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.

LAS VEGAS (January 28, 2020) – Top welterweight Yordenis Ugas shared his thoughts on training camp and previewed his upcoming showdown against Mike Dallas Jr. before he steps into the ring this Saturday, February 1 in the FS1 PBC Fight Night main event and FOX Deportes from Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.

“We are in the final days of a great training camp and I couldn’t feel any better going into this fight,” said Ugas. “Me and my trainer Ismael Salas are working on a great strategy that we believe will be successful. My timing is right on point and every round of sparring has been unbelievable. It’s been an outstanding camp in Las Vegas and I’m ready to go!”

Ugas will look to put on a performance worthy of his headlining slot the night before Super Bowl LIV, and further cement himself as a force to be reckoned with at welterweight.

“This is a huge weekend for sports fans,” said Ugas. “It’s very exciting to be in the main event one day before the Super Bowl. You know that when I get in the ring, you’re going to see action and great skill from start to finish. I always come to put on a great performance.”

Ugas will be challenged by the veteran Dallas, who has faced quality competition throughout his career and enters this matchup the winner of four of his last five bouts, with the only blemish a split draw in 2016 against Dusty Hernandez Harrison.

“Mike Dallas Jr. is a very skilled fighter who’s been in the ring with some very good opposition,” said Ugas. “He’s a crafty veteran who I know is coming to fight with all his heart. His only losses have come against top fighters. I’m taking this fight very seriously and I’ll have to be on my game to really make a statement.”

The Cuban-born Ugas believes that a statement on Saturday will put him back in position to challenge one of the welterweight elite for a second shot at a world title. In March 2019, Ugas came up just short of becoming champion, dropping a narrow decision to then WBC titlist Shawn Porter. Ugas returned to action for a WBC title eliminator in July 2019, and he performed impressively, dropping Omar Figueroa and handing him the first loss of his career.

“My lifelong dream ever since I first laced up a pair of gloves was to win a world title,” said Ugas. “I’ve come so close to accomplishing that dream, but for some reason I’ve come up short. I’m determined to be the best fighter I can be, and I know in my heart that I’m one of the best welterweights in the world. My goal is to become a world champion in 2020.”

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.

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ABOUT UGAS VS. DALLAS
Ugas vs. Dallas will pit top welterweight Yordenis Ugas against Mike Dallas in a 12-round attraction that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, February 1 from Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, an MGM Resorts property, in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The main telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features unbeaten top prospect Michel Rivera taking on veteran contender Fidel Maldonado Jr. in a 10-round lightweight duel, plus unbeaten prospect Omar Juarez in a super lightweight showdown against Mexico’s Angel Hernandez and hard-hitting prospect Raymond Guajardo in a six-round super welterweight affair against Clay Collard.

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.

BILOXI, MS. (December 23, 2019) – Top welterweight Yordenis Ugas will take on Mike Dallas Jr. in a 12-round showdown that headlines FS1 PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, February 1 from Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by the Cuban sensation Ugas who has made a rapid rise up the welterweight rankings in recent years and will look to step closer to a second world title fight with an impressive performance against the veteran Dallas.

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.

“This Super Bowl weekend will include great action on Saturday, February 1 with one of the welterweight division’s most dangerous and skilled fighters in Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Ugas has proven to be a force at 147-pounds and will need to be at his best against the crafty veteran Mike Dallas if he wants to earn another world title fight. Both fighters are going to leave it all in the ring on FS1 and FOX Deportes at Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.”

The 33-year-old Ugás (24-4, 11 KOs) has been one of the busiest welterweight contenders in boxing 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 in 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. Ugas returned to action in July to give former world champion Omar Figueroa his first loss as Ugas dropped his opponent in round one on his way to a unanimous decision.

“I’m very excited to be returning to the ring,” said Ugas. “This is a huge weekend for sports fans and I’m very motivated fighting one day before the Super Bowl. You know when you get a Ugas fight you get all action, all the time and I’m looking to put on a Super Bowl worthy performance. Mike Dallas is a smart tricky fighter with a lot of heart and I know he’ll be at his best. I’m fully focused on the task at hand but after I handle business, I want to fight the best welterweights in the world.”

The Bakersfield, California native Dallas (23-3-2, 11 KOs) enters February 1 on a five-fight unbeaten streak, including a split draw against undefeated contender Dusty Hernandez Harrison. The 33-year-old most recently defeated Moris Rodriguez in October and has challenged Lucas Matthysse for a world title while also stepping in against notable veterans Josesito Lopez and Mauricio Herrera. Dallas turned pro in 2008 after an impressive amateur career and was unbeaten in his first 18 bouts.

“I just want to say that I’m ready to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Dallas. “I’m ready to give it my all in the ring on February 1. This is going to be a great fight and I’m working extremely hard to be at my best when we step in there.”

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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.

Mike Dallas Jr. and Dusty Hernandez battled to a split draw in a 10-round Heavyweight bout at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.

In round three, Harrison was cut around the right eye. In round five, a big right hand put Harrison on the deck.

In round eight, Harrison landed what appeared to be a low blow but referee Malike Waleed ruled a low blow. The two had some terrific exchanges and appeared that Dallas may have deserved the nod.

It wasn’t to be as Dallas took a card 96-92, Harrison took a card 95-94 and one card was even at 94-94.

Dallas, 146.6 lbs of Bakersfield, CA is now 21-3-2. Harrison, 146.6 lbs of Washington, DC is 29-0-1.

Orlando Del Valle won a 8-round unanimous decision over Thomas Snow in a featherweight bout.

In round two, Del Valle landed a couple rights to the body that put Snow on the canvas. In round three, Del Valle landed a perfect right that dropped Snow.

Del Valle was cut on the bridge of the nose and over his left eye in round five.

Del Valle, 122.2 lbs of Dorado, PR won by scores of 76-74 on all cards and is now 21-2. Snow, 121.8 lbs of Washington, DC is 18-3.

Darmani Rock made a successful pro debut by stopping Carlos Black in the first round of their scheduled 4-round Heavyweight bout.

Rock hurt Black with a left hook and jumped all over him. Rock landed a hard right hand that sent Black to the canvas. When Black got to his feet, but he was wobbly and referee Michelle Myers stopped the bout at 1:54.

Rock, 246.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 1-0 with 1 knockout. Black, 231.4 lbs of Rockville, MD is 1-4.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2016) – On Wednesday, May 11, Washington, D.C.’s undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) and Bakersfield, California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs) participated in the final press conference at The Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. in advance of their May 13 fight at the DC Armory. Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr. will headline a throne boxing event in a 10-round welterweight bout that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. Co-featured fighters including Dorado, Puerto Rico’s Orlando “Orlandito” Del Valle (20-2, 15 KOs) who faces Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 12 KOs) of Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Darmani “Rock Solid” Rock (Pro Debut) who takes on the beltway’s own Carlos “DC Diamond Cutter” Black (1-3) were also in attendance at the press conference on Wednesday.

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

DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON:

“I want to thank Mike Dallas Jr. for coming into D.C. He has my respect for coming into my hometown and fighting. I’m really ready for this fight. I may have gotten in the best sparring that any fighter has ever gotten [for a fight]. I went from [sparring with] Canelo and came home to spar with Demetrius Hopkins, Austin Trout and Lamont Peterson. I don’t know if there’s better sparring than that. Camp has been great. I’m definitely ready for the fight. I want to thank FILA and Geico for supporting me. I hope everyone comes out on Friday, May 13 at the DC Armory. I know we will put on a good show.”

MIKE “THE SILENT ASSASSIN” DALLAS JR.:

“I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity and keeping me strong through hard times. I had a good camp. I want to thank BET for having me on. Come Friday, it’s going to be a good fight. I’m mentally and physically there. I dug deep in camp and I’m ready to bring it in this fight. I wish my opponent the best. It’s going to be a tough fight. I’m ready to go in there, give it my all and give you guys a great show. Come and watch the fight on May 13.”

ORLANDO “ORLANDITO” DEL VALLE:

“I would like to thank God, Roc Nation Sports and their entire staff for believing in me and giving me a second shot at my career. I won’t let you guys down. Becoming a world champion will be my only way to thank you guys so after this fight I’m ready for that.

“Thank you BET and TIDAL for allowing us to showcase our skills on national TV and over the internet so that boxing fans around the world can have a glimpse of what the near future holds.

“This fight means a lot to me. It’s the biggest fight of my career. I need to win this fight if I really want to get closer to a title shot. I’m in the greatest condition and shape of my life. On Friday night, expect nothing but fireworks from Orlando Del Valle. I guarantee you that a title shot for Orlando Del Valle will be coming. A champion for Roc Nation Sports is very, very close. So once again, thank you all and don’t miss the action on Friday night.”

DARMANI “ROCK SOLID” ROCK:

“I’m just looking forward to seeing everyone come out on May 13 at the DC Armory when I make my pro debut.”

DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO Boxing – Roc Nation Sports:

“An action packed undercard of emerging and established talent and exciting entertainment from the boxing hotbed of Washington, D.C. telecast live on BET and streamed live on TIDAL.com…May 13 is an event that no one should miss.

“This event would not have been possible without the support of a number of people and organizations and I would like to take a moment to thank the following…our sponsors: Corona, FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. I’d also like to thank Stephen Hill, Connie Orlando and their team at BET as well as Greg O’Dell and the staff of Events DC for helping us bring a throne boxing event to Washington, D.C.

“BET’s vision and commitment for putting together innovative live entertainment is a big reason why we are here today. We are thrilled to be partnered with BET to bring another throne boxing event to fans across the country. We’re also excited about the fact that as a non-traditional boxing network, they have thrown their hat into the ring which we believe has, and will continue to, attract new fans to the sport.

“Events DC works tirelessly to bring high profile events to Washington, D.C. and of late, they have helped to turn the District into a boxing hotbed.

STEPHEN HILL, President of Programming – BET:

“BET Networks is excited to partner with Roc Nation Sports to broadcast the second live throne boxing event on BET. Friday, May 13 will be lucky for us as we get to bring to the world this top-notch sporting event showcase including live entertainment from Roc Nation’s own Justine Skye, DJ Cipha Sounds and BET personality Big Tigger, who will be welcomed back to BET with open arms.

“At BET Networks we’re committed to delivering more variety and original programming and like throne boxing, our content is engaging, emotional and entertaining. We are thrilled to welcome throne boxing back to BET. We know audiences love live sporting events like boxing, so this partnership fits like a glove.

“Last but not least, thank you to Washington D.C., the birthplace of BET Networks, and myself, for hosting us in this great city. We look forward to a great fight on Friday night.”

ERIK MOSES, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Events DC Sports and Entertainment Division:

“Boxing is back in Washington in a very big way. We have had the pleasure of hosting three championship bouts in the last three months at the DC Armory, which is a great place to watch a fight if you have not been there.

“This fight card in particular has a very special place in my heart, as it should for others from Washington, because it’s about as local as it can be. We’ve got a hometown hero, who, if you have not seen him fight, see him now before you can’t afford to see him. Dusty Hernandez-Harrison is going to be a big star and he represents Washington, D.C. in a way that few do. Check him out now before you’re paying big money in Vegas to see him fight.

“The fight is also being broadcasted by another home-grown institution, and that is BET. It’s great to see sports back on BET, and boxing in particular, coming from the DC Armory as the host venue. Tickets are still available. We look forward to hosting everyone who wants to come out and cheer on all these fighters, but Dusty in particular so we can have another championship fighter in D.C.”

ANDREW HUFF, DC Boxing Commission:

“Roc Nation Sports and Events DC are helping to ensure that the legacy of the District’s boxing history continues. On behalf of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Adam Weers, who is the chairman of the District’s Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Miss Kimberly Lockett, who is another commissioner and myself, welcome to Washington, D.C.”

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Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, May 13, 2016 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. In addition to the great action inside the ring, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Doors open on fight night at 6:30 PM and the first fight begins at 6:45 PM. Follow the conversation using #throneboxing.

Tickets priced at $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

For additional information, visit www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.

For information on the DC Armory, visit www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2016) – On Tuesday, May 10, Washington, D.C.’s undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) and Bakersfield, California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs) participated in a media workout at Urban Boxing DC in Washington, D.C. in advance of their May 13 fight at the DC Armory. Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr. will headline a throne boxing event in a 10-round welterweight bout that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. Co-featured fighter Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 12 KOs) of Washington, D.C., who faces Dorado, Puerto Rico’s Orlando “Orlandito” Del Valle (20-2, 15 KOs), and undercard fighters Mike Balogun (5-0, 4 KOs) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who will fight Capitol Heights, Maryland’s Devon Mosley (0-4-1), and Greenbelt, Maryland’s Sam “Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed (2-0, 1 KO) of who takes on Damion Reed (2-13, 1 KO) of Danville Virginia were also in attendance during the media workout on Tuesday.

After shadow boxing around the ring and a few rounds working the bags, all five fighters participated in interviews with invited media members.

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

DUSTY HERNANDEZ-HARRISON:

“I think a lot of people are underestimating Mike Dallas Jr. I think they’re counting him out too early. A lot of times when people come back from a tough loss they train harder, they take it more seriously and erase all the mistakes they made in previous training camps, so that’s what I’m expecting him to do. Luckily Barry Hunter [Hernandez-Harrison’s trainer] knows him well as a fighter, so I’ve been going off of what he says.
“I’ve been getting great sparring in. I came home from sparring Canelo Alvarez and went right into to sparring with Lamont Peterson, Austin Trout, Demetrius Hopkins and other fighters on the card. Just really good sparring.

“I’m excited to fight on BET. It’s pretty cool. I think it’s good to bring boxing to a new audience. Hopefully, I put on a good fight to get them entertained. And we have Justine Skye performing before our bout. She’s got a completely different fan base than I do and I think it’s another good way to add a new audience to our event.

“I took a lot of things out of training with Canelo at his training camp. It was good to get a different perspective of a training camp. Usually it’s all about me, everything is catered to me and everyone is concerned about me, so it was good to take a step back and see how someone like him at the top level prepares for a world title fight. Luckily, I walked away knowing I’ve been doing everything right.

“Fighting in my hometown of Washington, D.C. is better for me. I feel like I have more to fight for. I have more to lose, which for me helps. You’ll never hear me say “no mas” in D.C.

“At my age, my preparation changes with every fight. I remember fighting in Connecticut in April then Miami in August, which seems really close, but Billy Briscoe [Hernandez-Harrison’s assistant trainer] was there and said ‘you’ve gotten so much stronger.’ That’s just the age that I am right now. I’m really maturing and getting that man strength. Every fight I feel a lot stronger.”

MIKE “THE SILENT ASSASSIN” DALLAS JR.:

“I feel very good ahead of this fight…confident and strong. I’m just ready to go out there and perform. There’s more pressure on him than me fighting in his hometown.

“I’ve gotten good training in for this fight. The Bay Area has a lot of good sparring out there right now. I had good training with Ben Bautista [Dallas Jr.’s trainer] and we’ve been pushing it. I had to dig deep in training to get through it and I’m ready to dig deep in the fight.

“I took some time off to let my body rest and heal and to let my mind get together. Now I feel great. I’m ready to come back and get back on top of things. I’m going to go out there and do my thing.

“I know Dusty is a pretty good fighter. I know he can box. I’m just ready to go out there, be smart and execute the game plan. I’m ready for people to know I’m back and there mentally. I’m ready to get back in the game and take care of these people in these bigger fights.”

THOMAS “KO” SNOW:

“I know my opponent [Orlando Del Valle] is a conventional fighter from Puerto Rico. He’s a basic fighter…a basic one-two puncher. He’s the best opponent I’ve faced to date. Both of us have two losses, so I know it’s a crossroads fight for us. We’re going to go in there and do what we came to do.

“I’ve fought in D.C. a lot of times. It’s my home.

“It’s awesome because I’ve known Dusty since he was six years old. We used to run together. We were just talking about that over in the corner. If you watch at any of his amateur fights, you’ll hear me in the background cheering him on. I’ve been in his life for a long time and it’s awesome seeing a young guy get his opportunity and make the sport of boxing grow.

“I know our amateur program in D.C. is awesome so you have to give a shout out to all the amateurs. D.C. is about to be the mecca of boxing once again. We will have six, seven or eight champions in the District of Columbia. It’s rich with boxing.

“I think fighting on BET is a great thing. I think it’s great that boxing is on free TV now and people don’t have to pay for it. For those people who can’t afford those things, I think it’s awesome for them and I think it will make the sport of boxing better.

“I’ve changed a lot over the years. I’m supposed to be dead, locked up or in jail. Having God in your life, your perspective of life and everything changes. I’m calm and comfortable in my situation. I thank God for the opportunity. I thank Roc Nation Sports for the opportunity and I thank everybody who is supporting Thomas “KO” Snow. We’re ready to do it.”

MIKE BALOGUN:

“During my career, when I was playing football, I used boxing as another form of training for cardio. After my career was over, it was natural for me to keep training and now we’re here. Football is a business. I got released and had another opportunity to play in the Canadian Football League as well as the Arena Football League, but football takes a toll on your body and I played the game for a long time. It was just natural for me to transition. I still needed something to stay active, because without activity, I didn’t feel like myself.

“I don’t know a lot about my opponent [Devon Mosley]. I know he’s a southpaw just like me That’s pretty much all I know and all I need to know.

“I’ve prepared for this fight just like any other fight…hard work and dedicating myself to my craft. At the end of the day I’ll reap the fruits of my labor.”

SAM “VANILLA GORILLA” CROSSED:

“I don’t know much about my opponent [Damion Reed]. I know he is a tall left-handed guy. I only watched a little video of him. I’ve been sparring a lot of left handers and then we just happened to get a left-handed guy, so it worked out pretty well.

“I’m still a little disappointed about my last performance in D.C., so I am going to come out and put on a show on Friday, May 13.

“Anyone you get in the ring with poses a threat, but at the same time, I am confident in what I have done to prepare. I’ve been sparring guys with 20 pro fights, so, I think I’m good.

“I played football and baseball growing up. Basically, what got me into boxing was that I got picked on when I was younger and smacked around on the basketball court. I always said when I grow up I want to be able to beat up the dudes that picked on me. What’s funny is that a lot of guys that bullied me are now begging me for tickets to my fights.”
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Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, May 13, 2016 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. In addition to the great action inside the ring, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Doors open on fight night at 6:30 PM and the first fight begins at 6:45 PM. Follow the conversation using #throneboxing.

Tickets priced at $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

For additional information, visit www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.

For information on the DC Armory, visit www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.

NEW YORK, NY (May 5, 2016) – Two televised bouts and four non-televised undercard bouts will round out the card when Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) of Washington, D.C. returns to the ring on Friday, May 13 to take on Bakersfield, California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. The fight will headline a throne boxing event that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET and will also be streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com.

Opening the telecast will be an eight-round featherweight showdown between Orlando “Orlandito” Del Valle (20-2, 15 KOs) and Thomas “KO” Snow (18-2, 5 KOs). The second televised fight will see the professional debut of highly touted Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Darmani “Rock Solid” Rock against the beltway’s own Carlos “DC Diamond Cutter” Black (1-3).

The non-televised undercard will feature Caguas, Puerto Rico’s Abner “Pin” Cotto (19-3, 9 KOs) against veteran Juan Jose “Pinocho” Beltran (29-25-3, 18 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico in an eight-round junior welterweight matchup; Brooklyn’s undefeated Junior “The Young God” Younan (8-0, 6 KOs) facing Breedon, West Virginia’s Austin “Speedy” Marcum (10-6-1, 5 KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight fight; former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun (5-0, KOs) of Upper Marlborough, Maryland and Devon Mosley (0-4-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland squaring off in a four-round heavyweight bout; and Greenbelt, Maryland’s Sam “Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed (2-0, 1 KO) against Damion Reed (2-13, 1 KO) of Danville, Virginia in a four-round cruiserweight fight. 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (8-0, 6 KOs) of Zhengzhou, China will also see action in a six-round heavyweight bout against an opponent to be determined.

Roc Nation Sports will bring names from the entertainment world to the event, which will showcase a special performance by Roc Nation’s own breakout artist singer/songwriter Justine Skye. The Brooklyn songstress and social media maven who garnered attention, and over two million YouTube views, with her cover of Drake’s “Headlines” and current single, “I’m Yours” featuring Vic Mensa, is currently taking over radio airwaves nationwide. The evening will also feature a DJ set from Roc Nation’s multi-talented Cipha Sounds who will keep the energy up between bouts. Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan, afternoon host on Atlanta’s V-103, former host of BET’s Rap City and 106 & Park, and currently featured on Oxygen’s “Like A Boss”, will serve as the event’s host.

Tickets priced at $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (http://bit.ly/may13throneboxing ) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Orlando Del Valle made his professional debut on April 11, 2008 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he knocked out Rey Rivera in the third round. By October 2009, he had compiled a record of 7-0, including a third-round knockout victory over Christopher Rivera at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On June 6, 2011, at Roseland Ballroom in New York City, he notched an impressive ten-round unanimous decision victory over Dat Nguyen in a fight telecast on Showtime’s ShoBox. On September 29, 2012, Del Valle, with a record of 16-0, made is HBO debut at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut against Three-Time World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. Darchinyan controlled a majority of the bout, relying on his experience to pressure the young contender. In the ninth round Del Valle’s perseverance almost carried the day when he staggered Darchinyan with a tremendous left hook, badly hurting the former world champion. Darchinyan, however, was able to survive the round and hold on for a ten-round unanimous decision victory. After the defeat, Del Valle moved to Mexico City to train with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain. He rebounded in 2013 with two technical knockout victories over Andre Wilson and Juan Jose Beltran. On May 31, 2014, in a bout televised by HBO Latino from the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Del Valle faced another tough opponent in undefeated fellow Puerto Rican Luis Rosa. The ten-round, evenly matched fight went the distance producing a memorable, crowd-pleasing battle. In the fifth round, Del Valle sent Rosa to the canvas with a left hook and in the seventh round Rosa was deducted a point for a late punch, but in the end Rosa was awarded a unanimous decision victory. Since the Rosa setback, Del Valle has won all three of his fights, with none of them going the distance, including his last fight on April 9, in which he scored a second round technical knockout win over Josh Crespo at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire. Del Valle will look to keep that streak going on May 13 against Snow.

Deeply rooted in D.C. and the capital community, Thomas Snow is an experienced fighter with an impressive record of 18-2 (10 KOs). Snow, who supplements his boxing earnings by working as a floor technician at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, began boxing at the age of ten at Round One Gym in Capitol Heights, Maryland, compiling a stellar amateur record of 129-10, which included three Washington D.C. Metro Golden Gloves championships. In 2004, he took home the national PAL amateur tournament title in the 119-pound weight class. On November 5, 2005, he made his professional debut with authority, knocking out Ronald Viera in the first round at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He would go on to win his next nine fights, with seven of those wins coming by way of knockout, before he ran into fellow undefeated prospect and future world title challenger Teon Kennedy who dealt Snow his first professional loss in July of 2008. A streak of six consecutive wins would follow before he suffered another setback, again against an undefeated prospect in Nate Green. Following the defeat, Snow took nearly two and a half years off from boxing. The southpaw returned to the ring on March 6, 2015 and continued to live up to his “KO” moniker with a first round technical knockout win over Christopher Sanchez at the Omar Shrine in Charleston, South Carolina. Snow followed that win with a second round knockout of Tibor Nadori on December 4, 2015 at the Rosecroft Raceway close to home in Fort Washington, Maryland. He now faces a crossroads fight when he takes on Del Valle on May 13.

At the age of nineteen, Darmani Rock is already drawing comparisons to former heavyweight greats of the past. Rock has received high praise for his powerful jab and ambidexterity. Standing at 6’4”, he moves with an unparalleled lightness and speed for a fighter his size. Rock earned nation-wide accolades following a banner year in 2014 when he took home the USA Boxing Junior and Youth Open, Youth Continental and Youth World super heavyweight titles. During the 2014 Junior and Youth Open in Reno, Nevada, Rock shut out the 2013 National Youth Champion, John Luna, 3-0. This impressive performance was followed by another super heavyweight title at the Youth Continental Championships in March 2014 in Quito, Ecuador where he defeated Argentina’s Kervin Espinola, 3-0. Rock then took home the gold medal at the prestigious World Youth Championships in Bulgaria in April 2014 by a 2-1 decision over Germany’s Peter Kadiru. Rock also took home the 2014 World Junior Amateur Championship and capped off 2014 by being named Philadelphia’s Amateur Boxer of the Year at the annual Briscoe Awards. His most noteworthy win, however, came in May 2015 when he beat Cam Awesome, a career amateur who has been called the next Chris Byrd, in Las Vegas for the National Golden Gloves title. Rock also captured the 2015 U.S. National Amateur super heavyweight championship. He ended his amateur career as the number one rated super heavyweight in the United States (and the number five rated super heavyweight in the world) going 19-5 in national tournaments. His assault on the heavyweight division begins May 13 against Black.

Rockville, Maryland resident Carlos Black is better known to capitol region boxing as the “DC Diamond Cutter.” Turning professional late in life at the age of thirty, making his professional debut on April 23, 2015 at Tall Cedar’s Hall in Baltimore, Maryland scoring a four-round unanimous decision over the more experienced Lonnie Kornegay. Black, however, would fall short of victory in his next three bouts to George Arias on May 8, 2015 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, to Dennis Benson by a hard-fought four-round split decision in his return to Tall Cedar’s Hall on July 9, 2015 and to Jerry Forrest on September 26, 2015 at the Masonic Temple in Norfolk, Virginia. Tough like his nickname and propelled by his steadfast will, he believes he can one day fulfill his dream of becoming heavyweight champion of the world. That dream will come a step closer to reality should he defeat the highly touted Rock.

Abner Cotto is part of the famous Cotto boxing family of Puerto Rico. Legendary Miguel Cotto is a second cousin, while uncles Miguel Cotto Sr. and Evangelista Cotto were pro boxers themselves. Cotto is looking for his second straight win following a loss in a world-title elimination bout against current WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Javier Fortuna. On May 13 he faces the vastly experienced Juan Jose Beltran who has faced current World Champion Leo Santa Cruz and former World Champions Eric Morel and Rico Ramos.

Brooklyn’s unbeaten Junior Younan faces his stiffest test to date on May 13 when he faces Austin Marcum. Younan returned following a nine-month injury induced layoff on March 26 on the Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera undercard by pounding out a four-round unanimous decision over Carlos Lozano. Marcum is riding a four-fight winning streak and plans to take his 20-year-old opponent into unfamiliar territory, as Younan has yet to fight past four rounds.

Former Washington Redskin Mike Balogun looks to make it six straight wins since turning professional as a boxer in October of 2014. Balogun was a standout inside linebacker at the University of Oklahoma and spent a year on the Redskins’ roster in 2010. He also played briefly for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers before retiring and becoming a full time boxer. Looking to stop Balogun’s rise as a pugilist on May 13 will be fellow local fighter Devon Mosley who is seeking his first professional win.

Local favorite Sam Crossed, has limited amateur experience, which his opponent Damion Reed, a 16-fight veteran hopes to exploit. Crossed, who works as bar tender, is expected to have hundreds of supporters behind him as he attempts to go to 3-0. Reed recently lost two hard-fought majority decisions to two cruiserweights and has a draw with Ken Moody.

Standing 6’6” and weighing 250 pounds, Chinese heavyweight sensation Zhang Zhilei has shown boxing skills rarely seen in a big man since turning pro in August 2014. Undefeated in eight fights as a professional, Zhilei was a highly-decorated amateur, winning a silver medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, as well as bronze medals at the 2007 world amateur championships and 2009 AIBA world championships. He faces an opponent to be determined on May 13.

Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas Jr., a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, May 13, 2016 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET and streamed live on global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.com. The event is also sponsored by FILA, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Shoe City, Pepsi, RCN and The DC Lottery. In addition to the great action inside the ring, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience including a live musical performance by Justine Skye as well as DJ Cipha Sounds and event host Big Tigger who will keep the energy at a high level throughout the event. Follow the conversation using #throneboxing.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter @rocnation, on Instagram @rocnation/@rocnationsports and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

For more information, visit www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.

For more information on the DC Armory, visit www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.

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ABOUT ROC NATION SPORTS
Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation, launched in spring 2013. Founder Shawn “JAY Z” Carter’s love of sports lead to the natural formation of Roc Nations Sports, helping athletes in the same way Roc Nation has been helping artists in the music industry for years. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field. Roc Nation Sports conceptualizes and executes marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company which represents Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto and Two-Time World Champion Andre Ward, in August 2014. Roc Nation Sports’ roster includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, James Young, Dez Bryant, Ndamukong Suh, Rusney Castillo, Yoenis Cespedes, Jaelen Strong, Todd Gurley, Wilson Chandler, Erick Aybar, Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein, Jerome Boateng, Miguel Sano, CJ Prosise, Ronnie Stanley, Caris Levert, Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.??

ABOUT EVENTS DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, deliver premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. The most recent addition is Gateway DC, an innovative and versatile space featuring a covered and open-air pavilion in the center of a 1-acre park, conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

ABOUT TIDAL
TIDAL is a global, experiential, entertainment platform built for fans, directly from artists around the world. TIDAL members enjoy exclusively curated content that?directly connect artists with their fans in multiple ways. The service offers high-fidelity, CD sound quality music, high resolution video, an opportunity to discover new artists via TIDAL Discovery, and unique experiences via TIDAL X. TIDAL is available in more than 46 countries, with more than a 40 million song catalog and 130,000 high quality videos. For more information, please visit www.tidal.com. Follow TIDAL at http://facebook.com/tidal, http://twitter.com/tidalhifi and https://instagram.com/tidal/

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2016) – Cruiserweight sensation Sam “The Vanilla Gorilla” Crossed (2-0, 1 KO) of Greenbelt, MD, will be stepping back into the squared-circle on May 13, at the DC Armory in a four round bout on the undercard of the BET televised throne boxing event headlined by D.C. native Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) against California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs). This will be the third fight for Crossed since making his pro debut on December 4, 2015 in front of a throng of his supporters, a bout in which he scored a first round TKO against John Felty.

On the Sunday before his second bout on February 27, in front of a sold-out crowd at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C., Crossed was hospitalized with a stomach virus that landed him in the ICU for two days. Against the advice of his doctors and management he went through with the scheduled match up. The fighter known as the Vanilla Gorilla went on to win a dominant four round decision over crafty veteran Martez Williamson.

“I sold a ton of tickets, not including all the people I knew would buy them at the door, so I didn’t want to let my fans down,” Crossed said. “I felt terrible in the ring that night, I just had to gut it out.”

“Honestly fights like that are what I am going to need to develop as a fighter. I would have loved to get a knockout, but knowing I could go the distance facing that kind of adversity told me a lot about myself as a fighter.”

Crossed is quickly becoming a powerhouse ticket seller in the Washington, D.C., region partially for the notoriety he gained by starring opposite Mike Tyson in a local Super Bowl commercial, but more so for his fan-friendly style and devastating power.

“It’s pretty funny people see me now and say – aren’t you the Vanilla Gorilla?” Crossed said. “It’s been a kind of a surreal experience since I am just a regular blue-collar guy.”

Working as a mechanic during the day and as bartender at night, Crossed still finds the time to train six days a week in addition to his grueling schedule.

“I didn’t have huge amateur background like a lot of fighters in D.C. so I just need to work twice as hard both inside and outside of the ring to reach my goals.”

Tickets priced at $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are available now online at www.SamTheVanillaGorillaCrossed.com .For local pickup and more information call (301) 448-9824 or (703) 863-4358.

Follow Sam Crossed on Twitter at @SamCrossed301 on Instagram at @VanillaGorilla301 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VanillaGorilla301

NEW YORK, NY (March 30, 2016) – Roc Nation Sports is pleased to announce that undefeated Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0, 16 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will return to the ring on Friday, May 13 when he takes on Bakersfield, California’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (21-3-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. The fight will headline a throne boxing event that will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Wednesday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/15005069CFC435E1) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

“I am really excited that my 30th fight will take place in Southeast D.C., where I was born and raised,” said Hernandez-Harrison. “It will be great to be back in D.C. where I haven’t fought since 2014, and I can’t wait to put on a show for all the fans in attendance and watching across the nation on BET. Dallas presents an interesting challenge that I am ready to face. I will be getting world class sparring for this bout and will be more than ready for anything he brings to the table on May 13.”

“I’ve heard Dusty is pretty good, but I will be the biggest step up for him by far,” said Dallas Jr. “At 147 pounds, I feel very strong. I’m more mature and more focused. I’m back.”

“All of us at Roc Nation Sports look forward to bringing Dusty Hernandez-Harrison back to fight in front of his hometown fans against Mike Dallas Jr. in the midst of the professional boxing resurgence that is taking place in Washington, D.C.,” said David Itskowitch COO of Boxing for Roc Nation Sports. “Fans in attendance at the DC Armory and those watching across the country on BET have a great night of boxing and entertainment in store for them.”

“BET is excited to once again partner with Roc Nation Sports on our second throne boxing event, positioning BET Networks as a go-to destination for premier live boxing events,” said Stephen G. Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks. “Roc Nation Sports has proven to be an innovator in the entertainment space and as we continue to grow and expand our partnership, BET is thrilled to offer content as diverse as our audience.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Roc Nation Sports and BET to the historic DC Armory” said Erik A. Moses, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Events DC. “It is certainly another capital moment in D.C., considering the rich history of professional boxing. The nation’s capital is still a fight town and to have the opportunity to showcase that again in the DC Armory is a prodigious honor.”

May 13 will also feature the professional debut of highly touted Philadelphia heavyweight prospect Darmani “Rock Solid” Rock against an opponent to be determined.

“I’m thrilled to be making my pro debut on May 13 at the DC Armory,” said Rock. “My team and I have worked hard and it has all been building up to this moment. I’m looking forward to my rise to the top of the heavyweight division which begins on May 13.”

Hailing from Washington, D.C., Dusty Hernandez-Harrison has been touted as the city’s “best boxing prospect since Sugar Ray Leonard” by the Washingtonian Magazine. He began fighting at the age of six at the boxing exhibition at the Ritz Nightclub in Northwest D.C. and became a sanctioned amateur at the age of 8. At the time of his first pro bout at the age of 17, Hernandez-Harrison compiled an amateur record of 167-30, winning several Ringside World Championships, National Silver Gloves Championships and three straight National Golden Gloves Championships from 2007-09. On June 11, 2011, as the youngest licensed professional fighter at the time, Hernandez-Harrison made his pro debut defeating Alphonso Alexander via a unanimous decision at the Desoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Six months later in his third pro fight, Hernandez-Harrison made his hometown debut on the undercard of the HBO World Championship Boxing broadcast of Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson and dazzled with a first round technical knockout of Terrell Davis. On his way to being crowned WBC Youth Welterweight World Champion in November 2013, Hernandez-Harrison stopped former National Golden Gloves Champion Kelly Wright in the fourth round in February of that year and two weeks later defeated Aaron Anderson via a six-round unanimous decision. In April 2013 at Dover Downs Casino and Resort in Dover, Delaware, he won a unanimous decision against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Garcia and on May 18 in front of a raucous hometown crowd of 3,000 at the University of the District of Colombia, he knocked out Eddie Soto with a right hand in the fifth round. Hernandez-Harrison proceeded to earn the “2013 Knockout of the Year” for the Soto fight and the “2013 Fighter of the Year” from Go Fight Live (GFL.TV). On November 2, 2013 at Madison Square Garden, Hernandez-Harrison became the WBC Youth World Champion, winning a ten-round, unanimous decision over Josh “Pit Bull” Torres. Two months later, in his first nationally televised fight on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, Hernandez-Harrison outlasted Tim Witherspoon Jr. via an eighth round unanimous decision victory, after which actor and director Mark Wahlberg tweeted that Hernandez-Harrison is “the truth.” Featured again on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on March 7, 2014, Hernandez-Harrison faced southpaw Mike Balasi and came back to drop Balasi to the canvas twice en route to a six-round unanimous decision victory. On January 9, 2015, soon after signing a promotional agreement with Roc Nation Sports, Hernandez-Harrison headlined the promoter’s inaugural event at The Theater at Madison Square in a fight televised by Fox Sports 1. In a battle for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship against New Yorker Tommy “The Razor” Rainone, Hernandez-Harrison scored a dominant ten-round unanimous decision victory. In his most recent fight on January 29, 2016, Hernandez-Harrison scored a decisive win over Angel Hernandez via a third round technical knockout at The Belvedere in Elk Grove, Illinois. Hernandez-Harrison recently entered into agreements with FILA and GEICO to be a brand ambassador for both companies. He is the only professional boxer to represent each prestigious brand.

Mike Dallas Jr. was born into a boxing family and tabbed by experts during his teen years as a future professional star. At age 29, he’s in the midst of a comeback that lands him in Washington, D.C. against local unbeaten favorite Dusty Hernandez-Harrison that may be the most important fight of his life. As an amateur, Dallas shared a ring with current world champions Terence Crawford (whom Dallas claims he beat three times) and Danny Garcia as well as three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren. He won multiple national amateur titles and qualified for the 2004 and 2008 Olympic trials. Dallas turned professional on March 20, 2008 against Alejandro Valladares in San Jose, California and won by unanimous decision. He would go unbeaten in his next 17 fights. When he faced Josesito Lopez for the vacant NABF super lightweight title on January 28, 2011 in his national television debut on ESPN at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, he was shockingly stopped in the seventh round. Five months later, Dallas met fellow rising contender Mauricio Herrera. In an excellent fight, again at Pechanga Resort and Casino, Dallas lost by a razor thin majority decision. Despite the setback, Dallas’ performance showed boxing experts he was back to contender status. In his next two fights, Dallas dominated former Miguel Angel Gonzales on February 17, 2012 and knocked out Javier Castro on June 22, 2012 to capture the WBO Latino light welterweight title. Those wins brought Dallas to his biggest opportunity to date, an WBC super lightweight interim world title fight against Lucas Matthysse, on January 26, 2013 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Just after negotiations for the fight were finalized, Dallas learned that his father, Mike Dallas Sr., who introduced his son to boxing at age six, passed away suddenly at just 45 years of age. Dallas Jr., however, did not pull out of the Matthysee fight. On fight night, Dallas Jr. was all there physically, but mentally a fight of that magnitude was too much under the circumstances and Matthysee, probably the hardest puncher in boxing, imposed his will on Dallas, scoring a first round knockout. He then took the break he should have taken before the Matthysee fight, spending two years away from the ring. When Dallas felt the urge to fight again, he contacted his trainer Ben Bautista and the pair ventured to Tijuana, Mexico, where Dallas picked up two quick wins against Alejandro Alonso on November 20, 2015 and most recently on December 19 against Odillon Rivera. He now returns to fight in the spotlight again on May 13 in a true crossroads fight against Hernandez-Harrison.

At the age of nineteen, Darmani Rock is already drawing comparisons to former heavyweight greats of the past. Rock has received high praise for his powerful jab and ambidexterity. Standing at 6’4”, he moves with an unparalleled lightness and speed for a fighter his size. Rock earned nation-wide accolades following a banner year in 2014 when he took home the USA Boxing Junior and Youth Open, Youth Continental and Youth World super heavyweight titles. During the 2014 Junior and Youth Open in Reno, Nevada, Rock shut out the 2013 National Youth Champion, John Luna, 3-0. This impressive performance was followed by another super heavyweight title at the Youth Continental Championships in March 2014 in Quito, Ecuador where he defeated Argentina’s Kervin Espinola 3-0. Rock then took home the gold medal at the prestigious World Youth Championships in Bulgaria in April 2014 by a 2-1 decision over Germany’s Peter Kadiru. Rock also took home the 2014 World Junior Amateur Championship and capped off 2014 by being named Philadelphia’s Amateur Boxer of the Year at the annual Briscoe Awards. His most noteworthy win, however, came in May 2015 when he beat Cam Awesome, a career amateur who has been called the next Chris Byrd, in Las Vegas for the National Golden Gloves title. Rock also captured the 2015 U.S. National Amateur super heavyweight championship. He ended his amateur career as the number one rated super heavyweight in the United States (and the number five rated super heavyweight in the world) going 19-5 in national tournaments. In February 2016, Rock signed an exclusive promotional agreement with Roc Nation Sports.

Hernandez-Harrison vs. Dallas, a 10-round welterweight fight which is presented by Roc Nation Sports takes place Friday, May 13, 2016 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. This fight headlines a throne boxing event presented by Corona Extra and will be televised live on BET beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

In addition to the great action inside the ring, the May 13 edition of throne boxing on BET will feature several notable Roc Nation Sports touches that offer a unique fan experience, including a live musical performance as well as a host and a name DJ to keep the energy at a high level throughout the event.

Follow the conversation using #throneboxing.

For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

For more information, visit www.bet.com. Join the conversation on the following social media platforms: on Twitter by using hashtag #BET #throneboxing and follow at @BET; on Facebook by liking the fan page at www.facebook.com/BET; and on Instagram @betnetworks.

For more information on the DC Armory, visit www.eventsdc.com and follow on Twitter at @dcsportsent.

The opening minute of Saturday’s main event on Showtime, Argentine junior welterweight titlist Lucas Matthysse versus American Mike Dallas, showed such a disparity of speed, the Argentine in black so much slower than the American in silver, one could be forgiven sliding from the edge of his chair to its back – the better for observing 12 rounds of violence. But 86 seconds later Matthysse knocked Dallas inanimate with a right hand, and whatever other thoughts traffic in a cluttered mind got canceled as if they were Dallas’ own cache.

Surely none were what thoughts filled Dallas’ mind immediately before the blue glove on Matthysse’s right fist did, but in case any doubts persist, here is onesuch that happened during Matthysse’s ringwalk: Can the works of South American artist Fernando Botero improve our understanding of South American prizefighter Lucas Mathysse?

In the tears he wept immediately after knocking-out Mike Dallas at 2:26 of round 1, Matthysse betrayed a set of emotions more complicated than what American sports fans usually must decipher. They were not anything like the clichéd tears-of-joy from which millions of Americans will drink Sunday, immediately following the Super Bowl, when any one of 20 or 30 cameras will keep chasing athletes’ countenances till someone on the winning team is found to emote for America, and “put in perspective” for us how profoundly meaningful these 21 weeks of games and thousands of hours of commercials have been.

In Matthysse’s tears was something nearer ambivalence; the act of rendering another man unconscious is cathartic, but if catharses comprised joy alone, we’d call them joyful outbursts and not catharses. Matthysse’s authenticity was particularly telling when set against his interviewer’s callousness and cynicism. Matthysse ingested an amino-acid pill of some kind before his round of work with Dallas, and admitted to washing it down with (yerba) mate – a South American tea made from dried leaves and considered the national drink of Argentina – assuring his interviewer it was the same concoction he took before every fight, failing nary a drug test along the way.

Matthysse’s answer, and the way it disarmed the requisite postfight controversy on which this interviewer now bases his career, such as it is, brought a palpable deflation to what followed, even as what followed was an examination of the human condition that is the very reason a sport brutal and grotesque as ours shows the endurance it does. Imagine what might have come of an inquiry simple as: “What other than victory is making you cry, Lucas?” Or would the minute-long detour such complexity might bring hinder too overtly Showtime’s next promotional skit?

When he is considered at all by American museum-goers, Colombian artist Fernando Botero is treated as a descendent of 20th-century Mexicans – Rivera’s shapes, Kahlo’s colors – with a flair for Warhol’s poster-making digestibility, and a bent for depicting obesity. It is a facile analysis, of course, but it does the trick for persons generally less interested in looking at art than being seen looking at art. Botero, conversely, began by doing something that almost could be called a caricature of what Pablo Picasso saw while standing before Diego Velazquez: “The purpose of my style is to exalt the volumes, not only because that enlarges the area in which I can apply more color, but also because it conveys the sensuality, the exuberance, the profusion of the form I am searching for.”

Botero did it, though, without Picasso’s willingness to exploit others’ gifts for irony – for saying “oh yes, I see so many bulls’ faces hidden in ‘Guernica’!” while meaning something quite the opposite. In his own words, Botero is after sensuality and exuberance, of colored voluptuousness before sexuality, and he discovered that compressing his subjects, making them squatter – though rarely fatter – allowed him to make what Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa calls Botero’s “sumptuous abundance.”

A South American compressing forms and making exuberance is exactly what happened Saturday. What Matthysse threw at Dallas was a standard enough counter – catch the jab, release the right hand over it – but Matthysse’s power compressed the form and made it something else entirely. There was composition there, as well; it was a more educated move than Matthysse’s detractors, who see wild swings and little head movement, credit him with. A moment after being hit by Dallas’ first double jab, which arrived almost too quickly, Matthysse posited Dallas was not returning his left fist to his chin before throwing the second punch. Matthysse, then, considerably slower of hand than Dallas, did not need to punch with Dallas so much as place his right hand in the space between Dallas’ two jabs. He did that, and Dallas went stiff and landed on his face and stayed there.

In his essay “A Painter of Lost and Angry Pictures” curator David Elliott writes: “If Botero has often been intent on emphasizing the aesthetic attributes of his works, these cannot be isolated from their content which, while avoiding sentimentality or nostalgia, is often intensely emotional.”

And so it is for Matthysse as well. As he showed after rendering Mike Dallas unconscious, Matthysse is not machine-like as his supporters believe. He is, in his way, sumptuous; there is a vulnerability to him, be it in his body art or absence of postfight machismo, that reaches women before it reaches men – or didn’t you hear the pitch of cheers for Matthysse as he made his way to the ring? Matthysse, like his countryman and occasional sparring partner Sergio Martinez, is an entirely more complicated animal than the profitably cardboard figures of obliging American athletes. The difference between a South American like Matthysse and an American like, say, Adrien Broner is the difference between a Botero and a Warhol.

***

Author’s note: Special thanks to Art Services International, whose excellent collection of essays in its catalog “The Baroque World of Fernando Botero” proved helpful.

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

Lucas Matthysse made a big statement in calling for a fight with the winner of Danny Garcia and Zab Juah as he scored a spectacular first round knockout over Mike Dallas Jr. in a scheduled twelve round Super Lightweight bout at the Joint at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

It took one blistering right hand to knock Dallas out on his feet and he plummeted to the canvas as Matthysse missed two follow up shots and referee Robert Byrd called the bout off immedately.

Matthysse, of Argentina is now 33-2-1 with 31 knockouts. Dallas of Bakersfield, CA is now 19-3-1.

Jesus Soto Karass scored ten round majority decision over Selcuk Aydin in a Welterweight bout.

Soto Karass pushed the action and consistently had Aydin backing up.

Scores were 97-93 on two cards and 95-95.

Soto Karass, 148 lbs of North Hollywood, CA is now 27-8-3-1. Aydin, 149 lbs of Tonazza, Turkey is now 23-2.

Jermell Charlo remained perfect by scoring an eighth round stoppage over Harry Joe Yorgey in a scheduled ten round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Charlo looked very good and flashed explosive speed that led to two knockdowns in round two. The first knockdown was scored from a hard right hand. Again it was the right that was responsible for the second knockdown.

Yorgey was not very active and it was Charlo’s skills that was the cause of the inactivity. Yorgey started to bleed from around the left eye in round seven. Charlo scored a vicious one-two combination that sent Yorgey slowly to his knee in round eight. Yorget beat referee Kenny Bayless count but took a step backwards and the fight was waved off at 1:09 of round eight.

Charlo, 153 1/2 lbs of Houston, TX us 20-0 with 10 knockouts. Yorgey, 153 1/2 lbs of Bridgeport, PA is now 25-2-1.

Francisco Vargas scored a second round stoppage over Ira Terry in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

Vargas landed a hard right hand that sent Terry down for the ten count and the bout was waved off at 1:46 of round two.

Garcia, 130 lbs of Mexico City is now 15-0-1 with 12 knockouts. Terry, 129 lbs of Memphis, TN is now 26-11.

Julian Williams remained undefeated by stopping Jeremiah Wiggins in round seven of an eight round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Williams dominated the action and hurt Wiggins repeatedly throughout the fight. Williams had extremely string rounds in three, four, five and six as landed hard shots with both hands. Wiggins stayed in the fight by occasionally landing combinations but never had Williams in serious trouble.

Williams landed a huge left hook in round seven that set off a barrage of punches on the ropes that facilitated Wiggins corner to throw in the towel.

Williams, 154 1/s lbs of Philadelphia is now 11-0-1 with six knockouts. Wiggins, 151 lbs of Newport News, VA is now 10-2-1

2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. drilled overmatched Nathan Butcher in the first round of a scheduled four round Welterweight bout.

Spence landed a right to the body that was followed by a vicious right and left to the head that had Butcher sprawling into the ropes and referee Russell Mora stopped the bout at 1:03 of round one.

Spence of Dallas is 3-0 with all wins coming via knockout. Butcher of Huntington, WV is 0-2.

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 25, 2013) – All the boxers competing on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and SHOWTIME EXTREME tomorrow, Saturday, January 26, made weight Friday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The always-exciting, hard-hitting WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse (32-2, 30 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, will defend against confident, upset-minded Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs), of Bakersfield, Calif., in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In what will be an exciting co-feature, Selcuk Aydin (23-1, 17 KO’s), of Trabzon, Turkey, will be opposed by Jesus Soto Karass (26-8-3, 17 KO’s), of Los Mochis, Mexico, in a 10-round junior middleweight match. Jermell Charlo (19-0, 9 KO’s), of Houston, Texas, collides with Harry Joe Yorgey (25-1-1, 12 KO’s), of Bridgeport, Pa., for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Title in the opening bout of the SHOWTIME telecast.

The main event on SHOWTIME EXTREME (8 p.m. ET/PT) will pit unbeaten 2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco Vargas (13-0, 10 KO’s) against Ira Terry (26-10, 16 KO’s), of Memphis, Tenn., in a 10-round junior lightweight bout. Philadelphia’s Julian Williams (10-0-1, 5 KO’s) takes on Jeremiah Wiggins (10-1-1, 5 KO’s), of Newport News, Va., in an eight-round super welterweight SHO EXTREME opener.

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, are on sale at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

The SHOWTIME tripleheader is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T with Matthysse vs. Dallas being presented in association with Arano Box Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions, Aydin vs. Soto Karass being presented in association with Arena-Box Promotion and Charlo vs. Yorgey being presented in association with Banner Promotions.

WEIGHTS: Matthysse weighed 138.5 pounds, Dallas Jr. 139.5 pounds; Aydin tipped the scale at 149 pounds, Soto Karass 148. Charlo and Yorgey each weighed 153.5 pounds. Vargas weighed 131, Terry 129; Williams weighed 154.5 and Wiggins, 151.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @TheJointLV,@hardrockhotellv, @SHOsports, follow the conversation using or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 24, 2013) – President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya and the fighters participating in Saturday’s first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and SHOWTIME EXTREME telecasts of 2013 participated in a final press conference Thursday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

One of the most-feared punchers in boxing, WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse will defend his title against dangerous Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. in the main event live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Knockout artist Matthysse (32-2, 30 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, boasts a knockout percentage of almost 90 percent and is looking to make a statement in the 140-pound division against the determined Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs), of Bakersfield, Calif.

In the all-action co-feature, world-rated contender Selcuk Aydin (23-1, 17 KO’s) and Mexican warrior Jesus Soto Karass (26-8-3, 17 KO’s) collide in an important bout between respected and feared junior middleweights. Jermell Charlo (19-0, 9 KO’s), of Houston, Texas, risks his unblemished record when he faces Harry Joe Yorgey (25-1-1, 12 KO’s), of Bridgeport, Pa., in a 10-round super welterweight special attraction that will open the SHOWTIME telecast.

The SHOWTIME EXTREME headliner will pit unbeaten 2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco Vargas (13-0, 10 KO’s) against Memphis veteran Ira Terry (26-10, 16 KO’s) in a 10-round junior lightweight bout. Philadelphia super welterweight Julian Williams (10-0-1, 5 KO’s) takes on Newport News, Virginia’s Jeremiah Wiggins (10-1-1, 5 KO’s) in an eight-round bout that will open the SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, are on sale at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

The SHOWTIME tripleheader is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T with Matthysse vs. Dallas being presented in association with Arano Box Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions, Aydin vs. Soto Karass being presented in association with Arena-Box Promotion and Charlo vs. Yorgey being presented in association with Banner Promotions.

Below is what the executives and six of the fighters had to say on Thursday:

Oscar De La Hoya, President Golden Boy Promotions:

“We have one of, if not the strongest punchers in the 140 pound division in Lucas Matthysse, who is facing Mike Dallas Jr. This is a fight that can take Dallas Jr. over the top and this is the type of fight that the fans will definitely enjoy because of the styles. Styles make fights. One thing for this year, 2013, is that I made sure that our matchmakers and everyone involved know that we need and we want exciting, exciting fights. This event Saturday night will be very exciting.

“The co-main event features Selcuk Aydin. Anyone who saw him fight Robert Guerrero knows he put on an incredible performance. He is very talented. Soto Karrass, what can I say about him? He is a fighter who just keeps on coming, a fighter who’s well prepared and in your face. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.”

Lucas Matthysse:

“I’m a man of few words. I’m in great shape and I am ready to fight. What else can I say? Bring it on. This is a very important fight for me not only to win, but to look good.”

Mario Arano, Matthysse’s Co-Promoter:

“You will see the best Lucas Matthysse on Saturday. We want to make sure Team Dallas knows we are not overlooking any fighter. Saturday night will be a tough fight. Lucas is focused and he trained hard.”

Mike Dallas Jr.:

“It’s big moments like this when you have to step up. I’m ready to go. Everybody dreams to be a world champion. It’s every boxer’s goal. I have the desire and ambition. The only thing on my mind is getting a win. I respect this fighter. He is strong and tough, but I am ready to prove and show to everybody what I can do.”

Selcuk Aydin:

“I am ready. We had a good training camp. I want to put on a good fight on fight night.”

Ahmet Oner, Aydin’s Co-Promoter:

“I am excited to have Aydin back on SHOWTIME. We are going to win this fight and move onto a bigger fight.”

Jesus Soto Karass:

“I am very prepared. I know the task at hand and that is why I trained for two months in Montebello, Calif. I won’t let this opportunity slip away. I know what I am up against. He’s a tough fighter, but that’s why I prepared 100 percent to make sure that I’m ready for anything.”

Jermell Charlo:

“At eight years old my brother and I got in the ring. Come Saturday night, I’m going to show everyone that I’m supposed to be in the ring and deserve a title. I’m going to show every fighter in this division what’s next. I’m the next generation. Look out for me.”

Harry Joe Yorgey:

“This is going to be a great show for boxing and a great show for the fans.”

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @TheJointLV,@hardrockhotellv, @SHOsports, follow the conversation using or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

LAS VEGAS, January 24 – Continuing to deliver more fight action than any other promoter, Golden Boy Promotions will do it again this Saturday, January 26 inside The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with two preliminary bouts to air on SHOWTIME EXTREME® before the first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCAST® telecast of 2013 hits the airwaves with a tripleheader featuring Lucas Matthysse vs. Mike Dallas Jr., Selcuk Aydin vs. Jesus Soto Karass and Jermell Charlo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey.

In the SHOWTIME EXTREME headliner scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior lightweight division, unbeaten 2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco Vargas battles Memphis veteran Ira Terry. Plus, Philadelphia junior middleweight Julian Williams risks his “0” against Virginia’s Jeremiah Wiggins in an eight round SHOWTIME EXTREME opening bout and, in a bout that will be aired time permitting, 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. faces an opponent to be determined in a four round super welterweight matchup.

The SHOWTIME tripleheader is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T with Matthysse vs. Dallas being presented in association with Arano Box Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions, Aydin vs. Soto Karass being presented in association with Arena-Box Promotion, Charlo vs. Yorgey being presented in association with Banner Promotions and Bennett vs. Ankrah being presented in association with Millennium Events. The SHOWTIMECHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights live on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, are on sale now and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Mexico City’s Francisco Vargas (13-0-1, 10 KO’s) has impressed fight game insiders consistently since emerging from the 2008 Olympics and many believe that the 28-year-old is ready to make his move on the 130-pound elite in 2013. A knockout puncher with both hands, Vargas had a busy 2012, going 6-0 with five knockouts, and hopes to stay as active this year, beginning with Saturday’s fight against Terry.

Fighting out of Memphis, Tennessee, 25-year-old Ira Terry (26-10, 16 KO’s) has recently stopped Jered Johnson in less than two minutes and needed less than two rounds to do the same to respected fighter, Verquan Kimbrough, giving him plenty of positive energy heading into Las Vegas.

22-year-old Julian Williams (10-0-1, 5 KO’s) is Philadelphia’s latest promising rising star in the fight game and with wins over fellow prospects Hector Rosario (W8) and Jonel Tapia (TKO7) in his last two fights, he is clearly on the verge of big things in 2013. Also looking to make his move this year is Newport News, Virginia’s Jeremiah Wiggins (10-1-1, 5 KO’s). Fresh off of a near upset against highly touted prospect Daquan Arnett last November, the 31-year-old is ready for a battle with Williams this weekend.

A member of the 2012 United States Olympic team, Desoto, Texas’ Errol Spence Jr. (2-0, 2 KO’s) has put together two golden performances as a professional thus far, finishing off Jonathan Garcia and Richard Andrews, each in the third round. On Saturday, the versatile 23-year-old will meet an opponent to be determined in a four round bout.

In non-televised action, Los Angeles phenom Julian Ramirez (6-0, 5 KO’s) will fight for the second time this month, as he looks to follow up his January 11 stoppage of Sergio Najera with a win over San Bernardino’s Juan Sandoval (7-11-1, 4 KO’s) in a four round junior featherweight matchup.

The second half of the fighting Charlo brothers, junior middleweight Jermall Charlo (10-0-1, 5 KO’s) puts his unbeaten record on the line on the same show as his twin brother in an eight round battle against Westerly, Rhode Island’s Joshua Williams (8-4, 5 KO’s).

Also featured will be a 10 round super lightweight fight between Chad Bennett and Ben Ankrah. Fighting out of Newcastle, Australia, Chad “Hollywood” Bennett (30-4-3, 21 KO’s) has been on a tear as of late, winning six straight over the last two years, with five of those victories coming by knockout. The current WBO Asia Pacific 140 lb. champion, Bennett will return to fight in the United States for the first time since 2010 when he battles Accra, Ghana’s Ben Ankrah (17-11, 8 KO’s). A 12-year veteran of the sport Ankrah has won six of his last seven and considering that he has ended five of those victories by knockout, expect some explosive action when he squares off with Bennett.

In a four round welterweight opener, New South Wales, Australia’s Will Sands (3-0-1) faces San Juan, New Mexico’s Herb Begay (0-0-1).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @TheJointLV,@hardrockhotellv, @SHOsports, follow the conversation using or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxingor www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Jan. 21) – World-rated light welterweight Mike Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs) is geared up for what will be the biggest and most emotional fight of his professional career as he takes on Argentine sensation Lucas Matthysse (32-2, 20 KOs) in a SHOWTIME® Championship Boxing main event on Saturday, January 26 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing broadcast begins live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The upcoming fight will be a monumental one in Dallas’ career and personal life, as it will be his chance of achieving his goal of obtaining a title belt, but also his first bout since losing his father to leukemia last November.

“This fight means a lot to me,” the 26-year-old boxer said. “It’s the biggest fight I’ve had. If I win this fight, it takes me to another level.”

Dallas has dedicated the bout to his late father, Mike Dallas, Sr. He has been gruelingly training with Virgil Hunter to prepare for the 30-year-old Matthysse, who was anointed with the interim WBC Light Welterweight Championship belt after beating the undefeated Ajose Olusegun (30-1, 14 KOs) by technical knockout last September.

Nicknamed “The Silent Assassin,” Dallas has incorporated power with his excellent boxing skills and his persistence in wearing down his opponents, which may prove requisite in defeating Matthysse, who has lost his only two bouts by decision.

Dallas isn’t overcomplicating his approach to the fight as the game plan is mapped out by Hunter the 2011 Trainer of the Year. His plan of attack is to remain true to his style of boxing, speed and quickness.

“I’m just going to be myself and box and take advantage of openings,” the Bakersfield, Calif. native said. “I’ll do what I’ve been taught to do and force him to have to make the adjustments as the fight goes on. I’m just going to be smart and fast.”

“I truly believe that Mike can defy the odds against Matthysse,” said Dallas promoter Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions. “Fights against the likes of Josesito Lopez and Mauricio Herrera, which I thought he won, prepare you for these opportunities.”

The Matthtsse vs. Dallas fight is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions.

For more information visit www.goossentutorpromotions.com and follow up on Twitter at GoossenTutor, keep up with the latest using or becoming a GTP fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoossenTutor.

January 14, 2013 – Super Lightweight contender Mike Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs) is about to face the toughest challenge of his professional career when he steps in the ring with power puncher Lucas Matthysse (32-2, 20 KOs) on Saturday, Jan. 26. The 12-round championship bout will air live on SHOWTIME® CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and take place at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the line will be Lucas Matthysse’s WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Championship

With less than two weeks left before his showdown with Matthysse, Mike Dallas Jr. talks about his training camp and how working with 2011 “Trainer of the Year” Virgil Hunter is benefiting his career.

“It’s been a grueling training camp but one that has been very productive,” said Dallas Jr. “Virgil and I are working hard on improving the things that I do well in the ring. One thing about Virgil that makes him a great trainer, he doesn’t try to change my style, but adds on to the elements that I already bring to the table.”

To combat Matthysse’s pressure style, Mike knows he’ll have to be in tremendous shape and have a strategic game plan to be victorious. He feels he has the tools to come out on top.

“Virgil is the master when it comes to game planning for a big fight,” Dallas Jr. said. “We’ve studied his past fights and he’s definitely got some flaws in his style. There are certain things a fighter must do when facing a pressure fighter and we’ve worked on everything to counter his attack.

“Right now Virgil has some of the best fighters in the world working out at his gym, and they’re all giving me good work. I’m in the best shape of my life and that’s why I took this fight on short notice. Matthysse has been beat before and I’m confident I can beat him as well.”

After suffering the loss of his father in 2012, Mike has a new found motivation to excel.

“My father Mike Dallas Sr. was a professional fighter and he brought me up in the boxing world. I know he’s watching over me right now and I’m going to leave everything in the ring on fight night. I’m going to shock the boxing world, bring home my first world title, as I dedicate this fight to my father.”

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live on SHOWTIME at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, go on sale on Friday, January 4 at noon PT and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

LOS ANGELES, January 3 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® will return with hard hitting action on Saturday, January 26 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas live on SHOWTIME® (10:00 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the West Coast). The tripleheader will be headlined by Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse defending his WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Championship against Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr.

In co-featured bouts, welterweight warriors Selcuk Aydin and Jesus Soto Karass will collide in a significant non-title attraction while rising undefeated junior middleweight contender Jermell Charlo takes on an opponent to be named in a 10-round junior middleweight attraction.

Featured in a non- televised bout will be a 12-round WBO Asia Pacific Junior Welterweight title fight between champion Chad Bennett and challenger Ben Ankrah.

This stellar SHOWTIME tripleheader is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T with Matthysse vs. Dallas being presented in association with Arano Box Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions, Aydin vs. Soto Karass being presented in association with Arena Box Promotions and Bennett vs. Ankrah being presented in association with Millennium Events. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live on SHOWTIMEat 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

“We’re excited to start off 2013 with a big tripleheader on SHOWTIME,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “We are setting the standard high for 2013 and this event is going to deliver up to that standard for fight fans in attendance at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and those watching on at home on SHOWTIME.”

“We are thrilled to kick-off SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in 2013 with an exciting night of boxing featuring some of the sports’ hardest hitting punchers,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Whenever you bring together fighters of this caliber, you can expect great action packed fights and that is exactly what we are anticipating for this tripleheader on January 26.”

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, along with a limited number of VIP suite seats priced at $125, go on sale on Friday, January 4 at noon PT and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

After fighting under the radar for several years, Argentinean strongman Lucas Matthysse (32-2, 30 KO’s) began breaking through on the international scene in 2010-11 after controversial decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, which many ringside observers believe he won. Following those defeats, he decided to take things out of the judges’ hands. What followed were four consecutive knockout wins, including a 2012 finish of Humberto Soto in June and a 10th round TKO of Ajose Olusegun, the latter victory earning him the WBC Interim Super Lightweight title that he will defend on January 26.

One of California’s top young talents, Bakersfield’s Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KO’s) has learned from his experiences in the ring over the last four-plus years. After bouncing back from losses to Josesito Lopez and Mauricio Herrera in 2011 with wins against Miguel Gonzalez and Javier Castro in 2012, he’s ready to make his move in 2013. The 26-year-old Dallas can make an emphatic statement to the boxing world with a win over Matthysse at the end of next month.

A native of Turkey who fights out of Hamburg, Germany, hard-nosed battler Selcuk Aydin (23-1, 17 KO’s) has long been one of the top European fighters in the world, winning European, WBC International, and WBC Silver titles. In July of 2012, Aydin returned to fight in the United States for the first time in three years and gave Robert Guerrero a grueling 12-round battle before losing a decision in their WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship bout. On January 26, the 29-year-old is back stateside and looking to take out perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass.

Highly respected by his peers and a growing fan base that appreciates his work ethic and aggressive fighting style, Los Mochis, Mexico’s Jesus Soto Karass (26-8-3, 17 KO’s) has paid his dues fighting the best competition possible over the years and is finally starting to get his time in the spotlight. An 11 year pro, the 30-year-old has won two of his last three bouts, with the only loss coming in a Fight of the Year candidate against Marcos Maidana in September of 2012. Knowing Soto Karass’ style, once all is said and done, his bout with Aydin may receive that same consideration.

After putting together three big wins in 2012, Houston’s Jermell Charlo (19-0, 9 KO’s) is looing forward to topping that total in 2013, and he begins that quest on January 26. The winner of bouts over Chris Chatman, Denis Douglin and Dashon Johnson this year, the talented 22-year-old known as the “Iron Man” will be ready for whoever is placed across the ring from him in the SHOWTIME opener.

Fighting out of Newcastle, Australia, Chad “Hollywood” Bennett (30-4-3, 21 KO’s) has been on a tear of late, winning six straight over the last two years, with five of those victories coming by knockout. The current WBO Asia Pacific Junior Welterweight Champion, the 39-year-old Bennett will return to fight in the United States for the first time since 2010 to defend his title against Accra, Ghana’s Ben Ankrah (17-11, 8 KO’s). A 12-year veteran of the sport, the 33-year-old Ankrah has won six of his last seven, and considering that he has ended five of those victories by knockout, expect some explosive action when he squares off against Bennett.

A complete slate of undercard bouts will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @TheJointLV,@hardrockhotellv, @SHOsports, follow the conversation using or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.