By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s the first significant fight in a New Year. That’s mere coincidence, but it’s also appropriate.

David Benavidez-versus-David Morrell on February 1, formally announced this week, is all about timing, a theme sure to unfold as both fighters step into their respective primes in only their second fight at light-heavyweight.

In part, it’s a potential stage-setter, both for the sport and the 175-pound division. On the calendar, at least, it’s a chance to move beyond a dreary year, one that figures to be remembered mostly for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fiasco. Maybe, the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch on Dec. 21 changes all of that. We can hope. Make that pray.

At 175 pounds, it’a a chance for the Benavidez-Morrell winner at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena to move into a shot at perhaps the undisputed title against Artur Beterbiev, although even he is talking about Jake Paul.

Paul is calling himself the Face of the Game, mostly because he’s got the key to the vault. There’s speculation he might even coax Andre Ward out of retirement. Big money can do that, and that’s what Paul’s face brings to prize-fighting, more prize than fight these days. Forget the scars, skills and courage. Cash is the only feature that matters anymore. 

Even Saudi Prince Turki Al-Sheikh, who has brought even more cash into the sport, claimed to be the Face after his promotional role in a card featuring accomplished Terence Crawford’s debut victory at junior-middleweight in Los Angeles last summer. Apparently, Al-Sheikh forgot that Crawford had more rights to the Face than just about anybody. When reminded that the reigning Face has to risk that face in the ring, Al-Sheikh — to his credit — backed off.

Meanwhile, Paul’s face eluded most of Tyson’s punches. Then again, there weren’t many to elude. Eighteen landed, for a pathetic average of fewer than three per round over the eight-round farce last Friday in Arlington, Tex. More punches land in shadow boxing. 

It was sad because Tyson used to be The Face. But it’s unrecognizable anymore, bought off by anybody with only cash in his skill set.

Can it be restored? Hard to say. But it’s worth a try and maybe Benavidez-Morrell is a place to start.

Start over. 

I remember an exchange I had with Paul more than two years ago before he fought mixed-martial-arts legend Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, just a few miles of roadwork from the mean streets where Benavidez grew up near downtown Phoenix.

At the news conference in October 2022, I welcomed Paul to Benavidez’ hometown. At the time, Paul was calling out Canelo Álvarez. He still is. So, I asked him if he wanted to fight Benavidez, too. Paul stopped, looked at me intensely and said: “I’m not ready for that.’’

It was an honest answer, a real moment in a business turning into a carnival, a Hall of Mirrors. Nobody knows what they’re looking at anymore. 

Last week, I had a theory that most in the crowd of 72,000 at AT&T Stadium and a Netflix audience — estimated at 75 million viewers, worldwide — would not know that Usyk and Fury are fighting a rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title next month. Wouldn’t care either. Now, I’m not even sure many would know who Usyk or Fury are. 

To them, the craft is no longer the attraction. Only $pectacle is. They got one, but now there are weird, wild conspiracy theories. $pectacle and conspiracy go together like show and business. 

At last report, a class-action lawsuit has been filed by fans unhappy at Netflix’s production of the event. No word on whether they’re unhappy at themselves from buying into the hype.

The Sweet Science?

Nothing Sweet or Scientific about it.

From this corner, the formal announcement of the Benavidez-Morrell date in the aftermath of Tyson-Paul was a relief. It’s something real, old-school and fundamental in a world gone awry. 

Maybe, I’m expecting too much from Benavidez and Morrell. But all of the time-honored elements are there for a real fight. A memorable one, too. Nobody 58-years-old will be answering an opening bell. Benavidez is 27. He’ll be 28 on Dec. 18. Morrell is 26. He’ll be 27 on Jan. 17. They’re both unbeaten — Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs).

They’re the face of the future. 

For now, that’s the only face we’ve got.

NOTES

Jesus Ramos Jr., a promising junior-middleweight from Casa Grande AZ, will fight on the Benavidez-Morrell undercard. The 23-year-old Ramos was last seen in the corner for his brother Abel in his spirited draw with welterweight champion Mario Barrios on the Paul-Tyson undercard. Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs) will fight former champion Jeison Rosario (29-4-2, 17 KOs). “I’ve learned my lesson about leaving things up to the judges,’’ Ramos said during a news conference this week in Los Angeles. “I can’t do that anymore. I’m coming to knock him out.”

Emanuel Navarrete is a slight favorite to again beat Oscar Valdez in their junior-lightweight rematch Dec. 7 at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Navarrete is coming off a disappointing performance at a new weight, a split-decision loss at lightweight to Denys Berinychk. Meanwhile, Valdez was impressive in a stoppage of Aussie Liam Wilson, who many believe got robbed of victory over Navarrete in a controversial bout, also in Arizona in 2023. Navarrete is talented, yet erratic. Meanwhile, consistency defines Valdez, whose seemingly inexhaustible resilience continues to make him dangerous.

I’ve already said this on other platforms and I’ll say it again: Tyson-Paul generated real numbers. Real money, too. Here’s a real question: Why was Tyson licensed? In a post after the bout, he talked about dying, saying that he underwent transfusions for excessive bleeding in May from an ulcer that postponed the bout. Yet, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses him anyway? Texas regulators must have known about Tyson’s condition. He talked about it in ominous detail in a story published by New York Magazine before opening bell. Did Texas listen, decide he was exaggerating and license him anyway? If so, we’re fortunate we witnessed only an embarrassment. 

LOS ANGELES – November 19, 2024 – Undefeated light heavyweight stars David “El Monstro” Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. went face-to-face Tuesday at a press conference in Los Angeles before they meet for Benavidez’s Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title and Morrell’s WBA Light Heavyweight Title in the main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, February 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The press conference also featured WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr., as they meet in a much-anticipated rematch in the co-main event.

Also at Tuesday’s press conference was fan-favorite and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, who meets hard-charging contender Angel Fierro in an all-Mexican pay-per-view undercard attraction, and rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and former unified champion Jeison Rosario, who square off in the pay-per-view opener.

**Pre-sale tickets are AVAILABLE NOW until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC. The public on-sale is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing and Warriors Boxing.

This lineup features a bevy of the sport’s top talent, all topped by a showdown years in the making as Benavidez and Morrell meet with a chance to not only establish themselves as the future of the light heavyweight division, but as a potential force on pound-for-pound lists and one of the faces of the sport for years to come. The two undefeated titans had a heated stare down and engaged in frequent verbal back-and-forths during the event, promising to end their February 1 clash with a knockout.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from The NOVO at L.A. Live:

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“Here we are again. I told you that I was going to give you the fights you want to see, and now we’re here. Morrell has been talking about me for a while and disrespecting me. He wanted to make it personal with me, so I’m personally going to break his mouth. That’ll give him something to remember me by.

“These are the type of fighters I want to fight. I want to face guys who think that they’re going to go in there and knock me out. He’s never fought anyone like me and I’m going to show everyone there’s levels to this.

“I want the props that I deserve when I beat the crap out of him. I love that he’s confident. I love facing guys like this.

“He knows what he said and that’s exactly what I needed to get me going for this fight. He thinks he’s big and bad, but he’s nothing. I’m gonna show him who’s the best on February 1.

“It’s not time to play anymore. It’s really time to see who the best David is. I want to show everyone where I stand. I want to take over and show everyone I’m the most ferocious fighter out there.”

DAVID MORRELL JR.

“I’m getting the knockout. 100%. He’s all talk and no bite. He can’t do what he thinks he’s gonna do.

“For a long time I’ve waited for this opportunity to fight Benavidez. On Saturday, February 1

I promise Benavidez and I promise everyone watching, it’s going to be a great fight.

“I know it’s not going to be an easy fight, but nothing is easy in life. I promise that I’m ready to fight.

“Everybody says that Benavidez is the bogeyman and that no one wants to fight him, and I want to face the best. That’s why I went straight for him.

“He has no idea what he’s talking about, but he’s provoking me and now I want to go out there and beat the crap out of him. I’m here now and none of that talk matters.

“This is a huge moment for me. I’m putting everything into this fight on February 1.”

BRANDON FIGUEROA

“I want to fight the best, so shoutout to Fulton for stepping up to the plate. I’m here to fight the best and I’m not overlooking anyone. This is the fight that I’ve been waiting for the last three years and I don’t plan to leave it to the judges this time.

“I learned a lot from the loss. It lit a fire in me that hasn’t been unlit. We both come to fight and I’m excited that the rematch is even bigger and better now on one of the best cards of the year.

“This means everything. I get to get my lick back and give fans another exciting show. It was fun the first time with a controversial decision, but I don’t plan to leave it to the judges. He had trouble with Carlos Castro and I got him out of there in six rounds.

“I’m growing and evolving as a fighter. My fire is burning bigger and bigger. I just want to prove that I’m the best 126-pounder and one of the best fighters in the world period.

“I’m gonna fight my fight. I come forward and I’m aggressive. I have a unique style. This time around I’m just hungry to make a statement. I want to challenge Naoya Inoue, that’s the goal.

“On February 1 he’s gonna see that I hurt him at 122 pounds and at 126 pounds I’m gonna put him away. I’m making a statement and it won’t go 12 rounds.”

STEPHEN FULTON JR.

“Round 13 coming soon. I’m thankful that he took the fight again and I can’t wait to get in the ring.

“I know how he fights. We’re familiar with each other, and when you are, you know what to expect from your opponent. I expect it to be action-packed again.

“I’m gonna get the job done on February 1 and make any adjustments I have to. I have the power to hurt him. Whoever steps foot in the ring with me going forward will see that.

“People forget who I am. I can do whatever I want in that ring. I have to remind everyone at this point. Can I knock him out? Yes, because he runs into things. There are many ways I know I can beat this guy. On February 1 I will be a two-division world champion. I’m going to make this one look more clear.

“I felt cool in my last fight. Even when I got dropped, I wasn’t hurt. Being at the bigger weight class gave me the extra strength and energy that I need.

“I won the fight, so I don’t really care what anyone says about my last fight. I know that I’m gonna be victorious. I’m bigger and stronger and I’ve learned a lot now. He’s gonna find out.

“I’m here to become world champion again. Trust me.”

ISAAC CRUZ

“This fight means everything to me because it’s Mexico vs. Mexico, and everyone knows what happens when two Mexicans collide. It’s gonna be a war for sure.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity. It’s going to be a great showcase and I can’t wait for February 1.

“I don’t want to be too eager in the ring, I just want to achieve my goal on February 1 and get my hand raised. I’m sharpening my tools so I can be at my best when that bell rings.

“I learn from every fight, so I don’t ever consider a fight a loss. It’s given me the opportunity to look at things from another perspective. I promise that I’m coming back even stronger.”

JESUS RAMOS JR.

“Rosario is a veteran who’s been champion and knows what it feels like at the top, and that’s what I want. I’m grateful to have a tough opponent and I’m ready to put on a show like always.

“I’m expecting the best version of Jeison Rosario, because he knows his back is against the wall. This fight is going to define his career, and that makes him dangerous. I’m going to prepare for the best Jeison Rosario there could possibly be.

“I’m coming to knock him out. I’ve learned not to leave things up to the judges, so I’m preparing myself for the knockout. I respect him as a fighter and I thank him for the opportunity, but I have to do my job. That’s the way this business goes.”

JEISON ROSARIO

“This fight is even bigger for me than when I won the world titles against Julian Williams. This is going to be a war and a showcase of my best abilities. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity.

“Ramos is a hungry fighter and I took this fight happily because I know it will be exciting. I’ve fixed my mistakes and I’m ready to show Ramos that there’s nowhere to hide in that ring.

“This is the most important fight of my life and the most significant fight of my career. This will catapult me to fight for the world championship again. My story is not over, not yet.”

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ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. MORRELL

Benavidez vs. Morrell will see Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and WBA Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell Jr. meet in a battle of unbeatens that pits two of the sport’s most exciting fighters against each other in the primes of their careers headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, Feb. 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The co-main event will see WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa defend his title against former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. in a rematch of one of 2021’s best fights.

The pay-per-view will also feature Mexican star and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing the hard-charging contender Angel Fierro in an all-Mexican super lightweight duel, plus rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. battles former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a 10-round middleweight fight that opens the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

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

LAS VEGAS – November 19, 2024 – Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and WBA Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell Jr. will meet in a battle of unbeatens that pits two of the sport’s most exciting fighters against each other in the primes of their careers headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, Feb. 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The co-main event will see WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa defend his title against former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. in a rematch of one of 2021’s best fights.

The pay-per-view will also feature Mexican star and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz facing the hard-charging contender Angel Fierro in an all-Mexican super lightweight duel, plus rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. battles former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a 10-round middleweight fight that opens the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

This lineup features a bevy of the sport’s top talent, all topped by a showdown years in the making as Benavidez and Morrell meet with a chance to not only establish themselves as the future of the light heavyweight division, but as a potential force on pound-for-pound lists and one of the faces of the sport for years to come.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Pre-sale tickets are AVAILABLE NOW until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC. The public on sale is scheduled for TOMORROW, Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing and Warriors Boxing.

“I’m very proud to help deliver this fantastic super fight to the fans,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “The boxing world has been anticipating the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr. showdown between these two heated rivals who don’t like each other at all, and now it is here on February 1. The stakes will be high and both fighters will be in great shape, as the winner will be an interim unified light heavyweight champion, as well as the final mandatory for the WBC and WBA titles. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be packed for this Mexico vs. Cuba matchup for the ages.”

“These are two great fighters going against each other in their primes, what could be better?” said Luis DeCubas Sr. of Warriors Boxing. “This is a fight Morrell has wanted for years and we’re very happy that these two great young guys are fighting each other now. It’s gonna be the aggressive boxer in Benavidez against the boxer-puncher in Morrell. It could very easily turn into a Hagler vs. Hearns type of fight, because both guys can punch and aren’t afraid to trade.”

**DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS. DAVID MORRELL JR.**

The two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez will step in to face the toughest opponent of his career in the undefeated Cuban sensation David Morrell Jr. in the 12-round main event that will be contested for both Benavidez’s Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title and Morrell’s WBA Light Heavyweight Championship belt.

The 27-year-old undefeated Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) followed up a standout 2023 campaign by moving up to light heavyweight in 2024 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over the former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June that earned him his interim title. Benavidez’s 2023 began with him besting longtime rival Caleb Plant via unanimous decision in a March slugfest before stopping the previously unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius Andrade in six rounds in November. A Phoenix-native who now trains in Miami, Benavidez became the youngest-ever 168-pound world champion at just 20-years-old when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. When he was 15 years old, Benavidez went from weighing 250 pounds to a boxing prodigy under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose, Sr., and his brother and veteran contender Jose Jr., as he famously held his own in sparring against middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin as a teenager. Benavidez rode a string of six straight knockout victories heading into the bout against Plant, including KOs of former world champions Anthony Dirrell and David Lemieux.

“I can’t wait for this challenge on February 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,” said Benavidez. “David Morrell Jr. is a great boxer, but come fight night, I will be the better man and show the world why I’m an elite fighter. I always take on the toughest opponents that are willing to step into the ring with me, because I know that I have to prove myself each and every time. When that bell rings, everyone will see that I’m the best fighter in the world.”

A Cuban-native who came to Minneapolis to begin his pro career in 2019, Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) has quickly shown off the talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s storied amateur scene. The 26-year-old also debuted in the light heavyweight division this year after an extended and successful run at super middleweight, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic by unanimous decision in August to capture his WBA title. Morrell had scored seven-straight knockouts before that fight, including a violent first-round stoppage of Olympic Bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao in April 2023 and a second-round destruction of Sena Agbeko in December of that same year. During his super middleweight run, Morrell won an interim title by dominating the then-unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020 in just his third pro fight. Now trained in Stafford, Texas by the legendary trainer Ronnie Shields, Morrell will finally get the opportunity to face a top-flight opponent after calling for the opportunity against Benavidez ever since he arrived stateside and began his professional boxing journey.

“This is the fight the fans have been waiting for, and I’m ready to give them a show they’ll never forget,” said Morrell. “This is two undefeated fighters in their prime, stepping into the ring and giving everything we’ve got. That’s what boxing is all about. Everyone should be getting this pay-per-view, because you’re going to see something special. I believe this will go down as one of the most memorable fights in boxing history and I’m excited to make it happen. I’m knocking David Benavidez out!.”

**BRANDON FIGUEROA VS. STEPHEN FULTON JR.**

The 12-round co-main event will see the much-anticipated rematch of a memorable 2021 clash as WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon Figueroa takes on former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. Their first showdown was a super bantamweight world title unification that pitted the relentless forward attack of Figueroa against the slick skills of Fulton, with the bout ending in a majority decision for Fulton (116-112 twice and 114-114).

The 27-year-old Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) was recently elevated to world champion after former champion Rey Vargas was declared champion in recess. Figueroa won the Interim WBC Featherweight Title in a 2023 Fight of the Year contender that saw him score a unanimous decision over former champion Mark Magsayo. He returned this May to successfully defend his interim title with a ninth-round knockout of former champion Jessie Magdaleno, increasing his winning streak to three straight since the first Fulton fight. A native of Weslaco, Texas, Figueroa’s relentless pressure and youthful enthusiasm helped him become the first person to defeat former two-division champion Luis Nery in their May 2021 championship clash, as he stopped Nery with a body shot in round seven. Figueroa added to his family’s legacy by capturing the WBC 122-pound world title against Nery, joining his brother Omar Figueroa Jr., who previously held the WBC Lightweight World Championship.

“Training is going great and I’m very excited to return on another big fight card against a championship caliber opponent,” said Figueroa. “I expect Fulton to be at his best, but I will go into that ring very prepared to convince everyone who really won the first time. I don’t plan on letting it go to the judges this time around.”

Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pa., Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) made a successful featherweight debut in September, rising from an early knockdown to defeat all-action contender Carlos Castro by decision. It was Fulton’s first fight since a July 2023 challenge that saw him travel to Japan to take on undefeated Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue, eventually dropping the road contest in round eight. In his previous 14 professional fights before facing Inoue, the 30-year-old had established himself on pound-for-pound lists by beating eight previously undefeated fighters. Fulton first became a world champion by taking the super bantamweight title from Angelo Leo in January 2021, before unifying against Figueroa. Trained in his hometown, Fulton has displayed sublime boxing skills that have allowed him to dominate opponents of varying styles and control fights from start to finish.

“I’m feeling strong and ready to return to the ring on a wonderful pay-per-view card to win my third world title in my second division,” said Fulton. “I expect Figueroa to make it a rough fight, just like he did in the first fight. But everyone saw what happened the first time, so I predict I’ll become three-time world champion and a two-division champion come fight night. Whatever I have to do to get my hand raised, I’ll be ready.”

**ISAAC CRUZ VS. ANGEL FIERRO**

One of the most popular active fighters from Mexico, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will return to action to face the hard-charging Angel Fierro in a super lightweight duel that marks Cruz’s first appearance in the ring since he lost his WBA Super Lightweight World Championship to Jose Valenzuela via split-decision in August.

Buoyed on by his passionate fan base, Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) became a world champion in March as he hurt Rolando Romero badly in round one before eventually ending the fight in round eight via TKO to claim the WBA title. A native of Mexico City, Cruz shot up the rankings in 2020, announcing his presence with an electrifying first-round knockout over veteran Diego Magdaleno in October before adding dominant decisions over Francisco Vargas and Matias Romero. This rise led to the 26-year-old challenging undefeated superstar Gervonta Davis in December 2021, a fight that saw Cruz lose by decision to become just the second fighter to see the final bell against Davis. Trained by his father Isaac Cruz Sr., Cruz also owns stoppage wins over former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa and veteran contender Eduardo Ramirez, in addition to a 12-round decision over the then-unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera.

“I’m very happy to be back in the ring on February 1 and in the fight capital of the world in Las Vegas,” said Cruz. “I’m facing a real Mexican warrior like myself and I’m excited to give fans the type of fight that they love. It will be a lot more entertaining than my last fight, when my opponent ran all night long and the judges made a terrible decision. This time, I will not leave it up to the judges, because I’m going for the knockout. Fierro and myself are going to show what Mexican style is all about and go toe-to-toe until someone gets knocked out.”

Originally from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Fierro (22-2-2, 17 KOs) now fights out of San Diego and has made a name for himself with his aggressive style and power punching prowess. The 26-year-old has fought professionally since 2015 and was undefeated in his first 17 outings. He announced his presence as a world contender in 2021 with a career-best victory as he rose from the canvas to stop former world champion Alberto Machado in round six. Most recently, Fierro had a three-fight winning streak snapped when he lost a June decision against Alfredo Santiago, with the only other loss of Fierro’s career coming via split-decision in January 2020 against Alex Martin. February 1 will mark Fierro’s third career fight stateside, and his first since a majority draw against Juan Carlos Burgos in March 2022.

“Ever since I turned professional, my dream was to fight in Las Vegas,” said Fierro. “Spending time training with my mentor and idol Erik Morales really taught me how to fight under pressure and now I have the perfect opponent to display those skills against in ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. I’m from Tijuana and we love facing fighters from Mexico City, it’s a tremendous rivalry. On February 1, the fans will be the winners, because I won’t take a step back. I’m coming to knock out ‘Pitbull’ and prove who is the best 140-pounder in Mexico.”

**JESUS RAMOS JR. VS. JEISON ROSARIO**

Rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. will look to make it back-to-back victories when he faces his most accomplished opponent to date in the former unified world champion Jeison Rosario, as they meet in a 10-round middleweight fight that opens the pay-per-view action.

After coming up on the wrong end of a contested decision against top contender Erickson Lubin in September 2023, Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs) returned to the ring in style this May, stopping Johan Gonzalez in round nine to reaffirm his status as a world championship contender. A native of Casa Grande, Ariz., Ramos had worked his way up the rankings by defeating a slew of contenders including Brian Mendoza, Javier Molina, Vladimir Hernandez and an emphatic stoppage of the then-unbeaten Joey Spencer. Trained by his father Jesus Sr., and the nephew of veteran contender Abel, the 23-year-old Ramos entered the Lubin fighting having stopped seven of his last 10 opponents.

“I’m grateful to be back in the ring on February 1,” said Ramos. “I’m facing an experienced opponent in Jeison Rosario who’s got nothing to lose, and that makes him dangerous. He wants to get back in the mix and I’m preparing to make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s exciting to have this platform to display my talent and show how much I’ve grown since my last fight. This is going to be a great card from top to bottom and I can’t wait to take my place on that big stage.”

Having faced a who’s-who of top contenders throughout his career, Rosario (24-4-2, 18 KOs) will once again go toe-to-toe with a highly touted foe when he takes on Ramos on February 1. Born in the Dominican Republic and fighting out of Miami, Rosario captured the WBA and IBF 154-pound belts by stopping Julian Williams in his hometown in one of 2020’s biggest upsets, earning the title opportunity by defeating a litany of contenders including Jamontay Clark, Marcos Hernandez and Jorge Cota. After beating Williams, Rosario would go on to lose a three-belt unification against Jermell Charlo in 2020 before also challenging top contenders Erickson Lubin and Brian Mendoza. Most recently, Rosario squared off against former unified champion Jarrett Hurd in August as the two fought to a split-draw.

“I’m very thankful to my team for getting me this opportunity and I feel blessed to be in this position,” said Rosario. “With Bob Santos in my corner, I’m extremely motivated to get back on top. Ramos is a good fighter, but I’ve faced the best in this sport and I’m going to use all that experience to get my hand raised on February 1.”

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

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez, who continues to search for an opponent for his second light-heavyweight fight, is interested in David Morrell amid confusing, often contradictory posts that quote him as saying he’ll fight Jesse Hart next.

The Boxing Hour confirmed a report early Thursday by Boxing Scene that Benavidez asked his management to send an offer to Morrell for a fight, perhaps in December. It’s not clear how Morrell will respond. The two exchanged some trash talk when both were still at super-middleweight.

Benavidez, who was still a mandatory challenger at 168 pounds and hopeful for a shot at champion Canelo Alvarez, ignored Morrell. Morrell accused Benavidez of ducking him. If that sounds familiar, it is. Benavidez has accused Canelo of ducking him for a couple of years.

But things have changed. Both Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell (11-0, KOs) have moved up to light-heavy and each are coming off victories that left doubts about how they would do at 175 pounds. The 27-year-old Benavidez, troubled by hand injuries and a healing cut over one eye, scored a unanimous decision over former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk June 15 in Las Vegas. Morrell, a 26-year-old Cuban living in Minneapolis, also won a unanimous decision in his light-heavy debut, beating Radivoje Kalajdzic August 3 in Los Angeles.

There was also talk throughout Thursday in media and reportedly from Benavidez himself that his next opponent would be Jesse Hart, a Philadelphia fighter and former super-middleweight challenger who has been at light-heavy since 2019. Hart, 35, is 3-1 at 175 pounds, losing a split decision to popular Joe Smith in January 2020. 

As of Thursday, however, there was no announcement of a Benavidez-Hart or Benavidez-Morrell fight from PBC (Premier Boxing Champions), which represents Benavidez.

Benavidez posted on social media that he would be fighting Hart next instead of Morrell, who he did say would be a future opponent. Then, Benavidez deleted the post, but not before a couple of web sites quoted him as saying Hart, not Morrell, was next. 

That’s when Hart responded on X, formerly Twitter, twice:

First, Hart posted: “I dont know nothing about fighting  

david benavidez i haven’t spoken to anybody involving details about us fighting i dont know where yall getting this narrative”

Then, in response to somebody who posted the Hart-instead-of-Morrell scenario as if it were fact, Hart countered: “Fake news”

The Hart possibility has been rumored for a few weeks. If there were any talks, however, they didn’t go far. Sources have told The Boxing Hour that Hart wants more money than he has been offered for a fight with Benavidez, the World Boxing Council’s so-called mandatory challenger at light-heavy.

Presumably, that would put Benavidez in line to fight the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner.  Beterbiev and Bivol fight for the undisputed light-heavy title in one of the division’s biggest bouts in history Oct. 12 in Saudi Arabia. 

If Bivol wins, however, Canelo could get in the way of Benavidez’ pursuit of a light-heavyweight title. Canelo has mentioned Bivol repeatedly since his one-sided decision over Edgar Berlanga Sept. 14 at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. He has talked about avenging his scorecard loss to Bivol in May 2022. Beating Bivol, he says, would do more for his legacy than a big-money fight against ex-welterweight great and pound-for-pound claimant Terence Crawford, now at junior-middleweight.

Canelo gets whatever he wants. No fake news there. The WBC did not strip Canelo of its 168-pound belt when Benavidez was still it’s mandatory challenger at that weight. Instead, it gave Benavidez a so-called option. Really, he had no choice. He had to move to 175-pounds and beat Gvozdyk. Then, he was installed as the mandatory at the heavier weight. But it’s safe to assume the WBC will grant Canelo’s wish and find a way to give him a shot at another undisputed title if Bivol beats Beterbiev.

No matter what happens, Benavidez has to win his next one whether it’s against Hart, or Morrell, or Fill In The Blank Here. For now, at least, the date is not clear. A few weeks ago, it was thought Benavidez’ next fight would be in Los Angeles on Dec. 14 or Dec. 21. Now, however, there are conflicting dates. 

On Dec. 14, popular Jaime Munguia, coming off a solid decision over Eric Bazinyan in Glendale AZ last Friday, is reportedly interested in fighting at home, Tijuana, and Golden Boy Promotion plans to stage a card featuring welterweight Alexis Rocha in Ontario, Calif.

On December  21, most of the boxing audience will be watching the live-stream of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Benavidez might have to wait until early next year. There’s been talk of Vegas’ MGM Grand. There’s also talk that it’s time for him to return to Phoenix, his hometown and the heart of his fan base. 

He hasn’t fought in his hometown since a third-round blowout of David Lemieux at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a few miles of roadwork from where grew up on the streets of Phoenix.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Knockout is the first word in the second chapter to Jamie Munguia’s career.

It sums up what he hopes to do.

It defines the promotional plans Top Rank has for him.

The KO was authored and patiently executed by Munguia in his first fight, post-Canelo, against an unknown, yet skilled Eric Bazinyan Friday in front of a roaring crowd of about 6,500 at Desert Diamond Arena.

In a super-middleweight fight full of twists and turns, ebbs and flows, a bigger and quicker Munguia finally delivered the final word with a succession of punches that left an exhausted Bazinyan on all fours, looking exhausted and beaten late in the 10th. He was finished, a loser by KO at 2:36 of the round.

“It was a great experience,’’ Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) said in a tone that suggested he anticipates even greater ones in  a career that is just entering its prime.

It was also a victory that put him one fight beyond his last one, a scorecard loss to fellow Mexican Canelo Alvarez. There were questions about how the 27-year-old Munguia would respond to the loss to boxing’s  so-called Face of the Game.

Would he be tentative?

Would he be over-anxious?

No. 

And no.

Munguia’s evident poise was very much intact against Bazinyan (32-1-1, 23 KOs), an Armenian living in Canada. Bazinyan tested Munguia repeatedly in the middle round. 

“I felt like I was winning,’’ Bazinyan said.  “I felt he was very frustrated with my jab, right hand, and counters. He was getting tired. All of a sudden, I got caught. I don’t know what happened there.”

Munguia rocked him in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Each time, it looked as if Munguia was about to take control. But the well-conditioned Bazinyan came charging back, repeatedly rocking him with a solid right hands that he threw behind a consistently accurate jab.

A tentative Munguia would not have known how to respond. An overanxious Munguia would have rushed in and perhaps walked right into knockout blow. But Munguia carefully measured his punches and perhaps his energy, all in an effort to score a KO he had to envision in a comeback from his lone loss.

What’s next? Predictably, Munguia, a quiet fighter from Tijuana, wouldn’t be specific. He was asked about about the Top Rank-promoted Christian M’billi. He was asked by Caleb Plant, who is coming off a bruising victory over Trevor McCumby.

Then, he was asked by Edgar Berlanga, who lost a one-sided decision to Canelo at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena last Saturday.

“If I had to pick, I’d pick Berlanga,’’ he said.

Sounds like that one could produce the second word in that second chapter. 

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Torrez stays unbeaten, Dawejko’s mouthpiece gets him DQed

Richard Torrez Jr. threw most of the punches in a fight dominated by his movement and Joey Dawejko’s mouthpiece.

In the end, it was the mouthpiece that proved to be decisive.

In a heavyweight fight with no knockdowns, Dawejko’s mouthpiece hit the canvas five times. The fifth time resulted in his disqualification in the fifth round of the final fight before the main event, a super-middleweight clash between Jaime Munguia and Eric Bazinyan Friday night in front of an estimated crowd of 7,000 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale Arena.

The DQ will go down as a victory for Torrez, pushing the prospect’s unbeaten record to 11-0 with 10 knockouts.

“Joey was a vet, just like I said,” Torrez said.  “He didn’t give up. That mouthpiece came out a little too much. That’s a veteran move, but at the end of the day, congratulations to him. He put up a good fight.

“I think we were able to show more boxing ability that I was telling you about.”

Torrez was clearly on his way to victory with quick hands and agile feet. On The Boxing Hour’s card, he won the first three rounds easily. He was winning the fourth, too, when Dawejko’s mouthpiece began to dominate the round. Referee Wes Melton picked it up once, twice and then a third time. That’s when he issued his first one-point penalty. A fourth time resulted in a second one-point penalty  for Dawejko (28-12-4  16 KOs), a Philadelphia roofer when not in the ring.

In the fifth, Melton had seen enough of Dawejko’s mouthpiece and the fight. He waved off the fight at 2:02 of the round.

El General marches on to another battle won

In the opening bout of the ESPN+ telecast “El General” Emiliano Vargas 11-0(9Kos) of Las Vegas, NV faces “Lethal” Larry Fryers 13-6-1(5Kos) of Clones, Ireland. Coming in the fight Larry made a bold prediction stating he was going to knock out Vargas in the 5th round. Missing majority of the year Larry is making his 2024 debut looking to mirror 2023 were he went undefeated in his 2 matches. Fans made sure to be in their seats prior to the start of this one. As most AZ fight fans are very familiar with Vargas, this will make it his fourth time fighting in front of them at the Desert Diamond Arena. It also does not hurt that he comes to fight which make him a fan friendly fighter. In a town known for fighter such as the legend Micheal Carbajal, Jose Benavidez jr, and David Benavidez AZ loves to see in all out war. The El “General” has the perfect tactics to keep them happy and on the edge of their seats.

In the opening round emiliano came out with a combo of a left and right to the head of Fryers which caught him by surprise and stunned. Vargas did not let up from the punishment landing at will knocking back Fryers to ropes with a series of jabs. More importantly Vargas was showing off his defense with great footwork and head movement, making his opponent miss many of his punches.

Focusing on the body in round 2 Vargas landed some vicious body shots to the right of fryers ribs. As the round came to an end at the sound of the 10 second mark, Vargas lands a straight left hand wobbling fryers to the ropes with a few significant punches following. Best exchange of the fight to this point

Larry has no answer for Emiliano’s left hook to the head nor to the body. Just as you think Fryers is done he comes back with a punch of his own but no damage being done. As a repeat of the previous round Vargas came with a late rally hurting Larry to the point if there was more time the referee might had to save him.

In the mid point of the fifth round Vargas landed 2 perfect body shots to set up the furious knock out punch a over hand left hook ending the night for Lethal Larry Fryers. The stoppage come at 1:38 of the fifth round.

Emiliano stated that this is his best performance to date and will enjoy crumbl cookies for his hard work. Vargas is showing that he can knockout out his opponents but now adding that he can make them miss as well. The prediction of a 5th round KO was right just the fighter who said it was not. Emiliano “El General” Vargas improves to 12-0(10KOs).

Charly Suarez scores third-round stoppage

Speed is power and Filipino junior-lightweight Charly Suarez proved it repeatedly in overwhelming Jorge Castaneda in the final bout before the ESPN telecast Friday of the card featuring Jaimie Munguia-Erik Bazinyan Friday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ.

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) dropped Castaneda (17-4, 13 KOs), of Laredo TX, twice in the third round, finishing him at 2:23 of the third for a fringe World Boxing Organization belt.

Not in Kansas anymore

Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia 14-0(11KOs) from Ulysses, Kansas took on Ricardo Fernandez 15-13(1KO) from Santa Cruz de la sierra, Bolivia in a scheduled 8 round bout. Garcia is coming off a very short break just fighting a little over a month ago when he KOd his opponent in 3 rounds. Coming into this fight should not be nothing new to “Kid Kansas” this past year fighting on average every 2 months, each time taking care of business

Coming to the ring paying homage to Mexico wear the colors of the flag Green, white, and red  during Hispanic heritage month. As the action started Garcia quickly Established the jab, connecting flush on his opponent’s face.

Picking up the activity in the 2nd utilizing more of his arsenal going to the body more often. Towards the end of the round Garcia briefing stunned Fernandez with a left hook to his right temple.

Settling down for the start of the 3rd  Garcia again picked it up carrying all the action as his dance partner did not come out to tangle. Very solid round for Kid Kansas as he did a little of everything  head shots, body shots and movement in the ring

Sensing he has nothing to lose Fernandez came out his Corner swinging, throwing as many punches as all of the previous rounds combine. That was short lived as Garcia took control of the fight once again simply out boxing Fernandez

Garcias body  shots have been landing effectively throughout the fight so far. In a wild turn of event with 45 seconds left in the 5th round Garcia left his guard down and was caught with a powerful right over hand. Before even hitting the canvass Garcia was out, unfortunately his head bounced off the mat. Not being able to get up the referee stops the fight at 35 seconds left in the fifth round.

This is a huge upset for top prospect Alan Garcia, maybe all those miles he put on his body this year is what failed him tonight. There is still a very bright future for Kid Kansas. In his post fight interview Fernandez stated that he was not surprised of the knockout and he knew that he was not getting up. Fernandez improves to 16-13(2KOs) while Garcia suffered his first defeat now at 14-1(11KOs)—-By David Galaviz

DJ Zamora wins decision in tough junior-lightweight bout 

DJ Zamora calls himself The War Machine. 

He got the war. 

Got the victory, too.

Zamora (14-0, 9 KOs), a junior-lightweight from Las Vegas, won a unanimous decision, yet was forced into an intense battle during the middle to late rounds of a scheduled eight-rounder by Argentine Gerenardo Antonio Perez (12-6-1, 3 KOs) Friday on a card featuring Munguia-Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena Friday.

Zamora’s superior reach and hand speed controlled the early rounds. In the fourth, however, Perez adjusted, slipped under Zamora’s long  punches and landed repeated uppercuts in a bout cheered by a small, yet lively crowd. 

Unbeaten Steven Navarro scores third-round TKO

Steven Navarro, an unbeaten Super Flyweight from Los Angeles, combined power and speed for a two-fisted demolition of Oscar Arroyo in the third fight — all one-sided — Friday on the card featuring Jaime Munguia-Eric Bazinyan at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena.

Navarro (4-0, 3 KOs) overwhelmed Arroyo (3-3, 2 KOs), of Virginia, knocking him down twic , once in the first round and again in the second. Late in third, Navarro unleashed a succession of punches from countless angles, prompting the referee to step in and end it at 2:35 of the round.  

Jorge Perez scores first-round KO

ia Essaoudi walked into the ring, answered an opening bell and had to be helped through ropes and into his dressing forty-six seconds later.

It was quick work, all delivered by Mexican middleweight Jorge Perez (31-4, 26 KOs) in the second fight on a card featuring Munguia-Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.

Perez, of Los Mochis, landed a lethal hook to Essaoudi’s left side. Essaoudi (22-3, 15 KOs), of Germany, reacted as if he had suffered a fractured rib. In evident pain, he dropped his hands. Then, Perez landed a head-rockincombo. At :46 of the first round, it was over — Perez, winner by knockout.

First Bell: Unbeaten Sebastian Hernandez forces aging foe to quit 

It was a matinee surrender.

The ESPN show featuring Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan opened Friday at Desert Diamond Arena with junior-featherweight  Sebastian Hernandez (17-0, 16 KOs), of Tijuana, landing punches at will against a retreating Yenfrez Parejo (24-7-1, 12 KOs) a middle-aged Venezuelan with a receding hair line. 

Parejo’s age was listed  at 37-years-old. By the third, he looked 50. After the fourth, he was finished, a senior citizen who couldn’t continue.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Canelo Alvarez isn’t going to strengthen his position in the pound-for-pound debate, no matter what he does against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in a fight that has been dismissed by exasperated fans who only want to see him against David Benavidez or Terence Crawford.

But the public consensus, as damning as it is noisy, is further evidence that Canelo isn’t going anywhere, no matter who he fights or where he stands in the various ratings. He doesn’t even have all of the super-middleweight belts anymore. An acronym stripped him of one, which I guess means he’s been demoted from undisputed to unified. 

But don’t dispute his power to dictate — to get what, when and whoever he wants — in a business otherwise ruled by chaos. I’ll leave it up to somebody else as to whether Canelo’s long powerbroker reign is good for boxing. There’s an old line worth repeating: Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Nevertheless, his latest controversy with boxing’s nouveau riche, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, only manages to re-affirm that power. Alalshikh took offense when Canelo appeared to rebuff his attempts to put together a much-talked-about date with Crawford after Crawford’s narrow decision over Israil Madrimov in his junior-middleweight debut on August 3.

Canelo talked about respect, which usually means he believes he wasn’t getting enough of it.  Then, he told Alalshikh to talk to him after his title defense against Berlanga on a night when the UFC will stage a mixed martial-arts event at Las Vegas’ Sphere, just a few blocks of neon from T-Mobile Arena.

In the middle of the edgy exchange, Alalshikh posted a photo of himself, declaring he was the Face of Boxing. That precipitated a backlash. The game’s Face is reserved for those who are willing to risk that face. In other words, only the fighters qualify. In a craft where virtually everything is for sale, it’s the one thing that can’t be bought. 

Alalshikh, who is new to the sport and its unwritten traditions, backtracked last week while announcing an undercard featuring Shakur Stevenson-versus-Joe Cordina on an Oct. 12 show featuring Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh.

In posting the undercard, there was a response that called Alalshikh “The Face of Boxing.” No, he said, he wasn’t worthy of that. Only the fighters are. Props to the Prince.

That lesson, however, was a victory for Canelo. In effect, it reaffirmed — even tightened his grip — on his undisputed place as The Face.  Consider Crawford. His brilliant career has ensured him of the Hall of Fame and gained him some over-due respect. At this late stage, however, it looks as if it has come down to just one option: Canelo or retirement. 

Crawford, who will be 37 late next month, had hoped that the Madrimov fight in Los Angeles would be a steppingstone to Canelo. And only Canelo. 

Increasingly, it’s become clear that Crawford, still among the top three in virtually every pound-for-pound rating, has no interest in uniting the junior-middleweight title. 

The unbeaten Crawford is already a two-time undisputed champ, at 140 and 147 pounds. He has expressed no interest in fighting Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the reigning young lion at welterweight. It looks as if he also has no interest in facing the young lions at 154 pounds, including Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Alalshikh said he approached Crawford, also a four division champion, about a fight with Ortiz after Ortiz’ controversial, yet gritty majority decision over Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk in Vegas a couple of weeks ago. According to Alalshikh, Crawford said no, a sign that we may have seen him fight for the last time. 

After Berlanga, Canelo, a 16-to-1 betting favorite, is sure to get questions from fans and an offer from Alalshikh about Crawford in a fight at 168-pounds, 14 more than Crawford’s weight against Madrimov in a bout that snapped his stoppage streak at 11 straight.

It all depends on Canelo.

Still Canelo.

By Norm Frauenheim

LOS ANGELES — Terence Crawford won the fight. But he didn’t beat his critics.

Crawford’s place in the pound-for-pound debate and indeed history are still an argument, one sure to be debated as much as ever after he won a fourth title in a fourth weight class with a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov before an announced crowd of about 28,000 at BMO Stadium Saturday night.

Crawford moved up the scale to junior-middleweight. But he didn’t bring some of his singular brilliance with him. He believes this is his era. But that claim will have to wait. Madrimov did to Crawford what Errol Spence Jr, Shawn Porter and so many more could not. He took him to the score cards. 

Madrimov was the first fighter not knocked out by Crawford in eight years. Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) had scored 11 straight stoppages. Then, the streak was snapped by an unlikely fighter, an Uzbek known more his amateur accomplishment than his pro resume.

Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) fought the feared Crawford on even terms. At times, he made Crawford look ordinary. Above all, he made him look beatable, especially if he faces Canelo Alvarez in another jump up the scale, this time to a projected bout at 168 pounds.

“He’s a hell of a fighter,’’ Crawford said.

Above all, Madrimov was a surprising fighter, unknown to most in the crowd. But his amateur education included tireless movement and shifting angles that seemed to baffle Crawford. Going into the final two rounds, it looked as if Crawford might lose on the cards. But a sudden, perhaps desperate aggressiveness, might have saved him in the end. He rocked Madrimov in the 11th and the 12th with with repeated uppercuts. On the official scorecards, it was 115-113, 116-112, 115-113, all for Crawford.  The Boxing Hour.com also scored it 115-113, also for Crawford..

But not everybody agreed, including Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, Madrimov’s promoter.

“This fight was on a knife edge,’’ said Hearn, who especially angry at the 116-112 score. “In a title fight, you’ve got to rip the the belt off the defending champion.’’

Crawford didn’t do that. But he did leave the ring with the World Boxing Association’s version of the junior-middleweight title.

For Madrimov, it was enough to ask for a rematch. He asked Hearn to put one together for later in the year. But that depends on Crawford, who will be 37 on Sept. 28 and looked every bit his age. There’s speculation that Crawford is just a couple fights from retirement. The guess has been that he’ll cash out if and when he ever gets an opportunity to fight Canelo. If Canelo was watching Saturday, he had to like his chances.

Predictably patient and calculating in his debut at 154 pounds, Crawford began  slowly, perhaps studiously. It was the first stage in a search and destroy mission. The search was for an opening, a weakness in Madrimov’s style. But Crawford never did get to the destroy stage. 

Through the first five rounds, it was hard to find a weakness in Madrimov. The clever Uzbek presented Crawford with a problematic mix of angles and movement. He stepped to one side, bounced up and down at a rapid pace, then stepped to the other side. For Crawford, Madrimov’s style presented a tactical puzzle, one complicated by his tireless and purposeful movement.

Crawford, fighting out of a southpaw stance, managed to land a few right hands. But not one  appeared to do much damage. At times, he made Crawford look awkward. He tripped and fell in the fifth. 

All the while, Madrimov would land a jab, enough of them to leave a small bruise under Crawford’s right eye. With each passing round, it looked as if Madrimov was emboldened by his ability to fight the longtime pound-for-pound  contender on his own terms. He dictated the pace. Controlled the ring. 

In the seventh, Madrimov’s right hand landed with more frequency. In the ninth and tenth, Madrimov was the aggressor. Stubbornly, he moved forward, putting Crawford on his heels and  without any apparent fear of walking into one of his lethal counters.

“He fought a great fight,’’ Crawford said.

A surprising one, too

Valenzuela upsets Isaac Cruz

Jose Valenzuela kept moving.

In the end, he moved into a huge upset.

Valenzuela relied on patience, poise and precision, all enough to score a split decision over feared Isaac Cruz in the final fight before a main event featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Israil Madrimov Saturday in front of a capacity crowd at BMO Stadium Saturday.

Valenzuela (14-2 9 KOs), the new World Boxing Association junior-welterweight champion, had to endure — indeed survive — some rocky moments in the late rounds to secure the win over Cruz, a 5-to-1 betting favorite.

Cruz, ever aggressive, threw a jackhammer-like right hand out of a crouch. It stunned Valenzuela in the final seconds of the 11th. Had it happened earlier in the round, Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) might have saved his belt 

But Valenzuela, of Renton WA,  made it back to his corner with his poise intact. after the 12th, two scorecards favored him, 116-112 both. On the third, it was 115-113 for Cruz.

“His smarts,” said his new rainer, Robert Garcia, who has moved into a corner that was once occupied by Jose Benavidez Sr. “He had to stay smart. Fight smart.”

He did, but his steady performance didn’t convince a crowd that included many Mexican fans. They booed the decision. Cruz, a Mexico City fighter nicknamed Pitbull, believed he did enough to win.

“So did the crowd,” Cruz said. “Listen to them.”

It sounded like an immediate rematch

Ruiz and Miller fight to a dull draw

It was a majority draw, Mostly a dud, too..

There was no winner Saturday in a heavyweight bout between Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller Saturday on the Crawford-Madrimov card at BMO Stadium 

In a plodding exhibition between fighters beyond their prime, there was mostly impatience from a gathering crowd anxious for the main event, or Eminem, or just an early stoppage. But there was no stoppage, no early end to a fight that generated boos before it reached the sixth round.

It was Ruiz’ first fight in 23 months. Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) had been idle for too long. His noted hand speed, the key to his memorable upset of Anthony Joshua, was gone. Midway through the fight, he became a one-handed fighter because of an apparent broken bone in his right.

That allowed Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs) to assert himself. But he never really capitalized. His punches were hit-and-miss, mostly miss. In the end, he did enough to win on one scorecard, 116-112. On the other two cards however, it was a draw, 114-114.

“Let’s do it again,” Ruiz said to the crowd. “I’d love a rematch.”

He’d be the only one.

Jared Anderson falls in fifth-round beatdown

Jared Anderson began the day as America’s next great heavyweight.

But his future changed.

The next great was turned into just another American heavyweight. 

Martin Bekole (21-1, 16 KOs), a Congo heavyweight living in London, knocked the next out of Anderson’s future with a beatdown, three knockdowns in a stunning fifth-round stoppage Saturday on the Crawford-Madrimov card.

Anderson’s feet weren’t quick enough to elude Bekole. His jab didn’t have the power or precision to keep him off. Bekole simply moved forward, steamrolling Anderson  like a runaway truck on the nearby LA freeway.

Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) was down late in the first round from an uppercut. He was down a second time midway through the fifth from another uppercut. Moments later, he delivered still another uppercut, dropping Anderson onto the canvas and under the bottom rope. He got up. But it was clear he was finished, a stoppage loser at 2:07 of the fifth.

Morrell wins light-heavy debut, calls out Benavidez

David Morrell didn’t waste much time after winning his light-heavyweight debut, a unanimous decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic.

Who’s next?

David Benavidez, he said.

“I want to fight Benavidez,” Morrell said after winning a vacant World Boxing Association title with a mixed performance in his first fight after moving up from super-middleweight. “I want him. Everybody knows that. Benavidez is the boogeyman. I’m here.”

Benavidez won his light-heavyweight debut, a decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk, also in a mixed performance on June 15.

Before calling out the Phoenix fighter, it wasn’t exactly clear that Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) had beaten Kalajdzic, a tough Serbian and a veteran light-heavyweight. Morrell appeared to tire Saturday on the Crawford-Madrimov undercard.  He pursued an early knockout. Midway through the 12-round bout, Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs) moved forward and countered, often landing shots easily. Nevertheless, it was one-sided on the scorecards. It was 117-11,118-110 and 117-111, all for Morrell.

“I feel good,” said Morrell, who fought as though he was thinking more about Benavidez than Kalajdzic

Andy Cruz impresses, scores seventh-round stoppage of Moran 

Andy Cruz showed why he’s a prospect with a dramatic seventh-round stoppage of Antonio Moran in the third fight Saturday on the Crawford-Madrimov card.

Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs), a Cuban lightweight who won Olympic gold in a victory over Keyshawn Davis in 2021, staggered Moran i(30-7-1, 21 KOs) in the sixth.

Late in the seventh, he finished the job with a long right hand that traveled with laser-like precision. It sent Moran, of Mexico City, falling into the ropes, which were the only thing that kept him from falling out of the ring. At 2:59 of the seventh, it was over. 

Steve Nelson, Crawford stablemate, scored fifth-round TKO

Omaha super-middleweight Steve Nelson calls himself So Cold.

It’s a nickname he put to good use on a hot afternoon Saturday in the second fight on the card featuring Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium, a soccer stadium within a few miles roadwork from the LA skyline.

In an outdoor ring at the center of the stadium floor, Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs), a Crawford stablemate, kept his cool, controlled the pace and then coolly scored a fifth-round TKO of Marcos Ramon Vazquez (20-1-1, 10 KOs) of Tijuana.

First Bell: Crawford-Madrimov opens with a draw.

It started with more people in the ring than in the seats.. Instead of cheers, there just echoes from the traffic that surrounded BMO Stadium.

But the show must go on and it did with Saudi welterweight Ziyad Almaayouf (5-0-1, 1 KO) and Michael Bulik (6-7-1, 2 KOs) fighting to a draw in the first fight on a card featuring Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov Saturday under a hot sun at BMO Stadium.

Almaayouf appeared to be the busier fighter. Early on, he scored repeatedly with fast hands. On the scorecards, however, it was a majority draw — 57-57 twice and 59-55 on the third card.

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez, who won at a heavier weight and looked beatable in doing so, is back to where he was before his decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Waiting for Canelo.

On the financial scale, it makes sense. It always has. A fight with Canelo Alvarez still represents the quickest way to the biggest money. Over the last several years, that’s been the only formula in a business otherwise ruled by only chaos.

If you want to follow the money, follow Canelo. This is prizefighting, after all.

But it’s not clear what Canelo is thinking. There’s been silence on what he thought of Benavidez’ scorecard victory over Gvozdyk, a unanimous decision yet flawed in many ways on June 15 on an Amazon Prime card at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Presumably, he watched and saw that Benavidez’ power and energy in the later rounds weren’t there in his 175-pound debut. Speculate all you want as to why. Benavidez said he came into the fight battling injuries undisclosed before opening bell.

There was a stitched-up cut along his left eyelid, a reason that his father-trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., brought in Stitch Duran to

work the corner.

He said he injured a tendon in his right hand. He massaged the hand throughout the post-fight news conference. The injuries, the Phoenix-born fighter said, happened in training in Miami. Just how they impacted his preparation – his focus and conditioning — is anybody’s guess.

But Benavidez clearly did not have the energy late in the fight against Gvozdyk that had been there throughout his run at super middleweight.

At 168, he seemed to have an extra gear in the later rounds. But it was missing against the Ukrainian, a former light-heavyweight champion, who was the bigger fighter. Benavidez said he was at 189 pounds at opening bell.

He and Gvozdyk were each at 174.2 at the official weigh-in. Gvozdyk never said what his weight was at fight time, but he looked to be at about 200 pounds. With his hand speed, Benavidez scored, but his punches didn’t have the power to hurt, or even move, Gvozdyk, a former Canelo sparring partner who was at his best in the final moments.

If Canelo was watching, he had to notice. Canelo, who will be 34 in July, is moving out of his prime, but his lower-body strength is still there. In some ways, he resembles Gvozdyk. It’s hard to knock him off balance much less off his feet.

At light-heavyweight, Canelo’s ex-sparring partner might have found a weakness in Benavidez that was not apparent at super-middle. He also might have found a reason for Canelo to say, yeah, I’ll fight him.

Over the first week after Benavidez light-heavy debut, however, there’s been silence. Perhaps, Canelo has decided he’ll let the process play out.

Benavidez announced, post-fight, that he would relinquish his mandatory challenger spot for the light-heavyweight champion, which would have meant an even riskier fight against the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner in October.

Instead, he said, he’d go back to super-middleweight and pursue the mandatory challenge – still Canelo — he’s been pursuing for a couple of years. He was expected to send the World Boxing Council a letter of formal declaration. Then, the WBC is expected to rule.

By now, however, we know Canelo does he what wants. Gets what the wants. He has said so, repeatedly, over the last year.

There’s already talk of Canelo fighting Edgar Berlanga in September. That speculation appeared to be the reason behind an agreement between Canelo and somebody named William Scull, a super-middleweight nobody knows yet is still a rival acronym’s mandatory challenger.

The speculation is that Scull will get step-aside money.

Then, Canelo will get Berlanga.

And Benavidez will get what he’s always had.

He’ll get to wait.

NOTES

In one of the best fights in the history of the little guys, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is about a 9-2 favorite over Juan Francisco Estrada for the SuperFly title next Saturday (June 29) on the Suns home floor at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

Speaking of odds, what are the odds on Ryan Garcia ever fighting in another state-sanctioned bout again? He was suspended Thursday for a year by New York for testing dirty before his stoppage of Devin Haney. Garcia won’t go away. He’s a social-media freak show. Promoters will do whatever they can to get him back in the ring a year from now. There’s a market for his kind of unhinged behavior.

And the WBO orders negotiations for an Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez junior-lightweight rematch. In a futile attempt to win a lightweight title, Navarrete looked terrible in a sloppy scorecard loss – a split decision — to Denys Berinchyk in May. But a Navarrete-Valdez rematch might a hard sell. It was a good fight. But it was a blowout, Navarrete scoring a one-sided decision in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ. 

By Norm Frauenheim —Tank Davis looked vulnerable. The sign was there in an ugly bruise, going from red to crimson, beneath his right eye.

But the bruise might as well have been a mask.

For a while, it hid what has always been there. Davis’ quick-strike power is a dynamic that never stays hidden for long.

It struck all over again, this time dropping a gutsy Frank Martin onto his back alongside the ropes Saturday night in a devastating eighth-round knockout at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena in an Amazon Prime fight for the lightweight title.

“No question, I’m back,’’ Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) said. “No question.’’

No doubt, either.

Questions, however, were lurking after about 14-month stretch of no bouts and time in jail at home in Baltimore.

Martin hoped he had the ability to exploit them. And, for a while, it looked as if he might. He danced away. He moved inside, he moved outside with enough agility and courage to bruise Davis.

“But I knew, I knew, he’d tire out,’’ Davis said.

He did. Martin’s quick feet began to slow, round-after-round absorbing Tank’s wicked combinations.

At 1:29 of the eighth, it was finally over. Davis rocked Martin (19-1, 12 KOs) with a succession of punches. It looked as if Martin was ready to fall. Davis made sure of it with a left-handed shot that began at his hip and traveled like a menacing meteor in a direct strike on Martin’s exposed chin.

It was over, an exclamation point, a reminder of Davis’ pound-for-pound credentials and perhaps an even bigger opportunity to prove himself on a bigger stage against Vasiliy Lomachenko later this year. 

Benavidez scores unanimous decision in 175-pound debut

It was a debut that demanded a difference.

A different David Benavidez.

That’s what he delivered in his first fight at a heavier weight against an experienced and toughened light-heavyweight.

Oleksandr Gvozydk, a former 175-pound champion, endured Benavidez’ whirlwind arsenal early and tested him with his own fundamental power later.

In losing a unanimous decision to Benavidez Saturday night at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena, the Ukrainian didn’t tame The Monster in a fighter feared at super-middleweight.

But he did counter his evident mean streak with a durability Benavidez has never really encountered.

“I felt like I had a great fight against a great fighter,’’ said Benavidez, who also said he came into the fight with two injuries – a cut over his right eyelid and a torn tendon in his right hand – suffered two weeks ago. “It was a new weight, a different weight.’’

Benavidez left the ring with two things unchanged. He’s still unbeaten (29-0, 24 KOs). And he still intends to pursue a title at super-middleweight. That means Canelo Alvarez, of course.

“We’re going to go back to 168 and go after the title as a mandatory challenger or maybe if the title becomes vacant,’’ Benavidez said.

That of course, depends on what Canelo decides. But it’s safe to assume he was watching.

Early on, what he and a roaring crowd saw was the Benavidez they witnessed at super-middle.

He came out in the first round, shuffling, side

to-side while displaying some newfound head movement.

His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr. had promised a renewed emphasis on defense and his son didn’t disappoint, at least not through the first three minutes.

In the second and third, there were moments when the 27-year-old Benavidez made the 37-year-old Gvozdyk (20-2, 16 KOs) look stiff, if not awkward.

The Ukrainian wasn’t exactly a stationary target. But he was there, in front of Benavidez, and open to a wide variety of punches thrown at alternating angles and speeds.

Gvozdyk couldn’t dodge them all. Benavidez’ punches are like debris in a tornado. They’re coming from everywhere. Example: In the sixth round, it looked as if Gvozdyk had begun to find his range with straight-handed shots.

They were beginning to slow down Benavidez. But in a momentary switch of momentum, Benavidez unleashed a triple shot – three right hands, each from a different angle and all three travelling at a blinding velocity.

From round-to-later round, however, Gvozdyk was there, an edifice impossible to bring down. Benavidez tried in an apparent attempt to fulfill his promised knockout.

Instead of a KO, however, there was only fatigue to go along with another victory in his introduction to a bout that also provided a reminder: There’s a reason for weight classes.

Puello scores SD over Russell/Tank-Martin card

Alberto Puello survived.

He survived a penalty for holding.

He survived a scorecard that suggested he never had a chance.

Turns out, survival was sweet.

Puello scored a split decision over a stronger, quicker Gary Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) for an interim junior-welterweight belt Saturday on the Amazon Prime card featuring David Benavidez-OleksansdrGvodzykand Tank Davis-Frank Martin Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Puello (23-0, 10 KOs), of The Dominican Republic, won on two cards, 114-113 and 115-113. It was a close fight from almost every perspective but one. Judge David Hudson scored it for Russell, 118-109

It was a hard fight to watch. A hard fight to score, too.

But Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) did what he had to, keeping the World Boxing Council’s version of the middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha Saturday on the Amazon Prime card featuring David Benavidez-Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Tank Davis-Frank Martin.

One-sided scorecards — 118-110, 119-109, 118-110 — make it sound as if Adames, of The Dominican Republic, had an easy day at the office. He didn’t. Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) tested him repeatedly in the later rounds. But it was never quite  enough for the middleweight from Encino CA to sore an upset.

Kyrone Davis scores split-decision over Elijah Garcia

Elijah Garcia made the weight. 

But lost the fight.

Kyrone Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs) took some of the promise out of Garcia’s ambitious career Saturday with a careful, yet effective pace Saturday, scoring  a split decision over the Phoenix middleweight in a bout that was preceded by controversy. 

Late Friday, there were doubts about whether the bout, already postponed once, would even happen. 

Garcia missed weight, coming in at 165.4 pounds and then 163. Davis was at 160.4. 

Davis trainer Stephen Breadman Edwards demanded that Garcia weigh-in again Saturday morning, a few hours before opening bell at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena.

Breadman threatened to cancel the bout if Gracia was heavier than 173 pounds in the morning weigh-in. He wasn’t. According to the official bout sheet, he was at 163.2. The fight was on, but the early pace belonged to Davis.

He came into the ring looking angry, perhaps anxious to take out some frustration on Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs). At opening bell, however, he exhibited only poise. He patiently measured the distance between him and Gracia with a jab.  Then, he followed with repeated rights.

For four or five rounds, Gracia looked tentative, perhaps because of the weight controversy or maybe because of  Davis’ tactical patience. 

Whatever it was, the slow start proved costly. Davis won on two cards, both by 97-93 scores. On the third card, it was 98-92 for Garcia, who stepped up the pace and his level of aggression, especially from the seventh through the 10th rounds. The Arizona southpaw moved forward, trying to walk down Davis while also landing a succession of head-rocking combos.

But, in the end, it wasn’t enough to save Garcia from his first pro defeat, a loss and perhaps a lesson for a young fighter

Magsayo wins one-sided decision

Mark Magsayo (26-2, 17 KOs), a Filipino junior-lightweight, scored a third-round knockdown and then scored repeatedly over the next seven rounds for a decision — as thorough as it was unanimous — over Mexican Eduardo Ramirez (28-4-3,13 KOs) in the sixth bout on the Tank-Martin card Saturday.

After Magsayo rocked Ramirez with an uppercut and then dropped him with a straight hand, Los Mochis fighter continued, but never with much purpose or energy in what what turned into a dull bout. 

Justin Viloria stays unbeaten, scores fifth-round TKO

Justin Villoria (6-0, 4 KOs), a 19-year-old junior-lightweight from Whittier CA, had all of the energy and most of the punches in overwhelming Mexican Angel Contreras Saturday on the Tank Davis-Frank Martin card.

Villoria knocked down Contreras (15-9, 9 KOs) in the fourth and again the fifth, both times with body punches. Seconds after the second knockdown, an exhausted Contreras took a knee, a TKO surrender at  2:02 of the fifth round.

Phoenix junior-featherweight impressive in pro debut

Hello, Brayan Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, a junior-featherweight from Phoenix, was impressive in his professional debut, scoring a first-round knockdown and staggering James Mulder again in the fourth in an afternoon bout hours before the Tank Davis-Frank Martin main event.. 

Mulder (0-2), of Antioch CA, never had a chance. Never scored a point either. It was 40-35 on all three cards, all for Gonzalez (1-0).

Benavidez-trained Blancas stays unbeaten with first-round stoppage

David Benavidez’ stable is 2-0 through the early fights on a card that will feature its star attraction Saturday night in a light-heavyweight debut against  Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Daniel Blancas (10-0, 5 KOs), a super-middleweight from Milwaukee, didn’t waste any time, flashing Benavidez-like power with a sweeping hook for a first-round stoppage of German Aro Schwartz (23-8-1, 15 KOs). 

Ohio junior lightweight does enough to win majority decision

It was a hard fight to score. Neither fighter did much, but Peggy Whitmore (3-0), a junior-lightweight from Ohio, did more, winning a majority decision (39–37, 39-37, 38-38) over Mia Ellis (7-3, 6 KOs), of Baltimore, in the second bout on the Tank Davis-Frank Martin card

First Bell: Benavidez-trained featherweight opens marathon show with unanimous decision 

First bell sounded like a morning alarm.

It echoed through an empty arena, signaling a noon-time start to a card that eventually will feature David Benavidez-versus-Oleksandr Gvozydk in a light-heavyweight fight and Tank Davis-versus-Frank Martin for the lightweight title Saturday at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena.

Reina Tellez (8-0-1, 5 KOs), a San Antonio featherweight and a fighter in the Benavidez stable, got the marathon started, winning a four-round, unanimous decision over a taller, yet slower Beta Dudek ((4-2, 4 KOs) of Slovakia.

LAS VEGAS.- June 14, 2024 – Sensational undefeated teenage prospect Justin Viloria will battle Mexico’s Angel Contreras in an eight-round super featherweight contest that will open up a three-fight PBC on Prime Video stream this Saturday, June 15 in the 100^th championship fight night at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. These three preliminary matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card.

Roiman Villa, who was originally scheduled to face Ricardo Salas in the opening bout, was forced to withdraw due to illness.

The live streaming presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and is topped by rising middleweight Elijah García taking on contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis in a 10-round attraction and former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo facing Mexican contender Eduardo Ramirez in a 10-round super featherweight clash.

These bouts will lead into a stacked pay-per-view lineup topped by undefeated three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, plus David “El Monstro” Benavídez makes his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

The nephew of four-time world champion Brian Viloria, Viloria (5-0, 3 KOs) has impressed while making his own name in the sport since turning pro in 2023. The 19-year-old debuted in April of last year and picked up three consecutive knockout victories to begin his pro run. Most recently the Whittier, California native scored a unanimous decision over Erick Garcia Benitez in March. He’ll be opposed by the 30-year-old Contreras (15-8-2, 9 KOs), who will look to bounce back after consecutive decision defeats to top prospects Michael Angeletti and Bruce Carrington. A native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Contreras won seven of his first eight fights after turning pro in 2016 and put together a three-fight winning streak in 2022, before losing three contests by decision last year.

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

LAS VEGAS – June 13, 2024 – Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk went face to face at the final press conference on Thursday, before they meet for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title this Saturday, June 15 in a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video marking the 100^th championship fight night at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Before Benavidez and Gvozdyk squared off, fighters featured on the stacked undercard previewed their respective matchups, including undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell and unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello, who meet for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, plus WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames and veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha, who duel in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Also at Thursday’s undercard press conference were fighters who will compete in PBC on Prime Video action preceding the pay-per-view. That lineup features undefeated middleweight Elijah Garcia and veteran contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis, who battle in a 10-round fight, former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and Mexican contender Eduardo Ramirez, who meet in a 10-round super featherweight attraction, and Mexico City’s Ricardo Salas, who opens the stream in a 10-round matchup against welterweight knockout artist Roiman Villa. The preliminary matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card.

The pay-per-view event is topped by boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis as he defends his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin. In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday:

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“I’m looking to steal the show. There’s only two more days until ‘El Monstro’ comes out.

“Oleksandr Gvozdyk is a great fighter and we actually sparred when I was 21-years-old. Now I’m very happy that we can bring the fight to the people.

“Being at light heavyweight feels amazing. This is the easiest weight cut I’ve had in my life. My speed, strength and endurance are all gonna be better. I left no stone unturned for this training camp. I’m facing a great fighter and we’ve put together a great game plan. This is gonna be the David Benavidez night.

“This is the perfect time for me to move up. I’ve been at super middleweight for 10 years and naturally my body has gotten bigger. Now I wanna go after all the titles in this weight class and give the fans the best possible fights that I can.

“I’m going in there to be David Benavidez. ‘El Monstro’ is coming out. I go in there for the knockout every single time, and this won’t be any different.

“The better the competition gets, the better I get. That’s why I’ve never shied away from a big fight. When the lights get turned on, I always show up.

“We have two warriors going up against each other. We’ve had some great sparring sessions and I’m excited to be able to bring that to the people. 

“If it wasn’t for my team, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. Now that we’re here, this is a big card and I’m really excited for it.”

OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK

“For me it’s a big honor to be here and I’m really excited to be on this huge card. I see my face all around Las Vegas and it makes me excited to get into the ring.

“I’m going to resist ‘The Monster’. I’m in the best shape of my life and I’ll do anything to win this fight.

“I don’t expect any discounts from him. I’m facing him in his best shape. I’m excited to face the best version of David Benavidez.

“This is a great opportunity to face a tough fighter like David Benavidez. He’s representing boxing really well. We’re going to show everyone a great fight.

“I’m going to do what I do best. I’ll use my footwork, be consistent and try to time him. I’m going in there to do my job.

“I don’t really think there’s a big difference with David moving up in weight, because he’s already a big fighter. He was a huge super middleweight. I don’t see any size advantage for either of us. I know he’ll feel comfortable in this division.”

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL

“I’m coming to showcase my talent and I’m going to give everyone a ‘class A’ performance on Saturday night. Stay tuned and continue to follow me.

“We definitely work in camp on distributing our body weight in a certain way to generate power. Everyone has something that works for them, and the Russell family has ours. We have our own signature way of training.

“My father always told me to never magnify my opponent. Whether they’re a world class fighter or not, you go in there and you fight your fight. We’ve seen some footage of him and we’ve seen his flaws. It’s just about whether he’s gonna fix his flaws. I’m one of those opponents that will make him pay for his flaws.

“I’m not looking at him as a pushover or someone who’s gonna lay down for me. I’m coming in there to knock his head off his shoulders. I’m going to stay poised and give everyone an action packed fight.

“I’m looking to make a big statement. My job is to steal some spotlight from the main event. Somebody’s 0 has got to go, and I’m not looking for it to be mine.

“I’m looking to become undisputed. I wanna wipe out my division. He’s a stepping stone. I have to get past him first. I’m not looking too far ahead while I have something in front of me.”

ALBERTO PUELLO

“This is going to be a new challenge in my career and I’m primed for it. This is the kind of challenge that I was eager to face. I’m going to give everyone a great fight.

“There’s no doubt that this is the most important fight of my career. Because it’s the kind of fight that’s gonna take me to another level. I’m very proud to be part of this card and I hope that we both bring the best out of each other.

“It’s doubly motivating to be on the same card as my countryman Carlos Adames. What would be better than us taking home two titles to the Dominican Republic?

“I’m glad that Gary is going to bring his best and that he’s eager to fight like I am. I’m not about to taste defeat. This time is my time.

“This fight could end at any time. People may underestimate my power, but my punches can sneak up on you and close this fight at any moment.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“I’m 100% ready. You’re going to see what I’m all about on Saturday night and I just can’t wait to show everybody.

“Carlos Adames is a different kind of fighter. I’m an unstoppable fighter. And I’m not about to let anybody even imagine that they can beat me.

“Gausha is an experienced fighter with a good career, but fighting against me is a whole new issue for him. He’s gonna find out.

“It’s not just about my power, it’s about my boxing IQ. I haven’t even had that much of a chance to show it at this level. I’m excited to get to showcase that IQ even more on Saturday night.

“This is going to be a total nightmare for Terrell. He’s going to wish I wasn’t in front of him. He doesn’t realize what he’s about to be up against.”

TERRELL GAUSHA

“I trained hard because this is a great opportunity. I’m ready to get it on and give everyone a good show. I know what I’m up against, and he better know what he’s up against. I’m coming to fight and win a world title.

“He really pissed me off when he said he was gonna knock me out early. I don’t think he’s taking me seriously enough. I’m here to fight and that’s not happening on Saturday. He fired me up.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m gonna go out there and take advantage of it. I’ve been training, working hard and preparing myself for this day.

“I’ve fought at the highest level my whole boxing career. Since the Olympics I’ve fought the top guys and never shied away from anyone. I’m always game in a fight and Saturday night I’m ready to take the victory.

“Saturday night ends with me becoming a world champion and realizing a lifelong dream of mine. I’m ready.”

ELIJAH GARCIA

“Kyrone sounds excited, and that’s good. I’m prepared to give the fans what they deserve. Hopefully he keeps that same energy up through the fight.

“Kyrone is very tough and it takes a lot to beat him. I got myself back into shape and I just had to stay sharp throughout this second camp.

“We’re blessed to have this second opportunity and we’re here to make the best of it and give the fans a great night.

“This is gonna be a great fight. I’m not going in there looking for the knockout. I’m just going to take it round by round and beat him like that.”

KYRONE DAVIS

“I’m happy to be here again and I can’t wait to get in the ring this time. We’re going to have a good fight. I know both of us are coming to win. When it’s time to rumble, I do what I love to do. I’ll take on any challenge.

“He’s talented and he’s gonna bring a lot of offense, and I’m gonna bring a lot, a lot, of fire. You’re gonna see on Saturday.

“I’m just having a good time and living my dream. What’s gonna happen in the ring is what was gonna happen in the ring on March 30. I was disappointed of course. Obviously I’m gonna have some kind of emotion when that happens. Now we’re here and it’ll be settled in the ring.

“This ends with Kyrone Davis as the winner. By any means necessary. No matter what happens, I’m ready. At the end of the day, I’m going to win.”

MARK MAGSAYO

“I’m here to represent the Philippines. I’m thankful for the opportunity and I’m excited to give my best in the ring.

“The Philippines vs. Mexico rivalry means a lot because of Manny Pacquiao and his great fights against Marquez, Barrera and Morales. I want to make boxing history as well for my country.

“This is going to be a great fight because I know that Eduardo Ramirez has been training hard for it. I’ve been training hard since December as well, so the fans are going to get a show.

“There’s going to be a knockout. I don’t know how long it’s going to go, I’m ready to go 10 rounds, but we’ll see how it goes.”

EDUARDO RAMIREZ

“I’m ready and I’ve prepared 100% for this matchup. I’m anxious for fight night to get here. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of.

“Magsayo is a great fighter and I know that it’s going to be exciting action. I’m going to do what I’ve prepared to do and I believe it will lead to great results on Saturday night.

“This is a world class rivalry where fans from both Mexico and the Philippines are always excited to see the matchup. I’m going to represent my country with pride and help Mexico come out on top again.”

RICARDO SALAS

“I’m very thankful to be on this stage for this great fight. I’ve trained very hard with Isaac Cruz and I’m looking forward to what will be a great fight.

“We’re prepared for whatever comes our way on Saturday. Whether it’s a quick fight or we go the distance, all that matters is that my hand is raised at the end.

“I come ready to fight. The winning streak that I have right now is largely because of the great team that I have with me. That team will help take me to victory on Saturday night.”

JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR., David’s Father & Trainer

“I’m so happy to be here in Las Vegas. We’re going to give the fans a great fight. We’re very proud to be part of this 100^th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“David had a great camp. We trained super hard in Miami in the heat and humidity. We’re ready to give the fans a great fight. Oleksandr is a tremendous fighter with only one loss. It’s gonna be a tough fight, but we prepared so well for it. I really believe David is gonna look spectacular.”

MARCO CONTRERAS, Gvozdyk’s Trainer

“I’m very thankful to the people who made this possible, especially David Benavidez for giving us the opportunity. Oleksandr is in the best shape of his life and he’s ready to give the fans a great fight.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“For the third straight time with Prime Video, we’ll have four title fights on our pay-per-view portion, and we’ve added a third fight to the stream on Prime Video preceding the pay-per-view. So make sure you’re in your seat or tuned in early. It’s a tremendous card and we can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday.”

SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, Sampson Boxing

“The reason I started calling David Benavidez ‘El Bandera Roja’, or the red flag, is because when you go to the beach and see the red flag, it means don’t go into the water. If you go into the water, you lose.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

LAS VEGAS – June 12, 2024 – Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez and former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk showed off their skills at an open to the public media workout on Wednesday, before they meet for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title this Saturday, June 15 in a PBC Pay-Per-View event marking the 100^th championship fight night at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Also at Wednesday’s workout, boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis made an appearance in front of the fans in attendance before he defends his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin in the main event. 

The workout also featured fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard, including undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell and unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello, who meet for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, plus WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames and veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha, who duel in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Rounding out the workout lineup was rising undefeated middleweight Elijah Garcia, who battles veteran contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis in a matchup that tops a three-fight PBC on Prime Video card beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT and leading into the pay-per-view. The preliminary matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from MGM Grand:

GERVONTA DAVIS

“It feels good to be back at MGM Grand and to be a part of something legendary like this. This is a great card and it’s just exciting to be here.

“I just want to go out there and give the fans a great show and put on a great performance Saturday night. It’s a great building at MGM and I want to give the fans something amazing to watch.

“When I come out and the people are cheering for me, it feels like we’re together. It’s like we’re family. It makes me want to put on a great performance for them.”

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“This means the world to me. This has been my dream since I was three-years-old. I’m going to have a lot of fun going out there and showcasing my talents for the fans.

“I feel stronger and faster at this weight class. I’m really excited to showcase it on Saturday night. I’m at another level now.

“I’m like a young veteran because I still have a lot of years left in me. This second half of my career is going to be the best part.”

OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK

“This is where I fought for my pro debut and I’m still here and fighting for a title against a tough opponent. What could be better? It’s exciting.

“I had a great camp. There’s no excuses. I’m definitely in one of the best conditions of my life. I’m ready to prove that I’m the best. 

“He’s going to apply pressure and throw multi-punch combinations. I’m expecting a hard fight and I have no doubt that I’ll handle it.”

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL

“It’s a blessing to have so much experience in my family and in my corner. It feels like I have a cheat code to the sport.

“I just want to show everybody excellence. We’re going to bring out our skillset. He’s going to make me bring more tools out of my arsenal. I’m going to make sure it’s an action fight and keep my knockout streak going.

“Being in this position tells me that I’m climbing the ladder to be one of the greats. We’re taking it one step at a time. My ultimate goal is to be the undisputed champion.”

ALBERTO PUELLO

“I’m really excited to be here for a great night in front of great fans. I’m looking forward to an amazing night on Saturday. I know that we’re going to give the fans an exciting show.

“You can expect a great show, because the fans deserve it. I’m going to give my best and win. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.

“This is going to be an interesting clash of styles. Gary is a knockout artist and he’s going to try to do his thing and not let me box how I normally do. I’m going to use the ring and win the way that I know how to win.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“I have no equal and I have no rival in this division. Whoever wants to come after me, go ahead. I want to face them just as much as they want to face me. I don’t fear anyone.

“My conviction is what separates me from everybody in this division. They all know that I want to face them and that I’m not running from anyone.

“Gausha should be a strong opponent and I’m excited about it, because it’ll make for a great fight for the fans.”

TERRELL GAUSHA

“A win on Saturday means everything. I’m with the best team in the world and it’s a blessing to have this opportunity.

“We’ve done everything in the gym we had to. We’re ready. We’re steppers. That’s what we do. We step when it’s time to step.

“There are a lot of ups and downs in boxing and I’ve just stayed focused, stayed the course, stayed training, kept my head down and remained humble. Now I’m ready to get my title on Saturday night.

“Fans can expect me to leave everything in the ring and come out with that belt. Now is my time. I’m not worried about anything. I’m focused.”

ELIJAH GARCIA

“I feel good and I feel ready. I had more time to prepare and I know it’s gonna be a tough fight. We’re definitely ready.

“It’s a blessing to be on another big card. I trained hard and I feel like I earned it. I’m just taking it one step at a time.

“Hopefully by the end of the year I can call myself a world champion. That’s what I’m aiming for. Last year was great, but that’s in the past.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – If David Benavidez beats Oleksandr Gvozdyk Saturday night at the MGM Grand, he’ll have a decision to make.

A Benavidez victory would make him the World Boxing Council’s mandatory light-heavyweight challenger for the winner of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol fight, re-scheduled for October 12.

He is already the WBC’s super-middleweight mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’ undisputed title.

If Benavidez, a solid favorite, beats Gvozdyk in his 175-pound debut on Amazon Prime, he is expected to choose one or the other immediately after the fight, Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz confirmed Wednesday before a news conference featuring the main event, Tank Davis-versus-Frank Martin

Benavidez, a Phoenix fighter now living in Miami, would have 10 days to decide, according to a deadline imposed by the WBC.

Benavidez, who has said he is moving past all the talk about a showdown with Canelo, still talked about the Mexican pay-per-view star after he arrived in Vegas Tuesday.

He still believes the fight can happen.

Still, believes he can beat Canelo, too.

“in my heart, it’s going to happen,” Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) said. “When? I don’t know.

“But we’re 100 percent ready to get that fight and get that victory as well. I’m ready to fight whoever and beat whoever.’’

This week, that means Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), a whoever who held the WBC’s light-heavyweight belt from 2018 to 2019.

LAS VEGAS – June 11, 2024 – Fighters competing on the stacked PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video made their grand arrivals in Las Vegas Tuesday afternoon as they prepare to enter the ring this Saturday, June 15 in the 100^th championship fight night to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The card is co-headlined by a pair of matchups featuring two of boxing’s most dynamic stars,  as undefeated three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defends his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while David “El Monstro” Benavidez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The grand arrivals also featured fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard, including undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell and unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello, who meet for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, plus WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames and veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha, who duel in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Here is what Benavidez, Martin, Gvozdyk and Davis’ trainer Calvin Ford had to say Tuesday from MGM Grand:

DAVID BENAVIDEZ

“I’m really thankful for everyone who came out to support, this fight is for you. We’ve worked extremely hard and we’re going for the knockout this Saturday.

“My plan is to conquer the light heavyweight and super middleweight divisions. Whoever comes to the plate, they can get it. I’m ready to fight whoever and beat whoever.

“I have a lot to prove to the world. I really want to be the best of my generation and until I am, I’m going to keep working hard.”

FRANK MARTIN

“I’m feeling great. I’m locked in and I’m focused. The goal is to go in there and beat Gervonta Davis. I’m here to take his spot. I’m here for a reason. I’m here to take over.

“I’m different. I got speed, power, IQ, and really I have it all. You’re going to see. When it’s time to bite down, the world is gonna see.

“Sparring is just sparring, we have this fight Saturday and I’m gonna whoop his ass. We have Saturday to show who’s who.”

OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK

“I have a lot of experience and I have something to show him. It’s going to be an exciting fight that you don’t want to miss.

“Even though he’s moving up in weight, he’s still a big guy. So I’m not thinking about that. I’m expecting him to be in the best shape of his career, just like I am.”

CALVIN FORD, Gervonta Davis’ Trainer

“We’re back in business. We’ve been waiting for this for a while, so we’re really excited to put on a great performance for the fans. That’s who we do it for.

“Watching ‘Tank’ in camp, it scares me how great he looks. He’s really showed maturity in the ring. He’s extremely focused. I want people to leave the arena saying how great this fight was.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

Legendary boxing journalist Jim Lampley returns to PPV.COM (which does not require a subscription) to co-host his popular and exclusive viewer chat, in real time, on PPV.COM‘s crystal-clear HD live stream of the upcoming boxing event headlined by undefeated superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavidez in separate title fights, this Saturday, June 15, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.  A three-division world champion, Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), from Baltimore, Maryland, will defend his WBA lightweight world title against the WBA’s no. 2 world-rated contender Frank Martin (18-0, 12 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana.  Fresh from a brutal stoppage victory of previously undefeated former two-division world champion Demetrius Andrade,  Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), from Las Vegas, Nevada, will move up in weight to challenge former WBC light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), who fights out of Oxnard, California.  They will be battling for the vacant interim WBC light heavyweight title.  Priced at $74.99, the stacked four-bout pay-per-view event will emanate from The MGM Grand Garden Arena, which will be hosting its 100th championship boxing event.  The Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk world championship event can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM: Davis-Martin/Benavidez-Gvozdyk

JIM LAMPLEY’S PREVIEW ANALYSIS

David Benavidez vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk:  “Coming off the level of violent destruction he produced against proven defender Demetrius Andrade, Benavidez now seeks to keep building the buzz by dismantling Oleksandr Gvozdyk’s long jab and counterpunching.  Logic says if it is a boxing match, that favors the Ukrainian and if it is a war, that favors the Mexican-American star.  Gvozdyk is an experienced ring thinker, and Benavidez freely admits Gvozdyk gave him some trouble when they sparred a couple of years ago, but there are some gifted power punchers against whom there isn’t enough time to think, and Benavidez is building a compelling case that he is that kind of puncher.  Late Benavidez KO in a very good fight.”

Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin:  “Martin trained in Derrick James’ camp during the last few weeks of Ryan Garcia’s preparation for Devin Haney.  Tank Davis’ body shot KO’d Garcia in his last previous ring appearance back in January 2023.  Since then, Davis has been stalled by legal obstacles he caused with a hit-and-run accident in February 2023, after which he violated a sentence instruction and wound up in jail.  Now he approaches an opportunity, if he can beat Martin and set up a huge money rematch with Garcia, in which he would likely be favored.  Davis is a rarity, a highly selective power counter puncher with nuanced defensive skills.  With effective personal self-discipline, he could follow in Floyd Mayweather’s footsteps and become pound for pound number one.  So Tank Davis climbs the list if he can follow form and outpunch Frank Martin.  If he does, the focus swings back to matchmaking.  In this fight, Davis by unanimous decision.”

Joining Jim on the viewer chat will be award-winning boxing journalist Lance Pugmire and popular podcast host Dan Canobbio.  Jim, Lance, and Dan, along with former WBO junior welterweight world champion Chis Algieri will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.COM‘s website and social platforms, like Lampley’s interview with Davis after the announcement press conference:  Gervonta “Tank” Davis sits down with PPV.COM’s Jim Lampley ahead of Tank vs. Martin. – YouTube

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk for $74.99 in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including: Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

LANCE PUGMIRE

Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s highest honor.  He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Athletic.  Lance currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.

DAN CANOBBIO AND CHRIS ALGIERI

Danand Chris have moved their popular Inside Boxing Livepodcast to PPV.COM, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats.  For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.COM, click hereInside Boxing Live – YouTube. 

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turnkey PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

Legendary boxing journalist Jim Lampley returns to PPV.COM (which does not require a subscription) to co-host his popular and exclusive viewer chat, in real time, on PPV.COM‘s crystal-clear HD live stream of the upcoming boxing event headlined by undefeated superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavidez in separate title fights, next Saturday, June 15, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.  A three-division world champion, Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), from Baltimore, Maryland, will defend his WBA lightweight world title against the WBA’s no. 2 world-rated contender Frank Martin (18-0, 12 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana.  Fresh from a brutal stoppage victory of previously undefeated former two-division world champion Demetrius Andrade,  Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), from Las Vegas, Nevada, will move up in weight to challenge former WBC light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), who fights out of Oxnard, California.  They will be battling for the vacant interim WBC light heavyweight title.  Priced at $74.99, the stacked four-bout pay-per-view event will emanate from The MGM Grand Garden Arena, which will be hosting its 100th championship boxing event.  The Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk world championship event can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM: Davis-Martin/Benavidez-Gvozdyk

JIM LAMPLEY’S PREVIEW ANALYSIS

David Benavidez vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk:  “Coming off the level of violent destruction he produced against proven defender Demetrius Andrade, Benavidez now seeks to keep building the buzz by dismantling Oleksandr Gvozdyk’s long jab and counterpunching.  Logic says if it is a boxing match, that favors the Ukrainian and if it is a war, that favors the Mexican-American star.  Gvozdyk is an experienced ring thinker, and Benavidez freely admits Gvozdyk gave him some trouble when they sparred a couple of years ago, but there are some gifted power punchers against whom there isn’t enough time to think, and Benavidez is building a compelling case that he is that kind of puncher.  Late Benavidez KO in a very good fight.”

Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin:  “Martin trained in Derrick James’ camp during the last few weeks of Ryan Garcia’s preparation for Devin Haney.  Tank Davis’ body shot KO’d Garcia in his last previous ring appearance back in January 2023.  Since then, Davis has been stalled by legal obstacles he caused with a hit-and-run accident in February 2023, after which he violated a sentence instruction and wound up in jail.  Now he approaches an opportunity, if he can beat Martin and set up a huge money rematch with Garcia, in which he would likely be favored.  Davis is a rarity, a highly selective power counter puncher with nuanced defensive skills.  With effective personal self-discipline, he could follow in Floyd Mayweather’s footsteps and become pound for pound number one.  So Tank Davis climbs the list if he can follow form and outpunch Frank Martin.  If he does, the focus swings back to matchmaking.  In this fight, Davis by unanimous decision.”

Joining Jim on the viewer chat will be award-winning boxing journalist Lance Pugmire and popular podcast host Dan Canobbio.  Jim, Lance, and Dan, along with former WBO junior welterweight world champion Chis Algieri will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.COM‘s website and social platforms, like Lampley’s interview with Davis after the announcement press conference:  Gervonta “Tank” Davis sits down with PPV.COM’s Jim Lampley ahead of Tank vs. Martin. – YouTube

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk for $74.99 in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including: Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

LANCE PUGMIRE

Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s highest honor.  He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Athletic.  Lance currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.

DAN CANOBBIO AND CHRIS ALGIERI

Danand Chris have moved their popular Inside Boxing Livepodcast to PPV.COM, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats.  For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.COM, click hereInside Boxing Live – YouTube. 

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turnkey PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

LAS VEGAS – June 7, 2024 – Unbeaten top lightweight contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, undefeated former world champion Alberto Puello and WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames held a media workout in Las Vegas on Friday ahead of their respective showdowns on Saturday, June 15 in a PBC Pay-Per-View Event on Prime Video in the 100^th championship fight night to take place at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Martin will challenge boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis for Davis’ WBA Lightweight World Championship in the main event, while Puello duels fellow unbeaten Gary Antuanne Russell in a super lightweight clash, and Adames defends his WBC Middleweight World Championship against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. In the co-main event, undefeated two-time world champion David “El Monstro” Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Friday from the Pound 4 Pound Gym in Las Vegas:

FRANK MARTIN

“I feel like this is one of those moments where all the hard work I put in is paying off. With all the work I’ve been putting in leading up to the fight, and all the work I’ve put in over the years, this just feels like a life changing moment. This is my time to come out on top.

“I just need to be composed, be calm and be who I am. I can’t let any of the antics or crowd or the noise get in the way of me getting the victory.

“I feel like this is gonna be a good fight. We all know what ‘Tank’ brings, but a lot of guys don’t know what I bring. They know a little bit of it, but they don’t know the full arsenal I have.

“We know ‘Tank’ is explosive and fast. He’s got it all, but on fight night, the world will see that I’ve got it all too. So it’s gonna be two dogs in there locking up like pitbulls. The best man will win that night.

“I believe in myself, even if the world is against me. I know the work that I put in. I feel like I was born to do this. I feel it in my body. It’s just time for me to show up and show out.

“I expect Gervonta to come out and put his best foot forward. He’s gonna be him. I know he’s all the way locked in for me. I know he felt the energy from me and he knows I’m coming to win.”

ALBERTO PUELLO

“I feel really strong. It’s been a great training camp. I’m extremely ready to take advantage of this great opportunity that I have. I’m thankful to my team for putting me in this position and I’m going to show why I deserve to be here.

“Gary Antuanne Russell is a great fighter and someone who packs a lot of power. He doesn’t have many weaknesses, but I do believe that I’ve found his. I’m going to expose it and look for more when we’re in the ring.

“I’m very comfortable fighting against another southpaw. I’ve sparred against nothing but southpaws, so I couldn’t be more prepared.

“There’s nothing better than fighting on a card like this, with my eyes set on showing that I’m ready to earn another world championship. I’m representing my country of the Dominican Republic and I promise my fans that it will be a great show and that I’m going to win.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“I’ve always had that championship mentality, so nothing has changed for me now that I am the world champion. It’s just a matter of continuing to use that approach going forward.

“Gausha is an accomplished fighter who’s faced a lot of great opponents, but he’s never been in the ring with Carlos Adames. He’s going to realize what that’s like on June 15.

“I’ve gone to another level in sparring in training camp. Throughout camp I’ve felt myself exceed all of the people I spar. That’s how I know that I’m ready for this fight.

“At the level of conditioning that I’m at right now, I couldn’t feel any better. I’m sharp and I’m ready to defend my title in tremendous fashion next Saturday night.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

LAS VEGAS – June 7, 2024 – Three exciting showdowns featuring top contenders, former champions and more will highlight PBC on Prime Video action Saturday, June 15 leading up to the Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk PBC Pay-Per-View Event on Prime Video marking the 100^th championship fight night to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. These three preliminary matchups will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card.

The live streaming presentation will be topped by rising middleweight Elijah García taking on contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis in a 10-round attraction and also features former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo facing Mexican contender Eduardo Ramirez in a 10-round super featherweight clash. Opening up the stream at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT is hard-hitting welterweight Roiman Villa battling Mexico’s Ricardo Salas in a 10-round fight.

These bouts will lead into a stacked pay-per-view lineup topped by undefeated three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, plus David “El Monstro” Benavidez makes his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

“Once again fans tuning into Prime Video will be treated to a jam-packed lineup of action fights leading into the Saturday, June 15 PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Topping the show is the sensational and fast-rising middleweight Elijah Garcia, who can test his championship mettle against the always tough Kyrone Davis. Adding in the Magsayo vs. Ramirez and Villa vs. Salas bouts promises power-punching and drama throughout these prelims.”

**ELIJAH GARCIA VS. KYRONE DAVIS**

Looking to stamp his 160-pound contender status after a huge 2023 campaign, the 21-year-old Elijah García will return for a 10-round showdown against tough middleweight contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis, who can make his own name at middleweight with a signature victory on June 15. Garcia and Davis were originally set to clash in March before Garcia was forced to withdraw on the morning of the weigh-in due to illness. 

Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, García (16-0, 13 KOs) earned three impressive victories in 2023, kicking off his year last March with a knockout of the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vidal. He followed that up with a pair of performances on the undercards of two of the biggest events of the year, first defeating Kevin Salgado on the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia pay-per-view in April before knocking out Armando Resendiz on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo pay-per-view in September. The precocious García has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 and has knocked out seven of his last nine opponents.

“I’m excited to be back in the ring for another big event,” said García. “Fighting on these major events is an incredible blessing and I plan on delivering another great performance. Kyrone Davis has been in the ring with some very good fighters, and it will be a challenging fight, but my plan is to get the win by any means necessary. I’m really happy we were able to reschedule the fight, because fans are going to see an incredible night of boxing on June 15 and everyone should be tuning in.”

The 29-year-old Davis (18-3-1, 6 KOs) picked up two victories in 2023, dominating Cristian Fabian Rios in January before scoring a unanimous decision over Cruse Stewart in December. Those victories came after a run that saw Davis battle two-time champion Anthony Dirrell to a draw in February 2021, before stepping in as a late replacement two fights later to drop a hard-fought contest against super middleweight superstar David Benavidez. An amateur standout representing Wilmington, Delaware, Davis trains in Philadelphia under the tutelage of top trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.

“Training has been going exactly how we need it to,” said Davis. “I expect an entertaining and high action fight once we actually get in the ring. Winning is the only result I’m settling for. I’m preparing to leave it all in the ring.”

**MARK MAGSAYO VS. EDUARDO RAMIREZ**

In a 10-round super featherweight set to yield a top contender in the 130-pound division, the Filipino power-puncher Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will take on the longtime contender and Mexican brawler Eduardo Ramirez in a toe-to-toe clash.

A former featherweight world champion, Magsayo (25-2, 17 KOs) captured the WBC 126-pound world title in 2022 by defeating former longtime reigning champion Gary Russell Jr. via decision. Originally from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines and now fighting out of Southern California, Magsayo would go on to drop the title to Rey Vargas via a narrow split-decision, in a July 2022 contest that saw Magsayo send Vargas to the canvas in round nine. Magsayo would go on to engage in a memorable toe-to-toe battle with former champion Brandon Figueroa in March 2023, losing the decision after 12 rounds. Most recently, the 28-year-old debuted at 130 pounds with a third-round knockout of Isaac Avelar last December.

“I want to show everybody that I feel strong at 130 pounds and that I’m ready to become a two-division world champion,” said Magsayo. “Eduardo Ramirez is a tough fighter and we’re going to give the fans an action packed fight, just like always. Make sure you come out or tune-in to this fight, because I’m ready to show everybody what I can do and give everyone a great show.”

Fighting out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Ramirez (28-3-3, 13 KOs) is an established super featherweight and featherweight contender through a career that’s seen him take down contenders including Luis Melendez, Miguel Marriaga, Miguel Flores, Leduan Barthelemy and Brayan De Gracia. The 31-year-old moved up to lightweight in 2022, dropping a showdown with now 140-pound world champion Isaac Cruz. In his last outing, Ramirez returned to stop Sebastian Diaz Maldonado in the sixth round of their August 2023 duel.

“My opponent and I are both very hungry to get this win and show that we’re still some of the best fighters in the division,” said Ramirez. “Each of us knows how important this fight is, and that will make it an exciting fight for the fans. I’m going to use this victory to springboard into a world title fight.”

**ROIMAN VILLA VS. RICARDO SALAS**

One of the hardest punchers in the welterweight division, Roiman Villa will step back into action after going toe-to-toe with welterweight champion Jaron Ennis in his last bout, as he competes in a 10-round welterweight attraction against the young and hungry Ricardo Salas, who’s trained by Isaac Cruz Sr., the father and trainer of WBA 140-Pound World Champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.

A native of Rosario, Venezuela, Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) gave Ennis perhaps the toughest fight of the unbeaten fighter’s career last July before losing the bout in round 10. Previously, Villa had delivered one of 2023’s biggest upsets in January by earning a majority decision victory over the then-undefeated top contender Rashidi Ellis. In an exciting action bout, Villa broke through in the 12^th and final round as he dropped Ellis twice to clinch the career-changing win. The 31-year-old made a memorable U.S. debut in September 2022 as he dropped the previously unbeaten Janelson Bocachica on his way to a unanimous decision. The only other blemish on his resume came via a 2019 split-decision in Mexico against Marcos Vilasana.

“I’m very happy to be returning to the ring and I’m ready to chase my dream of becoming world champion,” said Villa. “This is a great opportunity and I want to thank my team for putting me in this position. I learned a lot in my last fight and I’m looking forward to showing off my new skills on June 15.”

The 25-year-old Salas (19-2-2, 14 KOs) is unbeaten in his last five outings, with three KO victories and two draws. A native of Mexico City who trains alongside Mexican star Isaac Cruz, he’ll be making his U.S. debut on June 15 looking to make a big splash to open up the live streaming lineup. Salas however has experience fighting outside of his home country, having won fights in Canada and Jamaica. A pro since 2016, both of Salas’ defeats came via split decision.

“Ever since I started boxing, my goal was to fight in the U.S. and in Las Vegas like my idol Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. did,” said Salas. “Now both of those goals are being achieved in the same night, and I can’t wait. I’m going to make sure that everyone knows my name after this fight. I’m thankful to my whole team and I’m extremely motivated and excited to step into the ring.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstro” Benavidez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

NEW YORK (June 5, 2024) — PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, returns to the ring  when it live streams to boxing fans, in the U.S. and Canada, the summer’s most exciting boxing card on U.S. soil, featuring undefeated superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavidez in separate title fights.  A three-division world champion, Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), from Baltimore, Maryland, will defend his WBA lightweight world title against the WBA’s no. 2 world-rated contender Frank Martin (18-0, 12 KOs), from Indianapolis, Indiana.  Fresh from a brutal stoppage victory of previously undefeated former two-division world champion Demetrius Andrade,  Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), from Las Vegas, Nevada, will move up in weight to challenge former WBC light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), who fights out of Oxnard, California.  They will be battling for the vacant interim WBC light heavyweight title.  The stacked four-bout pay-per-view event will take place next Saturday, June 15, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, emanating from The MGM Grand Garden Arena, which will be hosting its 100th championship boxing event.  Priced at $74.99, the Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk world championship event can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM: Davis-Martin/Benavidez-Gvozdyk

“June 15 will provide further evidence of whether Tank Davis ranks among the top five pound for pound, and if so, how close to the top??  It’s also an opportunity for David Benavidez to establish a meaningful 175-pound marker against a battle-tested opponent with a noteworthy background as both an amateur and a professional.  A stunning upset in either fight would mark a new identity threshold for Frank Martin or Oleksandr Gvozdyk.  We’ll be there to identify the bottom line,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who will be co-hosting the exclusive viewer chat, in real time, during the PPV.COM Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk world championship event live stream. 

Joining Jim on the viewer chat will be award-winning boxing journalist Lance Pugmire and popular podcast host Dan Canobbio.  Jim, Lance, and Dan, along with former WBO junior welterweight world champion Chis Algieri will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.COM‘s website and social platforms, like Lampley’s interview with Davis after the announcement press conference:  Gervonta “Tank” Davis sits down with PPV.COM’s Jim Lampley ahead of Tank vs. Martin. – YouTube

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Davis vs. Martin / Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk for $74.99 in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including: Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

LANCE PUGMIRE

Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s highest honor.  He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Athletic.  Lance currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.

DAN CANOBBIO AND CHRIS ALGIERI

Danand Chris have moved their popular Inside Boxing Livepodcast to PPV.COM, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats.  For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.COM, click hereInside Boxing Live – YouTube. 

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turnkey PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

LAS VEGAS – May 23, 2024 – Fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard for the much anticipated PBC Pay-Per-View event headlined by the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin and David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk title showdowns previewed their respective matchups during a virtual press conference Thursday before they step into the ring on Saturday, June 15 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Featured during the virtual presser were undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell and unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello, who meet for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, plus WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames and veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha, who duel in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Headlining the stacked lineup is undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, plus Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL

“I want to bring boxing back to its natural state. I want to climb the ladder and fight who I’m supposed to. I want to fight the guys with great credentials. We’re going to keep working toward the top.

“Puello is another opponent who’s in the way. There’s a lot of opponents and they’re all in the way. We’re on a mission and I plan to execute.

“My focus is so locked in right now. It’s hard for me to say he’s got a chance, not to be disrespectful. My father always said there’s three types of fighters: those who need it, those who want it and those who like it. And they all bring a different level of hunger. I’m all three of them, but instead of liking it, I love it.

“I love the bright lights. It’s part of my life. It’s really second nature. This is my world now. At this point, I just want to excel.

“I know my dad would tell me to hit and not get hit, keep your hands high, don’t relax. Right now he’s here in spirit, and I will spontaneously hear certain things that he’ll say to me. I want to honor his name and make sure that all he worked for does not go in vain.”

ALBERTO PUELLO

“I’m thrilled to be back on such a tremendous card on June 15. I’m going to give the best of myself in the ring like I always do, and give the fans what they deserve, which is a great fight.

“Gary is a good fighter, but he’s not the one who’s gonna stop my momentum. I’m going in there to get the win.

“I know this is not going to be an easy fight. But I possess all the tools needed to stop Gary or any opponent in front of me.

“I have to follow the game plan. I’m working hard every day, having great sparring sessions and getting ready to be at my best on June 15.

“’The Wasp’ is coming back to sting like never before. I’m ready to make a statement and prove that I’m at the top of this division.

“This fight could definitely steal the show. This opponent is a tough nut to crack, but I know that we’re going to give the fans an unforgettable fight.”

CARLOS ADAMES

“I’m very excited to be stepping into the ring once again. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the ring, but I’ve been in the gym for a long time getting into the best shape possible mentally and physically.

“I want to make a really big statement. Not just for me, but for my supporters. I owe it to everyone who helped me get here. I made a commitment to be on top and I like to keep my promises.

“I’m not concerned about Gausha’s resume or who he’s fought, because I’m the best fighter he’s gonna face. I’m the best fighter in the 160-pound division, so he better be ready for what he’s coming up against. I’m not underestimating anyone, but I’m not worried about his experience.

“June 15 is going to be full of spectacle and fireworks, because I’m relentless in the ring. My opponents know everything is on the line when they step in against me. I’m definitely going to show I’m the best middleweight in the world.

“Gausha has the reputation of a guy who’s hard to knock down, but he hasn’t felt my power yet. I’ll tip my hat to him if he can go the distance. Either way, I’m not focusing on the knockout. I’m making sure I’m ready for anything that happens in the ring.  

“I was truly happy to be elevated to world champion on my birthday. That news was just the cherry on top of my birthday. What I really wanted was for Jermall Charlo to fight me, but he made his choice.”

TERRELL GAUSHA

“I’m very confident and blessed to be in this position. I’m one of the type of guys that you can’t just run over. I’m the easiest person to make a fight with, because I don’t fear anybody.  

“Carlos Adames is a very solid fighter who brings a lot to the table. Everyone has holes and I’ve been watching him since I moved up to middleweight. I know he brings the action and I’ve been preparing for a fight like this.

“I’m more comfortable now at middleweight. I can just focus on training, because I’m already on weight. I don’t make any excuses, but getting down to 154 put more wear and tear on my body.

“I fight the best. That’s what I do. We’ll see come June 15 who the best is. Styles make fights. I don’t fear him and he doesn’t fear me. That’s gonna make it an exciting fight for the fans.

“I’m just ready to get what’s mine. I’m here for a reason. I don’t take this opportunity lightly. There’s no pressure for me. I’m just looking to go put on a great show.

“I feel confident coming into this fight. We’re putting the work in. I never cut corners and I’m a true professional. I’m coming to get the win. I have a great team behind me and we’re prepared for sure.”

#         #         #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK

Davis vs. Martin and Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk will see popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavídez co-headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The pay-per-view will also see undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

LAS VEGAS – May 20, 2024 – A pair of title showdowns will round out a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video co-headlined by separate showdowns featuring popular superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavídez taking place Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. A jam-packed four-bout pay-per-view lineup will highlight the historic 100^th championship fight night at the popular sports and entertainment venue.

Undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell will take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com. 

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

“June 15 will deliver a lineup truly stacked with the best talent in the sport from start to finish,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Already featuring Gervonta Davis and David Benavídez in intriguing showdowns, the card will also include the powerful Gary Antuanne Russell, as he makes his claim as the future of the 140-pound division against an undefeated Alberto Puello, while Carlos Adames can stake out his spot as the world’s top middleweight with another victory, this time against the always tough Terrell Gausha. This monumental display of talent is truly worthy of the 100^th championship fight night at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.”

**GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL VS. ALBERTO PUELLO**

The pay-per-view lineup will feature Gary Antuanne Russell, the latest star in the fighting Russell family’s dynasty, as he steps in for a 12-round showdown against former world champion Alberto Puello. The 140-pound clash will be contested for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title.

Fighting out of his native Capitol Heights, Md., Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) will carry on the legacy left by his late father Gary Sr. A member of one of the sport’s preeminent fighting families, Russell trains alongside his older brothers, former WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Jr. and bantamweight contender Gary Antonio. The 27-year-old has yet to allow an opponent to make it to the final bell since turning pro in 2017 following his run representing the U.S. at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Russell defeated his most accomplished foes to date in 2022, stopping former champion Viktor Postol in February before a TKO win against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in July. Most recently, he blasted out the previously undefeated Kent Cruz in one round last August.

“Being at the top is only meant for one person, but the journey is always meant to have an audience,” said Russell. “Make sure you watch this pay-per-view on June 15, because everyone knows what I bring when fight night comes.”

Puello (22-0, 10 KOs) returned to action last December, his first bout since winning his world title, as he scored a unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Ector Madera. Puello captured the WBA Super Lightweight World Championship with a victory over Batyr Akhmedov in August of 2022. A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello now resides and trains in Las Vegas. Puello first shot up the rankings in July 2019, when he bested the previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso via unanimous decision to capture an interim title. The 29-year-old also owns a unanimous decision triumph over VeShawn Owens in his U.S. debut that came in July 2021.

“It’s a great honor to be fighting on this platform on June 15,” said Puello. “I’ve been waiting patiently for a fight like this and now is the time to show the world that I’m worthy of the opportunity. Gary Antuanne Russell is exactly the type of opponent I want right now, because I know what a victory will do for my career. There’s a belt on the line and I’m coming to win it by any means necessary.”

**CARLOS ADAMES VS. TERRELL GAUSHA**

Recently elevated after making two defenses of his interim belt, Carlos Adames will step in to make the first defense of his WBC Middleweight World Championship when he faces the former world title challenger Terrell Gausha in a matchup that kicks off pay-per-view action.

Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight division as he looks to establish himself as number one in the historic weight class. The 30-year-old’s last outing saw him earn a ninth-round TKO of former unified world champion Julian Williams in their June 2023 clash. Prior to that triumph, Adames bested top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim belt in October 2022. Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic, lives in Washington Heights, New York and trains in Las Vegas. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.

“I’m very excited to be back fighting in Las Vegas on a mega fight card, especially making the first defense of my WBC Middleweight World Championship,” said Adames. “Terrell Gausha has a lot of experience fighting at the top level in the pros and in the amateurs. I know this is a tough fight and that makes me focus even more in training. Right now my mind is right, my body feels great and I’m going to be able to put on a spectacular performance for everybody watching on June 15. I’m going to defend my title with everything I’ve got.”

A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (25-3-1, 12 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, Calif. and is trained by the renowned Manny Robles. He enters this fight having won his last two bouts as he knocked out Brandyn Lynch in March of last year before winning a decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood in September. Gausha has faced top competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against former champions Erislandy Lara and Tim Tszyu and top contender Erickson Lubin.

“I’ve been training since way before this fight was signed and I’m feeling ready for the challenge,” said Gausha. “Adames is a good fighter, but so am I. I’m confident that I’m gonna come out on top on June 15. My experience and my skill set are gonna be huge factors that help me get this victory.”

#         #         #

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others, led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

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

LAS VEGAS – May 6, 2024 – Two of boxing’s most exciting and popular superstars will share center stage as five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez compete in separate attractions Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The two fighters will headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video in what will be the historic 100^th championship fight night at the popular sports and entertainment venue.

The undefeated three-division champion Davis will defend his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title. This one-of-a-kind event will give viewers the unique opportunity to see two bona fide fan-favorites on the same night in high-stakes championship clashes.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Tickets for the live event go on sale Wednesday, May 8 beginning at 10 a.m. PT and will be available through www.axs.com. 

Pre-sale tickets will be available TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT through www.axs.com with the code: BOXING

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

“Saturday, June 15 will be a spectacular night of boxing with two true superstars of the sport combining forces to deliver can’t-miss action,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Gervonta Davis has proven his star power again and again, and will return to defend his world title against another tough challenge in the undefeated Frank Martin. David Benavídez established himself as a pound-for-pound force last year, and will now seek out dominance in a new weight class against the powerful former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Make sure you tune into this PBC Pay-Per-View event or come out to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.”

“Oleksandr Gvozdyk is a very good fighter, but David Benavídez is forging a path to greatness,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “I commend David for not wanting to wait for Canelo, and for making this bold move to a new division. One way or another, David will continue growing his legacy as a true champion.”

“Saturday, June 15 is going to be like a movie. Frank Martin has put a tremendous amount of work in to get to this point and now it’s time for him to reap the benefits,” said pound-for-pound star Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s promoter. “Gervonta Davis is a great champion, but on that night, he’s going to be matched against a young, hungry and explosive talent ready to shine on the biggest stage. I expect all the fight fans to tap into what will be the biggest event of the year.”

**GERVONTA DAVIS VS. FRANK MARTIN**

Headlining the event will be the return of undefeated boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis as he puts his WBA Lightweight World Championship on the line in a 12-round clash against consensus top-five lightweight contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, who will vie for a world title for the first time in his career.

Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has held the lightweight title since 2019 and has also won world titles at 130 and 140 pounds during his spectacular career. The Baltimore-native put an emphatic end to a years-long rivalry with Ryan Garcia last year in a crossover fight that gripped the sports world, dropping him in round two before ending the action with a vicious body shot in round seven.

Prior to that fight, he set a new gate record for Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in January when he stopped the previously unbeaten super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in the ninth round. Before that triumph he added another highlight-reel KO to his resume, as he dispatched longtime rival Rolando Romero with a thudding left hand in February 2022, in another record-setting event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The 29-year-old also owns the distinction as the only fighter to stop former three-division champion Leo Santa Cruz and former world champion and current interim welterweight champion Mario Barrios. Davis burst onto the scene with an explosive knockout of Jose Pedraza in 2017 to capture his first world title and won the lightweight strap he currently holds with a 12^th-round KO of former unified champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019.

“I’m excited to be on a card with someone explosive like David Benavidez; this pay-per-view is definitely gonna be worth it,” said Davis. “I’m happy to be back in the ring. That’s where I’m comfortable at. I’m gonna go in there, be flawless, and do what I do best, which is give the fans the best boxing you’ll see. Come June 15, Frank Martin is gonna see there’s a different beast in front of him.”

The 29-year-old Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) most recently showed that his power can last through a 12-round fight as he dropped the previously unbeaten Artem Harutyunyan in the final frame to clinch a unanimous decision victory last July. His previous outing saw him stamp his status as one of the elite 135-pounders in the sport as he dropped and dominated the then-unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a unanimous decision in December 2022. 

Fighting under the Man Down Promotions banner ,led by top pound-for-pound fighter Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s initial ascent at 135-pounds saw him begin by stopping then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. Originally from Indianapolis, Ind., Martin now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of highly renowned trainer Derrick James.

“I’ve been locked in for a while now and having a really good training camp,” said Martin. “It’ll be an exciting fight on June 15. I expect to get the best version of ‘Tank’, and he’ll get the best version of me. We’ll have a solid game plan to come out with the win on fight night.”

**DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS. OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK**

Co-headlining the event will be the all-action star and two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez as he makes his 175-pound debut in a 12-round duel against the power-punching former world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk as they meet for the vacant Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The 27-year-old undefeated Benavídez (28-0, 24 KOs) makes his 2024 debut after a pair of impressive wins marked his standout 2023 campaign. He began the year by besting longtime rival Caleb Plant via unanimous decision in a slugfest from March and followed it up by stopping the previously unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius Andrade in six rounds in November. Benavídez became the youngest-ever 168-pound world champion at just 20-years-old when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. A Phoenix-native who now lives in Seattle and currently trains in Miami, Benavidez has stamped his place in the super middleweight division but will now look to carry his prodigious talents up to light heavyweight for this fight.

When he was 15 years old, Benavídez went from weighing 250 pounds to a boxing prodigy under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose, Sr., and his brother and veteran contender Jose Jr., as he famously held his own in sparring against middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin as a teenager. Benavídez rode a string of six straight knockout victories heading into the bout against Plant, including KOs of former world champions Anthony Dirrell and David Lemieux.

“I’m very excited to be going to the light heavyweight division to compete against the best 175-pound fighters,” said Benavídez. “I’ve been eyeing that division for a long time, and now I feel like it’s my time. I’m going to go unify the division. I’ve watched Gvozdyk for a long time – I know exactly how he fights. I actually sparred him when I was 20 years old and I know he’s a really tough opponent, so I need to be 100%. This is a hard fight, but I’m going to make it look easy.”

After earning a bronze medal representing his native Ukraine at the 2012 Olympics, Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) turned pro in 2014 and quickly set his sights on the top of the division. He dominated a slew of veteran contenders including Yunieski Gonzalez, Isaac Chilemba, Tommy Karpency and Nadjib Mohammedi on his way to becoming the WBC’s top rated mandatory challenger at 175-pounds. He went on to become WBC champion with an 11^th-round knockout of Adonis Stevenson and defended the title in 2019 by stopping Doudou Ngumbu in round five.

After losing the belt in a unification match against Artur Beterbiev, Gvozdyk returned in 2023 to score three straight victories. He bested Josue Obando in February before knocking out Ricards Bolotniks in May and Isaac Rodrigues in September. Now training and residing in California, Gvozdyk’s amateur career saw him compete in over 250 bouts, including three Ukrainian National Championships that led to his Olympic success.

“I’ve never avoided any challenges, and this is no exception,” said Gvozdyk. “Benavidez is a top caliber fighter and that’s exactly what motivates me to train hard each and every day. If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. I’m ready to become a champion once again.”

#         #         #

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

By Norm Fraueneim –

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is ready to move on from years of waiting on Canelo Alvarez, yet he still hasn’t eliminated the chance that one day he might fight the celebrated Mexican.

Just hours before Canelo faced super-middleweight challenger Jaime Munguia Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Benavidez said he was poised to go his own way, upscale and away from his frustrating pursuit of Canelo.

“I want to make my own lane at 175 pounds, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,’’ Benavidez said at a news conference announcing his light-heavyweight date against ex-champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk on a June 15 card featuring Tank Davis-Frank Martin at the MGM Grand. “I’ve done everything I can at 168 pounds.

“The only thing was a fight for the unified title, but Canelo wouldn’t give me the fight.’’

Throughout the days before opening bell for Canelo-Munguia, there were mixed messages from boxing’s pay-per-view star about whether he might agree to fight Benavidez in September.

Yes?

No?

Let’s just say Canelo is a definite maybe.

But the 27-year-old Benavidez can’t wait around. He’s entering his prime. His body is maturing, which inevitably will force him out of the junior-middleweight division. Saturday, Benavidez, a former two-time 168-pound champion, even mentioned cruiserweight.

There are many in the media who think the Phoenix-born fighter will eventually fight at heavyweight.

“If Canelo was there for us in September, yeah, we’d consider it,’’ Benavidez father and trainer Jose told 15 Rounds after the formal part of the news conference. “We could go back down to 168. But whatever Canelo decides, we’ve got to move forward.’’

Against Gvozdyk, the unbeaten Benavidez has a chance to move into position for a 175-pound title. But even that wasn’t as clear Saturday as it had been a few days ago because of a knee injury suffered by Artur Beterbiev.

Beterbiev was scheduled to fight Dmitry Bivol on June 1 in Saudi Arabia. It’s not clear whether another opponent will be found for Bivol or the date with Beterbiev will be postponed to later in the year.

The plan was for the Benavidez-Gvozdyk winner to fight the Beterbiev-Bivol winner for a unified light-heavy title.

“If I can’t be a unified super-middleweight champ, I want to be unified at light-heavy,’’ Benavidez told 15 Rounds. “I want to create my own legacy.

“I just think that Canelo is leaving a great fight, a historical one, on the table.’’

It’s no surprise that the Tank-Martin part of the newser was contentious. Tank tried to slap Martin. He screamed insults at him. It wouldn’t be Tank without trash talk.

“You ain’t nothing, you’re from the suburbs,’’ Tank said to Martin, born in Detroit and now a resident of Indianapolis

Davis, the reigning lightweight champion and a leading pound-for-pound contender, hasn’t fought in more than 12 months, a stretch that included some time behind bars in Baltimore. His last fight was an April, 2023 stoppage of Ryan Garcia, boxing’s undisputed KingChaos. The Ryan reign has become a controversial circus.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Tank, who was nearly an hour late for the news conference. “I’ve been in jail, been on house arrest.

“Things like that.’’

By Norm Frauenheim –

Finally, David Benavidez is poised to take his first real step away from Canelo Alvarez in a move to re-define himself on his own terms with a light-heavyweight debut against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

There’s yet to be a formal announcement, but Benavidez said Wednesday on a Fresh and Fit podcast that he expects to face Gvozdyk on June 22 instead of June 15, possibly in Houston at the Toyota Center.

The bout, he said, is expected to be on a PBC/Amazon Prime card featuring Gervonta Davis’ in his first fight in more than a year against Frank Martin.

Benavidez, a Phoenix-born fighter currently training in Miami, hasn’t exactly given up on the Canelo possibility.

But Canelo’s decision to fight Jaime Munguia on May 4 in Las Vegas and subsequent comments about a Benavidez fight, possibly in September, have left him without many options.

“We’re still trying to look for that Canelo fight,’’ said Benavidez, who at 27 will move up and out of the super-middleweight division in June.

But, he also said, “I don’t think that Canelo fight is gonna happen, so I’ve got to move on.’’

Canelo sent him that message a couple of weeks ago when he said he would only fight Benavidez for a prohibitive purse – “$150 million to $200 million.’’

That sounds as if it was just another way for Canelo to say it’s just not going to happen.

Initially, however, Canelo’s price tag fueled speculation that the Saudis would be interested. But apparently Canelo’s demands were even too rich for them.

Instead, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the oil-rich country’s General Entertainment Authority, said he’d be interested in the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner for the undisputed 175-pound title against Benavidez, if Benavidez beats Gvozdyk. Beterbiev-Bivol is set for June 1 in Riyadh.

Benavidez, who first indicated he was ready to move beyond Canelo last year, is still frustrated with Mexico’s pay-per-view star.

In deciding to fight Munguia in May, Canelo called Munguia “respectful’’ – a shot at Benavidez, who is not.

Over the last couple of years, Canelo has been angered by trash talk from Benavidez and his father/trainer Jose Benavidez Sr.

“Canelo,” Benavidez said, “is with this bull—-, ‘He needs to be respectful.’ 

“I’m not going to bow my knee to nobody, because I’ve earned my shot for the belts.’’

Benavidez is the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, the undisputed 168-pound champion. But the WBC has done nothing to enforce that so-called mandatory.

Instead, the WBC took the unusual step of announcing plans for Benavidez-Gvozdyk, a light-heavyweight eliminator for a fight with the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.

Usually, fights are planned and announced by the promoter, in this case PBC (Premier Boxing Champions). 

It was as if the WBC was offering Benavidez an alternative in an attempt to sidestep any controversy that would surround a threat to strip Canelo of the belt if he did not agree to face the unbeaten fighter from Phoenix.

“I try not to say too much,” Benavidez said, “because if I say he’s scared, people say I’m a hater. ‘What have you proved?’

“I’m the No. 1 contender. I don’t need to prove s—. I have beat the people they have told me to beat so I can fight for the title.

“I’ve done that over and over again. I’ve been his mandatory challenger for three years. That has never happened. Canelo is the money man right now.’’

Money equals power, and Canelo has plenty of both.

He’s already on record as saying he makes his own decisions.

“I will do what I want to do,’’ he told LA Times-Espanol in a video interview Thursday — a comment that will force Benavidez to do what he has to.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Canelo Alvarez threw out a couple of numbers that would seem to eliminate any chance he’ll ever fight David Benavidez

“One-hundred-and-fifty million dollars to $200-million,’’ Canelo said this week at a news conference formally announcing his May 4 fight with Jaime Munguia at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena.

Not even Donald Trump can come up with that kind of money these days.

It’s hard to know whether Canelo is serious, but conventional wisdom

suggests that the prohibitive purse numbers are just another way of Canelo telling Benavidez that it’s just not going to happen.

But fantasy numbers have also ignited more Benavidez-Canelo trash talk, which seemed to enter another inflationary spiral this week.

Benavidez fired back from Miami, where the Phoenix-born fighter is training for a light-heavyweight fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, projected for June 15.

“Hopefully, after you make that $150 million, you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts,” Benavidez said on his Instagram account.

Presumably, he wasn’t talking about a couple of Pistachios.

Nobody has yet given up on a Benavidez-Canelo possibility in September. Even Benavidez mentioned it in an Instagram post early Thursday.

“Just wait on it,’’ Benavidez posted. “don’t be surprised when this fight happens in September.’’

First, however, a lot would have to happen. Canelo has to beat Munguia. That’s considered likely. From this corner, however, Munguia has a real chance to take Canelo’s undisputed super-middleweight title in what would be a huge upset.

The 26-year-old Munguia, who in January did what Canelo could not in stopping John Ryder in Phoenix, has young legs. If he can take the fight into the late rounds – say, the eighth — he’s got a shot.

It’s no secret that Canelo runs out of gas down the stretch.

Then, there’s Benavidez, who will get a look at his future at a heavier weight against the competent Gvozdyk, a former 175-pound champion.

As of Thursday, there was still no word on where Benavidez and Gvozdyk will fight on a card also expected to feature Tank Davis, who hasn’t fought since last April’s stoppage of Ryan Garcia.

Moving on up

Emanuel Navarrete’s move up to lightweight is official. He’ll fight Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk on May 18 for a vacant World Boxing Organization in San Diego, Top Rank announced this week.

Navarrete, already a three-division champ, is expected to win. If he does, he figures to vacate the WBO junior-lightweight title.

That could open the door for the Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson winner to land a possible shot at the vacated belt.

Valdez and Wilson, both beaten by Navarrete last year, fight March 29 – next week Friday — at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ in the main event on an ESPN-televised card.

David Benavidez is moving up.

But not necessarily on.

Benavidez intends to move up the scale to light heavyweight, one division above the Canelo Alvarez-dominated super-middle division, for an interim 175-pound title against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“That’s the plan,’’ Benavidez father-and-trainer Jose Benavidez told 15 Rounds Thursday, confirming a social media announcement from World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman. “We came to an agreement yesterday (Wednesday).’’

Jose Benavidez did not eliminate the Canelo possibility. Speculation continues to swirl about Canelo’s projected May 4 date, the first of two this year. He’s also expected to fight on September 16. Benavidez continues to be a possibility for either date.

David Benavidez, who has been calling out Canelo for a couple of years, continues to be mentioned on a speculative list that spins faster than a dizzy roulette wheel. One day, it’s Jermall Charlo. The next day, Jaime Munguia. It could stop on Terence Crawford any day.

As of Thursday, it was still not clear what Canelo would do. Last week, the talk was that he’d fight Charlo. This week, it’s Munguia, the emerging Mexican who fought his way into the Canelo sweepstakes with a four-knockdown stoppage of John Ryder in Phoenix last month.

In a news conference a couple of weeks ago, Canelo teased that he’d be fighting an American in May. Charlo is American. So is Benavidez. Munguia is not. In any language, it’s chaos.

Translation: Who knows?

The ongoing uncertainty forces Benavidez, 27, to re-think his career, which has been defined by his pursuit of Canelo. He’d rather fight than wait. In 2024, that’s what he’ll do in an attempt to re-make himself on his own terms instead of Canelo’s.  When and where that begins, however, is still uncertain.

June is one possibility. June 15 has been mentioned. But so is May, Jose Benavidez said.

“if that other guy (Canelo) can’t decide on somebody for May, maybe we’ll move on to that date against Gvozdyk,’’ Jose Sr.  told 15 Rounds.

Whenever-wherever-whoever, it’s clear that Benavidez plans to fight at 175 pounds sometime over the next 10 months. His promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz confirmed as much Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.

“Boxing is unpredictable and can change multiple times in a day,’’ Lewkowicz posted. “Yes” PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) in coordination with Team Benavidez. …a guarantee of ($) 55 Million was offered to Team Canelo that would exceed 60 M by adding Azteca Sports PPV and more or We are moving to 175 Lbs.’’

That move has been inevitable since Benavidez lost the WBC title on the scale in August 2020. Then 23, he failed to make the 168-pound limit before blowing out Roamer Alexis Angulo. He hasn’t missed weight since, but it was clear then that light-heavyweight was just a matter of time.

Benavidez’ unfolding career is already notable. He’s a former, two-time super-middleweight champion, yet still unbeaten. He lost the WBC’s 168-pound belt for the first time because of a positive test for cocaine.

Now, he has a chance to become a current two-time, mandatory challenger. He’s already Canelo’s mandatory. However, it’s not clear what that means, especially in a bid to fight Canelo, the pay-per-view star who gets what he wants.

The WBC officially awarded Benavidez its super-middleweight mandatory in November, but the ruling body has yet to do anything to enforce it.

A victory over Gvozdyk would include an interim light-heavyweight title. Presumably, that would also include another mandatory, although Sulaiman’s post said only that the WBC would sanction the fight for the interim belt.

No mandatory mentioned for what could – should — be a shot at the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner of a fight for the undisputed 175-pound title on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.

NOTES: After Thursday’s news, Jose Benavidez left for Miami to train his son. David Benavidez, who began his boxing career in hometown Phoenix, recently bought a condo in Miami, his dad said. The Benavidez family, including older brother Jose Jr., have been living in Seattle. … Jose Benavidez Jr., a former junior welterweight and welterweight, is coming off a loss to middleweight Jermall Charlo, who blew off a contracted catch weight. Jose Jr. will continue to fight, his dad said.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Jaime Munguia fought his way into the argument with a dramatic stoppage of John Ryder that transforms him into another option for Canelo Alvarez and another potential source of frustration for David Benavidez.

Where all of this leaves Benavidez is still anybody’s guess. For now, at least, he’s where he’s always been.

Waiting, waiting for a shot that he demands and deserves, yet one that continues to be as elusive as ever.

In the here and now, he’s boxing’s version of Florida State. Unbeaten, yet still left without a chance at winning the biggest prize in the crowded super-middleweight division. Fair? Of course, not. But fair is a quaint notion in boxing, college football, politics and life. It’s just another bloody nose. If you want fair, play checkers.

In this game, protect yourself at all times, because a cheap shot is always lurking.

That brings us to Jermall Charlo. By all accounts, he is the leading possibility for Canelo’s next fight, projected to be on May 4. In his promotional role in behalf of Munguia, Oscar De La Hoya said last Saturday after the four-knockdown TKO of Ryder in Phoenix – Benavidez’ hometown – that he expects Canelo to fight Charlo next.

By now, I guess nobody should be surprised. Canelo fought a Charlo, Jermell, in his last fight in September. The plan had been for him to fight Jermall. Then, however, Jermell got the date, apparently because his twin brother still needed time to recover from some reported mental-health issues.

Jermell or Jermall, it was a dud. Jermell, a junior-middleweight champion, was just there to collect a paycheck. It says here that in the ring the only difference between Jermell and Jermall is a vowel and a few pounds. The rumored fight in May figures to be a repeat.

Put it this way: Before Canelo, Jermell had never fought at super-middleweight. Neither has Jermall, who in his last fight won a unanimous decision, yet couldn’t stop Jose Benavidez Jr., David’s older brother and a former junior welterweight and welterweight. Before beating the smaller Jose Jr., Jermall blew off a contracted catchweight, 163 pounds. He was more than three pounds too heavy.

Here’s the question: From resume to weight, on what scale does this Charlo merit a shot Canelo? Munguia is more worthy. He blew out Ryder, a respected contender whom Canelo failed to stop. Munguia won a narrow decision at 168 pounds over Sergiy Derevyanchenko last June in the Fight of the Year.

Then, there’s Benavidez, who has been at super-middleweight his whole career. He’s unbeaten and unique in that he’s a two-time former World Boxing Council champion. He lost those titles, once for testing positive for cocaine and then for failing to make weight. In a sign of his growing maturity, he was nominated for 2023 Fighter of the Year. 

On any scale, his resume outweighs Jermall Charlo’s, in credibility, especially among fans who have been calling for Benavidez-Canelo for a couple years.

Benavidez is also designated as the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, the undisputed champion. He has been since November. But the WBC has yet to do anything to enforce that mandatory.

Eddie Hearn, Ryder’s promoter, summed it up best a week ago in Phoenix when asked by 15 Rounds whether the mandatory designation means anything.

“Not really, especially if you’re Canelo Alvarez,’’ Hearn said in a wry, spot-on comment.

Meanwhile, there are other circumstances that could leave Benavidez waiting, or maybe moving up to light heavyweight. It’s no coincidence perhaps that people around light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev are already starting to talk about Benavidez, whose manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, says will probably fight somebody sometime this spring, perhaps in May.

It’s almost as if Canelo looks at Benavidez and sees a light-heavyweight, anyway. He’s shown about as much real interest in facing Benavidez as he has in a rematch with light-heavy champ Dmitry Bivol. 

After Bivol upset him in May 2022, Canelo initially vowed he would avenge the scorecard loss. He talked about a rematch. That’s all he did. It never happened.

According to Bivol’s management, there were never any substantive negotiations for a rematch. 

Still, stories continue to circulate about Benavidez and Bivol sparring a couple of years ago. According to Benavidez, he got the best of Bivol.

Has Canelo decided that neither is in his future? Maybe.

Meanwhile, the Beterbiev corner is hearing the same stories that everyone else is. According to multiple reports – still speculative, Canelo plans to follow a Charlo bout in May with a catchweight date against undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound No.1 Terence Crawford in September.

The possibility has been circulating in social media for months. Now, there’s doubt about whether Crawford will ever fight Errol Spence in a contracted rematch.

Spence, who got blown out by Crawford in a July stunner, is coming off cataract surgery. He’s undergone two eye surgeries – one on each eye – within the last three years. Without Spence, where does Crawford go? There’s talk of Boots Ennis. Maybe, Tim Tszyu at junior middleweight, Maybe Jermell Charlo.

At 36, however, maybe it’s time for Crawford to cash out. There’s no better way to do that than in an event sure to attract the so-called crossover crowd against the 33-year-old Canelo, whose legacy among Mexican fans is probably secure regardless of whether he fights Benavidez or just continues to duck him.

By Norm Frauenheim –

PHOENIX – Oscar De La Hoya and Jaime Munguia were in David Benavidez’ old neighborhood Wednesday, talking to kids gathered at a Boys & Girls Club near a busy freeway.

In another time and place, one of those kids could have been a Benavidez.

David and his brother Jose Jr. grew up a couple blocks from the club founded by former Suns owner and general manager Jerry Colangelo.

They’ve moved on, yet they don’t forget those streets on Phoenix’s westside. It’s why they fight. Maybe, it’ says something about how they fight, too. But those streets are there. You can hear them in their words. You can see them on waistbands, trunks and robes that include the PHX logo, a symbol of their identity and fan base.

Ignore them at your peril.

De La Hoya didn’t.

“He is the guy, the most deserving guy,’’ De La Hoya said three days before opening bell before the Golden Boy-promoted Munguia fights John Ryder in a bout that could set the table for what — or who – is next for Canelo.

De La Hoya picked the right place and time to talk about David Benavidez, who somehow has not been included in the discussion about Canelo’s next fight, expected in May.

Munguia’s name is there, prominently, in speculation that is the theme of his DAZN-streamed super-middleweight fight with Ryder on the Suns home floor at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix, about six miles from where De La Hoya was standing Wednesday.

Jermall Charlo, a middleweight champion who beat former junior-welterweight Jose Jr. after failing to make a 163-pound catchweight in November, is also mentioned.

So, too, is pound-for-pound king and undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

Also, Ryder, who went 12 rounds in losing a decision to Canelo last May in Guadalajara, is fighting to put himself back in the argument. Maybe, he does, if he upsets Munguia and looks impressive in pulling it off.

But Benavidez? He’s mostly missing in all the talk preceding a key fight in his hometown.

It’s a surprise, big to even De La Hoya, who hopes Munguia beats Ryder with the stoppage that eluded Canelo in his hometown.

“I’m shockingly surprised,’’ De La Hoya said. “David has to be there, in any discussion.’’

He’s not, perhaps, because of boxing’s tangled, tortured politics and simple timing. Canelo and Benavidez are both aligned with PBC (Premier Boxing Champions).

Canelo has two fights left on a three-fight PBC deal signed last year. From a promotional perspective, the third fight – expected in September — against Benavidez makes the most financial

sense.

But Benavidez is tired of waiting. He‘s been calling out Canelo for a couple of years. Benavidez is also the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger for the WBC piece of Canelo’s undisputed title. It’s not exactly clear what mandatory means anymore.

To wit: Why not next May instead of September?

“For sure, nobody is more deserving than David,’’ De La Hoya said. “Nobody.

“I hope it happens. I want it to happen. I just think David has to stay on Canelo. He has to keep talking about it.

“In some ways, it reminds me of when I was younger and fought Julio Cesar Chavez. I was the young lion. Those (two) fights (both De La Hoya victories) were like passing the torch. Like Julio, Canelo is the big name, the star. But David is bigger and younger. Maybe Canelo sees that. I don’t know’’

For De La Hoya, the business at hand is to get Munguia a victory that can’t be ignored by fans and especially Canelo.

“I’m hoping he makes a statement,’’ De La Hoya said.

De La Hoya also said that he’d be happy to talk about a fight between Benavidez and Munguia.

Absolutely,’’ De La Hoya said. ”Munguia is willing to fight anybody. Anybody.”

Apparently, De La Hoya is already talking to Benavidez, but not necessarily about Munguia.

“As I was driving over here, I got a message from David on my phone,’’ De La Hoya said Wednesday. “He told me he’s in Mexico. He said he’s in Guadalajara.

“Says he’s looking for Canelo.’’

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS –David Benavidez promised.

And he punished.

He did to Demetrius Andrade what he did to David Lemieux and so many others. It was another moment in his demolition tour, an uninterrupted dominance of every super-middleweight other than the one he has been pursuing for so long.It was also another edition of the long-running message he has been delivering like punches at a machine-gun rate.

“Canelo, give the people the fight they want, Canelo Alvarez-versus-David Benavidez,” he said in the center of the ring to a roaring crowd just minutes after breaking down and breaking apart Andrade.

Who knows if Canelo was in the audience for Showtime’s final pay-per-view fight Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena? If he was, however, he had to be impressed.

Andrade, unorthodox and unbeaten before opening bell, was simply undone by the aggressive Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), who knocked him down with right hand in the fourth round and then battered him through the next two rounds. There are few fighters with Benavidez kind of momentum. 

Once he gets going, he’s a freight train rolling down a steep incline. Get the hell of his way. Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) couldn’t. After six rounds, he had no option other than surrender.

At ringside, there was Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight great who gave Benavidez his current nickname, The Monster.

Benavidez, who emerges as the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, went over and hugged him, perhaps an embrace between the modern version of the monster Tyson once was.

“I’m the best and I’m going to be the best,” Benavidez told a crowd full of his fans from Phoenix, his hometown. “i’m going to be a legend.”

Tyson smiled.

Andrade didn’t argue.

No telling what Canelo thought

Charlo scores one-sided decision over Jose Benavidez

It was a fight preceded by insults, broken promises and fines. 

But the profanity didn’t matter. The broken promises were followed by fines. The fight went on after one fighter, Jermall Charlo, paid $75,000 for every pound heavier than a contracted catchweight.

After all of that, it was a fight that went the way it was expected to. Chaos was  the prediction. But there was none. 

A bigger man beat a smaller man. 

Charlo, a middleweight champion who hasn’t made a title defense in 29 months, beat Jose Benavidez Jr., a former junior-welterweight and welterweight contender.

Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) scored a unanimous decision. Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.  Argue with the score cards. The margins might have been too wide. The judges had it 98-92, 99-91 and 100-90. The third card, a shutout, seemed unfair to Benavidez (28-3-1, 19 KOs) who was never off his feet and appeared to make a competitive fight out of the early rounds.

But in the end, he simply wasn’t going to beat a fighter who was at least 15 pounds heavier. Charlo’s weight at opening bell wasn’t announced. He was ordered to be no more than 176 pounds at a secondary weigh-in Saturday morning, about 24 hours after he failed to make the 163-pound catch weight. Anything more than 176 pounds, would have cost him at least another $75,0000 per pound.

Whatever the final toll, he left the ring with his wallet a lot lighter. But that didn’t weaken his leverage-per-pound against a fighter who was simply too small to be in the ring with him.

Charlo knew that. After the scores were announced, he sounded more relieved than happy.

“Thank God, both of us are going home to our families healthy,” he said.

Benavidez, never a man with nothing to say before the fight, left the ring without a word. 

After a long 10 rounds, maybe there just wasn’t anything left to say. He was out of answers. Maybe, energy, too. 

Later, during an interview from his dressing room, he had this to say:

“He’s a good fighter, I’m not going to make any excuses. I came to fight. He said he was going to back me up and I didn’t back up. I kept coming forward. The best man won tonight.

“It’s boxing. I thought it was way closer than the judges’ said it was. At the end of the day I lost, and I’m not going to make any excuses.

“I don’t know if his extra weight had anything to do with it. Maybe. Maybe not. I came prepared. I gave my best. I’m going to take some time off – it’s the holidays. Of course, I’d like to run it back at the actual weight. At 160. If you weigh me right now I’m probably 165, and he still can’t do s— to me. It’s all good. I’m not worried about it. I gave it my all, and I came up short.”

Benavidez, ever fearless, opened the bout with abundant energy. He landed a straight right hand that bounced off Charlo’s face like a wicked tennis ball. It echoed throughout the arena. Benavidez also moved stubbornly forward, backing Charlo into the ropes and then into his corner. It was then, however, that Charlo answered with a flash of power, delivered like a pointed message from his bigger, stronger body.

Benavidez backed off. But his retreat didn’t go far. Didn’t last long either.

In the second and third, he continued his march into harm’s way, straight into Charlo’s dangerous wheelhouse. Charlo would throw a punch; Benavidez would counter with combos. The crowd roared. There was a chorus of chants.

Benavidez, Benavidez, was the lyric from fans who had traveled to Vegas from Phoenix, his hometown.

Jose, Jose.

Benavidez continued to give them hope with more combos and repeated bursts of energy. Increasingly, however, there were signs that the bigger blows from Charlo were beginning to have an impact.

In the seventh, Benavidez’ face bore the reddening signs of a bruising impact from Charlo’s punches. In the eighth, there were fewer combos from Benavidez. His hands began to drop. His chances began to diminish. It looked as if an energy crisis loomed. In the tenth, it landed, leaving with one more loss in his record and probably a purse fattened by a percentage of the fines paid by Charlo. 

Matias Retains Title with 6th Round Stoppage

Subtriel Matias is in the quitting business. Business is very good.

It continued uninterrupted and seemingly unstoppable Saturday,when Matias, the International Boxing Federation’s junior-welterweight champion, forced a fifth straight opponent to surrender Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

This time, it was a wiry-like fighter from Uzbekistan, Shohjahom Ergashev.

Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), of Puerto Rico, endured his punches early and then exhausted him with his own, forcing his corner to say no-mas a couple of seconds after the bell sounded for the start of the sixth round.

Matias’ stubborn power, he said, is a result of the work his team has done. It’s also a result of patience followed by wild bursts of energy. Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) simply could not slow him down. 

Lamont Roach wins junior-lightweight crown

Wait and worry has been a story line to Lamont Roach’s career.

The story ended Saturday night.

He can quit waiting. For now, he can quit worrying.

Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) won, finally calming a junior-lightweight world title, with a split decision over Hector Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs) in a Showtime pay-per-view bout on the card featuring David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

In an otherwise close bout, Roach took control in the final two rounds, knocking Garcia into the ropes with a piston-like punch in the eleventh and then scoring a debatable knockdown in the twelfth with a left to the back of Gracia’s head.

“I think I did enough,” said Roach, of Upper Marlboro MD, a winner on two scorecards, 116-111 and 114-113. “He played kind of a cat-and-mouse game .’

Garcia, who was  favored 114-113 on the third card, said he accepted the judging.

“I thought I won,” he said. “But they counted it as a knockdown in the twelfth. He hit me in the back of the head. Without that, it would have been different.”

Mercado scores junior-welterweight shutout

Mercado scores junior-welterweight shutoutFrom precision to poise, Israel Mercado had it all.

He used it all, too, scoring a four-round shutout of Wesley Rivers Saturday night on the non-televised portion of the the Benavidez-Andrade fight at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

Mercado (10-1-1, 8 KOs), a junior-welterweight from Pomona CA, scored at will from several angles in a one-sided decision over Rivers (4-4), of Dearborn Heights MI.

First-time winner

It wasn’t easy, but Alenn Medina finally moved into the win column.

Medina (1-1), a welterweight from Las Vegas, had just enough of an edge in aggression to get a majority decision over  Alex Holley (1-1), a Dallas fighter who landed in the loss column for the first time. 

In the fourth fight of the night Michel “Salsa Ali” Rivera 24-1 (14KOs) of Miami, FL took on Sergey Lipinets 17-2-1(13KOs) fighting out of Woodlands CA. The action began with Rivera establishing his Jab and keeping Lipinets off balance. Jabbing continued through the round and not much action from Lipinets. Sergey stepped it up in the second round as both fighters picked it up with the volume of punches. The third did not see too much of anything, just a warning from the referee about holding and hitting behind the head area. 

In the fourth — just as Rivera landed a stunning right — Lipinets came back in his own right, landing  a good left just as the round ended. Rivera once again wobbled his opponent. The fifth of the scheduled 10 was arguably the best round of the fight. Each fighter seemed to hurt one another — Lipinets with lefts and Rivera with rights. 

As the fight went into the later rounds the pace slowed.  Few meaningful punches landed. The fight went all 10 rounds and was a good showcase for Rivera. Rivera went on to win the unanimous decision — 97-93, 97-93, 96-94. Improving to 25-1 (14KOs)….By David Galaviz

Vito Mielnicki wins first round stoppage

Vito Mielnicki Jr. calls himself White Magic.

Saturday, he was White Lightning.

Mielnicki (16-1, 11 KOs) struck fast. Struck twice, all within the first round of the third bout Saturday on the Benavidez-Andrade card..

First, he dropped Alexis Salazar (25-6, 10 KOs), of Norwalk CA, with what looked like a glancing blow. Then, he struck with a head-rocking straight hand, finishing Salazar at 2:27 of the first round.. 

Jubin Chollet scores knockdown, wins split decision

It was timely, It was precise. It was the difference.

Jubin Chollet (9-0, 7 KOs), a lightweight from San Diego, needed a knockdown and he got one, flooring Jorge Perez (6-1, 2 KOs) with a beautifully-placed right hand in the fifth round of the second bout Saturday on the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade card. It was just enough for Cholley to win a split decision. He won 57-56 on two cards. It was 57-56 for Perez on the third.

First Bell: Daniel Blancas scores unanimous decision

The show opened In an arena filled with only chilly November temperatures and echoes from punches from super-middleweight Daniel Blancas and Raiko Santana.

In the end, the loudest shots were landed by Blancas (8-0, 4 KOs), a long and lanky Milwaukee fighter who won a 76-75, 78-73, 77-74 decision over Raiko Santana in a Saturday matinee, the opener on a car featuring David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Blancas, who had Benavidez trainer Jose Benavidez in his corner, relied on his superior reach to keep Santana

(10-4, 6 KOs), of El Paso, at a distance.