability to work the body.

 

Chinea, a 5-foot-8, 26-year-old from Lancaster, Pa., is returning to ShoBox after winning an eight-round split decision victory over O’Shaquie Foster in July of 2016.  He went 10-0-1 before the only loss of his career, an eight-round decision to Ismail Muwendo in April 2015.  He’s won four straight since, including two unanimous decisions over previously undefeated Ladarius Miller and Mel Crossty.

 

“I am honored to be back on ShoBox, where I made my first TV appearance,” said Chinea. “Sims was an accomplished amateur with a deep pedigree.  He is tall with a good reach.  He is a very good boxer, but I’m better.

 

“It’s going to be a rough fight.  I am prepared and in great shape.  A win will get me one step closer to some type of title fight down the line.  I am just looking at right now and getting this win.  By the end of the year, I see myself moving into contention if all goes well.”

 

GLENN DEZURN vs. ADAM LOPEZ – Eight-Round Bantamweight Bout

The undefeated Dezurn was a three-sport star athlete in high school and an amateur standout who compiled an 87-7 record in the unpaid ranks under the tutelage of Barry Hunter.  The Baltimore native is married to female boxer and U.S. Olympic alternate Franchon Crews, who fought Claressa Shields in the amateurs and in her pro debut.  Dezurn returns to ShoBoxafter a toe-to-toe matchup against Leroy Davila on July 14 that could have gone either way.  His former foe, Davila, is featured in the opening bout of the telecast.

 

The 5-foot-4, 29-year-old will face his toughest test to date against ShoBox alum Adam Lopez.

 

“I’m excited to come back to the ring and I’m extremely focused,” said the 29-year-old Dezurn. “My opponent is experienced and had a good amateur career but he doesn’t intimidate me.

 

“Any win takes my career to where I want to go—upwards.  It doesn’t matter that Lopez is more experienced and a regular onShoBox.  My motto is to keep working hard.  I stay focused and I will get where I need to be.  Every win is the same, it’s a step in the right direction.”

 

Lopez, of San Antonio, Texas, by way Phoenix, Ariz., is a prototypical ShoBox prospect-turned-contender.  He’s 3-1-1 on the series, having defeated three previous unbeaten boxers: Mario Muniz (11-0), Eliezer Aquino (17-0-1) and knocking out Pablo Cruz (11-0) in the second round.  Lopez boxed a 12-round draw with Roman Reynoso (18-1-1) on July 22, 2016, and in his most recent outing he was stopped by Daniel Roman in the ninth in a WBA Bantamweight Title Eliminator bout.

 

The 26-year-old now comes back to the series in a must-win situation.  He has left his longtime trainer Ronnie Shields and is now training with Shakur Stevenson’s trainer Willie “Wali” Moses.

 

“I am having a good camp, and I’m now training with Wali Moses,” Lopez said.  “He is helping me sharpen my boxing skills and getting me to use my footwork.  I’m happy to have another chance to be on ShoBox and I know I need to put on a good performance.  They are giving me another chance to prove myself and I can’t let it slip away.

 

“I saw Dezurn’s win over Davila.  He is a rough guy who has a lot of dog in him.  He brings the fight to you and he is a tough.  It’ll be a good fight.  A win will propel me close to where I was.  I was knocking on the door of a title shot; now I just want to get this win, redeem myself and move on.”

 

JOSHUA GREER vs. LEROY DAVILA – Eight-Round Super Bantamweight Bout

Greer is a 22-year-old former Chicago Golden Gloves Champion that has won 10 in a row since his lone loss, a majority decision against Stephen Fulton Jr. in 2015. He has stopped Cristian Renteria in the fifth round and previously unbeaten Juan Gabriel Medina via unanimous decision. Nicknamed “Don’t Blink” after his speed and punching power, Greer returns toShoBox after delivering an impressive performance with KO candidate of the year victory over James Smith.

 

”I was not shocked about my last KO on ShoBox,” said Greer. “I brought a pillow with me to the ring because I knew I was going to put him to sleep.

 

“Davila is an average fighter, but I give him respect.  I treat every opponent as a world title fight.  A win would keep moving my career in the direction I want to go.  It keeps me moving up in the rankings.  It keeps me moving as a potential superstar on my way to a world title.  Don’t Blink.”

 

The two-time national amateur champion and 2006 Olympic alternate Davila is looking to rebound from his loss to Dezurn onShoBox in April—a close fight that could have gone either way.

 

“I am focused on this fight.  I got good feedback from my first ShoBox appearance, even though I didn’t get the win” said Davila.  “Every fight is the same to me, just a different opponent. I put my work in and do my best.

 

“Greer is a tough fighter.  He looks to throw his right hand, which is something to watch for.  Other than that, I don’t know much about him.  A win will make me feel better as a fighter.  I just fight the fights and I let my team take care of the rest.”

# # #

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 69 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Errol Spence Jr. and more.

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  PROSPECT JON FERNANDEZ AND HIS CO-PROMOTER, FORMER WORLD CHAMPION SERGIO MARTINEZ, DISCUSS FERNANDEZ’S FIGHT ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION® THIS FRIDAY

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ShoBox: The New Generation To celebrate 2017 Hall of Fame Weekend with a Special Tripleheader this Friday, June 9 live on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from Turning Stone Resort Casino

 

Photo courtesy: Maravillabox Promotions

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 7, 2017) – Former unified world champion and current boxing promoter and mentor Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, along with his protégé Jon “JonFer” Fernandez, an undefeated prospect at 130 pounds, discuss future plans ahead of Fernandez’s second appearance on ShoBox: The New Generation this Friday, June 9, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on West Coast) from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

Martinez, known for his extensive career and impact inside the ring and now at the helm of Maravillabox Promotions, has worked with Fernandez since his pro debut at only 19 years old. Fernandez (12-0, 10 KOs), who is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and MaravillaBox Promotions, has remained undefeated and undeterred, climbing up the prospect ranks with five fights in 2015, another five in 2016 and now getting ready for his third fight this year.

 

In addition to June 9’s ShoBox being Fernandez’s third fight this year, it will also be his third time fighting on American soil as he opens the SHOWTIME telecast facing tough opposition in Juan Reyes (14-3-3, 2 KOs) for what could be an important fight in his development as he tries to turn from prospect to contender.

 

The card, which takes place during the 2017 Hall of Fame Weekend where longtime ShoBox analysts Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, features undefeated super lightweights Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (19-0, 16 KOs) and Joel Diaz Jr. (23-0, 19 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The co-feature will pit Steve Rolls (15-0, 9 KOs) against Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

 

Tickets for the event, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers, are priced at $65 for ringside, $50, $40 and $30 (may be subject to additional fees) and are available at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877-833-SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

This week Martinez and his protégé, “JonFer,” spoke to SHOWTIME Sports about what the future might hold for the 130-pound prospect.

 

SERGIO “MARAVILLA” MARTINEZ:

How would you describe Jon Fernandez’s style?

“I believe that JonFer is a very well-rounded, complete fighter. He can take advantage of his great wingspan and reach but has no problem fighting in close distance. Furthermore, he’s hitting really hard. I believe we’ll see him fighting with big names in the division soon.

 

“JonFer has a classic boxing style—a classic, orthodox style. He’s effective when he’s attacking as well as defending. He poses a vision and a combat insight that is truly amazing. Not only does he have speed and precision, but he also has potential in his fists. But, the best characteristic that JonFer possesses is his great professionalism in the sport and in his personal life.”

 

What would you say is different in Jon compared to other boxers in the division?

“His head, he is very mature for his age. In that sense, he reminds me of myself. He is very serious when he’s working and always looking to improve.

 

“He has a stupendous perception of the errors his rivals make. He knows how to read the battle and knows when and how to define a fight. I believe that the more fights and time go by, JonFer will establish himself at the top level alongside the top boxers in the world.”

 

As Jon develops, what plans do you have for him?

“To continue with the hard work like we have to this date. I respect every step in his career. I’d like for JonFer to continue training and preparing himself for what can be a bright and stupendous future.”

 

Who do you want him to fight – Jesus Cuellar, Orlando Salido, Gervonta Davis, Jose Pedraza, Carl Frampton?

“All of the names mentioned are already great champions. They are all owed their due respect and it would be an honor, not only for Jonfer but for Maravilabox to have the possibility of making fight with any of them.

 

“Jose Pedraza would be a great test. We’d really like to make that fight happen. JonFer has sparred with Frampton before his rematch with Santa Cruz and we know he was up to the challenge. And of course, we would love to go for the world title against Gervonta Davis and think it would be a great fight. A clash of styles.”

 

What belts do you want him to go for first?

“First, we’d like him to set a good base. The best for us is to continue building his career step by step and for him to continue learning and adapting himself bit by bit to the top level. As we continue making fights happen, there will be more opportunities for international and world titles. The goal is to get JonFer to become a WBC champion, the most important entity.

 

“We would be really excited to be able to win the European championship, but we’re ready to fight anyone. All of the belts are important and provide experience.”

 

What would you see as the ideal next step for JonFer in the next few years?

“Ideally we want to keep him at a weight in which he feels the most comfortable. As fights and time go by, if he needs to go up in weight, he’d do so without a problem. It’s possible for him to end up fighting in superior divisions, but for now we are focused on 130 and I think he can still battle at this weight for several years.”

 

Can you name who you think are the top five active boxers today?

“I really like Errol Spence Jr., he has a great style that I feel is like mine was. Canelo [Alvarez] and [Gennady] Golovkin are two of my favorites as well, they’ll put on a great fight. Andre Ward, Jorge Linares… There is a lot of talent in the sport at the moment.

 

What memories of Steve Farhood and Barry Tompkins stand out to you?

“Yes, of course, I have some great moments of my years in the United States and I remember Steve always in front of the SHOWTIME cameras. He is a great professional.

 

“He is one of the highest-regarded boxing writers in the world. He is a man with a young mentality who knows how to appreciate good boxing.

 

“Barry Tompkins is a prestigious commentator and what I remember the most about him is seeing him commentate on fights in the era of Tyson and J.C. Chavez. To be a commentator of that stature then, he had to be an excellent professional.”

 

What would you say is the best (and worst) part about being a promoter?

“To be a promoter is thrilling. I believe that taking the career of the boxers in your hands must be treated like it’s your own life. It’s a true adventure. I can’t find a negative thing to say about being a promoter.”

 

Do you miss being a boxer?

“To this day I can say that I do not have any desire to return to the ring. My last fights were torturous and I still have problems with my knee to the date as I try to go about my daily life. I continue to train an hour each day and continue to love boxing, but now I prefer watching the youngsters like Jon and help them with my experience.”

 

JON “JONFER” FERNANDEZ:

Can you tell us what it is like for you to work with someone like Sergio Martinez?

“It’s great, Sergio is always very attentive and a mirror to watch yourself in. Like an athlete, he was one of the greats, but as a person he is even better. Maravillabox Promotions is composed of thorough professionals and the way they treat me is excellent.”

 

How is your training going? Is your camp any different for this fight?

“I haven’t had too much time since my last fight, just about five weeks. It has been tough, but we were coming off of a much more difficult preparation in fighting for Spain’s world title. I think this will make for a great fight and the fans will have a lot of fun.”

 

What are your plans for the future? In your career, life, boxing, in the next five years…

“I just got married in April and it was a great experience, the happiest day of my life. I would love to have kids soon. As far as boxing goes, of course I’d like to be a world champion. But first I’d like to go for the European title. I’d like to fight against the best prospects in the division and continuing to make great fights. I will be a world champion one day, I know I can get there.”

 

Who would you say is your all-time favorite boxer?

“I can’t just say one, I have several. Sergio Martinez, obviously. I also really like Terrance Crawford and Juan Manuel Marquez. Out of the boxing legends, I’ll stick to Alexis Arguello.”

 

# # #

 

Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

ADONIS STEVENSON vs. ANDRZEJ FONFARA II FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES, PHOTOS & COMMISSION OFFICIALS FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live From Bell Centre In Montreal At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

MONTREAL (June 2, 2017) – WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara had a tense faceoff during Friday’s weigh-in for their 175-pound rematch this Saturday live on SHOWTIME from Bell Centre.

 

Fonfara (29-4, 17 KOs) weighed-in at 174 ¼ pounds while Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) measured a ready 173 ½ pounds for their rematch of an all-action 2014 showdown in which both fighters scored knockdowns.

 

“I’m as strong as ever,” said the southpaw Stevenson.  “I know he’s dangerous, I know he’s tough.  He has a new trainer and he’s going to do everything he can to take my title.  But I’m going to go for the knockout.  I’m going to show him I don’t only have the left, I have the right, too.”

 

Fonfara promised he’s improved since their first meeting both physically and mentally under new trainer Virgil Hunter.

 

“I’m the smarter guy now, and I have more experience,” Fonfara said.  “I’m ready mentally and physically to take his belt.  I’m here to put Stevenson down and become the new light heavyweight champion.”

 

WBC Light Heavyweight No. 1 contender Eleider Alvarez and former 175-pound champ Jean Pascal both measured 174 ½ pounds for their co-featured bout that opens the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

 

Both Alvarez (22-0, 11 KOs), the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s WBC belt, and Pascal (31-4-1, 18 KOs) are aiming for a shot at the winner of Saturday’s main event.

 

Final Weights & Commission Officials:

 

WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Adonis Stevenson: 173 ½ pounds

Andrzej Fonfara: 174 ¼ pounds

Referee: Michael Griffin; Judges: Nicolas Esnault (Canada), Omar Mintun (Mexico), Humberto Olivares (Mexico)

 

Light Heavyweight Bout – 12 Rounds for WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Championship

Eleider Alvarez: 174 ½ pounds

Jean Pascal: 174 ½ pounds

Referee: Alain Villeneuve; Judges: Richard DeCarufel (Canada), Rodolfo Ramirez (Mexico), Jack Woodburn (Canada)

 

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

FOUR-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION ADRIEN BRONER AND UNDEFEATED THREE-DIVISION CHAMPION MIKEY GARCIA MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

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Saturday, July 29 Live On SHOWTIME®

 

NEW YORK – Two of the world’s best 140-pound boxers in the sport – Adrien Broner and Mikey Garcia – participated in a media conference call on Thursday to discuss the news that they would square off against one another on Saturday, July 29, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

 

A three-division world champion at the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, Broner remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes – and perhaps the most polarizing – in the sport today. Broner (33-2, 24 KOs) is unbeaten at or below 140 pounds with his only two losses coming against welterweight world champions Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter.

 

The 29-year-old Mikey Garcia is undefeated (36-0, 30 KOs) and coming off a WBC lightweight world title he won in January. Garcia is moving up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner.

 

Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions. A venue has yet to be determined for the highly anticipated matchup.

 

Also joining the call was Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.

 

Here is what the principals had to say on the call on Thursday:

 

ADRIEN BRONER

“I mean, I’ve done a lot. I’ve done a lot in the sport already at a young age. I’ve watched Mikey Garcia come up before and at the same time I came up. I always want to fight the best. The best fight the best and that’s what’s going on today. This fight is going to be a tremendous fight and I’m bringing my A-game. I know a lot of people are probably counting me out.”

 

Q: Can you give me your perspective of how this fight was brought to your attention? How easy was the fight to make?

A: “I just see two fighters that got chips on their shoulders and I’m ready to put on another great show of boxing. I’m tired of sitting around and watching everybody else fight each other. I want to fight the best too, so let’s do it.”

 

Q: Can you just give me your impressions on what it will take to make 140 pounds and to do it so you’re competitive and strong at that weight against Mikey, who’s going to put on a couple of pounds?

A: “Making the weight is not going to be a problem. My last fight is coming from 180-plus. I’ve kept my weight down and I’ve actually been trying to fight somebody earlier than July. But since it’s July, I’ve kept my body in okay shape and I won’t have a problem making the weight.”

 

Q: Do you see you being more experienced against bigger guys as an advantage for you going into a fight that most people would consider a pretty tough fight?

A: “I don’t look at this fight like that. Mikey is a great opponent and a great fighter. As long as I’m at my A-game, I’ll be okay. That’s just how I feel. I’m taking my career more seriously and I’m just ready to put on a great show.”

 

Q: Were there discussions about the fight being contested at a higher weight?

A: “I have no problem with making the weight. I have a reason. This fight gives me a reason to make 140 pounds. I will make the weight, no problem. Just like when I fought for the title, I made the weight easy.”

 

Q: What have you seen from Mikey Garcia as far as his development goes since coming back?

A: “A kid who’s still growing in boxing just like me. We all make our mistakes and we try to get better every fight. You have two men that are in their prime and at the highest level of their career and they want to fight each other. So, let’s do it”

 

Q: Do you feel that having fought at a higher weight in the past is an advantage for you? Does it help you in any way?

A: “I’m not coming into this fight looking at having an advantage because I’ve fought at a higher weight. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be 100 hundred percent and that’s all I’m worried about.”

 

Q: Does a challenge like this motivate you more?

A: “I love it. I’ve faced adversity so many times in this game. Sometimes I fell short, but I got right back up and kept fighting.”

 

Q: How much credit do you sense you’re getting for embracing this fight?

A: “Honestly, in all due respect to every reporter out there, I feel like I really don’t get as much respect as I should because of my last fight…the guy that I fought [Adrian Granados], he was a guy a lot of people skipped past…and I’m like, ‘You know what, I’m going to fight him.’ Everybody felt like I wasn’t taking a tough fight. I knew he was tough and I fought him and beat him and now I’m taking another tough fight after that in Mikey Garcia.”

 

Q: How important was it for you to take a tough fight like this?

A: “I want to fight them all. In the beginning of my career I was very anxious to fight everybody and as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to just take my time and roll down the hill slow and get them all… And this is where it starts.”

 

Q: Do you feel like fighting [Garcia’s] style is going to require a lot of patience on your part?

A: “If you ask me, I’m the guy that’s very defensive. I really don’t get hit that much. Only when I decide to stand in the middle, but I’m very hard to hit myself. I think this fight is going to be two boxers with high IQ’s who are going to put on a great show of boxing.”

 

Q: Is it going to be a fight determined by footwork and ring generalship, would you agree with that?

A: “I wouldn’t say all of that. Everybody doesn’t fight the same every night when they go in the ring. Once I get in there and make my adjustments and once he gets in there and tries to make his adjustments, we’re going to let the fight play out.”

 

Q: Do you feel like Mikey is a stiff puncher and is that something that you have to be careful of with his punching power?

A: “Anybody is a puncher whether… It all hurts. I’m one to tell the truth. I don’t want to get hit by nobody. I don’t care if it’s Paulie Malignaggi…I don’t want to feel none of their punches.”

 

Q: “What do you say about your power at this weight when you get the proper training in and you’re on weight and you’re on target?

A: “Just check my record. I’m undefeated. There’s only a couple literally, where people lasted. Everybody knows in the boxing game: Once Adrien Broner is focused and I’m on track and doing everything correctly, nobody will beat me. Only I beat myself and I’m tired of coming up short and selling myself short.”

 

Q: If you are focused for this fight and you get down to 140, can you just talk about how you’ll feel when that happens and what you feel your power is when you do that?

A: “Independence day in July. I’m bringing fireworks.”

 

Q: Realistically, how difficult will it be for you to make weight at 140 pounds and do you think Garcia has the upper hand or advantage?

A: “No, I’ll make weight easy. Honestly, there is no disadvantage or advantages in this fight. This fight will come down to the best prepared boxer.”

 

Q: What is it about the sport of boxing that has put a chip on your shoulder? What are some of the things about the sport and the business side of it that you don’t like and that you’d like to see change?

A: “It’s really not the business side because the business is going good. I love Stephen to death, that’s my uncle. But as far as the sport, I just feel like they don’t put enough respect on my name. With all of my accomplishments in this game, I’m the one the kids want to be now. Because coming up, everyone wanted to be like Floyd and now coming up all the kids want to be like Adrian Broner. It’s okay though, this fight is just to show people that I’m still here and that I still got what it takes to take over the game of boxing after Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.”

 

Q: You’re boxing a lot more than you did in the last year, has anything changed for you?

 

A: “A lot changed, I’ve gotten older. I’m getting wiser, more mature. This next half of my career, I’m just focused on doing things the correct way. The first half I tried to do things my way and it worked but I could have done better, but I want to try and do everything correct.”

 

Q: Will you be training in Colorado as usual?

A: “Colorado Springs. My last four fights I haven’t been in Colorado. The last fight I’ve done in Colorado was the Maidana fight. I’ve been in DC. I’m going back to where I can focus on just strictly boxing because I want this to be one of the best performance of my career. I feel like my back is against the wall and it’s time to fight out.”

 

Closing comment: “Get some cameras my way, I’m ready to perform.”

 

MIKEY GARCIA

Q: Tell us why you took this fight at 140 and what your plans are on July 29.

A: “It is the biggest fight available for me right now. Originally my plan was to unify at 135. If that was not available I would look at a big name to defend my title at lightweight but that wasn’t quite available. Adrien Broner is a much bigger name and a bigger star who has accomplished a lot in the sport. So, it just made more sense to go and pursue the Adrien Broner fight than a regular title defense.”

 

Q: Is the move up to 140 a temporary stop? Do you want to come back to 135 to defend title or do you just figure there are bigger names at that [140] weight class?

A: “I would like to come back down to lightweight and unify the titles or defend my title before making a permanent move up. But, because this fight was available right now and it’s a much bigger fight than anything else at the lightweight division—like I mentioned earlier, that’s why we’re moving up to 140. If unification matches are available at 135 later this year, then that’s what I’m going to go after.”

 

Q: Did you think to yourself ‘I’d like to fight Adrien Broner’? Was it brought to your attention or did you maybe mention it to one of your people? How was it brought to your attention?

A: “We had already talked about a possible matchup between us two, but later in the year. When we couldn’t find anything else available that made sense, nothing big enough at lightweight, then we looked at the 140-pound division or someone that could possibly make a big name. And, Adrien Broner’s name came up along with Stephen [Espinoza] who had also brought it up to me, we were able to look into Adrien Broner and gladly everything worked out. His team accepted and I think this is the biggest fight that we can both get right now in our careers.”

 

Q: Did your team try to get the weight at even lower than 140 or they bring it to you at higher than 140 and you were able to settle on the division weight limit? How did the discussion of what weight would this would be at go?

A: “I made it clear that I’m still a lightweight and my best division right now is at 135. So, I would not go any higher than 140 pounds for this fight with Adrien. I made that very clear from the beginning, that if there was any discussion or talks about a fight with Adrien Broner it would not be anything higher than 140 pounds. I’m glad Adrien Broner and his team agreed to that weight.”

 

Q: Was there any hesitation from Broner’s team about that weight?

A: “Not that I’m aware of because I had heard that he also stated that he was coming back to 140 pounds.”

 

Q: What weight do you think Broner has been best at?

A: “Everything changes as the body grows and matures. When he was at 130 and 135 he was very strong, very fast. Then, at welterweight he made that big jump to welterweight and also looked very, very good. But in recent fights he’s had some other issues outside the ring, distractions and stuff that might be cause for some of the lack-luster performances on some of his fights. But, the skills are there and the talent is still there. So, I can’t comment on a specific weight class and he’s also fighting bigger men in bigger fights at welterweight and 140 pounds,  and that’s also maybe some of the reason why he’s unable to finish the guys or look tremendous like he used to. But, you can’t deny the talent.”

 

Q: Where do you think your advantage comes in this fight? What area do you think you’re clearly better than he is?

A: “I just think I’m a skilled fighter with very good power as well and I think it’s a pretty even fight, pretty even match. But, I feel that I have a slight edge when I comes to just natural boxing skills, technique, the ring generalship; the timing and the distance-range where I control the range of the distance of a fight.”

 

Q: What makes Broner the “big fight”?

A: “I haven’t fought anybody else that’s been champion in four divisions. So, that’s going to be an accomplishment in itself there and that’s what I mean. There’s no one else available that has that resume.”

 

Q: Do you feel that you coming up in weight is an advantage or disadvantage in this fight?

A: “I don’t know that it’s an advantage or disadvantage. I think it’ll be a new to see Broner at 140 because that’s probably a better weight for him and that will actually allow me to perform better too. But, I don’t see myself as having an advantage because the fight is at 140. I feel that I should still be at 135 and I still plan on coming down to 135 pounds but we’ll just have to see on the 29th and see how I feel there.”

 

Q: How excited are you that a big fight like this is finally here?

A: “It’s exciting to be able to dictate and guide my career in a way that I want and I’m able to secure this fight without having much resistance on either party. So, that makes it easy and I look forward to securing bigger fights after this also.”

 

Q: Any concern that Broner is not going to make weight for the fight?

A: “There is some concern and that’s why I made it clear that I wouldn’t go any higher than 140. But, he agreed, his team agreed, and it seems like he’s confident that he’s able to make 140. I think last time he didn’t make it, maybe he wasn’t taking it as serious. Maybe, he was coming from some personal issues and problems. So, I think now, he’s probably more focused and ready to regain control of his career and make a big name again. He should be taking it very serious and if he feels confident in making 140, then that’s great. That only makes for a much better fight. If he’s going to be training better and preparing himself better to make the weight, it’ll just make for a bigger fight.”

 

Q: If he doesn’t make the weight, is the fight still something that you would consider?

A: “We would have to consider options and consider other factors to see if it’s still something that benefits me. Right now, we targeted 140 pounds, he agreed on 140, so that’s what I’m looking at. If later, before the fight, something does come up with issues than I’ll make a decision at that point.”

 

Q: Where were you, as far as making unification fights, before the Broner fight became a realistic possibility? Have fights with Linares or Flanagan been very difficult to make at that point? Or were you hoping that those fights could’ve been made this summer?

A: “I still hope we can get something like that before the end of the year but it just wasn’t happening this summer. Linares’ team said that they would like maybe a voluntary title defense of his titles just like the WBC had already agreed that it was okay for either one of us to take a voluntary title defense. With Flanagan, I heard it was a very good possibility to get done but I think he’s also got a fight with Verdejo, possibly as a mandatory and that’s something that we would have to wait for results for. So, it was a little more complicated to be waiting and to try to get those unification matches. But the Adrien Broner fight came up and it was a lot easier to get that than anything else.”

 

Q: At 140, tell us how you think your power will translate?

A: “I think the power is still there. It just depends on how well my opponent can take a punch. I am fighting a bigger guy with Adrien Broner, who has fought at welterweight and faced some of the better welterweights there, so the power may not show because he might be able to take a better punch. But, I moved up from featherweight all the way to lightweight and I still carried punch. My last victory as everybody knows, I knocked out Dejan Zlaticanin who had never been dropped and who was undefeated. I dropped him cold. The power is there it just depends on how well a guy can take a punch.”

 

Q: How comfortable are you at this weight? Do you walk around heavier than this or is this a big cut for you?

A: “It’s not a big cut honestly. It’s actually a very simple weight cut. But I think what I’m going to be working on is not necessarily just focusing on power but I’m going to continue working on my footwork, having my speed, my reflexes, so that I can carry that. The power, I believe is going to be there regardless but I want to make sure that I carry my speed and I don’t want the weight to affect me in any way and slow me down.”

 

Q: Is he going to be the best boxer you’ve faced?

A: “On paper he has the biggest resume, he’s the most accomplished fighter that I’ve faced. But as far as the better boxer, I’m just going to have to wait and see on the 29th and see how good of a fighter he really is because he’s definitely got the talent and the skills. Let me see what I can do on July 29th.

 

Q: How do you expect the fight to play out?

A: “It’s going to be a good, competitive fight, a very close fight because like I said, you can’t deny his skills, you can’t deny his accomplishments. But at the end of the night I feel that I am a slightly better boxer. Just a little bit better than he is and I’ve just got to prove it on the 29th. I did tell you that he loses, he’s lost and I don’t lose. That’s where I have that confidence. I don’t believe anybody around my division can beat me right now and I don’t think Adrien Broner is going to be one to give me those kinds of problems. We’re going to obviously train hard and prepare. We can’t take him lightly but I still believe very, very strongly that I’m the better fighter.”

 

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports

“It’s been a great year for boxing. More specifically, it’s really been a great year for SHOWTIME boxing. Boxing is enjoying a rejuvenation, a reinvigoration. The sport has a lot of momentum and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING has been the primary engine for that. Through this weekend, when we’ll be featuring Adonis Stevenson vs. Andrzej Fonfara, SHOWTIME will have telecasted 18 live boxing events this year alone. That includes 14 world title fights. The fight we’re talking about today will be the 19th live telecast on SHOWTIME this year.

 

“Broner vs. Garcia will be the sixth time that we’ve featured a consensus top-5 fighter versus another consensus top-5 fighter. It’s really undisputable – this year the best are fighting the best and they’re doing it on SHOWTIME. In a year filled with memorable fights on SHOWTIME, I think July 29th could be among the most eagerly anticipated fights on the schedule. Two of the most talented, most well-known, most popular fighters in the sport today facing each other in the primes of their respective careers.

 

“On a personal note, this was a very easy fight to make. The conversation started roughly a week ago about the same time all of these rumors became public. And here we are a week later, including a holiday weekend, announcing a fight. And I’m proud to say that both of these very talented fighters showed no hesitation whatsoever in doing this.

 

“In the short time since this fight has been rumored and announced, there’s something I’ve seen that I think that’s unique in my experience in this position. There are large groups of people on each side of this fight that think it’s an easy fight. A lot of people say, ‘easy fight for AB.’ There’s an equally large group of people on the Mikey Garcia side that say ‘easy fight’ and I’ve never seen that on a fight before. That’s what makes this such an intriguing matchup.”

 

Q: “Did all of the other successful fights contribute to you being able to get this particular fight done.”

A: “These fighters are top-tier athletes. And they don’t get to this level of accomplishment without being competitors. We saw it with Shawn Porter at Errol’s fight. When these guys see these big fights happening, their juices get flowing and they get salivating. More than anything, it’s really the fighters. The fighters are the ones who are taking these tough fights and in many cases asking for the tough fights. Originally, we were looking for scheduling a fight for Mikey and a fight for Adrien at some point this summer. And then at a certain point, we realized that for either of them at 135 or 140, there wasn’t a bigger fight than fighting each other. Once everyone understood that, everything clicked. This is the biggest fight that each of them can make right now realistically and that’s really what got it done and made all the other issues: weight, money, all that other stuff melted away because these are two world class competitors who want to do the biggest fight possible.”

 

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing. To become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

 

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SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION CARD ON 2017 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND UPGRADED TO TRIPLEHEADER

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 Unbeaten Maravillabox Promotions’ Prospect Jon Fernandez To Face Juan Reyes; Live On SHOWTIME® From Turning Stone Resort Casino In Verona, N.Y.

 

2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood To Be Joined By Fellow Hall of Famers Al Bernstein and Jimmy Lennon Jr.

 

NEW YORK (June 2, 2017) – SHOWTIME Sports® has announced undefeated Maravillabox Promotions’ prospect Jon Fernandez will meet super featherweight Juan Reyes in an eight-round matchup in the opening bout of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday, June 9, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT), from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

The addition of Sergio Martinez’s protégé, Jon “Jonfer” Fernandez, (12-0, 10 KOs), in a 130-pound scrap against Juan “Pochito” Reyes (14-3-3, 2 KO’s) upgrades the previously announced ShoBox to a tripleheader.

 

The card, which takes place during the 2017 Hall of Fame Weekend where longtime ShoBox analysts Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, features undefeated super lightweights Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (19-0, 16 KOs) and Joel Diaz Jr. (23-0, 19 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The winner will be thrust from talented prospect to legitimate contender. Both fighters have developed on the series—this will be Prograis’ fourth start and Diaz’s third.

 

In the co-feature, unbeaten Canadian super middleweight Steve Rolls (15-0, 9 KOs) makes his second start on ShoBoxwhen he faces the dangerous Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

 

Tickets for the event, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and AASHA Record Breakers, are priced at $65 for ringside, $50, $40 and $30 (may be subject to additional fees) and are available at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877-833-SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

“This is another big opportunity for me to show everybody that I am one of the best super featherweights in the world,” said Fernandez, who will fight for just the third time in the United States. “The fight against Garza was an amazing experience and I was happy to give the audience in the U.S. such an exciting performance.

 

“In my last fight, I won the Spanish title, something that I am very proud to have achieved, now I will travel back to the U.S. to face anybody that my promoter puts in front of me. I am very confident in my skills and my team is doing great work with my career.”

 

“This is the opportunity I have been waiting for my entire career,” said Reyes. “I make real wars out of my fights because that is my style and it works for me. Jon Fernandez will have his hands full because I am coming to win.”

 

“I want to thank to Lou DiBella and SHOWTIME for another great opportunity for Jon Fernández,” said Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, promoter and former unified middleweight world champion. “Jonfer is a talented and hard-working young man that will archive great things. He’s destined for greatness.”

 

“With his potential and work ethic, I have no doubt he’ll be a world champion one day. I will take it a step further and say that he will become next pound-for-pound champion. He is ready to win this fight by knockout and call out the top names in his weight class.”

 

The 21-year old Fernandez is coming off of a second-round TKO victory versus previously unbeaten Ismael Garcia to seize the Spanish 130-pound title in his hometown of Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain, on April 21. In his last stateside appearance on Feb.10 of this year, Fernandez made his ShoBox debut with an impressive third-round knockout against formerly once-beaten Ernesto Garza in Miami, Okla.

 

Reyes is a 27-year-old from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, now training out of Bell Gardens, Calif. He will be making hisShoBox and New York debut—he has never fought outside of Southern California. Reyes’ last two fights resulted in unanimous decision wins as he beat Miguel Angel Mendoza on March 3 of this year and Cesar Villarraga in October 2016.

 

Fellow Hall of Famers Al Bernstein and Jimmy Lennon Jr. will join Farhood and Tompkins on-air during the special Hall of Fame edition of the prospect oriented series.  Lennon Jr. returns to Canasota for the posthumous induction of his father, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr.

 

Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

Tompkins and Farhood will be inducted in the “Observer” category on Sunday as part of a 2017 class headlined by boxing greats Evander Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia.

 

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, @loudibella and @DiBellaEnt or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, andwww.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

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FOUR-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION ADRIEN BRONER TAKES ON UNDEFEATED THREE-DIVISION CHAMPION MIKEY GARCIA AT 140 POUNDS

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Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia

Presented by Premier Boxing Champions

Saturday, July 29 * LIVE on SHOWTIME

Watch, Share, Embed Video: http://s.sho.com/2qKad51

 

NEW YORK (June 1, 2017) – Today, SHOWTIME Sports® announced a blockbuster matchup between two of boxing’s biggest stars as three-division world champion Mikey Garcia moves up in weight to 140 pounds to face four-division champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Saturday, July 29, live on SHOWTIME.  Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

 

In yet another significant main event matchup on SHOWTIME, these world-class fighters will meet at a critical time in their respective careers.  A three-division world champion at the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, the flamboyant Broner remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes – and perhaps the most polarizing – in the sport today.  Among the top 140-pounders in the world, Broner is undefeated at or below 140 pounds with his only two losses coming against welterweight world champions Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter.  An experienced fighter at just 27 years old, Broner (33-2, 24 KOs) still believes he is the future of the sport and promises to prove it against Garcia on July 29.

 

Mikey Garcia, 29 years old and undefeated (36-0, 30 KOs), is a recently crowned lightweight champion on a self-appointed journey to become a household name in the sport of boxing.  Garcia will move up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner.  Garcia represents a boxing family developing legendary status in the modern era of the sport.  He is renowned for his sportsmanship and his commanding presence in the ring, honed by his brother and acclaimed trainer Robert Garcia.  Mikey has held world titles at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, but has never fought north of 138.

 

Saturday, July 29 will be the 19th live boxing event on SHOWTIME this year.  The main event bout will be a WBC 12-round special attraction.

 

“SHOWTIME Sports continues to deliver the most anticipated matchups, the most important events and the most thrilling fights in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “We consistently feature top-rated champions and challengers.  The best are fighting the best and the results have been spectacular.  Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia is a fight that fight fans have dreamed of—an undefeated, young star facing one of the best 140-pound fighters in the sport, both men in the prime of their respective careers.  July 29 promises to be a memorable night in a year already full of memorable boxing events.”

 

 

Broner, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has achieved more in his young career than most fighters can hope for in a lifetime.  After earning world titles at 130, 135 and 147 pounds, Broner won a belt in a fourth weight division – 140 pounds – in October 2015 when he defeated Khabib Allakhverdiev via 12th round stoppage to become the second youngest four-division champion in boxing history at 26 (behind Oscar De La Hoya, 24).  As an amateur, Broner compiled a record of 300 wins, 19 losses under the guidance of his trainer Mike Stafford, who has remained in Broner’s corner throughout his entire career.  Broner will turn 28 years old on July 28, the day before his bout with Garcia.

 

Once considered one of the top young pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Mikey Garcia, of Moreno Valley by way of Oxnard, Calif., returned to the ring after a two-and-half-year layoff in July 2016 without missing a beat.  He scored a dominant fifth-round stoppage over former world champion Elio Rojas in his first fight back.  Then, Garcia became a three-division champion by beating previously undefeated lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin with a vicious third-round knockout last January.  Garcia has stopped 19 of his last 21 opponents including Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido and Bernabe Concepcion.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MikeyGarcia, @AdrienBroner, or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

 

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STEVENSON-FONFARA I FULL FIGHT AVAILABLE ON SHOWTIME SPORTS®YOUTUBE CHANNEL IN ADVANCE OF SATURDAY’S LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE REMATCH LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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Watch Stevenson-Fonfara I: http://s.sho.com/2pD0U7c

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Stevenson vs. Fonfara II

Live At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT From Bell Centre In Montreal

 

Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

SHOWTIME Sports has released the 2014 matchup between Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara in its entirety in advance of their rematch this Saturday live on SHOWTIME from Bell Centre in Montreal. YouTube Link: http://s.sho.com/2pD0U7c

 

In their first meeting Stevenson edged Fonfara in an all-action matchup in which both fighters scored knockdowns.  It remains the only time the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion has touched the canvas in his eight world title fights. 

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Stevenson vs. Fonfara II airs live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.  In the opening bout of the telecast, WBC Light Heavyweight No. 1 contender Eleider Alvarez, Stevenson’s mandatory challenger, will face former 175-pound champion Jean Pascal. 

 

Note: Geo-Blocked For U.S. & Canada Viewers Only

 

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ADONIS STEVENSON vs. ANDRZEJ FONFARA II FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FOR WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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“I expect a knockout.” – Adonis Stevenson

 

“I’m ready to take the title.  My time has come.” – Andrzej Fonfara

 

WBC No. 1 Contender Eleider Alvarez Faces Former Champ Jean Pascal In SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Co-Feature At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

MONTREAL (May 30, 2017) – WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara sounded off at the final press conference on Tuesday at Montreal Casino for their 175-pound rematch this Saturday live on SHOWTIME from Bell Centre.

 

WBC Light Heavyweight No. 1 contender Eleider Alvarez and former 175-pound champ Jean Pascal also faced off for their co-featured bout that opens the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

 

Both Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) and Fonfara (29-4, 17 KOs) scored knockdowns in their all-action meeting in 2014, the only time Stevenson has been down in his eight world title fights since winning the WBC belt in 2013.  While the local Montreal favorite was pushed the distance in his first bout with Fonfara, he has scored knockouts in five of his seven title defenses and stated on Tuesday that he expects a knockout in the rematch.

 

Since the close loss to Stevenson in 2014, Fonfara has picked up wins against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Nathan Cleverly and Chad Dawson, and enters the rematch with a new trainer, the renowned Virgil Hunter.

 

Alvarez (22-0, 11 KOs) is undefeated and the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s WBC belt, but he’ll face the toughest test of his career in Pascal (31-4-1, 18 KOs), a former WBC 175-pound champion who has faced some of the world’s best light heavyweights over the past decade.

 

Here’s what the fighters had to say on Tuesday:

 

ADONIS STEVENSON

“I’m ready because I know Fonfara is dangerous.  We’re not underestimating him.  I’ve prepared for everything, everything he brings in the ring I’ll be ready for it.

 

“I’m training for the knockout.  Emanuel Steward always told me ‘knockouts sell.’  When I get in the ring I’m going for a knockout.  It’s not an option for me to go 12 rounds.

 

“I train for 12 rounds, and if it goes 12 rounds he’s going to get punishment the whole time, but I definitely am going for the knockout.

 

“I see some things I can exploit in the ring.

 

“I won the first fight, and I know him very well.  I know what he can do.  I know he changed trainers.  Virgil Hunter brings a lot of experience, I know he trains Andre Ward, and I know he’s very intelligent.

 

“I know Andrzej Fonfara from 12 rounds in the ring.  He can’t change his style right now.   He may show some improved defense, but after a couple of rounds it will be the old Fonfara.

 

“This fight will be different.  I expect a knockout.  I hurt my hand in our first fight, but now I’m fully healthy and I expect to knock him out.

 

“I know Fonfara is training hard to take my belt.  I know he’s a tough fighter, and I know it’s not going to be easy for me.

 

“My goal is to unify the titles with the winner of (Sergey) Kovalev and (Andre) Ward.  I want the unification, but if not I’ll make my mandatory.  If Ward wins I want to fight him, if Kovalev wins I want to fight him.  I’m ready.”

 

ANDRZEJ FONFARA

“I’m a much smarter fighter now.  Mentally, I’m much strong and smarter.

 

“I bettered myself.  Virgil (Hunter) has taught me a lot of new stuff.  Some things worked in my last fight with Chad Dawson, some things didn’t.  But that was our first fight together.  Now I’m ready to show everything in this fight.

 

“I’ve had a lot of success against southpaws.  I like fighting them.  Chad Dawson was a southpaw, so the last two fights, the last four months, we prepared only for southpaws.

 

“I’m ready for the best Stevenson.

 

“My camp went well.  Sparring was great.  It’s my second full camp with Virgil Hunter and we’ve improved a lot since the first fight.

 

“I can’t make the same mistakes I did in our first fight.  I must fight much smarter.

 

“Stevenson only has a good left hand.  He’s the champ and he’s a good fighter, but his boxing isn’t amazing.  He’s not easy, but he only has basic boxing skills.  We must cut his left hand and be ready to throw my right.  We need to control him.

 

“I must start good in the first round and let him know that I’m here to win the fight.  And I’ll be the new champion.

 

“I’m always a fighter that goes forward and pushes guys back, but I am now ready to fight backwards if I need to.  I’ll show the best Andrzej Fonfara this time.

 

“I’m going to win the fight.  A world title is the only thing I’ve never had.  I’ve imagined raising my hand after the fight and becoming the new WBC champion.”

 

“I’m ready to take the title.  My time has come.

 

“I’m ready to be the new world champion and I’ll do that Saturday night.  He wants the KO, and I want the KO, too.

 

“I respect him because he’s the champ.  I came here to show that, this time, I’m the better fighter.”

 

ELEIDER ALVAREZ

“He has a lot of experience, but experience can be negative sometimes.  He’s experienced, but he has negative experiences and losses, too. I don’t think it will be a factor Saturday night.

 

“My style will be an advantage.  I’m taller, I have a longer reach, and a better jab.  My footwork is better, too.  So I think my style is my advantage.

 

“I’m fully ready for my title shot.  I’ve been ready for 18 months, but for some reason it didn’t happen.  I’m ready to face everybody.  I’m probably in the toughest division in boxing right now, but once Stevenson comes I’ll be ready.

 

“I didn’t wait 18 months to become a world champion for nothing.  I won’t give a victory to Pascal.  I’ve waited for 18 months for my chance and I won’t give it to Pascal.

 

“Sparring with him (Pascal) is an advantage, but it was a long time ago and now he’s changed teams.  So I don’t know what he’s done in his training camp this time.

 

“Marc (Ramsay) taught me some tricks, but I already know Jean Pascal because I trained with him and sparred with him for a while.  It’s an advantage to have Marc, but it can be different and you never know what he’ll bring to the ring this time around.”

 

JEAN PASCAL

“Winning is the only option for me.

 

“I’ve been in some battles, but my tank is still full.

 

“I’ve faced way better opposition than him.  I’ve been there, done that on the big stage.  This is a big, big fight, and I’ve been here before.  That’s the thing with experience – you can’t buy experience.  You have to live it, and I’ve lived it many times.  I’m ready to be on the big stage once again.

 

“Training camp went really well.  I was with Roy Jones Jr. and Stephane Larouche and we stayed in Montreal for the whole camp.  We had no injuries and we’re ready to go on Saturday.

 

“Sparring with Alvarez isn’t really an advantage for me.  The last time we sparred was like two or three years ago.  I know him, but he knows me also.  I actually have two strikes against me – he knows me well, but his coach knows me by heart because he’s my former coach.  But none of that matters.  I’ve done my homework and I know what to do in the ring.

 

“Right now my focus is on Alvarez.  After the referee raises my hand and we’ll see what’s next.”

 

# # #

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow us on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing. To become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.