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Tag Archives: Canada
Fight Network Presents ENFUSION LIVE #51 from Halifax this Saturday, Julai 8 katika 8:00 p.m. NA
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Largest MMA event in The Americas July 14-15 in Monterrey, Mexico
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Promoter Yvon Michel sets record straight about Cancelled Beterbiev-Barrera IBF title eliminator
 Nobody wants to fight undefeated light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (R)
(Photo by Vincent Ethier)
MONTREAL (Machi 13, 2017 – Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) rais Yvon Michel has responded accordingly to unfounded allegations recently made in the media by Sullivan Barrera about GYM and its undefeated world light heavyweight contender, Artur Beterbiev, to set the record straight regarding the recently announced cancelled Beterbiev-Barrera International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title eliminator.
“Despite Barrera’s claims,” Michel insisted, “he didn’t sign a contract because he never intended for fight Artur. In Team Barrera’s letter, he lied and showed his ignorance trying to distract from the facts.
“For the conclusion of this unfortunate saga, the IBF has informed me that it has ruled to ban Barrera from its world rankings, or from participating in one of its sanctioned fights, for the next six months. I’ve also been informed that, if nobody in the IBF top 10 is available and agrees to fight Artur, the IBF will declare him as its No. 1 mandatory challenger for the winner of the Ward-Kovalev rematch. Artur will be back in the ring in late April, early May. The mandatory defense for the Ward-Kovalev II winner, or Ward if that fight doesn’t happen, is due in September.”
MimiBF Light Heavyweight Ratings: Champion – Andre Ward, 1. Unrated, 2. Artur Beterbiev, 3. Sergey Kovalev, 4. Erik Skoglund, 5. Enrico Kolling, 6. SUSPENDED, 7. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, 8. Dominic Bosel , 9. Robert Stieglitz, 10. Trent Broadhurst.
Chini, Michel sets the record straight, point-by-point, in terms of the open letter Team Barrera sent to the media.
Michel didn’t negotiate with Barrera’s promoter, Kathy duva, and asked for it to go to an immediate purse bid.
“Kathy duva (CEO/Main Events) came to my office the day before the deadline set for Barrera’s acceptance to participate in the IBF title eliminator to speak about the situation. Our hope was to fight Barrera but because he is prohibited from traveling to Canada, I confirmed our intention with Ms. Duva to accommodate Barrera and leave Canada and make the fight in the United States. We were in the same position a year ago, when Barrera pulled out of the same title eliminator because he couldn’t get a visa to fight in Canada. Artur was then supposed to fight Karo Murat, but he suffered an injury and was unable to fight. Barrera later defeated Murat to move into the IBF mandatory position in which he then lost to Andre Ward.
“Kathy told me the number she had in mind to make the fight. I said that I would see if there were enough resources for that amount and promised to call her the following day. I did and explained that there weren’t enough resources to meet that purse structure. Hata hivyo, not long after I received confirmation Barrera was officially taking the challenge, I then decided to move forward and immediately requested a purse bid date, which is the prerogative of any promoter, knowing what was Main Events’ expectation in terms of their fighter’s purse. In this business, everybody knows the best way to determine the true market value of a fight is a purse bid, where promoters are evaluating their resources and making their bid accordingly. We still had still seven days to make an offer, one and other, and make a deal up to five minutes before the bid was due. Main Events never made us an offer and neither did we.”
GYM’s winning purse bid was $251,000, substantially more than Main Events’ bid of $182,000, of which Beterbiev would receive 75-percent of the winning bid. Barrera would have received $62,750, compared to $45,500 he would have earned if his own promoter had won the bid.
Beterbiev reported on social media that his fight versus Barrera would be held March 4th katika Brooklyn, New York and Michel reported that the fight would be held in late March, early April, katika New York. Barrera had trained for those dates but didn’t receive a contract.
“GYM won the purse and pursuant to IBF rules and regulations, the fight had to be held within 30 kwa 90 siku,” Michel continued. “We deposited $50,000, per IBF rules, and received a confirmation letter from the IBF all was conform. As per IBF regulations, within 15 siku after the purse bid, we filed contracts for the two fighters. Artur signed his five minutes after he received the contract and it was then sent to the IBF. We executed Barrera’s contract, sending it to Main Events for Barrera with a copy sent to the IBF. Soon after I received notice from the IBF that everything was in order and that we had complied with the IBF requirements.”
Michel sent an improper agreement to Main Event listing various dates.
“We knew we had a PBC date, ama Aprili 14, 21 au 29. It’s very common for fight dates written in the initial fighter contract to vary one week before or after the date listed. I contacted IBF president Daryl Peoples and said April 21st was the most likely date but that it could end up being a week earlier or after. He recommended to be transparent and to write all three potential dates into the contract. We did and then sent it to Main Events for Barrera to sign. Main Events noted that IBF rules said only one date and site could be written in the contract. Daryl complied with the objection so we then officially confirmed April 21st would be the date of the fight and Florida the site. We then sent a GYM executed corrected IBF bout agreement back to Main Events to be signed by Barrera and filed with the IBF on February 16th.
“Wakati huo huo, GYM received a request, from Main Event to produce a Provision of Service agreement for Barrera’s participation. GYM was not obliged to positively fulfill that request but, as a display of good faith, we did so in belief the contract that Barrera would sign and Main Events would file it at the IBF office, on that date, as per its rules. Soon after, GYM received a letter from IBF championship chairman, Mr. Lindsey Tucker, that all requirements had been fulfilled to officially sanction the bout.”
The Florida location for the fight had been selected by GYM for three reasons. 1. Beating Barrera in his own backyard would send strong message for Beterbiev within the division; 2. GYM had received an offer from Miami-based SMY Sports and Entertainment’s president M. Eric Senecal, who wanted the buy the rights to produce the event; 3. GYM’S longtime and very close relationship with Florida-based Warriors Promotions, Mr. Leon Margules.
On behalf of GYM, Margules had reserved the April 21st date with the Florida Athletic Commission. SMY Sports & Entertainments made a deal with GYM that had a deadline to deposit the agreed upon money guarantee. They had reserved the Seminole Hard Rock arena in Fort Lauderdale. If SMY was not able to deliver money and site, GYM had a backup plan, proposed by Margules, who had a deal and a site on hold, Hialeah Racetrack in nearby Hollywood (FL). No matter what would transpire, the fight was guaranteed at a site in Florida, Aprili 21st for a PBC event to be televised on FS1.
Barrera’s manager was contacted by one of the promoters to help pay Yvon Michel and finance the bout.
“This is a tortuous claim and a terrible lie,” Michel said. “Nobody representing GYM ever made that kind of request. The truth is a local promoter, M. Michael Luzbet, whom I’d never met and never made any deals of any sorts with in the past, wanted to be a partner with SMY Sports and Entertainments. He tried to raise his share of money to participate but SMY rapidly disassociated themselves from Michael Luzbet.
“How the group (SMY) was raising money wasn’t really my concern, but they had found sponsors and were counting on the important Quebec community residing in Florida at that time of the year, as well as the important Cuban population and their contacts with the Russian community, to sell VIP tables and tickets. It wanted the rights to put the show on in Florida but they were concerned because they had heard a rumor that Barrera hadn’t signed a contract and he was going to pull out of the fight.
They then requested a guarantee that Barrera (who lives in Miami) was going to fight before confirming their money deposit. I was in Quebec City at that time for the Alvarez-Bute fight. Mr. Lindsey Tucker was there representing the IBF and I spoke to him. He said he believed the IBF had received a signed contract from Barrera. I contacted SYM to say everything was fine and that I had requested a copy (of the Barrera-signed contract) from Lindsey. Daryl People then informed me that there was a misunderstanding and they did not have a signed contract from Barrera. It is only then I realized Main Events had pressured Barrera to sign the agreement without success. We asked the IBF president to pressure Main Events to have Barrera sign the contract because, without it, we were jammed in the promotion of the event. This is exactly what happened.”
Team Barrera implied that Yvon Michel couldn’t promote a show of this magnitude in the U.S.
“I’ve promoted more than 200 shows, never defaulting or cancelling a single show, including involvement in more than 50 world championship fights and many multi-million dollars events, much bigger than this title eliminator. This statement just shows his ignorance about what we’re all about and who we are and was just smoke screen to his behavior. I’ve promoted shows with the majority of the major promoters in the world; DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Promotions, Don King Promotions, Golden Boy, Matukio kuu… just about everybody. It was unbelievable for them to write such an impertinent line.”
Team Barrera unjustly belittled the quality of Beterbiev’s last two opponents, calling them cow farmers from Argentina.
“This is terrible to be so insolent to fellow world contenders. Both fighters were world ranked in the top 15 wakati huo. (Ezequiel Osvaldo) Maderna (23-2, 16 Kos) had never been knocked out and (Isidro) Prieto (26-1-3, 22 Kos) had suffered only one loss, a decision to the WBC #1 contender Eleider Alvarez. Beterbiev knocked them both out (Maderna in the fourth round, Prieto in the first), so downgrading the quality of Artur’s 2016 opponents was totally unwarranted. If Barrera ever actually got into the ring with Beterbiev, he would have fallen into the same category as Maderna and Prieto, who were both fierce competitors but not in the same league of Beterbiev.”
Michel firmly believes Barrera never intended to fight Beterbiev for his share of the purse bid and, to cover up, he tried to place the blame on others. His promoter spent time and money for the bid at the request of its fighter, Barrera, believing he had a legitimate chance of winning the fight. It is obvious that sentiment was not shared by Barrera, even if the fight was to be held in his own backyard in Florida.
“The truth of this matter is that Barrera lied to distract media attention from the fact he didn’t sign a contract and clearly wanted no part of Beterbiev,” Michel concluded. “We don’t disrespect any contender who prefers not to challenge Artur Beterbiev for the mandatory position. We also believed that Main Events did everything in its power to convince their fighter to keep his words and to go forward with the fight. Main Events is not at blame. We also have respect for Barrera’s fighting abilities but we have no respect for the person Barrera is with his despicable, unprofessional, shameful and disgraceful attitude in handling the present situation.
“On a personal note, I have never met Sullivan Barrera. I never had to directly communicate with him, I never had to do business with him, everything went through his promoter, Matukio kuu, and I really don’t envy them! Karibuni, GYM will have two light heavyweight world champions and I can guarantee Barrera will never be in their plans.
“We’ve moved on from Sullivan Barrera to find an opponent who has the desire to step into the ring to fight Artur Beterbiev. While Barrera will still be suspended by the IBF, Beterbiev will be World Champion!”
Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian, holds two amateur victories over his fellow countryman, Kovalev, the former world light heavyweight champion. Whether it’s Kovalev or Ward, Artur Beterbiev will be more than ready for the challenge to fight for the world light heavyweight championship this September.
MAELEZO:
Twitter: yvonmichelgym, @ABeterbiev
Instagram: @YvonMichelGYM, @Groupeyvonmichel, @ArturBetebiev
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ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) ilianzishwa mwaka 2004 by Yvon Michel and his associates. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through coaching support and especially by competitive management. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events and it is associated with the popular series, “Premier Boxing Mabingwa (PBC),” and has developed major Videotron partnerships with Loto Quebec, TVA Sports, Centre Videotron, Casino de Montreal and Lac Leamy, Tonik GroupImage and Lapointe Dental Centre, in addition to collaborating closely with Rixa.
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GYM SIGNS FRENCH OLYMPIAN CHRISTIAN M’BILLI ASSOMO
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Lee Baxter Promotions Card Postponed; McGuinness and Miljas to fight October 28
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Oktoba 25, 2016) – Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lee Baxter Promotions’ card scheduled for Alhamisi evening at the Powerade Center in Brampton, Ontario has been postponed until further notice.
Two of Baxter’s fighters scheduled to appear on that card, 130 pound contender Logan “Cotton” McGuinness and heavyweight prospect Mladen “Monster” Miljas, will now fight Oktoba 28 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
A former NABA champion at 126, 130 na 135 paundi, McGuinness signed with Lee Baxter Promotions in July. McGuinness, 23-0-1 (10 KO ya), is fighting for the first since May 2015 and meets Noel Rincon, 18-9-1 (10 KO ya), of Mexico over eight rounds. With a victory, the 29-year-old Ontario native hopes to get back in the mix.
Known as “Monster” due to his crushing power and impressive physical stature, Miljas looks to go 2-0 as a pro when he challenges Mexican Adrian Garcia, 1-1 (1 KO), in a four rounder.
“”I’m glad I was able to keep Logan and Mladen fighting even after our card was postponed,” said Lee Baxter. “The card will be rescheduled in the near future but in the meantime it’s important to keep my fighters busy. Logan’s been very sharp in training and Mladen has the look of a good heavyweight prospect based on what we saw in his pro debut.”
Baxter, who is growing his stable of talented boxers, also looks forward to the career changing opportunity his fighter Samuel Vargas has when he faces unbeaten Danny GarciaNovemba 12.
“We’ve got a lot of nice things on the horizon and I believe that Sammy is going to surprise a lot of people. His trainers know everything there is to be known about Garcia and Team Vargas was thrilled when we heard he accepted the fight.
I’ve also got Kane Heron returning from a few lingering injuries and he’ll be back by the end of the year. He is a truly special talent and one of boxing’s best kept secrets. muhimu zaidi, we will continue to grow and invest in our fighters while providing quality events in Canada.”
Kwa habari zaidi, please visit LeeBaxterpromotions.com.
ARTUR BETERBIEV KUWABILI ISIDRO PRIETO DESEMBA 23 KWENYE CASINO DU LAC LEAMY, GATINEAU
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ZAWADI YA KRISMASI YA KWELI
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Montreal (Septemba 29, 2016) – Mashabiki wa ndondi wa Ottawa na Outaouais nchini Kanada watapokea zawadi maalum ya Krismasi wakati mtoto wa kuasili wa Montreal na mpinzani hatari zaidi wa taji la dunia., Artur Beterbiev (10-0, 10 Kos), anakabiliwa na mzembe wa Paraguay na bingwa mtetezi wa uzito wa juu wa WBC Latino Isidro Prieto Ranoni (26-1-3, 22 Kos) katika uchumba halisi wa nguvu, Desemba 23 huko Gatineau kama sehemu ya Msururu wa ndondi za GYM, iliyotolewa na Kasino de Lac Leamy kwa kushirikiana na Videotron.
Beterbiev imeorodheshwa ulimwenguni kote na mashirika makubwa ya vikwazo: Kimataifa Boxing Federation (IBF) #2, World Boxing Council (WBC) na Chama cha Ndondi Duniani (WBA) #3, World Boxing Organization (WBO) #4, na Gonga Jarida #6.
WBO #10 Prieto ameshinda mapambano yake mawili ya mwisho kwa mtoano, tangu kupoteza kwa uamuzi wa pamoja Eleider Alvarez katika pambano la kuvutia la raundi 12, ambapo alikataa kutoa inchi kwa WBC # 1 mpinzani Agosti 15, 2015 katika Kituo cha Bell katika Montreal.
Tarajia fataki kwani uwiano wa KO kwa Beterbiev na Prieto ni asilimia 80 ya ajabu..
“Licha ya madai ya baadhi ya mapromota na wapinzani wa uzani mzito,” Groupe Yvon Michel (Mazoezi rais Yvon Michel alisema, “ni ukweli kwamba Artur Beterbiev ndiye hatari zaidi na tishio kubwa zaidi kwa mabingwa wote wa dunia wa uzito wa juu Wagombea wote wa mataji hubadilisha mawazo yao inapokuja suala la kuingia kwenye pete moja naye.,” Alisema rais wa GYM, Yvon Michel.
“Isidro Prieto ni mpiganaji mkali ambaye alikubali changamoto, pia akiamini ana staili ya kumfukuza hata bondia shupavu. Ameazimia kujitengenezea jina Desemba 23. Hakika tunastaajabia dhamira yake.”
 Artur Beterbiev
Beterbiev ni matarajio mkali wa GYM. Kito cha kweli, mpiganaji wa Chechen alifanyia ukatili eneo la kimataifa la Amateur.
Beterbiev mkali aliiwakilisha Urusi katika Michezo miwili ya Olimpiki huko Beijing na London. Pia alishinda medali za dhahabu na fedha kwenye Mashindano ya Dunia ya Amateur, na vile vile medali za dhahabu katika mashindano mengi ya wachezaji wapya ikijumuisha Kombe la Wold na Mashindano ya Uropa.
Katika 2010, Chama cha Kimataifa cha Ndondi (AIBA) alimtaja kuwa Bondia wake Bora wa Mwaka, kama mpiganaji mahiri wa pauni kwa pauni ulimwenguni. Pia alimshinda bingwa wa sasa wa dunia wa uzani wa light-heavy wa WBO Sergey Kovalev katika amateurs.
Gladiator kutoka Daghestan aliacha familia na marafiki kutimiza ndoto yake ya kuwa bingwa wa ulimwengu wa kitaalam.
“Ana sifa zote zinazohitajika kuwa bingwa wa ulimwengu,” Kocha anayezingatiwa sana wa nguvu na hali Kulesza nyingine alisema juu ya Beterbiev wakati aliposaini mkataba wa kukuza na GYM kwa mara ya kwanza. “Yeye ni afya na daima chanya. Yeye ni mwanariadha wa kiwango cha juu ambaye nimewahi kupata nafasi ya kufanya kazi naye huko Montreal. Ana jeni bora kuliko mtu yeyote ambaye nimewahi kufanya kazi naye na hiyo ni kusema kitu! Artur ana nguvu asili, agile na rahisi. Atapanda haraka sana na kuwaangamiza wapinzani wake. Tarajia KO nyingi,”
Kama mtaalamu, Beterbiev ameharibu kila mpinzani aliyekabiliana naye. Katika pambano lake la sita tu, alimponda bingwa wa zamani wa IBF Tavoris Cloud kwa chini ya raundi mbili ili kunasa kamba ya NABA.
Katika yake Showtime kwanza, Beterbiev aliacha hapo awali bila kushindwa Jeff Page Jr. raundi ya pili. Mhispania southpaw Gabriel Campillo alikuwa anafuata kwenye mstari, katika pambano la mtoaji IBF kwa IBF #2 cheo duniani, ambayo ilionyeshwa kwenye televisheni onyesho la kwanza la Premier Boxing Champions, Ishi kwenye CBS. Campillo, bingwa wa zamani wa WBA, iliangushwa na kisha kutolewa nje vibaya katika raundi ya nne.
Beterbiev aligonga paw ya kusini ya Amerika Alexander Johnson katika raundi ya saba, moja kwa moja kwenye Spike TV, Juni 12, 2015 katika Chicago.
Baada ya kutokuwepo kwa mwaka mmoja kutokana na jeraha la bega, Beterbiev alipanda tena kwenye pete, tukio lake kuu la kwanza la PBC lililotangazwa kwenye ESPN wakati uliopita Juni 4 katika Kituo cha Bell dhidi ya Mwana Olimpiki wa Argentina Ezequiel Maderna, walioshindwa kufuzu raundi ya nne.
Imeorodheshwa sana na mashirika yote ya kuidhinisha licha ya kuwa nayo pekee 10 mapambano pro, Beterbiev amefungua macho katika ulimwengu wa ndondi, na cha kuogofya ni kuwa huo ni mwanzo tu kwake.
“Nimefurahiya sana mabadiliko ya matukio,” Beterbiev alisema. Wakati akiwa Montreal Prieto ameonyesha kuwa yeye ni shujaa wa kweli na huyo ndiye aina ya mpinzani ninayetaka kukumbana naye.. “
“Pamoja na WBO yake #10 cheo, “Mkufunzi wa Beterbiev Marc Ramsay alibainisha, “Prieto ndiye mpiganaji bora zaidi anayepatikana kupigana na Artur. Yeye ni mkali sana na mtindo wake unahakikisha pambano lililojaa vitendo. “
Isidro “Shujaa” Prieto
Prieto ana ndoto ya kuwa bingwa wa kwanza wa ndondi duniani wa Paraguay.
Baada ya kushinda mapambano yake sita ya kwanza ya pro na taji la kitaifa la Paraguay, alihamia Argentina 2009 ili kuendeleza maendeleo yake. Katika Buenos Aires, Prieto alichukuliwa chini ya mrengo wa kocha wa kwanza, Raul Paniagua, mshauri na mjomba wa bingwa wa zamani wa duniaSergio “Ajabu” Martinez. “Daima tumehimizana, mimi na Sergio,” Prieto alisema katika mahojiano na tovuti ya Amerika Kusini. “Alianza kutoka chini na ndiyo maana tuna mambo mengi sana.”
Hivi sasa nafasi # 10 na WBO, “Shujaa” imefuta mashindano ya Amerika Kusini, kuwaangusha wapinzani wake wengi, ikiwa ni pamoja na brawler wa Brazil Jackson Junior.
Kipigo chake pekee kilikuwa kwa bingwa wa WBC Silver Alvarez, na tangu wakati huo Prieto ameshinda mapambano mawili, zote mbili kwa mtoano. Mjanja na mwenye nguvu sana na mikono mizito, Prieto ni tishio kubwa.
“Nimefanya kazi sehemu mbalimbali lakini Casino du Lac Leamy ni mojawapo ya sehemu ninazozipenda zaidi, ” aliongeza Eric Belanger, mkufunzi na mratibu wa hafla katika mkoa wa Gatineau na Ottawa “Ni nzuri na ya kifahari; karibu lakini anga ni ya kushangaza. Kila mtu anaunganisha na ni sehemu ya onyesho. Gatineau pia ana mashabiki wengi wanaopenda ndondi. akiwa na Artur Beterbiev, itakuwa ni karata ya ndondi ya ligi kuu, na nina hakika kuwa eneo hilo litafurahi kuwa sehemu yake.”
Habari za tikiti zitatangazwa hivi karibuni
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OCTOBER 20th CARD ANNOUNCED FIRST EVENT OF THE SEASON AT THE CASINO DE MONTRÉAL
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Lee Baxter Promotions Inks Logan McGuinness
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Agosti 3, 2016) – Toronto-based Lee Baxter Promotions is proud to announce the signing of undefeated super featherweight contender Logan “Cotton” McGuinness to an exclusive promotional agreement.
Living and fighting out of Orangeville, Ontario, McGuinness has an outstanding 23-0-1 kitabu kitaalamu na 10 victories coming by knockout. The 29-year-old McGuinness is a former WBA-NABA champion at 126, 130 na 135 paundi, earning NABA Fighter of the Year in 2011.
Formerly ranked number 4 in the world by the WBA, McGuinness has been inactive since May 2015 due to out of the ring issues and is excited to get back in the squared circle.
McGuinness said of his new promotional agreement and return to fighting in Canada “it feels great to have signed with Lee Baxter and this is something I feel has been a long time coming. I think the two of us will make some noise and do big things together. I have had an unfortunate couple of years as anyone who has followed my career understands but I’m a true believer in things happening for a reason and everything seems to be falling into place. I’m motivated and rejuvenated. I can’t wait to fight in Toronto!"
Baxter, a longtime fixture in the Canadian boxing scene who recently created the “Next Generation” fight series, is thrilled to be working with a longtime friend who he believes has a bright future ahead of him.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Logan and the timing is great for both of us. He had some unexpected layoffs but is still unbeaten and a very talented fighter. There’s been a public demand for him to fight in Canada again since 18 of his professional matches have been here and we’re proud to be making this happen. I’m looking at having him potentially fight twice in 2016 and the people in Ontario are as excited to see him fight as he is to fight in front of them. The sky is definitely the limit with Logan!"
Details on Logan’s return to the ring will be announced shortly.
Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson Scores Sensational Knockout Over Hard-Hitting Contender Thomas Williams Jr. In Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Main Event Friday Night From Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada
Middleweight Contenders Immanuwel Aleem & Demond Nicholson
Fight to Majority Draw
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Top Contender Eleider Alvarez Dominates Robert Berridge On Way to Unanimous Decision Victory
Bonyeza HERE for Photos from Dave Nadkarni/Premier Boxing Champions
(Picha za kuongezwa hivi karibuni)
Bonyeza HERE for Main Event Highlights
QUEBEC CITY (Julai 30, 2016) – Mwanga Heavyweight bingwa wa dunia Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (28-1, 23 Kos) delivered a highlight reel knockout victory over Thomas “Top Dogg” Williams Jr. (20-2, 14 Kos) in the fourth-round of an exciting main event showdown on Premier Boxing Mabingwa juu ya Mwiba Ijumaa night from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.
“It was a firefight,” said Stevenson. “He put pressure on me so I decided to put pressure on him too. It was a fight with two guys who could punch and it was spectacular. It was my daughter’s birthday and I gave her a great gift.”
The defending champion Stevenson, fighting in his adopted hometown, put Williams down in round one with a straight left hand. Williams was able to recover and began to fire back in round two. Hata hivyo, Stevenson’s jab consistently sent Williams backtracking, while Williams abandoned the jab and attempted to cut the distance with power punches from difficult angles. Williams staggered the world champion several times, using an effective counter right hand while getting the best of many exchanges.
Both men were hurt in an exciting third round that saw momentum swing in each man’s favor before the bell rang to end the round. A cut opened up over the left eye of Williams in the end of the round that was tended to in his corner. Williams hit the canvas as a result of a low blow early in the fourth, but regained his footing shortly after.
The notorious power puncher Stevenson eventually landed the deciding blow of the night when he caught Williams’ chin hanging in the pocket and delivered a straight left hand that put the challenger to the floor. Washington, DC area-native was unable to recover, prompting referee Michael Griffin to stop the bout 2:54 into the fourth round.
Additional televised action saw rising middleweight contendersImmanuel Aleem (16-0-1, 9 Kos) na Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 Kos) fight to a majority draw in their eight-round bout.
Neither fighter was able to control of the fight with Nicholson attempting to use his length and jab while Aleem tried to cut the distance and attack with short punches. Nicholson appeared to have the more effective attack in the early rounds, while Aleem began to have more success as the fight shifted to toe-to-toe action in the second half of the fight.
Majaji’ scores reflected the close nature of the fight as one judge had it 77-74 for Aleem while the other two judges had it a 76-76 kuteka.
The televised opener saw Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (20-0, 10 Kos) keep his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision victory over New Zealand’s Robert Berridge (27-5, 21 Kos) in a 10-round light heavyweight affair.
“I am happy with the win, but I would have liked a knockout! He was tough, but he did not hurt me at all and I thought that I hurt him. I am ready for my next challenge, which will hopefully be a world title fight.”
The top-rated contender for Stevenson’s title, Alvarez established his jab early on while attacking the body of Berridge with right hooks. Alvarez continued to control the fight from a distance as Berridge was slow to begin increasing his output before he started putting the pressure on in round five.
The southpaw Berridge was able to land occasionally on Alvarez with a looping left hand, but never put the undefeated fighter in danger. Alvarez began to have more success varying up his attack with right uppercuts and hooks that eventually left Berridge’s right eye swollen and bruised.
Alvarez took home the decision by scores of 99-90 na 98-92 mara mbili.
PBC on Spike was promoted by Group Yvon Michel (GYM).
Kwa habari zaidi tembelea www.premierboxingchampions.com