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Former World Champion Heads to Las Vegas
For 154-Pound Title Showdown May 21
Against Jermall Charlo Live on SHOWTIME®
At The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
‘I don’t see this being a boring fight; he’s going to bring it, I’m going to bring it’ – Austin Trout
Click HERE For Photos From Dave Nadkarni/PBC
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2016) – Austin Trout (30-2, 17 KOs), the former super welterweight world champion, is ready to collect his second world title on Saturday, May 21 when he meets IBF Junior Middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo in a 12-round match live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from The Chelsea, a one-of-a-kind 40,000-square-foot venue inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
“It’s my time,” said Trout. “My focus is amplified 10-fold. I’m the confident, happy Austin that fans know, but trust me, when it’s fight time I’m ready for any dogfight that comes. You’ll see Austin bring out and defeat the ‘Lion’ in him because at the end of the day I’m taking that belt.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now. Ticket prices start at $39, and are available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000and www.ticketmaster.com.
Born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Trout is trained by Barry Hunter and Louie Burke of Headbangers Gym in Washington D.C. Having started boxing at the age of 10, his natural talent and the ability to grow into the sport took Austin across the United States and Latin America in the amateur divisions and then into the pros. Known as one of the fiercest gentlemen competitors in the sport, he beat the likes of Miguel Cotto, Rigoberto Alvarez and Delvin Rodriguez, before losing his title to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Trout comes into May 21 looking to claim a title in a division he’s been a true threat within for his career.
You’ve said you’ve been led to this fight, why is it important?
“Coming off of four consecutive wins, I’m not just on a comeback streak but I’m taking a full step forward. Charlo is the champ, this fight is about no more half stepping. It’s about taking on the best. Isn’t that what it’s about, being the best?”
How is camp going?
“I physically feel great. I’m really comfortable with Barry, it’s my fourth camp with the Headbangers team; Luis is there as well. Luis helps me with pre-camp and then I shift to D.C.
“I was already in D.C. getting camp started when the rumors about this fight came true. I had been at the gym at home for pre-camp for a month and a half before hitting D.C. I was working out five times a week, running every day just getting the program going. As I said, no half-stepping. I’m already sparring, doing the work, getting right. I’m not walking through it but running and trotting through it. I’m 30, I’m at my physical peak, my talent couldn’t be any better.”
Talk about the fight and what to expect?
“Neither one of us is going out without a fight, so I don’t see this being a boring fight. It’s time for people to remember me. I’ve earned this championship shot against an undefeated bull like Jermall Charlo but I will take his belt. “
Your first professional loss was against ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in San Antonio in 2013. What are your thoughts on that fight?
“I had a good, competitive fight with Saul – it felt like a unification bout – I was WBA champion and he was WBC champion. The open scoring was more detrimental to my game plan thea the judges! During the fight when I was told that I wasn’t winning on anyone’s cards I had to change my game plan. It was a dogfight. Canelo never had to box and move that much before in a fight.
“But, live and learn. Instead of walking into a fight like that I listened to those around me. No more surprises. This Charlo fight is a fight I want, a fight my team wants and we’re ready. I’m a more mature, focused champion who’s coming back. I’m dangerous – I have experience, talent and God on my side.”
For more information visit www.sports.sho.com andwww.mayweatherpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @LaraBoxing, @VanesBoxing, @FutureOfBoxing, @NoDoubtTrout, @TwinCharlo, @MayweatherPromo and @Swanson_Comm, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxingand www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions
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Three World Title Fights Including Lara vs. Martirosyan Rematch & The Charlo Twins Attempting To Make History In SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Tripleheader
Saturday, May 21 Live On SHOWTIME At 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
NEW YORK (April 9, 2016) – The 154-pound division will take center stage on Saturday, May 21 in a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader featuring three world title fights in the same division. In a rare showcase of the division’s elite, five of the top-six super welterweights* will square off live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Venue and ticket information are forthcoming.
(*via Transnational Boxing Rankings)
In the main event, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara—the consensus No. 1 fighter at 154 pounds—will defend his WBA Super Welterweight World Championship against U.S. Olympian and top contender Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan in a rematch of their 2012 bout that ended in a technical draw.
Brothers Jermall and Jermell Charlo will look to make history in co-featured bouts as the first twins to hold world titles in the same division. Unbeaten IBF Super Welterweight World Champion Jermall faces his toughest test when he makes the second defense of his belt against former world champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout. Jermell will take on exciting contender John Jackson in a bout for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship.
The event is being promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions.
With five of the top-six ranked fighters on the telecast, the May 21matchups join an already stellar slate of recently announced boxing events on SHOWTIME. The super welterweights join the top fighters at featherweight, welterweight, super middleweight and heavyweight in a series of fights that features accomplished champions and young stars facing each other in the most significant divisional matches that can be made.
“This is yet another example of SHOWTIME Sports’ commitment to delivering the best lineup in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We’re featuring three important championship fights in one of boxing’s most intriguing young divisions – a tripleheader that will bring our 2016 tally of world title bouts to 14 – all free to SHOWTIME subscribers. We’re excited to offer this rare opportunity to see the top fighters in a division all on the same telecast.”
“Mayweather Promotions is thrilled to bring this fantastic tripleheader of super welterweight world champions to fight fans,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “The best of the 154-pound division will be on display on May 21 and we expect an action-packed night of drama.”
“We’re very excited to work with SHOWTIME on this action-packed tripleheader,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “Erislandy Lara and Vanes Martirosyan have a huge score to settle from their 2012 bout, and Jermall and Jermell Charlo are in high-stakes matchups against Austin Trout and John Jackson, respectively, in what promises to be a highly entertaining evening of boxing.”
A technical master, Lara is considered one of the toughest men to beat in the sport and will look to continue his reign at 154 pounds against the always-game Martirosyan, who is set on becoming a world champion on his second try.
The 25-year-old Charlos are aiming for history against stiff opposition from a former champion in Trout and the Olympian from the Virgin Islands in Jackson.
The 32-year-old Lara is a slick boxer with the ability to deliver punishment while taking very little of it in return. Lara has notched victories over Alfredo Angulo, Austin Trout, Ishe Smith and Freddy Hernandez. As an amateur, Lara won numerous titles including a national championship at welterweight and also participated in the 2007 Pan-Am games. The fighter originally from Guantanamo, Cuba dominated Delvin Rodriguez in June of last year and followed that up with a third-round stoppage of former champion Jan Zaveck.
Born in Armenia, but fighting out of Glendale, Calif., Martirosyanrepresented the U.S. at the 2004 Olympics. As a professional, he won his first 32 fights before fighting Lara to a draw in 2012. The 29-year-old suffered a narrow defeat by split decision in his first world title shot against Demetrius Andrade, but has rebounded with solid victories over Mario Lozano, Willie Nelson and most recently Ishe Smith.
A newly crowned champion at 25-years-old, Charlo grabbed his title with a dominant third-round stoppage of Cornelius Bundrage in September 2015. Residing in Houston, Charlo built up his resume in 2014 with dominant triumphs over Hector Munoz, Norberto Gonzale, Lenny Bottai and Michael Finney. In his most recent outing, he successfully defended his title with a fourth-round stoppage of Wilky Campfort in November.
In 2004, Trout won the U.S. National Amateur welterweight championship and after climbing up the ranks as an elite pro boxer, he won a super welterweight world championship in 2011 by defeating Rigoberto Alvarez. He went on to make four successful defenses, including a career-best, dominant victory over Miguel Cotto in New York. He is currently on a four-fight win streak after knocking out Joey Hernandez in September to set up his world title opportunity.
Younger-by-one-minute than Jermall, Jermell Charlo is a highly ranked young fighter looking to get one step closer to a world title shot. A tall fighter for his division, the 25-year-old earned his shot at a world title with victories over Gabriel Rosado, Charlie Ota and Mario Lozano in 2014 and Martirosyan and former world champion Joachim Alcine in 2015. He impressed last time out by disposing of Alcine in the sixth-round of their fight in Houston in October.
Since representing his native Virgin Islands in the 2008 Olympics,Jackson has put together an impressive pro career. The St. Thomas-born fighter won his initial 13 fights after making his debut in January 2009. The 27-year-old earned the No. 1 spot and the title shot with a shutout victory over Dennis Laurente in August. Jackson comes from a fighting family; his father John David Jackson was a world champion and feared power-puncher while his brother, Julius, is a contender in the 168-pound weight class.
For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter @MayweatherPromo, @TGBPromotions, @SHOSports, @LaraBoxing, @VanesBoxing, @FutureOfBoxing, @NoDoubtTrout, @TwinCharlo and @Swanson_Comm, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions
NEW YORK (September 14, 2015) – For the second consecutive week, the $2000 Throwdown Fantasy Boxing Game winner produced a first-time winner, Errol Acosta, who won the $400.00 first-place prize for last week’s Mayweather/Berto group, as well as bragging rights from the other 234 entrants.
There were 50 cash prize winners, minimum of $20.00, and Acosta also won the Mayweather free-roll game with the same team.
From the pool of 22 fighters, Acosta (CHESSPNOI) stayed under the $25k salary cap and selected three solid favorites in Oscar Valdez ($5,500), Errol Spence ($5,300) and Jermall Charlo ($5,300). This talented trio had a combined boxing record of 54-0 with 44 KOs or 81% KO ratio coming into their respective fights. Picking three reasonably prized but solid favorites allowed gamers to pick a fourth winner and a large underdog, or select two slight underdogs to complete his team.
“When I learned Adonis Stevenson, Errol Spence Jr, Peter Quillin, Oscar Valdez, and Jermall Charlo were fighting on the this tournament set,” an ecstatic Acosta explained, “I just knew I had to enter and place my bets in accordance with what I knew and had learned about them.
“I’ve been playing about four months. I grew up on boxing; I’ve always loved the sport. Throwdown Fantasy reignited my passion for boxing. They said after May 2 that boxing would be dead. There are casual/seasonal/selective fans who only know names like Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Mayweather or ‘Pacman.’ Throwdown is fun and keeps me engaged and entertained with boxing.”
Throwdown Fantasy Boxing is online at www.ThrowdownFantasy.com and boxing’s newest way to back up fight predictions is simple to play. In fact, it’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1. Using the $25,000 salary cap, pick five fighters from the game group; 2. Scoring may be tracked in real time, earning points for wins, knockouts and other CompuBox statistics, 3. Scoring the most points wins. Most games last a week and each has multiple winners. Click on this link to watch a short video to learn how easy is to play:
Fighters receive points based for how they perform, rewarding each style of boxing (see below chart). CompuBox fight statistics are available for research to aid in making selections at www.ThrowdownFantasy.com.
New players who sign up now can receive FREE entry into Throwdown Fantasy Boxing’s monthly Free-roll game, in which Throwdown Fantasy provides a $250 free roll that players may enter using Throwdown Points (free entry upon registration) and $25.00 free game. Signing up and playing is free. People may register to play for free and then move onto paid games.
The next $1000 Throwdown Fantasy Boxing game is scheduled for Sept. 15-26, featuring heavyweight favorite Deontay Wilder vs. underdog Johan Duhaupas in their world title fight, in one of nine fights to select fighters from in that group.
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PROVIDENCE (August 13, 2015) – Undefeated junior middleweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) has filed an appeal regarding the recent decision of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to strip him of his WBO World junior middleweight championship. In the letter to WBO president Francisco Valcarcel, Andrade claimed the WBO failed to offer him a mandatory opponent during the past seven months for him to defend his title against.
Andrade’s appeal also mentions that the WBO sent a letter to him on January 23, 2015, which stated that the WBO would force a purse bid between WBO No. 1 challenger Jermell Charlo and Andrade, if the fight agreement wasn’t resolved within (30) days. However, the WBO did not force the purse bid, allowing Charlo to sign an agreement to fight Vanes Martirosyan, nearly 30 days after Andrade had signed his contract to fight Charlo.
A copy of the aforementioned fight contract, which Andrade signed on January 14, 2015 to fight Charlo for $300,000, was also included as evidence to support Andrade’s claim. Andrade stated that the signed contract proves that it was, in fact, Charlo’s team, not Andrade, that pulled out of the bout.
Andrade requested the WBO to allow him to fight anyone by stating, “We respectfully request that the WBO allow Demetrius Andrade to defend the WBO Jr. Middleweight Title against ANY one of the top 15 opponents. Only the WBO has the ability to force one of their approved challengers to fight him. We respectfully ask the WBO World Championship Committee to use their power to force a top 15 fighter to fight him at your earliest possible convenience. We would be more than willing to allow a fight to occur under the rules of a purse bid, if necessary. Please use your power and authority to step in and force a mandatory fight to allow Demetrius Andrade to defend his title in the boxing ring, where it should be decided and you have our word that we will honor the WBO by agreeing to fight anyone approved by the WBO before September 30, 2015.”
Team Andrade further expressed its willingness to defend his WBO title by agreeing to go overseas and fight a WBO approved opponent for less than $150,000 that, unfortunately, they were still unsuccessful at securing a bout.
Furthermore, Andrade argued that the WBO recently informed him of its intention to remove him from its top 15 rankings altogether, yet, the WBO continues to rate Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as the WBO World Jr. Middleweight No. 1 contender, although Alvarez hasn’t fought as a Jr. Middleweight since Sept. 14, 2013, nine months earlier than Andrade’s title defense. Team Andrade requested that the WBO World Championship Committee allow Andrade the same opportunity to defend his ranking.
Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam or @BooBooBoxing.
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WELTERWEIGHT CHAMP KELL BROOK OBLITERATES JO JO DAN
TO RETAIN TITLE ON SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL®
Watch The Replay Of The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Doubleheader
Tomorrow/Sunday at 9 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME,
Tuesday, March 31, at 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHO EXTREME
Click HERE For Charlo vs. Martirosyan & Gonzalez vs. Russell Jr. Photos
Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Click HERE For Brook vs. Dan Photos
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig
LAS VEGAS (March 28, 2015) – After coming close to world championship glory in 2014,
Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs), a former United States amateur standout, delivered on his promise in impressive fashion Saturday night, knocking out defending champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-9, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, in the fourth round in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader promoted by DiBella Entertainment at The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort.
In the co-feature on SHOWTIME®, undefeated Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (26-0, 11 KOs) of Houston, won a close, unanimous 10-round decision over Vanes Martirosyan(35-2-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a clash of top-five ranked super welterweights. There were no knockdowns in a bout scored 97-93 and 96-94 twice.
The talented and quick-fisted southpaw Russell, who stood and exchanged with Gonzalez, utilized his overall speed to dominate. He dropped the veteran three times, once in the third and twice in the fourth before referee Tony Weeks waved off the fight 37 seconds into the round (to watch the knockout click HERE).
“This is the kind of performance I always expect but don’t always get,’’ said Russell, who lost a close 12-round decision to Vasyl Lomachenko in his initial attempt at the 126-pound crown last June 21 on SHOWTIME. “If people only knew how hard we worked for this, the time we put in the gym, the mental and physical things we work on and put ourselves through every day.
“There are always obstacles to overcome but for this fight I was 100 percent. This win is for all the people who have been with me from the beginning.’’
Russell’s strategy was to eliminate Gonzalez’ vaunted left hook, and he executed the plan to near perfection.
“We were never in this to turn it into a track meet,’’ Russell said. “We were going to stand right in the pocket. We know what Gonzalez likes to do, and that’s throw the wide left hook. I tried to bait him into throwing it and he did.
“Honestly, I don’t think he recovered from the first knockdown.’’
Gonzalez, a two-time WBC featherweight world champion – and a veteran of 16 world championship fights – won the title for the first time in April 2011 and made four successful title defenses before losing it in September 2012. He regained the title on a shocking first-round knockout over Abner Mares in August 2013 on SHOWTIME, and had made two more successful title defenses before falling to Russell.
Gonzalez offered no excuses before quickly exiting the ring.
“I’m OK,’’ he said. “I did not expect this kind of fight at all. We expected him to run around the ring with me chasing. But he didn’t.’’
In the co-feature, Charlo silenced critics of his resume by defeating his toughest opponent to date.
He was surprised at the way his match with Martirosyan played out. “I definitely expected a much rougher fight,’’ he said. “This was easy compared to what I thought we were in for.
“I fought smart and when I was told to pick it up, I knew what time it was so I did. I’m absolutely ready for a shot at a world title.’’
Martirosyan, who was cut over the left eye from an accidental headbutt in the eighth round, was visibly disappointed with the result.
“I positively feel 100 percent that I won that fight,’’ he said. “I was the aggressor and forced the action. All he did was run. I landed the cleaner punches. I definitely felt I won the last round.
“I was stunned by the headbutt [that resulted in the bout being halted while he and the ringside physician discussed the cut]. Sure my left eye bothered me after that and it was blurry. But that’s no excuse.
“I felt I was hurting him. He never hurt me once. I really don’t understand this decision.’’
Earlier Saturday, on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL, undefeated IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (34-0, 23 KOs) overwhelmed mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan (34-3, 18 KOs), dropping the Romanian-based Canadian four times before the one-sided beatdown was wisely halted after the fourth round at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.
Brook, of Sheffield, was making the first defense of the welterweight title he took from previously undefeated Shawn Porter last August on SHOWTIME and fighting for the first time since suffering a serious injury when he was stabbed in the thigh during a holiday on the island of Tenerife last September.
The exciting welterweight showed no ill effects from the layoff in an emotional return to the ring, registering two knockdowns in the second round, and two more in the fourth, with the final knockdown coming at the closing bell. Dan suffered the first knockout defeat of his career (to watch the knockout click HERE).
“I’m back, baby!” said Brook, whose devastating performance against the usually durable Dan electrified the hometown fans while paving the way for a major showdown in the future.
“It was truly amazing to walk out in front of all my fans. I didn’t think I would ever walk again, much less box again. Here I am filling arenas. I can’t put into words how much it means to be back and defending a world title. It means everything to me.
“It was hard there holding it together. But this is where I belong. The leg feels fine. The leg feels as good as the other leg. There is no problem with the leg.
“If you’re watching Amir Khan, then get in here with me. I know you’re delicate around the whiskers. I’ll take you out.’’
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader will re-air this week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Tomorrow, Sunday, March 29, 9 a.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME
Monday, March 30, 10 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME EXTREME
Saturday’s two-fight telecast will be available at SHOWTIME ON DEMAND beginning tomorrow, Sunday, March 29.
Brian Custer hosted the SHOWTIME telecast, with Mauro Ranallo calling the action, Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and former two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi commentating and Jim Gray reporting. In the Spanish simulcast, Alejandro Luna called the blow-by-blow and former world champion Raul Marquez served as color commentator. The executive producer of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
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“Gonzalez vs. Russell Jr.”, was a 12-round world championship bout for Gonzalez’s WBC Featherweight World Title and was promoted by DiBella Entertainment. In the co-feature, Jermell Charlo took on Vanes Martirosyan in super welterweight action. The event took place at The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event aired on SHOWTIME.
For more information, visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @jhonnygbox, @mrgaryrusselljr, @TwinCharlo, @LouDiBella and @PearlAtPalms, follow the conversation using #GonzalezRussell, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.