Elijah Pierce survived an early knockdown and came back to stop former world title challenger Arthur Villanueva in round four in a scheduled 10-round super bantamweight at The Overtime Arena in Atlanta.

In round two, Villanueva hurt Pierce with a hard right that had him stumbling across the ring and another right put Pierce on the canvas. In round four, Pierce dropped Villanueva with a straight left. Pierce ended things as he battered Villanueva with a series of hard left hands that made Villanueva wilt to the canvas just before the end of the round.

Pierce, 121.8 lbs of Atlanta is 20-2 with 16 knockouts. Villanueva, 122.8 lbs of Bago City, PHL is 35-5.

In a battle of undefeated lightweight, Haven Brady Jr. stopped Waldemar Carril in round six of their eight-round bout.

In round five, Brady dropped Carril with a perfect overhand chopping right hand. Later in the round, Brady was deducted a point for hitting behind the head. In round six, Brady landed a hard combination on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:59.

Brady, 132.6 lbs of Albany, GA is 12-0 with five knockouts. Carril, 133 lbs of Puerto Rico is 8-1.

Decaree Scott stopped Teddy Webster in round four of a six-round heavyweight bout.

In round three, Webster had a small cut around his left eye.

In round four, Scott dropped Webster with a left uppercut. Later in the round, Scott continued to batter Webster in the corner and the fight was stopped after a barrage of punches at 2:11.

Scott, 274 1/4 lbs of Atlanta is 9-1 with eight knockouts. Webster, 252 3/4 lbs of Mississippi is 6-3.

Giovanni Marquez dominated former world title challenger Jayson Velez and won a six-round unanimous decision on a junior welterweight bout.

Marquez, 142 1/4 lbs of Houston won by scores of 60-54 and is now 9-0. Velez, 142 1/4 lbs over Puerto Rico is 30-14-1.

Oshae Jones remained undefeated with a five-round beatdown over Sonya Dreiling in a scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout.

In rounds two and three, Jones battered Dreiling to the point where Dreiling started to bleed from her face.

Finally in round five the bout was halted as Dreiling was taking a large amount of punishment.

Jones, 153 3/4 lbs of Toledo, OH is 6-0 with two knockouts. Dreiling of Greely, CO is 6-5.

In a battle of undefeated super middleweights, Donte Layne stopped DeShaun Mitchell in the opening round of their four-round bout.

In round one, Layne dropped Mitchell as he hurt him with a right to the top of the head. Layne scored a second knockdown with a hard flurry. Mitchell was unsteady and got dropped again after eating a series of rights and lefts and the fight was stopped at 2:43.

Layne, 168 lbs of Elmont, NY is 2-0 with two knockouts. Mitchell, 167 3/4 lbs of Independence, MS is 2-1.

POMONA, CA (October 24, 2022) – Rising star, Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (8-0, 8 KOs) captured the vacant super lightweight NABA Silver title this past Saturday when he stopped former world title challenger, Jayson Velez (30-10-1, 21 KOs). Velez, who went the distance with Ryan Garcia and JoJo Diaz, didn’t come out after the sixth round. The event, promoted by Red Promotions, took please at the LumColor Center in Ontario, California.

Mercado looked sensational from the opening bell, throwing multiple power shots from all angles, sending Velez into survival mode from the start. Tito landed a powerful left hook to the body, setting the tone for a dominating performance. It was evident that Velez was hurt on multiple occasions throughout the fight, as Tito tried to knock him out. After getting punished for six rounds, Velez had enough and didn’t come out for round seven, crowning Mercado the new NABA Silver champion at super lightweight.

“Fighting a veteran like Velez in only my eighth pro fight is a big deal to me,” said Tito Mercado, who has won all his fights by knockout, all of which took place in the United States. “I learned a lot in this fight being that I went past the third round for the first time in my career. I know there is more to work on and I’ll be looking at the tape to see where I can improve. One thing I know for sure is I’m not a boring fighter. Fans who turn in to watch me fight will get their money’s worth.”

With the victory, Tito Mercado at age 20, becomes one of the youngest regional belt holders in the sport. With over 300 amateur fights before turning professional, Mercado is certainly on the fast track to a world title. He’s hoping to break into the top 15 WBA rankings.

“Winning the NABA Silver title, I’m hoping gets me ranked with the WBA,” said Tito. “I’m ready to fight any of the top contenders in the WBA. I know my time is coming and I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.”

POMONA, CA (October 20, 2022) –Undefeated rising star, super lightweight Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (7-0, 7 KOs), and battle tested veteran, Jayson Vélez (30-9-1, 21 KOs), held a media workout earlier this week in anticipation of their upcoming fight taking place this Saturday at the LumColor Center in Ontario, CA. The scheduled 10-round bout, promoted by Red Promotions, will be for the vacant NABA Silver title. 

Here is what both fighters had to say about their upcoming bouts.

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado:

“This is a big opportunity for me to show the world how I compare to all the other elite prospects in lightweight and super lightweight divisions. I feel a solid win against a fighter like Velez, who has been in the ring with some notable fighters, will garner me the recognition with the boxing media and fans that I desire. All my wins have come in the state and not Mexico, like some of these other fighters who went down there to build up their records.”

“Fighting for the NABA Silver title this early in my career is a big deal for me. I’m hoping to be catapulted up the WBA rankings with the victory. This will be my first 10-round fight and I’m going to make this best of this opportunity. I want to thank the NABA and WBA for believing in me this early in career. I will be a great representation for them.”

Jayson Velez:

“Mercado is a great prospect with a lot of power, but he’s never been in the ring with someone at my level. I’m in great shape and I’m coming to win on his home turf. Don’t be surprised if I stop him. I’m representing Puerto Rico, my homeland, and will do everything in my power to come out on top.”

“A win against a top up and coming prospect, will put me right back in the rankings to make another run toward a world title. I feel I have a lot of fight left in me and I’m going to prove that this Saturday. Winning the NABA Silver title is the perfect opportunity for me to get back in the mix.”

Tickets priced $100, $75, $55 (Standing room only) will be available for purchase at the door. Doors open up at 5:00 pm, first fight starts at 6:00 p.m. PT.

POMONA, CA (October 13, 2022) – Widely considered the hidden gem of the lightweight division, Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (7-0, 7 KOs), who has a perfect record of seven wins all by way of knockout, is stepping up his competition and facing former world title contender Jayson Velez (30-9-1, 21 KOs). 

The 10-round bout will serve as the co-main event of RED Boxing Promotions, October 22, 2022, at the California Education & Performing Arts Center in Ontario, California. On the line with be the NABA Silver title.

“This will be for the NABA Silver title, my first regional belt, so everyone can expect to see me let my hands fly,” said Mercado, the young phenom from Pomona, California, who has only gone ten rounds in his seven professional fights. “I have wanted to fight someone who can go rounds with me, and I am hoping Jayson Velez will be that fighter. Fighting Velez is considered a major step up fight, and this is my opportunity to show the world where I’m at against a worthy opponent.”

For Velez, who has been in the ring with Gabriel Flores Jr. and Oscar Valdez, this is his chance to regain the hype he garnered when he was coming up the rankings, as the former world title contender is looking to regain his footing in the sport.

“I feel excellent, excited about the great opportunity that this fight has presented,” said Velez. “As for the fight, I know that I will enjoy it because Ernesto is a strong challenge. We are both explosive and because of our styles, it will be an entertaining fight for the fans, and do not doubt that they will see the best of me.”

“I just want to prove I am just as good as these other fighters people say are the best fighters in the world,” said Mercado. “I am fighting the toughest opponents available and beating them up badly. I feel a lot of fighters are entitled, given favors, and the media overrates them. I am the truth, and I am going to continue to be that until the whole world takes notice.”

Oscar Valdez had a star-making performance as he brutally knocked out Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC Super Featherweight Title at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Valdez showed he was the quicker fighter from the outset as he landed some hard and flush left hooks from the outset.

In round four, Valdez landed a left hook to the head that wobbled Berchelt. Later in the round, it was two more left hooks that sent Berchelt into he ropes which was correctly ruled a 10-count.

Valdez continued to dominate as he busted up Berchelt, and at the end of round 10, he landed a vicious left hook to the head and Berchelt slowly crumpled over his legs and face-first to the canvas. The fight was stopped immediately at 2:59.

Valdez, 130 lbs of Nogales, MEX is 29-0 with 23 knockouts. Berchelt, 130 lbs of Cancun, MEX is 30-2.

Valdez said, “There’s nothing better in life than proving people wrong. I have a list of people who doubted me. My idols doubted me. Boxing analysts doubted me. They said Berchelt was going to knock me out. I have a message to everybody: Don’t’ let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.
 
“I want to take this belt home, and I’m happy for that. Any champion out there… I heard Shakur Stevenson wants to fight. Let’s do it. I just want to keep on fighting and give the fans what they want.”

Gabriel Flores Jr. stopped former world title challenger Jayson Velez in round six of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round six, Velez dropped Velez with a hard left hook. Flores then wobbled Velez badly with another counter shot, and Velez was in all kinds of trouble. Velez ended the bout with another left that put Velez down and the fight was topped at 1:40.

Flores Jr.132 lbs of Stockton, CA is 20-0 with seven knockouts. Velez, 132 lbs of Juncos, PR is 29-8-1.

Flores said, “I could’ve done it earlier. I was playing with my food. {Trainer Gabriel Flores Sr.} told me I just gotta press it. Nothing was really going on those first five rounds, to be honest. I was just feeling him out. 

“I would love to get the winner of Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton. I’d love that. I’m going to keep on working, and my performances are going to get better and better.”

Esquiva Falcao stopped Artur Akavov after round four of a scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

Falcao controlled the bout until Akavov’s corner stopped the fight in the corner as Akavov cited a possible broken nose.

Falcao, 162 lbs of Visoria, BRA is 28-0 with 20 knockouts. Akavov, 162.5 lbs of Pskov, RUS is 20-4.

Elvis Rodriguez remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Alberto Veron in a junior welterweight bout.

Rodriguez landed 97 of 342 punches; Veron was 71 of 348

Rodriguez, 13 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 11-0-1. Veron, 142 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 18-3-2.

Rodriguez said, “This was my first scheduled eight-round fight, and I actually think I got a lot of good experience. Each fight, you acquire something different, and for this fight, I think the experience of going the rounds actually helped me out.
 
“It’s a great experience going the full eight rounds. It’s back to the gym to work on several things, specifically I know I needed to let my hands go a little more. When I did do that, I was able to hurt him. But in the end, I think it was a great experience. He’s a natural welterweight. He’s never been stopped, so I knew it would be a tough challenge, but you know I will go back to the gym and work harder to continue to grow in this sport.

Xander Zayas remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over James Martin.

Zayas, 146 lbs of San Juan, PR won by scores of 60-54 on all cards, and is now 7-0. Martin, 146 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 6-2.

Zayas said, “As a young fighter, you need these types of fights. I haven’t been out of the first round in nearly a year, so for me to get six round in, that was important.”

Javier Martinez made short work of Billy Wagner by stopping him in the opening round of their four-round middleweight bout.

Martinez landed a booming right hook that buckled Wagner, and three ripping punches later, the fight was stopped at 1:51.

Martinez, 161 lbs of Milwaukee, WI is 3-0 with one knockout. Wagner, 160 lbs of Great Falls, MT is 3-2.

Omar Rosario stopped Uriel Villanueva in round two of their scheduled four-round junior welterweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

In round two, Rosario dropped Villanueva with a left hook to the body. Seconds later, It was another left hook to the body that sent Villanueva to his knee and he did not beat the count of 10 at 2:38.

Rosario, 140 lbs of Caguas, PR is now 3-0 with one knockout. Villanueva, 140 lbs of Anaheim, CA is 1-1.

(ESPN & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT)

    •     Miguel Berchelt 130 lbs vs. Oscar Valdez 130 lbs 
(Berchelt’s WBC Super Featherweight World Title — 12 Rounds)

•   Gabriel Flores Jr. 132 lbs vs. Jayson Velez 132 lbs 
(Junior Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT)

•   Esquiva Falcao 162 lbs vs. Artur Akavov 161.5 lbs 
(Middleweight — 10 Rounds)

•      Elvis Rodriguez 143 lbs vs. Luis Alberto Veron 142 lbs 
(Jr. Welterweight  — 8 Rounds)

•        Xander Zayas 146 lbs vs. James Martin 146 lbs 
(Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•        Sonny Conto 221.5 lbs vs. Waldo Cortes 255.5 lbs 
(Heavyweight — 4 Rounds)

•         Javier Martinez 161 lbs vs. Billy Wagner 160 lbs 
(Middleweight — 4 Rounds)

•         Omar Rosario 140 lbs vs. Uriel Villanueva 141 lbs 
(Jr. Welterweight — 4 Rounds)

LAS VEGAS (February 18, 2021) — The Battle for Mexico is almost here. WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel Berchelt and former featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez shared the stage Thursday two days before one of the most highly anticipated all-Mexican showdowns in boxing history.

Berchelt is seeking his seventh successful title defense, while Valdez hopes to fulfill a lifelong dream of capturing a WBC world title. After fits and starts, including Berchelt’s COVID-19 diagnosis last year, the fight is finally happening. 

Berchelt-Valdez and a junior lightweight showdown between Gabriel Flores Jr. and Jayson Velez will air live Saturday on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET. 

At Thursday’s final press conference, this is what Berchelt, Valdez, Flores and Velez had to say.

Miguel Berchelt

“I’m very happy to be here. I’ve been following Oscar since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, since that was an opportunity I wanted for myself. I respect him. We know the quality of the opponent we have in front of us, but I’m here to get the win and {retain} my title.”

“Styles make fight, and I believe my style and Oscar’s style will make for a great fight, so we’ll see what happens.”

“I want to tell my fans not to miss this fight. This is going to be a great fight. I know what it’s taken me to get this title, and I’m sure I will defend this title successfully again.”

Oscar Valdez

“This is a difficult fight. There’s a reason he’s holding that belt. He’s a great champion inside the ring and outside the ring. Nothing personal, but I want that belt. It’s a dream I’ve had ever since I was 8 years old, 9 years old. My idols have held it: Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera. They all held this belt, and that is something I’ve wanted to hold since I was a kid. This is my opportunity.”

“Everywhere I go in Mexico, I get asked that question: ‘When are you and Berchelt going to fight?’ It would be an honor for me to show them a great fight with a warrior like Miguel Berchelt.”

“This is my opportunity. I’m not going to go in there and not give it my all. I’m going to do whatever it takes. If I have to box, I’ll box. If I have to bang it and brawl it out, then I’m willing to do that, too.”

Gabriel Flores Jr.

“The hard work is paying off. My team is working. We’re going to put that on display Saturday night.”

“Saturday night, I’m going to take control of the fight. I’m going to be in there, and I just can’t to be in the moment and show you guys that I’m ready for a world title shot.”

“Jayson Velez has fought some contenders and good people. He’s the best on paper, but my job Saturday night is to make him not look like my best opponent thus far.”

Jayson Velez

“{Flores} has the skills. He has the talent. This is what I need to prove I can be at the top level. I like to bring action to the fans. This is going to be one of the great fights.”

“He is a technical fighter. He has skills, but sometimes he stops to fight. He’s a very complete fighter, and I like that because some time in the fight he will have to stop {and fight}. And that’s what I want. That’s what I like, and that’s what people like. I expect him to use his skills for a few rounds. Eventually, we will bring the action to the fans.”

FIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, February 19, 2021Official Weigh-In
5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
LIVE on ESPN2

Max on Boxing
5:30 p.m ET/2:30 p.m. PT
ESPN2
ESPN’s boxing series, hosted by Max Kellerman, will air immediately following the weigh-in and include interviews with Berchelt and Valdez.

SATURDAY, February 20, 2021

ESPN & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez, 12 rounds, WBC Super Featherweight World Title

Gabriel Flores Jr. vs.. Jayson Velez, 10 rounds, junior lightweight

ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

Esquiva Falcao vs. Artur Akavov, 10 rounds, middleweight

Elvis Rodriguez vs. Luis Alberto Veron, 8/6 rounds, junior welterweight

Omar Rosario vs. Uriel Villanueva, 4 rounds, jr. welterweight

LAS VEGAS (January 14, 2021) — Undefeated super featherweight standout Gabriel Flores Jr. will fight former world title challenger Jayson Velez in a 10-round tilt Saturday, Feb. 20, as the co-feature to the highly anticipated all-Mexican showdown between WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel Berchelt and former featherweight kingpin Oscar Valdez.

Velez replaces former world champion Andrew Cancio, who suffered a back injury.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, Berchelt-Valdez and Flores-Velez will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Velez (29-7-1, 21 KOs), from Juncos, Puerto Rico, makes a quick comeback to the ESPN airwaves following his spirited effort against Valdez last July. He lost via 10^th-round TKO after suffering a pair of knockdowns in that round. A 14-year pro, Velez has victories over former two-weight world champion Juan Manuel Lopez, former WBC super bantamweight world champion Victor Terrazas and then-unbeaten prospect Alberto Mercado.

Use the hashtag #BercheltValdez to join the conversation on social media. For more information, visit www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing; twitter.com/ESPNRingside.

Oscar Valdez tuned up for a fall showdown with Miguel Berchelt by stopping veteran Jayson Velez in the final round of their 10-round junior lightweight bout at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas,

In the waning seconds of round five, Valdez dropped Velez with a powerful left hook to the chin.

In round nine, Velez was deduced a point for a low blow. In round ten, Valdez put Velez down with a left hook. Upon getting up, Velez ate more left hook that made him stumble in to the ropes, and the bout was stopped at 2:23.

Valdez, 129.9 lbs of Nogales, MEX is 28-0 with 22 knockouts. Berchelt, 130 lbs of Juncos, PR is 29-7-1.

“Miguel Berchelt is the fight I want. He has the WBC title at 130 pounds. I want the WBC title. Miguel and I would make for a great fight,” Valdez said. “Velez was everything I expected, a tough warrior who fought his heart out. I commend him for a great performance and a great fight.”

Berlanga keeps 1st round KO in streak; Stops Moon in 1!!

Edgar Berlanga kept his perfect 1st round knockout streak in-tact as he stopped Eric Moon in the opening frame of their scheduled eight-round super middleweight fight.

Berlanga landed some hard body shots that was followed by a crushing right to the head that dumped Moon on the canvas. Moon tried to get up, but he fell back down, and the fight was stopped at 1:02.

Berlanga, 169 lbs of Brooklyn is 14-0 with 14 knockouts. Moon, 1687.7 lbs of Marietta, GA is 11-3.

“It was another step-up fight for me. We prepared to go rounds, but I got him hurt and got him out of there,” Berlanga said. “I still have so much room to grow as a fighter. The power is there, but I will show everyone that I am a well-rounded fighter. The knockout streak is cool, but there is more to me than first-round knockouts.”

Former world champion Isaac Dogboe stopped former world title challenger Chris Avalos in the final round of their scheduled eight-round featherweight bout.

Dogboe hurt Avalos with a hard combination and landed a booming left hook that had the fight stopped at 2:25.

Dogboe, 126 lbs of Ghana is now 21-2 with 15 knockouts. Avalos, 125.9 lbs of Lancaster, CA 27-8.

“I was off for 14 months. This was a long time coming. I felt great with my new trainer, Barry Hunter. We’re only getting warmed up,” Dogboe said. “I wanted to show everyone that Isaac Dogboe never went away. I’m still here, and I am only getting better.”

Elvis Rodriguez stopped Dennis Okoth in round two of their scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout.

Rodriguez, 141.8 lbs of The Dominican Republic is 8-0-1 with eight knockouts. Okoth, 141.5 lbs of Kenya is 4-4-1.

Kim Clavel won an eight-round unanimous decision over Natalie Gonzalez in a light flyweight bout.

Clavel out-landed Gonzalez 131-58.

Clavel, 109.8 lbs of Montreal, CAN won by scores of 80-72 on all cards is now 12-0. Gonzalez, 109.9 lbs of New Rochelle, NY is 6-1.

“I knew it would be a hard fight because she’s a good fighter. She had a good amateur background,” Clavel said. “This was my first time here. I had some pressure, but with every round, I felt better and better in the ring with my coach. We won all the rounds. This is what we wanted.

“I would love to stay active and fight again before the end of 2020. I want to be the best in the light flyweight division.”   

 •     Oscar Valdez 129.9 lbs vs. Jayson Velez 130 lbs 
(Junior Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

•    Edgar Berlanga 169 lbs vs. Eric Moon 168.7 lbs 
(Super Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

•    Kim Clavel 109.8 lbs vs. Natalie Gonzalez 109.9 lbs 
(Light Flyweight — 8 Rounds)

•      Elvis Rodriguez 141.8 lbs vs. Dennis Okoth 141.5 lbs 
(Junior Welterweight — 6 Rounds)

•     Isaac Dogboe 126 lbs vs. Chris Avalos 125.9 lbs 
(Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•    Genc Pllana 167.3 lbs vs. Raphael Igbokwe 165 lbs 
(Super Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

Gary Russell Jr. defeated mandatory challenger Tugstsogt Nyambayar by unanimous decision to make the 5th defense of the WBC Featheweight title at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

It was a tactical fight early, which played right into Russell’s hands as he was able to establish his speed advantage. Nyambayar was able to get into the fight in the middle rounds as his pressure was controlling the action. There were several nice exchanges that saw Russell be able get the better of some of those as his experience in championship fights was evident. Down the stretch each took turns winning rounds, but it was Russell’s ring generalship that won out in the end by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.

Russell of Capitol Heights, Maryland is 31-1. Nyambayar is 11-1,

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“We put the work in every day in the gym. I’m a perfectionist. We knew we had a very tough opponent and I knew he was going to bring his physical best. He had everything to gain and nothing to lose. We just focused and showed I’m one of the longest reigning champions for a reason

“The difference was ring generalship, hand speed and boxing IQ. He only had 11 pro fights, of course he was an Olympic silver medalist, but he only had those 11 pro fights. I’ve had over 30 and I think my experience was enough to overcome and win this fight.

“We never take a day off. I’ll probably be back in the gym next week. We’ll keep our wheels turning and stay sharp.

“If we have to move up in weight for these top fighters to feel like they have an advantage and take the fight, then we’ll do it.”

“It was definitely the kind of fight that I expected. I knew that I was fighting a tough competitor. We knew he’d be strong, but I felt like my hand speed, my ring generalship and my boxing intellect would ultimately overcome in this fight and that’s what happened.

“I kept my jab in his face and in the back half of the fight, I told myself to hold my hands up, come forward and press the action. I wanted to dictate the action and that’s exactly what we did.

“Nyambayar was definitely one of the better fighters that I competed against. I feel like he would give any of the other 126-pound fighters trouble. If he stays focused, he’ll become a world champion.”

TUGSTSOGT NYAMBAYAR

“It wasn’t my night. He was the better man tonight. I didn’t do my work the way I was supposed to. He is a great champion who fought a great fight.

“I made a mistake by waiting for him during the fight. I’d love the rematch if I can get it.

“I want to thank the Mongolian fans for coming out tonight and I’m grateful to everyone in Mongolia.”

In a fight void of a lot action, Guillermo Rigondeaux won the WBA Bantamweight title with a 12-round splits decision over Liborio Solis

In round seven, Rigondeaux landed a hard left that put Solis on the seat of his pants. The fight saw mostly Solis following Rigondeuax without either guy doing much of anything.

Rigondeaux, 117.4 lbs of Cuba won by scores of 116-112 and 115-111. Solis won a card 115-111.

Rigondeaux is 20-1. Solis, 117.4 lbs of Venezuela is 30-6-1.

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

“Our team is with me more than their own families. This isn’t just my victory, but it’s a victory for me whole team to get me this win at this age.

“Liborio is an excellent fighter, but I saw the opportunity to strike and scored the knockdown.

“Ronnie Shields is the real champion. The preparation that he gave me for this fight was incredible. Ronnie is one of the best.”

“Solis is an excellent boxer and he gave me a run for my money. It was a competitive fight, congratulations to him for keeping up in the ring, but everyone knows the better fighter got the win.

“When you get to my level, you just have to keep doing your work, and good things will come to you.

“Like I’ve showed everyone before, I can fight right in the middle of the ring. I tried that in the first round, but after that round, Ronnie Shields told me to show him some boxing and cut the ring off.

“I’m available for anyone who wants to get in the ring. Who do the fans want to see me fight? I’m ready for any fighter. Now that I’m at my weight, let’s go hunting.”

LIBORIO SOLIS

“I thought I won the fight. Going backwards is no way to win a vacant title. I put the majority of the pressure on him. I’m not going to argue with the judges, but I thought I did enough to win.

“The punch surprised me on the knockdown, but I wasn’t hurt. I was ready to fight immediately right after.

“I hurt him in the first round and that’s what caused him to run. I’d like a rematch because I thought I got the better of him tonight.”

In a sensational junior lightweight elimination bout, Jaime Arboleda held on to take a 12-round split decision over Jayson Vekez in a war.

The guys took turns wailing on each other. Arboleda was bleeding from the nose in round seven. Velez came on late and dropped Arboleda in the final frame. Arboleda was hurt several times in the final frame, but he was able to reach the final bell and win by scores of 114-113 twice and 115-112 for Velez.

Arboleda, 129.5 lbs of Panama is 16-1. Velez, 130 lbs of Caguas, PR is 29-6-1.

JAIME ARBOLEDA

“Jayson Velez is a great fighter and has a great style. He was trying to use that to break me down tonight. Velez has faced a lot of good fighters and I believe I belong with those fighters. I had him hurt badly a few times, but I just got a little bit ahead of myself and didn’t finish.

“My next fight is up to my team. I’m in line for the title, but we’ll see how things play out. I want to stay busy for sure this year.

“It was a clean shot on the knockdown but it happened because I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to stylistically and with my footwork. I was a bit tired, but I wasn’t too hurt. I went right back to fighting.”

JAYSON VELEZ

“It was a close fight, but I think I won the fight. It could have gone either way. I think I knocked him down twice but they didn’t count one of them. It’s okay. I showed that I’m a warrior like always. I have six losses now but I’ve never been knocked out. I’m still here, and I believe I’ll be world champion someday.”

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (January 6, 2020) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. will defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar Saturday, February 8 live on SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solís battle for the vacant WBA Bantamweight World Title in the co-main event. The telecast opens with Jaime Arboleda meeting Jayson Veléz in a 12-round bout WBA Super Featherweight Title eliminator.

The main event showdown will see Russell make the fifth defense of his title as he looks to again display the skills and speed that have made him one of the elite featherweight fighters in the world. He will be challenged by the 2012 Olympic silver medalist “King Tug”, who quickly rose up the rankings facing quality opposition throughout his 11-fight career.

“Gary Russell Jr. has proven himself to be at the very elite level of this sport and one of the best fighters in the featherweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “His speed, power and overall skillset has made him a must-watch every time he steps into that ring. He’s going to get all he can handle from an undefeated fighter in ‘King Tug’ Nyambayar, who has the pedigree and power to make this a memorable fight. You won’t want to blink during this high octane showdown February 8 on SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.”

“The February 8 card is co-headlined by two of the most skilled boxers in the sport today,” said Stephen Espinoza, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Gary Russell Jr. – arguably the fastest hands in boxing – will be facing his toughest challenge as world champion against the aggressive power-puncher ‘King Tug’. And in the co-main event, Guillermo Rigondeaux, one of the best boxers on the planet since his days as an amateur in Cuba, moves down in weight to the bantamweight division for the first time in his pro career as he faces former world champion Liborio Solis with a world title at stake. Add in a compelling super featherweight eliminator and we have the makings of an action-packed tripleheader on February 8.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Kings Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.pplcenter.com/events (direct link HERE ).

The Capitol Heights, Maryland native Russell (30-1, 18 KOs) has held his WBC Featherweight Title since 2015 when he stopped multiple division champion Jhonny Gonzalez to emphatically capture the belt. The 31-year-old is part of one of boxing’s premier fighting families as he is trained by his father Gary Sr., and trains alongside his younger brothers, unbeaten super lightweight Gary Antuanne and undefeated bantamweight Antonio. Russell most recently stopped former champion Kiko Martinez in May on SHOWTIME after previously defeating then unbeaten challenger Joseph Diaz Jr in 2018 in a hometown defense.

“I’m forced to defend my title against another mandatory challenger and I’m going to show on February 8 why none of the other champions want to face me,” said Russell. “I’m the longest current reigning WBC champion but no one has stepped up to the challenge I present. I’m going to take care of business against a strong opponent and display all my skills like I always do.”

The 27-year-old Nyambayar (11-0, 9 KOs) represented his native Mongolia in the 2012 Olympics but now lives in the U.S. and is training out of Las Vegas. Nyambayar ascended up the featherweight rankings after his extensive amateur career with victories over then unbeaten Harmonito Dela Torre and former interim champion Oscar Escandon. Most recently he won his first 12-round decision by defeating former champion Claudio Marrero in January.

“This is going to be an exciting fight for everyone watching on February 8,” said Nyambayar. “Gary Russell Jr. is a great champion who is very talented, but he has the WBC belt and that’s what I want. I’m training hard to win this fight and I will be ready for anything that Russell brings to the ring.”

Rigondeaux (19-1, 13 KOs) will look to move down and capture a title in a second weight class in his SHOWTIME debut. Since turning professional in 2009 after one of the best amateur careers in history, Rigondeaux has showcased masterful technical skills that made him a unified 122-pound world champion and perennial member of the pound-for-pound list. A two-time Olympic gold medalist for his native Cuba, Rigondeaux made his name with victories over the likes of Nonito Donaire, Rico Ramos and Joseph Agbeko. Most recently, Rigondeaux scored an exciting eighth-round stoppage of former champion Julio Ceja in June.

Born in Venezuela and fighting out of Panama, Solís (30-5-1, 14 KOs) will make his U.S. debut on February 8 while riding a five-fight winning streak. Solís captured a super flyweight world title in 2013 amidst a 14-bout unbeaten run. He has lost by decision in his two previous attempts at 118-pound title, including a controversial loss to Jamie McDonnell, which he has bounced back from on his current win streak.

Arboleda (15-1, 13 KOs) has ripped off five straight victories by stoppage since he suffered the only loss of his career against Recky Dulay in 2017. The 25-year-old Arboleda from Curundu, Panama will be fighting in the U.S. for the third time in his career. He’s coming off a knockout victory over Victor Betancourt on August 24.

The 31-year-old Veléz (29-5-1, 21 KOs) has strung together three straight knockout victories since losing to Ryan Garcia in 2018. The Juncos, Puerto Rico resident is coming off a knockout victory over Hector Ruben Ambriz Suarez on July 27 and is looking for another championship opportunity. He came up short in his previous attempt when he fought to a draw against Evgeny Gradovich for the featherweight world title in 2014.

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

“Absolutely gutted to inform everyone I will not be fighting,” Quigg announced. “Training had been going fantastic and everything was well on schedule but in my final week of heavy preparation before tapering down I suffered an injury during sparring on (April 15), a total freak accident where I hit my sparring partner with a left hook and my elbow jarred and the tendon ripped clean off my bicep and elbow. I went straight to see a specialist and had scans which confirmed the damage of what I’d felt and will need surgery to reattach my tendon.”

“Gutted isn’t the word. I’m absolutely devastated after all the work and training me and my team have put in this camp and also with being so close to the fight,” Quigg said. “Thank you for all messages of support and once the operation is done I will start the rehabilitation process and I will make a full recovery and continue my career.”

**TICKETS START FROM JUST $25 AND ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER**

Quigg (35-2-2 26KOs) is itching for the chance to become a two-weight World champion, and his clash in his now home base of Los Angeles will be the second step in adding Super-Featherweight glory to his reign as WBA Super-Bantamweight king.

The Brit star delivered a violent KO win on his bow at 130lbs in Boston, MA in October in the second round over Mario Briones – a card that saw Tevin Farmer defend his IBF World Super-Featherweight crown for the first time with a fifth round KO of James Tennyson.

The Philadelphia ace has defended the title twice since, against X in New York in December and on home turf against Jono Carroll in March, and he’s a target for Quigg should he prevail against the in-form Velez (28-5-1 20KOs) with the Puerto Rican picking off Orlando Cruz and Victor Terrazas inside four rounds since a points reverse to highly-rated Ryan Garcia.

“These are the cards I want to be on,” said Quigg. “It’s a great chance for me to make a big statement with the attention on the bill. I want to be a World Champion again so I need to show people that I mean business. Jayson is a solid fighter who is coming off some good wins so it’s a good test and one I am looking forward to.

“Boston was a good win, coming off the Oscar Valdez defeat it was good to get back to winning ways in a new city in my second fight over here. It was my first fight at Super-Featherweight, I felt strong and I enjoyed the city.

“Tevin is a very good fighter, one I’ve watched for a long time. He’s come up the hard way with four losses as he was matched tough early on. He does everything well, but it’s a fight that I would jump at as I believe I have got the beating of him.

“I think I can fight for a title this year. Get a good win over Jayson on April 26 and I believe I’m ready. If I have to have another fight before then so be it, but 2019 I want to win a World title again.”

Quigg’s clash with Velez is part of a huge night of boxing in LA, topped by a World title double header as Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (47-4-1 41 KOs) and Juan Francisco Estrada (38-3 26KOs) rematch for the WBC and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles and WBA World Super-Bantamweight champion Daniel Roman and IBF ruler TJ Doheny clashing in a unification battle.

Jessie Vargas (28-2-2 10 KOs) is on the hunt to become a three-weight World champion and he faces fellow two-weight World king Humberto Soto (69-9-2 37 KOs) in a crunch clash for their elite level aspirations.

Unbeaten Super-Middleweight talent Anthony Sims Jr is set for a breakout year and will fight for his first title on the bill. Sims (17-0 16 KOs), who is in action in Peterborough, England on Saturday night live on DAZN and Sky Sports, clocked three stoppage wins in the second half of 2018, and will look to convert that momentum in style in first the UK and then in LA.

Shakhram Giyasov (7-0 6KOs) and Diego Pacheco (2-0 1KO) landed wins in Tijuana, Mexico in March and will fight on the bill, while Eddie Hearn’s latest addition to his blossoming stable of young USA talents, Houston’s Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, will make his pro debut on the card.

Tickets are on sale now prices from just $25 – to charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com, and also at the Forum Box Office.

Ryan Garcia remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Jayson Velez at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

In round six, Velez began to drip blood down the right side of his face.

Garcia anded 152 of 531 punches, while Velez landed 71 of 405.

Garcia, 129.8 lbs of Victorville, CA won by scores of 99-91 on all cards, and is now 15-0. Velez, 130 lbs of Juncos, PR is 26-5-1.

“I feel good, but I need to learn some things,” said Ryan Garcia. “I need to learn how to handle roughhousing in a tough fight like that. Either way, I’m only 19 years old, so it was a good experience. It taught me a lot. Velez was a durable guy, but I landed a lot of crazy shots as well. I thank Jayson Velez, and I will learn from this experience. I still feel I’m on the fast track to a world-title fight. I beat a guy who fought for a world title.”

“I didn’t think he [Garcia] would last with me, but I was proven wrong,” said Jayson Velez. “He needs a little more experience, but he’s going to be big. He moves well, and was able to keep up with me. He’s a great opponent, and we put on a great show. I’m proud of what we did here.”

Gary O’Sullivan stopped Berlin Abreu after round three of their scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

O’Sullivan, 158.2 lbs of Cork, IRE is 28-2 with 20 knockouts. Abreu, 159.8 lbs of Rio Pierdas, PR is 14-2.

“Abreu could punch, and he caught me with a couple of good ones,” said Gary O’Sullivan. “I came to do my job, and that was to get the win. This win doesn’t compare to what’s waiting for me – I’m waiting for my next big stage. Who knows? You might see me on the next major Mexican Holiday Weekend.”

Seniesa Estrada stopped Amarilis Adorno in round three of their scheduled six-round flyweight bout.

Adorno was cut above the right eye in round two, and the bout was stopped at 38 seconds of round three.

Estrada, 108 lbs of East Los Angeles, CA is 13-0 with 3 knockouts. Adorno, 108 lbs of Vega Alta, PR is 1-7.

“I knew I was going to knock her out at some point,” said Seniesa Estrada. “I knew the referee stopped the fight because of the cut over her eye. I just kept landing my left hook aiming for her eye knowing she’d give up soon. I hope that the next time I fight, I really get to show my fans what I’m made of. I want my next fight to be a world title. I’m ready.

Marvin Cabrera stopped Wilfrido Buelvas in round three of a scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

Cabrera landed a right to the side of the head for which Buelvas thought it was a rabbit punch and he took a knee. It was ruled a knockdown by referee Jerry Cantu, and he reached the count of 10 at 1:11 of round three.

Cabrera, 156.6 lbs of Los Angles is now 8-0 with 6 knockouts. Buelvas, 155.6 lbs of Apartado, COL is 18-9.

“I felt I was stronger and that recovered quicker in this fight,” said Marvin Cabrera. “I was more conditioned. He caught me in the first round, but that was it. I’m ready for fighters of a different caliber and with more experience. I think I showed that in this fight.”

Richard Acevedo made quick work of Edward Aceves by scoring a 1st round stoppage in a scheduled four-round super welterweight bout.

Acevedo was all over Aceves until he dropped and the fight was stopped at 59 seconds.

Acevedo, 152.6 lbs of Los Angeles is 2-0 with 2 knockouts. Aceves, 153.4 lbs of Pomona, CA is 0-4.

“I felt great,” said Richard Acevedo. “I did this with the support of my team and my brothers. This win especially was for my mom. What’s next? It’s back to the gym on Monday to keep training.”

LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2018): Ryan “The Flash” Garcia (14-0, 13 KO) hosted a media workout today at Legendz Boxing Gym in Norwalk, Calif. ahead of a very special May 4 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Garcia will kick off the Cinco de Mayo festivities as he faces seasoned Puerto Rican contender Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (26-4-1, 18 KOs) in the 10-round main event in the super featherweight division. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Undercard fighters of the Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN show were also in attendance. Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (12-0, 2 KOs), who will return in an eight-round flyweight fight. Marvin Cabrera (7-0, 5 KOs) will participate in an eight-round super welterweight clash. Garden City, Kansas’ Richard “Kansas Kid” Acevedo (1-0, 1 KO) will fight in a four-round super welterweight battle.

Here’s what today’s participants had to say at the media workout:

RYAN “THE FLASH” GARCIA, Current Junior NABF Super
Featherweight Champion:

“This is going to be an amazing event. This will be another step in my legacy, and I look forward to a world-changing fight. It doesn’t matter how much experience Jayson Velez has. I’m going to fight the way I fight, whether he fought for a world title or not. I’m going to see how he fights, and I’ll know what to do.”

“I’ve noticed that he drops his hand a lot, so I’m going to feint to the body and catch him with my left hook. This fight is going to end in the fourth round. I may end it early, but I say it’ll end in the fourth round. The knockout doesn’t have to be with one punch because I also know how to end fights with a barrage and force the referee to end it. These two belts [NABF and NABO Super Featherweight Titles] will be on the line, and I know the the next fight will be for a world title.”

SENIESA “SUPER BAD” ESTRADA, Super Flyweight Prospect:

“I train how I always do, no matter who my opponent is. Of course, it is helpful to know who I am fighting from the beginning, but either way I’m going to be very much prepared. It feels great to have young girls following me. When I grew up, I didn’t have many girls in boxing to look up to. I looked up to Roy Jones, Jr. So I’m happy girls are looking up to me.”

MARVIN CABRERA, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I know this is an experienced opponent. We’re going to take advantage of this opportunity to fight at StubHub, and we’ll do what we love, which is fighting. Hopefully by the end of the year I can have my first 10-round fight.”

RICHARD “KANSAS KID” ACEVEDO, Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m happy to be working with my new trainers, the Saucedo Brothers, at Westside Boxing Club. We’re great friends outside the gym, but in the gym, they are my coaches and there is a lot of respect. I’m excited about fighting on a Golden Boy card. I’ll be going in with everything, and if the knockout comes, it comes.”

(ABOVE: Azat Hovhannisyan talks to the media ahead of his fight against Rey Vargas for the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title on May 12 and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing)

Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (14-2, 11 KOs) also participated in the media workout today. Hovhannisyan will challenge Rey Vargas (31-0, 22 KOs) for the WBC Super Bantamweight Title in the co-main event of spectacular card at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Saturday, May 12. The event is chief support to the 12-round co-main event to Sadam “World Kid” Ali andLiam “Beefy” Smith for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

AZAT “CRAZY A” HOVHANNISYAN, WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Champion:

“Ever since I was a kid in Armenia, I was trained to fight with an exciting style. I had over 200 amateur fights, and that gave me a lot of experience. I lost my professional debut, but I knew I was better than that.”

“Rey Vargas is a dangerous opponent. He’s very tall and long, but beside that I don’t see anything else. I’ve sparred with a lot of tall opponents, so I know how they fight, and I’ll be more than ready to beat him. A win over Vargas would not only mean a lot for me and my family, but also for my entire country.”

# # #

Garcia vs. Velez is a 10-round super featherweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, May 4, 2018 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT, and the first fight begins at 5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Ali vs. Smith is a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren. Vargas vs. Hovhannisyanis a 12-round battle for the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions inassociation with Promociones del Pueblo.The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The doubleheader takes place Saturday, May 12 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

GBP on ESPN on May 4:
Tickets for Garcia vs. Velez are on sale now, and are priced at $75, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at goldenboytickets.com, AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

HBO World Championship Boxing on May 12:
Tickets for this highly anticipated matchup are on sale and are available from $95 and $75 for ringside seats and all others priced at $55 and $45, plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office in person or by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

GBP on ESPN on May 4:
For more information,
visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

HBO World Championship Boxing on May 12:
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.hbo.com/boxing and www.turningstone.com.
Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOboxing @TurningStone.
Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/TurningStoneResort. Visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @TurningStone.
Follow the conversation using #AliSmith.

GBP on ESPN on May 4:
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/GarciaVelez into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

HBO World Championship Boxing on May 12:
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/SadamAliLiamSmith into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

LOS ANGELES (April 12, 2018): Ryan “The Flash” Garcia (14-0, 13 KOs), the 2017 consensus prospect of the year and pride of Victorville, Calif., headlines a very special edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Garcia, who is the brightest rising star in the sport of boxing today, will kick off the Cinco de Mayo festivities as he faces seasoned Puerto Rican contender Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (26-4-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight fight in this spectacular arena that has become the home for great battles.

ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

At only 19 years of age, Garcia is the future superstar of boxing. After winning multiple national championships as an amateur and several professional fights in Mexico, Garcia signed with Golden Boy Promotions in Nov. 2016. Since then, he has won every fight by knockout, including a highlight-reel knockout of Miguel Carrizoza to win the Junior NABF Super Featherweight Title. In his most recent performance, Garcia defeated Fernando Vargas on the March 22 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN via a stunning first-round knockout victory.

“I’m back already and with high expectations,” said Ryan Garcia.”I’m glad to be headlining two times in a row and excited to be fighting in an iconic venue where there have been many wars. I’ve said all along that I was destined for greatness. I’m speaking it to existence, and I will show that on May 4.”

Velez is an experience contender of the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico, home of former world champions such as Wilfred “El Radar” Benitez, Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, among others. The 30-year-old pugilist has faced the toughest fighters of the competitive 126-pound division, including Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. and Ronny Rios. Velez is coming off three impressive victories, including a unanimous decision win against the previously undefeated Alberto Mercado and back-to-back stoppage victories over former contender Giovanni “El Ruso” Caroand former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez.

“I will not let my country down as it is a powerful force in boxing,” said Jayson Velez. “If anyone believes that I am only going for the paycheck, they are wrong. As I have proved before, I always give my best and this will not be the exception against Garcia. In the face of all predictions, I will defeat him.”

“Ryan Garcia is going to prove that he’s the next superstar in the sport of boxing,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “After an amazing performance in March, Garcia will now make his debut in an arena that is slowly becoming a legendary battleground for boxing, the StubHub Center.”

In the co-main event, Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (27-2, 19 KOs), the incomparable and explosive Irish contender, will make his Southern California debut in a 10-round middleweight fight presented in association with Murphy’s Boxing. O’Sullivan has faced the likes of current WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank, Jr., and he’ll returning after his most significant and impressive victory against Antoine “Action” Douglass via seventh-round technical knockout. O’Sullivan will be next in line for a middleweight title shot if successful on May 4.

Welterweight knockout artist Alexis “Lex” Rocha (11-0, 8 KOs), who without a doubt will be the first world champion to come out of Santa Ana, Calif., will participate in an eight-round 147-pound fight. Rocha has many tools in his southpaw arsenal as he can both fight at the distance and knock people out from the inside.

Ferdinand Kerobyan (8-0, 4 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle across a scheduled six-rounds of action in the super welterweight division. Kerobyan is the latest prospect to be signed to the exclusive Golden Boy Promotions stable and the first fighter under the management of former UFC fighter and current WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey.

Richard “Kansas Kid” Acevedo (1-0, 1 KO), a prospect originally out of Garden City, Kansas, will participate in a four-round super welterweight fight. This exciting puncher out of the Westside Boxing Club promises fireworks as he initiates this exciting card.

Opponents for this undercard will be announced shortly

Garcia vs. Velez is a 10-round super featherweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, May 4, 2018 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT, and the first fight begins at 5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Velez go on sale Friday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets are priced at $75, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges. Tickets can be purchased at goldenboytickets.com, AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/GarciaVelez into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com
and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

The recent Hurricane Maria that severly damaged Puerto Rico has forced the cancellation of this Saturday’s Juan Manuel Lopez – Jayson Velez fight, according to Dan Rafael.

Also, Gaby Penagaricano, a representative of Black Tiger Promotions, told ESPN that there is no way the card can move ahead with the island facing so many difficulties.

“I have not been able to communicate with the promoter to have an official cancellation announcement. They have not been able to even put a press release out,” Penagaricano told ESPN by email. “However, I am certain the event is not happening. This is a complete disaster over the whole island. No power; very limited water availability; banks closed; limited gasoline supplies; and telecommunications also very limited.”

INDIO, CALIFORNIA (July 15, 2015) – The Coachella Valley was treated to a night full of action at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, featuring the return to the ring of two of the most exciting fighters in the featherweight division live on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar. With a special appearance by former five-division boxing world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard, Metta World Peace, and Golden Boy Promotions’ fighters: Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jr., Gilberto “El Flaco” Gonzalez, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Diego De La Hoya, and the newest member Virgil Ortiz, Jr.; the night kept all the fans on their feet as they watched a night of exciting boxing.

The main event of the night featured former world title challenger Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (23-3-1, 16 KOs) of Juncos, Puerto Rico, taking on the Nicaraguan warrior Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (24-7, 16 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight fight that went the distance. The evenly matched fighters consistently traded blows and it was Velez who attempted to use his boxing skills in the first few rounds. By the fifth round, both fighters began to fight from the inside as came at each other for a classic brawl with both landing effective shots. An accidental head butt in the sixth round did stun the fighters, but that did not stop them from keeping the momentum going. A close fight, the judges awarded a split decision victory to the former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion, Rene Alavardo with scores of 96-94, 96-94 and 97-93 for Velez.

“This is a very important victory for me,” said Rene Alvarado. “I have been fighting tough prospects and fighting such a notable fighter like Velez proves that I am still a force in this division. I want to keep the momentum going and come back as soon as I can. I will be back in the gym next week to stay in shape and be ready for the next fight.”

In the co-main event of the night, undefeated prospect Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (16-0, 11 KOs) of Boston retained his undefeated record when he took on Luis “La Roca” Hernandez (12-2, 7 KOs) of Rio Pierdas, Puerto Rico. Ellis made sure to keep the pressure on Hernández but in the fourth round was caught by a solid left hook that sent him to the canvas. Hernandez saw an opportunity and aggressively came after Ellis as Ellis tried to keep his distance in what became the most exciting bout of the night. Ellis adjusted his game and began using is jab and counterpunching when Herenandez attacked. This plan proved successful as Ellis was awarded the decision with scores of 78-73 by all three judges.

“He caught me with a good shot,” said Rashidi Ellis. “But I felt that the adjustments I made to make sure he didn’t catch me again were effective. I wanted to make sure that I kept moving and continued to land clean shots. That is what gave me the victory tonight.”

Opening up the Estella TV broadcast, decorated amateur, Cesar Diaz of Palmdale, Calif. made his professional debut against Isau Duenez (1-5) of Monterey, Mexico. Diaz, was not shy in the first rounds of his scheduled four-round featherweight fight, aggressively coming at Duenez while landing hard punches to the body. The punches were effective as they continued to overwhelm Duenez and in the third round the referee called the fight awarding Diaz his first professional victory via technical knockout.

“This victory motivates me to keep going,” said Cesar Diaz. “I have a great corner and felt very comfortable and calm in my first fight as a professional. I felt that I was properly prepared for this fight, I have a team that gave me the best sparring. Fighting professionally is more fun, knowing that I can go in the ring and finish my opponent is very exciting and I am looking forward to the next fight.”

Part of the non-televised undercard and streaming on RingTVLive.com, Azat Hovanissyan (9-2, 8 KOs) of Glendale, Calif. took on Sacramento’s Mario Ayala (4-3-1, 1 KOs) in a schedule six-round super bantamweight fight. In the fifth round, Hovanissyan sent Ayala to the canvas as the crowd cheered on the fighters. Making the count, Ayala was not able to shake off Hovanissyan and the fight was called off by the referee.

“I am very excited about this victory,” said Azat Hovanissyan. “I have been off for more than a year and I am glad I was able to shake the ring rust. I am ready to fight again and ready to come back at eight to 10 rounds.”

Indio, Calif.’s Marco Magdaleno (4-0, 2 KOs) put on a great display of dominance as he faced, Hugo Padilla (3-7, 2 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Mexico in a four-round lightweight bout. In the first two rounds, Magdaleno aggressively came after Padilla, cornering him in the ropes with his quick combinations. By the third round, Magdaleno began to out-box Padilla, effectively using his jab and counter punching. In the end, the judges awarded Magdaleno the victory via unanimous decision with scores of 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37.

“Padilla was a tough fight, he came prepared,” said Marco Magdaleno. “I felt like the guy was very durable and my corner and I decided that it would be best to box him, hit him with the best and cleanest shots to secure the victory. I trust my team and Joel Diaz always knows when we have to switch it up, he brings out the best in me.”

Opening the night Jhon Leon (1-0, 1 KO) of Los Angeles made an impression in his first professional fight knocking out his opponent Jose Huerta (0-1-1) of Villahermosa, Mexico in the first round knockout of their scheduled four-round welterweight.

“Winning this fight is the prize after so much sacrifice,” said John Leon. “I have been fighting since I was 11 years old and have been on the Colombian Olympic team and now to finally start my career as a professional is a dream comes true. I can’t wait until my next fight, I am ready to keep putting in the work to become the next world champion.”

Jayson Velez vs. Rene Alvarado was a 10-round super featherweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD”. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rang at 5:30 p.m. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast will aired live on Estrella TV at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. The card will also streamed live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios. The RingTVlive.com live stream will began at approximately 5:00 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, http://www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @EstrellaTV; and follow the conversation using #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (July 7, 2015) – The exciting 10-round super featherweight bout between
Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (23-2-1, 16 KOs) and
Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (23-7, 16 KOs) has been upgraded to the main event on the
Estrella TV Boxeo Estelar, broadcast on July 15. The originally scheduled fight between
Alfonso Gomez vs. Pablo Cesar Cano has been cancelled due to Gomez sustaining an elbow injury earlier this week.

Live from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the event will feature a new televised co-main event between undefeated prospect Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (15-0, 11 KOs) of Boston and Luis “La Roca” Hernandez (12-1, 7 KOs) of Rio Pierdas, Puerto Rico in a eight-round super welterweight fight. Decorated amateur, Cesar Diaz of Palmdale, Calif. will make his professional debut and open up the Estrella TV broadcast in a scheduled four-round super bantamweight fight.

The event will feature former five-division boxing world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard hosting a meet and greet at the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center ahead of the televised bouts from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Part of the non-televised undercard and streaming on RingTVLive.com, Azat Hovanissyan (8-2, 7 KOs) of Glendale, Calif. will participate in a six-round super bantamweight fight against Sacramento’s Mario Ayala (4-2-1, 1 KOs) and Indio, Calif.’s Marco Magdaleno (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Hugo Padilla (3-6, 2 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Mexico in a four-round lightweight bout. Opening the night Jhon Leon of Los Angeles will also make his professional debut in a four-round welterweight fight against Jose Huerta (0-0-1) of Villahermosa, Mexico.

Tickets for the event are on sale and are priced at $45, $35, and $25. They can be purchased at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Hailing from Juncos, Puerto Rico, 28-year-old Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez has been a fine representative of the Caribbean’s fighting capital since turning professional in 2007. Former owner of the WBC Interim Silver, WBC FECARBOX and USNBC titles over the years, Velez has made his mark with victories over the likes of Salvador “Sal II” Sanchez, Dat “Dat Be Dat” Nguyen and Daniel “Huracan” Ramirez, as well as a draw in an IBF title bout against Evgeny “El Russo Mexicano” Gradovich. On Nov. 21, 2015 Velez opened up the pay-per-view telecast of Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez against Ronny Rios and suffered his first professional defeat via decision and took on Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. in March 2016 and suffered another loss via decision. Now, looking for redemption, Velez will be hungry to get back in the winners column and title race when he takes on one of the toughest fighters coming out of Nicaragua in Rene Alvarado on July 15.

Managua, Nicaragua’s Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado comes into the ring with much experience under his belt, owning several titles over the course of nearly eight years. “Gemelo” has earned the respect from his peers and boxing fans all over the world for his hard-nosed style and willingness to fight all. The 27 year old’s biggest win was the complete stoppage at the ninth-round of current top featherweight contender Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos in 2014 which earned him the WBC Silver Featherweight Championship. Alvarado last faced Manuel “Tino” Avila in April 2016, losing via decision to the rising contender in Los Angeles. Ready for another shot at championship gold, Alvarado will leave it all in the ring taking on Jayson Velez on July 15.

Undefeated welterweight Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis may have the nickname “Speedy,” but it’s his punching power that has been leading him to victory as of late. Winner of four straight fights by knockout, the 23-year-old most recently dispatched Victor “Pambele” Gonzalez in four rounds to win the vacant WBA Fedecentro and interim WBC Latino Welterweight titles. On May 7, he made his Las Vegas debut on one of the biggest sporting events of 2016, when he faced Marco Antonio Lopez on the non-televised undercard of Canelo vs. Khan on May 7 at the new state-of-the-art T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both fighters brought their “A” game, with Ellis hungry and on the prowl in the ring. Ellis dominated the fight, using good movement and effectively landing his combination blows. With a unanimous decision of 80-72 awarded by all three judges, Rashidi Ellis was able to maintain his undefeated status.

Making his return to the U.S. after four-years, Luis “La Roca” Hernandez will be looking to maintain his undefeated streak of 2016 when he takes on top prospect Rashidi Ellis on July 15. Hernandez, was last seen in the ring against Jose Miguel Torres defeating the fight veteran via unanimous decision and Jean Pablo Batista via technical knockout in the first round. A professional since 2010 and back in the fight game after a lone defeat against welterweight top contender Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez in 2012, Hernandez is ready to begin his climb to the top of the division.

Jayson Velez vs. Rene Alvarado is a 10-round super featherweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 5:30 p.m. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Estrella TV at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. The card will also stream live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios. The RingTVlive.com live stream will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, http://www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @EstrellaTV; and follow the conversation using #BoxeoEstelar.

LOS ANGELES (June 9, 2014) – Golden Boy Promotions is set to bring an Event of The Year to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on July 15, airing live on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar. In the main event, former WBA Interim Super Light Weight World Champion and Mexican warrior Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (29-5-1, 21 KOs) of Tlanepantla, Mexico returns to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino to face top welterweight contender KeAndre “The Truth” Gibson (15-0-1, 7 KOs) of St. Louis, Mo. in a 10-round welterweight battle sure to bring fireworks to the Coachella Valley.

Part of the live telecast, former world title challenger Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (23-2-1, 16 KOs) of Juncos, Puerto Rico will face Nicaraguan warrior and former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (23-7, 16 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight Fight of the Year candidate.

The exciting fight card will be in contention as one of the best events of the year as the night promises non-stop action from four top fighters willing to leave it all on the mat on July 15.

Part of the non-televised undercard and streaming on RingTVLive.com, Cesar Diaz of Palmdale, Calif. will make his professional debut in a scheduled four-round super bantamweight fight. Undefeated prospect Rigoberto Hermosillo (5-0-1, 3 KOs) of Victorville, Calif. will participate in a six-round featherweight fight and Jhon Leon of Los Angeles will also make his professional debut in a four-round welterweight fight. All opponents will be announced shortly.

“Watching a great fight live at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is one of the best ways to celebrate summer,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This card on July 15 will pit veteran fighter Cano against rising welterweight contender Gibson in a main event fight that is sure to please and thrill fans. Additionally, Velez vs. Alvarado will be a can’t-miss event as these two guys give it their all everytime they enter the ring.”

Tickets for the event go on sale, Friday, June 10 and are priced at $45, $35, and $25. They can be purchased at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Pablo Cesar Cano vs. KeAndre Gibson is a 10-round welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The Boxeo Estelar broadcast will air live on Estrella TV at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. The card will also stream live on EstrellaTV.com and on YouTube via Fenomeno Studios. The RingTVlive.com live stream will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. PT through 7:00 p.m.

Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano of Tlalnepantla, Mexico State, Mexico is set on demolishing any opponent who stands in his way. No stranger in battling for belts, Cano is the former WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion and NABF Light Welterweight Champion and along his path to world championship gold has fought for the WBA Welterweight World Championship against Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship against Erik “El Terrible” Morales. Staying bust in 2015, Cano defeated Jorge Silva and Silverio “Chamaco II” Ortiz, and most recently faced Alan Sanchez in May 2016 at the new Toshiba Plaza in Las Vega, opening up the Canelo-Khan fight weekend. Now, Cano will be looking to get back on the winning column as he sets up to face one of the most promising contenders in the welterweight division, KeAndre Gibson on July 15.

26-year-old welterweight contender, KeAndre “The Truth” Gibson, of Saint Louis, Mo. who now makes his home in Las Vegas, is set to have the toughest test of his career thus far when he takes on Mexican warrior Pablo Cesar Cano on July 15. In 2015, Gibson took on Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara winning the fight via unanimous decision and since then has faced Jorge “Koky” Ramos and Tom “Hitman.” Gibson was last seen in the ring in March 2016 returning to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino for the second time and defeating Hector “Charro Negro” Velazquez via technical decision in the sixth round. Now coming back to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino for the third time, Gibson will be looking to impress the local crowd with a victory on July 15.

Hailing from Juncos, Puerto Rico, 28-year-old Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez has been a fine representative of the Caribbean’s fighting capital since turning professional in 2007. Former owner of the WBC Interim Silver, WBC FECARBOX and USNBC titles over the years, Velez has made his mark with victories over the likes of Salvador “Sal II” Sanchez, Dat “Dat Be Dat” Nguyen and Daniel “Huracan” Ramirez, as well as a draw in an IBF title bout against Evgeny “El Russo Mexicano” Gradovich. On Nov. 21, 2015 Velez opened up the pay-per-view telecast of Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez against Ronny Rios and suffered his first professional defeat via decision and took on Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. in March 2016 and suffered another loss via decision. Now, looking for redemption, Velez will be hungry to get back in the winners column and title race when he takes on one of the toughest fighters coming out of Nicaragua in Rene Alvarado on July 15.

Managua, Nicaragua’s Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado comes into the ring with much experience under his belt, owning several titles over the course of nearly eight years. “Gemelo” has earned the respect from his peers and boxing fans all over the world for his hard-nosed style and willingness to fight all. The 27 year old’s biggest win was the complete stoppage at the ninth-round of current top featherweight contender Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos in 2014 which earned him the WBC Silver Featherweight Championship. Alvarado last faced Manuel “Tino” Avila in April 2016, losing via decision to the rising contender in Los Angeles. Ready for another shot at championship gold, Alvarado will leave it all in the ring taking on Jayson Velez on July 15.

Cesar Diaz is set to make his exciting professional debut as a new member of the Golden Boy Promotions stable on July 15. A decorated amateur and owner of a 104-11 amateur record, Diaz won the 2012 Silver Gloves National Championship, the 2015 Adidas National PAL title, The Desert Showdown in 2009, 2013 and 2015, and several other tournaments. Among the fighters he defeated were 2016 United States Olympians Shakur Stevenson and Carlos Balderas, as well as Danny Gonzalez. In 2013, Diaz went to the Junior Olympic regionals and was champion in his weight class, but due to his citizenship, he could not move on to the nationals. Undeterred, Diaz continued to fight, win and impress, earning him a USA Boxing number three ranking in the 123-pound weight class. And as his amateur career closes, he will enter the professional game after compiling a 29-0 amateur record that has seen him go unbeaten since 2013.

At 23-years-old, Rigoberto Hermosillo from Victorville, Calf. has steadily built his professional resume since turning pro in 2013 with a unanimous decision victory over Allen Nevarez at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Since then, the featherweight prospect has defeated Alejandro Estrada, Hector Aguilar and Mario Diaz all by knockout. Looking to keep the momentum going, Hermosillo will be in top shape when he takes on an opponent yet to be announced on his grand return to Fantasy Spring Resort Casino on July 15.

A stablemate of unbeaten Pablo “The Shark” Rubio, welterweight Jhon Leon is coached by the respected Rafael Sarabia in Pico Rivera, and as he approaches his professional debut, he does so with a lot of expectations on his shoulders thanks to his natural talent, work ethic, and determination to one day become a world champion. And given the fact that the Southern California fight scene is hotter than ever, expect to see the name Jhon Leon featured prominently in the coming years.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.estrellatv.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @EstrellaTV, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, http://www.facebook.com/EstrellaTVNetwork, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @EstrellaTV; and follow the conversation using #BoxeoEstelar.

Andre Ward won a 12-round unanimous decision over Sullivan Barrera in a Light Heavyweight bout that featured undefeated fighters at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

In round three, Ward dropped Barrera with a quick left hook to the head.

Ward was deducted a point in round eight for low blows. Ward was cut over the left eye in round ten from an accidental headbutt.

Ward used his superior handspeed and technical ability to do as he pleased and won by scores of 117-109, 119-109 and 117-108.

Ward of Oakland, CA is 29-0. Barrera of Cuba is 17-1.

Ward landed 166-463 punches. Barrera was 111-722.

2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph Diaz remained undefeatedheadbutt. by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Jayson Velez in a Featherweight fight.

In round one, Velez cut Diaz with a solid `1-2 combination. In round two, Diaz landed some hard straight lefts that rocked Velez several times.

In round eight, Diaz was cut over the corner of his right eye, but he landed the harder punches throughout that featured more straight lefts and rights to the body.

Diaz of Almonte, CA won by scores of 100-91, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 20-0. Velez of Puerto Rico is 23-2-1.

Diaz outlanded Velez 220-155.

OAKLAND, CA (March 23, 2015) – On Wednesday, March 23, Roc Nation Sports hosted the final press conference for Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) and number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) at Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, California in advance of their March 26 fight at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ward and Barrera will meet in 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator bout televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. NABF Featherweight Champion Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) and top-rated featherweight contender Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) were also in attendance on the press conference dais overlooking Lake Merritt ahead of their 10-round NABF Featherweight title fight which will open up the HBO telecast.

Ward vs. Barrera is shaping up to be a highly contested battle between two fighters who both have their sights set on a match-up against Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey Kovalev.

Below is what the fighters, promoters, trainers, managers and other dais guests had to say at the press conference:

ANDRE WARD, Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter:

“I want to thank everyone for coming out as usual. The Bay Area is a beautiful place. We don’t often get enough credit for the talent that comes out of here, but for the fan base, it’s tremendous. I’m just thankful for being from a place like this and thankful to have the love and support at every event that we bring here. I’m thankful that myself and guys like Marshawn Lynch, Damian Lillard and the Warriors put this place on the map and people are taking notice on the national stage. That is really important to me.

“As far as the fight itself, it’s very simple to me…anybody who knows me, they know how I work and they know how I tick. I don’t get caught up in what’s next. I don’t get caught up in what people are saying. I’m aware of what is being said. I know what my opponent has been saying and I take him at his word. I’ve done everything that I’m supposed to do, like I always do and like I’ve done the last 10 years of my career. I’ve taken on the best… if it’s not another champion then it’s a top contender… and this is no different. You guys just know that I’m focused and locked in like I always am. I’m prepared and I’m ready for war come March 26.”

SULLIVAN BARRERA, Number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender:

“I wanted to say thank you for coming here. I want to say thank you HBO, thank you everyone. Thank you Andre Ward for accepting my fight. I promise everyone who comes to the arena that I have had great preparation and this is a great dream. On that night, I’ll have a great show for everyone.”

DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO Boxing – Roc Nation Sports:

“Two of the top light heavyweights on the planet will collide on March 26. They have a combined record of 45-0 with 27 KOs and needless to say, neither has tasted defeat as a professional. While each man has a formidable opponent in front of him, they both have their eyes on Sergey Kovalev and his three world title belts, but first they have business to attend to on Saturday night.

“Whenever I come out to Oakland for an event and I’m with Andre at a function where he’s speaking to the media, it strikes me that obviously, he is a special talent athletically, but he’s also a special person and I hope everyone here in Oakland understands and appreciates that. He’s a principled family man who always tries to do the right thing and that is something that is rare in life these days, but it is especially rare in sports. I hope you guys appreciate him. Boxing careers don’t last forever. He’s not going to be fighting forever, so everyone should appreciate what you have here in Andre Ward.

“Andre captured a gold medal at the Athens Olympics and is the last U.S. boxer to have done so. His list of vanquished foes reads like a who’s who of the super middleweight division. He also dominated and knocked out former light heavyweight world champion, Chad Dawson in their 2012 showdown. In his last fight, he dominated two-time world title challenger Paul Smith on June 20 at Oracle Arena. He embarks on the next chapter of his career on March 26, returning to Oracle Arena once again, as he makes his move up to the light heavyweight division ready to do what he did in the super middleweight division…cleaning it out and dominating everyone that stands in his way.”

NICOLE DUVA, Vice President of Marketing and General Counsel – Main Events:

“I would really like to thank Andre Ward. He didn’t have to take on an undefeated fighter in his first fight at light heavyweight, but he did it and I think that is commendable.

“In his last fight, Sullivan became the mandatory contender for Sergey Kovalev’s IBF belt. He could have sat back and waited for his title fight, but instead he saw this fight against Andre Ward as an opportunity to really reach for greatness and he did that. As you all know, Main Events and Roc Nation Sports have big plans for Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev later this year and Sullivan Barrera can really upset that apple cart.

“Both of these men, Sullivan and Andre, have everything riding on the outcome of Saturday’s fight. In the climate that we have in boxing right now, it’s refreshing to see real warriors who aren’t afraid to take risks. They both deserve our respect and admiration for that. This is what our sport should be about.

“Sullivan Barrera is undefeated with a record of 17-0 with 12 wins coming by way of knockout. He just turned 34, a month ago, which you might think is a little old for this point in his career. What you might not know is that he had a successful amateur career in Cuba and then lost several years of his prime while he was defecting to the United States. He’s come a really long way to be here today for this moment and this opportunity. He is hungry, he is confident and he is ready.”

VIRGIL HUNTER, Andre Ward’s trainer:

“This is a fantastic card with fantastic athletes who are trying to make their way in the world of boxing. If this fight was taking place in any other city, it would be a huge event. What we want to do is make sure that Oakland understands, and that the surrounding Bay Area understands, the magnitude of this event so we can continue to bring world class boxing to Oakland. Oakland is a breeding ground for top fighters and we already have them. The more that you support us, the more that these fights will become visible and you will see the big time at the top.

“They say other networks make fighters, but HBO makes stars, so we are glad to be part of this. We ask you to come out and support this fight. Come on out Saturday night and enjoy yourselves for a good night of top boxing.”

BEN LIRA, Sullivan Barrera’s Trainer:

“I want to thank all of the people who put together this super event on Saturday. We are here to put on a great show and Sullivan has done everything to prepare himself for this event. He knows the challenges in front of him, but he believes in himself and he believes that this is his time to show the public and the viewing audience that this is where he is. He is there to make a statement.

“More than anything, we respect Mr. Ward for his achievements, his credibility and he is a super guy in the sport. It’s great to be part of this. We prepared well and we have done everything that we have to do come Saturday to give the viewing audience a super great show because this is what boxing is about. It is about performance and both fighters get to perform at this level at a great event. We are honored to be a part of this event. We have done everything that is possible to ensure that we will come out and put on a fabulous show.”

JAMES PRINCE, Andre Ward’s manager:

“This is a historical moment for us. We are entering the 175 pound light heavyweight division. This is a moment that the town doesn’t want to miss. This is the moment at the beginning of a movement. Barrera just happens to be the first victim and we’re going to deal with him accordingly. We’ve been hearing a lot of talk and conversation taking place where he is concerned, and we know that he believes everything that he is saying. Once again, we are excited about this opportunity and you don’t want to miss this historic moment on Saturday night.”

JOSEPH DIAZ JR., NABF Featherweight Champion:

“Come March 26, I know I have a really tough fight ahead of me. I know Jayson Velez is an experienced veteran in the ring. He’s a warrior. He has a six-inch reach advantage over me so it’s going to be a really great fight. I know he’s coming off of a loss, so I know he really wants to bounce back and show everybody that he’s still a world title contender.

“I had a really great training camp. I’ve been training for eight weeks. This is my first time fighting on HBO, so I really want to showcase who I truly am. I’m 110% ready. I’m ready to give fight fans a war if Jayson Velez wants to have a war. I’m ready to showcase to everybody all the abilities I have inside the ring. I’m very excited to be fighting on the Andre Ward and Sullivan Barrera card. They’re two elite athletes and I’m very honored to be the co-main event for this fight. Come March 26, I promise I’m going to give you a great show.”

JAYSON VELEZ, Top-rated featherweight contender:

“I want to thank God first, obviously he makes everything possible. I want to thank my promoters, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and my whole team. I don’t have too much to say besides that this is a great fight. Joseph comes to fight. I come to fight. We both want to win. We both take challenges. People keep asking me why I took this dangerous fight and the answer is easy…if I want to be the best, I have to fight the best. Joseph is one of the best.

“I lost my last fight, so I need to win. I want to win. I can’t tell you who’s going to win this fight because we both are great fighters and warriors. He’s Mexican, I’m Puerto Rican, and when you have a Puerto Rican and a Mexican in the same ring, you will see a war. You will see speed, power, everything in this fight. He’s a great fighter and I’m so excited. Thank you to everyone and stay tuned this Saturday and thank you to HBO of course.”

ROBERT DIAZ, Head Matchmaker – Golden Boy Promotions:

“Obviously the main event speaks for itself. You’ve got Andre Ward versus a young undefeated guy like Sullivan Barrera, but the co-main event is going to pit two young, hungry fighters against one another in Jayson Velez and Joseph Diaz. They’re both young. They’re both willing to take on the best fights, the toughest fights and proof of that is how easy it was to make this fight.

“I’m very excited about this fight. You don’t want to miss the 10 rounds for the NABF title.

“Jayson Velez is a young, hungry lion who wants to get back up on the stage and knows how significant a victory over Joseph Diaz is. He understood the opportunity to fight on HBO and on this tremendous card. I want to remind you of the character of Jayson Velez. In a day and age where a fighter that loses wants to take maybe a comeback or tune up, or two or three, before they take a high-risk fight and Jayson Velez is doing it right after. That shows he wants to get back on top and he knows what he has to do to get there…it has to be by stopping a top-level fighter like Joseph Diaz.”

RALPH HEREDIA, Joseph Diaz’s manager:

“It’s an honor to be here, a great opportunity and privilege to be given this opportunity to showcase a talented, 2012 Olympian. To Joseph, this is what we talked about, thank you for being patient, you are ready for the opportunity. We know what a special young man and talented man you are, but now the whole world will get to see on the big stage what a talent, what a real gentleman and what a fighter should be…like Joseph Diaz.

“What can I say about Jayson Velez? He’s a gentleman who knows what’s at stake and has experience. Believe me, you don’t want to miss this. Saturday, you must tune in. It’s going to be an action-packed fight.”

JOSE “CHE CHE” SANCHEZ, Jayson Velez’s trainer:

“I see Diaz as a great fighter, but I have Jayson in very good condition and he’s ready for the fight. I know it’s going to be a good fight because they are ready, and the same thing is true for my fighter Jayson Velez. He worked very hard for this fight and I know he’s ready for the fight.”

TONY WALKER, Director, HBO Sports:

“On behalf of our Executive Vice President Peter Nelson, we are very happy to be here in the Bay Area, with a great crowd and great boxing fans, as we look to bring you this doubleheader on Saturday night.

“It’s not easy pulling together a big boxing match and these teams have pulled together a great card from top to bottom, so even though all the fights won’t be on HBO, if you want to watch some great boxing, go to Oracle Arena and if you have to be at home, check it out on HBO.

“Throughout our 43 years of programming on HBO, boxing has always been an integral part of what we do. We’ve always prided ourselves on having the best fighters and the best matches, and we feel very good that this tradition will hold again as Andre Ward makes his 2016 debut in the ring. In the boxing ring, it’s never recommended that you overlook a hungry, undefeated fighter like we have in Sullivan Barrera, so I would like to welcome Sullivan to the network and thank him for taking on this challenge.

“Opening the TV telecast will be Joseph Diaz against Jayson Velez, two up-and-coming young guys, two young guns, who think they’re ready for the big stage. All in all, it’s going to be a great telecast, 9:45 PM ET we promise you an informative and entertaining night with our broadcast team.”

Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, takes place Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticketmaster, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace, The Waterfront Hotel and Visit Oakland. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. Opening the HBO telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight for the NABF Featherweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Follow the conversation on Twitter by using #WardBarrera.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions and @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

OAKLAND, CA (March 23, 2015) – On Tuesday, March 22, Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) and number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) participated in a media workout at King’s Gym in Oakland, California in advance of their March 26 fight at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ward and Barrera will meet in 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator bout televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. NABF Featherweight Champion Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) and top-rated featherweight contender Jayson “Star” Velez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) were also in attendance during the workout ahead of their 10-round NABF Featherweight title fight which will open up the HBO telecast.

After shadowboxing in the ring and a few rounds on the punching bags, all four fighters participated in interviews with media members in attendance. Super Bowl Champion and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch, an avid Andre Ward supporter, made a special appearance during the workout in support of Ward.

Below is what the fighters had to say during the final media workout:

ANDRE WARD, Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter:

“I feel good and I am ready to go. I’m peaking at the right time. I’m just excited to get it on Saturday night.

“I used to drive by Oracle Arena on 880 as a kid on my way to King’s Gym and wonder if I could make it there one day and [trainer] Virgil [Hunter] used to say with confidence, ‘You’re going to headline there.’ As I got older, I used to go to some of the cards put on in the arena. I was still an amateur and I would just dream. Next thing you know, in 2009, I was in a sink or swim fight against Edison Miranda. If I won, there was probably a good chance that I would get a title shot and the rest is history. Here we are again, it’s my 7th time at Oracle and it’s still a blessing.

“It was the right time to move to light heavyweight. It was a combination of not having the right guys to fight or guys that didn’t want to fight me. I want to be great. These are the types of moves you have to make. I’m a student of the sport and when I study the sport, this is what greats have always done. They move up. The great ones find a way to get it done and I want to be in that conversation.

“Barrera is a big body. He’s confident. Seems to be a good puncher. We did not pick him because he’s a soft touch. We picked him because he was going to get me ready and show me what this weight class is all about. If you look at my career, there’s a place for tune-ups which I haven’t had a lot of. You want to fight the best and if you aren’t fighting the best, you want to fight the number one contender. That’s what we’re doing.

“I think I am evolving into an efficient fighter. I’m moving when I have to move. I think that’s the beauty of any athlete who doesn’t abuse his body and really takes his craft seriously. I’ve seen some articles claiming I missed my prime. It’s crazy to me. I feel that I am as good as I have ever been. I’ve been in a boxing gym without much of a break for the past 20 years. My brain thanked me for the last two years. My body thanked me. It might give me another two years in my career.

“I have to just be me. Who I am is enough. I don’t have to show up for Kovalev in the crowd on Saturday night. We just have to implement the game plan. I think that’s going to send the message it’s supposed to send and if it doesn’t, then he’ll [Kovalev] get the message when we fight.

“If I don’t win this fight, there’s nothing down the road. If I don’t win this fight, I don’t deserve to fight for the title. That’s the reality of my situation.

“Barrera has never fought a guy like me before, so they can talk a good game. They can dominate the headlines leading up to the fight. They can say all the slick stuff they want to say. We just want to dominate the headlines Sunday morning after the fight is over. That’s what I’m focused on.”

SULLIVAN BARRERA, Number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender:

“I’m stronger than Ward. I have the Cuban background and I learned a lot of skills there. More than anything, the determination to overcome anything in front of me will help me defeat Ward on March 26.

“Once I am in the ring, it’s my house.

“Whatever Ward has, I will adjust to it and overcome it.

“I have two hands. He has two hands. I have a job to do on March 26.

“I know Ward and Kovalev are very highly respected and they create a lot of money and a lot of interest, but they don’t know what Sullivan Barrera is capable of doing. I will prove that on Saturday.

“I’m not really a guy that has to look for a knockout. My boxing skills speak for themselves. I am fighting Andre Ward and fighting here in Oakland, so I don’t think a decision will be rendered in my favor.

“To all the fans, especially the Cuban fans that have supported me please know that come Saturday, I am going to do everything I have to do to come out victorious.”

JOSEPH DIAZ JR., NABF Featherweight Champion:

“I can’t expect what Jayson did to Ronny Rios during this fight. I’ve got to go in there, test him out and adjust when I am in the ring.

“If the opportunity presents itself where he’s hurt and I see that my punches are overwhelming him, then of course I’m going to get in there, be aggressive and make sure I take him out as early as possible.

“I know getting on the inside, cutting off the ring and taking it to the body right away will break him down. That’s going to make him not move as much and later on in rounds I can land vicious blows to the head. I’m going to take it to the body right away.

“Mentally I am 100% ready. This is a big stage in my career, so I’m mentally focused. I’m well prepared. I feel like this is the moment I have been waiting for my whole entire life. I feel like I’m ready for this and I can’t wait for March 26. I trained very hard for this fight and I’m well prepared for it.

“I really want to make a statement this fight. I want to show the world that Joseph Diaz could be the next big thing in boxing, so I trained very hard to put on a great fight for the fight fans, be very aggressive and make it a war in there. I hope that Jayson Velez is 110% ready because I want him to be at his best.

“If I win this fight and make a statement, I think I can move to contender status and hopefully get a world title shot by the end of this year. I want to fight tough opponents this year because I want to show the world who I am.

“I feel like a beast when I step into the ring and I can see it in sparring. Whenever I’m landing effective blows, I can tell that I am hurting my opponent.”

JAYSON VELEZ, Top-rated featherweight contender:

“At my level, every guy is a top contender. I have to train harder and improve my defense. I’ve been working on that.

“If you see my last three or four fights, you will see that I have been dominating in the first couple of rounds and then I run out of gas, I have been working on my stamina so that won’t happen on March 26.

“I have seen Diaz’s fights. We’ve sparred a couple of times. He’s got speed. He’s got a hunger. It’s his HBO debut, so he’s definitely motivated, but so am I. It’s going to be a great fight.

“I want to be champion of the word. I know he wants it too. On Saturday, we will know who wants it more. We both want to win and we are both training for a win. A fight between power and speed is a great match-up. Not to mention he’s Mexican and I’m Puerto Rican. You can expect a great fight and it’s not one you want to miss.”

Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, takes place Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticketmaster, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace, The Waterfront Hotel and Visit Oakland. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. Opening the HBO telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight for the NABF Featherweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Follow the conversation on Twitter by using #WardBarrera.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions and @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

HBO Boxing heads to the Bay Area for an action-packed doubleheader featuring a top pound-for-pound fighter and one of the sport’s most-heralded prospects when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: ANDRE WARD VS. SULLIVAN BARRERA AND JOSEPH DIAZ JR. VS. JAYSON VELEZ is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 26 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.
Other HBO playdates: March 27 (9:00 a.m.) and 29 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: March 27 (3:00 p.m.) and 28 (12:15 a.m.)
The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.
Making his 2016 debut before a hometown crowd, Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) moves up to 175 pounds to battle Cuban native Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) of Miami, Fla., in a light heavyweight bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Ward, 32, has succeeded at every level, compiling a nearly perfect record as an amateur, winning a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 2008 Olympic Games in Athens and enjoying a seven-year reign as super middleweight champ. This will mark Ward’s sixth fight at Oracle Arena and fifth on HBO.
Barrera, 34, is also unbeaten and holds a three-fight knockout streak. Since his 2009 pro debut following a standout amateur career in Cuba, he has fought nearly all his bouts as a light heavyweight, which should give him an advantage over the shorter Ward. Barrera will be making his HBO debut, having previously appeared on HBO Latino.
In the evening’s co-feature, Joseph Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) puts his undefeated record on the line against Jayson Velez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) in a featherweight contest scheduled for ten rounds. Rising prospect Diaz, 23, is coming off a busy 2015 in which he logged five impressive wins, and will be making his HBO debut. Velez, 27, looks to rebound from his first professional loss, to Ronny Rios in November. Appearing on HBO in 2014, Velez battled Evgeny Gradovich to a split draw in his first world title shot.
Immediately following the telecast, HBO will present the debut of the half-hour special “Legacy on the Line: From Bradley to Pacquiao,” previewing the April 9 pay-per-view event.
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 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 17, 2016) – A member of the 2012 United States Olympic team and current NABF Featherweight Champion, Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) has taken on anyone who has stepped up to the plate and on Saturday, March 26, he will make his HBO World Championship Boxing® debut when he faces rising Puerto Rican contender Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

The 10-round featherweight fight will open the HBO telecast, which is headlined by Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) taking on number one rated IBF light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) in a 12-round light heavyweight clash. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

“I am excited and very grateful about making my debut on HBO” said Joseph Diaz Jr. “HBO is known for putting on the best fights and I feel honored to defend my title for the fight time on the network. Every fighter dreams to fight on a big stage like HBO and I am grateful to my team, Golden Boy Promotions, my manager Ralph Heredia and my father and trainer for helping me get to this point in my career. I know Jayson Velez is a very tough contender, but I promise not to let my team and my fans down.”

“I am ready and focused for this fight,” said Jayson Velez. “After my loss against Ronny Rios, I had to change a lot of things in my training including my corner. I understood that I had to work harder to prove that I still have what it takes to be on the top of the featherweight division. I am very excited to have that opportunity on HBO and against a fighter like Joseph Diaz Jr. I want to challenge myself and fight the best. I know that defeating Diaz Jr. will prove that I am back.”

“These are two exciting, up-and-coming fighters, with the winner likely soon looking at a world championship battle,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “With so much at stake, fans can bank on an action-packed fight with both guys going all out for the knockout.”

“Jayson has great power and experience and has been under those lights before,” said Hector Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. “This is a great fight for Jayson to be back on HBO and it will be a tough test for Diaz Jr.”

Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, takes place Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. Opening the HBO telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight for the NABF Featherweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. Follow the conversation using #WardBarrera.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

A 23-year-old southpaw, Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. has followed up his stellar amateur career with an equally impressive professional run thus far, with several notable wins showing him to be capable of doing it all in the ring. In 2015, Diaz had his biggest year yet, winning five bouts, including victories over former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado, Ruben “Canelito” Tamayo and Giovanni “Lloviznas” Delgado. In his most recent bout, the South El Monte native stopped Hugo “Olimpico” Partida in two rounds on December 18, 2015, winning the NABF featherweight title. Now he’s ready to kick off the biggest year of his career against Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez.

Hailing from Juncos, Puerto Rico, 27-year-old Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez has been a fine representative of the Caribbean’s fighting capital since turning professional in 2007, winning all but two of his 25 pro bouts. Owner of the WBC Interim Silver, WBC FECARBOX and USNBC titles over the years, Velez has made his mark with victories over the likes of Salvador “Sal II” Sanchez, Dat “Dat Be Dat” Nguyen and Daniel “Huracan” Ramirez, as well as a draw in an IBF title bout against Evgeny “El Russo Mexicano” Gradovich. On Nov. 21, 2015 Velez opened up the pay-per-view telecast of Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez against Ronny Rios and suffered his first professional defeat via decision. A victory over Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. will get Velez back into the world title race.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, ww.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation, @main_events, @goldenboyboxing, @cottopromotions and @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.