Category Archives: Showtime Boxing

MEXICAN KNOCKOUT ARTISTS JULIO CEJA & HUGO RUIZ TO MEET IN SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE REMATCH ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27  FROM HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIF., LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

 
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
 Headlined By Leo Santa Cruz Defending His Featherweight Title
Against Former Champion Kiko Martinez At 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
 
ANAHEIM, CALIF. (Jan. 27, 2016) – Mexican warriors Julio Ceja and Hugo Ruiz will compete in a rematch of their exciting 2015 super bantamweight world title fight on Saturday, February 27, live on SHOWTIME® from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will be headlined by undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, who’ll bemaking the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez.
 
“I’m very happy to fight again in Southern California on such a fantastic card,” said Ceja. “In the first fight with Hugo Ruiz we had a sensational battle which ended with me coming out victorious and I’m very confident that I will win again. I look forward to putting on another great show on February 27.”
“I’m excited for the immediate rematch with Julio Ceja,” said Ruiz. “I know that I had him badly hurt during our first fight and that I will be victorious on February 27. I’d like to thank everyone involved for this great opportunity to avenge my loss.”
 
Ceja (30-1, 27 KOs) and Ruiz (35-3, 31 KOs) met on August 29, 2015, in Los Angeles, with Ceja winning the WBC 122-pound world title via a fifth-round stoppage in a wild back-and-forth brawl. Ruiz struck the first big blow in round three when he connected with a sharp left hand that floored Ceja. The fireworks continued into round five when Ceja unloaded a powerful left hook that put Ruiz on the mat. Ceja saw his opening and used a flurry of punches to close the show and take home the world title.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $27, $54, $104 and $199 and are on sale now via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail locations or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Honda Center Box Office.
The 23-year-old Ceja has won six fights in a row and is looking to prove that his victory over Ruiz was no fluke. The native of Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time since turning pro in 2009 at just 16 years old. The power-puncher owns victories over experienced veterans Henry Maldonado, Jesus Acosta, Alejandro Morales and Genaro Camargo.
A 29-year-old fighting out of Sinaloa Mexico, Ruiz entered the first fight against Ceja on a four-fight win streak and as winner of 26 of his last 27 fights. He’s defeated the likes of Jean Sampson, Yonfrez Parejo and Francisco Arce throughout a pro career that began in 2006. His bout with Ceja was his U.S. debut and his exciting style has earned him another shot at the world title.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @MartinezKiko, @TGBPromotions, @HondaCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports

After Sensational Victory over Donovan Dennis, The Sky is Now the Limit for Heavyweight Slugger Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller

 

Promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions says he could not be happier with the performance turned in last Friday night by the fighter he co-promotes (with Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions), undefeated heavyweight slugger Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller.
Miller, now 16-0-1, 14 KOs, showed both his frightening power and excellent boxing skills while scoring a brutal TKO 7 over an extremely game Donovan Dennis. Fighting in the co-main event of a nationally televised ShoBox: The New Generation from the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, Miller made believers out of many by displaying depth and ring intelligence to go with his sledgehammer fists.
“Jarrell showed he’s not just a big puncher,” said Greg Cohen. “He showed the ability to change up his game plan during a fight. That’s very important at the higher levels of the division. He nearly took Dennis’ head off in the first round, but when he saw that somehow he was going to survive for a while, he switched up to boxing and re-established his dominance that way. It was exactly what he should have done in there.”
Miller, who won the NABA Heavyweight Championship with the victory, is now in line for an even higher-profile showdown with a rated contender.
“Jarrell is a force to be reckoned with and with his power, skill, athleticism and charisma, he can become a worldwide star and be the man to restore the heavyweight division to its glory of yesteryear,” continued Cohen. “People love him and can’t enough of him!”
Cohen says that even though Miller called out the champions of the division after the victory, the probable next step will be a top-ten fighter in one of the sanctioning organizations.
“We believe he can beat any of the champions right now, today. But to get him there we will have to next focus on someone rated above him and take their spot by force. But I have every confidence we are less than a year away from getting Jarrell the world title shot he wants more than anything.”

KEITH THURMAN TO DEFEND WBA WELTERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST SHAWN PORTER IN BLOCKBUSTER SHOWDOWN OF ELITE 147-POUNDERS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 12

CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING RETURNS TO PRIMETIME ON CBS WITH PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS BLOCKBUSTER

LIVE ON CBS 8:30 P.M. ET/5:30 P.M. PT

PHOTOS by Esther Lin/SHOWTIME:

 

NEW YORK – January 23, 2016 – WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his title against former champ “Showtime” Shawn Porter in a blockbuster matchup of two of the world’s best 147-pound fighters on Saturday, March 12 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS.

 

The welterweight showdown will air live on CBS at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT from Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.‎ The last primetime boxing event on CBS was Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks on Feb. 15, 1978.

 

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Fla., and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Akron, Ohio, are both coming off superb 2015 campaigns that solidified the fresh faces among the elite of arguably boxing’s most exciting division.  With perennial pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather now retired, the 27-year-old Thurman and the 28-year-old Porter are hungry to stake their claim as the future of boxing.

 

“Thurman vs. Porter is a marquee matchup of two elite boxers in the prime of their careers, and the winner will establish himself as arguably the No. 1 fighter in boxing’s glamour division,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “Fights of this caliber don’t come along very often, and when they do, they deserve to be on the biggest stage possible. That’s why all of us at SHOWTIME and CBS are so excited to be able to deliver this pivotal matchup to a primetime audience on America’s highest-rated network.”

 

“Last year was an amazing year for me: I headlined the very first Premier Boxing Champions show and was named PBC Fighter of the Year,” Thurman said.  “But this is my year to dominate the welterweight division and I’m excited to be getting ready to take out Shawn Porter.  I am ready to get back in the ring and bring boxing fans what they’ve been looking for – the top true welterweight champion of the world, the one who is going to take out all competitors one by one. I am Keith ‘One-Time’ Thurman and I’m going to show you what a champion looks like on March 12.”

 

“I’m very confident in my ability.  That’s why I’ve been looking forward to this fight because I’m someone who can beat Keith Thurman,” Porter said.  “Nothing about Keith really makes me nervous.  I do know that he’s going to be ready for this fight.  He’s a fighter that has the heart of a lion just like I do.  I expect this to be a fight to the finish.  A win over Keith Thurman is what we’ve been waiting for.”

 

“Keith Thurman against Shawn Porter is one of the best matchups that can be made in the welterweight division right now and I am thrilled that it is taking place at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “The hard-punching world titleholder Thurman and the highly skilled former champion Porter will have the opportunity to prove that they are the next heir to the throne in the post-Mayweather era of the 147 pound division.”

 

“One Time” Thurman, who owns a better than 80 percent KO ratio and knocked out 18 of his first 20 opponents, is considered one of the most avoided fighters in boxing.  After unsuccessfully lobbying to fight the best of the division for the past two years, Thurman finally had a breakout 2015.

 

The hard-hitting Florida native floored former champion and long-time contender Robert Guerrero en route to a convincing 12th round unanimous last March in Las Vegas.  He then dominated and bloodied former champ Luis Collazo on July 11, winning via seventh round TKO.  Thurman won the Interim WBA belt with a knockout of Diego Chaves in 2013 and scored consecutive knockouts over Jesus Soto Karass (2013) and Julio Diaz (2014) in his first and second title defenses.

 

Against Porter, Thurman will now get a chance to prove what he’s been claiming for years – that he’s the world’s best welterweight – in the toughest test of his career.

 

“Showtime” Porter has built one of the most impressive resumes in the division since making his welterweight debut in 2010.  Porter, who surprisingly turned professional as a super middleweight (168 pounds), won the IBF crown in 2013 with an impressive unanimous decision over Devon Alexander.

 

The physically-gifted and offensive-minded Ohio native knocked out former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi with a brutal clean right hand in April of 2014 in the lone defense of his title.  Porter lost the IBF belt less than four months after the Malignaggi victory in a close majority decision defeat to undefeated British superstar Kell Brook, but he bounced back with a fifth-round knockout of Erick Bone in March of 2015. Porter scored what many considered an upset victory in his next bout over then three-division world champion Adrien Broner with a clear unanimous decision last June 20 in Las Vegas.

 

The aggressive, come-forward Porter has built his career as a perennial underdog who relishes in the role. But, with the resume he has built, it’s hard to consider him an underdog anymore heading into this crossroads showdown with Thurman.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and Ticketmaster are on sale now. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 23, subject to availability.

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel and Smithsonian Earth, through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT ROB BRANT SCORES IMPRESSIVE KO OF DECARLO PEREZ IN NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS FRIDAY ONSHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

Unbeaten Heavyweight Jarrell Miller Calls Out Heavyweight Champs After Brutal KO: VIDEO:  http://s.sho.com/1Vfnk7K

 

Catch The Replay This Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHO EXTREME®

 

Click HERE For Photos Credit Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

 

TUCSON, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2016) – Undefeated middleweight prospect Rob Brant scored the most impressive victory of his career with a fourth-round knockout of Decarlo Perez in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME on Friday from Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Ariz.  VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: http://s.sho.com/1QqySWm

 

Known more for his boxing prowess, Brant (19-0, 12 KOs) displayed impressive power. After a big first round, in which he threw 97 punches and more of the same in the second, Brant floored Perez with a straight-right shot midway through the third.

 

The Minnesota native kept on the gas in the fourth and landed another straight right that sent Perez falling straight back partially through the ropes. Perez (15-4-1, 5 KOs) awkwardly landed back into the ring and referee Rocky Burke instantly ended the fight at :39.

 

“The game plan was to be aggressive,” Brant said.  “We knew we wanted to show him our power early and make him respect us right away.  When I caught him with the right on the temple in the third I knew we had him.   And then when I connected in the fourth it was lights out, game over.  I just want to get back in the ring as soon as possible and continue making progress.”

 

Perez, who entered the fight coming off an impressive win over previously undefeated Juan Ubaldo Cabrera last August on ShoBox, said he just got caught with a good shot.

 

“I just got caught,” Perez said.  That’s all that happened. I didn’t see the shot coming and he was speedier than I thought. He’s fast and he got me with something I wasn’t ready for.”

 

SHOWTIME analyst Steve Farhood was surprised by Brant’s performance.

 

“Brant showed a dimension we hadn’t seen before,” Farhood said.  “He’s thinking man’s fighter who fought an angry fight.  And, as result of that, you have to put him near the very top of the list of middleweight prospects.”

 

Undefeated heavyweight prospect Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller floored Donovan Dennis twice in a thoroughly dominating seventh round TKO (2:31) in the ShoBox co-feature.

 

Miller (16-0-1, 14 KOs), who went past the sixth round for the first time in his career, landed 52 percent of his power shots.  The Brooklyn native scored two knockdowns in the first round – the first with a devastating looping right, the second with a straight to the chest – and had Dennis nearly out on his feet in what looked like a certain first-round finish.

 

The southpaw Dennis (14-4, 11 KOs) somehow survived the round and actually pushed Miller into uncharted waters.  Dennis had some moments where he out boxed his opponent, but Miller’s power and size – a 56 pound weight advantage – was the deciding difference.   Dennis was breathing through his mouth and gasping for air when referee Tony Zaino wisely halted the contest as “Big Baby” teed-off on his defenseless opponent.

 

“I had him out in the first round, but I threw my shoulder out throwing a left hook,” Miller said.  “I was looking for the knockout so bad he started catching me with some shots.  So then I decided to box a little bit and that’s what I did until the knockout came.

 

“I’m glad it went seven rounds.  It taught me to go to Plan B.  I can box beautifully when I want and I showed some of that tonight.  It was good experience.  My power was there; my wind was good. I was breathing well and seeing the shots.”

 

After the fight, Miller called out the two American heavyweight world champions.

 

“Charles Martin, I’m coming for you.  Deontay Wilder, I’m coming for your Alabama BBQ.”

 

In the locker room after the bout, Dennis admitted that he was surprised by Miller’s boxing ability:  “He’s a better boxer than I thought he would be. That surprised me.”

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated welterweight prospect Bakhtiyar Eyubov impressed with a dominating demolition of the durable Jared Robinson with a third round TKO (:56).

 

Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs), who scored three knockdowns in three rounds, recorded his 10th knockout in his 10th career professional fight.  The hard-throwing Eyubov landed a staggering 57 percent of his power shots while throwing only three jabs in the fight.  The Kazakhstan native scored two knockdowns in the first and one in the third over the veteran Robinson (17-3-1, 17 KOs), who was only the second opponent to push Eyubov into the third round.

 

“Was I surprised at how easy it was?  No, I can’t believe he made it to round three,” Eyubov said.  “The ref should have stopped it earlier.  I am much smarter than I was before.  I expect more of myself now.  It was another step forward and I promise everyone all my fights will be like that. I am like (Arturo) Gatti.

 

“My trainers are teaching me to move my head, and I’m confident that no one can hurt me.  I will never ever be knocked down.”

 

Eyubov, who entered the ring with a “papakha,” explained his cultural dance following the knockout win.

 

“The dance and the hat are traditional Kazakhstan traditions,” Eyobov said.  “I was honoring my countrymen with that dance.  And the hat is a symbol of my honor.  No one can take that hat from me. “

 

The ShoBox tripleheader will re-air on Monday, Jan. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® beginning Saturday, Jan. 23.

 

Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughanproducing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

# # #

 

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 65 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, 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 and more.

New Heavyweight Champ Charles Martin Says: ‘My Time to Shine Will Come!’

Brand new IBF Heavyweight Champion “Prince” Charles Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs) should be on cloud nine.
In just his seventh year of boxing and slightly over third as a professional, Martin already finds himself the sixth southpaw to have ever won a heavyweight championship after scoring a TKO 3 over Ukrainian top contender Vyacheslav Glazkov last Saturday night, January 16, at the Barclay’s Center in New York.
Winning any world title is an amazing accomplishment that most never reach in decades of boxing. Add in that Martin took out the 2008 Olympic Super Heavyweight bronze medalist to become the second current American heavyweight champion in a suddenly rejuvenated division.
“It feels good,” admits Martin. “I wanted to do it fast. I couldn’t wait,” he explains of his quick ascension. “Some things they say take time but when you’re really determined to do something, you’ll do it as soon as possible.”
With his place already assured in the boxing history books and several lucrative possible showdowns on the near horizon, why isn’t Martin the happiest man on the planet?
It was the way he won.
“I have an empty feeling right now,” said the 29-year-old champion. “I was in front of so many people and it was my time to shine on Showtime and show the world my skills. I felt that he had no power and said to myself that he would be easy work. I knew I was going to have a great night. I was going to KO him and then everyone would love me… but it didn’t happen like that.”
Glazkov stopped fighting in round three due to torn ACL in his knee and Martin was declared the winner of the then-vacant title by way of injury-induced TKO.
“I wanted to win the belt my way,” continued the disappointed Martin. “He would have got knocked out eventually. It was coming to him. I never even got to use my uppercut on him, but it’s all good.”
Humble and extremely likeable, Martin remained polite, post-fight and expressed his condolences to the disappointed Glazkov. However, since that night, Glazkov has gone on to say he had “figured Martin out” and that the championship would have certainly been his had he not been injured.
“Oh my goodness, I’m trying to stay humble about the situation, but that’s so crazy what he said,” said Martin. “If he really thinks that, he’s tripping. Things were about to get a lot worse for him. I promise you, once he started slowing down, my combinations would have started to come out. I was throwing the one/two because he was getting out of the way pretty good in the first few rounds. I was just getting started. I thought I would box him for a while and then start going at him and whip his butt. I promise you I could have. That injury saved him. It broke my heart that I didn’t get to do what I wanted. How does that happen? I was having fun.”
Martin says his team and friends and relatives have been good to remind him the abbreviated ending was out of his control. He also says he’ll take a quick vacation and then get right back to work.
So what comes next for the new American heavyweight champion?
“Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. I want them both. I want all the best. That’s the next move. My time to shine will come. I’m a world champion now and I can say that the belt is in the right hands. I’m not going to sit around. I want to fight.”
Martin also says that is Britain’s world champ, Tyson Fury, ever points his taunting antics at him, he won’t mind.
“It’s good for boxing for him to do that kind of stuff. I like that. It’s all business. At the end of the day he has no crazy beef with anybody. Nobody choked anybody’s mother. It’s just boxing. You got to get attention somehow. He makes people want to see a fight. We’re in the entertainment and hurt business. It’s definitely a real fight in the ring though. It’s a non-personal thing that very gets personal once they step in the ring with me. That’s two guys’ livelihood in there. That’s our income for our families.”

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION KIKO MARTINEZ FACES UNDEFEATED WORLD CHAMPION LEO SANTA CRUZ ON SATURDAY, FEB. 27, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® FROM HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIF.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live At 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
 
Tickets On Sale Now!
NEW YORK (Jan. 20, 2015) – Undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will make the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez on Saturday, Feb. 27, live on SHOWTIME® from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to have another opportunity to fight in front of my L.A. friends,” said Santa Cruz. “I’ve been in the gym and staying ready for anyone that’s put in front of me. I’m going to be 100 percent ready for this fight and I plan to go out there and look great.”
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to face off against Leo Santa Cruz on February 27,” said Martinez. “Santa Cruz is clearly one of the very best featherweights in the world but I have what it takes. I’ve already begun working very hard with my longtime trainer Gaby Sarmiento and I will be victorious.”
“It’s always great to be able to bring quality fights to the Southern California fight fans,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “The Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez battle couldn’t be in a better venue or town and it will provide non-stop action from the opening bell. TGB Promotions is honored to once again work with SHOWTIME and the team at the Honda Center on another great event.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $27, $54, $104 and $199 and are on sale now via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail locations or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Honda Center Box Office.
The popular Mexican-American Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs), fighting out of Los Angeles, won the 126-pound title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate against former three-division champ Abner Mares last August at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.  It was just the second fight in the featherweight division for Santa Cruz, who has won belts at 118 and 122 pounds while earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most active and exciting fighters.  The 27-year-old also holds victories over Cristian Mijares and Eric Morel and has fought in world title bouts in 10 of his last 12 fights since 2012.
Martinez (35-6-0, 26 KOs), of Valenciana, Spain, is a former super bantamweight world champion who won the IBF belt with a sixth-round knockout of Jhonatan Romero in 2013.  The 29-year-old made two successful title defenses against Jeffrey Mathebula and long-time titlist Hozumi Hasegawabefore losing a decision in 2014 in a rematch against Carl Frampton.  Martinez challenged Scott Quigg for the 122-pound belt in July of 2015 before moving up to 126 pounds, where he bounced back to record knockouts in two of his three fights in just two months.   A world traveler who frequently fights on his opponent’s home turf, Martinez will now challenge Santa Cruz in just his second fight in the U.S. with his sights set on becoming a two-division world champion.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @MartinezKiko, @TGBPromotions, @HondaCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports

WILD NIGHT: DEONTAY WILDER RETAINS WBC HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DEVASTATING  KNOCKOUT OF ARTUR SZPILKA

 
CHARLES MARTIN CLAIMS IBF BELT TO BECOME
SECOND AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP
SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME® FROM BARCLAYS CENTER
Don’t Miss The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Replay
This Monday At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®
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NEW YORK (Jan. 17, 2016) – American heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder defended his WBC title for the third time with a devastating ninth round knockout of Polish challenger Artur Szpilka on Saturday night, live on SHOWTIME in front of 12,668 fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.   VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: http://s.sho.com/1Rtg0ac
With WBA and WBO Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury and Wilder’s mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin watching from ringside, Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) impressed yet again in knocking out his 35th opponent in 36 fights.
It was a close fight until Szpilka walked into a brutal right to the chin while throwing a wide left at 2:24of the ninth round. Szpilka fell onto his back and remained unconscious on the canvas for a few moments before responding to questions and stating he was fine.  Szpilka (20-2, 15 KOs) was conversing and moving all his extremities, however he was taken to Lutheran Hospital on a stretcher as a precautionary measure.
“He’s doing good,” said Szpilka’s trainer Ronnie Shields.  “He’s awake and knows exactly where he is.  He didn’t want to go to the hospital, but he’s going as a precaution.  It’s better safe than sorry.”
Power was the difference for Wilder, a 6-foot-7 bomber who landed 42 percent of his power shots against the southpaw opponent.  The 30-year-old briefly celebrated his victory before checking to ensure that Szpilka was going to be fine.
“I told him he was a great contender,” Wilder said.  “He came to give his all.  He gave his all for Brooklyn.  I always say two prayers.  I say a team prayer and I say an individual prayer.  I don’t want to hurt a man so he can’t go home to his family. We risk our lives every time we step in the ring.  He’s definitely in my prayers and I hope he’s doing well.
“He was definitely a crafty guy,” continued Wilder. “I haven’t competed against a southpaw in three years.  He was a tough competitor, but you’re fighting for a world title.  It’s not supposed to be easy.  I’m surprised it took that long, but we had 12 rounds and they can’t all can’t be pretty.”
Fury, the outspoken British unified world champion, climbed into the ring after the fight and claimed he wanted to fight Wilder in a unification blockbuster.
“Any time, any place, anywhere.  I’ll fight you in your backyard after I beat (Wladimir) Klitschko again.”
Wilder, the first American heavyweight champion in nearly a decade, dismissed Fury’s antics while promising he was game for a showdown that is undoubtedly one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing.
“We all know Fury is just a phony,” Wilder said.  “This is just an act.  I’m not scared of anybody.  We’ll come to your backyard.  This is just an act – you’re not a real fighter.  I don’t play.  This isn’t wrestling. When you do step in that ring with me I promise you I will baptize you.
“I would love to fight him next, unfortunately, I have other mandatories due.  Make the date Tyson, I promise you.”
In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING opener, Charles Martin won the IBF Heavyweight World Championship when Vyacheslav Glazkov suffered a right knee injury in the third round and was unable to continue.  The fight was scored a third round TKO (1:50) after Glazkov told referee Earl Brown that he was unable to continue.
Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs), who was the aggressor throughout the fight, becomes the sixth southpaw heavyweight champion in boxing history and the second current American heavyweight titlist.
Glazkov (21-1-1, 13 KOs) slipped early in the third and seemed uneasy when he returned to his feet.  The previously undefeated Ukrainian continued fighting, but he fell to the canvas again while throwing a punch.  Replays confirmed that the right knee injury was a slip and wasn’t the result of a connected shot from Martin.  After the fight, ringside doctor Gerard Verlotta confirmed to SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray that the injury was a torn right ACL.
“I still wanted to fight,” Martin said.  “We trained for 12 rounds and we were going to get stronger as the rounds went on.  He just kind of twisted his ankle, it looked like.  But every time I hit him in the body and his legs were flying.  It’s boxing,. That was a football injury.  I’m sorry for him.  It’s unfortunate he couldn’t continue the fight.
“I want to unify the titles.  We didn’t even fight tonight.  I want another fighter.  I want Tyson Fury.”
A dejected Glazkov pleaded his case for a rematch while being inspected by doctors in his locker room.
“This should have been my belt,” Glazkov said.  “I already had him figured out. I slipped and felt a sharp pain in my right knee and felt it give it out.  I’m very upset. I want a rematch when I recover.”

In non-televised action, Brooklyn’s Adam Kownacki (13-0, 10 KOs) thrilled the hometown crowd with an exciting and dominant victory over Danny Kelly (9-2-1, 8 KOs). The Polish-born fighter used precise hooks and devastating uppercuts to earn the unanimous decision by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73.
Undefeated Notre Dame alum Mike Lee (16-0, 10 KOs) was sharp in his cruiserweight outing as he stopped Joseph Gardner (11-9-1, 1 KO) 43 seconds into round three. Lee dropped his opponent twice in round three before finishing the bout in round four.
 
Ivan Golub (10-0, 8 KOs) blasted out Juan Rodriguez (12-4, 5 KOs) and scored a TKO victory in the first round. The Ukranian-born fighter now training out of Brooklyn delivered an enormous overhand right that sent Rodriguez down and prompted the referee to stop the fight 2:41 into the round.
Undefeated Polish middleweight Maciej Sulecki (22-0, 7 KOs) dominated veteran
Derrick Findley (22-18-1, 14 KOs) to remain perfect via a stoppage 1:29 into the seventh round. In a fun battle of unbeaten prospects Botisher Obidov (4-0-1, 1 KO) eked out a narrow unanimous decision over Ramil Gadzhiev (1-1, 1 KO) with all three judges scoring the fight 39-37.
Light heavyweight prospect Carlos Gongora  (4-0, 3 KOs) scored three knockdowns before eventually stopping Derrick Adkins (1-1-1, 1 KO) in round four. The final shot was a devastating body shot that ended the fight 1:58 into the round.
Brooklyn’s Julian Sosa (4-0-1, 2 KOs) thrilled his many fans in attendance with a dominant performance on his way to stopping Bryan Timmons (3-7, 3 KOs) at 1:48 into the second round.
Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will re-air on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available On Demand beginning this Sunday.
Mauro Ranallo called the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING action with Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former world champion Paulie Malignaggi commentating and Jim Gray reporting. In Spanish, Alejandro Luna called the blow-by-blow with former world champion Raul Marquez serving as color commentator.
The event was promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Sferis Knockout Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The executive producer of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @BronzeBomber, @Szpilka_Artur, @BarclaysCenter, @WarriorsBoxingProm and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter.

ADAM LOPEZ AND MARIO MUNOZ TO HEADLINE SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION QUADRUPLEHEADER FRIDAY, FEB. 19, FROM BOARDWALK HALL IN ATLANTIC CITY

 

Ronald Ellis vs. Jerry Odom, Keenan Smith vs. Wellington Arias Romero & Lavasis Williams-O’Shaquie Foster Also in Action

 

Friday, Feb. 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Live On SHOWTIME®

 

NEW YORK (Jan. 15, 2016) – ShoBox: The New Generation returnson Friday, Feb. 19, quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Adrian Phillips Ballroom in Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

 

With the same height, same age, and similar strong amateur backgrounds, Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (14-0, 7 KOs) and Mario “Yayo” Munoz (16-0-1, 10 KOs) will face their toughest opponents to date when they touch gloves in the 10-round super bantamweight main event matchup.

 

In other televised bouts, all scheduled for eight rounds, Ronald “Akeem” Ellis (12-0, 10 KOs) takes on Jerry Odom (13-2, 12 KOs) in a clash of hard-hitting super middleweights, Keenan Smith (9-0, 3 KOs) faces fellow southpaw Wellington Romero (9-0-1, 4 KOs) in a battle of unbeaten welterweights and lefthander Lavisas “Red” Williams (8-0-1, 3 KOs) risks his undefeated record against O’Shaquie Foster (8-1, 5 KOs) in a super featherweight match.

 

The combined record of the eight up-and-coming competitors is 89-3-3 with 54 knockouts.

 

Lopez, of San Antonio, Texas, by way Phoenix, Ariz., Smith, of Philadelphia, and Foster, of Orange, Texas, will be making their secondShoBox starts; while Munoz, of  Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Ellis, of Dorchester, Mass., Williams, of  Rochester, N.Y. and Romero, of Hasburgh, N.Y., via Santiago, D.R., their first. Odom, of Washington, D.C, is making his third appearance.

 

Tickets for the GH3 Promotions event are priced at $25, $50, $75 and 100 and are available for purchase online at www.Ticketmaster.comand over the phone at 1 800 736 1420.

 

An excellent boxer-puncher and tactician that likes to counter, Lopez won his ShoBox debut in his outing before last with a close, hard-fought 10-round majority decision over previously undefeated, DominicanEliezer Aquino (17-0-1 going in). Lopez is coming off a second-round TKO over Eric Aiken last Dec. 12.

 

Lopez was born in Phoenix, raised in Los Angeles and moved to San Antonio when he was 15. He went 125-23 in the amateurs and won six national championships before turning pro in February 2012. He’s trained by former two-time world champion Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez.

 

Munoz will be making his United States debut and first start outside of Mexico. A pro since September 2010, he’s known for his come-forward style, first-rate overall skills and proficient punching power. He went 140-10 in the amateurs, winning three national Junior Olympic tournaments and coming away with bronze and silver medals in national championships.

 

Munoz, who hails from a fighting family, has an uncle who boxed professionally. He’s the one he credits for introducing him to boxing when he was 13. This will be his first fight since he scored a lopsided eight-round decision over Daniel Franco last May 2.

 

Ellis upset highly regarded Terrell Gausha to win the 2010 National Golden Gloves (Gausha would go on to represent the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games). Since going pro in February 2011, Ellis has fought in two countries (Puerto Rico, Mexico) and six U.S. cities (San Antonio, Carson, Calif., Winchester, Va., New York City, Tulsa and Inglewood, Calif.). The 26-year-old has faced mostly modest opposition and has seldom come close to putting in a full night’s work.

 

Ellis had had a series of delays and restarts since turning pro but feels he’s grown from his mistakes and that he’ll be stronger because of them. For sure, his power hasn’t been affected. All 10 of his knockouts have come inside two rounds (eight in the first). The older brother of boxer Rashidi Ellis has won four straight by knockout, including a second-round TKO over Jas Phipps in his last start last Aug. 29. But he seems to be taking a sizeable step-up in class here.

 

Odom is looking to turn it around after losing two of his last three, the most recent defeat coming via a shocking third-round TKO to Samuel Clarkson (14-3 going in) on ShoBox. The heavily favored, heavy-hitting Odom was dropped three times, once in the second and twice in the third, before the fight was halted at 1:15.

 

Odom, a top amateur and 2012 National Golden Gloves Champion at 178 pounds, had a 12-fight win streak end on Jan. 9, 2015, when he was disqualified against Andrew Hernandez. In the rematch the followingMarch 13 on ShoBox, Odom registered a 2:47, first-round TKO.

 

In his ShoBox debut, Odom, who makes for exciting scraps, dropped previously unbeaten Vilier Quinonez (8-0) twice before stopping him in the seventh round on July 25, 2014.

 

Smith won his ShoBox debut in his last start on a hard-fought, eight-round unanimous decision over Benjamin Whitaker last Nov. 6 in an outdoor fight in Las Vegas. Fighting in memory of his mother who died in late September and going eight rounds for the first time, the 5-foot-7Smith, overcame a nasty cut over the left eye from an unintentional headbutt in the sixth, rallied to score a knockdown in the seventh and triumphed by the scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice.

 

Before turning pro in April 2010, Smith was a 2008 National Golden Gloves Featherweight Champion and 2007 Junior Olympic National Champion. His 74-2 record in the amateurs included two victories overworld-ranked contender Amir Imam.

Romero had 268 amateur bouts and represented the Dominican Republic at the Olympics in 2012 (he lost to Vasyl Lomanchenko). Shortly thereafter he relocated to New York. He went pro in October 2013, fought four times in 2014 and five times last year.

 

A slick 5-foot-9 boxer who can punch and gives opponent issues because of his awkward style and movement, Romero, 24, has beat up on ordinary opposition and is coming off a first-round TKO over LuisMeroles last Dec. 5. This looks to be his most daunting assignment to date.

 

Williams, 24, is a boxer-puncher who’s won seven in a row since boxing a draw in his second start in March 2013. This will be his first fight outside of New York. Making his eight-round debut in his last start onOct. 8, he won a shutout decision over Czech Republic’s Michal Dufek.

 

Foster, 22, gets a quick-fix opportunity to redeem himself after losing hisShoBox debut on an eight-round unanimous decision to underdog Sam Teah (6-1) on the Nov. 6 card in Las Vegas.

 

A highly decorated amateur, the 5-foot-8½ inch Foster advanced to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Games Trials where he lost to unbeaten pro prospect, Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz. Before that, Foster was a 2011 Houston Golden Gloves and 2010 PAL National Champion, a five-time Ringside National Champion and two-time National Junior Golden Gloves Champion.

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 Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

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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 65 fighters who have appeared onShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, 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 and more.

DEONTAY WILDER VS. ARTUR SZPILKA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

 
“I’m hungry. I’m determined. I’m not playing with anybody in 2016. 
My actions will speak for themselves.” – Wilder
 
“I don’t just want to win; I want to win in spectacular fashion.” – Szpilka
 

 
Click HERE For Photos From Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME®
 
Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
BROOKLYN (January 14, 2016) – A dramatic fight week continued Thursday as WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder and bruising Polish contender Artur Szpilka participated inthe final press conference before they enter the ring this Saturday, January 16 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with unbeatensCharles Martin and Vyacheslav Glazkov fighting for the vacant IBF Heavyweight World Championship.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Sferis Knockout Promotions, start at $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP
Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:
DEONTAY WILDER
“I’m so happy to be here in the ‘Big Apple.’ It’s been over 115 years since there’s been a heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn and you’ve invited your ‘country friend’ to end that streak.
“Everything has happened at the right time in my life. Even the people I’ve met in my career have come at the right time. I still think about the first time I met Lennox Lewis and he took the time out to talk to me and he showed me different techniques. I’ll never forget.
“Lennox was one of those guys that set the standard. He’s a hard act to follow. But I love a challenge. Everybody has had struggles coming up. Now my children are my motivation and that’s what has made me strong physically and mentally.
“Here we are in 2016, with a young champion trying to follow in the footsteps of a great champion to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
“People who know me know that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m doing it. I am hungry. I am determined. I’m not playing with anybody in 2016. I don’t say things just to sound good. My actions will speak for themselves.
“This is a great card. Two heavyweight title fights in one night. It doesn’t get much better than that. The heavyweight division is exciting again. Having someone like me, it’s only going to get better.
“I take pride in what I do and what I have. I’m very honored to have the WBC belt. I even have the belt tattooed on my body. It’s not going anywhere. But there are more belts that I want. It’s going to be a long journey and a tough path to fulfill. But I’m that man.
“When people say the heavyweight champion of the world, I want one person to be recognized. I wish my opponent and all future opponents good luck, cause they’re going to need it.
“We’re not looking past Artur Szpilka. Things happen due to adrenaline and excitement, but I’m very confident about what I’m going to do on Saturday night. He wants to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. You know he’s coming to make history.
“This is going to be a hard fight, but a fun fight. Everyone who sees this fight, they’re going to get their money’s worth. It’s going to be a great show. I cannot wait. Waiting is the hardest part of boxing.”
ARTUR SZPILKA
“I’m so happy to fight in front of so many great Polish fans. I want to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. I want to do it.
“There’s no pressure on me. The pressure is on Deontay because I just want to be a world champion, he already is.
“I’m not just here to get my paycheck. Everyone who knows me, knows I come to fight. I don’t just want to win; I want to win in spectacular fashion.
“I have a bunch of friends coming in from Chicago but the next 48 hours will be mostly relaxing. I have a couple small training sessions with Ronnie (Shields) but that’s it.
“I know you have to have a great respect for your opponent and I used to have respect for him. But after what he has said about me, I have a problem. You have to prove it in the ring. He has to do it in the ring, not outside the ring. He can say whatever he wants, but we will see it in the ring.
“I will fight hard and after the fight you will hear ‘The New Heavyweight Champion of the World.’ “
CHARLES MARTIN
“I’m so thankful to be in this position. Everyone who put this together and got me here, I owe them everything. I want to thank my mom for making me a strong guy. We went through everything together. We’ve seen it all.
“It’s starting to get real. I can feel my aggression coming out. I’m a Taurus, I’m a bull. I get mean when it’s time to fight. That’s what I want to bring into the ring on Saturday night. Controlled aggression.
“I’m a nice person but when it’s time to go, I have an angry heart.
“I train for every fight like a title fight. Mentally there was nothing to gear up for. I’m strong mentally. I’ve been running up in the mountains and doing a lot of rounds.
“We’re in great shape after being in one camp for eight weeks and then taking a week off before we got back to it. It was a great training camp.
“I’m happy and excited. I’m looking forward to this fight on Saturday and taking what’s mine.
“I’m so sick of talking about what Glazkov does well, I just want to see if he can do it well against me.”
VYACHESLAV GLAZKOV
“Thank you everyone who supports me and loves boxing. This is a big opportunity for me. I’m 100 percent ready. This will be a good fight and I hope everyone is watching.
“I feel good. I’ve trained very hard. I’m very ready for this fight. Everything is in place for me to become world champion.
“Charles is a big guy. He’s a lefty but he hasn’t fought good opponents. He’s a big strong guy, but it’s the heavyweight division. Everyone is strong. This will be a good fight.
“All of my past fights have helped me get ready for this one. I want all of the belts. This is the first step towards my dream.”
LENNOX LEWIS, Former Unified Heavyweight World Champion
“I’m looking forward to the fights Saturday. There are four great heavyweights that I’m excited to see. I’m happy that my WBC belt is looked after so well.
“The heavyweight division is wide open right now. Now it’s time for the guys who were standing by the wayside to show that they want to be the next undisputed champion.”
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
“This is going to be a huge event at Barclays Center on Saturday night. There are still some tickets available, but you better run and get them. We just opened up some more tickets today. We could have a record crowd for boxing at Barclays Center and that’s the power of the heavyweight division and the power of boxing when you deliver a great product to people.
“There are two terrific fights in one night. They will be the first heavyweight title fights in Brooklyn in 115 years. We knew we were going to have Deontay Wilder taking on Artur Szpilka. We didn’t initially expect it, but now we have a title fight for a vacant belt as a co-feature. It really makes it a special night.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®
“SHOWTIME Sports was born on March 10, 1986 with its first telecast of a sporting event, which happened to feature a spectacular 11th-round knockout by “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. This is SHOWTIME’s 30thanniversary and we’ll be celebrating all year long.
“In keeping with our heavyweight theme, we are featuring our long history with Evander Holyfield and airing some of his biggest fights. Holyfield has fought with us 18 times, the most of any other fighter. If there is a current fighter who can break that record, it’s Deontay Wilder. He’s fought eight times and we’ve seen the progression of his skills.
“I can’t think of a better way to kick off our year than with this doubleheader of heavyweight title fights. For each of these four fighters on this SHOWTIME card, Saturday night represents a lifetime of work and their dream of being heavyweight champion. I’m convinced we’re going to have two memorable fights that will add to the great history of SHOWTIME.
“We have such confidence in this card we’re doing something unprecedented. Not only is it a part of our Free Preview Weekend, but we’re putting the entire telecast on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel. There’s no excuse for anyone to miss it.”
BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center
“Barclays Center is in the big event business and it doesn’t get any bigger than hosting two heavyweight world championship fights Saturday night. Brooklyn has a great history with heavyweights but it’s been a long time. Deontay is the perfect person to bring this tradition back to Brooklyn. He’s confident, tenacious and has a big personality. He’s made to fight in Brooklyn.
“Wilder versus Artur Szpilka is the matchup Brooklyn has been waiting for. The Fort Greene section of Brooklyn has a tremendous Polish population and Artur will have a big rooting section on Saturday night.
“This will be our sixteenth event and I expect 2016 to be our biggest year ever. This is certainly an exciting way to kick off boxing at Barclays for 2016.”
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Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @BronzeBomber, @Szpilka_Artur, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter, @WarriorsBoxingPromand @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter