Category Archives: boxing

boxing, UK Boxing

OPEN LETTER FROM JOHN O’DONNELL TO SAM EGGINGTON

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O’Donnell says “Man Up Sam and don’t be a bottle job”

 

Dear Sam,

 

I am writing to openly challenge you to defend your titles against me on October 17th. I fully appreciate that you may not want to do this as you know you will lose and will want to pick an easy touch but man up and at least when you lose you will have shown you’re a fighting man!

 

As it stands I am going to have to beat the guy who beat you, Dale Evans, in an eliminator for the British title. You know I will beat Dale and probably you will find an excuse to vacate when this happens rather than face me.

 

Sam it’s all about levels and I am levels above you. I will take you to school and give you a boxing lesson but at least you will learn from it.

 

You seem to lack an opponent for October 17th. Ask your promoter Eddie to give my team a call. We are waiting for the phone to ring. I will even give you a rematch clause if you want to be beaten twice in a row.

 

You have done really well coming back and its great to see a young man progress but the time has now come to face a real contender, someone who is hungry to go all the way. Glenn Foot was too small for you, Joseph Lamptey was out of his depth and Shayne Singleton had a built up record.

 

I am a former Commonwealth champion. Man up Sam!

 

All the best

 

John

boxing

Loaded undercard taking shape for August 28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC

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Brandon Bennett takes on Jonathan Maicelo in 10-round Main event
For Immediate Release

 

Washington, DC (August 6, 2015) On Friday night, August 28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation’s capital of Washington, DC, King’s Promotions will present a spectacular night of boxing that will feature some of the best talent in the United States.

In the main event, Brandon Bennett (19-1, 8 KO’s) will square off with former world title challenger Jonathan Maicelo (21-2, 12 KO’s) in a Lightweight bout scheduled for 10-rounds.

A terrific undercard is taking shape that will feature some of the best prospects in the country.

In 10-round Bouts:

Phil Jackson-Benson (15-2, 14 KO’s) of Brooklyn, NY will take on Antonio Guerrero (8-5, 4 KO’s) of Sucumbios, Ecuador in a Super Middleweight bout.

2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring (12-0, 7 KO’s) will fight an opponent to be named in a Lightweight bout.

Robert Easter (14-0, 11 KO’s) of Toledo, OH will take on Osumanu Akaba (32-8-1, 25 KO’s) of Accra, Ghana named in a Lightweight bout.

In 8-round bouts:

Demond Nicholson (13-1, 13 KO’s) of Laurel, MD battles Antonio Baker (8-12, 4 KO’s) of Fayetteville, NC in a Middleweight bout.

David Grayton (11-0, 8 KO’s) of Washington, DC will fight Jose Valderrama (4-10, 3 KO’s) of Arecibo, Puerto Rico in a Welterweight clash.

Immanuwel Aleem (13-0, 9 KO’s) of Richmond, VA. will fight Milton Nunez (28-14-1, 25 KO’s) of Baranquila, Colombia in a Middleweight fight.

In 6-round bouts:

Kareem Martin (5-0-1, 3 KO’s) of Washington, DC battles Anthony Prescott (5-6-2, 2 KO’s) of Cherry Hill, NJ in Welterweight bout.

2012 U.S. Olympian Raynell Williams (8-0, 4 KO’s) of Cleveland, OH takes on Jose Miguel Castro (5-5, 3 KO’s) of Carolina, Puerto Rico in a Lightweight tilt.

Patrick Harris (6-0, 4 KO’s) of Washington, DC will take on an opponent to be named in a Lightweight bout.

Jamontay Clark (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Cincinnati, OH will fight Donald Sanchez (2-2, 1 KO) of Albuquerque, NM in a Welterweight fight.

Leo Hall (6-0, 6 KO’s) of Detroit, MI will box against Jonel Tapia (8-5-1, 5 KO’s) of Aguas Buenas, PR in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Tickets are on sale for $100 (Front Row); $75 (Ringside) $50 (General Admission) by calling 301-899-2430 or by logging on to www.beltwayboxing.com

More fight information is available at www.kingsboxing.com

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

 PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS SERIES LANDS IN TORONTO

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

STEVENSON vs. KARPENCY

WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

PRESENTED BY GYM, GLB, LENNOX LEWIS AND MLSE

TORONTO (August 5, 2015) —    Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), in association with Global Legacy Boxing (GLB) and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), is proud to officially announce the next world title defense of feared puncher, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, September 11, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The event is part of the prestigious Premier Boxing Champions series, airing live on Spike TV in the United States, on Indigo and Bell TV in Canada.

Stevenson (26-1-0, 21 KOs),ofMontreal, one of the most powerful pound-for- pound punchers in the world, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring magazine and lineal light heavyweight (175 pounds) world championship belts for the sixth time, against WBC #9 contender Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs), the skilled American southpaw fighting out of Adah, Pennsylvania. It was Stevenson’s wish to defend his titles in Toronto:

“I’m excited to announce my next fight on September 11 in Toronto against Tommy Karpency. I’m ready to put the hurt on. I work hard and stay focused”, said the champion.

 

The 29-year-old Karpency pulled off a major upset October 4, 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort of Mashantucket, Connecticut, defeating former light heavyweight lineal champion Chad Dawson by way of a split decision. Karpency, who has won his last four fights, is also the current Pennsylvania and NABA-USA light heavyweight champion. He is particularly excited to get this world championship opportunity.

“I beat the same guy Stevenson beat to become world champion. I beat him [Dawson] just over a year after Stevenson beat him. After that win, I said that the sky was the limit and that I wanted the best in the world. The win [over Dawson] proved that I belong amongst the elite at light heavyweight. Now it is my job to win this fight“, explained Karpency.

“GYM is trilled to bring this world championship fight and the ‘Premier Boxing Champions’ series to Toronto for the first time,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “We have been contemplating this project for a long time. This has been possible because we found great partners with Les Woods and Lennox Lewis, from GLB, and Wayne Zronick, from MLSE. We have the conviction to bring a major boxing event that this prodigious sport city deserves. Even more, we also believe we have found the required partners to guarantee the success of the project and to do it again on a regular bases.”

“It is an immense privilege to be working alongside MLSE and GYM,” GLB president Les Woods added. “Global Legacy’s mandate of reviving world-class professional boxing in the wonderful city of Toronto has become a reality. “To continue the legacy my grandfather created and reignite a passion for ‘the sweet science’ across the city is a vision and accomplishment I hope will continue to leave a lasting imprint now as well as on all futuregenerations of boxing fans.”

Also part of this promotion is former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis. While not fighting anymore, he stills as the passion for his sport. Lewis defeated Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko among the more notables during his illustrious boxing career.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of GLB, working in conjunction with GYM and MLSE, to revive boxing in Toronto and across Canada to the highest level,” Lewis remarked. “As the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, I am proud to be building a nationwide platform where boxers, such as world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, can showcase their talents at home and receive the support they deserve.”

In the co-feature, current Canadian heavyweight champion Dillon “Big Country” Carman (8-2, 7 KOs), of Mississauga, Ontario, will face former Lewis and Tyson opponent, Jamaican-born Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (40-5-1, 30 KOs). A total of eight bouts will be scheduled during the event, showcasing young talents from Ontario and Quebec.

Boxing in Toronto and Ontario

Toronto was a boxing hot spot as early as 1880.

Jake Kilrain, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Kid McCoy, Harry Greb, Sam Langford,Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, Kid Chocolate, Max Baer, Primo Carnera,Joey Giambra, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Bob Foster, Muhammad Ali, and Larry Holmes all waged epic battles in Toronto during their boxing careers.

Other standouts who also fought in Toronto include Jimmy Wilde, Jimmy Welsh,Young Stribling, Rocky Kansas, “Panama” Al Brown, Sandy Saddler, Battling Levinsky, Sammy Angott, Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jose Napoles, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Nino Benvenuti, and Aaron Pryor.

Canadian legend George Chuvalo fought for the heavyweight world title March 29, 1966 at the Maple Leaf Gardens against defending champion and boxing iconMuhammad Ali, in probably the most famous bout ever held in the city. The always tough Chuvalo lasted 15 rounds with the man known as “The Greatest”.

Toronto native Nick Furlano also boxed and lasted 15 rounds against ferocious World Boxing Association (WBA) world super lightweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, June 22, 1984, at the Varsity Stadium of the University of Toronto.

Since then, Sarnia’s son Steve Molitor was the International Boxing Federation world super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion, from 2006 to 2011. He fought in seven world title fights in Ontario, all at the Rama Casino.

More recently, November 15, 2014 at the Hershey Center in Mississauga, Brampton’s own Denton Daley challenged WBA interim world cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga, a nativeof the Democratic Republic of the Congo, losing in the 12th and final round.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m., on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, GLB (416) 678-6957 or Ricoh Coliseum (416) 263-3900. Ticket prices start at 40 $. Tables are also available by contacting GLB.
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime Boxing

DON KING PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS UNBEATEN HEAVYWEIGHT TREVOR BRYAN AGAINST DANGEROUS DERRIC ROSSY AUG. 28 ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

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Tripleheader Features Undefeated Middleweight Juan Ubaldo Cabrera Against Once-Beaten Mike Gavronksi

& Samoa’s Natu Visinia Versus All-Action Heavyweight Joey Dawejko

 

Friday, Aug. 28, Live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT)

From Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

 

NEW YORK (Aug. 5, 2015) – Promising up-and-coming heavyweight Trevor Bryan (15-0, 11 KOs) will put his unblemished record on the line when he faces his toughest opponent to date, the more experienced Derric Rossy (30-9, 14 KOs), in the 10-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). Promoted by Don King Productions, the bout will take place Friday, Aug. 28, at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC), across from the D Las Vegas in iconic Downtown Las Vegas.

 

In the co-feature, two-time Dominican Republic Olympian Juan Ubaldo Cabrera (23-0, 16 KOs), will take on the versatile Mike Gavronski (18-1-1, 12 KOs), of Tacoma, Wash., in a 10-round middleweight match.  In the opening bout of the telecast, Samoa’s 6-foot-2 heavyweight Natu Visinia (11-1, 9 KOs) of Tacoma, Wash., will face 5-foot-10 Joey Dawejko(14-4-2, 7 KOs), of Philadelphia, in an eight-round matchup.

 

All six boxers will make their ShoBox debuts in what amounts to make-or-breakout fights for each. Tickets are priced at $39.50, $59.50, $89.50, $149.50 and $500.00 for VIP Tables and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

 

“It gives me great pleasure to help young and old prospects, men and women, chasing their dreams, grasping for an opportunity to transform their dreams into living reality,” King said.  “Trevor Bryan is such a prospect seeking an opportunity to fulfill his dreams. Well, Don King and SHOWTIME are giving him that opportunity to capture the imagination of the people onShoBox on Aug. 28.  However, Derric Rossy, a great challenger and ‘Dreambreaker’ is blocking the door to greatness. And Trevor Bryan has to fight like hell to get through that door. The fight will be the power of dreams. I urge all fight fans to tune in on ShoBox and don’t blink.’’

 

“We are excited to partner with Don King Promotions and ShoBox in bringing outdoor boxing to downtown Las Vegas,” said Derek Stevens, CEO/Owner DLVEC and the D Las Vegas. “The fight card features promising talent, which should make for an unforgettable event.”

 

Looking to establish himself in the United States heavyweight division, the talented but unproven Bryan of Pompano Beach, Fla., by way Albany, N.Y., is taking a huge leap in class against Rossy, of Medford, N.Y.

 

So how good of a prospect is Bryan, who turns 26 on Aug. 23?  The former amateur standout

won five national championships in just 60 amateur bouts.  While a close loss in the finals of a 2011 qualifying tournament kept him out of the U.S. Olympic Trials, the heavyweight gained valuable experience at Northern Michigan University under the tutelage of former U.S. Olympic Coach Al Mitchell.

 

Since his debut at 22 in November 2011, the 6-feet-4 Bryan has stayed active and registered 10 of his 11 knockout victories in three rounds or less.   Bryan, who knocked out outmatched Stacy Frazier in the second round last June 20, is excited for the opportunity to prove himself against a veteran heavyweight.

 

“On paper, it looks like it’ll be exciting and I’m definitely looking at it as a breakout fight for me,’’ Bryan said. “I feel excitement, not pressure.  It’s time for people to start mentioning my name with the others.  I’ve had a great training camp, I continue to feel confident with trainer Stacey McKinley and I feel strong, mentally clear and confident.  I’m ready to roll.”

 

Bryan has gone eight rounds once but is intelligent enough to not overlook a dangerous veteran like Rossy.

 

“You can’t take an awkward, determined guy like Rossy lightly,” Bryan said.  “He’s scored a couple of upsets, fought some guys he thought he beat, has ring experience and he’s been there against all kinds.  Like me, I feel he’s kind of desperate in his own way and the guys who are the most desperate are the most dangerous.

 

“This guy can’t beat me but I expect a tough, tough fight.  I know Rossy’s not coming to lie down.  Me?  I’m just a young fighter trying to make his way and looking to showcase my talents.  It’s time to fight somebody tough.”

 

Rossy, 35, has never managed to get past journeyman/gatekeeper status and over that proverbial hump fight that catapults you to the next level.

Rossy has been in with former WBO heavyweight champion Ray Mercer, world-title contenders Eddie Chambers (twice) and Fres Oquendo and world-ranked contenders such as Vyacheslav Glazkov in an 11-year career in which he seldom got the benefit of the doubt in tight fights.  In his outing before last, Rossy dropped a highly controversial 10-round majority decision to 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and IBF No. 2-rated contender Glazkov (17-0-1) on Aug. 9, 2014.

 

“I’ve been dealt some unfortunate hands in boxing, results not coming my way, but I don’t sit and dwell on them,’’ Rossy said. “The bottom line is I can’t sit around and mope.  I’ve got to win and leave no doubt in anybody’s mind. I feel like I’ve done that in many fights, but for some reason they think I leave doubt.”

 

One exception came in his last fight when Rossy registered an upset in a unanimous 10-round decision over previously undefeated, untested Akhor Muralimov (16-0, 13 KOs going in).  Utilizing smart separation and his considerable height and reach, Rossy triumphed by the scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

 

Rossy is looking for a similar performance against the undefeated Bryan.

 

“Bryan, I think he’s put together well,” Rossy said.  “He’s a good boxer.  It’s going be a good stylistic and action-packed fight.  We’ll both try to establish our jabs.  I think this is a formidable fight for both of us.

 

“Bryan has the pedigree to maybe be a heavyweight champion someday, but not now.  In my eyes I feel he’s making a mistake, but anybody that fights me know they are looking at a war.  I am a high-risk, low-reward kind of opponent.  I’ve fought them all; Bryan is a little green in that area so we’ll see.”

 

Before becoming a pro boxer, Rossy was an All American high school football star who would go on to play at Boston College where he was an outstanding 248-pound defensive end. Hehad some pro tryouts but was seen as a “tweener,” too big for linebacker, too small to play end.  So he turned to boxing and despite only 10 amateur fights won the 2004 New York Golden Gloves tournament, and turned pro in October of that year.  He went 15-0 at the outset of his pro career before losing to Chambers the first time.

 

Juan Ubaldo Cabrera, who will take on Mike Gavronski in the ShoBox co-feature, represented the Dominican Republic in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.  The 36-year-oldmay best be known for defeating future world champion Jean Pascal en route to taking the gold medal in the middleweight class in the 2003 Pan-American Games.  During an excellent amateur career, Cabrera also brought home a silver medal in the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games as a light middleweight.

 

Two years after his last appearance in the Olympics, at the age of 26, he turned pro in October 2005 and won 13 of his initial 15 fights by knockout.  Cabrera is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Tim Hall on the Deontay Wilder-Eric Molinaundercard last June 13 in Birmingham, Ala.  Cabrera has been inactive recently – the win over Hall was his first fight in a year and only his sixth since July 2009.

 

Gavronski is a durable, well-conditioned 29-year-old from the Northwest who combines boxing skill with KO power in both hands and also fought in MMA.  He’s won four in a row – all in Tacoma – and is 3-0 this year.  In his last fight, he recorded a resounding ninth-round TKO over rival Tyrell Hendrix on May 30 in a rematch of their 2011 draw.

 

A Washington state favorite, the 6-foot-tall Gavronski turned pro at the age of 24 in 2010, and suffered his lone loss via 10-round decision to Tureano Johnson (14-1) in 2011 in a bout for the WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.

 

The opening bout of the telecast – Natu Visinia vs. Joey Dawejko – features a heavyweight showdown between a talented prospect and a former standout amateur.

 

Visinia, 30, is perhaps the most promising up-and-coming Samoan heavyweight since former longtime contender David Tua.   A true heavyweight with tremendous knockout power in both hands, a rock-hard head and granite chin, the 6-foot-4 30-year-old is coming off a fourth-round knockout over Joshua Clarke last May 13.  Seven of Visinia’s nine KO victories came in the first round.

 

Visinia was a former standout high school and college football player at Southern Illinois University.  He began his fighting career in MMA, where he became the No. 2 ranked amateur in the United States before making his pro debut.  He then switched to boxing in 2006.

 

After his boxing pro debut in 2009, Visinia gained invaluable experience sparring with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Evander Holyfield and Lamon Brewster.  He won his first 10 pro fights before losing by seventh-round TKO to former two-time IBF cruiserweight championSteve Cunningham on Oct. 18, 2014.  In his first genuine step up in class, Visinia dropped Cunningham in the fifth but Cunningham’s past class and conditioning proved too much to overcome.

 

Dawe­jko had a decorated am­a­teur ca­reer that included a World Junior Amateur championship in 2008, the national under-19 crown, and a victory over Bryant Jennings, who recently challenged heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko last April.

 

The 25-year-old Dawejko was on a heavy roll, winning six consecutive fights, four in a row by first-round stoppage before his six-fight winning streak ended when he lost a 10-round decision to Amir Mansour (21-1) in a Pennsylvania State heavyweight title fight this past May.  This will be the third start of the year for the 5-foot-10, six-year-pro, an all-action heavyweight who owns a victory over Rossy in January 2014.  Two outings back, on March 3, Dawejko required all of 27 seconds to dispatch of Enobong Umohette.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer isGordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

# # #

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

 Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce TV: “Smashing Debut”

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ATLANTA (Aug. 5, 2015) – The series premiere of Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce TV on Aug. 2 was a knockout success.

 

The live telecast delivered 459,000 total viewers and averaged 333,000 Households between 9:00 p.m.-12:15 a.m., with a peak audience of 667,000 total viewers and 444,000 Households. This live telecast also delivered 255,000 Adults 25-54 and 195,000 A18-49.

 

Bounce TV aired an immediate encore of PBC – The Next Round after the live event and the two telecasts combined reached nearly two million unique viewers.

 

The network also streamed the PBC – The Next Round live on BounceTV.com which saw a usage increase of more than 300% on Sunday night. (Click here to watch the telecast.)

 

Bounce TV’s debut of PBC – The Next Round was also met with glowing media reviews, including: “Smashing debut” (Bleacher Report) and “The debut of PBC: The Next Round on Bounce TV was a success” (USA Today).

 

The inauguralPBC – The Next Round consisted of three exciting fights. The main event saw Juan Carlos “Baby Pacquiao” Payano (17-0, 8 KOs) defeat Rau’shee Warren (13-1, 4 KOs) in a close, 12-round split decision to retain hisBantamweight Title.

 

In the first bout of a four-man super welterweight tournament, John Jackson(20-2, 15 KOs) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Dennis Laurente (49-6, 30 KOs).  The second tournament bout featured a hard-hitting fight in which Jorge Cota (25-1, 22 KOs) defeated Yudel Jhonson.  The winners of this tournament, Cota and Jackson, will fight on PBC – The Next Round on Bounce TV in November.

 

Fred Hickman (CNN Sports, ESPN) hosted PBC – The Next Round, Fran Charles(NFL Network, MLB Network) called the blow-by-blow action and former Super Welterweight World Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout provided insight and analysis.

 

PBC – The Next Roundreturns Fri. Sept. 18 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) with the schedule of fights to be announced shortly.

 

Bounce TV is carried on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage.  Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 85 million homes across 90 markets, 90% of African American television homes — including all of the top AA television markets. Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Ambassador Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III. For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
boxing

Trey Lippe-Morrison joins forces with Freddie Roach!

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Lippe Suit Promo.jpg
For Immediate Release
Tulsa, OK (August 4, 2015) – Heavyweight knockout king Trey Lippe-Morrison is now training under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
A seven-time Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Trainer of the Year, Roach’s resume is amongst the greatest in history. During the last quarter century, Roach trained countless greats including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, James Toney, Michael Moorer, Ruslan Provodnikov Amir Khan and Guillermo Rigondeaux amongst others. In 2012, Roach was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
“Freddie and I connected well during our first session,” said Lippe-Morrison, who was previously trained by fellow legend Jesse Reid before logistics amicably ended their relationship. “It means the world that Freddie wants to work with me because I’m only 8-0. The majority of his fighters are at the championship level and I’m not there yet. I expect to get great sparring at the Wild Card Gym and receive constant feedback from the training staff.”
With a perfect 8-0 record, Lippe-Morrison’s dynamic punching power had Roach raving amongst his peers at Wild Card. On May 30, Morrison continued his path of destruction, stopping Thomas Jones in the second stanza. Having drawn comparisons to his late father Tommy Morrison, Trey’s working extremely hard to improve and show the boxing world his skills make him worthy of attention, not his last name. A staple at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK as part of the “Four State Franchise”, Lippe-Morrison has what it takes to become America’s next great heavyweight according to Roach.
“I’m really looking forward to working Trey’s corner for the first time later this month,” said Roach. “He has tremendous power in both hands. We’re going to knock a lot of people out!”
Lippe-Morrison’s Promoter Tony Holden of Holden Productions is overjoyed that his prized prospect is training with the man widely considered the best trainer in the sport and believes the sky’s the limit.
“I’m excited to have Freddie on board,” said Holden. I knew Trey was special but Freddie working with him confirms that. Trey’s dad was a great fighter who’s biggest attribute was power. Trey has more raw power than his father did and I truly mean that. It’s going to be great to see his career develop under Freddie Roach.”
Lippe-Morrison’s first match under the tutelage of Roach comes August 29 at Memorial Hall in Joplin, MO.

 

boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

CALEB “SWEET HANDS” PLANT RETURNS TO THE RING SATURDAY AUG 15 IN QUEBEC

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Photo By Team Plant

 

 

NASHVILLE, TN (August 4, 2015) – Undefeated super-middleweight prospect, Caleb “Sweet-Hands” Plant (8-0, 7 KOs), will be making his way back to the ring next Saturday August, 15, 2015on the PBC on NBC event, headlined by Lucian Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) vs. Andrea Di Luisa (17-2, 13 KOs).  The fight takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.  Plant, who’s scheduled to fight in a 6-round bout, will face an opponent TBA.

 

Managed by Al Haymon, Plant feels his career is taking off.  Plant’s fight will serve as the swing bout for the PBC broadcast.  Fighting in Canada for the first time, Plant wants to make a sound statement.

 

“I’m very satisfied with everything happening in my career,” said Caleb Plant, Nashville Tennessee’s rising star. “This will be my fourth bout of the year and I’m very happy to be staying busy.  Fighting for Al Haymon and the PBC is a dream come true for my team and me.  This will be my first time fighting in Canada so I want to give the fans a great night of action while making a statement.”

 

Known for having heavy hands, Caleb Plant is looking to extend on his 6-fight knockout streak, four of which came by first round KO.

 

“I never go into a fight looking for the knockout but I’ve been hurting my opponents in the early rounds,” continued Caleb Plant. “If I see my opponent is hurt, then I go for the knockout.  I love to pound the body in those situations.  I know with a lot of hard work I can become a world champion.  I’m going to take it one fight at a time and give the fans exciting fights.  On August 15th, I’ll be letting my hands fly!”

boxing, Showtime Boxing

FLOYD MAYWEATHER TO FACE ANDRE BERTO SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV®

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TWO ADDITIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS HIGHLIGHT ACTION-PACKED PPV QUADRUPLEHEADER

 

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER VS. BERTO

PREMIERES AUGUST 28 ON SHOWTIME®

 

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 4, 2015) – In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

 

Coming off of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao event, in which Mayweather remained undefeated by taking a unanimous decision victory, Mayweather will test himself against a hard-hitting fighter hungry for his chance to score a historic upset. Mayweather could also make history. If triumphant, he would match the record of the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who retired in April 1956 with a record of 49-0. Equaling Marciano’s record, one of the most hallowed in all of sports, would reaffirm Mayweather’s legendary status in the sport and buttress Mayweather’s claim as “The Best Ever.”

 

Two stellar world championship fights will also be included on the pay-per-view telecast.

Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs). Their first fight, in April of this year, is considered by many to be a leading candidate for Fight of the Year. In addition, Badou Jack “The Ripper” (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). A fourth fight on the pay-per-view telecast will be announced soon.

 

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions, the four-fight pay-per-view telecast will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV and is the sixth and final fight of a record-breaking deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc.SHOWTIME Sports® will support the event with the Sports Emmy® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS.

 

Ticket pricing and on sale information is forthcoming later this week.

 

“I’m ready to get back in the ring on September 12 and prove again to the whole world why I’m ‘The Best Ever,'” said Mayweather. “I always bring my A-game and this fight against Andre Berto is no exception. He’s a young, strong fighter who is hungry to take down the best. Forty-eight have tried before and on September 12, I’m going to make it 49.”

 

“I’m coming to kick Floyd’s ass on September 12,” said Berto. “Best believe that I plan to bring it to Floyd and I’m not concerned about what 48 other fighters have been unable to do. Somebody is getting knocked out and it won’t be me. You don’t want to miss this.”

 

“‘Money’ Mayweather is back and the whole Mayweather Promotions team is ready to build off of the incredible record-breaking May 2 event,” said CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe. “It’s a pleasure to bring this great fight, plus the incredible undercard of action, to the fans in Las Vegas at MGM Grand. Andre Berto is a powerful fighter who presents a real danger to Floyd.  He will have to use all of his skills to slow Berto down.”

 

“I want to thank Showtime for this opportunity to fight in this great event,” said Martinez. “We are ready and working hard to make sure this title remains in Puerto Rico. Everyone saw the first fight against Orlando Salido and I know that this second bout will also be a war. Once again we have the rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico, which guarantees plenty of action. Training is going very well and we are 100 percent sure that on September 12 it will be another great victory to Puerto Rico.”

 

“I’m excited for the rematch with Rocky Martinez,” said Salido.  “The first fight in Puerto Rico did not go my way. I got off to a slow start and had to fight two fights – one against the referee and one against Rocky Martinez. On September 12, I am going to take matters into my own hands and look to knock out Rocky to get my world title belt back.  Mexico and Puerto Rico have had a great rivalry over the years and this September you will see me bring the belt home to Mexico where it belongs.”

 

“I’m very excited and I’m preparing for the toughest fight of my career against George Groves,” said Jack. “I always go into a fight with an underdog mentality, even as champion. It feels great to be defending in my adopted hometown of Las Vegas. My promoter, Floyd Mayweather, has had my back during the ups and downs of my career and I want to make him and the whole Mayweather Promotions team proud on September 12.”

 

“I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the greatest feelings the sport can give,” said Groves. “I have challenged for world titles and I have sold out stadiums, but my true childhood dream of winning a world title is yet to be fulfilled. I get that chance on the Las Vegas Strip – the crème de la crème for any fighter on the planet. I cannot wait to achieve my goal and become world champion. Badou Jack isn’t ‘Bad’ enough to halt my dream. His WBC belt is all that is on my mind each and every waking moment. We have studied Jack – we are prepared for his strengths and ready to expose his weaknesses. Vegas is my second home and I can’t wait to come back with a bang.”

 

“When Showtime Networks and Floyd Mayweather teamed up for the first time in 2013, it was called a record-breaking deal – and that’s exactly what it has been,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®.  “Through five fights of the six-fight term, the results have exceeded our grandest expectations.  Floyd has never hesitated to take on the best of the best in his division.  In Andre Berto, Floyd has chosen an opponent who always comes to fight and always entertains.  Berto’s power and athleticism make him a legitimate threat against any opponent, and against Floyd, we expect Berto to be as aggressive as ever.  We’re also assembling an action-packed undercard, highlighted by a rematch of one of the best fights of 2015, Rocky Martinez vs. Orlando Salido.”

 

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to host what is expected to be Floyd’s final fight in his storied career,” said Richard Sturm, president of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International. “Floyd is a tremendous champion and we look forward to witnessing this historical event against Andre Berto at MGM Grand.”

 

One of the most decorated fighters in the history of the sport, Mayweather, of Grand Rapids, Mich., fighting out of Las Vegas, is a 12-time world champion in five weight divisions. With his trademark speed, defensive prowess and ring generalship, Mayweather has now defeated 22 world champions.

 

In addition to his in-ring accomplishments, Forbes, Fortune and Sports Illustrated have named Mayweather the world’s highest-paid athlete multiple times. His events amass record-breaking numbers; he has headlined four of the six highest-grossing pay-per-view events of all time and holds the all-time record in gross pay-per-view receipts.

 

Mayweather, the only fighter to have headlined three events that generated more than two million pay-per-view buys each,has garnered numerous “Fighter of the Year” awards over his storied career, including five ESPY Awards and two Boxing Writers Association of America awards.

 

Long considered as a possible foe for Mayweather, Berto, 31, of Winter Haven, Fla. is a former amateur standout and 2004 Olympian for Haiti. A veteran of eight world title fights, all at 147 pounds, he won the WBC Welterweight World Title in June 2008 and made five successful title defenses over the next two and a half years before losing the title in April 2011. Berto won the IBF Welterweight World Title in September 2011.

 

The offensive-minded Berto always makes for sensational scraps – his 2012 slugfest with Robert “The Ghost” Guerrerowas a Fight of the Year candidate. In his most recent outing, he scored two knockdowns en route to a sixth-round TKO overJosesito Lopez last March 13.

 

Style-wise, the 5-foot-7 Berto is expected to adopt an aggressive approach with a high punch output, similar to the strategy employed by Marcos “El Chino” Maidana in his first fight against Mayweather. If Mayweather fails to display his trademark speed and defense, Berto could use his power and hand speed to make Mayweather uncomfortable and force him into a brawl.

 

Martinez, 32, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, will make the first defense in his third stint as WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion. He won the WBO 130-pound crown the second time with a 12-round split decision over Miguel Beltran Jr. in September 2012. The ultra-tough Martinez made two successful defenses, including a close points’ triumph over previously undefeated Diego Magdaleno, before losing by eighth-round knockout to unbeaten Mikey Garcia in November 2013.

The 5-foot-8 Martinez won his first fight following the Garcia bout and then, in his most recent outing, he survived a desperate late rush to unanimously outpoint Salido across 12 hard-fought, action-packed rounds last April 11.

Billed as “The War,” the slugfest may have exceeded its billing as both fighters expended an inordinate amount of energy over the course of 36 minutes. Utilizing his advantages in height and reach, Martinez sent Salido to the canvas in the third and fifth and won by the scores of 116-109, 115-110 and 114-111.  Salido was docked a point in the 11th round for a low blow, but never quit fighting and was in it to the end.

Tough and determined with a straight-forward style that makes for crowd-pleasing affairs, Martinez captured the WBO Title the first time in March 2009 and successfully defended it twice.

Salido, 34, of Sonora, Mexico, is a relentless hard-nosed boxer-puncher who is willing to take on anyone and is no stranger to the boxing rivalry that is Mexico vs. Puerto Rico.

The 5-foot-6 Salido captured the interim WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship in his outing before last in a back-and-forth 11th-round knockout over Thailand’s Terdsak Kokietgym on September 1, 2014. The brutal battle that featured seven knockdowns (Salido went down three times, Kokietgym four) was the 2014 Yahoo! Sports Fight of the Year.

Salido is also a two-time featherweight world champion. He fought some of the best of his generation at 126, including Mikey Garcia,Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez twice, and current WBO 126-pound champion Vasyl Lomachenko who Salido beat three fights ago on a 12-round split decision in March 2014.

Jack, 31, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, who fights out of Mayweather’s Las Vegas gym, captured the WBC 168-pound belt with a 12-round majority decision over defending champion and previously unbeaten Anthony Dirrell last April 24 by the scores of 116-114, 115-113 and 114-114.

A former European amateur standout – he’s the only boxer ever to represent Gambia in any Olympic Games (2008) – the 6-foot-1 Jack turned pro in June 2009 and won his initial 16 bouts before suffering a shocking first-round knockout loss to Derek Edwards in February 2014.

A boxer with good speed and movement, Jack has since won three in a row, including the major victory over Dirrell.

The battled-tested Groves, 27, of Hammersmith, London, England, will get his third crack at a 168-pound world title. The only blemishes on his record came in back-to-back fights against then-IBF/WBA champion and countryman Carl Froch at Wembley Stadium in London. After losing by controversial ninth-round TKO in November 2013, Groves was stopped by his fierce rival in the eighth round of a May 2014 grudge rematch that attracted 80,000 fans.

Groves has rebounded since falling to Froch, winning his last pair. Groves captured the vacant WBC Silver Super Middleweight title and European Championship in Sept. 2014 against Christophe Rebrasse and scored a seventh-round TKO over Dennis Douglin last Nov. 22.

—

About Mayweather vs. Berto:

Mayweather vs. Berto, a 12-round welterweight world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147-pound titles, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC.  The event will take place Saturday, September 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be televised by SHOWTIME PPV.  The undercard features a WBO Junior Lightweight World Championship fight, which is a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido.  Also featured on the PPV telecast will be a WBC Super Middleweight title bout between Badou Jack and George Groves, which is promoted in association with Team Sauerland.

 

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @sirisalido, @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions andwww.facebook.com/SHOsports.
boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

ADDITIONAL TICKETS RELEASED AT STAPLES CENTER FOR LEO SANTA CRUZ VS. ABNER MARES TO MEET MASSIVE DEMAND FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SHOWDOWN TAKING PLACE SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 IN LOS ANGELES

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 Additional Tickets Go On Sale Today at 4:00 p.m. PT

 

LOS ANGELES (August 4, 2015) – Due to unprecedented ticket demand, additional sections will be opened up at STAPLES Center for the highly anticipated featherweight clash between Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and Abner Mares(29-1-1, 15 KOs) taking place on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN Saturday, August 29 in Los Angeles.

 

Additional seats will be available today at 4:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $25, $50, $75, $150 and $300, not including applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 or at STAPLES Center.

The 12-round battle will pit the undefeated two-division world champion Santa Cruz against the former three-division world champion Mares. Both fighters currently live and train out of Los Angeles and will be looking to take home local bragging rights on August 29.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.staplescenter.comand www.TGBPromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LeoSantaCruz2 @AbnerMares, @ESPNBoxing, @STAPLESCenter, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter andwww.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN.
boxing, Fight Network

FIGHT NETWORK BOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Aug. 3-9, 2015)

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(U.S. only schedule.  For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)

 

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

Monday, Aug. 3

7:30 p.m. ET – Fight New Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

9:00 p.m. ET – Tony Grano vs. Brian Minto – Featuring Tony Grano vs. Brian Minto from Jan. 28, 2012 from Verona, NY.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

6:00 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Classics – Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

7:00 a.m. & 10:00 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Classics – Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight New Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Thursday, Aug. 6

1 a.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. ET & 5:30 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Friday, Aug. 7

12:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

Saturday, Aug. 8

4:00 a.m. ET & 11:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

Sunday, Aug. 9

3:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the sweet science.

7:00 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Classics– Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

8:00 p.m. ET – Ultimate Classic Boxing: Tiger vs. Hank – Featuring Dick Tiger vs. Henry Hank from Mar. 31, 1962 from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

 

INFORMATION:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

 
ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK:  Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland, and Suddenlink Communications in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and North Carolina.. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada, streamed live on website KlowdTV.com, and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.