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Warriors Congratulates ‘King’ Carlos Molina for Victory Saturday Night and Sensational 2016

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Warriors Boxing sends congratulations out to Former IBF junior middleweight world champion “King” Carlos Molina for winning his sixth consecutive (and fifth this year) fight on Saturday night.
Fighting at the Gran Oasis Arena in Cancun, Mexico, Molina (28-6-2, 8 KOs) won a unanimous shutout (80-72 X3) decision over Diego “Demoledor” Cruz (17-4-1, 13 KOs). The 33-year-old Molina is currently rated #9 at welterweight by the WBC.
“I feel very comfortable at 147; this is my natural weight,” said Molina, post-fight. “I am at weight after working out and I feel faster in my fights. For this fight, I worked on utilizing my jab and being more effective with it. Over all I am happy about how things came together. I will continue to work hard to get back to a world title fight.”
Molina says he likes the hectic schedule he maintained this year, in fighting five times against respectable opposition.
“I want to stay busy. The activity I experienced this year was excellent and I want to continue being busy. I want bigger fights with anyone in the top 10 at 147. I want the fights that will lead to a second world title. I am a problem for anyone at 147 and in 2017, I want to be challenged with the best the division has to offer.”
“Carlos was one of the best in the world at 154,” said his promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “But at 147, he could very well be the best in the world. He is a true technician with a difficult style to solve for anyone. Now that he’s bigger and stronger than his opponents, he’s in very serious contention for a second world championship once again. He had a great year and I congratulate him.”
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Warriors Boxing Congratulates Murat Gassiev for Title Winning Victory and Issues Challenge to the Entire Boxing World

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‘Explain to me why Denis Lebedev is still world champion.’
Warriors Boxing and Ural Boxing wish to congratulate the fighter they co-promote, brand-new IBF Cruiserweight World Champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev, for his title-winning victory on December 3 against Denis Lebedev at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia.
In an entertaining fight, Gassiev (24-0, 17 KOs) of Vladikavkaz, Russia, dropped his countryman Lebedev in the fifth round and won a split decision by scores of 116-112 and 116-111 against a score of 114-113 for the now-former champ.
In losing, Lebedev remained the WBA World Champion, as that belt was not on the line in the fight… which is where Warriors’ challenge to the boxing world lies.
“I challenge anyone in the boxing world to give me a logical explanation why Denis Lebedev was allowed to keep his WBA title after losing,” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “Neither fighter was over the cruiserweight limit. This was a unified champion defending his titles. It’s absurd and it sets a dangerous precedent in boxing. Why would any unified champion ever put all their belts on the line again if they could keep one or two, even if they lose?”
The pair were supposed to meet for both the WBA and IBF belts, but somehow less than a week before the fight, the WBA was convinced to allow this highly irregular move, which allowed Lebedev to remain WBA Super World Cruiserweight Champion, win or lose, above WBA “Regular” World Champion Beibut Shumenov and WBA “Interim” World Champion Yunier Dorticos.
“We went along with this travesty and fought anyway, but only because Lebedev’s team threatened to pull the fight if we didn’t. It’s a ridiculous situation and I want the boxing world to know what went down here.”
Margules says Lebedev’s camp are now using the Russian media to claim Gassiev is refusing a rematch.
“Let me set that straight right now. We would LOVE to fight Lebedev again. We’ll beat him even more easily this time. But only if he actually puts the WBA belt on the line, the one my guy has already won from him in the eyes of everyone but the sanctioning body.”
Boxing politics aside, Margules and his team say they are happy with the way the 23-year-old Gassiev looked in going 12 rounds for the first time in his life.
“Murat fulfilled the promise he has shown throughout his ascension to the top of the division,” said Margules. “He was in his first 12-rounder and he kept his composure. He didn’t blow his energy when he had the guy down in the fifth. And he didn’t panic when the champion, who is a very tough guy, had a few good rounds in the middle of the fight. I am very happy to be promoting a terrific fighter like him.”

“He reminds me of a young Rocky Marciano,” said Warriors Boxing’s COO Luis DeCubas. “He’s like a tank coming forward that you can’t stop. He will get to you eventually. He’s a star in this sport. I am sure the Shumenov/Dorticos winner would much rather fight the real unified champion Gassiev, instead of the loser Lebedev. These types of situations really hurt our sport.”
About Warriors Boxing
Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.
With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to its credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.
When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.
For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.
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SERGEY KOVALEV VS. ANDRE WARD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

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 Click HERE for Photos

Photo Credit: Khristopher Sandifer/Roc Nation Sports

 

NEW YORK, NY (September 6, 2016) – On Tuesday, September 6, No. 2 Pound-for-Pound and WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) and No. 4 Pound-for-Pound and Two-Time World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) participated in an official press conference at Le Parker Meridien in New York City, in advance of their November 19 “Pound for Pound” showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound for Pound” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $55 and are available on axs.com and the T-Mobile Arena box office.

 

Below is what the fighters, promoters and other dais guests had to say at the press conference:

 

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“It’s a big moment in my career. I want to thank all of the people who are involved with this fight, my promoter Kathy Duva, Roc Nation and HBO Pay-Per-View. Thank you to all of my fans. It will be a fight to remember; one for the history books. I just want to give the fans a really great fight in Vegas and on HBO Pay-Per-View.”

 

Andre “S.O.G.” Ward – Two-Time  World Champion

“I’m grateful to be here today. I want to thank everyone who is associated with this event—the good, the bad, the press, all of it. Obviously HBO, Peter Nelson, Roc Nation, Main Events, everyone who’s associated with it. It’s hard to thank everybody. It’s a lot of people that you guys know of that worked on this fight to get it done. There’s a lot of different nuances that go into getting a fight like this done, but it’s done. That’s what we should all focus on.

 

“I thank God for this opportunity. I thank God for my career and being able to compete at a high level through the peaks and valleys. Sometimes that gets overlooked, a veteran in the game. I’ve paid my dues and I continue to pay my dues. This is just another opportunity. I’ve been in this position before and so has my opponent. It doesn’t matter what the other side says, how they feel, what they say. He’s got to get it done and I’ve got to get it done. When those bright lights come on who it’s all about who executes and who gets it done. I don’t have to throw chairs. I don’t have to cuss. I don’t have to act crazy. I said let’s fight, lets fight. You’re selling yourself. I know that what I possess and what I have is in me, and not on me.”

 

Kathy Duva – CEO, Main Events

“Finally. There was a time when fighters didn’t consider preserving their undefeated records to be paramount to engaging in actual competition. There was a time when undefeated fighters who were heading to the Hall of Fame actually sought out greater and greater challenges as their careers progressed. There was a time when fighters were courageous athletes and not simply cynical businessmen.

 

“The two men who are here with us today—both in their athletic primes, both unbeaten, and, in my opinion, both heading to the Hall of Fame someday—chose to put their 0’s on the line and face each other to find out just which one of them is the very best. That is why they deserve to earn your pay-per-view dollars, this is what pay per view is supposed to be. That is why we should move heaven and earth in order to come to the beautiful T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas where this fight will take place. That is why the winner will earn the title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the ring.

 

“Since Ring Magazine began to keep records of the pound-for-pound fighters there have only been two occasions when two unbeaten top five fighters have competed in the ring for pound-for-pound supremacy. The first was Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Caesar Chavez Sr. in 1994, the second time was Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad in 1999. That means that on November 19th, this will be the very first time in the 21st century that such an event will occur in our sport. Let’s hope this is the start of something new, a throwback to the way boxing used to be when it was at its best. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 17 years before this happens again. Let’s hope all the up and coming young sweet scientists learn and follow the example of these young great athletes who sit here today.

 

“So as I said, finally, I’m quite pleased to officially announce “Pound for Pound” and that on Saturday, November 19th, two of the five best fighters in the whole world will fight each other. WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, who is 30-0, will risk all three of his world titles against two-time world middleweight champion Andre “SOG” Ward, who is also 30-0. The fight will take place in Las Vegas, sponsored by our friends at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, at the beautiful new T-Mobile Arena. Tickets are available now, they’re starting at $155 right now because the box office has already sold out all of the $55 tickets we put on sale. You can only get these tickets at the T-Mobile box office and online through AXS.com. I’m happy to report that tickets at other prices are moving much faster than expected and currently there are very few left at the $755 price point and the $155 price point.

This will be live on HBO Pay-Per-View. The suggested retail price is going to be $54.95. It will be presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions. In addition to the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the fight sponsors will be Rosneft and Corona.”

 

SERGEY KOVALEV VS. ANDRE WARD

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

 

Click HERE for Photos

Photo Credit: Khristopher Sandifer/Roc Nation Sports

 

NEW YORK, NY (September 6, 2016) – On Tuesday, September 6, No. 2 Pound-for-Pound and WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) and No. 4 Pound-for-Pound and Two-Time World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) participated in an official press conference at Le Parker Meridien in New York City, in advance of their November 19 “Pound for Pound” showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound for Pound” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets start at $55 and are available on axs.com and the T-Mobile Arena box office.

 

Below is what the fighters, promoters and other dais guests had to say at the press conference:

 

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“It’s a big moment in my career. I want to thank all of the people who are involved with this fight, my promoter Kathy Duva, Roc Nation and HBO Pay-Per-View. Thank you to all of my fans. It will be a fight to remember; one for the history books. I just want to give the fans a really great fight in Vegas and on HBO Pay-Per-View.”

 

Andre “S.O.G.” Ward – Two-Time  World Champion

“I’m grateful to be here today. I want to thank everyone who is associated with this event—the good, the bad, the press, all of it. Obviously HBO, Peter Nelson, Roc Nation, Main Events, everyone who’s associated with it. It’s hard to thank everybody. It’s a lot of people that you guys know of that worked on this fight to get it done. There’s a lot of different nuances that go into getting a fight like this done, but it’s done. That’s what we should all focus on.

 

“I thank God for this opportunity. I thank God for my career and being able to compete at a high level through the peaks and valleys. Sometimes that gets overlooked, a veteran in the game. I’ve paid my dues and I continue to pay my dues. This is just another opportunity. I’ve been in this position before and so has my opponent. It doesn’t matter what the other side says, how they feel, what they say. He’s got to get it done and I’ve got to get it done. When those bright lights come on who it’s all about who executes and who gets it done. I don’t have to throw chairs. I don’t have to cuss. I don’t have to act crazy. I said let’s fight, lets fight. You’re selling yourself. I know that what I possess and what I have is in me, and not on me.”

 

Kathy Duva – CEO, Main Events

“Finally. There was a time when fighters didn’t consider preserving their undefeated records to be paramount to engaging in actual competition. There was a time when undefeated fighters who were heading to the Hall of Fame actually sought out greater and greater challenges as their careers progressed. There was a time when fighters were courageous athletes and not simply cynical businessmen.

 

“The two men who are here with us today—both in their athletic primes, both unbeaten, and, in my opinion, both heading to the Hall of Fame someday—chose to put their 0’s on the line and face each other to find out just which one of them is the very best. That is why they deserve to earn your pay-per-view dollars, this is what pay per view is supposed to be. That is why we should move heaven and earth in order to come to the beautiful T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas where this fight will take place. That is why the winner will earn the title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the ring.

 

“Since Ring Magazine began to keep records of the pound-for-pound fighters there have only been two occasions when two unbeaten top five fighters have competed in the ring for pound-for-pound supremacy. The first was Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Caesar Chavez Sr. in 1994, the second time was Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad in 1999. That means that on November 19th, this will be the very first time in the 21st century that such an event will occur in our sport. Let’s hope this is the start of something new, a throwback to the way boxing used to be when it was at its best. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 17 years before this happens again. Let’s hope all the up and coming young sweet scientists learn and follow the example of these young great athletes who sit here today.

 

“So as I said, finally, I’m quite pleased to officially announce “Pound for Pound” and that on Saturday, November 19th, two of the five best fighters in the whole world will fight each other. WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, who is 30-0, will risk all three of his world titles against two-time world middleweight champion Andre “SOG” Ward, who is also 30-0. The fight will take place in Las Vegas, sponsored by our friends at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, at the beautiful new T-Mobile Arena. Tickets are available now, they’re starting at $155 right now because the box office has already sold out all of the $55 tickets we put on sale. You can only get these tickets at the T-Mobile box office and online through AXS.com. I’m happy to report that tickets at other prices are moving much faster than expected and currently there are very few left at the $755 price point and the $155 price point.

This will be live on HBO Pay-Per-View. The suggested retail price is going to be $54.95. It will be presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions. In addition to the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the fight sponsors will be Rosneft and Corona.”

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Greg Cohen Promotions Inks South African Bantamweight Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca to a Promotional Contract

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Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of South African bantamweight Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca.
Magwaca (17-0-2, 10 KOs) from Duncan Village, East London, South Africa, is the current WBA International Bantamweight Champion and the former WBF Africa Junior Flyweight Champion and IBO Inter-Continental Flyweight Champion.
A seven-year professional, Magwaca trains at the “All Winners Boxing Club” in Mdanstane, East London, South Africa, with the guidance of Zolani “Last Born” Tete, a world rated bantamweight and former IBF World Super Flyweight Champion, as well as GCP stablemate and current IBO World Featherweight Champion Lusanda “Mexican” Komanisi.
“Since I was eight years old, when I first wore a pair of old gloves from my elder brother who was a professional boxer himself, I dreamed of becoming a world champion one day,” said Magwaca. “Now that dream is going to be a reality through Greg Cohen Promotions. The Young African Lion is about to pounce!”
“We are proud to sign undefeated WBA International Bantamweight Champion Mzuvukile Magwaca, our second fighter from the All Winners Boxing Club in East London, South Africa,” said Clifford Mass, GCP Vice President of Business Development. “He trains alongside two of the best fighters in South Africa, Lusanda Komanisi and Zolani Tete, and he is ready to take his career to the next level. We have big plans for Bones.”
Magwaca’s manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, says his fighter just needed to find the right contacts to guide him to a world championship. “‘Old Bones’ will take America and the world by storm. He is a gem and a marvel to watch. He is also tall for his division and a maestro in the ring behind his educated jab. This boy is the future at bantamweight and with Greg Cohen Promotions behind him, the sky is the limit.”
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Team Shumenov responds to Lebedev vs. Gassiev world title fight announcement

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LAS VEGAS (August 17,, 2016) – Team Shumenov believes it is worth reviewing recent history enlight of the recent announcement that WBA Super/IBF cruiserweight world champion Denis Lebedev will defend against Murat Gassiev in late November or early December in Russia:  A condition for allowing  Lebedev to fight IBF cruiserweight champion Victor Emilio Ramirez on May 21, 2016 was that Lebedev had to fight WBA cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov within 120 days.  (Lebedev hasn’t made a mandatory defense since April 10, 2015.) Shumenov has done everything to make that fight, while Lebedev has done nothing but run from his mandatory title fight.  When it first became obvious in June that Lebedev was trying to avoid his mandated WBA title fight, Shumenov repeatedly requested that the WBA order a purse bid.
Lebedev ignored the WBA and then recently sought, after the WBA deadline had passed, a special permit allowing him to fight Gassiev, which Shumenov officially objected to within 48 hours. WBA Interim cruiserweight world champion Yunier Dorticos has also objected.   At this present time, though, Team Shumenov is still waiting to hear the WBA’s ruling in terms of stripping Lebedev if he decides to fight Gassiev instead of Shumenov.
It really is very simple.  Shumenov wants to fight Lebedev, who is doing everything he can to avoid it.  If Lebedev doesn’t care to meet his obligations and conditions of his prior special permit, he should relinquish his title.  Lebedev and his people need to rejoin the rest of us in the real world and stop claiming that Shumenov has not been pushing for this fight.
According to a recent report, Lebedev’s camp members erroneously reported that, “Shumenov is not exactly pushing the issue” (to fight Lebedev next).
Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.
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Greg Cohen Promotions Signs Streaking Bantamweight Contender Elton Dharry to a Promotional Contract

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Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of IBF #14-rated bantamweight Elton Dharry to a promotional contract.
Dharry (20-5-1, 13 KOs) got off to a slow start in his career, losing five times and drawing once in his first nine. However, since then, he is undefeated in 17 consecutive fights, dating all the way back to 2010.
During that time, 30-year-old Dharry has picked up the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) and Guyanese Bantamweight Championships, as well as the IBF Inter-Continental Bantamweight title from then 12-1-1 Jose Rios.
“Early on in my career, I was not really with the right team and the judges never really got it right, so it made me look like a fighter I’m not,” explained Dharry of his slow start. “I know most people would quit and walk away, but I had the self-belief and determination to come back and become something. I changed my team to (trainers) Martin Gonzales and Don Saxby and stopped taking short notice fights.”
The streaking Dharry says he feels good about coming aboard the ever-expanding GCP stable of champions and contenders.
“I feel good about it. I’ve known Greg Cohen for a while now and I feel like he’s going to get me the right fights to get me where I need to be and get me the world title shot I want. I’m very excited because I know he’ll get things going soon.”
Of Indian descent, but born in Guyana, Dharry and his family moved to Brooklyn in 1999, where he started boxing at age 11 after getting into several fights at school. As an amateur, he fought in the US Nationals, the Metro finals, and the Olympic box-offs before turning pro in late 2004. He now fights out of the famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.
“I set a goal for myself many years ago,” continued Dharry. “My goal is to be world champion and I’m sticking to it. My belief is I can accomplish this, especially with my new promoter making it happen for me.”
Dharry says he’d particularly like to face WBA Champ Rau’shee Warren, or IBF boss Lee Haskins, but will take on anyone Cohen puts in front of him.
“I’m a counter puncher but I like to adapt to whoever I’m facing and whatever they bring. I box if I need to and fight if I need to. I’ll trade shots if I have to as well. I have the determination it takes to do anything.”
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Brand-New IBF Junior Featherweight Champion Jonathan Guzman to be Ringside Friday at Foxwoods

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IBF Junior Featherweight Champion Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (22-0, 22 KOs) won’t be taking any time to rest on his newly acquired laurels.
The Dominican KO artist won his first world championship yesterday (Wednesday, July 20) by stopping former #1 contender Shingo Wake in 11 brutal rounds in Osaka, Japan. Guzman’s power was simply too much for Wake, who fell four times before the end came at 2:16 from merciful referee Wayne Hedgpeth.
The iron-fisted Dominican could easily spend the rest of the summer celebrating the victory, but has no intention to do so.
He is quickly flying home from Japan in order to be ringside tomorrow (Friday, July 22) at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut, to watch San Antonio’s Adam Lopez face Argentina’s Roman Ruben Reynoso on ShoBox: The New Generation.
Guzman’s intention is to face the winner of that fight in his first title defense.
His promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, says Guzman’s victory has only created a new mission for the Dominican slugger.
“He wants to clean out the division now,” said Lewkowicz. “We told him to enjoy the victory for himself and his country, but he wants to go right back to work. That is the determination and love for what he does that has made him an undefeated champion with a perfect knockout record. I congratulate him for his first world title and for his commitment to be a true world champion.”
About Sampson Boxing
After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.
Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world’s best fighters and most promising young contenders.

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.
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DOMINICAN KO ARTIST GUZMAN READY FOR FIRST WORLD TITLE SHOT

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IBF #2 super bantamweight contender Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (21-0, 21 KOs) is hard at work preparing for the “fight of his life” with trainer Hector Bermudez at Peter Welch’s Gym in Boston.
The 26-year-old KO artist from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will face IBF #1 contender Shingo Wake (20-4-2, 12 KOs) on Wednesday, July 20, at EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan, for the vacant IBF World super bantamweight title.
Guzman, who stopped Mexico’s tough Daniel Rosas in eighth round on April 29 to earn this fight, says his dreams are so close to coming true he can almost taste them. “I have waited my whole life for a world title fight and now it’s almost here,” said Guzman. “I can’t wait to get in the ring and win for my family and my country.”
Trainer Bermudez says Guzman has too many weapons to fall short in this fight. “Although Jonathan has never had to go the distance because his power is amazing, he can also box very well. He’s just never had to thus far in his career. Jonathan is the complete package and soon the world will be learning all about him. There is no way that Wake can beat him.”
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One on One with Beibut Shumenov

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WBA cruiserweight world champion wants
Denis Lebedev fight to happen this summer

LAS VEGAS (June 5, 2016) – World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov(17-2, 10 KOs) stopped No. 11-rated Junior “Hurricane” Wright (15-2-1, 12 KOs) in the 10th round of their May 21sttitle fight to remain mandatory challenger for unified WBA Super/International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight world champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22 KOs).  The WBA mandated a Lebedev-Shumenov fight within 120 days of May 21.

Shumenov, 32, is a 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who lives and trains in Las Vegas.  During his 9-year professional boxing career, Shumenov has defeated four world champions – Gabriel Campillo, Byron Mitchell, William Joppy and Montell Griffin – as well as seven world title challengers.  He is 8-2 (4 KOs) in world title fights
Below find a one-on-one interview with Shumenov:
      (Photo by Yumio Yamada)
Evaluate your performance against Junior Wright in your last fight?
BS: “I am 100-percent a completely different fighter than in my previous fight against B.J. Flores.   But, at the beginning of this fight, I had a little bit of ring rust.  The inactivity is really hard for me.   I would like to be busier and fight more often.   I already started training and doing light exercises, right after my fight on May 21st.   In my next fight, I will be even more different fighter against Lebedev.”
How does it feel to be the only fighter from your country to be 2-division world champion?
BS: “I don’t really think about those things. My main goal is to unify all of the titles and fight all the best fighters.”
You’ve always wanted to unify as a way of determining who the best or real champ is. In 20-11, you almost fought a unification as WBA light heavyweight but then-WBO champion Juergen Braehmer who suddenly went home a few days before the scheduled unification fight. How does it feel to know that you will be fighting Lebedev for WBA super and IBF cruiserweight titles within 120 days from May 21?
BS: “This has always been my goal – to unify – and I’m motivated even more knowing that I am going to fight for those two titles very soon.”
Do you think a deal will be made between your manager, Al Haymon and Lebedev’s promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, or will it go to purse bid? 
BS: “It doesn’t concern me, whether it goes to a purse bid, or where the location is.  However, I hope the parties can get the best deal worked out for everyone involved.”
If Lebedev doesn’t want to fight you and he relinquishes his WBA super title belt, where do you go from there, fight second-mandatory challenger Yunier Dorticos?
BS: “I have heard rumors that Lebedev doesn’t want to fight me and, if this is true and he relinquishes his WBA Super belt, then I want to fight Dorticos because every organization should only have one champion in each division.   I hope this isn’t the case, as I have been waiting to fight Lebedev since I won the WBA interim title (mandatory) back in July of 2015.  The WBA has ordered us to fight within 120 days of May 21st.  I am ready, willing and able to fight him and I hope he is ready, too.”
Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.
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Sampson Boxing Congratulates John Riel Casimero for Title-Winning Victory Over Anmat Ruenroeng

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Calls out ‘Chocolatito’ for Unification Match
Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing sends his warm congratulations to his newest champion, John Riel Casimero of Cebu City, Philippines, for his KO 4 victory over previously unbeaten IBF flyweight champion Anmat Ruenroeng at the Diamond Court in Beijing, China.
In a rematch of their controversial first fight in June 2015, won by Ruenroeng by unanimous decision, Casimero (22-3, 14 KOs) dropped Ruenroeng (17-1, 5 KOs) twice in the fourth round to end things at 2:10. A counter left hook dropped the champion first and then a follow-up left hook to the body brought the finish.
Casimero is now a two-time world champion. He previously held the IBF Light Flyweight Championship from 2012-2014 and made three successful defenses before moving up in weight.
The new champion joins Sampson Boxing promotional stablemates Oscar Escandon and Hugo Ruiz to become Sampson’s third world champion to be crowned this year. He also handles current WBA World Super Featherweight Champion Javier Fortuna.
“John Riel has gotten this out of the way now,” said Lewkowicz of defeating Ruenroeng. “My congratulations to him and to his people in the Philippines. He is now their third current world champion and is very proud to represent them. Next, we want to unify against Chocolatito. Tell him we are ready any time.”
Referring to current WBC Champion Roman Gonzalez, Lewkowicz says this is a fight that needs to happen.
“They say no one wants to fight Gonzalez. We do! John Riel is right here and ready to unify the championships. My phone is always on. Let’s make it happen.”
About Sampson Boxing
After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.
Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world’s best fighters and most promising young contenders.

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.