Fight Network, Judo, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NETWORK MMA & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (May 18-25, 2015)

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

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

Monday, May 18

6:30 p.m. ET – 2014 Judo Tashkent Grand Prix– Highlights from the 2014 Judo Tashkent Grand Prix from Oct. 16-18, 2014 in Uzbekistan.

7:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

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

8:00 p.m. ET – Final Fight Championship 5: Rodriguez vs. Simonjic – Featuring Ricco Rodriguez vs. Tomaz Simonjic in the MMA main event and Pavel Zhuravle vs. Vinchenzo Renfurm in a kickboxing bout from Osijek, Croatia.

Tuesday, May 19

1:00 a.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Urijan Faber – John Ramdeen chats with UFC bantamweight superstar Urijah Faber about his upbringing and evolution in the sport.

1:30 a.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.

2:30 am. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S pro and amateur MMA.

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

7:00 & 7:30 p.m. ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based professional MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.

8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

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

Wednesday, May 20

3:00 a.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.

6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.

7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

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

8:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Spirit Season 4 – Compilations of international MMA fights from SFL, FFC, M-1 and more.

9:00 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors 74 – Featuring Kianzad vs. Siiskanen – Featuring Mannie Kianzad vs., Agnieszka Niedzwiedz for the inaurgal women’s bantamweight title from Nov. 15, 2014 9n London.

11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.

11:30 p.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.

Thursday, May 21

1:30 a.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 8: Dynamite – Featuring Neil Grove vs. Martin Thompson, Tom Watson vs., Denniston Sutherland, Dean Amasinger vs. Scott Jansen and Jason Young vs. Abdul Mohamed from Oct. 24, 2009 in London.

6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fightling Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.

7:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professionals and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.

8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

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

9:00 p.m. ET – Battlegrounds MMA: O.N.E. – Featuring a one-night, single-slimination MMA tournament from Tulsa, OK, showcasing Roan Carneiro, Brock Larson, Cody McKenzie, Trey Houston, Jesse Taylor and others.

Friday, May 22

2:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

4:00 a.m. ET – Best of DEEP – Featuring class fights from the historic Japanese DEEP promotion including Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai and Gegard Mousasi.

5:00 a.m. ET – Best of Jewels – Classic fights from the all-female Japanese MMA league, Jewels.

6:00 – p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge – Professional MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.

7 p.m. ET – UFC 187 Weigh-In – LIVE coverage of official weigh-ins for UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson in Las Vegas.

8:00 p.m. ET — KSW 18 – Featuring Overeem vs. Rozalski – Featuring Valentijn Overeem vs. Marcin Rozalski, Jan Blachowicz vs. Mario Miranda and Curt Warburton vs. Artur Sowinski from Feb. 24, 2012 in Plock, Poland.

11:00 p.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 43 – LIVE MMA from Calgary, Canada, featuring Jason Zentgraf vs. Nick Ring, Mixhsa Cirkunov vs. Shaun Asher and Sergei Juskevic vs. LT Nelson,

Saturday, May 23

1:00 a.m. ET – SuperKombat: World Grand Prix III – Featuring Andrei Stoica vs. Ali Cenik for the super cruiserweight title, plus the cruiserweight tournament semifinals from June 21, 2014 in Constanta, Romania.

4:00 a.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Chris Weidman – John Ramdeen talks in depth with UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.

6:00 a.m. ET – Best of TKO – Featuring Patrick Cote vs. Steve Vigneault from TKO 14.

7:00 a.m. ET – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Dave Taylor from Gladiator Challenge 2.

10:00 a.m. ET – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest, hosted by UFC veterans Matt LIndland and Chael Sonnen. This episode features the rise of SportFight champion Enoch Wilson.

2:00 p.m. ET – KSW 31: Materia vs. Drwal – LIVE MMA from Gdansk, Poland, featuring Michal Materia vs. Tomasx Drwal, Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Rolles Gracie and Goran Reljic vs. Attila Vegh.

7:00 p.m. ET – UFC 187 Pre-Show – LIVE pre-fight coverage and analysis for UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson in Las Vegas.

8:00 p.m. ET – WSOF Canada 1: Ford vs. Powell – Featuring Ryan Ford vs. Joel Powell for the WSOF Canadian welterweight title, plus Michael Hill vs. Ryan Dickson from Feb. 21, 2014 in Edmonton, AB.

10:00 p.m. ET – WSOF Canada 2: Loiseau vs. Lewis – Featuring David “The Crow” Loisean vs. Dwayne Lewis, plus Josh Hill vs. Mike Adams and Tim Hague vs. Matt Baker from June 7, 2014 in Edmonton, AB.

Sunday, May 24

1:00 a.m. ET – UFC 187 Post-Show – LIVE Post-fight coverage for UFC 1878: Jones vs. Johnson in Las Vegas.

6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

10:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC – Featuring compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.

2:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion LIVE #29: Amsterdam – LIVE professional kickboxing from Amsterdam, Holland.

7:00 p.m. ET – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features and look back at the past.

7:30 p.m. ET – Judo Qingdao Grand Prix 2014 – Highlights from the Judo Qingdao Grand Prix fromNov. 19-21 in China.

Information:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

boxing

Baltimore Boxing to honor Police during “Blood, Sweat & Tears” Card May 29!

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Baltimore, MD (May 18, 2015) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions will honor the Baltimore Police Department during a special Olympic style card Friday, May 29 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

 

Tickets for “Blood, Sweat & Tears” can be purchased by calling 410-375-9175 or going to Baltimoreboxing.com. Individual tickets start at $25 and VIP tables of 10 are available for $500. All VIP ticketholders can enjoy free hors d’oeurves from 7-8 pm, the best seats in the house and a special meet and greet with five time world champion Vinny Paz.

 

During the recent Baltimore Riots, a number of officers were hit with rocks, bricks and others items while attempting to stop violent protests. Overall, more than 100 officers were injured trying to prevent further damage to the city. During the evening, Baltimore Boxing will have a special ceremony honoring the department for their courageous efforts to stop violent protesters.

 

“Baltimore was a very scary place last month,” said Smith. “I had to shut my gym down and know a lot of people had their businesses destroyed. If it weren’t for the brave men and women in law enforcement, things would’ve been even worse. I commend them for the job they did and honoring them during the card is the least that I can do.”

 

Fast rising heavyweight Sam “Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed returns to the ring less than three weeks after his most recent bout when he defends his East Coast Heavyweight crown in the main event. Crossed, who is turning professional after this fight, has shown tremendous improvement and always gives fans their monies worth. His opponent will be announced shortly.

 

Welterweight Allen Burris looks to continue his hot streak against an opponent TBD in the co-featured bout of the evening and other bouts will be announced shortly.

 

In addition to honoring the policemen and women, Baltimore Boxing is proudly teaming up with Unified Efforts. Since their founding in 2012 by formerBaltimore detective Debbie Ramsey, Unified Efforts is a full-service bullying prevention organization that has helped raise awareness throughout the Charm City. To assist with the program, Baltimore Boxing will donate tickets and proceeds from a 50/50 raffle on fight night.

 

“This is going to be our second time working with Unified Efforts,” said Smith. “Debbie has a great heart and it was an excellent experience having her at our card last November. We are very glad to have Debbie and Unified Efforts promoting a great message in association with the fight card. Michael’s Eighth Avenue has been our most popular venue and was sold out for the last card so I advise everybody to purchase their tickets early because this will be a special event for the community.”

 

For more information on Baltimore Boxing Promotions, visit Baltimoreboxing.com

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” adds middleweight slugfest pitting Joe Schilling vs. Hisaki Kato, making it the fourth and final main-card matchup

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Easy Tweet: “.@JoeSchilling187 and Hisaki Kato join #Bellator139 at the @KansasStarArena on June 26. http://bit.ly/1GfVzbx”

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 18, 2015) – A card loaded with explosive contests has received one more potential slugfest, as middleweight sluggers Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (2-4) and Hisaki Kato (4-1) will clash in the fourth and final main-card matchup of next month’s “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” event which airs live on Spike.

 

Headlined by a heavyweight contest between French striking specialist Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5), “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” takes place June 26 at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

 

Additional matchups include lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs. John “The Natural” Alessio (35-17) and former Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7) taking on Goiti Yamauchi (18-2).

 

The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com. Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

 

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which start at just $17 and include cage side seats for just $97, are currently available at Ticketmaster.com.

 

The 31-year-old Schilling has been fighting professionally since 2006, starting his combat sports career in muay Thai, where he earned both U.S. and world titles. Since he’s turned his focus to MMA, Schilling continues to compete in kickboxing events, as well, working his way to GLORY’s Last Man Standing tournament this past June, competing three times in a single evening. Schilling made his Bellator MMA debut in November, scoring a “Knockout of the Year” candidate stoppage of noted striker Melvin Manhoef.

 

A karate stylist who first made his name in Japan in the sport of Kudo – a hybrid version of MMA that involves fighting in a gi, gloves and a mask – the 32-year-old Kato will fight in the U.S. on June 26th for the first time. Kato’s transition in 2013 to traditional MMA rules has proven to be a rousing success, as he’s earned four knockout victories in his first five bouts. Three of those wins were earned in the first round, including an April 2014 victory that came in just 53 seconds.

 

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” – Friday, June 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, Mulvane, Kansas

 

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1)

 

mixed martial arts, RFA

RFA 26 GETS NEW CO-MAIN EVENT, FULL TELEVISED CARD RELEASED

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RFA 26 IN COLORADO
FRIDAY JUNE 5TH LIVE ON AXS TV
MAIN EVENT:
Ben Smith vs Gilbert Smith
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
CO MAIN EVENT:
Thiago Alves vs Marcus Edwards
LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN


LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) will feature a new co-main event as the promotion heads back to Colorado next month. RFA 26 – Smith vs. Smith now has a co-headliner pitting two lightweights looking to make a big statement in the Mile High City as Colorado’s own Marcus “Bad Intentions” Edwards battles Brazilian submission ace Thiago “Monstrinho” Alves. The event takes place Friday, June 5th at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Tickets for RFA 26 – Smith vs. Smith are available for purchase NOW through AltitudeTickets.com. Tickets start at $25.00. A limited number of catered 8-seat cageside VIP tables are available by calling 303-521-0966.
Alves (8-2) is a 28-year-old native of São Paulo, Brazil who holds the rank of black belt in jiu-jitsu. Alves is replacing former RFA title challenger Zach Juusola, who was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury. The Team Link representative has secured six of his eight career victories via submission since making his professional MMA debut in 2011. Two of those submission wins have come this year and he will look to stay perfect in 2015 as he makes his national television debut at RFA 26.
“I don’t know a lot about Marcus Edwards personally, but this will be a great opportunity for the both of us to show off our skills on national television. I look forward to going to his hometown and doing my job at RFA 26.”
Edwards (9-3) will be celebrating a double-homecoming at RFA 26. The 26-year-old Factory X Muay Thai standout will be returning to fight in his home state of Colorado for the first time since 2013, while also returning to AXS TV, where he fought three times in 2014.
RFA 26 will be headlined by a welterweight title bout as RFA welterweight champion Benjamin Smith (14-2) puts his title on the line against RFA #1 welterweight contender Gilbert Smith (10-4). The main card will also feature a pair of bantamweight bouts. NCAA Division I wrestler Jarred “Shutout” Mercado (12-2) will lock horns with jiu-jitsu black belt Bruno Frazatto (6-2), while Hawaiian knockout artist Boston “Boom Boom” Salmon (3-0) will clash with collegiate wrestler Danny Mainus (3-3). Also on the main card, former RFA middleweight title challenger Andrew “El Dirte” Sanchez (5-2) squares off with Respect FC and SFFN middleweight champion Clinton Williams (5-1) and undefeated heavyweight prospect Brandon Griffin (4-0) battles The MMA Lab destroyer Ashley Gooch (7-4).
170 CHAMPIONSHIP:
Ben Smith vs Gilbert Smith
155 CO-MAIN EVENT:
Thigo Alves vs Marcus Edwards
135 Feature Bout:
Jarred Mercado vs Brun Frazzato
265 Feature Bout:
Brandon Griffin vs Ashley Gooch
185 Feature Bout:
Andrew Sanchez vs Clinton Williams
135 Feature Bout:
Boston Salmon vs Danny Mainus
Additional bouts on the RFA 26 undercard will be announced soon. RFA 26 will be the promotion’s sixth event to take place in the state of Colorado. It will be the second time the RFA has visited “The Centennial State” in 2015. The entire main card of RFA 26 – Smith vs. Smith will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, June 5th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.
About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents live events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 43 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About AXS TV Fights: AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast moreLIVE fights than any other television network. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
Boxcino, boxing, ESPN Friday Night Fights

WBA and WBO to add regional titles to Boxcino championship fights this Friday in Corona, California

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For Immediate Release

ORANGE, Calif. (May 18, 2015) – This Friday night at the Omega Products Outdoor Arena, the 2015 Boxcino finals will take place in the heavyweight and jr. middleweight divisions.
The fights will be televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights beginning at 10 PM ET.

The 2015 Boxcino Tournament is promoted by Banner Promotions.

Friday’s show is promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions.
The stakes just grew even more as two more belts have been added to each final bout.
In the heavyweight final between Andrey Fedosov and Donovan Dennis, the WBA Fedelatin and the WBO Intercontinental titles will be on the line, in addition to the Boxcino 2015 Heavyweight championship.
In the Jr. middleweight bout between Brandon Adams and John Thompson, the NABA Interim Super Welterweight title as well as the WBO Intercontinental Jr. Middleweight belts will be contested for, in addition to the Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight title.
The Omega Products Outdoor Arena is located at 1681 California Ave., Corona, CA 92881 and can be reached at 951-737-7447. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. PT and the first bout begins at 6:15 p.m. PT.

For additional information please visit www.banner-promotions.com& ThompsonBoxing.com and. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram@bannerboxing and @ThompsonBoxing.
boxing, Ring 8

Daniel Jacobs & Harold Weston Ring 8 Guest Speakers Tuesday night in New York

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NEW YORK (May 18, 2015) – World Boxing Association (WBA) Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs and 2015 New York State Boxing Hal of Fame inductee Harold Weston will be tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, May 19) special Ring 8 guest speakers at O’Neill’s Restaurant, located at 64-21 53rd Drive in Maspeth, New York.

 

Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs), fighting out Brooklyn, is an inspiration having overcome cancer to become world champion. An outstanding amateur boxer, Jacobs was a gold medal winner at the 2003 Junior Olympics National, 2004 & 2005 National PAL, 2004 & 2005 National Golden Gloves tournaments.

 

Last August, Jacobs captured the vacant WBA 160-pound division world champion, stopping Jarrod Fletcher (18-1) in the fifth round. In his first world title defense this past April, Jacobs registered a win by 12th round technical knockout over Caleb Truax (25-1-2) in Chicago.

 

Weston (26-9-5, 7 KOs) had an outstanding professional boxing career until he retired in 1979 after his fight with Thomas Hearns. Weston’s most notable victory was against world champion (and fellow NYSBHOF inductee) Vito Antuofermo in 1973, by way of a fifth-round technical knockout due to cuts. Weston fought draws with two other world champions, Saoul Mamby, who was also inducted into the NYSBHOF Class of 2015, and Wilfredo Benitez.

ABOUT RING 8: Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

 

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

 

Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, with a current boxing license or book are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.

 
amateur boxing, Gleason's Gym

Our Next Amateur Boxing Show is Saturday, May 23rd at Gleason’s

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 Join us on, Saturday evening the 23rd of May and enjoy the excitement of amateur boxing at the grass roots level.

 

We will schedule a lot of bouts. We will put on bouts as Masters, Seniors and Juniors.

 

If you wish to compete, please contact our matchmaker Jieun Lee at matchmaker@gleasonsgym.net or text her at 917 858 3955.

 

All matchmaking is done by email or text.

 

The weigh-in for this show will begin at 4:00PM and the first bout will begin at 6:00PM.

 

All our bouts are sanctioned by USABoxingMetro. All boxers must have their boxing book with them in order to participate.

 

The ticket price is $20 per person. Children 6 and under are not charged. All gym members and registered amateurs with their books in hand pay $15 per person.

 

 

P.S. If you can’t make it but still want to see the fights, they’ll be streaming at

Gleason’s Gym website: www.gleasonsgym.net

 

boxing, ESPN Friday Night Fights

Reynaldo Ojeda decisions Monty Meza-Clay in U.S. debut

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 Featherweight Luis Rosa goes from

Top prospect to legitimate contender

 

RESULTS FROM HARTFORD

 

Reynaldo Ojeda (R) out-boxed veteran for impressive decision

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (May 15, 2015) — Undefeated Puerto Rican lightweight Reynaldo Ojeda (16-0, 9 KOs) impressively introduced himself to American boxing fans in tonight’s ESPN Friday Night Fights main event, presented by 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, in association with Universal Promotions, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

The 26-year-old Ojeda took advantage of his decisive height and reach advantage in his U.S. pro debut, out-boxing the diminutive (5′ 2″), all-action Meza-Clay throughout a very entertaining fight. Meza-Clay continually walked down Ojeda, who used his quickness, superior movement and boxing ability to register a convincing victory by 12-round unanimous decision.

“I’m a top prospect at 135 now; I’m going to be giving them all grades now,” commented Ojeda, a teacher in Puerto Rico. “The plan was to box Monty because he’s such an aggressive fighter.”

Meza-Clay was hampered in the later rounds by a serious cut over his right eye. Ojeda wisely attacked the wound, pumping a series of stiff jabs and left hooks.   “I got confident when his cut opened up,” Ojeda admitted. “What’s next for me is up to my promoter and manager, but I’m available to fight any 135-pounder in the world.”

Luis Rosa (R) finished off Jonathan Perez

Connecticut favorite Luis “KO King” Rosa (20-0, 10 KOs), of New Haven, made a statement in the co-feature against Colombian featherweight Jonathan “Popeye” Perez (33-11, 27 KOs). Rosa was the aggressor from the opening bell through the end of the fight against a dangerous opponent, firing an array of effective combinations to the head and body, often switching from an orthodox stance to southpaw.

Rosa was penalized a point in the fourth round for hitting his downed opponent. From that point on, though, he never let up. He pounded Perez, caught him on the ropes, and unleashed an unanswered barrage of punches until referee Michael Ortega ended the fight in the fifth round.

Rosa is world ranked by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC), respectively, at No. 15 and No. 16.

“I said it was going to be explosive and we made it that way,” Rosa said after the fight. “I made a statement that I’m coming after all of the top 122-pounders. I’m a future champ in the making.”

Ivan Golub (R) finishes off outclassed Henry Beckford

In the ESPN2 opening fight, 5-time Ukraine National amateur champion Ivan “The Volk” Golub, fighting out of Brooklyn, improved to 13-0 with his eighth career knockout coming against late replacement Henry Beckford (2-2, 1 KO). Class prevailed as rising middleweight star Golub worked fellow southpaw Beckford’s body, dropped him in the fifth with a body shot, and referee Ortega moved in to call off the fight.

The Foster brothers from New Haven were both victorious. Light heavyweight Charles Foster (8-0, 4 KOs) remained undefeated with a sensational knockout of Joe Gardner (11-8-1, 1 KO) only 62-seconds into the first round, while his younger brother, junior lightweight William Foster (2-0, 1 KO) stoppedGilvan Santos (0-2) in the opening round.

Bronx middleweight Chris “Golden” Galeano (8-0) remained unbeaten, boxing his way to a unanimous sixth-round decision over Yosmani Abreau (4-9-2), of Las Vegas.

Decorated Kazakh amateur boxer Dauren Yeleussinov (2-0, 2 KOs), now fighting out of Brooklyn, wore down Louisiana super middleweight Jay “JD” Williams (3-7), winning by way of a sixth-round technical knockout as referee Danny Sciavone halted the action.

Waterbury, CT junior welterweight Jair Ramos (3-2-2, 2 KOs) and Harlem’s Curtis Morton (3-5-2) fought to a four-round majority draw.

In the walk-out bout, Puerto Rican lightweight Alberto Candeleria (5-2-1, 4 KOs) was too much for Brooklyn’s Ian James (3-12-1, 1 KO), as referee Ortega waved off the fight in the first round for a technical knockout.

All pictures by Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

Complete results below:

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

(winners listed first)

 

Main Event – Lightweights

Reynaldo Ojeda (17-0, 10 KOs), San Juan, Puerto Rico

WDEC10 (99-91, 99-91, 98-92)

Monte Meza-Clay (36-5, 22 KOs), Rankin, PA

 

Co-Feature – Junior Featherweights

Luis Rosa (20-0, 10 KOs), New Haven, CT

WTKO5 (2:29)

Jonathan Perez (33-11, 17 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia

 

UNDERCARD

 

Light Heavyweights

Charles Foster (8-0, 4 KOs), New Haven, Connecticut

WKO1 (1:02)

Joe Gardner (11-8-1, 1 KO), Woonsocket, RI

 

Super Middleweights

Dauren Yeleussinov (2-0, 2 KOs), Brooklyn, NY

WTKO6 (2:29)

Jay Williams (3-7), West Monroe, LA

 

Middleweights

Ivan Golub (13-0. 8 KOs), Brooklyn, NY

WTKO5 (2:17)

Henry Beckford (2-2, 1 KO), Roosevelt, NY

 

Chris Galeano (8-0), Bronx, NY

WDEC6 (59-52, 59-52, 8-56)

Yosmani Abreau (4-9-2), Las Vegas, NV

 

Junior Welterweights

Jair Ramos (3-2-2, 2 KOs, Waterbury, CT

D4 (38-38,38-38, 37-39)

Curt Morton (3-4-3), Harlem, NY

Lightweights

Alberto Candeleria (5-2-1, 4 KOs), Miami, FL

WTKO1 (2:00)

Ian James (3-12-1, 1 KO), Brooklyn, NY

 

Junior Lightweights

William Foster (2-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT

WTKO1 (2:54)

Galvan Santos (0-2), Woburn, MA
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

Brandon Halsey Defeats Kendall Grove Via Technical Knockout   Vacates Bellator Middleweight Title Due To Missing Weight

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All photos by: Bellator MMA/Eric Coleman

TEMECULA, Calif. (May 15, 2015) – While Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0) can no longer say he’s Bellator MMA’s Middleweight World Champion, he’s still managed to show his talent with a one-sided destruction of proven veteran Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (21-15).

 

The contest served as the feature main event of Friday’s “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” card at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.

 

Halsey nearly finished the fight in the early going, moving to an arm-triangle choke that would have finished a lesser opponent, but Grove somehow battled through the effort. Still, it was a one-sided round for the former champ.

 

Grove was able to avoid such a precarious position in the second, but he was still forced to be on the defensive throughout most of the frame. With a high-paced wrestling attack, Halsey simply pushed his way to the floor and enjoyed top position for almost the entirety of the round.

 

The pattern continued as the fight wore on, with Halsey simply overpowering his opponent and constantly earning himself the dominant position. Grove briefly threatened with an armbar in the fourth frame, but Halsey simply yanked his limb free and pounded away with punches shortly after until he earned the TKO win at the 2:25 mark of the frame.

 

The undefeated Halsey, who was stripped of the Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title for failing to make weight, will look to again earn the belt in his next appearance.

 

“I was my own worst enemy. It was how I performed. He didn’t throw anything at me that I wasn’t ready for. I was just trying to tough through the injury. I had to tough it out and come out with the victory,” Halsey said.

 

“Obviously, you want to be as dominant as possible. I just felt like I couldn’t explode through my combinations or explode through the fight and finish how I wanted to. But like I said, you’ve got to deal with adversity, and I did it the best I could,” Halsey continued.

 

“I learned my lesson. I thank Bellator. I apologize to the commission. It’s unprofessional not to make weight. No excuses, but anybody knows that it’s hard to cut weight with an injury. The belt’s just a decoration, so I’m still the champ in my eyes. No one has taken the belt from me.”

 

In the night’s co-main event, former Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took a step toward another shot at the title with a hard-fought decision victory over the hard-hitting Mike “The Marine” Richman, of Rose Mount, Minn.

 

While Richman showed excellent takedown defense throughout the 15-minute affair, Dantas’ work rate helped him earn the favor of the judges. Constantly pressing and looking to bring the fight to the floor, Dantas was able to just edge out Richman on the cards, 29-28 according to all three officials.

 

“I went out there and fought the way I trained to fight,” Dantas said after the win. “I knew Mike Richman was going to come with everything, but I wanted to win this fight and get back to the title. The only fight that makes sense next is for the title.

 

In a welterweight contest, Fernando “The Menifee Maniac” Gonzalez (24-13), of Menifee, Calif., scored a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over “Curtious” Curtis Millender (7-2), of San Bernardino, Calif.

 

With Millender enjoying a six-inch height advantage, the smaller Gonzalez struggled to score points in the first two rounds. But when the fight hit the floor in the third, Gonzalez latched onto a guillotine choke and earned a tap from his opponent at the 1:14 of the final round.

 

“I’m 4-0 right now,” Gonzalez said after the win. “That’s one step closer to the title, and I’m excited to get in there and mix it up with whoever is next.”

 

With the result, Gonzalez now boasts four-straight Bellator MMA victories and put himself in line for a potential shot at the promotion’s Welterweight Title.

 

In the night’s first main-card matchup, undefeated prospect Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (7-0), of Rahway, N.J., used a superior wrestling game to outwork more experienced opponent Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-5), of Lajes, Brazil, en route a unanimous-decision victory.

 

With Caldwell scoring takedowns throughout the matchup, Silva looked for submissions when available, but he simply couldn’t find the necessary hold to work past his opponent’s defense. Instead, Caldwell kept his pressure high, and judges awarded him the fight, 29-28 on all three cards.

 

After the victory, Caldwell made it clear he’s clearing his way to a shot at the Bellator MMA World Title.

 

“I don’t think there are any fighters out there as explosive as me at 135 pounds, or as fast,” Caldwell said. “Eventually, I’ll be able to prove that.”

 

In the night’s final preliminary bout, Guam’s Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1) scored a third-round knockout of Mexico’s Antonio Duarte (18-6).

 

Additionally, featherweight prospect Jordan Parsons (11-1), of San Diego, Calif., earned a third-round decision win over the previously undefeated Brazilian Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (30-1).

 

In a light heavyweight contest, Virgil Zwicker (14-4-1), of Temecula, Calif., earned a first-round knockout win over Razak Al-Hassan (12-5), of Milwaukee, Wisc.

 

And in the night’s first fight, Ricky “The Sniper” Rainey (11-3), of Gastonia, N.C., earned a second-round knockout win over Jessie Juarez (22-10), of Torrance, Calif.

 

Brandon Halsey (9-0) def. Kendall Grove (21-15)

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Eduardo Dantas (17-4) def. Mike Richman (18-6 )

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Fernando Gonzalez (24-14) def. Curtis Millender (7-2)

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Darrion Caldwell (7-0) def. Rafael Silva (22-5)

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About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

boxing, HBO Boxing

Weights from Inglewood, California: Golovkin vs. Monroe Jr.

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Inglewood, CA (May 15, 2015)-–

Gennady Golovkin 159 – Willie Monroe Jr. 160

Photos by Emily Harney / Banner Promotions

Saturday, May 16
4:30 p.m. FORUM DOORS OPEN

4:45 p.m. FIRST FIGHT BEGINS

7:00 p.m. HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® TELECAST BEGINS

*Events/Schedule Subject to Change*

GOLOVKIN VS. MONROE FIGHT INFO:
Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe is a 12-round middleweight world championship bout presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and the Forum. The fight will take place Saturday, May 16 at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. PT and the first bout starts at4:45 p.m. PT., the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Golovkin, 32-0 (29KO’s) will be defending his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Organization and “Interim” World Boxing Council Middleweight World Titles against #2 ranked challenger Monroe,
19-1-0 (6KO’s).

Co-featured on the telecast is 12-round junior flyweight matchup between World Boxing Council Champion ROMAN “Chocolatito” GONZALEZ, 42-0 (36KO’s) and #2 ranked challenger and former world champion EDGAR SOSA, 51-8-0 (30KO’s).

Tickets for May 16-Golovkin vs Monroe are, priced at $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on-sale through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office (Monday–Friday at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

GOLOVKIN vs. MONROE is presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and the Forum.

Co-featured on the telecast is an outstanding Junior Flyweight matchup between World Boxing Council Champion ROMAN “Chocolatito” GONZALEZ and #2 ranked challenger and former world champion EDGAR SOSA.

GONZALEZ vs. SOSA is presented by K2 Promotions and Teiken Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.K2Promos.com,www.GGGBoxing.com, www.Banner-Promotions.com, www.FabulousForum.com andwww.HBO.com/boxing.

Follow on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Willie Monroe Jr.@WillieMonroeJr, Roman Gonzalez @ChocolatitoBox, Edgar Sosa@EdgarSosaChamp, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, Banner Promotions @BannerBoxing, the Forum @theForum and HBO Boxing @HBOBoxingand become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/GGGBoxing,www.facebook.com/WilieMonroeJrFanPage,
www.facebook/BannerPromotions, www.facebook.com/TheForum andwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Use the hashtags #GolovkinMonroe and #GonzalezSosa to join the conversation on Twitter.

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