CORK, Ireland (April 12, 2015) – Unified super bantamweight world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), arguably the most avoided reigning world title holder in modern boxing history, will travel to London next month in order to publicly confront his mandatory challenger, Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs), the World Boxing Association (WBA) “regular” 122-pound division titlist.

A month ago in an unusual move, Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde formally petitioned the WBA to enforce a mandatory title fight between his WBA Super champion and Quigg. Hyde is awaiting the WBA’s decision. Rigondeaux is also the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

A reigning world champion hasn’t been avoided by other world champions and top contenders like Rigondeux has for the past two years since, perhaps, junior middleweight Sergio Martinez, or possibly all the way back to middleweight Mike McCallum.

The top three super bantamweights in the world outside of Rigondeaux – International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) champions, Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz, respectively, plus Quigg – have avoided the Cuban great like the plaque. Once Santa Cruz’ promoter at the time, Oscar de la Hoya, announced that a Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz had to happen, Santa Cruz’ powerful adviser, Al Haymon, exercised a contract option and bought him out to avoid a fight with ‘Rigo.’ Frampton’s promoter, Barry McGuigan, has proclaimed his fighter, not Rigondeaux, as the No. 1 super featherweight in the world. McGuigan, though, is interested in Frampton fighting Quigg in a U.K. showdown, rather than a world mega-fight for three of the four major sanctioning world titles. As the “regular” WBA champion, Quigg is Rigondeaux’ mandatory challenger, yet, he apparently wants no part of the two-time Olympic gold medalist because his promoter, Barry Hearn, not only hasn’t pushed the issue, he’s in negotiations with McGuigan for Frampton to fight Quigg.

Former world super bantamweight champions Nonito Doniare, after he lost a unification fight to Rigondeaux two years ago, and Abner Mares chose to move up one division to fight as featherweights. And now Donaire reports that his manager was contacted by a Quigg representative to discuss a Donaire-Quigg fight in England.

Another two-time Olympic gold medalist, WBO 126-pound champion Vasyl Lomachenko, continually insists that “Rigo” has to move up in weight for a fight to happen despite him having no problems making 126.

“Quigg, Santa Cruz and Frampton have showed no desire to challenge Rigondeaux,” Hyde said. “These three fighters are trying to fool the public into believing that fight the No. 1 guy in the world is not important. While they are lining their pockets with ridiculous amounts of cash for fighting below par opponents, Rigondeaux is forced to wait around until some Asian opponent steps up. This is a sport in which we are accustomed to seeing the best fighting the best but, in the super bantamweight division, it’s the best versus the rest.

“Rigondeaux will travel to Manchester to fight Quigg, Belfast to fight Frampton, or Las Vegas to fight Santa Cruz. None of these so-called world champions, though, will consider fighting the acknowledged world super bantamweight champion. They’re all much more content to hold onto their belts than beating The Man in their weight class.”

Next month, Hyde reports, Rigondeaux will travel to the United Kingdom in a bold attempt to embarrass Quigg into fighting him. “I don’t like traveling overseas unless I have a fight lined up,” Rigondeaux explained, “but I will travel to England in May to publicly call out Scott Quigg. If he turns down the chance to fight our WBA mandatory, he will be remembered for that instead of being known as a great fighter. While I’m in the UK, I will also go to Belfast to checkout Carl Frampton to ask if he wants to prove himself against the best in his division.”

Understanding that the top super bantamweight action is currently in Europe, noting a record purse ($2.2 million USD) offered for a Frampton vs. Quigg fight, Rigondeaux is considering a major change in the not too distant future, moving his base from Miami to the UK, if that’s what it takes for him to get in on the action.

Hyde also manages former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), former WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga (21-2, 14 KOs) and Georgian super lightweight Levan “The Wolf” Ghvamichava (14-1-1, 11 KOs) , as well as top prospects such as Cuban super bantamweight Marcos Forestal (2-0, 2 KOs), Irish heavyweight Con Sheehan and Bulgarian light heavyweight Blagoy Naydenov.

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him at www.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.

MIAMI (Jan. 28, 2015) – World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring Magazine super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs) is encouraged by reports that World Boxing Council (WBC) title-holder Leo Santa Cruz’ promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, believes a Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz unification fight has to happen.

The 34-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been restricted to Asia for his last two fights, subsequently in low-profile matches, due to the lack of desire by any world-class super bantamweight to challenge the Cuban star.

Rigondeaux stopped WBO No. 6 rated challenger Hisashi Amagasa (28-4-2, 19 KOs) after 11 rounds in Osaka, Japan this past New Year’s Eve. Last July, “Rigo” knocked out Sod Kokietgym (62-2-1) in the opening round of their fight in Macao, China.

“It’s good to know that Santa Cruz’ promoter has stated that our unification fight has to happen,” an ecstatic Rigondeaux said. “I want to add his (WBC) green belt to my WBA and WBO championship collection. I’ve wanted this fight for some time. Let’s hope this is not just idle talk. Let’s do it!”

Rigondeaux vs. Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17 KOs) would be a classic showdown between ethnic boxing arch-rivals, respectively, Cuban and Mexican fighters who now live in Miami and southern California.

“I have contacted Golden Boy Promotions many times to ask about making a fight between ‘Rigo’ and Santa Cruz,” Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde added. “They always answered by saying they were interested in making this fight but not at that time. Yesterday, after learning Oscar said this fight has to happen, I reached out to Golden Boy and can confirm that negotiations have commenced. Myself and Caribe Promotions, ‘Rigo’s’ promoter, will endeavor to make this fight happen as soon as possible.

“Once ‘Rigo’ beats Santa Cruz for his third world title belt – fourth if you count The Ring Magazine – a fight against International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Carl Frampton (19-0, 13 KOs) would have to happen in order to determine the undisputed super bantamweight champion of the world.”

Follow Rigondeaux and Hyde on Twitter at @RigoElChacal305 and @NoWhere2Hyde, friend them at www.facebook.com/GuillermoRigondeaux and www.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.

OSAKA, Japan (Dec. 29, 2014) — After enduring a frustrating year in which he has fought only once, unified world super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (14-0, 9 KOs) is prepared to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title belt this Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, against WBO No. 6 rated challenger Hisashi Amagasa (28-4-2, 19 KOs) at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan.

Rigondeaux, who resides in Miami, is also the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super and The Ring Magazine super bantamweight champion.

The 34-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, arrived Dec. 21 in Japan and the pound-for-pound star is extremely grateful for the overwhelmingly warm reception he has received from countless Japanese boxing fans who’ve watched him train or approached him in Osaka.

Last July in Macao, Rigondeaux successfully defended his WBO/WBA Super titles, destroying challenger Sod Kokietgym (63-2-1) in the opening round of the ultra-skilled Cuban’s lone fight to date in 2014.

The 5′ 10 ½” Amagasa towers over the diminutive Rigondeaux, who is 6 ½ inches shorter than his Japanese opponent. Rigondeaux, however, isn’t concerned in the least about their differences in height because of his past success against many taller foes.

“This is my second time fighting in Asia this year,” Rigondeaux said. “I am very frustrated that the other world belt holders are running scared and won’t fight me. It’s disgraceful that we couldn’t find a world-class, 122-pound fighter to fight me, so, I would like to thank Amagasa for dropping down from featherweight (126 lbs. division) to challenge me. I will put on an explosive fireworks display on New Year’s Eve in Japan.”

Unfortunately, Rigondeaux vs. Amagasa will not be televised in the US or Europe, however, there will be an estimated 30-million Japanese fans tuning in to
watch ‘Rigo’ perform.

Japanese press have reported that Rigondeaux is the biggest star to fight in Japan in nearly a quarter-century, since “Iron” Mike Tyson fought against James “Buster” Douglas there in February 1990, describing Rigondeaux as a “Monster Superstar.”

‘We have already been offered a fight against another Japanese challenger in Japan this coming May,” Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde added. “Rigondeaux is in tremendous condition, as always, and we are very confident going into this fight on New Year’s Eve that ‘Rigo’ will put on a another stellar performance.

“In January, we will sit down and discuss the terms of a promotional contract that was initially offered to us this past summer and is now back on the table. Hopefully, we will come to an agreement with this promotional company and ‘Rigo’ will be back fighting on mainstream television networks in 2015.”

Hyde also reported that if, as reports have circulated, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (20-0-1, 16 KOs) is seriously interested in fighting Rigondeaux, “Rigo” will return from Japan to fight Santa Cruz in a major unification bout January 17 in Las Vegas. Santa Cruz is scheduled to fight an opponent to be determined in the 12-round co-feature on a card headlined by the WBC heavyweight title fight, airing live from MGM Grand on Showtime, between defending champion Bermane Stiverne and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder.

LONDON (July 18) – Super-bantamweight kingpin Guillermo Rigondeaux has blasted the other recognised champions in the division for refusing to fight him.

The reigning WBA Super and WBO world champion is set to battle the cultured Sod Kokietgym in Macao this Saturday, live on BoxNation, but has taken the opportunity on the eve of the fight to take a pop at the other leading names in the 122-pound weight class.

The 33-year-old is not happy with current WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz and IBF hotshot Kiko Martinez for turning down the opportunity of a unification clash to determine the undisputed number one in the division.

“I am frustrated that the two other champions in my division – Leo Santa Cruz and Kiko Martinez – will not step up to fight me in title unifications to determine the true world champion. I do not understand that mindset,” said Rigondeaux.

“How do you not want to prove you are the best? I do. Nonito Donaire did when we fought in our title unification battle in New York last year. The fans deserve better from Santa Cruz and Martinez. The media should be holding them accountable.

“A real champion fights and accepts the challenges from the best in his division. Back in the day, world champions accepted the top challenges.

“I get criticised by the media for my style of fighting. Maybe the media should be criticising the champions who deny the fights boxing fans crave?,” bemoaned Rigondeaux.

Martinez is set to face Irish sensation Carl Frampton next up, another fight live and exclusive on BoxNation, with Santa Cruz pencilled in to fight on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s rematch with Marcos Maidana.

Rigondeaux, however, has to come through a tough test of his own before he can look to unify the belts when he takes on Kokietgym, a two-time world title challenger who is on a nine-year, 37-fight unbeaten streak.

The Cuban, regarded as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters, has refused to overlook the dangerous Thai and has been hard at work in the gym preparing for this weekend.

“I had a 10-week training camp with George Rubio where we focused on honing my combinations and power punching. I am taking nothing for granted with Kokietgym. He has an impressive record and he is a smart fighter,” said Rigondeaux.

“Hard training and discipline are my greatest assets as a fighter. I am dedicated to being the best boxer in the world and perfecting my technique. I am always the last man out of the gym in training camp. I never weigh more than 129 pounds between fights,” he said.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist, with an unmatched amateur background, has promised to push the action more in this fight after claims that his style wasn’t the most fan-friendly.

“I plan to be more aggressive to be more impressive,” said Rigondeaux. “But let me make this clear, I have been a world champion and an Olympic gold medalist for one reason – I do not make mistakes in the ring. I fight my fight, not my opponents’ fights. In baseball, great hitters do not swing at bad pitches,” he said.

With his defence amongst the very best, Rigondeaux believes he can dominate for many years to come.

“I feel great and I think I can keep fighting at this elite level for many more years because I have never taken any punishment in the ring,”

Rigondeaux said. Rigondeaux vs. Kokietgym is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) this Saturday at 2pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

MACAU, CHINA (July 18, 2014) – Undefeated unified junior featherweight world champion and Cuban sensation GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX (13-0, 8 KOs), of Miami, Florida, has promised to provide “a lot of fireworks” when he defends his titles against Top-Five contender and two-time world title challenger SOD LOOKNONGYANTOY (63-2-1, 27 KOs), of Srithep, Thailand, This Saturday! July 19, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena. Rigondeaux will need them if he is to derail the “Looknongyantoy Express,” who enters this fight riding a nine-year, 37-bout unbeaten streak.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate, All Star Boxing, Caribe Promotions and Foreman Boys Promotions, the Rigondeaux vs. Looknongyangtov world junior featherweight championship fight will be televised via same-day delay as the main event of Solo Boxeo Tecate on UniMás, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
“I had a 10-week training camp with George Rubio where we focused on honing my combinations and power punching. I am taking nothing for granted with Looknongyantoy. He has an impressive record and he is a smart fighter.

“I intend to give UniMás and its boxing audience a great show. I plan to be more aggressive to be more impressive. But let me make this clear, I have been a world champion and an Olympic gold medalist for one reason – I do not make mistakes in the ring. I fight my fight, not my opponents’ fights. In baseball, great hitters do not swing at bad pitches.

“Hard training and discipline are my greatest assets as a fighter. I am dedicated to being the best boxer in the world and perfecting my technique. I am always the last man out of the gym in training camp. I never weigh more than 129 pounds between fights.

“I feel great and I think I can keep fighting at this elite level for many more years because I have never taken any punishment in the ring.

“I am frustrated that the two other champions in my division – Leo Santa Cruz and Kiko Martinez – will not step up to fight me in title unifications to determine the true world champion. I do not understand that mindset. How do you not want to prove you are the best? I do. Nonito Donaire did when we fought in our title unification battle in New York last year. The fans deserve better from Santa Cruz and Martinez. The media should be holding them accountable. A real champion fights and accepts the challenges from the best in his division. Back in the day, world champions accepted the top challenges. I get criticized by the media for my style of fighting. Maybe the media should be criticizing the champions who deny the fights boxing fans crave?”

SOD LOOKNONGYANTOY
“I have eight years of Muay Thai fighting experience, including over 400 victories. That has helped me to become a good boxer. I bring vast experience and intelligence.

“I trained hard for this fight. I trained to fight the perfect fight because that is what it will take to beat Rigondeaux. I do not fear him.

“I am up to the challenge. I am prepared to defeat Rigondeaux. I am ready to become world champion.”

**************************

Remaining tickets for the Rigondeaux vs. Looknongyangtov world junior featherweight championship event can be purchased via Cotai Ticketing™. Prices start at HKD/MOP 80, with ferry and hotel packages also available.

Rigondeaux (13-0, 8 KOs), of Miami, Florida, one of boxing’s top pound for pound fighters, returns to the ring making his 2014 debut. Last year he unified the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-pound titles by defeating 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire on April 13, 2013, at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall in New York. Rigondeaux thoroughly dominated Donaire via a unanimous decision victory, ending the Filipino Flash’s 12-year, 30-bout winning streak, as well as claiming his WBO junior featherweight title. Rigondeaux had a stellar amateur career, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2000, World Amateur Championship titles in 2005 and 2001, and Pan American Games gold medals in 2005 and 2003, all at 119 pounds, before leaving Cuba to embark on a professional career which began in Miami in 2009. In only his seventh professional fight where both fighters scored knockdowns, Rigondeaux captured the WBA interim super bantamweight title, winning a tough split decision over the vastly more experienced former world champion Ricardo Cordoba in 2010. After successfully defending the interim title in 2011 with a first-round knockout of previously undefeated former European super bantamweight champion Willie Casey, Rigondeaux won the WBA world super bantamweight championship with a sixth-round knockout of previously undefeated defending champion Rico Ramos, January 20, 2012. Rigondeaux has successfully defended that title four times since then, blasting out once-beaten Teon Kennedy in the fifth round, which included Kennedy suffering five knockdowns en route to the loss, and winning a dominant unanimous decision over once-beaten contender Roberto Marroquin, both in 2012, besting Donaire in their April 2013 title unification fight and most recently, defeating former two-time world champion Joseph Agbeko, December 7 via a dominant unanimous decision.

Looknongyantoy (63-2-1, 27 KOs), of Srithep, Thailand, has twice challenged for the WBO junior featherweight title, losing to Daniel De Leon both times, in 2005 and 2006. Since then he has fashioned a nine -year, 37-bout unbeaten streak, which has included Asian, WBO Asia-Pacific and WBA Pan Asian 122-pound title victories. Possessing a style that features good skills and movement, he is currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBO and No. 10 by the WBA.

**********************

Entertainment at Sands China Ltd. Properties
Sands China Ltd. has as a clear vision to establish Macao as Asia’s top entertainment destination.

The 15,000-seat Cotai Arena is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It is the top entertainment destination in southern China, hosting the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

The 1800-seat, multi-purpose Venetian Theatre is one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in greater China. Featuring ushers in black-tie, champagne service, gourmet food and beverage items and other unique, premium amenities, it offers an intimate, luxurious and exclusive venue experience. The Venetian Theatre is playing a key role in bringing the best in international and Chinese entertainment to Macao, with a luxury theatre experience like no other in the region.

The 650-seat Sands Theatre regularly features internationally-renowned singers, performers and artists of the highest calibre. From traditional Chinese-costumed dancers to modern performances, and from singing troupes to contemporary bands, everything from Western rock to Cantonese pop is covered.

With an unbeatable diversity, the entertainment offering of Sands China Ltd. is ushering in a new era of entertainment in Macao.

For information about upcoming shows and events, visit www.venetianmacao.com/entertainment.html.

About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

About Cotai Strip Resorts Macao – Macao’s Integrated Resort City
Sands China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The befittingly named Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao has transformed a gaming-centric day-trip market into an integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure travellers.

Pulsating with life, both night and day, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao features an expansive offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with approximately 9,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live entertainment, duty-free shopping with 600 retailers offering an unparalleled array of name brands, 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space for Asia’s leading conferences and exhibitions, gaming excitement, transportation offerings and well over 100 dining options, including international restaurants, bars and lounges. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is a must-see destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and unparalleled excitement.

Comprised of The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, featuring the world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is where Asia’s ultimate destination is all within reach.

Cotai Strip Resorts Macao….Macao Starts Here. For more information, please visit
http://en.cotaistrip.com.

MACAU, CHINA (July 9, 2014) – Undefeated unified junior featherweight world champion and Cuban sensation GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX will defend his titles against Top-Five contender and two-time world title challenger SOD LOOKNONGYANTOY, Saturday, July 19.at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate, All Star Boxing, Caribe Promotions and Foreman Boys Promotions, the Rigondeaux vs. Looknongyangtov world junior featherweight championship fight will be televised via same-day delay as the main event of Solo Boxeo Tecate on UniMás, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Remaining tickets for the Rigondeaux vs. Looknongyangtov world junior featherweight championship event can be purchased via Cotai Ticketing™. Prices start at HKD/MOP 80, with ferry and hotel packages also available.

Rigondeaux (13-0, 8 KOs), of Miami, Florida, one of boxing’s top pound for pound fighters, returns to the ring making his 2014 debut. Last year he unified the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-pound titles by defeating 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire on April 13, 2013, at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall in New York. Rigondeaux thoroughly dominated Donaire via a unanimous decision victory, ending the Filipino Flash’s 12-year, 30-bout winning streak, as well as claiming his WBO junior featherweight title. Rigondeaux had a stellar amateur career, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2000, World Amateur Championship titles in 2005 and 2001, and Pan American Games gold medals in 2005 and 2003, all at 119 pounds, before leaving Cuba to embark on a professional career which began in Miami in 2009. In only his seventh professional fight where both fighters scored knockdowns, Rigondeaux captured the WBA interim super bantamweight title, winning a tough split decision over the vastly more experienced former world champion Ricardo Cordoba in 2010. After successfully defending the interim title in 2011 with a first-round knockout of previously undefeated former European super bantamweight champion Willie Casey, Rigondeaux won the WBA world super bantamweight championship with a sixth-round knockout of previously undefeated defending champion Rico Ramos, January 20, 2012. Rigondeaux has successfully defended that title four times since then, blasting out once-beaten Teon Kennedy in the fifth round, which included Kennedy suffering five knockdowns en route to the loss, and winning a dominant unanimous decision over once-beaten contender Roberto Marroquin, both in 2012, besting Donaire in their April 2013 title unification fight and most recently, defeating former two-time world champion Joseph Agbeko, December 7 via a dominant unanimous decision.

Looknongyantoy (63-2-1, 27 KOs), of Srithep, Thailand, has twice challenged for the WBO junior featherweight title, losing to Daniel De Leon both times, in 2005 and 2006. Since then he has fashioned a nine -year, 37-bout unbeaten streak, which has included Asian, WBO Asia-Pacific and WBA Pan Asian 122-pound title victories. Possessing a style that features good skills and movement, he is currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBO and No. 10 by the WBA.

**********************

Entertainment at Sands China Ltd. Properties
Sands China Ltd. has as a clear vision to establish Macao as Asia’s top entertainment destination.

The 15,000-seat Cotai Arena is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It is the top entertainment destination in southern China, hosting the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

The 1800-seat, multi-purpose Venetian Theatre is one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in greater China. Featuring ushers in black-tie, champagne service, gourmet food and beverage items and other unique, premium amenities, it offers an intimate, luxurious and exclusive venue experience. The Venetian Theatre is playing a key role in bringing the best in international and Chinese entertainment to Macao, with a luxury theatre experience like no other in the region.

The 650-seat Sands Theatre regularly features internationally-renowned singers, performers and artists of the highest calibre. From traditional Chinese-costumed dancers to modern performances, and from singing troupes to contemporary bands, everything from Western rock to Cantonese pop is covered.

With an unbeatable diversity, the entertainment offering of Sands China Ltd. is ushering in a new era of entertainment in Macao.

For information about upcoming shows and events, visit www.venetianmacao.com/entertainment.html.

About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

About Cotai Strip Resorts Macao – Macao’s Integrated Resort City
Sands China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The befittingly named Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao has transformed a gaming-centric day-trip market into an integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure travellers.

Pulsating with life, both night and day, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao features an expansive offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with approximately 9,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live entertainment, duty-free shopping with 600 retailers offering an unparalleled array of name brands, 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space for Asia’s leading conferences and exhibitions, gaming excitement, transportation offerings and well over 100 dining options, including international restaurants, bars and lounges. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is a must-see destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and unparalleled excitement.

Comprised of The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, featuring the world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is where Asia’s ultimate destination is all within reach.

Cotai Strip Resorts Macao….Macao Starts Here. For more information, please visit
http://en.cotaistrip.com.

LONDON (3 July) – BoxNation’s stacked summer schedule is set to get even hotter this July with heavyweight hitters Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora’s world title eliminator headlining a sizzling set of fights, live and exclusive on ‘The Channel of Champions’.

The mammoth showdown between two of the world’s best heavyweights, taking place at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester on July 26th, will see the victor go on to challenge the reigning WBA Super, IBF and WBO world champion Wladimir Klitschko next up.

First, however, they must cross paths once again, with Chisora looking to avenge his 2011 points loss to Fury, as both men put their careers on the line in their bid for world title glory.

BoxNation will be bringing viewers unprecedented access ahead of their mouth-watering meeting, with the channel set to air – ‘Before the Bell: Chisora v Fury’ – a fly on the wall documentary series, starting this coming Monday at 7.30pm, delving into the lives of both fighters as they gear up for the biggest bout of their careers.

Episode two airs on Monday 14th July at 7.30pm, with the final show on Monday 21st July at 7.30pm.

The world’s best boxing channel will get their enthralling July schedule off to a bang this weekend, though, with further heavyweight action when Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Chageav challenges hard-hitter Fres Oquendo for the vacant WBA title.

The following week on July 12th, one of boxing’s very best, Canelo Alvarez, is back in action when he takes on the slick and slippery Cuban Erislandy Lara in a matchup that continues to divide opinion amongst fight aficionados.

Mexican superstar, Alvarez, will be looking to continue his route back to the very top, following his loss to Floyd Mayweather last September.

He has already shown that he is ready to challenge the best around again after his convincing victory over Alfredo Angulo earlier this year, but, Lara is a different prospect altogether, having racked up 19 wins in 22 fights and with world title ambitions of his own.

The card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will also witness the revitalised Juan Manuel Lopez up against Francisco Vargas following his stunning win over Daniel Ponce De Leon in March, with the man who ran Danny Garcia extremely close – Mauricio Herrera – returning against Johan Perez.

There is domestic action on July 16th when talented super-middleweight prospect Frank Buglioni looks to bounce back in style following his shock defeat to Sergey Khomitsky.

The power puncher, known as ‘The Wise Guy’, goes up against Sam Couzens at the York Hall, with 21-year-old super-featherweight ace Mitchell Smith battling Peter Cope, and highly-touted welterweight Bradley Skeete taking on Steven Pearce.

BoxNation then returns back to Macao, China when the supremely gifted Guillermo Rigondeaux puts his WBA Super and WBO super-bantamweight world titles on the line against the experienced Sod Kokietgym on July 19th.

The end of BoxNation’s packed July schedule, with back-to-back fights each weekend, featuring the very best boxing action from around the world, culminates in the mega-clash between Fury and Chisora as they ‘fight for the right’.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) an unmissable July for only £12 a month, please visit www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

MACAO (May 31, 2014) – Two-time Chinese Olympic gold medallist and national icon ZOU SHIMING and undefeated unified junior featherweight world champion and Cuban sensation GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX will headline Champions of Gold – world championship boxing’s return to The The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with Tecate, PS4, Caribe Promotions and Foreman Boys Promotions, Champions of Gold will take place Saturday, July 19.

Tickets for Champions of Gold are on sale now and can be purchased via Cotai Ticketing™; prices start at HKD/MOP 80, with ferry and hotel packages also available. Featherweight Fury ticketholders will want to act fast to take advantage of a 30 per cent early bird discount*, available for three days only, until June 2 (HKD/MOP 80 tickets excluded).

Rigondeaux will be defending his titles against top-five contender and two-time world title challenger SOD LOOKNONGYANTOY of Thailand. The undercard will feature former three-time world champion BRIAN VILORIA, undefeated NABF/NABO super middleweight champion GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ, 2012 Russian Olympic gold medallist EGOR MEKHONTSEV, plus local favourites REX “The Wonder Kid” TSO, IK YANG and “The Macao Kid” NG KUOK KUN, each in separate bouts.

Zou (4-0, 1 KO), from Guizhou, China, and trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, won his professional debut April 6, 2013 at Fists of Gold, via a dominant four-round unanimous decision over gritty Eleazar Valenzuela. He followed that up with six-round unanimous decision victories last year over Jesus Ortega and Juan Toscano July 27 at Fists of Gold II and November 24 at The Clash in Cotai, respectively, and celebrated his 2014 debut with his first professional knockout February 22 at Ring of Gold, stopping Yokthong Kokietgym in the seventh round. All of his professional bouts have taken place at the Cotai Arena. One of the most popular Olympic athletes in China, Zou was the world’s greatest amateur light flyweight, capturing gold medals in the World Amateur Championships in 2005, 2007 and 2011, along with gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. He also owns an Olympic bronze medal from the 2004 games, making him his nation’s first Olympic medallist in boxing as well as its first boxing gold medallist in the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics. He will be graduating to a 10-round bout against an opponent who will be named shortly, taking Zou one step closer to a world title challenge.

Rigondeaux (13-0, 8 KOs), of Miami, Florida, returns to the ring making his 2014 debut. Last year he unified the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-pound titles by defeating 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire April 13, 2013, at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall in New York. Rigondeaux thoroughly dominated Donaire via a unanimous decision victory, ending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak, as well as claiming his WBO junior featherweight title. Rigondeaux had a stellar amateur career, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2000, World Amateur Championship titles in 2005 and 2001, and Pan American Games gold medals in 2005 and 2003, all at 119 pounds, before leaving Cuba to embark on a professional career which began in Miami in 2009. In only his seventh professional fight where both fighters scored knockdowns, Rigondeaux captured the WBA interim super bantamweight title, winning a tough split decision over the vastly more experienced former world champion Ricardo Cordoba in 2010. After successfully defending the interim title in 2011 with a first-round knockout of previously undefeated former European super bantamweight champion Willie Casey, Rigondeaux won the WBA world super bantamweight championship with a sixth-round knockout of previously undefeated defending champion Rico Ramos January 20, 2012. Rigondeaux has successfully defended that title four times since then, blasting once-beaten Teon Kennedy in the fifth round, which included Kennedy suffering five knockdowns en route to the loss, and winning a dominant unanimous decision over once-beaten contender Roberto Marroquin, both in 2012, besting Donaire in their April 2013 title unification fight and most recently, defeating former two-time world champion Joseph Agbeko December 7 via a dominant unanimous decision.

Looknongyantoy (61-2-1, 25 KOs), of Srithep, Thailand, has twice challenged for the WBO junior featherweight, losing to Daniel De Leon both times, in 2005 and 2006. Since then he has fashioned an eight-year, 35-bout unbeaten streak, which has included Asian, WBO Asia-Pacific and WBA Pan Asian 122-pound title victories. He is currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBO and No. 8 by the WBA.

Viloria (32-4, 19 KOs), from Waipahu, Hawaii, was a 2000 U.S. Olympian. He captured his first world title in 2005, knocking out Eric Ortiz in the first round to become the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion. He held the title for nearly one year before losing it. In 2008, he captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior flyweight title, knocking out Ulises Solis in the 11th round. After losing the title in his second defence the following year, Viloria moved up one weight division and captured the WBO flyweight title via unanimous decision over Julio Miranda in 2011. The following year, he unified the title with a 10th-round knockout of WBA champion Hernan Marquez. He lost the titles on the Fists of Gold II card, losing a split decision to Juan Estrada.

Ramirez (28-0, 22 KOs), of Mazatlan, Mexico, is world-rated No. 2 by the WBC, No. 3 by the WBO, No. 6 by the WBA and No. 7 by the IBF. A sensational young contender, Ramirez, 22, has won both his 2014 bouts by knockout. In his last outing, April 11, he captured the NABF and NABO super middleweight titles via a fifth-round knockout of two-time world title challenger Yovanny Lorenzo.

Mekhontsev (3-0, 3 KOs), of Asbest, Russia, won his pro debut last December 4, knocking out Peter Cajigas in the third round. On February 22, Mekhontsev made his Cotai Arena debut at Ring of Gold, knocking out undefeated Jaritram Atthaporn in the second round. His most recent fight was a third-round stoppage of Dwayne Williams April 11. Trained by his father Leonid, Mekhontsev captured the Olympic light heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and as a heavyweight he won gold at the 2009 World Amateur Championships and the 2010 and 1008 European Amateur Championships.

Hong Kong’s Tso (12-0, 8 KOs), the undefeated WBC Asian super flyweight and WBO Asia Pacific junior bantamweight champion recently named 2013 WBC Asia Prospect of the Year, Yang (13-0, 8 KOs) of Dalian, China and local favourite Ng (4-0, 2 KOs) will be featured in separate bouts on the undercard against opponents who will be announced soon.

Tickets to the July 19 Champions of Gold can be purchased at all Cotai Ticketing box offices*, and are available in seven categories, ranging from HKD/MOP 80 to HKD/MOP 4,680. HKD/MOP 88 adds a round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry ticket between Hong Kong and Macao (HKD/MOP 80 tickets excluded). Tickets can be booked online at www.cotaiticketing.com, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK) / 4001 206 618 (China) / +63 2 395 3370 (Philippines). Tickets are also available through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies), online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288, and via Macao Kong Seng Ticketing Network, online at www.macauticket.com, by phone at +853 2855 5555, or in person at selected retail outlets (for locations, visit www.macauticket.com/TicketWeb/ServiceStations.aspx). Hotel packages including two tickets and one night’s accommodation at a choice of The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel; Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central; or Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central are also available for purchase starting at HKD/MOP 3,800† through Cotai Ticketing.

NOTE: Bouts and times subject to change

# # #

Entertainment at Sands China Ltd. Properties
Sands China Ltd. has as a clear vision to establish Macao as Asia’s top entertainment destination.

The 15,000-seat Cotai Arena is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It is the top entertainment destination in southern China, hosting the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

The 1800-seat, multi-purpose Venetian Theatre is one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in greater China. Featuring ushers in black-tie, champagne service, gourmet food and beverage items and other unique, premium amenities, it offers an intimate, luxurious and exclusive venue experience. The Venetian Theatre is playing a key role in bringing the best in international and Chinese entertainment to Macao, with a luxury theatre experience like no other in the region.

The 650-seat Sands Theatre regularly features internationally-renowned singers, performers and artists of the highest calibre. From traditional Chinese-costumed dancers to modern performances, and from singing troupes to contemporary bands, everything from Western rock to Cantonese pop is covered.

With an unbeatable diversity, the entertainment offering of Sands China Ltd. is ushering in a new era of entertainment in Macao.

For information about upcoming shows and events, visit www.venetianmacao.com/entertainment.html.

About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

About Cotai Strip Resorts Macao – Macao’s Integrated Resort City
Sands China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The befittingly named Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao has transformed a gaming-centric day-trip market into an integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure travellers.

Pulsating with life, both night and day, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao features an expansive offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with approximately 9,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live entertainment, duty-free shopping with 600 retailers offering an unparalleled array of name brands, 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space for Asia’s leading conferences and exhibitions, gaming excitement, transportation offerings and well over 100 dining options, including international restaurants, bars and lounges. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is a must-see destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and unparalleled excitement.

Comprised of The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, featuring the world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is where Asia’s ultimate destination is all within reach.

Cotai Strip Resorts Macao….Macao Starts Here. For more information, please visit
http://en.cotaistrip.com.

122 pound world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux will defend his title on July 19 in Macau, China against Sod Kokietgym according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“This fight is the end of the contract. We owe him this fight and we will live up to the contract and then it’s over,” Arum said. “We’re happy to make a new deal with him if he wants to renegotiate (his minimum purses). But HBO won’t put him on, so the only market I have for him is in Asia.

“If he makes a big hit when he fights (in Macau) then we have to work out the money, and if we can’t, we can’t. If he feels there’s a market for him across the street (at Showtime), let him go across the street.”

LONDON (May 20) – BoxNation has added three more thrilling shows to its stacked summer calendar including two world title main events headlined by champions Terence Crawford and Guillermo Rigondeaux, plus the exciting York Hall bill led by rising star Frank Buglioni.

It will be Ricky Burns’ conqueror Crawford who will be out first on June 28th when he makes the first defence of his WBO lightweight title against the feared Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

The unbeaten Gamboa has long been regarded as one of boxing’s next stars having enjoyed a glittering amateur career that culminated in him claiming Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Games.

Having been out of action for over a year by the time he enters the ring on June 28th, he will have his work cut out against the skilled Crawford who has the talent to reach the very pinnacle of the sport and is unbeaten in his 23 fights.

‘The Channel of Champions’ will also bring viewers a domestic fight feast when rising star Frank Buglioni looks to prove his shock loss in his last bout was only a minor setback as he takes on the wily Sam Couzens at the York Hall on July 16th.

Two unbeaten contenders in Mitchell Smith and Peter Cope are also set to go at it as they compete for the vacant English super-featherweight title in what is set to be an all-action affair, with welterweight prospect Bradley Skeete also featuring on the night.

Then, on July 19th one of the world’s very best will be looking to showcase his box of tricks with Cuban ace Rigondeaux putting his WBA Super and WBO super-bantamweight titles on the line against knockout artist Jonathan Guzman.

Taking place at the Cotai Arena in Macao, China, the Dominican Republic’s Guzman will look to capture his first world titles by continuing his fearsome undefeated record which has seen him knockout 16 opponents in his 16 wins.

British and Irish interest will be high in the fight as Belfast’s Carl Frampton and Bury’s Scott Quigg eye a future clash with the 122 pound division’s top dog in Rigondeaux.

The exhilarating additions to the BoxNation calendar follows hot on the heels of the news that the channel will be broadcasting the megafight between WBC middleweight world champion Sergio Martinez and superstar Miguel Cotto live and exclusive on June 7th.

Further good news for BoxNation viewers is that the channel will be the only place to see the award-winning 24/7 series previewing the build up to Martinez-Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York, with episode one set to premiere on Tuesday the 3rd of June at 7pm.

BoxNation will also be the only place to see this summer’s eagerly anticipated heavyweight world title eliminator between kingpins Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora on July 26th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) for only £12 a month (plus a one-off registration fee) please visit www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 one off registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

Saturday Cuban world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux reduced Ghanaian super bantamweight and former bantamweight titlist Joseph King Kong Agbeko, no quotes, to an inactive and pacifistic mess, decisioning the African by extraordinarily unanimous scores of 120-108 (12 rounds to 0), 120-108 (12 rounds to 0) and 120-108 (12 rounds to 0). Agbeko, once the very picture of a volume-punching craftsman adept at stealing others’ wills, got uppercutted by Rigondeaux often enough early enough to throw a metaphoric white towel on the match at its halfway point and leave it there.

It takes a special sort of audacity to deploy an uppercut from range in a championship prizefight. Howsoever one chooses to throw it, the punch must begin with a hand perilously lowered, placing an unusual defensive onus on footwork. It is a punch one is taught never to throw moving forward, an instruction a young fighter needn’t hear more than once – hard enough as it is to switch his feet and body weight correctly to throw the punch even when it is a logical counter and available, like when a volume punching opponent repeatedly sets his chin over his front knee, as every volume puncher is wont to do whether by audacity, carelessness or necessity, and charges the uppercut, head lowered.

The uppercut is a punch rarely thrown accurately by the slower fighter in a match, and even more rarely thrown by slow fighters. When thrown as a back-hand counter, the punch needn’t travel far, relying as it does on the opponent’s weight and leverage – rushing into it and impaling his chin on the point of its middle knuckle – and the effectiveness of its shortened leverage can be taught a young fighter by nearly placing his back elbow on the face of its corresponding hipbone, and moving them as one, ensuring both a proper weight transfer and a necessarily restricted range of motion.

To throw the uppercut with one’s lead hand generally makes an up-jab of it, a narrowed glove whose thumb faces its thrower from trigger to contact, and ought be followed with a cross or something from the back else its thrower will expose himself unjustifiably. But to throw the back-hand uppercut as lead? That requires the audacity of a madman in the moment it is thrown, regardless of its employer’s precision. Juan Manuel Marquez used a right-uppercut lead to snatch the fighting spirit right out Rocky Juarez in their 2007 super featherweight match, sending Juarez dejectedly shuffling to his corner between rounds wondering how slow and classless he had to look to Marquez, during “Dinamita’s” mastery period and well before his reinvention-of-physique, to prompt the Mexican to consider such a lunatic ploy, much less snap his head upwards with it.

It was the very sort of audaciousness Guillermo Rigondeaux used against Joseph King Kong Agbeko, Saturday, in as one-sided a championship match as has seen a 12th round in years. It didn’t begin that way, either, and Agbeko, despite what Rigondeaux reduced him to, and despite his debut at 122 pounds coming in only his second prizefight since losing a rematch to Abner Mares 24 months ago, did not begin timidly as one recalls, either.

Agbeko, as high-class a volume puncher as the sport had in 2009, when he decisioned Vic Darchinyan and got decisioned by Yonnhy Perez – back when Agbeko’s aesthetically daring ringwalks included a gorilla mask, shackles and a blonde keeper, in a nod to the middle name, King Kong, Agbeko claims is written on a Ghanaian birth certificate probably having a different birth year than what “1980” Agbeko also claims – began the open of Saturday’s match in proper form, throwing a righthand lead or two at his southpaw opponent. Almost instantly, or at least instantly enough to overwrite in our memories what time passed before its appearance, Rigondeaux snapped a left uppercut from his southpaw stance, a back-hand uppercut counter, that snatched the fighting spirit from Agbeko with a frightful economy.

This was not a larger or stronger man unbuttoning a lesser man, a spent cutiepie American suddenly confronted by someone who hit harder and was quicker too, but rather an evenly matched champion unraveling a former titlist from Africa, a continent from which no prizefighter ever ran his way to America. Agbeko, the man who unmanned Darchinyan when the “Raging Bull” was finished stretching Mexico’s slickest boxer, Cristian Mijares, and Mexico’s toughest showman, Jorge Arce, three months apart, got stung three times by Rigondeaux in the fight’s second and third minute and spent what 33 minutes followed doing anything he could not to be stung again – and getting stung again and again.

Legend has it Joe Frazier said to a young Marvelous Marvin Hagler, “You have three strikes against you: You’re black, you’re a southpaw, and you’re good.” Aficionados looking for an explanation of fans’ and opponents’ continuing avoidance of Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux – a man whose ancestors arrived in the Western Hemisphere the same way African Americans’ did – might take Frazier’s three strikes against Hagler and add a fourth: You don’t speak English. Something like this, though not exactly this, is what Rigondeaux alluded to in footage from an HBO prefight interview, Saturday, when he said all was always harder for Cuban fighters, men whose leader made a habit of making international laughingstocks of American leaders for about 50 years, because they did not need to get hit frequently as Mexicans.

Statements like that, actually, should benefit Rigondeaux, fighting as he does in a division populated with other Latinos, and subsequently lots of Mexicans – men whose aggressiveness and stylistic deficiencies mesh perfectly with the Cuban’s extraordinary offensive arsenal. Too, Rigondeaux should benefit from HBO’s patronage and promoter Top Rank’s matchmaking mastery. Provided he follows the course plotted him and stays what greedy impulses plague men, Guillermo Rigondeaux may well be starting the sort of five-year run, 2013-2018, that makes a prizefighter into a legend.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

ATLANTIC CITY–Guillermo Rigondeaux retained the WBA/WBO Super Bantamweight titles at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom inside of Boardwalk HalL.

Rigondeaux used his superior boxing ability as he places precision shots to the body and flicking jabs to the head of Agbeko.

Scores were 120-108 on all cards for Rigondeaux and is now 13-0. Agbeko is now 29-5.

James Kirkland scored a 6th round stoppage over previously undefeated Glen Tapia in a thrilling Jr. Middleweight fight.

Tapia dominated the first frame as he jumped on Kirkland which thrilled the pro-Tapia crowd. Most of the next five rounds were spent with Kirkland unloading hundreds of flush punches to the head and the body of Tapia. Tapia was getting beat up but he showed an unbelievable heart and only god knows what was keeping him standing. Tapia showed short bursts of offense in the beginning of the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds but they were short lived as Kirkland pounded away at Tapia that had blood flying from the nose of Tapia until referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 38 seconds of round six.

Kirkland is now 32-1 with 28 knockouts. Tapia is now 20-1.

Matthew Macklin pounded out a ten round unanimous decisioble n over previously undefeated Lamar Russ in a Middleweight bout.

Macklin controlled the action with solid ring generalship and he stuck the jab in the taller Russ’face. Macklin landed several hard blows in round nine that had Russ bleeding from the mouth and the defensive as the round ended. Russ came out and threw hard shots in round ten but none of consequence

Matt Korobov remained undefeated by scoring a 9th round stoppage over Derek Edwards in a Middleweight bout.

In round one, a body-head combination made Edwards buckle Korobov continued to pound Edwards to the body and the head for which he had Edwards stumbling into the ropes. Korobov landed a fuselage of shots until he was rocked badly by a hard right from Edwards. Korobov was clarly hurt and even turned his back in an effort to run away but two three more hard shots before the end of the first round. In round two, Korobov landed a hard straight left that sent Edwards sprawling into the ropes for a knockdown. Korobov rocked Edwards once again in round four when he landed a terrific three punch head combination.

Korobov scored a knockdown at the end of round seven from a hard left hand. The two went to war in round eight with Korobov getting the better of the two way action. Korobov ended the night by dropping Edwards in round nine from yet another straight left and referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight immediately at 28 seconds of round nine.

Korobov, 162.8 lbs of Orotukian, RUS is now 22-0 with 13 knockouts. Edwards, 161.8 lbs of Winston Salem, NC is now 26-3-1.

Toka Khan Clary survived two knockdowns and boxed his way to a six round unanimous decision over Ramsey Luna in a Super Featherweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

Clary was quicker to the punch throughout as he hit and played good defense. In round four, Luna sent Clary down from a right hand and then dropped him again from a body shot. Clary was able to get out of the round and was never threatened the rest of the way.

Clary, 130.2 lbs of Providence, RI won by scores of 57-55 on all cards and is now 9-0-0-1. Luna, 131.2 lbs of Corpus Christi, TX is now 11-1.

Jesse Hart scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Tyrell Hendrix in a scheduled six round Super Middleweight bout.

Hart rocked Hendrix with an uppercut an opened up with a huge flurry where he drilled Hendrix several more times before referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 1:20 of round one.

Hart, 168.2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Hendrix, 168.4 lbs of Los Angeles is now 10-3-2-1.

Julian Rodriguez scored a 4 round unanimous decision over Ryan Picou in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Rodriguez pounded away on Picou in the 1st with blistering combinations. Picou, who was a late replacement tried and landed some shots here and there. Late in round two, Rodriguez continue to rock Picou for the duration of the fight.

Rodriguez, 140.6 lbs of Hasbrouck, NJ won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Picou, 140 lbs of Las Vegas is now 0-2.

Egor Mekhontsev made a successful pro debut with a 3 round beat down of Peter Cajigas in a scheduled four round Light Heavyweight bout.

Mekhonstev showed quick hands and hard combinations over the first two rounds. Mekhonstev dropped Cajigas three times in round three all from all hard body shots and referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout at 35 seconds of round three.

Mekhonstev, 177.2 lbs of Asobest, RUS is now 1-0 with 1 knockout. Cajigas, 179.8 lbs of Franklin Park, IL is now 0-3-1.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Guillermo Rigondeaux 121 – Joseph Agbeko 121.6
Lamar Russ 159 – Matthew Macklin 159
Glen Tapia 156 – James Kirkland 155.1
Egor Mekhonsev 177.2 – PJ Catages 179.8
Julian Rodriguez 140.6 – Ryan Piquot 140
Jesse Hart 168.2 – Tyrell Hendrix 168.4
Ramsey Luna 131.2 – Toka Khan Klary 132
Matt Korobov 162.2 – Derek Edwards 161.8
Tramaine Williams 122.6 – Jovanny Fuentes 121.8

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was on hand to take the photos of the final press conference for the Guillermo Rigondeaux – Joseph Agbeko press conference in New York City

HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise wraps its 2013 slate with the world-class tripleheader HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX VS. JOSEPH AGBEKO, JAMES KIRKLAND VS. GLEN TAPIA AND MATTHEW MACKLIN VS. LAMAR RUSS, presented SATURDAY, DEC. 7 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Andre Ward will be ringside for the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 8 (8:30 a.m.) and 9 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Dec. 8 (5:00 p.m.) and 10 (11:30 p.m.)
In the main event, Cuban sensation Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs) puts his super bantamweight titles on the line against Joseph Agbeko (29-4, 22 KOs) of Accra, Ghana. After winning two Olympic Gold medals as an amateur, the Miami-based Rigondeaux, 33, has picked apart 122-pounders like no other in his brief pro career. Most recently, he tactically disposed of Nonito Donaire, one of the sport’s elite, scoring a 12-round unanimous decision in a high-profile unification fight. After a year’s layoff, Agbeko, 33, defeated Luis Melendez last March to win a bantamweight title. With notable victories over Luis Perez and Vic Darchinyan also on his resume, he will work to build on his bantamweight success, making his HBO debut in one of the most competitive weight classes.
The co-main event, a junior middleweight bout scheduled for ten rounds, features Glen Tapia (20-0, 12 KOs) of Passaic, NJ, risking his undefeated record against heavy-handed James Kirkland (31-1, 27 KOs) of Austin, Tex. Since July, Tapia, 23, has scored two knockout victories for his third and fourth wins of 2013. Returning to the ring after nearly two years, Kirkland, 29, expects to improve on the 87% victory by knockout rate that once exhilarated sweet science fanatics. His record includes wins over Alfredo Angulo, Carlos Molina, Joel Julio and Brian Vera.
The evening begins with middleweight contenders Matthew Macklin (29-5, 20 KOs) of Birmingham, England, and Lamar Russ (14-0, 7 KOs) of Wilmington, NC in a scheduled ten-round fight. After suffering a third-round knockout defeat to powerhouse Gennady Golovkin in June, Macklin, 31, hopes to return to the form that merited him a shot at a 154-pound title. Building his own convincing case for a title run, Russ, 26, has dominated opponents in 2013, winning by unanimous decision in each of his three fights.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
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.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Doug Getts.

ATLANTIC CITY (November 13, 2013) — Undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) / World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-pound world champion and Cuban sensation GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX returns to the ring fresh from his career-best victory. Rigondeaux will be bidding for Fighter of the Year honors when he defends his unified titles against former two-time world champion JOSEPH “King Kong” AGBEKO, Saturday, December 7, at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom in Atlantic City. The card will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. The live telecast will also feature local favorite GLEN “Jersey Boy” TAPIA risking his Top-10 rating and undefeated record in a 10-round junior middleweight battle against knockout artist JAMES KIRKLAND and three-time world title challenger MATTHEW MACKLIN in a 10-round middleweight rumble against undefeated contender LAMAR RUSS.

These six gladiators boast a combined record of 135-10, 96 KOs — a winning percentage of 93% and a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Caribe Promotions, SMS Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Tecate, tickets to the Rigondeaux vs. Agbeko world championship event go on sale Tomorrow! Thursday, November 14, at Noon ET. Priced at $200, $100. $50 and $25, plus applicable service charges, tickets can be purchased at Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call 800-736-1420.

“After a brilliant performance against Nonito Donaire, Rigondeaux puts his extraordinary skills to test on December 7 against Joseph Agbeko,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “This bout epitomizes the contrast of style of slick boxer versus brawler. Which style will prevail?”

“On December 7, fans will see some of the fight game’s purest boxing and punching at its most distilled,” says Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports. “The Boardwalk in Atlantic City is the perfect home for three such intriguing match-ups.”

“I’m very excited to get back in the ring,” said Rigondeaux. “Joseph Agbeko is a great champion, and I believe all fans will be pleased with the type of performance we will both exhibit to end a great year of boxing. I believe Agbeko will come prepared, ready to engage and be very aggressive. We will both showcase our skills, and I am very pleased to have the opportunity to end 2013 the way I opened it up, with surprise and pure boxing class for the world to see. I would like to thank HBO, my promoters Top Rank and Caribe promotions, my manager Gary Hyde, advisor Alex Bornote, trainers Ramon Garbey, Joel Casamayor, Pedro Luis, and all those that have a part in making this fight happen.”

“This is going to be a great fight. I’m extremely motivated. I plan to make my country proud by becoming world champion again after I defeat Rigondeaux,” declared Agbeko.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole life. Now that it’s here it’s time for me to show the world that I’m here to stay. This is just the beginning,” said Tapia.

“Tapia hasn’t fought anyone near my level. I’m going for the knockout,” said Kirkland.

“I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and back to my winning ways,” said Macklin. “I’ve seen a few of Russ’ fights and he’s very sharp, very skilled and he’s always in exciting fights as am I. This should be a great fight for the fans both in Atlantic City and those watching on HBO. A big win against Lamar will set me up nicely for a big 2014.”

“This is great opportunity for me and my team,” said Russ. “I want it to be known to the fans and to Macklin that on December 7th I am coming to fight and I am coming to win.”

“We are delighted that Joseph Agbeko has stepped up to the plate by challenging Rigo for his WBA and WBO world titles and we are looking forward to putting on a “master class performance” against little Joe December 7th,” said Gary Hyde, Rigondeaux’s manager.

“Joseph Agbeko is a great warrior in the tradition of African fighters like Azumah Nelson. He’s coming for the title and plans to lay it all on the line. He’s a legitimate danger to Rigondeaux,” said Frank Espinoza, Agbeko’s manager.

“I’d like to thank Top Rank and HBO for giving Glen this opportunity,” said Tapia’s manager Pat Lynch. “I know it’s something he’s worked really hard for. It’s going to be a great fight and Glen will not disappoint his fans on December 7.”

“Kirkland brings all-out aggression into the ring. He’s strong, powerful and exciting,” said Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, of SMS Promotions.

“Macklin-Russ should be a barnburner between two fighters who can bang,” said Lou DiBella, Macklin’s promoter. “The fight means so much to both boxers that it can’t help but be a good one and we are happy that it is on such a high quality card in Atlantic City.”

“We know that Russ will come to fight but we are very confident in Matt’s skills and experience and know those two assets will put us back into the win column,” said Macklin’s advisor Anthony Catanzaro.

“Caesars Atlantic City’s commitment to sponsoring some of the top sporting events on the East Coast is no more evident than with this December 7th HBO triple header set for historic Boardwalk Hall,” said Kevin Ortzman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars, Bally’s, and Showboat Atlantic City. “As a boxing fan, I’m particularly looking forward to the Tapia v. Kirkland bout. Given Tapia’s New Jersey roots and his quick growing reputation as an up and comer, this match already possesses a great storyline and will certainly be a high energy affair.”

Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs), of Miami, Fla., returns to the ring after unifying the titles by defeating 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire on April 13 at a sold-out Radio City Music Hall in New York. Rigondeaux thoroughly dominated Donaire via a unanimous decision victory, ending his 12-year, 30-bout winning streak, as well as claiming his WBO junior featherweight title. Rigondeaux had a stellar amateur career, winning Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2000, World Amateur Championship titles in 2005 and 2001, and Pan American Games gold medals in 2005 and 2003, all at 119 pounds, before defecting from Cuba and embarking on a professional career which began in Miami in 2009. In only his seventh professional fight where both fighters scored knockdowns, Rigondeaux captured the WBA interim super bantamweight title, winning a tough split decision over the vastly more experienced former world champion Ricardo Cordoba in 2010. After successfully defending the interim title in 2011 with a first-round knockout of previously undefeated former European super bantamweight champion Willie Casey, Rigondeaux won the WBA world super bantamweight championship with a sixth-round knockout of previously undefeated defending champion Rico Ramos on January 20, 2012. Rigondeaux has successfully defended that title thrice since then, blasting once-beaten Teon Kennedy in the fifth round, which included Kennedy suffering five knockdowns en route to the loss, and winning a dominant unanimous decision over once-beaten contender Roberto Marroquin last year, on June 9 and September 15, respectively, and Donaire in their April title unification fight.

Before moving up to the junior featherweight division, Agbeko (29-4, 22 KOs), of Accra, Ghana, was one of the dominant forces of the bantamweight division. He captured his first International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title just one month removed from his U.S. debut, on September 29, 2007, knocking out defending champion Luis Perez in the seventh round, ending Perez’s seven-year winning streak. Agbeko successfully defended the title twice, winning decisions over William Gonzalez and Vic Darchinyan, before losing it to Yonnhy Perez in October 2009. Agbeko avenged that loss and reclaimed the title in their rematch 15 months later. His second reign ended in his first defense, August 2011, a majority decision loss to Abner Mares, who also won the rematch in December of that same year. After taking over a year off, Agbeko returned to the ring last March 22, and defeated Luis Melendez to capture the IBO bantamweight title. Agbeko will be training with Roger Mayweather for his upcoming world title challenge.

Tapia (20-0, 12 KOs), of Passaic, NJ, will be fighting for the fifth time this year, only the second time he has fought this much in a calendar year. And why not? Tapia has starched three of the four opponents he has faced so far this year, with the highlight being his nationally-televised eighth-round knockout of undefeated Abie Han, in July, to capture the vacant NABO junior middleweight title. He returns to the ring fresh from knocking out Elco Garcia in the fifth round on September 28, in Atlantic City. Tapia is currently world-rated No. 9 and No. 10, by the WBO and IBF, respectively.

Promoted by rap star 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions, Kirkland (31-1, 27 KOs), of Austin, TX, returns to the ring after a 21-month hiatus spent dealing with legal issues. The two-fisted wrecking machine has acquired 11 of his last 12 victories by knockout dating back to 2007 and his victory by knockout ratio is an incredible 87%. Prominent victories on his resume include Alfredo Angulo, Carlos Molina, Joel Julio and Bryan Vera.

Macklin (29-5, 20 KOs), of Birmingham, England, has collected Irish, British and European middleweight and junior middleweight titles since making his pro debut in 2001. His steady rise up the ratings matched by his impressive victories earned him his first title shot, against WBA middleweight titlist Felix Sturm in 2011, in the defending champion’s backyard, Cologne, Germany. Macklin took it to Sturm from the opening bell but came up short on the judges’ scorecards, losing a split decision that many observers thought reeked of “home cooking” in favor of the out-gunned Sturm His performance earned him two more title fights, against middleweight champions Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin, losing to both by stoppage.

Russ (14-0, 7 KOs), of Wilmington, NC, has twice served as WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s lead sparring partner in previous training camps. Career highlights include spectacular back-to-back knockout victories over Jose Alonzo and Jonathan Cepeda, who boasted a combined record of 25-0 when Russ fought them in 2012. A graduate of Fayetteville State University with a degree in Business Administration, Russ has taken care of business in 2013 winning all three bouts by unanimous decision.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing.

LONDON (8 Nov) – Rising star Mikey Garcia’s battle with WBO super-featherweight world champion Roman Martinez this weekend will act as the appetiser before BoxNation’s incredible festive fight feast.

The world’s best boxing channel kicks-off what will be a mouth-watering next couple of months with the fight games biggest cards set to be featured live and exclusive all the way until Christmas, starting with Saturday night’s Texas showdown.

‘The Filipino Flash’ Nonito Donaire is also set to make his return on the bill against old foe Vic Darchinyan, following his defeat against Cuban kingpin Guillermo Rigondeaux last April.

The main event, though, sees Garcia, the undefeated former WBO featherweight world champion, move up to the 130 pound weight class with the aim of capturing his second title against the skilled ‘Rocky’ Martinez.

Having been stripped of his featherweight crown on the scales, after failing to make the weight against Juan Manuel Lopez in his last bout, Garcia is determined to bounce back and regain his place amongst boxing’s elite.

“I was very sad. I worked very hard to get that title – I waited over two years in line to get that title shot and to not be able to defend and to lose it on the scale – it was hard,” said Garcia.

“As we were walking down the elevator and through the hallways going to the weigh-in knowing that I was no longer champion – I just tried to move forward and do the best that I could,” he said.

The 25-year-old fighting out of Oxnard, California is well aware it’s not going to be an easy ride against Martinez, who has only lost one bout out of 30, that coming in a narrow points decision against Scotland’s Ricky Burns.

“He’s very tough, very durable,” said Garcia. “He’s one of the most resilient guys out there. He is a world champion and he’s not going to let that title slip out of his hands easily. He’s going to fight very hard to keep that title. That’s why I think it’s going to be a very good fight for me,” he added.

“I am not only moving up in weight but I am fighting a world champion in Rocky Martinez and we are doing all the things necessary to be in the best shape possible to be prepared for Rocky Martinez,” Garcia said.

Martinez goes into the bout having beaten undefeated prospect Diego Magdaleno and is confident he will similarly hand Garcia his first loss.

“I know that he is an intelligent guy, very smart and he knows how to throw his punches together and that’s why we trained so hard – to be ready for anything. I think I can take his punches. I think I have proven myself that I am able to take punches. So it is a question of just being ready and being at my best,” Martinez said.

“I should be the favourite. I am the champion and I am naturally the bigger guy. I am strong and I prepared myself well and I believe I am going to win this fight because of that,” he said.

Following BoxNation’s airing of Martinez vs. Garcia, the ‘Channel of Champions’ will be showing the following events live and exclusive: Maldonado Jr. vs. Ramos Jr – Golden Boy Live! (Nov 11), Sergey Rabchenko vs. Cedric Vitu (Nov 16), Andre Ward vs. Edwin Rodriguez (Nov 16), Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios (Nov 23), Antonio Tarver vs. Mike Sheppard (Nov 26), Copper Box Arena show featuring Dereck Chisora and Nathan Cleverly (Nov 30), Paul Smith vs. Luke Blackledge (Dec 7), Paulie Malignaggi vs. Zab Judah (Dec 7), Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Joseph Agbeko (Dec 7), Juergen Braehmer vs. Marcus Oliveira (Dec 14), Adrien Broner vs. Marcos Maidana (Dec 14) and Stuart Hall vs. Vusi Malinga (Dec 21).

In addition to this mammoth lineup BoxNation will also be showing the award winning 24/7 series as it delves into the camps of Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios. The UK premiere of Episode 1 will be on Wednesday Nov 13th at 9pm, followed by Episode 2 on Wednesday Nov 20th at 9pm and Episode 3 on Friday 22nd Nov at 9pm.

Fight fans can get all this for just £10 a month (plus a one-off £10 registration fee). Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

Martinez vs. Garcia is live from 1.30am this Sunday morning on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £10* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

The channel is available on Sky (ch 437), Virgin (ch 546), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

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According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Top Rank has signed 2012 Olympic Gold Medal winner Egor Mekhonstev. The Light Heavyweight will turn pro on the December 7th Guillermo Rigondeaux – Joseph Agbeko card in Atlantic City.

“We saw a DVD of [some of his amateur fights] and I loved him,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “I used to do so many of the great light heavyweight fights [in the late 1970s and 80s] with guys like Matthew Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Victor Galindez, Yaqui Lopez, Mike Rossman, so I am schooled in light heavyweights and this guy is the kind of fighter who could hold his own with any of those guys. He really reminds me of a guy who could hold his own with them.”

“It is very interesting for me to begin boxing professionally after accomplishing all I did as an amateur. I am very excited,” Mekhontsev said through manager Vadim Kornilov, who also manages newly crowned junior welterweight titleholder Ruslan Provodnikov.

“I am excited as well to begin working with such an amateur standout,” Kornilov said. “I am very confident in Egor’s future as a pro boxer.”

“These [gold medalists] essentially recruited us,” Arum said. “Usually, you run after these guys and wave money at them to get them to sign. We didn’t give one bonus to these guys. They felt we were the best promotions company for them, that we would develop them and put them in the right position and we made deals with them.”

“We stocked up,” said Arum, who turns 82 on Dec. 8. “Besides Mekhontsev, I got more Russians coming. Pretty soon, I can put my own army together. We signed all of these Olympians because we believe they will be top professionals and we believe that this is the future of boxing. It’s a worldwide sport. We didn’t make any differentiation in signing guys because of where they were from.

“We wanted the best fighters and we also know that there are markets all over the world, whether it’s the Russian market, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese. We’re now in position to bring the product to these markets because now we have the horses to do it. Whatever more years I have left, it will be on a high note with all of those talented kids.”

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (June 4, 2013) — Top Rank announced today the signing of undefeated light heavyweight contender “Irish” SEANIE MONAGHAN. One of the top boxing gate attractions in his native New York, Monaghan (18-0, 11 KOs), of Long Beach, NY, captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas light heavyweight title on June 14, 2012, via an eighth-round TKO of Romaro Johnson and successfully defended it last October 24, winning a unanimous decision over Rayco Sanders. Known for his aggressive style and good punching power, especially to the body, Monaghan, 31, is currently world-rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 18 by the WBC. In last his fight, on April 13, he scored a first-round knockout of Dion Stanley on the undercard of the Nonito Donaire – Guillermo Rigondeaux world junior featherweight championship at Radio City Music Hall.

“It’s an honor to sign with Top Rank. I have really improved and I know Top Rank will work hard to get me the big fights,” said Monaghan.

“We are very excited. Seanie has fought on some Top Rank-promoted boxing events and everyone with the company is very professional. Top Rank is the No. 1 promoter in the world,” said P.J. Kavanagh, Monaghan’s manager. “Seanie wants to fight for the world title and we think being with Top Rank will help us get there. The sky’s the limit for Seanie. We are moving forward with Top Rank.”

“We are delighted that Seanie has decided to be promoted by Top Rank. He is a fan-friendly fighter who has a large and loyal fan base,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “We expect to showcase his talents on the televised undercard of the much anticipated Juan Manuel Márquez vs. Timothy Bradley pay-per-event on October 12 at the Thomas and Mack in Las Vegas.”

“Top Rank has had the pleasure of working with Seanie and his team on some of our recent high-profile shows in New York. He has a loyal and rabid fan base that brings excitement to our events. We look forward to building on that momentum,” said Carl Moretti, Top Rank’s Vice President, Boxing Operations. “Seanie’s team has done a terrific job in developing him as an attraction and as a top-light heavyweight prospect. Top Rank’s goal will be to bring him to the next level nationally and internationally as well as secure a world title opportunity.”

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing or facebook.com/trboxeo and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing or twitter.com/trboxeo.

Former four division champion Nonito Donaire had successful surgery on his right shoulder that followed his unanimous decision defeat to Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13th according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s just tender, totally tender,” Donaire told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “I’m trying to stretch it and I’m in physical therapy, trying to get it stretched out and get the shoulder back to normal.

“They fixed it up and when they were doing it they found the bone spur and bone basically floating in the middle of my joint that they vacuumed out,” he said. “The doctor did an amazing job. I’m already moving my arm. They expect me to be in a sling, but I don’t like being confined. They said the procedure went well and that if I can bear the pain, I could move it around and stretch, just not anything too strenuous. So I’m not wearing a sling and I’m stretching it out, but it feels like somebody is constantly punching me in the arm.”

“I’ve always felt the pain for quite a while,” he said. “The right shoulder was bothering me bad. I went to the doctor in January and the doctor was freaking me out saying he thought it was a full tear. But I wanted to fight. In the back of my head I thought it could be a career-ender, but I wanted to fight and all during training camp I didn’t use my right. I thought I would be able to do good with setting everything up with the left. Going into a fight with an elite fighter not at 100 percent is a big mistake and that is something I learned. You can’t take anyone lightly.”

“I have to get the left one fixed also,” Donaire said. “Every time I move at a different angle, the tendon is rubbing against the bone, so once my right shoulder heals I will go back and get the left one done, and I will come back stronger.

“I learned in that fight [with Rigondeaux], it’s a learning experience to make me stronger when I come back.”

When he does return, probably in the fall, Donaire, whose wife is expecting their first child, a son, in July, said he likely will move up one division to featherweight.

“I think 122 is kind of too small for me at this point, but with proper weight management I could make it happen, but only if I could get a rematch [with Rigondeaux],” Donaire said.

But he also acknowledged that Top Rank, his promoter, could offer him a fight with Mexico’s Victor Terrazas, who claimed a vacant junior featherweight title via split decision against countryman Cristian Mijares on Saturday night in Mexico City.

“If Top Rank is giving me Terrazas, I guess maybe,” Donaire said. “I feel I would be more comfortable and stronger at 126. I just want to fight the best out there.”

FORT WORTH, Texas – The hardest part about this thing we do is not, as novelist Philip Roth once put it, that everything must be written about, but that everything can be. Such a thought visited, Saturday, while sitting near a stage on which Natalie Merchant performed. I forwent a trip to New York City and a boxing-writers dinner and a prizefight, Guillermo Rigondeaux versus Nonito Donaire, that interested me, to see Merchant, tickets to whose concert I purchased months before Donaire fought Jorge Arce in Houston.

Nothing about the previous week’s trip to Ireland haunted me much as this concert did, because I pledged before boarding an Aer Lingus flight nothing about Ireland would find its way in this column. With the year’s largest consequential fight thus far, Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus New Mexican Austin “No Doubt” Trout, happening Saturday at Alamodome in San Antonio, though, connections had to be made because that is how columns work, and the connection between Merchant and Alvarez was, and is, grace.

Grace is not a word one freely associates with Mexican prizefighters, or prizefighters of any ethnicity, but in the swirl of impressions that happened Saturday in the Bass Performance Hall of this underestimated city’s Symphony Orchestra, “grace” was the very word that came to mind because of what happened at the press conference announcing Canelo vs. Trout one month ago at Alamodome, San Antonio’s signature edifice that will hold more than 30,000 people Saturday because Alvarez is that popular and Texas, frankly, is the one American state so interested in our sport.

After the usual things were said in the usual way by the usual people – one of the wonders of streaming video: today, no editor expects deadline coverage of such banality – there were side interviews ready to commence for television and television and television, and a local reporter or two, adjusting in no way the hands of what clock tells us what media matters. Before those loopy questions might be asked loopingly, to be televised in loops, though, Alvarez, dressed in a shiny battleship-gray suit and matching tie on synthetic black background, was brought to the stagefront’s extended tongue, to greet admirers for a moment or two of that spirited miming known as Connection with the Fans. But Alvarez began to sign anything handed him with any implement handed him, and while promoter Oscar De La Hoya shyly flapped a wing fans-ward, from a studiously selected perch 15 feet back of the scavengers, Alvarez signed and signed.

Thrice that I counted, Alvarez was asked to stop signing things and attend to the promotionally essential matter of television cameras. And thrice that I counted, he dismissed the request with hardly an acknowledgement – “You want me to be a ticket-seller in los estados unidos, ¿no?” – inconveniencing himself with not two syllables of explanation. Before he finished signing gloves and shirts and posters and programs and hats, numerous items for numerous folks, to tell television cameras he feels strong and is excited to be in, let’s see, San Antonio?, yes, San Antonio, he smilingly saluted the hoi polloi, hundreds strong, smaller and browner and towing a child or two, kept from him by a flat aluminum barricade, promising to sign their items, too, before he left.

What special effects Alvarez brings are natural, meaning authentic, and he appears to realize it: To date, his red hair and freckled complexion have distinguished him most from the large ranks of his countrymen’s prizefighters; Juan Manuel Marquez, for example, still could not sell 30,000 tickets in San Antonio three weeks before opening bell – and no, meritocracy has nothing to do with this, and yes, every ticket is sold: The Alamodome box office had nary an offering Friday morning. And meritocracy returns us to Saturday’s concert.

Natalie Merchant was the lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs before her 18th birthday, and possessed two platinum and four gold records before she turned 30, and has grown increasingly obscure since. She will turn 50 this year; her hair is timberwolf grey, not silver, her flat, once-almost-pretty features are overripe, and despite her confessed efforts she has acquired a pound of girth for every year since the 1992 MTV Unplugged performance that likely marked the last time anyone reading this saw or thought of her, if then. She was more effortful, Saturday, than her writing and singing imply; there were more clenched fists, more appeals for audience patience, and more autobiographical exposition than even her best song, “Tell Yourself” – one at whose singing she failed thrice, turning her back to the audience and sobbing, finally – anticipates.

Thirty minutes before, she found a very young boy in the audience, there with his mother and dressed in a dark suit not unlike Canelo’s, and gave him a signed copy of her book of collected children’s poetry, asking if this were his first concert, and when he said it was, Merchant offered:

“You will be proud to be able to say this was your first concert. In 25 years, a whole lot of people are going to be pretending Justin Bieber was not their first concert, and you won’t have to.”

It said much about how Merchant views her place in the canon of popular music, and it has some application to Canelo Alvarez for this obvious reason: He is the nearest thing prizefighting now has to Justin Bieber. His popularity dwarfs his achievement. His popularity dwarfs his potential for achievement, too; if we’re being honest, there is exactly no chance Alvarez will retire more accomplished than Juan Manuel Marquez, but he may outgross him many times over.

Today Saturday’s fight is not about Austin Trout at all, which is why this column has not been either. It says here, though, by the reading of the judges’ last scorecard this weekend, most accounts will treat Trout in the bitter way boxing’s habitués increasingly do everything: “Another robbery!” “Texas-sized Larceny!” “Someone Been Fishin’ in Trout’s Pond!”

I’ll take Alvarez, then, SD-12, in a fight honest hands score for Trout, 8-3-1.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

NEW YORK–Guillermo Rigondeaux boxed his way to a twelve round unanimous decision over 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito
Donaire to win the WBO and retain the WBA Super Bantamweight championship at Radio City Music Hall.

In round one it looked like the fight could turn into a barn burner as the two tried to exchange with hard shots. It was Rigondeaux straight lefts and a hard right which was the difference in the opening frame. Rigondeuax would beat Donaire to the punch and be able to slide away before Donaire could respond with anything of consequence. Donaire seemed to follow Rigondeaux around the ring rather then cut him off.

The quick shots of Rigondeaux was able to cause some swelling around Donaire’s eyes as early as round seven. Donaire would be coming forward and it seemed like he was on the verge of winning some rounds but Rigondeaux would land a couple shots and be able to build a lead. Rigondeaux was able to overcome a shake beginning to round ten as he was thrown down early in the round which was ruled a slip but seconds later Donaire landed a hard left off a break that sent the Cuban down to the canvas. That woke Rogoindeaux up as he finished the round pretty good and the knockdown was more of an aberration than anything else. Rigindeaux was solid with the straight left and hurt Donaire in the final round with that punch and even closed the right eye of Donaire. It was a solid performance from Rogondeaux in terms of beating a top pound for pound fighter but his defensive style did not thrill most of the pro-Donaire crowd in attendance.

Rigondeaux, 121.5 lbs of Miami won by scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113 and is now a unified champion ar=t 12-0. Donaire, 121.6 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines lost for the first time in twelve years and falls to 31-2.

Hot prospect Felix Verdajo scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Steven Gutierrez in a scheduled four round Jr. Lightweight contest.

Verdajo dropped Gutierrez with a hard right and then for a second and final time with a blistering uppercut and the bout was waved off at 1:50 of round one.

Verdajo, 131.5 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 5-0 with four knockouts. Gutierrez, 130 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is now 4-4-1.

Popular New York Light Heavyweight Seanie Monaghan scored a first round stoppage over Rex Stanley in a scheduled eight round bout.

Monaghan scored a knockdown from a overhand right and it appeared that Stanley hurt his foot when he tried to get up and the fight was waved off at 1:51 of round one.

Monaghan, 176 lbs of Long Beach, NY is now 18-0 with 11 knockouts. Stanley, 177 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 11-5-0-1.

Good looking Super Middleweight prospect Jesse Hart scored a vicious third round stoppage over Marlon Farr in a scheduled four round bout.

Hart landed a hard combination that resulted with Farr being dropped to the ropes and the bout was stopped at 1:33 of round three.

Hart, 169 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 7-0 with 5 knockouts. Farr, 170 lbs of Zephyrhills, FL is 2-3.

Hard punching Welterweight prospect Mikael Zewski took out Daniel Sostre in round two of a scheduled eight round bout.

Zewski scored a knockdown in round two and finished the fight with a barrage of punches and the bout was stopped at forty-nine seconds of round two.

Zewski, 148.5 lbs if Trois-Rivieres, Quebec is now 19-0 with 15 knockouts. Sostre, 147 lbs of New York, NY is now 11-9-1.

Glen Tapia remained undefeated by scoring a eight round unanimous decision over Joseph de los Santos in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Scores were 80-72 on all cards for Tapia, 154.5 lbs of Passaic, NJ and is now 18-0. de los Santos, 153 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 13-12-3.

Tyler Canning scored a four round split decision over Dario Soccia in a Super Welterweight bout.

Scores were 39-37 on two cards for Canning and 39-37 for Soccia.

Canning, 150 lbs of Lander, WY is 2-1. Soccia, 153 lbs of New York, NY is 2-1.

Erick De Leon opened up the show by scoring a knockdown in round one and cruising to a four round unanimous decision over Diamond Baier in a Lightweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on two cards and 40-34 for De Lepon, 131.5 lbs of Detroit, MI and is 3-0. Baier, 131.5 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 2-5-1.

NEW YORK (April 12, 2013) – The last remaining ticket to Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated world title unification battle between 2012 Fighter of the Year and World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion and former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX, which will take place on New York’s biggest stage — Radio City Music Hall – was sold today at 5:11 p.m. ET. The fight will be witnessed by a capacity crowd of 6,145. Donaire vs. Rigondeaux will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

“What a great achievement for this world championship fight to sell out this iconic venue,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank. “This validates everything that is right about boxing — great fights between great champions, produces great events.”

For Top Rank, this will complete its New York Promotional Triple Crown, having already promoted world title fights at the old and the new Yankee Stadiums and numerous events at “The Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden. This also marks only the second time Radio City Music Hall has ever hosted professional boxing in its 82-year history. The first fight was the Roy Jones Jr. vs. David Telesco light heavyweight world championship on January 15, 2000.

Donaire vs. Rigondeaux is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Caribe Promotions, Tecate and Madison Square Garden. Tickets were priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35, and were available for purchase at the Radio City Music Hall Box Office, Madison Square Garden Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.radiocity.com and www.thegarden.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing.

Tyson Fury -“I pick Donaire. He’s just too classy and has the pro experience to back him up. Rigondeaux may be dangerous the first few rounds, but the longer the fight goes, the more that pro experience will show. This is not really a fight that I would bet on, it could be close.”

Steve “USS” Cunningham – “I think Donaire is going to shock a lot of people. He performs exceptionally well when the opponent is great. He steps up very well to the challenge. I think this will be a good fight.”

Curtis “Showtime” Stevens – “I think this is an excellent match up, but I think Donaire is going to take the win by KO.”

Andre Rozier, Curtis Stevens Trainer – “Donaire. I think Donaire is super sharp, from the quantity and quality of his work in his last four bouts. He just appears to be improving constantly. I’m looking forward to bout.”

Derrick Findley – “I’ve got Donaire winning. He just has too much experience in big fights as compared to Rigondeaux.”

Karl “Dynamite” Dargan – “I predict a knockout win from Donaire if he applies pressure.”

Adam “Babyface’ Kownacki – “I like Rigondeaux because he is more of a counter puncher and Donaire is a vicious attack fighter so will be open to get countered.”

Jolene Mizzone, Main Events Matchmaker – “I would have to pick Donaire – he’s far more professional and has more experience than Rigondeaux. I think it goes the distance and Donaire will win a close decision.”

Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO – “I pick Donaire. It is a very good fight. While there is no doubt that Rigondeaux was one of the greatest amateurs ever, I think that Donaire’s superior experience in the pro ranks will give him the edge. Donaire is a true student of the sport and he fights with a passion and intensity that I just don’t see in Rigondeaux who, on the other hand, is an impressive technician. It is a very interesting match-up.”

APRIL 20TH FIGHT INFO

April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham in the main event. Curtis Stevens will take on Derrick Findley in the 8-round middleweight co-feature. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors open at The Theater at Madison Square Garden doors open at 1:15PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The card is presented by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

The main event is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position. The winner must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500. Tickets are available at the Madison Square Garden box office, through Ticketmaster 866-858-0008 and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices include a $5 Facility Surcharge. Ticketmaster purchases are subject to a Ticketmaster Surcharge. Wheelchairs, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available 212-465-6035.

Nonito Donaire 121.6 – Guillermo Rigondeaux 121.6
Felix Verdajo 131.5 – Steve Gutierrez 131
Jesse Hart 169 – Marlon Farr 171

FRED STERNBURG: This is Top Rank’s fourth great boxing event in the span of five weeks. This Saturday it’s 2012 Fighter of the Year and WBO junior featherweight champn Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire taking on undefeated WBA Super Bantamweight Champion and former two-time Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist Guillermo “El Chacol” Rigondeaux in one of the most anticipated fights in many years in a terrific title unification bout for the 122 lb. title.

BOB ARUM: Thank you. If I talk in Mandarin, will there be anyone to translate? Anyway, it’s good to be back in the United States and good to be back in my native New York and it’s even better that on Saturday we have a classic match-up to present at Radio City Music Hall. The buzz for this fight has been absolutely tremendous and in the next couple of days we will be able to announce a complete sellout. We have been inundated with requests for tickets. I know that many of the New York Knicks players, who are off on Saturday night will be coming to the fight as well as many of the players from the New York Football Giants. The entire community, and sports community, is focusing on this particular battle which takes place at Radio City Music Hall between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux. So it’s a real pleasure and honor for us to promote this event and I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our co-promoters Caribe Promotions, who are co-promoting this event with Top Rank.

GARY HYDE (Rigondeaux Manager): We are absolutely delighted and excited about the fight. We are really looking forward to it and our fighter is in the best condition he has ever been and he is really focused for this fight. We are very confident of victory on Saturday night.

BORIS ARENCIBIA (Caribe Promotions): Nonito is one of the best in the game and we have really been anticipating this fight. We are happy to have put this together with Top Rank.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Training camp has been going very well and I am in the best shape of my career and I am very excited about this weekend.

NONITO DONAIRE: It’s been great. Camp has been going great. It is going to be a great fight. He has been the best ever at the amateur level trying to become one of the best at the professional level. It is going to be something – people are going to be there for a treat. It’s going to be a great fight.

How do you feel now about facing Rigondeaux where in the past you have been skeptical?

NONITO DONAIRE: In the beginning when I followed Rigondeaux, I wasn’t impressed with the Ricardo Cordoba fight, but the more that I watched him fight I realized he is more worthy of it. But first things first, I wanted to go Abner Mares first then Rigondeaux but that fight didn’t happen and now that I have been watching Rigondeaux the more formidable I see him. I am seeing that he is a really tough guy. Not only does he have speed and power but he does well mentally so I am really excited about the fight. When you do this for awhile, like I have, you tend to be motivated by having a good fighter in front of you and that is why I disregarded Rigondeaux in the beginning because of the Cordoba fight, so when the fight with Mares didn’t happen, Rigondeaux was the next guy in line. The more that I watched him fight, the more excited I got about the fight. He has a lot of talent and that’s why I am training hard for this fight.

What made you change your mind after the Cordoba fight?

NONITO DONAIRE: He fought better and progressed as he fought different opposition. As much as I can say he hasn’t fought the guys at my level – the more he fought, the better he got. That was worth the determination of me working hard.

How is it training as well as having a pregnant wife?

NONITO DONAIRE: I don’t need anything. I have accomplished more than many other fighters have in the boxing world. To me the most precious moments I have is feeling this kid kick. To be there and to witness every movement and every kick – I am really happy. But my focus is once I get inside that ring my focus is to win.

So it hasn’t been a distraction?

NONITO DONAIRE: Not at all. As much as I like to spend time with my wife, when I am inside that ring I have been performing well against my sparring partners and getting ready for the fight.

Your last fight in NYC was disappointing…

NONITO DONAIRE: I think there will be fireworks this time. It may be a chess match. We are both defensive because we can see the punches coming, but when it comes down to the fight we are both aggressive and offensive guys so I don’t think it will be anything near that fight [with Omar Narvaez] and the people in New York and the people watching on HBO will have a treat.

How is your weight?

NONITO DONAIRE: Weight is good. I have been getting bigger so I may want to try to move up. Training has been excellent and we have had excellent sparring. Everything I needed to prepare for this fight has been given to me and we are ready.

Is it important to score a knockout?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think, and you know me as a fighter, I want people to have fun and I will always go for the knockout if given the opportunity.

What would you say is Rigondeaux’ greatest strength?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think his ability to see punches and to be intelligent in there. He has speed and power like I do. It is going to be, who is the smartest guy in the ring and who has the biggest heart?

Do you think your pro experience will be to your advantage?

NONITO DONAIRE: When it comes down to speed-power and power and tactical ability then my experience will come in handy in terms of pushing through and going all-out and going more rounds I think that is going to be a big factor when it comes down to we are evenly matched. If it comes down to speed and power then my experience will be an ace for me but that is something we will need to find out – if he is stronger than me or faster than me.

Is this your most important fight?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Nonito is a great tactician and has enormous power so I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. At this point it is the most important fight of my career. This fight will determine the best in the 122-pound weight class.

After the Narvaez fight you said you were disappointed for the fans…

NONITO DONAIRE: I am thankful for the fans so I want to give them the best treat that I can and that’s why I am not afraid to get hit or to take hits. I am there to give as much excitement as I can. The fans are there for me and I am thankful for them for supporting me throughout this time and to me that’s important.

How do you think you can get Rigondeaux to exchange?

NONITO DONAIRE: it is impossible to say what I will do because I am a fighter who is given a situation and reacts to that situation and whatever that may be I know I have the power and weapons. It may be the left or it may be the right. I know I have power in both hands and that’s what makes me scary. I have power from all angles and the overhands or I have the straight punches. Rigondeaux has the same thing, power in both hands. But it’s going to be a great fight. To set things in motion I have to put the energy out there to make him engage or do whatever I want him to do.

With Nishioka you made him come forward to finish him off…

NONITO DONAIRE: With Toshiaki Nishioka, at the moment he thought he could box me, but ultimately my tactic was well-played to the point where he started to reach in and I capitalized. But at the beginning he tried to power me in and I needed a different approach and that’s the same thing that will happen with Rigondeaux – I will need to find out what type of fighter he is to make a point in strategy.

Does Rigondeaux feel the same? That he needs to be exciting?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Yes, in this fight I will try to engage more than I have in the past. I want to give the fans what they want to see. Nonito is an aggressive boxer and I will be coming for him. I expect the same from Nonito. He is a great boxer and a great technician. I think there are going to be a lot of fireworks.

How do you think amateur experience compares to pro experience? Spinks had less than 10 pro fights and beat Ali…

NONITO DONAIRE: That’s correct, Ali was older at that time but Spinks did shock the world and I do listen to every history lesson that is out there and that’s what makes me work hard and train hard. But I do understand that back then, amateurs fought the way that professionals fought. During Rigondeaux’ time it was about the point system. It was about scoring the points and being tactical. You could have 500 amateur fights but when you go pro it is a different world. Although, an amateur like Rigondeaux is able to shift his ways to become a world champion. He is able to use his skills and learn from that. That’s why we do not underestimate him and trained very hard for this fight. We are training for this fight like we are fighting the best out there.

What would it mean to you to bump off the best 122 pounder?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: It would be a huge accomplishment to add to my amateur accomplishments. A victory over Nonito would show the world that I can compete against the best in the world in a professional capacity.

Do you view this as a big step up in competition?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: I have great respect for Nonito. His record speaks for itself and what he has done as a professional boxer. I believe that I belong at this level and if I am going to be the best, I believe you’ve got to beat the best. Right now Nonito is the best and on April 13 I am going to give it my all.

Is there a fight on Nonito’s resume that he looks at as his best?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: I think in his last couple fights Nonito has become sharper. His last couple fights he has looked his best and the fight against Nishioka was impressive.

How do you get in those long arms and powerful punches? It has proven to be a tall task…

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: He is a boxer that acts on reaction. Action / reaction – he takes it from there. In the moment of the fight he reacts. He really has no strategy with the length of his arms. He reacts in the ring.

Two Gold Medals or Unifying titles – which is bigger accomplishment?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: The amateur accomplishments that I have had I want to repeat on a professional level. Like I said before, beating Nonito would be beating the best in the division. I have great respect for Nonito and I think he is a great fighter. Beating him would be a great accomplishment in itself. If we beat him we can say we are true professionals. He can stop talking about me as an amateur. A win absolutely would be a bigger accomplishment than the Gold Medals.

What part of Guillermo’s style will be the toughest for you?

NONITO DONAIRE: he’s an incredible fighter. Having only 11 fights and becoming world champion – he’s an elite fighter. That’s why after Mares fell through he was the next guy in line. We want to fight the best. We want to clean up this division – that is the goal my team has.

Do you think people think it is a disadvantage you have only had 11 professional fights?

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Obviously the public does not respect me because of the number of fights I have had. Nonito has three times the experience I have at the professional level so the public has chosen Nonito as the favorite.

NONITO DONAIRE: I am at that point that I have to have that fire. I am at a point in my career that if I think a fight won’t be difficult I won’t train as hard. When we checked it out we saw this guy has a lot of talent and that’s what we are excited about. I saw that he didn’t have many fights and at the same time I know he will get better every time he gets in the ring – and he has proven that he is that person that gets better. That’s what we are fighting him now, now that he’s at that level.

How important was it to you that he accepted VADA testing?

NONITO DONAIRE: It is good to prove that you are clean in the sport of boxing as well as any sport. That’s important to me and I commend him for doing it. This way everybody is good, everybody is clean and there is no doubt.

Bob, how do you feel about the last five weeks promoting four great fight cards?

BOB ARUM: I don’t know where I am anymore. I went into a restaurant today and I asked a waiter for chopsticks. It’s been fun and I think this is the highlight of the whole experience. We’ve had some great fights – Tim Bradley’s fight with Provodnikov and Rios and Alvarado – terrific fights — then the whole Macau experience. Now I am really looking forward to Nonito and Guillermo. I have thought about this fight for a real long time and I think it’s going to be a classic battle.

I just want to remind everyone that at the Boxing Writers Association of America Awards dinner is on Thursday and Nonito Donaire will be recognized at the Fighter of the Year and Pacquiao-Márquez 4 as the Fight of the Year among the various awards at that dinner in Manhattan on Thursday night.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX: Once again I would like to thank Nonito for accepting the fight. I would like to thank Top Rank, Caribe Promotion and HBO – everyone that has helped put together this fight. I think this is the fight the world wants to see – the two top 122-pounders getting in the ring to fight each other.

NONITO DONAIRE: I am honored, man, honored for the award that I won for my accomplishments last year. And now I am honored to be fighting in this historic venue. I want to thank Top Rank and Caribe Promotions for having the kid ready for this fight. I know Guillermo’s camp has him ready for this fight. Thanks to HBO and all the fans out there – this is going to be a great fight. I owe New York a great fight and this is going to be it

**********************************************

2012 Fighter of the Year and World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion and former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX rumble in a world title unification battle, This Saturday! April 13, on New York’s biggest stage — Radio City Music Hall. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For Top Rank, this will complete its New York Promotional Triple Crown, having already promoted world title fights at the old and the new Yankee Stadiums and numerous events at “The Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden. This also marks only the second time Radio City Music Hall has ever hosted professional boxing in its 82-year history. The first fight was the Roy Jones Jr. vs. David Telesco light heavyweight world championship on January 15, 2000.

Donaire vs. Rigondeaux is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Caribe Promotions, Tecate and Madison Square Garden. Remaining tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35, are available for purchase at the Radio City Music Hall Box Office, Madison Square Garden Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.radiocity.com and www.thegarden.com.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing.

The April 12 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature former Junior Featherweight titlist Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (21-2, 11 KOs) and Oscar “Fantasma” Gonzalez (17-2, 3 NSF, 13 KOs) in the 10-round Featherweight main event. Friday’s show from the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., will air live at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes+ and WatchESPN and later televised Saturday April 13, at 2:30 a.m. on ESPNEWS and 8 p.m. on ESPN Deportes. The card is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions.

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside describing the action for ESPN2 HD, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will provide the latest boxing news and highlights. Alex Pombo and Delvin Rodriguez will call this week’s fights for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights) with Leopoldo Gonzalez and Pablo Viruega in the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will report from New York where Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) will meet Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs) for the Junior Featherweight Championship on Saturday night.

Main Event:

Los Angeles’ Ramos, who won the Junior Featherweight title in 2011, is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Ronny Rios.

“Since my last fight, I feel like I’ve got to start coming back even harder than before.” Ramos said. “I’ve got to start showing everybody that I’m better. I can’t wait to get back into the ring and get back to my boxing style and winning ways. I know I have the skills, talent and determination to take my career back to the world championship level.”

Mexico’s Gonzalez, promoted by former four-time titleholder Erik Morales, is looking to rebound from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Raul Hirales.

“I know Rico Ramos is a tough fighter,” Gonzalez said. “We know he is a former champion and considered one of the best at 122 pounds, but I am confident that I have the talent and ability to beat him.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s eight-round co-feature will pit Super Middleweights Farah “Quiet Storm” Ennis (20-1, 12 KOs) of Pennsylvania against Francisco “Panchito” Sierra (25-7-1, 22 KOs) of Mexico. Ennis scored a 10-round unanimous decision win over Richard Pierson in his last fight, while Sierra is looking to rebound from a 10-round majority decision loss to Marco Antonio Periban.

Opening Fight:

Friday’s card will open with a four-round Junior Middleweight bout between undefeated 2012 Mexican Olympic team Welterweight Oscar Molina (2-0, 1 KO) and Daryl Gardner (1-1, 1 KO). Molina is the identical twin brother of 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina and younger brother of Lightweight contender Carlos Molina.

ESPN Deportes and SportsCenter to Cover Donaire vs. Rigondeaux:

Gonzalez and Osuna are in New York providing pre-fight coverage of the Donaire- Rigondeaux fight for ESPN Deportes’ Golpe a Golpe, SportsCenter and ESPN.com.

The bout will mark just the second time boxing has taken place at Radio City Music Hall, and will be televised on HBO Championship Boxing at 11 p.m.

ESPN’s coverage will include Tuesday’s media workouts, interviews with both fighters and trainers, and Friday’s weigh-in. Golpe a Golpe’s Viruega, Gonzalez, Osuna and Rodriguez will present a pre-fight special Saturday at 10 p.m. featuring fighter arrivals, highlights from their biggest fights, interviews and locker room look-ins. Post-fight coverage will include a 2 a.m. Golpe a Golpe with highlights, analysis and English and Spanish in-ring interviews by Osuna for ESPN Deportes and SportsCenter.

Follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook. Follow ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo. Also score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

PROVIDENCE.(April 4, 2013) – Undefeated super featherweight prospect Toka “T Nice” Kahn-Clary (4-0, 3 KOs) returns to action April 13, fighting on the Nonito Donaire-Guillermo Rigondeaux undercard, at the famed Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Liberia-native Kahn-Clary, a 20-year-old who moved to Providence 14 years ago, is coming off (Feb. 23) another impressive win by second-round technical knockout of 18-fight veteran Pablo Cupul.

Kahn-Clary faces Gadiel Andaluz (4-4-1, 2 KOs) next Saturday in what is expected to be Toka’s last four-round bout before graduating to six.

“This fight is a real big opportunity for me,” Kahn-Clary said, “so I need to put on my best performance to prove I’m a good prospect, and that I will be one of the best fighters in the world someday. To fight on the same card as Donaire and Rigondeaux, being involved in only the second boxing show ever at Radio City Music Hall me, is an honor got me. I have to fight to the best of my ability.

“I stay in touch with guys I know from the amateurs and one, (Philadelphia super middleweight) Jesse Hart, is fighting on the same card. I’m competitive and even though we’re friends, I want to look better than him that night.”

Promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Kahn-Clary was a standout amateur who captured a gold medal at the 2010 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament. He fights out of the new Manfredo Boxing Sports Fitness gym in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

“Toka is fighting on a five-star show headlined on HBO by the Donaire-Rigondeaux fight,” Toka-Kahn’s head trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr. noted. “Everybody who’s anybody in boxing will be there, so it’s very important that Toka looks good. Top Rank has done a great job moving him, keeping him active, and finding the right opponents. Top Rank has two of the best matchmakers in boxing, Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodwin, and, someday, hopefully, they’ll be finding the best fighters in the world for Toka.

“Toka’s matured a lot and improved the last year, getting better at his trade as he goes along. Now, he’s going to body nice, sitting down on his punches, and he has a good body attack.”

Kahn-Clary has had four professional fights, excluding a no-contest when he suffered a cut due to an unintentional head-butt in four different states – Nevada, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island – and New York will be his fifth during the first 10 months of his young career.

“Keeping active is very important for a young fighter like me,” Kahn-Clary concluded. “Fighting in the ring and the gym are two different things. Even if you’re in the gym working hard every day like me, it’s not the same as fighting in the ring, and you can get rusty. I’m very happy that I’ve been so active.”