TOP RISING TALENT TO STEP INTO THE RING ON SHOWTIME EXTREME® TELECAST IN ADVANCE OF OCT. 26 IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN BERNARD HOPKINS AND KARO MURAT

SHOWTIME EXTREME®Line-Up Includes Puerto Rico's Braulio Santos and Robert Easter and Dominic Wade in Competitive Matchups Live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Oct. 21) - Before the legendary Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins defends his IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship against top contender Karo Murat on Saturday, Oct. 26, top talent from the East Coast and Puerto Rico will open the event on SHOWTIME EXTREME® and put their stellar records on the line against hungry opponents looking to make a name for themselves at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Taking to the ring in undercard action will be unbeatens Zachary Ochoa, Robert Easter, Dominic Wade and Bryan Cruz, as well as Puerto Rican prospect Braulio Santos. With a perfect 4-0 (3 KO's) record thus far as a pro, Brooklyn's Zachary Ochoa is making plenty of noise in the area.  Returning to the site of his first-round knockout of Michael Salcido last November, Ochoa recently scored a shutout four-round decision over Calvin Smith in April. He will face York, Alabama's Michael J. Doyle (2-5, 1 KO) in a four-round junior welterweight bout. In a six-round contest, it's a clash of featherweight prospects when Carolina, Puerto Rico's Braulio Santos (10-1, 9 KO's) faces San Diego's David "Thunder" Clark (6-2, 4 KO's).  The 23-year-old Santos is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career against Derrick Wilson in June, while two-time U.S. Olympic team alternate Clark has won four straight dating back to 2011. One of the most highly anticipated bouts on the undercard will pit Toledo, Ohio's Robert Easter (7-0, 7 KO's) against 22-year-old Noel Echevarria (11-1, 6 KO's), who hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina by way of Guayama, Puerto Rico, in an eight-round lightweight bout.  The 22-year-old Easter has made short work of his professional opposition, only entering the third round once. The southpaw Echevarria gave unbeaten Emanuel Gonzalez a tough go in his last bout on September 30, earning him another big fight against Easter. The only thing that kept Largo, MD's Dominic Wade (12-0, 9 KO's) from participating in the 2008 Olympics was his age.  The four-time Golden Gloves champion was undeterred and turned pro in 2009.  Now the 23-year-old is one of the top super middleweight prospects in the game. On Oct. 26, he will face Tabasco, Mexico's Roberto Ventura in an eight-round bout. Opening the event, will be two up and comers, as Port Chester, NY junior lightweight Bryant Cruz (7-0, 5 KO's) and Newburgh, New York's junior welterweight Wellington Romero, who will make his professional debut, will face opponents to be named in six and four round contests, respectively. Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins' IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T.  In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout.  Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown.  The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow on Twitter at @goldenboyboxing,@THEREALBHOP, @MURATKARO, @TeamSauerland, @KidChocolate, @KingGabRosado, @BronzeBomber and #HopkinsMurat; or become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Boxing Facebook Page orBernard Hopkins Facebook Page.  Follow SHOWTIME Sports at www.sports.sho.com,Facebook atwww.facebook.com/SHOboxingand on Twitter @shosports.  Follow Caesars Atlantic City on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity and on Twitter @CaesarsAC.

Silver opportunity for Derrick Wilson Saturday vs. Robinson Castellanos in Mexico

SHS BOXING MANAGEMENT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 17, 2013) - Former U.S. amateur standout Derrick Wilson (10-4-2, 3 KOs), coming off a sensational upset of previously unbeaten prospect Braulio Santos this past June, has the opportunity of his young professional career this Saturday night in Tulum, Mexico, challenging World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver featherweight champion Robinson "Robin Hood" Castellanos (18-9, 11 KOs) in the 12-round main event. Wilson, fighting out of Fort Myers (FL), was a 2004 National Silver Gloves champion, winning 50 of 57 amateur bouts with all of his losses coming in national competition. The 24-year-old resurrected his boxing career by upsetting Santos (10-0), something he's become quite adept at having shocked Charlie Huerta (11-0) in 2009, by way of a first-round knockout. "I think this fight will be easier for me than my last," Wilson said.  "My last fight was hard, a real challenge, against an undefeated fighter.  This guy (Castellanos) has already tasted losing before.  I'm more talented than him, skill-wise, and he doesn't have the power or speed to stay up with me.  My skills will overpower him." Castellanos, rated No. 2 by the WBC, has won his last 10 fights in a row. He captured his WBC Silver title belt in 2011, stopping Alberto Garza (23-4-1) in the eighth round, and has successfully defended his title six times.  His last fight was a win by 12-round split decision over Celestino Caballero (36-4) last April. "I know if I win this fight," Wilson remarked, "it'll open a lot of doors for me. But I'm just thinking about this fight itself.  I have too many other things going on in my life and can't afford to think about what ifs.  He (Castellanos) is just another person in the ring with me." Wilson's manager, Si Stern, hopes Castellanos is looking past Wilson, ahead to a Mexican showdown with newly crowned WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez. "This is a great opportunity for Derrick," Stern commented.  "He got this shot because of his last fight.  Derrick is a young, very good fighter who has turned his career around since getting back with his amateur coach, Larry Wills, who has gotten Derrick fully focused.  He's a completely different fighter now.  We have to give credit to Golden Boy Promotions.  Wilson isn't signed with them, but Golden Boy liked what they saw in Derrick, and gave him this opportunity. If Derrick fights the way he did in his last fight, he'll win Saturday night, positioning him to fight the top featherweights in the world."

'Tank' returns to spoil Football player's boxing dream

Sherman Williams takes on Gerald Washington Saturday night

Sherman "Tank" Williams   KEY WEST, Fla. (June 5, 2013) - The incomparable Sherman "Tank" Williams has taken his act across the country to Carson, California for Saturday night's eight round fight against former professional football player Gerald Washington (7-0, 5 KOs), at Home Depot Center. Williams-Washington is on the undercard of a Golden Boy Promotions event, headlined by a major fight between Marcus Maidana and Joselito Lopez, which is airing on Showtime Championship Boxing. A year ago, Williams (35-12-2, 19 KOs), a bonafide Bahamian sports legend, traveled halfway around the world to Macau, China to defeat Chauncy "Hillyard Hammer" Welliver (53-5-5, 20 KOs) for the WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Asian Boxing Council Championships.  Williams' last fight was a loss by decision last November to undefeated heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (17-0) in Finland. The 40-year-old Williams has an overwhelming advantage in experience over the 31-year-old Washington in terms of professional fights (50 to 7), rounds fought (280-19), and quality opponents (Williams has fought world champions Evander Holyfield, Ruslan Chagaev and Al Cole, as well as contenders Manuel Charr and Jameel McCline.).  "He must feel that he has the goods to beat me," Williams said.  "Fight night I will unleash 'Tank' in the ring.  I'm happy and confident in myself.  I'm focused on this fight and taking care of business.  I'm bringing the 'Conch Punch' (overhand right) but I won't throw it too much because my opponent will start holding if I throw it out of proportion. "I'm coming to fight, like I always do.  I'm going to do my thing, fighting on guts and determination. I'm not sure if he boxed a lot before his football career, but he's an athlete like me, and I respect him for that.  He's big (6' 5" and 240+ pounds) but I've fought a lot of big guys during my career." A certified chef and ordained minister, Williams has seen it all in boxing during his up-and-down pro career, spanning 16 years.  "Boxing has turned my life around," Williams explained.  "I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly, but boxing has been good to me.  It saved my life because I was on a destructive path when I was young.  All I did at 17 was play rugby and get into fights. I've travelled the world and have a different perspective on life because of boxing. "I've kept myself in good shape and I have a lot left.  This will be my fourth fight with (two-time world champion) John David Jackson as my head trainer. We have a good relationship.  He's realistic, not about ego, and that's because he's done it (fought professionally) himself. I also had two other world champion fighters, Eddie Mustapha Muhammad and 'Buddy' McGirt, as my trainer in the past.  We have good chemistry.  John David and I are both students of the game, very knowledgeable, and we often have great boxing conversations." Williams' manager, Si Stern (SHS Management), appreciates "Tank" and firmly believes in him.  "I really believe that, not only will 'Tank' win this fight, he's going to take him apart.  They aren't in the same class and he's never fought anybody like Sherman.  'Tank' is a helluva fighter, tough as they come, and that's why none of the top rated heavyweights want to fight him.  People saw what he was doing to Holyfield before he quit.  John David told me Sherman is in the best shape of his life." Wilson upsets Santos Another of Stern's fighter, Derrick Wilson, resurrected his career by pulling off a major upset last Saturday night in the main event on a show in Sunrise, Florida. Wilson (10-4-2, 3 KOs) dropped previously undefeated featherweight Braulio Santos (10-1, 9 KOs) in the ninth round en route to a win by unanimous 10-round decision (96-93, 96-93, 95-94).

Crossroads fight for Derrick Wilson

Saturday vs. undefeated Braulio Santos in Sunrise, FL

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 27, 2013) - The once promising career of former amateur standout Derrick Wilson (9-4-2, 3 KOs) is at the crossroads for his 10-round main event fight this Saturday night against undefeated featherweight Braulio Santos (10-0, 9 KOs) in Sunrise, Florida. Wilson, fighting out of Fort Myers (FL), was a 2004 National Silver Gloves champion. He won 50 of 57 amateur bouts, all losses coming in national competition, but he's been relegated to the "B" side as an opponent throughout most of his professional career. "I took a different route than usual because I didn't have the right backing," Wilson explained. "I come from a small town, Fort Myers, and after my first pro fight I signed with a manager who brought me to Miami. I left my trainer, Larry Wills, who taught me everything, and went from trainer to trainer. I was young and living by myself in Miami. I've been through a lot but I'm back working with Coach Larry. The 24-year-old won his first four pro fights, drew on the road with unbeaten (6-0-1) Kermit Gonzalez, and then registered his most significant victory thus far against 11-0 Charles Huerta in Los Angeles. Wilson showed his promise by stopping Huerta in the opening round, after which he signed a contract with Golden Boy Promotions. "I was supposed to lose to Huerta," Wilson said. "All the hype was about him but I won that fight in his hometown. I took it on short notice but knew that I was going to win. I just didn't give him a chance. I missed an overhand right, blocked a punch as I pulled back, and then I hit him with a left hook that made his whole body shake." Unaware of same-day weigh-ins in Pennsylvania versus Philadelphia, Wilson was weak when he entered the ring in Philadelphia versus Guadalupe De Leon (7-9), and he proceeded to lose a four-round split decision. Wilson then fought another draw on the road, to Adam Ocha, followed with a win by four-round decision over Samuel Sanchez. Next up was a fight in Denver against 7-0 Ricky Lopez, who was decked in the opening round, en route to a loss by six-round decision. Four months later, Wilson avenged his loss to DeLeon, taking one-sided eight round decision in Florida, which set-up a World Boxing Council Youth Intercontinental title fight against future Puerto Rican world champion, Javier Fortuna. Fortuna (13-0, 10 KOs) knocked out a game Wilson in the eighth round. "I had no business being in that fight with Fortuna," Wilson admitted. "I had trained only two weeks, not knowing he was left-handed and sparring right-handers. It was a close fight until it stopped." Wilson bounced back with a first-round technical knockout of Mario Lacey, but Derrick has lost his last two fights against Alejandro Perez (15-3-1) and Luis Rosa (11-0), respectively, by eighth-round knockout and eight-round decision. "This is a great fight for him," Wilson's manager Si Stern noted about Saturday's match-up versus Santos. "I give Golden Boy credit. Things didn't work out when they signed Derrick but they still think enough of him to put him in the main event against their undefeated prospect. When Derrick has his mind straight, he's one helluva fighter who is very tough. If he wins this fight, the sky's the limit." Four of upset-minded Wilson's nine victories have come against undefeated opponents. He's determined to turn his career around by defeating another unbeaten opponent, hard-hitting Santos, this Saturday evening. "People haven't seen the real me, yet, but they will in this fight," Wilson concluded. "This is my first fight back with my coach. I'm sharp with speed and quickness; my speed will confuse him. I won't be loading up like I have in the past. A win will boost me up. I'm going in as the opponent but I'm not going to be used as a stepping-stone anymore. "I never had people picking the right opponents for me like some fighters. I wasn't in a position to turn down fights. I took some on late notice and fought in everybody's backyard. Now, I have Si as my manager. I need to prove myself to get on the 'A' side and this fight could do that for me."

UNBEATEN HUGO CENTENO JR. WINS UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEANDRAE LEATHERWOOD, UNDEFEATED BRAULIO SANTOS SCORES SMASHING 56-SECOND, FIRST-ROUND KNOCKOUT WIN OVER KEVIN HOSKINS ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FROM FANTASY SPRINGS CASINO RESORT IN INDIO, CALIF.

Replay Is Tuesday, March 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME

INDIO, Calif. (March 9, 2013) – Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (18-0, 9 KO’s), of Oxnard, Calif., remained undefeated with a one-sided 10-round decision victory over KeAndrae “Lightning” Leatherwood (17-3, 10 KO’s), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the main event Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME^® from Fantasy Springs Casino Resort in Indio, Calif.

In the co-feature, promising Puerto Rican power-puncher Braulio “Unstoppable” Santos, of Carolina, P.R., improved to 10-0 with nine knockouts with a spectacular 56-second, first-round knockout of Kevin Hoskins (7-2, 5 KO’s), of Los Angeles.

Centeno, an up-and-coming junior middleweight going 10-rounds for the first time, was triumphant by the scores of 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91.  There were no knockdowns.

Said ShoBox ringside analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood afterward, “Centeno clearly won every round and showed that he can be effective whether he’s coming forward or backing up.  He’s only 22 and there’s still work to be done in terms of developing more punching power and defending himself without dropping his hands, but he went 10 rounds for the first time and finished impressively for an easy win.”

The 6-foot-1½-inch Centeno, a former amateur standout, was happy with the victory, but unhappy with the way the fight played out.

 “I really felt I could have done a lot more, but every time I connected with a good shot or started to get something going, he would hold on to me,” he said.  “The way he was grabbing hold of me it seemed at times it was more wrestling than boxing.  Every time I’d land a good punch, he’d hold, or try and take me down.  The worst thing that happened to me was when he got me in a choke hold.

“It was frustrating.  Every time I thought I had him, he’d hold, and I definitely felt I was hurting him. In the last round I really wanted to take him out, but he just kept holding me.  Overall, I did the best I could under the circumstances.

“I know I have to continue to work in the gym because I want to take it to the next level.  I want to continue to step it up a notch in opposition.  That I went 10 rounds in this type of fight showed how well prepared I was.  My team really had me in great condition and I thank them for that.”

Santos, a featherweight, demolished Hoskins with a double left hook to the body and to the chin.

“Santos’ knockout was spectacular,” Farhood said. “His form in throwing the double left hook that ended the fight was perfect.  For a fighter who hadn’t previously received any kind of TV exposure to make the kind of splash he did guarantees a return to the airwaves.”

Santos, 23, was surprised the match ended so abruptly.  “I certainly didn’t expect it to end this fast,” he said.  “I was doing my work.”

Hoskins had spent the last two days, Santos says, trying to intimidate him.  “He tried to get in my face during the weigh-in, talking all kinds of stuff to me,’” said Santos, who was a member of the Puerto Rican National team for two years before turning pro in February 2011.  “But I didn’t let it get to me.  I didn’t care.  It’s what happens in the ring that counts, not what you say or do before.

“There’s no extra pleasure beating him like I did.  I was just doing my job.  I am very, very happy, though, and ready to do it again.  I just fought two weeks ago.  With tonight’s fast fight, I’ll be ready to go in another two weeks.”

Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as the expert analysts.

The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughanproducing and Rick Phillips directing.

Friday’s event was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona withSantos vs. Hoskins being presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.  The doubleheader will re-air the first time this week as follows:

            DAY                                                                 CHANNEL

Tuesday, March 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT                       SHOWTIME EXTREME

The twinbill will be available ON DEMAND beginning today, Saturday, March 9.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.fantasyspringsresort.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/HugoBoss805 andwww.twitter.com/fantasysprings and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/fantasysprings.  For information on SHOWTIME, visit http://Sports.SHO.com, www.twitter.com/SHOsports and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

FINAL QUOTES & WEIGHTS: HUGO CENTENO JR. & KEANDRAE LEATHERWOOD, BRAULIO SANTOS & KEVIN HOSKINS

ShoBox: The New Generation Doubleheader

Airs Tomorrow, Friday, March 8 Live on SHOWTIME^® at 11 p.m. ET/PT

From Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

Tickets Still Available!

INDIO, Calif. (March 7, 2013) - The four boxers who will compete on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow, Friday, March 8, live on SHOWTIME^® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) made weight on their first attempts Thursday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

Promising unbeaten junior middleweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (17-0, 9 KO’s) of Oxnard, Calif., faces KeAndrae “Lightning” Leatherwood (17-2, 10 KO’s), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the main event at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Centeno tipped the scale at the division-limit of 154 pounds while Leatherwood weighed 153.4 pounds.

In an eight-round collision of junior lightweights in the ShoBox co-feature, Braulio“Unstoppable” Santos (9-0, 8 KO’s), of Carolina, P.R., risks his unbeaten record against Kevin “Hostile” Hoskins (7-1, 5 KO’s), of Los Angeles.  Santos weighed127.4 pounds and Hoskins 127.6 pounds. 

The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Coronawith Santos vs. Hoskins being presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT with the first bell at 5:15 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Barry Tompkins will call the action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts.  The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillipsdirecting.

What the fighters said Thursday at the weigh in:

HUGO CENTENO JR.

“This is such an awesome opportunity I’m getting on Friday and I’m ready to take advantage of it.  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to get here this fast.  I definitely thought it would take me longer to headline my first fight card on a big television network like SHOWTIME.

“I’m not nervous at all; I know I’m well prepared because my training camp went great.  I really want to thank all my sparring partners for the great work they gave me, including (WBO Middleweight World Champion) Peter Quillin.

“The last few weeks I split my time where I sparred.  I worked three days a week inOxnard and three days a week at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.

“I know Leatherwood is a strong fighter and I’m definitely not underestimating him. Going in, my focus is on what I do best, my game plan and not on what he does or can do.  I want to make him fight my fight.

“I’m definitely ready to seize the moment.”

KEANDRAE LEATHERWOOD

“I look at this fight as not only a great opportunity for me, but as my coming out party.  This is the kind of fight I’ve been waiting for.  A win opens all kinds of new doors for me.

“I want to thank my promoter, Boxing 360, for helping me get to this position, Golden Boy for giving me my chance of a lifetime and SHOWTIME for giving me the chance to display my skills on network television.

“I don’t know much about Centeno.  He’s a mystery to me.  It doesn’t matter who I’m up against, my mindset is to seek and destroy.”

BRAULIO SANTOS

“I’m very happy to be fighting on SHOWTIME and for the exposure this fight will give me.  This is the biggest opportunity of my career.  I plan to be at my best.

“I’ve only seen a couple of videos of my opponent.  I know he has good power, but I have power, too.  When the bell rings, I will just do my work.

“I’m one of many Puerto Rican prospects coming up who wants to become a world champion.  Right now, there’s only one current world champion who was born inPuerto Rico and that’s (Ramon) Rocky Martinez.  With all the talent out there,Puerto Rico should have more than one home-grown champion.

“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions.  It’s because of them that I am on this card after fighting just two weeks ago.  I love that I am fighting again so soon.”

KEVIN HOSKINS

“Obviously this is a great opportunity for me and I’m excited about fighting on SHOWTIME.  I train hard all the time.  I don’t know much about Santos, but I don’t need to know much.  When I sign for a fight, I know it’s time to go to work.

“I’m looking forward to going to work on Friday.”