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MIKE HANSEN: FACING FEAR HEADFIRST
Lewiston, Maine (Lub rau hli ntuj 15, 2016) – Fighting anyone, nyob qhov twg, anytime and under any circumstances has become Mike Hansen’s calling card with New England Fights.
No surprise, ces, that the 30-year-old father of three from Rumford, ME will gladly entertain the idea of a mixed martial arts contest … against an opponent about whom he admittedly knows precious little … on the eve of Father’s Day.
Hansen (4-4) will take on Robert Laroski in a heavyweight clash at “NEF 24: Promised Land” on Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 18 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
There is no fear of the unknown in a man who has carved out his reputation confronting substantially bigger foes since his days as a state champion wrestler at Mountain Valley High School. During his relatively short time in NEF, Hansen has fought as a middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
“When I took the fight (at NEF 23 in Massachusetts) against Brendan Battles, people were saying, ‘You’re crazy! He’s going to bust your head!’ I understand why the weight classes exist, and I respect that it’s about safety and all that, but I’ve always felt that a fighter should be ready to fight anybody, no matter what,” Hansen said. “In high school, I would drink two gallons of water and put lead in my uniform just so I could get to the minimum weight for the unlimited class.”
That’s the attitude of a fighter whose skill and talent level far exceed his current record as a professional.
Hansen’s docket includes a stoppage win over former NEF “Fighter of the Year” Crowsneck Boutin. His record also includes TKO losses to Battles and Cody Anderson and a choke-out at the hands of Zach Elkins.
When he reflects upon his unique life story, Hansen, who fought twice for the World Fighting League as a 20-year-old college student, marvels that he ever got back into the cage at all.
“I started the winter of 2004-05. I started training because I had gone from 187 rau 242 pounds in a few months. I was seeing stretch marks,” Hansen recalled. “I was pretty upset with myself for allowing that to happen. I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu two nights a week to get in shape. Then I went home for the summer and ended up with my first fight in August. My friends got me the fight without my coaches knowing about it. They told me it was a good thing I won, or they would have kicked my butt.”
Hansen kept a promise to his father to quit the sport after a knockout loss to Alexander Chianurashvili in 2006. He was studying at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, with intentions to enter the medical field.
He was stabbed and attacked with a baseball bat by three men in a case of mistaken identity not long thereafter. “I walked out of the hospital the next day, and all three of them were still in there from the beating I gave them in self-defense,” Hansen said proudly.
That dogged determination served Hansen well in the United States Army, where he studied in the elite Combatives program.
“They ask you ‘Who wins the fight?’ and the answer is, ‘Whoever’s buddy gets there first to help him clean up.’ That’s what Combatives taught me: How to survive that extra 30 rau 60 vib nas this,” Hansen said. “Work ethic is what it taught me. It helped me grow and do things I might have questioned mentally whether or not I could do. Not many people find that extra little motivation. The Army taught me how to find it and utilize it.”
A few years later, Hansen found that inner fire again. Even as he returned to coaching wrestlers in his hometown, his own physical fitness suffered as work and fatherhood took precedence.
Hansen vividly describes sitting in a bean bag chair, eating snack food, watching TV at 2:11 a.m. when his phone rang. He assumed it was a friend in trouble.
“It was (NEF co-owner) Matt Peterson. Our families grew up maybe 200 yards apart. My high school wrestling coach had called him, unbeknownst to me, to tell him he needed to get me back in the cage,” Hansen said.
Three weeks later thiab 20 pounds lighter, Hansen dispatched super heavyweight fixture Artie Mullen at “NEF 16: New Blood Rising,” and the comeback was on.
Nyob rau hauv lub 15 months that have followed, Hansen has been instrumental in launching Berserkers MMA and building his reputation as both a fighter and an instructor.
Life is blossoming at home, also. Hansen is the father of two girls, cov muaj hnub nyoog 5 thiab 2, and a boy of four months. His older daughter, Kaydn, often accompanies Dad to the gym at Greater Rumford Community Center. He returns the favor by chaperoning field trips for her kindergarten class.
“She and her friends will be on the playground practicing boxing stances and stuff,” Hansen said. “Her teacher says it’s adorable. Hopefully she is learning to take care of herself so I don’t have to.”
Kaydn’s parents are making plans to take her to her first live NEF show after she turns 6. Rau tam sim no, she is content to watch her Dad’s fights on YouTube.
“If we’re watching TV together,” Hansen said, “we have a thing where I get two shows and then she gets two shows. If I put in a fight tape, she’ll say, ‘Daddy, I know this doesn’t count as one of your shows, because this is your work.’”
Qhov qhib tswb rau Lub rau hli ntuj 18 yog teem rau 7 p.m. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 thiab yog muaj nyob rau ntawm www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events and fight card updates, thov mus saib cov qib lub website ntawm www.NewEnglandFights.com. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, koj yuav saib NEF yeeb yaj duab ntawm www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, ua raws li lawv nyob rau Twitternefights thiab koom nrog cov nom Facebook pab pawg neeg "New England Fights."
VLADIMIR TIKHONOV MAKING PROGRESS UP THE RATINGS LADDER; RUSSIAN IS LUCKY NO. 13 IN WBA
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Irish Heavyweight Sensation Con Sheenan to fight July 28
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Lub rau hli ntuj 15, 2016) – Six-time Irish amateur champion Cornelius “Con” Sheehan is set to make his Canadian debut against an opponent to be named Thursday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 28 at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Ontario.
The bout takes place as part of Lee Baxter Promotions’ “The Next Generation.” Tickets priced at $45, $55 thiab $65 are available now by calling 416-797-3375. Qhov rooj qhib rau ntawm 6:30 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7:30.
“I’m looking forward to putting on a great show,” said Sheenan. “I plan to make a big statement on the 28th."
Born and raised in Tipperary, Ireland, Sheenan made his pro debutLub ib hlis ntuj 19 nyob rau hauv Los Angeles, XWS LI, outpointing previously unbeaten Jonathan Rice over four rounds. Since the victory, the 6’5 215 pound 27-year-old has been working hard in the gym and was recently in camp with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Sheenan, who had an incredible 203-18 pib xyaum ua cov ntaub ntawv, won six Irish National Senior Division titles and captured 13 total championships. Nyob rau hauv 2008, he became the youngest ever heavyweight champion in Irish history at age 18.
“Con Sheenan is a hidden gem who will soon explode onto the heavyweight scene,” said Sheenan’s manager Gary Hyde of Nowhere2Hyde Management. “Con has an extensive amateur pedigree where he won multiple Irish national titles as well as a European Union title. He’s got a very fluid style but loves nothing more than going into the trenches, so he’s an extremely exciting fighter. In a few years, he’ll be right in the mix.”
Baxter is looking forward to showcasing Con on his card and believes he’s got a bright future.
“Con is very highly regarded and had a great amateur background. He’s on the right path in the pros and fans in Canada will love him. It’s a pleasure to work with Con, Adam Harris & Nowhere2Hyde Management for this fight. We’re looking forward to the first of many great performances from Con.”
For more information on Lee Baxter Promotions, please visit LeeBaxterMgt.com. Updates on Nowhere2Hyde are available at Facebook.com/nowhere2hydeboxermanagement.
Unbeaten Sergey Lipinets & Hard-Hitting Walter Castillo Meet in Super Lightweight Showdown On Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN Friday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 15 From Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino In Tunica, Mississippi – 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
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“SHOOTOUT IN QUEBEC” Adonis Stevenson vs. Thomas Williams Jr. WBC Light Heavyweight Championship Live at Centre Videotron
Montreal, Canada (Lub rau hli ntuj 14, 2016) – Groupe Yvon Michel (Gym) and Gestev are proud to officially announce, “SHOOTOUT”, the next fight for power-punching Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, Lub Xya hli ntuj 29 at Centre Videotron, a presentation of Videotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu. This event is presented as part of the prestigious “Premier Boxing Champions” (PBC) series, to be broadcast live in the United States, and on Canal Indigo in Canada.
Stevenson (27-1, 22 Kos), who established himself as one of the most powerful pound-for-pound fighters in the world, yuav tiv thaiv nws lub ntiaj teb no Boxing Council (Qhov) and lineal light heavyweight (175 phaus faib) title for the seventh time, against the dangerous, WBC No. 9 Rated Thomas “Sab saum toj Aub” Williams (20-1, 14 Kos).
“I am very happy to get back in the ring for my next fight, which will be held July 29 in the superb Centre Videotron of Quebec, against Thomas Williams Jr.,” Stevenson hais tias. I will demonstrate that, like fine wine, I am even better with age. Even though I haven’t boxed for 10 lub hlis, I’ve never left the gym and I’m willing to defend my crown.”
Williams, of Fort Washington, Maryland, ntawm 28, yog 10 years younger than Stevenson and also left-handed. He had a successful amateur career and is reputed to be a major danger in the ring as evidenced by his 10 victories won by knockout in less than two rounds, including his last two outings against renowned Edwin Rodriguez (28-1, 19 Kos) thiab Umberto Savigne (12-2, 9 Kos).
In both of those two fights, Williams was an underdog, but his determination and lethal punch made the difference. “There were many who had lost trust in me two years ago after my loss to Gabriel Campillo (24-6-1, 11 Kos),” Williams explained. “I don’t make excuses but there were circumstances that led to this result. I’m coming off the best performance of my career and I’m ready to make a change Lub Xya hli ntuj 29 in terms of the holding title belt. Stevenson has never faced a puncher like me in the past.”
“We are proud to start our association with Gestev and Centre Videotron with this gala event,” Gym tus thawj tswj hwm Yvon Michel ntxiv. “Adonis Stevenson became the WBC light heavyweight champion in June 2012 and since then 15 ntawm 16 other WBC titles have changed hands. Tsuas yog Shinsuke Yamanaka, of Japan, is still champion. Other fights on the Lub Xya hli ntuj 29th card will include a group of ambitious, talented boxers, promising a show with intense fighters making statements.”
Nyob rau hauv lub co-feature, current WBC Silver light heavyweight champion and WBC No. 1 contender, Eleider Alvarez (19-0, 10 Kos), will attempt to maintain his position as the WBC mandatory challenger against Maximiliano Gomez (22-5, 9 Kos), of Argentine.
Also scheduled to be in action are Nova Scotia native and adopted Montreal fighter Custio Clayton (8-0, 7 Kos), who will attempt to continue his rise in the welterweight division, Quebec heavyweight Eric Martel Bahoeli (11-6, 7 Kos) will realize his dream to fight in Videotron Centre, charismatic Montreal welterweight Junior Ulysse (10-0, 7 Kos) thiab Welterweight Marie Eve Dicaire (4-0) are also slated to be in action. Other fights and fighters will soon be announced for the July 29th card.
Tag nrho cov sib ntaus thiab tua hluav taws yuav raug hloov.
“SHOOTOUT” daim pib, pib thaum $50.00, yuav mus rau ntawm kev muag Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 18 ntawm 10 a.m. THIAB at Videotron Centre, Gym (514) 383-0666, or at Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. A pre-sale will be available Lub rau hli ntuj 16-17 for subscribers to the Videotron Centre newsletter as well as Quebec Remparts season ticket holders.
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SHOWTIME SPORTS® LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE ONLINE DIGITAL INSTALLMENT OF “ALL ACCESS”
"TXHUA TUS ACCESS: Thurman vs. Hnav,” Part 1 of a Four-Part Short Feature Series is Available Now On SHOWTIME ®Cov Platforms; All Consumers Can Experience The Buildup To The Live CBS Primetime Boxing Special On Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 25
Click On The Link To Watch, Qhia & Embed Part 1: http://s.sho.com/1Ua64Vq
SHOWTIME kev ua si launched an online exclusive installment of digital short features inspired by the three-time Emmy® Award-winning series “ALL ACCESS” rau hnub Monday. The first of the four-part series titled "TXHUA TUS ACCESS: Thurman vs. Porter” is now available on the SHO Sports YouTube channel, SHO.com/sports, and on the CBSSports.com boxing page. Subsequent installments will also debut online on tag kis, Lub rau hli ntuj 15, Friday, Lub rau hli ntuj 17 and Monday, Lub rau hli ntuj 20, in anticipation of the first primetime boxing event on CBS since Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks I in 1978.
Rau Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 25, SHOWTIME Sports will produce the welterweight world championship boxing event featuring undefeated champion Keith Thurman and once-beaten former champ Shawn Porter, live on CBS (9 p.m. THIAB/6 p.m. PT) los ntawm Barclays Center nyob rau hauv Brooklyn, N.Y..
"TXHUA TUS ACCESS: Thurman vs. Porter” immerses viewers in camp with two elite prizefighters in the prime of their careers as they prepare to square off for the top spot in boxing’s glamour division.
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Tickets for the live event at Barclays Center, uas yog nce los ntawm DiBella Lom ze, pib ntawm $49 thiab yog muag tam sim no. Daim pib yuav raug muas hauv internet mus saib tau www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com los yog los ntawm hu xov tooj 1-800-745-3000. Daim pib no kuj muaj nyob rau ntawm lub American Express Box Office ntawm Barclays Center. Pab pawg neeg nyiaj cheb yog muaj los ntawm kev hu rau 844-BKLYN-GP.
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.SHO.com/Sports thiab www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports and @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, LouDiBella, BarclaysCenter ThiabSwanson_Comm los yog los ua ib tug kiv cua nyob rau Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainmentthiab www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter
Undefeated Rising Contender Mario Barrios Takes On Former Title Challenger Devis Boschiero On Saturday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 9 Edition Of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes From Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey
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Unbeaten Lightweight Contender & 2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring Faces Former Title Challenger Denis Shafikov On Fourth Of July Weekend Edition Of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Saturday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 2 From Santander Arena in Reading, PA.
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HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL RAYMOND DANIELS TAKES ON STEFANO BRUNO AT ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS’ ON JUNE 24 – LIVE & FREE ON SPIKE AT 11/10C
IN ADDITION: KERI MELENDEZ-SARAH HOWELL SHOWDOWN COMPLETES DYNAMIC BELLATOR KICKBOXING CARD
Raug Monica, California. (Lub rau hli ntuj 14, 2016) – The SPIKE-televised "Bellator kickboxing: St. Louis" event on June 24 at Scottrade Center is now complete, with the addition of two fights featuring Bellator Kickboxers Raymond Daniels (11-3) thiab Keri Melendez (3-1), uas yuav muab rau Stefano Bruno (23-2-1) thiab Sarah Howell (debut) feem.
The fights join a main event that features a middleweight rematch between Joe Schilling (27-8) thiab Hisaki Kato (6-2), who initially competed against one another in a mixed martial arts contest that saw Kato get the better of the kickboxing ace with a “Knockout of the Year” winning superman punch.
"Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” will air immediately following the highly anticipated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” event LIVE and FREE on Spike at 11 p.m. THIAB/10 p.m. I. Tickets for the double feature event start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the at Scottrade Center Box Office.
A native of California, Daniels is one of the most widely known kickboxers in America, having made a splash as both and amateur and professional. “The Real Deal” went 17-0 raws li ib tug pib xyaum ua, nrog cuaj knockouts, finishing all 17 bouts in the first round. Daniels made his professional debut in 2007, winning each of his first four fights, three of which ended in knockouts for the 36-year-old welterweight. Daniels was also a competitor at Bellator’s inaugural "Bellator kickboxing: Torino " event in Italy this year, earning his first career victory with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The win was the eighth of his professional career and it came spectacularly 30 vib nas this mus rau hauv thawj puag ncig, giving him five first-round knockouts in total.
With a stellar record of 23-2-1, Italian kickboxer Stefano Bruno will have his hands full when he steps into the ring with Daniels on the 24th of June. One half of what many kickboxing pundits considered the fight of the year in 2015 against Hosam Radwan, Bruno has competed all around the globe and has truly made a name for himself in the welterweight division.
The queen of the infamous Skrap Pack in Northern California, Melendez made her first appearance with Bellator during the kickboxing portion of "Bellator: Dynamite 1, " recording a unanimous decision victory over Hadley Griffith in front of her home town faithful. Melendez tallied a 4-1 amateur mark before taking her talents to the professional circuit, qhov chaw uas nws tam sim no tuav ib tug 3-1 kickboxing cov ntaub ntawv. The 32-year-old flyweight will look to build off her impressive debut last year, when she takes on Sarah Howell in the kickboxing portion of Bellator’s “Dynamite 2” rau Lub rau hli ntuj 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Making your professional debut in anything is an arduous task, but making your debut against Melendez will be tougher than usual for Howell, who comes into the fight with no pro experience. Hailing from Washington – which coincidentally was the homestate of Melendez’s last opponent — the proud mother has been documenting her road to “Dynamite 2” through her blog, which can be found no.
Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” Fight Card:
Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Joe Schilling (27-8) vs. Hisaki Kato (6-2)
Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (11-3) vs. Stefano Bruno (23-2-1)
Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri Melendez (3-1) vs. Sarah Howell (Debut)