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Fishgold and Boussif set for Lightweight title challenge
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Baranchyk-Sesma to meet in battle of unbeatens Saturday in Miami, OK
2012 Olympian Gadzhialiyev to make pro debut on undercard
For Immediate Release
Miami, OK (June 23, 2016) – Junior welterweight powerhouse Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk puts his perfect record on the line when he faces fellow unbeaten Eliseo Cruz Saturday, June 25 at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK.
Raised in Russia, Baranchyk now fights out of Brooklyn, NY and has an outstanding 10-0 professional ledger with 9 wins by knockout. On March 5, Baranchyk sent shockwaves through the boxing world by brutally knocking out unbeaten Nicholas Givhan (16-0-1) in 21 seconds on ShoBox at the Buffalo Run Casino. Prior to that, Baranchyk needed just 2:38 to demolished undefeated Sadhi Shawareb (9-0-2).
Living and fighting out of Chipas, Mexico, Cruz is 9-0-1 with 6 victories via knockout. In December 2015, Cruz scored an eighth round knockout of Luis Zambrano. His bout against Baranchayk will be Cruz’ fifth scheduled for eight rounds or more.
The “somebody’s 0 must go” fight between Baranchyk and Cruz is scheduled for 8 rounds.
Popular 147 pound prospect Jesse Cook of Seneca, MO battles cement-fisted Bulmaro Solis in the six round co-feature. A member of Holden Productions’ “Four State Franchise,” Cook is 16-1-1 with 11 victories by knockout. Solis, who hails from Kansas City, MO, scored knockouts in each of his 12 wins and only has 2 defeats.
Heavyweight Kenzie Witt-Morrison puts his 8-0-1 record on the line against fellow unbeaten Robby Mendez, 2-0, of Topeka, KS in a six rounder. The son of late Tommy Morrison and step brother of rising prospect Trey Lippe-Morrison, Witt-Morrison is a member of the “Four State Franchise” and continues to improve every time out.
Bartlesville, OK’s Jarrett “Legacy” Rouse, 9-0 (4 KO’s), meets Wichita, KS based Noel Esqueda, 6-3-1 (4 KO’s), in a six round welterweight tilt. Like Cook and Witt Morrison, Rose is a member of the “Four State Franchise” and fought seven of his matches at the Buffalo Run. Esqueda, who has only been defeated by unbeaten opponents, scored a first round knockout last November.
2012 Azerbajani Olympian Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev makes his pro debut against Whichita, KS’ Brandon Phillips, 1-0, and Hurshidbek Normatov of Uzbekistan enters the ring for the first time as a professional versus Ramon Barber, 6-10 (5 KO’s), also of Wichita, KS.
Cuban standout Luis Garcia “El Leon” Garcia looks to improve his record to 14-0 when he squares off against Kansas City, MO based Demetrius Walker, 8-12-2 (4 KO’s). Garcia was rated amongst the top prospects a few years back but was sidelined due to out of the ring issues. The Garcia-Walker match up is scheduled for ten rounds in the cruiserweight division.
“This card will be an exciting crowd pleaser,” said Tony Holden. “There are multiple fights where somebody’s 0 must go and competitive match ups across the board with fighters from all across the globe showcasing their talent under one roof. The fans at the Buffalo Run are in for a special evening of boxing Saturday night.”
Tickets are on sale at the Buffalo Run box office or by calling 918-542-7140.
‘RAMPAGE’ JACKSON-SATOSHI ISHII & JOE SCHILLING-HISAKI KATO TOP STACKED ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’ & ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS’ CARDS – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE STARTINGTOMORROW AT 8 P.M. ET
Complete Weigh-In Photos Here — Re-Watch Today’s Weigh-Ins Here
- LOUIS —(June 23, 2016) –The official weigh-ins for “Bellator: Dynamite 2”and “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” took place this afternoon in front of a packed house at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. All competitors are now ready for action tomorrow with both events starting LIVE and FREE on SPIKE starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
A heavyweight slugfest pitting “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) against Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1) will headline the “Bellator: Dynamite 2” portion, which will feature both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring inside Scottrade Center. In the evening’s co-main event, Michael Chandler (14-3) will face Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7) with the Lightweight World Title on the line. In addition, Carl Seumanutafa (10-6) challenges former NFL player Matt Mitrione (9-5) in heavyweight slugfest, while Ilima Macfalane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) round out the electric mixed martial arts portion of the main card.
In the kickboxing portion of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Kevin Ross (31-9) will meet Justin Houghton (7-2) at featherweight, while the woman with Dynamite in her nickname, Denise Kielholtz (44-2) will go to war with Gloria Peritore (10-1-1) at flyweight.
Immediately following the conclusion of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Joe Schilling (27-8) and Hisaki Kato (6-2 MMA) will kick-off “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” in a rematch of sorts, while World Combat League veteran Raymond Daniels (11-3) takes on Italian knockout specialist Stefano Bruno (23-2-1). Finally, Sarah Howell will make her professional debut in a flyweight feature bout with Keri Melendez(3-1).
All of the action goes down at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and airs LIVE and FREE on Spike beginning at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
“Dynamite 2” Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 8 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: “Rampage” Jackson (225) vs. Satoshi Ishii (222.8)
Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (154.7) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (255.9) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (254.7)
Bellator Kickboxing Lightweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (145) vs. Justin Houghton (145.6)
Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (124.1) vs. Gloria Peritore (122.6)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Feature Bout: Rebecca Ruth (124.9) vs. Ilima Macfarlane (126)
“Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” Main Card: (Live on SPIKE — Immediately After “Dynamite 2”
Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Feature Bout: Joe Schilling (185) vs. Hisaki Kato (184.9)
Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (170.5) vs. Stefano Bruno (171)
Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri Melendez (120) vs. Sarah Howell (120)
Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 6:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. CT)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Lawrence (145.5) vs. Isao Kobayashi (145.2)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Dowdy (170) vs. Guilherme “Bomba” (169.4)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (170.7) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (170.6)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Matt Murphy (136.9) vs. Justin Robbins (135.4)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (172.3) vs. Chris Heatherly (179.6)
Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Pearce (129.9) vs. Katy Collins (129.8)
Bellator MMA 170-pound Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (167.3) vs. Tyler Claussen (169.7)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (185.6) vs. Dewayne Diggs (185.1)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (253.8) vs. Byron Stevens (263.7)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (170.6) vs. Mike Estus (177)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (144.9) vs. Garret Mueller (145.9)
Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (110) vs. Ashley Cummins (109)
Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (175.7) vs. Darryl Cobb (175.6)
Bellator Kickboxing Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (128.6) vs. Mimi Kutzin (124)
Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Jarrett Hurd & Oscar Molina Final Press Conference Quotes & Photos
(Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME)
“There are real stakes on the line Saturday night.
Our careers are on the line.” — KeithThurman
“I’ve never been more excited to fight in my life.” – Shawn Porter
Click HERE for Photos from Ryan Greene/Premier Boxing Champions,
Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
Click HERE For Photos From Esther Lin/SHOWTIME®
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (June 23, 2016) – Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before their eagerly anticipated welterweight world title showdown this Saturday, June 25 in primetime as SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, comes to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Live televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features undefeated super welterweights Jarrett Hurd and Oscar Molina in a 10-round rumble of rising contenders.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com,
The press conference took place at the Dream Hotel PHD Rooftop in downtown Manhattan. Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:
KEITH THURMAN
“It’s an honor to be on this platform. I’m excited to be back at Barclays Center. My last fight at Barclays Center was the first time I felt the fans give me love and I felt like I made it.
“I’m excited to feel the energy in the arena. We’re recovered and we’re ready. We did what we needed to so that we’re ready forSaturday night.
“As I think about this fight, these are dreams coming true for me. Sometimes I feel like I’m living a dream. I think about how I was raised by Ben Getty to this moment. Ben used to say that my moment was ‘right around the corner,’ and now it’s here. He was a wise man and he knew what he was talking about.
“This is a great fight. This is what the boxing fans want to see. I truly believe you are looking at two of the best welterweights in the world.
“I’m here as an entertainer. I’m here for the love of the sport. The fans want to see these kinds of fights. It’s obvious in the welterweight division that we are the two most exciting and devastating fighters in the division.
“Everybody kept talking about the sparring video, so I just decided to put it out. Sparring is sparring and fighting is fighting. This fight will be judged and this time I’ll have eight-ounce gloves on.
“It’s always been my dream to be the undisputed champion of the world.
“I’m looking forward to a great performance. I’m excited to a great challenge from Shawn Porter. There is a burning desire within myself to have a knockout victory. It’s hard to make world-class fighters quit. The fans ultimately want to see that knockout victory.
“There are real stakes are on the line this Saturday night. Our careers are on the line. My title is on the line. My undefeated record is on the line. It’s a great fight and a great matchup.
“I do believe that with each and every fight, you step up, you step up and you step up. So, thus the stakes are always higher and there are those times where you get a decent fight. But like I said, this is a great fight at a great moment of both athletes’ careers. We are both in our prime. I’m 27-years-old, Shawn is 28-years-old, we’ve both accomplished many great things and a victory on Saturday night is just going to be another thing to add to the resume.
“This really is the best fight of the best. We’re trying to satisfy the fans and we’re trying to challenge ourselves, push ourselves, and see where we fit in and how great we really are. I’m going to show you Saturday night how great Keith “One Time” Thurman really is.
“Just like Ali said, Saturday night, I’m going to show you how great I am.”
SHAWN PORTER
“It’s here. It’s been long anticipated and it’s here. I have never been more excited to fight in my life. It’s a blessing. Along this journey I’ve been able to learn the basics and excel in the basics and I found myself in a position where I’ve been able to be very successful.
“My hometown Cleveland Cavaliers winning the NBA title is definitely a motivation. It motivates me to be a winner. I want to bring this belt back to Ohio.
“I’m looking forward to this kind of moment to shine. That’s how you gain notoriety and become bigger. There’s no pressure, just excitement.
“I’m just looking forward to getting in there and getting that energetic feeling. I want to feel the excitement of getting into the ring and all the adrenaline that rushes through.
“This is the fight I wanted. I wanted to have fun training for a fight like this. Keith has made it possible. He’s so good it pushes me to be better.
“This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time that two friends fight. I’m done talking about us being friends because it’s time for us to start punching each other. My plan is to have great defense, avoid getting hit and win the fight.
“I didn’t take much time off after the postponement. We tried to train and stay ready through the cancellation. You never know when the phone is going to ring. We just wanted to stay in shape, get better and be ready for anything.
“I feel like if Floyd Mayweather comes back, he should fight the winner of this matchup. I believe that will be me.
“I’m not going to go in there looking for a knockout and throw my hands wildly. I’m going to keep up the pace that I normally keep up. I’m a great boxer. People consider me a boxer, but I may surprise you.”
JARRETT HURD
“I’m thankful for this opportunity. This is a great shot for me right now. In my last fight I had an opportunity similar to this. I was a fill-in for television and I did what I was supposed to do.
“Success is accomplished when preparation meets opportunity. I know things like this can happen. It doesn’t change anything. We’re going to go out and do what we trained for.
“You always get butterflies before getting in the ring but that’s normal. Molina is very experienced and has good hand speed but I know what I can do. We’re ready for this.
“I’m happy to be on this stage. This could be the biggest fight of the year and I’m extremely blessed to open it up.
“I’m going to go out there and put on another terrific performance. Molina, he’s an Olympian and he has a lot of experience. He’s a crafty fighter and we’re going to do what we have to do to get the victory.
“We’re ready to do what we’re going to do. It’s going to be a great fight on Saturday night.”
OSCAR MOLINA
“I’m ready for this. I’m more than ready for this. These type of fights are what gets me up to train.
“This guy I’m fighting is young, undefeated and a prospect like myself. I know he’s going to be ready and it’s going to be a tough fight but I’m ready for him.
“This is a huge deal for me. I was already excited to be on this huge undercard. When they told me that I was moving up to CBS I knew how big of an opportunity it is for me and my career.
“Hurd is a tall and lanky fighter. I saw his last fight and I see that he does well with guys who are flat footed. My boxing skills and my footwork are something he’s never seen before. Frank Galarza was tailor-made for Hurd and I think I’m going to be able to give him different looks.
“I’m a boxer-puncher and I can adapt to different styles. I also have power for big knockouts but my boxing skills are most important.
“Fighting in the Olympics taught me to adapt to different styles. I have a fan-friendly style and I’m excited to put on a show.”
DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman’s Trainer
“We’re ready for this fight. Keith trains hard every day and we know Shawn and Kenny well. I’ve brought them to my gym and these two guys have gone a lot of rounds together.
“I think Keith Thurman is the most gifted guy in boxing. He does everything right. Saturday night we’re looking for a great fight and I know in my heart that we will be victorious.”
KEN PORTER, Porter’s Father & Trainer
“It’s great to be here. It’s great to be on this stage with Shawn. This isn’t something we just started getting ready for, this is something he’s been getting ready for since birth. I always had a mindset to put Shawn in a position to excel in life. He has not disappointed.
“I know these guys are going to give it everything they have. It will be 100 percent for as long as it lasts. We’re prepared to take the championship. These are great guys here to the right, but on Saturday we’re bringing everything to the table.
“We’re coming to deliver a great show. Enjoy yourselves on Saturday night.”
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
“This is what it’s all about. This Saturday night, the best is fighting the best. It’s right here in Brooklyn on CBS. It’s the first fight on CBS in primetime since Muhammad Ali fought over 30 years ago.
“This is a terrific card from top to bottom. There is a tremendous undercard, a great co-feature and a main event that boxing fans have been waiting for a long time.
“This is an undercard chock full of talent. You will want to get there early as there are evenly matched bouts all night.
“SHOWTIME has highlighted the 154-pound division in recent shows, so it makes sense that there will be another significant matchup in that division on CBS Saturday night with Jarrett Hurd and Oscar Molina.
“We’re not going to talk about friendship and respect anymore with these two guys, that’s in the past and the future. These guys know their future is dependent on beating up the other guy and a fight of this magnitude makes the stakes even higher.
“The best want to fight the best and it starts Saturday night. The winner of this fight wants to be the best in the world. Both men want to be an undisputed welterweight champion.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports
“June 25 is a very special day and night for us at CBS. It begins with the heavyweight world title being contested between Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale and then the return of boxing to primetime CBS for the first time in almost 40 years.
“This was an easy fight to make. Shawn and Keith, neither one hesitated for a second in taking this fight. All credit goes to them for taking this fight. It’s a difficult fight for both on a big stage.
“Boxing takes criticism for not making the right fights at the right time. One of the bad habits we have is that we spend time thinking about fights that might get made. But now we have the right fight, at the right time and at the right venue. It’s a disservice to not recognize that what is going on Saturday is very special and very exciting.”
BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment
“It’s an exciting week at Barclays Center. Tonight we host the NBA Draft, the weigh-in tomorrow and our big event Saturdaynight. The momentum is building for this fight and we are on pace for the biggest crowd for a boxing event since we opened.
“We are excited about bringing a great night of fights to Brooklyn. We welcome Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter back to Brooklyn as they have both fought there once before.
“It’s become tradition to have both of you fight in our ring and we know how popular you are with our fans and we love to have you back.
“This will be the first primetime fight on CBS since the first Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks fight in 1978 and it’s a big moment for the boxing community for sure. We look forward to hosting everyone on Saturday night.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and w
TICKET GALAXY TEAMS UP WITH WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
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Major statement made by Undefeated Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade
 PROVIDENCE (June 23, 2016) – A year after he was stripped of his world super welterweight title by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), undefeated super welterweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade has repositioned himself off of his sensational June 11 th stoppage of Willle “The Great” Nelson on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.
The 28-year-old Andrade (23-0, 16 KOs) decked Nelson (25-3-1, 15 KOs) four times, finishing off his game opponent who’d never been knocked out, in the 12th round of their fight at Turning Stone Casino (Verona, N.Y).
Andrade successfully defended his WBO International title and also gained several valuable options in terms of world title and/or major fights. He is now the No. 1 mandatory contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC), waiting to challenge the winner of a mandated title fight between new champion Jermell Charlo and WBC Silver title holder Charles Hatley. The 2008 U.S. Olympian is No. 2 in the WBO, No. 3 in the World Boxing Association (WBA), and Miguel Cotto is No. 1 in both of those sanctioning organizations.
After his sensational, statement-making performance against Nelson, Andrade said he wanted to fight anybody whose name started with “C” and ended in ‘O” – the Charlo brothers (IBF champion isJermall Charlo), Cotto and “Canelo” (Saul Alvarez).
“I am the best fighter in the 154-pound division,” Andrade proclaimed. “I’m the No. 1 contender in the WBO. Liam Smith is holding my belt but I don’t believe he’ll fight me. I’m the WBC mandatory for the Charlo-Hatley winner. Once I get that belt I’ll beat Charlo’s twin for the IBF title and I’ve been calling out (WBA champ Erislandy) Lara for a long time. But ‘Canelo’ is the big money fight out there for me and who I want the most. I can be ready for him in September for his next fight. At the end of the day, we’ll see what’s up, but I want to get right back in the ring as soon as one of these guys step up to fight me.”
During his long layoff, Andrade made a conscious effort to be a more fan-friendly fighter, building up his strength to go along with his superior quickness. Many called his last fight, ‘Mayweather-like,’ in which Demetrius displayed tremendous power and explosiveness, which complemented his incredible boxing skills and defense.
“When I first turned pro,” Andrade explained, “I was getting in the ring with some good fighters, so I was cautious and settled in on just getting a victory. I learned that I needed to change in order to put butts in seats. I don’t get hit and I also showed that I could go 12 rounds, good for experience, and still takeout a tough fighter like Nelson who had never been stopped. I wasn’t going for the knockout but, after I caught him early with a right hook, I knew that it would come if I was patient and kept up the pressure. I think Willie can give any of the other top guys at 154 a good fight. He has a big heart and came to win. It wasn’t as easy as it may have looked on the scorecards. Willie pushed me to look good. During my layoff, I worked hard on my craft to be better, concentrating on strength and conditioning, and it really showed in my last fight. I worked on my fundamentals and had a lot of success going to the body. I believe fans saw improvement in my performance and appreciated it.”
More comfortable knowing his promotional issues are now in the past (his A Team Promotions owns 50% of his rights to go along with 25% each for Banner Promotions (Artie Pelullo) and Star Boxing (Joe DeGuardia), Andrade is prepared to clean out the 154-division before eventually moving up in weight to take on Gennady Golovkin in what Andrade believes can be a mega-fight in due time.
“I’ve always known since I first saw Demetrius in the ring at 14 years old that he was going to become a superstar,” A Team Promotions president Ed Farris commented. “There were so many doubters and obstacles along the way. It sure took a long time to get here but I’m so happy for him that his moment has finally arrived. You don’t know how good it feels to see him fulfill his destiny.”
Andrade, in fact, hasn’t lost inside the ring in nearly eight years, when he was ripped off against Korean boxer Kim Jung-Joo, 11-9, in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. The boxer named “Boo Boo” – as a kid with cuts, bumps and bruises – doesn’t plan on changing his unbeaten script.
“I’m still untouchable,” Andrade concluded. “I’ve shown my continued commitment to boxing. It’s ‘Boo Boo’ time!”
INFORMATION
Website: www.ATeamPromotions.com
Twitter: @BooBooBoxing
Instagram: @BooBooATeam
www.Facebook.com.
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RFA 41 – GIGLIOTTI vs. GILES
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MAIN EVENT:
“CAPO” JOE GIGLIOTTI vs. TREVIN GILES
MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE CONTENDER BOUT
CO-MAIN EVENT:
JAMALL EMMERS vs. RIVALDO JUNIOR
FEATHERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, JULY 29TH, 2016 LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE at the COWBOYS DANCE HALL in SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Tickets are on sale NOW through Cowboys.ApexTicketing.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) president Ed Soares announced today that the RFA is heading to Texas at the end of July. The main event of RFA 41 will feature an explosive showdown between two of the sport’s top middleweight prospects. “Capo” Joe Gigliotti and Trevin Giles have finished every man they have faced in MMA and will now take aim at each other. RFA 41 – Gigliotti vs. Giles will take place Friday, July 29th at Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio, Texas. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
“I am thrilled to be bringing the RFA to Texas,” stated Soares. “The main event of RFA 41 features two of MMA’s top young talents. Joe Gigliotti and Trevin Giles are both undefeated and have stopped all of their opponents. This is an epic battle that Texas fight fans deserve.”
Tickets for RFA 41 – Gigliotti vs. Giles are available for purchase NOW at Cowboys.ApexTicketing.com
Gigliotti (7-0) has quickly gained the reputation as one of MMA’s most feared fighters. The 22-year-old Ohio native has finished all seven of his opponents. That includes the 58-second destruction of former RFA title challenger John Poppie at RFA 37 in April. That fight took place with UFC President Dana White sitting cageside. The UFC boss had very positive things to say to Gigliotti after the bout, which he used as added motivation heading into his next fight that was scheduled as the featured fight of RFA 39 this past Friday in Chicagoland. That fight, however, fell apart when his opponent Daniel Vizcaya backed out of the fight after badly missing weight. The Bellator and The Ultimate Fighter vet Vizcaya showed up to the RFA 39 weigh-in a whopping 7-pounds over the contracted weight. Gigliotti said he would fight Vizcaya anyway without even taking a percentage of his purse. The hometown veteran fighter Vizcaya backed out of the fight regardless.
Giles (6-0) is cut from the same cloth as Gigliotti. Not only is he a top undefeated middleweight prospect who has showcased his talents on AXS TV, but the 23-year-old Texan has also finished every man put in front of him. More importantly, Giles is down to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime and happily accepted the invitation to fight “Capo Joe” in his hometown of San Antonio. On Friday, July 29th, RFA 41 – Gigliotti vs. Giles in “Alamo City” will bring a new meaning to the Battle of the Alamo.
The co-main event of RFA 41 will feature a high-stakes featherweight war between a former RFA lightweight title challenger and a seasoned MMA vet from the Amazon region of northern Brazil. Jamall Emmers (9-3), who fights out of Pinnacle MMA in southern California, is coming off an action-packed lightweight title challenge in the main event of RFA 38 earlier this month. Emmers stepped up on a week’s notice and took RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés into the fifth round. The fight impressed UFC President Dana White, who was sitting cageside for the event.
Emmers will return to his former residence of San Antonio to face Rivaldo Junior (15-5-2), who is a native of Manaus, Brazil that now calls San Antonio home. The longtime Brazilian veteran of MMA has fought professionally for over 10 years. He has fought for prestigious Brazilian promotions Jungle Fight and Shooto Brazil and at one point had a fight scheduled with Raoni Barcelos, who is currently the reigning RFA featherweight champion. Junior looks to make his long-awaited international MMA debut in a bout he hopes will take him one step closer to finally challenging his fellow countryman Barcelos.
The full RFA 41 fight card and further information regarding this event will be announced soon. RFA 41 will be the promotion’s first event to take place in “The Lone Star State” of Texas and it will be the sixteenth state that the RFA has visited. The entire main card of RFA 41 – Gigliotti vs. Giles will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, July 29th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents live events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 43 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV Fights: AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
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ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. DOMINIC BREAZEALE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPTHIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
“You’re in my jungle now” – Anthony Joshua
“I came across the pond to get my belt and take it back home with me” – Dominic Breazeale
Click HERE For Photos; Credit Lawrence Lustig/Matchroom Sport
LONDON (June 23, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) and fellow unbeaten American challenger Dominic Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs), participated in the final press conference on Thursday at Sky Sports Studios in London, just two days before their showdown this Saturday.
The British sensation and 2012 Olympic Games Gold Medalist, Joshua will make the first defense of his title against Breazeale, a 2012 U.S. Olympian from Upland, Calif., this Saturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® from a sold-out The O2 in London, live onSHOWTIME® on at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.
Fellow heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder, the undefeated WBC titleholder, will join the SHOWTIME announce team as an in-studio guest analyst for coverage of Joshua-Breazeale from New York.
A few hours later Saturday, in primetime on CBS (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Title against former champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a welterweight blockbuster that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Below is what the fighters had to say at the final press conference, followed by some recent fight week quotes. (Courtesy Sky Sports and Matchroom Sport)
ANTHONYJOSHUA:
“You’re in my jungle now. There’s no pressure on me.
“Once that bell goes, you can’t hide the instinct, the instinct that you want to get someone out of there. I hope I can go in there, stay relaxed and do what I planned to do. But once that bell rings something just comes over you and you want to get him out of there ASAP.
“There will always be pressure. But look, it’s always been the same concept: Train hard – it’s the same ring. It hasn’t changed.
“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve always explained let’s get rid of the belts, the atmosphere, because when the bell goes it’s just me and him in the ring. Two gladiators, two respectful warriors coming together. We’re going to slug it out and put our 0s on the line.”
“I’m prepared, Dominic is prepared well, and one of us has to take a loss.
“Each fight is a stepping stone to the big tests. I want to look like the real deal.”
“I think we’re in the golden era of boxing again.”
DOMINIC BREAZEALE:
“I respect you as a fighter, but I’m going to beat you. I’ve got to beat the best of the best.”
“I can’t wait, it’s been an opportunity I’ve been waiting eight years for this. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m ready for this.
“Expect fireworks. We’ll be going round for round, punch for punch and I expect to knock out Joshua.”
“I got a big right hand, I have a big left hook. I stand 6-foot-7, 255 pounds. I’m unorthodox – I’m a guy that can fight on the inside, I’m a guy that can take a punch, I’m a guy that can give a punch. So if any one of those given things show up on Saturday night I’m getting a knockout, for sure.
“It’s a major advantage just for me to have Anthony Joshua the whole time. I don’t want him at any given point for him to feel like he’s in his comfort zone, his own backyard or his own little lion’s den.
“That’s what I came across the pond to do. I came across the pond to get my belt and take it back home with me.
“It’s my Super Bowl. Being a former football player, this is my Super Bowl.”
“Everybody keeps comparing me to Charles Martin, the only thing that we have in common is that we’re both American. We have a completely different fight style, different goals in life.
“I’m a big puncher, so is Anthony Joshua. He has the belt and I intend to have it on Saturday night.
ADDITIONAL FIGHT WEEK QUOTES:
ANTHONY JOSHUA
“I’m 16 fights, 16 wins, Dominic is 17 fights, 17 wins. We’ve been pro for the same amount of time, amateurs for the same time so we’re at a similar level on paper.
“People think this will end in two rounds? Brilliant. I am winning fights early because of my talent and hard work. Where I am in my career, it’s a perfect fight.
“I don’t overlook anyone. People talk and talk, that’s irrelevant. It’s all about whether he can fight. I think he believes in himself, but he knows what’s in store here, he needs to know I’m serious about this boxing. He thinks he’s going to KO me, he’s dismissed Charles Martin — sometimes you just have to humble somebody and show levels, let them know it’s not that easy.
“The second I stepped in to the pros it was ‘Boom!’ — Anthony Joshua – headlining. That’s not down to me, its media channels and people wanting to get to know the guy behind the gloves. So it’s been hard to build a career at the right pace without criticism because people want to see me in massive fights right now.
“You can’t jump from hero to zero, there are people guiding us over a long and a dangerous career. People have to understand that it’s a development of a career, and if I ever train a fighter, I’ll tell them the same thing.”
On fellow heavyweight world champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury:
“This won’t be my only defense, I want there to be lots and lots, and at the right time I will fight David Haye, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and the rest. We’re in an era now where we have to fight each other. There’s never been an era when the best don’t fight the best at heavyweight — but they have to happen at the right time, and they will.
“We are all world champions as we hold all the belts that are available. We’re all talented. Deontay has defended his title multiple times so you have to give him credit for that. Tyson and I haven’t defended yet, so I put Deontay at the top. But Tyson beat Wladimir Klitschko who reigned for such a long time.
“I am happy because I became a world champion in my 16th fight and they won theirs later in their careers. But Tyson beat the main man in the division, and Deontay has defended his belt lots of times, so I am in third right now, but I am building my way up.
“Put the belts to one side, they don’t give you magical powers. A lot of fighters lose their belt in their first defense. It’s about developing your raw talent and making sure you keep on an upward curve because there’s hungry young challengers snapping at your heels all the time, ready to expose you – and I refuse that to happen to me.”
On Charles Martin:
“Before the fight, no one criticized (Charles) Martin. He was undefeated, knocking guys out, tall southpaw, dangerous. Bookies were taking a lot of bets on him knocking me out. Tyson Fury backed him to do just that and a lot of people thought it would be tricky. Up until I beat him, he was seen as a worthy fighter. I figured him out quickly and I made him look bad. He didn’t look like the champion people thought he was, but you have to respect him.”
On thinking about losing:
“I think about losing all the time, I’m scared of it. That keeps me humble and working hard. I don’t think people are going to beat me or anything, but I don’t want to lose, and I know that if I work hard and keep improving, I won’t lose.
“I get enough attention from this job. There are 20,000 fans at the fights, millions watching on TV around the world. I don’t need to seek attention. I’m not a trash talker because the fists do the talking.’’
On being a role model:
“I know that there are a lot of kids watching me now and their parents say ‘my son loves you’ and that’s in my mind.
“I’ll be myself all the time, but that sense of being a role model and having kid’s look up to you, that checks the emotions that could come out if you get wound up. You have to conduct yourself.’’
On Tyson Fury:
“Tyson talks a lot. I hear so many different things, if he was consistent with what he says then maybe I’d think he was digging a bit, but it’s just water off a duck’s back. I don’t know him, but as long as people are saying ‘when are you going to fight him?’ then I like him because he is relevant.
“It would be such a huge fight and one that would be part of my legacy. I think because he’s beaten Wladimir once he can do it again. I didn’t think he’d win the first fight, but he pulled it off.
“I’d love to fight Tyson – it’s a match-up that needs to happen. There have been talks, whether they are a quick chat or serious negotiations, but you can’t click your fingers and come up with a mega fight. It takes time, but they are in the pipeline and we’re building towards them, and in the meantime I want to test myself and learn my craft. I need to perform well to prove that I can handle the massive fights.’’
On fellow British heavyweight David Haye:
“David is running the show and people know it, so when he goes in against soft opponents, he’s putting his neck on the line to get the stick. Fans expect more from him and he’s not meeting those levels, and that’s where the backlash comes from. The people he’s calling out versus the two guys he has fought, they just don’t add up, and that’s what people are frustrated about.
“I don’t think you can knock the Shannon Briggs fight. He’s made a lot of noise, he’s old school and it’s a good fight for David to take, win and move upwards. Shannon had made noise and he’s got his moment and who knows? Maybe he can shock the world. He’s old, but he trains hard and he’s in great condition, and that’s why people love the heavyweights because it’s that one shot.
“A fight with Fury and I is the biggest fight in British boxing in my opinion. The Haye fight is big too; there’s enough media interest for it to be big. It’s already big and we’re not even fighting yet, so imagine how big it would be once we get in there. It’d be unbelievable and that’s why I am so interested in the fights.”
DOMINIC BREAZEALE:
“I plan on putting on some extreme pressure and taking Joshua to places he’s never been. We’ll find out if he can handle it.
“Do I want to see him go into uncharted territory? Of course, without a doubt.
“I’ve been there, I know what it feels like and I’ve done it several times now. At the same time, I’m not going to let an opportunity pass me. If I see something I can take in the first or second round, I’m definitely going to get him out of there.
“I’ve sparred guys that are bigger than me, I’ve sparred some guys smaller than me. I’ve been the tallest thus far (of his professional opponents), but I don’t think the difference in a matter of inches is going to make that big of a difference. The guys I’ve sparred with are 10 times better than Anthony Joshua.
“I think that it’s going to be one of those situations that it is not going to be a difference of size or weight. It’s going to be the difference of skill and experience.
“When you think of a heavyweight champion you want to make sure he’s fought the best, and I think that’s why Joshua has chosen me as his opponent to defend against. That’s what he plans on getting out of the situation if he can make it through the 12 rounds.
“I think Joshua’s thinking of me as a stepping stone and he’s going to be sorry about that. He’s just wrong. He’s fighting a guy at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds that brings the pressure and a great pace from round-to-round.
“I’m one of those guys that I might take a shot, I might work some defense or I might work a strong jab. Either way, I’m going to make it a fight. All of my opponents have been down on the canvas and I don’t think Joshua is going to come shy of that as well.
“I’ve been picked as the smaller guy in the ring, by the IBF as a stepping stone and I feel like my back is against the wall. I’m going to come out fighting.
“To come here and win the IBF title in London is a major thing for me that I plan to achieve. Then I want to continuing to go after all the titles.
“My mind set has definitely changed. The situation that I’m in mentally is just different compared to some of my fights in the past. My confidence level is through the roof and physically I feel great.
“I think the heavyweight division is getting ready to change. With individuals like myself, Deontay and Tyson, we have guys who are characters who bring a lot of charisma to the division. That’s something that we need. Yes, we are athletes but in the end we are entertainers and we want to see a show. I’m the type of guy that brings a show every single time I fight. It’s action-packed from the opening bell to the end, and fight fans are looking for that. That’s what is going to resurrect the heavyweight division.’’
On his win over Amir Mansour:
“That was another confidence booster for me. It’s one thing to finish a guy in the first round with three punches or something like that. It’s another thing to finish a guy in the sixth, seventh round with a combination of shots.
“Amir put me down on the canvas in the second, I battled back and ended up breaking the man’s jaw.
“It gives me something to work on. I know I was able to come back and be very successful from it. Anytime you get a win of that matter where you get a guy, break him down, break him down where he quits on the stool, it’s a huge confidence booster. It makes you understand as an athlete or as a professional boxer that you’ve got punching power, you just broke another man’s jaw.’’
On returning to London after the 2012 Olympics:
“I think it’s going to beautiful. It’s going to be great to go back to where my amateur career ended and beat the guy who won the gold medal. That’s going to be great. And then, on top of that, take away more hardware with the IBF Heavyweight title. You couldn’t ask for anything better.
“Then again I do understand and believe I’m a completely different fighter — not only am I a professional but I no longer fight an amateur style. I would consider myself a knockout artist with some pretty good punching power and that’s what I plan on showing the UK fans and my U.S. following. It’s a chapter that needs to be closed and I plan on doing that.’’
On the state of the heavyweight division:
“I believe that we’ve got a lot of heavyweights who are doing real well and are real successful in their situations, some being titleholders, some not. But I think it’s going to be a revolving circle. Me fighting Anthony Joshua, then going on to Deontay and Fury, Wladimir Klitschko might even hang around for a while. Will it ever be compared to the Ali days or Riddick Bowe and the Evander Holyfield days? I don’t know. Bowe and Holyfield had one great trilogy and I study it all the time. So it all depends on how much each fighter has left in him.’’
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Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua @AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.
TOP WELTERWEIGHTS: THURMAN-PORTER WINNER TOO CLOSE TO CALL
This Saturday, June 25, Live in Primetime at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on CBS
Click HERE For PBC Fighter Prediction Video
NEW YORK (June 22, 2016) – Their peers in the welterweight division – world champions, former champions, contenders and top prospects – can’t pick a definitive winner between defending WBA 147-pound king Keith “One Time” Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) and former world champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs).
The majority of the fighters polled – some of whom are potential opponents down the line for the winner – lean toward Thurman, but most all concede that Saturday’s eagerly awaited main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS event, presented by Premier Boxing Champions (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) at Barclays Center is going to be an intense, exciting, tight fight from start to finish that could go either way.
Here’s how the boxers see “Thurman vs. Porter”:
Danny Garcia (WBC Welterweight Champion): “I think this is a great matchup. Thurman has the boxing ability and the movement while Shawn Porter is the aggressor and he’s going to bring the heat. To be honest with you it’s a 50-50 fight, but I would give the edge to Keith Thurman by a very close decision.”
Kell Brook (IBF Welterweight Champion):”This is a great fight, one I can’t wait to watch. If Shawn can stick to his boxing I think he can become world champion again on points, but Keith is heavy-handed and he could walk Shawn onto one – it’s really a pick ’em fight for me.”
Errol Spence Jr. (Undefeated Welterweight Contender): “I think this is a great fight between young fighters with good skill. Shawn throws a lot of punches while Thurman is a boxer who can punch too. I know Shawn will be aggressive and it should make for a great fight. If Keith can box and keep Shawn Porter on the outside I see Keith Thurman winning. If Shawn stays on the inside and stays in the chest of Keith, I see him winning.”
Andre Berto (Former Welterweight Champion): “Shawn is going to come, but I think Keith will be on his toes and box but also drop hard shots as well when Shawn comes in. Keith can be very versatile in there and has a lot of great skills, while Shawn is more like a bull. Keith will hurt or knock Shawn down but will keep coming all night.”
Sammy Vazquez (Undefeated Welterweight Contender): “Shawn is a pressure fighter and Thurman used to be a pressure fighter but now he boxes. It’s really hard for me to decide who is going to come out on top. Thurman has good power. It all depends on how Shawn is able to take Thurman’s punches. I think Thurman because of the power but Shawn will bring it for 12 rounds.”
Robert Guerrero (Former Welterweight Champion): “This is a fight the fans are going to love watching. Both Thurman and Porter bring exciting styles to the ring. I think if Porter can keep the fight on the inside he’ll have a better chance to come out victorious. But Keith Thurman is a very smart and powerful fighter and will make the right adjustments. I just think Thurman is going to outbox Porter. I’m picking Thurman to win by decision in a very tough fight.”
Luis Collazo (Former Welterweight Champion): “I’m not sure who the favorite is, but I’m going with Porter. I like his style and I think it’s going to be interesting to see how Thurman holds up with the pressure Porter is going to bring.”
Devon Alexander (Former Welterweight Champion): “It’s a very exciting fight. Both fighters are come forward type fighters and they swing for the fences when they throw. I don’t know who will come out on top because they have similar styles. Shawn Porter has decent power, but out of the two Keith has the more power. We’ll see. This is boxing.”
# # #
The live CBS telecast with open with a 10-round matchup between undefeated super welterweight prospects Jarrett Hurd andOscar Molina
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and w