Tag Archives: Rob Brant

Q&A: UNBEATEN HEAVYWEIGHT JARRELL MILLER IS GETTING HIS KICKS AS A PROFESSIONAL BOXER

 Former Professional Kickboxer Faces Ahror Muralimov In

ShoBox: The New Generation Quadrupleheader, ThisFriday, Oct. 23,

Live On SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) From The Celebrity Theatre In Phoenix

 

NEW YORK (Oct. 20, 2015) – A former high-level professional kickboxer will try to continue his impressive transition to prizefighting when undefeated heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (14-0-1, 12 KOs) faces once-beaten Uzbekistan-born Ahror “Aha” Muralimov (14-1, 11 KOs) on ShoBox: The New Generation this Friday, Oct. 23, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

 

The up-and-coming Miller, who is making his ShoBox debut, is looking to take the next step in establishing himself as a legitimate fighter-to-watch in the heavyweight division. A pro since July 2009, he will be fighting for the fifth time in 2015. The 27-year-old Miller won his last three fights by knockout, all within the first two rounds, including a first-round knockout of Excell Holmes in his most recent bout on June 26.

 

While the Brooklyn born and raised Miller is now fully focused on a fistic career, he hails from an MMA and kickboxing background. For a few years, he competed in K-1, historically the world’s premier kickboxing organization, and twice fought the legendary Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović.

 

Miller had very little amateur boxing experience, but he has sparred extensively with heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

 

Here’s what Miller had to say during a recent Q&A with SHOWTIME Sports prior to his eight-round scrap with Muralimov:

 

How would you say your career is going?

“The beginning of my career started off slow because I was associated with the wrong guys, but now I’m in a good spot and my career has really taken off. We are moving in the right direction and I am ready to knockout everyone that comes in my path.”

 

You had very limited amateur experience. Your opponent was an accomplished amateur with international experience. How will you deal with that, or is that even a factor?

“I don’t take the amateur experience for granted, but his amateur experience isn’t really a factor for me. I have had some experience sparring current and former champions.  I sparred with Wladimir Klitschko.  I’m ready and I am going to knock him out.

 

“The Eastern Europeans think they are the best thing since sliced bread, but I’m going to show him what it means to be a true American heavyweight.”

 

What do you think of Ahror Muralimov and what are his strengths and weaknesses?

“Muralimov has a decent chin and a good left hook. His weakness is that he has never fought anyone like me.”

 

You have a five-inch height advantage in this one. How will that work in your favor?

“My height advantage will work for me. A tall fighter is going to fight tall. I’m not going to bring myself down to his level. I’m going to pick him apart and knock him out.

 

“This is pure business and he’s the next cookie that will crumble, so I need to throw him away in the trash.”

 

You initially turned pro as a kickboxer and had a successful career. Why did you make the transition to boxing? 

“I’ve always been interested in boxing, but it just wasn’t the right moment at the time to start boxing because I was finding success in kickboxing. I now feel like I can get more output from my input from boxing, so I am focused strictly on that. Even before I started kickboxing I always knew that I would eventually turn to boxing.’’

 

You’ve gone six full rounds twice. This fight is scheduled for eight. Are you concerned about stamina and going eight rounds, if necessary?

“I can box eight rounds in my sleep. I’m not worried about eight rounds.  I’m a warrior, I can go all night.  I’ve been training for 12 years, so I train harder and harder for each fight that I have. This is my time and I’m coming for the spotlight, period.”

 

Deontay Wilder was also a sparring partner for Wladimir. When you think about today’s top heavyweights, what names quickly come to mind and do you feel you are ready for them, or do you think you may need a little more seasoning?

“I definitely want to fight one 10-round and one 12-round fight before fighting for the title. I want to get in the ring with good, durable opponents who have good records and knock them out in the last round so I can get some rounds in. But if Wladimir or Deontay wanted to fight tomorrow I would take it.”

 

Do you look at Wilder as an inspiration?

“I was happy that Deontay won the belt. For any American to make it out of the neighborhood he did and win the belt is an inspiration.”

 

You have sparred extensively with Wladimir Klitschko. How often/for how many fights did you work with him?   

“The first time I sparred with Wladimir, I only had two professional fights under my belt. The last camp I sparred with him I was supposed to be there for four weeks, but I beat him up badly after two weeks so they sent me home.

 

“Wladmir is a champion in and outside of the ring. His attitude is something that I admire, but I would love to knock him out.”

 

How important is it for you to make a statement in your ShoBox debut? Is this the kind of opportunity you’ve been looking/waiting for?

“It’s very important for me to make a statement on ShoBox. An opportunity like this doesn’t come around too often. My goal is to go out there and look phenomenal. I want to look like brand new money and crush this guy.

 

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity like this for a long time. This is my time and I have no doubt in my mind that after this fight people will know my name.’’

 

Your prediction on the Battle of Brooklyn, Daniel Jacobs or Peter Quillin and why?

“Both of these guys are my dudes. In my opinion, Quillin is the harder puncher, but Jacobs is the better boxer. If Daniel sticks to his gameplan, then he can win, but if he sits there and trades punches with Quillin he will get hurt. I think the fight is 50-50.”

 

In the main event of Friday’s ShoBox quadrupleheader at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., undefeated Rob “Bravo” Brant (17-0, 11 KOs), of St. Paul, Minn., faces Louis “The Unknown” Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs), of Los Angeles, in a 10-round bout for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.

 

In other eight-round televised bouts, unbeaten Filipino prospectHarmonito “El Huracan de Gensan” Dela Torre (16-0, 11 KOs) will make his U.S. debut against Angel “El Gato” Luna (12-1-1, 7 KOs), of the Dominican Republic and Lavarn “Baby Bowe” Harvell (15-1, 8 KOs) of Atlantic City will face southpaw Samuel “The Main Event” Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs), of Cedar Hills, Texas, in a light heavyweight match-up. All but Clarkson will be making their ShoBox debuts.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

 

# # #

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 63 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

 

TOP-NOTCH PROSPECTS CLASH ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATIONQUADRUPLEHEADER FRIDAY, OCT. 23, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® FROM THE CELEBRITY THEATRE IN PHOENIX

 

 

Middleweights Rob Brant and Louis Rose Meet in Main Event

Live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT

 

NEW YORK (Oct. 9, 2015) – ShoBox: The New Generation returns on Friday, Oct. 23, live on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) with a quadrupleheader that matches eight young prospects against each other in the toughest fights of their budding careers.

 

In the main event at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., undefeated Rob “Bravo” Brant (17-0, 11 KOs, 0-3 in World Series of Boxing), of St. Paul, Minn., faces Louis “The Unknown” Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs), of Los Angeles, in a 10-round bout for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.

 

In the televised co-features, unbeaten Filipino prospect Harmonito “El Huracan de Gensan” Dela Torre (16-0, 11 KOs) will make his U.S. debut against Angel “El Gato” Luna (12-1-1, 7 KOs), of the Dominican Republic; in a heavyweight scrap, undefeated Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (14-0-1, 12 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., will face Akhror “Aha” Muralimov (14-1, 11 KOs), of Houston, Texas via Uzbekistan; and Lavarn “Baby Bowe” Harvell (15-1, 8 KOs) of Atlantic City will face southpaw Samuel “The Main Event” Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs), of Cedar Hills, Texas, in a light heavyweight match-up. All but Clarkson will be making their ShoBox debuts.

 

All three co-featured bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

 

Tickets for the event, presented by Greg Cohen Promotions and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions in association with Iron Boy Promotions, GH3 Promotions, Fight Card Promotions, Salita Promotions and Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $65 Ringside, $50 reserved and $30 general admission and are available online at www.celebritytheatre.ticketforce.com.

 

 

Brant vs. Rose:

The 5-foot-11½-inch Brant, who turned 25 on Oct. 2, was the 2010 National Golden Gloves champion at 178 pounds and was a member of the U.S. national boxing team. He has won all 17 of his fights since turning pro in 2012, including the last five in a row by knockout. He scored a third-round TKO over Lekan Byfield in his last fight on Aug. 28. Brant currently trains in Dallas alongside top prospect Errol Spence Jr.

 

The 5-foot-11-inch Rose, is 26 years old and a pro since November 2011. He has beaten six undefeated fighters and is 8-1-1 in his last 10 fights. The lone loss came against highly regarded, unbeaten (and 2011 world amateur champion and 2012 Ukrainian Olympian) Ievgen Khytrov on Nov. 21, 2014. Rose has won his last two outings including an upset sixth-round TKO over previously undefeated prospect Milorad Zizic (11-0 going in) on March 13 and in his most recent outing, a highlight-reel, last-minute eighth-round TKO over Andrew Hernandezon Aug. 15.

 

 

Dela Torre vs. Luna:

Dela Torre, a 5-foot-7½-inch, 21-year-old, is considered one of the most promising young talents in the Philippines. After an amateur career that featured 47 wins with 40 KOs and membership on the Philippine national amateur boxing team, Dela Torre turned professional at the age of 17 in January 2012. He recently relocated to Las Vegas, and will be fighting outside of Asia for the first time. Dela Torre has stayed active in the ring, fighting six times in 2012, five times in 2013, three times in 2014, and this will be his third fight this year. In his last fight on June 7, he recorded his sixth consecutive knockout on a fourth-round stoppage over Eusebio Baluarte.

 

Luna returns to the ring for the fourth time in 2015, having beat Jose Lopez in his most recent bout on June 6 by unanimous decision. Luna fought his first eight professional matches in his native Dominican Republic, winning five by knockout. In his U.S. debut on May 21, 2014, Luna notched a second-round knockout over Joey Arroyo. The 5-foot-5 inch junior lightweight prospect suffered his lone defeat against prospectTevin Farmer in his second to last bout on April 17.

 

Miller vs. Muralimov:

Miller, 27, stands six-foot-four inches and has an impressive physique with fast and powerful hands. The former New York Golden Gloves finalist was born and raised in Brooklyn and made his professional debut in July 2009, notching a first-round knockout. This is Miller’s fifth fight of 2015. He won his last three fights by knockout, all within the first two rounds, including a first- round knockout of Excell Holmes in his most recent bout on June 2. While Miller is now fully focused on his boxing career, he comes from an MMA and kickboxing background, having competed 10 times on an international level. Miller has sparred extensively with Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko.

 

The 27-year-old Muralimov, who was born in Uzbekistan but now lives and trains in Houston, had an impressive amateur career with over 150 fights and world championships at three different divisions. Muralimov suffered the only loss of his career on Feb. 14 via 10-round unanimous decision to tough veteran Derric Rossy. Miller will be just the second undefeated fighter that Muralimov has faced and looks to be his toughest opponent to date. Prior to his loss to Rossy, Muralimov recorded six knockouts in his last eight bouts.

 

Harvell vs. Clarkson:

Harvell is a 27 year old from the Ventnor Heights section of Atlantic City who has fought sporadically since turning professional in February 2008 (although this will be his third fight this year and he appears to be approaching top form). Harvell has won two in a row since suffering his lone defeat in his 14th fight by a shocking, upset six-round decision to big underdog Edgar Perez on June 14, 2014. In his last bout on Aug. 22, Harvell defeated Quincy Minor by first-round knockout.

 

The 6-foot-1-inch 25-year-old Clarkson continues to perform with a strong urgency after he’d been mostly dismissed as a legitimate prospect after three disappointing losses on his record. Having since focused on growing as a fighter inside the ring and as a person outside of it, Clarkson has developed a unique blend of speed, power and confidence. He stamped himself as a super middleweight prospect to watch in his ShoBox debut two outings ago when he produced a stunning third-round TKO over hard-hitting, highly regarded Jerry Odomon July 17. In his most recent scrap, he scored a 1:30, first-round knockout over outclassed Rayford Johnson on Aug. 28. Clarkson is a two-time Texas Golden Gloves State Champion and Police Athletic League National Champion at 175 pounds.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

On fight night, doors open at 5 p.m. and the action starts at 6 p.m. The Celebrity Theatre is located at 440 N 32nd Street in Phoenix, AZ. For more information, call (602) 267-1600 or visit www.celebritytheatre.com. For more information on Greg Cohen Promotions, visitwww.gcpboxing.com. Twitter: @gcpboxing. Or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing.

 

# # #

 

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 63 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

 

SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO PRESENT SEVEN LIVE BOXING TELECASTS IN EIGHT WEEKS TO CLOSE OUT 2015 

Oct. 24: SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL®
Kell Brook vs. Diego Chaves

Nov. 14: SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
Gary Russell Jr. vs. Oscar Escandon

Nov. 28: SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
James DeGale vs. Lucian Bute

Dec. 5: SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Daniel Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin

 Plus Three Installments of ShoBox: The New Generation
On Oct. 23, Nov. 6 and Dec. 11 

NEW YORK (Oct. 3, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present seven live boxing telecasts in a span of just eight weeks to close out 2015, including three presentations of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, a SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast and three installments of ShoBox: The New Generation.

The seven telecasts will air live on SHOWTIME® and will feature at least 16 fights, several world championship bouts and more than 10 matchups on the prospect developmental series ShoBox.

The action will kick off with a ShoBox quadrupleheader on Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME from the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.  In the 10-round middleweight main event, undefeated Rob Brant (17-0, 11 KOs, 0-3 in World Series of Boxing) will square off with Louis Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs).  In eight-rounders, unbeaten Filipino prospect Harmonito Dela Torre (16-0, 11 KOs) meets Wanzell Ellison (10-1-1, 5 KOs) in a junior lightweight scrap, Jarrell Miller (14-0-1) takes on Akhror Muralimov (16-1, 13 KOs) in a heavyweight boutand Lavarn Harvell (15-1, 8 KOs) will meet southpaw Samuel Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs) in a light heavyweight scrap.

The following day, Saturday, Oct. 24, undefeated Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make the third defense of his IBF Welterweight World title against Diego Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs) at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast will be presented via Sky Sports in the UK and will air live on SHOWTIME in the afternoon with an encore presentation later that evening (SHO, 9 p.m. ET/PT).

ShoBox: The New Generation returns Friday, Nov. 6 from D Hotel in Las Vegas with a four-fight telecast: Up-and-coming unbeaten middleweight Antoine Douglas (18-0-1, 12 KOs) will battle Les Sherrington (35-7, 20 KOs) in the main event.  In the co-feature, Taras Shelestyuk (12-0, 8 KOs) will be opposed by an opponent to be determined.  Rounding out the card are eight-round scraps between Keenan Smith (7-0, 2 KOs) and Benjamin Whitaker (10-1, 2 KOs) and O’Shanique Foster (8-0, 5 KOs) and Samuel Teah (7-1, 5 KOs) in super lightweight and lightweight fights, respectively.

On Saturday, Nov. 14 quick-fisted Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) will risk his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Just two weeks later, on Saturday, Nov. 28, in a can’t miss match-up newly crowned IBF Super Middleweight World Championship James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will face former world champion Lucian Bute(32-2, 25 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING from the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, live on SHOWTIME.  In the co-feature, undefeated knockout artist and former Russian amateur champion Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) will face an opponent to be announced in a light heavyweight world championship title eliminator.

Brooklyn Bragging Rights and the WBA Middleweight World Championship will be on the line on Saturday, Dec. 5 when defending champion Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) takes on former championPeter Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The marquee main event will be preceded by a co-feature fight with additional bouts on the card airing live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Closing out the boxing year for SHOWTIME Sports will be a ShoBoxtwo or three-fight card airing live on Friday, Dec. 11.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go towww.SHO.com.

 Greg Cohen Promotions Signs Rob ‘Bravo’ Brant to a Promotional Contract

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of undefeated middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (15-0, 9 KOs) to a promotional contract.

24-year-old Brant, from Oakdale, Minnesota, started boxing in 2007 and by 2009 was already a national champion. He went on to become a member of the US National Boxing Team and win the 2010 National Golden Gloves, among many other distinctions, before turning professional in 2012.

Primarily a boxer, though possessing above-average power, Brant is a technician in the ring with a strong ability to improvise and adjust mid-fight. His strong conditioning allows him to push the pace and break his opponents down, mentally and physically.

You started boxing and quickly became a national champion. Tell me about discovering you were a natural in boxing. When did you realize it?

My father was a Division 1 collegiate football player. I grew up loving football, I won’t say I was stellar, but I got on the field. When I was 15, I started to dabble in boxing. Me and some friends, mainly football players, would meet up at our quarterback’s house to spar. His father, Bob Mitchell, used to be a boxer and would spar with us in the garage or the driveway. I loved every second of it. I found myself going to my friend’s house more and more, even when he wasn’t there, so I could box with his father.

When the weather stopped permitting this, I just had to put it in the back burners, but I realized that it was something I really wanted to do. I started researching boxing gyms and watching a lot of boxing. When I was 16 and got my driver’s license, I went to the White Bear Lake Boxing Club, where I was met with an 87-year-old man by the name of Emmitt Yanez, as well as Larry Goodman who was in his mid-70s. I would, for that entire summer of 2007, be the first person in the gym and the last one out. I attribute my success to those two men, for the next few years they took me to every tournament and every local show in the Midwest. I didn’t turn down a fight and they were willing to drive wherever whenever.

I guess I realized that I had talent when I won the US Men’s National Championship in 2009. Until then, I was always giving myself an excuse for why I had won the tournaments that I won and would focus on those I did not compete against, as opposed to the ones that I did. In the finals of the National Championships in 2009 I beat a man named Siju Shabazz whom in 2007 I watched win the National Golden Gloves on television. I remember thinking he was the epitome of talent. When they raised my arm, it did not set in until a few weeks later, when I realized I was the number one-ranked light heavyweight in the United States.

What made you want to start boxing?

I always loved watching every aspect of a boxing show. The entrance, the matching corner uniforms, the tension of two fighters standing in opposite corners knowing what they are about to have to do, and how once the bell rings, how they approach one another with confidence and caution. When I would go to my friend’s house and box his father, I figured it was something that I might be able to actually do one day and mentally, I committed myself until I could physically take myself to a boxing gym.

Why did you turn pro?

After a short but dense amateur career, I lost in the 2012 Olympic trials. I acquired enough experience to chase what most amateur boxers dream of: to become a professional world champion and have all that comes with it.

How did the deal with Greg Cohen come about?

Greg Cohen did a show boxing show in my home state of Minnesota at the Grand Casino Hinckley. I worked extremely hard in preparation for that particular competition because it was my nationally televised debut as a pro. I feel that I prepared enough and performed at the level that I should have in front of the GCP team. My hard work paid off, Mr. Cohen wanted to continue to work together.

What are your goals in boxing?

Of course, part of my main goal in boxing is to become a legitimate world champion in my division. But deeper than that, I would like to own a home and be debt free by the time I am retired from the sport. I want to make the money that I earned from boxing work for me.

Who is your trainer?

I train four to five weeks before competitions in Dallas, Texas. My head trainer is Derrick James. He was an accomplished amateur as well as an accomplished professional boxer who has trained fighters such as Errol Spence Jr and Anthony Mack, amongst others. My assistant trainer is Nathan Pipitone. Nathan always goes the extra mile for me. He will meet me at the gym at whatever time and solely wants the success of the athletes he works with, a class act. My cut man and my strength and conditioning coach is Jeremy Clark from my home state of Minnesota. He is a player development coach for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. He pushes me to the next level, athleticism doesn’t impress him, hard work does, and that is what I need.

Where do you train?

I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where I do my heavy strength and conditioning with my coach Jeremy Clark at the Minnesota Top Team Gym he owns in Eagan, Minnesota. A month or so out from the fight, I head to Dallas to train with my coaches Derrick and Nathan to sharpen my technique and get the heavy sparring in. Although I constantly am working hard the hardest work is done in Dallas.

What’s next for you?

I will be completing July 17 at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Bethlehem Pennsylvania on the non-televised portion of a talent-stacked ShoBox card. I am currently in Dallas preparing for that.

Do you do anything besides boxing?

I feel that when you truly and fully commit yourself to something you do not have a lot of time for other things. That being said, I do try to read as much as I can and I see a lot of movies as well as an avid Game of Thrones fan. The majority of people that I associate with socially are also in combative sports business, keeps me focused.

How did you get the name Bravo?

That is actually a funny story. I had coaches that used to call me ‘Robbo.’ In amateur boxing you see many of the same coaches year after year and lightly converse with them and get to know them through your amateur career.

It wasn’t until my last amateur tournament that I ever did (2012 USA national championship, bronze medal) that a coach from the Bay Area approached my personal coaches and asked where ‘Bravo’ was. My coach in confusion did not understand until said coach described me where he replied ‘Oh, you mean Robbo!’ For years, this coach had thought my name was Bravo when my coach told me the story I smiled and said “that’s it!”

I don’t feel you can give yourself a boxing name, nor have I ever, so it was meant to be that at my last amateur tournament somebody would give me my name.

Tell me something you want fans to know about you.

I love every aspect of boxing. I am not great at receiving the attention because I like being on level ground with everyone and at times I can be put on a pedestal which I do not overly enjoy. I like being regular.  I am the most approachable person in the world I feel that everybody is equal. I just happen to have a job that people like to watch.

For more information on Rob Brant, visit gcpboxing.com. Twitter @robertbrantusa

Instagram robertbrantusa.

 

About Greg Cohen Promotions 

 

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

 

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

 

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

 

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

 

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

 

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

Undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez destroys Phillip Adyaka in two rounds in Hinckley, Minnesota

San Antonio, Texas (April 24, 2015)— Last Friday night in Hinckley, Minnesota, super bantamweight Adam Lopez scored a sensation second round stoppage over Phillip Adyaka at the Grand Casino.
The bout was part of the off-tv undercard of a CBS Sports Network televised card.
Lopez landed a booming right in round two that sent Adyakaon his back.  Adyaka got to his feet but staggered back and the fight was stopped.
It was his second consecutive 2nd round stoppage under the GH3 Promotions Banner.
“I was trying to hit him with a right.  I was working the body.  I was setting it up from the first round on,” said Lopez.  “I was able to catch him while he was pulling out.”
Lopez only had four stoppages in his first nine bouts, always knew he had the power but he was fighting bigger guys.
“I am growing into my body at 122 pounds.  I always knew I had power.  I started out at 115 pounds fighting these naturally bigger guys.  Now that I am walking around at a heavier weight, I am fighting guys my size and my skills and power have been evident over the last few fights.”
Said Vito Milenicki of GH3 Promotions, “We are extremely pleased with Adam.  When we signed him we knew we had a fighter who was on the upswing and with what he has shown in just two bouts with us, we see not only big things but major opportunities in the next eighteen months or so.”
Lopez is due back on May 22 in Corona, California.
GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, undefeated lightweight Oscar Bonilla and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Hogan Outworks Brunson on CBS Sports Network Night of Boxing


 

Photos by Jesse Kelley

 

Australia via Kildare, Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) cruised to an entertaining and workmanlike 10-round decision over Philadelphia’s Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (22-5-1, 21 KOs) tonight, in the main event of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota.

 

Fighting in front of an appreciative sold-out crowd, Hogan outworked the careful Brunson in the majority of rounds to win by scores of 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93 and in the process, picked up the World Boxing Association’s NABA-US Super Welterweight Championship.

 

Hogan closed the show well and seemed to hurt Brunson with a series of clubbing shots. But Brunson was able to survive the onslaught. 

Brunson, who seems to have morphed into a counter puncher since his days as the King of the KO 1 earlier in his career, had a good round eight and seemed to hurt Hogan with a right. He kept it interesting throughout by catching Hogan coming in with right hands.

 

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” was the debut CBS-televised effort from the promotional team.

 

Several thudding knockouts punctuated the rest of the night’s action.

 

In the night’s co-main event, lightweight slugger Ismael Barroso made quick work of Memphis, Tennessee veteran Ira Terry, knocking him out inside of a round. 

The southpaw Barroso, of El Tigre, Venezuela, moved his record to 18-0-2, 17 KOs by flattening Terry (now 26-14, 16 KOs) with a devastating left hand. Barroso’s reputation seems to grow with every frightening performance. Terry tried moving to his left and being elusive, but it only took one shot from Barroso’s cement fists. Referee Mark Nelson began a count when Terry went down, but quickly waved it off at 2:49.

 

In the televised opener, Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight prospect Rob “Bravo” Brant (15-0, 9 KOs)made surprisingly easy work of Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda (22-11-2, 19 KOs), dropping him for the full count at 2:40 of round two. 

Brant showed superior quickness while landing his rangy shots form outside. A right hand started the trouble for the normally durable Miranda. The follow-up volley forced Miranda down and he elected, probably wisely, not to rise. The crowd-favorite Brant remains undefeated and now has a KO win over a quality mid-level opponent on his resume.

 

In what turned out to be a televised swing bout, American heavyweight prospect Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, of Brooklyn, New York, moved his impressive record to 12-0-1, 10 KOs by knocking out Nairobi, Kenya’s Raymond “King Kong” Ochieng (26-19-3, 21 KOs) at 1:40of the very first round. 

Miller placed his heavy, accurate shots inside the wild swings of the game Ochieng and caught him with a strong combination against the ropes. Ochieng went down and referee Gary Miezwa waved it off without counting, probably prematurely.

 

Nevertheless, the charismatic Miller looked like a solid prospect taking out a useful veteran in Ochieng, who had gone 10 rounds with Alexander Petkovic in his last fight and handed 36-1 David Rodriguez a TKO 1 loss last July.

 

San Antonio, Texas, super bantamweight Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (11-0, 6 KOs) furthered his reputation as an up-and-coming prospect by levelling Saint Paul, Minnesota’s Philip Adyaka (4-5, 2 KOs) with a monstrous left hook at 58 seconds of round two. 24-year-old Lopez was too big and too powerful for the smaller Adyaka. Lopez impressed, showing off his world-class weaponry while banging to the head and body, especially with the left hook. Adyaka bravely tried to rise, but stumbled back into the ropes and the fight was waved off.

In a six-round heavyweight match-up, fan favorite Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell (30-8, 29 KOs) of nearby Coon Rapids, Minnesota, started his comeback by stopping journeyman Travis “Iron Man” Fulton (22-39-1, 21 KOs) of Cedar Falls, Iowa in three rounds. Out of the ring for more than a year, the southpaw Abell finally shook off the rust and got through with a volley of punches against the ropes, which badly stunned Fulton. The came at 34 seconds with Fulton dazed but still standing. I’m starting over. I want to get a couple wins and hopefully get a big fight here,” said Abell, post-fight. Unfortunately, Abell slipped awkwardly in the first round and reportedly suffered a serious ankle injury.

 

In a four-round, all-Minneapolis super heavyweight showdown to open the night, 316-lb Van “The Man” Goodman, now 4-5-2, 4 KOs, picked up a good win over299-lb Brett Murphy, now 1-1, 1 KO via TKO 2. Murphy was down in round one and twice more in round two. A tidy left uppercut was the finishing shot. The time of the stoppage was 1:38.


Weights from Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota

 

 

 

Dennis Hogan 153.5 vs. Tyrone Brunson 153

Ismael Barroso 135 vs. Ira Terry 130.5

Rob Brant 161.5 vs. Dionisio Miranda 165

Jarrell Miller 283.5 vs. Raymond Ochieng 244

Adam Lopez 124 vs. Philip Adyaka 119.5

Joey Abell 239.5 vs. Travis Fulton NA

Van Goodman 299.5 vs. Brett Murphy 316.5

 

Promoters: Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions

 

Venue: Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota

 

TV: CBS Sports Network (10 pm EST

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.




 

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About Greg Cohen Promotions

 

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

 

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

 

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

 

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

 

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

 

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

Undercard Announced for ‘Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network’ Event this Friday from Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, MN

The finalized undercard has been announced for Friday’s (April 17) “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” event being held at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota, and presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions.

 

Topping the night’s untelevised action will be one of the most exciting American heavyweight prospects on the horizon, hard-punching Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (11-0-1, 9 KOs) from Brooklyn taking on always dangerous veteran Raymond Ochieng (26-18-3, 21 KOs) from Kenya in a six-rounder.

 

Miller vs. Ochieng will serve as the main supporting bout before the CBS Sports Network-televised portion of the event, featuring a 10-round main event between Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan and Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson for the World Boxing Association’s NABA-US Super Welterweight Championship.

 

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Venezuelan KO artist Ismael Barroso (17-0-2, 16 KOs) will face Memphis, Tennessee, veteran Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs) in an eight-round showcase. And in the eight-round televised opener, undefeated Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (14-0, 8 KOs) will face Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio “Mister Nocaut” Miranda (22-10-2, 19 KOs).

 

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

 

Also featured on the undercard will be the return of popular local heavyweight “Minnesota Ice” Joseph Abell (29-8, 28 KO’s) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, taking on tough trialhorse Travis Fulton (22-38-1, 21 KO’s) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, in a six-rounder.

 

Also featured will be super bantamweight Philip Adyaka (4-4, 2 KOs) of Minneapolis taking on promising undefeated prospect Adam Lopez (10-0, 5 KOs) of Texas in a six-rounder; and an all-Minneapolis four-round heavyweight brawl between Van Goodman (3-5-2, 2 KO’s) and Brett Murphy (1-0, 1 KO).

Hogan vs. Brunson Now for NABA-US Championship

 

“Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” Main Event Now Being Contested for NABA-US Junior Middleweight Championship

 

The 10-round main event for the debut of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” between Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan and Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson, has been upgraded to a contest for the World Boxing Association’s NABA-US Super Welterweight Championship.

 

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, Hogan vs. Brunson will top a night of world-class boxing broadcast live on CBS Sports Network from the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota.

 

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Canada’s world rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-2, 7 KOs) will have his first fight since winning the WBC Continental Americas Championship. He will face Memphis, Tennessee, veteran Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs).

 

In the eight-round televised opener, undefeated Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (14-0, 8 KOs) will face Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio “Mister Nocaut” Miranda (22-10-2, 19 KOs).

 

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

 

The live broadcast of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will begin at 10:00 PM, ET. On fight night, the doors will open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. The Grand Casino Hinckley is located at 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.grandcasinomn.com or call 800-472-6321.

‘Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network’ Event at Grand Casino Hinckley Taking Shape

Hogan vs. Brunson; Luis vs. Terry and Top Prospect Rob Brant to Appear on Nationally Televised Portion of Card

 

The “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” event on Friday, April 17, from the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota, is taking shape.

 

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will be headlined by Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (20-0-1, 7 KOs) taking on Philadelphia’s hard-punching Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (22-4-1, 21 KOs) for the WBA Oceana Super Welterweight Championship.

 

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Canada’s world rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-2, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Continental Americas Championship against Memphis, Tennessee, veteran Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs).

 

In the eight-round televised opener, undefeated Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (14-0, 8 KOs) will face Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio “Mister Nocaut” Miranda (22-10-2, 19 KOs).

 

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

 

30-year-old Dennis Hogan was a four-time national amateur champion with over 150 fights in his native Kildare, Ireland. He now lives and trains in Queensland, Australia. Hogan is the current WBA Oceania Light Middleweight Champion. In his four-year pro career, Hogan has also won the Queensland State Super Middleweight, Queensland State Middleweight and Australian Middleweight Championships.

30-year-old Tyron Brunson holds the boxing record for consecutive first-round knockouts with 19. The previous record was held by former world champion Edwin Valero. As an amateur, Brunson won the youth tournament Silver Gloves and the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves. His amateur record was 82-12.

 

27-year-old Tony Luis, from Cornwall, Ontario, is enjoying an amazing 2015 thus far. In January, Luis pulled off a dominant 10-round unanimous-decision upset victory over then IBF #15 rated Karl “Dynamite” Dargan. Then on February 20, he and fiancé Manon Latulippe welcomed the birth of their first child, a son named Miguel. Luis is rated #11 in the world by the WBA and #14 by the IBF.

 

24-year-old Rob Brant was a heavily decorated amateur boxer before turning professional in 2012. After starting boxing at age 16 in 2007, just two years later, Brant went on to win the 2009 and 2010 National Golden Gloves, as well as the 2010 Upper Midwest Golden Gloves. Brant was also the 2009 USA National Champion and a 2008 Platinum Gloves Runner Up. As a professional, Brant trains with fellow Minnesota native and upcoming world-title challenger Caleb Truax at the Minnesota Top Team Eagan facility.

 

“This superb card will get the CBS Sports Network series off to a tremendous start and I’m happy we were able to put it together,” said Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions. “Dennis Hogan is a future star in boxing and what better way to introduce him to the United States and the world than to have him face a deadly puncher such as Tyrone Brunson? Tony Luis will be defending his championship and we’ve got Minnesota’s boxing prodigy, Rob Brant in the opener. I want to thank all the tremendous team at the Grand Casino Hinckley for their tremendous support and we look forward to a groundbreaking world-class event.”

 

The live broadcast of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will begin at 10:00 PM, ET. On fight night, the doors will open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. The Grand Casino Hinckley is located at 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.grandcasinomn.com or call 800-472-6321.

###

 

About Greg Cohen Promotions

 

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

 

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

 

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

 

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

 

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

 

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.