Alvarez will put his WBC mandatory challenger position to champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) in danger with an end of April date for this world title fight having already been reserved.
Bute has also set his goal to challenge Stevenson. The veteran southpaw plans to clearly demonstrate that he deserves another wotld title shot, taking on the No. 1 conternder in undefeated Alvarez. Whatever the final outcome, the winner will be the most popular and legitimate challenger for Stevenson, dramatically increasing interest and notoriety of a totally Québécois world championship showdown.

All the ingredients are gathered to heighten popular interest in this fight, which will prove to be one of the most significant in the history of Quebec.

It is a local confrontation between two athletes who chose Quebec as their adopted home, fully integrating in the loal culture and learning French, as well as where they’ve fought the vast majority of their bouts. The result of this major clash will also have enormous repercussions at the international level in the light heavyweight division.

In one corner is former world champion Bute, who has delivered many inspirational performances during his 13 world championship fights (10-2-1, 8 KOs) to become a great star and admired celebrity in Quebec.

The other corner finds unbeaten Alvarez, a world-class fighter for the past three years who has delivered his most brilliant performances abroad, albeit mostly in the shadows of other great stars of Quebec. The former Colombian Olympian wants to establish his true value after having prepared for Stevenson by fighting opponents for more than the past year. He will earn his highest purse, which is similar to what he would have received to fight Stevenson first.

“It is the fans of Quebec in their entirety who will first be delighted with this mega fight and I am convinced that there will be no losers,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “Although it is difficult to predict the outcome of this confrontation, most likely this fight will be so interesting and close that, eventually the two could get, one after the other, a world championship fight against the powerful southpaw champion of Montreal, Adonis Stevenson.”

“It was important for us to have this fight at the Vidéotron Centre,” added Vice-President Shows & Creative Content of Québecor, Michel Granger. “The last time (the Stevenson-Williams fight) was a success and it will be the same on February 24.”

“The last six months have been tough for me,” Bute explained. “After the Washington situation was settled, I was happy to finally sit down and discuss my next fight. I accepted as soon as I was offered the fight. We’re talking about an undefeated guy ranked number 1 by the WBC. It’s quite a challenge. I tip my hat to Alvarez for putting his position in peril.

“I was expecting the winner of the unification title fight between James Dégale and Badou Jack, but I had no guarantees and I could not afford to wait. My goal is to fight again for a world championship, whether it’s at 168 or 175 pounds, and I did not want to just take a meaningless preparatory fight.

“After evaluating all the options, we came to the conclusion that we had to take this fight,” Alvarez’ head trainer Marc Ramsey remarked. “Of course, there are risks … but it’s worth it. Eleider has long awaited an opportunity to box against someone recognized in Quebec, and people have not yet seen his full potential. He was all smiles when he received the offer.”.

“When Marc called me into his office,” Alvarez commented, “I was wondering what was going on. Generally, when he calls me into his office, it’s not good news. He asked me to sit down and if I wanted to face Bute. I smiled and said, yes. He is the most popular boxer in Quebec, so my motivation will be different. I’m doing this for myself and my family. I want to be world champion and now it’s going through Lucian. I’ve been looking a long time for a big fight like this and for the first time I will be the headliner.”

Tickets went on sale today (Monday, Dec. 12) on the Websites of Vidéotron Centre, Evenko and on Ticketmaster.ca
ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM):

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

MONTRÉAL (November 1, 2016) – The “GYM 2016-2017 BOXING SERIES” at the Montreal Casino Cabaret, a PRESENTATION OF MISE-O-JEU, IN COLLABORATION WITH VIDEOTRON, will host its second card of the 2016 season and 50th since 2004 ON Saturday, December 10. The World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver champion and WBC #1 light heavyweight contender, Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (20-0, 10 KOs), will face tough-as-nail Polish fighter Norbert “Noras” Dabrowski (19-5-1, 7 KOs).

Dabrowski, a southpaw who has never lost by knockout during his career, will come to Montreal to try and spoil the party. In his last outing, he shattered the perfect record of his countryman. Marek Matyja (11-0).

In his only fight outside of Poland, Dabrowski delivered a strong opposition May 2, 2015 to German Dominic Boesel (18-0), losing by a close 10-round unanimous decision (113-115, 111-116, 110-117) to a rival who was then and remains the World Boxing Organization (WBO) #2 rated light heavyweight in the world, as well as # 8 the WBC.

Alvarez, a Colombian Olympian at the Beijing Games, he won the WBC Silver light heavyweight title August 25, 2014 in Monaco, defeating South African Ryno Liebenberg (16-0-0). On June 12, 2015, in Chicago, on Premier Boxing Champions series event, Alvarez knocked out Ukrainian Anatoliy Dudchenko (19-3) in the second round.

“Storm” then faced strong opposition, Paraguayan slugger Isidro Ranoni Prieto (24-0-3), August 15, 2015, at the Bell Centre in Montreal. After a tough brawl, the Montreal’s adoptive son Alvarez was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

Alvarez went on to beat top contender Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2), of Malawi, in a WBC light heavyweight elimination bout November 28, 2015, by way of a majority decision, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City,

In his last outing, this pat July 29 at the Videotron Centre, Alvarez dominated solid New Zealand southpaw Robert Berridge (27-4-1) to earn a clear win by unanimous decision.

“I am happy to come back to the Montreal Casino, where I had my first three pro fights,” Alvarez said. “I asked my team to keep me active and to also evaluate what I do well and what I do badly against southpaws. I want to be fully ready for Adonis Stevenson and become the first Colombian light heavyweight champion of the world!,”

This coming fight will most likely be Alvarez’ last outing before fighting Stevenson, the WBC light heavyweight world champion in 2017. Dabrowski is a strong and durable southpaw, who will be an excellent test for Alvarez before he faces the champion.

“It was at the insistence of his team that Alvarez will jump in the ring on December 10,” GYM president Yvon Michel noted.

“Waiting for his world title fight, Eleider is not afraid to risk his lofty position in the rankings to give himself the best conditions for success when his time comes. Dabrowski has never been stopped and gave the # 2 WBO ranked fighter all he could handle last year. He is also a southpaw. It is logical to anticipate a captivating fight on December 10th. We have an exciting card for our 50th event at the Montreal Casino. The boxing fans will be the big winners!”

A real challenge for Dicaire
The charismatic Marie-Eve Dicaire (5-0, 0 KOs), of St-Eustache, Canada, will fight in the co-main event of the evening. She will face the biggest challenge of his career against former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) welterweight champion, Mexican Paty “La Elegante” Ramirez (11-2, 5 KOs).

Interestingly enough, the two boxers are ranked 11th in the world by the WBC: Dicaire at welterweight (147 lb), Ramirez at super welterweight (154 lb).

Marie-Eve will look to continue her strong momentum in the pro ranks. In her last outing (Oct. 20), she delivered a stunning performance, also at the Montreal Casino Cabaret, where she clearly feels at home. She then defeated Mexican Karla Zamora (3-2-0) by unanimous decision.

If she is successful, it will be her last six-round fight before moving to an eight- round bouts in February.

“It is a close date for me since I fought October 20 but I am coming back from a week of vacation,” Dicaire remarked. “So, I am fully ready to start my training camp. My last fight was a war that the crowd really liked, where I gave a little more while neglecting my defense. For this bout, I am sure that I will be able to show my real potential.”

“In only her fifth bout,” Michel added, “Marie-Eve was already world ranked. She will eventually fight for a world title having everything it takes to do so. Also, women’s boxing has boomed lately, since females can box in the Olympic Games.”

Lafrenière and Phinn also in action
If the Alvarez and Dicaire fights weren’t enough to guarantee a very entertaining evening Dec. 10, also scheduled to fight on the card are two very popular boxers in Quebec, Francis
Lafrenière and Shakeel Phinn.

Lafrenière (12-5-2, 7 KOs), the charismatic International Boxing Federation (IBF) International middleweight champion, will make his debut at the Cabaret du Casino. Nicknamed, “The People champ,” Lafrenière is known for his aggressive and uncompromising boxing style.

He first became Canadian middleweight champion June 28, 2014, in Lachine, by winning a unanimous decision over Paul Bzdel (5-4-1) from Saskatchewan. He then won his IBF International middleweight title in a furious fight last January 30 against Quebecer Renan St-Juste (26-4-1) at the Bell Centre, which many consider the Fight of the Year.

Lafrenière is currently on a nine-fight win streak. He counts on extending it to 10 on Dec. 10. His opponent will be announced within days.

“I had my first pro fight here at the Montreal Casino and I had a draw,” the optimistic Lafrenière commented. “Thanks to GYM for giving me the opportunity for redemption. I had a solid brawl with Renan St-Juste, but I am ready to deliver another one this bout.”

Phinn (10-1, 6 KOs), the Canadian super middleweight champion,is a familiar face to the Casino boxing fans. A protégé of former boxer Ian MacKillop, he won his title last Feb. 27 in Saskatchewan by defeating Paul Bzdel (5-7-1).

In his last outing, on October 15 in New Brunswick, Phinn knocked out New Brunswick fighter Tom Vautour (2-0). It will also be his second appearance at the Montreal Casino Cabaret this year having defeated Mexican opponent Jaudiel Zepeda (12-14-1) this past May 24.

Lucian Bute and Christian Ganescu protégés, Dario Bredicean (10-0, 3 KOs) and Bruno Bredicean (5-0, 1 KOs), plus Patrice Volny (3-0, 2 KOs) from Montreal, will also be in action against opponents to be announced.

The galas at the Casino
“GYM BOXING SERIES AT THE CASINO DE MONTRÉAL” is a formula that has been very popular from 2005 to 2010. During this period, no less than nine participants eventually became world champions. For its 13th year, GYM repeated this formula where the proximity of the action, the warm and electrifying ambiance, as the intensity of the fights, provide a unique experience.

In addition, at each gala, you will receive a private invitation to mingle with the athletes and observers in a bar of the Casino exclusively for this purpose.

December 10 will be the 50th event presented by GYM at the Montreal Casino.

Former world champions Joachim Alcine (seven times), Otis Grant (four times), Leonard Dorin (once), Adrian Diaconu (once, Bute (once), Jean Pascal (nine times), David Lemieux (14 times), William Joppy (against Sebastien Demers), and the current WBC and lineal world light heavyweight champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (six times), have all fought at the Montreal Casino Cabaret.

The WBC super middleweight elimination bout between Otis Grant and Librado Andrade (April 8, 2006), and the spectacular clash between Herman Ngoudjo and Emanuel Augustus (Oct. 15, 2005) are among the best memories for Quebec boxing fans.
ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL (GYM):

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

Adonis Stevenson retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with an action packed 4th round stoppage over Thomas Williams and the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.

Stevenson dropped Williams in the last 30 seconds of the opening frame with a left to the top of the head.  Williams came back to rock Stevenson on several occasions over the next two rounds.  Stevenson came out and round four and landed some tremendous body shots that started breaking Williams down.  Williams started to bleed from both over and under his left eye.  Stevenson then landed a perfect six-inch straight left that crumpled Williams face-first to the canvas.  Williams tried to get to his fight but could not beat the count at 2:54.

Stevenson of Montreal is now 28-1 with 23 knockouts.  Williams of Baltimore is now 20-2.

Eleider Alvarez won a 10-round unanimous decision over late-replacement Robert Berridge in a light heavyweight fight.

In round five, Berridge’s right eye began to swell.  Alvarez dominated the action and won by scores of 99-90 and 98-91 twice.

Alvarez is now 20-0.  Berridge is 27-5-1.

Immanuwel Aleem and DeMond Nicholson battled to a majority draw in a middleweight bout.

Aleem took a card 77-75 while two cards read even at 76-76.

Aleem is now 16-0-1.  Nicholson is 17-1-1.

Follow all the action as Adonis Stevenson defends the WBC Light Heavyweight title against hard punching Thomas Williams.  The action begins at 9 PM ET with a Light Heavyweight showdown between Eleider ALvarez and Robert Berridge.

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED–PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Williams lands a left …LEFT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS

Round 2: Stevenson lands a left..Williams lands a hard right hook..Combination…Stevenson is staggered by a combination

Round 3: Left from Williams and 2 rights…Left from Stevenson..Uppercut from Williams…Right hook

Round 4:  Good body shots from Stevenson…Williams cut above and below his right eye…More body work from Stevenson..HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS…HE CANT GET UP AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1:  Feel out round

Round 2:  Quick left from Alvarez..

Round 3:

Round 4 Good exchange..Right from Alvarez

Round 5 Left from Berridge,,,Redness below right eye of Berridge..Uppercut from Alvarez

Round 6 Alvarez lands a right

Round 7 Nice right over the top from Alvarez

Round 8: Left hook from Alvarez…

Round 9: Left and right from Alvarez…Berridge bleeding from mouth..Good body shot from Alvarez

Round 10 Alvarez landing hard shots

99-90, 98-92, 98-92 Alvarez

James DeGale defended his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship in a thriller over hometown favorite and former champion Lucian Bute on Saturday in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

It was the first title defense for DeGale, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist from Britain who went on the road to Boston to win the title earlier this year and chose to defend in hostile territory.

Bute, who was attempting to win back the IBF belt he defended nine times between 2007 and 2012, put on an inspired and gutsy performance in an electric atmosphere to open the new Videotron Centre in Quebec City.  But the unbelievable pace, as well as an arsenal of overhand rights, body shots and combos from the younger DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) proved to be the difference as DeGale prevailed 116-112, 117-111 (twice).

“I’m young and I’m fresh. I’m peaking right now,” DeGale said.  “I’m ready for the best in the world. Credit to Bute – he’s a great champion and believe me, he will be back.”

“Like I’ve said in the past, he is a world-class fighter. I’ve still got things to work on in the next three or four years and I’m going to be my best.”

Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) didn’t look anything like the fighter that lost to Carl Froch in 2012.  But while the 35-year-old stalked the switch-hitting DeGale with a relentless attack, he couldn’t do enough to overpower the supremely active Brit, who threw 524 power punches compared to 278 for Bute.

“I think it was a great fight.  I did my best tonight,” Bute said.  “I think it was a close fight.  He’s an Olympic champion, he’s a world champion.  If the judges give him the decision I respect that. I’ll be back in the gym to work hard and continue to fight.  I think it was a very close fight.  I’m happy with my performance and I’ll be back in the gym to get back in the ring one more time.

“The last three years were difficult for me.  After I lost to Carl Froch that was a very difficult period for me.  I took a break, and now I’m back.  I feel great, I feel healthy and now I have one more chance to be back on the top.

“Maybe a few rounds I waited too much and didn’t put the punches together and I let James fight me.  When I pushed pressure and pushed back I won the round.”

Eleider Alvarez earned a title shot at Adonis Stevenson by winning a 12-round majority decision over Isaac Chilemba in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Alvarez of Montreal won by scores of 118-110, 115-113 and 114-14 and is now 19-0.  Chilemba is 24-3-2.

“I knew I had to finish the later rounds strong, but I believe I did enough to win the fight,” Alvarez said.  “I’m ready to accept the challenge and face Stevenson. To be the world champion, you have to beat the champion. So that’s what I aim to do.”

“I thought I did enough to win it,” Chilemba said.  “But it is what it is. I guess you can call it a hometown decision.”

After the fight, SHOWTIME Sports host Brian Custer sat down with Stevenson to get his thoughts on Alvarez-Chilemba and his future.

“It was a close physical fight,” Stevenson said.  “He (Alvarez) won this fight but it was very close.”

“We talk about Kovalev because the WBC still ranks him the No. 1 contender.  I want this fight to happen.  The fans want it to happen.  I said June is perfect for me.  He said ‘OK, June,’ Kathy Duva said ‘No problem, June.’  Then she said on HBO.  I said, ‘Forget about the TVs, let them talk.’  We want the fight to happen.  Let the TVs work together and make it happen.

“I want to fight Kovalev.  That’s the best opportunity for me because I want his titles.  For sure, this fight will happen in June.  I don’t have a problem; my team doesn’t have a problem.  I want this fight in June.

Kovalev is scared.  I talked to him, saw it in his eyes that he’s scared of me.  It will happen, but I know Kovalev is scared.  I want Kovalev.  I’m very hungry to get his titles.”

Adrian Granados foiled the title hopes of previously undefeated Amir Imam by shaking off a 1st round knockdown to come back to win an 8th rounds stoppage in a scheduled 10-round Super Lightweight bout.

Imam dropped Granados with a powerful left hook in round one.  Granados didn’t seemed to fazed after that as he started to land sharp hard combinations and started to push Imam back.  In round seven, Imam was bleeding from his nose and seemed to be wearing down.  That seemed to be true as in round eight, Granados landed a hard combination that rocked his head back and the fight was stopped at 2:34 of round eight.

Granados of Cicero, IL is now 17-4-1 with 12 knockouts.  Imam, who had a mandatory title shot with Viktor Postol is now 18-1.

“It feels great. Once I had him wobbled I was like, ‘you’ve got to get him now. This time you’re not taking it from me.’  It was a flash knockdown. He caught with the right hand, but I was alright. I just popped right up and I knew he was going to try and finish me. We got out of it and went right back to work.”

“I know people might say I shouldn’t have taken this fight, but I needed this fight in between as a tune-up for my next fight because I didn’t want to wait for the six to eight months for the world title shot.

“The key to the fight was my jab, I just didn’t use it enough,” Imam said.  “But that’s the way it goes and I’m going to definitely come back stronger. I wasn’t thinking anything after that first-round knockdown.  I’ve done that many times and didn’t think the fight was over.  I wasn’t surprised at all by the way he came out. I know how he fights. He’s a good fighter and that’s all there is to it.”

Former Colombian Olympian Oscar Rivas scored a 2nd round stoppage over Joey Abell in a 10-round Heavyweight bout.

In round two, Rivas landed a combination on the ropes that set up two flush lefts that slumped Abell on the ropes and a follow up right drilled a prone Abell at 46 seconds of round two.

Rivas of Montreal is 18-0 with 13 knockouts.  Abell of Coon Rapids, MN is 31-9.

Follow all the action from Quebec City, Canada when James DeGale defends the IBF Super Middleweight title against former world champion Lucian Bute.  The action begins at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT  that will feature a Light Heavyweight elimination bout between Isaac Chilemba and Eleider Alvarez-AUTOMATIC BROWSER REFRESH

Round 1 DeGale lands an over hand left

Round 2 Bute lands a body shot..body shot..DeGale counters..Good body shot..left..body shot..shot to head

Round 3 Nice jab from DeGale..Bute lands an uppercut…Good exchange in the middle of the ring

Round 4 Right from Bute..Counter left from DeGale..Cuffing left and uppercut..Left from Bute..left..

Round 5 DeGale cut around his right eye..Bute lands a right hook…Right uppercut from DeGale..

Round 6 Cut caused by accidental headbutt..Jab from Bute..left from DeGale..left uppercut..3 rights..right hook..

Round 7 Right uppercut from DeGale..hard right..right..Left to body from Bute..Jab from DeGale..Body work..jab..Bute lands a left..

Round 8 Trading jabs…Right hook from DeGale..Nice left-right..right…

Round 9 Bute trying to work the body..right to body from DeGale..short right..nice body work..body ..counter right from Bute..

Round 10 Degale lands a combination..Right uppercut…good body work..up-jab..Left From Bute..Good Counter from deGale

Round 11 Nice Jab from DeGale..Straight left from Bute..Left from DeGale..Left from Bute…

Round 12 Trading jabs..body work from DeGale..big over hand left from DeGale..right..

116-112, 117-111, 117-111 JAMES DEGALE

Round 1 Good right from Alvarez…2 nice jabs

Round 2 Alvarez lands a right..Jab from Chilemba..Trading right hands

Round 3

Round 4 Left from Alvarez..Left..Jab..Combination

Round 5 Alvarez working the body..Chilemba lands a counter left hook..Flurry from Alvarez

Round 6 Right from Alvarez..Jab..Right..Chilemba lands a jab…Combination to body

ROUND 7 Right from Chilemba..Counter right from Alvarez…Jab from Chilemba..Jab..left hook..Alvarez wokding the body..Exchnage jabs…Counter right from Chilemba

Round 8

118-110, 115-113 Alvarex…114-114

Round 1 Granados lands a left and left to body…Imam lands a left and a jab…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES GRANADOS…Big right..Right to head..left to body..left and right…Granados in trouble..Counter right from Imam..Right from Granados

Round 2 Right from Granados…4 punch combination..4 jabs from Imam..Good right

Round 3 Uppercut from Imam..2 rights from Granados…Good body shot with the left from Imam..Sharp right..Chopping right

Round 4 Right and left from Granados. Combination from Imam…4 punch combination from Granados..3 punch combination..2 rights from Imam…

Round 5 4 Punch combination from Imam..2 punch combination..Granados working..Body from Imam..Head shot from Granados..right from Imam..Granados lands a right that backs Imam up..left from Granados..

Round 6 Combination from Granados..6 punch combination and a uppercut…Hard 1-2…Good left..Good counter right from Imam..combination…5 punch combination from Granados

Round 7 3 rights from Granados…Left to body from Imam..Left from Granados..Good combination..Blood on the face of Imam..Left from Granados..

Round 8 Granados lands a right…Imam looks tired….BIG COMBINATION ON THE ROPES…AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Abell lands a left to the head..Right to body from Rivas..Counter left from Abell

Round 2 Left and right from Rivas…Hard combination AND A RIGHT AND DOWN GOES ABELL AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

QUEBEC CITY, Canada (Nov. 25, 2015) – Boldly predicting at least a sixth-round finish against hometown favorite Lucian Bute, a confident James DeGale held his IBF Super Middleweight World Championship belt high over his head during the main event press conference in advance of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.

“Gonna be six rounds, but it may be three,” DeGale repeated over and over as the fighters concluded their final shots for a packed room of media members on Wednesday at the Le Bonne Entente Hotel. DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs), from London, England, defends against the popular former 168-pound world champion Bute (32-2, 25 KOs), of Montreal, this Saturday from the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City, live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Also participating in the press conference were the two top ranked light heavyweights facing off in the co-feature. WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175-pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs), of Montreal, meets unbeaten, No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs), of Johannesburg, South Africa, in a light heavyweight world title eliminator. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson, who is expected to be in attendance on Saturday night.

NOTE: A new opponent was announced on Wednesday for heavyweight Oscar Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs), of Montreal. Joey Abell (31-8, 29 KOs), of Champlin, Minn., will square off with the undefeated heavyweight in the 10-round opening bout of SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME.

Here is what the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING participants had to say on Wednesday:

JAMES DeGALE

“It’s on – fight time is finally here. I feel like a beast.

“They think it’s going to be a boxing match, but it will be a destruction. It will be explosive. Three rounds – place your bets. Trust me.

“I fought the best super middleweight southpaw out there in Andre Dirrell and look what I did to him. Once he feels my power that will be it. I’m going to start fast and throw loads of punches.

“I watched him against Carl Froch, watched him against (Librado) Andrade. He’s great in the center of the ring, but I’m not going to stand there. It won’t be a chess match. I’ll start fast and we’ll see how he takes it.

“Carl exposed him and I’ll finish him. But I don’t care about Carl Froch – he’s old. I’m the new champion. If he wants this belt, he’ll have to come get it.

“I’m an old school fighter – I don’t mind travelling to fight in my opponents’ hometown.

“He was a great champion who has fought some great fighters so I should get kudos when I beat him.”

LUCIAN BUTE

“It’s a great opportunity to fight for my old belt in front of my hometown fans. I think they’ll push me toward the victory. I’m looking forward to becoming world champion again.

“I think he’s the best super middleweight in the world right now, but I’m very confident in myself.

“I had a great camp. I’m just ready to become world champion again.

“I’m healthy, I feel great physically. I have the power to knock him out and the skills to box him.

“Now I have a chance to take back my belt against another English fighter.”

JIM McDONNELL, DeGale’s Trainer

“I’ve tried to come back and do what Lucian has done and it’s not easy. Tune in on Saturday night because what I’ve got is special, and you’ll enjoy what you see.

“It’s tough to win your world title back. I respect Lucian for trying, but James is a world class fighter. He’s ready for everything.”

HOWARD GRANT, Bute’s Trainer

“We did everything we had to do. Lucian is 100 percent prepared to surprise everyone on Saturday. Lucian knows what wearing that belt is all about – he wore it for about five years and he’s coming on Saturday to take it back to where it belongs.”

ELEIDER ALVAREZ

“This is my chance right now. I’m hungry and I’ve done everything I had to do to have the best camp possible for this fight. I’m facing a very intelligent boxer who is technically excellent. But I’ve always said that if I don’t face the best, then I will stay an ordinary boxer. So I must face the best, to be the best.

“When I wake up on Sunday morning, I’m going to be the mandatory challenger for the title.”

ISAAC CHILEMBA

“I had a great camp in Burbank, Calif., training there for six or seven weeks. I believe I should have a shot at Stevenson, and if this is what it takes to get there I will do whatever possible to make it happen. I’m up for the challenge.

“I’m fighting a good fighter and he’s undefeated for a reason. But I’m here to prove that I’m the best light heavyweight in the world. I will put on a good show on Saturday night and everyone will see.

“I have a lot of trials in my life, but I think that’s what makes me stronger and has made me what I am today. I don’t look back on what has happened and I appreciate what life has given me.

“He is a great fighter and I know it won’t be an easy fight. But I’ve put in the work and I’m ready.”

MARC RAMSAY, Alvarez’s Trainer

“This is the major leagues right now. These two are the best light heavyweights in the world. I’ve had the chance to work with Isaac because he has sparred in Montreal with Artur Beterbiev for two weeks. So I know him well. He’s a very complete and complex boxer. But I full trust my fighter to win this fight. It’s his chance.”

BUDDY McGIRT, Chilemba’s Trainer

“I just want to say it’s great to be a part of this event. Mr. DeGale is the champion and he’s coming to Mr. Bute’s country to fight him. That’s what boxing needs. It needs more fights like this to keep it on the rise.

“As far as our fight goes with Mr. Alvarez, I believe that besides (Sergey) Kovalev, these two are the best light heavyweights in the world. And I think they should be fighting for the title and not an eliminator to see who fights the champion.”

# # #

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu. Tickets are on sale at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @SHOsports,

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada: This Saturday, Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) will take on Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) for the mandatory position in the WBC at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec; the winner will challenge Adonis “Superman” Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in 2016.

Chilemba, 28, was born in Blantyre, Malawi one of the poorest regions in the world. He moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2004 to pursue a professional boxing career. Over the last ten years since his professional debut, Isaac has very quietly climbed the ranks of the light heavyweight division. Earlier this year, he defeated fellow Main Events’ stablemate Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin in the opening bout of the Kovalev-Pascal telecast on HBO World Championship Boxing to become the WBC’s #1 ranked light heavyweight.

Lepikhin and Chilemba
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Now, after more than a decade as a professional, Isaac is one fight away from achieving his dream fighting for a world championship belt. The only thing standing in his way is undefeated contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez. Alvarez, 31, is originally from Apartado, Colombia but now resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Chilemba knows he is marching into enemy territory, fighting in his opponent’s hometown, but he remains unfazed. He said, “It really doesn’t matter where I fight. I don’t mind having no fans in the crowd but, hopefully by the end of the fight, there will be fans that cheer for me. I am just there to do my job. I hope everybody here in the US and Canada watching live and back at home in Malawi and South Africa will get to see a good fight.”

Chilemba admittedly knows little about his opponent and his trainer, former welterweight world champion James “Buddy” McGirt, warns against focusing too hard on the other guy. He said, “I have watched him. I study guys but I try not to watch too much. Sometimes you have a tendency to study a guy too much and you realize he does something but then he doesn’t do that one thing and you are thrown. So I watched him but we are going to be prepared for anything and everything.”

McGirt and Chilemba In the Corner
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Isaac and Buddy acknowledge that this fight is part of a much bigger picture, which is to challenge Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title. However, for now, their focus is on the task at hand – Alvarez. Chilemba explained, “As much as the goal is to get to Stevenson, right now the truth is my mind is on Alvarez. I have to get through this but after that we will be talking about Stevenson. I am just concentrating on one target for now but as soon as that is over then we are talking about the next target, Stevenson.”

McGirt continued, “The way I see it, Alvarez is the only thing getting in our way of the championship. Our job is to do what we have to do to get him out of the way.” Isaac’s manager, Jodi Solomon, added, “Isaac has worked very hard to get this opportunity. He is in excellent hands with Buddy McGirt and I believe he will do what needs to be done and we can move on to the next step.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, Chilemba’s promoter, said, “Isaac has worked so hard for this opportunity. We know this fight will be a tough battle and it’s no easy task to defeat your opponent in his backyard, but I believe in Isaac and his team. He’s been a road warrior for most of his career and I think all of that hard won experience will pay off in Quebec City on November 28th.”

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NEW YORK (Nov. 10, 2015) –WBC No. 1 ranked super lightweight Amir Imam (18-0, 15 KOs) returns to face Adrian Granados (14-4-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout on Saturday, Nov. 28 on SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME.

The undefeated Imam is the mandatory challenger to WBC 140-pound champion Viktor Postol, who won the vacant title with a 10th round TKO of Lucas Matthysse in October.

The SHOWTIME BOXING on SHO EXTREME telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT from the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City prior to that evening’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast. In the SHO EXTREME opener, undefeated heavyweight and former international star Oscar Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs) will face Curtis Harper (12-4, 8 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

IBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will defend his belt against former 168-pound champ Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT).

In the co-feature, the WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175-pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) will square off with No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) in a light heavyweight world title eliminator. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson.

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu.

One of boxing’s fastest-rising contenders, the 25-year-old Imam has knocked out 15 of his 18 professional opponents since turning pro in 2011. The Albany, N.Y., native is coming off a fourth-round knockout of former world title challenger Fernando Angulo on July 18 on SHOWTIME.

The 26-year-old Granados, of Chicago, has won three fights in a row since a close, split decision loss to undefeated welterweight prospect Brad Solomon on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao PPV last May 2 in Las Vegas. Granados’ only other defeat since 2011 was a majority decision loss to then-undefeated Felix Diaz in 2014. Granados, who holds a draw against former welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron, will move back down to 140 pounds for his bout with Imam.

The Montreal-based Rivas represented Colombia in the 2008 Olympic Games. The 28-year-old is coming off a three-knockdown, first-round TKO of Jason Pettaway on July 26 in his U.S. debut on ShoBox: The New Generation. Rivas returns to the province of Quebec, site of 16 of his 17 bouts, against the 27-year-old Harper, who is 5-1 in his last six fights.

Harper, of Jacksonville, Fla., is coming off a close decision loss to long-time heavyweight contender Chris Arreola on March 13. Harper was knocked down in the first round against Arreola but rallied in an entertaining slugfest.

Tickets are on sale at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @SHOsports,

NEW YORK (Oct. 8, 2015) – Super middleweight world champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs), of England, and former world champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs), of Montreal, completed a two-city, two-country kickoff press conference Thursday in London to formally announce their Nov. 28 showdown in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® live on SHOWTIME from the Vidéotron Centre of Quebec City. There also was a press conference Tuesday in Quebec City.

The event, billed as “THE RECLAMATION”, is a presentation of Vidéotron in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu.

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature, No. 2 IBF light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs), a former two-time Russian Olympian living in Montreal, will face an opponent to be announced.

SHOWTIME Sports® will also televise the light heavyweight world title eliminator between the WBC’s No. 1-ranked 175 pound fighter Isaac Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs), of Malawi, and No. 2-ranked Eleider Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs), a former Colombian Olympian who now lives in Montreal. The winner earns the right to become the mandatory challenger for WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis Stevenson.

Chilemba, who is based in South Africa, has won four consecutive fights, including a 10-round decision over Vasily Lepikhin in his last outing last March 14 in Montreal.

The Montreal-based Alvarez has fought all but one of his 18 pro fights in Canada. He’s coming off a 12-round decision over Isidro Ranoni in a WBC Silver 175-pound title fight last Aug. 15 in Montreal.

Below is what DeGale and Bute and the executives had to say on Tuesday at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City and Thursday at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London:

JAMES DEGALE
“I am excited to face an elite fighter like Lucian, who was champion for five years.

“He is still a good boxer and he told me he wants the belt back. But trust me; I am too young, too fresh and just too good.

“The way I’m feeling, mentally and physically, I’m in fantastic shape. It’s going to be very hard to beat me.

“My journey is only just starting, his is about to end in November.

“The way I am training, nobody will beat me. You can see my character just by the fact I accepted to come here and take that fight. Be ready for a furious and spectacular fight.

“There is no one in this division who can beat me. I’m willing to box anyone. I want to fight all the big fighters in the biggest fights.”

LUCIAN BUTE
“I am really happy to be back in Quebec City. Some of my best memories are here. I won four fights here. Six years ago, Nov. 28, 2009, the same day I will fight James DeGale, I knocked out Librado Andrade. And I also defeated Glen Johnson in Quebec City.

“DeGale is a great champion, but to come here to face me in my hometown, in front of 15,000 people, it won’t be easy for him. I am the challenger, I am the underdog, and he is the champion, but the pressure is on him.

“The past is in the past. I feel fresh. I have a new team and different people behind me. This opportunity is huge for me.

“I had the belt for five years and on Nov. 28, I will be the new world champion. I am very confident about this.

“I dealt with this when I faced Carl Froch in England.

“My dream is to regain my world title. I always believe in myself and in my tools. The belt will remain in Quebec.”

HOWARD GRANT (Bute’s head trainer)
“My job is simple: I have to prepare Lucian to win the title. British fighters were always dominant in the 160-pound and 168-pound divisions.

“DeGale is explosive, he won at the Olympic Games in 2008, and a World Championship in the United States, but that won’t work Nov. 28.”

JIM MCDONNELL (DeGale’s head trainer)
“James is different. He did everything on the rough path: being an Olympic champion, winning the British title in his ninth fight and becoming world champion in the United States. The more pressure he has, the better he is.

“I never knew anybody like him before. He can’t be intimidated. James respects Bute, but they say when you win a title, you get better. It will be frightening.”

JEAN BÉDARD
“It’s going to be a fun night. I have two great defining moments in my 10 years in the boxing world. The first one was Oct. 19, 2007, when Lucian became world champion live on TVA (Quebec TV channel) and Nov. 28, 2009, in front of a jam-packed crowd of 16,000 fans at the Québec Coliseum when Lucian beat Librado Andrade. Now, six years later, we are ready for a historic date.”

YVON MICHEL
“No champion in Quebec’s boxing history ever regained a world title after losing it. The task will be hard because DeGale is very skilled and brave. He won his title in the United States, far from his home. Still, we root for Lucian Bute 100 percent. We have a 12,000-seat stadium configuration in the brand new Vidéotron Centre and we had already brought more people before for some of Lucian’s fights. We are convinced that Quebec’s boxing fans will also root for Lucian.”

Tickets will go on sale this Saturday, October 10 at the Vidéotron Centre box office, on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.

@butelucian, @jamesdegale1, @yvonmichelGYM, @interboxca, @stormalvarez, @abeterbiev, @SHOsports,

American fight fans will see the biggest bout in Canadian boxing history when the action-packed tripleheader WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: JEAN PASCAL VS. LUCIAN BUTE, ELEIDER ALVAREZ VS. THOMAS OOSTHUIZEN AND MIKE PEREZ VS. CARLOS TAKAM is presented SATURDAY, JAN. 18 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Bell Centre in Montreal, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 19 (8:30 a.m.) and 21 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 19 (4:00 p.m.) and 20 (11:00 p.m.)
In the historic main event, the country’s top rivals, Jean Pascal (28-2-1, 17 KOs) and Lucian Bute (31-1-0, 24 KOs), meet in a 12-round, 175-pound spectacle originally slated for May 2013. The 31-year-old Pascal has never backed down from a challenge, confronting American stars Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson with supreme confidence. Bute, 33, has displayed flashes of brilliance as a super middleweight, and will now test his power in the light heavyweight division.
The preceding bout features Montreal’s Eleider Alvarez (13-0-0, 8 KOs) and Thomas Oosthuizen (22-0-2, 13 KOs) of Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa in a 12-round light heavyweight title clash. The undefeated Alvarez, 29, who has fought his last ten fights at the Bell Centre, will have the backing of fight fans around the country. Returning to HBO after recording a draw against Brandon Gonzales in June, Oosthuizen, 25, is making the transition from super middleweight to the highly competitive 175-pound division.
The evening opens with a battle of highly touted heavyweights, as Mike Perez (20-0, 12 KOs) of Cork, Ireland, takes on Carlos Takam (29-1, 23 KOs) of Noisy-le-Grand, Seine-Saint-Denis, France in a scheduled ten-round bout. Coming off a November win, Perez, 28, seeks to preserve his undefeated record and power-punch his way to a shot at a heavyweight crown. Boasting an impressive 11-fight win streak, including eight by knockout, Takam is making his HBO and Canadian debuts. He is sharp having scored a third round KO win over Jakov Gospic on Dec. 20.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.