Tag Archives: Wladimir Klitschko

boxing, HBO Boxing

FRANCISCO SANTANA PROMISES BRUTAL WAR WITH SADAM ALI

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SANTA BARBARA, CA (April 7, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions rising star, welterweight Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3-1, 10 KOs), is riding a 10-fight winning streak going into his highly anticipated clash with undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs).  Santana gives his thoughts on this match-up, his training camp and fighting at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Klitschko vs. Jennings. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Training camp update…

“Training camp is going as planned.  I’ve added a few new things that will be on display April 25th.  Right now it’s about sharpening up the tools that got me here.  There is nothing that needs to be changed.  I’ve been active so I know I’ll be ready to showcase my talents on HBO come fight night.”

 

Reflects on his journey to Madison Square Garden…

“It’s been a hard fought journey to get where I’m at today.  After suffering a few losses I decided I was going to dedicate my life to this sport and give it my all.  With a lot of hard work and support from my promoter Gary Shaw, I’m now fighting on the biggest stage at the most prestigious venue in boxing.  Madison Square Garden is where every fighter dreams they can fight.  It’s my time to show the world I’m on the championship level.”

 

Relationship with Trainer Joseph “Hoss” Janik…

“When you have the right trainer in your corner, it’s truly a blessing.  Hoss is the man and he always tells me like it is.  If I’m not doing something right he’ll let me know right away, he doesn’t beat around the bush.  I’m on a ten fight winning streak and he has a lot to do with it.  You couldn’t ask for a better man in the corner.”

 

Sparring at Wild Card Boxing Gym…

“When you walk into the Wild Card gym you know going in its going to be a rugged day of sparring.  The gym is filled with world champions and top prospects.  You can’t replicate the work you get there.”

 

On his matchup with Sadam Ali…

“Sadam Ali is a world class fighter with elite boxing skills, but I feel my style will give him problems.  He puts his punches together well and he made a strong statement in his last fight against Abregu.  A win against Ali will propel me into a world title fight.  Believe me when I say I’m going to bring it on April 25th, it’s going to be a brutal war!”

 

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden.

 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gary Shaw Productions Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.

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SADAM ALI FACES FRANCISCO SANTANA AS THE CO-MAIN EVENT ON THE WLADMIR KLITSCHKO VS. BRYANT JENNINGS CARD ON APRIL 25

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 FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NEW YORK

TELEVISED LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

 

NEW YORK CITY (March 25, 2015) – The undefeated Sadam “World Kid” Ali and fast -punching Francisco “Chia” Santana will face off at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden on Sat. April 25 as the co-feature to “The Champion Returns”, the World Heavyweight Championship between undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and top-rated challenger Bryant Jennings. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions, the 10-round welterweight showdown between two of the sport’s rising stars will give fans an exciting night of boxing as they open up the telecast before the highly anticipated heavyweight main event.

 

Advance tickets to “The Champion Returns” may be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office at www.TheGarden.com and through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, phone 1-800-435-5000.)

 

“I’m excited to fight in my home state of New York and at Madison Square Garden,” said Brooklyn, New York’s Sadam Ali.  “Some of the greatest fighters in the sport have made their mark at this venue; Muhummad Ali, Joe Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and I’m ready to be part of that history.  Francisco is a tough fighter and I’m ready to take him on and with the help of my promoter Golden Boy Promotions move forward to becoming a world champion.”

 

“I’ve earned my way to the position I’m in because I’ve fought and beat fighters who were undefeated,” said Francisco Santana of Santa Barbara, California.  “Nothing has come easy to me on the way up.  Fighting stiff opposition is what prepares a fighter for the next level and I’ll be ready for anything Sadam Ali brings.  My promoter Gary Shaw told me if I kept winning he would get me a big fight, and here we are getting ready to fight one of the best young contenders in the world.  A win against Ali will sky rocket my career and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

 

“Coming off of an exciting match that saw him knockout a previously undefeated fighter, Sadam is now looking to take a next, crucial step up the welterweight ladder,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions.  “With lightning-quick hands, true knockout power and a hunger to be the best in the division, the ‘World Kid’ is a must-see for all fans.”

 

“Francisco Santana is a warrior who grinded his way up the rankings and earned this fight against Ali on HBO,” stated Gary Shaw.  “This is a feel good story about a kid who fought his way to the big stage and bright lights of Broadway.  Those bright lights are now shining on his career.  I’ve always said, a fighter who is hungry is very dangerous, and Santana is famished.  He wants to win this fight and show the world he’s worthy of a world title shot.  I believe Santana is the underdog in the public’s eye, but he will once again fool the public with a great win on April 25.”

 

“We’re happy to add this exciting co-feature to this extraordinary event headlined by the World Heavyweight Championship between Wladimir Klitschko and Bryant Jennings,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “The matchup of these two rising stars should provide for a very strong opening fight to the HBO telecast.”

 

Former 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) has been on the fast track to success in boxing since his professional debut in 2009.  The undefeated fighter impressed critics and fans early on, dominating all his opponents, including Michael Clark whom he beat via knockout in the first round on April 2014 to gain the WBO NABO Welterweight Title.  In August of the same year, Ali defeated Jeremy Bryan via split decision to gain the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title.  In his most recent bout and the most notable to date of Ali’s career, he faced Juan Carlos Abregu knocking him down in the sixth and ninth round winning by technical knockout in the ninth round to give Abregu his second career loss.

 

Undefeated since 2012, Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3-1, 1 KO) has solidified himself as one of the brightest and most dangerous stars in the welterweight division.  His victories against former undefeated prospect Eddie Gomez and veteran Joachim Alcine, have propelled him to the top of the weight class.  Santana’s most recent wins came by way of knockout.  In August of 2014, Francisco stopped Luis Alfredo Lugo in the fifth round, followed by a spectacular first round knockout of another undefeated prospect in Kendal Mena, a bout that took place in January of 2015.  Santana is ready to add another win to his record when he faces Sadam Ali on April 25.

 

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden.

 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com, andwww.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gray Shaw Productions Facebook Page, orwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.

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McRae to face unbeaten Charles Martin for NABO Title on Klitschko-Jennings undercard!

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Laurel, MD (March 25, 2015) – Heavyweight hopeful Dwayne “Big Ticket” McRae will have the opportunity to move up the rankings when he battles unbeaten and highly touted NABO champion Charles Martin in a ten round championship match Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden.

The bout takes place prior to the highly anticipated world heavyweight title fight between unified champion Wladimir Klitshcko and undefeated contender Bryant Jennings. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com or by calling 866-858-0008.

Hailing from Laurel, MD, McRae has a solid 15-3 professional ledger with 8 wins by knockout. Fighting under the Mastermind Boxing banner, McRae is unbeaten in his last six and has lost just once in the last five years. Although most of his fights have taken place in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, the 34-year-old had been lobbying for a bout against a top notch foe.

Regarded as one of America’s brightest and fastest rising heavyweights, Martin is an outstanding 20-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Born in St. Louis, MO and based out of Los Angeles, CA, Martin’s derailed three previously unbeaten foes in Vincent Thompson (13-0), Glendy Hernandez (10-0) and Alexander Flores (14-0), stopping the later to become NABO champion. He also owns a second round knockout over former world amateur champion Joey Dawejko, who has since scored six straight victories.

“This is a great opportunity for my career,” said McRae. “In my eyes, I’m also undefeated since both of my decision losses were controversial and the other fight was stopped unjustly, so my position really should be similar to his.”

McRae is also confident that this fight is going to bring him to the next level based on what he’s seen of Martin, the WBO’s #4 and IBF’s #6 ranked contender.

“He’s a decent fighter but I didn’t see anything spectacular. I know what I can do in there and that’s far more important than officially having a 0 at the end of my record. When two fighters get in the ring regardless of who is supposed to be the next great fighter or not, anything can happen and this is my time to show everybody what I’m truly made of!”

The McRae-Martin bout may appear as part of the international telecast. More information will follow.

boxing, Fight Network

FIGHT NETWORK BOXING   PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Feb. 9-15, 2015)

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ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK:  Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada, streamed live on website KlowdTV.com, and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

 

Monday, Feb. 9

 

11:00 p.m. ET — InterBox Classics: Klitschko vs. Jefferson – Featuring WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko vs. Derrick Jefferson from Mar. 24, 2001 in Munich, Germany.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 10

 

6:00 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Classics – Reliving memorable boxing fights from the past two decades.

 

8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

Thursday, Feb. 12

 

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

11:30 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all of the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the Sweet Science.

 

Friday, Feb. 13

 

5:30 p.m. ET — KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all of the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the Sweet Science.

 

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis on the fight game.

 

Saturday, Feb. 14

 

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis on the fight game.

 

Sunday, Feb. 15

 

7:30 p.m. ET – KOTV Boxing Weekly – Covering all the latest news in professional boxing, featuring full recent fights and highlights from the Sweet Science.

 

8:00 p.m. ET– Ultimate Classic Boxing: Joseph vs. Savage – Featuring middleweight Charley Joseph vs. Milo Savage from Apr. 25, 1956 in New Orleans.

 

9:00 p.m. ET – WBC Silver Cruiserweight Championship: Branco vs. Haapoja– Featuring Silvio Branco vs. Juho Haapoja for the vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title from July 6, 2013 in Lazio, Italy.

 

11:00 p.m. ET – Banner: Best of the Decade – Featuring Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo I to unify the WBC and WBO lightweight titles from May 7, 2005 in Las Vegas.

 

Information:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork
boxing, Fight Network

Watch Wladimir Klitschko’s First world title defense from 2001 Monday night on Fight Network USA

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NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2015) — This coming Monday night (Feb. 9) at 11:30 p.m. ET, Fight Network USA will air the great Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer”Klitschko’s first world heavyweight title defense, from 2001 against challenger Derrick “D-Train” Jefferson, as part of its InterBox Classics series. Klitschko vs. Jefferson will be replayedTuesday, Feb. 10 (9 a.m. ET) on Fight Network.

 

Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes throughout America and streaming live on website KlowdTV.com.

 

Klitschko captured his first world title by defeating World Boxing Organization (WBO) defending champion Chris Byrd, by way of a one-sided 12-round decision, five months prior to Klitschko’s aforementioned March 24, 2011 title defense in Munich, Germany against Jefferson.

 

On the eve of his 25th birthday, the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning Klitschko (35-1) destroyed Jefferson (23-2-1), who was dropped three times for a technical knockout in the second round.

 

Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs) will defend his WBA Super, WBO, IBF and IBO world titlesApril 25 against undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.

 

Demand Fight Network if your cable or satellite provider doesn’t offer it!

 

INFORMATION:

 

www.FightNetwork.com

 

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

 

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork
Boxcino, HBO Boxing

Klitschko – Jennings Press Conference Photos & Quotes From Madison Square Garden

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Photo Credit, Will Hart / Klitschko Management Group

New York City (February 4, 2015) – IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO and top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS along with their respective teams held the Kick-Off Press conference for their highly anticipated battle set for Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

 

“THE CHAMPION RETURNS” will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and RTL in Germany among the more than 150 countries which will telecast the event.

 

Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office,www.TheGarden.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.

 

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

“Let us, Bryant and me, entertain you on April 25th here in New York at Madison Square Garden. I see how Bryant Jennings acts. I see how he walks, I see how he shakes hands, I see how he speaks, and he has the qualities of Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia.”

 

“Thank you to HBO. Eventually you believed in me. I’m back on your network and I’m happy about it. Like Sinatra said, ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Right event, right venue and right city. I fought here for the first time 15 years ago and I’m so happy to come back here and fight.”

 

BRYANT JENNINGS:

“This is it.  I like to thank everyone involved with this promotion and my city of Philadelphia.  It took a long time to make this fight happen and through it all I stayed calm.  I commend my team for allowing me to be the athlete that I am while these negotiations were going on. On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me.  One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

 

BERND BOENT/CEO, KMG Management:

“This is Wladimir’s 27th world title fight, it was 15 years ago when he first fought here. I’d like to thank Joel Fisher and his terrific team here at Madison Square Garden, this venue truly is the home of heavyweight champions and we are very excited to have this event here. I’d also like to thank our broadcast partners HBO and RTL without whom events like this would be possible.

 

TOM LOEFFLER/K2 Promotions:

“This is K2 Promotions’ eighth event at Madison Square Garden and we’re honored to work with the outstanding team here. We’ve already sold over 5,000 tickets which is just an incredible response to announcing this event.”

 

GARY SHAW/Gary Shaw Productions:

“Madison Square Garden is the mecca of boxing, the ring is in the Hall of Fame, this is what heavyweight boxing is all about.  25 years ago on February 11, 1990, Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. I believe on April 25th history will once again be made for an American heavyweight to do something spectacular, but this time instead of being overseas, it will be here in the United States at the Madison Square Garden. I believe Bryant Jennings will become the unified heavyweight champion of the world on April 25th.”

 

JAMES PRINCE, Manager of Jennings:

“This is a dream come true for us and we can’t wait.  There are a lot of doubters out there right now and they believe there is no way Bryant Jennings is going to be able to deliver a victory on April 25th.  I would like for you all to show up because Bryant Jennings is going to show out, and we shall be champion.”

 

FRED JENKINS, Trainer of Jennings:

“I do know the pedigree of where Bryant Jennings comes from, he’s going to give it all he’s got.  This is a one sided fight and I believe its going to be all Bryant “By-By” Jennings.”

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Klitschko — Jennings First Photos From New York City

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Photo Credit, Will Hart / Klitschko Management Group

New York City (February 4, 2015) – IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO and top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS met for the first time this morning at the Empire State Building in New York City ahead of today’s Press Conference to announce their battle set for Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, www.TheGarden.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.
boxing

Heavyweight contender Travis Kauffman on the mend and looking to shake up the division

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Reading, PA (January 15, 2015)–On the eve of one of the biggest Heavyweight title fights to take place in the United States in years,

Heavyweight contender Travis “My Time” Kauffman (28-1, 20 KO’s) is close to being ready for action following knee surgery and the former amateur standout is ready for a big run at the elite Heavyweights in the world.

“I can not wait to get back in the ring,” said Kauffman

Kauffman, who has won 9 straight bouts and has been off for a year as he injured his knee in the spring and had the surgery.

“I see that there is a lot of action now here in the states.  There is Deontay Wilder who is fighting for the title on Saturday and there has been a lot of rumblings about Bryant Jennings challenging Wladimir Klitschko in April.  When I get back it will be “My Time” and I am looking to fight the best out there.  I will be very prepared as I have what I believe is the strongest team in the division which is my father Marshall Kauffman, Naazim Richardson and my manager Al Haymon.”