Cartlann Tag: WBO

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WBO light flyweight champion Tito Acosta to showcase skills & build his legacy vs. Carlos Buitrago

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La Batalla
TITO ACOSTA vs. CARLOS BUITRAGO
WBO World Light Flyweight Championship

Dé Sathairn, Meitheamh 16, 2018
Coliseo de Puerto Rico * Hato Rey, Pórtó Ríce

LIVE ON PPV – 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT
La Batalla, Meitheamh 16
Live on PPV from Puerto Rico

Tito Acosta (R) puts his opponents to sleep

SAN JUAN, Pórtó Ríce (Bealtaine 10, 2018) – World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will showcase his vast skills June 16 in his first title defense against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago sa “La Batalla” 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Pórtó Ríce.

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, Halla na Laochra amach anseo Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

Integrated Sports Media will distribute theLa Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DirecTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) ar an FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), ag tosú ag 9 p.m. AGUS / 6 p.m. PT, ar phraghas miondíola molta de amháin $34.95.

Building his own legacy in a traditionally rich, hot-bed for boxing like Puerto Rico, Acosta (17-1, 17 Kos) captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, nuair a leag sé amach Juan Alejo (24-4-1), de Meicsiceo, sa 10ú bhabhta.

An outstanding amateur boxer with more than 180 cluichí, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games,), the San Juan-based fighter has defeated 22-5Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), agus 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).

“My goal is to be the best,” Acosta said. “I grew-up watching Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, who are my favorite fighters. I will work as hard as I can to give the best to my family, as well as make my island proud. I will win on June 16ú and let the world know that I am the best 108-pound boxer in the world.”

Having a future Hall of Famer such as Cotto as his promoter is a tremendous advantage, isteach agus amach as an fáinne, for Acosta. “It means a lot and is an honor for me to have a living legend like Miguel Cotto as my promoter,” Acosta explained. “He has guided my career the best way. He also gets involved in my camp and wants me to get better and better every fight.”

“Tito Acosta is a really good fighter,” Cotto commented about his protégé. “He is World Champion for a reason. We will work to give him the best opportunities. Tito has an opportunity to show the world on June 16ú what he is made of and who he is. As World Champion, he needs to be at the highest level to have a brilliant performance each fight, because the better performances and victories, the bigger name he will build.”

“It is important for a fighter to do his job in the ring because every performance is a unique opportunity to show the world who you are and at what level you belong. People in Puerto Rico love boxing, and its fighters.”

WBA #2-rated Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 Kos) will be fighting in his fifth world title fight, after losing three times with one draw. He was stopped for the first time in his last fight this past December, by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0), in the eighth round of their title fight in Japan.

All three of Buitrago’s career losses have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) i 2016 agus 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then-WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha.

“Chris Buitrago is a great fighter and tough challenger, who has the highest level of experience, and that motivates me,” Acosta spoke about his Nicaraguan opponent. “People want to watch a toe-to-toe brawl and he brings that style. I think he will brawl with me, but I’ll be ready for any style he brings June 16ú.

“I work for the KO (tá sé 17 knockouts ina 17 Bhuaigh) because that’s what fans like. I work for that every fight and I will win June 16ú de réir knockout!”

Additional June 16ú PPV fights will soon be announced. Tá gach troideanna agus na trodaithe faoi réir athraithe.

PROMO VIDEO:

ENGLISH:

 

SPANISH:

 

EOLAS:

www.promocionesmiguelcotto, www.integratedsportsnet.com, www.directvpr.com, www.fite.tv

Twitter: @CottoPromotions, @Directvpr, @IntegratedPPV, @FiteTV

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An Ghearmáin, United States and Latvia Play Host to WBO Bouts

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The World Boxing Organization (WBO), chaired by Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, will celebrate five interesting title fights; two of which are for world championships. The bouts will take place this Saturday, Bealtaine 12.

 

 

 

Brooklyn native Saddam “World Kid” Ali (26-1, 14 KO s), coming off the most important victory of his career against legendary Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto, makes the first defense of his WBO junior middleweight world title, when he faces the dangerous Mexican Jaime Munguía (28-0, 24 KO s). The fight will take place at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, Nua-Eabhrac. The fight will be televised live on HBO at 10:00 p.m. AGUS.

 

 

 

“We will have a lot of activity this Saturday from the WBO. You have to pay close attention to the performance of the huge puncher Jaime Munguía, who will face a good attacker like Ali. It’s going to be a classic fight of puncher against a boxer. If Munguía wins, he would be placed on a select list of great Mexican boxers who have been world champions at or before 21 years of age”, said Valcárcel.

 

 

 

In Augsburg, An Ghearmáin, women’s boxing takes the stage when the popular former world champion Nikki Adler (16-1, 9 KO s) of Germany and the world contender Femke Hermans (6-1, 3 KO s) of Belgium, face each other for the vacant WBO world belt of the super middleweight division. The fight will be in the Eisstadion in Augsburg.

 

 

 

“We remain committed and supportive of women’s boxing. Germany is no exception. This great fight has the community looking on because there is a world title at stake and the fight will be liked by the public”, said Valcárcel.

 

In Latvia, three WBO International titles will be in play in 12-round duels in an evening at the Riga Arena. For the vacant International junior middleweight belt, the 13th ranked Ismail Iliev (10-0-1, 3 KO s) of Nazran, Russia will face Konstantin Ponomarev (33-0, 13 KO s) of Miass, Rúis.

 

 

 

Chomh maith leis sin, the WBO International Lightweight Champion and 5th ranked Isa Chaniev (12-1, 6 KO s) of Nazran, Rúis, will defend his title against the strong Venezuelan puncher, Ismael Barroso (20-1-2, 19 KO s).

 

 

 

For the vacant middleweight WBO International belt, Artur Akavov (18-2, 12 KO s) from Russia, will face against Argentina’s Gonzalo Coria (12-1, 5 KO s).

 

 

 

“We are making a presence in eastern Europe. An uair seo, it was Latvia’s turn to have boxers who are already ranked in the top positions of the WBO and for the rest of the year, could be fighting for world titles”, expressed Varcárcel.

 

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WBO light flyweight champion Tito Acosta to make 1st title defense vs. Carlos Buitrago

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La Batalla
TITO ACOSTA vs. CARLOS BUITRAGO
WBO World Light Flyweight Championship

Dé Sathairn, Meitheamh 16, 2018
Coliseo de Puerto Rico * Hato Rey, Pórtó Ríce

LIVE ON PPV – 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT
La Batalla, Meitheamh 16
Live on PPV from Puerto Rico

(L-R) – Eduardo Cajina (Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center), WBO light flyweight world champion
Tito Acosta, and promoter Miguel Cotto

SAN JUAN, Pórtó Ríce (Aibreán 30, 2018) — Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted a press conference earlier today to announce World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will make his first title defense at home on June 16 against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago sa “La Batalla” 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Pórtó Ríce.

 

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, Halla na Laochra amach anseo Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DirecTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) ar an FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), ag tosú ag 9 p.m. AGUS / 6 p.m. PT, ar phraghas miondíola molta de amháin $34.95.

 

 

 

“Tito Acosta is that fighter you can’t blink your eyes,” promoter Miguel Cotto said. “He brings excitement to every fight and power to finish in any second. This fight against Carlos Buitrago will be fireworks from the opening bell.”

 

 

 

 

Acosta (17-1, 17 Kos), fighting out of San Juan, Puerto Rico., captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out his Mexican challenger, Juan Alejo (24-4-1), sa 10ú bhabhta.

 

 

 

 

A standout amateur boxer with more than 180 cluichí, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games, is a past WBO Latino and World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion. His most notable victories have been against 22-5 Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), agus 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).

 

 

 

“Buitrago says that his dream is to become the world champion, to that I say, keep on dreaming,” Acosta said. “Níl mé ag ghannmheas air, but this will be my night, not his.”

 

 

 

Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 Kos), 26, tá rátáil dhomhanda ag Uimh. 12 ag an WBO. The Managua-native will be fighting in his fifth world title fight having lost three times with one draw. In his last match this past December, he was stopped for the first time in the eighth round by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0) sa tSeapáin.

 

 

 

Go deimhin, all three of Buitrago’s career losses as a professional have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) i 2016 agus 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha.

 

 

 

“I will enter the ring in the best shape of my life with one objective in sight: to fulfill my dream of becoming the world champion and give my country a historic win,” Buitrago commented. “The battle is on and I hope to come out victorious.”

 

 

Additional June 16ú PPV fights will soon be announced. Tá gach troideanna agus na trodaithe faoi réir athraithe.

 

EOLAS:

 

www.promocionesmiguelcotto, www.integratedsportsnet.com, www.directvpr.com, www.fite.tv

 

 

 

Twitter: @CottoPromotions, @Directvpr, @IntegratedPPV, @FiteTV

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Lenin Castillo grabs WBO Gold in Ponce, Pórtó Ríce

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Ponce, Pórtó Ríce – Former Dominican Olympian Lenin Castillo (18-1-1, 13 KO s) won the WBO/NABO vacant light heavyweight title in impressive fashion. Castillo defeated Aaron “Homicide” Mitchell (27-3-1, 21 KO s) of Florida by way of technical knockout in the 10th and final round.

 

 

 

 

As a result of the victory, Castillo will now be ranked among the best 175 pound fighters in the WBO.

 

 

 

 

The fight was televised by DIRECTV PR as part of a card promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions at the Complejo Ferial, Ponce, PR.

 

 

 

 

“I am very grateful to my manager Raúl Pastrana from Spartan Boxing Club, Miguel Cotto Promotions and the WBO for making this fight possible with an important title at stake that will place me among the best fighters of my weight,” Said Castillo, “This victory is for my Dominican people, my dad, my mom and also for the Puerto Ricans who made me feel at home since I arrived on the island for the fight”.

 

 

 

 

“I prepared myself to the max and these are the results of working hard in the gym. Since I landed a good shot at Mitchell, he decided to survive the whole fight and did not let me use everything I had saved for him. But the important thing was that we won all the rounds without losing concentration”, expressed Castillo, who was training in Florida under the supervision of Maury Ramos of KMJ with the assistance of Chiro Pérez from 5th St Gym.

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Former Olympian Lenin Castillo inks with Spartan Boxing Club

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Former Olympian Lenin Castillo (17-1-1, 12 KO s) from the Dominican Republic has signed with new Puerto Rican management company, Spartan Boxing Club, on his mission to be part of the big stages in boxing.

 

 

 

 

Spartan Boxing Club President Raul Pastrana stated that “We are already planning to put Castillo on Aibreán 7 card in San Juan, Pórtó Ríce, where Angel Acosta will defend his WBO world title, and we are currently in the process of looking for a quality opponent together with a regional title to rank Castillo in the top positions in order to get a greater fight by the end of the year”.

 

 

 

 

“I signed with Spartan Boxing because they have an incredible platform and a work plan that I understand will be effective for my long-term career. I’m crazy to get back the ring to show that I deserve to be on the big stages and what better way to start this new path in front of my dear Puerto Rican people whom make me feel at home every time I go there” said Castillo who at the amateur boxing level won gold medals at the Jr. Pan American Games and José ‘Cheo’ Aponte International Tournament, and competed at the Olympic Games at welterweight category in Beijing, An tSín.

 

 

 

 

Ina troid seo caite, held in the month of November at the Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo, Castillo defeated by brutal knockout in the first round over power puncher, Andy Perez (20-7, 19 KO s).

 

 

 

 

Spartan Boxing Club is composed of the decorated fighters: Super Bantamweight Yenifel Vicente (31-3-2, 23 KO) of the Dominican Republic who is ranked in the WBO & WBC, former members of the Puerto Rican National Amateur Boxing Team: Bernard ‘Bimbo’ Lebrón (9-0, 4KO s), John ‘La Bestia’ Correa (3-0, 3KO s) and Wilfredo ‘Bimbito’ Méndez (9-0, 4KO s), among others boxers.

dornálaíocht, Americas Combate, healaíona comhraic measctha, MMA, mban dornálaíocht, mban MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS Comharthaí FIRST-EVER, CÚIG-DIVISION DOMHAN Dornálaíocht CHAMPION AMANDA SERRANO

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Cúig-roinn an domhain dornálaíochta curadh Amanda “An Real Deal” Serrano Tá síníodh eisiach, comhaontú chun cinn ilbhliantúil le Combate Mheiriceá, agus slated chun a céad MMA Márta.

Punt do-punt-dornálaíochta phenom a leagtar a dhéanamh di i bhfad-réamh-mheasta
MMA debut for world’s premier Hispanic MMA sports franchise

 

NUA-EABHRAC - Eanáir 11, 2018 - Combate Mheiriceá inniu síniú cúig roinn domhan dornálaíochta curadh, lena n-áirítear ríthe Dhomhanda na hEagraíochta Dornálaíochta (WBO) bantamweight (118 punt) curadh, Amanda "An Real Deal 'Serrano (Dornálaíocht: 34-1-1, 26 KO s; MMA: 0-0) le eisiach, comhaontú chun cinn ilbhliantúil.

 

 

An Trodaire baineann amháin i stair chomh maith leis an t-aon Puerto Rican iomaitheoir riamh a bhuaigh cúig teidil domhan i cúig rannáin meáchain éagsúla, an Serrano 29 bliain d'aois a rugadh i Carolina, Pórtó Ríce agus troideanna as Brooklyn, N.Y., Beidh a dhéanamh di Martial Arts Measctha (MMA) tús i La Jaula, an Cage Combate Mheiriceá, ar dháta Márta le fógairt go luath.

 

 

"Táimid ag excited a thabhairt Amanda Serrano, ar cheann de na superstars is spreagúla dornálaíochta isteach sa Combate Mheiriceá familia, agus táim ag tnúth le a chur uirthi ar ardán domhanda go bhfuil an mhaoin premier spóirt i 21 tíortha ina labhraítear Spáinnis ar fud an domhain,"A dúirt Combate Americas POF Campbell McLaren.

 

 

Serrano, barr 10 punt do-punt-Trodaire, leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh í burgeoning gairme dornálaíochta faoi chur chun cinn DiBella Siamsaíocht, agus iarracht a bheith ar an chéad lúthchleasaí i stair de bheith i seilbh an am céanna teidil domhan i MMA agus dornálaíochta.

 

 

Serrano gabhadh a chéad teideal domhan mhór, Cónaidhm Idirnáisiúnta Dornálaíochta (IBF) choróin featherweight Super, ag díreach 22 bliain d'aois, le brutal, knockout dara babhta de Kimberly Connor Meán Fómhair 10, 2011.

 

 

Tá sí ag torn ó shin trí na céimeanna trodaithe i gceithre rannóg meáchan eile, ag dul ó bantamweight go lightweight (135 punt), agus le déanaí scóráil an chéad TKO bhabhta ar Marilyn Hernandez ar Samhain 4, 2017.

 

 

Bhí spreag Serrano a thrasnú os cionn go dtí saol na MMA réir curadh domhanda ar scor Miesha Tate, atá tar éis éirí ó shin Serrano comh-bainisteoir.

 

 

Combate Mheiriceá ag teacht amach in aghaidh na bliana banner, tháirgeadh rátálacha teilifíse suntasach sa U.S., Meicsiceo agus an Spáinn, lena n-áirítear an chéad dá imeacht Telemundo MMA sa stair a ghintear na rátálacha is airde d'aon teanga Spáinnis MMA Léiríonn sa U.S. i rith an tsamhraidh agus titim de 2017, agus an oiread agus is 6.9 milliún lucht féachana do chlár cheann dá shraith teilifíse sa tseachtain ar an teilifís Azteca i Meicsiceo.
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Promotions Rí comharthaí iar-iomaitheoir teideal domhan José “Chelo” González le conradh a chur chun cinn

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Léitheoireacht, PA (Nollaig 27, 2017) – Promotions Rí a fhógairt síniú iar challenger teideal domhan José “Chelo” González le conradh a chur chun cinn.
González, 34 de Toa Baja, Pórtó Ríce Tá taifead de 24-2 le 19 knockouts.
González Bhuaigh sé a chéad 19 bouts le Bhuaigh thar Osenohan Vázquez (1-0), eric Cruz (5-1-2), Hector Marengo (5-0-4) & Edgardo Soto (12-2).
Ar Meitheamh 3, 2011, González bhuaigh an teideal WBO Latino Lightweight le stopadh bhabhta 6 thar Gerardo Cuevas.
rinne González cúig cosaintí éiritheach a fhoilsiú roimh dúshlánach WBO Lightweight domhain curadh Ricky Burns ar Bealtaine 11, 2013.
Bhí González dominating go bout agus go maith ar a bhealach chun bheith ina son an domhain roimh injuring a láimhe agus ag éirí as an bout tar éis an 10ú babhta.
González rebounded trí ath-a bhuaigh an teideal WBO Latino Lightweight agus a chosaint sé le stopadh bhabhta 5 níos mó ná Marvin Quintero (26-5).
Beidh González bheith ag iarraidh a teacht ar ais tar éis bliana layoff dhá-agus-i-leath.
González Dúirt: “I am very happy with this new chapter in my career. I am returning to the ring with plenty of excitement and with the same dedication I have always had. I thank Marshall and King’s Promotions for the opportunity and I have no doubt that together we will return to a world title.”
“We are excited to bring Jose into the fold. He is a world championship caliber fighter, and is a terrific addition to King’s Promotions. We are looking to make his debut in early March, agus más feidhmíonn sé is féidir linn a fheiceáil deiseanna an-mhór ina amach anseo,” Dúirt Promotions Rí POF Marshall Kauffman.
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais a fháil agus meáin dintiúir, Teagmháil:
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Salita Promotions Signs Women’s Superstar Christina Hammer to Multi-Fight Promotional Contract

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Promoter Dmitriy Salita proudly announces the signing of undefeated women’s unified world middleweight champion Christina Hammer to a multi-fight promotional contract.
Already a superstar in Europe, “Lady Hammer” (22-0, 10 Kos), from Dortmund, An Ghearmáin, (via Novodolinka, Chasacstáin) is the current WBC and WBO Middleweight Champion. She has also previously held the WBF Middleweight, as well as WBO and WBF Super Middleweight Championships.
Under Salita’s promotional direction, Hammer will make her United States boxing debut on Dé hAoine, Eanáir 12, ag an casadh Cloch Resort Casino i Verona, Nua-Eabhrac, on the non-televised undercard of a ShoBox: An Giniúint Nua telecast (10 p.m. AGUS/PT), featuring unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields’ WBC and IBF title defense against mandatory challenger Tori Nelson. Hammer is scheduled for a 10-round fight, highlights of which will be shown on SHOWTIME.
“I never had any doubt that my manager Harald Pia and I would reach an agreement,” said a happy Hammer of the signing. “I love the U.S.,” lean sí. “If you are successful here, you will be successful everywhere. Since the beginning of my boxing career it has been a dream of mine to fight in the U.S.. Ní féidir liom fanacht le haghaidh Eanáir 12.”
Hammer joins the Salita Promotions roster that also includes women’s superstar, unified super middleweight champion and two-time gold medalist Claressa Shields, as well as world, Eorpach (2X) agus Rúisis (6X) amateur champion and 2012 Cluichí Oilimpeacha, Elena Savelyeva.
“Christina has all the tools to become a star in the U.S.,” Dúirt Dmitriy Salita. “Her skills, personality and appeal outside the ring make Christina a unique and special fighter in the talent-filled middleweight division. Creidim 2018 is going to be a historic year for women’s boxing all over the world.”
Hammer is a technically outstanding boxer, but her outstanding physical strength is what separates her from the rest of the world’s 160-pound fighters. She was voted WBF Female Fighter of the Year in 2011 agus 2013; the WBO Female Fighter of the Year in 2013; the BDB Female Boxer of the Year in 2016; the HERQUL Female Boxer of the Year in 2017 and is the only woman in Europe to earn the Diamond Ring of the WBO.
“It is always a pleasure to work with highly professional partners,” said manager Pia of the deal. “I’m confident we have a contract that is good for all parties. Christina is very happy to be fighting in the U.S. It is a dream of hers to be successful over here and she can’t wait to show the U.S. public who Christina Hammer is!”
Ticéid le haghaidh an ócáid, a chur chun cinn ag Cur Chun Cinn Salita, Tá láthair ar díol do $75 don chéad dhá shraith de ringside, $65 do suíochán ringside agus gach duine eile phraghas ag fágtha $49 agus $37, móide aon táillí is infheidhme. Is féidir ticéid a cheannach le go pearsanta nó trí ghlaoch ar an casadh Cloch Resort Box Office ag 800.771.7711 nó ar líne ag Ticketmaster.
In the telecast opener Uzbekistan power-puncher Shohjahon Ergashev (11-0, 11 Kos) Beidh aghaidh eile undefeated agus barr-10 rangaithe Sonny Fredrickson (18-0, 12 Kos) de Toledo, Ohio. Sa an comh-gné, Jesse Hernandez (10-1, 7 Kos) a chur ar Ernesto Garza (9-2, 5 Kos; 1-3 WSB) i 10-bhabhta bout bantamweight Super.
dornálaíocht, An Ríocht Aontaithe Dornálaíochta

Can Saunders Secure His Most Impressive Win to Date Over Lemieux?

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Billy Joe Saunders will take to the ring on December 16 in Canada as the reigning and defending WBO middleweight champion, being the proud owner of a belt which he won way back in December 2015 when defeating fellow traveller Andy Lee.

 

But since outpointing Irishman Lee with a majority decision success to become world champion at the Manchester Arena, Saunders has only defended it on two occasions, with unanimous decision triumphs over Artur Akavov and Willie Monroe Jr., more recently.

 

Against game Russian Akavov, the undefeated world title holder was far from impressive and perhaps even lucky to get such a comfortable decision in the end at the Lagoon Leisure Centre on Scottish soil. The win over American challenger Monroe Jr was a lot better, having then undertaken Dominic Ingle as his newest coach.

 

But the latter bout was still a drab affair and did nothing to further or boost Saunders’ appeal to a broader audience, as he outworked the New York-born southpaw quite comfortably. For most of the title defence, he was barely made to work at all, with Monroe having come in with a bizarrely inefficient gameplan.

 

Mar sin féin, the 28-year-old will next face undoubtedly his toughest career test to date against former 160lbs champion David Lemieux, a far more serious challenge than an inexperienced and youthful Chris Eubank Jr, an indifferent Andy Lee and the far from threatening Willy Monroe Junior.

 

Hard-hitting Canadian Lemieux will enter the ring ropes as the evens outsider in the latest boxing odds to prevail on home territory, a promising price for a fighter on a strong surge of victories of late. Since being viciously stopped in a gallant showing against the division kingpin Gennady Golovkin in October 2015, the 28-year-old has earned four consecutive wins, including two big knockouts of Glen Tapia and Curtis Stevens.


Of all the opponents Saunders has gone toe to toe with to date, none have possessed the punching power of Lemieux, and that could be a decisive factor come fight night. The latter home hope is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy, who are seemingly keen to match the Canadian up with main cash cow Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez next year, rather than throw him in with ‘GGG’ once again in a highly awaited rematch.

 

Despite being the favourite to prevail and maintain his unbeaten record on what will be his maiden venture outside of the UK in his professional career, it seems the odds are actually stacked against Saunders for this latest encounter.

 

It has been evident, freisin, that Saunders doesn’t boast the massive power capable of keeping a fleet-footed Lemieux away from the danger areas throughout their match-up. Knockout artist Lemieux produced what could eventually be voted stoppage of the year back in March when he brutally put Stevens’ lights out in New York City.

 

Could another vicious stoppage success be on the cards on home soil? It’s up to Saunders and Ingle to execute their upcoming gameplan perfectly to secure what would be a highly impressive victory on the road, but it looks likely of being a truly testing night in Quebec.

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Potapov Ready for Battle Against Narvaez This Saturday in Argentina

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WBO #2-ranked Russian bantamweight Nikolai Potapov is in Detroit, finalizing preparations for his long-awaited showdown with WBO #1-ranked Omar Narvaez of Argentina.
The pair will meet for a 12-round showdown this Dé Sathairn, Deireadh Fómhair 14, at Estadio Obras Sanitarias in Buenos Aires and live on Argentina TyC Sports.
27-year-old Potapov (17-0, 8 Kos) hails from Podolsk, Rúis, but travels to Detroit before fights, to work with well-respected trainer and nephew of Emanuel Steward, Javan SugarHill.
“I had an intense training camp in Detroit with Sugar Hill Stewart,” said Potapov. “This is our second camp together and I feel like I am getting better everyday.”
Defeating the former WBO World Flyweight and Super Flyweight Champion Narvaez (46-2-2, 24 Kos) will not be easy for Potapov. The tough southpaw won his first world championship 15 years ago and remains one of the world’s best. “I look forward to making a statement in the Narvaez fight and taking a step closer to a world title,” continued Potapov.

“Nikolai is one of the best bantamweights in the world,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “A win over a top fighter a former world champion like Narvaez will put the division on notice. Nikolai is coming to make a name for himself on Deireadh Fómhair 14.”