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IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, MIKEY GARCIA FIRST GOES ALL THE WAY BACK

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Watch SHOWTIME Sports Original Digital Series: “THE REVEAL With Mark Kriegel: MIKEY GARCIA”

 

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

 

“There’s a lot more that I’m going to accomplish and there’s going to be a lot more things for him to be proud of.’’ – Mikey Garcia on his father and motivator, Eduardo

 

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Undefeated Two-Time World Champion Returns to the Ring Against Former Titleholder

Elio Rojas On Saturday, July 30, Live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 

 

On the eve of his long-awaited return to the ring, undefeated two-division world champion Mikey Garciatakes a stroll down memory lane in an enlightening and candid conversation with Sports Emmy® Award-Winning Writer Mark Kriegel. The 28-year-old Garcia openly reflects on his two-and-a-half year hiatus from boxing, the toll of his lengthy legal battle, and the humble family background that drives him to compete and strive for greatness.   Check out the latest installment of the SHOWTIME Sports® digital series “THE REVEAL with Mark Kriegel”, to get to know Garcia like never before as he embarks on the second chapter of his career. 

 

Garcia returns to face former world champion Elio Rojas in the co-main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on Saturday, July 30, live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. In a battle of unbeatens in the main event, undefeated Leo Santa Cruz will defend his WBA Featherweight World Championship against former 122-pound titlist, unbeaten Irish star Carl Frampton. 

 

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Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions and presented by Premier Boxing Champions, start at $38 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @mikeygarcia, @PaulMalignaggi @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

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   SANTA CRUZ vs. FRAMPTON BY THE NUMBERS:  SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE IN VOLATILE MIX OF STYLES BETWEEN TWO OF THE WORLD’S BEST

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Santa Cruz’s Volume & Accuracy Battles Frampton’s Superb Jab & Defense
On Saturday, July 30, LIVE on SHOWTIME® From Barclays Center In Brooklyn
 
Click HERE & HERE To Download High Res Versions Of Graphics Featured Below
Credit: SHOWTIME
BROOKLYN (July 21, 2016) – The featherweight world championship clash between defending titlist Leo Santa Cruz and undefeated former unified super bantamweight champ Carl Frampton features an unpredictable and potentially explosive mix of styles between two of the world’s top fighters.
Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBA Featherweight Title against Irish superstar Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs), who relinquished two belts at 122 pounds, when they face off in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader on Saturday, July 30, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Three-division world champion Santa Cruz ranks as one of the world’s top-three fighters in four key categories – Total Punches Thrown, Landed, Connect Percentageand Power Punches Landed (all per round, per CompuBox).
The numbers prove that Santa Cruz is one of the best punchers in the world, toppingGennady Golovkin, Manny Pacquiao and ranking only second by a small margin to pound-for-pound champ Roman “Chocolatito”  Gonzalez in Power Punches Landed Per Round.
More impressively, Santa Cruz ranks as the world’s best in the Plus/Minus category that was dominated for years by pound-for-pound champ Floyd Mayweather.  In that statistical measure, which is determined by subtracting opponents connect percentage from a fighter’s connect percentage, Santa Cruz stands tall at No. 1 (+15.8% per fight), followed by Andre Ward (+15.3), Golovkin (+15.2), Erislandy Lara (+14.5), Terence Crawford(+13.2), Roman Gonzalez (+12.5) and Canelo Alvarez (+12).
While Santa Cruz is a statistical leader in five key categories, defending Santa Cruz’s biggest strength – power punches – is one of Frampton’s greatest attributes.  In his last six fights, Frampton’s opponents landed just 29.2 percent of their power punches.  Comparatively, Santa Cruz landed an astonishing 46.9 percent of his power shots over his last eight fights. Can both fighters continue at this impressive rate when they faceoff on July 30?
Frampton ranks in the top 10 of Opponents Power Punches Connected, meaning he stops his opponents from landing power shots at a staggering rate.  Frampton ranks No. 10 in a group that features Guillermo Rigondeaux, Lara, Wladimir Klitschko, Ward and Crawford.
Additionally, Frampton is the second best in the world in Average Number Of Jabs Thrown Per Round, behind leader Jesus Cuellar and well ahead of Rigondeaux (No. 5), Golovkin (No. 6), Crawford (No. 7) and Kell Brook (No. 8). Santa Cruz is also a statistical leader in this category, ranking No. 9 in the world.
Below is the list of categories where Santa Cruz and Frampton excel:
PLUS/MINUS (hit vs. get hit):
Santa Cruz ranks as the world’s best, followed by Andre Ward (No. 2), Gennady Golovkin (No. 3), Erislandy Lara (No. 4), Terence Crawford (No. 5), Roman Gonzalez (No. 6) and Canelo Alvarez (No. 7).  The retired Floyd Mayweather had previously held the top spot.
TOTAL PUNCHES THROWN PER ROUND:
Leo Santa Cruz only trails Roman Gonzalez in terms of total punches thrown per round.  Santa Cruz (No. 2) tops Jesus Ceullar (No. 3), Juan Francisco Estrada (No. 6), Orlando Salido (No. 7) and Gennady Golovkin (No. 9).  Santa Cruz throws 84.6 total punches per round, compared to boxing’s overall average of 55.5.
AVERAGE TOTAL PUNCHES LANDED PER ROUND:
Santa Cruz trails Roman Gonzalez by less than two percent, connecting at a 33.1 percent clip compared to the overall average of 16.9.  At No. 2, Santa Cruz tops pound-for-pound mainstays Gennady Golovkin (No. 3) and Juan Francisco Estrada (No. 4).  Santa Cruz’s average more than doubles the CompuBox average punches landed per round of 16.9.
TOTAL CONNECT PERCENTAGE:
Santa Cruz ranks in the top three in this important category in which only a few percentage points separate the world’s best.  Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ranks No. 1, followed by Golovkin, Santa Cruz, Roman Gonzalez, Adrien Broner and Andre Ward respectively.  At 39.2 percent, Santa Cruz landed at a nearly 10 percent higher rate than the overall average.
AVERAGE POWER PUNCHES LANDED PER ROUND:
Santa Cruz is second in the world in this category, trailing only Roman Gonzalez by a slim margin and topping Juan Francisco Estrada (No. 3), Abner Mares (No. 5), Golovkin (No. 7) and Pacquiao (No. 8) among others.
AVERAGE JABS THROWN PER ROUND:
Santa Cruz and Frampton both rank in the top 10 in average number of jabs thrown per round.
Frampton, who is second in the world behind leader Jesus Cuellar, tops master jabbers Rigondeaux (No. 5), Golovkin (No. 6), Crawford (No. 7) and Brook (No. 8).  Santa Cruz is ninth best in this category.  Frampton, who trails Cuellar by just one percentage point, throws 13 more jabs per round than the overall average.
OPPONENTS POWER PUNCHES CONNECTED:
Frampton is amongst the world’s best at preventing his opponent from landing power shots.  He ranks at No. 10 in a category that includes Rigondeaux (No. 1), Lara (No. 2), Wladimir Klitschko (No. 3), Ward (No. 4) and Crawford (No. 5).  Frampton’s opponents landed just 29.2 percent of their power shots.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions and presented by Premier Boxing Champions, start at $38 and can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Leo Santa Cruz, Mikey Garcia & Ivan Redkach Los Angeles Media Workout Quotes & Photos

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Stacked Night of Fights Takes Place Saturday, July 30
At Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
Live On SHOWTIME® At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT &
SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7 p.m. ET/PT

Click HERE for Photos
Credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME
 
LOS ANGELES (July 13, 2016) – Two of the most popular Los Angeles-based fighters, featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz and former two-division champion Mikey Garcia, took part in a media workout on Tuesday at City of Angels Boxing Club in Los Angeles, Calif. as they prepare to make a cross-country trip to Brooklyn for their respective Saturday, July 30 showdowns at Barclays Center and live on SHOWTIME®.
Santa Cruz will defend his title against Irish superstar Carl Frampton in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The undefeated Garciawill return to the ring after a two-and-a-half-year layoff to fight former world champion Elio Rojas in a 10-round bout while 154-pound contenders Tony Harrison and Sergey Rabchenko meet in a 12 round IBF Jr. Middleweight eliminator in the televised opener. The telecast will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).
Also in attendance at the workout was promising lightweight contender Ivan Redkach, who takes on Tevin Farmer in the opening bout ofSHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT). Additional action on July 30 will feature an all-Brooklyn welterweight battle between two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi and Gabriel Bracero in the main event of a SHOWTIME EXTREME doubleheader.

Here is what the participants had to say Tuesday:
LEO SANTA CRUZ
“My dream is to be the next big thing in boxing. We’re going to work hard every day in the gym, learn from our mistakes and improve so I can be the best fighter out there. With the help of the fans and the media I think I can accomplish that.
“He has great skills, great punches and he moves very well. It’s going to be a tough fight for me but I’m going to work hard to defend my belt.
“I see Frampton as someone trying to come and take away everything I worked hard for. I can’t let that happen. I’m going to do what I have to do to get the win.
“He’s a very skilled fighter. He has great power and I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. These are the kind of guys I want to fight. It gives me even more motivation to get in the gym and train hard.
“I’ve known Mikey Garcia from the amateur days and our families have sparred with each other. I’ve even trained with Robert Garcia before. To see another great Mexican fighter go over to New York is very exciting. I’m very happy for him. He’s a great guy and a great fighter.
“I think Frampton will keep his power up the weight classes. He couldn’t make 122-pounds anymore and he’s said that he will be even stronger this time. That’s good. That’s what I want. I want him to feel good so it’ll be a tough and entertaining fight.
“I can’t let him come over to the U.S. and get this win. We’re going to go out there and see if he can bring the best out of me. I’m going to be one-hundred percent ready.
“I’m comfortable at 126-pounds. I want to get this win against Carl Frampton and then unify against Gary Russell Jr., Lee Selby or any of the champions. When my body is ready we’ll move up in weight to seek another world title.
“When I first started boxing all I ever thought about was being a world champion one time. Then after I got there I started pushing my goals. If I continue to keep learning and improve as a fighter, I could go all the way up to 140-pounds.
“I’m thrilled to be fighting in New York. It’s going to be my first time out there. I’m excited to meet new fans. The people who have wished I would fight in New York will get to see me. There are people that don’t know me and this my opportunity to be impressive and put on a show for them.”
 
MIKEY GARCIA
“I’m a well-rounded fighter. I can adjust to just about any style. I get a lot of diverse sparring so that I can adjust to anything Rojas might bring. Training camp has been going very well and I think it’s going to be a good night for me.
“I’ve seen Rojas before. I saw him when he was champion. He’s a good fighter with a lot of experience. He can definitely box and has a good right hand. He lost his title to a great champion. He’s very skilled and experience.
“Both of us are boxers and we tend to try to work from a distance. This time I may have to look for the fight a bit more and apply some pressure. If he tries to box around, I’ll find him. I think my power will eventually be the difference and I’ll break him down.
“I don’t believe there will be ring rust because I was never really outside of the ring. I’ve been in the gym the whole time, sparring and training. I would spar 10 or 12 rounds, just to do it. Not because I had a fight, but just to keep me active. I know it seems like a long time, but I don’t really see it. I feel like I was gone six months.
“I want to fight at 135 and fight for a title there. I’m going to see how my body feels after this fight, but that’s the plan as of now. We’re not looking past Elio. I definitely want to get back in the ring soon if everything goes right.
“I have no regrets. I’ve got to enjoy myself more than I had in the last 10 years. When you’re in boxing, it’s a year round sport. You don’t have time to yourself, for your family or friends. You miss out on a lot. I learned a lot in my time away about boxing and more.
“This will end up being about a seven-week training camp, but even prior to that I’ve been staying in the gym. I don’t feel any different. I feel one-hundred percent. My body is well-rested which makes me hungrier and more motivated.
“I’ve fought in New York before and it’s always been a great and very supportive crowd. I was at Barclays Center for the first time on June 25 for Thurman-Porter and it was a great arena. It had great energy and I can’t wait to fight there. I can’t wait to fight at Barclays.
“It’s great to be in the gym with all these different types of fighters that my brother trains. I have a lot of very intense sparring. I’ve gotten a chance to really learn from the different styles and it definitely helps me.”
IVAN REDKACH
“This is an excellent fight for me. I’m closing in to a title shot and I’m going to be ready on July 30.
“I have a plan for this fight. You’ll see it in the ring. I’m going to make this an exciting fight.
“A title fight is my motivation but my focus in fully on July 30. Everything I’ve done is to lead up to a world title fight.
“I know that my opponent is slick and very fast. He’s a good boxer but we’ll see what he brings to the ring.
“This is my first camp with Leo Santa Cruz and his team and it’s been going very well. I feel very prepared to fight.”
ANTONIO SANTA CRUZ, Leo’s Brother & Trainer
“This camp feels very close to the same as usual. My father (Jose) is usually the one who tells us what to do. I’m in the ring with Leo but he’s still there. He is sick but he is still going to the gym. He wants to be there for Leo.
“Frampton is a good fighter. He’s going to give my brother a good fight. Short guys are tougher for Leo so we’re making sure we have sparring with fighters of all heights. Frampton won’t be hard to get inside but his height could pose a problem.
“It’s a little bit more pressure on me. I’m trying to show my father that I can learn and help Leo be at his best. I think he’s going to have a great night.”
JOSE SANTA CRUZ, Leo’s Father & Trainer
“I feel good. Right now I’m going to the gym every day. Leo looks good in the ring and is training very well.
“Little by little Antonio is learning and even I’m still learning. We’re both getting better as trainers and that is our goal, to be great. I feel the love from my sons and I love them a lot too. I’m proud of them and I’m proud that they are my sons.
“Leo is very calm. I don’t think Leo is going to be affected by traveling to New York. Even if he doesn’t have the majority of the fans, I don’t think it will affect him.
“You never know how it’s going to go on fight night. You can prepare in the gym, but sometimes, once you’re up in the ring, a fight can get complicated.
“Even if I can’t make it to New York, I’m going to watch the fight. Even if it’s with one eye open, I’m going to watch.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Mikey’s Brother & Trainer
“Mikey definitely wants to win a title at 135-pounds. There are some good champions out there but not necessarily a huge name. Eventually Mikey would want to go up to 140-pounds where I believe there are a lot of exciting fights that could be made.
“Elio is a fighter that has been off for a while and he’s a former world champion. He’s also trying to come back and make a statement. We have to be prepared for the opponent to be at the top of his game.
“Now that he’s got a date and with the training and sparring, Mikey has been looking really good. It’s been a while. We might see a little bit of rust, a little bit of adjustment to timing. But the way he’s been in the gym, against top quality fighters, he’s been looking so good that I wouldn’t be surprised if he put on one of his best performances.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions and presented by Premier Boxing Champions, start at $38 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
# # #
Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @mikeygarcia, @PaulMalignaggi @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Featherweight World Champion Amanda Serrano Defends Her Title Against Colombia’s Calixta Silgado as Part of Stacked Night of Fights Saturday, July 30  at Barclays Center in Brooklyn

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Tripleheader of Televised Events Headlined by Featherweight Title Clash Between 
Leo Santa Cruz & Carl Frampton
Live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
BROOKLYN (July 12, 2016) – Brooklyn-native and WBO Featherweight World Champion Amanda Serrano (28-1-1, 21 KOs) will defend her title on a stacked night of action at Barclays Center as she takes on Colombia’s Calixta Silgado (14-6-3, 9 KOs)Saturday, July 30 in Brooklyn.
Serrano makes her Barclays Center debut in the first female world championship fight ever held at the venue. The event is headlined by featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz defending his belt against Irish star Carl Frampton in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former two-division world champion Mikey Garcia facing former world champion Elio Rojas and 154-pound contenders Tony Harrison and Sergey Rabchenko meeting in a world title eliminator.
“I couldn’t be happier about this opportunity,” said Serrano. “To be the first female fighter to defend her world title at Barclays Center is truly something special. This is one of the biggest cards of the year, and I am honored to be a part of it. I can’t wait to put on a spectacular show on July 30th, and I guarantee that this fight will not go the distance.”
“All the talk has been about Amanda being the first female fighter to defend a championship at Barclays, but I am coming to Brooklyn to win and to make history by becoming the first female to win a world title there,” said Silgado. “Amanda is one of the most feared punchers in boxing, but I do not fear her. This is my opportunity to shine and I plan on leaving that ring on July 30th with her championship belt around my waist.”
“Puerto Rican Brooklynite Amanda Serrano is absolutely one of the best female fighters on the planet,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “She has tremendous skills, devastating power, and is always in exciting fights. Already a three-division world champion, WBO featherweight titlist Serrano will make history at the Barclays Center, on July 30’s extraordinary card, when she becomes the first female boxer to defend her world title at the renowned venue.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions and presented by Premier Boxing Champions, start at $38 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
Additional action on July 30 will feature an all-Brooklyn welterweight battle between two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggiand Gabriel Bracero in the main event of a SHOWTIME EXTREME doubleheader. Televised coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET/PT with a lightweight slugfest between Ivan Redkach and Tevin Farmer.
Raised in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, Serrano gravitated toward boxing from watching her older sister Cindy, also a professional fighter. She picked the sport up quickly, amassing a 9-1 record during a brief amateur career that saw her win the New York Golden Gloves title in 2008. The 27-year-old would go on to fight all over the world, seizing her first world title in 2011 when she defeated Kimberly Connor to grab a super featherweight belt. In 2014, she went to Argentina and defeated Maria Elena Maderna to become a world champion at lightweight. Her latest world title campaign began in February when she stopped Olivia Gerula in the first round to capture her featherweight championship. She will be taking on the 28-year-old Silgado, out of Tolu, Colombia, who has tried four times to win a world title and who will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time on July 30.
# # #
Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information, visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Carl Frampton Media Workout Quotes & Photos

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Undefeated Irish Star Welcomed to America & New York by Brooklyn Star & Former World Champion Paulie Malignaggi At Gleason’s Gym Ahead of July 30 Showdown Against
 Leo Santa Cruz at Barclays Center
 
 
(Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)
 
Click HERE & HERE for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
Click HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
 
TV Outlets: Click HERE To Download Raw Workout Footage (Available after 5p ET)
 
BROOKLYN (July 7, 2016) – Undefeated Irish star Carl Frampton was officially welcomed to the United States and New York City Thursday by former world champion and Brooklyn-native Paulie Malignaggi before Frampton held a media workout at Gleason’s Gym as he prepares for his matchup with featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz taking place Saturday, July 30 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center.
Frampton was joined by his manager, Hall of Fame former featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan, and his son Shane, Frampton’s trainer.  Frampton returns for just his second fight stateside aiming to win back the same WBA Featherweight World Championship that Barry McGuigan lost 30 years ago.  McGuigan’s loss to Steve Cruz on June 23, 1986 was his second and final fight in the U.S.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader begins at at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former two division-world champion Mikey Garcia returning to take on former world champion Elio Rojas and rising super welterweight contender Tony Harrison battling once-beaten Sergey Rabchenko in a 154-pound title eliminator.
Malignaggi headlines a SHOWTIME EXTREME doubleheader against fellow Brooklyn-native Gabriel Bracero while a lightweight slugfest between Ivan Redkach and Tevin Farmer opens televised coverage at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions and presented by Premier Boxing Champions, start at $38 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
Frampton and Malignaggi posed for pictures outside of Barclays Center and under the Brooklyn Bridge before heading to Gleason’s Gym, where Malignaggi got his start in the sport, for Frampton’s first workout for New York media.
Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:
CARL FRAMPTON
“I want to be in exciting fights. From here on in my career, I want to be great. Who better to face than Leo Santa Cruz? This is a chance to put my name down in history and become a two-weight world champion from Ireland.
“I’ve been listening to Barry McGuigan since I turned professional. I just wanted to soak all of it up like a sponge. He’s got so much knowledge and he’s been around for so many years. I just need to be around him and learn. Shane does an amazing job training me, and between the two of them, I feel like I’m benefitting every day.
“It’s very nice to be here in Brooklyn, it’s a lovely borough and it’s so great to be here in New York. There are a lot of boxing fans in New York and I really think this is the number one city for boxing.
“We’re bringing a lot of lads from back home, and I also hope the Irish-Americans get to know my name, and everyone in Brooklyn as well. I expect about 1,500 traveling fans from Belfast. I think I’ll have more support than Santa Cruz.
“This fight is huge for me because I really want to create a legacy. I know how people talk, and I think people will be talking about this for a very long time. I want people to remember me as a great fighter, that’s all.
“I train very hard for every fight. No less or no more for Santa Cruz. We’re expecting a very tough fight with a lot of action.
“The last time I was an underdog was the Irish championships, when I was an amateur. You could have got me at 11:2, I was a massive underdog. I dropped him pretty early on, so the last time I was an underdog, a lot of people who knew me made a lot of money. It’s going to be the same result this time.
“Moving up to 126 pounds was definitely the right decision for me. I’m a big puncher but I lost power coming down to 122 pounds. I’m going to be punching harder and be at my very best.
“I’m right on the door step of everything. I’m so excited for fight night, it’s going to be a truly special experience.
 “It’s important to be recognized in the States. This is where all of the great fighters from around the world end up fighting, and I really want to be recognized as a great fighter.”
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
“I think my fight with Bracero is an interesting clash of styles. We have similar styles in that we like to box and counter punch but we’re also both very familiar with each other. I’m sure he’ll have something up his sleeve for me.
“Making this kind of all-Brooklyn fight is great for the fans. We both have our own followings so it should make for an electric atmosphere at Barclays Center.
“The main event is going to be a great fight. When you look at the styles and the pedigrees of both men, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen. Both guys have exciting styles so I’m betting on the fans getting their money’s worth.”
BARRY MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Manager, Former World Champion & Hall of Famer
“After Carl defeated Scott Quigg and became a unified champion at 122 pounds, we believe that all of the exciting fights in that division have passed. We want to be involved in exciting fights.
“The Quigg fight wasn’t as exciting as we would have liked, but we knew it was going to be like that. We knew he’d come on late in the fight and we had our tactics planned well. This is going to be a much better fight because Santa Cruz is brave and takes chances. He also has underrated boxing skills.
“Shane is making Carl a better fighter every day. Every day that you don’t get better is a day you wasted. Carl is in the best physical shape of his career and we will have a plan A, B and C for this fight.
“Santa Cruz is a great fighter. He’s low-key, humble and he hasn’t talked trash. This will be Carl’s hardest fight. It feels great to be involved helping Carl reach his maximum potential, it’s the second best thing to being in the ring yourself.
“We believe 100 percent in Frampton’s ability to win this fight and that he will be successful on fight night.
“There are some great fights out there for Carl. We’re 100 percent committed to July 30 but there are lots of great fights in the featherweight division. We will have lots of support on fight night and I have no doubt there will be a large Irish crowd there to support Carl.”
SHANE MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Trainer
“Leo Santa Cruz is unbeaten and there aren’t really any weaknesses from my perspective. He’s a phenomenal fighter, but I don’t believe he’s fought a fighter of Carl Frampton’s caliber, as an all-around fighter.
“When he meets someone who is as good, or in my opinion, better than him, we’ll see what he’s made of. I think it’s going to make for one of the most exciting fights of the year.
“I wouldn’t be taking on this fight it I wasn’t extremely confident in Carl, even though he’s coming in as the underdog. I don’t think Santa Cruz has ever felt the power that Carl brings before. I think Carl can beat him comfortably if he continues to prepare well, and then steps into the ring and does what he’s capable of doing.
“We’re finishing up camp now and making sure we’re 100 percent read. We have to be 100 percent to fight Leo Santa Cruz.
“Carl is extremely heavy-handed. He’s extremely skillful, a true all-rounder. He really lives the life, and that makes it easy for me. The way he trains, how he eats, how he sleeps: he takes it seriously and takes care of himself.
“The transition coming over to New York to finish training camp has been great. We could have waited until closer to fight night but we want every single percent to our advantage.
“We’re still acclimatizing to the heat, the jet lag is no problem and we’re going to be ready on fight night.
“This fight is history in the making. It’s a fight that can really put Carl on the map. It’s always a huge opportunity when you’re fighting for a title, against someone of Santa Cruz’s caliber.”
# # #
Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

SHOWTIME SPORTS® CONTINUES CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® WITH FOUR CLASSIC JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ FIGHTS IN JULY

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Tune In Tonight At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME® To Relive Chavez vs. Hector “Macho” Camacho; Watch Round 12 NOW:http://s.sho.com/2996PsP

 

Plus, Chavez vs. Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, vs.Frankie Randall II and vs. Meldrick Taylor II On “Throwback Thursdays” This Month

 

NEW YORK (July 7, 2016) – Widely acknowledged as the preeminent Mexican-born fighter in history and one of the greatest prizefighters of all time, Julio Cesar Chavez will be honored as SHOWTIME Sports® airs classic Chavez fights in continuation of its year-long celebration of 30 years of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

 

The month will be highlighted by four of the incomparable Chavez’ most memorable fights – against Hector “Macho” Camacho, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, the second of three fights with Frankie Randall and the rematch with Meldrick Taylor.  All four fights will air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME (full schedule below).

 

For years, the revered ring legend was considered the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.  In an amazing 25-year-career (1980-2005), Chavez fought 115 times (107-6-2 with 88 knockouts). At the highest level, he competed in four weight classes – 130 pounds to 147 pounds – and was a six-time world champion in three divisions.

 

He holds records for the most world title successful defenses (27), most title fight victories (31), most title fights (37) and the second-most title defenses won by knockout (21, after Joe Louis with 23). Chavez was 31-4-2 with 21 KOs in world title fights.  A multiple Fighter of the Year winner, Chavez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

The fights will air on “Throwback Thursday” during the month of July at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME® and are available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s online streaming service.

 

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

  • TONIGHT/Thursday, July 7: Chavez vs. Camacho
  • Thursday, July 14: Chavez vs. Whitaker
  • Thursday, July 21: Chavez Randal II
  • Thursday, July 28: Chavez vs. Taylor II

 

“Throwback Thursday” Tidbits

  • WBC super featherweight champion Chavez (81-0) and his WBO counterpart, Camacho, fought on Sept. 12, 1992, in Las Vegas.  JCC turned back a determined bid by “Macho” to take a unanimous 12-round decision.

 

  • Chavez had an 87-fight winning streak end when he and WBC welterweight champion Whitaker fought to a highly controversial 12-round majority draw in Sept. 10, 1993, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. One judge scored it for “Sweet Pea” by 115-113; the others had it 115-115.

 

  • Chavez was dealt his initial defeat on a 12-round split decision to nemesis Randall on Jan. 29, 1994. In the rematch the following May 7, Chavez won a razor-thin, split eight-round technical decision after the fight was stopped because of a large cut over Chavez’ eyebrow. Chavez and Randall would fight a third time, with Chavez taking the rubber match on a clear, unanimous 10-round decision on May 22, 2004.

 

  • Chavez went 2-0 against Taylor, winning by eighth-round knockout in a rematch on Sept. 17, 1994. In their initial fight four-and-a-half years earlier, Chavez rallied to win by 12th-round stoppage.

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boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

MIKEY GARCIA RETURNS ON SATURDAY, JULY 30 FOR STACKED NIGHT OF BOXING ON SHOWTIME® AND SHOWTIME EXTREME®FROM BARCLAYS CENTER PRESENTED BY PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS

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

Leo Santa Cruz Defends WBA Featherweight Championship vs. Carl Frampton

Two-Division Champ Mikey Garcia Returns Against Former Champion Elio Rojas

Tony Harrison and Sergey Rabchenko Meet in IBF 154-Pound Eliminator

 

SHOWTIME BOXING ON SHOWTIME EXTREME® – 7 p.m. ET/PT

Brooklyn Welterweights Paulie Malignaggi and Gabriel Bracero Square Off

Ivan Redkach Faces Tevin Farmer in Lightweight Bout

 

Tickets On Sale Now

 

BROOKLYN (June 28, 2016)—Undefeated former two-division world champion Mikey Garcia will return to the ring after a two-and-a-half-year layoff on Saturday, July 30 on an exciting night of boxing on SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME EXTREME that is one of the strongest cards ever assembled at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 

Garcia, who won world titles at featherweight and super featherweight, will fight former world champion Elio Rojas in a 10-round bout in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature of the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton event presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

 

In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast that begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, once-beaten 154-pound contenders Tony Harrison and Sergey Rabchenko will meet in a 12-round IBF Junior Middleweight Eliminator.  Harrison and Rabchenko will square off for the No. 2 mandatory challenger spot to IBF titlist Jermall Charlo, who successfully defended his crown on May 21, and undefeated contender Julian Williams, who earned the No. 1 mandatory position on March 5, both on SHOWTIME.  Harrison vs. Rabchenko is the sixth matchup in 2016 between top 154-pound fighters, a lineup showcasing three world title fights and three title elimination matches in one of boxing’s deepest divisions.

 

The combined record of the six fighters on the SHOWTIME telecast is an impressive 162-4-1 with 113 knockouts.

 

An all-Brooklyn showdown between welterweight technicians Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Gabriel “Tito” Bracero highlights the undercard action on SHOWTIME BOXING on SHOWTIME EXTREME.  The 10-round bout is a matchup between a former two-division world champion, Malignaggi, and a fellow Brooklyn native, Bracero, coming off the biggest win of his career when he knocked out Danny O’Connor last October.

 

A 10-round clash between once-beaten lightweight Ivan Redkach and streaking Tevin Farmer, a winner of 14 straight, will open the SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast live at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

 

The July 30 event at Barclays Center comes on the heels of last Saturday’s potential Fight of the Year thriller between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter, a back-and-forth slugfest that generated the top grossing live gate and second-highest attended boxing event in venue history.

 

“This is the strongest card from top to bottom that I have promoted at Barclays Center,” said DiBella Entertainment President Lou DiBella.  “Every single fight is significant and competitive, and this is a great follow up from the tremendous success that boxing had with Thurman-Porter this past weekend.”

 

“This will be our 19th boxing event, but from top to bottom it’s arguably our best card yet,” said Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment CEO Brett Yormark. “We are excited to welcome undefeated Santa Cruz and Frampton to Brooklyn for the first time, a fight that could rival Barclays Center’s epic Thurman-Porter bout for Fight of the Year.  It’s also a pleasure to welcome Brooklyn’s own Paulie Malignaggi back to Barclays Center for the fifth time and to host the return of Mikey Garcia after a two and a half year hiatus. July 30 is going to be another big night for BROOKLYN BOXING.”

 

“We are excited to be part of Mikey Garcia’s return to the ring.  Before the layoff, he was a two-division world champion and considered one of the top boxers in the world. We know he is determined to reclaim his place among the elite,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “SHOWTIME has distinguished itself by delivering the most compelling matchups and the most important events in boxing all year long.  There is no other network as committed to the sport, and the July 30 event, from top-to-bottom, is a prime example.”

 

MIKEY GARCIA vs. ELIO ROJAS

“I expect to pick up right where I left off,” Garcia told SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray last Saturday on CBS.  “I was a world champion, I was undefeated, and I still am.  I didn’t leave because I was injured.  I think I’ll come back even better.  I’m hungrier now than I was before.

 

“I just have to get one fight in.  This first fight with Elio (Rojas) will be somewhere between 135 and 140 pounds, but I want to fight at 135 and win a title there.  I want to win a title there and keep going after champion after champion.  Now that all that (uncertainty) is behind me I look forward to the next stage of my career.  This next stage of my career will be what people remember me for.”

 

“Mikey Garcia is a great fighter,” Rojas said. “I want to thank him for this opportunity.  We are both former WBC World Champions and I expect a great fight.  However, all of the talk surrounding this fight has been about Mikey’s comeback and his future plans.  I am no tune-up. This is also about me coming back and fighting again.  He may be looking past me, but I am fully focused on him and securing the victory.  I will do whatever I have to do to win, so I can move on and regain my world championship.”

 

Garcia (34-0, 28 KOs), of Ventura, Calif., is 28-years-old and in the prime of his career.  Once considered one of the top young boxers pound-for-pound in the world, he will make his first ring appearance since he retained the WBO 130-pound title with a 12-round unanimous decision overJuan Carlos Burgos on Jan. 25, 2014.  Garcia, the brother of renowned trainer Robert Garcia, has been victorious by knockout in 10 of his last 12 fights and holds impressive victories overRoman “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido and Bernabe Concepcion.

 

Rojas (24-2, 14 KOs), of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, won the WBC featherweight world championship in 2009 with a 12-round unanimous decision over defending titleholder Takahiro Ao in Japan.  The 33-year-old successfully defended the title against Guty Espadas Jr. in 2010, before losing the belt via unanimous decision to Jhonny Gonzalez in April 2012.  Since the loss to Gonzalez, Rojas moved up to lightweight, where he defeated Robert Osiobe in August 2014.

 

TONY HARRISON vs. SERGEY RABCHENKO:

“I’m thrilled to return to the ring on this big stage for my first fight in Brooklyn, and I’m ready to put on a show,” said Harrison. “Fighting for a world title is my dream and I know that I have a challenge in front of me. I’m working hard in camp to get another knockout and to make my mark on the division.”

 

“This is the start of realizing my dream,” Rabchenko said.  “America is the Mecca of boxing so it is a huge privilege for me to be asked to fight there. American fans like to see knockouts and I like to knock people out so I think they will like what they see. I think I can build a fan base there.  I am hungrier than ever. I have not seen much of Harrison, but I am ready for anyone. People say he is a very good fighter with good power. I’m not worried. I have good power as well and I think I will have too much for him.”

 

At just 25-years-old, Harrison (23-1, 19 KOs) has showed tremendous promise. He manufactured a 10-fight knockout streak from 2013 to 2015 and proved he could recover from a loss when he dominated Cecil McCalla for 10 rounds in October 2015 and stopped Fernando Guerrero in impressive fashion in March.

 

Fighting out of Belaraus, Rabchenko (27-1, 20 KOs) is looking to put himself squarely into world title contention when he makes his U.S. debut on July 30. The 30-year-old is coming off  stoppage victories over Walter Calvo in May 2015 and Miguel Aguilar in February.

 

SHOWTIME EXTREME:

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI vs. GABRIEL BRACERO:

“I feel truly blessed to have yet another opportunity to fight in Brooklyn,” Malignaggi said.  “I have known Tito a long time and I know he always comes to fight.  We will give the Brooklyn fans a great appetizer before the terrific main event later that night in Barclays Center.”

 

“I’m looking to make a statement by winning this fight,” said Bracero. “Paulie and I have been friends since the amateurs and I’m thankful to have this opportunity, but he’s had his run. Now it’s time for me to have mine. This fight is going to change my life.”

 

A former world champion at 140 and 147-pounds, the 35-year-old Malignaggi (35-7, 7 KOs) will return to the ring to fight at Barclays Center for the fifth time. He has faced a slew of big names throughout his career and has been victorious over the likes of Zab Judah, Vyacheslav Senchenko and Pablo Cesar Cano. Born and raised in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, “The Magic Man” was victorious twice fighting in his birth country of Italy last year after unsuccessfully challenging unbeaten Danny Garcia in August.

 

Another Brooklyn-native, Bracero (24-2, 5 KOs) comes off of a sensational one-punch knockout of rival Danny O’Connor in their rematch last October. The 35-year-old owns victories over Dmitry Salita and Pavel Miranda in addition to his first triumph over the previously unbeaten O’Connor in 2011.

 

IVAN REDKACH vs. TEVIN FARMER:

“I am extremely happy to be back in the ring on a big show in New York,” Redkach said.  “There are so many Ukrainian fans in New York and I am thrilled to have their support and will put on a great show for them. I want to thank Leo Santa Cruz and his team for having me in their camp as we both prepare ourselves to put on tremendous performances come July 30.”

 

“I couldn’t be more excited about this fight,” Farmer said.  “This is my Barclays Center debut and it is going to be a spectacular performance.  I have called out anyone and everyone in the 130- pound division to no avail, so now I’m moving up to 135 to take on Redkach, one of the most feared punchers in the division. Redkach is an aggressive guy and I know he is coming to fight, but there is no way I leave that ring without my hand being raised.  This is a fight where I can and I will make a major statement.  I’m willing to fight whoever they put in front of me to inch closer to a world title opportunity and July 30 is another step in that direction.  I tip my hat off to Redkach for giving me this fight, but this is my time to shine.”

 

Born in Ukraine but fighting out of Los Angeles, Redkach (19-1-1, 15 KOs) began boxing at the age of six and has put together an impressive career since turning pro in 2009. The 30-year-old owns victories over Tony Luis, Sergey Gulyakevich and Yakubu Amidu. Most recently, Redkach knocked out Erick Daniel Martinez in October 2015 and fought to a draw with Luis Cruz in April.

 

Representing the fighting city of Philadelphia, Farmer (24-1-1, 5 KOs) has won 14 bouts in a row since losing to unbeaten world champion Jose Pedraza in 2012. The 25-year-old has come on strong in recent years, upsetting previously unbeaten fighters such as Emmanuel Gonzalez, Angel Luna and Camilo Perez. Farmer dominated veteran Gamaliel Diaz in March and will make his Barclays Center debut on July 30.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions, start at $38 and can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

 

# # #

 

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

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
boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Undefeated Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz Defends Against Undefeated Irish Star Carl Frampton on Saturday, July 30 Live on SHOWTIME® in an Event Presented by Premier Boxing Champions From Barclays Center in Brooklyn

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 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Telecast Begins at

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 

Tickets on Sale Tomorrow, June 15 at 10 a.m.!

 

BROOKLYN (June 14, 2016) – Undefeated featherweight world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Irish star Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) will meet with a world title and two perfect records at stake on Saturday, July 30 in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Cyclone Promotions, start at $38 and go on sale tomorrow, June 15 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

 

Santa Cruz and Frampton collide in a battle of world champions who mix dizzying speed with incredible output that produces exciting fight after exciting fight. This fight will be the fifth featherweight world title fight presented by SHOWTIME in 2016. Frampton, a unified world champion at 122 pounds, a weight class Santa Cruz previously held a title at, will move up a notch in weight and challenge at 126 pounds.

 

“I’ve never been to New York before and I’m looking forward to this big opportunity to put on a show for new fans in a new city,” said Santa Cruz. “I always fight for the fans and I’m excited to be able to do that somewhere I haven’t been before. Frampton is a good fighter. He has power and skills and he moves when he has to, but he has a weak chin. When he gets caught with a good punch, he goes down. He doesn’t like pressure and I have that. I’m looking forward to putting on an exciting show at Barclays Center and I hope I leave with lots of new fans.”

 

“I am in terrific shape, I feel fantastic in the gym and I am ready for the biggest fight of my career,” said Frampton. “On July 30 I will become a two weight world champion. I respect Leo Santa Cruz, he is a great fighter and person, but I am preparing meticulously to overcome any challenge he brings on July 30. I cannot wait to hear the crowd at Barclays Center. It is my first time boxing in New York, where some of the greatest fights have taken place. I know there will be a large number of fans traveling from the UK and Ireland but there is also a huge Irish-American audience and I am eager to show them all what I can do. Get your tickets now, it’s going to be a great fight!”

 

“Santa Cruz vs. Frampton is not only the best fight that can be made in the featherweight division, it truly is one of the most anticipated fights in all of boxing,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Boxing fans can expect nonstop action in this can’t-miss matchup of aggressive styles. There’s no better way for Santa Cruz and Frampton to make their New York debuts than at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, against each other.”

 

“The competitive matchup of Santa Cruz vs. Frampton shines an international spotlight on BROOKLYN BOXING at Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “We’re especially excited to host two of the best featherweight boxers in the sport today as they fight in New York for the first time.”

 

The popular Mexican-American Santa Cruz fights out of Los Angeles and won the 126-pound title in a “Fight of the Year” candidate against former three-division champ Abner Mares last August at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. It was just the third fight in the featherweight division for Santa Cruz, who has won belts at 118 and 122 pounds while earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most active and exciting fighters. The 27-year-old also holds victories over Cristian Mijares and Eric Morel. He has competed in world title bouts in 11 of his last 13 fights since 2012. After stopping former world champion Kiko Martinez in the fifth round last Feb. 27, Santa Cruz makes his second world title defense in his East Coast debut.

 

After defeating rival Scott Quigg in their 122-pound unification bout last Feb. 27, Frampton will attempt to capture a world title in a second weight class. Fighting out of Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Irish national amateur champion in 2005 and 2009 expects to bring some of his rabid fans stateside come July 30. The 29-year-old became a world champion in 2014 when he defeatedKiko Martinez to earn a super bantamweight title. He made his U.S. debut in July 2015 when he defeated Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. in Texas before unifying the title against Quigg.

 

# # #

 

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP.  For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LeoSantaCruz2, @RealCFrampton, @BarclaysCenter, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

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.