All posts by FNU47

Bellator, CBS Sports Network, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA CHAMPION ILIMA-LEI MACFARLANE DEFENDS FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE AGAINST UNDEFEATED JULIANA VELASQUEZ ON THURSDAY, DEC. 10

October 29, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

**LOS ANGELES** – On Thursday, December 10, Bellator MMA presents a long-awaited world title bout featuring a clash of undefeated flyweights, as champ **Ilima-Lei Macfarlane** (11-0) defends her 125-pound championship belt against Brazil’s **Juliana Velasquez** (10-0) at *Bellator 254.* The event airs live on CBS Sports Network from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

**CBS Sports Network** will air *Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez* LIVE in all U.S. markets, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.

Returning to the Bellator cage for the first time since a victory over **Kate Jackson** in her hometown of Honolulu last December, Macfarlane will look to continue her dominance over Bellator’s elite woman’s flyweight division as she defends her title against Julianna Velasquez on December 10. The inaugural Bellator flyweight champion, Macfarlane enters the contest with a perfect professional record of 11-0, including eight coming by way of stoppage. Adding to her impressive resume, “The Ilimanator” has the most victories amongst women in the Bellator cage (10) and has no plans of slowing down, as she seeks to add to her legacy inside the cage with her fifth successful title defense at *Bellator 254.*

With a professional record of 10-0, Rio de Janeiro’s Juliana Velasquez looks to remain perfect in her first chance at Bellator gold. The black belt judoka will attempt to become the second women’s flyweight champion in Bellator history when she looks to extend her promotional winning streak to six. With prior stoppage wins over Rebecca Ruth and Kristina Williams, Velasquez also defeated former 125-pound title challenger **Alejandra Lara** en route to her upcoming title shot. Much like Macfarlane, the 34-year-old Team Nogueira-product will be competing for the first time in 2020, nearly a year removed from her *Bellator 236* unanimous decision victory over **Bruna Ellen**.

**Updated *Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs.* *Velasquez* Main Card:**
**CBS Sports Network | DAZN**

*Flyweight World Title Bout:* **Ilima-Lei Macfarlane** (11-0) vs. **Juliana Velasquez** (10-0)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

boxing

Alexander “The Great” Flores driven to conquer Luis “King Kong” Ortiz

October 29, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

LAS VEGAS (October 27, 2020) – California heavyweight **Alexander “The Great” Flores** (18-2-1, 16 KOs), whose only pro losses have been to world champions, will have the opportunity of his boxing career on November 7^th, when he takes on 2-time world title challenger Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (26 KOs).

***King Kong vs. Alexander The Great*** will air live on FOX television, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, in the 10-round main event on the Premier Boxing Champions card from Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.

“Ortiz is a 2-time world title challenger who has a lot of experience,” Flores said. “I’m young, hungry, driven and determined to win. Beating Ortiz is a life-changing opportunity that I won’t be taking for granted.”

“Ortiz is a great fighter,” Flores’ promoter **Keith Veltre** (RJJ Boxing CEO/co-founder) added, “but I think he may regret fighting a hungry lion like Flores. Fighting the elite of the heavyweight division has never been a problem for Alexander, whose only two losses have been to world champions. He gained invaluable experience in those fights that he’ll take into the ring against Oritz. We’d like to thank Team Ortiz, PBC and FOX for this tremendous opportunity.”

The 30-year-old Flores, fighting out of Roland Heights (CA), lost in 2014 to world champions **Charles Martin** and **Joseph Parker** four years later Flores captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World heavyweight title in 2012 with a fifth-round stoppage of **Joey Montoya**.

Cuba-born Ortiz, who lives in Miami, has lost only twice, both times to world champion **Deontay Wilder**. Ortiz, a 41-year-old southpaw, has defeated a litany of world-class heavyweights during his 10 ½ year pro career, including Christian Hammer, Travis Kaufman, Malik Scott, Tony Thompson, Bryan Jennings, Monte Barrett, Lateef Kayode and Epifanio Mendoza. As an amateur, Ortiz had a reported 349-19 record, and he captured a gold medal at the 2006 Cuban National Championships.

**INFORMATION:**

**Websites**: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com
**Facebook:** /RJJBoxing, /KeithVeltre
**Twitter:** @Keith_Veltre, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial,
**Instagram:** @KeithVeltre, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

mixed martial arts, MMA

SFT strawweight title fight headlines “SFT 22: The Return” Oct. 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

October 29, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

SAO PAULO, Brazil (October 26, 2020) – Halloween Night in Sao Paulo will mark the return of live SFT MMA & Xtreme (Standout Fighting Tournament) mixed-martial-arts shows in Brazil, as “SFT 22: The Return,” features an all-female main card in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, headlined by Andreia “Thai” Serafim (4-0-0, SFT: 2-0-0) versus fellow Brazilian Pamela Mara Assis (4-2-1, 2-0-0) for the vacant SFT female strawweight title.

SFT 22: The Return will be aired live on network television in Brazil in English and Portuguese, as well as streamed live in the United States and worldwide on pay per view via the FITE app and website (www.FITE.tv), starting at 10:45 p.m. EST / 7:45 p.m. PST, for only $14.99.

“In the main fight of the night,” “SFT president David Hudson said, “the SFT strawweight title will be at stake. Undefeated in MMA with four victories, including two in SFT competition, Andreia ‘Thai’ Serafim will measure her strength against Pamela Mara Assis, who, like her opponent, comes is unbeaten in the SFT in two fights. The co-featured event, Karine ‘Killer’ Silva faces always tough Sidy Rocha, former Pancrase bantamweight champion, who will be making her SFT.debut.”

An assistant “hodman,” (a laborer for a bricklayer or mason carrying bricks, mortar, and cement), Serafim will be challenged by Assis, who has won her last four fights in a row.

“I respect her (Serafim) consistent ground game and I believe our fight will be a classic ground game,” Assis commented, “but I’m not just going to fight in one MMA mode. I feel good and I’m ready in all areas. I will be prepared for whatever comes fight night.

“I always expect to bring my best. I’m always working hard to get good results and I want to realize my dream of winning this SFT belt, and proving I belong at the top of my weight class. We’re going into this fight in search of a big win and I’m working daily to give MMA fans a good fight.”

Silva (12-4-0, SFT: 1-0-0) and Rocha (12-7-2, SFT: 9-0-0) are well matched in a battle of Brazilian bantamweights, while strawweight Julia Polastri (7-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0) risks her 5-fight win streak against Jessica “So Na Manha” Evelyn Cunha (8-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0).

Brazil vs. Argentina is always a fierce rivalry in any sport, especially MMA, and the renewal pits Brazilian strawweight Bianca Sattelmayer versus her Argentinian opponent, Florencia Greco, in an SFT Xtreme match (SFT Xtreme allows striking, kicking and knees with 4-ounce gloves; clinching and fighting on the mat is prohibited).

Brazilian bantamweights Thalita Diniz (2-1-0, SFT: 0-1-0) and Claudia Leite (4-2-0, SFT: 2-1-0), and in a grappling match, Isabela “Belinha” de Padua (5-2-0, SFT: 4-0-0 MMA) and Patricia Barbosa de Sousa MMA) will fight at a 128-pound catchweight. Padua is, who is now a UFC fighter, returns to SFT to grapple. She won all four of her SFT MMA fights and three weeks after her last SFT match, she signed with UFC.

“We’re really excited about this unique event,” Hudson concluded. “SFT’s return to Brazil is a special event because it’s for Breast Cancer Awareness. The main event has all the ingredients to be one of the best female fights in years. Our Xtreme fight showcases the ultimate rivalry in sports, Brazil versus Argentina. SFT 23promises to be a memorable evening of female combat sports action.”

INFORMATION:

Website: www.sftmma.com

Facebook: /SFT.MMA, /SFT.Xtreme, davidhudson.SFT

Twitter: @SFTMMA

Instagram: @SFTMMA, @SFTEXTREME, @DavidHudson.SFT

You Tube: /SFTUSA, /SFTBrasil

boxing, USA Boxing, women's boxing

Boxing a family affair for Idaho amateur boxer Kendra Samargis

October 29, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 26, 2020) – Idaho middleweight boxer Kendra (Reeves) Samargis‘ decision four years ago to lose weight has led her onto a path to compete in the 2020 USA Boxing National Championships, December 5-12, at Shreveport Convention Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Boxing for the 26-year-old Samargis, who lives in Twin Falls, is a real family affair. She’s trained by her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Skyler Bellus (11) and Riley Marovich (8), are in USA Boxing. Skyler, in fact, has competed in several tournaments in which his mother also fought.

“I got into boxing just as a form of weight loss,” Kendra explained. “My husband had been a boxing coach for many years and he still had all of his equipment. We set it up in our garage and started training. At first, starting out was the worst thing I had ever done. The amount of stamina, endurance, and strength that I needed to have was unreal. Slowly over time I lost tremendous weight, 73-pounds to be exact, and I came to love the sport.

“I’m always asked what it’s like to be trained by my husband. I always say I have a secret weapon, someone who is in my corner who wants me to succeed just as much as I do and supports me throughout. Also, in times we’re at tournaments, I am never alone the night before a big fight and if I need a pep talk, he is right there. Now, my sons competing with me, well, that’s a different story. Being on the outside of the ring while my boys are competing is by far harder than any fight I have ever had. My mom-side definitely kicks in. At the end of the day, though, I know how well trained they are, and I have to trust that. I don’t work their corners because that’s too close. I would throw in the towel every time. I have to be in the stands.”

Kendra and both of her sons will be competing in Shreveport this year, despite having to train during the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for the first national tournament of the year in the United States.

“Training during the pandemic has been a blessing for me,” Kendra said. “We now own a gym in town. So, during the times we had to close our doors, my husband, kids and I were able to keep up with our training regimen. I learned so much during this time. We were actually able to slow things down and work on so many things that get overlooked. We are also very lucky to live in a small town, we only had to keep our gym closed for two months and we’ve been up and running since. I could only image how hard it must be for so many people during these times. We were very blessed to have a gym to get us through.”

Currently ranked No. 10 at 152 pounds and No. 5 at 165, Kendra’s highlights thus far are winning gold medals at the 2019 Eastern Elite Qualifier and 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament.

An aggressive boxer who throws punches in bunches, Samargis believes she’s made dramatic improvement in the past years. She admittedly changed many different parts of her game, focusing more on movement, foot and head placements.

Eventually, she wants to capture top honors at multiple national tournaments, starting with this year’s Nationals Championship, and eventually turn pro to shoot for a world title. For now, though, she’s all in for the Nationals.

“I am my biggest competition for this year’s National Championships,” she concluded. “Every day I want to be the best version of myself and every day I wake up to the haunting possibility I could fall back into the person that I used to be. I have to go to war everyday with myself to keep this person at bay. All of the hours of training, nutrition and mental preparation helps me accomplish this. Every day I can continue to be the best version of myself, focusing only on getting better, then who I compete against won’t matter.

“I am beyond ready and excited for the National Championships this year. With the world coming to a halt this will be my first tournament of the year. I am ready to get back in the ring. Medaling will give me another national title under my belt and sharpen my resume for when I turn pro.”

**INFORMATION:**
www.usaboxing.org
Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing

boxing, UK Boxing, women's boxing

CASTLE HEADLINES HISTORIC FIRST ALL FEMALE PRO BOXING EVENT IN UK ON 21ST NOV

October 29, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

WIBA World Champion Denise Castle is set to headline the historic LET BATTLE COMMENCE – THE LIONESSES event, promoted by six time, five division World Champion Lee McAllister, that takes place on Saturday the 21st November 2020

Throughout her professional boxing career Bournemouth’s Castle has competed around the World, but curiously had never competed in a contest in her home country, but that will change come the 21st November, although as the event will be held behind closed doors, at the Northern Hotel in Aberdeen, and there will be no British fans ringside to support her.

Castle, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai World Champion, secured the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) World Crown back in October 2019, following a fifth round stoppage over Sutthinee Bamrungpao in Bangkok, Thailand.

On the 21st November Castle was originally set to defend her WIBA World Crown against Judit Hachbold, subject to Hachbold’s medical suspension issued by the Florida State Boxing Commission being resolved at least 30 days prior to the event, which has not occurred. A replacement opponent will be announced in due course.

To date the LET BATTLE COMMENCE series, which are broadcast live on FITE TV and delayed broadcast in the UK onSports Channel Network (Freeview/Youview Channel 265), has featured female contests on all events.

The first took place on the 18th July 2020 and hosted the professional boxing debut of ten time Kick Boxing World Champion Caitlin Foran against PBC International Silver Champion Jaime Bates.

LET BATTLE COMMENCE II, which was broadcast live on Friday 4th September, featured three female contests, the first featured PBC International Silver Super Flyweight Champion Nicola Hopewell versus Tasha Boyes, also featured on the card were Elite Amateur Stars Hollie Towl and Ellie Coulson who made their respective professional boxing debuts againstJaime Bates and Beccy Ferguson.

The interim card for the 21st November LET BATTLE COMMENCE – THE LIONESSES event sees WIBA Minimum-weight World Champion Denise Castle defend her crown against a yet to be named replacement opponent.

The stacked card hosts the rematch between Nicola Hopewell and Tasha Boyes, following Boyes’ unfortunate retirement during their previous encounter due to an arm injury.

Former ten time Kick Boxing World Champion Caitlin Foran will make her second appearance in the series and will face Shrewsbury’s Beccy Ferguson.

Former English National Amateur Champion Ellie Coulson will also be making her second appearance in the series, this time she faces Ester Konecna from the Czech Republic.

Sheffield’s former five time National Amateur Champion and unbeaten as a professional, Hollie Towl, faces Malta’s Melissa Harianto.

World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai World Champion Natacha De Almeida from Switzerland, will be making her professional boxing debut against York’s Carly Mackenzie.

Former Elite Amateur, South Shields’ Estelle Scott, is back in action against debuting Kirsty Biswas from Middlesbrough.

Manchester’s Sophie Varley makes her first appearance on the series and will face debuting Ivette Garcia.

Shrewsbury’s PBC International Silver Bantamweight Champion Jaime Bates will go toe-to-toe with the highly experienced Kenyan Jane Kavulani.

In addition to being the first all female professional boxing event, LET BATTLE COMMENCE – THE LIONESSES will also be the first ever event in the UK to be officiated by an all Female team licensed by the British & Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA), who are sanctioning the historic event.

Former Amateur A Class Referee Carla Fox will the third person in the ring, Michelle Pennington and Erica Higgins will be the inspectors and Emma Truepenny will be the timekeeper and due to a broken toe preventing her competing on the historic event, MBC International Champion and BIBA’s Director of Female Boxing Marianne Marston, who is also a qualified Chief Inspector/Championship Supervisor, will now be the Chief Inspector and Championship Supervisor of the event.

LET BATTLE COMMENCE – THE LIONESSES, in association with PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA and NEON ENERGY DRINK, will take place on the 21st November 2020 and will be broadcast exclusively live on FITE TV (PPV @ $12.99)

www.letbattlecommence.com

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

SERGEY LIPINETS: “WE NEVER MISSED A BEAT IN PREPARATION, EVEN WITH OPPONENT CHANGE”

October 21, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

**Former World Champion Lipinets Battles Unbeaten**
**Custio Clayton for Interim IBF Welterweight Title**
**Live on SHOWTIME^® Saturday, October 24 Headlining a**
**Premier Boxing Champions Event**

**NEW YORK** (October 20, 2020) – Even with a change in date and then opponent, former world champion **Sergey Lipinets** remains supremely confident in his training camp and overall preparations as he prepares to take on unbeaten **Custio Clayton** for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, October 24 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

“We never missed a beat in preparation, even with the opponent change,” said Lipinets. “My fight with Kudratillo Abdukakhorov was on and off for so long that I already had an idea that he was going to be forced to back out, so I wasn’t shocked. I don’t really care, though. Whoever I have to fight I’m ready to fight, so I didn’t consider backing out of fighting for even one second.”

Lipinets credits his trainer, the renowned Joe Goossen, for helping his fighter mentally through the changes, in addition to the physical training they have undertook heading into the fight.

“Having Joe Goossen is like having a psychiatrist as well as a trainer,” said Lipinets. “He’s been extremely helpful about how to approach all of this. Joe helped me stay calm and understand that something good can always come from a bad or difficult situation, and because of that, I never lost focus.”

Clayton is a Canadian Olympian with an unblemished pro resume heading into this showdown. While Lipinets notes that there are differences in the fighting styles between Abdukakhorov and Clayton, none of it changes his intent on October 24.

“I know that Clayton has a great amateur background,” said Lipinets. “I’ve checked out his style, and the main difference is that Abdukakhorov is more active and Clayton is more accurate. Abdukakhorov is also a little more aggressive and Clayton is more patient.

“I don’t think one is tougher or easier than the other. I think that anyone fighting at this level is a difficult opponent. Abdukakhorov moves around more and can be more awkward with the different styles he uses. Both are very tough guys, but I’m ready for Clayton and focused only on him at this point.”

Despite his sole focus on Clayton, Lipinets knows that this fight brings a big opportunity to make a loud proclamation to the rest of the stacked welterweight division with a big performance to capture the interim IBF title.

“I’m prepared to make one statement – I belong here,” said Lipinets. “I want to fight the best. I want to make my imprint on this sport and build my legacy. I’ve had to do it the hard way, but I’m not complaining. I fought for my first championship in just my 13^th pro fight. I believe that I belong right there at the top of this sport. People need to start mentioning my name with the top guys and after this fight they’ll have to. You can’t look past me anymore.”

# # #
***ABOUT LIPINETS VS. CLAYTON***
Lipinets vs. Clayton will see former world champion **Sergey Lipinets** face unbeaten **Custio Clayton** for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title headlining action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, October 24 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see undefeated contender **Xavier Martínez** battle hard-hitting **Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero** in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event. Rising super lightweight **Malik “Iceman” Hawkins** will duel knockout artist **Subriel Matías** in a 10-round showdown to kick off the televised action.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions, Lee Baxter Promotions and Mayweather Promotions.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @TGBPromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing

mixed martial arts, MMA

“SFT 22: The Return” for Breast Cancer Awareness Oct. 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

October 21, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

SAO PAULO, Brazil (October 19, 2020) – SFT MMA & Xtreme’s (Standout Fighting Tournament) rescheduled “SFT 22: The Return”, originally scheduled for August 1^st but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been replaced by an all-female main card in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, to be held Halloween night (Saturday, Oct. 31) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“Two years ago,” SFT president David Hudson said, “we dedicated our card to Breast Cancer Awareness. It was an all-female card: fighters, referees, and cut-women. Even two of our ring-card girls brought their boyfriends to be ring-card boys. It was the first time in Brazil’s long MMA history that featured an all-female event. The first year I had joined SFT less than three months earlier and we weren’t able to get enough women fighters, so the main card was all-females.

“Earlier this year, prior to the pandemic, we were going to promote a card for International Women’s Day. We’re promoting SFT: 22 for Breast Cancer Awareness with a six-fight all-female card.”

The main event will pit undefeated Andreia “Thai” Serafim (4-0-0, SFT: 2-0-0) against Pamela Mara Assis (4-2-1, SFT: 2-0-0) for the vacant SFT Strawweight Championship. Undefeated Sarafim is an assistant “hodman,” a laborer for a bricklayer or mason who carries bricks, mortar, and cement. Both title challengers are undefeated in SFT action with identical 2-0-0 records. Assis is riding a 4-fight win streak

In the co-featured event, Karina “Killer” Silva (12-4-0, SFT: 1-0-0) takes on Sidy Rocha (12-7-2, SFT: 9-0-0) in a battle of Brazilian bantamweights, and strawweightJulia Polastri (7-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0) puts her 5-fight win streak on the line against Jessica “So Na Manha” Evelyn Cunha (8-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0).

Brazil vs. Argentina is always a fierce rivalry in any sport and Brazilian strawweight Bianca Sattelmayer meets her Argentinian opponent, Florencia Greco, in an SFT Xtreme match (SFT Xtreme allows striking, kicking and knees with 4-ounce gloves; clinching and fighting on the mat is prohibited).

Brazilian bantamweights Thalita Diniz (2-1-0, SFT: 0-1-0) and Claudia Leite (4-2-0, SFT: 2-1-0) square off, while Isabela “Belinha” de Padua (5-2-0, SFT: 4-0-0 MMA) and Patricia Barbosa de Sousa MMA) will fight at a 128-pound catchweight.

“We’re really excited about this unique event,” Hudson concluded. “It’s a nice coincidence that we return to Brazil promoting a special event like this for Breast Cancer Awareness, in addition to showcasing the strength of Brazilian women MMA fighters. There’s still some bias against female fighters, but women always give their best in fights.

“The main event has the recipe to be one of the best female fights in years. Our Xtreme fight is Brazil versus Argentina and this is the ultimate rivalry. I’m sure fans will be talking about this night for a long time.”

INFORMATION:

Website: www.sftmma.com

Facebook: /SFT.MMA, /SFT.Xtreme, davidhudson.SFT

Twitter: @SFTMMA

Instagram: @SFTMMA, @SFTEXTREME, @DavidHudson.SFT

You Tube: /SFTUSA, /SFTBrasil

boxing, charity

WBC CARES AND FEET FIRST FOUNDATION UNITE

October 21, 2020 FNU47 Leave a comment

“WE TEACH CHARACTER THROUGH THE ART OF TEXTBOOK BOXING”

NEW YORK, NY (October 19, 2020) – The Feet First Foundation is pleased to announce a collaborative partnership with the “WBC Cares”organization, a community outreach program formed by the World Boxing Council in 2006. The two parties have teamed up to highlight the transformative power of boxing, and how textbook boxing training can help improve the lives of many students in schools across the world.

By partnering with the WBC Cares, the Feet First Foundation, who already has had over 10,000 students go through their program, now aims to extend its curriculum nationally as a supportive outlet for schools around the world. The Feet First Foundation has found success implementing a data-backed program that uses boxing exercise and group discussion to inspire strong character in these school children.
Founded in the state of California in 2017, the Feet First Foundation under the guidance of co-founders Dan Dorsett, Sean Sharkey, Zach Micheletti and Brandon Kregel, has improved the lives of thousands of students and adults. Along with promoting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates disciplined boxing exercise, the Feet First program also encourages group discussion topics around perseverance, accountability, and respect.

“It feels good to be working with a common goal of helping others through the art of boxing, and we are proud to team up with a first-class organization like the WBC Cares,” said co-founder Sean Sharkey. “Our goal is to incorporate this curriculum in schools all over the world and we believe our partnership with the WBC Cares will better broaden our mission for the betterment of students across the globe.”

The World Boxing Council has crowned an array of some of the most famous world champions, several of whom continue to be household names to this day. These include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson,Julio Cesar Chavez, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and Manny Pacquiao to name a few.

“We started the WBC Cares program to help children all around the world and the Feet First Foundation aligns with our goals,” said Jill Diamond, WBC Cares, International Chair. “I can envision this curriculum being implemented in schools nationally and internationally, with a variety of our champions showing support. We are pleased to endorse their movement with this partnership.”

In keeping with the high standards established by this partnership, Feet First announces their new brand ambassador, undefeated Super Lightweight prospect Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez (9-0, 4 KOs), a rising star fighting under the Premiere Boxing Champions (PBC) banner. Omar has been contributing to his community in Brownsville, Texas since he was 16-years old through motivational speeches to over 35,000 students in more than 20 campuses. He is also the annual guest of honor at “A Night to Shine”, a prom styled event held for special needs children every March, sponsored by Brownsville’s “Down By The Border” and the nationally recognized “Tim Tebow Foundation”.