Category Archives: boxing

SAMMY VASQUEZ THRILLS HOMETOWN CROWD WITH FIFTH-ROUND STOPPAGE OF JOSE LOPEZ ON PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS ON FS1 & FOX DEPORTES FROM THE CONVOCATION CENTER AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

OMAR DOUGLAS DROPS BRAULIO SANTOS TWICE ON HIS WAY TO UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY
Click HERE For Photos From Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions
 
CALIFORNIA, PA. (September 16, 2015) – Sergeant Sammy “The Who Can Mexican” Vasquez (20-0, 14 KOs)put on a show Tuesday night for his hometown fans on his way to fifth-round stoppage of Jose “Piston” Lopez (25-4-1, 15 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and FOX Deportes from the Convocation Center at California State University of Pennsylvania in California, PA.
Vasquez came out strong from the start, beating the hard-charging Lopez to the punch consistently in the early rounds. In the fourth round, Vasquez wobbled Lopez several times with hard combinations.
In the fifth round Vasquez took over the fight, dropping him early in the round with another flurry. Lopez was able to barely beat the count, but only lasted a few moments longer when Vasquez dropped him with another combination, prompting referee Gary Rosato to put a halt to fight 1:08 into the round.
Vasquez was dangerously effective with his power punches, landing 108 out of 189 thrown, giving him a 57.1 percentage with those punches. The hometown favorite had won every round on the judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
In the opening televised bout, Omar “Super O” Douglas (15-0, 11 KOs) remained undefeated by beating Braulio Santos (22-2-1, 15 KOs) by unanimous decision in a rough and tumble fight. Both men were deducted a point over the 10-rounds, with Douglas losing a point in round four for hits behind the head and Santos being deducted for low blows in round seven.
Douglas started the fight fast, attacking the body and earning a first round knockdown with a stiff jab that caught Santos off-guard. Douglas followed that up in round two, connecting on a left hook that sent Santos to the canvas.
Douglas had a decided advantage in power punches landed with a 165-117 discrepancy, per CompuBox. The final judges totals were 99-87, 97-89 and 96-90.
SAMMY VASQUEZ
“He was real wild and the last thing I wanted was to get caught with a lucky shot. His body was wide open every time he came with the right hand. When he came in with the double right hand he left his ribs wide open.
“I wanted to key-in on the body, but his head was right there. He bent over and was ready to take punches.
“I was ready for him and I put the speed combo on him and it was over. I knew I was going to get him out of there.
“I rolled with the punches with him. He was leaving himself wide open. He got tired after he tried to get me on the ropes. Once I popped him with a couple uppercuts and a hook, I knew I hurt him.
“He came forward, he was very tough. He just wanted to punish me but I keyed in on my opportunities and got him out of there.
“I knew I could get him out of there because of the type of fighter that he is and the skill-set that I have and that’s what we did.
“Everybody in front of me is on my mind. I can only get to the top by beating the people in front of me. I’m not calling out any names, because I want every person ranked in front of me. I want everyone.”
JOSE LOPEZ
“I wanted to attack the body and put some pressure on him from the first round.
“He moved very well side-to-side. He is a very good boxer.
“I am very disappointed. I came here to win.”
OMAR DOUGLAS
“The jab is always a great weapon for me. He gave me more head movement after I was landing the jab. I tried to use the jab to the body and hurt him a few times. He was so short I had trouble throwing body shots.
“On the second knockdown I feinted the jab and got him with the left hook. I should have done that all night. There were a lot of opportunities for me.
“It was a tough fight. It was the kind of fight that I needed. I haven’t had a tough fight like that in a long time.
“He laid in the middle, a bit of a rough guy. He was head butting, pulling and everything. When we got inside we banged heads a lot. The ref was saying I was hitting on the top of the head, but he was coming in so low.
“I’ve done much better work before, he definitely gave me a tough fight, but I expected it.
“I want to fight guys with winning records. I expect tough fights. I’m 15-0 now and I expect challenges.”
BRAULIO SANTOS
“It was a hard fight. I’m not sure that I won, but I thought it was closer.
“I didn’t have that long to train and this is not a weight I usually fight at. I’d like to fight him again and have more time to prepare.”
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PBC on FS1 was promoted by Team Vasquez promotions.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepageand www.TGBPromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SammyV2112, @TopDoggJr, @FoxSports1, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foxdeportes andwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.

Boxing Returns to Harrah’s Philadelphia

Chester, PA (August 27, 2015)–On Saturday night, September 19, boxing returns to Harrahs Philadelphia with a terrific card promoted by King’s Promotions.

In the main event, it will be a 6-round rematch of Super Lightweights when Antonio DuBose battles Jesus Lule.

DuBose and Lule fought to a 4-round draw on June 27 in Bethlehem, PA.

Dubose, 27 years-old of Philadelphia has a record of 7-0-1 with 2 knockouts.

Lule, 31 years-old of Fort Myers, Florida has a deceiving record of 7-13-1 with 1 knockout.

He has faced 8 undefeated fighters and is coming off a knockout loss to Mason Menard (29-1) on August 8 in Opelousas, Louisiana.

DuBose is ready to emphatically defeat Lule and erase anyone’s doubt’s who is the superior fighter.

“Everything is great and I am feeling good.  I had a lot on my mind heading into the last fight.  I wasn’t myself.  I noticed that I was just running at him and not doing the things that got me to the seven wins.  I was fighting his fight.  This fight, I will be myself and that means being more elusive and throwing more combinations,” said DuBose.

DuBose promises a much better performance and is motivated for his rematch.

“I was upset by the draw and it motivates me.”

He isn’t taking much from the first fight and will look to fight a complete fight.

“I remember a few things from the first fight that I have to correct.  You will see a different Antonio DuBose on Saturday night.”

This bout will be Dubose’s first six round bout and he is eager at the opportunity.

“I feel six rounds will be better  I can relax and box more.  I am ready for Saturday night and I am happy to be headlining a great show.”

In the 6-round co-feature:

Emmanuel Folly (5-0, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia will battle Sergio Najera (10-20-2, 4 KO’s) KO’s) of New Haven, Connecticut in a Bantamweight bout.

In 4-round bouts:

Carlos Rosario (2-1,1 KO) of Pensauken, NJ will battle Korey Sloan (2-7-2) of Philadelphia in a Lightweight bout.

Dominic Walton of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against fellow debuterRoger Streeter of Atlanta, GA in a Cruiserweight bout.

Robert Irizarry (3-0-1) of Cherry Hill, NJ will box Rafael Vazquez (1-3) of Bayamon, PR  in a Featherweight bout.

Christopher Brooker (3-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia will square off with Juan Fernando Raya (2-2, 1 KO) of Santa Cruz, BOL in a Super Middleweight bout.

Corey Morley of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against an opponent to be name in a Heavyweight bout.

Santario Martin (0-1) of Gainesville, FL will battle Fitzgerald Johnson (3-7, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ in a Middleweight affair.

Nick Valliere (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Forked River, NJ will battle Alshmar Johnson (0-1) of Vineland, NJ in a Middleweight bout.

Pro debuting Daryl Bunting of Forked River, NJ will square off with Ryan Bivins (0-1) of Philadelphia in a Super Middleweight clash.

Tickets for this great night of boxing cost $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased by calling 610-587-5950 or www.hboxing.eventbrite.com

The 1st bout will start at 7 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

VICTOR VASQUEZ-TYRELL SAMUEL BOUT TOPS OCT. 2 PRELIMS AT PUERTO RICAN CLASSIC IN PHILLY

For Immediate release

Philadelphia, PA – Popular lightweight Victor Vasquez, of Philadelphia, hopes to extend his modest three-fight winning streak when he takes on Tyrell Samuel, of Baltimore, MD, in the six-round semifinal as part of the Puerto Rican Boxing Classic on Friday evening, Oct. 2, at the 2300 Arena at 2300 South Swanson Street.
Headlining the seven-bout card is an eight-round junior lightweight contest between world-rated Jason Sosa, of Camden, NJ, and Jorge Pazos, of Chumuchil, Mexico. First fight starts at 7pm.
Vasquez (above left), 32, has won three straight at the 2300 Arena, stopping Jose L. Guzman, of The Bronx, and Osnel Charles, of Atlantic City, and earning a six-round decision over Gerald Smith, of Philadelphia.
Vasquez is known as the Fighting Barber since he works in that profession atConsider It Done in North Philadelphia.

A pro boxer since 2006, Vasquez has a record of 19-9-1, 9 K0s.
Samuel (above right), 33, has been fighting as a pro even longer, having turned pro in 2005 and winning his first nine fights. He has beaten Gustavo Dailey, of Philadelphia,Joey Tiberi, of Newark, DE, and Carlos Vinan, of Newark, NJ.

In his most ambitious starts, Samuel dropped decisions to Eric Hunter, of Philadelphia, over eight rounds, and to Dorin Spivey, of Virginia Beach, VA, over 10 rounds.
Junior middleweight Ismael “Tito” Garcia, of Vineland, NJ, considered by boxing insiders to be one of the best prospects in the area, goes against Yusmani Abreu, of Cuba, in a six-round match.
Garcia, 28, has been plagued by inactivity since turning pro in 2010 and has boxed only nine times in more than five years, winning eight-four by knockout-and fighting one No Contest.

In his last fight May 8 at the 2300 Arena, Garcia knocked out Tommy Ayers, of Cincinnati, OH, in the first round.

Abreu, 35 now living in Las Vegas, NV, is a solid fighter with a poor record (4-11-2). The combined record of his 17 opponents is 95-21-5 and he turned pro in 2005 in Mexico against Gilberto Flores Hernandez, who was left-handed and 12-4 at the time. Abreu has boxed nine men who were undefeated.

A third six-rounder features a rematch between junior welterweights David 
Gonzales, of Philadelphia, and Ryan Belasco, of Wilmington, DE. They boxed a six-round draw on May 8 in the same ring.
Gonzales, 25, is 5-0-2,1K0. Belasco, 31, is 18-6-5, 3 K0s.

Three additional four-rounders complete the card: Edgar Cortes, of Vineland, NJ, vs.Antonio Conigliaro, St. Clair, PA, super bantamweights; Scott Kelleher, Philadelphia, vs. Alberto Manuykan, Union City, NJ, junior welterweights; Avery Sparrow, Philadelphia, vs. tba, lightweights.

The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a sold-out crowd.

From bantamweight Sixto Escobar, who became the first Puerto Rican world champion in 1935, to current title-holder Danny Garcia, of Philadelphia, Puerto Ricans have had a long and storied history in boxing.

Among area fighters looking to display their talents on the Oct. 2 card are local Puerto Rican fighters from Philadelphia and New Jersey. Many of them bring a loyal following to their fights.

In addition, invitations to attend and sign autographs will be sent to outstanding Puerto Rican fighters up and down the East Coast.
About Oct. 2

The Inaugural Puerto Rican Boxing Classic, featuring seven bouts, begins at 7pm at the 2300 Arena at 2300 South Swanson Street in South Philadelphia.  Doors open at6 pm.  The Oct. 2 event is being sponsored by Parx Casino, DonQ Rum, The Penthouse Club, Lyrics Lounge, Nationwide Auto Warranties and Cricket Wireless. The card will be streamed live by www.gofightlive.tv   and on a delayed basis by Comcast SportsNet.  Tickets are $50 and $75 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Wanamaker’s Tickets ( 215-568-2400 ).  Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.wanatix.com

.  The Oct. 2 card is promoted by Peltz Boxing, Top Rank, Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing.

About Oct. 4
 
 The Puerto Rican Day Parade is the Crown Jewel of the Puerto Rican Festival every year in Philadelphia.  It is a showcase of Puerto Rican and Latin culture.  The Parade begins Sunday morning, Oct. 4, at the Eakins Oval in center city and continues throughout the day along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with music, concerts and vendors selling their wares.  City officials expect more than 5,000 people to attend.  The Parade, one of the first of its kind to be televised, will be aired on ABC-TV locally and on Univision nationally 

Former WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade returns to the ring on Saturday, October 17 when he takes on Dario Fabian Pucheta for the WBO International title at The Mohegan Sun 

Providence, RI (September 15, 2015)–It was announced today at the Rhode Island State House that undefeated former WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade will return to the ring on Saturday night, October 17 when he takes on Dario Fabian Pucheta that will take place at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The bout will be contested for the WBO International Jr. Middleweight title.

Andrade (21-0, 14 KO’s) will be returning for the first time in 16 months, and the October 17th bout will be the fight that will springboard Andrade back to a world title.

Andrade defended his title with a 7th round stoppage over Brian Rose on June 14, 2014 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Pucheta of Benos Aires, Argentina has a record of 20-2 with 11 knockouts. The 28 year-old has won three in a row which includes his last bout when he stopped Bethuel Ushona (32-2) on October 4, 2014 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The show is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing, with the Andrade – Pucheta bout being promoted by Banner Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

“It’s about time that I get back in the ring. I am happy to be fighting at home in front of my fans. It is the most comfortable place in the world to be, and I look forward to regaining my title and defending in front all my loyal fans. I just want to thank them for their support during the last year. I look forward to seeing all of my fans at the fight,” said Andrade.

“I am looking forward to Demetrius getting back in the ring. We have been in the gym training hard, and he will be ready to put on a good performance on October 17,” said Andrade’s father/trainer, Paul Andrade

“I am very excited about Demetrius getting back in the ring. He is one of the top Jr. Middleweights in the world. I predict within a year that he will be fighting for and winning the Jr. Middleweight championship of the world for a second time,” said Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo.

Said Joe DeGuardia, president of Star Boxing, “I am thrilled that Demetrius is back. I have always felt he has the ability to be the best in the world, and I expect that within the next year he will be an undefeated 2-time World Champ.”

“We are thrilled to bring our Olympian and former world champion Demetrius Andrade back to New England. This is where Demetrius grew up, honed his skills and developed into the championship-caliber fighter he is today, both in and out of the ring. Furthermore, we’re honored to bring this event to one of our favorite venues, Mohegan Sun Casino, and to work in association with two of the most trustworthy, honest and hardest-working promoters in professional boxing, Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing. They are more than just colleagues; they are lifelong friends. With the three of us working together, this event will continue to raise the bar and set the standard for professional boxing in the northeast,” said Jimmy Burchfield, president of CES Boxing.

Ticket prices are $25, $50, $125 and $200 (VIP).

They can be purchased at www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com or by phone at 401-724-2243/2254.

For more information visit www.cesboxing.com, follow @CESBOXING on Twitter and Instagram and “like” the official CES Boxing Facebook fan page. Details also available at www.starboxing.com and www.banner-promotions.com.

Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2015 officially announced

Lou DiBella, Shelly Finkel, Arnie Bayer, Carey Mace, George Russo, Peter Timothy & Mort Sharnik
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (September 15, 2015) – Promoter Lou DiBella and manager/promoter Shelly Finkel lead a seven-member Class of 2015 into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF).  New members will be inducted at the 11THannual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner on Friday night,November 13 in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.
The new CBHOF inductees also includes former boxing commissioner Peter Timothy and, posthumously, boxers Carey Mace and George Russo, boxing writer Mort Sharnik and boxing advocate Arnie Bayer.
“We at the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame are very excited to announce this year’s class of inductees,” new CBHOF president John Laudati said. “We have a great mix of internationally recognized boxing legends and a wonderful and most deserving group of Connecticut’s boxing royalty. Personally, I am so pleased to introduce this class in my first year as president of this incredible organization. I look forward to seeing all our Connecticut boxing fans at Mohegan Sun on November 13th.”
Based in New York City, DiBella (pictured to left) is the former Head of Boxing for HBO, creating the highly successful “Boxing After Dark” series. His promotional company, DiBella Entertainment, has promoted countless boxing events at Mohegan Sun Arena and Foxwoods Resort Casino during the past two decades.  DiBella also owned the Connecticut Defenders minor league baseball team that was based in Norwich.  His top fighters have included Sergio Martinez,Bernard Hopkins, Paulie Malignaggi, Jermain Taylor, CBHOF inductee “Irish” Micky Ward, and Andre Berto among the more notables. A Harvard Law School graduate, DiBella is also a successful movie producer.
Finkel (pictured to right with the late Emanuel Steward), also from New York City, is an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee who was a fixture at Connecticut fights for many years as either a promoter or manager.  He is also a successful manager in the music industry.  In the early 1990s, Finkel was arguably the most powerful manager in boxing.  His most celebrated clients included Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Manny PacquiaoPernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor and Wladimir Klitschko.
Timothy (pictured to left with Sugar Ray Leonard) was boxing commissioner of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal National Commission at Foxwoods from 1995 to 2009.  He was mentored by the late John Burns, who was the founder of the CBHOF of which he is also an inductee.  During his tenure at Foxwoods, Timothy regulated hundreds of pro events, including 90 title fight.  Highlights of his reign included CBHOF inductee John RuizEvander Holyfield III for the WBA world heavyweight championship and, perhaps, the greatest fight in Foxwoods history, the IBF world cruiserweight title fight between James Toney and Vassily Jirov.  Other stars who fought at Foxwoods when Timothy was in charge include Roy Jones, Jr., Diego Corrales, Shane Mosely and Acelino Freitas, along with CBHOF inductees Dana Rosenblatt, Peter Manfredo, Jr. and U.S. Olympian Lawrence Clay-Bey.
Mace (72-18-2), born in Hartford, started fighting professionally in the late 1940s.  His most notable victory came in 1950, stopping former world champion Joe Giardello.  Mace was a member of CBHOF charter member Willie Pep‘s stable and was ranked at one point as high as No. 8 welterweight in the world.  Mace, whose last bout was a loss to CBHOF memberGaspar Ortega in 1962, lived in Manchester when he passed away at the age of 73 in 2003.
Russo had 85 pro fights between 1922 and 1934.  He moved to Bridgeport when he was six and he eventually became a local legend in boxing, operating gyms like Red Man’s Hall, Acorn Club and East Washington Avenue.  In 1992, he brought boxing back after a decade-long absence to the Old PAL building in Bridgeport. Russo also was recognized as the “Johnny Duke of Southern Connecticut.”
Born in New Haven, the late Sharnick lived nearly all his life in Norwalk, before returning to Florida, where he was elected to the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012, largely for founding the Smart Boxer Institute.  Sharnik was a boxing writer for 23 years at Sports Illustrated, highlighted by his coverage of Cassius ClaySonny Liston I, quoted wildly for saying, “Liston has fists like cannonballs.”  He moved on to become the chief for consultant at CBS for nine years and was chief advisor and the lone true believer in George Foreman‘s comeback bid eventually leading to another world heavyweight title.  Sharnick also was an advisor for CBHOF member and two-time world champion Marlon Starling, persuading the future world champion to add Eddie Futch as his head trainer.  Futch’s assistant, CBHOF member Freddie Roach, would eventually train Starling when he became world welterweight champion.
Bayer was widely respected as a true advocate of boxing, always quick to lend a helping hand, as well as opening wallet to help support boxing gyms in cities like CBHOF inductee Johnny Duke’s Boys Club Gym in Bellevue Square, Hartford.
Tickets for the CBHOF 11th annual Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are on sale now by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.
Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 11th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, event sponsorship opportunities, or past CBHOF inductees.
CONTACT:
Bob Trieger, Full Court PRESS, bobtfcp@hotmail.com,978.590.0470, @fightpublicist
ABOUT CBHOF:  The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 to honor and celebrate the careers of outstanding individuals involved in the sport of boxing. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony & Dinner was held in 2005. Connecticut’s rich boxing history could never have flourished if it weren’t for the achievements of those enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As a non-profit organization, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is deeply committed to keeping the fighting spirit of Connecticut thriving through various charitable contributions.

Link to CBHOF Website

UNDEFEATED HEAVYWEIGHT DOMINIC BREAZEALE TAKES ON FRED KASSI IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC OPENING BOUT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 FROM LEGACY ARENA IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 8:30 P.M. ET/5:30 P.M. PT

 
UNDEFEATED HEAVYWEIGHT CHARLES MARTIN TAKES ON
MEXICO’S VICENTE SANDEZ, PLUS UNDEFEATED PROSPECTS TERRELL GAUSHA, 
BRYANT PERELLA & MARIO BARRIOS
ALL IN ACTION ON NBCSN
11 P.M. ET/8 P.M. PT
 
Omar Figueroa Forced To Withdraw From Scheduled Bout
Due To An Elbow Injury
 
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 14, 2015) – 2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated heavyweight prospect Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (15-0, 14 KOs)will enter the ring against the crafty “Big” Fred Kassi (18-3-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight showdown on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC Saturday, September 26 from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, with televised coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
PBC on NBC is headlined by heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) as he defends against France’s Johann “Reptile” Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KOs).
Omar Figueroa, who was originally scheduled on the card,was forced to drop out of his scheduled bout against Antonio DeMarco due to an elbow injury.
In another exciting matchup, heavyweight knockout artist Charles “Missouri” Martin (21-0-1, 19 KOs) squares off against Vicente “Bufalo” Sandez (15-4, 10 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight affair.
Further undercard action features the undefeated Olympian Terrell Gausha (15-0, 8 KOs) taking on Puerto Rico’s Eliezer Gonzalez (15-1, 10 KOs) in a super welterweight bout, plus Bryant Perella (10-0, 9 KOs) in a welterweight attraction and Mario Barrios (11-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight fight.
The broadcast will switch over to NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Bruno Event Team, start at only $25 and are on sale now. For Tickets please visit www.alabamatitlefight.com.
Since representing the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics, Breazealehas been nearly perfect in recording knockouts as a pro, having only gone the distance in one fight. The 30-year-old played quarterback at the University of Northern Colorado before picking up boxing and looks to keep his undefeated record intact on September 26 when he faces the toughest challenge of his career. In 2015 the Glendale, California native has recorded stoppages over Victor Brisbal and Yasmany Consuegra.
Born in Cameroon but fighting out of New Orleans, the 36-year-old Kassi will be looking to build off of his last performance, when he earned a draw against Chris Arreola in a fight many believed was too close to call. Kassi had previously delivered knockouts in five of his eight prior fights and will make his second start of 2015 on September 26.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, but fighting out of Carson, California, Martin has stopped his last 10 opponents within the distance. The 29-year-old owns knockout victories over Damon McCreary, Raphael Zumbano Love and Tom Dallas in 2015. He will be opposed by Baja California, Mexico’s Sandez, who is coming off of a knockout over previously unbeaten Thanasis Michaloudis.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Gaushawas a decorated amateur who won gold medals at the U.S. National Championships in 2009 and 2012 and represented the US as part of the 2012 Olympic Team. The 28-year-old is undefeated since turning pro in 2012. In 2015 he has scored a knockout victory over Norberto Gonzalez and defeated Luis Grajeda. He takes on the 28-year-old Gonzalez out of Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico.
An undefeated 26-year-old out of Fort Myers, Florida, Perrella comes off of a first round knockout over Eduardo Flores in August. He has picked up three knockouts in a row in 2015 and looks to make it eight in a row overall onSeptember 26.
Fighting out of San Antonio, Barrioslooks for his fifth victory of 2015 on September 26. The 20-year-old hopes to build on his momentum after earning a fourth-round stoppage of Jose Cen Torres on September 6.
For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.alabamatitlefight.com andwww.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @BronzeBomber and @NBCSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

Travis Kauffman eyeing Mendoza clash this Friday night at The Claridge in Atlantic City

Photo by Joe Tarlecky

Reading, PA (September 14, 2015)– On Friday night, September 18, boxing returns to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City as Kings Promotions returns for a big night of action.

In the main event, Travis Kauffman will take on former world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza.

Kauffman of Reading, PA has a record of 29-1 with 21 knockouts and is riding an 11-fight win streak that has spanned 5 and a half years.

Kauffman has defeated the likes of Malachy Farrell (16-1), William Shahan (7-1), Chris Koval (24-6), Vincent Thompson (13-1) and in his last bout he took out Richard Carmack in one-round on August 14 in Newark, New Jersey.

Kauffman got right back into the gym following the Carmack bout and is continuing to round into shape after a 19-month layoff.

“The fact that I kept in the gym is helping me big time. I think I will be a couple pounds less than the Carmack fight when I weighed 239 pounds. I am able to run more and more following the surgery and It has helped me with my conditioning,”said Kauffman.

In Mendoza, he is facing a guy who has a record of 41-21-1 with 35 big knockouts and has wins over undefeated fighters Tokunbo Olijade, Rubin Williams, Carlos Negron & Ray Recio plus solid wins over Rito Ruvalcalba, Alejandro Luis Garcia, and has fought for the Light Heavyweight championship.

“He has been around a long time. He has the most experienced guy on my resume. He is a big puncher and has been able to stop good fighters, so I have to take him seriously.”

Kauffman is trying to pick up where he left off with the Carmack fight, when he dropped the 300-plus pounder twice with body shots.

“This is basically round two for me. But this time, I would not be upset if I got some rounds in to work off ring rust.”

Kauffman, who signed to Al Haymon, has seen some fighters in the Heavyweight division get some opportunities on the Premier Boxing Champions series and the 30-year is ready for the fight’s that will put him in contention for world title shot.

“I am hoping in November that these big fights will be there. After this fight, I will be 30-1 and I am looking for those kind of fights. I feel I will be ready.”

“I am happy to be staying busy. The injuries are behind me and now I am a mature 30 year-old fighter. I know I am not getting younger, but it is the perfect age for a Heavyweight. I am starting to get noticed again like it was in 2009 but now I have much more experience both in and out of the ring so I know the best is still in front of me. I am a lot more dedicated and after this fight, I am going back down to Texas to work on my conditioning and prepare for November.”

“I want to thank my team which includes my father Marshall Kauffman, Naazim Richardson and Jeff Negrelli. Also Al Haymon for believing in me. ”

The co-feature will be an 8-round Heavyweight bout that will feature the American return of former world title challenger “Fast” Eddie Chambers (41-4, 22 KO’s) taking on Galen Brown (41-31-1, 25 KO’s) of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Also appearing in an 8-round bout will be Cruiserweight Keith Tapia (15-0, 10 KO’s) of Santurce, Puerto Rico taking on Anthony Caputo Smith (15-5, 10 KO’s) of Kennett Square, PA

Ivan Golub (8-0, 6 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Pavel Miranda (19-10-1, 9 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico in a Super Welterweight bout.

In 6-round bouts:

Dauren Yuleussinov (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY fighting Justin Williams (4-10-2, 2 KO’s) of Beaumont, Texas in a Super Middleweight fight.

Danny Kelly (8-1-1, 7 KO’s) of Washington, DC will battle Jimmy Suarez (3-6, 3 KO’s) of Aguada, PR in a Heavyweight bout.

In 4-round Bouts:

Alex Barbosa (4-2-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Jose Garcia (0-4) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a Featherweight contest

Pavlo Ishchenko of Brooklyn, NY will make his pro debut against Nicholas Rodriguez (0-2-1) of Somerset, KY in a Featherweight contest.

Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by clicking www.claridgeboxing.eventbrite.com or by calling call 610 587 5950 or 609 868 4243

Mayweather/Berto group Throwdown Fantasy Game Winner announced 

NEW YORK (September 14, 2015) – For the second consecutive week, the $2000 Throwdown Fantasy Boxing Game winner produced a first-time winner, Errol Acosta, who won the $400.00 first-place prize for last week’s Mayweather/Berto group, as well as bragging rights from the other 234 entrants.
There were 50 cash prize winners, minimum of $20.00, and Acosta also won the Mayweather free-roll game with the same team.
From the pool of 22 fighters, Acosta (CHESSPNOI) stayed under the $25k salary cap and selected three solid favorites in Oscar Valdez ($5,500), Errol Spence ($5,300) and Jermall Charlo ($5,300). This talented trio had a combined boxing record of 54-0 with 44 KOs or 81% KO ratio coming into their respective fights. Picking three reasonably prized but solid favorites allowed gamers to pick a fourth winner and a large underdog, or select two slight underdogs to complete his team.
“When I learned Adonis Stevenson, Errol Spence Jr, Peter Quillin, Oscar Valdez, and Jermall Charlo were fighting on the this tournament set,” an ecstatic Acosta explained, “I just knew I had to enter and place my bets in accordance with what I knew and had learned about them.
“I’ve been playing about four months. I grew up on boxing; I’ve always loved the sport.  Throwdown Fantasy reignited my passion for boxing.  They said after May 2 that boxing would be dead.  There are casual/seasonal/selective fans who only know names like Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Mayweather or ‘Pacman.’  Throwdown is fun and keeps me engaged and entertained with boxing.”
Throwdown Fantasy Boxing is online at www.ThrowdownFantasy.com and boxing’s newest way to back up fight predictions is simple to play. In fact, it’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1.  Using the $25,000 salary cap, pick five fighters from the game group; 2. Scoring may be tracked in real time, earning points for wins, knockouts and other CompuBox statistics, 3. Scoring the most points wins. Most games last a week and each has multiple winners.  Click on this link to watch a short video to learn how easy is to play:
Fighters receive points based for how they perform, rewarding each style of boxing (see below chart). CompuBox fight statistics are available for research to aid in making selections at www.ThrowdownFantasy.com.
New players who sign up now can receive FREE entry into Throwdown Fantasy Boxing’s monthly Free-roll game, in which Throwdown Fantasy provides a $250 free roll that players may enter using Throwdown Points (free entry upon registration) and $25.00 free game. Signing up and playing is free. People may register to play for free and then move onto paid games.
The next $1000 Throwdown Fantasy Boxing game is scheduled for Sept. 15-26, featuring heavyweight favorite Deontay Wilder vs. underdog Johan Duhaupas in their world title fight, in one of nine fights to select fighters from in that group.

Undefeated prospect Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Rodriguez is on the rise

 
 
The WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino bantamweight champion, Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Rodriguez ( 13-0, 9 KO ) of Puerto Rico has been officially ranked # 6 by the World Boxing Association ( WBA ), and #7 by the World Boxing Council ( WBC ).
Rodriguez captured both titles on August, 22, 2015 by defeating tough mexican, Alex Rangel via TKO in round 7 at Fajardo, Puerto Rico. ( Video – Rodriguez KO’d Rangel https://youtu.be/BLujMj34QoQ )
“I’m very grateful with the WBA and WBC because this could mean a world title fight in the near future. I have already defeated two former world title contenders and I’m just waiting for the next step. I feel ready and confident for any challenge I may have. Both, my manager Juan Orengo, and trainer Jim Pagan has done a terrific job. I believe 2016 will be my year”, Emmanuel Rodriguez said.
On May 2015, Rodriguez knocked out cold in the third round, Dominican Luis Hinojosa, a former world title challenger, and WBA #11 at the momment of the fight. ( Video – full fight Rodriguez vs. Hinojosahttps://youtu.be/pOWiCcfQ6lI )
On October 2014, the undefeated Puerto Rican sensation, captured the WBO Latino title by knocking out Miguel ‘No Fear’ Cartagena  in the first round. Cartagena was a former two time United States National Champion, and 11 times Golden Gloves winner in Philadelphia. ( Video – full fight Rodriguez vs. Cartagena https://youtu.be/sMjC6CysttI )
Rodriguez has other notable victories by unanimous decision over world title contender, David Quijano, and former WBC FECARBOX champion, Felix Perez.
Making history:
At amateur boxing, Rodriguez became the first Puerto Rican boxer to win gold medal at a Youth Olympic Games ( Singapore 2010 ). His record 171-11 included notable victories over former Cuban Olympic gold medal, Robeisy Ramírez, Jonathan González, Vasily Vetkin, among others.

 FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER CONCLUDES REMARKABLE CAREER WITH WIN OVER ANDRE BERTO AND PERFECT 49-0 RECORD IN MAIN EVENT OF SHOWTIME PPV®  FOUR-FIGHT TELECAST FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

Click HERE For Photos – Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Click HERE For Photos – Credit: Idris Erba/Mayweather Promotions
 
LAS VEGAS (Sept. 13, 2015) – Floyd “Money” Mayweather performed one last masterpiece on Saturday live on SHOWTIME PPV® in what he insists was the final fight of his distinguished 19-year career.
Before 13,395 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather improved to 49-0 (26 KOs), matching the record of the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano with a 12-round decision over former two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-4, 23 KOs). In total control from the outset, Mayweather was victorious by the scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 117-111.
Following the final bell, Mayweather dropped to his knees in reflection of his final act.
“You have to know when to hang it up,” he told SHOWTIME’s Jim Gray in the ring afterward. “I’m knocking at the door; I’m close to 40 years old.
“I’ve been in this sport 19 years, been a world champion 18 years, broke all the records. There’s nothing else to prove in the sport of boxing.
“My 49-0 record is a part of boxing. Records are made to be broken. Hopefully someday we can find the next Floyd Mayweather.
“Now it’s time to spend time with my family and children, make sure they get the proper education. I also want to help the fighters under the Mayweather Promotions banner.
“I’m leaving the sport with all my faculties; I’m still sharp and smart. I’ve accomplished everything in this sport, there’s nothing else to accomplish.
“Money doesn’t make me. I make money.
“I don’t want to rank myself, but I am the best at boxing.
“I want to thank all the fans that came out to support this event. For 19 years I wouldn’t be able to do it without these fans.
“Andre Berto has heart, a tremendous chin. He wouldn’t lay down, it was a good fight. He was a tough competitor, but experience played a major role tonight. What can I say?  I was the better man tonight. It doesn’t matter if I hurt my left or my right hand, my career is over. It’s official.”
Berto was satisfied with his performance, but conceded he was not at Mayweather’s level.
“Experience played a big part in this fight,” he said. “I want to thank my entire team, my family and all of Haiti that is watching.
“I was in shape for this fight; he was just difficult to hold on to. He’s slippery. I used a lot of speed but he’s real crafty. He was using little things to get me off my rhythm.
“A guy like me has a lot of pride. I told him that every time I caught him with a good shot that I was here to stay.  I put on a great performance, pushed him to the limit. But, we fell short.”
In the second of two world title fights on the pay-per-view undercard, Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) retained his WBO Junior Lightweight title with a thrilling 12-round majority draw in a rematch against four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido(42-13-3, 29 KOs).
Picking up where they left off when they fought in a Fight of the Year candidate last April, won by Martinez, both fighters exchanged punches for 36 minutes of ferocious action. Each went down in the third round. At the end of a slugfest, in which more than 1,700 punches were thrown, one judge scored it for Martinez (115-113), one had Salido (115-113) in front and the other called it even (114-114).
Both Martinez and Salido thought they should have got the decision and are in favor of a third fight.
“I definitely won the fight,” said Martinez, who was making the first defense in his third stint as WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion. “They counted a knockdown that wasn’t really a knockdown.
“He threw a lot of punches but most of them didn’t connect, they landed on my arms. Anywhere you want that third fight between us, I will take it.”
Said Salido, a two-time featherweight world champion who was the aggressor throughout and delivered more than 1,000 punches, “I did all the work and I thought I won the fight. I thought the first couple of rounds were even but then I took control of the fight afterwards.
“I was definitely looking for the championship. As you all saw I threw more of the punches and I thought I won the fight.
“I dedicated so much for this fight, for them to take it away from me is not fair. Definitely, I am ready for a third fight.”
In another world title fight, Badou Jack “The Ripper” (20-1-1, 12 KOs) successfully defended his WBC Super Middleweight World title with a hard-fought, crowd-pleasing 12-round majority decision over mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-3, 16 KOs). Jack, who dropped Groves late in the first round, triumphed by the scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 113-114. The hard-luck Groves, who abruptly fled the ring in disbelief after the announcement, fell to 0-3 in world title fights.
Jack was impressive in what may have been his toughest fight to date.
“Groves has a lot of heart,” said Jack, who was making the initial defense of the WBC belt he took from Anthony Dirrell in April.
“Body work is becoming my signature. I wasn’t effective enough because I couldn’t knock him out. I felt like after the first round I could but I just couldn’t. I didn’t go to the body enough.
“I haven’t thought about my next fight yet, but there’s a lot of big fights for me. I heard Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. wants to fight me. I want to enjoy this win but I will fight anyone.”
The victory was Jack’s fourth in a row since suffering the lone loss of his career on a shocking first-round knockout loss to Derek Edwards in February 2014.
Groves, whose only other losses were in back-to-back fights against then-world championCarl Froch, didn’t dispute the knockdown but had a problem with the decision.
“I thought I won the fight decisively,” he said. “I thought I controlled the fight with my jab and that I was in control throughout, though, it appeared closer to the judges.
“It was a legit knockdown in the first round. He landed the right hand over the top, but I have good fitness and I thought I got back in control of that round. But all credit to him though scoring the knockdown in the first round.
“Congrats to Badou. I hope he has a successful reign as champion. I’d love to fight him again and hopefully I will do better next time. I am going to take some time to work out what’s next. Losing a world title fight is the worst feeling in the world.”
Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (26-4, 16 KOs) overcame a first-round knockdown, scored a knockdown of his own and upset former two-division world championJhonny Gonzalez (58-10, 49 KOs).  Oquendo won a 10-round majority decision in a good action fight that opened the pay-per-view telecast. Oquendo won the biggest bout of his career by the scores of 95-93, an out-of-line 98-90 and 94-94.
For Oquendo, the victory in his sixth appearance at MGM Grand Garden Arena was the 12th in his last 14 fights.
“I feel very happy,” said Oquendo, who was dropped by a left hook with about one minute left in the first. “Jhonny Gonzalez is a great champion. I knew I had to throw a lot of punches and work to get inside to get the victory. I was able to implement that game plan tonight.”
Gonzalez, a former two-time WBC featherweight and WBO Bantamweight World Champion, was displeased with the scoring as well as all the unintentional headbutts. He was dropped by a straight right hand at about the 2:00 mark of the second.
“The judges favored him too much,” Gonzalez said. “He kept head butting me. It just didn’t go well. As soon as he knocked me down, nothing happened. I just got right back up.”
In a fight Saturday that aired during “COUNTDOWN LIVE” on SHOWTIME before the pay-per-view telecast, longtime junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., scored two knockdowns en route to winning a 10-round majority decision over former IBF 154-pound champion Ishe Smith (27-8, 12 KOs) of Las Vegas, by the scores of 97-91 twice and 95-95.
“I feel awesome.  I worked hard and it paid off.  I hadn’t seen my family in 10 weeks.  I was in training in the Bay Area,” Martirosyan said. “Ishe was eating 100 jabs a round.  I knew he was a Mayweather fighter and I was going into the fight already down five rounds.
“I knew I had to win. My corner told me to go in and have fun, but I wanted to knock him out.
“I knew as soon as I landed the first knockdown that I had to keep going. I didn’t think he would get up from the second knockdown. He had never been dropped before. He has fought a lot of great fighters and I dropped him twice.”
Smith, the first native Las Vegan to capture a world title, felt the fight was much tighter.
“The first knockdown wasn’t serious. He just caught me in the back of the head. The second one was legit, but I got up ready to come back at him,” Smith said.
“Six points is ridiculous. I thought it was closer to 95-95 or 95-94. I just thought it was a lot closer than those two judges, and my corner kept telling it was real close. But we expected a tough fight out of (Martirosyan). He’s long, rangy and a good puncher, but that’s why I wanted to get inside and fight him there.
“I just fought a hell of a fight against the No. 3-ranked fighter in our division. I have a lot left. I’m pushing these guys to the limit. I take nothing away from him. He’s one of the best in the world and I’m a former world champion. We gave the fans a great fight tonight and I’ll be back again soon.”
Also on “COUNTDOWN LIVE,” promising unbeaten lightweight Gervonta Davis of Baltimore improved to 12-0 with 11 knockouts by registering a 1:34, first-round TKO overRecky Dulay (8-2, 5 KOs), of Manila, Philippines.
# # #
HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round welterweight world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147-pound titles, was promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC.  The event took place Saturday, September 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and was televised by SHOWTIME PPV.  The undercard featured a WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship fight, which was a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido.  Also featured on the PPV telecast was a WBC Super Middleweight title bout between Badou Jack and George Groves, which was promoted in association with Team Sauerland. The opening PPV bout pitted former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round super featherweight bout. SHOWTIME “Countdown Live” included a 10-round super welterweight showdown between Ishe Smith and Vanes Martirosyan.
For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.comwww.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.