Marcus Upshaw reborn for Oct. 23 fight vs. Aaron Pryor Jr.

MIAMI (Oct. 13, 2014) - Modern day road warrior Marcus "Arillius" Upshaw (17-13-2, 8 KOs) plans to jumpstart his career October 23 against fellow gatekeeper and upset specialist, Aaron Pryor Jr. (19-7, 12 KOs), in the 10-round main event on a private (no tickets sold or media coverage) Alarm Charity Boxing fundraiser event at Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C. "I've fought everybody," Upshaw said from training camp. "It seems like I've fought forever as a super middleweight but I'm a middleweight and this fight is going to help me get a fight against a top middleweight. My mind is right for this fight and I know what I need to do. I'm not going to leave fights in the hands of the judges anymore. "I went the distance with some big dogs (David Lemieux, Marcos Antonio Rubio,Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez, Lamar Russ, Patrick Majewski, Tarvis Simms and Edwin Rodriguez). I didn't get knocked out or quit in those fights and my mind is set now. You're only as good as your camp and I'm having a great one, sparring with Jermain Taylor and some other good fighters for this fight." In 2008, Upshaw impressively derailed the rise to the top of the then 19-1 James McGirt with a controversial 10-round majority draw, in which, most fans felt Upshaw should have won. Two fights later, he upset 10-0 prospect Ashandi Gibbs (10-0) by way of a fourth-round technical knockout for the Florida State middleweight championship. Upshaw traveled to Quebec City in 2010 and registered his most significant victory to date, a stunning 10-round decision over 21-1-1 local hero Renan St. Juste in his opponent's backyard, pushing Upshaw up in the world ratings (IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #11). "Announcers always say it's really all about which Marcus Upshaw would be fighting," Upshaw added. "It's really all about my mind set. I went back to Ground Zero and I'm just going to be me from now on. I'm positive and have built myself back up from scratch. I want to get back to where I was at my peak, against St. Juste, and then get a rematch with Lemieux or Rubio, but not in Mexico again." Like Upshaw, Pryor has been in against the iron during his career, primarily fought in the shadows of his Hall-of-Fame father, Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor. The 36-year-old Pryor Jr., who went the distance in losing efforts against Rodriguez, Dyah Davis, Will Rosinsky and Thomas Oosthuizen, defeated three-time world title challengerLibrado Andrade (DEC10) in 2011, and the only fighter to stop him is World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson. "I'm not going into my opponent's backyard for this fight," Upshaw concluded. "Pryor is from Cincinnati. I don't plan to leave this fight in the hands of the judges. He won't be able to handle me. I've fought a lot tougher guys than him. If I don't stop him it's going to be a long ass-whipping I give him." Upshaw, like Pryor, also has rich athletic bloodlines. His uncle, the late Gene Upshaw, was an NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders. "Marcus is a big, tough, strong middleweight who hasn't always used his size advantage," Upshaw's longtime manager Si Stern remarked. "This is a very big fight for him. His problem has been not finishing off guys. He has a whole new attitude. Marcus was misused earlier in his career fighting guys much bigger than him. He's really a 160-pound fighter and that's weight class Marcus should be fighting at as he is in this fight. I'm confident that Marcus will put on a good show and, if he wins, his career will be a lot brighter." Damian Frias preparing for Ring return Another one of Stern's fighters, always dangerous welterweight Damian "Devo" Frias (19-8-1, 10 KOs), is ready to return to the ring before 2014 concludes. The Cuban southpaw, fighting out of Miami, has been hampered by hand injuries during the past few years. Frias hasn't been stopped in 28 fights, including losses to present International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina (19-5-2),Mikael Zewski (19-0), Ionut Dan Ion (30-2), Vitaliy Demyanenko (21-0) and Freddy Hernandez (25-1). The highlight of the 38-year-old Frias' career remains a ninth-round TKO of Henry Crawford. "I injured my left hand in sparring for my last fight against Zewski," Frias explained. "It was the biggest fight of my career, fighting for the first time on an HBO undercard, so I didn't say anything and kept icing it. I felt I could stop him but I lost a decision and aggravated my hand injury. It hurt badly after that fight (June 15, 2013). I could have had surgery but we decided to rest it and have cortisone treatment. I hope to be back fighting in November, at least by the end of this year. My hand has held up in sparring and we'll have to wait and see if it holds up in a real fight. "I've had injuries with my hands. They're real small for a guy my size and chronically swollen. I already had surgery on my right hand. It's been real difficult and aggravating. My hands are wrapped good and I've blocked out the pain during fights once the blood gets flowing, but I was just throwing punches at a target instead of punching through 'em. I fought with damaged hands against Zewski, Ion, and Demyanenko but I'm optimistic now. I'm going for broke. This is my last run; I'm not a young buck anymore." Stern added, "Of all the fighters I've been around, nobody is tougher than Damian, who's never been afraid of fighting anybody. In most of the fights he's lost, Damian was strong in the early rounds, until his hand swelled and he couldn't use his left hand. His hand is stronger now after rest, medication and rehab. We're all hoping his hands hold up in a fight." INFORMATION: Marcus Upshaw Twitter @MarcusUpshaw or @MarcusArilliusUpshaw www.facebook.com/pages/Marcus-Upshaw/260365894066319 Damian Frias www.facebook.com/damian.frias.5

Soliman and Taylor Make Weight for Battle in Mississippi on Wednesday Night

Both IBF Middleweight Champion Sam Soliman and challenger Jermain Taylor were respectful to each other and thankful to their teams during a press conference/weigh-in held at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi, in advance of tomorrow(Wednesday, October 8) night's championship fight. Soliman and Taylor are headlining a mammoth 14-fight card that also features Andre Dirrell and a host of up-and-coming prospects and proven contenders. ESPN Wednesday Night Fights will broadcast the two main events and a four-rounder between Ahmed Elbiale and Dakota Dawson live.  Sam Soliman 160 vs. Jermain Taylor 159.8 IBF World Middleweight Championship André Dirrell 169 vs. Nick Brinson 168.8 Ahmed Elbiale 174.6 vs. Dakota Dawson 171.6 Carlos Velásquez 131.6 vs. Jean Javier Sotelo 131.4 Steve Lovett 176 vs. Ricardo Campillo 177 Phillip Jackson Benson 172.2 vs. Michael Gbenga 173.6 Joey Hernández 162 vs. Jose Miguel Rodríguez 157.6 Mario Barrios 125.4 vs. Abraham Rubio 127 Walter Castillo 142 vs. Shad Howard NA Justin DeLoach 156.2 vs. Joshua Snyder 155 Gervonta Davis 126.8 vs. German Meraz 125 BJ Flores 203.8 vs. Kevin Engel 190.8 Regis Prograis 142.2 vs. Mario Hermosillo 142.2 Erick Bone 142.6 vs. Peter Oluoch 144 Promoters: DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing, in association with Soliman Stanley Promotions Venue: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi TV: ESPN Wednesday Night Fights (9 pm EST/8 pm CT) Tickets: priced at $89.95, $69.95, $49.95 and $29.95, plus tax and service charges, and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Theatre box office, or through any Ticketmaster outlet or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 5:00 pm, with the first bout scheduled for 5:30 pm.

Flores' Career Finds New Hope Under Guidance of Haymon

NBC Commentator and Top Cruiserweight Contender Fights  This Wednesday Night in Biloxi Las Vegas-based cruiserweight contender BJ "El Peligroso" Flores (30-1-1, 19 KOs) has it all as a boxer, minus one important thing. An articulate and intelligent man with smooth on-camera delivery, Flores does excellent work in his regular role as a color commentator for NBC-televised boxing. As a fighter, he is clean-living and devoted to his craft, with a wealth of skills, an extensive list of regional championships won, and a work ethic in the gym that few can rival. The fact is BJ Flores could become an excellent ambassador for the sport of boxing if someone would just give him that one more thing... a chance at a world title. Flores will face Saint Louis, Missouri's Kevin Engel (20-10, 16 KOs) this Wednesday, October 8, at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi, on the undercard of IBF middleweight champion "King" Sam Soliman (44-11, 18 KOs) defending against former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor (32-4-1, 20 KOs). Presented by DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing, in association with Soliman Stanley Promotions, and broadcast live on a special presentation of ESPN Wednesday Night Fights (9 pm EST/8 pm CT), the night of boxing will also feature 2004 Olympic Bronze Medallist and WBC #9 contender Andre Dirrell (22-1, 15 KOs) taking on Albany, New York's Nick Brinson (16-2-2, 6 KOs) in the 10-round light heavyweight co-main event. Tickets are priced at $89.95, $69.95, $49.95 and $29.95, plus tax and service charges, and can be purchased at the Beau Rivage Theatre box office, or through any Ticketmaster outlet or online at Ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 4:45pm, with the first bout scheduled for 5:30pm. A buzz surrounded Flores when turned pro 12 years ago at age 23. Coming off a brilliant amateur career that saw him win the 1997 National Golden Gloves, as well as two (2001 and 2002) US National Amateur Championships at Heavyweight, he was universally recognized as one to watch. But 35-year-old Flores says promotional problems stalled his momentum and ground his once-promising career to a halt on more than one occasion. Since he signed with power-manager Al Haymon and advisor Luis DeCubas Jr., last April, however, Flores' bad career luck seems to be reversing and he may get that title shot someday after all. "2015 is going to be a big year for me," said an excited Flores. "This will be the year where it all takes off. I signed with Al in late spring and I've already fought May 10,June 26 and now October 8. I'm in a perfect position now and I'm ecstatic to have so much opportunity in front of me now, thanks to Al. I can't wait to show the world how well I can fight." Flores says DeCubas has also been instrumental in his career resuscitation. "Louis DeCubas Jr. has also played a big part in helping my career take off. We started working together last year, and since then, one thing after another has come my way. This kid really loves boxing and has been around it a very long time and knows and understands the business. He has been a great help." At the relatively advanced age for a fighter of 35, few would question Flores if he decided to make the transition from fighter to media figure. But according to him, that's not going to happen any time soon. "First and foremost I'm a fighter," he explained. "Commentating is something I started doing when I wasn't getting fights, but I'm still a fighter above everything else. For me, fighting for a world championship is not about the money. Boxing is my life. Since I was a kid I would stay home from school and watch boxing on tape. And now I have hope I will get the chance to see how far I can take it." The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is located at 875 Beach Blvd in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information, call (228) 386-7111. On fight night, doors open at 5:00 and the action starts at 5:30.

World Champion Beibut Shumenov's Time to shine has finally arrived

Beibut Shumenov (R) finishes off previously undefeated challenger Tamas Kovacs (photo by Tom Casino / Showtime) LAS VEGAS (December 264, 2013) - Reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Super and International Boxing Association (IBA) Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KO's) celebrates his fourth anniversary as world champion next  month but he really didn't arrive on the worldwide boxing scene until this past December 14th in his SHOWTIME debut. The 30-year-old Shumenov set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when he won (Jan. 10, 2010) a 12-round decision over Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov's fifth successful world title defense was an impressive performance over previously undefeated challenger Tomas "Tomi Kid" Kovacs (23-1, 14 KOs) on "Danger Zone," headlined by Marcus Maidana's upset of Adrian Broner, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.  Shumenov, the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who lives in Las Vegas, dropped Kovacs at the end of round one with a picture-perfect left hook to the European champion's chin.  The powerful Kazak briefly switched to southpaw in the second round, decking Kovacs with a left uppercut, and referee Rafael Ramos halted the fight at the 2:55mark of the third round after a battered Kovacs was knocked down for the third time in the fight. Although he hadn't fought in more than a year, Shumenov showed little ring rust, if any at all, as he patiently stalked Kovacs, who Shumenov expected to be aggressive from the opening bell.  "From watching some of his past fights," the 30-year-old Shumenov explained, "I expected him to come forward and fight inside. I was prepared to counter him, but he fought defensively and I had to set him up.  I feinted a lot more than in my past fights, moved better, and I eventually got him.  "My goal has always been to unify and Golden Boy and Showtime are going to give me that opportunity. We tried to make a couple of unifications and different fights that for one reason or another fell through. We tried to made unification fights with [Nathan] Cleverly and [Chad] Dawson when they held belts, but they weren't interested in fighting me.  I tried to unify with a scheduled fight against [then WBO champion Juergen] Braehmer but he ran out of town three days before our fight." The winner and still world champion, Beibut Shumenov (photo by Tom Casino / SHOWTIME) Aligning himself with Golden Boy and Showtime has positioned Shumenov for a potential unification fight with International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins, who has the same promoter and fights for the same network as Shumenov. Hopkins attended Shumenov's fight in San Antonio and went on record saying he wants to fight Shumenov for both belts in late March or early April. "Bernard Hopkins is a legendary fighter and it would be an honor to fight him," Shumenov added.  "He said he wants to fight me, I want to fight him.  If I had my choice of unifying against any of the other world champions in the 175-pound division, I would pick Bernard Hopkins because he is a six-time world champion who is headed to the Hall of Fame.  Hopkins already proved that age isn't an issue and maybe he isn't human.  The other two world champions, [WBC, Adonis] Stevensonand [WBO, Sergey] Kovalev, only became world champions this year and they haven't beaten opponents at their peaks like Hopkins has so many times.  Stevenson beat Dawson after [Andre] Ward destroyed him and [Tavoris] Cloud wasn't the same after Hopkins fought him.  Kovalev won his title from Cleverly, who I had been trying to fight for a few years because he had been built up and had never fought a top guy.  "I want to prove that I am the best 175-pound champion in the world and the way to do that is to beat the other champions.  I think if fans really support having one world champion in our division, maybe all sides can get together to do a tournament with the winner of a fight between me and Hopkins going against the Stevenson-Kovalev winner.  It's been done before."  Fans may friend Beibut Shumenov on his Facebook Fan Page atwww.facebook.com/BeibutShumenov.

BRONER vs. MAIDANA MAIN EVENT DRAWS 1.3 MILLION VIEWERS, THE THIRD-LARGEST AUDIENCE FOR LIVE BOXING ON SHOWTIME®

Average Audience Across the Four-Fight Telecast Ranks as the Fourth-Largest in a Decade

“DANGER ZONE” REPLAYS TONIGHT AT 10p ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME®

NEW YORK (Dec. 17, 2013)—SHOWTIME Sports^® continued with significant gains in viewership on its flagship series SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® on Saturday, Dec. 14, drawing 1.3 million viewers to an action-packed main event featuring the welterweight world championship, Adrien Broner vs. Marcos Maidana.  The dramatic bout, the final match on the 2013 boxing calendar, is a late contender for boxing’s coveted Fight of the Year honor.  

The audience performance during the main event ranks as the third-highest audience on record for live boxing on SHOWTIME since the network began tracking individual bouts in 2009.

The average viewership across the entire event, a four-fight, four-hour telecast, brings the series’ 2013 average up 24 percent and a remarkable 64 percent over 2011.

Further, the average audience for the entire telecast ranks as the fourth-largest live boxing telecast on SHOWTIME since 2004 (when the Nielsen began separately measuring premium television multiplex channels) with all four coming within the last 12 months ranking behind the events headlined by Miguel Cotto vs. Austin Trout (Dec. 1, 2012); Paul Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner (June 22, 2013); and Bernard Hopkins vs. Karo Murat (Oct. 26, 2013).  

“SHOWTIME Sports has achieved incredible growth in viewership of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in 2013, and we’ll take this momentum into 2014,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “With marquee events featuring boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and global star Floyd Mayweather, the return of Canelo Alvarez, and a myriad of incredible matchups on the horizon in the welterweight, junior welterweight and super welterweight divisions—the very deepest, most talent-rich divisions in boxing--our subscribers can continue to expect SHOWTIME Sports to deliver the biggest and most significant bouts in boxing.”

Replays of the full four-fight telecast air tonight, Dec. 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® and again on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME^®.  The telecast is available at SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^® and via mobile devices on SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.

The event was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Leija*Battah Promotions and emanated from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

A rousing quadrupleheader from start to finish was capped by Maidana’s scintillating performance.  The fearless Argentine scored two knockdowns en route to a unanimous decision over the heavily favored, previously unbeaten Broner.  The startling result becomes an instant candidate for not only Fight of the Year, but Upset of the Year as well.

In the co-feature, undefeated Keith Thurman retained his WBA Interim Welterweight title with a sensational ninth-round stoppage over tough-as-nails Jesus Soto Karass in a Knockout of the Year candidate.  The always-exciting Leo Santa Cruz kept his WBC Super Bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision over determined Cesar Seda in a 12-round slugfest.  And WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov made an emphatic statement with an impressive third-round TKO over Slovakia’s Tomas Kovacs.

EXCLUSIVE ADRIEN BRONER POST-FIGHT INTERVIEW INCLUDED IN REPLAY TELECAST OF SATURDAY’S SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING QUADRUPLEHEADER TOMORROW/TUESDAY ON SHOWTIME EXTREME® AT 10 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK (Dec. 16, 2013) - SHOWTIME Sports^® will replay last Saturday’s remarkable year-end action-packed SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®telecast twice—Tuesday, Dec. 17 (10 p.m. ET/PT, SHOWTIME EXTREME^®); and again on Tuesday, Dec. 24 (10 p.m. ET/PT, SHOWTIME EXTREME^®).  The telecast also is available at SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^® and will be available via mobile devices on SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.

The event was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Leija*Battah Promotions and emanated from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Perhaps the only thing missing during Saturday’s stirring four-fight telecast was a post-fight reaction from the usually loquacious Broner. SHOWTIME cameras caught up with Broner after the telecast ended, and the interview will be included on the SHOWTIME EXTREME replays. 

A rousing quadrupleheader from start to finish was capped by newly crowned WBA Welterweight Champion Marcos Maidana’s scintillating performance.  The fearless Argentine scored two knockdowns en route to a unanimous decision over the heavily favored, previously unbeaten Adrien Broner.  The startling result becomes an instant candidate for not only Upset of the Year but Fight of the Year as well.

In the co-feature, undefeated Keith Thurman retained his WBA Interim Welterweight title with a sensational ninth-round stoppage over tough-as-nails Jesus Soto Karass in a Knockout of the Year candidate.  The always-exciting Leo Santa Cruz kept his WBC Super Bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision over determined Cesar Seda in a 12-round slugfest.  And WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov made an emphatic statement with an impressive third-round TKO over Slovakia’s Tomas Kovacs.

#  #  #

“DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana,” for Broner's WBA Welterweight World Championship took place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Grudge Match and Casamigos Tequila. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, Keith Thurman put his interim WBA Welterweight World Championship on the line against Jesus Soto Karass. Leo Santa Cruz put his WBC Super Bantamweight World title on the line against Cesar Seda and Beibut Shumenov faced Tamas Kovacs in a 12-round clash for Shumenov's WBA Super & IBA Light Heavyweight World titles. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® telecast aired live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and was available in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts aired live on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).