Tag Archives: super featherweight

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

MARIO BARRIOS TRAINING CAMP QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Unbeaten Super Lightweight Barrios Takes on Mexico’s
Richard Zamora Live on SHOWTIME® This Saturday From
Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. & Presented By
Premier Boxing Champions

Click HERE for Photos from Brett Ostrowski/Team Barrios

OAKLAND, Calif. (February 4, 2019) – Undefeated super lightweight contender Mario Barrios will look to continue his push toward a world title shot when he faces Mexico’s Richard Zamora (19-2, 12 KOs) live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, Calif, and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
 
The three-fight SHOWTIME telecast begins live at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and is headlined by super featherweight world champion Gervonta Davis defending his title against former world champion Hugo Ruiz.
 
The 23-year-old from San Antonio can increase his knockout streak to seven on February 9, all since he moved up to 140-pounds. Here is what Barrios (22-0, 14 KOs) had to say about his upcoming matchup and more from training camp in Oakland, Calif.:
 
On his matchup with Richard Zamora:
 
“Zamora is my toughest opponent to date in my opinion. He’s won his last five fights, so I know he’s coming into this fight with a lot of confidence. He has power in both hands and he’s very tough. But I’m going into this fight with a lot of confidence myself. This is going to be a war and one I’m looking forward to. I have no doubt in my mind that I’m going to come out on top.”
 
On his recent training camp:
 
“Camp started back home with my dad Martin and he really got me ready before I left for California. I’ve spent the last six weeks training in the Bay Area with Virgil Hunter. I’ve also been training with Victor Conte and Remi Korchemny at the SNAC facility. Right now, my body is in the best shape of my life. I got good sparring with Devin Haney and a few other top-level fighters. All the hard work is almost done. We have one week left and then its fight week. Virgil and I are working great together and I’m ready to go.”
 
On fighting in the co-main event on SHOWTIME:
 
“I’m very excited to be fighting on SHOWTIME on a big card once again, this time in the co-main event. I’m going to bring a lot of excitement to those watching on TV. My style is fan-friendly and everyone tuning in is going to see the next superstar in boxing. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity fighting on the big stage.”
 
On when he’ll be fighting for a world title:
 
“I’m currently ranked No. 1 in the WBA, so I know a world title shot is very close. Right now, my main focus is defeating Zamora. I must get past this fight and then it’s time to face all the top guys in the super lightweight division. I’m looking to be in a world title fight sometime this year.”
 
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ABOUT DAVIS VS. RUIZ
Gervonta Davis vs. Hugo Ruiz pits the WBA Super Featherweight World ChampionDavis against the former world champion Ruiz in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
 
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features undefeated super lightweight Mario Barrios taking on Mexico’s Richard Zamora and former world champion Javier Fortuna battling lightweight contender Sharif Bogere.
 
The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing and tickets are sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.
 
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.premierboxingchampions.com follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Unbeaten Super Featherweight Xavier Martinez Clashes With Deivi Bassa & Lightweight Contender Ladarius Miller Battles Daulius Prescott In Non-Televised Action This Saturday, At Dignity Health Sports Park In Carson, Calif.

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WBA Super Featherweight Champion Gervonta Davis Battles Former Champion Hugo Ruiz In SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Main Event Presented By Premier Boxing Champions
 
CARSON, Calif. (February 4, 2019) – Unbeaten Super Featherweight Xavier Martinez will clash with Colombia’s Deivi Bassa and lightweight contender Ladarius Miller is set to battle Daulius Prescott in non-televised undercard action on Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.
 
The main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader features unbeaten WBA Super Featherweight Champion Gervonta Davis defending his title against former world champion Hugo Ruiz in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
 
The unbeaten Martinez (12-0, 8 KOs) has stopped his last four opponents, including a technical knockout victory over Oscar Bravo in his last fight in September. The 21-year-old from Sacramento, Calif. will be looking to do the same when he steps in for a 10-round bout against Bassa (20-7, 12 KOs), a 37-year-old southpaw from Monteira, Colombia. Bassa is looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Oquendo in his last fight in December.


 
Miller (18-1, 5 KOs) has used his boxing ability to make a steady climb up the lightweight ladder with impressive victories over Jamel Herring and Dennis Galarza. The 25-year-old, a southpaw who was born in Memphis and now lives in Las Vegas, is coming off a majority decision victory over Ricardo Garcia in his last fight in December. He is catching Barranquilla, Colombia’s Prescott (32-10, 24 KOs) as he is trying to rebound from a decision loss to Matt Conway in December.
 
In other non-televised undercard action undefeated featherweight Angelo Leo (15-0, 8 KOs) meets Alberto Torres (11-1-3, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout, unbeaten Jose Balderas (5-0) competes in a six-round super bantamweight fight against Jerrod Miner(1-3-2, 1 KO), flyweight Ava Knight (17-2-4, 5 KOs) takes on Luna del Mar Torroba(12-9-2, 2 KOs) in an eight-round match, Mexican lightweight Francisco Ochoa (13-0, 8 KOs) steps in against Luis May (21-11-1, 8 KOs) for a six-round bout and Maurice Lee(9-1-1, 5 KOs) faces Lennard Davis (4-1-4, 3 KOs) in a six-round super lightweight bout.
 
The fights continue with undefeated welterweight Emmanuel Medina (15-0, 9 KOs) against Carlos Velasquez (26-33-2, 16 KOs) in an eight-round bout, Lorenzo Simpson(1-0, 1 KO) meeting Jonell Christmas (0-1) in a four-round super middleweight bout and Genisis Libranza (17-1, 10 KOs) taking on Gilberto Mendoza (11-6-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round super flyweight match.
 
Rounding out the night of action is undefeated Israel Luna taking on Angel Carvajal in a four-round super bantamweight match.
 
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ABOUT DAVIS VS. RUIZ
Gervonta Davis vs. Hugo Ruiz pits the WBA Super Featherweight World ChampionDavis against the former world champion Ruiz in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
 
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features undefeated super lightweight Mario Barrios taking on Mexico’s Richard Zamora and former world champion Javier Fortuna battling lightweight contender Sharif Bogere.
 
The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing and tickets are sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.
 
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.premierboxingchampions.com follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Three-Division, Four-Time World Champion Abner Mares Sustains Injury; Forced To Withdraw From Match Against WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Gervonta Davis – Davis Now Set To Take on Former World Champion Hugo Ruiz in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Main Event Saturday, February 9

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LOS ANGELES (January 30, 2019) -Three-division, four-time champion Abner Mares has been forced to pull out of the WBA Super Featherweight title match against two-time super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis on Saturday, February 9 after suffering an injury while training.

Davis will now defend against former world champion Hugo Ruiz in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, with coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Ruiz is an all-action brawler who previously picked up a world title at super bantamweight in 2015 and most recently defeated Alberto Guevara in January on the Pacquiao vs. Broner PPV event in a featherweight fight. Ruiz, who owns 18 first round knockouts, floored Guevara in the opening minute and cruised to a near-shutout decision victory.

He had originally been slotted for an interim title shot against Jhack Tepora in January before Tepora missed weight, but will now have his chance to fight for a belt against one of the most-feared punchers at 130-pounds on February 9. The 30-year-old from Sinaloa, Mexico stands at five feet, nine inches tall, nearly four inches taller than Davis, and has won three straight fights leading up to this fight.

“I trained for three months to fight a southpaw when I fought in January,” said Ruiz. “When the opponent changed, it was hard to adjust in 24 hours. After the fight I immediately went back to the gym, because you never know what’s going to happen in boxing. I’m 100 percent ready to knockout Gervonta Davis.”

“Hugo Ruiz has another opportunity to fight for a world title because he’s demonstrated that he’s devoted to boxing and his career,” said Sampson Lewkowicz, Ruiz’s Promoter. “He went right back to the gym after his last fight. He’s ready for another great opportunity to be a world champion and he’s going to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Mares injured his right elbow during sparring at the Robert Garcia Boxing Gym in Riverside, Calif. Mares said he had experienced soreness in his elbow following the past two fights, but nothing that had ever given him nor his team concern.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat this. I’m disappointed and devastated that I’ve injured my right elbow in sparring,” Mares said. “This is something that I haven’t had happen to me during my career and the feeling is just horrible. I will be going to see my doctor about this and am prepared to follow whatever recommendations and rehab that gets me back into the ring. I’m healthy, not afraid of doing the work and I will be back. This is a temporary setback. Don’t count me out.”

“Boxing is a sport of brains, passion and physical punishment,” said Mares’ trainer Robert Garcia. “When you’re in the ring sparring with talented, top-class sparring partners, the chances of injuries are very high. That was the situation in this case. He was sparring top young fighters and he injured his elbow. He cannot fight like that, especially in a fight against Davis.”

Mares, who has engaged in numerous memorable fights throughout his storied career, was seeking to move up in weight and looking to capture his fifth world title in a fourth weight class.

The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions. ڪ�ɑP?

amateur boxing, boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

UNDEFEATED PROSPECT JAMES WILKINS MAKES NATIONAL TELEVISION DEBUT ON SEPTEMBER 21 SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FOLLOWING PREMIERE OF DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLING HIS PATH THROUGH GOLDEN GLOVES

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Former Amateur Standout Featured in Film CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS, Premiering September 21 on SHOWTIME at 8 p.m. ET/PT Prior to ShoBox: The New Generation Telecast 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

 

 

View CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS TRAILER HERE

NEW YORK – September 12, 2018 – Undefeated super featherweight and former amateur standout James Wilkins will make his live television debut on ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, September 21 immediately following the SHOWTIME premiere of CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS, a documentary chronicling Wilkins and the 2015 New York Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Wilkins will face undefeated featherweight prospect Misael Lopez (8-0, 4 KOs) in the opening bout of what is now a four-fight ShoBox telecast. The back-to-back programs will begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT with CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS airing before the live ShoBox telecast at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT from Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Okla.

Wilkins, of New York City, has five wins and five knockouts since turning professional two years ago following an accomplished amateur run. CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS documents one of the pinnacle moments of his amateur career as the Staten Island native fights through the 10-week tournament in hopes of establishing himself as an elite amateur prospect. Having already won the New York Golden Gloves in 2013 at 123 pounds, CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS chronicles Wilkins’ journey as a 19-year-old competing in the 132-pound class and culminates with a dramatic 2015 championship bout.

“I’m honored to be a part of CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS,” the 22-year-old Wilkins said. “Fighting in the Golden Gloves was a life-changing experience for me and it’s a great feeling to know that boxing fans can watch the documentary on SHOWTIME and then watch my ShoBox debut right after.”

“They call me ‘Crunchtime’ and that’s what I’m bringing to ShoBox on September 21. I’ll be ripping and running and I look forward to putting on a spectacular performance against Misael Lopez.”

Wilkins, who counts former four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. and former two-division champion Paulie Malignaggi as mentors, fought his way to the 2016 Olympic Trails in what was his last amateur tournament. His professional debut came in June of 2016 when he defeated Jack Grady via second-round knockout in a super lightweight contest.

In Friday’s main event, undefeated super featherweight prospect Jon Fernandez (16-0, 14 KOs) will clash with O’Shaquie Foster (13-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight bout. In the eight-round co-featured bouts, Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs) meets Carlos Ramos (9-0, 6 KOs) in a featherweight matchup, and Wesley Ferrer (12-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Steven Ortiz (8-0, 3 KOs) in a battle of lightweights.

Presented by DiBella Entertainment, tickets for the event are priced at $60 for ringside, $40 for floor seats and $30 for general admission and can be purchased in advance.

boxing, HBO Boxing

PROMOTER DON KING SAYS MACHADO-MENSAH FIGHT HAS BECOME CONVOLUTED, FULL OF INTRIGUE & MACHINATION; WE ARE READY TO FIGHT!

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Dkp

 

 

Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2018) – Boxing promoter Don King has been trying to finalize a fight with WBA super featherweight champion Alberto “El Explosivo” Machado for more than two months with his number two contender, Rafael Mensah.

 

“I’ve been dealing with Robert Diaz of Golden Boy Promotions and he seems to be a forthright person,” said King.  “Since the beginning of December they have been telling me we would have an agreement to fight on January 27th after they arranged a meeting with HBO’s Peter Nelson.  It has been one story after another story.”

 

King continued: “I had the one call with Robert Diaz and he never called me back. We kept calling him.  We were supposed to go in together to meet with Peter Nelson and they said we would have a 50-50 deal, and I’ve never heard from him. Mensah has been waiting three years for a title opportunity.

 

“My fighter was set to fight on Jan. 27, which is what we agreed upon. But I never heard back from anyone. They are playing the con game in trying to avoid this fight with Mensah.  They are trying to get under the rules and not fight my future champion.  The making of the Machado-Mensah fight has become convoluted and full of intrigue and machination.  This whole thing has been mysterious.   We are ready to fight!”

 

Mensah, who hails from Ghana, is 31-0 with 23 KOs.

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UNBEATEN SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT PROSPECT VICTOR PASILLAS TALKS SPARRING WITH VASYL LOMACHENKO

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Photo by Team Pasillas
LAS VEGAS, NV (December 6, 2017) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s undefeated featherweight prospect, Victor Pasillas (11-0, 4 KOs), shares his thoughts on sparring with WBO Super-Featherweight Champion Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs), as he prepares for his showdown with WBA Super World Super Bantamweight champion, Guillermo Rigondeaux(17-0, 11 KOs).
Pasillas, a southpaw from East Los Angeles, marveled at the speed and quickness of Lomachenko, the Ukrainian star who trains in Oxnard, CA.
“Sparring with Lomachenko was a great experience,” said Victor Pasillas, who trains in Northern California with coach Brian Schwartz. “He has extraordinary speed and precise accuracy with his punches.  Being in the ring with a fighter like Lomachenko, you learn a lot.  Moving forward, I’m going to take this experience and apply what I’ve picked up to better my game. I feel Vasyl will be to big and powerful for the smaller Rigondeaux who is moving up in weight.”
Victor, who has been out of the ring for over two years, will look to get back in the ring in early 2018.
“Unfortunately, I had a few fights fall out,” Pasillas continued. “That happens in boxing sometimes, so I just have to deal with it.  I’m looking forward to a fresh new start in 2018.  I’m happy to be part of the Prince Ranch Boxing team and I can see myself in some big fights in the upcoming year.  I’m just going to keep working hard and and take advantage of my opportunity when it presents itself.”
“Victor Pasillas has a lot of talent and we plan to keep him busy in 2018,” stated Greg Hannely, president of Prince Ranch Boxing. “We will be announcing his next fight shortly.  He definitely has a bright future.”
boxing

FORTUNA RENEWS PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENT WITH SAMPSON BOXING

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Former WBA Featherweight and Super Featherweight Champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (31-1-1, 22 KOs) has renewed his long-term promotional agreement with promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Sampson Boxing.
From La Romana, Dominican Republic, the 27-year-old Fortuna has won two straight since dropping his super featherweight belt in a shocker against Jason Sosa in June 2016. He came back with an impressive two-round blowout of fellow Dominican Marlyn Cabrera in September 2016 and then, in November took the undefeated record of Delaware’s Omar “Super O” Douglas by unanimous decision.
“Sampson Lewkowicz is and always will be my promoter,” said Fortuna. “He has done right by me and my career at every turn. I will be world champion again with Sampson in my corner.”
Lewkowicz, who says he’s working on a big fight for Fortuna, says Fortuna has become like family.

“Javier is a son to me. I am honored to be his promoter and look forward to continuing to work for him. He is a great champion with many great fights left. After he won his first title, he told me we would work together for his entire career and he has kept his word. I will do everything to make him a champion again.”
boxing

Lee Baxter Promotions Card Postponed; McGuinness and Miljas to fight October 28

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada (October 25, 2016) – Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lee Baxter Promotions’  card scheduled for Thursday evening at the Powerade Center in Brampton, Ontario has been postponed until further notice.

Two of Baxter’s fighters scheduled to appear on that card, 130 pound contender Logan “Cotton” McGuinness and heavyweight prospect Mladen “Monster” Miljas, will now fight October 28 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

A former NABA champion at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, McGuinness signed with Lee Baxter Promotions in July.  McGuinness, 23-0-1 (10 KO’s), is fighting for the first since May 2015 and meets Noel Rincon, 18-9-1 (10 KO’s), of Mexico over eight rounds. With a victory, the 29-year-old Ontario native hopes to get back in the mix.

Known as “Monster” due to his crushing power and impressive physical stature, Miljas looks to go 2-0 as a pro when he challenges Mexican Adrian Garcia, 1-1 (1 KO), in a four rounder.

“”I’m glad I was able to keep Logan and Mladen fighting even after our card was postponed,” said Lee Baxter. “The card will be rescheduled in the near future but in the meantime it’s important to keep my fighters busy. Logan’s been very sharp in training and Mladen has the look of a good heavyweight prospect based on what we saw in his pro debut.”

Baxter, who is growing his stable of talented boxers, also looks forward to the career changing opportunity his fighter Samuel Vargas has when he faces unbeaten Danny GarciaNovember 12.

“We’ve got a lot of nice things on the horizon and I believe that Sammy is going to surprise a lot of people. His trainers know everything there is to be known about Garcia and Team Vargas was thrilled when we heard he accepted the fight.

I’ve also got Kane Heron returning from a few lingering injuries and he’ll be back by the end of the year. He is a truly special talent and one of boxing’s best kept secrets. Most importantly, we will continue to grow and invest in our fighters while providing quality events in Canada.”

For more information, please visit LeeBaxterpromotions.com.

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Fortuna Returns with Impressive KO over Formerly Undefeated Cabrera

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On Saturday night in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Sambil Commercial Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, former world super featherweight champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna returned to action with an impressive two-round blowout of fellow Dominican Marlyn Cabrera.
In his first fight since a surprise defeat last June to Jason Sosa that cost him his WBA World Super Featherweight Championship, Fortuna (30-1-1, 22 KOs) dropped Cabrera twice in the second round, eliciting the stoppage. It was Cabrera’s first loss as a professional.
Fortuna’s victory was one of three Sampson Boxing fighters to win Saturdaynight.
Undefeated 21-year-old Dominican super welterweight Jeison “Banana” Rosario (12-0, 9 KOs) destroyed formerly undefeated Carlos Jairo Cruz (now 17-1, 11 KOs) in two rounds and 22-year-old super featherweight Abraham “Super” Nova moved his record to 3-0, 2 KOs with a fourth-round knockout over Willy Morillo.
Fortuna looked sharp in his comeback bout, putting the explosive power and speed that makes him one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing. With the victory over Cabrera in the books, the southpaw former champion will now be looking to regain his championship status.
Fortuna’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, says his fighter has two options to consider for his next fight.
“Next we will either look for an elimination bout for the IBF mandatory contender to fight Jose Pedraza or we will look to face the winner of Jason Sosa vs. Stephen Smith in Monaco on November 12,” said Lewkowicz. “Javier wants to be champion again and he’ll fight anyone to get there.”
Rosario, a recent Sampson Boxing signee to a long-term promotional agreement, is a former amateur standout with a wealth of boxing talent. Cruz stood no chance against the Santo Domingo-based slugger.
“Jeison is a future star and I’m happy to have him in my stable,” continued Lewkowicz. “I will get him a visa to fight in the USA and pay his IRS taxes, which I do for all my fighters.”
Nova, who was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Dominican parents, went 167-11 with 60 KOs as an amateur, winning the 2014 USA Nationals, the 2014 Independent World Cup in the Dominican, Gold at the 2014 Cheo Aponte Tournament, and the 2015 Olympic Qualifiers. He is also a five-time New York Golden Gloves Champion.
“Abraham went some good rounds and got the KO over a veteran with more fights,” said Lewkowicz. “I am happy with his performance and with the improvements he continues to show in every fight. He is a strong prospect with a bright future.”
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Former World Champ Javier Fortuna’s Comeback Begins September 23 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Against Undefeated Marlyn Cabrera

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The comeback of one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, former WBA World Super Featherweight Champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna, will begin on Friday, September 23, 2016.
Fortuna (29-1-1, 21 KOs) of Braintree, Massachusetts, via La Romana, Dominican Republic, will take on fellow Dominican Marlyn “Maravilla” Cabrera (22-0, 10 KOs) of Santiago de los Caballeros in a 10-round super featherweight battle to top promoters Sampson Lewkowicz’s (Sampson Boxing) and Cesar Mercedes’ (Manguita Promotions) night of world-class boxing at the Sambil Ballroom in Sambil Plaza in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and live on Dominican TV RNN.
27-year-old southpaw Fortuna won the WBA World Super Featherweight Championship in May 2015 with a 12-round decision over Bryan Vasquez and made a successful defense in September 2015 against Carlos Ivan Velasquez (TKO 10). But then in June of this year, Fortuna suffered a surprise TKO 11 defeat at the Capital Gym in Beijing, China, to unheralded challenger Jason Sosa of New Jersey. Winning fairly easily on all three scorecards, a tiring Fortuna was surprised and dropped by a spirited late-fight rally.
Undefeated and untested 29-year-old Cabrera will be coming to the ring with pulling off an upset on his mind. In his six-year professional career, he has already held the WBA Fedecaribe and Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) Inter­Continental Featherweight Championships.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring,” said Fortuna. “I lost my championship and I’m going to beat whoever I have to beat to get it back. Cabrera is my countryman and I wish him a long successful career, but right now he is in my way. He has to go.”
Someone’s undefeated “0” must go in the 10-round “All Dominican” junior middleweight co-main event, as Jeison “Banana” Rosario (11-0, 8 KOs) of Santo Domingo will take on Santiago de los Caballeros’ Carlos Jairo Cruz (17-0, 11 KOs).
Rosario was last seen destroying then-undefeated countryman Rafael Lorenzo in two rounds in April. Cruz will be making his first ring appearance this year.
In two other significant match-ups, 25-year-old southpaw Wellington Arias Romero (11-0-1, 5 KOs), of Newburgh, New York, USA via Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will face 26-year-old Abrahan “El Indomable” Peralta (18-4, 13 KOs) of Nagua, Dominican Republic, in an eight-round super lightweight battle; and in an eight-round “All Dominican” lightweight showdown, undefeated Osvaldo Cabrera (11-0-1, 6 KOs) will take on power-punching Ramon De la Cruz (8-2-1, 7 KOs).
In the opening super featherweight four-rounder, future star Abraham “Super” Nova (2-0, 1 KO) of Braintree, Massachusetts, will look to continue his undefeated run in the professionals against Willy Morillo (2-2, 1 KO) of the Dominican Republic.
“It’s a great show with many ‘Dominican vs. Dominican’ fights. Dominican pride will be standing tall that night,” said promoter Lewkowicz. “Javier Fortuna is coming back strong after his first loss against an undefeated fighter. He is angry at himself for losing and wants the tough fights to get him back to the world championship. The other fights are all the top fighters the country has to offer against each other and we have my star of the future Abraham Nova, to open the show. I’m very proud to be part of this show and very happy to come back to the Dominican Republic with my long-time, loyal partner, Cesar Mercedez of Manguita Promotions.”