DETROIT (November 12, 2024)– Salita Promotions returns to Flint, Mich., on Thursday, December 12 with the next edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA, the sport’s leading talent developmental series, featuring a fight card loaded with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr., Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III.

This will be the sixth BIG TIME BOXING USA card since the series launched in February and is inarguably the series’ strongest lineup to date from top to bottom. All the action takes place at Dort Financial Center in Flint, with the top four bouts airing live on DAZN, the undisputed global home of boxing. Tickets for the event go on sale on Wednesday at 11 am ET and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Dort Financial Center Box Office. 

After successfully defending his USBA Junior Middleweight title in September, Flint native Holmes (16-0, 6 KOs) returns to his hometown to put his title on the line once again in the main event against an experienced challenger, French veteran Ahmed El Mousaoui (35-6-1, 9 KOs).

Fan favorite Spencer (18-1, 11 KOs) from nearby Fenton, Mich., will contest a 10-round bout at 160 pounds. Spencer has rebounded with two wins since suffering his lone defeat to undefeated, highly rated Jesus Ramos in March 2023.

Spencer will fight for the second time as a professional in his home state of Michigan. “It was the best experience to fight in front of fans and friends from all over the state,” Spencer said. “I grew up fighting alongside Ardreal Holmes and Leon Lawson – training and traveling together to tournaments and even sparring one another as we grew into the same weight class.

“Big Time Boxing is a very cool series and Dmitriy Salita is doing a lot for Michigan boxing. I’m psyched for Dec. 12, and will be ready to put on a show.”

“My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date,” Salita said. “Since the series launched in February we have been building and growing this series to become the premier talent developmental platform for young fighters and this fight card is the best of them all. We thank DAZN for providing the global platform for these fighters to shine and earn their shot at a world title. And we thank the fans of Flint for supporting their hometown heroes and the sport of boxing overall. We had a terrific show in September at the Dort Financial Center and this fight card is even more loaded with hard-hitting talent.” 

Smith, who has been touted as Detroit’s finest, undefeated middleweight prospect since Tommy Hearns, is coming off an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos in Puerto Rico last month. Smith is 10-0 with 8 knockouts and looks to build on his momentum when he returns to the ring against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KOs) from Virginia Beach. This matchup represents the first big test for Smith, who is regarded as the second coming of the legendary Hearns for his combination of speed, power and physique. Townsel previously upset Nadim Salloum, who was 12-1 coming into the bout, on the March edition ofBIG TIME BOXING USA.

Flint native Lawson (16-1, 9 KOs), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, is back after an impressive performance in September when he dominated Argentinian Luis Alberto Veron to earn his second-straight TKO. Lawson’s super welterweight opponent is to be determined. Additionally, former world title challenger Byron Rojas (28-4-3, 11 KOs) will fight on the card.

Surging talent Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KOs) from Lexington, Ky., will compete for the third time in 2024 as she defends her undefeated record in a women’s super lightweight bout. Worthington is ranked No. 2 in the IBF, No. 4 in the WBO and No. 6 in the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. Worthington is promoted by the “GWOAT”, unified women’s world champion and Flint native Claressa Shields and T-Rex Promotions. Shields and Worthington were U.S. Olympic teammates in 2016.

Shields added that Worthington is a fighter Flint fans won’t want to miss. “Samantha is going to showcase the relentless work ethic and tremendous skill that first caught my eye and are pushing her up the rankings,” Shields said. “Samantha is on a path to challenge the sport’s top fighters, with future world title bouts against the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano well within her reach. Michigan fans, get ready to watch a rising star in women’s boxing right in your own backyard.”

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS: 

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

DETROIT – July 12, 2024 – The untelevised undercard has been announced for the upcoming “BIG TIME BOXING USA: SHIELDS VS. JOANISSE,” event on Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and several local and national prospects will see action in competitive fights.

Presented by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents, and broadcast live on premier sports-streaming platform DAZN, “BIG TIME BOXING USA: SHIELDS VS. JOANISSE” features Undisputed Middleweight World Champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields’ historic challenge for the WBC Women’s Heavyweight World Championship against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, an intriguing 10-round co-feature pitting world-ranked super lightweight Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera against 140-pound contender Hugo Alberto “Nato” Roldan and power-punching former world-title challenger Shohjahon “Descendant of Tamerlane” Ergashev taking on Julian “The Quiet Storm” Smith in a 10-round super lightweight bout.

Headlining the un-televised portion of the night will be a 10-round super lightweight battle between undefeated knockout artist Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (15-0, 14 KOs) of Pomona, CA, and Hector Edgardo “Pajarito” Sarmiento (21-2, 14 KOs) from Cordoba, Argentina.

A fan-friendly fighter, Mercado is an aggressive, yet poised, boxer-puncher who was voted BoxingScene.com’s 2023 Prospect of the Year. Comparing his mindset to the (the late) former champion Edwin Valero, Mercado says he’s an old-school fighter who is not interested in looking pretty and wants to “take his opponents’ heads off.”

In his three-year professional career, Pomona, California’s Mercado won the North American Boxing Association USA Super Lightweight Championship in 2022 and successfully defended it twice and, in mid-2024, already has three victories under his belt this year.

Mercado stopped then 19-6-2 Cristian Bielma in February and was last seen taking out Colombian veteran Deiner Berrio (then 22-4-1) in April.

“I know he has experience,” said Mercado of upcoming opponent Sarmiento. “In his last fight, he went the distance with Denys Berinchyk from Ukraine, who is now a world champ at 135 pounds after beating Emanuel Navarrete. So, you know he’s a tough guy. He’ll pressure me to fight, and he throws very unorthodox punches, which will make it hard to counter him. I will have to be mindful and defensively sharp.”

22-year-old Mercado says he feels he’s closing in on a world-title shot and is looking forward to the exposure fighting in front of so many fans in Detroit can bring.

“I feel like I’m ready to fight for a world title right now. With the experience I’ve been getting, it shouldn’t be too long. I’m also very excited to fight in front of such a big audience. Getting the recognition of being in these big fights motivates me in the gym. I can’t wait and I hope to make a lot of new fans that night.”

In an eight-round women’s super-lightweight test, WBO #6 and IBF #4 ranked Super Lightweight Samantha Worthington (8-0, 6 KOs) will put her undefeated record on the line against Budapest, Hungary’s Edina Kiss (16-20, 9 KOs).

From Folsom, California, via Lexington, Kentucky, Worthington, the first fighter to ever sign with Claressa Shields’ T-Rex Promotions, finished her impressive amateur career with 36 wins (14 losses), including five national championships, a bronze at the Youth World Championships, and a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Trials for the 2016 Olympics. Thus far as a pro, Worthington has gone undefeated at 8-0, 6 KOs and was last seen winning her Universal Boxing Organization Super Lightweight Championship by scoring a near-shutout unanimous decision over Yazmin Rivas in front of her home-state fans in Kentucky last January.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity!” said Worthington. “Claressa has believed in me since the amateurs, so it is extremely special to have her backing me now in the pros. And I know that being able to fight on this stage is going to put the world on notice and let the super lightweight division know I’m here to dominate! Edina Kiss is a veteran of the sport and I’m so excited to display my skills against someone who has shared the ring with some of the greats! Training has been going great and I’m ready to show everyone that I deserve to be here.”

In a six-round super welterweight battle, Dearborn Heights, Michigan’s Husam “Lion Heart” Al Mashhadi (9-1, 8 KOs) will take on Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Bruno Leonardo Romay (22-13, 19 KOs). Al Mashhadi is a 21-year-old southpaw with an entertaining fighting style who was last seen taking out 58-fight Colombian trialhorse Daulis Prescott in one round at Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit in March of last year.

“I feel really blessed to get this opportunity in my hometown at Little Caesars Arena. It’s a big deal and I’m looking forward to it,” said Al Mashhadi. “I know my opponent is from Argentina and a veteran with a lot of fights. He’s coming to fight and give me a run for my money, so I’m training hard to ready for him. This will be the first southpaw I fight in the pros, so I’m sparring Ardreal Holmes and a lot of other tough southpaws to get ready.”

In a six-round featherweight showdown, Pontiac, Michigan’s Cameran “The Problem” Pankey (9-1, 4 KOs) will take on Mooresville, North Carolina’s Shaileik Paisley (4-4, 3 KOs).

Pankey is a 25-year-old slugger who was last seen putting on the fight of the night in his first career loss against Mexico’s Juan Hernandez Martinez via razor-thin six-round decision at Wayne State Fieldhouse, Detroit in February of last year.

“Training is going great,” said Pankey. “I’m hitting harder than ever before and I’m in tip-top shape. I could go 12 rounds today. I know this opponent has never been stopped, but I feel I will be the first to do it.”

Also featured that night will be an eight-round female heavyweight fight between Houston, Texas’ undefeated Danielle Perkins (4-0, 2 KOs) and Scotland’s Christianne Fahey (2-1, 2 KOs), as well as an exciting all-Detroit six-round super welterweight scrap between once-beaten Gordie Russ II (6-1, 6 KOs) and once-beaten Josiah Shackleford (3-1, 2 KOs).

“We have a stacked undercard featuring top local, national, and international talent,” said event promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “All eyes will be on Detroit at Little Caesars Arena on July 27, when some of the b?est boxers in the world look to take the next important step in their careers. Our goal is to be inclusive and work with everyone to give boxing fans the most exciting events, and this card is a testament to that mission statement.”

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About Salita Promotions

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

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

About 313 Presents

313 Presents is Detroit’s premier live entertainment company. Inspired by the soul of Detroit, 313 Presents promotes and produces concerts, theatrical productions, sporting events and family shows at six world-class venues across southeast Michigan including Little Caesars Arena, the historic Fox Theatre featuring Proud Partner Comerica Bank, Comerica Park, Pine Knob Music Theatre Presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage, Trinity Health and Ally, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre Presented by Proud Partner Oakland University Credit Union and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. Headquartered in The District Detroit, 313 Presents is a joint venture between Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Pistons Sports & Entertainment. For additional information, visit 313Presents.com.

About DAZN Group 

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK. Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F. DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans. 

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalogue and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including Playstation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.    

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com. 

DETROIT (June 20, 2024) – Current Unified Middleweight World Champion and now promoter, Claressa Shields, proudly announces T-Rex Promotions has signed its first fighter, WBO #6 and IBF #4 ranked Super Lightweight World Champion Samantha Worthington to a co-promotional contract with Salita Promotions.

Shields and Dmitriy Salita have Worthington slated to make her first appearance under the T-Rex banner on Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, when Shields headlines against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, the reigning WBC Heavyweight World Champion. Shields vs. Joanisse is the main event of a special edition of Salita Promotion’s “Big Time Boxing USA,” airing live on premium global streaming platform DAZN.

Before turning professional in 2019, Worthington fought on Team USA alongside Shields where she not only honed her skills in the ring but was also exposed to the highest levels of competition through representing her country on an international stage.

From Folsom, Calif., via Lexington, Ky., Worthington finished her impressive amateur career with 36 wins (14 losses), including five national championships, a bronze at the Youth World Championships, and a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Trials for the 2016 Olympics. Thus far as a pro, Worthington has gone undefeated at 8-0, 6 KOs and was last seen winning her Universal Boxing Organization Super Lightweight Championship by scoring a near-shutout unanimous decision over Yazmin Rivas in front of her home-state fans in Kentucky last January.

Worthington currently trains under the guidance of Mike Guy in El Dorado Hills, as well as with head coach Monyette Flowers in Tampa, FL.

“Fighting on the same card as the GWOAT, Claressa Shields feels like a dream come true,” admitted Worthington. “Going from fighting alongside one another on Team USA in the amateurs to being on the same card as pros is a special, full-circle moment in my career and one that I know God created me for. Being the first fighter signed to T-Rex Boxing Promotions is an honor I don’t take lightly. This opportunity is more than a fight; it’s a statement of intent. My purpose in the super lightweight division is clear: total domination. I’m on a mission to claim what’s rightfully mine and anyone who stands in my way will understand just why they call me ‘The Heat.’”

“Samantha and I go way back to the amateur days!” said Claressa Shields. “We fought at the Olympic trials together in 2016! She’s been in the ring with former champions. To sign her as my first athlete to T-Rex Promotions is an honor! I believe that she has done a great job this far! But under my tutelage, I believe she can compete and win against the best we have out there today!”

“The super lightweight division of women’s boxing is one of the most competitive,” said Dmitriy Salita, “and Samantha will be a great addition to make the division even more diverse and exciting. She will bring a strong US presence and be a new face on the global stage of women’s boxing. With Claressa in her corner, the sky is the limit. I am excited to be part of the team and look forward to an explosive start on July 27.

#         #         #

About Salita Promotions

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

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

About 313 Presents

313 Presents is Detroit’s premier live entertainment company. Inspired by the soul of Detroit, 313 Presents promotes and produces concerts, theatrical productions, sporting events and family shows at six world-class venues across southeast Michigan including Little Caesars Arena, the historic Fox Theatre featuring Proud Partner Comerica Bank, Comerica Park, Pine Knob Music Theatre Presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage, Trinity Health and Ally, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre Presented by Proud Partner Oakland University Credit Union and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. Headquartered in The District Detroit, 313 Presents is a joint venture between Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Pistons Sports & Entertainment. For additional information, visit 313Presents.com.

About DAZN Group 

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK. Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F. DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans. 

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalogue and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including Playstation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.    

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.