European Super Featherweight Champion Samir Ziani calls out Tevin Farmer: “Farmer has chickened out” of WBC Eliminator
“Crossroads: doubleheader results from N.H.: Kendrick Ball, Jr. hits home run vs. Bryan Vera
“Crossroads” results from New Hampshire
DERRY, N.H. (April 18, 2021) – Former New England middleweight champion Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. turned in a career-best performance in last night’s main event against dangerous Bryan “The Warrior” Vera on the evening portion of the “Crossroads” day-night doubleheader, presented by Granite Chin Promotions, at New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.
The pre-fight plan was followed as Ball (16-1-2, 11 KOs) boxed and moved, while Vera (28-17, 18 KOs) applied pressure, right from the opening bell. Ball took control in the second round, when he stayed in the pocket, snapping off crisp combinations. Ball fired more effective combinations in the third round as Vera started chasing his opponent. Ball started moving around the ring and fighting from the outside in the fourth and stayed on his toes the remainder of the fight.
Ball won an 8-round unanimous decision (79-73, 79-73, 78-74) to become the World Boxing Council (WBC) USNBC (United States) Silver Super Middleweight Champion.
“This was my best fight, because of who I fought, and the magnitude of the fight,” Ball commented. “The plan was to box and move because he was much smaller and slower. At times I banged, when I knew he wasn’t hurting me, but I shouldn’t have taken the risks.”
The 39-year-old Vera isn’t the same fighter he was when he beat three different world champions – Andy Lee, Sergio Mora (twice) and Serhiy Dzinziruk. The Texan needs to decide if it’s time to finally hang up his gloves.
“This was awesome, definitely our best show to date,” Granite Chin’s Chris Traietti declared after the show. “We feel great about stepping up to give these fighters, especially the locals, a platform to perform on in front of fans. I think a lot of promoters have gotten lazy. They gave us a lane and Granite Chin took advantage. This was our fourth show with fans during the last year. Brian fought hard and he’s a great guy, but he’s not the same guy he was in 2011. He needs to think about what he’s going to do.
“Granite Chin returns here June 26th with another doubleheader. The afternoon show will be the Granite Chin Invitational for open elite boxers. With the New England Golden Gloves canceled again there is a void to fill. If promoters are going to help amateurs, I certainly will, starting June 26th.”
Challenger Marquis Bates (8-4, 6 KOs) dethroned defending New Hampshire Welterweight Champion Ryan Dibartolomeo (3-2-1, 1 KO) via a sixth-round stoppage in an entertaining co-feature. A devastating overhand right from Bates gave him his new crown as the referee didn’t even count as the ring doctor quickly entered the ring.
Larry “Hitman” Pryor took the contract out on Scott Lambert and he wasted little time taking care of business to become the New Hampshire Cruiserweight Champion. Pryor took advantage of his decisive height and reach advantages, closing the show with a perfectly thrown left hook that sent Lambert to the canvas. Lambert managed to beat the count, but the referee stopped the fight midway through the opening round when he saw Lambert wobbling back and forth on rubbery legs.
Lanky lefthanded Francis “The Tank” Hogan (5-0, 5 KOs) graduated last night with a brilliant performance against Larry “Slo Mo” Smith, who was in his 60th career fight. Hogan put down Smith early in the third round and caught the Texan late in the same round with a lefty-combination to the temple. Smith beat the count, but he was unable to answer the bell for the fourth round, and 20-year-old Hogan became the new New Hampshire Junior Middleweight Champion.
Former New England heavyweight champion Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe (5-2-1, 4 KOs) positioned himself for another N.E. title shot with a spectacular knockout of Alfredo “Choncho” Trevino (9-9-1, 1 KO). The 263-pound Rolfe, fighting out of Fairfield, Maine, charged across the ring at the bell and put his Arizona opponent to sleep right in his corner, when he was counted out at the 20-seconds mark.
The newest member of the fightin’ Whitley family from western Massachusetts, undefeated welterweight Denzel Whitley, cruised to his fourth victory with his fourth knockout. He drilled Aquilandro Brandao late in round one and the fight was stopped by the referee.
Undefeated Jahye Brown (9-0, 7 KOs) captured the vacant ABF Athletic junior middleweight title with a hard fought 8-round unanimous decision over a game Mexican opponent,Dormedes Potes (12-4-1, 9 KOs). The two fought toe-to-toe from the opening bell and Brown landed the more effective punches inside to earn the victory.
Promising middleweight prospect Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste improved to 2-0 with his second knockout, blasting out Bruno Dias in the third round.
Fighting for the first time in more than eight years, Fall River, MA welterweight Dustin Reinhold (6-4, 2 KOs) won a 4-round unanimous decision over pro-debuting AnthonyAndreozzi in what can best be called a rough and tumble match.
Junior middleweight Carlos Castillo’s professional debut was a gem as the Holyoke, MA fighter dropped Theo Desjardon twice, the last closing the show late in the first round.
“Cannon” Berry stops Ibarra in 5
UBO All-America Welterweight Champion Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (21-5-2, 13 KOs) successfully defended in the afternoon card’s main event, overcoming a slow start in which he was buzzed to stop challenger Gael Ibarra (5-3, 4 KOs) in the fifth round.
Berry finished the fight in the fifth, when he unloaded twin barrages of unanswered punches on a trapped Ibarra until the referee waved off the fight.
“I’m glad it wasn’t a 4-round fight,” Berry said after the fight. “He was a strong guy. I was feeling it. He tested me. I want to thank my family and friends here, and Granite Chin and everybody involved in the promotion.”
In the co-featured event, New England heavyweight champion Mike “Fly” Marshall (4-1, 3 KOs), in a non-title fight, knocked out Tracey Johnson (4-10-6) in the third round.
Popular Boston Irishman Jimmy Torney (3-0, 3 KOs) – 6’ 6”, 269 lbs. – needed only 42-seconds and one big right to stop pro-debuting heavyweight Marco Nascimento.
Massachusetts welterweight Eric “Gladiator” Goff convincingly won his pro debut against Jader Alves (0-5) as he pitched a 4-round shutout
Three-time New England Golden Gloves champion Demek “Hightower” Edmonds had an awesome pro debut, dropping cruiserweight Francisco Neto twice in round one, the second a vicious body shot ending the fight. Edmonds, a southpaw from Worcester, MA, is a college graduate and bonafide prospect to watch.
In a non-title fight, New England welterweight champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (12-1, 6 KOs) schooled his 54-fight Las Vegas opponent, junior middleweight Rynell Griffin. Ohan decked Griffin three times in the first round, the third with a left hook to the body from which Griffin was unable to beat the count.
Canadian cruiserweight Yan “Wild Thing” Pellerin (11-1, 5 KOs) landed two stinging rights to the body of 63-fight veteran Steve “The Spoiler” Walker, both flooring the Missouri fighter, the second resulting in an opening-round knockout for the vacant ABF Atlantic title.
Connecticut welterweight Omar “The Beast” Borday, Jr. (1101, 3 KOs) dominated 65-fight journeyman Dewayne Wisdom en route to a one-sided 8-round unanimous decision.
Official results below:
OFFICIAL RESULTS
MAIN EVENT – VACANT WBC USNBC SILVER SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Kendrick Ball, Jr. (16-1-2, 11 KOs), Worcester, MA
WDEC8 (79-73, 79-73, 78-74)
Bryan Vera (28-17, 18 KOs), Austin, TX
(Ball on WBC USNBC Silver middleweight title)
CO-FEATIURE –NEW HAMPSHIRE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Marquis Bates (8-4, 6 KOs), Taunton, MA
WKO6 (2 :26)
Ryan Dibartolomeo (3-2-1, 1 KO), Leominster, MA
(Bates won the N.H. welterweight title)
VACANT NEW HAMPSHIRE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Larry Pryor (14-23, 8 KOs), Frederick, MD
WTKO1 (1:50)
Scott Lampert (1-2, 1 KO), Dover Plains, NY
(Pryor won the N.H. cruiserweight title)
VACANT NEW HAMPSHIRE JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Francis Hogan (5-0, 5 KOs), Weymouth, MA
WTKO3 (3:00)
Larry Smith (12-46-2 (8 KOs), Dallas, TX
(Hogan won the N.H. junior middleweight title)
VACANT ABF ATLANTIC JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jahyae Brown (9-0, 7 KOs), Schenectady, NY
WDEC8 (79-72, 77-74, 77074)
Dormedes Potes (12-3-1, 9 KOs), Woburn, MA
(Brown won ABF Atlantic junior middleweight title)
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Justin Rolfe (5-2-1, 3 KOs), Fairfield, ME
WKO1 (0:20)
Alfredo Trevino (9-9-1, 1 KO), Douglas, AZ
WELTERWEIGHTS
Denzel Whitley (4-0, 4 KOs), Holyoke, MA
WTKO1 (2 :42)
Aquilando Brandao (0-4), Boston, MA
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Julien Baptiste (2-0, 2 KOs), Woburn, MA
WTKO3 (2 :26)
Bruno Dias (0-5), Boston, MA
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT
Carlos Castillo (1-0, 1 KO), Holyoke, MA
WTKO1 (2:16)
Theo Desjardin (0-7), Attleboro, MA
WELTERWEGHTS
Dustin Reinhold (6-4, 2 KOs), Fall River, MA
WDEC4 (39-36, 39-036, 39-37
Anthony Andreozzi (0-1), Swansea, MA
.
DAY CARD
MAIN EVENT – UBO ALL-AMERICA WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Brandon Berry (21-5-2, 13 KOs), West Forks, ME
WTKO5 (1:29)
Gael Ibarra (5-3, 4 KOs), Bisbee, AZ
(Berry retained the UBO All-America welterweight title)
CO-FEATURE – HEAVYWEIGHTS
Mike Marshall (5-1, 4 KOs), Brooklyn, NY
WTKO3 (0:38)
Tracey Johnson, (4-10-6, 0 KOs), Boston, MA.
VACANT ABF ATLANTIC CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Yan Pellerin (10-1, 4 KOs), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
WKO1 (1:02)
Steve Walker (26-37, 18 KOs), Hannibal, MO
(Pellerin won the ABF Atlantic cruiserweight title)
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Jimmy Torney (3-0, 3 KOs), Boston, MA
WTKO1 (0:42)
Marco Nascimento (0-1), Bow, NH
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Demek Edmonds (1-0, 1 KO), Worcester, MA
WTKO1 (2:56)
Francisco Neto (1-12), Woburn, MA
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Mike Ohan, Jr. (12-1, 6 KOs), Holbrook, MA
WTKO1 (2:52)
Rynell Griffin (8-46-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV
WELTERWEIGHTS
Eric Goff (1-0, 1 KO), Weymouth, MA
WDEC4 (40-30, 40-34, 40-34)
Jader Alves (0-5), Woburn, MA.
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Omar Borday, Jr. (11-1, 3 KOs), Danbury, CT
WDEC8 (80-70, 79-72, 78-72
Dewayne Wisdom (7-56-2, 3 KOs), Indianapolis, IN
INFORMATION:
Facebook.com/GraniteChin
Twitter: @Granite_Chin
FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR MMA 257: NEMKOV VS. DAVIS 2
COMPLETE FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS HERE – (PLEASE CREDIT: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN)
POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS HERE
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – BELLATOR 257: Nemkov vs. Davis 2 saw incumbent 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov (13-3) retain his championship, he now awaits his future opponent. In the co-main event, #3-ranked Corey Anderson (15-5) advanced to the semi-finals to face #4 ranked pound-for-pound athlete Ryan Bader (28-6, 1 NC) at a future date in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix.
BELLATOR MMA returns to action on May 7 with a bantamweight world title fight pitting c-Juan Archuleta (25-2) against #1 ranked Sergio Pettis (20-5) and a Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix opening round pairing between the debuting Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (22-6) and Yoel Romero (13-5) to determine Nemkov’s next title challenger. Bellator 258 airs exclusively on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
“Rumble” had this to say about his upcoming BELLATOR debut on SHOWTIME: “You know how I fight. I come out there and throw bombs. If you get in the way and get hit, that’s just what happens. Romero is a hell of an athlete. We all have watched him fight. For his age, which to me doesn’t play a factor at all, he’s a beast. I’m very excited to fight a man of his caliber. He’s a true challenge to anybody that he faces. I look forward to testing myself against him. He’s definitely an opponent that I respect. Somebody that I know I’ll enjoy fighting and the fans will enjoy it too.
“Right now, I can’t look past Yoel. I really can’t. I don’t look that far ahead. I have goals, but right now I got one of the toughest individuals you can possibly face in my face May 7. I’m looking forward to it and I just need to focus on Yoel. I’m just going to let the dice roll the way they’re going to roll and whoever makes it to the next round, I’ll focus on that later. Right now, I just need to focus on one individual and everybody else is not even on my radar right now. I just got to focus on the man that’s trying to knock my head off.”
BELLATOR MMA 257: Nemkov vs. Davis 2 Main Card:
c-Vadim Nemkov (13-2) defeated #2-Phil Davis (22-5, 1 NC) via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Vadim Nemkov: “My plan was to out-strike him today and defend the wrestling. I’m pretty happy with my performance but I had some mistakes and I’m going to work on them for next time.
“It’s very hard to knock out Phil Davis so I was getting ready for a five round fight and I knew it was going to go the distance. Our conditioning was on point.
“Both fighters [Johnson and Romero] are very unpredictable. They can strike or wrestle. I’m a champion and I’m ready for whoever wins that fight. It doesn’t matter to me who I face. Both fighters are really good on the ground or standup and it’s going to be a good fight for me either way.”
#3-Corey Anderson (15-5) defeated Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (18-6-1) via TKO (punches) at 2:15 of round three
Corey Anderson on facing Ryan Bader: “I love the matchup with Bader. I love the matchup with anybody in this tournament. I love the matchup with any 205-er in the world because I know how good I am. I’m just going to show the rest of the world that. Me and Bader, we have history from training together and like I said, one person knows. He knows. We’re just going to find out in July when we match up. One man has to go out there and make the statement on TV.
“He knows who he’s matched up against. That’s all. I ain’t one of those dudes who’s going to put the film out there on Instagram because that ain’t a good sport. But at the same time, he knows. We know. They know it’s going to be a tough match. He’s gotten better. I’ve gotten better. He knows it’s going to be a war. It’s not like he’s going to go in there and take me down like he does with all these other guys. Because he knows. He knows he ain’t gonna go out there and out-strike me.”
#7-Veta Arteaga (6-4) defeated Desiree Yanez (5-3) via majority decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Veta Arteaga: “My overall goal is to have another opportunity at the title shot. One fight at a time. I wasn’t overlooking Desiree at all and I’ve just been watching all the females that fight in this division to see who I may be potentially fighting. I’m excited to hopefully climb right back up in the rankings and have another title shot.”
Paul Daley (47-17-2) defeated #8-Sabah Homasi (15-9) via TKO (punches) at 1:44 of round two
Paul Daley on who is next…
“Whoever fancies it. Whoever struggles to get down to 170 and feels like 175 is a good division for them, I’ll fight them. I’ve been in with the best at 170 and now I’m saying here on SHOWTIME and around the world that the 175-pound division is my division. If you want the belt, f*cking come and get it.”
Preliminary Card:
#1-Julia Budd (15-3) defeated Dayana Silva (9-6) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#5-Julius Anglickas (10-1) defeated Gregory Milliard (12-5) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
#7-Steve Mowry (9-0) defeated Shaun Asher (13-4-1) via TKO (punches) at :55 of round one
Grachik Bozinyan (11-4) defeated Demarques Jackson (11-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Raymond Daniels (3-1, 1 NC) defeated Peter Stanonik (4-4, 1 NC) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
Lance Gibson Jr. (4-0) defeated Marcus Surin (6-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Karl Albrektsson (11-3) defeated Viktor Nemkov (30-8-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#10-Mads Burnell (15-3) defeated Saul Rogers (14-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:08 of round two
#7-Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0) defeated #4-Pedro Carvalho (11-5) via TKO (strikes) at :53 of round two
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
BELLATOR MMA™ WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION DOUGLAS LIMA SET TO DEFEND TITLE ON JUNE 11 AGAINST UNDEFEATED NO. 1 RANKED YAROSLAV AMOSOV LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
Also, No. 9 Ranked Featherweight Tywan Claxton Welcomes Unbeaten Justin Gonzales to BELLATOR and ‘Notorious’ Nick Newell Battles Bobby King at Lightweight
LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA’s Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima (32-8) will defend his 170-pound title against the undefeated and top-ranked Yaroslav Amosov (25-0) in the main event of BELLATOR MMA 260 on Friday, June 11 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event will be televised live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
In addition to the main event, a pair of preliminary bouts are official, as No. 9 ranked Tywan Claxton (6-2) faces the undefeated and newly signed Justin Gonzales (11-0) in featherweight action, while Connecticut’s Nick Newell (16-3) takes center stage against promotional debutant Bobby King (9-3) in a 155-pound clash. The preliminary card will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.
Fighting out of American Top Team in Atlanta, Ga., “The Phenom” Douglas Lima will look to protect the 170-pound title for the first time since reclaiming his status as division king with a win over Rory MacDonald at BELLATOR 232 in 2019. With notable wins over the likes of Michael “Venom” Page, Paul Daley, Lorenz Larkin, and MacDonald, Lima is the promotion’s No. 6 ranked pound-for-pound fighter. Now, he looks to reassert his dominance at 170-pounds after challenging middleweight world champion Gegard Mousasi in an attempt to become double-champ. The BELLATOR MMA Welterweight World Grand Prix winner went five rounds with Mousasi, giving fans an instant-classic and a glimpse of just how special the three-time BELLATOR welterweight world champion truly is. The 18-fight BELLATOR veteran is on a mission to to become the first to defeat Amosov on June 11.
“I’m pumped to get back in the cage and show everyone why I’m the most-feared welterweight in the game,” said Lima. “Amosov is a game opponent, who has climbed the rankings against top competition. He’s more than deserving of this title shot, but this is still my division and that isn’t changing any time soon.”
A relatively new addition amongst the sport’s elite welterweights, Amosov will enter his first BELLATOR world title bout riding a streak of six consecutive victories since signing with BELLATOR in 2018. “Dynamo” has established himself as a well-rounded and extremely dangerous fighter, collecting a remarkable 19 wins by finish, including 13 in the first round. The 27-year-old native of Irpin, Ukraine is a three-time combat sambo world champion and the No. 10 ranked pound-for-pound athlete in BELLATOR. Training out of American Top Team in Florida, Amosov aims to protect his unblemished professional mark of 25-0 and snatch away Lima’s most prized possession.
“It is an honor to challenge Douglas Lima for the Bellator Welterweight Title,” Amosov said. “I have dreamed of becoming a champion since I have chose this path of MMA. Here I am, undefeated and on the verge of earning the gold.”
BELLATOR MMA fans who are new subscribers to the SHOWTIME streaming service can sign up now for a limited time offer which includes a 30-day free trial, followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months. Viewers can sign up at SHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers will be delivered two premier BELLATOR MMA events per month throughout 2021 and beyond, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.
BELLATOR MMA 260: Lima vs. Amosov Main Card:
SHOWTIME
9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Welterweight World Title Main Event: C-Douglas Lima (32-8) vs. #1-Yaroslav Amosov (25-0)
Preliminary Card:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Featherweight Bout: #9-Tywan Claxton (6-2) vs. Justin Gonzales (11-0)
Lightweight Bout: Nick Newell (16-3) vs. Bobby King (9-3)
*Card subject to change.
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
Undefeated Lightweight Prospects Frank Martin & Jerry Perez Clash In FS1 PBC Fight Night Main Event & On FOX Deportes Tuesday, April 20 from Los Angeles
Indian Star Neeraj Goyat, who was set to fight Amir Khan in 2019 makes his UK Debut in Aberdeen – WBC Asia Champion Neeraj Goyat Co-Headlines Let Battle Commence IV on the 29th May – Live on FITE TV
SHOWTIME® AND PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS UNVEIL LOADED FIVE-MONTH BOXING SCHEDULE FEATURING ELITE FIGHTERS AND MATCHUPS ACROSS NINE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
Star-Studded Lineup Highlighted by Dynamic Twins Jermell Charlo and Jermall Charlo Each Headlining Separate World Championship Events Live on SHOWTIME
Dazzling Star Gervonta Davis Headlines A Spectacular Summer SHOWTIME PPV® Event
NEW YORK – April 15, 2021 – SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions today unveiled a loaded five-month boxing schedule of nine high-stakes world championship events beginning Saturday, May 15, live on SHOWTIME. The schedule delivers two events per month through August. Thirteen matchups have been announced thus far with no less than seven world title fights, and 12 fighters defending undefeated records. The lineup features many of boxing’s best young fighters taking on career-defining challenges in their primes. All fights on the schedule will take place before a live audience, keeping with applicable local COVID-19 safety protocols.
The sizzling summer run features the dynamic Charlo twins as undefeated electrifying champion Jermall Charlo defends his WBC middleweight world title against Juan Macias Montiel in a special Juneteenth homecoming in Houston on Saturday, June 19, live on SHOWTIME.
The following Saturday, June 26, unbeaten Mayweather Promotions star Gervonta “Tank” Davis moves up two weight classes for a chance to become a three-division world champion when he takes on fellow undefeated champion Mario Barrios for his super lightweight world title in what will be Davis’ second pay-per-view showdown.
The next month, WBC, WBA and IBF 154-pound charismatic world champion Jermell Charlo looks to make boxing history when he takes on WBO junior middleweight world champion Brian Castaño in a mega-fight to crown the first four-belt 154-pound world champion. The World Championship Unification bout takes place on Saturday, July 17, live on SHOWTIME.
The SHOWTIME boxing schedule features eight editions of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and one premier SHOWTIME PPV event, all presented by Premier Boxing Champions:
- MAY 15 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Luis Nery vs. Brandon Figueroa, WBC Super Bantamweight World Title Fight
- Danny Roman vs. Ricardo Espinoza Franco, Super Bantamweight Fight
- Xavier Martinez vs. Abraham Montoya, WBA Super Featherweight Fight
- MAY 29 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Nordine Oubaali vs. Nonito Donaire, WBC Bantamweight World Title Fight
- Subriel Matias vs. Batyrzhan Jukembayev, IBF Super Lightweight Title Eliminator
- JUNE 19 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Jermall Charlo vs. Juan Macias Montiel, WBC Middleweight World Title Fight
- JUNE 26 – SHOWTIME PPV
- Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios, WBA Super Lightweight World Title Fight
- Erickson Lubin vs. Jeison Rosario, WBC Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator
- JULY 3 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Chris Colbert vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa, WBA Super Featherweight Interim Title Fight
- JULY 17 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castaño, Undisputed IBF, WBA, WBC & WBO Junior Middleweight World Title Unification Fight
- AUGUST 14 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. John Riel Casimero, WBO Bantamweight World Title Fight
- AUGUST 28– SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- David Benavidez vs. Jose Uzcategui, WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator
- SEPTEMBER 11 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
- Stephen Fulton, Jr. vs. winner of Nery-Figueroa, Super Bantamweight World Title Unification Fight
“High-impact, meaningful fights amongst many of the biggest names and brightest stars in combat sports. That is what SHOWTIME promises and that is what we are delivering,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, SHOWTIME Sports. “With an opportunity to crown an undisputed world champion at 154 pounds, a highly anticipated super bantamweight title unification, a stacked pay-per-view showdown and more than a dozen fights between 118-168 pounds, SHOWTIME is presenting boxing’s best young fighters, all daring to be great by putting their world titles and undefeated records on the line. This schedule’s caliber and volume – the deepest and most consistent of any network or platform – exemplifies our commitment to the sport. Between this incredible lineup of boxing events and our new partnership with BELLATOR MMA, with a live event nearly every week, there is no better value proposition in combat sports.”
The boxing action begins on SHOWTIME on Saturday, May 15 with the highly anticipated WBC super bantamweight world championship fight between Luis Nery and Brandon Figueroa. The battle of two unbeaten champions who have been on a collision course for supremacy in the 122-pound division headlines a three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast. Rounding out the May 15 event, former unified super bantamweight world champion Danny Roman faces the tough, hard-hitting Ricardo Espinoza and super featherweight rising contender Xavier Martinez takes on the experienced Abraham Montoya.
Two weeks later on Saturday, May 29, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present the long-awaited title tilt between Nordine Oubaali and future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire for the WBC bantamweight world championship. The undercard will feature Subriel Matias taking on undefeated Batyrzhan Jukembayev in the stiffest test of their professional careers as they meet in an IBF super lightweight title eliminator.
This summer, the thrilling Charlo twins will headline separate SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events to defend their titles.
In a Juneteenth Day celebration on Saturday, June 19, in his hometown of Houston, unbeaten WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo takes on the power-punching Juan Macias Montiel. After claiming a championship in the 154-pound division, Charlo moved up in weight and has been just as dominant. The battle against Montiel will be Charlo’s fifth defense of his 160-pound title. Charlo is coming off a career-defining victory over Sergey Derevyanchenko in September.
On Saturday, June 26, current two-division world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis looks to become a three-division world champion when he returns to headline his second SHOWTIME PPV event. Davis, 26, will jump up two weight classes from his last contest to face unbeaten super lightweight world champion Mario Barrios. Davis is coming off a career-best victory over world champion Leo Santa Cruz. The co-main event that evening will feature a high-stakes WBC junior middleweight world title eliminator between Erickson Lubin and former unified 154-pound world champion Jeison Rosario.
Then, on Saturday, July 17, one month after his brother’s fight, Jermell Charlo looks to make boxing history when he defends his WBC, WBA and IBF junior middleweight world titles against undefeated WBO world champion Brian Castaño in one of the most highly anticipated and important matches of the year. Charlo aims to achieve something that has never been done in boxing history by becoming the first fighter to be undisputed champion at 154 pounds in the four-belt era. Charlo has held the WBC title since 2019 and added the WBA and IBF titles with a stunning knockout victory over Jeison Rosario in his last fight in September.
Also in July, undefeated rising star Chris Colbert of Brooklyn, N.Y. will defend his WBA super featherweight interim title against three-division world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in a crossroads bout on Saturday, July 3. The 24-year old Colbert is coming off a career best victory, a knockout win over Jaime Arboleda in December 2020. The Cuban-born Gamboa seeks to reassert himself by moving back down to super featherweight where he has excelled throughout his career.
August will feature another pair of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events. On Saturday, August 14, two of the best bantamweights in the world will meet when former unified world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux faces John Riel Casimero for Casimero’s WBO bantamweight world title.
Two weeks later, on Saturday, August 28, undefeated two-time former super middleweight world champion David Benavidez will face former super middle champion Jose Uzcategui in a fight that will put the winner one step closer to a world championship opportunity. Benavidez, 24, made boxing history when he became the youngest super middleweight world champion at age 20 with a victory over Ronald Gavril in 2017.
On Saturday, September 11, the red-hot 122-pound division will take center stage once again on SHOWTIME as the WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton, Jr. will make the first defense of his title against the winner of the May 15 clash between undefeated champions Nery and Figueroa. The unification fight will be the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
Earlier this month, SHOWTIME doubled its live combat sports schedule with the start of a partnership with BELLATOR MMA that delivers two world class mixed martial arts events per month to SHOWTIME subscribers. Coupled with live world championship boxing events, SHOWTIME will now deliver upwards of 40 live sports events per year and has established itself as the premier combat sports destination for fight fans. As part of the launch, which continues this Friday with the next two Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix opening round fights, the network is offering viewers who are new to the SHOWTIME streaming service a 30-day free trial followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months.
For more information and future fight announcements visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.
“FIGHT NIGHT: JARON ENNIS” GIVES BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT ENNIS’ SENSATIONAL KNOCKOUT OVER SERGEY LIPINETS
Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME®
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WHAT: SHOWTIME Sports released “FIGHT NIGHT: Jaron Ennis,” a 12-minute video feature that gives viewers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the 23-year-old rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ impressive knockout over former world champion Sergey Lipinets last Saturday on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. To watch, share or embed the video, click here: https://youtu.be/0psbcBAMu1A
The latest installment of the SHOWTIME Boxing digital series FIGHT NIGHT delivers access to Ennis and his father and trainer Bozy, giving viewers a rare glimpse behind closed doors as they prepare for what was Ennis’ toughest test to date in pursuit of a world title shot inside the unique confines of the “Fight Sphere” at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
From the official weigh-in and his appearance on the BELLATOR MMA on SHOWTIME telecast to fight night, the SHOWTIME cameras capture how Ennis gets his body and mind prepared to enter the ring in his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event.
“I’ll always be hard on myself when I look back at my performance,” said Ennis after his sensational sixth-round knockout. “My goal is to keep getting better, sharper, faster and stronger so I can become a world champion. It’s a great feeling. A great win over a top guy but now it’s on to bigger and better things.”
Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast headlined by Ennis vs. Lipinets is available in its entirety on all SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and SHOWTIME streaming service platforms.