Tag Archives: Kris Lawrence

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Co-Main Event and Exciting Undercard Announced for Championship Fight Series at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and Live on Boxeo Telemundo Friday, July 12

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (July 8, 2019) – Miami via Cuba prospect Livan “Machine Gun Kid” Navarro’s eight-round welterweight showdown against Mexico City veteran Diego “Demoledor” Cruz will serve as the televised co-main event for the Friday, July 12, “Championship Fight Series” boxing event at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.


Former amateur standout and undefeated Navarro (11-0, 7 KOs) and Cruz (19-7-2, 15 KOs) will meet as the chief supporting bout when WBA #13-rated welterweight Derrieck “Pretty Boy” Cuevas (21-0-1, 14 KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, defends his WBA Fedelatin Welterweight Championship against Los Mochis, Mexico’s Jesus Alberto “Barretero” Beltran (17-2-2, 10 KOs) in the 10-round “Puerto Rico vs. Mexico” main event.


Championship Fight Series is presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory, in association with All Star Boxing, and will be televised live on the most popular boxing series on Hispanic television, Boxeo Telemundo, at 11:35 p.m. EST.


Tickets for “Championship Fight Series” are on sale now and cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.


As is custom for these jam-packed events, the exciting undercard features many South Florida and international fighters.


Headlining the undercard, two-time Olympic medalist and undefeated heavyweight KO artist Ivan “The Kazakh Giant” Dychko (8-0, 8 KOs) of Boca Raton, Florida, via Rudniy, Kazakhstan, will face former ESPN 2015 Boxcino Tournament Quarterfinalist Nate Heaven (9-2, 7 KOs) of Ocala, Florida.


In an eight-round super featherweight battle, Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan’s Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev (9-0, 6 KOs) will face Panama City, Panama’s Ricardo “El Matematico” Nunez (29-9, 23 KOs). In a four-round light heavyweight contest, Miami via Cuba’s wildly popular Ulysses Diaz (10-1, 9 KOs) will look to return to the win column against Winter Park, Florida’s Mike Sawyer (8-12, 6 KOs).


In a special eight-round super featherweight attraction, Miami via Cuba’s Jessy “Beast Boy” Cruz (16-7-1, 7 KOs) will look to continue his four-fight winning streak in an all-action punch-out with Mexico City’s Isao Gonzalo “Kato” Carranza (15-14-1, 9 KOs).
 
Also featured will be an eight-round super bantamweight slugfest between Miami’s Jorge De Jesus Romero (14-0, 10 KOs) and Mexico City’s Szilveszter Kanalas (14-8, 9 KO); as well as a four-round light heavyweight matchup featuring popular Fort Lauderdale warrior Blake Davis (2-0, 1 KO) and Jefferson City, Missouri’s Armando Reeves (2-3).
 
Opening up the action will be a four-round featherweight bout between Miami’s Luis Melendez (4-1, 3 KOs) and Ponce, Puerto Rico’s Eduardo Melendez (5-26, 1 KO).
 
On fight night, the Hard Rock Event Center doors open at 6 p.m., and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.


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Match-ups Announced for Undefeated Fighters for Rumble at the Rock V at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. on Friday, May 10

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (May 6, 2019) The matches are taking shape for the fifth installment of the popular Rumble at the Rock series entitled “Night of the Undefeated” on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The event is presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory.

 
In the 10-round main event, streaking undefeated, WBA No. 7-rated featherweight contender Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (21-0-3, 13 KOs) of Miami via Marianao, Cuba, will be looking for his second victory this year by taking on hardened veteran Glenn Porras(32-8, 20 KOs) of M’lang, Cotabato, Philippines.



In the night’s co-main event, Miami via Havana’s undefeated Livan “The Machine Gun Kid” Navarro (10-0, 7 KOs) will step up to face long-time gatekeeper Breidis Prescott(31-16, 22 KOs) of Miami via Barranquilla, Colombia in a welterweight 10-rounder. Navarro has scored KOs in seven of his last eight fights.


Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock V” cost $60, $100, $150 and $250 and are available for purchase through ticketmaster.com.


Also in action, undefeated 20-year-old Hawaiian Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (15-0, 12 KOs) will face Denver’s Robert Frankel (37-20-1, 8 KOs) in a super lightweight eight-rounder. Before suffering an injury last year, Yoon had already attained a world ranking. This will be his first fight this year.


In a “can’t miss” crowd pleaser, Cuban super middleweight Irosvani Duvergel (5-0, 3 KOs) will face power puncher Lorawnt T Nelson (5-2, 4 KOs) of Colorado.


Making his second cruiserweight battle, fan favorite “Bad” Blake Davis (1-0) from Cooper City, Fla., will look to thrill fans when he faces Quintell Thompson (2-7-1, 2 KOs) of Columbia, Mo., over four rounds.


More fights will be announced shortly. On fight night, the Hard Rock Event Center doors open at 6 p.m., and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.
                              
                                                            
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Vargas to Face Espinoza for WBO-NABO Bantamweight Title at “Rumble at the Rock III” on Friday, Nov. 30, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. and Live on Boxeo Telemundo 

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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2018) – On Friday, Nov. 30, at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., promoter Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory, in association with All Star Boxing, return with “Rumble at the Rock III.”

 

 

 

A stacked night of Florida boxing will feature Colombian Bantamweight Champion Yeison Vargas (17-0, 12 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombia taking on WBO Latino Bantamweight Champion Ricardo Espinoza (21-2, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO-NABO Championship.

 

 

 

In the 10-round welterweight co-main event, Derrieck Cuevas (18-0-1, 14 KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, will face well-known Miami via Barranquilla, Colombia, veteran Breidis “Khanqueror” Prescott (31-14, 22 KOs).

 

 

 

Yeison Vargas, 28, goes by the ring name “El Mulo” and is the current Colombian Bantamweight Champion. He won the title in his last fight, a KO 2 over Mauricio Fuentes in April. In his three-year professional career, the undefeated Vargas has also held the Colombian Super Bantamweight Championship. He stands 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall and knocks out 71 percent of his opponents.

 

 

 

“I want to thank Kris Lawrence of The Heavyweight Factory and my manager, Angel, for putting this deal together for me,” said Vargas. “They call me the mule ‘El Mulo.’ I am an action fighter with concrete in my fists. I respect Ricardo, but come Nov. 30, I’m going to knock him out on national television. Don’t blink.”

 

 

 

Ricardo Espinoza, 21, goes by the ring name “Hindu.” He will be looking to continue the momentum he started in his last fight by knocking out crowd favorite Daniel Lozano in two rounds last August in Tampa. The nationally televised destruction of Lozano won him the WBO Latino Bantamweight title. Espinoza stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and knocks out 78 percent of his opponents.

 

 

 

“I am coming to Florida once again to show the world that Mexico is above Colombia in boxing, and I am coming to take his undefeated record away,” said Espinoza. “I want to become a household name and shine on Telemundo. I want to thank All Star Boxing and The Heavyweight Factory for putting me on this stage. I will not disappoint. Vargas is going down.”

 

 

 

“I’d like to thank Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood and our friends at All Star Boxing and Boxeo Telemundo,” said Heavyweight Boxing Promoter Kris Lawrence. “We’re very excited to be back home here at the Hard Rock Event Center for our last show of the year. It has been a great year of boxing in South Florida, and I hope the fans enjoy this great event. 2019 will be a great year for boxing.”

 

 

 

“I’m happy to be working with Tutico and Ruben, they are my dear friends,” said Henry Rivalta, Director of Boxing Operations for the Heavyweight Factory. “In this business, we have to work together for the betterment of the sport. The fights are action packed as usual, and we expect a sold-out arena come Nov. 30. I’d like to thank Kris Lawrence for his support of boxing in our community.”

 

 

 

Tickets cost $500, $200, $150 and $100. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Explore the new Hard Rock Event Center with a 360-degree virtual seat map of the venue at www.myhrl.com. Doors open one hour prior to show start time. Additional fees may apply.

 

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Yoon Tops Renteria in Main Event of Heavyweight Factory’s “Rumble at the Rock 2” at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood

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(Friday, September 28, 2018) Youthful exuberance carried the night, as Honolulu, Hawaii’s undefeated Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (13-0, 10 KOs) won a unanimous 10-round decision over John “El Emperador” Rentería (16-5-1, 12 KOs) of Panama.

 

 

 

Fighting in the main event of Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory’s “Rumble at the Rock 2” boxing event at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla, Yoon outworked the gritty Panamanian.

 

 

 

Often landing three to take one, 19-year-old Yoon is a punching machine with seemingly limitless energy. Renteria landed well at times, but couldn’t match Yoon’s work rate. The scores were 98-92, 100-90, and 99-91.

 

 

 

Miami (via Havana’s) undefeated Livan “Machine Gun Kid” Navarro (9-0, 5 KOs) graduated to prospect status, and probably learned some lessons along the way, with a unanimous 10-round decision over Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez (18-2, 12 KOs) of Key West.

 

 

 

Navarro came out guns blazing for the first four rounds and landed some thudding shots to the body and head. Staying cool, the more experienced Alvarez began to come on in the middle of the fight, as Navarro began to slow.

 

 

 

To his credit, Navarro found the energy to reignite the buzzsaw in rounds eight and nine to seal victory. Alvarez landed plenty of sharp counters and had his moments as well. The scores were 98-92, and 97-93 x 2.

 

 

 

In an interesting 10-round welterweight tiff, Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (18-0-1, 14 KOs) stayed undefeated with a unanimous 10-round decision over Mexican spoiler Silverio Ortiz (37-23, 18 KOs).

 

 

 

Making his Heavyweight Factory debut, Cuevas seemed somewhat befuddled by the awkward Ortiz at times. He managed to knock Ortiz down with a left hook in round three and the Mexican lost a point in round six for rabbit punching.

 

 

 

That said, it’s obvious why Ortiz has a reputation for taking undefeated records away. Not your typical smash-and-grab veteran, the roughhousing Ortiz throws clubbing haymakers from weird angles that could easily confuse a more conventional fighter.

 

 

 

Cuevas, who punches like a mule kicks, stuck to his training and managed to come out the winner. The scores were 95-93, 96-92 and a wrong 98-90.

 

 

 

In an eight-round featherweight bout, Miami via Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan’s Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev (8-0, 6 KOs) won a pedestrian unanimous decision over Monteira, Colombia’s Deivi “El Cabo” Bassa (20-6, 12 KOs). A stylistic mismatch, the pair tried to get things going, but it never really happened. Tursyngaliyev won by scores of 79-73, 80-72 and 78-74 for being more effective against the, too often, jab-and-grab Colombian veteran.

 

 

 

Blood-and-guts fan favorite Jessy Cruz (14-7-1, 5 KOs) of Miami had an easier night than usual when Homestead, Florida’s Sergio Aguilar (2-10, 2 KOs) elected not to come out for round four of their six-round featherweight bout. The official verdict was TKO 3 (3:00). Cruz normally goes down, knocks the other guy down and wins some and loses some in the fight of the night. Nice to see him not have to go to the edge of human endurance for once.

 

 

 

Miami’s Jorge De Jesus Romero (11-0, 9 KOs) was too strong for outgunned Hungarian Jeno Tonte (8-4, 7 KOs) in their eight-round featherweight bout.  A squat puncher, Romero walked down Tonte with relative ease and ended his night early with a TKO 3 at 2:43. An extended body barrage to a wilting Tonte’s midsection convinced referee Sam Burgos that enough was enough.

 

 

 

Dustin Arnold (6-1 (1 KO) of Coral Springs, Florida, had things all his way for four rounds of his lightweight six-rounder against Raul Chirino (12-10, 6 KOs) of Miami. Chrino came to life and took the fight to Arnold in the last two rounds. Too little too late, as the talented Arnold took the unanimous nod (scores: 58-56, 59-55 x 2). Good, entertaining fight between two Florida rivals.

 

 

 

Miami’s Irosvani Duvergel (4-0, 2 KOs) did what you’re supposed to do against your early opponents when you’re a hard-punching super middleweight prospect. The transplanted Cuban battered Texas veteran Emmanuel Sanchez (7-10-1, 1 KO) for four straight rounds and won a wide unanimous decision (40-35 by all three judges). A true slugger with bad intentions, Duvergel is going to be a fun fighter to watch, especially as he goes up levels and finds some worthy competition. He chased Sanchez around the ring with looping hard shots and was credited with a knockdown in round three.

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Cuban vs. Cuban: Livan Navarro and Armando Alvarez Ready for War at Heavyweight Factory’s “Rumble at the Rock 2” on Friday, Sept. 28 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood

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Cuba’s undefeated Livan “Machine Gun Kid” Navarro (8-0, 5 KOs) loves a good test.

 

 

 

Never one to shy away from a challenge, the Miami (via Havana) welterweight will be in tough once again this Friday night, when he takes on fellow Cuban Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez (18-1, 12 KOs) of Key West.

 

 

 

The rare Cuban vs. Cuban showdown, also Navarro’s first fight scheduled for 10 rounds, highlights a stacked undercard on Friday, Sept. 28, at the “Rumble at the Rock 2,”professional boxing event at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

 

 

 

Presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory, in the night’s 10-round main event, Honolulu, Hawaii’s undefeated Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (12-0, 10 KOs) will defend his WBO-NABO Youth Junior Welterweight Championship against John “El Emperador” Rentería (16-4-1, 12 KOs) of Panama. In the 10-round co-main event, Miami via Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan’s Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev (7-0, 6 KOs) will face Monteira, Colombia’s Deivi “El Cabo” Bassa (20-5, 12 KOs) over 10 rounds for the WBA International Featherweight Championship.

 

 

 

Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock 2” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 VIP and are available through ticketmaster.com.

 

 

 

So, is Navarro ready for a former WBC Latino Welterweight Champion in just his ninth fight?

 

 

 

“He’s a good fighter, but I feel my style will overpower whatever his so-called experience advantage is,” said a confident Navarro. “I was 312-17 as an amateur and I’m already 8-0 as a pro. I’ve been brought in as an opponent, supposedly to lose, on a Golden Boy card and a PBC show in Miami, and I knocked both those guys out. I fight my best when people don’t think I can win.”

 

 

 

To prepare, Navarro has reunited with trainer Herman Caicedo and gone back to what works best for the Cuban power puncher.

 

 

 

“I’m coming to scrap. This won’t be chess match. We’re going to scrap. That’s my style. I come to fight. I wait on the KO and when I see my opening I take it.”

 

 

 

Navarro says he doesn’t mind being part of an unusual “Cuban vs. Cuban” showdown.

 

 

 

“I’ll fight anyone. I’ve fought Cubans all my life back home, so no, it doesn’t bother me. This is a business. You see Mexican vs Mexican and Puerto Rican against Puerto Rican, so why can’t it be Cuba vs Cuba? Good fighters should fight one another, and the cream will rise to the top. It’s all business when I step in the ring. I wish Armando all the luck in the world. He will need every ounce.”

 

 

 

Alvarez says he knows he looked vulnerable in his last fight, a nationally televised loss to undefeated Jaron Ennis in July, and that’s why Navarro is willing to fight him.

 

 

 

But Alvarez says Team Navarro has made a big mistake.

 

 

 

“I’m 100 percent injury free and mentally ready,” said Alvarez. “That’s what his team didn’t take into account. I fought Ennis with an injury that badly affected my performance. They’re expecting that Armando Alvarez to show up that night, but I’m ready to prove ‘The Gentleman’ is here and alive. He’s a good boxer and he comes to fight, but amateur and pro are two different things and he’s not ready.”

 

 

 

Alvarez says he also doesn’t believe in the unwritten code some fighters carry that says Cubans can’t fight each other.

 

 

 

“It’s rare for two Cubans to face each other, but I think the best should fight the best. I don’t believe in not fighting another Cuban. He’s Cuban from Cuba from Cuba. I’m Cuban too, but I was born and raised here and I think anybody can fight anybody else.”

 

 

 

Alvarez says he’s looking forward to getting back in the win column in front of a large group of his fans.

 

 

 

“I’ll have the majority of the supporters at the fight. I’ll have lots of family and friends. It always helps me when my fans are there live. It pushes me to go that much harder.”

 

 

 

A treasure for Florida’s fans of live boxing, Heavyweight Factory’s fights at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino have become the nation’s strongest off-TV boxing series. On fight night, doors open at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla. More exciting bouts will be announced shortly.

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Two More Fights Announced for Heavyweight Factory’s “Rumble at the Rock 2” on Friday, Sept. 28 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood

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More exciting bouts have been announced for “Rumble at the Rock 2,” professional boxing event, presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory, taking place on Friday, Sept. 28 in the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

 

 

 

In the night’s 10-round co-main event, Miami via Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan’s Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev (7-0, 6 KOs) will now take on Monteira, Colombia’s Deivi “El Cabo” Bassa (20-5, 12 KOs) over 10 rounds for the WBA International Featherweight Championship.

 

 

 

In an important “All Florida” bout, promising undefeated welterweight Livan “Machine Gun Kid” Navarro (8-0, 5 KOs), a former heavily decorated amateur from Miami (via Cuba) will face once-beaten former WBC Latino Welterweight Champion Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez (18-1, 12 KOs) of Key West.

 

 

 

Both of these terrific showdowns are in support of the night’s 10-round main event with Honolulu, Hawaii’s undefeated Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (12-0, 10 KOs) defending his WBO-NABO Youth Junior Welterweight Championship against former WBA Fedecentro Super Lightweight, WBA Fedecaribe Welterweight and WBA Fedecentro Welterweight Champion John “El Emperador” Rentería (16-4-1, 12 KOs) of Panama.

 

 

 

Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock 2” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 VIP and are available through ticketmaster.com.

 

 

 

“These three fights are indicative of the quality match-ups we are able to consistently present to South Florida boxing fans,” said Henry Rivalta, Director of Boxing Operations of The Heavyweight Factory. “Mussa is in against a very tough veteran for his second professional title and Livan Navarro has asked us to challenge him. You have to commend him for being willing to take tough challenges and that’s exactly what Armando Alvarez is. They are both very good fighters, and this should be a great fight.”

 

 

 

A treasure for Florida’s fans of live boxing, Heavyweight Factory’s fights at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino have become the nation’s strongest off-TV boxing series. On fight night, doors open at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla. More exciting bouts will be announced shortly.

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Heavyweight Factory Returns with “Rumble at the Rock 2” on Friday, Sept. 28 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood

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WBO #11 Logan Yoon Looks to Defend NABO Belt Against Panama’s John Renteria

 

On Friday, Sept. 28, in the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., promoter Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory return with “Rumble at the Rock 2,” another sensational night of world-class professional boxing. A treasure for Florida’s fans of live boxing, Heavyweight Factory’s shows at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino have become the nation’s strongest off-TV boxing series.

 

 

 

“Rumble at the Rock 2” is no exception. In the night’s 10-round main event, Honolulu, Hawaii’s undefeated Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (12-0, 10 KOs) will defend his WBO-NABO Youth Junior Welterweight Championship against former WBA Fedecentro Super Lightweight, WBA Fedecaribe Welterweight and WBA Fedecentro Welterweight Champion John “El Emperador” Rentería (16-4-1, 12 KOs) of Panama.

 

 

 

Blessed with cat-like reflexes, fast hands and substantial power, the promising 19-year-old Yoon is gaining fans and reputation with every impressive performance. In his last fight in July, he took a unanimous decision over Colombian veteran Luis E. Flores with scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 97-93. In March, Yoon overcame the determination and experience of former two-time world champion Juan Carlos Salgado, winning a unanimous 10-round decision (100-89, 97-92 and 98-91). Yoon is currently the WBO #11-rated contender.

 

 

 

“I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity to fight in my first professional main event,” said Yoon. “I’m not any more nervous than usual because I fought in the amateurs in main events before and I’m used to all eyes being on me. I know he’s got a body punch, so I’ll be watching out for that. Training is going well. I’m training two or three times a day, six days a week. The weight is good. I feel awesome physically and I’m very confident going in.”

 

 

 

Twenty-six-year-old Renteria, of Panama City, is a six-year professional. He won the WBA Fedecentro Super Lightweight Championship in March 2016, with a TKO 6 over then-undefeated (16-0) David Lobo Ramrez. Renteria picked up the WBA Fedecaribe Welterweight title the following April by ninth-round technical decision over Omir Rodriguez. He also grabbed the WBA Fedecentro Welterweight Championship with a TKO 5 over formerly undefeated Lesvy Maure.

 

 

 

“I am happy to be coming to Florida,” said Renteria. “I am representing Panama and I am coming to showcase my talent. My rival Logan Yoon is a very tough upcoming prospect who is very powerful, so I will bring my all.”

 

 

 

The evening’s 10-round co-main event will feature Miami via Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan’s Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev (7-0, 6 KOs) defending his NABA-USA Featherweight Championship against undefeated Colombian Ruben Cervera (10-0, 9 KOs).

 

 

 

Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock 2” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 VIP and are available through ticketmaster.com.

 

 

 

“We are very happy to be back at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, bringing live boxing to South Florida fans,” said Henry Rivalta, Director of Boxing Operations, The Heavyweight Factory. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of this. Boxing at the Seminole Hard Rock is always great, and the event center is a perfect place for it. The Hard Rock is filled with wonderful things to do, from fine dining to gambling and spectacular events – all in one place! The Heavyweight Factory wishes to send a special thanks to Jim Allen Larry Mullin and Dave Gold and their entire staff. Fight fans, please enjoy South Florida’s boxing at its best.”

 

 

 

On fight night, the Event Center doors open at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.

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The Heavyweight Factory Inks Welterweight Prospect Derrieck Cuevas to a Promotional Contract

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Kris Lawrence’s Heavyweight Factory Promotions is proud to announce the signing of undefeated welterweight power puncher Derrieck Cuevas (17-0-1, 14 KOs) to a promotional contract.

 

 

 

Cuevas, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, started boxing at the age of 10, after getting into frequent fights in the schoolyard. He went on to fight internationally and won the Puerto Rican National Amateur Championship at 132 lbs., ending his unpaid career with a final record of 123-14.

 

 

 

Turning professional in 2014, the 23-year-old won the World Boxing Association Fedecentro Welterweight Championship in 2016 with a unanimous decision over Daniel Sostre.

 

 

 

“I am very excited to have signed with Kris Lawrence and the Heavyweight Factory,” said Cuevas. “To reach my dreams, I will give all of me in the ring. I plan on becoming a world champion and making my beloved Puerto Rico proud.”

 

 

 

Cuevas has a strong team behind him, including manager Alex Troya, who facilitated the signing with Heavyweight Factory Director of Boxing Operations, Henry Rivalta.

 

 

 

“I put this deal together with my dear friend Henry Rivalta,” said Troya. “I have known Henry for 15 years now and I’m happy to do business with him again. Derrieck and I believe Kris Lawrence and Henry will guide Cuevas’ career in the right direction. There’s a lot of experience here and we feel very comfortable around our new team. Kris has worked with many champions and Derrick will be next. Thanks for believing in us and we will not disappoint.”

 

 

 

“We are glad to have Derrieck join our family here at THF,” said Kris Lawrence. “I feel he has great power and potential in the welterweight division. We have big plans for him and are happy to have added our first Puerto Rican to our stable since Daniel Santos. I wish him the best of luck and he will have our full support and backing.”

 

 

 

“Derrick is a rough kid said,” Henry Rivalta. “He’s has no neck and giant hands and he’s very strong! In the ring, he walks guys down with serious power. He is in a money division and can be a threat to all at 147 lbs., in the near future. He wants to be a champion and bring a belt back to the island of Puerto Rico. We welcome Derrieck and Alex Troya to our team.

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Calderon Beats Martinez in Grudge Match at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

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A heated crosstown welterweight rivalry was decided tonight in front of a near sellout crowd at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, as Miami’s Harold “King” Calderon (17-0, 10 KOs) out-worked and out-punched Miami’s formerly undefeated John David “Pretty Boy” Martinez (10-1, 8 KOs)

 

 

Fighting in the 10-round main event of Kris Lawrence’s Heavyweight Factory Boxing “Hometown Throwdown,” event, Calderon cruised to a dominant 10-round decision by scores of 99-91, 100-90 and 100-90.

 

 

 

A combination-punching southpaw, Calderon had too many weapons for Martinez. He ripped to the body and head for 10 rounds, while Martinez offered up the occasional one/two.

 

 

 

Both fighters are enormously popular in the region and their fans tried everything to drown each other out all fight.

 

 

 

In the night’s 10-round super lightweight co-main event, Honolulu’s undefeated Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon moved his record to 12-0, 10 KOs, with a routine unanimous decision over Colombian veteran Luis E. Flores (24-10, 20 KOs).

 

 

 

The promising 19-year-old Yoon, the WBO-NABO Youth Super Lightweight Champion and WBO #13-rated contender, learned a lesson about veteran survival tactics, as he followed the reluctant Colombian around the ring the entire fight, looking for opportunities to engage. Flores landed the occasional right hand on the southpaw Yoon, but mostly threw pot shots that missed and then quickly circled out of range of any return fire.

 

 

 

Yoon was cut over the left eye by a headbutt, but still managed to dominate the infrequent action. The scores were 99-91, 97-93 and 97-93.

 

 

 

Two-time Olympic medalist Ivan Dychko of Hollywood, Florida, via Kazakhstan, moved his perfect record to 7-0 (7 KOs) with a one-punch demolition of once promising Maurice Harris 26-22-3 (11 KOs) of East Orange, New Jersey.

 

 

 

Dychko, who said he was hoping to learn something from the experienced Harris, landed a glancing right hook and Harris elected to look for a soft spot to land. Disappointed fans voice their disapproval of Harris’ non-effort. The time of the 10 count was 1:39.

 

 

 

Two featherweights went to crowd-pleasing war over city-wide bragging rights, and after six rounds of “bombs away” action, Jessy Cruz (now 13-7-1, 5 KOs) ended up taking a unanimous decision over fellow Miami resident Raul Chirino (11-8, 6 KOs).

 

 

 

The all-action Cruz can’t seem to be in a bad fight and this one was no different. He was down and badly hurt near the end of round one. Chirino was badly staggered at the end of round two and down from a right hand in round three.

 

 

 

The scores were 58-54, 57-55 and 57-55, but this fun fight could have easily been called a draw.

 

 

 

A single left hook by Miami’s Livan Navarro at 2:47 of round one brought an end to what was shaping up to be a decent eight-round welterweight showdown against the Dominican’s Julio C Reynoso.

 

 

 

The pair came out swinging for the fences and Navarro (now 8-0, 6 KOs) hit it first with the sledgehammer left hand to the jaw of Reynoso (now 12-2, 7 KOs) who dropped and took the full 10 count on one knee.

 

 

 

In a fight where both fighters appeared to injure themselves, popular Miami slugger Ulysses Diaz was forced to go the distance for the first time, but still managed to win his light heavyweight four-rounder over Chicago’s Israel Echevarria by unanimous decision (scores of 39-37, 40-36 and 40-36).

 

 

 

As in many fights tonight, the judges’ verdicts were no indication of the closeness of the fight. The two warriors each did their share of good work. The heavily muscled Diaz (now 6-0, 5 KOs) landed the harder punches occasionally while favoring his right arm. The crafty Echevarria (now 3-5, 2 KOs) snuck in a number of sneaky shots, despite an injured left leg.

 

 

 

To put it mildly, Echevarria was very unhappy with the decision.

 

 

 

In an all-Miami super middleweight scrap, Cuban import Irosvani Duvergel (3-0, 2 KOs) won a four-round unanimous decision over “better than his record” Elie Agustama (6-9, 3 KOs).

 

 

 

Duvergel, who had never seen the second round of a professional fight previously, dropped Agustama in the first, but the durable Agustama got up and made a great fight of it. The free-swinging pair brawled furiously the rest of the way. The scores (40-35, 39-36 and 39-36) didn’t reflect the competitiveness of the combat.

 

 

 

In a back-and-forth six-round lightweight battle, Coral Springs, Florida’s Dustin Arnold (5-1, 1 KO) won a closely contested unanimous decision over Miami’s Daniel Placeres (now (6-1, 5 KOs).

 

 

 

Arnold landed the cleaner, harder shots to offset the superior work rate of the shorter Placeres. Plenty of crowd support for both fighters. The scores were 60-54, 58-56 and 59-55

 

 

 

Undefeated Lawrence Newton, of Boynton Beach, Florida, chose to brawl inside for all six rounds of his super bantamweight showdown with tough Mexican, Pedro Melo of Tijuana.

 

 

 

The result was an entertaining if one-sided brawl with nice punches landed both ways. In the end, Newton (10-0, 6 KOs) kept his perfect record by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 59-55. Melo falls to 17-19-2, 8 KOs) with his respectable performance.

boxing

Towering Two-Time Olympic Super-Heavyweight Bronze Medallist Ivan Dychko Returns against Veteran Maurice Harris at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

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Towering 6′ 9″ Kazakhstani heavyweight Ivan Dychko will return to the ring this Friday, July 6, at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

 

 

 

Dychko, the two-time Olympic super-heavyweight bronze medallist (6-0, 6 KOs), will face long-time heavyweight gate keeper Maurice “Mo Bettah” Harris (26-21-3, 11 KOs) of East Orange, New Jersey, in an eight-round showdown on Heavyweight Factory Boxing’s “Hometown Throwdown” event.

 

 

 

In the 10-round main event, undefeated Miami-based welterweight Harold “King” Calderon (16-0, 10 KOs) takes on John David “Pretty Boy” Martinez (10-0, 8 KOs) in a crosstown battle. In the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, undefeated 19-year-old WBO-NABO Youth Super Lightweight Champion Logan “The Korican Kid” Yoon (11-0, 10 KOs) of Honolulu will face Colombian veteran Luis E. Flores (24-9, 20 KOs).

 

 

 

Tickets for “Hometown Throwdown” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 VIP. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.

 

 

 

“My training went well,” said Dychko. “It’s sometimes hard to find sparring partners at a level that will benefit me, but I feel good. I’m in great shape. My fights last one, two, sometimes three rounds. I’ve never been tested over the distance. I hope some of these veterans can give me some rounds and let me test myself against them and maybe teach me a few things.”

 

 

 

The power-punching Dychko, who medalled at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics and went 181-18 as an amateur, is on the fast-track to join his former rivals at the top of the professional side of the sport.

 

 

 

“I’m happy with my progress. I’m in the building stage right now, so everything is fine. I’m waiting to join all my former amateur rivals at the top of the division,” he said. “I want to be unified champion of the world and fight the best. Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and some of the guys I already fought as an amateur, I would like to see them again. I think it will take me about another year and then I’ll be ready for the best in the world. One more year to get used to the professional part of the sport.”

 

 

 

Expected special guests that evening include Heavyweight Factory regulars, former heavyweight champions Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe and Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield. On fight night, the action starts at 7:15 p.m. Doors open one hour prior to start time. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.