'Rock City Cobra' Samuel Rogers Feeling Ready to Take on 'Latin Snake' Sergio Mora this Saturday, May 31, at DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing's 'REAL FIGHTS' at Tropicana in Las Vegas

U.S. Virgin Islands-based middleweight contender Samuel "Rock City Cobra" Rogers says he's ready for the biggest fight of his career this Saturday, May 31. Rogers (14-1, 8 KOs) will face former WBA junior middleweight world champion and "The Contender" champion, WBA #10-rated Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora (25-3-2, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder that will serve as the chief supporting bout on DiBella Entertainment's and Sampson Boxing's (in association with Right Hook Promotions) event entitled "Real Fights" in the Tropicana Pavilion at the New Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas. The co-main events that night will be telecast live on HBO Latino and HBO2 (12 midnight [ET/PT]) and feature a 10-round super featherweight battle between Dominican former world champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (24-0-1, 18 KOs) and heavy-handed Mexican contender Juan Antonio Rodriguez (26-4, 23 KOs), as well as an "All Puerto Rico" 10-round super bantamweight war between undefeated Luis Rosa (16-0, 7 KOs)  and Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle (18-1, 13 KOs). Tickets for "Real Fights" are priced at $85, $65 and $37 (plus applicable taxes). They are available for purchase online (www.troplv.com), in person at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk or by phone (800-829-9034). Rogers knows he'll be coming in as the underdog in this bout, as he suffered his first professional loss in his last fight, a 10-round decision to Argentina's Carlos Adan Jerez, in Argentina, last February. But says it's a role he is looking forward to playing in this battle of "serpentine" middleweights. How did training go for this fight? Training was awesome. We stepped it up and brought in guys from Puerto Rico and Spain for sparring. Long and lanky guys, who don't do a lot of punching but are explosive and sharp. They were all very good fighters too, not chumps I can walk over. They pushed my stamina to where I need to be, conditioning-wise. Working hard at that level put me in a new mind frame and made it seem as if I was in the fight already. My stamina is tremendous. I'm really confident and I can't wait to step in the ring. What have you learned so far about your opponent, Sergio Mora? The guy talks a lot. He has a big mouth and that's expected of him. That's how he is. I just need to stay calm and relax. For me, the fight will begin at the press conference because he'll be trying to get in my head. I have to stay poised and get ready for that bell. He's a spot fighter. He doesn't fight the whole three minutes of every round. He does bursts and then goes into a void for another minute and a half. He doesn't hit that hard. He's a technician. The one thing that is positive in his favor is he's durable. He can do ten rounds, so I'm expecting to go ten with him. If I catch him with a good punch, I'll try to stop him early. I'm looking forward to a good explosive fight. You lost your last fight. What have you learned from that experience? Staying focused, being relaxed. No matter what happens in a fight; if I'm cut or get an injury, I have to stick to the game plan and listen to my corner. They can see more than I can when I'm in there. What would a victory over Sergio Mora mean to you? It's going to put me where I need to be. I'm rated number 16 by the NABF. He's number 9. I'm going to take his spot and call out guys like Peter Quillin and Gennady Golovkin and all the champs at 160. Tell me about the support you receive from the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands? The fans back home are unbelievable. We got a lot of sponsors behind us too, too many to mention them all from memory. Everybody back home comes out and supports us. The sponsors have made it possible for me to be here with their support. I want to thank everyone from the USVI and all my sponsors. Without all of you, I wouldn't be able to do this. How do you envision this fight with Mora unfolding? He's going to get frustrated and try to come in and pressure me and wear me down, mentally. He'll try to get in my head by talking a lot of smack. I need to be aggressive, throw combinations and never back up. I need to stick to the jab, keep that telephone pole in his face all night long like Vernon Forrest did to him. ### In separate bouts, hometown favorites Rocco Santomauro (11-0) and Jesus Gutierrez (11-0) both put their unblemished record on the line when Santomauro squares off against Daniel Quevedo and Gutierrez takes on Pablo Becerra. For fight updates, visit www.dbe1.com, www.hbo.com/boxing andwww.troplv.com, Facebook (facebook.com/dibellaentertainment,facebook.com/hboboxing)and Twitter (twitter.com/dibellaent,twitter.com/loudibella, twitter.com/sampsonboxing). Tweet this: LIVE doubleheader boxing event @TropLV feat. @AbejonFortuna vs J. Rodríguez & L. Rosa vs L. Del Valle! @HBOLatino About The New Tropicana Las Vegas | TropLV.com Welcome to affordable luxury. The New Tropicana resort in Las Vegas redefines the expectations of today's global travelers with a recently completed $200 million transformation that provides a casually elegant experience on the Las Vegas Strip. With a unique South Beach vibe, the resort features all-new rooms, suites and luxury villas that evoke the sentiment of a breezy beach house or penthouse in Miami, a fresh redesign of the 50,000-square-foot casino, several award-winning restaurants, a new race and sports book, and Glow®, a Mandara Spa and fitness center. First-class entertainment includes headliners in the all-new Tropicana Theater, Laugh Factory and live music in the Tropicana Lounge. Coming spring 2014, the Tropicana Theater will be home to the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!

Undefeated Featherweight Rocco Santomauro Returns to Action on May 31 on DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing's 'REAL FIGHTS' Undercard at Tropicana in Las Vegas

You'd remember if you've ever met Vegas-based featherweight Rocco "So Cal Kid" Santomauro (11-0, 1 KO). He's the kind of guy who is hard to forget. The well-liked and colorful 26-year-old is as known for his out-of-ring antics, such as his signature move of eating cake while weighing in, as he is for his undefeated streak as a professional fighter. Originally from Hesperia, California, Santomauro moved to Vegas six years ago to pursue his dream of becoming the first world champion in history of Uruguayan heritage. Santomauro will appear on Saturday, May 31, as one of the featured undercard fighters on DiBella Entertainment's and Sampson Boxing's (in association with Right Hook Promotions) event entitled "Real Fights" in the Tropicana Pavilion at the New Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas. His opponent is, thus far, TBA. The co-main events that night will be telecast live on HBO Latino and HBO2 (12 midnight [ET/PT]) and feature a 10-round super featherweight battle between Dominican former world champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (24-0-1, 18 KOs) and heavy-handed Mexican contender Juan Antonio Rodriguez (26-4, 23 KOs), as well as an "All Puerto Rico" 10-round super bantamweight war between undefeated Luis Rosa (16-0, 7 KOs)  and Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle (18-1, 13 KOs). Tickets for "Real Fights" are priced at $85, $65 and $37 (plus applicable taxes). They are available for purchase online (www.troplv.com), in person at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk or by phone (800-829-9034). "It's a natural energy," said Santomauro of his flashy ring persona. "I watched a lot of movies growing up and always saw the hero come in with a lot of energy. When it's fight time, I bring that in with me. Its' a winning energy. I come in with the attitude to fight and win in a memorable way." Santomauro also says there's an underlying motive for his penchant for dining on the scale. "I hate making weight. About six years ago, I started working with a doctor and I learned how to diet properly. I'm at weight now a week before my fights, while other fighters are dying and suffering. I'm always light the day of the weigh-in. I could eat breakfast, but I'd rather have my meal when I step on the scale. I do it for show and to intimidate my opponent and get the psychological edge. They get very angry. Plus, the media, the commission and fans all seem to enjoy it." Born to an Argentinean mother and Uruguayan father, Santomauro says it's a funny story how he became connected with his promoter: the equally colorful Uruguayan-born Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. "My dad came to visit me in Vegas. I dropped him off at the airport to go home. My dad is crazy. He was at the airport and heard a guy on the phone speaking about boxing in Plate River Spanish, so he started following him around. At about 5:30 am I got a call from my dad and he said he met a promoter from Uruguay. I'm like '??? There's only one promoter from there, you ran into Sampson?' Next thing you know, Sampson is on the phone. He said 'you're going to be fighting for me in July on ESPN2 and that's that.' That's how it started. There are no world champions from Uruguay and Sampson shares my dream of making me the first ever." An aggressive counterpuncher, Santomauro had about 60 amateur fights and now trains at Mayweather Gym with his coaches, Pops Anderson (Samuel Peter), former world champion Cornelius Boza Edwards and his own brother, former USA #1 amateur boxer, Jason Ingwaldson, whose own promising career was cut short by unfortunate injury. "I'm in your face. Even though I don't have a lot of knockouts, anyone who knows me knows I hit very hard. I'm very aggressive. I'm the one who controls the pace of the fight. With the team I have in place and all the hard work I put in every day, I feel like I could fight the world title right now, but I need to cross a few more bridges before I get there. Hopefully by the end of next year, I'm ready to go." Whatever happens, it'll almost certainly be memorable. ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008. Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world's most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world's best fighters and most promising young contenders. Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Jesus Gutierrez to Return, May 31 on DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing's 'REAL FIGHTS' Undercard at Tropicana in Las Vegas

Undefeated Las Vegas-based lightweight Jesus "Chuy" Gutierrez (11-0, 3 KOs) is getting ready to electrify the ring once again on Saturday, May 31, when he takes on Mexico's Pablo Beccera (7-6, 4 KOs). 25-year-old Gutierrez will face Beccera on the undercard of DiBella Entertainment's and Sampson Boxing's (in association with Right Hook Promotions) event entitled "Real Fights" in the Tropicana Pavilion at the New Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas. The co-main events that night will be telecast live on HBO Latino and HBO2 (12 midnight [ET/PT]) and feature a 10-round super featherweight battle between Dominican former world champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (24-0-1, 18 KOs) and heavy-handed Mexican contender Juan Antonio Rodriguez (26-4, 23 KOs), as well as an "All Puerto Rico" 10-round super bantamweight war between undefeated Luis Rosa (16-0, 7 KOs)  and Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle (18-1, 13 KOs). Tickets for "Real Fights" are priced at $85, $65 and $37 (plus applicable taxes). They are available for purchase online (www.troplv.com), in person at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk or by phone (800-829-9034). Gutierrez, who was named the "Breakout Athlete of the Year" at the Vegas Music Awards, defeated Moris Rodriguez on April 4, at Sam's Town Hotel and Casino, in his last fight.   Born in the Mexican town of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Gutierrez's family emigrated to the US when he was still an infant. He discovered his passion for boxing after arriving in Las Vegas at age 14 and venturing into Johnny Tocco's Boxing Gym, where he met his trainer, Danny Garcia. Extremely popular in his adopted hometown, Gutierrez is also an outspoken advocate with Bully Busters 702, a local anti-bullying campaign. "I've always been a confident fighter, but it wasn't till the guys from the Mexican Olympic committee got a hold of me, that really convinced me that this boxing thing was for real," Gutierrez recalls. "This sport had strangely found me, and there is no way I'm gonna let it go. I've always stood out in everything I've done, but boxing gives me this high, this feeling which I've never felt, nor can I replace."   Gutierrez says boxing is his destiny, and he is constantly improving.  "I was born for this, and every day that passes, I get better. With the support of my family, friends, and my ambition, there is nothing that can stop me. I'm here to make my name remembered in this this sport. I can talk about it all day, but I'd rather show you." Jesus Gutierrez is promoted by Right Hook Promotions along with promotions by HustleGurl Entertainment. Also scheduled to appear on the card in a special-attraction eight-round middleweight bout will be former WBA junior middleweight world champion and "The Contender" champion, WBA #10-rated Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora (25-3-2, 8 KOs) taking on once-beaten Samuel Rogers (14-1, 8 KOs).   To view Tropicana Las Vegas hotel rates, visit www.troplv.com. ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008. Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world's most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world's best fighters and most promising young contenders. Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Disappointed Arash Usmanee Discusses Injury, Pulling out of Friday Night Fights Main Event

IBF #8-ranked Afghani-Canadian Arash Usmanee says he's very disappointed to be missing out on his scheduled main event this Friday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) was scheduled to face Mexican KO artist Juan Antonio "El Mozo" Rodriguez (25-4, 23 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight battle before suffering an injury in training earlier this week, forcing him to withdraw. "My feet got tangled in sparring. I had injured it before in my last two fights. I twisted it when my feet got tangled and I fell," explained Usmanee. "I'm babying it. It's a sprain, so it could take a while. Sometimes it heals quickly and sometimes it takes a bit. It's starting to feel better. I have to wear a brace." The timing of the injury is especially unfortunate for Usmanee, who would have liked to use the momentum of a globally televised victory on Friday Night Fights to propel him into a rematch with arch rival Rances Barthelemy, who recently won the IBF World Championship at Junior Lightweight. The pair fought to a very controversial draw in January of last year, a fight which many felt Usmanee deserved the nod. "I was excited about it. It was a good fight for me. Barthelemy just won the title. It was perfect for setting up a rematch between me and him on a bigger stage." Still Usmanee is hoping Barthelemy's words post winning the title were his true intentions . "He said he doesn't care who he fights, and that he'd fight the Lion of Damascus. Well, The Lion of Afghanistan is ready. For him, on the inside, to feel like he has that belt, he has to fight me. He has to have a win over me. With the way our last fight turned out, it's only fair I get a shot for him to feel like he's the real champion."

Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) off to a Big Start in 2014

New York-based promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions has a very busy schedule set up for the start of 2014, with several high-profile events he is either promoting or co-promoting and featuring many of his premier fighters. On Friday, January 10, Greg Cohen Promotions, DiBella Entertainment, Brian Halquist Productions, and GH3 Promotions will present "Battle at the Boat 94", in the I-5 Showroom of the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, and televised live, worldwide, by ESPN Friday Night Fights. In the 10-round super featherweight main event, IBF #8-ranked Afghani-Canadian Arash Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) will face Mexican KO artist Juan Antonio "El Mozo" Rodriguez (25-4, 23 KOs). In the televised co-feature, Zahir "Z-Man" Raheem (34-3, 21 KOs) will continue his comeback against TBA. And in a special attraction, former top cruiserweight contender Lateef "Power" Kayode (19-0, 15 KOs) will make his second appearance as a heavyweight. And then, on January 17, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee, DiBella Entertainment, in association with GH3 Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions and Prize Fight Boxing, will present an exciting quadrupleheader for the premiere of the 2014 ShoBox: The New Generation season with live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the 10-round main event, GCP's once-beaten Tony "Lightning" Luis (17-1, 7 KO's) will face Ukrainian lightweight Ivan "The Terrible" Redkach (15-0, 13 KO's). In the televised co-features, unbeaten junior middleweights John Thompson (14-0, 5 KO's) and Frank Galarza (11-0-2, 7 KO's) collide in an eight-round matchup and fast-rising and highly regarded up-and-coming prospect Antoine Douglas (11-0, 7 KO's) squares off against Marquis Davis (8-0-2, 5 KO's) in an eight-round middleweight showdown. Opening the telecast will be hard-hitting Maurice Hooker (12-0-1, 9 KOs) against an opponent TBA in an eight-round junior welterweight matchup.  On January 31, in West Orange, New Jersey and live on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights,Greg Cohen Promotions, DiBella Entertainment, and GH3 Promotions will present "Super BrawlTM", featuring Elvir "The Kosovo Kid" Muriqi (40-5, 24 KOs) taking on former world light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (33-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight bout. On the same card, Jorge Diaz (17-2) will take on undefeated Luis Rosa (15-0) in a ten-round super bantamweight bout. On the undercard, undefeated lightweight prospect Mikey Faragon (18-0, 8 KOs) will make his much-anticipated return to the ring against an opponent TBA, after recovering from major foot surgery. And finally, on February 1, Cohen's fighter, WBA #3 Jarrod Fletcher (17-1, 10 KO's), will face  WBA #1 Martin Murray (26-1-1, 11 KO's)  for the vacant WBA 160 lb. title as the co- feature of Golovkin's title defense against Osumanu Adama at the Salle des Etoiles, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. "Our fighters have been blessed with big opportunities and we've been working very hard to bring them to fruition," said Cohen. "I'd like to thank ESPN, Showtime and all my co-promoters for helping make it all happen. I look forward to a big year for GCP and its fighters and we're off to a terrific start!"

Top Super Featherweight Arash Usmanee to Face Mexican Slugger Juan Antonio Rodriguez on Friday Night Fights, January 10 at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington

On Friday, January 10, promoters Greg Cohen Promotions, DiBella Entertainment, Brian Halquist Productions, GH3 Promotions will proudly present "Battle at the Boat 94", a night of high-level professional boxing, televised live, worldwide by ESPN in the I-5 Showroom of the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. In the night's main event, IBF #8-ranked Afghani-Canadian Arash Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) will face Mexican KO artist Juan Antonio "El Mozo" Rodriguez (25-4, 23 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight battle. And in the televised co-feature, longtime top contender and Erik Morales conqueror Zahir "Z-Man" Raheem (34-3, 21 KOs), the former Philadelphian turned hometown Tacoma hero, will continue his comeback against an opponent that is TBA. On the undercard, former top cruiserweight contender Lateef "Power" Kayode (19-0, 15 KOs) will make the second appearance of his heavyweight campaign. 31-year-old Usmanee, was born in Afghanistan, is now based in Montreal, but trains in Las Vegas with former champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. He was last seen fighting to a draw with current IBF Super Featherweight Champion, Argenis Mendez, in August of 2013. In a battle many felt the aggressive Usmanee had won, the fight was declared a majority draw with one judge scoring for Usmanee. Puebla, Mexico's hard-punching southpaw Juan Antonio Rodriguez was last seen n November of this year, scoring a TKO 4 over Javier Mercado at the Centro de Convenciones IMSS, in Tlalpan, Mexico. Rodriguez has been very competitive against top level opposition including former IBF Featherweight Champion Billy Dib, but has just fallen short. The fight against Usmanee will be his chance to join the upper ranks of the division. 37-year-old Zahir "Z Man" Raheem was a top-level featherweight for many years and scored a nationally televised win over all-time-great Erik Morales and dropped a highly questionable decision to multi-world champion Acelino Freitas. He began his comeback earlier this year and has notched three victories since stepping away in 2010. He was last seen scoring an impressive TKO 2 over Tim Coleman at the Emerald Queen Casino. Undefeated 30-year-old Nigerian Lateef Kayode is best known for fighting to a draw with world champion and Roy Jones conqueror Antonio Tarver in June 2012. Kayode began campaigning as a heavyweight earlier this month and scored a devastating TKO 2 over Travis Fulton at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.  "I am happy to be working with so many great promotional firms to bring this sensational event to the fans in Tacoma. We are expecting a total sell-out, standing room only." said event promoter Greg Cohen. "Arash Usmanee is the uncrowned champion of the world and I congratulate ESPN for recognizing his importance and putting him in another main event of one of their exceptional broadcasts. The entire night will be terrific. There is also a full undercard of local prospects. I expect this to be one of the best shows of the year." "We are very excited to be working with Friday Night Fights once again," said Brian Halquist. "We have now been working with Zahir for over a year now and are absolutely ready for a national showcase. Being 3-0 with 3 knockouts, Zahir has done everything we have asked of him and more. After Zahir defeated Morales there were always questions surrounding a Raheem vs. Pacquiao fight, leaving behind some unfinished business. He belongs on the world stage and that's where we're going to take him." Tickets for "Battle at the Boat 94" are available through Ticketmaster and start at $35. All bouts are subject to change. The Emerald Queen Casino is located at 2024 E. 29th St, in Tacoma. This event will begin at 6:00 pm (PST). Visit GCPboxing.com for more information. This event is for persons 21 years of age and older. No one under 21 will be admitted.