Following an amicable agreement to settle the litigation between the two parties, the always entertaining and exciting Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is returning to Bellator.
Bellator MMA is thrilled to have “Rampage,” one of the most recognizable fighters in the history of the sport, joining a very competitive light heavyweight division featuring champion Liam McGeary, Phil Davis, King Mo, Tito Ortiz, Emanuel Newton, Linton Vassell among others.
Dallas, TX (February 16, 2016) – Alecia Holden, daughter of Holden Productions founder Tony Holden and Tina Holden is a member of Survivor: Kaoh Rong – Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty 2.
The series debuts Wednesday, February 17 at 8 PM ET on CBS.
Raised in Tulsa, OK but based in Dallas, TX, Holden is a full time real estate agent who also models and acts. The 24-year-old grew up around boxing and built friendships with Holden Productions’ fighters including former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, undefeated Joe Mesi and 1996 Olympian Zahir Raheem.
Self-described as an adrenaline junkie, Holden enjoys bungee jumping, shark diving, sky diving and was even once with uncaged tigers. Interested in a new challenge, Holden applied for Survivor and was quickly chosen.
In a preview for the show, host Jeff Probst referred to Alecia as one of the season’s more unpredictable players while mentioningshe came from a boxing legacy.
“When she told me about applying to be on Survivor, I had a strong feeling that she’d be selected,” said Tony Holden. “She is a fighter at heart and worked hard for everything she has. After she went to college for a year, Alecia received a work visa and trekked to Australia followed by a short stay in Indonesia, which are just two of the 16 countries she’s visited. The fact she literally took a chance by going to the other side of the world by herself and did what she had to in order to make it epitomizes what it means to be a survivor.”
To physically prepare for Survivor, Holden returned to Tulsa to train alongside Holden Productions prospect Trey Lippe-Morrison.
– Alecia Holden pictured with heavyweight Trey Lippe-Morrison
“Trey was impressed with her work ethic,” stated Tony Holden. “She was in great shape before coming back home to train but she is that serious. Alecia wanted to make sure she was as prepared as anybody out there because there are other contestants on the show that were professional athletes, bodybuilders and FBI agents. I told her that she can’t trust others there because it’s everybody for themselves on Survivor and if she had to become a villain that is just fine.”
Fans can follow Alecia on Twitter @leashyleash2.
“All of us at Roc Nation Sports are thrilled to have added Darmani Rock to our boxing family. He has the talent to become a force in a reinvigorated heavyweight division and for a 19-year-old heavyweight with his skill set, the sky is the limit.” – David Itskowitch, COO of Boxing Roc Nation Sports
https://twitter.com/RocNation/status/699617526913835008
https://twitter.com/Darmani_rock/status/699616834690093056
BOXER: DARMANI ROCK
NICKNAME: ROCK SOLID
DIVISION: HEAVYWEIGHT
AGE: 19
DATE OF BIRTH: APRIL 17, 1996
HEIGHT: 6’5”
STANCE: ORTHODOX
BORN: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
LIVES: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
RECORD: PRO DEBUT
At the age of nineteen, Darmani Rock is already drawing comparisons to former heavyweight greats of the past. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rock was brought to a local boxing ring by his father at age twelve after he lost a street fight to neighborhood bullies. Rock cites his father, Wayne “Wiz” McLeod, as his greatest inspiration.
Rock has received high praise for his powerful jab and ambidexterity. Standing at 6’4”, he moves with an unparalleled lightness and speed for a fighter his size. Rock earned nation-wide accolades following a banner year in 2014 when he took home the USA Boxing Junior and Youth Open, Youth Continental and Youth World super heavyweight titles.
During the 2014 Junior and Youth Open in Reno, Nevada, Rock shut out the 2013 National Youth Champion, John Luna, 3-0. This impressive performance was followed by another super heavyweight title at the Youth Continental Championships in March 2014 in Quito, Ecuador where he defeated Argentina’s Kervin Espinola 3-0. Rock then took home the gold medal at the prestigious World Youth Championships in Bulgaria in April 2014 by a 2-1 decision over Germany’s Peter Kadiru. Rock also took home the 2014 World Junior Amateur Championship and capped off 2014 by being named Philadelphia’s Amateur Boxer of the Year at the annual Briscoe Awards. His most noteworthy win, however, came in May 2015 when he beat Cam Awesome, a career amateur who has been called the next Chris Byrd, in Las Vegas for the National Golden Gloves title. Awesome, who touts a near-perfect record over the past eight years and three Golden Gloves titles of his own, is considered one of the toughest amateur boxers to beat in a three round bout. Rock also captured the 2015 U.S. National Amateur super heavyweight championship. He ended his amateur career as the number one rated super heavyweight in the United States (and the number five rated super heavyweight in the world) going 19-5 in national tournaments.
In February 2016, Rock signed an exclusive promotional agreement with Roc Nation Sports.
Challenger Vows To Take Advantage Of Unexpected Opportunity, Ceja-Ruiz II In Co-Main Saturday, Feb. 27, Live On SHOWTIME® From Honda Center In Anaheim, Calif.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Tripleheader Begins With
Unbeaten Heavyweights Gerald Washington vs. Oscar Rivas
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Click HERE For Martinez Training Photos From Sampson Boxing Promotions
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2016) – Spain’s Kiko “Sensación” Martinez is a soft-spoken, hard-hitting former IBF Super Bantamweight World Champion and a three-time European champion at 122 pounds. He’s a come-forward, comes-to-win, aggressive-minded slugger who makes for exciting fights and has been in with excellent opposition.
The ultimate road warrior, the 5-foot-5, 29-year-old Martinez has fought more than one-third of his fights outside his native Spain, where he has tussled 26 times. He’s also fought four times in Ireland, three times in England, three times in Northern Ireland and one time each in Japan, Argentina, France and South Africa.
So don’t expect Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs) to be in awe of the surroundings in his second start in the United States when he challenges unbeaten, defending featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday, Feb. 27, in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Martinez won his U.S. debut and the IBF 122-pound crown with a sixth-round TKO overJhonatan Romero on Aug. 17, 2013. “That was a great night for me,’’ Martinez said. “I’m confident of another great performance on Feb. 27.’’
A winner of three in a row in his homeland, including a fourth-round TKO over Miguel Gonzalez last Dec. 12, Martinez aims to make amends after losing three high-profile fights in recent years to super bantamweight world champions – twice to Carl Frampton(IBF) and once to Scott Quigg (WBA).
Martinez gets an opportunity against Santa Cruz in a fight he never saw coming.
“I’m thrilled to be fighting Leo Santa Cruz, but getting this fight was a total surprise because I already had a fight scheduled,’’ said Martinez, who trains at his friend and manager, former world super middleweight champion Sergio Martinez’ gym in Spain. “I had been scheduled to fight for the European title. When this opportunity came up, I decided to give up the European title to come to America.
“I was very happy and very emotional when I heard about this fight. It was one of the best days of my life when I agreed to fight Santa Cruz. Now, more boxing fans will get to see me. I will not take one step back. I will come forward the whole fight.
“I’m thankful to SHOWTIME and I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a huge fight in the United States and a great opportunity. Some people don’t think I can fight because I lost to those guys [Frampton and Quigg], but they are wrong. I am as determined as ever. I’m going to fight a great fight and come out with a victory.’’
While respectful of the champion, Martinez is no stranger to fighting on foreign soil and is poised to pull off a stunner.
“I will surprise many people who don’t believe in me,’’ he said. “I’m working so hard for this fight. People doubting me has me even more motivated. They will see on Feb. 27 and everyone will change their minds.
“I love fighting in my opponent’s backyard. That is not a problem for me at all. People who know boxing know I will give everything to this sport. I want to give great shows and entertain people. I’m coming forward and throwing punches and I don’t give up.
“I’m going to give 100 percent and it’s going to be a tremendous fight. I have a ton of respect for Leo Santa Cruz. He’s a world champion and a great fighter who’s clearly one of the very best featherweights in the world and a Top 10 pound-for-pound fighter. I am very conscious of that point.
“Leo and I are true warriors so this will be a brutal war. But I have what it takes. I’ve been working very hard with my longtime trainer, Gaby Sarmiento, and I will be victorious.’’
A lifelong resident of Spain, Martinez was born in Granada, Spain, and resides in Alicante. He has two sisters and two brothers but is the only one in the family who boxes professionally. He turned to boxing as a young teenager.
“I started in boxing because when I was about 13 I was smaller and other kids bullied me all the time. So I began looking for a way to learn to defend myself,’’ he said. “Once I decided to start boxing and dedicated myself to it I fell in love with the sport.’’
As an amateur, Martinez went 47-2 and won a Spanish national amateur championship, but he had no international amateur experience. “I had a good amateur career but never thought about the Olympics,’’ he said. “My mind was always on being a pro fighter.’’
A dangerous puncher who’s at his best when he pressures his opponents and wears them down, Martinez turned pro in June 2004. He was victorious in his initial 17 fights, winning all but three by knockout.
Martinez met Sergio Martinez [no relation] about nine years ago. “I met Sergio in the gym in Spain that he used to train himself in and we became good friends. When I started boxing I looked up to Julio Cesar Chavez and I am now a big fan of Marcos Maidana. I like to fight like him.
“But I’ve always had a special relationship with Sergio, who inspired me because he came from poverty like me. He has taught me so much. It’s like looking into a mirror because he knows where I came from. He’s taught me so much inside and outside the ring. We were very poor growing up and my father worked very hard.’’
If triumphant, Kiko Martinez says “I would like to stay at this weight because I feel much stronger. But I would definitely love a rematch with Frampton or Quigg.’’
Regarding the Frampton-Quigg 122-pound world title unification that also takes place onFeb. 27 (in Manchester, England, live on SHOWTIME EXTREME®), Martinez didn’t hesitate when picking a winner.
“Frampton will win against Quigg,’’ Martinez said. “He’s the more complete boxer. He is stronger as well.”
In the Feb. 27 co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, hard-hitting Mexican warriors Julio Ceja (30-1, 27 KOs) and Hugo Ruiz (35-3, 31 KOs) will box in a rematch of an exciting, two-way slugfest for the WBC 122-pound world title that Ceja won from Ruiz on a fifth-round knockout last August
Rounding out the televised tripleheader is a 10-round fight between undefeated heavyweights Gerald Washington (16-0-1, 11 KOs) of Vallejo, Calif., and Montreal-based Colombian Oscar Rivas (18-0, 13 KOs).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $27, $54, $104 and $199 and are on sale now via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail locations or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Honda Center Box Office.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @MartinezKiko, @TGBPromotions, @HondaCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports
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 Zab “Super” Judah to headline first event
Saturday, Mar. 12 at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
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LAS VEGAS (February 16, 2016) — the D Las Vegas and Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC), along with Neon Star Media and Roy Englebrecht Promotions, have announced the formation of a new monthly boxing series, “Knockout Night at the D”.
The “Knockout Night at the D” series will take place under the neon lights of Las Vegas in the DLVEC open air venue, located in the heart of the downtown Las Vegas casino district, one block away from the world famous Fremont Street (200 S. 3rd St.).
“One of my visions for the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center was to bring outdoor boxing back to the city,” said Derek Stevens, Owner and CEO of the D Las Vegas. “I have a true passion for this sport and I am thrilled to provide my guests with an incredible boxing series that will support athletes, businesses and the community of Las Vegas.”
Each “Knockout Night at the D” event during the 2016 series will feature a variety of compelling matches, including world title bouts, world-class matches, tournament eliminators and special attraction bouts, plus pro-debuts of future boxing stars
Television broadcast information for the series will be announced shortly
The inaugural event, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, will be held inside the DLVEC’s 20,000-square-foot tent and headlined by five-time, two-division world champion Zab “Super” Judah (42-9, 29 KOs). The Brooklyn native, now fighting out of Las Vegas, returns to the ring after a two-year break from the sport. The fast and powerful southpaw faces Albuquerque, NM junior welterweight Josh “Pitbull” Torres (15-4-2, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
During his 19 ½-year pro career, Judah is 11-8 (9 KOs) in world title fights, defeating five world champions along the way in Junior Witter, Terron Millet, DeMarcus Corley, Raphael Pineda and Cory Spinks.
The 24-year-old Torres started boxing professionally at the age of 18, under the direction of his late trainer, 5-time world champion Johnny Tapia. Torres, a former USNBC welterweight title holder, is now trained by Tapia’s brother-in-law, Chris Chavez.
Rising Las Vegas lightweight star Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez (14-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on a member of one of boxing’s great families, Leon “The Third Generation” Spinks III (11-3-1, 7 KOs), in the 8-round main event. Gutierrez is a former USNBC titlist.
The 27-year-old Spinks has boxing blood running through his veins. His grandfather is two-time world heavyweight champion and 1976 Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks. Three-time world cruiserweight and former heavyweight champion Michael Spinks is young Leon’s great uncle, while his uncle Cory Spinks is a five-time, two-division world champion.
Canadian junior welterweight Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (23-3-1, 16 KOs) and Las Vegas junior welterweight Jeremy “J Flash” Nichols (2-0, 2 KOs), who served as a sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. for his mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao, are slated to fight opponents to be announced, respectively, in 8 and 4-round fights.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $65.00 ringside and $20.00 seated general admission, go on saleMonday, Feb. 21, 2016 at Ticketmaster.com or DLVEC.com. Suites are $1000.00, up to 10 guests, and includes a beverage package. Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT with the opening bout scheduled at 6:00 p.m. PT.
INFORMATION
Website: www.dlvec.com, www.thed.com
Twitter: @thedlasvegas, @dlvec, @DerekJStevens
Instagram: @thedlasvegas, @dlvec
Follow these fighters on Twitter: @SuperJudah, @PitbullTorres, @ElHuracan88, @LeonSpinksIII
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 Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque, Efren Leyba, and
WMMAA Pan-American president Tomas Yu (center)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (February 15, 2016) – The second annual World MMA Association (WMMAA) Pan-American Congress, recently held at The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a major success by all standards.
“The Pan-American Movement”, as it was named, brought together sports, tourism, and education for a common goal with more than 12 participating countries.
The Congress provided a rare opportunity for the entire WMMAA Pan-American family to collaborate with special partnerships like The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and The Mexico Consulate in Albuquerque, University of New Mexico Global Education Department. PANAM Members, representatives of National Federations, Commissions, Association and the Organizing Committee of the WMMAA Pan-American Championship (OCPC), as well as athletes, coaches, media, sponsors and other stakeholders to meet and discuss issues of importance to the entire MMA movement.
In his closing speech to the Congress, Pan-American Division President Tomas Yu paid tribute to the excellent collaboration between Pan-American members.
“If you asked me to sprawl a couple of times, I would most definitely need some nitro coffee from Villa Myriam before I run out of breath, followed by the guaranteed use of Sore No More,” Yu said. “But when it comes to fighting for our youth, for our MMA global goals – for cleaner competition, for a healthier, more peaceful and more flourishing SPORT – I will sprawl-jab-cross-kick like a champion. I will sprint the steepest trail in the Sandia Mountains. I will never stop until we raise our hands by victory. I am counting and exhorting all involved in the MMA industry to join us. We must go for the KO.”
 Over the course of the three-day Congress and 13-day PANAM Camp, there were special guest such as Legacy Champion Damacio Page, former UFC champion Jon “Bones” Jones and Carlos Condit. Participants heard from many respected speakers such as Health Committee Director Curt Chavez from eVOLV Strong, Hector Molina, Director of PANAM Regulatory Committee and Director of PANAM Medical Committee, Dr. Justo Pavia. The congress had interesting discussions on the following themes: athletes, 2016 Expo MMA, structure of the “WMMAA Pan-American Movement”, global officials’ license and database, new era of Digital Sports Marketing Revolution, and the 2016 Pan-American Championships.
Each day was divided in two general sessions with a half-day devoted to Rules and Regulations discussions for PANAM. The plenary sessions were followed by three simultaneous breakout sessions on respective sub-themes. All sessions were live-cast over the internet to allow the general public to hear discussions as it happened.
Two sessions began with presentations from a panel of speakers. The moderators of each panel were then responsible for the ensuing discussion period, which gave participants an opportunity to voice their opinions on issues. The main points from each session were carefully recorded by“ENLACE” – the new exclusive WMMAA correspondent program – to inform the Editorial Committee of the discussions at the end of each day. The final document reflected the main ideas to come out of the proceedings in Albuquerque, as well as information collected through the virtual WMMAA Pan-American Congress, allowing the WMMAA Pan-American family and public to submit written contributions.
 The mission of the 2016 WMMAA Pan-American Congress was to bring together sports, tourism and education for a united front and review the status of the WMMAA PANAM Movement in today’s evolving global society. Information was gathered and opinions sought regarding its future, in addition to providing structure, guidance, proposals and recommendations to all constituents and other stakeholders of the WMMAA PANAM Movement for its structured showcase and harmonious development within the global youth community.
The 2016 WMMAA Pan-American Congress was a great success and has left the WMMAA Pan-American Movement with a blueprint for the future. It is now time, once again, for the PANAM family to translate words into action: We are the Future of MMA!
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