Jonathan Batista: Teddy Atlas is the Reason I am Back in USA This Friday!

Dominican welterweight boxer Jonathan Batista is a brave man. Not only will he face his toughest opponent to date, former world champion Kermit "El Asesino" Cintron, in this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised 10-round welterweight co-main event, but he will be also be fighting in the USA for the second time, after having been outright robbed of a victory in his first trip Stateside. Last April at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and live on Friday Night Fights, Batista made his American debut as a fighter by taking on Ghana's Emmanuel Lartei Lartey and solidly out-boxing his tough foe, only to lose a bizarre unanimous, near shutout, six-round decision. The loss was, at first, a devastating blow to his career... until Batista was later able to watch the broadcast and hear ESPN boxing expert Teddy Atlas's commentary on the fight. "After hearing Teddy Atlas's translation of the commentary, it gave me more confidence in my boxing career. I was robbed and Teddy made that clear for everyone. I was extremely disappointed, but then hearing Teddy, who is very knowledgeable, say that I won the fight, it gave me my confidence back. He is a hero in the Dominican for his honesty. After hearing him, I felt a lot better and that's why I'm in this tough fight and feeling as though I am still undefeated." Batista (14-1, 7 KOs) and Cintron (33-5-2, 28 KOs) will collide this Friday night (August 2) at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, in the chief support bout to the explosive 10-round featherweight main event between former interim WBA Featherweight Champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) and former Cuban Olympian Luis "La Estrella" Franco (11-1, 7 KOs). The night of world-class boxing is being presented by Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing (in association with Tony Holden Productions and the Buffalo Run Casino) and will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+ andWatchESPN. Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available here or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm. "I believe he'll be my stepping stone to becoming better-known to the American public," said Batista of a victory over Cintron. "I still believe he's dangerous; he was a great fighter, but now is my time and he will get knocked out." Batista says he's had an "amazing" training camp and is ready to begin making a name for himself. And as far as the travesty in Atlantic City... he's over it, thanks to Teddy Atlas. "I believe that justice has been done with me and that fight and I have full confidence in the judges in Oklahoma.  I'm ready to fight 10 rounds, but I will be there going for the knockout."

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 it's 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.

Fortuna Planning on Early Night Against Franco. Setting His Sights Next on Gamboa!

Former interim WBA Featherweight Champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) says after destroying his next opponent, Cuban featherweight Luis "La Estrella" Franco (11-1, 7 KOs), he would consider moving up in weight and setting his sights on another Cuban fighter, Yuriorkis Gamboa. The explosive Fortuna will meet Franco in the ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised 10-round main event of a night of world-class boxing, presented by Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing (in association with Tony Holden Productions and the Buffalo Run Casino) on Friday, August 2, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma. In the televised 10-round welterweight co-main event, former world champion Kermit "El Asesino" Cintron (33-5-2, 28 KOs) will take on tough Dominican Jonathan Batista (14-1, 7 KOs). Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm. "I have a lot of respect for Franco for having the courage to face me, but I'm going to do to him just like I did with Yuandale Evans (TKO 1) and Cristobal Cruz (TKO 2) and Miguel Zamudio (KO 1). It will end the same say. Viewers will love it. I understand to be successful in boxing, you have to be very aggressive and that's what I plan to be." Fortuna has made up his mind. The fight with Franco is contracted at 128 lbs. and immediately after, he will look to challenge another Cuban fighter, multi-world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa at 130 lbs. "I leave it to my promoter Sampson Lewkowicz to get the fight done, but that's who I want to knock out after Franco. Hopefully Gamboa will have the same courage to face me as Franco. Fortuna says he's not sure exactly how Franco will fall, only that he will most certainly fall. "Franco is tough with a lot of experience. He'll try to move away from me in the first few rounds. That's what I expect. He will try anything to avoid me. My job will be to not let him past the third round. And I plan on doing my job."

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 it's 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.

Franco Positive He Will Defeat Fortuna!

Cuban Olympian Franco to Face Dominican Dynamite Fortuna on ESPN FridayNight Fights on August 2 in Miami, Oklahoma Well-known trainer Jorge Rubio says his fighter, Cuban featherweight Luis "La Estrella" Franco (11-1, 7 KOs) knows exactly how to, and his positive he will, beat former interim WBA Champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) when the two meet on Friday, August 2 at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma. Franco and Fortuna will clash in the ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised 10-round main event of a night of world-class boxing, presented by Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing (in association with Tony Holden Productions and the Buffalo Run Casino). And in the televised 10-round welterweight co-main event, former world champion Kermit "El Asesino" Cintron (33-5-2, 28 KOs) will take on tough Dominican Jonathan Batista (14-1, 7 KOs). Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm. Rubio, a former trainer of the Cuban national amateur boxing team, who has worked with numerous professional fighters including Guillermo Rigondeaux and Amir Khan, says Fortuna's ambush style and southpaw stance won't work against Franco like they have in the past. "Fortuna doesn't have as much experience. Luis Franco is a former Cuban Olympian," he explained. "The amateur experience he's had, he's fought all over the world and has all the tools to handle every style. Luis has fought many southpaws and knows what to do with them. He's sure he's going to win this fight and so am I." Rubio, who has known the fighter since he was 13, says he and Franco have been doing some very focused and intense work at his Xtream Boxing Gym in Hialeah, Florida. "He'll be 100% for the fight; I'm putting all my attention on Luis right now because if he wins, it'll be good for him. He's training hard, moving well. He has tremendous speed and he wants to win so bad that he's had a great preparation. At 31-years old, Franco needs a win if he is to ever reach the potential he had as one of the world's best amateurs. He suffered his first pro defeat in his last fight, losing a close split decision in an IBF World Championship Eliminator against Argentina's Mauricio Javier Munoz in Argentina. "It's very important for him and me to win this fight," continued Rubio. "If he wins, he can fight for a championship, but if he loses, he'll have a problem landing big fights in the future. He must win this fight." Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm.

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 it's 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.

Fortuna to Face Franco in Featherweight War! ESPN Friday Night Fights in Miami, Oklahoma

On Friday, August 2, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing (in association with Tony Holden Productions and the Buffalo Run Casino) will proudly present an ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised night of boxing featuring a high-octane featherweight explosion between two of the best fighters in the 126-lb. division. In a 10-round main event with Fight of the Year potential, former interim WBA Champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) of the Dominican Republic will face Miami via Havana's Luis "La Estrella" Franco (11-1, 7 KOs). And in the televised 10-round welterweight co-main event, former world champion Kermit "El Asesino" Cintron (33-5-2, 28 KOs) will take on tough Dominican Jonathan Batista (14-1, 7 KOs). Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available here or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. One of boxing's brightest young stars, 23-year-old Fortuna's sledgehammer fists have helped him become known for producing highlight-reel knockouts. In his last appearance, the WBC #6, WBA #11 and IBF #5-rated slugger demolished world-rated Mexican Miguel Zamudio in 1:08 of the first round. Zamudio was unconscious for several frightening minutes after absorbing Fortuna's whirlwind fury. Amazingly fast and agile in the ring, 31-year-old Luis Franco has long been considered a blue-chip prospect in boxing.  The 2004 Olympian and former amateur junior world champion has now reached a point where he must realize that potential. Franco came up short in his last fight, losing a close split decision in an IBF World Championship Eliminator against Argentina's Mauricio Javier Munoz in Argentina. A victory over Fortuna, however, would propel the skillful Cuban back into the thick of the featherweight title picture. 33-year-old Kermit Cintron has returned to his natural weight of 147 lbs. and will look to continue his comeback. Cintron holds victories over the formidable Alfredo Angulo and Lovemore Ndou and once fought to a draw with pound-for-pound entrant and current middleweight king Sergio Martinez. Cintron's only losses have come to the world's best fighters and he remains a solid top contender with anvils in his fists and the will to return to boxing's elite status. Dominican boxer/puncher Jonathan Batista is part of the group of talented fighters coming out of his homeland and led by Fortuna. Batista's only loss was a highly disputable decision to rugged African Emmanuel Lartei Lartey on the undercard of Fortuna vs. Zamudio. It was his first trip outside the Dominican Republic. In that fight, Batista showed solid defense and good hand speed, as he out-boxed Lartei Lartey for most of the fight. "Fortuna vs. Franco looks like it could be an unforgettable fight," said Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. "Fortuna is so strong it's scary and Franco is unbelievably fast with a great chin. It's the irresistible force against the immovable object. Something's got to give and it'll be a cliffhanger to see what happens. What we all already know is it's going to be a fantastic fight." "Kermit Cintron is looking to become a champion again, but he will not get past my guy Batista," said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. "I have carefully put together a wave of boxers from the Dominican and they are all now coming of age. This victory over Cintron will be the first of many big name wins for Batista. They are both fearless fighters and it will almost surely be a war while it lasts." Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available here or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm.

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 it's 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.

GARY SHAW PRODUCTIONS WINS PURSE BID TO PROMOTE FRANCO vs. RUSSELL JR.

May 31, 2012 - Today a purse bid took place at the IBF convention in Honolulu Hawaii and Gary Shaw Productions has outbid Golden Boy Promotions garnering the right to promote an IBF elimination bout between # 3 Luis Franco (11-0, 7 KOs) and #12 Gary Russell Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs).  The winner will be the mandatory to fight current belt holder, Australian, Billy "The Kid" Dibb (34-1, 21 KOs) for the IBF featherweight championship of the world. The winning bid was $220,000.

 "Luis Franco is a great fighter with a tremendous amount of talent," said promoter Gary Shaw. "He beat Yuriorkis Gamboa twice in the amateurs and I know he'll beat Russell in the pros.  Franco brings an electrifying style to the ring and the fans are going to see the best Cuban fighter in action when he steps in the ring with Russell. The winner of this fight will be the new star in the featherweight division."