• Artur Beterbiev 174.4 lbs vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic 173 lbs
(Beterbiev’s IBF Light Heavyweight world title – 12 Rounds)

• Gabriel Flores Jr. 132.8 lbs vs. Eduardo Pereira Reis 130.8 lbs
(Lightweight – 6 Rounds)

• Jerwin Ancajas 114.2 lbs vs. Ryuichi Funai 114.4 lbs
(Ancajas’ IBF Junior Bantamweight world title- 12 Rounds)

ESPN+ (6:30 p.m. ET)

• Felix Valera 175 lbs vs. Mario Aguilar 175.2 lbs
(Light Heavyweight – 10 Rounds)

• Brian Mendoza 149.4 lbs vs. Carlos Rodriguez 151 lbs
(Welterweight – 8 Rounds)

• Vislan Dalkhaev 123.4 lbs vs. Vincent Jennings 123.6 lbs
(Super Bantamweight – 6 Rounds)

• Blake McKernan 194.6 lbs vs. Joey Montoya 197.2 lbs
(Cruiserweight – 8 Rounds)

• Marco Arroyo 110.2 lbs vs. Jesus Godinez 111.4 lbs
(Flyweight – 4 Rounds)

Swing Bout
• Quilisto Madera 160 lbs vs. Osbaldo Gonzalez 160.8 lbs
(Middleweight – 6/4 Rounds)

Promoted by Top Rank, remaining tickets priced at $175, $100, $65, $40, and $25 are on sale now and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster.com or at the Stockton Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and beginning three hours prior to event time on event days.

STOCKTON, Calif. (May 2, 2019) – Boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio (Artur Beterbiev), the longest-reigning junior bantamweight world champion (Jerwin Ancajas) and the sport’s youngest ticket-seller (Gabriel Flores Jr.) took center stage Thursday at the final press conference for Saturday’s ESPN-televised card at Stockton Arena (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) .

IBF light heavyweight world champion Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) will take on the hard-hitting Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (24-1, 17 KOs) in the main event, while Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KOs) will make the seventh defense of his IBF junior bantamweight world title against No. 1. contender Ryuichi Funai (31-7, 22 KOs) in the co-feature.

Flores (12-0, 5 KOs), the 19-year-old Stockton native making his grand homecoming, will fight Eduardo Pereira Reis (23-5, 19 KOs) in a six-round lightweight special attraction. At the press conference, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs presented Flores with a key to the city and the NBA G League’s Stockton Kings gave the hometown hero a custom jersey and belt.

Flores and his adviser, Rick Mirigian, did not want this event to pass without giving back. They awarded a local high school senior, Sherwood Ruffin-Turner, with a scholarship check to assist with his collegiate studies. Ruffin-Turner is a straight-A student who works two jobs and dreams of becoming an immigration attorney.

This is what the fighters had to say.

Artur Beterbiev

“My preparation was excellent. I want to thank my new promoter, Top Rank, for this opportunity. I look forward to showing the American fans my talent, and I am glad to be fighting in such a great light heavyweight division.”

“I have a great opponent on Saturday night, but of course, I want to unify the titles. There are many great light heavyweights, and as a fighter, I want to test myself against the best. I want to be No. 1 in the division.”

Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic

“About two years ago, I quit boxing. I had a really bad injury, got a job and went up to 225 pounds. Mentally, physically, I was done. Then, I had this procedure, stem cells, and over time it did a miracle. Look at me now. I’m on ESPN fighting for a world title. Life is great.”

On his reaction when he was offered the fight

“I was excited because I had been telling my manager that {Beterbiev} was one of the guys that I would pick if I could. When I got the call, I didn’t hesitate. I took the fight. It’s going to be a fun fight. He comes forward. I come forward. It’s going to be a fun fight for the fans.”

“I tuned some things up, and you guys will see on Saturday night.”

Jerwin Ancajas

“My last fight – my sixth title defense against Alejandro Santiago Barrios – was a hard fight for me. This will be my seventh title defense. We are confident, but we respect the challenge in front of us. Funai is a good, tough fighter.”

On what he hopes to show this Saturday

“The last time I fought, I was not happy with the result. For this fight, we did some different things in training to prepare 100 percent for the challenge in front of us. We prepared for all different types of styles, which will help me adjust as the fight goes on. My sparring partners were excellent, and you will see the result of that training on Saturday night.”

Ryuichi Funai

On his first world title shot

“I am extremely excited to put on a great performance. I have a strong heart, and I will be aggressive. I thank Ancajas for the opportunity, but I am here to become the new champion.”

On Ancajas

“I see him as a very talented fighter who can do many different things in the ring. It is my job to make his job more difficult.”

Gabriel Flores Jr.

“Since I was in elementary school, since I was an amateur, I always looked at this beautiful arena with a dream of fighting here. I was born and raised in Stockton, California. I’ve never lived in any other city. I had tough times here, but I love my city. I lost my mom, I lost an uncle. So, I’ve been through a lot, and I’ve overcome it. I just want to fight in my city, so come May 4, there’s going to be a lot of kids in attendance, a lot of parents, the whole community. They’re going to see me do something great, which is go after my dreams. I’m becoming successful. I’m going after my dreams. They’re going to see that they have a lot of opportunities out there. They’re not limited. They’re in this city and they can stay hungry and fight for what they want.”

On his opponent

“I’m ready. I’ve seen his tape. I see what he’s going to try and do. When I go in there, my boxing IQ is high. It’s definitely something he hasn’t seen before. I’ve fought in national and international tournaments {as an amateur}. I’ve seen every style.”

Rick Mirigian

“Gabriel has come a long way to put this many people in this building. It’s no small achievement. We have a big world championship night of boxing, and there will be a full house come Saturday night.”

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

Artur Beterbiev (champion) vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (challenger), 12 rounds, Beterbiev’s IBF light heavyweight world title, MAIN EVENT

Gabriel Flores Jr. vs. Eduardo Pereira Reis, 6 rounds, lightweight, SPECIAL ATTRACTION

Jerwin Ancajas (champion) vs. Ryuichi Funai (challenger), 12 rounds, Ancajas’ IBF junior bantamweight world title, CO-FEATURE

ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

Felix Valera vs. Mario Aguilar, 10 rounds, light heavyweight

Brian Mendoza vs. Carlos Rodriguez, 8 rounds, welterweight

Vislan Dalkhaev vs. Vincent Jennings, 6 rounds, super bantamweight

Blake McKernan vs. Joey Montoya, 8 rounds, cruiserweight

Marco Arroyo vs. Jesus Godinez, 4 rounds, flyweight

Swing Bout

Quilisto Madera vs. Osbaldo Gonzalez, 6/4 rounds, middleweight

Promoted by Top Rank, remaining tickets priced at $175, $100, $65, $40, and $25 are on sale now and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster.com or at the Stockton Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and beginning three hours prior to event time on event days.

STOCKTON, Calif. (May 1, 2019) – Gabriel Flores Jr. celebrated in his 19th birthday Wednesday at Los Gallos Boxing Academy in his hometown, three days before he makes his ESPN-televised homecoming in front of an expected crowd of more than 10,000 at Stockton Arena.

Flores (12-0, 5 KOs) will take on Eduardo Pereira (23-5, 19 KOs) in a six-round lightweight showdown, which will be televised in between a pair of highly anticipated world championship bouts.

In the main event, IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) – the only current world champion in boxing with a 100 percent knockout ratio – will fight the hard-hitting Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (24-1, 17 KOs). And, in the co-feature, Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KOs) will make the seventh defense of his IBF junior bantamweight world title against No. 1. contender Ryuichi Funai (31-7, 22 KOs).

Flores, a one-time standout amateur who signed with Top Rank in 2016 at the age of 16, is now one of the sport’s top young ticket-sellers. This is what he had to say.

Gabriel Flores Jr.

“Not many fighters can sell tickets, so for me to do it in my hometown at such a young age is a blessing. I have a great team behind me, and having ESPN come to Stockton is a dream come true.”

“Pereira is a veteran who has fought many top prospects. He’s an aggressive fighter, which will make for a crowd-pleasing fight. I want to show out for my hometown. There hasn’t been a boxing event like this is in Stockton for many years.”

“I honestly don’t feel pressure fighting in my hometown. If anything, it gives me more motivation. I want to put Stockton back on the boxing map.”

“I can feel myself growing into my man strength now. I am 19 years old now, and I have learned so much in my two years as a professional. I have faced a lot of different styles and types of fighters, which has helped my development.”

“I am honored to be on a great card like this with two world championship bouts. One day, I’ll return home to Stockton as a world champion.”

“Me, I want to go into the ring and make my mother proud (Flores’ mother, Juanita Maldonado, passed away in 2013). I will go into the ring against a very experienced opponent. There will be bright lights and lasers flashing when I get into the ring and there will be bright lights and lasers flashing when I start fighting. Since I’ve been a small boy, I have dreamed of this day, and here we are at last.”

Rick Mirigian (Flores’ adviser)

“This city loves its young king. No one this young is selling this many tickets, and Saturday will stand as one of this year’s biggest shows period across the board. A star has been born.”

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

Artur Beterbiev (champion) vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (challenger), 12 rounds, Beterbiev’s IBF light heavyweight world title, MAIN EVENT

Gabriel Flores Jr. vs. Eduardo Pereira, 6 rounds, lightweight, SPECIAL ATTRACTION

Jerwin Ancajas (champion) vs. Ryuichi Funai (challenger), 12 rounds, Ancajas’ IBF junior bantamweight world title, CO-FEATURE

ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

Felix Valera vs. Mario Aguilar, 10 rounds, light heavyweight

Brian Mendoza vs. Carlos Rodriguez, 8 rounds, welterweight

Vislan Dalkhaev vs. Vincent Jennings, 6 rounds, super bantamweight

Blake McKernan vs. Joey Montoya, 8 rounds, cruiserweight

Marco Arroyo vs. Jesus Godinez, 4 rounds, flyweight

Swing Bout

Quilisto Madera vs. Osbaldo Camacho, 6/4 rounds, middleweight

Promoted by Top Rank, remaining tickets priced at $175, $100, $65, $40, and $25 are on sale now and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster.com or at the Stockton Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and beginning three hours prior to event time on event days.

STOCKTON, Calif. (March 19, 2019) — IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev, the only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, will take his iron fists to California for the second defense of his title.

Beterbiev, who recently signed a long-term pact with Top Rank, will face top contender Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic in the main event Saturday, May 4 at Stockton Arena. In the co-feature, Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, the world’s longest-reigning 115-pound world champion, will make the seventh defense of his IBF junior bantamweight title against No. 1 contender Ryuichi Funai.

And, in a six-round lightweight special attraction, 18-year-old Stockton native and blue-chip prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. will face off against Eduardo Pereira.

Beterbiev-Kalajdzic, Ancajas-Funai, and Flores-Pereira will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m PT. The soon-to-be announced undercard will stream live beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+, the direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment and ESPN.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets priced at $175, $100, $65, $40, and $25 go on sale TODAY, March 19 at 12 p.m. PT, and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the Stockton Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and beginning three hours prior to event time on event days.

“Top Rank is really excited to bring big-time boxing to Stockton on May 4,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “The light heavyweight championship between Beterbiev and Hot Rod will be a thrilling brawl. Gabriel Flores Jr. will have the opportunity to perform before his hometown fans, and we welcome Jerwin Ancajas back in a great fight against Funai.”

“I am very excited to defend my IBF light heavyweight title on May 4 against a high-quality opponent like Radivoje Kalajdzic,” Beterbiev said. “This will be a great fight, and I can’t wait to get in the ring and show once again why I am the best 175-pound boxer in the world.”

“I’m thrilled to get this opportunity to challenge for a world title against a great fighter like Artur Beterbiev,” Kalajdzic said. “It will be a very exciting fight. Both of us hit hard, so expect fireworks. I am focused on securing a victory and will take full advantage of this shot. A win opens so many doors for me and will change my life. On May 4, the light heavyweight division will have a new world champion.”

Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs), a 34-year-old native of Russia, turned pro in 2013 following an amateur career that included a pair of European Championships gold medals and a gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. In only his sixth pro bout, he knocked out former world champion Tavoris Cloud. He won the IBF crown in November 2017 with a fourth-round stoppage over Enrico Kölling in Fresno, California. Beterbiev defended his belt the following October, recovering from a second-round knockdown to stop Callum Johnson in the fourth. Kalajdzic (24-1, 17 KOs) has won three in a row since a highly controversial split decision loss to Marcus Browne, including a fifth-round stoppage over then-unbeaten Travis Peterkin.

Flores (12-0, 5 KOs) was one of the great U.S. amateurs in recent memory, a boxing prodigy who signed with Top Rank in 2016 at the age of 16. He became the youngest fighter ever to sign a pro contract with Top Rank and will turn 19 three days before his bout against Pereira. He went 6-0 in 2018 and last fought on Feb. 10, cruising to a six-round unanimous decision over Alex Torres Rynn. Flores is returning home to raise awareness for bullying in his community, a cause that is near and dear to his heart.

“I was born and raised in Stockton, and it is the city I still call home. To get the opportunity to fight at the big arena in front of my friends, family, and biggest fans is a dream come true,” Flores said. “This is only the beginning of my journey. One day, I will fill up that arena as a world champion. I am excited to use my platform to show kids that bullying is unacceptable and that we must treat everyone with dignity and respect.”

“This fight card in Stockton is two-and-a-half years in the making,” said Rick Mirigian, event organizer and Flores’ adviser. “This gorgeous arena sits on the waterfront, and Stockton is a real fight town. Look for fireworks from Flores Jr. in his homecoming in what will be the biggest televised sporting event the city has ever seen.”

Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KOs), a 27-year-old Filipino native, has been one of the most active world champions in modern boxing, defending his belt three times apiece in 2017 and 2018. Unbeaten in 18 fights dating back to 2012, Ancajas is coming off a competitive draw versus Alejandro Santiago and is seeking to rebound against Funai (31-7, 22 KOs), who has won seven consecutive fights. A native of Tokyo, Funai is a former Japanese super flyweight champion who earned top contender status last June with an eighth-round KO over Warlito Parrenas. In his last bout, he knocked out Victor Emanuel Olivo in the second round to extend his KO streak to three.

“I was hard at work three weeks after my last fight with Santiago,” Ancajas said. “I am going to be in the best shape in my upcoming fight with Funai. Coming off my last fight, I really want to give a great performance and defend my world title in style for the fans in Stockton and everyone watching on ESPN.”

“I am excited for this opportunity to challenge for a world title and to make my professional debut in America,” Funai said. “I know I have the experience and the skills to become the new IBF champion of the world. Jerwin and I respect one another, but this is boxing, and I am going to fight my heart out.”

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IBF Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will not fight Joe Smith on December 15th at Madison Square Garden, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“The week after the Johnson fight, we were told by Beterbiev’s management that he would be ready to fight Joe Smith Jr. after mid-December,” Yvon Michel, who co-promotes Beterbiev with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, told ESPN on Thursday. “When we confirmed Dec. 15th last week, Artur realized, after being back to the gymnasium, the short delay between the two fights was a concern of not having the optimized conditions to perform at his best. Even if the Johnson fight was short, it was intense, and Artur was floored in the second round. Smith Jr. is also a good puncher and a strong fighter you can’t take lightly.

“Taking everything into consideration, his health and his intention to be champion for long time, he took the decision not to get in the ring Dec. 15. We were very comfortable with his decision. We are looking for a February date for his next title defense.”

“It’s a fight we wanted because we want Joe to fight for a world championship,” said Star Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia, Smith’s longtime promoter, who made a co-promotional deal with Hearn for them to work together for at least the next three Smith fights on DAZN, where Hearn has an eight-year deal to provide fights. “If you want to increase your stature in the game, which is what Beterbiev has been saying he wants, what better card is there to be on than on a Canelo card in New York at Madison Square Garden?

“You have the opportunity to do that against Joe Smith. To me, you jump on that. But this tells me they’re concerned about Joe as an opponent. It tells me a lot about Joe’s reputation out there. Beterbiev is a good fighter, a skilled fighter and he can fight, so this is disappointing.”

“We want a championship fight for Joe Smith and Beterbiev has one of those titles and we like the fight, but a lot of things can happen before February,” DeGuardia said.

With Beterbiev off the Dec. 15 card, Farmer hopes to replace him on the Golden Boy Promotions card. Hearn promotes Fielding and got two undercard slots on the show as part of the deal with Golden Boy.

“Tevin has made it very clear to Eddie and me that he really wants to fight on that card,” Lou DiBella, who recently made a co-promotional deal with Hearn on Farmer, said. “It would be a third title fight for him in five months and he really wants to do that. He wants to be an active champion. His attitude is very simple – money adds up when you’re active and three fights in five months for a world champion is unheard of. We’re talking to Eddie and we should know something soon, but Tevin is all jacked up to do it. He doesn’t know how to not be in the gym.”

“One of my pet peeves is that champions are not active enough,” DiBella said. “So to win your title and then defend it twice in five months would be big for Tevin. He wants to do it.”

IBF Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his title against hard-punching Joe Smith, Jr. in December and streamed on DAZN, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

There were rumors that Smith would face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, but Smith promoter Joe DeGuardia went in a new direction.

“We were in discussions for the Bivol fight, but we didn’t have a signed deal and there were still some loose ends,” DeGuardia said. “And then we got a tremendous offer for something different. I ended those Bivol talks as soon as this deal came into the fold, and I called up Main Events [which would have promoted the Nov. 24 card] and HBO to tell them.”

The fight with Beterbiev almost took place in November, but logistics pushed it to December.

“It was possible for November, but that’s slipping away, so it’s going to be in December. We are ready to roll,” said DeGuardia, who added that they have signed their paperwork.

Beterbiev co-promoter Eddie Hearn is excited about the fight.

“It’s a great, explosive fight,” Hearn, who co-promotes Beterbiev with Yvon Michel, told ESPN. “I really feel like Artur is going to make a strong charge now and he is fantastic to watch. Joe will have plenty of support as always and you mustn’t blink!”

DeGuardia is happy to have Smith involved in a world title fight be it against either of the Russian champions.

“Both are very, very difficult fights because they are both top, top fighters,” he said. “But you’re fighting for a championship. So it’s not an easy fight. You look at it and say Beterbiev, as a fan, I’d love to see. [They are like] smashing robots, two bangers who can punch. But it’s a tough fight and a good fight. I think it will resonate with the fans.”

Welterweights Jessie Vargas and Thomas Dulorme fought to a 12-round draw in the main event of Matchroom Boxing’s maiden voyage on stream service DAZN. the card took place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

In round three, Vargas was cut over the right from an accidental headbutt.

In round ten, Vargas dropped Dulorme with a short left hook. Dulorme pulled even in the last ten seconds of the fight as he decked Vargas with a counter right hand.

Vargas took a card 115-111, while two cards were even at 113-113.

Vargas, 147 lbs of Las Vegas is 28-2-2. Dulorme, 146 1/2 lbs of Carolina, PR is 24-3-1.

Artur Beterbiev retained the IBF Light Heavyweight title and kept his perfect knockout streak intact by stopping Callum Johnin in the 4th round.

In round one, Beterbiev dropped Johnson with a right hand after Johnson got stuck in the ropes. In round two, it was Johnson he sent Beterbiev hard to the canvas with a short left hook. In round three, Johnson was cut over the right eye.

In round four, it was a short right to the nose that dropped Johnson in the corner. he tried to get up and got to his feet just as the referee rached the count of ten and the fight was over at 2:36.

Beterbiev, 174 1/2 lbs of Montreal via Russia is 13-0 with 13 knockouts. Johnson, 174 3/4 lbs of England is 17-1.

Jarrell Miller stopped former cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek in round two of their scheduled ten-round heavyweight bout.

Miller landed a huge uppercut that sent Adamek to his knee.  He was wobbly upon getting up, and the fight was halted at 2:21.

Miller, 317 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 22-0-1 with 19 knockouts.  Adamek of Poland is 53-6.

Danny Roman stopped Gavin McDonnell in round ten to retain the WBA Super Bantamweight title.

Roman dominated action, and in round ten, he bludgeoned McDonnell as he dropped hard with a vicious of punches and the fight was stopped.

Roman is now 26-2-1 with 10 knockouts.  McDonnell is 20-2-2.

“I wanted to go to the body,” said Roman after the fight. “We needed to break him down.”

“The right hand landed early in the fight so we knew it was going to be there,” said Roman, who is represented by long time promoter Thompson Boxing and new partner Matchroom Boxing. “I just had to wait for the right time. It was there in the tenth. I landed a strong right to his chin that buckled him. I followed up with two left upper cuts and that was it for him.”

“I’ll fight any of the other champions in this division,” Roman said. “Let’s make a unification fight. I want all the belts.”

Jessica McCaksill won the WBC Super Lightweight title with a ten-round unanimous decision over Erica Anabella Farias.

McCaskill of Chicago won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 6-2. Farias is now 26-3.

Anthony Sims, Jr. stopped Marlon Aguilar in round six of a scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

Sims, 173 1/2 lbs of Plainfield, IN is 16-0 with 15 knockouts. Aguilar, 174 lbs of Mexico is 19-6.

In round one, Aguilar began to bleed from the nose.

Reshat Mati stopped Adan Ahumada in round three of a scheduled four-round welterweight bout.

Mati dropped Ahumada with a body shot that was followed up by a short right, and the bout was halted at 1:52.

Mati, 146 lbs of Brooklyn is 1-0 with one knockout. Ahumada, 150 lbs of Matamores, MEX is 3-6-2.

Nikita Ababiy needed just 28 seconds to dispose of Jake Henriksen in a scheduled four-round middleweight bout.

Ababiy landed a crushing body shot that put Henriksen down for the count.

Ababiy, 159 lbs of Brooklyn is 1-0 wit one knockout. Henriksen, 160 1/2 lbs of Fargo, ND is 2-3.

Matt Cameron stunned heralded prospect Nkosi Solomon by winning a four-round unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout.

In round three, Cameron dropped Solomon with a hard right hand. In round four, Solomon was docked a point for holding. Seconds later, it was a left hook that dropped Solomon for a 2nd time.

Cameron, 221 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 39-33 on all cards and is now 3-1-1. Solomon, 217 1/2 lbs of Brooklyn is 0-1.

(Chicago – October 2) Callum Johnson is targeting a ‘Callum win double’ and follow gym-mate Callum Smith’s World title win with his own stellar triumph at the elite level when he challenges IBF World Light-Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Saturday night (October 6) live on DAZN.

Johnson’s fellow Joe Gallagher-trained banger Smith knocked out George Groves in Saudi Arabia to win the World Boxing Super Series and bag the WBA Super, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine Super-Middleweight crowns.

Boston banger Johnson (17-0 12 KOs) knows he has to put in the performance of his career against Russian wrecking machine Beterbiev (12-0 12KOs), but after returning to action with a stunning first round KO of Frank Buglioni in his last outing in London in March – and the 33 year old predicts a violent showdown with the champion on Saturday, and another memorable night for Gallagher’s gym.

“Callum’s win has just inspired me even more to win here,” said Johnson. “It was a stunning performance and he’s the number one in the division now, and that’s what I want to become at Light-Heavyweight.

“I’ve dreamt of moments like this since i was a kid. No one else wants to fight him but I can’t wait to get in there with him. I’m living the dream and I genuinely believe I will shock the world.

“I know about him, if I wasn’t confident I wouldn’t be here. We were amateurs around the same time but we never came across each other to fight, but I would have done then and now we are fighting and it’s on a massive stage for a World title so it’s even better.

“He is a strong, powerful beast and he’s a very good fighter, it’s a tough ask, but it’s a challenge that I am up for and I’m full of belief.

“We’re not going to have to look for each other. He likes to KO people and so do I. We’ll meet in the middle of the ring and let the bombs go. There will be thought involved and we can both box, but we both want to take people out with bog shots, so it’s going to be exciting

“I shocked people [against Buglioni] and I don’t really know why. People had forgotten about me, out of sight, out of mind, but I showed them what I am capable of against Frank. I’ve been written off again and maybe rightly so, but I can KO any Light-Heavyweight in the world, and he’s no exception.

“People said ‘he’s never boxed anyone as good as Frank Buglioni’ – no disrespect to Frank, but I could name 20 fighters I’ve boxed that are better than Frank. Yes, it was in the amateurs with headguards, but just because people hadn’t seen me do it in the amateurs, doesn’t mean that I couldn’t. There’s still a lot more to see from me, my best has not come out in the pros.”

Johnson’s battle with Beterbiev is part of a massive night of action in Chicago, topped by the WBC Silver Welterweight title clash between Jessie Vargas and Thomas Dulorme.

Daniel Roman defends his WBA Super-Bantamweight crown against another Brit, second time World title challenger Gavin McDonnell, Brooklyn’s brash Heavyweight star Jarrell Miller meets Polish legend Tomasz Adamek and local favorite Jessica McCaskill can make history as Chicago’s first women’s World champion when she challenges Erica Farias for the Argentine’s WBC World Super-Lightweight title.

Three debutants grace the bill as Team USA talents Reshat Mati, Nikita Ababiy and Nkosi Solomon lace them up for the first time.

Along with these World stars and promising youngsters, Chicago fight fans will be able to back two of their own on the night, with unbeaten Bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson joining McCaskill on the card.

Tickets for October 6 are on sale now priced $40, $60, $100 and $200 and are available from:

Online at Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07005506EDA47F37

Phone: (312)791-6900

Anthony Sims Jr is back in action at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on October 6, live on DAZN – and the Light-Heavyweight talent is looking for rounds under the belt to target the big names in 2019 – including IBF champion Artur Beterbiev who defends his title against unbeaten Brit Callum Johnson on the stacked bill

Sims Jr boxed for the first time in 16 months in August in Cardiff, Wales and moved to 15-0 with his 14th stoppage win since his pro debut in April 2014.

That was the Indiana man’s first fight with new promoter Eddie Hearn, and number two takes him to the Windy City as the 23 year old looks to launch his attack on the 175lb division, with a chance to see Beterbiev and Johnson at close quarters on the night.

“I haven’t been treated this way since I started boxing,” said Sims Jr. on teaming up with Hearn. “It was great to be back in the ring for the first time in two years in Cardiff, and now it’s time to step it up some more.

“I got some rounds and got the stoppage in the UK, but I was so excited to be back in there and was head-hunting a bit. In Chicago I’ll be more patient and pick my shots, and I’ll look even better. The ring rust is coming off.”

Sims Jr will have plenty of support in the Wintrust Arena with a bus full of kids from his Sims Boxing Gym in Plainfield, Indiana making the trip to roar him on.

“It’s great to have the kids heading down for the show,” said Sims Jr. “There’s some really talented kids in the gym that just love the sport, so to have them make the trip and not only support me, but watch a great night of boxing with some huge stars, is only going to make them love the game even more.”

“Everyone knows about Anthony Sims Jr, he’s the worst kept secret in boxing,” said Hearn. “He’s been inactive, he’s had some disputes, and he’s been frustrated. But he’s rolling again now. You’re going to get to see his personality come out along with seeing his punch power.

“Every camp he goes into, everyone talks about him. Ask George Groves and Dmitry Bivol about him. He’s in a stacked division and he’s ready-made – 15-0 and just needs one or two more and then he’s ready for the big fights. He’s the perfect guy for what we are doing in the States with DAZN. Anthony fights in Chicago and then we go again in December – and in 2019 we’re ready for all the big fights.”

Sims Jr is part of a massive night of action in Chicago, topped by the WBC Silver Welterweight title clash between Jessie Vargas and Thomas Dulorme

Daniel Roman defends his WBA Super-Bantamweight crown against another Brit, second time World title challenger Gavin McDonnell, while Brooklyn’s brash Heavyweight star Jarrell Miller meets Polish legend Tomasz Adamek and three debutants grace the bill as Team USA talents Reshat Mati, Nikita Ababiy and Nkosi Solomon lace them up for the first time.

Along with these World stars and promising youngsters, Chicago fight fans will be able to back two of their own on the night, with former World Lightweight title challenger Jessica McCaskill in action on the bill along with unbeaten Bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson.

Tickets for October 6 are on sale now priced $40, $60, $100 and $200 and are available from:

Online at Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07005506EDA47F37

(Chicago, IL) Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA are delighted to confirm the line-up for the first American show live on DAZN at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on October 6.

World-rated Welterweight and former two-weight World champion Jessie Vargas headlines the bill as he targets World honours in a third weigh class, and Vargas’ journey to that goal starts against former World Super-Lightweight World title challenger Thomas Dulorme, the Puerto Rican looking to derail the Las Vegas man’s ambitions at 147lbs.

Two great World title battles feature in the Windy City as crunching Russian puncher Artur Beterbiev defends his IBF World Light-Heavyweight strap against Briton Callum Johnson. Beterbiev has a perfect record of 12-0 with all wins coming via KO, but Johnson is an unbeaten feared puncher himself, having destroyed British champion Frank Buglioni inside a round of their clash in London in March – his 12th KO from 17 wins, pointing to this clash being one that promises to be a ferocious shootout.

Classy WBA World Super-Bantamweight champion Daniel Roman defends his crown for the third time against Britain’s Gavin McDonnell. Roman won his title on the road in Japan in brilliant style with a stoppage win over Shun Kobo and was fantastic in both his first defence back in Japan against Ryo Matsumoto and his second against Moises Flores in California. The Californian is hunting unification clashes but will need to be at his best once again against McDonnell, the Doncaster ace having his second crack World honours having learnt so much in his majority decision loss against WBC champion Rey Vargas in February 2017 – making for a fascinating clash that could catch fire and steal the show.

Heavyweight boxing is as hot as it’s ever been right now, and Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller is right in the mix for the big fights. ‘Big Baby’ is looking to add win number 22 to his slate and force himself into the conversation at the top table, and the man in his way is Poland’s Tomasz Adamek, the former two-weight World champion who picked up and defended the Polish title in his last two fights in his homeland.

Along with these World stars, Chicago fight fans will be able to back two of their own on the night, with former World Lightweight title challenger Jessica McCaskill in action on the bill along with unbeaten Bantamweight prospect Shawn Simpson.

Tickets for October 6 go on sale at 3pm (CT) today (August 8) priced $40, $60, $100 and $200 and are available from:

Online at Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07005506EDA47F37

Phone: (312)791-6900

In person: Wintrust Arena Box Office, 200 E. Cermak – Monday-Friday 11am-6pm boxoffice@wintrustarena.com

IBF Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his crown against Callum Johnson on October 6th, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said the bout could take place in Chicago.

Beterbiev-Johnson will be on the undercard of a show that Hearn told ESPN will be part of his new series of fights in the United States that will stream on Perform Group’s DAZN sports streaming service, which is due to launch in the U.S. this fall.

Beterbiev will be fighting for the 1st time since losing litigation to get out of his contract with promoter Yvon Michel.

“I have not met with Beterbiev but we are communicating through his management’s team,” Michel told ESPN. “After the court decision I had an excellent and cordial meeting with them. Our contract has been declared valid. We both have obligations and responsibilities and we will continue to honor it. You can expect the IBF light heavyweight champion to be very active defending his title or in unifications.”

Fourteen fights, 14 wins, 13 stoppages and a top five world rating; all achieved in just 19 months and 28 rounds as a pro. The core stats reveal all you need to know about Anthony Yarde’s meteoric rise through the light-heavyweight ranks.

Following Saturday’s explosive four round demolition of Serbia’s tungsten tough Nikola Sjekloca, the 26 year old Beast from the East (London) reflects and speculates with Glynn Evans head of his return to the Copper Box Arena on February 10th.

You’ve enjoyed a fabulous 2017, collecting three belts and registering five explosive stoppage wins in just 13 rounds combined. What have been the key factors that have enabled you to achieve that?
I’ve achieved what I have this year by just focussing on myself, living in my own bubble, sticking to the basics and working hard. 85% of my success is down to grafting and 15% is down to talent. And you can lose talent if you just rely on it and don’t work hard to sustain and improve it.

The 15% God given talent that I have is my mentality and the speed that I have for my size. My speed is far more important than the power. It’s all about being able to LAND the heavy shots and I’m able to do that because I’m so quick.

The Sjekloca gig represented a massive step up in class. The Serbian medalled at both the European and World Seniors as an amateur, has lost just four of 37 as a pro and has fought more than ten times as many pro rounds. Were you apprehensive about that step up?
Not at all. I feel every opponent represents a different challenge and sometimes those that are supposed to be easier prove the hardest to impress against because they just tuck up and go into survival mode.

For once, I was facing an opponent who genuinely believed that he could win. His recent form was very good. In his previous fight, he drew with Robert Stieglitz, the European champion, over in Germany. He arrived with plenty of ambition. That provided opportunities for me to exploit.

Sjekloca took Gennady Golovkin and Andy Lee the full trip in the amateurs and had never been stopped during an 11 year pro career that has seen him face three world champions (Sakio Bika, Arthur Abraham and Tyron Zeuge). What did it mean to register a spectacular stoppage victory over him?
I’m not really into proving anything to others, I’m just about proving things to myself but it was fantastic. It sent out a big statement to the division. I’ve accelerated through the ranks relatively quickly.

I think I’m already one of the hardest punchers in the light-heavyweight division, at least as hard, if not harder than Kovalev, Beterbiev and Stevenson. The raw power is either there or it’s not and mine has been evident from the very beginning. This year, believe me, I’ve not always been digging with maximum power because I’ve been looking to gain a few crucial extra minutes in the ring.

What are your aspirations for 2018? Domestic and continental titles? World eliminators?
If you’d asked me the same question at the end of 2016, I doubt I’d have said I’d be world top five and holding three title belts so I’m not about to put a lid on anything. Whatever is meant to happen will happen but I’m not in any rush.

My job is to keep my head down, work hard and enjoy the journey. When it comes to career moves, ask my manager Tunde Ajayi and my promoter Frank Warren. Right now, I’m still a pretty inexperienced boxer and a very inexperienced businessman. I abide by the saying: ‘If you put your hands on too many pots, you won’t have control of any pot.’ I leave everyone in my team to do their job. I just focus on the boxing.

You’re gradually creeping higher up the card on the major bills. How do you feel about the prospect of headlining at The Copper Box or O2 next year?
Well I sort of topped the card at The Copper Box by default in July, after Billy Joe (Saunders) was forced to pull out at late notice. So I think I’m probably quite close to that, provided I keep winning.

It’s most definitely what I want; to be the key face on the posters, the main event and eventually pay-per-view. When I started out, I didn’t say: ‘I hope to do those things or I’d like to do those things….’ Those were things that I said: ‘I’m going to achieve, I will do….’

You have to have aspirations. Those are the things that keep me training so hard, keep me so focussed.

Promoter pre-sale tickets for ‘The untouchables’ are available now from www.frankwarren.com and on 01992 505 550.

Tickets priced at £50 (Lower Tier), £70 (Floor), £100 (Floor), £150 (Floor) and VIP/Hospitality £250 are available via See Tickets, Eventim and Ticketmaster on Wednesday 20th December at 12.00 noon.

See Tickets
0871 230 7148
www.seetickets.com

Eventim
0844 249 1000
www.eventim.co.uk

Ticketmaster
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

ESPN’s live telecast of the Saturday, November 11 Top Rank on ESPN (10:30 p.m. ET to 12:15 a.m. ET) scored two major victories. The overall event delivered 0.9 metered market rating according to Nielsen, making it the second highest-rated boxing telecast on cable television in 2017. The featured co-main event, a battle between Artur Beterbiev (12-0, 12 KOs) and Enrico Köelling (23-2, 6 KOs) for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight world title, delivered a 1.0 metered market rating, making it the year’s second highest-rated boxing main event on cable television.

The sold out event featured two co-main bouts, Beterbiev vs. Köelling and Jose Ramirez (21-0, 16 KOs), vs. Mike Reed (23-1, 12 KOs).

Also of note:
– The November 11 Top Rank on ESPN scored two of the eight highest-rated bouts for cable television in 2017
– The second co-main event (Ramirez vs. Reed) averaged a 0.7 metered market average, making it eighth highest-rated boxing event for cable television in 2017
– Birmingham was the top local market, where the telecast averaged a 8.2 metered market rating, including a 10.8 rating during the first main event
– New Orleans was the second highest-rated local market, where the telecast averaged a 4.3 metered market rating

TOP BOXING OVERNIGHTS ON CABLE IN 2017 (FULL TELECAST)
DATE
NETWORK
FIGHT
DUR
MTRD MKT RTG
07/01/2017
ESPN
Manny Pacquiao vs Jeff Horn
183
1.8
11/11/2017
ESPN
Artur Beterbiev vs. Enrico Koelling
110
0.9
05/20/2017
HBO
Terence Crawford vs. Felix Diaz
39
0.9
09/09/2017
HBO
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. Roman Gonzalez
14
0.9
07/01/2017
ESPN
Shane Mosley Jr vs. David Touissaint
57
0.8
04/08/2017
HBO
Vasily Lomachenko vs. Jason Sosa
36
0.8

TOP BOXING OVERNIGHTS ON CABLE IN 2017 (MAIN EVENT)

DATE
NETWORK
FIGHT
MTRD MKT RTG
07/01/2017
ESPN
Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn
2.4
11/11/2017
ESPN
Artur Beterviev vs. Enrico Koelling
1.0
08/19/2017
ESPN
Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo
1.0
05/20/2017
HBO
Terence Crawford vs Felix Diaz
0.9
09/09/2017
HBO
Rungvisai Vs. Gonzalez
0.9
07/01/2017
ESPN
Shane Mosley Jr. vs David Toussaint
0.8
04/08/2017
HBO
Vasily Lomachenko vs Jason Sosa
0.8

11/11/2017
ESPN
Jose Ramirez vs Mike Reed
0.7

Two more Top Rank on ESPN fights are scheduled for 2017—December 9 and 13. Both are highly anticipated and the Vasily Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux is regarded as the best fight card remaining on the 2017 boxing calendar.

December 9, 9 p.m. ET Live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App
Top Rank on ESPN from New York City’s The Theater at Madison Square Garden on December 9 at 9 p.m. main event features Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) against Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), the first time two-time Olympic gold medalists have fought each other professionally at the highest level. Lomachenko will defend his WBO junior lightweight world title against the reigning (WBA) super bantamweight champion Rigondeaux.

December 13, 6:30 a.m. ET Live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App
Boxing’s Cinderella Man and Brisbane, Australia’s favorite son, Jeff “The Hornet” Horn, returns to the ring in the first defense of the world title he won off the legendary Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) will be risking his newly-minted World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against Top-10 contender Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran (17-1, 7 KOs), of London.

It was a battle of undefeated junior welterweights, but Jose Ramirez showed he was a cut above Mike Reed as he scored a 2nd round stoppage in round 2 of their scheduled 12-round bout in front of over 13,000 fans at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Ramirez came out firing as he landed hard shots to the body in round one. In round two, he continued his assault and dropped Reed after a barrage of punches. Reed was hurt, and Ramirez jumped on him by continuing to land hard shots and referee Jack Reiss jumped in at stopped the fight.

Ramirez of Avenal, CA is 21-0 with 16 knockouts. Reed of Waldorf, MD is 23-1.

Artur Beterbiev won the IBF Light Heavyweight title with a 12th round stoppage of Enrico Kolling.

Beterbiev dominated the action and won every round as he systematically beat down Kolling. Beterbiev scored a knockdown in round 12 with a hard flurry on the ropes. Beaten and battered, Kolling then took some more vicious shots that was capped off with a right to the head that sent Kolling down again, and the fught was stopped at 2:33 of round 12.

The dominance was shown in the punch stats as Beterbiev landed 322-1111 punches while Kolling was 64-252.

Beterbiev, 174.6 lbs of Montreal is 12-0 with 12 knockouts. Kolling of Germany is 19-2.

Alex Saucedo blitzed Gustavo Vittori in round three of his scheduled ten round junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Saucedo was cut over the right eye from a headbutt. In round three, a left hook put Vittori to the canvas. Seconds later a right hand put Vittori on his knees. Saucedo finished the night with a perfect left hook to the jaw and Vittori dropped on his back and the bout was stopped at 1:16.

Saucedo of Oklahoma City, OK is now 26-0 with 16 knockouts. Vittori of Concordia, ARG is 20-3-1.

Maxim Dadashev stopped Clarence Booth in round four of their scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

In round four, Booth was deducted a point for spitting out his mouthpiece. Later in the round, Dadashev landed a hard combination of punches and the fight was stopped at 1:20.

Dadashev, 141 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 9-0 with eight knockouts. Booth, 140 lbs of Auburndale, FL is 15-4.

Even Torres scored an upset as he won a four-round split decision over previously undefeated Quilisto Madera in a middleweight bout.

Torres took took cards 39-37. Madera took a card 39-37.

Torres, 162 lbs of El Paso, TX is 7-5. Madera, 161.5 lbs of Stockton, CA is 7-1.

Amir Imam tuned up for his Junior Welterweight title bout with a stoppage over Johnny Garcia after round five of their scheduled ten-round bout.

Imam, 144 lbs of Davie, Florida is now 20-1 with 17 knockouts. Garcia, 144.5 lbs of Holland. MI is 19-6-1.

Fernando Fuentes won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Vislan Dalkhaev in a featherweight bout.

In round five, Fuentes dropped Dalkhaev with a right hand.

Fuentes, 124 lbs of Riverside, CA won by scores of 60-53, 59-54 and 58-55, and is now 14-7-1. Dalkhaev, 123.5 lbs of Montreal, CAN is 9-1.

Brian Lua remained undefeated by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Eric Rodriguez in a lightweight bout.

Lua scored a knockdown in the last minute of the fight.

Lua won by scores of 40-35 on all cards.

Lua of Madera, CA is 2-0. Rodriguez of Los Angeles was making his pro debut

ESPN today announced it has signed renowned sports broadcaster, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author Mark Kriegel to a new multi-year deal. Kriegel, a widely respected, seasoned sports media talent, will make his ESPN television debut this Saturday November 11 on Top Rank on ESPN alongside Teddy Atlas, when Artur Beterbiev and Enrico Koelling battle for the vacant International Boxing Federation light heavyweight title.

In addition to his on-air boxing analyst duties, Kriegel will do long-form story-telling, and video and print essays, on a wide array of subjects, including boxing and the NBA. His contributions will appear on a variety of ESPN platforms including ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine and numerous television networks as a commentator.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the ESPN boxing team,” said Mark Gross, senior vice president, production and remote events. “Given his illustrious background in the boxing world, fans will be able to experience his fantastic storytelling via original features and commentary during live fights.”

“It is a real joy to welcome Mark Kriegel to ESPN,” said Rob King, senior vice president, original content, news and digital media. “He is a spectacular talent who tells unforgettable tales with heart and intellect, and his award-winning writing will be a most welcome addition to our all-star team of storytellers.”

Kriegel is an Emmy Award winning television broadcaster and journalist. As a general assignment reporter at the Daily News, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote the acclaimed New York Times bestsellers, Pistol: The Life of Pet Maravich, Namath: A Biography and The Good Son: The Life of Ray “Boom” Mancini. He is also the author of a novel, Bless Me, Father, which the Los Angeles Times called “mesmerizing.”

FRESNO, CALIF. (October 27, 2017) — Well that escalated quickly! It didn’t take long for undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super lightweight champion JOSE RAMÍREZ.to respond to the missive sent his way on Thursday by his upcoming opponent, undefeated Top-10 contender MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED. Reed (23-0, 12 KOs), from Waldorf, MD, is all that stands between Ramírez (20-0, 15 KOs), from Avenal, Calif., and his first world title shot. The WBC has already sanctioned the fight between Ramírez and Amir Imam, world-rated No. 3 and No. 1, respectively, for the vacant WBC super lightweight world title. Scheduled for 10 rounds, the Ramírez – Reed title fight will take place in Ramírez’s backyard, the Save Mart Center at Fresno State and headline “Fight For Water,” an exciting card benefitting the California Latino Water Coalition. It will be televised live and exclusively at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and stream live on the ESPN app. The telecast will also feature top-rated contenders ARTUR BETERBIEV (11-0, 11 KOs), a Russian native who fights out of Montréal, Québec, Canada, and ENRICO KÖELLING (23-1, 6 KOs), of Berlin, Germany, battling for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title.

On Thursday, Reed not only boasted that he would defeat Ramirez in front of the 2012 U.S. Olympians hometown fans, but said it would be a victory so definitive that the WBC would be forced to mandate that Reed take the title shot against Imam. Here are the responses from Team Ramirez:

“Ever since I started boxing at age eight, I never said “no” to a fight.,” said Ramírez. “I’m excited to fight another undefeated fighter like Mike Reed. I hope he brings the best out of me, because when he does he will quickly realize he is in for a fight. I have a lot of faith in my skills and I have been training extremely hard for this fight. I’m extremely focused and really want to make a statement. I will be more than ready on November 11th. I’m honored to be able to showcase my talent on a big stage like ESPN. God willing, November 11th will be a great night of boxing for the fans in attendance and the fans watching the fight at home.”

“I watched Mike in the amateurs for a few years and through the pros. He always was a good fighter, very very solid from day one. I disagree with his comments of being ready for Ramirez coming forward and there being ways to so easily counter it. It’s like saying you’re ready for a hurricane because you know it’s coming forward while you stand on the beach with your “plan.” Mike has never been hit by a hurricane or anyone in his career like Jose,” said Rick Mirgian, Ramírez’s manager and advisor. “I’m very aware of Reed calling out Ramirez time and time again the past couple years. I commend Top Rank’s matchmakers Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodman for their deep compassion of Reed’s safety those couple years, as long as they could. But when Bruce or Brad has to give Reed one of their kidney’s or a liver after this fight then one of them is going to be very grumpy at the office and I don’t want to see Brad grumpy, that’s for sure. Ramirez never waited to sign or took his time to fight Reed. Ramirez had just agreed to fight five-time World Champion Tim Bradley right before Reed was offered this fight. Like Bradley and every person before placed in front of him, Jose has never said “no” to a fight at anytime.”

“I hope Mike ‘He’s In Need’ Reed knows how to swim because Jose is going to take him into deep water on November 11,” said Ramírez’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. “Since Reed is from Washington, D.C., let me make him a campaign promise: “Reed Jose’s fists. No new champion on November 11.”

CLINTON. MD (October 26, 2017) — Undefeated Top-10 contender MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED loves home cooking and on Saturday, November 11, he is looking forward to digging into several servings at the expense of his opponent World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super lightweight champion JOSE RAMÍREZ. Reed (23-0, 12 KOs), from Waldorf, MD, is all that stands between Ramírez (20-0, 15 KOs), from Avenal, Calif., and his first world title shot. The WBC has already sanctioned the fight between Ramírez and Amir Imam, world-rated No. 3 and No. 1, respectively, for the vacant WBC super lightweight world title. Scheduled for 10 rounds, the Ramírez – Reed title fight will take place in Ramírez’s backyard, the Save Mart Center at Fresno State and headline “Fight For Water,” an exciting card benefitting the California Latino Water Coalition. It will be televised live and exclusively at 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and stream live on the ESPN app. The telecast will also feature top-rated contenders ARTUR BETERBIEV (11-0, 11 KOs), a Russian native who fights out of Montréal, Québec, Canada, and ENRICO KÖELLING (23-1, 6 KOs), of Berlin, Germany, battling for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title.

“I don’t just want a victory over Ramirez, I want his spot in the world title fight against Imam,” declared Reed.

Reed had first called out Ramírez, a 2012 U.S. Olympian with a sterling amateur pedigree, after defeating Luis Gonzalez at Madison Square Garden on June 13, 2015. Upon leaving the ring, he told all who would listen. “Get me Ramirez. I don’t care if the fight is in Fresno. It doesn’t matter.”

Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler had this to say when the fight was announced: “In an era when many fighters wait for chances instead of creating opportunities for themselves, Mike Reed is a throwback to road warriors of the past. He was offered a match with plenty at stake and sent his signed contract back Top Rank immediately. Jose Ramirez deliberated for days over facing undefeated Reed, even on his own home turf. That speaks volumes about each fighter.”

Born in Washington, D.C., Reed trains in Clinton, MD, at Dream Team Boxing Gym, which is owned and operated by his father, trainer, and manager, Michael “Buck” Pinson.

“This is a fight I’ve been asking Top Rank to make and now it is here. I’ve knew Jose Ramirez when we were amateur fighters boxing in the big tournaments. He always fought a weight division below me but I always kept an eye on him,” Reed continued. “Ramirez is a pressure fighter. He has a great left hook. I give him credit for that. Sooner or later in our fight, Jose will move towards me and that is exactly what I want to happen. I want him to get real close on the inside so we can do some serious damage. There are methods to counter and avoid his left hook — and he throws it well to the head and the body — but when you see Jose moving towards me — and he will, I promise — that’s when I will get to work. I know he has Freddie Roach.. Good for him. But this fight will be decided inside the ring — just Jose and me — and no one else. Just the two of us.”

Promoted by Top Rank®, remaining tickets to this world championship event are priced at $150 (floor), $88, $58 and $33, plus applicable fees. Tickets may be purchased at select Save Mart Supermarkets, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 800 or at the Save Mart Center Box Office. For the Box Office hours go to savemartcenter.com.

Another sellout is expected on November 11. The previous Top Rank events at the Save Mart Center, headlined by Ramírez, produced a sellout of 13,700 last December, and 13,100 in 2015.

One of the most prestigious arenas in America, ‘Venues Today,’ a leading industry publication, listed the Save Mart Center among its ‘Top Stops’ for venues in the 10,000 to 15,000 capacity category. The venue came in as the No. 1 ranked collegiate venue, No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 12 based on concert grosses. Save Mart Center was one of seven SMG-managed arenas to rank in the Top 10 in this size category.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing;Facebook facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo @ESPNDeportes.

LONDON (29 September) – The battle between two-time Olympic gold medallists Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux on December 9th at Madison Square Garden will be shown exclusively live on BoxNation.

‘The Channel of Champions’ will air the dream matchup featuring two men regarded as boxing’s greatest ever amateurs as part of the channel’s exclusive output deal with promoters Top Rank.

In the paid ranks both fighters have burst onto the scene to dominate their respective divisions and have ambitions of climbing up the pound-for-pound rankings.

36-year-old Rigondeaux is the current WBA super-bantamweight world champion and will be moving up two-weight divisions to challenge for Lomachenko’s WBO super-featherweight world title.

However, there will be more than just a title on the line as both are among boxing’s most skilled fighters, with Rigondeaux having persistently campaigned to get the fight, with the Ukrainian finally obliging as they look to give fans an early Christmas cracker.

Undefeated Rigondeaux has 17 wins on his record and is known for his slickness, defence and accurate counter-punching.

He has found it difficult to land big fights in the past but when he does has a history of causing an upset as he did when he overcame the then golden boy Nonito Donaire via a unanimous points win in 2013.

29-year-old Lomachenko though is a different threat all together, with many in the sport tipping him to dominate for years to come.

He has looked sensational since turning professional in 2013 when he defeated Jose Ramirez by knockout in the 4th round.

Lomachenko then went onto challenge seasoned professional Orlando Salido for the WBO featherweight world title in only his second fight, losing a close split decision.

He has bounced back in spectacular fashion since that and has gone onto become a two-weight world champion already, with his most recent win coming against big-punching Miguel Marriaga who didn’t answer the bell for round 8.

All attention now turns to New York City on December 9th with BoxNation being the only place for UK and Irish fans to watch how this intriguing battle plays out.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “This is certainly one of the most interesting matchups of 2017. Both Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux have outstanding amateurs backgrounds and now as professionals are amongst the very elite. How this fight will unfold is anyone’s guess. The skill set these two possess is unrivalled and solid arguments can be made for either man taking the win. BoxNation has enjoyed another fantastic year in 2017 and what a way to end it with these two supreme talents going at it on December 9th exclusively live on ‘The Channel of Champions’.”

Also as part of BoxNation’s Top Rank output deal the channel will show two undefeated rising stars in action when hard-hitting Jessie Magdaleno defends his WBO super-bantamweight world title against Cesar Juarez live on 11th November, with Russian knockout artist Artur Beterbiev taking on Enrico Koelling for the vacant IBF light-heavyweight title.

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Artur Beterbiev and Enrico Koelling will now vie for the vacant IBF Light Heavyweight title on November 11th, after the retirement of Andre Ward, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“This is to notify you that IBF light heavyweight champion Andre Ward has retired. Now that the title is vacant, the IBF will approve the Artur Beterbiev vs. Enrico Koelling eliminator as a fight for the vacant title,” the IBF wrote.

Light Heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev is trying to part ways with his promoter Yvin Michel, according to Dan Rafael espn.com.

“My dear friends, fans and supporters, as many of you have already heard, my lawyer has filed [Tuesday] morning a demand for Declaratory Judgment asking the Superior Court in Montreal to confirm that my promotional agreement with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) is effectively terminated/expired,” Beterbiev said in a statement posted on social media. “I have nothing personal against Yvon Michel and everything is fine on my end. I keep training hard to get back in the ring and become World Champion ASAP. That has always been, and will always be, my sole focus and goal in my professional [career]. Thanks for your support!”

Michel did not dispute that Beterbiev is seeking to end their contract, telling ESPN, “Beterbiev is considering his contract is terminated with GYM and he is asking a Quebec judge to confirm it. We believe otherwise and we have arguments to back it up. It may take several weeks before having a judgment. Meantime we are still Beterbiev’s promoter and we have made a deal with [Team] Sauerland representative Chris Meyer for the services of Enrico Koelling for the IBF title eliminator [to be] the mandatory contender to Andre Ward.”

“We have a tentative date for July 29 in Quebec City,” Michel said. “The date and the site may change. We are talking with PBC. We have until May 19 to deposit the contract to the IBF and make the final call for the date and place.”

MONTREAL (March 13, 2017 – Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) president Yvon Michel has responded accordingly to unfounded allegations recently made in the media by Sullivan Barrera about GYM and its undefeated world light heavyweight contender, Artur Beterbiev, to set the record straight regarding the recently announced cancelled Beterbiev-Barrera International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title eliminator.

“Despite Barrera’s claims,” Michel insisted, “he didn’t sign a contract because he never intended for fight Artur. In Team Barrera’s letter, he lied and showed his ignorance trying to distract from the facts.

“For the conclusion of this unfortunate saga, the IBF has informed me that it has ruled to ban Barrera from its world rankings, or from participating in one of its sanctioned fights, for the next six months. I’ve also been informed that, if nobody in the IBF top 10 is available and agrees to fight Artur, the IBF will declare him as its No. 1 mandatory challenger for the winner of the Ward-Kovalev rematch. Artur will be back in the ring in late April, early May. The mandatory defense for the Ward-Kovalev II winner, or Ward if that fight doesn’t happen, is due in September.”

IBF Light Heavyweight Ratings: Champion – Andre Ward, 1. Unrated, 2. Artur Beterbiev, 3. Sergey Kovalev, 4. Erik Skoglund, 5. Enrico Kolling, 6. SUSPENDED, 7. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, 8. Dominic Bosel , 9. Robert Stieglitz, 10. Trent Broadhurst.
Below, Michel sets the record straight, point-by-point, in terms of the open letter Team Barrera sent to the media.

Michel didn’t negotiate with Barrera’s promoter, Kathy Duva, and asked for it to go to an immediate purse bid.

“Kathy Duva (CEO/Main Events) came to my office the day before the deadline set for Barrera’s acceptance to participate in the IBF title eliminator to speak about the situation. Our hope was to fight Barrera but because he is prohibited from traveling to Canada, I confirmed our intention with Ms. Duva to accommodate Barrera and leave Canada and make the fight in the United States. We were in the same position a year ago, when Barrera pulled out of the same title eliminator because he couldn’t get a visa to fight in Canada. Artur was then supposed to fight Karo Murat, but he suffered an injury and was unable to fight. Barrera later defeated Murat to move into the IBF mandatory position in which he then lost to Andre Ward.

“Kathy told me the number she had in mind to make the fight. I said that I would see if there were enough resources for that amount and promised to call her the following day. I did and explained that there weren’t enough resources to meet that purse structure. Nevertheless, not long after I received confirmation Barrera was officially taking the challenge, I then decided to move forward and immediately requested a purse bid date, which is the prerogative of any promoter, knowing what was Main Events’ expectation in terms of their fighter’s purse. In this business, everybody knows the best way to determine the true market value of a fight is a purse bid, where promoters are evaluating their resources and making their bid accordingly. We still had still seven days to make an offer, one and other, and make a deal up to five minutes before the bid was due. Main Events never made us an offer and neither did we.”

GYM’s winning purse bid was $251,000, substantially more than Main Events’ bid of $182,000, of which Beterbiev would receive 75-percent of the winning bid. Barrera would have received $62,750, compared to $45,500 he would have earned if his own promoter had won the bid.

Beterbiev reported on social media that his fight versus Barrera would be held March 4th in Brooklyn, New York and Michel reported that the fight would be held in late March, early April, in New York. Barrera had trained for those dates but didn’t receive a contract.

“GYM won the purse and pursuant to IBF rules and regulations, the fight had to be held within 30 to 90 days,” Michel continued. “We deposited $50,000, per IBF rules, and received a confirmation letter from the IBF all was conform. As per IBF regulations, within 15 days after the purse bid, we filed contracts for the two fighters. Artur signed his five minutes after he received the contract and it was then sent to the IBF. We executed Barrera’s contract, sending it to Main Events for Barrera with a copy sent to the IBF. Soon after I received notice from the IBF that everything was in order and that we had complied with the IBF requirements.”

Michel sent an improper agreement to Main Event listing various dates.

“We knew we had a PBC date, either April 14, 21 or 29. It’s very common for fight dates written in the initial fighter contract to vary one week before or after the date listed. I contacted IBF president Daryl Peoples and said April 21st was the most likely date but that it could end up being a week earlier or after. He recommended to be transparent and to write all three potential dates into the contract. We did and then sent it to Main Events for Barrera to sign. Main Events noted that IBF rules said only one date and site could be written in the contract. Daryl complied with the objection so we then officially confirmed April 21st would be the date of the fight and Florida the site. We then sent a GYM executed corrected IBF bout agreement back to Main Events to be signed by Barrera and filed with the IBF on February 16th.

“Meanwhile, GYM received a request, from Main Event to produce a Provision of Service agreement for Barrera’s participation. GYM was not obliged to positively fulfill that request but, as a display of good faith, we did so in belief the contract that Barrera would sign and Main Events would file it at the IBF office, on that date, as per its rules. Soon after, GYM received a letter from IBF championship chairman, Mr. Lindsey Tucker, that all requirements had been fulfilled to officially sanction the bout.”

The Florida location for the fight had been selected by GYM for three reasons. 1. Beating Barrera in his own backyard would send strong message for Beterbiev within the division; 2. GYM had received an offer from Miami-based SMY Sports and Entertainment’s president M. Eric Senecal, who wanted the buy the rights to produce the event; 3. GYM’S longtime and very close relationship with Florida-based Warriors Promotions, Mr. Leon Margules.

On behalf of GYM, Margules had reserved the April 21st date with the Florida Athletic Commission. SMY Sports & Entertainments made a deal with GYM that had a deadline to deposit the agreed upon money guarantee. They had reserved the Seminole Hard Rock arena in Fort Lauderdale. If SMY was not able to deliver money and site, GYM had a backup plan, proposed by Margules, who had a deal and a site on hold, Hialeah Racetrack in nearby Hollywood (FL). No matter what would transpire, the fight was guaranteed at a site in Florida, April 21st for a PBC event to be televised on FS1.

Barrera’s manager was contacted by one of the promoters to help pay Yvon Michel and finance the bout.

“This is a tortuous claim and a terrible lie,” Michel said. “Nobody representing GYM ever made that kind of request. The truth is a local promoter, M. Michael Luzbet, whom I’d never met and never made any deals of any sorts with in the past, wanted to be a partner with SMY Sports and Entertainments. He tried to raise his share of money to participate but SMY rapidly disassociated themselves from Michael Luzbet.

“How the group (SMY) was raising money wasn’t really my concern, but they had found sponsors and were counting on the important Quebec community residing in Florida at that time of the year, as well as the important Cuban population and their contacts with the Russian community, to sell VIP tables and tickets. It wanted the rights to put the show on in Florida but they were concerned because they had heard a rumor that Barrera hadn’t signed a contract and he was going to pull out of the fight.

They then requested a guarantee that Barrera (who lives in Miami) was going to fight before confirming their money deposit. I was in Quebec City at that time for the Alvarez-Bute fight. Mr. Lindsey Tucker was there representing the IBF and I spoke to him. He said he believed the IBF had received a signed contract from Barrera. I contacted SYM to say everything was fine and that I had requested a copy (of the Barrera-signed contract) from Lindsey. Daryl People then informed me that there was a misunderstanding and they did not have a signed contract from Barrera. It is only then I realized Main Events had pressured Barrera to sign the agreement without success. We asked the IBF president to pressure Main Events to have Barrera sign the contract because, without it, we were jammed in the promotion of the event. This is exactly what happened.”

Team Barrera implied that Yvon Michel couldn’t promote a show of this magnitude in the U.S.

“I’ve promoted more than 200 shows, never defaulting or cancelling a single show, including involvement in more than 50 world championship fights and many multi-million dollars events, much bigger than this title eliminator. This statement just shows his ignorance about what we’re all about and who we are and was just smoke screen to his behavior. I’ve promoted shows with the majority of the major promoters in the world; DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Promotions, Don King Promotions, Golden Boy, Main Events… just about everybody. It was unbelievable for them to write such an impertinent line.”

Team Barrera unjustly belittled the quality of Beterbiev’s last two opponents, calling them cow farmers from Argentina.

“This is terrible to be so insolent to fellow world contenders. Both fighters were world ranked in the top 15 at that time. (Ezequiel Osvaldo) Maderna (23-2, 16 KOs) had never been knocked out and (Isidro) Prieto (26-1-3, 22 KOs) had suffered only one loss, a decision to the WBC #1 contender Eleider Alvarez. Beterbiev knocked them both out (Maderna in the fourth round, Prieto in the first), so downgrading the quality of Artur’s 2016 opponents was totally unwarranted. If Barrera ever actually got into the ring with Beterbiev, he would have fallen into the same category as Maderna and Prieto, who were both fierce competitors but not in the same league of Beterbiev.”

Michel firmly believes Barrera never intended to fight Beterbiev for his share of the purse bid and, to cover up, he tried to place the blame on others. His promoter spent time and money for the bid at the request of its fighter, Barrera, believing he had a legitimate chance of winning the fight. It is obvious that sentiment was not shared by Barrera, even if the fight was to be held in his own backyard in Florida.

“The truth of this matter is that Barrera lied to distract media attention from the fact he didn’t sign a contract and clearly wanted no part of Beterbiev,” Michel concluded. “We don’t disrespect any contender who prefers not to challenge Artur Beterbiev for the mandatory position. We also believed that Main Events did everything in its power to convince their fighter to keep his words and to go forward with the fight. Main Events is not at blame. We also have respect for Barrera’s fighting abilities but we have no respect for the person Barrera is with his despicable, unprofessional, shameful and disgraceful attitude in handling the present situation.

“On a personal note, I have never met Sullivan Barrera. I never had to directly communicate with him, I never had to do business with him, everything went through his promoter, Main Events, and I really don’t envy them! Soon, GYM will have two light heavyweight world champions and I can guarantee Barrera will never be in their plans.
“We’ve moved on from Sullivan Barrera to find an opponent who has the desire to step into the ring to fight Artur Beterbiev. While Barrera will still be suspended by the IBF, Beterbiev will be World Champion!”

Beterbiev, a two-time Russian Olympian, holds two amateur victories over his fellow countryman, Kovalev, the former world light heavyweight champion. Whether it’s Kovalev or Ward, Artur Beterbiev will be more than ready for the challenge to fight for the world light heavyweight championship this September.

INFORMATION:
www.groupeyvonmichel.ca
www.Facebook.com/groupeyvonmichel
Twitter: @yvonmichelgym, @ABeterbiev
Instagram: @YvonMichelGYM, @Groupeyvonmichel, @ArturBetebiev
ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel and his associates. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through coaching support and especially by competitive management. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events and it is associated with the popular series, “Premier Boxing Champions (PBC),” and has developed major Videotron partnerships with Loto Quebec, TVA Sports, Centre Videotron, Casino de Montreal and Lac Leamy, Tonik GroupImage and Lapointe Dental Centre, in addition to collaborating closely with Rixa.

Yesterday, you decided to go to the internet and social media as you have tried to do in the past and paint your own picture of the IBF eliminator bout between yourself and Sullivan Barrera. Maybe your propaganda works in Russia and in Canada but not in the United States. The fact is this fight was doomed to fail from the beginning and you can only look to your fake promoter for reasons and excuses.

First, your promoter decided not to negotiate with Barrera’s promoter Main Events and asked to go to an immediate purse bid. You immediately told the world on your social media account that the fight would be March 4th in Brooklyn, New York. Sullivan Barrera started training for this bout but no contract ever came for this bout.

After your promoter won the purse bid, he then told the world the fight would be in late March or early April in New York. Sullivan continued to train for that bout but again no contract ever came from your promoter.

Then, a few days before your promoter was obligated to meet the IBF’s deadline to send Sullivan Barrera a bout agreement for the eliminator, he is quoted in a Canadian news article about a possible cancellation of the bout if you would not be able to get a visa to enter the United States. You then had to go to your social media to try and correct your own promoter’s quotes and continue to push him to make the bout happen rather than bring up possible excuses to cancel the bout.

Next, your promoter tried to tell the world that the bout would be April 21st in Miami. But following the same pattern, a contract from your promoter never came for that bout either. Instead, he tried to send improper agreements to Main Events with various dates and sites that were all contingent on “financial backers” and could be cancelled and postponed at any time which is against IBF rules. If your promoter didn’t want to negotiate with Main Events in the first place and won the purse bid, why is he trying to make side deals with Main Events instead of just sending a bout agreement?

It was also learned that even after your promoter failed to meet the IBF deadline to submit a proper bout agreement to Barrera with the actual date, site, and location of the bout, he was still reaching out to local promoters in the Miami area and asking them for large amounts of money for the rights to put on the fight in Miami. One of those promoters actually contacted Barrera’s manager and asked his manager to help pay Yvon Michel and finance the bout.

Hopefully you can see how all of these actions (and inactions) raised tremendous concern in the camp of Sullivan Barrera that your promoter was grasping at straws and was not going to be able to properly deliver on the bout. He was in violation of the IBF rules governing the winner of a purse bid and kept trying to find ways around it. As of yesterday, he still wasn’t providing specific information on the site of the bout and at no time has the bout ever been listed on the schedules of any of the main boxing venues in Miami or on any schedule for U.S. television.

While it was always questionable whether your promoter could actually promote a fight of this magnitude in the United States when he has yet to ever do so, we no longer wanted to wait and find out the hard way. Barrera was simply not going to play these games any longer. After training for weeks and spending his own money with little to no certainty as to whether the bout would actually take place, enough became enough. Your promoter got what he wanted and you can thank him for the cancellation of this bout.

Artur, you are a great fighter with a great future. You will either take tough bouts against the best in the light heavyweight division like Sullivan Barrera has done or go the way of your countryman Adonis Stevenson and avoid tough bouts at all costs. You will either be a part of the propaganda and games being played by your promoter or you will demand to be well informed about the truth behind your opponents and the bouts.

But you should know that every story has two sides and Barrera’s track record should leave no doubt about his intentions to fight you and the very best in the division. While you spent all of 2016 fighting whatever cow farmers from Argentina your promoter could find, Barrera was on HBO facing off against Andre Ward and then destroyed the previously unbeaten Slava Shabranskyy.

Have no doubt that Sullivan Barrera was ready to fight you and does not care about the fact that everyone else is afraid of fighting you. But Sullivan needs to be treated like a man and not a piece of meat. If you and your promoter are just looking for fresh meat, you need to keep going back to Argentina.

MONTRÉAL (February 17, 2017)- It’s official: Montreal’s Artur Beterbiev (IBF #2 – 11-0-0, 11 KOs) will be in the most important fight of his career, against Cuban-born Sullivan Barrera (IBF #7 – 18-1-0, 13 KOs), for the mandatory challenger position for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heayvweight world title, held by American Andre Ward (31-0-0, 15 KOs). The Beterbiev vs. Barrera clash will take place April 21 in Miami, Florida.

“It is with great pride and confidence that we go into this fight in Miami,” Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel (Groupe Yvon Michel). “In order for Beterbiev to receive maximum credibility, he needs to demonstrate that he can perform anywhere in the world. Because Sullivan Barrera, the only top-rated contender to accept the challenge to face Artur, could not cross the Canadian border, we agreed to have this fight take place in the United States.

“We are convinced that the many Quebecers who still live in Florida, at this time, will come to support Artur, who has made Quebec the adopted home for him and his young family.”

The Beterbiev-Barrera winner will become the mandatory challenger for the IBF light heavyweight champion, who will have until September, at the latest, to face the winner.]GYM won the IBF-ordered purse bid Feb. 2 (2017), winning with a $201,000 (USD) bid to $181,000 for Barrera’s promoter, Main Events. Due to the 75-25 percentage advantage going to the highest ranked fighter, Beterview will earn $188,250 to $62,750 for Barrera.

Ward won the IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight titles with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Sergey Kovalev, November 19, 2017, in Las Vegas.

Beterbiev was impressive in his most recent outing, last December 23 at the Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau, stopping Paraguayan slugger Isidro Ranoni Prieto (26-1-3) in opening round (2:44).

Barrera also displayed tremendous skills during his most recent performance, this poast Dec. 16 in California, shattering the previously undefeated Vyacheslav Shabrankyy (17-0-0), of Ukraine, with a spectacular TKO victory in the seventh round.

More details about Beterbiev vs. Barrera will be announced in the coming days.
ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM):

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel and his associates. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through coaching support and especially by competitive management. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events and it is associated with the popular series, “Premier Boxing Champions (PBC),” and has developed major Videotron partnerships with Loto Quebec, TVA Sports, Centre Videotron, Casino de Montreal and Lac Leamy, Tonik GroupImage and Lapointe Dental Centre, in addition to collaborating closely with Rixa.

Yvon Michel won a purse bid to stage on IBF Light Heavyweight title elimination bout between Artur Beterbiv and Sullivan Barrera, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We have 15 days to decide the exact date and place,” Michel said. “We have to see where that will fit best, and we also need the time to properly advertise it because this match has all the ingredients for a great fight. Our wish is to bring that fight to the USA to enhance Artur Beterbiev’s exposure.”

“Barrera will no doubt be the strongest opponent of Beterbiev’s pro career so far,” Michel said. “The Cuban has an excellent amateur background, is always well conditioned, has a good sense of distance in the ring and a very dangerous right hand.

“Nobody so far has been strong enough to keep up with Beterbiev’s power but he has much more that that. He has great boxing IQ; he is very crafty; and Barrera’s opposition will give Artur the opportunity to show the world his real nature.”

“I think we have a good idea of what Sullivan can do in this fight. I feel very confident,” Main Events promoter Kathy Duva said. “The thing about Sullivan is his career is on an upswing. He has fought much tougher opposition that Beterbiev has. Styles make fights and I think he has the style to beat him. I know he’ll have the game plan to do it. He’s on a high now coming off a big win. When he heard about this fight he was like, ‘I’m doing it.’ We had other possibilities and talking to HBO but he said, ‘No, this fight is what I want. I want to get the shot at becoming the mandatory again.’ You have to love him. He’s a real fighter.”

MONTRÉAL (September 29, 2016) – Ottawa and Outaouais boxing fans in Canada will receive a special Christmas gift when Montreal’s adopted son and the most dangerous world title challenger,Artur Beterbiev (10-0, 10 KOs), faces Paraguay slugger and reigning WBC Latino light heavyweight champion Isidro Ranoni Prieto (26-1-3, 22 KOs) in a real power punching affair, December 23 in Gatineau as part of the GYM Boxing Series, presented by the Casino de Lac Leamy in collaboration with Videotron.

Beterbiev is world ranked by all over the major sanctioning bodies: International Boxing Federation (IBF) #2, World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) #3, World Boxing Organization (WBO) #4, and The Ring magazine #6.

WBO #10 rated contender Prieto has won his last two fights by knockout, since losing by unanimous decision to Eleider Alvarez in a spectacular 12-round fight, in which he refused to give an inch to the WBC # 1 challenger on August 15, 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Expect fireworks as the KO ratio for Beterbiev and Prieto is an incredible 80-percent.
“Despite the claims of some promoters and light heavyweight challengers,” Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM president Yvon Michel said, “it’s a fact that Artur Beterbiev is the most dangerous and biggest threat to all of the world light heavyweight champions All contenders for titles change their minds when it comes to getting in the same ring with him,” said the president of GYM, Yvon Michel.

“Isidro Prieto is a fierce fighter who accepted the challenge, also believing he has the style to repel even the most courageous boxer. He is determined to make a name for himself December 23rd. We certainly admire his determination.”

Artur Beterbiev

Beterbiev is a bright GYM prospect. A true jewel, the Chechen fighter brutalized the international amateur scene.

The ferocious Beterbiev represented Russia in two Olympic Games in Beijing and London. He also won a gold and silver medals at the prestigious World Amateur Championships, as well as gold medals in numerous amateur tournaments including the Wold Cup and European Championships.

In 2010, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) named him its Boxer of the Year, as the best pound-for-pound amateur fighter in the world. He also defeated current WBO light-heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs.

The gladiator from Daghestan left behind family and friends to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional world champion.

“He has all the qualities required to become world champion,” highly regarded strength-and-conditioning coach Andre Kulesza said of Beterbiev when he first signed a promotional contract with GYM. “He is healthy and always positive. He is highest level of athlete who I have ever had the chance to work with in Montreal. He has a superior genetically than anybody I ever work with and that’s really saying something! Artur is naturally strong, agile and flexible. He will go up very quickly and destroy his rivals. Expect lots of KOs,”

As a professional, Beterbiev has destroyed every opponent he’s faced. In only his sixth fight, he crushed former IBF champion Tavoris Cloud in less than two rounds to capture the NABA strap.

In his Showtime debut, Beterbiev stopped previously undefeated Jeff Page Jr. second round. Spaniard southpaw Gabriel Campillo was next in line, in an IBF eliminator bout for the IBF #2 world ranking, which was televised in the first Premier Boxing Champions show, live on CBS. Campillo, a former WBA champion, was dropped and then viciously knocked out in the fourth round.

Beterbiev knocked out American southpaw Alexander Johnson in the seventh round, live on Spike TV, June 12, 2015 in Chicago.

After a one-year absence due to a shoulder injury, Beterbiev climbed back in the ring, his first main PBC main event broadcasted on ESPN this past June 4 at the Bell Centre against Argentine Olympian Ezequiel Maderna, who failed to get through the fourth round.

Highly ranked by all the sanctioning bodies despite having only 10 pro fights, Beterbiev has opened eyes all around the boxing world, and the scariest part is that it is only the beginning for him.

“I’m really happy with the turn of events,” Beterbiev remarked. During his time in Montreal Prieto has shown that he is a true warrior and that’s the kind of opponent I want to face. ”

“With his WBO #10 ranking, “Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay noted, “Prieto is by far the best fighter available to fight Artur. He is very aggressive and his style insures a fight filled with action. ”

Isidro “El Guerrero” Prieto

Prieto has dreamed of becoming the first Paraguayan world boxing champion.

After winning his first six pro fights and the Paraguay national title, he resettled in Argentina in 2009 to continue his development. In Buenos Aires, Prieto was taken under the wing of the first coach, Raul Paniagua, mentor and uncle of former world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

“We have always encouraged each other, me and Sergio,” Prieto said in an interview with a South American website. “He started from the bottom and that is why we have so many things in common.”

Currently ranked # 10 by the WBO, “El Guerrero” has wiped out South American competition, knocking out most of his rivals, including Brazilian brawler Jackson Junior.

His lone defeat was to WBC Silver champion Alvarez, and since then Prieto has won two bouts, both by knockout. Slick and freakishly strong with heavy hands, Prieto is a serious threat.

“I’ve worked in various places but the Casino du Lac Leamy is one of the places I love the most, ” added Éric Bélanger, trainer and organizer of events in the Gatineau and Ottawa region “It’s beautiful and prestigious; intimate but the atmosphere is amazing. Everyone connects and is part of the show. Gatineau also has a fan base that loves boxing. With Artur Beterbiev, it will be a major league boxing card, and I am sure that the region will be happy to be part of it.”

Ticket information will soon be announced
ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM):

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel and his associates. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through coaching support and especially by competitive management. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events and it is associated with the popular series, “Premier Boxing Champions (PBC),” and has developed major Videotron partnerships with Loto Quebec, TVA Sports, Centre Videotron, Casino de Montreal and Lac Leamy, Tonik GroupImage and Lapointe Dental Centre, in addition to collaborating closely with Rixa.

MONTREAL, Canada (June 15, 2016) – After careful consideration, rising Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) star and double Russian Olympian, Artur Beterbiev, will not take part in the qualifying process to earn a spot to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

An Olympic qualifying tournament for professional boxers will be held July 3-8 in Vargas, Venezuela, following the decision of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) to include professionals in the Olympic tournament.

However, Beterbiev (10-0, 10 KOs), who made a triumphant return to the ring after a one-year absence on June 4 at the Bell Centre in Montreal against Argentinian Ezequiel Maderna (23-3, 15 KOs), will not be there.

“After analyzing all situations, we came to the conclusion that the current situation was not favorable,” GYM president Yvon Michel explained. “The short-term goal for Artur Beterbiev is to become world champion in the pro ranks. He will be back in the ring in September.”

Currently world ranked in the top 10 of the light heavyweight division — IBF # 2, WBC and WBA #4, WBO #7 and The Ring magazine #9 — Beterbiev has already participated in the Olympics twice: 2008 in Beijing (178 lbs.) and 2012 in London (201 lbs.).

“Regardless of my boxer’s objectives, ” Beterbiev’s head trainer Marc Ramsey said, “I’m behind him 100-percent. However, the main goal remains the conquest of a World title.”

INFORMATION:
www.groupeyvonmichel.ca/
www.Facebook.com/GroupeYvonMichel
Twitter: @YvonMichelGYM, @ABeterbiev
Instagram: @YvonMichelGYM, @ArturBeterbiev

MONTREAL (June 2, 2016) – Heavyweight contender Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (18-0, 13 KOs) and unbeaten prospect Jamontay “Quiet Assassin” Clark (9-0, 6 KOs) will enter the ring in separate bouts that highlight undercard action on Saturday, June 4 from the Bell Center in Montreal.

Rivas will take on Jeremy “The Beast” Bates (26-17-1, 22 KOs) in an eight-round heavyweight attraction while Clark faces Mexico’s Edgar “Nene” Ortega (16-5, 10 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight contest.

The June 4 event features a Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN doubleheader headlined by the return of light heavyweight knockout artist Artur Beterbiev against Argentine Olympian Ezequiel Maderna. Televised coverage begins at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT with a battle of undefeated welterweights Bryant Perrella and David Grayton.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), are on sale at the Bell Centre box office, on www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666) or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

Additional undercard action features a slew of Canadian prospects as Quebec’s Sebastien Bouchard (12-1, 4 KOs) faces Belgium’s Arnaid Dimidschtein (11-10-2, 3 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight bout, Montreal’s Vislan Dalkaev (6-0, 2 KOs) battles Mexico’s Javier Franco (25-17, 6 KOs) in a six-round super middleweight contest, Montreal’s Dario Bredicean (8-0, 2 KOs) taking on Hungary’s Balasz Horvath (25-17, 6 KOs) in six rounds of super middleweight action and Toronto’s Parnell Fisher (0-1) against Larami Carmona (1-2) in a four-round featherweight fight.

Rivas, who represented Columbia at the 2008 Olympics has fought most of his pro fights in his adopted hometown of Montreal and will make his 11th appearance at Bell Center on June 4. The 28-year-old is riding a seven-fight knockout streak and most recently took down Joey Abell in the second round of a November 2015 fight. He will take on the West Virginia-born Bates who enters this fight on a four bout win streak.

Clark, a highly-regarded prospect and Cincinnati-native impressed in his hometown last time out by stopping veteran Elvin Perez in the sixth round in February. The 21-year-old is unbeaten since turning pro in 2014. He will take on Ortega out of Torreon, Mexico who has fought professionally since 2012.

For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @ABeterbiev @@yvonmichelgym, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

MONTREAL (May 18, 2016) – Unbeaten light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) will battle veteran Argentine Olympian Ezequiel Maderna (23-2, 15 KOs) in a 12-round showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes Saturday, June 4 from Bell Center in Montreal.

Televised coverage begins at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT and features an exciting co-main event that sees a pair of undefeated rising contenders enter the ring as Florida’s Bryant Perrella (13-0, 12 KOs) squares-off against Washington, D.C.’s David Grayton (14-0, 10 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. PBC on ESPN returns for the first of seven fight nights between June 4 and August 12 that will feature exciting and competitive battles.

“I have never been out of the ring for a whole year as an amateur or professional so I can’t wait to fight,” said Beterbiev. “We’ve watched some tapes of Maderna and he seems like a complete fighter. We will be ready on June 4.”

“I’m working very hard in preparation of this fight,” said Maderna. “My goal is to fight a perfect fight that will be very important to my professional future.”

“I’m excited for an opportunity to take on a young undefeated lion who’s looking to become a world champion like myself,” said Perrella. “We’re grinding away every day at training camp. We have some new things we’re working on because we know he’s going to come at me hard. I’m ready to either box or brawl. Either way, I’m coming out on top.”

“I’m ready to get in the ring and put on a great performance,” said Grayton. “Training is going well and I’ve had lots of good sparring and conditioning. We know we have a rangy southpaw who’s going to be tough. It’s about whoever wants it the most and I bet I’ll be hungrier. When I get the win, the sky is the limit.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), are on sale at the Bell Centre box office, on www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666) or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

“We will launch the Grand Prix activities, which is the biggest sports week in Montreal, with this card,” said Yvon Michel, President of GYM. “Artur is the next boxing superstar in Quebec. He injured his shoulder, but the surgery fixed everything. We plan for him to fight three times in 2016. We want Sergey Kovalev by the end of the year or beginning of 2017.”

Beterbiev returns to his adopted homeland after last fighting in June 2015 and recovering from a shoulder surgery. A two-time Russian Olympian, Beterbiev has fought out of Montreal for his professional career that began in 2013. The 31-year-old has sent all of his opponents out within the distance including dominating performances over former world champions Tavoris Cloud and Gabriel Campillo.

Maderna turned pro in 2008 after representing his native Argentina in the 2008 Olympics and was unbeaten in his first 19 fights before losing a narrow decision to Edwin Rodriguez. Both of the 29-year-old’s defeats have come to unbeaten fighters and he enters this fight on a three bout winning streak including a first round knockout of Rolando Mansilla his last time out.

An undefeated 27-year-old out of Fort Myers, Florida, Perrella comes in off a second round stoppage of Ramon Ayala in January. He picked up five knockouts in a row in 2015 and looks to make it 11 in a row overall when he faces his toughest test yet on June 4.

A Washington D.C. product, Grayton was a National Golden Gloves Champion who beat Errol Spence Jr. on his way to picking up that title. The 28-year-old entered the professional ranks in 2012 and is unbeaten since. He began 2016 with a stoppage of Daniel Souza Santos in January and now looks to make his mark in a competitive welterweight battle.

For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @ABeterbiev @@yvonmichelgym, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

MONTREAL (May 11, 2016) — World light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev returns to the ring Saturday night, June 7, to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) International and North American Boxing Association (NABA) title belts against Argentinian champion Ezequiel “El Olympico” Maderna in the 12-round main event at historic Bell Center in Montreal, Canada.

Presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), the “Grand Prix” boxing event is part of the prestigious Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series, which will air live in Canada on pay-per-views starting at 8:00 p.m. ET via Canal Indigo, Bell TV and Shaw TV. The main event and co-feature, commencing at 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT, will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States.

“We will launch the Grand Prix activities, which is the biggest sport week in Montreal, with this card”, said the President of GYM, Yvon Michel. “Artur is the next boxing superstar in Quebec. He injured his shoulder, but the surgery fixed everything and we plan to give him three fights in 2016. We aim at Sergey Kovalev by the end of the year or the beginning of 2017.”

The 31-year-old Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs), the adopted son of Montreal, is on a seek-and-destroy mission for his first fight in one year. The two-time Russian Olympian (pictured to the left) hasn’t fought since last June, when he stopped Alexander Johnson in the 7th round, due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Beterbiev is world ranked among the top six in all four major sanctioning organizations: IBF #2, WBO & WBA #4, and WBC #6. The power-punching Betervbiev will be defending his WBO International and NABA titles against Maderna.

During his 3-year professional career, Beterbiev has defeated two former world champions, Gabriel Campillo and Tavoris Cloud.

Maderna (23-2, 15 KOs) is a veteran fighter from Argentina, the same country that has produced numerous championship boxers, from Luis Firpo to Sergio Martinez, as well as well standout contemporaries such as IBF cruiserweight champion Victor Ramirez, along with contenders Lucas Matthysse, Jesus Cuellar, Omar Narvaez and Juan Carlos Reveco. In his most recent action last May, Maderna stopped Rolando Wenceslao Mansilla in the opening round for the Argentina super middleweight championship.

Also airing on ESPN in the co-feature, undefeated American prospects Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella (13-0, 12 KOs), fighting out of Fort Myers, Florida, and David “Day Day” Grayton (14-0, 10 KOs), of Washington D.C., square off in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Unbeaten super welterweight Jamontay “Quiet Assassin” Clark (9-0-0, 6 KOs), from Cincinnati, Ohio, meets an opponent to be determined in a 6-round “TV swing” match.
Montreal’s undefeated heavyweight Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (18-0, 13 KOs), also a 2008 Colombian Olympian, returns in an 8-round bout versus TBA.

Also fighting on the undercard is popular French-Canadian welterweight Sebastian Bouchard (12-1, 4 KOs) who meets an opponent to be determined in an 8-rounder; Montreal super bantamweight Vislan Dalkaev (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Mexican invader Javier “El Chivero” Franco (25-17-4), Montreal super middleweight Dario Bredicean (8-0, 2 KOs) against TBA and Toronto’s Parnell Fischer (0-1, 0 KOs) vs. Mexican opponent Larami “Sir” Carmona (1-2, 0 KOs) in a 4-round fight.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are on sale at the Bell Centre box office, on www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666) or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

INFORMATION:
www.groupeyvonmichel.ca/
www.Facebook.com/GroupeYvonMichel
Twitter: @YvonMichelGYM, @ABeterbiev, @OscarKaboom
Instagram: @YvonMichelGYM, @ArturBeterbiev

MONTREAL (October 20, 2015) – Montreal’s adopted son and light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) will not be fighting November 28 at the Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City. The Groupe Yvon Michel-promoted boxer injured his shoulder during training last week, forcing him to withdraw from his bout.

Beterbiev is currently world rated at No. 2 by both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO), as well as No. 3 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 4 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

The decision was made this morning (Tuesday) after the two-time Russian Olympian met GYM’s doctor, Francis Fontaine, and surgeon David Baillargeon determined Beterbiev needs minor but necessary surgery to his right shoulder.

“Under my supervision, Artur had a magnetic resonance examination Friday,” Dr. Fontaine explained. “After a meeting this morning, we have decided that Artur’s surgery would be performed in the next few days by specialist Dr. Baillargeon. We expect a complete recovery followed by a return to the ring at the beginning of 2016.”

“I am extremely frustrated and disappointed by the situation,” Beterbiev said. “I was preparing myself hard to give another great show to the fans, November 28, but I will be back stronger in 2016.”.

The fighter will start his rehabilitation four days after his surgery, under the wing of physiotherapist Hugo Lettre, from Evolution Physio.

“We have absolute confidence in our medical staff, including the talented Dr. Baillargeon,” GYM president Yvon Michel added. “This is the same doctor that saved the shoulder, which was in a really worst state, and the career of Jean Pascal, in January 2010. Seven months later, Jean defended his title belt, in spectacular fashion, against Chad Dawson.”

MONTREAL (October 9, 2015) -After the refusal of Cuban Yuniesky Gonzalez (IBF #11), Armenian light heavyweight Karo Murat (IBF #14, 27-2-1, 17 KOs) jumped at the opportunity to face Montreal adopted son Artur Beterbiev (IBF #2, 9-0, 9 KOs) for an IBF light heavyweight (175 pounds) elimination fight.

The promoters of the two fighters have until October 22 to sign a deal without it going to a purse bid.

The winner of this bout, which could logically take place November 28 in Quebec City, will become the mandatory challenger for the IBF light heavyweight world title owned by Russian Sergey Kovalev.

Murat is the reigning IBF International light heavyweight champion. He won his last two fights after fighting hard for 12 rounds with legendary American Bernard Hopkins, Oct. 26, 2013 in Atlantic City, in a losing effort. He also has on his record wins over Gabriel Campillo and Tommy Karpency.

Top light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera is still very upset that an IBF final eliminator bout against Artur Beterbiev has been derailed by his visa issues. Barrera, who is ranked #8 by the IBF (and also rated in the WBO and WBA’s top 10,) said that he didn’t hesitate when the fight was offered to him.

“I accepted the fight less than 5 minutes after my team offered it to me. This is what I have worked my entire life for. I want to be world champion and Beterbiev was my opportunity to get to Kovalev,” Barrera explained.

The former Cuban amateur standout believes that there is more to Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel’s insistence on staging the fight in Canada than meets the eye. Earlier this year Barrera called out former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal who is also trained by Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsay and that fight was immediately rejected.

“It’s kind of funny that Beterbiev’s last fight was in the United States yet he won’t fight me here in the U.S. He is an undercard fighter and isn’t a big draw in Canada. Everyone knows that Bute is selling the tickets on November 28th,” Barrera said in reference to the fight card that proposed for his clash against Beterbiev in Quebec.

“Pascal turned me down numerous times. Beterbiev has the same trainer as Pascal. He’s not stupid. He knows what I would do to his fighters. He should just admit he doesn’t like the matchup instead of putting up obstacles to prevent the fight.”

Barrera has been training in Big Bear with his trainer Abel Sanchez and is willing and able to face any top 10 rated contender in the light heavyweight division.

” I am very sorry to hear that for some reason Artur Beterbiev isn’t willing to fight me in the United States. The biggest fights are here and it’s funny that his last fight was in the U.S. and yet he won’t fight me here.

I’ve been wanting a big fight for years and I am willing to fight Beterbiev knowing that the purse is in his favor 75/25.

If I could travel to Canada I would but I have some legalities that my team is currently in the process of getting cleared up.

Artur, you have fought in the U.S. Don’t let your promoter block you from the fight that so many fans have been asking for. Let’s give the fans what they want, a great fight and the winner gets the opportunity to make history”

Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs)

Erislandy Lara won an easy 12-round unanimous decision over Delvin Rodriguez to retain the WBA Super Welterweight title at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

Lara was never in danger and boxed at a measured pace and landing thudding lefts and right hooks throughout the contest. Lara scored a knockdown in round six from a straight left.

Lara, 153 3/4 lbs of Cuba won by shutout scores of 120-107 on all cards and is now 21-2-2. Rodriguez, 153 1/2 lbs of Danbury, CT is now 28-8-4.

Artur Beterbiev scored a 7th round stoppage over Alexander Johnson in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout and kept his perfect knockout record in tact.

In round five, Beterbiev dropped Johnson with a jab. Beterbiev landed a big right on the ropes that was ruled a knockdown as the ropes held Johnson up. Johnson was bleeding from the nose continued to take a pummeling at the end of the frame.

In round seven, a short right hand put Johnson down for a 3rd time. Seconds later a hard right sent Johnson to the canvas just as referee Mark Nelson was stopping the fight at 1:38.

Beterbiev, 175 lbs of Montreal is now 9-0 with 9 knockouts. Johnson, 174 1/4 lbs is now 16-3.

Follow all the action from the UIC Pavilion as Erslandy Lara defends the WBA Super Welterweight championship against Delvin Rodriguez. The action begins at 9 PM eastern with a Light Heavyweight fight between Artur Beterbiev and Alexander Johnson

12 ROUNDS–WBA SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–ERISLANDY LARA (20-2-2, 12 KO’S) VS DELVIN RODRIGUEZ (28-7-4, 16 KO’S)

Round 1 Lara drilling Rodriguez with left hands…10-9 Lara

Round 2 Lara lands a left…Jab…20-18 Lara

Round 3 Lara lands a right hook..right..snapping right and left..2 hard lefts..30-27 Lara

Round 4 Lara pounding with both hands...40-36 Lara

Round 5 More Lara domination…50-45 Lara

Round 6 STRAIGHT LEFT HAND AND DOWN GOES RODRIGUEZ…60-53 LARA

ROUND 7 Lara continuing to box well…70-62 Lara

Round 8 Hard left makes Rodriguez stumble…..80-71 Lara

Round 9

10 ROUNDS–LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS–ARTUR BETERBIEV (8-0, 8 KO’S) VS ALEXANDER JOHNSON (16-2, 7 KO’S)

Round 1 Not much…10-10

Round 2 Beterbiev lands 2 left and an uppercut..20-19 Beterbiev

Round 3 Johnson lands a left..29-29

Round 4 Beterbiev lands a hard combination..Good body combination...39-38 Beterbiev

Round 5 Beterbiev lands a left..LEFT AND DOWN GOES JOHNSON…HARD RIGHT ON THE ROPES FOR A 2ND KNOCKDOWN…Big flurry at the end of round...49-45 Beterbiev

Round 6 Beterbiev controlling…59-54 Beterbiev

Round 7 RIGHT AND DOWN GOES JOHNSON…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES JOHNSON AND THE FIGHT IS OVER