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

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.

 

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

 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.

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

 

 

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.

 

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

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®

 

 

“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.”

 

# # #

 

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SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO OFFER FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE LIVE STREAM OF GROVES vs. CHUDINOV WORLD TITLE FIGHT THIS SATURDAY AS PRELUDE TO BROOK vs. SPENCE

Kick off a great day of action-packed championship boxing on Saturday (tomorrow) by streaming the action of George Groves vs. Fedor Chudinov Super Middleweight World Championship live via Showtime Sports’ YouTube and Facebook platforms. Groves vs. Chudinov will serve as a prelude to the long-awaited SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®main event—the welterweight championship bout between British World Champion Kell Brook and undefeated American challenger Errol Spence Jr., which will air live on SHOWTIME at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing

YOUTUBE EVENT PAGE: https://youtu.be/DgnLttF8gzE

 

 

George Groves vs. Fedor Chudinov

Vacant WBA Super Middleweight World Championship

To Stream Live Exclusively in the U.S. Via Facebook Live and YouTube

At Approximately 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT

 

Kell Brook Defends IBF Welterweight World Championship Against Errol Spence Jr. Live on SHOWTIME® At 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT

 

NEW YORK (May 25, 2017) – SHOWTIME Sports will offer a fully-produced Facebook and YouTube live stream of George Groves vs. Fedor Chudinov Super Middleweight World Championship bout this Saturday, May 27 from Sheffield, England.  Groves vs. Chudinov will serve as a prelude to the long-awaited SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event—the welterweight championship bout between British World Champion Kell Brook and undefeated American challenger Errol Spence Jr., which will air live on SHOWTIME at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT. 

 

Live coverage of Groves vs. Chudinov will be provided by Sky Sports Box Office with sportscasters Adam Smith and Carl Froch and will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT exclusively in the U.S. on the SHOWTIME Sports Facebookpage and the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel.  Fans can follow all SHOWTIME Sports social accounts (@SHOsports) on Saturday afternoon for the precise start time to Groves vs. Chudinov following undercard action from Bramall Lane stadium in Sheffield, England.  These platforms will be geo-blocked for U.S. only. 

 

“When we saw the opportunity to deliver this great super middleweight championship fight to the U.S. audience, we jumped at it,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports, Stephen Espinoza.  “We thank Matchroom Sport for making it possible for us to carry this bonus coverage to the U.S.  Doing so compliments our robust digital and social media content plan serving boxing fans online and attracting new ones.  This further demonstrates our unrivaled commitment to the sport.  No one is making a more significant and impactful contribution to boxing’s momentum than SHOWTIME.”

 

Former three-time title challenger Groves and former champ Chudinov (14-1, 10 KOs) will meet for the vacant WBA Super Middleweight World Championship in a matchup of the WBA’s No. 1 and No. 2 challengers in a co-featured bout at Bramall Lane. 

 

Groves (25-3, 18 KOs) has won four straight since teaming up with 2016 Trainer of the Year Shane McGuigan following a close split-decision loss to then-WBC Champion Badou Jack in 2015.  The only other blemishes on his record came in title challenges to long-time 168-pound champ Carl Froch.

 

“I believe this is the best opportunity for me to achieve my dream and become world champion,” Groves said earlier this week.  “Time is on my side. I had a good year last year, and I’m in a good place.  I’ve put in the work, and now, I need to make this count.

“Everything that’s happened in the past has just made me more determined.  I know the pressure is on, and I can’t afford to make any more mistakes. This might be my best chance to win a world title, but it could also be my last.” 

 

Chudinov (14-1, 10 KOs) originally won the WBA Super Middleweight Title with a split-decision victory over Felix Sturm in 2015 and made one successful defense before losing via controversial majority decision in a rematch with Sturm in 2016.  Sturm later vacated the belt due to injury, opening up the opportunity for Chudinov to win back his title this Saturday against Groves.  Chudinov is ranked No. 1 by the WBA while Groves is ranked No. 2.

 

FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing

YOUTUBE EVENT PAGE: https://youtu.be/DgnLttF8gzE

KELL BROOK vs. ERROL SPENCE JR. FINAL WEIGHTS & PHOTOS FOR WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON SHOWTIME® AT BRAMALL LANE IN SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND

Tomorrow/Saturday, May 27 At 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT

Click HERE To Download Photos by Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

weigh in-0017.jpg

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live At 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT

Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr. – IBF Welterweight World Championship

Kell Brook – 146 ½ pounds

Errol Spence Jr. – 146 ¼ pounds

 

Live at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT exclusively in the U.S. on theSHOWTIME Sports Facebook page and the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel.

George Groves vs. Fedor Chudinov – vacant WBA Super Middleweight World Championship

George Groves – 167 ¼

Fedor Chudinov – 167

Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence, Jr. Press Conference Pictures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(L-R) – Kell Brook, promoter Eddie Hearn and Errol Spence, Jr.
(Courtesy of Larry Ludwig / Matchroom Boxing – more pictures below)
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (May 25, 2017) – The final press conference was held today in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in advance of this Saturday’s mega-fight fight between International Boxing Federation (IBF) Welterweight World Champion Kell “The Special One” Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) and undefeated No. 1 mandatory contender Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. (21-0, 18 KOs).
Canadian boxing fans will be able to watch the exciting four-fight Brook vs. Spence, Jr. card, presented by Matchroom Boxing, exclusively on Super Channel, starting at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT, live from the outdoor Bramall Football Ground in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.


BROOK VS. GOLOVKIN & BIZIER REPLAYS ON SC1
Preceding the 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. LIVE fights, Super Channel will air the following replays on SC1, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT:

Kell Brook vs Kevin Bizier
-March 26, 2016 (IBF World welterweight title fight)

Kell Brook vs Gennady Golovkin– September 10, 2016 (WBC, IBF & IBO World Middleweight titles fight)
These fights will also be featured on Super Channel On Demand.
The other televised fights on 3-hour Super Channel broadcast this Saturday are three-time World title challenger “Saint” George Groves (25-3-0, 18 KOs) against former WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Fedor Chudinov (14-1, 10 KOs) the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight World Championship; David “White Rhino” Allen (11-2-1, 8 KOs) takes Lenroy “TNT” Thomas (20-4, 10 KOs) for the vacant Commonwealth Championship, followed by the professional debut of 2012 British Olympian Anthony Fowler versus Arturs Geikins (3-7-1, 2 KOs) in a four-round middleweight match.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 
 

(L-R) – George Groves & Fedor Chudinov
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SuperChannel
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
LIVE IN CANADA THIS SATURDAYEXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL

IBF WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION KELL BROOK AND MANDATORY CHALLENGER ERROL SPENCE JR. MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

 

 

Saturday, May 27 Live On SHOWTIME® At 5:15 p.m. ET / 2:15 p.m. PT From Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England

 

Download Photos From Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME HERE

 

SHEFFIELD (May 24) – Kell Brook will make his fourth IBF Welterweight World Title defense against U.S. star Errol Spence Jr. at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England this Saturday May 27, live on SHOWTIME (5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT).

 

Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) and mandatory challenger Spence, (21-0, 18 KOs), clash on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in one of the biggest fights in the 147-pound division, and the elite pairing are promising to deliver an electric night of action.

 

Both fighters participated in a public media workout today, Wednesday, at Peace Gardens in Sheffield, England. Below is what they had to say:

 

KELL BROOK

“We are going to rock Sheffield on Saturday night. I’m ready, I’m pumped, I can’t wait.

 

“There is a lot of pressure but I always perform better under pressure. I’m meant to be on the big stage, I’m ready for the pressure and to see the bright lights.

 

“[Errol Spence] is a serious dude from America, he’s a young hungry lion, but he’s not beaten anyone like me. I’m a champion and I’ve been a champion. I’m defending. I know both sides of the coin, I’ve prepared very well.

 

“I’m ready for a war. And that’s what you’re going to see – a war Saturday night. There are going to be two winners Saturday night: that is going to be myself and everyone watching.

 

“There’s no way he can beat me.  I’m a man possessed and I have a serious job to do.  This is my night to shine.

 

“I love it [being the underdog].  I was born for it.  People don’t have me winning this fight, but that just gives me the extra energy I need to go out and prove them all wrong.

 

“This guy is a talented guy, but he’s never been tested.  He’s never been in with someone who is so determined like me.  Who’s bigger, stronger, who has all this energy, who’s meant for this game, who’s meant to be a winner.  He hasn’t been in with someone with that mindset, and that’s what I’m coming to bring on Saturday.

 

“All the hard work has been done.  The talking will stop; we’re ready to let some fireworks fly now.

 

“I can see us both maybe hitting the canvas.  You’re going to be on the edge of your seat from round one.  He’s not going to take a backwards step, and I’m not [either].  All I can say is it’s going to be a thriller.

 

“I’ve arrived.  It’s a dream come true.  It’s going to be so perfect for me that night to walk out and just see everyone.  The electricity is going to be phenomenal.”

 

ERROL SPENCE JR.

 

“This is my time, this is my era.  This is my time to shine.  This is my time to get the belts, this is my time to unify and become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.  This is just another stepping stone to get to where I want to be.

 

“I’m 100 percent prepared, I’m 100 percent focused, and I’m 100 percent ready to give the fans what they want, which is a real great fight.

 

“I can’t let the fans get to me.  I’m not worried about him having his hometown fans.  Eventually everyone will be my fans by the end of the night.

 

“I don’t feel the pressure at all.  I feel like there is more pressure on him because he’s fighting at home.  Of course there’s pressure on me to win, but I welcome that pressure.  It’s going to do nothing but motivate me, make me more hungry and make we want to win even more.

 

“You just have to have that ‘it’ factor, and I think I have it.  I’m not worried about the crowd, I’m not worried about the boos or anything like that.

 

“It’s a good step-up.  Kell Brook is a good fighter, he has great skills.  I welcome this step-up – I’ve been asking for it for a long time and I’m finally getting my opportunity.

 

“My confidence comes from my hard work.  I know the hours and time that I put in the gym.”

 

“This is an ideal situation. I would be disappointed if I was fighting someone else because he vacated. I’m a real fighter, I want to fight the best, I want to fight the champion and earn it the right way.  I can’t wait to prove I am one of the best fighters in the welterweight division.

 

“I’ve been on the USA team for a long time. As an amateur, representing U.S. in the Olympics and as a pro having this USA patch on me and fighting for my country.  I feel Saturday is kind of like a USA vs UK battle. And  U.S.A. is going to win.”

 

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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.

 

CURRENT & FORMER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS WEIGH-IN ON KELL BROOK vs. ERROL SPENCE IBF 147-POUND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

 

 

Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter & More Discuss The Latest In Series Of Welterweight Blockbusters

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live At 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT From Bramall Lane In Sheffield, England

 

NEW YORK (May 23, 2017) – IBF Welterweight World Champion Kell Brook and undefeated rising star Errol Spence face off this Saturday live on SHOWTIME (5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT) in the latest in a series of significant welterweight matchups between the best fighters in one of boxing’s deepest divisions.

 

Six of the top eight welterweights in the world* will have fought in the first five months of 2017 – all on SHOWTIME or CBS – as a de facto tournament continues in the 147-pound class to determine the No. 1 fighter in a division long controlled by the retired Floyd Mayweather.

*Source: Transnational Boxing Rankings

 

WBA and WBC Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman unified the titles on March 4 with a split-decision victory over Danny Garcia in a rare matchup of undefeated champions.  Lamont Peterson picked up the secondary WBA Regular title on Feb. 18, and on April 22 Shawn Porter knocked out Andre Berto to become the mandatory challenger to Thurman’s WBC belt.  The remaining welterweight champion, Manny Pacquiao, is set to defend his WBO title against Jeff Horn on July 2.

 

Now it’s Brook and Spence’s turn to take center stage in boxing’s glamour division.

 

This Saturday in Sheffield, England, Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) will make the fourth defense of the IBF belt he won via majority decision over Porter in 2014.  The 31-year-old, who has never been knocked down, will be the decided hometown favorite in front of what is expected to be 25,000-plus fans in the first world title fight in the 162-year history of Bramall Lane.

 

The 27-year-old Spence (21-0, 18 KOs) has long been considered one of boxing’s most prized prospects.  The IBF’s No. 1 contender has knocked out eight straight opponents and has improved as his level of opposition has risen – his last six opponents held an impressive combined record of 151 wins against just eight losses.  The Dallas resident travels abroad for this long-awaited title opportunity as he attempts to become the first American to dethrone an Englishman on British soil in nearly a decade.**

 

With both Spence and Brook affirming their intention to unify the division after May 27, see below for what legendary Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard and current top welterweights have to say about Saturday’s IBF title matchup.

 

SUGAR RAY LEONARD – Former Undisputed Welterweight World Champion

“I’m really excited about this fight in particular, mainly because both fighters have to be on their A-game.  I know there is talk about Kell’s eye surgery being a psychological problem, but from personal experience, I don’t see that being the case.  I never thought about my eye once the doctor gave me the green light.

 

“To ask me who is going to win this fight, I have my favorite in Errol Spence.  But, based on the each fighter’s physical artillery, one punch can turn the tables around.  That being said, I am going to sit back and watch a great night of boxing.”

 

KEITH THURMAN – Unified WBA & WBC Welterweight World Champion

“This is an interesting fight.  I have not followed Kell too much, but I have obviously seen Errol fight in the U.S.   Errol is a tough, young fighter who is just getting into the public’s eye, and Kell obviously has the strength of the British crowd on his side.

 

“It should be a tough fight that really speaks to the strength of the welterweight division.  Both fighters are men that I would be open to fighting as I continue to unify the division in 2018.   As a fight fan, let’s see what’s ‘Special’ about Kell Brook, and we’ll see if Errol Spence can show us he’s ‘The Truth.’  It should be a great fight and I’ll be watching.”

 

DANNY GARCIA – Former Welterweight World Champion

“I think this is a 50/50 fight.  I think the person with the better game plan is going to win.  There is a lot of pressure to go into someone’s backyard like Spence is doing, and he’s never faced a fighter in his prime before like Brook.   It is definitely a test for him and a big step up in competition.  If he is ready, he can do it.  He just has to go in there and stay focused.

 

“The welterweight division is the best division in boxing.  I still feel like I am one of the best welterweights in the world even though I came up short.  I never thought I would say a loss would make me stronger because I didn’t see myself losing.  I want my titles back and to be seen as the best in the best division.”

 

SHAWN PORTER – Former Welterweight Champion & Current WBC No. 1 Contender

“I’m glad Errol is getting his title shot, and I’m happy he’s going to England for it.  I’m obviously pulling for the American.  Errol is a phenomenal athlete and a great boxer.  I think he’s ready to show the world something, but Kell is right up there in that top tier of welterweights.  People who tune in should be thrilled. I know I’m looking forward to it.

 

“The welterweight division is awesome, top to bottom.  We’re right where we need to be and should be.  Boxing returning back to the masses with PBC came at the perfect time for me and the rest of the top welterweights. There are so many of us capable of winning a title right now.”

 

LAMONT PETERSON – WBA (Regular) Welterweight World Champion

“This is going to be a tough fight, but I think Errol should win.  At least I’m pulling for Errol to win.  He’s got to overcome the idea that there will probably be 30,000 people cheering against him, so he has to show the judges that he deserves to win.

 

“Brook is a good fighter and is going to bring his best, but I think Errol, in the end, is the better fighter. But he will have to prove it.

 

“The welterweight division is one of the best in boxing right now.  We’ve got a lot of good fighters in their prime making the division strong.  And guys are willing to fight each other.  We are seeing the kind of fights the fans want to see.  If this keeps up it could bring boxing back to where it was in the days when Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler all fought each other.  So it’s really good for boxing right now.”

 

**Timothy Bradley dethroned another Sheffield native, Junior Witter, in 2008 in Nottingham.

 

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