Tag Archives: Anaheim

UNBEATEN HEAVYWEIGHTS COLLIDE AS GERALD WASHINGTON TAKES ON  OSCAR RIVAS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, IN OPENER OF SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® TRIPLEHEADER FROM HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

 
Exciting Night Of Action Features Undefeated Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez
& Julio Ceja vs. Hugo Ruiz 2 In A Pair Of World Title Bouts
 
ANAHEIM, CALIF. (February 2, 2016) – Unbeaten brawlers Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington (16-0-1, 11 KOs) and Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (18-0, 13 KOs) will meet in a 10-round showdown of rising heavyweights on Saturday, February 27, in the opening bout of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The telecast features two world title fights. In the main event, undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will make the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez. Televised coverage begins live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) with the exciting super bantamweight world title rematch between Mexican power-punchers Julio Cejaand Hugo Ruiz.
“I’m thrilled to be fighting so close to home in front of all my friends and family,” said Washington. “Oscar Rivas is a hard puncher but he’s never faced anyone as big and strong as I am. I’m anxious to get in the ring and continue to prove myself on my way to a world title opportunity.”
“I’m very excited to be fighting Gerald Washington in my first fight in Southern California,” said Rivas. “I know that he is a very tough, strong fighter. I will be prepared to come out victorious and stay undefeated as I head towards my goal of becoming a world champion.”
“The heavyweight division has been revived and Gerald Washington and Oscar Rivas are two guys to keep your eyes on,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions.  “Both are undefeated and hungry to earn their shot at a world title.”
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.
A two-way player (tight end and defensive end) at the University of Southern California, Washington spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills practice squads on his unconventional path that led him to boxing. The 33-year-old also worked in the Navy as a helicopter mechanic before going to USC and did not get his start in professional boxing until 2012. Fighting out of San Jose, California, he is yet to lose in his latest endeavor after fighting to a draw with Amir Mansour in October and defeating Jason Gavern in March last year.
Rivas, who represented Columbia at the 2008 Olympics, fought exclusively as a pro in his adopted hometown of Montreal before making his U.S. debut with a first-round knockout of Jason Pettaway in June 2015. The 28-year-old is riding a seven-fight knockout streak and most recently took down Joey Abell in the second round of a November 2015 fight. He will be looking to impress against the toughest opponent of his career onFebruary 27.
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 atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports

MEXICAN KNOCKOUT ARTISTS JULIO CEJA & HUGO RUIZ TO MEET IN SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE REMATCH ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27  FROM HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIF., LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

 
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
 Headlined By Leo Santa Cruz Defending His Featherweight Title
Against Former Champion Kiko Martinez At 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
 
ANAHEIM, CALIF. (Jan. 27, 2016) – Mexican warriors Julio Ceja and Hugo Ruiz will compete in a rematch of their exciting 2015 super bantamweight world title fight on Saturday, February 27, live on SHOWTIME® from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will be headlined by undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, who’ll bemaking the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez.
 
“I’m very happy to fight again in Southern California on such a fantastic card,” said Ceja. “In the first fight with Hugo Ruiz we had a sensational battle which ended with me coming out victorious and I’m very confident that I will win again. I look forward to putting on another great show on February 27.”
“I’m excited for the immediate rematch with Julio Ceja,” said Ruiz. “I know that I had him badly hurt during our first fight and that I will be victorious on February 27. I’d like to thank everyone involved for this great opportunity to avenge my loss.”
 
Ceja (30-1, 27 KOs) and Ruiz (35-3, 31 KOs) met on August 29, 2015, in Los Angeles, with Ceja winning the WBC 122-pound world title via a fifth-round stoppage in a wild back-and-forth brawl. Ruiz struck the first big blow in round three when he connected with a sharp left hand that floored Ceja. The fireworks continued into round five when Ceja unloaded a powerful left hook that put Ruiz on the mat. Ceja saw his opening and used a flurry of punches to close the show and take home the world title.
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.
The 23-year-old Ceja has won six fights in a row and is looking to prove that his victory over Ruiz was no fluke. The native of Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time since turning pro in 2009 at just 16 years old. The power-puncher owns victories over experienced veterans Henry Maldonado, Jesus Acosta, Alejandro Morales and Genaro Camargo.
A 29-year-old fighting out of Sinaloa Mexico, Ruiz entered the first fight against Ceja on a four-fight win streak and as winner of 26 of his last 27 fights. He’s defeated the likes of Jean Sampson, Yonfrez Parejo and Francisco Arce throughout a pro career that began in 2006. His bout with Ceja was his U.S. debut and his exciting style has earned him another shot at the world title.
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 atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION KIKO MARTINEZ FACES UNDEFEATED WORLD CHAMPION LEO SANTA CRUZ ON SATURDAY, FEB. 27, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® FROM HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CALIF.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live At 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
 
Tickets On Sale Now!
NEW YORK (Jan. 20, 2015) – Undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will make the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez on Saturday, Feb. 27, live on SHOWTIME® from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“I’m excited to have another opportunity to fight in front of my L.A. friends,” said Santa Cruz. “I’ve been in the gym and staying ready for anyone that’s put in front of me. I’m going to be 100 percent ready for this fight and I plan to go out there and look great.”
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to face off against Leo Santa Cruz on February 27,” said Martinez. “Santa Cruz is clearly one of the very best featherweights in the world but I have what it takes. I’ve already begun working very hard with my longtime trainer Gaby Sarmiento and I will be victorious.”
“It’s always great to be able to bring quality fights to the Southern California fight fans,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “The Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez battle couldn’t be in a better venue or town and it will provide non-stop action from the opening bell. TGB Promotions is honored to once again work with SHOWTIME and the team at the Honda Center on another great event.”
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.
The popular Mexican-American Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs), fighting out of Los Angeles, won the 126-pound title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate against former three-division champ Abner Mares last August at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.  It was just the second fight in the featherweight division for Santa Cruz, who has won belts at 118 and 122 pounds while earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most active and exciting fighters.  The 27-year-old also holds victories over Cristian Mijares and Eric Morel and has fought in world title bouts in 10 of his last 12 fights since 2012.
Martinez (35-6-0, 26 KOs), of Valenciana, Spain, is a former super bantamweight world champion who won the IBF belt with a sixth-round knockout of Jhonatan Romero in 2013.  The 29-year-old made two successful title defenses against Jeffrey Mathebula and long-time titlist Hozumi Hasegawabefore losing a decision in 2014 in a rematch against Carl Frampton.  Martinez challenged Scott Quigg for the 122-pound belt in July of 2015 before moving up to 126 pounds, where he bounced back to record knockouts in two of his three fights in just two months.   A world traveler who frequently fights on his opponent’s home turf, Martinez will now challenge Santa Cruz in just his second fight in the U.S. with his sights set on becoming a two-division world champion.
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