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BARCLAYS CENTER TO HOST BLOCKBUSTER MATCH-UP FEATURING FOUR-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION ADRIEN BRONER VS. UNDEFEATED THREE-DIVISION CHAMPION MIKEY GARCIA ON SATURDAY, JULY 29
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N'ihu site Premier Boxing agbachitere
Bi na SHOWTIME
–Tiketi On Sale Thursday, June 15 na 10 a.m.—
Brooklyn (June 13, 2017) –Anọ nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri Adrien “Nsogbu Ahụ” Broner na atọ-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri Mikey Garcia square off in a blockbuster matchup in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Saturday, July 29, na-na showtime, presented by Premier Boxing Champions at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
Tickets to the event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, na-ọnụ na $950, $750, $350, $300, $250, $150, $75, na $50 (bụghị gụnyere ọdabara ụgwọ), and will go on sale on Thursday, June 15 na 10 a.m. NA, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com ma ọ bụ site na-akpọ 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center starting Friday, June 16 na ehihie (ma ọ bụrụ na tiketi ka dị). Group ego dị site na-akpọ 844-BKLYN-GP.
“Broner vs. Garcia is one of the year’s biggest matchups in boxing and we anticipate an electric atmosphere at Barclays Center,” kwuru Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “This will be our fourth major card in 2017 as BROOKLYN BOXING continues to deliver dramatic moments, asọmpi ịlụ ọgụ, and many of the sport’s biggest names to fight fans.”
Broner and Garcia, two world-class fighters in their prime, meet at a critical time in their respective careers in one of the most intriguing matches in boxing. Both Broner and Garcia have had spectacular victories at Barclays Center in Brooklyn during their careers. Broner successfully defended his welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at Barclays Center on June 22, 2013, and Garcia, coming off a lengthy layoff, defeated Elio Rojas via fifth-round TKO at the arena on July 30, 2016.
Broner, a three-division world champion by the age of 23, and one of the youngest four-division world champions in boxing history, remains one of the most accomplished and popular athletes 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. Mgbe dị nnọọ 27 afọ, Broner (33-2, 24 Kos) still believes he is the future of the sport and looks to prove it against Garcia onSaturday, July 29.
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Broner has achieved more in his young career than most fighters can hope for in a lifetime. After earning world titles at 130, 135 na 147 pound, Broner won a belt in a fourth weight division – 140 pound – na October 2015 when he defeated Khabib Allakhverdiev via 12nke round stoppage to become the second youngest four-division champion in boxing history at 26 (behind Oscar De La Hoya, 24). Broner will turn 28 years old on July 28, the day before his bout with Garcia.
Garcia, 29 years old and undefeated (36-0, 30 Kos), is a recently crowned lightweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. He will move up in weight for the second time in just three fights to challenge Broner. Garcia is a member of a renowned boxing family, and is noted for his sportsmanship and his commanding presence in the ring, honed by his brother and acclaimed trainer Robert Garcia. He has held world titles at 126, 130 na 135 pound, but has never fought above 138.
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. After defeating Rojas, Garcia became a three-division champion by beating previously undefeated lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin with a vicious third-round knockout this January. Garcia has stopped 19 nke ikpeazụ ya na 21 opponents including Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido and Bernabe Concepcion.
Maka ozi ndị ọzọ nleta www.SHO.com/Sports, www.
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Grand Opening of Connecticut Boxing HOF new location Monday night, June 26, in Sky Casino at Mohegan Sun
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BELLATOR SIGNS VETERAN MMA COMMENTATORS MIKE GOLDBERG AND MAURO RANALLO
BOTH SET TO CALL THE ACTION FOR BELLATOR NYC NASaturday, JUN 24 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
LOS ANGELES — Bellator has signed longstanding MMA commentators Mike Goldberg na Michael Ranallo to multi-event broadcast agreements beginning with Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva na Bellator 180: Davis vs. Bader na Saturday, June 24. The move sees Goldberg return to SPIKE for the first time since 2011, while Ranallo reunites with Bellator President Scott Coker, having worked together through 2013. The pair will join a broadcast team that currently includes Jimmy Smith, Jenn Brown and Chael Sonnen.
“Mike Goldberg and Mauro Ranallo are two of the best in our business and I couldn’t be happier about them joining the Bellator family,"Kwuru Scott Coker. “In addition to June 24, we look forward to working together to make future Spike broadcasts even more exciting for our fans as we add further depth to an already-exceptional broadcast team.”
“The addition of highly-regarded announcers Mauro and Mike to our fantastic lineup of broadcasters, and our first-rate production led by Scott Fishman, further demonstrates our commitment MMA fans and expanding the global Bellator brand,” added Spike SVP, Sports and Specials Jon Slugger.
Mike Goldberg is best known for his 20 plus years of play-by-play work in professional MMA and trademark calls that made him popular with fans around the globe. In addition to his two decades in mixed martial arts, he has broadcast every major sport at the network level, most notably his 900 games in the NHL, both nationally and with the Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings. He has also hosted entertainment shows, na nsonye Shaq Vs. A graduate of Miami (Ohio) University, Goldberg now resides in Phoenix, Ariz.
Mauro Ranallo gained notoriety with MMA fans during his tenure with PRIDE, and later STRIKEFORCE, where his voice became synonymous with the now-legendary events. Throughout his career, Ranallo has spent time working with various sports outside of MMA, including boxing, ọkachamara mgba, kickboxing and ice hockey, and will continue his work with Showtime Boxing. Ranallo, a native of British Columbia, Canada, now resides in Los Angeles, Calif.
Biko gaa na Bellator.com na BellatorNYC.com for upcoming event information.
Hartman Arena extends Box Office hours To support ticket demand for this Saturday night’s “Ko Night Boxing: Rapid Fire” event Featuring 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Nico Hernandez
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THE FIGHTING PRIDE OF BUCKSPORT RETURNS FOR ONE MORE BATTLE
Lewiston, Maine (June 13, 2017) – Ray “All Business” Wood has received his mail in Florida, Maine, South Carolina and Texas, to name just a few corners of the United States. He’s comfortable with a nomadic existence, especially when his highest goals are at stake.
The Pine Tree State is where Wood’s mixed martial arts dream evolved, Otú ọ dị. And in any endeavor at any chapter of life, sometimes home is where you can go to recapture the magic.
That’s at least some of the inspiration for one of the most popular combatants in New England Fights history as he sets foot in that regional cage for the first time na 28 ọnwa.
Osisi (8-3) will lock up with Alexandre “Popo” Bezerra (19-5) in a featherweight bout that promises nothing but fireworks at “NEF 29: Stars & Stripes” onSaturday, June 17. The opening bell at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“I’m coming off two losses, so it’s good to get back where it all started,” Wood said. “It’s a good time to rekindle the fire.”
No shortage of major factors have contributed to the hiccup in Wood’s winning ways. For starters, Osisi, onye amama 28 na June 6, has been juggling his career with life’s ultimate responsibility since last summer, when his wife, Tiana, gave birth to their first child, Liem.
It’s also worth noting that his two losses have come against undefeated fighters in the elite Bellator Fighting Championships. Wood tapped to a first-round choke at the hands of Adam Piccolotti (9-0) na May 14, 2016. After a brief stint to embrace the newfound challenges of fatherhood, Wood returned to the fray in December and dropped a unanimous decision to second-generation MMA prospect A.J. McKee, Obere. (8-0).
Wood is quick to point out that a busier life is no excuse for a change in performance. Rather, it empowers him with new purpose as he plies his non-traditional trade.
“It’s definitely been a lot of big changes. Now I have a kid. That changes everything,"Ka o kwuru. “That gives me a lot more to fight for. If I go out and perform, that provides more opportunities and gives me more to offer my family.”
The only other loss on Wood’s docket coincided with his most recent experience in Maine. Crafty veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (20-11) took the NEF featherweight belt via fifth-round submission.
Wood left Maine shortly thereafter for Gaffney, South Carolina. He now resides with his family in Amarillo, Texas.
“I wasn’t originally from Maine,” said Wood, who grew up in Fort Myers, Florida, before moving to Bucksport in seventh grade. “I kind of knew I wanted to leave and see what was out there.”
He took many pieces of Maine with him, ezie. Osisi, a high school wrestler, found himself sorely missing that competition after graduation, so he took up jiu-jitsu.
Obere oge, he heard that a gentleman named Chris Young was training MMA fighters at a home-based sweatshop in Bangor.
“He was holding workouts in his basement. This was before his gym (Na-eto eto si Emmanuel) even started. It was a weird thing,” Wood recalled. “Looking back on it, who just shows up at somebody’s house, knocks on the door and says, 'Hey, I hear you guys train MMA?” You just hope you have the right house.
“I love to compete, and I loved wrestling,” he added. “I knew when my wrestling days were over that I needed to find something to fill that void.”
Mixed martial arts provided that platform. Wood picked up three wins before stopping Ahsan Abdullah (7-8) on strikes at the inaugural NEF card in February 2012.
Wood emerged as a mainstay with the growing organization, culminating with his July 2013 victory in Bangor over Lenny Wheeler (9-6, 1 NC) for the vacant title.
“When I first started, I had no illusions of fighting professionally or anything like that. My passion found me,” Wood said. “NEF does a great job preparing guys. They’ve sent a bunch of guys on to fight at the next level. They keep fighters busy. I was able to win a title, and it certainly didn’t hurt my career. I’m glad I was able to fight for them early on.”
While he’s back under the familiar black banner, the competition remains at a world-class level. Bezerra, 29, is a nine-time Bellator veteran.
The Brazilian, now based out of Philadelphia, lost a decision to unbeaten Andre Harrison (16-0) in his last fight. Tupu na, he split two wars with UFC vet Levan Makashvili (14-2-1), and then won two quick stoppages.
“He’s got a lot of experience. He’s been in with the best of the best. He has a combination of toughness and skill,” Wood said. “He’s like me in that he likes to take the fight to you. We’re not going to be in there playing patty-cake.”
Ups and downs are the nature of even the most successful MMA careers. Wood has learned not to let the recent losses leave him awestruck by the caliber of opponents at the next level.
“You have to stay true to your training, You have to remember why you fell in love with the sport in the first place,"Ka o kwuru. “A fight is a fight, no matter where it takes place or who is watching. You just have to pay attention to what you know.”
The time between his past two birthdays has been a period of learning in both Wood’s personal and professional lives.
As the new father discussed his upcoming return to New England via phone, his infant son was audible in the background.
"Ọ bụ 10 months old. It’s crazy how quickly that time goes,” Wood said. “He’s a little bit feisty. I can kind of tell he’s going to be an athlete.”
Wood’s return headlines a card that tentatively features four professional MMA fights, four pro boxing matches, and seven amateur skirmishes in the cage.
Tickets to “NEF 29: Stars & Stripes” start at $25 na dị site na-akpọ (207) 783-2009 ext. 525 ma ọ bụ na www.thecolisee.com.
Maka ozi ọzọ na ihe omume na-alụ ọgụ kaadị mmelite, biko gaa na nkwalite si website na www.NewEnglandFights.com. Na mgbakwunye, i nwere ike na-ele NEF vidiyo na www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, na-eso ha na Twitter @nefights ma sonyere ndị ukara Facebook otu "New England alụkarị ọgụ."
Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ
New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF ozi bụ ike ndị kasị mma ihe n'ihi Maine si agha na Fans myiri. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.
LaManna decisions Velasquez in Atlantic City
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AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER IN LEWISTON TITLE FIGHT
Ozugbo tọhapụ: Lewiston, Maine (June 12, 2017) – There are wink-and-nudge undertones when 38-year-old Rafael Velado declares “I’m the young guy, for once” as he contemplates his New England Fights amateur lightweight title defense on Saturday, June 17. Then again, he is, by nearly a decade-and-a-half.
It’s a disservice to label hall of fame competitor and coach Pat Kelly a sentimental favorite in his quest to win the 155-pound strap. Yet the 52-year-old assuredly is, as evidenced by at least one internet poll that shows him as the clear people’s choice to win the fight.
Velado vs. Kelly is a bundle of contradictions, an intriguing mix of styles, perhaps even a pairing that defies logic. It’s certainly a spotlight neither man would have predicted for himself five years ago. It’s also a clash of undefeated warriors that promises to rock the house at Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
“You can buy a ticket for this fight, but I truly believe you’re only going to need the edge of your seat,” Kelly, an amateur wrestling legend from the Camden-Rockport region. “I think we’re going to light the place up.”
“Everybody seems excited, and wouldn’t that be a cool story? If I end up saying later on, ‘I fought a guy when he was 52, and he beat my butt,’ the moral of the story is don’t ever count anybody out,” Velado said.
Just to clarify, Velado (4-0) doesn’t expect that to happen. A black belt in jiu-jitsu fighting out of First Class MMA of Brunswick, he looks to extend his winning streak over fighters from Young’s MMA of Bangor.
Velado claimed the vacant crown with a first-round demolition of Jimmy Jackson last September. Tupu na, Mike Peitersen took Velado the distance in his toughest test to date.
“It makes sense from a record standpoint, but I’ve fought four times since the last time Pat did, and two of those were against his training partners,” Velado said. “If you look at strength of opposition, I don’t know that it’s that close. I’m not saying that means it won’t be a good match. I just don’t think it’s very comparable. But we all know the MMA magic can happen.”
Due to lengthy rehabilitation from a knee injury, Kelly (3-0) hasn’t fought since June 15, 2015 at “NEF 18: Made in America,” when he won by technical knockout over Steve Bang Sr. He beat Bang’s son and namesake in the same manner and also defeated Frank Dellasala in his debut, which came at welterweight.
The champion wrestler (University of Maine) and coach (Camden Hills High School, where he mentored now-UFC star Tim Boetsch) weighed in at over 200 pounds before he began the three-hour round trip to and from Bangor, four times each week.
“I’m an amateur’s amateur,” Kelly said. “I got into this four years ago to stay in shape, make contacts, make new friends and enjoy the experience. When they asked me if I’d like to try getting in the cage, ọ bụ, ‘Yeah, I’ll give that a shot.’
Kelly said he was welcomed with open arms, then “beaten to a pulp,” by the likes of Bruce Boyington, Ryan Sanders and Aaron Lacey – all accomplished pro fighters from the Bangor gym.
It wasn’t long, predictably, before he fell in love with the concepts of competition and self-discipline all over again.
“There’s a bold truth to this sport,” Kelly said. “It’s one-on-one, locked in a cage with the other guy, and what are you going to do to survive? I love that feeling.”
Conventional wisdom dictates that the fight will go to the ground quickly. Then it’s a case of which fighter can assert his will and expertise.
Velado doesn’t lack for training partners who test his mettle every day. Six of them are scheduled to appear in the same cage at NEF 29. First Class owner John Raio also mirrors Kelly in terms of size and decorated wrestling background.
“Pat and I have been in (ọgụ egwuregwu) a long time. We’ve both won against some excellent people and some not-so-excellent people,” Velado said. “The road to winning against me, a guy has to be better in two disciplines and also have a better game plan.”
Interesting choice of words, when you consider Kelly’s admission that he is more inclined to fly by the seat of his pants.
“My coaches talk about a game plan, but I don’t know if I’m a game plan kind of guy. I go right back to how I know to survive. That’s the warrior in me,” Kelly said. “What you have are two guys who are not going to give up. I think that’s part of the interest. That’s what makes it a good fight.
“Raf is experienced,” he continued. “He’s undefeated. He’s the champion. I’m the old guy coming in and trying to knock him off. There are a number of parallels that make this a fascinating fight.”
The combatants’ thoughtful words in separate interviews even followed the same wavelength.
Velado graciously said he understands the fans’ desire to see Kelly keep turning back time, extend his own record as the oldest winner in NEF history and add the distinction of oldest champion to that list.
“I actually am a fan of Pat,” Velado said. “The MMA fan in me is rooting for him. I’d like to see him have whatever level of success is just short of winning. Mentally it wouldn’t wreck me if I lost the fight.”
Likewise, Kelly is prepared for the possibility that the outcome won’t go his way.
“I don’t ever train to lose, but often times winning comes in unique ways,"Ka o kwuru.
If his four children perceive the merits of his commitment to MMA as more than a midlife crisis, Kelly believes he has already won the greatest battle of all.
“Yes, of course you want to win, but I also want them to see that when you have a personal goal, you can’t just say you want it. You have to go get it,"Ka o kwuru. “When I spend all that time driving back and forth, whether I’m talking to myself to thinking or listening to music, most of the time when I’m chasing this thing, I’m on my own. And I know my kids and students can see that.”
The June 17 card tentatively features four professional MMA fights, four pro boxing matches, and seven amateur skirmishes in the cage. Tickets to “NEF 29: Stars & Stripes” start at $25 na dị site na-akpọ (207) 783-2009 ext. 525 ma ọ bụ na thecolisee.com.
Maka ozi ọzọ na ihe omume na-alụ ọgụ kaadị mmelite, biko gaa na nkwalite si website na www.NewEnglandFights.com. Na mgbakwunye, i nwere ike na-ele NEF vidiyo na www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, na-eso ha na Twitter @nefights ma sonyere ndị ukara Facebook otu "New England alụkarị ọgụ."
Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ
New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF ozi bụ ike ndị kasị mma ihe n'ihi Maine si agha na Fans myiri. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.
ROCK ICON DAVE NAVARRO TO PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR BELLATOR NYC: SONNEN VS SILVA
World-renowned musician, artist and filmmaker Dave Navarro will perform the national anthem prior to the main event for Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, June 24.
Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva, the biggest event in Bellator history, features the long-awaited bout between two of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts history, dị ka Chael Sonnen (29-15-1) na Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC) finally square off in an impending grudge match. This blockbuster event includes a heavyweight bought between MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko na ike-na-eti Matt Mitrione, along with two championship bouts, na nsonye Douglas Lima (28-6) defending his 170-pound strap against Lorenz Larkin (18-5, 1 NC) and current lightweight champion Michael Chandler (16-3) putting his world title on the line against the undefeated Brent Primus (7-0).
Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva airs LIVE on pay-per-view beginning at 10pm ET/7pm pt. Prior to the pay-per-view event, SPIKE will air Bellator 180: Davis vs. Bader LIVE and FREE on both coasts, na-amalite na 8pm ET/5pm pt. Ọzọkwa, Bellator 180 prelims will air exclusively on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App at 6pm ET/ 3pm pt.
Navarro, a founding member of Jane’s Addiction, currently serves as host of Spike’s hit series, “Ink Master.” Enclosed is a recent clip of him performing the national anthem in a Spike promo.
Dave Navarro performs National Anthem
Jose Haro issues statement on tragic injury sustained by Daniel Franco
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New USBA Featherweight Champion Jose Haro has issued a brief statement regarding the status of his fallen opponent, Daniel Franco, through his promotional representative, Whitfield Haydon:
“I respect all fighters. My heart hurts knowing that my opponent from Saturday night is still in the hospital. I hope he has a full and speedy recovery. Nothing but love, brotha. We put everything on the line when we step inside the ring. I always tell my brother/trainer that I’m a father first, fighter second, and if he ever sees me badly hurt to stop the fight because my kids need their daddy. I’m very grateful that I won but it really doesn’t feel like I won. I always pray that my opponent and myself come out our fight in good health. Let’s go #TeamFranco, you got this!” |