Tag Archives: Greg Cohen Promotions

boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

SAMUEL CLARKSON IN ‘THE SHAPE OF HIS LIFE’ FOR TITLE CHALLENGE AGAINST DMITRY BIVOL APRIL 14 LIVE ON SHOWTIME® FROM MGM NATIONAL HARBOR IN MARYLAND

Leave a comment
NEW YORK (March 29, 2017) – Light heavyweight title challenger Samuel Clarkson says he’s in the shape of his life for his shot at Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Titlist Dmitry Bivol on Friday, April 14, live on SHOWTIME.
 
Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs) will face the undefeated Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs, 2-0 WSB) in the 12-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader (10 p.m. ET/PT) at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.  In the co-feature, undefeated welterweight prospects Juan Ruiz (18-0, 11 KOs) and Malik Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) will square off in an eight-round bout.  
 
NOTE: In a matchup that was confirmed on Wednesday as the opening bout of the ShoBox telecast, Baltimore’s undefeated Glenn Dezurn (8-0, 6 KOs) will face unbeaten two-time national amateur champion Leroy Davila (5-0, 3 KOs), of New Brunswick, N.J., in an eight-round super bantamweight bout. 
 
Tickets for the event, which is co-promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Banner Promotions in association with World of Boxing and Uprising Promotions, are priced at $103, $73 and $48 and can be purchased at www.TicketMaster.com.
 
“I upped intensity 1000 times for this camp,” said Clarkson.  “I had better sparring, did more miles running and way more rounds doing bag work.  Everything I’ve done has been intense and we added a lot more into it.”
 
Clarkson did half his training in his home state of Texas and the second half in Brooklyn, where he has sparred with some well-known names.
 
“I’ve been working with guys like Sean Monaghan and Joe Smith Jr.  I’ve had over 110 rounds of sparring since coming to Brooklyn.  I wanted to push my sparring to the max.  I’m not saying there isn’t competition in Dallas, but I wanted different looks and to be out of my comfort zone.  I got what I was looking for here.”
 
Clarkson says he can tell he’s in the shape of his life for this fight.
 
“I’m seeing new muscles,” said Clarkson, who has won nine straight fights.  “The power was already there, but my speed is great now too.  I will most definitely come in under weight.  We’ve put a lot of focus on weight this time.  The goal is to eat breakfast before weighing in.  I have kept on a very strict diet – my dad cooks everything and we’re eating right.
 
“I’m ready for war.  I’m not afraid of this guy.  I’m ready to fight.”
 
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
 
# # #
 
For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,
ww.facebook.com/GCPBoxing/ and www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions/.
About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 68 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more. 
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

HASIM RAHMAN JR. PRO DEBUT MOVED TO FRIDAY, APRIL 14 MGM NATIONAL HARBOR IN OXON HILL, MD

Leave a comment
RAHMAN TO FACE IMES ON UNDERCARD OF BLOCKBUSTER SHOBOX EVENT  
 
NEW YORK (March 27, 2017) – When promoter Greg Cohen announced he had finalized arrangements for his next event, the decision to delay his promising heavyweight hopeful, Hasim Rahman Jr.‘s, professional boxing debut two more weeks became an easy one.
 
Originally scheduled to turn professional on March 23, Baltimore native Rahman will now have his first four-round fight in front of a huge contingent of hometown family and friends on Friday, April 14, at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.
 
Rahman will face Kansas City’s Brian Imes (1-4, 1 KO) on the non-televised undercard portion of an event that features the live telecast of undefeated Dmitry Bivol defending his interim WBA Light Heavyweight title against Samuel Clarkson in the 12-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader (10 p.m. ET/PT).  In the co-feature, unbeaten welterweight prospects Juan Ruiz and Malik Hawkins will square off in an eight-round bout, and Baltimore’s undefeated featherweight Glenn Dezurn will open the telecast.
 
Tickets for the event, which is co-promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Banner Promotions in association with World of Boxing and Uprising Promotions, are priced at $103, $73 and $48 and can be purchased at www.TicketMaster.com.
 
“You only get one pro debut, so when Greg announced this show, he and I thought it would be a great idea for me to turn pro on this show instead, in front of my hometown friends and family,” explained Rahman.
 
The 25-year-old, son of Hasim “The Rock” Rahman, who famously knocked out Lennox Lewis in April 2001 to win the WBC and IBF Heavyweight Championships, says to being at home is a very important part of his mission.
 
“I’m doing this for my family and my friends and my city, so I think I should start right in front of them,” Rahman continued. “And someday I’ll bring them back the heavyweight championship. I can’t wait to fight on the same show as my brother with all my loved ones watching. It’s going to be a very big night.”
 
“We didn’t get the final word we were doing the Maryland show until a few days ago,” said Greg Cohen. “But once we knew it was happening, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to let Hasim Jr. turn pro at home. It just worked out perfectly.”
 
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
 
# # #
 
For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing/ and www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions/.
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

UNDEFEATED DMITRY BIVOL TO DEFEND INTERIM WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST SAMUEL CLARKSON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 14 IN THE MAIN EVENT OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION

Leave a comment

 

 

Unbeaten Welterweight Prospects Juan Ruiz and Malik Hawkins Square Off In Co-Feature; Baltimore’s Glenn Dezurn To Open ShoBox Tripleheader

 

Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

From The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland

 

Tickets On Sale Today!

 

NEW YORK (March 21, 2017) – Undefeated former Russian amateur standout Dmitry Bivol will defend his Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title against Samuel Clarkson in the 12-round main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 14 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

 

Known for his aggressive style, Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs, 2-0 WSB) was a prominent amateur who is now determined to make his mark in one of boxing’s toughest weight classes.  Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs), of Cedar Hill, Texas, has won his last nine fights in a row and will make his third appearance on ShoBox. 

 

In a co-featured matchup of undefeated welterweight prospects, former amateur standouts Juan Ruiz (18-0, 11 KOs) and Malik Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) will square off in an eight-round 147-pound bout.

 

In the telecast opener, Baltimore featherweight Glenn Dezurn (8-0, 6 KOs), who is trained by the renowned Barry Hunter, will take on an opponent to be named in an eight-round bout.

 

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Banner Promotions in association with World of Boxing and Uprising Promotions, are priced at $103, $73 and $48 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000.

 

Dmitry Bivol vs. Samuel Clarkson – 12 Round Light Heavyweight Bout:

Bivol, who compiled an impressive amateur record of 285-15, is looking to break through in a division which features the likes of Adonis Stevenson, Andre Ward, Sergey Kovalev and Badou Jack.  Last May in Moscow, the 26-year-old won the Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title in only his seventh professional fight with a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Felix Valera.

 

Bivol has since won twice, both times on Russian soil, including a fourth-round knockout of Robert Berridge in defense of his interim belt. 

 

“I am very glad that this will be my first fight televised in the U.S.,” said Bivol, who is fighting for the third time in America.  “It’s great that this is main event because that motivates me.  Clarkson is a good defensive fighter.  He can be aggressive and I expect this to be a tough fight.  I look forward to introducing myself to American fans with a great performance, and I plan to defend my title with an exciting victory.”

 

Clarkson has registered nine consecutive victories following a loss to the current unbeaten Jesse Hart (21-0).  Clarkson moved up in weight to beat Cedric Agnew (27-1) in February 2015, and has ShoBox knockout wins over Jerry Odom (13-1) in July 2015 and Lavarn Harvell (15-1) in October 2015. 

 

“This is a huge opportunity to prove my abilities to the world,” Clarkson said. “Bivol is a crafty fighter from Russia and had a very impressive amateur career, mostly at 165 pounds. He’s a good fighter and I definitely have to bring my A-game.  

 

“I’m ready for the challenge because I do really well against European fighters.  European fighters are slow and come forward a lot, and they’re not big on head movement.   We are working hard and have a lot of guys in the gym who fight with a similar style.  By fight time I’ll be ready for anything he has. 

 

“I had to make up my mind if I wanted to be the lion or the lamb and, in the end, I decided I don’t like losing. I rededicated myself and now I can’t be stopped.”

 

Juan Ruiz vs. Malik Hawkins – Eight-Round Welterweight Bout:

The son of a former fighter, Ruiz is originally from Venezuela and fights out of Baja California, Mexico.  He lost just eight times in 220 amateur fights, was a six-time Venezuela national champion and was part of the Venezuelan National Team.  The undefeated Ruiz has won via knockout in seven of his last nine fights. 

 

“This is a golden ticket for me to show what I’m capable of,” Ruiz said. “I will do my best to give the fans watching on TV and those attending the fight the best show possible.”

 

The 21-year-old Baltimore-resident Hawkins was 92-8 as an amateur and shares the same trainer – Calvin Ford – as stablemate and IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis.  Hawkins, who was the 2012 Bronze Medalist in the Junior Olympics, will face his toughest test to date in fellow undefeated Juan Ruiz. 

 

“This is a huge chance for me to showcase my skills and show I belong among the best in the welterweight division,” Hawkins said. “There’s nothing he can bring I haven’t seen, and I plan on making him fight my fight. 

 

“I get better when I fight talented fighters.  To be honest, nobody I have fought so far has brought out the best in me, but I’m hoping that Ruiz does just that.  A victory over him would put me in position to fight the opponents I need to fight to take that next step toward becoming a contender.”

 

Glenn Dezurn vs. TBD – Eight-Round Featherweight Bout:

The undefeated Dezurn, who was a three-sport star athlete in high school, was an amateur standout who compiled an 87-7 record in the unpaid ranks under the tutelage of Barry Hunter.  The Baltimore native is married to female boxer and U.S. Olympic alternate Franchon Crews, who fought Claressa Shields in the amateurs and in her pro debut.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

 

# # #

 

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing/ and www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions/.

boxing

RAHMAN JR. READY TO BEGIN HIS OWN HEAVYWEIGHT LEGACY AT SKYLANDS ECC ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23

Leave a comment
Having grown up the son of a former undisputed and two-time World Heavyweight Champion, Hasim Rahman Jr., doesn’t mind that the world will be watching from the beginning of his professional boxing career.
“This isn’t new,” explained Rahman. “I’m so used to being who I am and having eyes on me that it would be awkward to not have them. It hasn’t mattered who I was my whole life, or what I did. The world was watching because of who my father is.”
Rahman Jr., whose father, Hasim “The Rock” Rahman famously knocked out Lennox Lewis in April 2001 to win the WBC and IBF Heavyweight Championships, will make his professional debut against Kansas City’s Brian Imes (1-4, 1 KO) on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Greg Cohen Promotions’ SUPER BRAWL® III, boxing event at the Skylands Event & Conference Center (ECC) in Randolph, New Jersey.
Presented in association with Rising Promotions and GH3 Promotions (sponsored by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions), SUPER BRAWL® III will also feature the Bronx, New York’s Halili brothers: power-punching super-welterweight action hero Skender Halili (13-1, 13 KOs) taking on Ecuadorian veteran Eduardo “El Cheíto” Flores (25-25-3, 15 KOs) in the eight-round main event, and undefeated Enver Halili (8-0, 2 KOs) facing Nicaragua’s Ariel Vasquez (13-16-2, 9 KOs) in the six-round welterweight co-main.
Tickets for SUPER BRAWL® III are priced at Golden Ringside $150, Ringside $100 and General Admission $50 and can be purchased by calling the GCP office: 212.851.6425 or online at gcpboxing.com.
“My dad is like an advisor,” he continued. “My dad is the only person I know that truly has my best interests at heart. Anybody else I ever dealt with, it always came down to money at the end of the day. My dad never asks me for anything. I know he knows the game and I know that with him on my team, the sky is the limit.”
25-year-old Rahman is getting a later-than-expected start at his highly-anticipated boxing career. Coming off his successful 100-fight run as an amateur, the buzz was all around the 6′ 3″ 250-lb. fighter, but a fatal car accident in 2012 saw him serving a 2- to 5-year sentence with the Department of Corrections.
Recently released and now ready to go on with life, Rahman says the entire experience changed him for the good. “It was an eye-opener for me. Going through that really changed my career and how I felt as a person, and a son, a father, and a husband. It changed me. I am grateful god blessed me to be in this position today.”
Rahman says he doesn’t know much about first opponent Imes, but he and trainer Kenny Ellis are hard at work at Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore.
“I feel great. I’m really anxious, but the nervousness hasn’t kicked in. It will around fight time. My team says it’s a good fight for me. Being off for two and a half years, I’m looking to get in some rounds.”
Despite the delayed start, Team Rahman has no plan on rushing things.
“I just want to stay busy as I can and learn as much as I can and fight for a world title when I’m ready. I’m not going to rush. There’s no rush. It’s not like I’m going to wait forever. I will fight for the title when I’m ready and I know if it put in the work, I’ll be ready in a about two years. That’s the goal for me. If it takes three or four years, it does. Whatever the case may be. I’ll keep racking up the knockouts until it happens.”
For Rahman, the decision to follow in his famous father’s footsteps was a rational one.
“I’ve always been taught to plan ahead. When I was in middle school, I was really into football. I played tight end, running back and wide receiver. I had dreams. But it dawned on me how many people have the same dream that I do. For instance, there are a million young African American men wanting to go to the NBA every year. 400,000 of them will play high school basketball. 4000 of those will play college. 35 will be drafted. Out of the that 35, only 7 will start. That means there are a million people trying to get 7 jobs. And the average career in the NBA is four years. That’s a problem. People have to look at their odds. I did. So, I said ‘know what? Instead of being in this giant pool of people trying to be the next Ray Lewis. I rarely run across someone who wants to be heavyweight champion of the world,’ so that’s what I decided to do. No father and son duo have ever become heavyweight champions. It’s never been done. For me to be in the position to cement our family name in heavyweight championship history is very motivating and I’m ready to take full advantage of it.”
Signing with Greg Cohen Promotions was an easy decision, according to Rahman, who has known the Jersey-based promoter for most of his life.

“I really want to thank Greg Cohen for the chance he’s given me,” he said. “I’ve known Greg since I was a kid and he has always believed in me. He has always supported me and kept in contact and followed me. He has a real genuine interest in me. Greg already knows he has the best new heavyweight in the world. I’m really dedicated to making him and my father and the City of Baltimore proud.”
SUPER BRAWL® III will be broadcast, tape-delayed, on Sportsnet New York (SNY). On fight night, doors open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm. The Skylands ECC is located at 792 Route 10 West in Randolph, NJ. Phone: 973.328.8600.
 
 
Twitter @Skylandsecc @gcpboxing
boxing

POWER-PUNCHING ACTION HERO SKENDER HALILI TO HEADLINE AT SKYLANDS ECC IN RANDOLPH, NEW JERSEY, ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23

Leave a comment
Greg Cohen Promotions Proudly Presents
SUPER BRAWL® III also featuring Undefeated Enver Halili and the 
Professional Debut of Hasim Rahman Jr.
On Thursday, March 23, 2017, Greg Cohen Promotions will proudly present SUPER BRAWL® III, a night of world-class professional boxing at the Skylands Event & Conference Center (ECC) in Randolph, New Jersey.
Presented in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, Rising Promotions and GH3 Promotions, SUPER BRAWL® III will feature power-punching super-welterweight action hero Skender Halili (13-1, 13 KOs) of The Bronx, New York, taking on the Dominican Republic’s tough veteran Jonathan Batista (16-10, 9 KOs) in the eight-round main event.
Tickets for SUPER BRAWL® III are priced at Golden Ringside $150, Ringside $100 and General Admission $50 and can be purchased by calling the GCP office: 212.851.6425 or online at gcpboxing.com

.
“Training is going great,” said Halili. “I’m feeling sharp. I’ve haven’t taken any breaks since my last fight. After every fight, I take two days off and I’m back in the gym.”
Halili, who recently won THE RING Magazine’s “Round of the Year 2016” for the second round of his super welterweight war against Jason Thompson last May 27, says he’s ready for his first career main event, against Batista.
“It feels good to be fighting in the main event. I’m prepared to go in and take care of business. I’ve got a full house coming, including my Albanian fans. There should be a couple hundred of them there. They yell and scream and go crazy at my fights. I love it.”
With every fight, 26-year-old Halili is building a reputation as one of boxing’s most exciting new fighters, a reputation he says he doesn’t chase deliberately. “It’s just natural,” he explained. “You can’t try to be an exciting fighter. That’s not it. I’m a power puncher and if I feel like I’m losing, I go off and do something crazy and things seem to fall into place; like they were meant to happen.”
Halili says he’s aware that Batista has a reputation of his own.
“I know he’s a very dirty fighter. Every fight I watch of him, he’s low blowing somebody four or five times a fight. But boxing is a rough sport and I can learn a lot from him before I get him out of there. I’m prepared to go the distance, but I think I can knock him out. I just have to stay focused and not let him get in my head. If he hits me low I can’t lose my focus. That’s what he wants.”
After about 30 amateur fights with mixed success, Halili says he decided to listen to the people telling him his style was more for the pros… a decision he’s now glad he made.
“Soon as I turned pro, I started doing better. People were telling me I’d make a great pro because I set up my opponents. At first, I turned pro just to give it a try But then when I started doing good, my confidence skyrocketed and I began to believe I can really do this.”
Also featured at SUPER BRAWL® III will be Halili’s promising brother, super welterweight Enver Halili (8-0, 2 KOs), in a six-round appearance, as well as the long-awaited professional debut of Hasim Rahman Jr., son of former undisputed and two-time Heavyweight World Champion Hasim Rahman Sr., in a four-round heavyweight bout.
On the exciting undercard will be Baltimore welterweight Malik Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) and Baltimore super featherweight Glenn Dezurn (8-0, 6 KOs) in separate bouts. All un-named opponents are TBA.
SUPER BRAWL® III will be broadcast, tape-delayed, on Sportsnet New York (SNY). On fight night, doors open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm. The Skylands ECC is located at 792 Route 10 West in Randolph, NJ. Phone: 973.328.8600.
boxing

Greg Cohen Promotions Inks Turkish Super Middleweight Cem Kilic to Exclusive Long-Term Promotional Agreement

Leave a comment
Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of super middleweight prospect Cem “Champ” Kilic.
22-year-old Kilic (7-0, 4 KOs) was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to Turkish parents. Kilic was a decorated amateur boxer on the international level, where he won the European Silver Medal for Turkey in 2012.
Upon meeting his manager Shane Shapiro, he moved to America and turned professional in 2014. He currently lives in Sherman Oaks, California.
Kilic has gained invaluable experience serving as sparring partner for several high-profile fighters including multiple world champions Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley, as well as well-known names like Montreal’s Jean Pascal, and South Africa’s Chris van Heerden.
“I am excited to sign with Greg Cohen Promotions,” said Kilic. “Greg has a strong history of building his fighters correctly and giving them the chance to fight for world titles. I left my family behind to pursue my dream of becoming a world champion and to make the people of America, Turkey and Germany proud. With my manager, Shane Shapiro, in my corner and GCP guiding me, I know there is No Limit to my success!”
“I am excited to bring Cem over to GCP,” said Shane Shapiro. “Cem is an extremely talented young fighter. His style is fan-friendly, he is always in a good fight and he is beyond dedicated to his craft. I’m very comfortable knowing that GCP will help move Cem along the right way that will ultimately lead him to a world title shot.”
Promoter Greg Cohen says he should have no problem moving Kilic up the ladder quickly.

“He’s such a crowd-pleasing fighter, people will want to see him,” said Cohen. “Cem has a natural ability to generate excitement in his fights, which will put him in a good position with the television networks. I’m excited to be working with him and Shane Shapiro.”
boxing

Greg Cohen Promotions Signs German Welterweight Contender Rico Mueller to Promotional Contract

Leave a comment
Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of IBF #10-rated welterweight contender Rico Mueller of Germany.
Already the current IBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Champion, Mueller (20-1-1, 14 KOs) is scheduled to face IBF #3 Jeff Horn on October 21 at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Queensland, Australia, in an eliminator for the IBF’s #2 contender position.
With current champion Kell Brook rumored to be moving up in weight, if 28-year-old Mueller is victorious against Horn, he would likely find himself in line to fight top contender Errol Spence Jr., for the vacant world championship, since they would be rated #1 and #2 respectively.
“Big things are happening in my career and I need the right representation to help guide my career,” said Mueller. “Greg Cohen Promotions has a long history of moving their fighters to the championship level and I’m happy to be onboard.”
Cohen says he’s happy to be adding an international talent like Mueller to his promotional roster.

“Boxing has obviously undergone a shift, with a large percentage of its talent now located in Europe. I’m honored and happy that Rico recognized my company for its focus on world talent and I will work hard to put him in the big fights. He’s an excellent fighter with the right work ethic to become world champion.”
Mueller will be in tough against Horn, who stopped one of the most dangerous fighters in boxing, former multi world champion Randall Bailey, in his last ring appearance.

“Rico is tough and he knows the challenge in front of him,” said Cohen, “but he’s a tremendous talent and I see him rolling along to an impressive victory. After that, it’ll be a world title shot against Kell Brook or Errol Spence and a shot at boxing stardom. I’m happy to be a part of this huge time in his career.”
boxing

Greg Cohen Promotions Inks South African Bantamweight Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca to a Promotional Contract

Leave a comment
Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of South African bantamweight Mzuvukile “Old Bones” Magwaca.
Magwaca (17-0-2, 10 KOs) from Duncan Village, East London, South Africa, is the current WBA International Bantamweight Champion and the former WBF Africa Junior Flyweight Champion and IBO Inter-Continental Flyweight Champion.
A seven-year professional, Magwaca trains at the “All Winners Boxing Club” in Mdanstane, East London, South Africa, with the guidance of Zolani “Last Born” Tete, a world rated bantamweight and former IBF World Super Flyweight Champion, as well as GCP stablemate and current IBO World Featherweight Champion Lusanda “Mexican” Komanisi.
“Since I was eight years old, when I first wore a pair of old gloves from my elder brother who was a professional boxer himself, I dreamed of becoming a world champion one day,” said Magwaca. “Now that dream is going to be a reality through Greg Cohen Promotions. The Young African Lion is about to pounce!”
“We are proud to sign undefeated WBA International Bantamweight Champion Mzuvukile Magwaca, our second fighter from the All Winners Boxing Club in East London, South Africa,” said Clifford Mass, GCP Vice President of Business Development. “He trains alongside two of the best fighters in South Africa, Lusanda Komanisi and Zolani Tete, and he is ready to take his career to the next level. We have big plans for Bones.”
Magwaca’s manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, says his fighter just needed to find the right contacts to guide him to a world championship. “‘Old Bones’ will take America and the world by storm. He is a gem and a marvel to watch. He is also tall for his division and a maestro in the ring behind his educated jab. This boy is the future at bantamweight and with Greg Cohen Promotions behind him, the sky is the limit.”
boxing, CBS Boxing

Results from CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing in Temecula, California 

Leave a comment
‘Bravo’ Brant Stops Fitzpatrick in Three, Continues March to Middleweight Title Shot
 
Current WBO NABO and WBA NABA Middleweight Champion and WBA #4- and WBO #7-rated middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (21-0, 14 KOs) of Saint Paul, Minnesota, kept his momentum plowing forward and continued to impress tonight with a one-sided beatdown of Chris “The Irish Ghost” Fitzpatrick (15-5, 6 KOs) of Cleveland.
 
Fighting in the 10-round main event of CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing from the Grand Ballroom of the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, Brant had too many weapons for the game Fitzpatrick.
 
The event, a televised quadrupleheader, was Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with the International Championship Boxing League (ICBL), Ringside Ticket Inc., and David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions.
 
Brant moved smoothly around the ring, landing at will. He dropped Fitzpatrick with an uppercut in round two (Fitzpatrick nearly fell out of the ring) and finished it with another knockdown at 1:18 of round three.
 
Typically candid, Brant said the game plan was to not let Fitzpatrick get a toe hold in the fight. “He’s the type of guy, if you let him hang in there, he’ll hang for a number of rounds,” said Brant, post-fight. “I wanted to make an example of him and make sure I put him down.”
 
The future looks bright for the red-hot Brant, who seems to tighten up his game with every performance. “Under the tutelage of Derrick James, I’ve learned to sit down on my punches and stay defensively sound at the same time,” he continued, “but now it’s time to step up the level of competition. As nice as it is to get these kinds of win, it’s a lot nicer to get them up a level.”
 
In the co-main event, Fort Worth, Texas, slugger “No Surrender” Skender Halili made quick work of Silver Springs, Maryland, veteran Ben Odamattey.
Halili, with a record of 11-1, 11 KOs, caught Odamattey with his proven power early and it quickly became apparent he couldn’t handle it. Odamattey tried bravely to keep his feet under the hell fire. He rose from a knockdown but was quickly under siege again and with Odamattey’s legs betraying him, Referee Ray Corona waved it off at 1:17 of the first.
Odamattey slips to 16-15-3, 9 KOs. Halili, never in a bad fight, is becoming “must see TV” with his action-packed way of doing things.
 
Undefeated middleweight Cem “The Champ” Killic (6-0, 3 KOs) did what he was supposed to do in his tryout fight for GCP, by tearing through debuting Vegas fighter Jerhed Fenderson (0-1).
Fenderson looked to have some skills and fought evenly with Killic in the first round.
However, Killic, of Frankfurt, Germany, now residing in Sherman Oaks, California, took over in round two, clubbing a tiring Fenderson against the ropes with heavy shots until dropping him hard to get the stoppage.
The end came at 1:50 of round two.
To start the televised bouts, Baltimore, Maryland welterweight Malik “Ice Man” Hawkins had to work all four rounds to move his record to 9-0, 7 KOs against a surprisingly determined Sean “The Beast of War” Gee (3-4) of Portland, Oregon.
Hawkins had too much speed and skill for the brawling Gee, but Gee kept it interesting with his wild swings and willingness to exchange. Hawkins’ brilliance carried the night though as he was given a unanimous decision (40-36 x 3).
In the night’s opening bout, Detroit’s Jarico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn (3-0, 2 KOs) survived a scare from nearby Oceanside California’s Jonathon Quiroz (6-3, 1 KO) in their bantamweight four-rounder.
O’Quinn came out firing in the first, as expected, but Quiroz figured out how to time him with looping shots in the second. He rocked O’Quinn to his boots with a right but wasn’t able to finish.
O’Quinn did a little more in the final two rounds, but credit the California judges for not playing home favorites. The scores, met with booing, were 39-37 across the board.
“It was a good step up for me, being 2-0, fighting someone with nine fights,” said O’Quinn. “I learned that not everybody is going to lay down and that’s exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want a cake-walk.
What was supposed to be a routine dual-pro-debut for two unknowns quickly turned into an epic war for ages, as “Slick” Will Davis finally managed to stop a wild-swinging Erick Fowler in four rounds.
A classic “skill vs. will” match-up, Davis would land his sharp, educated combinations only to be answered every time by the clubbing shots of the iron-chinned Fowler.
With momentum swinging back-and-forth every few seconds, Davis dropped Fowler in the second. Fowler returned the favor in the third.
By the fourth round even the crowd was exhausted, as Davis landed a barrage of unanswered shots that finished things at the :39 seconds mark of round four.
Local super flyweight product Danny Andujo (1-0, 1 KO) turned professional with a quick stoppage of San Jose’s Israel Hernandez, now 1-3-1, 1 KO.
Andujo swarmed, landing hard shots against the outgunned Hernandez, who took the 10 count at :55 of the first round.
And finally, undefeated Temecula featherweight Robert Meza (3-0-0, 1 KO) cruised to a dominant four-round decision over brave, but crude Jose Fabian Naranjo (3-3-1, 1 KO)
of Baja California, Mexico.
The scores were 40-36 x 3.
boxing, CBS Boxing

Undercard Announced for CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing Quadrupleheader, this Friday, August 5, at Pechanga

Leave a comment
A host of local up-and-comers in exciting match-ups highlight the untelevised undercard forthis Friday’s (August 5, 2016) CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing quadrupleheader in the Grand Ballroom of the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
 
Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with the International Championship Boxing League (ICBL), Ringside Ticket Inc., and David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, the 10-round main event will feature WBA #4- and WBO #7-rated middleweight and current WBO NABO and WBA NABA Middleweight Champion, Rob “Bravo” Brant (20-0, 13 KOs) of Saint Paul, Minnesota, taking on Chris “The Irish Ghost” Fitzpatrick (15-4, 6 KOs) of Cleveland.
 
Tickets for CBS Sports Network Championship Boxing are priced at $85, $65 and $50 and are available at www.pechanga.com or by calling the Pechanga Box Office:(877) 711-2946.
 
In the six-round super welterweight co-featured bout, Fort Worth, Texas, slugger Skender Halili (10-1, 10 KOs) will look to keep his perfect knockout record intact against experienced Ghanian veteran (now living in Silver Springs, Maryland) Ben Odamattey (16-14-3, 9 KOs). In another televised four-rounder, undefeated former amateur world champion Cem Killic (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sherman Oaks, California, via Frankfurt, Germany, will take on pro-debuting middleweight Jerhed Fenderson of Las Vegas. And in the night’s opening televised bout, red-hot prospect Malik Hawkins (8-0, 7 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland, will look to keep his march to the top of the welterweight division alive against Portland, Oregon’s Sean Gee (3-4).
Topping the night’s undercard will be Temecula, California’s undefeated Robert Meza (2-0-0, 1 KO) in a four-round featherweight duel with Baja California, Mexico’s Jose Fabian Naranjo (3-2-1, 1 KO).
Also in action will be Detroit-based bantamweight Jarico O’Quinn (2-0, 2 KOs) taking on the more experienced Jonathon Quiroz (6-3, 1 KO) from Oceanside, California.
Making his anticipated professional debut will be Temecula, California’s Danny Andujo in a super flyweight four-rounder against San Jose’s Israel Hernandez (1-2-1, 1 KO).
A dual-pro-debut lightweight four-rounder will pit Las Vegas’ Erick Fowler against Sacramento’s Will Davis.
And opening up the action will be a super welterweight four-rounder between San Diego’s undefeated Kevin Ottley (2-0, 2 KOs) and Hawthorne’s Brian True (1-4, 1 KO).
The Pechanga Resort & Casino is located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula, CA. For more information, call 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.pechanga.com. On fight night, doors open at 6 pm and the action starts at 7 pm. All bouts subject to change.