Joshua Pagan remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Haskell Rhodes in a lightweight fight at The Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico

In round five, Rhodes began to leak blood from his nostrils.

Pagan, 135 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI won by scores f 100-90 and 99-91 twice and is now 11-0. Rhodes, 135 lbs of Las Vegas is 31-7-1.

“It was amazing tonight, and the entire crowd was filled with just so much energy,” Pagan said. “I wanted to get the knockout, but he was just so experienced. I give him a lot of credit.

“I wish I would’ve had a couple more rounds,” Rhodes said in defeat. “It was a good fight. My hat’s off to Joshua. He fought a clean, smart fight. I love boxing and getting up every day and going to the gym. So I can’t wait to see what’s next for me.

Juan Carrillo won a 10-round unanimous decision over Lenin Castillo in a light heavyweight bout.

Carrillo, 174 lbs of Barranquilla, COL won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 13-0. Castillo, 174 lbs of Santo Domingo DR is 25-6-1.

“I was looking for the knockout and tried to get him out of there, but he was a tough opponent,” Carrillo said. “Hopefully, what’s next for me is an opponent with a big name.”

Kiria Tapia remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Beata Dudek in a super featherweight bout.

In round one, Tapia landed a little right to the body the bent Dudek over that was wrongly ruled a knockdown.

Tapia, 130 lbs of San Juan won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 5-0. Dudek, 124 lbs of Miskoic, HUN is 4-5.

“I was happy to have all the support of my family and fans in attendance,” Tapia said. “I want to keep improving and progressing and my team and I are confident it could lead to a world title shot someday. The early knockdown set the tone for what I was able to do for the rest of the fight.”

Da’Velle Smith stopped Gilberto Santos in the opening round of their six-round super middleweight bout.

Smith dropped Santos with a wide right hand as Santos tried to boar in. Smith scored a second knockdown with a left. Smith landed another flurry that forced a stoppage at 2:28.

Smith, 166 lbs of Detroit is 10-0 with eight knockouts. Santos, 170 lbs of Goisa, BRA is 16-16.

“I felt amazing, and it was fun out there,” Smith said “It didn’t last long but I don’t get paid extra for overtime. I was able to show the fans in Puerto Rico and around the world just a bit of what I can bring. He came in overweight, but we didn’t complain. We just show up and win.”

NASHVILLE, TN. – August 9, 2023 – Exciting undefeated prospect Da’Velle Smith picked up his third victory of the year on Tuesday night, as the Saiita Promotions’ prospect delivered a third-round TKO of veteran Dedrick Bell in their middleweight clash that took place in Nashville, Tennessee. The stoppage came 2:59 into the round and improved Smith’s record to 6-0 with 5 KOs.

“It felt good to be back in the ring,” said Smith. “I knew I was in with a veteran and I was prepared to get some rounds in. I was patient and did what I had to do to get the victory. I want to keep the momentum going and hopefully get right back into the ring to fight again in September.”

Bell presented the most experienced challenge of Smith’s young career, as the 69-fight veteran has faced the likes of Yordenis Ugas, DeMarcus Corley and Jose Benavidez Jr. to name a few, throughout his career. The 22-year-old Smith first burst onto the scene in September 2021 by winning the WBC’s inaugural Big Belt Championship by knocking out Ricky Evans in the first round.

His 2023 campaign had already seen him stop Gyorgy Mizsei in February before blasting out the previously unbeaten Kahydlian Woods in the first round on the Claressa Shields-Maricela Cornejo undercard in June. Training in the renowned Kronk Gym, Smith has begun to catch the eye of luminaries in the boxing world as he works his way up in the sport.

“Da’Velle is progressing at a fast past and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “He’s tall, strong, skills and a big puncher coming out of the Kronk Gym in Detroit.”

“It was good to have Da’Velle on the show in the Kronk colors,” said Christy Martin, boxing legend and the promoter of last night’s show. “You could tell from his performance that he is a special fighter.”

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

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

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

DETROIT – May 1, 2023 – Four of Michigan’s top prospects will highlight undercard action as big-time boxing returns to Detroit on Saturday, June 3 headlined by the rematch between Undisputed Middleweight World Champion and Michigan’s own Claressa Shields and four-division world champion Hanna Gabriels live from Little Caesars Arena and streamed on DAZN in the U.S. and Canada.

The lineup will see Dearborn’s Da’Velle Smith take on fellow unbeaten Kahydlian Woods in a six-round middleweight showdown, Grand Rapids’ Joshua Pagan battling the undefeated Ronnell Burnett in a six-round super lightweight attraction, Grand Rapids’ Joseph Hicks Jr. in an eight-round middleweight bout, and Dearborn’s Gheith Karim in a cross-town matchup against Detroit’s Marlon Harrington scheduled for eight rounds in the super welterweight division.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased through 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.

“Saturday, June 3 will be a night to remember from the opening bell, all the way until the world championship main event,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “The card will feature local talent with world class potential fighting in their most significant fights live on DAZN from Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. Detroit legends like Tommy Hearns and Hilmer Kenty will be looking on at ringside as these contenders will be fighting their most challenging opponents and hoping to prove that they are next in line to continue the elite pedigree of this legendary boxing city.”

The 22-year-old Smith (5-0, 4 KOs) made his pro debut in September 2021, winning the WBC’s inaugural Big Belt Championship by knocking out Ricky Evans in the first round. Smith would follow that triumph with a pair of knockouts in November 2021 and May 2022, before winning a unanimous decision over Devontae McDonald last August. The Kronk Gym-trained prospect most recently stopped Gyorgy Mizsei in February. He will be opposed by the 27-year-old Woods (4-0, 3 KOs). Originally from California and now fighting out of Indianapolis, Woods turned pro last year and scored three-straight knockouts before a split-decision triumph over then unbeaten Ezekiel Scruggs in February.

Pagan (5-0, 2 KOs) won the 2021 U.S. Amateur Welterweight National Championship with a unanimous decision over Keon Davis, completing a big step on his boxing journey that began as a teenager with his father and trainer Tony. The 23-year-old followed that up by turning pro in January 2022 and earning four victories that year. Most recently, Pagan won back-to-back decisions in Detroit to kick off 2023 as he bested Istvan Bela Orban in February and Wesley Rivers in April. He faces Kansas City, Missouri’s Burnett (9-0, 5 KOs), a 32-year-old who has fought professionally since 2017. Burnett earned three wins in 2022, including knockouts of Lantz Nave and dan Abram.

The 29-year-old Hicks (6-0, 5 KOs) started boxing at 19 and became a standout amateur before entering the pro rank. He was set to captain the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 summer games, before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the proceedings. By the time the games were back on, the IOC’s formula for picking fighters in his weight class left him on the outside looking in. Undeterred, Hicks has shined as a pro, including already scoring two wins this year with triumphs over Bilal Quintyne in February and Noah Kidd in April.

Originally from Iraq and now residing in Dearborn, Michigan, Karim (9-0, 3 KOs) is trained by Jonathan Banks out of the world-renowned Kronk Gym in Detroit. The 25-year-old returned from a nearly three-year layoff last June and has won three-straight fights since then, most recently besting Ramses Agaton in March. He takes on Detroit’s own Harrington (8-1, 7 KOs), who trains in the same city as Karim, at Detroit’s World’s Best Boxing Gym. Harrington will be returning to the ring following his first career defeat, which came via decision against Marquis Taylor last October.

NEW YORK – February 21, 2023 – A pair of unbeaten prospects in the Salita Promotions stable will kick off their 2023 campaigns as middleweight Da’Velle Smith and super lightweight Joshua Pagan enter the ring in separate four-round attractions this Saturday, February 25 from Motor City Casino in Detroit.

Both fighters will be competing in their home state of Michigan, as Dearborn’s Smith and Grand Rapids’ Pagan will take on fighters to be announced shortly. The pair join another Salita Promotions stablemate competing on the card, as rising middleweight Joseph Hicks Jr. faces fellow unbeaten Bilal Quintyne in a six-round attraction.

“Da’Velle and Joshua and are two of the best U.S. prospects out there,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Both are born and raised in the rich culture of Michigan and Detroit boxing. I am excited about their upcoming fights and the world class potential that both of them have.”.

The 22-year-old Smith (4-0, 3 KOs) made his pro debut in September 2021, winning the WBC’s inaugural Big Belt Championship by knocking out Ricky Evans in the first round. Smith would follow that triumph with a pair of knockouts in November 2021 and May 2022, before most recently winning a unanimous decision over Devontae McDonald last August.

“I can’t wait to put on a show for my hometown fans,” said Smith. “My training camp went great. My plan is to keep climbing up the ranks towards a middleweight world title. I’m ready to show the world who Da’Velle Smith is.”

Pagan (4-0, 2 KOs) won the 2021 U.S. Amateur Welterweight National Championship with a unanimous decision over Keon Davis. The 23-year-old followed that up by turning pro in January 2022, scoring KO’s in his first two outings. Most recently, Pagan won a six-round unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Jeremiah Lewis Watts in October 2022.

“Training camp has gone really great and making the weight has been getting easier and easier,” said Pagan. “I’ve also had really good sparring for this fight and everything is on point for Saturday night. You can expect to see me at my very best when I get in the ring. Each and every fight, I strive to perform better than my previous outing, and this fight will be no different.”

#         #         #

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

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

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

(July 26, 2022) Undefeated African welterweight Prince “Octopus” Dzanie, undefeated Icelandic heavyweight Kolbeinn “Ice Bear” Kristinsson and three of Michigan’s brightest and unbeaten young prospects, Joseph Hicks Jr., Joshua Pagan and Da’Velle Smith, highlight an exciting lineup of undercard bouts that has just been announced for Salita Promotions’ next Detroit Brawl, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at the historic Garden Theater in Midtown Detroit.

The seven-fight professional boxing event will be topped by two of the hardest punchers in all of boxing, IBF #4, WBA #13, WBO #11 and RING #7 super lightweight slugger Shohjahon Ergashev and WBO #12-, IBF #11-, WBC #7-ranked light heavyweight powerhouse Ali Izmailov facing dangerously powerful opponents in “must win” showdowns.

Ergashev (22-0, 19 KOs) of Detroit via Rakhmon, Uzbekistan, will face fellow knockout artist Angel “El Furioso” Martinez Hernandez (14-1-2, 14 KOs) from Baja California, Mexico, in a 10-round shootout. Izmailov (8-0, 6 KOs), meanwhile, will put his perfect record on the line in a high-stakes 10-round battle with also undefeated puncher Eric Murguia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Mission Hills, California.

Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $40 and can be purchased by clicking HERE.

In chief support of the main-event carnage will be an eight-round super bantamweight battle between Accra, Ghana’s Dzanie (22-0, 18 KOs) and Memphis-based veteran Ira “Mr. Showtime” Terry (27-21, 16 KOs).

By having his first professional bout outside his native Ghana, the highly touted Dzanie, known as “Octopus,” will give North American fans a first look at his formidable abilities against the durable Terry. Dzanie went 87-15 as an amateur and was a three-time Ghanaian Champion and an All-Africa Bronze Medalist before representing Ghana at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China. As a professional, he is trained by Abdul Ramany Iddrisu and managed by well-known boxing insider Vincent Scolpino of VMS Boxing. He won the WBO Africa Bantamweight Championship in 2017 with an eight-round knockout over countryman Isaac Quaye.

In another important supporting bout, undefeated Icelandic heavyweight Kolbeinn “The Ice Bear” Kristinsson will take on unpredictable Houstonian Rodney Moore (20-22-2, 9 KOs) in a six-round battle of big men.

Standing 6’ 5” and weighing 240-lbs of brute strength, Kristinsson recently signed with Salita Promotions, power manager Mark Taffet and has begun working with Detroit-based super trainer SugarHill Steward at Kronk Gym in Detroit. The Icelandic powerhouse has also worked with actor and countryman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, aka The World’s Strongest Man and Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on Game of Thrones, at his Thor’s Power Gym in Kópavogur, Iceland.

Undefeated Grand Rapids, Michigan-based former amateur champions Joseph Hicks Jr. and Joshua Pagan will also see action that night, as Hicks (2-0, 2 KOs) will face experienced Dominican scrapper Jonathan Batista (19-16, 12 KOs) in a six-round middleweight struggle, while Pagan will take on Brazilian scrapper Maycon Oller Da Silva (1-5) over four super lightweight rounds. One of Detroit’s own, undefeated middleweight Da’Velle Smith (3-0, 3 KOs), already the winner of the WBC’s Big Belt Championship Tournament, will go four rounds or less with Wenatchee, Washington’s Devontae McDonald (2-1, 1 KO).

Rounding out the action will be undefeated Houston-based light heavyweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (2-0, 2 KOs), who will take on Delaware’s David Murray (10-3-1, 6 KOs) in a lightweight six and lastly, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada’s Spencer Wilcox (3-0, 2 KOs) will face an opponent that is still TBA in a lightweight six-rounder.

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be placed in will call at the box office for pick-up. A limited quantity of VIP tickets is also available by calling 313.529.7604.

“August 10th is a spectacular night of boxing top to bottom featuring international, national and local talent,” said proud event promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Fighters From Africa to Uzbekistan to Detroit… we got the best of the best fighting in significant fights to take the next step toward a world title.”
ABOUT THE GARDEN THEATER:
The historic Garden Theater, built by C. Howard Crane on the northern corner of the 3900 block of Woodward, originally opened in 1912 as one of the largest theatres built in Midtown Detroit. The original theater closed in 1949 and reopened under several owners. Now, the Garden Theater is back, and better than ever, with state-of-the-art amenities including a full-service bar in the main theater and a VIP balcony with incredible architectural integrity and charm that stays true to the historic Cass Corridor structures. The revitalized performance and entertainment venue offers unique spaces for wedding ceremonies & receptions, bar mitzvahs, corporate events, concerts, conferences and meetings. The historic Garden Theater is located at 3929 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, MI. For more information, please call 313.832.0888 or visit us on the web at thegardendetroit.com, or check out our social media: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM.

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:

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

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.