NEW YORK – June 26, 2023 – Michigan-based heavyweight Robert Simms has set his sights on a rematch against streaking heavyweight Joe Cusumano after Cusumano scored a career-best victory this past Saturday in stopping longtime heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki. Simms bested Cusumano via unanimous decision in 2018 and believes now is the time for a sequel.

“Now is the perfect time to rematch Cusumano and really show everyone what I’m capable of,” said Simms. “I would think he’d want a chance to avenge a loss. I believe I’m a couple bad scorecards away from being undefeated. Cusumano is easy work and I’d definitely jump at the chance to prove that to a worldwide audience.”

Simms (12-3-1, 3 KOs) is also coming off of a career-best victory as he dominated the previously unbeaten James McKenzie Morrison to earn a unanimous decision last October, earning him a WBC U.S. title. The Saginaw native is 5-1-1 since facing Cusumano and has fought professionally since 2015. Simms’ losses have all come by either split or majority decision and to fighters with a combined 38-1-1 record at the time of facing Simms.

“Robert Simms is coming off a big win and has beaten some highly-regarded prospects in the division, including Cusamano on his way up,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions, Simms’ promoter. “All of his losses easily could have been judged the other way. Robert can really fight and has shown that he can beat bigger opponents. He is a hard worker who perfected his skills in the art of the sweet science.”

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

Edgar Berlanga remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Jason Quigley in a super middleweight bout at The Madison Square Garden Theater.

In round three, Berlanga landed a chopping right to the temple of Quigley that put the Irishman down. In round five, Quigley started to bleed from his nose. Later in the round, Quigley went to the canvas after a alight punch landed, but was ruled a knockdown after his feet got tangled with Berlanga’s.

In the final round, Berlanga dropped Quigley with a left hook. Quigley was able to continue, but ate a huge flurry of punches that finally put him down with a right hand in the corner. Quigley was badly hurt but was able to hear the final bell.

Berlanga, 167.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 118-106 and 116-108 twice and is now 21-0. Quigley, 167.6 lbs of Ballybofey, IRE is now 20-3.

In an old-school heavyweight slugfest, Joe Cusumano gained the biggest win of his career as he stopped Adam Kownacki in round eight of their 10-round bout.

In round one, Cusumano dropped Kownacki with a hard right. The guys stood toe -to-toe wailing away and landing heavy shots.

In round seven, Cusumano battered Kownacki to the point that Kownacki’s corner almost threw in the towel. Kownacki made a heroic comeback in the round as he landed big right hands on Cusumano. In round eight, Cusumano landed some vicious shots on an unsteady Kownacki and the fight was stopped at 2:00.

Cusumano, 238.2 lbs of Danville, VA is 22-4 with 20 lnockouts. Kownacki, 251.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 20-4.

Reshat Mati stopped Dakota Linger in round nine of their 10-round super lightweight fight.

Mati was able to fend off the rough and tough Linger by landing plenty of punches to the face. Linger was never in serious trouble, but the accumulation of punches was too much and the Arthur Mercante stopped the bout at 59 seconds.

Mati, 140.6 lbs of Staten Island, New York is now 14-0 with eight knockouts. Linger, Buckhanon, WV 13-6-3.

Yankiel Rivera won an eight-round unanimous decision over Christian Robles in a fight featuring undefeated flyweights.

In round four, Rivera dropped Robles with a left hand.

Rivera, 114.4 lbs of Toa Alta, PR won by scores of 79-72, 78-73 and 77-74 and is now 4-0. Robles, 111.2 lbs of Lakewood, CA is 8-1.

In a battle of undefeated light heavyweights, Khalil Coe stopped Buneet Bisla in round seven of their eight-round bouts.

In the opening seconds of the fight, Coe dropped Bisla with a powerful jab. Later in the round, Coe sent Bisla down again with a booming right hand. Bisla began to bleed from the nose.

In round seven, Coe continued to land some vicious shots include hard uppercuts that rocked the head of Bisla back and the fight was stopped at 2:02.

Coe, 176.2 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 6-0-1 with four knockouts. Bisla, 173.2 lbs of British Columbia, CAN is 7-1.

Pablo Valdez remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Damian Fernandez in a six-round super welterweight bout.

In round three, Valdez was able to send Fernandez to the canvas with a left hook to the body. In round four, Valdez was able to end things when he Fernandez on a knee from another body shot and the fight was stopped at 54 seconds.

Valdez, 154 lbs of New York is 7-0 with six knockouts. Fernandez, 154 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 14-5.

Ofaciao Falcon remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Pedro Vicente in a lightweight bout.

Falcon, 134.8 lbs of New York won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 10-0. Vicente, 133.6 lbs of Mayaguez, PR is 7-6-1.

DANIEL DUBOIS IS set to live his American dream when he crosses the Atlantic to take on Joe Cusumano in Cleveland on Sunday August 29.

The young heavyweight star joins light heavyweight hopeful Tommy Fury on the Showtime PPV card headlined by Jake Paul taking on the former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in his latest professional boxing adventure.

Dubois, 23, won the WBA Interim heavyweight title last time out, bouncing back from his single career setback against Joe Joyce with a resounding second round demolition of Bogdan Dinu in June to take his record to 16-1 (15 KOs). He is now in line for a shot at the WBA full title and is awaiting the governing body mandating a challenge to the current champion Trevor Bryan.

First of all though, he is seizing the opportunity to maximise his exposure to the US market and get a taste of the fight scene Stateside.

“It has always been my dream to fight in America,” said Dubois, whose American opponent carries a record of 19-3, with 17 KOs and has not been stopped in his three defeats.

“It is going to be quite some experience and there will be a lot of eyes on my performance. If I do what I do best the fans will go home happy and remember my name.

“I expect it to be a different type of crowd with younger people who are attracted by the YouTube stars. As boxers we could learn something from the YouTube people when it comes to building a following and the more people that watch boxing the better, as far as I’m concerned.

“Obviously my focus is on closing in on a world title shot, but I will not be taking this fight lightly and it is important to impress in front of a new audience and TV platform. I have seen the big fights on Showtime over the years and now it is my turn.

“If I put on a big show, you never know, I might get called out by a YouTuber!”