Tag Archives: Miguel Cotto

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

We’re Back! FNU Combat Sports Show Returns!

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After a couple weeks off, we come back this week to talk about the combat sports world. Tom, Tony and Rich catch up and discuss the events of the past couple weeks and preview upcoming boxing and MMA action. Tom, Tony and Rich pay special attention to last weekend’s awesome UFC card with two of the best fights of the year in MMA to chat about. Eddie Alvarez’s masterful performance against Justin Gaethje was exciting enough, but add in the performance of Yancy Medeiros against Charles Oliveira and that put this card into a category all its own. We also discuss the latest boxing news and Miguel Cotto’s retirement fight. Listen to the broadcast in the player below.

 

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COTTO vs ALI and FREE undercard on FITE this Saturday. WATCH RIGHT HERE, TOO!

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This Saturday FITE will be the place for boxing. Miguel COTTO (41-5, 33 KOs) vs. Sadam ALI (25-1, 14 KOs) will be available live on FITE in select countries around the globe.

FITE will also stream the press conference, weigh-in and undercard on the FITE mobile apps(GPlay/iTunes) and www.fite.tv for FREE and available worldwide.

 

This is believed to be the last fight of Miguel Cotto before he retires and anyone familiar with his boxing career will know that his relentless style never fails to amaze.

 

Sadam Ali, the current WBA International Welterweight Champion, has a lot to win in Saturday’s bout. The WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship is on the line and Ali believes that it is his turn to get the belt and defeat a legend – all in his hometown of New York.

 

WATCH RIGHT HERE LIVE ON SATURDAY!!!

 

Cotto Vs. Ali:

UNDERCARD FIGHTS:

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Liam Smith vs. Liam Williams rematch To air in Canada exclusively on SUPER CHANNEL

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Live this Saturday from the United Kingdom
    
(L-R) – Liam Smith, promoter Frank Warren, Liam Williams
(picture courtesy of Queensbury Promotions)
 
EDMONTON, Canada (November 6, 2017) – In its continuing efforts as the boxing network destination for Canadian boxing fans, Super Channel has announced that it has secured the exclusive rights to air the Liam “Beefy” Smith vs. Liam Williams rematch, this Saturday (Nov. 11), live from Metro Radio Arena in New Castle, United Kingdom.
 
The replay of Smith vs. Williams I from this past April will also air on Super Channel this Friday(11 p.m. / 8 p.m. PT) and Saturday (1:45 p.m. ET / 10:45 a.m. PT).
 
The Smith vs. Williams II card, presented by Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions andstarting at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, will be a 12-round World Boxing Organization (WBO) super welterweight title eliminator with the winner positioned to fight the winner of the WBO title fight between defending champion Miquel Cotto and challenger Sadam Ali in December. Cotto, however, claims that he will retire after that fight. Williams is presently rated No. 2 by the WBO, Smith No. 4, as well as No. 7 in The Ring magazine’s independent rankings.
Additional Smith vs. Williams II card fights airing Saturday on Super Channel will be announced later this week.
“With the World Boxing Super Series taking a break before the semi-final matches return in the new year, we are excited to be able to continue to deliver high-stakes, world-class boxing to Canadian fight fans with this highly acclaimed rematch between Smith and Williams,” said Troy Wassill, Director of Programming, Domestic Distributors & Sports for Super Channel. “Given the controversy surrounding their initial match in April, tension will be high and both fighters will be looking to settle a score.”
In the last fight for both boxers, Smith (25-1-1, 14 KOs) won a controversial fight last April when Williams retired after the ninth round, despite leading on all three judges’ scorecards by identical scores of 86-85.   Williams had suffered a double laceration on his right eyebrow that he claimed was the result of Smith’s flagrant headbutt in the third round. Smith believes he was robbed of the opportunity to knockout Williams.
The 29-year-old Smith captured the WBO Super Welterweight World Championship in 2015, stopping American Josh Thompson (17-1) in the seventh round. The gifted Brit made two successful title defenses against fellow countryman and previously undefeated “Jimmy” Kilrain Kelly (16-0) and Predrag Radosevic (30-1), stopping them in the seventh and second rounds, respectively.
Smith lost his belt to star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez a year ago, getting knocked out in the ninth round of their WBO title fight in Texas. Smith won a four-round decision against Marian Cazacu in a tune-up fight this past March, setting the stage for an interim WBO super welterweight title fight against Williams last April in Manchester, UK. Smith won the fight but was ineligible to capture the interim title because he failed to make the contracted weight.
“I don’t think you had to be a good fighter to beat me in the first six rounds of our first fight,” Smith said about his original fight with Williams. “I was slow, flat and sluggish. I can never be that bad again. What I did to try and make weight during fight week killed me. It was nothing to do with having a slow start by game plan. Liam had a good start and I couldn’t have been worse. There are 10 fighters in Britain that could have properly out-boxed me on that night.
“The fight was changing before round nine. He threw his head in numerous times because I didn’t get cut off it. Regardless, you go in the ring, you get wet. The minute you got cut, you knew your chips were down. You spewed it! You chose to let Gary (his head trainer) pull you out. You knew you’d had your moment and you were gone.
“I was up for this rematch and that is why we’re here now. As soon as I start better, Liam is going to be in more of a fight earlier on and he won’t get his own way. It is only to go one way and he is going to crumble earlier than he did last time. I am stronger than him and I have more heart than him.”
Williams, 25, has notable victories over Gabor Gorbics (22-4) for the vacant WBO European super middleweight title, and Gary Corcoran (15-0) for the BBBBofC British crown. The Welshman also was the Commonwealth (British Empire) 154-pound division titlist.
“Our first meeting was a good fight,” Williams explained. “I felt like I started very well. I was out-boxing him and getting a lot of rounds in the bag. He was coming on strong, which we were always prepared for, (because) that is the kind of fighter Liam is. He comes with a very solid defense and he is very strong.
“Obviously it ended the way it did. It wasn’t fair. We didn’t give the fans a chance to see what the proper outcome should have been. I took a nasty cut to the eye. These things happen, it isn’t a tickling contest. These things happen in boxing and I’m glad to get a chance to do it again.
“I think he was down in the fight and he needed to do something. It was frustrating, and I do believe the head clash was intentional. We are both going to be better. I am going to be more prepared and it is going to be another cracking fight. I’m going to put this to bed.”
Super Channel has aired several major boxing events live in 2017 including Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao vs.Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs. Marriaga, Crawford vs. Indongo and the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) quarterfinals.
To watch Smith vs. Williams, 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.
About Super Channel
 
Super Channelis a national premium pay television network, consisting of four HD channels, four SD channels, and Super Channel On Demand.
 
Super Channel’s mission is to entertain and engage Canadian audiences by providing a unique and exclusive entertainment experience.  With a core foundation of integrity and accountability, we dedicate ourselves to implementing innovative programming strategies and unparalleled team work that provides viewers with exceptional value and variety.
 
Super Channel is owned by Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc., an Edmonton-based media company.
 
Super Channel is currently available on Bell TV, Shaw Direct, Rogers Anyplace TV, Shaw Cable, Cogeco Cable, Access Communications, Bell Alliant TV, Source Cable, SaskTel, MTS, Novus, EastLink, TELUS, Videotron, Westman Communications and other regional providers.
 
Connect with Super Channel:
Twitter: @SCSportsTV
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
Facebook: /SuperChannel
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PACQUIAO VS. HORN AIRING LIVE IN CANADA THIS SATURDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manny Pacquiao speaks at today’s Final press conference in Australia
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (June 28, 2017) – The final [press conference was held today forthis Saturday night’s “Battle in Brisbane,” featuring World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight World champion Manny “Pacman’ Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) and his title challenger, Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs).
“Battle of Brisbane: Pacquiao vs. Horn,” presented by Top Rank and Duco Events. will air this Saturday evening, exclusively in Canada on Super Channel, live from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
Super Channel subscribers will be able to watch four exciting fights, starting at   9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, on the “Battle of Brisbane” card, headlined by Pacquiao vs. Horn.
 
PACQUIAO VS. DE LA HOYA & HATTON REPLAYS ON SC1
As a warm-up to the “Battle of Brisbane” on July 1, Super Channel will present two replays of previous Pacquiao bouts on Friday June 30starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on SC1:

Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar de la Hoya– Dec. 6, 2008

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton– May 2, 2009 (IBO World super lightweight title)
These fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
Here is a link to Pacquaio’s interview today with official press conference host Ben Damon:
Saturday night’s Super Channel telecast will also feature two-time Irish Olympian Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), from Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), of Brisbane.In the 12-round co-feature,International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, will defend his title against top-rated contender Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan.  The live telecast will open with an eight-round middleweight bout between Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, Calif. and son of former three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), of Canberra, Australia.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SuperChannel
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
Facebook: /superchannel
boxing

Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach Workout quotes from Australia

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PACQUIAO VS. HORN AIRING LIVE IN CANADA THIS SATURDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON SUPER CHANNEL
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (June 27, 2017) – World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight World champion Manny “Pacman’ Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) and his Hall-of-Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, held a media workout today in Australia, preparing for this Saturday night’s showdown between Pacquiao and his title challenger, Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs).
“Battle of Brisbane: Pacquiao vs. Horn,” presented by Top Rank and Duco Events. will air this Saturday evening, exclusively in Canada on Super Channel, live from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
Super Channel subscribers will be able to watch four exciting fights, starting at   9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, on the “Battle of Brisbane” card, headlined by Pacquiao vs. Horn.

 
PACQUIAO VS. DE LA HOYA & HATTON REPLAYS ON SC1
As a warm-up to the “Battle of Brisbane” on July 1, Super Channel will present two replays of previous Pacquiao bouts on Friday June 30starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on SC1:

Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar de la Hoya– Dec. 6, 2008

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton– May 2, 2009 (IBO World super lightweight title)
These fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
See Pacquiao and Roach quotes below from today’s workout:
MANNY PACQUIAO: “We have a really good plan for this fight.  We worked hard in training camp both in Manila and in General Santos City.  I’m totally focused for this fight.  I am not looking past this fight because at this point in my career, every fight is the most important.  There are no tomorrows if I don’t win today.
“Jeff Horn is OK.  I’ve watched video of his fights.  He brings a lot of action into the ring.
“I know what he is feeling.  I remember everything about my first world title fight.
“Being a senator and training for a fight is hard.  It takes discipline and time management.  Luckily, the Senate has been in recess for the past few weeks and I have been able to focus on training for my world title fight.
“A Senator’s job is to defend his people … to fight for their rights.
“I know Jeff Horn used to be a teacher.  In the ring, I’m a teacher too.
“I am ready for Jeff to come out and be aggressive.  If he does that it will be a great fight for the fans.
“The biggest crowd I ever fought in front of was at Cowboys Stadium against Joshua Clottey. I’m told this could be bigger [51,000+].  I am very excited for doing that, even though they may not be rooting for me.  I am also very happy that ESPN will be televising it live.to the U.S.  Now everyone can see it.  It’s good for boxing.”
FREDDIE ROACH: “Manny is a performer.  He loves people, loves a big audience.  Brisbane has all that for this fight.  He’ll be fighting in front of the biggest crowd of his career.
“Not everyone gets the opportunity to fight for a world title.  It was always my dream but I never fought for one.  It’s a big deal.  Jeff Horn earned this opportunity.  He is the WBO’s mandatory challenger.
“Manny gave me 110% in training camp.  He always does.  No one works harder in the gym.  The difference in this camp from recent ones has been his aggression.  He’s scored several knockdowns and I haven’t seen that in years.  He has kept his foot on the pedal throughout, even when he’s had a sparring partner in trouble.  After his ring work he is singing and dancing – not well – but that’s not the point.  He is really hungry to make a statement in this fight against Horn.  He’s even playing Shakira during his workouts again and he hasn’t done that in years.”
Saturday night’s Super Channel telecast will also feature two-time Irish Olympian Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), from Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), of Brisbane.In the 12-round co-feature,International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, will defend his title against top-rated contender Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan.  The live telecast will open with an eight-round middleweight bout between Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, Calif. and son of former three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), of Canberra, Australia.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SuperChannel
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
Facebook: /superchannel
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Super Channel to air “Battle of Brisbane” Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn International Card July 1st live from Australia

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(L-R) – Manny Pacquiao & Jeff Horn
(picture courtesy of 7 News Brisbane)
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (June 26, 2017) – Super Channel is pleased to announce that it has acquired the exclusive rights in Canada to air the July 1st World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Welterweight Championship bout between reigning champion, future Hall-of-Famer Manny “Pacman’ Pacquiao, and challenger Jeff Horn, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, live from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
“Battle of Brisbane: Pacquiao vs. Horn” is a presentation of Top Rank and Duco Events. Super Channel will air four exciting fights from this card, headlined by Pacquiao vs. Horn, exclusively in Canada.
“Super Channel is ecstatic to be bringing a non-pay-per-view Pacquiao bout to Canadian fight fans as a follow up to the exciting Brook vs Spence IBF Welterweight Championship we brought them in May” said Troy Wassill, Director of Programming, Domestic Distributors and Sports. “We keep hearing from our viewers that they want more boxing on Super Channel and the ‘Battle of Brisbane’ is going to deliver exactly what they are looking for.”
“The world has followed amazing Manny since he burst onto the scene in his U.S. debut in 2001, where he knocked out Lehlo Ledwaba to win his second of a record eight division world titles,” Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum added. “It’s going to be an unbelievable event.”

 
PACQUIAO VS. DE LA HOYA & HATTON REPLAYS ON SC1
As a warm-up to the “Battle of Brisbane” on July 1, Super Channel will present two replays of previous Pacquiao bouts on Friday June 30starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on SC1:

Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar de la Hoya– Dec. 6, 2008

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton– May 2, 2009 (IBO World super lightweight title)
These fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs), a former two-term congressman, was elected to a Philippine Senate seat in May 2016, capturing more than 16 million votes nationally.  An international icon, Pacquiao is the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many different weight divisions.  A three-time Fighter of the Year and the reigning BWAA “Fighter of the Decade,” Pacquiao’s resumé features victories over present and future Hall of Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley.
From 2008 to 2010, five of his seven victories were in world title fights, in five different weight classes, ranging from 130 to 154 pounds.  No active boxer has sold more live tickets in the U.S. than Pacquiao, who is also credited with more than 18 million domestic pay-per-view buys.  After his disappointing unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on May 2, 2015, a world championship fight that generated a record 4.5 million pay-per-view buys and more than $400 million in television revenue alone, a healthy Pacquiao (he had suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder during the fourth round of the Mayweather fight) returned to the winner’s circle on April 9, 2016, winning the rubber match against five-time world champion Bradley.  In a battle of Top-10 pound for pound fighters, Pacquiao sent Bradley to the canvas twice en route to a dominant 12-round unanimous decision victory.  On Nov. 5, Pacquiao regained the WBO welterweight title for a third time when he shellacked the once-defeated defending champion Jessie Vargas via another dominant 12-round unanimous decision.  Pacquiao has been trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach since 2001.
Unbeaten hometown-favorite Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), fighting out of Brisbane (Queensland, Australia), enters the fight of his life having won his last three battles — all in 2016 — against Ali Funeka, Rico Mueller and Randall Bailey, inside the distance.  They had a combined record of 105-14-4 when he fought them.  The 2012 Australian Olympian’s background belies the warrior he has become inside the ring.  Well-schooled inside and outside the ring, Horn received his Bachelor of Education degree from Griffith University and taught high school Physical Education even as he embarked on his professional boxing career.
Horn started boxing at age 18 after being picked on by bullies and he has been an advocate of anti-bullying campaigns.  Immensely popular throughout Australia, the 29-year-old Horn has become a national gate attraction in his own right.  Selected as the 2015 Australian Boxer of the Year, Horn is trained and managed by Glenn Rushton, the only trainer he has ever had, and assisted by former WBC super welterweight world champion John “The Beast” Mugabi.
The July 1 telecast will also feature Irish Olympic hero Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), from Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), of Brisbane, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, defending his title against top-rated contender Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan.  The live telecast will open with an eight-round middleweight rumble between Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, Calif. and son of former three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), of Canberra, Australia.
Some of the greatest boxers in history have confirmed they will be ringside, including Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield, and Thomas Hearns.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @SuperChannel
Instagram: @SuperChannelTV
boxing, Roc Nation

FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION MIGUEL COTTO VS. JAMES KIRKLAND SHOWDOWN CANCELLED DUE TO INJURY

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NEW YORK, NY (February 2, 2017) – Roc Nation Sports today received notification from James Kirkland’s team that Kirkland has suffered an injury which will force him to withdraw from his match against Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday, February 25, 2017. The reported injury is a fractured nose. Unfortunately, the entire HBO Pay-Per-View show at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas is cancelled.

 

For customers who purchased through Ticketmaster via phone, online or mobile channels, you will receive a credit to the method of payment used. If you purchased in person at Ford Center or AT&T Stadium ticket office, bring the tickets and method of payment used at time of purchase to the AT&T Stadium North Ticket Office, located adjacent to Entry A, to receive your refund. If you purchased tickets from any other source, you will need to contact that point of purchase for your refund.

 

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

boxing, HBO Boxing, Roc Nation

Maurice Hooker vs. Juan Pablo Lopez Added to Cotto-Kirkland Undercard

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Reigning NABO Junior Welterweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (20-0-3, 14 KOs) will face Mexican knockout specialist Juan Pablo “Che Che” Lopez (29-3, 24 KOs) in a 10-round champion defense on the freeview undercard of Miguel Cotto vs. James Kirkland “The Return” on Saturday, February 25 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

 

It comes as no surprise the Dallas-native was on hand when Roc Nation Sports, Miguel Cotto Promotions and the Dallas Cowboys organization officially announced the event in December at the team’s newly minted World Corporate Headquarters.

 

Tickets priced at $304, $204, $154, $104, $79, $54 and $29 not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 and the AT&T Stadium box office.

 

Maurice Hooker and Roc Nation Sports confirmed the card today on their social media handles.

 

MAURICE HOOKER TWITTER: https://twitter.com/mightymohooker/status/819578558905548800

MAURICE HOOKER INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPK6oL5DCib/?taken-by=mauricemightymohooker

ROC NATION TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RocNation/status/819580458216411136

ROC NATION INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/p/BPK7fJYgEKi/?taken-by=rocnationsports

 

Photo Credit: Stacey Verbeek

boxing, HBO Boxing, Roc Nation

FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION MIGUEL COTTO VS. JAMES KIRKLAND SHOWDOWN SET FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 AT FORD CENTER AT THE STAR IN FRISCO, TEXAS

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PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®

 

NEW YORK, NY (December 19, 2016) – Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions are pleased to announce that Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) will return to the ring on Saturday, February 25, 2017 when he takes on James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Coming off respective losses to Canelo Alvarez, both fighters will be seeking redemption in a 12-round junior middleweight showdown. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

 

Cotto and Kirkland will join Roc Nation Sports and the Dallas Cowboys organization on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. CT for a press conference at Ford Center at The Star to officially announce the fight. This will be the first event of its kind to be held at the state-of-the-art, 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility shared by the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco, and Frisco ISD’s high schools. Ford Center at The Star is also the home to the Dallas Cowboys Football World Corporate Headquarters.

 

Tickets priced at $304, $204, $154, $104, $79, $54 and $29 not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. local time and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 and the AT&T Stadium box office.

 

“I’m excited to return to the ring and put on a great show. I can’t wait to start training camp and get ready for February 25,” said Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto. “Fighting inside the beautiful Ford Center, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboy’s newest creation, and headlining the first ever boxing event there pumps me with a lot of enthusiasm and energy.”

 

“I’m very excited to get back into the ring against a legend like Miguel Cotto. I’m going to train like never before so I can show the world that the old James Kirkland is back,” said James Kirkland. “You know the fight will be exciting while it lasts. February 25 can’t come soon enough.”

 

“Miguel Cotto is back and ready to put on an exciting show against the always tough James Kirkland,” said Hector Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. “We can’t wait to see Miguel back in the ring on February 25 on HBO Pay-Per-View.”

 

“On behalf of Roc Nation Sports, we are so thrilled about Miguel Cotto’s return to the ring and to bring the first public event to Ford Center at The Star,” said Michael Yormark, Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding and Strategy. “This will undoubtedly be a historic event with an exciting, all-action bout in store for the fans in Frisco and all of North Texas along with those watching from home on HBO Pay-Per-View.”

 

“We are excited to host an incredible matchup for the very first boxing match here at Ford Center at The Star,” said Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager. “This venue was designed with the idea of versatility in mind, and we expect a great crowd in Frisco, Texas to experience a world class fight between Miguel Cotto and James Kirkland.”

 

“Throughout his brilliant ring career, Miguel Cotto has never backed down from a challenge and on February 25 he takes on a dangerous knockout specialist in James Kirkland,” said Tony Walker, Vice President, HBO Pay-Per-View. “Fans watching live in Frisco and those tuning in on pay-per-view should not blink in what should be an all-action slugfest.”

 

Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) is a former WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight world champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes. He previously held the WBO junior welterweight world title, the WBA welterweight world title, the WBO welterweight world title and the WBA super welterweight world title. He also represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Cotto has competed in 24 world championship fights, compiling a record of 19-5 with 16 knockouts in those bouts. In Puerto Rico, he is hailed as a national hero and the successor of Felix “Tito” Trinidad as the island’s most revered boxer. Cotto is one of the biggest gate attractions in boxing and one of the largest pay-per-view draws among active fighters. In June 2014, Cotto made history in his first fight as a middleweight by dominating Argentine southpaw and defending WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez. He is trained by legendary Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and has fought some of the biggest names in the sport including Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Cotto owns his own boxing promotional company in Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto Promotions, and presides over his charity La Fundación El Ángel de Miguel Cotto, a non-profit organization dedicated to combatting childhood obesity. In March 2015, Cotto and Roc Nation Sports announced that they had entered into a partnership that includes a co-promotional agreement with Miguel Cotto Promotions to promote Cotto’s fights. On June 6, 2015, Cotto defended his WBC, Ring Magazine and lineal middleweight world championships against former two-time World Champion Daniel Geale at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Cotto scored a thunderous knockdown early in the fourth round before finishing matters with a second knockdown midway through the round, which left Geale unable to continue. On November 21, 2015, Cotto cemented his status as one of the biggest pay-per-view draws among active fighters in his much anticipated mega-fight against Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, despite going the distance for a twelve-round unanimous decision loss. The hard-fought bout has been dubbed as the biggest fight in the history of the famed Puerto Rico vs. Mexico boxing rivalry. The Five-Time World Champion is eager to return to the ring against James Kirkland on February 25.

 

A Texas titan, representing the city of Austin, 32-year-old southpaw James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) has built his reputation with explosive power. His fists have accounted for 28 knockout victories over the course of his nearly 14-year professional career. A former NABO and WBC Continental Americas Champion, Kirkland bounced back from his lone defeat against Nobuhiro Ishida in 2011 with five consecutive wins, four coming by way of knockout. Kirkland has defeated Brian Vera, Alfredo “Perro” Angulo and Carlos “King” Molina and handed Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia his first professional loss by way of a punishing sixth round technical knockout, prior to taking the stage for a 12-round super welterweight war with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on May 9, 2015 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

 

Cotto vs. Kirkland is a 12-round junior middleweight fight presented by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions and Ford Center at The Star, and is sponsored by Corona Extra.

 

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

 

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

 

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boxing, women's boxing

Amanda Serrano Sends an Ultimatum to All World Champions in her Division

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New York – Two-time world champion,  Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano from Carolina, Puerto Rico, but now living in Brooklyn, will be fighting on February 17 in Manhatthan for the vacant WBO World female featherweight title against former world champion, Olivia Gerula of Canada.
The ambitious Puerto Rican lefty wants to become the undisputed world champion in the featherweight division, and has a message to the current title holders.
“Right now, I’m only focused on Olivia, but at the same time I’m very confident about bringing that belt to Brooklyn and Puerto Rico on February 17,” said Amanda Serrano, who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
“Once I get that beatiful belt, we will be looking to unify. There is Jennifer Han, who is the IBF world champion, Soledad Matthysse is the WBC and WBA champion, and she is fighting Jelena Mrdjenovich. I want the winner!”
“Unifying all four featherweight titles is the only thing we care about. If we fail to make that happen, I will go down to 122 to fight for another world title, and become a four division legitimate world champion just like Miguel Cotto”.
Serrano (26-1-1, 19 KO) vs. Gerula (17-15-2, 3KO) showdown will take place at the famed B.B. King Blues Club and Grill marking the first world title fight in the club’s history.
On August 15, 2014, Serrano traveled to Argentina to face WBO Lightweight World Champion Maria ‘Tily’ Maderna, who at that time, had three successful title defenses, but could not handle the aggressiveness of the Puerto Rican power puncher, and decided to give up in the sixth round.
Serrano’s first title reign came in September 2011, when she knocked out Kimberly Connor in the first round to become the IBF World Champion at the super featherweight division in a bout held in Brooklyn.