Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (June 6, 2024) – Turning Stone Resort Casino and Golden Boy Promotions hosted a final press conference to kick off the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend and the epic World Championship card on Friday, June 7.

The card is headlined by a 12-round battle between reigning, undefeated champion Oscar Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) and Gerardo Zapata (14-1-1), as they compete for the WBO Minimumweight World Title. The fight night is co-promoted with Miguel Cotto Promotions and will be broadcast around the world on DAZN.

Here is what today’s participants had to say:
OSCAR “EL PUPILO” COLLAZO, WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:
“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and my entire team for giving me the opportunity to fight on this historic weekend, especially on the same weekend that Puerto Rican champion, Ivan Calderon, is getting inducted. He was the one who opened the doors for the smaller weight classes, and I am here to prove that we can also pack a punch. Thank you, God, for this amazing opportunity.”

GERARDO ZAPATA, MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER:
“I want to thank Golden Boy for the world championship opportunity. We have been training very hard with my team at Maywood Boxing Gym for this chance at a belt, and we are going to give fight fans a great war. I am very happy to be here, and thanks again to everyone who made this possible.”

RAY HALBRITTER, RAY HALBRITTER, CEO OF TURNING STONE ENTERPRISES AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ONEIDA INDIAN NATION:
“Sporting events, particularly boxing, have helped evolve and transform the experience at Turning Stone over the years and established us as one of the leading tourist destinations in New York. We are proud to say, Central New Yorkers are some of the most passionate boxing fans in the world. We have had the honor of hosting several boxing Hall of Famers here at Turning Stone over the years, whether they promoted fights at the resort, fought here themselves or joined us for special events like induction weekend Hall of Famers, including boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, Hector macho, Camacho, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto.

“Congratulations to all of the boxing legends being inducted in the Hall of Fame on Sunday. Good luck to all of the fighters competing here tomorrow night. And thank you all for being here at Turning Stone to celebrate the 2024 International Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend.”

ED BROPHY, INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
“Boxing speaks the language of life better than any other sport, and boxing will survive any other sport for the period of time, because it is boxing, and that’s what the sport is all about – it’s about life. So we celebrate boxing, but we’re celebrating the achievements in a sense of what we all go through. And it’s an honor to pay tribute to the new class of inductees. They’ve reached the very top of their game, and we’re looking forward to celebrating with them again. I want to thank Ray Halbritter, along with the Oneida Nation Council members, Golden Boy and the team at Turning Stone.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
“It will be a packed weekend for boxing. We have a stacked fight night card featuring Oscar Collazo vs. Gerardo Zapata. Congratulations to all the inductees. I commend you for putting all the hard work, for being the very best at what you do. All the years of dedication, blood, sweat and tears – nobody knows what it’s like to be inside the ring except ourselves. We know what it takes. We know the sacrifices we have to make. But tonight, the sacrifice that you have made all your life has paid off. You are a Hall of Famer for the rest of your life. Be proud. Hold your head up high and just remind yourself and remind the world that you were, you are the very best again. Congratulations, Boxing Hall of Fame of 2024. Let’s go!”

ERIC GOMEZ, PRESIDENT OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
“We do boxing 24/7, and we get caught up in the shows we’re doing, but this weekend, this weekend’s different. This weekend, we get to be fans also, so it’s special for us as well. Congratulations to all the inductees that are getting inducted. You guys deserve it, just like Oscar said, you put in the hard work. The fighters that are going to fight on Friday night are following in your footsteps. You guys inspire them. That’s the reason why they do it. And you guys, lead by example. This Friday’s event will be an action-packed, and you’ll get to see some of the fighters – like Oscar Collazo – who with hard work and determination will one day hopefully make it to the Hall of Fame too.”

VILLALBA, PUERTO RICO (May 29, 2024) – Undefeated, WBO Minimumweight World Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) of Villaba, Puerto Rico hosted a media workout ahead of his championship clash on Friday, June 7. Collazo will face Managua, Nicaragua’s Gerardo Zapata (14-1-1) in a special 12-round fight that will be a part of the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. The event will take place at Turning Stone Resort Casino, and is co-promoted with Miguel Cotto Promotions and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

Here is what Oscar Collazo had to say:

OSCAR COLLAZO, WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:
“I feel great, strong, fast and very excited for my third world title defense. We are one week and a half away from fight night. This camp has been perfect, we have a great game plan for Zapata and all the fans will see another masterpiece performance.”

“Zapata is a tall, tough fighter that likes to fight, but we have twelve rounds to do our job and get a dominant victory. I am ready to the best version of Gerardo Zapata.”

“I feel honored and blessed with this opportunity that DAZN, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy has given me to headline this great card on June 7 at Turning Stone Resort Casino. I trill and excited to give all my fans and Puerto Rico a big performance with great ring IQ and explosive combinations, all boxing fans can’t miss me perform on DAZN on June 7.”

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Tickets are on sale now. Turning Stone will also offer ticketholders a unique boxing fan experience the night of the fight. For $75 (plus the purchase of a ticket), guests will receive exclusive access to the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge, where Hall of Fame inductees will be socializing on June 7 at various times between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

To request media credentials for the June 7 fight at Turning Stone, professional media are required to submit a credential request online at TurningStone.com/media-credentials.

Media credential requests for all other events during Induction Weekend should be requested directly with the Boxing Hall of Fame by calling 315.697.7095.

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (May 24, 2024) – The undercard has been finalized for the epic WBO Minimumweight World Championship fight between the undefeated Oscar Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) of Villaba, Puerto Rico who will face Managua, Nicaragua’s Gerardo Zapata (14-1-1). The special fight night will be a part of the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, headlined by the 12-round Collazo vs. Zapata match. The event is scheduled for Friday, June 7 live from Turning Stone Resort Casino, and is co-promoted with Miguel Cotto Promotions and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

Tickets are on sale now. Turning Stone will also offer ticketholders a unique boxing fan experience the night of the fight. For $75 (plus the purchase of a ticket), guests will receive exclusive access to the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge, where Hall of Fame inductees will be socializing on June 7 at various times between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

In the co-main event, Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Eric Tudor (10-1, 6 KOs) will participate in a 10-round super welterweight against Katy, Texas’ Quinton Randall (13-2-1, 3 KOs). Tudor was last seen earlier this year in a unanimous decision victory against Luis Ramos. Also on the DAZN Broadcast, undefeated Mykquan “Marvelous” Williams (20-0-2, 9 KOs) of East Hartford, Connecticut and Willman Brito (12-5-2, 10 KOs) of Rosarito, Mexico will battle it out in an eight-round super lightweight fight. 

In an eight-round super middleweight fight, David “Dynamite” Stevens (13-1, 9 KOs) will be looking for a redemptive win against Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Sergio “Checho” Lopez (14-5, 10 KOs). Opening the DAZN Broadcast, Yair Lozano (7-0, 6 KOs) of Mexico City participated in a six-round light heavyweight bout against Arecibo, Puerto Rico’s Michael “Hitman” Portalatin (7-2, 5 KOs).

In the preliminary bouts, Liverpool, New York’s Bryce Mills (15-1, 5 KOs) will participate in a six-round super lightweight fight against Jose Marruffo (14-13-2, 2 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona. Opening the fight night, Sasha Tudor (0-0-1) will measure up against Manuel Moreira (1-5) of Sheridan, Wyoming.

To request media credentials for the June 7 fight at Turning Stone, professional media are required to submit a credential request online at TurningStone.com/media-credentials.

Media credential requests for all other events during Induction Weekend should be requested directly with the Boxing Hall of Fame by calling 315.697.7095.

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (May 2, 2024) –Turning Stone Resort Casino announced today Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions will return to Upstate New York during Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend to host an epic World Championship fight on Friday, June 7. The card is headlined by a 12-round battle between undefeated Oscar Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) and Gerardo Zapata (14-1-1), as they compete for the WBO Minimumweight World Title. The fight is co-promoted with Miguel Cotto Promotions and will be broadcast around the world on DAZN.

Tickets are on sale now. Turning Stone will also offer ticket holders a unique boxing fan experience the night of the fight. For $75 (plus the purchase of a ticket), guests will receive exclusive access to the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge, where Hall of Fame inductees will be socializing on June 7 at various times between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster HERE.

Boxing’s biggest event of the year, Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, will be held from June 6 – 9, 2024, with non-stop events hosted in both Madison and Oneida Counties. The iconic weekend attracts thousands of die-hard boxing fans, Hall of Famers, boxing legends and media to Upstate New York every year.

“Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend brings thousands of boxing fans and boxing legends to Central New York every June, and this year we will once again be the center of the boxing universe,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO. “Between the boxing festivities as part of International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend and Oscar De La Hoya joining us for what will be an amazing night of boxing, our guests are guaranteed to have an unforgettable weekend.”

“With events spanning two counties, an incredible induction class, and boxing legends like Oscar De La Hoya traveling to Central New York for the occasion, this year’s Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is one fans will not want to miss,” said Edward Brophy, Boxing Hall of Fame Executive Director. “It is an honor to continue our partnership with the Oneida Indian Nation to host some of our events at Turning Stone.”

“Coming off a huge TKO in January, Collazo is hungry for more and will bring his all-action style to a new East Coast audience on June 7,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “But he will be battling a really tough opponent whose only loss was by a controversial DQ. This is going to be an absolute war that is perfect for Hall of Fame weekend.”

Induction Weekend in Central New York gives boxing fans from around the country an opportunity to meet and mingle with the biggest names in boxing. The Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees include:

?     Ricky Hatton

?     Michael Moorer

?     Ivan Calderon

?     Diego Corrales

?     Jane Couch

?     Ana Maria Torres

Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend: Schedule of Events at Turning Stone

The four-day weekend of non-stop boxing action and events feature several events hosted at Turning Stone Resort Casino.

Kickoff Event: Celebratory event to kick off Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend and welcome boxing fans and Hall of Famers to Central New York.

Friday, June 7: World Title Fight: Presented in partnership with Golden Boy Promotions and broadcast around the world on DAZN, the card features Oscar Collazo and Gerardo Zapata as they compete for the WBO Minimumweight World title. Additional details about the June 7th card will be released soon.

The undefeated Oscar Collazo said, “I feel honored to fight in New York where the boxing world has its eye and in a great week for Puerto Ricans, I will be in anticipation of the induction of Diego Corlares, Ricky Hatton and especially Ivan Calderon. It is an honor and I will continue working to one day be able to be together with great immortals like Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad and the great Muhammed Ali. I feel very good but we will make our third defense against Zapata, a good fighter who will bring out the best in me. Very well prepared as usual, focused on proving once again that we are the best in my category. We hope you meet at the Turning Stone, Verona. My fans from upstate New York and all my New York City come together for a great night.”

The rugged Gerardo Zapata said, “I am very happy and excited with New opportunity to fight for a World Championship. I haven’t stopped training after the fight that was scheduled to face WBO 108lbs Champion ‘Bomba’ González. Making the weight of 105lbs is not a threat for me. I am always ready to perform. I could fight any style and make the adjustments. There will be a war on June 7 in New York.”

To request media credentials for the June 7 fight at Turning Stone, professional media are required to submit a credential request online at TurningStone.com/media-credentials.

Media credential requests for all other events during Induction Weekend should be requested directly with the Boxing Hall of Fame by calling 315.697.7095.

Saturday, June 8: The Banquet of Champions: The annual Banquet of Champions will be held in the Turning Stone Event Center, honoring some of the most notable boxing legends and the most memorable moments in the history of the sport.

Sunday, June 9: Annual Parade & Induction Ceremony: Boxing’s biggest weekend concludes with the Boxing Hall of Fame’s annual parade in Canastota and the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Turning Stone Resort Casino.

(Oct. 23, 2023) —Puerto Rico’s WBO light flyweight world champion, Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez, will defend his world title against hometown favorite Gerardo Zapata this Friday, Oct. 27 at Alexis Arguello Sports Complex in Managua, Nicaragua.

Gonzalez-Zapata and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) has won five bouts since falling short to Kosei Tanaka in a 2019 bid for the WBO flyweight world title. He then moved down to the light flyweight ranks and positioned himself for a title shot with a pair of victories. In October 2019, he toppled Mexican champion Elwin Soto by split decision to capture his world title. Gonzalez defended the WBO light flyweight twice in 2022 with unanimous decision victories over Mark Anthony Barriaga in Florida and Shokichi Iwata in Japan.

Zapata (14-1-1, 5 KOs), who was born in Managua, fought the first 14 bouts of his pro career in his home country. He lost his ‘0’ when he was controversially disqualified against Rene Santiago in December 2022. Zapata returned in August and was held to a 10-round draw against Panamanian contender Azael Villar.

In other ESPN+ streaming bouts:

• Rene Santiago (11-3, 8 KOs), two fights removed from the DQ win over Zapata, will defend his WBO Latino light flyweight title in a 10-rounder against undefeated Nicaraguan Kevin Vivas (7-0, 2 KOs).
   
• In a six-round female light flyweight contest, Eveling Ortega (5-4, 2 KOs) looks to increase her winning streak to five against Costa Rica’s Silvia Duran (3-1, 2 KOs).
   
• Welterweight prospect Harvin “Manimal” Aguirre (8-0, 6 KOs) steps up against Israel Lopez (11-3-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
   
• Honduras-born light flyweight Gerardo Sanchez (8-1, 5 KOs) hopes to end the unbeaten run of Peru’s Eduardo Ajito (11-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder.