Category Archives: boxing

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CAMP NOTES: BRONCO BILLY WRIGHT

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LAS VEGAS (March 3, 2015) – 50-year old WBC #17 heavyweight contender, “Bronco” Billy Wright (46-4, 37 KOs), is less than two weeks away from his upcoming 10-round main event bout with Gilberto Matheus Domingos (22-2, 20 KOs).  The bout takes place at the We Ko Pa Casino in Fort McDowell, Arizona on the RJJ Boxing Promotions card March 13, 2015.  Bronco Billy Wright gives his thoughts on training camp and defending his WBC LATIN AMERICAN and FECARBOX titles.

 

Bronco Billy on training camp preparations….

“Training camp has been tough this time around.  I’ve been working really hard to get in the best shape of my life.  My trainer Rafael Garcia Jr. has me doing some out of the box training methods that has been real beneficial to my boxing style.  We are finishing up our last days of sparring this week.  I’ll be ready to bring it next Friday.

 

Bronco Billy gives his thoughts on his bout with Domingos….

“I know Domingos is going to be looking for the knockout as am I, so we’ll see who lands the first bomb.  Like in all my fights, I’ll be looking to end the fight early.  If I need to go some extra rounds, I’m ok with that, as I’m in good boxing shape. He’s going to taste some my power, that’s for sure.

 

Bronco Billy comments on defending his WBC titles….

“Defending my WBC LATIN AMERICAN and FECARBOX titles is a pretty big deal for me.  It’s my leverage to compete at the top level as I try to crack the top ten in the WBC.  Right now I’m at #17, but I plan to move up with each fight this year.

 

Bronco Billy discusses being a 50-year old heavyweight contender….

“At this age I feel stronger then I was when I was younger.  It’s that old man strength I guess you can call it. I’m smarter, wiser and more discipline at this stage in my career.  I have a goal to become the heavyweight champion of the world and motivation is greater than ever.  A lot of these top contenders are shying away from fighting me.  I just want to earn my opportunity and fight the best.

 

# # #

 

Tickets priced $20 general admission, $35 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Bronco Billy Wright at (702) 524-3331.

 

The We Ko Pa Casino is located at 10424 North Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264.  Doors open at 6:00 P.M. first fight is at 7:00 P.M.

boxing, Showtime Boxing

SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO HONOR ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL VAZQUEZ-RAFAEL MARQUEZ RIVARLY WITH CLASSIC FIGHTS, ROUNDS, PHOTOS, STATS & MORE

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 Full Fights To Be Offered On SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME®

& SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® Beginning With Vazquez-Marquez I

TONIGHT At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME

 

Click on the image to watch the 2007 Round of the Year

http://s.sho.com/1CjL597

 

Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

NEW YORK (March 3, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports will offer boxing fans a chance to relive one of boxing’s most intense and brutal rivalries as it rolls out content in celebration of the classic showdowns between Mexican legends Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez.

 

Tonight, on the eighth anniversary of their epic first battle, SHOWTIME EXTREME (10 p.m. ET/PT) will present Vazquez-Marquez I, a unanimous selection of 2007 Fight of the Year.  Then on Wednesday, Vazquez-Marquez II, an old-school slugfest that produced a Round of the Year Winner, will air at 11 p.m. ET/PT.  The third installment, the 2008 Fight of The Year, will air on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME

 

Plus, Vazquez-Marquez I-IV will air in a “Roadblock” this Saturday on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at Noon ET/PT.

 

In honor of the rivalry, SHOWTIME Sports will also release classic photos, quick-hitting highlights, stats as well as full rounds.  The third round from Vazquez-Marquez I and the third round from Vazquez-Marquez II (2007 Round of the Year) will be available on YouTube, Facebook and the SHOWTIME Sports website.  Additionally, The Boxing Blog will release three posts from SHOWTIME boxing analyst and historian Steve Farhood as he looks back on the first three epic meetings between the 122-pound warriors.

 

All four Vazquez-Marquez fights will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME andSHOWTIME ON DEMAND beginning Monday, March 9.  Below is the full schedule of action on SHOWTIME EXTREME:

 

TODAY/Tuesday, March 3

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez I, 10 p.m. ET/PT

 

Wednesday, March 4

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez II, 11 p.m. ET/PT

 

Thursday, March 5

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez III, 10 p.m. ET/PT

 

Saturday, March 7

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez I,Noon ET/PT

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez II, 1 p.m. ET/PT

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez III, 2 p.m. ET/PT

·         SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Vazquez vs. Marquez IV, 3 p.m. ET/PT

 

Described by Farhood as “an explosion of artistic brutality,” their first meeting had all the action and drama of a Hollywood blockbuster and left fans –and the fighters– clamoring for a rematch.  Vazquez and Marquez delivered yet again in their second meeting just five months later in yet another old-school, bloody slugfest that produced a Round of the Year winner –the third– and a result that demanded a rubber match.

 

Vazquez-Marquez III, contested just 363 days from their first meeting, was a celebration of boxing at its finest, the only match in the rivalry to go the distance and the 2008 Fight of the Year.  The two would meet for the fourth and final time again in 2010.

 

# # #

 

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

boxing, UK Boxing

Champions Return: Bell and Churcher Co-Headline 7th March Nottingham Event.

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Doncaster’s former English and British Champion Andy Bell and Newport’s former Welsh and British Masters Champion Lee Churcher are set to co-headline Wayne O’Hara’s Chief O’Hara Promotions OUTLAWS BACK event, at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham this coming Saturday – 7th March.

 

After a near five year absence from the sport, following the surprise loss to John Donnelly, in a non-championship six rounder in May 2010, Doncaster’s Andy Bell finally makes his long awaited return to fray this Saturday.

 

Bell’s Championship campaign began in April 2007 with an eighth round stoppage victory over Shrewsbury’s Neil Marston for the BBBofC Midlands Area Bantamweight title.

 

Two months later he added the British Masters Bantamweight crown to his trophy cabinet, with a solid points victory over Sheffield’s Mo Khaled.

 

Just three months later Bell was back in Championship action once again, this time challenging Bradford’s Robert Nelson for the vacant BBBofC English Super Flyweight title. Bell added a third belt to his growing collection, with a yet another stoppage victory, this time in the dying seconds of seventh stanza.

 

In his final fight of the 2007 season Bell successfully defended his English title with a tidy points victory over Grimsby’s Wayne Bloy.

 

In March 2008 Bell added the coveted Lonsdale belt to his collection, after beating long time BBBofC British Super Flyweight Champion Chris Edwards in a thriller that went the distance, Bell winning by a clear margin of 117-111 on Judges Phil Edwards and Terry O’Connor’s scorecards and 115-113 on Judge John Keane’s scorecard.

 

In November 2008 Bell defended the British crown, against current British and European Bantamweight and former WBA Inter-Continental Champion Lee Haskins.

 

After twelve sensationally close fought, all action, rounds Bell lost out to Haskins by a close points margin of 116-113, on Judges Howard John Foster and Dave Parris’ scorecards and an even closer margin of 115-114 in Judge Victor Loughlin’s eyes.

 

On Saturday Bell will face the highly experienced Slovakian Elemir Rafael.

 

Co-headlining the OUTLAWS BACK event is another returning Champion, Newport’s BBBofC Welsh Area Middleweight Champion Lee Churcher.

 

Churcher, who hasn’t fought since the ninth round stoppage win over Barrie Jones that secured him the Welsh title in May 2012, makes his most welcome return to the ring on Saturday, where he will face a strong challenge from Slovakian hard man Vladimir Tazik in a four rounder.

 

The support card for the two former Champions is headed by a rare home bout for Nottingham’s very own Matt Scriven, when he faces Julius Rafael.

 

The OUTLAWS BACK event will also feature a number of Nottingham’s home grown talent, including Clinton Chambers, Tom Langley, Connor Ruddoch, Jack Whitehouse, Tom Mulligan, James Wheldon, De La Menace as well as feature the showdown between Carl Coulthard and Karston Lejoint.

 

Lee Churcher versus Vladimir Tazik and Andy Bell versus Elemir Rafael co-headline the Wayne O’Hara, Chief O’Hara Promotions OUTLAWS BACK event, at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham on Saturday 7th March 2015.

Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) – www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Tickets, priced £35 and £55 (Ringside) for OUTLAWS BACK at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham, are available from any of the competing boxers or call Matt on 07833 995770.

 

Doors open at 6pm, first bout 6:30pm

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

MARIO BARRIOS MAKES LAS VEGAS DEBUT ON GUERRERO-THURMAN UNDERCARD

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Photo By Paul Gallegos

LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2015) – San Antonio’s 6’1 undefeated featherweight sensation, Mario Barrios (7-0, 3 KOs), will make his Las Vegas debut on the undercard of Guerrero vs. Thurman this Saturday March 7, 2105, at the MGM Grand Hotel.  Barrios will face Justin Lopez (5-2, 3 KOs) in what will be his first 6-round bout.

 

Already known for his fast hands, Barrios is getting better with each fight.  Against Lopez, he will look to continue his quest to remain undefeated with an incredible performance.

 

“When you’re a kid growing up in this sport, you always think about what it would be like to fight in the boxing capitol of the world, Las Vegas,” said Barrios. “Now that time has come and I’m ready to get busy.  I don’t know much about my opponent expect that he has some power.  None the less, I’m looking to impress those in attendance with a great performance.”

 

Advised by Al Haymon, Barrios knows he is in a wonderful position to take his career to the next level.

 

“This will be my first 6-round bout, something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Barrios continued. “With all the dates that Al Haymon has coming up…I’m looking to be his number one prospect.  What Haymon Boxing is doing for the sport is amazing. I’m ready to shine on March 7th.”

boxing

Erislandy Lara responds to Demetrius Andrade

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“I already whooped that ass for free in the amateurs”

HOUSTON, TX (March 2, 2015) – WBA Champion, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, responds to WBO Champion Demetrius Andrade’s claims that he’s not interested in a unification fight with him.

“I’ll fight him anytime! My resume speaks for itself.  I’m willing to fight Cotto or GGG next…you think I’m worried about this little spoiled brat? Look at my resume of great fighters I’ve fought, Williams, Molina, Vanes, Trout, Canelo, Angulo and now Smith. In 24 fights, who has he fought?”

Lara went on to say about Andrade latest drama about pulling out if his last scheduled fight…

“I’m the best in the division.  If I put my name to a contract I show up and fight, unlike him when he pulled out of the biggest fight of his career against Charlo. Not to mention, he turned down a fight with me on ESPN2 years ago when I was willing to whoop to put a beating on him for $15.000.  And don’t forget, I already whooped that ass for free in the amateurs!!! His nickname serves him right…He’s Poo Poo!”

boxing

Andrade Calls out Erislandy Lara

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Providence, RI (March 2, 2015)–After WBO number-one ranked Jr. Middleweight, Jermell Charlo decided to not fight fight WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, Andrade’s father/trainer Paul has turned his attention to a fight with WBA belt holder Erislandy Lara.
“We signed a contract to fight Charlo a month ago,” said Paul Andrade.  “He opted to fight a guy that we beat already in Vanes Martiroysan.  I don’t even think Charlo will beat him.  I can see Vanes out bullying him and win a decision about eight rounds to four.”
“That’s in the past and now we have to look towards the future.”
That future hopefully includes Lara.
“The real fight for us is with Lara.  Fighting Charlo would not have done much for us anyway.  That would have been like a man fighting a boy.”
“We are calling Lara out but he has had no response.  He doesn’t have a dance partner, so the time is right for both of us.”
Andrade believes turn about is fair play for the Cuban as he talked his way into a fight with Canelo Alvarez last year and now it’s time for him to be on the receiving end of somebody ready, willing and able to fight him.
“Lara thought he was cute by calling out Canelo by going to his press conference.  He and trying to embarrass him and goad Canelo into a fight.  Lara is now in that position.  We would go to one of your press conferences and embarrass you but you don’t even have a fight on the table, so there is no press conference for you.”
“Why don’t you step up like Canelo and be a man and accept our challenge like Canelo did for you.”
“I guess it’s not so cute for him anymore.  And if you do step to the plate, you can bring your running shoes because you are a better runner then boxer.”
Said Arthur Pelullo of Banner Promotions, co-promoter of Andrade, “This is a fight that Demetrius wants.  Last year he wanted wanted a fight with Canelo.  Canelo had and has other plans now so why not fight the man who some people believe beat him in Lara.”
“We feel Demetrius is the best jr. middleweight in the world and the way to prove that is to fight the best.  Erislandy Lara has proven to be at the top of the division.  This is the type of fight that will show the boxing world that Demetrius is a star,” said co-promoter, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing.
Follow Banner Promotions on social media for all the latest Banner updates
@BannerBoxing #TeamBanner ;
Facebook.com/BannerPromotions; instagram.com/BannerBoxing
boxing, Showtime Boxing

JHONNY GONZALEZ PUTS HIS TITLE ON THE LINE AGAINST GARY RUSSELL JR.  ON SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 

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FROM THE PEARL AT PALMS CASINO RESORT IN LAS VEGAS ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® DOUBLEHEADER 

 

Plus, Undefeated Rising Star Jermell Charlo Takes on Vanes Martirosyan in a Super Welterweight Showdown

 

Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

 

LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2015) – A world-class doubleheader, featuring featherweight world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs) defending his 126-pound title against exciting young star Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs)in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, will take place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, on Saturday, March 28, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

 

In the co-feature, undefeated rising star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) faces a tough test when he takes on the experienced former U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) in an important super welterweight showdown.

 

Tickets for the live event are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, and $25, plus applicable fees are on sale today, Monday, March 2, at 12 p.m. PT. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by clicking HERE. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

 

“I’m very excited to be coming back to the United States. Every time I have fought on American soil, it has been career-changing for me,” said Gonzalez. “In 2012, [Daniel] Ponce De Leon stopped me in Las Vegas and made me reconsider my whole strategy. I came back to the U.S. in 2013 and I stopped an undefeated champion, Abner Mares. Now I’m back and once again I’m facing a tough opponent. Russell is not an easy test, but I’m confident I’m going to surprise everybody once more. Nobody thought I had a chance in 2013 and I stripped Mares of his title. Food for thought.”

 

“I’m blessed to be back on this stage, fighting once again for a world title,” said Russell Jr. “I came up short at my first opportunity for the title and that has me more motivated than ever to get the job done on March 28. I will finally hold up my very own belt.”

 

“I love fighting on SHOWTIME and I’m excited to put on a show for the fans in Las Vegas,” said Charlo. “I have a tough opponent, people think I might not be ready, but on March 28, they’re going to know that I’m taking over the sport.”

 

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m just thankful to get the chance to showcase my talents,” said Martirosyan. “Charlo is a tough kid, but I’ve been around this sport longer and I’m going to show him some things he’s never seen before. The fans better get ready for an awesome show.”

 

“This edition of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is guaranteed to be action-packed,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, promoter of the event. “The main event presents the classic boxer versus puncher matchup, with the slick, talented former Olympian Russell looking for redemption and the title against reigning, three-time world champion brawler Gonzalez. The co-feature between Charlo and Martirosyan is a highly competitive clash of styles. A big fight is in the future for the winner of this bout.”

 

“March 28 should be a tremendous night of fights to kick off a stacked run of boxing on SHOWTIME and CBS,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “Both bouts on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast have world title implications. The main events matches the one-punch knockout power of world champion Jhonny Gonzalez versus the speed of Gary Russell, who is one of the most skilled boxers in any division. And with Jermell Charlo vs. Vanes Martirosyan, we have a matchup of two top 154-pounder contenders, each on the verge of a world title opportunity.”

 

“Boxing continues to be a major draw for Las Vegas,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort. “The Pearl is one of the most intimate venues where you can catch those world class athletes in action.”

 

One of the best Mexican fighters of this era, Mexico City’s Gonzalez has held world championships at 118 and 126 pounds, defeating the likes of Hall-of-Famer Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson and former world champions Fernando Montiel, Irene Pacheco, and Hozumi Hasegawa, along the way. The 33-year-old Gonzalez’ last loss came in 2012 to Daniel Ponce De Leon, but he has won his last five fights, including a shocking 2013 first-round knockout over defending beltholder Abner Mares resurrecting his career. He has defended the title twice in Mexico and now he returns to the U.S. in a very tough defense on March 28.

 

A supremely talented boxer, Capitol Heights, Maryland’s Russell Jr. is looking to strike world championship gold in his second shot at a belt. The 2008 U.S. Olympian looks to wipe out the memory of his first opportunity, when he fell by 12-round majority decision to Vasyl Lomachenko. He was able to return to his winning ways in December 2014, when he dominated Christopher Martin on his way to a unanimous decision. Now Russell Jr. has his eyes set on Gonzalez’ featherweight crown.

 

Younger-by-one-minute than his identical twin Jermall, Charlo is also a highly ranked young fighter looking to get one step closer to a world title shot. A tall fighter for his division, Charlo stepped up in class in 2014 and delivered three wide unanimous decision victories over Gabriel Rosado, Charlie Ota and Mario Lozano. OnMarch 28, he takes on another tough challenge when he meets the experienced Martirosyan.

 

Born in Armenia, but fighting out of Glendale, Calif., Martirosyan represented the U.S. at the 2004 Olympics and has put together a stellar pro career since. He won his first 32 fights before fighting current world champion Erislandy Lara to a draw in 2012. He suffered a narrow defeat by split decision in his first world title shot against Demetrius Andrade but has rebounded with nice wins over Mario Lozano and Willie Nelson.

 

The event takes place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Jermell Charlo takes on Vanes Martirosyan in super welterweight action. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

 

For more information, visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @jhonnygbox, @mrgaryrusselljr, @TwinCharlo, @LouDiBella and @PearlAtPalms, follow the conversation using #GonzalezRussell, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.
boxing

Bronco Billy Wright – The Tale Of A 50-Year Old Contender

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The man is 50 years old and has a belly that protrudes in a manner that suggests his blood pressure and cholesterol levels are in code red territory.

 

Not so, says “Bronco” Billy Wright, the most unlikely of heavyweight contenders I have come across in my decades of covering this red light district of a sport.

 

“I can hold a lemon meringue pie in one hand and a pumpkin pie in the other and still knock you out!” says the Las Vegas resident (46-4, 37 knockouts) in a recent phoner.

 

Wright, who debuted as a pro in 1986 after taking to boxing to get back in shape after breaking his back in a workplace accident, told me he’s set to glove up on March 13 at We Ko Pa Casino in Fort McDowell, AZ against Gilberto Matheus Domingos, a 22-2 (20 KOs) Brazilian.

 

It’s the first fight in the US since 2012 for Wright, who has made Bolivia his ring home away from home of late. “Fighting in America is very important,” said the boxer, rated No. 17 at heavyweight by the WBC. “This comeback is a difficult one to accept for people. I had to go abroad to get fights. Fighting here, I would have just been a club fighter and, nothing against that, but that’s not what I want.”

 

What he wants, he says, is for you simply to tune in and judge him by his merits, not his age or the fact that he has too much of a fondness for sweets. Roy Jones Jr.’s group is willing to give Wright a shot and put him on this card and he’s hoping you have an open mind as well.

 

“See for yourself! Yes, I’m 50 but it works to my advantage. I relax; I have my priorities in check. I don’t drink, don’t do the crazy stuff I did in my 20s and 30s, drinking beer, chasing skirts. No, I’m not the bodybuilder, Adonis-type people have come to expect. I’m an old-school fighter. You had, back in the ’80s, Larry Holmes, Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tubbs; I’m more like a lumberjack. If you’re looking to see a body, save your money but otherwise come to see me and an exciting knockout fight. You’re going to see that for sure.”  Continue Reading…

 

 

Tickets priced $20 general admission, $35 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Bronco Billy Wright at (702) 524-3331.

 

The We Ko Pa Casino is located at 10424 North Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264.  Doors open at 6:00 P.M. first fight is at 7:00 P.M.

boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

ADONIS STEVENSON VS. SAKIO BIKA TO TAKE PLACESATURDAY, APRIL 4 IN FIRST PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS EVENT LIVE FROM THE PEPSI COLISEUM IN QUEBEC CITY

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Live on CBS at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
MONTREAL (Feb. 27, 2015) – Light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) returns to the ring Saturday, April 4 at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City to defend his title against former super middleweight world champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs). The April 4 event marks the debut of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT).

 

“I am excited to be the headliner for first PBC event on CBS,” Stevenson said. “I know Bika will stop at nothing, so the fight will be spectacular and extremely offensive-minded. I predict that Bika will lose by knockout for the first time in his career.”

 

“After all these years fighting at 168 pounds, it was becoming increasingly difficult to make weight and that was a major factor in my defeats,” Bika said. “I see no problem making the jump to light heavyweight to face Stevenson and I do not feel I’ll be at a disadvantage because the champion made this transition successfully himself less than two years ago against Chad Dawson. I promise you that I will be the new champion on April 4.”
Stevenson, 37, won the world light heavyweight title in June of 2013 in Montreal, via a sensational 76-second, first-round knockout just over the then-undisputed king of the division, Dawson. The impressive victory earned Stevenson “Knockout of the Year” and “Fighter of the Year” accolades. In his first defense the following Sept. 28, former world champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud was meant to be a major test for the new champion, but the powerful southpaw forced Cloud to retire at the end of the seventh round.

 

Two months later, “Superman” concluded the year with an unequivocal victory over his No. 1 mandatory contender, Tony “Bomber” Bellew of Great Britain, who was unable to complete the sixth round. In May 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Polish challenger Andrzei Fonfara proved to be a tough challenger and fans were treated to a memorable bout as Stevenson knocked Fonfara down twice in the early rounds only to visit the canvas himself in the ninth round. Judges scored the fight 116-109, 115-110 and 115-110 for Stevenson in his SHOWTIME® debut. In his last outing, Dec. 19, 2014 on SHOWTIME from the Pepsi Coliseum, “Superman” made short work of Russian veteran Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy, stopping him in the fifth.
Bika, fighting out of Australia by way of his native Cameroon, which he represented at the 2000 Olympics, has earned the reputation as a tough, rough brawling warrior who has fought the best. He has been in six world title fights (1-3-2), holding one of the 168-pound division crowns in 2013-14. He has fought many world champions, never been knocked out in 41 professional bouts and he was “The Contender, Season 3” reality television series champion in 2007.

 

“The Scorpion” demonstrated his world-class toughness and determination in fights with the world’s elite super middleweights at that time, challenging world champions Markus Beyer and Joe Calzaghe in 2006, Lucian Bute in 2007 and Andre Ward in 2010. Resilience and hard work finally paid off for Bika when he won the coveted 168-pound title, defeating Marco Antonio Periban by decision in 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He successfully defended his title six months later by fighting to a 12- round draw with Anthony Dirrell on SHOWTIME in 2013. Bika eventually lost his belt in a rematch with Dirrell on SHOWTIME last August.

 

PBC on CBS, headlined by the light heavyweight world championship fight between Stevenson and Bika, is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and presented by Videotron and in association with Mise-O-Jeu.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. E, at the Pepsi Coliseum box office in Quebec, by calling (418) 691-7211 or (800) 900-7469, online at www.billetech.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 and Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor.

 

Because the show is being held the day before Easter, GYM encourages the Quebec public to come as families and groups by offering two tickets (in the stands) for-the-price-of-1 special offer for two days only (Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1) for those purchasing tickets directly through www.billetech.com.

 

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @yvonmichelgym, @AdonisSuperman and @Sakio_Bika, follow the conversation using #StevensonBika, become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog athttp://theboxingblog.sho.com.