‘Argentinean Lomachenko’ Alberto Melian to Fight for First Professional Title in Second Fight
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On Saturday, March 17, the “Argentinean Lomachenko,” two-time Olympian Alberto “Impacto” Melian, will challenge for his first professional title in only his second professional fight.
Fighting in his hometown of Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina, Melian (1-0, 1 KO) will take on Argentine Super Bantamweight Champion Javier Aristule (32-8, 16 KOs) over 10 rounds.
The event, presented by Sampson Boxing in partnership with Tello Box and JEB Boxing, and entitled “Night of the Olympians,” will also feature promising former Olympian Alberto “Beto” Palmetta (6-1, 2 KOs) and will be televised live on TyC Sports and VTV Uruguay (available in HD) for all of Latin America, The United States and the Caribbean.
Considered by several experts as the best Argentine amateur boxer of the last decade, Melian represented Argentina in numerous international tournaments, including his double Olympic participation, at the Olympic Games in London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
After knocking out the former world title contender Diego Ricardo Santillan in the fifth round in his debut (who entered the ring at 23-2), Melian received the challenge of Aristule, who was present at ringside. Melian accepted the challenge, but asked Aristule to put his national title on the line.
Among Melian’s outstanding amateur victories were wins over Cuban Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and Frenchman Khedafi Djelkhir, Olympic silver medalist in Beijing 2008 and APB Series World champion. In 2014, he was awarded the “Firpo de Oro” as the best boxer in the country, amateur or professional, by the Boxing´s Journalist Union of Argentina (UPERBOX).
Palmetta, former captain of the Argentinean Olympic team that participated in the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro 2016, will return to the ring after suffered his first defeat as a professional in a fight that had dominated on the cards against Gonzalo Coria.
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Borizteca Boxing Fight Night Friday
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LFA BRINGS BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY WITH LFA 36 – SIMON vs. ZANI
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MAIN EVENT:
LFA BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION
RICKY SIMON
vs.
LFA #1 BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDER
VINICIUS ZANI
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
CO-MAIN EVENT:
“PRETTY BOY”
JAMALL EMMERS
vs.
BJJ BLACK BELT
TALISON SOARES
FEATHERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at the MORONGO OUTDOOR PAVILION
in CABAZON, CALIFORNIA
Tickets are on sale NOW through Ticketmaster.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the LFA will return to California in March with a bantamweight world title fight and a high-stakes featherweight war.
The main event of LFA 36 will feature the return of LFA bantamweight champion Ricky Simon when he defends his title against LFA #1 bantamweight contender Vinicius “Don” Zani. LFA 36 – Simon vs. Zani takes place Friday, March 23rd at the Morongo Outdoor Pavilion at the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to bring an LFA title fight to Coachella Valley at LFA 36”, stated Soares. “This will be our third show in my home state of California. Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is a beautiful 4-diamond establishment and we look forward to featuring our bantamweight world title fight at the world-class Morongo Outdoor Pavillion on March 23rd.”
Tickets for LFA 36 – Simon vs. Zani are available for purchase NOW at Ticketmaster.com.
Simon (11-1) returns tot he LFA Octagon after winning the vacant LFA bantamweight title in December in the main event of LFA 29. The fight served as the LFA’s final fight of 2017 and left fight fans and MMA pundits anxiously awaiting the next move of the wildly popular Pacific Northwesterner. Simon took home LFA gold by shutting down eight-time UFC vet Chico Camus with a bloody and dominant 5-round decision win. The title win stamped a career-year for the 25-year-old, which also saw him pick up a win a fight in front of UFC President Dana White on Week 5 of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Simon is now eager to defend his title instead of basking in the glow of 2017. He also wants to up the ante by taking on the clear cut #1 contender Vincius Zani.
Zani (11-4) will challenge the champion in one of the most anticipated title fights of 2018. Zani has been perfect since competing for the promotion. This started before the merger of RFA and Legacy FC, when he showcased his world-class Muay Thai skills in the co-main event of RFA 38. The Brazilian known as “Don Zani” defeated Joe Murphy that night with UFC President Dana White sitting cageside. Zani unleashed a barrage of leg kicks and other violent techniques that excited the crowd, while putting the division on notice. He would win his next two fights in LFA after the merger and has shown no signs of taking his foot off the pedal. In his last appearance in October, Zani defeated former RFA title challenger Joey Miolla via Unanimous Decision in the co-main event of LFA 24.
The co-main event of LFA 36 will feature the return of Jamall “Pretty Boy” Emmers (12-3). The powerful 28-year-old is one of the only people to have fought for LFA, RFA, and Legacy FC. He became the third fighter to complete this rare hat trick of promotional appearances when he co-headlined LFA 5 last year. That night, Emmers lived up to the hype surrounding him after the praise he received from UFC President Dana White on Episode 7 of Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight just a few months earlier. Emmers traveled to the high-altitude of Colorado and defeated the highly-touted Cory Sandhagen, who is now making waves in the UFC. Emmers hopes to shine once again and perhaps punch his own ticket to the UFC with a breakthrough performance at LFA 36.
Emmers will face Talison Soares (10-2), who is coming off a breakthrough performance of his own last month in the co-main event of LFA 30. The 29-year-old Brazilian prospect, who is a decorated BJJ black belt from the prestigious Checkmat academy, made his international debut against fellow top prospect and BJJ ace Fernando Padilla that night. He took full advantage of the opportunity and wowed the crowd by thoroughly out-grappling his heavily favored Mexican opponent. Soares now looks to keep the momentum moving in the right direction by defeating Emmers, who has won three straight fights since impressing the UFC boss at RFA 38. Soares knows a second straight impressive showing will catapult him to the top of what many consider LFA’s deepest division.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)
– Ricky Simon (11-1) vs. Vinicius Zani (11-4)
Co-Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Jamall Emmers (12-3) vs. Talison Soares (10-2)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Tommy Aaron (5-3) vs. Troy Guerrero (5-1)
Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Herdem Alacabek (3-0) vs. Jonathan Noriega (3-0)
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 36 will be the third LFA event to take place in the state of California. RFA hosted eight events inside “The Golden State” before the merger. The entire main card of LFA 36 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
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FACEBOOK FIGHTNIGHT LIVE SERIES ECLIPSES 1,000,000 VIEW PLATEAU THIS PAST SATURDAY
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FOCUSED REGIS PROGRAIS UNDAUNTED BY CHANGE IN OPPONENT TO JULIUS INDONGO FOR INTERIM WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY, MARCH 9 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION Live At 10 p.m. ET/PT From Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota
HOUSTON (Feb. 15, 2018) – Undefeated 140-pound contender Regis “Rougarou” Prograis remains focused on the prize despite the recent change in opponent for his March 9 showdown for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Championship. Prograis will now face former unified world champion Julius Indongo in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota.
The southpaw Indongo replaced Viktor Postol, who was forced to withdraw from the bout on Monday with a hand injury.
“Lou called and told me about what happened to Viktor Postol and that Indongo could be the new opponent and I said yes immediately,” said Prograis. “I always want to fight the best and with Indongo being a former unified champion, he brings a great deal of credibility to the fight. Both of his titles were won on the road in Russia and Scotland, so I know how fearless and determined he will be.
“I had to switch up my training a little for sparring with Indongo being a lefty and a little taller, but I’m sparring with middleweights. I’ve heard how hard he hits and I want to be fully prepared. Maybe down the line Postol and I could still fight, but I’m only focused on Indongo now. This is my time and my year to shine. I’m ready to put on a spectacular performance on March 9.”
“This fight came together in a matter of two phone calls – one to Prograis and one to Indongo – and that speaks volumes about the championship mentality of both fighters,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Prograis wanted to fight the best fighter available, even if that fighter presented a different style and was recently a unified champion. Indongo immediately jumped at the opportunity to again be a champion. They are true professionals and their desire to fight will be evident in the ring.”
The event is presented by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Fight Promotions Inc., Holden Productions and Sauerland Promotions. Tickets, priced at $200, $80 and $60, are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 907-4726. The doors open and first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. More information on Deadwood Mountain Grand can be found on their website at www.DeadwoodMountainGrand.com.
Fighting out of Namibia and now training in Omaha, NE, Indongo (22-1, 11 KOs) is a former unified champion who held the IBF and WBA 140-pound titles.
In 2016, Indongo traveled to Moscow, Russia, to dethrone IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Eduard Troyanovsky with a stunning first-round knockout. In his first defense, Indongo traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, for a unification bout with WBA Champion Ricky Burns. The 35-year-old won a 12-round unanimous decision to become unified champion.
In his first bout as a unified titleholder, Indongo made his U.S. debut against fellow undefeated and unified champion Terence Crawford in a showdown to determine the undisputed champion of the 140-pound division. It was the first championship bout with all four major world titles at stake since Jermain Taylor dethroned Bernard Hopkins in 2005. Indongo lost to Crawford to suffer the only defeat of his professional career.
Prograis (20-0, 17 KOs), of Houston by way of New Orleans, has scored knockouts in 13 of his last 14 fights and is a rising star in the wide-open 140-pound division. Indongo represents the toughest challenge of his career.
In the 12-round co-feature, undefeated 140-pound contenders Ivan Baranchyk (17-0, 10 KOs) and Anthony Yigit (21-0-1, 7 KOs) will square off in a Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Sergey Lipinets. Lipinets will defend his belt the following day, March 10, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® against undefeated three-division champion Mikey Garcia.
Mykal Fox decisions Ricardo Garcia in main event of King’s Promotions card at Sands Bethlehem Event Center
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Danny Garcia vs. Brandon Rios Plus David Benavidez vs. Ronald Gavril and Yordenis Ugas vs. Ray Robinson Fight Week Media Workout Quotes & Photos
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Victor Ortiz vs. Devon Alexander & Caleb Plant vs. Rogelio Medina El Paso Media Workout Quotes & Photos
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Action-Packed Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Undercard Features Top Contenders, Former Heavyweight Champion, Prospect Showdowns & Rising Future Stars Saturday, March 3 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn
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