Nyob rau SHOWTIME® ntawm 9 p.m. THIAB/6 p.m. PT
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(Yees duab Credit: Ed Diller / DiBella Lom ze)
Daim pib rau muag khoom Tag kis ntawm 10 a.m. THIAB!
Brooklyn (Lub peb hlis ntuj 7, 2017) – Yav tas los lub ntiaj teb no champions Lwm yam Berto thiab Shawn Porter are set to collide in a welterweight world title eliminator on Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 22 nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, los ntawm Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
Berto (31-4, 24 Kos) and Porter (26-2-1, 16 Kos) will battle in a 12-round eliminator for the WBC welterweight title live on SHOWTIME with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. THIAB/6 p.m. PT. The winner will become the mandatory for the WBC crown picked up this past weekend by Keith Thurman, who unified the WBA and WBC titles with a victory over Danny Garcia on CBS at Barclays Center.
“It feels great to be getting back in the ring,” Hais Berto. “I love being back in New York. My team has been putting in work in the gym. I’m already dialed-in and focused. I’ve had the WBC belt before and I’m itching to get it back. I beat the man who had taken it away from me in my last fight and I’m going to take down anyone who gets in my way. I know Shawn is going to work hard for this one, but so will I. I’m looking forward to this one, you don’t want to miss it.”
“The only thing on my mind right now is the WBC title,” Hais Porter. “I made it a goal of mine when I turned pro to get that green belt, and now I feel like it’s about to happen. I’m not looking past Andre Berto, I respect him as a man and a fighter. We’re friends. But just like when I fought Keith Thurman, it’s all about the business and getting that title. I can’t wait to be in that ring on April 22 at Barclays Center.”
Daim pib rau lub nyob kev tshwm sim, uas yog nce los ntawm DiBella Lom ze, pib ntawm $50 (tsis xws li siv cov nqi) thiab yog muag Wednesday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 8 ntawm 10 a.m. THIAB. Daim pib yuav raug muas hauv internet mus saib tau www.ticketmaster.com, www.
“In a welterweight division that is filled with talent and marquis matchups, Berto vs. Porter is another elimination bout on the road to crowning the king of the division,” hais tias Lou DiBella, Thawj Tswj Hwm ntawm DiBella Lom ze. “Berto and Porter are two established, offensive minded professionals who understand the significance of this showdown. I expect fireworks on Plaub Hlis Ntuj 22 when one of them stakes claim to an even bigger opportunity.”
“Rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 4, Barclays Center hosted its biggest night of boxing ever and we are looking forward to continuing the momentum on Plaub Hlis Ntuj 22 with Berto vs. Hnav,” hais tias Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Lom ze. “We are excited to welcome Porter back to Brooklyn after his epic performance against Thurman in PBC’s 2016 Sib ntaus ntawm lub xyoo. BROOKLYN BOXING continues to be defined by 50-50 fights, dramatic moments, and a regular schedule of major boxing events.”
“Plaub Hlis Ntuj 22 is sure to be an action-packed fight between two of the best fighters in the welterweight division,” hais tias Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice Thawj Tswj Hwm & General Manager, SHOWTIME kev ua si. “We’re in the midst of a de facto ‘welterweight tournament’ – a series of matchups between the best fighters in one of boxing’s deepest divisions. The winner of Berto vs. Porter will land right back in the mix with the top champions at welterweight as we move toward crowning an undisputed 147-pound champion.”
An exciting and accomplished fighter from Florida, Berto represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics but now trains in Oakland with the renowned Virgil Hunter, who led him to a thrilling victory in April 2016 as Berto scored a fourth-round knockout of former champion Victor Ortiz in their rematch. Berto previously challenged retired legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2015 and has engaged in numerous Fight of the Year-worthy bouts including a 2012 war with Robert Guerrero and his first fight with Ortiz. He has twice held a welterweight title, first the WBC belt, which he successfully defended five times between 2008 thiab 2011, plus the IBF crown he picked up in 2011 with a victory over Jan Zaveck.
A physically-gifted fighter who had a strong amateur career, Porter returns to the ring at Barclays Center after a close loss to Keith Thurman in June 2016 that garnered unanimous Fight of the Year consideration. The 29-year-old had previously become a welterweight world champion at Barclays Center when he defeated Devon Alexander in 2013 in Brooklyn before defending the title with a dominant stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi. Lub Akron, Ohio-native now lives and trains in Las Vegas and he bounced back from a previous defeat to Kell Brook to knockout Erick Bone and earn a unanimous over four-division world champion Adrien Broner in 2015.
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.SHO.com/Sports