Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BANTAMWEIGHT STANDOUTS JOE WARREN AND SIRWAN KAKAI SET FOR BATTLE DURING CO-MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 161’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF (August 10, 2016) – A bantamweight showdown pitting Joe Warren (13-5) against Sirwan Kakai (12-4) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 inside the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

 

The bantamweight contest joins a heavyweight main event featuring Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) taking on Tony Johnson (10-2), and the U.S. debut of Anastasia Yankova (3-0), who meets Veta Arteaga (2-0). Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” start at only $25 can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office. The event will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

A 15-fight veteran of Bellator MMA and champion in not one but two different weight classes, Warren enters the cage with an 11-4 mark under the Scott Coker-led promotion, including multiple streaks of five consecutive wins. Dating back to 2015, the 2006 Pan American and World Champion wrestler has made three consecutive appearances in Bellator’s main event, including an impressive unanimous decision victory over L.C. Davis at “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis.” Hailing from Denver, Colorado, the “Baddest Man on the Planet” will look to become the first-ever fighter to knock out Kakai when the two meet in main card action on SPIKE.

 

Nicknamed “Zohan,” Kakai comes into the fight in search of his first career win under the Bellator MMA banner. At just 26 years of age, the Swedish submission specialist hopes to make a splash against the former two-division champion in Warren. Since making his professional debut in 2008, Kakai has recorded 12 wins as a pro, with half coming by way of submission. Prior to joining the Bellator MMA fray, Kakai made a splash fighting under the direction of the UFC, recording a unanimous decision victory over Danny Martinez in his promotional debut. Kakai now faces one of the most challenging opponents Bellator MMA’s stacked bantamweight division has to offer when he enters the cage on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

 

Updated “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. Tony Johnson (10-2)

Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Joe Warren (13-5) vs. Sirwan Kakai (12-4)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)

boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

Miguel Flores Training Camp Quotes & Photos

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Unbeaten Featherweight Takes on Once-Beaten Ryan Kielczweski In
PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Main Event Friday, August 12
From Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Click HERE For Photos Hosanna Rull/Team Flores/Premier Boxing Champions
 
VERONA, NY (August 9, 2016) – Unbeaten rising contender Miguel Flores has wrapped up training camp and is set to take on the toughest of his pro career as he faces once-beaten Ryan Kielcsweski in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and ESPN Deportes Friday, August 12 from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a welterweight showdown between unbeaten contender Bryant Perrella and Cuban Olympian Yordenis Ugas.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $60 for ringside, $35 and $25, and are on sale now (may be subject to additional fees). Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, by calling 877-833-SHOW or by visiting the Turning Stone Box Office.
Flores has picked up two victories on 2016 and will enter the ring again looking to put himself squarely in the crowded pool of featherweight contenders when he takes on Kielcsweski in the main event on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Here is what Flores had to say about his matchup, training camp and more:
 
MIGUEL FLORES
On fighting in his first main event on ESPN…
“I’m very thrilled to be fighting in my first main event on ESPN because I know many boxing fans from around the world will be tuning in.  I feel I bring an exciting style to the ring that the fans will enjoy.  It’s fights like this, on a major TV network like ESPN, that take your brand to another level.  So the goal is to perform at my best ability and bring even more excitement to the featherweight division.”
On his recent training camp…
“Training camp has been very hard, but I know that hard work will pay off when it’s all said and done.  I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this fight so I’ll be at my best.  My longtime trainer, Aaron Navarro, and my strength and conditioning coach, Edward Jackson, have been pushing me really hard.  Together as a team, we will be ready to shine this Friday.”
On his matchup with Ryan Kielczweski…
“Kielczweski is a very tough opponent.  He’s a very good boxer with a tremendous amount of skill.  He only has one loss, which was a split decision, so to me, he could easily be an undefeated fighter. With that being said, I know I have to be at my best.”
On the landscape of the featherweight division…
“The featherweight division is loaded with great fighters.  Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell, and all the other title holders are very skilled fighters. With each win, I’m inching closer to facing all of them.”
On fighting on the East Coast for the first time in his career…
“All my fights have been in Texas with the exception of a couple.  So traveling to the East Coast will be something new for me.  I plan to get there a few days early to get acclimated to the climate.  Kielczweski is from Massachusetts, which is not far from the venue, so I know I’ll be up against all his hometown fans.  I’m not worried about it.  I just want to put on a great show, win this fight and capture all his fans in the process.”
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @KingsBoxing, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions.  Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Former World Champion Ishe Smith Meets Hard-Hitting Contender Frank Galarza in Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV Friday, Sept. 16  From The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

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Plus! Rising Super Welterweight Contenders Meet, as Once-Beaten Chris Pearson takes on Hard-Hitting Justin DeLoach 
in Co-Main Event – 9 p.m. EDT / PDT
 
Tickets on Sale Friday, Aug.12 at 10 a.m. PT!
 
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 9, 2016) – Former world champion Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith(28-8, 12 KOs) is set to battle once-beaten contender Frank “Notorious” Galarza(17-1-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV Friday, Sept.16 from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Doors to The Chelsea will open at 4 p.m. PDT with televised coverage on Bounce TV beginning at 9 p.m. EDT/PDT. The fight night also features super welterweight contender Chris “Young King” Pearson (14-1, 10 KOs) taking on Justin “The Chosen One” DeLoach (15-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round showdown.
“I’m the type to always stay in good condition so I will be ready to get in on fight night,” said Smith. “I’m deep into training and I’m planning on delivering a great hard fight for all the fans to enjoy. I’m focused on this fight but my goal is to get the world title back.”
“I feel great and I’m ready for a chance to redeem myself,” said Galarza. “I know Ishe is an experienced fighter but this is a shot for me to get back to the top level. I can’t wait to show the boxing world what I am made of.”
“I’m very excited to get back in the ring against a good opponent,” said DeLoach. “This has been a great year for me and it seems to keep getting better. I’m looking forward to a great fight and heading to Las Vegas to handle my business. I’m fighting for my whole city, my family and my fans. I won’t let them down!”
“I’m familiar with my opponent and I’m treating this like a world title fight,” said Pearson. “I feel like getting this victory will put me right at the top of the division. We’re both hungry and want to prove that we have what it takes to be world champions. I’m preparing to be at my very best because of the caliber of fight this is.”
Promoted by Mayweather Promotions, tickets for the general public will go on-saleFriday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. PDT. Venue pre-sale begins Thursday, August 11 at 10 a.m. PDT. Ticket prices start at $29, and are available online at:www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 andwww.ticketmaster.com.
After a long career that saw him go from the world of reality television as a star on “The Contender” to competing at the top level at 154 and 160 pounds, Smith finally put it all together in 2010, beginning a four-fight winning streak that culminated in a decision win over Cornelius Bundrage for a super welterweight world title in 2013, becoming the first native Las Vegan to ever win a world title. He continues to seek another world title shot as he picked up victories over Cecil McCalla and Tommy Rainone in 2015.
A contender in the 154-pound division, Galarza won six straight fights dating back to the start of 2014 before dropping a contest to unbeaten Jarrett Hurd last November. A Brooklyn native who turned pro in 2010, the popular Galarza has inspired many with his personal story of perseverance. The 30-year-old won seven of eight fights within the distance leading up to his last fight.
The 25-year-old Pearson bounced back from his first defeat with a dominant decision victory over Joshua Okine. The Dayton, Ohio-born product previously picked up victories over Lanardo Tyner, Janks Trotter, Steve Martinez and Said El Harrak in the last two years after an outstanding amateur career that saw him capture a National Championship in 2011.
In his first bout of 2016, the 22-year-old DeLoach delivered a sensational knockout over previously unbeaten Dillon Cook in his debut with new trainer and former world champion Paul Williams. DeLoach followed that up by knocking down previously unbeaten Junior Castillo twice on his way to a unanimous decision victory in June. The fighter from Augusta, Georgia turned pro in 2013 and won his first 10 fights before suffering a defeat in early 2015. He enters this bout on a five-fight win streak.
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For more information visit: www.premierboxingchampions.comand www.mayweatherpromotions.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @MayweatherPromo and @Swanson_Comm , become a fan on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. Follow the conversation using #PBConBounce.
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime

TOP LIGHTWEIGHT PROSPECT MASON MENARD TO FACE BAHODIR MAMADJONOV IN CO-FEATURE OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATIONQUADRUPLEHEADER

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FOURTH FIGHT ADDED TO AUG. 19 SHOBOX

 

Undefeated Heavyweight Jarrell Miller Meets Fred Kassi In Main Event, Antonio Nieves Faces New Opponent Alejandro Santiago,

Bakhtiyar Eyubov vs. Karim Mayfield In Telecast Opener

 

Friday, Aug. 19, Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

NEW YORK (Aug. 9, 2016) – Top lightweight prospect Mason Menard will face tough Bahodir Mamadjonov in a 10-round battle in the new co-feature of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, Aug. 19 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed in the West Coast) from the outdoor soccer venue Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

Menard (31-1, 23 KOs) is coming off a Knockout of the Year contender in his last appearance on ShoBox on April 15 (VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1NtEYjW).

 

Undefeated heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (17-0-1, 15 KOs), a consensus Top 15 heavyweight, will take on the experienced Fred Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs), of New Orleans, La. in the 10-round main event.

 

Plus, undefeated welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Kazakhstan, steps up when he faces veteran Karim Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs), of San Francisco, Calif. in a 10-round battle. In the telecast opener, unbeaten Antonio Nieves of Cleveland, Ohio will square off against new opponent, Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago in a 10-round bantamweight bout for Nieves’ WBO NABO Title.

 

Nieves was initially set to fight world-ranked Nikolay Potapov (14-0-1, 6 KOs), of Potolsk, Russia, but he withdrew with an injury.

 

Tickets for the event presented by Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions are available at http://www.rhinossoccer.com/and http://www.etix.com

 

“These are the fights I need to get to the top,” Menard said.  “My opponent, Bahodir Mamadjonov, is no pushover.  He has been in with some quality guys and I have to be able to beat guys like him to get to the top ones.  I’m looking forward to getting the job done on August 19th.  It’s blessing to be able to fight on SHOWTIME and this time is for the WBO NABO title,” Menard said.”

 

“I’m excited I’m fighting on ShoBox again. It’s a great opportunity” Mamadjonov said. “Menard is no joke. He’s a credible opponent.

“I’m not going to rush on this fight. I’m not going to lie, I’m always looking for the knockout, but if it goes the distance I’d be ready.”

 

“I’m war-ready,” Nieves said. “I’m excited to finally showcase my skills on the big stage and let the boxing world know that I have graduated to contender. I feel many don’t see that I’m one of the best 118-pounders out there.

 

“I’m confident I have what it takes to win, and I’m a better boxer. I’m 100 percent ready for whatever type of fight my Santiago brings. I will box my way to my big shots.

 

“After this fight, I’ll probably look for a path to a world title shot. I want to bring a title home, just like the Cleveland Cavaliers brought the NBA Championship home,”

 

“I know I’m a replacement opponent, but I’m always ready,” Santiago said. “I’m always in training camp. I don’t take any breaks from the gym after I fight. I’m a true Mexican warrior. Always ready.

 

“I am looking to follow the heritage of great Mexican fighters from Tijuana and bring this win and title back home. I am coming to win. Get ready for war.“

 

Menard vs. Mamadjonov

The co-main event features promising Louisiana lightweight “Rock Hard Mighty” Mason Menard facing his toughest test to date in Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov of Houston, Texas by way of Uzbekistan for the WBO NABO Lightweight Title. Both fighters are making their second appearance onShoBox: The New Generation.

 

Menard, an eight-year pro at the age of 27, is fighting outside of his native Louisiana for only the second time.  He’s is ranked among the Top 15 fighters at 135 pounds in the WBA and WBO. In the most noteworthy victory of his career, he made his ShoBox debut at Turning Stone Casino & Resort last April 15 delivering an impressive Knockout of the Year candidate over previously undefeated Dominican Eudy Bernardo with a vicious one-punch knockout. VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1NtEYjW

 

Menard floored Bernardo for the first time in his career with a series of rights near the end of the second round.  Bernardo beat the count and finished the round, but he had no answer for Menard’s power.  With less than one minute left in third, Menard connected with a huge right, knocking Bernardo out before he even hit the canvas.

 

Mamadjonov (19-2, 11 KOs), has been matched against very tough opposition throughout his career. His only blemishes were to opponents with a combined record of 46-0 (38 KOs) – Colombian Darleys Perez in Aug., 2012 and Ghana’s Richard Commey in April of last year. Perez went on to become interim WBA Lightweight World Champion and recently lost a rematch against world champion Anthony Crolla. Commey is set to fight Robert Easter Jr. for the vacant IBF World Lightweight Title on Sept. 9.

 

This is Mamadjonov’s third start since losing to Commey and his secondShoBox appearance. In his ShoBox debut in April, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nev., Mamadjonov scored an upset ninth-round stoppage (:51) against previously unbeaten Cuban prospect Angelo Santana. VIDEO:http://s.sho.com/2aPfkwp

 

Nieves vs. Santiago

Also featured in the Aug. 19 quadrupleheader are WBO NABO Bantamweight Champion Antonio Nieves and his new foe, Alejandro “Peque” Santiago

 

Nieves, (16-0-1, 8 KOs), a prospect at 118 pounds, has stayed active with five fights in 2014, five in 2015, and is fighting for the third time this year. The 29-year-old is coming off his first 10-round performance, a unanimous decision over then once-beaten Oscar Mojica on June 18 in Washington, Pa.  A win against Santiago will put Nieves a step closer to his goal of challenging fellow Ohio-native WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Rau’shee Warren.

 

Santiago, (11-2-1, 3 KOs), of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, is a three-year pro who seldom breaks training camp between fights. He has won three fights in a row since his last loss in November 2014 to fellow Mexican Hector Flores. In his last fight on Feb. 27, Santiago won an eight-round unanimous decision over Mario Lara. This will be his United States debut and the first time he’s fought north of 116 pounds.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhoodand former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

IT WILL BE CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION ON SEPTEMBER 10 IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (August 9, 2016) – In a rare occurrence, two champions from two different weight divisions will square off onSeptember 10, 2016 when New England Fights presents “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” in Lewiston.  Reigning NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) will come up in weight to challenge Caleb Hall (7-3) for Hall’s NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.

 

Caleb Hall was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  He would go on to wrestle for Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, as well as the University of Southern Maine.  At “NEF 22” this past spring, Hall captured the vacant featherweight title by submitting Erik Nelson (2-3) in the second round.  In the upcoming bout with Crafts, Hall will be looking to not only retain his title, but to also gain a measure of revenge against Crafts who defeated Hall’s teammate Henry Clark (3-2) last fall.

 

“Johnny’s making a big mistake coming up in weight trying to take my belt,” said Hall.  “I will avenge my teammate, Henry Clark, and put him away early.”

 

Johnny Crafts is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).  As mentioned, Crafts defeated Henry Clark of the Choi Institute last fall to claim the amateur bantamweight title.  On September 10, Crafts hopes to make history by becoming the first competitor to simultaneously hold two championships in two different weight divisions.

 

“I’m honestly just excited to get in there and have a brutal, fun fight,” said Crafts. “It’s going to be a guaranteed war versus Caleb. It’s less focus on cutting weight at 145 for me and more on the training camp. I’m going to be the most technical and strong I have ever been for this fight.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

 

For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

boxing

Steamrolling Through the Super Middleweight Division in Record Time, ‘Boxing Prodigy’ David Benavidez ‘Determined and Ready’ for Whatever Comes Next

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He was billed from the first day of his career as a “boxing prodigy,” but not even David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez himself could have predicted his meteoric rise through the boxing ranks.
Despite having had just 31 boxing matches in his entire life, amateur and professional, 19-year-old Benavidez (16-0, 15 KOs), is already the undefeated WBA #10 super middleweight in the world and a sure lock on 2016 “Prospect of the Year.” The young phenom from Phoenix has been nearly flawless tearing through his ever-escalating level of opponents (his last four had combined records of 62-7), while being labeled a potential superstar by world-famous trainer/commentator Teddy Atlas.
Last Friday night at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, Benavidez wore down and stopped capable veteran Denis Douglin (20-5, 13 KOs) in the tenth and final round of their ESPN-televised main event.
“It feels amazing to be in this position,” said Benavidez, “everything that has happened wasn’t expected, but we worked hard to get to this point and I feel like I just have to keep working hard, stay in the gym and stay determined and dedicated. I want to be ready for any opportunity that comes up.”
Benavidez, who appears ready to reach a dream and smash the record for youngest super middleweight champion in history (Darrin Van Horn was 22), attributes his natural sense of space in the ring as a big reason for his success.
“I feel like it’s a mix between distance and power in the ring. I know how to control it with the jab and there’s power behind my punches, so I’m are able to get dudes out of there.”
“To be honest I didn’t expect this to happen this soon,” said father/trainer Jose Benavidez. “It’s a dream come true for me to have my sons as two of the best in the world.” David’s brother, Jose Jr., is the undefeated former interim WBA junior welterweight champion.
“Today we went to eat and we were talking about how fast things were happening. We just have to be ready for big opportunities to show up. We’ve got to keep working and stay focused. David knows big challenges are coming, so we have to be ready. I tell him ‘you’re only 19 and people are already talking about you. Keep working hard and make your sacrifices now, so they pay off later. David understands that.”
Both Benavidez credit promoter Sampson Lewkowicz for helping make their miraculous run through the division a reality. “He’s done everything he said he would,” said David. “He says I’ll be back in December against another veteran with good experience. I’ll be ready.”
boxing

19-year old Antonio “Bang” Williams remains unbeaten with dominating unanimous decision

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Photo by Team Williams / Pro Box Management
 
 
MIAMI, FL (August 8, 2016) –  This past Saturday at the Miami Airport Convention Center, 19-year old Super-featherweight prospect, Antonio “Bang” Williams, remained undefeated with a dominating unanimous decision victory against tough opponent, Brian Santos, improving his record to (4-0, 3 KOs).  Scorecards ready 40-36 across the board.
After knocking out his first three opponents within two rounds, Williams goes the distance for the first time in his young career.  With the win, Williams, who is signed by Pro Box Management, reflects on getting the much needed rounds as he is ready to get right back in the ring.
“It was great experience going the full four rounds,” said Antonio Williams. “Although I’m always gunning for the KO, every fight comes with a different style, so I know I’m not going to be able to knock everyone out.  Santos came to fight and pushed me past the second round.  I made the proper adjustments and came out on top.  I’m happy with my performance and I’ll be ready to get back in the ring immediately.  I’ll be back in the gym waiting on my next fight.”
“Antonio showed a lot of maturity in this fight by not punching himself out while going for the knockout,” stated Gary Jonas of Pro Box Management. “We will be looking to get him a few more fights before the end of the year.  He has all the ability to be something special in this sport, especially in the super-featherweight division.”
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

CHINZO MACHIDA SET FOR BELLATOR MMA DEBUT DURING PRELIMINARY PORTION OF ‘BELLATOR 160: HENDERSON VS. PITBULL’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF (August 8, 2016) – Chinzo Machida (3-2) will make his promotional debut in featherweight preliminary action at “Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” on August 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., against Mario Navarro (4-4).

The fight joins a main card that includes a lightweight main event between fellow superstars Benson Henderson (23-6) and Patricio “Pitbull” (25-3). In addition, undefeated knockout artist A.J. McKee (4-0) clashes with former KOTC titlist Henry Corrales (12-3), while explosive lightweights Saad Awad(19-7) and Derek Anderson (13-2) go toe-to-toe in a matchup that you do not want to miss. Rounding out the televised action is a women’s flyweight encounter pitting Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) against Jaimelene Nievera (4-1).

During the must-see preliminary portion of the event, Bubba Jenkins (11-2) will look for revenge against Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan (24-6-1) in a featherweight rematch. In welterweight action, both Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. and Joey Davis will both suit up for the first time under the Bellator umbrella and make their professional debuts.

“Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” takes place on August 26 inside Anaheim California’s Honda Center, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

Doors for the event open at 4:45 p.m. PT local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App — begins at 5:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event start at just $30 and can be purchased now on Ticketmaster and at the Honda Center Box Office.

Machida, the elder brother of former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, has only fought five times in his career, but is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. Machida impressively finished Brian Wood via flying knee for Resurrection Fighting Alliance in 2014 and on August 26 Machida will be fighting an opponent who’s currently on the opposite end of the spectrum, and has lost his last two outings. If unfamiliar with Machida’s handy work, look no further than his aforementioned finish of Wood here.

Navarro, 33, has competed almost exclusively in his home state of California, with 7 of 8 fights taking place a short drive from his home in Huntington Beach. A two-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, “Handsome” has competed against Cleber Luciano and Brandon Bender under the Scott Coker-led promotion and will look to get back to his winning ways in Anaheim, Calif., on Aug. 26.

Complete “Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:

Lightweight No. 1 Contender Main Event: Benson Henderson (23-6) vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (25-3)

Lightweight Co-Main Event: Saad Awad (19-7) vs. Derek Anderson (13-2)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)

Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (4-0) vs. Henry Corrales (12-3)

 

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chinzo Machida (3-2) vs. Mario Navarro (4-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Bubba Jenkins (11-2) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joey Davis (Pro Debut) vs. Keith Cutrone (1-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Pro Debut) vs. Jon Tomasian (Pro Debut)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Gabriel Green (2-0) vs. Alex Trinidad (1-0)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Steve Ramirez (4-1) vs. Ron Henderson (4-2)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Kyle Estrada (3-2) vs. David Duran (3-4)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Segura (4-3) vs. Jacob Rosales (3-2)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jonny Cisneros (9-4) vs. Andy Murad (12-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jake Roberts (6-0) vs. Stephen Martinez (11-4)

boxing

Witherspoon takes on Marrone in 2

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Bristol, PA (August 6, 2016) – Chazz Witherspoon scored his fifth consecutive knockout victory as he took out former world title challenger Mike Marrone in round two of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout in the main event at the Grundy Arena.

The eight-bout card was promoted by D and D Promotions and Silver Spoon Promotions.

Witherspoon sent Marrone to the canvas in round one with a left hook. Seconds later it was a hard 1-2 that sent Marrone down for a second time.

In round two, Witherspoon landed a booming right that deposited Marrone on the canvas for a third time. Marrone got to his feet but the fight was waved off at 1:31.

Witherspoon of Paulsboro, New Jersey is now 35-3 with 27 knockouts. Marrone of Vero Beach, Florida is 21-6.

Samuel Teah won a four round unanimous decision over Samuel Amoako in a junior welterweight bout.

Teah of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 8-1. Amoako of Silver Spring, MD is 21-13.

Elijah Vines stopped Julian Valerio in round three of their scheduled four round middleweight brawl.

In the first frame, Vines dropped Valerio with a short right on the inside. Valerio returned the favor after a furious exchange, Valerio put Vines on the canvas from a left hook. In round three, Vines drilled Valerio a multitude of times with power punches that continuously snapped the head of Valerio’s head back until a moment later when Vines landed some hard body punches and referee Hurley McCall stopped the fight at 2:37.

Vines of Philadelphia is 3-0 with three knockouts. Valerio of Brooklyn, NY is 3-4.

Good looking prospect, Jaron Ennis stopped Matthew Murphy in round two of a scheduled four round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Ennis sent Murphy to a knee after landing a barrage of punches. Seconds later, It was a left to the body that sent Murphy down and the fight was stopped at 2:53.

Ennis of Philadelphia is 5-0 with five knockouts. Murphy of St. Louis, MO is 1-3.

Mike Hilton remained undefeated by stopping Cortez Reed at 1:57 in the fourth and final scheduled round of their cruiserweight bout.

Hilton of Trenton, NJ, is now 3-0 with all wins coming via stoppage. Reed of Atlanta, GA is 1-3.

Emanuel Taylor stopped Carlos Aguilera in round two of their scheduled eight round junior welterweight bout.

Taylor cracked Aguilera with a left hook to the ribs that dropped him. He could not get to his feet and fight was over at 2:07.

Taylor of Edgewood, MD is now 20-4 with 14 knockouts. Aguilera of Chiapas, MX is 10-18.

Leshawn Rodriguez demolished Jason Whar inside of one round of their scheduled four round middleweight bout.

Rodriguez dropped Whar three times in round one, with the last coming from a left hook and the bout was stopped at 1:55.

Rodriguez of Shirley, New York is 4-0 with four knockouts. Wahr of Virginia Beach, Virginia is 4-13.

Luis Perozo remained undefeated by winning a 4-round unanimous decision over Alberto Martinez in a lightweight bout.

In round two, Perozo scored a knocked down from a right hand.

Perozo of New York , NY won by scores of 39-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Martinez of Tifton, GA is 0-2.
boxing, HBO Boxing

  SERGEY KOVALEV VS. ANDRE WARD “POUND FOR POUND” SHOWDOWN OFFICIALLY SET FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®

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OAKLAND, CA (Aug. 6, 2016) – On Saturday, Nov. 19 the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer will be crowned. Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs), the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion, and Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) Two-Time World Champion, officially announced their long-awaited showdown following Ward’s victory over Alexander Brand at the conclusion of the live HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast Saturday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Kovalev vs. Ward will take place Saturday, Nov. 19. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions.

Kovalev and Ward are currently ranked the number two and number four pound-for-pound boxers in the world, respectively, by The Ring Magazine, making their hotly anticipated fight only the third bout in the history of The Ring Magazine pound-for-pound list to pit two undefeated top-five ranked pound-for-pound fighters against each other. Odds makers and pundits have this fight evenly matched at 50-50 and it is poised to be a sure-fire 2016 Fight of the Year candidate. History will be made on Nov. 19th!

 

Making the fight even more intriguing, Kovalev and Ward are polar opposites. The Russian Wrecking Ball Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is an unbeaten knockout artist sitting atop boxing’s light heavyweight division. With his ferocity in the ring and his charisma outside of it, Krusher is on his way to becoming the sport’s next big star. The last American man to win an Olympic Gold Medal in boxing, Andre “S.O.G.” Ward is already a future Hall of Famer. Known for his strong character and integrity outside the ring and his warrior’s instinct inside it, Ward has not lost a fight, amateur or professional, since he was 12-years-old. Kovalev’s seemingly unstoppable offense-first approach stands in stark contrast to Ward’s slick, defensive style that has been an unsolvable riddle for every foe he’s taken on.

 

Neither man has faced an opponent like this before. Who will be the next “Pound for Pound” king? Find out Saturday, Nov. 19!

 

Live on HBO tonight, when asked about whether or not Ward is ready to face him Kovalev said, “I think he is ready. I am ready too. The fight against Chilemba was similar to how it is going to be against Andre Ward. He is a really great champion and he proved this today. I just want to say, let’s do it November 19 on HBO.”

 

Ward responded, “I am excited, man. I am looking forward to it. I want to be the light heavyweight champion of the world. I got past this step. He got past his step. We will see you in November. I have been doing this for 22 years and if I am not ready to fight the best now then I will never be ready. I have been preparing for these moments since I been a kid. You got to respect Sergey for the way he has gotten to where he has gotten. He didn’t have any soft touches. He wasn’t protected. He wasn’t really pushed by the media. He is a guy who should get a lot more credit than he has. The winner of this fight could possibly be pound-for-pound #1.”

 

Additional details for the event, including ticket information, will be released shortly.

 

*The Ring Magazine began publishing pound-for-pound rankings in 1989.

 

Kovalev, the Russian Wrecking Ball, 33, has been dominating boxing’s light heavyweight division with his aggressive, fan-friendly style since his breakout performance against then-unbeaten Nathan Cleverly in 2013. His rise to boxing stardom has been meteoric, as he has gone from an unknown fighter from Chelyabinsk, Russia to headlining HBO Pay-Per-View in just four years after signing with his first promoter, Main Events. Out of of Kovalev’s 30 career victories 26 have come by way of knockout. Additionally, he has entered into championship rounds only twice in his professional career. Kovalev has always sought to test himself against the best boxing has to offer; he wants to prove in the ring that he deserves that mantle.

Ward, 32, the last American man to win an Olympic Gold Medal in boxing (2004), reigned as the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion from 2009 to 2015 while fighting mostly out of his hometown, Oakland, CA. He announced his intention to move to up to the light heavyweight division in search of a bigger challenge in 2015, shortly after signing with his current promoter, Roc Nation Sports. He has been a top rated pound-for-pound fighter since 2011. Ward is seeking to assume his place and leave a legacy at the top of the sport.

 

Follow the conversation using #KovalevWard. FOLLOW US:

 

 
www.kovalboxer.com @KrusherKovalev @SergeyKovalev_Official /thekrusher /kovalboxer
www.andresogward.com @AndreWard @AndreSogWard /AndreSogWard  
www.mainevents.com @Main_Events @Main_Events /MainEventsBoxing /MEBoxingSeries
www.rocnation.com/sports @RocNation @RocNation /RocNation /RocNation
www.hbo.com/boxing @HBOboxing @HBOboxing /HBOboxing /HBOboxing

 

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