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 Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo; FIGHT WEEK TRANSCRIPT 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (Aug. 17, 2017) – Super Channel is airing this Saturday night’s World Junior Welterweight Unification Championship between undefeated world champions, Terence Crawford andJulius “Blue Machine” Indongo, starting at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT, live from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The winner of Crawford-Indongo will hold all four-major junior welterweight world titles – WBC, WBO, WBA & IBF – plus The Ring magazine’s prestigious strap.
Three exciting fights on the loaded “Crawford vs, Indongo” card, promoted by Top Rank, will air exclusively in Canada on Super Channel.
MAIN EVENT
WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF & The Ring Junior Welterweight World Championships (12 rounds)
TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (31-0, 22 KOs, WBC, WBO & The Ring Champion, Omaha, NE
JULIUS “Blue Machine” INDONGO (22-0, 12 KOs), WBA & IBF Champion, Windhoek, Namibia
CO-FEATURE
NABO & NABF Light Heavyweight Championships (10 rounds)

OLEKSANDR “The Nail” GVOZDYK (13-0, 11 KOs), Champion, Kharkiv, Ukraine

CRAIG “El Gato Negro” BAKER (17-1, 13 KOs), Challenger, Baytown, TX
Featherweights (6 rounds)
SHAKUR STEVENSON (2-0, 1 KO), 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist, Newark, NJ
DAVID PAZ (4-3-1, 0 KOs), La Plata, Argentina
(All fights and fighters subject to change. Additional fights recorded earlier may be added as needed to fill purposes. All fights will be proceeded by a “coming up graphic”.)
 
(WBC & WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford with his Trainer Brian McIntyre and
Top Rank President Todd duBoef / IBF & WBA Jr. Welterweight Champion Julius Indongo with his co-promoter and manager Nestor Tobias and Matchroom Boxing’s Frank Smith.) 

TODD duBOEF:  It is going to be an exciting night on Saturday.  This will be our third event going live on ESPN and what a way to start with Pacquiao, Lomachenko and now the title unification of Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo.  We are going to be in Lincoln, Nebraska this time as Lady Gaga is in Omaha.  We are looking forward to Lincoln, as that’s where the Cornhuskers are.  This is an incredible thing to be able to do.  A lot of time people talk about seeing good fights – guys fight guys that are accomplished – then there’s other guys that want the challenges.  Julius Indongo and his promoter, Matchroom Boxing, have come up in a meteoric rise in the past 18 months and Julius has performed great.  Terence Crawford has exploded onto the boxing scene – going to Glasgow, Scotland and winning the lightweight title and coming back to Omaha in his first defense against Gamboa and winning in sensational fashion. This will be Terence’s ninth consecutive world title fight over two weight divisions.  It is unique in that is a highly-anticipated unification.  Only the second time in the four-belt era that two world champions have fought each other to unify the titles with the winner emerging as the division’s undisputed world champion.

FRANK SMITH:  It is great to be here in Omaha with Top Rank and we are really looking forward to this fight – it is great when fighters want to take challenges.  Julius has traveled all around the world – going to Russia where he won by first round knockout and then taking on Ricky Burns in Scotland in front of a huge crowd.  Julius has been spending the last few days in Omaha – I know he is very calm and very relaxed and really looking forward to the challenge.  It’s great to be involved in a fight like this with all the belts on the line, which doesn’t happen very often.  I know Julius is very confident to go back home with all of the belts in hand.  Terence Crawford is a great fighter and has shown it on many occasions and Julius is very calm and relaxed and looking forward to showing what he does and he has no concerns with the traveling.  He’ll go anywhere to take on a challenge.

NESTOR TOBIAS:  We are really excited.  Julius has trained very hard for this fight.  He is very focused and very comfortable in Omaha.  We spent some time before we came to Omaha training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club
.
JULIUS INDONGO:  Thank you very much for this opportunity.  I know Crawford is a very good and tough fighter and this is a big event.  On Saturday night, I will give everything I have and my focus and my game plan and everything is in position.  Just waiting for the weigh-in.  I try and not say too much before the fight, which is something that I am used to.  I prefer to do it in the ring when my opponent is standing in front of me so I can do my work.  I have been in boxing for a long time and not many people know me.  I believe this is the time for me to show the world that a boxer from Africa from Namibia can beat a guy fighting in his home in front of his people.  This is the best way to do it.  I am confident in my styles and techniques that I have learned from years ago.  On Saturday night, it is going to be boxing – I am not sure if there is going to be a knockout but I know I can do that if I have to.   I can say now that I have trained hard and my trainer is always there.
TODD duBOEF:  I also want to thank the organizations for accommodating this match because there was everyone trying that had fighters that had mandatories working behind the scenes to help put this unification together.  We are all appreciative of everybody working together to help bring this match with the participants with all four titles of the organizations.  We are very appreciative of them assisting Matchroom and Top Rank.
JULIUS INDONGO:  Yes. I would like to also thank the organizations and Top Rank and Matchroom for pushing this fight and helping the negotiations to make this fight happen – for making it all possible.
You have two titles now, but what is your view of the possibility of having all four titles?

JULIUS INDONGO:  My view of this is that I have not focused much on that since I have been busy in the gym.  I have not focused on anything but making sure of my performance on Saturday night.  My focus has been in the gym to make sure my game will be the best ever.  No one will ever forget about this fight.  The organizations were involved in making this fight happen and I appreciate that but I won’t think much about having four titles until the fight is over.

How will it feel walking out of the ring with four belts?

JULIUS INDONGO:  It’s going to mean a lot to me – it will mean all of the hard work and determination got that achievement and it will create more opportunity for me.  I will travel the world with the four titles.  I will take them back to Africa – to my country.  I am going to be very, very happy
.
How hard was it to get the organizations to go along with this?
TODD duBOEF:  It was very difficult.  We had to work hand in hand with Matchroom because obviously Matchroom and Indongo had two belts and Top Rank and Crawford had two belts and there were mandatories and everything that was coming into play.  There were people that we had to appeal to and we said, “Hey, this is a rare opportunity that we are able to do this.  Let’s try and work together and have a positive solution for the sport of boxing and I think we delicately managed it.
How long do you think the winner will be able to hold onto those titles?

TODD duBOEF:  I think we should ask that question to the winner, not before we have a winner.  (A), we don’t know who is going to win – Indongo thinks he is going to win and Crawford thinks he is going to win.  Then at that point we will have to see what the order is, who has the mandatory, what order of fights and if all of the organizations can get together and if they can great and if they can’t it will be up to the fighter to make the decisions.  And up to the promoters.  I think it is premature to discuss that right now.

How has your life changed since you won the two titles?
JULIUS INDONGO:  The thing that has really changed is – I do still live in my town in Namibia – and I try to stay focused and try do the right thing in the public.  When someone becomes known to the whole country, most importantly I try not to roll with the wrong friends.  I try and stay home and go to church after work and I do my training program twice a day.   That’s the only way that I could say it can be done.
Do you live in the same place?
JULIUS INDONGO:  Yes, that is where I am staying and where I train.  All of the people are very friendly.  We don’t have too much of a division within the people of everyone in the country, especially in the city.  There is nothing that can distract me wherever I stay or whatever I do – everyone will know in Namibia.
How much better is Crawford than Ricky Burns or Troyanovsky?
JULIUS INDONGO:  I cannot really say much on that because when I fought Troyanovsky and Ricky Burns they were both easier fights than I fought in the last fight, that I fought from home.  The two world title fights that I challenged in were the best training that I have trained.  I had never been as focused with the best game plan so it made it the easiest fights for me.  They were both easier than we ever thought they would be because of the focus on them and the game plan.

Why were you able to focus more for those two fights?

JULIUS INDONGO:  The other fights were happening at home and we used to be too much like let a lot of people in the camp – we used to share invitations – for the two last fights anyway.  The fight was for the championship so there was something that we needed to achieve and change and to improve our image (if we want) to be known in the world.  We had to have focus only on me and the potential and that’s the only way the world was going to get to see me.  The promotion had known what was happening with me and letting everyone else know.  So now everyone was going to see something new again, I know. I have no doubt.  I know.  All I can say is just only if maybe knockout come it may be late.  But waking up, the day of fight, be skillful and focused – everything is in position.  The crowd or the fans, or Terence’s home crowd won’t intimidate me – that is nothing, I cannot afford it, so I travel the same way – it is always the same.

Since you won in the hometowns of the last two titles fights how much confidence does that give you?

JULIUS INDONGO:  Actually, they are different conditions. I don’t particularly mind because it is already past.  My focus is that it is a blessing from God to keep me and not to let me wander in a sense, and to ask for a provision for myself, my president and my commander in the office that wherever I travel I will be representing all of Namibia.  It’s like I have the whole country of Namibia on my shoulders issued by my president so I have to rely on the game plan and that is the confidence that I rely.  So, if I am stepping there I know that my country and Africa is on my shoulders and when the team travels from Namibia to the fight I can only focus on the fight so it motivated me a lot.  So, I have to focus only on this fight.

Where did you train for this fight?
JULIUS INDONGO:  When I saw Crawford requested to fight the winner of the fight between me Troyanovsky, which is when I started training for this fight because we don’t have any power and the only way to rely on the big guns when they are requested for it.  So, when they gave us the offer we had to go for it so that’s when I started training.  I trained at home in Namibia – where I have always been training. (He came to the States early and trained in Freddie Roach’s gym in Hollywood).

What have you noticed in the viewership of the fights on ESPN?

TODD duBOEF:  One thing I am looking forward to on Saturday is Kurt Warner just finished his [Hall of Fame induction] speech so we won’t have to deal with that on Saturday.  This is all part of a long-term game plan of making these fighters come alive to the sports fan.  Obviously there has been an incredible amount of promotion before the Pacquiao fight and mirrored with an incredible amount of promotion for the Lomachenko fight on August 5th and ESPN will be flipping the switch this weekend, taking the weigh-in live and doing all of the same consistent promotion and this is wonderful for the people that are interested in boxing.  Everything has been terrific and to get two of the top guys in front of people that are watching the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball are able to see the highest level of fights is just a positive step for the sport.

Has there been a change in demographic of who is watching the fights?

TODD duBOEF:  I don’t think there has been a change in demographic I think the perception of the boxing demographic in the United States has been unfortunately tight-capped – an older demographic.  We are looking at these numbers and obviously 18-49 is the number that everybody wants and even with Kurt Warner and the rest of the Hall of Fame going on we went straight up against UFC that night and beat them in both 18-49 and 18-34 which are the most important demos.  And I think additionally, for ESPN that week, we were the second highest rated 18-49 program with the Lomachenko broadcast and in fact over 50% of our audience was 18-49 where baseball was about 32%.  We think that the story that it is an old sport and old people don’t care about it, which was largely spun out by UFC years ago and I think to a certain point there was some truth to it – older demos were on premium channels – the fact is this is very positive, young, multi-cultural through the roof and we are excited to put this on this broad platform.

Is it easy to focus and do what you need to do in your homeland?

JULIUS INDONGO:  I don’t think I have an issue with the fans or the population because it is already something I am aware of.  All I have is to train and just be focused on Crawford and my game plan and do good on my preparation.
Indongo has come so far – a year ago no one knew who he was and now he is on this huge platform…

TODD duBOEF:  This is not an outlier – this is boxing.  This is what happens with boxing.  This is no different than Azumah Nelson coming over on 10 days-notice and suddenly getting in the ring and making a name for himself in the United States.  People can change the tide very quickly in the sport of boxing and that happens because of their performances and we have to recognize that his is a global sport.  This is not the Premier League or the NFL or the NBA and we are relatively isolated to a small pool.  Indongo is a very talented fighter who has probably worked his whole childhood figuring out how to master a trade.  And that’s Julius Indongo and what he did was, the door of opportunity opens and he steps through it, and that is the story of boxing.  There are countless stories like that and I think this is not a miraculous one but really goes back to what makes boxing so special.  People that take advantage of those opportunities and suddenly a diamond in the rough is discovered.

What do you have to say about this activity – this is your 4th fight in just over a year?

JULIUS INDONGO:  It really means a lot not only to me but also to my promotion where I train.  When I began they weren’t planning to produce such an event or any opportunity like this or even that matches I had back home.  It is something big and something huge and something useful and it is an appreciation for what Top Rank and Matchroom has put together and I appreciate these opportunities.

TODD duBOEF:  We have given Terence all of the accolades about how great of a fighter he is, which we all know, but I didn’t know he was an internet sensation now.  You have to talk about the Internet sensation!  I thought this was the Brian McIntyre internet sensation in the last fight from “Camp Life,” but at the press conference tomorrow you’ve got to show me your McGregor Challenge.

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  It means a lot to me being it will be the first time that all four belts will be on the line at one time in the division’s history and it has only been done twice in boxing.  I’m just ready for the moment and fight time this weekend.

Prior to Indongo’s 1st round KO in Russia, had your team ever heard of him?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  No, we never heard of Indongo and we never saw him fight other than the fight he had in Russia.
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  Well, we wanted the Troyanovsky fight but he decided to go with Indongo so when we heard that he got knocked out, we looked at the replay and looked at the fight – that’s when we first took notice of who Indongo really was.
When he fought Ricky Burns who you are familiar with having beaten for the lightweight title, did you think you could make it happen or was it something Top Rank brought to you?

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  We wanted the Ricky Burns fight at 140 as well but they didn’t want to take the fight so they wanted to take the fight with Indongo and perhaps later on in the year we could do the fight between me and Ricky Burns again but Indongo beat Ricky Burns, that’s when we took notice and said well he’s the guy with the other two titles so let’s see if we can make a fight with him and unify.

What do you feel about him traveling anywhere to anyone’s hometown to fight for titles?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  It shows a lot about his character and his confidence and his ability in the ring.  Him being a two-time world champion in that short amount of time shows that he has a lot of confidence but at the same time he is a little older so he’s at the end of his career coming along so he doesn’t have a lot of choices for what he wants to do.  He can’t wait around.

What do you think of Indongo as a fighter?

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  Indongo is a good fighter.  He is a good boxer – he’s got good legs and he seems like he can punch.  He doesn’t let his opponent get on the inside and do a lot of damage to him.
TODD duBOEF:  Do you find any similarities between him and Postol?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  The only comparison I see is the height.  They have two different styles.  Postol was more straight up and down.  Indongo is a little more elusive.  I think Postol was a little more technical.  Indongo can get a little wild at times.
Do you think Postol is better than Indongo?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  I can’t say that because I haven’t been in the ring with Indongo but I have been in the ring with Postol.  You can see from the outside but once you get in the ring with somebody it can be a totally difference look so after the fight I can tell you.

What do you think about fighting on ESPN broadening you fan base?

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  It can broaden the fan base it will give more people the opportunity to see who Terence Crawford really is.  To display my talent and my skills to more people – I am just ready for Saturday to come so I can show more people who Terence Crawford really is.

BRIAN McINTYRE:  I am just ready for us to get out there so Terence can show what he’s been working on in camp.  I want him to unify and make history and the 140-pound division.  We can also silence all of the critics that have been saying that his resume is not as good as some fighters.  Not only me but also the whole entire team is excited.  I know he is excited to, to get out there and show ESPN what everybody has been hearing – that he is a great boxer and a damn good puncher and how he can switch from both sides.  So, I am excited.  I’m excited for the kid and I’m excited for his family.  I am excited for everybody.

The winner will have all four belts, which is historic.  Will that fighter also be considered pound-for-pound champion?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  Of course, I think I have been doing a lot in the sport of boxing and I have had my name mentioned in the top three.  I will be looking forward to being the top one, or maybe two after this fight.  It just depends on how people look at it.  In my eyes, I think I am top two already, so.
Has it been frustrating to you that you haven’t gotten credit that you deserve?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  I try to not think about that.  I can’t worry about what the person thinks about me or says about me.  At the end of the day I’m the one that has to go in there and take the punches.  A lot of people criticize me for who I am fighting because maybe I am not their favorite fighter or maybe I am doing better than their favorite fighter, or there is a fighter that they want to see me fight and the fight doesn’t happen or it does happen then I beat them.  Then they say, ‘oh the only reason Terence won was because he is short’ or ‘he won because he was basic’ – there is always going to be an excuse with those types of people.
TODD duBOEF:  We are in a sport that gets dissected constantly by people that are haters, people that have agendas and at the end of the day when you have a kid like Terence Crawford who is brilliant in the ring, we just let the people decide what it is.  We are going to be sold out in Lincoln, Nebraska and we just did 10,000 people in New York – we are not going to chase the game of people and bloggers and things like that that want to be hating because you will never win that game.
How many will Pinnacle hold?
TODD duBOEF:  It is going to hold just over 10,000.
What are your thoughts fighting in Lincoln?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  I am excited about it being that it’s our state capital and where the Nebraska football team plays.  It is a nice arena and I always wanted to fight in there.  They brought me down there to watch a couple of games and I was always imagining it would be a nice arena to fight in.  Everyone around there always welcomed me with open arms telling me ‘you need to come fight here, you need to come fight here.’  So I am excited that I was able to make that happen.  It’s about a 45-minute drive from Omaha.
TODD duBOEF:  Just imagine, between a 45-minute drive you’ve got Lady GaGa in Omaha and Terence Crawford in Lincoln – not a bad entertainment night in a small area.  Brian are you going to the fight or Lady GaGa?
BRYAN McINTYRE:  Well I am going to go to GaGa as soon as we knock this dude off.  I know her personally.
CARL MORETTI:  Terence is probably boxing’s most active champion at this moment.  His last defense was three months ago against Felix Diaz and he fought in December before that and June before that.  So, if you look just before he won the lightweight title it may be eight title defenses in 27 months.  I don’t think you can find a more active champion that has gotten better in the ring defending his title more than Crawford.
How important is it to be active?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  It is very important.  I am trying to get my name out there and trying to get the recognition that I deserve.  I’m still young and in my prime.
What does it mean if Terence is able to knock out Indongo on Saturday night.

BRIAN McINTYRE:  That would be lovely – to do it in good fashion like that, you can’t ask for nothing better.  You know if you look for a knockout it’s not there.

If you win you have all of the belts – would you rather stay there or move up?
I am at 140 now and come Saturday that is my main focus is Julius Indongo.  We’ll see how the fight goes and after that double back around and see what the next move will be.

How is it when you have quick turnaround to training camp?  Is it easier?

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  Training camp is never easy.  It’s always hard but at the same time, I just had a fight and getting back into the gym and back in the groove of everything.  It’s tougher when you have a long period of time off because this time I was somewhat in shape.

It seems like you were having fun in camp.  Is that normal?

TERENCE CRAWFORD:  We like to have some fun in training camp.  Training camp is always hard work but have fun, hard work, have fun, hard work – if you don’t love what you are doing then you need to get a difference job.  We are dancing every single training camp that we had and play around – that is the different types of things that we do.  In “Camp Life” it might be the first time that people actually got to see that outer Terence Crawford.
Is that important to you to get that out?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  It’s important for my brand but at the same time it is just I.  I am not into publicizing my every move – make a video and say, ‘oh this is what I do for a living,’ I just go with the flow.
If you consider yourself Number 2 pound for pound, who do you say is Number 1?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  Andre Ward.
Where were you when you first saw McGregor do his warm-up?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  I was coming from the gym and everyone was watching a video and I asked what it was, then I said I am going to try that.  A couple of days passed then I got everyone together to do the McGregor Challenge.
What’s the best response you’ve gotten since that video went up?
TERENCE CRAWFORD:  I’ve been getting all kinds of response – I have been getting hate response, prejudice response, I’ve been getting a lot of positive response.  People are telling me McGregor will beat me up.  I just laugh – we are just having fun with it.
Super Channel has recently aired major boxing events live like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, and Lomachenko vs.Marriaga.
To see the “Crawford vs. Indongo” live, as well as more exciting boxing to come, fight fans in Canada can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SCSportsTV
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
Facebook: /SuperChannel
AIRING LIVE IN CANADA THIS SATURDAY
EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL
boxing

Super Channel to air Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo card

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Live this Saturday night in Canada
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (Aug. 15, 2017) – Continuing its strong efforts as the television destination for viewing world-class boxing in Canada, Super Channel subscribers will be able to watch this Saturday night’s World Junior Welterweight Unification Championship between undefeated world champions, Terence Crawford and Julius “Blue Machine” Indongo, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, live from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The winner of Crawford-Indongo will hold all four-major junior welterweight world titles, plus The Ring magazine’s prestigious strap.
Crawford (31-0, 22 KOs), fighting out of nearby Boise (NE), is a two-time champion who has won six of his last eight fights by stoppage. The 2014 Fighter of the Year, Crawford is the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) and The Ring magazine world champion.
Terrence Crawford
(photo courtesy of Top Rank).

In his 2017 debut this past May 30 at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, Crawford successfully defended his crowns by way of a 10th round knockout over former Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz.

Arguably one of the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world today, Crawford unified the world titles July 23, 2016, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over then undefeated WBC super lightweight titlist Viktor Postol.
His triumph against Postol also earned Crawford The Ring title and designated him as the 140-pound division lineal champion. Crawford has also defeated John Molina, Jr., Thomas Dulorme, Hank Lundy, Ricky Burns,Yuriokis Gamboa and Ray Beltran among the more notables.
Namibia-native Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs) has become a unified world champion — International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) – the most difficult way as a true road warrior. He captured the IBF title by knocking out defending champion Eduard Troyanovsky in the opening round of their December 3, 2016 title fight in Russia, and he unified the world titles this past April 15, when he took a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Ricky Burns in Scotland.
The 34-year-old Indongo was a 2008 Namibia Olympian.
 
Three exciting fights on the loaded “Crawford vs, Indongo” card, promoted by Top Rank, will air exclusively in Canada on Super Channel.
Super Channel has recently aired major boxing events live like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, and Lomachenko vs.Marriaga.
Other fights on the Crawford-Indongo card also airing live on Super Channel include a 10-round light heavyweight clash between unbeaten North American Boxing Federation champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (13-0, 11 KOs), ranked No. 2 by the WBC, and upset-minded Texan Craig “El Gato Negro” Baker (17-1, 13 KOs). Gvozdyk is a former Ukrainian amateur standout who lives and trains in Oxnard, California.
The televised opener on Super Channel will feature 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson (2-0, 1 KO), fighting out of Newark (NJ), against Argentinian featherweight David Paz (4-3, 0 KOs) in a six-round bout.
Bouts and order are subject to change. Additional fights recorded earlier may be added as needed to fill purposes. All fights will be proceeded by a “coming up graphic.
To see the “Crawford vs. Indongo” live, as well as more exciting boxing to come, fight fans in Canada can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SuperChannel
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
Facebook: /SuperChannel
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Joseph Elegele Scores Hard Fought Unanimous Decision Victory Over Phil Lo Greco In Main Event Of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round On Bounce From The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL

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Dauren Yeleussinov and Devaun Lee Fight To Split Decision Draw
Craig Baker Stops Steve Lovett In Final Seconds Of Eighth Round
Click HERE For Photos
Credit: Dave Nadkarni/Premier Boxing Champions
 
LAKELAND, FL. (June 13, 2016) – Exciting super welterweight Joseph Elegele (16-2 11 KOs) showed his strength and power Sunday night in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV as he went toe-to-toe with Phil Lo Greco(27-3, 15 KOs) for 10 hard-fought rounds from The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL. Both combatants left it all in the ring, exchanging punches throughout the bout with close rounds that left the audience wanting more.
Elegeleof nearby Winter Haven, FL started the bout coming forward, slightly stunning Toronto’s Lo Greco with several flurries of punches that set the tone for a hard fought back and forth battle. The action picked up in round two as Lo Greco came in on the attack early in the round, pinning Elegele against the ropes and continuing to pepper him with punches to the body and the head.
Despite being taken aback by the attack, Elegele came roaring back in the final seconds of round two and out of the corner to kick off round three. Lo Greco remained in the pocket, not afraid to continue to throw wide left hooks as the fighters traded punches back and forth.
As the fight continued, Lo Greco backed Elegele up against the ropes, smothering him with punches despite Elegele’s four-inch height advantage. But round six was completely controlled by Elegele as he threw a combination of bruising punches that very well could have sent Lo Greco to the canvas. However Lo Greco remained in the pocket. In the 10th and final round, Lo Greco came out strong, outworking Elegele, but with less than 20 seconds to go in the bout, Elegele stunned Lo Greco with a barrage of punches up against the ropes. Judges scored the bout  97-95 and 96-94 twice, all for Elegele, the winner by unanimous decision.
The second televised bout saw two former amateur standouts Dauren Yeleussinov (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of Kazakhstan, who now fights out of Brooklyn, and Devaun Lee (7-2-1, 3 KOs) of Queens, NY in an eight-round middleweight bout that ended in a split draw. Yeleussinov wasted no time in the first round as he kicked off the fight by throwing multiple left hands, one to the body and two to the head of Lee.
Lee escaped the round unscathed and despite spending the majority of the second round against the ropes, he was able to let his hands go and catch Yeleussinov with multiple shots. The 30-year-old Yeleussinov went on the attack in the sixth round, pinning Lee against the ropes, once again with a barrage of punches. Judges scored the bout at 79-73 for Yeleussinov, 78-74 for Lee and 76-76, ending the bout in a split draw.
In the opening televised bout, Australian prospect Steve Lovett (15-1, 12 KOs) battled Craig Baker (17-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight showdown that ended with an explosive knockout. Baker of Baytown, TX was sent to the canvas in round four following a big left hook thrown by Lovett, but Baker was the more active fighter throughout the fight as he was up on all three of the judge’s scorecards going into the eighth and final round. With only three seconds to go in the bout, Baker sent Lovett to the canvas with a hard right hand that ended the bout.
Here is what the participants had to say about their respective performances Sunday night:
JOSEPH ELEGELE
“I wasn’t surprised because he’s a tough fighter, he’s a Canadian and Canadian fighters are tough. He came to fight. It was a good fight.
“It’s hard for anyone to find an answer for a straight left, but I was surprised he kept walking through it.
“I hope this win puts me on the next level. I’m ready for the top fighters. I know there are some things I can work on, but I am ready for the top fighters.
“I’m not sure what’s up with my left hand.  It hurt me when I was throwing it, but I’m a warrior. I’ve been through too much in life to let a little left hand hurt me. It could be falling off and I’m still going to throw it.”
PHIL LO GRECO
“It was his hometown. The score could have gone either way. I hurt him in the second round. He was out and the ref could have stopped the fight. That is no excuse. I will fight anyone, anywhere.
“I felt I was pushing the fight. I am disappointed in the decision.
“It’s up to the fans if they want to see me again. People see that I will fight anywhere and anyplace. I enjoyed tonight.”
DEVAUN LEE
“I don’t agree with the draw, I think I won the fight. I would have been comfortable with a split decision. He worked, but I landed clean shots and I landed heavier punches. I feel like I won the fight. He has power, but he wasn’t powerful enough to stop me.
“Next, I’m ready for whatever they put in front of me. I would do it again.”
CRAIG BAKER
“Lovett is a strong guy and he’s a hell of a competitor. He came to work and he tested me, so it is what it is, man.
“This is awesome, man. This is what I sweat and kill myself in the gym for. This win means the world to me.
“He never hurt me tonight. We stayed patient I do what we do. This is the biggest win of my career, but I won’t rest until I get a title.
“I’ll fight whoever next. I’ll be back in the gym soon and getting ready for whoever the put in front of me next.
“Fighting on a Premier Boxing Champions card is amazing. I’m grateful to get the opportunity and I hope to be back on PBC fighting again.”
# # #
The fight card was promoted by King’s Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @KingsBoxing_ and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions andwww.Facebook.com/BounceTV.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network 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 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Check out Fight News Unlimited’s recent interviews of the main event combatants:
Phil Lo Greco:
Joseph Elegele:
http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/19429/episodes/114793 
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Undefeated Middleweight Dauren Yeleussinov Battles Hard-Hitting Devaun Lee in Undercard Action on Sunday, June 12 From The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL

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Plus! Undefeated Prospects Harold Calderon & David Gonzalez in Separate Bouts as Part of Action Packed Undercard
Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV
 Begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT,
Telecast Include Special Tributes to Muhammad Ali
 
LAKELAND, FL. (June 8, 2016) – Undefeated Dauren Yeleussinov (5-0, 4 KOs) battles New York’s Devaun Lee (7-2, 3 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight bout that highlights undercard action on Sunday, June 12 from the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL.
The June 12 PBC on Bounce TV show is headlined by a battle between exciting welterweights Phil Lo Greco and Joseph Elegele. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will feature unbeaten Australian prospect Steve Lovett and tough contender Craig Baker in a light heavyweight showdown. PBC – The Next Round will include several special tributes to Muhammad Ali and his tremendous impact on boxing throughout the telecast.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $75, $50 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visitingwww.thelakelandcenter.com or by calling 888-397-0100 and from the Lakeland Center Box Office by calling 863-834-8111 or visiting between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday.
Additional action features unbeaten Miami prospect Harold Calderon (9-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round junior middleweight attraction, undefeated Philadelphia prospect David Gonzalez (7-0-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight fight and Groveland, Florida’s Amos Cowart (11-1-1, 9 KOs) in eight-rounds of lightweight action against Justin Savi (28-5-2, 18 KOs) out of Benin.
Rounding out the night of fights are Orlando’s Christian Camacho (1-1) against veteran Anthony Napunyi (14-19, 7 KOs) in four-rounds of featherweight action, Orlando-prospect Craig Duncan (5-1-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round super middleweight fight against unbeaten Miami-native Victor Darocha (7-0-1, 6 KOs) and the pro debut of Lakeland’s Emmanuel Bermudez against Randy Heddericks (0-5) in a four-round welterweight tilt.
An experienced amateur out of Berezino, Kazakhstan, Yeleussinov now fights out of Brooklyn where he has served as a sparring partner for middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs. Since turning pro in 2014, the 30-year-old has stopped four of his five opponents inside the distance. He will take on the Queens-native Lee who comes off back-to-back victories over previously unbeaten fighters including his March victory over Chris Galeano.
#  #  #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @KingsBoxing_ and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV.PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona Extra: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network 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 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Welterweight Showdown Between Phil Lo Greco & Joseph Elegele Headlines Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round  On Bounce TV Sunday, June 12 From  The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL (9 p.m. ET/PT)

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Plus! Unbeaten Australian Steve Lovett Takes On Craig Baker
in Light Heavyweight Action
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
 
LAKELAND, FL. (May 26, 2016) – A battle between exciting welterweights Phil Lo Greco (27-2, 15 KOs) and Joseph Elegele (15-2, 11 KOs) will serve as the 10-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV and BounceTV.com Sunday, June 12 from The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, FL.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will feature unbeaten Australian prospect Steve Lovett (15-0, 12 KOs) and tough contender Craig Baker (16-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight showdown. The full night of action will be streamed on BounceTV.com
“I don’t know much about Elegele but I will not take him lightly,” said Lo Greco. “I am always in the gym. I enjoy fighting. This is what it’s all about, fighting on television and making a name for yourself. A win here will get me one step closer to the bigger fights.”
“People should watch me, because after this fight, I am ready to show the world that I am ready for the big fights,” said Elegele. “This win will put me towards the top and in a position to fight top fighters. This is the best I have felt in my whole career. Lo Greco is a game fighter. This is my hometown and I will have a lot of people coming out to support me and I can’t wait.”
“A win here will get me in the mix with the top contenders,” said Lovett. “I expect an entertaining fight and I am ready to go. Training camp is always good and I will be in the best shape possible on June 12. I helped Edwin Rodriguez prepare for his fight against Baker so I know him well. I am at the stage to step up to the next level”
“I’m excited about this opportunity to take on a fighter like Steve Lovett,” said Baker. “He’s highly regarded but I know that I have the skills and experience to beat him. I’m leaving it all in the ring. A win here puts me in position to get big fights so I plan on being impressive.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $75, $50 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visitingwww.thelakelandcenter.com or by calling 888-397-0100 and from the Lakeland Center Box Office by calling 863-834-8111 or visiting between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“This will be a great night of boxing,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “Elegele and Lo Greco is a real 50/50 fight with each guy needing a win to get to the next level. The last show at Lakeland was action packed and June 12 will be no different.”
A four-time amateur national Canadian champion, the Toronto-born Lo Greco turned pro in 2006 and quickly made a name for himself as one of the top fighters from Canada. The veteran fighter has also fought in Germany, Italy and Hungary before making his U.S. debut in 2012 by defeating Hector Orozco in Atlantic City. He racked up a 25-0 record to begin his career and his lone defeats have come to top welterweights Shawn Porter and Errol Spence Jr. In his last bout, Lo Greco stopped Pablo Munguia in the fifth-round.
After piling up an amateur record of 69-8, Elegele turned pro in 2009 and reeled off 12 victories to start his career. One of nine siblings, Elegele worked as a sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and has also spent time in the training camps of Adrien Broner and fellow New Haven, FL native Andre Berto, who he has known since he was 12-years-old. He owns victories over Manuel Aguilar, Angel Hernandez and Lanard Lane and most recently stopped Alex De Jesus in the sixth-round of their Bounce TV clash in January.
Born in Australia but now training in Houston with Ronnie Shields, Lovett looks to build on the momentum he has gained in 2015 with four knockouts in his five wins. The New South Wales-native has taken down veterans Kevin Engel and Samuel Miller in his last two fights as he heads into his toughest challenge in Baker.
A once-beaten fighter who turned pro in 2008, Baker enters this fight having four of his last five opponents inside the distance. The Baytown, TX native took home victories over Anthony Greeley and Sergio Cordoba in 2014 and kicked off 2015 by knocking out highly regarded Umberto Savigne. Now, Baker looks to bounce back from a defeat to Edwin Rodriguez when he enters the ring on June 12.
#  #  #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @BounceTV, @KingsBoxing_ and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona Extra: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network 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 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

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(From left to right: Murphys Boxing Ken Casey, Andre Dirrell, DiBella Entertainment’s Lou DiBella, James Degale, Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn & Murphys Boxing Sean Sullivan)

(From left to right: Murphys Boxing Ken Casey, Chris Gilbert, Logan McGuinness, Gary O’Sullivan, Edwin Rodriguez, Andre Dirrell, James DeGale, Craig Baker, Danny O’Connor & Murphys Boxing Sean Sullivan)

 

Click HERE For Photos From Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions

 

Click HERE For Photos From Carly Gillis Photography

 

BOSTON (May 21, 2015) – Fighters participating on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on NBC card took part in the final press conference today at historic Fenway Park in Boston before their respective fights at Agganis Arena, with televised coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now.

 

Here are what the press conference participants had to say:

 

ANDRE DIRRELL

 

“A title means everything. It completes you as a fighter. That’s the top of the food chain in this sport, and that’s the pedestal we’re all trying to reach – world champion. Everybody wants to be a world champion. The greats had it and now we want it. It would mean more for my city, my family and my friends, and it’s something I’ll always be able to look back it. It would put me in the record books for life.

 

“DeGale is not quiet. Today he’s chilling, maybe because he’s a little out of his comfort zone. But there’s a lot of tension when you’re standing right there next to your opponent. He might just be a little cranky today.

 

“I like to lighten the mood and stay comfortable. This is all a part of the game. Let’s have fun now. It’s ass-kicking time when we get in that ring, but outside it’s all love.

 

“There was a time when I didn’t want to do interviews. I didn’t want to go to fights. I didn’t want to hear fans online and on social media. I closed all them down because I didn’t want to hear people ask, ‘When are you fighting again? Talking about talent wasted, or saying I’m glad he’s gone.’ It hurt because there was nothing I could do. I was powerless even with all the power in the world.”

 

JAMES DEGALE

 

“Andre says the belt doesn’t mean anything to him in the fight – well, the belt means everything to me and more. I am here to make history and it doesn’t happen without that title.

 

“I could win on Saturday night and retire a happy man – that’s how much I want to beat Andre Dirrell. But when I do win that title, I am going for the rest of the belts, creating a lasting legacy for my country, my fans and myself.

 

“Andre is a classy fighter and he showed in the press conference that he is a classy guy too – when two fighters who believe in their ability 100 percent and know they are going to win a fight, it is going to be explosive.

 

“There’s nothing but respect between us, but ultimately, we’re going to take each other to dark territory on Saturday night, it’s going to be a brutal battle – and one that I am going to win.”

 

EDWIN RODRIGUEZ

 

“This is home for me and I’m thrilled. I know I have a good undefeated fighter in front me, so I’m looking forward to a competitive matchup. It’s going to be a great fight for the fans.

 

“This is an exciting day for me. I saw Pedro Martinez pitch so many times here at Fenway and he’s going into the Hall of Fame. Also, my fellow countrymen Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz have made so much history here.

 

“Being here today and then having the weigh-in at Faneuil Hall tomorrow and fighting on Saturday, it’s just an amazing experience.

 

CRAIG BAKER

 

“This is a great opportunity for me. I’ve dreamed of fighting on a grand scale like this since I first started boxing.

 

“The entire experience has been awesome. It’s going to be an interesting fight. I’m going to keep coming forward. I’m going to keep boxing all night.

 

“Everyone should look forward to an action packed night, I know it’s going to be an interesting matchup.”

 

DANNY O’CONNOR

 

“A couple of years ago Ken Casey and I talked about bringing boxing back to the city of Boston. Fast-forward to today and we’re doing it.

 

“I’m excited to be part of it and to see boxing in Boston blossom. It’s good for the city and all the young boxers in this area.

 

“I know I have a tough opponent in front of me and I won’t take him lightly. I’m planning on putting on a show for the fans come Saturday night.”

 

CHRIS GILBERT

 

“I’m an aggressive come forward, in your face boxer from the first bell to the last.

 

“I was full steam ahead when I got the call for this fight. I train all the time, I don’t take breaks and I’m always looking for an opportunity. I couldn’t be happier.

 

“Danny O’Connor is one of the best in my weight division in New England. Everything he does, he does well.

 

“I just need to keep my head and continue to come forward, I can’t get frustrated. I’m going 100 percent the full way through. If I’m busy and I fight smart I get good outcomes.

 

# # #

 

The Saturday, May 23 edition of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC featuresAndre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) and James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round super middleweight showdown and Edwin Rodriguez (26-1, 17 KOs) vs. Craig Baker (16-0, 12 KOs) in 10-round light heavyweight match up. . Live coverage of this special Memorial Day weekend afternoon edition of PBC on NBC starts at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT on NBC and goes until 6:00 pm. ET/3:00 p.m. PT when the action switches over to NBCSN from 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT until 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.AgganisArena.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports,www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys andwww.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

BIG-TIME BOXING RETURNS TO BOSTON ON SATURDAY, MAY 23 WITH PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC

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TAKE A LOOK BACK AT BOSTON’S RICH BOXING HISTORY

 

BOSTON (May 20, 2015) – Boston is known for being home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, but many may not know that it is also a city that has had a long and rich history with the sweet science. On Saturday, May 23, world championship boxing is officially back in Beantown when Premier Boxing Champions on NBC returns with a showdown between Andre Dirrell and James DeGale at Boston University’s Agganis Arena with coverage on NBC beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

 

The last time Boston saw a world championship fight was May 23, 2006 when two world title fights took place at TD Bank Garden, formerly the Boston Garden. That night saw British superstar Ricky “Hitman” Hatton defeat Luis Collazo in a welterweight world title fight, while Eric Aiken upset previously undefeated Valdemir Pereira for a featherweight world title.

“Fighting in the Boston Garden was a great honor, never mind in a world title fight, but even a four rounder,” said Tony DeMarco, who won the welterweight world title in 1955 at the Boston Garden. “I had more fights there than anybody (28), including my pro debut. It’s always good fighting at home. You’re more comfortable at home. The fans know and honor you. Boston fans were real fight fans.”

 

Boston has been deeply invested in boxing since the early 20th century. From 1902-1908 the small town of Chelsea that borders Boston became the mecca for boxing as the sport was banned throughout most of America. However, Chelsea had a special ordinance that legalized boxing. It was during this time that Jack Johnson was faced with what he admitted was the toughest fight of his career, when he defended his heavyweight title against Sam Langford on April 6, 1906. Johnson won by a 15-round unanimous decision and refused to fight Langford again.

 

In addition, Fenway Park, famed home of the Boston Red Sox, hosted 29 professional boxing cards between 1919 and 1956. Beyond just hosting big fights, Boston has also produced a slew of Hall of Fame talent who were either born in Massachusetts or called the state home.

 

Noteworthy names include Roxbury heavyweight champions John L. Sullivan, Brockton heavyweight Rocky Marcianoand Brockton resident and middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Boston’s own featherweight championsSandy Saddler and George Dixon plus Boston promoter Rip Valenti have all been enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

“Fighting in Boston was a great experience,” said John Ruiz, a two-time heavyweight world champion from Chelsea. “Like any sport, Boston sports fans are true fans who follow your progress.  I could feel their emotion wherever I fought.  I will never forget them. I fought in Las Vegas a lot and there were always Boston fans there supporting me.  I always appreciated them traveling all over the country to my fights.”

 

A father-son duo from Arlington, Mass. both had an impact on the heavyweight landscape decades after each other. Tom McNeeley fought heavyweight world champion Floyd Patterson in 1961 and dropped the champion before eventually succumbing to a fourth round knockout. Over 30 years later, his son Peter was the first man to fight Mike Tyson after he was released from prison, with the fight ending in McNeeley being disqualified.

 

One of the more unique athletes to come out of Boston, Dr. Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure was an Olympic Gold medalist, a doctor of psychology and a Massachusetts boxing commissioner. While at the 1960 Olympics, McClure served as the co-captain for Team USA and was the roommate of fellow gold medalist Cassius Clay. While he never reached his potential as a professional, he received opportunities against world class opponents Luis Manuel Rodriguez twice andJose Torres, losing all three by decision. He also lost a decision and fought to a draw against  Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. After his professional boxing career, McClure served as a Massachusetts boxing commissioner before eventually retiring in the Boston area where he resides to this day.

 

Another greatly revered fighter to come out of the Boston-area is Lowell’s Micky Ward. Hugely popular for his exciting style, Ward compiled a 38-13 pro record with 27 knockouts. He was most known for the three epic fight of the year award-winning battles with the late Arturo Gatti. Ward’s life and career was portrayed in the award-winning film “The Fighter”, which starred Mark Wahlberg as Ward.

 

“It was great fighting in Boston.  The fans were very supportive and knowledgeable about the game,” said Ward. “It was like I was fighting at home…it was home for me as a fighter.  Fans traveled a lot to my fights, too.  They were a little crazy, drank lot of beer and were more vocal than most places I ever fought. I loved it.”

 

On Saturday, May 23 a new crop of young and hungry fighters will lay it all on the line, hoping to write the next exciting chapter of boxing history in the city of Boston. The action begins at 1:30 p.m. ET inside of Agganis Arena.

 

*           *           *

 

Tickets for the return of big-time boxing to Boston, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.AgganisArena.com andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys and www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT 

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

  Lou DiBella 

Thanks, everybody for joining us for Premier Boxing Champions on NBC press call. The card is Saturday, May 23rd. That’s the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend at Boston’s Agganis Arena. The start time on NBC is 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is being promoted in associated with Murphys Boxing are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, and they’re available at ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Again, the NBC broadcast goes on at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

 

We’re going to start the call by talking to our co-main event fighters, the guys are going to open the telecast. That’s light-heavyweight contender Edwin Rodriguez taking on undefeated light-heavyweight contender Craig Baker. Craig is 10-0 with 12 KO. He’s coming off a KO of highly regarded Umberto Savigne in his last fight and he’s looking to upset the apple cart and derail the career of Edwin Rodriguez who’s looking for another shot at a world title; this time at 175 pounds.

 

Craig is promoted by Sampson Boxing. Craig, if you’d like to say a few words.

 

Craig Baker

Well, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to fight on such a grand field again. It clearly is what I dream about. It’s one of those things I’ve always looked forward to since I was little bity kid.

 

L. DiBella

Thank you. Edwin Rodriguez, the pride of Worchester, Massachusetts and is fighting in his home state. This is his second fight at light heavyweight. His only loss is to Andre Ward, one of the pound-for-pound fighters in the world and Edwin believes at light heavyweight he’s stronger, better and that he can win the title. So, Edwin, would you like to say a few words?

 

Edwin Rodriguez

Yes. First of all, I’d like to thank you, Lou, for bringing me back on NBC and giving me such a great opportunity and also to Al Haymon and the NBC crew. I’m ready to show the world that I’m one of the best or the best 175 pound fighter in the world. I just got to prove it and this is one of the steps to do it, fighting an undefeated fighter, Craig Baker, who’s hungry and I’m excited because I know that he’s hungry; I’m hungry to get at that elite level. It’s going to be a great fight for the fans.

 

Q

Yes, I have a question for each of you if you don’t mind. Craig, how do you feel about fighting Edwin so close to his hometown?

 

C. Baker      

At the end of the day that doesn’t really matter to me because everyone is out to pretty much beat the crap out of you. So, it doesn’t matter where you fight. It’s the competition, and that’s how I take it.

 

Q

Edwin, what will it mean to you to fight so close to Worcester?

 

E. Rodriguez           

It means a lot because I haven’t fought at home for about four years now. So, I’m excited to come back and fight close to home with family and friends supporting me. It’s something that helps me and pushes me to take it to the next level.

 

Q

Edwin, first question; how do you feel at light-heavyweight? Are you more comfortable now than you were at super middleweight? Do you feel stronger, and is your stamina a little better?

 

E. Rodriguez

I feel great now. I feel like 175 is the weight that I belong at. I feel like I’m strong and I’m fast and I feel like I’m the best light heavyweight. I just need the opportunity to prove it, and this is one of them and I’m excited.

 

Q

You’re with Al Haymon. Adonis Stevenson is with Al Haymon. Is that what boxing and fans can assume, that this is all building towards a fight with Adonis Stevenson for the title?

 

E. Rodriguez

Right now, I’m focused on Baker. He’s an undefeated hungry fighter, but that’s the goal. I want to fight the best guy so I can prove that I’m the best. Adonis Stevenson is a good fighter. He has proved he’s the world champion and that’s who I want in the future. So, I’m just setting myself up and I’m working hard to look impressive against Baker and to get my opportunity to show the world that I’m on the best.

 

Q

Craig, just what is it about Edwin that impresses you and what will you have to do to beat him?

 

C. Baker

Well, I’m really impressed with the improvements that he’s made. I see him pushing forward, pushing issues and always in your face. That’s good. I like that. At the end of the day, I just have to show up and fight. That’s the way I take the game. I have to bring my A game at all times and that’s what I do.

 

Q

I was looking at the records of a lot of your opponents. You fought a lot of guys with pretty poor records. Why is that and why did you make the step up a couple of fights ago?

 

C. Baker

I just felt like it was time, man.

 

Q

Edwin, what impresses you about Craig Baker?

 

E. Rodriguez

He’s a hungry fighter and it doesn’t matter who he’s fought. He’s undefeated and you can’t take an undefeated fighter lightly, especially one that defeated a guy that had over 400 amateur fights and was a big prospect in the pros, like Savigne. You can’t take a guy like Craig Baker lightly.

 

Q

You’ve defeated undefeated fighters in the past. So, how is your confidence level going in when you fight somebody who hasn’t lost?

 

E. Rodriguez

I believe a lot of my skills and I’m very confident, but I’m not stupid. I know that a fighter who’s undefeated comes in with a very strong mentality and I’m ready. I’ve been working hard for this fight knowing that this guy is undefeated and I have to take that away from him. But at the same time, we’ve got to respect everyone because we’re all competitors and it’s all about looking good and winning and he’s just in my way right now.

 

L. DiBella

Thank you. The main event of the evening is a super middleweight world title fight and it features two guys that have been engrained into boxing since they were amateurs. James DeGale is an Olympic gold medalist. He’ll be facing Andre Dirrell. James is from England; Andre from the US. Andre was a bronze medalist in the Olympics. This is a match of two of the very best super middleweights in the world and figures to be a terrific fight.

 

James is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn is on the call. When you go to Q&A, if anyone has a question for Eddie, Eddie is available. We’re going to start with James DeGale. James, would you like to say a few words? James is 21-1, with 14 KOs.

 

James DeGale

Yeah, my time is here. My time is here, next Saturday. I’ve trained extremely hard and you’re in for a treat because you’re going to watch two very talented hungry fighters next Saturday fight it out for a world title. I honestly think it’s going to be a hell of a fight, one I’m confident of winning. So, fasten your seatbelts, man. It should be good.

 

L. DiBella

Thank you, James. Andre Dirrell, please say a few words.

 

Andre Dirrell          

I agree with James. This is going to be a very good fight. I’ve trained my butt off as well. Everything went very smoothly this camp. He’s a hungry fighter. I’m a hungry fighter. We are both in desperate need or desperate want of a world title and I myself feel very confident and I’m excited about this match, man. He feels like he’s an undefeated fighter. I feel like I’m an undefeated fighter, but we both have a lot to prove, man. So, we’re going to come to the full effect and I believe it’s going to be a great show.

 

L. DiBella

Thank you, Andre. We’re going to open it up to questions now. One more time, it’s PBC on NBC broadcast. It will be on May 23rd, Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend, 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, 1-800-745-3000 and we’re going to open it up for questions now.

 

Q

This is for James. This is your first fight in the United States and also, this is the first time a lot of people are going to get to see you because you’re going to be on national television. What are you expecting in terms of the energy and what it’s going to be like performing in a completely new audience?

 

J. DeGale

Yeah. I’m looking forward to it. I’m used to it as well because obviously back in England I’m promoted by Matchroom, a well-known commercial company. So, I box on big shows in front of 10,000-20,000 people. It should be good. They have a lot of Irish and English over there. So, I should have some good support and I’m looking forward to it.

 

Q

Let me follow-up with another question. There was a time that you considered retiring from the sport and becoming a personal trainer. Can you talk about that a little bit and looking back, are you glad you made the right decision to continue to do boxing?

 

J. DeGale

Yeah. It’s pretty simple. I was going through a hard time with my promoter at the time and I was a bit depressed because I wasn’t getting my chances and I wasn’t getting the right fights and I boxed on small shows. I basically was a bit depressed and I couldn’t motivate myself properly. So, yeah, that was the way it was and then I made the change to Matchroom and things have just gone from pretty bad to really great.

 

Obviously, my last two performances speak for themself. I boxed Brandon Gonzales, an undefeated American, a confident American. He come over to America and I boxed him front of 80,000 people and knocked him out in four rounds.

 

Then four months later, I boxed Periban. If you don’t know Marco Antonio Periban, he boxed Sakio Bika for the world title and lost on a split decision and I knocked him out in three rounds. So, I’m confident. I’m feeling good, and I’m motivated very well at the minute.

 

Q       

Andre, when you brother lost, he lost a close decision .What was your conversation with Anthony like because you lost a close fight you thought you’d won. So, how have you been able to converse with him about getting through that loss?

 

A. Dirrell

Well, I didn’t have to say much because he was confident after the fight, but I pretty much had him realize that you’ve had a bad night after he had a terrific camp, but I believe that’s where he left it. He left it in that. When it came to fight time, he had a few setbacks leading up to the fight and unfortunately, he lost, but we saw a lot of things that he needs to correct. I told him to watch the fight over and over again because that’s what I used to do in my fight, any fight that I feel bad about. So, I just told him keep his confidence up, man and stay on that run, man. Don’t lay off at all. That’s all we can do, man. I’ve learned a lot from past experience and one thing’s for certain; you can’t take anything from the past and bring it to the future. Only confidence.

 

So, I’m feeling good, man. He’s excited for me and I’m going to keep that name alive and keep the Dirrell name going.

 

Q

Everybody talks about the super middleweights, they talk about Andre Ward. But it seems like some people forget how good of a boxer that you are because you had to take this time off. With this being on NBC and getting in front of a large audience, are you looking at this as an opportunity to put your name back in that conversation for people who may have forgotten how good Andre Dirrell is?

 

A. Dirrell

People know and in the end, it’s my job to keep my name lean. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that as well. I had a major setback as well, but with that I stayed in the game, stayed sharp. I was sharp in my last couple of performances. I’m looking forward to the future and this is the breakout fight like I said. James is one hell of a fighter. He has a lot of heart, a lot of spunk, a lot of energy, man, and he wants to win.

 

If you want to put me in front of a fighter for a world championship fight, then James DeGale is bar none one of the best to do it in front of. So, I’m excited about this fight. I think this is probably one of the biggest fights from Premier Boxing Champion that they’ve had and I’m excited to be on that big stage. So, I want a breakout performance and I did everything in camp to make sure I can do so.

 

Q

How does it feel to be the first Brit on the verge of making some boxing history?

 

J. DeGale

It feels great, but I need to stay focused and keep my eye out on the prize. That’s what I have to do. But, you know what? A lot of people say I’m obsessed about making history, about becoming the first Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain to win a genuine world title. But you know what? I am. I am because that’s what drives me and that’s what makes me train hard every day. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.

 

Q

Okay, and you touched on a little bit there. I mean not so long ago you were boxing in front of a couple of hundred people at the shopping center in Blue Water and now you’re making noise on TV in America. How does that feel, the difference?

 

J. DeGale

Well, it’s fantastic. Sure a lot of credit has to go to Eddie Hearn. I’m a buzz fire. I like the big audience. I like the big lights. I’m just feeling real relaxed, chilled and ready to perform next Saturday. I’m buzzing. I really can’t wait; just being in America and knowing that I’m going to make my debut next Saturday in front of millions of Americans and back in the UK as well. It’s going to be fantastic.

 

Q

Andre, this fight seems to be your highest profile fight since five years ago when you had the Abraham fight, when he got DQ’ed. You were leading at that time. Can you tell us at this point, where are you physically and mentally compared to where you were when you were obviously at the top of the division five years ago?

 

A. Dirrell

Well, I look at it all from a mental aspect. As of now, man, I’m grown tremendously in my mind. I’ve realized how important boxing is to me and what it takes to become world champion, the work you have to put in and I just follow those guidelines every day. I’m a very motivated fighter, very self-motivated. A lot of fighters run with music, have to listen to music.

 

If I can hear my punches while I’m hitting the bag, I’m motivated. So, nothing motivates me more than hard work and that’s all I look for. The fight is won in the gym, not on fight night. It’s what you do in the gym, not how hard you put up a fight.

 

I’ve done all of that and more. I feel very relaxed. I’m very energetic and I’m feeling the vibe already and I really can’t wait to make Saturday myself. I feel I have a lot to prove and I have a different Andre Dirrell to show, one that’s just as sharp, just as fast, just as brave, but just has a bigger mental capacity. I’m excited about next week.

 

Q

What do you think your advantages are over James DeGale in this fight?

 

A. Dirrell

We’re pretty much evenly matched and I actually like that scenario because I know I’m faster. I know I’m smarter and I know I’m a better boxer. It’s just as simple as that. But, none of that can come into play without hard work, and I know he’s worked his ass off, man. He has to come over to America just like I went over there to England to try to fight for a world championship.

 

I know what kind of guy I’m going to face come the 23rd. I’ve worked my butt off like I said, , and with those advantages, I’ve put the hard work in so I can display that. I just feel like I’ll be the better man that night.

 

Q

James, tell us why you think you’re confident that you’re going to be able to win this fight?

 

J. DeGale

Momentum is a big thing. Look at my last two performances against good, quality opponents and look his last three. Listen, I come from good pedigree and so does Andre. We’re good, quality, young fighters. But I just think overall, I’m better. I think he struggles. He doesn’t like it when it gets hard in there. He’s a competent fighter, but he likes it when he’s dictating the pace and he’s on the front foot.

 

Well listen, I’m not going to let him rest. He thinks this is going to be a boxing match. Well, this ain’t. I’m telling him now. This ain’t going to be a boxing match. I’m going in there and I’m taking the title. I’m taking it. I’m ripping it away from him.

 

Q

Do you think you’re a really improved fighter? I know that the loss that you had to Groves was very controversial, but how much do you think you’ve improved since that fight with Groves?

 

J. DeGale

It’s like night and day. Listen, and another thing, I was in this for two years as well. I had two operations on my groin. So, I couldn’t throw my shots with any power. I couldn’t run the ring properly. Even in the fight at Wembley in front of 80,000 I wasn’t 100% right. Even against Periban I wasn’t 100% right. Now I’m 100% right, fully healthy, fully focused and mentally right. So, you’re going to see me step up again next Saturday.

 

Q

James, you mentioned about being a buzz fighter and this is the biggest stage, the biggest pressure you’ve ever been under. So, does this mean we’re going to see your best ever performance?

 

J. DeGale

I honestly do. The way I’ve been in the gym training, sparring, running, I honestly think you’re going to see the performance of my career so far. My last couple of fights after my injuries have been sorted and I just got better and better and I think this one is going to top it and winning my world title as well and making history.

 

Q

But, do you deal with the pressure and does that inspire you more?

JamesI thrive on it. You know me. I thrive in it. I’m just looking forward to it. As I say, it’s my debut as a professional in America. So, I’m buzzing right now. You don’t understand. I’m just really looking forward to it.

 

Q

Andre. You’ve obviously fought Carl Froch and you’ve watched video of James I imagine. How do they compare as fighters and who do you rate as a better fighter?

 

A. Dirrell

As far as skill, I can give it to James DeGale, but as far as toughness, mental toughness, physical toughness, that’s Carl Froch. We all know how mentally strong he is. So, I have to give the edge to Carl Froch in that aspect, but as I said before, I know DeGale is coming to fight and no one gets in that ring and fights me as they want to fight. You know what I’m saying? Just like he thinks it’s going to be an easy fight. I feel like I have a lot more to prove as well.

 

So, I’m looking to bring the fight as well and I’m working hard in the gym. I made it tough on myself. The more pressure you actually put on me, the more dangerous I become.

 

I’m really excited as well, man. I have a lot to prove. He has a lot to prove. This is going to be the best fight yet on Premier Boxing Champions.

 

Q

Basically for Andre, there was a chance obviously this fight could end up going to Britain. You’ve been to Britain before and you were very unlucky against Carl Froch. Was that something you were against, to face another title fight in Britain?

 

A. Dirrell

I’m not going to say that because I enjoyed my time over there. I believe I won the fight like I said and it just didn’t go my way unfortunately. I don’t like to judge my future fights based on past. I look forward to fighting in Britain again, in England again, the UK again whenever that day may come. I had a lot of fans over there; I have a lot of fans over there and I enjoy my time over there. I’ve been going over there since the amateurs. I enjoy it very much and I’m a world-class fighter. So, I want to be displayed on a world-class level.

 

I’m definitely looking forward to it. If it was over there, if it had to be over there, so be it. I would have came over there to fight James. We are world competitors, world-class. We fight for world titles. Why should it be in America all the time? This is a world-class sport and we should treat it like one.

 

Q       

Arthur Abraham kind of robbed you of your great win when he hit you on the floor. That was looking like such a great performance that night. In the sort of layup after that, how close did you come to actually having to retire? Was there ever a time you thought you might not box again?

 

A. Dirrell

I was going through some stuff with my family. I actually wanted to. I knew in my heart that I’d get my time again. I knew my time would come. I knew I had a chance of getting out of my contract. So, I kept training. Of course, there were times that I would hit slumps and feel like I’m doing it for nothing, but it was quite a stressful time for me. I think I always knew that I would be able to get back in that ring. So, I stayed busy and it didn’t really totally veer me away from the sport, but I do know the feeling.

 

I did feel like any moment could come up to where that it could be over just like that and I had to deal with it and I could easily retire. If it happened again, I just might. I knew that my time was coming again. There’s always hope there. I just kept pushing forward and here I am now.

 

Q

One for you, James, quickly. You’re in Florida now. Can you tell us where you are and how’s it going?

 

J. DeGale

Yeah, no, I’m in Miami. I’ve been training here for the past week. So, we climatized and we adjusted and we’re ready to go.

 

L. DiBella    

Just a couple of final words. Thank you, Edwin, Craig, Andre and James. This is a great undercard that features a lot of New England talent and I want to acknowledge Murphys Boxing, our friend Ken Casey who’s with the legendary Irish band, the Dropkick Murphys, and is helping us with local promotion. We’re going to have a lot of announcements coming about some great fight week activities.

 

Premier Boxing Champions on NBC, PBC on NBC Saturday, May 23rd at Boston’s Agganis Area,4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT for the beginning of the broadcast. Tickets for the live event are available at Ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Tune into NBC on Saturday, May 23rd, but if you can be with us in Boston, join us at the Agganis Arena. Thank you, everybody, for joining us.

 

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Tickets for the return of big-time boxing to Boston, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available atwww.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com www.nbcsports.com/boxing,www.AgganisArena.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys and www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC
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BOSTON’S DANNY O’CONNOR ADDED TO MAY 23 CARD TO FACE VERMONT’S CHRIS GILBERT IN EXPLOSIVE NEW ENGLAND SHOWDOWN

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FULL UNDERCARD ACTION COMES TO AGGANIS ARENA ON SATURDAY, MAY 23

 

Ireland’s Gary O’Sullivan Takes On Melvin Betancourt

Plus Local Favorites Ryan Kielczweski & Logan McGuinness

 In Separate Bouts

 

Premier Boxing Champions on NBC Starts At 4:30 P.M. ET/1:30 P.M. PT

 

BOSTON (May 19, 2015) – Boston-area fans will be treated to fireworks this Memorial Day weekend as a full slate of exciting undercard fights come to Agganis Arena on Saturday, May 23. The undercard action is highlighted by Boston’s own Danny O’Connor (25-2, 9 KOs) taking on the fighting pride of Vermont, Chris Gilbert (13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight battle for the New England welterweight championship title.

 

Undercard fights will support the Premier Boxing Champions on NBC show featuring the super middleweight showdown between Olympic medalists Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) and James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs) and Edwin Rodriguez (26-1, 17 KOs) taking on the undefeated Craig Baker (16-0, 12 KOs).

 

O’Connor vs. Baker will put two of the most popular fighters in the New England area on display as the slick boxing O’Connor will look to pick apart the hard-charging Gilbert. The bout will be the final event of the evening and close down the show in spectacular fashion at Agganis Arena.

 

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to fight Chris in Boston,” said O’Connor. “Being able to do what I love in front of my hometown fans that have supported me since day one is very meaningful to me”

 

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to fight on such an amazing card,” said Gilbert. “I’m coming off a first round knockout last week and I plan to bring the same intensity, aggressiveness and hard hitting style into the ring this week.  O’Connor has been at the top of the welterweight division, whether in the amateurs or pros, and I’m excited to see how my skills compare.”

 

“This is a fight that local fight fans have been eager to see for a long time,” said Ken Casey, President and CEO of Murphys Boxing. “New England’s premiere welterweight versus New England’s hardest hitting welterweight. Pride can be worth more than money sometimes and the right to call yourself ‘New England welterweight’ champ is very important to a fighter in this close knit community.”

 

The undercard will also feature a highly anticipated 10-round middleweight contest that pits Gary O’Sullivan (20-1, 13 KOs) against Melvin Betancourt (29-1, 23 KOs) as both men look to prove themselves as contenders in the division.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

 

Further action will feature the six round featherweight bout between local favorite Ryan Kielczweski (22-1, 6 KOs) andAnthony Napunyi (15-14, 8 KOs) and a six round junior lightweight bout that showcases Logan McGuinness (22-0-1, 10 KOs) taking on Christian Esquivel (17-13, 15 KOs). Plus undefeated prospect Immanuel Aleem (12-0, 8 KOs) facing David Toribio (21-14, 14 KOs) in a six or eight round middleweight swing bout.

 

Also stepping into the ring at Agganis Arena is undefeated knockout artist Jonathan Guzman (18-0, 18 KOs) who takes on Christian Esquivel (27-6, 20 KOs) in an eight-round junior featherweight matchup. Heavyweight prospect Danny Kelly (7-1-1, 1 KO) will take on Curtis Lee Tate (7-5, 6 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight attraction while Antonio Russell (1-0,1 KO) taking on Brandon Garvin (0-1) in a four round bantamweight fight. Kicking off the action in the arena is undefeated prospect Edwin Espinal (5-0, 4 KOs) who will take on Alvaro Enriquez (12-13-2, 4 KOs) in a four round light heavyweight fight.

 

A former National Golden Gloves champion who has fought as a pro since 2008, O’Connor was set to face former two-division champion Paulie Malignaggi, but will now return home for a May 23 bout. The 30-year-old out of Framingham, Massachusetts is coming off of back-to-back knockout victories over Michael Clark and Andrew Farmer and looks to leave a big impression on his hometown fans.

 

A hard-hitting fighter out of Windsor, Vermont, Gilbert has become a staple throughout New England, appearing on cards all around the region since turning pro in 2011. The 30-year-old boasts an impressive knockout percentage and just last week recorded his tenth professional stoppage with a first round knockout over Raphael Valenzuela. He takes a step up in competition when he battles O’Connor on May 23.

 

A resident of Cork, Ireland, O’Sullivan will be fighting for the fifth time as a professional in the state of Massachusetts, where he is yet to lose. At 30-years-old, he has won his last four fights since a defeat to Billy Joe Saunders in 2013, including three straight by knockout. He will take on a strong opponent making his U.S. debut in Betancourt. The fighter out of Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic has won nine fights in a row.

 

A runner-up in the 2008 National Golden Glove tournament, the 25-year-old Kielczweski has become a staple fighting in his home state of Massachusetts. Born and raised in Quincy, he hopes to rebound from the first loss of his career, a split decision defeat to Danny Aquino in April of this year. He will take on the 32-year-old Napunyi, who is coming off of a third round TKO victory over Joshua Omukhulu in January of this year. Fighting out of Canal Point, Florda, he hopes to make it back-to-back victories on May 23.

 

Fighting out of Ontario, Canada, McGuinness will make his second start in the U.S. after debuting in April with a first round TKO over Carlos Fulgencio at Memorial Hall in Massachusetts. The 27-year-old will take on the 35-year-oldCuevas out of Mexico City.

 

An undefeated prospect out of Richmond, Virginia, the 21-year-old Aleem will take on the very dangerous and experienced 35-year-old Toribio out of Miami.

 

With a perfect knockout percentage, the 25-year-old Guzman looks to build off of his Massachusetts debut, which saw him knockout Juan Guzman in the fifth round in February of this year. Fighting out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic he returns to the ring to take on 28-year-old Esquivel out of Temoaya, Mexico.

 

The 23-year-old Kelly will return to the same city where he delivered a first round TKO of Eric Newell in June 2014 looking for another big victory. The fighter out of Washington D.C. will take on the 31-year-old Tate out of Oakland, Tennessee.

 

Another native of Washington D.C., Russell made his professional debut this year with a second round knockout over Harold Reyes in January. The 22-year-old takes on Philadelphia’s Garvin.

 

A 22-year-old prospect who has racked up five wins since turning pro in February of this year, Espinal will get back in the ring again on May 23. The fighter out of Providence, Rhode Island will take on the 33-year-old Enriquez out of Tlaxcala, Mexico.

 

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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.AgganisArena.com andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys and www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC
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EDWIN RODRIGUEZ AND CRAIG BAKER TO SQUARE OFF IN BOSTON AS PART OF PBC ON NBC CARD TAKING PLACE

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 23

 

Plus Undefeated Javier Fortuna Battles Bryan Vazquez

In Undercard Action

 

Undercard Bouts To Support Andre Dirrell vs. James DeGale

Super Middleweight Showdown

 

BOSTON (May 8, 2015) – Exciting light heavyweights Edwin Rodriguez (26-1, 17 KOs)and Craig Baker (16-0, 12 KOs) enter the ring on Saturday, May 23 in Boston as part of a special Memorial Day weekend edition of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC.

 

The live PBC on NBC event starts at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT and goes until 6:00 pm. ET/3:00 p.m. PT when the action switches over to NBCSN from 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT until 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

 

Further undercard action pits a pair of dangerous junior lightweights as Javier Fortuna(27-0-1, 20 KOs) and Bryan Vazquez (34-1, 18 KOs)do battle at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. These undercard bouts will support the super middleweight contest between Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) and James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs).

 

“I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity to be on this great card,” said Rodriguez. “I will show the world and all the top light heavyweights, especially Kovalev, Stevenson and Fonfara, that I am a force to be reckoned with by taking Craig Baker’s undefeated record in an entertaining fashion.”

 

“I’m well prepared to seize the opportunity that this fight presents,” said Baker. “A win on May 23 puts me closer to a world title fight and I’ve only dreamed of actually accomplishing something that big. I’ve seen Rodriguez in action before and he’s a good fighter, but I’m working to be in great condition so that I can put on a show for the fight fans in Boston. We’re having a great camp and making major accomplishments, things should be pretty interesting.”

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, are priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets will be available atwww.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

 

An accomplished amateur who won a 2006 National Golden Gloves gold medal and a 2005 U.S. National Championship gold medal, the 29-year-old Rodriguez enters this fight as the winner of his last two bouts. Born in the Dominican Republic but fighting out of nearby Worcester, Mass., Rodriguez’s lone loss came to undefeated star Andre Ward in 2013 and he owns victories over previously undefeated fighters Will Rosinsky, Jason Escalera and Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna.

 

An undefeated fighter who turned pro in 2008, Baker enters this fight having stopped his last four opponents inside the distance. The 31-year-old took home victories over Anthony Greeley and Sergio Cordoba in 2014 and kicked off 2015 by knocking out Umberto Savigne. Fighting out of his hometown of Baytown, Texas, Baker will look for a big victory as he takes a step up in competition.

 

Undefeated and owner of a 4-0 record in 2014, the 25-year-old Fortuna is a prospect on the rise looking to make an impression on May 23. After a split draw decision against Luis Franco in 2013, he has bounced back to win five straight fights. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Fortuna owns victories over Abner Cotto, Miguel Roman and Patrick Hyland.

 

A former world title challenger whose only loss came to Takashi Uchiyama in 2012,Vazquez comes into this fight on an impressive five fight-winning streak. The 27-year-old began his career with 29 wins and has recently added victories over Sergio Thompson, Jose Feliz Jr. and Rene Gonzalez. Fighting out of Costa Rica, Vazquez has a big chance for a signature victory on May 23.

 

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