OB-TIME NTIAJ TEB zus André pawg ntseeg VS. UNDEFEATED Sullivan BARRERA

NABF FEATHERWEIGHT zus YAUXEJ Diaz JR. VS. JAYSON Vélez

FINAL xovxwm sablaj QUOTES THIAB DUAB

SHOWDOWNS teev RAU HNUB SATURDAY, MARCH 26

AT Oracle ARENA hauv Oakland, CALIFORNIA

Televised NYOB RAU HBO®

Nyem NTAWM NO rau cov duab

Yees duab Credit: ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si / Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos

Oakland, XWS LI (Lub peb hlis ntuj 23, 2015) - Nyob rau hnub Wednesday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 23, ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si tuav lub kawg xovxwm rooj sab laj rau ob tug-Time ntiaj teb tau zus ib thiab nyob saum phaus-rau-phaus fighter Lwm Ward(28-0, 15 Kos) thiab tus naj npawb ib nyob IBF teeb heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) ntawm lub pas dej Merritt Amphitheater nyob rau hauv Oakland, California ua ntej ntawm lawv Lub peb hlis ntuj 26 sib ntaus sib tua ntawm Oracle Arena nyob rau hauv Oakland. Pawg ntseeg thiab Barrera yuav tau raws li nyob rau hauv 12-round IBF tus naj npawb ib txoj hauj lwm thiab yuav tsum tau txoj hauj lwm eliminator bout televised nyob rau HBO ntiaj teb Championship Boxing® pib thaum 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT. NABF Featherweight zus Yauxej "Jojo" Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 Kos) thiab sab saum toj-rated featherweight contender Jayson "La Maravilla" Vélez (23-1-1, 16 Kos) kuj nyob rau hauv kev mus kawm ntawv rau cov xovxwm lub rooj sib tham dais overlooking lub pas dej Merritt ua ntej ntawm lawv 10-round NABF Featherweight title sib ntaus uas yuav qhib tau lub HBO telecast.

 

Ward vs. Barrera yog shaping ua ib tug heev contested sib ntaus sib tua ntawm ob fighters uas ob tau lawv cov sights teem rau ib tug match-up against Unified teeb Heavyweight ntiaj teb tau zus ib Sergey Kovalev.

 

Hauv qab no yog li cas rau neeg tua hluav taws, promoters, trainers, managers thiab lwm yam dais qhua yuav tsum tau hais nyob qhov xovxwm rooj sab laj:

 

 

Andre pawg ntseeg, Ob-Time ntiaj teb tau zus ib thiab nyob saum phaus-rau-phaus fighter:

"Kuv xav ua tsaug rau txhua leej txhua tus tuaj tawm raws li ib txwm. Lub Bay Area yog ib tug zoo nkauj qhov chaw. Peb tsis yog feem ntau tau txaus credit rau cov txuj ci uas tawm ntawm no, tab sis rau cov kiv cua puag, nws yog zoo kawg li. Kuv cia li ua tsaug rau ua los ntawm ib qho chaw zoo li no thiab ua tsaug rau muaj txoj kev hlub thiab kev pab txhawb nqa nyob rau txhua txhua cov kev tshwm sim hais tias peb coj no. Kuv ua tsaug uas kuv tus kheej thiab hais mav li Marshawn Lynch, Damian Lillard thiab cov Warriors muab qhov no qhov chaw nyob rau hauv daim ntawv qhia thiab cov neeg noj daim ntawv ceeb toom rau lub teb chaws theem. Uas yog tiag tiag ib qho tseem ceeb rau kuv.

 

"Raws li deb raws li cov kev sib ntaus nws tus kheej, nws yog heev yooj yim rau kuv ... tus neeg uas paub txog kuv, lawv paub yuav ua li cas kuv ua hauj lwm thiab lawv paub yuav ua li cas kuv zuam. Kuv tsis tau ntes tau nyob rau hauv dab tsi ntxiv. Kuv tsis tau ntes tau nyob rau hauv dab neeg yog hais tias. Kuv paub txog dab tsi yog hais tias. Kuv paub tias dab tsi kuv tus nrog sib ntaus tau hais tias thiab kuv yuav tau coj nws tej lus, nws. Kuv twb ua txhua yam uas kuv yuav tsum ua, zoo li kuv yeej ib txwm ua thiab zoo li kuv twb ua qhov kawg 10 xyoo ntawm kuv ua hauj lwm. Kuv twb coj rau qhov zoo tshaj plaws ... Yog hais tias nws tsis yog lwm yeej ces nws yog ib tug sab saum toj contender ... thiab qhov no yog tsis sib txawv. Koj hais mav nyuam qhuav paub tias kuv focused thiab tub nyob rau hauv ib yam li kuv ib txwm yog. Kuv npaj thiab kuv npaj rau tsov rog tuaj Lub peb hlis ntuj 26."

Sullivan BARRERA, Number ib cov movies IBF teeb heavyweight contender:

"Kuv xav hais ua tsaug rau koj tuaj ntawm no. Kuv xav hais ua tsaug rau HBO, ua tsaug rau koj txhua leej txhua tus. Ua tsaug rau koj Andre Ward rau txais kuv sib ntaus. Kuv cog lus rau txhua tus neeg uas los rau hauv lub arena tias kuv tau muaj zoo npaj thiab qhov no yog ib tug zoo npau suav. Nyob rau hmo ntuj, Kuv mam li muaj ib tug zoo qhia rau txhua leej txhua tus. "

David ITSKOWITCH, Hais nkwg Boxing - ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si:

"Ob tug ntawm cov saum toj kawg nkaus teeb heavyweights ntawm cov ntiaj chaw yuav tsoo rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26. Lawv muaj ib tug ua ke cov ntaub ntawv ntawm 45-0 nrog 27 Kos thiab needless hais, yeej tsis tau muaj tsis tau swb raws li ib tug kev. Thaum txhua tus txiv neej muaj ib tug formidable tus nrog sib ntaus nyob rau hauv pem hauv ntej ntawm nws, nkawd ob leeg muaj lawv ob lub qhov muag rau Sergey Kovalev thiab nws peb tug ntiaj teb no title koj cov menyuam, tab sis ua ntej lawv muaj ua lag ua luam mus kawm rau nyob rau hnub Saturday hmo ntuj.

 

"Thaum twg kuv tawm tuaj Oakland rau qho kev tshwm sim thiab kuv nrog Andre ntawm ib tug muaj nuj nqi qhov twg nws hais lus rau hauv xov xwm, nws tsoo kuv hais tias obviously, nws yog ib tug txuj ci tshwj xeeb athletically, tab sis nws kuj yog ib tug neeg tshwj xeeb thiab kuv cia siab tias txhua leej txhua tus ntawm no nyob rau hauv Oakland to taub txaus siab uas. Nws yog ib tug principled tsev neeg tus txiv neej uas yeej ib txwm yuav ua qhov zoo tshaj plaws thiab hais tias yog ib yam dab tsi uas tsis tshua muaj nyob rau hauv lub neej hnub no, tab sis nws yog tshwj xeeb tshaj yog tsawg nyob rau hauv cov kev ua si. Kuv vam tias koj hais mav txaus siab rau nws. Boxing hauj lwm tsis kav mus ib txhis. Nws yuav tsis mus ua yuav sib ntaus sib tua nyob mus ib txhis, li ntawd, txhua leej txhua tus yuav tsum txaus siab rau yam uas koj muaj ntawm no nyob rau hauv Andre Ward.

 

"Andre yuav ib tug kub laiv nyob rau hauv Athens Olympics thiab yog kawg U.S. boxer tau ua li ntawd. Nws daim ntawv teev cov vanquished foes nyeem zoo li ib tug uas yog leej twg ntawm lub super middleweight division. Nws kuj yeej thiab khob qhov rooj tawm yav tas los lub teeb heavyweight ntiaj teb no yeej, Chad Dawson nyob rau hauv lawv 2012 showdown. Nyob rau hauv nws cov nag sib ntaus, nws yeej ob-lub sij hawm lub ntiaj teb no title challenger Paul Smith rau Lub rau hli ntuj 20 ntawm Oracle Arena. Nws embarks rau tus tom ntej tshooj ntawm nws cov hauj lwm rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, rov qab mus Oracle Arena ib zaug dua, raws li nws ua rau nws txav mus txog rau lub teeb heavyweight division npaj yuav ua dab tsi nws tau ua nyob rau hauv lub super middleweight division ... tu nws tawm thiab dominating txhua leej txhua tus uas sawv nyob rau hauv nws txoj kev. "

Nicole nquab, Vice President of li thiab General Counsel - Main Txheej xwm:

"Kuv yeej xav ua tsaug rau Andre Ward. Nws tsis tau noj nyob rau hauv ib tug undefeated fighter nyob rau hauv nws thawj thawj kev sib ntaus ntawm lub teeb heavyweight, tab sis nws puas tau nws thiab kuv xav hais tias yog commendable.

 

"Nyob rau hauv nws lub xeem sib ntaus, Sullivan los ua tus yuav tsum tau contender rau Sergey Kovalev lub IBF siv. Nws yuav tau zaum rov qab thiab tos rau nws title sib ntaus, tab sis tsis nws pom no sib ntaus tawm tsam Andre Ward li ib lub sij hawm los yeej mus txog rau greatness thiab nws tau hais tias. Raws li koj yeej paub tias, Main Txheej xwm thiab ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si muaj lub hom phiaj rau Andre Ward thiab Sergey Kovalev tom qab xyoo no thiab Sullivan Barrera tau tiag tiag chim siab uas Kua laub.

 

"Ob tug txiv neej no, Sullivan thiab Andre, tau txhua yam caij rau lub sij hawm ntawm Saturday lub sib ntaus. Nyob rau hauv qhov kev nyab xeeb uas peb muaj nyob rau hauv boxing txoj cai tam sim no, nws yog refreshing pom tiag warriors uas tsis ntshai mus coj txaus ntshai. Nkawd ob leeg yuav tsum tau txais peb hwm thiab admiration rau cov uas. Qhov no yog li cas peb cov kev ua si nawv yuav tsum txog.

 

"Sullivan Barrera yog undefeated nrog ib cov ntaub ntawv ntawm 17-0 nrog 12 yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm knockout. Nws cia li nres 34, ib lub hlis dhau los, uas tej zaum koj yuav xav hais tias yog ib tug me ntsis qub rau no taw tes nyob rau hauv nws cov hauj lwm. Yuav ua li cas koj yuav tsis paub tias yog hais tias nws muaj ib tug muaj kev vam meej pib xyaum ua hauj lwm nyob rau hauv teb chaws Cuba thiab ces poob ob peb xyoo ntawm nws lub prime thaum nws defecting rau hauv lub tebchaws United States. Nws tuaj ib tug tiag tiag txoj kev uas ntev mus yuav nyob ntawm no niaj hnub no rau lub sij hawm no thiab lub sij hawm no. Nws yog tshaib plab, nws yog kaj siab lug thiab nws yog npaj txhij. "

Virgil saib xyuas, Andre Ward tus kws qhia:

"Qhov no yog ib tug zoo heev card nrog zoo heev ncaws pob uas yog sim ua kom lawv txoj kev nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no ntawm boxing. Yog hais tias qhov no sib ntaus twb noj qhov chaw nyob rau hauv tej lwm lub zos, nws yuav yog ib tug lossis loj kev tshwm sim. Yuav ua li cas peb xav kom ua li cas yog kom paub tseeb tias Oakland to taub, thiab hais tias nyob ib ncig Bay Area to taub, lub qhov ntau ntawm qhov kev tshwm sim li ntawd, peb tseem yuav mus coj lub ntiaj teb no hauv chav kawm ntawv boxing rau Oakland. Oakland yog tug yug me nyuam hauv av rau sab saum toj tua hluav taws thiab peb twb muaj lawv. Qhov ntau uas koj pab txhawb peb, qhov ntau hais tias cov sib ntaus yuav ua pom thiab koj yuav pom cov loj lub sij hawm nyob rau sab saum toj.

 

"Lawv hais tias lwm yam tes hauj lwm ua fighters, tab sis HBO ua hnub qub, li ntawd, peb yeej zoo siab yuav tau ib feem ntawm no. Peb thov kom koj tuaj tawm thiab txhawb no sib ntaus. Tuaj tawm Saturday hmo ntuj thiab txaus siab rau nej tus kheej rau ib tug zoo hmo ntuj ntawm sab saum toj boxing. "

Ben lire, Sullivan Barrera tus kws qhia:

"Kuv xav ua tsaug rau tag nrho cov neeg uas muab tso ua ke no super kev tshwm sim nyob rau hnub Saturday. Peb cov no los muab tso rau ib tug zoo qhia thiab Sullivan tau ua txhua yam los npaj nws tus kheej rau qhov kev tshwm sim. Nws paub txoj kev sib tw nyob rau hauv pem hauv ntej ntawm nws, tab sis nws ntseeg hais tias nyob rau hauv nws tus kheej thiab nws ntseeg hais tias qhov no yog nws lub sij hawm los qhia rau pej xeem thiab cov saib cov neeg tuaj saib hais tias qhov no yog qhov chaw uas nws yog. Nws yog muaj los mus ua kom ib daim ntawv qhia.

 

"Ntau tshaj txhua yam, peb hwm Mr. Ward rau nws tau, nws credibility thiab nws yog ib tug super txiv leej tub nyob rau hauv kev ua si nawv. Nws yog zoo mus yuav tau ib feem ntawm no. Peb npaj zoo thiab peb tau ua txhua yam uas peb muaj los mus tsis tuaj Saturday muab cov saib cov neeg tuaj saib ib tug super zoo qhia vim hais tias qhov no yog dab tsi boxing yog hais txog. Nws yog hais txog kev kawm thiab ob fighters tau ua nyob rau theem no ntawm ib tug zoo kawg kev tshwm sim. Peb zoo siab yuav tau ib feem ntawm qhov kev tshwm sim. Peb tau ua txhua yam uas yog tau los xyuas kom meej tias peb yuav tuaj tawm thiab muab tso rau hauv ib tug zoo heev qhia tau tias. "

YAKAUNPAU tub huabtais, Andre Ward tus neeg saib xyuas:

"Qhov no yog ib cov keeb kwm lub sij hawm ntawd rau peb. Peb nkag mus rau lub 175 phaus teeb heavyweight division. Qhov no yog ib lub caij uas lub nroog tsis xav kom nco. Qhov no yog lub caij thaum pib ntawm ib zog. Barrera nyuam qhuav tshwm sim tau los ua tus thawj neeg mob thiab peb yuav nrog nws raws li. Peb twb tau hnov ​​ib tug ntau ntawm kev sib tham nrog thiab sib tham noj qhov chaw nyob qhov twg nws yog kev txhawj xeeb, thiab peb paub hais tias nws ntseeg hais tias txhua yam uas nws yog hais tias. Ib zaug dua, peb muaj siab txog lub sij hawm no thiab koj tsis xav kom nco no historic lub sij hawm ntawd nyob rau hnub Saturday hmo ntuj. "

YAUXEJ Diaz JR., NABF Featherweight zus:

"Los Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, Kuv paub tias kuv muaj ib tug tiag tiag tawv sib ntaus ua ntej ntawm kuv. Kuv paub Jayson Vélez yog ib txog tej qub tub rog nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib. Nws yog ib tug tub rog. Nws muaj ib tug rau-nti cuag kom zoo dua li kuv ces nws yuav mus yuav ib tug tiag tiag zoo sib ntaus. Kuv paub tias nws yog los tawm ntawm ib tug tsis, li ntawd kuv thiaj paub tias nws yeej xav rau thaws rov qab thiab qhia sawvdaws tias nws tseem yog ib tug ntiaj teb no title contender.

 

"Kuv muaj ib tug yeej zoo kawg thiab kev kawm camp. Kuv twb tau kawm rau yim lub lis piam. Qhov no yog kuv thawj zaug sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau hauv HBO, li ntawd, kuv yeej xav kom showcase uas kuv hais tiag yog. Kuv 110% npaj txhij. Kuv yuav npaj mus muab kev sib ntaus kiv cua ib tug tsov rog yog Jayson Vélez xav kom muaj ib tug tsov rog. Kuv yuav npaj mus showcase rau txhua leej txhua tag nrho cov muaj peev xwm kuv muaj hauv lub nplhaib. Kuv zoo siab heev yuav tsum tau sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau Andre Ward thiab Sullivan Barrera card. Lawv nyob nraum ob cov neeg tseem ceeb ncaws pob thiab kuv heev honored mus yuav tau cov pa roj carbon monoxide-ntsiab kev tshwm sim rau no sib ntaus. Xws li Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, Kuv cog lus rau kuv yuav mus muab koj ib tug zoo qhia. "

JAYSON Vélez, Top-nyob featherweight contender:

"Kuv xav ua tsaug rau Vajtswv ua ntej, obviously nws ua txhua yam ua tau. Kuv xav ua tsaug rau kuv promoters, Miguel Cotto Promotions thiab Golden tub Promotions thiab tag nrho kuv lub pab. Kuv tsis muaj ntau heev hais lo ntawd qhov no yog ib tug zoo sib ntaus. Yauxej los mus tua. Kuv tuaj mus tua. Peb ob leeg xav los yeej. Peb ob leeg los coj txoj kev sib tw. Cov neeg pheej nug kuv yog vim li cas kuv coj no txaus ntshai sib ntaus thiab cov lus teb yog yooj yim ... Yog hais tias kuv xav kom muaj qhov zoo tshaj plaws, Kuv tau mus tua qhov zoo tshaj plaws. Yauxej yog ib tug ntawm qhov zoo tshaj plaws.

 

"Kuv poob kuv lub xeem sib ntaus, li ntawd kuv thiaj xav tau los yeej. Kuv xav los yeej. Kuv tsis tau qhia koj uas yog yuav mus los yeej muaj qhov kev sib ntaus vim hais tias peb ob leeg yog zoo tua hluav taws thiab cov tub rog. Nws yog Mexican, Kuv Puerto Rican, thiab thaum twg koj muaj ib tug Puerto Rican thiab ib tug Mexican nyob rau hauv tib lub nplhaib, koj yuav pom ib tug tsov rog. Koj yuav pom ceev, hwj chim, txhua yam nyob rau hauv no sib ntaus. Nws yog ib tug zoo fighter thiab kuv zoo siab heev. Ua tsaug rau txhua leej txhua tus thiab nyob tuned no hnub vas xaum thiab ua tsaug rau koj rau HBO ntawm cov hoob kawm. "

 

Robert Diaz, Lub taub hau Matchmaker - Golden tub Promotions:

"Obviously lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim hais lus rau nws tus kheej. Koj twb tau txais Andre Ward tiv tiag ib tug hluas undefeated txiv leej tub li Sullivan Barrera, tab sis lub co-ntsiab kev tshwm sim yuav pit ob tug hluas, tshaib plab fighters tawm tsam ib leeg nyob rau hauv Jayson Vélez thiab Yauxej Diaz. Lawv nyob nraum cov tub. Lawv nyob nraum ob kam noj nyob rau hauv qhov zoo tshaj plaws fights, lub toughest fights thiab pov thawj ntawm hais tias yog yuav ua li cas yooj yim nws yog los mus ua kom qhov no sib ntaus.

 

"Kuv zoo siab heev hais txog qhov no sib ntaus. Koj tsis xav kom nco lub 10 rounds rau lub NABF title.

"Jayson Vélez yog ib tug hluas, tshaib plab tsov ntxhuav uas xav kom tau rov qab mus rau cov theem thiab paub yuav ua li cas tseem ceeb ib tug yeej tshaj Yauxej Diaz yog. Nws to taub lub sijhawm los sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau hauv HBO thiab nyob rau hauv no zoo kawg li card. Kuv xav nco ntsoov koj ntawm cov ua cim ntawm Jayson Vélez. Nyob rau hauv ib hnub twg thiab muaj hnub nyoog qhov twg ib tug dav hlau tua rog uas loses xav coj tej zaum ib tug comeback los yog tune up, los yog ob tug los yog peb, ua ntej lawv yuav ib tug high-uas yuav muaj kev sib ntaus thiab Jayson Vélez yog ua nws txoj cai tom qab. Uas qhia tau hais tias nws xav kom tau rov qab rau sab saum toj thiab nws paub hais tias nws muaj ua li cas los tau muaj ... nws yuav tsum los siv ceev xwmphem ib sab saum toj-theem fighter zoo li Yauxej Diaz. "

Ralph Heredia, Yauxej Diaz tus neeg saib xyuas:

 

"Nws yog ib tug yawm yuav nyob ntawm no, ib lub sijhawm zoo thiab lub cib fim yuav tau muab lub sij hawm no rau showcase ib tug txawj ntse, 2012 Olympian. rau Yauxej, qhov no yog dab tsi peb tham txog, ua tsaug rau koj ua siab ntev, koj yog npaj txhij rau lub sij hawm. Peb paub tias dab tsi ib tug tshwj xeeb tub hluas thiab feemxyuam txiv neej koj yog, tab sis tam sim no lub ntiaj teb no tseem yuav tau mus rau pom nyob rau hauv lub loj theem dab tsi ib tug txuj ci, dab tsi ib tug tiag tiag gentleman thiab dab tsi ib fighter yuav tsum ... zoo li Yauxej Diaz.

 

"Kuv yuav hais txog Jayson Vélez? Nws yog ib tug txiv neej uas paub dab tsi ntawm ceg txheem ntseeg thiab muaj kev. Ntseeg kuv, koj tsis xav kom nco no. Saturday, koj yuav tsum qhib nyob rau hauv. Nws tseem yuav mus yuav ib tug nkaus packed sib ntaus. "

 

 

Jose "UAS UAS" Sánchez, Jayson Vélez tus kws qhia:

"Kuv pom Diaz raws li ib tug zoo kawg fighter, tab sis kuv muaj Jayson nyob rau hauv zoo heev mob thiab nws yog npaj txhij rau kev sib ntaus. Kuv paub tias nws yuav tau ib tug zoo sib ntaus vim hais tias lawv yog npaj txhij, thiab cov tib yam yog muaj tseeb rau kuv fighter Jayson Vélez. Nws ua hauj lwm nyuaj heev rau qhov no sib ntaus thiab kuv paub tias nws yog npaj txhij rau kev sib ntaus. "

 

 

TONY Walker, Director, HBO kev ua si:

"Nyob rau sawv cev ntawm peb cov Executive Vice President Peter Nelson, peb zoo siab heev tau tuaj ntawm no nyob rau hauv lub Bay Area, nrog ib tug neeg coob coob thiab kuj zoo kawg boxing kiv cua, raws li peb saib mus rau coj koj no doubleheader nyob rau hnub Saturday hmo ntuj.

 

"Nws yog tsis yooj yim rub ua ke ib tug loj boxing match thiab cov teams tau rub ua ke ib yawm card los ntawm sab saum toj mus rau nram qab, li ntawd, txawm yog tag nrho cov fights yuav tsis muaj nyob rau ntawm HBO, Yog hais tias koj xav mus saib ib co zoo kawg boxing, mus rau Oracle Arena thiab yog hais tias koj yuav tsum tau nyob rau hauv tsev, mus saib nws tawm nyob rau HBO.

 

"Thoob plaws peb 43 xyoo ntawm programming rau HBO, boxing yeej ib txwm tau ib feem ntawm peb ua dab tsi. Peb twb yeej ib txwm prided peb tus kheej rau muaj qhov zoo tshaj plaws neeg tua hluav taws thiab qhov zoo tshaj plaws ntais ntawv, thiab peb xav tias zoo heev hais tias qhov no kev lig kev cai yuav tuav rov qab raws li Andre Ward ua rau nws 2016 debut nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib. Nyob rau hauv lub boxing nplhaib, nws yeej tsis pom zoo hais tias koj ntsia tsis pom tshaib plab, undefeated fighter zoo li peb muaj nyob rau hauv Sullivan Barrera, li ntawd kuv thiaj xav txais tos Sullivan mus rau lub network thiab ua nws tsaug rau kev noj nyob rau hauv no kev sib tw.

 

"Qhib lub TV telecast yuav ua Yauxej Diaz tiv thaiv Jayson Vélez, ob mus-thiab-los hluas hais mav, ob tug hluas phom, uas xav tias lawv nyob nraum npaj rau lub loj theem. Tag nrho rau hauv tag nrho cov, nws yuav tau ib tug zoo telecast, 9:45 PM ET Peb cog lus rau koj ib tug tuav thiab entertaining hmo nrog peb cov tawm pab neeg. "

Ward vs. Barrera, ib tug 12-round IBF tus naj npawb ib txoj hauj lwm thiab yuav tsum tau txoj hauj lwm eliminator uas yog hais los ntawm ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Main Txheej xwm, yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw Saturday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, 2016 ntawm Oracle Arena nyob rau hauv Oakland, California. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticketmaster, Neeg mus ncig teb chaws Management Solutions (CTMS), Zoo siab, Lifting, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Khoom noj khoom haus, Khau Palace, Tus waterfront Hotel thiab Mus saib Oakland. Qhov kev tshwm sim yuav tsum televised nyob rau HBO ntiaj teb Championship Boxing pib ntawm 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT. Qhib lub qhov HBO telecast yuav ua Yauxej Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Vélez nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round sib ntaus rau lub NABF Featherweight title los ntawm Golden tub Promotions nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Miguel Cotto Promotions.

 

Daim pib luv nqi thaum $300, $150, $100, $50 thiab $25, tsis xws li siv cov kev pab nqi thiab se yog muaj nyob rau ntawm tag nrho cov Ticketmaster qhov chaw, nyob hauv internet ntawm Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) thiab them los ntawm lub xov tooj ntawm (800) 745-3000.

 

Ua raws li cov kev sib tham nyob rau hauv Twitter los ntawm kev siv #WardBarrera.

 

Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov mus saib www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, ua raws li peb ntawm Twitter thiab Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions thiab @HBOBoxing thiab ua ib cov kiv cua hauv Facebook ntawm www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing thiab www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

 

 

 

NABF FEATHERWEIGHT zus YAUXEJ Diaz JR. VS. JAYSON Vélez

MEDIA Workout QUOTES THIAB DUAB

SHOWDOWNS teev RAU HNUB SATURDAY, MARCH 26

AT Oracle ARENA hauv Oakland, CALIFORNIA

Televised NYOB RAU HBO®

Nyem NTAWM NO rau cov duab

Yees duab Credit: ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si / Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos

Oakland, XWS LI (Lub peb hlis ntuj 23, 2015) - Nyob rau hnub Tuesday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 22, Ob-Time ntiaj teb tau zus ib thiab nyob saum phaus-rau-phaus fighter Lwm Ward (28-0, 15 Kos) thiab tus naj npawb ib nyob IBF teeb heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) koom nyob rau hauv ib tug xov xwm workout thaum Huab tais lub Gym nyob rau hauv Oakland, California ua ntej ntawm lawv Lub peb hlis ntuj 26 sib ntaus sib tua ntawm Oracle Arena nyob rau hauv Oakland. Pawg ntseeg thiab Barrera yuav tau raws li nyob rau hauv 12-round IBF tus naj npawb ib txoj hauj lwm thiab yuav tsum tau txoj hauj lwm eliminator bout televised nyob rau HBO ntiaj teb Championship Boxing® pib thaum 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT. NABF Featherweight zus Yauxej "Jojo" Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 Kos) thiab sab saum toj-rated featherweight contender Jayson "Star" Vélez (23-1-1, 16 Kos) kuj nyob rau hauv kev mus kawm ntawv thaum lub sij hawm workout ua ntej ntawm lawv 10-round NABF Featherweight title sib ntaus uas yuav qhib tau lub HBO telecast.

 

Tom qab shadowboxing nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib thiab ib tug ob peb rounds nyob rau xuas nrig ntaus hnab, tag nrho plaub fighters koom nyob rau hauv kev sib tham nrog xov xwm neeg nyob rau hauv ntawv. Super tais yeej thiab Oakland haiv neeg Marshawn Lynch, ib tug avid Andre Ward supporter, ua ib tug tshwj xeeb tsos thaum lub sij hawm workout nyob rau hauv them nyiaj yug ntawm Ward.

 

Hauv qab no yog li cas rau fighters yuav tsum tau hais thaum lub sij hawm kawg xov xwm workout:

 

Andre pawg ntseeg, Ob-Time ntiaj teb tau zus ib thiab nyob saum phaus-rau-phaus fighter:

"Kuv xav tias zoo thiab kuv npaj txhij yuav mus. Kuv peaking thaum lub sij hawm. Kuv cia li zoo siab heev tau nws nyob rau hnub Saturdayhmo ntuj.

 

"Kuv siv los tsav los ntawm Oracle Arena nyob 880 raws li ib tug me nyuam yaus nyob hauv kuv txoj kev mus Huab tais lub Gym thiab xav tsis thoob hais tias kuv yuav ua rau nws muaj ib hnub thiab [tus kws qhia] Virgil [Hunter] siv los hais nrog cog qoob loo, 'Koj yuav tawm xov xwm muaj.' Raws li kuv tau txais laus, Kuv siv los mus rau ib co ntawm cov phaib muab tso rau hauv nyob rau hauv lub arena. Kuv yog tseem yog ib qho kev pib xyaum ua thiab kuv yuav cia li npau suav. Tom ntej no koj paub, nyob rau hauv 2009, Kuv yog nyob rau hauv ib tug dab ntxuav tes los yog ua luam dej sib ntaus tawm tsam Edison Miranda. Yog hais tias kuv yeej, muaj tej zaum ib tug zoo lub caij nyoog uas kuv yuav tau txais ib lub npe txhaj koob tshuaj tivthaiv thiab tus so yog keeb kwm. Ntawm no yog peb yog dua, nws yog kuv 7^th lub sij hawm ntawm Oracle thiab nws tseem yog ib txoj koob hmoov.

 

"Nws yog txoj cai lub sij hawm yuav tawm mus mus rau lub teeb heavyweight. Nws yog ib tug ua ke ntawm tsis muaj txoj cai hais mav mus tua los yog hais mav uas tsis xav kom sib ntaus sib tua kuv. Kuv xav kom ua tau zoo kawg. Cov no yog cov hom ntawm kev xyaum koj yuav tsum ua. Kuv yog ib tug me nyuam kawm ntawv ntawm lub ua si nawv thiab thaum kuv kawm ntawv cov kev ua si nawv, qhov no yog dab tsi greats ib txwm ua. Lawv txav mus. Qhov zoo sawv daws yuav nrhiav tau ib txoj kev tau nws ua li cas thiab kuv xav kom muaj nyob rau hauv sib tham.

 

"Barrera yog ib tug loj lub cev. Nws yog ntseeg. Nkawd mus tau ib tug zoo Puncher. Peb tsis tuaj tos nws vim hais tias nws yog ib tug mos mos touch. Peb khaws nws vim hais tias nws twb mus tau kuv npaj thiab qhia kuv dab tsi no qhov ceeb thawj hauv chav kawm ntawv yog tag nrho hais txog. Yog hais tias koj saib nyob rau kuv cov hauj lwm, muaj ib qho chaw rau tune-ups uas kuv tsis tau muaj ib tug ntau ntawm. Koj xav mus tua qhov zoo tshaj plaws thiab yog hais tias koj tsis sib ntaus sib tua qhov zoo tshaj plaws, koj xav mus tua tus naj npawb ib contender. Tias yog dab tsi peb nyob nraum ua.

 

"Kuv xav tias kuv evolving rau hauv ib tug npaum fighter. Kuv yuav tsiv thaum kuv muaj rau koj tsiv. Kuv xav hais tias yog kev zoo nkauj ntawm tej kis las uas tsis ua phem rau nws lub cev thiab yeej yuav siv sij hawm nws khoom siv tes ua tiag. Kuv twb pom ib co cov khoom tau thov kev pab kuv tu kuv prime. Nws yog kev vwm rau kuv. Kuv xav tias kuv yog raws li zoo raws li kuv tau puas tau. Kuv twb tau nyob rau hauv ib tug boxing gym tsis muaj ntau npaum li cas ntawm ib tug so rau yav dhau los 20 xyoo. Kuv lub hlwb ua kuv tsaug rau ob lub xyoos dhau. Kuv lub cev ua kuv tsaug. Nws tej zaum yuav muab kuv lwm ob xyoo nyob rau hauv kuv cov hauj lwm.

 

"Kuv yuav tsum cia li yuav kuv. Kuv yog leej twg yog txaus. Kuv tsis tau qhia rau Kovalev nyob rau hauv cov neeg coob coob nyob rau hnub Saturdayhmo ntuj. Peb nyuam qhuav muaj siv rau qhov kev ua si txoj kev npaj. Kuv xav hais tias yog yuav mus xa cov lus nws yuav tsum xa thiab yog hais tias nws tsis, ces nws mam [Kovalev] tau txais cov lus thaum peb sib ntaus sib tua.

 

"Yog hais tias kuv tsis yeej no sib ntaus, tsis muaj dab tsi cia rau hauv txoj kev. Yog hais tias kuv tsis yeej no sib ntaus, Kuv tsis tsim nyog mus tua rau lub title. Qhov ntawd yog qhov kev muaj tiag ntawm kuv qhov teeb meem.

 

"Barrera yeej tsis tiv thaiv ib tug txiv leej tub li kuv ua ntej, li ntawd, lawv muaj peev xwm tham ib tug zoo kev ua si. Lawv yuav tus thawj lub muaj nuj nqis ua ntej mus rau lub sib ntaus. Lawv muaj peev xwm hais tag nrho cov slick khoom lawv xav hais tias. Peb cia li xav mus rau tus thawj lub muaj nuj nqis Sunday thaum sawv ntxov tom qab lub sib ntaus yog tshaj. Tias yog dab tsi kuv focused rau. "

 

Sullivan BARRERA, Number ib cov movies IBF teeb heavyweight contender:

"Kuv muaj zog tshaj Ward. Kuv muaj lub Cuban tom qab thiab kuv kawm tau ntau heev ntawm kev txawj ntse muaj. Ntau tshaj txhua, qhov kev txiav txim los mus kov yeej dab tsi nyob rau hauv pem hauv ntej ntawm kuv yuav pab tau kuv defeat Ward rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26.

 

"Thaum kuv nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib, nws yog kuv lub tsev.

 

"Txawm Ward muaj, Kuv yuav tau kho mus rau nws thiab kov yeej nws.

 

"Kuv muaj ob txhais tes. Nws muaj ob tug ob txhais tes. Kuv muaj ib txoj hauj lwm ua nyob rau hauv Lub peb hlis ntuj 26.

 

"Kuv paub Ward thiab Kovalev yog heev saib taus thiab lawv tsim ib tug ntau ntawm cov nyiaj thiab ib tug ntau ntawm kev txaus siab, tab sis lawv tsis paub dab tsi Sullivan Barrera muaj peev xwm sawv ntawm ua. Kuv yuav ua pov thawj tias nyob rau hnub Saturday.

 

"Kuv tsis tiag tiag ib tug txiv leej tub uas tau mus saib rau ib tug knockout. Kuv boxing txawj hais lus rau lawv tus kheej. Kuv tabtom sib ntaus sib tua Andre Ward thiab sib ntaus sib tua no nyob rau hauv Oakland, li ntawd, kuv tsis xav tias ib tug txiav txim yuav muaj cob nyob rau hauv kuv haum.

 

"Rau tag nrho cov kiv cua, tshwj xeeb tshaj yog lub Cuban kiv cua uas tau kev txhawb kuv thov paub tias tuaj Saturday, Kuv yuav ua txhua yam li kuv tau ua rau tuaj tawm yeej xwb. "

YAUXEJ Diaz JR., NABF Featherweight zus:

"Kuv yuav tsis xav tias yuav zoo li cas Jayson ua rau Ronny Rios thaum lub sij hawm no sib ntaus. Kuv twb tau txais mus nyob rau hauv muaj, sim nws tawm thiab kho thaum kuv nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib.

 

"Yog hais tias zoo caij rau nws tus kheej nyob qhov twg nws yog raug mob thiab kuv pom tias kuv punches yog kev nyuaj siab loj nws, ces txog thaum kawg kuv yuav tau nyob rau hauv muaj, yuav txhoj puab heev thiab paub tseeb tias kuv coj nws tawm raws li thaum ntxov li sai tau.

 

"Kuv paub tau txais nyob rau hauv, txiav tawm lub nplhaib thiab noj nws mus rau hauv lub cev tam sim ntawd yuav tawg nws cia. Uas yuav ua kom nws tsis txhob txav ntau li ntau thiab tom qab nyob rau hauv rounds kuv yuav tsaws vicious blows mus rau lub taub hau. Kuv yuav coj nws mus rau hauv lub cev tam sim ntawd.

 

"Neeg Kuv 100% npaj txhij. Qhov no yog ib tug loj theem nyob rau hauv kuv cov hauj lwm, ces kuv lub hlwb teem. Kuv zoo npaj. Kuv xav tias zoo li no yog lub caij kuv muaj lawm tos tag nrho kuv lub tag nrho lub neej. Kuv xav tias zoo li Kuv npaj txhij rau qhov no thiab kuv yuav tsis tos rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26. Kuv kawm nyuaj heev rau qhov no sib ntaus thiab kuv zoo npaj rau nws.

 

"Kuv yeej xav kom ib daim ntawv qhia no sib ntaus. Kuv xav qhia rau ntiaj teb tias Yauxej Diaz yuav tus tom ntej loj tshaj plaws nyob rau hauv boxing, li ntawd kuv thiaj kawm nyuaj heev kom muab tso rau rau ib tug zoo sib ntaus rau kev sib ntaus kiv cua, yuav heev txhoj puab heev thiab ua rau nws ib tug tsov rog nyob rau hauv muaj. Kuv cia siab hais tias Jayson Vélez yog 110% npaj txhij vim hais tias kuv xav kom nws yuav nyob rau hauv nws zoo tshaj plaws.

 

"Yog hais tias kuv yeej tau qhov kev sib ntaus thiab ua ib daim ntawv qhia, Kuv xav tias kuv yuav tsiv mus nyob rau contender raws li txoj cai thiab hopefully tau ib lub ntiaj teb title tua los ntawm tus kawg ntawm lub xyoo no. Kuv xav mus tua nyuaj tw xyoo no vim hais tias kuv xav kom koj qhia lub ntiaj teb no kuv yog leej twg.

 

"Kuv xav tias zoo li ib tug tsiaj nyaum thaum kuv nqis mus rau lub nplhaib thiab kuv tau pom nws nyob rau hauv sparring. Thaum twg kuv yuav tsaws zoo blows, Kuv yuav qhia rau hais tias kuv ua phem rau kuv tus nrog sib ntaus. "

JAYSON Vélez, Top-nyob featherweight contender:

"Thaum kuv qib, txhua txiv leej tub yog ib tug sab saum toj contender. Kuv yuav tsum qhia nyuaj thiab txhim kho kuv tiv thaiv. Kuv twb tau ua hauj lwm nyob rau hauv uas.

 

"Yog hais tias koj pom kuv tas peb los yog plaub sib ntaus, koj yuav pom hais tias kuv tau dominating nyob rau hauv thawj ob peb rounds thiab ces kuv khiav tawm ntawm cov roj, Kuv tau ua hauj lwm rau kuv muaj lub zog yog li ntawd yuav tsis tshwm sim nyob rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26.

 

"Kuv tau pom Diaz tus fights. Peb twb sparred ib tug ob peb lub sij hawm. Nws tau txais kev ceev. Nws tau txais ib kev tshaib kev nqhis. Nws yog nws HBO debut, li ntawd, nws yog twv yuav raug hu siab, tab sis yog li kuv. Nws yuav yog ib lub zoo sib ntaus.

 

"Kuv xav kom muaj tau zus ib ntawm cov lo lus. Kuv paub tias nws xav nws ib yam nkaus thiab. Nyob rau hnub Saturday, peb yuav paub tias leej twg xav kom nws ntau. Peb xav kom yeej thiab peb muaj ob txoj kev kawm rau ib tug yeej. Ib tug sib ntaus ntawm lub hwj chim thiab ceev yog ib tug zoo match-up. Tsis hais nws yog Mexican thiab kuv Puerto Rican. Koj yeej yuav tau txais ib tug zoo sib ntaus thiab nws tsis yog ib qho koj xav kom nco. "

 

 

Ward vs. Barrera, ib tug 12-round IBF tus naj npawb ib txoj hauj lwm thiab yuav tsum tau txoj hauj lwm eliminator uas yog hais los ntawm ROC teb chaws Cov kev ua si nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Main Txheej xwm, yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw Saturday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, 2016 ntawm Oracle Arena nyob rau hauv Oakland, California. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticketmaster, Neeg mus ncig teb chaws Management Solutions (CTMS), Zoo siab, Lifting, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Khoom noj khoom haus, Khau Palace, Tus waterfront Hotel thiab Mus saib Oakland. Qhov kev tshwm sim yuav tsum televised nyob rau HBO ntiaj teb Championship Boxing pib ntawm 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT. Qhib lub qhov HBO telecast yuav ua Yauxej Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Vélez nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round sib ntaus rau lub NABF Featherweight title los ntawm Golden tub Promotions nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Miguel Cotto Promotions.

 

Daim pib luv nqi thaum $300, $150, $100, $50 thiab $25, tsis xws li siv cov kev pab nqi thiab se yog muaj nyob rau ntawm tag nrho cov Ticketmaster qhov chaw, nyob hauv internet ntawm Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) thiab them los ntawm lub xov tooj ntawm (800) 745-3000.

 

Ua raws li cov kev sib tham nyob rau hauv Twitter los ntawm kev siv #WardBarrera.

 

Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov mus saib www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, ua raws li peb ntawm Twitter thiab Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions thiab @HBOBoxing thiab ua ib cov kiv cua hauv Facebook ntawm www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing thiab www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

 

ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD FIGHTS

FOR ANDRE WARD VS. Sullivan BARRERA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN ON HNUB SATURDAY, MARCH 26

AT Oracle ARENA hauv Oakland, CALIFORNIA

WARD VS. BARRERA AND JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ TELEVISED

LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® BEGINNING AT 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT

SWAY CALLOWAY & DJ FRANZEN TO PROVIDE

IN-ARENA ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN BOUTS

TSHIAB YORK, NY (Lub peb hlis ntuj 14, 2016) – A slate of six non-televised undercard bouts will serve as support when Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Lwm Ward (28-0, 15 Kos) faces undefeated and number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) in a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator at Oracle Arena in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, California on March 26. Opening the HBO^® telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight NABF Featherweight title fight.

 

In addition to the exciting televised lineup, some of boxing’s hottest rising stars will be featured on the non-televised undercard including Roc Nation Sports standouts Maurice Hooker, Daniel Franco, Rudy Puga Jr. thiab Junior Younan nrog rau 2008 Olympic Super Heavyweight Silver Medalist Zhang Zhilei and local favorite Aaron Coley who will all see action on March 26.

 

Roc Nation Sports will bring names from the entertainment world to the event as well, including notable event emcee, SiriusXM/Shade 45 morning show host of Sway in the Morning, Executive Producer and talent for VH1 & MTV and Oakland-native Yoj Calloway, uas yuav pab raws li cov kev tshwm sim lub party, thiab ntaus tswv DJ Franzen, neeg nyob DJ ntawm Las Vegas 'Kub 97.5 and Drais Nightclub. Sway and Franzen will entertain together throughout the night to keep fans entertained between bouts at Oracle Arena.

Daim pib luv nqi thaum $300, $150, $100, $50 thiab $25, tsis xws li siv cov kev pab nqi thiab se yog muaj nyob rau ntawm tag nrho cov Ticketmaster qhov chaw, nyob hauv internet ntawm Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) thiab them los ntawm lub xov tooj ntawm (800) 745-3000.

 

Rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, NABO Junior Welterweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (19-0-2, 14 Kos) risks his unbeaten record against Wilfrido “La Roca” Buelvas (17-5, 11 Kos) of Barranquilla, Colombia in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. Hooker, rated number seven by the WBO, is coming off of a career-best win on October 17, 2015 against his toughest opponent to date in Ghislain Maduma (17-2, 11 Kos) ntawm Madison Square Garden. Hooker successfully defended his NABO title with the 10-round decision win over Maduma on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux in a fight that was featured on the event’s “freeview” in the United States and streamed online around the world. Buelvas, a former WBA Fedebol champion, has won two of his last three bouts by knockout and fought Humberto Soto for the WBC Silver International Super Lightweight title in 2014, going the 12-round distance before losing a decision to the former World Champion.

 

Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, a rough suburb of Dallas, Hooker found a boxing home at Maple Avenue Boxing Gym by way of an outreach program for at-risk youths. His natural talent was soon noticed resulting in him competing as an amateur, during which time he participated in over 100 fights, compiling a record of 97 yeej thiab tsuas 7 losses, nrog 67 victories coming by way of knockout. Hooker turned professional on April 29, 2011, taking on the vastly more experienced Tyrone Chatman (7-1, 5 KO lub) at the Orpheum Theater in St. Louis. After four rounds, the judges saw the fight 40-36, 37-39 thiab 38-38, making the fight a split draw. Undeterred, in his next fight on June 24, 2014, Hooker scored his first professional win, knocking out Wilbert Mitchell in the first round at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Eleven wins (eight by knockout) later, he took on undefeated Abel Ramos (8-0, 4 KO lub) rau Lub ib hlis ntuj 17, 2014 in a bout that was featured on ShoBox from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. After eight close, hard-fought rounds, the judges saw the fight a draw. Hooker followed the draw with a six-round unanimous decision win over Adrian Rodriguez Garza (8-2, 6 KO lub) rau Plaub Hlis Ntuj 26 at Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi. Four consecutive knockout victories would follow before he took on fellow undefeated prospect Eduardo Galindo (10-0-1, 7 KO lub) Lub rau hli ntuj 26, 2015 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Championship. “Mighty Mo” did not disappoint his legion of hometown fans who saw him capture the title with a sixth round technical knockout victory.

 

Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, California thiab sib ntaus sib tua tawm ntawm tus boxing hotbed ntawm Oxnard, undefeated Daniel "twitch" Franco (12-0-3, 7 KO lub) meets Mexican veteran German “Panteonero” Meraz(52-37-1, 30 Kos) in an eight-round featherweight bout on Lub peb hlis ntuj 26. Featured for the second time on a Ward undercard, the sharp-boxing Franco will look to improve on his undefeated record against an opponent with literally six times his pro boxing experience. Meraz is only 29 years old but has already logged an amazing 90 professional bouts and has won four of his last six fights by knockout. He has fought current World Champion Juan Carlos Payano, Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and highly-touted prospect Gervonta Davis, going the distance with all three.

 

Franco began boxing at the age of eight, amassing ib tug pib xyaum ua cov ntaub ntawv ntawm 67-15, winning lub Oxnard NPAWG Championship nyob rau hauv 2006 thiab lub California State Nyiaj hnab looj tes Championship nyob rau hauv 2007 raws txoj kev. Thaum lub sij hawm Franco tus kev taw qhia nyob rau hauv Lub Kaum Ob Hlis 18, 2010, nws yeej Emanuel Machorro ntawm Club 401 nyob rau hauv Ontario, California ntawm ib tug thib peb puag ncig kev knockout. Txawm tias raug cuv npe kawm raws li ib tug tag nrho-lub sij hawm menyuam kawm ntawv nyob Chaffey College nyob rau hauv Rancho Cucamonga, Franco heev thaum ntxov nyob rau hauv nws cov hauj lwm, compiling ib undefeated cov ntaub ntawv uas muaj ob lub thim nyob rau hauv venues thoob plaws California los ntawm qhov kawg ntawm 2013. Ib tug ntawm cov neeg thim tuaj tiv thaiv Alejandro Ochoa ntawm Ntsiag to Cannon nyob rau hauv Montebello, California rau lub Cuaj Hli Ntuj 20, 2013, but in a rematch three months later, Franco outmatched Ochoa xeem ib tug rau-round unanimous kev txiav txim siab yeej ntawm Westin Bonaventure Hotel nyob rau hauv Los Angeles. Nyob rau lub rau hli ntuj 20, 2015, during Ward’s return to the ring at Oracle Arena, Franco saw action in an eight-round junior lightweight bout against Jonathan Alcantara and won by unanimous decision. A hand injury suffered in that bout kept Franco out of action until Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 21when he scored a decision victory over Hector Garcia in Tijuana, Mexico.

 

A promising unbeaten prospect from Salinas, California, Rudy “The Revelation” Puja. Jr. (7-0, 6 Kos)looks to extend his undefeated streak against Carlos “Kalimba” Lozano (7-5, 4 Kos) of Ensenada, Mexico in a six-round middleweight bout. Puga turned in a career-best performance in his last match-up on February 12 in knocking out Alejandro Osuna (4-2, 2 KO lub) in two rounds at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, California. Tam sim no, just a little over a month later, “The Revelation” will step into the ring against a tough opponent in Lozanao, a southpaw who has never been stopped and already has a ten-round decision victory under his belt.

 

Having compiled an exceptional amateur record of 99-8, Puga made his professional debut on September 2, 2011, scoring a fourth round technical knockout victory over Raul Talamontes at the Sports Complex in his hometown. Back in the ring less than two months later, Puga Jr. raised his record to 2-0 with a first round technical knockout of Jose Jesus Hurtado at the Sherwood Inn in Salinas. Nyob rau hauv Lub rau hli ntuj 2012, he sent Thomas Turner to the mat four times in scoring a second round technical knockout win at the Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. After a little more than a year away from the ring, he rededicated himself to the “sweet science” with a vengeance and on February 17, 2014, Puga Jr. made his comeback stopping Charon Spain in the third round with an overpowering body shot at the Salinas Storm House in his native Salinas. Promotional issues kept Puga Jr. out of the ring for the next year and injuries led to a slow 2015, but Puga Jr. scored a a fourth round technical knockout win over of Katrell Straus on Plaub Hlis Ntuj 24 and a six-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Rojas on Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 21, both fights taking place at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, California.

 

Brooklyn’s 20-year-old, undefeated Junior “The Young God” Younan (7-0, 6 KO lub) rov qab los rau lub nplhaib nyob rau hauv Lub peb hlis ntuj 26 after a nine-month layoff to take on Cristian Solorzano (4-7, 3 Kos) ntawm Sonora, Mexico in a four-round super middleweight fight. Younan has battled multiple nagging injuries since scoring a second round technical knockout victory over Mike Sawyer on the Miguel Cotto vs. Daniel Geale undercard on June 6, 2015 ntawm Barclays Center nyob rau hauv Brooklyn, New York. Tam sim no 100 percent healthy, Younan looks to make Solozano his third straight knockout victim. Solorzano, a naturally bigger fighter, has campaigned in the light heavyweight division and is coming off of a knockout win.

 

Younan, trained by his father Sherif, a former professional boxer himself, began fighting competitively at age eight and only two years later was called a “boxing prodigy” by the New York Times. He compiled an amateur record of 90-5, racking up an impressive series of titles along the way including nine Junior Olympic championships, nine Junior Metro championships, eight New York State Silver Gloves championships and five Regional Silver Gloves championships. Nyob rau hauv 2011, he was crowned National Junior Golden Gloves champion and was U.S.A. Boxing’s number one rated junior boxer in his weight class. Less than a month after his 18^th hnub yug, Younan made his professional debut on November 9, 2013, at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, New York, stopping Kenneth Schmitz in the first round. Younan would go on to knockout his next three opponents before going the distance for the first time against Azamat Umarzoda on July 2, 2014 ntawm Foxwoods Resort Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Mashantucket, Connecticut. He followed that fight with a first round knockout of Marlon Farr on Lub yim hli ntuj 13 the BB King Blues Club and Grill in New York on Lub yim hli ntuj 13.

Chinese heavyweight Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (7-0, 4 Kos) joins the undercard on Lub peb hlis ntuj 26 in a four-round bout against an opponent yet to be determined. The Silver Medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics continues to infuse excitement into the heavyweight division and is coming off of a first round technicalknockout win over David Koswara on February 20 at the Lanzhou Sports Arena in Lanzhou, Tuam Tshoj.

 

Born on May 2, 1983 in Henan, Zhang began his amateur career in 2003, participating in the World Championships. A breakthrough came in 2007 at the World Championships where Zhang defeated the trio of Nurpais Torobekov, Rustam Rygebayev and Daniel Beahan en route to the semifinals where he lost to Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov. By capturing a bronze medal and finishing the competition in third place, he qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The Chinese powerhouse nearly reached the zenith of amateur success in the summer of 2008, entering the super heavyweight finals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing against Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle. It was not to be as Zhang suffered his first defeat of that Olympiad, losing to Cammarelle, but proudly adding to the host country’s medal total with a Silver. Nyob rau hauv 2009, Zhang captured a gold medal at the China National Games, an event of equal prestige to the Olympics in China. 2013 saw yet another gold medal winning performance in the China National Games, setting the stage for “Big Bang” to embark on a professional career while basing himself in the United States. Nyob rau lub yim hli ntuj 8, 2014, Zhang made his professional debut by scoring a first-round knockout win over Curtis Lee Tate in Fallon, Nevada in a fight that was televised live on ESPN2. Rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 14, 2015, Zhang beat Eric George via a four-round unanimous decision at the Armory in Jersey City, New Jersey. He followed that with another four-round unanimous decision win, this time over Glenn Thomas on the highly anticipated Cotto-Geale undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Lub rau hli ntuj 6. Next came a sixth round technical knockout win over Dennis Benson at The Playground in Atlantic City on Lub yim hli ntuj 15. To end the year, Zhang was featured on the undercard of the Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 21 Cotto vs. Canelo mega-fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where scored a four-round unanimous decision victory over Juan Goode.

 

Local Hayward, California nyiam Aaron Coley (12-1-1, 6 KO lub) faces a very stern test in a six-round junior middleweight bout against Ua raws li Ryskeldiev (11-3-2, 7 Kos) of West Hollywood, California, a Kyrgyzstan native who is undefeated in his last seven fights.

 

Rau Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, Coley will look follow his most recent victory, a unanimous decision over Jeremy Ramos onLub ib hlis ntuj 23 at the Marriott on Broadway in Oakland, with another win in front of his hometown fans. Prior to his January win he scored two unanimous decision triumphs, including his June 20, 2015 performance against Yusmani Abreu (who Ryskeldiev defeated by technical knockout in September) on the undercard of Ward’s last fight. Considered a promising prospect in boxing circles, Coley’s lone loss came via decision to one of boxing’s hottest prospects in Ievgen Khytrov in a bout that was televised live on Showtime’s ShoBox on April 10, 2015 from The Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York.

Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw rau hnub Saturday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 26, 2016 ntawm Oracle Arena nyob rau hauv Oakland, California and is sponsored byCorona Extra, Ticketmaster, Neeg mus ncig teb chaws Management Solutions (CTMS), Zoo siab, Lifting, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Khoom noj khoom haus, Shoe Palace and The Waterfront Hotel. Qhov kev tshwm sim yuav tsum televised nyob rau HBO ntiaj teb Championship Boxing pib ntawm 9:45 p.m. THIAB/PT. Qhib lub qhov HBO telecast yuav ua Yauxej Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Vélez nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round sib ntaus rau lub NABF Featherweight title los ntawm Golden tub Promotions nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Miguel Cotto Promotions.

 

Yog xav paub ntxiv, thov mus saib www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, ua raws li peb ntawm Twitter thiab Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions thiab @HBOBoxing thiab ua ib cov kiv cua hauv Facebook ntawm www.facebook.com/RocNation,www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing thiabwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

 

Ua raws li cov kev sib tham nyob rau hauv Twitter los ntawm kev siv #WardBarrera.