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UNDEFEATED DMITRY BIVOL TO DEFEND INTERIM WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST SAMUEL CLARKSON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 14 IN THE MAIN EVENT OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

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Unbeaten Welterweight Prospects Juan Ruiz and Malik Hawkins Square Off In Co-Feature; Baltimore’s Glenn Dezurn To Open ShoBox Tripleheader

 

Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland

 

Tickets On Sale Today!

 

NEW YORK (March 21, 2017) – Undefeated former Russian amateur standout Dmitry Bivol will defend his Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title against Samuel Clarkson in the 12-round main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 14 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

 

Known for his aggressive style, Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs, 2-0 WSB) was a prominent amateur who is now determined to make his mark in one of boxing’s toughest weight classes.  Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs), of Cedar Hill, Texas, has won his last nine fights in a row and will make his third appearance on ShoBox. 

 

In a co-featured matchup of undefeated welterweight prospects, former amateur standouts Juan Ruiz (18-0, 11 KOs) and Malik Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) will square off in an eight-round 147-pound bout.

 

In the telecast opener, Baltimore featherweight Glenn Dezurn (8-0, 6 KOs), who is trained by the renowned Barry Hunter, will take on an opponent to be named in an eight-round bout.

 

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Banner Promotions in association with World of Boxing and Uprising Promotions, are priced at $103, $73 and $48 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000.

 

Dmitry Bivol vs. Samuel Clarkson – 12 Round Light Heavyweight Bout:

Bivol, who compiled an impressive amateur record of 285-15, is looking to break through in a division which features the likes of Adonis Stevenson, Andre Ward, Sergey Kovalev and Badou Jack.  Last May in Moscow, the 26-year-old won the Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title in only his seventh professional fight with a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Felix Valera.

 

Bivol has since won twice, both times on Russian soil, including a fourth-round knockout of Robert Berridge in defense of his interim belt. 

 

“I am very glad that this will be my first fight televised in the U.S.,” said Bivol, who is fighting for the third time in America.  “It’s great that this is main event because that motivates me.  Clarkson is a good defensive fighter.  He can be aggressive and I expect this to be a tough fight.  I look forward to introducing myself to American fans with a great performance, and I plan to defend my title with an exciting victory.”

 

Clarkson has registered nine consecutive victories following a loss to the current unbeaten Jesse Hart (21-0).  Clarkson moved up in weight to beat Cedric Agnew (27-1) in February 2015, and has ShoBox knockout wins over Jerry Odom (13-1) in July 2015 and Lavarn Harvell (15-1) in October 2015. 

 

“This is a huge opportunity to prove my abilities to the world,” Clarkson said. “Bivol is a crafty fighter from Russia and had a very impressive amateur career, mostly at 165 pounds. He’s a good fighter and I definitely have to bring my A-game.  

 

“I’m ready for the challenge because I do really well against European fighters.  European fighters are slow and come forward a lot, and they’re not big on head movement.   We are working hard and have a lot of guys in the gym who fight with a similar style.  By fight time I’ll be ready for anything he has. 

 

“I had to make up my mind if I wanted to be the lion or the lamb and, in the end, I decided I don’t like losing. I rededicated myself and now I can’t be stopped.”

 

Juan Ruiz vs. Malik Hawkins – Eight-Round Welterweight Bout:

The son of a former fighter, Ruiz is originally from Venezuela and fights out of Baja California, Mexico.  He lost just eight times in 220 amateur fights, was a six-time Venezuela national champion and was part of the Venezuelan National Team.  The undefeated Ruiz has won via knockout in seven of his last nine fights. 

 

“This is a golden ticket for me to show what I’m capable of,” Ruiz said. “I will do my best to give the fans watching on TV and those attending the fight the best show possible.”

 

The 21-year-old Baltimore-resident Hawkins was 92-8 as an amateur and shares the same trainer – Calvin Ford – as stablemate and IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis.  Hawkins, who was the 2012 Bronze Medalist in the Junior Olympics, will face his toughest test to date in fellow undefeated Juan Ruiz. 

 

“This is a huge chance for me to showcase my skills and show I belong among the best in the welterweight division,” Hawkins said. “There’s nothing he can bring I haven’t seen, and I plan on making him fight my fight. 

 

“I get better when I fight talented fighters.  To be honest, nobody I have fought so far has brought out the best in me, but I’m hoping that Ruiz does just that.  A victory over him would put me in position to fight the opponents I need to fight to take that next step toward becoming a contender.”

 

Glenn Dezurn vs. TBD – Eight-Round Featherweight Bout:

The undefeated Dezurn, who was a three-sport star athlete in high school, was an amateur standout who compiled an 87-7 record in the unpaid ranks under the tutelage of Barry Hunter.  The Baltimore native is married to female boxer and U.S. Olympic alternate Franchon Crews, who fought Claressa Shields in the amateurs and in her pro debut.

 

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

 

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing/ and www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions/.

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World ranked lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni wins South African Fighter of the Year

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Philadelphia, PA / Johannesburg, South Africa (February , 2017)–This past Friday night in Durban, South Africa, WBA number-3 ranked, WBC number-13 ranked, and WBO number-15 ranked lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni (22-0, 11 Ko’s) was named South African Fighter of the Year.
The ceremony took place in front of former South African world champions, and dignitaries  such as  Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula.
The 26 year-old Ndongeni won two big fights in 2016.  His year started out on April 22ndwith a 1st round stoppage over Emilio Norfat.  He followed that up with a 10-round unanimous decision over Juan Garcia Mendez on November 4th in Corona, California.
The bout was Ndongeni’s American debut.
“I’m very proud to have won,” said Ndongeni. “I have a lot of faith in my team of Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves, Banner Promotions and [trainer] Colin Nathan. The sky is the limit. I’m looking forward to fighting in the US very soon and showing them all what I’m capable of.”
“I was delighted for ‘Nomeva’ [Ndongeni], who made his US debut last year and won in style against a difficult opponent,” said Golden Gloves CEO, Rodney Berman. “I have high hopes from him and this endorsement merely underlines his international potential. He’s highly rated and will surely get his big chance before long.”
Said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo, “I want to congratulate Xolisani for winning this great award.  He is a terrific fighter, and was very impressive in his American debut.  2017 will be a big year for him and we look to get him in some big fights.”
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World ranked middleweight Willie Monroe, Jr. looking for major fights in 2017

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Monroe goes 2-0 in 2016 with wins over two former world title challengers
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Philadelphia, Penn./Rochester, New York (Dec. 19, 2016) –Willie Monroe, Jr. is ready for another major opportunity after a year where he defeated two world title challengers.
The native of Rochester, New York scored unanimous decision victories over John Thompson and Gabriel Rosado in 2016 to put himself in position to be mentioned for an early-2017 bout with Canelo Alvarez or a world title opportunity with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders.  Monroe is also looking for showdowns with contenders David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens.
The recent win over Rosado netted Monroe the WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Sporting a record of 21-2 with 6 knockouts has Monroe ranked number-5 by the WBA, number-8 by the WBO and number-13 by the WBC.
This week, Monroe became a member of #TeamEverlast as a endorser for the legendary Everlast brand.
“I am very thankful to be a part of #TeamEverlast. Joining this elite group of guys is a testament to my hard work and determination being recognized.  I look forward to growing with Everlast in the coming years.”
“2017 is going to be an exciting year,” said Monroe. “I saw what it is like to be on that stage in 2015 when I faced Golovkin for the world title.  This year I beat 2 world title challengers decisively, and now I am looking to keep that momentum and  have a big year.  You will see a lot more fight out of Willie Monroe.  I have already proved myself as a boxer, and this year I will have to show other elements out of Willie Monroe.”
“It was a big stage to fight Golovkin, but I fought on a bigger stage on the Canelo undercard in front of 50,000 people, and I proved that I am one of the top guys in the division.  I will prove that once again in 2017.”
“The most important thing for me is activity in 2017. There are fights to be made; Saunders, Stevens, Lemieux. I would fight all of those guys one after another. My team and I ended 2016 with fireworks; lets continue that show in 2017.”
“Willie put together an amazing 2016 in the final 6 months of the year. I am glad we got the deal with Everlast finalized. This serves as excellent momentum going into 2017,” said Adrian Clark (Strategic Partner to Willie Monroe, Jr.)
“Willie had an outstanding year,” said Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo.  “He showed his resiliency by coming back from the Golovkin fight.  Great fighters take losses and come back stronger, and that is what Willie showed.  He will be in a significant bout in early 2017, and he will prove again that he is one of the top middleweights in the world.”
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Banner Promotions Shelestyuk, Villa and Ndongeni shine this past Friday night in Corona, California

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World ranked welterweight Taras Shelestyuk defeats Jamie Herrera on ShoBox: The New Generation; world ranked lightweight Xolisani Ndongeni and heralded prospect Ruben Villa get wins off-televison
Watch Shelestyuk – Herrera replay,TONIGHT,  Nov. 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME®
Photos by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing
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CORONA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2016) – Taras “The Real Deal Shelestyuk, Xolisani Ndongeni,and Ruben Villa all remained undefeated this past Friday night at the Omega Events Center in Corona, California.
Shelestyuk (15-0, 9 KOs), the 2012 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist for Ukraine, was victorious by the scores of 96-93 twice and 95-94. Despite a gutsy, gritty performance, Herrera (15-4-1, 8 KOs), of Chicago, IL., had a 3-fight winning streak end. There were no knockdowns.

 Southpaw Shelestyuk, who entered the ring ranked No. 9 in the WBO and No. 13 in the WBA, turned back a determined bid by Herrera to win, despite getting docked a point for excessive holding in the fifth round.

“It was a tough fight,” stated Shelestyuk. “He is a tough fighter;  he is slow, but he worked well. In the first round, I did well but my legs went on me. I think it was because I did not sleep well.

“After five rounds, I started to find my rhythm. I started boxing him. I made some mistakes in there like pulling straight back. This fight will make me better. Like I said, he was tough but nothing special. When my legs went, I started to work inside. I beat him good in the last round and if there was 30 seconds more, I could have stopped him.

“I am looking forward to being more active in 2017. I will take two or three weeks off and be right back in the gym.”

“The Truth” hurts, and Herrera had more than his fair share of moments in a tight fight. Herrera, a professional since December 2009, figured to be a legitimate test for Shelestyuk, and he was. But Taras was more active, (landing 169 of 689 punches, compared to Herrera’s 130 of 460). Each fighter connected 28 percent of the time.

Herrera, who had defeated undefeated prospects in four of his previous nine fights, was not happy with the verdict. “It was a good fight. There is not much that I can say. I thought it was closer than the scores indicated. I had fun in there, and I give him credit. He was everything I expected. He is a smart fighter.”

“I would love to be a test dummy for all these young prospects. I thought it could have been a draw, but the people who saw it on TV can have their opinion.”

Shelestyuk is co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

Opening up the ShoBox broadcast, Vitor Jones Freitas was stopped in the first round by Manuel Mendez.  The fight was stopped after Mendez landed a thudding body shot that sent the previously undefeated Brazilian down for the ten count, breaking his rib.
In non-television action, Ndongeni showed why he is considered championship worthy, as he pounded out a ten-round unanimous decision over rugged Juan Garcia Mendez.
Ndongeni controlled the action as he mixed up his punches. He countered beautifully and worked up and down by mixing up his shots to the head and body of Mendez.  Ndongeni, 26 years-old, is ranked number-3 by the WBA, and he showed the class of a world championship contender in his American debut.

Ndongeni, nicknamed “Nomeva”, which means The Wasp, stung Mendez throughout the contest, and he showed that not only is he a serious title contender, but he has a fan-friendly style.

Ndongeni is co-promoted by Banner Promotions and Golden Gloves Promotions.

Villa, of Salinas, California, was taken the distance for the first time, as he won a 4-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Aaron Lopez.
Villa, who previously scored two consecutive first round knockouts, won every round by showing off his boxing skills in the battle of undefeated fighters.
The 19 year-old Villa pushed the pace throughout the fight and had Lopez in trouble several times.  Villa has been very active, as this was his 3rd win since turning professional on July 29th.
“I am very proud of Taras, Xolisani, and Ruben,” said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo.
“These are three guys at different stages, but I believe that all three have the talent to become world champions.  Taras is closing in on a significant fight, for which a win will lead him to a title.  This was our first look at Xolisani, and he was the fighter that was advertised.  He has a lot of skills and is a versatile.   My partner Rodney Berman and Iwill now look at the many options that we will have with him.  I do expect him to fight for a world title sometime in the next year.  Ruben had a tremendous learning experience.  He fought a guy who was undefeated and very durable.  He actually showed us more in this fight than he did in his two first round knockouts.  In this fight he won all four round on every judges scorecards (40-36 on all cards).  I was very impressed with the different punch selections and the way he set everything up in there. As I have said before, he is a star in the making.  As for Vitor, he had the right attitude following the fight.  He is not going to let this deter him.  He just got caught with the wrong punch at the wrong time.  He was winning the round easily before that happened.  He will obviously take some time off, and then we will look to bring him back next year.”
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Vitor Jones Freitas stops Lucio in 1

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Philadelphia, PA (August 2, 2016)–Vitor Jones Freitas record remained perfect by stopping Licelio Da Silva Lucio in the first round of their scheduled eight-round lightweight bout this past Saturday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
With the victory, Freitas of Salvador, Brazil improved his unblemished mark to 14-0, while notching his eighth knockout.
The 23 year-old Freitas registered two knockdowns, both with left hooks in the bout, which lasted just 79 seconds.
Freitas, who is the nephew of former four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas, will now look to come back to the United States in a higher profile bout.
“Vitor is coming along very nicely in Brazil.  We showcased him on four of our cards here in the states to get his feet wet and now he has won four straight back in Brazil,” said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo.  “Now we are looking to bring him back here in the fall and put him on television and fight for a regional title.  He is becoming the fighter we thought he could be when we signed him, and we are looking forward for the American public to embrace him in the same way they did his uncle.”
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Ruben Villa destroys Gerardo Molina in first round of pro debut 

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Onatario, CA. (July 30, 2016)–Heralded amateur Ruben Villa (1-0, 1 KO) did not waste any time putting away challenger Gerardo Molina (1-2, 1 KO) this past Friday night in his professional debut. Villa landed a counter left hook early in the first round that sent Molina backpedaling onto the canvas. Seconds later, Villa, who is from Salinas, Calif., rocked Molina with a series of punches, knocking him out at the 2:25 mark of the opening round. 
“It felt great to get that first win,” Villa said. “I didn’t go in thinking knockout, but I knew after the first knockdown that I was going to end it early. I had a bunch of friends and family in attendance. I’m glad I gave them something to smile about.”
“Ruben looked sensational in his pro debut,” said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo.  “Even though it was just inside of one round, you could tell that Ruben is a tremendous talent, and we are looking forward to his next fight, which should be announced shortly.

“Ruben looked fantastic tonight,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing Promotions. “He gave us a glimpse into his immense potential. Ruben has a very bright future ahead of him and we are excited to continue to feature him on our Southern California shows.”

Villa is co-promoted through Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions.

Photos By Carlos Baeza/  Thompson Boxing
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Banner Promotions & Thompson Boxing sign amateur standout Ruben Villa to a co-promotional contract 

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Philadelphia, PA / Orange, CA. (July 26, 2016)–Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions are pleased to announce the signing of amateur standout Ruben Villato a co-promotional contract.
The 19 year-old Villa of Salinas, California compiled an outstanding record of 166-17 in the unpaid ranks that included two National Junior Golden Gloves titles and two National Golden Gloves championships at 123 pounds.
Ruben did not make the U.S. Olympic team due to his struggles to make 123 pounds in the Olympic Trials.  He will campaign as a professional in the featherweight division (126 lbs).
“I am excited, and I have been working very hard to get to this point.  I cannot wait to turn professional,” said Villa.
“It is very cool to sign with two great promoters.  We were offered the opportunity, and we took it.”
“As for the Olympic trials I was disappointed, yet happy at the same time.  I was happy to make it that far, and now I am ready for the next phase of my career.”
Villa began boxing at the age of five when his family, who were big boxing fans, took young Ruben to the gym.
That spawned his amateur career, which saw him reach the number-1 national ranking at 123 pounds and saw him defeat eventual United States Olympian Shakur Stevenson.
“He is a good fighter, and I hope he wins a medal and at some point we can break the tie in our fights against each other.  I see that as a big fight down the line in the pros.”
Villa defeated Stevenson in the National Golden Gloves and Olympic Trials.
The 5’6″ Villa is managed and trained by Danny Zamora.  Zamora performs the same roles with world-ranked NABA, NABO, NABF and Boxicino 2014 lightweight champion Petr Petrov.
Villa describes his style as a boxer who uses angles and does not get hit much.
“My boxing influences are a bit of Vasyl Lomachenko and Canelo Alavrez.”
Ruben’s family and friends are not only a big part of his life, but also part of his success.
“My parents started me in boxing, and they have been extremely supportive in this.  I also have 4 sisters (Ruben is the 2nd oldest of the 5 children), and they are very supportive as well. “
Villa has sparred with Petrov, Bruno Escalante and Manuel Avilla, and that has given him a good gage on where he is at as he embarks on his career.
“I do well with those guys.  I can hold my own, and those guys are great professionals.  It gives me confidence as I start out.”
“Whenever you have the chance to sign someone as talented and as gifted as Ruben Villa, you jump at that opportunity,” said Ken Thompson, President of Thompson Boxing Promotions. “Villa comes to us from an accomplished amateur background. He has all the traits you look for in a prospect – tremendous skill set, positive attitude, and a love for the sport. He has an outstanding future ahead of him.”

Arthur Pelullo, President of Banner Promotions stated, “We are very excited by the signing of Ruben.  He has all the makings of a future star.  I can see big things in his future, as he has great ability, a pro-style and the intangibles to be a great fighter for a long time.  We are very familiar with Ruben’s team, and we have a great relationship with his manager, Danny Zamora. We are eager to start Ruben on his journey to become a world champion.”

“Ruben is a great prospect, a top amateur and an Olympic alternate,” said Villa’s Manager Danny Zamora. “I believe he will be a world champion.  I met Ruben through his trainer Rudy Puga, and I have been following him for three years.  I feel that he has all the makings to be a star.”

Villa will turn professional this Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California on a Thompson Boxing card that will be headlined by Jose Roman taking on Carlos Cardenas
Photos by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing
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Banner Promotions re-signs former world title challenger and Boxcino 2014 champion Willie Monroe Jr.

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Philadelphia, PA (July 12, 2016)–Banner Promotions is pleased to announce the re-signing of former world title challenger and Boxcino 2014 Middleweight champion, Willie Monroe Jr. to an exclusive promotional agreement.
Monroe of Rochester, New York has a record of 20-2 with 6 knockouts and is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over fellow former world title challenger and Boxcino champion, John Thompson on June 11th in Verona, New York.
The 29 year-old Monroe turned professional in 2008 and won his first 10 bouts.  Monroe won the 2014 Boxcino Middleweight tournament with wins over Donatas Bondorovas, Vitally Kopylenko, and Brandon Adams.
Those wins catapulted him into a bout with WBA/Interim WBC Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
Monroe performed admirably in the bout, which took place on May 16, 2015 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
“I’m excited to re-sign with Banner Promotions. Artie has been nothing but great to me, and he’ll put me in position to fight against the Danny Jacobs and Canelos of the boxing world,” said Willie Monroe Jr.
“It feels good to have a fresh start over. I am coming off of a huge win on Showtime vs. John Thompson, and I now have a great team watching my back with my brother, Trent Monroe, TJ Nolan and Adrian Clark as my Strategic Partner.”
“Doing what was best for Willie was the focal point in negotiations. We put our heads together and structured a great deal for Willie with Banner Promotions. I am looking forward to working with Artie to map out things for Willie,” said Adrian Clark, Monroe’s Strategic Partner.
“We are excited to have Willie back in the fold,” said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo.
“Willie has showed not only in the Boxcino tournament, but in his fight against Golovkin, that he is one of the top middleweights in the world.  He had a great performance against John Thompson, and now he is ready for any challenge in the division.  We will be actively pursuing all of those opportunities for Willie.”
Photo credit:  Emily Harney / Banner Promotions
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WBO European Super Featherweight champion Evgeny Chuprakov defends title with 5th round stoppage over previously undefeated Sebastian Tlatlik this past Friday in Ekaterinburg, Russia

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Ekaterinburg, Russia (May 9, 2016)–This past Friday night, in Ekaterinburg, Russia, undefeated WBO European Super Featherweight champion Evgeny Chuprakovmade the second defense of his title, when he stopped previously undefeated Sebastian Tlatlik in the fifth round of their scheduled 10-round bout.
Chuprakov (16-0, 8 KO’s) of Ekaterinburg is currently ranked number-7 by the WBO and number-14 by the IBF.
Chuprakov dominated the action and finally the fight was halted by the referee in the 5th round.  This was the third undefeated opponent that Chuprakov has beaten, as he continues to fight top-level competition;  He already has a stoppage victory over former world champion Dmitry Kirillov.
“This is a great win for Evgeny.  He stopped an undefeated fighter, and now we are looking to bring him back to the United States and put him in a meaningful bout.  He has proven that he is a contender at junior lightweight, and we hope to have him back in the ring in August,” said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo.
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WBO European Super Featherweight champion Evgeny Chuprakov defends title against undefeated Sebastian Tlatlik this Friday in Ekaterinburg, Russia

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Ekaterinburg, Russia (May 5, 2016)–This Friday night, in Ekaterinburg, Russia undefeated WBO European Super Featherweight champion Evgeny Chuprakov will be back in action when he makes the second defense of his title, when he takes on fellow undefeated Sebastian Tlatlik on a card promoted by German Titov Promotions.
Chuprakov (15-0, 8 KO’s) of Ekaterinburg is
currently ranked number-5 by the WBO and number-12 by the IBF.  Tlatlik is 10-0 with 9 knockouts.
“I have a real test coming up in my next fight. The opponent has a very serious record, and I have trained my best for this fight. I want to make sure that I am ready and in top condition.  I am looking forward to this fight!”, said Chuprakov.
“This is a big fight for Evgeny.  He has turned into a serious contender, and we know he has been working very hard.  With a big performance on Friday, we are looking to bring him back to the United States and put him in a significant fight,” said Banner Promotions President, Arthur Pelullo.