Tag Archives: TGB Promotions

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

TWO-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION DANNY GARCIA RETURNS TO THE RING TO FACE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION BRANDON RIOS ON SATURDAY, FEB. 17 LIVE ON SHOWTIME FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER & PRESENTED BY PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS

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Plus, 168-Pound Champion David Benavidez Makes First World Title Defense in a Rematch with Ronald Gavril in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Co-Feature
 
Tickets on Sale Saturday, December 23 at 10 a.m. PST!
 
LAS VEGAS (December 21, 2017) – Two-division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia returns to the ring to take on former world champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in a welterweight showdown on Saturday, February 17 live on SHOWTIME at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
In the co-feature, boxing’s youngest world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez will defend his Super Middleweight World Championship for the first time against Ronald Gavril in a rematch of their thrilling September 2017 bout in which Benavidez won the vacant title by split decision.
The card is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with DSG Promotions. The Benavidez-Gavril rematch is co-promoted by Sampson Boxing.  Tickets for the live event go on sale Saturday, Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. PST and will be available at AXS.com.
“I’m excited just to get back in the ring,” said Garcia, who was reigning world champion for the better part of six years dating back to his win over Hall of Famer Erik Morales in 2012 through March 2017. “I needed the time off to recuperate and let my body heal.”
Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) was a unified world champion at super lightweight and welterweight and has fought and defeated many of the most formidable opponents in both divisions spanning two generations-Morales, Zab Judah, Kendall Holt, Amir Khan, Lucas Matthysse, Paulie Malignaggi and Lamont Peterson among them.  Four of his five opponents in the welterweight division were world champions and 10 of his last 14 opponents were world champions or former world champions.
“I was the reigning champion for six years, so I needed the rest,” continued the 29-year old Philadelphia fighter.  “I’m ready to kick off the year in style and take over the welterweight division.”
In his last fight, a welterweight clash of world title holders, Garcia lost via split decision to now unified 147-pound world champion Keith Thurman in a hard-fought, exciting fight that aired live on CBS. The SHOWTIME BOXING on CBS broadcast drew the biggest boxing audience of the year, more than five million viewers which remains the largest audience to witness a primetime boxing broadcast since 1998.
Now, Garcia looks to re-establish his once dominant position at welterweight, a division that boasts more top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport than any other weight class; fighters including world champions Errol Spence Jr., Thurman, Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, Lamont Peterson and more.
“What’s interesting in this fight with Brandon Rios is our styles. We both like to come forward. This kind of matchup will bring out the best in both of us. I’m excited to be back in Las Vegas. I’ve had some of my best performances and some of my biggest fights there. I beat Lucas Matthysse and Amir Khan in Vegas. You fight in Las Vegas, you’re a superstar,” added Garcia.
Like Garcia, Rios has fought many of the top welterweights of this era including world champions Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao. The hard-nosed slugger from Oxnard, Calif., has 34 wins, 25 by knockout. The 31-year-old Rios always comes prepared to battle. With an aggressive style and granite chin, he is one of the most entertaining boxers in the sport. In his last fight he scored a TKO victory over Aaron Herrera on June 11. A victory over Garcia, a top-10 welterweight in his own right, would immediately change the course of Rios’ career and demand that he be placed among the top-ranked in the division.
“I’m excited to prove my critics wrong again,” said Rios. “I’m bring a ‘Bam Bam’ Rios slugfest to my fans. Danny is a great fighter, but I will beat him just like I have beat others in the past. I am focused and will make this a classic Mexican-Puerto Rican battle!”
“SHOWTIME is poised to start the year with two crucial welterweight main event matchups,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. “Following the January 20th event pitting Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson, Garcia vs. Rios features two of the most battle-tested and ferocious 147-pound fighters in the world. Add in the Benavidez vs. Gavril II co-feature, a fight that is guaranteed to deliver dramatic action, and we are picking up right where we left off in 2017 delivering the most compelling and important matchups in boxing’s deepest divisions.”
“We’re looking forward to the action at Mandalay Bay Events Center in February,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO Mayweather Promotions. “Both Garcia and Rios are seasoned fighters that have faced the toughest competition in the welterweight division and they are both very hungry for a big win. The co-feature rematch between the youngest reigning world champion David Benavidez and challenger Ronald Gavril we already know will be thrilling. All four of these men have proven that they’ll put it all on the line in the boxing ring to leave no doubt about who the better man is. In addition, we are working on a crowd-pleasing undercard now. Everyone on this card will need to bring their ‘A game’ to Las Vegas in order to be victorious on February 17.”
“Danny Garcia is one of the most battle-tested, skillful boxers in the sport. What he did in running through the 140-pound division before moving up to welterweight is simply amazing,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “‘Bam Bam’ Rios is a throwback warrior. He never met a fight that he backed down from. Putting Garcia and Rios into the ring against each other promises nothing but fireworks in a match that should provide maximum entertainment for fans.  It’s the kind of fight that belongs in Las Vegas, a classic battle that harkens to welterweight wars of the past.  The first match between Benavidez and Gavril left enough room for doubt that a rematch should settle any remaining questions. I’d expect both boxers to come in with something to prove and that translates into a fan-friendly match.”
The 21-year-old Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) became the youngest reigning world champion in boxing and the youngest 168-pound champion in history at 20-years, nine months old when he scored a split decision against Gavril to win the super middleweight title on September 8. The bout featured multiple swings of momentum, thrilling exchanges and a wild 12th round. Benavidez and Gavril pushed each other to deliver the best performance of their respective careers thus far.
“I feel I won the fight,” said Gavril immediately after the decision. “I dominated the pace. I can’t say anything else… The only thing I can do is to ask for a rematch.”
On February 17, Gavril will get it.
“No excuses this time,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “The minute Benavidez finished the fight I requested the rematch-on behalf of the winner-for the sole reason that he needed to win by emphatically and not by split decision. I wanted the public to be able to have the rematch so that everyone will know who the best is. I expect this time Gavril will say that he’s really been beaten. As the youngest reigning champion in the sport today, I want no doubt that Benavidez is the better man. It was a great fight the first time and this time we’ll see who the best truly is. No excuses. No doubt.”
Fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz., Benavidez had scored 10 straight knockouts leading up to the match against Gavril. His eight-round KO victory over Rogelio Medina put him position for the vacant title.
“This is a fight that my father, my team and I decided to take again to show everybody that I’m really the champion and there’s more to me than just being the youngest world champion,”  Benavidez said. “I feel like I’m the better fighter and I’m going to definitely show it this time. I learned from that first fight that he puts on a lot of pressure. He likes to throw at the same time that I’m throwing. There are a couple different approaches to take against that. It’s going to be a great night of fights. Danny Garcia and ‘Bam Bam’ Rios, these are two fighters I look up to in the sport and it’s an honor to fight in their undercard. My training has been going well. We decided to bring in a strength and conditioning coach and I feel really strong. I believe I’ll be very prepared.”
Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs) rose rapidly through the ranks by scoring seven straight victories including four by knockout since 2015. The 31-year-old Gavril was born in Bacau, Romania and now lives and fights out of Las Vegas. He fought a brilliant match against Benavidez, seizing control in the middle rounds and even dropping the young contender in the 12th with less than a minute left in the fight. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as Gavril lost on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
“I can’t wait to get into the ring again and take that belt,” said Gavril. “I learned his game plan quickly during the first fight, I blocked it well then, and I plan to do the same again. He has fast hands and power, I won’t take that from him, but I am prepared for whatever plan he comes in the ring with. I know I have what it takes to win this time. Preparing for this fight the second time around has been different, training has been more intense, and my team is preparing me to take him out once and for all. I can’t let him win. Some people said I won back in September, and were surprised by my performance. I thought it was close, and I thought the knock down gave me the advantage to win. All I can do is be ready. I don’t think either of us will upset the fans on fight night. I want to thank Floyd Mayweather and Leonard for another opportunity against Benavidez. He’s a great fighter and tough competitor and this will certainly be a great fight.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports  and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions, @MandalayBay and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShoBoxing, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Former World Champion Ishe Smith Clashes With Top 154-Pound Contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams In Super Welterweight Showdown Headlining Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce Live from The Chelsea Inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 18

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Lionell Thompson Duels Earl Newman In Light Heavyweight Co-Featured Attraction & Tugstsogt Nyambayar Meets Xavier Martinez in Battle of 
Unbeaten Prospects
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
LAS VEGAS (October 23, 2017) – Former world champion Ishe Smith battles top 154-pound contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams in a 10-round super welterweight clash that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce live from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday, November 18.
In the co-feature, Lionell Thompson clashes with unbeaten prospect Earl Newman in a 10-round light heavyweight bout. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten prospects Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Xavier Martinez going head-to-head in a 10-round featherweight fight.
“This card is going to bring it,” said Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe. “The fans will be presented with variety; veterans and prospects going head-to-head and tough fighting styles meshing come fight night. The main event between Ishe Smith and Julian Williams is going to be an exciting battle! I think Ishe and Julian are going to put on a great show. Both fighters are very tough competitors and fight with everything they have. We also have a great undercard line-up. This is going to be an all-around exciting night of boxing for the fans.”
“This is the kind of show that presents something for every boxing fan,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Ishe Smith is a former champion who still has title aspirations. He’s going up against a young hungry contender on the comeback trail in Julian Williams. Earl Newman will be taking a major step up when he takes on Lionell Thompson in the co-feature and both Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Xavier Martinez will be looking to keep their undefeated records intact. It all adds up to a fun night for boxing fans.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $29, $39, $59, $69, $89 and $149 and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 andwww.ticketmaster.com.
The 39-year-old Smith (29-8, 12 KOs) won his world championship with a majority decision over Cornelius Bundrage on Feb. 23, 2013 to become the first Las Vegas-native to win a world title. He has also challenged top fighters such as Erislandy Lara and Daniel Jacobs and most recently defeated Tommy Rainone and Frank Galarza in his last two bouts.
“I took this fight just like I’ve taken every tough fight over the years,” said Smith. “I constantly challenge myself to the best and I believe Julian Williams is one of the best in the division. If you look at my resume, all I’ve done is fight the best guys, in their prime, so this is nothing new to me. I’ve reached the point where I’ve seen it all. This fight will get me exactly where I need to be, closer to a world title shot.”
Williams (23-1-1, 15 KOs), one of the top young contenders in the 154-pound division, is working his way back into title contention by taking on a tough former world champion in Smith. The 27-year-old Williams of Philadelphia suffered a KO loss to Jermall Charlo in his first title shot in 2016 and returned to the ring with a TKO victory over Joshua Conley in his last fight on June 30.
“We’ve been working hard for months and I’m ready to get back in the ring,” said Williams. “I could fight tomorrow. I know this is an important fight for my career. Ishe is a veteran and he is going to bring his ‘A’ game to try to prove he’s still got it. I’m not going to give him that opportunity. I will be victorious and show that I’m ready to fight the best in the world.”
Lionell Thompson (18-4, 11 KOs) is on the trail of a 175-pound world championship and he hasn’t taken the easy road, having challenge the likes of Sergey Kovalev and Radivoje Kalajdzic in his pro career. The 32-year-old out of Buffalo, N.Y. is coming off a knockout victory over Steve Lovett in his last fight on Feb. 24. The last time he fought at the Cosmopolitan, he defeated Donovan George by unanimous decision on Sept. 16, 2016.
Unbeaten prospect Earl Newman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will be taking a big step forward in taking on his toughest competition to date in Thompson. The 26-year-old Brooklyn-native is coming off a split draw against Paul Parker on Sept. 19 after winning his first 10 pro fights.
A 2012 Olympic Silver medalist from Mongoloa, Tugstsogt Nyambayar (8-0, 8 KOs) now fights out of Carson, California. The 25-year-old turned pro in March of 2015 with a first round knockout of Gabriel Braxton. Since then, Nyambayar has stopped every opponent in his path, including most recently scoring a 10thround TKO over Jhon Gemino in February.
The unbeaten 19-year-old prospect Xavier Martinez (9-0, 5 KOs) will face his toughest test as a pro when he enters the ring on November 18. Representing Sacramento, Martinez has scored two victories in 2017 having stopped Jesus Aguinaga in September after earning a decision over then unbeaten Prince Smalls in June.
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Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more. Bounce has grown to be available in 99 million homes across the United States and 95% of all African-American television homes.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER DEFENDS AGAINST UNDEFEATED CONTENDER LUIS ORTIZ LIVE ON SHOWTIME® SATURDAY, NOV. 4 FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN & PRESENTED BY PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS

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Tickets On Sale Now!
 
BROOKLYN (Sept. 20, 2017) – Undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will make his sixth title defense when he meets hard-hitting Cuban southpaw Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, Nov. 4 live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
An exciting lineup of undercard attractions will be announced soon to support this titanic heavyweight matchup. True heavyweights in every sense of the word, the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Wilder and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Ortiz have 60 combined knockout victories.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I’m excited that the time has come to meet Luis Ortiz,” said Wilder. “Ortiz is considered the boogeyman of the sport and I am the hardest hitter in boxing. When you put us together in a ring, you will get one of the best heavyweight fights in a long time. I will unify the division. This I promise. This is the first step towards unifying. Any heavyweight that gets in my way is getting knocked out.”
“Wilder has been doing a lot of talking about me and this fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m tired of hearing it. I’m not that big on talking. I like to do all my talking in the ring and that’s what I plan to do. I respect him. I know he hits hard, but I hit hard too. It’s going to be a great fight. I can’t wait to get in the ring and shut him up in front of everybody at Barclays Center on SHOWTIME on November 4.”
“This fight is happening because Deontay Wilder wants to beat the best, regardless of the risk,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “He will knock ‘King Kong’ off the Empire State Building for the world to see on November 4 at Barclays Center.”
“The resurgence of the heavyweight division is going to be on full display at Barclays Center and on SHOWTIME on November 4,” said Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions. “Deontay is facing his toughest challenge yet in the undefeated Cuban, giving him the opportunity to really prove himself. We are thrilled to be a part of the action and can’t wait until fight night.”
“Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz is one of the highlights of what has been an exceptional year for boxing on SHOWTIME,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “We have consistently delivered the biggest names in boxing in their most important fights. The main event on Nov. 4 features two dynamic punchers with a 92-percent knockout ratio between them.  It will be the 21st world championship fight on SHOWTIME this year and the 16th time we’ve seen undefeated fighters going head-to-head.  It is clear that no other network is more committed to delivering the most significant bouts directly to its subscribers than SHOWTIME.”
“On November 4 Barclays Center will once again host one of the year’s best fights,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Deontay has made his mark in Brooklyn, and I am thrilled to welcome him back to our ring alongside a tough competitor in Luis Ortiz, who will be fighting here for the first time.”
The 31-year-old Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs), the only reigning American heavyweight world champion, won his WBC title with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne on Jan. 17, 2015 -the birthday of legendary heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Wilder, a Bronze Medal winner for the U.S. Olympic boxing team at the 2008 Beijing Games, has successfully defended the title five times. In his previous defense at Barclays Center, Wilder scored a memorable ninth-round knockout over Artur Szpilka back in Jan. 2016. In his most recent defense, Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. stopped Gerald Washington via fifth-round technical knockout before a hometown crowd at Legacy Arena in Birmingham on Feb. 25.
The 38-year-old Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs), of Camaguey, Cuba by way of Miami, Fla., will make his SHOWTIME and Barclays Center debut when he meets Wilder for his first title shot. The hard-hitting southpaw turned pro seven years ago after defecting from Cuba and has since been steadily climbing the heavyweight ladder. He cemented his standing in the division with victories over veteran contenders Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Malik Scott and is the No. 1-ranked contender by the WBC.
If Ortiz wins, he will become the first Cuban born fighter to win a heavyweight world championship.
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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports , www.premierboxingchampions.com,
follow us on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm  or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter,
and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxing

Gary Russell, Jr.-Oscar Escandon Featherweight Title Match Postponed After Escandon Suffers Injury in Training

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The Card Will Be Rescheduled for A Future Date
LAS VEGAS (February 28, 2017) – The featherweight championship match between Gary Russell Jr. and Oscar Escandon, scheduled for Saturday, March 11 at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland, has been postponed after Escandon was injured in training, according to Escandon’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz.
“Oscar suffered an injury to his back in training and he’ll be ready to go in April,” Lewkowicz said. “He’s very sorry for the delay in the fight, but these things happen in boxing. He’s really looking forward to facing Gary Russell, Jr., but he wants to be completely healthy when they do meet.”
Escandon, a 32-year-old Colombian with a record of 25-2 with 17 KOs, is the mandatory challenger for Russell’s featherweight championship. Jermell Charlo defending his 154-pound title against Charles Hatley will be the co-feature on the rescheduled card.
“It’s definitely irritating,” Russell said. “But injuries happen especially when you have somebody pushing their body to the limit for a fight that is potentially life changing. It’s disappointing. It might not work out for him because I have a little more time to get ready.”
“We’re working with the venue and the network to find the earliest date that we can reschedule the show,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “I feel terrible for the fighters who have been training so hard and now have to wait. Gary is really disappointed, but he understands that injuries are all a part of the sport. But Gary will be ready to go on the rescheduled date.”
A new date for the fight will be announced shortly.
boxing

Caribe Promotions loses rights to Shumenov-Dorticos WBA cruiserweight title fight; TGB Promotions awarded rights

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LAS VEGAS (January 31, 2017) – The World Boxing Association (WBA) has notified WBA cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov and WBA Interim cruiserweight title-holder Yunier Dorticos, as well as their representatives, that Caribe Promotions has lost its rights to promote the WBA mandated Shumenov vs. Dorticos title fight.
Dorticos’ promoter, Caribe Promotions, originally won the Shumenov vs. Dorticos title fight rights last November with a winning purse bid of $350,001, which required a fight date within 90 days.  Although rumored to be held in mid-February in either Miami or Las Vegas, Caribe’s ability and willingness to actually promote the fight came into question in January, 2017.  The WBA demanded that Caribe confirm its intentions and even granted Caribe additional time to respond, but Caribe failed to file confirmation of a fight date with the WBA. Because Caribe was unable to confirm its intentions, the WBA had little choice but to award rights to the second-highest purse bidder, Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions.
“I last fought May 21st and I have been in the gym since June because I was supposed to fight Lebedev in September,” said a terribly frustrated Shumenov. “But he backed out of the fight with me once again and I have been ready to fight since then.   I signed a bout agreement to fight Dorticos on February 11thin Miami, but Dorticos and his promoter disappeared after I signed. They’re full of it; all they do is talk.  I can’t wait to knock him out.  I am waiting on my manager to call me right now to tell me the new fight date with TGB.”
Caribe Promotions has been forced to also forfeit its $35,000 purse bid deposit with 10-percent off the top going to the WBA and remainder ($31,500) distributed to Shumenov and Dorticos, respectively, on a 75-25 percent basis due to its failure to promote the fight.
Shumenov (17-2, 11 KOs), fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Kazakhstan, fought last May 21, when he stopped 15-1-1 Junior Wright in the 10th round of their Las Vegas fight for the vacant WBA World cruiserweight title.  The WBA had ruled that the Shumenov-Wright winner would be the mandatory challenger for its “Super” champion, Lebedev, within 90 days, however, it later allowed unified cruiserweight titlist Lebedev (against Shumenov’s strong objections) to fight his International Boxing Federation (IBF) mandatory defense against challenger Murat Gassiev, effectively mandating an eliminator between Shumenov and Dorticos with that winner to fight the winner of Lebedev-Gassiev.  Only days prior to the Lebedev-Gassiev title fight, Lebedev was inexplicably allowed to fight Gassiev without defending his WBA title, as only his IBF belt was on the line.  Gassiev (24-0) defeated Lebedev (29-3) by way of a 12-round split decision in Moscow to become the IBF cruiserweight world champion and Lebedev remains the WBA Super cruiserweight world champion, at least for now.  The WBA is expected to rule on Shumenov’s objections to Lebedev’s fight against Gassiev, Lebedev’s status and whether Lebedev will remain champion having lost his last fight.
Dorticos has made false claims in the media that Shumenov, who had been waiting for the WBA to rule on his petitions to force Lebedev to fight him without further delay, had been avoiding him.  It is ironic now that Dorticos’ own promoter first sought to delay and has now defaulted on the long-awaited confrontation by failing to promote the Shumenov-Dorticos title fight within the WBA deadline.
A former WBA Super light heavyweight world champion, the 33-year-old Shumenov is the first two-division world champion from a Soviet-bloc country.
Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page atwww.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

OSCAR ESCANDON GIVES TRAINING CAMP UPDATE BEFORE FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN AGAINST GARY RUSSELL JR. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 FROM HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

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Live On SHOWTIME® at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT

Click HERE For Photos From Team Escandon
LAS VEGAS (November 2, 2015) – As he nears his Saturday, Nov. 14 showdown against WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs), featherweight contender Oscar Escandón (24-2, 16 KOs) is primed and ready for the challenge.  The 12-round SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main-event will be televised live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The co-main event of the evening will see undefeated super welterweights Frank “Notorious” Galarza (17-0-2, 11 KOs) and Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (16-0, 10 KOs) in a 10-round clash.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $155, $105, $80, $55 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX, or online at www.axs.com.
Less than one month after Russell Jr. and Escandon square off, SHOWTIME Sports® will present another high-profile matchup between elite 126-pound fighters as WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar defends against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo on Dec. 5 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
While working out in Las Vegas with Coach Ruben Guerrero, Escandón gave his thoughts on training camp, fighting Gary Russell Jr., and his quest to become a world champion.
On his matchup with Gary Russell Jr.:
 
“Gary Russell Jr. is a very skilled fighter but he doesn’t know what it’s like to be in a rugged fight.  Everyone knows I come to fight and Russell is going to find out firsthand what it’s like to be in a war. He better be ready to take some lumps.”
On training in Las Vegas:
“Running in the high elevation here in Las Vegas has been great for my stamina.  I’ve adjusted to the atmosphere and my body feels extremely strong.  I’ve gotten some great sparring with a lot of different looks, guys that move like Russell. I couldn’t be more prepared then I’ll be for this fight.”
On working with Ruben Guerrero:
“Ruben and I have been working great together.  His knowledge of fighting southpaws is excellent and we have a great game plan going into this fight.  Everyone can expect to see me throw a lot of punches.”
On his quest to become a world champion:
“Becoming a world champion is something I’ve wanted my whole life.  I’ve been close a couple of times.  In those fights I made the mistake of leaving the decision in the judges’ hands.  This time around, I’m going for the knockout, to assure myself victory.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @MrGaryRussellJr, @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

UNDEFEATED CONTENDERS FRANK GALARZA & JARRETT HURD  MEET IN SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® CO-FEATURED EVENT

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SATURDAY, NOV. 14, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
FROM HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS
 
LAS VEGAS (October 28, 2015) – Undefeated super welterweights Frank “Notorious” Galarza (17-0-2, 11 KOs) and Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (16-0, 10 KOs) will meet in an important 10-round clash that serves as the co-featured event for SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (10:45 p.m. ET/PT) on Saturday, Nov. 14 from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The main event, live on SHOWTIME®, will feature WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr.(26-1, 15 KOs) in the first defense of his world title against Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs).
“I’ve been here before but I know that I still have something to prove,” said Galarza. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m ready to show the world I’m one of the best 154-pound fighters in all of boxing.”
“It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hands,” said Hurd. “I’m excited about this fight and ready to show the world my ability come Nov. 14.”
“Galarza and Hurd represent two of the best undefeated prospects in the super welterweight division,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “It’s a high risk, high reward fight which will bring out the very best in both fighters for those watching on SHOWTIME and in attendance at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $155, $105, $80, $55 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at Hard Rock Hotel box office, by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX, or online at www.axs.com.
A contender in the 154-pound division, Galarza has won six straight fights since the start of 2014, including a thrilling second-round knockout over previously unbeaten John Thompson. A Brooklyn native who turned pro in 2010, the popular Galarza has inspired many with his personal story of perseverance. In his last appearance on April 10, Galarza scored a third round knockout of Sheldon Moore in his hometown of Brooklyn on ShoBox: The New Generation.  The 30-year-old will look to make his mark in his first shot on a big stage when he enters the ring on Nov. 14.
Fighting out of Accokeek, Md., Hurd has an unblemished professional record since turning pro in 2012. The 25-year-old opened up 2015 with a third-round stoppage of veteran Eric Mitchell and followed with a seventh-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Jeff Lentz in August. He will take a step-up in competition when he challenges Galarza on Nov. 14.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @MrGaryRussellJr, @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

GARY RUSSELL JR. MEDIA WORKOUT PHOTOS & QUOTES AS HE PREPARES FOR NOVEMBER 14 CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN  ON SHOWTIME®

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SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on Nov. 14, Live At 10:45 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®From Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
Click HERE To Download Photos From Rosie Cohe/SHOWTIME
WASHINGTON, D.C. –(Oct. 28, 2015) -Beltway-area native Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) held a media workout at The Enigma Boxing Club in Capital Heights, MD on Tuesday as he prepares for his championship bout on November 14 on SHOWTIME.
 
Russell Jr. will make the first defense of his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Colombia’s Oscar Escandón (24-2, 16 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, Nov. 14, live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT) from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Here’s what Russell Jr., Gary Russell Sr. (Gary’s father and trainer) and Gary Antonio Russell(Gary’s younger brother and undefeated boxing prospect) had to say on Tuesday:

GARY RUSSELL JR.:
“Training camp is going great, we’re right on course. There was a minor hiccup in the camp because I was supposed to fight on Oct. 24. I started sparring, but once the fight got pushed back to November 14 I cut the sparring off. I didn’t want to peak too early.
 
“Today (Tuesday) was my first day back sparring again. I’m working on my timing, ring generalship and lateral movement.  We’re right on course. 
 
“Oscar Escandon is strong and durable. He comes straight forward. If his corner was smart they would try to take away my hand speed which will be a big factor in the fight. He’ll need to close the distance, smother my punches so speed isn’t a factor.
 
“We are working on becoming just as comfortable fighting on the outside as I am fighting on the inside.
 
“A lot of fighters are one-dimensional. We are trying to make that diamond shine on all sides.
 
“I know that I will be victorious without a doubt. Anyone that you get in the ring with these small, 8-ounce gloves always has a possibility of creating an upset whether he’s a big puncher or not.  It only takes one shot.  It’s the fighters’ job to take away that opportunity.  
 
“I’m excited to fight, period.  I don’t even think about this fight being a title defense. It takes a certain type of mental toughness and psychological strength to get in the ring and perform. Anyone who gets in the ring against me is a champion in my eyes.
 
“It’s been about seven months since I fought.  I’m always anxious to get back in the ring. 
 
“If I get past Escandon I would love to fight Leo Santa Cruz, we fought in the amateurs.  But we never underestimate any opponent and we are focused on getting this fight out of the way first. Lee Selby is another guy that we’re looking at.  Of course Abner Mares, even though he lost, would be a great fight.  These are the type of guys that we’d like to fight. 
 
“Having my family with me during training camp means everything to me. It’s where I get my energy from. A lot of guys feel like they have to get away for training camp, but I don’t have to leave home. My family is the driving force behind my training camp and where I find my power and motivation. At the end of the day, I box for my family.
 
“If my brother ends up fighting on my undercard it would be very cool for me. It will be funny because if he does compete, you will definitely see me work his corner before my title fight.”
 
GARY RUSSELL SR.:
 
“I know it’s a championship fight, but we go into every fight like it’s a title fight. We don’t know a ton about his opponent, we just train like champions.
 “I have six sons, all of them are fighters. They all have different attributes as people that translate differently into who they are as people and in the ring.
 “Antonio Russell is 4-0, he’s worked really hard all of his life. Outside of the gym, he can fix anything. Antoine, who just qualified for the Olympic trials, is brilliant. I’m very proud of him because he just graduated valedictorian of his class with the highest GPA of anyone in Prince George’s county. Then you have Gary, who is so hard working, he’s the future patriarch of the family. He has an old spirit.
 “I’m proud of all of my kids and I’m proud that we’re a strong family unit. We learned a lot from Gary’s loss to Vasyl Lomachenko. We have a motto at the gym that hangs from a banner, it says ‘Success is the Ultimate Revenge’ and we’ve lived by that ever since the loss. We learned an important lesson from that fight and have moved on.
 “Boxing is a fleeting thing, you don’t do it forever. We’re doing our own thing. I’m not worried about what other people have done.
 “As a father, your paternal instinct kicks in because in this sport, anything can happen. You don’t want to see your son end up hurt. So we train for any circumstance. Because of that instinct, I’ve been strict and hard on my sons in order to try to keep them safe.”
GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL (Fighting on the Friday, Oct. 30 non-televised Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce TV undercard and potentially the November 14 undercard.):
 
“With the way we train and fight, our defense sets up our offense and our offense sets up our defense.
 “My job is to go in there and win fights. I know my opponent is a tall guy, but I also know that he is not going to win. He doesn’t have the punching power or ring generalship that I have.
“Once I win, I’m on to the next. I’m trained to fight consistently. I hope I get this guy out early, if it comes and presents itself. Then I’d love to fight on my older brother’s card two weeks after.”
# # #
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @MrGaryRussellJr, @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

GARY RUSSELL JR. TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST OSCAR ESCANDÓNON SATURDAY, NOV. 14 FROM HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

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TICKETS ON SALE NOW
 
 
Live on SHOWTIME® At 10:45 p.m. ET/PT
 
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 21, 2015) – Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Featherweight World Title when he takes on Oscar Escandón (24-2, 16 KOs) in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event on Saturday, Nov. 14 from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $155, $105, $80, $55 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX, or online at www.axs.com.
“It’s going to take all of my skills and my whole arsenal to defend my belt on November 14,” said Russell Jr. “Escandón is a strong, durable fighter with a lot of power. I will have to be on my A-game and I believe I will be able to showcase my skills when I get in the ring.”
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to fight Gary Russell Jr. for his world title,” said Oscar Escandón. “I feel strong going into this fight.  Moving up to featherweight has given me the added weight to be at my full strength.  I’ve been training hard with Ruben Guerrero, who’s been doing a great job preparing me for Russell’s southpaw attack.  I guarantee that I’m going to make it a rough fight.”
“Gary Russell Jr. is one of the sports brightest young stars,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “Winning the featherweight world title against Jhonny Gonzalez was an outstanding feat and he’s chosen a very tough initial defense against the heavy handed Oscar Escandón. We’re very excited to work with the great teams at SHOWTIME and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on this terrific event.”
The evening’s co-main event will be announced shortly, as will the full undercard of action.
Russell Jr., of Capitol Heights, Md., makes his first start since dethroning defending champion Jhonny Gonzalez via fourth round TKO in March in Las Vegas.  The talented and quick-fisted southpaw dropped the veteran Gonzalez three times en route to capturing his first world title.  The only blemish on the record of the 2008 U.S. Olympian is a close majority decision loss to Vasyl Lomachenko in a bout for a vacant world championship in June of 2014 on SHOWTIME.
Escandón, of Ibague, Colombia, is a former interim WBA World Super Bantamweight titlist – he lost the belt in April in a close, split decision to Moises Flores at StubHub Center but complained after the loss that a broken finger in his right hand prevented him from throwing any meaningful punches.  A former amateur standout who represented his native Colombia in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Escandón won his U.S. debut and the interim WBA belt with a 12-round split decision over Tyson Cave last December.  He has knocked out 10 of his last 14 opponents and is trained by Ruben Guerrero, father of long-time welterweight contenderRobert Guerrero.
Escandón, who holds a career-best seventh-round TKO over then-undefeated Jesus Cuellar in 2011, will be making his third consecutive start in the U.S. as he moves up in weight to 126 pounds to challenge Russell Jr.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @MrGaryRussellJr, @Escandonbox;  @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.