LAS VEGAS (June 9, 2016) – Former world champion Shawn Porter hosted a Las Vegas media workout Wednesday in advance of his welterweight world title showdown against undefeated Keith Thurman on Saturday, June 25 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, live on CBS and presented by Premier Boxing Champions with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Porter and his father and trainer, Ken Porter, were on hand to speak to media and show
off the skills of the 28-year-old Akron, Ohio, native at the Porter Hy-Performance Center.

Here’s what the Porters said Wednesday:

SHAWN PORTER

“Being the first fight in primetime on CBS since Muhammad Ali is very significant. It makes me want to go out there and do something inspiring.

“Keith’s injury gave me enough time to make extra sure that I had everything I needed to get ready for this fight. Not to say I wouldn’t have been ready March 12 but it’s given me more time to reflect and visualize. On June 25, I know I will be 100 percent on every level.

“We sparred for about two weeks together but it was a while ago. The biggest change has been mental. There are things you learn and grow out of. I’m a lot different. Still some of the same skills but definitely stronger mentally.

“I think he can do some things. He can box very well. He throws good off balanced shots. I can box as well, but I have the pressure, quickness, foot speed and hand speed that it takes to not only outbox him, but to pressure him and hurt him. I think that’s what makes it a great fight.

“At this point, we look at everything we’ve done and move forward each day because we know something special is going to happen. I’m blessed to have a mindset where I don’t focus on what I’ve done. I am always looking forward to the next big opportunity.

“I think the fight is bigger since it’s been postponed. Taking it to Barclays Center is something that is special for the sport of boxing. I won my first championship there and I look forward to keeping up the recent history of great fights at Barclays Center.

“I want to win each and every round. We want to make him have to adjust to what we’re doing. If we control the fight, we win the fight.

“I’ve always been taught to control everything in a fight. I can’t allow him to slow the tempo down. But I’m definitely not going to rush. I have the skills to execute the game plan.

“I think the difference is in my preparation. I have a great team to match my great skills. We’re going to shock the world.”

KEN PORTER, Shawn’s Father & Trainer

“We normally don’t work out hard in front of the media, but we’ve decided to switch the energy and go harder during this afternoon session. This isn’t just for the cameras.

“I respect Keith Thurman as a fighter and a person. This is something that happens along the way. Fighters have to fight each other. Some of these young guys working in this gym, they might have to fight Shawn one day. But fight night is fight night.

“I’m not worried about anything Keith Thurman can do. We’ve done all the hard work. The foundation has been laid. He’s done this since he was four-years-old. He’s been on every stage and this is his time.”

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports and @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

CONTACTS:
Swanson Communications: (202) 783-5500
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 8, 2016) – Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman opened training camp to media today in St. Petersburg as he prepares to defend his title against former world champion Shawn Porter on Saturday, June 25 in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT with a featherweight world title showdown between current champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Born and raised in the area, Thurman worked out at St. Pete Boxing Club along with longtime trainer Dan Birmingham as he prepared for his primetime battle against the strong and dangerous Porter.

Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:

KEITH THURMAN

“Muhammad Ali opened up the door for so many people. Michael Jordan changed the game in our era, but Ali did it so long ago. He showed people that boxing is a great sport and can be the most entertaining sport in the world.

“For me, it’s almost like a dream come true. It’s surreal. I remember at an early age in boxing saying, ‘I want to be the guy that brings boxing back.’ I’m really blessed to be where I am in my career. For all the fighters who could end up on this stage, I’m proud that I’ve been chosen.

“I’ve always considered myself a knockout artist. Back to when I was a teenager knocking out grown men in headgear. Ever since then, I’ve been dropping people like a bad habit.

“I love being a power-puncher. My favorite fighter of all time is Mike Tyson. One of my goals that I set when I was a kid was to have more knockouts than Mike Tyson throughout my career.

“I’m ready for Shawn Porter. We’re going to box harder, box stronger and box better. I will be the better man.

“Training is the fundamentals of getting one prepared. We’ve always known that Shawn Porter was going to come into this fight in tremendous shape. That’s what his training methods are all about. But the Energizer Bunny has never been hit by Keith Thurman, and I’m pretty sure I could stop it in its tracks.

“I’m going for the knockout. I’ve stated it before. My hands are itching for a knockout. I’m ‘One Time,’ all the time. That’s my philosophy. Every single time I step into the ring I’m looking for the knockout. We don’t get paid for overtime.

“This is an opportunity to showcase our talents and our skills to the world. The winner will have an opportunity to be the head guy in the sport. I’ve always wanted to have a legacy in the sport of boxing.

“I want to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. That’s my ultimate goal. There have only been so many in the history of boxing. I want to be a part of that history.”

DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman’s Trainer

“Keith is a guy who deserves to be on this stage. He has a lot of experience and he’s come into his own. This is the kind of thing that happens when you work hard.

“Life happens. Keith was involved in the accident and so we took the necessary rest. He saw the right doctors and we’re back now. We’re ready for Shawn Porter.

“We’re constantly conditioning. We’re working on attacking his style. He’s a short, come-forward brawler who’s going to try to come into Keith’s chest and make it a war. We’re making out adjustments.

“Keith has to be busier, more in charge fighter. He has to work off of his jab and then his power will keep Porter at bay.”

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 2, 2016) – Keith Thurman, the reigning WBA Welterweight World Champion, is four weeks out from his June 25 title defense against Shawn Porter and has his 20-year career in boxing on his mind heading into the crucial showdown.

Thurman will be headlining on CBS live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn with televised coverage starting at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting
www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

“It’s been an amazing journey and no one predicted this better than my first coach Ben Getty,” said 27-year-old Thurman. “It puts me in a state of gratitude for Ben. He told everyone I’d be world champ, and here I am, defending my title against Shawn Porter. I am just starting to see what Ben Getty saw in me and the mark that I can make in boxing.”

Thurman isn’t the only one celebrating a boxing anniversary – his trainer of 13 years and Florida Hall of Fame elected boxing trainer Dan Birmingham, who trained former champion Winky Wright, has been in the sport for 50 years, and assistant trainer Chris Getty has grown up with Thurman in the sport through his father Ben Getty. The fight also is the first primetime fight on CBS in almost 40 years since the Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks from Las Vegas.

Now, 20 years after Ben Getty introduced Thurman to boxing as part of an after school program, he is one of the strongest power punchers in the division, with an excellent knockout rate of 80%. His focus, however, is on making boxing history.

“My goal is to be known as the hardest hitting welterweight in the division,” said Thurman. “This camp, if anything, I feel more comfortable. I’m fully recovered, sparring, training. I’ve been throwing power punches for what seems like forever and it’s a little weird. I can’t help but think about how this is my 20th year in boxing and knowing the longevity I’ve had. It’s given me a new confidence. ”

For Birmingham, this training camp has been a re-commitment to the strategic and conditioning process the team has gone through for each fight for the past 13 years.

“Training is going real well,” said Birmingham. “We know Porter is a come-forward fighter – he is going to try to be on Keith’s chest. I want Keith to box, use his power, use his jab, and use his feints to work the body from the inside. All the things Keith knows how to do. Porter is not a real technical fighter so we’re working on using that to our advantage.”

Birmingham on sparring:
“We’ve been doing great sparring work – we have some tough, tough kids in camp. We’ve been boosting aerobic capacity, and those kids are keeping on Keith. He’s going to be in great shape for this fight. We’re excited for this fight. ”

What does Team “One Time” anticipate?
Birmingham: “We know that Porter is going to bring it so we’re working extra hard on aerobics and being fit for this fight. Keith’s doing a lot of running, cardio, endurance; we expect a tough fight and we’ll be prepared for this fight. We expect a victory”

What can fans expect on June 25?
Thurman: “Hopefully a knock out! I’m coming to bring it. Shawn is coming to bring it. It’ll be a great fight. We are two of the top welterweights in the division. Two of the youngest and strongest welterweights in the sport going toe-to- toe.”

What is your goal for this fight?
Thurman: “My goal is to be known as the hardest hitting welterweight in the division. My lifelong goal is to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world – and I have a ways to go in unifying the titles. Once I move past Shawn I look forward to the challenge of making my dreams come true. I’m blessed to be where I am today.”

The Welterweight division is one of the hottest divisions in boxing, what do you think of a Super 6 tournament in the division?
Thurman: “I’m for it. In the 147-pound division it’s time to unify a title. Someone at 147 should have more than one belt and that’s my goal that before end of the year to have more than one belt.”

One of the sports more enigmatic athletes, Thurman is known for having a varied list of interests and hobbies setting him apart from other fighters, including playing the flute, piano and guitar, books (The Secret Life of Plants to Bhagavad Gita the Little Buddhist Handbook) and music (Ziggy Marley to Tupac). It is his uniqueness that helps him be an easy fan-favorite.

“Greatest advice I’ve been given is just to be Keith Thurman – just be me,” said Thurman. “I’m looking forward to stepping on this scale, not over talking and just going in and getting the knock out.”

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

LOS ANGELES (May 12, 2016) – Featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares went face-to-face for the first time Thursday as they hosted media roundtables in Los Angeles ahead of their showdown on Saturday, June 25 showdown live on CBS from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by the highly anticipated welterweight clash between welterweight world champion Keith Thurman and former world champion Shawn Porter.

Tickets for the June 25 event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

With both men training in California, the two met for the first time at The Palms Restaurant about their fight and respective training camps before they head east to Brooklyn for the primetime battle.

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:

JESUS CUELLAR

“I’ve been training very hard for this fight. You will see on June 25 that I have one of the best chins out there. I’m excited to finally have this fight.

“I have no bitterness towards Robert Garcia. I’ve seen him and I’m thankful for him making me a champion. This is business. This is work.

“We’ve been training in Big Bear for a little over two months now so I’m pushing myself very hard for this fight. I’m thankful for this great opportunity and I want to make the most of it.

“On June 25, I will once again give it my all and leave it all in the ring. At the end of the fight I will prove who the champion is and raise my hand in victory.

“I’m focused and well prepared. I’m ready for anything that happens. I know I’m going to win the fight. It doesn’t matter how, but I’m going to win.

“This is the same team we’ve had for four years, whether Robert Garcia is here or not. We’re ready to take on anyone.

“We’ve wanted this fight for two years and finally it is the time. We’re going to be in great shape and I know Mares will be in great shape too. We’re very happy that the fight was made. June 25 I’m going to prove that I am the number one featherweight champion.

“I’m just excited to go in the ring and give my best on June 25. I’m going to bring the victory home to Argentina.

“I’m thankful to be an Argentine champion and I’m happy to represent my country as the only world champion right now.”

ABNER MARES

“I’m really happy to be a part of this card against a really tough fighter in Jesus Cuellar. I know he’s mentioned that he wants to fight me and I’ve never been scared to do so. It’s all about timing. Now he’s going to know what it’s like to fight a top level fighter.

“I’ve been in boxing for many years. I’ve fought many tough fights. Against Leo Santa Cruz it wasn’t the outcome that we wanted, but we showed that we have the heart and the intelligence to fight top level guys.

“I’m happy that I’m fighting some with a legacy. Jesus Cuellar is a tough fighter, he hits hard and I respect him. I have nothing bad to say about him as a person. I know he’s going to be well conditioned, but I’m a level higher and I’m going to show it on June 25.

“This is a fight that I can gain so much and Robert Garcia too. He’s going to show, through me, that it was a big mistake for Cuellar to leave him.

“I feel great about the Santa Cruz fight, despite the loss on my record. It was a win, because I gained so much, a lot of respect and a lot of experience.

“I have a lot of reasons to be excited about this fight. One, I’m finally going to New York. I’ve never been there in my life. Two, I will become a world champion again. Three, I’m definitely fighting a top-level fighter. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I like these types of fights. It always brings out the best in me.

“Against Cuellar you’re going to see a different Abner, a new Abner. With Robert Garcia as my coach I have the slight advantage that he once trained Cuellar and took him to a world title. He’s a tough fighter, but he can’t say I’m not either.”

JUAN MANUEL LEDESMA, Cuellar’s Trainer

“We worked with Robert for four fights. We worked together and made Jesus a better fighter. Now there is the opportunity to continue working with Jesus, so I see no controversy or problems there.

“The long camp was what we needed. We needed to clear up some stuff and work on some things that were lacking. We got extra time in the altitude and being in Big Bear we are away from any distractions. Jesus is focused on what he needs to work on.

“Abner Mares is a great, skilled fighter. We have been working together to perfect the skills that we need to bring into the fight. When the day comes, we will be ready for the fight.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Mares’ Trainer

“When Mares first started working with me, we had no idea we were going to fight Jesus Cuellar. Now that we’re back in camp, I definitely have to take advantage of all the things I know about Cuellar. He has weaknesses that I know and I’m working on them with Abner.

“Abner is a fighter who over the last few years has given a lot of exciting brawls and great fights. Abner has tremendous skills though. When I met him years ago he had those skills but they weren’t being honed. People will think I taught him these skills, but I’m just bringing them back.

“Cuellar leaving me was the best thing that could have happened. If Cuellar hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have Mares. I got a great fighter and a great person. Things happen for a reason. We are going to do great things in boxing.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manage, SHOWTIME Sports

“Right now there is some criticism of boxing, that the best aren’t fighting the best. All you have to do is look at this card. These are the right fights. The right weight at the right time.

“June 25 we have two marquee matchups. All four fighters ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions taking on each other. Thurman and Porter, Cuellar and Mares, this is the best doubleheader of the entire year. I will put these two fights against any doubleheader that airs on television. That was our focus when we turned to CBS for this broadcast.

“The Thurman v. Porter and Cuellar v. Mares fights showcase fighters in the primes of their careers. What we have here are four fighters that are willing to take on the best, not make a spectacle of it. The go about their business with great care for the craft and they simply come to fight.

“Featherweight is one of the hottest divisions in the sport. You know Abner Mares, he has one of the best resumes in boxing. If you look at the list of fights that he has had, there aren’t a lot of big names on it and now the New York City fans will get to see what he has to offer.

“The champion, Jesus Cuellar has quietly put together his own very strong resume. What we have here is a fascinating matchup.”

KEVIN ROONEY, Director of Communications, DiBella Entertainment

“We’re truly honored and excited to promote this fight. Lou DiBella said at the New York presser for the main event that this is ‘the best this sport has to offer.’ These are not only tremendous world title matchups, but two of the biggest and most exciting matchups that can be made in their respective divisions taking place at Barclays Center, the premier sporting venue on the East Coast.

“A testament to how big an event this is, is how the tickets are moving. We are hoping and anticipating that some fans will make it over from the West Coast.

“Robert Garcia trained Jesus Cuellar for much of his career and the two won a world title together. Robert Garcia is here today but with his new charge, Abner Mares. The two have their first fight together and they believe that this will be the best Abner Mares we have ever seen.

“For Cuellar it will be his second fight with Juan Manuel Ledesma, but the two have worked together since Cuellar was a kid. It should be exciting to see how it plays out on fight night.

“We know that Sergio Martinez will be there on fight night to cheer on his fellow countryman in Jesus Cuellar and we look forward to seeing an exciting fight.”

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

NEW YORK (April 28, 2016) – The best the sport has to offer, two of the most talented fighters in the world, elite athletes in their prime and set to fight each other at the world-class Barclays Center in Brooklyn and live on broadcast TV in primetime, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter,took over New York this week as they made the rounds to officially announce their welterweight blockbuster on Saturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

Thurman and Porter, who are confident and hard-working boxers inside the ring and classy gentlemen outside, have the spotlight to themselves on the world’s biggest stage on June 25. And what an extraordinary moment it will be for the two 147-pound prizefighters, competing at Barclays Center and on CBS, America’s most-watched network.

“This is the very best that boxing has to offer,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, at Tuesday’s press conference at the Edison Ballroom in midtown.

From the press conference, Thurman and Porter where whisked throughout the city, from the Sports Illustrated offices in the Financial District, to the offices of Complex Magazine, CBS Sports Radio and SiriusXM in Midtown and across the bridge to Barclays Center and the PIX 11 studios.

“Barclays Center makes this a big fight,” said Thurman. “We get to promote here in New York City. This is a fight town.”

On Tuesday, Porter visited with “The Breakfast Club” on POWER 105 while Thurman paid a visit to CBS This Morning to promote their highly anticipated showdown and stake their claim as the present and future of the welterweight division.

“This is going to be a memorable night,” said Porter. “It’s going to be a record-breaking night at Barclays Center and we’re going to put on a show.”

Click HERE for photos from Thurman and Porter’s media tour. If you’re interested in visiting Thurman or Porter in their respective camps or speaking to them over the phone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the PR contacts below.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $42, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

CONTACTS:

NEW YORK (April 26, 2016) – Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman and former champion Shawn Porter went face-to-faceTuesday afternoon in Manhattan as they hosted a press conference to discuss their highly anticipated Saturday, June 25 showdown on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellar defending his title against former three-division world champion Abner Mares.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $42, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Thurman and Porter went eye-to-eye and talked about their eagerly awaited 147-pound world title clash that takes place in primetime on June 25.

Here is what the participants had to say Tuesday:

KEITH THURMAN

“I made you wait. But it’s worth it. This is a tremendous fight. Arguably the best matchup of the year. We’re going to work our butts off to make it the Fight of the Year.

“Our two teams go way back. This is the most beautiful moment of my professional career and I’m about to compete with somebody I grew up with. I’m happy for my success and I’m happy for Shawn’s success. We come from the same boat. When you’re a young kid in the gym training and then you’re here today, that takes a special kind of person. Shawn and I are both that kind of person.

“We took six weeks off after my accident, with three days a week of physical therapy. I was relaxing at home. I didn’t like it. As a fighter, I wanted this fight as bad as the fans wanted this fight.

“This isn’t just the biggest fight of my career. But it’s the most anticipated fight of my career. Sometimes it pays to add some drama to the game. It wasn’t our intention, but I think it worked out.

“Barclays Center makes this a big fight. We get to promote here in New York City. New York is a fight town. My favorite fighter of all time, Mike Tyson, is from Brooklyn. This just happened to work out for the best.

“I anticipate most of the welterweight division being in attendance on June 25. The situation that division is in right now is that we’re all in a frenzy. Everyone wants the spotlight and everyone wants to be the top dog. We all have that opportunity.

“I want to have two titles by the end of this year. People talk about replacing Floyd Mayweather, but you can’t become the man without beating all the people in front of you. One fight at a time. I want to stay at the top by grabbing another belt. I’m going to show that I’m the big dog at 147 pounds.

“June 25, my friend is about to become my enemy. I’m going to treat him like any other enemy.

“Get your tickets. Get your seats. Get your popcorn. Whatever you need to do. This is going to be a fight you don’t want to miss. This is going to be a knockout you don’t want to miss. I love you Shawn, but I’m doing my best to put you to sleep.”

SHAWN PORTER

“I’m very excited about this fight. I’m blessed to have this opportunity. Not only to go for this title but to be a part of a record-breaking show at Barclays Center. This night is going to be memorable.

“Keith Thurman is bringing out the competitiveness in me to a level I’ve always wanted. It’s a level I expect. I have a guy next to me who is challenging me more than ever. Me and Keith Thurman are going to put on a show. Everything you talked about, you’re going to get it.

“It is amazing to be a part of something great like this. I’ve always considered myself to be a very good fighter and a very good athlete, but I’ve always wanted something like this and to have it is very humbling.

“I wasn’t surprised that Keith said he would knock me out. He has to pump himself up and be confident. When he looked at me I think he was trying to convince me that he was being real and I was looking at him to find out if he was convinced. He thinks he’s going to knock me out, I say he’s not. I’m going to do everything it takes to beat him and make it look easy.

“This is forming to be a big fight, one of those fights that we’ve looked forward to since we were kids.

“This is my second time fighting at Barclays Center. I’m 1-0 with a championship so now I’m looking for another one. I’ve been to some of the other fights at Barclays too and it is really an electric atmosphere. People are coming out to see something great and that’s what I’m going to give them.

“I’m not changing anything in camp because of how familiar Keith and I are with each other. I have to do it at the right time in the ring. We’re going to do everything we do to prepare for a world championship fight.

“Thurman is a little unorthodox at times so we’re prepared for that. It’s about going 12 rounds or less and looking good doing it. We’ve done a little sparring as pros but nothing as competitive as I’m expecting on June 25.

“I have a feeling Keith is going to say he’s knocking me out a lot. I want to know if he believes that. He’s a cutthroat kind of fighter. I know that. The hands will be up, the defense will be taken care of, and we’re taking care of business.”

DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman’s Trainer

“We’re looking forward to this fight. Me, Keith and the Porters go way back, but sometimes you have to fight your friends.

“These two guys are both at the top of their games and the best man is going to win.”

KEN PORTER, Porter’s Father & Trainer

“Dan Birmingham is actually one of my mentors and I’ve been watching Keith since he was 14-years-old. We’re all friends but to have the opportunity on this stage, I don’t think we can have better competitors as fighter and trainer. I don’t think it can reach a higher level.

“I fully expect the immovable object versus the irresistible force meeting in the ring for an explosion on June 25.”

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

“This is the best that boxing has to offer.

“Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter could very well be the Fight of the Year. It’s a fan fight that everybody has anticipated for many years. These are the two most established welterweights in the world battling to see who the successor to Floyd Mayweather’s domination of the division is.

“This is so far the fastest-selling boxing event at Barclays Center and the biggest presale we’ve ever had for a fight at Barclays Center. This is one to start buying your tickets early.

“Aside from being two of the very best at their weight class, these are two of the more interesting guys in boxing. These are two of the smartest and most cerebral fighters.

“This is why I’m in boxing. This is why we’re all in boxing. This is on national, free, over-the-air television and I think it’s great. WE want as many people as possible to watch this fight. We want to expose people to the best our sport has to offer.

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“We’re in the midst of perhaps the strongest run of boxing this network has ever had. While other networks cut back on programming, we are reinvesting in the sport and giving it as big of a platform as there ever has been.

“We have the strongest lineup of any network this year. These are two of the strongest fighters in the most popular division in the sport.

“The last primetime boxing match on CBS was 1987, Ali-Spinks 1. Those are big shoes to fill. When I pitched a fight for CBS I knew I had to bring something that was incredibly strong. That is what we have on June 25. This card has come together as perfectly as anyone could have imagined.

“Two of the top five welterweights of their career battling for the top of the division. This is an event that speaks for itself. I’m proud to be involved with this event.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

“It’s been a special time at Barclays Center the last couple of weeks. I think Barclays Center is defined by dramatic moments. When I think of this particular event, it’s going to be a dramatic moment in Brooklyn and I’m thrilled about it.

“I’m a huge boxing fan and this is one of those nights that you circle on the calendar. You need to be there. We’re off to the best pre-sale and on sale since we opened Barclays Center. We have a bit of a history already and this will be the biggest one yet.”

# # #

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

BROOKLYN (April 16, 2016) – An action-packed primetime doubleheader of world title fights, headlined by the explosive, eagerly-awaited clash between welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and former champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter,will come to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 25.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) broadcast will begin with a co-main event featherweight battle between current champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Fla., and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Akron, Ohio, are both coming off superb 2015 campaigns that solidified the fresh faces among the elite of arguably boxing’s most exciting division. With perennial pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather now retired, the 27-year-old Thurman and the 28-year-old Porter are hungry to stake their claim as the future of boxing.

Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, will make the second defense of his WBA 126-pound title against Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs), a popular brawler from Southern California who has compiled a staggering resume over the past five years while earning titles at 118, 122 and 126 pounds. Cuellar vs. Mares joins a stacked lineup of featherweight bouts that showcases many of the world’s best 126-pounders aiming to unifying one of boxing’s deepest divisions.

“Keith Thurman against Shawn Porter is one of the best matchups that can be made in the welterweight division right now,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Fans in attendance at Barclays Center and those watching on CBS will witness a passing of the torch as the hard-punching world titleholder Thurman and the highly skilled former champion Porter vie to prove who will be the next heir to the throne in the post-Mayweather era of the 147-pound division. The explosive co-main event between Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares will give fans a fight to remember.”

“Barclays Center has featured many memorable welterweight fights and the long-awaited Thurman vs. Porter matchup promises to become the best one yet,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

NEW YORK (Feb. 22, 2016)–-Undefeated world champion Keith Thurman sustained an injury as a result of a car accident that has forced his March 12 welterweight title defense against Shawn Porter to be postponed. The announcement was made today by promoter Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment. According to his doctors, Thurman’s injuries are not considered serious and he is expected to be cleared to resume training in the coming weeks. Thurman vs. Porter was the main event of a scheduled two-fight card to be broadcast in prime time on CBS. This fight and the network broadcast will now be rescheduled for a later date.

DiBella Entertainment, Mohegan Sun and Showtime are evaluating the option of continuing with the remainder of the fight card on Saturday, March 12 with a transition of television coverage to SHOWTIME. Complete details are forthcoming.

“While it’s unfortunate that we must temporarily postpone this marquee matchup, a main event of the magnitude of Thurman vs. Porter requires both fighters be healthy and at their best.” said DiBella. “Keith is anxious to resume training as soon he is able and both he and Shawn are looking forward to a new fight date.”

LAS VEGAS (February 19, 2016) – Welterweight star “Showtime” Shawn Porter opened up his training camp to media Thursday at Porter Hy-Performance Center in Las Vegas as he prepares for his primetime showdown with welterweight world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday, March 12 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) from Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut.

Televised action begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT with an all-action showdown between former multiple division world champions Abner Mares and Fernando Montiel.

Porter worked out for media along with his father and trainer, Ken Porter as he looks to become a welterweight world champion for the second time. Porter defeated multiple-division champion Adrien Broner in a primetime PBC main event last year and is looking to again find success under the bright lights.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at
$300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and are on sale now through
Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745
3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at the Mohegan Sun
Box Office.

Here is what Porter and his father had to say Thursday:

SHAWN PORTER

On training camp…

“Training camp is going great. It’s been hard work as always and nothing really different specifically for this fight. Obviously it is always a different game plan for a different fighter but that’s about it.

“I’m not making too many adjustments from my previous fight, just taking what I learn from each fight and take those learning experiences with you. Going into this fight we will definitely have some of our past experiences show up.

“It is getting closer. I feel it every day. It’s approaching and the excitement is brewing. The closer it gets the more excited and more focused that I get.

On being perceived as the underdog…

“I do not feel like I am coming in as the underdog. In order to be the champion, you have to beat the champion. That is my outlook on this fight, not only to outpoint him but to make it very decisive and dominate the fight.

”My motivation is to prove the doubters wrong.

“I have faced a tougher opposition than Keith Thurman. I feel like that may work most to my advantage. I think that there will come points in this fight where I will put him up against things that he has never been up against. It is all about how he reacts to what I throw at him.

“My plan is to go in there and shake him up, make him uncomfortable and carry the fight just like that.

“I am ready and whatever Thurman has to bring. I’m ready for 12 rounds, I’m ready to knock him out. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win. I’m ready.

On sparring with Thurman…

“We expect what we saw in sparring with him to show up in the fight. He moved around a lot when we sparred. There weren’t very many clean shots landed by either of us, but I know from sparring with him that I have to be aggressive and that I have to cutoff the ring.

“I would say that for the majority of this fight it is probably going to be me as the aggressor. He likes to bully guys at the beginning of the fight to wear them down to feel himself out.. We’re expecting him to move a lot more against me.

“We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be smart, we’re looking beyond this fight.

“In my last fight I didn’t get hit very much and I am taking that same mindset and defense into this fight.

On being the next Floyd Mayweather Jr…

“I am expecting to beat Keith and be the guy that everyone looks at.

“When you go up against someone at a high level like this, you go up and you show out.

“As far as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, I think those faces are going away. The welterweight class is exciting and there’s going to be a new face on the top of that ranking. I’d like that face to be me.

“I don’t make any predictions; I just know I am going to win.

“I have been waiting for this fight since 2013. I had just gotten my title then and I could see the way his career was moving that there was a collision course. We didn’t know how long this fight would take to happen or when it would happen, but we knew it was coming.

“When I was told this fight was happening all I could think was ‘Ok, let’s do it’ and it took some time to make the fight happen but when we finally did our faceoff, it felt great to look him in the eyes and let him know ‘I’m coming after you.’

“For me to fight Keith it has always been something that was a part of my career, all business not personal. It was just something that I needed to do to get to where I want to be.

“Keith Thurman is a good fighter. Nothing really sticks out to me as something I should worry about. He’s a good athlete and a good boxer, but he is very beatable, he just hasn’t been beat yet.

“You’re only as good as you’re last competition. If you look at the Kell Brook fight, I was not as good as I should’ve been. Since then I am very good, but still I feel that you are only as good as your last fight until you prove otherwise.

“It is and isn’t personal. For Keith to be considered one of the top dogs in this weight class, it is personal to me to beat him and reign over him. Other than that, it is all business.”

KEN PORTER

On being his son’s trainer…

“Because I have the history of working with a lot of top-level amateurs who have moved on to the professional level, I think that Shawn sees that in me as an edge.”

On his history with Keith Thurman…

“I know him very well. I’ve had opportunities to work with him in the amateurs. I’ve had opportunities to work with him in the pros. I’ve worked in his corner in an amateur fight before, I’ve worked in his corner in a pro fight.

“Keith knows Shawn, they’ve sparred about 30 rounds. He knows speed and won’t come in the ring trying to land a significant shot from the beginning. If he’s throwing that punch, he’s probably running the other direction at the same time.

“I would challenge [Thurman] to come in the ring and fight, but I know he’s going to fight. I know he will try to outbox us and try to land a slick and unexpected punch. Anyone can land a shot on you, that happens, but it’s what you do after the punch that counts.

“We’re looking forward to trading punches, boxing with him, slugging with him. We’re looking for a fight.”

On what it will take to win this fight…

“At this point in time, there’s going to be a lot of adjustments that have to be made, and I can’t just determine what it’s going to take to do it, but I know it’s going to take everything – speed, quickness, power, aggressiveness, conditioning, making adjustments mentally – it’s an intellectual fight.”

# # #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

NEW YORK – January 23, 2016 – WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his title against former champ “Showtime” Shawn Porter in a blockbuster matchup of two of the world’s best 147-pound fighters on Saturday, March 12 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS.

The welterweight showdown will air live on CBS at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT from Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.? The last primetime boxing event on CBS was Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks on Feb. 15, 1978.

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Fla., and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Akron, Ohio, are both coming off superb 2015 campaigns that solidified the fresh faces among the elite of arguably boxing’s most exciting division. With perennial pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather now retired, the 27-year-old Thurman and the 28-year-old Porter are hungry to stake their claim as the future of boxing.

“Thurman vs. Porter is a marquee matchup of two elite boxers in the prime of their careers, and the winner will establish himself as arguably the No. 1 fighter in boxing’s glamour division,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Fights of this caliber don’t come along very often, and when they do, they deserve to be on the biggest stage possible. That’s why all of us at SHOWTIME and CBS are so excited to be able to deliver this pivotal matchup to a primetime audience on America’s highest-rated network.”

“Last year was an amazing year for me: I headlined the very first Premier Boxing Champions show and was named PBC Fighter of the Year,” Thurman said. “But this is my year to dominate the welterweight division and I’m excited to be getting ready to take out Shawn Porter. I am ready to get back in the ring and bring boxing fans what they’ve been looking for – the top true welterweight champion of the world, the one who is going to take out all competitors one by one. I am Keith ‘One-Time’ Thurman and I’m going to show you what a champion looks like on March 12.”

“I’m very confident in my ability. That’s why I’ve been looking forward to this fight because I’m someone who can beat Keith Thurman,” Porter said. “Nothing about Keith really makes me nervous. I do know that he’s going to be ready for this fight. He’s a fighter that has the heart of a lion just like I do. I expect this to be a fight to the finish. A win over Keith Thurman is what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Keith Thurman against Shawn Porter is one of the best matchups that can be made in the welterweight division right now and I am thrilled that it is taking place at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “The hard-punching world titleholder Thurman and the highly skilled former champion Porter will have the opportunity to prove that they are the next heir to the throne in the post-Mayweather era of the 147 pound division.”

“One Time” Thurman, who owns a better than 80 percent KO ratio and knocked out 18 of his first 20 opponents, is considered one of the most avoided fighters in boxing. After unsuccessfully lobbying to fight the best of the division for the past two years, Thurman finally had a breakout 2015.

The hard-hitting Florida native floored former champion and long-time contender Robert Guerrero en route to a convincing 12th round unanimous last March in Las Vegas. He then dominated and bloodied former champ Luis Collazo on July 11, winning via seventh round TKO. Thurman won the Interim WBA belt with a knockout of Diego Chaves in 2013 and scored consecutive knockouts over Jesus Soto Karass (2013) and Julio Diaz (2014) in his first and second title defenses.

Against Porter, Thurman will now get a chance to prove what he’s been claiming for years – that he’s the world’s best welterweight – in the toughest test of his career.

“Showtime” Porter has built one of the most impressive resumes in the division since making his welterweight debut in 2010. Porter, who surprisingly turned professional as a super middleweight (168 pounds), won the IBF crown in 2013 with an impressive unanimous decision over Devon Alexander.

The physically-gifted and offensive-minded Ohio native knocked out former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi with a brutal clean right hand in April of 2014 in the lone defense of his title. Porter lost the IBF belt less than four months after the Malignaggi victory in a close majority decision defeat to undefeated British superstar Kell Brook, but he bounced back with a fifth-round knockout of Erick Bone in March of 2015. Porter scored what many considered an upset victory in his next bout over then three-division world champion Adrien Broner with a clear unanimous decision last June 20 in Las Vegas.

The aggressive, come-forward Porter has built his career as a perennial underdog who relishes in the role. But, with the resume he has built, it’s hard to consider him an underdog anymore heading into this crossroads showdown with Thurman.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and Ticketmaster are on sale now. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 23, subject to availability.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™ and Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

UNCASVILLE, CT. (January 22, 2016) – Undefeated Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his welterweight world championship against former champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter on Saturday, March 12 in a highly anticipated showdown at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and go on sale today at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 23, subject to availability.

More information on the event will be announced soon.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Welterweight champion Keith Thurman could be facing former IBF champion Shawn Porter on December 12.

The bout could be headed to Showtime.

Las Vegas (July 8, 2015) – Former IBF welterweight champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter and top trainer Kenny Porter has confirmed that they will appear and have a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept.12, 2015. The Boxing Expo will coincide with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight and Mexican Independence weekend.

Porter’s spectacular win over Adrien “The Problem” Broner on June 20 has once again confirmed him as one of the brightest stars and top welterweight boxers in the world. He is trained and managed by his father Kenny Porter. Shawn Porter won the IBF welterweight championship title on December 7, 2013 by defeating Devon Alexander. Porter then defended his title by knocking out one of the top stars in the welterweight division, Paulie Malignaggi, in the fourth round. Hailing from Cleveland, Shawn Porter is a 2006 Stow High School graduate, and after sporting one of the most decorated amateur careers in US history, he made a smooth transition to becoming a professional in 2008.

Porter will have at his booth some fun activities and merchandise for his fans to enjoy and purchase.

The Porters join Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Ruslan “Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, Terrible” Terry Norris, Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor, Mia “The Knockout” St. John and “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September to large, enthusiastic crowds. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, Mia St-John, Erislandy Lara, Peter Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and top trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several months and weeks leading up to the event.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

View Promo Flyer here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/promo-flyer/

View Photos Gallery 2014 here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/photos/

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

To watch Shawn Porter video about Box Fan Expo go to: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/former-ibf-champ-showtime-shawn-porter-and-top-trainer-kenny-porter-confirmed-for-second-annual-box-fan-expo-taking-place-saturday-sept-12-in-las-vegas/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

By Bart Barry

Saturday on BET, American super middleweight world champion Andre Ward made his much-needed return to boxing, stopping in the ninth round a hapless but stubborn Brit named Paul Smith, right about the time NBC served its viewers a terrible main event called “The Battle for Ohio”, from Las Vegas, that ended with welterweight Shawn Porter decisioning Adrien Broner by refreshingly wide scores. Before his match with Ward, Smith baldly missed weight and got himself beaten bloody for the indiscretion. Before their opening bell, Broner and Porter verbally antagonized one another, then spent 35 of 36 minutes hugging it out.

Adrien Broner’s defense is an atrocity. It took Marcos Maidana to indicate this a ways back, but Shawn Porter offered its definitive proof in round 1 of their Saturday scrum. After feinting Broner into a retreat – one doesn’t say Broner was feinted out of position, since, defensively, he’s never in position – Porter pursued Broner in a sort of relenting-wildman style Porter employed the entire match, and Broner, whose hands and feet obey autonomous, often-competing masters, leaped backwards and threw his arms directly upwards. When Porter’s punch landed and nearly touched the back of Broner’s head to his C1 vertebra, Broner had both white gloves overhead – in a feat of contorted defenselessness not seen in televised fighting since Marco Antonio Barrera slammed Naseem Hamed’s face on a Las Vegas turnbuckle 14 years ago.

Sensing his stick-em-up pose would not disarm Porter so much as a lackadaisical mugger, Broner immediately, and relentlessly, employed his backup plan: Unrepentant hugging. There’s a reason this worked, sapping Porter of what energy a formless volume puncher like him needs to be effective: Broner has disproportionate upperbody strength even for a welterweight (or whatever weight he now campaigns at). Porter badly wanted to punch Broner, but he was generally unable to, both because Porter is nearer to being bad at boxing than good, and because when Broner got his head and arms in a variety of grappling holds, Porter stopped churning his feet and merely tried to outwrestle Broner.

Before one criticizes Porter’s dad for not telling his son to free his hands with his feet, one pauses, in observance of both Fathers’ Day and regression to the mean, to impart: Andre Ward is just about the only athlete left in prizefighting who knows how to do this. Mediocre as his work may be with most everyone else he’s touched, trainer Virgil Hunter deserves much credit for what fantastic work he did teaching Ward how to fight.

How good it was to see Ward back in a prizefighting ring!

Rusty? Yup. Older? Sure. Less effective punching a cruiserweight than a super-middle? Of course. Likely to lose more than three rounds to Gennady Golovkin in a 12-round fight? No way.

Ward is a serious professional. It was a relief, in this sense at least, to see a man in an exhibition match who wouldn’t foul it up with hotdoggery, sloppiness or boredom. Ward punished Paul Smith for coming in at Chavezweight in his BET debut, also BET’s boxing debut; it was indeed cathartic, however cruel and misplaced the catharsis, to watch Ward make Smith repent for the ordeal of a prefight Nipsey Hussle concert.

Saturday, Nipsey stretched the boundaries of imitative talentlessness to a point at which they’d have snapped even 20 years ago; Nipsey Hussles have always existed, but hip-hop’s natural selection – or, heavens, any selection – did not accommodate them until recently. The nature of the hip-hop business is such that new acts must be discovered for each Tuesday release, and there are not, nor have there ever been, that many talented lyricists in America. (Friday evening in Dallas, LL Cool J will headline a show that features Big Daddy Kane and Doug E. Fresh and Whodini and Sugarhill Gang, and it’s instructive to ask, before the first Nipsey apologist draws breath: Is there another iteration of the known universe in which even a creative record-label executive imagines Nipsey Hussle headlining a concert in 2045?)

If these days I read like a curmudgeon, I’ve made my peace with it. The same element, time, that led a once-sprightly optimist to curmudgeonhood, anyway, is what, in part, PBC relied on to draw ratings for its godawful Saturday show. I watched the fights with a couple Puerto Rican friends from the boxing gym, and after fast-forwarding through much of the undercard offerings – NBC helpfully juxtaposed an excellent U.S. Olympian, Errol Spence, with a dreadful one, Terrell Gausha – we all kept reminding ourselves how wonderful it was this unwatchable bore of a main event was on free television, in an unthinking application of a childhood metric. In the digital era, network television mostly means more ads and scripts written round selling things, but for a certain, later portion of the demographic PBC aims at there is still nostalgic meaning in hearing an event will be broadcasted by NBC or CBS or ABC.

Take the pros with the cons, then, say the cons, because if they’re talking about us, they’re promoting us. True that. It’s one of only two things Broner did well Saturday – along with applying a left-hooked tag to Porter’s floating chin at the top of round 12: Respect the brand. Having lost widely to a competitor who lacks most every one of his gifts, Broner was reliably, and durably, self-aggrandizing in defeat. While intellectually incapable of aping anything else Floyd Mayweather tried to teach him, Broner unwaveringly applies one idea that enriched Money May: Tariffs exacted from men who wish to see my bitch ass beat to death look the same on a spreadsheet as fees gratefully paid by admirers.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Shawn Porter won a 12-round unanimous decision over Adrien Broner in a Welterweight bout between former world champions that are based in Ohio at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas

In round eleven, Broner was deducted a point for holding. In round twelve, Broner sent Porter to the deck with a hard left hook.

Porter, 146.7 lbs of Akron, OH won by scores of 115-111, 114-112 and 118-108 and is now 26-1-1. Broner is 30-2.

Terrell Gausha remained undfeated by scoring an 8-round unanimous decision over Luis Grajada in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In round three, Gausha dropped Garjeda with a right hand

Gausha, 154 lbs won by scores of 79-72 twice and 78-73 and is now 15-0. Grajada, 156 lbs of Mexico is 18-5-2.

Michael Hunter scored five knockdowns en route to a fourth round stoppage over Deon Elam in a scheduled 6-round Heavyweight bout.

Hunter scored a knockdown in round two, two in round three and two more in round four and the bout was stopped.

Hunter, 201 lbs is now 8-0 with 5 knockouts. Elam, 197 lbs of Los Angeles is 14-3.

LAS VEGAS (June 4, 2015) – While the eyes of the sports world are fixated on game 1 of the NBA Finals between LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors tonight, two other great Ohio athletes will look to bring the glory of victory home with them when Adrien “The Problem” Broner and “Showtime” Shawn Porter meet in the ring on Premier Boxing Champions on NBC on Saturday, June 20 (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT).

Both of these fighters have joined the list of Ohio-born world champions that include boxing greats such as Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Aaron Pryor, Buster Douglas and Kelly Pavlik.

The all-Ohio battle comes in the midst of an exciting time for Ohio sports. In addition to the Ohio State University football team’s winning national championship performance in January, Akron’s own LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are attempting bring the city of Cleveland it’s first professional sports championship since 1964.

Here is what Broner and Porter had to say about Ohio sports, LeBron and more:

Did you root for Ohio-sports teams growing up? Which ones were your favorite and who were your favorite players? What’s your favorite memory of watching Ohio sports teams?

Adrien Broner: “I grew up watching the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I didn’t start watching basketball until I was playing more of it in elementary and high school. That’s when LeBron first came into the league. I remember LeBron’s very first game in Cleveland. It was huge. Most players freeze under that kind of hype, but not him.”

Shawn Porter: “I’ve always been a huge Browns fan. I’ve tried to watch every draft and every preseason and regular season game. I got into the Cavaliers a little more when I was in high school. I’m an all around Ohio sports fan though.”

How would you describe Ohio-sports fans? How badly do you want to win for them?

AB: “Ohio fans are very supportive. Some other states don’t like us because we come out strong. I would love to win for the fans in Ohio because bringing a championship back there means a lot to me. I’ve done it three times already and I’m looking for a fourth. You always want that rush again.”

SP: “We’re crazy! Cleveland fans root for their teams with a love and respect that’s admirable. Whether it’s good days or bad days we’re faithful and trying to stay positive. It would be huge for me to win for the fans here and represent Ohio. I’m doing this for everyone in Northeast Ohio. This is a statement about a great kid from Ohio representing the people there and winning another big fight.”

How important was LeBron James returning to Cleveland for the psyche of Ohio sports?

AB: “LeBron coming home was very important because he’s made the Cavs so much better. With him in Cleveland we’re back in the championship series.”

SP: “LeBron coming home was huge. If he didn’t return I don’t know what we’d have done. There probably would have been more riots. But him coming back brought joy to all of us in Ohio. That’s part of our job as professional athletes to bring joy and positivity to family, friends and the fans. That’s exactly what he did by returning to Cleveland.”

Will you be watching the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals? Do you have a prediction for the series?

AB: “I’ll definitely be watching the games. No training until after the game tonight. I think Cleveland wins it all in six games.”

SP: “I don’t make predictions. I’m praying for the Cavs to do this for the city and for themselves. Hopefully they can pull it together and get what they deserve. It would be a great to get a win for the team and for NE Ohio. I’ll be watching every game on my projection screen.”

Describe what it’s like to fight in front of a hometown crowd in Ohio?

AB: “It’s always fun fighting at home in front of a lot of people who know you. Even when your back is against the wall they cheer and help push me on.”

SP: “Honestly, all the crowds are the same when I’m in the ring. I’m actually looking forward to fighting in the big arena at MGM Grand though. I kind of like having a mix of people in the crowd with some for and some against me.”

Is there more pressure and emphasis on performing well on June 20 to walk away with bragging rights in Ohio?

AB: “I think I already have the bragging rights in Ohio.”

SP: “There’s no added pressure, it honestly doesn’t matter to me like that. This is first and foremost about my team. We’re successful as a team and as a family.”

If you could meet one athlete from or who played in the state of Ohio who would it be?

AB: “I’d have to say myself.”

SP: “I met my all-time favorite Cris Carter already. Cris is from Ohio and went to Ohio State. I haven’t met Charles Woodson or LeBron though. Charles is from here, but he went to Michigan for college. But I’d really love to meet LeBron because he’s still doing his thing and he has that burning desire to win. I need to have that same desire and I’m learning that from watching him play.”

# # #

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing and www.mayweatherpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AdrienBroner, @ShowtimeShawnP, @ErrolSpenceJr, @AmenazaGarcia, @MayweatherPromo @NBCSports, and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/NBCSports.

New York (March 16, 2015)–Boxing is a funny business. Sometimes, even when you lose, you win.

So it was on Friday night, when 26-year-old Ecuadorean junior welterweight Erick Bone showed the world that he is a world-class talent and willing warrior.

Bone, who lives in Queens, NY, and is managed by Eli Mackay, was stopped in round five by former world champion Shawn Porter on Spike TV in Ontario, California.. Viewers saw Bone having some success against Porter. That success may have been suprising as Bone took the fight on twenty-four hours notice.

In round two, Bone, who is signed to adviser Al Haymon, sprained his right knee. He fought for three rounds on one knee. “I won’t make any excuses. But I want people to know I will be back, on TV, and I will be ready for a summer fight,” said Bone (16-2).

Mackay said he is proud his boxer stepped up a weight class on such short notice. “He fought on one knee,” Mackay marveled. “A doctor said it was good the fight ended because Erick’s knee could have been seriously hurt. But it’s just a sprain. Bottom line, Erick is a real talent and will make noise at junior welterweight!”

“As the fight progressed, Erick was starting to figure out Porter. It would have been real interesting to see how it would have played over the scheduled twelve rounds had he not injured his knee.”

Andre Berto scored a 6th round stoppage over Josesito Lopez in a scheduled 12-round Welterweight bout.

Berto scored a knockdown in round six from a hard right hand. Bert finished the fight a moment later when he jumped on Lopez and landed a flurry that sent Lopez down for a second time and the fight was immediately stopped at 1:03 of round six. Lopez boxed well and was ahead on all three judges scorecards.

Berto, 146 lbs of Winter Haven, FL is 30-3. Lopez, 146 1/4 lbs of Riverside, CA is 33-7.

Chris Arreola won an entertaining 8-round unanimous decision in a Heavyweight bout over Curtis Harper

Arreola dropped Harper in round one with a hard three-punch combo.

Arreola, 262.3 lbs won by scores of 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 and is now 36-4. Harper, 265.2 lbs of Jacksonville, FLA is 12-4.

Shawn Porter stopped late replacement Erick Bone in round five of a scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout.

It was a tough and close fight for the first four rounds until Porter blooded the nose of Bone and preceded to drop Bone three times in round five. The final blow coming from a left hook that sent Bone down for referee Jack Reiss’s 10 count at 2:30 of round five.

Porter, 146.7 lbs of Akron, OH is 25-1-1 with 16 knockouts. Bone, 149 lbs of Ecuador is 16-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Roberto Garcia missed weight and will not fight Shawn Porter tonight in Ontario, California.

“It was more than 4 pounds. That is what I was told by the promoter,” said California Commissioner Andy Foster. “I was told that he had to cut too much weight and he couldn’t do it.”

Porter will now fight Eric Bone

Follow all the action as Shawn Porter defends the IBF Welterweight title against Kell Brook in a battle of undefeated fighters. The action kicks off at StubHub Center with the WBC Lightweight title bout between Omar Figueroa and Daniel Estrada as well as a rematch for the WBC Super Middleweight title between Sakio Bika and Anthiny Direll

12 Rounds–IBF Welterweight champion–Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KO’s) vs Kell Brook (32-0, 22 KO’s)

Round 1 Brook lands a counter left…Jab from Porter..right Upper cut from brook..Jab from Porter..lead right..Right from Brook..10-9 Brook

Round 2 Jab from Brook..jab to the body..Body shot from Porter..Brook cut on left eye brow (accidental Headbutt)..Nice right from Brook..20-18 Brook

Round 3 Good exchange of rights…right from Brook..30-27 Brook

Round 4 Counter right from Brook..right…jab..1-2..Body work from Porter..right..40-36 Brook

Round 5 Jab from Brook..Nice right..Jab..Jab…right..1-2…Clubbing right from Porter..50-45 Brook

Round 6 Porter lands a right..Brook lands a jab..Porter lands 3 lefts inside…Right from Brook..59-55 Brook

Round 7 Porter cut over right eye (accidental Headbutt)…Good body shot from Porter..Body..Jab..right to body…straight right from Brook..right..Porter lands a right..Good uppercut from Brook..left hook from Porter…68-65 Brook

Round 8 Left uppercut from Porter…left hook on inside…right cross from Brook..3 punch combination…combination..jab…Porter working the body...78-74 Brook

Round 9 Jab from Brook..double jab..Porter working body..short left hook from Brook..double jab/right hand..jab..88-83 Brook

Round 10 Nice left hook from Brook…short left hook..Porter working the body..Good right..98-93 Brook

Round 11 4 punch combination from Brook..chopping right from Porter..1-2 from Brook..nice sweeping left hook..right cross to the jaw..108-102 Brook

Round 12 1-2 from Brook..jab..body…Porter lands a counter right..combination from Brook..118-111 Brook

114-114; 117-111 and 116-112 for THE NEW IBF WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD——-KELL BROOK

12 Rounds–WBC Super Middleweight title–Sakio Bika (32-5-3, 21 KO’s) vs Anthony Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KO’s)

Round 1 Dirrell coming out swinging…Wild fighting…10-9 Dirrell

Round 4 Bika going to the body

Round 5 Jab from Bika…Counter right from Dirrell…

Round 6 Good counter from Bika..counter from Dirrell…Left from Bika…Dirrell lands a right…Left to the body..Straight right..Left hook from Bika…59-55 Dirrell

Round 7 Good right from Dirrell hurts Bika..Short right from Bika…straight from Dirrell…hard rights from Dirrell…69-64 Dirrell

Round 8 Bika deducted a point for a low blow…Big Flurry from Bika…Hard right from Dirrell..79-72 Dirrell

Round 9 More rough stuff…Bika lands a right…88-82 Dirrell

Round 10 The fight cant get any rythym

Round 11 Bika lands a right to the body…Dirrell lands a jab…Counter right…Jab from Bika..Double jab/right from Bika…

Round 12 Dirrell lands an uppercut…Body shot..Sharp right

114-113; 116-111 and 117-110 FOR THE WINNER AND NEW WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ANTHONY DIRRELL

12 Rounds–WBC Lightweight title–Omar Figueroa (23-0-1, 17 KO’s) vs Daniel Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KO’s)

Round 1 Right from Figueroa…Estrada counters..Estrada lands a left and right..Straight from Figueroa…Sraight right and lead right from Estrada..combination,,right…10-9 Estrada

Round 2 Estrada lands a left hook..left hook on the ropes..Lead left uppercut from Figueroa..Left hook from both…left from Estrada…20-18 Estrada

Round 3 Figueroa was hit with a low blow..Estrada lands a right..Jab..and right from Figueroa…good right...29-28 Estrada

Round 4 Estrada lands a short left uppercut…Jab..Head shot from Figueroa..body and uppercut from Estrada..double jab..Right from Figueroa…body combo that is followed by a left to the jaw..Lead right…Straight left from Southpaw stance..jab to body from Estrada…2 rights and jab from Figueroa..left hook to body…..38-38

Round 5 Figueroa lands a right to the body..48-47 Figueroa

Round 6 Figueroa lands a jab..Estrada goes to body…jab..Figueroa lands a right…58-57 Figueroa

Round 7 Combination inside from Figueroa…Right from Estrada…left hook from Figueroa..right cros…Jab from Estrada…68-66 Figueroa

Round 8 Nice combination from Figueroa…lead right right…Blood around left eye of Figueroa..Estrada lands a right in the corner…Figueroa coming back with a left 78-75 Figueroa

Round 9 Cut caused by accidental head butt….BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES ESTRADA…Figueroa all over Estrada..CombINATON ON THE ROPES AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED….

Kell Brook won the IBF Welterweight championship with a 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Shawn Porter at the StubHub Center in Carson, California

Early on it was Brook looking to jab and hold on when he Porter would make a surge on the inside. In round two, Brook was cut over the left eye from an accidental headbutt. Brook was timing Porter coming with his nice jab. In round six, Porter was cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt.

Brook was able to thwart any brief momentum that Porter could muster up as he landed the more telling combinations.

Brook, 146 1/2 lbs of Sheffield, UK won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 114-114 and is now 33-0. Porter, 146 3/4 lbs of Akron, OH is now 24-1-1.

“You can tell how much it means to me by my reaction,” said Brook, who was cut over the left eye in the second round. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was nine-years old. It’s unbelievable.

“I was scrappy tonight, and not as slick as I wanted to be. But I’m the world champion now, baby. I was born to do this.

“I’m ready for a mega, mega fight next. I’ll take on Keith Thurman or Floyd Mayweather. Amir Khan should get in queue now. I’m the world champion now so they’re all going to want to fight me.”

Porter, a former U.S. amateur standout, thought he had done enough to win his second title defense despite getting cut over his right eye in the sixth.

“I think I’m still the champion,” he said. “I’m 24-1 and Team Porter will be back to the drawing board. There are no excuses. I do want the rematch.”

Anthony Dirrell wrestled the WBC Super Middleweight title away from Sakio Bika via 12-round unanimous decision.

The fight was very sloppy throughout the contest. When given distance, Dirrell was able to land the more telling blows. Bika was deducted a point in round eight for low blows. Dirrell hit the canvas several other times from Bika’s “veteran” tactics.

Dirrell, 167 3/4 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113 and is now 27-0-1. Bika, 167 3/4 lbs of Australia is now 32-6-3.

“This journey has been amazing and I can’t even fathom it,” Dirrell told SHOWTIME’s Jim Gray afterward. “I already overcame the biggest fight of my life by beating cancer. I can’t see anything being bigger than this. I was never close to giving up. I stuck to it and now I’m WBC world champion.

“This means the world to me, what else can I say? After beating cancer, making it back from a motorcycle accident and getting a second chance at boxing, I just knew I was going to make the best of it.

“Tonight the referee did a wonderful job. Bika is rough, he’s a helluva fighter. But I’m glad to finally have him in my rearview mirror. I’m not gonna complain about the close scores. I got a unanimous decision and I couldn’t be happier.

“The difference between this fight and our first one is that I wasn’t on the ropes this time. I came out and boxed. But I know I got his attention at the start.”

Said Bika: “I fought very hard. He was a better fighter tonight. I’m going to go back to the gym and come back stronger. This (losing) happens.”

Omar Figueroa defended the WBC Lightweight title with a 9th round stoppage over mandatory challenger Daniel Estrada.

It was a phone booth fight early with Estrada taking the early lead by landing the harder punches in close. Figueroa began to pick up in the middle rounds as he got in close and started landing combinations.

Round nine was action packed as the two traded shots in close. Figueroa was cut around the left eye from a clash of heads. Figueroa seized that moment to land a nice flurry only to see Figueroa come back just before the bell.

That did not deter Figueroa as he came out in round nine and dropped Estrada with a big right hand. Estrada got to his feet but Figueroa was all over him and landed a big combination on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:00 of round nine

Figueroa, 135 lbs is now 24-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Estrada, 134 1/2 lbs is 32-3-1.

“I don’t think I did that great and obviously felt I could be more explosive and maybe get him out of there earlier,” said Figueroa, who suffered a bad cut above his left eye from an unintentional headbutt in the ninth. “I was a little concerned that the referee or doctor would stop the fight because of the cut. I knew Estrada would be open for the right hand. I was playing a little possum when I caught him.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Estrada, who was making his U.S. debut and fighting less than three weeks after a sister and her daughter were killed in an automobile accident in Mexico. “Initially I felt good but he hurt me and I couldn’t recuperate. I had the mentality to win, but I was up against a great champion.”

Deontay Wilder tuned up for a fall title shot with Bermane Stiverne with a stoppage win over Jason Gavern after round four in their scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout.

Wilder boxed from the outside while Gavern tried and occasionally got through with an overhand right. In round three, Wilder scored a knockdown when a right hand landed around the ear. Gavern complained that the punch was behind the head. Wilder scored a 2nd knockdown in round four from another straight right. After the round, Gavern encouraged his corner to stop the fight and they obliged.

Wilder, 224 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is now 32-0 with 32 knockouts. Gavern, 247 lbs of Kissimee, FL is now 25-16-4.

“This was fun,” Wilder said. “I wanted to go some rounds. A lot of people are still asking so many questions to me; I tried to answer some of them today.

“Of course, I could have landed my right hand more in the first couple rounds. He was leaving me openings, but I didn’t want to show off everything. I wanted to save that for next time.

“I’m ready for that world title fight. I want the WBC champ Bermane Stiverne next, hopefully in late November.”

Jorge Linares tuned up for a title shot with a 2 round demolition of Ira Terry in scheduled 8-round Lightweight bout.

Linares hurt Terry at the end of round one with a hard right that was followed by a combination. Linares finished the fight with a perfect right to the face that plummeted Terry on the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:20 of round two.

Linares, 137 lbs of Venezuela is now 37-3 with 24 knockouts. Terry, 132 lbs of Memphis, TN is now 26-12-1.

“This was the kind of fight I didn’t expect but that I wanted,” Linares said. “I was able to watch tapes o him extensively so I was well prepared. I definitely want to fight for the world title next. That’s why I was here and took this fight. I’m just waiting for my opportunity.

“That was a good straight right hand I landed on him. Once I connected I knew it was over.”

Lydell Rhodes remained undefeated with a stoppage after 4-rounds over John Nater in a scheduled 8-round Welterweight bout.

Rhodes was dominant with his hand speed. He dropped Nater in round four with a four punch combination where Nater took three steps back to the ropes and took a knee. After the round, Nater decided he had enough and the bout was stopped.

Rhodes, 142 lbs of Las Vegas is now 22-0 with 11 knockouts. Nater, 144 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 13-7.

Former Irish Olympian Jason Quigley scored a stoppage victory over Fernando Najera in a scheduled 4-round Middleweight bout.

Quigley dominated and opened up a bad cut over Najera’s left eye in round three. Iromically, Quigley was cut over his left eye as well but Najera’s openinh was much worse and Najera’s corner stopped the bout.

Quigley 160 1/2 lbs of Ireland is now 2-0 with 2 knockouts. Najera, 158 1/4 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 1-4.

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 15, 2014) – An international lineup of boxing standouts from the United States, Venezuela, Ireland, England and Argentina will make up a stacked undercard ahead of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader of championship bouts at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

In the main event, “ShowTime” Shawn Porter will defend his IBF 147-pound crown against British banger Kell Brook. Plus, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika will risk his 168-pound belt in a rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. will defend his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada. The tripleheader airs live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

Before the trio of world title fights gets underway, undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will be opposed by Jason Gavern in a 10-round scrap on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the opening bout, former two-division world champ Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares faces Ira Terry in an eight-round lightweight match.

Time permitting, unbeaten Lydell Rhodes will take on Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s John Nader in an eight round welterweight matchup and Irish prospect Jason Quigley will take on Tijuana’s Fernando Najara in a four round middleweight bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Also in action tomorrow will be 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale, local favorite Alan Sanchez, 2012 Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain Luke Campbell, fellow British star Callum Smith and Argentina’s Fabian Maidana.

The next in line to face WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder (31-0, 31 KOs) is not sitting idle while he awaits his shot at championship gold. He looks to follow-up his 96-second demolition of Malik Scott in March with another spectacular win. The most impressive knockout artist in boxing today, the 28-year-old has yet to be extended past the fourth round.

Hoping to derail the “Wilder Express” will be seasoned veteran Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs) of Orlando, Fla. Winner of four of his last five bouts, most recently a victory over James Toney last November, the 37-year-old knows that with an upset of Wilder, he will make headlines around the boxing world and set himself up for an even bigger fight.

In the eight-round SHOWTIME EXTREME opener, former two-division world champion Jorge Linares (36-3, 23 KOs) continues his move toward a world title shot when he faces Ira Terry. Winner of five straight, including a March win over Nihito Arakawa in a WBC Lightweight Title elimination bout, the 28-year-old Venezuelan is expected to get a shot at the Figueroa-Estrada winner if triumphant on Saturday.

Memphis, Tenn. veteran Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs) has no plans on being a stepping stone for Linares, and coming off of wins in three of his last four fights, Terry has the focus and form to stun Linares and put a dent in his championship hopes.

A multi-sport athlete growing up who has also competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally, Oklahoma City welterweight Lydell Rhodes (21-0, 10 KOs) will risk his unbeaten record in an eight-round matchup with Puerto Rican power puncher John Nater (13-6, 10 KOs),of Bayamon, P.R.

Former Irish amateur and newly signed Golden Boy Promotions star Jason Quigley (1-0, 1 KO) needed just 82 seconds to win his pro debut over Howard Reece in July, and the 23-year-old is making a quick turnaround to get back in the ring to face Fernando Najera (1-3) of Tijuana, Mexico in a six-round middleweight bout.

In heavyweight action, 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (11-0, 10 KOs) will be fighting for the fourth time in 2014, and after big wins over Nagy Aguilera and Devin Vargas, he hopes to keep his hot streak going in an eight-round clash against tough Utah native Billy Zumbrun (27-13-1, 16 KOs), who has won four of his last five.

Stablemates of headliner Kell Brook, lightweight Luke Campbell (6-0, 4 KOs) and super middleweight Callum Smith (12-0, 9 KOs) will also proudly represent England. Hull southpaw Campbell is a 2012 Olympic Gold medalist who has impressed in each of his six outings as a pro. Campbell will be squaring off against the vastly more experienced Steve Trumble (13-30, 8 KOs), of Baton Rouge, Lain a four-round bout. Liverpool’s Smith is part of a fighting family who is soaring up the 168-pound ladder. Smith looks to continue his undefeated streak in a six-rounder against Abraham Hernandez (5-0, 3 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico.

In an eight-round welterweight bout, Alan Sanchez (13-3-1, 7 KOs), of Fairfield, Calif., will take on Tijuana native Jose Luis “Zurdo” Ramirez Jr. (7-0-1, 4 KOs), and in the four-round opener, also at 147 pounds, Fabian “TNT” Maidana (1-0), the brother of Marcos “El Chino” Maidana, meets Michigan’s Phillip Soriano (0-3).

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and AT&T. In the co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges are on sale now and are available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT. The first fight begins at 1:00 p.m.

Shawn Porter 146 3/4 – Kell Brook 146 1/2
(IBF Welterweight title)
Sakio Bika 167 3/4 – Anthony Direll 168
(WBC Super Middleweight Title)
Omar Figueroa Jr. 135 – Daniel Estrada 134 1/2
(WBC Lightweight Title)

By Norm Frauenheim–

Getting a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been called a derby and a sweepstakes. There are no rules on how to get in line, if in fact there is one. Still, Shawn Porter and Kell Brook will try to win a chance Saturday at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

They’re fighting for Porter’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) version of the welterweight title. But the acronym-sanctioned belt is window dressing. The real fight is to get into the Mayweather conversation.

Thus far, Porter’s name has been dropped, but a mere mention is a little bit like winning a state lottery. Not much chance there. With an impressive win over the unbeaten and dangerous Brook, however, maybe Porter will be more than just another name in a crowded pool of alternates after Mayweather begins searching for another opponent following an expected victory in a September rematch with Marcos Maidana. Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), a slight favorite to beat Brook (32-0, 22 KOs) in a Showtime-televised bout, acknowledges the Mayweather stakes, which are impossible to ignore anyway.

“I don’t consider my fights as auditions,’’ he said in a conference call. “I consider them performances. Again, you know this is boxing. We don’t look ahead. But at the same time, yes, Mayweather, we all know he’s on the clock. We’re all right there, hoping we’re next in line.’’

The confident Porter is bold enough to exhibit showmanship. That’s a fine line and he could pay for it if he loses to the quick and versatile Brook. But showmanship is one way to get noticed, which might keep him in the Mayweather conversation and in headlines that could generate pay-per-view sales.

Porter, also mentioned as a possibility for Keith Thurman, hit the pads blindfolded at a Wednesday workout for the media. Maybe, the blindfold was a pre-fight message, warning Brook that footwork and lateral movement would not take him out of harm’s way. Maybe, it was Porter’s way of saying he was looking only at Brook and not ahead to the Mayweather possibility. Whatever it was, it was a theatrical prop. It was designed to get some attention and it did.

Porter’s showmanship was evident on July 12 when he met a handful of writers at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand before Canelo Alvarez’ decision over Erislandy Lara. Porter talked about how he felt invincible, especially after successive victories over Paulie Malignaggi and Devon Alexander.

A lot of good fighters, Porter said, call themselves Superman.

“But I’m Mister Superman,’’ he said.

He’s just another Mister if he loses to Brook, who is fighting in the U.S. for only the second time. Brook might be the UK’s best-kept secret. It’s the UK connection that could make him a viable Mayweather possibility if he upsets Porter. There are rumblings that Mayweather, who promised a surprise for the next Mayday on his Showtime deal, wants a fight outside of his usual Las Vegas neighborhood in a move that could add to his claim on global celebrity.

A fight in the UK fits the bill and might pay a few too. A World Cup-like crowd of a reported 80,000 was at London’s Wembley Stadium for Carl Froch’s rematch stoppage of George Groves on May 31. If in fact Mayweather has further international ambitions, a Wembley bout with Brook could help fulfill them.

Brook is fighting to be a Mister too.

Mister Next.

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2014) – Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions hosted the final press conference earlier today for this Saturday’s potentially explosive world championship tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

In what should be a thrilling, non-stop action three-fight telecast, IBF Welterweight World Champion “ShowTime” Shawn Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, will defend against fellow unbeaten Kell Brook 32-0, 22 KOs), of Sheffield, England, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will risk his 168-pound belt in a grudge rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), of Flint, Mich., and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 17 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, will put up his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City.

The three SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING world title fights will be preceded by two important bouts on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast): undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (31-0, 31 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will take on Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs), of Orlando, Fla., in a 10-round match and former two-division world champion Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares (36-3, 23 KOs) will be opposed by Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in an eight-round lightweight match.

Both Wilder and Linares are mandatory challengers and a victory away from fighting for a world title in the near future; Wilder against WBC Heavyweight Champion Bermane Stiverne and Linares against the Figueroa-Estrada winner.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale
now and are available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub
Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by
calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-
8425. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT. The first fight begins at 1:05 p.m.

Speaking before a large contingent of media from the Southern California area and UK, Porter needed a little crowd participation to make his one and only point when it was his turn to talk at the dais.

“Let’s let him [Brook] know what time it is,” Porter yelled as he stepped up to the mic. Some in the audience responded,”It’s “Showtime!”

After repeating this, Porter then stared down at a still-seated Brook and said. “I think you know what time it is. Saturday night I’m going to make sure you know what time it is.” Porter said thank you and then sat down.

Here’s more from what Porter, the fighters and executives said during Thursday’s press conference at StubHub Center:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“There was good energy today and the crowd really got me going. I have a lot to offer to this sport. I’m one of the quickest and strongest guys in my weight class. And I’m probably the most confident too. But I can’t help that. It’s my personality, it’s who I am.

“Saturday night, you’re going to see it all. You’re going to see some boxing, you’ll see some aggression, you’ll see intelligence, some power and quickness. The whole nine yards.

“I’ve done enough homework to know that I can beat him. This has been a long time coming, and I look forward to defending my title on Saturday night. Everybody in the UK better stay up late for this one. I’m hoping to get some new fans over there after this is over.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“This has been a long time coming, but I’ve finally arrived on the top stage now. It’s every fighter’s dream to win a world title, and it’s all I’ve been thinking about through all the training and waiting.

“I know Shawn Porter is a very tough customer and a very worthy champion. But this is my time. I’m so ready mentally, and physically, I’ve got my family here. I’m just in the best place of my life. I’m very confident, totally prepared and Saturday could not come quick enough for me.”

SAKIO BIKA, WBC Super Middleweight Champion

“He ran around the first fight and I should have won. It’s nothing new for me to fight in the States and I just have to go there and knock him out so there’s no need for a judges’ decision.

“I don’t need to sit here and talk much. He’s doing enough of that for the both of us. We’ll see who’s doing the talking after I get through with him on Saturday night.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL, Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender

“I’m definitely ready to fight. If I wasn’t I sure couldn’t make it happen in two days. I’m basically going to stick to my game plan from the first fight, but with a few tweaks. I want to leave nothing to chance.

“It’s been nine months since our first fight. You can’t call Bika a real champion. I beat him the first time; this time it’s going to be worse. There’s going to be a new champion on Saturday. It’s going to be a helluva fight, but I’m going to burn him.

“I already won my toughest fight when I beat cancer. A big part of my motivation on Saturday is knowing that Danny Jacobs [a fellow cancer survivor who captured the WBA middleweight title last Saturday on SHOWTIME] will be calling the fights from ringside for SHOWTIME.”

OMAR FIGUEROA JR., WBC Lightweight World Champion

“This is the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight and now I’m back on one of boxing’s biggest stages. I know Estrada likes to come forward so that should make for an exciting fight for the fans.

“This is another very big fight for me. This fight is for my family and all my friends back in Texas.

“I expect a rough fight, but I know I will win.”

DANIEL ESTRADA, Leading Lightweight Contender
“I’m dedicating this fight to my family and the memory of my younger sister, Janyn, and her five-year-old daughter, Emery, who died after they were in a car crash less than three weeks ago.
“It’s been a very difficult, emotional time for all of us. My sister, who was 27, has always been my biggest supporter in boxing. She always told me that if I continued to work hard I would make it to the top and become a world champion.
“I’m using what she always said to me as motivation for this fight. As bad as we all feel, there was never really a time when I thought I would abandon this opportunity. I know she would want me to take the fight.
“I’ve been waiting a year to fight for the title and on Saturday I’m going to take advantage of my shot. I recognize Figueroa as a great champion for what he brings to the sport, but I’m a Mexican warrior. I’ll show you all that on Saturday.”
DEONTAY WILDER, Undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champion

“I’m right at the door. All I’ve got to do is ring the bell or knock to get inside. Everybody has their opinion on who I should fight, and I know this is a risk fight. Jason [Gavern] comes to fight every time. And you’ve got to respect that. I’ve definitely not looking past Jason, but I’m looking through him.

“I love boxing, and I love what I do. I love being surrounded by other fighters and champions. I love the atmosphere and the fans, just everything that’s involved with boxing. I was very eager and very hungry to get back in the ring.”

JASON GAVERN, Veteran Heavyweight

“This is kind of cool for a former policeman like me to be on a card like this and I thank everyone involved for making it happen.

“Wilder is 31-0 with 31 knockouts for a reason. But I love to fight and look forward to putting on a good show like I always do.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“This is a must-win fight for me which is why I’ve prepared for a very hard fight. I know I have to win to get my title shot. But I’m not here just to win but to look good.

“I have three losses on my record, but in my heart I feel I’ve lost only once [against Antonio DeMarco]. I certainly can’t afford to lose on Saturday. I’m anxious and ready to go.”

JASON QUIGLEY, Unbeaten Super Middleweight Prospect
“My weight is always pretty good because I’ve never gone up and down between fights; I always try to maintain top conditioning.
“I really enjoy being a pro and being part of all the fight-week activities before a fight -the workout, press conference and weigh-in. It’s great to be surrounded by so many great fighters and so much media.
“Saturday is my second pro fight and I’m totally focused and ready to perform.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions

“Every single one of these TV fights could be a main event. This is just a stacked card.

“StubHub Center is known for putting on some amazing fights. I like to call it the ‘Thuderdome’. You know, the old movie with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner where they just go to fight. Every single fight we’ve staged at StubHub has been incredible.

“The main event is definitely one of those fights where you don’t want to blink. I know both these fighters have the hunger and desire to put on just an amazing fight.

“Shawn Porter comes from Cleveland, Ohio, a place that grooms champions, like LeBron James. He’s a real throwback fighter who works hard and will fight anybody. Kell Brook is a true champion who is hungry and determined.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME SPORTS

“SHOWTIME is happy to be back here with Golden Boy at StubHub Center for what I predict will be one of the most exciting cards of the year.

“StubHub is a special place for boxing, one of the top two or three in the world, an outdoor venue that is a perfect setting for fights that draw great fans.

“The three world title fights Saturday couldn’t be more even -they’re all 50-50. All these fighters are coming to win. It should be an all-action show and we are very excited about it.

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2014) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter, undefeated contender Kell Brook and seven other boxers who will compete on this Saturday’s stacked Golden Boy Promotions’ fight card at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., participated in an open media workout Wednesday at Fabela Chavez Boxing Center in Carson, Calif..

The exciting, offensive-minded Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, will defend his 147-pound crown against British banger Brook (32-0, 22 KOs), of Sheffield, England in what figures to be an explosive main event of a world championship tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

In other world title fights Saturday on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, will risk his 168-pound belt in a rematch against unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (26-0-1, 22 KOs), of Flint, Mich., and undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 17 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, will defend his WBC Lightweight World Championship against mandatory challenger Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (32-2-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City.

Undefeated heavyweight knockout sensation and WBC Continental Americas Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (31-3, 31 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be opposed by Jason Gavern (25-16-4, 11 KOs), of Orlando, Fla., in a 10-round scrap on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the opening bout, former two-division world champ Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares (36-3, 23 KOs) faces Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in an eight-round lightweight match.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale
now and are available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT).
VIP Suites are available by
calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-
8425. Doors open at 1 p.m. PT. The first fight begins at 1:00 p.m.

Here’s what the fighters said during Wednesday’s workout:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“Training camp was great; we had some of the camp in Las Vegas and some in the Bay Area. We are ready to rock and roll. I just continue to work hard and sharpen the skills that I already possess.

“I am going into the fight looking for that knockout. I told myself that going four rounds or less would be a beautiful night for me. But at the same time I am prepared for a 12-round fight and being a boxer I know that you must be prepared for anything.

“I welcome the target on my back; I enjoy people talking about me. The good thing about having the target on my back is that I am a very hard target to hit. I am very excited about this fight and looking forward to defending my title. Saturday couldn’t come fast enough and after the fight I will be walking out with that title again.

“I am very humble, but everyone knows that when I get into that ring it’s my time to shine. I will be showing off for the fans, my team, and for my future opponents.

“StubHub Center is a great outdoor venue. I’ve been to the venue about six times, but have never fought there. Every time I go there I wish I was the one fighting in the ring, but my opportunity has finally come and I can’t wait to get out there and feel the energy of the crowd.

“Being that this is only the second time Kell Brook has fought in America, I hope he feels that added pressure of the big fight. The energy of the StubHub Center crowd will make him feel it, that’s for sure. But, at the end of the day I have to get in that ring and handle my business and not worry about all the factors that I can’t control. I can’t worry about what he feels and thinks. I know that I am full of confidence and positive energy and that I’ve been counting down for this fight.

“I love the fact that we are both undefeated, it makes for a great story. I know that he is a great fighter and I can’t look past him — that would be a huge mistake.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“Training camp has gone very well. I am ready.

“When you get to this elite level and become a world champion, top fighters want to fight the best and I believe that I am at that level.

“It doesn’t matter that this is only my second time fighting in America. It’s just another ring and I will be ready to go. Boxing is all I do.

“Porter comes forward with swinging punches. Anyone at this level, you must take it off to them, they are in the ring for a reason. I know that it will be a tough fight, but every top performer can adjust and you will see me adjust. I know that it will be a dogfight but I always find a way to win.

“I am a slick fighter who will be very exciting. You are going to see crisp shots and I think that this fight will be a fight of the year candidate. I refuse to lose, but there will definitely be some fireworks during this fight.

“I have been waiting a very long time for my opportunity to fight in a world title fight, so the added pressure and anticipation will work in my favor. I have never been more prepared for a fight before and knowing that this is the biggest fight of my career only adds to my confidence.

“This is definitely my opportunity to show American fans what all the fuss is about with this British guy. My message to them is that I will go into that ring and give it my all and come out with that world title. Get your popcorn ready.”

SAKIO BIKA, WBC Super Middleweight Champion

“Training has been going great; we did everything that we were supposed to do. The weather was very good, the sparing was good, no complaints.

“Nothing has really changed going into this training camp from the last camp, except that I pushed myself very hard. I didn’t put on and take off any weight, I just work very hard in the gym.

“The first fight with Dirrell, I started off a little too slow. For this fight I will try to show that I am the boss in the right from the beginning, and make him scared. I want to attack him relentlessly and prove to him that he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.

“I definitely feel that I won the first fight and everyone saw that. The body shot that he got on me was a low blow, it was a lucky punch. I kept on hitting him so hard and he couldn’t handle the pressure I was putting on him. I know that I won that fight.

“If I am the victor in this fight, I won’t call any names on who I want to fight next. Every time that I call on a fighter, everyone gets too scared and doesn’t want to fight. I need to sit down with my management and see if I need to move up a weight class and fight a big challenger maybe in the light heavyweight division because I feel that I am capable.

“My biggest strength against Dirrell is that I am much stronger than him and I can handle all the pressure that is thrown my way. I am very strong and will pressure him constantly.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL, Undefeated Super Middleweight Contender

“I’m here to officially take what’s rightfully mine. Bika knows I won our last fight. It’s good we got to go straight to a rematch with no fights in between.

“I expect to see nothing new or different from Bika – Bika is Bika. In the ring, he is who he is. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

“I thought I fought a good fight the first time, but I can do even better. I can box better and I can stick to the game plan better. He can’t touch me when I box. In fact, he can’t touch me no matter how I fight him.

“That’s good that Daniel Jacobs (recently crowned WBA middleweight champion) is calling the fights for SHOWTIME. He’s a cancer survivor like me. Between us, we want to continue to inspire others all over the world.”

OMAR “PANTERITA” FIGUEROA JR., WBC Lightweight World Champion

“It’s an honor to represent the people in my hometown. I fight for my brothers and the little kids in my city who feel like they have no hope to leave the city. I started fighting when I was six-years-old; success doesn’t come over night. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I want to show the people where I am from that it is possible to be successful and make a good life for yourself. I know that boxing has kept me out of trouble and in some ways saved my life.

“The reason why I moved back home and started training with my dad was mainly because I wanted to be close to my daughter. I missed her terribly when I wasn’t home.

“I wasn’t able to take advantage of the things that were presented to me by training with Joel Diaz because of my (sore) hands, so I decided to just stay home. If I wasn’t able to get the world-class sparring and training, then what was I doing being away from my family? Leaving Joel Diaz had nothing to do with him, I love him. It was solely a personal decision.

“My dad (trainer Omar Figueroa Sr.) grinds my gears, it can be a bit rocky. But with the knowledge I brought over from training with Joel Diaz it can make me grow as a boxer and my dad will grow as a trainer.

“Training is six days a week for three hours and then a jog. I can’t put on too much muscle because then I won’t be able to make weight. Training and dieting is very hard, but I am proud of myself because I actually kept up with it.

“People take care of me from where I am from. The love and support I feel in Texas makes me feel great.

“My hands will always be an issue. We will find out how long they last me on Saturday. I hope they last me long enough to get rid of my opponent. If not, then I will have to suck it up.

“I haven’t looked at any footage of Estrada but my father tells me that he is a straight forward kind of guy. He will get punched a lot and I have to be prepared for that. I am trained in a certain way that will give me the opportunity to exploit his weaknesses. I will focus a lot on the body like I always do.

“Fans can expect a great fight. They will get entertained and get their money’s worth and I will put on an excellent show for them.”

DANIEL ESTRADA, Leading Lightweight Contender
“It doesn’t bother me that I’m sort of the forgotten fighter on this card, but I came here to win my U.S. debut and in my mind I know I will win Saturday and then maybe more fans and media in America will recognize me more.
“I’ve watched a couple of Panterita’s fights and he’s a good, tough champion. That’s why I prepared so hard in Mexico for this. So I definitely respect him as a champion, but he’s not going to win.
“I’ve waited a year-and-a-half for this opportunity, and that gives me extra motivation. This is my chance and I know it. I train all the time and I’ve learned from one of the best fighters, Juan Manuel Marquez, who is my advisor and who will be in my corner Saturday.
“I don’t like to talk, but I am very confident. My camp went well. My conditioning is perfect. I’m hungry for that world title and can’t wait to face Panterita on Saturday night.”
DEONTAY WILDER, Undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champion

“I come prepared to show up and show out for any fight. It doesn’t matter what venue we are in; we can be in the smallest venue in the world and I will come prepared to put on a great show for my fans. I will still perform to the best of my ability.

“I don’t think fighting outside will have any impact on this fight. Coming from Alabama, the weather gets real hot and humid so this is nothing to me. During camp the heat was rising from inside of my boots so it kept me dancing.

“I always want to fight the biggest and best fight. But it has to be the right time and the right money. If people understand that boxing is a business before anything else, then they will understand all the other aspects of boxing. Most people don’t know anything about the business side and make judgments.

“Once I have that belt a lot of questions will be answered. I have had to humble myself and convince myself that my time is coming for that championship. I am ready and excited to prove to everybody, my fans and haters that I will eventually be the champion.

“In facing my opponent, all I would like to say is that we are in the heavyweight division so one punch could end the fight. I am not looking past him, I am only looking through him. My prize is to fight for the world title and in order to be able to do that I must get through my opponent on Saturday.

“My management didn’t want me to take this fight, I was the one who wanted to take it. This fight is giving me the opportunity to fight for a world title for my next fight. I know that I must stay active and I know that my opponent is a tough guy who will come and try to win. You can’t go off of his record, you just never know how he will come out on this night. I don’t want him to feel comfortable. I want to get in and get out.

“I know that I have a big bull’s eye on my back and that if I beat my opponent then I will be in the running for the world title come November.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“I’m the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger to fight the winner of Figueroa and Estrada. It would be an honor to fight either of them but I am taking nothing for granted and am not taking my opponent lightly.

“I made the mistake once before. They all said I was going to have an easy fight against Sergio Thompson and I lost. That was a crazy fight in Mexico. I got head-butted in the second round, took a knee, and the doctor came in and stopped the fight and I got a loss even though I felt I could continue and the fight didn’t go four rounds. So I learned the hard way that on any given night even the worst fighter can beat you.

“I’ve prepared very hard for this and I’m looking forward to taking care of business on Saturday.”

JASON QUIGLEY, Unbeaten Super Middleweight Prospect
“I’m really looking forward to my second fight since my first went so fast (82-second knockout). I just fought in mid-July so it’s great to be brought back so soon.
“Getting the pro debut out of the way is somewhat of a relief, but I know I have a lot of work to do. Getting the experience is so important, which is why I train all over Los Angeles. I go to different gyms all the time, looking to spar, work and learn.
“I just know my opponent is also 1-0, not much else. I am grateful for the opportunity to fight on Saturday and looking forward to putting on a good show.”
# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

CARSON, Calif. (Aug. 11, 20141) – With less than a week away to fight night, Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and undercard fighters talk about their training camp experiences and expectations surrounding their big fights this Saturday, Aug. 16 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. live on SHOWTIME®.

In the main event, undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter will defend his title against fellow unbeaten British sensation Kell Brook in a 12-round bout. In the co-feature, Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika seeks to retain his WBC Super Middleweight Championship when he faces Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in a highly anticipated 12-round rematch of their Dec. 2013 split draw. In the opening fight of the telecast, Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. will put his WBC Lightweight World Title on the line when he faces mandatory challenger WBC Silver Lightweight Champion Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada in a 12-round bout.

Fight week has arrived, and as the Aug. 16 fighters wrap up camp, they answer a series of training camp related questions that offer some insight into their final preparations for this Saturday’s bouts.

Q: You’re essentially done with training camp at this point, how did everything go?

A: Shawn Porter (training in Las Vegas) – “Yep, it’s all over as of last week. We just finished, and my dad was very happy with how everything went. We did 15 rounds of sparring to close things out.”

Kell Brook (finalizing his training in Las Vegas)- “We got some great work done. We’re winding everything down, and I’m feeling fresh for fight night.”

Sakio Bika (training in St. Louis) – “Everything has gone smoothly. My team and I have been working very hard and they have been very supportive. The weather has been great, and I haven’t had any injuries. So everything has gone well.”

Anthony Dirrell (training in Detroit) – “It’s going well. It’s just hard work. We’ve been working to make it harder than last camp so that I can keep getting better.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. (training in Weslaco, Texas) – “Everything is going well. This is one of the best camps we’ve had. We’re excited for a great fight.”

Daniel Estrada (training in Mexico City, Mexico) – “I have been working very hard for the past five weeks. I’ve been running around 4:00 a.m. in the high altitude of Mexico along with my team that includes Juan Manuel Marquez, Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain and Raul de Anda, and to know I am receiving the advice of one of the greats in the sport [Marquez] gives me the peace of mind that I am doing the right thing for this upcoming fight.”

Deontay Wilder (training in Tuscaloosa, Ala.) – “Everything has been going as planned. This has probably been one of the shortest training camps I’ve had. That thrills me though. A lot of fighters claim to be athletes, but on the night of the fight I’ll show exactly how athletic and ready I am. I’ve been missing the ring and I’m ready to get back.”

Jorge Linares (training in Las Vegas) – “I’m very happy not only because I have a fight coming up, but also because I’m at home once again. I’ve been training with Ismael Salas for two years now and I feel like I’m at home here, so everything is going great.”

Q: We’re less than a week from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: Shawn Porter – “I’m in the best shape of my life, but I always try to stay prepared.”

Kell Brook – “Mentally strong, and physically ready.”

Sakio Bika – “I’m feeling very good, I’m ready to defend my belt. Everything has been great in St. Louis.”

Anthony Dirrell – “Great, if I’m not ready by now then I’m not ready. I feel ready to go.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I honestly feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I only took a week and a half off after my last fight. So I’ve been super active ever since I started training for my last fight.”

Deontay Wilder – “I’m good to go. I’m always in shape. I’m always in the gym. I treat boxing like my nine to five. Others may not take it seriously, but this is a sport where you can get hurt if you don’t protect yourself and take it seriously. So I’m always tuned up and ready to go for my fans.”

Jorge Linares – “[Fight night] It’s basically here, so I’m excited and feeling well. I’ll be on weight and ready to fight.”

Q: Has your game plan stayed consistent, or has it evolved since you started camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “It stayed consistent. We always train hard.”

Kell Brook – “It’s always been the same. We’ve been training 100 percent the whole way through.”

Sakio Bika – “Kevin (Cunningham) and I always do the same thing. He keeps me positive, focused and working very hard to get ready for Aug.16.”

Anthony Dirrell – “We’re working on some of the same strategies and some different ones, but they’re old things that I know will work on Aug. 16.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “We’ve changed a few things just because we want to try to encompass everything. We work on boxing, brawling, speed and movement. Hopefully it all comes together for me at the same time.”

Deontay Wilder – “This is boxing, and this is the heavyweight division. So you can’t take anyone lightly. I’m not treating this like a warm-up. My main focus is fighting for a title, but I’m not looking past my opponent on Aug. 16.”

Q: What have you been doing to pass the time when you are not in the gym?

A: Shawn Porter – “I’m normally at home relaxing, and I love going to the movies too. You can usually find me at one of the two.”

Kell Brook – “I rest and sometimes I like to have a walk down the strip. It’s nothing too strenuous though.”

Sakio Bika – “We go to the movies, or I’ll go to the mall and try to walk around and keep busy. This is not the craziest city, so there aren’t a lot of distractions. That makes this a great place to train.”

Anthony Dirrell – “I like to play games. We’ve got a gaming system, and we go to the movies. We don’t do anything too big though because the focus has to stay on the fight.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I have my daughter with me almost every day. So I spend a lot of time with her. I also play video games.”

Deontay Wilder – “I love the water. So I swim a lot. I get massages. We go to the movies and I spend time with my kids. I’m traveling a little bit too. It’s tough to fit everything in, but I’m love being a father and I love being around my kids. However, even when I’m away from the gym my mind is focused on boxing. I’m always working on things and trying to figure out how to get the world title. I’m so ready to go for the title fight that I shouldn’t even need a training camp. I’ll have one, but I feel like I’m prepared right now.”

Q: In terms of diet, are you doing anything specific during this camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “Nope, we know what works and we know what got us here. We stick to that.”

Kell Brook – “Not really, I’ve just been sticking to it and staying in great health.”

Sakio Bika – “No, I’m not doing anything special really. I eat what I want to eat, but I eat clean. I never have to cut much weight.”

Anthony Dirrell – “No, I’m eating the same things as always. I don’t have a problem with weight. I’m careful with what I eat, but I can eat what I want.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “Yes, this camp has been totally different. It has to do with me maturing as an athlete. I’m closely following my diet plan. I’m eating every three hours, and I’m avoiding sodium and carbs. I’m surprising myself this time around. I got myself in line because this is for the good of my career.”

Deontay Wilder – “No, not really. As a heavyweight I can basically eat anything. But I have a high metabolism as well so that helped. I just try to make sure to eat the right things.”

Jorge Linares – “I’m right on weight. I feel good and even though this fight is not at my regular weight of 135 pounds, I feel very good. Whoever can’t make weight with the extreme heat here in Las Vegas, has serious issues. Thankfully, I feel very good.”

Q: What is the one thing you can’t eat during training that you miss most?

A: Shawn Porter – “I stay away from most things actually. My diet is typically just clean, organic food with lots of vegetables.”

Kell Brook – “There’s no one thing really, I just try to eat healthy all around.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s not about food for me. The one thing I don’t have in training camp is my family and my friends. Here in training camp I don’t have anyone, and I miss the people that are closest to me. I miss having breakfast and dinner with my family. But I know this is business. I’m here to train. I know in a couple of weeks and I can see those important people again, and they understand what I’m doing here.”

Anthony Dirrell – “No sweets!”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “I feel like I’m a pregnant lady with some of the cravings I’ve been having. Lately I’ve been wanting gummy bears, and pork rinds – stuff that I don’t even eat normally.”

Deontay Wilder – “I’m staying away from the fried foods.”

Q: What is your biggest motivation while training?

A: Shawn Porter – “It’s all about the prize. I know what’s to come and where I’m headed. The outcome is what motivates me to put on a great performance for the fans on fight night.”

Kell Brook – “I like to prove people wrong and challenging myself. My family helps a lot too.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s about family first because I have to come here and work hard to provide for them. I love what I’m doing, and I love boxing. At the end of the day it’s about coming here so that I can put food on the table. That’s why I wake up early in the morning.”

Anthony Dirrell – “My two-year-old son motivates me to make a better life for him and my family.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “My family is most important, and the kind of lifestyle that I’m able to offer my whole family means a lot to me. I want to look out for my parents and my brothers too. I want to be able to give them the lifestyle that they’ve always wanted. I’m prioritizing things like my daughter’s college fund too.”

Daniel Estrada – “I have been waiting for this opportunity for almost a year. I’ve been the mandatory challenger for a while, but for some reason I couldn’t get the fight for the title. Now the opportunity is here and I am very positive I will become a World Champion on August 16.”

Deontay Wilder – “My motivations is fighting for a world title. I need to go into the ring and take care of my opponent on Aug. 16. I have to fight to win and succeed in order to provide for my family.”

Q: What is your typical training day like during this camp?

A: Shawn Porter – “My day starts with a 7 a.m. training session on the track that takes about an hour. Then I rest before heading to the gym to box from around 1- 4 p.m. Then I relax for a bit before heading for a massage and maybe an ice bath. I also like to work in some basketball on certain days.”

Kell Brook – “It all depends really. I start with a run in the morning. Then we do strength and condition. I spar in the afternoon, and then we do some technique work.”

Sakio Bika – “It’s six days a week. I wake up at 6 a.m. and run. Then I eat breakfast. After that I go to gym, and at noon I work with Kevin and spar. We finish up around 4p.m. and then I rest. Later I eat dinner and go to bed early.”

Anthony Dirrell – “I wake up at 6:30 a.m. We train hard in the morning, and then I rest for a bit. Then we go to gym to box and spar. Later in the evening we do strength and conditioning training before bed.”

Omar Figueroa Jr. – “Right now I’m back to two times a day, but at the beginning of camp, I trained three times a day. I wake up and go to the gym around 11 a.m. I have insomnia so I go to the gym a little later. I start with strength and conditioning. Then we do boxing around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. We finish up with a night run around 11 p.m.”

Deontay Wilder – “We hit the bags for a couple of rounds and listen to some old school funk why we get warmed up. Then, I hit the heavy bags for a couple of rounds and we do uppercut work. Every day is different though. Sometimes we switch things up and will keep things as exciting as possible. The same thing every day gets boring, so we like to change it up and keep it fun.”

While each fighter has similar tendencies training, each pugilist has their own story. Please see additional questions below.

SHAWN PORTER

Q:Has Vegas become your favorite place to train?

A: “I love to mix it up and go to different cities sometimes to train, but top to bottom I’d say Vegas is the best.”

Q: What makes Vegas so appealing as a backdrop for training?

A: “This being home now makes everything that much easier. Nothing’s complicated and I’m able to keep it easy.”

Q: You’re obviously coming off of a smashing KO win against Paulie Malignaggi this past April. Can you describe how the aftermath of that fight impacted your approach to this camp?

A: “More than anything, it made me realize that I need to put on another spectacular performance this time around so that I can get what’s coming.”

Q: Kell Brook is going to be the first Brit you’ve faced professionally. Do you expect anything different from him stylistically, and are you preparing differently for him?

A: “No, nothing specific. There’s nothing too complicated or unorthodox about his style. So I didn’t need to bring in any kind of specialist to spar, or plan for anything too different.”

KELL BROOK

Q: You’ve talked about your familiarity with fighting in the U.S. once previously in Atlantic City, and you mentioned how fighting outside of England might actually lessen your stress level heading into the biggest fight of your career. Would you elaborate a bit on that and why you’ll be so comfortable fighting for a title in Carson, Calif.?

A: “I’m confident because I’ve been here before and I’m very well prepared. I have my family with me too. When I box at home in front of eight or nine thousand people who know me there’s a little more pressure. When I come over here it can be easier to focus on the fight.”

Q: You made the trip to the U.S. for this fight on July 30. How was the travel, and do you think that finishing up the last two weeks of your training in the U.S. prepared you as well as your training regimen back home?

A: “Yep, I travel well, and I’m in good company. They keep me smiling.
“I’m ready now though. We’ve just been putting in work and now it’s all about enjoying this and being ready.”

Q: This will be your third professional bout against an American fighter, but both of your previous two were against Carson Jones. From your experience in those two fights, and from watching video of other U.S. fighters, do you notice anything different stylistically about U.S. fighters, and does that change your preparation in training camp at all?

A: “I believe I can adapt to any style. I’ve been sparring with some American fighters. They do have some unique things about their style. But the best fighters know how to adapt, and that’s what I’ll do.”

SAKIO BIKA

Q: Are you preparing differently for Dirrell this time around?

A: “I’m not going to change too much. I’m coming out to fight. I don’t want to run around and chase him. I’m going to show Anthony that I’m ready to do exactly what I’ve always done: to make people happy to see me fight. If he wants to take my belt off of me he better come prepared.”

Q: Is there one specific element of Dirrell’s repertoire that you’re working especially hard in camp to combat better when you meet this Saturday?

A: “The main thing I have to do is keep working hard every day and getting my rest when I can. I’ll be ready for Anthony. I always come to fight. I’m sure that I’m doing everything the way that I’m supposed to. And I’m training hard with my team so that I can defend and retain my belt.”

Q: How, if at all, do you think fighting him at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. will differ from the fight you had at Barclays Center?

A: “Not at all because I’ve fought before in an open arena, and I’ve fought in California before too. Anywhere they put a ring, in a shopping mall, a movie theater, I can fight anywhere.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

Q: Are you preparing differently for Bika this time around?

A: “It’s basically the same, just tweaking a few things here and there really.”

Q: Is there one specific element of Bika’s repertoire that you’re working especially hard in camp to combat better when you meet on Aug. 16?

A: “Not really, he’s going to be the same fighter. I’ll stick to my game plan and fight my fight, and he’ll do the same.”

Q: How, if at all, do you think fighting him at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. will differ from the fight you had at Barclays Center?

A: “It makes no real difference. A ring is a ring. It’s going to be one on one no matter what.”

OMAR FIGUEROA JR.

Q: You decided to make some changes to your training regimen coming into this camp. You’re now training with your father instead of Joel Diaz, and you’ve moved your training back home to Weslaco, Texas. Can you talk about why you decided to change things up?

A: “It’s just because of my daughter. I see her every day now. It was very hard for me to leave and not be able to see her. That’s a big part of why I had to get my act in line.”

Q: After you had your April fight at StubHub Center, did you learn anything from that experience that may have altered your training now that you’ll be returning there?

A: “Definitely, the April fight wasn’t a hard fight. It wasn’t as physical as I’m used to fighting. The biggest thing was keeping my weight where it needs to be heading into this fight.”

DANIEL ESTRADA

Q: Are you excited for your first opportunity to fight professionally in the U.S.?

A: “I am planning to take advantage of all the things I did in the gym. All the sacrifices will be paid back with a positive outcome on Saturday. I know I did the right things in training, and we have the right strategy at the gym, so there will be no excuses whatsoever.”

DEONTAY WILDER

Q: Your dominance in the ring has been well documented. With none of your professional opponents making it past the fourth round, do you ever feel like it’s a struggle for you to stay disciplined and train?

A: “Discipline is a mental thing, and I’m mentally strong. All of the hard work is in the gym and with the sparring. When it’s time to actually fight that’s the easy part, and it’s more fun actually. But it’s not hard for me to stay disciplined at all. I’ve changed lots of things regarding my style. I’m more patient now. I’m definitely a thinker now and that maturity helps me. People will find out that I’m a different kind of guy. They’ll see when I become the heavyweight champ just how disciplined I am.”

Q: How do you handle training for an opponent yet to be named, and how does that uncertainty impact your training?

A: “Camp has been the same as always. We’re not looking past August 16, but we know to prepare for Stiverne. That’s how confident I am in my ability and skills. I’m not worried about people picking the ‘right guy’ for me. I would be the laughing stock of the world if I had the title fight lined up and lost this fight on August 16. So I just have to get the job done next week and we’ll go from there.”

JORGE LINARES

Q: Do you believe that you have a distinct advantage going into your fight thist week?

A: “I always think positively, you have to jump in the ring thinking like a winner. I trust my training, my trainer and my corner. We don’t have any negativity at all. We feel good and prepared.”

Q: Are you feeling the pressure of needing to secure a win h in order to get a shot at a world title?

A: “It’s obligatory; I have to win on Saturday, without a doubt. There’s no thinking about losing, I have to get a good win this week and then we’ll look for that world title. Winning that world title is the only thing present on my mind.”

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for the IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the 12-round co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight Title against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges and will be available online atAXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425.

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 6, 2014) – Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion “ShowTime” Shawn Porter and undefeated contender Kell Brook held an open media workout at Barry’s Gym in Las Vegas on Wednesday as they reach the apex of preparation for next Saturday’s world championship showdown.

Porter (24-0-1, 15 KOs), of Akron, Ohio, will defend his 147-pound crown against Britain’s Brook (32-0, 22 KOs) in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader Saturday, Aug. 16, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from the storied StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., home to some of the most memorable, non-stop action, exciting fights in recent boxing memory.

Joining Porter and Brook on Wednesday were former two-division world champion Jorge “Niño De Oro” Linares, Porter’s father and trainer, Kenneth Porter and Dominic Ingle, who trains Brook.

Linares (36-3, 23 KOs), of Barinas, Venezuela, will face Ira Terry (26-11, 16 KOs), of Memphis, Tenn., in the opening bout of the Aug. 16 SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast, live at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Here’s what the participants and their trainers had to say during Wednesday’s workout:

SHAWN PORTER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“I stay hungry because I know the feeling. I know what it takes to get to this position; I know the struggle along the way. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment.

“I’m not concerned about Kell Brook. Earlier today, people were asking me about his power, and I don’t have much to say about that other than that I haven’t seen anything on film that makes him different from anybody else.

“I believe that Brook will feel the added pressure in this being his first title fight. I handled it great. I welcomed it and loved it going into my first title fight. I’m not sure if he has the same personality to handle the extra pressure. I do know there will be a big crowd out there and I can’t wait. The West Coast is hot and the crowd gets loud. I’m ready.

“This fight will be pure entertainment for the crowd, and I love to entertain the crowd and my fans. I have played this fight in my head thousands of different times from going the distance to me knocking him out with one punch.

“I don’t know if he is the toughest opponent I’ve faced yet. His record (32-0) would say that he is, but if you take a look at the caliber of fighters that I’ve fought before him, I think the other guys are more challenging fighters, especially Devon Alexander, who has an awkward and complicated style. Not to call Kell Brook plain, but he has a more up-and-down style that will be easier to deal with.

“I’ve watched about six different fights on Brook, all the way back to as early as I could.

“There is no added pressure for me to win. The easy part is to make the adjustments and doing what I do. There is no added pressure. The fights in the past are in the past. For me it’s on to bigger and better things so this fight has to be bigger and better. We had an excellent training camp and I am in the best shape of my life. With that being said, I believe this fight will be more spectacular.”

KELL BROOK, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

“It’s been a long time coming for me, fighting for this world title, with all the postponements before. But this is the start for me, fighting at the elite level in America. People always have an opinion; I just want to compete with the best fighters in the world. I’m a fighter. I was born to compete.

“I think about fighting in somebody else’s backyard. It goes through my mind, of course. Many things go through my mind. But it’s boxing and there’s nothing I can do. It’s the way the situation is. I’ve traveled a long way to challenge for the world title, but I’m prepared for everything and anything.

“Me beating Porter and winning a world title opens up all of the doors and opportunities. I think a fight with Amir Khan would be a huge. Everybody would grab on to that fight.

“I’m excited. The future’s bright. But it’s all about performing next Saturday. I always rise to the occasion. The bigger the fight, the better the opponent, and the better I am. I think you’ll see the best of me –ever.

“I don’t think anybody at this level has massive weaknesses. Porter is a good fighter. He’s aggressive, he’s done what he’s done in the last couple fights and proven that he belongs where he’s at being world champion.

“The fact is, it’s going to be a very, very tough fight. I’m always trying to improve myself. You never stop learning. I’m still proving myself. I’m not studying him, as much as I’m studying me, that the best Kell Brook can beat Shawn Porter.

“Fans can expect fireworks from me next Saturday night. It’s a candidate for Fight of the Year. I believe you have two young, unbeaten fighters with punching ability power going at it. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve always wanted to be a champion and it’s now my time. My dream will come true. So believe you me, I’m going to leave it all in the ring that night.”

JORGE LINARES, Former WBC Featherweight & WBA Super Featherweight World Champion

“We’re only two weeks away, it’s basically here. So I’m excited and feeling great. I’m ready to fight. I’m right on weight. Even though this fight is not at my regular weight of 135 pounds, I feel very good.

“Whoever can’t make weight with the extreme heat here in Las Vegas, has a serious issue [laughs]. Thankfully, I feel very good.

“I don’t feel like I’m coming into the fight with any disadvantages. I always think positively, you have to jump in the ring with the thinking of a winner.

“I trust my training and my trainer and corner. We don’t have any negativity at all, we feel good and prepared.

“It’s obligatory; I have to win next week, without a doubt. There’s no thinking about losing, I have to get a good win next week and then look for that world title.

“Winning that world title is the only thing present on my mind. “

KENNETH PORTER, Shawn Porter’s Father and Trainer

“When you get to this level it’s necessary to have everything that he needs in one facility so that he doesn’t have to travel or worry about weather or be concerned that he has to go into a different city to train. We want to control all aspects of the environment where we train. There are certain types of bags that he likes that other people don’t. We want to make sure that he is completely comfortable.

“There are not many welterweights that stay within 12 pounds of their weight like Shawn does, and he has stayed at that weight year-round for two years now. He is very disciplined because this is his lifestyle. He doesn’t go on a diet, this is the way he lives. He doesn’t go to camp, this is the weight he is at year-round until he is done with boxing.

“[Julio] Diaz was a two-time world champion, Devon [Alexander] was a two-time world champion, Paulie [Malignaggi] was a two-time world champion in different weight classes. Brook doesn’t have the resume of those guys. Not that Shawn made it look easy against those guys, but he pretty much dominated those fights. This is another level stepping up for Brook and he has to climb up to us. Once he tries to get up to us, Shawn will kick him right back down, that’s just what he does.”

DOMINIC INGLE, Kell Brooks’ Trainer

“Coming to the U.S. doesn’t faze us. We’ve been in this situation before. Once you’re in that ring you could be anywhere in the world. It doesn’t matter where you are; when you’re in that ring you could be on the moon. Anything can happen.

“When Ricky Hatton boxed, he had some tough fights in America and won the title. And he put England back on the map in the welterweight division. And now Kell is here to do the same thing.

“No stone has been left unturned for this fight. Shawn Porter is a tough guy –he surprised a few people when he beat Devon Alexander –and we’re not taking him lightly. He’s a champion, we’re in the U.S. and we’re here to take the belt.

“I’ve known Kell since he was nine-years-old and the superstars like Naseem Hamed were rolling into the gym. That’s the motivation for Kell, that’s what Kell wants to do. He wants to be the next fighter from Sheffield and be a world champion like Naseem Hamed was. That’s a great motivation for Kell Brook and that’s what has gotten him through all the injuries. That’s what has kept him focused and that is what will make him win the fight on Aug. 16.

“It’s been a long camp for Kell, probably about twice as long as his usual camps. His usual camps are about eight to nine weeks and by the time he steps into the ring to fight Shawn Porter he will have been in training camp for 16 weeks.

“Kell trains hard, probably sometimes too hard for his own good and you’re going to pick up injuries. Sometimes these things happen in your career. Lots of fighters have injuries, but they usually happen well away from the fights and don’t interfere with the fights. Unfortunately for Kell, they happened coming into the fights and that has set him back a long, long time. He should have had this fight a year and a half ago. His time has finally come. He has his chance and that’s all he wants.

“Porter’s fight with Devon Alexander wasn’t a fantastic fight. There was a lot of hitting and holding and it wasn’t very clean. The referee let both fighters get away with a lot of dirty tactics that wouldn’t have been allowed in the UK. At the end of that fight neither fighter seemed convinced they won the fight – there was no celebration and Shawn Porter got the decision.

“It was a different fight altogether against [Paulie] Malignaggi. Shawn Porter closed him down very quickly and put his game plan on straight away. It was a good finish and he’s done very well his last two fights.”

# # #

Porter vs. Brook is a 12-round fight for Porter’s IBF Welterweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event, the WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika defends his belt in a rematch against Anthony Dirrell, and in the televised opener, Omar Figueroa defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against Daniel Estrada. The event will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale now and are available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425.