Due to the growing concerns over COVID-19, Premier Boxing Champions scheduled events for March and April have been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. At this time there’s no information regarding future shows. “The health and safety of the boxers, fans and those working the events are of utmost importance to us,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions and lead promoter for the cancelled shows. “We are all disappointed and as we get more information we will address future events.”
Ticket Refund Information All ticket orders will be refunded from your original point of purchase. If you have purchased online through Ticketmaster, all orders will be refunded automatically. Orders purchased with a credit card will be refunded to the credit card used for purchase. For third party purchases, please reach out to your original point of purchase for information regarding your credit. Please allow up to 30 days for this refund to reflect with your financial institution. If you have any questions, please contact Ticketmaster’s Customer Service line at 1-800-653-8000.
Heavyweight Sensation Efe Ajagba Delivers TKO Victory Over Razvan Cojanu in Co-Main Event& Rising Heavyweight Frank Sanchez Earns Unanimous Decision Over Joey Dawejko
Click HERE for Photos from Sean Michael Ham/ Premier Boxing Champions (Photos to be added shortly)
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions (Photos to be added shortly)
BROOKLYN (March 7, 2020) – Robert Helenius (30-3, 19 KOs)scored an upset victory over previously unbeaten Adam Kownacki (20-1, 15 KOs) by stopping him in the fourth round of a WBA Heavyweight Title Eliminator headlining FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday night from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
“I want to thank everyone who gave me this opportunity,” said Helenius. “Kownacki is a tough fighter. I worked hard in training camp and it paid off.”
Brooklyn’s Kownacki was fighting for the 10th time at Barclays Center in front of his hometown crowd, but was unable to keep the taller Helenius off of him after being hurt early in the fourth. A clean Helenius right hook hurt Kownacki, before a left hook put Kownacki down.
“I knew that I hit him hard and I knew I just had to continue,” said Helenius. “I knew he was still hurt after that punch.
“Kownacki just kept coming and coming. He’s a good fighter I have to give it to him. My strength is to punch back when people come at me. It was a good fight and a tremendous opportunity for me to be here.”
While Kownacki outpaced Helenius landing 84 punches to 49 according to CompuBox, it was Helenius’ 12 power punches landed in round four that made the difference. Helenius kept up the relentless attack, consistently hurting Kownacki and pushing him around the ring until referee David Fields waived off the fight 1:08 into the round.
“It wasn’t my night,” said Kownacki. “It’s boxing. It’s a tough sport and things just didn’t go my way tonight. It was a learning experience and I’m going to go back to the drawing board and get back to work.
“He hit me with a good shot. I knew what was going on, but I’m just upset with myself. It is what it is.”
In the co-main event, heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba (13-0, 11 KOs) delivered a ninth-round stoppage of Razvan Cojanu (17-7, 9 KOs), knocking him down twice en route to the victory.
Ajagba showed the prolific power that has made him a highly-regarded heavyweight nearing a jump from prospect to contender. Cojanu came to fight and had success at various points in the action, landing hooks on Ajagba and slowing down his attack in the early rounds.
In round eight Ajagba’s offensive arsenal began to break through, as Cojanu’s left eye started to swell before eventually closing. Late in round eight, Ajagba connected on a powerful straight right hand that forced Cojanu to take a knee. Watch the knockdown here.
“Ronnie told me to attack the body behind the jab,” said Ajagba. “It was very effective and it started to slow him down. When he got close to me, I knew to throw more and punish him.
“Cojanu has a lot of experience. When I threw my jab, he used his right hand to block my vision, so I couldn’t throw as many combinations as I wanted. It was a good challenge.”
While Cojanu was able to make it through the round, Ajagba continued to press forward in round nine, punishing Cojanu with power shots. On the night, Ajagba out landed Cojanu in power shots by a 176 to 81 margin. A flurry by Ajagba late in the round forced Cojanu down again, and prompted referee Ron Lipton to halt the bout 2:46 into the round. Watch the stoppage here. Additional highlights can be viewed here.
“It’s up to my team who we fight next, but I want hard fights,” said Ajagba. “My team has a plan and we’ll keep following it.”
In the televised opener, rising heavyweight Frank Sanchez (15-0, 11 KOs) scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Joey Dawejko (20-8-4, 11 KOs) to remain unbeaten.
“I was well prepared and I thought I fought very well tonight,” said Sanchez. “I dominated the fight. I showed good footwork and movement and did exactly what we worked on. I expected a lot of pressure, but with my boxing ability, there was no way he was going to catch me.”
The Cuban fighter dominated with his movement, rarely being flustered by Dawejko’s attack as he bounded around the ring and avoided the incoming Philadelphia native. Sanchez was also superior in punch output and accuracy, out throwing Dawejko 352 to 242 and out landing him by a 116 to 46 margin.
“I knew he was going to fight on the outside and he stayed on the outside,” said Dawejko. “Not much to say, he just did what he had to do. He was scared that’s why he was running around. He kept jumping back and staying away, so I guess he made it easy on the judges.”
Sanchez was able to punch open a cut on Dawejko’s right eye in round five, which he continued to batter throughout the remainder of the fight with jabs and right hands. After 10 rounds, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Sanchez, with scores of 100-90 twice and 98-92.
“I didn’t want to fight Dawejko’s fight, and he realized that and it frustrated him,” said Sanchez. “He might have thought he’s faced guys like me, but there’s no other heavyweight like me.”
Night of Heavyweights Headlined by Undefeated Polish Star & Brooklyn Native Adam Kownacki Taking on Robert Helenius in WBA Heavyweight Title Eliminator This Saturday, March 7 in FOX PBC Fight Night Action & On FOX Deportes from Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
BROOKLYN (March 5, 2020) – Undefeated Polish star and Brooklyn native Adam Kownacki and Robert Helenius went face to face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in a WBA Heavyweight title eliminator headlining FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Saturday, March 7 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
Also squaring off at the press conference were heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba andRazvan Cojanu, who battle in the co-main event, plus rising heavyweight Frank Sanchezand Joey Dawejko, who open the night of heavyweight action at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase now at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from the Tillary Hotel in Brooklyn:
ADAM KOWNACKI
“I love fighting here in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. It’s almost half my career that I’ve fought in that ring, so it’s definitely my second home.
“Fighting for a shot at the title is truly motivating. I know this is a big fight for Robert as well and he’s trained hard, but my title opportunity is right around the corner. I could have waited, but I decided to take on this big test. I’m going to show off why I’m ready to fight for the title soon.
“It’s truly amazing to see the Polish fans on fight night. I was an Andrew Golota fan and Tomasz Adamek after that. Now I’m trying to be the next motivation for young Polish kids. I want to show them that they can make it. I kept making the right decisions and now I’m right there so close to a title shot. Robert is in my way and I have to beat him to get where I want.
“I love hearing the fans yelling on fight night and that definitely gives me extra energy and motivation to fight in the later rounds.
“I’m looking for a spectacular knockout. I want to show why I’m one of the best heavyweights in the world. I have to take care of business.
“It’s truly amazing to have fans all over the world come to share this night with me. It’s an honor to have this following. It’s breathtaking really. I’d tell them to continue on this journey with toward becoming heavyweight world champion.
“This is a very friendly press conference, there’s a lot of respect between these fighters. I can tell that everyone is ready to put on a great show for the fans on Saturday.”
ROBERT HELENIUS
“I have an opportunity to make a great fight Saturday and that’s what I trained for. I’m ready and I had a great training camp. I can’t wait to get into the ring.
“This fight we came two weeks earlier to the U.S. My body has gotten used to the difference. Plus, the sparring in Alabama at Deontay Wilder’s gym really helped get me ready.
“We’re doing everything right and training has been great. We’ve sparred so many rounds, I feel very sharp and ready to get into the ring against Kownacki.
“I have a lot of fans in Europe and that support is why I can even do this and compete on this level. Everything has been so perfect coming into training camp. It makes me feel more confident than I have in many years.
“I trained for years with a broken hand and have had injuries in the past. But the last two years I’ve been healthy and with the same trainer and I feel physically as good as I ever have.”
EFE AJAGBA
“I’m excited to be on this great show full of heavyweights. I’m looking forward to Saturday night. I thank my opponent for taking this challenge. He’s a good fighter and we’re looking forward to give you a great fight.
“In the Iago Kiladze fight I had him hurt and tried to finish him, but I went too wild and left my guard down. That’s why he landed a shot and knocked me down. I felt okay when I got up and I came back and finished him off.
“It’s up to Cojanu how the fight goes. We’ll find out if he can take my punch or not on Saturday. We’ll see in the ring if he’s got a hard chin.
“Cojanu has a lot of good experience against good fighters. He’s going to try to box me, but if he can’t take my power, then I’ll be able to win the fight by knockout. If he can take it, I will be ready to win a decision.”
RAZVAN COJANU
“Efe is a fighter I respect a lot. He’s a great prospect. But I’m ready for him. I feel very confident in myself. I had a great six-week training camp. Everyone who supported me, I’m going to make them proud on Saturday.
“For this fight I got the chance to work with Henry Tillman and it’s made a huge difference in my game. I know the coach can’t fight for me, but I believe in his plan and his judgement. He knows how I can beat Efe Ajagba and Saturday night you’re going to see me shock the world.
“People think Efe has already won the fight, but I feel good. There’s no pressure on my shoulders. I have nothing to lose. I believe in karma and I believe it’s my time for my moment to come this Saturday.
“I’m very happy to be fighting on FOX for the first time. Best of luck to all of the fighters to come through healthy and give the fans a great performance all night.”
FRANK SANCHEZ
“I’m very excited for this great opportunity to fight on this big PBC card. Saturday is going to be a great fight and you can expect a great performance from me.
“I wish Joey luck on Saturday, but not too much luck. I’m going to demonstrate that I’m one of the best heavyweights in the world.
“He’s not knocking out anybody. With my defense and movement, he’s not going to be able to hurt me. I have everything I need to dominate this fight.
“No one he’s ever fought is like me. He’s going to be shocked when I deliver a tremendous knockout on Saturday night. I’ll see you in the ring on Saturday.”
JOEY DAWEJKO
“I want to thank everyone who helped me get this opportunity. I have an opportunity to be great again. I know a little about Frank Sanchez. I know they’re moving him fast, but I think they took the wrong fight. They should have waited a couple more fights for me and I’m going to prove it.
“I am in great shape and I had a great camp with my trainer Justin Fortune. I can’t wait to get in there and give everyone a great fight.
“Experience will play a big part in this fight. I had a great amateur career and I’ve fought all around the world. I’ve sparred with every champion right now and it’s all going to help.
“Frank is a good fighter, but he’s not ready for me. He’s going to try to box me, but I’m going to be too much. I’m predicting a knockout. He’s going to be in for a big shock. He doesn’t have anything I haven’t already seen before.”
KEITH SHELDON, EVP of Programming & Development for BSE Global
“As we all know, BROOKLYN BOXING is at its best when he we have heavyweights in the ring and this card has no shortage of them.
“Adam, you built your career at Barclays Center and we’re thrilled to see you headline for the second time. With nine wins there, it’s safe to say Barclays Center is your second home. We’re excited for you to put on a show for your hometown fans.
“Barclays Center continues to show to the world our steadfast commitment to the sport. This is our second PBC fight this year and the third in the last four months. This further demonstrates our commitment to our boxing program and the sport in general.
“Our partnership with PBC consistently brings great fights to our market and Saturday night is no exception. I’d also like to thank FOX. At Barclays Center we pride ourselves on being in the big event business, and there’s nothing bigger than a primetime heavyweight fight on FOX.”
# # #
ABOUT KOWNACKI VS. HELENIUS Kownacki vs. Helenius will see undefeated Polish star and Brooklyn native Adam Kownacki look to thrill his hometown crowd when he takes on Robert Heleniusin a 12-round WBA Heavyweight Title eliminator in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, March 7 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features undefeated heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba facing former title challenger Razvan Cojanu in the 10-round co-main event and rising heavyweight Frank Sánchez stepping in to face Philadelphia’s Joey Dawejko in the 10-round televised opener.
Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
Davtaev Replaces Otto Wallin, Who Was Forced To
Withdraw Due To Minor Injury
NEW YORK – February 26 – Undefeated heavyweight power puncher Apti
Davtaev will face veteran Lucas Browne in the
10-round co-main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION on Saturday,
March 28, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) in a Premier Boxing
Champions event from Park Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas. Davtaev replaces
heavyweight contender Otto Wallin, who was forced to suspend training and
withdraw from his scheduled bout due to an injury to his foot.
From Kurchaloi, Russia,
Davtaev (20-0-1, 19 KOs) has earned a 90-percent knockout ratio with his
aggressive style and devastating power. The athletic, 30-year-old has remained
active since moving his camp to the United States in 2017 after signing with
Salita Promotions. He trains at Kronk Gym in Detroit, Mich., under the tutelage
of SugarHill Steward, nephew of legendary Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel
Steward.
“Otto suffered a
minor injury and suspending training was the smart thing to do,” said
Wallin’s promoter Dmitriy Salita. “He will be back in the ring in no time.
Fortunately, Apti was in top shape and ready to go. He is a gifted heavyweight
and he’ll be on everyone’s radar after March 28.”
In his last outing on
February 21, the six-foot-five-inch Davtaev handed previously unbeaten John
Napari his first defeat with a vicious second-round knockout. A few weeks
prior, on January 10, he scored an impressive third-round stoppage over veteran
Keith Barr. This is his fifth start in the U.S. and first nationally televised
bout.
Fighting out of New
South Wales, Australia, Browne (29-2, 25 KOs) most recently scored a knockout
victory over John Hopoate in November, his second win of 2019. He’s won four of
his last five bouts, with his only career losses coming to Dillian Whyte and
David Allen in the U.K. Browne won his first 25 pro fights, including a
stoppage of Ruslan Chagaev in 2016 to capture a WBA Heavyweight Championship.
He will be making his U.S. debut.
The three-fight SHOWTIME
BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast features unbeaten former bantamweight world
champion Luis Nery (30-0, 24 KOs) taking on undefeated contender Aaron Alameda
(25-0, 13 KOs) in a WBC Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator main event. Rising light
heavyweight prospects Joseph George (10-0, 6 KOs) and Marcos Escudero (10-1, 9
KOs) open the telecast with a 10-round rematch of their November ShoBox showdown
that saw George win a narrow-split decision.
Veteran broadcaster
Brian Custer will serve as telecast host with versatile combat sportscaster
Mauro Ranallo calling the action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein
and former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi. Rounding out the
telecast team are Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray,
unofficial ringside scorer Steve Farhood and world-renowned ring announcer
Jimmy Lennon Jr. David Dinkins Jr. serves as Executive Producer with Ray
Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
Tickets for the live
event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, are now
on sale and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. Davtaev vs. Browne is promoted in association with Salita
Promotions.
The Heavyweight Championship has always been the most noteworthy prize in the sport. Over the last few years, the interest in the fistic giants has dwindled. That has changed with the exciting power of Deontay Wilder and the charismatic showmanship of Tyson Fury.
With their first encounter ending in a controversial draw, they find themselves sharing the ring again. Both men with undefeated records and only a single draw (against each other) on their ledger.
The big men are taking center stage for the undisputed prize. “The Bronze Bomber” and “The Gypsy King”…. Who will reign supreme?
AGE, RECORD, AND STATS
Wilder: Age: 34 years old
Record: 42-0-1 (41 Knockouts)
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 219 * * Weight for last bout (11-23-19)
Reach: 83”
Fury:Age: 31 years old
Record: 29-0-1 (20 Knockouts)
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 254 * * Weight for last bout (9-14-19)
Reach: 85”
RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Wilder:
WBC Heavyweight Champion (’15-Pres)
Fury:
WBA Heavyweight Champion (’15-‘16)
WBO Heavyweight Champion (’15-‘16)
IBF Heavyweight Champion (’15-‘16)
IBO Heavyweight Champion (’15-‘16)
Lineal Heavyweight Champion (’15-Pres)
STYLE
Wilder:
A wild-swinging, often-sloppy fighter with long arms and fight-changing power in both fists, Wilder likes to set the range with his lead hand and follow it with a variety of power punches. He carries his power late into his fights and is capable of scoring a knockout at any time.
Fury:
A confident, self-assured, and sometimes cocky fighter, Fury has nimble moves and quickness for such a large fighter. He combines good footwork with upper-body movement and ability to box either orthodox or southpaw, keeping opponents off-balance and setting up his own offensive attack.
THEIR FIRST BOUT
Wilder-Fury I:Fury opened the bout with effective movement, keeping Wilder off balance and unable to land anything significant. Wilder was able to land several hard jabs in the 4th round, trickling blood from Fury’s nose. Fury spent time in the mid rounds as a southpaw and found success. Wilder scored a knockdown in the 9th round but his follow-up attack left him fatigued, allowed Fury to regain the momentum through the 11th round. The memorable 12th round saw Wilder break through and land a right hand and left hook combination. Fury fell hard to the canvas, flat on his back. He amazingly rose at the count of 9 and was outlanding Wilder as the final round concluded. Alejandro Rochin scored 115-111 Wilder, Robert Tapper scored 114-112 Fury, and Phil Edwards scored 113-113.
STRENGTHS
Wilder:
* Power – The detonation at the end of Wilder’s fists, primarily is right hand, is of nuclear proportions. While his left hand carries substantial pop in it, it is Wilder’s right hand that is seen as maybe the most devastating punch in boxing today. He can end fights by landing his right hand straight down the middle, arcing it over the top, or splitting the guard as an uppercut.
* Conditioning – Early in his career, when he was ending all of his fights within a few rounds, there were question marks if Wilder would fade in the later rounds. He has proven that he can fight equally as hard in the late rounds and capable of a knockout until the final bell.
* Athleticism – Wilder combines a rare blend of size, speed, power, and athletic ability where is easy to imagine him being dominant in any type of athletic environment.
Fury:
* Movement – For a man with the size and physique that resembles a silverback, Fury moves with the grace and agility of a ballet dancer. He is light on his feet and possesses shifty upperbody movement that is uncanny for someone so large.
* Confidence – Fury is supremely confident in himself and believes in his ability. He shows little or no fear in the ring. His self-assured charismatic nature gives him a psychological advantage.
* Resilient – Whether it was climbing off the canvas against Wilder, overcoming a horrific cut against Wallin, or battling against depression and substance abuse, Fury has shown a toughness and resiliency that are to be admired.
WEAKNESSES
Wilder:
* Sloppy – Wilder shows so much faith in his power that he is frequently wild and sloppy with his punches and footwork. He often times looks very amateurish in the ring.
* Trouble With Boxers – Fighters who use good movement and boxing ability trouble Wilder. He struggles setting his feet and is often a step behind. He was trailing Luis Ortiz in both fights and was outclassed for most of his first fight with Fury.
* Chin – The few times that Wilder was seriously chin-checked, he showed some flaws in his durability. Ortiz had him badly hurt and close to a knockout loss.
Fury:
* Distractions – Fury is loving his new-found fame and talking WWE and MMA. He split with his trainer Ben Davidson and is calling his own shots. Fury also has spells in the ring where he loses focus and he has found himself on the canvas more than once during a lapse in concentration.
* Personal Life – It is well-documented Fury’s past personal demons with depression and substance abuse, along with a weight gain to over 400 lbs. While his triumphs over those demons is admirable, the lasting physical effects cannot be denied.
* Skin– It’s only been five months since Fury suffered a terrible gash over his right eye against Otto Wallin, requiring 47 stitches. While doctors have deemed the cut sufficiently healed, his tender skin could reopen at the most inopportune time.
PREVIOUS BOUT
Wilder: (11/23/19) – Wilder again scored a come-from-behind knockout against Luis Oritz. After being outboxed for the majority of the first six rounds, Wilder set his range against a tiring Ortiz and landed a pulverizing right hand which resulted in a one-punch knockout.
Fury:
(9/14/19) – Fury survived a bloody contest with the undefeated but unknown Otto Wallin. Fury suffered a cut over his right eye in the 3rd round and the blood clearly affected his vision. Despite the impairment, Fury still controlled the action and hurt Wallin several times en route to a decision victory.
3 BEST PERFORMANCES
Wilder:
* Artur Szpilka (1/16/16) – After falling behind early, Wilder took over in the 4th round and started to settle down and control the action. A single right hand in the 9th round sent Szpilka down and unconscious, the 2016 Knockout of the Year.
* Bermane Stiverne (1/17/15) – Wilder answered questions about his stamina by going the full 12 rounds for the first time in his career and capturing the WBC title in the process. Wilder utilized his long jab and kept Stiverne at bay with his underrated skillset.
* Luis Ortiz (3/3/18) – Wilder survived some scary moments against the oft-avoided Cuban veteran before prevailing by 10th round knockout. Wilder was troubled by Ortiz’s boxing skills early before knocking him down in the 5th round. An Ortiz rally in the 7th had Wilder seriously hurt but Wilder was able to regroup and score the knockout a few rounds later.
Fury:
* Wladimir Klitschko (11/25/15) – Fury went into Klitschko’s backyard and wrested the unified and lineal heavyweight championships via unanimous decision. While the bout was a cautious affair, Fury was able to outwork Klitschko with superior footwork, movement, and a higher punch output.
* Derek Chisora (11/29/14) – Fury dominated the rematch with his British rival, boxing from a distance, switching between orthodox and southpaw, and punishing his adversary until the corner stopped the fight after 10 one-sided rounds.
* Deontay Wilder (12/1/18) – With the exception of two knockdowns and some curious judging, Fury was in control for most of the bout. He avoided Wilder’s punches and landed effective counters, making Wilder looked confused and off-balance in the process.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Wilder:
* Utilize his jab and negate Fury’s awkward style
* Keep his power punches short and compact
* Don’t get mesmerized by Fury’s upperbody movement
Fury:
* Change the pace and keep Wilder guessing
* Use lateral movement to keep Wilder from setting his feet
* Do not get cocky against the ropes
QUESTIONS
Wilder:
* Can Wilder handle Fury’s unorthodox movement?
* Will Wilder employ a better gameplan?
* Will Wilder become frustrated?
Fury:
* Will Fury try too hard for the knockout?
* Is Fury totally focused on boxing?
* Is his cut eye susceptible to reinjury?
PENECALE PREDICTION
Both combatants are exceptional showmen and their respective ring entrances will have the crowd abuzz. The electricity will be at a fever pitch at the opening bell. With their familiarity, there will be less of a feeling out process than their first encounter. Fury will be on his toes moving forward and Wilder will try to time his advances and land counter punches. At the end of the 1st round, Fury will taunt Wilder and there will be an exchange of words.
Fury’s constant movement and single punches will trouble Wilder as his counter punches will find mostly empty air. The following rounds will be an exciting game of cat and mouse with the smaller Wilder in the role of the cat, futility trying to corner the larger Wilder.
Wilder will find success with his jab in the 6th and 7th rounds and a looping right hand will catch Fury on top of the head, knocking him off balance to the canvas. Fury will rise, wink at his corner, and come bouncing back into action. The excitement will have Wilder swinging wildly and falling to the canvas himself after missing overexaggerated right hand.
With Wilder seemingly arm-weary from his punch output the previous round, Fury will turn southpaw and land several hard right hands, then bounce out of range of any counter punches.
Fury’s movement and higher workrate will carry the action through the championship rounds, leading him again to an apparent lead going into the final round.
The decision this time will be unanimous with Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman both scoring 115-112 and Steve Weisfeld a shade closer at 114-113, all in favor of “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury.
Abel Ramos Stuns Bryant Perrella in Co-main Event Welterweight Battle
Click HERE for Photos Credit: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
Nashville, Tenn. (February 15, 2020) – Fighting in front of a raucous hometown crowd for the first time in his professional career, undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) put on a show.
Plant dominated mandatory challenger Vincent Feigenbutz (31-3, 28 KOs) of Germany, scoring a 10th-round TKO Saturday night in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Plant, who grew up in neighboring Ashland City, successfully made the second defense of the world title he won in January 2019 with a thrilling 12-round unanimous decision over then-titlist Jose Uzcategui. “Sweethands” lived up to his moniker, breaking down Germany’s Feigenbutz before putting him away.
“I was super fueled by the crowd tonight,” Plant said. “I could have gone all night. The whole city came out. Nashville stand up!”
Plant gave them plenty to cheer about from the opening bell, landing his jab up and downstairs. The aggressive Feigenbutz, 24, struggled to land anything in return.
Plant began landing the combinations in the third, bringing the crowd to his feet with a series of well-placed volleys.
Those shots slowly took their toll, but Feigenbutz was game. He came alive in the sixth, pinning Plant against the ropes and unloading his own combinations. Plant covered up and shook his head as if unbothered.
Plant pounded Feigenbutz in the seventh and eighth, opening up a cut on his nose and swelling his right eye. The challenger absorbed more punishment in the ninth, causing the ringside doctor to take a hard look at him in between rounds.
The end came swiftly in the 10th as Plant, sensing his foe was weakening, pounded away until referee Malik Waleed mercifully stepped in. The official time of the stoppage was 2:23 of the 10th.
“I felt great out there,” said Plant. “I was relaxed and sharp. I told you I was going to stop this before the 12th round. I want to dedicate this to my daughter, to my mother, my grandfather and the whole city of Nashville.”
The champion also stated his desire to unify versus unbeaten WBC counterpart and rival, David Benavidez.
“Everyone knows I want that unification fight with David Benavidez,” Plant stated. “You know who the best 168-pounder is. If you want that, you’ve got to come see me. I want that fight; I’ve been asking for it and I’m tired of waiting!”
In the co-main event, Abel Ramos scored a stunning last second TKO victory overBryant Perrella in a scheduled 10-round welterweight match. Heading into the 10thand final round Ramos was told by his cornermen that he needed a knockout to win. Ramos (26-3-2, 20 KOs) delivered, badly hurting and dropping Perrella twice in the waning seconds of the frame, prompting referee Jack Reiss to wave the welterweight co-main event off with just one second remaining.
“I know the fight’s not over until it’s over,” said Ramos. “That’s the game. I’ve been sick for two weeks. But no excuses. I wanted to come here and perform.
“I watched the Chavez-Taylor fight like 10 million times and I never thought I’d be in something like that. It just goes to prove that fights are never over till it’s over. You have to fight every single second of every single round.”
Watch Ramos stun Perrella at the end of Round 10 HERE.
Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs) was up on all three cards at the time of the stoppage; 87-84 and two scores of 88-83.
“This is boxing. It’s like Meldrick Taylor and Chavez,” said Perrella, agreeing with Ramos’ comments. “These things just happen. I’m not going to take anything away from my opponent. I was winning every round convincingly. What can I say? There was second left in the 10th round. It’s like a needle in the haystack. It is what it is.”
Southpaw Perrella controlled much of the action, using side to side movement, angles and rapid-fire combinations to stifle Ramos’ offense. A left hook in the third briefly buckled Ramos. Another in the fifth stunned him.
“Perrella’s a tough fighter,” said Ramos. “He’s a strong, strong fighter. I have nothing but respect for him. I expected a tough fight and that’s what happened.”
Ramos never stopped coming forward, picking up the pace as Perrella slowed down. With 34 seconds remaining in the 10th, Ramos landed a perfect left uppercut flush on the chin. Perrella sank to the mat, getting up on unsteady legs. Ramos pounced once action resumed, unloading until a straight right drove Perrella to the floor again. Again, he made it to his feet but couldn’t walk straight without stumbling. Reiss immediately waved it off at 2:59.
“Everything was going well, and I was winning the fight, round by round,” said Perrella. “I don’t know. This is boxing. That’s the thing about the sport. It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not going to make up any excuses or take anything away from my opponent. It’s just an experience that you go through in life and you have to overcome it. Absolutely I’d like to do it again with him. We can get a rematch in for sure.”
“I want all the welterweights,” Ramos exclaimed. “I’d like to have another big TV fight and go out there and prove myself.”
The FOX PBC Fight Night opener featured a back-and-forth battle between lightweightsAustin Dulay and Diego Magdaleno. Magdaleno produced one of the finest performances of his career, dropping Dulay on his way to a 10-round unanimous decision victory in a minor upset.
The 33-year-old Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KOs) was simply busier, particularly down the stretch in this battle of southpaws.
“I knew mentally I could break him down,” said Magdaleno. “If I attacked the body, I knew I could break him down. He’s a young prospect. He’s taller than me so my plan of attack was to get in close and go to the body.”
Dulay disagreed with the decision. “I boxed the hell out of him every round, making him miss, catching shots, countering. Yeah, he hit me with a few good body shots. That doesn’t replace the heavy shots that I hit him with every single round for 10 rounds straight. That is madness. And it was a unanimous decision? That’s crazy. That’s unbelievable to me.
“Even Diego just told me that he had nothing to do with the decision. He knows. How can they do that to me in my hometown? That’s dirty man.”
Fighting in front of his fellow Nashville residents, Dulay (13-2, 10 KOs) started fast, landing several clean lefts in the second. Magdaleno never stopped coming forward, working behind the jab and landing to Dulay’s body.
Watch early round action between Austin Dulay and Diego Magdaleno HERE andHERE.
Some of those shots strayed low which elicited warnings from referee Jack Reiss. However, the work paid off as Dulay’s output dropped over the course of the bout. The sixth featured some of the best exchanges of the bout. Magdaleno got the better of those, landing a right to the ribs followed by one upstairs.
Magdaleno continued to press the attack in the seventh, scoring the fight’s only knockdown with a hard left hook to the solar plexus.
Watch Magdaleno score a knockdown vs Dulay in Round 7 HERE.
Once action resumed, Magdaleno pounded at his ribs until a left hook strayed low and dropped Magdaleno, causing Reiss to deduct a point.
“Every round he was hitting me low and, in the back, and on the hips,” said Dulay. “It was more times than he got called for. I won that fight 100%.”
Sensing the fight slipping away, Dulay picked up the pace over the last three rounds. It wasn’t enough to overcome Magdaleno’s work rate, which earned him a win by scores of 97-91, 96-92 and 96-92.
“Experience has everything going for me. In my previous fight, I lost my head,” said Magdaleno. “This time I took my time. My camp said slow it down. Happy for the victory tonight.”
On the non-televised undercard, former world bantamweight champion Rau’Shee “Nuke” Warren (17-3, 4 KOs) ended a 13-month layoff with a wide 10-round unanimous decision over Gilberto Mendoza (15-8-3, 7 KOs).
The 33-year-old Warren used his fast hands to land an assortment of shots from his lefty stance. In the fourth, a clash of heads opened a cut over the left eye of Mexico’s Mendoza. Warren sought to close the show, but Mendoza was game, firing back though outgunned.
Two judges scored it 99-91 and the third judge had it 100-90.
“It felt good to get back in there after being off for a year,” Warren said. “I didn’t feel like a rookie. I felt like I had to get a little rust off me. But I think I got most of the rust off when I was in the gym training. Going 10 rounds it felt good.”
“I hope to get back in May,” said Warren. “I only need 90 days. I’ve already had my long layoff since last January when I fought on Pacquiao and Adrien’s card. I’m ready to get it on. I’m ready to move on. The only thing he did that I didn’t expect him to do was stay up.”
The event was promoted by Sweethands Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sauerland Promotions.
Unbeaten WBC Heavyweight Champion Wilder & Undefeated Lineal Heavyweight Champion Fury Square Off in Highly Anticipated Rematch Taking Place Saturday, February 22 in Historic Mega PPV Event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (February 13, 2020) – The upcoming rematch between WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and lineal champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury is the biggest heavyweight title fight in history.
Literally.
Standing 6’7″ and 6’9″ respectively, Wilder and Fury create the greatest combined height ever seen in a bout for the WBC, Ring Magazine and lineal heavyweight titles, standing a collective 13 feet and 4 inches. The only heavyweight title bout “taller,” so to speak, took place in 2007, when the 7-foot Nikolay Valuev defended his WBA heavyweight title against the 6’6″ Jameel McCline. But never before have the sport’s very best big men been as large as they are today.
To put in perspective how large Wilder and Fury are, it’s best to compare them to the land of giants: The NBA. Consider the fact that at 6’7″ and in the neighborhood of 220 pounds, Wilder is the same size as Los Angeles Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard. Fury, meanwhile, is nearly identical to LeBron James in terms of height and weight.
These days, a look at the Top 10 of any rankings you choose shows that most contenders are built like Super Bowl champion tight end Travis Kelce, who stands 6’6″ and weighs around 250 pounds.
As anyone who watched the thrilling first contest between Wilder and Fury will know, the two are indeed athletes, far from the lumbering behemoths you might expect men of their measurements to be. Wilder might be known for his titanic one-punch power, but he’s displayed some truly dynamic movement in the ring as well. Go watch the tape of his knockout of Bermane Stiverne and watch him bound laterally to create angles before landing his devastating shots, juking like a wide receiver in the open field, and you can see why Wilder dreamt of playing college football at Alabama when he was in high school.
Fury never dreamt of doing anything other than boxing-how could you when you were named after a heavyweight legend and born into a family rich with fighting history in Ireland. But the “Gypsy King” was also born with remarkable nimbleness to go along with a lifetime of developed boxing acumen, gliding around the ring and boxing with a style that would befit a welterweight, not a power forward-sized heavyweight.
Wilder and Fury are distinctive because ironically, giants aren’t usually dominant in sporting fields. While some have been all-time greats-i.e. the 6’9″ Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who is a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame-often times big men are known mostly just for being big, and don’t reach the pinnacle of their sport. And understandably so. Being colossally large is often a hindrance in as many ways as it’s an advantage, particularly when it comes to movement and dexterity. The NFL’s tallest player, seven-footer Richard Singh, played just eight career games, the MLB’s all-time tallest player, the 6’11” Jon Rauch, was a journeyman reliever, and tennis’ 6’10” and 6’11” skyscrapers Ivo Karlovic, John Isner and Rilley Opelka have no majors to their names.
As human beings have become bigger and stronger over the years, naturally, so have boxers. Rocky Marciano, standing 5’10 ½” and weighing just above 180 pounds, would be a tiny cruiserweight by today’s standards. Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, considered by many to be the two greatest heavyweights of all-time, and certainly not tiny fighters in their time, stood 6’1 ½” and 6’3″ respectively. Theoretically, Louis would give up nine inches in reach to Fury, whose wingspan is 85″. There were outliers in earlier eras, of course-Jess Willard and Ernie Terrell were 6’6″ and above and captured heavyweight titles-but for decades it was possible to be the size of a modern cruiserweight and not just compete, but be an imposing figure in the division.
Things began to change in the late 80s and 90s, when Tony Tucker, Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis, a trio of 6’6″ heavies captured belts. But the modern era was ushered in by Vitali and Wladimir Klitscko, the 6’6″ brothers who essentially ruled the division for the better part of a decade before Fury unseated Wladimir for the lineal crown in 2015.
Boxing has had its share of giants through the years, many of which have fallen short of the elite levels. In recent times, fans will remember the much-hyped American prospect Tye Fields, a towering 6’8″ southpaw who despite a massive amount of hype, never fought for a world title. Julius “The Towering Inferno” Long started his career 5-0, and at 7’1″ with a 90″ reach looked like a force to be reckoned with, before settling in as one of the sport’s most notorious journeymen and reliable sparring partners.
Wilder and Fury are a remarkable blend of size and athleticism and are bucking the trend that you can be “too big” to be great. As the rematch nears, it’s exciting-or perhaps scary-to think about the next evolution of heavyweights that will come after these two. There was a time when the great George Foreman, at 6’3″ and with a 78″ reach, or Larry Holmes at 6’3″ with an 81″ reach, were considered among the most daunting physical presences to ever step in the ring. But Wilder and Fury have set a new physical standard. Will NBA-sized heavyweights become the norm in the coming years?
At least for the moment, Wilder and Fury are far from normal. They’re colossal presences, yes, but they’re also the two very best heavyweights in the world at the peak of their powers, looking to follow up one of the most memorable fights, and hotly debated draws in recent history.
Who will stand tall on February 22?
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ABOUT DEONTAY WILDER VS. TYSON FURY II Wilder vs. Fury II will see the highly anticipated rematch between unbeaten WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and undefeated lineal champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury as they headline a historic, mega PPV event Saturday, February 22 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Wilder vs. Fury II PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former heavyweight world champion Charles Martin squaring off against former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington for a 12-round IBF Heavyweight Title eliminator in the co-main event. WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.k.a “The Mexican Iron Man” will defend his title against Filipino contender Jeo Santisima in the PPV featured bout. Plus, in the PPV opener, super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will face 2016 Australian Olympian Daniel Lewis in a 10-round battle of unbeatens.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased atwww.mgmgrand.com or www.axs.com. The event is promoted by BombZquad Promotions, TGB Promotions, Top Rank and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. A Premier Boxing Champions presentation.
WBC Featherweight Champion Russell Takes On Unbeaten Contender Nyambayar & Former Champions Guillermo Rigondeaux & Liborio Solis Battle for Vacant Bantamweight Title Live on SHOWTIME This Saturday, February 8 in Premier Boxing Champions Event in PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Click HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
Click HERE for Photos from Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions
ALLENTOWN, PA. (February 6, 2020) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. and unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar went face-to-face at a final press conference Thursday before they headline action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, February 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The press conference also featured former champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solis, who battle in the co-main event for the vacant WBA Lightweight Title, plus Jaime Arboleda and Jayson Velez, who compete in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight Title eliminator to open the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Kings Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.pplcenter.com/events (direct linkHERE).
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from the Renaissance Allentown Hotel:
GARY RUSSELL JR.
“We had a great training camp. I have my younger brothers on the card with me and in camp, pushing me every day. We’re ready, focused and hungry.
“Tug will be the best he possibly can be because he knows he’s facing one of the best fighters in the world. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. He’s going to leave it all on the line.
“I think Tug is a lot more technically sound than a lot of the guys who I have competed against. He’s another guy with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so I’m anticipating a tough fight.
“If it were up to me, I’d be facing Leo Santa Cruz or Gervonta Davis, but this is what I have to face. I’m here to defend my title in style once again.
“It’s amazing to watch my younger brothers and to have them on the same card. I’m excited to work their corners. There’s never been a set of three brothers to become world champions, and I think we’ll do that real soon. They’re both extremely talented and hungry. I expect them to be better than me by the time they’re at this point in their careers.
“I was the first fighter to turn pro on ShoBox, and I went on to win my title on SHOWTIME. The fact that we’re still doing it now speaks wonders. I work great with their team and I’m grateful to be in this position.
“You should expect to see what you always see with me. Boxing at its best. A great deal of ring generalship. Good boxing IQ. Hand speed. Punching power. The total package as a fighter. As a matter of fact, I’m trying to figure out why I’m not on the pound for pound list given all of that. That’s an issue.”
TUGSTSOGT NYAMBAYAR
“I’m very excited for this fight. It’s going to be a good fight for the fans. Gary Russell Jr. is a great champion, but watch on Saturday night, when I become the new featherweight world champion.
“I just have to be better than Gary Russell on Saturday night. The past experience won’t matter. If he thinks I’m too inexperienced for this fight, he is going to be in for a surprise Saturday.
“I know that I’m the underdog, but that doesn’t affect me. I don’t care if I’m the favorite or the underdog.
“I’m not worried about any ring rust. I’ve worked so hard in the ring during training camp to make sure I’m the best I’ve ever been.
“Working with Ismael Salas has been very good for me and I think it’s taken me to another level in my career. All of skills, all of my power and speed, it will all be with me on Saturday. I just have to put it together for my best performance.
“I’m very ready for this fight. I want to be the first WBC featherweight champion in history from Mongolia. I’m ready, you just need to watch on Saturday.”
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
“Bantamweight is my division. I have no issues making that weight. I want to thank my team for getting me prepared and getting me to this position. All that’s left is to fight Saturday night.
“I want to also thank Ronnie Shields for how he has prepared me for this fight. It’s been a great training camp and I can’t wait to step into the ring and become champion again.
“I feel 100% and I believe that bantamweight has always been my best weight. I did well at 122 pounds, so i stayed there. My plan now is to dominate this division.
“Me and Ronnie Shields have great chemistry and worked well together. Ronnie is a great trainer and I’m looking forward to a long run that we’re going to have together.
“I’m going to be phenomenal in the ring. I’m going to unify 118 pounds just like I did at 122 pounds. I’m excited to get started.
“My strategy will depend on the fight that Solis brings. I’m a veteran in this sport, dating back to the amateurs, so I’m used to seeing so many different styles. I’m to fight the way that gives me the best chance to win.”
LIBORIO SOLIS
“Thank you very much to my team who has backed me and supported me leading up to this fight. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. My opponent has been a great champion and I’m very excited to be here to fight him.
“This is obviously going to be a great fight. I’m a warrior who always comes to fight. He can pick his strategy however he wants. But I just want to get in there and put my skills on display.
I was already a champion in one division and I had a fight taken on the scorecards at bantamweight, or else i would already be a two-division champion.
“Saturday is going to be different than my last fights. Both me and Guillermo give our heart and soul and we’re going to fight until the best man wins. I’m not leaving that ring without a championship.
“I’m going to come with everything on Saturday. I come to fight and I come to win. I’m sure Guillermo is the same. The difference will be my determination to win this fight.
“I don’t think anyone’s weight or which division we fought at in the past will be an advantage. I’m sure he could have always fought at 118. The person with the advantage is who wants it more.”
JAIME ARBOLEDA
“I want to thank all the great champions up on this stage and everyone on my team who made this fight happen. This opportunity has been a long time coming and I’ve been preparing hard to make the most out of it.
“On Saturday, I’m very confident that this is going to be a great fight and end in a knockout. I’m prepared and I know that I’m going to win.
“This is a great chance to get one step closer to my dream of becoming a world champion. I know what I have to do and I’ve prepared every day to make sure that I fight my best on Saturday night.
“We have a lot of respect for each other and we’re looking forward to Saturday night. Don’t miss this card because it’s going to be action packed from start to finish.”
JAYSON VELEZ
“I’m happy to be here again and back in a big fight. My last time fighting on SHOWTIME was in 2012 and I’m very thankful for this opportunity to compete on this stage once again.
“I’m blessed to be able to do what I do every day. I’ve fought professionally since 2007. This is the dream that every boxer has. When I win on Saturday, I’ll be the mandatory for the belt and that’s the opportunity that I want.
“I’ve been training hard for this fight and I’m ready. I’ve won three fights in a row heading into a great fight between two hungry fighters. We want to add each other to our record and I believe that this fight is ending in knockout.
“Don’t miss this fight because this is going to be great. There’s going to be a lot of action. Every time I step into the ring, win or lose, I will leave everything in there. I fight with my heart and I fight for Puerto Rico.”
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ABOUT RUSSELL VS. NYAMBAYAR Russell vs. Nyambayar will see WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr.defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, February 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solís battle for the vacant WBA Bantamweight World Title in the co-main event, plus Jaime Arboledameeting Jayson Vélez in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight Title eliminator bout opening the telecast.
Two-Time World Champion Rigondeaux Looks For Title In A Second Weight Class When He Battles Liborio Solis For Vacant WBA Bantamweight Title This Saturday, February 8 Live On SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pa
Click HERE for Photos from Hosanna Rull/iRULL FOTOS
HOUSTON, TEXAS – February 4, 2020 – Former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux will seek to become a three-time, two-division world champion when he moves down to bantamweight to challenge former champion Liborio Solis for the vacant WBA title live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, February 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from PPL Center in Allentown, Pa.
“I’m trying to make history by winning a third world title in a second weight class, while also matching my two [Olympic] Gold Medals,” said Rigondeaux, who will fight at bantamweight for the first time in his career. “I want to make a statement and solidify my legacy as one of the best Cuban fighters ever. I want the boxing world to be talking about me, as I seek to become a world champion once again. February 8 will be a special day for me and my family.
“I know at super bantamweight I am a force to be reckoned with. Now that I’m moving down to bantamweight, I feel stronger and I’m getting the most out of my skills. The bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions are filled with great fighters to test myself against. It’s a very exciting time and I am training very hard for each opportunity that is granted to me.”
This will be Rigondeaux’s second straight fight working with the renowned head trainer Ronnie Shields, and conducting training camp at Shields’ gym in Houston.
“Ronnie and I are working very hard and smart,” said Rigondeaux. “We have put together a great game plan that we are going to execute on fight night. All of my tools are getting sharpened up and everyone will see that the hard work we’ve put in will pay off. Ronnie is a great coach and I’ll be fighting with something to prove on fight night.”
“He is very focused, and one of the hardest workers in the gym,” said Shields. “Rigondeaux is so determined to become a world champion once again. He comes to camp every single day with that goal, and I don’t see any way he doesn’t achieve it.”
Rigondeaux is coming off an exciting knockout win over former world champion Julio Ceja last June. The Guantanamo, Cuba native will look to capture his next world title when he faces Solis, a former super flyweight world champion for the vacant WBA belt.
“Solis is a good opponent and a worthy challenger, but I am ready to reclaim my status as a world champion,” said Rigondeaux. “I’m going to show people why I am one of the best boxers of my generation.
“This is a very big deal for me. For years I was one of the best fighters in the world, if not, the best fighter in the world. When you’re a champion, you only fight the top opponents and those are the type of fights I want. I’m going to start another long reign as champion beginning February 8.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Kings Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased throughwww.pplcenter.com/events (direct link HERE).
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ABOUT RUSSELL VS. NYAMBAYAR
Russell vs. Nyambayar will see WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, February 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former world champions Guillermo Rigondeauxand Liborio Solís battle for the vacant WBA Bantamweight World Title in the co-main event, plus Jaime Arboleda meeting Jayson Vélez in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight Title eliminator bout opening the telecast.
Rising Star Chris Colbert Drops Former Champion Jezreel Corrales & Wins Unanimous Decision to Capture Interim WBA Super Featherweight Title& Top Super Welterweight Prospect Joey Spencer Earns Unanimous Decision Over Erik Spring
Jorge Cota, Vito Mielnicki Jr. & Romuel Cruz Victorious in FOX PBC Fight Night Prelims on FS1 & FOX Deportes
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
PHILADELPHIA (January 19, 2020) – Jeison Rosario captured the WBA and IBF Super Welterweight World titles with a shocking fifth round stoppage of hometown favorite Julian “J-Rock” Williams Saturday night in the FOX PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes from Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
“As soon as I stepped into the ring, I knew he could not hurt me,” said Rosario. “I knew that my power was affecting him right away. This is a big victory for me and for the whole Dominican Republic.”
“Rosario was the better man tonight,” said Williams. “It was a great homecoming for my fans and I’m sorry I let them down. What went wrong tonight needs to and will be fixed. We’re going to an immediate rematch and we look forward to returning the favor.”
In his first world title fight, the Dominican Republic’s Rosario landed power punches from the outset and opened up a cut on with a punch over Williams’ right eye in the second round. Williams was landing power punches of his own, but was unable to stop Rosario from coming forward.
Watch round two highlights where Rosario opens the cut over Williams’ eye here.
“I’m so emotional in this moment right now,” said Rosario. “When I lost my last fight I said I will never lose again until I become champion of the world and that’s what happened tonight. I came prepared. I knew before the fight that I was going to win it.”
In round five Rosario landed the punches that would ultimately lead to the end of the fight, hitting him with hard straight right hands that immediately slowed Williams.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my team,” said Rosario. “I had a 16-week training camp and that prepared me for this. My life is changed forever and I can support my family in a whole new way. I realized that I was going to win, once I was offered the fight. I knew that if I made the sacrifice, that I would do what I did tonight. I knew it 16 weeks ago.”
Rosario sensed his moment and came forward with big punches, while Williams tried to hold and survive. Eventually the onslaught proved to be too much, and referee Benjy Esteves halted the bout 1:37 into the round. At the time of the stoppage, Rosario led 39-37 on two cards, with the third card scored 38-38.
“I wasn’t surprised he was so good,” said Williams. “I told everybody he’s a real fighter. I have to accept it. The cut blurred my vision a little bit but it wasn’t the reason why I lost. He was the better fighter tonight. We’ve got a rematch clause. I’ll see him again soon. I’ll be back.”
The co-main event saw rising star Chris “Prime Time” Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) drop former champion Jezreel Corrales (23-4, 9 KOs) on his way to a unanimous decision victory that earned him the Interim WBA Super Featherweight Title.
“He is a great fighter,” said Colbert. “People don’t realize that, because he had a bad decision against Ladarius Miller. But he’s a great fighter. He’s very awkward. He’s slick and fast. It was hard to catch him because he was running, but he came to fight. I take my hat off to him.”
The action began tactically, with Colbert trying to figure out the awkward style of the veteran former champion Corrales. Colbert switched from orthodox to southpaw and was able to control the early action despite a slow pace.
“I did my job in there,” said Corrales. “My strategy was to hit and not get hit. I felt like I made him struggle for a lot of the fight. The knockdown wasn’t from being hurt, it was my balance. Our feet got tangled and I lost my balance. I came in here to win. We both did our jobs, but the judges scored his pushing more than his punching.”
Colbert continued to vary up his attack as the fight went on, while Corrales was able to have some success in the middle rounds landing straight lefts to counter his attacking opponent. In round 10 Colbert began to pull away, landing a clean left hook followed by a right hook to the top of the head that put Corrales on a knee.
“I had confidence coming into the fight,” said Colbert. “I knew I was going to dominate the fight and I told you all that before the fight happened. He was running and I was trying to catch him, so I told my corner, let’s have a dog fight. We got 12 rounds. I’m in shape. You see, I didn’t sit down one round. I’m in shape and I came to fight. I wasn’t going to leave without this title.
The 23-year-old from Brooklyn seemed to get stronger as the fight went on and finished the championship rounds impressively, staggering Corrales in the waning moments of the fight to punctuate the performance. Colbert was the victor on all three judges’ cards, by scores of 117-110 twice and 116-111.
“The strategy was to use my jab like I did and try to set up my punches,” said Colbert. “But he’s very awkward and has good distance. Slowly but surely I decided to stop boxing, close the distance and get on him. I knew he couldn’t out throw me, I’m from Brooklyn.”
Watch highlights of Colbert vs. Corrales here and here. Watch the 10th round knockdown here and 11th round action here.
In the FOX PBC Fight Night opener, top super welterweight prospect Joey Spencer(10-0, 7 KOs)remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Erik Spring (13-4-2, 1 KO) after six rounds of action.
Fighting from the southpaw stance, Spring looked to land big overhand lefts but was rarely able to catch up to the speedy 19-year-old Spencer. Spencer dominated the action with his speed and by landing big hooks throughout the action.
“I was in there with a cagey, long southpaw,” said Spencer. “To be honest, when a guy is fighting as cagey as he was, it’s really hard for a guy with my style to just pull something out of nothing. He was a real defensive guy.”
Spencer was especially effective sneaking a powerful left hook around Spring’s guard. Spring tried to press the action in the later rounds and force a firefight but Spencer remained patient and picked his spots. Late in round six, a left hook from Spencer sent Spring flying into the ropes, before he was saved from the follow up onslaught by the bell.
“At the end I really just pressed him, said I’m going to finish strong, and hit him with some good shots,” said Spencer. “If I had done that in the first or second round, I would have ended it early. I’m glad to get the six rounds in. Experience is everything. You’re only as good as your next fight. I’m happy to get in there and get some good experience and I did my thing and got the shutout.”
“I was waiting too much,” said Spring. “I thought he would come in and engage more and I was looking counter him but he stayed on the outside. I was more impressed by his speed then his power. He’s a talented fighter but I could have been more effective.”
After six rounds, all three judges saw the fight for Spencer, by the score of 60-54 three times. PBC’s 2019 Prospect of the Year, Spencer will look for another big year in 2020.
“I’m going to stay busy this year,” said Spencer. “I’m going to have a four-fight year. This is one of four. We’re looking to bring some excitement and have some fun.”
Watch Joey Spencer seal his 10th career win with a powerful combo just before the final bell here.
Prior to the main card, FOX PBC Fight Night Prelims on FS1 and FOX Deportes saw Mexico’s Jorge Cota (30-4, 27 KOs) earn a fifth-round stoppage over Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (28-3-1, 10 KOs) 1:22 into their super welterweight bout, when LaManna’s corner advised the ringside doctor to halt the action.
Watch highlights of Jorge Cota’s fifth round stoppage of Thomas LaManna here.
The action also included sensational 17-year-old prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs) dominate Preston Wilson (6-4-1, 4 KOs) on his way to a unanimous decision by the score of 40-36 three times in their welterweight matchup.The Prelims opener saw undefeated Romuel Cruz (4-0-1, 2 KOs) score a first round stoppage of Julio Garcia(3-4, 2 KOs) 2:56 into their super bantamweight contest.
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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
