Tag Archives: Kent Cruz

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

FORMER CHAMPION EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ BATTLES CONTENDER MELVIN LOPEZ FOR VACANT BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE ON SHOWTIME SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 FROM MGM NATIONAL HARBOR

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FORMER CHAMPION EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ BATTLES STREAKING CONTENDER MELVIN LOPEZ FOR VACANT BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE ON SHOWTIME® SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT FROM MGM NATIONAL HARBOR IN MARYLAND

Rising 140-Pound Star Gary Antuanne Russell Faces

Undefeated Kent Cruz in Co-Main Event

Sensational Top Prospect Travon Marshall Duels Unbeaten Contender Gabriel Maestre in Telecast Opener at

9 PM ET/6 PM PT

Tickets on Sale Now!

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. – July 17, 2023 – Former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez will take on streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championshipheadlining action live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, August 12 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see undefeated rising star and Capitol Heights, Maryland-native Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus sensational top prospect and Landover, Maryland-native Travon Marshall duels unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round welterweight telecast opener.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.mgmnationalharbor.com/.

“This show on August 12 is jam-packed with action for boxing fans as they will get an exciting world title clash in addition to some of the area’s top rising talent in tough contests live on SHOWTIME,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Emmanuel Rodriguez is hungry to make a second run as world champion at bantamweight and will be given all he can handle by the red-hot Melvin Lopez. With two of Maryland’s top rising stars in Gary Antuanne Russell and Travon Marshall stepping in for separate bouts before that showdown, this lines up to be a can’t-miss card at MGM National Harbor.”

Fighting out of Manati, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez (21-2, 13 KOs) defeated the previously unbeaten Gary Antonio Russell last October by technical decision to put himself back into position to fight for the world title. The 30-year-old originally won the IBF Bantamweight World Title with a unanimous decision victory over Paul Butler in 2018 and successfully defended it against the then-unbeaten Jason Moloney. Rodríguez went on to lose the title to former undisputed champion Naoya Inoue in their May 2019 title bout.

“I’m happy to have this chance to become a world champion again,” said Rodriguez. “We’re gonna go out there to win in spectacular fashion and my goal is to show that I’m the best fighter in the world at 118-pounds. My goal is to become undisputed at bantamweight, however I’m not overlooking Melvin Lopez, because he’s a good fighter and will come to give it his all on August 12.”

The 25-year-old Lopez (29-1, 19 KOs) has won eight-straight fights since suffering his only career loss in October 2019. Originally from Nicaragua and now fighting out of Miami, Lopez has fought professionally since 2015 and began competing stateside in 2018. Lopez scored three victories in 2022, starting the year with knockouts of Juan Gabriel Medina and Victor Ruiz, before most recently defeating Jobert Alvarez last December. Out of his last 10 victories, Lopez has ended nine of those inside of the distance.

“I’m very excited that the time is almost here to fight for a world title,” said Lopez. “We’ve had a great training camp and everyone has sacrificed and worked hard so that we’re at our best on August 12. I’m going to show everyone why I earned this opportunity and repay my team for all of their efforts. I have a lot of respect for Emmanuel, but the best man will have his hand raised when we share the ring.”


Fighting out of his native Capitol Heights, Md., Russell (16-0, 16 KOs) will carry on the legacy left by his late father Gary Sr. A member of one of the sport’s preeminent fighting families, Russell trains alongside his older brothers, former WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Jr. and bantamweight contender Gary Antonio. The 26-year-old has yet to allow an opponent to make it to the final bell since turning pro in 2017 following his run representing the U.S. at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Russell defeated his most accomplished foes to date in 2022, stopping former champion Viktor Postol in February before a TKO win against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in July.

“When you’re a student of the game like me, you have to consider that each step we take is about more than self-gratification. We’re doing this for keeps,” said Russell. “Kent Cruz has to catch up to me, but there’s no need for me to look back. The only direction I’m going is forward and that means putting on a spectacular performance on August 12, and proving I’m the next world champion in this division.”

The 30-year-old Cruz (16-0-3, 10 KOs) steps back into the ring after a pair of draws against fellow unbeaten Enriko Gogokhia in February and then November 2022. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Cruz defeated veterans Erik Humberto Castillo and Travis Hartman following a draw against Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez in April 2018. Cruz will pick up his past ring history with the Russell family on August 12, looking to avenge an amateur loss to Gary Allan Russell, Gary Antuanne’s older brother.

“I’m very excited for this fight on August 12,” said Cruz. “I’ve been waiting for a fight like this my whole career, so we didn’t hesitate when offered this one. I’m coming in as the underdog and that’s what’s fueling me. I’ve been an underdog my whole life and on August 12 I’m gonna shock the world. When I win this fight, I’ll be in contention to fight for a world title and have my chance to achieve my childhood dream.”

At just 22-years-old, Marshall (8-0, 7 KOs) has quickly shown the skill, power and poise to become a highly regarded prospect in just eight fights. Born in Landover, Md., and now fighting out of Capitol Heights, Md., Marshall is trained by former contender Andrew Council and has already scored two stoppages in 2023. Most recently he dominated veteran contender Justin DeLoach via third-round knockout in March, his most impressive victory to date.

“I’m really excited to be fighting at home in front of my family, friends and fans on August 12,” said Marshall. “I’m working hard every day in the gym so that when fight night comes I’m 100% and ready to put on a great performance for everyone watching. My goal is to show everyone that I belong on the big stage, and that starts with a victory over Gabriel Maestre.”

A two-time Olympian for his home country of Venezuela, Maestre (5-0-1, 4 KOs) had an extensive amateur run that included victories over Brian Castano, Carlos Adames, Alexander Besputin, Oscar Molina and Brian Ceballo. The 36-year-old made his U.S. debut with a controversial decision victory over Mykal Fox in August 2021 before fighting fellow unbeaten Taras Shelestyuk to a draw last March. Most recently, Maestre defeated former two-division champion Devon Alexander after three rounds in April.

“I’m very ready for this fight against Travon Marshall,” said Maestre. “We are focused on the work that we need to put in so that we are victorious on August 12. I’m focused on having my hand raised and putting on a good show. We want to leave a good impression with the fans and move on to fight the big names in the welterweight division.”

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For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #RodriguezLopez, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

King’s Promotions fighters Kent Cruz & Junior Castillo score televised wins in San Antonio

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For Immediate Release
READING, PA (September 6, 2016)–Lightweight Kent Cruz and middleweight Junior Castillo each scored impressive victories this past Saturday night on the televised portion of a Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC Sports Network at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio.
Cruz went to 11-0 with a eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Rickey Edwards, while Castillo got back in the win column with a six round unanimous decision over Josue Ovando.
Cruz was very impressive as he showed an all-around performance by mixing up good boxing skills and power to take Edwards “0” in the battle of undefeated fighters.
Cruz scored a knockdown in round two and hurt Edwards several more times as he featured a solid overhand right to win by scores of 77-74 & 77-73 twice.
The 23 year-old native of St. Louis improved his mark to 11-0 with six knockouts.
Castillo of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic rebounded nicely from his first professional defeat to put in six solid rounds of work in against the 26 fight veteran.

Castillo improved his record to 11-1 with nine knockouts with victory, which came via scores of 60-54 and 58-56.

“It was a good night for our two prospects,” said King’s Promotions CEO Marshall Kauffman.
“Kent was very impressive as he showed a lot of ability against another undefeated fighter.  He is a very young fighter at just 23 years-old and we feel that he has a chance to be a championship level fighter in time.  Junior showed that he could bounce back off of his loss.  He fought a guy who has taken world class and title challengers the distance.  Junior did as well if not better than those guys did and this was just his 12th fight.  We will get him back in a meaningful fight very shortly.”
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

Undefeated Rickey Edwards Takes On Fellow Unbeaten Kent Cruz In Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN Action Saturday, September 3 From The Dancehall in San Antonio  8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

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Plus! Unbeaten Prospect David Perez Battles Mexico’s Gustavo Molina & Super Welterweight Contender Junior Castillo Featured
In Undercard Action
 
SAN ANTONIO (September 2, 2016) – Undefeated Rickey Edwards (11-0, 3 KOs) is set to take on unbeaten Kent Cruz (10-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight contest as part of Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN this Saturday, September 3 from the Dancehall in San Antonio.
Edwards was originally scheduled to face unbeaten Cuban Yordan Frometa, who was forced to withdraw due to an injury.Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by super lightweight prospects Darwin Price and Javontae Starks in an eight-round bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Leija Battah Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $20, $85 and $100 and $1,000 and $850 for tables, before taxes and fees and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, call (210) 988-8821visit https://lbtickets.ticketleap.com/sept32016/ or in person at Champion Fit Gym at 6824 San Pedro Ave.
Additional action features undefeated prospect David Perez (7-0, 3 KOs) entering the ring for six-rounds of super bantamweight action against Gustavo Molina (23-12, 9 KOs), super welterweight contender Junior Castillo (10-1, 9 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in a six-round bout against Mexico’s Josue Ovando (12-10-1, 10 KOs) and Orlando’s Justin Paulido (7-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round lightweight fight against Eric Anton (4-3, 1 KO) of Plano, Texas.
Rounding out the night of action is the pro debut of San Antonio’s Selina Barrios in a four-round super lightweight showdown against Amanda Garza (1-0), San Angelo’s Brandon Soto taking on Waco’s Tanner Dodd (0-2) in a four-round super featherweight battle and San Antonio’s Xavier Wilson (1-0) against fellow San Antonio-native Frank Brown in a four-round lightweight fight.
A former New Jersey Golden Gloves champion from Paterson, Edwards fights out of Houston and is unbeaten since turning pro in 2013. The 26-year-old was busy in 2015 as he racked up five victories including a knockout over Marco Antonio Solis. Edwards has defeated previously unbeaten boxers John Delperdang and Azriel Paez in his last two fights. He takes on the unbeaten 23-year-old Cruz. A pro since 2013, Cruz picked up a victory over Jerome Rodriguez in April of this year.
A 20-year-old rising prospect fighting out of Houston, Perez turned pro in April of last year with a first round stoppage of Deseante Armstrong. Perez would pick up four more victories in 2015 and has already won three times in 2016. His last outing saw him defeat previously once-beaten Adan Ortiz in his first six round bout and he will now take on the 27-year-old Molina out of Tlaxcala, Mexico.
A 2012 Olympian for his native Dominican Republic, Castillo recorded a significant victory in April when he defeated previously unbeaten and highly regarded Kyrone Davis over eight rounds in April before dropping a decision to Justin DeLoach in June. Castillo turned pro in 2013 and made his U.S. debut in December 2015 with victories over Eduardo Flores and Roland Nagy before his triumph in April. Now he will battle the 26-year-old Ovando fighting out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, TGBPromotions.com and www.nbcsports.com/boxing,. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LeijaBattahPR, @TGBPromotions, @CowboysDanceHal and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampionsandwww.facebook.com/NBCSports. Highlights available atwww.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on NBCSN is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.