Los Angeles, CA (April 13, 2022) Following up on their Just Released Massive Schedule of Extraordinary Events in 2022, Triller Fight Club has announced a Mega-Heavyweight Clash between Former Unified Heavyweight World Champion Andy ‘The Destroyer’ Ruiz Jr., (34-2, 22 KOs), of Imperial, CA and Top Rated and Undefeated Contender Tyrone ‘King of the Ring’ Spong, (14-0, 13 KOs) of Paramaribo, Suriname set for Saturday, July 16 and emanating from the historic Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Mexico.

The ten-round main event will headline a tremendous boxing card broadcast on Pay-Per-View. The entire broadcast will be produced by Nigel Lythgoe, award-winning producer of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “American Idol” who has brought his captivating new look and feel of combat sports to Triller Fight Club events as the creative partner, visionary and executive producer. Information on advance tickets for the live event will be forthcoming.

“Triller Fight Club is dedicated to delivering a steady roster of content with something for everyone. This mega-event is set to give the most discerning boxing and MMA fans the most exciting fight of the year while surrounding it with a festival that is sure to deliver for all ages, combat sports fans or not,” said Lythgoe.

The 32-year-old Ruiz shocked the sports world, becoming the first Mexican heavyweight world champion on June 1, 2019, with a remarkable seventh-round knockout of undefeated, unified world champion Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden. Most recently, Ruiz was victorious in dominant fashion with a 12-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Chris Arreola on May 1, 2021, in Carson, CA.

The popular fan-favorite Ruiz is guided by perennial Trainer of the Year, Eddy Reynoso, who counts boxing’s #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and World Champion Oscar Valdez among his stable in San Diego, CA.

A world champion kickboxer with a wealth of international accolades, the heavy-handed Spong, currently training in South Florida, returns to the squared circle following a second-round knockout of Jeyson Minda in Merida, Mexico. Eleven of his thirteen knockouts have come within the first two rounds of his fourteen victories. He is the holder of the WBC Latino Heavyweight and WBO Latino Heavyweight Titles.

“Triller and Fight Club like to trailblaze. We have high expectations for this event. It matches the world’s best heavyweights in boxing and MMA in a battle to determine who is the best. Surrounding it with a Trillerfest where the best musicians, Verzuz, sports, and celebrity events will bookend this historic fight,” said David Tetreault, President of Triller Fight Club.

Opened in 1946, Plaza de Toros is the world’s largest bullring. In 2004, It played host to the third fight between Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and former world champion Frankie Randall.

A full schedule of events and additional fights for this evening of world-class boxing will be announced shortly.

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Launched less than two years ago, Triller Fight Club has already sold over 3,000,000 Pay-Per-Views in the past year, making it one of the top-selling combat sports/entertainment platforms. TrillerVerz’s widely acclaimed monthly series, including world-class professional boxing and musical Verzuz battles, has consistently been at the top of watched broadcasts averaging over 6,000,000 views. 

Triller entered into a definitive merger agreement with SeaChange International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEAC), in a transaction that would result in the combined company being named TrillerVerz Corp., and its common stock will be listed on Nasdaq, subject to completion of the conditions listed in the S4, which was filed by SeaChange (NASD: SEAC).

This Triller Fight Club PPV event will be carried in North America across all traditional PPV TV platforms, including cable, satellite & telco TV PPV providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum (U.S.), among others, as well as leading operators in Canada. It will also be offered to commercial outlets via Joe Hand Promotions and globally via digital streaming to all major outlets.

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**HOW TO WATCH THE July 16 event via Worldwide Streaming **

Digitally broadcast via FITE

 and all FITE mobile, Smart TV, IPTV, game controller, and OTT apps, as well as the event microsite hub: TrillerFightClub.com

Follow Triller Fight Club on social media: 

Instagram: @Triller, @TrillerFightClub
Twitter: @Triller, @TrillerFight

Facebook: @TrillerFightClub

Undefeated heavyweight Tyrone Spong tested positive for a banned substance, and he will not fight former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“My thought is it’s bad because people are trying to use a shortcut and cheat and the other side of the fight is working so hard. It’s completely disrespectful,” Egis Klimas, Usyk’s manager, told ESPN. “Usyk wasn’t very happy when he found out, of course. He prepared hard for this fight and the other side is trying to cheat and take a shortcut.

“We have been contacted by VADA to inform us that there has been an adverse finding in Tyrone Spong’s test,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “It has been sent to the State of Illinois commission and further information will be released [on Tuesday] morning. We have reserve opponents standing by.”

Hearn did not want to disclose any of the possible replacement opponents because he was still negotiating with them, but he told ESPN he is in talks with “three or four” fighters.

Klimas said whomever Hearn can line up, Usyk will fight.

“He’s been preparing for a long time. We will fight anyone who is willing to fight,” Klimas said.

Oleksandr Usyk will face Tyrone Spong on his Heavyweight debut at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on October 12, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM JUST $40! Usyk (16-0 12 KOs) joins the big guns having dominated the Cruiserweight division, leaving the 200lbs scene as the undisputed champion after knocking out Tony Bellew in Manchester in November, his first fight in a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA. That win for the Ukrainian 2012 Olympic king was a remarkable fourth in a row in hostile territory having won the first Cruiserweight installment of the World Boxing Super Series by beating Marco Huck, Mairis Breidis and Murat Gassiev in their backyards, unifying the division in two of those fights to lead to his clinical win in England. Now the pound-for-pound master will look to translate his incredible success into glory at the Heavyweight division, but faces a stiff examination of those goals in the form of Spong (14-0 13 KOs). The 33 year old Florida-based contender can make a huge statement in the Windy City and risks his #4 rating with the WBO to take on Usyk. The Surinamese-Dutchman was taken the distance for the first time in Suriname where he successfully defended his WBO and WBC Latino titles against Ytalo Perea in December, and comes into the bout on the back of a 13th KO win from 14 fights with a second round victory in Mexico on Saturday. Spong joined the sweet science after leaving a stellar kickboxing career behind, winning 91 of his 100 bouts in a 13-year career littered with accolades and titles before officially retiring from kickboxing in April 2016 after his last bout in December 2014, turning pro in the boxing ring in March 2015. Usyk’s status as the former long-reigning WBO king means he is the mandatory challenger for that title that Andy Ruiz Jr sensationally ripped from Anthony Joshua in New York in December along with the IBF and WBA straps, so the stakes are high for both Usyk and Spong ahead of the Ruiz Jr-Joshua rematch in December. “I am very excited to make my Heavyweight debut in Chicago on October 12, live on DAZN,” said Usyk. “Spong is a fast and powerful Heavyweight who has had much success in the ring. I must come through this test to challenge for the World Heavyweight title I look forward to seeing everyone there.” “After achieving most of my goals as a kick boxer and becoming one of the most decorated champions in the history of the sport, I wanted to test myself in the difficult and challenging sport of boxing. I have worked tirelessly during the last three years and now have the opportunity to prove my worth as a boxer against perhaps the best pound for pound, and most technically sound boxer in the World. Some may think the challenge may be too difficult, but I believe in myself, and look forward to being victorious on October 12.” “Usyk’s Heavyweight debut is one of the most hotly anticipated boxing moments of 2019 and personally, I can’t wait to see it,” said Hearn. “Oleksandr is a phenomenon who dominated the Cruiserweight division becoming undisputed after just 15 fights. Now, as he prepares to challenge for the World Heavyweight title, he must first overcome Tyrone Spong in Chicago. Spong will be explosive and dangerous and we expect an electric heavyweight battle at the Wintrust Arena, live on DAZN.” Tickets are on sale now for Usyk vs. Spong, with a stacked undercard to be released imminently. Tickets start at just $40 plus booking fees at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/070057139FF02C5D.