LAS VEGAS (November 12, 2015) – Undefeated Cuban Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (23-0, 13 KOs) and Russia’s Denis Shafikov (36-1-1, 19 KOs) will fight for a lightweight world title on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike Friday, December 18 from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will see cruiserweight world champion Beibut Shumenov (16-2, 10 KOs) in a matchup with former world cruiserweight world champion Krzyzstof Wlodarczyk (49-3-1, 35 KOs). Also featured on the telecast is undefeated junior middleweight Chris “Young King” Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) and rising unbeaten prospect Gervonta “Tank” Davis (13-0, 12 KOs) in separate attractions.
“On December 18 I’m going to make history by adding another world title to my collection,” said Barthelemy. “Shafikov is a very tough opponent and at this level everyone is dangerous. I’m taking this fight very seriously and the boxing world will take notice of my presence in the ring. Fans love to see action and that’s what I bring to every fight. I’m going to send a stern message to the world of boxing that I’m one of the best in the sport.”
“I’ve been preparing my whole life for this fight and to become a world champion,” said Shafikov. “This is my second world title fight and while I have a great deal of respect for Barthelemy, I will be victorious on December 18. My trainer Abel Sanchez and I have been working hard for the past couple of months and we will have a great game plan on fight night.”
“I am happy to get back in the ring again because I want to fight all of the best fighters in the cruiserweight division,” said Shumenov. “I would like to stay more active because I’m still developing. I am curious to see my progression and how I will do against the best cruiserweights.”
“I’m very excited to be fighting a well-known opponent in Las Vegas,” said Wlodarczyk. “Shumenov is a tricky guy, but he has no heart. He tried to run from the action in his last fight. I do not like to fight guys who run but if I want to fight the best I have to destroy this chicken and I will do it.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing, are priced at $100.50, and $25.50 plus applicable fees, and are on sale Friday, November 13. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Pearl Box Office at 702-994-3200 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
“It’s a great pleasure to be promoting two world title fights on this outstanding night of boxing on Spike from Palms Casino Resort,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “In addition, Mayweather Promotions’ rising stars Chris Pearson and Gervonta Davis will enter the ring looking to remain unbeaten and get another step closer to a world title. It’s going to be a can’t-miss night of action.”
“We look forward to having Spike and Mayweather Promotions back to The Pearl for a night of action-packed bouts,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events at Palms Casino Resort.
A Cuban amateur national champion, the 29-year-old Barthelemy has yet to taste defeat since turning pro in 2009. Born in Cuba but now fighting out of Las Vegas, he won a super featherweight world title in July of last year by defeating Argenis Mendez in impressive fashion and followed that up with a second round TKO over Angino Perez. Most recently, he defeated former world champion Antonio DeMarco in convincing fashion in a PBC main event in June.
Having fought in eight countries throughout his pro career, the 30-year-old Shafikov brings a full career of experiences with him into his second world title opportunity on December 18. Born in Miass, Russia, he enters this fight having won three in a row by taking down Rustam Nugaev, Miguel Mendoza and Roy Mukhlis.
A native of Shymkent, Kazakhstan fighting out of Las Vegas, Shumenov looks to build on his last fight, which saw him earn a cruiserweight crown by defeating B.J. Flores in July. The 32-year-old won a world title at light heavyweight by defeating Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas in 2010. The 2004 Olympian for Kazakhstan went on to defend his title five times and will return to the scene of his latest triumph on December 18.
A two-time world champion in the cruiserweight division, Warsaw, Poland’s Wlodarczyk looks to win a world title for a third time in his career at cruiserweight. The 34-year-old owns world title-winning victories over Steve Cunningham and Giacobbe Fragomeni. In his last world title reign Wlodarczyk defended his belt six times, including victories over Danny Green, Rakhim Chakhkiyev and Francisco Palacios.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Pearson has impressed with strong victories over Steve Martinez, Said El Harrak, Lanardo Tyner and previously unbeaten Acacio Joao Ferreira in four fights before he defeated Janks Trotter in September. The 24-year-old looks to continue to rise within the junior middleweight division and cement his contender status on December 18.
A highly-regarded prospect who won the 2012 National Gloves championship, the 21-year-old Davis has already recorded four stoppage victories in 2015. Most recently, the Baltimore-native stopped former world champion Cristobal Cruz with a vicious combination in their October fight.
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Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez Takes on Michael Seals Nov. 13 on Spike
BILOXI, Miss. (October 1, 2015) – Light heavyweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (27-1, 18 KOs) will take on undefeated Michael Seals (19-0, 14 KOs) Friday, Nov. 13 on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike live from MGM Resorts International’s beautiful Beau Rivage Resort & Casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Televised coverage will begin at 9 p..m. ET.
“This is a huge opportunity for me to clearly cement myself as one of the best 175-pounders in all of boxing,” said Rodriguez. “Michael Seals is coming to fight and I know what a win means for him and his career. That being said, this is going to be my night. George Bernard Shaw once said that, ‘life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.’ This victory is a major piece of the puzzle I’ve created for my life. A win on Nov. 13 moves me a major step closer to challenging for a piece of the light heavyweight crown, and there’s nothing and no one that will get in my way of achieving that.”
“I’d like to thank all parties involved for making this fight a reality,” said Seals. “I’ve remained focused mentally and in my training to make sure that I was completely prepared for my opportunity when the time came. I have a strong base and have been blessed with a chance to show the world my talents. I will be ready to go when the bell rings on Nov.13.”
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $62.95, $48.95, $34.95 and $20.95, plus tax and service charges. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Theatre box office, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
“Edwin Rodriguez is clearly one of the best 175-pounders in the world, and I am glad that he is getting a match-up of this caliber and an opportunity to showcase himself against a truly tough test in the highly regarded and undefeated prospect Michael Seals,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “The winner of this bout should be in line for a shot against Adonis Stevenson, or any of the other champions in the light heavyweight division, and we expect a spectacular performance from both guys when they meet November 13.”
“The light heavyweight division has become one of the most compelling division in boxing,” said Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Specials, Spike. “Spike is excited to have two of the rising stars in this weight class, Rodriguez and Seals, battle it out.”
“MGM Resorts International is home to the best boxing events in the world,” said Beau Rivage Executive Director of Entertainment Anthony Gibson. “I’ve watched a lot of boxing in the last 40 years and DiBella Entertainment’s events at Beau Rivage are some of the best I’ve seen. The theatre, the ring, the boxers and atmosphere are always first-class.”
An accomplished amateur who won a 2006 National Golden Gloves gold medal and a 2005 U.S. National Championship gold medal, the 30-year-old Rodriguez enters this fight as the winner of his last three. Born in the Dominican Republic but fighting out of Worcester, Mass., Rodriguez’s lone loss came to undefeated Andre Ward in 2013 and he owns victories over previously undefeated fighters Will Rosinsky, Jason Escalera and Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna. Most recently he stopped previously unbeaten Craig Baker in the third round on a May PBC card.
Undefeated and fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, Seals looks to make a mark on Nov. 13 when he faces his toughest competition to date. The 33-year-old played college football at the University of Alabama A&M before getting his start in boxing and turning pro in 2008. In 2012 he stopped the experienced Byron Mitchell in round one and has added five victories to his record since then including a March victory over Carlos Reyes.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LaBombaBoxing, @LouDiBella, @SpikeTV and @SpikeSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.Facebook.com/Spike.
42 Years After Capturing First National Golden Gloves Title, Sugar Ray Leonard Returns to Lowell, MA
(Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions)
LOWELL, Mass. (October 1, 2015) – Forty-two years after he captured his first National Golden Gloves Tournament title at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Hall-of-Famer Sugar Ray Leonard returns Saturday, October 10 to the same historic building as a television analyst for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Murphys Boxing, airing live from Lowell, Massachusetts.
PBC on NBCSN is headlined by a 10-round rematch between Framingham (MA) welterweight Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (26-2, 10 KOs), who is fighting to avenge his 2011 loss to Brooklyn welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (23-2, 4 KOs). O’Connor and Leonard are two of only four people to ever win the National Golden Gloves and National Amateur Championship in the same year. O’Connor collected both accolades in 2008.
Leonard captured top honors in the lightweight division (132 pounds) of the 1973 National Golden Gloves Tournament, outpointing Hilmer Kenty in the championship final at Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Leonard won the National Golden Gloves Tournament at light welterweight title the following year, while seven years later Kenty became the first professional world champion from Emanuel Steward’s soon-to-become legendary Kronk Gym in Detroit.
“One of the most precious moments of my career happened in Lowell, Massachusetts,” Leonard recently said about his aforementioned experience. “It was priceless.”
In addition to Leonard and Kenty, five other future world champions – Marvin Hagler, Aaron Pryor, Art Frias, Leon and Michael Spinks – competed in the 1973 National Golden Gloves Tournament. Leonard, Hagler, Pryor and Michael Spinks are International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees.
Leonard has another tie to Lowell, the fourth-largest city in Massachusetts. In 1978, he won a 10-round decision over Dicky Eklund at Hynes Auditorium in Boston. Eklund was the head trainer of his half-brother, “The Pride of Lowell” and three-time “Fight of the Year” participant “Irish” Micky Ward, who celebrates his 50th birthday this coming October 4.
Also featured on the PBC on NBCSN telecast is undefeated super bantamweight rising star Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (19-0, 19 KOs), a Dominican Republic native who now lives in nearby Lawrence (MA), takes on upset specialist Danny Aquino (17-2, 10 KOs), of Meriden (CT), in the 10-round co-feature.
The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will showcase Quincy, Mass. featherweight prospect Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski (23-1, 7 KOs) against Brooklyn’s Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Lowell Memorial Auditorium, which also hosted the 1995 National Golden Gloves Tournament, represents a homecoming for O’Connor and Kielczweski, who both won New England Golden Gloves Tournament titles there.
Tickets are on sale and priced at $125, $85, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Special student, veteran and senior ticket prices also available. For tickets visit www.lowellauditorium.com.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.lowellauditorium.com and www.dbe1.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DropkickMurphys, @MurphysBoxing, @DOC_Boxing, @TeamBracero, @NBCSports and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys, www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing and www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
