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boxing

Ringstar Sports Comes Out “Signing” As U.S. Olympian Carlos Balderas & Brother Jose Balderas Agree to Join New Promotion Company

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Click HERE For Photos From Ringstar Sports

 
LOS ANGELES (November 7, 2016) – Ringstar Sports, the newly formed promotional company headed up by longtime boxing executive Richard Schaefer, made another big move last week when the company signed highly touted 2016 U.S. Olympian Carlos Balderas, along with his brother Jose, to promotional agreements. Ringstar will represent the two amateur standouts as they turn professional and guide their dreams as both fighters hope to secure lucrative futures for themselves and their family. The Balderas brothers, who signed their contracts in Ringstar’s LA-based offices last Tuesday, are the first fighters to join the company.
“Carlos Balderas was one of the most sought-after Olympians coming out of the 2016 Summer Games and I am so pleased that he, and his brother Jose, agreed to join Ringstar Sports,” said Richard Schaefer, Chairman and CEO of Ringstar Sports. “Carlos, Jose and their entire family are the type of people that we want to do business with at our company. I am going to do whatever it takes to make Carlos the face of boxing and his brother will be right there with him.  Both of these young men are exceptional fighters with great skills and even better work ethics. Most importantly, they have a desire to be great and so does Ringstar. I am looking forward to getting started.”
“I’m really excited to start this partnership with Ringstar Sports and I’m looking forward to working with Richard for a long time,” said Carlos Balderas. “My brother and I chose Ringstar because we immediately felt comfortable with Richard. He was very honest with me from the beginning and I really believe he’s the best promoter in the sport. I’m ready to start my career and grow my fan base. I’m looking to do big things in this sport. It’s not just about a paycheck. I want to win world titles and build a legacy.”
“My brother and I are really comfortable with Richard and we believe he has the right vision for our careers,” said Jose Balderas. “Richard has a vision not just for himself and his company, but he has the vision that will lead to us becoming world champions. That’s what every boxer dreams of. I just can’t wait until fight time. I want to show everybody what we’re made of and the things that we can do. We’re going to leave it all in the ring and leave the fans entertained every time.”
“My whole family is very happy with this decision to join Richard and Ringstar Sports,” said Zenon Balderas, Carlos and Jose’s father. “Richard is a very smart man who is going to do amazing things for my sons. I know that my sons will be world champions, the question is, how many times? I believe that Richard has the mind to get us where we need to go.”
The Balderas brothers grew up in Santa Maria, California and are the sons of Mexican parents who immigrated to the United States. Under the care of their father and uncles, Emiliano and David, the boys were brought to a gym at a very young age to harness their energy into boxing. The brothers quickly took to the sport and combined with a strict regimen implemented by their father, began their impressive amateur careers.
Carlos was impressive in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, winning lightweight contests over fighters from Kazakhstan and Japan before a decision loss in the quarterfinals to the top seeded fighter from Cuba. He earned his spot in Rio after a stellar amateur career that saw him lose only nine times in 184 fights. His long list of accomplishments includes a Youth National Championship in 2014, four National PAL championships, a Junior National Golden Gloves championship in 2013, two Junior Olympic titles, two National Silver Gloves championships and three Adidas National tournament titles. In 2015, Balderas won four of five bouts in the World Series of Boxing, only losing due to a head butt from the top-ranked fighter from Azerbaijan in a fight in Azerbaijan that Balderas was winning. Balderas had just 10 days to recover from the injury before his next bout, but he gained medical clearance and knocked out Puerto Rico’s Javier Martinez in the second round. In October of that year, Balderas received the call from USA Boxing that he was the first American to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Jose is also a rising prospect in the sport as he made his name winning numerous tournaments in the Southern California amateur boxing circuit while racking up an impressive 80 victories in 88 fights. In addition, the bantamweight won a Junior Golden Gloves championship, two Adidas National tournaments, a National PAL title and two Junior Olympic tournaments. Jose also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Olympic trials. Although he is a year older, Jose waited until his brother’s Olympic journey had finished to turn pro so that the two could enter the professional ranks at the same time.
Now the Balderas brothers are focusing on developing their skills so that they can one day became world champions in the professional ranks. With Ringstar Sports in their corner, Carlos and Jose are on their way to reaching the peaks of their vast potential.
boxing, UK Boxing, women's boxing

Irish Ropes to host meet & greet fundraiser  Goal to eliminate local homelessness

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympic boxing gold medalist Katie Taylor &
Other top athletes and Irish musicians invited
Dec. 3 in Mullingar, Ireland
ATHLONE, Ireland (November 7, 2016) – A special fundraiser, hosted by Irish Ropes, will be held December 3 at the Grevillle Arms Hotel in Mullingar, Ireland, highlighted by a meet-and-greet with some of Ireland’s best and most popular athletes and musicians.

Proceeds will benefit Midland Simons Community, whose goal is to eliminate homelessness in Laois, Lonford, Offaly and Westmeath.
Irish Ropes is an Ireland-based boxing promotional company that was also successful promoting out of New York City from 2003 to 2009.
“The holidays are coming and we’re raising funds to make life a little better for some disadvantaged people,” Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin, who will be celebrating his 60th birthday the night of the fundraiser. “The Irish are known for their generosity and we’re fortunate to have so many popular athletes in our corner for this worth event.”
The fundraising event will offer an open microphone to singers, magicians, comedians, etc.   Suggested donations are 10 Euros per person or whatever is affordable.  Volunteers collecting donations include Terri Carey, who works at The Fashion Shop in Mullingar, and her sister, Dympna.
Invited Irish athletes include 2012 Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor, also a multiple-time World and European Championships gold medalist, as well as some of the biggest names from the world of Gaelic football, hurling, horse racing, men’s boxing, golf, and stars from the Irish music scene.
Additional information coming, go online to www.midlandsimon.com.
boxing

12th annual Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame  Induction & awards dinner review & photo gallery

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (November 7, 2016) –  Last Friday night’s 12 TH annual Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Gala Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner, held in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun, was a major success by all standards.  HBO “judge” and International Hall-of-Famer Harold Lederman served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies.
The Class of 2016 inductees are Stamford amateur coach/boxer Orlando Montalvo, Newington former ESPN boxing director Bob Yalen, Wallingford boxer Sean Malone, Jr., New Bedford (MA) boxer “Sucra” Ray Oliveira, Waterbury judge/referee John “Duke” Lawson and Mashantucket Pequot Game & Athletic commissioner Kenny Reels.
The 2016 CBHOF award winners are its first female Boxer of the Year, Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent; Jacob Marrero, Amateur Boxer of the Year; Mike Mazzulli,Professional Boxing Official of the Year; Heather Concepcion, Amateur Boxing Official of the Year; Pete Hary, Contribution to Professional Boxing; and Carlos Nieves, Contribution to Amateur Boxing.
CBHOF president John Laudati announced the imminent opening of the new Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, located in the heart of Mohegan Sun, as well as a scholarship fund to assist young boxers in their pursuit of a higher education as they pursue their boxing dreams.
“Boxing fans will now be able to visit the beautiful Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame when they are in the casino,” Laudati said.  “Thank you to the Board of Directors for all of your efforts to make this happen.  Special thanks to Maynard Strickland, Don Trella, Mike Mazulli and Kim Baker who spearheaded the effort.
“I would also like to thank my friend, Tom Vaughn, whose father Tom, Sr., left money to donate to a worthy cause.  Tom’s dad was a boxing fan and these funds will be earmarked and grown for future scholarships to young boxers.”
Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 12th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, or past CBHOF inductees.
All pictures courtesy of Emily Harney Photography:
2016 CBHOF inductee Kenny Reels
2016 CBHOF inductee Sean Malone, Jr.
2016 CBHOF inductee John “Duke” Lawson
2016 CBHOF inductee Orlando Montalvo
2016 CBHOF inductee Bob Yalen
2016 CBHOF inductee “Sucra” Ray Oliveira
2016 CBHOF Professional Fighter of the Year Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent
2016 CBHOF Amateur Boxer of the Year Jacob Marrero
Mike Mazzulli, 2016 CBHOF Professional Boxing Official of the Year
Pete Hary, 2016 CBHOF Contribution to Professional Boxing
 
Heather Concepcion, 2016 CBHOF Amateur Boxing Official of the Year
Carlos Nieves, 2016 CBHOF Contributor to Amateur Boxing
ABOUT CBHOF:  The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 to honor and celebrate the careers of outstanding individuals involved in the sport of boxing. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony & Dinner was held in 2005. Connecticut’s rich boxing history could never have flourished if it weren’t for the achievements of those enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As a non-profit organization, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is deeply committed to keeping the fighting spirit of Connecticut thriving through various charitable contributions.
boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

FANS TO ELECT THE NO. 1 KNOCKOUT IN SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® HISTORY WITH BRACKET OF 32 OF THE GREATEST KOS

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VOTE NOW AT WWW.SHOWTIMEKNOCKOUTS.COM

 

Watch A Video Preview Of The Knockout Bracket: http://s.sho.com/2eWL44G

 

NEW YORK (Nov. 4, 2016) – This election season, boxing fans will vote for the greatest knockout in the 30-year history of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.  A Knockout Bracket consisting of 32 of the most dramatic and memorable KOs of the past 30 years launched on Friday, and an ultimate winner will be revealed during the Dec. 10 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader.   

 

The 32 candidates are into broken into four regions – heavyweights, middleweights, welterweights and the lighter weight divisions – with some of the greatest fighters of the last 30 years facing off in this unique tournament. 

 

In the opening round of the heavyweight region, former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will square off with current WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, while Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad takes on former champ Lucas Matthysse in the welterweight region.  

 

The 16 matchups in the round of 32 launched on Friday at www.showtimeknockouts.com, and the winners will advance to the next round of voting beginning Nov. 14.  Subsequent rounds will continue over the next six weeks until the ultimate reveal Dec. 10 on SHOWTIME. 

 

Fans can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SHObestKO. 

boxing

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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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.”
boxing, charity

Danny Garcia Hosts Canned Food Drive & Fan Meet & Greet 

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Undefeated World Champion Faces Samuel Vargas in Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Main Event Saturday, November 12 From Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia
 
Click HERE for Photos from Joe Tarlecky/King’s Promotions/
Premier Boxing Champions
 
PHILADELPHIA (November 4, 2016) – Undefeated world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia continued his efforts to give back to his hometown of Philadelphia on Friday, hosting a canned food drive and fan meet and greet in advance of his Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdown against Colombia’s Samuel Vargas taking place Saturday, November 12from Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Coverage begins on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features undefeated rising star Jarrett Hurd battling former title challenger Jo Jo Dan plus former world champion Javier Fortunataking on unbeaten Omar Douglas.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DSG Promotions and King’s Promotions, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets visit LiacourasCenter.com/events or call 800-298-4200. Garcia is teaming up withPhilabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, to arrange a regional food drive and raise money throughout the promotion. For more information on how to get involved, visit the event’s webpage HERE.
In addition to the events going on throughout the promotion, Garcia hosted the food drive Friday at the the Xfinity Store on Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia. Garcia will continue to raise awareness for the cause leading up to fight night. Fans have been encouraged to drop off canned goods at the Liacouras Center (1776 N Broad St) and the DSG Boxing Gym (3731 Jasper St). Additionally, $10 from each ticket sold has been donated and will provide 20 meals per ticket for people in need.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports @KingsBoxing_ and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. Follow the conversation using #fight4philly. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing, UK Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. ERIC MOLINA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEC. 10 ON SHOWTIME®

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Click HERE For Photos; Credit Lawrence Lustig/Matchroom Boxing

 

LONDON (Nov. 4, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) and challenger Eric Molina (25-3, 19 KOs) went face-to-face Friday at the kickoff press conference at Dorchester Hotel in London to formally announce their heavyweight world title fight on Saturday, Dec. 10, live on SHOWTIME from Manchester Arena in Manchester.  There were 17,000 tickets sold on the first day to purchase tickets.

 

Joshua, a British sensation and the 2012 Olympic Games heavyweight gold medalist, will be making the second defense of the title he won over Charles Martin last April 4.  Joshua knocked out previously unbeaten Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round last June 25 in his initial defense.

 

Molina will be getting his second opportunity at a world title. Molina has won two straight since challenging WBC title holder Deontay Wilder in 2015, including a 10th-round TKO over former world champion Tomasz Adamek last April 4 in Poland.

 

Here’s what the heavyweights said:

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA:

“I don’t think that I’ll be rusty. I’m not going to say camp is smooth or great because it’s always tough and exhausting for the body.  I needed a break because I live in the gym, it’s what I’ve been doing since I was 18 and I haven’t taken my foot off the gas since.  The task is to express myself under the bright lights in the arena and show what we’ve worked on in the dark corners of the gym.

 

“I started preparing my body for camp and then training for this date. I don’t want to mention Wladimir Klitschko too much because that’s not the relevant opponent – Eric Molina is the man that will stand across the ring from me on December 10. He’s a tough competitor and represents a strong challenge to me. We are competing for my belt and the guys that want to become world champion raise their levels by 50-60 percent.

 

“There’s nowhere to hide on fight night. There’s no change in my focus for Eric. Wladimir doesn’t enter the equation for me. People will talk about him and I’ll answer the questions, but that’s as far as it goes. He’s not in my mind, Eric is.

 

“It takes courage to step into the ring.  Deontay Wilder is known as a one-punch KO artist and Eric stood up to his power, so it shows that he’s here to push the champion and take my title.

 

“I don’t get involved in other people’s issues or stories, it’s nothing to do with me.  It wasn’t that long ago that no one cared what I was doing, so I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone aside from myself.

 

“The division has been blown wide open but they’ve been saying that for a while and they will keep saying it until someone dominates the division again.  It’s not so much about brand and hype, it’s about guys like Eric that come with true heart and are gladiators and fight for the love of the sport, and leave everything in the ring on fight night.

 

“There’s a lot at stake and with Sky Sports and SHOWTIME behind us, this is a big stage to show what you have got. I’m serious about what I do and about moving forward.  I don’t have a script, I can only speak from the heart; whatever Eric’s destiny is, that’s what will happen on the night.  If his destiny is to become heavyweight champion, so be it.  But my destiny is to carry on the path I am on and put in a dominant performance on an explosive night of boxing in Manchester.”

 

ERIC MOLINA:

“I’ve been in these fights before.  I have no amateur experience so I’m learning no the job — and I’m getting better every fight.  I fought five rounds against Wilder with a busted ankle, so everything you saw from me was done on one ankle.  That’s the kind of guy this young man is facing.  I fight with everything I’ve got.  Even if I’m hurt, I still fight, because I know that one punch at any given moment can win me the fight.  Anything can happen in the heavyweight division.

 

“I knew this fight was coming my way because nobody wants to fight him.  Let’s be real.  All the other fighters want to go and fight other guys and for the other belts and not face Anthony Joshua.  I’m a guy that’s been in with Wilder – no one wants to fight Wilder, but I did, and that’s why I’m in London today and will be in Manchester on Dec. 10 putting it all on the line, body and soul.  I want that IBF belt, I don’t have the option to go for another belt or down another route.  This is it for me, and that means he’s going to have the toughest fight of his career, I can guarantee that.

 

“Tomasz Adamek had never been KO’d, so the momentum from that win in Poland was big.  I felt it was time to take time off from work and put 100 percent into this. 

 

“Back home, people know me as a certain type of fighter.  On day one of my career I lost in the first round and that’s why on the back of my shirt it says ‘The Art Of Bouncing Back.’  Those aren’t just words.  Boxing is the most brutal sport when it comes to trying to bounce back.  Once you lose, everybody is gone from your side.  There are fighters out there that say they want to bounce back but they don’t have the guts to put themselves in a position to do it.  I put myself in the fight with Wilder and I went to Poland and beat Adamek to bounce back and show people who I am.

 

“You have to prove yourself in this sport and then you can claim the rewards.  I didn’t have an easy road to get here, I’ve had to do it the hard way and I’ve earned my way here.’’

 

About Showtime Networks:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

FANS TO ELECT THE NO. 1 KNOCKOUT IN SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® HISTORY WITH BRACKET OF 32 OF THE GREATEST KOS

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VOTE NOW AT WWW.SHOWTIMEKNOCKOUTS.COM

 

Watch A Video Preview Of The Knockout Bracket: http://s.sho.com/2eWL44G

 

NEW YORK (Nov. 4, 2016) – This election season, boxing fans will vote for the greatest knockout in the 30-year history of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.  A Knockout Bracket consisting of 32 of the most dramatic and memorable KOs of the past 30 years launched on Friday, and an ultimate winner will be revealed during the Dec. 10 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader.   

 

The 32 candidates are into broken into four regions – heavyweights, middleweights, welterweights and the lighter weight divisions – with some of the greatest fighters of the last 30 years facing off in this unique tournament. 

 

In the opening round of the heavyweight region, former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will square off with current WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, while Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad takes on former champ Lucas Matthysse in the welterweight region.  

 

The 16 matchups in the round of 32 launched on Friday at www.showtimeknockouts.com, and the winners will advance to the next round of voting beginning Nov. 14.  Subsequent rounds will continue over the next six weeks until the ultimate reveal Dec. 10 on SHOWTIME. 

 

Fans can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SHObestKO. 

boxing

Salita Promotions Signs Promising Toledo Welterweight Wesley Tucker

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Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of undefeated welterweight contender Wesley “King Wes” Tucker.
A skilled counter puncher with above average power, Tucker (12-0, 7 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, had over 250 amateur bouts and won several championships including the Toledo Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves, and Junior Olympics multiple times.
The 29-year-old southpaw started boxing at age 8 years old and already has 18 years boxing experience.
“My ring generalship is my greatest asset in the ring,” said Tucker, “tall, small, bigger, I’ve already seen it all and I know what to do to beat them.”
Tucker will make his debut fighting under the Salita Promotions banner on Saturday, November 12, at their “Detroit Brawl” event at the Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit, when he faces North Carolina’s Richard Hall in a six-round battle.
Sponsored by Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar, tickets for “Detroit Brawl” will be priced at VIP $123, Box Seats $100, Ringside $93, $63, $38, and $28 and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.
 
A father of five, Tucker says family plays a major role in his life and the reason he is a tireless worker in the gym.
“They are my push and motivation for everything I do. They come to the gym with me a lot at least three times a week. And my mom, she loves what I do. She’s my number one fan.”
Tucker’s manager, David McWater who arranged the deal with Salita, says he’s happy to have another of his fighters under their promotional banner.
“I’m really excited about Wesley signing with Salita Promotions,” he said. “We started working with Dmitry when we signed Antonio Nieves with him and he’s been a gem. I believe he’s THE up and coming promoter in the USA and are excited to get our guys in on the ground level with him. Wesley is a wonderful kid who has overcame a lot of adversity to get to this spot. I am confident he will make the most of this opportunity.”
Salita says he’s going to go to work immediately on his new fighter’s career.
“Wesley has as much skill and experience as any fighter in boxing,” he said. “his 250 amateur fights mean he’s seen it all and done it all. There isn’t the same learning curve with a fighter with that much experience. We will immediately be looking to move him into the top 10 and an eventual world title shot in the next year or two. I thank him and his team for joining my growing stable of fighters.”
On November 12, Tucker joins a full cast of local and international prospects on Salita’s “Detroit Brawl,” including a trio of undefeated Detroit bantamweights: James Gordon Smith (10-0, 6 KOs), Jarico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn (3-0, 2 KOs) and Zach Shamoun (4-0-1, 3 KOs); as well as Russian cruiserweight Alexey Zubov (12-1, 7 KOs); Georgian super lightweight Giorgi Gelashvili (5-0, 3 KOs); and undefeated UK-based bantamweight Muheeb “Flashy,” Fazeldin (8-0-1, 3 KOs) in separate bouts.
More fights, opponents and rounds will be announced shortly. On fight night, doors open at 5:00 pm and the fights begin at 6:00 pm.
###
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar offers patrons an old-school sports and whiskey bar in Downtown Detroit’s Eastern Market district. Thomas Magee’s prides itself on providing every sport, every game, and every fight, plus great beer and whiskey!
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visitwww.salitapromotions.com.
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar is located at 1408 E Fisher Service Drive in Detroit. For more information, call 313-263-4342 or visit their official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ThomasMageesSportingHouseWhiskeyBar

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boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

FNU Combat Sports Show For November 3, 2016

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Tom, Tony and Rich get back to action this week to discuss upcoming fight cards, including two big MMA events: UFC Fight Night Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson and Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis. We preview both events and talk about the matchups. We then move to the boxing schedule where there are multiple belts on the line this week all over the globe. We spend a bit of time discussing the big Manny Pacquiao bout against Jessie Vargas. Is Manny fighting for the right reasons? Does he have enough left in the tank? We’ll know the answer Saturday night. Rich also breaks down his suspicions about vocal UFC fighters trending toward starting some type of powerful fighters union. Could the astronomical selling price of the UFC actually be the main handicap for the new owners? Did putting such a high premium on the UFC unintentionally give griping fighters more incentive to sue the company? Only time will tell.