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SHOWTIME SPORTS® CONTINUES CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® IN SEPTEMBER WITH “BRITAIN’S BEST”

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THE BRITISH INVASION

 

Relive Chris Eubank vs. Nigel Benn II Tonight At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

Click On The Link Below To Watch, Share or Embed Eubank vs. Benn II: Round 12

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NEW YORK (Sept. 1, 2016) – The most popular and prolific prizefighters in British Boxing history will be highlighted when SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s 30th anniversary year-long celebration continues in September with “Britain’s Best’’ on SHOWTIME EXTREME®.

 

The featured fighters –Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Carl Froch, Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn– were longtime world champions.  Each had a distinctive personality inside and outside the ring, and all helped usher in an era of boxers from Great Britain that currently features a record 14 world champions, including Carl Frampton, James DeGale, Lee Selby and Anthony Joshua.

 

Of the eight fighters, all but Eubank and Hatton reached dizzying heights by scoring significant victories against distinguished American fighters.  Benn blasted out Iran Barkley in 2:57.  In his premium network television debut, Hamed dominated Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson and, 10 months later, stoppedKevin Kelly.  Calzaghe destroyed Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy.  Froch rallied from the brink of defeat to stop Jermain Taylor, and Hatton crushed perennial 140-pound world champion Kostya Tszyu of Australia.

 

The rivalry between longtime WBO Middleweight and Super Middleweight champion, Eubank, and Benn, a longtime WBC Super Middleweight boss, may have been the most celebrated in U.K. history.  Eubank took their savage first fight on a ninth-round TKO; the rematch ended in a draw.

 

Hamed (2015) and Calzaghe (2014) are members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

Below is the schedule of SHOWTIME EXTREME premieres for the month of September:

  • Thursday, Sept. 1: Chris Eubank-Nigel Benn II
  • Thursday, Sept. 8: Naseem Hamed-Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson
  • Thursday, Sept. 15: Ricky Hatton-Kostya Tszyu
  • Thursday, Sept. 22: Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy
  • Thursday, Sept. 29: Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor

 

All fights will air on “Throwback Thursdays” on SHOWTIME EXTREME (10 p.m. ET/PT) throughout the month of September and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s online streaming service.

 

(Throwback Thursdays/ Fight Synopsis)

 

Eubank vs. Benn II – Oct. 9, 1993, Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, Lancashire, England

 

Three years after Eubank rallied to stop defending champion Benn in an intense, fiercely contested battle for the WBO Middleweight Crown that marked the beginning of a great era for British middleweights and super middleweights, the rivals fought to a controversial 12-round draw in a 168-pound unification bout for Eubanks’ WBO and Benn’s WBC titles.

 

With more than 42,000 fans in attendance roaring their approval, the two legends went at it again from start to finish. There were lots of close rounds with frenzied flourishes at the end of each. The thrilling 12th round is considered a classic as both boxers were told they needed it to win. At the finish, one judge scoring it for Eubank, 115-113, one judge gave it to Benn by the identical score while the third judge had it 114-114.


Hamed vs. Johnson – Feb. 8, 1997, New London Arena, London, England

The undefeated WBO Champion Hamed unified the featherweight division with an eighth-round TKO over respected longtime IBF titlist, Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson. Hamed dominated Johnson, who was making his 12th defense, from the third round on, scoring the bout’s lone knockdown with a huge uppercut in the eighth. Hamed was ahead by 69-63, 69-64 and 69-65 when it was stopped at2:27 of the round.

 

Four starts later, Hamed won his United States debut with a wild fourth-round knockout over Kelly, a former WBC Champion, at Madison Square Garden.

 

Hatton vs. Tszyu – June 4, 2005, M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, England
The largely unproven but hungry Hatton scored one of the most sizeable stunners in British  history and announced his entry to the upper echelons of the world boxing scene by recording  an 11th-round TKO over Tszyu for the unified IBF, Ring and lineal light-welterweight titles.

 

This is regarded as the signature performance in Hatton’s career; the stamina, aggression and heart he displayed is now legendary. A massive underdog against a dominant, feared champion and one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers, Hatton won when Tszyu failed to answer the bell for the 12th round. After 11, Hatton was ahead by 107-102, 106-103 and 105-104.

Calzaghe vs. Lacy – March 4, 2006, M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, England
In the most important and anticipated super middleweight match since Roy Jones defeated James Toney in 1994, Calzaghe produced a masterpiece and the performance of his career, thoroughly overwhelming the previously unbeaten IBF kingpin Lacy. It was a Brit Beatdown at its brutal best, a wipeout from the outset. Calzaghe cut Lacy over both eyes and caused blood to flow from Lacy’s nose midway through a fight that could have been stopped several times, and floored him in the 12th.

By impressively prevailing over Lacy, Calzaghe also earned the The RingChampionship, becoming the first super middleweight to be recognized as world champion by The Ring.

Froch vs. Taylor –  April 25, 2009, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Foxwoods, Conn.
Froch registered one of the most dramatic finishes to a world title fight sinceJulio Cesar Chavez, behind on points, stopped Meldrick Taylor two seconds from the end of the 12th round in 1990.

Froch, making his second U.S. start and initial defense of the WBC title, survived a third-round knockdown – the first of his career, amateur and pro – to finish Taylor with 14 seconds left.

 

Froch hurt and staggered Taylor with a cracking right hand just over a minute into the 12th. Desperate to get the knockout, he continued to belt Taylor all over the ring. With about 90 seconds left, Taylor went down from a barrage of head shots. He barely arose at nine with 0:29 remaining but had no defense for an ensuing barrage of damaging blows.

 

(The British Invasion/Boxer Capsules)

 

Chris Eubank (45-5-2, 23 KOs), of Brighton, England, was one of the top British super middles of all-time; he was responsible for helping British boxing ride a peak of popularity in the 1990s. After winning the WBO 160-pound title by stopping Benn and making three subsequent defenses , Eubank moved up to 168, captured the WBO crown and retained it 14 times (12-0-2) over a five-year-period. One of the draws came against WBC champion Benn in world title unification in their rematch in October 1993.

 

Nigel “Dark Destroyer” Benn (42-5-1, 35 KOs), of West Ham, England, went pro in January 1997 and won his first 22 fights by knockout. He took the WBO 160-pound belt with an eighth-round TKO over Doug DeWitt on April 29, 1990, in Atlantic City. In his first defense, he stunned the boxing world by scoring a devastating TKO 1 over former middleweight world champion Barkley on Aug. 18, 1990. In his next outing, Benn fought Eubank the first time. He captured the WBC 168-belt in October 1992 and made nine successful defenses.

 

Naseem Hamed (36-1, 31 KOs), of Sheffield, England, was a global superstar. He was known, loved, despised and acclaimed as one of the greatest British pound for pound boxers of all time. He was known for his marvelous movement and entertaining, albeit unconventional antics. He held multiple world championships at featherweight and made 16 consecutive featherweight world title defenses. He was considered the linear world champ at 126 pounds for five years (1995-2000) and was The Ring Magazine’s No. 1 Featherweight Fighter from 1997‑2000.

 

Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) of Manchester, England, is viewed by many as the No. 1 British 140-pounder of all time. He was the 2005 RingMagazine Fighter of the Year, the first British boxer to receive the award since its inception in 1928. He was also the 2005 ESPN and Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year. During his15-year career (1997-2012), he held various world titles at junior welterweight and one at welterweight. He reached the pinnacle of his profession in June 2005 when he upset Tszyu to seize the unified IBF, Ring and lineal 140-pound titles.

Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs) is the longest-reigning super middleweight world champion in history, having held the WBO title for more than 10 years and making 21 successful defenses before relinquishing it to move up to light heavyweight. As his reins at 168 and 175 pounds overlapped, he retired with the longest continual time as world champion of any active fighter. Calzaghe annihilated IBF Super Middleweight Champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy to become world super middleweight champion on March 4, 2006. He held the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal super middleweight titles, as well as The Ring light heavyweight title.
Carl “The Cobra” Froch (33-2, 24 KOs), of Nottingham, England, was a four-time super middleweight world champion who possessed an aggressive, style, toughness and granite chin. Froch won the WBC crown twice and was the WBA titleholder from 2013-2015 and the IBF champion from 2012-2015. In 2013, the BBC listed him as the best British pound-for-pound boxer.

 

One outing after Froch captured the WBC belt with a triumph over Jean Pascalin May  2008, he rattled the boxing world by producing one of the most remarkable comebacks in history. Rallying from an early knockdown and a four-point deficit on two of the scorecards entering the final round, Froch came on to batter former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor senseless and knock him out at 2:46 of the 12th on April 25, 2009. A few months later, Froch entered the Super Six World Boxing Classic on SHOWTIME, where he got the only two defeats of his career, losing decisions to Mikkel Kessler, and toAndre Ward in the finals.

 

# # #

 

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®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. 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 to www.SHO.com.

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SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION WEIGHTS, PHOTOS & FINAL THOUGHTS QUADRUPLEHEADER TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AUG. 19, LIVE ON SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT)

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Heavyweight Jarrell Miller to Face Tough Veteran Fred Kassi
In Main Event From Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

Lightweights Mason Menard and Bahodir Mamadjonov Clash in Co-Main Event

While Bantamweight Antonio Nieves Takes On Alejandro Santiago in a 10-Rounder

And Welterweights Bakhtiyar Eyubov and Karim Mayfield Do Battle in Telecast Opener

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Rosie Cohe/SHOWTIME

 

“Anthony Joshua is a punk. Deontay Wilder, don’t get me started…”

– Jarrell Miller, Undefeated Heavyweight Prospect

 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Aug. 18, 2016) – The eight fighters who’ll be fighting on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, Aug. 19, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT) at Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., all made weight Thursday.

 

Undefeated Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (17-0-1, 15 KOs) faces his toughest test to date in veteran Fred Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs) in the main event, which will take place at the outdoor USL soccer venue here.  The co-main event features promising Louisiana lightweight “Rock Hard Mighty” Mason Menard (31-1, 23 KOs) facing his most dangerous foe to date in Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov (18-2, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas, by way of Uzbekistan in a 10-round battle for the WBO NABO Lightweight title.

 

Plus, undefeated welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y., by way of Kazakhstan, steps up to face veteran Karim Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs) of San Francisco in a 10-round clash. And unbeaten Antonio Nieves (16-0-1, 8 KOs) of Cleveland will square off against Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago (11-2-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round bantamweight bout for Nieves’ WBO NABO Title.

The Weights: Miller tipped the scales at 296 ½ pounds, while Kassi weighed 237 ¼ pounds. Menard weighed 134 ½ pounds, while his opponent, Mamadjonov, measured half pound over the limit on his first try, but hit the 135 mark half an hour later. Nieves weighed 117 even, while Santiago weighed 117 ½ pounds. Eyubov weighed 142 ½, while Mayfiled measured at 142 ¾ pounds.

 

The event is presented by Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions.

 

Here’s what the principals had to say prior to the weigh-in:

 

Jarrell Miller, Undefeated Heavyweight Prospect

“Mike Tyson was a freak of nature. Vitali Klitschko was a freak of nature. I’m also a freak of nature. I’m 6’ 4” and pushing 280. I’m a big guy, but I’m athletic. I can move. I can punch, and I was a kickboxer. I’m not your average heavyweight.  I’m not trying to change the blueprint of how heavyweights should be.  I’m just being myself and doing my job.

 

“They are like, ‘we’ve seen his body, we’ve seen his size. We’ll outwork him,’ but they are wrong.  Never can judge a book by its cover.  I’ll outwork him in the ring. I’m fast, I’m good and I can punch. He’s not going to see me coming.

 

“Don’t let my weight fool you. I’ve been doing cardio. I’m in really good shape and I’m ready to go the distance.

 

“Every fight, I have to know how to adjust. I feel like Fred has never been in with a guy like me. He’s been with [Chris] Arreola, who doesn’t move as much, and he also fought [Dominic] Breazeale, who doesn’t have good footwork. I’m telling you, he’s never fought a big athletic body like me. He’s in for a surprise.

 

“I know my jab is going to be on his face. For me, it’s not just about winning, it’s about performance.  Every fight in my career from now on it’s about more than winning. Now I have to prove myself. I have to prove I’m worthy of a title shot.

 

“I wasn’t happy with my [Jan. 22] win over Donovan Dennis. I knew I could’ve done better than a seventh-round TKO. That’s why I’m pushing myself on this fight. I want to win convincingly and I will.

 

“Anthony Joshua is a punk. Deontay Wilder, don’t get me started. Now, Tyson Fury can actually punch. I’ll give him that. From all of them, Fury in my opinion is the better one. That’s why I want to fight him. I believe you should go for the hardest ones first. You take the biggest guy out first and then, you go for the easy ones. That’s how it’s supposed to be and that’s what I’d like to do. Take the hard ones out first. Fury, you are next.”

 

Fred Kassi, Heavyweight Prospect

“I’ll be a little bit heavier than usual for this fight, but I’m feeling good. I’m feeling ready. I hope the judges see that. I have had some bad experiences with judges recently.

 

“I have had some big fights. I dealt with big guys and talkers, but that doesn’t concern me because in the ring it’s going to be just the two of us. That is when the real fight is going to happen.

 

“I did my job against Arreola, I did what I had to do against Dominic Breazeale. I got robbed.

I’ve never fought a heavyweight shorter than me. I’m usually the shorter one in the ring, but I know my game.  I know what I’m doing.”

 

“I’ve gotten robbed so many times. I was coming on hard against Hughie Fury. I didn’t do great in the first rounds, but I was leading in the late ones, and he was slowing down. The stoppage was a relief for him. He was running out of gas.

 

Mason Menard, Lightweight Prospect

“After that last knockout, so many people were actually exhilarated about it.  People that didn’t even know me, they’d come up and say, ‘Are you Mason?  Man, I saw that KO [and show me the video]. I’ve watched it a thousand times.’”

 

On his opponent…

“He’s one of those guys that no one wants to fight.  I took this fight as soon as it was offered because it’s another step up for me.  I have to beat guys like this to get to the A-class of fighters.  He’s not a bad fighter but he’s not A-class.  I simply have to beat guys like this.

 

“Hand speed and foot speed, those are my difference makers.”

 

On his growth beyond the La., circuit now, after 35 fights:

“I am glad to be getting the national exposure now.  We had some step up fights in Louisiana at first.  Now, we are right where we need to be.  It’s all happening now.”

 

Bahodir Mamadjonov Lightweight Prospect

“Menard fought many of the same fighters that we have. Many guys in the same class as we did.  So, we are not impressed with his record or his knockouts.  We prepared for seven or eight weeks. Although we only knew of this opponent for two-three weeks.  At this level, this is no surprise.  We are ready.

 

“We tried to fight him years ago.  He was 17-1 or 18-1 at the time and he didn’t want the fight.  Now, he’s out of options.  I am by far the toughest test of his career.

 

“We are close to a world title now. A win here, our third appearance on SHOWTIME, and against a world-rated lightweight…. “I will bring the fight to Mason Menard.  That is my style and it doesn’t change for this fight.  He’s fighting to prove he’s legitimate.  I am here to earn my title shot.”

 

Antonio Nieves, Bantamweight Prospect

“When they tell you are going to fight and then you hear your opponent got injured, you get a little bit down. Thankfully, Alejandro Santiago was ready to step up.

 

“We’ve noticed he’s successful when the fighter gets in his face, and I have the right strategy for that.

 

“From my last fight I took two weeks off, and then back in the gym. I didn’t even know the name of my opponent. I just wanted to be ready to go when the fight was set.

 

“I’m ranked fifth in the WBO, after Santiago I want to fight for the WBO bantamweight title and then, I will probably look for Rau’shee Warren to unify the titles. I think there’s not enough action in my division and I’m ready to change that.”

 

Alejandro Santiago, Bantamweight Prospect

“I’ve known about this fight for two months. I was about 130 pounds when I found out. I’ve been training hard and I feel ready to move up in weight. I’m ready for my opponent.

 

“I like to box. I like to get in my opponent’s face. I like to hit and not get hit. I’ve worked a lot on my defensive skills.

 

“I know Nieves is a tough fighter. He’s skilled. But I have a good strategy. I’ll approach him smartly, and I’ll get the decision.”

 

Bakhtiyar Eyubov, Undefeated Welterweight Prospect

“We have been training in a large ring, specifically to prepare to cut the ring off.  We are prepared to go 10 rounds, to go 15 rounds.  We are not worried about going rounds.”

 

(Re: only 10 fights so far in career):

“I grew up in the gym, had a great amateur career.  I expect to progress quickly just like the great amateurs before me.  I am at the peak of my strength and I am ready.  Karim has never been stopped, never been dropped.  He’s a real test.

 

“I grew up in a rough environment, in the streets.  I am not intimidated.  If not for boxing, I would be in a very bad situation back home (Kazakhstan).”

 

(Re: Mayfield)

“It will be a real fight. I hope he is ready 100 percent because we are.  I am not a God, we can’t predict, but know this, it will be a good show.  Let him do his job.  I will do my job.  And I will have him out of there within five rounds.”

 

 

Karim Mayfield, Welterweight Prospect

“I’m a world class opponent. I’ve fought better fighters than him. He will be taking his first loss.

 

“For those that say it’s too late at 36, I tell them they are wrong. I’m not worn out. I haven’t been in one-sided wars or beatings. I’ve been taking care of myself.  I’m experienced and I know my craft.

 

“I’m planning to show my opponent I know how to utilize the ring. I’ve only been down once.  I know my opponent is a strong fighter and that he’s going to come strong, but he’s not going to take me down.

 

“I’m used to training late. I hit the gym at 7 or 8 o’clock at night. Our fight is latetomorrow, but I’m used to it. At that time Eyubov is going to sleep. So, I’m going to do him a favor and I’ll put him to sleep.

 

“I feel that I still have the opportunity to thrive, to move forward in my boxing career. There’s still a lot of me left.”

 

# # #

 

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 67 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.

 

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.

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VIDEO: GROWING UP FAST IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

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“I want to be heavyweight champion of the world.  I want all the belts’’ – Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller

 

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Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller is brash, outspoken and powerful.  In the last year alone, he’s called out the entire heavyweight division, most notably world champions Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.  It’s Miller Time, “Big Baby” believes.  Bring on anybody!

 

The unbeaten, world-ranked Miller, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is 17-0-1 with 15 knockouts.  The 28-year-old meets veteran Fred Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs), of New Orleans, in Friday’s 10-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT) from Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

“Every time I get into the ring I’m looking for knockouts,’’ says Miller, who has scored six consecutive stoppages in a row. “I want to be heavyweight champion of the world. I want all the belts.

“I can box. I can slug. I bring the pain … and I’ve got a big damn mouth
and I’m not afraid to use it.”

 

# # #

 

In the ShoBox co-feature, Louisiana lightweight “Rock Hard Mighty” Mason Menard (31-1, 23 KOs) faces Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov(18-2, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas by way of Uzbekistan in a 10-rounder for the WBO NABO Lightweight Title.

 

In two more scheduled 10-round bouts, unbeaten Antonio Nieves (16-0-1, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, defends his WBO NABO 118-pound crown against Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago (11-2-1, 3 KOs), and, in the telecast opener,undefeated welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Kazakhstan, meets veteran Karim Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs), of San Francisco, Calif.

 

Tickets for the event presented by Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions are available at http://www.rhinossoccer.com/and http://www.etix.com

 

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

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KARIM MAYFIELD, BACK AT 100 PERCENT, PLANNING SURPRISE PARTY FOR UNBEATEN BAKHTIYAR EYUBOV ON AUG. 19

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Welterweights Collide In Opening Bout on ShoBox: The New Generation;
Undefeated heavyweight Jarrell Miller Meets Fred Kassi in Main Event
 Live at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®
 
NEW YORK (Aug. 11, 2016) – If the team behind Bakhtiyar Eyubov think his next fight will be another easy showcase for their unbeaten welterweight, his opponent, Karim Mayfield has a message.
 
“He’s a very strong guy, but I’m more experienced than he is for sure,” said Mayfield. “He comes out looking for the first-round knockout by swinging with everything he’s got and he’s going to find it doesn’t work on me.”
 
Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs), of San Francisco, will take on Kazakhstan’s Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs) in the 10-round opening fight on ShoBox: The New Generation®  on Friday, Aug.  19, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.
 
In the 10-round main event, power-punching Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (17-0-1, 15 KOs) will take on smooth veteran Fred Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs) for the NABO Heavyweight Title. In the 10-round co-featured bout, top prospect Mason Menard (31-1, 23 KOs) will face tough Bahodir Mamadjonov (19-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the NABO Lightweight Title. Also featured is WBO NABO Bantamweight Champion Antonio Nieves(16-0-1, 8 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, defending his title against Alejandro “Peque” Santiago (11-2-1, 3 KOs), of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
 
 
Tickets for the event, presented by Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions, are available at www.rhinossoccer.com/and http://www.etix.com.
Mayfield, who has held and defended the NABO Super Lightweight Championship, beaten “uncrowned” world champion Mauricio Herrera by unanimous decision, as well as former world champion Steve Forbes and taken the “0” of then red-hot prospect Raymond Serrano, correctly points out Eyubov’s lack of experience. Eyubov has only boxed a total of 16 rounds as a professional over four and a half years. Take his victory over Jarred Robinson off the list and the combined record of his other nine opponents is 20-87-10 and they have been knocked out 48 times.
“He doesn’t show too much footwork either, so he’s going to have trouble,” Mayfield said. “I expect to bring it to him and for him to not be able to last the whole 10 rounds with me.”
 
Mayfield’s promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says another KO by Eyubov is far from a foregone conclusion.
 
“There is no doubt that Eyubov is very strong and a tremendous puncher, but his lack of experience and quality of opposition leaves glaring question marks that will definitely be answered when he fights Karim,” said Cohen. “Mayfield has fought at the highest level of the sport. Just take a snapshot of his last four opponents and their combined record of 73-14 with 44 KO’s.”
Cohen says that if Eyubov can steamroll his fighter like he has his previous ones, he’ll be the first to congratulate him.
“This is the classic matchup of a young stud vs. the established veteran. If Eyubov can knock out Karim like he has the opposition he has faced to date, I will be the first to take my hat off to him and would instantly consider him one of the top new contenders to burst onto the scene. On the flipside, if Karim beats Eyubov, this win should catapult him back to the top of the contender list and would immediately make him eligible for a world title bout or title eliminator. Truly a crossroads fight for both guys and one in which I really like Karim’s chances.”
“I’m training hard and getting prepared and sparring guys who come forward,” Mayfield said. “You haven’t seen a 100 percent Karim Mayfield. I’ve shown glimpses of it, but the past three fights, my training hasn’t been on point. I was training like a boxer. I’m not the boxer type. I bring it to you and I’m back to my original style. That wasn’t a good look for me. I was burning more energy moving around. I’m excited about this opportunity. After this win, I’ll be back in the top-tier fights. I’m excited I have a great opportunity and proper time to get prepared. I’m working hard and getting ready and I look forward to a sensational victory.”
 
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhoodand former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
 
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UNBEATEN HEAVYWEIGHT JARRELL “BIG BABY” MILLER, UNDEFEATED HARD-HITTING WELTERWEIGHT BAKHTIYAR EYUBOV MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS FROM NEW YORK

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Boxers Featured on ShoBox: The New Generation Tripleheader

Friday, Aug. 19, Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

“I’m different to all the heavyweights out there. I’m not chasing a pay day. I’m chasing a legacy.” – Jarrell Miller

 

For Photos Click HERE (Credit: Rosie Cohe/SHOWTIME)

TV Outlets: For RAW Workout Highlights & Soundbites Click HERE (Credit SHOWTIME)

 

NEW YORK (July 19, 2016) – Promising, unbeaten, power-punching heavyweight Jarrell “ Big Baby” Miller and undefeated welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar Eyubov participated in an Open Media Workout Tuesday at Mendez Boxing in Manhattan, N.Y.

 

Miller and Eyubov, who both fight out of Brooklyn, N.Y., will be featured in two of the three fights of a ShoBox: The New Generation  tripleheader on Friday,Aug. 19, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m.. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the outdoor soccer venue at Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

The confident, fast-talking Miller (17-0-1, 15 KOs), a consensus top 15 heavyweight, will take on the experienced Fred Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs), of New Orleans, La. in the 10-round main event. Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs), a native of Kazakhstan, will be opposed by veteran Karim Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs), of San Francisco, Calif. in a 10-rounder that will open the telecast. Undefeated bantamweight prospects, world-ranked Nikolay Potapov (14-0-1, 6 KOs), of Potolsk, Russia, and Antonio Nieves (16-0-1, 8 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio square off in the 10-round co-feature.

 

Tickets for the event presented by Salita Promotions are on sale and available at www.rhinossoccer.com/ and http://www.etix.com.

 

This is what the Miller, Eyubov and promoter Dmitriy Salita said Tuesday:

 

JARRELL “BIG BABY” MILLER

On Training Camp…

“Training camp is going real well. I put on a lot of muscle for this camp, I’m going to put on a lot of solid mass, I am going to go in there and manhandle it. Like a chew toy in a dog’s mouth, I want to mangle it.

 

“I’m really committed to this training camp. I’ve made some changes: less cheeseburgers. I cut down from three cheeseburgers to one cheeseburger a day. Same thing, in the gym every day, not doing anything different. My main thing is my strength and my speed and we are going to see, come Aug. 19.”

On His Opponent, Fred Kassi…

“Supposedly Fred Kassi is the most durable guy I have fought in my whole entire boxing career. This is what they are saying and I tip my hat off to the guy; he’s been in some fights where I thought he won and he ended up on the wrong side of the decision. When he fought other fighters, he had three weeks training camp, two weeks’ notice. He had two months to get ready for this. I’m not a last-minute opponent. He’s going to come in ready and I’m not about to underestimate him.

“I’m a boxer-puncher and he’s more one-dimensional. He switches back and forth, he’s not pretty at what he does, but no worries, you can look at me, because I am nice at what I do.

I predict a fifth-sixth round knockout. Kassi is definitely a doable guy, but I feel once he sees my size and my pressure and the speed that I bring with my footwork – it’s going to be game over for him. I know for a fact I’m going to knock out Fred Kassi, fifth or sixth round. That’s what I do, I take your heart, I take your soul, I take your ribs.”

On Deontay Wilder…

“Wilder is a wild man when he gets in that ring, but at the same time if you watch how he performs, he performs at a mediocre level against mediocre fighters. If you stick him to a world professional athlete, like myself or top guys, you’ll see him bring even more. Not saying he hasn’t been in the ring with A+ fighters yet, but you can see all his loopholes in his fighting style. It’s just a matter of time before he gets really exposed and I hope it is with me because I want that behind.

“Shorter fighters do what they do, taller fighters do what they do. Deontay is tall but he doesn’t do what his body is designed to do; he’s trying to do something that smaller guys do, so that is going to be his downfall. Like I said, it is just a matter of time and I am going to break him in half, him and his toothpick legs.

“I was watching the livestream of the Wilder-Arreola fight and it was horrible. It was horrible because he is the heavyweight champion of the world. He doesn’t understand that he is doing more damage to himself than he thinks he is. He’s getting hurt. He’s getting hit. He’s taking some punishment.

 

“I want to fight Wilder. If he sees my style, if he sees my footwork, he’ll realize I’m no Artur Szpilka or Chris Arreola. And when I get in there, well, most of my fights end up in knockouts. I’m 100 percent power. Once I touch them, they are getting hurt.”

 

On Anthony Joshua…

“Joshua is overrated, overhyped. I am going to break that jaw of his. Definitely one of the weakest of the heavyweight champs.

 

“It comes down to the basics. You have a lot of guys that have a lot of punching power and basic skills and that’s not enough. Joshua is a basic heavyweight, a one-two fighter. I could cut that half way across the ring.

 

“I’d fight Joshua when the timing is right. I personally don’t want to go and fight Joshua just because I’m his ‘next.’ I think that when the time is right, it’ll be me and him at the MGM Grand on pay-per-view. One of those super sweepstakes fights, you know.”

 

On Tyson Fury…

“I like Tyson Fury, I still want to break his fingers in half but he is good for the sport of boxing and I feel like me and him for a main event will sell any arena out. He talks a lot of smack and he does back it up, but he is still a jokester and I am real. I will smash him if he tries to step on me in the press conference. I will knock him out, same way I will for everyone else.

“A fight between us two will be like Comedy Central on steroids, it would be bananas. It would sell out kind of like a Mayweather-Pacquiao … I feel like we can capture the heavyweight division and put it back on the map, just because of the way he talks. As an American heavyweight I feel like we have to take over American soil first. I’ll fight anywhere and anytime, but on the business side, I have to take over my country first.”

 

On the Heavyweight Division…

“They better get motivated now because I’m coming. I’m hungry and I’m motivated. SHOWTIME is having me on the main event on national television. I’m telling you I’m coming, and I’m coming to stay. They better get ready.

 

“I’m different to all the heavyweights out there. I’m not chasing a pay day. I’m chasing a legacy. I’m trying to change the layout. I’m trying to change the game. I’m trying to change my future and make history at the same time.”

 

 

BAKHTIYAR EYUBOV

“I have had hard training camps before, but this is up there. It’s one of the most intense camps I’ve ever had. I know that people expect me to deliver another knockout, but I’m training to go the distance. I’m scheduled to go 10 rounds and I am preparing myself as best as I can.

 

“My opponent is an experienced and tough fighter. Perhaps my toughest test to date. I’m confident in my skills. He can run, but he can’t hide. There are only four corners, I’ll find him and I’ll do what I came here to do: win.”

 

DMITRIY SALITA

“It is a great honor to be able to promote a show on SHOWTIME and both of these fighters. Miller and Eyubov are both willing to show that they are some of the best in their respective divisions.

 

“It is going to be a great event, happening at a special venue in Rochester at the soccer stadium, outside in the summer time. The show has all the ingredients to be a key event of the summer.”

 

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UNDEFEATED AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT JARRELL MILLER TO FACE TOUGH VETERAN FRED KASSI ON FRIDAY, AUG. 19 IN MAIN EVENT OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

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Tripleheader from Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.  Airs Live at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®

 

Click HERE For Archive Images; Credit SHOWTIME

 

NEW YORK (June 30, 2016) – Undefeated heavyweight Jarrell Miller claims he’s America’s top heavyweight prospect.  “Big Baby” will get a chance to back up his boast when he faces his toughest test to date in veteran Fred Kassi in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, Aug. 19.

 

The confident and hard-hitting Miller (17-0-1, 15 KOs) and the durable and vastly experienced Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs) will headline a tripleheader live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from the outdoor soccer venue Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

 

Two undefeated young bantamweight prospects will square off in theShoBox co-feature as world-ranked Nikolay Potapov (14-0-1, 6 KOs) and Antonio Nieves (16-0-1, 8 KOs) meet in a 10-round bantamweight bout.

 

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated welterweight knockout artist Bakhtiyar Eyubov (10-0, 10 KOs) will face battle-tested veteran Karim Mayfield (19-3-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round match.

 

Tickets for the event presented by Salita Promotions go on sale this Friday at Noon ET and are available at http://www.rhinossoccer.com/and http://www.etix.com

 

“This is an amazing opportunity. I’m in the main event going against a tough opponent, and he’s definitely game to fight,” Miller said.  “I’m ready to put his lights out like I do everybody else.  I know he’s durable and a little older than me.  He’s a tough guy and he can take a beating.  So far, he’s only been stopped once. I’ll be the second.

 

“I’m going back to basics in this camp.  I’m an advanced fighter, but there are a couple of things I’ve wanted to work on.  It’s easy for heavyweights to rely on power and forget about technique. You see what happened to Dominic Breazeale against Anthony Joshua?  His power didn’t mean jack because there was no technique behind it.  I want to be the kind of fighter who puts his technique first and power last.”

 

“I approach Jarrell like all young fighters,” Kassi said.  “I’m a seasoned pro that has fought top-tier opponents.  Jarrell will have to bring his ‘A game’ against me.  He’s got size and power, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen.  I’m tired of getting robbed by judges like in El Paso (against Chris Arreola), and in Alabama (against Dominic Breazeale).  That should have been me fighting Anthony Joshua in The O2.  Against (Hughie) Fury, the cut saved him.  Another round or two and he would have been done.  Then we heard what we always hear, ‘oh, Fury had a bad night, so did Breazeale, so did Arreola.’  They all seem to have ‘bad’ nights when I’m in the other corner.  I’m hoping to actually get some credit when Miller has a ‘bad’ night too.  I’m a heavyweight boxer, that’s boxer underlined.  I move my feet, I use angles, I hit and don’t get hit.  That’s boxing and it’s my art.  Boxing fans are going to have a great time watching me dismantle a giant.”

 

“I am very happy to be back on SHOWTIME fighting the best opponent of my career,” Eyubov said. “I know this will be my hardest fight to date and that’s what motivates me.  I am grateful that I am getting an opportunity to prove myself and I want to show that I am ready for the best fighters in the world.  I am ready for the boxing world to know my name.  August 19, Karim Mayfield, here I come.”

 

“This will be a special event at Rochester Rhinos soccer stadium.  We have America’s brightest heavyweight contender in Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller and a knockout sensation out of Brooklyn by way of Kazakhstan in Bakhtiyar ‘Bakha’ Eyubov,” promoter Dmitriy Salita said.  “This show has all the ingredients to be one of the most talked about boxing events of the summer, and we think Miller has all the skills and charisma to break through in the heavyweight division.   I am grateful to SHOWTIME and Rhinos Stadium that boxing fans will witness talented fighters in their toughest fights to date.  I look forward to an explosive night of boxing.”

 

“Wendy and I are so excited to be hosting both SHOWTIME and the fighting debut of Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller at Rhinos Stadium,” said Wendy and David Dworkin, owners of the Rochester Rhinos soccer stadium.  “August 19 will be a great opportunity to showcase our stadium and the City of Rochester to a nationwide audience.”

 

The menacing Miller, a 6-foot-4 Brooklyn, N.Y. native, is a consensus top 15 heavyweight – he’s ranked No. 8 in the WBO, No. 9 in the WBA and No. 14 in the IBF.  The 27-year-old former professional kickboxer has knocked out six consecutive opponents as he’s risen through the rankings as one of America’s top heavyweight hopes.  Prior to Miller’s knockout of Nick Guivas on May 27, his previous two fights were onShoBox – a third round destruction of Akhror Muralimov last October and a knockout of Donovan Dennis in January in which he was pushed to the seventh round for the first time.

 

Kassi has been in with some of the most recognizable names in the heavyweight division, including Amir Mansour, Dominic Breazeale and Hughie Fury.  The 36-year-old fought to a disputed majority draw with three-time world title challenger Chris Arreola last July on PBC on CBS in which most ringside observers, including ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood, had Kassi winning by a wide margin.  The New Orleans resident has been stopped just once – in 2014 by Mansour – and stands as an excellent barometer for Miller’s progression as a legitimate contender.

 

The fast-rising Potapov, of Potolsk, Russia, is ranked in the top 15 in three of the four sanctioning bodies (No. 7 WBO, No. 13 IBF, No. 14 WBA) after just 15 professional fights.  A former amateur standout with over 200 fights, the 25-year-old Potapov has already gone at least 10 rounds seven times since turning professional in 2010.  The only blemish on his record is a draw with undefeated prospect Stephon Young in his last fight on April 15 on ShoBox.

 

Coincidently, the only blemish on Antonio Nieves’ record is a 2015 draw with Stephon Young.  The 29-year-old is coming off his first 10-round performance, a unanimous decision over then once-beaten Oscar Mojica on June 18.  The Cleveland, Ohio native will face his toughest opponent to date in fellow unbeaten Potapov in the matchup of unbeaten bantamweights.

 

The Brooklyn-based Eyubov has passed every test he’s faced, and knocked out all of his opponents in the process.  The 29-year-old native of Kazakhstan is coming off an impressive third-round stoppage of veteran Jared Robinson last January on ShoBox.  Eyubov will step up his level of opposition when he faces Karim Mayfield, a 35-year-old veteran who owns wins over Mauricio Herrera and Steve Forbes and has never been stopped in 23 fights.

 

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

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Major statement made by Undefeated Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade

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PROVIDENCE (June 23, 2016) – A year after he was stripped of his world super welterweight title by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), undefeated super welterweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade has repositioned himself off of his sensational June 11 th stoppage of  Willle “The Great” Nelson on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.
The 28-year-old Andrade (23-0, 16 KOs) decked Nelson (25-3-1, 15 KOs) four times, finishing off his game opponent who’d never been knocked out, in the 12th round of their fight at Turning Stone Casino (Verona, N.Y).
Andrade successfully defended his WBO International title and also gained several valuable options in terms of world title and/or major fights.  He is now the No. 1 mandatory contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC), waiting to challenge the winner of a mandated title fight between new champion Jermell Charlo and WBC Silver title holder Charles Hatley.  The 2008 U.S. Olympian is No. 2 in the WBO, No. 3 in the World Boxing Association (WBA), and Miguel Cotto is No. 1 in both of those sanctioning organizations.
After his sensational, statement-making performance against Nelson, Andrade said he wanted to fight anybody whose name started with “C” and ended in ‘O” – the Charlo brothers (IBF champion isJermall Charlo), Cotto and “Canelo” (Saul Alvarez).
“I am the best fighter in the 154-pound division,” Andrade proclaimed.  “I’m the No. 1 contender in the WBO.  Liam Smith is holding my belt but I don’t believe he’ll fight me.  I’m the WBC mandatory for the Charlo-Hatley winner.  Once I get that belt I’ll beat Charlo’s twin for the IBF title and I’ve been calling out (WBA champ Erislandy) Lara for a long time.  But ‘Canelo’ is the big money fight out there for me and who I want the most.  I can be ready for him in September for his next fight.  At the end of the day, we’ll see what’s up, but I want to get right back in the ring as soon as one of these guys step up to fight me.”
During his long layoff, Andrade made a conscious effort to be a more fan-friendly fighter, building up his strength to go along with his superior quickness.  Many called his last fight, ‘Mayweather-like,’ in which Demetrius displayed tremendous power and explosiveness, which complemented his incredible boxing skills and defense.
“When I first turned pro,” Andrade explained, “I was getting in the ring with some good fighters, so I was cautious and settled in on just getting a victory.  I learned that I needed to change in order to put butts in seats.  I don’t get hit and I also showed that I could go 12 rounds, good for experience, and still takeout a tough fighter like Nelson who had never been stopped.  I wasn’t going for the knockout but, after I caught him early with a right hook, I knew that it would come if I was patient and kept up the pressure. I think Willie can give any of the other top guys at 154 a good fight.  He has a big heart and came to win. It wasn’t as easy as it may have looked on the scorecards.  Willie pushed me to look good. During my layoff, I worked hard on my craft to be better, concentrating on strength and conditioning, and it really showed in my last fight. I worked on my fundamentals and had a lot of success going to the body.  I believe fans saw improvement in my performance and appreciated it.”
More comfortable knowing his promotional issues are now in the past (his A Team Promotions owns 50% of his rights to go along with 25% each for Banner Promotions (Artie Pelullo) and Star Boxing (Joe DeGuardia), Andrade is prepared to clean out the 154-division before eventually moving up in weight to take on Gennady Golovkin in what Andrade believes can be a mega-fight in due time.
“I’ve always known since I first saw Demetrius in the ring at 14 years old that he was going to become a superstar,” A Team Promotions president Ed Farris commented.  “There were so many doubters and obstacles along the way. It sure took a long time to get here but I’m so happy for him that his moment has finally arrived.  You don’t know how good it feels to see him fulfill his destiny.”
Andrade, in fact, hasn’t lost inside the ring in nearly eight years, when he was ripped off against Korean boxer Kim Jung-Joo, 11-9, in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.  The boxer named “Boo Boo” – as a kid with cuts, bumps and bruises – doesn’t plan on changing his unbeaten script.
“I’m still untouchable,” Andrade concluded.  “I’ve shown my continued commitment to boxing.  It’s ‘Boo Boo’ time!”
INFORMATION
Twitter: @BooBooBoxing
Instagram:  @BooBooATeam
www.Facebook.com.DemetriusAndrade
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JOHN MOLINA OUTPOINTS RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV; DEMETRIUS ANDRADE DELIVERS STATEMENT KO VICTORY AND DEJAN ZLATICANIN WINS 135-POUND TITLE SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME®

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Andrade Knocks Out Willie Nelson: VIDEO:http://s.sho.com/1ZHD8CJ

Zlaticanin KOs Franklin Mamani: VIDEO:http://s.sho.com/28tCoqP

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Tripleheader Replays Monday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

Click HERE For Images; Credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

VERONA, N.Y. (June 11, 2016) – John Molina outpunched Ruslan Provodnikov in an all-action fight by revealing a new weapon in his arsenal, a sharp and steady  jab.  Molina captured a surprising unanimous decision in a 12-round junior welterweight bout that featured fierce exchanges throughout Saturday on SHOWTIME from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

 

In the co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Demetrius Andrade delivered a statement, knockout victory over Willie Nelson, staking his claim as one of the world’s best in the stacked 154-pound division.  In the opening bout, Dejan Zlaticanin knocked out Franklin Mamani to earn the vacant 135-pound world title and make history as the first native of Montenegro to win a world championship.

 

Molina and Provodnikov promised a war, and they delivered.  But what surprised many was the volume of punches and effective jabbing from Molina (29-6, 23 KOs), a veteran more known for engaging in brawls than his boxing prowess.  Molina threw nearly 1,110 total punches, including 643 jabs compared to just 265 for Provodnikov, who failed to close the range on his naturally bigger opponent.

 

“We knew we had to outwork Provodnikov,” said the 33-year-old Covina, Calif., native.  “It was a fight that we needed.  Ruslan Provodnikov is a very notable name.  He’s a tough, tough guy.  He kept moving forward.

 

“People don’t realize I had my amateur career in the pros, and now it’s my time to step out and shine.  I have a new trainer.  Shadeed (Suluki) showed me how to throw punches and use my power.”

 

Molina vs. Provodnikov was scored 116-112, 117-111, 115-113.

 

“I think it (the scorecard) was self-explanatory.  A fighter knows when they won a fight.  I won that fight and it was going to be hard to take it away from me.”

 

The judges agreed on nine of the 12 rounds, a relatively high percentage according to SHOWTIME analyst Steve Farhood.

 

“Today the decision was the right one,” Provnikov said.  “Molina won the fight – he was better tonight.  Everything was scored the way it should have been.

 

“We expected that he was going to box, he was going to move.  We expected him to do that.  It wasn’t my night.  Maybe I don’t have the same hungriness as before.  I’m not going to make excuses, but it was hard for me to find my groove tonight.

 

“I don’t think it’s that (the layoff).  There are no excuses.  I lost the fighttonight.  I couldn’t find the hungriness.  I have to sit down and think of why that happened.

 

“I’m sorry if I disappointed.”

 

Undefeated former world champion Demetrius Andrade put on a masterful performance against top-10 ranked Willie Nelson, flooring the former world title challenger four times including once in the opening round and emphatically in the final round to close the show (TKO 12,1:38).

 

With the win, Nelson, who landed a staggering 57 percent of his power punches in just his second fight in two years, moved one step closer to earning another shot at a title fight.  Andrade, who never lost his belt in the ring, is now the second mandatory challenger for the WBC Super Welterweight World Title, currently held by Jermell Charlo.

 

“I’m coming to get those belts,” said the 28-year-old Andrade.  “People can’t run no more.  The best have to fight the best.  I’m coming for them.

 

“I came back, I’m stronger.  Me and my team worked hard.  We figured out what we need to do to take it to the next level.  I’m ready for the Charlo brothers.  I want them.”

 

Andrade was on his way to pitching a shutout, delivering a statement performance after months of frustration from “boxing politics.”  The former WBO 154-pound champion targeted the head and the body of Nelson, relying on a steady diet of combos to floor the 6-foot-3 Nelson in the first, 11th and twice in the 12th.

 

“I’m young enough and my reaction time is still going,” Andrade said.  “Willie Nelson is a true champion.  He pushed me to the limit where I had to figure out what punches to throw.  But I put the pieces of the puzzle together and got the knockout, baby.

 

Nelson, of Cleveland, dropped to 25-3-1 with 15 KOs.

 

“He was tough,” Nelson said.  “I was forcing my shots too much. I felt like I was getting back into the fight, but he was crafty and mobile.

 

“I am ready for whatever is next and, despite what happened tonight, I am here to stay.  My career won’t end like this.”

 

In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME telecast, Zlaticanin blasted late-replacement Mamani with a third round TKO (:54) to win the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship.

 

The 32-year-old Zlaticanin (18-0, 10 KOs) became the first native of the Southeastern European country of Montenegro to capture a world championship.

 

“I’m very proud.  I made Montenegro proud,” Zlaticanin said.  “I want to thank my fans that came to support me.  I think I made my country proud.  I think they will be delighted.  I don’t think they know what this means, but in a few days they will know.”

 

The southpaw Zlaticanin pounced with a powerful straight left that had Mamani in trouble just seconds into the fight.  The Bolivian, who was also aiming to become the first native of his homeland to win a title, survived the round but he was in trouble again in the third.  Zlaticanin staggered with an overhand left and followed with a series of unanswered blows that forced referee Charlie Fitch to halt the contest with Mamani (21-3-1, 12 KOs) defenseless against the ropes.

 

“I knew that I would knock him out.  He stood too close to me.

 

After the fight, Zlaticanin called out Jorge Linares, the WBC Lightweight “Champion in Recess”, who pulled out of a tentatively scheduled match with Zlaticanin due to an injury.

 

“I want Linares next.  He can’t run from me anymore.

 

In undercard action on SHO EXTREME, Willie Monroe Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) won a unanimous decision (96-92, 95-93, 99-89) over John Thompson (17-2, 6 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup of former world title challengers.  Monroe scored two knockdowns, one in the second and another with a straight right jab in the fifth.

 

In the opening bout on SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME, Russian heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (29-3, 24 KOs) scored four knockdowns en route to a sixth round TKO (1:33) of Mario Heredia (11-2, 9 KOs, 1-2 in WSB).

 

Saturday’s event from Turning Stone Resort Casino was promoted by Banner Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

 

Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader replaysMonday, June 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.  The SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME telecast replays Tuesday, June 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME.

 

Brian Custer hosted the SHOWTIME telecast, with Mauro Ranallo calling the action, Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi commentating and Jim Gray reporting. Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood called. the SHOWTIME EXTREME action.  In the Spanish simulcast, Alejandro Luna called the blow-by-blow and former world champion Raul Marquez served as color commentator. The executive producer of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

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RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV & JOHN MOLINA JR., DEMETRIUS ANDRADE & WILLIE NELSON, DEJAN ZLATICANIN & FRANKLIN MAMANI OFFICIAL WEIGHTS & PHOTOS

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SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Live on SHOWTIME®Tomorrow From Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. During International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend

 

Click HERE For Photos Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 

Junior Welterweight Main Event – 12 Rounds

Ruslan Provodnikov – 140 Pounds

John Molina – 140 Pounds

REFEREE: MARK NELSON; JUDGES: DON ACKERMAN (N.Y.), GLENN FELDMAN (Conn.), JOHN MCKAIE (N.Y.)

 

WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds

Demetrius Andrade – 154 Pounds

Willie Nelson – 154 Pounds

REFEREE: RICHARD PAKOZDI; JUDGES: WYNN KINTZ (N.Y.), JOHN MCKAIE (N.Y.), TOM SCHRECK (N.Y.)

 

WBC Lightweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Dejan Zlaticanin – 134 Pounds

Franklin Mamani – 133 ½ Pounds

REFEREE: CHARLIE FITCH; JUDGES: DON ACKERMAN (N.Y.), GLENN FELDMAN (Conn.), JOHN MCKAIE (N.Y.)

 

SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME – 7 p.m. ET/PT

 

Middleweights – 10 Rounds

Willie Monroe Jr. – 160 Pounds

John Thompson – 159 Pounds

REFEREE: MARK NELSON; JUDGES: DON ACKERMAN (N.Y.), GLENN FELDMAN (Conn.), WYNN KINTZ (N.Y.)

 

Heavyweights – 10 Rounds

Andrey Fedosov – 225 ½ Pounds

Mario Heredia – 286 Pounds

REFEREE: RICHARD PAKOZDI, JUDGES: WYNN KINTZ (N.Y.), JOHN MCKAIE (N.Y.), TOM SCHRECK (N.Y.)

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

 

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John Thompson chimes in on his bout with Willie Monroe Jr. that takes on on June 11 on SHOWTIME EXTREME®

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For Immediate Release
Verona, NY (June 10, 2016)–They were Boxcino champions, and in each of their last bouts,Willie Monroe Jr. and John Thompson fought for world titles. This Saturday night, June 11 they will meet in a very important bout at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Monroe and Thompson will fight in a middleweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds and will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT).
Both have been training hard for this important bout, for which the winner will most likely land a big opportunity or another shot at a world title.
John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson (17-2, 6 KO’s)–Newark, NJ
“Everything is going great in camp. I am ready to get this party rolling,” said Thompson, who is coming off a 7th round stoppage defeat to Liam Smith in Manchester, England for the WBO Junior Middleweight world title. “In that fight, I learned some good and bad stuff. The only things that make you better is fighting better opposition. I know that after this win in June 11, I will be back in a big fight and I look forward to seeing everyone in Verona.”
On Saturday, June 11, Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs), a former WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion, and former world title challenger John Molina Jr. (28-6, 23 KOs), of West Covina, Calif., will face each other in the 12-round main event. In the co-feature, undefeated former 154-pound world champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs), of Providence, R.I., will face Willie Nelson (25-2-1, 15 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, in a 12-round WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator.
Opening the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader is a battle for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship between No. 1 ranked Dejan Zlaticanin (17-0, 10 KOs), of the Southeastern European country of Montenegro, and WBC No.5-ranked Franklin Mamani (21-2-1, 12 KOs) of Bolivia. In the SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME® opener, heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (28-3, 23 KOs) takes on Mario Heredia(11-1, 9 KOs, 1-2 in WSB) in a 10-round heavyweight bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).
Turning Stone Resort Casino is no stranger to hosting high caliber nationally televised boxing events. Last year, Turning Stone hosted the epic battle between Provodnikov and Matthysee, selected over arenas in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami. When Provodnikov returns to Turning Stone on June 11th, it will mark Turning Stone’s 18th nationally-televised boxing event, cementing the resort as a mecca for knockout fights. Located in Upstate New York, Turning Stone is an award-winning destination resort, offering world-class amenities including four hotels, 21 restaurants and dining options, two luxurious spas, five beautiful golf courses, and several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
Visit Banner Promotions at www.banner-promotions.com, follow on Twitter at @BannerBoxing, follow on Instagram at @BannerBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions, follow on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/banner-promotions-inc-?trk=biz-companies-cym, and watch on Youtube at www.youtube.com/user/bannervideo.
For Turning Stone Resort Casino: www.turningstone.com ; Twitter: @turningstone ; Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort/