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Tag Archives: Junior Younan
throne boxing PRESENTED BY ROC NATION SPORTS AND CORONA EXTRA WASHINGTON, D.C.’S UNDEFEATED DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON VS. MIKE DALLAS JR. MAIN EVENT & UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND PHOTOS
FIGHTS SET FOR FREDAG, MAJ 13
AT THE DC ARMORY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
TELEVISED LIVE ON BET AND
STREAMED LIVE GLOBALLY ON TIDAL.COM
Klicka HÄR för bilder
Foto Credit: Roc Nation Sports/Tom Hogan Photography
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Maj 11, 2016) - På onsdag, Maj 11, Washington, D.C.’s undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 Kos) and Bakersfield, Kaliforniens Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 Kos) participated in the final press conference at The Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. in advance of their May 13 fight at the DC Armory. Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr. will headline a tronen boxning event in a 10-round welterweight bout that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH/PT and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. Co-featured fighters including Dorado, Puerto Rico Orlando “Orlandito” Del Valle (20-2, 15 Kos) som står inför Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 12 Kos) Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Darmani “Rock Solid” Rock (Pro debut) who takes on the beltway’s ownCarlos “DC Diamond Cutter” Black (1-3) were also in attendance at the press conference på onsdag.
Nedan är vad de stridande, promoter and other dais guests had to say at the press conference:
DAMMIG HERNANDEZ-HARRISON:
“I want to thank Mike Dallas Jr. for coming into D.C. He has my respect for coming into my hometown and fighting. I’m really ready for this fight. I may have gotten in the best sparring that any fighter has ever gotten [for a fight]. I went from [sparring with] Canelo and came home to spar with Demetrius Hopkins, Austin Trout and Lamont Peterson. I don’t know if there’s better sparring than that. Camp has been great. I’m definitely ready for the fight. I want to thank FILA and Geico for supporting me. I hope everyone comes out on Friday, Maj 13 at the DC Armory. I know we will put on a good show.”
MIKE “THE SILENT ASSASSIN” DALLAS JR.:
“I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity and keeping me strong through hard times. I had a good camp. I want to thank BET for having me on. Såsom Fredag, it’s going to be a good fight. I’m mentally and physically there. I dug deep in camp and I’m ready to bring it in this fight. I wish my opponent the best. Det kommer att bli en tuff kamp. I’m ready to go in there, give it my all and give you guys a great show. Come and watch the fight on Maj 13."
ORLANDO “ORLANDITO” DEL VALLE:
“I would like to thank God, Roc Nation Sports and their entire staff for believing in me and giving me a second shot at my career. I won’t let you guys down. Becoming a world champion will be my only way to thank you guys so after this fight I’m ready for that.
“Thank you BET and TIDAL for allowing us to showcase our skills on national TV and over the internet so that boxing fans around the world can have a glimpse of what the near future holds.
“This fight means a lot to me. Det är den största kampen i min karriär. I need to win this fight if I really want to get closer to a title shot. I’m in the greatest condition and shape of my life. På fredag natt, expect nothing but fireworks from Orlando Del Valle. I guarantee you that a title shot for Orlando Del Valle will be coming. A champion for Roc Nation Sports is very, mycket nära. So once again, thank you all and don’t miss the action på fredag natt. "
DARMANI “ROCK SOLID” ROCK:
“I’m just looking forward to seeing everyone come out on May 13 at the DC Armory when I make my pro debut.”
DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO Boxning - Roc Nation Sports:
“An action packed undercard of emerging and established talent and exciting entertainment from the boxing hotbed of Washington, D.C. telecast live on BET and streamed live on TIDAL.com…May 13 is an event that no one should miss.
“This event would not have been possible without the support of a number of people and organizations and I would like to take a moment to thank the following…our sponsors: Crown, FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. I’d also like to thank Stephen Hill, Connie Orlando and their team at BET as well as Greg O’Dell and the staff of Events DC for helping us bring a throne boxing event to Washington, D.C.
“BET’s vision and commitment for putting together innovative live entertainment is a big reason why we are here today. We are thrilled to be partnered with BET to bring another tronen boxning event to fans across the country. We’re also excited about the fact that as a non-traditional boxing network, they have thrown their hat into the ring which we believe has, and will continue to, attract new fans to the sport.
“Events DC works tirelessly to bring high profile events to Washington, D.C. and of late, they have helped to turn the District into a boxing hotbed.
STEPHEN HILL, President of Programming – BET:
“BET Networks is excited to partner with Roc Nation Sports to broadcast the second live tronen boxningevent on BET. Fredag, Maj 13 will be lucky for us as we get to bring to the world this top-notch sporting event showcase including live entertainment from Roc Nation’s own Justine Skye, DJ Cipha Sounds and BET personality Big Tigger, who will be welcomed back to BET with open arms.
“At BET Networks we’re committed to delivering more variety and original programming and like tronen boxning, our content is engaging, emotional and entertaining. We are thrilled to welcome tronen boxningback to BET. We know audiences love live sporting events like boxing, so this partnership fits like a glove.
“Last but not least, thank you to Washington D.C., the birthplace of BET Networks, och jag själv, for hosting us in this great city. We look forward to a great fight på fredag natt. "
ERIK MOSES, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Events DC Sports and Entertainment Division:
“Boxing is back in Washington in a very big way. We have had the pleasure of hosting three championship bouts in the last three months at the DC Armory, which is a great place to watch a fight if you have not been there.
“This fight card in particular has a very special place in my heart, as it should for others from Washington, because it’s about as local as it can be. We’ve got a hometown hero, som, if you have not seen him fight, see him now before you can’t afford to see him. Dusty Hernandez-Harrison is going to be a big star and he represents Washington, D.C. in a way that few do. Check him out now before you’re paying big money in Vegas to see him fight.
“The fight is also being broadcasted by another home-grown institution, and that is BET. It’s great to see sports back on BET, and boxing in particular, coming from the DC Armory as the host venue. Biljetter finns fortfarande tillgängliga. We look forward to hosting everyone who wants to come out and cheer on all these fighters, but Dusty in particular so we can have another championship fighter in D.C.”
ANDREW HUFF, DC Boxing Commission:
“Roc Nation Sports and Events DC are helping to ensure that the legacy of the District’s boxing history continues. On behalf of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Adam Weers, who is the chairman of the District’s Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Miss Kimberly Lockett, who is another commissioner and myself, welcome to Washington, D.C.”
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Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, Maj 13, 2016 på DC Armory i Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. Förutom den stora insatser inuti ringen, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Doors open on fight night at 6:30 PM och den första kampen börjar på 6:45 PM. Följ konversationen med #throneboxing.
Biljetter kostar $75, $50 och $35, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.
För ytterligare information, besök www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.
For information on the DC Armory, besök www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.
WASHINGTON, D.C.’S UNDEFEATED DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON VS. MIKE DALLAS JR. MAIN EVENT & UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES AND PHOTOS
throne boxing PRESENTED BY ROC NATION SPORTS AND CORONA EXTRA
FIGHTS SET FOR FREDAG, MAJ 13
AT THE DC ARMORY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
TELEVISED LIVE ON BET AND
STREAMED LIVE GLOBALLY ON TIDAL.COM
Klicka HÄR för bilder
Foto Credit: Roc Nation Sports/Tom Hogan Photography
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Maj 11, 2016) - På tisdag, Maj 10, Washington, D.C.’s undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 Kos) and Bakersfield, Kaliforniens Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 Kos) participated in a media workout at Urban Boxing DC in Washington, D.C. in advance of their May 13 fight at the DC Armory. Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr. will headline a tronen boxning event in a 10-round welterweight bout that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH/PT and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. Co-featured fighter Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 12 Kos) Washington, D.C., who faces Dorado, Puerto RicoOrlando “Orlandito” Del Valle (20-2, 15 Kos), and undercard fighters Mike Balogun (5-0, 4 Kos) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who will fight Capitol Heights, Maryland Devon Mosley (0-4-1), and Greenbelt, Maryland Sam “Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed (2-0, 1 KO) of who takes on Damion Reed (2-13, 1 KO) of Danville Virginia were also in attendance during the media workout på tisdag.
After shadow boxing around the ring and a few rounds working the bags, all five fighters participated in interviews with invited media members.
Below is what the fighters had to say during the workout:
DAMMIG HERNANDEZ-HARRISON:
“I think a lot of people are underestimating Mike Dallas Jr. I think they’re counting him out too early. A lot of times when people come back from a tough loss they train harder, they take it more seriously and erase all the mistakes they made in previous training camps, so that’s what I’m expecting him to do. Luckily Barry Hunter [Hernandez-Harrison’s trainer] knows him well as a fighter, so I’ve been going off of what he says.
“I’ve been getting great sparring in. I came home from sparring Canelo Alvarez and went right into to sparring with Lamont Peterson, Austin Trout, Demetrius Hopkins and other fighters on the card. Just really good sparring.
“I’m excited to fight on BET. It’s pretty cool. I think it’s good to bring boxing to a new audience. Förhoppningsvis, I put on a good fight to get them entertained. And we have Justine Skye performing before our bout. She’s got a completely different fan base than I do and I think it’s another good way to add a new audience to our event.
“I took a lot of things out of training with Canelo at his training camp. It was good to get a different perspective of a training camp. Usually it’s all about me, everything is catered to me and everyone is concerned about me, so it was good to take a step back and see how someone like him at the top level prepares for a world title fight. Luckily, I walked away knowing I’ve been doing everything right.
“Fighting in my hometown of Washington, D.C. is better for me. I feel like I have more to fight for. I have more to lose, which for me helps. You’ll never hear me say “no mas” in D.C.
“At my age, my preparation changes with every fight. I remember fighting in Connecticut in April then Miami in August, which seems really close, but Billy Briscoe [Hernandez-Harrison’s assistant trainer] was there and said ‘you’ve gotten so much stronger.’ That’s just the age that I am right now. I’m really maturing and getting that man strength. Every fight I feel a lot stronger.”
MIKE “THE SILENT ASSASSIN” DALLAS JR.:
“I feel very good ahead of this fight…confident and strong. I’m just ready to go out there and perform. There’s more pressure on him than me fighting in his hometown.
“I’ve gotten good training in for this fight. The Bay Area has a lot of good sparring out there right now. I had good training with Ben Bautista [Dallas Jr.’s trainer] and we’ve been pushing it. I had to dig deep in training to get through it and I’m ready to dig deep in the fight.
“I took some time off to let my body rest and heal and to let my mind get together. Now I feel great. I’m ready to come back and get back on top of things. I’m going to go out there and do my thing.
“I know Dusty is a pretty good fighter. I know he can box. I’m just ready to go out there, be smart and execute the game plan. I’m ready for people to know I’m back and there mentally. I’m ready to get back in the game and take care of these people in these bigger fights.”
THOMAS “KO” SNOW:
“I know my opponent [Orlando Del Valle] is a conventional fighter from Puerto Rico. He’s a basic fighter…a basic one-two puncher. He’s the best opponent I’ve faced to date. Both of us have two losses, so I know it’s a crossroads fight for us. We’re going to go in there and do what we came to do.
“I’ve fought in D.C. a lot of times. It’s my home.
“It’s awesome because I’ve known Dusty since he was six years old. We used to run together. We were just talking about that over in the corner. If you watch at any of his amateur fights, you’ll hear me in the background cheering him on. I’ve been in his life for a long time and it’s awesome seeing a young guy get his opportunity and make the sport of boxing grow.
“I know our amateur program in D.C. is awesome so you have to give a shout out to all the amateurs. D.C. is about to be the mecca of boxing once again. We will have six, seven or eight champions in the District of Columbia. It’s rich with boxing.
“I think fighting on BET is a great thing. I think it’s great that boxing is on free TV now and people don’t have to pay for it. For those people who can’t afford those things, I think it’s awesome for them and I think it will make the sport of boxing better.
“I’ve changed a lot over the years. I’m supposed to be dead, locked up or in jail. Having God in your life, your perspective of life and everything changes. I’m calm and comfortable in my situation. I thank God for the opportunity. I thank Roc Nation Sports for the opportunity and I thank everybody who is supporting Thomas “KO” Snow. We’re ready to do it.”
MIKE BALOGUN:
“During my career, when I was playing football, I used boxing as another form of training for cardio. After my career was over, it was natural for me to keep training and now we’re here. Football is a business. I got released and had another opportunity to play in the Canadian Football League as well as the Arena Football League, but football takes a toll on your body and I played the game for a long time. It was just natural for me to transition. I still needed something to stay active, because without activity, I didn’t feel like myself.
"Jag vet inte mycket om min motståndare [Devon Mosley]. I know he’s a southpaw just like me That’s pretty much all I know and all I need to know.
“I’ve prepared for this fight just like any other fight…hard work and dedicating myself to my craft. At the end of the day I’ll reap the fruits of my labor.”
SAM “VANILLA GORILLA” CROSSED:
"Jag vet inte mycket om min motståndare [Damion Reed]. I know he is a tall left-handed guy. I only watched a little video of him. I’ve been sparring a lot of left handers and then we just happened to get a left-handed guy, so it worked out pretty well.
“I’m still a little disappointed about my last performance in D.C., so I am going to come out and put on a show on Fredag, Maj 13.
“Anyone you get in the ring with poses a threat, men på samma gång, I am confident in what I have done to prepare. I’ve been sparring guys with 20 pro slagsmål, så, I think I’m good.
“I played football and baseball growing up. I grund och botten, what got me into boxing was that I got picked on when I was younger and smacked around on the basketball court. I always said when I grow up I want to be able to beat up the dudes that picked on me. What’s funny is that a lot of guys that bullied me are now begging me for tickets to my fights.”
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Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, Maj 13, 2016 på DC Armory i Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. Förutom den stora insatser inuti ringen, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Doors open on fight night at 6:30 PM och den första kampen börjar på 6:45 PM. Följ konversationen med #throneboxing.
Biljetter kostar $75, $50 och $35, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.
För ytterligare information, besök www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.
For information on the DC Armory, besök www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.
ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES CO-FEATURE & NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD FOR DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON AND MIKE DALLAS JR. WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN ON FRIDAY, MAJ 13 AT THE DC ARMORY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
throne boxing PRESENTED BY ROC NATION SPORTS AND CORONA EXTRA FEATURES HERNANDEZ-HARRISON VS. DALLAS JR., ORLANDO DEL VALLE VS. THOMAS SNOW AND DARMANI ROCK VS. CARLOS BLACK TELEVISED LIVE ON BET BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.m. OCH/PT
EVENT ALSO TO BE STREAMED LIVE GLOBALLY ON TIDAL.COM
JUSTINE SKYE, DJ CIPHA SOUNDS & HOST BIG TIGGER TO PROVIDE IN-ARENA ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN BOUTS
NEW YORK, NY (Maj 5, 2016) – Two televised bouts and four non-televised undercard bouts will round out the card when Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 Kos) Washington, D.C. återgår till ringen på Fredag, Maj 13 to take on Bakersfield, California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 Kos) in a 10-round welterweight bout at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. The fight will headline a tronen boxning event that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH and will also be streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com.
Opening the telecast will be an eight-round featherweight showdown between Orlando “Orlandito” Del Valle(20-2, 15 Kos) och Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 5 Kos). The second televised fight will see the professional debut of highly touted Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Darmani “Rock Solid” Rock against the beltway’s own Carlos “DC Diamond Cutter” Black (1-3).
The non-televised undercard will feature Caguas, Puerto Rico Abner “Pin” Cotto (19-3, 9 Kos) mot veteranen Juan Jose “Pinocho” Beltran (29-25-3, 18 Kos) Los Mochis, Mexico in an eight-round junior welterweight matchup; Brooklyn’s undefeated Junior “The Young God” Younan (8-0, 6 Kos) facing Breedon, West Virginia’s Austin “Speedy” Marcum (10-6-1, 5 Kos) in a six-round light heavyweight fight; former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun (5-0, Kos) of Upper Marlborough, Maryland and Devon Mosley (0-4-1) av Capitol Heights, Maryland squaring off in a four-round heavyweight bout; and Greenbelt, Maryland Sam “Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed (2-0, 1 KO) mot Damion Reed (2-13, 1 KO) av Danville, Virginia in a four-round cruiserweight fight. 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (8-0, 6 Kos) Zhengzhou, China will also see action in a six-round heavyweight bout against an opponent to be determined.
Roc Nation Sports will bring names from the entertainment world to the event, which will showcase a special performance by Roc Nation’s own breakout artist singer/songwriter Justine Skye. The Brooklyn songstress and social media maven who garnered attention, and over two million YouTube views, with her cover of Drake’s “Headlines” and current single, “I’m Yours” featuring Vic Mensa, is currently taking over radio airwaves nationwide. The evening will also feature a DJ set from Roc Nation’s multi-talented Cipha Sounds who will keep the energy up between bouts. Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan, afternoon host on Atlanta’s V-103, former host of BET’s Rap City and 106 & Park, and currently featured on Oxygen’s “Like A Boss”, will serve as the event’s host.
Biljetter kostar $75, $50 och $35, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing ) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
Orlando Del Valle made his professional debut on April 11, 2008 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he knocked out Rey Rivera in the third round. By October 2009, he had compiled a record of 7-0, including a third-round knockout victory over Christopher Rivera at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. På Juni 6, 2011, at Roseland Ballroom in New York City, he notched an impressive ten-round unanimous decision victory over Dat Nguyen in a fight telecast on Showtime’s ShoBox. På September 29, 2012, Valley, med ett rekord av 16-0, made is HBO debut at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut against Three-Time World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. Darchinyan controlled a majority of the bout, relying on his experience to pressure the young contender. In the ninth round Del Valle’s perseverance almost carried the day when he staggered Darchinyan with a tremendous left hook, badly hurting the former world champion. Darchinyan, emellertid, was able to survive the round and hold on for a ten-round unanimous decision victory. After the defeat, Del Valle moved to Mexico City to train with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain. He rebounded in 2013 with two technical knockout victories over Andre Wilson and Juan Jose Beltran. På maj 31, 2014, in a bout televised by HBO Latino from the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Del Valle faced another tough opponent in undefeated fellow Puerto Rican Luis Rosa. The ten-round, evenly matched fight went the distance producing a memorable, crowd-pleasing battle. I den femte omgången, Del Valle sent Rosa to the canvas with a left hook and in the seventh round Rosa was deducted a point for a late punch, but in the end Rosa was awarded a unanimous decision victory. Since the Rosa setback, Del Valle has won all three of his fights, with none of them going the distance, including his last fight on April 9, in which he scored a second round technical knockout win over Josh Crespo at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire. Del Valle will look to keep that streak going on May 13 against Snow.
Deeply rooted in D.C. and the capital community, Thomas Snör is an experienced fighter with an impressive record of 18-2 (10 Kos). Snö, who supplements his boxing earnings by working as a floor technician at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, began boxing at the age of ten at Round One Gym in Capitol Heights, Maryland, compiling a stellar amateur record of 129-10, which included three Washington D.C. Metro Golden Gloves championships. I 2004, he took home the national PAL amateur tournament title in the 119-pound weight class. På November 5, 2005, he made his professional debut with authority, knocking out Ronald Viera in the first round at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He would go on to win his next nine fights, with seven of those wins coming by way of knockout, before he ran into fellow undefeated prospect and future world title challenger Teon Kennedy who dealt Snow his first professional loss in July of 2008. A streak of six consecutive wins would follow before he suffered another setback, again against an undefeated prospect in Nate Green. Following the defeat, Snow took nearly two and a half years off from boxing. The southpaw returned to the ring on March 6, 2015 and continued to live up to his “KO” moniker with a first round technical knockout win over Christopher Sanchez at the Omar Shrine in Charleston, South Carolina. Snow followed that win with a second round knockout of Tibor Nadori on December 4, 2015 at the Rosecroft Raceway close to home in Fort Washington, Maryland. He now faces a crossroads fight when he takes on Del Valle on May 13.
At the age of nineteen, Darmani Rock is already drawing comparisons to former heavyweight greats of the past. Rock has received high praise for his powerful jab and ambidexterity. Standing at 6’4”, he moves with an unparalleled lightness and speed for a fighter his size. Rock earned nation-wide accolades following a banner year in 2014 when he took home the USA Boxing Junior and Youth Open, Youth Continental and Youth World super heavyweight titles. During the 2014 Junior and Youth Open in Reno, Nevada, Rock shut out the 2013 National Youth Champion, John Luna, 3-0. This impressive performance was followed by another super heavyweight title at the Youth Continental Championships in March 2014 in Quito, Ecuador where he defeated Argentina’s Kervin Espinola, 3-0. Rock then took home the gold medal at the prestigious World Youth Championships in Bulgaria in April 2014 by a 2-1 decision over Germany’s Peter Kadiru. Rock also took home the 2014 World Junior Amateur Championship and capped off 2014 by being named Philadelphia’s Amateur Boxer of the Year at the annual Briscoe Awards. His most noteworthy win, emellertid, came in May 2015 when he beat Cam Awesome, a career amateur who has been called the next Chris Byrd, in Las Vegas for the National Golden Gloves title. Rock also captured the 2015 US. National Amateur super heavyweight championship. He ended his amateur career as the number one rated super heavyweight in the United States (and the number five rated super heavyweight in the world) gå 19-5 in national tournaments. His assault on the heavyweight division begins Maj 13 against Black.
Rockville, Maryland resident Carlos Black is better known to capitol region boxing as the “DC Diamond Cutter.” Turning professional late in life at the age of thirty, making his professional debut on April 23, 2015 at Tall Cedar’s Hall in Baltimore, Maryland scoring a four-round unanimous decision over the more experienced Lonnie Kornegay. Black, emellertid, would fall short of victory in his next three bouts to George Arias on May 8, 2015 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, to Dennis Benson by a hard-fought four-round split decision in his return to Tall Cedar’s Hall on July 9, 2015 and to Jerry Forrest on September 26, 2015 at the Masonic Temple in Norfolk, Virginia. Tough like his nickname and propelled by his steadfast will, he believes he can one day fulfill his dream of becoming heavyweight champion of the world. That dream will come a step closer to reality should he defeat the highly touted Rock.
Abner Cotto is part of the famous Cotto boxing family of Puerto Rico. Legendary Miguel Cotto is a second cousin, while uncles Miguel Cotto Sr. and Evangelista Cotto were pro boxers themselves. Cotto is looking for his second straight win following a loss in a world-title elimination bout against current WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Javier Fortuna. På Maj 13 he faces the vastly experienced Juan Jose Beltran who has faced current World Champion Leo Santa Cruz and former World Champions Eric Morel and Rico Ramos.
Brooklyn’s unbeaten Junior Younan faces his stiffest test to date on Maj 13 när han möter Austin Marcum. Younan returned following a nine-month injury induced layoff on Mars 26 on the Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera undercard by pounding out a four-round unanimous decision over Carlos Lozano. Marcum is riding a four-fight winning streak and plans to take his 20-year-old opponent into unfamiliar territory, as Younan has yet to fight past four rounds.
Former Washington Redskin Mike Balogun looks to make it six straight wins since turning professional as a boxer in October of 2014. Balogun was a standout inside linebacker at the University of Oklahoma and spent a year on the Redskins’ roster in 2010. He also played briefly for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers before retiring and becoming a full time boxer. Looking to stop Balogun’s rise as a pugilist on Maj 13 will be fellow local fighter Devon Mosley who is seeking his first professional win.
Local favorite Sam Korsade, has limited amateur experience, which his opponent Damion Reed, a 16-fight veteran hopes to exploit. Crossed, who works as bar tender, is expected to have hundreds of supporters behind him as he attempts to go to 3-0. Reed recently lost two hard-fought majority decisions to two cruiserweights and has a draw with Ken Moody.
Standing 6’6” and weighing 250 pounds, Kinesiska tungvikts sensation Zhang Zhilei has shown boxing skills rarely seen in a big man since turning pro in August 2014. Undefeated in eight fights as a professional, Zhilei was a highly-decorated amateur, winning a silver medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, as well as bronze medals at the 2007 world amateur championships and 2009 AIBA world championships. He faces an opponent to be determined on Maj 13.
Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, Maj 13, 2016 på DC Armory i Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. OCH and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. Förutom den stora insatser inuti ringen, den Maj 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Följ konversationen med #throneboxing.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.
För mer information, besök www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page atwww.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.
For more information on the DC Armory, besök www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.
Ward vs. Barrera + Diaz Jr. vs. Velez Final Presskonferens Citat och foton
TVÅ-världsmästaren Andre Ward VS. UNDEFEATED SULLIVAN BARRERA
NABF fjäderlätta mästaren JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ
Sista presskonferensen Citat och BILDER
Uppgörelser SET FÖR LÖRDAG, MARS 26
AT Oracle Arena i Oakland, KALIFORNIEN
TV LIVE PÅ HBO®
Klicka HÄR för bilder
Foto Credit: Roc Nation Sport / Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos
OAKLAND, SÅSOM (Mars 23, 2015) - På onsdag, Mars 23, Roc Nation Sports värd den avslutande presskonferensen för två-Time världsmästare och topprankad pund-for-pound fighter Andre Ward(28-0, 15 Kos) och nummer ett nominellt IBF lätt tungvikt utmanare Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) vid sjön Merritt amfiteater i Oakland, Kalifornien i förväg Mars 26 kämpa på Oracle Arena i Oakland. Ward och Barrera kommer att mötas i 12-runda IBF nummer ett och obligatorisk läge eliminator bout TV live på HBO VM Boxing® börjar vid 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT. NABF fjäderlätta mästaren Joseph "Jojo" Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 Kos) och topprankade fjäder utmanare Jayson "La Maravilla" Velez (23-1-1, 16 Kos) var också närvarande på presskonferensen podiet med utsikt över sjön Merritt före sin 10-runda NABF fjäderlätt titel kamp som kommer att öppna upp HBO-utsändning.
Ward vs. Barrera ser ut att vara en mycket omtvistad kamp mellan två soldater som båda har siktet inställt på en match-up mot Unified Lätt tungvikt världsmästare Sergey Kovalev.
Nedan är vad de stridande, promotorer, utbildare, chefer och andra Dais gäster hade att säga vid presskonferensen:
Andre Ward, Två-Time världsmästare och topprankad pund-for-pound fighter:
"Jag vill tacka alla för att komma ut som vanligt. Bay Area är en vacker plats. Vi får inte ofta tillräckligt med kredit för talang som kommer ut härifrån, men för fans, Det är enorm. Jag är bara tacksam för att vara från en plats som denna och tacksamma att ha kärlek och stöd vid varje händelse som vi tar här. Jag är tacksam att jag själv och killar som Marshawn Lynch, Damian Lillard och Warriors sätta denna plats på kartan och människor tar tillkännagivande om nationella scenen. Det är verkligen viktigt för mig.
"När det gäller kampen själv, det är mycket enkelt för mig ... någon som känner mig, de vet hur jag arbetar och de vet hur jag kryssa. Jag inte fastna i vad som händer. Jag inte fastna i vad folk säger. Jag är medveten om vad som sägs. Jag vet vad min motståndare har sagt och jag tar honom på hans ord. Jag har gjort allt som jag ska göra, som jag alltid gör och som jag har gjort den sista 10 år av min karriär. Jag har tagit på bästa ... om det inte är en mästare så är det en utmanare ... och detta är inte annorlunda. Ni vet bara att jag är fokuserad och låst in som jag alltid. Jag är beredd och jag är redo för krig kommer Mars 26."
SULLIVAN BARRERA, Nummer ett nominellt IBF lätt tungvikt utmanare:
"Jag ville säga tack för att ni kom hit. Jag vill säga tack HBO, Tack alla. Tack Andre Ward för att acceptera min kamp. Jag lovar alla som kommer till arenan som jag har haft stor förberedelse och detta är en stor dröm. På natten, Jag kommer att ha en stor show för alla. "
DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO Boxning - Roc Nation Sports:
"Två av de bästa lätta tungviktarna på planeten kommer att kollidera på Mars 26. De har en kombinerad register över 45-0 med 27 Kos och onödigt att säga, varken har smakade nederlag som en professionell. Även om varje människa har en formidabel motståndare framför honom, de båda har sina ögon på Sergey Kovalev och hans tre VM-titel bälten, men först de har företag att sköta på lördag natt.
"När jag kommer ut till Oakland för en händelse och jag är med Andre på en funktion där han talar till media, Det slår mig som uppenbarligen, han är en speciell talang athletically, men han är också en speciell person och jag hoppas att alla här i Oakland förstår och uppskattar att. Han är en principfast familj man som alltid försöker att göra det rätta och det är något som är sällsynt i livet i dessa dagar, men det är särskilt sällsynt i idrott. Jag hoppas att ni uppskattar honom. Boxning karriär varar inte för evigt. Han kommer inte att slåss för evigt, så att alla ska uppskatta vad du har här i Andre Ward.
"Andre fångade en guldmedalj vid OS i Aten och är den sista US. boxare att ha gjort så. Hans lista över besegrade fiender ser ut som en som är vem av super mellanvikt. Han dominerade också och slog ut tidigare ljus mästare tungvikt världen, Chad Dawson i deras 2012 kraftmätning. I hans sista match, han dominerade två-tiden världsmästare titel utmanare Paul Smith Juni 20 på Oracle Arena. Han ger sig ut på nästa kapitel i sin karriär på Mars 26, återvänder till Oracle Arena gång, som han gör sin flytta upp till lätt tungvikt divisionen redo att göra vad han gjorde i super mellanvikt ... rengöring ut och dominera alla som står i hans väg. "
NICOLE DUVA, Vice VD för marknadsföring och chefsjurist - Main Events:
"Jag skulle verkligen vilja tacka Andre Ward. Han behövde inte ta på undefeated fighter i sin första kamp på lätt tungvikt, men han gjorde det och jag tror att det är lovvärt.
"I sin sista match, Sullivan blev obligatoriska utmanare till Sergey Kovalev s IBF bälte. Han kunde ha satt tillbaka och väntade på sin titel kamp, men han såg denna kamp mot Andre Ward som en möjlighet att verkligen nå för storhet och han gjorde det. Som ni alla vet, Main Event och Roc Nation Sports har stora planer för Andre Ward och Sergey Kovalev senare i år och Sullivan Barrera kan verkligen upprörd att äpple vagn.
"Båda dessa män, Sullivan och Andre, har allt rider på resultatet av Lördagens slagsmål. I det klimat som vi har i boxning just nu, Det är uppfriskande att se riktiga krigare som inte är rädda för att ta risker. De båda förtjänar vår respekt och beundran för det. Detta är vad vår sport skulle vara om.
"Sullivan Barrera är obesegrad med ett register över 17-0 med 12 vinner kommer genom knockout. Han blev bara 34, en månad sedan, som du kanske tror är lite gammal för denna punkt i sin karriär. Vad du kanske inte vet är att han hade en framgångsrik amatörkarriär i Kuba och sedan förlorade flera år av hans främsta medan han avhoppad till USA. Han har kommit riktigt långt att vara här i dag för detta ögonblick och denna möjlighet. Han är hungrig, han är säker och han är redo. "
VIRGIL HUNTER, Andre Ward tränare:
"Detta är en fantastisk kort med fantastiska idrottsmän som försöker ta sig i en värld av boxning. Om denna kamp ägde rum i någon annan stad, det skulle vara en stor händelse. Vad vi vill göra är att se till att Oakland förstår, och att den omgivande Bay Area förstår, omfattningen av denna händelse så att vi kan fortsätta att föra världsklass boxning till Oakland. Oakland är en grogrund för de bästa fighters och vi redan har dem. Ju mer du stödja oss, desto mer att dessa slagsmål blir synlig och du kommer att se den stora tiden på toppen.
"De säger att andra nätverk gör fighters, men HBO gör stjärnor, så vi är glada att vara en del av detta. Vi ber dig att komma ut och stödja denna kamp. Kom ut Lördag natt och njuta av er för en god natts topp boxning. "
BEN lire, Sullivan Barrera tränare:
"Jag vill tacka alla de människor som sätter ihop denna super händelse på lördag. Vi är här för att sätta på en stor show och Sullivan har gjort allt för att förbereda sig för den här händelsen. Han vet utmaningarna framför honom, men han tror på sig själv och han anser att detta är hans tid att visa allmänheten och publik att det är där han är. Han är där för att göra ett uttalande.
"Mer än någonting, vi respekterar Mr. Ward för sina insatser, hans trovärdighet och han är en super kille i sporten. Det är bra att vara en del av detta. Vi beredda väl och vi har gjort allt som vi måste inte komma Lördag att ge åskådarna en super stor show eftersom detta är vad boxning handlar om. Det handlar om prestanda och båda kämpar får utföra på denna nivå vid en stor händelse. Vi är hedrade att vara en del av denna händelse. Vi har gjort allt som är möjligt för att säkerställa att vi kommer att komma ut och sätta på en fantastisk show. "
JAMES PRINCE, Andre Ward chef:
"Detta är ett historiskt ögonblick för oss. Vi går in i 175 pound lätt tungvikt divisionen. Detta är ett ögonblick som staden inte vill missa. Detta är ögonblicket vid början av en rörelse. Barrera råkar bara vara det första offret och vi kommer att ta itu med honom i enlighet. Vi har hört mycket prat och samtal äger rum där han är oroad, och vi vet att han tror allt han säger. Än en gång, Vi är glada över denna möjlighet och du inte vill missa detta historiska ögonblick på lördag natt. "
JOSEPH DIAZ JR., NABF fjäderlätta mästaren:
"Komma Mars 26, Jag vet att jag har en riktigt tuff kamp framför mig. Jag vet Jayson Velez är en erfaren veteran i ringen. Han är en krigare. Han har en sex-tums nå fördel över mig så det kommer att bli en riktigt bra kamp. Jag vet att han är på väg bort en förlust, så jag vet att han verkligen vill att studsa tillbaka och visa alla att han fortfarande är en VM-titel utmanare.
"Jag hade en riktigt bra träningsläger. Jag har tränat i åtta veckor. Detta är min första gången slåss på HBO, så jag vill verkligen visa vem jag verkligen är. Jag är 110% färdig. Jag är redo att ge kampen fans ett krig om Jayson Velez vill ha ett krig. Jag är redo att visa upp för alla alla förmågor jag har inne i ringen. Jag är mycket glada över att vara med och slåss om Andre Ward och Sullivan Barrera kort. De är två elitidrottare och jag är mycket hedrad över att vara co-main event för denna kamp. Såsom Mars 26, Jag lovar att jag kommer att ge dig en stor show. "
JAYSON VELEZ, Topprankade fjäder utmanare:
"Jag vill först tacka Gud, uppenbarligen han gör allting möjligt. Jag vill tacka mina promotorer, Miguel Cotto Kampanjer och Golden pojkePromotions och hela mitt team. Jag har inte för mycket att säga förutom att detta är en stor kamp. Joseph kommer att kämpa. Jag kommer att kämpa. Vi båda vill vinna. Vi båda ta utmaningar. Folk frågar mig varför jag tog denna farliga kamp och svaret är enkelt ... om jag vill bli bäst, Jag måste kämpa bäst. Joseph är en av de bästa.
"Jag förlorade min sista match, så jag behöver för att vinna. Jag vill vinna. Jag kan inte säga vem som kommer att vinna denna kamp, eftersom vi båda är stora krigare och krigare. Han är mexikanska, Jag är puertoricansk, och när du har en puertoricansk och en mexikansk i samma ring, du kommer att se ett krig. Du kommer att se hastighet, ström, allt i denna kamp. Han är en stor kämpe och jag är så glad. Tack till alla och håll ögonen öppna denna lördag och tack till HBO förstås. "
ROBERT DIAZ, Head Matchmaker - Golden pojkePromotions:
"Självklart den viktigaste händelsen talar för sig själv. Du har Andre Ward kontra en ung obesegrad kille som Sullivan Barrera, men co-main event kommer att grop två unga, hungriga kämpar mot varandra i Jayson Velez och Joseph Diaz. De är båda unga. De är båda beredda att ta på de bästa slagsmål, de tuffaste slagsmål och bevis på det är hur lätt det var att göra denna kamp.
"Jag är mycket glada över denna kamp. Du vill inte missa 10 rundor för NABF titeln.
"Jayson Velez är en ung, hungrigt lejon som vill komma tillbaka upp på scenen och vet hur viktig en seger över Josef Diaz är. Han förstod möjlighet att kämpa på HBO och på detta enorma kort. Jag vill påminna er om karaktären av Jayson Velez. I en dag och ålder där en fighter som förlorar vill ta kanske en comeback eller ställa upp, eller två eller tre, innan de tar en högrisk kamp och Jayson Velez gör det direkt efter. Det visar att han vill komma tillbaka på toppen och han vet vad han måste göra för att komma dit ... det måste vara genom att stoppa en toppnivå fighter som Joseph Diaz. "
RALPH HEREDIA, Joseph Diaz manager:
"Det är en ära att vara här, en stor möjlighet och förmånen att få denna möjlighet att visa upp en begåvad, 2012 Olympian. Josef, detta är vad vi pratade om, Tack för ditt tålamod, du är redo för möjligheten. Vi vet vad en speciell ung man och begåvad människa du är, men nu hela världen kommer att få se på den stora scenen vad en talang, vad en riktig gentleman och vad en kämpe borde vara ... som Joseph Diaz.
"Vad kan jag säga om Jayson Velez? Han är en gentleman som vet vad som står på spel och har erfarenhet. Tro mig, du inte vill missa detta. Lördag, du måste ställa in. Det kommer att bli en fartfylld kamp. "
JOSE "ATT DET" SANCHEZ, Jayson Velez tränare:
"Jag ser Diaz som en stor kämpe, men jag har Jayson i mycket gott skick och han är redo för kampen. Jag vet att det kommer att bli en bra kamp eftersom de är redo, och samma sak gäller för min jaktplan Jayson Velez. Han har arbetat mycket hårt för denna kamp och jag vet att han är redo för strid. "
TONY WALKER, Direktör, HBO Sports:
"På uppdrag av vår vice VD Peter Nelson, Vi är mycket glada över att vara här i Bay Area, med en stor folkmassa och stora boxning fans, när vi ser att komma med dig denna doubleheader på lördag natt.
"Det är inte lätt att dra ihop en stor boxningsmatch och dessa lag har dragit ihop en stor kort från topp till botten, så även om alla slagsmål inte kommer att vara på HBO, Om du vill titta på några stora boxning, gå till Oracle Arena och om du måste vara hemma, kolla upp det på HBO.
"Under vår 43 år av programmering på HBO, boxning har alltid varit en integrerad del av det vi gör. Vi har alltid berömde oss på att ha de bästa fighters och de bästa matcherna, och vi känner mycket bra att denna tradition kommer att hålla igen när Andre Ward gör sin 2016 debut i ringen. I boxningsringen, det är aldrig rekommenderat att du har utsikt över en hungrig, obesegrad fighter som vi har i Sullivan Barrera, så jag vill välkomna Sullivan till nätverket och tacka honom för att ta på denna utmaning.
"Öppna TV-utsändning blir Joseph Diaz mot Jayson Velez, två up-and-coming unga killar, två unga vapen, som tror att de är redo för den stora scenen. Allt som allt, det kommer att bli en stor TV-utsändning, 9:45 PM ET Vi lovar dig en informativ och underhållande kväll med vår sändning laget. "
Ward vs. Barrera, en 12-runda IBF nummer ett och obligatorisk läge eliminator som presenteras av Roc Nation Sports tillsammans med Main Event, sker Lördag, Mars 26, 2016 på Oracle Arena i Oakland, Kalifornien. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticket, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace, The Waterfront Hotel och Visit Oakland. Evenemanget kommer att sändas i TV live på HBO VM Boxing början på 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT. Öppna HBO-utsändning blir Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez i ett 10-runt kamp för NABF fjäderlätt titel presenteras av Golden pojkePromotions tillsammans med Miguel Cotto Promotions.
Biljetter kostar $300, $150, $100, $50 och $25, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
Följ konversationen på Twitter genom att använda #WardBarrera.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, Följ oss på Twitter och Instagram @rocnation, @huvudevenemang, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions och @HBOBoxing och bli ett fan på Facebook på www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing och www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
TVÅ-världsmästaren Andre Ward VS. UNDEFEATED SULLIVAN BARRERA
NABF fjäderlätta mästaren JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ
MEDIA WORKOUT Citat och BILDER
Uppgörelser SET FÖR LÖRDAG, MARS 26
AT Oracle Arena i Oakland, KALIFORNIEN
TV LIVE PÅ HBO®
Klicka HÄR för bilder
Foto Credit: Roc Nation Sport / Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos
OAKLAND, SÅSOM (Mars 23, 2015) - På tisdag, Mars 22, Två-Time världsmästare och topprankad pund-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 Kos) och nummer ett nominellt IBF lätt tungvikt utmanare Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) deltagit i en medie träningspass på Kings gym i Oakland, Kalifornien i förväg Mars 26 kämpa på Oracle Arena i Oakland. Ward och Barrera kommer att mötas i 12-runda IBF nummer ett och obligatorisk läge eliminator bout TV live på HBO VM Boxing® börjar vid 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT. NABF fjäderlätta mästaren Joseph "Jojo" Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 Kos) och topprankade fjäder utmanare Jayson "Star" Velez (23-1-1, 16 Kos) var också närvarande under träningen före sin 10-runda NABF fjäderlätt titel kamp som kommer att öppna upp HBO-utsändning.
Efter shadowboxing i ringen och några rundor på slagsäckar, alla fyra fighters deltog i intervjuer med media medlemmar i närvaro. Super Bowl mästare och Oakland infödda Marshawn Lynch, en ivrig Andre Ward supporter, gjorde ett speciellt utseende under träningen till stöd för Ward.
Nedan är vad de stridande hade att säga under den sista medie träning:
Andre Ward, Två-Time världsmästare och topprankad pund-for-pound fighter:
"Jag mår bra och jag är redo att gå. Jag topp vid rätt tidpunkt. Jag är bara glad över att få det på lördagnatt.
"Jag brukade köra med Oracle Arena på 880 som ett barn på väg till Kings gym och undrar om jag kunde göra det där en dag och [tränare] Virgil [Hunter] brukade säga med tillförsikt, "Du kommer att rubrik där. När jag blev äldre, Jag brukade gå till några av korten läggs på i arenan. Jag var fortfarande en amatör och jag skulle bara drömma. Nästa sak du vet, i 2009, Jag var i ett handfat eller simma kampen mot Edison Miranda. Om jag vann, Det var förmodligen en god chans att jag skulle få en titel skott och resten är historia. Här är vi igen, det är min 7th tid på Oracle och det är fortfarande en välsignelse.
"Det var rätt tid att flytta till lätt tungvikt. Det var en kombination av att inte ha rätt killar att slåss eller killar som inte vill kämpa mig. Jag vill vara stor. Dessa är de typer av rörelser du måste göra. Jag är en student av sporten och när jag studerar sporten, detta är vad storheter alltid har gjort. De rör sig upp. De stora hitta ett sätt att få det gjort och jag vill vara i det samtalet.
"Barrera är en stor kropp. Han är övertygad om. Verkar vara ett bra hålslag. Vi inte plocka upp honom eftersom han är en mjuk känsla. Vi valde honom eftersom han skulle få mig redo och visa mig vad denna viktklass handlar om. Om du tittar på min karriär, Det finns en plats för tune-ups som jag inte har haft en hel del. Du vill bekämpa den bästa och om du inte kämpar bäst, du vill slåss nummer ett utmanare. Det är vad vi gör.
"Jag tror att jag utvecklas till en effektiv fighter. Jag flyttar när jag måste flytta. Jag tror att det är skönheten i alla idrottare som inte missbrukar sin kropp och verkligen tar sitt hantverk på allvar. Jag har sett några artiklar som hävdar jag missade min främsta. Det är galet för mig. Jag känner att jag är lika bra som jag någonsin har varit. Jag har varit i en boxnings gym utan mycket av en paus under de senaste 20 år. Min hjärna tackade mig för de senaste två åren. Min kropp tackade mig. Det kan ge mig ytterligare två år i min karriär.
"Jag måste bara vara mig. Vem jag är tillräckligt. Jag behöver inte visa upp för Kovalev i publiken på lördagnatt. Vi har bara att genomföra spelplan. Jag tror att det kommer att skicka meddelandet det är tänkt att sända och om det inte, Då kommer han [Kovalev] får meddelandet när vi kämpar.
"Om jag inte vinner denna kamp, det finns inget på vägen. Om jag inte vinner denna kamp, Jag förtjänar inte att slåss om titeln. Det är verkligheten i min situation.
"Barrera har aldrig kämpat en kille som mig innan, så att de kan prata ett bra spel. De kan dominera rubrikerna som leder upp till kamp. De kan säga allt slick saker de vill säga. Vi vill bara att dominera rubrikerna Söndag morgonen efter kampen är över. Det är vad jag är fokuserad på. "
SULLIVAN BARRERA, Nummer ett nominellt IBF lätt tungvikt utmanare:
"Jag är starkare än Ward. Jag har den kubanska bakgrunden och jag lärde mig en hel del kunskaper där. Mer än någonting, viljan att övervinna något framför mig kommer att hjälpa mig att besegra Ward på Mars 26.
"När jag är i ringen, Det är mitt hus.
"Vad Ward har, Jag kommer att anpassa sig till den och övervinna det.
"Jag har två händer. Han har två händer. Jag har ett jobb att göra på Mars 26.
"Jag vet Ward och Kovalev är mycket högt respekterade och de skapar en massa pengar och en hel del intresse, men de vet inte vad Sullivan Barrera är kapabel att göra. Jag kommer att visa att på lördag.
"Jag är inte riktigt en kille som måste leta efter en knockout. Mina boxning färdigheter talar för sig själva. Jag kämpar Andre Ward och slåss här i Oakland, så jag tror inte att ett beslut kommer att göras i min fördel.
"Till alla fans, särskilt de kubanska fans som har stöttat mig du vet att komma Lördag, Jag kommer att göra allt jag har att göra för att komma ut segrande. "
JOSEPH DIAZ JR., NABF fjäderlätta mästaren:
"Jag kan inte förvänta sig vad Jayson gjorde Ronny Rios under denna kamp. Jag måste gå in där, testa honom och justera när jag är i ringen.
"Om tillfälle ges där han är skadad och jag ser att mina slag är överväldigande honom, då naturligtvis kommer jag att komma in där, vara aggressiv och se till att jag tar ut honom så tidigt som möjligt.
"Jag vet att komma på insidan, skära av ringen och ta det till kroppen direkt kommer att bryta ner honom. Det kommer att göra honom inte röra sig lika mycket och senare i omgångar jag kan landa onda slag mot huvudet. Jag kommer att ta det till kroppen direkt.
"Mentalt är jag 100% färdig. Detta är en stor scen i min karriär, så jag mentalt fokuserad. Jag är väl förberedd. Jag tycker detta är det ögonblick jag har väntat på hela mitt hela liv. Jag känner att jag är redo för detta och jag kan inte vänta Mars 26. Jag tränade mycket hårt för denna kamp och jag är väl förberedd för det.
"Jag vill verkligen göra ett uttalande denna kamp. Jag vill visa världen att Joseph Diaz kan bli nästa stora grej i boxning, så jag tränade mycket svårt att sätta på en stor kamp för kampen fans, vara mycket aggressiv och göra det ett krig där. Jag hoppas att Jayson Velez är 110% redo eftersom jag vill att han ska vara på sitt bästa.
"Om jag vinna denna kamp och göra ett uttalande, Jag tror att jag kan flytta till utmanare status och förhoppningsvis få en VM-titel skott i slutet av detta år. Jag vill kämpa tuffa motståndare i år eftersom jag vill visa världen vem jag är.
"Jag känner mig som ett djur när jag kliver in i ringen och jag kan se det i sparring. När jag landar effektiva slag, Jag kan säga att jag sårade min motståndare. "
JAYSON VELEZ, Topprankade fjäder utmanare:
"På min nivå, varje kille är en utmanare. Jag måste träna hårdare och förbättra mitt försvar. Jag har jobbat på att.
"Om du ser min sista tre eller fyra matcher, ser du att jag har varit dominerande i den första par rundor och sedan köra jag av gas, Jag har arbetat med min uthållighet, så att inte kommer att hända på Mars 26.
"Jag har sett Diaz slagsmål. Vi har spar ett par gånger. Han har fått fart. Han har en hunger. Det är hans HBO debut, så han definitivt motiverad, men så är jag. Det kommer att bli en stor kamp.
"Jag vill bli mästare av ordet. Jag vet att han vill det också. På lördag, vi vet vem vill det mer. Vi båda vill vinna och vi är både träning för en seger. En kamp mellan kraft och fart är en stor match-up. För att inte nämna att han är mexikanska och jag är puertoricanska. Du kan förvänta dig en stor kamp och det är inte som du vill missa. "
Ward vs. Barrera, en 12-runda IBF nummer ett och obligatorisk läge eliminator som presenteras av Roc Nation Sports tillsammans med Main Event, sker Lördag, Mars 26, 2016 på Oracle Arena i Oakland, Kalifornien. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticket, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace, The Waterfront Hotel och Visit Oakland. Evenemanget kommer att sändas i TV live på HBO VM Boxing början på 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT. Öppna HBO-utsändning blir Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez i ett 10-runt kamp för NABF fjäderlätt titel presenteras av Golden pojkePromotions tillsammans med Miguel Cotto Promotions.
Biljetter kostar $300, $150, $100, $50 och $25, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
Följ konversationen på Twitter genom att använda #WardBarrera.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, Följ oss på Twitter och Instagram @rocnation, @huvudevenemang, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions och @HBOBoxing och bli ett fan på Facebook på www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing och www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
Non-Televised Undercard Fights For Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera March 26 + In-Arena Entertainment
ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD FIGHTS
FOR ANDRE WARD VS. SULLIVAN BARRERA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN ON LÖRDAG, MARS 26
AT Oracle Arena i Oakland, KALIFORNIEN
WARD VS. BARRERA AND JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ TELEVISED
LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® BEGINNING AT 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT
SWAY CALLOWAY & DJ FRANZEN TO PROVIDE
IN-ARENA ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN BOUTS
NEW YORK, NY (Mars 14, 2016) – A slate of six non-televised undercard bouts will serve as support when Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 Kos) faces undefeated and number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 Kos) in a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator at Oracle Arena in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, California on March 26. Opening the HBO® telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight NABF Featherweight title fight.
In addition to the exciting televised lineup, some of boxing’s hottest rising stars will be featured on the non-televised undercard including Roc Nation Sports standouts Maurice Hooker, Daniel Franco, Rudy Puga Jr. och Junior Younan med 2008 Olympic Super Heavyweight Silver Medalist Zhang Zhilei and local favorite Aaron Coley who will all see action on March 26.
Roc Nation Sports will bring names from the entertainment world to the event as well, including notable event emcee, SiriusXM/Shade 45 morning show host of Sway in the Morning, Executive Producer and talent for VH1 & MTV and Oakland-native Sway Calloway, som kommer att fungera som evenemangets värd, och slog mästare DJ Franzen, resident DJ på Las Vegas 'Hot 97.5 and Drais Nightclub. Sway and Franzen will entertain together throughout the night to keep fans entertained between bouts at Oracle Arena.
Biljetter kostar $300, $150, $100, $50 och $25, inte inklusive tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter finns på alla Ticket platser, online på Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) och ladda via telefon (800) 745-3000.
På Mars 26, NABO Junior Welterweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (19-0-2, 14 Kos) risks his unbeaten record against Wilfrido “La Roca” Buelvas (17-5, 11 Kos) of Barranquilla, Colombia in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. Hooker, rated number seven by the WBO, is coming off of a career-best win on October 17, 2015 against his toughest opponent to date in Ghislain Maduma (17-2, 11 Kos) på Madison Square Garden. Hooker successfully defended his NABO title with the 10-round decision win over Maduma on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux in a fight that was featured on the event’s “freeview” in the United States and streamed online around the world. Buelvas, a former WBA Fedebol champion, has won two of his last three bouts by knockout and fought Humberto Soto for the WBC Silver International Super Lightweight title in 2014, going the 12-round distance before losing a decision to the former World Champion.
Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, a rough suburb of Dallas, Hooker found a boxing home at Maple Avenue Boxing Gym by way of an outreach program for at-risk youths. His natural talent was soon noticed resulting in him competing as an amateur, during which time he participated in over 100 slagsmål, compiling a record of 97 segrar och bara 7 förluster, med 67 victories coming by way of knockout. Hooker turned professional on April 29, 2011, taking on the vastly more experienced Tyrone Chatman (7-1, 5 KO: s) at the Orpheum Theater in St. Louis. After four rounds, the judges saw the fight 40-36, 37-39 och 38-38, making the fight a split draw. Undeterred, in his next fight on June 24, 2014, Hooker scored his first professional win, knocking out Wilbert Mitchell in the first round at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Eleven wins (eight by knockout) later, he took on undefeated Abel Ramos (8-0, 4 KO: s) januari 17, 2014 in a bout that was featured on ShoBox from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. After eight close, hard-fought rounds, the judges saw the fight a draw. Hooker followed the draw with a six-round unanimous decision win over Adrian Rodriguez Garza (8-2, 6 KO: s) på April 26 at Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi. Four consecutive knockout victories would follow before he took on fellow undefeated prospect Eduardo Galindo (10-0-1, 7 KO: s) på juni 26, 2015 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Championship. “Mighty Mo” did not disappoint his legion of hometown fans who saw him capture the title with a sixth round technical knockout victory.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, Kalifornien och slåss ut ur boxning grogrund för Oxnard, obesegrad Daniel "Twitch" Franco (12-0-3, 7 KO: s) meets Mexican veteran German “Panteonero” Meraz(52-37-1, 30 Kos) in an eight-round featherweight bout on Mars 26. Featured for the second time on a Ward undercard, the sharp-boxing Franco will look to improve on his undefeated record against an opponent with literally six times his pro boxing experience. Meraz is only 29 years old but has already logged an amazing 90 professional bouts and has won four of his last six fights by knockout. He has fought current World Champion Juan Carlos Payano, Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and highly-touted prospect Gervonta Davis, going the distance with all three.
Franco began boxing at the age of eight, amassing en amatör register över 67-15, vinna Oxnard PAL Championship 2006 och California State Silver Gloves Championship i 2007 längs vägen. Under Francos professionella debut på December 18, 2010, Han besegrade Emanuel Machorro på Club 401 i Ontario, Kalifornien via en tredje omgången teknisk knockout. Trots att inskriven som heltidsstuderande vid Chaffey College i Rancho Cucamonga, Franco imponerade i början av sin karriär, sammanställa en obesegrad rekord med två oavgjorda på platser över hela Kalifornien i slutet av 2013. En av dem drar kom mot Alejandro Ochoa på Quiet Cannon i Montebello, Kalifornien september 20, 2013, but in a rematch three months later, Franco outmatched Ochoa scoring en sex-runda enhälligt beslut seger på Westin Bonaventure Hotel i Los Angeles. På Juni 20, 2015, during Ward’s return to the ring at Oracle Arena, Franco saw action in an eight-round junior lightweight bout against Jonathan Alcantara and won by unanimous decision. A hand injury suffered in that bout kept Franco out of action until December 21when he scored a decision victory over Hector Garcia in Tijuana, Mexiko.
A promising unbeaten prospect from Salinas, Kalifornien, Rudy “The Revelation” Puja. Jr. (7-0, 6 Kos)looks to extend his undefeated streak against Carlos “Kalimba” Lozano (7-5, 4 Kos) of Ensenada, Mexico in a six-round middleweight bout. Puga turned in a career-best performance in his last match-up on February 12 in knocking out Alejandro Osuna (4-2, 2 KO: s) in two rounds at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, Kalifornien. Nu, just a little over a month later, “The Revelation” will step into the ring against a tough opponent in Lozanao, a southpaw who has never been stopped and already has a ten-round decision victory under his belt.
Having compiled an exceptional amateur record of 99-8, Puga made his professional debut on September 2, 2011, scoring a fourth round technical knockout victory over Raul Talamontes at the Sports Complex in his hometown. Back in the ring less than two months later, Puga Jr. raised his record to 2-0 with a first round technical knockout of Jose Jesus Hurtado at the Sherwood Inn in Salinas. I juni 2012, he sent Thomas Turner to the mat four times in scoring a second round technical knockout win at the Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. After a little more than a year away from the ring, he rededicated himself to the “sweet science” with a vengeance and on February 17, 2014, Puga Jr. made his comeback stopping Charon Spain in the third round with an overpowering body shot at the Salinas Storm House in his native Salinas. Promotional issues kept Puga Jr. out of the ring for the next year and injuries led to a slow 2015, but Puga Jr. scored a a fourth round technical knockout win over of Katrell Straus on April 24 and a six-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Rojas on November 21, both fights taking place at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, Kalifornien.
Brooklyn’s 20-year-old, obesegrad Junior “The Young God” Younan (7-0, 6 KO: s) återgår till ringen på Mars 26 after a nine-month layoff to take on Cristian Solorzano (4-7, 3 Kos) Sonora, Mexico in a four-round super middleweight fight. Younan has battled multiple nagging injuries since scoring a second round technical knockout victory over Mike Sawyer on the Miguel Cotto vs. Daniel Geale undercard on June 6, 2015 vid Barclays Center i Brooklyn, New York. Nu 100 percent healthy, Younan looks to make Solozano his third straight knockout victim. Solorzano, a naturally bigger fighter, has campaigned in the light heavyweight division and is coming off of a knockout win.
Younan, trained by his father Sherif, a former professional boxer himself, began fighting competitively at age eight and only two years later was called a “boxing prodigy” by the New York Times. He compiled an amateur record of 90-5, racking up an impressive series of titles along the way including nine Junior Olympic championships, nine Junior Metro championships, eight New York State Silver Gloves championships and five Regional Silver Gloves championships. I 2011, he was crowned National Junior Golden Gloves champion and was U.S.A. Boxing’s number one rated junior boxer in his weight class. Less than a month after his 18th födelsedag, Younan made his professional debut on November 9, 2013, at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn, New York, stopping Kenneth Schmitz in the first round. Younan would go on to knockout his next three opponents before going the distance for the first time against Azamat Umarzoda on July 2, 2014 på Foxwoods Resort Casino i Mashantucket, Connecticut. He followed that fight with a first round knockout of Marlon Farr on Augusti 13 the BB King Blues Club and Grill in New York on Augusti 13.
Chinese heavyweight Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (7-0, 4 Kos) joins the undercard on Mars 26 in a four-round bout against an opponent yet to be determined. The Silver Medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics continues to infuse excitement into the heavyweight division and is coming off of a first round technicalknockout win over David Koswara on February 20 at the Lanzhou Sports Arena in Lanzhou, Kina.
Born on May 2, 1983 in Henan, Zhang began his amateur career in 2003, participating in the World Championships. A breakthrough came in 2007 at the World Championships where Zhang defeated the trio of Nurpais Torobekov, Rustam Rygebayev and Daniel Beahan en route to the semifinals where he lost to Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov. By capturing a bronze medal and finishing the competition in third place, he qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The Chinese powerhouse nearly reached the zenith of amateur success in the summer of 2008, entering the super heavyweight finals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing against Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle. It was not to be as Zhang suffered his first defeat of that Olympiad, losing to Cammarelle, but proudly adding to the host country’s medal total with a Silver. I 2009, Zhang captured a gold medal at the China National Games, an event of equal prestige to the Olympics in China. 2013 saw yet another gold medal winning performance in the China National Games, setting the stage for “Big Bang” to embark on a professional career while basing himself in the United States. På Augusti 8, 2014, Zhang made his professional debut by scoring a first-round knockout win over Curtis Lee Tate in Fallon, Nevada in a fight that was televised live on ESPN2. På mars 14, 2015, Zhang beat Eric George via a four-round unanimous decision at the Armory in Jersey City, New Jersey. He followed that with another four-round unanimous decision win, this time over Glenn Thomas on the highly anticipated Cotto-Geale undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Juni 6. Next came a sixth round technical knockout win over Dennis Benson at The Playground in Atlantic City on Augusti 15. To end the year, Zhang was featured on the undercard of the November 21 Cotto vs. Canelo mega-fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where scored a four-round unanimous decision victory over Juan Goode.
Lokal Hayward, Kalifornien favorit Aaron Coley (12-1-1, 6 KO: s) faces a very stern test in a six-round junior middleweight bout against Följt Ryskeldiev (11-3-2, 7 Kos) of West Hollywood, Kalifornien, a Kyrgyzstan native who is undefeated in his last seven fights.
På Mars 26, Coley will look follow his most recent victory, a unanimous decision over Jeremy Ramos onJanuari 23 at the Marriott on Broadway in Oakland, with another win in front of his hometown fans. Prior to his January win he scored two unanimous decision triumphs, including his June 20, 2015 performance against Yusmani Abreu (who Ryskeldiev defeated by technical knockout in September) on the undercard of Ward’s last fight. Considered a promising prospect in boxing circles, Coley’s lone loss came via decision to one of boxing’s hottest prospects in Ievgen Khytrov in a bout that was televised live on Showtime’s ShoBox on April 10, 2015 from The Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York.
Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, sker lördag, Mars 26, 2016 på Oracle Arena i Oakland, California and is sponsored byCorona Extra, Ticket, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (CTMS), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace and The Waterfront Hotel. Evenemanget kommer att sändas i TV live på HBO VM Boxing början på 9:45 p.m. OCH/PT. Öppna HBO-utsändning blir Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez i ett 10-runt kamp för NABF fjäderlätt titel presenteras av Golden pojkePromotions tillsammans med Miguel Cotto Promotions.
För mer information, besök www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, Följ oss på Twitter och Instagram @rocnation, @huvudevenemang, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions och @HBOBoxing och bli ett fan på Facebook på www.facebook.com/RocNation,www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing ochwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
Följ konversationen på Twitter genom att använda #WardBarrera.
Bilder: Miguel Cotto vs Daniel Geale & Undercard Weigh-In for their June 6, 2015 fight on HBO +
MIGUEL COTTO VS. DANIEL GEALE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & BILDER
WBC & RING MAGAZINE MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION COTTO TO FACE FORMER TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION GEALE PÅ JUNI 6, 2015 AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN LIVE ON HBO®
PRESENTERAS VID Roc Nation SPORTS + MIGUEL COTTO PROMOTIONS
NEW YORK (Juni 2, 2015) – Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted the final press conference for the June 6 showdown between WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto and former Two-Time World Champion Daniel Geale on Tuesday, Juni 2 vid B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. Along with the main event participants, undercard fighters Junior Younan and Zhang Zhilei were also in attendance. Other speakers included Michael Yormark (President & Chief of Branding and Strategy of Roc Nation), Hector Soto (Miguel Cotto kampanjer), Freddie Roach (Cotto’s Trainer), Gary Shaw (Gary Shaw Productions), Graham Shaw (Geale’s Trainer), Brett Yormark (CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets), Peter Nelson (VP HBO Sports Programming), David Berlin (Executive Director of the New York State Athletic Commission) and Ululy Martinez (Vice Chairman of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Board of Directors). The press conference was emceed by Brooklyn Nets Public Address Announcer David Diamante.
BILDER:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zghog55phfcebgl/AADdHvtxcpbR-JVk2zOI54qPa?dl=0
FOTO CREDIT: Rich Kane – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wzeqxzlc7s79fev/AAAZBtNFUxTp3M_WOX65_pvNa?dl=0
FOTO CREDIT: Miguel Cotto Promotions/Roc Nation Sports
VIDEO:
VIDEO CREDIT: Miguel Cotto Promotions/Roc Nation Sports
Here’s what press conference participants had to say:
Michael Yormark – President & Chief of Branding and Strategy of Roc Nation
“Led by our Chairman JAY Z and his partners, Roc Nation was founded to work with artists and entertainers to guide them and help them build their careers even beyond the boundaries of the music industry. It is fitting then, that today we stand in a setting named for the legendary BB King – may he rest in peace – an artist and a man that knew no boundaries during a career that transcended his art. In a few short years, Roc Nation itself has expanded beyond the world of music, diversifying in a way that many never thought possible. Today we begin to celebrate a landmark in that expansion, as another legend, World Champion Miguel Cotto, prepares to headline Roc Nation’s first major fight on Saturday night against Daniel Geale, live at Barclays Center and on HBO.”
“When Roc Nation founded its boxing division less than a year ago, we committed to doing things differently, and what you will see on Saturday night will be different. The eyes of the boxing world will be fixed on Barclays Center on Saturday, with celebrities and VIP’s lining the ring and a captivated audience watching at home. They will watch with anticipation, awaiting not only a masterful performance from the champion Miguel Cotto against a formidable opponent, but also an electric appearance from Roc Nation artist and hip-hop superstar Big Sean, as well as the voice of New York Angie Martinez, and a host of other surprises that will make this live boxing experience different from anything you’ve ever seen before.”
“Saturday is the start of something new and fresh for the boxing industry. It is a chance for all of us to show boxing fans, and sports and entertainment fans around the world, that the action on fight night can and will live up to the hype.”
Hector Soto – Miguel Cotto Promotions
“It has been several months of hard work and dedication. Puerto Rico will shine again on the night of June 6 when Miguel Cotto defends his titles successfully.”
Ululy Rafael Martinez – Puerto Rican Day Parade
“We’re really happy this year to formalize a relationship with Miguel Cotto thanks to Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions. I also want to thank Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions for contributing to our scholarship fund. They are helping us empower young high school students and college students we provide scholarships to so they can further their education. I’m encouraging everyone planning on coming to the Parade on June 14 to support our man Miguel Cotto On Saturday, Juni 6 at Barclays Center for the boxing match of the year.”
David Berlin – New York Athletic Commission
“Miguel Cotto and Daniel Geale represent the best in boxing. These are men that carry themselves with dignity both inside and outside the ring. Men who can be respectful because they don’t have to prove themselves with words. Where they prove themselves each and every time they fight is inside that ring.”
“Now that I am with the commission, I no longer root for fighters. I’m in a neutral role, but I do root for fights. I root for fights when fighters come into the ring and they fight hard but they leave the ring safely. I root for fights that satisfy the fans and fights where the right man has his hand raised at the end. That of course is where the New York State Athletic Commission comes in.
“This promises to be a competitive fight. Obviously a competitive fight means it’s a hard night for judges, but what I’m committing to the fighters and fans is that we are going to have competent, qualified and neutral officials in place and the right man is going to have his hand raised at the end of the fight. I wish both men good luck on Saturday night.”
Brett Yormark – CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets
“We’re expecting a great night on Saturday night. Så, hopefully we see all of you. Biljetter finns fortfarande till salu. Saturday night represents our 13th night of championship boxing at Barclays Center since we opened the building 32 months ago and boxing plays a huge role in what we do in Brooklyn.”
Peter Nelson – Vice President of Programming HBO Sports Programming
“We look forward to two fighters who have always rose to every challenge that has been put in front of them. Daniel Geale had a lucrative opportunity at one point in time to make his HBO debut and he actually decided instead to go to Germany, to Felix Sturm’s backyard, fight him for his world titles and ended up lifting the titles away from him. He is naturally the largest opponent that Miguel Cotto has ever fought and he’s stepped up to every challenge that’s ever been put in front of him.”
“Miguel Cotto…the last time he stepped into the ring, he entered it an underdog and he ended up leaving it the lineal middleweight champion. He joined just a handful of fighters ever to win four world titles in four separate divisions and he was the first man from Puerto Rico ever to do so. He performed what I saw as one of the strangest punches ever in boxing when he touched a man on the temple and it caused his knee to twist into a knot. I’ve never seen that happen. It was an extraordinary performance.”
“We look to see in this fight, fighters who are going to give us moments of great bravery and great courage. These are the kind of men we want to have on the network. That’s what makes great fights.”
Gary Shaw – Gary Shaw Productions
“I have a personal problem with catch weights. We accepted the catch weight of 157 and I’m not here to complain about the catch weight. We’re going to make the weight. It’s going to be tough. I believe that if a fighter wants to fight at any weight that he wants to fight at, he has that opportunity, but he shouldn’t stop the opponent from fighting at the sanctioned weight which in this case is 160.”
“I believe Daniel Geale is going to win the fight. I believe that Miguel and his team made a mistake. If they were looking at the Golovkin fight, thinking that’s the Daniel that is going to come into the ring…it will not be that same Daniel Geale.”
“It’s truly an honor to represent Daniel Geale because he’s a different young man. The first time I met him, I flew to Germany. I looked around and I couldn’t identify Daniel Geale. Little did I know, he was standing against the back wall. After taking my seat at the dais, Daniel Geale walked up. I looked at him and I said “we’re in trouble! This kid looks like a choir boy not a fighter,” but he gave it all he got and he won the fight. Han är en familjeman. Doesn’t travel with an entourage. Always on time. Trains hard. Does everything that a true champion has to do.”
Daniel Geale – Former Two-Time World Champion
“This is a huge opportunity and I’m very excited. We’re so excited as a team that this fight is taking place. We’ve put a great training camp in for this fight and I’m feeling as good as I ever have. Det finns inga ursäkter. I’m going in as the best fighter I can possibly be. I’m hoping Miguel Cotto is the best fighter he can be as well. I want the fans to enjoy a great fight and I believe it will be a great fight. I can’t wait to walk away with another title. I’m going in very confident and I know a lot of people aren’t giving me much of a chance, but I have a huge amount of confidence in myself knowing I’ve completed a great training camp. Knowing that I have put everything that I possibly can into it and knowing that I have such a great team. I look forward to Saturday night.”
Freddie Roach – Cotto’s Trainer
“We’ve had a great training camp. Miguel is in great shape. Our sparring partners on our team have been great. And we’re ready for this fight. Gary’s been making a big deal about catch weights, but they have been around for a long time and he knows how to read a contract and he’s had that contract for a long time now, so I don’t think that’s an issue. We look forward to seeing you at the fight.”
Miguel Cotto – WBC & Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion
“I want to thank my lovely family for being here with my. My kids, my wife, my lovely mom. Thank you for always supporting my career no matter how hard it seems or looks to you. I love you.”
“I think that people are making a big issue where there does not need to be a big issue with catch weights. Freddie, back in 2009, made me go down from 147 till 145. Did anyone hear anything about Miguel Cotto disagreeing with the catch weights? LÅT BLI, I was a gentlemen the whole way. Catch weights were our main point to make this fight happen. Daniel and his team agreed to going down to 157 and I hope he can make weight on Friday. I hope to see everyone there on Saturday night.”
“Freddie brings the confidence back to Miguel. He comes every day no matter what he feels and gives his best to me. When you have this kind of person in front of you giving you his best and making sure that you are going to do your best, the only way you can pay him back is bringing your best too. We only talk about boxing when we are in the gym. He’s my trainer there, but as soon as we finish our training session, he’s my friend.”
Cotto vs. Geale, en 12-runda kamp för Cotto s WBC och ring Magazine Mellanvikt VM, sker lördag, Juni 6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised live on HBO. Kampen, which is presented by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions, will be the official kick-off event of the 2015 National Puerto Rican Day Parade Week and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Jaybird, TapouT, Tequila Cazadores, Venue Kings and Nüe Resource. Förutom den stora insatser inuti ringen, Evenemanget kommer att innehålla flera anmärkningsvärda Roc Nation inslag som ytterligare kommer att tjäna åskådare med en förbättrad fläkt upplevelse, including Roc Nation and Grammy nominated artist Big Sean taking to the ring for a special performance prior to the main event. The event will be hosted by notable emcee “The Voice of New York” Angie Martinez and will also feature hit master DJ Lobo who will serve alongside Martinez throughout the night. Biljetter kostar $500, $250, $200, $150, $100, $80, $50, $35 och $25, tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter exklusive, are on sale now and available for purchase atwww.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com och på American Express Box Office på Barclays Center. För att ladda via telefon, call Ticket vid (800) 745-3000. Insläpp på 6:00 PM, den första kampen börjar på 6:15 PM and the HBO telecast begins at 10:30 PM ET / PT.
För mer information besök www.rocnation.com. Följ Roc Nation på Twitter och Instagramrocnation och på Facebook på www.facebook.com/RocNation.
För mer information, besök www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
MIGUEL COTTO LOS ANGELES MEDIA TRÄNINGSUTRUSTNINGAR & BILDER
WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION MIGUEL COTTO TO FACE
FORMER TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION DANIEL GEALE
PÅ JUNI 6, 2015 AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN LIVE ON HBO®
PRESENTERAS VID Roc Nation SPORTS + MIGUEL COTTO PROMOTIONS
Los Angeles (Maj 26, 2015) – Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KO: s), the reigning WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes, will defend his titles against former Two-Time World Champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KO: s) of Australia on Juni 6, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a 12-round fight that will be televised live on HBO. Cotto hosted a Los Angeles media workout Tisdagafternoon at Wild Card Boxing Club in preparation for his title defense against Geale.
BILDER:
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FOTO CREDIT: Miguel Cotto Promotions/Roc Nation Sports
VIDEO:
VIDEO CREDIT: Miguel Cotto Promotions/Roc Nation Sports
Here’s what Cotto and his trainer, Freddie Roach, hade att säga:
Miguel Cotto – WBC & Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion
“I feel good and in the best shape possible. I just feel ready. I know Geale is a tough opponent and he is going to bring his best on Juni 6, but I trust in the work we have done here in Los Angeles and I’m going to bring my best too.”
“After 14 years in boxing, the best decision I could have made was to take the last year off. My mind was not in boxing, but since I got here with Freddie, everything is working perfectly again. Boxing is all I know. Boxning är mitt liv. Through boxing, I raised my family and I work to provide the best future for them. They are the reason I love boxing.”
“Boxing at this point in my career is a battle with myself. Everyday I need to bring my best in the gym from morning to evening. Next week has to be better than last week. I need to ask myself to be better every day. I know that if I bring my best to the gym every day, I can bring my best the night ofJuni 6 against Geale.”
“Freddie comes here every day with the best attitude and he knows how to get the best out of me.”
“It will have been 364 days to the day on Juni 6 since I have been in the ring. It’s not difficult to get back in after this long stretch. I’ve been focused on my work. I have gained more knowledge during my time off in order to get myself ready to fight again.”
“Daniel Geale is the next chapter in my career. After I get through him, I can talk about what comes next.”
Freddie Roach – Cotto’s Trainer
“Miguel’s sparring has been great. His movement has been very good. It’s hard on me in the ring! His body shots are very effective and the head shots come with it. I think we are going to get a late round knockout. Geale is tough enough to go some rounds, but a knockout in a late round…that’s my call.”
“One of Miguel’s greatest strength against Geale will be his body shots, but Miguel’s knowledge in the ring will be Geale’s ultimate undoing.”
“He has found a new home here at Wild Card and I’m glad I provided that for him. He loves this gym. He loves the atmosphere. He’s thrived in this environment and when a fighter is in a good mood and happy, he performs at the highest level.”
Cotto vs. Geale, en 12-runda kamp för Cotto s WBC och ring Magazine Mellanvikt VM, sker Lördag, Juni 6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised live on HBO. Kampen, which is presented by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions, will be the official kick-off event of the 2015 National Puerto Rican Day Parade Week and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Jaybird, TapouT, Tequila Cazadores and Venue Kings. Förutom den stora insatser inuti ringen, Evenemanget kommer att innehålla flera anmärkningsvärda Roc Nation inslag som ytterligare kommer att tjäna åskådare med en förbättrad fläkt upplevelse, including Roc Nation and Grammy nominated artist Big Sean taking to the ring for a special performance prior to the main event. The event will be hosted by notable emcee “The Voice of New York” Angie Martinez and will also feature hit master DJ Lobo who will serve alongside Martinez throughout the night. Biljetter kostar $500, $350, $250, $200, $150, $100, $80, $50, $35 och $25, tillämpliga serviceavgifter och skatter exklusive, are on sale now and available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com och på American Express Box Office på Barclays Center. För att ladda via telefon, call Ticket vid (800) 745-3000. Insläpp på 6:00 PM, den första kampen börjar på 6:15 PM and the HBO telecast begins at 10:30 PM ET/PT.
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