Tag Archives: boxing

Heather Hardy & Shelly Vincent Media Roundtable Quotes & Photos

 
Longtime Rivals Meet Sunday, August 21 In PBC on NBCSN Action from
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn
 
Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
BROOKLYN (August 4, 2016) – Undefeated contenders Heather “The Heat” Hardyand Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent hosted a media roundtable in Manhattan Thursday to officially announce their long awaited showdown taking place Sunday, August 21 on Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN from Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn.
PBC on NBCSN coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by exciting contender Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero taking on unbeaten Derrick Murray. PBC on NBC coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT and features undefeated rising star and 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. in a welterweight title eliminator against once-beaten contender Leonard “The Lion” Bundu.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and presented by BROOKLYN BOXING™, start at $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and fordamphitheaterconeyisland.com.
Hardy and Vincent will meet in a 10-round featherweight showdown years in the making. Vincent began calling Hardy out at her second professional fight, looking to get in the ring with the popular Brooklyn ticket seller. Despite the rival, both have campaigned for a women’s match on this platform for years and will look to make their mark on August 21.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:
HEATHER HARDY
“I wouldn’t be here without all the help of my team and fans. I don’t stand here alone. I stand here with all of the women who have fought before me that no one knows about.
“This is the kind of platform that this fight deserves. I’ve always imagined this fight being on television and I’m thankful that this fight has come together on NBCSN. It’s important to have a stage like this and I hope it’s the first of more fights like this on television.
“I really can’t wait to punch Shelly right in the face. I like that everybody is sleeping on ‘The Heat’. Don’t sleep on me.
“Shelly started her career a little bit before me. She started showing up at my fights with all these antics from almost my pro debut and talking about wanting to fight me. It was inappropriate at the time, but then she signed with Lou and we’ve both developed in our careers. Hats off to her, it worked. I’m ready to brawl.
“I’ve seen her fight before. I went to one of her fights to talk to press and build up this matchup. I don’t get too hung up on what I’ve seen. I go into the ring ready to make adjustments based off what I see. I’m not treating this fight any differently than other fights.
“Every fight I’m back in the gym working on getting better. I don’t work hard, I don’t work on getting in better shape, I work to improve at my craft. You’re going to see a new and better Heather than ever before.”
SHELLY VINCENT
“I’m thankful for this opportunity for women as a whole. This is a fight we’ve been waiting for, for a while. I can’t wait to get in there and hit Heather. She thinks there’s no pop in my punches but she’ll be surprised on fight night.
“Heather and I really just don’t like each other. I’ve tried to make this fight for years and she wouldn’t take the fight. I’ve seen her lose some of these fights. I don’t believe she’s undefeated. I feel like she’s avoiding me.
“I’ve been trying to make this fight happen but I’m glad it didn’t happen back then; this is the perfect time for it. We both deserve this opportunity. Heather and I work hard, taking nothing from her, but I can’t wait to get my hands on her.
“I know Heather is going to use her legs. She doesn’t seem strong so I think she’s going to try to get away from me. I just have to cut the ring off.
“I always knew I’d have to come to her home territory. I’m going to stick to what I have to do. I know she’s not better than me. It’s going to be me coming forward with constant pressure. I hope she comes at me because that would make it an even more exciting fight.”
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
“We’re making a lot of history on August 21. This will be the first women’s bout broadcast from Coney Island. I want to thank PBC and NBC for giving these women this much deserved platform to showcase their talents.
“The co-featured bout on NBCSN will be this long awaited contest between these two women. It’s been talked about for years. They’ve been talking to each other for years and it’s finally happening.
“This is history and I think it’s going ot be a good night for boxing, and especially for women’s boxing. This is a great opportunity for these two contenders and two women who have earned the right to be on television. They both have crowd pleasing styles. This is going to be a Gatti-Ward fight. These two want to beat each other up.
“Heather and Shelly are two of the most popular female fighters in the country. They like to rumble. They make every fight a war. They’re willing to be hit and that’s what makes their fight so much fun.”
PBC on NBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
 For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.nbcsports.com/boxing, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,@ErrolSpenceJr, @LouDiBella, @NBCSports, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionswww.facebook.com/NBCSportswww.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.

Undercard Announced for CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing Quadrupleheader, this Friday, August 5, at Pechanga

A host of local up-and-comers in exciting match-ups highlight the untelevised undercard forthis Friday’s (August 5, 2016) CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing quadrupleheader in the Grand Ballroom of the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
 
Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with the International Championship Boxing League (ICBL), Ringside Ticket Inc., and David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, the 10-round main event will feature WBA #4- and WBO #7-rated middleweight and current WBO NABO and WBA NABA Middleweight Champion, Rob “Bravo” Brant (20-0, 13 KOs) of Saint Paul, Minnesota, taking on Chris “The Irish Ghost” Fitzpatrick (15-4, 6 KOs) of Cleveland.
 
Tickets for CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing are priced at $85, $65 and $50 and are available at www.pechanga.com or by calling the Pechanga Box Office:(877) 711-2946.
 
In the six-round super welterweight co-featured bout, Fort Worth, Texas, slugger Skender Halili (10-1, 10 KOs) will look to keep his perfect knockout record intact against experienced Ghanian veteran (now living in Silver Springs, Maryland) Ben Odamattey (16-14-3, 9 KOs). In another televised four-rounder, undefeated former amateur world champion Cem Killic (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sherman Oaks, California, via Frankfurt, Germany, will take on pro-debuting middleweight Jerhed Fenderson of Las Vegas. And in the night’s opening televised bout, red-hot prospect Malik Hawkins (8-0, 7 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland, will look to keep his march to the top of the welterweight division alive against Portland, Oregon’s Sean Gee (3-4).
Topping the night’s undercard will be Temecula, California’s undefeated Robert Meza (2-0-0, 1 KO) in a four-round featherweight duel with Baja California, Mexico’s Jose Fabian Naranjo (3-2-1, 1 KO).
Also in action will be Detroit-based bantamweight Jarico O’Quinn (2-0, 2 KOs) taking on the more experienced Jonathon Quiroz (6-3, 1 KO) from Oceanside, California.
Making his anticipated professional debut will be Temecula, California’s Danny Andujo in a super flyweight four-rounder against San Jose’s Israel Hernandez (1-2-1, 1 KO).
A dual-pro-debut lightweight four-rounder will pit Las Vegas’ Erick Fowler against Sacramento’s Will Davis.
And opening up the action will be a super welterweight four-rounder between San Diego’s undefeated Kevin Ottley (2-0, 2 KOs) and Hawthorne’s Brian True (1-4, 1 KO).
The Pechanga Resort & Casino is located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula, CA. For more information, call 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.pechanga.com. On fight night, doors open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. All bouts subject to change.

Exciting Contender Claudio Marrero Takes On Unbeaten Derrick Murray; Undefeated Rivals Heather Hardy & Shelly Vincent Battle In Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN Sunday, August 21

 
From Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
Plus! Undefeated Prospects Abraham Nova, Julian Sosa &
Joseph Williams in Undercard Attractions
 
BROOKLYN (August 4, 2016) – Exciting contender Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero(20-1, 14 KOs) takes on unbeaten Derrick Murray (13-0-1, 5 KOs) while undefeated contenders Heather “The Heat” Hardy (17-0, 4 KOs) and Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent (18-0, 1 KO) face off in a long awaited battle on a Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN doubleheader, Sunday, August 21.
Tape delayed PBC on NBCSN coverage will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn. PBC on NBC coverage begins at5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT and features undefeated rising star and 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. in a welterweight title eliminator against once-beaten contender Leonard “The Lion” Bundu.
Marrero and Murray will meet in a super featherweight bout while Vincent and Hardy are set to compete in 10-rounds of featherweight action that sees the return of women’s boxing to a primetime national audience.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and presented by BROOKLYN BOXING™, start at $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and fordamphitheaterconeyisland.com.
A former title challenger who lost a narrow decision to Jesus Cuellar in 2013, Marrero has won six-straight bouts since then. Most recently, the 27-year-old dominated Jonathan Arrellano on his way to a decision in February. A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Marrero was an accomplished amateur who will be fighting in New York for the second time in his pro career.
Unbeaten and fighting out of St. Louis, Murray has already picked up victories in 2016 over Jose Silveria and Darryl Hayes. A pro since 2011, Murray will step up in competition when he takes on Marrero. The 28-year-old was victorious twice in 2015 in addition to four victories he earned in 2014.
A popular Brooklyn fighter who competed in Barclays Center’s first-ever professional female boxing match, Hardy has become a staple of the Brooklyn boxing scene. A little over two years after her pro debut, Hardy won an international title belt in the super bantamweight division in October 2014. In 2015, she defeated Noemi Bosques and Renata Domsodi twice. In 2016 she has stopped Anna Donatella Hultin in the fourth round and most recently defeated Kirstie Simmons in June.
Born in Connecticut but now fighting out of and representing Providence, Rhode Island, Vincent will look to earn the biggest win of her career August 21 when she fights in New York for the second time. Vincent has been busy in 2016, picking up victories over Renata Domsodi, Elizabeth Anderson and most recently Christina Ruiz in July. An all-action fighter, Vincent has fought 10 rounds twice in her pro career that dates back to 2011.
Additional undercard action will see unbeaten prospect and New England Golden Glove champion Abraham Nova (1-0, 1 KO) take on California’s Leonardo Chavez (6-1, 5 KOs) in a six-round lightweight attraction, unbeaten Brooklyn-native Julian Sosa (5-0-1, 2 KOs) taking on Rene Marquez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a welterweight showdown and New York Golden Glove champion Joseph Williams (9-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round cruiserweight fight.
Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC on NBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
 For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.nbcsports.com/boxing, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing,@ErrolSpenceJr, @LouDiBella, @NBCSports, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionswww.facebook.com/NBCSportswww.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.

Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs Takes On Former World Champion Sergio Mora in Rematch That Headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, September 9 From Santander Arena in Reading, Pa. (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT)

 
Plus! Undefeated Lightweights Robert Easter Jr. & 
Richard Commey Meet for Vacant World Title
&
Local Heavyweight Travis Kauffman in Action
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
 
SANTANDER, PA. (August 4, 2016) – Middleweight world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) will defend his title in a rematch against former world champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs) that headlinesPremier Boxing Champions on Spike, Friday, September 9 from Santander Arena, in Reading, Pa.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features undefeated lightweights colliding for a vacant world title as Robert Easter Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs) takes on Richard Commey (24-0, 22 KOs). Also on the card, heavyweight contender Travis “My Time” Kauffman (30-1, 22 KOs) will be featured in a 10-round fight.
Jacobs and Mora met in an August 2015 firefight that saw both men hit the canvas in round one. Mora was floored by a Jacobs right hand but the tricky veteran recovered and caught Jacobs with a clean left that put Jacobs on the ground. The action was halted in round two after Jacobs knocked Mora down again, rendering him unable to continue after fracturing his ankle on his way to the mat.
“This is business for me, but it is also more personal than any fight I have ever had,” said Jacobs. “Sergio has been using these antics online to get this rematch and he has gotten under my skin. There has been a lot of back and forth as far as people’s opinions as to who would have won the fight had he not gotten hurt. I am looking at this as an opportunity to clarify that I am the real champion. I want to shut his trap in primetime.”
“I don’t think Jacobs wanted this rematch, but it was destined to happen and now he has to deal with it,” said Mora. “I thought the first fight was going my way. I knocked him down in the first round and was out boxing him in the second round. He knows that I have enough power to hurt him. He has more to worry about going into this fight than in the first fight. Look at my resume, I have fought solid opposition. Jacobs doesn’t have that type of resume.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, start at $20 and are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
“This is going to be one of the best cards of the year,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “There are two great world title fights with Jacobs and Mora plus Easter and Commey. The first Jacobs – Mora fight was headed to be a shootout before Mora got injured. Easter and Commey has all the makings of a war. Add that to Travis Kauffman continuing his road to the heavyweight title plus the best fighters from Reading on the card, The Santander Arena will be electric both inside the ring and in the building on September 9.”
The 29-year-old Jacobs followed up his victory over Mora with a sensational first round knockout of previously unbeaten former champion Peter Quillin in their highly anticipated December showdown.  An inspirational figure representing Brooklyn, New York, Jacobs completed his road from cancer survivor to champion when he defeated Jarrod Fletcher for the middleweight title in 2014.
The winner of NBC’s “The Contender” series, the 35-year-old Mora is a former world champion at super welterweight and looking to add a middleweight crown to his name as he returns to the ring for the first time since the injury suffered in the first Jacobs fight. The Los Angeles native owns victories over Ishe Smith, Peter Manfredo Jr. and Vernon Forrest.
An accomplished amateur who was a 2012 U.S. Olympic alternate, the 25-year-old Easter Jr. picked up four victories in 2015 including knockouts over Osumanu Akaba, Miguel Mendoza, Alejandro Rodriguez and Juan Ramon Solis. Unbeaten since turning pro in 2012, the Toledo, Ohio-born prospect faced the toughest challenge of his career in April when he impressively stopped former world champion Algenis Mendez also on Spike.
Representing Accra, Ghana, Commey has climbed the ranks since turning pro in 2011 and has yet to be defeated. The 29-year-old won his first 11 bouts fighting out of Ghana before going to London, Denmark, South Africa and Germany to improve his record to 24-0. Commey fought in the U.S. as well, stopping Bahodir Mamadjonov in the eighth round last May.
A local attraction fighting out of Reading, Kauffman is the son of longtime trainer and promoter Marshall Kauffman. Kauffman won his first 18 pro fights and entered his last bout on a 12-fight winning streak. The 30-year-old dropped Chris Arreola in his last outing before losing a majority decision that was later changed to a no decision. Now, Kauffman looks to impress in his hometown as he returns to the ring.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DanielJacobsTKO, @TheLatinSnake_, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports @KingsBoxing_ and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.  PBC on Spike is sponsored byCorona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Undefeated Prospect Caleb Plant Battles Hard-Hitting Juan De Angel in Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, August 23 From Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.

 
Plus! Unbeaten Light Heavyweight Earl Newman Takes On Detroit’s Leo Hall While Unbeaten Prospects Carlos Gongora & Ronald Mixon Meet in Undercard Attractions
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
 
BETHLEHEM, PA. (August 3, 2016) – Undefeated prospect Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (13-0, 10 KOs) will square off against hard-hitting Colombian Juan De Angel(18-4-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup that serves as the main event of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, August 23 from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a pair of undercard bouts as unbeaten prospect Earl Newman (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Detroit’s Leo Hall(8-1, 7 KOs) in eight-rounds of light heavyweight action while Carlos Gongora (5-0, 4 KOs) faces Ronald Mixon (7-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round matchup of undefeated light heavyweight prospects.
“It’s a blessing to be headlining on my own show,” said Plant. “It’s all thanks to my family and my team. I’m happy with how far I’ve come in my career. I’ve had obstacles in front of me my entire life and I have had to rise to the occasion. I know De Angel is a tough guy, but I have too much in my game for him.”
“I had a great camp in Colombia and I’m going to Florida to put the finishing touches on training,” said De Angel. “Plant is strong and he counters well, but he gets hit hard and often. I’ve had experience in big fights and I’m going to do my best to put my hands on him. I’m thankful for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most it.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $108, $83 and $58, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at(800) 745-3000.
A 2011 National Golden Gloves champion, Plant has begun to make his name in the professional ranks since turning pro in 2014. Last year, the 24-year-old picked up six victories including hard fought triumphs over Jamar Freeman in September and Tyrone Brunson in October. Fighting out of Nashville, he kicked off his 2016 campaign by stopping Adasat Rodriguez in January and delivered a fourth-round knockout of Carlos Galvan in June. He takes on an experienced opponent in Barranquilla, Colombia’s De Angel. The 29-year-old has a reputation for knockouts, having delivered victories inside of the distance in seventeen of his eighteen victories.
A former New York Golden Gloves champion, Newman has shown impressive power in stopping seven of his first nine opponents since turning pro in 2014. The 24-year-old out of Brooklyn is coming in off of a stoppage victory over Dustin Craig Echard in April. He faces his toughest opponent to date in the 21-year-old Hall out of Detroit. Hall knocked out seven of his first eight opponents before losing for the first time in December 2015.
A two-time Ecuadorian Olympian, Gongora now trains out of Brooklyn and is undefeated since turning pro in May 2015. The 27-year-old has delivered knockouts in four of his first five pro fights, including three in the first round. He takes on fellow unbeaten Mixon out of Los Angeles. The 27-year-old has delivered two stoppage victories in 2016.
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @TheSBEC, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxdeportes andwww.Facebook.com/the SBEC. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Premier Boxing Champions Series Brings Heat in August

 
Guerrero, Gausha & Spence Plus Rising Stars & Contenders All Featured Across Five August Fight Nights
 
Visit presscenter.premierboxingchampions.com For Press Releases, Photos
& More
 
LAS VEGAS (August 3, 2016) – The Premier Boxing Champions series will be featured every weekend in August as the series continues to bring exciting action from coast-to-coast across multiple broadcast networks over fight great fight nights.
Coming off of the thrilling “Fight of the Year” candidate between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz, August will feature undefeated rising star Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (20-0, 17 KOs) headlining PBC on NBC action Sunday, August 21 in a world title eliminator against once- beaten Leonard “The Lion” Bundu (33-1-2, 12 KOs). Televised coverage from Brooklyn begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT following coverage of the Olympic Men’s Basketball Gold Medal game.
On Saturday, August 27th, former world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (33-4-1, 18 KOs) returns to battle David Emanuel Peralta (25-2-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight showdown from Anaheim that headlines a great triple-header on Spike. The fights begin at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and will also feature hard-hitting Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (24-5, 20 KOs) battling veteran Freddy Hernandez (33-8, 22 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup of Mexican warriors plus 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (18-0, 9 KOs) putting his undefeated record on the line against the Bronx’s Steve Martinez (16-2, 13 KOs) in 10-rounds of super welterweight action.
PBC’s TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes will feature rising middleweight Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (13-0, 10 KOs) looking to impress as he takes on Juan De Angel (18-4-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round matchup on Tuesday, August 23 from Bethlehem, Pa. The action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a pair of undercard bouts as unbeaten prospect Earl Newman (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Detroit’s Leo Hall (8-1, 7 KOs) in eight-rounds of light heavyweight action while Carlos Gongora (5-0, 4 KOs) faces Ronald Mixon (7-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round matchup of undefeated light heavyweight prospects.
PBC on ESPN and ESPN Deportes returns with back-to-backFriday night shows on August 5 and August 12 featuring a bevy of young talent. August 5 will see hard-hitting 19-year-old David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez (15-0, 14 KOs) taking on experienced 168-pound contender Denis Douglin (20-4, 13 KOs) in the 10-round main event live from Philadelphia. Lightweight action between Alejandro “El Charro” Luna (20-0, 15 KOs) and Stephen “The Rock” Ormond (21-2, 11 KOs) kick-off the night at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The following week will see undefeated featherweight Miguel Flores (20-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-round showdown against once-beaten contender Ryan Kielczweski (25-1, 7 KOs) that serves as the main event in Verona, New York. Undefeated welterweight Bryant Perrella (14-0, 13 KOs) will matchup with Cuban Olympian Yordenis Ugas (15-3, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout that kicks off the telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
See below for the chronological schedule:
Friday, August 5 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes- David Benavidez vs. Denis Douglin; Alejandro Luna vs. Stephen Ormond from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Friday, August 12 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes – Miguel Flores vs. Ryan Kielczweski; Bryant Perrella vs. Yordenis Ugas from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Sunday, August 21 on NBC – Errol Spence Jr. vs. Leonard Bundu from Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT).
Tuesday, August 23 on FS1 and FOX Deportes – Caleb Plant vs. Juan De Angel; Earl Newman vs. Leo Hall & Carlos Gongora vs. Ronald Mixon from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, PA (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Saturday, August 27 on SPIKE – Robert Guerrero vs. David Emanuel Peralta; Alfredo Angulo vs. Freddy Hernandez & Terrell Gausha vs. Steve Martinez from Honda Center in Anaheim, CA (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT).

Lee Baxter Promotions Inks Logan McGuinness

 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (August 3, 2016) – Toronto-based Lee Baxter Promotions is proud to announce the signing of undefeated super featherweight contender Logan “Cotton” McGuinness to an exclusive promotional agreement.

Living and fighting out of Orangeville, Ontario, McGuinness has an outstanding 23-0-1 professional ledger with 10 victories coming by knockout. The 29-year-old McGuinness is a former WBA-NABA champion at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, earning NABA Fighter of the Year in 2011.

Formerly ranked number 4 in the world by the WBA, McGuinness has been inactive since May 2015 due to out of the ring issues and is excited to get back in the squared circle.

McGuinness said of his new promotional agreement and return to fighting in Canada “it feels great to have signed with Lee Baxter and this is something I feel has been a long time coming. I think the two of us will make some noise and do big things together. I have had an unfortunate couple of years as anyone who has followed my career understands but I’m a true believer in things happening for a reason and everything seems to be falling into place. I’m motivated and rejuvenated. I can’t wait to fight in Toronto!”

Baxter, a longtime fixture in the Canadian boxing scene who recently created the “Next Generation” fight series, is thrilled to be working with a longtime friend who he believes has a bright future ahead of him.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Logan and the timing is great for both of us. He had some unexpected layoffs but is still unbeaten and a very talented fighter. There’s been a public demand for him to fight in Canada again since 18 of his professional matches have been here and we’re proud to be making this happen. I’m looking at having him potentially fight twice in 2016 and the people in Ontario are as excited to see him fight as he is to fight in front of them. The sky is definitely the limit with Logan!”

Details on Logan’s return to the ring will be announced shortly.

TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION ANDRE WARD AND POWER-PUNCHING COLOMBIAN ALEXANDER BRAND MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES AND PHOTOS

 

 SHOWDOWN SET FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 AT ORACLE ARENA IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA; TELEVISED LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING ®

 

 

Click HERE for Photos

Photo Credit: Roc Nation Sports/Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos

 

OAKLAND, CA (August 3, 2016) – On Tuesday, August 2, Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (29-0, 15 KOs) and power-punching Colombian Alexander Brand (25-1, 19 KOs) participated in a media workout at King’s Gym in Oakland, California in advance of their August 6fight at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ward and Brand will meet in 12-round WBO Intercontinental title bout televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT.

 

After shadowboxing in the ring and a few rounds on the punching bags, both fighters participated in interviews with media members in attendance. Also on hand to catch the hometown hero were a dozen members of the West Oakland Boys and Girls Club chapter. Ward surprised the group of local youths with tickets to Saturday’s fight.

 

Below is what the fighters had to say during the final media workout:

 

ANDRE WARD, Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter:

 

“It was good to get back in camp right after the last fight. I was a lot sharper early in camp than I normally am. The last couple of years, typically, you have to get the rust off first, then work on getting sharp, work on technique and the game plan. This training camp was continuous of the last training camp, I probably put in over 130 rounds. I feel really good.

“I know enough about Brand. He’s got everything to gain and nothing to lose. He swings for the fences with every punch. He’s a dangerous guy to fight.

“It feels good to be back at Oracle Arena multiple times this year. I don’t know how much stock you can put into the last couple of years. A lot of people are talking about it, but people have to weigh in the amount of time I have been doing this, which is all my life. You look at Floyd Mayweather, he took a couple of hiatuses and it may have given him two or three more years. It was a mental break and it was a physical break. Taking those couple years where maybe you’re not fighting as frequently, it’s not always a bad thing, especially late in your career.

“I came up a little different in my Olympic days. Virgil Hunter is the type of coach who will get you away from everybody and turn your phone off. We didn’t have snapchat in 2004, we didn’t have Instagram in 2004. We had a room that we all had to huddle around with desktop computers where we all had to get news about what was going on. But now, in 2016, I see the USA team snapchatting and Instagramming. Part of you wants to tell them to shut it down and do it like I did it, but that may not be the right thing. Understand why you’re there, understand you’re not going to get this moment again. You don’t typically repeat when you go for the Olympics. Understand why you’re there, take it seriously and everything else will fall in place.

“The key is to have a good team. I’ve got a great lawyer, a great manager and a great promotional team in Roc Nation Sports. They are going to make sure the details are right. This is a very much a business, and before there’s combat, business has to be handled and taken care of. I think fighters and all athletes should be unapologetic about taking care of business. That way, when you get into that ring or field or court, your mind can be free.

“Unfortunately, our women don’t get the respect they deserve, they don’t get the notoriety. They don’t get the exposure that they probably should get. Raquel Miller, who will be on the card, and other female fighters, they do what we do.  They’re training and grinding but they are not always noticed. I remember the Christie Martin days where she fought on the Mike Tyson undercards with Laila Ali. They got some good publicity and shine. However, there are so many other young female fighters coming up, ones who are established and have been fighting, whom people don’t know about. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m happy for Raquel and excited to have her on the card. I don’t believe when people say there is no market for women’s boxing. Let’s create a market then, let’s create some buzz!

“Sergey Kovalev is not on my mind at all. I’ve got a job to do. I haven’t even talked about Kovalev. We can talk about Kovalev on August 7th, that’s what I told my team. I didn’t watch his last fight, he’s not my next opponent but I know what happened and what people are saying about it.

“I’ve never seen Brand in person. It’s tricky, in my last fight, Sullivan Barrera was a little bit bigger than me. Everyone made a big deal about that, and Brand is smaller than me. You’ve got to be able to get it done, short or tall, explosive or wild. Brand is wild, so it’s going to take a few rounds to break him down and tame him before we start doing what we want to do. As a championship-caliber fighter, you’ve got to be able to deal with everything, every style and size. I’ve never seen the guy in person, so it’s hard to gauge.

“Taking away my opponents’ best weapon away is a skill that I developed as a kid, right here at King’s Gym. Virgil was a really, really good coach. He’s probably the last of the great teachers. I’ve been in here with pros at 13 and 14 years old. Seasoned veterans hitting me on my head, trying to discourage me, trying to bully me. I would go back to the corner and say, ‘Man he hit me on my head. Man he’s pushing my head back.’ And Virgil would say, ‘Then make him stop.’ In other words, I had to figure it out. Having those sessions here year after year, I had to get my respect in here first before I could even fight others. I had to learn to adjust here first before I had the chance to adjust in a big fight. So, it started here. And, it carried over. Even today, we bring in top sparrers. Sparring is different than a fight, but we bring in top sparrers to make sure my senses are on point. I don’t like to lose a second of a round so even when I am tired, I try to figure it out mentally. What can I do to offset him? How can I take that away from him? Exploit his weakness? That is constantly on my mind. I think it shows when the lights come on.

“Being back at home, it’s two-fold. Part of me wants to stop and take it in. Go down memory lane and remember all the times I’ve walked into the gym, all the battles I’ve had in here. Remember the good days and the bad days. Then there is another part of me that doesn’t like looking back too soon. I’ve got to stay in the moment. It’s kind of surreal. It’s surreal to be in the arena that I have driven past for years. Driving down 880 and wishing I could headline. I’m blessed. Not a lot of people get the opportunity. I know a lot of great fighters who didn’t get the opportunity for one reason or another. And to have that opportunity, I don’t take it lightly.

“I’ve been given a tremendous opportunity. God has blessed me a lot. There’s an inscription in the bible that says to whom much is given, much is acquired. He’s given me a talent, and I’m probably not the most talented, but I want to make sure I use it the best I can. I’m running my race right now in this professional game, and when I look back I want to say that I didn’t cheat anybody, that I gave everything that I had, and this is what I have to show for it. Finishing strong is really important to me. Becoming an all-time great is really important to me. I’m just giving God a return on his investment, because he’s invested a lot in me. I’m thankful.”

 

ALEXANDER BRAND, Former WBC Latino Super Middleweight Champion:

 

“I didn’t want to show too much at this media workout but I’ve got something in store for the day of the fight.

 

“It doesn’t really matter that the fight is in Ward’s hometown, it’s going to be a fight. Wherever it is, whether it’s in his backyard or anywhere else, I’m coming to fight and that’s the most important thing.

 

“It’s nothing new for me, I fought at 175 pounds in the amateurs. My last fight in December was at 175 pounds against an undefeated Russian when Andre Ward got hurt and couldn’t fight me on the Cotto-Canelo card.

 

“Whatever Ward brings, I’m going to have something for him.

 

“Ward still has 12 rounds to fight before he can think about Kovalev.”

 

 

Ward vs. Brand is a 12-round fight for the WBO Intercontinental title, presented by Roc Nation Sports and sponsored by Corona Extra, Verizon, ProSupps, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Jordan Brand, Shoe Palace, Kingsford, Autocom Nissan, Ticketmaster and The Clorox Company, supporting the Bay Area Community for over 100 years. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets priced at $250, $100, $70, $40 and $30, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

 

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

 

For more information, visit www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

 

Follow the conversation using #WardBrand.

Chazz Witherspoon waiting for right opportunity but first must get past Marrone this Saturday

Chazz Witherspoon headlines against former world title challenger Mike Marrone on August 6th at The Grundy Arena in Bristol, PA.

Emanuel Taylor battles Carlos Aguilera

Plus undefeated Mike Hilton, Elijah Vines, Jaron Ennis, LeShawn Rodriguez and Luis Perozo
Junior Welterweight Sam Teah also on the bill 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol, PA (August 3,, 2016) – Chazz “The Gentleman” Witherspoon is ready for a big fight against a top heavyweight, but first, he must get past  Mike Marrone On Saturday night, as D & D Promotions and Silver Spoon Promotions will present “Rumble at the Rink II” at the Grundy Arena inBristol, Pennsylvania.

Witherspoon (34-3, 26 KO’s) of Paulsboro,  New Jersey is ready for the former world title challenger and he has taken him as a serious challenge for this Saturday’s main event.
“Training has been good.  I am ready to fight on Saturday,” said Witherspoon.
“I know Marrone from the amateurs.  We have spoken before at tournaments.  He seems like a nice guy, and I know he will come to fight.  He won’t lay down and I am expecting a good fight.”
Witherspoon has won four in a row by knockout knows that with another win or two, he will have a big opportunity at one of the top names in the heavyweight division.
“I am waiting for the right opportunity.  It has to make sense.  I am willing to take stay busy fights and continue to hone my craft.  If the opportunity isn’t next, then I will continue to stay busy.”
Witherspoon knows that it will take one big win to become a major player in the suddenly wide-open heavyweight division.
“I think the division is exciting again.  Different guys have belts and all roads do not lead to one person.  I know I will fit somewhere in there when I get a shot at one of these titles.”
In the meantime, Witherspoon will continue and promote the sport.  Along with D & D Promotions, he is the co-promoter of Saturday’s fight.
“We have been trying to get the word out to the area.  It’s a good surrounding area with Neshaminy and Bensalem and just over the bridge, you have Burlington, Florence and Willingboro.”
Seeing action in the eight-round co-feature will be junior welterweight Emanuel “The Tranzforma” Taylor (19-4, 13 KO’s) battling Carlos Aguilera (10-16, 4 KO’s) of Chiapas, Mexico.

With a win, Taylor is earmarked for a September fight with WBO number-two ranked Jose Zepeda.

The Taylor – Aguilera bout is promoted in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

In a six-round bout, Alvin Vermall Jr. (10-0-1, 8 KO’s) of Catskills, NY will take on James Jones (2-8, 1 KO) of Nashville, NJ in a cruiserweight bout

In four-round bouts:

Cruiserweight Mike Hilton (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Trenton, NJ will take on an opponent to be named.

Middleweight Elijah Vines (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will battle Julian Valerio(3-3, 2 KO’s) of Atlanta, GA

Junior welterweight Sam Teah (7-1-1, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will all see action against Samuel Amoako (21-12, 15 KO’s) of Silver Spring, MD.
LeShawn Rodriguez (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Shirley, NY will fight Jason Wahr (4-12-3, 1 KO) of Virginia Beach, VA. in a middleweight bout.
Jaron Ennis (4-0, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Matthew Murphy (1-3-1, 1 KO) of St. Louis, MO. a junior welterweight bout.
Luis Perozo (1-1, 1 KO) of New York will battle Alberto Martinez (0-1) of Tifton, GA
Tickets for this night of boxing are $150 VIP with food and soft drinks; $100; $50; $25 (for children under 17) and can be purchased by calling 856-842-7577 ordboysboxing@gmail.com or www.dboysboxing.com

The Grundy Arena is located at 475 Beaver Street in Bristol, PA.

Light Heavyweight Contender Mike Lee to Serve on Broadcast Commentary Team on CBS Sports Network, this Friday, August 5, at Pechanga

Undefeated light heavyweight contender Mike Lee will join the broadcast team as a color analyst for this Friday’s (August 5, 2016) CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing quadrupleheader in the Grand Ballroom of the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
 
Lee will join blow-by-blow man Alan Massenagle and color analysts Steve Kim and Patrick Ortiz live at 11 pm ET/8 pm PT when Greg Cohen Promotions and Ringside Ticket Inc. (in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions) present four exciting nationally televised professional fights, headlined by WBA #4- and WBO #7-rated middleweight and current WBO NABO and WBA NABA Middleweight Champion, Rob “Bravo” Brant (20-0, 13 KOs) of Saint Paul, Minnesota, in a 10-round battle against Cleveland’s Chris “The Irish Ghost” Fitzpatrick (15-4, 6 KOs).
 
Tickets for CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing are priced at $85, $65 and $50 and are available at www.pechanga.com or by calling the Pechanga Box Office:(877) 711-2946.
 
In the six-round super welterweight co-featured bout, Fort Worth, Texas, slugger Skender Halili (10-1, 10 KOs) will look to keep his perfect knockout record intact against experienced Ghanian veteran (now living in Silver Springs, Maryland) Ben Odamattey (16-14-3, 9 KOs).
In another televised four-rounder, undefeated former amateur world champion Cem Killic (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sherman Oaks, California, via Frankfurt, Germany, will take on pro-debuting middleweight Jerhed Fenderson of Las Vegas.
And in the night’s opening televised bout, red-hot prospect Malik Hawkins (8-0, 7 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland, will look to keep his march to the top of the welterweight division alive against Portland, Oregon’s Sean Gee (3-4).
 
An ambassador for the sport of boxing, Lee (17-0, 10 KOs) is a former Subway national spokesperson and holds a Finance degree from The University of Notre Dame. He also does extensive work and donates most of his fight purses to charitable causes such as the Children’s Memorial Hospital and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.
 
The 29-year-old Chicago native has fought on the undercards of some of boxing’s most prestigious events. He was last seen in the ring in June in New York City, where he scored a unanimous eight-round decision over Mike Snider (then 10-3-3).
Lee will join an already stellar broadcast team of experts.
Blow-by-blow man Alan Massenagle is currently known as the “most watched international blow-by-blow boxing announcer on television.” Currently the voice of the World Series of Boxing, Massengale has travelled the globe extensively during his award-winning career, which also includes having served as the most watched Sports Personality in Los Angeles for 10 years. He has also served as anchor for ESPN Sportscenter, Prime Ticket and Fox Sports He received the Golden Mike Award twice for best sportscast in the Los Angeles market, and was honored four times by the Southern California Sportscasters Association.
Long-time boxing journalist Steve Kim is internationally recognized for his commentary and opinion preceding major pay-per-view boxing bouts. Patrick Ortiz is the President of Ringside Ticket Inc. and Lords of the Cage, which specializes in providing Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing events for Tribal Casinos.
 
The night’s five-fight undercard, packed with local prospects and contenders, will be announced shortly.
 
The Pechanga Resort & Casino is located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula, CA. For more information, call 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.pechanga.com. On fight night,doors open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. All bouts subject to change.