BOSTON (July 1, 2021) – Former college football star, super welterweight boxer Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams, recently defeated his first world champion, Yuri Foreman, and the veteran New Haven, Connecticut fighter’s boxing career has been revitalized.

This past March 6th, Williams (18-5-2, 6 KOs) was originally supposed to fight Foreman, who withdrew after the weigh in due to sickness. Williams stayed in training camp, took a stay busy fight, and continued preparing for Foreman.

Williams won an 8-round majority decision against Foreman (35-4, 10 KOs) two weeks ago this Saturday in Atlanta for the vacant Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) International and American Boxing Federation (ABF) USA super welterweight championships.

Williams dropped Foreman twice in the sixth round and won the decision by judges’ scores of 77-73, 77-73, 75-75. “Thirty-seconds more and I think I would have stopped him,” Williams said.

Foreman, fighting out of Brooklyn, captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight World title in 2009, when he won a unanimous 12-round decision versus defending champion Daniel Santos (32-3-1). Williams and Foreman sparred many years ago at the Joe Grier Boxing Academy in Patterson, New Jersey.

Jimmy Williams action.jpg
Foreman, fighting out of Brooklyn, captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight World title in 2009, when he won a unanimous 12-round decision versus defending champion Daniel Santos (32-3-1). Williams and Foreman sparred many years ago at the Joe Grier Boxing Academy in Patterson, New Jersey.

“I’ve been chasing him a long time,” Williams noted. “I stayed in camp when our fight was canceled, took a confidence-building fight, and stayed ready for Yuri. He is a good boxer, not a brawler, and he was in tremendous shape. Yuri’s very intelligent in the ring and fighting him was a good learning experience for me. For example, he was working behind his jab to try and get me to lunge. I had to think more in the ring against him.

“I’m sure he was disappointed after the fight, but he’s a world champion who was in against Miguel Cotto and two of his other losses were to world champions (Cotto and Erislandy Lara). This was a huge opportunity for me. I’m excited about my career again. We’ll wait and see what fights are ahead for me.

Williams was a standout cornerback at Southern Connecticut State University who was invited to several NFL tryout camps. He came close to making the cut with the then-Oakland Raiders. “Quiet Storm” has been promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES) since he turned pro in 2013.

“This is Jimmy’s biggest win of his career,” Williams’ manager Ryan Roach (Fighter Locker) commented. “He just opened a lot of doors for himself. I’m proud of him, he worked hard. He made the sacrifices champions make. Taking out a name like Yuri Foreman is why fighter’s go to work every day. We are working on his next fight date now. Stay tuned, ‘Quiet Storm’ fans.”

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of gifted boxers include California super flyweight Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (21-1, 6 KOs), Troy, NY ABF American West super lightweight Ray Jay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (12-0, 9 KOs), Toronto, Canada welterweight West Haven, CT UBO International ABF USA super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (18-5-2, 6 KOs), super middleweight “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (7-0, 4 KOs), super bantamweight Daniel “G.D.F.E.” Bailey, Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs), lightweight Leonel de los Santos (3-0, 3 KOs), a 2-time Dominican Republic Olympian, Boston featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), pro-debuting Dominican Republic welterweight Juan Solano, and Salt Lake City, 2016 Brazilian Olympic silver medalist Yuberjen Martinez, Brazilian Olympian Jorge Vivas, Colorado super middleweight Marvin “Too Much” Cordova, Jr. (23-2-1, 12 KOs), West Palm Beach, FL light heavyweight Robert Daniels, Jr. (4-0, 4 KOs), Utah brothers, super lightweight Ignacio Chairez (8-0-1, 5 KOs) and lightweight Gabriel Chairez (4-0-1, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com

FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker

TWITTER: @RoachRyan

INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER: Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers. Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service. Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models. It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted.

New Haven, CT (June 25, 2021) – It’s easy to dismiss a fighter after an unexpected loss. It’s easy to suggest he or she should move on, call it a career, and count their blessings while figuring out what to do with the rest of their life.

For Jimmy Williams, boxing is life. It’s what he’s done best since he was a teenager growing up in New Jersey. And even when he gave up on it for a few years to play college football and take his shot at the NFL, boxing was waiting for him with open arms again when an injury ended his dream of playing professionally.

Boxing has been Williams’ launching pad for success over the past eight years, so when he took an unexpected loss against a journeyman challenger in December, the 34-year-old New Haven, CT, veteran never flinched. While others whispered that this might be the end of his career, Williams continued to press forward. The outcome that night was irrelevant; two months removed from a devastating knockout loss to Brandun Lee, Williams needed that fight in December to prove he still had something left in the tank.

Six months later, Williams is back atop his perch, looking ahead to the next great challenge – and peering back at those who doubted – following the biggest victory of his career.

The proud father of twin boys and longtime truancy officer at West Haven High School is the new reigning Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Super Welterweight Champion after defeating former world title-holder Yuri Foreman by majority decision this past weekend in Atlanta. Williams bloodied Foreman in the third round and floored him twice in the sixth en route to a 75-75, 77-73, 77-73 win, toppling a once dominant champion with 39 professional bouts and 35 wins under his belt, by far the most accomplished, respected opponent Williams has faced in his long career. Williams improved to 18-5-2 with the win.

There’s no way to underscore what this means for the “Quiet Storm.” Six months ago, Williams looked like a fighter with one foot out the door after losing in Mexico to 11-23-2 Esteban Villalba, by no means in the same conversation with a fighter like Foreman. Now Williams is on top of the world again in what he calls his true “prime,” all for one simple reason – he believed when others doubted. Can a 34-year-old challenger in the competitive super welterweight division still chase his dream of winning a world title? Why not? Williams has proven nothing is impossible.

“This is a dream come true,” said Williams, who has spent his entire career since the age of 26 under the guidance of promoter Jimmy Burchfield and CES Boxing. “Once this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to take it. I knew a fight like this would bring out my world-class kills. I knew I had to be ready to go.

“Yuri Foreman, that’s a big name in boxing. People looked at me like I didn’t stand a chance. Even Foreman’s camp, I’m sure they looked back at my losses and how I lost and thought this was a fight they should win. On paper, it looked like a great fight for Yuri, but it was everything for me, and I showed why.”

The irony is this fight was originally scheduled to take place in Louisville, KY, in March, further back during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams spent his camp working for the first time with Rhode Island-based trainer Brian Johnson, at first commuting back and forth from New Haven to Providence before living out of a hotel during the final weeks before the fight to cut down on his travel. Everything was coming together perfectly; Williams felt a new sense of purpose under Johnson, whom he considered a father figure – Williams lost both of his parents during his teen years – and even back then spoke about being in his prime despite having eight years under his belt.

Then the unthinkable happened. Foreman, who felt ill leading up to the bought, tested positive for COVID at the weigh-in, forcing the promoter to postpone the fight. In boxing, postponements and promises of a make-up date often turn into cancelations, and with Foreman having just turned 40 not knowing what his future would bring, Williams wasn’t sure he’d get this opportunity again.

As fate would have it, the bout was, in fact, rescheduled for this past weekend fairly early in the process, so Williams didn’t lose much time between the end of his first camp and the start of the new one. Then fate intervened again. With Johnson unable to accompany Williams to Atlanta for the fight, Williams was forced to find a new home to finish his camp with a little more than a week to go before fight night. He decided upon Champs Boxing Club in nearby Danbury – the home of several pro fighters, including Omar Bordoy, Mike Marshall, Vinnie Carita, and Geoffrey Then, among others – and met with trainers Tommy Smalls and Dave McDonough, both of whom welcomed him with open arms. Their motto – “You give us 100 percent, and we’ll give you 150 percent.”

Smalls and McDonough weren’t just opening their doors to let Williams ride out the rest of his camp. They traveled this journey with him, watching film, implementing new techniques, and providing the necessary guidance to help Williams get over the hump. He worked hard and they worked even harder. On fight night, it all clicked – something that doesn’t always happen when working with a new team on short notice. When Williams had to weather an early storm between rounds, Smalls and McDonough kept him calm and focused in the corner, and Williams responded with a championship performance, catching his second wind in the sixth round to score the two knockdowns that ultimately won him the fight.

“They prepared just like I did, so I was prepared,” Williams said. “I was little nervous deep down, but once I got to Champs, I was like, ‘OK, this is going to work.’ It just felt like we were all on the same page.

“Putting [Foreman] down twice in the sixth, that was the turning point. In my head, I knew I was up, so I just had to box and use my skills. I knew he would try to land a big shot to even it up, so it was a mental game at that point, but I believed in my skills and my willpower. I learned a lot about myself.”

As for what’s next following his big win in Atlanta, Williams promises to remain patient and make the smart choice. He’s found a new team at Champs, proving chaos can often be a blessing in disguise. Williams overcame a lot to get to this point – losses in the ring, heartbreak at the weigh-in, even unexpected turmoil right before fight night. Doubt him again and he’ll just continue to prove there’s no expiration date on guts and perseverance.

“This win definitely gets me back in the mix,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m in my prime now. The football, everything else, that’s behind me. I’ve grown as a fighter. I’m experienced and feel like I’m at my peak now.”

Visit CESFights.com for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION
CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC Fight Pass, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience.

BOSTON (March 2, 2021) – New Haven (CT) super welterweight boxer Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams will finally get what he calls “his world title fight” this Saturday night against former world champion Yuri Foreman in an 8-round bout for the vacant American Boxing Federation USA super welterweight championship, at the Kentucky Center for African Americans in Louisville, Kentucky.

Foreman (35-3, 10 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn, captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight World title in 2009, when he won a unanimous 12-round decision versus defending champion Daniel Santos (32-3-1).

“We sparred back when I was a kid when I trained at the Joe Grier Boxing Academy in Patterson, New Jersey,” Williams explained. “Joe was the one who gave me my nickname, ‘Quiet Storm.’ Yuri is a true world champion. I basically have come from nowhere to share the ring with a world champion. What we’re doing is what boxing is all about. It’s not about age; he’s 40 and I’m 34. Age doesn’t mean anything. I’m not a top dog, which is probably why they offered me the fight, but I’m a real fighter who will be in with a world champ. This is my world title fight! Win, lose, or draw, I’ll be fighting a world champion. I’m not scared of anybody. It’s not about money, it’s who I am, and I always step up to the challenge. This is going to be a great fight.”

Williams (16-5-2, 5 KOs) is proud to be one of the rare football players who has succeeded in boxing. He was a standout cornerback at Southern Connecticut State University and invited to several NFL tryout camps. He came close to making the cut with the then-Oakland Raiders.

“I’ve always been a boxer at heart,” Williams said, “so football was easy for me. It was great getting calls from NFL scouts. I walked away from football for boxing. I’m a former Division 2 college football player fighting a world champion. I knew when it was time to leave football, but I’m not ready to leave boxing yet. I don’t need to box. I’m educated, work in the community, and I’m a father. I’m blessed to be boxing and I’ll know when it’s time to hang up my gloves.”

Williams didn’t box until after his mother, Belinda, was murdered in 2008 and her case remains unsolved. He lost his father to cancer.

“This fight for Jimmy is by far the biggest of his career,” Williams manager Ryan Roach (Fighter Locker) remarked. “It’s a must win to get him back on track. He knows what he has to do. He made a move to Veloz Boxing in Rhode Island and he’s a different fighter from what he was in his last two fights. Just being around ‘Boo Boo’ (world champion Demetrious Andrade) and those guys there has Jimmy where he needs to be for this fight.”

Williams has been promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES) since he turned pro in 2013.

“We have a close relationship,” Burchfield commented. “I turned him pro, got him on national television a few times, and even attended his wedding. I’m very proud of him. He’s been tremendously loyal to CES as we have to him. This is a great opportunity. He didn’t hesitate a minute to take this fight. He has a new trainer, Brian Johnson, and Jimmy has been driving bad and forth from New Haven to Providence to train. I think he’s in the top shape of his life, because he knows the importance of this fight. He deserves to have this opportunity.

Something special about his fight this Saturday night against Foreman for Williams, an African American, is fighting at this venue (Kentucky Center for African Americans) in the hometown of his hero, Muhammad Ali.

“I’m paying homage to all people who’ve lived my dream,” Williams remarked. “It is what I represent. We’ve lost a lot of people in the last year. Fighting in Louisville is big for me because it’s the home of ‘The Greatest,’ Muhammad Ali. I look at Ali more for his character and what he stood for than his boxing. He stood for something and lost the prime of his career because of it. I try to be like him in terms of who I am. He gave me the confidence be who I want to be in life. I’ve read every book about him. I refuse to give up like Ali. I’m a throwback fighter.”

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of gifted boxers includes California super flyweight Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (20-1, 6 KOs), Troy, NY ABF American West super lightweight Ray Jay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (12-0, 9 KOs), super middleweight “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (6-0, 4 KOs), U.S. Army super bantamweight Daniel Bailey, Jr. (2-0, 1 KO), lightweight Leonel de los Santos (2-0, 2 KOs), a2-time Dominican Republic Olympian, pro-debuting Boston featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr., pro-debuting Dominican Republic welterweight Juan Solano, and Salt Lake City, Utah brothers, super lightweight Ignacio Chairez (7-0-1, 4 KOs) and lightweight Gabriel Chairez (3-0, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:
WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com
FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker
TWITTER: @RoachRyan
INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER:
Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers. Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service. Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models. It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted.

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 20, 2017) – Erislandy Lara, the WBA/IBO 154-pound champion, scored two knockouts in his match against Yuri Foreman in Miami on Premier Championship Boxing on Spike TV last Friday night. One in the ring to retain his world titles and another in the ratings. An average of 547,000 viewers, with a peak audience of 707,000, tuned in to watch Lara land a devastating uppercut that knocked out former world champion Foreman in the fourth round.

Spike TV’s viewership ratings for Lara vs. Foreman scored 11% higher than their last Friday night telecast, which showcased Danny Jacobs vs Sergio Mora. Look for Erislandy Lara to return to the ring sometime before summer.

“I want to thank Spike TV and everyone involved with the promotion for giving me the opportunity to fight in Miami, in front of all my fans.” said Erislandy Lara. “The last time I fought in Miami I got the knockout and that’s exactly what I wanted to do in this fight. I accomplished that goal and the fans got to see someone go down. Everyone loves the knockout. I’m happy to have delivered a positive rating for Spike TV. I can’t wait to return to the ring.”

As always, a huge Cuban crowd came out tonight to support their beloved Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara at Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami. With constant chants of Cuba and a heavy dose of Pitbull background music, the party got started early. In the main event the packed house was treated with the super welterweight world champion Lara (24-2-2, 14 KOs) dismantling former world champion Yuri Foreman (34-3, 10 KOs) to retain his WBA strap for the fifth time live on Spike TV. The consensus best fighter at 154-pounds, Lara did his thing in controlling distance and pace early while easily out boxing the former world champion Yuri Foreman. Foreman, an ordained rabbi was never in the fight and had a hard time catching one of boxing’s slickest boxers. In round three after Lara landed a couple shots and an entanglement of feet, a knockdown was incorrectly scored for Lara. It was a mood point as in round four Lara put a left uppercut deep into Foremans midsection that dispensed the Brooklyn-based native of Brelarus Foreman on the canvas with no hopes of beating the count.

The live televised coverage kicked off with former super middleweight world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (30-1-1, 24 KOs) battling Hungary’s Norbert Nemesapati (24-5, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Dirrell set an early pace moving Nemesapati back with strong right hands and body shots. The Hungarian was able to create a couple occasional early exchanges, but Derrell’s power was too much as he was visibly breaking Nemesapati. By the third round it was a seek and destroy mission as Dirrell hunted his prey and landed a variety of uppercuts, body shots, right hands, hooks, and I may have seen him throw the kitchen sink at one point. Dirrell virtually beat Nemesapati into a submission as he felt no need to come out for round seven for more of what was a constant in the fight, and that was a clear show of a difference of skill level.

Dirrell has seen more adversity than most throughout his career as his time in boxing has been seriously jeopardized twice, first in December 2006 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was sidelined for 20 months and again in May 2012 when he broke his lower left leg and left wrist in a motorcycle accident. The Flint, Michigan-native never let that hold him down as he kept winning fights and working his way up the professional ranks. In 2014 he won his first championship when he defeated defending champion Sakio Bika. His road back to a 168-pound title has seen him dominate former title challengers Marco Antonio Rubio last September and Caleb Truax in April.

Juan Carlos Payano 18-1 (9KO) put on a display of “all things boxing” on his way to a TKO win over Isao Carranza 15-8-1(5KO) with the end coming at 1:16 of the 7th round. Payano was coming off of the first loss of his career and a super close majority decision loss at the hands of Rau’shee Warren in June of 2016.

Early results from Hialeah Park: Premier Boxings Lara vs Foreman Undercard results

Dennis ‘The Surgeon” Galarza improved to 14-2(8KO) with a TKO victory over Edgardo Rivera 7-5-2-(5KO) to open Warriors Boxing’s Lara v Foreman from Hialeah Park in. From the opening jab Galarza, from Orlando surgically dissected Rivera with shots from every angle and finally into submission when Sam Burgos finally stepped in and stopped the action in the third round.

Light heavyweight Robert Daniels Jr 2-0(2KO) made easy work out of easy work Antonio Alicea 0-2. Daniels wins by KO in just 25 seconds in the first round knocking out a very timid and out of shape Alicea.

Someone’s O had to go when Miguel Cruz 14-0 (11KO) faced off with Alex Martin 13-1(5KO) in a battle of unbeaten’s. Martin established an early lead with precise straight left hands, slick distance, smart defense, and counter-punching. Cruz pressured to offset the slick counter puncher making for an entertaining tactical fight. The split decision victory was for Miguel Cruz.

Photo Credit Amie DiDia

Follow all the action as Erislandy Lara defends the WBA Super Welterweight title against Yuri Foreman.  The action kicks off at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT with a super middleweight clash between former world champion Anthony Dirrell battling Norbert Nemespati.

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY…NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Lara lands a straight left

Round 2 Good straight left from Lara

Round 3 Double jab from Lara..LARA SCORES A KNOCKDOWN

ROUND 4 LARA LANDS A HUGE UPPERCUT, DOWN GOES FOREMAN…HE CANT GET UP IS COUNTED OUT

Round 1 Left hook from Dirrell…

Round 2 Dirrell coming forward..Combination from Nemespati..Couple big shots from Dirrell..Dirrell landing on the ropes

Round 3 Dirrell has a bloody nose..Body shot from Dirrell..another one

Round 4 Jab-Hook combination…Big right from Dirrell…Dirrell taking charge

Round 5 Dirrell lands a leaping left

Round 6 Good right from Dirrell…and another….FIGHT STOPPED BY NEMESPATI’S CORNER

MIAMI (January 12, 2017) – Super welterweight world champion Erislandy Lara is primed and ready for his world title defense against former world champion Yuri Foreman this Friday, January 13 in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike from Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami.

Additional action on Spike features former world champion Anthony Dirrell and Hungary’s Norbert Nemesapati, who meet in a 10-round super middleweight bout. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features undefeated prospects Miguel Cruz, who attended today’s press conference,and Alex Martin in welterweight action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing, are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and $125, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.myticketforce.com by clicking HERE, by phone at (877) 840-0457 or at the Hialeah Park casino cage.

Here is what Lara had to say about Foreman, training camp with Ronnie Shields and more:

On his recent training camp…

“We just wrapped up about a week and we got some good rest during fight week. Training camp has been very productive. I’m comfortable with my weight and I feel strong going into this fight. My strength and conditioning is right where I want it. Ronnie and I are always polishing up on the things I do well. Overall, it’s been a great camp.”

On facing former world champion Yuri Foreman…

“I’m grateful to Yuri Foreman for accepting this fight. I know he’s hungry to get back in the ring. He wants to prove that he’s still relevant in the super welterweight division. He’s a former world champion who knows what it’s like to win at the elite level. I’m not looking past Yuri Forman, but I’m very confident I’ll be victorious. I feel I’m going to be the superior fighter when we both step in the ring tomorrow night.”

On returning to Miami to fight in front of a large Cuban community…

“My last fight here was amazing and the fan support was unbelievable. I got the knockout and I’m hoping to do the same again. If I see my opponent hurt, I’ll be looking to take him out. I love my Cuban countrymen and all their support, as well as my American fans. Miami is like a second home to me and I can’t wait to give the fans a great show.”

On the state of the super welterweight division…

“The division, in my opinion, is the most talented division in boxing. Everyone at the top is looking to cement their legacy in boxing history and everyone is spectacular. In the future, we will all have to face each other at some point. So, expect some unification bout to be presented, and may the best man rise to the top. I know I’m ready to fight everyone, but first I must get past Foreman.”

On fighting in the main event on Spike…

“Fighting on Spike, as the main event, is going to fantastic. The exposure is wonderful for any athlete competing on their network. Boxing is a great sport, and Spike TV is helping us gain more fans with their viewers. The PBC is doing an excellent job. I’m very happy to be fighting on network television.”

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LaraBoxing, @YForeman, @AnthonyDirrell, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports @WarriorsBoxingProm and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

MIAMI (January 11, 2017) – Super welterweight world champion Erislandy Lara and former world champion Yuri Foreman met face to face Wednesday as they hosted the final press conference before they enter the ring in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike this Friday, January 13 from Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami.

Also in attendance at Wednesday’s press conference was former world champion Anthony Dirrell and Hungary’s Norbert Nemesapati, who meet in a 10-round super middleweight bout Friday night on Spike. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features undefeated prospects Miguel Cruz, who attended today’s press conference,and Alex Martin in welterweight action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing, are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and $125, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.myticketforce.com by clicking HERE, by phone at (877) 840-0457 or at the Hialeah Park casino cage.

Here is what the participants had to say from the Turf Club at Hialeah Park:

ERISLANDY LARA

“Thank you everyone for coming, especially Spike TV and Hialeah Park. Thanks to Team Foreman for taking this fight. It’s going to be a great fight Friday night.

“Yuri Foreman is a great fighter and a very smart fighter. I am also a very smart fighter, so Friday night we’re going to find out who is the smarter one in the ring.

“I feel great. Very happy to be back in Miami in front of my Cuban and Latin fans. This is a great night for Miami and Spike and I plan on putting on a show and making a statement to the boxing world.

“I feel great. I’m in great shape and feel very strong. I’m ready to fight right now. I just want the bell to ring.”

YURI FOREMAN

“It’s great to be here in Miami where it’s nice and warm and with so many great fighters on this card. I’m ready and looking forward to Friday. I came here to win and I feel very positive about this.

“Erislandy Lara is a great fighter, but me being from the Soviet Union, I’m very familiar with Cuban boxing and have quite a bit of experience with their style, so I’m looking forward to stepping in and showcasing my talents and skills.

“Being a rabbi, it is sometimes very interesting to mix that with fighting, but Friday night I won’t be in rabbi mode. I will be all fighter. We are going to show skills and heart and power on Friday night.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

“I think this is my third Spike event and I’m happy to be fighting on a show with two great fighters like Lara and Foreman.

“It’s going to be a hell of a show. We are going to put on a great show. All the fights on the card are tremendous fights – undefeated fighters fighting undefeated fighters and champions fighting champions and we are all coming to win.

“I was going to talk a lot of trash to him (Nemespati), but he can’t understand me anyway. I am looking forward to a great fight against a good opponent like him. Make sure you tune in on Friday and catch the action!”

NORBERT NEMESAPATI

“I am coming in as the smaller fighter, so I will have to put a lot of pressure on him. I sparred a lot of rounds for this fight, with a lot of tall guys. That’s fine with me that he is taller because I love to punch to the body.

“I might never get another opportunity like this, so I have to make the most of it. This is a beautiful place and I’m coming to the ring to win big. Thank you for this very special opportunity.”

MIGUEL CRUZ

“I wish that Alex Martin was here so I could talk a little smack to his face.

“13-0, 11 KOs vs. 13-0, 5 KOs… basically somebody’s ‘0’ has to go and I can give you a hint… it’s not going to be mine.

“I’m going to crush him like an ant with a sledgehammer. I’m going to destroy him. That’s the plan. Don’t miss it.”

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LaraBoxing, @YForeman, @AnthonyDirrell, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports @WarriorsBoxingProm and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

MIAMI (December 13, 2016) – Super welterweight world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (23-2-2, 13 KOs) will take on former world champion Yuri Foreman (34-2, 10 KOs) in a world title showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Spike on Friday, January 13 from Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT with former super middleweight world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) battling Hungary’s Norbert Nemesapati (24-4, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

“I’m very excited to be making my return to the ring in front of my Cuban fans in Miami on Spike on January 13,” said Lara. “Yuri Foreman is a former world champion who is dedicated to this sport and will be looking to win another world title. I expect nothing but the best from him. On fight night, I’m making another statement and going for the knockout! After this fight, it’s time to unify the division, then move up to win the middleweight titles. Everyone should tune-in because it’s going to be a great night of boxing.”

“”I’m thrilled to be fighting for the world title,” said Foreman. “I’m really looking forward to showcasing my skills and talent and becoming a two-time world champion. At this stage of my career, it would be a tremendous accomplishment. Lara is very crafty and many elite fighters have had trouble dealing with his style, but I have studied him and am very confident that I will defeat him by presenting him with something he’s never seen before.”

The Cuban Lara will be making his fifth defense of his title as he heads to Miami to fight in front of the many Cuban boxing fans in the city. The consensus best fighter at 154-pounds, Lara will be challenged by an experienced Foreman, a former 154-pound champion in his own right, who has fully recovered from physical ailments that almost derailed his career. Now, Foreman looks to establish that he can still challenge at the elite level as he prepares to solve the crafty champion.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing, are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and $125, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.myticketforce.com by clicking HERE, by phone at (877) 840-0457 or at the Hialeah Park casino cage.

The 33-year-old Lara is a slick boxer with the ability to deliver punishment while taking very little of it in return. Lara has notched victories over Austin Trout, Alfredo Angulo, Ishe Smith and Freddy Hernandez. As an amateur, Lara won numerous titles including a national championship at welterweight, and also participated in the 2007 Pan-Am games. Originally from Guantanamo, Cuba, Lara dominated Delvin Rodriguez in June of last year and followed that up with a third-round stoppage of former champion Jan Zaveck. Most recently, Lara outclassed top contender Vanes Martirosyan in May in a rematch of their controversial technical draw in 2012. On January 13 Lara will make the fifth defense of his world title when he returns to fight at Hialeah for the second time.

An ordained rabbi, Foreman moved to Brooklyn from Belarus at a young age and found solace inside the legendary Gleason’s Gym. Foreman was sensational in winning the first 27 fights of his career before he defeated Daniel Santos in November 2009 to capture a super welterweight world title. While he lost an all-New York showdown with Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in 2010, Foreman won the last four fights of his career before retiring in 2013. Since deciding to return to the ring late last year, Foreman has picked up victories over Lenwood Dozier by decision and Jason Davis by second-round stoppage.

Dirrell has seen more adversity than most throughout his career as his time in boxing has been seriously jeopardized twice, first in December 2006 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was sidelined for 20 months and again in May 2012 when he broke his lower left leg and left wrist in a motorcycle accident. The Flint, Michigan-native never let that hold him down as he kept winning fights and working his way up the professional ranks. In 2014 he won his first championship when he defeated defending champion Sakio Bika. His road back to a 168-pound title has seen him dominate former title challengers Marco Antonio Rubio last September and Caleb Truax in April.

A pro since 2012, Nemesapati has already competed in 28 professional fights at just 21-years-old. The Budapest, Hungary-native won his first 14 pro fights and enters this bout on January 13 having won his last three matchups. He’s fought seven times this year, including a challenge of unbeaten Callum Smith in the UK in September before going on his current winning streak. He will fight in the United States for the second time in a professional career that has already seen him fight in six different countries.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LaraBoxing, @YForeman, @AnthonyDirrell, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports @WarriorsBoxingProm and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Queens, NY (6/4/16) – On Friday night, DiBella Entertainment returned to Resorts World Casino New York City with another action-packed nine-bout card for the latest installment of its popular “Broadway Boxing” series, proudly sponsored by Nissan of Queens.

The evening concluded with a slugfest featuring female fighters Alicia Napoleon, 153½, of Lindenhurst, NY, and Latasha Burton, 162, of New Orleans, LA, facing off in a rematch scheduled for eight rounds. There were plenty of shifts in momentum with each taking control at times while dishing out heavy artillery. Napoleon began applying pressure from the outset but Burton soon found a home for her straight right counter. The Long Islander fought her way inside to land power shots in the second, but then Burton came back with her own in the third. A straight right stunned Burton in the next round, though she proved resilient to control the action in the fifth. Napoleon continued to stalk her foe and by the sixth, Burton was tiring. With Burton looking to clinch and slow down the pace, Napoleon sought openings on the inside. Intent on scoring a knockout, Napoleon stormed out of her corner in the eighth with an unrelenting attack of power shots resulting in a TKO stoppage at the 1:43 mark when several left hooks to the head were unanswered. Napoleon improved to 6-0 (5 KOs) and Burton is now 4-7. Having claimed the vacant WBC silver junior middleweight title in January, Napoleon is determined to secure a shot at a world title in the near future.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Returning for the first time since September 2014, former WBA lightweight champion Richar Abril, 139, of St. Petersburg, FL, engaged former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes, 138¾, of Corpus Christi, TX, in a 10-round tactical battle. Searching for countering opportunities, Abril felled Belmontes in the first with an overhand right. Abril was content to fight on the outside, while Belmontes, prone to loading up on his right hand, was simply not active enough overall. During the later rounds, Abril would take a half step back and land short countershots whenever the increasingly desperate Belmontes lunged in. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder over the final six minutes of action, Abril pelted Belmontes with hooks to the body. With scores of 96-93 twice, and 95-94, Abril upped his record to 20-3-1 (8 KOs) with a unanimous decision, while Belmontes suffered his ninth defeat, falling to 21-9 (6 KOs). Following his world title defense against previously unbeaten Edis Tatli (23-0) in September 2014, Abril was stricken with dengue fever that he contracted from a mosquito bite while training in Cuba to defend his title against Derry Matthews in early 2015. Abril was forced to vacate his title as he battled through the illness. Now back and 100 percent healthy, Abril will look to quickly regain his world championship under the DiBella Entertainment banner.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Notre Dame graduate and light heavyweight contender Mike Lee, 178¾, peppered Mike Snider, 178, of Flemington, WV, with combinations to the head and body for eight one-sided rounds. Outboxing his adversary, Lee expertly evaded Snider’s advances and often countered with devastating hooks and straight rights. In round four, a left hook dropped Snider. By the sixth, Lee’s uppercut became a prominent weapon. After eight rounds, the judges tallied 80-71 twice, 79-72, all for Lee via unanimous decision to up his record to 17-0 (10 KOs). Snider fell to 10-4-3 (5 KOs). Before graduating in 2009, the Chicago-native Lee claimed three Bengal Bout championships while fighting on Notre Dame’s boxing team. Lee then won the 2009 Chicago Golden Gloves and soon turned pro in 2010. In September 2011, Lee became a national spokesman for Subway Restaurants and continues to be featured in their nationally broadcast “Famous Fan” advertising campaigns. In 2011, Lee headlined the first-ever pro boxing event at the University of Notre Dame, donating more than $100,000 to Notre Dame Charities through The Mike Lee Foundation.

In his first fight scheduled for six rounds, 20-year-old fan-favorite Julian Sosa, 142½, of Brooklyn, earned a hard-fought split decision over a very game Isaac Johnson, 142¼, of Colorado Springs, CO. Early on, Sosa’s jab was key, bloodying Johnson’s nose in the first and keeping him at bay. However, Johnson was able to close the gap by round three and the bout turned into a brawl, featuring several exciting exchanges for the remainder of the contest. Landing pinpoint, accurate countershots, Sosa was still able to maintain control. Scorecards read 58-56 Johnson and 59-55 twice for Sosa, who upped his record to 5-0-1 (2 KOs). Johnson is now 2-2.

Far Rockaway cruiserweight prospect Joe Williams, 184, easily dispatched of
Lamar Harris, 183½, St. Louis, MO, quickly taking advantage of his defensive deficiencies. Left hooks hurt Harris, whose exposed chin provided a wide-open target, then a right hook dropped him in the first. Williams continued to land his left hook in round two and, after having seen Harris absorb enough punishment, the referee halted the action at the 2:38 mark. Williams improved to 9-0 (7 KOs), while Harris fell to 9-12-4 (5 KOs). A 2011 US Olympic Team Trials silver medalist, Williams won the 2012 National Golden Gloves heavyweight title and was a three-time NY Golden Gloves champion before turning pro.

Coming off his sensational TKO victory on the ShoBox series in December, Canadian middleweight contender Steve Rolls, 162½, of Toronto, impressively broke down southpaw Emmanuel Sanchez, 163¾, of Laredo, TX, over five rounds.
Rolls staggered Sanchez with a left hook to the temple early in the first then used that same punch effectively throughout, doubling and tripling up on it. An exhausted Sanchez, who had a point deducted in round five for excessive holding, was unable to come out of his corner for the sixth stanza and the bout was stopped, dipping his record to 7-5 (1 KO). Rolls, now 14-0 (8 KOs) as a pro, had a very successful amateur career, competing on the 2009 and 2010 Canadian National boxing teams, compiling an impressive 83-14 record in the process.

Making his NYC debut, former amateur standout and two-time National Golden Gloves champion Marquis Moore, 167½, of Temple Hills, MD, bobbed and weaved his way inside against the much taller, rangier Turner Williams, 165½, of Beckley, WV, unloading quick-fisted combinations until a left hook to the body doubled his foe over in the red corner. Moore landed a few more hooks to the midsection to force a stoppage at 1:20 of the opening frame, to even up his record at 2-2 (2 KOs). Williams dropped to 1-3. Moore, a member of the U.S. Army, who was honorably discharged after serving three years for our country, had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a 140-15 record. Moore also claimed the National PAL championship in 2015 and boxed at the U.S. Olympic trials.

(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)

Brooklyn’s former junior middleweight world champion and now ordained Orthodox rabbi Yuri Foreman continued his comeback with an impressive stoppage victory over Jason Davis, of Vancouver, WA. Foreman outboxed Davis with a stiff jab, directing it both upstairs and down, in the opener. Backing Davis to the ropes in the following frame, Foreman landed a left uppercut to drop his adversary. A flurry of hard shots resulted in a second knockdown and a left hook to the body produced the third. Foreman, now 34-2 (10 KOs), finally finished Davis off with another barrage that prompted a referee stoppage at the 1:55 mark of round two. Davis dropped to 13-12-2 (4 KOs).

Staten Island’s James Wilkins, 136¼, made a successful pro debut stopping Buffalo, New York’s Jack Grady, 140, inside two rounds. The stoppage came at the 2:49 mark. Wilkins’ speed and power proved too much for the upstate native Grady, now 0-4.

New York, NY (5/26/16) – As previously announced, on Friday, June 3, Broadway Boxing returns to the beautiful Resorts World Casino New York City in Queens, NY, featuring former world champions Richar Abril (19-3-1, 8KO’s) and Yuri Foreman (33-2, 9KO’s) headlining in separate bouts. The exciting 10-bout card is presented by DiBella Entertainment and New Legend Boxing and sponsored by Nissan of Queens. Abril is set to take on the always-tough, former world title challenger and now resurgent contender Jerry Belmontes (21-8, 6KO’s) in a 10-round super lightweight showdown, while Foreman squares off against Jason Davis in an eight-round junior middleweight matchup.

Anytime undefeated light heavyweight Mike Lee (16-0, 10KO’s) steps in the ring, he does so behind an army of adoring fans. The Notre Dame graduate Lee is set to make his second appearance in 2016 when he takes on Mike Snider in an eight-round light heavyweight matchup.

The Chicago-native Lee graduated from the esteemed University in 2009, but not before claiming three Bengal Bout championships while fighting on the University’s boxing team. Following his graduation, Lee won the 2009 Chicago Golden Gloves before embarking on his professional career in 2010. Since his debut, Notre Dame Alumni from across the U.S. have come out in droves to show support for their favorite son. In September 2011, Lee became a national spokesman for Subway Restaurants and continues to be prominently featured in their nationally broadcast “Famous Fan” advertising campaigns. In 2011, Lee headlined the first-ever pro boxing event at the University of Notre Dame, donating more than $100,000 to Notre Dame Charities through The Mike Lee Foundation.

Returning to action for the first time since his sensational knockout performance on ShoBox is undefeated prospect Steve Rolls (13-0, 7KO’s) as he squares off against Emmanuel Sanchez (7-4, 1KO) in an eight-round super middleweight matchup. Making his ShoBox and national TV debut in December, the Canadian Rolls scored a scintillating, come-from-behind fourth-round knockout over fellow undefeated prospect and UK National champion Steed Woodall.

Also making his 2016 debut on the card will be hard-hitting Queens-native Joseph Williams (8-0 6KO’s) as he takes on Lamar Harris in a six-round cruiserweight matchup. A 2011 US Olympic Team Trials silver medalist, Williams won the 2012 National Golden Gloves heavyweight title and was three-time NY Golden Gloves champion before turning pro. Williams was a perfect 5-0 in 2015 with three of those wins coming by way of devastating knockout and will be looking to improve to 9-0 when he takes on Harris.

Female world-rated contender Alicia Napoleon (5-0, 4KO’s) will look to continue on her path of destruction through the world rankings when she takes on Latasha Burton in an eight-round junior middleweight matchup. A devastating puncher, Napoleon claimed the vacant WBC silver junior middleweight title in her last bout and is determined to secure a shot at a world title sometime this year.

Making his NYC debut will be former amateur standout and two-time National Golden Gloves champion Marquis Moore (1-0, 1KO). Campaigning at middleweight, Moore, a member of the U.S. Army, who was honorably discharged after serving three years for our country, had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a 140-15 record. Moore also claimed the National PAL championship in 2015 and boxed at the U.S. Olympic trials. Moore’s fight on June 3 is scheduled for four rounds.

Popular Brooklyn-native prospect Julian Sosa (4-0-1, 2KO’s) is also set to see action on the card when he competes in a six-round welterweight contest.

Also appearing on the card will be Bronx-native and 2014 NY Golden Gloves heavyweight champion George Arias (5-0, 3KO’s) in a six-round bout.

Rounding out the card will be Staten Island’s James Wilkins as he makes his much-anticipated pro debut when he takes on Erick Lainez in a four-round junior lightweight matchup.

Tickets are priced at $125 ringside, $75 reserved seating and $50 general admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the night of the fight. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.

New York, NY (5/23/15) – On Friday, June 3, Broadway Boxing returns to the beautiful Resorts World Casino in Queens, NY, with an exciting 10-bout card presented by DiBella Entertainment and New Legend Boxing, sponsored by Nissan of Queens.

Featured on the card, in separate bouts, will be former world champions Richar Abril and Yuri Foreman. Abril (19-3-1, 8KO’s), making his much anticipated return and DiBella Entertainment (DBE) debut, will take on the always-tough Jerry Belmontes (21-8, 6KO’s) in a 10-round junior welterweight showdown. Foreman (33-2, 9KO’s), fighting for the first time in 2016, is set to take on Jason Davis, of Vancouver, WA, in an eight-round junior middleweight matchup.

A gifted boxer with exceptional hand speed and movement, Abril will be returning to the ring for the first time in over a year and a half. Following his world title defense against previously unbeaten Edis Tatli (23-0) in September 2014, Abril was stricken with dengue fever that he contracted from a mosquito bite while training in Cuba to defend his title against Derry Matthews in early 2015. Abril was forced to vacate his title as he battled through the illness. Now back and 100 percent healthy, Abril will look to quickly regain his world championship under the DiBella Entertainment banner. The 33-year-old Cuban Abril’s three losses are highly debatable having all come via split decision against then-undefeated contenders Hank Lundy and Breidis Prescott, with the last defeat coming at the hands of Brandon Rios for the vacant WBA world title. Following the controversial loss to Rios, who failed to make weight for the bout, Abril, then the interim WBA champion, was elevated to regular champion. Abril twice defended his title, first against 23-0 Sharif Bogere in March of 2013, before traveling to Finland where he defeated the aforementioned Tatli. In Belmontes, Abril will get no pushover. Belmontes began his career at a perfect 17-0, and challenged Omar Figueroa for the WBC world lightweight title in 2014, dropping a close split decision. Belmontes is coming off back-to-back victories, including an upset unanimous decision over previously undefeated Valentyn Golovko in his most recent outing in January of this year.

The bout on June 3 will be Foreman’s first since December 2015. Foreman, the former WBA welterweight world champion and now ordained rabbi, stepped away from the ring in 2011 following back-to-back losses, to focus on his studies. He then returned in 2012 and reeled off four consecutive victories before once again stepping away to finally finish his rabbinical studies. Determined to remain active in 2016, Foreman hopes to make another run at capturing a piece of the junior middleweight crown.

Additional bouts on the card will be announced shortly.

Tickets are priced at $125 ringside, $75 reserved seating and $50 general admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the night of the fight. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m.

BROOKLYN (December 2, 2015) – In honor of former world champion and Brooklyn-native Yuri Foreman’s return to the ring, David’s K Deli featured a custom sandwich “Yuri’s Knockout Corned Beef” Tuesday night at Barclays Center. Foreman met fans and served sandwiches at the kosher stand on the main concourse, prior to the Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns game.

Foreman (32-2, 9 KOs), a recently ordained rabbi, will fight on Saturday, December 5 at Barclays Center, before the showdown between Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

QUOTES FROM FOREMAN

“Jews love sports and there’s a kosher deli at Barclays Center. It’s perfect.”

“Boxing is a very spiritual sport. We all have different paths. My faith keeps me centered and focused. You can be anyone. You can be a rabbi and still be fighting on the big stage at Barclays Center.”

“People might think because you’re a rabbi and a boxer, it’s meshuganah. But anyone can be spiritually connected.”

“It’s very special to be fighting at Barclays Center because this is my home and I actually live just blocks away from the arena. I’m honored to be around so many great fighters who are on this card. Everyone can come together under one roof to watch a great sport.”

“As soon as you take it easy on yourself, that’s when you have a problem. Especially in boxing. I’ve never taken any shortcuts. If you take shortcuts in this sport you’re going to get hurt.”

“I’m staying positive about Dec. 5. I can’t predict because it’s boxing and anything can happen. It only takes one shot. I’m envisioning a successful night and an impressive victory for myself.”

Foreman moved to Brooklyn from Belarus at a young age and found solace inside the legendary Gleason’s Gym. Foreman was sensational in winning the first 27 fights of his career before he defeated Daniel Santos in November 2009 to capture a super welterweight world title. While he lost an all-New York showdown with Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in 2010, Foreman won the last four fights of his career before retiring in 2013. Now the 35-year-old returns to the ring to fight in front of his hometown fans.

Tickets for the live event start at $50, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @DanielJacobsTKO, @KidChocolate, @ChrisAlgieri, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter.

BROOKLYN (Nov. 17, 2015) – WBA Middleweight World Champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs, former world champion Yuri Foreman and undefeated super bantamweight contender Heather “The Heat” Hardy hosted a media workout Tuesday at Gleason’s Gym in their hometown of Brooklyn as they prepare for their respective battles on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Barclays Center.

Jacobs will defend his title against undefeated former champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. In the co-feature, WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar (27-1, 21 KOs) will face exciting Puerto Rican contender Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (26-4, 16 KOs).

“ALL ACCESS: Jacobs vs. Quillin,” which chronicles the buildup to the all-Brooklyn showdown, premieres TONIGHT at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. This clip features Jacobs as he watches The Approaching Storm marching band rehearse his ring walk music at the Brownsville Recreational Center: http://s.sho.com/1H7jcVC

As part of an undercard stacked with top NYC talent, Hardy will take on Noemi Bosques in an eight-round super bantamweight rematch of Hardy’s split decision victory over Bosques in May. Foreman returns to the ring after taking time off from boxing to become an ordained rabbi and will compete in an eight-round super welterweight contest.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $50, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:

DANIEL JACOBS

“I think my skills are an advantage. Skills pay the bills. At the end of the day I have a lot of skills over ‘Kid Chocolate.’ Speed is one. He’s probably a bigger puncher and naturally heavier. With all that power, he has to get to me. He has to be able to land those shots.

“I’m going to adjust. I love knockouts. If I can end it with a knockout that’s what I’ll do. But I have to use my skills and my advantages.

“Quillin made weight in his last fight and he has a new strength coach so hopefully he makes weight for this one. I want him to be 110 percent so there are no excuses and we can give the fans a great fight.

“I’m at about 170 pounds right now, so I have 10 pounds to go. It’s mostly water so it’ll go quickly and we’ll be good by fight night.

“Time is the biggest experience you can have. It was almost all taken away from me. Mentally, I’m there. Physically, I’m there. It’s my time and I just have to be ready Dec. 5.

“I’ve been based out in Long Island and Brooklyn for training camp. I get to see Brooklyn every day. I’m in the streets and in-tuned with the people. Being from here means even more to me.

“It’s going to be an excellent, fan-friendly fight. I’ve heard lots of different opinions about who is going to win, and I like that. At the end of the day, it’s about us proving who will be the victor.

“I’ve been campaigning for this fight for a long time. I haven’t thought about who I want to go after if I win but I’m going to fight the best and work my way to being the best in the division.”

YURI FOREMAN

“Boxing is a very spiritual sport. We all have different paths. My faith keeps me centered and focused. You can be anyone. You can be a rabbi and still be fighting on the big stage at Barclays Center.

“It’s the same routine, (I’ve been) working hard since June and putting in a lot of hours in the gym. In terms of preparation, I’m always trying to push myself. When I get tired, I want to push myself even harder.

“As soon as you take it easy on yourself, that’s when you have a problem. Especially in boxing. I’ve never taken any shortcuts. If you take shortcuts in this sport you’re going to get hurt.

“Every single boxer is different as they progress, so I don’t focus on one look that a guy could give me. I focus on myself and work to be the best Yuri Foreman I can be.

“It’s very special to be fighting at Barclays Center because this is my home and I actually live just blocks away from the arena. I’m honored to be around so many great fighters who are on this card. Everyone can come together under one roof to watch a great sport.

“I’m staying positive about Dec. 5. I can’t predict because it’s boxing and anything can happen. It only takes one shot. I’m envisioning a successful night and an impressive victory for myself.”

HEATHER HARDY

“Holly Holm didn’t prove that Ronda Rousey couldn’t fight, because Ronda is a good fighter. She just proved that there are lots of good female fighters. There are good female fighters everywhere and hopefully we’ll get the recognition that there is a large pool of female athletes that are not recognized.

“It was a great fight last time. We have fan friendly styles and we gave them a show. She has a great presence in the ring so I’m happy to give her a rematch.

“I feel like I have to make a statement every time I go out there just to prove that women belong in the ring. It’s always a fight to prove that we belong. There are so many good female fighters out there.

“Brooklyn boxing has been so good to me and I’m so honored to be able to fight at Barclays Center. As soon as Quillin won that fight in December I started asking Lou DiBella to put me on the card and now we’re here.

“I think the main event is going to be a great fight. I can’t pick a winner. You can never count out a champion. A champion has a great heart and the fight can turn at any moment.”

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @DanielJacobsTKO, @KidChocolate, @ChrisAlgieri, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter.

BROOKLYN (October 29, 2015) – Former world champion and Brooklyn-native Yuri Foreman (32-2, 9 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time since 2013 as part of a stacked undercard featuring a diverse group of fighters from across the boroughs and regions of New York on Saturday, December 5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The slew of additional talented fighters featured on the card include undefeated rising star from Staten Island and 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne (16-0, 12 KOs), undefeated Brooklyn-native Heather “The Heat” Hardy (14-0, 3 KOs) and Queens’ firefighter Will “Power” Rosinsky (19-2, 10 KOs) who takes on Long Island’s Joe Smith Jr. (19-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight contest.

“Fans will want to arrive at Barclays Center early on December 5th as we have a tremendous undercard on hand for the live audience featuring neighborhood rivalries and talented fighters of multiple nationalities and backgrounds,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Polish-American Will Rosinsky, of Queens, faces off against Irish-American Joe Smith, of Long Island. Former champion and Italian American top-rated contender Chris Algieri, of Huntington, Long Island challenges tough Ecuadorian Erick Bone.

“The popular Irish-American Heather ‘The Heat’ Hardy has become a staple at Barclays Center and will compete in her fifth appearance at the venue. Another former champion and an ordained Orthodox Rabbi, Yuri Foreman will make his long awaited ring return following the completion of his rabbinical studies. Staten Island’s unbeaten light heavyweight prospect and former Olympian ‘Sir’ Marcus Browne will look to continue his streak of impressive performances as well.”

The loaded lineup of fights will precede the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader headlined by the all-Brooklyn battle between middleweight world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) and former world champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs). ). In the co-feature, WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar (27-1, 21 KOs) will face exciting Puerto Rican contender Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (26-4, 16 KOs).

Long Island’s Chris Algieri (20-2, 8 KOs) will return to Barclays Center and square off against Erick Bone (16-2, 8 KOs) in a previously announced undercard bout. Algieri and Smith Jr. are both promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

Tickets for the live event start at $50, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

This Monday, Nov. 2, a special media-op will take place outside of Barclays Center followed by a luncheon with the fighters announced in this release. Additional details are forthcoming.

An ordained rabbi, Foreman moved to Brooklyn from Belarus at a young age and found solace inside the legendary Gleason’s Gym. Foreman was sensational in winning the first 27 fights of his career before he defeated Daniel Santos in November 2009 to capture a super welterweight world title. While he lost an all-New York showdown with Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in 2010, Foreman won the last four fights of his career before retiring in 2013. Now the 35-year-old returns to the ring to fight in front of his hometown fans.

A 2012 U.S. Olympian, Browne has been very impressive since making his pro debut in November 2011. The 24-year-old Staten Island-native has put together a big 2015 with victories over Cornelius White and Aaron Pryor Jr. before he knocked out former world champion Gabriel Campillo in the first round in September. Browne will be making his 10th career start at Barclays Center, the most of any fighter.

A popular Brooklyn fighter who competed in Barclays Center’s first-ever professional female boxing match last year, Hardy has become a staple at the arena since. On December 5, she will be making her fourth consecutive appearance at Barclays Center. A little over two years after her pro debut, Hardy won an international title belt in the super bantamweight division in October 2014. In 2015, she defeated Noemi Bosques and Renata Domsodi leading up to her third fight of the year in December.

Residing in Ozone Park, New York while also serving as a firefighter in Queens, Rosinsky is seeking is fourth consecutive victory. The 30-year-old won the U.S. Amateur Championship at light heavyweight in 2005, was a four-time New York Golden Gloves champion and began his pro career with 14 straight wins. His only defeats were to Edwin Rodriguez and former world champion Kelly Pavlik. He enters the December 5 contest having taken down Paul Gonsalves and Shujaa El Amin to start 2015.

At 26-years-old, Smith Jr. is looking to continue to make a name for himself in the division. The 2008 New York Golden Gloves champion picked up victories over veterans Michael Gbenga, Oti Griffin and Tyrell Henrix in 2014 before adding two more triumphs to his ledger in 2015. The Long Island-native has racked up 13 wins in a row and will be making his Barclays Center debut on December 5.

Barclays Center’s BROOKLYN BOXING™ programming platform is presented by AARP. For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @DanielJacobsTKO, @KidChocolate, @ChrisAlgieri, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter.

New York, NY (5/19/14) – “Yuri Foreman has been training hard for his fight on June 7th against Jorge Melendez. At this moment, there is a dispute within Yuri’s team that does not involve DiBella Entertainment. Yuri has worked very hard on his comeback to get to an opportunity like this. Lou DiBella and DBE have a great working and personal relationship with Yuri. We are awaiting a phone call and hope to see him fight on June 7th at MSG. This will be resolved very shortly.”

NEW YORK (May 12, 2014) — Miguel Cotto Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing will present three intriguing 10-round battles which will be featured on the pay-per-view undercard headlined by the MIGUEL COTTO vs. SERGIO “Maravilla” MARTÍNEZ World Middleweight Championship. The Cotto vs. Martinez world middleweight championship event will take place on Saturday, June 7 at Madison Square Garden and will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

The pay-per-view telecast will open with one-time world title challenger ANDY LEE and Top-Five contender JOHN JACKSON in a middleweight rumble, followed by a junior middleweight battle between rising contender JORGE MELENDEZ and former world champion and future rabbi YURI FOREMAN who is on the comeback trail. The final bout before the main event will pit former world champions WILFREDO VAZQUEZ, JR. and MARVIN SONSONA in a long-awaited rematch, this time in a featherweight fight that could propel the winner back into world title contention.

“I am thrilled to have Wilfredo Vazquez Jr and Jorge Melendez in big fights on my pay-per-view undercard,” said Miguel Cotto. “They are two very talented fighters from my stable, and I wanted to open opportunities of massive exposure and good fights to further their careers. The fans will love it.”

“We have a strong undercard with true warriors who will give it their all in their fights,” said Héctor Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. “They will put on a good show. Having the former super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and a knockout artist like Jorge Melendez in solid fights makes a very attractive pay-per-view undercard for the fans.”

“At 154, Andy Lee is going to be more dangerous than ever,” said Lou DiBella. “John Jackson is a very tough and talented fighter, coming from a great family pedigree. That being said, I think that Andy Lee is going to shine in this fight and show the world that he is a true force in the junior middleweight division. I expect myself and Sampson to be enjoying a great victory together with Sergio in the main event, but I am very confident that he will be licking his wounds after Andy defeats Jackson.

DiBella continued, “Yuri is currently on a four-fight win streak and he is looking to show that he is still one of the elite 154 lb. fighters in the world. This is an opportunity to not only fight in his hometown but also on the biggest stage possible, and prove to the world that he is once again ready for a world title opportunity.”

“I am so happy to bring to the historic Cotto-Martínez undercard two of my best prospects in very competitive and dangerous fights, the son of the legendary Julian “The Hawk” Jackson, John “Da Rock” Jackson of the U.S. Virgin Islands and “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona, the second youngest World Champion to come from the Philippines. Don’t miss these great fights,” added Sampson Lewkowicz.

Promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions, Top Rank®, DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing, in association with Maravilla Box, Tecate, PS4 and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets to the Cotto vs. Martínez World Middleweight Championship event, priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50, tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com.

Vazquez Jr. (23-3-1, 19 KOs), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight title in 2010, stopping Sonsona in the fourth round. He successfully defended the title twice during his 15-month reign, knocking out Zsolt Bedak and Ivan Hernandez in the 10th and 11th rounds, respectively. In his last bout, on September 20, 2013, he recaptured the WBO International junior featherweight title via a 12-round unanimous decision over Guillermo Avila. Vazquez is currently world-rated No. 14 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Sonsona (18-1-1, 15 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, was 19 when he captured the WBO junior bantamweight title in 2009, winning a unanimous decision over Jose Lopez. After one successful title defense — a draw against Alejandro Hernandez — he moved up two weight divisions in 2010 and took on Vazquez in an unsuccessful challenge for the WBO junior featherweight title. Since that fight, Sonsona has run the table and enters this fight on a four-bout winning streak with the last three victories coming by way of knockout, including his last fight, a third-round knockout of Akifumi Shimoda for the WBO International featherweight title. Sonsona is currently world-rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), and the WBC, No. 7 by the WBO and No. 9 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Melendez (28-3-1, 26 KOs), of Manati, Puerto Rico, enters this fight having won 15 of his last 16 bouts, with 13 of those victories coming by way of knockout. A disciplined veteran who has spent his entire professional career at the same weight division, Melendez first came to prominence when he captured the WBO Latin America junior middleweight title in 2011, outpointing Eric Mitchell. He successfully defended his title twice, knocking out Marcus Willis and Milton Nuñez in 2012. He enters this fight having captured the WBC’s Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) super welterweight title on March 22 via a unanimous decision over Richard Gutierrez. He is currently world-rated No.17 by the WBC.

Foreman (32-2, 9 KOs), of Brooklyn, has been a New York favorite since his professional debut in 2002. An active rabbinical student, Foreman captured the world’s attention in 2009 when he dethroned WBA super welterweight champion Daniel Santos to become the first Orthodox Jew to win a world championship in nearly 75 years. Raised in Israel, Foreman immigrated to Brooklyn and captured the 2001 New York Golden Gloves and turned professional in 2002. He lost the world title to Cotto in 2010 in the first fight ever held in the new Yankee Stadium, Foreman enters this fight riding a four-bout winning streak, including a one-round knockout of Javier Gomez last November. He is currently world-rated No. 14 by the WBC.

Lee (32-2, 22 KOs), a native of Limerick, Ireland as well as a New York fan favorite, enter this fight having won 17 or his last 18 bouts dating back to 2008. The lone blemish was a seventh-round TKO loss to defending WBC middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in 2012. Ireland’s sole representative in the 2004 Olympics he is also a disciple of the great Emanuel Steward. Steward often referred to Lee as “my left-handed Tommy Hearns.” Three of Lee’s last five victories have been by way of knockout. He is currently world-rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 10 by the WBA.

Jackson (18-1, 15 KOs), of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, the son of former two-division and three-time world champion Julian “The Hawk” Jackson, will be making his New York debut on this card. He enters this fight riding a two-year, five-bout winning streak, including three by way of knockout. In his last fight, he stopped Jorge Miranda in the seventh round on December 7 in Argentina. He is currently world-rated No. 4 by the WBC.

HBO’s Emmy-Award®-winning reality series “24/7,” which has captured 18 Sports Emmys in its first seven seasons, returns with an all-new edition when “24/7 Cotto/Martínez” premieres Saturday, May 31 at 11:15 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.dbe1.com, www.sampsonboxing.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com and www.maravillabox.com, Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/DiBellaentertainment, facebook.com/TopRankMiguelCotto, facebook.com/maravillabox, and facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/dibellaent, twitter.com/SampsonBoxing, twitter.com/hboboxing, twitter.com/realmiguelcotto or twitter.com/maravillabox. Use the Hashtag #CottoMartinez to join the conversation on Twitter.

MIAMI (November 6, 2013) – The comeback of former World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman continues Tuesday night, November 12, 2013 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Foreman (31-2, 8 KOs), rated No. 14 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), takes on Mexican invader Javier “Pelon’ Gomez (14-11, 10 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature on “Knockout Night at the Hard Rock Live,” presented by Mo Productions.

The 10-round main event showcases Michael “The Brazilian” Rocky” Oliveira (21-1, 16 KOs), rated No. 7 by the WBC and No. 11 by the WBA, against former Mexican welterweight champion Noberto “Demonio” Gonzalez (19-2, 13 KOs).

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ ATTENDING “KNOCKOUT NIGHT AT THE HARD ROCK LIVE”

Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez has confirmed that he will be attending “Knockout Night at the Hard Rock Live” to closely watch Michael Oliveira in action. The retired six-time, three-division world champion is the father of professional boxers Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Omar Chavez, who is a potential opponent for Oliveira in 2014.

“Knockout Night at the Hard Rock Live,” presented by MO Productions, will air live on SporTV, a Brazilian Sports television broadcaster affiliate to TV Globo Network, and TNC in Argentina.

Nearly four years ago to the day (Nov. 14, 2009) of his upcoming fight, the 33-year-old Foreman dropped Daniel Santos (32-3-1) twice en route to a win by unanimous 12-round decision (117-109 twice, 116-110), to capture the WBA 154-pound title and become one of the few modern-day Jewish world champions.

In 2010, Foreman lost his first title defense to the great Miguel Cotto by ninth-round technical knockout at Yankee Stadium, followed nine-months later by a loss in Las Vegas to New York City rival Pawel Wolak, when Foreman was unable to continue fighting after six rounds.

A consummate boxer whose leg strength is critical, Foreman suffered a knee injury that eventually required surgery, which contributed to his only two losses as a professional. Foreman was out of the ring for nearly two years, returning to win three consecutive decisions over Brandon Baue (DE6), Gundrick King (DEC6) and Jamaal Davis (DEC8) this past July.

“After two years of inactivity,” Foreman explained, “I decided not to rush, taking my time to gradually build myself up to be better than I was before. November 12th is an eight-round fight and, God willing, it will be very successful. Then, it’ll be a 10-rounder and after that, hopefully, I will be positioned once again for a world title fight.”

An aspiring rabbi, Foreman was born in Belarus, moved to Israel, and resides in Brooklyn, New York. He has taken an obvious liking to South Florida.

“This fight is a great opportunity for me in terms of the location,” Foreman said. “South Florida has one of the largest Jewish communities in the US, so it’s important for me to fight there and win impressively. I recently visited South Florida to promote my November 12th fight and, I must say, the Jewish community was very supportive. I want to put on a great fight for them.”

Undefeated light heavyweight Yunieski “The Diamond” Gonzalez (12-0, 8 KOs), a former member of the Cuban National Boxing Team, faces former WBC FECARBOX champion Jinner Guerrero (7-1, 6 KOs), of Ecuador, in a 10-round bout.

In scheduled six-round bouts are unbeaten Cuban featherweight Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. former world title challenger Jhon Alberto Molina (32-26-3, 20 KOs) and Bahamian lightweight Valentino Knowles (1-0) vs. TBA (opponent to be announced). Knowles was a silver medalist in the 2011 Pan-American Games.

Also fighting on the undercard in four-round matches are Cuban super middleweight Vilier Quinones (5-0, 3 KOs), a former World Junior Championships gold medalist, vs. Mrcus Brooks (7-15-1, 3 KOs), heavyweight prospect and 2008 Cuban Olympian Robert Alfonso (2-0) vs. Jamal “Knockout” Woods (3-8-1, 3 KOs), Egyptian light heavyweight Ahmed Elbiali (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Borngod Washington (3-13, 1 KO), and West Palm Beach cruiserweight Steve Geffard (0-2) vs. Lamont Capers (1-2). Oliveira, Gonzalez, Socarras, Knowles, Quinines, Alfonso and Elbiali are all fighting out of Miami. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets cost $79, $29 and $19*, all seats are reserved and available to purchase at Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. *Additional fees may apply. Tickets are also available to purchase at the Brizilian Rocky Fight Club in Miami (7500 NW 25th St., Unit 4 – 305-436-0210).

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. / ET.

For more information about the November 12 “Knockout Night at Hard Rock Live” event please visit www.MichaelOliveira.com. You may friend Oliveira on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MichaelOliveriaboxing), or follow him on Twitter @RockyOliveira and Instagram @rockyoliveira.

MO Productions recently held a press conference at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center in North Miami Beach, Florida, to promote “Knockout Night at Hard Rock Live” on Tuesday night, November 12, 2013 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

Special guest speakers were world junior middleweight contenders Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (21-1, 16 KOs) and former world champion Yuri Foreman (31-2, 8 KOs), who will be fighting in separate bouts on the stacked “Knockout Night at The Hard Rock Live” card.

Tickets to “Knockout Night at Hard Rock Live” cost $79, $29 and $19*, all seats are reserved and available to purchase at Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. *Additional fees may apply. Tickets are also available to purchase at the Brazilian Rocky Fight Club in Miami (7500 NW25th St., Unit 4 – 305-436-0210).

For more information about the November 12 “Knockout Night at Hard Rock Live”
please visit www.MichaelOliveira.com. You may friend Oliveira on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MichaelOliveriaboxing), or follow him on Twitter @RockyOliveira and Instagram @rockyoliveira.

MIAMI (October 7, 2013) – Light middleweight contenders Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (21-1, 16 KOs) and former world champion Yuri Foreman (31-2, 8 KOs) will fight in separate bouts during “Knockout Night At Hard Rock Live,” presented by MO Productions, on Tuesday night, November 12, 2013 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

MO Productions will be making its United States promotional debut after having promoted several shows in Brazil, as well as in Uruguay and the Dominican Republic. “Knockout Night At Hard Rock Live” will air live on SporTV, a Brazilian Sports television broadcaster affiliate to TV Globo Network.

“We’re excited to promote our first U.S. show, at home, here in Florida,” said Carlos Oliveira, president of Miami-based MO Productions. “I’d like to thank the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and SporTV for this tremendous opportunity. Michael Oliveira and Yuri Foreman are two of the top-rated light middleweights in the World Boxing Council. If both win impressively, they could be fighting, once again, against each other in the near future. Our show will also feature some of the best Miami-based boxing prospects. MO Productions has hired some of the top professionals in boxing for our show operations.”

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 23-year-old Oliveira lives in Miami, where he is trained by Orlando Cuellar. Oliveira is the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) Fecarbox and World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedebol 154-pound champion, who is rated at No. 7 by both by the WBA and WBC.

The wildly popular Oliveira has won four consecutive fights since suffering his only professional loss on June 2, 2012 in Uruguay to four-time, two division world champion and Brazilian boxing icon, Acelino “Popo” Freitas. Oliveira, whose anticipated October fight versus Omar Chavez failed to materialize, will face former Mexican welterweight champion Noberto “Demonio” Gonzalez (19-2, 13 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

Yuri Foreman

Foreman (31-2, 8 KOs), one of the few modern-day Jewish world champion boxers, has three consecutive wins in 2013, since suffering his only two professional career losses in 2011 and 2010 to Pawel Wolak and multi-world champion Miguel Cotto, respectively. The aspiring rabbi, currently ranked No.14 by the WBC, was sidelined nearly two years after his loss to hard-hitting Wolak. Foreman will meet Mexican invader Javier “Pelon” Gomez (14-11, 10 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature.

Also scheduled to fight on the November 12 card is undefeated Cuban light heavyweight Yunieski “The Diamond” Gonzalez (12-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round bout versus Ghanaian champion Michael “The Amazing” Gbenga (16-9, 16 KOs). Also fighting on the undercard is unbeaten Cuban featherweight Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (7-0, 5 KOs) in a six-round bout, as well as Bahamian super featherweight Valentino Knowles (1-0) and pro-debuting featherweight Raphael Alvarez in four-round matches. Gonzalez, Socarras, Knowles and Alvarez are all fighting out of Miami. Opponents will be announced at a later date. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

For more information about the November 12 “Knockout Night At Hard Rock Live” event please visit www.MichaelOliveira.com. Tickets will go on sale, soon. Check back towww.myhrl.comandwww.ticketmaster.comto purchase tickets.

You may friend Oliveira on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MichaelOliveriaboxing), or follow him on Twitter @RockyOliveira and Instagram @rockyoliveira.

New York, NY (7/24/13) – In the latest edition of the popular and longest running boxing series in New York – Broadway Boxing, DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions presented a thrilling eight-bout card before another packed house at NYC’s famed Roseland Ballroom.

Headlining the card was comebacking former junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman taking on Philadelphia’s tough Jamaal Davis.

It was the third fight and first eight-rounder for Foreman since returning from a 26-month layoff and signing with DBE. Foreman looked very fresh, and was extremely accurate with his shots. Davis, who has been in with the likes of middleweight champion Peter Quillin, Gabriel Rosado and Joel Julio, was easily the toughest test for Foreman since making his comeback.

Foreman was precise and dominant throughout, controlling the action and opening a cut over the right eye of Davis early in the fight. Davis was able to hang in there, but ultimately was just no match for the Brooklynite Foreman, who won a complete shutout on all three judges’ scorecards, 80-72 across the board.

Foreman will look to step it up even more in his next bout as he looks to throw his name into the mix of the 154lb. division.

HARDY STOPS TROST
DBE

In the co-feature bout of the evening, fast-rising female junior featherweight and Brooklyn fan-favorite Heather “The Heat” Hardy continued on her path to stardom with a vicious beating of Cassie Trost (1-2-1).

Hardy lived up to her nickname by putting on the heat and jumping all over Trost from on onset. Hardy bloodied Trost’s nose badly and was all over her, scoring with a barrage of punches that sent Trost to the canvas near the end of the fourth frame. Trost was able to beat the count, but was a beaten fighter. The referee wisely called a halt to the contest at 1:30 of round number four.

It was the most impressive showing thus far for Hardy, who improved to 6-0 (1KO), scoring her first career knockout in the process.

DEJESUS STAYS UNBEATEN

DBE

SMS Promotions highly regarded undefeated Puerto Rican prospect Emmanuel DeJesus improved his record to a perfect 6-0 (4KO’s) with a four-round shutout decision over Khalik Memminger. DeJesus stalked his opponent from the outset, landing well with both hands. Memminger was able to hold on, but DeJesus was just too much.

Brooklyn’s undefeated light heavyweight Travis Peterkin improved to 8-0 (4KOs) with a well deserved six-round unanimous decision over the tough Hector Hernandez, from Phoenix, now 10-6-2 (4KOs). Peterkin dictated the pace and was the busier fighter, never letting Hernandez to find a groove to mount sustainable offense. After six frames, all scorecards read 60-54.

DBE’s undefeated junior welterweight prospect Louis Cruz improved his record to a perfect 4-0, 2KO’s, with a dominant four-round unanimous decision over Justin Robbins.

The Bronx-native and former NY Golden Gloves Champion Cruz controlled the action throughout, working behind a stiff jab and scoring with both hands all night long. Cruz dropped Robbins with a hard left hook in the second round, but Robbins was able to survive and make it to the final bell. In the end, all three judges scored the bout a shut-out, 40-35 for Cruz.

Before a raucous crowd of supporters chanting “Peewee-Peewee-Peewee”, Port Chester’s Bryant “Peewee” Cruz pounded out a clear four-round unanimous decision over the very tough Nuwan Jayakody in their four-round junior lightweight matchup.

Cruz pressed the action throughout, but Jayakody hung tough and took a number of hard shots. Cruz scored with fast combinations to both the body and head of Jayakody, with each combination bringing the hometown fans to a standing, screaming ovation.

In the end, Cruz was awarded the well deserved decision, winning by scores of 40-36 across the board. With the win, Cruz improved his record to 6-0, 5KO’s.

In a battle of super middleweights, Louis Rose claimed his third straight victory over a previously undefeated fighter with a six-round unanimous decision over Akil Frederick-Auguste. There was good action throughout, but Rose was simply the busier fighter. All three judges scored the bout 59-55 in favor of Rose, who improved to 8-1, 2KO’s. With the loss, Auguste dropped to 2-1, 2KO’s.

In the opening bout of the night, former Olympian Ytalo Perea continued on his tear through the pro ranks with a first-round knockout over John Orr. Perea came out firing in the first, jumping all over Orr. Midway through the round, Perea landed a devastating left hook that sent Orr flat on his face. Orr was able to beat the count, but was on very shaky legs, prompting the referee to call a halt to the contest at 1:48 of the first round.

With the win, Perea improved to 4-0, 3KO’s, while Orr dropped to 1-1.

New York, NY (7/3/13) – On Wednesday, July 24, DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions will return to Roseland Ballroom for the latest installment of the Broadway Boxing series. Former junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman (30-2-0-1NC, 8 KOs) will headline this card that also includes the popular and undefeated female junior featherweight, Heather Hardy (5-0).

Foreman won the WBA junior middleweight championship by stopping Daniel Santos in the ninth round, on November 14, 2009, before losing the crown to Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in 2010. Ending a nearly two-year layoff, Foreman returned to the ring in 2013, looking to regain his lofty status and put himself back into the world rankings. He has thus far won two bouts by unanimous decision. On January 23, Foreman shook off the rust and outboxed Brandon Baue over six rounds, at BB King Blues Club, and on April 4, he defeated Gundrick King, at Roseland Ballroom. Up next on July 24, Foreman is slated to take on the experienced Jamaal Davis (14-9-1, 6 KOS), of Philadelphia, who has faced the likes of Patrick Majewski, Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio, Ossie Duran, and Peter Quillin.

The dynamic and always-exciting Heather Hardy, of Brooklyn, turned pro on August 2, 2012, and has impressively won five straight contests. Last time out, she moved up to six-round bouts, winning a unanimous decision over Mikayla Nebel in a rematch on April 4. Tomorrow, she will make an appearance on Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, on NBC, between 8:00-10:00pm ET, in an interview from the famed Gleason’s Gym. Hardy will also be fighting on the July 24 Broadway Boxing against an opponent to be determined.

Additional bouts on the card and an opponent for Hardy will be announced shortly.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

NEW YORK–Former world Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman scored a six round unanimous decision over Gundrick King that highlighted a ten bout card at the Roseland Ballroom

Scores were 60-54 on all cards for Foreman who is now 30-2. King is 18-10

Ionut Dan Ion ( 30-2, 17 KO’s, 147lbs) continued his come backing ways; this time against the very dangerous Damian Frias (19-6-1, 10 KO’s 148lbs). Both fighters fought on the inside, utilizing very few jabs. Frias moved a bit more, but Dan Ion was continuously in his chest.

In the end it was Dan who won a close unanimous decision via scores of 76-75, 78-73 and 78-73

Popular New York City fighter, Gabriel Bracero (21-1, 4 KO’s, 144 1/2lbs) looked to continue his winning ways when he took on Pavel Miranda (19-9-1, 10 KO’s, 143lbs). The bout started off in an exciting fashion, with both fighters aggressively trying to draw first blood. Things got chippy early on; while in a clinch, with the referee trying to break both fighters, Miranda and Bracero traded punches.

As the bout progressed, Bracero maintained control of the action, but Miranda was still in it, and landing some decent blows of his own. Despite the low knockout ratio in Bracero’s record, he is a tremendous inside fighter and is at home when the fight is a brawl.

In the fourth round, after a heated back and fourth exchange, Bracero suffered a cut just outside his eye. It seemed to bother him at first, but Bracero quickly got back into his groove. He continued his pace for the final four rounds at took home an 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74 unanimous decision victory

When Heather Hardy made her professional debut eight months ago, her opponent, Mikayla Nebel, knocked her down in the first round. Hardy won the next three rounds and the decision. Thursday night Hardy (4-0, 0 KO’s, 122lbs) took on Nebel (0-4, 0 KO’s, 123lbs) once more. This time, Nebel was not able to land the way she did eight months ago. Hardy cruised her way towards a six round decision, winning all rounds with scorecards of 60-53, 60-54, and 60-54 for a unanimous decision victory.

Luis Del Valle scored fifth round stoppage over Andre Wilson in a scheduled eight round Featherweight bout.

Del Valle scored two knockdowns in round’s one and five and was cut himself under the left eye in round one.

Del Valle is now 17-1 with 12 knockdowns. Wilson of St. Joseph, MO is now 13-6-1.

Luis Olivares (1-0, 1 KO, 139 1/2lbs) took the trip over from Glendale, AZ to fight on Broadway Boxing. He squared off against Christopher Williams-Ortiz (1-0, 0 KO’s, 139lbs). The first round saw Williams-Ortiz working behind his jab, while Ortiz worked volume punching behind his big frame. In the second, Olivares landed a hard body shot that brought Williams-Ortiz’s guard down. Olivares came in with two rights that sent his opponent down hard onto the canvas. Williams-Ortiz was able to beat the count, and kept his guard up while withstanding numerous blows from Olivares to close out the round. Olivares dominated the third, landing multiple rapid-fire combinations while on the inside. His greatest strength was his body punches, which came frequently with bad intentions behind them. The fourth and final round saw more impressive pressure from Olivares as he worked his way to the final bell. The final scorecards read 40-35, 40-35, and 40-35 in favor of Olivares, giving him a unanimous decision victory.

Bryant Cruz (2-0, 2 KO’s, 130lbs) took to the ring to loud cheers from his adoring fans as he was set to square off against Antoine Knight (2-2, 1 KO, 131lbs). Both fighters took very little time throwing big punches, and it was Cruz who took control early with a powerful jab that Knight couldn’t seem to avoid. After some hard combinations, Knight went into a shell and hardly threw any significant punches. The second round saw Cruz up the pressure, bloodying his opponent in the process with his hard combinations. The third saw Cruz land a left hook that had Knight teetering. Cruz continued the pressure, landing countless blows on his opponent. After a break in the action, referee Sparkle Lee, took a close look at Knight and didn’t like what she saw. She waved the fight off at 2:15 of the third round, giving Cruz a TKO victory.

In a four round Jr. Middleweight contest, Patrick Day remained perfect in a tougher then the scores indicate unanimous decision over Yosmani Abreu. Day controlled the action throughout the bout, but in the second, a hard right hand shook him up, and Abreu followed up with hard hooks afterwards. Day did not let Abreu’s advantage last long, as he was able to turn the tables and land numerous hard blows of his own and return the favor. The final two rounds saw Day control the action with his superior movement while controlling the action.

Scores were 40-37 on all cards for Day, 154 lbs of Freeport, NY and is now 3-0. Abreu, 153 lbs of Las Vegas is now 3-7-1.

In an exciting battle that featured countless hard blows, Donte Strayhorn(Debut, 138lbs) took on Michael Carrera (0-1, 0 KO’s, 141lbs) in a bout scheduled for four rounds. After a pedestrian first round, Carrera surprisingly came out in the second landing hard left hooks and overhand rights, causing Strayhorn to experience problems with his nose. The young Strayhorn was losing the round on account of Carrera’s big punches, and he needed to make adjustments. The third and fourth rounds saw Strayhorn make the necessary changes needed to take over the fight. He was taller than Carrera, and began pumping out a stiff jab followed by a straight right. He also began varying his punches from a distance, ripping hard shots to the body. After an exciting four rounds, the scorecards read 40-36, 39-37, and 39-37 in favor of Strayhorn, giving him a unanimous decision victory.

Photo by Ed Diller

New York, NY (3/28/13) – On Thursday, April 4, DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series returns to Roseland Ballroom in New York City with a stacked 10-bout card featuring an array of talent from top to bottom. As previously announced, the card will feature former WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman (29-2, 8KO’s), and top contenders Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1, 11KO’s), WBC #6-rated welterweight Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan Ion (30-2, 17KO’s) and Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (21-1, 4KO’s).

Foreman will square off against Gundrick King (18-9, 11KO’s) in a six-round junior middleweight matchup, while Del Valle, now training with Hall-of-Fame trainer Nacho Beristain, will see action against Andre Wilson (13-5, 11KO’s) in an eight-round featherweight contest.

Ion is set to meet Damian Frias (19-6-1, 10KO’s) in an eight-round welterweight showdown, while Bracero squares off against Pavel Miranda (19-9-1, 10KO’s) in an eight-round junior welterweight matchup.

The remainder of the card features some of the most promising young talent on the DBE roster, including undefeated prospects “The Notorious” Travis Peterkin (7-0, 4KO’s), Patrick “All” Day (2-0, 2KO’s) and Heather “The Heat” Hardy (4-0).

Also scheduled to see action on the card is undefeated Bryant “Peewee” Cruz (2-0, 2KO’s) and 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions’ Luis Olivares (1-0, 1KO) and Donte Strayhorn (pro debut).

The fight next Thursday will be Peterkin’s fourth consecutive bout at Roseland Ballroom since signing with DBE in late 2012. The former Golden Gloves champion and Brooklyn-native Peterkin has impressed in each outing and continues to improve each and every time he steps into the ring. With power in both hands and an aggressive come-forward style, Peterkin is quickly becoming one of the most talked about prospects on the NY boxing scene. The southpaw light heavyweight is scheduled to face Daniel Garcia (5-2-1, 3KO’s) in a six-round matchup.

The former #1-ranked US amateur Day has yet to see the second round as a professional, scoring two equally impressive first-round TKOs in his previous bouts, both in 2013. A native of Freeport, Long Island, the 20-year-old Day, like Peterkin, is truly one of the bright young stars on the DBE roster. Day is set to see action against Yosmani Abreu (3-6-1) in a four-round junior middleweight contest.

Each time the female bantamweight Hardy steps into the ring, it seems as though her fan base grows. Always sporting her Irish-native colors, the Brooklynite Hardy has improved and impressed from each bout to the next. Hardy is scheduled to take on Mikayla Nebel in a rematch of their bout from last August. In that bout, which was an absolute war and Hardy’s pro debut, Nebel scored a knockdown in the first round, with Hardy sweeping the next three rounds on all three judges’ scorecards to win a close unanimous decision. This will be the first time that both Hardy and Nebel fight in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Cruz, a 2012 National Golden Gloves finalist, turned pro in December 2012, scoring a third-round TKO over Jonathan Caban. He followed up that performance with a fourth-round TKO over Pedro Andres in February and looks to do the same next Thursday. Cruz is set to square off against Antoine Knight (2-2, 1KO) in a four-round junior lightweight matchup.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. The event will be broadcast live on FIGHT NOW TV and on broadband through GFL.TV. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45 and may also be purchased at Roseland Ballroom’s box office tomorrow evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

New York, NY (3/21/13) – As previously announced, DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series returns Thursday, April 4, at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The stacked 11-bout card will feature a number of DBE’s top young prospects and contenders including former WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman (29-2, 8KO’s), Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1, 11KO’s), WBC #6-rated welterweight Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan Ion (30-2, 17KO’s) and Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (21-1, 4KO’s).

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com and Everlast. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45.

After a two-year hiatus from the ring, the popular Brooklynite Foreman signed a promotional contract with DBE earlier this year and quickly returned to action, winning a six-round shutout decision over Brendan Baue on the DBE-promoted card on January 23, at BB King Blues Club. In the second bout of his comeback, Foreman will square off against Gundrick King (18-9, 11KO’s) in a six-round junior middleweight matchup.

Looking to put himself back into the win column after suffering his first pro defeat-on HBO in a decision loss to multiple world champion Vic Darchinyan-will be Puerto Rico’s Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1, 11KO’s). The 26-year-old Del Valle, who is now training with Hall-of-Fame trainer Nacho Beristain, will see action against Andre Wilson (13-5, 11KO’s) in an eight-round featherweight contest.

Fighting for the second time under the DBE banner will be the former two-time world title challenger Ion. Former NABA light welterweight champion Ion, a native of Romania, now living and training in Montreal, Canada, will square off against Damian Frias (19-6-1, 10KO’s) in an eight-round welterweight showdown.

Making his fourth straight appearance at Roseland Ballroom will be Brooklyn’s own junior welterweight contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (21-1, 4KO’s). After dropping a decision in an absolute war to former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley on January 21, 2012, Bracero has reeled off three consecutive victories as he looks to reposition himself in line for another significant fight in the junior welterweight division. Bracero will see action in an eight-round bout against Pavel Miranda (19-9-1, 10KO’s).

Additional bouts on the card, featuring top DBE prospects, as well as opponents for Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions-stabled fighters Luis Olivares (1-0, 1KO) and Donte Strayhorn, will be announced shortly.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. The event will be broadcast live on FIGHT NOW TV and on broadband through GFL.TV. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45 and may also be purchased at Roseland Ballroom’s box office tomorrow evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

New York, NY (3/13/13) – On Thursday, April 4, DiBella Entertainment (DBE) will return to Roseland Ballroom for the latest installment of its Broadway Boxing series. The stacked 11-bout card will feature a number of DBE’s top young prospects and contenders including former WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, 29-2, 8KO’s, Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1, 11KO’s) and WBC #6-rated welterweight Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan Ion (30-2, 17KO’s). Also appearing on the card in separate bouts will be two of 50 Cent’s fighters out of his SMS Promotions stable, Luis Olivares and Donte Strayhorn.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com and Everlast. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45.

“Our event on April 4 is possibly the most talent-laden Broadway Boxing card we have ever staged,” stated promoter Lou DiBella. “From top to bottom, this card features an amazing array of talent including former world champion Yuri Foreman and title contenders Jo Jo Dan, Gabriel Bracero and Luis Del Valle. We are also featuring some of the most promising prospects on our DBE roster, as well as two of 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions young stars. 50 will be in attendance with his fighters, truly making this a can’t-miss card for New York fight fans.”

“Both Luis and Donte have the skills to be very successful in boxing,” said Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “I’m excited to have them on the upcoming Broadway Boxing card and to see their progression in the sport. I’m glad they are a part of SMS Promotions.”

After a two-year hiatus from the ring, the popular Brooklynite Foreman signed a promotional contract with DBE earlier this year and quickly returned to action, winning a six-round shutout decision over Brendan Baue on the DBE-promoted card on January 23, at BB King Blues Club. Foreman looked rejuvenated against Baue, boxing beautifully throughout their six-round contest, as his surgically repaired knee seemed to be a thing of the past. The 32-year-old Foreman is looking to reposition himself for a significant fight in the junior middleweight division some time before the end of 2013. Foreman’s bout is scheduled for six rounds against an opponent TBA.

Making his fourth straight appearance at Roseland Ballroom will be fellow Brooklynite and junior welterweight contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (21-1, 4KO’s). After dropping a decision in an absolute war to former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley on January 21, 2012, Bracero has reeled off three consecutive victories as he looks to reposition himself in line for another significant fight in the junior welterweight division. Bracero will see action in an eight-round bout against an opponent TBA.

Looking to put himself back into the win column after suffering his first pro defeat in a decision loss to multiple world champion Vic Darchinyan will be Puerto Rico’s Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (16-1, 11KO’s). The 26-year-old Del Valle, who made a name for himself early in his career fighting on DBE’s popular Broadway Boxing series, looked as though he was ready for a world title opportunity before being derailed by the longtime top-rated world champion and now resurgent contender Darchinyan on HBO’s Boxing After Dark on September 29, 2012. Since the defeat, Darchinyan has relocated his training camp from Puerto Rico to Mexico and is now training at the famed Romanza Boxing gym in Mexico City, Mexico, under the watchful eye of Hall-of-Fame trainer Nacho Beristain.

Fighting for the second time under the DBE banner will be the former two-time world title challenger Ion. The former NABA light welterweight champion Ion, a native of Romania, but now living and training in Montreal, Canada, has only two losses as a professional both coming in world title bouts to former WBC welterweight champion Selcuk Aydin. In those bouts, Ion traveled into Aydin’s backyard and put forth a great effort in two equally action-packed fights, only to come up on the wrong end of two very close decisions. Aydin went on to lose his title to 2012 “Fighter of the Year” candidate Robert Guerrero, who just recently defended his championship with a brutal 12-round unanimous decision over Andre Berto.

In his DBE debut in December of last year, Ion scored a devastating fifth-round TKO over Franklin Gonzalez. Rated as the number six welterweight in the WBA world ratings, Ion hopes to secure another title shot sometime this year. Both Ion and Del Valle’s bouts are scheduled for eight rounds against opponents TBA.

Additional bouts on the card and opponents for Foreman, Bracero, Del Valle and Ion will be announced very shortly.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

New York, NY (1/16/13) – On Wednesday, January 23, DiBella Entertainment returns to BB King Blues Club in NYC for the first time in nearly a year with a stellar and thrilling nine-bout card featuring a number of DBE’s top up-and-coming prospects, as well as former WBA junior middleweight world champion Yuri Foreman (28-2, 8KO’s) making his much anticipated return to the ring after a near two-year hiatus. Foreman is scheduled to take on Brandon Baue (12-8, 10KO’s) in a six-round junior middleweight special attraction bout.

Fighting for the second time since joining the DBE roster will be the 25-year-old Lamar “Boxing Que” Russ (11-0, 7KO’s). Russ is scheduled to take on Jose Medina (17-11-1, 11KO’s) in an eight-round middleweight matchup.

Russ joined the DBE roster late in 2012, and in his first bout under the promotional banner, he scored a first-round annihilation on ShoBox: The New Generation over previously undefeated Jonathan Cepeda (12-0, 11KO’s). In his previous bout, Russ scored a fourth-round TKO over yet another undefeated prospect in the 13-0 Jose Alonzo. Russ is looking to kick off what he hopes to be a breakout year with an impressive performance on January 23.

Also seeing action on the card in an eight-round bout will be New Haven’s undefeated super bantamweight Luis “K.O. King” Rosa (11-0, 7KO’s) as he squares off against Derrick Wilson (9-3-2, 3KO’s). A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, but now living and training in New Haven, CT, Rosa scored a dynamic sixth-round TKO over Victor Valenzuela in his last bout on the HBOBoxing After Dark undercard on September 29, at Foxwoods.

At just 21 years old, the super bantamweight Rosa is truly one of the bright young stars on the DBE roster.

Returning to the site at which he notched the most important victory of his young career will be Brooklyn’s undefeated Delen “Sniper” Parsley (9-0, 2KO’s), as he looks to improve to 10-0 when he faces Tyrone Selders (8-4, 6KO’s) in a six-round middleweight matchup.

On March 7, 2012 Parsley took on fellow unbeaten Boyd Melson. The bout, which could have easily been shown on ESPN or even ShoBox, had people excited about it from the get-go. Few could have predicted what transpired though, as Parsley and Melson went to war, trading multiple knockdowns throughout their eight-round junior middleweight contest. In the end, Parsley was awarded a razor-thin unanimous decision in what was one of the most entertaining and exciting fights ever witnessed throughout Broadway Boxing’s eight-year
existence.

Making his much anticipated pro debut on the card will be one of the most decorated amateurs to come out of the New York boxing scene in many years, as Long Island’s Patrick Day competes against Zach Kelley (1-1, 1KO) in a four-round junior middleweight contest.

Day, the 20-year-old #1-rated 152-pounder in the U.S., compiled an impressive 75-5 record as an amateur. In addition to being a 2012 Olympic Team Alternate, Day won a slew of championships and tournaments as an amateur including the 2012 USA Boxing National Championship, 2012 PAL National Championship and 2012 NY Golden Gloves. Day was also the 2009, 2010 and 2012 USA Metro Boxing Champion, as well as the 2010 and 2011 NY Golden Gloves runner-up. In addition to pursuing his professional boxing career, Day is currently attending college and plans on getting his degree in Sports Nutrition.

Fighting for the first time on a DBE-promoted card will be Bronx knockout artist Skender Halili, as he looks to make it a perfect 8-0 with 8 knockouts, when he squares off against Roberto Crespo (4-2) in a six-round welterweight matchup. The 22-year-old Halili, of Albanian descent, has tremendous power in either hands and has the ability to end any fight with one shot.

Making her third appearance on a DBE-promoted card will be popular Irish female super bantamweight Heather Hardy (3-0), as she looks to keep her perfect record intact when she fights Canada’s Peggy Maerz (2-2-1) in a four-round contest. In her previous bouts, Hardy has thrilled audiences with her come-forward aggressive style. Hardy is quickly becoming a major attraction on the N.Y. boxing scene and another exciting bout is expected on January 23.

Also seeing action on the card will be pro-debuting heavyweight Eugene Russell, who will be seeing action in a four-round bout. The NYC-native Russell is set to see action against Granson Clark (1-1, 1KO).

Rounding out the card will be New York’s Neuky Santalesis (2-0, 1KO), as he takes on an opponent to be named. The bout is scheduled for four rounds in the junior lightweight division.

There are less then 50 total tickets available for the event, with only a few $125 ringside seats remaining and the majority being the $55 general admission seats. Tickets can be purchased by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Photo by Cluadia Bocanegra

New York, NY (1/7/12) – On Wednesday, January 23, former junior middleweight world champion Yuri Foreman (28-2, 8KO’s) will return to the ring for the first time in nearly two years when he takes on Brandon Baue (12-8, 10KO’s) in a special attraction six-round feature bout at BB King Blues club in New York City. The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and will feature a number of DBE’s top up-and-coming prospects, including unbeatens Lamar Russ (11-0, 7KO’s), Luis Rosa (11-0, 6KO’s) and Delen Parsley (9-0, 2KO’s). A complete list of bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets are priced at $125, $100, $75 and $55, with a limited number of $1,000 V.I.P. tables available. There are five seats to each V.I.P. table. Tickets can be purchased by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Belarusian-born Israeli Foreman, who has been living and training in Brooklyn since 1999, is studying to become a Rabbi in addition to competing as a professional boxer. Foreman won the WBA junior middleweight championship by pitching a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over Daniel Santos in November 2009. By winning the title, Foreman became the first Jewish world champion in 71 years, since Barney Ross lost his welterweight crown in 1938. In his first title defense, Foreman lost his junior middleweight belt in a spirited effort to Miguel Cotto in the inaugural boxing event held at the new Yankee Stadium in June 2010. Foreman badly injured his knee in the seventh round of their championship bout but continued to fight on. He was eventually stopped on his feet in the ninth round once his knee left him immobilized.

In Foreman’s next bout, he was stopped in six rounds by fellow top-rated contender Pawel Wolak on March 12, 2011. After the bout against Wolak, Foreman took some time out of the ring, but he has been training for the past few months feeling rejuvenated and ready to make another run at a world championship.

Tickets are priced at $125, $100, $75 and $55, with a limited number of $1,000 V.I.P. tables available. There are five seats to each V.I.P. table. Tickets can be purchased by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com and Everlast.

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

Follow all the action LIVE from the MGM Grand as Miguel Cotto defends the WBA Super Welterweight championship and Ricardo Mayorga. There will be a three fight undercard beginning at 9pm est/6pm pac time featuring Yuri Foreman battling Pawel Wolak; IBF Lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez defending against Mandatory challenger Lenny Zappavigna as well as NFL Safety Tommy Zbikowski taking on Rich Bryant

REFRESH BROWSER FOR MINUTE BY MINUTE UPDATES

12 ROUNDS–WBA SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TITLE–MIGUEL COTTO (35-2, 28 KO’S) VS RICARDO MAYORGA (29-7-1, 23 KO’S)

Round 1: Counter left from Cotto…Mayorga chops a right to the head…Big body shot by Cotto…Chopping right from Mayorga…tradong left hooks…good left hook from Cotto…10-9 Cotto

Round 2: Brawl on the ropes huge shots and an uppercut from Mayorga…Good right from Cotto…Jab…Uppercut from Mayorga…Flurry…19-19

Round 3 Cotto lands a left hook..Mayorga lands a right and BEGS COTTO TO FIGHT…Cotto lands 2 body shots…Good right to the chin…29-28 Cotto

Round 4 Mayorga lands a nice right…good body shot…combination…38-38

Round 5 Mayorga showboats and gets caught with body punches and uppercuts…Head shots…2 rights from Mayorga…Wicked exchange that is highlighted by a Cotto left hook..Mayorga lands a chopping right…left hook to the chin by Cotto…48-47 Cotto

Round 6 Cotto left uppercut…Mayorga combo to the body…Cotto lands a jab…counter left and right uppercut…58-56 Cotto

Round 7 Mayorga lands 2 rights…uppercut on inside..right uppercut…Right buckled Cotto….67-66 Cotto

Round 8 Cotto lands a left hook…Cotto counters with the left…Hard jab..Swelling around the right eye of Mayorga…Good combination..Mayorga lands a straight right…77-75 Cotto

Round 9 Left from Mayorga…Cotto jabbing..Mayorga lands a head combo..another combo…Cotto lands a jab…and another…Big uppercut from Mayorga…86-85 Cotto

Round 10 Good jab from Cotto…Great triple jab…another jab…96-94 Cotto

Round 11 Mayorga showboating and mocking Cotto…Good defense from Cotto at the end of the round…106-103 Cotto

ROUND 12 HUGE SHOT AND DOWN GOES MAYORGA…HE TAKES A HUGE JAB AND ASKS REFEREE ROBERT BYRD TO STOP THE FIGHT…MAYORGA MAY HAVE HURT HIS HAND WHEN HE GOT KNOCKDOWN…IT WAS A BIG LEFT HOOK FROM COTTO TO THE HEAD

10 ROUNDS–JR. MIDDLEWEIGHTS–YURI FOREMAN (28-1, 8 KO’S) VS PAWEL WOLAK (28-1, 18 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Wolak stalking…Big right to the head..combination…10-9 Wolak

Round 2 Foreman lands a jab…Wolak lands a right on the ropes…20-18 Wolak

Round 3 Uppercut on inside by Foreman…Good counter..counter right..combination to the head..Wolak gets in a chopping right..good body punches and head from Wolak and another right…30-28 Wolak

Round 4: Wolak landing right..right inside..Foreman 2 body shots…Good right…Right from Wolak..Right hurts Foreman…3 more big rights at the bell…40-37 Wolak

Round 5: Wolak lands a right…Hard rights on the ropes…Foreman lands a right and left uppercut…hard right from Wolak…Left…Foreman lands an uppercut…50-46 Wolak

Round 6: Wolak lands a combinations…Swelling around left eye of Wolak..Big finish from Wolak…60-55 Wolak—FOREMAN QUITS ON THE STOOL

Round 7

4 ROUNDS HEAVYWEIGHTS–TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI (1-0, 1 KO) VS RICH BRYANT (1-2, 1 KO)

ROUND 1 Tommy Z lands a right…Big right…LEFT HOOK DOWN GOES BRYANT AND REFEREE RUSSELL MORA STOPS THE BOUT

12 ROUNDS–IBF LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE–MIGUEL VAZQUEZ (27-3, 12 KO’S) VS LENNY ZAPPAVIGNA (25-0, 17KO’s)

Round 1 Vazquez Jabs…Vazquez lands a right..comb from Vazquez at the bell 10-9 Vazquez

Round 2:Vazquez lands a left hook..Left hook counter..Good jab 20-18 Vazquez

Round 3: Zappavigna lands a big overhand right and left hook…Zappavigna bleeding from left eye..29-28 Vazquez

Round 4: Zappavigna grazing right…38-38

Round 5 Vazquez 1-2; Counter shots…Zappavigna lands a body shot…jab…Zappa lands an overhand right…Zappa starting to bleed bad from right eye….48-47 Vazquez

Round 6 Zappa lands a combination…57-57

Round 7: Trading rights…Vazquez lands a couple jabs…Zappa lands a left…67-66 Vazquez

Round 8: Good jabs and 1-2 from Vazquez..Zappa lands a body punch…good 1-2…combination…body shot at end of round…77-75 Vazquez

Round 9Zappa gets through with a wide left...86-85 Vazquez

Round 10 Blood streaming down the face of Zappa..Zappa lands some uppsercuts on the inside…95-95

Round 11

Photo By Claudia Bocanegra

Miguel Cotto 154 – Ricardo Mayorga 154
(WBA Super Welterweight championship)
Yuri Foreman 155 – Pawel Wolak 154
Tommy Zbikowski 193 – Ricard Bryant 225
Miguel Vazquez 135 – Lenny Zappavigna 135
(IBF Lightweight Championship)

PHOTO BY CLAUDIA BOCANEGRA

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was at Kingsway Gym in New York City to capture the images of Yuri Foreman preparing for his March 12th showdown with Pawel Wolak that will be part of the Miguel Cotto – Ricardo Mayorga Pay Per View card in Las Vegas

Former WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman answers the questions of Claudia Bocanegra about the recent months that has seen highs of welcoming his new son and lows of losing his world title, the death of his manager and recovery from knee surgery. Foreman will take on Pawel Wolak on March 12th underneath Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga

1. Since your knee surgery and rehabilitation, do you feel physically ready for your upcoming fight?
Yes, I feel good. My knee seems to work good

2. You will be fighting Polish fighter Pawel Wolak. What are you strategies for this fight?
To dance Polka

3. You and Wolak are friends. Is it difficult to fight someone who you are friendly with?
I’m Professional

4. What do you think his strengths and weakness are?
he throws alot of punches. Putting pressure is his strength

5. Depending on the outcome of this fight, how do you feel about a possible rematch with Miguel Cotto?
I would like that

6. I noticed that you are no longer with trainer Joe Grier. Would you like to talk about why the change?
Joe Grier helped me become world champion. he is a great trainer and I will be forever thankful to him. I had lots of changes in the last few months so I am exploring.

7. You’ve had your knee injury, your 1st loss, and the loss of your friend/manager all that came in a short period of time. How were you able to deal with all of this?
The loss of my manager is very tough. He was very close to me like family. I used to call him “Zeide” which means grandpa in Yiddish. In the same time my son was born which brings me happiness.

Thank you for your time.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was on hand at BB KIngs in New York City for the explosive press conference to announce the March 12th Pay Per View Showdown between WBA Super Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga