Big Bear Lake, California/Fuerteventura, Spain (August 10, 2016) Boxing Superstar and Unified Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, (35-0, 32 KO’s) and Undefeated British Boxing Star and Welterweight World Champion “The Special One” Kell Brook, (36-0, 25KO’s) have both weighed in within the World Boxing Council’s (‘WBC’) required 30-day limits heading into their highly anticipated international showdown at The O2 on Saturday, September 10 in London, England.

From his training camp in Big Bear Lake, California, Golovkin, holder of the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO Middleweight World Titles weighed in at 165lbs. while IBF Welterweight World Champion Brook tipped the scales at 176lbs. from his training camp in Fuerteventura, Spain.

For middleweight world title fights, the WBC mandates that fighters must be no more than 10% over the middleweight limit or 176lbs. thirty days prior to the fight.

Presented by Matchroom Boxing and K2 Promotions, the middleweight world title clash will be televised on Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom and Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT in the United States.

Golovkin Photo/Courtesy K2 Promotions
Brook Photo/Courtesy Matchroom Boxing
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Golovkin is known as “The Most Exciting, Hardest-Hitting, Most Feared Fighter in the World.” From recently selling out arenas in New York City (Madison Square Garden), Los Angeles (The Fabulous Forum), Carson, California (StubHub Center) and now The O2 (London) to his sponsorships with the JORDAN Brand, Apple, Samsung, and Bijan, Tsesna Bank, BI Group and EXPO 2017, Golovkin is one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

Golovkin’s record includes 22 straight knockouts in addition to 16 consecutive world title defenses. His 91.4% knockout ratio is the highest in boxing’s middleweight division history. Britain’s pound-for-pound number one fighter, Kell Brook, is out to shock the world when he steps up two weight divisions to take on the fearsome Gennady Golovkin.

The unbeaten Sheffield star achieved his childhood dream in August 2014 when he travelled to California to rip the IBF World Welterweight title from Ohio’s highly-rated and then-unbeaten Shawn Porter. He has since defended the title on three occasions, defeating Jo Jo Dan, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier, all by stoppage.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.MatchroomBoxing.com www.K2Promos.com, www.HBO.com/boxing, www.SkySports.com, and www.theo2.co.uk

Follow on Twitter for Gennady “GGG” Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Kell Brook at @SpecialKBrook,
@ Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, Eddie Hearn @EddieHearn and Matchroom Boxing @MatchroomBoxing in addition to HBO Boxing @HBOBoxing and Sky Sports Boxing @SkySportsBoxing.

Use the hashtag #GGGBrook to join the conversation on social media.

Gennady “GGG” Golovkin
“I’m very excited and happy to be in London. I’m excited to perform in front of the UK fans. Kell Brook has my full respect and a great team behind him. It’s not easy for us to get opponents, he’s ready for me and I’m ready for him. Kell Brook is the biggest test to me, he’s a great champion, he’s moving up in weight but great fighters have done that and I know he’s a great boxer and he will test me the most. Thanks to Sky Sports and HBO, I can give the UK fans an amazing event and another big drama show.”

“The Special One” Kell Brook
“This is the biggest fight in world boxing. I’m the best Welterweight in the world and no-one wants me, he’s the best Middleweight in the world and no one wants him. I’ll be his size on fight night and I’m bringing the speed to Middleweight. To be the best you have to beat the best. I’m going to be so sharp and so powerful on fight night. No one has got the best out of me before but Gennady will bring that out in me and I’m excited to see that from myself. I always find a way to win and there’s going to be massive drama in the fight, it doesn’t get better than this and I’m doing this for the fans that have wanted me to step-up and show them what Kell Brook can really do.”

“I want to go down in history like Sugar Ray Robinson as doing massive things in big fights and beating the best, Gennady is the best fighter in the world, and I am going to beat him. It’s the best fighting the best.”

Abel Sanchez, Trainer of Golovkin
“These guys are very intelligent in the ring and that’s what makes them great. When the fear becomes aggression they want to win and excel.”

“We are looking forward to a hard fight and to fighting the best Welterweight on the planet. Four years ago we were here for Carson Jones and there’s hundreds more cameras. Kell’s improved massively since then and we’re looking forward to a great fight against the best Welterweight.”

Dominic Ingle, Trainer of Brook
“We are confident that Kell Brook will become the new Middleweight champion of the world. We’ve had a great camp in Spain. We’re in a quiet place and that’s allowing us to get on with our work away from prying eyes.”

“Kell is going to be in great shape and he has to be to fight Gennady. Kell is going to come out on top on the night – we’ve looked at Gennady and we’ll have the right plan. Kell has always says he’s going to deliver something historic and he’s done that already, and on September 10 Kell will become the new Middleweight champion of the world.”

“You have to go through the gears as Gennady is a very clever and accomplished fighter so he has to match his intelligence, power and engine. The fear in the fight makes you perform the best, we’ve addressed all those scenarios and he’ll deliver on the night.”

Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions
“With the platform of Sky Sports it really contributes to the success currently of British boxing. We really appreciate the hospitality that Eddie and his team have shown here in London.”

“The heart that Kell Brook shows as a Welterweight stepping up to fight Gennady is much bigger than the Middleweight’s that won’t get in the ring with GGG. There’s been a huge response for this fight with HBO in the United States and RTL in Germany, Gennady first fight with them and we’re excited about that.”

“This fight solves the problem for both guys trying to get opponents to get in the ring. The ticket sales were remarkable and the response to the two press conferences has been brilliant, we can’t wait for this fight.”

Eddie Hearn/Matchroom Boxing
“Every now and then you make a fight that makes your hairs on your arms stand on end – this is it. We have the best Middleweight in the World and best Welterweight in the world.”

“It’s my pleasure to bring Gennady to the UK for this wonderful fight – he’s a fighter I admire greatly and it’s great to work with Tom Loeffler and HBO.”

“Kell Brook has been with us for 13 fights and I believe he’s very special. I was in Madison Square Garden when Gennady beat David Lemieux and I had the same feeling about him. Kell is stepping up to face the best fighter in the world – and to be a great fighter you need to do great things. We’re very confident and Kell is here to win not in a no-lose situation”

Photos Courtesy/Lawrence Lustig, Matchroom Boxing

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Golovkin is known as “The Most Exciting, Hardest-Hitting, Most Feared Fighter in the World.” From recently selling out arenas in New York City (Madison Square Garden), Los Angeles (The Fabulous Forum), Carson, California (StubHub Center) and now The O2 (London) to his sponsorships with the JORDAN Brand, Apple, Samsung, and Bijan, Tsesna Bank, BI Group and EXPO 2017, Golovkin is one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

Golovkin’s record includes 22 straight knockouts in addition to 16 consecutive world title defenses. His 91.4% knockout ratio is the highest in boxing’s middleweight division history. Britain’s pound-for-pound number one fighter, Kell Brook, is out to shock the world when he steps up two weight divisions to take on the fearsome Gennady Golovkin.

The unbeaten Sheffield star achieved his childhood dream in August 2014 when he travelled to California to rip the IBF World Welterweight title from Ohio’s highly-rated and then-unbeaten Shawn Porter. He has since defended the title on three occasions, defeating Jo Jo Dan, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier, all by stoppage.

SOCIAL MEDIA: For more information, visit www.MatchroomBoxing.com www.K2Promos.com, www.HBO.com/boxing, www.SkySports.com, and www.theo2.co.uk

Follow on Twitter for Gennady “GGG” Golovkin @GGGBoxing, Kell Brook at @SpecialKBrook, Tom Loeffler/K2 Promotions @TomLoeffler1, Eddie Hearn @EddieHearn and Matchroom Boxing @MatchroomBoxing in addition to HBO Boxing @HBOBoxing and Sky Sports Boxing @SkySportsBoxing.

Use the hashtag #GGGBrook to join the conversation on social media.

Tickets for the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO World Middleweight title clash between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook sold-out in just 11 minutes at The O2 box-office today.

Golovkin and Brook meet at the London venue on September 10 live on Sky Sports Box Office and HBO and fight fans have snapped up the tickets in a heartbeat to see pound-for-pound star Golovkin box in the UK for the first time against the unbeaten IBF World Welterweight champion.

Two more World title contests were added this week as bitter rivals Lee Haskins and Stuart Hall rematch X years after their first fight, this time with Haskins’ IBF World Bantamweight crown on the line and Charlie Edwards lands a World title shot in just his ninth pro fight as he takes on IBF Flyweight king Johnriel Casimero.

Martin J. Ward and Andy Townend clash for the vacant British Super-Featherweight title and Conor Benn tastes his fourth night of action in the paid ranks, with more fights to be added soon.

Face value tickets for September 10 are available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN
“I’m very happy to come back to New York City, I love this city. Thanks to Madison Square Garden, the Jordan Brand and my team.”

“Just a couple days ago, my promoter Tom Loeffler called me and said Kell Brook wants to fight me. This is big news for me, I know him, he’s very good fighter.”

“Kell Brook is the best in his division and a big test for me. It will be a great show for everybody watching on TV or in the arena.”

“The Special One” KELL BROOK
“It’s great to be in New York today. I’ve looked down in history and see what the greats did, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson.

“It’s going to be a very hard fight; we’re going to go through hell in this training camp.”

“I want to give back to the fans and give them the best fights possible. I’m ready for the challenge Gennady Golovkin brings and ready to win the fight.”

TOM LOEFFLER/K2 Promotions
“We have to give Kell Brook a lot of credit for taking the fight. Eddie is in a similar position in regards to lining up opponents. Fights happen if both fighters want to fight and that’s why this fight came together so quickly.”

“This fight is truly the best fighting the best. The best welterweight versus the best middleweight.”

“Eddie has announced some great undercard fights which have also been added to this show. Additionally, we just announced Roman Gonzalez vs. Carlos Cuadras for September 10 in Los Angeles at the Fabulous Forum. This means we’ll have four undefeated fighters battling September 10 on HBO.”

“Gennady has sold out Madison Square Garden and the Forum in his last two fights. A young man from Kazakhstan with 22 knockouts in a row, he’s very likable guy and somebody that boxing fans want to cheer for.”

“There is a big demand for tickets and this fight will sell out quickly making it the third arena in three major cities and two countries that Gennady will have sold out. It doesn’t get any bigger than that when it comes to international marketability.”

EDDIE HEARN/Matchroom Boxing
“Tom Loeffler faced the same struggles as I, I’m so glad we were able to put together this fight in such an efficient manner.”

“Great Britain right now is the epicenter of world boxing; we have 13 world champions. Kell Brook is the best pound for pound fighter among them.”

“Kell Brook was one of the first fighters I signed as a promoter. We’ve been waiting for a night like this for a long, long time. We’ve offered numerous champions and challengers millions of dollars to fight Kell Brook and all we’ve received has been silence and bluster.”

‘To be a great you have to do something great and just like Kell Brook’s heroes Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson who moved up from welterweight to win middleweight titles, Kell Brook is a great fighter.”

“This is 71-0, 36-0 vs. 35-0, two of the very best fighters in the world.”

ABEL SANCHEZ, Trainer of Golovkin
“I look forward to matching wits with the two of the best trainers, Dominic and Brendan Ingle, in the UK. This should be the type of fight that we all remember for a long time.”

DOMINIC INGLE, Trainer of Brook
“Kell Brook is going into this fight as a massive underdog for the first time in a long time. He’s moving up two weight classes to fight the most feared man in boxing.” We’re relishing the challenge, Kell Brook has plenty of ambition. Beating Gennady Golovkin is
the greatest challenge.”

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Golovkin is known as “The Most Exciting, Hardest-Hitting, Most Feared Fighter in the World.” From recently selling out arenas in New York City (Madison Square Garden) and Los Angeles (The Fabulous Forum) in consecutive fights to his sponsorships with the JORDAN Brand, Apple, Samsung, and Bijan, Golovkin is one of the most marketable boxers in the world.

Golovkin’s record includes 22 straight knockouts in addition to 16 consecutive world title defenses. His 91.4% knockout ratio is the highest in boxing’s middleweight division history.

Britain’s pound-for-pound number one fighter, Kell Brook, is out to shock the world when he steps up two weight divisions to take on the fearsome Gennady Golovkin.

The unbeaten Sheffield star achieved his childhood dream in August 2014 when he travelled to California to rip the IBF World Welterweight title from Ohio’s highly-rated and then-unbeaten Shawn Porter by majority decision. He has since defended the title on three occasions, defeating Jo Jo Dan, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier, all by stoppage.

Stuart Hall will challenge Lee Haskins for the IBF World Bantamweight title at The O2 in London on September 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The hotly-anticipated rematch between the bitter rivals sees Haskins defend his title for the second time having landed the belt in spectacular fashion with a sixth round KO of Ryosuke Iwasa in June 2015 and widely outpointing Ivan Morales in his first defence in May.

Hall is out to regain the IBF title he claimed in December 2013 beating Vusi Malinga in Leeds and has revenge on his mind after losing to the Bristol man in 2012 for the European title – adding extra spice to a fight that promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted to add to a stellar bill in the capital.

“September 10 has just become even bigger with this domestic World title grudge match added to the card,” said Hearn. “It’s a real 50-50 clash and with the domestic 118lbs scene really hotting up, it’s a must win for both fighters.”

Haskins and Hall’s grudge match is the third World title clash on a huge night of boxing in Greenwich, topped by the colossal fight between pound-for-pound star Gennady Golovkin and unbeaten Welterweight king Kell Brook for Golovkin’s IBF, WBC, WBA and IBO World Middleweight straps.

Former Team GB star Charlie Edwards challenging Johnriel Casimero for the IBF World Flyweight title and unbeaten teen sensation Conor Benn tasting his fourth fight in the paid ranks.

Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday July 13) at midday to O2 Priority members at www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday July 14 at midday to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and the venue and AXS pre-sale before tickets go on general sale at www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets go on general sale on Friday July 15 at midday from www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets are priced between £40 to £500 will be available from www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202. VIP tickets are £1,000 and available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing www.matchroomboxing.com.

Face value tickets for September 10 will also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ from midday on Friday July 15. StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.

Tickets for the blockbuster showdown between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday July 13)

Pound-for-pound star Golovkin fights in the UK for the first time in his career and puts his IBF, WBA, WBC and IBO Middleweight titles on the line against the unbeaten IBF World Welterweight king Brook, with the duo sharing a combined record of 71-0 with 57 wins by KO.

Promoter Eddie Hearn announced the first additions to the undercard yesterday with former Team GB star Charlie Edwards challenging Johnriel Casimero for the IBF World Flyweight title and unbeaten teen sensation Conor Benn tasting his fourth fight in the paid ranks.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday July 13 at midday to O2 Priority members at www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday July 14 at midday to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and the venue and AXS pre-sale before tickets go on general sale at www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets go on general sale on Friday July 15 at midday from www.theO2.co.uk.

Tickets are priced between £40 to £500 will be available from www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202. VIP tickets are £1,000 and available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing www.matchroomboxing.com.
Face value tickets for September 10 will also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ from midday on Friday July 15. StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.

Conor Benn will be back in action in September when he appears on two huge World title unification bills – Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook at The O2 in London on September 10 and Anthony Crolla vs. Jorge Linares at the Manchester Arena on September 24.

Benn has made an impressive start to life in the paid ranks, making his debut at The O2 in April with a first round KO and added a second first round win in June at the same venue after going the four round distance with Luke Keleher in Glasgow in May.

The 19 year old’s appearances on Brook and Crolla’s special nights will make it five blockbuster World title nights that Benn has appeared on, but the son of British being legend Nigel insists he’s not looking at fighting for titles himself but concentrating on learning his craft.

“It’s brilliant being on these huge shows but I’m not complacent,” said Benn. “I know I have a lot to learn and a lot of improving to do. I want to have four more fights before the end of the year and then seven in 2017 – after that, I’ll be ready to start challenging for titles.

“I’m learning every day in the gym and being on the big shows and seeing how these top fighters like Anthony Joshua, Ricky Burns, Kell Brook and Anthony Crolla go about their business is invaluable to me.”

Benn’s outing in Manchester is part of a huge night of action as Crolla and Linares lock horns in a mouth-watering unification battle for the WBA and WBC Diamond World and Ring Magazine Lightweight Championships, with Isaac Lowe defending his Commonwealth Featherweight title against Tshifhiwa Munyai.

Tickets are on sale now priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 and available from the Manchester Arena at www.manchester-arena.com or by calling 0844 847 8000. VIPs tickets are exclusively available through www.matchroomboxing.com priced at £250.

Information on tickets for Brook vs. Golovkin on September 10 also featuring a first World title shot for Charlie Edwards against IBF Flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero will be released tomorrow (July 12).

Matchroom Boxing and K2 Promotions are delighted to announce that Gennady Golovkin will defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and IBO Middleweight World titles against IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook at The O2 in London on September 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office and HBO World Championship Boxing.

The two unbeaten stars collide in London with the US-based Kazakh KO king Golovkin stepping into the ring as a defending champion for the 16th time and looking to keep up his incredible knockout percentage – with 32 of his previous 35 fights ending early, including all of his World title outings, and the 34 year old is ready to add to that run in his first fight in the UK.

“I’m very excited to be fighting in front of the great British boxing fans and promise another ‘Big Drama Show’ against Kell Brook,” said Golovkin.

Most recently Golovkin has sold out famed venues in the United States, Madison Square Garden in New York City and The Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles.

On October 17, 2015 Golovkin knocked out IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,548. Most recently, Golovkin stopped undefeated mandatory challenger Dominic Wade on April 23, 2016 in the second round at the sold-out Fabulous Forum before a crowd of 16,353.

‘GGG’ has beaten two British fighters already in his career in Matthew Macklin and Martin Murray, but Brook will be out to take his mantel as the World’s most feared fighter. ‘The Special One’ moves up from Welterweight where he holds the IBF title that he ripped from Shawn Porter in August 2014, defending it three times since then with KO wins in all to take his own impressive unbeaten record to 36-0 with 25 wins inside the distance.

Brook – who will retain his status as IBF Welterweight champion – has been hunting a major fight since landing the World title, and the 30 year old believes he has the tools to defeat Golovkin and become boxing’s biggest star.

“This is the fight and the moment I have been waiting for for some time,” said Brook. “We’ve tried and tried to lure the best to come and fight me and now we’ve got the best of the best – the number one pound for pound fighter in the world is coming to the UK.

“When this fight got offered to me I accepted within minutes and I can’t wait. Everyone knows I’m a huge welterweight and I know I will carry my speed and accuracy and even more power through the weights. This is the ultimate fight, one of the biggest international fights the country has seen in many years – you have seen some huge names run from GGG but I’m running to him. I’m a Special fighter and I will show the World on September 10.”
“We’re very excited to have Gennady fight for the first time in the UK,” said Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loffler. “We have a great deal of respect for Kell Brook for stepping up and facing Gennady when so many have been reluctant to do so.

“We look forward to working with Eddie and the Matchroom Boxing team on this huge international fight on September 10.”

“I cannot tell you how excited I am for this mega fight,” said Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “I’ve worked hard with Tom over the years to bring GGG to the UK and now we do it as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Right here you have the number one Welterweight in the world against the number one Middleweight in the world – 36-0 vs. 35-0, two of the best on the planet, it’s what big time boxing is all about.

“I couldn’t be happier for Kell. We have pushed for that big name for a long time with many reluctant to step into the ring with him and now this is the ultimate challenge, the biggest fight of 2016 and I can’t tell you how happy I am to bring it to the UK. September 10 is going to be an incredible night at The O2 – it’s a special night for British sport and we will provide a packed show with multiple World title fights and some of the biggest names in British boxing.”

Adam Smith Head of Boxing at Sky Sports said: “What a massive announcement! It’s the kind of an astonishing twist that can only happen in our sport. Britain’s longest reigning unbeaten fighter and world welterweight champion Kell Brook moves up to challenge Gennady Golovkin who brings his world middleweight titles to our shores. With 71 wins between them, 57 by knockout and no defeats, it’s a wonderful clash and a huge opportunity for Sheffield’s ‘Special One’. It promises to be another great night on Sky Sports Box Office!”

Information on ticket on-sale dates and prices will be released early next week.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com WBO Welterweight champion Jessie Vargas signed to face IBF champion Kell Brook later this summer.

“It’s really exciting,” said Vargas manager Cameron Dunkin. “It’s a great opportunity for Jessie. It’s a fight think he can win. I love his attitude. He’s so positive. He’s training like a madman. He’s really serious about getting this win. It’s not just the payday. He wants to win the fight. I love the attitude. Win, lose, whatever, he’s so confident in himself. I’m really proud of him.”

WBO Welterweight champion Jessie Vargas and IBF champ Kello Brook have agreed to a unificayopn bout, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We have agreed terms so to speak and are now progressing to contract,” said Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who promotes Brook. “Obviously not done until it’s signed, but things are looking very good.”

“I’m looking forward to giving my fans a great fight and bringing two titles back home,” Vargas told ESPN.com on Friday. “At the same time, I am hoping to make new fans in the U.K. My team and I will start preparing to KO Brook.”

“Everybody is on board,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. “We got the money straightened out and then a lot of other details. Now we are waiting to see the paperwork from Eddie. This is a great opportunity for Jessie Vargas. He’ll make his biggest purse [$1.7 million] by a lot. I’m really happy we could deliver this kind of fight for the kid. He can win this fight.”

WBO World Super-Welterweight king Liam Smith wants a huge domestic showdown with Kell Brook after he’s dealt with Predrag Radosevic. Undefeated Smith makes a hero’s return to Liverpool to make the third defence of his world title on an action-packed night of boxing at the Echo Arena on June 4th, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Scouse warrior Smith spectacularly announced himself on the world stage last October when he stopped American John Thompson in the seventh round to become Liverpool’s first world champion in 22 years.

Following his sensational win over Thompson, Smith emphatically defended his world title against Jimmy Kelly in the first Liverpool versus Manchester world title showdown in over 80 years.

Now the Merseyside maverick is looking to take on Sheffield’s IBF Super-Welterweight Champion Brook in a mouth-watering domestic blockbuster.

“I’m going to be brutally honest; Kell Brook is the fight I want. I would bite your hand off for that fight. Kell is a nice lad and I get on with him but it’s a fight that people would love to see,” said Smith.

He added: “Frank made an offer and started the ball rolling. If they were keen on that fight they could have easily had it. Don’t talk about dominating 147lbs and 154lbs and then fight an opponent at 140lbs. If you’re going do it do it and fight one of the champions at 147lbs or 154lbs.”

Smith faces an experienced opponent in WBO European Champion Radosevic, whose sole loss came at the hands of WBA Super-Middlweight Champion Felix Sturm back in 2013. The man from Montenegro holds a top record of 30 wins from 31 fights and Smith is expecting a war.

He said: “I’m definitely looking for a massive fight later this year as I’m confident I’ve got the tools to beat Radosevic. Saying that, I’m taking nothing for granted and I know what I’m up against. If people look into his record properly they’ll realise he’s a strong European champion and it’s a good defence.”

“I’ll stay focused, I’m from too good a gym and too good a gym to overlook anyone. I’m looking to impress, I don’t want to come back to Liverpool and have a stinker and scrape through on my big return. I want to come through with a proper performance and show people how much I’ve improved,” added Smith.

A mouth-watering night of action sees Ellesmere Port star Paul Butler defend his WBO International Super-Flyweight belt against Petchbarngborn Kokietgym, should he win Butler will be guaranteed mandatory position with the WBO. South African super-puncher Zolani Tete makes his eagerly anticipated return to Liverpool to defend his IBF International Bantamweight title. Ryan Farrag makes the first defence of his EBU European Bantamweight title against Frenchman Karim Guerfi and Jazza Dickens takes on Spain’s Abigail Medina for the Vacant EBU European Super-Bantamweight Championship. A top undercard sees Tom Stalker, Liam Williams, Steven Lewis, Josh Leather and Declan Geraghty all in action.

Tickets priced £40 and £60 are available from:

TicketMaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Eventim
0844 249 1000
www.eventim.co.uk
Liverpool Echo Arena
0844 8000 400
www.echoarena.com

Kell Brook delivered the destructive performance he promised in his IBF World Welterweight title defence against Kevin Bizier, dismissing the Canadian inside two rounds at the Sheffield Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Big right uppercuts in the opening round was a warning to the Canadian of the barrage that was coming his way.

Bizier began bleeding heavily from the nose early in the second round, and he was floored after being wobbled by a right hand, and then got caught heavily again by the Sheffield star and the fight was waved off by referee Howard Foster after two minutes and 15 seconds of round two.

‘The Special One’ made it 36 wins unbeaten in the paid ranks with his 25th win inside the distance in his third defence of his title, and now the 29 year old wants to land a major fight in the summer.

“I have power that can knock anyone out,” said Brook. “I want to train for a fight when I have a threat on my hands. I’d love the Danny Garcia fight, the Jesse Vargas fight, I’d take the Keith Thurman vs Shawn Porter winner, the Timothy Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao winner – I want them all.

“I want to thank all the fans, it’s been too long since I’ve been in Sheffield – there’s no me without those fans.

“I’ve been training a long, long, time, I’ve missed my daughters and weddings to get in the best shape ever. We’ve worked too hard to get this belt and I wasn’t going to slip up tonight.

“He couldn’t stand up to the power. I have got the mandatory out the way and now I want that massive fight.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn said that the task to land a major summer fight begins right away and with his mandatory obligations dealt with, Hearn says delivering a blockbuster fight for Brook is his priority.

“We had to fight Kevin Bizier, but it’s what he does to these fighters, he’s a beast,” said Hearn. “Kell needs to prove that he’s the best Welterweight in the world but no-one wants to fight Kell. I want to bring the big fights to Sheffield and we’ll be putting the money up to bring the best over here. There’s so many options for Kell and he wants to unify the division.”

Luke Campbell MBE landed the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title with a brutal second round stoppage win over Gary Sykes at the Sheffield Arena, live on Sky Sports.

Campbell floored Sykes after stunning him with a left hook to the temple and although Sykes made the count, Campbell leapt on the Dewsbury man and backed him into the ropes and peppered Sykes with his trademark fast hands forcing the referee to step in and the corner to throw the towel in simultaneously with two seconds left in the round.

The Olympic gold medal hero became the first fighter from Hull to land the Commonwealth title in his first fight with new trainer Jorge Rubio, and says that along with a rematch with Yvan Mendy, he’d like to add the British belt too, with Scotty Cardle defending it next weekend in a rematch with Sean Dodd in Liverpool.

“I put 100 per cent into the camp,” said Campbell. “I left my family to go to Miami because Gary is a warrior and gives value for money, I had to stop him before he got going as he’s a tough fighter with bags of ability.

“The loss against Yvan was my fault but I’ve dealt with the consequences and it’s onwards and upwards from here now. It’s a major sacrifice going to Miami for long training camps but this is not a game; you can get hurt in boxing if you don’t pay full attention to your task.

“Mendy is on my list to get revenge for the loss and now I’ve got the Commonwealth belt maybe I can get the British too. Scotty is a great guy but he’s got something I want and that’s what we’re in the game for.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “It was must win for him and I am delighted for Luke. The Mendy fight is one I’d like to make and so is Cardle, who has a tough fight next week. I believe Luke is one of the top Lightweights in the world and we want to land the fights that will let him prove it.”

Kell Brook says he knows that mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier will be desperate to get his hands on his IBF World Welterweight title when they meet at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The Sheffield star landed the title as mandatory challenger himself, putting in a career best performance in ripping the belt from Shawn Porter in California in August 2014.

Brook has already defended the title against one Canadian mandatory challenger in Jo Jo Dan a year ago in the Steel City, and now meets Bizier, who would become Quebec City’s first World champion with victory.

Since Brook was forced out of a defence against dangerous Argentine Diego Chaves in November, talk of a major fight in the summer has been rife, but ‘The Special One’ says that while others have been talking, his focus has been solely on taking care of business on Saturday.

“You cannot take your eye of the ball,” said Bizier. “Kevin is the mandatory challenger, he’s worked hard to get that shot and he deserves it. If I had looked past him and cut corners, you get found out. This is my belt, no-one is taking it from me and I have to be at my best. It’s all well and good saying that I want the big names but without putting on an explosive masterclass against Bizier I won’t get those fights.

“This is my hometown, my arena and my fans – no-one packs an Arena like I do here with these great fans, and I am going to make sure that my return to this place is going to be stylish. He’s getting in with the best and he’s got his work cut-out.

“The IBF don’t mess about, you have to take your mandatory challengers and rightly so – that’s how I won this belt. I got injured with the leg in the knife attack so I had to fight Jo Jo Dan then I boxed Frankie Gavin at The O2 in a voluntary. He’d wanted the fight for a while so we got it on in a great night in London. Chaves was meant to be next and that would’ve been a tough fight but the injury means anther mandatory. So opponent-wise, it’s been hard, but I want a unification fight next or something similarly huge to get people into a stadium watching me fight.

“I’m desperate to have an old fashioned war on Saturday. Kevin is a strong come-forward fighter and I want to excited everyone who comes on Saturday with a war. I’m so excited to get in there in front of my fans. I just want to get weighed-in, get fed, and then get to work.

“My mind has been on the job in hand for months and months, Saturday night is about breaking Kevin Bizier’s heart and his bones.

“I have to prove that I am the champion. I have to look good in the fight, I believe I’m the best in the planet and it’s time to prove that. I’m 30 this year, I want to show people that I am the best and I am ready to have massive fights once I take care of business.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night in boxing in Sheffield as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Sheffield Middleweight Adam Etches is back in action, Sheffield Heavyweight Dave Allen faces American Jason Gavern and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook has told Kevin Bizier to get ready to stand and fight when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday night (March 26) live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of his title and second against a Canadian mandatory challenger, and for ‘The Special One’ it’s the conclusion to an extended training camp following the rib injury that forced him out of his October clash with Diego Chaves.

The unbeaten 29 year old is plotting a major summer showdown, and wants to send a statement out to the Welterweight division by destroying Bizier in front of his adoring Steel City following.

“It feels like I’ve been training for an eternity and I just can’t wait to get in there and fight,” said Brook. “The back end of last year was so frustrating. I was excited for the Chaves fight and to get injured with just over a week to go was heart-breaking. When we tried to reschedule the fight the IBF told us that we have to fight Bizier next so he’s in the saddle.

“I was a mandatory challenger once and know how hungry I was. I’ve seen him saying that he is going to try and pressure me on Saturday and that’s music to my ears. I want to stand and fight. I haven’t had that fight night feeling for nearly a year and it’s been killing me inside. Saturday will be quite emotional for me and I feel a special performance coming on.

“Everyone is talking about a big summer fight and of course that’s on the agenda but right now I’m going to soak up the atmosphere in the arena in my hometown and go on a seek and destroy mission Saturday night.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night of action in the Steel City as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kevin Bizier says he will pile the pressure on Kell Brook when he challenges for the IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Bizier is the second mandatory challenger that Brook has defended his title against, and like the first, Jo Jo Dan, 31 year old Bizier also hails from Canada.

Brook dismissed the test of Dan inside four rounds at his Sheffield fortress last March and one year on, Bizier says he will leave everything in the ring as he aims to rip the title from the champion.

“I’m going to give 100 per cent on March 26,” said Bizier. “I will give everything in the ring for this fight. I don’t want to regret anything, I don’t want to leave that ring knowing I didn’t give it all when fighting for a World title.

“To win rounds and spoil Brook’s party, I’ll have to apply constant pressure to him and get in his face. I’ve worked a lot on my inside work as I cannot stay at the end of his jab.

“Brook is a big hitter who manages distance well, I’ll have to get into the pocket. Boxing inside will give me a better chance to win.

“I know the fans are going to scream for him, but I will block that out. If Brook gets carried away by the emotion of the crowd, it could play into my hands – I intend to give value for money.”

Bizier’s clash with Brook is part of a huge night of action in Sheffield as Luke Campbell MBE returns to the ring, facing fellow Yorkshireman Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook says he’s going to take his frustrations out on Kevin Bizier when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of the crown he landed in August 2014, and the second against a Canadian mandatory challenge, as Bizier follows Jo Jo Dan in trying to wrestle the title from the unbeaten Sheffield star, who returns to action for the first time in ten months after injury ruled him out of a winter clash with Diego Chaves.

The 29 year old champion realised his World title dreams after forcing himself into the mandatory position and ripping the belt from Porter in California, and Brook says while the visitor has his full respect, he’s preparing to put on a boxing clinic in his hometown fortress as he targets summer blockbusters against the star names in the 147lb mix.

“You cannot take your eye of the ball,” said Brook. “Kevin is the mandatory challenger, he’s worked hard to get that shot and he deserves it. If I had looked past him and cut corners, you get found out. This is my belt, no-one is taking it from me and I have to be at my best. It’s all well and good saying that I want the big names but without putting on an explosive masterclass against Bizier I won’t get those fights. This is my hometown, my arena and my fans – no-one packs an Arena like I do here with those great fans, and I am going to make sure that my return to this place is going to be stylish. He’s getting in with the best and he’s got his work cut-out.

“The IBF don’t mess about, you have to take on your mandatory challengers and rightly so – that’s how I won this belt. I got injured with the leg in the knife attack so I had to fight Jo Jo Dan then I boxed Frankie Gavin at The O2 in a voluntary. He’d wanted the fight for a while so we got it on in a great night in London. Chaves was meant to be next and that would’ve been a tough fight but the injury means another mandatory. So opponent-wise, it’s been hard, but I want a unification fight next or something similarly huge to get people into a stadium watching me fight.

“The big names in the Welterweight division excite me and I think they excite the fans. I don’t do boring fights and I’m more than willing to go to America and knock the best out, or lay them out at Bramall Lane.

“I’m going to get business done in style on March 26 and then I want to unify the division this year. It’s basically been 10 months of training for this fight and I’m desperate to get in there and put on a show.”

Brook’s clash with Bizier is part of a huge night of action in the Steel City as Hull’s Olympic gold medal star Luke Campbell MBE returns to action in a Yorkshire derby with Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes for the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 are on sale now from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets priced at £250 are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Tickets for March 26 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.

Kell Brook has told Kevin Bizier he’s in for a rough night when he defends his IBF World Welterweight title at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports – before setting up a blockbuster fight in the summer.

Brook makes the third defence of his crown against the Canadian, after the IBF ordered his second mandatory battle since winning the crown in August 2014, with injury issues forcing him out of a voluntary defence against the dangerous Diego Chaves in October.

Brook met the media today (January 25) for the first time since a twitter storm broke out on Friday between himself, Khan and promoter Eddie Hearn, and while ‘The Special One’ reiterated his frustration at failing to land a clash with the Bolton fighter, he’s focus is on defending his crown in style before a huge fight in the summer against any of the division’s top dogs.

“Getting injured for the Diego Chaves fight was gutting, but that’s boxing,” said Brook. “I’ve been in training since November, all through Christmas and did an 80km bike ride on New Year’s Day – I’m well ahead of schedule and I can’t wait to be back in and boxing in Sheffield.

“Styles make fights, and Bizier is a come-forward fighter who is coming to take my belt; I know that feeling because I went to California to beat Porter. He’s going to bring everything he’s got to win the title, I’m going to go in there all guns blazing and get rid of this guy in style.

“If we can’t get the kid from Bolton then I’d like to get Danny Garcia in a unification, the Shawn Porter vs. Keith Thurman winner, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley winner – I just want to have a massive fight in the summer.

“Khan has got no respect for me and that is what makes me want to punch his in the face even harder. For him to dictate terms to me, the champion, makes me laugh. I want that fight, every boxing fan in Britain and beyond wants the fight, even all the other fighters in the divisions want to watch us fight: it’s THE fight that is being talked about. Nothing would give me more pleasure than putting him on the floor.

“It would kill him losing to me, when he was chasing Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao he could live with losing to them, but he couldn’t lose to me and live with it after slagging me off for years.”

Brook headlines back in Sheffield for the first time since his maiden defence almost a year to the day on March 28 against Jo Jo Dan, and headlines a packed card where Luke Campbell MBE returns to action, and in the press conference today Hearn announced that Campbell would now be training in Miami with Jorge Rubio.

Adam Etches is straight back into title action on the card, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £250 VIP will go on sale at midday Thursday January 21 to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and on general sale the following day (Friday January 22) with tickets in the £40-£150 bracket available from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

Kell Brook will defend his IBF World Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier at the Sheffield Arena on March 26, live on Sky Sports.

Brook makes the third defence of the crown and his second in his hometown fortress in the Steel City following wins against Jo Jo Dan and Frankie Gavin at The O2 in London. ‘The Special One’ meets his mandatory challenger for the second time since landing the title with a stunning win over Shaun Porter in California in August 2014, and returns to action having shaken off the rib injury that forced him out of a defence against Diego Chaves in October.

“I’m delighted to be back fighting at the Sheffield Arena again,” said Brook. “While I was gutted to miss out on fighting in October, I’ve fully recovered from the injury and feel stronger than ever. I’ve been working hard in the gym and working on new things, and I cannot wait to put on another explosive performance for my hometown fans and prove I am the best 147-pound fighter on the planet.”

Bizier landed the mandatory spot with the IBF in November when he forced the unbeaten American-Ghanaian Fredrick Lawson after ten toe-to-toe rounds in Miami, where the Canadian floored Lawson in the fifth round en route to the crucial victory. The 31 year old brings an impressive record of 25 wins with 17 inside the distance to his first fight outside of Canada and America, and the challenger believes he’ll relieve Brook of the title on March 26.

“The most important thing was the date,” said Bizier. “March 26 is perfect for me. I am already in great physical condition and I will have the perfect preparation in Montréal with my trainer Marc Ramsay. I know I will be the underdog once again, but I guarantee you I will give the fight of my life. I am optimistic and I already fought in England as an amateur. Having the crowd against me does not bother me at all.”

Olympic gold medal hero Luke Campbell MBE will return to action on the bill, Sheffield Heavyweights Dave Allen and Richard Towers clash in a British title eliminator and Andy Townend meets Craig Poxton for the English Super-Featherweight title.

Tickets priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £250 VIP will go on sale at midday Thursday January 21 to Matchroom Fight Pass members from the Fight Pass area at www.matchroomboxing.com and on general sale the following day (Friday January 22) with tickets in the £40-£150 bracket available from the Sheffield Arena on 0114 2565656 and at www.sheffieldarena.co.uk. VIP tickets are exclusively available from www.matchroomboxing.com.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Kell Brook will defend the IBF Welterweight title against Kevin Bizier.

Details of the where and when will be announced later this week.

Kell Brook has been forced out of his IBF World Welterweight title clash with Diego Chaves at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday, October 24 after sustaining a rib injury in sparring.

Brook was set to make the third defence of his belt against the dangerous Argentine, but having spent time in hospital with the injury and taking the advice of medical experts following scans, the Sheffield star will now look to face Chaves later in the year.

The Sheffield show goes ahead with the Sky Sports debut of Chris Eubank Jr topping the bill as he defends his WBA Interim World Middleweight title against American Tony Jeter, Gavin McDonnell defends his European Bantamweight strap against former World title challenger Jeremy Parodi, along with a host of exciting young talent on the bill.

“It’s always a bitter blow when an injury causes a fight to be postponed, especially so close to the event,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Kell picked up a rib injury in sparring yesterday and spent most of the day at hospital yesterday. Kell was desperate to fight but it was simply impossible and we will now look to reschedule the bout for the end of the year.”

Matchroom Boxing will make a full statement on Monday regarding details of full refunds and partial refunds to those fans still attending the show.

NEW YORK (Oct. 3, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present seven live boxing telecasts in a span of just eight weeks to close out 2015, including three presentations of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, a SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast and three installments of ShoBox: The New Generation.

The seven telecasts will air live on SHOWTIME® and will feature at least 16 fights, several world championship bouts and more than 10 matchups on the prospect developmental series ShoBox.

The action will kick off with a ShoBox quadrupleheader on Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME from the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. In the 10-round middleweight main event, undefeated Rob Brant (17-0, 11 KOs, 0-3 in World Series of Boxing) will square off with Louis Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs). In eight-rounders, unbeaten Filipino prospect Harmonito Dela Torre (16-0, 11 KOs) meets Wanzell Ellison (10-1-1, 5 KOs) in a junior lightweight scrap, Jarrell Miller (14-0-1) takes on Akhror Muralimov (16-1, 13 KOs) in a heavyweight bout and Lavarn Harvell (15-1, 8 KOs) will meet southpaw Samuel Clarkson (16-3, 10 KOs) in a light heavyweight scrap.

The following day, Saturday, Oct. 24, undefeated Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make the third defense of his IBF Welterweight World title against Diego Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs) at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast will be presented via Sky Sports in the UK and will air live on SHOWTIME in the afternoon with an encore presentation later that evening (SHO, 9 p.m. ET/PT).

ShoBox: The New Generation returns Friday, Nov. 6 from D Hotel in Las Vegas with a four-fight telecast: Up-and-coming unbeaten middleweight Antoine Douglas (18-0-1, 12 KOs) will battle Les Sherrington (35-7, 20 KOs) in the main event. In the co-feature, Taras Shelestyuk (12-0, 8 KOs) will be opposed by an opponent to be determined. Rounding out the card are eight-round scraps between Keenan Smith (7-0, 2 KOs) and Benjamin Whitaker (10-1, 2 KOs) and O’Shanique Foster (8-0, 5 KOs) and Samuel Teah (7-1, 5 KOs) in super lightweight and lightweight fights, respectively.

On Saturday, Nov. 14 quick-fisted Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) will risk his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Just two weeks later, on Saturday, Nov. 28, in a can’t miss match-up newly crowned IBF Super Middleweight World Championship James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will face former world champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING from the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, live on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, undefeated knockout artist and former Russian amateur champion Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) will face an opponent to be announced in a light heavyweight world championship title eliminator.

Brooklyn Bragging Rights and the WBA Middleweight World Championship will be on the line on Saturday, Dec. 5 when defending champion Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) takes on former champion Peter Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs) in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The marquee main event will be preceded by a co-feature fight with additional bouts on the card airing live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Closing out the boxing year for SHOWTIME Sports will be a ShoBox two or three-fight card airing live on Friday, Dec. 11.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

NEW YORK (Sept. 29, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the IBF Welterweight World Championship between undefeated defending champion Kell Brook and contender Diego Chaves on Saturday, Oct. 24, live on SHOWTIME at 5:45 p.m. ET / 2:45 p.m. PT from Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL presentation of the Sky Sports telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts Brian Custer, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi before and after the world championship showdown. An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHOWTIME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

“I’m delighted that my fight with Chaves is going to be shown in the U.S.,” said Brook, who hails from Sheffield and will be the favorite in this fight. “I was thrilled when I saw my name in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound list in The Ring Magazine, and now is the time that I need to show the fans in the U.S. that I am a must-see fighter.

“Chaves is an all-action boxer who always comes to fight, and that is the perfect style for me to shine on Oct. 24. I look forward to putting on an explosive performance and making the U.S. stand up and take notice that I am the best welterweight in the world.”

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” said Diego Chaves. “But he is not a fast fighter and he is easily bothered by body punches, which is one of our strengths. I believe he has problems going backwards, and we are going to test his punching power, too.

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England. This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine and as a huge underdog. We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England and this will give me much more strength. I will make history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

“We’re excited to be back in business with Kell Brook, Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn and to deliver this exciting matchup of top 10 welterweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports. “Kell won the world title on SHOWTIME in an action-packed victory over Shawn Porter last fall, establishing himself as one of the top welterweights in the world – but Diego Chaves is a rugged fighter who has also proven that he can compete with the elite of the division.”

Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make his third consecutive title defense of 2015 in his native England after coming to the U.S. and dethroning previously undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter in August 2014 on SHOWTIME. The Sheffield native has scored knockouts in each of his defenses – a fourth round TKO of Jo Jo Dan on March 28 and a sixth round TKO of Frankie Gavin on May 30. Brook aims for a similar result against the veteran Chaves, who has faced some of the top fighters in the 147-pound division.

Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been a road warrior in recent fights, facing favored Americans on the road in three of his last four bouts. He challenged 147-pound titlist Keith Thurman in July 2013 and, after winning by knockout in a hometown fight in Argentina, was ahead on the judges’ scorecards against Brandon Rios in August 2014 until he was disqualified for an intentional elbow to the face. In his last fight, Chaves fought to a draw against perennial welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook will defend his crown against Diego Chaves on October 24 in Sheffield, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m so excited about boxing in my hometown of Sheffield again. London last time out [in May] was a great experience fighting in front of nearly 20,000 but I’m excited to be back there — it is my home,” Brook said. “I’m looking to excite like I always do and light up the Motorpoint Arena on Oct. 24.”

“Chaves is a rough, tough, durable fighter who is very dangerous,” Brook said. “He’s bringing something new to the table. He’s coming off a draw to Tim Bradley, was ahead on the cards against Brandon Rios until he was disqualified and gave Keith Thurman a solid fight, so we know what level he has mixed at and how good he is.

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” Chaves said. “He is a linear fighter, very frontal. He’s not a fast fighter. He is easily bothered by body punches, and that is one of our strengths. And I believe he has problems going backwards. We saw that in his fight against Shawn Porter. When Porter charged forward, Brook had trouble adjusting to that. But we know that he is a great fighter to face, and we are going to test his punching power too, because the opponents he chose so far have not been such great punchers as the ones I have faced lately.

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England. This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine, and as a huge underdog. We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England, and this will give me much more strength. I will be making history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

“It’s been a busy year so far boxing Dan in March and Gavin in May. This will be my third defense in seven months but a busy fighter is a happy fighter and I’m very happy at the moment,” Brook said. “I’m looking forward to the next challenge and I’m feeling sharp after my break.

“I’ve seen some of Chaves’ quotes and it’s interesting to see he thinks he can walk me down and overrun me. I don’t think some fighters realize how big I am and how sharp and accurate I punch and I’m looking to make a major statement against him. If he does what he promises it’s going to be one hell of a fight.”

LOS ANGELES (May 19) – Back on top of the boxing world after winning his third division world championship last December, Venezuela’s Jorge “El Niño De Oro” Linares will travel to London, England to defend his WBC Lightweight title for the first time against top British contender “Mighty” Kevin Mitchell at The O2, live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday, May 30. The WBC Lightweight World Championship is presented by Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym and will be featured on the televised undercard of Kell Brook vs. Frankie Gavin.

“I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London,” said Jorge Linares. “This third title is something I have worked very hard for and I would like to thank my team, my family, Golden Boy Promotions and Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym for all their support throughout my journey. I have had a great training camp focusing on the skills that I need to defeat an opponent like Kevin Mitchell. I know he is a strong and aggressive fighter and I feel his style of fighting will suit me. This will not be an easy fight.”

“This is the making of my career,” said Kevin Mitchell. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as an unbeaten world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter – if you allow him to do what he wants to do, but I believe I will shut him down. I’ve matured, I feel secure with the team around me and I have left that party boy behind, I am enjoying it again. There’s excitement in me, Tony Sims is getting the best out of me as a result; it’s a good feeling. I know I am going to win this fight.”

“Jorge Linares is a world champion fighter and is determined to give Kevin Mitchell a difficult time in the ring as he looks to defend his title on May 30,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Mitchell may have hometown advantage but Linares’ speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring. Make no mistake though: this will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite.”

Tickets are available now with limited numbers priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 that can be purchased at www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202. The £400 VIP packages are exclusively available through www.matchroomboxing.com.

A former world champion at the featherweight and super featherweight divisions, Barinas, Venezuela native Jorge “El Niño De Oro” Linares (38-3, 25 KOs) made it a trio of titles on December 30, 2014 when he knocked out Javier Prieto in four rounds in his adopted hometown of Tokyo, Japan to take the vacant WBC Lightweight Championship. It was another milestone in the 13-year career of the 29-year-old Linares, who has been one of boxing’s best of this era. Winner of bouts over Oscar Larios, Rocky Juarez, Jesus Chavez and Nihito Arakawa, Linares puts his seven-fight winning streak on the line against Mitchell.

A decorated amateur and professional boxer who has long been considered an elite European lightweight, “Mighty” Kevin Mitchell (39-2, 29 KOs) may have come up short in previous title fights against Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns, but with six consecutive wins, five by knockout, under his belt, the 30-year-old from Dagenham is showing top form as he heads into the biggest fight of his career. Currently the WBC Silver Lightweight Champion, a title he won by stopping Daniel Estrada in eight rounds in January, Mitchell will have all of England behind him when he faces off against Linares on May 30.

Jorge Linares vs. Kevin Mitchell is a 12-round fight for the WBC Lightweight World Championship presented by Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym. The Sky Sports Box Office broadcast airs live at 5:00 p.m. GMT.

Kell Brook will defend the IBF Welterweight title against Frankie Gavin on May 30 in London according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

I never expected to be out again so quickly but I can’t wait,” Brook said. “I respect Frankie for stepping up. He has called for this fight for a long time and after he was given a final eliminator against Tim Bradley it made sense for him to take the challenge.

“I feel like I’m unbeatable right now and Gavin isn’t going to be able to cope with my speed and power on fight night. The O2 is one of the best arenas in the world and it’s an honor to headline a card like this.”

“These are the fights you want to be part of and are where I belong,” Gavin said. “I’ve dreamt of a world title and I will be 100 percent ready physically and mentally for Kell Brook. Of course, it’s going to be tough but I believe Kell is beatable and I’ve always felt that I have got the skills and the team to cause an upset.”

Kell Brook made the 1st defense with a a stoppage after round four over mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield, England.

In round two, Brook dropped Dan with a hard right uppercut. Seconds later, Brook sent Dan to the canvas a again from another right hand. In round three, Dan’s nose began to bleed. In round four, Brook dropped Dan again from a right to the head. Brook scored his fourth knockdown at the bell to end round four when he landed a perfectly timed left hook. After the round, Dan’s corner had seen enough and the fight was stopped.

Brook, 145.9 lbs of Sheffield, UK is now 34-0 with 23 knockouts. Dan, 146.4 lbs of Montreal is now 34-3.

SHEFFIELD, England (March 27, 2015) – Defending IBF Welterweight World Champion and hometown favorite Kell Brook and No. 1 challenger Jo Jo Dan made weight Friday.

Tomorrow/Saturday, SHOWTIME Sports® will present the Sky Sports telecast of Brook vs. Dan live on SHOWTIME (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) from the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England. Sky Sports’ Jim Watt and Nick Halling will call the action from ringside.

Brook, of Sheffield, weighed 145½ pounds for his first title defense; Dan, a Romanian who now lives in Montreal, Canada, tipped the scales at 146¼ pounds.

Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) will defend the IBF 147-pound crown he took from previously undefeated Shawn Porter last August on SHOWTIME. Two weeks later, Brook was hospitalized with career-threatening injuries after getting stabbed in the thigh during a holiday in Spain.

Dan (34-2, 18 KOs) has won five in a row and eight of his last nine. He is the first Romanian- based Canadian to compete in a world title fight in England since Lucian Bute lost his IBF super middleweight crown to Carl Froch in five rounds in 2012.

Later Saturday evening on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs), of Mexico City, will defend his 126-pound belt against quick-fisted southpaw Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md. In the co-feature, from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, undefeated world-ranked Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, faces the more experienced once-beaten Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., in a 10-round bout for the WBO Intercontinental super welterweight championship.

(Selected press conference quotes):

KELL BROOK, IBF Welterweight Champion
“Every day has been a challenge, but we have done it. It’s amazing for me to defend the world title in Sheffield. I will be there knowing that I was meant to do this and I belong at the elite level.

“I’ve come a long way, fighting on undercards and in leisure centres to packing out this arena as a world champion. It took me a long time to get that belt and there is no way on earth that Jo Jo Dan is taking it off me, not a prayer. I am going in there to excite; you’ll see flash and power. I’ve kept the fans waiting too long to fight again and I owe them a big performance. If Jo Jo does what he says he’s going to do and bring the fight to me, the fans are in for a treat because you know how I fight.

“He looks like a man that has come to win. He’s the mandatory challenger like I was against [Shawn] Porter and I took the title off him. It’s every fighter’s dream to challenge for a world title and to take it, so I know that he’s put in 100 percent in the gym and he will leave it all in the ring tomorrow night.

“I would never overlook Jo Jo. It’s happened too many times in boxing that fighters are thinking about another fight and they lose the one in front of them. I am focused on him and making sure I take care of business. He’ll bring his best and I will bring my best, and I’ll show everyone why I am special. I am looking to knock him out.”

JO JO DAN, IBF No. 1 Contender and Mandatory Challenger
“I feel great and I am in the best shape of my life. I cannot wait for tomorrow.

“I know what Kell’s strengths and weaknesses are and I’ll show that in the ring. He was impressive against Porter but I am ready to adjust to whatever he can bring and I am ready for 12 hard rounds.

“I am concentrating on Kell Brook. I will get booed, he will get cheered — I don’t care about that, I’m so confident of winning that title.”

# # #

About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Sheffield, United Kingdom (3/25/15) – When Jo Jo Dan (34-2, 18KO’s) steps into the ring this Saturday against defending IBF welterweight champion and hometown hero Kell Brook (33-0, 22KO’s), Dan will be entering into hostile confines. The 10-thousand-seat Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, will be sold out. Other than a small Dan entourage of roughly 10 of his closest friends and family members, all in attendance will be screaming for the local star Brook. While this might make your ordinary boxer uncomfortable to say the least, Dan is not just your ordinary fighter.

“You can call me the Road Warrior I guess,” said Dan. “This is nothing new to me. It doesn’t bother me one way or the other. If you think about it, all the pressure is now on Brook to perform. I am fully aware that he has the home advantage with the fans behind him, but I plan to make them my fans with my performance. Inside the ring, it is just us and the referee. When they cheer for him, it pushes me to do better. I had a nine-week training camp for this fight, by far my best one ever. I am well prepared. On March 28th, I will be 100% ready for this challenge.”

The 33-year-old Romanian has been living and training in Montreal since 2002, two years prior to making his professional debut. Dan officially made his debut on April 21, 2004, scoring a second-round TKO over Jeff Hill. Over the next six years, Dan continued to rack up win after win, running his record to a perfect 26-0, before earning a shot to challenge for the vacant WBC Silver welterweight title against fellow undefeated contender Selcuk Aydin. Aydin was a feared puncher, having scored 15 stoppages in 19 victories, even earning the nickname “Mini Tyson” along the way. To earn the title, Dan was not only going to have to withstand the hard-charging, heavy-handed Aydin, but he was going to have to do so in his opponent’s backyard of Turkey.

After 12 rounds, Dan looked as though he had done everything he needed to do to earn the victory, as he dominated the Turkish-native in every aspect of the bout. BoxingScene.com scored the bout 117-111, with one judge having it a bit closer in Dan’s favor at 116-111. Unfortunately, the other two judges scored the bout for Aydin with scores of 114-113, giving the hometown favorite the split decision victory, in what was called one of the worst decisions in all of 2010.

Not to be deterred, Dan was quickly back in the ring, picking up three consecutive victories, and setting up another shot at Aydin; once again, in Aydin’s home country of Turkey. Despite badly breaking his jaw in the second round, Dan battled bravely the rest of the way to hear the final bell. However, after 12 hard rounds, Dan would drop another close decision to Aydin.

“After I lost the first fight, it took them a year to call for a rematch. I decided to go back because I was sure of beating him again in his hometown. Unfortunately, I got caught with a good shot in the second round and my whole fight plan went out the window. I had to go to war with him because I knew the doctor or my corner would stop the fight if they knew of my broken jaw. I refused to let m y corner take out my mouthpiece from the second round on, because I knew if they took it out, I wouldn’t be able to get it back in, and the fight would be stopped. I almost stopped him in the 11th round, but I went down for a count while off balance and they gave him that round 10-8 instead of me winning it 10-9. At the end, two judges gave him the fight by one point; the third judge was way off. Had I won the 11th round, instead of the slip being counted as a knockdown, then I would have won a split decision even with that broken jaw. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with in my life. I was pushing my jawbone with my tongue all fight long just so I could breathe. After the fight, the doctor couldn’t believe how badly my jaw had been broken, or that I was able to fight on for nearly the entire bout. I had to have two major surgeries to repair it and take a year off from boxing, but thank God I was able to make a full recovery.”

Following the second loss and ensuing layoff from the surgeries, Dan signed with powerful US promoter Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, and picked up two quick victories, setting up an IBF welterweight title eliminator for the number two ranking. His opponent was the highly regarded fast-rising welterweight contender Kevin Bizier, with the fight staged in Bizier’s backyard of Quebec. In what was named Canada’s 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’, Dan won a 12-round split decision in an absolute war.

Almost a year to the date from their first matchup, Dan and Bizier would meet again, at the same venue, this time with the winner earning the right to challenge the champion Brook. Aired on Showtime, Dan turned in yet another spectacular performance, and once again walked away with a 12-round split decision victory over the hometown hero Bizier, earning his shot against Brook this Saturday night.

“Brook is a very good fighter, it is not a mistake that he has become a world champion. I expect him to come out early and try to add me to his knockout list. I won’t be running though. We will find out very early if he can take as well as he can give,” stated Dan.

When asked if he believes that he needs a knockout to win based on past experiences, Dan answered calmly and with full confidence, “No.”

“I don’t train for knockouts. If the knockout comes, then it’s a bonus. I train to win every round. This fight is going to be watched around the world by millions of people. I have full confidence that it will be judged properly and the fighter who deserves the victory will be announced the winner. I am more experienced and better prepared than the previous times I challenged for the world title. I worked very hard to earn this mandatory position and I will not let this opportunity pass me by. On March 28th, I will become the IBF welterweight champion of the world.”

A win on Saturday will cap an amazing couple of weeks for Dan. This past week, Dan received his Canadian Citizenship and his wife is expected to give birth to their first baby daughter any day now.

To follow Jo Jo Dan on Twitter or Instagram, visit @JoJoDan1. You can also find him on Facebook at facebook.com/boxerJoJoDan.

The bout on Saturday night will be televised live by SKY Sports in the United Kingdom, as well as Stateside on Showtime®. Showtime will provide live coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 pm. PT. The bout is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and DiBella Entertainment.