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Warriors Signs World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Michael Seals

Warriors Boxing proudly announces the signing of undefeated Mobile, Alabama, light heavyweight Michael Seals (18-0, 14 KOs). A latecomer, 32-year-old Seals started boxing at age 23, after a successful career as a linebacker for Alabama A&M University. But Seals has wasted no time catching up. "Boxing was something I always wanted to do as kid, but coming from the south, especially Alabama, it's all about football, so I played," explained Seals. "I never really had a chance to box. Once I got done with football, I found a gym in Decatur, Alabama, and started there. I fell in love after the first time I sparred. I said 'man, I should have been doing this my whole life.' I was wasting my time with football. I could have been world champion three or four times over by now." Seals had just five amateur fights, but went on a world tour of sorts, sparring with many of the world's top fighters. "I've sparred with lots of world champs and top contenders. Most of the people I sparred with back then were pros, ranked contenders and champs and former champs. I've even been to camp with Wladimir Klitschko and held my own. He's a super hero, but I didn't embarrass myself. Sparring with these guys was like a fight every time out. I was traveling their homes and you know how that goes. They try to make an example of you. I had to fight for my life, basically." Seals is currently rated WBC #25 and says he looks to his new promoters to help him move further and further up the ladder. "I've been knowing about Warriors since I started boxing. Since way back when Glen Johnson knocked out Roy Jones Junior. I've always had a healthy respect for their company. And I was always open to signing with them. My trainer, Sugar Burt, has had a long relationship with (Warriors Matchmaker and Coordinator) Chico Rivas since he was 12 years old. We had been talking about signing with Warriors for a long time. I just got out of my previous contract and now Warriors is back on the prowl, doing their thing again. So we revisited the situation and chose to go with Warriors. Hopefully by the end of the year I will at least be in the top 5 if not fighting for a world title. My ultimate goal is to win a super middleweight championship and then move back up and win a light heavyweight title and then win a cruiserweight belt." Warriors Boxing President, Leon Margules, says he's happy to have Seals joining his stable. "Michael didn't have a huge amateur career, but he's a natural talent and we're very excited about his prospects for the future. He has the power and the ability to become a major force at 168, 175 and even cruiserweight." Seals says he prides himself on being a throwback type of fighter. "My style is more of a James Tony/Bernard Hopkins. I use the shoulder roll and angles with subtle movements. I use the ring like you're supposed to, without using a whole lot of energy. I'm real smooth. I like to roll punches and slip punches in the pocket and counter." # # # About Warriors Boxing Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation. With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to its credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table. When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield. For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

BERMANE STIVERNE AND DEONTAY WILDER TALK TRAINING CAMP AND THEIR PLACE IN HEAVYWEIGHT HISTORY BEFORE THEIR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN ON SATURDAY, JAN. 17 AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA LIVE ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

 

ALL ACCESS FULL EPISODE

"This is Judgment Day for him ... I'm going to hurt him, bad. Really bad. " - Bermane Stiverne

Click Here To Watch, Embed Or Share This Video: http://s.sho.com/1AwE0hQ

 

Photo Credit: SHOWTIME

"One man has the hype, the other the belt. But you need both to make heavyweight history." - ALL ACCESS: STIVERNE VS. WILDER premieres tonight, Friday, Jan. 9 at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT during SHOWTIME^® Free Preview Weekend and immediately preceding the first SHOBOX: The New Generation of 2015 (Redkach vs. Amidu, 11 p.m. ET/PT; Live on SHOWTIME).

Take a peek behind the scenes of Bermane Stiverne and Deontay Wilder's training camps in advance of their WBC Heavyweight World Championship showdown. Get into the action with this full episode of ALL ACCESS, and don't miss the United States' most anticipated heavyweight battle in a decade on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT; live on SHOWTIME."

# # #

"RETURN TO GLORY":  STIVERNE VS. WILDER, a 12-round fight for Stiverne's WBC Heavyweight Championship taking place Saturday, Jan. 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions.  In the 12-round co-feature, unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz defends against Jesus Ruiz and undefeated Amir Imam meets Fidel Maldonado Jr.in a 10-round super lightweight bout. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., and will air live on SHOWTIME^® (10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (8:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

For more information visit www.donking.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com andwww.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @BStiverne, @BronzeBomber, @SHOSports and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog athttp://theboxingblog.sho.com/.

Stiverne picks Oregon over Ohio St. In 2015 College Football National Championship Game

LAS VEGAS (January 9, 2014) - If not for a career-changing injury, World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title-holder Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) may have been a professional football player instead of becoming champion of the world in professional boxing. The 6' 2", 248-pound Stiverne had a Michigan State football scholarship to play linebacker for the Spartans, but he blew-out his knee midway through his freshman year (1997) during a practice session. Stiverne remains an avid football player and he has picked Oregon to defeat Ohio State this Monday night in the College Football National Championship game. "I like Oregon in the championship game," Stiverne said from his Las Vegas home. "They're consistent and have the best offense in the country. Plus, the way they beat Florida State was sweet." Stiverne, who knocked out Chris Arreola (35-4) this past May to claim the coveted WBC title belt vacated by retired Vitali Klitschko, makes his first title defenseSaturday night, Jan. 17, against undefeated mandatory challenger Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), airing on Showtime Championship Boxing (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. For further information visit www.eottm.com, or follow on Twitter @eotmvd and @BStiverne.

Malta Boxing Commission Inform The BBBofC They Are To Sanction Twenty Plus UK Events In 2015

Malta Boxing Commission’s (MBC) Managing Director and Vice President Gianluca Di Caro today announced that he has formally written to Mr. Robert Smith, the General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) informing him that due to the success of previous MBC sanctioned events in the United Kingdom, that they have received numerous requests to sanction further events in the UK over the coming year.

The letter, which was also sent to all World Sanctioning organisations and the European Boxing Union (EBU), Mr. Di Caro not only informed the BBBofC of the MBC’s intention to sanction further events in the United Kingdom, but also provided additional information regarding the medical standards and Insurance levels for MBC sanctioned events, which are superior to virtually every other European Country’s, so that the BBBofC would be able to confidently give permission for their license holders to box on MBC sanctioned events in the UK.

Mr. Di Caro also informed the BBBof C that the level of events that they anticipate to sanction over the coming twelve months will be in excess of twenty, seven of which are set to take place before the 1^st April, which is an impressive increase in the number of UK events sanctioned by the MBC, as the total of UK events sanctioned by them in 2014 was just five.

The first of the 2015 events is the rescheduled George Hillyard title fight headed show promoted by Shyam Batra, which now takes place at York Hall in London on Friday January 30^th.

One week later, on the 6^th February, Lee Murtagh promotes his second MBC sanctioned professional boxing event at the Bramley Villager in Leeds.

On the 28^th February Malta Boxing Commission will be sanctioning two events, the Stephen Vaughan Jr. promoted double title headed event in Liverpool and a Dave Murphy promoted event in London.

A week later, on the 7^th March, Matt Scriven promotes an event in Nottinghamshire and then on the 14^th March the MBC team crosses the Irish Sea to sanction a Peter Turley promoted event in Belfast.

The final event of the first seven mentioned is another Lee Murtagh promoted show, this time in Bradford on the 29^th March.

Earlier today Mr. Di Caro briefly spoke about the upturn in interest of the MBC within the UK.

“Exciting times for all involved with the Malta Boxing Boxing Commission, it really is.

The increase in events, to be sanctioned by us in 2015, is testament to the quality and professionalism of our UK based officials, I couldn’t possibly thank Mickey Vann, Ken Curtis, Billy Phillips, Lee Murtagh, Seamus Dunne, Gino Picconino, Dave Smith, Ken Honniball, Brian Gentry, Terry Clarke, Fred Little, Steven Smith, Ehsen Qureshi, Phil Jones, Micky Conway, Winston Stone, Phil Jones, Jason Lowe and Matt Amos enough for their excellent performances over the past twelve months, I also have to thank our excellent European based officials, Alf Sprung and Jan Telecki, that came over to officiate on the Championship events here.

I can’t help but feel that a major part of this increase in awareness of the MBC in the UK is also due to people like Dave Murphy, Lee Murtagh and Stephen Vaughan Jr. promoting events with MBC sanctioning, these are serious boxing people, hugely respected by most people within the business and they have chosen to be licensed by us.

Between them they promoted some seriously great events over the past year, featuring some fantastic fights, which I’m sure didn’t go unnoticed by the boxing world.

Dave’s October York Hall event was truly first class and of course as British #1 female boxer Marianne Marston, who is licensed by us, won her first title on that event, no surprise then that this event received a huge amount of media coverage and rightly so.

Stephen’s December show at the Titanic in Liverpool was something really special too, again another title headed event, this event received excellent coverage and of course had the additional benefit of being broadcast in parts of Europe.

I’m sure those events have a lot to do with the increase in popularity of the MBC sanctioning here, with both boxers and promoters alike.

So much so that we now have forty two UK based boxers licensed with us, with many more due to take out licenses before the end of January.

More impressively we now have twelve promoters around the Country, with at least another five due to be licensed by us over the coming month or so.

It really is exciting times for the MBC in the UK, which can only be good for the sport.”

For further information on upcoming events or the Malta Boxing Commission and the MBC International Championship please go to www.maltaboxingcommission.com or www.mbcchampionshipboxing.com

Follow the Malta Boxing Commission on Twitter: @MaltaBoxingComm as well as on FaceBook and LinkedIn

Follow MBC International on twitter @MBCBoxing as well as on Facebook

Malta Boxing Commission is a proud member of the Association Of Boxing Commissions (ABC), for information on the ABC go to www.abcboxing.com.

WEIGHTS FROM SANTA YNEZ ESPN "FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS"

12-ROUND MAIN EVENT

Jonathan Maicelo 135 vs. Darleys Perez 133

WBA Interim Lightweight Championship

Francisco Santana  145 vs. Kendal Mena  147

Roman Morales 121 vs. Ernesto Guerrero 119

Manuel Romero 136 vs. Carlos Gonzales 140

Aaron Kinch 253 vs. Jerrell Miller 281

Paula Estrada 106 vs. Kayana Rain 108

Maria Suarez 109 vs. Jolene Blackshear 110

 Francisco Santana vs. Kendal Mena

WBA International Championship

 Ernesto Guerrero vs. Roman Morales

 Manuel Romero vs. Carlos Gonzalez

 Jerrell Miller vs. Aaron Kinch

 Paula Estrada vs. Kayana Rain

 Maria Saurez vs. Jolene Blackshear

The ESPN "Friday Night Fights" telecast begins Friday January 9, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PST from the Chumash Resort Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. 

Tickets priced $35, $50, $65, $85, and $95 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Chumash Casino Box office or online at HERE.  Doors open at 5:00 P.M, first fight starts at 5:30 P.M. 

WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LEO SANTA CRUZ L.A. MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES AND PHOTOS

Popular Unbeaten 122-Pound World Champion Defends Against Jesus Ruiz in Co-Feature on Saturday, Jan. 17, Live on SHOWTIME®  From MGM Grand in Las Vegas; WBC Heavyweight World Champion Bermane Stiverne Risks Title Against No. 1 Contender Deontay Wilder  In Main Event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Tripleheader Tickets on Sale Now!!! CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS PHOTO CREDIT:  Craig Bennett - Hoganphotos/SHOWTIME   CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2015) - Undefeated WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 KOs) of Los Angeles participated in a jam-packed open media workout Thursday at Who's Next Boxing Academy as he continues to prepare for his title defense against Mexico's Jesus "Estrella" Ruiz (33-5-5, 22 KOs) onSaturday, Jan. 17, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 12-round, 122-pound world title fight will serve as the co-feature of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader highlighted by the eagerly awaited heavy-duty showdown between WBC Heavyweight World Champion Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), a Haitian native fighting out of Las Vegas, and unbeaten knockout specialistDeontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala. In the opening bout of the Jan. 17 telecast, promising world-ranked and undefeated super lightweight Amir "Young Master" Imam (15-0, 13 KOs), of Albany N.Y. will face hard-hitting Fidel "The Atrisco Kid" Maldonado Jr. (19-2, 16 KOs) of Albuquerque N.M., in a 10-round match. Tickets for an event co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions are on sale and priced at $500, $350, $250, $125 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Santa Cruz worked out for 45 minutes on Thursday. He shadow-boxed, hit the mitts, did calisthenics, jumped rope and did stretching exercises as live Norteno music blared in the background. Below is what the champion Santa Cruz, his father/trainer Jose Santa Cruz and his brother/co-trainer Antonio Santa Cruz said at the workout:   LEO SANTA CRUZ, WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion "Right now I am focused on this fight. I want to get this fight over with and get the win. We trained really hard to get this fight. Ruiz is a great fighter, a tough fighter. I think he has fought for a world title already. I know he always comes prepared to win and give a great show.   "Ruiz has fought good fighters and shown that he has talent and determination. I don't take him lightly or any other fighter. Sometimes the fighters they say are lazier are the ones that give you a tougher fight and a loss.   "I feel bad for all the people talking, but if they were in my shoes they would understand. I want the Rigondeaux fight, but the promoters have not come to an agreement. If it was up to me, I would fight him whenever. I am tired of people telling me that I am scared. I am looking for that fight as soon as possible, he is not invisible. I think I have a chance to beat him. I know he is a tough fighter, but that's what we are here for, to fight the best.   "We are going to keep pushing for a fight with Abner Mares or Rigondeaux, have the promoters make that fight as soon as possible, so all the fans can be happy.    "I think if I can fight Mares, it will be a big pay-per-view event here at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.   "Having my father as my trainer is the best for us. We do get into arguments, but they never last too long. Maybe one day we will get mad at each other, but then we talk as if nothing happened. I always try and concentrate and listen to him the best I can. He is the one I have always worked best with. There is more communication with him.   "My family is small so we always went into the gym together; we live in the same house together. We have always been together. We go fishing together, bowling, everything.   "I think because of my family support and my friends I have been able to stay calm and patient. I think of all the positive things and what I want to do to give a better fight."     JOSE SANTA CRUZ, Father and Lead Trainer "All of Leo's fights are always different. He never does the same thing over again. When it comes to training, there are small details we change, but nothing major. We might do weightlifting this camp, and not do weightlifting last camp, just stuff like that.   "Leo and I have an understanding that whoever we are fighting, we train for 100 percent all the time. The fact he is not fighting Mares or Rigondeaux, those are down the road and will happen. A fight with Rigondeaux does not excite me though because I know when he feels pressure or the heat, he is going to grab hold or run. I am not interested in fighting him. I would like to fight Mares or whoever else though, no problem. I do not like Rigondeaux's style and neither does the public. The only ones who want that fight are the Rigondeaux camp and his fans.   "Leo is a great kid; he respects me, looks up to me and listens to me. That is why I am here training him. This is what Leo wants. I know there are better trainers than me out there, but this is what Leo likes and what he wants and it has been working out.   "I am not surprised my sons are fighters. I knew they would all be good great fighters. What I am surprised about is how the fans and the public have received the Santa Cruz family and especially the way they appreciate Leo.   "Since day one, when Leo started training at 8-years-old, the people and I saw that Leo had what it took. He was already beating little kids in the gym. I knew he would be something special. I knew that more about Leo than any of this other brothers. Leo is known for his volume punching but he is a good technical fighter too.''     ANTONIO SANTA CRUZ, Brother and Co-Trainer "There is no difference in Leo's training for this fight. He always trains the same way. He trains very hard. We will teach him more combinations, but that is really it. "I have been an assistant trainer for almost three years. My father has been Leo's main trainer since the beginning.   "My father got my brothers and me into fighting. When he first came to the United States, he went to a boxing gym and from there, he started to like it. He used to say that as soon as he had a kid, 'I am going to put him in boxing.' I'm the oldest, so he put me into boxing first.    "I am not surprised at Leo's success, but very happy.,We have a good working relationship; he is very good at listening to me and taking orders.''   # # # SHOWTIME Sports® will present ALL ACCESS: STIVERNE VS. WILDERtomorrowFriday, Jan. 9 at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. "RETURN TO GLORY":  STIVERNE VS. WILDER, a 12-round fight for Stiverne's WBC Heavyweight Championship taking place Saturday, Jan. 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions.  In the 12-round co-feature, unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz defends against Jesus Ruiz and undefeated Amir Imam meets Fidel Maldonado Jr. in a 10-round super lightweight bout. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., and will air live on SHOWTIME® (10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (8:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). For more information visit www.donking.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com andwww.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @BStiverne, @BronzeBomber, @SHOSports and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog athttp://theboxingblog.sho.com/.