LONG BEACH, Calif. — Northern California pride, world rankings, and championship aspirations will all be on the line this Friday, May 15, as Eros Correa of San Jose, California faces undefeated Anthony Garnica of Oakland, California for the WBC Continental Americas Championship at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.

The event will be filmed by FOX Deportes, giving fight fans across the country an opportunity to witness one of the most compelling all-Northern California showdowns in recent years.

Both fighters officially weighed in Thursday afternoon at 117.3 pounds, making the bantamweight title clash official. Correa enters the bout with a professional record of 15-2 with 9 knockouts, while Garnica comes in unbeaten at 13-0-1 with 8 knockouts.

For both fighters, Friday night represents far more than just another victory. The winner of the WBC Continental Americas title will position himself inside the world rankings and move significantly closer toward a future world championship opportunity.

The matchup also carries major regional significance, as two of Northern California’s top bantamweight fighters battle for Bay Area bragging rights. San Jose and Oakland have long shared a competitive sports rivalry, and now that intensity heads into the boxing ring with championship stakes attached.

Correa, a former WBA Top-5 ranked world contender in 2024, believes this fight marks the beginning of his return to the elite level of the sport after injuries temporarily stalled his momentum. “This win will get me back in the world rankings where I belong and get me back on track for a world title opportunity,” said Correa. “I want to continue my quest to become the first world champion to ever come out of San Jose, California.”

Standing across from him will be one of the sport’s rising unbeaten prospects Anthony Garnica, who has quickly built a reputation as one of Oakland’s most promising young fighters. Garnica has impressed fans with his combination of speed, power, and relentless pressure, and he says he plans to announce himself on a much bigger stage Friday night. “I plan to show the world my talent on May 15th,” said Garnica. “The fans should expect an action-packed fight.”

With both fighters possessing knockout power, strong Northern California fan support, and championship ambitions, the atmosphere inside Thunder Studios is expected to be electric. The bout represents a pivotal crossroads moment for both men — Correa looking to reclaim his place among boxing’s top contenders, while Garnica aims to preserve his undefeated record and take the biggest step of his young career.

Fight fans can expect an explosive battle between two hungry warriors determined to prove they are the true king of Northern California while moving one step closer to a world title fight.

Long Beach, California — A high-stakes Northern California rivalry will take center stage on May 15, 2026, as undefeated Oakland native Anthony Garnica faces San Jose’s seasoned contender Eros Correa for the WBC Continental Americas Title at New Era Fight Night III, presented by Showtime Boxing Promotions. Taking place at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, the bout brings together two of NorCal’s top fighters in a pivotal clash with major implications for the bantamweight division. The event will be televised live on FOX Deportes, bringing the action to a national audience.

Anthony Garnica (13-0, 8 KOs), the 25-year-old rising star from Oakland, has rapidly built a reputation as one of boxing’s most promising young prospects. With an aggressive yet composed style, Garnica now faces the toughest test of his career as he looks to claim his first major title and represent Oakland on a national stage.

“Fans can expect an action-packed fight,” said Garnica. “Eros is coming in hungry to revamp his career, and I respect the tough opponents he’s faced. I’ve followed his journey closely, and I’m excited to step in the ring with someone of his caliber. At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to styles—and mine will prevail.”

Standing across the ring is Eros Correa (15-2, 9 KOs), the 33-year-old veteran originally from San Jose, now fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Correa brings experience, grit, and a renewed sense of purpose as he looks to defend NorCal pride while reestablishing himself among boxing’s elite. Correa enters the fight following a closely contested decision loss to Michael Angeletti in June 2025 and a brief injury setback earlier that year. Now fully healthy, he has revamped his training camp under renowned coach Richard Barrientes, sharpening his tools for what he views as a career-defining opportunity.

?“I’m excited to get back into the ring, and I know this title will get me back in the rankings where I belong,” said Correa. “I’ve been working with my new trainer and I’ve elevated my skillset. I’m ready to show that on May 15.”

Once ranked as high as No. 5 in the world by the WBA, Correa’s experience and resilience contrast with Garnica’s youth and undefeated momentum, setting the stage for a compelling youth vs. experience showdown fueled by regional pride.

The stakes are significant, as the winner is expected to break into the Top 20 rankings of the WBC, positioning themselves for a potential world title opportunity. With both fighters at critical junctures—Garnica on the rise and Correa seeking redemption—this matchup is expected to deliver fireworks in the 118-pound division.

The undercard will feature promising rising talents Andy Dominguez Velasquez and Criztec Bazaldua, both of whom continue to build momentum early in their professional careers. Known for their aggressive styles and fan-friendly performances, both fighters are expected to add excitement to an already stacked card, with opponents to be announced in the coming weeks.

Event Details:?

Event: New Era Fight Night III

Date: May 15, 2026

Location: Thunder Studios, Long Beach, California

Promotion: Showtime Boxing Promotions

Broadcast: FOX Deportes

Title on the Line: WBC Continental Americas Championship

Tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-era-fight-night-iii-garnica-vs-correa-wbc-continental-americas-bantam-tickets-1986053782326?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

About Showtime Boxing Promotions

Showtime Boxing Promotions continues to deliver elite boxing events featuring top prospects, contenders, and championship-caliber matchups, showcasing the next generation of stars in the sport while providing a platform for future world champions.

LONG BEACH, CA (April 21, 2025) – This past Saturday, rising bantamweight prospect, Anthony Garnica from Oakland, CA, remained undefeated with a third-round TKO over former two-time world challenger and Philippine native, Aston Palicte (27-8-1, 23 KOs), improving his record to (13-0, 8 KOs). With the victory, Garnica captured the National Boxing Association (NBA) Inter-Continental bantamweight title. The scheduled 8-round bout promoted by Showtime Boxing Promotions took place at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, and was streamed live on WBCBOXING.com.

From the opening bell, Garnica took control of the fight, letting his hands fly with bad intentions, forcing Palicte into a fire fight. After an entertaining first round, Garnica landed a vicious body shot in round two, sending Palicte to the canvas. Palicte was able to make it to round three and showed tremendous resilience dropping Garnica with a straight right cross. When Garnica recovered, he went right back at Palicte and ended the bout with a flurry of punches forcing the referee to stop the fight at the :40 second mark of round three.

“I was feeling great in round one and hit him with a nice shot to the body in round two.” Garnica stated. “I was a little carless trying to end the fight at the beginning of round three and he caught me with a clean shot, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I knew I had to bite down, stay composed, and take back control—and that’s exactly what I did, and took him out of there.”

In the action-packed 8-round co-main event, Israel Mercado (12-1-2, 7 KOs) earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over the battle-tested Jonathan Jose Eniz (35-22-1, 16 KOs). From the opening bell, the bout turned into a slugfest, with both fighters trading heavy shots in the center of the ring. Mercado showcased sharp boxing skills and smart ring IQ, using Eniz’s forward pressure against him to land clean counters and control the pace. As the final 30 seconds ticked down, the two warriors stood toe-to-toe, unleashing everything they had and bringing the crowd to their feet. After eight thrilling rounds, it was Mercado who emerged with his hand raised.

Showtime Promotions executives Reyes Mejia and Lenin Garcia weighed in on the success of their “New Era Fight Night” series, an event designed to spotlight boxing’s next generation of stars.

“Anthony Garnica showed why he’s considered one of the top bantamweight prospects in boxing. To take out a crafty veteran like Palicte proved he’s got the talent to make a run at the bantamweight title. In addition, Mercado vs. Eniz was non-stop action that had the crowd on their feet. This entire card delivered.”

“We couldn’t be happier with how the night played out” added Garcia. “Our mission at Showtime Promotions is to deliver great fights and build the platform for tomorrow’s champions. Garnica showed he’s on that path—and we’re just getting started.”

Undercard Results:

6-round super middleweight bout

Raul Salomon (15-3, 13 KOs) defeated Crispulo Javier Andino (26-16-1, 12 KOs) by first round KO.

4-round super lightweight bout

Avetis Gadya (1-0, 1 KO) defeated David Minter (4-8, 3 KOs) by second round KO.

4-round bantamweight bout

Chantel Navarro (5-0, 3 KOs) defeated Wendy Villegas (2-6, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision.

Brianda Cruz (2-0) defeated Julia Igel (3-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision. 

OAKLAND, CA (April 14, 2025) – Showtime Boxing Promotions’ undefeated bantamweight prospect Anthony Garnica (12-0-1, 7 KOs) is ready to make a name for himself as he steps into the spotlight for the second main event of his career. On Friday, April 19, 2025, Garnica will face battle-tested Filipino veteran Aston Palicte (28-7-1, 23 KOs) in an 8-round showdown at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. The action will stream live on WBCBOXING.com.

Garnica, 24, has been steadily making noise in the California Bay Area, while climbing the ranks with his blend of slick boxing to go with his high ring IQ. Now, against a dangerous and experienced opponent in Palicte, he’s looking to prove he’s ready for the next level.

“It feels amazing to headline my second main event,” said Garnica. “Fighting in main events is something I’ve worked for since I turned professional, this will be my second, and I’m ready to take full advantage of the moment. I want to show the world what I’m made of. Training camp was great. We’ve been locked in and focused. I’ve been sparring with high-level guys and sharpening everything—power, speed, ring IQ. I feel better than ever.”

As a proud representative of Oakland, Garnica is looking to be the next great fighter from the Bay Area. “Oakland has produced some great fighters, and I want to carry that tradition. I’m not just fighting for myself—I’m fighting for my city. I want to make Oakland proud.”

Reyes Majia, co-founder of Showtime Boxing Promotions, shared his excitement about Garnica’s rise stating, “This is another big moment for Anthony and for us as promoters making him the main event for the second time in his career. He’s earned it, and we believe he has what it takes to be a world champion one day. If you haven’t seen him fight yet, tune in—you’ll see what all the hype is about.”

Lenin Garcia added, “Anthony brings a lot of excitement to the ring with his fighting style. He’s got the work ethic, the skill set, and the charisma. Fans are going to love watching him do his thing in the ring. This main event is just the beginning.”

Doors open at 5:30 pm PT with the first fight starting at 6:30 pm PT. Tickets 

priced $87.21 (GENERAL), $108.55 (RESERVED), $151.23 (PREMIUM), $193.92 (VIP), $236.60 (RINGSIDE), plus applicable fees, are available for purchase now at www.eventbrite.com. Thunder Studios is located at 20434 S Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810.

Former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. dropped Luis Ortiz three-times en-route to a 12-round unanimous decision at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles

In round two, Ruiz landed a quick and powerful right hand that sent Ortiz to the canvas. Ortiz was wobbly and went down again from a flurry of punches. Ortiz was able to steady himself and landed some hard lefts in the round.

In round seven, Ruiz floored Ortiz with a right to the top of the head. In round 11, the left eye of Ortiz began to shut. Many rounds did not have a ton of action, but when there was, both guys threw power shots with the intentions of ending the fight. Ortiz made one last final stand in the final round, but it was not enough as Ruiz won by scores of 114-111 twice and 113-112.

Ruiz landed 76 of 267 punches; Ortiz was 78 of 428.

Ruiz, 269 lbs of Imperial, CA is now 35-2. Ortiz, 245.5 lbs of Camuguay, CUB is 33-3.

“Everyone was doubting me, but I worked so hard for this fight,” said Ruiz. “Ortiz is a warrior who hits hard. I did a beautiful job boxing him around. I showed more class than I usually do just coming forward.”

“I told you I was going to be a warrior and that’s what I did,” said Ortiz. “This is Cuba vs. Mexico. This is what I live for. To everyone who said that I’m old, I gave you a war today. There are always surprises in boxing, and that’s what you got if you didn’t think I’d give it my all.”

“It was a difficult fight,” said Ruiz. “I was waiting for him to load up and countering him when he did. It was a blessing we were able to be successful.”

“If Deontay Wins in October, me and him are with the same management and we can make this fight happen,” said Ruiz Jr. “Let’s do it. Let’s get it on. I’m hungry and I want to be champion again and bring that belt back to Mexico.”

“Deontay Wilder is back and I’m always looking for great exciting fights for the fans,” said Wilder. “If Andy Ruiz Jr. is what’s next, then I’m ready to get it on.”

Isaac Cruz Takes Out Ramirez in 2

Isaac Cruz destroyed Eduardo Ramirez in round two of a scheduled 12-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Cruz landed a huge left hook that dropped Ramirez face-first.. Later in the round, Cruz landed a vicious four-point combination that sent Ramirez down again and the fight was over at 2:27.

Cruz, 135 lbs of Mexico City is 24-2-1 with 17 knockouts. Ramirez, 134.5 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 27-3-1.

“I was ready to win at all costs, for my family and what better way to win than here in front of all the great fans in Los Angeles,” said Cruz.”

“I lost and I have to accept that,” said Ramirez. “I’ll get better and move forward. I felt like I was fighting well and then everything turned all of a sudden. That’s just boxing. Now I’m going to rest, recover and plan my next moves going forward. But I’ll definitely be back, you can count on that.”

“We want the rematch with Gervonta Davis,” said Cruz. “That’s what these fans want. I promised the knockout tonight and we got it done.”

Mares and Flores Battle to Draw

Former world champion Abner Mares came back from a four-plus year layoff but was only to get a 10-round majority draw with Miguel Flores.

It was a high-contact fight that saw Mares fight well early, with Flores coming on late.

Mares landed 151 of 652 punches; Flores was 124 of 665.

Scores were 96-94 and 95-95 twice,

Mares, 134 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 31-3-2. Flores, 135 lbs of Mirella, MEX is 25-4-1.

“Obviously it had been over four years, so I was a little off with my timing and a little sluggish,” said Mares. “But I felt good and I thought I was landing the more powerful shots throughout.” 

“It was a good fight and obviously I thought that I pulled it off,” said Flores. “I know we’re in his hometown and he’s a veteran so it is what it is. He was trying to pot shot me, but I was catching most of it. He got me with a couple good shots early on but I felt like I was in control after the fourth round.”

“It was a great atmosphere,” said Flores. “It’s hard to not let the crowd get you carried away. I know they were cheering for me too by the end. This leaves me in a great position. We got a draw against a three-division world champion so it leaves a good taste in your mouth.”

“After four years away I did enough to beat a young kid and an active fighter,” said Mares. “My performance speaks for itself. The crowd was happy and it felt good to be home. I definitely felt like I won but it is what it is, the judges saw a draw.”

Edwin De Los Santos Stops Valenzuela in 3

Late-replacement Edwin De Los Santos shocked previously undefeated Jose Valenzuela in round three of their 10-round lightweight bout.

In a wild round two, Valenzuela dropped De Los Santos with a hard left hand. Seconds later, De Los Santos scored a hard knock down with a hard right hook that set up a flurry that was punctuated by another right hook his own. De Los Santos was deducted a point as he hit Valenzuela when he was down. In round three, De Los Santos dropped Valenzuela again with a hard right hook. Moments later, De Los Santos rocked Valenzuela with a hard right hook and the fight was stopped at 1:08.

De Los Santos, 134 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 15-1 with 14 knockouts. Valenzuela, 134.5 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is 12-1.

“Valenzuela is a fighter who I feel has been protected and I wanted to show everyone what I’m capable of,” said De Los Santos. “The plan wasn’t to come forward so much, but when I saw how he was fighting, I was ready to go toe-to-toe. The Mexican fighters love to fight like that, but he was open for me to attack.”

“I didn’t expect De Los Santos to be as aggressive as he was in the fight,” said Valenzuela. “He gave it out as he good as he took. I just want to focus on getting back in the ring and redeeming myself.”

“I came in against a ranked fighter tonight and I was up for the task,” said De Los Santos. “Now I want the same name that everyone wants. I want Gervonta Davis.”

Joey Spencer Decisions Salgado

Joey Spencer remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Kevin Salgado.

Spencer landed 79 of 395; Salgado was 54 of 422.

Spencer, 154.5 lbs of Grand Blane, MI won by scores of 99-91 twice and 100-90 and is now 16-0. Salgado, 153.2 lbs of Mexico City is 14-1-1.

“He’s a hard-hitting counter puncher, so we wanted to control the distance,” said Spencer. “I feel really strong. I’m really proud of the work that we put into my conditioning and I think it showed in the fight. I’m improving as I get more experience, and that helps me stay more composed in these fights. I’m going to keep adding to my game as I get more comfortable. I’m definitely working towards improving as an offensive fighter.”

“I have a couple ideas of who I want to fight next,” said Spencer. “Tony Harrison, Tim Tszyu, Erickson Lubin and Sebastian Fundora are all guys I want to fight. I want to face the best. There’s one champion in the division and we have to fight each other to get to him.”

Aleem Shuts out Plania

Ra’eese Aleem remained undefeated and tuned up for a world title fight by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Mike Plania in a super bantamweight.

In round two, Aleem landed a right hand that had Plania stumbling which was ruled a knockdown.

Aleem landed 134 of 592 punches; Plania was 47 of 345.

Aleem, 121.5 lbs of Muskegon, MI won by scores of 100-89 on all cards and is now 20-0. Plania, 122 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 26-2.

“The fight was everything that I expected,” said Aleem. He’s a very tough fighter and a great competitor. I just wanted to fight a smart fight, because we know he’s dangerous. Although I didn’t feel his power, I know that he can hit. I just wanted to take my time and let everything fall into place.”

“It’s time for ‘scared boy’ Stephen Fulton Jr. to come out of hiding and sign the contract,” said Aleem. “Let’s get in there so I can give him his first loss. It would be a closer fight than tonight, but I still expect to dominate and get the win.”

Anthony Garnica remained undefeated with a six-round majority decision over Jose Lopez in a super bantamweight fight.

Garnica, 123.4 lbs of Oakland, CA won by scores of 59-55 twice and 57-57 and is now 10-0-1. Lopez, 127.5 lbs of Dallas, TX is 17-11.

Former world heavyweight champion Charles Martin battered and bloodied former United States Olympian Devin Vargas in his way to a fourth round stoppage in a scheduled eight-round bout.

The time of the stoppage was 1:59.

Martin, 250 lbs of Saint Louis, MO is 29-3-1 with 26 knockouts. Vargas, 243 lbs of Toledo, OH is 22-8.

Former Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. had to shake off an early knockdown, but righted himself to win a 12-round unanimous decision over Chris Arreola in front of a restricted sellout of 3,940 fans at The Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

In round two, it was Arreola who landed a chopping right that sent former champ, Ruiz down to a knee. That was the high-point for Arreola as Ruiz was able to get in a rhythm and land hard three-punch combinations throughout that were mostly of the Jab/:eft-hook/Right Hand variety, Arreola seemed like he would be dangerous, but that was thwarted as in round eight, Arreola seemed to hurt his left shoulder after absorbing a right from Ruiz Ruiz was methodical down the stretch and boxed his way to a 118-110, 118-110 and 117-109 victory.

Ruiz landed 161 of 626 punches; Arreola was 109 of 521.

Ruiz, 256 lbs of Imperial, CA is 34-2. Arreola, 228.6 lbs of Los Angeles is 38-7-1.

ANDY RUIZ JR. “Chris is a veteran and a hard puncher. We did what we had to do tonight. We got the victory that we wanted. I was at my lowest point and now I have to climb the ladder again. I’m thankful for the victory and I’m ready to move on to the next.
“He got me with a good clean right hand in the second round. I was too overconfident and dropped my hand a bit. Hats off to him. We just kept pushing and pushing. I switched up and started focusing on counterpunching and working the body.

“I felt a little rust and I know other fighters can relate to that. If he wants to run it back, we’ll run it back with him.”

“I just have to get back to work. I learned a lot about throwing different combinations in training, but the rust showed in the ring. Arreola was very good tonight.
“When you go down, you just have to climb back up. That’s exactly what I did. I got dropped, but I got up and got the victory. 
“I could have done a lot more. I couldn’t really find my distance, but some of that was Arreola doing a good job. I could have kept my hands up better, but I just need to get back in the gym and stay busy. 
“I got a little overconfident in the early rounds. The most important thing was that we came back and got the victory. 
“I’m going to stick around this weight, but I’m going to tighten everything up. I faced a strong veteran who knew exactly what he was doing. 
“A fight against Luis Ortiz would be an exciting matchup. I have to get back to training so I can keep feeling better in the ring. I’m actually happy to get the 12 rounds in.”

CHRIS ARREOLA“I respect the judges, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He might have won, but don’t tell me I only won two or three rounds. 
“I got hit in the shoulder and it kinda threw it off. It wasn’t a big deal though. It’s a part of boxing. I didn’t take too much punishment. I’m ready to run it back with Andy.”

“A lot of punches he threw were hitting my gloves. He never put me in danger. It’s dejecting to not get the respect from the judges that I feel I deserve.

“There’s no moral victory. I came here to beat Andy. He might have beat me, but I felt like he won seven rounds at the most.

“I give me and Joe a lot of credit. We trained hard for this fight. I did everything I had to do in the gym.

“I was a better fighter than Andy Ruiz expected. This version of Ruiz would knock Joshua out, but I was in great condition and ready for everything he had to offer.

“I absolutely hurt him, but Andy is a dangerous fighter. I didn’t want to get hit with a suckerpunch like Anthony Joshua.

Ramos stops Figueroa After 6

Abel Ramos dominated and beat up Omar Figueroa Jr as the fight was stopped after round six of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout.

Ramos landed a plethora of hard shots on an awkward style of Figueroa, who would be holding his glove up on the side of face, Ramos started breaking down Figueroa in round five, as Figueroa was developing a mouse under his right eye. In round six, Ramos dominated Figueroa by landing hard thudding shots to the head of body. Figueroa was spitting up blood and the fight was stopped in the corner.

Ramos, 146.6 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 27-4-2 with 21 knockouts. Figueroa, 146.4 lbs of Weslaco, TX is 28-2-1.

ABEL RAMOS“Omar is a very tricky fighter. He has an awkward defense and it was hard to catch him clean at first, but the fight overall went as planned.
“I trained so hard for this fight. I knew my career was on the line. I knew I needed a win and I knew Omar would bring a good fight. I’m glad to be back on the winning side and I’m ready to take on the best of the division.
“We trained to attack the body. Our plan from the beginning was to pressure him. We wanted to score points to the body. I could hear him groaning and I knew once I hurt him bad, that the fight was over. 
“I missed the feeling of the crowd cheering. My adrenaline was through the roof. They give you excitement and we missed that in boxing.”

Fundora Stops Cota in 4!

6’7″ Sebastian Fundora continues to be one of boxing’s most exciting and unique performer as he stopped Jorge Cota in round four of their scheduled 12-round junior middleweight fight.

The two stood toe-to-toe for the whole fight as they were winging and whaling shots on one another. In round two, Cota was cut on his nose. Fundora continued to lay a beating on a game Cota, who kept trying to fight back and land an ois fhccasional overhand shot. In round four, Fundora hurt Cota with chopping lefts and body shots. Cota was staggered but he was getting caught and the fight was stopped at 2:35.

Fundora, 152.8 lbs of Coachella, CA is 17-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Cota, 153.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is now 30-5.

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA“I’m extremely grateful to fight in front of the fans tonight. It was fun to hear the cheers, the boos and everything. I’m honored to be in this position.
“It was a good trading fight. We were hitting each other, but my punches were doing more damage and that’s why the referee stepped in. I think he could have been stopped earlier in the round. I just kept fighting until the end.
“I saw his leg wobble in the first round, but he took it and kept coming. The second time I saw it, I knew I had to go for the kill.
“My message to the rest of the division is that we’re here. If youre ready for war, we’re ready to take it. Bring it on.”

Ramos decisions Molina

Jesus Ramos remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Javier Molina in a welterweight bout.

Ramos was cut over his right eye in round six. In round seven, Molina was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Ramos landed 135 of 579 punches; Molina was 77 of 413.

Ramos, 150 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ won by scores of 99-90 twice and 97-92 and is now 16-0. Molina, 149.2 lbs of Norwalk, CA is 22-4.

JESUS RAMOS“It was my second time going the distance and that’s what we wanted. We love knockouts, but we’re glad at this point in my career that I got the experience. I thank Molina for taking the fight, he’s a great fighter. 
“I might have been looking for a knockout too much in the early rounds. I got used to it and I settled down and I felt like I was breaking him down little by little. He was trying to survive a little bit, so it made it harder to get the knockout. 
“I learned a lot today. I’m going to keep building on that. I feel like I have a lot of momentum. It was a big step up for me and I feel like I showed a lot. I showed I have good conditioning and good movement along with my power. 
“My father told me to invite him to come to me. We were pressuring him to start. My dad had me change it up. He came in a little bit, but then he backed off. That’s how I tried to counteract his movement.”

Lara Knocks Out LaManna in 1; Wins Middleweight Title

Erislandy Lara won the WBA Middleweight title with a devastating 1st round knockout of Thomas LaManna.

Lara landed a huge left to the head that put LaManna on his back and the fight was stopped at 1:30.

Lara, 159.4 lbs of Guantanamo, CUB is 28-3-3 with 16 knockouts. LaManna, 159 lbs of Millville, NJ is 30-5-1.

ERISLANDY LARA – KO1 at 1:20
“He said at the press conference that he was going to knock me out, but he ran right into that punch. Maybe he was overthinking it all along. 

“I felt strong and sharp tonight at middleweight, but I still want all of the big fights at 154-pounds too. I want the winner of the Jermell Charlo-Brian Carlos Castano unification fight. (WBC Middleweight Champion) Jermall Charlo is like family, we worked in the same gym for years, but this is a sport and I’d welcome the challenge.

“I feel great physically. I’m going to keep doing this until my body tells me I can’t do it anymore. I don’t feel like I’ve taken a lot of punishment in my career and I know I have at least another three years of my prime left.”

Ramirez Stops Avelar in 3; retains Interim Featherweight title

Eduardo Ramirez retained the WBA Interim Featherweight title with a third round stoppage over Isaac Avelar.

In round three, Ramirez dropped Avelar with a perfect right hook. Ramirez finished the fight woth another huge hook that rocked Avelar and the fight was called off at 1:16.

Ramirez, 125.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 25-2-3 with 12 knockouts. Avelar, 125 lbs of Mexico is 17-3.

“I am beyond happy right now. I’m just elated and moved by having been able to fulfill the promise I made to my baby boy Eduardo Ramirez Jr. He just turned two years old and I wasn’t able to be there to give him a hug for his birthday, but I had promised him that I would bring the title back home to him as a gift, and that is exactly what I’m doing now. 
“You have to have a stone-cold mindset, and that’s what we had to finish Avelar off. We were able to connect the right combinations to finish the fight off exactly how we wanted.

“This was a perfect coronation. To be honest, I would now like to have the chance to fight against Leo Santa Cruz. I previously fought against Miguel Flores, who barely lasted 4-5 rounds against me, but Leo couldn’t knock him out. This convincing knockout should be my ticket to have that opportunity”. 

Adrian Granados and Jose Sanchez battled to a eight-round draw in a welt welterweight contest.

Granados took a card 77-75, while two cards were even at 76-76.

Granados, 146.6 lbs of Mexico City is 21-8-3. Sanchez, 146.2 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 11-1-1.

Carlos Negron won a eight-round unanimous decision over Scott Alexander in a heavyweight bout.

Negron, 238. lbs of Villaba, PR won by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 23-3. Alexander, 235 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 16-4-2.

Anthony Garnica remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Jesse Bassie i a featherweight fight.

In round one, Garnica dropped Bazzi with a right hand.

Garnica, 125.2 lbs of San Francisco, CA won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 6-0. Bassie, 126.4 lbs of Deerborn, MI is 1-2.

Fernando Molina won a six-round unanimous decision over Prisco Marquez in a lightweight bout.

Molina landed 116 of 358 punches; Marquez was 44 of 264.

Molina, 133.6 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX won by 60-53 scores on all cards and is now 6-0. Marquez, 135 lbs of Liberal, KS is 4-3-1.

ARSON, CALIF. (April 27, 2021) – An action-packed lineup of undercard attractions will enter the ring as part of a stacked boxing extravaganza headlined by former unified heavyweight champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. taking on all-action Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola in the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View main event this Saturday, May 1 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Portions of the undercard will be broadcast for free on the FOX Sports app and FOXsports.com starting at 4:40pm ET/1:40 p.m. PT. The undercard feed will also be made available to the PBC on FOX YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages. Ray Flores and Félix DeJesús will be on the call.

Undercard attractions will feature hard-hitting Adrian “El Tigre” Granados in an eight-round welterweight bout against Jose Sanchez, Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron taking on Scott Alexander in an eight-round heavyweight clash, rising prospect Fernando Molina facing Prisco Marquez in a lightweight fight and unbeaten prospect Anthony Garnica dueling Jesse Bazzi for four-rounds of featherweight action.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.

The FOX Sports Pay-Per-View begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Preceding the pay-per-view, FOX PBC Fight Night will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and be headlined by WBA Super Welterweight Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara seeking a third title in a second weight class when he takes on Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna for the WBA Middleweight Title.

Granados (21-8-2, 15 KOs) has battled a slew of accomplished super lightweights and welterweights over the course of his career including Shawn Porter, Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia and most recently Robert Easter Jr. in October 2019. The 31-year-old from Mexico City, Mexico owns an upset knockout victory over then-unbeaten Amir Imam and returned to the ring in February 2020 to stop Arturo Herrera in two rounds. He will be opposed by Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Sanchez (11-1, 4 KOs), who owns a nine-fight winning streak heading into this step up against the veteran Granados. The 28-year-old has fought professionally since 2012 and delivered three victories in 2019, including a fifth-round TKO of Joe Gomez.

A 2008 Olympian from Villalba, Puerto Rico, Negron (22-3, 18 KOs) fights out of Miami, Florida and enters this bout the winner of back-to-back contests. Negron stopped the previously unbeaten Robert Alfonso in March 2020, before most recently knocking out Rafael Rios in November 2020. He faces the 32-year-old Alexander (16-3-2, 8 KOs), who has also won back-to-back fights entering May 1. The Los Angeles-native Alexander has won four of his last five fights overall dating back to 2016.

The 18-year-old Molina (5-0, 3 KOs) first turned pro in August 2019, scoring stoppage victories in his first two fights, before a successful U.S. debut saw him defeat Jose Zaragoza by decision in November 2020. A native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Molina most recently stopped James De Herrera in the first-round in January of this year. He squares off against Marquez (4-2-1, 1 KO), who fights out of Liberal, Kansas and is entering the fight off of decision losses to then-unbeaten fighters Arnold Dinong and Christopher Zavala.

Representing his hometown of San Francisco, California, Garnica (5-0, 3 KOs) returns to the ring after his last bout saw him score a decision victory over Luis Alvarado in February 2020. The 20-year-old delivered knockouts in three of his first four fights after turning pro in October 2018. He takes on the 29-year-old Bazzi (1-1) from Dearborn, Michigan. Bazzi turned pro in 2021 with a win over Andre Marquez before dropping a March contest to Francisco Javier Martinez.

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ABOUT FOX SPORTS PBC PPV: RUIZ VS. ARREOLA
Ruiz vs. Arreola will see former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. battle all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare’’ Arreola in the main event of an all-Mexican boxing extravaganza on Saturday, May 1 headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clashing with Abel Ramos in the 12-round welterweight co-main event. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action in the pay-per-view opener.

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.99. Buy now on foxsports.com/ppv and watch on any screen!

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Ricardo Sandoval stopped Raymond Tabugon in round seven of a scheduled 10-round flyweight bout at the Fantasy Spring Casino Resort in Indio, Califoenia

In round two, Sandoval dropped Tabugon with a left hook.

Sandoval continued to beat down Tabugon until the bout was stopped in round seven,

Sandoval, 111.8 lbs of Riverside, CA is 18-1 with 13 knockouts. Tabugon, 111.2 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 22-12-1.

“It was a great fight,” said Ricardo Sandoval. “It was a great fight for the people. Raymond was a tough opponent with a lot of experience. I needed that kind of experience. I think we’re ready for a world title. Whoever gives me the opportunity, we’ll take it. I’ll be ready. Now it’s on to the next fight to get closer to a world title.”

Oscar Negrete won a 10-round unanimous decision over Alberto Melian in a bantamweight bout.

Negrete, 117.4 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93 and is now 19-2-2. Melian, 117.6 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 6-2.

In round one, Melian was cut over the right eye from a punch.

“It was a tough fight,” said Oscar Negrete. “I have to recognize that Alberto Melian is an amazing fighter. He came to win. He won the public’s respect tonight. I did what I had to do to win the fight. We want an opportunity to fight for a world title. I deserve it. We worked extremely hard to get here.

Sulem Urbina remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Noemi Bosques in a super flyweight bout.

Urbina, 112.6 lbs of Phoenix, AZ won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 12-0. Bosques, 113.6 lbs of St. Petersburg, FL is 12-15-3.

“I thought it was an exciting fight for the fans,” said Sulem Urbina. “I tried to get the stoppage, but she had a strong will. I learned a lot from my opponent. It was an honor to fight her. I hope Golden Boy keeps an eye out for me.”

Leonardo Baez won an eight-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Moises Flores in a featherweight bout.

Baez, 123.8 lbs of Mexicali, MX won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 18-2. Flores, 124 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is 24-3.

“My opponent was an interim champion,” said Leonardo Baez. “He had more experience than me. That’s why we trained hard in the gym. I want bigger fights and tougher opponents.”

Anthony Reyes and Diuhl Olguin fought to a no-contest after a headbutt forced the bout to be stopped at 53 seconds of round three of their scheduled six-round super bantamweight bout.

“At first I was doing good,” said Anthony Reyes. “I was still warming up. My opponent was very experienced. Unfortunately, the headbutt happened. The cut was pretty deep.” “I feel unsatisfied,” said Diuhl Olguin. “The fight was barely going to start. My opponent was a great counter puncher. I was pressuring and unfortunately the headbutt occurred.”

Oscar Acevedo remained undefeated by winning a six-round majority decision over Dan Murray after a headbutt forced the fight to end 23 seconds early.

Acevedo, 134 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 59-55 twice and 57-57, and is now 7-0. Murray, 134.2 lbs of Lanoka Harbor, NJ is 5-3.

“I think I did good, said Oscar Acevedo. “Better than my last fight. He was tough and came to fight. Now back to the gym to get better.”

In a battle of undefeated super featherweights, Anthony Garnica won a four-round majority decision over Luis Alvarado.

Garnica, 126.4 lbs of Oakland, CA won by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38, and is now 5-0. Alvarado, 128 lbs of Pasco, WA is 1-1.

“It was a good fight,” said Anthony Garnica. “He was a tough opponent. He came to fight. I executed the game plan. I settled down through the rounds and got it done.”