ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD FIGHTS
FOR ANDRE WARD VS. SULLIVAN BARRERA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN ON Σάββατο, ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 26
AT ORACLE ARENA IN OAKLAND, ΚΑΛΙΦΟΡΝΙΑ
WARD VS. BARRERA AND JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ TELEVISED
LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® ΑΡΧΗ ΣΤΟ 9:45 μ.μ. ΚΑΙ/PT
SWAY CALLOWAY & DJ FRANZEN TO PROVIDE
IN-ARENA ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN BOUTS
ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ, Νέα Υόρκη (Μάρτιος 14, 2016) – A slate of six non-televised undercard bouts will serve as support when Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) faces undefeated and number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) in a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator at Oracle Arena in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, California on March 26. Opening the HBO® telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight NABF Featherweight title fight.
In addition to the exciting televised lineup, some of boxing’s hottest rising stars will be featured on the non-televised undercard including Roc Nation Sports standouts Maurice Hooker, Ντάνιελ Φράνκο, Rudy Puga Jr. και Τζούνιορ Younan μαζί με 2008 Olympic Super Heavyweight Silver Medalist Zhang Zhilei and local favorite Aaron Coley who will all see action on March 26.
Roc Nation Sports will bring names from the entertainment world to the event as well, including notable event emcee, SiriusXM/Shade 45 morning show host of Sway in the Morning, Executive Producer and talent for VH1 & MTV and Oakland-native Sway Calloway, ο οποίος θα χρησιμεύσει ως οικοδεσπότης της εκδήλωσης, και χτύπησε πλοιάρχου DJ Franzen, resident DJ στο Λας Βέγκας »Hot 97.5 and Drais Nightclub. Sway and Franzen will entertain together throughout the night to keep fans entertained between bouts at Oracle Arena.
Τα εισιτήρια κοστίζουν $300, $150, $100, $50 και $25, δεν περιλαμβάνονται τα ισχύοντα τέλη παροχής υπηρεσιών και οι φόροι είναι διαθέσιμα σε όλες τις θέσεις Ticketmaster, στην ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) και χρέωση στο τηλέφωνο (800) 745-3000.
Επί Μάρτιος 26, NABO Junior Welterweight Champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (19-0-2, 14 KOs) risks his unbeaten record against Wilfrido “La Roca” Buelvas (17-5, 11 KOs) του Barranquilla, Colombia in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. Πόρνη, rated number seven by the WBO, is coming off of a career-best win on October 17, 2015 against his toughest opponent to date in Ghislain Maduma (17-2, 11 KOs) στο Madison Square Garden. Hooker successfully defended his NABO title with the 10-round decision win over Maduma on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux in a fight that was featured on the event’s “freeview” in the United States and streamed online around the world. Buelvas, a former WBA Fedebol champion, has won two of his last three bouts by knockout and fought Humberto Soto for the WBC Silver International Super Lightweight title in 2014, going the 12-round distance before losing a decision to the former World Champion.
Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Τέξας, a rough suburb of Dallas, Hooker found a boxing home at Maple Avenue Boxing Gym by way of an outreach program for at-risk youths. His natural talent was soon noticed resulting in him competing as an amateur, during which time he participated in over 100 αγώνες, compiling a record of 97 νίκες και μόνο 7 απώλειες, με 67 victories coming by way of knockout. Hooker turned professional on April 29, 2011, taking on the vastly more experienced Tyrone Chatman (7-1, 5 KO του) at the Orpheum Theater in St. Louis. After four rounds, the judges saw the fight 40-36, 37-39 και 38-38, making the fight a split draw. Απτόητος, in his next fight on June 24, 2014, Hooker scored his first professional win, knocking out Wilbert Mitchell in the first round at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Τέξας. Eleven wins (eight by knockout) later, he took on undefeated Abel Ramos (8-0, 4 KO του) τον Ιανουάριο 17, 2014 in a bout that was featured on ShoBox from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. After eight close, hard-fought rounds, the judges saw the fight a draw. Hooker followed the draw with a six-round unanimous decision win over Adrian Rodriguez Garza (8-2, 6 KO του) επί Απρίλιος 26 at Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Μισισιπής. Four consecutive knockout victories would follow before he took on fellow undefeated prospect Eduardo Galindo (10-0-1, 7 KO του) τον Ιούνιο 26, 2015 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Championship. “Mighty Mo” did not disappoint his legion of hometown fans who saw him capture the title with a sixth round technical knockout victory.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, Καλιφόρνια και παλεύει έξω από την εστία πυγμαχία των Όξναρντ, αήττητο Daniel «Σύσπαση" Φράνκο (12-0-3, 7 KO του) meets Mexican veteran German “Panteonero” Meraz(52-37-1, 30 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight bout on Μάρτιος 26. Featured for the second time on a Ward undercard, the sharp-boxing Franco will look to improve on his undefeated record against an opponent with literally six times his pro boxing experience. Meraz is only 29 years old but has already logged an amazing 90 professional bouts and has won four of his last six fights by knockout. He has fought current World Champion Juan Carlos Payano, Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and highly-touted prospect Gervonta Davis, going the distance with all three.
Franco began boxing at the age of eight, συγκεντρώνοντας μια ερασιτεχνική ρεκόρ 67-15, κερδίζοντας το πρωτάθλημα Όξναρντ PAL σε 2006 και τα γάντια Πρωτάθλημα California State Silver στο 2007 κατά μήκος του τρόπου. Κατά τη διάρκεια επαγγελματικό ντεμπούτο του Φράνκο το Δεκέμβριο 18, 2010, νίκησε τον Emanuel Machorro στο Club 401 σε Οντάριο, Καλιφόρνια μέσω ενός τρίτου γύρου τεχνικό νοκ-άουτ. Παρά το γεγονός ότι είναι εγγεγραμμένοι ως σπουδαστής πλήρους απασχόλησης σε Chaffey College στο Rancho Cucamonga, Φράνκο εντυπωσίασε νωρίς στην καριέρα του, καταρτίζοντας αήττητο ρεκόρ με δύο ισοπαλίες σε χώρους σε όλη την Καλιφόρνια μέχρι το τέλος του 2013. Ένας από αυτούς ισοπαλίες ήρθαν εναντίον Αλεχάντρο Ochoa σε Quiet Cannon σε Montebello, Καλιφόρνια τον Σεπτέμβριο 20, 2013, but in a rematch three months later, Franco outmatched Ochoa σκοράροντας έξι-στρογγυλή ομόφωνη απόφαση νίκη στο ξενοδοχείο Westin Bonaventure στο Λος Άντζελες. Τον Ιούνιο 20, 2015, during Ward’s return to the ring at Oracle Arena, Franco saw action in an eight-round junior lightweight bout against Jonathan Alcantara and won by unanimous decision. A hand injury suffered in that bout kept Franco out of action until Δεκέμβριος 21when he scored a decision victory over Hector Garcia in Tijuana, Μεξικό.
A promising unbeaten prospect from Salinas, Καλιφόρνια, Rudy “The Revelation” Puja. Jr. (7-0, 6 KOs)looks to extend his undefeated streak against Carlos “Kalimba” Lozano (7-5, 4 KOs) της Ensenada, Mexico in a six-round middleweight bout. Puga turned in a career-best performance in his last match-up on February 12 in knocking out Alejandro Osuna (4-2, 2 KO του) in two rounds at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, Καλιφόρνια. Τώρα, just a little over a month later, “The Revelation” will step into the ring against a tough opponent in Lozanao, a southpaw who has never been stopped and already has a ten-round decision victory under his belt.
Having compiled an exceptional amateur record of 99-8, Puga made his professional debut on September 2, 2011, scoring a fourth round technical knockout victory over Raul Talamontes at the Sports Complex in his hometown. Back in the ring less than two months later, Puga Jr. raised his record to 2-0 with a first round technical knockout of Jose Jesus Hurtado at the Sherwood Inn in Salinas. Τον Ιουνιο 2012, he sent Thomas Turner to the mat four times in scoring a second round technical knockout win at the Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Νεβάδα. After a little more than a year away from the ring, he rededicated himself to the “sweet science” with a vengeance and on February 17, 2014, Puga Jr. made his comeback stopping Charon Spain in the third round with an overpowering body shot at the Salinas Storm House in his native Salinas. Promotional issues kept Puga Jr. out of the ring for the next year and injuries led to a slow 2015, but Puga Jr. scored a a fourth round technical knockout win over of Katrell Straus on Απρίλιος 24 and a six-round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Rojas on Νοέμβριος 21, both fights taking place at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, Καλιφόρνια.
Brooklyn’s 20-year-old, αήττητο Junior “The Young God” Younan (7-0, 6 KO του) επιστρέφει στο δαχτυλίδι στις Μάρτιος 26 after a nine-month layoff to take on Cristian Solorzano (4-7, 3 KOs) της Σονόρα, Mexico in a four-round super middleweight fight. Younan has battled multiple nagging injuries since scoring a second round technical knockout victory over Mike Sawyer on the Miguel Cotto vs. Daniel Geale undercard on June 6, 2015 στο Barclays Center στο Μπρούκλιν, New York. Τώρα 100 percent healthy, Younan looks to make Solozano his third straight knockout victim. Solorzano, a naturally bigger fighter, has campaigned in the light heavyweight division and is coming off of a knockout win.
Younan, εκπαιδευτεί από τον πατέρα του Sherif, ένας πρώην επαγγελματίας πυγμάχος ο ίδιος, began fighting competitively at age eight and only two years later was called a “boxing prodigy” by the New York Times. Συνέταξε μια ερασιτεχνική ρεκόρ 90-5, μετάγγιση μέχρι μια εντυπωσιακή σειρά των τίτλων κατά μήκος του τρόπου, συμπεριλαμβανομένων εννέα Τζούνιορ Ολυμπιακό πρωταθλήματα, εννέα πρωταθλήματα Νέων Μετρό, οκτώ New York State Silver Γάντια πρωταθλήματα και πέντε Περιφερειακής Silver Γάντια πρωταθλήματα. Σε 2011, στέφθηκε Εθνική Νέων χρυσά γάντια πρωταθλητής και ήταν Η.Π.Α.. Πυγμαχία νούμερο ένα ονομαστική κατώτερος πυγμάχος στην κατηγορία βάρους του. Λιγότερο από ένα μήνα μετά του 18ου γενέθλια, Younan έκανε το επαγγελματικό ντεμπούτο του το Νοέμβριο 9, 2013, στο Aviator Sports και Events Center στο Μπρούκλιν, New York, σταματώντας Kenneth Schmitz στον πρώτο γύρο. Younan would go on to knockout his next three opponents before going the distance for the first time against Azamat Umarzoda on July 2, 2014 στο Foxwoods Resort Casino στο Mashantucket, Κονέκτικατ. He followed that fight with a first round knockout of Marlon Farr on Αύγουστος 13 the BB King Blues Club and Grill in New York on Αύγουστος 13.
Chinese heavyweight Ζανγκ "Big Bang" Zhilei (7-0, 4 KOs) joins the undercard on Μάρτιος 26 in a four-round bout against an opponent yet to be determined. The Silver Medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics continues to infuse excitement into the heavyweight division and is coming off of a first round technicalknockout win over David Koswara on February 20 at the Lanzhou Sports Arena in Lanzhou, Κίνα.
Born on May 2, 1983 in Henan, Zhang began his amateur career in 2003, που συμμετέχουν στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα. Μια σημαντική ανακάλυψη ήρθε το 2007 at the World Championships where Zhang defeated the trio of Nurpais Torobekov, Rustam Rygebayev and Daniel Beahan en route to the semifinals where he lost to Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov. By capturing a bronze medal and finishing the competition in third place, he qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The Chinese powerhouse nearly reached the zenith of amateur success in the summer of 2008, entering the super heavyweight finals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing against Italy’s Roberto Cammarelle. It was not to be as Zhang suffered his first defeat of that Olympiad, losing to Cammarelle, but proudly adding to the host country’s medal total with a Silver. Σε 2009, Zhang captured a gold medal at the China National Games, μια εκδήλωση της ίσης γοήτρου για τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες στην Κίνα. 2013 saw yet another gold medal winning performance in the China National Games, setting the stage for “Big Bang” to embark on a professional career while basing himself in the United States. Τον Αύγουστο 8, 2014, Zhang έκανε το επαγγελματικό ντεμπούτο του με σκορ νίκη νοκ-άουτ στον πρώτο γύρο πάνω από Curtis Lee Tate σε Fallon, Nevada in a fight that was televised live on ESPN2. Τον Μάρτιο του 14, 2015, Zhang beat Eric George via a four-round unanimous decision at the Armory in Jersey City, New Jersey. He followed that with another four-round unanimous decision win, this time over Glenn Thomas on the highly anticipated Cotto-Geale undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Ιούνιος 6. Next came a sixth round technical knockout win over Dennis Benson at The Playground in Atlantic City on Αύγουστος 15. To end the year, Zhang was featured on the undercard of the Νοέμβριος 21 Cotto εναντίον. Canelo mega-fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where scored a four-round unanimous decision victory over Juan Goode.
Τοπική Hayward, Καλιφόρνια αγαπημένο Aaron Coley (12-1-1, 6 KO του) faces a very stern test in a six-round junior middleweight bout against Ακολουθούμενη Ryskeldiev (11-3-2, 7 KOs) of West Hollywood, Καλιφόρνια, a Kyrgyzstan native who is undefeated in his last seven fights.
Επί Μάρτιος 26, Coley will look follow his most recent victory, a unanimous decision over Jeremy Ramos onΙανουάριος 23 at the Marriott on Broadway in Oakland, with another win in front of his hometown fans. Prior to his January win he scored two unanimous decision triumphs, including his June 20, 2015 performance against Yusmani Abreu (who Ryskeldiev defeated by technical knockout in September) on the undercard of Ward’s last fight. Considered a promising prospect in boxing circles, Coley’s lone loss came via decision to one of boxing’s hottest prospects in Ievgen Khytrov in a bout that was televised live on Showtime’s ShoBox on April 10, 2015 from The Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York.
Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, λαμβάνει χώρα το Σάββατο, Μάρτιος 26, 2016 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California and is sponsored byCorona Extra, Ticketmaster, Λύσεις Corporate Travel Management (CTMS), Πολύ χαρούμενος, ανύψωση, Zappos, BodyArmor, ΣΑΝ Διατροφή, Shoe Palace and The Waterfront Hotel. Η εκδήλωση θα μεταδοθεί ζωντανά σε HBO Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα Πυγμαχίας αρχή σε 9:45 μ.μ. ΚΑΙ/PT. Ανοίγοντας την τηλεοπτική εκπομπή HBO θα είναι ο Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Ο Jayson Velez σε μια 10-στρογγυλή πάλη για τον τίτλο NABF Featherweight παρουσιάζεται από Golden Boy προωθήσεις σε συνδυασμό με τον Miguel Cotto Promotions.
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