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SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO TELEVISE WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN ANDY LEE AND BILLY JOE SAUNDERS ON SATURDAY, DEC. 19, LIVE FROM MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

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 SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Lee vs. Saunders
Airs Live At 5 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTEME

 

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the WBO Middleweight World Championship between defending titlist Andy Lee and unbeaten challenger Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday, Dec. 19, live on SHO EXTREME  (5 p.m. ET/PT) from Manchester, England.

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL offering of the Box Nation telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts Brian Custer, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi before and after the world championship showdown.  An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHO EXTREME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“We’re excited to deliver this important matchup of top middleweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports. “The 160-pound class is one of boxing’s hottest and deepest divisions right now, and the winner of this fight should position himself for a major showdown or unification in 2016.”

 

Ireland’s Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs) won the vacant WBO title with a sixth-round TKO of then-undefeated Matt Korbov in December 2014.  The 6-foot-2, 31-year old was on a six-fight win streak before boxing a split 12-round draw with undefeated former champion Peter Quillin on April 11, 2015, in Brooklyn.  Both fighters went down in a highly competitive scrap that was scored 113-112 for Quillin, 113-112 for Lee and 113-113.

 

Before turning pro Lee was a top amateur and represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

 

“It’s great that my fans in the U.S. will get to see the fight between me and Saunders and I guarantee it’s going to be exciting,” Lee said.

 

Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs), of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, is the WBO’s No. 1 middleweight contender.  The 26-year-old is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Yoannan Bloyer last July 24 in London.

 

Two starts ago, in the most note-worth victory of his career, the 5-foot-11, Saunders took a 12-round split decision over Chris Eubank Jr. on Nov. 29, 2014, in London. All but one of Saunders’ fights have taken place in England; the other was Northern Ireland.

 

Saunders was also an accomplished amateur; he represented England in the 2008 Olympic Games as a welterweight at the age of 18. Saunders is the great-grandson of one of Britain’s most famous gypsy bare-knuckle champions, Absolom Beeney.

 

“This is a massive night for me and I’m excited that it’s going out live to America,” Saunders said.  “The U.S. viewers will get to see just what I can do when I face Lee and become world champion.  It’s a big boost for me and takes the fight to another level when American TV comes on board and then you know it’s a big fight on the world stage.  I hope that (Gennady) Golovkin and (Miguel) Cotto will be both watching because I’m fast approaching their level and they’ll get to see what I’m all about.”

 

Promoter Frank Warren said, “I’m delighted that SHOWTIME will now be televising Lee vs. Saunders live in the U.S. as it confirms the importance of this fight on the world scene.  My relationship with the network goes back many years with fights like Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu, Frank Bruno vs. Oliver McCall, plus Naseem Hamed and Nigel Benn fights.  I believe that Lee vs. Saunders will be another great fight to add to that list because of what’s at stake for both fighters.  What lies ahead for the winner will make them fight to their very best.”

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SHOWTIME® TO TELEVISE KELL BROOK VS. DIEGO CHAVES IBF WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON SATURDAY, OCT. 24, LIVE FROM SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND

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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Brook vs. Chaves Airs

Live at 5:45 p.m. ET/ 2:45 p.m. PT with an Encore Presentation at 9 p.m. ET/PT

 

NEW YORK (Sept. 29, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the IBF Welterweight World Championship between undefeated defending champion Kell Brook and contender Diego Chaves on Saturday, Oct. 24, live on SHOWTIME at 5:45 p.m. ET / 2:45 p.m. PT from Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL presentation of the Sky Sports telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts  before and after the world championship showdown.  An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHOWTIME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“I’m delighted that my fight with Chaves is going to be shown in the U.S.,” said Brook, who hails from Sheffield and will be the favorite in this fight.  “I was thrilled when I saw my name in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound list in The Ring Magazine, and now is the time that I need to show the fans in the U.S. that I am a must-see fighter.

 

“Chaves is an all-action boxer who always comes to fight, and that is the perfect style for me to shine on Oct. 24.  I look forward to putting on an explosive performance and making the U.S. stand up and take notice that I am the best welterweight in the world.”

 

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” said Diego Chaves. “But he is not a fast fighter and he is easily bothered by body punches, which is one of our strengths.  I believe he has problems going backwards, and we are going to test his punching power, too.

 

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England.  This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine and as a huge underdog.  We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England and this will give me much more strength.  I will make history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

 

“We’re excited to be back in business with Kell Brook, Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn and to deliver this exciting matchup of top 10 welterweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.  “Kell won the world title on SHOWTIME in an action-packed victory over Shawn Porter last fall, establishing himself as one of the top welterweights in the world – but Diego Chaves is a rugged fighter who has also proven that he can compete with the elite of the division.”

 

Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make his third consecutive title defense of 2015 in his native England after coming to the U.S. and dethroning previously undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter in August 2014 on SHOWTIME.   The Sheffield native has scored knockouts in each of his defenses – a fourth round TKO of Jo Jo Dan on March 28 and a sixth round TKO of Frankie Gavin on May 30.  Brook aims for a similar result against the veteran Chaves, who has faced some of the top fighters in the 147-pound division.

 

Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been a road warrior in recent fights, facing favored Americans on the road in three of his last four bouts.  He challenged 147-pound titlist Keith Thurman in July 2013 and, after winning by knockout in a hometown fight in Argentina, was ahead on the judges’ scorecards against Brandon Riosin August 2014 until he was disqualified for an intentional elbow to the face.  In his last fight, Chaves fought to a draw against perennial welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

 

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Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2015 officially announced

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Lou DiBella, Shelly Finkel, Arnie Bayer, Carey Mace, George Russo, Peter Timothy & Mort Sharnik
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (September 15, 2015) – Promoter Lou DiBella and manager/promoter Shelly Finkel lead a seven-member Class of 2015 into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF).  New members will be inducted at the 11THannual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner on Friday night,November 13 in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.
The new CBHOF inductees also includes former boxing commissioner Peter Timothy and, posthumously, boxers Carey Mace and George Russo, boxing writer Mort Sharnik and boxing advocate Arnie Bayer.
“We at the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame are very excited to announce this year’s class of inductees,” new CBHOF president John Laudati said. “We have a great mix of internationally recognized boxing legends and a wonderful and most deserving group of Connecticut’s boxing royalty. Personally, I am so pleased to introduce this class in my first year as president of this incredible organization. I look forward to seeing all our Connecticut boxing fans at Mohegan Sun on November 13th.”
Based in New York City, DiBella (pictured to left) is the former Head of Boxing for HBO, creating the highly successful “Boxing After Dark” series. His promotional company, DiBella Entertainment, has promoted countless boxing events at Mohegan Sun Arena and Foxwoods Resort Casino during the past two decades.  DiBella also owned the Connecticut Defenders minor league baseball team that was based in Norwich.  His top fighters have included Sergio Martinez,Bernard Hopkins, Paulie Malignaggi, Jermain Taylor, CBHOF inductee “Irish” Micky Ward, and Andre Berto among the more notables. A Harvard Law School graduate, DiBella is also a successful movie producer.
Finkel (pictured to right with the late Emanuel Steward), also from New York City, is an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee who was a fixture at Connecticut fights for many years as either a promoter or manager.  He is also a successful manager in the music industry.  In the early 1990s, Finkel was arguably the most powerful manager in boxing.  His most celebrated clients included Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor and Wladimir Klitschko.
Timothy (pictured to left with Sugar Ray Leonard) was boxing commissioner of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal National Commission at Foxwoods from 1995 to 2009.  He was mentored by the late John Burns, who was the founder of the CBHOF of which he is also an inductee.  During his tenure at Foxwoods, Timothy regulated hundreds of pro events, including 90 title fight.  Highlights of his reign included CBHOF inductee John Ruiz–Evander Holyfield III for the WBA world heavyweight championship and, perhaps, the greatest fight in Foxwoods history, the IBF world cruiserweight title fight between James Toney and Vassily Jirov.  Other stars who fought at Foxwoods when Timothy was in charge include Roy Jones, Jr., Diego Corrales, Shane Mosely and Acelino Freitas, along with CBHOF inductees Dana Rosenblatt, Peter Manfredo, Jr. and U.S. Olympian Lawrence Clay-Bey.
Mace (72-18-2), born in Hartford, started fighting professionally in the late 1940s.  His most notable victory came in 1950, stopping former world champion Joe Giardello.  Mace was a member of CBHOF charter member Willie Pep‘s stable and was ranked at one point as high as No. 8 welterweight in the world.  Mace, whose last bout was a loss to CBHOF memberGaspar Ortega in 1962, lived in Manchester when he passed away at the age of 73 in 2003.
Russo had 85 pro fights between 1922 and 1934.  He moved to Bridgeport when he was six and he eventually became a local legend in boxing, operating gyms like Red Man’s Hall, Acorn Club and East Washington Avenue.  In 1992, he brought boxing back after a decade-long absence to the Old PAL building in Bridgeport. Russo also was recognized as the “Johnny Duke of Southern Connecticut.”
Born in New Haven, the late Sharnick lived nearly all his life in Norwalk, before returning to Florida, where he was elected to the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012, largely for founding the Smart Boxer Institute.  Sharnik was a boxing writer for 23 years at Sports Illustrated, highlighted by his coverage of Cassius Clay–Sonny Liston I, quoted wildly for saying, “Liston has fists like cannonballs.”  He moved on to become the chief for consultant at CBS for nine years and was chief advisor and the lone true believer in George Foreman‘s comeback bid eventually leading to another world heavyweight title.  Sharnick also was an advisor for CBHOF member and two-time world champion Marlon Starling, persuading the future world champion to add Eddie Futch as his head trainer.  Futch’s assistant, CBHOF member Freddie Roach, would eventually train Starling when he became world welterweight champion.
Bayer was widely respected as a true advocate of boxing, always quick to lend a helping hand, as well as opening wallet to help support boxing gyms in cities like CBHOF inductee Johnny Duke’s Boys Club Gym in Bellevue Square, Hartford.
Tickets for the CBHOF 11th annual Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are on sale now by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.
Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 11th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, event sponsorship opportunities, or past CBHOF inductees.
CONTACT:
Bob Trieger, Full Court PRESS, bobtfcp@hotmail.com,978.590.0470, @fightpublicist
ABOUT CBHOF:  The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 to honor and celebrate the careers of outstanding individuals involved in the sport of boxing. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony & Dinner was held in 2005. Connecticut’s rich boxing history could never have flourished if it weren’t for the achievements of those enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As a non-profit organization, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is deeply committed to keeping the fighting spirit of Connecticut thriving through various charitable contributions.

Link to CBHOF Website
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DANNY GARCIA REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH NINTH-ROUND TKO OVER PAULIE MALIGNAGGI ON PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON ESPN FROM BARCLAYS CENTER

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DANIEL JACOBS STOPS SERGIO MORA IN SECOND ROUND TO DEFEND MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

Click HERE For Photos From Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions

 

Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

BROOKLYN (August 2, 2015) – Danny “Swift” Garcia (31-0, 18 KOs) kept his perfect record intact Saturday with a ninth-round TKO of two-time world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-7, 7 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPNfrom Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 

Garcia was able to control the fight with lead rights and counter left hooks that kept the agile Malignaggi from landing anything significant. The punishment took its toll on Malignaggi as a cut opened up on his right eye in the third round.

 

Despite being the crowd favorite in his native Brooklyn, Malignaggi was unable to land multiple punches on Garcia and put him in real danger. In the ninth round Garcia’s crisp blows finally proved to be too much for Malignaggi as the ref stopped the fight at 2:22 into the round.

 

In the televised opener, Brooklyn’s Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) knocked down former world champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs) twice on his way to a second round stoppage and a successful defense of his middleweight world title.

 

The first round featured exciting action from both men as Jacobs delivered a crisp right hook that sent Mora to the canvas early. Just seconds after getting up, Mora responded by hitting Jacobs with a clean counter that stunned Jacobs and sent him to the mat.

 

After tagging Mora with hard shots at the end of round one, Jacobs continued to come forward and sent Mora to the canvas with a flurry late in the second round. Mora appeared to injure his right leg on the knockdown and was unable to continue. The official stoppage came 2:55 into round two.

 

Here is what the fighters had to say Saturday:

 

DANNY GARCIA

 

“I felt a lot stronger. In the ninth round I felt like it was round one. I need to work on shortening up punches and sticking with the game plan. My dad wanted me to be sharp and throw more straight punches.

 

“I feel strong and I feel good. I used my jab. There were definitely things I have to work on but I’m proud of myself. 147 is where it’s at.

 

“Paulie is a great champion. He’s a craft veteran with a great jab and foot movement. But I went in there and executed the game plan.

 

“Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter are great fighters in this division. If they want, we can make it happen.”

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

 

“I was trying to dictate the pace because I didn’t want him to get into a groove. He’s a hard puncher and I didn’t want to give him confidence to land a big shot. I wanted to dictate with my jab and keep him missing, so he’d second guess on throwing his power. The less power shots he threw the less power shots he could hit me with.

 

“I was trying to take a bit of his confidence. He was walking me down fairly well behind the jab. He cut me in the fourth and I think that upped his confidence. I never could get control of the pace though. In spots I felt I was giving up less ground and I had him missing. He got back on his groove though and he had a strong advantage.

 

“I think Danny can be an upper echelon fighter, he already is. He can put his name in the history books. He has a lot of talent. People don’t realize he has a lot of character too. He has a very good poker face. He doesn’t get frustrated, and if he does he doesn’t show it to you.

 

“His father’s a great trainer and he really stays on him. Danny listens and they have a great relationship. Every time a round would start it was like he was fresh. Even at the end of rounds when I gave him something to think about he came back, and that’s really important.

 

“I’ve got a really good job commentating and watching great fighters fight ringside. I hope to sit around ringside for a long time. I felt like if I couldn’t put up a great performance tonight then it would be my last. I was trying to hang tough as much as I could. I remember when I was taking big shots I just kept thinking ‘Don’t give in. This is your last night if you give in. Don’t show that you’re going to give in. If you can show that you’re still hungry for it then you’ll convince yourself that this isn’t the end.’ I wanted to keep showing that I want it. Little by little he broke me down, and I have no problem with the stoppage.

 

“I’m probably not fighting again. You hate to make an emotional decision. My career started in Brooklyn 14 years ago. If it ends in Brooklyn tonight then at least I ended it at home where I’m from and in front of the greatest fans in the world.”

 

DANIEL JACOBS

 

“I wanted to stop him on my own. I didn’t want him to quit on the stool but I know that he knew it was going to end in a couple of rounds anyway.

 

“I want Peter Quillin next. It’s a fight the fans deserve. Brooklyn always supports both of us and it would be a great way to close out the year.

 

“No rematch, no reason to go backwards. Thank God for this victory, but I’m not going to give him a rematch just because.

 

“I said did a guy with nine knockouts really knock me down?

 

“I think these Brooklynites deserve something special and I think me and ‘Kid Chocolate’ would be that special fight here at Barclays. We’re on the ‘A’ side now, we’re champions, so let’s do it!”

 

SERGIO MORA

 

Spoken to his corner man “I know it’s broken [right ankle]. I heard it pop.”

 

“I heard my ankle snap and my knee also felt funny and I couldn’t put pressure on it.

 

“I knew the first few rounds would be tough, we expected that. My plan was to take him into deep water.

 

“Adrenaline can make you do stupid things. With a puncher like Danny, I needed movement.

 

“I told you I came here to fight. I give him credit, but I came to take this championship. I want a rematch.”

 

Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN was promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Swift Promotions.

 

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.barclayscenter.comand www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @PaulMalignaggi, @LouDiBella, @ESPNBoxing, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/fanpagedannyswiftgarcia, www.facebook.com/PaulMalignaggi, www.facebook.com/barclayscenterand www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN and #BrooklynBoxing.
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Frank De Alba off of tonight’s ESPN3.com fight with Omar Douglas

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Brooklyn, NY (August 1, 2015)–Due to a last minute, non-career threatening medical issue, Jr. Lightweight Frank De Alba will not be able to compete in Tonight’s fight with Omar Douglas at Barclays Center.  The bout was scheduled to be streamed on ESPN3.com.
More details on De Alba will announced shortly.
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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON ESPN OFFICIAL WEIGHTS & WEIGH-IN PHOTOS

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Click HERE For PDF Version

Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

Click HERE For Photos From Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions

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Frank De Alba ready for biggest fight of his career TOMORROW NIGHT against Omar Douglas at Barclays Center in Brooklyn

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Fight to be streamed LIVE on ESPN3.com 
Brooklyn, NY (July 31, 2015)–TOMORROW NIGHT!! at Barclays Center, The 2nd installment of Premiere Boxing Champions on ESPN will take place with Danny Garcia meeting Paulie Malignaggi in the main event.  In the co-feature, Daniel Jacobs will defend his Middleweight title against Sergio Mora.
In a bout that will take place before the live broadcast begins, an intriguing Jr. Lightweight battle between Frank De Alba and Omar Douglas will be streamed live on ESPN3.com at 8 PM ET.
De Alba of Reading, PA sees this fight as a chance to make a big name for himself fighting on a big card in front of the major boxing media.
The 28 year-old De Alba has a record of 16-1-2 with 6 knockouts and has won 14 in a row and is unbeaten in his last 18 fights.  De Alba knows that this could be a fight against the undefeated Douglas, who will come in with a record of 14-0 with 11 knockouts, that will springboard him into the top-10 in the Jr. Lightweight division..
“Everything is going great.  This has been the best training camp of my career,” Said De Alba.
“I have worked very hard to get to this point.  I have sacrificed a lot and I am grateful for this opportunity and I am not going to let this slip away from me.”
When asked about Douglas, he sees that there are some things that he can exploit in this pivotal fight.
“I see only one style.  He comes forward and throws a lot of punches and he comes to fight very hard.”
De Alba has fought the majority of his career in the Lehigh Valley area and he now relishing the opportunity to be noticed in New York.
“I am excited for that.  This is my first time on the big stage and I am going to take advantage and do my best.  This is what boxing is all about, the best fighting the best.  And because of this great opportunity, I will find out where I stand in the Jr. Lightweight division.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in
association with Swift Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $120, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at(800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 855-GROUP-BK.
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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS – GARCIA VS. MALIGNAGGI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

Click HERE For Photos From Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions

 

NEW YORK (July 30, 2015) – Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and undercard fighters held a final press conference Thursday at B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill in Times Square as they near their Saturday, August 1 showdowns at Barclays Center.

 

The event is headlined by undefeated star Danny “Swift” Garcia (30-0, 17 KOs) as he makes his 147-pound debut against two-time world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs). Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. as middleweight world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs) defends in his hometown against former world champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-3-2, 9 KOs).

 

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:

 

DANNY GARCIA

 

“We had a tremendous camp, I’ve never felt so strong in my life. For the first time in my career I can actually train to get better.

 

“We’re just focused on training. We did everything in camp – we even chased chickens.

 

“I accomplished a lot at 140-pounds and I’m going to do a lot at 147. On Saturday at Barclays Center you’re going to see a spectacular Danny Garcia.

 

“I want to be known as a great Philadelphia fighter and a great Puerto Rican fighter. I’m the first Puerto Rican from Philly to ever be a world champion. I have the Philly skills and toughness with the Puerto Rican blood, it’s the perfect mixture.

 

“I’ve watched Paulie fight my whole career. He’s a tough veteran and I’m sure he’s got some tricks up his sleeve. I just have to go in there and stick to business on Saturdaynight.

 

“Barclays Center is my home away from home. We have a nice routine when we’re in Brooklyn. We keep it simple.

 

“I pay attention to the positive things in my career and that’s getting in the gym and working hard and getting better. That’s my main focus.

 

“Everything is better at 147. I feel stronger. My form feels good. The footwork is great. I can eat regularly now. Still disciplined but it’s a lot easier.”

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

 

“For Danny’s team, it’s only about him and for me it’s all about myself. My best versus his best. This is a big opportunity from me, professionally and personally. My career started 14 years ago in Brooklyn and people think it’s going to end Saturday in Brooklyn, but I’m not letting that happen.

 

“It’s been an emotional camp. I find myself thrust back into the limelight of a major fight when it was least expected. The question marks and doubts come up in my mind and that’s made it emotional. I work hard every day. I’ve quietly had one of my best training camps

 

“There are no excuses here. Saturday night is the best of Paulie Malignaggi. I look forward to testing myself against the best Danny Garcia. I’ve always loved and relish the big names and the big opportunities.

 

“Sometimes I lay in bed at night thinking about matchups between fighters. Now I’m thinking of myself in that conversation and we’ll fin out on Saturday how I stack up.

 

“Quietly but surely, I’m very confident about Saturday night. I’m bringing my best.”

 

DANIEL JACOBS

 

“This is another great opportunity to showcase my skills. I’m on a good knockout streak and I feel confident about this fight.

 

“Sergio Mora is a Rubik’s cube, you have to figure him out. He’s crafty and I have the utmost respect for him. I’m 100 percent confident in my ability to go out there and put on a good show

 

“I hear Sergio is coming here to knock me out and if that’s the case this is going to be a real exciting fight. I look forward to it because I’m coming forward and if two guys are doing that it’s going to be a great fight.

 

“I’m excited to give these Brooklyn fans a great fight. I love being at home and seeing all of the familiar faces I’ve seen since the amateur days.”

 

SERGIO MORA

 

I’m excited to fight at Barclays Center. Brooklyn is beautiful and has great fans. Lou DiBella is about to have another fighter named Sergio as a middleweight champion afterSaturday night.

 

“I think this is going to be a really successful fight because of all the stars up here. It’s a great event for boxing fans.

 

“I’m a grown man now and I’m looking to become a two-time world champion. This is my third time at a middleweight title shot but the first time an opponent showed up. I’m excited and ready to go. I’m thankful for everyone who has opened the door for me. This is it.

 

“Daniel is strong in the ring. He’s a powerful, confident champion. He’s not used to losing and he’s used to hitting his targets, but I’m the total opposite of that. It’s going to be tough for him.

 

“Until he gets in there with me and realizes how tough I am, then he’s going to realize he has a challenge coming to him. I want to take him out of his element.

 

“It’s a big burden to be a hometown fighter and he’s going to realize that. It’s detrimental to be fighting in your hometown and I think he’s too young to realize that. It’s going to be to my advantage on fight night.”

 

ANGEL GARCIA, Danny’s Father & Trainer

 

“Danny had a great camp. It was an awesome camp and he’s going to make a lot of noise. We’re not taking Malignaggi lightly, but we’ve come to win. We don’t come to lose.

 

“It’s not about Malignaggi, it’s about Danny. People can say whatever they want to say but we’re coming to make noise at 147. We’re not running from anybody.

 

“I promise you Danny will be the world champion at 147. I’ve seen visions of it. This is going to be a great fight and then after that anybody can get it.”

 

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

 

“I’ve known Paulie Malignaggi since he was a teenager and won the nationals in a big surprise to people. He turned pro on one of my shows and one thing I know about him, it’s that he’s not going to back down from a challenge and he’s going to give it 110 percent on Saturday.

 

“Danny Garcia has been a dominant force in the 140-pound division. He’s won fights by stunning knockout and he’s won by decisions. He always finds a way to win. That’s what he’s planning to do on Saturday night.

 

“Sergio Mora is here to challenge for another world championship. He comes in on a good streak of impressive wins. He’s always been known as a boxer and he’s been in the ring with the best fighters in the world.

 

“Daniel Jacobs is one of the best guys in boxing. His story of perseverance is one that has been told many times. He’s a young, strong champion looking to show that he’s got what it takes in the ring as well as outside of it.

 

“This is a fantastic card featuring four great fighters from Brooklyn on the undercard. We’re going to open the doors and immediately start with these great fights.

 

“This will be Heather Hardy’s fourth fight at Barclays Center and she will be joined on the undercard by Polish heavyweight from Brooklyn Adam Kownacki, who is looking to make some noise in the division.

 

“Rafael Vasquez has a truly inspirational story. He uses boxing to draw attention to the cause of autism and his wife who is battling courageously against cancer, and winning. I really want to see him get a world title shot, because his life has been a battle that he takes on with courage every day.

 

“We also have a terrific prospect in Prichard Colon from Puerto Rico. He’s undefeated and really an exciting guy to watch in the ring.”

 

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center

 

“It’s our 14th big night of boxing in Brooklyn and we’re really excited about it. It’s a business we’re committed to and one we want to grow. Our goal is to go monthly with big events at Barclays Center.

 

“With Paulie and Danny, it’s a big night to have them back at Barclays Center. It is the fourth time for both and they both represent Brooklyn so well.

 

“I want to welcome Sergio Mora for the first time and we’re excited to have you in Brooklyn.

 

“As we’ve told Danny Garcia before, this is his second home and we’re happy to have you and your father back.

 

“We’re excited to be on ESPN, because they provide an incredible platform for these fighters and the sport as a whole.

 

“We expect a great crowd on Saturday night and we look forward to an exciting night at Barclays Center.”

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.barclayscenter.comand www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @PaulMalignaggi, @LouDiBella, @ESPNBoxing, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/fanpagedannyswiftgarcia, www.facebook.com/PaulMalignaggi, www.facebook.com/barclayscenterand www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN and #BrooklynBoxing.
boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON ESPN FIGHTER WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

BROOKLYN (July 29, 2015) – Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN featured fighters were joined by local Brooklyn favorites featured on this Saturday’s undercard for a media workout at Gleason’s Gym in advance of their respective showdowns at Barclays Center.

 

Saturday’s headlining event features undefeated star Danny “Swift” Garcia (30-0, 17 KOs) as he takes on two-time world champion from Brooklyn Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs) in a 12-round welterweight tilt. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT as Brooklyn’s Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs) defends his middleweight world title against former world champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-3-2, 9 KOs).

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Swift Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $120, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available atwww.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 855-GROUP-BK.

 

Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:

 

DANNY GARCIA

 

“[On going up to 147 pounds] You’re going to see a lot more energy in the ring. You’ll see a smarter fighter. I’ll have more agility and we’re going to go in there to get the job done.

 

“We’re just working hard. At the end of the day it’s about being 100 percent prepared. I did everything right this camp and I’m ready.

 

“The game plan is to go in there and be Danny Garcia and be spectacular. I don’t know which Paulie to expect but I’m prepared for any version of him we see. I’m sparring a lot of guys who move and guys who come forward so I’m ready for anything.

 

“If we’re both at 100 percent then I’ll take my 100 percent over his without a doubt. My style is made to beat any fighter in the game. I’m sure he trained hard but we’re going to get this victory.

 

“I’m only focused on being a fighter. I don’t think anybody can beat a 110 percent Danny Garcia. At the end of the day, I know I beat a lot of good fighters and I’m going to show my heart in the ring.

 

“There’s no pressure but I’m looking forward to an excellent performance. I’m ready to fight today if the fight was today. I feel faster at 147. I won’t be flat-footed in there. You’re going to see it all on Saturday.

 

“I feel like I’m one of the most versatile fighters in the sport. I’m going to feel strong for 12 rounds on Saturday. I’ve felt strong all camp.”

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

 

“I feel great at 147 pounds. I’ve always felt very strong at this weight and it’s where I should be. I still had to make sacrifices in training but I’ve never made weight so easily. I’m coming off back-to-back camps and I feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been.

 

“To be a two-time world champion you need to be able to do more than just jab and move. My IQ and my overall boxing ability and skillset make me the fighter that I am today.

 

“I don’t think Danny is overlooking me but I feel that the fans and the media are. I love challenges and I love things that motivate me. I wake up in the morning saying this is hard, but I know I can do it.

 

“The bigger the challenge the more excited I am. It brings the best out of me. I have fought some of the greatest fighters of our time. There’s no reason I would stop now.
“Fighting at home at Barclays Center against Danny Garcia, one of the biggest fights in boxing, I couldn’t ask for more.”

 

DANIEL JACOBS

 

“Sergio Mora is a slick fighter. He can slip punches well and he’s defensively minded. He’s a cagey fighter but he lacks power. He has a lot of defensive flaws and I just have to be patient and take advantage of them.

 

“We have a game plan in store, but in a pro fight anything can happen. You have to be able to adjust on the fly.

 

“I have a great team that helps me take care of things so that I can focus on training. I avoid all distractions that would take me away from being at my best.

 

“Fighting on the PBC cards has been outstanding. I love the intro and coming out on that stage. I felt like a superstar.

 

“This training camp has been a pleasure, hard work but a pleasure. It was difficult because Sergio is so hard to prepare for. You can’t prepare for it with sparring or just one thing. I’m looking forward to showing my true skills and showing what a true champion is.”

 

SERGIO MORA

 

“I’m thrilled about this opportunity. I’ve had two huge letdowns before with world title shots falling through. Now that this is here, there is no way I’m going to let it pass me by.

 

“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be at Barclays and happy to be on PBC. I love being the underdog and I’m going to shock the world on Saturday night.

 

“I’m in the second phase of my career now, DiBella and PBC have saved my career and my life.

 

“PBC is great, it’s free TV and we’re putting out heart, blood, sweat and tears into this and the fans get to see it on free TV. This is great for the fans, for the fighters and for the entire sport as a whole; it’s what boxing needed.”

 

RAFAEL VASQUEZ

 

“This is a great opportunity and a blessing to be on this card. There’s so many great fighters from Brooklyn. Barclays Center is great and it gives us fighters from Brooklyn the opportunity to fight at a first class venue right here at home.

 

[On his Autistic eight-year-old daughter Kaylene]…”I want to show other people that are dealing with this, that they are not alone. I see this as a blessing to be able to raise awareness and speak out and show other families that are struggling with Autism that we are in this together.

 

“When people see me step into the ring I want them to know that I’m not only fighting for myself but I’m fighting for them. I want to be the face of Autism in boxing.”

 

HEATHER HARDY

 

“It’s really important to me that I stay relevant and that I’m a part of the conversation so when I saw this fight coming up in August I made sure that I was on this card.

 

“There really is extra motivation going up against Renata Domsodi again. I felt like when the two of us faced off last time and the bout was ruled a no contest that we owed it to every other female boxer to show that we belong there and I thought she quit.

 

“Renata was coming in with her face down swinging her arms and I charged her while she was coming in and that caused the cut. We’ve been working on stepping to the side when she does that and being a little bit more patient.

 

“If all goes well Saturday I’ll be ready to get back in the ring in September. I’m in shape and I live in the gym. This is what I do. You have to stay a part of the conversation. I want to see a higher level of competition every time I step into the ring.

 

“This is probably the hardest I’ve ever worked, out of all of my camps. Not for any other reason than just putting in extra work. Honestly I’m in the best shape of my life.”

 

TRAVIS PETERKIN

 

“I’ve trained so hard, I put blood, sweat and tears into this. I put my soul into this. I put my life into this. We’re ready.

 

“It’s no secret that I’m from Brooklyn, born and raised, I didn’t move here from anywhere. Guys like Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Shannon Briggs I just want to follow in their footsteps. I want to be great and learn from those that came before me.

 

“I’m a boxer-puncher. I’ll adapt to the fighter. If he runs, I’ll go get him. But I also know how to be smart and use my technical abilities.

 

“I’m facing a tough guy in Lenin Castillo. He’s got a good record and was a 2008 Olympian. Everything looks good on paper, but when the time comes, I’m going to take him out.

 

“I train right here at Gleason’s. When we’re a couple months from a fight everybody is smiling and joking but when we’re this close to the fight, everybody is serious. It’s all about hard work.”

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.barclayscenter.comand www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @PaulMalignaggi, @LouDiBella, @ESPNBoxing, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/fanpagedannyswiftgarcia, www.facebook.com/PaulMalignaggi, www.facebook.com/barclayscenterand www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN and #BrooklynBoxing.
boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON ESPN FIGHTER QUOTES

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Undefeated Star Danny Garcia Faces

Two-Time World Champion Paulie Malignaggi

 

Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs Defends Against

Former World Champion Sergio Mora

 

Live From Barclays Center

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

 

BROOKLYN (July 28, 2015) – With just days to go until Premier Boxing Championson ESPN fighters enter the ring for their Saturday, August 1 showdowns at Barclays Center, catch up on what the fighters have been saying in the weeks leading up to fight week.

 

Saturday’s headlining event is the 147-pound debut of Danny “Swift” Garcia (30-0, 17 KOs) as he takes on two-time world champion out of Brooklyn, Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs). Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with Brooklyn’s middleweight world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (29-1, 26 KOs) as he defends his title against former world champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (28-3-2, 9 KOs).

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Swift Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $120, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 855-GROUP-BK.

 

Here is what the fight participants have had to say from their media conference call and Garcia’s media workout:

 

DANNY GARCIA

 

“I’m not really concerned about Paulie, at this point in my career if I’m 110% percent ready, I feel like I can adapt to anything and find a way to win.

 

“It feels great to be at 147. For the first time in a long time, I could worry about training to get better and not training to lose weight. I’ve been fighting at 140 my whole career.

 

“I’ve been the underdog before, I’ve been the underdog before and I won. I can’t listen to none of that stuff after just going through each fight like I was, mentally prepared, physically prepared going in and get the job done.

 

“We added things to our workout now. We added a lot of explosive workouts, a lot of agility, a lot of footwork, a lot of things to making you more explosive, things I couldn’t do at 140 because I didn’t have the energy for it. But now the extra weight is really helping me.

 

“I’m very confident. I faced a lot of good fighters. I faced a lot of great fighters in my career. I have a lot of experience. I was a big 140-pound fighter. I’ve never faced a 140-pound fighter who was taller than me or who looked better than me.

 

“But I feel like at 147, you’re going to see a more athletic Danny Garcia and be able to use my legs more, using my jab more and see punches clearer. When you drain yourself as hard to see punches, then you get hit with a lot of dumb punches because your vision is not clear.

 

“I feel like my vision is going to be a lot clearer and be able to move my head, see the punches better, use my feet. And I think I’m going to be a champion at 147, too. I know so.”

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

 

“I think styles make fight. From a style point of view there are things that I feel like I’ll be able to do against Danny. But I also expect Danny had made some adjustments since those fights.

 

“You get to the point when you’re not in the ring for a while. It’s going through my mind that maybe I don’t want to fight. But as time went by and I started working out again, I started realizing that it was something I missed. It was something I was still craving. I wanted to be back in there.

 

“If we’re going to talk about the layoff, people are going to talk about the fact that, I haven’t fought for a long time. But in reality, I actually haven’t trained this consistently in a decade, literally a decade.

 

“I do feel the sharpness in a gym. I do feel the timing is really good. Obviously my weight has come down. So, that’s a good feeling knowing that I have to drop a lot of weight during the training camp just working on the sharpness and keep getting better.

 

“I’m not looking at it as having any advantages. It’s just a matter of matching of my skills to his skills.

“I can’t really tell you exactly how I’m going to play it out until I’m in the ring myself. I plan on being the best me possible. I plan on being the sharpest me possible. And right now, in training, I feel really good. The plan is to flow this training camp into a sharp night onAugust 1st.”

 

DANIEL JACOBS

 

“It’ll be against the most experienced guy I’ve faced thus far. I’m looking forward to testing my challenge against this slick, crafty veteran in Sergio Mora.

 

“So there’s not a lot of fear as far as power is concerned but where he lacks that he makes up in his craftiness and his slickness and awkwardness and sometimes he does engage in the action as well.

 

“The test with Sergio Mora is – whether that he can be stopped or whether or not I can go the distance with him, he’s never been stopped before, so it will be icing on the cake to be able to not only to defeat him but to stop him in the match.

 

“I feel like I have a lot more advantages than he does in the fight. But whatever my advantages are and whatever gets me going, will be the deciding factor for me I would stick to. So if it’s my speed, then I’ll stick to using my speed. If it’s my power, backing him down, showing him what a real middleweight feels like, then that’s what I would do.”

 

SERGIO MORA

 

“I think I’m going to be an underdog for this fight again, fighting the younger, stronger champion in his hometown. So defeating him is going to be tough with all the cards stacked against me and that’s something that I grown used to and accustomed to.

 

“This is going to be a really exciting card because he’s in his hometown and defending the world title. I’m hungry for that world title and I know that I’m going to have to be extra sharp and do a lot more than just have a close victory in his hometown. So I’m going to have to press action and go out of my comfort zone and I think he’s going to have to go out of his comfort zone, which is going to make an interesting fight for everybody.

 

“I just continue educating people about the sweet science and letting them know that power is not the number one aspect you need to be successful it’s your agility, techniques, your defense, body shots, the strategy, it’s following that strategy it’s hard.

 

“Like I said, I think he possess everything that I don’t. But I have the experience. I think I take a better shot from experience with Danny and I think I follow my game plan more than Danny. A lot of boxers especially a lot of young athletic fighters they go out of their game plan and once they see that it’s not working. As a veteran, I know that it’s not working initially.”

 

For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.barclayscenter.comand www.dbe1.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @DannySwift, @PaulMalignaggi, @LouDiBella, @ESPNBoxing, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/fanpagedannyswiftgarcia, www.facebook.com/PaulMalignaggi, www.facebook.com/barclayscenterand www.facebook.com/ESPN. Follow the conversation using #PBConESPN and #BrooklynBoxing.