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TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE FINAL NEF EVENT OF 2018

 

Portland, Maine (November 2, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its final mixed-martial-arts event of 2018, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” on Saturday, November 17 at Aura in Portland, Maine. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the fight card for the event featuring a full slate of professional and amateur fights.

 

 

 

The professional side of the card will be headlined by a pair of title fights as Ryan Sanders (17-9) defends the lightweight strap against Jacob Bohn (7-5) and Ras Hylton (3-1) meets Yorgan De Castro (2-0) to crown the first-ever NEF cruiserweight champion.

 

 

 

Sanders has held the lightweight title since April 2017 when he defeated Jon Lemke (7-9) in a tournament final.  He has won a remarkable eight in a row in the NEF cage, not losing on Maine soil in four years.  New York’s Jacob Bohn has won his last two in a row over veterans Kenny Foster (12-13) and Lewis Corapi (8-4) respectively.

 

 

 

Ras Hylton is coming off a highlight-reel elbow knockout of Eric Bedard (6-8) last August.  The 6’6″ resident of South Portland, known to fans as “The Jamaican Shamrock,” is a perfect 3-0 in the NEF cage where he also went 3-0 as an amateur.  Yorgan De Castro is undefeated as a professional, having finished both of his opponents by technical knockout.  The bout will be the first in the newly-created NEF 225-pound cruiserweight division which will fall between the light-heavyweight (205-pound) and heavyweight (265-pound) classes.

 

 

 

Also on the professional card will be a flyweight contest between Portland fan-favorite Ernesto Ornelas (4-7) and undefeated Massachusetts prospect Jose Lugo (3-0).  Ornelas is riding a two-fight win streak while Lugo, nicknamed “El Salvaje,” has finished all three of his opponents.

 

 

 

Matt Probin (2-0) is scheduled to make his long-awaited debut with NEF when he meets veteran Lionel Young (7-15) in a featherweight contest.  Probin has won back-to-back bouts in Vermont via knockout to start his professional career.

 

 

 

As of press time, NEF was still searching for a replacement opponent for Carl Langston (0-1) in a professional featherweight bout after several previous opponents had pulled out.  Interested featherweights should contact NEF matchmakers via email at newenglandfights@gmail.com.  Serious inquiries only please.

 

 

 

The amateur portion of the card is scheduled to feature a total of three women’s MMA bouts.  Glory Watson (1-0) will take on Megan Rosado (0-0), while BJ Garceau (1-0) meets Chelsea Tucker (0-3) and Catie Denning (1-0) faces off with Taylor Thompson (2-0).  Watson, Garceau and Tucker are all members of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine owned and operated by coach Chris Young.  The trio has been nicknamed “Chris’ Angels.”

 

 

 

The full “NEF 36” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

 

225*TITLE Ras Hylton 3-1 (First Class MMA) vs Yorgan De Castro 2-0

155*TITLE Ryan Sanders 17-9 (c) (Young’s MMA) vs Jacob Bohn 7-5 (Behring Jiu Jitsu NY)

145 Matt Probin 2-0 (Recon) vs Lionel Young 7-15 (Citadel Martial Arts)

125 Ernesto Ornelas 4-7 (Choi Institute) vs Jose Lugo 3-0 (BST MMA & Fitness)

 

 

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

175 Jon Assam 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jordan Norman 0-1 (Bad Little Falls Dojo)

155 Zac Richard 2-0 (Nostos) vs Chris Lachcik 0-1 (Independent)

155 Mohammad Al Kinani 4-1 (Evolution Athletix) vs Clifford Redman 0-6 (Independent)

155 Brandon Mailet 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs Ben Peters 0-0 (Titan Athletics)

140 Megan Rosado 0-0 (Evolution Athletix) vs Glory Watson 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

140 Henry Clark 4-4 (Choi Institute) vs Killian Murphy 1-1 (Nostos)

135 Taylor Thompson 2-0 () vs Catie Denning 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

135 Schuyler Vaillancourt 0-0 (Nostos) vs Felipe Gunther 0-0 (First Class MMA)

135 Nate Boucher 2-3 (CMBJJ) vs Jordan Young 1-1 (Independent)

125 Chelsea Tucker 0-3 (First Class MMA) vs BJ Garceau 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” will see the company make its return to Aura in Portland, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 17, 2018 with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

 

 

 

About New England Fights

 

 

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Isiah Seldon ready for undefeated middleweight Tyler Howard on November 16th in Oklahoma City

Atlantic City, NJ (November 1, 2018) – Middleweight Isiah Seldon is getting ready for his biggest fight of his career when he takes on undefeated Tyler Howard in a bout scheduled for eight-round on November 16th at The Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

 

 

 

The bout, which is promoted by Top Rank, will be streamed live on ESPN+.

 

 

 

The main event will see WBO Junior Welterweight champion Maurice Hooker defending against Alex Saucedo.

 

 

 

Seldon (12-1-1, 4 KOs) has been training in Atlantic City under the watchful eye of Bill Johnson.

 

 

 

“I am looking forward to this great opportunity,” said Seldon.  “I have been longing for an opportunity to take on a fighter such as Howard as a win will take my career to the next level.”

 

 

 

Team Seldon, has been working diligently with longtime manager Jim Kurtz very excited about the opportunity that Seldon has in front of him.

 

 

 

“It doesn’t get any bigger than fighting on a Top Rank show with an explosive main event between Hooker and Saucedo. The staff at Top Rank has been top notch.  I am really excited for Isiah to get this opportunity to display his talents on a big stage.  Myself and co-manager Joe Thompson are convinced Isiah is ready to shine on November 16th and it can’t get here fast enough,” said Kurtz, who has managed Seldon from day one.

 

 

 

Kurtz also managed Seldon’s father, WBA Heavyweight champion, Bruce Seldon.

 

 

 

“Isiah has reunited with his original trainer Bill Johnson and they haven’t skipped a beat.  This is the first time Isiah has had a full fledged training camp.  We haven’t left any stone unturned in preparation for this fight.  Isiah’s conditioning is at a point that I have never seen with him before.  He is getting great sparring and his improvement working with Bill in preparation for this fight has been incredible.  He is ready to show the world a new and improved Isiah Seldon.  He has a large legacy to follow being the son of former WBA Heavyweight Champion Bruce Seldon but Isiah is determined to make his own mark on the sport of boxing.”

 

 

 

“He has always had power in both hands, scoring knockdown in almost every fight, but now he is learning to remain calm and finish guys instead of getting overly excited and letting them off the hook.  He is punching harder than ever before, putting his punches together and his boxing ability has reached a level where he can control the pace of the fight.  We have taken it slow with Isiah considering he didn’t have any amateur fights but we are now at the point where he is ready to make his mark on the Middleweight division.”

 

 

 

“We know Tyler Howard is a good undefeated fighter.  He had a good amateur career, comes from a family with a boxing background, and has a solid management team who have done a great job with him. On November 16th we expect a tough fight with some fireworks but we are confident Isiah will emerge victorious and this will lead us to bigger and better opportunities.”

Return of 3-time world title challenger Aleksandra Lopes Headlines Granite Chin Promotion’s “Championship Boxing at The Armory”

 
Nov. 21 at National Guard Armory in Dorchester, MA

QUINCY, Mass. (November 1, 2018) — The return of three-time world challenger Aleksandra Lopes will headline “Championship Boxing at The Armory,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, Nov. 21), at the National Guard Armory (70 Victory Road) in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

 

 

 

Many of New England’s most talented and popular boxers will be on the card, which will also feature a Massachusetts State title fight in Granite Chin Promotions’ third and final show of 2018.

 

 

 

“We are excited to be running once again on Thanksgiving Eve,” said GCP co-promoter Chris Traietti, who will also be fighting on this card. “Throughout the last few years, Granite Chin has been trying to make it a Thanksgiving tradition to bring local boxing to the area as a fun way to get people together.”

 

 

 

The wildly popular Lopes (18-4-3, 1 KO), fighting out of Marshfield, MA, is a native of Poland. She hasn’t fought since last December due to injuries suffered in a car accident. Lopes will face

Missouri welterweight Ashleigh Curry (7-11-4, 1 KO) in the six-round main event.

 

 

 

Former N.E. welterweight champion Derek “The Surgeon” Silveira (14-2, 7 KOs), fighting out of Salem, MA, takes on Mexican veteran Franciso “El Mono” Medel (12-15, 8 KOs) in the six-round co-featured event.

 

 

 

Iraq-War veteran Traietti (26-5, 21 KOs), of Quincy, MA, will not have his N.E. cruiserweight title on the line in a six-round bout versus upset-minded Sam “The Russian Concussion” Horowitz (6-3-2, 5 KOs), of Chicago.

 

 

 

Claremont, NH favorite Ricky Ford (3-1-1, 1 KO) will meet Saul Almeida, of Woburn, in a four-round middleweight match.

 

 

 

Travis Demko (8-1, 1 KO), of Stoughton, MA, takes on Brazilian Carlos Gallindo, fighting out of Woburn, MA, in a six-round match for the vacant Massachusetts State Welterweight Championship.

 

 

 

World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino cruiserweight champion Vinnie “American Dream” Carita (18-1-1, 17 KOs), a court officer in Brockton, MA and Pembroke, MA resident, squares off with 61-fight veteran Steve “The Spoiler” Walker, the former Mid-West middleweight titlist, in an eight-rounder.

 

 

 

Gloucester, MA super middleweight prospect Henry Gedney (1-0), a winner at the 2017 Rocky Marciano Tournament, is scheduled to fight Francisco Neto (1-0), of Woburn, in a four-round bout to open the show.

 

 

 

Providence middleweight Anthony Concepcion (1-0, 1 KOs), trained by newly crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) World middleweight champion Demetrious “Boo Boo” Andrade, tests himself against former Pacific Coast lightweight champion Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela in the four-round opener.

 

 

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

 

Tickets, priced at $60.00 ringside and $40.00 standing room, are available to purchase on line at

https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=WWW.TICKETRIVER.COM&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8eadd0515808469a4cdc08d63606ecc5%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636755800699338618&sdata=iDQvM%2FOsaWTYc1IDC3t%2B%2Fu9EtMbj8Egv1vbhT2YYqU4%3D&reserved=0.

 

 

 

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled at 6:30 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

New WBA Middleweight Champion Rob Brant Basking in the Glow, but Ready for ‘Next Assignment’

Brand-new WBA World Middleweight Champion Rob “Bravo” Brant says he goes everywhere with his new best friend. “The belt hasn’t left my side since they handed it to me,” laughs the personable new champion from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

 

 

 

28-year-old Brant (24-1, 16 KOs) says he went into his main-event showdown with then champion Ryota Murata (14-2, 11 KOs), last Saturday night at the Park MGM in Las Vegas (and live on ESPN+), unaware he was such a heavy underdog.

 

 

 

“I really did go into it very confident I would win, just off the preparations we did,” said Brant, who was having his first fight with former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad as his trainer. “I tried to stay away from news when I was in training, so I had no idea how big of an underdog I was. We had a post-fight press conference and that was when I found out. When reporters were asking about it. I had no idea. It wouldn’t have deterred me anyway if I had known.”

 

 

 

Despite the doubts of the bookmakers, Brant cruised to a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over 2012 Olympic gold medalist Murata, with two judges giving him all but one round, the other all but two. Brant busted up the now ex-champion with a piston-like jab and peppered him with combinations throughout what turned out to be a surprisingly dominant performance.

 

 

 

According to CompuBox statistics, Brant landed 356 of 1,262 punches (28 percent) while Murata connected with just 180 of 774 (23 percent).

 

 

 

“As a pro, he hasn’t seen what I gave him,” explained Brant. We knew he had a hard time with hand speed and jabs. He locks up when punches are being thrown, so we made sure we kept him backing up and worried about the jab and punches in general. The more he thinks about my shots, the less he throws. We knew we’d be able to keep him on his back foot. Eddie Mustafa is very strict on letting the hands go. We were big on the cardio in training and keeping the punch rate high. And when you’re keeping the jab out there all the time, other shots open up.”

 

 

 

Brant says at fight’s end, he wasn’t worried about the decision going his way.

 

 

 

“I’ve always felt that judges’ decisions are out of my hands. I was nervous about it, you don’t know until they announce your name, but I knew I had done what I felt was my best work. I had a great sense of pride and relief knowing I put it all out there and did everything possible to win. But now that I have won, it’s kind of like having giant weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s definitely my biggest accomplishment ever, winning in Vegas against a former Olympic gold medallist. It’s everything I ever worked for. It was the best feeling in the world. I knew how much I worked for that. Boxing gives back what you put into it and I put my everything into it.”

 

 

 

Although Brant and promoters GCP reportedly agreed to a rematch before the fight, the new champion says he’s not sure the now ex-champion wants it.

 

 

 

“All the talk of a rematch has been from his promoters. I haven’t heard him say anything about it. He might be a little discouraged right now. I’m not saying he won’t be able to come back, but I don’t think he wants it right now. I’ll just go on to bigger and better in the division. Once you win a title, there are no more easy fights. Until you are the undisputed king, you’re always taking steps up in class in every fight.”

 

 

 

Brant says he took a week off but is now back in the gym and ready for what comes next.

 

 

 

“I’m just waiting for the next assignment to work toward. I want to know who my next opponent is as soon as possible, so I can go to sleep at night thinking of what I’m going to do. Watching film and looking for flaws and things I can exploit. That’s when I‘m really the most comfortable. When I have an assignment. It’ll be a big name eventually. I’m there now. So I’m just waiting to see who is next for me to spend all my time watching that person.”

 

 

 

Brant gives a big piece of the credit for his upset victory to the only man to ever beat him. Last October, he stepped up in weight to participate in the World Boxing Super Series as a super middleweight and lost a one-sided decision to former light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer in Germany.

 

 

 

“The thought of what happened against Braehmer was always in the background. That’s what really motivated me to be the best I could in this fight. I knew I was better than I was in that fight. I had to prove it by doing what I’m capable of. The loss to Braehmer will be in the back of my mind forever. I won’t let anyone else do that to me again. I will never forget that loss and I’ve been a better fighter from that point forward.”

Kickboxing Title Bout Headlines FFC 33 Multi-Discipline Event on Nov. 2

Mykyta Chub fights Andi Vrtacic for the FFC Middleweight Championship at Fight Dome

LAS VEGAS, NV, (October 30, 2018) – The main event is set for “FFC 33” and it will involve two explosive kickboxers from overseas. Mykyta Chub (17-7-0) of the Ukraine, battles Andi Vrtacic (10-0-0) Pula, Croatia, for the FFC Middleweight Championship on November 2nd, at Fight Dome located at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas.

 

 

 

Both fighters have fought for FFC multiple times. Chub has a (3-1) record during his tenure with Final Fight Championship. Vrtacic, who is the defending middleweight champion, boasts a (4-0) record with FFC.

 

 

 

“The fans at Fight Dome Las Vegas loved our Kickboxing fights at FFC 31,” said FFC CEO/Founder, Orsat Zovko. “And we are excited to have world champion kickboxers fighting for us again on November 2nd.”

 

 

 

The Co-Main Event for “FFC 33” will feature an MMA Lightweight clash between, Darrick Minner (16-5-0) Nebraska City, NE, and former UFC Fighter, “Cassius” Clay Collard (16-7-1) Toquerville, UT.

 

 

 

There will be one other Kickboxing bout at “FFC 33” as Chris McMillan (87-10-3) of Calgary Alberta, Canada, takes on Teo Mikelic (18-6-0) Pula, Croatia, in the Lightweight division.

 

 

 

In Boxing, it will be a battle of two Super Welterweights in a six round contest as Randy Fuentes (7-6-1) McAllen, TX faces off against Andre Keyes (18-4-1) of Tacoma, WA.

 

 

 

“FFC 33” will air on CBS Sports Network, as a part of a multi-year agreement to broadcast FFC’s ground breaking multi-discipline (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA) Fight Dome series at Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas. The event will also air in Spanish on Claro Sports in Mexico and Latin America. Check your local listings for more information.

 

 

 

Tickets for “FFC 33” are available at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office, by calling 702-777-2782 or 855-234-7469, or online at Ticketmaster.com.

 

 

For more information about Final Fight Championship, please visit finalfightchampionship.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/FFCFighting, and Follow FFC on Instagram/Twitter @FFCFighting.

Undefeated Prospects Castaneda and Venegas Jr. Clash for NABA Super Lightweight Title December 1st in San Antonio, TX

WBA-NABA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
KENDO “EL TREMENDO” CASTANEDA vs. GILBERT “EL GUERO” VENEGAS
DECEMBER 1, 2018 AT THE SCOTTISH RITE THEATRE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 30, 2018) – TMB & PRB Entertainment and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions, present “Whose ‘0’ Will Go 2”, a live boxing event taking place at the Scottish Rite Theatre in San Antonio, TX, on December 1, 2018. In the 10-round main event, undefeated super lightweights Kendo Castaneda (14-0, 7 KOs) and Gilbert Venegas Jr. (10-0, 6 KOs), will battle for the vacant WBA-NABA title. The entire card will be streamed via Facebook’s FIGHTNIGHT LIVE channel, which has already served more than three million fight fans since May 2017.

 

 

 

Venegas age 24, is coming off an impressive unanimous decision victory against Armando Cardenas (9-2, 5 KOs), a fight that took place at the Scottish Rite Theatre on September 8, 2018. With momentum on his side, Venegas is determined to remain unbeaten with a victory against Castaneda.

 

 

 

“Castaneda comes in with an undefeated record, so this will no doubt be my toughest opponent of my career, but a fight I believe I can win.” stated Gilbert Venegas Jr. “I’ve worked very hard to get into this position, to fight for a title, so rest assure, I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by. Being that this will be my first shot at a title, you better believe I’m coming to win, and win impressively. I’m going to be the new NABA super lightweight champion and on December 1st, my hands will be raised in victory.”

 

 

 

The 24-year old Castaneda, who is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions, recently defeated former WBC United States Champion, Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez, by 8-round unanimous decision. With the victory, Castaneda, who resides in San Antonio, TX, will look to keep his undefeated record in tact against Venegas.

 

 

 

“I’m predicting a tremendous performance,” said Castaneda. “I’m ready to razzle and dazzle, graze them and daze them, confuse and abuse them. Getting a NABA title shot on my second fight with Roy Jones Jr. Boxing represents a huge door being kicked down for me. If I can’t beat a guy like Venegas, I have no business in boxing.”

 

 

 

Tickets priced $35 General Admission $40 at the door, and $100 Ringside, are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling (210) 449-5599 or (210) 322-9974. The Scottish Rite Theatre is located at 308 Ave E, San Antonio, TX 78205. Doors open at 4:00 PM, first bell at 5:30 PM.

 

 

 

Follow all the action via social media at FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Facebook, @FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE

on Instagram and @FIGHTNIGHTLIVE_ on Twitter, or by using the hashtag #FIGHTNIGHTLIVE.

 

# # #

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES ITS BIGGEST EVENT OF 2018  “COPA COMBATE”    AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, CALIF. ON FRIDAY, DEC. 7

FIRST ONE-NIGHT, EIGHT-MAN TOURNAMENT
IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY,
25 YEARS AFTER LEGENDARY UFC 1 TOURNAMENT

FIGHTERS REPRESENTING EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
FACE OFF WITH $100,000 GRAND PRIZE AT STAKE

LIVE ON DAZN,
UNIVISION AND UNIVISION DEPORTES NETWORK

TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7

NEW YORK – October 30, 2018 – Combate Americas today announced its much-anticipated, second annual “COPA COMBATE” one-night Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournament extravaganza featuring eight fighters, representing eight different countries, battling it out for a $100,000 grand prize, at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., live in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), live on television in Spanish in the U.S. on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT).

 

The winner of the tournament will have persevered through three fights in one night to claim the grand prize.

 

The “COPA COMBATE” event will mark the first one-night, eight-man tournament in California state history, and will take place 25 years after Combate Americas CEO and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-founder Campbell McLaren changed the combat sports world forever with UFC 1, a one-night, eight-man tournament that produced MMA’s first iconic figure, Royce Gracie.

 

Priced from $30, tickets go on sale online at www.CombateAmericas.com/Tickets and Ticketmaster.com, as well as at the Save Mart Center box office, beginning at 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

 

“This is the way I started the UFC 25 years ago – an 8-man tournament – the toughest challenge in sports – and now it’s coming to Fresno and the great state of California for the first time in history,” said McLaren.

 

(Pictured left to right above):  Gaston Reyno of Montevideo, Uruguay; Andres Quintana of Roswell, N.M., USA; Alejandro Flores of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; and Zebenzui Ruiz of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain represent the first four of eight fighters who will compete in the 2018 “COPA COMBATE” one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize featherweight MMA tournament.  Photo credit: Scott Hirano/Combate Americas, LLC

The “COPA COMBATE” tournament will take place in the featherweight (145 pounds) division, and will feature the winners of September’s two ‘Copa’ qualifier bouts – Andres “The Bullet” Quintana (15-2) of Roswell, N.M., USA and Alejandro “Gallito” Flores (13-1) of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico – as well as previously announced  Gaston “Tonga” Reyno (8-2, 2 NC) of Montevideo, Uruguay.

 

Reyno was announced as a tournament entrant on the air live, immediately following his stunning, first-round (2:21) submission (rear-naked choke) of Carlos Ochoa at the “Combate Americas: Camino a Copa” live event in Long Beach, Calif. on September 28.

 

Also announced today for “COPA COMBATE” tournament action was the competitor who will represent Spain – 24-year-old Zebenzui “El Niño Roca” Ruiz (7-2) of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

 

Ruiz will enter La Jaula, the Combate Americas cage, for the first time in his career, riding a four-fight win streak.  To date, all but one of his victories have come by way of (T)KO or submission.

 

The remaining four fighters who will compete in the 2018 “COPA COMBATE” tournament will be announced soon.

 

Doors at Save Mart Center will open for the event at 5 p.m. on December 7, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m.

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES MAIN EVENT – ERIK “EL GOYITO” PEREZ VS. ANDRES “DOBLE A” AYALA – FOR STAR-STUDDED RETURN TO   MONTERREY, MEXICO ON SATURDAY, NOV. 17

LIVE ON DAZN,
UNIVISION AND UNIVISION DEPORTES NETWORK

TICKETS ON SALE AT COMBATEAMERICAS.COM/TICKETS

NEW YORK – October 29, 2018 – Combate Americas today announced a bantamweight (135 pounds) main event matchup between superstar Erik “El Goyito” Perez (18-6) and prolific finisher Andres “Doble A” Ayala (12-6) for the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise’s return to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on Saturday, Nov. 17, live in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), and live on television in Spanish in the U.S. on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT).

 

The addition of the matchup between the two 28-year-old competitors completes the Combate Americas fight card, which will take place at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon Unido, with 10 bouts.

 

A native of Monterrey who fights out of San Diego, Calif., USA, Perez will seek his fifth straight victory after making his Combate Americas promotional debut in stunning fashion, avenging a previous defeat at the hands of old rival David “D.J.” Fuentes by scoring a third round (1:22) knockout (punches) on Fuentes in the main event of “Combate Estrellas II” at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon Unido on April 20.

 

Perez, who has notched 12 of his 18 career wins by way of (T)KO or submission, left the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on a three-fight win streak to sign with Combate Americas last November.

 

Both of Perez’s brothers – older brother Ivan and younger brother Jair – are also slated for action on the card.

 

Perez was slated to face off with knockout artist John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda in a Combate Americas headlining contest on October 13, but the matchup was called off after Castaneda was forced to withdraw due to a staph infection that he sustained just a week before the commitment.

 

Ayala of Bogota, Colombia is one of his nation’s top ranked bantamweights.  He will make his debut in La Jaula, the Combate Americas cage, on the heels of a TKO (ground and pound) victory on Guido Gongora in a main event bout in Barranquilla, Colombia on July 27.

 

To date, Ayala has earned an astounding 11 of 12 career wins by way of (T)KO or submission.

 

Priced from 300.00$ MXN, tickets for the Combate Americas event at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon Unido are on sale at www.CombateAmericas.com/Tickets.

 

Until Friday, Nov. 2, fans can purchase general admission level tickets at a 15 percent discount by entering the code ‘COMBATE’ at check-out when purchasing tickets online.

 

Doors at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon Unido open at 6 p.m. CT on November 17.  The first preliminary card bout will begin at 7 p.m.

 

UPDATED “COMBATE AMERICAS: GOYITO VS. AYALA” FIGHT CARD:

 

BANTAMWEIGHT MAIN EVENT:
Erik Perez vs. Andres Ayala

 

ATOMWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT:
Irene Cabello Rivera vs. Yajaira Romo

 

FEATURED FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT:
Levy Marroquin vs. Jose Estrada

 

Preliminary Bout Card:
Lightweight:  Rodrigo Vargas vs. Ricardo Arreola
Bantamweight:  Eduardo Alvarado vs. Alan Cantu
Lightweight:  Jose Luis Medrano vs. Won Sik Park
Lightweight: Ivan Perez vs. Daniel Rico
Featherweight: Jair Perez vs. Tino Gilaranz
Lightweight: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Salvador Izar
Flyweight: Ramiro Ruiz Castillo vs. Ivan Hernandez Flores

Michael Dutchover Looks to Close out 2018 With Another Win

Photo by Carlos Baeza / Thompson Boxing

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. / ORANGE, Calif. (Oct. 29, 2018) – The fast-rising Michael Dutchover (11-0, 8 KOs), with four solid wins on the year, aims to close out 2018 with another victory on Friday, Nov. 16, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

 

 

 

Dutchover, who will turn 21 the day before the event, will fight veteran and former world title challenger Daulis Prescott (31-9, 24 KOs) in the 8-round main event of Thompson Boxing’s “Locked n’ Loaded” season finale.

 

 

 

Dutchover, a junior lightweight fighting out of Midland, Tex., has had a breakout year of sorts with his recent display of power punching. His last three wins have come by way of knockout, including a sensational second round, one-punch destruction of Sergio Martinez in July.

 

 

 

Prior to that, the West Texas warrior, who trains in Los Angeles, removed Mike Fowler in three rounds. Two months ago in September, Dutchover stopped Bergman Aguilar in the fifth.

 

 

 

Dutchover, however, understands the Colombian-born Prescott poses a far more serious challenge than any other foe he has faced this year, or in his young career.

 

 

 

“This year was all about elevating my level of competition,” said Dutchover, who is promoted by industry veterans Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing .”Prescott is battle tested and will be ready to fight. I love a challenge and I’m embracing it.”

 

 

 

Dutchover’s confidence is a direct result of the high-level sparring he receives on a routine basis from the many top-notch gyms in the Los Angeles area.

 

 

 

“I’ve been in with some of the top names in the sport and they all teach me something different,” Dutchover said. “Danny Roman, Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno are a few that come to mind. They are incredible boxers and good people too. I’m fortunate to have met them this early in my career.”

 

 

 

All fights will be live streamed on via our Facebook page.

 

 

 

The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET with Beto Duran as the blow-by-blow announcer and Josesito Lopez providing expert, color commentary.

 

 

 

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check Banner Promotions Facebook Page , and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BannerBoxing

 

 

 

 

O’Quinn Wins Again! Undefeated Detroit Bantamweight Sends Mexico’s Esquivel Through the Ropes in Second Round TKO Victory

Undefeated bantamweight prospect Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn continued building his reputation as one of Detroit’s most promising young fighters on Friday night with a second-round stoppage of former world-title challenger Christian “Italiano” Esquivel of Mexico.

 

 

 

Fighting at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit, O’Quinn (now 10-0-1, 7 KOs) showed why he is so highly regarded by sending Esquivel through the ropes for a TKO victory at 2:56 of round two.

 

 

 

Esquivel, a former NABF, WBC Continental Americas, WBC Youth Intercontinental, WBC FECOMBOX, and WBC Silver Bantamweight Champion, had no answer to the fast and powerful hands of O’Quinn. He falls to 30-16-1, 23 KOs.

 

 

 

“Christian Esquivel was a world title challenger and an experienced fighter. My goal was to make a statement,” said a happy O’Quinn, post-fight. “I did what was expected of me and rose to the occasion.  I’m looking forward to having another impressive win before the year’s ends and starting next year with my TV debut. I am bringing world championship glory back to the city of Detroit. It’s just a matter of time!”

 

 

 

O’Quinn’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita, said he expected a strong showing from O’Quinn and says he got even more than he hoped for from the 23-year-old.

 

 

 

“Ja’Rico is one of the most gifted prospects in all of boxing! I was very impressed with his dominating performance. He is on his way to winning a world title and joining the list of the great champions from the city of Detroit.”