David Benavidez stops Andrade, calls out 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.

LIVE FIGHTS: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Prelims | SHOWTIME PPV Countdown

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Weigh-In | SATURDAY on SHOWTIME PPV

BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND COMMISSION OFFICIALS

Interim WBC Super Middleweight World Title – 12 Rounds

David Benavídez – 167 lbs.

Demetrius Andrade – 167.6 lbs.

Referee: Thomas Taylor; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

Middleweights – 10 Rounds

Jermall Charlo – 166.4 lbs

José Benavídez Jr. – 161.2 lbs.

Note: Contracted weight was 163. Fight will go on as scheduled.

Referee: Harvey Dock; Judges: Max DeLuca (N.Y), Dave Moretti (Nev.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Subriel Matías – 139.8 lbs.

Shohjahon Ergashev – 139.8 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: David Sutherland (Okla.), Don Trella (Conn.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

WBA Super Featherweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Héctor Garcia – 129.4 lbs.

Lamont Roach – 129.6 lbs.

Referee: Tony Weeks; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Max DeLuca (N.Y.), Robert Hoyle (Nev.)

SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN

Stream Live at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

on the SHOWTIME SPORTS^® YouTube Channel and the

SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page

Super Lightweights – 10 Rounds

Sergey Lipinets – 139.4 lbs.

Michel Rivera – 138.8 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: Eric Cheek (Nev.), Glenn Feldman (Conn.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

Super Welterweights – 10 Rounds

Vito Mielnicki Jr. – 153.2 lbs.

Alexis Salazar – 152.8 lbs.

Referee: Robert Hoyle; Judges: Lisa Giampa (Nev.), Chris Migliore (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. SHOBOX: The New Generation^® commentator and award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Brian Campbell will serve as the ringside reporter. A pair of Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood, who will serve as unofficial scorer. Four-time Emmy^® Award winner David Dinkins, Jr. is the executive producer. The producer is Ray Smaltz III and the director is Bob Dunphy. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst.

The SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Luke Thomas with special guest esteemed trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.

# # #

ABOUT BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE

Benavídez vs. Andrade will see undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez defend his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo against exciting contender José Benavídez Jr. in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event. Plus, hard-hitting IBF 140-pound world champion Subriel Matías faces unbeaten mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Héctor García duels top-rated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach in the telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezAndrade, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Boo Boo: Demetrius Andrade, hard to hit and hard to beat

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – He has a curious nickname. He’s Boo Boo.

Insert punch line here, and many do in a business surrounded by over-the-top characters whose nicknames are a mix of fantasy, fear and comic-book super-hero.

It’s just one piece in the puzzle that is Demetrius Andrade, who says he’s been Boo Boo since he was a daredevil kid climbing trees and jumping off roofs.

He’s something of an enigma, but that might be exactly what makes him a threat to David Benavidez, who now calls himself The Monster. Nothing curious about that one. Interpret at your own risk.

But Andrade doesn’t think much of The Monster moniker, one given to Benavidez by Mike Tyson on his podcast. In fact, Andrade makes a joke out of it.

“Like I said, Mike was real, real high that day,’’ Andrade said at a public workout a few days before his super-middleweight date with Benavidez Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Showtime’s final pay-per-view bout.

It’s funny and, some say, a foolish boo-boo from Andrade, a former junior-middleweight and middleweight champion who is fighting at 168 pounds for only the second time.

Against the bigger and younger Benavidez, there’s talk and odds – nearly 4-to-1 against Andrade – that this time the daredevil still in the 35-year-old fighter is on the precarious edge of a nasty fall.

But the problem with that argument is in Andrade’s record. He’s unbeaten, 32-0 with 19 knockouts. It’s a record and something of a riddle.

Andrade’s pro career doesn’t really include any defining moments, despite titles at 154 and 160 pounds. It’s unblemished and in some ways unremarkable for all things that haven’t happened.

Mostly, the 2008 Olympian has been elusive. The left-hander is hard to hit and harder to figure out. For the 26-year-old Benavidez and just about any other fighter, the unknown is often the biggest danger.

It’s no coincidence, perhaps, that Andrade is called the most-avoided fighter of his generation. The best in his time and perhaps any other time won’t fight what they don’t know. They won’t take on a riddle they can’t solve. So far, there aren’t any solutions. That’s what the 0 on the right side of Andrade’s ledger says.

Despite his many years in the pro ring, surprise appears to be Andrade’s best weapon against the aggressive Benavidez, also unbeaten (27-0, 23 KOs), in a fight that could lead to a big pay-day against Canelo Alvarez.

“I think he’s going to be very surprised,’’ Andrade says, almost cryptically. “I have the source. I can frustrate him, set traps and break him down while also hitting him.’’

The biggest question, however is time.

“Father Time beats all,’’ Andrade said.

Can Andrade 35-year-old legs carry him out of danger, especially in the later rounds. Benavidez has been at his punishing best from the eighth through the 12^th.

The Phoenix-born Benavidez is confident he can overwhelm Andrade – stop him – in part because Andrade won’t have room to run. Benavidez says a 22-by-22-foot ring was a factor in his inability to stop Caleb Plant last March. He won a unanimous decision. Plant, he says, was able to elude some of his lethal pressure in a bigger ring.

Plant demanded and got some extra canvas, 22-by-22 feet instead of the traditional 20-by-20 in contract negotiations.

“I’m going to strike whenever there’s an opportunity,’’ Benavidez said.

But, Andrade repeated, he’ll be surprised, suggesting that he’ll never get that opportunity.

Nobody ever has.

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Open Workout | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ VS. DEMETRIUS ANDRADE MEDIA WORKOUT AHEAD OF SHOWTIME PPV® SHOWDOWN AT MANDALAY BAY

LOS ANGELES – November 22, 2023 – Undefeated super middleweight superstar David “El Monstruo” Benavídez and unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade kicked off fight week events in Las Vegas on Wednesday, as they participated in an open media workout ahead of their SHOWTIME PPV headliner this Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Wednesday’s event also featured fighters competing on the stacked pay-per-view undercard, including WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo and exciting contender José Benavídez Jr., who will meet in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event.

Plus, unbeaten mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev worked out ahead of his world title showdown with IBF 140-pound world champion Subriel Matías, and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Héctor García and top-rated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach, who battle in the telecast opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, showed off their skills.

Also participating was former world champion Sergey Lipinets, who will be taking on exciting contender Michel Rivera in a 10-round super lightweight fight in live streaming action on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing ^® Facebook page beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Plus, sensational prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr., who takes on Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round super welterweight attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Las Vegas:

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ

“Junior and I pushed each other to the limit. This is something we’ve dreamed about since we were little kids. He’s co-main event, I’m main event for a pay-per-view fight. It doesn’t get better than this. We’re just really excited to be here.

“I’m just grateful and happy to be in this position. I’m also happy to be able to give the fans this type of entertainment while everybody’s at their families’ houses on Saturday. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.

“I think the intensity comes from experience. With everything I’ve been through in my life, I’m probably the most motivated I’ve ever been in my life. I have my son, my wife and my baby Khloe on the way. She’s going to be born in three weeks. I’m motivated on a different level right now, and I really do want to prove to you guys that I’m the best in the world.

“I agreed to this fight with Andrade because he’s the hardest. Other than myself, he’s the best in the division. He’s the hardest task besides Canelo, so I want to challenge myself. I really do want to be the best, and I’m telling you guys that I don’t want there to be a doubt in anyone’s head that I’m the best at the super middleweight division. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.

“To be honest with you, I’m not worried about Canelo. I’m not worried about anybody. My job is to clear out the division, and that’s exactly what I intend on doing. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be the best in the division. This is the start of the Benavídez era.

“I’m going for a knockout Saturday night. I really want to give the people what they want to see. It’s not going to be an easy task, but I always find a way to secure the victory.

“All of this is surreal to me. When I was younger, I dedicated myself. I knew I wanted to accomplish this dream, and I accomplished it. There’s still a lot of work to do, and by the time I’m done I’m going to be the greatest of my era.”

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“I’m ready to rumble. I feel great. We’re going to put on a great show. It’s me again, baby. It’s showtime!

“I’m making my legacy. It’s history, and I get to be part of that. I’m going to show out and do what I do, and that’s win. As I’ve been telling everybody, I’m the signature chef. I have everything it takes — the skills, the ability, the coverage, and the boxing IQ – to beat anybody.

“I did everything I needed to do to get to the 168 division like I wanted to. I’ve been working with my team and my strength and conditioning coach to build up my body. I’m in tip-top shape, ready to go. I’m tall, black and handsome, in the best shape of my life. Thirty-five is just the age, and we’re going to show that I’m one of the best out there. That’s it.

“I’m going to frustrate him. You’ll see on Saturday night. When he’s not able to do what he wants to do, it’s going to play into my advantage.

“To fans who don’t know me, maybe they will be surprised by my performance on Saturday. But those who know me and have followed my career and know how I fight won’t be surprised by how I fight. They know what I’m capable of.”

JERMALL CHARLO

“I took a break from social media and got a chance to regroup and make myself better. I’m back. I now have a chance to show everybody the new me.

“I missed my fans. But now I get to go back out there and I have a tough opponent in front of me. He’s real confident. It’s my duty to break him down.

“José is different when the cameras come on. Maybe he’s not used to the lights. I don’t know. When I saw him in the elevator earlier, he didn’t say anything. But when he gets in front of the media, he acts different. That’s not me. I keep it solid the whole time. I’ve got him shook. He’s shook right now. He doesn’t know what to expect. He can’t size me up. He doesn’t know where I’m at in my mind. He doesn’t know where I’m at physically. It’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be a war.

“I smell blood. It’s been a while since I got a chance to really hunt and go eat and take my opponent down. I’m going to break him down inside the ring and outside the ring. I’m going to make sure I keep doing what I’m doing. In 2024, I’m going to give you all a lot more action and a lot more Jermall Charlo. I’m the new Jermall.

“I’m going to give the fans what they want. For the rest of my career, it’s going to be about my fans. With how much love they showed me over the years, I’m going to give the fans what they want. If they want to see me fight at 160 pounds and defend the title, I’ll do what I have to do to make the weight and do everything to be at the top of my level. Then I can go to 168 and fight there. I’ll probably move up to light heavy. Whatever the fans want to see me do, I’ll try it.

“Money doesn’t have anything to do with my motivations. I fight for my legacy. This is about me getting back to the best me. I want to be able to give the fans and everyone who supports me the best of me. I get a chance to go in there and I’m ready for war. Just know that. I’m motivated and I’m ready to show everybody.”

JOSÉ BENAVÍDEZ JR.

“This is something very special. It’s something we dreamed about as kids. Being in a big arena for this type of event is crazy. To know that we made it and we’re here, proves that all that hard work is paying off. The goal now is just to take on the world. I’m thankful to have my brother and my dad next to me.

“It was great training with my brother. I didn’t have to lose that much weight either. Doing 147 and 154 was just killing me, so now I’m at my natural weight. I feel strong, ready, and me and my brother had a hell of a time sparring. When we’re in the ring, there’s no brothers.

“I feel confident. I’m ready. I’ve never felt like this before. I’m hungry, and I’m going to come to eat. I’ll leave all of the talking in the ring. I don’t really care what Charlo is doing, what people think, I’m ready. I’m going to show him who the real champion is at 160. I’m going to show the world what I’m made of.

“I’ve been in the game since I was six years old. I’ve fought on Manny Pacquiao cards. I’ve fought on Cotto cards. I feel like I’m a vet in the game. At this weight I feel strong. I feel like I finally got my man strength, and I’m ready.

“I’m going to take Charlo out. I’m going to stop him. One hundred percent guaranteed. I’ll put money on it.”

SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV

“I’m very grateful to be here. This is a big stage and I’ve been training for this fight for six months. I’m not a big talker and I don’t want to talk much before the fight. On Saturday night, I’m going to show what I’m all about.

“Yes, Subriel is a knockout artist, but I am also a knockout artist. Let’s see how bad he really is. I think I can make it a short night.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I’ve been training here in the U.S. for many years. I’ve been dreaming and working towards this moment my whole life.

“I want to thank SugarHill and all of my trainers who have worked with me to get me ready for this fight. This is the best training that I’ve ever had. When I first came to the U.S. in 2017, it was very difficult to get acclimated. But with each camp and each training session, I’ve gotten better and smarter. I have the best corner in boxing and I’m looking forward to showing everybody what I’m all about on Saturday night.”

HÉCTOR GARCÍA

“All I have to say to Roach is you can keep dreaming but be careful because by the end of Saturday night you might just be going to sleep. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but my goal is to knock him out.

“I’m a world champ at 130, but I learned a hell of a lot at 135. From fighting at a bigger weight class to learning from Gervonta Davis, himself, I learned valuable lessons, and you’ll see them applied on Saturday night.

“I feel equally well at 130 and 135, but I’m the world champion at 130. It’s where I belong. It’s where I feel right at home.

“I am ready to show that I am the best at 130, that there is nobody better than me. I’m going to prove to everybody on Saturday night that I’m here to stay and that I can beat absolutely anybody that’s in my way.

“I can’t thank Bob Santos enough. He has changed my career and my life and given me a new perspective on what it means to be a world champion. I can’t put into words how much that means to me. And not only Bob, but my entire team. The way they support me all the way through is something that I’ve always appreciated.

“You know what’s going to happen? Whatever Roach wants to happen. It’s going to be up to him to decide his destiny.

“My goal is to go out there and dominate. I feel equally good at 130 and 135, but I think that ultimately, I’ll end up at 140 and fight there.”

LAMONT ROACH

“This means everything to me. I put my whole life into this sport. It’s been blood, sweat and tears during this four-year journey since my last title shot. I worked my way back up to the No. 1 spot like I rightfully deserve.

“The key to my recent success has been putting my foot on the gas and taking control of everything. Just knowing that nobody is going to give anything to me so I have to go take it. You’ve got to beat the champ and I’m going to take the belt from Héctor and show why I deserve to be champion.

“It never gets old fighting on big cards like this. I love the lights. I like to showcase my skills. I’m made for this. I’ll be a superstar soon.

“I hope that the fans take away from this fight that I’m going to be the best in this division. Hopefully I can be a unified world champion and maybe even undisputed.

“García is a great fighter, but that’s when I perform my best. When people bring the best out of me. I think Héctor is a perfect dance partner for me to shine very bright on Saturday night.

“I’m not looking for this fight to be Fight of the Year or anything like that, but if plays out like that, of course I’m going to deliver on my end. But I’m looking to punish him and make this one-sided. If I can knock him out early, I’ll do it. If I can knock him out late, I’ll do it. If I can knock him out at any point, I’m going to try. I want to make this short and sweet.”

SERGEY LIPINETS

“It’s great to be back in Las Vegas and I’m excited to be back under the lights again. I was waiting for this opportunity for a long time and it finally came through.

“This is going to be a fight that will please all the boxing fans out there. Whoever likes to watch real boxing will enjoy this fight. It’s going to be a great scrap. If he stays in the pocket and bangs with me, it’s going to be even more watchable.

“This is like a make-it-or-break-it fight for me. No matter what, I still want to be a champion of the world. I believe I still have the skills. I still have the power in my hands. Winning this fight is going to put me on a rocket to the top.

“I’m just focused on the fight this Saturday night. I am 100 percent focused on winning and then we can look at the options we have going forward. All I know is that I want to be champion of the world again.

“I definitely like the fact that I’ve had a little bit of a layoff. It gave me a mental and physical break. We’ve been training with Justin Fortune for a long time, and he’s one of the best strength and conditioning coaches there is. He’s added a lot to my physical abilities. I’ve increased my punching power and improved my balance. Everything has come together and I can definitely have another run for the title.”

VITO MIELNICKI JR.

“Being a part of events like this is a blessing and I’m truly grateful. I’m just blessed to be a part of these big events and having a chance to keep growing as a fighter. I’ve been down in Houston, Texas working hard with Ronnie Shields away from my family for the past three months, so we’re just ready to put on a show come Saturday night.

“Ronnie Shields is a Hall of Fame trainer and I think he’s the best trainer in the game right now. To be able to work with a guy with his experience and the greatness he’s been a part of, who wouldn’t want to be around a guy like that? Plus, we got great work with Jermall Charlo throughout the whole camp. At 21 years old, who would turn down that opportunity?

“Alexis Salazar is a great opponent and I’m excited. It’s a step-up fight for me and it’s only going to raise my game. I’m excited to show everyone how I’ve grown in the gym and how I’ve grown as a fighter. We’re going to keep leveling up and getting better and better each time we get in the ring.

“The fans should just expect fireworks and an exciting fight. You don’t want to miss it so get there early. Expect a dominant performance come Saturday night.”

# # #

ABOUT BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Press Conference | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ VS. DEMETRIUS ANDRADE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES – November 21, 2023 – Undefeated super middleweight superstar David “El Monstruo” Benavídez and unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade went face-to-face Tuesday in Los Angeles at the final press conference before they headline SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) this Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The press conference also featured WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo and exciting contender José Benavídez Jr., who will meet in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday from The Conga Room at L.A. Live:

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ

“This is a great way to close out the year. I feel like this is going to be the best card of the year because everybody has so much to prove on this card. This is going to be an amazing card and we’re definitely not going to disappoint the fans. These two fights, the co-main event and the main event, can be the fights of the year. We’re just looking forward to giving the fans what they want to see.

“This is the best fight that can be made because he’s at the top of the division. He showed the world that he’s a really good fighter. He’s an Olympian and a two-division world champion. It’s the only direction that I thought I could go to prove that I’m the best. He’s not an easy opponent. He’s very technical. He has very good defense. But I always find a way to win and Saturday night is not going to be any different. I’m going to find a way to beat him.

“It’s all fun and games but when I get in the ring, it’s not funny. I send all my opponents to the hospital. Look up my track record.

“I’m going to try to strike as soon as I get the opportunity to strike. I’m going to try to end it as soon as I can because I want to show the people that I am the best fighter and I will find a knockout against anybody. This is what the fans want to see. They want to see knockouts and they want to see people go to war. We can go heart for heart but I’m going to end up victorious on Saturday.

“My last fight, I had even more motivation because it was my first pay-per-view fight. Now that I’m here at the pay-per-view stage, I just want to stay here and keep giving the fans the fights they want to see and keep fighting the best in the world.

“I just want to shut all my critics up. I want to show to myself that I’m the best. I want to fight the best and I want to beat the best.

“All I know is that I worked extremely hard during this training camp. I’ve been training for three-and-a-half months and I put everything into this training camp. I know what’s in front of me. I know he’s a great fighter but I’m going to strike when I see the openings. I’m going to try to knock him out. I’m going to give the fans what they want to see. They want to see a war, so let’s go to war.”

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“Get your popcorn ready. I’m excited for this bout. I’ve been patiently waiting and this is the greatest fight that can be made at 168 pounds right now. We’re two fighters who are willing to make it happen. No fuss, no fight. I’m just ready to go. It’s war time.

“We’re going to beat up Lord Farquaad over there. If you know what that is, you know and if you don’t, you don’t. Look it up. It’s going to be a great night. And the new! And still!

“It’s war time baby. It’s time to fight. David and I agreed to make this happen and now we’re here. At the end of the day, I have nowhere to go and he has nowhere to go. May the best fighters fight each other. That’s what we’re proving and that’s what we’re doing.

“There’s definitely an opportunity where David can walk into a lot of things to end the fight early. It’s all good with me. We get paid. We go home, celebrate and have a good time.

“Vegas is the mecca. It’s the marquee spot in the sport of boxing. We’re about to make history on November 25. Everybody on this card is going to make history someway, somehow.

“I just want to thank the Benavídez family for giving me the opportunity to become a three-division world champion. It’s going to happen because of my energy and me getting groovy, having fun and staying loose.”

JERMALL CHARLO

“I’m ready to step in the ring with a tough opponent in José. His energy is a lot different now than it was in the first press conference. I can’t wait to get in there on November 25 and show the world that I’m back. I’ll be at 168 pounds real soon. Good luck to both guys in the main event. I’m here baby and I’m back.

“He’s shook now that we’re in person. Look how immature he is. He’s not going to do anything on Saturday. I’m not fazed by anything he’s doing.

“I’m going to fight at the top of my level no matter if my opponent is talking trash or not. There’s something wrong with this dude obviously. He’s got a few screws missing. He must not know what he’s getting himself into. 32 have tried and they’ve all failed. He’s just a stepping stone. I’m going to step on him super hard. I’m going to crush him.

“The boxing public is going to be reminded that I fight hard, each and every round. I’m coming to knock him out. And when I say I’m going to do it, I do it.

“I’m going to go out and do my thing. I’m going to listen to my trainers. We came up with perfection on the game plan. I’m really not worried about him. I don’t think he’s small, I know he’s small. Small-minded, small everything. Everything about him is too little for me. Big Charlo is back.”

JOSÉ BENAVÍDEZ JR.

“I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to take on anybody, anywhere, any place. I don’t have much to say, so may the best man win.

“The only reason why the energy is different from the first press conference is because I’m not trying to get this fight cancelled. I told him if he tries to get in my face or act tough, I’m going to whoop his ass. That’s exactly what I’m going to do on Saturday night. I’m just waiting until fight night.

“This is a dream come true. Ever since David and I were kids, it’s something we dreamed about. It took a long time and a lot of hard work, but we’re here as a team and I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else. It’s going to be a good night for the whole Benavídez family.

“If I was just a stepping stone, why didn’t he put the belt on the line? He should be ready to fight for the belt. He’s the champion, right? He looks like a bum.

“I’ve been in the gym and I was training when David was getting ready for Caleb Plant. I feel like I’m ready to go. I feel good. I’m ready to fight.

“I’m going to stop him. Charlo thinks I’m small for some reason. He thinks this is going to be a walk in the park. We’ll see. I’m going to beat him. He’s going to see what he’s really up against.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“We have a fantastic card from top to bottom. We have champions, former champions, rising stars and top contenders all in matchups that will deliver everything boxing fans can hope for in a pay-per-view event. Every fighter stepping into the ring on Saturday night has the opportunity to catapult their careers to the top of their respective division.

“Benavídez vs. Andrade is a tremendous fight between two undefeated fighters in one of boxing’s hottest divisions. Demetrius Andrade said last week that both guys are going to get hit hard. He’s right. That’s what is going to make this such a great, crowd-pleasing fight.

“I’m very happy to have Jermall Charlo back in action. He’s held world titles in two weight classes. He’s handled his personal business the right way out of the spot light and did what’s right for he and his family. Now, he’s back and he’s excited to be back. He’s a man on a mission.

“In José Benavídez Jr., Jermall Charlo has one tough opponent in front of him. He’s focused, he’s motivated and he’s coming with everything he’s got to get that win on Saturday night. Both of these fights have the potential to be all out barnburners.”

# # #

ABOUT BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE

PPV.com Jim Lampley comments on Benavidez – Andrade

Legendary boxing journalist and blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley returns to the ring

this week. Jim will once again be joining PPV.COM to exclusively co-host, with Lance Pugmire, the service’s David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade live viewer chat that complements its live stream of the fight, Saturday, November 25, from the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He will also provide on-site commentary and reports from Las Vegas, generating original video content for PPV.COM‘s website and social media platforms.

What are Jim’s thoughts on this rumble between these two undefeated super middleweight warriors? Glad you asked.

“This is a MUST matchup for the continuation of a logical narrative in both the 168 lb. weight class and the pound for pound sweepstakes in the sport. As logical opponents for Canelo Álvarez going forward, both Benavidez and Andrade figure into both those narratives. The winner looks forward toward large horizons, the loser can argue he is not eliminated from the picture, but rather has accepted a setback by taking on a particularly difficult style matchup for him and his specific skill set.

“To win, Benavidez must go forward aggressively and impose his advantages in size and power, while Andrade must make Benavidez miss and then make him pay, employing superior elusiveness and counterpunching. Their styles are made for each other.

“Benavidez is a young, confident, charismatic destroyer with unusual straight-ahead power and aggressive fighting instincts. Andrade is a superbly conditioned, athletically gifted southpaw counterpuncher with guile, craft and experience.

“In sum, the winner becomes a logical opponent for Canelo Álvarez at 168 lbs., as both Benavidez and Andrade have been circling Canelo and hunting this opportunity for the past couple of years.”

JIM LAMPLEY

Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class. He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting. He began his broadcasting career with ABC Sports, as television’s first football sideline reporter.

PPV.COM
PPV.COM will be live-streaming Benavidez vs. Andrade in the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, November 25, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, for $74.99 PPV.COM | Benavidez vs. Andrade. No subscription is required. The audio feed will be available in both English and Spanish. 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.

Benavidez-Andrade: Only a broadcast network for next year is mandatory

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s not exactly a surprise that the World Boxing Council decided this week that the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade winner will be Canelo Alvarez’ mandatory challenger.

It only would have been news if the WBC had not done so during its Uzbekistan convention, a gathering that did produce headlines, including WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman’s silly fight with The Ring, a magazine older than any acronym and a century-old publication that charges a subscription fee but never a sanctioning fee.

I’ve written for The Ring.

I’ve got a subscription.

I buy my own belts.

Conventions, of course, are always trying to create news, and — from bridgerweight to franchise belts — the WBC has generated its share.

The Ring, which awards its own championship belts, “threatens the credibility’’ of boxing, Sulaiman told iFL TV. Year-in, year -out, boxing does a pretty good job of that, all by its lonesome.

Nevertheless, I’m sure the WBC-versus-The Ring will never be a Fight of the Year contender. X-worthy, maybe. Pay-per-view, definitely not.

It’s an unfortunate sideshow, a diversion from what will happen on Nov. 25 with the Benavidez-Andrade fight at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. It’ll be the beginning of Showtime’s end, it’s final pay-per-view boxing telecast.

That’s what threatens boxing.

Not The Ring.

It’s an existential threat, one that will be there no matter who – Benavidez or Andrade — emerges from the super-middleweight bout as Canelo’s mandatory challenger.

What’s really mandatory is a network, a streaming or lineal TV partner with the cash and clout to stage a projected May or September fight featuring Canelo, boxing’s highest earner over the last several years.

Canelo got a reported $12 million in 2013 for his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Since then, his purses have doubled, tripled. His guarantee for a trilogy victory over Gennadiy Golovkin in September 2022 was reported to be $45-million.

Is there any network willing to join Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) in a partnership to pay that much to Canelo against the Phoenix-born Benavidez or Andrade?

There’s no answer, and there doesn’t figure to be one until after Nov. 25. The aggressive Benavidez is about a 4-to-1 favorite over the skilled Andrade. Canelo-Benavidez figures to be a better sell than Canelo-Andrade. Canelo-Benavidez, Mexican-versus-Mexican-American, has been one fight fans have been demanding for a couple of years.

Maybe, that demand is high enough to interest a network. For now, however, it’s only a question, one that’s also creating uncertainty about a contracted Terence Crawford-Errol Spence rematch, projected for early next year.

For as long as there’s no network, there’s no sequel.

Crawford, who was stripped of the International Boxing Federation’s welterweight title just months after his brilliant summer stoppage of Spence, was asked about it while in Vegas for the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos late Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena.

“I don’t know,” Crawford told reporters at the weigh-in Wednesday. “It’s still up in the air, given the fact that Showtime has no longer decided to do boxing. So, everything’s up in the air right now with that.’’

Up and ominous, a real threat instead of an imaginary one.

AUDIO: Jaron Ennis “Cody Crowley turned me down for Benavidez – Andrade card”

VIDEO: Jaron Ennis “Cody Crowley turned me down for Benavidez – Andrade card”

JIM LAMPLEY’S EXCLUSIVE RUN WITH PPV.COM EXTENDED THROUGH 2024!

NEW YORK — In response to overwhelming viewer demand and boffo reviews, PPV.COMannounced today that it has extended its exclusive relationship with legendary boxing journalist and blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley through 2024. Lampley, who ended his nearly five-year hiatus from boxing to work the Canelo Alvarez – Jermell Charlo World Super Middleweight Championship fight for PPV.COM, in September, will continue to co-host the service’s viewer chats in real time for the fights it will be live streaming and provide fight week on-site commentary, reports and original video content for PPV.COM‘s website and social media platforms. Lampley’s next event with PPV.COM will be the 12-round super middleweight battle of the undefeated between two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavidez and two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, live from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. To order the fight through PPV.COM, click here: Benavidez vs. Andrade.

“Who knew it would be so much fun to provide live chat during big fights on PPV.COM? Lance Pugmire knew, and he told me so, and via that friendship a great new relationship arrived, Lampley said. “I’m delighted to be headed back to Las Vegas for Benavides vs Andrade, and looking forward to frequent PPV.com engagements going forward. Sharing with Lance, responding to fans, being in the ringside discussion — live chat rocks!!

“Jim Lampley is back at ringside right where he belongs and based on fan reaction at the Canelo-Charlo fight and from viewers who tuned in on PPV.COM, boxing is for the better for it. Jim is rarin’ to go for the upcoming David Benavidez – Demetrius Andrade fight where he will be chatting live from Mandalay Bay on Saturday, November 25,” said, Dale Hopkins, President and CEO of iDEMAND and PPV.COM.

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Benavidez vs. Andrade 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.

JIM LAMPLEY

Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class. He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years, and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.

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 80 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 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 to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turn-key PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers. For more information, go to indemand.com.

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE BAY AREA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

SAN CARLOS, CA. – November 10, 2023 – Undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade held a Bay Area media workout on Friday ahead of his showdown against unbeaten two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez headlining SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see the 2008 U.S. Olympian Andrade look to go home with Benavidez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title and earn a signature victory in his already accolade-filled career.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

Here is what Andrade had to say Friday:

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“I have a lot of strengths. With my athletic ability and my preparation, I can beat anyone. This has really been a great camp. We’ve gotten through the ups and downs and we’ve done everything we need to do to get the victory in this matchup.

“I’ve fought every style there is today. I just have to go in there, find his weakness and figure out what’s going to work.

“I’m gonna step forward with my best foot and I expect David to do the same, even though his feet are not as great as mine. We’ll be having fun in there.

“I’ve waited my whole career for this. With what we both have inside of us, it’s gonna make it a great fight.

“I don’t really know his strengths until I get in there, but from watching him, he likes to overwhelm his opponents. That’s really all I see. November 25 tune in and I’m gonna expose his weaknesses.

“This is the best fighting the best. It’s a great moment. The timing couldn’t be any better. It’s the fight that makes all the sense in the world right now.”

# # #

ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. ANDRADE

Benavidez vs. Andrade will see undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez defend his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo against exciting contender Jose Benavidez Jr. in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event. Plus, hard-hitting IBF 140-pound world champion Subriel Matias faces unbeaten mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Hector Luis Garcia duels top-rated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach in the telecast opener.

TWO SENSATIONAL MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT BENAVIDEZ VS. ANDRADE SHOWTIME PPV® COUNTDOWN SHOW STREAMING LIVE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

LAS VEGAS – November 8, 2023 – Two sensational matchups featuring a former world champion, exciting contenders and a rising star will highlight the SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show on Saturday, November 25 leading up to the David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade SHOWTIME PPV from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The action is topped by former world champion Sergey Lipinets taking on exciting contender Michel Rivera in a 10-round super lightweight fight, plus sensational prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. faces Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round super welterweight attraction. The live stream will begin at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and be available on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing^® Facebook page. The show will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

These fights will lead into a four-fight pay-per-view telecast beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and headlined by undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez defending his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade in one of the most intriguing matchups in the star-studded 168-pound division.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

Lipinets (17-2-1, 13 KOs) will look for another statement victory on his road to re-claiming a 140-pound world title. After a decorated kickboxing career, Lipinets began boxing professionally in 2014, eventually capturing a world championship with a November 2017 unanimous decision over Akihiro Kondo. Originally from Kazakhstan and now fighting out of Southern California, Lipinets dropped the title in a 2018 clash against four-division champion Mikey Garcia on SHOWTIME^® before making a run at welterweight. At 147-pounds, Lipinets stopped two-division champion Lamont Peterson and challenged current top welterweight Jaron Ennis unsuccessfully in April 2021. Most recently, Lipinets returned to 140 pounds to stop former world champion Omar Figueroa Jr. in the eighth round in August 2022 on SHOWTIME.

Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and now training out of Massachusetts, Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs) burst onto the scene in 2019, making his United States debut with a victory over Rene Tellez Giron on SHOBOX: The New Generation^®. The 25-year-old continued his ascent with five more victories in 2020 and 2021, before beginning 2022 with triumphs over Joseph Adorno and Jerry Perez. Rivera’s momentum was halted in his last outing, as he dropped a showdown between then unbeaten lightweights, losing a decision to Frank Martin in December 2022 on SHOWTIME. He will now debut at 140-pounds seeking to get back on track toward a world title.

Representing Roseland, N.J., Mielnicki (15-1, 10 KOs) has shown improved power in recent outings, stopping three of his last four opponents, including a highlight-reel KO of Jose Sanchez Charles in April. This victory was Mielnicki’s second of the year, as he stopped Omar Rosales in four rounds in January. The 21-year-old first turned heads during his exceptional amateur career where he compiled a 147-22 record and was named the Most Outstanding Boxer of the 2011 Junior National Golden Gloves, amongst many accolades before turning pro.

Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and now fighting out of Norwalk, Calif., Salazar (25-5, 10 KOs) put together a 15-fight winning streak between 2015 and 2020, eventually earning a shot against top middleweight Carlos Adames that he lost in June 2021. The 28-year-old has won two out of three fights since that outing, including a decision loss to unbeaten Xander Zayas in December 2022. Most recently, Salazar stopped David Rangel in the fifth round of their June showdown.

The non-televised undercard will see Panama’s Pablo Vicente (23-1, 17 KOs) battling Tajikistan’s Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (20-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round WBC Super Featherweight Title Eliminator, Mayweather Promotions’ rising prospect Curmel Moton (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round super featherweight showdown against Memphis-native Hunter Turbyfill (3-0, 1 KO), plus undefeated Milwaukee-native Daniel Blancas (7-0, 4 KOs) meets Texas’ Raiko Santana (10-3, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout.

Rounding out the lineup is unbeaten lightweight Jabin Chollet (8-0, 7 KOs) stepping in for an eight-round bout, a six-round super lightweight showdown pitting Israel Mercado (9-1-1, 7 KOs) against Wesley Rivers (4-3), plus welterweight prospect Alex Holley (1-0) duels Las Vegas’ Allen Medina (0-1) in a four-round fight.

# # #

ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. ANDRADE

WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION JERMALL CHARLO BATTLES EXCITING CONTENDER JOSE BENAVIDEZ JR. TOPPING STACKED SHOWTIME PPV® UNDERCARD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

LAS VEGAS – November 1, 2023 – Undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo will battle exciting contender José Benavídez Jr. in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event of a stacked SHOWTIME PPV undercard on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view will also see hard-hitting IBF 140-pound world champion Subriel Matías against unbeaten mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev, plus WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Héctor Luis Garcia duels top-rated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach in the telecast opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The event is headlined by undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez defending his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade in one of the most intriguing matchups in the star-studded 168-pound division.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

“Boxing fans will get a full feast of action on November 25 with three high-stakes fights leading up to the SHOWTIME PPV main event between David Benavídez and Demetrius Andrade,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jermall Charlo will look to show why he’s the top middleweight in the world against the highly-motivated José Benavídez Jr., while champions Subriel Matías and Héctor Luis Garcia will enter the ring seeking to hold off fast-rising mandatory challengers Shohjahon Ergashev and Lamont Roach. From start to finish, fans watching on pay-per-view and at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas are in for a memorable night where every bout could truly steal the show.”

The 33-year-old Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) will return from a layoff of over two years, having held the WBC middleweight belt since 2019 with a run that includes a dominant victory over top middleweight contender Sergey Derevyanchenko in their September 2020 showdown. Charlo’s 160-pound victories have come after a championship reign at 154-pounds that lasted from 2015 through 2017. He has compiled a perfect 7-0 record since moving up to middleweight and owns victories over former champions Julian Williams, Austin Trout and Cornelius Bundrage at super welterweight, with both Williams and Bundrage succumbing to highlight-reel KO defeats.

“It’s been a long road to this point, but only the strong survive and I’m built different,” said Charlo. “I’m looking forward to reminding everyone that there is a reason why Jermall Charlo is an undefeated world champion and one of the best fighters today pound-for-pound. This is the next chapter of my life and it’s going to be my best, so I want all my fans to tune in on November 25, because I’m going to light up Las Vegas.”

Phoenix’s Benavídez (28-2-1, 19 KOs) is the older brother of headliner David Benavídez and is trained by his father José Sr. A long-established contender who was a highly decorated amateur, Benavídez moved up to super welterweight after dropping a 2018 world title challenge to Terence Crawford, concluding a long run at 147 pounds. He moved up to 154 pounds in July 2022, battling two-division champion Danny Garcia for 12 rounds before losing by a close majority decision. Benavídez made his 160 pound debut in August, blasting out veteran Sladan Janjanin in round five.

“I’ve been working hard and I feel strong and ready to take him out,” said Benavídez. “I’ve been wanting to fight Charlo for a while. I’m going to come that night and show him what I’m about. But I’m not here trying to use words. I don’t need to say anything. I’m going to let my fists do the talking in the ring on November 25.”

The 31-year-old Matías (19-1, 19 KOs) captured the IBF 140-pound championship in February, stopping the previously unbeaten Jeremias Ponce after five rounds of fast-paced, back-and-forth action on SHOWTIME^®. Matías has shown that his power lasts throughout a fight, as his last seven victories have come via stoppage in round five or later. The lone loss of his career came against Petros Ananyan via 10-round unanimous decision in 2020 and was later avenged. Matías, of Farjado, Puerto Rico, faced two unbeaten boxers after the loss, defeating Malik Hawkins and Batyrzhan Jukembayev by stoppage. In the rematch with Ananyan, Matías emerged victorious by ninth-round TKO, methodically wearing his opponent down and exhausting him before dropping him and ending the action.

“I would always rather let my hands do the talking inside of the ring, but I’m very excited for this fight,” said Matías. “This is a great opportunity to be a part of a big event in Las Vegas. I had my only loss there, so I’m going to avenge that defeat on November 25 and show everyone that Subriel Matias is here to stay. I’m dedicating this fight to my hometown of Maternillo and the people of Puerto Rico.”

Born in Uzbekistan and now fighting out of Detroit under the tutelage of renowned trainer SugarHill Steward, Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs) has dominated his competition since turning pro in 2015, earning his shot at the world title. After the 31-year-old made his U.S. debut in late 2017, he stopped the previously unbeaten Sonny Fredrickson in three rounds in January 2018 in his second bout stateside. He’d follow that up in 2019 by winning a unanimous decision over Mykal Fox, handing him the first defeat of his career. Ergashev most recently scored a pair of victories in 2022, shutting out Luis Alberto Veron on his way to a unanimous decision in May, before stopping Angel Martinez Hernandez in the fifth round in August.

“It’s been a long journey to finally get this opportunity to fight for the world title,” said Ergashev. “On Thanksgiving weekend I will make the whole journey worthwhile. The U.S.A. is the land of opportunity and I want to thank my team for always believing in me. It’s also exciting to be fighting with SHOWTIME, where I’ve had many fights throughout my career. With my trainers Sugarhill Steward and Theo Chambers in my corner, history will be made November 25 and Uzbekistan will finally have a world champion.”

García (16-1, 10 KOs) followed up his spectacular 2022 in January by challenging boxing superstar Gervonta Davis for his lightweight world title on SHOWTIME PPV, giving Davis a competitive bout before losing in round nine. García has fought professionally since December of 2016 after a stellar amateur career that included representing his native Dominican Republic in the 2016 Olympics and a runner-up finish at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. Now training in Las Vegas under the watchful eye of respected trainer Bob Santos, García scored one of the biggest upsets of 2022 , dropping and defeating then unbeaten Chris Colbert in February of that year. Nearly six months later, García captured the world title with a one-sided unanimous decision over incumbent Roger Gutierrez in August.

“I’m happy to be back returning to the ring and fighting at my natural weight,” said Garcia. “I’m really looking forward to getting in there and defending my title against Lamont Roach. He’s a tough opponent, but I’m at my best at super featherweight and I’ll be ready for everything he brings. I’m having a great training camp and I can’t wait to show the world the adjustments I’ve made since the Gervonta Davis fight.”

The 28-year-old Roach (23-1-1, 9 KOs) enters this fight on a four-bout winning streak, earning his position at 130 pounds by defeating Angel Rodriguez via unanimous decision in their July 2022 title eliminator. Roach’s current run comes after he dropped a November 2019 130-pound world title fight via decision against Jamel Herring. A native of Washington, D.C., Roach began his pro career in 2014 with 16straight victories following an impressive amateur run that included a 2013 National Golden Gloves Championship and the honor of being named USA Boxing’s Most Outstanding Boxer.

“He couldn’t run for long, but we’re finally here,” said Roach. “I’m extremely excited for this fight and this opportunity. The world is going to get used to their new world champion and it starts when I get my hand raised on November 25.”

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Benavidez-Andrade: Lots on the plate for Thanksgiving weekend fight

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s a Thanksgiving weekend fight, a main event between David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade and a Holiday date projected to lead to a possible fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Sorry for the Thanksgiving reference, but it could set the table for what might be the biggest fight in 2024, which is planned for another May 5 celebration, Cinco in Mexico and Canelo de Mayo in Vegas

But there were no thanks for Canelo Thursday.

There were questions, of course. Follow the money. In boxing, that means follow Canelo.

“F— Canelo,’’ Andrade said Thursday in the first formal news conference announcing his super-middleweight fight with Benavidez at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay on Nov. 25, the Saturday after Turkey day.

Even without the Canelo intrigue, it’s an interesting fight, especially for Benavidez, who has formally changed his nickname since he overwhelmed Caleb Plant in a punishing late-round assault in a scorecard victory last March.

Benavidez used to call himself El Bandera Roja, The Red Flag, as in warning. But the Phoenix-born fighter, who will be 27 on December 17, has outgrown that one. By now, the warning is well-known enough to make some – perhaps even Canelo – wary.

Now, Benavidez calls himself “El Monstruo,” The Monster. That’s how he was introduced at Thursday’s newser in Los Angeles. In part, it’s what Mike Tyson called him more than a year ago. In fact, Tyson called him The Mexican Monster. But Benavidez simplified it, stripping it down to a scary simplicity. Trick or treat, he sees himself as The Monster, no nationality needed.

Canelo seems to have his own name for Benavidez. When asked about him after his one-sided decision over Jermell Charlo a few weeks ago, he used the same language that Andrade did Thursday.

“I don’t effing care,’’ Canelo said more than once.

Subtract the effing and that’s pretty much what Benavidez said about Canelo Thursday.

“I’m not worried about Canelo,’’ said Benavidez, who went on to say that only the Andrade fight concerned him.

On several levels, it was the right thing to say, of course. In tone, however, it was a different Benavidez, more pragmatic and perhaps a lot wiser. For a couple of years, he was always calling out Canelo with volumes of unabridged trash talk.

But the talk only seemed to anger Canelo, whose celebrity and documented pay-per-view number gives him all the leverage. He put Gennadiy Golovkin on ice, denying him a third fight until it was too late for GGG. Why? Maybe, because GGG angered him when he accused Canelo of being a user after a positive test for clenbuterol.

Silence on Canelo looks to be a smarter negotiating tactic. Besides, there’s only Andrade for now.

Lose to him, and Benavidez likely says goodbye to a chance at big money and a share of legacy. The oddsmakers like Benavidez to beat Andrade, a 35-year old former junior-middleweight and middleweight champ who will be fighting at 168 pounds for only the second time.

Benavidez, who will make his second appearance on Showtime pay-per-view, opened as a solid favorite, minus-320, which means he’s given about a 78 percent chance at winning.

Andrade, however, has a chance in part for skills that many say Benavidez does not have. Andrade has an Olympic pedigree. That means footwork and a high ring IQ. A fighter with an educated skillset say the critics, including ESPN analyst Tim Bradley, who says the 2008 Olympian’s footwork could lead to an upset.

“That’s why I’m taking this challenge,’’ Benavidez said. “I want to shut everybody up.’’

However, Benavidez dad, Jose Benavidez Sr, continues to talk, buoyed perhaps by his son’s powerful dominance, especially over the last four rounds.

“I think David stops him in the eighth round,’’ Jose Sr. said.

That would say it all.

NOTES: Initially, Benavidez-Andrade was headed to San Antonio, according to multiple sources and reports. It was moved to Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena within the last week. The move makes sense. Benavidez’ fan base is Phoenix, his hometown. Vegas is a lot closer to Phoenix than San Antonio. 15 rounds talked to some Benavidez fans. They said there’s a better chance of them traveling to Vegas than San Antonio on Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets went on sale Thursday.

There have been several reports that Benavidez’ older brother, Jose Benavidez Jr. will fight middleweight champion Jermall Charlo on the undercard. However, that bout has yet to be announced.

LIVE VIDEO: David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade: Kick-Off Press Conference | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT SUPERSTAR DAVID BENAVÍDEZ DUELS TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION DEMETRIUS ANDRADE HEADLINING SHOWTIME PPV® SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT

LAS VEGAS – October 12, 2023 – Undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez will defend his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Benavidez vs. Andrade is one of the most compelling matches in the super middleweight division, pitting two undefeated boxers with world championship pedigrees and intriguingly combative and difficult styles to solve, as Benavidez is a come-forward, hard-nosed warrior, while Andrade is a master technician of the sweet science.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available through AXS.com.

“Saturday, November 25 is going to be a holiday feast for boxing fans, with high-stakes matchups from top to bottom, all headlined by one of boxing’s most dangerous stars in David Benavídez taking on his most accomplished foe to date in Demetrius Andrade,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This will be another night that promises start to finish fireworks on SHOWTIME PPV and live in the boxing capital of the world in Las Vegas.”

“Just like David Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade is a fighter nobody wants to face, so it’s very exciting that these two bogeymen of boxing will be facing each other on November 25,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “I expect Demetrius to come with his best because of the huge opportunity that will await the winner of this fight. I give David Benavidez all of the credit for once again proving that he will fight anyone at any time. He is a true champion and this will be another great fight.”

“Benavidez vs. Andrade is a career-defining matchup of two of the most avoided and skilled fighters in boxing whose desire to be great and will to win should push them both to be at their best on Nov. 25,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “This event continues a torrid run of big events on SHOWTIME PPV and will include an undercard of competitive, compelling fights that have become the standard for SHOWTIME PPV events.”

The 26-year-old undefeated Benavídez (27-0, 23 KOs) returns after besting longtime rival Caleb Plant via unanimous decision in a SHOWTIME PPV slugfest from March. 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 and trains in Seattle, Washington, Benavidez has stamped his place in the super middleweight division with knockout power in both hands and improving ring savvy with each 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 really excited to come back again and fight on pay-per-view,” said Benavidez. “Andrade is a slick fighter, but I’m the bigger, stronger and better boxer. I know the kind of fight that fans expect from me, so I’m putting in the work every day so that I can step into the ring on November 25 and go for the knockout. I’m coming to show everyone why I’m ‘El Monstruo’ at 168 pounds.”

A 2008 U.S. Olympian from Providence, Rhode Island, Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) captured world titles at 154 and 160-pounds with sublime precision punching and defensive prowess as he fights for the second time at 168 pounds. The 35-year-old first captured a 154-pound title with a 2013 victory over Vanes Martirosyan, winning another belt at the weight class by defeating Jack Culcay in 2017, before moving up to middleweight. Andrade won a dominant decision over Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018 to win a vacant world title at 160 pounds, before putting together a string of five consecutive title defenses. Andrade debuted at 168 pounds in January, dropping Demond Nicholson twice on his way to a shutout unanimous decision. Before turning pro, Andrade was a prolific amateur, winning the World Amateur Championship once and the U.S. Amateur Championship twice, while racking up victories against pro champions Keith Thurman, Daniel Jacobs, Shawn Porter and Austin Trout.

“I’m having a great training camp and I can’t wait for November 25,” said Andrade. “I expect myself and David Benavidez to bring our best on fight night and give the fans a memorable matchup. I have the tools and ability to beat anybody, and I’ll win this fight because of the confidence I have in my skills.”

# # #

PRE-SALE BEGINS TODAY AT 10 AM PT, TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW FOR SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT STARS DAVID BENAVIDEZ AND DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

LAS VEGAS – October 11, 2023 – Pre-sale tickets will be available beginning today at 10 a.m. PT for the matchup between undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavidez and unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade taking place Saturday, November 25 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Pre-sale tickets are available today from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC

Public on-sale begins tomorrow, Thursday, October 12 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

# # #

Davis Stops Hector Luis Garcia After 8; Retains Lightweight Crown; Sets up Showdown with Ryan Garcia

In a fight that started slow, Gervonta Davis needed just a a few seconds in round eight to land two hard shots to the jaw of Hector Luis Garcia and get a stoppage win after Garcia could not come out for round nine in front of a sold out crowd of 19, 731 Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

When the fight got going, Garcia fought well by mixing in body shots to offset Davis trying to land power shots from the outside. The fight was on even terms as it headed into the eighth round. Even in round eight, Garcia began the stanza well by working the body. Late in the round, Davis landed two flush lefts that hurt Garcia. When Garcia got to the corner, he did not come out for round nine and the fight was officially stopped at 13 seconds.

Davis, 134 lbs of Baltimore will now take on Ryan Garcia, presumably on April 15th with a record of 28-0 with 26 knockouts. Garcia, 134 lbs of the Dominican Republic is 16-1.

Gervonta Davis

“A little surprised (he didn’t come out). But I knew he was hurt bad but he’s a fighter and he didn’t want to show it. I knew he was hurt though.

“I feel as though – I have stuff to work on. Everything. I’m a fighter and I’m not retired so I’m always willing to learn.

“I wasn’t throwing a lot of shots (in the beginning) because I was trying to beat him mentally. I was trying to trick him with my hands and my eyes and things like that because he’s a tough fighter. I had to bait him.

“His southpaw style bothered me a little bit because I don’t fight a lot of southpaws but it’s okay; it’s a part of the game.

“God willing I’m ready for the fight (with Ryan Garcia). It’s scheduled for April. I’m here. He’s been training. He’s been talking. And let’s see who’s really about that.

“On my end I’m ready. I’ll be in the gym Monday. Well, not Monday. I’ll probably take a week off but I’ll be back for sure soon.

“I have to bring my people in close and listen to my close ones, listen to Al Haymon and just stay focused. There’s a lot of bumps in the road but if we stay focused together – that’s how I’ll (maintain) longevity in the sport.”

Hector Luis Garcia

“When I got the shot to my head in the final round, that’s when I couldn’t see from my eye. I didn’t know where I was when he hit me with that shot. My vision is back but my head still hurts. I couldn’t see from my right eye. It was going well up until that point. I was picking my shots.”

Ennis Decisions Chukhadzhian to Win IBF Interim Welterweight Title

Jaron Ennis went the distance for the first time in 20 fights, but won the IBF Interim Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over slippery Karen Chukhadzhian.

Ennis pressed the action while Chukhadzhian danced around the outside, and only coming in sporadically. Ennis landed the majority of punches and won by scores of 120-108 on all cards. Ennis landed 203 of 592 punches; Chukhadzhian was 97 of 573

Ennis, 145.5 lbs of Philadelphia is 30-0. Chukhadhian, 146.25 lbs of Kiev, UKR is 21-2.

Jaron Ennis

“We come here to dominate. I feel like I could have thrown more punches. I should stop that guy and that’s on me. I wanted him to engage but we did what we could.

“I learned to just take my time and to not rush anything. I’m glad I went 12 rounds. It felt great. I felt I was in the best shape. I just needed to throw a little more punches. I should have got him out of there.

“He ran a lot. Hats off to him since a lot of guys didn’t want to fight me. So shout out to him for coming here and taking this fight.

“Everyone knows that I want Errol Spence and the winner of Virgil Ortiz and (Eimantas) Stanionis. You know – all the top guys. Let’s get it, you know?

“I’ll wait until the time is right and (Spence) is ready.”

Roiman Villa Scores Two Late Knockdowns to win Majority Decision over Rashidi Ellis

Roiman Villa needed all 36 minutes to score a 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Rashidi Ellis in an IBF Welterweight Elimination bout

It was a fight that Ellis controlled early with his jab. Villa was applying pressure. Villa was slowing gaining momentum in the fight when in round 12, Villa decked Ellis with a vicious left hook to the jaw. Villa continued landing hard shots to Ellis, who at this point was backtracking and trying to land shots while going backwards. In the final seconds, Villa dropped Ellis again with a hard right hand.

Ellis landed 268 of 604 punches. The knockdowns were the difference as Villa was just 114 of 631.

Villa, 146.75 of Venezuela won by scores of 114-112 twice and 113-113 to raise his mark to 26-1. Ellis, 146.25 of Lynn, MA is 24-1.

Roiman Villa

“First of all, thank God for this victory. Second of all, he was a tough fighter. He moved a lot. He does hit hard. The first couple rounds I was a little tight but then I got loose.

“I was on top of him from the first round. I know that fighters such as him who are quick sooner or later will get a little tired and that’s what I took advantage of.

“My corner told me to knock him down (in the 12^th round). I couldn’t do it on the first try but I kept going.

“I thought he just fell on the last knockdown so I wasn’t sure (if it was a knockdown) . But if they want the rematch we’ll give them the rematch.

“I like the Mexican fighters with balls and I like the way he fights so I would definitely give him the rematch.

“I told him after the fight to smile and he had nothing to say.

“I didn’t really feel like I needed the knockout in that last round, I just wanted to dominate.

“Ellis is a good fighter, but this was mostly about what I was able to do. All credit to God for allowing me to come out with my arm raised up high.

“I’m not thinking about the future right now, just soaking in the moment.”

Rashidi Ellis

“I want the rematch right away. I’m fine (physically).

“I thought I was dictating the fight. I don’t know. I don’t know what happened.

“I totally disagree with the decision. I was winning most of the rounds. Yeah, he had the knockdown but other than that I was winning most of the rounds.”

Andrade Decisions Nicholson in Super Middleweight Debut

Demetrius Andrade made his super middleweight debut and the former two-division was successful as he pounded out a 10-round unanimous decision over Demond Nicholson

In round two, Andrade landed a straight left that was followed by a right hook that sent Nicholson on his rear end. Each seemingly scored knockdowns that referee Malik Waleed missed.

In round 10, Andrade landed right hook to the head that made Nicholson’s glove touch the canvas that was ruled a knockdown.

Andrade landed 145 of 325 punches. Nicholson was just 28 of 231.

Andrade, 167 lbs of Providence, RI won by scores of 100-88 on all cards and is now 32-0. Nicholson, 167.25 lbs of Laurel, MD is 26-5-1.

Demetrius Andrade

“I felt good, I can definitely tell the weight difference but the speed and combinations and the IQ was the plan today and that’s what we did. The weight (was different).”

Charlos, Benavidez vs. Plant winner?

“The only way I can say I’m the best is by fighting the best. Everyone knows that Demond Nicholson is a dog. That’s why we took this fight. He took this fight because he knew I was coming up and he definitely has the animal in him. He showed it today and we’re just boxing – IQ.”

On the 10^th round knockdown:

“That was definitely clean. Nice left. Definitely a knockdown. That left hand. Boom. It was great to be here. I want to thank SHOWTIME for the opportunity and PBC and everyone that came out today. It’s me again baby!

“I thought I would be able to get him out of there in the deep waters, but he’s a tough guy. I think we both cut each other early in the fight, but at the end of the day we do what we have to do.

“I threw some nice combinations and some nice hard shots, but he came in shape. People get up to fight me.

“We’re going to look to see who’s available at 168 pounds. I’m just going to get stronger, sharper and faster too.”

Vito Mielnicki stopped Omar Rosales in round four of their eight-round junior middleweight bout.

Mielnicki landed power punches throughout the contest and then unloaded on Rosales on round four and the bout was stopped at 26 seconds.

Mielnicki, 153.2 lbs of Roseland, NJ is now 14-1 with nine knockouts. Rosales, 152.8 lbs of Houston, TX is 9-2-1.

Brandun Lee remained undefeated by stopping Diego Luque in round four of a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

Lee dominated the action and then landed a bevvy of hard punches that forced the corner of Luque to throw in the towel at

Lee, 141.4 lbs of a Quinta, CA is 27-0 with 23 knockouts. Luque, 141.2 lbs of Cordoba, ARG is 21-11-2.

Travon Marshall needed just 48 seconds to obliterate Shawn West in a six-round welterweight bout.

Marshall landed flush and hard power shots from the opening bell until fight was stopped at 48 seconds.

Marshall, 149.8 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD is 7-0 with six knockouts. West, 151.2 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 7-3-1.

Keeshawn Williams won a six-round unanimous decision over Gustavo David Vittori in a welterweight bout.

Williams, 146,2 lbs of Lanham, MD won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 11-1-1. Vittori, 145.6 lbs of Argentina is 26-12-1.

Former world champion Lamont Peterson tried to come back after a four-year retirement only to be stopped in round four of a six-round super lightweight bout to unheralded Michael Ogundo.

In round four, Peterson was dropped hard with a right hand. He was in serious trouble when Ogundo followed with a hard flurry that forced Peterson’s corner to wave the towel at 2:05.

Ogund0, 140.2 lbs of Quincy, MA is 17-16 with 14 knockouts. Peterson, 141.6 lbs of Washington, DC is 35-6-1,

Kyrone Davis took an eight-round unanimous decision over Cristian Fabian Rios in a super middleweight contest.

Davis, 163.8 lbs of Wilmington, DE won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 17-3-1. Rios, 164.4 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 23-16-3.

Jalil Hackett made quick work of Joel Guevara by scoring an opening round of their four-round super welterweight bout,

Hackett dropped Guevara in the opening round with a hard right hand. Hackett was all over Guevara and sent him to the canvas a with a left hook and the fight was stopped at 2:11.

Hackett, 156.2 lbs of Washington, DC is 5-0 with four knockouts. Guevara, 155.8 lbs of Charlston, WV is 4-9-1.

Mia Ellis stopped Karen Dulin in the opening round of their four-round lightweight bout.

Ellis scored two knockdowns and the fight was called after the second knockdown at 1:53.

Ellis, 128.2 lbs of Baltimore is 6-1 with five knockouts. Dulin, 129.8 lbs of Portsmouth, NH is 5-26-1.

GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HECTOR LUIS GARCIA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 4, 2023 – Five-time world champion and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis donated fight night tickets to local youths at the Kennedy Recreation Center during Wednesday’s media workout that kicked off fight week activities for his WBA Lightweight Title defense against unbeaten world champion Héctor Luis García on SHOWTIME PPV this Saturday January 7 from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The workout also featured fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard, including unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis and IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian, who meet for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title in the co-main event, unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis and hard-hitting Roiman Villa, who square off in an IBF Welterweight Title Eliminator, plus undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Demond Nicholson, who kick off the pay-per-view telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with a 10-round super middleweight matchup.

Rounding out the workout lineup was sensational prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr., who takes on Omar Rosales in a super welterweight tilt that tops the three-fight SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show that will stream live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT. Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and capitalonearena.com . The Ennis vs. Chukhadzhian bout is promoted in association with D&D Boxing.

Davis made the donation Wednesday alongside Delano Hunter, the Director of the Parks & Recreation Department and Danielle Hunter, the Roving Leader Manager for the department. Here is what the fighters had to say from the Kennedy Recreation Center in Washington, D.C.:

GERVONTA DAVIS

“This means a lot. I’ve actually fought in this gym before as an amateur. I’m happy to be home in front of a great crowd. I know that Hector Luis Garcia is going to come to fight and we’re going to give the fans what they want to see.

“Garcia did what he had to do to earn this fight. He beat a top contender and then won the belt. Giving him the shot was the perfect timing for everyone. He’s earned his stripes.

“Our main focus is Hector Luis Garcia. We know that he’s a threat to everything I want to do. The goal is to put on a great performance, nothing else.

“Coming up through my whole career, back to the amateurs, I had to fight in D.C. if I wanted to get to the nationals. I’ve been fighting in D.C. forever and it’s like a second home to me.

“Calvin Ford is family. My trainers have been like dads. They’ve been in my corner since I was eightyearsold. We’re definitely a tight unit.”

HECTOR LUIS GARCIA

“It’s going to be all about how the fight starts out. I respect him and I know what he can bring, so I’m going to have to study him and see how the fight shakes out in the first few rounds.

“I know that I have an advantage with my reach. It definitely could be a factor in this fight. But at the same time, I have to take the fight moment by moment and be attentive to every detail. It’s so important against an opponent like Gervonta especially.

“This fight is not only important to me, but to the whole Dominican Republic. I’m going up against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and I know that I have to be ready for that challenge. I’m coming to show the world that superstars can fall too.

“I can guarantee that the Dominican Republic will be proud of me. Our flag will be raised up high. Everyone can expect a great performance from me on Saturday night.

“I’ve been fighting since I was 14yearsold and I come from a very small province in the Dominican Republic. I’ve had to earn everything I’ve ever gotten. This is a great opportunity and I’m ready to capitalize.”

JARON ENNIS

“I’m feeling great and ready to go. Training camp has been great. I’m in tremendous shape and I’m 100% ready to rock and roll.

“I’ve got a lot of motivation and I can’t wait until Saturday night. I feel like this is another step toward greatness and getting those belts.

“It’s not hard to be the next guy up. I just have to stay focused and do what I do. I know my time is coming real soon. It’s that simple.

“I know Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are holding up the division right now, but whatever way I can get my hands on the belts, I’ll be ready. I just want to fight. I’m young, hungry and I’m going to keep shining and demolishing these guys they put in front of me.

“Getting knockouts gives the fans what they want and makes them keep gravitating toward me. As long as I keep doing what I’m doing, my fan base is just going to grow.

“I know Spence says he’s the ‘big fish,’ but we like to go fishing. If I have to sit on the side and ride a jet ski for a while, that’s okay for now. You know what happens when they bring a fish to land right? They squirm.”

KAREN CHUKHADZHIAN

“People pay to see a great fight, so I’ve been training hard in order to deliver that. I want all the fans to remember that I bring action to the ring. I’m coming to win this fight for everyone back in Ukraine.

“I’m coming here to win. If he wants to avoid going toe to toe, then I’ll be ready to box. If it’s a battle on the inside he wants, I know that I can win that way.

“I know that Ennis is a good fighter, but my focus is on my abilities and what I can do in the ring. I’m very confident. I have everything I need to win this fight.

“It’s very motivating to be fighting in the U.S. for the first time, and on a big stage like this. My goal is to keep coming back for bigger and bigger fights.”

RASHIDI ELLIS

“I’m ready for any of the top dogs. I’d step in there right now with anyone in the top five. Ideally, I’d fight the champions, but right now I’m ready for the best man available.

“I feel like it’s my turn now. Especially after January 7. I think everyone is going to see that I’m coming to take over.

“We’re going to have to see what Villa brings into the ring. He’s a come forward fighter, which can be a difficult task for some. He’s gonna have to show me in the ring. I don’t think he’s going to be able to just walk me down.

“I see a lot of things that I can do in there, that I don’t think he’s capable of. I’ve been the best kept secret, but I’m not a secret anymore. I’m here now.

“I don’t really have any rivals yet because nobody wants this action. Nobody wants to get in there with me. I’d love someone to talk trash with and make the fights even more exciting.”

ROIMAN VILLA

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to step into the ring on Saturday night. I’m beyond excited to show the whole world what I can do against Rashidi Ellis.

“I wasn’t as prepared for my last fight as I wanted to be, but I still got the victory. Right now, I’m feeling really good and more prepared than I’ve ever been.

“I’m extremely confident heading into this fight. I don’t care if people say that I’m the underdog, because I believe in myself and I know what I can do. It doesn’t matter what Ellis can or can’t do. I believe in myself and my abilities.

“Anything is possible with a victory in this fight. I’m willing to step into the ring with anybody. I trust my team, and if they want me to face Jaron Ennis next, then bring it on.”

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“I jumped on the opportunity to be on this card with all these young stars. I know everyone is coming to do what they do, and I’m gonna set the stage right. I respect what Nicholson can do and I know he’s leaving it all in the ring. But my skills will speak louder than my words.

“I was trying to get the big names at middleweight, I was knocking on everyone’s door, but at the end of the day, it didn’t happen. Everything happens for a reason, and I believe that this is the best division for me.

“At the end of the day, all the fights at the top of the division will be tough. I would have to look real close to break down who the biggest challenge is, but I’m giving them all credit and acknowledging that they’re all gonna be tough fights when we get in there.

“I want to give the sport what they’re looking for. Because that’s also what I want with myself. Me and Jermall Charlo have had this rivalry brewing for years. It’s nothing but respect, but I want to take care of it in the ring. Who else is calling him out the way I am?

“I want the Charlo twins, I want David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. I’m ready for anyone who wants to put on a big show.”

DEMOND NICHOLSON

“Andrade definitely has an awkward style, but I’ve been boxing my whole life. When it comes to skill and timing, it wasn’t hard for me to prepare. You’ll see that on Saturday night.

“This is definitely the biggest stage I’ve been on, but it’s not my first rodeo. I’m not really motivated by the crowd, I’m more just excited to get this victory.

“My advantage right now is that I’m mentally more prepared than he is. I’m feeling as strong mentally as I ever have in my career.

“I’m not thinking about anything past this fight. It’s only Plan A now. From here on out, I feel like I’m staying at this level. This is where I belong.

“For this whole entire training camp I’ve been envisioning the victory. I’ve been playing it in my mind over and over again. The doors are wide open now. It’s all about taking it Saturday.”

VITO MIELNICKI JR.

“We had a great training camp with ‘Chino’ Rivas and now we’re just ready to put on a show. I’m excited to be back in a position to showcase my talent on a big stage.

“The 154-pound division, and the divisions around it, are all really exciting. There are a lot of top guys and eventually the big fights will be able to get made. Right now we’re in the growing stage of my career and we’re going to keep learning. When the time comes, we’ll be ready.

“Everyone goes on their own path in this sport. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes you see fighters rush and their career doesn’t go the way it should. We’re going to take our time. We’ll know when it’s time to take that next step.

“I’m in great condition because I’m always staying in the gym. I stay ready because you never know what type of opportunity might come your way.”

# # #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. GARCIA

Davis vs. Garcia will see undefeated five-time world champion and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis take on unbeaten world champion Héctor Luis García for Davis’ WBA Lightweight Title on Saturday, January 7 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis returning to action to take on the IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title in the co-main event, while unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis faces the hard-hitting Roiman Villa in a high-octane 12-round duel. Kicking off the pay-per-view telecast is undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade stepping into the ring for a 10-round super middleweight clash against Laurel, Maryland-native Demond Nicholson.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and capitalonearena.com . The Ennis vs. Chukhadzhian bout is promoted in association with D&D Boxing.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #DavisGarcia, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

JARON ENNIS, RASHIDI ELLIS, DEMETRIUS ANDRADE AND MORE VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 29, 2022 – Fighters competing on the Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis Garcia SHOWTIME PPV undercard on Saturday, January 7 took part in a virtual press conference on Wednesday before they step into the ring in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The virtual event featured unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis and IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian, who meet in the co-main event for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title, unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis and hard-hitting Roiman Villa, who meet in a 12-round fight, and undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Laurel, Maryland-native Demond Nicholson, who clash in a 10-round super middleweight fight opening the pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

JARON ENNIS

“My motivation is to one day be undisputed at 147 pounds. I’m motivated every day, so this is just another day in the office for me.

“It’s all about fighting the best. I want to fight all the top guys and the guys that everybody knows. But things don’t always go how they’re supposed to. Rashidi Ellis is next. That’s a great matchup.

“I feel like I just have to keep winning and doing my thing. On January 7 it’s another step toward me getting my hands on those titles. Maybe I have to talk a little bit more, but I’m really a vicious dog that just likes to bite.

“I don’t want to be somebody that I’m not. I’m going to be myself and be humble. I’m going to do this my way.

“I’m going to go in there and have fun and be smooth. We have to see what he brings to the table. My time is now. I want to win in dominating fashion, and that means a knockout.

“This is business as usual, with a suit and tie on. It’s time to work. Only difference is I brought in a new strength and conditioning coach for this one. I’m feeling great and I’m ready to rock and roll.

“You can always better yourself and get better at everything. We’ve been working on a lot of jabbing and a lot of pressure. But we’re really working on everything.

“It’s boxing, anything can happen. You can fight the best fighter in the world and you can knock him out in two seconds. The big names are coming, I just have to be patient.”

KAREN CHUKHADZHIAN

“I’m very motivated for this fight. There is a lot for me to prove in my first fight in the U.S. This is definitely going to be a hard fight, but I’m ready for it. I’m preparing to come in and win.

“I look at this fight as a challenge. I’ve been waiting to step up the quality of my opponents. I’ve wanted to fight a guy like Ennis for a while and I’m going to be ready for him.

“I’m going to the U.S. not to get a paycheck, but to give everyone a good fight. I’m not going to give up until I accomplish my goal.

“I want the fans to enjoy this fight. That’s a big part of my job. I’m going to be surprising everyone with what they see from me.

“I only have good things to say about Jaron. He’s a very high-level boxer. We’re watching each of his fights and specific moments in those fights. He’s on the same level with the champions.

“I want to keep fighting people at the top level. I want to put myself in line with all of the top fighters in the division.”

RASHIDI ELLIS

“I’m always in the gym training, so I’m going to be prepared for this fight. I was dealing with a lot in the past, but now I’m here and ready to keep pushing forward with my career.

“Villa has power, he’s tough and he comes forward. He’s also coming off a great win. I know he’s going to be tough, but I’m coming to beat him down.

“I feel like I’m the future of the welterweight division. If a fight with Jaron Ennis comes my way, why not? I’m ready.

“We’re going to find out how tough this test really is on January 7. I’m ready for all the big names at 147 pounds.

“He’s going to come forward and apply pressure, but I’ve been dealing with that my whole life. He can do what he wants. At the end of the day, I’m coming out victorious.

“I’m smart in the ring and I adapt. I don’t think people know about my power. I’ve got some thunder to go with my lightning.”

ROIMAN VILLA

“We’re going to have to wait until fight night to see if any of his words mean anything. I’m not trying to anticipate too much before the fight. In the end, he’s going to have to prove what he’s all about.

“This fight means a lot to me, because it gives me an opportunity to fight for a world title. Whatever happens, this is a fight that I’m going to give my best effort for.

“I’m going to keep being humble and keep doing my job. I’m coming to fight. If Rashidi wants to take me out, he knows he’s going to have to do everything in his power. I’m not going to be easy to take down.

“I’m going to go out there, do my best and finish the night with my hand raised. I’m feeling great and I know there’s only one way this fight ends.

“I feel strong and confident. As a fighter, you have to adjust to whatever comes your way. I know that I have all of the tools that I need to succeed.”

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“I’m on a new journey to be a three-division world champion. Nicholson is one of the few who accepted a fight with me. He stepped up to this challenge and I take my hat off to him. I’m looking to get in there with the top names.

“Every fight is a chance to make a statement. There’s not just one fight that catapults you. Every fight is high stakes to me. I don’t look past anybody. We’re both looking to take each other’s head off.

“I’m preparing to be on top. I don’t look past anybody, but I’m confident and I know what I can do. I want Jermall Charlo, that’s what I’m here for. I’ve got a left hand for him.

“I know that I’m in a position now to get the fights that I need for my legacy. There are big names in front of me. I’m looking to make the fights happen.

“I want people to hear from me. Directly from the source. This is me writing my own chapter and the truth will be told.

“I gotta bounce these gloves off Demond’s forehead. That’s what I’m coming to do. I want to put that leather on him. I need a performance that will make people say that they need to see me again.”

DEMOND NICHOLSON

“Beating Andrade would help me rewrite my story. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in the game of boxing. So this win is going to help me start a new narrative.

“I just have to go in there and do what I do best, which is box. I think Andrade is one of the sharpest boxers on the planet, he just has his own style. I just have to box the way I know how.

“I can definitely put the division on notice. My belief is that me beating Andrade won’t stop him from eventually getting the big fights he wants. My only objective is to win and shock the world. Then I can get the fights that I need for my own legacy.

“All of my losses pointed out a specific story that was going on in my life. After the Edgar Berlanga fight, I really had to sit down and map things out as far as life. I don’t look at those defeats as losses, I look at them as lessons. Now I’ve learned my lessons and it’s time to get on the biggest stage of my career.

“It’s time for me to show where I belong. I’ve never lost faith in myself. I know my power and I know where I stand in this world and in boxing.”

# # #

ABOUT DAVIS VS. GARCIA

GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HECTOR LUIS GARCIA WASHINGTON, D.C. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 5, 2022 – Undefeated five-time world champion and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis went face to face with unbeaten world champion Héctor Luis García at a press conference on Monday before they meet for Davis’ WBA Lightweight Title on Saturday, January 7 headlining a SHOWTIME PPV from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Davis has established himself as one of boxing’s hottest, must-see attractions, capturing five world titles through three divisions, and will need to dispatch the dangerous and streaking Héctor Luis García to pave the way for the recently announced blockbuster clash against unbeaten star Ryan Garcia in the spring of 2023.

Monday’s press conference also featured fighters who will be competing on the pay-per-view undercard telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. In attendance Monday was unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis, who faces IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title, unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis, who duels the hard-hitting Roiman Villa in a 12-round fight, and undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Laurel, Maryland-native Demond Nicholson, who clash in a 10-round super middleweight fight opening the pay-per-view.

Here is what the fighters had to say Monday from The Hotel Washington:

GERVONTA DAVIS

“This is another event that we’re excited for. I’ve been working hard and I appreciate everybody that’s come out today. This is a stacked undercard, it almost feels like I’m back in the amateurs with all these great fighters.

“We’re gonna go back into training camp right after today because we’re not sleeping on this guy. I know we have two fights lined up, but I’m only focused on this one. I’m ready to go through everybody that’s in my way.

“This is really important for me. It’s huge to open up the opportunity for other fighters to showcase their skills on the big stage. When you make your mark in the sport, it’s about coming back and showing other people that it can happen for them.

“This is just me trying to get over that hump. I don’t think of it as a dream come true. I’m not where I want to be yet. This fight is the next step.

“It feels good to be back home. All the greats have fought here and now I get to come back home and put on a great event. I love getting everyone together to have a party. That’s what it is. We grind in the gym and a lot of people don’t see that, so when the big event comes, it’s time to show up.

“I’m just ready to shut everyone up. All the talking that’s going around, I just want to go in the ring and shut them all up.

“I’ve always been the guy who stays focused and knows that whoever is in front of me is a threat. We know that Garcia is coming. I’m watching him a lot. I know what they’re doing day in and day out.

“There are a lot of young fighters coming behind me and I just want to be able to give them the platform that they deserve.”

HECTOR LUIS GARCIA

“I’m very happy to be here in this position. I’ve worked extremely hard to make this my year. I’m going to make this a great show for the boxing fans and the Dominican Republic. My team is going to have me ready for this fight on January 7.

“I’m not fazed by anything people say. I know who I am and I know what to do. My preparation has been so good that I’m going to be ready to give 100%.

“I know that I have the height advantage, but I can adapt myself to the rhythm of my opponent. I know that I’m facing one of the best fighters out there, but I’m fully confident I have what it takes to win.

“I’m taking my normal approach to this fight. I’m a great fighter too and I have Olympic experience. We have no reason to change our preparation for this fight.

“If I beat ‘Tank’ on January 7, I’d be happy to go after a fight against Ryan Garcia. I don’t think he’s on the same level as me and Gervonta.

“I feel at home here. I’m sure that I’m going to get a lot of support for myself. Most importantly I’ll have my family here getting my back.

“We’re coming to make this a battle. Whether it’s toe-to-toe or he wants to move and box, me and my trainer are ready. We trust each other and that goes a long way in fights like these.

“I want to make my name in this sport and make it last a lot longer after I’m around. I’m taking it one fight at a time, but I have big goals that I’m looking to reach.”

JARON ENNIS

“Fighting on this card is everything. It’s my first time on pay-per-view and it’s a big moment for me. Philly isn’t too far down the road, so it’s basically going to be like fighting at home.

“It means a lot to put Philly on my back. You have to be a certain type of fighter to be a Philly fighter. We always find a way to win and that’s me.

“I definitely feel like I already should have had my world title shot. I’ve been calling out the champions for years. I’ve been ready and they’re just making it worse for themselves by making me wait longer.

“I love fighting in D.C. It’s going to be a beautiful night and an explosive fight. I’m coming for the knockout and I’m coming to do it in spectacular fashion.

“I’m not too familiar with my opponent, but I’m sure he’s a great fighter. He’ll bring that European style and try to make it hard for me, but I’m going to put on a show and get the knockout.

“I’m talented and strong. I work hard and do everything I’m supposed to do. I’m always one step ahead of these guys.

“Eventually the champions are going to have no choice but to fight me. If it’s not the champions next, then I’ll take a Keith Thurman or a Yordenis Ugas fight in a heartbeat.

“We prepare for everything, not just one way of fighting. We have some European guys in our camp so that I can prepare for that style. It’s not going to be anything new to me.”

RASHIDI ELLIS

“I’m excited to be back. I hear I’m facing a tough fighter, so I’m just motivated to be back in a tough fight.

“I’m just happy to be back and kick some ass on January 7. Now I get to showcase my talent and be more active. The more active I am, the better Rashidi Ellis that you’re going to see.

“I’m just training hard and getting ready for a big fight. I’m like a kid going to the park when it’s time to fight.

“The goal is to take over the division in 2023. It starts with this fight. I just have to be ready for my opponent, because I’m sure he’s going to be extremely motivated, just like I am.

“We were frustrated with some of the time off, but we just kept training and doing what we had to do.

“This is going to be a great show from top to bottom. Being on pay-per-view, it’s a great opportunity to show off my talent.

“I just can’t wait to fight. I know that my time is coming. I just have to take it one fight at a time and display my talent.

“My great boxing ability, my IQ and my speed is going to let me pick my opponent apart.”

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

“I’m feeling good. This is a new journey. I’m looking to become a three-division champion. I’m thankful to have this opportunity to showcase my skill and talent on this beautiful card.

“At the end of the day, nothing guarantees a Canelo Alvarez fight. Right now I’m looking at Caleb Plant, David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo. I want all those big names.

“SHOWTIME is a great place to be. I’ve had my journey through my boxing career and now I’m writing my own chapter. January 7 is an opportunity to do what I do best.

“There are a lot of great fights that can be made at 168 pounds and I’m looking to make them. This is a great position right now for me to make those fights.

“My experience and my amateur pedigree will be the difference. My IQ, my talent and my skill overall are going to be huge for me.

“I’m ready to tangle. We both said yes to the fight, and may the best man win. At the end of the day we’re both going to bring our best to the table.

“I’m looking to show that I’m the best. Let’s make this happen. There’s no more excuses. This fight is a stepping stone toward making those things happen and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I did my thing at 154 and 160 and now I want to move on to this journey at super middleweight and make it happen.”

DEMOND NICHOLSON

“This is probably the biggest fight of my career, so I’m just looking forward to seeing Andrade in that ring. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.

“I have to take advantage of his age. I’ve got the advantage with youth and I have to use that to help me in this fight.

“My home is 15 minutes away from here, so the support I’m going to receive is going to be drastic. It’s going to be full of my friends and family. It’s time to put on a show and really get my name in the books. This is really my chance.

“I’m 100% healthy right now. It’s time to really go full-fledged forward. I’m feeling great right now.

“This fight with Andrade is bigger than Benavidez if you look at it from boxing and skills wise. For me this is like fighting Canelo. It’s a big fight.

“For me it’s about working smarter and believing in myself and my team. I just have to go out there and do what I do best.”

CALVIN FORD, Davis’ Trainer

“This fight is important to us. We’re trying to take the hardest fights. Hector is coming to fight. He’s had two impressive wins and is a real world champion. This is a fight that we asked for. I always say that the road to success is through D.C., and now we’re here.

“We can’t sleep on Garcia. He’s got a great team and we’re going to be up for the task. Gervonta is going to make everyone remember him. We don’t talk, we just show y’all.

“The only thing on my mind is Hector Luis Garcia. He’s bringing a lot to the table. People know he’s the real deal. Hector is standing in front of us. We have so much pain and we need to release it before we go to the next level.

“They don’t want to give him his props, but that’s good. We’re from the mud and we know how to play in the mud.

“Gervonta is coming into the man that we’ve been training for years. We understand that this fight is the main fight toward the other fight. I’m talking to a grown man now. I’ve been with him for so many years, and it’s so amazing to see him go from a kid to a grown man.”

BOB SANTOS, Garcia’s Trainer

“We’re really thrilled to go against pound-for-pound one of the best fighters in the world. We’re excited about the opportunity.

“We haven’t done anything different than what we’ve done in the past. Everyone should really tune into this fight, because it’s going to be an all-time classic. At this point, Gervonta is the best 135-pounder in the world.

“This fight reminds me of Joel Casamayor vs. Diego Corrales and I’m expecting that kind of performance. I know that these fighters are going to bring the best out of each other.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

“2022 has been an exciting year for SHOWTIME BOXING. As strong a year as it was, I think 2023 will be bigger and better. There’s no better way to kick off the year than with Gervonta Davis, the hottest young star in the sport.

“There’s one fighter at lightweight who stands out above all others, and that’s Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. He’s sold out arenas in Baltimore, Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York City, and I’m sure we’ll be adding Washington D.C. to the list shortly. There is no other fighter doing what Gervonta is doing.

“Few fighters have made such a big impact in such a short amount of time as Hector Luis Garcia has in 2022. Garcia pulled off a huge upset over Chris Colbert, with a dominating performance. Then he followed it up with another dominating performance to win the title. Few fighters have had a better year than him. He’s big, he’s tough and he has a strong amateur background. Above all, he’s not intimidated by anyone.

“January 7 is a card stacked with top names in meaningful fights. All of these fighters on one card is going to be a late Christmas present to the fans. In my mind, this is as strong of a pay-per-view card as we’ve had in recent memory.

“This is a great fight town and I know that they will be supporting this event. This will be the biggest fight night in the city since Mike Tyson fought here 15 years ago, and you cannot miss it. We’ll see you on January 7.”

# # #

STAR-STUDDED SHOWTIME PPV^® UNDERCARD LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 EVENT FROM CAPITAL ONE ARENA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 5, 2022 – Three star-studded undercard attractions highlight a can’t-miss night of boxing on Saturday, January 7 on SHOWTIME PPV when undefeated five-time world champion and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis takes on unbeaten world champion Héctor Luis García in the main event from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis returns to action to take on the IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title, while unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis faces the hard-hitting Roiman Villa in a high-octane 12-round duel. Kicking off the pay-per-view telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade steps into the ring for a 10-round super middleweight clash against Laurel, Maryland-native Demond Nicholson.

“With a blockbuster main even matchup, it is fitting that the pay-per-view undercard will be jam-packed from top to bottom with some of the sport’s best and most intriguing fighters in high-stakes clashes,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jaron Ennis, Demetrius Andrade and Rashidi Ellis have all shown off their immense talent throughout their careers and will all look to take important steps on January 7 in Washington, D.C. Ennis is one of the sport’s bright young stars and will be looking to move even closer to a world title fight, while Ellis is deep into his own ascent on the 147-pound crown. Kicking off the telecast is the dangerous two-division champion Andrade, who can send a message to the rest of the 168-pound division when he opens the pay-per-view. This card is lined up to deliver from open to close and has all the makings of a night of non-stop action.”

Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) is the latest in the pantheon of outstanding Philadelphia fighters, combining elite boxing skills with natural power in both hands. After two appearances on SHOBOX: The New Generation^®, the 25-year-old Ennis graduated to headlining his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast in April 2021, as he became the first fighter to stop former world champion Sergey Lipinets. He followed up that performance with an impressive first-round stoppage of Thomas Dulorme in October of that year, before most recently blasting out Custio Clayton in two rounds in May in his ninth appearance on SHOWTIME^®. The knockout victory gave Ennis 19 KOs in his last 20 fights, with the only blemish being a no-decision in the first round against Chris van Heerden in December 2020.

“I can’t wait to start 2023 off right by putting on another explosive performance for my fans,” said Ennis. “I respect all my opponents and am training harder than ever to come out victorious on January 7 to move one step closer to becoming world champion. Next year is going to be the most significant year of my career and it all starts with this fight. My time is now.”

The 26-year-old Chukhadzhian (21-1, 11 KOs) rose up the IBF rankings with a pair of stoppage victories in 2022, dispatching of Ryan Martin in eight rounds in January prior to retiring Blake Minto after six rounds in July. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Chukhadzhian now fights out of Germany as he prepares to make his U.S. debut on January 7. The only blemish on his record came in his second pro fight, a three-round split-decision loss in a tournament-style bout.

“When the offer to fight Jaron Ennis came to us, we immediately agreed,” said Chukhadzhian. “Ennis is a very good boxer. However, both Armenian and Ukrainian blood flows through my veins, and I’m not traveling to the U.S. for a check, but with the goal of showing that all of the hard work we put in was not in vain. We are preparing in the gym, where there is no water and light because of the war. But what doesn’t break us only makes us stronger. I’m confident I will have my hand raised on January 7!”

The 29-year-old Ellis (24-0, 15 KOs) returned to the ring for the first time since October 2020 in July, blasting out Jose Marruffo in the first round. His previous outing had seen him earn an impressive unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Alexis Rocha. Originally from Lynn, Mass., Ellis also owns a pair of victories over veteran contender Eddie Gomez, including a first-round knockout over Gomez in December 2016, before winning by unanimous decision in their 2019 rematch.

“I’m grateful to be stepping into the ring on such a big card to show off my talents,” said Ellis. “I want to thank my whole team for this opportunity and I can’t wait to make the most of it on January 7. I’m ready to go out and accomplish my goals. I’m coming to take care of the welterweight division one fight at a time.”

A native of Rosario, Venezuela, Villa (25-1, 24 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his most recent bout, as he made a memorable U.S. debut by dropping the previously unbeaten Janelson Bocachica on his way to a unanimous decision in a September edition of SHOBOX: The New Generation. The 29-year-old has fought professionally since 2015, scoring knockouts in all of his first 24 victories prior to the decision in his last bout. The only blemish on Villa’s record came via a narrow split-decision against Marcos Villasana in a 12-round 2019 bout.

“I am having a great training camp right now and preparing to be at my very best on January 7,” said Villa. “I’m looking forward to being able to show all my power and preparation in my next fight against Rashidi Ellis. This is my chance to show that I’m going to be a world champion in the welterweight division.”

A 2008 U.S. Olympian^® from Providence, Rhode Island, Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) has captured world titles at 154 and 160-pounds as he now embarks toward becoming a three-division world champion. The 34-year-old captured the 154-pound title with a 2013 victory over Vanes Martirosyan and went on to defend the belt four times before moving up to middleweight. At 160-pounds, Andrade won a dominant decision over Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018 to win a vacant world title, before putting together a string of five consecutive title defenses, including most recently stopping Jason Quigley in two rounds in November 2021.

“My goal right now is to become a three-division world champion,” said Andrade. “Super middleweight is a stacked division with more characters to make some great fights for the fans. I hope Demond Nicholson has a safe camp and brings his very best to the table so that we can have a great showing on this card. I’m ready to display my talent and skill on my journey to becoming a three-division world champion.”

Currently riding a three-bout winning streak, Nicholson (26-4-1, 22 KOs) will look to impress on the big stage not far from his hometown of Laurel, Maryland. The 29-year-old’s current run came after a 2021 decision defeat against Edgar Berlanga, and most recently saw him stop Christopher Brooker in August.

“This is a great opportunity for me to attack my dreams,” said Nicholson. “A win on January 7 is going to get me closer to accomplishing the goals I have in this lifetime. I am ready for anything my opponent is going to bring to the ring, so the fans should expect a great fight for as long as this one lasts.”

# # #

PARKER-ANDRADE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

WBO INTERNATIONAL SUPER middleweight champion Zach Parker, along with his promoter Frank Warren and manager Neil Marsh, convened at the BT Sport Studios for the opening press conference ahead of his challenge for the WBO Interim world title against the unbeaten two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade on May 21.

Pride Park Stadium, the home of Derby County Football Club will play host to the spectacular event.

Andrade, who is awaiting a passport renewal, joined proceedings over Zoom and below is a selection of key quotes from the media gathering.

Photos from the press conference can be downloaded here.

Frank Warren
“On a number of fronts it was important to win the purse bid for this fight. It is for the Interim title so for the winner there is Canelo – who is the current champion – fighting next at light heavyweight. Is he going to stay at that weight where the winner of this will get a shot at him because the mandatory will be due. If he gives up the title the winner of this Interim title will be installed as champion.

“From the perspective of Zach I was determined to win the purse bid and give him every opportunity I can because he is with us and is a joy to work with. He has been No.1 with the WBO for quite a while now and is only 27 years of age. He is not only fighting in his hometown, he is fighting at Pride Park, home of his local football club. The reason we are putting it on there is because I want the fans in Derby to get behind him and I am a big believer in trying to get every advantage you can for your fighter.

“Demetrius is a two-weight, three-time world champion who is moving up to super middleweight, while I feel Zach is bordering on being a light heavyweight. He is very underestimated in my opinion as a boxer. We know he can punch and I hope the advantages we have secured will translate to a win for him on the night against a real good quality fighter in Demetrius, who we all respect.”

Zach Parker
“This is the biggest fight of my career and I am going to take it with both hands. He is a two-weight world champion but he is getting on a bit now and I just think it is my time because I am up and coming.

“I want to say thanks to Frank Warren and all my team for getting behind me and getting this in Derby, especially at my football club at Pride Park. I am just looking forward to the fight now.

“I think everything is going in my favour, Obviously I am young, it is happening in my backyard and the reaction from the crowd has been huge. It will favour me and I will show it on fight night.

“He is coming up a weight and I just think I am too big and too strong. You’ve seen in other fights he’s been hurt. When I land I won’t let up and I will get him out of there.”

Demetrius Andrade
“I can’t wait to get over to England and I believe Frank Warren is going to do a great job getting the Derby fans and my fans as well into the stadium. It will be a great fight, I can’t wait to showcase my skills and talent and put on a great performance.

“I am excited to be coming over because I am a world champ who has travelled all over the world and been in the lion’s den plenty of times. Who am I to say I am the best if I can’t go to someone’s back yard and give him an arse-whooping. That is just how it is. Anybody else who lost a purse bid might have pulled out and gone a different route, but that is not me and Zach is going to get the opportunity to have the biggest fight of his life.

“It is a great opportunity for him, for me, and the best will move on and forward. This is the fight game so anyone I get in the ring with I am going to lay hands on and bash up. I look at Zach as a young kid trying to make a name for himself and he is going to bring his A-game and the best performance of his life against me.

“Hopefully he brings out the best in me and we have a great performance.”

Neil Marsh
“Me and Zach have been together for six years now and it has been tough getting here. He’d be a much bigger name now if the previous people had promoted him correctly and 14-15 months ago we were looking for a promoter who could take us all the way to the top. We didn’t speak to any other promoter because it was Frank Warren who we wanted to lead us into this next chapter.

“You only need to look at Frank’s history to know why we signed with him. He honoured his word and got us the development fights and collectively as a team we believe Zach is ready to go. We are not underestimating Demetrius, who is avoided in the US and I think people could have done a better job for him, hence why he has entered into this agreement with Zach Parker.

“Boxing is about timing and this kid here deserves every bit of spotlight he is going to get. The kid is a beast and, because people haven’t seen him on the big stage enough, there is a question mark over him. Let’s be honest, Demetrius’ passport has expired because he didn’t expect to be coming to England. No disrespect, but I think he has got greedy and they are all thinking about Canelo money.

“He is going to come to Derby and meet Zach Parker, who is not Liam Williams or Brian Rose. This is a real ding-dong of a fight and my man is going to come out on top.”

Tickets for Parker v Andrade start from £55 and are available exclusively from dcfc.co.uk with £10 from every ticket sold going to DCFC to help the club through the current financial hardship.

Secure your place to support Zach and the club on a not-to-be-missed night at the Pride Park Stadium!

A full undercard will be announced in due course.

Please Note: This event is subject to contract and licence approval.

PARKER SET TO LIVE HIS DREAM

ZACH PARKER DESCRIBES fighting Demetrius Andrade on the hallowed turf of his hometown football club as the stuff of dreams.

The super middleweight destroyer takes on the unbeaten American for the WBO Interim world title at the Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County FC, on May 21.

Parker has blasted out all before him since teaming up with Frank Warren and Queensberry, scoring brutal knockouts victories over Vaughn Alexander, Sherzod Khusanov and Marcus Morrison – three men who had not previously been stopped.

Now he goes up against the formidable Andrade, a world champion at both super welterweight and middleweight.

Parker insists it is his time now and a changing of the guard will take place in the middle of the pitch at Pride Park, suggesting Andrade has miscalculated the scale of the job in front of him.

“I am obviously over the moon and it is a dream for me,” said the 27-year-old. “Fighting for the Interim title against one of the best out there in Andrade, a two-weight world champion and awkward southpaw.

“I am ready for it and he has made a bad decision coming over to Derby in front of what will be a hostile crowd at Pride Park. He is coming up a weight as well, so nothing is in his favour.

“I just can’t wait now,” he added, before reflecting on the gesture of donating £10 from every ticket sold back to his team in a time of financial strife.

“I said with us doing it at Pride Park that we need to give something back to Derby because they are going through hard times. With £10 from each ticket going to the club what more incentive is there needed for fans to get behind me now?

“It is amazing to be able to do it and hopefully it will help out the club.”

While his local team battle against points deductions and strive to remain in the Championship against all odds, Parker believes his region is in need of another hero.

“Derby is such a big team and we need a winner to get behind. I’ll be that winner. I am undefeated in 22 fights and Derby is such a good county and on May 21 everyone will see what Derby is all about.

“We are going to light up Pride Park,” is Parker’s prediction, another being that the reign of Andrade will come to an abrupt conclusion.

“My style is all wrong for everyone. Every time I face someone I change my style to work in my favour.

“I think he is on his last legs and his promoter hasn’t got behind him, has he? Not like my promoter, that is what you are meant to do and get behind your fighter. He is 34, coming up a weight against someone who is big for the weight. You could see that in my last fight against Marcus Morrison, when a middleweight comes up I just put them to sleep.

“Trust me I will be the first to stop Andrade and I haven’t been as confident about anything in my life. I’ve been waiting for these big fights to show what I am about and on May 21 everyone will know who Zach Parker is.”

Tickets for Zach Parker vs Demetrius Andrade at Pride Park on Saturday, 21st May go on sale at 11am on Thursday, 31st March.

Fans are advised to sign-up for Ticket Alerts at frankwarren.com to receive the ticket link directly to their inboxes.

A full undercard will be announced in due course.

Please Note: This event is subject to contract and licence approval.

MAY 21: HOME FIXTURE FOR ZACH PARKER

Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County Football Club, will stage the WBO Interim Super Middleweight world title clash between Zach Parker and the unbeaten two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade on Saturday, 21st May 2022, live on BT Sport.

In what will be a huge occasion for knockout artist Parker 22-0 (16 KOs) and the city of Derby, the lifelong fan of the Rams will get to live out his dream of fighting on the pitch of his local football club.

With the clubs financial struggles this season being well known, Queensberry Promotions knew there was a responsibility to help, so £10 from each ticket sold goes directly back to the club to support the future of DCFC.

Since teaming up with Frank Warren and Queensberry, the 27-year-old has clocked up three spectacular and emphatic wins to reinforce his position as No.1 contender in the WBO rankings.

Parker wowed BT Sport viewers with brutal knockouts of Vaughn Alexander, Sherzod Khusanov and Marcus Morrison. None of the three men had previously been stopped.

“This is a dream come true,” said Parker. “As a fighter you have various hopes when you start out in the sport. I think every one of us dreams of headlining a show at the football team you support, I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet to be honest.

“It will be incredible to walk-out and see the stadium packed with fans, I can’t wait. Demetrius is a great champion and props to him for coming over here but I know I have the beating of him, I’m too big for him. We’ll see on the 21st, but someone’s ‘0’ has got to go!”

Andrade, 34, widely known as Boo Boo, began his world championship reign at super welterweight with victory over Vanes Martirosyan in 2013. The WBO title was defended on four occasions, including a stoppage victory over Britain’s Brian Rose in 2014.

His middleweight crusade began in 2018 when he won the vacant WBO title by virtue of a points verdict over Walter Kautondokwa. His title at 160lbs has been defended five times and the super-slick southpaw remains champion at the weight. Notable wins at middleweight have come over Liam Williams and the Irishmen Luke Keeler and Jason Quigley.

“There can be no questioning the pedigree of Demetrius Andrade,” said promoter Frank Warren. “It is why we went above and beyond to win the purse bid to give our man every crucial advantage.

“It is going to be such a special night on 21st May and I feel sure the Derby public will come out in force to roar Zach on in the biggest fight of his career.

“When we teamed up with Zach he revealed his dream of fighting at Pride Park – where he is a dedicated supporter of his home team – and we set about making his dream become a reality. Added to that, the £10 going to the club is something I hope inspires the fans to come and support Zach and DCFC in even larger numbers than we predict.

“We have done this before in recent years for Josh Warrington in Leeds and Carl Frampton in Belfast and both were successful on magical nights. I see no reason at all why Zach cannot experience similar joy.

“Andrade is top-drawer and we know this, but he is moving up a weight to super middle, which is natural territory for Zach and he is a monster at the weight. Other British and Irish fighters have struggled to fathom out Andrade, but Zach is the complete package. Not only does he carry a huge punch, but he is also tall and technical with an excellent boxing brain.

“It all adds up to a cracking fight and a huge night for Derby. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone at the club who have helped to make this happen.”

Tickets for Zach Parker vs Demetrius Andrade at Pride Park on Saturday, 21st May go on sale at 11am on Thursday, 31st March.

Fans are advised to sign-up for Ticket Alerts at frankwarren.com to receive the ticket link directly to their inboxes.

A full undercard will be announced in due course.

Please Note: This event is subject to contract and licence approval.

PARKER: “I AM COMING WITH THE SMOKE”

Andrade Destroys Quigley in 2

Demetrius Andrade remained undefeated and retained the WBO Middleweight title with a 2nd round destruction of Jason Quigley and SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

In round one, Andrade rocked Quigley with a right hook and a follow up shot put the Irish challenger on the canvas. In round two, Andrade landed a wicked overhand left that put Quigley down again. Andrade landed a leaping left that sent Quigley down and the fight was stopped at 2:24

Andrade, 160 lbs of Providence, RI is 31-0 with 18 knockouts. Quigley, 159 1/2 of Ireland is 19-2.

“I did what I said I would do, I looked good and felt good,” said Andrade. “I delivered a message tonight – what’s next and who’s next.

“Every time I get in the ring, I do something different, and I can do it all, and whatever I need. Patience. So many times, you see people get knocked down and then they knock the other guy down. So, I keep patient in there and wait for the shots to land. But you asked for KOs, and I give you KOs so let’s go.

“I’m 31-0, Olympian and World champion, so what more do I need to do?”

Martinez and Arroyo battle to a no-contest

The WBC Flyweight title bout was between Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo was postponed three-times, They finally fought on Friday. The fight was full of action, but unfortunately the fight was ruled a no-contest after Arroyo was badly due to a headbutt after round two.

In round one, Arroyo with a hard right hand in between punches. Later in the round, Martinez caught Arroyo with a wicked right that sent him to the canvas. In round two, Arroyo was cut over his right eye. Later in the round, Martinez dropped Arroyo again with a left to the head. With Arroyo bleeding badly, the fight was ruled off after the round.

Martinez, 111.4 lbs of Mexico City is 18-1, 2 no-contest. Arroyo, 111.6 lbs of Fajardo, PR is 21-4, 1 NC

Akhmadaliev Decisions Velasquez; Retains Super Bantamweight Titles

Murodjon Akhmadaliev retained the IBF/WBA Super Bantamweight titles with a unanimous decision over sturdy late-replacement Jose Velasquez.

Akhmadaliev dominated the action as he backed up Velasquez with consistent punching for the duration of the fight.

Akhmadaliev landed 238 of 833 punches; Velasquez landed 170 of 551.

Akhmadaliev, 121.8 lbs of Uzbekistan won by scores of 119-109 on all cards and is now 10-0. Velasquez, 121.6 lbs of Quellon, CHL, stepped in for Ronny Rios who testes positive for COVID-19, is 29-7-2.

Reis Defeats Camara Via Split-Decision to become unified champion

In an action packed 10 round brawl, Kali Reis retained her WBA and won the vacant WBO Super Lightweight title over Jessica Camara.

Camara started strong and was able to get in some good left hooks. Reis came on down the stretch and showed championship experience.

In round 10, Camara was badly cut over her left eye.

The two waged a vicious war in that 10-round as Reis landed some hard punches.

Reis landed 158 of 556 punches; Camara was 159 of 547.

Reis, 138 lbs of Providence, RI won by scores of 97-93 twice with Camara taking a card 95-94

Reis is now 19-7-1. Camara, 139 lbs of Montreal is 8-3.

Reis will now take on Chantelle Cameron for the undisputed title.

“I thought I won the fight,” said Reis. “Jessica put up a brilliant fight, but I do feel I did the cleaner work. I’m so happy and I can’t wait to fight for the undisputed fight next year, that’s my dream.”

Demsey McKean stopped Don Haynesworth in round six of a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

McKean dominated the action and landed a big flurry on the ropes in round six that forced a referee stoppage at 27 seconds.

McKean, 243 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Haynesworh, 293.6 lbs of New Rochelle, NY is 16-8-1.

Nelson Perez remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Raymundo Rios in a junior welterweight bout.

In round one, Perez dropped Rios with a left hook. In round two, Perez sent Rios down again with a left hook.

Perez, 140 lbs of Marlboro, MA won by scores of 40-34 on all cards, and is now 5-0. Rios, 139.6 lbs of Mexico is 3-8-2.

Thomas O’Toole made quick work of Mark Malone by scoring a 1st round stoppage in the four-round cruiserweight affair.

O’Toole landed a devastating left that sent Malone slumped to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:31.

O’Toole, 186.8 lbs of Ireland is 2-0 with two knockouts. Malone., 198.6 lbs of Longview, TX is 1-1.

Khalil Coe and Aaron Casper battled to a four-round majority draw.

Coe, 175.8 lbs of Jersey City, NJ won by scores 39-37 and 38-38 twice.

Coe is 1-0-1. Casperm 174.8 lbs of Augusta, GA is 6-4-2.

VIDEO: Weigh-In: Demetrius Andrade vs Jason Quigley + Reis vs Camara, Akhmadaliev, Martinez & More

WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER FROM ANDRADE VS. QUIGLEY WEIGH-IN

Live on Before the Bell on Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel from 5.30pm ET

4 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight contest

Khalil Coe (175.8lbs)    vs.     Aaron Casper      (174.8lbs)
Jersey City, NJ                        Augusta, Georgia

Followed by

4 x 3 mins Cruiserweight contest

Thomas O’Toole (186.8lbs) vs.     Mark Malone (198.6lbs)
Galway, Ireland                     Longview, Texas

Followed by

6 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest

Nelson Perez (140lbs) vs.     Raymundo Rios (139.6lbs)
Marlboro, Mass.           Durango, Mexico

Followed by

8 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest

Demsey McKean (243lbs)     vs.     Don Haynesworth (293.6lbs)
Queensland, Australia                    New Rochelle, NY

Live on DAZN from 8pm ET

10 x 2 mins WBA, IBO and vacant WBO World Super-Lightweight titles

Kali Reis (138lbs)         vs.     Jessica Camara (139lbs)
Providence, RI                       Montreal, Canada

12 x 3 mins WBA and IBF World Super-Bantamweight titles

Murodjon Akhmadaliev (121.8lbs)         vs.     Jose Velasquez (121.6lbs)
Chust, Uzbekistan                                    Quellon, Chile

Followed by

12 x 3 mins WBC World Flyweight title

Julio Cesar Martinez    (111.4lbs) vs.     McWilliams Arroyo (111.6lbs)
Mexico City, Mexico                                 Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Followed by

12 x 3 mins WBO World Middleweight title

Demetrius Andrade (160lbs)         vs.     Jason Quigley (159.8lbs)
Providence, Rhode Island Ballybofey, Ireland

VIDEO: Press Conference: Demetrius Andrade vs Jason Quigley + Reis vs Camara, Akhmadaliev, Martinez & More

ANDRADE: I’VE BEEN TRAINING TO BE DESTRUCTIVE

Demetrius Andrade has vowed to destroy Jason Quigley and make a big statement as he makes the fifth defense of his WBO World Middleweight title on Friday night (November 19) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, live worldwide on DAZN.
TICKETS START AT $30 (PLUS FEES) AND ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER.COM
Andrade (30-0 18 KOs) has been circling his fellow champions at 160lbs on the hunt for unification battles that have yet to surface, but continues to remain active and fighting hungry challengers like Quigley (19-1 14 KOs), with the 30 year old aiming to become the fourth Middleweight world ruler from Ireland.

‘Boo Boo’ meets his fifth European opponent for his crown and the two-weight World king is determined to send him back empty handed like he’s done to all-comers so far – and deliver a performance that will have fans and pundits clamoring for him to land the big fight he craves.

“I’ve been training to be destructive,” said Andrade. “Someone is going to stop this fight. Put your house on it.

“I look to give everybody a beating in a sense, to outclass them. Going in and knocking people out is cool but I also like to get rounds in and show my skill level. We just saw Canelo and Caleb Plant, it took him 11 rounds to end the fight but I’m not Caleb Plant. There’s a whole lot more in me than what Caleb showed. That’s the type of fight that I would like to get in and do though, to show my skills, my heart, my conditioning, what I am made out of.

“Anyone can get caught with a lucky punch or caught cold and fight’s over. I know KOs sell and that’s cool, but the wealthiest athlete in the sport was Floyd and he didn’t knock anyone out for a long time at the end. So, it’s funny how KO’s sell, but when I get KOs I don’t get the fights; I think that they would rather fight me thinking that I don’t have power rather than having power. At the end of the day, do they want to get in the ring with me? Jason Quigley said yes.

“I have a good contract, I am making good money and at the end of the day, I can’t get frustrated and be emotionally driven as it’s out of my control, I am just focusing on me and right now that’s Jason Quigley on November 19 and I am happy for that as it’s one step closer to show people how much longer are they going to keep avoiding me, but I don’t get paid if I don’t fight so it’s not about them, it’s about me, what am I doing? How do I keep showing people that yes, Demetrius should be fighting them, and we want to see it?

“I’m excited, boxing is back in full force, the fans are back in the arena, and we’re near my hometown and we’re going to bring championship boxing to a state that’s never had it before, that’s a real honor and I am ready to get back in there and show people what I am about.

“My fight in Providence was amazing and I would love to fight there again but New Hampshire is next door so that’s cool too, it’s just a little drive for me so that’s good too!

“Jason was an Olympian, he’s 19-1 and his name was in the mix to fight Canelo at one point, so for me to step in the ring with someone they have to be good and for Canelo to consider fighting someone he must be pretty good – we’re going to do what we are going to do and that’s make quick work out of Quigley.”

Andrade’s clash with Quigley tops a quadruple header of World title action, with Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0 7 KOs) defending his WBA and IBF World Super-Bantamweight titles against José Velásquez (26-9-2 19 KOs).

It’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in the long-awaited showdown between WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) and McWilliams Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) and the fourth World title bout on the bill is the second step on the path to crowning an undisputed women’s champion at 140lbs as Kali Reis (18-7-1 5 KOs) takes on Jessica Camara (8-2) for the WBA, IBO and vacant WBO straps.

David Benavidez stops Andrade, calls out Canelo

LIVE FIGHTS: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Prelims | SHOWTIME PPV Countdown

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Weigh-In | SATURDAY on SHOWTIME PPV

BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND COMMISSION OFFICIALS

Boo Boo: Demetrius Andrade, hard to hit and hard to beat

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Open Workout | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ VS. DEMETRIUS ANDRADE MEDIA WORKOUT AHEAD OF SHOWTIME PPV® SHOWDOWN AT MANDALAY BAY

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Press Conference | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ VS. DEMETRIUS ANDRADE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

PPV.com Jim Lampley comments on Benavidez – Andrade

Benavidez-Andrade: Only a broadcast network for next year is mandatory

AUDIO: Jaron Ennis “Cody Crowley turned me down for Benavidez – Andrade card”

VIDEO: Jaron Ennis “Cody Crowley turned me down for Benavidez – Andrade card”

JIM LAMPLEY’S EXCLUSIVE RUN WITH PPV.COM EXTENDED THROUGH 2024!

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE BAY AREA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

TWO SENSATIONAL MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT BENAVIDEZ VS. ANDRADE SHOWTIME PPV® COUNTDOWN SHOW STREAMING LIVE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION JERMALL CHARLO BATTLES EXCITING CONTENDER JOSE BENAVIDEZ JR. TOPPING STACKED SHOWTIME PPV® UNDERCARD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25

Benavidez-Andrade: Lots on the plate for Thanksgiving weekend fight

LIVE VIDEO: David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade: Kick-Off Press Conference | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT SUPERSTAR DAVID BENAVÍDEZ DUELS TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION DEMETRIUS ANDRADE HEADLINING SHOWTIME PPV® SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 IN PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT

PRE-SALE BEGINS TODAY AT 10 AM PT, TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW FOR SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT STARS DAVID BENAVIDEZ AND DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

Davis Stops Hector Luis Garcia After 8; Retains Lightweight Crown; Sets up Showdown with Ryan Garcia

GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HECTOR LUIS GARCIA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

JARON ENNIS, RASHIDI ELLIS, DEMETRIUS ANDRADE AND MORE VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HECTOR LUIS GARCIA WASHINGTON, D.C. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

STAR-STUDDED SHOWTIME PPV® UNDERCARD LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 EVENT FROM CAPITAL ONE ARENA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

PARKER-ANDRADE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

PARKER SET TO LIVE HIS DREAM

MAY 21: HOME FIXTURE FOR ZACH PARKER

PARKER: “I AM COMING WITH THE SMOKE”

Andrade Destroys Quigley in 2

VIDEO: Weigh-In: Demetrius Andrade vs Jason Quigley + Reis vs Camara, Akhmadaliev, Martinez & More

WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER FROM ANDRADE VS. QUIGLEY WEIGH-IN

VIDEO: Press Conference: Demetrius Andrade vs Jason Quigley + Reis vs Camara, Akhmadaliev, Martinez & More

ANDRADE: I’VE BEEN TRAINING TO BE DESTRUCTIVE

STAR-STUDDED SHOWTIME PPV^® UNDERCARD LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 EVENT FROM CAPITAL ONE ARENA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.