Tag Archives: Salita Promotions

boxing, women's boxing

Salita Promotions Adds to World-Class Women’s Boxing Roster, Signs Top Female Prospect Franchon Crews-Dezurn to a Promotional Contract

Leave a comment
Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of Baltimore-based female super middleweight prospect and former amateur world standout Franchon Crews-Dezurn to a promotional contract.
Crews-Dezurn joins a Salita Promotions women’s boxing roster that includes superstar Claressa Shields, European star Christina Hammer, and Russian future champion Elena Savelyeva.

30-year-old Crews-Dezurn, 2-1, 1 KO as a professional, is a former highly decorated, elite amateur boxer. Among her many championships, she was an eight-time US Open National Champion, a four-time National Female Golden Gloves Champion, a four-time Pan Am Continental Champion, a two-time National PAL Champion, and a two-time US Olympic Team Alternate.

She also represented Team USA in numerous international competitions, and in 2011, Crews-Dezurn made history by becoming the first of three women in the United States to qualify and compete in the debut of women’s boxing at the Pan American Games.

Since stepping up on short notice and losing a decision in an exciting fight to women’s superstar and former amateur rival Claressa Shields in her pro debut in November 2016, Crews-Dezurn spent 2017 beating Louisiana-based contenders Latashia Burton (TKO 1) in March and Sydney LeBlanc (UD 4) in August.

She will make her debut fighting under the Salita Promotions banner against North Carolina’s Tiffany Woodard on Friday, January 12, on the untelevised undercard of WBC/IBF World Champion Claressa Shields’ 168-pound title defense versus mandatory challenger Tori Nelson, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

“I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity to have such a great platform for me and for women’s boxing,” said Crews-Dezurn. “There’s a lot of excitement in the Super Middleweight and Middleweight divisions and I can’t wait to be right in the thick of it.”

Crews-Dezurn says she’ll be looking to rise in the rankings on her way to high-profile showdowns, including a possible rematch with Shields.
“I love what Dmitriy has done with Claressa and he just signed Christina Hammer. I’m a fighter. I’d like to fight a few six- and eight-rounders, build myself up inside and outside the ring through hard work. There are some great fights out there. I’m excited. There’s Claressa, Hammer, Cornejo, Nikki Adler, Tori Nelson. I want to fight for a world title before the end of the year, but my competitive side says let’s do it right now.”
Crews-Dezurn trains at the Headbangers Boxing Gym in Washington, DC, under well-regarded trainer Barry Hunter, as well as Patrice “Boogie” Harris, Jamie Harris and her husband Glenn Dezurn Jr.

“I’ve been training there for the last three years. The whole team is amazing. You’re in there with world champs and title contenders. The level of intensity is always very high. And it’s a family atmosphere I love it there.”

“Women’s boxing is suddenly flooded with great talent and Franchon, as a pioneering woman of the modern boxing age, deserves to be part of that group,” said Dmitriy Salita. “I’m happy to have reached an agreement with her. With her tremendous skill and marketable personality, Franchon has the potential to become another women’s superstar in a golden age for the sport.”

Also featured on the January 12 telecast, Uzbekistan power-puncher Shohjahon Ergashev (11-0, 11 KOs) will face fellow undefeated and top-10 ranked Sonny Fredrickson (18-0, 12 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio. In the co-feature, Jesse Hernandez (10-1, 7 KOs) will take on Ernesto Garza (9-2, 5 KOs; 1-3 WSB) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are currently on sale for $75 for the first two rows of ringside, $65 for remaining ringside seats and all others priced at $49 and $37, plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased in person or by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.

 
###
boxing, women's boxing

Salita Promotions Congratulates Shields On 2017 Year-End Awards

Leave a comment
Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions wishes to congratulate his fighter, female superstar, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and WBC and IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, Claressa “T Rex” Shields, for her impressive list of victories in the 2017 year-end awards.
 
In just her first full year as a professional, Flint, Michigan’s Shields was named USA Today: Female Fighter of the Year, Yahoo Sports: Female Fighter of the Year, WBAN: Hottest Rising Star and WBAN: Most Inspirational, as well as The Sweet Science’s Prospect of the Year.
 
Shields is also nominated for the BWAA’s Christy Martin Women’s Fighter Of The Year and Bill Crawford Award for Courage in Overcoming Adversity Awards, which will be presented in February.
 
After turning professional in November 2016, Shields appeared three times in 2017, making boxing history on SHOWTIME by becoming the first female to headline a boxing event on premium television. In August, Shields won the WBC and vacant IBF Super Middleweight Championships from previously unbeaten and highly regarded champion Nikki Adler in dominant fashion. And in March, also on SHOWTIME, she stopped Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados in four rounds.
 
Shields also won the WBC Silver Super Middleweight Title in only her third professional fight by scoring a unanimous shutout decision over Louisiana’s rugged Sydney LeBlanc in front of her adoring fans in Michigan in June.
 
“2017 was a very fulfilling year for me,” said Shields. “Turning pro and winning my first two world titles were big thrills. But I’m most pleased about being the first woman to headline a main event on television and having two of my fights live on SHOWTIME, as it is my goal to lead women’s boxing to new heights.”
 
Promoter Salita says the sky is the limit for 22-year-old Shields, as her fame continues to pick up momentum with every passing fight.
 
“Claressa is a phenomenon in boxing; a superstar fighter resurrecting the entire sport of female boxing with her amazing talent,” said Salita. “These awards are well-deserved and only the first of many, as she makes history throughout what will be her legendary career. I am proud to be working with this incredible young woman and give her my sincerest congratulations.”
 
Shields will next be seen Friday, January 12, as she defends her 168-pound titles on ShoBox: The New Generation against undefeated IBF mandatory challenger Tori Nelson live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
 
“I can’t wait to continue the journey in 2018, beginning with my January 12 fight against Tori Nelson on SHOWTIME,” continued Shields.  “I look forward to a unification fight with Christina Hammer in the summer. I thank God, my fans, the media, Salita Promotions, and my team for all the support.”
 
Also featured on the January 12 telecast, Uzbekistan power-puncher Shohjahon Ergashev (11-0, 11 KOs) will face fellow undefeated and top-10 ranked Sonny Fredrickson (18-0, 12 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio. In the co-feature, Jesse Hernandez (10-1, 7 KOs) will take on Ernesto Garza (9-2, 5 KOs; 1-3 WSB) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout.
 
Highlights of the United States fighting debut of current WBC and WBO Middleweight Women’s Champion, and future Shields opponent, Christina “Lady Hammer” Hammer (22-0, 10 KOs) will also be shown.
 
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are currently on sale for $75 for the first two rows of ringside, $65 for remaining ringside seats and all others priced at $49 and $37, plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased in person or by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.
boxing

Undefeated Junior Welterweight KO Artist Shoh Ergashev Added to Jacobs vs. Arias Undercard

Leave a comment

 

The one to watch, 25-year-old knockout sensation Shohjahon “Descendant of Tamerlane” Ergashev has been added to the untelevised undercard of the Saturday, November 11, Danny Jacobs vs. Luis Arias and Jarrell Miller vs. Mariusz Wach boxing event at NYCB LIVE: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
Jacobs vs. Arias and Miller vs. Wach are presented by Matchroom Boxing USA, in association with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, Salita Promotions and Roc Nation Sports. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, NYCBLIVE.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.
Considered one of the best current prospects coming out of Central Asia, the popular Ergashev (9-0, 9 KOs) is a former four-time national champion in his home country. As a professional, the dangerous southpaw has won his last five fights in the first round.
“I came to the US to show that I am the best fighter in the world,” said Ergashev. “I look for the knockout in every fight and November 11 is no different. It’s my biggest stage and I will put on a show!”
To prepare for his six-round showdown, Ergashev is training at Kronk Gym in Detroit with well-known Javan SugarHill Steward, who says he is looking fearsome in sparring.
“He’s a big puncher, with good athleticism and great potential,” said Steward. “I look forward to working with him and seeing him develop in the talent-rich junior welterweight division.”
Promoter Dmitriy Salita says although Ergashev is a new name in the United States, he is already well-known in his Uzbek community.
“Shoh has the power, skills and charisma to be a star in boxing,” said Salita. “He has a very loyal fan base as well. Although it’s his first fight in the US, he will have hundreds of people from his community in New York City and from around the country, and even from Russia, coming to support him on November 11.”
In his last appearance, in June at the Floyd Mayweather Boxing Academy in Zhukovka, Russia, Ergashev needed less than a minute to knock opponent Sunatollo Rakhmatulloev down twice and stop him at 0:50 of the first round.

In other action that night, undefeated New York City police officer Dimash “Lightning” Niyazov (12-0, 5 KOs) born in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, now residing in Staten Island, NY, will also fight in a six-round lightweight bout on the non-televised portion of the undercard.

###
BROOKLYN BOXING on Long Island is an extension of SE’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ brand. For more information, visit brooklynboxingshop.com.
Tickets for the live event, on sale now, can be purchased at ticketmaster.com,NYCBLIVE.com or by calling 800-745-3000.   Tickets can also be purchased at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.
boxing

Salita Promotions Lightweight  Dimash Niyazov Returns to Action Saturday in Kazakhstan

Leave a comment
On Saturday, September 9, undefeated lightweight Dimash Niyazov, Salita Promotions’ own fighting NYC cop, will return to his birthplace of Kazakhstan to face Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira dos Reis at the sold-out, 12000-seat Saryarka Velodrome in Astana.
Niyazov (11-0-3, 5 KOs), a resident of Staten Island, and Pereira dos Reis (22-4, 18 KOs) of Sao Paolo will meet in a six-rounder as part of the Astana EXPO 2017 event headlined by a 12-round battle for the WBO NABO Super Welterweight and WBA Inter-Continental Super Welterweight Championships between Kazakhstan’s undefeated Kanat Islam (24-0, 19 KOs) and also undefeated Brandon Cook (18-0, 11 KOs) of Canada.
The fight will be the first-ever outside of the United States for the 28-year-old Kazakh-born Niyazov. And with 12,000 of his countrymen expecting big things from him, Niyazov says he’s feeling the pressure.
Are you nervous, fighting outside the US and in front of so many people?
I feel a little nervous because it’s my first time fighting here and I have to perform well. A lot of people, my fans, are coming just to see me, so I feel the pressure to do very well. in front of 12,000 people. They all know me. I got to look good.
Why did you take this fight so far from where you’ve now lived for many years?
I live in the USA, I work in the USA. I have my family in the USA, so all my moves I make in regard to boxing are going to take place in the US. This was just an opportunity that I saw that can improve my boxing career.
How did training camp go for this fight?
Training camp with my father went well. I am ready to perform and outbox the guy. I’m not looking for a knockout. I’m going to box the guy outclass him and the knockout will come by itself.
How did you get the nickname Lightning?
The fans gave me this name. It’s because of my fast hands. Sometimes when they see a knockout or knockdown it happens so fast they can’t tell what happened.
#          #          #
Due to the high-demand the “Qazaq Pride Championship Boxing” event will be broadcasted worldwide via Pay-Per-View for only $4.99.  It is now available to purchase and is compatible in all mobile devices and smart TVs. To purchase the fight, go to FITE.TV, TvTibi.com or Flipps.com. The live stream will begin 10 AMEastern Time / 7AM Pacific in the United States.
boxing, women's boxing

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and NABF Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields Announces Deal with Salita Promotions

Leave a comment

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields announced today that she has signed a promotional agreement with promoter Dmitriy Salita and Salita Promotions.

 
Already a national sports figure and role model for women everywhere, the Flint, Michigan native is in position to realize her dreams as a professional boxer.
 
On Friday, June 16, Shields will fight at Detroit’s Masonic Temple, in her home state of Michigan, as part of Salita’s Detroit Brawl series.
 
Shields (2-0, 1 KO), of Flint, Michigan, is the only American boxer, male or female, to ever win back-to-back Olympic boxing gold medals (2012 and 2016). In only her second bout as a professional, Shields won the NABF Middleweight Championship on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation in the first-ever women’s bout to headline a premium cable telecast. The event, held at MGM Grand Detroit, was presented by Salita Promotions.
 
“I thank Salita Promotions for the commitment they have shown to me,” said Claressa Shields. “I promise all boxing fans that I will dedicate myself to being not only the world’s #1 female boxer and #1 pound-for-pound, but also a torch-bearer for boxing and women the world over. I can’t wait to get in the ring on June 16 to continue the journey.”
 
“Salita Promotions is to be commended for their commitment to Claressa Shields,” said Mark Taffet, Shields’ co-manager. “Dmitriy’s knowledge and expertise in Claressa’s home-base market of Detroit provides the perfect complements to Claressa’s once-in-a-century talent and determination to advance women’s boxing and change the sport of boxing forever.”
 
“Claressa is an outstanding world-class athlete, who has the ability to transcend sports like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams,” said Dmitriy Salita. “She also has the charisma to appeal to a broad new generation of fans, who will tune in to watch her fights and will want to come to arenas to experience her performance live. Every one of her fights is a unique experience that is memorable and transcends boxing. Claressa is a rare combination of the great fighter and a sports icon that come along in every generation. The state of Michigan has been home to many, like Joe Louis, Tommy Hearns, Floyd Mayweather and now Claressa Shields. I look forward to working with Claressa on her already historic career. At only 22 years old I believe Claressa will continue to break records, set new limits and break boundaries in and out the ring.”
 
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at VIP $200, Box Seats are $100 and $55, Seating is $40, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.
 
###
 
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visit www.salitapromotions.com. Facebook and Twitter: @DetroitBrawl
boxing, women's boxing

CLARESSA SHIELDS KNOCKS OUT SZILVIA SZABADOS IN FIRST WOMEN’S MAIN EVENT IN PREMIUM TELEVISION HISTORY FRIDAY ON SHOWTIME®

Leave a comment

 

 

Nikolay Potapov Outpoints Antonio Nieves, Wesley Tucker Defeats Ed Williams & Joshua Greer Jr. Knocks Out James Gordon-Smith On ShoBox: The New Generation From MGM Grand Detroit

 

Don’t Miss The Replay Tuesday, March 14 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

DETROIT (March 11, 2017) –  Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields shined in her television debut, knocking out the durable Szilvia Szabados in the fourth round (1:30) to advance to 2-0 as a professional in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation Friday on SHOWTIME at MGM Grand Detroit.

 

Shields (2-0, 1 KOs) put on a show less than an hour from her hometown of Flint, Mich., landing nearly 50 percent of her power shots in the first women’s boxing main event in premium television history. 

 

Szabados (15-9, 6 KOs), of Hungary, didn’t touch the canvas but never really stood a shot against an opponent that has been billed as the future of women’s boxing.  Shields came out blazing in the opening round, backing up Szabados with crisp, clean punches as she out-landed her opponent 31-4 in the first. 

 

Shields was a bit more patient and settled in the second and third, but the onslaught continued against a relatively defenseless Szabados.  After a flush right hand, left hook combo in the fourth, referee Harvey Dock had seen enough and stepped in to halt the contest with Szabados still on her feet. 

 

“It was about respect,” Shields said of her performance.  “I wanted to go out there and show I had power and I wasn’t scared of her.  I knew she was tough coming in.  That’s why I started going to the body.  I was going to get the clean shot in one round and she was going to go, but the ref stopped it in the fourth.  A knock out is a knockout.  It was exciting. 

 

“I’m glad everyone came.  I took advantage of this great opportunity once again.  It’s another step toward winning a world title.” 

 

Szabados said she was disappointed with Dock’s decision to stop the fight when he did. “I’m very sad and heartbroken right now because it only went four rounds and I could have kept going,” she said. “Her hits were not painful. Her right hook got me a lot, I know. I could feel that one.”

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, Nikolay Potapov narrowly edged Antonio Nieves in a close, 10-round split decision scored 96-94 Potapov twice, 96-94 Nieves.

 

The technical match between undefeated top-10 bantamweight prospects was close from the opening bell.  Nieves was the more active fighter, landing 64 punches per round to Potapov’s 50, but the round-by-round breakdowns reveal that Potapov prevailed in total connects as well as in landed power shots.

 

“I thought it was a close fight, but I came on strong at the end,” Potapov said.  “I had more and finished stronger. That made the difference.  I am much more aggressive now and I sit down on my shots. That’s the difference training at Kronk has done for me.

 

“I knew I won the fight.  I wasn’t surprised when I got it.  I wasn’t happy about the judging in my last big fight, but I thought this time I had done more than enough to win.”

 

Nieves did impressive work to the body, connecting on 59 total body shots compared to just 14 for Potapov, but it wasn’t enough to earn him the decision. 

 

“I thought I won. I thought it was a bad decision,” Nieves said.  “I don’t even think it should have been a spilt decision.  I thought I was up clearly.  He didn’t really score like he wanted to.  I was making him miss and landing all the sharper punches.  Everything he was hitting me with I was blocking and coming back.

 

“I don’t know why close fights don’t go my way.  From here I go back to the drawing board.  My whole team and a lot of the crowd felt like I won.  I would love to fight him again.”

 

In a featured matchup between undefeated welterweights, Wesley Tucker (14-0, 8 KOs) edged Ed Williams in an eight-round unanimous decision scored 77-73, 79-71, 78-72 Tucker.

 

The foul-filled fight featured little action.  Toledo’s Tucker landed 31 percent of his power shots compared to just 19 percent for Detroit’s Williams (12-2-1, 4 KOs), who was deducted two points for hitting to the back of the head on separate occasions.  Tucker (14-0, 8 KOs) didn’t land a jab the entire fight, but his heavier shots and accuracy with his power shots seemed to be more impressive to the judges. 

 

“He was an awkward, long fighter, who knew how to move very well,” Tucker said.  “I’m not disappointed it turned out like that.  Not every fight can be pretty, so I came out with the win and that’s what matters most.

 

“I was really frustrated in there, but I’m an action kind of fighter, so when he was running it kind of was pissing me off.  He was all over the place.  He ran the whole fight.”

 

Williams landed only 17 percent of his total punches.

 

“He didn’t show me anything I didn’t expect,” Williams said.  “This week was a great experience for me, but you want to come out with a win and I wasn’t able to get it done.”

 

In the televised opener, Joshua Greer Jr. handed bantamweight prospect James Gordon-Smith his firstloss with a brutal one-punch sixth-round knockout (2:06). 

 

After a blazing first round that saw over 50 power shots landed, Greer pepped his opponent with a steady diet of counter rights as Gordon-Smith continued to charge forward and fight largely off-balance.  Chicago’s Greer floored Gordon-Smith with a perfectly timed right uppercut in the opening seconds of the fifth and, despite looking dazed, Gordon-Smith rallied to survive the back-and-forth round. 

 

In the sixth, Greer (12-1-1, 5 KOs) knocked Gordon-Smith out cold with a huge straight right that sent the Detroit native falling face forward as referee Harvey Dock immediately waved off the bout. 

 

“I guess he blinked. That was the problem,” Greer said.  “I told everyone when I got here I didn’t have that pillow for no reason.  I said don’t blink and I wasn’t playing.  I knew I was going to get him.  The pillow is just my trademark.  It’s nothing personal.  You have to stand out somehow. That’s just what I do. Nothing personal to him.

 

“I knew what I came to do.  I’m excited but I’m not shocked.  My team knew what would happen and they had confidence in me.  I knew it was only a matter of time.”

 

Gordon-Smith (11-1, 6 KOs) was the 160th fighter to suffer his first defeat on the prospect developmental series. And Nieves would later become the 161st.

 

Friday’s quadrupleheader will replay on Tuesday, March 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.  The telecast will also be available on SHOWTIME on DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

 

“Detroit City Gold,” was promoted by Salita Promotions. 

 

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

 

# # #

 

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing, women's boxing

“DETROIT CITY GOLD” FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS

Leave a comment

 

 

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados In First Women’s Boxing Main Event On Premium Television

 

Friday, March 10 Live on SHOWTIME® From MGM Grand Detroit

 

Click HERE To Download Weigh-In Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

DETROIT (March 9, 2017) – All eight fighters participating in “Detroit City Gold”, the ShoBox: The New Generationquadrupleheader which includes headliner and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields, made weight on Thursday in advance of Friday’s telecast from MGM Grand Detroit.

 

Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and in the first women’s boxing event in premium television history, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“Detroit City Gold,” which takes place less than an hour from Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., is promoted by Salita Promotions.  Shields vs. Szabados is a six-round middleweight bout.

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs), of Cleveland, and Russia’s Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round matchup for the NABO bantamweight belt.

 

In an eight-round televised bout, welterweight Wesley Tucker (13-0, 8 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, faces Detroit’s Ed Williams (12-1-1, 4 KOs) in a matchup between two former amateur standouts.  In the televised opener, Detroit-based bantamweight prospect James Gordon Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will take on Chicago’s Joshua Greer, Jr. (11-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

 

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS:

Claressa Shields: 159 ½ Pounds

Szilvia Szabados: 158 Pounds

 

Antonio Nieves: 116 ½ Pounds

Nikolay Potapov: 117 ½ Pounds

 

Wesley Tucker: 147 Pounds

Ed Williams: 146 ¼ Pounds

 

James Gordon Smith: 116 ¾ Pounds

Joshua Greer, Jr.: 116 ¾ Pounds

 

FINAL QUOTES:

 

CLARESSA SHIELDS:

“I know about Laila Ali, and Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker, and I don’t box like any of them. I have my own unique style. I’ve never seen a female fighter like myself. I want to carry the sport.

 

“The boxers I like and study are Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather. Those are my favorites. And you can even throw Sugar Ray Leonard in there, too.

 

“I’m going to be aggressive. I’m not going to be nervous and I’m not going to freeze up. I’m going to go right out there and hit her in the face with a right hand.

 

“This is my hometown fight. I last fought in Michigan three years ago. I’m going to showcase my skills on SHOWTIME.

 

“I’m embracing all of this. I grew up and heard when I was young that women can’t fight. I’m ready to show everyone just how wrong that is on Friday night.”

 

SZILVIA SZABADOS:

 

“I know Claressa is popular because of the two gold medals, and she’s young and 21. This is her hometown so I know the fans will be cheering for her. Congratulations to her. But I just have to worry about fighting my fight and staying focused.

 

“I know she’s a come-forward fighter like me. Always go, go, go. I don’t know what she’ll bring. It’ll be a surprise. Everyone always has a plan and I have a plan, as well. But I’m willing to change and improvise.

 

“I’ve been sparring with men mostly. It’s hard to find girls who can spar with me, especially in Hungary.”

 

ANTONIO NIEVES:

“I’m ready to go. I’m ready to show that night [a draw against Alejandro Santiago] was a fluke. There are no distractions this time.

 

“I’m ready to show people that I’m a contender at this weight.  I’m here to prove that I deserve to fight for a world title.”

 

NIKOLAY POTAPOV:

“I’ve improved a lot working with Javan [Javan SugarHill Steward]. The sky’s the limit for me and I know I can be a legitimate contender in my division.

 

“There are going to be a lot of eyes on this fight so it’s important that I look good and get the victory.  We’re both undefeated, and we’re both ranked, so there is a lot on the line in this fight.”

 

WESLEY TUCKER:

“I’m going to be the next world champion from Toledo. I’m a lefty and have power in both hands and I’m a pressure fighter.

 

“My right hook is my best punch and that’s rare for a lefty.

 

“I live 45 miles from here and I come here a lot so, yeah, it’s like a home fight for me.

 

“I know Ed Williams. He’s a nice little boxer, long and rangy. That’s about it.

 

“I’m going for the knockout and it may come early, or it may not. No matter what, I always put on a good show.”

 

ED WILLIAMS:

“This is one of the fights that will determine whether I continue and move up, or I do something different. This is it. That’s what ShoBox has always been about for fighters like me.

 

“I took a break from boxing and got my college degree in industrial engineering. But I got the bug and came back. Things would have been much different if I would have stayed with it. I’m not doing anything with my degree yet, but will once I’m finished with boxing.

 

“I’m older but I don’t have many miles. I’m well-preserved. It’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to an exciting fight.”

 

JAMES GORDON SMITH:

“I’ve never lost to anyone from Chicago, and Friday night will be no different.

 

“I’ve been around boxing forever and all the talking doesn’t bother me. I would expect nothing else. He’s coming into my backyard and should be confident. He’s coming in with an eight-fight winning streak. It don’t bother me. It just gives me the extra motivation to make sure no one comes into my backyard and beats me.”

 

JOSHUA GREER, JR.:

“It’s not my first undefeated fighter I’ve fought so it’s no big deal. I know what I have to do.

Sure, we were going at it pretty good at the press conference. You can say it’s a Chicago-Detroit thing. Of course there’s a rivalry there.

 

“I’m fast, but people underestimate my power. My power is a bigger strength than my speed. It’s something not a lot of people expect of me.

 

“You will see fireworks from round one.”

 

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 Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

# # #

boxing, women's boxing

TWO-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST CLARESSA SHIELDS DISCUSSES HER LEGACY AND BRINGING EQUALITY TO WOMEN’S BOXING IN SHOWTIME SPORTS® VIDEO

Leave a comment

 

“I want my legacy to be that I’m the best female fighter to ever put on gloves.” – Claressa Shields

 

Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados Friday on SHOWTIME® In First Women’s Boxing Main Event In Premium Television History

 

VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/2m3ZobR

 

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields opens up about how growing up in Flint, Mich., shaped her career, bringing equality to women’s boxing, and her growing legacy in this SHOWTIME Sports video feature: http://s.sho.com/2m3ZobR

 

Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) tomorrow/Friday in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics.  The six-round middleweight bout, which will air live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT), is the first women’s boxing event in premium television history.

 

The event, labeled “Detroit City Gold,” is promoted by Salita Promotions from MGM Grand Detroit.  In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs) and Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round bantamweight bout.

 

# # #

boxing, women's boxing

“DETROIT CITY GOLD” FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

Leave a comment

 

 

 

Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados In First Women’s Boxing Main Event On Premium Television

 

Friday, March 10 Live on SHOWTIME® From MGM Grand Detroit

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

DETROIT (March 8, 2017) – All eight fighters participating in “Detroit City Gold”, the ShoBox: The New Generation headlined by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields, participated in a final press conference on Wednesday in advance of Friday’s four-fight telecast from MGM Grand Detroit.

 

Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and in the first women’s boxing event in premium television history, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“Detroit City Gold,” which takes place less than an hour from Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., is promoted by Salita Promotions.  Shields vs. Szabados is a six-round middleweight bout.

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs), of Cleveland, and Russia’s Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round matchup for the NABO bantamweight belt.

 

In an eight-round televised bout, welterweight Wesley Tucker (13-0, 8 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, faces Detroit’s Ed Williams (12-1-1, 4 KOs) in a matchup between two former amateur standouts.  In the televised opener, Detroit-based bantamweight prospect James Gordon Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will take on Chicago’s Joshua Greer, Jr. (11-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

 

Here’s what the fighters had to say on Wednesday:

 

Claressa Shields:

“I started boxing at age 11 and all I really wanted was an opportunity. This is one of those big opportunities.

 

“Her having 124 professional rounds doesn’t mean anything to me.  Her being 15-8 with 6 KOs doesn’t scare me either.  But I am glad she took the fight and didn’t pull out.

 

“She’s a challenge and, on paper, she’s not supposed to be someone that I can just walk through.  But I’ve been in training camp for three months and I had a great training camp.

I’m not going to let her beat me in front of my family. I’m not going to let her beat me in front of my nephews and cousins and my mom and dad. I just don’t roll like that.

 

“If she doesn’t have the talent and skill to go six rounds with me, she will not go six rounds.  So, I hope she had a very good training camp.  I know I did.

 

“This is the first time that a woman has been the main event on SHOWTIME and I’m not coming to make women look bad when I get in there on March 10.”

 

Szilvia Szabados:

“I’m ready to fight.  I’ve been waiting a long time for this fight.  I feel good and I’m in great shape.

 

“I think everyone has a destiny in life and I’m glad I chose to be a boxer. This is a huge opportunity for me and I plan to take advantage of it.

 

“I know she has the amateur experience, but I have more experience as a pro.  We’ll see what’s more important on Friday.”

 

Antonio Nieves:

“I trained and did everything I have to do.  I’m ready for war.

 

“Coming out of Cleveland, nobody gives us a chance. We have to fight for everything we get.

 

“I respect Potapov.   He’s a good fighter.  He said he’s going to take my belt?  He’s going to have to take it from me.  I’m here to fight.  I’m not going to just give it up.  Come try and take it.

 

“When I get in there Friday, it’s all business.  I respect him – I don’t have any problems with him as a person.

 

“I’ve fought a lot of Russians and Europeans.  They’re straight-up, come forward, and try to put on a lot of pressure.  They bring the fight and I’m ready for that.  I’m ready for anything he brings to the table.

 

“Anything can happen in a fight, but I’m focused and ready and I know what I have to do.  I’ll be able to adjust to whatever he brings.”

 

Nikolay Potapov:

“I will be a much more aggressive version of myself for this fight.  I trained to be very aggressive. I have a lot of surprises in store for Antonio Nieves.

 

“I learned a lot training at Kronk and I’m very ready.  I had a great training camp and I really enjoyed living here in Detroit.

 

“In Russia, there is a traditional Russian style.  Over here, it’s totally different.  The American style is much more aggressive.  I loved training with Javan SugarHill Steward at Kronk and learned a lot.”

 

Wesley Tucker:

“I come to fight every time and everybody knows when I fight, it’s fireworks.

 

“He may be from here, but Detroit is my home, too.  And I’m planning on winning here at home.”

 

Ed Williams:

“I’m glad to be home.  I had a great camp and it’s going to be a hell of a fight.

 

“Wesley Tucker is coming to fight, but I’m home.  You don’t let nobody take you at home. That’s it.

 

“He may be in for a short night.  Or a long one.  We’ll see.”

 

James Gordon Smith:

“I’m knocking you out.  I’m not here to play games.  I’m coming straight for you.  I bet you I knock you out.

 

“You can’t punch.  What are you going to do?

 

“I’m coming to throw bombs, so I hope you trained for this because I’m going to knock that smile off your face.  Your coach can’t fight for you.”

 

Joshua Greer, Jr.:

“I’m ready.  You’re getting knocked out.  We didn’t come here to lose.

 

“This is a fight I’ve been waiting for.  We’re ready.  Come Friday, I hope he’s ready, too.”

boxing, women's boxing

UNDEFEATED BANTAMWEIGHTS NIEVES AND POTAPOV READY FOR MOST IMPORTANT FIGHT OF THEIR CAREERS AT “DETROIT CITY GOLD” THIS FRIDAY AT MGM GRAND DETROIT LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

Leave a comment
DETROIT, MI (March 6) – With a potential world title shot on the near horizon for the winner, undefeated bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves and Nikolay Potapov both agree their NABO Bantamweight Championship showdown this Friday is the most important of both their careers.
Defending champion Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs) of Cleveland and Russia’s Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will meet in the co-main event this Friday, March 10, of Salita Promotions’ history-making quadrupleheader of fights entitled “Detroit City Gold” at MGM Grand Detroit on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT).
In the night’s main event, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields (1-0) of Flint, Mich., will face Hungary’s Szilvia “Sunset” Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) in a six-round battle for the Women’s NABF Middleweight Championship. Their fight will be the first women’s boxing main event to be featured on premium television in history.
In the eight-round televised bantamweight opener, Detroit-based bantamweight prospect James Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will take on Chicago’s Joshua Greer, Jr. (11-1-1, 4 KOs). In the other eight-round televised bout of the exciting quadrupleheader, welterweight Wesley Tucker (13-0, 8 KOs) Toledo, Ohio, faces Detroit’s Ed Williams (12-1-1, 4 KOs).
Tickets for “Detroit City Gold” are priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50, and are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 800.745.3000.
Here’s what they both had to say:
Antonio Nieves
“Everything went well in training. Potapov is a solid fighter but I believe giving him some movement and coming in from the side is really going to help me get the victory in this fight. I’m 100 percent ready. I’ve been focused on one guy the entire camp and I’m ready to get in there and get the win.
“We tried to get sparring partners that imitate him as much as possible, so when I get in there with him, there’s no surprises, but basically, I’m just going to stick to what I know.
“A victory means a lot. We’re two undefeated fighters on the verge of a world title shot. A victory over this guy would put me to the stage of being in line to fight for a world title, so this win means a lot.”
Nikolay Potapov
“I had a great training camp in Detroit at Kronk gym with Javan SugarHill Steward.  It’s been a great learning experience for me.  The training, intensity, sparring, living conditions have been superb.
“This is the most important fight of my career. Antonio Nieves is a very skilled, high-level fighter. I am focused on making a statement on March 10, and showing that I am one of the best bantamweights in the world.”