The sixth Installment of Gloves Off explores the backstories of two world champions whose journeys collide at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for aPBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Videoon March 1
NEW YORK—February 14, 2025— Today, Prime Video announced the release of Gloves Off: Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr., the sixth installment of the compelling docuseries. This two-part series delves into the preparation for the anticipated 12-round lightweight world championship bout set for Saturday, March 1 at Barclays Center.
Boxing superstar and reigning WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) will defend his title against WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) in the main event of a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video card.
The 30-year-old Davis from Baltimore and 29-year-old Roach from Washington, D.C., previously met as amateurs and now face off for Tank’s World Lightweight belt.
Narrated by Barry Pepper, the program takes fans beyond the ring, blending footage of the fighters’ lives, families, and training camp activities as excitement builds for this prime-time encounter in Brooklyn.
DETROIT (February 13, 2025)– Salita Promotions and Fresh Productions have announced the addition of several surging contenders, including two pivotal jr. welterweight title bouts added to the event headlined by Puerto Rican knockout specialist Subriel Matías (21-2, 21 KOs) and Mexico’s hard-hitting Gabriel Valenzuela (30-3, 17 KOs) in an IBF Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator.
Puerto Rico resident and WBO No. 3 ranked contender Alfredo Santiago (16-2, 7 KOs) and undefeated Nestor Bravo (23-0, 16 KOs), ranked No. 6 in the WBA, will both be in action in separate bouts on Saturday, March 1, live on DAZN. The winner of each 140-pound bout will position himself for a world title shot, none more significantly than in the main event, where the winner will earn the mandatory position to face reigning IBF Champ, Richardson Hitchins.
Also announced today, making his anticipated professional debut is Puerto Rico’s Yandiel Lozano and Salita Promotions promising heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (6-0, 4 KOs) from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Returning to Puerto Rico for the second time in five months, Salita Promotions has continued to explore the rich boxing talent residing on the island, much like the company has done the past two years in the state of Michigan. With a proven track record of discovering talent throughout the greater Detroit and Flint, Mich., region, Salita Promotions President Dmitriy Salita continues to give up-and-coming and rising talent a global platform to perform.
“We provided a path and platform for many fighters to earn recognition and achieve their dreams,” said Dmitriy Salita. “From solidified world champions like Claressa Shields to budding stars like Ardreal Holmes Jr., Salita Promotions continues to mine for the next super stars of boxing throughout Michigan and now we are doing the same in Puerto Rico. Stars from the Caribbean Island such as Miguel Cotto, Félix Trinidad, and Juan ‘John John’ Molina have all paved the way for the prospects we will be showcasing on March 1.”
The co-main event will see the WBO NABO Jr. Welterweight Title on the line as Santiago, who hails from the Dominican Republic, meets fellow countryman Javier Fortuna (39-5, 28 KOs). Santiago, 30, returns to the ring on the heels of a statement first-round TKO victory over Mexico’s Pedro Campa in November 2024. Currently on the strength of three straight victories, Santiago captured the WBO NABO Jr. Welterweight Title last June when he defeated Angel Fierro via unanimous decision, and on March 1, Santiago will attempt to defend his title for the third time. Starting his impressive career off with an undefeated record of 12-0, Santiago earned a shot against former Undisputed Lightweight World Champion Devin Haney for the WBC Lightweight World Championship in November 2019. While coming up short, Santiago has proven that he belongs in the upper echelon of the Jr. Welterweight Division.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the level I am at,” said Santiago. “I have worked hard, I’m in my best shape, and on March 1 in Fajardo, I’m going to give it my all in the ring. I respect Javier Fortuna, but he will find out that he’s facing a true warrior. I’m ready for any version of him that shows up in front of my people in Fajardo. I’m going to go to war and take the victory.”
Entering his second bout in just over two months, the 35-year-old Fortuna will compete in Puerto Rico for the first time. Like his opponent, Fortuna is coming off an impressive TKO victory defeating Jonatan Mariano in December 2024. Boasting a staggering 28 knockouts to his name, Fortuna held the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Title in 2019 and challenged former IBF Super Featherweight World Champion Joseph Diaz in 2021 for the WBC Interim Lightweight World Title.
In addition, undefeated Nestor Bravoand South Africa’s Xolisani Ndongeni (32-6, 19 KOs) will collide for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Jr. Welterweight Title. Hailing from Arecibo, P.R., Bravo will return to action after nearly a year away from the ring. In his last outing, Bravo scored a second-round knockout victory over Carlos Manuel Portillo. Following a decorated amateur career with numerous national and international tournament wins, Bravo turned professional in 2015 when he defeated Nestor Ortiz via knockout. Previously holding the WBC Latino Lightweight Title and the WBO NABO Super Lightweight Title, Bravo pursues another belt when he faces his toughest test to date in Ndongeni.
Recently challenging for the vacant WBO Latino Lightweight Title, Ndongeni looks to insert himself back into the win column against Bravo. A tenured competitor, Ndongeni has held the WBF International Featherweight Title, IBO International Lightweight Title, and WBF Lightweight Title. With ample experience against undefeated prospects, Ndongeni aims to give the rising Bravo his first defeat.
Kicking off the night live on DAZN and in a quick turnaround, Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Pryce Taylor returns to action against Arizona’s Trevor Kotara (4-3-1, 1 KO) following his second-round knockout victory over Jerell Nettles on February 2. A promising heavyweight prospect, Taylor signed with Salita Promotions in November 2024, and has since gone 2-0 under the banner, both victories coming by way of knockout. Standing at 6-foot-4, Taylor is a former collegiate basketball player and has won two New York Golden Gloves title.
Lastly, Puerto Rico’s own Yandiel Lozano will make his much-anticipated professional debut. The silver medalist at the World Youth Championships, a four-time champion of the Bert Sugar Tournament, Florida Junior Silver Gloves champion, and two-time Puerto Rican National Champion, Lozano steps into the star-studded featherweight division after a solid amateur career.
“Fajardo is filled with pride as it welcomes home two of its greatest warriors of the ring,” said José Aníbal Meléndez, Mayor Autonomous Municipality of Fajardo. “Subriel Matías, born and raised in our town, returns to the ring to once again prove why he is one of the most outstanding figures in world boxing. Alongside him, another great champion from Fajardo, Alfredo ‘Ojo’ Santiago, will be defending his title, proudly representing our city. For Fajardo, this event is not just a sporting spectacle but a celebration of the determination, discipline, and talent that define our athletes.”
ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.
Rising Mexican Star Jesus Ramos Jr. Battles All-Action Contender Kevin Salgado in All-Mexican Co-Main Event Live from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas
Rising Middleweight Contender Elijah Garcia Duels U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha Kicking Off Action at8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Tickets on Sale Thursday, February 13 at 10 a.m.
LAS VEGAS (February 11, 2025) – Unified WBC and WBO Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will step into the ring to make the first defense of his world titles as he takes on top contender Chordale Booker headlining PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video action Saturday, March 22 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
In the co-main event, rising Mexican star Jesus Ramos Jr. will battle all-action contender Kevin Salgado in a 10-round all-Mexican super welterweight showdown, plus exciting rising middleweight contender Elijah Garcia duels veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the 10-round opening bout.
The event will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the action streaming exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to catch the championship card. Known for delivering memorable toe-to-toe action every time he steps into the ring, Fundora will compete as a world champion for the first time as he takes on the talented WBO No. 5-ranked contender Booker in this high-stakes clash with multiple titles on the line.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, Sampson Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, will go on sale Thursday, February 13 at 10 a.m. PT on AXS.com. Pre-sale ticketsare AVAILABLE TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 12 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT on AXS.com with code: PBC
“Sebastian Fundora sits atop the stacked super welterweight division and will no doubt be looking to put on a show when he defends his world titles against the dangerous highly-rated contender Chordale Booker topping this great event on Prime Video on March 22,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is a tremendous style matchup between the forward-charging attack of Fundora and the slick counterpunching of Booker and will make for great back-and-forth. Combined with a surefire action fight between Jesus Ramos Jr. and Kevin Salgado and a toss-up fight between Elijah Garcia and Terrell Gausha, everything is in place for another memorable fight night in Las Vegas.”
“Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora will be better than ever in his first fight as a defending unified world champion,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “The whole Fundora family works so hard to be where they are and they deserve their success. Chordale Booker is a good fighter with real skills, but he won’t be able to take Sebastian’s power.”
**SEBASTIAN FUNDORA VS. CHORDALE BOOKER**
Standing nearly six-foot-six, Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora leapt into the championship ranks after earning a decision over Tim Tszyu last year, and will now defend his WBC and WBO 154-pound world titles against the WBO No. 5-ranked and WBC No. 14-ranked super welterweight contender in Chordale Booker as they top the March 22 event in a 12-round attraction.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring that helped him emerge victorious from a grueling and bloody battle against Tszyu last March. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in an instant 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round.
The 27-year-old has defeated a slew of contenders throughout his career, with his only defeat coming to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“I’m preparing really hard to defend my unified WBC and WBO world titles on March 22 in Las Vegas,” said Fundora. “Everyone can expect to see me prepared and ready to leave it all in the ring like I always do. ‘The Towering Inferno’ is back, and I’m coming to take out everyone in my way.”
Fighting out of his native Stamford, Connecticut, Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) enters this fight on a six-fight winning streak that includes four stoppage victories that have helped him rise up the rankings and earn his first world title opportunity. Since a 2022 loss to Austin Williams, Booker has dominated his competition, including a 2024 campaign that saw him defeat veteran contender Greg Vendetti in February before stopping Brian Damian Chaves in round three of their June clash.
The 33-year-old also owns triumphs over a litany of tough contenders including Wale Omotoso and VeShawn Owens. Prior to turning pro in 2016, Booker put together a sensational amateur career that included gold medals at the U.S. National and Golden Gloves championships, in addition to a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic trials that earned him an alternate spot for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
“I’ve done everything I could to get here, and it’s a testament to what my foundation represents – going the distance,” said Booker. “I’ve gone the distance to make it to this fight. I’ve taken fights on short notice, fought for less and always kept pushing forward. Now, 15 years into my boxing journey, I’m stepping into the biggest fight of my life. This moment means everything and it’s proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.”
**JESUS RAMOS JR. VS. KEVIN SALGADO**
In the 10-round co-main event, one of the sport’s brightest rising Mexican stars will return to action as Jesus Ramos Jr. looks to continue his climb up the stacked 154-pound division when he battles the all-action contender Kevin Salgado in an explosive all-Mexican battle. After coming up on the wrong end of a contested decision against top contender Erickson Lubin in September 2023, Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs) has returned in style with back-to-back stoppages. Most recently he blasted out the former unified champion Jeison Rosario in the eight-round of their February 1 matchup.
A native of Casa Grande, Ariz., Ramos had worked his way up the rankings by defeating a slew of contenders including Brian Mendoza, Javier Molina, Vladimir Hernandez and an emphatic stoppage of the then-unbeaten Joey Spencer. Trained by his father Jesus Sr., and the nephew of veteran contender Abel, the 23-year-old Ramos entered the Lubin fighting having stopped seven of his last 10 opponents.
“I’m thrilled to be stepping back into the ring on March 22,” said Ramos. “One of my main goals this year was to increase my activity and this opportunity aligns perfectly with that ambition. Kevin Salgado is a formidable fighter known for his resilience and determination, and that should make for an electrifying night of boxing. Coming off an extended training camp, my conditioning is at its peak. Now our primary focus is to develop a strategic game plan tailored to Salgado’s unique style so that we can secure the victory.”
A native of Mexico City, Salgado (17-2-1, 10 KOs) is the younger brother of former super featherweight champion Juan Carlos Salgado and now fights out of San Antonio, Texas. Salgado enters this with two consecutive stoppage victories following an April 2023 decision loss to Elijah Garcia. The 27-year-old turned pro in late 2016 and delivered knockouts in six of his first nine outings. After scoring three-straight knockouts between September 2019 and February 2021, Salgado returned to the ring in October 2021 to defeat Ricardo Banuelos Cernas by unanimous decision before fighting Bryant Perrella to a split-draw in his U.S. debut in April.
Salgado bounced back from a September 2022 defeat to Joey Spencer by knocking out Gilberto Flores in the first round of their December 2022 clash.
“This is an important opportunity and I’m coming to make the most of it,” said Salgado. “I have a strong opponent, but I’m going to be the best version of myself when the fight comes. On March 22 I will do whatever it takes to get my hand raised.”
**ELIJAH GARCIA VS. TERRELL GAUSHA**
The opening attraction will see the return of a rising star in the 21-year-old Elijah Garcia, who seeks to bounce back from his first career defeat and return to his championship trajectory in a 10-round middleweight fight against the always tough veteran Terrell Gausha, who has stood up to a litany of top fighters throughout his career.
Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, García (16-1, 13 KOs) steps back into the ring after dropping a close split-decision last June against middleweight contender Kyrone Davis. Garcia had previously burst onto the scene as a teenager by earning three impressive victories in 2023. He kicked off that memorable campaign in March with a knockout of the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vida and followed that up with a pair of performances on the undercards of two of the biggest events of the year.
He first defeated Kevin Salgado on the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia pay-per-view in April before knocking out Armando Resendiz on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo pay-per-view in September. The precocious García has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 and knocked out seven of his last nine opponents heading into the Davis fight.
“I’m not just ready for this fight, I’m ready to dominate,” said Garcia. “I’m excited to get back in the ring and unleash everything I’ve been working on in camp. The addition of Bob Santos and his knowledge and wisdom that he’s shared with our team is a game changer. His expertise and guidance are going to take us to new heights and propel us to the next level. We’re not just looking to win, we’re looking to make a statement.”
A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, California and is trained by the renowned Manny Robles. He most recently dropped a competitive decision to reigning WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames in their June 2024 world title fight.
Prior to facing Adames, Gausha had won back-to-back bouts as he knocked out Brandyn Lynch in March 2023 before winning a decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood in September of that year. Gausha has faced top competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy Lara, former world champion Tim Tszyu and top contender Erickson Lubin.
“I’m excited to get back in the mix,” said Gausha. “I’m always working and staying ready for any opportunity. On March 22 people will know why I’ve been at this level for so long. I’m going to make a statement for sure.”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (November 7, 2024) – Twenty-three-time national amateur champion, 18-year-old Kansas super middleweight prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero (3-0, 2 KOs), returns this Saturday night to the scene of his successful pro debut this past June in Portland, Maine, 1,300 miles northeast of his home in Overland Park, Kansas.
A promotional free agent, Romero is matched against Orlando “El Marro” Salgado (3-5, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout on a card promoted by Bobby Russo’s Portland Boxing Club in Portland’s Exposition Building.
“I had my first pro fight there and I love Portland people, especially Bobby Russo (who is also President of the National Golden Gloves),” Romero said. “I loved the crowd, everybody was so welcoming, saying, ‘Go KC.’ There’s good energy and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Romero, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on Nov. 19, is a special boxer and young man. The last 12 months have been absolutely amazing whirlwind for him in boxing.
Because he hadn’t reached the mandatory age of 18 yet, and his weight class (super middleweight) wasn’t included in 2024 Olympic boxing, Romero never seriously considered waiting for a shot at making the U.S. Olympic Team. Instead, his eyes were on the prize of becoming a professional fighter.
Last December, Romero captured top honors at the prestigious USA Boxing National Championships in Lafayette, Louisiana, followed closely by parlaying that to gold medal performance at the 2024 National Golden Gloves Tournament in Detroit.
All told, in the last 12 months, he was 9-0 in amateur competition, including three at The Nationals and five at The Golden Gloves, plus three pro victories for a remarkable 12-0 record (three pro and 8 in elite national amateur competition) during this relatively short span.
The Romero Plan has always been to close out his incredible amateur career by winning The Nationals and Golden Gloves, at which he was also named Most Outstanding Boxer, known as the Golden Boy Award, and then turn pro. Mission accomplished!
(L-R) – National Golden Gloves President Bobby Russo and Marco Romero with his Golden Gloves belt and Golden Boy Award)
“I would have liked to have fought in the Olympics,” he explained, “because all of the good, young boxers were there, and we (U.S. men) haven’t won an Olympic Gold Medal since Andre Ward in 2004. But I didn’t turn 18 until two weeks prior to the (Paris) Olympics and my weight class wasn’t contested there.
“Now, I’m on a new journey as a pro. Honestly, there aren’t too many differences between the amateurs and pros. The weigh-ins are right before the fight in the amateurs and the night before as a pro. I don’t have any problems fighting without headgear or with smaller gloves. To me there are really no big differences. I was born to fight!”
Romero describes himself as a heavy hitter who throws every punch with bad intentions. He’s very explosive with ring intelligence, capable of punishing his opponent by breaking them down until they either quit because they can’t take any additional punishment or get put to sleep.
In Romero’s corner is a legend in his own right, 77-year-old John Brown, who is Marco’s head trainer and manager, in the same role he played for world heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison (48-3-1, 42 KOs) from his amateur days through his first 39 pro fights, 1988 to 1993. The highlight, of course, was Morrison’s 12-round unanimous decision over George Foreman for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title.
Brown clearly doesn’t need to be in Romero’s corner to survive; however, John knows that Marco is a special fighter with tremendous upside, and he’s vowed to get him to the top of the boxing mountain. “I’m really excited about this kid,” Brown remarked, “and my job is to make him successful for himself and his family. Marco is an amazing kid. He has experience having boxed 10 years and 135 amateur fights. He has good looks and a good personality, great sense of humor, speaks very well in English and Spanish, maturity beyond his years, and a work ethic that’s difficult to find in boxing.
“He’s hungry to be successful in life and knows that boxing is the vehicle to get him there. And he’s with the right people who don’t need to feed people. Anything could go wrong like injuries or illnesses, but it’s all there for him and a clear path. In terms of potential, Marco is in a rare class as part of a typical Mexican American family, tight knit and expanding. He respects everyone and Marco is a once in a lifetime talent.”
Brown knows that a champion boxer needs a supportive team in his corner. Romero has that and much more. In addition to Brown, the team is comprised of Marco’s father, Salvador, who encouraged his son to become a boxer at the tender age of seven, and he has remained with Marco through every step of his boxing journey. Brown also brought in one of his former amateur champions, Sergio Flores, who is a very successful businessman. Flores handles the tough physical training aspects required for success in the ring along with mitt work to help keep Marco’s skills razor sharp.
Fans attending this Saturday night’s show in Portland can look back in a few years and say they saw The Future of Boxing, Marco “El Tiburon” Romero, when he was just an 18-year-old prospect starting out on his mission to greatness.
Bayamón, Puerto Rico – Competitive fights are what the company Fresh Productions Boxing will offer by way of the “Taínos vs. Aztecas” card, happening this Saturday, November 9th in the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón.
Every fight of this event will be Puerto Ricans against Mexicans as a tribute to the legendary, relevant, and exciting rivalry of the sport.
In the main event, former world champion Subriel Matías “el Orgullo de Maternillo” (20-2, 20 KOs) will face the dangerous Roberto “El Rifle” Ramírez (26-3-1, 19 KOs) of Mexico, in a duel of punchers, scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior welterweight division (140 pounds).
Roberto Ramírez:
“Thank you all for being here. I’ve come prepared and ready for a war, to represent Mexico and to give a good show in front of those present for this event of ‘Haitians’ against Mexicans”, comments that caused laughter among those on hand.
Subriel Matías, ranked #5 by the IBF:
“Haha! He called me ‘Haitian’. This is the end, haha. First of all, I thank God for this opportunity following my defeat on June 15th. I’m active five months since that fight. I want to say so many things, but really, I want my next performances to speak for me, and I’m the pride of Maternillo, I’ll see you all on Saturday, and this is ‘Taínos vs. Aztecas’”.
Promoter Juan Orengo:
“Five competitive fights are what this card features, starting at 7:00 p.m. Here, we go straight to it. None of these fights will be easy. Anyone who knows Fresh Production Boxing’s style knows that our fights are not easy. This Saturday, expect mayhem of the good kind”.
In the co-main event, Bayamon’s Jeyvier Cintrón (12-1, 6 KOs), the only Puerto Rican boxer to participate in two Olympics, looks to climb up to the top 15 in the 118-pound rankings as he faces Rashib Martínez (23-3-1, 11 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico, for the vacant WBO International title in a 10-round bout.
Jeyvier Cintrón:
“I’m happy with this opportunity. I came in top shape for this fight. I trained according to the opponent I’ll face off against. I believe many know it’s no myth that I was laying low for a long time and now I’m coming back with more hunger. Everyone will see that there will be Jeyvier for a long time. I still feel a desire to bring glory to Puerto Rico. They say you got to reach the bottom to see glory and that’s what’s been handed to me. I went through tough times, and on Saturday, I’ll show what I’m capable of”.
Rashib Martínez:
“Thank you to the promotion company for the opportunity. Fighting in Puerto Rico is a source of pride and more so as part of a card that represents this rivalry of Puerto Rico vs. Mexico. This fight against Jeyvier is my ticket to launch me for bigger things. I come thoroughly prepared physically and mentally, and I will give a great performance. Thank you to my manager Sergio Reina for getting me to this point”.
As if that were not enough, the recent WBO NABO champion at 140 pounds, and ranked #8 by the organization, Alfredo ‘Ojo’ Santiago (15-2, 6 KOs), from Fajardo, will defend his title against Mexican Pedro ‘La Roca’ Campa (36-3-1, 24 KOs), from Sonora, Mexico in a 10-round fight.
Also, in a battle that promises plenty of action, Cidra’s Abimael “Manos de Piedra” Ortiz (10-1, 5 KOs) will face Mexican world contender Kevin “El Chacal” González (27-1-1, 14 KOs) of Sinaloa in the 122-pound division, slated for 10 rounds.
To open the broadcast, former Puerto Rican national champion Luis Rodríguez (13-0, 11 KOs) of Toa Alta, will battle Mexican Marcos “Zurdo” Vázquez (20-1-1, 10 KOs) in the super middleweight division.
Tickets are on sale on Ticketera.com
The event will be broadcast by PPV.COM, one of the leading platforms in live broadcasts under the pay-per-view model (PPV). This event will also be available via all cable and satellite providers.
The residential fee for the PPV is $39.95. It’ll also be available on Closed Circuit in Puerto Rico, USA, and Canada.
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez isChua’s first true world champion
(L-R) – Jesse Vargas, head trainer Julian Chua and two-time World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez
LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2024) –- One of the hottest young trainers in boxing is Julian Chua, even though he still hasn’t received the high-level respect he deserves from many boxing fans and promoters.
When Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) dethroned previously undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs) this past March, Chua’s stock took off because “Zurdo” is the first world champion the 33-year-old Chua developed into a world champion.
The journey Chua took to become the head trainer of “Zurdo,” who is only two months younger than Julian, was unusual, to say the least. At that time, Ramirez was 39-0 and the first of Mexican heritage to be world super middleweight champion, as well as a promotional free agent. “Zurdo” and his manager, David Suh (3 Point Management – 3PM), were conducting a search for a new head trainer and the list included some of the top coaches in the country. Chua was a relatively unknown commodity outside of southern California who at that time was training fighters at the famed Wildcard Gym in Hollywood (CA) under Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach (he had also trained Chua when he was an amateur boxer from Indiana).
In 2018, Suh reached out to Chua to inquire if he’d be interested in training Ramirez, adding that he was also speaking with several other top names. At first, Ramirez really didn’t know who Chua was, at least, until they met at a coffee shop in Santa Monica to get to know each other. After that meeting, Ramirez gave Julian a chance to train him. The rest, of course, is part of modern-day boxing history.
“We clicked right away,” Chua added. “We learned things about each other and how we liked to train. I’ve always studied a lot and did some research about how he had been trained because I wanted to help him improve. I was getting four fighters ready in L.A. and ‘Zurdo’ couldn’t go there for sparring. I told him that I couldn’t leave these fighters to go and train him in Long Beach. We still wanted to work with each other and ‘Zurdo’ made it work. I went to Long Beach (where Ramirez trained at Hill Street Boxing & Fitness Gym) twice a week and he came to Wildcard three times.”
Chua made his debut at Ramirez’ new head trainer in 2019, when Ramirez moved up in weight to fight as a light heavyweight, stopping Tommy Karpency in four rounds. COVID-19 restrictions adversely affected Ramirez’ activity, but he learned and improved by continuing to work with Chua in the gym. “Zurdo” signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions, gaining added exposure fighting on the DAZN, and he reeled off four more consecutive victories through the middle of 2022, after which he lost for the first time in his pro career to WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (20-0), by way of a 12-round decision.
Ramirez decided that it was time to move up another division to cruiserweight because he was walking around at 200 pounds. Last October, Ramirez made his cruiserweight debut, albeit at a 193-pound catchweight, against former world light heavyweight champion and Bernard Hopkins conqueror Joe Smith, Jr. (28-4). “Zurdo” won a unanimous 10-round decision to become the mandatory challenger for Goulamirian.
“’Zurdo’ is the first world champion I’ve ‘built’ but I’ve been brought in to work with some world champions on their weaknesses – Regis Prograis, Steph Fulton and Alycia Baumgardner,” Chua commented. “It’s a lot more difficult that way because you can’t really have an impact in only two or three months. I’ve been working with ‘Zurdo’ for five years and I’ve had it good. He has a lot of natural talent and has always been a smart fighter, but he picked ‘nuts-and-guts’ too often in his decision making. He didn’t need to get hit so much even though he has a great chin. He has such a beautiful style and he’s so intelligent.”
“He’s such a natural. Mexicans are uppercut kings. I noticed that, defensively, Arsen didn’t move his head or feet much. He was so wide that he was open up the middle for uppercuts, left or right, and that was our master plan. We worked on ‘Zurdo’ not throwing his uppercuts from too far away. He had been wide but, in this fight, he smothered his opponent inside. He did a lot of technical work and he’s always been a versatile fighter. I have him boxing more off his back foot. He could bully opponents with his size at 168, but he doesn’t have that same physical luxury to impose his size at cruiserweight. He’s using his boxing skills more.”
Chua admits he cherished Ramirez capturing the WBA crown, professionally as well as personally. And he also believes “Zurdo” can become the first Mexico-born heavyweight world champion, the same as he was as world super middleweight and cruiserweight champion.
“It meant the world to me,” Chua spoke about ‘Zurdo’ becoming the WBA Cruiserweight World Champion. “The expression on my face when they announced the scores showed how much it meant to me. I’m still fighting for my respect with fans and promoters, especially after the Bivol fight. ‘Zurdo’ is too slick. I believe in this guy! I can see him moving up to heavyweight, but I want to clean up some more things defensively. Sometimes he keeps his head too low, and I don’t want him testing his chin so much. Depending on who the heavyweight champion is when he’s ready, I believe he can be heavyweight champion of the world with his activity so slick and prioritizing his defense. We’re going to double down. As Abel Sanchez (Goulamirian’s trainer) said at the post-fight press conference, he didn’t think ‘Zurdo’ was so slick, offensively and defensively.”
Chua is preparing “Zurdo” to take on WBO Cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) in a unification match on November 16th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In addition to several mixed-martial-arts fighters, Chua is also the head trainer for pro boxers such as WBA world super flyweight challenger and WBA #6-rated John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs), undefeated Hawaiian middleweight prospect Jordan “The Patriot” Panthen (9-0, 8 KOs), 2012 Ukrainian Olympian welterweight Taras Shelestyuk (19-0-1, 11 KOs), undefeated New York City welterweight Arnold Gonzalez (15-1, 7 KOs), Armenian super bantamweight Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (21-5, 17 KOs), and former WBA Inter-Continental Champion “Supreme” Kareem Hackett (12-1, 6 KOs), of Toronto.
Catch the Chua experience, Julian is making a name for himself in boxing circles and drawing fighters to work with him at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California. The best is yet to come, however, especially if “Zurdo” becomes world heavyweight champion in the not-too-distant future.
PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AT THE LIACOURAS CENTER AT 1:30 PM
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PHILADELPHIA, November 7, 2024 – Two-time world title challenger Jesse Hart will defend his home turf when he battles Ricardo Luna in an eight-round light heavyweight bout in the main event on Friday, November 22 at the Liacouras Center on the University of Temple campus. All in all, on the card will be five Philly fighters, and two Pennsylvania fighters and three New Jersey fighters within driving distance of the Liacouras Center.
Tickets, priced from $35 to $225, are available at TicketMaster here.
The show will be streamed live by PPV on Radiant TV. “I’m looking to bring that old school feeling back…like the era when Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins were fighting,” said Dominick Walton, CEO of Teflon Promotions. “When the best fought the best in their division in 50/50 fights. That’s why I salute Jesse Hart, Naheem Parker, Jibril Noble, Arnold Gonzalez, Muhsin Cason etc. because they understand the mission with their mind set and their goals to be great. It brings excitement back to Philadelphia and it also puts Teflon promotions on the map.”
Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (31-3, 25 KOs), born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. and is ranked No. 3 light heavyweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). Jesse won the NABF super middleweight title in 2014 and a year later added the IBF USBA and WBO NABO super middleweight belts with a knockout win against an undefeated Mike Jimenez.
“Hard Work” made four successful defenses of the IBF and WBO titles which set him up for his first world title shot, which he lost to Zurdo Ramirez by razor thin decision. Three wins later, Hart fought a rematch with Ramirez for the same WBO world title, this time losing by majority decision. Hart is currently on a five bout win streak, last four by knockout.
“This is gonna be a great night of boxing – every fight on the card is a 50/50 match and I’m defending my number 3 WBO position,” said Hart. “It’s going to be a very exciting night.”
Ricardo Adrian “Tyson” Luna (27-12-2, 17 KOs) from Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, México, is a former Mexican Middleweight Champion. Ricardo also challenged for the WBC USA Super Middleweight Title (twice), NABA and WBO NABO Super Middleweight titles.
In an eight round, 150 lbs. welterweight catchweight bout, Arnold Gonzalez (15-1, 7 KOs) from New York, NY, will battle Florent “The Tiger” Dervis (10-2, 5 KOs), who was born in France and now calls Boston, Mass. home. Each were undefeated till recent losses.
Gonzalez made pro debut in 2019 as a welterweight and his undefeated streak of fifteen ended in his last fight. The twenty-six-year-old Dervis began his career with ten consecutive wins.
In a South Jersey versus Philly battle, Philadelphian Jibril “Pegese” Noble, (6-0, 5 KOs) will battle Naheem Parker (5-1, 2 KOs) from Camden, NJ in a six-round lightweight bout. Noble made his pro debut in Philadelphia on July 24, 2021, with a second-round knockout. Noble’s only fight that went the distance was against a fellow undefeated fighter on October 21, 2023. Parker made his pro debut in 2020 and won his first five fights.
In a second PA vs Jersey bout, Jaclyne “The Assassin” McTamney (2-0, 1 KO) out of Southampton, PA will battle Princeton’s Ayeshia Green (0-1) in a four-round featherweight contest.
Muhsin “The Muslim Boxer” Cason (12-0, 9 KOs) was born in Baltimore and calls Philadelphia home. Muhsin has sixteen siblings and his oldest brother is former world heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman. “Hasim gives me insight on how to be focused and overcome the obstacles,” said Muhsin. He will fight in a six-round cruiserweight scrap.
“It’s great that so many of our Philly natives get to be on one card and show their skills,” said Muhsin.
Philadelphian Rasheen Brown (12-1, 7 KOs) will fight in a six-round featherweight bout against Mexican Juan Antonio “The Wolfe” Lopez (18-17-1, 8 KOs) who currently resides in Burleson, Texas.
Allentown, PA’s undefeated Thanjhae Teasley (11-0, 5 KOs) will fight in a six-round welterweight bout.
Philadelphian Najeem Johns (5-1, 4 KOs) will fight in a four-round super lightweight bout against Danny Murray (7-7) from Lanoka Harbor, NJ.
Opening the card will be Hawaiian Lyndon Patricio (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round bantamweight tilt.
LOS ANGELES (October 30, 2024) – Former pro heavyweight contender Malik Scott has successfully transitioned from fighter to trainer, and he will be working the corner of reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) for his November 16th unification fight with World Boxing Organization (WBO) titleholder Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 44-year-old Scott, who will assist Ramirez’ head trainer Julian Chua, passionately believes that not only will Ramirez defeat Smith, but Zurdo is the No. 1 cruiserweight in the world as well. Scott was Ramirez’ head trainer when Chua was unavailable for Ramirez’ debut as a cruiserweight (October 7, 2023), in which he defeated former world light heavyweight champion Joe Smith, Jr. (28-4) in a dominant performance by way of a 10-round unanimous decision, winning all but one round on all three of the judges’ scorecards.
Scott and Chua are “in house” trainers at the state-of-the-art Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California.
“Julian is one of the brightest trainers in boxing,” Scott said. “I enjoy learning from him. I had Zurdo for his fight with Joe Smith and he had a good performance. I really enjoy working with him. No disrespect to Smith-Billam, but this fight is a mismatch. Zurdo is a big, strong southpaw who has fought a higher level of opponents than Smith-Billam. Zurdo is a good body puncher who throws punches from incredible angles, and he has an incredible boxing mind. Smith-Billam is big, strong and he keeps coming forward, but he is a one-trick pony. He does have a good trainer (Shane McGuigan), but I think Zurdo takes over in the second half of the fight. And Zurdo has a Dream Team in his corner. I think he will become the undisputed world champion and only Jay Opetaia can give him a fight.”
A product of the fighting city of Philadelphia, Scott was a decorated U.S. amateur boxer (70-3), highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the 1999 National AAU Championships. He went on to have a solid 15-year professional career, which ended in 2016 with a 38-3-1 (13 KOs) record.
Scott has always studied the sport of boxing and gives it his all every day. There’s no idol worshipping for him, and he takes pride in teaching young boxers.
“A great trainer teaches boxers the why’s and how’s,” Scott explained. “A good trainer just gives instructions. I believe in teaching for a good reason. I study fighters, their styles, and habits, and I go as far as studying the opponent’s corner to learn how they work during a fight. I think everybody working corners should be mic-ed up. I’m confident and want people to hear my advice.”
Scott learned from Fred Jenkins back in Philadelphia and he has studied other trainers such as Barry Robinson, Joe Goossen, and Emanuel Steward, among others. Scott was head trainer for Deantay Wilder for his third fight with Tyson Fury. In addition to assisting Chua with Zurdo, they also team, respectively, as head and assistant trainers of world super flyweight title challenger John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs). They aren’t related but Zurdo is like a big brother and role model for “Scrappy.”
“’Scrappy’ is going to be world champion,” Scott predicted. “His day is coming!”Malik Scott is literally and figuratively in Zurdo Ramirez’ corner.
LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2024) – Super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) learned an invaluable lesson last June at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, when he lost for the first time as a professional to Fernando David Jimenez (16-1), by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight title.
Unless your last name is Marciano, Mayweather, Calzaghe, Lopez or Ward, prizefighters generally don’t retire without a loss on their record. How a fighter responds to his or her first defeat is pivotal, because they either learn from the experience and improve, or go the opposite direction.
“Scrappy” Ramirez is coming back to the ring with a vengeance, as well as a new outlook for the South Los Angeles fighter.
“I learned I have what it takes to be world champion,” Ramirez said. “I took the loss and, instead of complaining, right after that fight I started to think about what had happened and why. I have the skills and I’m capable of being world champion, but I fought his (Jimenez) fight. My next fight I won’t be fighting on emotion, I’ll be using my brain. I need to use my brain, not my heart. It was a good fight and entertaining, but it wasn’t my night. Personally, I gained confidence, as crazy as that may sound in a loss. I know I belong here.”
“I want to fix what went wrong. I have high expectations and so do my fans because they see my talent. I’ve only been fighting eight years. I get mad sometimes because I haven’t mastered my craft, but it takes time. I have to keep going and embrace my training.”
For the first time in his relatively short pro career – he made his debut December 18, 2020 – the WBA No. 6 rated Ramirez will be training for the first time after a loss at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California.
“I’m not training as hard every day because I’m taking better care of my body,” Ramirez explained. “I’ve come up with some new things by studying old-school fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns. I’m fine-tuning my skills. I made a mistake fighting with my heart instead of my head. No drastic changes in my training, though. I’m working on throwing more counters. I’m a big 115-pounder who just walked down my opponent. I’m going to use my jab – I have a good one – and my feet instead of sitting in the pocket and catching everything.
“It’s all part of the process. I’m not happy it (the loss) happened. I lost my first world title fight and in my second I’ll be the winner and show everybody the type of character I have as a man. I’ll take the next opportunity to show my growth”
According to the 28-year-old Ramirez, the plan is for him to have two more fights, hopefully one by the end of this year, before he’s in another world title fight, preferably against Jimenez, assuming he still has the strap.
“I want a rematch with this guy (Jimenez), partly because he has the belt, but to prove to myself I can beat him,” Ramirez admitted. “He did everything we saw on film: he came forward and didn’t tire. No surprises. I need to fight my fight, not his, to prove myself to the world. ‘Scrappy’ needs to fight his fight!
“I’ve reflected on that fight, and I was capable of beating him. He has a big amateur pedigree, so it was a confidence builder for me in defeat.”
In retrospect, everything may have happened too fast for “Scrappy,” who has only been fighting eight years, including a brief stint as an amateur, and then he was moved quickly in the pro ranks, even fighting several times during the COVID pandemic. Before you knew it, he was headlining shows and found himself in the enviable position as undefeated WBA mandatory contender.
“Everything really happened so fast,” Ramirez concluded, “but I now know that it takes a long time to master my craft. I’m enjoying this process and I’m happy right now. I got used to things happening fast for me. I’m trusting the process. I chose this life.
“I’m not running away from this situation, and I’ll handle it the next time I fight for the world title. I can’t blame anybody for what happened, because once I step into the ring, it’s just me and my opponent. I screwed up but the next world title shot I’ll get it right.”
“Scrappy” Ramirez is a charter member of 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers including WBA Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), WBA No. 6-rated super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulgham (12-0, 10 KOs), and former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (12-1, 6 KOs).
Three-time, two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida
NEW YORK CITY (October 25, 2024) – COMPUBOX numbers from this past Wednesday night’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) Women’s Bantamweight World Championship match between defending champion Miso Yoshida and challenger Shurretta Metcalf clearly do not support the judges’ controversial 10-round unanimous decision in favor of Metcalf.
The judge’s dubious scores of 99-91 (Robin Taylor), Robert Perez (97-93) and Max DeLuca (96-94) awarded Metcalf the disputed victory. The right outcome appeared clear – both in the surprise reactions of Metcalf’s corner and also the thunderous objection from the crowd.
As the scores were read, immediate objections reigned down through the arena as Yoshida and many ringsiders looked stunned.
Metcalf’s unproductive higher work rate of wildly ineffective aggression apparently was favored more by the judges than Yoshida’s well timed and forceful jabs, which set up her more impactful power shots, as well as a much higher comparable percentage of connected punches.
According to COMPUBOX, punch-wise, Yoshida finished the fight ahead 96-64 overall, 49-17 in jabs, 30-16 in body punches and 8-0-2 in a round-to-round breakdown of total connects. Yoshida’s masterful defense kept her opponent at a distance, resulting in a large percentage of Metcalf’s punches falling short of connecting, and striking nothing but air.
Overall, Yoshida landed an astonishingly 50-percent more punches (96-64) than Metcalf, in addition to having a much higher accuracy percentage, nearly three times as great at 22-percent to her opponent’s 9-percent.
Considering her 4-inch height and 6 ½ -inch reach disadvantages, Yoshida shouldn’t have been discredited by the judges for her style – fighting on the outside, moving inside to land punches, and then returning to the outside – because it was really the only way she could defeat the much larger Metcalf. Based on COMPUBOX statistics, she did just that and should have had her hands raised in victory.
Putting aside the bizarrely lopsided scores from Taylor, if the other two judges scored the first, sixth and eighth rounds properly based on the COMPUBOX numbers, Miyo would have won the fight by way of a majority decision. Yoshida out-landed Metcalf in rounds one and eight by 100-percent and by 175-percent in round six. Inexplicably, those rounds were scored against Yoshida.
“Yoshida vs. Metcalf 2” headlined the “Heroes on the Hudson 2” card, presented by DiBella Entertainment, which was broadcast live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden on ProBoxTV.
“It was an honor to once again share the ring with Shuretta,” the dejected Yoshita said shortly after the fight, “this time in the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden. “I felt I did more than enough to win the fight, and I don’t understand why the judges awarded my opponent for throwing wild punches that never landed and the few that did, had no effect.”
“Having watched it ringside, read disagreement in the boxing media with the outcome and now seeing these lopsided statistics in Miyo’s favor,” Yoshita’s manager Keith Sullivan commented. “It is hard not to question the accuracy of the scoring. A 7-3 score is a disturbingly extreme stretch. The 9-1 score turned a world championship fight into a tragic farce. This was a disservice to the sport.”
The ProBox TV announcers agreed on air that the 99-91 score was “absurd”. Hall of Fame boxing writer Thomas Hauser, who covered the fight live for www.tss.ib.tv, wrote the following about “Yoshita-Metcalf 2”: “Shurretta threw wild punches from long range all night. When she landed, it seemed almost by accident. The decision could have gone either way. I thought each fighter clearly won three rounds with four rounds up for grabs. 97-93 was a stretch. 99-91 reeked of being an agenda-driven scorecard.
Matt Delaglio was recently named executive director of the New York State Athletic Commission and inherited a job that has long been marked by incompetence and neglect. Delaglio is conscientious and well-qualified for the position. But he has a lot of work to do. One of the things on his ‘to-do list’ should be an overhaul of ring judging in New York. Right now, the judging in New York is unacceptable.”
A single mother of daughter Mina, Miyo is known as the “Fighting Single Mother” in Japan, where she is a revered role model. Yoshida received the 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award from The Ring magazine. She moved half-way around the world from Japan to New York City to enhance her pro boxing career, unable to speak English, although she is studying to learn the language.
INFORMATION X : @MiyoBledog Instagram : @miyo_yoshida_ Facebook: /miyoyoshida
