BROCKTON, MA – Undefeated featherweight “King” Kevin Walsh (16-0, 9 KOs) makes the first defense of his WBC US Silver Featherweight title on Saturday, May 10, against former world title challenger Tramaine “The Mighty Midget” Williams (20-2, 6 KOs). 

The bout tops CES Boxing’s “Championship Jackpot 2025,” a loaded card taking place at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Premier Theater.  Tickets for Championship Jackpot 2025 are quickly selling out – purchase yours now at CESFights.com or Ticketmaster.  

“Training’s going great,” said a relaxed Walsh a week from the fight.  “It’s just another day in the office.  I’ve been through a lot in life, so the gym is my therapy.”

Walsh only took a week off after wresting the WBC title from champion Edwin de los Santos in February in a thrilling performance.

“I’m just constantly accelerating,” explains Walsh of his improvement.  “Going rounds, sparring, running miles, doing whatever I gotta do. I don’t switch up the recipe, cause all I’ve been doing is winning.”

Indeed, ‘King’ Kevin Walsh has been on a tear, particularly as his level of competition has increased. The Brockton native defeated Massachusetts rival Irvin Gonzalez via 4th round TKO last November to win the New England Super Featherweight title and followed up that impressive performance with a dominant 8th round TKO of Rhode Island’s de los Santos to add the WBC belt. 

“It was a great fight,” said Walsh of his win over de los Santos. “Ricky’s tough.  I knew he was gonna come to fight, and at the same time, I knew he was underestimating me because we sparred a year prior to the fight and he kinda got the better of me.”

The successful sparring session gave de los Santos the false impression that he was the superior fighter, something that Walsh proved wrong on fight night. 

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m constantly getting better,” explains Walsh, who dropped de los Santos with a tremendous right hand in round 7 before finishing him off in the following round.  “Ricky definitely slept on me, and I ended up getting the best of him, hurting him and knocking him out.”

The win was Walsh’s 4th consecutive knockout, a run that began with a 2nd round stoppage of Tackie Annan in May 2024. 

“That’s what the people like to see,” says Kevin of the conclusive endings to his fights. “I go in there to destroy.  My coaches always tell me, ‘Kev just go in there and box, the knockout’s gonna come’.  Especially in my last two fights, that’s pretty much what I did.  I wasn’t looking for the knockouts.  They just came.”

With wins over Gonzalez and de los Santos, there is only one featherweight left in New England for Walsh to conquer before turning to world aspirations. 

Enter New Haven, CT’s Tramaine Williams, a crafty southpaw who has shared the ring with the likes of 2-division world champion Angelo Leo, top contender Elijah Pierce, and grizzled veteran Yenifel Vicente. 

“He was a very good amateur boxer,” notes Walsh when asked about his opponent.  “I saw him fight for the world title against Angelo Leo. Tremaine’s a good fighter. He’s small, but I feel like he’s strong.  He seems more of a counter puncher, but at the end of the day, the King is here. It’s my time.”

At 5’4 with a 68″ reach, ‘The Mighty Midget’ presents a tough puzzle for Walsh to decipher, but it’s one that Kevin is eager to figure out. 

“Every fight is different,” explains Walsh.  “When I get in there, I’ll see what I got to do to beat him. I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m ready for whatever. I don’t know what he’s gonna do, but he doesn’t know what I’m gonna do. I could box, I could bang, I could move my feet.  I got crazy footwork when I need to use it. I’m ready for the 10 rounds, but I got that power, so the knockout is most likely gonna come.”

Assuming all goes well on Saturday, Walsh is prepared to challenge the division’s elite.

“I would like to fight some of the bigger names out there,” agrees the 32-year-old.  “That’s definitely the plan.  I’m not getting any younger, so my time is now.  Stephen Fulton [WBC], Nick Ball [WBA] or Angelo Leo [IBF]. That’s who I’m coming for.  I want those belts and I want that respect.”

Despite a soft-spoken demeanor and an undefeated record, the Brockton native has had his share of haters throughout the years.  It’s something that he feels is turning into respect with each win. 

“Absolutely,” says Walsh. “After my fights against Ricky del Santos and Irvin Gonzalez, I’m getting a lot more respect.  I’m getting a lot of love from fighters all over New England and all over the world, and lots of support from the fans.”

The King can continue gaining loyal followers with a dominant victory over the last New England featherweight standing, but he’ll have to do it in William’s home state.

“I love that it’s in his backyard and he’s gonna have a lot of people there,” says Walsh of fighting in Connecticut. “Of course, I always bring a lot of people, so the crowd is gonna be going crazy. You guys gonna see fireworks May 10!”

For more information about ‘Championship Jackpot 2025’ and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION
About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.About Foxwoods Resort Casino

Foxwoods Resort Casino, the largest resort casino in the Northeast, has set the standard for innovation and excellence in gaming and hospitality for over 33 years. Owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Foxwoods continues to redefine the resort experience by offering a dynamic mix of world-class gaming, award-winning dining, top-tier entertainment, and family-friendly attractions.

A destination like no other, Foxwoods offers over 1,900 luxury hotel rooms, over 175,000 square feet of flexible space for meetings and events, shopping at Tanger Outlets, and expansive gaming floors throughout the resort and unmatched amenities. The entertainment portfolio features globally acclaimed artists, exclusive live performances, and premier events hosted at its renowned venues, including the Premier Theater and Great Cedar Showroom.

Through strategic partnerships with leading brands like DraftKings Sportsbook, Hell’s Kitchen, and Great Wolf Lodge, Foxwoods continues to expand its offerings and deliver elevated, curated experiences for guests. The new brand campaign, “This Is How We Resort,” reflects Foxwoods’ commitment to creating unique, personalized moments—from thrilling gaming adventures to relaxing escapes—that redefine what it means to “resort”. For more information, visit www.foxwoods.com.

PHILADELPHIA – May 6, 2025 – Boxing legend Danny Garcia’s Swift Promotions will return for their second event of 2025 with an action-packed lineup headlined by the return of former world champion Mickey Bey taking on Tobias Green, and also featuring super prospect “King” David Garcia and more on Saturday, June 7 from the Newtown Sports & Events Center in Newtown, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia.

Title “The Future Is Now: Series II”, the event will feature some of the sport’s premier rising talent as Swift Promotions will look to build off of the momentum of their previous event in March and deliver another night of memorable action for fight fans in Pennsylvania.

**Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased HERE

To apply for media credentials, please visit www.swansonpr.com/credentials

The event will stream live beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Millions.co or through the Millions App for the price of $19.99.

“I can’t wait for June 7 to give fight fans from Philly and all of Pennsylvania another stacked card with the stars of Swift Promotions,” said boxing legend and Founder and CEO of Swift Promotions Danny Garcia. “From top to bottom, these fighters have serious skills and they’re ready to leave it all in the ring. Make sure you come out and support, because I know everyone on this card is coming to show out.”

A native of Cleveland, Ohio who now trains in Philadelphia, Bey (25-3-1, 13 KOs) became a world champion in 2014 with a decision victory over the reigning lightweight world champion Miguel Vazquez, who had been riding a 13-fight winning streak before running into Bey. Most recently, Bey returned to the ring with a pair of stoppage victories in October 2023 and May 2024 and has now joined the Swift Promotions stable as he looks to make another run to the top of the sport beginning with this eight-round super lightweight attraction on June 7. He will face the 28-year-old Green (12-3-1, 4 KOs), who is unbeaten in his last six outings. A Florida-native, Green will make his 2025 debut after defeating Jayson Velez in June 2024 before most recently fighting Andrew Rodgers to a draw in July.

At just 15-years-old, David “King” Garcia (3-0, 2 KOs) turned pro in 2024 after a standout amateur run across 80 fights that included four national championships and has now signed with Swift Promotions to continue his pro run. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia began boxing at just four-years-old, as his father and trainer David Sr. was inspired by the father-son team of Danny and Angel Garcia. With the backing of boxing stalwarts such as Danny Garcia, Puerto Rican star Edgar Berlanga and former world champion Mickey Bey, Garcia opted for the professional ranks instead of a run to the Olympics, and will continue that journey on June 7 in a four-round bout for a bantamweight youth title.

The action will also see Philadelphia’s own Miguel Roman (4-1-1, 1 KO) step into the ring for a six-round super featherweight affair as he looks to bounce back from a split-draw against Michael Ruiz in his previous fight last November. The 25-year-old turned pro in 2020 and won his first four bouts.

Also stepping into the ring is rising welterweight Thanjhae Teasley (12-0, 6 KOs) looking to keep his unbeaten record intact in an eight-round showdown. The 26-year-old Teasley is a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania and kicked off his 2025 in Swift Promotions’ first event of the year, as he stopped Eudy Bernardo in three rounds on March 8.

June 7 will also feature the return of Puerto Rican contender Jonathan Rodriguez (17-3-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight attraction. Now fighting out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Rodriguez worked his way up the rankings with a 10-fight unbeaten streak before he was beaten by top contender Antonio Vargas in February 2024. Most recently, Rodriguez traveled to Japan and dropped a contest to Japanese superstar Tenshin Nasukawa last July.

The stacked card continues with the return of the unbeaten Raymond Cuadrado (8-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round attraction fought at a 138-pound catchweight. The 28-year-old from Ridgewood, New York last entered the ring in June 2023 when he defeated Yeuri Andujar by unanimous decision.

Exciting featherweight prospect Keith Colon (5-0, 5 KOs) will make his third appearance of 2025 on June 7, as he competes in a six-round duel. The 22-year-old put together a stellar amateur career that included a run to the final of the 2021 U.S.A. National Championship. Fighting out of his native Newark, New Jersey, Colon has scored stoppage victories over Angelo Ramos in February and Rashad Hicks in April so far this year.

The hard-hitting 22-year-old Russian prospect Dariial Kuchmenov (8-0, 6 KOs) will compete in a six-round super featherweight bout. Now fighting out of Los Angeles, Kuchmenov enters this fight having scored KO victories in each of his last three outings, including most recently delivering a first-round stoppage of Daniel Lugo in May 2024.

Also in action will be 19-year-old prospect Juan Rivera V (6-0, 4 KOs) in a six-round super lightweight attraction. A Philadelphia-native with a high-level amateur pedigree, Rivera turned pro in April 2024, and has already earned a pair of victories in 2025 after stoppages of Marcello Williams in February and Yeifer Valencia one month later in March.

Making his pro debut will be amateur standout Rommel “Ro” Dunbar in a four-round featherweight tilt. A three-time state champion before turning pro, Dunbar has sparred with notable action fighter and former title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan.

LAS VEGAS, NV (May 6, 2025) — Boxlab Proomotions’ rising heavyweight force and 25-year-old Cuban Olympian Dainier “The Fear” Pero (10-0, 8 KOs) has completed a focused and high-level training camp in Las Vegas under the guidance of world-renowned coach Bob Santos, ahead of the biggest fight of his professional career.

Pero will headline the Most Valuable Prospects 12 card, promoted by MVP, in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout against hard-hitting Juan Antonio Navarro on Friday, May 9, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The event will be televised live on DAZN, marking Pero’s first main event appearance on a nationally televised stage.

Training in Las Vegas, Pero and Santos have been laser-focused on refining his technical ability, ring IQ, and endurance as he prepares for the challenge ahead. “We’ve been working hard, but doing it smart,” said Pero. “Coach Bob Santos knows how to push when needed, and I feel I’m getting better with each camp. We’ve been working on controlling the pace, staying sharp defensively, and using my size and speed in smarter ways. I feel more prepared than ever.”

Pero faces a dangerous test in Navarro, a known power puncher with knockout intent. But the Cuban Olympian is embracing the challenge. “I know Navarro comes to fight and carries real power,” added Pero. “This type of fight is what we’ve been preparing for—a tough opponent that brings out the best in me. I’m here to show I’m ready for the top of the division, and Navarro is standing in my way. My goal is to take him out and do it impressively.”

As he steps into his first main event on an MVP show, Pero is eager to make a lasting impression. “To headline a card like this on DAZN and MVP is the next step in my career.” Pero concluded. “Fighting on this kind of stage, means everything to me. I want fans around the world to remember my name after May 9.”

Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, has been instrumental in guiding Pero’s career and believes the young heavyweight’s time is coming. “Dainier Pero is one of the most promising heavyweight prospects in the world,” said Piedra. “His amateur pedigree, combined with the discipline he’s shown in the pros, is rare. This main event is just the beginning—we believe he’s on a fast track to title contention.”

HUNTINGTON, NY (May 5, 2025) – Star Boxing proudly announces the return of its critically acclaimed fight series, Rockin’ Fights 51, set to electrify The Paramount NY in Huntington, NY on September 20, 2025.

While the show has not been ‘officially announced,’ Tickets for Rockin’ Fights 51 are available via pre-sale to Star Boxing’s loyal followers. This allows our fans to get the best available seats before the public. Just click on ticket link and use our code:STAR.

Building on the legacy of 50 action-packed shows, Star Boxing continues to elevate its flagship series with a thrilling lineup of hungry contenders, local fan favorites, and international talent all looking to leave their mark.

Here is a schedule of when and where pre-sale tickets can be purchased…

STAR BOXING Presale: Tuesday, May 6th 2025 @ 10:00 AM – Thursday, May 8th @ 10:00PM (PW: STAR)

Citi Presale: Tuesday, May 6th 2025 @ 10:00 AM – Thursday, May 8th @ 10:00 PM

Venue Presale: Wednesday, May 7th , 2025 @ 10:00 AM – Thursday, May 8th @ 10:00PM (PW: PULSE)

Live Nation Presale: Wednesday, May 7th , 2025 @ 10:00 AM – Thursday, May 8th @ 10:00PM (PW: FREESTYLE)

On Sale To Public: Friday, May 9th , 2025 @ 10:00 AM

Tickets are expected to move quickly as fight fans from across New York and the tri-state area flock to Star Boxing at the Paramount, consistently hailed as one of the top venues in the country for live boxing. Don’t miss your opportunity to be apart of this event !

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 51 TICKETS ON PRE-SALE

BUY TICKETS HERE!
ABOUT ROCKIN’ FIGHTS

Created in 2011, the “Rockin’ Fights” series has developed elite boxing talent and has produced former WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion, the “Common Man”, JOE “THE BEAST” SMITH JR. (Mastic, Long Island 28-4 22KO’s) and former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion, CHRIS ALGIERI (Huntington, NY 25-4 9KO’S), two of only four Long Island World Champions EVER.

“ROCKIN’ FIGHTS” 51 is presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

For more information visit us at www.StarBoxing.com. For 30 years of action packed fights, subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE. Follow along on social media for fight announcements and updates @StarBoxing, and join the conversation using #RockinFights.

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ABOUT STAR BOXING ®:
With the critically acclaimed Rockin’ Fights Paramount Series, Star Boxing continues to develop world rated contenders and red-hot prospects into future world champions, such as Chris Algieri, Joe Smith Jr., and Cletus Seldin. Founded by Joe DeGuardia, a former boxer and New York State and Connecticut Hall of Famer inductee, is identified as one of the most sought out promoters to help nurture and groom fighters into future world champions.

For more information on Star Boxing, visit official website: www.StarBoxing.com

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:

Since Opening in September 2011, The Paramount has become a top live entertainment venue. Located in Huntington, Long Island, New York; The Paramount – in concert with TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® – hosts a variety of concerts, comedy, boxing and other special events. Booked by Live Nation and utilizing Ticketmaster ticketing; The Paramount hosts an average of 200 events per year. In less than 5 years since opening, The Paramount has quickly established itself as the premier live venue on Long Island – the 20th largest U.S. media market (2.5M HH-Arbitron: Nassau/Suffolk MSA). Pollstar Magazine ranked The Paramount as the #11 club venue worldwide (Att. Q3 ’15). With almost 70k+ Facebook fans & 10k+ Twitter followers, the venue was also ranked by Billboard Magazine as the “23rd Hottest Club” in 2014.

LAS VEGAS, NV (May 5, 2025) — Top Rank’s undefeated junior lightweight contender Andres “Savage” Cortes (20-0, 12 KOs) has wrapped up an intensive and powerful training camp in Las Vegas ahead of his upcoming 10-round showdown against Spain’s Salvador Jimenez (14-1-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday, May 10, at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

Cortes vs. Jimenez will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale now at AXS.com.

The bout, which is part of a stacked night of action, marks another major step in Cortes’ march toward a world title. Currently ranked #5 in the world by the WBO, the Las Vegas native knows a dominant performance could push him even closer to a title shot in the highly competitive 130-pound division.

Cortes, who trains under the guidance of his brother and manager Luis Cortes, believes this camp has brought out the best in him—mentally and physically. He’s looking to steal the show on May 10th with a sensational performance.

“Training camp went great,” said Cortes. “Having my brother Luis in my corner, pushing me every day, makes all the difference. We’re focused on our goals, and this camp showed that. I feel sharp, strong, and ready for whatever comes May 10.”

The matchup with Jimenez is expected to be a high-skill chess match, as both fighters bring speed, footwork, and strong boxing IQs into the ring. “Salvador Jimenez is not an easy fight. He’s a smart, disciplined fighter with only one loss, and I’m preparing for a tough challenge,” Cortes said. “But I’m here to prove that I belong at the top. This is the kind of fight that will prove I’m ready for a world title shot.”

A win on May 10 would mark another significant milestone in Cortes’ unbeaten career and position him firmly in the title conversation. “At this point in my boxing life, every fight is the most important fight of my career,” Cortes added. “A win here puts me right where I want to be—a step away from a world title shot. I’m not looking past Jimenez, but I know what’s on the line, and I’m ready to seize the moment.”

Luis Cortes echoed his brother’s confidence and praised the effort and mindset shown throughout camp. “This was one of the best camps we’ve had,” said Luis Cortes. “Andres came in hungry, focused, and is determined to make a statement. He’s ready for the next level, and May 10 is going to be another big step toward becoming world champion.”

DETROIT (May 5, 2025)– Salita Promotions will present an electrifying night of fights on Friday, June 6, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, as part of International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. This highly anticipated event, titled “Hall of Fame Fight Night,” will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN and is promoted in collaboration with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT, the dynamic digital content platform led by boxing legend Andre Ward.

As a burgeoning leader in the boxing world, Salita Promotions is committed to developing top-tier talent and delivering compelling narratives that resonate with fans. The partnership with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT enhances the promotion’s ability to tell the stories of today’s boxing stars while celebrating the rich history of the sport.

The event is headlined by USBA American heavyweight titlist Brandon Moore (17-1, 10 KOs), who will square off against the undefeated Stanley Wright (14-0, 11 KOs). Moore is entering the fight after a victory over previously undefeated Skylar Lacy, while Wright is coming off a major upset victory over previously undefeated heavyweight standout Jeremiah Milton. This clash pits two of the best rising American heavyweights, both eager to carve their names into boxing history.

Moore, a standout from Florida and the 2019 Golden Gloves Champion, showcased his dominance in his last bout, which ended in a disqualification win. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Wright, fresh off his stunning upset, is poised to seize the moment and challenge Moore’s momentum in this important American heavyweight showdown.

“It’s a tremendous honor to bring Hall of Fame Fight Night to Turning Stone Resort Casino on June 6 to help launch the Boxing Hall of Fame’s Induction Weekend,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “We are deeply committed to developing the next generation of champions — guiding fighters from the early stages to the world stage.  This card has it all — world champions, top contenders, and rising prospects, all with world championship potential, matched in competitive fights. Partnering with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT adds an exciting new dimension, giving fans a closer look at the inspiring personal journeys behind the athletes. The in-ring excitement, combined with the storytelling through our partnership with ATS FIGHT, will create a truly memorable event for boxing fans around the world.” 

Presale tickets for Turning Stone Rewards Card members are available starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, at 10 a.m. ET at turningstone.com. Guests will have the option to upgrade their ticket for access to the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge. This add-on will provide guests with exclusive access to the Lounge, which includes the opportunity to meet Boxing Hall of Fame inductees during the event. There are limited tickets available for the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge Access upgrade.

The DAZN televised card will also feature world-rated contenders and boxing’s hottest prospects, including U.S. Olympic Team Captain Joseph Hicks Jr. (12-0, 8 KOs). Hicks is fresh off a TKO victory over previously undefeated, highly touted Keon Papillion, looking to continue his ascent. 

In addition, national amateur champion Joshua James Pagan (12-0, 4 KOs) will face off against Lancaster, Pa.’s James Bernadin (13-2-1, 6 KOs). Pagan is one of Salita’s brightest prospects and is entering his fourth fight in just over a year. He continues to impress as he dispatches increasingly tough opposition. To date, Pagan has faced and beaten four undefeated fighters in and around the lightweight division. A WBA’s regional lightweight champion, Bernadin enters this co-feature bout on the strength of three straight victories. The 32-year-old Haitian native will make his first outing in 2025 against one of the fastest rising prospects in the sport.

Also on the DAZN card is recently signed Salita Promotions champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs), the reigning WBC and WBA Unified Super Middleweight World Champion, who will defend her titles against Mexico’s 2024 Olympian Citlalli Ortiz (4-1, 1 KO).  The undercard will feature Puerto Rico’s first women’s Olympic boxer Ashleyann Lozada (1-0), highly touted Brooklyn, N.Y. heavyweight Pryce Taylor (7-0, 5 KOs), and Salita Promotions’ middleweight prospect Da’Velle Smith (11-0, 8 KOs) who has been routinely compared to Hall of Famer Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns for his poise, quiet confidence and significant punching power.

Induction Weekend takes place Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, when the International Boxing Hall of Fame will enshrine several all-time greats, including eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, Michael Nunn, Yessica Chavez, and Mary Jo Sanders, among others. This event is not just about the fights; it’s a celebration of the sport’s rich history and the future stars who will carry the torch.

Along with this incredible night of boxing, International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend’s four days of non-stop boxing action and events will feature several events at Turning Stone, including:

The Banquet of Champions: Held on Saturday, June 7 at 6:30 pm in the Turning Stone Event Center, the annual Banquet of Champions will celebrate some of boxing’s greatest legends and most memorable moments.

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: On Sunday, June 8 at 2:30 pm, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at The Showroom at Turning Stone will recognize this year’s outstanding class of honorees and officially welcome them to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Boxing fans can also look forward to events throughout the weekend at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, including ringside talks, a celebrity fist casting, a boxing autograph card show and more. On Sunday, June 8 the Parade of Champions will also kick off in downtown Canastota at 12:00 pm.

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:   

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.  

ABOUT TURNING STONE:   

A renowned, award-winning destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino features world-class amenities including five hotels, two luxurious spas, five golf courses, more than 20 dining options, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas-style gaming floor, TS Sports, a state-of-the-art sports betting lounge, The Showroom, an intimate concert venue, a 5,000 seat arena, and several nightlife venues. Conveniently located 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33, Turning Stone was named the #1 Best Gaming Resort in New York by Casino Player Magazine and the #1 Best Overall Dining in 2023. Turning Stone has also earned the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award for The Lodge, Wildflowers restaurant, TS Steakhouse, and Sk?:n??: Spa, and, for more than a decade, the AAA Four Diamond Award for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant.

For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. 

May 5, 2025 – Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz sends his congratulations to Ramon “Dinamita” Cardenas, Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza for their success and bravery in the ring over the weekend.

Lewkowicz also says he’ll do whatever it takes to make next year’s Cinco De Mayo celebration in Las Vegas unforgettable by pitting Light Heavyweight superstar David Benavidez against the winner of the upcoming Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight.

Rife with overpaid big-name fighters taking safety-first approaches in terrible fights to watch, Lewkowicz asserts that aside from Rolly Romero’s disciplined performance while upsetting Ryan Garcia Friday night, the entire weekend, normally an occasion for boxing’s marquee matchups, betrayed the spirit of Cinco de Mayo and could have heavily damaged the sport’s integrity.

Fortunately, Lewkowicz says, Sunday’s electric Inoue/Cardenas fight, in which undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue got off the canvas in round two to stop the brave Cardenas in an eight-round thriller, as well as the intense fire fight between undefeated featherweight champion Espinoza and challenger Edward Vazquez (won by Espinoza in seven exciting rounds) thankfully saved the sport’s reputation.

“You can’t buy good fights,” said Lewkowicz, the exclusive promoter of Benavidez and co-promoter of Cardenas along with Paco Damian of Paco Presents and Garry Jonas of ProBox TV. “Those two events in New York and Saudi Arabia cost in the high tens of millions and they were nothing compared to Sunday’s Top Rank event, which cost a fraction of that amount, but delivered the kind of action we needed to save face for boxing.”

Determined to prevent a similar outcome next year, Lewkowicz says it is his mission to make the showdown for light heavyweight supremacy between “The Mexican Monster” David Benavidez and either Bivol or Beterbiev for 2026’s Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas.

“After watching Canelo Alvarez Saturday night and how he looked, I wouldn’t put him in with Benavidez for fear he’d be badly injured. David Benavidez will fight in the fall and then be ready for Cinco de Mayo to face either Bivol or Beterbiev, where the torch will finally be passed to him as the new face of boxing.”

Lewkowicz also says he’s very proud of the heart and bravery shown by the San Antonio-based Cardenas, who made the most of the opportunity he earned by looking sensational in three consecutive bouts on ProBox TV.

“Ramon’s career will change trajectory now, as he showed he belongs among the top fighters at junior featherweight and bantamweight. Thank you to Garry Jonas for giving him the chance to shine on ProBox TV and Top Rank for the opportunity against Inoue.”

About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com

Santa Ynez, CA (May 5, 2025) The Fastest Rising Star in Boxing, ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (13-0, 11 KOs), of Cork, Ireland makes his long-awaited return to Southern California on Saturday, June 21 against long-standing contender Elias ‘The Latin Kid’ Espadas, (23-6-1, 16 KOs), of Yucatan, Mexico at  the beautiful Chumash Casino Resort and broadcast live globally on UFC Fight Pass, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports.

The ten-round junior middleweight main event is presented by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions as part of their internationally acclaimed Hollywood Fight Nights, Boxing’s Best Monthly Series. Walsh will be making the fourth defense of his WBC Continental Americas Title, he is currently ranked #4 by the WBC and #5 by the IBF.

Tickets priced at $105, $85, $75, $65 and $55 for Hollywood Fight Nights are Now On-Sale and can be purchased online at www.ChumashCasino.com. The Chumash Casino Resort venue is located at 3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460.

“Following his show-stopping knockouts in front of huge crowds in Dublin, Ireland and New York City, we’re excited to bring boxing’s hottest young international star, Callum Walsh back to Southern California,” said Tom Loeffler. “Elias Espadas just fought to a draw in a sensational junior middleweight clash against undefeated Sadriddin Akhmedov on April 19 and jumped at the opportunity to face another world class fighter.”

“This is our seventh event at Chumash Casino and I strongly encourage fans to purchase tickets in advance to guarantee entry on fight night as every previous show has sold out.”

Callum Walsh kicked off his 2025 campaign with a show-stopping first round knockout of Scotland’s Dean Sutherland (19-1) on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. This was his third time headlining the famed venue in front a huge crowd of Irish boxing fans. The Freddie Roach trained southpaw fought in Ireland for the first time as a professional on September 20, 2024, stopping Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski, (22-2-1), in the second round at the 3Arena in Dublin, thrilling the packed homecoming crowd.

Trained by Manny Robles, Elias Espadas battled over ten hotly contested rounds against undefeated Kazakh contender Sadriddin Akhmedov on April 19 at the Commerce Casino Events Center. The fierce clash was judged a draw with Espadas proving his mettle at the top of the junior middleweight division. Espadas has also battled undefeated young stars, Xander Zayas, Yamaguchi Falcao, D’Mitrius Ballard and Fiodor Czerkaszyn.

Additional fights for this action-packed event will be announced shortly.

The Hollywood Fight Nights event is part of a UFC Fight Pass Back-to-Back Weekend at the Chumash Casino Resort with Uriah Faber’s A-1 MMA hosting an event on Friday, June 20.

Canelo Alvarez won a 12-round unanimous decision over William Scull to become Undisputed Super Middleweight champion at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fight lacked any sustained action as Scull circled the ring relentlessly with Canelo trying to stalk the former IBF champion. Scull laned an occasional right hand but it was body shots from Alvarez that proved to be the difference.

Alvarez landed just 56 of 152 punches. Scull was 55 of 293. To illustrate just how pedestrian the fight was, By throwing a combined 445 punches over 12 rounds, Canelo (152 punches) and Scull (293 punches) set a new record for fewest punches thrown in a 12 round fight tracked by CompuBox’s 40-year history. The previous record was 459 (Parker vs. Wilder). On Friday night in Times Square, Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero combined to throw 490 punches over 12 rounds, now the fourth fewest; and Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez combined to throw 503 punches over 12 rounds, now the sixth fewest. 

Alvarez of Guadalajara, Mexico won by scores of 119-109, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 63-2-2. Scull of Germany via Cuba is 23-1.

After the fight, Alvarez and Terence Crawford faced off in the center of the ring as they officially announced their September 12th mega-showdown which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Badou Jack Decisions Mikaelian to Win Full WBC Cruiserweight Title

Badou Jack won the full WBC Cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Champion in Recess Moel Mikalelian.

Mikalelian controlled the first five rounds using the right hand behind the jab. In round five, Mikaelian suffered swelling under his left eye. Jack was able to land some good right hands. It was a close fight as they grinded out down the stretch.

Jack landed 122 of 369 punches. Mikaelian was 153 of 670.

Jack, 200 lbs of Stockholm, SWE won by 115-113 twice and 114-114 and is now 29-3-3. Mikaelian, 198.1 lbs o Armenia is 27-3.

Munguia Gets Even; Decisions Surace

Jaime Munguia avenged a December knockout loss to Bruno Surace and pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight bout.

Munguia boxed well and dominated with body shots and slowed Surace down.

Munguia landed 105 of 397 punches. Surace was 94 of 292.

Munguia, 167.7 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 and is now 45-2. Surace, 167.7 lbs of Marsailles, FRA is 26-1-2.

Ajagba and Bakole Battle to Draw

Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole battled to a 10-round majority draw in a battle of big hitting heavyweights.

Ajagba controlled the first part of the fight as he worked behind a nice jab and mixed in some right hands. Bakole started to get inro the fight and had a big eighth round as he landed a huge flurry of power punches that made the nose of Ajagba bleed. Bakole once again had a big final frame as landed a nice combination.

Bakole landed 145 of 460 punches. Ajagba was 190 of 451.

Scorecards read 96-94 for Ajagba and 95-95 twice. Bakole, 299 lbs of Kampala, Congo is 21-2-1. Ajagba, 240 lbs of Ughilli, NIG is 20-1-1.

Brayan Leon Decisions Aaron Guerrero

Brayan Leon remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Aaron Rocha Guerrero in a super middleweight bout.

In round two, Guerrero started to swell on his face. In round four, Leon dropped Guerrero with a perfect left hook to the jaw.

Leon, 169.1 lbs of Pinna Del Rio, CUB won by score of 60-54 and is now 7-0. Guerrero, 166.1 lbs of Culican, MEX is 11-4-1.

Former cruiserweight world title challenger Richard Riakphore made a successful heavyweight debut with a stoppage of Kevin Nicolas Espindola after round four of their scheduled eight-round bout.

In round four, Riakphore landed a huge right to the body that put Espindola on the canvas. After the round, Espindola had enough and the fight was halted.

Riakphore, 235 lbs of London is 18-1 with 14 knockouts. Espindola, 297 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 9-10.

Marco Verde made a rousing pro debut with an opening round stoppage over Michel Galvin Polina in a six-round middleweight fight.

Early in round one, Verde dropped Polina with a big body shot. Seconds later, Verde dropped Polina with another body shot. Verde use sizzLing flurry to hurt Polina and the fight was stopped at 1:34.

Verde, 158.7 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX is 1-0 with one knockout. Polina, 158.8 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 4-6-3.

Mohammad Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Alexander Morales in a lightweight bout.

Alakel, 134.1 lbs of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia won by a 60-54 score is now 4-0. Morales, 133.5 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 6-14-5.

Follow all the action as Canelo Alvarez takes on William Scull for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Title.  The action begins at 5:45 ET/12″45 in Riyadh.  The undercard features the WBC Cruiserweight Title bout between Badou Jack and Noel Mikalelian.  Also Super Middleweights Jaime Munguia and Bruno Surace battle in a rematch plus big hitting heavyweights Martin Bakole fights Efe Ajagba.

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ROUND 1 Right from Alvarez

ROUND 2 Left from Alvarez

ROUND 3 

ROUND 4 Alvarez lands a body shot…Body..Right from Scull

ROUND 5 Combination from Alvarez

ROUND 6 Right from Scull..Body shot from Alvarez..Body shot

ROUND 7 left to body from Alvarez…Left from Scull,

ROUND 8 Canelo lands a body shot…Left hook…

ROUND 9 Right for Scull…Body shot from Alvarez..2 body shots..

ROUND 10 Quick right from Scull…

ROUND 11 Right to body by Alvarez

ROUND 12  Body shot from Alvarez…Combination from Scull..

115-113, 116-112, 119-109 FOR CANELO ALVAREZ

Round 1 Right to bofy from Mikaelian..

ROUND 2 Right from Jack…Good right from Mikaelian

ROUND 3 Right from Mikaelian..Good right from Jack..Triple right..Right to body…Good right from Jack

ROUND 4 Right from Mikaelian..Body shot and right hook..Clubbing right..Left hook

ROUND 5 Good right from Mikaelian..Big left…Mouse under left eye of Mikaelian..Good right from Jack…

ROUND 6 big furry from Jack…Right from Jack..Jab

ROUND 7 Good jab from Mikealian..Right from Jack..Right from Mikaelian..Right to body..Body combination from Jack

ROUND 8 Jabs from Mikaleian..Counter left..Jab..Big right from Jack..Lead right…Counter at the bell

ROUND 9 Right from Mikaelian..Short left hook from Jack..Right..Big right from Mikaelian..Another oner

ROUND 10 Body shot from Jack..Left hook and right from Mikaelian..Short right…Quick left from Jack…Bidy shot…Right from Mikaelian

ROUND 11 Left From Jack..Chopping right from Mikaelian…Right..Body shot from Jack..Counter..

ROUND 12 Nice left hook from Mikaelian..Right to body..Body shot from Jack..Good combination from Mikaelian..Big right for Jack

114-114; 115-113 TWICE FOR JACK

Round 1: Right from Surace…Right..Right to body…
Round 2 Right from Munguia..Jab and left hook to body
Round 3 Left hook to the body from Munguia..
Round 4 Counter right from Surace..Another..
Round 5 Left hook from Munguia..Right from Munguia..
Round 6 Right from Surace
Round 7 Right to body from Surace..Uppercut..Looping left and right over the top from Munguia..Body shots
Round 8 Hard right to body from Munguia..
Round 9 Good right to body from Surace…Good left to body from Munguia…Good body shot..Double left hook..Right to head from Surace
Round 10 Right from Surace..Good right to body from Munguia hurts Surace
Round 11 Left to body from Munguia,…Good body shots..Left to the body..
Round 12 Left hook to the body from Munguia…

117-111 TWICE AND 116-112 FOR MUNGUIA

Round 1 Jab to body from Ajagba…Nice Right
Round 2 Jab from Bakole to the body..
Round 3 Right over top from Ajagba..Big right..Another right wobbles Bakole..Another right..Good left hook from Bakole..
Round 4 Big lft hook from Bakole..uppercut..Big flurry in the corner
Round 5 Jabs from Ajagba…Counter right
Round 6 Right to body from Ajagba…
Round 7 Nice right…another..Counter right..stiff jab…
Round 8 Good right from Ajagba…Clubbing left hook from Bakole..Blood from the nose of Ajagba..Body work from Ajagba..Bigh Right from Bakole..
Round 9 Right over top from Bakole
Round 10 2 punch combination from Bakole..

96-94 AJAGBA…95-95 ON TWO CARDS

Round 1: Espindola lands a left hook to the body..Good body shot from Riakphore…Right to body from Espindola
Round 2 Body shot from Espindola…Rught to body from Espindola…Good body shot from Riakphore..
Round 3 Nice right from Riakphore…Good body shot…Right to body doubles over Espindola..Left hook from Espindola..
Round 4 Beautiful uppercut from Riakphore..Nice BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES ESPINDOLA...FIGHT IS OVER IN THE CORNER

Round 1 Nice right from Leon..Nice right to the body…Chopping right..
Round 2 Body shot from Leon..Good left hook on the inside..Swelling on the face of Guerrero
Round 3 Right from Leon…Body shot..Right…
Round 4  COUNTER LEFT AND DOWN GOES GUERRERO…
Round 5 Body shots from Leon
Round 6 Hard left hook from Leon…Hard 2 punch combination. Left hook..another left hook ricks Guerrero

60-54 LEON

Round 1: VERDE LANDS AN UPPERCUT TO THE BODY AND DOWN GOES POLINA.  ANOTHER BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES POLINA AGAIN.  Big combination…HUGE FLURRY IN THE CORNER AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Jab from Alakel…Uppercut
Round 2 Good body shot from Alakel
Round 3 Nice right from Alakel….Uppercut…
Round 4 Body shot from Alakel
Round 5 Left from Alakel
Round 6 Step back right hand from Alakel…Nice body shot..Double jab

60-54 Alakel

Canelo Álvarez vs. William Scull – 12 rounds, Undisputed Super Middleweight Championship

Canelo Álvarez – 167.1 lbs

William Scull – 166.1 lbs

Álvarez: “This is a beautiful experience for me to be able to come here and fulfill my dream of fighting in another country… I don’t care about the height or size. If you’re a good fighter, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been in there with everybody.”

Scull: “I know exactly what I need to do. I put together a great game plan and I’m going to adhere to it.…I’m going to show everyone what William Scull is made of and take the undisputed championship back home.”

Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian – 12 rounds, WBC Cruiserweight World Championship

Badou Jack – 200 lbs

Noel Mikaelian – 198.1 lbs

Jack: “I’m not 41, he looks 10 years older than me…Every fight is important to me. All of the back and forth about belts doesn’t matter; we’ll find out who’s the best tomorrow night…There are levels to boxing. I take care of my body, so I feel like I’m the young buck in this fight.”

Mikaelian: “This is just another fight. I’m the champion, and I’m gonna defend my belt. I love all the Mexican fans here, they bring boxing to life…Badou is doing what he has to do. He says age is just a number, but he’s 41 and I wish him all the best tomorrow night…He’s a veteran who knows what he’s doing and I respect that and I don’t underestimate him…Tomorrow is my night.”

Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace – 12 rounds, Super Middleweight Rematch

Jaime Munguia – 167.7 lbs

Bruno Surace – 167.7 lbs

Munguia: “I’m very excited, and I can’t wait for the moment where I get back into the ring. I’m ready for this fight… I’m full of adrenaline, and I’ve put in so much work because I know I have to bring this victory home. It’s gonna be a great night.”

Surace: “I know that Munguia is a champion and I’m very excited to share the ring with him again… I’ve prepared well, and I have the will to win. Just like the first fight. I will give everything.”

Martin Bakole vs. Efe Ajagba, 10 rounds, Heavyweights

Martin Bakole – 299 lbs

Efe Ajagba – 240 lbs

Bakole: “We’re saving everything for tomorrow… The talking is over. We have a war tomorrow, and the best fighter will win.”

Ajagba: “I’m very confident and ready to fight. I’m looking forward to Saturday night.”

Richard Riakporhe vs. Kevin Nicolas Espindola, 8 rounds, Heavyweights

Richard Riakporhe – 235 lbs

Kevin Nicolas Espindola – 297 lbs

Riakporhe: “The weight difference is no problem for me… I feel really good. I can eat normally, and I feel healthier. I’m punching hard, so everyone tune in. When I’m in the ring, you know the bombs are gonna go off.”

Brayan Leon vs. Aaron Rocha Guerrero, 6 rounds, Light Heavyweights

Brayan Leon – 169.1 lbs

Aaron Rocha Guerrero – 166.1 lbs

Leon: “I was just showing him one last bit of disrespect during our stare down before we get into the ring tomorrow…This is a very important fight for me, so I’m very excited. I need to show the hard work that I put in and win by knockout. I give him maximum three rounds.”

Marco Verde vs. Michel Galvan Polina, 6 rounds, Middleweights

Marco Verde – 158.7 lbs

Michel Galvan Polina – 159.8 lbs

Verde: “This is very different from the amateurs, and I’m very happy to have the time to recover. This is my pro debut and I need to put on a good show… I want to fight my style. I’m always looking for the counterpunch.”

Mohammed Alakel vs. Alexander Morales, 6 rounds, Super Featherweights

Mohammed Alakel – 134.1 lbs

Alexander Morales – 133.6 lbs

Alakel: “I’m looking forward to this. Just one day to go and I’m excited. All the hard work is done and hopefully I can put on a great performance for my people… There’s no pressure; hopefully I become 4-0 tomorrow.”

Álvarez and Scull hit the scales before a historic Saturday night as they headline an eight-fight card as part of DAZN’s Knockout Weekend Bundle — two back-to-back nights of world-class boxing, available exclusively on DAZN PPV. TONIGHT (5 p.m. ET), Friday, May 2, The Ring Magazine presents FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, a first-of-its-kind five-fight card live from Times Square featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. One night later, Canelo vs.Scull headlines an electric Riyadh Season event on Saturday, May 3, as Álvarez and Scull fight for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. Fans can watch both events for just $90 (pricing may vary by market). For full details, visitDAZN.com/boxing.

LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2025) — Nearly four years have passed since Naoya Inoue last fought in the United States.

But on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, The Monster makes his stateside return.

Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). It’ll be the biggest challenge of Cardenas’s career, but it’ll also be a shot to author an upset of the kind that once silenced Tokyo in 1990.

In the co-feature, Mexico’s  Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Texas-born former title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs).

Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT and features the return of unbeaten Dominican welterweight Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs), who meets Argentina’s heavy-handed Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Also, rising Mexican American prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) will take on Spain’s Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight tilt.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.

At Friday’s press conference, this is what the fighters said:

Naoya Inoue

“The last two times I was here, it was during the pandemic, and I had to train accordingly. But this time I’m fighting at T-Mobile, and that’s going to be the biggest difference.”

“I’m very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd in a big arena like this, but because it’s during Cinco De Mayo Weekend, it feels like I’m playing an away game. So I don’t know what to expect.”

“The ideal situation is to show the American fans my boxing and win with a knockout. But more than anything, I want people to see something they haven’t been able to see yet in the U.S.”

“Cardenas is a very well-rounded fighter. And I think it’s a good platform to show my boxing skills.”

Ramon Cardenas

“I remember watching 24/7 with Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather. I remember watching them and wanting to be here. And now I’m here. Also, fighting for a world title is one thing, but fighting for the undisputed title is more than I could ever ask for. It makes me hungrier. It makes me want it more.”

“I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I know Inoue is a pound-for-pound great. But I’m ready for that. I’m ready for the toughest fight of my career. I picture this being a hard fight, but I also picture myself coming out there and doing my thing and showing the world who I am.”

“I need to finish this mission. I’ve lost an uncle on the way. I’ve lost a trainer on the way. And now I’m two days away from accomplishing the mission, and that’s my plan.”

Rafael Espinoza

“This is another opportunity in my career. I think I have shown in each fight that I want to get better each time. This is not the exception. It was one of the best camps I’ve ever had. I feel great physically and mentally, so you can expect the best from me.”

“In my first fight with Ramirez, I knew that nobody knew what I was capable of. And I still haven’t showed what I’m capable, in terms of both my boxing skills and my heart. I have shown a bit, but I still have a lot to show. He’s a great fighter, so it’s a great opportunity to keep showing what I’m made of.”

“This is a great opportunity. I always wanted to fight on these dates, and I’ve always wanted to fight here. And now I’m doing that. So that gives me the motivation to wake up every day and give it a 1000% because I am accomplishing my dreams.”

Edward Vazquez

“It’s going to take violence to win. Total all-out violence. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to hurt him and take that belt back home with me to Texas.”

“For sparring, we’ve had a few guys come in who are 126 and 130 pounds. But for the most part, we used guys who are at 147 and 154, which is what I’m expecting to be at on fight night, so it works out.”

“I was one of the top amateurs at 145 pounds. I was always the smaller guy, but I always fought guys who were 6’1” or 6’2”. I traveled across the country fighting guys like that. If you know me, I’ll get in the ring with anybody.”

Rohan Polanco 

“It’s a Mexican date, so I want to tell Fabian Maidana to make sure he’s coming to fight. Let’s give a great fight to the people.”

“I always come to deliver a great show, as you have all seen in my last fights. This will not be the exception. I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to obtain the victory. And I’m coming to represent my country.”

Emiliano Fernando Vargas

“Fight by fight, we’ll get there. This Sunday is going to be a Super Bowl event. I know we usually fight on Saturdays, but this time on Sunday. I just can’t wait. I know he’s ready. I’m only a pound away. I’m in the best shape. If they thought my last performance was great, I’m going to outshine the last one.”

“Every fighter has an opportunity to make a name. That’s their goal, and that’s my goal as well.  To make my dreams happen, I have to crush his. I know he’s ready. I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I know every fight is going to be a step-up fight.”

Juan Leon

“This is a dream come true. It’s incredible. I want to thank God. I also want to thank my promoter. So, I’m inspired to come here and give everything.”

On receiving the offer to fight Vargas

“At first, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke. But then I saw it was real. I’m filled with inspiration to give everything.”

Art Barrera Jr.

“I’ve been busy. I just fought three, four weeks ago. This is obviously a bigger card, bigger opportunity, so it’s definitely a great opportunity to show my skill set.”

Raeese Aleem

“I’m excited to fight. Every time I step in the ring, I bring it. I earned the nickname ‘The Beast’ for a reason. Fast hands, fast feet, explosive… I’m an entertaining fighter.”

On a potential fight with Espinoza

“I’ve been trying to fight ‘The Tree.’ I’ve been trying to knock that tree down. We’ll see what happens. I have to get through this fight, It’s going to be a tough fight. Every fight at this level is extremely tough, but I’m going to show up and show out, and I’m looking for a big fight next.”

Sunday, May 4

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, 12 rounds, Inoue’s Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title

Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez, 12 rounds, Espinoza’s WBO Featherweight World Title 
 

ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)

Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana, 10 rounds, Polanco’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Title

Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, Cruiserweight (swing bout)

Rolando Romero scored the biggest win of his career by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Ryan Garcia in a welterweight fight outdoors at the famed Times Square in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

In round two, Romero dropped Garcia with a hard double left hook on the chin. After that, Garcia really seemed to be listless and fought very timidly. Romero did just enough in every round by just coming forward more with foot pressure that any type of sustained punching.

Romero landed 57 of 280. Garcia was 66 of 210. Garcia & Romero 490 combined landed punches 3rd fewest in CompuBox history for a 12-round fight, surpassing Haney & Ramirez at 503

That was enough as Romero, 146.6 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 118-109 and 115-112 twice to raise his mark to 17-2. Garcia, 146.8 lbs of Victorville, CA is 24-2.

“Knockdowns always help,” said Romero (17-2, 13 KOs). “Ryan is a warrior. He got up, and he finished the fight. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”

“Rolly fought a good fight,” said Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). “He caught me early, no excuses. Congrats to him. He did a great job, and that’s that.”

“I think the whole year took a lot off my body physically and mentally,” said Garcia. “I’m thankful for the opportunity. Hats off to Rolly… I’m gonna go back to the drawing board, talk it over, and see what we do next.”

 “I’m not even thinking about what’s next,” said Romero. “I think Devin and Ryan should get their rematch and make a big one.”

Devin Haney Decisions Ramirez in Lackluster fight

In a fight where very punches of significance landed, former undisputed champion Devin Haney won a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified world champion Jose Ramirez in a welterweights.

Haney landed 70 of 224 punhes. Ramirez was 40 of 279. Haney (229) & Ramiez (274) combined to thrown 503 punches.  4th fewest in a 12 round fight in CompuBox history. Ironically, Haney (214) & Ryan Garcia (285) combined to throw 499 punches- 3rd fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox 40-yr. history.

Haney, 143 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 119-108 twice and 118-110 and is now 32-0. Ramirez, 143,8 lbs of Avenal, CA is 29-3.

“I felt good going into the fight, and the game plan I worked on definitely showed,” said Haney. “I handicapped him. He couldn’t do anything in there.”

“Towards the middle of the fight I started to feel real comfortable, got his timing, and I picked him apart,” said Haney.

Teofimo Lopez Decisions Lopez; Retains Super Lightweight Title

Teofimo Lopez retained the WBO Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr.

In round five, Lopez started to swell under his right eye. In round six, Lopez was cut under left eye.

Lopez landed 127 of 574 punches. Barboza was 71 of 428.

Lopez, 139.6 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 118-110 and 116-112 twice and is now 22-1. Barboza, 139.8 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 32-1.

“I’ve been telling myself this whole week that anything happening is happening for me and not against me,” said Lopez. “I felt great. I felt reborn.”

“We gave it our all, but this time, we came up short,” said Barboza. “Congratulations to Teofimo on a hard-fought victory. We’ll take this experience, learn from it, and come back stronger. The work continues. Maybe we can fight Ryan next, or Haney, or anyone that will give us an opportunity. For now, I’m going to enjoy some much-deserved time off with my family after eight months of training.”

“I’ve been at this weight for some time, and now I’ll talk to my team, and maybe I’ll move up in weight,” said Lopez. “You know me. I go after the tough challenges. I wanna see ‘Boots.’ I’m Dora The Explorer and I wanna see ‘Boots.’”

Tsutsumi Wins Pro Debut by Unanimous Decision

Reito Tsutsumi won his professional debut with a six-round unanimous decision over Levale Whittington in a super featherweight bout.

Tsutsumi landed 141 of 386 punches. Whittington was 65 of 331.

Tsutsumi, 128.8 lbs of Tokyo, JAP won by scores of 60-54 twice and 58-56 and is now 1-0. Whittington, 127.8 lbs of Chicago is 1-3-1.

Follow all the action as Ryan Garcia takes on Rolando Romero; Devin Haney squares off of Rolando Romero PLUS Teofimo Lopez defnds the WBO Super Lightweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. live from TIMES SQUARE in New York City.

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Round 1: Garcia jabbing

Round 2 DOUBLE LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES GARCIA..Hard right from Romero..Good hook from Garcia

Round 3

Round 4 Jab from Garcia..Jab to body from Romero…

Round 5 Garcia lands a counter…Body shot…

Round 6 Left hook from Garcia..Body shot from Romero…Right

Round 7  Good body shot from Garcia..Good jab…

Round 8 Left to body from Romero

Round 9 Romero drives Garcia to corner…Good left hook…Jab from Garcia…

Round 10 Good left hook from Romero…2 body shots

Round 11 Good body shot from Romero…

Round 12 Garcia just retreating

115-112 TWICE AND 118-109 FOR ROMERO

Round 1

Round 2 Good right from Haney

Round 3 Ramirez lands a left hook.  Jab and left hook from Ramirez..Hard right…Left from Ramirez..Right from Haney

Round 4 Good lft hook from Haney..Good right..Good counter right uppercut…

Round 5 Good right from Haney. Followed by a left..

Round 6  Good right from Haney…Ramirez cut under left eye

Round 7 Right from Haney

Round 8 Haney boxing and moving

Round 9 Good left from Haney…1-2 from Haney…left hook…

Round 10

Round 11 Good right from Haney…

Round 12 Jab friom Haney…

119-109 TWICE AND 118-110 FOR HANEY

Round 1: Good left from Barboza…Good left from Lopez

ROUND 2 Jab to body from Lopez…Good counter right..Barboza lands a left hook…Straight

ROUND 3 Body shot from Lopez..Good counter Left ..Counter left

ROUND 4 Right from Lopez

ROUND 5 Good counter right from Lopez..Body shot..Lopez has swelling under his right eye..Hard right from Lopez..

ROUND 6 Hard Right from Barboza…Another right…Lopez cut under left eye.

ROUND 7 Hard right from Lopez..

ROUND 8 Right lead frion Lopez

ROUND 9 Nice combination from Lopez..

ROUND 10  Right from Lopez

ROUND 11 Counter right from Lopez

ROUND 12 Combination from Lopez

118-110…116-112 TWICE FOR LOPEZ

Round 1 Right to body from Tsutsumi…Uppercut…Left cross…Left to body…

Round 2 Overhand left to the chi buckles Whittington…

Round 3 Let to top of temple…body shot..Good left from Whittington…Good body shot…

Round 4 Tsutsumi lands a right hook…2 body shots

Round 5 Uppercuts from Tsutsumi

Round 6 

60-54 TWICE AND 58-56 FOR TSUTSUMI

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with a thrilling bout between top flyweights, as No. 3 ranked contender Erin Blanchfield faces off against No. 4 Maycee Barber. Also on the card, No. 7 ranked lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot meets rising star Ludovit Klein.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: BLANCHFIELD vs. BARBER takes place Saturday, May 31 in Las Vegas and will be available on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will air at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET followed by the main card, also airing on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET. 

UFC APEX VIP Experience packages are available via On Location, UFC’s Official VIP Experience Provider. Enjoy exclusive access with an official ticket package that includes premium seating, all-inclusive hospitality, in-seat beverage service, meet-and-greets with UFC Octagon Girls and more. Visit UFCVIP.com for more information.

Blanchfield (13-2, fighting out of Elmwood Park, N.J.) looks to deliver a statement and secure her first shot at UFC gold. Still only 25 years old, Blanchfield has become one of the top contenders at 125 pounds by defeating former UFC champions Rose Namajunas and Jéssica Andrade. She now sets forth to halt Barber’s momentum and win in emphatic fashion.

Dana White’s Contender Series signee Barber (14-2, fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.) makes her long-awaited return to action. A staple in the flyweight division, Barber has made a name for herself by dominating formidable opponents such as Katlyn Cerminara, Amanda Ribas, and Andrea Lee. With her sights now set on Blanchfield, Barber plans to become the clear No. 1 contender.

Perennial top lightweight contender Gamrot (24-3, 1 NC, fighting out of Poznan, Poland) makes his first Octagon appearance of 2025. An elite grappler, Gamrot rose through the 155-pound ranks with impressive performances against Rafael Dos Anjos, Arman Tsarukyan and Jeremy Stephens. He now intends to make an example of Klein and turn his attention back towards the Top 5 of the division.

Klein (23-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) intends on delivering his best performance yet to secure the biggest win of his career. A well-rounded competitor with nine wins by knockout and eight by submission, he is currently on a seven-fight unbeaten streak that includes victories over Ignacio Bahamondes, Thiago Moises and Roosevelt Roberts. Klein now aims to vault into the rankings for the first time by taking out Gamrot.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• Welterweight action sees Billy Ray Goff (9-3, fighting out of Groton, Conn.) take on SeokHyeon Ko (11-2, fighting out of Seoul, South Korea)
• Dustin Jacoby(20-9-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) meets Bruno Lopes(14-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) in a battle of light heavyweight veterans
• Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Zachary Reese (8-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas by way of Shiner, Texas) and Duško Todorovi? (12-5, fighting out of Belgrade, Serbia) compete at middleweight
• Jafel Filho(16-3, fighting out of Sento Sé, Bahia, Brazil) and Allan Nascimento(20-6, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) are set for flyweight action
• Jeremiah Wells(12-4-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) locks horns with Andreas Gustaffson(11-2, fighting out of Västerås, Sweden) at welterweight
• No. 3 ranked bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira (14-5, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) collides with No. 5 Macy Chiasson (14-2, fighting out of Springfield, Ill.)
• Ramiz Brahimaj(11-5, fighting out of Dallas, Texas by way of the Bronx, N.Y.) clashes with Dana White’s Contender Series signee Oban Elliott(12-2, fighting out of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales) at welterweight
• Lightweights Kurt Holobaugh(22-9, 1 NC, fighting out of Amite, La.) and Jordan Leavitt (11-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) lock horns
• MarQuel Mederos (10-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) aims to deliver another signature performance when he faces Bolaji Oki (9-2, fighting out of Brussels, Belgium) in a lightweight bout
• Rayanne Dos Santos(14-8, fighting out of Belém, Pará, Brazil) battles Alice Ardelean(9-7, fighting out of Birmingham, England) at strawweight

For the latest information on bout announcements and additional information for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About ESPN+?? ??

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero – 12 rounds, WBA Welterweight Title

Ryan Garcia – 146.8 lbs

Rolly Romero – 146.6 lbs

Garcia: “This is the weight class I belong in, and I’m excited to start my journey at 147. I’m gonna show out come Friday night…I’m not here to give energy to the Haneys, because I’m focused on Rolly tomorrow. Without beating Rolly, we can’t have the rematch with Haney. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, and we’re ready to do our job.”

Romero: “I’m envisioning a vicious knockout. It’s long overdue… I think we’ve been professional so far, but it’s gonna be a knockout tomorrow night.”

Devin Haney vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez – 12 rounds, 144-pound catchweight

Devin Haney – 143 lbs

Jose Carlos Ramirez – 143.8 lbs

Haney: “I feel better than ever. I’m gonna shine. This is gonna be the best performance you’ve ever seen from me. He’s gonna get hurt…It all starts with Jose, and once I get past Jose, I’m gonna get to Ryan.”

Ramirez: “I’m ready for May 2 and I can’t wait. Last time I was in New York I became world champion and I’m ready to make a statement tomorrow…There’s nothing left to say, I’m just ready to do my talking in the ring. I’ll be talking a lot tomorrow.”

Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. – 12 rounds, Ring Magazine & WBO Junior Welterweight Titles

Teofimo Lopez – 139.6 lbs

Arnold Barboza Jr. – 139.8 lbs

Lopez: “I wanna fight. I’m ready. I’m tired of everybody bullying me. No more. I’ve been ready… I’m here against all odds. Let’s go. At the end of the day, we did it the hard way.”

Barboza: “I’m ready. Let’s get active…We’re both ready to put on a show for New York City. Let’s make history and have some fun…I got this from the dirt. I earned this the hard way. We’re the real ‘takeover’ tomorrow.”

Reito Tsutsumi vs. Levale Whittington – 6 Rounds Super Featherweight Bout

Reito Tsutsumi – 128.8 lbs

Levale Whittington – 127.8 lbs

James Gennari vs. Joel Allen – “Battle of the Badges”, 3 Rounds Light Heavyweight Bout

James Gennari – 175 lbs

Joel Allen – 175.4 lbs

The jam-packed Garcia vs. Romero event is part of DAZN’s Knockout Weekend Bundle — two back-to-back nights of world-class boxing, available exclusively on DAZN PPV. On Friday, May 2, The Ring Magazine, in their historic first-ever boxing event in the United States, presents FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, a first-of-its-kind five-fight card live from Times Square featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. One night later, global icon Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. William Scull headlines an electric Riyadh Season event on Saturday, May 3, as Scull looks to claim Álvarez’s WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Fans can watch both events for just $90 (pricing may vary by market). For full details, visit DAZN.com/boxing.

The event begins worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV at 5:30 p.m. ET and is brought to you by SNK Corporation in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing.

“FACEOFF: GARCIA VS. ROMERO” is now streaming across all DAZN’s platforms, offering an intense and revealing look inside the rivalry between two of boxing’s brightest stars ahead of a groundbreaking fight under the lights of Times Square.

# # #

ABOUT THE RING MAGAZINE:

Since its inception in 1922, The Ring Magazine has been the cornerstone of boxing journalism, earning it title as ‘The Bible of Boxing.’ Today, The Ring is more than just a magazine – it’s a growing multimedia empire poised to redefine how the world experiences boxing and combat sports. The Ring is not just chronicling the history of boxing; it’s actively shaping its future. Whether through its digital platforms, community events, or innovative partnerships. The Ring is committed to making the sport more accessible, exciting and engaging for a global audience. 

As The Ring evolves, its mission remains the same – to celebrate the passion, discipline and artistry of boxing while delivering unparalleled experiences to fans worldwide. This is more than a magazine – this is the heart of the fight game, now expanding its reach far beyond the printed page. 

For more information visit: 

Instagram – @ringmagazine 

X – @ringmagazine 

Website – ringmagazine.com

ABOUT DAZN
As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide.? DAZN is the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, as well as the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more, including FIFA Club World Cup 2025. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.? DAZN is a global, privately owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit? www.dazngroup.com.? 

LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2025) — For the first time in nearly four years, boxing’s pound-for-pound monster touched down in America for a fight week.

Japanese icon Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) and San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) made their grand arrivals today in Las Vegas ahead of their showdown this Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena.

Inoue will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship in his first U.S. appearance since 2021. Cardenas will bid for his first world title and look to author a Texas-sized upset.

In the co-feature, Mexico’s Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Texas-born former world title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs).

Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed undercard will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT and features the return of Dominican welterweight contender Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs), who takes on hard-hitting Argentine Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Additionally, Mexican American star Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) will lock horns with Spain’s Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder at junior welterweight. 

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.
 
At Thursday’s grand arrivals, this is what the fighters said:

Naoya Inoue

“It’s been four years since I’ve been here, so I’m very excited.”
 
“I am very much aware of what the fans expect of me. And on Cinco De Mayo Weekend, I plan on meeting those expectations.”
 
“{Cardenas} is a very well-rounded fighter. With that being said, he has a very good left. I don’t have time to be cautious.”

Ramon Cardenas

“I’m excited to be here.  I’m blessed to be a part of this weekend because we know it’s a historic week in boxing. And to be here, seeing my name on these billboards, is a blessing.”
 
“It means a lot to represent Mexico during this weekend because we’ve had legends and warriors fight on this weekend. I’m going to give my all.”
 
“This is a dream come true for me. I have to finish completing this dream. I’ve lost an uncle on this journey. I’ve lost a trainer on this journey. So, to be able to accomplish my dream of becoming a world champion is my goal.”
 
“I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I have no pressure on me, so I’m going to go out there and give the fans a great show.”

“I’m not here for the money. I’m here for the legacy. If I become a world champion, nobody can take that away from me.”

Rafael Espinoza
 
“I feel butterflies in my stomach! I’m happy because these are the dates I’ve always wanted to fight on. This is the place I’ve always wanted to fight at. So, it’s a dream come true, and it fills me with motivation. And I also have a strong desire to steal the show that night.”
 
“I consider myself to be a fighter who should be using my distance. But I like to fight on the inside. I know it’s one of my advantages. I’m tall, but exchanging punches is what has worked for me, and I feel that my conditioning has made me strong, so I try to take advantage of that.”
 
“He’s Mexican like me. He likes to come forward. So, his style will mesh well with mine because we’re both going to come forward. It’s going to be a great fight. I’m sure. I want to demonstrate that I’m ready for big things.”

Edward Vazquez

“I feel blessed to be here. The emotions are there, but I have to stay focused. I have to stay locked in. I’m trying to stay locked in and not let all of this get to me. I’m taking it moment by moment.”

“In the past, I’ve felt like I’ve only come short by a few points in fights. But Sunday night will be my opportunity to score a big point. That’s what’s on my mind.”

“You can expect all action. We’re going to leave it all out there. We’re going to give the fans a good show.”
 

Sunday, May 4

ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, 12 rounds, Inoue’s Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title

Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez, 12 rounds, Espinoza’s WBO Featherweight World Title 
 

ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana, 10 rounds, Polanco’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Title

Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, Cruiserweight (swing bout)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – (May 1, 2025) – Boxing superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) and the undefeated super middleweight champion William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) held a tense face-off on Thursday at the final press conference ahead of Álvarez’s Riyadh Season debut for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Championship this Saturday, May 3, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV from anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season. 

Álvarez and Scull sized each other up before a historic Saturday night as they headline an eight-fight card as part of DAZN’s Knockout Weekend Bundle — two back-to-back nights of world-class boxing, available exclusively on DAZN PPV. On Friday, May 2, The Ring Magazine presents FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, a first-of-its-kind five-fight card live from Times Square featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. One night later, Canelo vs. Scull headlines an electric Riyadh Season event on Saturday, May 3, as Álvarez and Scull fight for the Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. Fans can watch both events for just $90 (pricing may vary by market). For full details, visit DAZN.com/boxing.

The four-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Álvarez, who was recently appointed as a Riyadh Season ambassador, aims to reclaim the IBF belt from Scull, who secured the title after defeating Vladimir Shishkin in October of the previous year. The Ring Magazine 168-Pound World Champion Álvarez can become a two-time undisputed champion at the weight by adding the IBF to his WBC, WBO, and WBA titles.

The press conference also included WBC Cruiserweight World Champion and three-division champion Badou Jack and WBC Cruiserweight Champion in Recess Noel Mikaelian, ahead of their co-main event clash, plus Mexican star Jaime Munguia and the hard-hitting Bruno Surace, who battle in a hotly anticipated rematch of last year’s The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year, and heavyweight titans Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba, who meet in an explosive 10-round showdown. The full lineup of action begins on DAZN PPV at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT.

Thursday’s event also featured rising Cuban light heavyweight contender Brayan Leon, who squares off against Mexico’s Aaron Rocha Guerreo in a six-round fight,plus 2024 Mexican Olympic Silver Medalist Marco Verde, who competes in a six-round middleweight affair battling Mexico’s Michel Galvan Polina, as well as sensational Saudi prospect Mohammed “Mighty Mo” Alakel, who takes on Alexander Morales in six rounds of featherweight action and veteran contender Richard Riakporhe, who makes his heavyweight debut in an eight-round battle against Kevin Nicolas Espindola. 

Catch the Canelo vs. Scull weigh-in tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on the DAZN Boxing YouTube. See below for what the fighters had to say at Thursday’s press conference:

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez

“I love boxing, and I’m very excited to be here. It’s one of my dreams to fight in other countries, and now I’m about to do it. I’m motivated like I always am.

“At the beginning, the time change and the weather was a little bit difficult. But that’s why I came three weeks early. I’m ready now. 

“Being undisputed means a lot. It’s history for my career and that’s what I want. That’s what motivates me. 

“I expect that he’ll be difficult in the beginning, just like in the Erislandy Lara fight. But I’m a different fighter now and he’s gonna feel it on Saturday.

“I hope he goes for it, but I don’t think he will. He says he’s gonna eat me, but the only thing he’s gonna eat are these fists. Everybody talks up here, but when they’re in the ring, it’s something different.”

William Scull

“We’re going to take this fight round by round. I’m a boxer who can manage all types of distances in the ring. We’ll have to see how that plan develops. 

“I left Cuba 23 years ago, and since then I’ve gone on to fight in 24 countries. I’ve always gone into situations where I’m being underestimated. I don’t really care what people say. I’m coming to show that ‘yes, you can.’

“You’re always ready for the possibility of something like this fight coming along. I have to thank Team Canelo for accepting this fight. We’re going to give everyone a great show.”

Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s Manager & Trainer

“A lot of people talk about the time change fighting here, but when you work with somebody as disciplined as Canelo is, who has all that experience, he can adjust to any type of timetable. He’s a fighter, he’s a champion, and he’s always shown that. 

“Even when Canelo was in the gym as a teenager, he always had that hunger to continue growing in the sport. He’s in better shape now than some fighters who are 20. He’s an example inside of the ring and outside it. 

“Without a doubt the Cuban boxing school is one of the best. It’s produced some wonderful champions and trainers. What we need to do on Saturday is impose the Mexican boxing school on him. Scull is a great fighter and a wonderful champion who comes from a great background, but we have plans and we’re coming to win.”

Franquis Aldama, Scull’s Trainer

“I have 100% confidence in William Scull. He has to do what he’s always done before, and that’s go out there and just fight.

“This training camp has been fantastic. It went really well and he’s gonna show that to everyone on May 3.”

Frank Warren, Queensbury Promotions

“Riyadh is where the biggest fights in boxing happen and now the biggest fighter in the world is here. It’s a perfect marriage.”

Richard Schaefer, Team Canelo

 “We knew back in the day when he was 17 years old that Canelo was a superstar in the making. He has God-given talent, and we knew he was special. Through hard work and dedication, he really propelled his career. Today he is the face of boxing and, in my opinion, the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.”

Ingo Volckmann, Scull’s Promoter

“I’m very proud to be here with William Scull. We’re prepared to take advantage of this opportunity against the biggest fighter in boxing. William Scull is a champion as well, and he’s gonna try his best to take the belts. 

“Scull is a champion, and he’s trained very well. He has 300 amateur fights in Cuba, and we’ve had so many good rounds in training. I’ve never seen him in such good condition like he is now, so everything is possible.”

Badou Jack

“I’ve been in the gym and training hard every day to get back into the ring… It’s been very frustrating, but I always stayed disciplined. Now we’re back like I never left.

“I was preparing for another fighter, but I expect a tougher fight from Mikaelian. We could have picked an easy fight, but we picked him. We needed to face him to get to a unification fight anyway, so I just said, why not?” 

Noel Mikaelian

“I am the full world champion. There’s an agenda being pushed, and I’m here to prove that this agenda is just politics. That’s the only reason I’ve been out of the ring, but I’m grateful to be here now.

“I was preparing to fight at the end of May anyway, and when this fight became available, I stepped in. It’s a great opportunity. Jack is a great name, and it’s a pleasure to share the ring with him and put that name on my record.

“I don’t care about short notice. I always find a way, and I’m going to find a way this time as well.”

Jaime Munguia

“I’m delighted to be here and all I can say is that we’re conscious of what we’re going into. I promise everyone a great fight on Saturday. 

“In our first fight we went out and committed a grave error of going forward with my hand down. The shot connected, and what happened, happened. But I have no doubt we’ll get my hand raised in the rematch.

“It was a huge change from the last fight, and I’ve adapted a lot now that I’m training with Eddy Reynoso. I believe that I’ve advanced a great deal and developed my style in the way I want. It’s the best camp I’ve ever had.”

Bruno Sarace

“My life has changed since the win and now I’m fighting on this huge card. I know what I have to do to keep going and I’m excited to be fighting Munguia again.

“People talk a lot about luck, but if you know boxing, you know why I’m here again. I’m going to prove that there was no luck.

“This training camp was all about hard work. Munguia is a champion, so I know he’s been training hard too. This is gonna be a massive fight.”

Martin Bakole

“I’m done with the talking and I’m ready to face my opponent on Saturday night…The Joseph Parker fight was not my fight, this here on Saturday is my fight and I’m ready for it.

“No one is scared of him. We’re gonna see what he can do on Saturday. He’s just talking right now. 

“I’m asking Ajagba to be tough, because he’s going to get punishment.”

Efe Ajagba

“I’m looking forward to this fight. This is nothing new to me and I can’t wait. 

“I was not fully prepared for the Frank Sanchez fight, but this fight is going to be different. I’ve done everything I needed to do to be prepared…I want to bring out the beast in me. I’m going to stick to my game plan and get the victory.

“He keeps talking, but I’m gonna close his mouth.”

Brayan Leon

“Training alongside Canelo has been a tremendous experience. He’s one of the greatest fighters in history and being with him has me feeling very prepared. 

“I would describe myself as a strong and aggressive fighter. We’re going to do everything we can to make it seven knockouts on Saturday.”

Marco Verde 

“I’m very thankful to Eddy Reynoso, I couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity. I’m gonna take full advantage of it. 

“When I started boxing, I knew it was for me and I felt like it was in my blood. I believe that I have a big future in the sport.

“Fans can expect a great fight. We’re both prepared, and I’ve had a great training camp that has me ready for a strong six rounds.”

Mohammed “Mighty Mo” Alakel

“It feels great and I’m always thankful for these opportunities. I’ve been working really hard and hopefully I can put on a great performance for my people. 

“I’ve learned a lot from [trainer] Joe Gallagher. He’s helped me stay disciplined in the gym and has shown me what hard work really is. I’m very grateful. 

“If you work hard, the sky’s the limit. I’ve been working really hard and that’s the most important thing…I’m going to put on a great performance.”

Richard Riakporhe

“Right now the heavyweight division in the UK is booming. Now is the perfect time for me to be a part of it. There are so many fights to be made, on every single level. That’s why we’re here.

“When I began boxing, I always wanted to be a part of the heavyweight division. I see it as the pinnacle of boxing. 

“Not having to cut weight feels like cheating. To be able to fuel myself, I feel like I’m much more energetic, especially during fight week. I’m feeling fantastic.”

#      #      #

ABOUT DAZN
As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide.? DAZN is the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, as well as the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more, including FIFA Club World Cup 2025. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.? DAZN is a global, privately owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit? www.dazngroup.com.? 

World rulers Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Richardson Hitchins face crunch clashes in the summer live worldwide on DAZN – as WBC and Ring Magazine king Bam faces WBO champion Phumelele Cafu in a blockbuster unification battle at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on July 19 and Hitchins makes the first defense of his IBF World Junior-Welterweight crown against former World ruler George Kambosos Jr at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 14.
 
Rodriguez (21-0 14 KOs) is back in action following a stellar 2024, where he followed his epic KO win over modern great Juan Francisco Estrada in a fight of the year contender in Phoenix in June to become a two-weight unified champion, and defended the titles for the first time in Philadelphia in November with a dominant three-round destruction of Pedro Guevara, and fights in his home state for the first time since he became a two-weight champion by beating Cristian Hernandez in his San Antonio hometown in April 2023.
 
Cafu (11-0-3 8 KOs) puts his belt on the line for the first time after taking the crown from Kosei Tanaka in Tokyo in October via split decision. ‘Truth’ now steps into one of the biggest fights in the game in just his second World championship bout, with the South African landing his belt in just his 14th pro-outing.
 
“I’m excited to finally step back into the ring,” said Rodriguez. “I cannot wait to fight in front of my home state fans. I’m looking forward to unifying in another weight division.
 
“I know Cafu is a tough opponent, but these kinds of fights bring out the best in me and I’ll be ready for whatever he brings. July 19th tune in and witness greatness.”
 
“This is awesome, man, because once again I get to step in with an elite fighter and prove the world wrong, showing people that I’m also an elite fighter,” said Cafu. “I’ve always wanted to fight him because people think he is the bogeyman of the division and say he is unbeatable, but I’ll prove to the people that no one is unbeatable. Beating him will put me on the pound-for-pound list, and I will be King of the division.”
 
“We’re proud to once again welcome the world of boxing to The Star in Frisco for what promises to be another unforgettable night,” said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer, and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys. “Hosting a fight of this magnitude between Bam Rodriguez and Phumelele Cafu reflects our continued commitment to bringing premier sporting events to our fans and community. We greatly value our ongoing partnership with Matchroom Boxing and are excited to help deliver another iconic event at The Star.”
 
The first undercard bout to be announced on the Bam-Cafu show is a big one, with the co-feature of the night pitting LA Super-Middleweight sensation Diego Pacheco faces Trevor McCumby.
 
Pacheco (23-0 18 KOs) is closing in on his first World title shot, and the #1 contender with the WBO will be aiming to add another scalp to his resume following an impressive showing in Las Vegas where he saw off Steven Nelson.
 
McCumby (28-1 21 KOs) will have other ideas though as the Arizonan looks to get back on track for a World title tilt of his own. The 32 year old floored former World ruler Caleb Plant in the fourth round of their clash in Las Vegas in September, but Plant would stop McCumby in the ninth round to claim the interim WBA strap.
 
“I’ve been working my entire life to get to this point in my career where im facing the best fighters in the world,” said Pacheco. “Ahora si ya empezó lo bueno y venimos con todo y por todo.”
 
“I’m very excited to be back,” said McCumby. “There’s a lot of hype behind my opponent, that I will put to rest. The world hasn’t seen the best Trevor McCumby and I plan show them come fight night #Tenacious.”
 
Hitchins (19-0 7 KOs) returns home to New York for the first defense of the title that he won with a clinical performance against Australian Liam Paro in Puerto Rico in December. The unbeaten 27 year old is back in the Big Apple for the first time since February 2023 where he dominated John Bauza, with his last two wins seeing his shut-out Jose Zepeda in Orlando in September 2023 before he set up his World title shot against Paro with victory in a final eliminator over Gustavo Lemos in Las Vegas last April.
 
Kambosos Jr (22-3 10 KOs) has very fond memories of the venue too, with the Australian returning to the scene of his greatest night, where he became the king at 140lbs by stunning Teofimo Lopez in November 2021. ‘Ferocious’ returned Down Under where he twice met Devin Haney in Melbourne before welcoming Vasiliy Lomachenko to Perth, with a victory over Maxi Hughes in Oklahoma. The 31 year old claimed the 22nd win of his pro career in March against Jake Wyllie in Sydney and will look to become a two-time World ruler against Hitchins.
 
“June 14, NY we are here baby!” said Hitchins. “The 140lb king returns home, headlining my first show at MSG, as a World champion. Just saying it aloud gives me chills. I dreamed of moments like this as a kid and now we are here.
 
“George Kambosos is not on my level. Never has been, never will be. He’s talked himself into this fight, and now he’s going to pay the price for running his mouth. He had the biggest win of his career and crowning moment in this building, and on June 14 I end his career in that same building.
 
“This is my time, my division, and I plan on putting on a spectacular performance and showing the world that I am one of the best fighters on the planet.”
 
“The stars align again, history always repeats, I head back to a place I created legacy at, a home where I may be regarded as an underdog again but a familiar place that i thrive in,” said Kambosos Jr.
 
“I stand 2-0 at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena, and on June 14, I will make it 3-0 when I rip Hitchins’ belt off him and break his will, take his heart and ruin his undefeated career.
 
“He has never been in a fight with a fighter like me, I have stepped to the absolute best, a resume unlike any. This is my 6th World title fight. I’ve built countless experience and at my new weight of 140 pounds I feel tremendous and very motivated to become a two-weight World champion.
 
“He likes to talk for a man that deep down hasn’t achieved much, so I look forward to taking him to a place he has never been and seeing how much of the talk is real and how much of it is fake like others in the past. See you June 14, Shitchins”
 
Before two blockbuster nights in America, two shows hit DAZN at the end of May. There’s a mouthwatering World title fight in Yokohama, Japan as Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez and Masanori Rikiihsi clash for the vacant IBF World Super-Featherweight title at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama on Wednesday May 28, live on DAZN in the UK, USA, Canada and throughout Europe.
 
Nunez (27-1 27 KOs) travels to the land of the Rising Sun for his first World title fight, as the Mexican knockout merchant and IBF #1 locks horns with Rikiishi (16-1 11 KOs) who himself is on a five-straight KO win tear.
 
Three days later, Matchroom return to Mexico on Friday May 30 as Manuel Gallegos and Khalil Coe clash in a rematch for the WBC USA Light-Heavyweight title at Arena Alcalde in Guadalajara, live worldwide on DAZN.
 
Gallegos (21-2-1 18 KOs) and Coe (9-1-1 7 KOs) first met in November in Philadelphia where the Mexican ripped the title from the New Jersey talent with a ninth-round stoppage, and they will tussle for the strap again next month, this time on the champions home turf.
 
Two hometown favorites are in action with Gabriel Valenzuela (30-4-1 17 KOs) fighting over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight and WBO Latino Bantamweight champion Christian Medina (24-4 17 KOs) kicking off the night on DAZN.
 
“This is another brilliant slate of fights on the home of boxing, DAZN,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Bam is a pound-for-pound superstar of the sport at such a young age, and he is primed to unify once again against a tough foe in Cafu, while it’s another big showcase for Diego to underline his readiness to face the World rulers.
 
“Richardson was fantastic against Liam in Puerto Rico but now the hunter becomes the hunted, and George is returning to the scene of his greatest triumph to rip up the script against New York’s only World champion.
 
“I cannot wait to be in Japan to see the vicious ‘Sugar’ Nunez claim the World title against Rikiihsi and then head to Mexico for a pivotal night in the career of Khalil Coe, as he rematches Gallegos.”
 

NEW YORK – April 30, 2025 – Ahead of the first-ever live boxing match from Times Square this Friday night, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, and their respective opponents went face-to-face on Wednesday at the final press conference before they co-headline the Ring Magazine’s historic first-ever boxing event in the United States, titled “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves,” on Friday, May 2, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV (5:30 p.m. ET). The event is brought to you by SNK Corporation in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions and Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing.

International boxing star Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) and former world champion Rolly Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) will square off in a welterweight contest. Former undisputed lightweight world champion Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) will face former unified titleholder Jose Carlos Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) in a battle of elite super lightweights, and reigning WBO Super Lightweight World Champion and former unified lightweight king Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) is defending his title against undefeated top contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs). 

The open-to-the-public press conference also included Japanese boxing prodigy and Ring Magazine Ambassador Reito Tsutsumi, ahead of his pro debut, and his opponent, Levale Whittington (1-2-1, 1 KO), who will meet in a six-round featherweight fight. Kicking off the night will be the “Battle of the Badges,” a special light heavyweight contest pitting New York’s “Finest” against New York’s “Bravest.” James Gennari, representingthe FDNY, will take on the NYPD’s Joel Allen in a battleappropriately taking place in the heart of Manhattan. 

The jam-packed Garcia vs. Romero event is part of DAZN’s Knockout Weekend Bundle — two back-to-back nights of world-class boxing, available exclusively on DAZN PPV. On Friday, May 2, The Ring Magazine presents FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, a first-of-its-kind five-fight card live from Times Square featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez. One night later, global icon Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez vs. William Scull headlines an electric Riyadh Season event on Saturday, May 3, as Scull looks to claim Álvarez’s WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Fans can watch both events for just $90 (pricing may vary by market). For full details, visit DAZN.com/boxing.

Catch tomorrow’s Garcia vs. Romero open to the public weigh-in at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on the DAZN Boxing YouTube, or in person at the Manhattan Center. Below is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from the Manhattan Center in New York City:

Ryan Garcia

“I’m here to do my job, knock Rolly out and ride off into the sunset…I’m not worried about any sparring from eight years ago. I’m here to do a job, and that’s it…We’re not leaving it up to the judges, Rolly is getting put to sleep.”

“I’m excited to be back in New York after a historic event last time. It was so sweet, we had to do it again.”

“I don’t care about what Bill Haney has to say. He’s just trying to talk up his son. We all saw how that worked out for him last time.”

“I’m here living life. Everyone goes through their ups and downs. It’s about how you bounce back. I’m here to show people that you can bounce back from anything.”

Rolly Romero

“I’m gonna knock Ryan out and he can go have fun with Devin afterwards. I actually think Devin deserves the rematch with Ryan.”

Devin Haney

“Y’all can boo or y’all can cheer. It doesn’t matter. It’s all noise. When I dust Jose Ramirez off on Friday, I’m gonna get to Ryan after.”

“The talk is over. I get to Jose Ramirez on Friday and then everyone here knows who’s next.”

Jose Carlos Ramirez

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to showcase my talent in front of this amazing crowd in New York. Last time I was in New York, I became a world champion. So I’ve got a good feeling here in New York.”

“Where I’ve come from, it’s prepared me for things like this. Everything has prepared me for times like these. On May 2, I will be victorious.”

“I know he’s a very talented fighter. He’s a good fighter. But on Friday, May 2, I will beat Devin Haney. My best chapter is yet to come.”

Teofimo Lopez

“I’m just grateful and thankful to be here with everyone and show y’all the third version of Teofimo Lopez that you haven’t seen yet.”

“Get your pay-per-view on DAZN. Friday night. You don’t want to miss it. I’m the type of fighter who does everything and anything. I can’t wait to express that on Friday night.”

Arnold Barboza Jr.

“This is amazing. I’m here to ruin all of Teofimo’s plans…I just came from doing the same thing in Manchester. We’re here to show up and show out.”

“Teofimo is entertaining and him and his dad are selling the fight. All I have to do is sit back and get ready to fight.”

Reito Tsutsumi

“I want to make a big impact on everyone watching me on Friday night. I want to show who I am and make a name for myself.”

“Whittington has some experience as a pro, but I’m going to embrace my amateur experience. If I fight my fight, I’m going to be fine.”

“It’s easy for him to say whatever he wants up here, but he has to show up in the ring and prove it with actions.”

Levale Whittington

“Y’all are overlooking me. That’s cool and all. I don’t want people to expect me to win. But on Friday night, y’all are gonna see the best version of Levale Whittington.”

“I plan on shocking a lot of people and getting my hand raised by knockout or unanimous decision. If he comes in crazy, it’s gonna be an early night.”

James Gennari, Representing FDNY in the “Battle of the Badges”

“We love our boys in blue. I know he’s gonna bring it. I’m gonna bring it. You gotta have balls to do both of our jobs and to step into the ring. You don’t get a nose like this being in boring fights. It’s gonna be a fun fight for sure and I’m ready for it.”

“He’s beat every fireman that I know, but he hasn’t faced me yet.”

Joel Allen, Representing NYPD in the “Battle of the Badges”

“I’m blown away. This is like a childhood dream from 25 years ago. I came from the Police Athletic League ever since I was a kid and without that program I wouldn’t be a police officer. ‘Cops & Kids’ has made superstars in boxing and outside. That’s what I fight for and that’s where my heart is. I’m gonna put on for my city.”

Rick Reeno, COO of The Ring Magazine

“There’s only one word that could define this event, and that’s history. It’s never been done before and I don’t know if it will ever be done again.”

“Make no mistake, there are favorites and underdogs, but all of these underdogs are live dogs. Nothing is a foregone conclusion. Ryan, Devin and Teo could have taken easier fights, but they wanted tough fights and we put it all together.” 

“This event is like a big beautiful cake, and we wanted to put the cherry on top, which is the professional debut of Japanese sensationReito Tsutsumi. I’ve followed him in the amateurs and he’s an unbelievable talent. Once he turned pro, the experts in Japan said he would be the next superstar of their country.”

Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions

“I thought I had seen it all in my 45 years of boxing, but I’ve never seen a ring in the middle of Times Square. This is history in the making. On Friday we’re proud to have our Golden Boy fighters headlining all three main events.”

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport

“This is a completely unique event. The logistics that have gone behind this are quite remarkable. In the last seven days I think you’ve seen one of the most historic periods in world boxing…On Friday night and Saturday night, make sure you tune into DAZN PPV.”

Sean Michael Ham, Team Romero

“We’re not really here to do too much talking. We’re here for business and to do our talking in the ring. We’ll see you guys on Friday night. We’re here to shock the world.”

Bill Haney, Haney Promotions

“This will be a historic event. It’s iconic to be at Times Square. This is a great opportunity for Devin to come back and show the world what he’s really made of. You guys will witness greatness. That’s what you’re here for.”

Gardy Lopez, Top Rank Inc.

“On fight night, this is gonna be a new version of Teofimo Lopez that no one has ever seen. This isn’t the version that beat Lomachenko, or Josh Taylor, this is a new version that no one has seen. And once that mask comes off, he’s not gonna be a saint anymore.”

“FACEOFF: GARCIA VS. ROMERO” is now streaming across all DAZN’s platforms, offering an intense and revealing look inside the rivalry between two of boxing’s brightest stars ahead of a groundbreaking fight under the lights of Times Square.

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ABOUT THE RING MAGAZINE:

Since its inception in 1922, The Ring Magazine has been the cornerstone of boxing journalism, earning it title as ‘The Bible of Boxing.’ Today, The Ring is more than just a magazine – it’s a growing multimedia empire poised to redefine how the world experiences boxing and combat sports. The Ring is not just chronicling the history of boxing; it’s actively shaping its future. Whether through its digital platforms, community events, or innovative partnerships. The Ring is committed to making the sport more accessible, exciting and engaging for a global audience. 

As The Ring evolves, its mission remains the same – to celebrate the passion, discipline and artistry of boxing while delivering unparallelled experiences to fans worldwide. This is more than a magazine – this is the heart of the fight game, now expanding its reach far beyond the printed page. 

For more information visit: 

Instagram – @ringmagazine 

X – @ringmagazine 

Website – ringmagazine.com

ABOUT DAZN
As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide.? DAZN is the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, as well as the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more, including FIFA Club World Cup 2025. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.? DAZN is a global, privately owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit? www.dazngroup.com.? 

LAS VEGAS – April 30, 2025 – Middleweight contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis hopes to catapult himself into a world title shot when he faces undefeated WBA No. 1-ranked Middleweight Contender Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez in a 10-round showdown featured on a jam-packed four-fight PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) lineup on Saturday, May 31 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The show will stream exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to catch the championship card.

The event is headlined by a pair of super middleweight stars co-headlining in separate attractions as Interim WBA Super Middleweight Titlist Caleb Plant takes on Mexican knockout artist Armando Reséndiz and undefeated two-division champion Jermall Charlo goes up against veteran contender Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna in a 10-round showdown.

“A win on May 31 will 100% let everyone know I need a title shot,” said Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs). “Stop playing with my name. This is the second guy that’s ranked #1 by the WBA. So how many of these guys do I have to beat to get my shot? I want the big fights for the titles. I’ve fought a lot of world champions. I’m ready for the title.”

Davis has recently arrived in Las Vegas to continue training camp with the esteemed Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, who also trains Caleb Plant and who has led Davis’ corner for over a decade. As his stock in the sport ascends, Davis reflected on his relationship with Edwards and the advantage it gives him in the ring.

“I’ve been out here in Las Vegas for about a week so far and everything is going great,” said Davis. “Everything is growing and just getting better in general. ‘Breadman’ and I have been training together for 11 years, so there’s a lot of chemistry and learning together. When we started out, I was only 19-years-old, and he wasn’t a world champion trainer yet. It’s been a lot of coming up together and getting to know each other extremely well. Our communication is spot on. He knows how hard to push me, and when to tell me to turn it up and step on the gas. There have been a lot of learning curves and our careers have gotten better together.”

Entering this fight on a three-bout winning streak, Davis most recently delivered the best performance of his career as he defeated the then-unbeaten Elijah Garcia by decision in June 2024. After the fight was originally rescheduled for March before finally taking place in June, Davis’ victory allowed him to prove his standing in the middleweight division.

“I definitely needed it and wanted to win to prove some people wrong and show that I’m at a certain level,” said Davis. “I’ve taken the hard road sometimes. I haven’t always had the time to train properly. I came in on short notice several times. I came in on only 16 days’ notice for the David Benavidez fight. For my last fight, that was the first time in a while that I’ve had a chance to fully prepare, and I think it showed in my performance. It makes a huge difference and it’s a huge advantage to be able to fully and properly prepare. Sometimes you can go into camp with only two or three weeks’ notice of who you’re fighting. And even though you might have been in the gym for longer, you’re finding out about that specific opponent and able to prepare for them for only a short time. And sometimes I’ve had to take those kinds of risks in my career.”

On May 31, Davis will take on an accomplished Cuban amateur who’s quickly risen in the 160-pound division in Hernandez. Having most recently dominated Angel Ruiz on Prime Video in February, Hernandez will be highly-motivated to make a statement, just like Davis is. While Davis could put himself into world title contention, his focus remains on preparing for the best version of Hernandez and continuing to take on the toughest challenges he can get.

“I know he had a good amateur career and he’s a good fighter overall,” said Davis. “He seems like he knows what he’s doing and I expect him to be very motivated. “I’m coming to do whatever I have to do. I’d have loved the title shot, but I’m just fighting the best that’s available and the guy that’s going to be in front of me on May 31.”

In a pro career that now dates back over a decade. Davis appears now on the precipice of vaulting into the upper echelon of the sport. While some may be surprised by his rise, Davis believes he’s a sleeping giant who’s ready to take advantage of what’s in front of him.

“I feel like the media and oddsmakers don’t always know boxing,” said Davis, when asked about his underdog status heading into the Garcia fight. “Some people just look at records blindly. And even though they know better, they still don’t do better. In boxing, we know you can build up and pad your record.

“I have a loss against Davis Benavidez, but on only 16 days’ notice,” said Davis. “I have the draw with Anthony Dirrell, but I think I really won that fight. Vegas and the media don’t always see that side, and they just go by wins and losses. A lot of boxing insiders knew that was a real fight against Elijah Garcia though. You embrace whatever card you’re given. Whether I’m the underdog or the favorite, I embrace whatever I am. That’s the attitude I have in this game.”

Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.

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ABOUT PLANT VS. RESENDIZ & CHARLO VS. LAMANNA

Plant vs. Reséndiz and Charlo vs. LaManna will see super middleweight stars co-headline PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video in separate attractions as Interim WBA Super Middleweight Titlist Caleb Plant takes on Mexican knockout artist Armando Reséndiz and undefeated two-division champion Jermall Charlo battles veteran contender Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna on Saturday, May 31 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The lineup will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and stream exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to catch the championship card.

Action also features top middleweight contenders Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez and Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis dueling in a 10-round fight, plus rising contender Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero faces hard-hitting Omar Valenzuela in a super welterweight attraction that opens the streaming presentation. 

Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.

For more information visit Amazon.com/PBC, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #PlantResendiz & #CharloLaManna follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing on Instagram @PremierBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions

ORLANDO, FL – April 30, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions today announced Most Valuable Prospects 13, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, June 7 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, live globally on DAZN. Most Valuable Prospects 13, an MVP Event, will be a headlined by a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 135lbs as Brazil’s IBF lightweight world champion Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira (6-0, 2 KOs) defends her title for the second time against 28-year-old Buenos Aires, Argentina challenger Maria Ines “Dinamita” Ferreyra (11-0-1, 6 KOs). In the co-main event, MVP’s newest signee, 2x Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will make his highly-anticipated professional debut over 4 rounds at 200lbs in the cruiserweight division against Dallas, Georgia’s undefeated cruiserweight Sean Sparks (2-0, 2 KOs). Also on the main card will be an 8-round 135lb lightweight fight between Brazilian national champion Luan Almeida (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Crescent City, Florida’s Tony Aguilar (13-1-1, 4 KOs). Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 13 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

Matchroom’s Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira made her professional debut in Cleveland, Ohio in 2022. Prior to turning pro, Ferreira’s glittering amateur career saw her win lightweight gold at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia and silver in the lightweight category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, before returning to compete for Team Brazil at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she earned the bronze medal. The 31-year-old Ferreira is an aggressive, come-forward fighter who put on a thoroughly impressive display against an unbeaten Taynna Cardoso in her pro debut in 2022, twice dropping her fellow Brazilian en route to a four-round shutout decision victory, which she competed over three-minute rounds. Less than a month later, Ferreira returned for her second pro bout, stopping the 7-2 Carisse Brown inside two rounds on the undercard of Estrada-Chocolatito 3 in December 2022. Ferreira made her third outing as a professional in July 2023 on the undercard of Dalton Smith vs. Sam Maxwell in Sheffield, England, taking another big step up early in her career and delivering an electric decision win over Karla Ramos Zamora. Ferreira followed the win with an eighth round stoppage of Destiny Jones on the undercard of Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis in December 2023. In just her fifth fight, Ferreira earned her first shot at world title honors against Yanina Lescano in April 2024 in Liverpool, England. Ferreira dished out a severe, relentless beating, winning by technical decision and claiming the vacant IBF lightweight world title at 135lbs. Following the bout, Ferreira turned her attention back to her Olympic aspirations, medaling in Paris before returning to the pro ranks in December 2024 to defend her IBF title and winning a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over France’s Licia Boudersa in Monte-Carlo. She now will defend her title for the second time against Argentinian challenger Maria Ines Ferreyra. 

“I want to thank Matchroom and Most Valuable Promotions for this opportunity and I am very excited to return to the United States to defend my world title,” said Biatriz Ferreira. “I am expecting a very tough challenge from my opponent, I know she is no joke and is coming to take my title but these are the type of challenges I want. It’s exciting times for women’s boxing and I want to be part of these big nights. I am ready for all the big names that people are talking about and I will prove this on Saturday, June 7th.”

María Inés “Dinamita” Ferreyra (11-0-1, 6 KOs) is a 28-year-old undefeated Argentine professional boxer from Tres Algarrobos, Buenos Aires, currently living in Villa María, Córdoba. She made her professional debut in March 2021. Following a strong start to her pro career, Ferreyra earned her first regional title shot in September 2024, contesting for the then-vacant South American lightweight title against Johen Paola Gonzalez and earning a first-round TKO win over Gonzalez to claim the title honors. She followed the showing with a title defense in her latest bout in December 2024, winning by unanimous decision against Lizbeth Crespo. Now entering her first world title fight, she will challenge Ferreira for the IBF lightweight world title in a 10-round women’s championship bout on Saturday, June 7.

MVP’s Keno Marley is a 24-year-old 6’3” boxer born in Sapeaçu, Bahia, Brazil. He first began boxing at age 11 before moving to São Paulo alone to pursue his boxing training at age 13, joining the Brazilian national team to launch a standout amateur career. He first made a name for himself at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, taking home the gold medal and becoming the first Brazilian boxer to achieve this feat. The next year, Marley earned silver at the 2019 Pan American championships. He earned a place on Brazil’s Olympic team, qualifying to compete in the men’s light heavyweight event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finishing as a quarter-finalist in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Britain’s Benjamin Whittaker, the eventual silver medalist. At the 2021 amateur world championships, Marley fought in the IBA cruiserweight division and earned the silver medal, before becoming the 2022 Brazilian national amateur champion. In 2023, Marley won the prestigious Strandja Tournament, the biggest championship on the European circuit, becoming the first Brazilian man to reach the final and win the title before winning silver at the 2023 Pan American Games. He continued his amateur sprint as he returned to represent Brazil again at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men’s heavyweight division, defeating Team Great Britain powerhouse Pat Brown to reach the quarter finals. Outside boxing, Marley faced two difficult losses in 2021, losing his older brother to murder and his cousin to suicide. He now actively serves as a third sergeant in the Brazilian Army, holds a university degree in physical education, and is currently completing a law degree. He trains out of the Brazilian Olympic Training Center and is co-managed by Brazil’s biggest influencer, multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes, who faced MVP’s Neeraj Goyat on the main card of MVP’s record-shattering Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson in November 2024. Marley currently resides in São Paulo, Brazil. On Saturday, June 7, Marley will make his professional debut over 4 rounds at 200lbs in the cruiserweight division against Sean Sparks (2-0, 2 KOs). The 33-year-old Sparks comes to the ring from Weslaco, Texas by way of Palm Desert, California, boasting a perfect record so far in his pro career. Sparks, an orthodox fighter standing at 6’2”, most recently earned a third-round KO over Enrique Rodriguez in March 2025, following his outstanding first round KO of Edmilson Freitas in his pro debut in October 2024. He is managed by Felix Piedra.

“I’ve been boxing for 11 years now. To finally get to the point where I’m about to make my pro debut after all I’ve done so far feels surreal,” said Keno Marley.“I’m really excited and thankful that MVP is the stage where I’m starting my boxing career. I’m doing exactly what I wanted, when I wanted, and where I wanted, so I can’t be anything but thankful about my life right now! Saturday, June 7 can’t get here soon enough.”

Luan Medeiros (5-0, 4 KOs) is an undefeated professional lightweight boxer and the current CNB Super Lightweight Brazilian National Champion. As an amateur, he built an extensive career with close to 150 fights, boasting over 114 wins and becoming a Brazilian National Champion, Copa del Pacífico winner in Ecuador, and a Cheo Aponte Tournament runner-up in Puerto Rico. Domestically, he won multiple regional titles, including 4x Rio de Janeiro state champion, 3x São Paulo state champion, Paraná state champion, Sul-Sudeste champion, and Centro-Oeste champion. He also represented Brazil internationally, winning team challenges against Italy and Argentina. Outside the ring, the 30-year-old Luan is known for his relationship with Brazilian A-list actress Mel Maia, who has over 21 million followers. Facing him will be one of boxing’s most exciting up-and-coming lightweight prospects, Tony Aguilar (13-1-1, 4 KOs). The 26-year-old Aguilar, a Crescent City, FL native, returns to the ring following four thrilling fights across MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series and Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024 and his latest UD win over Marcello Williams in December 2024. He proudly represents his Mexican heritage in the ring and is a relentlessly hard-working fighter who will look to keep the action high over 8 rounds against Medeiros.

“On Saturday, June 7, our newest signee and two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will be making his pro debut as part of a card that uniquely celebrates the tremendous talent and achievements of Brazilian boxing,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “This event also marks the return of MVP’s Championship Edition, which first featured Amanda Serrano’s historic 12×3:00 unified women’s world championship bout against Danila Ramos in October 2023. We are proud to now spotlight two more world-class women’s fighters as Brazil’s Olympic silver medalist Beatriz Ferreira defends her IBF world title against a difficult challenger in Maria Ines Ferreyra. Most Valuable Prospects 13 continues to showcase some of the most exciting women’s fighters and rising prospects in the sport—both core tenets of our MVP mission–in partnership with DAZN and Boxlab Promotions.”

“On behalf of the entire team at Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions we’re proud to be partnering with MVP on what should be a great night of action,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “Central Florida’s Brazilian community will be out supporting their champion and their Olympian! This is part of Caribe Royale’s commitment of bringing world class events to Orlando. Sports fans in Central Florida should be excited about the headliners and the soon to be announced undercard!”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP, promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions, and distributed globally by DAZN. The 13th event in the series, hosted by the Caribe Royale Resort, will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize returns for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). We are building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?dazngroup.com.

Japanese pound-for-pound icon Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas.

Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) is 24-0 in world title fights and has captured undisputed championships in two weight classes, most recently at junior featherweight with knockouts of Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales. He’s also scored stoppage wins over future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire, Paul Butler, and Luis Nery, whom he knocked out in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome last May. Since last fighting in the U.S. in 2021, Inoue has emerged as boxing’s most dominant champion.

Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) rides a 14-fight winning streak into his first world title shot, highlighted by a breakout 2024 campaign that included stoppage wins over Israel Rodriguez Picazo and Eduardo Ramirez. Last month, he headlined in his hometown, rallying from a knockdown to outpoint previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta.

In the co-feature, Mexican star Rafael Espinoza will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Edward Vazquez.

Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) burst onto the world stage in December 2023, rallying from a knockdown to upset Robeisy Ramirez and win the WBO featherweight title in what was named ESPN’s Upset of the Year. He defended the belt twice in 2024, including a rematch stoppage of Ramirez in six rounds. Now, Espinoza looks to make his third title defense in a division once dominated by Mexican legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs), a native of Fort Worth, Texas, bounced back from a razor-thin split decision loss to future champion Raymond Ford in 2022 with a string of strong performances. He pushed then-unbeaten junior lightweight titleholder Joe Cordina to the brink in a close majority decision defeat in November 2023, earning respect on the world stage. Vazquez enters the bout riding momentum from back-to-back wins in 2024, including a fourth-round stoppage of Kenneth Taylor.

The action-packed undercard begins at 6:15 p.m. ET/ 3:15 p.m. PT live and exclusively on ESPN+.

ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

ESPN.com:

Garcia, Lopez, Canelo and Inoue in the same weekend? Get ready!

An FAQ as a guide to the Times Square card, Canelo Alvarez in Saudi Arabia and Naoya Inoue’s return to the U.S. on the same weekend.

Saturday, May 3:

Why Naoya Inoue is (almost) a perfect fighter

Timothy Bradley Jr. breaks down Inoue’s game in 12 categories, from offense to defense and power and speed, and highlights one thing he could do better.

ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

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Inoue vs. Cardenas (All Times ET)

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