Tag Archives: Gilberto Santos

boxing, DAZN

MICHIGAN NATIVE JOSHUA PAGAN STAYS UNDEFEATED WITH THRILLING MAIN-EVENT DECISION OVER VETERAN HASKELL RHODES

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Juan Carrillo Dominating In Unanimous Decision Victory For IBF Light Heavyweight Latino World Title Belt Over Lenin Castillo In the Co-Feature

Photos HERE (Please credit Jesús Muriel)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – October 18, 2024 – Michigan’s Joshua Pagan outdueled cagey veteran Haskell Rhodes in the “Fight of the Night” and main event of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” event on Friday with a unanimous decision victory from the Coca-Cola Music Hall and on DAZN.

Nicknamed “Double J”,  Pagan, whose father grew up in Puerto Rico and later moved to the United States settling in Grand Rapids where Pagan was born, had a legion of boisterous fans in his corner all night as he moved his record to 11-0 (4 KOs) in the 10-round lightweight victory over Rhodes (31-7, 16 KOs). In a fight closer than the judges’ scorecards indicated, Pagan’s hand was raised in victory by the referee with the scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice. 

“It was amazing tonight, and the entire crowd was filled with just so much energy,” Pagan said. “I wanted to get the knockout, but he was just so experienced. I give him a lot of credit.”

The all-action fight saw an amazing fifth round with exchanges by both fighters that had fans rise to their feet and show their appreciation to both boxers.

The co-feature saw Juan Carrillo (13-0, 9 KOs) from Barranquilla, Colombia, win the IBF Light Heavyweight Latino title as he scored a decisive unanimous decision over Lenin Castillo (25-6-1, 19 KOs) of Santo Domingo, D.R. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 99-91, 100-90. Two judges gave Castillo the eighth round while the third had Carrillo winning the back-and-forth round and pitching a shutout.

In the second television bout, local San Juan favorite Kiria Tapia (5-0, 0 KOs) won for the fifth time against no defeats as she recorded a dominating six-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek (4-5, 4 KOs) in a fight that saw flashes of the great Puerto Rican champion Amanda Serrano. The trio of judges were all in agreement with their scorecards giving it to Tapia 60-53. Tapia, who knocked Dudek to the canvas in the first round, threw her wide left at will in dominating the outclassed Hungarian.

Opening the highly anticipated DAZN main card, “Motor City” Detroit’s Da’Velle Smith (10-0, 8 KOs) scored a first-round technical knockout over Gilberto Santos (16-16, 12 KOs) from Brazil. It was never a contest as Smith came out the aggressor and knocked Smith to the ground twice before the referee had seen enough following a blistering overhand right and called the bout at 2:28 of the first round.

See below for more on the DAZN fights and what the fighters had to say:

LIGHTWEIGHT MAIN EVENT – 10 ROUNDS

Joshua Pagan (11-0, 4 KOs) over Haskell Rhodes (31-7-1, 16 KOs) via unanimous decision

Scorecards: 99-91 twice and 100-90

“I wish I would’ve had a couple more rounds,” Rhodes said in defeat. “It was a good fight. My hat’s off to Joshua. He fought a clean, smart fight. I love boxing and getting up every day and going to the gym. So I can’t wait to see what’s next for me.”

IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT LATINO WORLD TITLE CO-FEATURE – 10 ROUNDS

Juan Carrillo (13-0, 9 KOs) defeated Lenin Castillo (25-6-1, 19 KOs) via unanimous decision

Scorecards: 98-92, 99-91, 100-90

“I was looking for the knockout and tried to get him out of there, but he was a tough opponent,” Carrillo said. “Hopefully, what’s next for me is an opponent with a big name.” 

WOMEN’S SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS 

Kiria Tapia (5-0, 0 KOs) sixth-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek (4-5, 4 KOs)

 Scorecards: 60-53, 60-53, 60-53

“I was happy to have all the support of my family and fans in attendance,” Tapia said. “I want to keep improving and progressing and my team and I are confident it could lead to a world title shot someday. The early knockdown set the tone for what I was able to do for the rest of the fight.”

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS

Da’Velle Smith (10-0, 8 KOs) stopped Gilberto Santos (16-16, 12 KOs) via first-round TKO (2:28).

“I felt amazing, and it was fun out there,” Smith said “It didn’t last long but I don’t get paid extra for overtime. I was able to show the fans in Puerto Rico and around the world just a bit of what I can bring. He came in overweight, but we didn’t complain. We just show up and win.”

In preliminary action, all four winners came from the island of Puerto Rico and from the “A” side. They included: Allen Morales from San Juan (KO at 1:38 of round two), Jorge Vizcarrando from Trujillo Alto (TKO at :15 of round four), Karla Davila (six-round unanimous decision) and Antonio Mota from Toa Baja (four-round majority decision). 

“Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” was promoted by Salita Promotions in collaboration with PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) and 21 Events and is part of Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing USA” series, the leading developmental series for promising prospects and young contenders on their journey toward a world championship.

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

ABOUT DAZN

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.  For more information on DAZN, its products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com. 

boxing, Roc Nation

John David Jackson’s Star Pupil Luis “Cuba”Arias Ready for His First Headlining Bout

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Undefeated Middleweight headlines this Saturdaynight in Columbus, Ohio.
For Immediate Release
NEW YORK, NY (March 3, 2016)–This Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio,
Victory Sports & Entertainment is pleased to announce that undefeated middleweight prospect, Luis “Cuba” Arias will make the first in what we hope, are many headlining appearances when he takes on power punching Gilberto Santos of Brazil in a bout scheduled for ten rounds under the direction of world class trainer, John David Jackson.

Arias of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a perfect record of 13-0 with six knockouts.

“Camp has been excellent. Things have been coming together nicely and on time. I get better and stronger every camp,” Said Arias.  “I am not overlooking Santos as he’s a strong fighter who’s coming to win but this is my time and I want to make a statement in my first headliner.”

“Training with John David Jackson has been a great. Having someone with his level of experience has helped me develop as a fighter. He has helped take my game to another level. Him and Derik Santos have been a great fit for me. I feel I have the best training team in boxing.”

The 25 year-old came into the pro ranks with high aspirations after a stellar amateur career that saw him win two US National Championships and a National PAL title, in addition to numerous medals on the international level.
In Jackson, he has a trainer who has trained many world champions and is currently one of the hot cornermen in boxing due to his work with current Light Heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.

“Luis has had a great camp he’s strong and on weight. He’s ready for his first headlining bout and wants to showcase his talent and show people that he’s the real deal,”said Jackson of his prized pupil,” said Jackson.

“For this camp we are stressing the body attack. Luis is a good boxer with excellent skills and power. We are trying to develop his all-around game so we are focusing more on working the body for this fight.”

Jackson does not feel Cuba Arias is just any boxer. He sees major things in the future for him.
“Luis has the potential to become a World Champion. He was a tremendous amateur, he’s tough, determined with excellent power and great all around skills. 2016 should be his breakout year. He has the skills and needs to be showcased on a bigger stage. It’s time to take the wraps off and let him prove himself. He can fight, he gets better each time out, he wants to test himself in bigger fights and is ready for the challenge.”

“After this fight, I want a real test for Luis, a good name fighter where he can be challenged and have to work. I know he can be great and will rise to the occasion so I just want him to get the opportunity to showcase his skills and show everyone what a great fighter he is.”
Arias, who is promoted by Roc Nation Sports and managed my Victory Sports & Entertainment, now has the complete team in place with the addition of the world class trainer.
Said Victory Sports & Entertainment’s Rick Torres, “2016 is the year where Cuba has to step up the level of competition and show everyone how great he is. This is his first headlining bout which is a big deal for him and we know Santos is a dangerous opponent with real punching power so this should be a good test for Cuba.  After this fight we are looking forward to Roc Nation putting him on higher profile fights, TV fights where the world can see what we already know – that he’s one of the best young fighters in the world and a future Champion. With the right development Cuba can become a star attraction in the sport and we know Roc Nation can make this happen. We just want the opportunity and Cuba will handle the rest.”

Victory Sports & Entertainment is an athlete management company with offices in New York and Las Vegas. Founded by noted sports attorney Rick Torres and boxing trainer Michael Leanardi, Victory has steadily built an impressive stable of young prospects that it is grooming for future stardom. Victory Sports’ website is www.victorysportsent.com.