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Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares & Jermall Charlo vs.  Julian Williams Trainer Media Roundtables  Quotes & Photos

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Top Trainers Freddie Roach, Robert Garcia, Ronnie Shields & Stephen Edwards Discussing SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Doubleheader Saturday, December 10 from 
Galen Center 

at USC in Los Angeles
 
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES (December 7, 2016) – Four of the top trainers in the sport, Freddie Roach, Robert Garcia, Ronnie Shields and Stephen Edwards met with media in Los Angeles to discuss their fighters’ respective showdowns this Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center at USC and live on SHOWTIME®.
Saturday’s event is headlined by featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellardefending againstformer three-division world champion Abner Mares in a long-awaited showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and top-rated challenger Julian Williams in a world championship battle of undefeated rising stars in their prime.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go towww.galentix.com.
Roach (Cuellar), Garcia (Mares), Shields (Charlo) and Edwards (Williams) spoke to media at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown about their fighters and the highly anticipated matchups taking place this weekend in Los Angeles.
Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:
FREDDIE ROACH, Cuellar’s Trainer
How has your relationship with Cuellar developed?
“I’ve gotten to know Cuellar quite well and have spent a lot of time with him. I think he’s learned a lot and I think he’ll carry that into the fight with him. He’s prepared and he won’t go out there just trying to look for a knockout. He’s a good puncher and everybody thinks he’s looking for the KO, but I told him to just let it happen. If you force it, it will never happen.
“He’s going in there with a good opponent, an experienced fighter with a lot of good fights under his belt. He’s caught punches before and knows how to handle it. And if [Mares] moves, we’ll cut the ring off to make it smaller and set traps for him. If he tries to come forward, I want my guy to show his power either way and show him who the boss is.”
On Garcia having the upper hand by having trained Cuellar:
“I don’t really know how their relationship is and I don’t really know how long they’ve been together. I heard that during his training camps that he had gone to Florida for another trainer so I don’t know how great they’re really getting along but again, I don’t really worry about the other side so much. I know my guy is ready for a hard 12-round fight.
“He does know my fighter well and I’ve tried to improve my fighter a lot and he said he never learned anything over there, but every day he learns in my gym. I just don’t think he’s the same guy that Robert is used to seeing and I think he’s improved a lot in a lot of different areas and I think he’ll show it in the fight.”
What are you predicting for Cuellar?
“I’m predicting better angles, not so wide with the punches, not so big with them. He goes out there looking for knockouts so many times and I’ve told him to just let it happen. He needs to get behind his jab a little bit. He has a good jab but he just doesn’t throw it that much because he’s always looking for the home run. So, we’ve worked a lot on not only looking for the home run right away and going out there and breaking this guy down.”
What’s the game plan if Abner comes to box?
“I think he’s going to try to box us, yes, so we have to put pressure on him and we have to keep him close to the ropes. We have to set traps on the ropes and into the corners and we’re well prepared for that. We did prepare for [Mares] coming at us also, trying to maybe catch him early and I want Cuellar to show his power right away because I think if we can get him to box and move, he can’t win the fight by moving away.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Mares’ Trainer
“Cuellar is very strong and hits really hard. He has tremendous power. He’s very strong physically and mentally. He has that warrior mentality that just goes out there looking for the knockout.
“I don’t have the secret recipe. It’s just that I know Abner is in great shape and we’ve had a year to prepare for this fight. And I know Cuellar very well. I know how he thinks and that could be a plus. I think facing a guy I used to train can be an advantage for us.
“I know Jesus and how he is in locker room. And I can use that against him. Even though he’s with a great trainer in Freddie Roach, he has never walked out to the arena with him. I did it for five fights and for two years. But I don’t think I need those advantages.
“If Abner does everything that he needs to do, there’s no doubt he will walk out of there a world champion. But this is my first fight with him so I don’t know if during the fight he will forget all I told him, and do what he is used to doing. He’s picked up a lot of good things from me, so I think he’ll stick to the game plan.”
What has impressed you most about Abner this camp?
“For a full year training and having dates and then the dates being cancelled, postponed, changed. It’s been four dates. They were scheduled to fight in March, then June. Then we were supposed to fight in October and now December. He never showed any signs of frustration or being upset. He always thought like I think: Things happen for a reason and this just gives us more time to work together and to learn from each other. So, I think it was the best thing that happened.”
Did you always have aspirations of becoming a trainer?
“Never did. It’s funny how it happened. When I had my last fight at 26, my plans were to forget about boxing. I hated boxing. The last couple of fights I had I didn’t want to be in the ring. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. But then I started to come around my Dad’s gym in Oxnard (Calif.). The thing that I loved the most was the travel — because I traveled around the world during the amateurs and the pros. My first three fights were in Japan. But we didn’t enjoy it. I was always trying to make weight. And I never got to enjoy it. But I never thought I’d be in this position to train nine world champions.
“I will have my 10th world champion, and I’m hoping it’s this Saturday. I’m very confident about it. One day I’ll have 15 or maybe 20, but that’s one thing I hate to do is predict it. But I do feel really good we can pull this one off.”
Who is your pick for Trainer of the Year?
“Manny Robles had two world champions and has two really good fighters. And Freddie Roach had a great year with Pacquiao. So, I think they would be good picks. I believe Manny Robles deserves it.”
Have you gotten the credit you are due?
“It’s mostly politics and who you know. Will I get it again? I really don’t care. My fighters are happy and my family is happy. I get the love from you reporters and the fans. And that’s all that’s important to me and my team.”
RONNIE SHIELDS, Charlo’s Trainer
“All I hear is Charlo is scared. Jermall isn’t scared to fight anyone. Why would a guy who is champion of the world be scared of fighting [Williams]?
“Jermall and Julian ran into each other a few times as amateurs, but not as professionals. I think they both realized they would meet in the ring and that it would happen.
“I’m not really surprised this fight happened this early in their careers, because both guys are great fighters. And they are both deserving to be at the top.”
On Charlo calling Williams an “undefeated nobody”:
“That’s just Jermall [laughing]. All fighters are confident in their ability, and he just feels like he’s the better guy. And I’m glad he feels that way, because I don’t have to do anything extra to motivate him. He’s highly motivated, and ready to go.”
How do you think this fight will end?
“I don’t look at the ends, I only look at the beginnings. If you go in looking to knock the guy out in the early rounds and don’t get it, what’s going to happen in the later rounds? I think I’ve got Jermall to the point where he can go 12 rounds with anyone. He doesn’t care who it is.”
What does Julian Williams do well?
“I think Julian does a lot of things well. You have to have the simple fundamentals in boxing, which I think carries a lot of fighters a long way. You have to have a good jab, combination of punches. And Jermall has the same thing. I think it will come down to who has the biggest will to win this fight. My guy has a huge will to win this fight.”
What is underrated about Jermall that fight fans might now know?
“I think that a lot of people don’t know how smart an individual he is. Outside of the ring, and inside of the ring. He’s so different than he appears in public. He’s a really quiet guy and does not really boast a lot.
“These days you see a lot of fighters using different guys, and not just the same guys [in terms of trainers]. I think a lot of fighters are trusting different people, and not just the same guy.
“I’ve known Jermall since he was eight-years-old and I know what type of guy he is, and what his will is. I just don’t see anybody beating him. He just has such a strong will to win, and he does everything right. And that’s hard to say about the other guy.”
“This could be Jermall’s last fight at 154 pounds. But he will make weight on Friday. If there was a chance he wasn’t going to make weight, I wouldn’t let him [fight at 154 pounds] because I realize it’s too dangerous, and I’m not going to take that chance with my guys.”
STEPHEN EDWARDS, Williams’ Trainer
“We were ready for this fight, maybe a year and a half ago but unfortunately it took a bit longer than we thought to come into fruition. But he’s had a great camp. I know Jermall is a formidable fighter, he has a great coach and I’m expecting a great fight. I think it’s really, really difficult to beat an undefeated fighter that does not know how to lose.
“We have a big task in front of us but he’ll be the third undefeated guy that Julian has fought. So, he’s used to being up under that kind of stress.”
On knowing Julian’s past life on the streets:
“I knew him but I wasn’t training him at the time. Ironically, I knew Julian in 2007 and I used to work at the shelter that he was at. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances I didn’t meet him until I was having a fight party for the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight and we became pretty good friends and then later I started training him in 2010. When he came to the party I knew who he was from attending some of his amateur fights and when he was ready to turn pro, he asked me for some help. We have a relationship outside of boxing and then I started working with him and here we are.”
Did he open up to you about his story shortly after you knew him?
“I kind of already knew it so it wasn’t a revelation. It kind of happened organically, you know, as you get to know somebody and you’re around them, I kind of started to learn different things about him and we started talking more about it. Actually, a lot of things came up through boxing because I would ask him ‘How do you not win Nationals as good as you are?’ I thought he was the best amateur in the city. I would say: ‘How long do you run?’ and ‘What kind of diet do you do?’ and he would say ‘I just lose weight by taking laxatives.’ I thought he was killing himself and that’s when I wanted to take him on in training. I said man, if he was 77-10 as an amateur taking laxatives to lose weight, he is ruining the lining of his stomach and decreasing his energy level too. So, I said to myself ‘this kid has a big upside.’
“If I could just get him to buy into a diet, buy into doing things the right way, he could be a world champion. I think that I believed that he was going to be a world champion before he did. That’s how the stories started to unravel about his homelessness, that he didn’t have anything to eat, that he would work at McDonalds and other places and that would be his diet.
“This is a national level fighter, ranked No. 3 in the country on a McDonald’s diet. So I always just kept in the back of my mind that he had an unbelievable upside and regardless of what was going on or what people were saying, I trust my eyes more than I trust anybody else’s and that’s what I believe.”
How much do you think his past goes into the way he fights?
“I definitely think that he has a hint of anger. He’s a little introverted and I’m very similar in certain things that we don’t talk about. Getting him ready for the Hugo Centenofight when his mom passed away, we never talked about it. It’s the weirdest thing in the world. I hugged him, I told him I would help him with the funeral arrangements because he’s a young guy and he didn’t know how to handle those things.”
What can you say about Jermall?
“He’s not better than Julian at anything. I’m not trying to concede anything. He doesn’t punch harder, he’s not faster and you all can quote me when I say he’s not better than him at nothing. And determination. If it comes down to a point of who’s really willing to lose his life in the ring, I already know who’s willing to lose his life in the ring. But he’s not better at him at anything. Nothing. Not just determination, Julian is just the more skilled fighter and he has more on the inside and he’s going to show everyone on Saturday night.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports andwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Sergey Lipinets Training Camp Quotes & Photos

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(Photo Credit: Alex Vaysfeld/Team Lipinets)
 
Undefeated Contender Faces Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna
In Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator Saturday, December 10 From Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles
 
Click HERE for Photos from Alex Vaysfeld/Team Lipinets/
Premier Boxing Champions
 
LOS ANGELES (December 6, 2016) – Unbeaten junior lightweight contender Sergey Lipinets is wrapping up training camp as he prepares for his world title eliminator against Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna this Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles.
Saturday’s event is headlined by featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellar defending againstformer three-division world champion Abner Mares in a long-awaited showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and top-rated challenger Julian Williams in a world championship battle of undefeated rising stars in their prime.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go towww.galentix.com.
Lipinets and Zappavigna will fight in an eliminator for the 140-pound world title won this past weekend by Julius Indongo via a first round knockout of reigning champion Eduard Troyanovsky. Here is what Lipinets had to say about training camp with Buddy McGirt, his matchup on Saturday and more:
 
On his upcoming title elimination bout against Lenny Zappavigna…
“Zappavigna is a very well-rounded fighter with a lot of experience and I know he’s coming to rip my head off.  There is no doubt about it, this fight is going to be tough.  We both have a lot at stake because this is a title elimination bout. This will be war and everyone should be tuning in.”
 
On his recent training camp…
“It’s been a really productive training camp. My coach, Buddy McGirt has studied a lot of tape on Zappavigna and we have a great game plan intact.  We are finalizing our last days of camp and we will be ready to go.  I’m well prepared for this fight.”
 
On his rapid rise toward the top of the junior welterweight division…
“I’ve worked really hard and fought a lot of tough opponents to get in this position.  In my first fight as a professional boxer, I fought a guy with over 30 fights, so nothing has come easy for me.  I’ve earned my right to be here.”
 
On the possible opportunities that will come with a victory…
“A victory against Zappavigna will put me in position to fight for a world title.  The opportunities are endless from then on.  Unification bouts, fighting all the champions, those are the type of fights I’m looking forward too.  My desire to be the best is all I think about.”
 
On fighting December 10th in Los Angeles in front of hometown fans…
“Since I’ve moved to America I’ve made a lot of friends in Los Angeles, especially in the Russian community.  Anytime your hometown fans can see you fight on a mass scale is a beautiful thing.  I have a lot of friends and fans that will be in attendance.  I believe my fighting style is pleasing to the eyes of all fans.  I’m always looking to knock out my opponent.  I know one thing…the Mexican fans will love watching me go to battle.  It’s time to take my career to the next level and it starts on Saturday, December 10 in Los Angeles.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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JERMALL CHARLO & JULIAN WILLIAMS SOUND OFF AS THEY PREPARE FOR MATCHUP OF UNDEFEATED 154-POUND RISING STARS THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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cid:image001.jpg@01D24FB7.4A923130

 

* * * SHOWTIME BOXING VIDEO ALERT * * *

 

 

“I’m taking a chance to fight this undefeated nobody, and I’m going to take his head off.” – Jermall Charlo

 

“When I win this fight I don’t want any excuses.” – Julian Williams

 

Watch, Share & Embed The Video Via YouTube: http://s.sho.com/2g5MXOy

Download Link: https://we.tl/7MRLuYOMLA

 

IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo and undefeated No. 1 contender Julian Williams have been on a collision course for years as two of the rising stars of the stacked 154-pound division.  The speculation about “this fight that had to happen” ends this Saturday, when the 26-year-olds settle their business in the ring live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. 

 

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event, hard-hitting WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar will defend his belt against former three-time world champion Abner Mares from USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles. Both confident, elite 126-pounders will enter the ring with new trainers; Cuellar is now coached by Freddie Roach and Mares by Robert Garcia.

 

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Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go to www.galentix.com.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

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Get to Know Main Event Fighters Jesus Cuellar & Abner Mares

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(Photo Credit: Gene Blevins/TGB Promotions/Premier Boxing Champions)
Featherweight World Championship Showdown Headlines
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center at USC 
in Los Angeles
 
Watch a Sneak Peek of Cuellar vs. Mares
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Feature
on YouTube HERE or Download HERE
 
Click HERE for Training Photos from 
Premier Boxing Champions
 
LOS ANGELES (December 6, 2016) – Featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellarand former three-division world champion Abner Mares will meet in a long-awaited world championship showdown this Saturday, December 10 at Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles and live on SHOWTIME.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and top-rated challenger Julian Williams in a battle of undefeated rising stars in their prime.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go to www.galentix.com.
The hard-hitting Cuellar of Argentina and the decorated Mares of Southern California shared some fun facts and spoke about their interests outside of boxing before they lace up the gloves and meet in the center of the ring on December 10.
Read below to learn more about the two fighters before their main event showdown:
JESUS CUELLAR
 

1.     If you could have one super power, what would it be?

It would be super strength. My nephew already calls me The Incredible                 Hulk.
 

2.     What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

 
I’m a very good cook. I can cook lots of things for myself. I love cooking for my family.
 

3.     What is your favorite snack?  

 
A torta dulce, a sweet sandwich served in Latin American countries throughout the world.
 

4.     Least favorite food?

 
I hate pickles.
 

5.     What do you do for extra motivation?

 
I watch the movie “300” during training and before fights.
 

6.     What is your favorite book?

 
My favorite book is “Martin Fierro,” a 2316-line poem written by Argentina’s Jose Hernandez.
 

7.     If you weren’t a boxer, what would you be doing?

 
I would want to be a horse jockey. Their job is very interesting. My body would look a lot different, but I think I could be good at it.
 

8.     What is one of your most impressive physical feats?

 
I’ve done as many as 1,200 sit-ups in a day.
 

9.     Do you have any fight night superstitions?

 
It’s not really a superstition, but I wear red and white in the ring during                 every fight.
 

10.   If you could have dinner with one historical figure who would it?

 
It would be former unified middleweight world champion and Argentine legend Carlos Monzon.
 
ABNER MARES

1.     What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

 
I’m a ‘dance dad.’ My oldest daughter Emily is on a dance team that went to the national championship in Connecticut when I fought Leo Santa Cruz. We stopped the workout at the track and the entire team huddled around my iPhone to watch her. It made me really proud – she did really well! She has her winter recital on the night of the fight, but I’m hoping to watch part of it on Facetime while I’m in the locker room.
 

2.     What is a guilty pleasure you have?

It’s definitely my collection of sports cars. I call it my ‘auto wardrobe.’ My favorites are the different Mercedes I have.
 

3.     What’s the most extravagant thing you own?

 
I wrapped one of my Mercedes in pure gold. That would have to be it.
 

4.     Do you have any business endeavors outside of boxing?

 
My wife and I just opened up “Nathalie’s Essence of Beauty.” It’s a full service makeup salon in Downey that I’m excited to see grow.
 

5.     What is a food you hate?

 
Olives. I’ve never liked them and I never will.
 

6.     Who’s your favorite musician?

 
My favorite music is from Ariel Camacho. He was a regional Mexican singer who died in a car accident in 2015 in Sinaloa, Mexico. He walked me out for my fight against Oquendo and then the band walked me out for my fight against Santa Cruz after Ariel had passed. The band is called Los Plebes de Rancho and “El Karma” is a must-have CD.
 

7.     What is your ideal birthday present?

 
The one thing my friends always get me that I love is cologne. I have cologne from all different brands from all over the world. I like smelling good.
 

8.     What is your favorite snack?

 
Definitely a Snickers bar. They’re another guilty pleasure, but not during training camp.
 

9.     If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be?

 
I would say Pablo Escobar. He’s a guy I couldn’t pass up meeting.
 

10.   If you weren’t a boxer, what would you be doing?

 
I would want to be an architect. I love the art, structure and function of buildings – homes and offices. From the design, to the way it’s used, it’s something I’m very interested in.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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ONE-YEAR IN: ABNER MARES & ROBERT GARCIA ON THE ROAD TO DECEMBER 10 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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(Photo Credit: Eder Mercado)
 
Athlete and Coach Discuss Highly Anticipated Featherweight Match-Up vs. Jesus Cuellar from Galen Center at USC 
in Los Angeles
 
Click HERE for Photos from Premier Boxing Champions
 
LOS ANGELES (December 5, 2016) -December 10 marks a pivotal year for Abner Mares, the highly respected former three-division world champion. It marks over one year since fans saw him enter the ring on television and one year since the newly formed partnership of Mares and revered trainer Robert Garcia. It is a transformed Mares that will enter the ring on Saturday, December 10 when he takes on current WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar in a Premier Boxing Champions live event on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles.
Tickets are on sale now at www.galentix.com . The live event is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions and presented in association with Premier Boxing Champions.
This fight is a road marker in a long and successful career for Mares as well as Garcia, who has trained numerous world champions at his two Robert Garcia Boxing Academy gyms in Oxnard, Calif., and Riverside, Calif. With Mares named one of the top five fighters in California by the Los Angeles Times, both are looking to earn and take home another coveted world championship in the featherweight division.
Q&A with Abner Mares:
You haven’t fought in over a year, but you’ve been in the gym consistently during that time. What has this last year been like for you?
“It’s been really tough not being able to fight this whole year. We’ve been training and staying active the whole year even after my two fights got cancelled. I did full training camps for each fight. Things happen for a reason. I’m with a new coach in Robert Garcia and this year has only helped us get even more ready for this fight and helped us get to know each other as trainer and fighter. Yes, it has been frustrating, but you have to look at the bright side.”
You’ve won three world titles in your career and now you’re fighting for a fourth with Jesus Cuellar. How driven are you to keep winning titles at this point in your career?
“I’m still hungry for more. Once you lose that hunger, you don’t accomplish anything. I’ve been hungry for quite some time now — hungry to prove to people and myself that there’s a lot left in Abner Mares.”
After a year with Robert Garcia, what differences in your approach and style might fans notice in the ring on Dec. 10?
“The word I’m using for this camp to sum up what I’ve done with Robert is ‘wise.’ I’m being wiser in there; he’s having me think more in there. That’s pretty much what I’ve learned with Robert. The patience he’s had, that’s what I’ve respected with him. We’ve been together a year and haven’t fought, and any other coach might start to get desperate. But he’s been patient.”
How do you see yourself fitting in right now in the big picture of a currently loaded featherweight division?
“I try not to get ahead of myself, obviously. Just the simple fact that there are big names in this division gets me excited. Just knowing that my name is still there as one of the respected featherweights says a lot, too, and makes me happy. But it’s one thing for other people to say it, and it’s another thing to prove it. That’s what I’m going to do December 10 — prove that I’m still elite and can make a big bang.”
Q&A with Robert Garcia
 
What has this last year been like for you working with Abner? It’s rare to see a trainer and fighter pair together more than a year before getting a chance to step into the ring for a fight.
 
“I’m a strong believer in things happening for a reason. With the fight date continuing to get pushed back that means this is pretty much our fourth training camp together, but I think it’s actually benefitted us. It gave us more time to get to know each other. It’s always better to know your trainer, know how he works. That way, you’re comfortable, and I think that’s a big benefit. Fighting a big, championship fight against a solid champion, it’s given us more time to learn from each other and better prepare ourselves for this fight.”
What’s stood out to you the most about now working with Abner after seeing him from a distance over the years?
“I remember Abner from the Olympics in 2000 and from the first part of his professional career, fighting locally. Following his style, it was a style that I admired. I liked his in-and-outs, he showed he was very skillful. When he became champion and started fighting big names, he became a crowd-pleaser, which fans love, when a fighter comes and gives the crowd what they want to see. But I think Abner still has those skills to still be a crowd-pleaser, but also be able to show that style he showed early in his career. He’s always been a smart fighter with good speed, good power and his footwork is also very good.”
What makes this fight – Cuellar vs. Mares – a special fight?
 
“It’s a special fight because it’s not an easy fight. We’re fighting probably the strongest of the division. He’s very strong physically and he’s a world champion. That makes the fight, for us, a little more interesting. We’re not fighting for any vacant title – we’re fighting a solid champion. I know him because I’ve trained him. It’s challenging for myself, knowing I made him a world champion and now I have a chance to take the title from him. It’s already a challenge, and now he’s training with Freddie Roach, so that makes it even more challenging.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing,@JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares Media Conference Call  Transcript & MP3

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Richard Schaefer
Thank you very much, and thank you to all the media for being on today’s call. It was an interesting weekend, but boxing goes on and boxing goes on in a big way here on Saturday, December 10 as a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader with two toe-to-toe fights that will electrify the sport, and I’m really excited to be able to host and promote this card here from Galen Center in Los Angeles.
The fight we are discussing today is for sure going to be one of those potential Fight of the Year candidates, and I know these days those words are being used quite a bit, but I really feel these fighters are right for each other. This is a fight in one of the most stacked divisions in boxing. Before I introduce the two fighters, just some other things, the card will take place from the Galen Center at the USC Campus in Los Angeles.
The Galen Center is a first-class arena. It’s actually the newest indoor arena in and around Los Angeles. Televised coverage will begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT for those people who can’t make it to the Galen Center. The co-main event is really a main event in its own. It’s one of the most anticipated and asked for fights in another great weight class, the junior middleweight division where you have arguably two of the best, if not the two best fighters in that division against each other:  Jermall Charlo defending his title against top-rated challenger Julian Williams.
This is a fight Julian Williams has been waiting for, for a long time, and it’s a battle of unbeaten up and coming stars in their prime. There’s going to be a terrific, non-televised card as part of this event, as well. So, those people that are going to be able to make it out to the Galen Center, they’re going to really be in for a treat. I’m going to tell you about some of those fights, which my co-promotor, Tom Brown from TGB, has put together and I want to thank Tom for a job very well done. These are greatly matched fights, and I’m excited and looking forward to seeing them.
Included on the undercard is junior welterweight title eliminator featuring unbeaten Sergey Lipinets, with a record of 10-0, with 8 KOs, taking on Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna with a record of 35-2 with 25 KOs. Great match ups. They will also see a pair of undefeated prospects who are looking to cement their status as championship contenders. In the super welterweight division Erickson Lubin, who is 16-0, with 11 KOs of Orlando, Fla., and junior lightweight Mario Barrios, with a record of 16-0, with 8 KOs out of San Antonio.
The card will also include an array of local talent from Los Angeles or the greater Los Angeles area, including Oxnard’s Hugo Centeno, Jr. with a record of 24-1 with 12 KOs, former title challenger Josesito Lopez with a 33-7 record, with 19 KOs and personally one of my favorites. He’s always there to give a fight, just an amazing warrior and I’m happy to see Josesito Lopez on this card. Then we also are going to see Abner Mares’ younger brother, Adan Mares, who has a record of 14-3. I’m looking forward to having him there as well. It really is a can’t-miss night, and for those people here in Southern California, please come and see this card. It’s going to be great fighters, great matchups.
The doors are open at 3:30 pm, and the fights begins shortly thereafter. Tickets for the live event are on sale now, and they start at $35, yeah 35, what a steal. Students get a special $10 off. There’s a $25 student ticket available as well, and they’re available at www.galentix.com.
Now, the man who made is all happen and is not only a very close friend of mine but really a man with a passion for the sport of boxing, the Executive VP and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports, Stephen Espinoza.
Stephen Espinoza
This fight is one of the fights I’ve been most excited about on this year’s schedule. As many of you remember, this was a fight that was originally set for June and had to be rescheduled. It was such a strong fight that we didn’t want to lose that, and I know that required some sacrifice from both fighters, and we’re deeply appreciative for that. That they’re willing to wait shows what kind of guys both these guys are, as they’re looking for a challenge and neither one wanted to walk away from what, as Richard mentioned, could be one of the best fights of the year.
This is the fifth featherweight fight that SHOWTIME will be televising this year. It is one of the most talent, deep divisions, and we’re thrilled to have such a wealth of talent and thrilled to be focusing on it this year. It is a 50-50 fight between two fighters that are, in the consensus top six of the division supported by an incredibly strong undercard, and we are very happy and very proud to be ending the year on such a strong note. We look forward to December 10, and I’ll turn it over back to Richard.
R. Schaefer
Right, thank you very much Stephen. Now, it is a privilege for me to introduce to you Abner Mares. Abner Mares, as you all know is certainly one of the greatest fighters at this time to come out of Mexico. He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was a 2004 Mexican Olympian and that is how long I’ve known him and how long I’ve been involved with his fights. He lives now and fights out of Downey, California and trains with one of the best trainers in his corner, Robert Garcia. If you look at his resume, it is as impressive as it comes. He is a former world champion at 118, 122 and 126 pounds, has really fought everybody and from Ponce de Leon, from Oquendo, from Moreno, from Darchinyan and the list goes on and on.
He will be fighting in California for the 10th time in his career, including his last bout which was a terrific Fight of the Year candidate against Leo Santa Cruz. Abner Mares is the kind of fighter, who in all the fights, has never been in a boring fight because he knows how to entertain. He wants to give it his best, and he has the will to win. Here he goes, at this point in his career, for yet another world title and it is a pleasure now to turn it over to Abner who can talk a little bit about training camp, what this fight means to him and maybe give us some Thanksgiving thoughts as well. Abner.
Abner Mares
Definitely, Richard. How you doing? I want to start out by thanking God. All you guys for making this possible, Richard, Stephen Espinoza and obviously, the great boxing fans out there who are always supporting and even the ones who are not there to support, they just give you a bad time, but you know at the end of the day, they support the sport in a way.
So, I’m really honored and privileged to be fighting December 10 in my hometown in LA. It’s going to be a great fight against a great fighter, Jesus Cuellar, a puncher, a guy who has a lot of strength, a guy that has lots to prove. Like Richard has mentioned, I’m just really looking forward to this fight. As you guys know, I’ve never been in a boring fight. I always entertain. I find a way to give you guys explosive fights and this will be just that. It will be an exciting fight, like Richard mentioned, this is perfect for an entertaining fight and I’m going to give you just that.
An early Christmas present to everyone, hopefully a late birthday present for me, since it’s going to be a week after my birthday. It’s going to be great. You can’t miss it, like Richard mentioned; in this stage of my career, I think this is my second wind. I’m looking forward to showing you guys a different Abner and what you guys don’t know already. This is going to be a year since I started training with well-known coach Robert Garcia, a whole year we had to train and get to know each other, so you will see the difference. So with that said, I think this is a fight you can’t miss on SHOWTIME. You can’t miss live at the USC Galen Center.
This is a Fight of the Year to close the end of the year and I’m looking forward to that — not so much looking forward to Thanksgiving like Richard said because we will still be on a diet, we won’t be able to eat as much, but obviously spending time with the family being thankful for everything that God has given us. It’s been a blessing. Thank you all for tuning in and thank you all again. I can’t wait for December 10th to make history once again and become a four-time world champion.
Q
Abner, you mentioned the year with Robert Garcia. How has it transformed you? How has it changed you from who you were?
A. Mares
I know once you get a new coach they tend to get a fight right away, and they tend to fight the next six to eight weeks, and you don’t see much of a difference. Why? Because you only have that small period of time to train and get to know each other, and I just mentioned a whole year with Robert and not only a whole year with Robert, a whole year of getting ready for this fight against a southpaw and you guys know what type of coach Robert is. Not only does he bring  education to your boxing skills but also that motivation, it’s always good to have that motivation knowing that you have one of the best in your corner. So, you will see a different Abner and I think the best way to answer your question is you will just see a more mature fighter in me.
Q
A lot of people who are looking at this fight are saying that dealing with Cuellar’s strength and power is going to be the most difficult thing for you. How do you get through that and what are your own thoughts?
A. Mares
Once you get hit hard or anything that you can’t think of happens in the ring, I don’t think it’s based on your experiences, it’s more based on your willingness, your heart and the desire to continue. I think that comes from deep inside, and I think I have that. I think I’ve showed it in many fights. I’ve had difficult times in different fights, so I think it just comes from inside. You can’t teach that, but again, yes, experience has helped a lot to get you out of certain things but, again, I think this is going to be one of the smartest fights we’re going to be able to fight.
Q
How disappointed were you and how surprised were you that you would were not allowed to fight that particular bout in Brooklyn because of the location of the match?
A. Mares
Well, it was difficult. It’s not the first time something like this has happened to me — not in the sense of me being injured or anything but a fight being cancelled. I’ve had fights being cancelled or postponed, years back so it’s nothing different. But I am a human being, I have feelings, obviously, and I just felt sad at the moment because I love to fight.
Yes, I was disappointed, not so much in myself, just the situation, but, again, I have to take people back. I’ve got them pretty much fighting this whole year. I was supposed to fight in March, that got postponed because of an injury and then it got postponed for June and then that June fight got postponed so here we are December 10th, and again it’s just a way of seeing that mental strength and that circle you have around you. You know my family kept me strong and those long talks with my advisor kept me going and again here we are and still healthy and we will continue to give you guys good fights.
Q
Abner, could you at all just explain the situation with the eye. For whatever reason, they have different rules in New York, but can you explain what that situation is with that eye and which eye is it?
A. Mares
It’s like you said, different rules for different states. We know they’re stricter on that side. I think that tells you they’re stricter and then, obviously, the issues they’re having at the moment and it’s nothing bad. It’s something that happened in 2008. I have been fighting since. I’ve been cleared in every state I’ve fought in, other than New York. I fight in California, I fight in Texas, I fight in Vegas. I fight in Philly, too. I think there was a red flag for them because, obviously, I had surgery done again in 2008 and they just didn’t want to take the risk, but again I think, like Richard, myself and my doctor said, we’re good to go. We have been. I have the same risk. I don’t have it higher or less than any fighter out there. My surgery is done. I’m good and like any other fighter I have the same risk of getting one open in the ring, so there’s no risk higher of me getting one.
Q
Abner, which eye was it you had the surgery on back in ’08?
A. Mares
It was in my left eye.
Q
Abner, do you have any concern whatsoever about rust?
A. Mares
Not at all, you have to see it and look at it on the positive side. Obviously, I haven’t been in the spotlight, no cameras around me, no lights, but I’ve been active. Since March, I’ve been getting ready for the fight. Every single fight has been postponed the week of the fight, so I’ve practically done training camps for two fights. So, that does not worry me, but if it happens you will feel it in the ring, and it’s just a matter of adjusting to it. It wears off within one or two rounds and just getting the rhythm of the fight going. I think we’re safe and we’ll be good.
Q
Richard, when you started to go and work on this fight did you have any issues with Abner’s medical situation or were you were sort of like surprised it was postponed and then, when he went through the testing you were very satisfied that everything was okay? What was your take on the postponement because of New York?
R. Schaefer
I think, first of all, New York has other issues related to boxing to well. With the insurance requirement they had a very difficult year, New York, as it situates to what happened with all the ins and outs of the commission and I think anybody in boxing or anybody would agree it’s a bit of a mess out there. Then you look at California. I think California is one of the best run if, frankly, not the best-run commissions and so of course when the fight was postponed or cancelled or whatever in New York, I not only talked to Abner and his wife. They were both in my office and I talked to them, but I asked Abner for permission to actually talk directly with his attorney and with his doctor, who is one of the most recognized surgeons and specialists as it relates to eyes and eye injuries in the world.
When I talked to the doctor I asked him straight out, is Abner okay? He said yes. I asked him is Abner at a higher risk than any fighter who enters the ring and he said absolutely not and that gave me the confidence to go forward and promote this fight. I had the same conversations with the California Commission and their medical board was satisfied with their requirements to make sure Abner was okay because of course if it’s the commission or anyone involved in this fight, first and foremost is fighter safety and Al Haymon, Abner’s advisor, asked me numerous times, I mean numerous times, and he said look if we’re going to do this fight, make sure Abner is okay and make sure he is absolutely okay, and I feel confident that I did that and so we’re ready to go.
R. Schaefer
Okay, great. We’re going to have Jesus make some comment and then opening up for both fighters to answer any questions.
It’s a pleasure for me to introduce to you the current WBA Featherweight World Champion with a record of 28-1 with 21 knockouts. He’s one of those other tough, hard hitting, fighters coming out of Argentina, in this case Buenos Aries and he’s in his first fight under legendary coach Freddie Roach, so you’re going to have an interesting matchup there also with Robert Garcia’s trained fighter, Abner Mares, against a Freddie Roach trained fighter Jesus Cuellar and you know those two guys, Roach and Garcia are very competitive, and so I think that adds some extra spice to the matchup. Cuellar won his world title in 2013 and has gone to defend it five times since then, including victories over Rico Ramos, Vic Darchinyan and Juan Manuel Lopez. It is a pleasure now to introduce Jesus Cuellar.
Jesus Cuellar
I feel very good. We’ve had a great training camp with Freddie and my entire team. I have been concentrating on this matchup and looking forward to the fight with Abner.
R. Schaefer
Okay, very good so let’s open it back up to questions now from the media. Any more questions for Abner or Jesus Cuellar please.
Q
What did that fight against Santa Cruz tell you about what you have left to offer in boxing?
A. Mares
I think that part itself tells you what I have left. I gave it my all. I think it was a close fight and it lets you know I have a lot left. I gave a hell of a fight and it’s just different styles. It didn’t really tell me anything other than that I’m ready for anything. It was a great fight against a great fighter and that’s it.
Q
Abner, without giving away any strategy or anything, what do think are some of the biggest improvements you’ve made working with Robert Garcia?
A. Mares
Wow. So, many but I think that number one is definitely on my basic punches, the one, two, hook, three-punch combination. I think we perfected those plus sitting down more, turning more on my punches. It’s crazy how you might think you’re throwing your punches good, and you’re not this whole time. So, I think I’ve learned how to turn more on my punches, how to sit better on my punches and I think my power is coming out really good. My sparring partner has helped me and I think you will see improvement in my power and my defense.
Q
I know he probably doesn’t speak to you about this much, but can you tell me what it would mean for you, because as Richard mentioned before, there’s an obvious rivalry between Robert and Freddie. What would it mean for you to win one for him?
A. Mares
Yes, like you said we don’t talk about that. It has nothing to do with Freddie Roach. I think it’s a fight between a fighter and myself and just winning the fight for us as a team will mean the world to us. We have no desire on throwing this in anyone’s face. It’s just a win, and there’s no rivalry.
Q
Abner, when you think back about your journey and the opportunities you’ve had in boxing, what are you most grateful for? What are some of the things you’re most grateful for this month, in advance of Thanksgiving?
A. Mares
First, all of the great people I have around me. My circle, my friends, the opportunities I’ve had, and just the opportunity to be fighting for another world title before the end of the year is something I’m really grateful and then I thank, obviously, the great team, SHOWTIME, my advisor and then everyone for this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to making myself and my family proud for everything overall. Like you said, I came from nothing to something and there is something I’m trying to do in this sport and that’s to just try and be an example for my kids and for the young kids growing up that anything is possible.
Q
Jesus, how long have you been with Freddie Roach so far in camp and how has that made a difference in your style and your confidence going into this fight?
J. Cuellar
I’ve definitely learned a lot. I feel extremely improved. We have a lot of confidence heading into this fight. I want to thank God for the all the blessings I’ve had. It’s been nice to go back to Argentina, but this was a great opportunity to come up with Freddie and get ready for December 10th.
Q
Do you think that your power and your size advantage make you different from southpaws Abner has faced in any way? What do feel separates you from those southpaws and or anyone else that Abner has faced?
J. Cuellar
I know that I have the size advantage and I’m the bigger fighter but I certainly cannot rely on that. I realize this is going to be a difficult matchup, and I have to bring my best because Abner is a heck of a talent.
Q
What are you thankful for in advance of Thanksgiving?
J. Cuellar
I’m relaxed, I’m calm and I’m thankful that I’m going to spend the time with my family and friends.
Q
This past Saturday we saw a very controversial decision with Ward and Kovalev. Abner, I’ll begin with you, when you see a very controversial decision like that, as a boxer, does it bother you the fact that we’re still seeing controversy when it comes to the judges and does that motivate you at all to try to go for the knockout, not to leave it in the judges hands?
A. Mares
I’m sorry, I’m not going to lie. I did not watch the fight. I wasn’t able to see the fight, because I had a turkey drive the following day on Sunday, so I was getting ready for that, but obviously I saw the tweets, I saw everything. I heard about it, and I heard it was a really controversial decision, but I think there’s no judges like the people. I think those are the ones that you have to prove something to, not so much the actual judges in the ring.
Though, I think it’s divided. I think 50 percent think Kovalec won and another 50 percent think Ward won. Coming from the ground and getting back up and just winning the fight speaks a lot for him. So, again I did not watch the fight. I can’t go into detail, and for myself you just take that and put it on my fight. I don’t have to do anything to impress the judges. I think just my boxing itself. I think we have professionals up there, and they’re going to do their jobs, so I don’t even have to think about that or put that in my head that I have to do something different just to impress the judges. No, I’m going to go in there and just do my job.
Q
You mentioned before, after your last fight was cancelled, that you spoke with Al Haymon and he gave you some advice and counsel to lift your spirits. What advice did he give you after your last fight was cancelled?
A. Mares
Just having him as a friend, as an advisor, just being positive, him saying Abner ‘we’re in this together.’ Just hearing those words, ‘we’re in this together, we’re going to get through it, we’re going to get you a fight soon. Do not worry.’ That did it all. I was, obviously, I was still worried but it calmed me down. It calmed me down and like I said here we are a couple of weeks away and, again, I’m really thankful for my team.
Q
Jesus, everyone who saw you at the news conference was talking about how big you were. Is weight going to be a problem for this fight and traditionally have you ever had any weight difficulties?
J. Cuellar
No, I’ve never had any issues when it comes to weight and I’m very thankful again for the training camp we’ve had and continue to have and I’m ready for the fight.
Q
How much do you weigh right now?
J. Cuellar
130.
Q
Jesus, why did you want to fight Abner specifically?
J. Cuellar
Well, Abner is a fantastic fighter and you have to beat the best in the world to be the best. Now we just have to get ready for December 10th in Los Angeles.
R. Schaefer
Okay, great. I want to thank all of the media members again. I know that many of you from the East Coast are planning on being here for this fight. I just want to say, I know you guys are going to be treated to a very special night. I am going to host a spectacular media dinner on Friday night as well. This is my first fight back, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better doubleheader with Cuellar and Abner Mares and Charlo and Williams and all the other fights I mentioned before. So, I’m really excited about the fights, but I’m really excited to see you guys from the East Coast as well and appreciate the relationship that we have and look forward to working with you. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and all of your families. Thank you very much.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com
,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing,@JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.
PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Undefeated Contender Sergey Lipinets Battles Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna in Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator as Part of Undercard Action Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles

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Plus! Undefeated Rising Prospects 
Erickson Lubin & Mario Barrio in Action 
While Local Talent including Hugo Centeno Jr.,
Josesito Lopez and Adan Mares Enter the Ring
 
LOS ANGELES (November 21, 2016) – An exciting night of undercard action comes to Los Angeles on Saturday, December 10 and is highlighted by hard-hitting unbeaten contender Sergey Lipinets (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 12-round junior welterweight world title eliminator against Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna (35-2, 25 KOs) from Galen Center at USC.
The December 10 event is headlined by a featherweight world championship showdown between WBA titleholder Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares. The live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXINGâ telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo taking on undefeated top contender Julian Williams in a matchup of undefeated rising stars in their prime.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go to www.galentix.com.
Also featured as part of the jam-packed night of fights are undefeated rising contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (16-0, 11 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout and Mario Barrios (16-0, 8 KOs) battling Argentina’s Claudio Rosendo Tapia (24-18-4, 9 KOs) in junior lightweight action.
An array of talented fighters from the Los-Angeles area round out the evening as Oxnard’s Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (24-1, 12 KOs) competes in a middleweight attraction, former title challenger Josesito Lopez (33-7, 19 KOs) of Riverside in a six-round welterweight fight and Abner Mares’ younger brother, Adan Mares (14-1-3, 3 KOs) enters the ring in a lightweight bout.
An accomplished amateur who was born in Kazakhstan but fights out of Russia,Lipinets turned pro in April of 2014 with a decision victory over Franklin Varela. The 27-year-old recorded six knockouts in a row before stepping up in competition and impressing with a victory over Haskell Lydell Rhodes in March 2015 and a knockout of Levan Ghvamichava in March. He kept the momentum going in July when he stopped established contender Walter Castillo in the seventh round. He will challenge the 29-year-old Zappavigna out of New South Wales, Australia. He enters this fight the winner of his last 10 contests, including his most recent triumph, a sixth-round stoppage of Ik Yang in July.
A highly regarded prospect with an exciting style, the 21-year-old Lubin burst onto the scene looking to finish opponents early as he cements his status as an elite contender. Fighting out of Orlando, he has already taken down experienced veterans including Orlando Lora, Ayi Bruce, Michael Finney and Norberto Gonzalez. He was sensational in November 2015 when he knocked out Alexis Camacho and in January he headlined his first card and dominated Jose De Jesus Macias in his first 10-round bout. He has kept the hot streak going in June by stopping veteran Daniel Sandoval in the third round and dominating veteran Ivan Montero in July.
A tall junior lightweight at more than six feet, the 21-year-old Barrios picked up seven victories in a jam-packed 2015 in which he stopped five opponents inside the distance, including an uppercut left hook combo that ended the night for Manuel Vides last December. The San Antonio-native turned pro in 2013 and is on the fast track towards a world title shot as he most recently defeated Devis Boschiero in a title eliminator in July. Now he looks to stay unbeaten in a matchup against Tapia out of Mendoza, Argentina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports andwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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SERGEY LIPINETS PUTS POWER ON DISPLAY WITH SEVENTH ROUND TKO OF WALTER CASTILLO IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON ESPN & ESPN DEPORTES MAIN EVENT FROM TUNICA, MISS.

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Tugstsogt Nyambayar Opens Telecast With First Round KO Of Rafael Vazquez
 
Bantamweights David Perez & Adan Ortiz Give It Their All In Televised Swing Bout
 
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Photo Credit: Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions
**Photos Forthcoming!
Tunica, Miss. (July 15) – It was a good night for Russian super lightweight Sergey Lipinets (10-0, 7 KOs) who fought through a deep cut over his eye to score a rousing TKO over Nicaraguan brawler Walter Castillo (26-4-1, 19 KOs) in a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN & ESPN Deportes main event that further solidified Lipinets as a force to be reckoned with in the 140-pound weight class. The night of fights, which emanated from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Miss., marked the third PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes telecast in the month of July.
Lipinets made his power known early in the fight, but that did not deter Castillo from doing his best to feel out the Kazakhstan-born slugger. The action picked up in the third round as a swinging left thrown by Lipinets caused blood to pour from Castillo’s mouth. Castillo began the fourth round with an offensive attack, forcing Lipinets to back up toward the ropes. Castillo continued to throw several punches, including one that caused a deep gash above Lipinets’ left eye. Castillo did not relent as he aimed for the cut, the first of Lipinets’ career. Despite the steady flow of blood dripping down Lipinets’ face, it did not seem to bother him.
Castillo’s punch output slowed down considerably as the fight wore on and Lipinets became more and more comfortable, despite the large cut above his eye. PBC on ESPN announcers Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore credited Lipinets’ corner, led by renowned trainer Buddy McGirt, for keeping the deep cut under control. Less than one minute into the seventh round, Lipinets showed a burst of power, attacking Castillo, pressing him against the ropes, forcing Bill Clancy to wave off the fight at 2:45. At the time of the stoppage two of the judges had scored the fight even, with the third favoring Lipinets by one point.
“We knew Walter Castillo was very tough guy coming in,” said Lipinets. “No one ever stopped him. No one ever even hurt him in the ring before and he was in with some solid guys. I knew he could take a punch and punch back. To be honest though, I was surprised by how good of a fighter he was.
Of his first cut as a professional, Lipinets said, “The cut bugged me for a while and I was closing my eye a bit, but I’m a warrior and I know how to take care of myself when I’m trouble.
“I have only ten fights and I just beat a guy that good. I think I did ok. This fight just took me to a completely different level in boxing. I guarantee that other guys with 20/25 fights won’t be able to stay in the ring with me.
“You can say I’m a slow starter,” continued Lipinets. “But if I see an opening I will take it early. I pace myself and study my opponent and then if the guy is still standing in the last half of the fight, he better run.”
Castillo was unhappy with the stoppage saying, “They stopped it too early. I was still fighting. I was fine. I was not hurt. I don’t know why they stopped it. I was waiting him out and about to open up. I am a veteran. If I was hurt, I would have taken a knee. How do you stop a fight without a knockdown?
“I had him fighting scared with the cut,” said Castillo. “He was fighting desperate and that was his last try.
“I’m very upset. I was able to fight. It was a good fight and that ruined it. I don’t mind losing but not like that. Let me go down swinging.”
The telecast started out with a bang as 2012 Olympic silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar (9-2, 6 KOs) of Waambartar, Mongolia sent Brooklyn’s Rafael Vazquez(16-3,13 KOs) to the canvas 30 seconds into the scheduled 10-round featherweight bout with a straight right hand. Vazquez rose to his feet with ease and threw some forceful shots of his own, but went down again 30 seconds later as Nyambayar threw another powerful right.
The Mongolian warrior, who fights out of Carson, Calif., was able to finish the fight at 1:24of the first round as he threw a left to the body followed by a right hand that saw Vazquez hitting the canvas for a third and final time.
“I didn’t know I was going to be able to put that kind of a performance on [against Rafael],” said Nyambayar. “I have 100 percent of my energy left. I don’t know exactly how much power I actually have.
“I had a great camp and I was ready for whatever came my way,” continued Nyambayar. “I’m very happy with the result, but I expected to win. I came in very confident. I thought it would go three or four rounds, but the opportunity to end it earlier appeared and I took it. Whoever comes my way, I’m ready. I’m on the road to be world champion and no one can stop me.”
“I just got caught and I couldn’t recover,” said Vazquez. “He’s a very strong puncher and he caught me still warming up. It happens in boxing. One of those things.”
“Vazquez said to me, you’ve got a future world champion on your hands,” said Nyambayar’s renowned trainer Joe Goossen. “A guy that is going to know that best is the guy getting hit. With [Nyambayar’s] reaction time and his speed, Vazquez saw and felt all of that and he came to the conclusion that Tug is going to be a world champion.”
The televised bantamweight swing bout went the full six rounds as Houston-based David Perez (7-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Adan Ortiz (9-2, 8 KOs) of Guerrero, Mexico, who took the fight on five day’s notice. Perez started the fight strong, knocking down Ortiz toward the end of the first round, but the Mexican native rose from the canvas and was saved by the bell as Perez threw a barrage of punches to Ortiz’s head and body. Ortiz started the second round strong and maintained a tremendous amount of heart for the remainder of the bout. Both continuously threw flurries of punches, exchanging left hooks throughout. The judges saw it in favor of Perez with scorecards reading 60-53, 59-54 and 58-55.
# # #
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @UnionSamurai, @WarriorsBoxProm, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions
and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo.  Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Undefeated Heavyweight Justin Jones Battles Terrance Marbra & Unbeaten Prospect David Perez Takes On Adan Ortiz in Undercard Attractions Friday, July 15 from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi

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Plus! Unbeaten Prospect Joey Bryant Featured On Exciting Night of Fights
 
PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Doubleheader Begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
TUNICA, MS (July 13, 2016) – Undefeated brawler Justin Jones (18-0-1, 11 KOs) faces Terrance Marbra (8-3, 6 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight bout while unbeaten bantamweight prospect David Perez (6-0, 3 KOs) battles Adan Ortiz (9-1, 8 KOs) in featured undercard bouts Friday, July 15 from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
The July 15 event is headlined by a battle between explosive super lightweight contenders as Sergey Lipinets meets Walter Castillo in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar facing veteran featherweight contenderRafael “Dynamite” Vazquez.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Prize Fight, the City of Tunica the Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, are priced at $60 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com orby calling Warriors Boxing at (954) 985-1155 or by visiting www.warriorsboxing.com.
Additional undercard action sees unbeaten 21-year-old Joey Bryant (15-0, 11 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout, undefeated local prospect Bobby Taylor (2-0, 1 KO) against Arkansas’ Tyrone Paige (0-1) in a four-round bout, Charlotte-prospect Fernando Arrellano (2-0, 2 KOs) takes on Tunica’s Raleigh Jeffries in a four-round super welterweight affair and Memphis-native Julius Dyis (4-1, 2 KOs) squares-off against Oscar Valdez (1-0, 1 KO) in super welterweight action.
Rounding out the night of fights is unbeaten prospect Austin Dulay facing Terrance Roy in a four-round lightweight bout and welterweight Dedrick Bell in a six-round bout against Knoxville’s Aaron Anderson.
Fighting out of Houston, the experienced Jones will return to the ring after delivering a fourth-round stoppage of Dwight Gipson in January. Jones looks for his third straight stoppage on Friday when he faces Marbra. The St. Petersburg, Florida-native is coming off a decision over once-beaten Ernest Mazyck in September of last year.
At just 20-years-old, Perez is racking up experience after turning pro in April of 2015 with a first round stoppage over Deseante Armstrong. The Houston-native owns two other first round knockouts and most recently won a decision over Isau Duenez. He takes on the 24-year-old Sterling, Illinois-native who most recently stopped Terrance Roy in April.
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @UnionSamurai, @WarriorsBoxProm, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions
and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo.  Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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Sergey Lipinets Training Camp Quotes & Photos

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Undefeated Contender Takes On Hard-Hitting Walter Castillo in PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Main Event Friday, July 15 From Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi
 
Click HERE for Photos from Team Lipinets/Premier Boxing Champions
 
TUNICA, MS (July 12, 2016) – Undefeated super lightweight Sergey Lipinets is days away from meeting Nicaragua’s Walter Castillo in the explosive main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and ESPN Deportes Friday, July 15 from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
 
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar facing veteran featherweight contender Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Prize Fight, the City of Tunica the Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, are priced at $60 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling Warriors Boxing at (954) 985-1155 or by visiting www.warriorsboxing.com.
Lipinets hopes a decisive victory over Castillo will put him squarely in the mix of 140-pounds contenders and he has enlisted the help of Buddy McGirt as his new trainer heading into this fight. Here is what Lipinets had to say about his matchup, training camp and more:
 
On fighting in the main event on ESPN:
“I’m very thankful to be fighting on a great network like ESPN.  I’m hoping to score a spectacular knockout and have it be shown on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays…that would be great.  One thing the fans watching can count on, is me throwing a lot of hard punches.  I want to have an electrifying performance.”
 
On his current training camp:
“I’ve been working really hard to improve on every aspect of my game.  I’m seeing improvement in a lot of areas, especially fighting on the inside.  I want to be a well-rounded fighter who can make adjustments in a fight and it all starts in the gym.  I’m happy with my sparring sessions.  I’m feeling really confident going into this fight.”
On facing tough opponent Walter Castillo:
“Castillo is a veteran with many more fights than me.  I know experience will be on his side, but I have many fights in kickboxing that will make up for my lack of fights in the boxing arena.  I’m not sure how he deals with southpaws, but I’m going to be setting the pace from the opening round. I’m expecting him to be in great shape so I believe it’s going to be a good competitive fight, but one I feel I can win.”
On how he feels his career is progressing…
“I never dreamed everything would come so fast.  In only my eighth fight, I’ll be fighting on national television for the second time, and it’s very beneficial to my career.  I’m making a name for myself and everyone is starting to take notice.  My career is taking off.”
On his relationship with veteran trainer Buddy McGirt…
“Buddy and I are working great together.  He brings a lot of experience and knowledge to the ring. He comes up with fantastic game plans as he’s able to see flaws in my opponents.  Being that he’s a former fighter, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.  We both know what it’s like to be in the ring and that’s very important to me. I’m happy with his instructions.”
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @UnionSamurai, @WarriorsBoxProm, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions
and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo.  Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.