Tag Archives: boxing

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

 Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce TV: “Smashing Debut”

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ATLANTA (Aug. 5, 2015) – The series premiere of Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce TV on Aug. 2 was a knockout success.

 

The live telecast delivered 459,000 total viewers and averaged 333,000 Households between 9:00 p.m.-12:15 a.m., with a peak audience of 667,000 total viewers and 444,000 Households. This live telecast also delivered 255,000 Adults 25-54 and 195,000 A18-49.

 

Bounce TV aired an immediate encore of PBC – The Next Round after the live event and the two telecasts combined reached nearly two million unique viewers.

 

The network also streamed the PBC – The Next Round live on BounceTV.com which saw a usage increase of more than 300% on Sunday night. (Click here to watch the telecast.)

 

Bounce TV’s debut of PBC – The Next Round was also met with glowing media reviews, including: “Smashing debut” (Bleacher Report) and “The debut of PBC: The Next Round on Bounce TV was a success” (USA Today).

 

The inauguralPBC – The Next Round consisted of three exciting fights. The main event saw Juan Carlos “Baby Pacquiao” Payano (17-0, 8 KOs) defeat Rau’shee Warren (13-1, 4 KOs) in a close, 12-round split decision to retain hisBantamweight Title.

 

In the first bout of a four-man super welterweight tournament, John Jackson(20-2, 15 KOs) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Dennis Laurente (49-6, 30 KOs).  The second tournament bout featured a hard-hitting fight in which Jorge Cota (25-1, 22 KOs) defeated Yudel Jhonson.  The winners of this tournament, Cota and Jackson, will fight on PBC – The Next Round on Bounce TV in November.

 

Fred Hickman (CNN Sports, ESPN) hosted PBC – The Next Round, Fran Charles(NFL Network, MLB Network) called the blow-by-blow action and former Super Welterweight World Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout provided insight and analysis.

 

PBC – The Next Roundreturns Fri. Sept. 18 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) with the schedule of fights to be announced shortly.

 

Bounce TV is carried on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage.  Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 85 million homes across 90 markets, 90% of African American television homes — including all of the top AA television markets. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Ambassador Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III. For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
boxing

Trey Lippe-Morrison joins forces with Freddie Roach!

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Lippe Suit Promo.jpg
For Immediate Release
Tulsa, OK (August 4, 2015) – Heavyweight knockout king Trey Lippe-Morrison is now training under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
A seven-time Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Trainer of the Year, Roach’s resume is amongst the greatest in history. During the last quarter century, Roach trained countless greats including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, James Toney, Michael Moorer, Ruslan Provodnikov Amir Khan and Guillermo Rigondeaux amongst others. In 2012, Roach was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
“Freddie and I connected well during our first session,” said Lippe-Morrison, who was previously trained by fellow legend Jesse Reid before logistics amicably ended their relationship. “It means the world that Freddie wants to work with me because I’m only 8-0. The majority of his fighters are at the championship level and I’m not there yet. I expect to get great sparring at the Wild Card Gym and receive constant feedback from the training staff.”
With a perfect 8-0 record, Lippe-Morrison’s dynamic punching power had Roach raving amongst his peers at Wild Card. On May 30, Morrison continued his path of destruction, stopping Thomas Jones in the second stanza. Having drawn comparisons to his late father Tommy Morrison, Trey’s working extremely hard to improve and show the boxing world his skills make him worthy of attention, not his last name. A staple at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK as part of the “Four State Franchise”, Lippe-Morrison has what it takes to become America’s next great heavyweight according to Roach.
“I’m really looking forward to working Trey’s corner for the first time later this month,” said Roach. “He has tremendous power in both hands. We’re going to knock a lot of people out!”
Lippe-Morrison’s Promoter Tony Holden of Holden Productions is overjoyed that his prized prospect is training with the man widely considered the best trainer in the sport and believes the sky’s the limit.
“I’m excited to have Freddie on board,” said Holden. I knew Trey was special but Freddie working with him confirms that. Trey’s dad was a great fighter who’s biggest attribute was power. Trey has more raw power than his father did and I truly mean that. It’s going to be great to see his career develop under Freddie Roach.”
Lippe-Morrison’s first match under the tutelage of Roach comes August 29 at Memorial Hall in Joplin, MO.

 

boxing, Showtime Boxing

FLOYD MAYWEATHER TO FACE ANDRE BERTO SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV®

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TWO ADDITIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS HIGHLIGHT ACTION-PACKED PPV QUADRUPLEHEADER

 

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER VS. BERTO

PREMIERES AUGUST 28 ON SHOWTIME®

 

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 4, 2015) – In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

 

Coming off of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao event, in which Mayweather remained undefeated by taking a unanimous decision victory, Mayweather will test himself against a hard-hitting fighter hungry for his chance to score a historic upset. Mayweather could also make history. If triumphant, he would match the record of the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who retired in April 1956 with a record of 49-0. Equaling Marciano’s record, one of the most hallowed in all of sports, would reaffirm Mayweather’s legendary status in the sport and buttress Mayweather’s claim as “The Best Ever.”

 

Two stellar world championship fights will also be included on the pay-per-view telecast.

Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs). Their first fight, in April of this year, is considered by many to be a leading candidate for Fight of the Year. In addition, Badou Jack “The Ripper” (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). A fourth fight on the pay-per-view telecast will be announced soon.

 

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions, the four-fight pay-per-view telecast will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV and is the sixth and final fight of a record-breaking deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc.SHOWTIME Sports® will support the event with the Sports Emmy® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS.

 

Ticket pricing and on sale information is forthcoming later this week.

 

“I’m ready to get back in the ring on September 12 and prove again to the whole world why I’m ‘The Best Ever,'” said Mayweather. “I always bring my A-game and this fight against Andre Berto is no exception. He’s a young, strong fighter who is hungry to take down the best. Forty-eight have tried before and on September 12, I’m going to make it 49.”

 

“I’m coming to kick Floyd’s ass on September 12,” said Berto. “Best believe that I plan to bring it to Floyd and I’m not concerned about what 48 other fighters have been unable to do. Somebody is getting knocked out and it won’t be me. You don’t want to miss this.”

 

“‘Money’ Mayweather is back and the whole Mayweather Promotions team is ready to build off of the incredible record-breaking May 2 event,” said CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe. “It’s a pleasure to bring this great fight, plus the incredible undercard of action, to the fans in Las Vegas at MGM Grand. Andre Berto is a powerful fighter who presents a real danger to Floyd.  He will have to use all of his skills to slow Berto down.”

 

“I want to thank Showtime for this opportunity to fight in this great event,” said Martinez. “We are ready and working hard to make sure this title remains in Puerto Rico. Everyone saw the first fight against Orlando Salido and I know that this second bout will also be a war. Once again we have the rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico, which guarantees plenty of action. Training is going very well and we are 100 percent sure that on September 12 it will be another great victory to Puerto Rico.”

 

“I’m excited for the rematch with Rocky Martinez,” said Salido.  “The first fight in Puerto Rico did not go my way. I got off to a slow start and had to fight two fights – one against the referee and one against Rocky Martinez. On September 12, I am going to take matters into my own hands and look to knock out Rocky to get my world title belt back.  Mexico and Puerto Rico have had a great rivalry over the years and this September you will see me bring the belt home to Mexico where it belongs.”

 

“I’m very excited and I’m preparing for the toughest fight of my career against George Groves,” said Jack. “I always go into a fight with an underdog mentality, even as champion. It feels great to be defending in my adopted hometown of Las Vegas. My promoter, Floyd Mayweather, has had my back during the ups and downs of my career and I want to make him and the whole Mayweather Promotions team proud on September 12.”

 

“I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the greatest feelings the sport can give,” said Groves. “I have challenged for world titles and I have sold out stadiums, but my true childhood dream of winning a world title is yet to be fulfilled. I get that chance on the Las Vegas Strip – the crème de la crème for any fighter on the planet. I cannot wait to achieve my goal and become world champion. Badou Jack isn’t ‘Bad’ enough to halt my dream. His WBC belt is all that is on my mind each and every waking moment. We have studied Jack – we are prepared for his strengths and ready to expose his weaknesses. Vegas is my second home and I can’t wait to come back with a bang.”

 

“When Showtime Networks and Floyd Mayweather teamed up for the first time in 2013, it was called a record-breaking deal – and that’s exactly what it has been,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®.  “Through five fights of the six-fight term, the results have exceeded our grandest expectations.  Floyd has never hesitated to take on the best of the best in his division.  In Andre Berto, Floyd has chosen an opponent who always comes to fight and always entertains.  Berto’s power and athleticism make him a legitimate threat against any opponent, and against Floyd, we expect Berto to be as aggressive as ever.  We’re also assembling an action-packed undercard, highlighted by a rematch of one of the best fights of 2015, Rocky Martinez vs. Orlando Salido.”

 

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to host what is expected to be Floyd’s final fight in his storied career,” said Richard Sturm, president of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International. “Floyd is a tremendous champion and we look forward to witnessing this historical event against Andre Berto at MGM Grand.”

 

One of the most decorated fighters in the history of the sport, Mayweather, of Grand Rapids, Mich., fighting out of Las Vegas, is a 12-time world champion in five weight divisions. With his trademark speed, defensive prowess and ring generalship, Mayweather has now defeated 22 world champions.

 

In addition to his in-ring accomplishments, Forbes, Fortune and Sports Illustrated have named Mayweather the world’s highest-paid athlete multiple times. His events amass record-breaking numbers; he has headlined four of the six highest-grossing pay-per-view events of all time and holds the all-time record in gross pay-per-view receipts.

 

Mayweather, the only fighter to have headlined three events that generated more than two million pay-per-view buys each,has garnered numerous “Fighter of the Year” awards over his storied career, including five ESPY Awards and two Boxing Writers Association of America awards.

 

Long considered as a possible foe for Mayweather, Berto, 31, of Winter Haven, Fla. is a former amateur standout and 2004 Olympian for Haiti. A veteran of eight world title fights, all at 147 pounds, he won the WBC Welterweight World Title in June 2008 and made five successful title defenses over the next two and a half years before losing the title in April 2011. Berto won the IBF Welterweight World Title in September 2011.

 

The offensive-minded Berto always makes for sensational scraps – his 2012 slugfest with Robert “The Ghost” Guerrerowas a Fight of the Year candidate. In his most recent outing, he scored two knockdowns en route to a sixth-round TKO overJosesito Lopez last March 13.

 

Style-wise, the 5-foot-7 Berto is expected to adopt an aggressive approach with a high punch output, similar to the strategy employed by Marcos “El Chino” Maidana in his first fight against Mayweather. If Mayweather fails to display his trademark speed and defense, Berto could use his power and hand speed to make Mayweather uncomfortable and force him into a brawl.

 

Martinez, 32, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, will make the first defense in his third stint as WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion. He won the WBO 130-pound crown the second time with a 12-round split decision over Miguel Beltran Jr. in September 2012. The ultra-tough Martinez made two successful defenses, including a close points’ triumph over previously undefeated Diego Magdaleno, before losing by eighth-round knockout to unbeaten Mikey Garcia in November 2013.

The 5-foot-8 Martinez won his first fight following the Garcia bout and then, in his most recent outing, he survived a desperate late rush to unanimously outpoint Salido across 12 hard-fought, action-packed rounds last April 11.

Billed as “The War,” the slugfest may have exceeded its billing as both fighters expended an inordinate amount of energy over the course of 36 minutes. Utilizing his advantages in height and reach, Martinez sent Salido to the canvas in the third and fifth and won by the scores of 116-109, 115-110 and 114-111.  Salido was docked a point in the 11th round for a low blow, but never quit fighting and was in it to the end.

Tough and determined with a straight-forward style that makes for crowd-pleasing affairs, Martinez captured the WBO Title the first time in March 2009 and successfully defended it twice.

Salido, 34, of Sonora, Mexico, is a relentless hard-nosed boxer-puncher who is willing to take on anyone and is no stranger to the boxing rivalry that is Mexico vs. Puerto Rico.

The 5-foot-6 Salido captured the interim WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship in his outing before last in a back-and-forth 11th-round knockout over Thailand’s Terdsak Kokietgym on September 1, 2014. The brutal battle that featured seven knockdowns (Salido went down three times, Kokietgym four) was the 2014 Yahoo! Sports Fight of the Year.

Salido is also a two-time featherweight world champion. He fought some of the best of his generation at 126, including Mikey Garcia,Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez twice, and current WBO 126-pound champion Vasyl Lomachenko who Salido beat three fights ago on a 12-round split decision in March 2014.

Jack, 31, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, who fights out of Mayweather’s Las Vegas gym, captured the WBC 168-pound belt with a 12-round majority decision over defending champion and previously unbeaten Anthony Dirrell last April 24 by the scores of 116-114, 115-113 and 114-114.

A former European amateur standout – he’s the only boxer ever to represent Gambia in any Olympic Games (2008) – the 6-foot-1 Jack turned pro in June 2009 and won his initial 16 bouts before suffering a shocking first-round knockout loss to Derek Edwards in February 2014.

A boxer with good speed and movement, Jack has since won three in a row, including the major victory over Dirrell.

The battled-tested Groves, 27, of Hammersmith, London, England, will get his third crack at a 168-pound world title. The only blemishes on his record came in back-to-back fights against then-IBF/WBA champion and countryman Carl Froch at Wembley Stadium in London. After losing by controversial ninth-round TKO in November 2013, Groves was stopped by his fierce rival in the eighth round of a May 2014 grudge rematch that attracted 80,000 fans.

Groves has rebounded since falling to Froch, winning his last pair. Groves captured the vacant WBC Silver Super Middleweight title and European Championship in Sept. 2014 against Christophe Rebrasse and scored a seventh-round TKO over Dennis Douglin last Nov. 22.

—

About Mayweather vs. Berto:

Mayweather vs. Berto, a 12-round welterweight world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147-pound titles, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC.  The event will take place Saturday, September 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be televised by SHOWTIME PPV.  The undercard features a WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship fight, which is a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido.  Also featured on the PPV telecast will be a WBC Super Middleweight title bout between Badou Jack and George Groves, which is promoted in association with Team Sauerland.

 

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @sirisalido, @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions andwww.facebook.com/SHOsports.
boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

ADDITIONAL TICKETS RELEASED AT STAPLES CENTER FOR LEO SANTA CRUZ VS. ABNER MARES TO MEET MASSIVE DEMAND FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SHOWDOWN TAKING PLACE SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 IN LOS ANGELES

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 Additional Tickets Go On Sale Today at 4:00 p.m. PT

 

LOS ANGELES (August 4, 2015) – Due to unprecedented ticket demand, additional sections will be opened up at STAPLES Center for the highly anticipated featherweight clash between Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and Abner Mares(29-1-1, 15 KOs) taking place on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN Saturday, August 29 in Los Angeles.

 

Additional seats will be available today at 4:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $25, $50, $75, $150 and $300, not including applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 or at STAPLES Center.

The 12-round battle will pit the undefeated two-division world champion Santa Cruz against the former three-division world champion Mares. Both fighters currently live and train out of Los Angeles and will be looking to take home local bragging rights on August 29.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.staplescenter.comand www.TGBPromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LeoSantaCruz2 @AbnerMares, @ESPNBoxing, @STAPLESCenter, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter andwww.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN.
boxing, Fight Network

FIGHT NETWORK BOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Aug. 3-9, 2015)

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(U.S. only schedule.  For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)

 

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

Monday, Aug. 3

7:30 p.m. ET – Fight New Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

9:00 p.m. ET – Tony Grano vs. Brian Minto – Featuring Tony Grano vs. Brian Minto from Jan. 28, 2012 from Verona, NY.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

6:00 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Classics – Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

7:00 a.m. & 10:00 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Classics – Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight New Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Thursday, Aug. 6

1 a.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. ET & 5:30 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Friday, Aug. 7

12:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Saturday, Aug. 8

4:00 a.m. ET & 11:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

Sunday, Aug. 9

3:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

7:00 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Classics– Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

8:00 p.m. ET – Ultimate Classic Boxing: Tiger vs. Hank – Featuring Dick Tiger vs. Henry Hank from Mar. 31, 1962 from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

 

INFORMATION:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

 
ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK:  Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland, and Suddenlink Communications in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina.. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada, streamed live on website KlowdTV.com, and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Antonio Tarver looking through Steve Cunningham on historic run

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Friday night, Aug. 14 in Atlantic City, PBC on Spike TV

 

 

MIAMI (August 4, 2015) – Five-time world champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver(31-6, 22 KOs) will be looking through – not past – former two-time IBF championSteve “USS” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs) on Friday night, Aug. 14, in their 12-round heavyweight showdown at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

 

WBA #9 Tarver vs. IBF #6/WBC #14 Cunningham is the main event on a Premier Boxing Champions series show airing live on Spike TV, the same network Tarver serves as its boxing color commentator.

 

Tarver is on a mission to become the oldest heavyweight champion of the world in boxing history. The 46-year-old southpaw realizes he has to get past Cunningham in order to get a world title shot against Wladimir Klitschko or Deontay Wilder.

 

“I respect Steve Cunningham,” Tarver explained. “I’m not looking past him, I’m looking through him. If I have to go through Wilder to get Klitschko, so be it. I’m getting that world heavyweight title and when I defeat Klitschko it’ll be the biggest story in sports. But I know that I won’t get my title shot unless I get by Cunningham.

 

“The ‘Magic Man’ is bringing 1000 tricks in his bag but it’s only going to take one to take him out.  I’ve been working hard in training camp and he hasn’t been focused.Steve is a solid durable opponent who has proven himself in the heavyweight division, coming off a close eliminator that many thought he won. I have the test of fighting a guy who you can’t make quit, so you have to knock him out because he’s proven his heart and guts. Steve’s also motivated because he knows what beating me can do for his career.”

 

At 46 and a grandfather-to-be next month, Tarver realizes that he may not be the same fighter he was during a nine-fight stretch between 2002-2006, in which he was one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters, shocking Roy Jones, Jr.(see picture to the right) in two of three fights, splitting a pair with Glen Johnson, defeatingMontell Griffin, Eric Harding and Reggie Johnson, and losing to Bernard Hopkins. Tarver, however, feels that his aforementioned experiences and overcoming so many struggles will be enough to take him back to the top of the boxing mountain.

 

“I learned the fundamentals of boxing and that’s why I’m still here at 46,” Tarver noted.  “My whole game is built on deception because, by the looks of it, I’m not supposed to be as fast, as quick and strong, as tough, or hit as hard as I do. So, that makes it hard to prepare for the fighter like me.  I am sure Cunningham may have prepared for a physical war but has he prepare for the mental part of our fight? He’ll be fighting in a ring full of mine fields, one wrong step and, Kaboom!”

Tarver and his head trainer, Orlando Cuellar, have been together a full year for what amounts to three training camps considering Tarver’s originally scheduled fight against Jonathan Banks was postponed several months due to Tarver’s broken hand, followed by his impressive seventh-round stoppage of Banks last December in his last fight.

 

“We know each other much better now in terms of how much to push him in camp and what to expect from each other,” Cuellar commented. “He may be 46 but he’s never been beat up. His ring savvy is off the charts and he’s knowledgeable. Antonio’s a sharp puncher and vicious competitor. He does exactly what I ask of him in the gym. I’ve come to realize that he doesn’t need 160-200 rounds of sparring for a fight. He remembers everything from his fights against so many great fighters, storing information in his mind to use in his fight. He outthinks his opponent. I watched him set things up and put it all together. Antonio is a special fighter, super intelligent, a breeze to work with and most capable in the ring. I’m blessed to be working with him.

 

“Cunningham is going to come in and apply pressure, but he’s never fought anybody as elusive and intelligent as Antonio, who can catch or slip, block or counter. He has so many tricks up his sleeve. Antonio is going to fight to his speed. Just when Cunningham thinks he has Antonio where he wants him, it’s going to be too late and Antonio is going to knockout Cunningham. Tarver is a much sharper puncher than people think. Like Antonio says, we’re not looking past Cunningham, we’re looking through him.”

www.OfficialAntonioTarver.com

 

@antoniotarver
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime Boxing

Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna looks to get back in win column this Friday night in rematch against Josh Robertson

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Fight to be part of off-tv undercard of ShoBox fight card at Ballys Atlantic City 
For Immediate Release
Atlantic City, NJ (August 4, 2015)—This Friday night at Ballys Atlantic City, Middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-1, 7 KO’s) will be back in action and looking to get back in the win column against a familiar foe when he takes on Josh Robertson in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.
The bout will be part of the off-tv portion of a ShoBox televised tripleheader that will feature Middleweight Ievgen Khytrov taking on Nick Brinson.
LaManna of nearby Millville, New Jersey is coming off his first professional setback which ironically was televised on ShoBox on March 13 when he was stopped by 6 rounds to undefeated Antoine Douglas.
LaManna, who won a 6-round unanimous decision over Robertson in the same Ballys ring on September 28, 2013 knows that a big effort will get him back in a big fight.
“Training has been great.  By the time I get in the ring on Friday, I would have completed a 10 week training camp.  I started camp in New York and I was supposed to fight on July 25.  That show got postponed and I was fortunate enough to land on this show,” said LaManna.
When asked about what he remembers about the first encounter with Robertson, LaManna recalls, “I won every round.  That was a six rounder and this is an eight round fight.  I want to stop him and make a statement.”
If LaManna is able to get that emphatic win, he is hoping to look impressive in front of his hometown fans.
“It’s good to be back on an undercard of a ShoBox event.  It’s a high profile show in my home area.  I will have a lot of support and I am looking forward to putting on a good performance.”
During the camp, LaManna is working on the things that he needed to tighten up after the loss to Douglas.
“I have been working on keeping my composure and sticking to my gameplan.  I feel like I am getting stronger.  I am still just 23 years-old and despite my last fight, my best boxing is still ahead of me.”
“I want to thank Lou DiBella for putting me on the card.  As well I would to thank Vincent Ponte of Gulfstream Promotions as well as Rising Star Promotions.”
Tickets for the event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Fight Promotions Inc., are currently on sale and are priced at $120 and $60. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by visitingwww.ticketmaster.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.


About Rising Star Promotions:
Rising Star Promotions was created with the intent of becoming a house hold name with the key objective of Rising Star Promotions being able to coordinate an array of diversified special events within the sports and entertainment industry, The CEO and partners at Rising Star Promotions feel that the opportunities for growth are endless. We would like to give opportunities to up and coming professional as well as amateur boxers that other promoters would not readily give opportunity to. The events that Rising Star plans to coordinate will provide much needed affordable, family-friendly sports entertainment.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

POLISH HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER ARTUR SZPILKA HEADLINES STACKED UNDERCARD AGAINST CUBA’S YASMANY CONSUEGRA

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LIVE FROM PRUDENTIAL CENTER ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH

AS PART OF PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON SPIKE

9 P.M. ET/PT

POLISH PROSPECTS MACIEJ SULECKI AND KAMIL LASZCZYK ALONG WITH JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT CONTENDER LUIS ROSA JR.

ALSO IN ACTION

 

Tickets Are On Sale Now!

NEWARK, NJ (August 3, 2015) – Exciting Polish contenders Artur Szpilka (19-1, 14 KOs), Maciej Sulecki  (20-0, 5 KOs) and Kamil Laszczyk (20-0, 5 KOs) highlight a full night of undercard action at Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday, August 14.

 

The headlining event of the evening is a Premier Boxing Champions on Spike doubleheader featuring Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) facing Philadelphia’s Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs) in 12-rounds of heavyweight action, with cruiserweight champion Marco “Captain” Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) defending his title against Polish contender Krzyzstof Glowacki(24-0, 15 KOs) in the co-feature.

 

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fans in attendance will also be treated to a thrilling undercard featuring an abundance of local talent on the rise. Undercard action begins at 6:00 p.m. ET, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. ET.

 

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Huck Sports Promotion are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $45, not including applicable service charges and are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at Prudential Center’s box office.

 

The brash 6’3″ Polish heavyweight powerhouse Artur Szpilka is an aggressive all-out brawler. A pro since 2008, the southpaw first gained notice when he stopped the once-touted Owen Beck in four rounds in 2011, then unanimously outpointed former world title challenger Jameel McCline the following year. Szpilka bookended 2013 with two US-televised wars against Mike Mollo, winning both by devastating knockout. The 26-year-old enters the fight with three victories in a row, including a 10-round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek. Cuban born, but fighting out of Miami, 31-year-old Yasmany Consuegra (17-1, 14 KOs) will be in the opposing corner at Prudential Center.

 

Maciej Sulecki of Warsaw, Poland, will fight in the US for the second time, in a 10-round middleweight bout. The 26-year-old has impressive wins over the previously unbeaten Robert Swierzbinski, the 18-1 Lukasz Wawrzyczek for the Polish middleweight championship, and the 29-3 former world title challenger Grzegorz Proksa. As an amateur, Sulecki had a 110-30 record and was a three-time Polish Junior tournament champion.

 

Poland-born Kamil “Little Tyson” Laszczyk now living in North Bergen, NJ, is a world-ranked featherweight on the verge of a title shot. An aggressive volume-puncher, Laszczyk was a six-time national amateur champion in Poland, while accumulating a 110-7 record. Since turning pro in 2011, the 24-year-old has won an inter-continental title as well as a Polish international title. Facing him in an eight-round bout will be the unbeaten Dominican Queens-resident Oscauris Frias (16-0, 6 KOs).

 

Popular heavyweight contender Travis Kauffman (28-1, 20 KOs), of Reading, PA, is eager to step back into the ring following an injury-induced layoff. He is coming off of his most impressive victory a dominant unanimous decision over Vincent Thompson to pick up a regional title belt in January 2014. As an amateur, Kauffman accrued a record of 52-12, while finishing with a number one ranking in the US. The 29-year-old is currently trained by boxing guru Naazim Richardson along with his father Marshall and enters this bout with 10 consecutive victories.

 

“Swift” Jarrett Hurd (15-0, 9 KOs) is a junior middleweight prospect out of Accokeek, MD. Currently trained by Ernesto Rodriguez, the 24-year-old Hurd fights in the memory of his former coach Thomas Browner, who passed away in 2010. Hurd considered stepping away from boxing, but was encouraged to continue on when approached by Rodriguez, a protégé of Browner, at the late trainer’s funeral. A two-time Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves champion, Hurd turned pro in 2012 and secured his biggest victory this past April when he stopped tough Philadelphian Eric Mitchell inside three rounds.

 

Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Michael Seals (19-0, 14 KOs), of Atlanta, GA, is a former college linebacker from Alabama A&M, where he earned a degree in physical education. Standing 6’2″, Seals turned pro in 2008 following just five amateur bouts. However, the 33-year-old has proven to possess absolutely devastating punching power, with 11 first-round knockouts to his credit. One of those impressive knockouts came against former champion Byron Mitchell in December 2012.

 

The 24-year-old world-ranked Puerto Rican-native Luis Rosa (20-0, 10 KOs) now lives and trains in New Haven, Conn. Under the tutelage of his father, Luis Rosa Sr., he turned pro in 2010 following a very successful amateur career. He was quickly hailed as a touted prospect with a growing fan base, given his relentless, come-forward aggressive style of fighting. Promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Rosa breakout year in 2014, securing his two most impressive victories to date, both in front of a nationally televised audience. In January of last year, Rosa dominated an eight-round slugfest over the highly regarded Jorge Diaz then later in May, he earned a unanimous 10-round decision over the top-rated 18-1 Luis Del Valle. On August 14, he’ll be focused on scoring his fourth victory thus far in 2015.

 

Brooklyn southpaw brawler Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre (9-0, 4 KOs) is a junior welterweight prospect. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, LesPierre was introduced to boxing upon moving to the United States. After six years as an amateur, compiling a 36-13 record, LesPierre turned pro in 2012. The 30-year-old is trained by Don Saxby out of the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. Competing in a six-round contest, LesPierre will be fighting in front of a New Jersey audience for the first time.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.dbe1.com, www.PruCenter.comand www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AntonioTarver, @USSCunningham, @Szpilka_Artur, @LouDiBella, @PruCenter, @SpikeTV and @SpikeSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.Facebook.com/PruCenterand www.Facebook.com/Spike.
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Beibut Shumenov makes history once again in ring

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TEAM SHUMENOV: (L-R) Assistant trainer Rodney Crisler, world cruiserweight champion Beibut Shumenov, Chingis Shumenov, head trainer Ismael Salas, cut-man Jacob “Stitch” Duran and assistant trainer Jeff Grmoja.

 

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 3, 2015) – Newly crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim cruiserweight champion Beibut Shumenov (16-2, 10 KOs) recently made history once again, defeating B.J. Flores (31-2-1, 20 KOs) by way of a 12-round unanimous decision as Premier Boxing Champions series headliner, which aired July 25th on NBCSN live from The Palms in Las Vegas.

Shumenov, 31, became the mandatory challenger for WBA “regular” cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (27-1, 20 KOs, 1 NC), of Russia, as well as the first Kazakhstan native to capture a world title in two different weight classes having been the WBA light heavyweight champion from 2010-2014.

Boxing hotbed Kazakhstan has produced five other world champions during the past quarter-century: 1990 WBC super featherweight Aratoly Alexandrov, 2000 WBC heavyweight Oleg “Big O” Maskaev, 2001-2003 – IBF cruiserweight Vassily “The Tiger” Jirov, 2010-2012 WBA super middleweight Dimitri Sartison and reigning WBA Super/WBC Interim middleweight Gennady Golovkin.

In his fist historic fight back in 2010, Shumenov defeated defending WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel Campillo viaa 12-round decision to establish the record for fewest-fights, 10, to become world champion of a major organization in the 175-pound division.

“I am very proud to set another record in boxing,” 2004 Olympian Shumenov said. “I’m honored to be the first fighter from my country to become world champion in two divisions. I’d like to thank my manager, Al Haymon, for giving me this opportunity. Lebedev is the main target and, if I pass that test, I want to fight the best fighters in the cruiserweight division.”

Shumenov went through a style transformation, under the direction of famed Cuban head coach Ismael Salas, who worked with the athletic Kazakh to change him from an aggressive, grinding fighter into a more complete, all-around boxer. Shumenov baffled Flores, who expected Shumenov to come to him and exchange punches, which would have given the naturally bigger, stronger Flores an advantage. Instead, Shumenov masterfully boxed his way to victory, using lateral movement, angles and positioning to frustrate Flores into ineffective aggression, resulting in an array of off-balance punches and misses.

After the fight, Shumenov explained the surprising change he went through after training with Salas since January. “I’m still in the learning process. Like my trainer says, there are no limits, and I still haven’t perfected what he’s teaching me. It really comes down to a lot of hard work, repetitions of muscle memory. My footwork for this fight came from my trainer. I was happy to be victorious but I still see myself getting a lot better, overall, as a complete boxer.”
(L-R) Shumenov & Salas

Salas also trains World Boxing Council (WBC) World Lightweight Champion Jorge Linares (39-3, 26 KOs), in addition to handling past and present world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriokis Gamboa, Danny Green, and Jesse Vargas.

“There is a process for everybody in terms of bio-mechanics,” Salas commented. “There are specialties of training I teach that aren’t used often in boxing, specific exercises for the dynamics of motion. I originally learned to coach in the Cuban system, which is similar to the Soviet system in which Beibut first learned, but I’ve also been all over the world learning different methods of training. It still takes time for a world-class fighter like Beibut, who has been world champion as a professional, and had many amateur matches. Jorge Linares was a two-time world champion before we started working together. Beibut is getting there. He’s still not at his full potential, right now, using only 40-50 percent of his tools.”

Shumenov is a lawyer and successful businessman who speaks five languages. Although he’s a two-time world champion, he’s still a student of boxing, and Salas is his highly respected professor.

“He’s (Salas) humble but a genius,” Shumenov insists. “He asks and listens to my opinions. We concentrate on fundamentals and he explains everything to me. Our team had a daily routine in camp in which we shared our knowledge after each training session. The four of us (Shumenov, Salas, Grmjoja and Crisler) became one.”

 

And the result was a second world title.

 

Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page atwww.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.
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BROOKLYN POLICE OFFICER NIYAZOV LOOKING TO PROVE HE IS ‘NEW YORK’S FINEST’ ON AUG. 25 IN CONEY ISLAND

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BROOKLYN, NY (August 3, 2015) – With professional pugilism blazing right now in New York City, one boxing Brooklyn police officer will look to prove he is truly “New York’s Finest” on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Brooklyn Brawl in Coney Island.

As part of a stacked card at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ MCU Park later this month, Brooklyn NYPD officer Dimash Niyazov (7-0-3, 5KOs) meets Ariel “Fuego” Duran (8-7-1, 5KOs) of Queens in a highly-anticipated lightweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.

“I’ll be facing Ariel Duran, who will be my toughest challenge as a pro, as we battle in an eight-round title fight,” said Niyazov, of Sheepshead Bay. “Duran comes down from a higher weight class and is a former New York State title holder. He always brings fire but I’m going to put that fire out with my style. It will be a battle of the boroughs as I represent Brooklyn and he reps Queens.”

With boxing experiencing a resurgence in the New York area – making appearances on national TV and looking to return to its golden age, when the sweet science was a mainstay in prime time and the sports pages – boxing champion-turned-promoter Dmitriy Salita begins this year’s Brooklyn Brawl series in a standout venue. Salita is proud to present a stacked card in Coney Island, the seaside amusement destination which provides thrills to hordes of revelers every summer.

“Brooklyn Brawl has produced some of the best fights in the New York area in recent memory and our matches on Aug. 25 have the recipe for the same,” Salita said.

In the main event, former world title challenger Alex Miskirtchian (25-3-1, 9 KOs) tops the slate against well-known Brooklyn battler Cornelius Lock (22-7-2, 14 KOs) in a featherweight clash scheduled for 10 rounds. Salita is also particularly excited about a six-round Jr. Welterweight clash between Treysean “Trigger” Wiggins (6-1, 5KOs) of Newburgh, N.Y. and Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa (20-7-1, 13 KOs) of The Bronx.

Doors open at 6 PM. Log on to BrooklynCyclones.com to get your tickets or call 718-507-TIXX (718-507-8499).

Broadcast information will be announced at a later date. Interested corporate partners should contact Mark Fratto atmfratto@linacremedia.com

For ticket information and updates on “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing At The Beach,” please log on toBrooklynCyclones.com and SalitaPromotions.com. Follow all the action via social media leading up to the event – and on fight night – at @BrooklynBrawlNY on Twitter and at @BrooklynBrawl on Instagram, or by accessing the tags #BrooklynBrawl and #BoxingAtTheBeach.