LAS VEGAS – February 15, 2023 – Three high-stakes showdowns will put young stars and unbeaten contenders in the toughest tests of their careers to date, all as part of a jam-packed night leading up to the highly anticipated SHOWTIME PPV main event between super middleweight stars and former world champions David “El Bandera Roja’’ Benavídez and Caleb Plant taking place on Saturday, March 25 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

In the co-main event, unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Joey Spencer will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight scuffle, as each fighter looks to make their claim as the future of the 154-pound division. The action will also see rising lightweights Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela meet in a 10-round duel, while unbeaten welterweight contender Cody Crowley faces the hard-hitting Abel Ramos in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

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

“With such an intriguing fight in the main event, it was only right that the Benavidez vs. Plant pay-per-view undercard was also filled with evenly matched showdowns highlighted by future stars looking for signature victories,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Jesús Ramos vs. Joey Spencer will help determine who might be the next star at 154-pounds, while two more young stars also square off on the pay-per-view as Chris Colbert and Jose Valenzuela go toe-to-toe. With Cody Crowley putting his unbeaten record on the line against the upset-minded Abel Ramos in the telecast opener, this card lines up to be a can’t-miss event on March 25 in Las Vegas.”

A strong southpaw who at 21 has yet to come close to hitting his ceiling as a fighter, Ramos (19-0, 15 KOs) is the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos but has forged his own path toward stardom since turning pro in 2018. Jesús Ramos added two victories to his ledger in 2022, blasting out Vladimir Hernandez in round six in February before dominating Luke Santamaria in May to earn a unanimous decision. A native of Casa Grande, Ariz., Ramos also owns back-to-back 10-round unanimous decisions over Brian Mendoza and Javier Molina in 2021. Overall, the youthful Ramos has gained recognition with highlight-reel KOs, stopping six of his last nine opponents, showcasing a desire to end his fights early. 

“I’ve been in the gym for months now getting ready for this opportunity and everything has been great,” said [Jesús] Ramos. “I’m expecting the best version of Joey Spencer on March 25. I know I have what it takes to beat him because of the preparation we’ve been putting in, my dedication, my skills and my will to win. I’m excited to be part of one of the biggest cards of the year thus far, and I know we will give the fans an exciting fight!”

The 22-year-old Spencer (16-0, 10 KOs) turned pro in February 2018 and immediately caught the eye of fans and pundits with his combination of speed, power and athleticism. Spencer’s most recent outing saw him earn a career-best triumph as he controlled the action throughout and scored a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Kevin Salgado in September 2022. The Linden, Mich., native has remained busy since debuting as a pro, including two knockouts out of three victories in his 2021 campaign. Prior to the Salgado fight, Spencer dispatched of Ravshan Hudaynazarov via unanimous decision in March 2022.

“It’s not that often that fans get to see fights between two undefeated rising fighters like [Jesús] Ramos and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” said Spencer. “This is the fight I asked for, and for it to take place on one of the biggest cards of the year is very special. I’m training to put the rest of the division on notice come fight night.”

Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) will look to impress in his lightweight debut after dropping a hard-fought contest to super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in February 2022. After a decorated amateur career, Colbert turned pro in 2015 and took out three undefeated fighters in his first eight bouts. Since then, he took care of a slew of former champions and contenders including Jezzrel Corrales, Jaime Arboleda and Tugstsogt Nyambayar to establish himself as a potential future world champion. He will now seek to reach that goal at 135-pounds.

“I’m happy to be back,” said Colbert. “Training camp is going amazingly for this fight. Like I’ve said before, there’s no pressure on me. I bring the pressure. It’s ‘Primetime’ on SHOWTIME^®! I’m back baby!”

The 23-year-old Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs) trains as a stablemate of unbeaten two-time world champion Benavidez and will look for a big bounce back victory after dropping a September 2022 contest to Edwin De Los Santos. Valenzuela, who turned pro in 2018, was sensational prior to the loss, including a first-round knockout of former world champion Francisco Vargas in April 2022. Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Valenzuela rode a five-bout knockout streak before earning his first 10-round decision in a victory over Deiner Berrio in September 2021.

“I’m extremely motivated for this fight and have been training really hard,” said Valenzuela. “The difference with this camp is that I was in shape when camp started, so it’s giving me a head start on my preparation. My strength and conditioning are at a whole new level and I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of in this fight.”

Representing his native Ontario, Canada, Crowley (21-0, 9 KOs) returns to the ring after a pair of impressive victories that have catapulted him up the 147-pound division. In December 2021, he took care of the previously unbeaten Kudratillo Abdukakhorov with a unanimous decision, and most recently he turned back the streaking Josesito Lopez with another unanimous decision in April 2022. The 29-year-old had previously defeated Josh Torres in September 2020 following a 2019 run that saw him win a Canadian super welterweight title with a 12-round decision over Stuart McLellan in February.

“After years of hard work and dedication, I’m thrilled to be fighting back on the big stage for this fight,” said Crowley. “I have succeeded in overcoming obstacles and adversity, and Abel Ramos will not be able to stop me from achieving my dream of becoming world champion. I’m dedicating this fight to my father’s memory and to all of those who have worked diligently to help me succeed against all odds.”

Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs) is part of a boxing family out of Casa Grande, Ariz., which includes his nephew, rising star Jesús Ramos, who he shares a card with for the fourth-straight time. The 31-year-old has built a reputation as a hardnosed boxer who doesn’t back down from a fight and gives as good as he gets. He turned the tables on Omar Figueroa, Jr., when he went toe-to-toe and forced Figueroa to quit on his stool in May 2021. He also owns a split-decision defeat over former welterweight world champion Yordenis Ugas, and has shown a flair for the dramatic when he scored a TKO victory over Bryant Perrella in the waning seconds of their fight in 2020. Ramos will look to bounce back from a decision loss against Luke Santamaria in his last fight in February.

“I’m having a great training camp and I can’t wait until it’s time to get into the ring,” said Ramos. “I’m prepared to take on Crowley and show off everything I’ve been working on in camp. I’m facing a strong opponent, but I believe that my experience in these big fights will get me the victory on March 25.”

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LAS VEGAS – May 17, 2022 – Unbeaten No.1 ranked contender Rolando Romero headlined a media workout in Las Vegas Tuesday and promised a first-round knockout victory in his showdown against WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, boxing’s hottest young attraction, taking place Saturday, May 28 live on SHOWTIME PPV from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The media workout also featured two-division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, who defends his WBA Middleweight Title against Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in the co-main event, and unbeaten rising star Jesus “Mono” Ramos, who battles Luke Santamaria in a 10-round duel on the pay-per-view.

In addition, super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias worked out for media ahead of his bout on the undercard lineup on May 28.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

Here is what the workout participants had to say Tuesday from Mayweather Boxing Club:

ROLANDO ROMERO

“One round, I’m knocking him out. If I say I’m going to do it, then I’m going to do it.

“He’s going to get knocked out by the first punch that he eats. He’s going to run right into something.

“I always feel good every time I’m going into a fight. I don’t like ‘Tank’ as a person and I believe he’s going to get whupped in this fight.

“He ducked me twice for sparring and the bad blood has been there ever since. I’ve been calling him out since 2017. The only reason this fight was made was because I wanted it. He doesn’t want this. He wishes he was fighting some 126 or 122-pounder.

“I just saw a bunch of nervous energy from Gervonta when we faced off. He didn’t say anything to me. He doesn’t even believe he’s going to knock me out.

“Tell me one fight where he hasn’t gotten punched on by smaller dudes with no power? I’m way more accurate than anyone he’s ever fought. I’m way stronger and more explosive. It’s just common sense, he’s getting knocked out.

“I thought Isaac Cruz beat Gervonta. That fight showed just how vulnerable he is. He’s scared of people that can actually crack.

“Having Joel Casamayor in my camp is great. Just watching him, because he’s a slick southpaw, has taught me a lot. He’s helped me with my movement and my accuracy and he’s watched me knock a lot of people out ever since the amateurs.

“I don’t have any message for Davis, I just have these fists.”

ERISLANDY LARA

“I’m excited to be fighting back in Brooklyn again. I’ve had a lot of success in New York and it’s going to be fun being on a big PPV event like this with Gervonta Davis.

“I have a great relationship with my training partners, including Luis Arias. We’ve had a great camp and we’ve really been pushing each other day after day.

“I feel strong at 160 pounds. I showed that in my last fight and I’ll show it again in this fight. I’m ready to display all of my skills once again.

“Come May 28, when I come out victorious, I’m ready to fight the best in the division. I’m not even going to mention their names, because I’m tired of doing that. I’m just focused on getting in the ring with all the best fighters.

“People are avoiding me at 160 pounds just like they did at 154. I’m a tough matchup for anyone out there. That’s why they don’t want to fight me.

“I’m going to come out focused and do what I know how to do on fight night. Most importantly, I’ll leave the ring with my hand raised.

“I couldn’t really tell you how O’Sullivan fights, that’s something I leave to my coaches. I’m just working to be at my best and show everyone what I can do on May 28.”

JESUS RAMOS

“Everything is great with training camp. I feel ready. We added Larry Wade as our strength and conditioning coach, so our team is growing. Little by little, we’re getting better and better.

“It’s fair to say that I’ve never been in better shape. I feel strong and I’m ready for whatever Luke Santamaria brings on fight night.

“It was a close fight but I don’t think Santamaria beat my uncle Abel Ramos in their fight in February. Santamaria was hurt a few times, but it is what it is. I feel like he’s got a false confidence coming into this fight because of that. I don’t think that’s going to help him at all.

“My mom and dad argue all the time about who I get my power from. I guess it’s just something that comes naturally to me.

“This is a big card that everyone is looking forward to. It’s a great privilege to me and I’m not taking it lightly. I’m coming at my best and I’m coming to perform.

“I have to make a big statement and show the whole division that I’m here to stay. That win over Vladimir Hernandez is going to lead to bigger things and that’s what I need to show next Saturday.”

LUIS ARIAS

“I’m just happy to be part of this great event. I want to thank Mayweather Promotions for continuing to believe in me. I moved to Las Vegas after the Jarrett Hurd fight and connected with Ismael Salas. I’ve been training with Lara at Salas’ gym, and we actually just got done sparring.

“Camp has been amazing. The work has been great and the rounds I’ve gotten in have been great. I’m sparring with Jessie Vargas and Erislandy Lara and that work is going to show.

“I feel young in the ring. I’ve had layoffs throughout my career. I feel better and better fight after fight. The more rounds I go, the easier it is for me. I would say I’m young, but well-seasoned. I’m going to be ready when my title fight comes.

“I’ve been calling out Tony Harrison since I beat Hurd. I feel like if I beat another former champion, I’m right there for a world title shot. That just makes the most sense for both of us. Let’s give the fight fans what they want.

“None of the top 154 pounders have a better resume than me. I’ve had my setbacks but I’m right there.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“Romero has been asking me for this fight for years. Every time he sees me he asks about ‘Tank’. Now is his opportunity. We’re right here, close to the fight and I’m expecting a terrific contest.

“This is a very dangerous fight for both guys. ‘Tank’ is one of the best fighters in the world right now. He’s very slick and has tremendous skills that he hasn’t even been able to fully display. Everyone knows he’s a great puncher. When you look at Romero, he’s an awkward fighter and that can work to his advantage. I’ve seen a lot of awkward fighters have great success.

“It’s hard to prepare for guys who don’t have traditional styles. This is going to be a very entertaining fight and I expect this one to end in a knockout.

“’Tank’ is a big-time attraction and everyone wants to come out and see him fight. Any fight that he’s involved with is a big fight.”

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ABOUT DAVIS VS. ROMERO
Davis vs. Romero will see five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defend his WBA Lightweight Title against unbeaten No. 1 ranked contender and mandatory challenger Rolando Romero on Saturday, May 28 live on SHOWTIME PPV from Barclays Center in Brooklyn headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features two division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara defending his WBA Middleweight Title against hard-hitting Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in the co-main event. Plus, sensational young star Jesús “Mono” Ramos faces Luke Santamaría in a 10-round super welterweight showdown, while hard-hitting contender Eduardo Ramírez battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Meléndez in the 10-round super featherweight telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #DavisRomero, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @BrooklynBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @MayweatherPromotions and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions/.

BROOKLYN – April 29, 2022 – The SHOWTIME PPV undercard for Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero will feature three exciting, explosive matchups entering the ring in high-stakes action on Saturday, May 28 live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Two-division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his WBA Middleweight Title against hard-hitting, Irish crowd-pleaser Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in an all-action co-main event of the telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Sensational young star Jesús “Mono” Ramos will put his unbeaten record on the line against rugged super welterweight battler Luke Santamaría in a 10-round showdown on the pay-per-view, while hard-hitting contender Eduardo Ramírez battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Meléndez in a 10-round super featherweight thriller that shapes up to deliver toe-to-toe action opening up the telecast.

“When you look at the matchups, this is an edge-of-your-seat pay-per-view undercard,’’ said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Erislandy Lara, a highly skilled champion who has engaged in numerous exciting action bouts, will have everything he can handle against Gary O’Sullivan, who has never backed up in a boxing ring. Fans will also get to see exciting young star Jesús Ramos bringing that heat-seeking knockout mentality to the ring against rugged brawler Luke Santamaría, and Eduardo Ramírez versus Luis Meléndez, as they look to add their duel as the latest chapter in the classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico boxing rivalry. Whether you’re watching at Barclays Center in Brooklyn or watching live on SHOWTIME PPV, you’re going to be entertained all night long.’’

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

Lara (28-3-3, 16 KOs) was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a title unification match in 2018 that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled current 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. Lara most recently moved up to middleweight, capturing his WBA title with a first round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021. Lara faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Alvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.

“I’m ready to get back in the ring and show the fans that I’m still a world class fighter,” said Lara. “Gary O’Sullivan has proven to be a tough opponent for everyone he’s faced, and his only losses are to champions. I’ve been in many great fights and it will be no different when I step into the ring at Barclays Center. Being on this stage always brings out the best in me and fans can expect to see my power in this fight.’’

A native of Cork, Ireland, O’Sullivan (31-4, 21 KOs) has won three of his last four fights leading into his title shot against Lara on May 28. O’Sullivan’s aggressive style has made him a fan-favorite each time he steps into the ring. He has faced a deep roster of top names, including David Lemieux, Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank Jr., and Billy Joe Saunders. O’Sullivan scored a career-best victory in December 2017, as he stopped rising prospect Antoine Douglas during a five-fight knockout streak.

“From the very first time I watched boxing, I’ve always dreamed of being a world champion and from the first day I turned professional I’ve worked towards that goal,” said O’Sullivan. “I’ve had some setbacks, but I’ve gone back to the drawing board, regrouped, righted some wrongs and kept pushing forward. I’ve always known that one day the chips would fall in my favor. I’m coming to rip that belt back to Ireland and hear the words, ‘And the new!’”

A strong southpaw who at 21 has yet to come close to hitting his ceiling as a fighter, Ramos (18-0, 15 KOs) is the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, who was defeated in February by Santamaría via unanimous decision. Jesus knocked out tough contender Vladimir Hernandez in February on that same card. Prior to that impressive outing, Ramos had shown the ability to outpoint his opponents with back-to-back 10-round unanimous decisions over Brian Mendoza in September 2021 and Javier Molina in May 2021. Overall, the youthful Ramos has gained recognition with highlight-reel KOs, stopping six of his last eight opponents, showcasing a desire to end his fights early.

“Training out in Las Vegas has been going great so far,” said Ramos. “We’ve had some great sparring out here. We expect Santamaria to move around the entire fight, so we’re going to be ready to cut the ring off and land heavy shots. I’m going to win on May 28 because of the preparation I’ve been doing, but I’m not underestimating anyone and will prepare to the best of my ability.”

The 24-year-old Santamaría (13-2-1, 7 KOs) will look to continue his success against the Ramos family as he steps into the ring after back-to-back impressive victories, first defeating two-division champion Devon Alexander in August 2021 before defeating Abel Ramos in February on less than two weeks’ notice. Santamaría had previously dropped a decision to top prospect and SHOBOX: The New Generation® alum Paul Kroll in October 2020, following an August 2020 triumph over veteran contender Mykal Fox that saw him put Fox down in the first round. The Garden Grove, Calif. native also owns a decision over Willie Jones and a majority draw against SHOBOX® prospect Marquis Taylor in his 2019 contests.

“I’m daring to be great in this fight,” said Santamaría. “That’s the main reason I agreed to fight Ramos. I’ve shown that I’m willing to compete against anyone, because I believe in my training and my abilities. This is going to be a great fight for the fans and I can’t wait to step in there on May 28.”

Fighting out of Sinaloa, Mexico, Ramírez (26-2-3, 12 KOs) has risen up the rankings with four-straight victories, including most recently defeating Miguel Marriaga in December 2021. He previously had stopped then-unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy in November 2019 before blasting out Miguel Flores in December 2020. The 29-year-old is currently riding wins in six of his last seven fights since losing to then featherweight champion Lee Selby in 2017. He’s won 17 of his last 20 fights overall, including a March 2019 knockout victory at Barclays Center.

“I’m happy to be returning to Brooklyn for this fight,” said Ramírez. “I scored a big knockout last time I was there, even though I was the underdog going into the fight. My plan is to deliver a moment like that once again. I’m already in great shape and I will be prepared for a war on May 28.”

Originally from Puerto Rico and now fighting out of Miami, Fla., Meléndez (17-1, 13 KOs) has moved into contender status with an undefeated streak after dropping his third pro fight back in 2018 via split decision. The 24-year-old was busy in 2021, winning eight times, including six victories by knockout. Most recently, Melendez scored a career-best victory over Thomas Mattice in November, winning a unanimous decision after eight rounds. Melendez’s clash with Ramírez shapes up to be a classic Puerto Rico-Mexico ring war.

“I’m very excited to be on a big card like this,” said Meléndez. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m coming to put my name on the map come May 28. The winner of this fight is going to be the fans. I’m going to make Puerto Rico proud once again and display my talents in the ring. I want to thank my team and say that I’m not going to disappoint, because this is just the beginning for me.”

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LAS VEGAS – Keith Thurman calls it the beginning of another campaign, a second fight in an attempt to reclaim the welterweight perch he once called home, But that old home is already occupied. It belongs to Terence Crawford. In the spring, maybe the winner of the projected

Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas will move in.

For now, at least, Thurman is just a guy in line hoping for a chance to get the keys to the top of the 147-pound division.

He put himself back in that line Saturday night with his first fight in more than 30 months. He won a unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in Fox pay-per-view telecast at Mandalay Bay.

He was good. But not great.

“I give myself a C-plus, B-minus,’’ Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) said after winning a 118-110, 117-111, 118-110 victory.

That’s a grade that puts him in class behind Crawford and perhaps a few others. But Thurman, who calls himself One Time, says he’s in no hurry.

In Barrios, he was just looking to get back in the hunt.

He calls himself One Time. But he hasn’t been seen in a long time, or at least not since he lost a decision to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.

Thurman suggests he’s going to be seen often for at least the next 10 months.

“I’m looking forward to a better year in 2022,’’ he said. “I want the belts, I want all the champions, baby.’’

Only time will tell if in fact his one-sided victory over Barrios is the springboard to a showdown with Crawford or a fight with the Spence-Ugas winner.

Barrios was a fight that got him back in the ring. It also was his first real payday in more than two years.

Through the first five rounds, he looked a lot like the old Thurman. His feet moved relentlessly in a lateral dance that began to make Barrios look confused, if not downright dizzy.

Barrios, a former junior welterweight fighting at 147 pounds for the first time, left himself open. But some of Thurman’s power just wasn’t there. He missed the KO shots he would have landed five years ago.

It was kind of the fight I expected,’’ Barrios (26-2, 17 KOs) said. “He’s a great fighter.’’

But Barrios tested that perceived greatness in the later rounds when some of the energy in Thurman’s legs seemed drain way. A well-placed punch from Thurman opened a nasty cut above Barrios’ left eye in the eighth.

Barrios was hurt, yet also re-energized. He went at Thurman, rocking him with a left hand.

Suddenly, Thurman looked all of his 33 years, a little bit like a guy looking more for a retirement home than his old residence near or at the top of the welterweight division.

Leo Santa Cruz was looking for a tune-up. He got a test, instead.

Santa Cruz (38-2-1, 19 KOs) fighting for the first time since he was knocked out by Gervonta Davis in October 2020, was forced to work 10 rounds Saturday by Keenan Carbajal (23-3-1, 15 KOs), a Phoenix fighter who many thought was way over his head in challenging one of the great featherweights of his generation.

Santa Cruz, a 12-to-1 favorite at opening bell, looked rusty early. He looked rusty late. In part, he was bothered by a nasty cut across his left eyelid, caused by a headbutt with the bigger Carbajal in the second round.On the scorecards, at least, Santa Cruz was never in peril in what the last fight before the the Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios main event at Mandalay. He won by a shutout, 100-90 on all three cards. From round-to-round, he scoreed repeatedly with body shots and a relentless pursuit.

Carbajal, who was nearl;y three inches taller, never could use his height to to uncork a powerful uppercut.In the later rounds. He seemed to back as, is to say that. Santa Cruz’ body shots were having the intended effect.

Jesus Ramos wins sixth-round TKO

It was beginning to look like a long night for Arizona.

But that all changed, thanks to Jesus Ramos.

There would be no 0-for-AZ on a card that featured four Arizona fighters on the Fox pay-per-view telecast of a card featuring Keith-Thurman-Mario Barrios Saturday at Mandalay Bay.

Jesus Ramos (18-0, 15 KOs), of Casa Grande, stepped through the ropes after Phoenix junior-featherweight Carlos Castro lost a split decision to Luis Nery and brother Abel Ramos lost a unanimous decision to Luke Santamaria in a welterweight bout.

In what was an immediate slugest, Jesus Ramos’ power and poise prevailed. He stopped Vladimir Hernanadez (13-5, 6 KOs), of Mexico, with a big left followed by a beautifully-executed combination. It left Hernandez dazed and done, a TKO loser at 2:21 of the sixth round.

Luis Nery scores split decision over Carlos Castro

Carlos Castro entered the ring hoping to get his world-class credentials punched.

He left the ring without the credentials.

They didn’t get punched.

He did.

In a painful lesson Saturday night on the Fox pay-per-view telecast of the Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios fight at Mandalay Bay Saturday, Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) was dealt a loss that could force him to re-set his goals. Luis Nery (32-1, 24 KOs), a former champion at two weights, beat him.

The loss itself was controversial. It was a split decision. Judge Tim Cheatham scored it 95-94 for Castro. Max DeLuca had it 95-94 and Steve Weisfeld 96-93, both for Nery. On the 15 Rounds card, it was 96-93 for Nery, who floored the Phoenix fighter in the opening seconds of the junior-featherweight bout.

Nery’s early salvo, a jab followed by concussive left, sent an early message. It set the tone for the next nine rounds. Castro appeared tentative. For about three rounds, he tried to stay away. He fought behind a cautious jab. By the fifth he appeared to regain his footing and much of his poise. He began to land sporadic shots against Nery. It appeared as though the Tijuana fighter was coasting to what he thought was an easy win. That might explain Cheatham’s scorecard.

But there was never a moment in the mid-to-late rounds when it looked as if Castro had enough power to gain the momentum or even keep the aggressive Nery off him. In the eighth and again in ninth, Nery drove Castro into the ropes and unleashed a succession of deadly punches, all of which left Castro with a collection of more questions than credentials.

Abel Ramos loses unanimous decision

Abel Ramos started fast. Faded fast, too.

Ramos, the first of four Arizona fighters on the Thurman-Barrios-featured card Saturday,  couldn’t sustain his early pace and power, allowing Luke Santamaria to gain enough momentum to win a unanimous decision.at Mandalay Bay.

From A-to-Z, Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs), a welterweight from Casa Grande, looked to be the better fighter. In the opening moments, he landed a left that sent Santamaria (13-3-1, 7 KOs), of Garden Grove CA, backpedaling across the ring. Ramos pursued, but couldn’t finish the job.

Slowly and almost deliberately, Santamaria fought his way back into the fight. By the middle wounds, he was beating Ramos to the punch. By the ninth and 10th, he was in control .Of the ring. 

And the scorecards (96-94, 98-92, 96.94) 

Mexican welterweight Omar Juarez wins split-decision

It was close. Controversial, too. In the end, it belonged to Omar Juarez, a welterweight from Brownsville TX.

Juarez (13-1, 5 KOs) prevailed after about an hour-long intermission on the card featuring Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios at Mandalay Bay. Correction. Let’s say he survived, overcoming a point penalty for throwing an elbow and repeated power shots straight down the middle from fellow Texan Ryan Karl (19-4, 12 KOs), a cowboy from Milano. 

Karl got rocked repeatedly from looping counters. He also came back from a deep wound above his left. Blood, brighter than his red hair, poured down his face and across chest. In the end, two scorecards favored Juarez, 95-94 and 96-93. The third card went to Karl, 95-94 

Bloody cut forces quick end to junior-welterweight bout 

A bloody cut, ruled to be the result of a punch instead of a head butt, brought a quick end to a junior-welterweight bout between Keith Hunter (14-1, 9 KOs) and Jesus Silveyra (10-7-2, 4 KOs) in the fourth fight on the Thurman-Barrios card.

Hunter, of Las Vegas, got the victory at 1:42 of the first round. Blood poured from the wound and into Silveyra’s left eye. The ringside physician ruled that it would have affected the Mexican’s vision. Referee Russell Mora ruled that a punch caused the injury.

Junior-welterweights fight to debatable draw

Enriko Gogokhia (14-0-1, 8 KOs), a junior-welterweight from The Republic of Georgia, scored two knockdowns, but that wasn’t enough for the judges scoring the third bout on the Thurman-Barrios card.. Gogokhia wound up with a split draw after a back-and-forth eight rounds with elusive Kent Cruz (16-0-2, 10 KOs), a St. Louis fighter who was dropped twice in the fifth round by short right hands.

Fernando Vargas Jr. flashes dad’s old power for TKO win

Fernando Vargas was back in the Vegas arena where he lost to Oscar De Hoya nearly 20 years ago. The place hasn’t changed much.

But Vargas left it as a winner this time.

His son, junior-middleweight Fernando Vargas Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs), dominated, flashing some of dad’s old power en-route to a third TKO victory. With his dad in his corner, Vargas Junior scored two knockdowns, flooring Kody Kobowski (2-1, 2 KOs, of Ventura CA, in the first and again in the third in the second bout on the Thurman-Barrios card at Mandalay Bay. That’s where De La Hoya knocked out Vargas Sr. in a memorable fight on Sept. 14, 2002.

First Bell: Welterweight Joba Rincon opens the show, wins unanimous decision 

It’s early. It’s empty. But it’s underway.

Joba Rincon (6-0, 2 KOs), a welterweight from Corpus Christi TX, fired the first salvos, landing most of them for a unanimous decision over Mexican Ramon Marquez (4-1, 4 KOs) in an afternoon matinee in front of empty seats in the first bout on a  card featuring Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios Saturday at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob-Ultra Arena 

LAS VEGAS (February 3, 2022) – Fighters competing on the Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios undercard previewed their respective matchups during a press conference Thursday before they enter the ring this Saturday, February 5 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Meeting face to face were rising unbeaten Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Vladimir Hernández, plus former two-division champion Luis Nery and unbeaten Carlos Castro, as they discussed their matchups taking place on the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The press conference also featured welterweight contender Abel Ramos and Luke Santamaría, plus exciting super lightweights Ryan “Cowboy” Karl and Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez, who enter the ring in PBC action of FOX and FOX Deportes beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, preceding pay-per-view action.

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

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Michelob ULTRA Arena:

JESUS RAMOS

“Being on the pay-per-view now, this is an even bigger opportunity for me and I’m grateful for that. I have to also thank Hernandez for giving me the fight after his victory over Julian Williams. That makes this a really important fight for me.

“This is a step in the right direction. My team handles their business and I have to handle my part in the ring. I have a tough opponent in front of me and I’m ready for what he brings.

“I love that he’s durable. It’s a challenge and I like challenges. He has a rough style and that makes an exciting fight. There’s going to be a lot of action on this card.

“He likes to come forward, so I need to keep him at a distance and control him with my jab. I also believe that I can cause damage with my left. Either way, I’m going to be ready to adapt.

“In my last two fights I’ve grown a lot. Not all fights are going to end in knockouts. I know how to adjust and how to box. If I have to do that Saturday night, I’ll be ready.

“It means a lot to be in this position. My family has worked hard for this. None of this was given to us, we’ve had to work. That makes it even sweeter.

“I think beating Hernandez would make a big statement. He just beat one of the best in the division and I’m ready to show what I’m capable of.”

VLADIMIR HERNANDEZ

“I’m going to be on the lookout for anything he brings. I’m ready to provide an exciting fight, but we’ll also be ready for whatever he brings into the ring. I’m up for this challenge.

“I’ve had great sparring with southpaws in training. I’m going to give as good as I take. This is going to be back and forth and the fans are going to enjoy it a lot.

“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be on this stage and on a card like this. I want to thank my whole team and Ramos for giving me the chance to shine.”

LUIS NERY

“I’m very happy to be here. We are looking forward to having a great fight on Saturday night. We have studied Carlos Castro very closely and have seen specifically what he likes to do. We are ready for whatever challenges come our way.

“For this fight, I was able to prepare with more time than I had with Brandon Figueroa. It allowed me to zero in on my opponent and it’s made preparation go very smoothly.

“We shall see on Saturday if he can withstand my power or not. I have studied him closely, he’s a great fighter. It remains to be seen on Saturday what happens, but styles make fights and I think his style goes well with my style. I’m going to do whatever I can to have my hand raised on Saturday night.

“I’m here to fight the best. We are here at the top level and I’m not here to fight anyone below that level. I don’t dodge anybody. They presented Castro to me and I don’t dodge, so I accepted. I am ready. He’s actually the third straight undefeated fighter I’m going up against and that excites me.”

CARLOS CASTRO

“I’m feeling great. I want to thank God for this opportunity, along with my whole team and Luis Nery for this great chance to meet with him in the ring on Saturday night.

“These are the fights that as a little kid you always dream of. You dream of being on these stages and against fighters like Luis Nery. He’s a fighter who has been on this level, but I think it’s my time to show that I deserve to be on this stage and prove to myself and everyone else that I deserve to be in these fights.

“I learned a lot about myself against Oscar Escandon. I learned that I have to be patient and I have to be ready to roll once the bell rings. Escandon is a strong fighter and that was the first fight with my new team, plus I was coming off a layoff. Now, it’s time for me to shine.

“I think I have a lot to prove and to show that Arizona has a lot of talented fighters. I’ve known the Ramos’ for a while, since I was a little kid and I’ve known Carbajal for a while. It’s a blessing to share the same arena against different opponents on Saturday night.

“Like always, you prepare hard and prepare strong. But I think this is going to be a mental type of fight. Once the bell rings, he comes forward to knock your head off, but we’re mentally prepared for that. On Saturday night, you’re going to see an action-packed fight and may the best man win.

“Luis Nery has proved to be one of the best and I still consider him to be one of the best. I expect him to come out stronger than he ever has, so I’m really prepared for that. I believe a victory over Luis Nery should put me into a title shot.”

ABEL RAMOS

“I’m very excited. I want to thank all the media for being here. I had a great training camp. I was preparing for Josesito Lopez but it’s our job to fight. I’m glad I get to be on this undercard.

“Josesito was a come-forward pressure fighter, Santamaria has more boxing skills. At the end of the day, we’re all boxers and every time we spar, we always deal with different styles. It’s a bit of a change but the game plan remains the same.

“I’ve seen my nephew Jesus fight before me. I get more nervous when that happens. Fighting first is better because that way you’re more relaxed, you can sit back and enjoy the fight. When we both fought on the Andy Ruiz vs. Chris Arreola undercard, I was nervous watching him.

“I want to keep the momentum going. I feel I’ve hit my stride in the boxing game. My experience and all the fights I’ve had are showing in my boxing ability.

“I’ve always had boxing ability and that pressure style. I think mixing it up with both is working for me. It worked against Omar Figueroa and in training it’s worked for me. My style keeps evolving. The pressure is going to be good and, like I said, I have boxing ability as well. So I’m looking forward to doing both.”

LUKE SANTAMARIA

“I’m feeling blessed. I’m excited to be on this card with so many great fighters. When the date started getting closer, we pushed it a little more. When we got the call, we went even harder.

“I have to stay on my toes. Ramos is a fighter who pressures and doesn’t get tired of throwing punches. If we can stay on the outside, I think we’ll be okay. No matter what he brings, I just have to keep adjusting.

“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of ring experience with different opponents. So the experience I’m getting is making me a better fighter. There was a time where I was struggling to get fights. All of a sudden, I started fighting tougher opponents on bigger stages, so I’m feeling blessed.”

RYAN KARL

“I feel great. There’s no other word for it. We’ve been working hard and we’ve had a long camp. I feel strong. It comes down to hard work. Skills play the bills. We’re going to come out there and we’re going to do our best. It’s going to be action-packed as usual.

“I’m very excited. It’s a big opportunity for me. As always, I’m going to take it and not waste it. It’s going to be a very fun card, exciting top to bottom. Tune in and watch us live on FOX then continue to the pay-per-view and you’re going to be thrilled.

“In the amateurs, I boxed. A lot of people don’t think I can box but I’ve got feet for days. I can do what I need to do. It’s hard for me at times because I love to fight, I love to be exciting, I love to put on a show. It’s just the thrill of it all. I can do all those things. I do think I have come back to my boxing skill but we’re focused on the ‘W’ more than anything. I guarantee that I’m still going to put on a show.

“You’re going to see a gunfight. That’s what we’ve talked about and we’ve used that word a lot. We’re going to have ice in our veins and we’re going to be ready to take care of business.”

OMAR JUAREZ

“I’m absolutely blessed to be here. I’m excited to be here back in Vegas and I’m ready to display all my hard work and dedication.

“I know my opponent is going to come and try to take everything from me. At the end of the day, we’re fighters. But I’m physically, mentally and emotionally in the best shape of my life. This camp was probably the best camp I’ve had to date.

“I’m not a one dimensional fighter, I can box and I can brawl. So whatever it is my opponent brings to the table, I’m going to be ready for it.

“It’s going to be a big Texas showdown. I’m excited. At the end of the day, I’m really blessed to have this opportunity. I’m going to take full advantage. It’s going to be action packed and very exciting. Like I said, whatever it is my opponent brings to the table, I’m going to be ready.”

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ABOUT THURMAN VS. BARRIOS
Thurman vs. Barrios will see former unified welterweight world champion Keith “One Time’’ Thurman return to the ring to take on former super lightweight world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in a 12-round welterweight showdown that headlines a jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View lineup on Saturday, February 5 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

In the co-feature, four-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto’’ Santa Cruz will battle Keenan “Bedo’’ Carbajal in a 10-round super featherweight match, while rising unbeaten Jesus “Mono” Ramos duels Vladimir Hernandez in a 10-round showdown. The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with former two-division champion Luis “Pantera” Nery battles unbeaten Carlos Castro in a 10-round super bantamweight duel.

Don’t miss this pay-per-view event! Buy now on the FOX Sports App or www.foxsports.com/ppv.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

LAS VEGAS (January 31, 2022) – Rising unbeaten star Jesús “Mono” Ramos will take on super welterweight contender Vladimir Hernandez in a 10-round showdown on the undercard of the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View event on Saturday, February 5 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay.

Josesito Lopez was injured in training and forced to withdraw from his bout against Abel Ramos in a pay-per-view attraction. Jesús Ramos vs. Hernandez replaces the Abel Ramos vs. Josesito Lopez bout on the pay-per-view lineup.

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View event begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by former unified welterweight world champion Keith “One Time’’ Thurman battling former super lightweight world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, and also features four-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto’’ Santa Cruz taking on Keenan “Bedo’’ Carbajal in the co-main event. Plus, two-division champion Luis Nery will battle unbeaten Carlos Castro in the 10-round pay-per-view opener.

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

Ramos (17-0, 14 KOs), the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, has paved his way to stardom with highlight-reel KOs, but has shown his ability to outbox opponents in his last two fights. After winning a unanimous decision over Javier Molina in May 2021, Ramos most recently dominated Brian Mendoza en route to another unanimous decision in September on FOX. Prior to those fights, the 20-year-old southpaw had scored five-straight knockout victories.

The 32-year-old Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs) has revitalized his career during his current three-fight winning streak, most recently earning a split-decision over former unified champion Julian Williams in an October 2021 action fight. Hernandez’s previous outing had seen him upset longtime contender Alfredo Angulo in August 2020, with a July 2020 decision over Aaron Coley kicking off the run. Originally from Durango, Mexico, Hernandez now fights out of Stockton, California as he looks to spring another upset on February 5.

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ABOUT THURMAN VS. BARRIOS
Thurman vs. Barrios will see former unified welterweight world champion Keith “One Time’’ Thurman return to the ring to take on former super lightweight world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in a 12-round welterweight showdown that headlines a jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View lineup on Saturday, February 5 from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

In the co-feature, four-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto’’ Santa Cruz will battle Keenan “Bedo’’ Carbajal in a 10-round super featherweight match, while former two-division champion Luis “Pantera” Nery battles unbeaten Carlos Castro in a 10-round super bantamweight duel. The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with rising unbeaten Jesús “Mono” Ramos dueling Vladimir Hernandez in a 10-round showdown.

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Jesus Ramos remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza in a junior middleweight bout at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ramos landed 141 of 53 punches; Mendoza was 53 of 336.

Ramos, 154.4 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ won by scores of 98-92 on all cards and is now 17-0. Mendoza, 154.6 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is now 19-2.

“I felt strong in there,” said Ramos (17-0, 14 KOs). “I have to go back and look at the tape and see what I did wrong, but I fought with a lot of energy. He caught me with some good punches early on, so I knew I was going to have to take my time with him.”

“I started breaking him down and I started going to the body and touching him a lot more,” said Ramos. “He was a strong dude with a good team behind him. I knew he was going to come prepared and I liked the competitiveness he brought.”

“He started to break a lot more as the fight went on,” said Ramos. “I was coming on really strong. I thought I might have been able to stop him in some of those later rounds, but he was motivated to go the distance.”

“Hopefully I’ll be able to get back in the ring once more this year and finish out strong,” said Ramos. “I’ll talk to my team and we’ll go from there.”

Castillo Decisions Burgos

Starling Castillo remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in a lightweight fight.

Castillo landed 176 of 671 punches; Burgos was 146 of 490.

Castillo, 135 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 and is now 16-0. Burgos, 134.8 lbs of Puebla, MEX is 34-6-2.

“We always train to go the whole distance,” said Castillo, who entered the fight with a four-bout knockout streak. “The hard work and everything we did in the gym showed up in the ring today. I was able to display my boxing ability and how I can fight well in the middle distance.”

“I’m very thankful to my whole team for this opportunity to showcase my work tonight. We gave everyone a good fight today and I showed what I can do in the future. We’re always working hard and I’m always ready to face the best. I want the opportunity sooner rather than later, but whenever it presents itself, I’ll be ready.”

Hernandez Decisions Resendiz

Marcos Hernandez won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Armando Resnediz in a middleweight fight.

In round two, Hernandez was credited with a knockdown after the fighters got tied up and Resendiz went down.

Hernandez landed 132 of 394 punches; Resendiz was 128 of 507.

Hernandez, 164 lbs of Fresno, CA won by scores of 97-92 and 96-93 twice and is now 15-4-2. Resendiz, 163.8 lbs of Nayark, MEX is 12-1.

“The key for me is that I’ve been fighting good opposition for my last 13 fights,” said Hernandez. “I’ve been fighting tough competition from the beginning. I’ve been going toe-to-toe with good prospects for a while and I beat one today. I’ve gone from prospect to veteran in a short period of time. I was definitely the biggest test that Resendiz had faced and it showed. If you fight me as your first test, it’s going to be a long night for you.”

Kyron Davis was able to eek out an eight-round unanimous decision over Martez McGregor in a super welterweight bout.

In round six, McGregor was docked two points for an intentional elbow, In round seven, he was deducted a point for hitting on the break

Those points were the difference as Davis, 170.2 lbs of Monmouth, NJ won by scores of 75-74 twice and 77-72 to riase his record to 16-2-1. McGregor, 169.3 lbs of Maywood, IL is 8-5.

Justin Cardona remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Jomar Robles in a super lightweight bout.

Cardona landed 130 of 385 punches; Robles was 51 of 239.

Cardona, 137 lbs of Salinas, CA won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 6-0. Robles, 135.4 lbs of San Juan, PR is 2-2.

Travon Marshall stopped Maycon De Silva in round two of a scheduled four-round super welterweight bout.

In round two, Marshall dropped De Silva with an uppercut. The fight was s topped up De Silva getting to his feet at1:03.

Marshall, 150.8 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD is 3-0 with two knockouts. Da Silva, 151.6 lbs of Sao Paul, BRA is 0-3.

In a battle of undefeated super bantamweights, Michael Angeletti stopped Alexis Salido in round three of a scheduled four-round bout.

In round two, Angeletti dropped Salido with a left to a body. In round three, it was a right to the body that sent Salido to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 2:24.

Angeletti, 121.6 lbs of New Orleans is 4-0 with three knockouts. Salido, 121.2 lbs of Sonora, MEX is 2-1.

MINNEAPOLIS (August 31, 2021) – Super middleweight contender Kyrone Davis will square off against Martez McGregor in an 8/10-round showdown that tops FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Sunday, September 5 from the Armory in Minneapolis.

The FS1 telecast begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and will feature unbeaten prospect Justin Cardona (5-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round super lightweight affair, plus undefeated prospect Travon Marshall (2-0, 1 KO) in a four-round super welterweight bout, and super bantamweight prospect Michael Angeletti (3-0, 2 KOs) looking to remain unbeaten in a four-round duel against undefeated Mexican Alexis Salido (2-0, 1 KO).

The FS1 telecast will precede FOX PBC Fight Night which begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by unbeaten rising star Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. taking on super welterweight contender Brian Mendoza in a 10-round showdown. In the FOX undercard, rising lightweight contender Starling “El Poli” Castillo battles former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in the 10-round co-main event, plus middleweight prospect Armando “El Toro” Reséndiz kicks off the broadcast against all-action Marcos “Madman” Hernández.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

A native of Monmouth, N.J., Davis (15-2-1, 6 KO) impressed against the toughest test of his career last time out, as he fought two-time super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell to a split-draw in February. It was the 26-year-old’s debut at super middleweight, after beginning his career at middleweight. Davis had won five of his six previous outings heading into the Dirrell clash on FOX. He will be opposed by the 31-year-old Maywood, Illinois-native McGregor (8-4, 6 KOs), who looks to snap a three-fight losing streak.

In non-televised action, veteran heavyweight Iago Kiladze (26-5-1, 18 KOs) faces Matthew McKinney (8-3-2, 5 KOs) for eight-rounds of action.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions @WarriorsBoxingProm, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

MINNEAPOLIS (August 16, 2021) – Unbeaten rising star Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. will duel super welterweight contender Brian Mendoza in a 10-round showdown that headlines FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Sunday, September 5 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

FOX PBC Fight Night begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features rising lightweight contender Starling “El Poli” Castillo battling former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos in the 10-round co-main event, plus middleweight prospect Armando “El Toro” Reséndiz kicks off the broadcast against all-action Marcos “Madman” Hernández in a 10-round fight.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

“Jesús Ramos is primed to breakthrough into the next level of boxing’s rising stars and will look to make big steps towards his goal in a tough test against Brian Mendoza,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The fantastic fight fans at The Armory in Minneapolis will be in for a night loaded with young rising stars from start to finish, as lightweight Starling Castillo and middleweight Armando Reséndiz step in for difficult matchups against Juan Carlos Burgos and Marcos Hernández respectively. Sunday, September 5 is going to be a can’t miss lineup of action live in primetime on FOX.”

Ramos (16-0, 14 KOs), the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, has paved his way to stardom with highlight-reel KOs. Most recently, he dominated Javier Molina on his way to a 10-round unanimous decision victory in May. Prior to that fight, he had scored five-straight knockout victories following his only other pro fight that had gone the distance, which came in a June 2019 unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks. He has steadily increased the toughness of competition in 2020 and he has continued that trend in 2021 with Molina and now Mendoza.

“I’ve had a great training camp so far for this fight,” said Ramos. “I feel a lot stronger, a lot more mature and I feel like I learned a lot from my last fight that I’m implementing into this camp. I expect a tough fight from Mendoza. I’m sure he’s coming to win and to take everything I’ve earned, but I’m going to make sure he doesn’t. You have to tune in on September 5 because it’s going to be a good one!”

Mendoza (19-1, 13 KOs) earned a career best-victory in his last outing, beating veteran contender Thomas LaManna by unanimous decision in August 2020. The 27-year-old has fought professionally since 2014, with his only defeat coming by a narrow split-decision in November 2019 against Larry Gomez. Mendoza was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he won two New Mexico Golden Gloves Championships as an amateur, and currently fights out of Las Vegas.

“I’ve been grinding in the gym nonstop preparing for an opportunity like this,” said Mendoza. “I’ve been learning a lot and I believe that it’s time for the world to see the fighter I’ve become. I can’t wait to put my skills on display. Don’t miss this fight on September 5, it’s going to be explosive.”

The 25-year-old Castillo (15-0, 12 KOs) scored an emphatic knockout in his U.S. debut in July, blasting out then unbeaten Miguel Contreras in the second round. A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Castillo turned pro in 2017 and has delivered knockout wins in his last four fights heading into September 5, with three of those stoppages coming in 2021.

“I am very honored to be fighting on a great platform like FOX,” said Castillo. “It’s humbling to perform under the bright lights and I can’t wait. My team and I have been working very hard and we are laser focused on Burgos. We’re going to be prepared for anything he tries to throw at me on fight night.”

The Tijuana, Mexico native Burgos (34-5-2, 21 KOs) has faced an impressive resume of top fighters throughout his extensive career, dropping world title bouts to Mikey Garcia and Hozumi Hasegawa, in addition to a draw in a 130-pound title tilt against Roman Martinez. The 33-year-old ended up on the short end of decisions in challenges of unbeaten champion Devin Haney in 2018 and undefeated Hector Tanajara in January 2020. Most recently, he dropped a decision to unbeaten contender Xavier Martinez in May.

“This fight is mine for the taking,” said Burgos. “Training is going great and everything is on track for fight night. My sole focus is to win and make Mexico proud, while proving that I am still the real deal.”

The 22-year-old Reséndiz (12-0, 8 KOs) made a successful U.S. debut in April, earning a decision victory over Quilisto Madera. Fighting out of Nayarit, Mexico, Reséndiz entered the Madera fight having won eight consecutive fights by knockout, including five in 2019 before he stopped Joaquin Murrieta in his lone 2020 outing.

“Since my last fight, all I keep thinking about is how I’m going to be a more polished fighter when I step back in the ring,” said Reséndiz. “Now it’s time to show everyone that I’m the next big boxing star to come out of Mexico. Hernández is a durable fighter who has been in the ring with some top level fighters, but he’s never been in the ring with a puncher like myself. I have plans to stop him and send a message to all the fighters in my division. I want to thank my promoters Warriors Boxing and Boxing Major League for this opportunity. I’m going to make sure the world knows my name after this fight.”

Fighting out of Fresno, California, Hernández (14-4-2, 3 KOs) has faced excellent competition in his career, battling a litany of tough fellow rising contenders. The 28-year-old has twice faced former unified super welterweight champion Jeison Rosario, fighting to a draw in their first meeting before losing the rematch. He has taken down then-unbeaten fighters in Kevin Newman and Thomas Hill, and most recently fought to a draw against Brandon Lynch in January.

“I know that I’m facing a tough fighter, but I believe that I’ve faced better competition than what Reséndiz brings,” said Hernández. “I’m training hard for this opportunity and I’m glad to be back in the ring. Fans can expect action in this fight. Our styles are definitely going to mesh and make for a memorable fight.”

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Former Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. had to shake off an early knockdown, but righted himself to win a 12-round unanimous decision over Chris Arreola in front of a restricted sellout of 3,940 fans at The Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

In round two, it was Arreola who landed a chopping right that sent former champ, Ruiz down to a knee. That was the high-point for Arreola as Ruiz was able to get in a rhythm and land hard three-punch combinations throughout that were mostly of the Jab/:eft-hook/Right Hand variety, Arreola seemed like he would be dangerous, but that was thwarted as in round eight, Arreola seemed to hurt his left shoulder after absorbing a right from Ruiz Ruiz was methodical down the stretch and boxed his way to a 118-110, 118-110 and 117-109 victory.

Ruiz landed 161 of 626 punches; Arreola was 109 of 521.

Ruiz, 256 lbs of Imperial, CA is 34-2. Arreola, 228.6 lbs of Los Angeles is 38-7-1.

ANDY RUIZ JR. “Chris is a veteran and a hard puncher. We did what we had to do tonight. We got the victory that we wanted. I was at my lowest point and now I have to climb the ladder again. I’m thankful for the victory and I’m ready to move on to the next.
“He got me with a good clean right hand in the second round. I was too overconfident and dropped my hand a bit. Hats off to him. We just kept pushing and pushing. I switched up and started focusing on counterpunching and working the body.

“I felt a little rust and I know other fighters can relate to that. If he wants to run it back, we’ll run it back with him.”

“I just have to get back to work. I learned a lot about throwing different combinations in training, but the rust showed in the ring. Arreola was very good tonight.
“When you go down, you just have to climb back up. That’s exactly what I did. I got dropped, but I got up and got the victory. 
“I could have done a lot more. I couldn’t really find my distance, but some of that was Arreola doing a good job. I could have kept my hands up better, but I just need to get back in the gym and stay busy. 
“I got a little overconfident in the early rounds. The most important thing was that we came back and got the victory. 
“I’m going to stick around this weight, but I’m going to tighten everything up. I faced a strong veteran who knew exactly what he was doing. 
“A fight against Luis Ortiz would be an exciting matchup. I have to get back to training so I can keep feeling better in the ring. I’m actually happy to get the 12 rounds in.”

CHRIS ARREOLA“I respect the judges, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He might have won, but don’t tell me I only won two or three rounds. 
“I got hit in the shoulder and it kinda threw it off. It wasn’t a big deal though. It’s a part of boxing. I didn’t take too much punishment. I’m ready to run it back with Andy.”

“A lot of punches he threw were hitting my gloves. He never put me in danger. It’s dejecting to not get the respect from the judges that I feel I deserve.

“There’s no moral victory. I came here to beat Andy. He might have beat me, but I felt like he won seven rounds at the most.

“I give me and Joe a lot of credit. We trained hard for this fight. I did everything I had to do in the gym.

“I was a better fighter than Andy Ruiz expected. This version of Ruiz would knock Joshua out, but I was in great condition and ready for everything he had to offer.

“I absolutely hurt him, but Andy is a dangerous fighter. I didn’t want to get hit with a suckerpunch like Anthony Joshua.

Ramos stops Figueroa After 6

Abel Ramos dominated and beat up Omar Figueroa Jr as the fight was stopped after round six of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout.

Ramos landed a plethora of hard shots on an awkward style of Figueroa, who would be holding his glove up on the side of face, Ramos started breaking down Figueroa in round five, as Figueroa was developing a mouse under his right eye. In round six, Ramos dominated Figueroa by landing hard thudding shots to the head of body. Figueroa was spitting up blood and the fight was stopped in the corner.

Ramos, 146.6 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 27-4-2 with 21 knockouts. Figueroa, 146.4 lbs of Weslaco, TX is 28-2-1.

ABEL RAMOS“Omar is a very tricky fighter. He has an awkward defense and it was hard to catch him clean at first, but the fight overall went as planned.
“I trained so hard for this fight. I knew my career was on the line. I knew I needed a win and I knew Omar would bring a good fight. I’m glad to be back on the winning side and I’m ready to take on the best of the division.
“We trained to attack the body. Our plan from the beginning was to pressure him. We wanted to score points to the body. I could hear him groaning and I knew once I hurt him bad, that the fight was over. 
“I missed the feeling of the crowd cheering. My adrenaline was through the roof. They give you excitement and we missed that in boxing.”

Fundora Stops Cota in 4!

6’7″ Sebastian Fundora continues to be one of boxing’s most exciting and unique performer as he stopped Jorge Cota in round four of their scheduled 12-round junior middleweight fight.

The two stood toe-to-toe for the whole fight as they were winging and whaling shots on one another. In round two, Cota was cut on his nose. Fundora continued to lay a beating on a game Cota, who kept trying to fight back and land an ois fhccasional overhand shot. In round four, Fundora hurt Cota with chopping lefts and body shots. Cota was staggered but he was getting caught and the fight was stopped at 2:35.

Fundora, 152.8 lbs of Coachella, CA is 17-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Cota, 153.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is now 30-5.

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA“I’m extremely grateful to fight in front of the fans tonight. It was fun to hear the cheers, the boos and everything. I’m honored to be in this position.
“It was a good trading fight. We were hitting each other, but my punches were doing more damage and that’s why the referee stepped in. I think he could have been stopped earlier in the round. I just kept fighting until the end.
“I saw his leg wobble in the first round, but he took it and kept coming. The second time I saw it, I knew I had to go for the kill.
“My message to the rest of the division is that we’re here. If youre ready for war, we’re ready to take it. Bring it on.”

Ramos decisions Molina

Jesus Ramos remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Javier Molina in a welterweight bout.

Ramos was cut over his right eye in round six. In round seven, Molina was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Ramos landed 135 of 579 punches; Molina was 77 of 413.

Ramos, 150 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ won by scores of 99-90 twice and 97-92 and is now 16-0. Molina, 149.2 lbs of Norwalk, CA is 22-4.

JESUS RAMOS“It was my second time going the distance and that’s what we wanted. We love knockouts, but we’re glad at this point in my career that I got the experience. I thank Molina for taking the fight, he’s a great fighter. 
“I might have been looking for a knockout too much in the early rounds. I got used to it and I settled down and I felt like I was breaking him down little by little. He was trying to survive a little bit, so it made it harder to get the knockout. 
“I learned a lot today. I’m going to keep building on that. I feel like I have a lot of momentum. It was a big step up for me and I feel like I showed a lot. I showed I have good conditioning and good movement along with my power. 
“My father told me to invite him to come to me. We were pressuring him to start. My dad had me change it up. He came in a little bit, but then he backed off. That’s how I tried to counteract his movement.”

Lara Knocks Out LaManna in 1; Wins Middleweight Title

Erislandy Lara won the WBA Middleweight title with a devastating 1st round knockout of Thomas LaManna.

Lara landed a huge left to the head that put LaManna on his back and the fight was stopped at 1:30.

Lara, 159.4 lbs of Guantanamo, CUB is 28-3-3 with 16 knockouts. LaManna, 159 lbs of Millville, NJ is 30-5-1.

ERISLANDY LARA – KO1 at 1:20
“He said at the press conference that he was going to knock me out, but he ran right into that punch. Maybe he was overthinking it all along. 

“I felt strong and sharp tonight at middleweight, but I still want all of the big fights at 154-pounds too. I want the winner of the Jermell Charlo-Brian Carlos Castano unification fight. (WBC Middleweight Champion) Jermall Charlo is like family, we worked in the same gym for years, but this is a sport and I’d welcome the challenge.

“I feel great physically. I’m going to keep doing this until my body tells me I can’t do it anymore. I don’t feel like I’ve taken a lot of punishment in my career and I know I have at least another three years of my prime left.”

Ramirez Stops Avelar in 3; retains Interim Featherweight title

Eduardo Ramirez retained the WBA Interim Featherweight title with a third round stoppage over Isaac Avelar.

In round three, Ramirez dropped Avelar with a perfect right hook. Ramirez finished the fight woth another huge hook that rocked Avelar and the fight was called off at 1:16.

Ramirez, 125.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 25-2-3 with 12 knockouts. Avelar, 125 lbs of Mexico is 17-3.

“I am beyond happy right now. I’m just elated and moved by having been able to fulfill the promise I made to my baby boy Eduardo Ramirez Jr. He just turned two years old and I wasn’t able to be there to give him a hug for his birthday, but I had promised him that I would bring the title back home to him as a gift, and that is exactly what I’m doing now. 
“You have to have a stone-cold mindset, and that’s what we had to finish Avelar off. We were able to connect the right combinations to finish the fight off exactly how we wanted.

“This was a perfect coronation. To be honest, I would now like to have the chance to fight against Leo Santa Cruz. I previously fought against Miguel Flores, who barely lasted 4-5 rounds against me, but Leo couldn’t knock him out. This convincing knockout should be my ticket to have that opportunity”. 

Adrian Granados and Jose Sanchez battled to a eight-round draw in a welt welterweight contest.

Granados took a card 77-75, while two cards were even at 76-76.

Granados, 146.6 lbs of Mexico City is 21-8-3. Sanchez, 146.2 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 11-1-1.

Carlos Negron won a eight-round unanimous decision over Scott Alexander in a heavyweight bout.

Negron, 238. lbs of Villaba, PR won by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 23-3. Alexander, 235 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 16-4-2.

Anthony Garnica remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Jesse Bassie i a featherweight fight.

In round one, Garnica dropped Bazzi with a right hand.

Garnica, 125.2 lbs of San Francisco, CA won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 6-0. Bassie, 126.4 lbs of Deerborn, MI is 1-2.

Fernando Molina won a six-round unanimous decision over Prisco Marquez in a lightweight bout.

Molina landed 116 of 358 punches; Marquez was 44 of 264.

Molina, 133.6 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX won by 60-53 scores on all cards and is now 6-0. Marquez, 135 lbs of Liberal, KS is 4-3-1.

CASA GRANDE, AZ. (April 14, 2021) – Welterweight contender Abel Ramos and his nephew, rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos, discussed their family’s bond through boxing while previewing their upcoming respective showdowns taking place Saturday, May 1 in FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View undercard action from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Abel Ramos will step in to face former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa in the co-main event of the pay-per-view, while Jesús Ramos will battle Javier “El Intocable” Molina in a welterweight attraction that kicks off the pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Abel and Jesús are trained by Abel’s brother and Jesús’ father, Jesús Ramos Sr. in their hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona. Both have spoken effusively about how training alongside a family member, and a fighter at a different point in their career, helps push them during camp.

“It’s great working with Abel,” said Jesús. “We both have the same goal, which is to win on May 1. If I’m ever tired, I just look to Abel and know that I have to keep pushing. I’m always able to ask him for advice and we help each other a lot.”

“It’s great training with a young, hungry fighter like Jesús,” said Abel. “We feed off of each other’s energy, and there’s lots of competitiveness when we train. I think that’s a good thing for both of us.”

Both Abel and Jesús have known since Jesús was little that this was a path the younger Ramos would eventually walk. For Jesús, he’s always used Abel as his inspiration to help get him where he is today.

“Deep down I always knew he’d get into boxing,” said Abel. “He was at all of my fights when he was younger and he always showed an interest in the sport.”

“Abel is the guy that I’ve looked up to since I was a little kid,” said Jesús. “I watched him box from a very young age and have learned a lot from him. Seeing him do it has always inspired me. He’s always taken tough fights and that’s inspiring too. He’s played a huge role in getting me to where I am today.”

While the 20-year-old Jesús is considered a young up-and-comer in the sport, who will be taking on his toughest test May 1 in Javier Molina, Abel believes that his nephew will show wisdom beyond his years in this fight.

“People think because Jesús is young that he doesn’t have experience, but that’s where they’re wrong,” said Abel. “At a very young age he displayed a lot of the abilities of a veteran fighter. He’s always had great patience, as well as the ability to think in the ring. His ring IQ is really high for his age.”

Ahead of the two fighting Ramos’ sharing the pay-per-view undercard on May 1, here is what Abel and Jesús had to say about their training camp, their respective showdowns and more:

ABEL RAMOS

“We’re less than three weeks away now, and every week I feel stronger and more ready for May 1. I’ve been sparring with a bunch of local fighters from Arizona who are helping prepare me. The hardest part is yet to come, but I’m just focusing on the game plan and executing the same program that’s worked in the past.

“It’s great to be a part of this event and show the fans the warrior mentality that us Mexican and Mexican-American fighters have. I can’t wait to put on a great show! It’s motivating for me to showcase our warrior style and it’s making me work my absolute hardest in order to give my best on fight night.

“I learned a lot from facing Yordenis Ugas. I went back and watched that fight, and I saw some things I can improve on. It serves as motivation, but it also showed me that I belong in there with the best in the division. I don’t feel like it was a total loss because I learned from it. But in this fight, I’m going to show all the improvements I’ve made since the Ugas fight.

“I watched Figueroa’s fight against Ugas. But styles make fights and I think my fight against Figueroa is going to be different than what Figueroa and Ugas had. I expect way more action when I face Omar.

“The majority of the game plan is preparing for Figueroa to come forward. We’re getting sparring partners that mimic what Figueroa does. Even when I’m working on the heavy bag, we’re keeping that in mind. I’m constantly imagining someone in front of me who I know is going to throw a lot of punches.

“At the end of the day, I just want the win by any means necessary. I love that people are expecting a great fight from us and I just use that as motivation to prepare myself for what I know will be a grudge match.”

JESÚS RAMOS

“Everything is going how we planned for in this training camp. It’s a grind seven days a week. I’m just keeping up a good diet and focusing on strength and conditioning. We’re going 12 rounds in sparring and I’m feeling ready. I’m in great shape already and we still have two and a half weeks to go. I’ve been sparring with my uncle Abel, Jorge Cota and some other local fighters from Arizona.

“I think Molina has a lot of experience, which I know he’ll try to use against me. He’s a fighter with good speed. But when he fought Jose Pedraza, he struggled against a southpaw. So, I might cause him some problems there, but I’m also bigger than Pedraza. I’m a legit welterweight.

“This fight being so close to Cinco De Mayo, this is a huge deal for me. There are going to be tons of events and festivities that week and to be a part of all of that is an honor. I just want to represent Mexico in the best way that I can.

“A victory over Molina would be a big statement. A lot of people are saying that he’s my toughest opponent to date. And beating him will get me fights with some even bigger names. But I have to beat Molina first.

“I’d love to get a knockout against Molina. He’s faced some tough fighters and nobody has been able to knock him out. But if I can’t get the knockout then I just want to dominate him and look good getting the win however I can.”

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ABOUT FOX SPORTS PBC PPV: RUIZ VS. ARREOLA
Ruiz vs. Arreola will see former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. battle all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare’’ Arreola in the main event of an all-Mexican boxing extravaganza on Saturday, May 1 headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clashing with Abel Ramos in the 12-round welterweight co-main event. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action in the pay-per-view opener.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.99. Buy now on foxsports.com/ppv and watch on any screen!

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

CARSON, CALIF. (April 6, 2021) – Fighters competing on the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View undercard Saturday, May 1 previewed their respective showdowns during a virtual press conference Tuesday before they step in the ring for the event headlined by former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. battling all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The virtual press conference featured former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. and Abel Ramos, who meet in the co-main event, sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora and hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota, who battle in a 12-round attraction, and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos and U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina, who square-off to kick off the pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.99.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday:

OMAR FIGUEROA JR.

“I’m definitely looking to make this an interesting fight. We don’t get paid for overtime. If I can get it done in a round, trust that I’m going to try. It all depends on what Abel brings to the ring. We’ll see what kind of fight he brings and go from there.

“When you’re facing the top guys in the sport and you know you’re not 100% healthy, the weight of it all becomes unbearable at times. I needed to give my body time to heal, and right now I feel like all of that is behind me. I feel as close to 100% as I’ve ever felt and I’m excited to see how my body holds up.

“All I’m focused on is Abel Ramos. He’s no light task, so I can’t look ahead to any possible matchups in the future. The only thing I can control is my performance in this fight on May 1.

“These last couple of years have been tough for me. My life has been this sport ever since I was three or four-years-old. Thinking about a loss never crossed my mind until it actually happened. Having that ‘1’ in the loss column gave me a different perspective on everything and you’ll see it on May 1.

“I’ve given fans great fights throughout my career, including a few times at this venue. It takes two to tango, so we’ll see what Abel brings on fight night. I can’t wait to get this show on the road.

“I’m excited to continue this new chapter in my career and show everyone how I’ve grown. I appreciate everyone who has stood by me. I really believe this is going to be the best chapter yet.”

ABEL RAMOS

“I’ve been training hard and I’m going to be ready to step in against Omar on May 1. I have a great opportunity and there’s nothing on my mind but taking advantage of it.

“The experts are right to say that we can steal the show because of our styles. The styles are going to mix very well. The fans are definitely going to love this fight.

“Omar is a warrior and we can’t look past him. The winner of this fight will definitely be placed in a great position. There’s no chance I’m overlooking Omar, but I’m still very aware of where I can go with a win on May 1.

“There have been a lot of great wars in this venue. Something about that place just attracts these types of fights. Like always, I’m just focused on my job heading into this fight. To me, that job is giving fans an exciting fight.

“To everyone watching this fight, this is going to be a great battle between Mexican warriors. It’s a whole card full of warriors and we’re going to do our part to give everyone a great show from start to finish.”

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA

“I’m excited to be on this card and be part of the Cinco de Mayo legacy of fighting for the Mexican fans.

“We just picked up training right where we left off after my last fight. I didn’t take any time off after the fight in December. Since we were originally supposed to fight Cota then, this is really my second training camp preparing for him.

“If I wanted to, I could squeeze down to 147 pounds. I walk around at my ring weight. This camp was probably even easier than my last camp in that sense, because it’s getting a little hotter so that there’s no problem with any weight coming off.

“We’re looking to get that shot at the champions in this division. No matter who is in front of us, we’re aiming to impress and show everyone we deserve to be on that level. We don’t really worry too much about what the competition in my immediate future is going to look like, we just keep working hard one fight at a time.

“I know that they say Cota has a lot of power, and his record shows it. We’re ready for war, a boxing match or anything he brings. I’m ready to win no matter what.

“I felt the competition level changed with fighting Nathaniel Gallimore. Winning that fight and my most recent one has really helped boost my confidence up so I feel like I can take on anyone in this division.

“This is going to be a war. We’re both going to be bringing it from the opening bell and I can’t wait for it to take place in front of live fans.”

JORGE COTA

“I know that I’m facing a tough undefeated fighter who’s very talented, but I’m bringing my best. I’m training very hard to be 100% on May 1.

“Nothing is too different compared to the preparation we had for the first time we were supposed to fight Fundora. We both wanted to fight each other after it got cancelled, so I’m glad we’re able to still make it happen.

“I’m in Tucson, Arizona right now getting in great work to be ready and at my best on May 1. I only had a bit of a cough for COVID-19 symptoms, so I didn’t feel any ill effects from it and I certainly don’t feel any right now.

“It’s hard to find sparring partners with Fundora’s characteristics, but I’m very confident with what we’ve been able to do in camp. We’ve found guys with similar physical attributes to give me the looks I need in sparring.

“This is a fight that the fans are going to be on their feet for. This fight could end at any one moment. We’re going to be trying to knock each other out from the start and we’ll just see what happens on May 1.

“I’m going to go into the ring fully prepared and with no intention other than getting this victory. I know what this win means for my career. I prepared myself physically and mentally for what this fight means for my career.

“There’s no secret that when the bell rings, we’re going to come after each other. I can’t wait for this fight and I’m definitely ready to steal the show on May 1.”

JESUS RAMOS

“I feel that I’ve been stepping up with each fight. Javier Molina is a big step up. If everything goes right, we’re going to keep stepping up little by little. I want to be champion by the time I’m 21-years-old. I know that if I keep doing everything right, I can accomplish that goal.

“I set my knockouts up and I work hard each round. If the knockout comes, it comes, but if not, I’m always ready to go 12 rounds. That’s how it’s going to be on May 1.

“Molina is the opponent who will bring the best out of me. I hope for that to happen in this fight. I want to go past round four. I want to show everyone my true talent. Some people classify me as a knockout artist, but I’ve seen what I do in sparring and I hope to showcase that in this fight.

“Sparring with Terence Crawford and Maurice Hooker was a great experience. It’s given me a boost of confidence going into any fight I have. I’ve seen how champions train and been in there with champions. It was really intense sparring and it was great to learn from guys of that caliber.

“We’ve always had high-level training camps, no matter who the opponent is. I always prepare as if it’s a world title fight. I don’t take anyone lightly and that’s definitely the case with Javier Molina. A lot of people consider him my toughest test to date, but I think those tough training camps have me ready for this step up.”

JAVIER MOLINA

“We’re working hard in the gym because we have a young tough opponent here. This won’t be an easy fight and that’s what I expect at this point in my career.

“My last fight against Jose Pedraza was a tough battle, it just wasn’t my night. When I got this fight, I knew that this was the type of fight I needed to get back to where I want to be.

“I was off from the beginning in my last fight. I was impatient in the fight, But I’m grateful that I’m back with an opportunity to get to where I want to be.

“I think with a win over Pedraza I would have had a 140-pound title shot, but I always knew that going back to 147 was inevitable. I feel great at this weight and we’re working hard to put on a show.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life. After my loss to Pedraza, I just stayed in the ring and kept working hard. I’m thankful for this opportunity to showcase my skills. I have nothing but respect for Ramos, but when we’re in the ring, it’s a totally different story.

“A win over Ramos just gets me a level closer to a world title. I’ve been a pro since I was 19, so I know that we’ve been working hard and training great. I plan on taking full advantage of this opportunity on May 1.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“We’re really excited about this pay-per-view undercard. We have three great all-action, toss-up fights. There’s been a lot of talk lately about great young welterweight prospects and I just have to say that everyone should keep their eye on Jesus Ramos. He’s stepping up to open the pay-per-view in his toughest opponent to date in a very good U.S. Olympian in Javier Molina.

“Sebastian Fundora is another top prospect stepping in for this pay-per-view, and he’ll also be facing a tough veteran who should provide a real test in Jorge Cota. Plus Omar Figueroa Jr. taking on Abel Ramos is a perfect style matchup that I believe is going to break out to be a ‘Mexican style’ Gatti vs. Ward fight. This is truly a stacked card from top to bottom.”

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ABOUT FOX SPORTS PBC PPV: RUIZ VS. ARREOLA
Ruiz vs. Arreola will see former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. battle all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare’’ Arreola in the main event of an all-Mexican boxing extravaganza on Saturday, May 1 headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clashing with Abel Ramos in the 12-round welterweight co-main event. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos, Jr. duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action in the pay-per-view opener.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

CARSON, CALIF. – (March 24 , 2021) – Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. will battle all-action heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare’’ Arreola in the main event of an all-Mexican boxing extravaganza on Saturday, May 1 headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with an undercard stacked from top to bottom with fan-friendly, action-packed matchups, as the co-feature will see former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. clash with Abel Ramos in a 12-round welterweight bout. Sensational super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora takes on hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota in a 12-round battle and rising welterweight star Jesús Ramos, Jr., the nephew of Abel Ramos, duels U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina for 10-rounds of welterweight action.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 26 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.

The FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.95.

“This pay-per-view card is one of the best all-action lineups that I can remember and is loaded with fighters who know nothing but delivering toe-to-toe combat. Headlining the card is the only heavyweight champion of Mexican descent, Andy Ruiz, Jr., taking on Chris Arreola, the first serious Mexican-American heavyweight contender,’’ said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the sports world when he destroyed Anthony Joshua to win heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden. No upset in recent years has been nearly as big a story as Ruiz stunning Joshua and no boxer of Mexican descent weighing more than 175 pounds had ever won a championship before him. Ruiz has re-dedicated himself and is focused on regaining the heavyweight crown and Arreola is determined to make one more run at the title.

“The pay-per-view undercard matchups are toss-up fights that predicate great action, featuring top young contenders, a former world champion and an Olympian. No matter what happens on May 1, boxing fans will be the real winners.”

Ruiz and Arreola, two Mexican-American heavyweights from Southern California, have been circling each other for years. They both had designs on becoming the first fighter of Mexican descent to win the heavyweight title. Ruiz won it and lost it, while Arreola still hungers for it. This high-stakes match will determine who remains in the hunt.

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) shocked the boxing world in 2019 when he was brought in as a late replacement to face heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and turned the tables on the champion, knocking him out in the seventh round and taking home the titles. The 31-year-old from Imperial, California lost his rematch with Joshua by unanimous decision, but has now rededicated himself to regaining the heavyweight championship.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring on May 1,” said Ruiz, who is now being trained by renowned coach Eddy Reynoso. “Training with coach Eddy in his gym has been amazing. I’m around great fighters like Canelo Alvarez and we’re putting in the work so that I can look better than ever.

“I have known Chris Arreola since I turned professional. He’s a Mexican warrior just like me, and I expect him to come at me with everything he’s got. This is going to be an action packed event between fighters who do not go backwards. I will be smart and ready to do whatever it takes to get the win and put myself back in position to become heavyweight champion again.”

Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) has a career that has spanned 17 years and he remains one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the sport. Born in East Los Angeles to parents from Mexico, Arreola has fought for the heavyweight championship three times and come up short. He began working with renowned trainer Joe Goossen before his last match against Adam Kownacki and appeared to have turned back the clock. It was a back-and-forth, up-tempo match and Goossen’s work with Arreola was on full display. Arreola acquitted himself well, but came up on the short end of the decision.

“Training with Joe Goossen is tedious, hard work,” said Arreola, whose father was a boxer who would take him to Mexico to watch the legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. train. “We’re doing everything that we can so that when Ruiz and I face each other, fight fans will get treated to an all-out war between the two best Mexican-American heavyweights to ever step in the ring. This matchup should be a fan friendly fight, and I plan on winning behind all of my hard work.”

The 31-year-old Figueroa (30-1-1, 19 KOs) is from a fighting family along with his younger brother Brandon, the WBA Super Bantamweight Champion. Figueroa won the WBC Lightweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Nihito Arakawa in a 2013 “Fight of the Year” and successfully defended the title two times before moving up to super lightweight in 2015. In his last fight in 2019, he fought Yordenis Ugas, who is currently the WBA Welterweight World Champion, losing a unanimous decision.

“I’ve been training with Joel Diaz for the last six weeks and doing everything necessary leading up to this fight,” said Figueroa. “This is the best shape I’ve ever been in this far out from a fight, because I now realize what I need to do differently to ensure the longevity of my career. I’m training and preparing the right way. I can’t wait to prove on May 1 that I belong with the elite fighters in this division.”

Abel Ramos (26-4-2, 20 KOs) is also from a fighting family. His older brother, Jesús, Sr. trains him, and his nephew, Jesús, Jr., is a spectacular welterweight prospect featured on this pay-per-view undercard. Ramos, 29, is from Casa Grande, Arizona and lost a narrow split decision to Yordenis Ugas in his last fight. He got a chance to display both his comeback ability and his punching power in his previous fight before Ugas, when he scored a last second KO victory against Bryant Perrella. Ramos was trailing on all the judges’ scorecards at the time of the knockout.

“This fight will be exciting because Omar’s boxing style and my boxing style match up perfectly for an action-packed fight,” said Ramos. “I expect him to put on the pressure like he always does. But I will be prepared for that and anything else he brings on fight night. A victory over Omar will put me in position to fight for a world title again. I want to earn that shot with a great performance and prove that I can beat the best fighters in the division.”

Fundora (16-0-1, 11 KOs) continues to rise up the super welterweight ranks and his match against the veteran Jorge Cota will be his toughest to date. He steps into the squared circle showing off the skills of a rugged boxer who is just as comfortable fighting on the inside as on the outside. The 23-year-old Fundora’s mother is Mexican and his father is Cuban, and both were boxers. He was born in West Palm Beach, Florida but now lives and trains in Coachella, California. Fundora is coming off a knockout victory over Habib Ahmed last December.

“I’m really looking forward to fighting Jorge Cota on this big event on May 1,” said Fundora, who at 6-foot-6 looks like he should be setting up on the wing of a basketball court rather than squaring off in a boxing ring. “I’m laser-focused because I know this will be a tough test for me. I’m sure that he will be training hard too, but I’ll be up for the challenge and I look forward to showing off my skills and fighting for all the hard-working people out there.”

Cota (30-4, 27 KOs) is a rugged slugger who always comes to fight. He has been in the ring with unified 154-pound world champion Jermell Charlo, former unified world champion Jeison Rosario and top contender Erickson Lubin. Cota, 33, is from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico and is coming off a powerful knockout victory over Thomas LaManna last January. With his experience and power, Cota will present a challenge yet-unseen by the rising Fundora.

“I am treating this fight like it is do-or-die for my career,” said Cota. “Fundora is very tall, but he can be hit. I think my style works well against his. I can’t wait to prove what I can do on May 1.”

Ramos (15-0, 14 KOs), the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, has paved his way to stardom in the talent-laden welterweight division with highlight-reel KOs. He has scored five-straight knockout victories following his only pro fight that went the distance, which came in a June 2019 unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks. He steadily increased the toughness of competition in 2020 and he has continued that trend in 2021. In his last fight, Ramos scored a spectacular knockout victory over rugged veteran Jesus Emilio Bojorquez in February.

“I’m looking to make a statement in this fight against a tough opponent in Javier Molina,” said Ramos, a 20-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona. “We know it’s a big step up, but my team and I feel like it’s time the world sees my talent. Molina will bring out some of the many things that I’m capable of. This win would prove that I’m not just any prospect. Fight fans don’t want to miss this one, because they’re going to see an exciting glimpse of what I can do in the ring.”

The 31-year-old Molina (22-3, 9 KOs) also grew up in the sport, as his father was an amateur boxer. Molina was on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team, while his twin brother, Oscar, represented Mexico in the 2008 Olympics. He has an older brother, Carlos, who also is a boxer. Fighting out of Norwalk, California, Molina is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jose Pedraza last September. Before that, he scored a unanimous decision victory over veteran contender Amir Imam.

“I’m excited for this fight and for the opportunity to face an unbeaten prospect in Jesús Ramos,” said Molina. “A lot of people are probably counting me out, but I’m ready to prove all the doubters wrong. This is going to be a great fight that fans won’t want to miss on May 1.”

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For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Former world champion Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis fought to a 12-round draw in a super middleweight bout in Los Angeles.

Dirrell landed 161 of 435 punches; Davis was 139 of 521.

Both fighters took a card 115-113 and a third card was even at 114-114.

Dirrell, 167 1/2 lbs of Flint, MI is 33-2-2. Davis, 167 1/2 lbs of Wilmington, DE is 15-2-1.

“I thought I won the fight. I pushed the fight, hit him with cleaner punches,” Dirrell said. “He hit gloves a lot. I knew it was going to be a draw—as soon as they said it was going to be a split decision. I can’t control what the judges do and I respect them all because they have different perspectives and angles on what is happening.
 
“I was pressing the fight, I wasn’t tired at all. My jab was working. But I can’t stop what the judges think. Davis fought well. He did what he was supposed to, came in with a good game plan. He was boxing, he normally doesn’t do that. But we pressed the action.”

“I’m looking for a title. I’m not looking for just another fight. I’m looking for a big fight. That’s the plan,” Dirrell said. “I’ll take whoever has a belt, whoever we can get. I’ll take a Canelo, or a Caleb Plant.”

“I thought I won the fight, 116-112. It was a great opportunity. They doubted me. They told me he was going to knock me out. This was supposed to be a showcase for him but it wasn’t,” Davis said. “My body felt well. I felt good. Anthony Dirrell is a two-time world champion. I really wanted to make a statement. A draw is not as bad as a loss but I really don’t like breaking even.
 
“It was my first 12-rounder so it was a little unfamiliar for me. I knew he was experienced, but I kept my composure and pushed through it. I stuck to the game plan that (trainer) Stephen “Breadman” Edwards gave me.”

Ramos stops Bojorquez in 2

Jesus Ramos stopped Jesus Bojorquez in round two of a scheduled 10-round weltweight bout.

In round two, Ramos dropped Bojorquez with a hard left. Bojorquez was hurt and bleeding. He took more punishment and the fight was stopped at 1:44.

Ramos is now 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Bojorquez is 24-3.

“I was surprised he got up from that right hook. I was setting it up, throwing my jab to the body,” Ramos said. “I knew he was expecting another jab but I feinted and came back with the right hook. I didn’t think he would get up but he did and then I finished the job. This was a test run [at 147]. I felt really strong, the weight cut was a lot smoother this time around. I might campaign here. I have to talk to my team and see what they think.

“I want to be a champion at 21 years of age. That would be next year. I want to step up the competition this year, fight guys with names, and next year fight guys like Yordenis Ugas.”

Mielnicki stops Lopez in 3

Vito Mielnicki Jr. stopped Noe Alejandro Lopez in round three of a scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

Mielnicki pounded away on Lopez until the bout was stopped at 2:50.

Mielnicki, 146 1/2 lbs of Roseland, NJ 8-0 with five knockouts. Lopez, 146 lbs of Houston is 10-4-1.

“I felt strong tonight. I don’t know how long I’ll be at 147, moving up may be in my future. For this fight, I give myself an ‘A.’ I got him out of there, a guy who said was a step-up, a guy who they said would carry me into the later rounds. But I expect nothing less of myself because I know I’m going to be great,’’ Mielnicki said.
 
“I’m just going to keep learning. I’m still young. I’m still 18 so we’re not in a rush. We’re going to keep building and see where that takes us. I’m 8-0 with 5 knockouts and I’m not injured or anything so I’m ready to get back in the ring as soon as possible.”

Michel Rivera stopped Anthony Mercado in the final round of their welterweight bout.

In round six, Mercado took a knee after absorbing some solid body shots. In round eight, Rivera sent Mercado down from a combination. Mercado looked exhausted upon reaching his feet, and the bout was stopped at 2:26.

Rivera, 144 1/2 lbs of Miami is 20-0 with 13 knockouts. Mercado, 146 lbs of Camuy, PR is 13-5.

Anthony Cuba and Diego Elizondo fought to a majority draw in a four round lightweight bout.

Cuba landed 41 of 196 punches; Elizondo was 47 of 216.

Cuba took a card 39-37 while two cards read even at 38-38.

Cuba, 134 1/2 lbs is 1-0-1. Elizondo, 135 lbs is 3-2-3.

LOS ANGELES (February 16, 2021) – Two-time super middleweight world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell takes on Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis in a 12-round WBC Super Middleweight World Title eliminator to headline FOX PBC Fight Night live on Saturday, February 27 from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The show features two of the most sensational teenage boxers in the sport as 19-year-old welterweight rising star Jesus Ramos battles Jesus Bojorquez in a 10-round co-feature and 18-year-old exciting prospect Vito Mielnicki, Jr. squares off against Noe Lopez in an eight-round welterweight match to open the broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.

“Anthony Dirrell is a natural-born fighter. He’s had to overcome several obstacles in his life to become two-time super middleweight world champion. Each time he has had to come back, he’s done it and been stronger than before,’’ said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Kyrone Davis believes this is his moment to shine under the spotlight of FOX PBC Fight Night. What Dirrell and Davis bring to the ring on February 27 are the ingredients for a terrific fight. The added treat is watching the continued rise of a pair of brilliant young boxers – Jesus Ramos and Vito Mielnicki, Jr. – as they take on tough challenges.’’

Dirrell (33-2-1, 24 KOs), a two-time WBC 168-pound world champion, is a battle-tested veteran who never backs down from anyone in the ring. The 36-year-old Dirrell won the WBC title for the first time with a unanimous decision over Sakio Bika in 2014. The native of Flint, Michigan lost the title the next year to Badou Jack by majority decision. He put together six straight victories after that loss to get back into position to fight for the championship again. He won the title with a technical decision victory over Avni Yildirim in 2019. Dirrell is the younger brother of Andre Dirrell, who won a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 2004. He is coming off a hard-fought loss to former champion David Benavidez.

“I feel great, camp has been great and it feels good to get back in the ring with everything that’s been going on in the world,” said Dirrell. “Kyrone Davis has fought some good guys but with me being me, he’s biting off a little more than he chew. Fans can look forward to a knockout on February 27. I’m not playing, I’m going to make a statement.”

Davis (15-2, 6 KO) will face the toughest challenge of his career when he steps in against the more experienced Dirrell. The 26-year-old Davis from Monmouth, N.J. will be moving up to super middleweight for this match. His last fight was a TKO victory over Antonio Todd at middleweight in January 2020. His only two losses came against Junior Castillo and Patrick Day in 2018. His most notable victory so far came against Marcos Hernandez in 2017. Hernandez was undefeated at the time.

“I’ve worked extremely hard and I’m thankful for the opportunity and plan to take full advantage of it,’’ Davis said. “It’s my turn and you’re going to see that on FOX PBC on February 27.”

Ramos (14-0, 13 KOs), the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, steadily increased the toughness of competition in 2020. The 19-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona has scored four-straight knockout wins following his only pro fight that has gone the distance, which came in a June 2019 unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks. In his last fight Ramos scored a fourth round stoppage against Naim Nelson in December 2020 on FOX.

“I’m very excited to be back in the ring on February 27, just two months after my last fight,” said Ramos. “I want to stay active this year, and I can’t wait to kick off 2021 with another solid performance.”

Bojorquez (24-2, 18 KOs) has scored four straight victories since losing to Abner Lopez. All four of those victories came by way of stoppage. The 33-year-old Bojorquez from Sonora, Mexico will be fighting for the first time in the United States. He’s coming off a fourth round TKO win over Jose Luis Araiza.

“I know Ramos is a tough young boxer and he’s been on a hot streak. But I’ve been on a hot streak too and my experience will be the deciding factor,’’ said Bojorquez. “I’m looking forward to going against him in an exciting fight on FOX PBC in prime time. I expect it will be a tough fight but I’m ready for anything that he can come with on February 27.’’

Representing Roseland, New Jersey, Mielnicki (7-0, 4 KOs) began turning heads during an exceptional amateur career where he compiled a 147-22 record and was named the Most Oustanding Boxer of the 2011 Junior National Golden Gloves amongst many accolades before turning pro. Last December, the 18-year-old welterweight dropped Steven Pulluaim twice on his way to a six-round unanimous decision.

“Camp is going great and I’m in the best shape of my life,” said Mielnicki. “I can’t wait to showcase my talent on FOX in my first eight-rounder.”

Veteran Lopez (10-3-1, 4 KOs) hails from the fighting town of Jalisco, Mexico and currently resides in Spring, Texas. He’s remained active during the pandemic, fighting three times in 2020, including two victories and a points loss to Joseph Francisco last November.

“I’m really excited about this fight,” said Lopez. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this and I’ve been training hard for months now. Mielnicki is a young, strong kid. I’m going to go out there, test him and shock the world.”

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

WBA Interim Super Middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. beat up Mike Gavronski on his way to a 3rd round stoppage in a scheduled 10-round bout at The Shrine Event Center in Los Angeles.

At the end of round one, Morrell landed a big combination that was punctuated by a straight left that sent Gavronski down to the canvas. Morrell continued to batter Gavronski with some hard uppercuts and straight lefts. Finally in round three, Morrell landed another blasting left uppercut that forced referee Jack Reiss to stop the bout at 2:45.

Morrell, 170 lbs of Minneapolis, MN is 4-0 with three knockouts. Gavronski, 167.4 lbs of Bellevue, WA is 26-4-1.

Montiel Stops Kirkland in 1

Juan Macias Montiel stopped James Kirkland in the opening round of their ten round middleweight bout,

In the first 30 seconds, Montiel landed a left hook to the temple that sent Kirkland down. Montiel landed two hard uppercuts and a left that dropped Kirkland for a 2nd tine. Two more hard uppercuts later sent Kirkland down again and the fight was stopped at 1:56.

Montiel, 161.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 25-4-2 with 22 knockouts. Kirkland, 162 lbs of Austin, TX is 34-3.

Ramos Stops Nelson After 4

Jesus Ramos remained undefeated with stoppage victory over Naim Nelson after round four of their scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout,

In round three, Ramos landed a left followed by a right to the body that put Nelson on the canvas. In round four, Ramos landed a wicked right hook that sent Nelson slumping into the ropes for a knockdown. Nelson was cut under his left eye. The fight was halted by the corner following the frame.

Ramos, 144.4 lbs of Case Grande, AZ is 14-0 with 13 knockouts. Nelson, 143.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 14-5.

Travon Lawson scored an upset 4th round stoppage over Angel Barrientes in a scheduled six-round super bantamweight bout.

Barrientes took the 1st three rounds until Lawson landed several big right hands that sent Barrientes down. Barrientes was unsteady as he got up, and the fight was stopped at 55 seconds.

Lawson, 122 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is 4-0 with three knockouts. Barrientes, 123.4 lbs of Las Vegas is 4-1.

Alantez Fox won a 10-round unanimous decision over Marcos Hernandez in a super middleweight bout.

In round four, Fox was cut on the inside of the bridge of his nose.

Fox landed 123 of 524 punches; Hernandez was 93 of 330.

Fox, 167.2 lbs of Forestville, MD won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94, and is now 27-2-1. Hernandez, 166.6 lbs of Fresno, CA is 14-4-1.

Chavez Barrientes remained undefeated by stopping Paul Carroll after round three of their scheduled four-round super bantamweight bout.

In round three, Barrientes dropped Carroll with a fight hand. The fight was halted by Carroll’s corner following the round.

Barrientes, 123.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 5-0 with four knockouts. Carroll, 122.4 lbs of Columbia, SC is 4-2.

Radzhab Butaev stopped Terry Chatwood in a scheduled eight-round battle of undefeated welterweights.

In round three, Butaev landed a crushing left hook to the body that sent Chatwood down to the canvas rolling around in pain for the 10-count at 1:01.

Butaev, 149.6 lbs of Russia is 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Chatwood, 148.6 lbs of Arkansas is 9-1-1.

LOS ANGELES (December 22, 2020) – Unbeaten rising star Jesús Ramos moved his training camp to Colorado Springs and believes the altitude and quality sparring he received will aid him as he prepares to take on Naim Nelson in FOX PBC Fight Night action and on FOX Deportes this Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

“The altitude in Colorado has definitely helped my conditioning,” said the 19-year-old Ramos. “My dad is my head coach, but we’ve also worked with strength and conditioning coach Jamie Belt. At first, it was rough training at this altitude, but I feel more comfortable and much better now.

“Sparring with former champions Maurice Hooker and Robert Brant is great experience for me. Combined with this being my second fight in ‘the bubble’, I’m ready to put on an explosive performance December 26.”

Ramos has continued to look for ways to improve his arsenal as he heads into the matchup against Nelson. Nelson’s most notable opponent is WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario Barrios, and Ramos’ goal is to outdo the performance that Barrios had against Nelson, while also showing off new aspects of his skillset.

“I have a shorter opponent for this fight, so I know I’ll be throwing my jab consistently,” said Ramos. “We’ve also been working on my angles and being more creative with my punches. I’ve only seen a couple of tapes on Nelson, but I know he likes to come forward. I feel strong and ready for whatever he brings.

“Nelson was stopped against Barrios, but I believe it was because of a shoulder injury. I’m looking to give him a loss but with an actual knockout this time. I’m going to perform with my style and make him fight my fight. I’ll take my time, use my jab, and when the time comes, I’ll take advantage and get him out of there.”

In addition to his father and head trainer Jesús Sr., Ramos’ uncle and veteran welterweight contender Abel Ramos has been by his side and providing motivation for Jesús Jr.’s burgeoning career. With seeing what Abel has accomplished, Jesús Jr. knows what it will take to reach his boxing dreams for 2021 and beyond.

“The most important thing I’ve learned from Abel is that anything is possible if I work hard and don’t give up on my dreams,” said Ramos. “I feel like by 21-years-old, I’ll be more than ready to compete for a title. I think I need a couple more tough fights under my belt before I go in there against a champion, but once I get that, I’ll be prepared for a title shot.

“Hopefully 2021 brings a lot more fights so that I can stay active and get those fights to prepare me for a title fight. We want tough fights and I just want to stay dedicated. Even when I’m outside of the ring I’ll be studying and doing whatever I can to get ready for my shot when it comes.”

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ABOUT MORRELL VS. GAVRONSKI
Morrell vs. Gavronski will see Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. face Mike Gavronski in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature the return of renowned knockout artist James Kirkland dueling hard-hitting Juan Macías Montiel in the 10-round middleweight co-main event while unbeaten young rising star Jesús Ramos battles Naim Nelson in a 10-round super lightweight bout that will kick off the broadcast.

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

LOS ANGELES (December 15, 2020) – Interim WBA Super Middleweight Champion David O. Morrell Jr. will face Mike Gavronski in the 12-round main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, December 26 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature the return of renowned knockout artist James Kirkland dueling hard-hitting Juan Macias Montiel in the 10-round middleweight co-main event while unbeaten young rising star Jesus Ramos battles Naim Nelson in a 10-round super lightweight bout that will kick off the broadcast.

The event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, an AEG venue, in downtown Los Angeles.

“Cuban sensation David O. Morrell Jr. burst onto the scene in 2019 and followed that up in August this year by putting on a great performance to capture his interim super middleweight title,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “He will look to continue his rapid rise at 168-pounds with a battle-tested challenger in Mike Gavronski. James Kirkland has entertained fans with his aggressive style and prolific power for years, and seeks another chance to face the best in the sport beginning December 26. Adding in the scintillating rising star Jesus Ramos returning to action against Naim Nelson, and fight fans can expect a late present the day after Christmas on FOX PBC Fight Night.”

Morrell (3-0, 2 KOs) arrived in the U.S. last year and immediately began to show the same prodigious talents that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic amateur scene. In August he became interim champion by scoring a dominant decision victory over then unbeaten Lennox Allen on FOX. Now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell made his pro debut there in August 2019, stopping Yendris Valdez in the first round. The 22-year-old followed that up in November 2019, knocking out Quinton Rankin, who entered the fight with a 15-6-2 record and had most recently gone the distance with former champion Chad Dawson five months before facing Morrell.

“I feel very happy about being able to fight before the year is out,” said Morrell. “I want to reach the goals I set for myself and continue to provide for my family. I’m working toward being the best in my division and I know I will get there. I’m also thankful for my team’s efforts and trust in my talent. I’m ready to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

Originally from Bellevue, Washington and now fighting out of Lockport, Illinois, Gavronski (26-3-1, 16 KOs) has won back-to-back fights since dropping a 2018 contest to top super middleweight Jesse Hart in 2018. Gavronski owns victories over Brian Vera, then unbeaten Jake Carr and Geraldo Ibarra, in a career that has also seen him face Tureano Johnson. Gavronski’s 2019 victories came in a decision over Emmanuel Sanchez and a stoppage of Tommy Hughes.

“I’m very grateful for an opportunity in a big fight like this,” said Gavronski. “I’ve watched film on David O. Morrell Jr and I have great respect for his abilities. My team and I have put together a great game plan and we believe it’s going to get me victory and the title on December 26 on FOX.”

Born in Austin and fighting out of San Antonio, Texas, Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting and explosive fighters in the sport in a long career that’s only seen him defeated twice. The 35-year-old returned to the ring in 2019 with two knockout victories, his first action since losing to Canelo Alvarez in 2015. Kirkland sports an 83% knockout rate and has previously picked up notable wins against former champion Carlos Molina and Alfredo Angulo.

“Pressure is a blessing,” said Kirkland. “I can’t wait to go in there on December 26 to display all my skills and put on a great performance for all the fans watching.”

The 26-year-old Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) steps back into the ring after his U.S. debut saw him fight Hugo Centeno Jr. to a split-draw on FS1 in December 2019. Representing his native Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Montiel had previously stopped Marco Reyes and Gustavo Castro to bounce back from a defeat to former champion Jaime Munguia in 2017.

“I know that a win on December 26 will catapult me into even bigger fights,” said Montiel. “I’ve prepared better than ever before leading up to this matchup. I’m more than ready to make the most of this tremendous opportunity.”

The nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, Jesus Ramos (13-0, 12 KOs) has steadily increased his competition as 2020 has seen him deliver knockouts of Ramal Amanov, and most recently then unbeaten Esteban Garcia in action on FOX in September. The 19-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona has scored three-straight knockout wins following his only pro fight that has gone the distance, which came in a June 2019 unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks.

“I’m super excited to be back in the ring a day after Christmas,” said Ramos. “I’m looking forward to closing out this year strong. I have a tough opponent in Naim Nelson. He’s been in there with some great fighters, but I’ve been working hard to prepare as best as I can. I’m confident that with the work we’ve been putting in, we’re going to get the result we want and in impressive fashion once again.”

A native of boxing-rich Philadelphia, Nelson (14-4, 1 KO) has challenged WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario Barrios and former champion Mickey Bey throughout a career that dates back to 2011. The 30-year-old won his first 12 pro fights and most recently earned a unanimous decision over Roy McGill in October 2019.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to fight this year,” said Nelson. “I’ve done my best to stay safe and healthy amidst the pandemic by continuing to train hard. I never took a break away from the gym. I knew that when the call to step on the big stage, I’d be more ready than ever. I’ve been in this position before against a young knockout artist, and I love these kind of challenges. It’s my job to go in there and use all of my experience to show him another level and bring home the win.”

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Yordenis Ugas dominated Abel Ramos over 12-rounds, yet was only able to win a razor thin split decision over Abel Ramos to win the WBA Welterweight title at The Mictosoft Theatre in Los Angeles.

In round nine, Ramos started to bleed from his nose. Ugas was dominant with the jab by landing a career best 160 of them and wiping out Ramos in the punches landed category to the tune of 233-109, yet judges saw the fight just 115-113 twice for Ugas and somehow 117-111 for Ramos.

Ugas, 147 lbs of Santiago De Cubas, CUB is 26-4. Ramos, 146 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 26-4-2/

Ramos Stops Garcia in 2

Jesus Ramos stopped Esteban Garcia in round two of a scheduled eight-round bout featuring undefeated welterweights.

Ramos pounded away on Garcia until the bout was stopped at 2:45.

Ramos, 142.8 lbs of Case Grande, AZ is 13-0 with 121 knockouts. Garcia, 142 lbs of Brawley, CA is now 14-1.

Omar Jaurez won a eight-round unanimous decision over Dakota Linger in a super lightweight bout.

Juarez outlanded Linger 199-113.

Juarez, 142.8 lbs of Brownsville, TX won by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice and is now 9-0. Linger, 144.4 lbs of West Virginia is 12-4-2.

Cody Crowley remained undefeated and won a 10-round unanimous decision over Josh Torres in a welterweight bout.

Crowley outlanded Torres 254-113.

Crowley, 145 lbs of Duoro, CAN won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 19-0. Josh Torres, 146.6 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 22-7-2.

Batyr Akhmedov stopped Rey Perez in round one of their scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout.

Akhmedov dropped Perez twice with body shots and the fight was stopped after the 2nd knockdown at 2:19.

Akhmedov, 140.4 lbs of Russia is 8-1 with seven knockouts. Perez, 140.6 lbs of the Philippines is 24-12.

Leduan Barthelemy stopped Recky Dulay in round three of their scheduled six-round lightweight fight.

In round three, Barthlelemy landed a right hook to the body that put Dulay down. Seconds later it was the same punch that registered a 2nd knockdown. Yet a few seconds later, Barthelemy dropped Dulay for a 3rd time in the round, and the fight was stopped at 2:39.

Barthelemy, 136.6 lbs of Guantanamo, CUB is 16-1-1 with eight knockouts. Dulay, 137.6 lbs of the Philippines is 11-9.

LOS ANGELES (September 2, 2020) – Top contender Yordenis Ugás and hard-hitting Abel Ramos will battle for the vacant WBA Welterweight Championship in the main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes this Sunday, September 6 from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features undefeated prospect Jesús Ramos facing fellow unbeaten Esteban García in an eight-round super lightweight co-main event. Plus, rising prospect Omar “El Relámpago” Juárez takes on Dakota Linger in an eight-round super lightweight special bonus feature.

The event will be promoted by TGB Promotions and will take place without fans in attendance at the Microsoft Theater, an AEG venue, in downtown Los Angeles.

“Yordenis Ugás has clearly established himself as one of the elite welterweights in the world, and if he can capture the WBA title on Sunday night, he will be in a prime position in the stacked welterweight division,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Abel Ramos is coming into this fight off of a last second knockout victory, proving once again that you can never count him out of a fight until the very end. Add in rising stars Jesús Ramos and Omar Juárez in tough matchups in two undercard fights on FOX, and fans can enjoy a high-octane Sunday night before the Labor Day holiday.”

The 34-year-old Ugás (25-4, 12 KOs) has established himself as an elite welterweight since returning from a layoff in 2016. Ugás, who is from Santiago, Cuba and now lives in Miami, Florida, was on an eight-fight win streak before losing a narrow split-decision to Shawn Porter in a world title fight on FOX last March. The Olympic bronze medalist beat then undefeated fighters Jamal James and Bryant Perrella, plus veteran contenders including Thomas Dulorme and Ray Robinson on his winning streak heading into the Porter fight. After the title fight, Ugás defeated previously unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa last July before stopping Mike Dallas Jr. in seven rounds in February.

“I’ve done everything mentally and physically in the gym to put me in the best position to win this fight,” said Ugás. “This is not going to be easy because I know Ramos is coming with all his might. We are fighting on FOX, the biggest stage in boxing, and I promise to bring an exciting fight for the fans. This is my time to shine and win my first world title.”

Fighting out of Casa Grande, Arizona, Ramos (26-3-2, 20 KOs) enters this fight off of a career-best victory in February on FOX, when he stopped Bryant Perrella in the last moments of the final round to score an unlikely victory while trailing on the cards. The 29-year-old enters this bout on an eight-fight winning streak, including 2019 victories over Francisco Santana and Jimmy Williams. Ramos previously campaigned at 140 pounds, where he fought former champion Maurice Hooker to a draw while dropping contests to former champions Regis Prograis and Ivan Baranchyk.

“I’m very excited for this fight,” said Ramos. “I trained extremely hard and prepared myself for a tough fight. I know that Ugás always comes to fight and the fact that there’s a title on the line, makes this fight even better. It’s every fighter’s dream to become a world champion. I’m prepared for war. Boxing fans can expect fireworks on Sunday.”

The nephew of main event participant Abel Ramos, the 19-year-old Jesús Ramos (12-0, 11 KOs) made his U.S. debut in April 2019 with a knockout of Selfullah Wise. Fighting out of Casa Grande, Arizona, Ramos’ next fight would see him go to the scorecards for the first time in a triumph over Kevin Shacks. His competition increased after that, as he delivered stoppage victories over Rickey Edwards and Ramal Amanov to close out his 2019 campaign.

“I’m really prepared for this fight, especially after a nine-week training camp,” said Ramos. “We worked extremely hard to come in 100% for this fight. We’re going up against a tough, undefeated opponent that’s coming to win and take everything that I’ve worked for. That just motivates me to give the best of me, so that I can prove why I’m a top prospect in the sport. I expect the best Esteban Garcia on September 6th, and I think our fight can be fight of the night.”

Fighting out of Brawley, California, García (14-0, 6 KOs) will make his U.S. debut on September 6, after a 2019 run that saw him pick up four victories, including his first two eight-round decisions in triumphs over Emanuel Robles in March and most recently Juan Ramon Guzman in November. The 30-year-old first turned pro in April 2016 with a stoppage victory over Eduardo Melendrez.

“I’m extremely appreciative for the opportunity to enter the ring once again to fight this weekend,” said García. “I know my fans and people who love boxing have been waiting patiently during this pandemic for the return of the sport. I look forward to giving them a great show on Sunday night.”

Juárez (8-0, 4 KOs) carries the nickname “Relámpago”, or “Lightning” in English, and it could apply to how quickly he strikes in the ring and his plans to rapidly ascend into the contender ranks. The 21-year-old from Brownsville, Texas had an outstanding amateur career with over 120 fights, establishing himself as a “can’t miss” pro. He had a busy 2019, chalking up five straight wins before beating Angel Martinez in February and Willie Shaw in August on FOX.

“I’m truly grateful to be fighting once again on FOX, especially so soon after my last fight,” said Juárez. “My goal will always be to give the fans a crowd pleasing night of action. I know I have a target on my back being that I’m undefeated, so you better believe I’m training hard in-between fights. I’m feeling good and super excited to be showcasing my skills to all the fans watching around the world.”

The 25-year-old Linger (12-3-2, 8 KOs) enters this contest after most recently stopping Darel Harris in January. Fighting out of his native, Buckhannon, West Virginia, Linger has fought professionally since 2015, winning his first 12 fights until a 2018 defeat to unbeaten Danielito Zorrilla. His only other two defeats have come by narrow majority decisions in 2019 duels against Maurice Lee and Nelson Hampton.

“This is a great opportunity for me to show my skills on a big stage against a quality opponent,” said Linger. “We’ve put all the hard work into this training camp, and I’m ready to get in there and rumble on fight night.”

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.
For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @TGBPromotions become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

Former world title challenger Yordenis Ugas stopped Mike Dallas Jr. after round seven of their scheduled 12-round welterweight bout at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Bilox, Mississippi/

In round one, Ugas was cut on the forehead from an accidental headbutt. Other then that, Ugas dominated the battle and Dallas had enough after the 7th frame was over.

Ugas, 146.4 lbs of Santiago de Cuba, CUB is 25-4 with 12 knockouts. Dallas, 147 lbs of Bakersfield, CA is 23-4-2.

“I’m not overly excited about my performance, but the most important thing was to get the victory and take a step closer to getting the title shot,” said Ugas.

“The game plan was to come forward, come strong,” Ugas continued. “I always work the body strong and want to push the action and that’s what I did tonight.

“The main goal now is to keep winning and fight for a title. I’m ready for all of the top welterweights.”

Michel Rivera stopped Fidel Maldonado Jr. in the 10th and final round of their lightweight bout.

Rivera dropped Maldonado with a right hand flush on the jaw and the bout was stopped at 1:34 of round 10.

Rivera, 134.4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 18-0 with 12 knockouts. Maldonado, 134.4 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 27-5-1.

“I feel very good,” said Rivera. “They matched me against a boxer with a lot of experience. So, I feel happy with my performance.

“I was ready to fight all the rounds, not just looking for the knockout,” added Rivera. “My corner was telling me wait, relax, take your time because he’s an intelligent boxer. I did what they were telling me and I got him out of there in the last round.”

Clay Collard stopped previously undefeated prospect Raymond Guajardo in the 2nd round of a scheduled six-round super welterweight bout.

In round one, Collard dropped Guajardo with a left hook in the middle of a vicious exchange. Guajardo was dropped again from three body punches/ Seconds later, Guajardo sent Collard to the canvas with a left hook of his own. Collard came to back to hurt Guajardo badly with a series of hard hook, which also bloodies the nose of Guajardo.

In round two they continued to go at it with Collard landing hard thudding shots that eventually had the referee stop the bout simultaneously as the towel being thrown in at 1:42.

Collard, 159 lbs of Cache Valley, UT is 6-2 with two knockoouts. Guajardo, 159.4 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 5-1.

“It was a war,” said Collard. “That’s what fighting is. I love it. It’s awesome.

“I thought (Guajardo) was going to use his length and pick and move, but he came out gunning, and that’s how I like to fight. I like to bang.

“I think I caught him with a good left hook the first time when I dropped him, and the rest is history,” continued Collard. “I knew I hurt him, and I’ve hurt people before and jumped on them really quick, and that’s why he dropped me was because the second time I knocked him down I got too excited and I went in and got caught. So, I have to be more patient.

“I need to learn how to be more defensi

Omar Juarez won an eight-round unanimous decision over Angel Martinez in a super lightweight bout.

In round seven, Juarez dropped Martinez with a left hook to the jaw. Martinez was cut on the top of his head.

Juarez, 140 lbs of Brownsville, TX won by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-73 and is now 7-0. Martinez, 139 lbs of Mexico is 19-19-1.

“It was a beautiful experience, especially fighting a veteran with over 30 fights, my first eight-rounder as well, and overall I learned a lot,” said Juarez. “There are levels to this, and I have a lot of work left to do, but I look forward to watching the film and correcting all of my mistakes.”

Jesus Ramos stopped Ramel Amanov after six-rounds of their scheduled eight-round welterweight bout.

Ramos, 146.8 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 14-0 with 11 knockouts. Amanov of Uzbekistan is 16-2.

Deon Nicholson had to go to the distance for the first time in his career, but won a 10-round unanimous decision over Earl Newman in a cruiserweight fight.

Nicholson, 198.6 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice and is now 13-0. Newman, 199.6 lbs of Brooklyn is 10-3-1.

BILOXI, MS. (January 7, 2020) – Unbeaten top prospect Michel Rivera will take on veteran contender Fidel Maldonado Jr. in a 10-round lightweight duel as part of FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, February 1 from Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The action will also include unbeaten prospect Omar Juarez in a super lightweight showdown against Mexico’s Angel Hernandez, plus hard-hitting prospect Raymond Guajardo in a six-round super welterweight affair against Clay Collard. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by top welterweight Yordenis Ugas taking on Mike Dallas Jr. in a 12-round attraction.

Preceding the main card, FS1 PBC Fight Night Prelims begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and feature rising 18-year-old prospect Jesus Ramos (11-0, 10 KOs), who most recently delivered a KO of the Year candidate on FS1 in September, as he faces Puerto Rico’s Bernard Lebron Figueroa (10-3, 4 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight battle. Plus, hard-hitting welterweight Jose Miguel Borrego (16-2, 14 KOs) takes on New Jersey’s Jimmy Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs) in a 10-round affair on FS1.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Theatre box office and through Ticketmaster.com.

The 21-year-old Rivera (17-0, 11 KOs) made his U.S. debut in June with an impressive victory dropping Rene Tellez Giron on his way to a unanimous decision. Representing Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Rivera has fought professionally since 2016 and most recently stopped Jose Luis Gallegos on FS1 in September.

Fighting out of his native Albuquerque, New Mexico, Maldonado (27-4-1, 20 KOs) has faced a slew of top contenders and has picked up a victory over Pablo Cesar Cano and a draw against Art Hovhannisyan throughout his career. The 28-year-old enters this fight on a three-fight winning streak since a 2017 defeat to Ismael Barroso.

The 20-year-old Juarez (6-0, 4 KO) was a highly decorated amateur who turned pro in September 2018 and has been on an active pace thus far. Representing his hometown of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez scored five victories in 2019 including a pair of knockouts on FS1 as he stopped Gino De la Paz in front of his hometown crowd in August and Kevin Shacks in November in Las Vegas. He will be opposed by 20-year-old Hernandez (10-1, 10 KOs), who fights out of Mexicali, Mexico, and will be making his U.S. debut on February 1.

Representing his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, Guajardo (5-0, 4 KOs) most recently delivered a highlight reel knockout over Donnis Reed in the first round of their December 21 showdown on FS1. The 19-year-old turned pro in March 2019 and has only gone the distance in one of his first five contests, including three-straight first round knockouts. He will take on the 26-year-old Collard (5-2-3, 1 KO) who fights out of Cache Valley, Utah and most recently defeating then unbeaten Quashawn Toler on January 3.

Also appearing on the stacked undercard is unbeaten super middleweight prospect Burley Brooks (5-0, 4 KOs) facing Ohio’s Melvin Russell (11-8-2, 7 KOs) in a six-round attraction and Bronx native Michael Coffie (8-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight bout. Plus, Dallas’ Fernando Garcia (12-2, 7 KOs) competes in a six-round featherweight fight, while unbeaten Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Deon Nicholson (12-0, 12 KOs) battles Brooklyn’s Earl Newman (10-2-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round cruiserweight showdown.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

In an exciting 10-round super middleweight clash, Alfredo Angulo took a split decision over former middleweight champion Peter Quillin at The Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California.

The rocked each other throughout the bou

In round seven, Angulo was cut around the left eye. Although Quillin outlanded Angulo 291-164, it was the more powerful shots of Angulo that forged him ahead on two cards by 97-93 and 96-94 tallies. Quillin took a card 96-94.

Angulo, 167.6 lbs of Mexicali, MX is 26-7. Quillin, 167.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 34-2-1.

Chris Colbert scored a spectacular 1st round stoppage over Miguel Beltran Jr. in a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

Colbert dumped Beltran face-first with a perfect 1-2 combination, and the fight was stopped at

Colbert, 132.6 lbs of Brooklyn is 13-0 with five knockouts. Beltran, 132 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is 33-8.

Thomas Dulorme outslugged previously undefeated Terrel Williams via 10-round unanimous decision on a welterweight fight.

In round eight, Delorme was cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round ten, Dulorme dropped Williams with a hard left.

Dulorme, 146,4 lbs of Puerto Rico won by scores of 98-91 twice and 96-93 and is now 25-3-1. Williams, 146.4 lbs of Inglewood, CA is 18-1.

Jesus Ramos stopped Rickey Edwards in round three of a scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

Ramos dropped Edwards hard with a straight left hand, and the bout was immediately stopped at 2:40.

Ramos, 142.4 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Edwards, 142.6 lbs of Paterson, NJ is 12-4.

Michel Rivera stopped Jose Luis Gallegos after round five of their scheduled eight round lightweight bout.

Rivera, 136 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR 17-0 with 11 knockouts. Gallegos, 136.8 lbs of Chicago is 16-8.

2016 Russian Olympian Petr Khamukov stopped Randy Fuentes in round four of their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

In round two, Khamukov dropped Fuentes with a left hook. Seconds later, it was a quick flurry that put Fuentes down for a 2nd time. Khamukov scored a knockdown from a straight right hand to begin the 4th round. Moments later, Fuentes hit the canvas again from a combination on the inside, and the fight was stopped at 2:21.

Khamukov, 160 lbs of Russia is 44-0 with one knockout Fuentes, 160.8 lbs of McAllen, TX is 9-9-1.

Jonathan Esquivel stopped Justin Steave in round two of their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Esquivel dropped stopped Steave with a big left hook. Seconds later, it was another big left hook that followed by a right that sent Steave down again. In round two, it was a body shot that sent Steave down again. Steave got to his feet, but the fight was waved off at 1:21.

Esquivel, 164 lbs of Anaheim, CA is now 12-0 with 11 knockouts. 163 lbs of Pittsburgh, PA is 10-3.

BAKERSFIELD, CA. (August 22, 2019) – Former world champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will duel hard-hitting Alfredo Angulo in a 12-round super middleweight showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes on Saturday, September 21 from Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California.

Coverage on FS1 begins at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT and features fast-rising prospect Chris “Prime Time” Colbert entering the ring for a 10-round lightweight matchup against former title challenger Miguel Beltran Jr., plus unbeaten welterweight Terrel Williams goes up against Thomas Dulorme in a 10-round attraction, while unbeaten prospect Jesus Ramos takes on Rickey Edwards in a 10-round super lightweight match to open FS1 PBC Fight Night.

FS2 PBC Fight Night Prelims will precede the main card and begin at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, highlighted by hard-hitting Jeison Rosario against unbeaten Bakhram Murtazaliev in a 12-round IBF 154-pound title eliminator.

“This is a great fight card with anything a boxing fan could want, featuring former champions, top contenders and future stars, all in evenly-match bouts that promise drama,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Peter Quillin vs. Alfredo Angulo promises to be a good, old fashion slugfest with two fighters looking to prove they’re ready for a world title fight next. With exciting prospects like Chris Colbert and Jesus Ramos, plus evenly matched fights between contenders in Williams vs. Dulorme and Rosario vs. Murtazaliev, this will be an action-packed night from top to bottom.”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale Saturday, August 24 at 12 p.m. PT and can be purchased at www.rabobankarena.com and AXS.com.

Quillin (34-1-1, 23 KOs) is seeking to climb back into the championship ranks and must go through Angulo before reaching them. The 36-year-old, who was born in Chicago and now lives in Brooklyn, won the middleweight world title against Hassan N’Dam in 2012. He successfully defended it three times. He is coming off a no-decision against former super middleweight champion Caleb Truax on April 13 in an FS1 PBC Fight Night main event. He had taken the first two rounds on all three judges’ scorecards before the action was halted when a deep cut over Truax’s right eye, caused by an accidental head butt, brought an end to the fight and resulted in a no-decision.

“It looks like the Caleb Truax fight wasn’t meant to be, but this fight against Angulo is an important fight for me to establish myself in this division,” said Quillin, who was originally scheduled to rematch Truax on August 31, before Truax withdrew due to an Achilles injury. “I’m ready to go 12 rounds right now. I just have to stay ready and stay in shape because we’ve had a great camp where we were able to build on certain things. This is what was meant to be and I’m going to make the most of it with a great performance on September 21.”

Angulo (25-7, 21 KOs) enters the match against Quillin after a knockout victory over Evert Bravo on April 20. The 37-year-old veteran, who was born in Mexicali, Mexico and now lives in Coachella, California, has been in with some of the top boxers and sluggers during a career that has seen him in numerous exciting bouts against the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara amongst others.

“I am looking forward to showing my fans the best Alfredo Angulo on September 21,” said Angulo. “I have been working hard towards this opportunity. This is a chance to move closer to a world title and with hard work and the support of my team, I’m going to win that title.”

Representing his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (12-0, 4 KOs) has begun to make a name for himself showing off tremendous skills across his first 12 pro victories. The 22-year-old turned pro in 2019 after an impressive amateur career and most recently dominated Alberto Mercado on his way to a unanimous decision on FOX in June.

“I’m dedicating this bout to the fight against childhood cancer,” said Colbert, who was inspired after recently being introduced to a young fan who has cancer. “I plan on going in to Rabobank Arena and doing what I do best on September 21. I never make predictions for my fights, but I’m always looking to dominate and if the knockout comes then it comes. I have a job to do and I just have to stay focused on the man in front of me. It’s going to be ‘Prime Time’ on September 21 so that fans will want to make sure to tune-in for this one.”

Fighting out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Beltran (33-7, 22 KOs) will return to action after dropping a decision to former world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa last November. The 30-year-old challenged Roman Martinez for a super featherweight title and lost by split decision in September 2012.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity to fight Chris Colbert on FS1 and FOX Deportes,” said Beltran. “I have fought the best 130 pounders in the world – Rocky Martinez, Gamboa, Mickey Roman and I have challenged for the world title twice. This is the type of fight I need on national TV to get myself back in contention. I’m very serious about winning and happy to have my training camp in Los Angeles with my cousin, former world champion Ray Beltran, who is helping me prepare for victory.”

Williams (18-0, 13 KOs) extended his unbeaten record in April with a split decision victory over Justin DeLoach in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old from Los Angeles previously won a decision over David Grayton in September 2018.

A longtime contender, Dulorme (24-3-1, 16 KOs) earned a majority draw in his last fight against former world champion Jessie Vargas last October. The 29-year-old had previously dropped a narrow decision to top contender Yordenis Ugas in August 2017. That defeat came after a streak where the Puerto Rican fighter won eight of nine fights, with his only loss during that stretch coming in a title fight against Terrence Crawford.

At just 18-years-old, Ramos (10-0, 9 KOs) scored knockouts in his first nine fights since turning pro last May. The Casa Grande, Arizona-native most recently went the distance for the first time in his pro career, winning a shutout unanimous decision over Kevin Shacks in June on FOX.

Fighting out of Paterson, New Jersey, Edwards (12-3, 3 KOs) won his first 11 pro fights including victories over then unbeaten fighters Azriel Paez and John Delperdang. The 29-year-old most recently lost a decision to undefeated Mykquan Williams in May.

The 24-year-old Rosario (19-1-1, 13 KOs) has won his last five fights and is unbeaten in eight bouts since his only pro loss to Nathaniel Gallimore in 2017. The Dominican-born fighter residing in Florida has taken down a slew of contenders and top prospects including Jamontay Clark, Justin DeLoach, Marcos Hernandez and most recently, Jorge Cota on FS1 in April.

Russia’s Murtazaliev(16-0, 13 KOs), who now resides in Oxnard, California and is unbeaten since turning pro in 2014. The 26-year-old has delivered knockout victories over Elvin Ayala and Bruno Leonardo Romay in 2019.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.

LAS VEGAS (June 4, 2019) – Exciting unbeaten prospect Chris Colbert takes on Puerto Rico’s Alberto Mercado in an eight or 10-round lightweight bout and unbeaten welterweight prospect Jésus Ramos battles Rondale Hubbert in a four-round attraction as part of a special FOX PBC Fight Night Prelims on FOX and FOX Deportes Sunday, June 23 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Prelims will lead up to FOX PBC Fight Night on FOX and FOX Deportes beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show is headlined by former champion Jermell Charlo battling Mexico’s Jorge Cota in a super welterweight attraction and features former world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Julio Ceja clashing in a 12-round WBC featherweight title eliminator in the co-feature. Also in action is sensational unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer, as hefaces Akeem Black in a six-round junior middleweight bout.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Lions Only Promotions, TGB Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.

Representing his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (11-0, 4 KOs) has begun to make a name for himself showing off tremendous skills across his first 11 pro victories. The 22-year-old most recently blasted out Mario Briones by second-round knockout in April on FS1. He will take on a durable 31-year-old in Mercado (16-2-1, 3 KOs), who has never been stopped throughout a pro career dating back to 2009. The Humacao, Puerto Rico-native most recently won a unanimous decision over Sergio Lopez in March.

“I’m preparing for a big day on June 23,” said Colbert. “This is chapter 12 in my career. I know Mercado will come to fight just like he’s supposed to. I’m just focused on putting on another dominant performance, like I do every time. Mercado has a good record on paper, but I’ll do what I do best at Mandalay Bay and make it look easy. People say you have to fight in Vegas to become a top-notch fighter, so I’m excited to fight there. We’ll be fighting in primetime on FOX, so I’ll get a chance to show everyone why I changed my nickname to ‘Prime Time’.”

“I’m ready for this fight on June 23,” said Mercado. “I know who I’m facing and what I’m up against, but I’m working hard every day on a strategy that will give me what I need in to be successful. I have all the tools to make this a great fight and get the win. I’m going to be aggressive and bring the fight to him. His only advantage is speed, but I’m better at everything else.”

Having scored knockouts in each pro fight since turning pro last May, Ramos (9-0, 9 KOs) made his U.S. debut in April with a knockout over Seifullah Wise. The 19-year-old from Casa Grande, Arizona will be opposed by the 30-year-old Hubbert (13-8-2, 8 KOs), who fights out of Fargo, North Dakota.

Spencer (7-0, 6 KOs) will appear on the FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast with his bout against Black (5-2, 2 KOs) serving as part of the show following prelims. At just 19-years-old and having only turned pro just over a year ago, Spencer has shown the tremendous skill and promise he possesses across his first seven pro fights. In April on FS1, the Linden, Michigan-native displayed his boxing acumen in going six rounds for the first time to earn a dominant unanimous decision over Osias Vasquez. He will take on the Chicago-born Black, who enters this fight on a two-bout winning streak.

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Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @MayweatherPromo, @MandalayBay and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports, www.facebook.com/foxdeportes and www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.