Luis Ortiz scored a 6th round stoppage over former two-time Heavyweight title challenger Tony Thompson at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.

In round one, Ortiz decked Thompson with a hard straight left. Thompson was dropped again at the end of round three from a left. Ortiz ended the fight with another left that sent Thompson down an the fight was stopped at 2:29 of round six.

Ortiz, 242 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 25-0-2 with 22 knockouts. Thompson, 263 1/4 lbs of Washington, DC is now 40-7.

Jessie Vargas won the WBO Welterweight title with a ninth round stoppage over previously undefeated former U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali.

In round three, Ali developed swelling over his left eye.

In round eight, Vargas landed a huge right that sent Ali to the canvas. In round nine, Vargas landed a perfect right that sent Ali to the canvas for a second time. Vargas landed a hard right in the corner and referee enny Chevalier stopped the bout at 2:09 of round nine.

Vargas, 146 1/4 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is 27-1 with 10 knockouts. Ali, 147 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 22-1.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 3, 2016) – Fighters featured on the March 5 HBO Boxing After Dark telecast shared their final thoughts ahead of Saturday’s fights at the final press conference today in Washington, D.C. WBA Interim Heavyweight Champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) was joined by Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) ahead of their clash in the main event on the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast on Saturday.

Also appearing on stage were number one contender for the WBO Welterweight World Title Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) and former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) who will battle for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship in a can’t-miss 12-round co-main event.

Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos (23-11, 13 KOs) of and former WBA Interim Super Bantamweight World Champion Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs) of Ibague, Colombia, who will face of in a 12-round fight for the WBC Interim Featherweight World Championship.

Rounding out the dais were a host of up-and-coming east coast prospects including Lamont Roach Jr. (9-0, 3 KOs) of Washington, D.C., D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (11-0,7 KOs) from Temple Hills, Md., Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers Jr. (12-1, 9 KOs), Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (13-0, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Philadelphia natives Damon Allen (8-0, 3 KOs) and Todd Unthank-May (8-0, 3 KOs).

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s final press conference:

LUIS “THE REAL KING KONG” Ortiz, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion:

“Unlike Mr. Thompson who uses humor and good words and is very well spoken, I instill fear through my hard work. In the ring is where I’m most comfortable and that’s where I’ll continue to prove why I am the most feared heavyweight on the planet.

“Tony said that he is Godzilla. I didn’t see the movie, but on Saturday night, King Kong is going to beat Godzilla.”

TONY “THE TIGER” THOMPSON, Former Heavyweight World Title Contender:

“I didn’t take this fight in my hometown to get embarrassed. I don’t believe in the boogeyman. D.C. raised a man. I’m all man. I don’t care who the opponent is. I’ll meet you in the middle of the ring, and let’s see what happens. He’s the kind of fighter who is going to bring out the best in me.”

ROBERT DIAZ, Head Matchmaker at Golden Boy Promotions:

“This is a card you don’t want to miss. We stacked it up from top to bottom. These are the kind of fights Golden Boy and HBO put on every time, and every time the fans are the winners.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, Golden Boy Promotions Partner and Future Boxing Hall of Famer:

“Not only to the fighters on TV but to all the fighters, this is the time to make a statement in your career. When you have two heavyweights that want to fight, you are going to have a fight. In the heavyweight division you have to be careful, because of the power that they bring.”

HERMAN CAICEDO, Trainer for Luis Ortiz:

“We put in a lot of hard work at the gym. At the end of the day there’s no one who can help you when you’re in the middle of the ring. Whether it’s in the first or the 12th round, it’s coming – there’s a knockout pending.”

TROY FOX, Trainer for Tony Thompson:

“We got two stellar athletes. It should be a remarkable, action-packed card.”

MIKE BORAO, Manager for Tony Thompson:

“People are calling Luis Ortiz the boogeyman because no one wants to fight him, but Tony is the original boogeyman who no one wants to fight. Everyone knows the original is always better than the sequel.”

SADAM “WORLD KID” ALI, Number One Contender for the WBO Welterweight World Title:

“This is for a world title. This is what we all wait for. This is what we work for. This is my dream. Just know that you are going to see an exciting fight.”

JESSIE VARGAS, Former WBA Welterweight Champion:

“We’ve had a great preparation. I am very happy to be fighting for the WBO World Title once again, and I look forward to becoming a world champion. I will do whatever I have to do to come out victorious.”

ANDRE ROZIER, Trainer for Sadam “World Kid” Ali:

“Sadam is a hard worker and diligent student. He’s my youngest fighter to reach this level. We’re going to show you Saturday night what we’re ready for.”

DEWEY COOPER, Trainer for Jessie Vargas:

“If improvement if possible, perfection is not good enough. That is the way we trained. We improved in every way. You will all see that on display Saturday night. On Saturday night there will be one victor, and that will be Jessie Vargas.”

LEE SAMUELS, Director of Public Relations at Top Rank:

“Jessie reminds me of Alexis Arguello – he’s a gentleman outside the ring and a warrior inside the ring. Jesse wants to make a statement. He re-did his team. Jesse feels a lot stronger and he’s ready to fight.”

PETER NELSON, Executive Vice President of HBO Sports:

“This is a spectacular event, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. All of these fighters are committed to fight anyone, anyplace, any time – those are the kind of guys that fans want to see.”

ROBINSON “ROBIN HOOD” CASTELLANOS, Former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion and Mandatory Contender to the WBC Featherweight World Championship:

“I am very well-prepared. We’ve done everything we had to. I want to make history in boxing, and the only way to do that is to win on Saturday night, and that’s what I’m planning to do.”

OSCAR ESCANDON, WBC Interim Featherweight Title Contender:

“I want to dedicate this fight to God and my daughter who was born last week, and I haven’t met and to all of you the fans. I hope you really appreciate this great fight we are going to put on.”

RUBEN GUERRERO, Trainer for Oscar Escandon

“Oscar’s been training for eight months, and we’re ready for the fight. He’s going to be ready for this fight. He’s going to be a different fighter than before. Both hands are strong. He’s ready to go. There’s going to be a knockout in this fight.”

LAMONT ROACH, JR., Lightweight Prospect:

“I just want to tell you if you haven’t seen me fight, I think you’ll enjoy the excitement I bring to the ring. The fans will be excited. I appreciate HBO for bringing boxing back to Washington, D.C.”

D’MITRIUS BALLARD, Super Middleweight Prospect:

“Right now, I’m considered to be a prospect. Soon I’ll be a contender and then soon I’ll be a world champion. The fans should come out on Saturday and see all my hard work and training.”

ZACHARY OCHOA, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I’ve been training hard for this fight. I’m ready to take the steps so I can fight for a world title in the future.”

DAMON ALLEN, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I’m grateful to be on a card like this. I bring fireworks. If you haven’t seen me fight, be prepared.”

TODD UNTHANK-MAY, Light Heavyweight Prospect:

“I’m a Philly fighter. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere. I’m going to put on a show on Saturday.”

PETE KIRSCHNER, Director of Communications and Marketing Events DC, Sports & Entertainment:

“Boxing and the DC Armory have been synonymous over the last four decades and we are thankful for HBO for continuing that tradition.”

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale today and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank, the HBO Boxing After Dark ® telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Robinson Castellanos vs. Oscar Escandon is a 12-round fight for the WBC InterimFeatherweight Championship and the Ring TV live stream begins at 9:00 pm. ET. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Carmelita Chorizo. Doors open at the DC Armory at 4:30 p.m. ET.

HBO Boxing travels to the nation’s capital for an all-action doubleheader when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: LUIS ORTIZ VS. TONY THOMPSON AND SADAM ALI VS. JESSIE VARGAS is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 5 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 6 (10:15 a.m.) and 8 (12:05 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 6 (3:15 p.m.) and 7 (12:30 a.m.)

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.

The headlining bout features undefeated Cuban native Luis Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) risking his perfect record against veteran Tony Thompson (40-6 27 KOs) in a heavyweight showdown set for 12 rounds. Ortiz, 36, took the division by storm in 2015, compiling three consecutive knockouts over a six-month stretch; most notably, the southpaw handed rising heavyweight prospect Bryant Jennings the first knockout loss of his career. Thompson, 44, will be fighting before a hometown crowd for the first time in more than ten years.

In the evening’s co-main event, a vacant welterweight championship is on the line when Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) takes on Las Vegas’ Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round contest. Ali, 27, has a decorated amateur background, including a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team, and has fought nearly his entire pro career in the northeast, including a 2014 bout at the DC Armory. Vargas, 26, is looking to rebound from his first professional loss last June against world-class performer Timothy Bradley Jr.

This edition of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK marks HBO Boxing’s third trip to the nation’s capital; most recently, a 2011 card featured a hotly contested light welterweight championship bout between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.

Launched 20 years ago last month, HBO BOXING AFTER DARK was the network’s initial platform for a host of exciting talents, including Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Vargas, Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Johnathan Evans.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 22, 2016) – After a thrilling victory over perennial contender Rocky Juarez to win the WBC Silver Featherweight title and a mandatory shot at the world title, Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos (23-11, 13 KOs) of Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico is finally getting the opportunity to become a world champion when he faces former WBA Interim Super Bantamweight World Champion Oscar Escandon (24-2, 16 KOs) of Ibague, Colombia in a 12-round fight for the WBC Interim Featherweight World Championship on March 5 at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.

Featured as part of the non-televised portion of the Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson undercard, the fight between the top featherweight contenders will be part of the international broadcast and streamed live on Ring TV. The Ring TV live stream begins at 9:00 p.m. ET and is available on RingTVLive.com, YipTV.com and the Ring TV channel via Amazon Fire, Roku and Filmon.com.

“This is the biggest fight of my career,” said Robinson Castellanos. “I know that Oscar Escandon is going to be a tough opponent. He is a former Olympian with recent victories over other difficult fighters like Jesus Cuellar. But, I feel very strong, focused and have been working very hard to make sure I obtain the victory. The state of Guanajuato has not had a world champion in more than 35 years and to be able to fight for a world title as a representative of my home is a big motivator for me. I want to thank my team, Golden Boy Promotions and all my supporters for this opportunity. I promise I will have my hands raised up in victory on March 5.”

“First I want to thank God, my team, my promoter Sampson Boxing for this opportunity,” said Oscar Escandon. “I also want to thank my family for all their support and I want to dedicate this fight to my newborn daughter. I feel very happy and thankful to be fighting for the world title. I know Robinson he is strong, hard puncher, but I am going to be 100 percent prepared for this fight. I have been training very hard and want to make sure I take the title back to my home. May the best man win.”

“Robinson Castellanos is a talented fighter with true grit, and I trust he will give it all in the ring on March 5 when he gets his first shot at a world championship,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Given Robinson’s thirst for this victory and the pedigree of his opponent Oscar Escandon, fans will be pleased with how this plays out in the ring at the DC Armory.”

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale today and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos is a fighter whose talent exceeds his record and has had one of the greatest comebacks in 2015. Coming off a loss to Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado in February 2014, Castellanos followed it up with a dominant victory over Ronny Rios in October 2014, stopping the then-unbeaten prospect in the fifth round. Castellanos continued to show his power in January of 2015 facing the warrior Rocky Juarez for the chance to win the WBC Silver Featherweight title and become the mandatory challenger for the WBC Featherweight World Championship. Both fighters showed a lot of heart and put on one of the bloodiest fights of 2015, but it was Castellanos’ dominance that was on display as his powerful jabs, brutal uppercuts and well-timed counter-punching knocked down Juarez in the fifth and twice in the 10th round to win via unanimous decision with scores of 118-106, 118-106 and 118-107. Now, Castellanos has a shot to become a world title holder when he faces Oscar Escandon on March 5.

Hailing from Ibague, Colombia, Oscar Escandon is a former world champion with a decorated amateur career. Escandon competed in the 2004 Olympics representing Colombia and was initiated into the professional ranks in 2008 with a victory over then unbeaten Luis Meza. From there, Escandon enjoyed an undefeated streak and defeat current WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus “El Jinete” Cuellar, Michael “Michell” Arango, and Javier Coronado along his path to capture the WBC Interim Latino Featherweight title in 2013. That same year Escandon faced Nehomar Cermeno for the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight World Championship and came up short losing via split decision. Escandon quickly bounced back with a victory over Julian “Chispita” Evaristo Aristule in August of 2014 which secured him another shot at the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight World Championship against Tyson “Prince of Hali” Cave in December of 2014, which he defeated via split decision. Escandon was last seen in the ring against Moises Flores in April of 2015 losing his title via split decision. Now, Escandon is ready to get back in the ring looking for another big victory and a world title when he faces Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank, the HBO Boxing After Dark ® telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Robinson Castellanos vs. Oscar Escandon is a 12-round fight for the WBC Interim Featherweight Championship and the Ring TV live stream begins at 9:00 pm. ET. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and the DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions: Welcome, everyone, to the Luis Ortiz, Tony Thompson and Sadam Ali and Jessie Vargas media conference call. These will be two exciting matchups taking place on March 5th at the DC Armory in Washington D.C.

Fresh from a stunning knockout of Bryant Jennings and obviously eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA heavyweight world champion, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson who is 40-6 with 27 knockouts. It will be the main event in the 12-round fight for the WBA interim heavyweight title on March 5th.

Ortiz versus Thompson is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing Promotions.

Opening up the live HBO telecast on March 5th is the co-main event, top contender and 2008 Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali with a record of 22-0, 13 knockouts, will face former WBA super lightweight world Jessie Vargas who holds a record of 26-1 with nine knockouts. It’s a highly anticipated co-main event, and that will be for the vacant WBO welterweight world championship title.

The Ali-Vargas is a co-feature. I see it as a 50-50 fight. The fans are eager to see who will be victorious. And it’s always a pleasure to be co-promoting this event, this fight, with Top Rank, in association with Top Rank.

And at this moment I would also like to thank our event sponsor, Cerveza Tecate Born Bold. They’ve been a great new partner for us in 2016. I’m pleased to announce that the tickets are reasonably priced, starting at $25 all the way up to $100 for ringside seats, and you can get those tickets at ticketmaster.com.

The doors will open at the DC Armory at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Pacific.

Obviously I’m very pleased and excited that these two incredible fights will be broadcast live on HBO, which is the best network for boxing. So now let me take this opportunity to introduce the president of Top Rank who will say a few words. We are pleased to be working with Top Rank and to put together this stacked event on March 5th.

TODD DUBOEF, President of Top Rank: Thanks, Oscar. Welcome, everybody, to the conference call. Obviously co-promoting this with Golden Boy and this fight for HBO is highly anticipated. The welterweight division is just so robust and deep with talent and seems like for the last decade it’s just been a slew of fighters young and established that have been going through there.

That’s what we will see in this semifinal, co-feature event on March 5th. As Top Rank, we’re the promoter of Jessie Vargas. Jessie is a former world champion, earned it the hard way.

He had to be encouraged to go into the ring, and fought in China against DeMarco. He won that. He then went for the chance to fight Tim Bradley, which was a very close fight. Some people thought Jessie was very disappointed in the last minutes of the round where he thought he had Bradley out, where he could have secured a victory.

He’s an action fighter. He’s always a gentleman. He’s classy. He’s managed by Cameron Dunkin. He’s the pride of Vegas, and he’s always held up in the gym late at night in Top Rank.

At this point I’d like to introduce Jessie Vargas so he can try to earn his second world title.

JESSIE VARGAS, Former World Champion and Number Four Contender for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship: Thank you, Todd. Good afternoon to everyone. First of all, I’m very thankful for this opportunity once again. And I want to thank Top Rank and everyone that made it possible. I’m glad to be back on HBO.

And as you said, I always come to give the fans great fights. I’m an action-packed fighter and this fight will be no different, if not more, because I’m very eager and very anxious to come back strong and reclaim that WBO world title.

I’m coming in with everything I’ve got, and I’m fully confident that I will come out victorious because of my preparation with my team. I’m also very thankful for the support that Top Rank has given me and that Top Rank will be in the house in Washington D.C. to see me win another world title.

What can I say, I’m excited. And I’m planning on making Sadam Ali quit. That’s my goal, and I plan to achieve it. I’m not going to stop pushing from beginning to end. I’ve conditioned myself. I’ve prepared myself for that fight to come in busy basically and not leave it up to the judges. Just win a clear, decisive fight. And to be honest, like I said, my goal is to win by a tail. That’s my ultimate goal. I’ve shown the power that I can do so. It’s all about going in the fight and giving it my all, and I plan on doing so.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you. We can now ask the media, we can have a few questions for Vargas.

Q. Tell me about what Cooper is doing with you in the gym that will allow you to win this fight. You said to me a couple of weeks ago that you’ve known each other since you were a kid. Now that you’re a man and you’re fighting for a second world title, what’s he emphasizing in the gym with you? What’s he doing to make you believe you can win this fight?

JESSIE VARGAS: You know, just with him I’m throwing a lot of combinations, getting down on my punches, throwing the punches correctly. Just small things that needed correction and that we are putting together, just going back to the basics.

Ultimately, it’s always just about going back to the basics. But I’m feeling very comfortable more than anything because I’m throwing more punches than I ever have.

And that’s going to be needed in this fight, because we know that Ali is the type to run around and move around, and we’re going to hunt him down.

Q. For you, you’re obviously still motivated by what happened at the StubHub Center. How do you keep that from being a negative in terms of wanting to win this title so bad that maybe you forget the things that you did well that gave you the chance to win in California that night?

JESSIE VARGAS: Well, you know, it’s close to fire. I’m coming back with rage into this fight. I have that fire that I just want to destroy any opponent that’s in front of me, not wait until the last round or not let any second, any minute of the fight just go. I’m planning on fighting the entire fight.

And I’ve prepared and I’m prepared to do so. And that’s what matters. That’s what I’ve learned from that fight. And I plan to just stay busy.

Q. Following up on what Steve just asked you about working with Dewey in the gym, you’re with a new trainer again, and I’m wondering, I’m sure that there have been things you’ve learned from your different trainers, and obviously you’ve won a world title and become one of the top welterweights around. But I’m wondering your take on this: You’ve been a pro for eight years. He’s your sixth trainer by my count. What’s the deal with six trainers in eight years? It is highly unusual.

JESSIE VARGAS: Yeah, it is. Well, you know, situations that I was put in just led me to either split, more than anything, just split. I’ve learned from each coach, and I have nothing but respect for them. But things are complicated.

What can I say? One fighter — one trainer, unfortunately didn’t have the time for my camp, another trainer had to leave to be in training camp with another team while I was in training camp. And others, Robert Alcazar wanted to do training out of California, I was out of Las Vegas. So it’s just different things. With Roger, he was very sick, very ill. I wasn’t able to train with him any longer at that time.

So it’s just the situation that was put in front of me at the moment is the things that led me to making a decision switching up, either me or them. But I’ve learned from every trainer, I can say that. And I’m learning from Dewey as well. So that’s a big benefit.

Q. Obviously even having made a number of trainer changes over the last couple of years, you’re still 26-1. You’re still top-rated welterweight. You’re still a guy that won a world title. You’ve put in heck of a effort and performance against Tim Bradley. I wonder, if you would have had stability in your training camp, you know, like Pac has with Freddie Roach for 15 years or guys who stayed — Bernard Hopkins has been with the same trainer like since 2002, just stayed and got that familiarity and the repetition in the gym and really got in sync, how much better do you think you could be if you had that sort of continuity in your training camp, fight after fight for many years?

JESSIE VARGAS: Well, those fighters are fortunate to have that team that would stick with them or that they felt comfortable with. I unfortunately — not so much unfortunately, because I have learned from everybody, but I haven’t been put in that position just yet. Like you said, I’m still young.
So I’m still looking for the trainer that I’m going to settle down with and feel comfortable with. And I’m feeling comfortable with Dewey, I will have to say that, and I look forward to showing off what we are putting together.

I’m sure Bernard Hopkins, if he’s 40 now in 2000, I don’t know exactly what year that was, I don’t know if he was 26, 28, or 30 years old —

Q. He’s 51 now.

JESSIE VARGAS: All right. So eventually we find somebody at one age, and I’m very comfortable with Dewey Cooper. He’s putting in a great effort and he also wants to bring out the best in me because he had a close relationship with me. And I’m feeling very comfortable.

Q. Can you just walk me through a little bit about what happened at the end of last year where this fight was supposed to originally — or at least it was being discussed and offered to do on the December 19th card that HBO and Golden Boy put on up in Turning Stone in Verona, New York, and ultimately Luis Ortiz, who is going to be in the main event on your card here, ended up fighting the main event because you guys could not come to an agreement about where the fight would take place. Could you walk us through that as far as your camp’s view of not fighting in New York state even though Sadam Ali is hours and hours away from there? How did that — what was the story there?

JESSIE VARGAS: My trainer — I’m sorry, my manager, Cameron Dunkin, is the one who negotiated for all of the fights and all of the deals. As we were sitting down talking about the next fight, Cameron did advise about how a fight in New York could be against a fighter from New York. And it wasn’t something that we were very interested in, just because of from the past experiences how it’s been in a hometown, a fighter from the hometown having the hometown advantage in New York.

That’s why we just wanted any different site. Just not New York. And that’s what I have Cameron there for; he’s there to advise me and make sure that there will be success. And he and I are very much looking forward to this fight in Washington.

Q. Earlier in the call you mentioned that you were going to make Sadam Ali quit. I was just wondering what you’ve seen in him that leads you to believe that you could do that.

JESSIE VARGAS: He’s not on my level. And I’m here to show this on fight day. I’m here to prove that he’s not on my level. Of course I’m saying it, but I’m going to prove it that night as well. It’s just two different breeds, and March 5th I’m going to show it.

I’m very confident coming into this fight, you know what I mean? My strength is better than ever, my speed and how comfortable I feel in the ring. And I’m just having fun in there, and I’m going to have fun March 5th.

Q. Can you elaborate why you think he’s not on your level? What have you seen from him that leads you to believe that?

JESSIE VARGAS: He doesn’t have the experience I have. I’ve been in there with world-class fighters in the beginning of my career. I’ve beaten several undefeated records already, and I’m planning to do the same March 5th.

So, first of all, he doesn’t have the experience. He’s never had to really dig deep. He hasn’t been in those wars. And it’s something that he has inside that he’s going to — something that he hasn’t experienced, he will experience in this fight.

Q. His win over Abregu surprised a lot of people especially him stopping Abregu, what did you think of that performance?

JESSIE VARGAS: I thought he fought well. He was a young fighter, and it was an opportunity. And he fought well in that fight. Abregu was a top fighter, but he had also been on a long layoff before then. And he was an older fighter as well. Like I said before, he’s never experienced being in the ring with someone like me — young, hungry, strong, fast, in his prime.

He hasn’t faced any fighters like me.

Q. Were you surprised that he beat Abregu?

JESSIE VARGAS: I didn’t know how Abregu was going to come back. I thought it was going to be a good match. I did tune in to watch it. But he did surprise me that he did stop Abregu. But credit to him for that. But I did know the possibilities of fighting.

Q. You’ve always been a very measured boxer over your career, but for this fight seems like you’re promising more of an aggressive style. Is that correct?

JESSIE VARGAS: That’s right. I’m coming back with a vengeance. I want to come back strong and take what’s mine and come back to Vegas and celebrate over here.

Q. You seem very confident about being able to change your style, and I guess become more aggressive. Have you found that just through training camp that that’s been a pretty easy transition to become a lot more of an aggressive fighter than you have been in the past?

JESSIE VARGAS: I’ve always been aggressive. I’ve always stayed busy. My last fight wasn’t as busy as I usually have been in the past. But one thing that you just mentioned is that I’m very comfortable with how training camp is coming along, I’m very comfortable with the team, and it’s going to show a difference March 5th.

Q. I also wonder, Jessie, you and Sadam are around the same age. Do you guys know each other from the amateurs or have any amateur experience together at all?

JESSIE VARGAS: I believe I’ve seen him before. I’ve heard of him in the past. He’s one of those amateur boxers that used to run around a lot, run around the ring and try to score points. I have heard of him. I have seen him when we were young, when we were kids.

So I do know of him.

Q. You guys never faced each other, never sparred at all or nothing like that?

JESSIE VARGAS: No.

Q. Just from your describing Sadam Ali’s style, you think maybe he still has an amateur style, is that how you look at him?

JESSIE VARGAS: That’s right. That’s right. I mean, a friend of mine dropped him in amateurs and had him nearly knocked out. So I know his weaknesses, and I plan on working on that.

Q. Do you remember who that friend of yours was who dropped him in the amateurs?

JESSIE VARGAS: Yeah, it was — it was a Toronto fight, which I don’t remember who it was, it was here in the U.S. And there was another fight as well with Francisco Vargas. Francisco dropped him and that was like, I believe it was in the Olympics.

Q. Based on that, you’ve kind of gleaned some of his weaknesses and you think maybe you can take advantage of them?

JESSIE VARGAS: Based on what I saw in his clips, in his last couple of fights, based on what I’ve known from when we were kids, based on some of the fights that he had as an amateur, so I’m just putting it all together.

MODERATOR: Todd, can you talk about the fight and final comments?

TODD DUBOEF: Obviously you mean the matchup between two very — it’s a 50/50 fight. Both guys are established, and obviously Sadam Ali is trying to win his first title.

It’s going to be a — it’s a terrific division, again. And to have both of these guys in the division creating some buzz and putting on great performances will make bigger fights for them.

I won’t forget when Jessie and I had our conversation right before the Bradley fight. I said, Go get it. Go do the best you can. He said, I’m going to win. I’m going to win. I said, Well, even in defeat, even in winning, whatever you do, I said, you chew off those big matches, you’re going to make opportunities for you.

So this one is another opportunity. Even though he didn’t win the Bradley fight, we commend fighters that take fights, and both guys will put it all on the line.

So we look forward to meeting everybody and seeing everybody on March 5th on HBO and working with Golden Boy and everybody. It’s going to be a terrific night of fights.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it’s my pleasure to introduce to you team Sadam Ali. First off, I would like to introduce Sadam’s trainer to say a few words, and his name is Andre Roizer. Andre, do you want to say a few words to the media.

ANDRE ROIZER, Trainer to Sadam Ali: Basically we’re getting ready for this opportunity that we’ve been waiting for for some time. Sadam is working diligently at his craft. And you’re going to see the best Sadam Ali that you’ve ever seen.
We’re preparing to be victorious. We’re preparing to look like a million dollars, and we’re preparing to show the world that Sadam Ali is an athlete that should be reckoned with in this welterweight division, which is loaded with so much talent.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it’s my pleasure to introduce a former member of the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team and the first Arab American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. “Brooklyn” Sadam Ali has been climbing the welterweight ladder since a big year in 2013. Ali has had back-to-back victories over Michael “Cold Blood” Clark where he won the NBAO title. He beat Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan winning the WBO intercontinental welterweight title. He’s coming off that great victory over the tough and rugged and experienced Luis Carlos Abregu, defending his titles and giving the experienced fighter his second loss and Francisco “Chia” Santana we’re he earned the WBA international welterweight title.

So it’s my pleasure to introduce a fighter who boasts remarkable speed, incredible power, and I know he’s ready for this world title shot against former champion Jessie Vargas. So it’s my pleasure. He has a record of 22-0 with 13 knockouts. Sadam “World Kid” Ali.

SADAM ALI, Number One Contender to the Vacant WBO Welterweight World Championshi[: Good afternoon, everybody. I’m excited. First and foremost, I would like to thank God for this opportunity and for keeping me healthy. And I’d like to thank HBO, Golden Boy and the WBO for this opportunity.
This is a world title match, and what pro fighter isn’t looking for that? Who doesn’t want that? We’re all going to want it as bad. He’s going to want it bad. I’m going to want it bad.

This is my chance. This is my shot. He had his. Well, he has another one. That’s good for him. But I’m ready. I’ve been working hard. I’m ready to show everybody why I deserve to be in this position.

You all know me, I’m the humble guy. I don’t like to talk. I do the talking in the ring. People say I run. I say I box. I move. I fight smart.

And I’m ready to go out there get that WBO title and show everybody why I deserve to be where I am, and I will do that.

Q. Here’s a question for you. I know it’s a big deal for you just talking about the opportunity to win this world title belt against Jessie Vargas, but you were sitting in the mandatory spot for a while. I wonder if there’s any part of you whatsoever that is maybe a little bit disappointed that rather than fighting Vargas for a vacant title that you would have rather had an opportunity to fight Timothy Bradley to take the title off the champion. Obviously Timmy beat Jessie, is a much more well-known fighter than Jessie. Or does it not matter to you at all?

SADAM ALI: Timothy Bradley is a world champion and a great fighter. That opportunity would have been amazing. But I look at it like this: Everything’s in God’s hands. Whatever happens is meant to happen.

I don’t blame the decision that Bradley has to make. I understand. And in his position I would have made the same decision. So I don’t knock anybody for that.

I mean, God put me in the position to do what I have to do. This is the opportunity that comes across me, and my mind is officially focused on that.

Q. You’re not one to say that Tim Bradley was maybe avoiding you or ducking you, you understand the business of why he would go for a third fight with Pacquiao?

SADAM ALI: Yes, I understand the business.

Q. The last few wins you’ve had have been very good victories, like Oscar was mentioning. Santana was a tough fight on a big stage. Abregu was a tremendous performance. But you only had the one fight last year against Santana, been off for a while. I know they tried to make this fight with Jessie at the end of the year, didn’t work out. What are your thoughts about having just the one doubt last year as you head into a world championship fight?

SADAM ALI: It was a little frustrating, a little hard to get the fight going and figure out everything that’s been going on.

But I’ve been in the gym. I’ve been ready. I never took off and stayed out because I didn’t have a fight. So I’ve been ready. For some people they might think I haven’t proved to be on the top elite. But this is why I’m here. This is why I’m here to prove that. Jessie Vargas is a great fighter, but I am a great fighter.

And if anybody wants to underestimate me, then that’s fine. I’m just ready to go out there and show why I shouldn’t be underestimated.

Q. I think many people look at this fight, look at your record, look at his record, Todd Duboef was mentioning on the Jessie Vargas part of the call, basically a 50/50 fight between the two of you guys, at least in the minds of many of the media and the public. Whose resumé do you think stacks up a little stronger? You have the two really good, outstanding victories with your past two fights with Abregu and Santana and solid victory with Jeremy Bryant. And, on the other hand, he has a tough, competitive fight against Bradley that he lost but also victories against DeMarco who was a former world title holder, Novikov who was undefeated, Khabib who was undefeated where he took the title off him. Seems awfully close. I know you’re probably biased toward yourself, but if you step back whose resumé stacks up better at the moment?

SADAM ALI: We both are great fighters, but he has 26 fights. I have 22. So he had more fights than me. He had more opportunities. As for me, my resumé is going to get better and better. That’s the way I look at it. I’m not comparing myself to him or to who he fought. I know who I am. I know what I can do. And March 5th I’m going to show it.

Q. He said he’s going to make you quit in the fight, which it’s one thing for a guy to say he’s going to win or maybe get a knockout. You don’t hear too often, I haven’t heard too often in a long career, other fighters say I’m going to make the guy quit. What do you make of that? Why would he say he’s going to make you quit? Not beat you, but make you quit?

SADAM ALI: This may piss him off, but it makes me laugh. He’s really confident. That’s good. That’s the way a fighter should be. But make me quit, that is not an option for me.

Q. Sadam was kind enough to allow me to visit his gym last week, and some of the things we talked about included Sadam wants stringent PED testing for this fight. Sadam, I’m wondering if you have an update for us about testing for this fight with Vargas?

SADAM ALI: Well, of course, this is a very dangerous sport. And I just want everything to be fair on both sides. So I did offer that. The other side didn’t really want to go half and half with it, because the fighters have to cover something like this.

And so in this situation where I’ve got to handle the whole thing on my own. So I’m in the situation where I’ve got to decide that on my own.

Q. You’re going to go it alone and you’re going to pay for all the testing?

SADAM ALI: A final decision hasn’t been made. But most likely that’s what the thoughts are.

Q. Oscar, I’d like your assessment of Sadam. Especially pertaining to Jessie saying, yeah, he’s got an amateur style. I see Sadam being able to do pro and more of an amateur style. But I’d like your assessment. Where do you think he stands? Does he still have some amateur ticks in his game? I’d like your assessment and analysis of Sadam.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Sadam Ali is the perfect combination. I mean, he has the amateur pedigree, which is very, very necessary to become a world-class athlete, and that’s exactly what he is. He’s a professional fighter who has tremendous speed and amazing footwork and great power.

He demonstrated that against Abregu, a fighter who was coming forward, a fighter who has tremendous power, and Sadam Ali took care of business.

So, look, Sadam Ali is at the perfect moment in his life where this is his year and this is the perfect time to shine. And March 5th, against the great fighter in Jessie, it’s going to be a tremendous fight. But a lot of people, like Sadam said, underestimate his abilities and especially his power. I’m really looking forward to this fight.

Q. Sadam, following off some of the comments that Jessie has made and you’ve made in response, how important is it that you not only win this fight but win making a statement, win in impressive fashion? Is that the top of your radar?

SADAM ALI: Well, for sure. It’s important for the viewers. It’s important for everybody who doubted. It’s important for my career. It’s important for what I do after this.

I’m not looking past Vargas. But this is the biggest fight of my life right now. And I feel I’m going to say that every fight after this, because I feel every fight is the biggest fight of my life.

So this fight has a lot to do with what’s going to happen in the future.

Q. Is fan friendliness an important aspect of the fight to you? Is being fan friendly entertaining, an important aspect of the fight to you?

SADAM ALI: Being fan friendly?

Q. Fan friendly. In other words, being entertaining in the ring, putting on a good show. Is that also important to you?

SADAM ALI: Of course. That’s one of the most important things to me in boxing. Because, at the end of the day, we’re in there. It’s a dangerous sport. We put a lot just going into the ring.
But at the end of the day I like to perform for the viewers. I like to impress. I like to look special. So that is very important to me.

Q. Do you think Jessie is a little overconfident in this fight, judging by some of the comments he’s made about you on this call?

SADAM ALI: Well, honestly, I wouldn’t say overconfident, because he’s coming off the fight with Bradley. He feels it didn’t end like he wanted it to. He has a second chance at a world title fight. I don’t blame him for being this confident at all.

I mean, I wouldn’t say overconfident. You should be confident as a fighter. But I’m confident, too. I’m just not going to go around and tell the whole world. I’m going to show it in the ring.

Q. I’m also curious, just because I’m not really used to, I guess, hearing this type of like animosity from a fighter towards you, and I’m wondering just were you kind of caught off guard by it and maybe surprised that Jessie was, I guess, that dismissive of you as a boxer, just some of the comments?

SADAM ALI: I mean, it is what it is. People are going to doubt me or people are not going to think too highly of me. There’s going to be people like that. But that’s up to me to change their minds. That’s my job to do.
I don’t blame them. There’s different kinds of fighters, different types of attitudes. This is me. Like, this is not an act. This is how I’ll always be. This is who I am. And as I’m fighting I’m going to run into a whole different type of personalities, and this is just one. It’s no big deal to me at all.

Q. How do you see this fight unfolding? Do you see yourself winning a decision? Do you see yourself trying to stop him late? How do you envision this fight ending?

SADAM ALI: Honestly, I can’t call it. First and foremost, he’s saying he’s going to come — I don’t know if that’s how he’s going to come. I’m the type of fighter that’s ready for any type of style.

So if he wants to come to me, I have something for that. If he wants to stay outside and try to counterpunch, I have something for that.
So I don’t know how this fight is going to turn out. All I know, it’s going to be a great fight.

MODERATOR: Sadam, any final words you want to say to the press on this call.

SADAM ALI: First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the press. I appreciate the write-ups they do and the talk they keep about us fighters, because it’s very important to keep it out there and for the sport.

I want to also thank the viewers and everybody who is watching. Tune in. It’s going to be a great fight. And I will be the WBO champ, and I’m excited about that.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you very much. The main event of the evening will be a heavyweight showdown. And I would like to take this opportunity to commend Tony Thompson and his team. Here you have a fighter who is experienced, a fighter who is from Washington D.C., American, who is ready to prove that he’s afraid of no one. He’s going up against “King Kong” Ortiz, and it is really a pleasure to be working with a fighter who can step up and face probably the most feared heavyweight in the division today.

So let me introduce to you to say a few words, and it is my pleasure to be working with, Leon Margules, president of Warriors Boxing. Here is Leon Margules.

LEON MARGULES, President of Warriors Boxing and Promotions: Thank you, Oscar. First of all, I’d like to thank HBO for the opportunity that Tony is getting, and I’d like to thank Golden Boy for the opportunities Tony is getting.

Tony’s been around many, many years. And he fears no one. While he’s not the youngest guy in the division, he’s been very active and he’s fought all over the world. I mean, in 2015 he knocked out Odlanier Solís, in 2013 he knocked out David Price twice, 2014 he beat Solís.

So he’s been around the world. And he’s lost a couple of close decisions like to Carlos Takam and to Pulev, but Tony is a well-traveled, well-seasoned, fought Klitschko twice, veteran who is excited, because I’m looking at Tony’s record, and I don’t think he’s fought many, many years if at all in his hometown of Washington D.C.

So this is like a dream come true and, of course, the bigger the challenge, the more motivated Tony is. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce world title contender, former world title challenger from Washington, Tony Thompson.

TONY THOMPSON, Former World Title Contender: Hello. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. How are you doing? Wonderful introduction. I’m just too tired to enjoy it. I appreciate the opportunity from HBO after, what, nine years, eight years. You should have had me back sooner, but we won’t get into that. But I appreciate the opportunity.

Like Leon said, I’m not the youngest guy in the sport but I’m probably still the hungriest guy in the sport. I don’t know how I’m going to be facing the most feared fighter, the most feared and tough fighter in the division, because that’s myself, so I can’t box myself. But I understand what you’re saying about your guy. It’s all good, baby. He won’t have no problem finding me, trust me.

Q. A lot of people would commend you for taking this kind of fight on relatively short notice. I can’t say I’m that surprised having followed your career for a long time. So let me ask you this, then: You get the fight on short notice. That’s not necessarily a good thing. But, on the other hand, you get a fight at home, where you haven’t had a chance to fight for a long time, and now all of a sudden you get an HBO main event in your backyard. Can you kind of balance the two out? Like on the one hand it’s short notice, but on the other hand you get to fight at home. Is one better than the other? I’m sure you’d rather have the fight with plenty notice in home, but how much does having it at home make up for the fact that it’s fairly short notice?

TONY THOMPSON: Absolutely makes up for it. My whole career has been a span of short-notice fights. This is nothing new to us. And before y’all ask me, no, I wasn’t in the gym. It don’t matter because I’m working my ass off, and I didn’t want to talk myself into this fight to get embarrassed in my hometown or HBO at that. I’ve only been on HBO one time. They never invited me back.

So I’m out to prove not only to my hometown that I’m a live candidate in this division but HBO or any other television network that chose to leave me off for whatever reason.

So, I mean, again, short-notice fights have made my career because everybody think they’re going to catch me off guard, catch me slipping. All they can do is make me extra motivated. So when I go in the gym and I bust my ass two or three times a day getting ready, that’s what I try to think about: They’re trying to pull the fast one on me again.
It’s up to me to show them it’s not the case. You can do what you want. Handicap, put my left hand behind my leg and make me hop on my knees — everyone know I got bad knees — make me hop on one knee, doesn’t matter. I show up for all my fights. Not only do I show up, I win. I don’t care if the decisions didn’t go my way. A lot of the decisions should have went my way. If everybody was honest about it, they would print that.

Solís beat me, yes, he beat me with a great game plan. I should have waited a little bit longer because I was a little bit under the weather, whatever. So but with this fight I’m healthy, and I’m going to train as hard as I can.

Q. He’s got a big-time amateur background out of the Cuban national system. He’s obviously looked good so far as a pro. Hasn’t faced the kind of opponents overall that you’ve faced, although has looked very impressive particularly against Bryant Jennings who’s been regarded as one of the top contenders for the past few years. Do you feel that people are maybe overhyping Ortiz a little too much and you’re there to sort of extract the truth about them, or are you impressed by his talent also and you’re looking forward to the challenge?

TONY THOMPSON: I think it’s a little bit of both. They say he’s a hype job until he did beat one of the best heavyweights in the division in Bryant Jennings who stood toe to toe with the best in that division still, in my opinion, in Wladimir Klitschko. The way he demolished Jennings shows you there’s something there. You feel me?

I’m not Bryant Jennings. As much as I love — one of my favorite heavyweights. As much as I love him, he’s not Tony Thompson. And that’s not to say anything disparaging about Bryant Jennings, it’s just that nobody can copy his style. You wouldn’t go in the gym and say look at Tony, and that’s how we’re going to fight. You feel me?

Q. I do. Do you think, though, that the biggest attribute then — he’s got — seems like he’s got tremendous power even though he hasn’t fought like the top guys. You’ve been stopped a couple of times. Is that the main thing you’ve got to watch out for, is his big shot, or is it just something besides that and you feel like he has never been tested by a guy, because you’re a pretty good puncher yourself, never been tested by somebody as big and strong as you are?

TONY THOMPSON: Who have I been stopped by?

Q. Klitschko obviously.

TONY THOMPSON: There you go.

Q. I’m not saying anything bad; I’m just making the point that —

TONY THOMPSON: I’m with you. I feel you. I made my point with you. My point being I fought the toughest, hardest punching guys in the division. Yes, I was stopped by Klitschko twice. Yes. I was put down by David Price. I continue to get up. I continue to get up. And the only fight I’ve ever been disappointed myself in ever is the second Klitschko fight.

Q. Which one? The second Klitschko fight?

TONY THOMPSON: The second Klitschko fight. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me. And I’m not going to elaborate on it too much. I’m just going to say it wasn’t me. And my career proves, the way I fought, that fight that wasn’t me.

So am I afraid of his heavy shots? No, he’s a heavyweight (indiscernible) you want to kick my ass, you gotta bring some ass to get some ass. You feel me? And he got a lot of ass back there. So he’s got to bring it to come get it. Let’s do it, baby. If he’s Godzilla — he’s King Kong, I’m Godzilla, baby. Let’s go.

Q. I wanted to know what has changed from your last fight with Malik Scott to now. I know you said you haven’t necessarily been training for the fight, but you’re staying in shape. Like the talk after your fight, like some team members are saying you’re even thinking about retirement. I wanted to know what’s gone through your mind the past couple of months, like if you had every intention of staying in the game or even considering walking away.

TONY THOMPSON: I mean, at this age, honestly, it’s a fight-by-fight basis. I’m not 24. Hell, I’m not even 34. I’m 44. So what I say changes fight to fight, how I feel. Yes, I have been thinking about retirement. I’m 44. Who doesn’t think about retirement as a fighter or any professional athlete at 44?

Does it mean I’m not wound up for this fight? Hell no! It’s absolutely got my juices pumping. And that’s bad news. The worst thing they can think is that I’m retired. Oscar, tell your man I’m not thinking of retiring. I’m thinking about winning.

So don’t come in here thinking it’s a payday for me, because I don’t look at the payday. I look at the payday after this fight. You feel me? That’s what I’m talking about. Forget retirement talking to the fighter.

I go back in there, I look bad, my family worried about me, obviously you got to take a hard look. That’s just honest in the fight game. You get beat up as a 44-year-old, it’s not the same as you get beat as a 24. You have some comeback. 44, it might be my last beat-up, I have to quit. You feel me?

Yes, it crosses my mind when the fight’s over. But when the fight’s come up and I’m busting my ass, we’re not thinking about retirement. We’re thinking about getting ready. And we’re ready.

Q. At what point did you decide? Like was it the fact that Ortiz was available and he needed an opponent that changed your mind, or were you already thinking: You know what? I’m going to give it one last run in 2016 regardless of who I fight.

TONY THOMPSON: Of course I was going to give it one last run. Yeah, I lost to Malik, yes, but Malik absolutely has the wrong style for me and I wasn’t in the best shape I should have been.

Not to say I’m going to be in a whole lot better shape for this fight. But it’s a different fighter. He’s not running. We’re going to meet in the middle of the ring and we’re going to decide what’s going to happen. And just like he try to knock me, I’m going to try to knock him the fuck out.

Q. Just curious, you admitted you had not been in the gym when you received a call for this fight. I’m wondering, at 44, are you finding it tougher to get back in shape than you have been in the past, just given your age.

TONY THOMPSON: Well, I’m a half-glass-full guy, I’m always optimistic. To me a short period of time means you don’t have to sustain a long camp, don’t have to take as much punishment. You want to get in blasts as fast as you can. It’s like a sprint instead of a marathon there. And that could be even less taxing to the body.

Yes, this is a short time, but, again, my whole career has been a short time. So now I’m going in there, I get in shape as fast as I can, hopefully, coming out healthier because it’s a shorter time, and then we are going to let it decide the outcome in the ring. Forget the timeframe.

So we’re going to decide the outcome in the ring. That’s the beauty part of it. They can say what they want, but the outcome comes in the ring.

Q. If my records are correct, looks like it’s been 10 years since you’ve fought in front of a hometown crowd. So how motivating was that for you to take the fight to be in front of your hometown.

TONY THOMPSON: I mean, it was the sole reason for having the fight. Yes, Ortiz is a good fighter. He wasn’t on my radar, to be honest, but when they started saying because they have no nobody to fight them, I am in your backyard, stop playing with me, call me. I’ll walk to the venue and kick your ass. Don’t tell me you got nobody to fight and I live here.

You feel me? It’s a motivating fight. I’m geeked. I’m bringing the (indiscernible) with me, man. Hopefully they go loud, man, and prop a brother up more. I’m already pumped up for the fight. Pump me up more.

Q. Do you expect to have a big crowd behind you.

TONY THOMPSON: Yes, I do. I do. But if you think about it, I know my family will be there. And it’s like 20 of my family members. That will be enough. I really don’t care, actually. I think they’re going to come out. If they don’t, watch it on HBO.

If they do come out, then they’re going to be one of the lucky ones because I think it’s going to be a hell of a fight.

MODERATOR: Leon and Tony, do you have any final words you want to say.

LEON MARGULES: I’ll leave it to Tony, but I’d like to thank everybody for giving Tony this great opportunity at this point in his career. Thank you.

TONY THOMPSON: The only last thing I would say is, I mean, again, like Leon said, I appreciate HBO putting me on. Whatever the motive was, I appreciate it. And I’m looking forward to showing the good faith they put into me.

I’m looking forward to rewarding that. Because I know they need good heavyweight fights, and I’m looking forward to putting on a good heavyweight fight, maybe even a great heavyweight fight, if Ortiz can stand up that long. So thank you.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you very much. It is really my pleasure to introduce to you the most feared man on the planet in the heavyweight division. Let me tell you one thing, when I tell you that nobody wants to fight him, nobody wants to step up to the plate and fight him, I’m putting everybody on notice in the heavyweight division: Luis Ortiz is coming after you.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you the manager of Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz to say a few words about the heavyweight division and his fighter. Let me introduce to you Jay Jimenez.

JAY JIMENEZ, Manager to Luis Ortiz: First of all, good afternoon to everyone on the line or good morning to the guys in California, and thank you guys for what you’ve done for us. I’m here with Luis, and we couldn’t be more excited. The days go on and we get more enthusiastic and more comfortable in the family he’s got, the support he’s got from you guys, and it’s just been incredible. It’s been the best thing that’s happened to him in his whole career.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it really is my pleasure to introduce to you a native of Camagüey, Cuba, who makes his home now in Miami. Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz was one of boxing’s breakout stars in 2015. He’s a southpaw. Scored three knockouts in his three fights, each bigger than the one before.

He has a record of 24-0 with 21 knockouts. His most notable was obviously where he defended the WBA interim heavyweight world championship in a spectacular seventh round technical knockout of top contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings December 19 at Turning Stone Resort in New York. This win over Jennings marked Ortiz as a must-see fighter for fans around the world and secured a place for him in the heavyweight pound-for-pound list.

He’s a decorated amateur fighter. He became a professional fighter in 2010, has gone on to win multiple titles, including WBC (indiscernible) heavyweight title, WBA (indiscernible) Latino heavyweight, WBO Latino heavyweight title and the WBC Latino heavyweight title.

This man is out on a mission. He’s out to prove to the world that he’s afraid of no one, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you with a record of 24-0, 21 knockouts, the Camagüey, Cuba, (indiscernible) Miami, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz.

Q. Luis, there’s been a lot of talk here, at least in the Thompson part of the call, and a lot of the rhetoric in recent times that he is perhaps the most avoided heavyweight in the business. A lot of people saw what he did against Bryant Jennings in some of his fights prior to that. I want to know from Luis, does he feel like he’s the most avoided guy in the heavyweight division? And also, if that’s the case, even, what does he think about the fact that a guy like Tony would step up to the plate on basically like three to four weeks’ notice and agree to fight him.

LUIS ORTIZ, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion, (Via Interpreter): He said he’s an athlete. He does his job. He comes to box. And the ones that don’t want to fight him he doesn’t understand because this is boxing. He doesn’t understand why would they avoid him. It’s no reason to avoid another man.

He admires him for taking the fight. Nobody else wanted to take it. And he’s going to come and do his job. Come that day, come show Tony what he does.

Q. Luis’s thought is it’s short notice, I’ve got to get myself ready, so it’s tough on him perhaps to take on particularly somebody at the level of Luis on short notice, but by the same token you have Luis Ortiz getting ready for a fight, he didn’t know who his opponent was, right-handed southpaw, until a couple of weeks ahead of time. What’s his feeling on getting the opponent on short notice, similar to Tony not even knowing he’s fighting until short notice? Is he uncomfortable with not knowing who his opponent was just a few weeks before the fight, or does it not make much difference to him.

JAY JIMENEZ: No, he’s not comfortable mainly because he’s a southpaw, but he’s by no means nervous. This is what he does. Luis trains all year long even if he doesn’t have an opponent. You could call Luis on a month notice, he’s coming to fight. The only thing that got him off guard that he was a little uncomfortable with the southpaw. Not nervous, not scared. He’s ready to fight.

Q. Luis, it’s kind of I guess a lucky shot here from the standpoint there’s a lot of heavyweights out there, but just so happens they’re doing the fight in Washington. That’s where Tony is from. What are your thoughts coming into Tony’s hometown for this fight.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He said he’s not worried. He’s going to concentrate what he has to do, which is his job.

Q. (In Spanish).

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: The last response she asked who would he like to fight, was her first question, and he said he wants to fight whoever has the belt. Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, whoever has the belt is who he would like to fight. He doesn’t have nobody in particular.

And she asked a second question, was who was his hardest rival to date, and he said to date right now I can honestly say it was Bryant Jennings. That was the only question she asked.

Q. Luis, I know you want to fight like as often as possible. If you have your way, you would probably fight every month if they would allow you to. Does it get frustrating at all that there are just not a lot of heavyweights out there that are willing to get in the ring with you.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: Yeah, he says yes he gets a little bit frustrated not being so many opponents out there that are able to take the fight because of other circumstances.

Q. I wanted to know if his thought process, like, will eventually change to where he might have to accept fighting every five or six months, just because it’s getting harder and harder to find opponents for him? Like, his thought process, like he might have to fight every five or six months if it just means finding the right opponents for him? I just wanted to ask if —

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: Opponents?

Q. If there’s a concern that he might not be able to be as busy because it’s getting harder to find opponents for him. Like there’s not always going to be a Tony Thompson popping up last minute.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: No. He said no, he knows things are going to be okay.

Q. I know the fight just came up. I know Tony just accepted the fight. But if he’s familiar with him at all, like if what’s gone on in the past couple of days, if he’s studied him, if that’s changed his training at all, ever since the fight was announced.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says yes. He’s seen already a couple of his fights. Also because he fought Solís, who was a Cuban, last year and stopped him. So, yes, he’s familiar with him and he’s seen his fights.

Q. Without looking past Tony Thompson, just his thoughts on the WBA heavyweight tournament coming up.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says he thinks they got what it takes to be (indiscernible) but he wants (indiscernible).

Q. Tony said that he had not been in the gym when he got the call and he’s kind of rushing his training. He’s 44. Luis, I’m wondering if you expect a tough fight or do you expect this fight to be more of like a showcase for you on March 5th, just based on Tony’s limited training and his age at this point.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says he doesn’t confide nobody, and much less in a boxer saying he hasn’t trained, and not in Tony Thompson who is an old-school boxer, a wise boxer. So he’s not comfortable at all. He’s coming in taking it real serious. He’s going to come real aggressive now.

Q. First, I was wondering if someone could tell me who the heavyweights were that turned the fight down, because I know there was a long list.

Q. Who were the fighters that turned down this fight? I know there was a number of fighters, and this is a difficult fight to get an opponent for. Who were the fighters that turned down the offer to King Kong.

JAY JIMENEZ: I couldn’t say exactly because the ones who do the promotion know, I don’t know if Oscar or Robert or anybody is on, I know there was a couple of them. There were like five boxers who said no.

Q. In 2014 there was a steroid suspension of which Team King Kong always denied. I was wondering if you could clear up what happened with that. What do you think happened with that?

JAY JIMENEZ: Personally, I had the discussion and the day I was there at the arraignment in Vegas, I don’t understand why commissions around the world are here to take care of boxers but they wait 23 days, 21 days to send a letter out and not let an athlete that this is what he lives by to defend himself, especially when it was such a margin of difference of closeness by less than .0002 percent.

We don’t know. We really — they don’t know what happened. It was something we’re trying to get over not and think about anymore. That was devastating to Luis and his career and we thank God everything came out okay, which is why we’re always happy and glad to do a lot of testing and testing to prove his name.

Q. But there’s no testing for this fight, right.

JAY JIMENEZ: Well, we’re doing testing anyway, randomly. Every two weeks. Every month we do testing in case we’re going to have a problem. We’re not going to let that happen to us again. Even though when the Vegas commission sent us a letter, we went right the next day and did a test, and the endocrinologist said he don’t have nothing and it was impossible for him to have something. It must have been a contamination. Their thoughts were we can do nothing about it.

But we’re doing testing anyway around the clock, just to always clarify our name, Luis’s name. And all our athletes are doing it, all the athletes under our state.

It’s a delicate situation for athletes especially in boxing because all they do. So the fact that if somebody — we are suggesting that somebody should start hiring doctors for the commission, because their job could be to save athlete’s careers. Not all the time when it’s so close. Any left outside, any contamination could give you a false reading.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale today and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 10) – The non-televised undercard of Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson will feature exciting top prospects from the East Coast for an exciting night of boxing on March 5, live from the DC Armory. First off, undefeated lightweight, Lamont Roach Jr. (9-0, 3 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will participate in a six-round fight and new Golden Boy Promotions fighter Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (14-0, 11 KO) from Lynn, Mass. will fight in an eight-round welterweight bout. Also on the card, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (11-0,7 KOs) from Temple Hills, Md. is scheduled for a six-round middleweight brawl and stable mate Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers (12-1, 9 KOs) is committed to a six-round featherweight battle. Two spectacular undefeated super lightweights, Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (13-0, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Philly native Damon Allen (8-0, 3 KOs) will both fight in respective six-round bouts. Opening up the night, Todd Unthank-May (8-0, 3 KOs) also of Philadelphia, will fight in a six-round light heavyweights bout. Opponents will be announced shortly.

The event on March 5, is headlined by the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship Title showdown between Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) and Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KO’s). Number one WBO Welterweight Contender, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) will face former world champion and number four WBO Welterweight Contender, Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship. Both fights will be televised live on HBO ® Boxing After Dark beginning at 10 pm ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale today and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Washington, D.C.’s Lamont Roach Jr. has been active fighter since his professional debut in 2014. In 2015, Lamont Jr. nearly doubled his professional experience with four victories against Herbert “Sensational” Quartey, Jose Miguel Castro, Christian Santibanez, and Jose “Flash” Bustos. The 20-year-old super featherweight prospect is a fighter to watch in 2016.

A swift and ferocious striker, the undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis has repeatedly showcased his skills to audiences, most recently with a fourth-round technical knockout victory in Puerto Rico over Victor “Pambele” Gonzalez in March 2015 to claim the vacant WBA Fedecentro and the WBC Interim Latin Welterweight titles. Ellis won his three previous fights via technical knockout, defeating Joseph De los Santos and Joananthony Vazquez in Puerto Rico and Jose Martinez in the Dominican Republic. Later in 2015, Ellis played a key part in the training camp of Golden Boy Promotions fighter and now WBC, RING Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez. The 22-year-old Ellis trained with Canelo Alvarez as a sparring partner in preparation for Alvarez’s November 21 super fight against Miguel Cotto.

A professional since 2013, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard has quickly risen the ranks in the light heavyweight division. 2015 was a pivotal year for Maryland’s super middleweight for “Big Meech” as he passed every test with flying colors, showing that he could box as well as bang in decision victories over Josue “Chiquilin” Ovando, Juan Carlos “Chiflado” Rojas and Fabiano “Pit Bull” Pena in 2015.

Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers, Jr. of Cheverly, Maryland is eager to get back in the ring after his first career loss. The fighter has been steadily moving up the ranks accumulating wins over other stand-out prospects, Xavier Montelongo and Karl Garcia in 2014. In early 2015, the 25-year-old had impressive technical knockout victories over Stephon McIntyre and Luis “Lichito” Ruiz Lizarraga Jr. Now “K-Smoove” will be looking for victory in his fight of 2016.

After winning the first nine fights of his professional career on the east coast, Brooklyn’s Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa took his show on the road in 2015 and he continued to show off the skills that have made him a top prospect as he picked up four wins, including a big victory in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles over Moises Rios, David Rodela and Alejandro “Soma” Rodriguez. Now the 23-year-old will look to continue the winning streak when he returns to the east coast for his first fight of 2016.

A professional since 2013, standout lightweight Damon Allen, has had victories over tough opposition in Hector Marengo, Tony “Sugar Boy” Walker and Travis “El Animal” Thompson. The 23-year-old Philadelphian stepped through the ropes twice in 2015, stopping Luis “Yeye” Rodriguez in three rounds at home in Philly before making his Los Angeles debut in November with a decision victory over Oscar Santana.

Returning to the ring for the first time since November of 2013, Philadelphia light heavyweight Todd Unthank-May is eager to pick up where he left off and build on his impressive unbeaten record. A versatile competitor who can do it all in the ring, the 27-year-old is coming off an impressive second-round technical knockout victory over Kentrell Clairborne in his most recent bout two years ago.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 8, 2016) – Fresh from a stunning knockout of Bryant “By-By” Jennings and eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) in 12-round main event at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C.on Saturday, March 5 and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening up the live telecast, top contender and 2008 Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) will face former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship.

“This fight is just another stepping stone on my path to becoming the unified heavyweight world champion,” said Luis Ortiz. “I came to the United States to chase my American Dream and fighting at the nation’s capital is a dream come true. My life is coming full circle, and I know that this fight will put me a step closer to achieving everything I have worked so hard for in my career.”

“I’m happy to be back on HBO fighting for another world title,” said Tony Thompson. “If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it’s not even close. This isn’t the amateurs. I’m going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he’s never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist, and I beat him twice. Ortiz thinks he has it tough. I’ve been avoided for my entire career. Just about all my fights have been on short notice and in foreign countries. If I fought the guys Ortiz fought, I’d be undefeated too. If Ortiz is King Kong, I’m Godzilla; Godzilla coming to whoop some ass!”

“Luis Ortiz and Sadam Ali are two top fighters in our sport today and both will impress audiences in the ring on March 5 in their first fights of 2016,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Luis demonstrated in his brilliant knockout over Bryant Jennings in December that he is an elite fighter that can dominate even the toughest opponent. Sadam Ali is a phenomenal fighter, and I think he is the future of the welterweight division, which is very exciting.”

“Tony Thompson is a very talented hard punching contender who has beaten David Price and Odlanier Solis twice each over the last 2 years,” said Leon R. Margules, President of Warriors Boxing and Promotions. “Luis Ortiz will have his hands full on March 5 in clearly his toughest challenge to date, and in Tony’s hometown. We are very excited he is getting this opportunity.”

“We are excited to televise a heavyweight knockout machine like Luis Ortiz in a tough bout on a big stage against Tony Thompson on March 5 in our nation’s capital,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. “The winner will take a significant step up in the public’s esteem. The Ali-Vargas co-feature is a terrific 50-50 fight at welterweight that has fans eager to see who will come out on top.”

“To fight for the world championship is something that I have been training and fighting for my whole career,” said Sadam Ali. “I am grateful for the opportunity and promise all my fans I will not let them down. On March 5, I will have my hands raised up in victory as the new WBO Welterweight World Champion.”

“This is a different Jessie Vargas,” said Jessie Vargas. “I learned a lot from my last fight and I am ready to prove that I am still a world champion. I’m coming back with a Vengeance!”

“Jessie Vargas knows what’s at stake this time around” said Carl Moretti, VP, Top Rank. “He plans to take full advantage of this opportunity and we fully expect his hand to be raised as the winner in what promises to be a great fight.”

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale on Wednesday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

A native of Camaguey, Cuba who now makes his home in Miami, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz was one of boxing’s breakout stars of 2015. The 36-year-old southpaw has scored three knockouts in three fights, each bigger than the one before it. Most notably, Ortiz defended his WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship via seventh-round technical knockout of top contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings on Dec. 19. It was a win that marked Ortiz as a must see for fight fans around the world and securing him a place on heavyweight pound-for-pound list. A decorated amateur in his home country, Ortiz, became a professional in 2010 and has gone on to win multiple titles including the WBC FecarBox Heavyweight, the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight, the WBO Latino Heavyweight and the WBC Latino Heavyweight titles during his undefeated streak.

A skilled boxer from Washington DC, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson is a former world title challenger who has taken tough challenges on his way to the top of the heavyweight division. A professional since 2000, Thompson has earned USA Maryland Sate Heavyweight Title, the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title and the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title before his first attempt at the unified heavyweight world championship against Wladimir Klitschko in 2008. Although unsuccessful, Thompson continued fighting and remained undefeated until his second clash against Klitschko in 2012. Since then, the heavyweight titlist has stayed active and last held the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title in 2015. Now, Thompson is ready to challenge Ortiz for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title on his way to become a world champion.

A member of the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team, and the first Arab-American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, Brooklyn’s Sadam “World Kid” Ali has been sailing up the welterweight ladder since a big year in 2013. Ali has had back-to-back title victories over Michael “Cold Blood” Clark, where he won the NABO Welterweight Title; Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan, winning the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title; Luis Carlos “El Potro” Abregu, defending his titles and giving the experienced fighter his second loss; and Francisco “Chia” Santana where he earned the WBA International Welterweight Title, the 27-year-old with remarkable speed and power is ready for his world title shot against former world champion Jessie Vargas.

Las Vegas standout Jessie Vargas has been following a path to the top similar to that of Ali, as he’s turned back several top foes since making his professional debut in 2008. A former WBA world champion at 140 pounds who defeated Khabib “The Hawk” Allakhverdiev, Anton “The Pick Hammer” Novikov and Antonio DeMarco in super lightweight title fights, Vargas lost a controversial 2015 fight to Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley for the WBO Interim Welterweight World Championship. Now, Vargas could get his wish of becoming a world champion once more when he faces Sadam “World Kid” Ali for the WBO Welterweight World Championship.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Heavyweight veteran Tony “Tiger” Thompson kept his word by beating former Cuban amateur standout Odlanier Solis for the second time in their rematch Friday night in Antalya (Turkey). One year after winning a close split decision against “La Sombra” the 43-year-old two time world title challenger outworked Solis with his jab and forced the 2004 Olympic gold medalist to quit in the ninth round.

Promoter Ahmet Oner who also worked in Solis corner was bitterly disappointed with the Cuban’s performance. “I have wasted a lot of time, nerves and money on Solis. He has all the talent in the world but he just blew it”, says Oner. “I cannot believe how bad he looked today. He is a shame for Cuban boxing. The guy is done. And I’m done with him. He’s still under contract with me but today he made the step from contender to journey man. I will throw him to the wolves and feed every young and hungry prospect with him who is ready to pay some money.”
While he was furious at Solis, Oner congratulated Thompson to his win. “Tony looked good and got the job done”, adds Oner. “I have options on him and I am sure that I will be able to land some more big fights for him. He will jump up in the ratings. There are some guys up there constantly looking for trouble. I think Tony still is a serious thread to numerous contenders. I don’t know what Manuel Charr has lined up but he keeps on calling out everybody. That might be an interesting option. We’ll see what’s next.”
Thompson himself was obviously very happy with his performance. “I knew I could do, I knew I would do it, I told everybody – and I delivered”, states the “Tiger”. “I thank Ahmet for the opportunity and I thank my team and the people who believed in me for their support. I’m looking forward to whatever comes along. I’m still here. And I’m still ready for greatness.”

In the co-feature promising Turkish prospect Avni Yildirim scored an impressive third round TKO against George Beroshvili from Georgia to claim the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Championship. “Avni could be the next big thing, he reminds me of a young Gennady Golovkin”, says Oner. “Of course, he still has a long way to go but the way he took care of business against a good and experienced opponent in his third pro fight was more than impressive. I am looking forward to seeing more from him.”

In the third title fight of the night Aziz Karaoglu defended his WBC Mediterranean cruiserweight title against Maurizio Lovaglio from Italy. After ten action packed and hard fought rounds in which both guys recovered from knockdowns, Karaoglu got the unanimous decision win (97-91, 95-93, 95-92).

Boxing fans had to wait for a long time to finally see the rematch between US ring veteran Tony Thompson and former Cuban amateur standout Odlanier Solis. This Friday (Feb. 27th) Thompson and Solis will finally step into the ring in Antalya, Turkey. Both fighters not only arrived on the site but also went over the scale on Thursday afternoon. Thompson weighed in at 261 lbs. (118 kg) while Solis brought 272 lbs. (123 kg) to the scale.

On March 22nd 2014 “La Sombra” Solis was looking to get in line for another shot at the world heavyweight championship by beating the American gatekeeper. But the mission failed when Thompson, a two time world title challenger against Wladimir Klitschko, shocked Solis and got a well deserved split decision win. The “Tiger” proved to the world that he can still bite at the age of 42. One year later – and after numerous postponements – Solis and Thompson meet again in a long anticipated rematch. Of course, the Cuban wants to make up for the loss instead of being surprised by Thompson a second time.
“That loss still hurts”, says “La Sombra”. “I am very happy that I finally get the chance to get back at him.” But Thompson obviously knows how to beat the Cuban. “I will do exactly what I did last time – kick his a**”, states the American. Promoter Ahmet Oner is convinced that the winner of the bout will fight for the world championship soon. “Both guys are rated in the top 15 by the WBC. The winner will advance to a top spot while the loser might as well call it a career.”
Besides a very high rating the winner of the bout will be awarded with the WBC Continental Americas Championship. Deontay Wilder just showed that this belt can be the stepping stone to winning the world title. Wilder held the Continental title until October 2013 before beating Bermane Stiverne in January to become heavyweight champion of the world.

The televised undercard features two more fights for regional WBC titles. Promising Turkish prospect Avni Yildirim will try to win his first pro title when he takes on George Beroshvili from Georgia for the WBC Youth Intercontinental Championship. Yildirim has been an outstanding amateur representing Turkey at European and World Championships. But claiming his first pro title won’t be easy because his opponent Beroshvili has already fought for Youth world championships twice and went the distance with strong German Tyron Zeuge as well as Tim-Robin Lihaug from Norway.

In addition to that WBC Mediterranean Cruiserweight Champion will try to defend his title against Italian champion Maurizio Lovaglio. All three title bouts will be broadcasted live on www.360fights.com/event/solis-vs-thompson/ starting at 19:00h Central European time.

The heavyweight rematch between Cuban Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis and US ring veteran Tony Thompson is scheduled for January 24th in Dusseldorf, Germany. Promoter Ahmet Oner announced the new date today after the fight had to be postponed twice after Solis suffered an ankle injury in training.

“It was not easy to keep Tony Thompson and his team calm and convince them to postpone again but we found an agreement and I am happy that the fight can finally take place in January”, said Oner. “Unfortunately, Solis’ injury took longer than expected to heal because he started training too early. But now he’s back on track again and the fight on the new date is a done deal.”

Solis vs. Thompson II was originally scheduled for October 18th before Solis twisted his ankle. Oner postponed to November 22nd but the rematch couldn’t take place on that date either. Thompson upset Solis in their first fight in March in Turkey when he won by split decision. Now Solis wants to avenge that loss hoping to get in line for another title shot.

“The heavyweight division is pretty boring at the moment with Wladimir dominating his opponents at will”, states Oner. “That’s why we need fights like Solis vs. Thompson II or Chisora vs. Fury II. Those bouts are good to find at least a worthy challenger for Klitschko. And it’s real boxing with a lot at stake.”

For both Solis and Thompson this is most probably the last chance to get at least close to another title shot. Both men already fought for world titles. Solis lost to Vitali Klitschko in a WBC championship bout in March 2011 while Thompson was stopped twice (July 2008 and July 2012) by Wladimir. The winner of Solis vs. Thompson II gets in line for a second (or third) chance while the loser can most probably hang up his gloves.

The rematch between Odlanier Solis and Tony Thompson originally planned to take place on October 18th at CASTELLO in Dusseldorf (Germany) has to be postponed after “La Sombra” Solis suffered a sprained ankle in training in Miami.

“I flew straight to Miami when I heard of the injury to see how bad it is”, says promoter Ahmet Oner. “Fortunately, the doctor says that no ligaments have been torn and nothing is broken. Solis has to take a break in training for ten days but can go right back to work after that. So we will definitely do the fight before the end of the year. Right now we are looking at November 22 as new date but we have to reconfirm with all parties involved including team Thompson, the venue, TV etc. We want to keep the show at CASTELLO in Dusseldorf so that the already sold tickets would still be valid.”

The rematch between US ring veteran Tony Thompson and Cuban Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis will take place on October 18th at CASTELLO in Dusseldorf, Germany. Promoter Ahmet Oner announced that tickets are going on sale today (www.dticket.de).

“We are happy that we reached a deal with the CASTELLO in Dusseldorf. Now we are all set and ready to go”, says Oner. The Turkish promoter hasn’t staged events in Germany for over a year. “This is my comeback in Germany. German boxing is going through some hard times and nearly dead. It’s time for somebody to revive it.”

The success of Oner’s revival is clearly bound to the outcome of the Thompson vs. Solis rematch. In March, the Cuban defector who has been promoted by Oner since turning pro in 2007 lost a close but clear decision to Thompson in a disappointing fight. “This is the last chance for Solis”, states Oner. “He needs to win convincingly to get back to the top. He has so much talent and potential but now he has to show what he’s made of. I invested a lot of time and money in his career. Now he needs to deliver.”

In the co-feature, unbeaten German heavyweight prospect Agit Kabayel (10-0) is taking on unbeaten Memnun Hadzic (8-0) from Bosnia. The card also features former WBC Silver welterweight champion Selcuk Aydin who will try to get back on track after losing three of his last six fights.

For tickets prices 20.-, 35.-, 50.- and 100.- Euros go to www.dticket.de or call +49-211-237-001-237.

2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis will get a “last chance” to work his way back to the top of the world rankings. The Cuban defector who suffered a bad knee injury in the first round of his WBC heavyweight championship bout against Vitali Klitschko in March 2011 lost to US ring veteran Tony “The Tiger” Thompson in his last bout in March 2014. Many fans and experts thought that former amateur standout Solis was done after the majority decision loss. But now the 34-year-old wants revenge and will try to get back at Thompson in an October rematch.

“The contracts are signed, we’re ready to go”, says promoter Ahmet Oner. “Now Solis has to show what he’s made of. I am sure that he can beat Thompson. But their first bout showed that he needs the right attitude and a lot of stamina to do so. This is the last chance for both men. It’s do or die. After beating Solis, Thompson lost to Carlos Takam. Still both men are rated in the WBC top 15. So the winner can move up the rating and get in line for another world title shot – the loser should probably just retire.”

The place and the exact date of the fight haven’t been announced yet. Adds Oner: “We have different options. Many I will give my comeback in Germany. But there are other offers on the table, too. Solis vs. Thompson II is a great and close fight between two big champions. This is the kind of heavyweight fight that people want to see.”

Tony Thompson is looking forward to the rematch: “Solis is a gold medalist with a great record so I am not looking past him. I beat him once and I’ll do it again, only this time I am knocking him out! Nothing is going to stop me from my mission of winning a world title.”

Adds Thompson’s advisor Mike Borao: “The Heavyweight division is just starting to open up, and Tony Thompson is still very much in the championship mix.”

LONDON (March 21) – David Price conqueror Tony Thompson has vowed to make easy work of another rising British heavyweight in Tyson Fury.

The American steps back into the ring this weekend in Istanbul, where he faces off against the skilled Cuban Odlanier Solis for the WBC International heavyweight championship, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

The heavyweight veteran, who upset the odds by twice beating the highly touted Price, believes he can do the same thing to Fury and has questioned the level of competition the Manchester man has taken on so far.

“He [Fury] is a loudmouth guy, he’s talking his way into big fights and hasn’t done anything. At least David Price’s people had the gumption and balls to put him in with a live heavyweight. Tyson has never been in the ring with anyone like me,” said Thompson.

“All of his opponents pose a threat to him simply because he can’t fight. But they haven’t put him in there with anyone who is capable of exposing him, although a few people almost did it. If [Steve] Cunningham was a legitimate heavyweight he would have stopped Fury easily. A couple of other guys would have beat his ass,” he said.

A fight with the 25-year-old Fury also presents an easier task than the one Price posed and he has called on Team Fury, who are preparing for Dereck Chisora on July 26th, to make the fight happen.

“He’s just been mouthing off about me and I’m the type of guy if you want to talk that trash let’s do it. I’m not running from anybody. If he wants to do it, let’s do it. Tell Peter Fury, or whoever is running the show there,” said Thompson.

“I think it would be a good fight for the fans. He’s not that great of a fighter but he’s a huge guy and will pose a challenge to anybody but I will expose him easily. As a matter of fact, I think it’s an easier fight than the David Price fight,” he stated.

First though, the 42-year-old, who has twice challenged for the world title by taking on Wladimir Klitschko and losing, has his eyes fixed firmly on Olympic gold medalist Solis, with the winner being pushed into number two in the IBF rankings.

“I’m excited [about this fight],” said Thompson. “If Odlanier comes in in good shape I think it will be a good fight for the fans. I’m looking forward to the fight and am excited for the fans and also myself because I can get back in at number two.

“Solis is a legitimate guy and I can’t afford to take my attention of him for a minute. I’m not thinking of anyone except Solis but once that fight is over I want anyone that is going to get me closer to Wladimir, those are fights I want. The fight with Solis makes me number two in the IBF, that’s one fight away from the mandatory shot again,” he said.

‘The Tiger’ is coming off a loss to the undefeated Kubrat Pulev, a fight which he says he took at late notice following his victory over Price. Against Solis he will be up against it again as he goes in with a fighter who has a glittering amateur background and only one defeat on his record, that coming against Vitali Klitschko in 2011.

Solis is settling into Turkey well having arrived early and is determined to put on a show for the fans watching around the world.

“I love Turkey, especially the hospitality of the people here,” said Solis. “And I see the long history as an obligation to deliver a great fight. This country and the whole continent have seen big wars. And the next epic battle is coming up this Saturday.

“Tony Thompson doesn’t know what’s coming for him. My only goal is to become heavyweight champion of the world. And I won’t let anybody stop me on my way. I will beat Tony Thompson and go on to become world champion,” he declared.

Tony Thompson vs. Odlanier Solis is live on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/490HD & Virgin Ch.546) this Saturday at 8pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
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Tomorrow (Saturday, March 22nd) Cuban Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis and US veteran Tony “The Tiger” Thompson collide in Tekirdag (Turkey) for the vacant WBC international heavyweight championship. At today’s official weigh-in Solis brought 257 lbs. (116.7 kg) to the scale while Thompson weighed in at 266.5 lbs (120.9 kg).

Asked if he felt a specific pressure before this important fight, Solis stated: “I never put myself under pressure. If I worried about the future I couldn’t perform the way I do. I take every fight and every opponent serious. Thompson is no difference. I go in there to beat him and to continue my way to become heavyweight champion of the world.”
When Tony Thompson was asked if he felt old at age 42, “The Tiger” answered: “I’m not getting older, I’m getting sexier every day! I know that I still have it. And after Saturday night Solis will know that as well. My age is no factor – but my experience might be. I will shock Solis and do to him what I did to David Price.”

In the co-feature 21-year-old heavyweight prospect Agit Kabayel will face his toughest test so far in Nigerian Gbenga Oloukun for the vacant WBC Mediterranean championship. Kabayel weighed in at 237 lbs. (107.5 kg) while his opponent was slightly heavier at 241.5 lbs (109.5 kg). While Kabayel vs. Oloukun is officially the co-feature for Solis vs. Thompson the fight might end up stealing the show because both men are known as heavy hitters who will probably just go in there and bang it out. “I know that Oloukun is a strong guy but I always focus on myself”, says Kabayel. “He has to adjust to my style not the other way around. As long as I am at my best nobody can beat me.”

The show in Tekirdag, Turkey, will be promoted by ARENA Boks Sportif / Ahmet Oner and broadcasted live in Turkey (Kanaltürk), the UK (Boxnation), Germany (sportdigital in association with Sky) and about 50 other countries worldwide. The live broadcast starts at 9.35pm (21.35h) Central European time.

Cuban heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis has spent the last two weeks in Turkey to get ready for his WBC international heavyweight championship bout this Saturday (March 22nd) in Tekirdag against US veteran Tony Thompson. Promoter Ahmet Oner used the long and proud history of his home country to get Solis heated up for the clash of former Klitschko foes.

“We went to the cinema to watch ‘300: Rise of an Empire’. The next day I took Solis to ancient graves from the times of the Ottoman empire”, says Oner. “I wanted to show Solis that he is in a country which has seen a lot of big and important battles over thousands of years. I expect him to enter the ring on Saturday with the same attitude of old Ottoman fighters when they went to war. This is a do or die fight. If Solis beats Thompson I will lead him to another world title fight. But if he loses it might be all over.”
2004 Olympic gold medalist Solis was deeply impressed from the historic sites. “I love Turkey, especially the hospitality of the people here”, says Solis. “And I see the long history as obligation to deliver a great fight. This country and the whole continent have seen big wars. And the next epic battle is coming up this Saturday. Tony Thompson doesn’t know what’s coming for him. My only goal is to become heavyweight champion of the world. And I won’t let anybody stop me on my way.”
As additional motivation, Solis’ family flew in from Miami and arrived in Istanbul today. “Having my wife and my boys here with me is the final missing piece”, adds Solis. “I will not disappoint them as I will not disappoint my fans in Turkey and all around the world. I will beat Tony Thompson and go on to become world champion!”
The WBC International championship between Solis and Thompson headlines a show promoted by Ahmet Oner / Arena Boks Sportif and will take place this Saturday (March 22nd) in Tekirdag, Turkey, about 150 km west of Istanbul at the Mediterranean Sea. The show will be broadcasted live in about 50 countries including Turkey (Kanaltürk), Germany (sportdigital in association with Sky), the United Kingdom (Boxnation) and many more.
In the co-feature promising German-Turkish prospect Agit Kabayel takes own the hard-hitting Nigerian Gbenga “Bang Bang” Oloukun for the WBC Mediterranean heavyweight championship.

Tony “The Tiger” Thompson arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, this afternoon for his WBC International Championship bout against 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis this Saturday (March 22nd) in Tekirdag.

The ring veteran from Washington, D.C. is used to traveling. The clash with Solis will be Thompson’s fifth consecutive fight outside of the USA. His last bout on home soil has been a third round TKO win over Maurice Harris almost three years ago. While “The Tiger” lost his last fight on the road – a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision to IBF #1 Kubrat Pulev in Schwerin in August 2013 – he also had some success fighting abroad recently, knocking out British prospect David Price twice in February and July 2013.
Even at age 42 and after losing twice to world champion Wladimir Klitschko (in July 2008 and in July 2012), Thompson is still considered a gate keeper in the heavyweight division and should be Solis’ toughest test so far – not taking into account the Cuban’s sole loss in March 2011 when his world title fight against Vitali Klitschko was stopped in the first round due to a knee injury.
“Solis vs. Thompson is surely a crossroads fight for both guys which could go either way”, says promoter Ahmet Oner. “For me, this is one of the best possible fights in the heavyweight division at the moment. It will surely be a different story than the farce between Wilder and Scott last Saturday. And it is also a better fight than Klitschko vs. Leapai. I still believe that Odlanier Solis is the only fighter who can beat Wladimir Klitschko. All other guys like Wilder, Jennings, Stiverne and Arreola have no chance against Solis when he is in top shape and lives up to his potential. But that is exactly what he has to do next weekend against Thompson. Because Thompson is so experienced that Solis cannot afford to make any mistake. I am sure that it will be a great fight.”

In the co-feature of the night promising Turkish-German heavyweight prospect Agit Kabayel (9-0, 7 KOs) will fight for his first professional title when he takes on rugged contender Gbenga Oloukun (18-9, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBC Mediterranean championship. The show will be broadcasted live by Kanalturk in Turkey, by Sportdigital in association with Sky Germany in Germany and on Boxnation in the UK.

Heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis arrived in Istanbul (Turkey). The 2004 Olympic gold medalist will face US veteran Tony “Tiger” Thompson on March 22nd in Tekirdag. It is the clash of two former Klitschko foes: In March 2011 Solis lost to then WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in Cologne (Germany) due to a knee injury; Thompson had already two shots at Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir in 2008 and 2012 but lost both fights.

“The winner of this bout will get another shot at the world title”, says promoter Ahmet Oner. “With Vitali in retirement and Wladimir facing stiffs like Alex Leapai it’s about time to bring back some action to the heavyweight scene. Both guys have a lot to win but even more to lose. So I am sure that it will be a hell of a fight.”

Solis hit Istanbul yesterday with Miami based physician Osvaldo Nordelo to wrap up his training camp in Turkey. Tomorrow the team expects head coach Manny Masson who will be in Solis’ corner for the Thompson fight. “Solis and Masson have been a very good team before. Manny was one of Solis’ first coaches when he came to Germany in 2007. They have a good chemistry and I am sure that they will have the right game plan to beat Thompson”, states Oner. “Solis loves Turkey. He loves the people and the hospitality. He is in great shape already and we gave him the best possible conditions over here to finalize his training camp. He will do one more week of sparring and then just focus on the fight.”

The New Year starts with good news for fans of world class heavyweight boxing. 2004 Olympic gold medallist Odlanier Solis (20-1) will face Tony Thompson (38-4) on March 22nd in Turkey!

“All contracts are signed, the fight is on”, confirmed promoter Ahmet Oner who is planning to stage the fight in Kusadasi (Turkey). “Solis vs. Thompson is a great fight which I could actually do everywhere because it will gather lots of interest worldwide. I am very happy that all parties accepted and agreed. These are the fights we need to revive the heavyweight division.”

Both Thompson and Solis had their shots at the world championship against the Klitschko brothers. “La Sombra” lost to WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in March 2011 because of a knee injury. Thompson suffered two losses against younger brother and IBF, WBA and WBO titlist Wladimir Klitschko in July 2008 and July 2012. However, Thompson bounced back last year to upset British hope David Price twice to work his way to another world title eliminator which he lost on points to Kubrat Pulev in August 2013. Solis has won three in a row after recovering from his knee injury and managed to win the IBF intercontinental championship.

“This fight could go either way”, says Oner. “Of course, I believe in my fighter Odlanier Solis. I am still convinced that he will be heavyweight champion of the world. However, he has to beat guys like Thompson to get to the world title. I am pretty sure that the winner of this bout will get another shot at a title either later this year or in 2015 the latest.”

We’re bringing you a bumper Sauerland show LIVE from Germany this Saturday night as Juergen Braehmer faces “The Hammer” Stefano Abatangelo with his European Light-Heavyweight title on the line. A star studded undercard sees German favourite Arthur Abraham and Willbeforce Shihepo face off for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Middleweight title and BoxNation favourite Tony Thompson, twice a conqueror of David Price, challenges Kubrat Pulev for the IBF International Heavyweight title.

Join us from 7pm this Saturday on the Channel of Champions, BoxNation, for another great show LIVE from Germany.

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER VS. ALVAREZ

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We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be premiering the American behind-the-scenes documentary All Access: Mayweather vs. Alvarez exclusively in the UK next Monday at 7pm! In episode one, get unrivalled access to the greatest fighter of his generation, Floyd Mayweather Junior, and the 42-0 Mexican 23-year-old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as they embark on one of the biggest pre-fight media tours the sport has ever seen!

And you can catch episodes two and three at 8pm on Monday 2nd September and Monday 9th September respectively. It’s all part of our commitment to bring you the very best boxing 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

It’s your channel. Be a part of it. Are you in?

It is fight week in Schwerin, Germany! The local fight fans are already excited and can hardly wait to see the big event at the Sport- und Kongresshalle this Saturday. On Tuesday, around 400 boxing enthusiasts along numerous media outlets turned up at the Schlosspark-Center Schwerin to make themselves an impression of the main protagonists on August 24. The open workout featured all main fighters: European Champion Juergen Braehmer (40-2, 31 KOs) along with his challenger Stefano Abatangelo (17-2-1, 6 KOs), the co-challengers for the WBO Intercontinental Championship, Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) and Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs), as well as heavyweights Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs) and Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KOs), who will fight it out for the IBF mandatory spot.

Most people came to see local hero Juergen Braehmer. The 34-year-old is delighted to compete again in his backyard. “My preparation for this title defense was terrific,” said the southpaw. “I am in very good shape. It’s worthy to show up early on Saturday as all fights should deliver great competition.”

His Italian opponent wants to crash Braehmer’s homecoming. “I will make it a fight,” 31-year-old Abatangelo predicts. “I am seldom the favorite, but most of the times I am winning in the end.”

Tickets for the big fight night on August 24 at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

What a heavyweight blockbuster on August 24! Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs), the European Heavyweight Champion and number one rated challenger by the IBF, will take on Tony Thompson in a final eliminator to decide who will be the next mandatory of the New Jersey, USA, based boxing organization. Thompson (38-3, 26 KOs) has already challenged twice for the World Heavyweight Championship, coming up short both times against reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko. For Pulev it would be the first time to fight for a world title.

“That does not fluster me in the slightest,” said the 32-year-old Bulgarian about the importance of his bout against Thompson. “I am motivated to finally step into the ring again and get my job done. My aim is to become a world champion.” The last time Pulev had the opportunity to show off his skills was nearly a year ago with a knockout victory over Alexander Ustinov. Since then, such names like Tomasz Adamek decided not to face Pulev. “I guess that they have fear of losing against me. Maybe these fighters see an easier chance to get a big fight. I have no problem with it as I just want to go toe-to-toe with fighters, who have the ambition to go up against the best and Thompson is somebody like that.”

The southpaw from Washington, D.C., relishes the possibility to secure his third shot at the heavyweight crown. “This is really huge for me,” stated the 41-year-old. “That would be third times the charm.” So far, Thompson has a successful run in 2013, beating David Price twice. “My confidence is running high after having stopped Price not once but twice this year. It was also good to see that my body is still able to compete at such a high level,” Thompson acknowledged. He is optimistic to stop the man from Sofia, Bulgaria: “This fight is going to be over inside eight rounds with me being the winner!”

However, Pulev has other things on his mind: “I not only have to beat him – I must beat him! It does not matter if I win on points or make it an early night. Afterwards, nobody can talk about a worthy world title challenger without using the name Kubrat Pulev!”

Tickets for the big fight night on August 24 at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

SAN DIEGO, CA (July 10, 2013)—This past Saturday in Liverpool, England, former two-time world Heavyweight title challenger Tony Thompson scored his second consecutive stoppage victory over 2008 Olympic Silver Medal winner David Price.

It already has been considered one of the most exciting Heavyweight bouts in years as Thompson had to get off of the canvas in round two and come back to break down and eventually stop Price in round 5.

This Friday night, Wealth TV and www.wealthtv.com will present an encore presentation of both fights.

The action will begin at 11pm est / 8 pm Pac with the first bout which saw the second round stoppage win by Thompson that took place on February 23rd. That will be followed by the fight from this past Saturday.

“The fans will see a determined Tony Thompson”, said Thompson when reached at home just after landing from Liverpool.

“I look forward to sitting down with Wealth TV for bigger fights in the future”.

Thompson knows that with these two wins that once again he is a hot commodity in the Heavyweight division.

“I am going to sit back and see who wins from the two Klitschko fights (Wladimir vs. Alexander Povetkin and Vitali against Bermane Stiverne) and the David Haye / Tyson Fury fight and take the best opportunity”, finished Thompson

“We are ecstatic about the quality and excitement of the fights”, said Wealth TV CEO Charles Herring.

“This was one of the best Heavyweight fights of the past few years and we feel great that we were able to bring this fight to the American fans see a great American Heavyweight score a great victory on Independence Day weekend. I know the fans will enjoy watching these fights back to back on Friday Night”

Nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and viawww.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

(Washington, D.C.)—Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (38-3, 26KO’s) fresh off
his thrilling fifth round TKO victory over David Price (15-2, 13KO’s) is
now looking to move forward with his career with a renewed sense of vigor.
The heavyweight southpaw is now a free agent without a promoter and
entertaining all serious offers at this time. Thompson has also turned the
reigns of management over to his wife Sydnee Thompson, who will now
serve as the fighter’s full time manager/adviser.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to let people know that I am ready,
available and willing to listen to all serious offers at this time,” said
Thompson. “Beating Price in his own hometown twice decisively in a span
of 6 months should show the world that at 41 I still have a lot left in my
tank.”
After a loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2012 and two back to back wins over
Price in 2013, Thompson thought that the time was right to make a change in
his career by adding his wife as manager/adviser.
“My wife has always played a prominent role in the shaping of my career.
She has been a part of every business decision I’ve made when it come to
my boxing career,” said Thompson. “So now instead of doing it from behind
the scenes she is going to be out front earning her part of the money. She’s
not only my boss at home but now she is my boss at work.”

SAN DIEGO, CA (JULY 5, 2013)—This Saturday questions will be answered as will it be repeat or revenge when Tony Thompson takes on David Price in a rematch of Thompson’s shocking 2nd round knockout of Price that took place on February 23rd in the same Echo Arena ring in Liverpool where the first bout took place.

Like the first bout, the fight will be televised LIVE on Wealth TV and www.wealthtv.com BEGINNING AT 4PM EASTERN / 1PM PACIFIC

Price (15-1, 13 KO’s) recently sat down with Frank Stea of ATG Radio and discussed the changes he needed to make in order to make Saturday’s result a whole different ballgame.

“I got complacent. I thought I would win the fight before I ever got in the ring”, said a humble Price

“I am not going to go in there over confident this time. I do believe in myself and that’s why I took the rematch straight away”

Price has enlisted the services of former Heavyweight champion and legend in Lennox Lewis to help prepare himself for this very important fight.

Price said that even before the first fight with Thompson the he and trainer Franny Smith would seek outside help and Price could not have found a better mentor then the Hall of Famer.

“Lennox has stepped up my game massively. He really pushes me to another level. Lennox appeared and this could have not worked out any better.” finished Price

The Price – Thompson fight will have huge implications as Thompson is looking for a third title shot while Price is looking to get back on track and position himself for a chance at Heavyweight glory.

The show will also feature a battle for the British Flyweight title between two undefeated fighters in Kevin Satchell and Iain Butcher.

nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

SAN DIEGO, CA (July 2, 2013)—Promoter Frank Maloney has been around a long time and has seen it all. This past February 23rd, he watched with the rest of the boxing world, the shocking upset of his prized fighter David Price (15-1, 13 KO’s) getting stopped in the second round with former two-time world title challenger Tony Thompson’(37-3, 25 KO’s) in Liverpool, England.

This Saturday in the very same ring, Price will get his chance at redemption when he squares off with Thompson in a highly anticipated rematch that can be seen live all over the United States on Wealth TV and www.wealthtv.com beginning at 2:30 pm Eastern / 11:30 am Pacific.

Maloney who has been in boxing for over thirty years enlisted the services of his most accomplished pupil in Hall of Famer and former Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis to help guide and mentor Price as he prepared for the very important contest.

“I am looking forward to this fight”, said Maloney when reached in Liverpool during a promotional appearance for Saturday’s big show.

“Lennox Lewis working with David is a blessing. If he can take in just 25 % of what Lennox has instilled in him over the last 4 or 5 weeks, David Will be a new fighter”

Maloney has seen his share of resurrection projects over the years knows that the events of February 23rd should not have deflated hope in Price’s aspirations to become Heavyweight champion.

“I believe that one loss doesn’t make a bad fighter. You cant make or break career off of 1 loss.”

Maloney looks at Lewis, who suffered a stunning knockout loss to Oliver McCall only to come back and become one of the greatest Heavyweights of all-time

“That fight was just a derailment”

Saturday’s show will also include two British title bouts pitting Darren Hamilton and Adil Anwar for the Jr. Middleweight title and a battle of undefeated Flyweights when exciting Kevin Satchell takes on Ian Butcher.

“The Viewers are in for a treat as there is more at stake in this fight.”

A Price win gets him back in line to face one of the Klitshcko brothers while Thompson would like a third crack at Heavyweight glory.

nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

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SAN DIEGO, CA (July 1, 2013)—On Saturday afternoon July 6th, former two-time Heavyweight championship challenger, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson will try to make it two for two when he takes on 2008 Olympic Bronze Medal Winner David Price in the most anticipated heavyweight rematch of the year.

The fight can be seen Live In the United States on Wealth TV and www.wealthtv.com.

The card begins at 2:30 pm est / 11:30 am Pacific

Thompson shocked the boxing world on February 23rd when he scored a stunning one punch knockout over a then undefeated Price.

Thompson looks to be even better this time around.

“Training camp has been excellent. It actually has been one of the best camps in the last few years”, said Thompson.

Thompson believes that because of the quick nature of his knockout, that there still could be a feeling out process with Price.

“The last fight was so quick that we didn’t learn anything. It is a new start for everybody and we have put forth a whole new game plan for this fight”.

Thompson also believes that he gained the respect of Price with the big right hand in the first fight.

“I don’t think he will let me catch him with the same punch. I don’t know if he will hold back but I do see him being more careful and he has a little more respect for the older guy.”

Before the first fight, Thompson hinted at retirement if had lost to Price and now he finds a new lease on his career but knows he has to get the victory on July 6th.

“I have to beat Price. Losing puts me right back in the same spot that it did before the first fight and at my age (41) I am not looking to start over.”

Despite the emphatic result of the first encounter, Thompson is preparing for the best David Price.

“I am not surprised he took the rematch right away. He is a competitor but I am in great shape and I believe I will win on July 6th”

SAN DIEGO (February 23, 2013)— It was a right hook that was heard around the world – at least by boxing fans. No. 2 rated American Tony Thompson shocked a nearly all British audience by dropping the formally undefeated 6’ 8” British heavyweight David Price in the second round. Price was unable to recover from the powerful right hook.

The bout was seen live all over the United States on WealthTV and www.wealthtv.com will be replayed TONIGHT AT 10 PM EST

“There’s a shining star in the Heavyweight division for American boxing fans. Tony “The Tiger” proved that he’s still one of the best heavyweights in the world. We knew he was training hard against the likes of Travis Walker, but he left even boxing insiders stunned by his quick finish of one of the most coveted young prospects in the boxing game. Us old guys can proudly wear our “Old Guys Rule” t-shirts with pride thanks to Tony”, stated Charles Herring, president of WealthTV. The network carried the fight live and exclusively in the United States.

Thompson, who was a huge underdog landed a big right hook to the side of the face that plummeted Price to the canvas. Price got to his feet but the fight was waved off at 2:17 of round two.

Thompson, who twice fought for the Heavyweight championship of the world is now 37-3 with 25 knockouts is once a again a player in the Heavyweight division.

Price, the 2012 ESPN.com prospect of the year was being groomed for superstardom falls to 15-1.

WealthTV’s Fight Night can be seen on WealthTV nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com