Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of undefeated Korean Ukrainian junior featherweight prospect Arnold Khegai. From the town of Razdelnoye in the region of Odessa, in the Ukraine, Khegai (11-0-1, 8 KOs) was last seen ripping away the undefeated record of then 11-1 Russian prospect Valery Tretyakov via last-second tenth-round KO.
“I really want to win over the audience in the US with my exciting style and my physical strength and endurance,” said the 25-year-old Khegai. “I am ready and willing to fight the best fighters in my weight class; anyone who stands in my path of getting a world title belt.”
Khegai switched over from being a world champion Thai boxer to a professional boxer in 2015 and has torn through a stiff level of domestic competition along the way.
Married with a degree from the Institute of Food Academy, Khegai says the deal with his promoter will set all of his dreams in motion. “I am very excited about signing this deal with Salita,” he continued. “Now that I have time to properly prepare, my goal is to fight my way through the 122-lb division and become undisputed world champion.
“Arnold is a proud member of the small Korean community in the Ukraine,” said Dmitriy Salita. “He is incredibly strong and powerful and will be a challenge for anyone in the division. I am excited to have him make his debut on American soil on my show on April 20. I have no doubt he will quickly become a fan favourite and world champion.” |
Tag Archives: Salita Promotions
Salita Signs Top Light Heavyweight Umar Salamov to Co-Promotional Contract
Dmitriy Salita, of Salita Promotions, proudly announces the signing of world-class light heavyweight contender Umar Salamov to a co-promotional contract, along with KA Promotions. Salamov (20-1, 15 KOs) hails from Alkhan-Kala, Russia, but is currently in Detroit training at the legendary Kronk Gym with Javan SugarHill Steward.
“Umar is a tall, rangy light heavyweight with crafty footwork and an arsenal of punches,” said Steward. “Being that Umar is only 23 years of age, his natural athleticism and creativity in the ring makes me excited to teach him that Kronk magic, which will make him a force in the strong light heavyweight division.”
“I have relocated my training base to Detroit and look forward to a big year,” said Salamov. “My goal this year is to become a mandatory challenger for a world title in one of the four sanctioning bodies and fight for a world title.”
The 23-year-old slugger has already amassed quite a collection of championships as professional. He is the former IBO Youth and World Light Heavyweight, WBO Youth World, European and International, and the IBF East/West Europe Light Heavyweight Champion.
“Umar is one of the best light Heavyweights in the world,” said Dmitriy Salita. “It’s a division that is packed with lots of very good fighters and big names. I believe Umar has the skills and the experience to be the best. He is only 23 years old and has lots of world-class experience on the elite level in the amateurs and the pros. Now with him training in Detroit, his skills and experience will go to new levels.”
Salamov says the decision to sign wit Salita was an easy one to make. “Dmitriy has a very good reputation and has done great work with the fighters he has worked with. He is very serious and responsible in his work. I have high hopes!” |
Salita Promotions Adds to World-Class Women’s Boxing Roster, Signs Top Female Prospect Franchon Crews-Dezurn to a Promotional Contract
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Salita Promotions Congratulates Shields On 2017 Year-End Awards
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Undefeated Junior Welterweight KO Artist Shoh Ergashev Added to Jacobs vs. Arias Undercard
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The one to watch, 25-year-old knockout sensation Shohjahon “Descendant of Tamerlane” Ergashev has been added to the untelevised undercard of the Saturday, November 11, Danny Jacobs vs. Luis Arias and Jarrell Miller vs. Mariusz Wach boxing event at NYCB LIVE: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
Jacobs vs. Arias and Miller vs. Wach are presented by Matchroom Boxing USA, in association with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, Salita Promotions and Roc Nation Sports. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, NYCBLIVE.com, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.
Considered one of the best current prospects coming out of Central Asia, the popular Ergashev (9-0, 9 KOs) is a former four-time national champion in his home country. As a professional, the dangerous southpaw has won his last five fights in the first round.
“I came to the US to show that I am the best fighter in the world,” said Ergashev. “I look for the knockout in every fight and November 11 is no different. It’s my biggest stage and I will put on a show!”
To prepare for his six-round showdown, Ergashev is training at Kronk Gym in Detroit with well-known Javan SugarHill Steward, who says he is looking fearsome in sparring.
“He’s a big puncher, with good athleticism and great potential,” said Steward. “I look forward to working with him and seeing him develop in the talent-rich junior welterweight division.”
Promoter Dmitriy Salita says although Ergashev is a new name in the United States, he is already well-known in his Uzbek community.
“Shoh has the power, skills and charisma to be a star in boxing,” said Salita. “He has a very loyal fan base as well. Although it’s his first fight in the US, he will have hundreds of people from his community in New York City and from around the country, and even from Russia, coming to support him on November 11.”
In his last appearance, in June at the Floyd Mayweather Boxing Academy in Zhukovka, Russia, Ergashev needed less than a minute to knock opponent Sunatollo Rakhmatulloev down twice and stop him at 0:50 of the first round.
In other action that night, undefeated New York City police officer Dimash “Lightning” Niyazov (12-0, 5 KOs) born in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, now residing in Staten Island, NY, will also fight in a six-round lightweight bout on the non-televised portion of the undercard. ###
BROOKLYN BOXING on Long Island is an extension of SE’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ brand. For more information, visit brooklynboxingshop.com.
Tickets for the live event, on sale now, can be purchased at ticketmaster.com,NYCBLIVE.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.
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Salita Promotions Lightweight Dimash Niyazov Returns to Action Saturday in Kazakhstan
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Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and NABF Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields Announces Deal with Salita Promotions
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CLARESSA SHIELDS KNOCKS OUT SZILVIA SZABADOS IN FIRST WOMEN’S MAIN EVENT IN PREMIUM TELEVISION HISTORY FRIDAY ON SHOWTIME®
Nikolay Potapov Outpoints Antonio Nieves, Wesley Tucker Defeats Ed Williams & Joshua Greer Jr. Knocks Out James Gordon-Smith On ShoBox: The New Generation From MGM Grand Detroit
Don’t Miss The Replay Tuesday, March 14 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®
Click HERE For Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
DETROIT (March 11, 2017) – Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields shined in her television debut, knocking out the durable Szilvia Szabados in the fourth round (1:30) to advance to 2-0 as a professional in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation Friday on SHOWTIME at MGM Grand Detroit.
Shields (2-0, 1 KOs) put on a show less than an hour from her hometown of Flint, Mich., landing nearly 50 percent of her power shots in the first women’s boxing main event in premium television history.
Szabados (15-9, 6 KOs), of Hungary, didn’t touch the canvas but never really stood a shot against an opponent that has been billed as the future of women’s boxing. Shields came out blazing in the opening round, backing up Szabados with crisp, clean punches as she out-landed her opponent 31-4 in the first.
Shields was a bit more patient and settled in the second and third, but the onslaught continued against a relatively defenseless Szabados. After a flush right hand, left hook combo in the fourth, referee Harvey Dock had seen enough and stepped in to halt the contest with Szabados still on her feet.
“It was about respect,” Shields said of her performance. “I wanted to go out there and show I had power and I wasn’t scared of her. I knew she was tough coming in. That’s why I started going to the body. I was going to get the clean shot in one round and she was going to go, but the ref stopped it in the fourth. A knock out is a knockout. It was exciting.
“I’m glad everyone came. I took advantage of this great opportunity once again. It’s another step toward winning a world title.”
Szabados said she was disappointed with Dock’s decision to stop the fight when he did. “I’m very sad and heartbroken right now because it only went four rounds and I could have kept going,” she said. “Her hits were not painful. Her right hook got me a lot, I know. I could feel that one.”
In the ShoBox co-feature, Nikolay Potapov narrowly edged Antonio Nieves in a close, 10-round split decision scored 96-94 Potapov twice, 96-94 Nieves.
The technical match between undefeated top-10 bantamweight prospects was close from the opening bell. Nieves was the more active fighter, landing 64 punches per round to Potapov’s 50, but the round-by-round breakdowns reveal that Potapov prevailed in total connects as well as in landed power shots.
“I thought it was a close fight, but I came on strong at the end,” Potapov said. “I had more and finished stronger. That made the difference. I am much more aggressive now and I sit down on my shots. That’s the difference training at Kronk has done for me.
“I knew I won the fight. I wasn’t surprised when I got it. I wasn’t happy about the judging in my last big fight, but I thought this time I had done more than enough to win.”
Nieves did impressive work to the body, connecting on 59 total body shots compared to just 14 for Potapov, but it wasn’t enough to earn him the decision.
“I thought I won. I thought it was a bad decision,” Nieves said. “I don’t even think it should have been a spilt decision. I thought I was up clearly. He didn’t really score like he wanted to. I was making him miss and landing all the sharper punches. Everything he was hitting me with I was blocking and coming back.
“I don’t know why close fights don’t go my way. From here I go back to the drawing board. My whole team and a lot of the crowd felt like I won. I would love to fight him again.”
In a featured matchup between undefeated welterweights, Wesley Tucker (14-0, 8 KOs) edged Ed Williams in an eight-round unanimous decision scored 77-73, 79-71, 78-72 Tucker.
The foul-filled fight featured little action. Toledo’s Tucker landed 31 percent of his power shots compared to just 19 percent for Detroit’s Williams (12-2-1, 4 KOs), who was deducted two points for hitting to the back of the head on separate occasions. Tucker (14-0, 8 KOs) didn’t land a jab the entire fight, but his heavier shots and accuracy with his power shots seemed to be more impressive to the judges.
“He was an awkward, long fighter, who knew how to move very well,” Tucker said. “I’m not disappointed it turned out like that. Not every fight can be pretty, so I came out with the win and that’s what matters most.
“I was really frustrated in there, but I’m an action kind of fighter, so when he was running it kind of was pissing me off. He was all over the place. He ran the whole fight.”
Williams landed only 17 percent of his total punches.
“He didn’t show me anything I didn’t expect,” Williams said. “This week was a great experience for me, but you want to come out with a win and I wasn’t able to get it done.”
In the televised opener, Joshua Greer Jr. handed bantamweight prospect James Gordon-Smith his firstloss with a brutal one-punch sixth-round knockout (2:06).
After a blazing first round that saw over 50 power shots landed, Greer pepped his opponent with a steady diet of counter rights as Gordon-Smith continued to charge forward and fight largely off-balance. Chicago’s Greer floored Gordon-Smith with a perfectly timed right uppercut in the opening seconds of the fifth and, despite looking dazed, Gordon-Smith rallied to survive the back-and-forth round.
In the sixth, Greer (12-1-1, 5 KOs) knocked Gordon-Smith out cold with a huge straight right that sent the Detroit native falling face forward as referee Harvey Dock immediately waved off the bout.
“I guess he blinked. That was the problem,” Greer said. “I told everyone when I got here I didn’t have that pillow for no reason. I said don’t blink and I wasn’t playing. I knew I was going to get him. The pillow is just my trademark. It’s nothing personal. You have to stand out somehow. That’s just what I do. Nothing personal to him.
“I knew what I came to do. I’m excited but I’m not shocked. My team knew what would happen and they had confidence in me. I knew it was only a matter of time.”
Gordon-Smith (11-1, 6 KOs) was the 160th fighter to suffer his first defeat on the prospect developmental series. And Nieves would later become the 161st.
Friday’s quadrupleheader will replay on Tuesday, March 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The telecast will also be available on SHOWTIME on DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.
“Detroit City Gold,” was promoted by Salita Promotions.
Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.
“DETROIT CITY GOLD” FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS
Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados In First Women’s Boxing Main Event On Premium Television
Friday, March 10 Live on SHOWTIME® From MGM Grand Detroit
Click HERE To Download Weigh-In Photos; Credit Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
DETROIT (March 9, 2017) – All eight fighters participating in “Detroit City Gold”, the ShoBox: The New Generationquadrupleheader which includes headliner and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields, made weight on Thursday in advance of Friday’s telecast from MGM Grand Detroit.
Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and in the first women’s boxing event in premium television history, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“Detroit City Gold,” which takes place less than an hour from Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., is promoted by Salita Promotions. Shields vs. Szabados is a six-round middleweight bout.
In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs), of Cleveland, and Russia’s Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round matchup for the NABO bantamweight belt.
In an eight-round televised bout, welterweight Wesley Tucker (13-0, 8 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, faces Detroit’s Ed Williams (12-1-1, 4 KOs) in a matchup between two former amateur standouts. In the televised opener, Detroit-based bantamweight prospect James Gordon Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will take on Chicago’s Joshua Greer, Jr. (11-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS:
Claressa Shields: 159 ½ Pounds
Szilvia Szabados: 158 Pounds
Antonio Nieves: 116 ½ Pounds
Nikolay Potapov: 117 ½ Pounds
Wesley Tucker: 147 Pounds
Ed Williams: 146 ¼ Pounds
James Gordon Smith: 116 ¾ Pounds
Joshua Greer, Jr.: 116 ¾ Pounds
FINAL QUOTES:
CLARESSA SHIELDS:
“I know about Laila Ali, and Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker, and I don’t box like any of them. I have my own unique style. I’ve never seen a female fighter like myself. I want to carry the sport.
“The boxers I like and study are Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather. Those are my favorites. And you can even throw Sugar Ray Leonard in there, too.
“I’m going to be aggressive. I’m not going to be nervous and I’m not going to freeze up. I’m going to go right out there and hit her in the face with a right hand.
“This is my hometown fight. I last fought in Michigan three years ago. I’m going to showcase my skills on SHOWTIME.
“I’m embracing all of this. I grew up and heard when I was young that women can’t fight. I’m ready to show everyone just how wrong that is on Friday night.”
SZILVIA SZABADOS:
“I know Claressa is popular because of the two gold medals, and she’s young and 21. This is her hometown so I know the fans will be cheering for her. Congratulations to her. But I just have to worry about fighting my fight and staying focused.
“I know she’s a come-forward fighter like me. Always go, go, go. I don’t know what she’ll bring. It’ll be a surprise. Everyone always has a plan and I have a plan, as well. But I’m willing to change and improvise.
“I’ve been sparring with men mostly. It’s hard to find girls who can spar with me, especially in Hungary.”
ANTONIO NIEVES:
“I’m ready to go. I’m ready to show that night [a draw against Alejandro Santiago] was a fluke. There are no distractions this time.
“I’m ready to show people that I’m a contender at this weight. I’m here to prove that I deserve to fight for a world title.”
NIKOLAY POTAPOV:
“I’ve improved a lot working with Javan [Javan SugarHill Steward]. The sky’s the limit for me and I know I can be a legitimate contender in my division.
“There are going to be a lot of eyes on this fight so it’s important that I look good and get the victory. We’re both undefeated, and we’re both ranked, so there is a lot on the line in this fight.”
WESLEY TUCKER:
“I’m going to be the next world champion from Toledo. I’m a lefty and have power in both hands and I’m a pressure fighter.
“My right hook is my best punch and that’s rare for a lefty.
“I live 45 miles from here and I come here a lot so, yeah, it’s like a home fight for me.
“I know Ed Williams. He’s a nice little boxer, long and rangy. That’s about it.
“I’m going for the knockout and it may come early, or it may not. No matter what, I always put on a good show.”
ED WILLIAMS:
“This is one of the fights that will determine whether I continue and move up, or I do something different. This is it. That’s what ShoBox has always been about for fighters like me.
“I took a break from boxing and got my college degree in industrial engineering. But I got the bug and came back. Things would have been much different if I would have stayed with it. I’m not doing anything with my degree yet, but will once I’m finished with boxing.
“I’m older but I don’t have many miles. I’m well-preserved. It’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to an exciting fight.”
JAMES GORDON SMITH:
“I’ve never lost to anyone from Chicago, and Friday night will be no different.
“I’ve been around boxing forever and all the talking doesn’t bother me. I would expect nothing else. He’s coming into my backyard and should be confident. He’s coming in with an eight-fight winning streak. It don’t bother me. It just gives me the extra motivation to make sure no one comes into my backyard and beats me.”
JOSHUA GREER, JR.:
“It’s not my first undefeated fighter I’ve fought so it’s no big deal. I know what I have to do.
Sure, we were going at it pretty good at the press conference. You can say it’s a Chicago-Detroit thing. Of course there’s a rivalry there.
“I’m fast, but people underestimate my power. My power is a bigger strength than my speed. It’s something not a lot of people expect of me.
“You will see fireworks from round one.”
Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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TWO-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST CLARESSA SHIELDS DISCUSSES HER LEGACY AND BRINGING EQUALITY TO WOMEN’S BOXING IN SHOWTIME SPORTS® VIDEO
“I want my legacy to be that I’m the best female fighter to ever put on gloves.” – Claressa Shields
Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados Friday on SHOWTIME® In First Women’s Boxing Main Event In Premium Television History
VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/2m3ZobR
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields opens up about how growing up in Flint, Mich., shaped her career, bringing equality to women’s boxing, and her growing legacy in this SHOWTIME Sports video feature: http://s.sho.com/2m3ZobR
Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) tomorrow/Friday in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics. The six-round middleweight bout, which will air live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT), is the first women’s boxing event in premium television history.
The event, labeled “Detroit City Gold,” is promoted by Salita Promotions from MGM Grand Detroit. In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs) and Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round bantamweight bout.
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