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.

ERROL SPENCE, JR. IMPRESSES WITH RESOUNDING UNANIMOUS DECISION VICTORY OVER RONALD CRUZ

Dominic Wade Remains Unbeaten With Unanimous Decision Victory Over Nick Brinson On ShoBox: The New Generation Catch Replay Tuesday, July 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME Click HERE For Photos Credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions LAS VEGAS (June 27, 2014) - Undefeated Errol Spence, Jr. didn't lose a round and may have made the transition from prospect to contender in a dominating unanimous decision victory (100-90 three times) over the durable Ronald Cruz in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME® from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Spence (13-0, 10 KOs) was remarkably efficient with his power punches, landing 282 shots compared to Cruz's 65 at a rate of 58 percent. Looking like a potential future world champion, the 2012 U.S. Olympian was technically sound and sharp with his punches, picking apart the courageous Cruz (20-4, 15 KOs) as he went past the eighth round for the first time in his career. Conditioning certainly wasn't an issue for the 24-year-old, who threw more punches in the 10th and final round (114) than he did in any other round in the fight. "After this fight, I learned that I can go the full 10 rounds and sustain my energy for all the rounds," Spence said. "I blocked, banged, threw the punches, stayed composed, and stuck to the game plan. I came into this fight in great condition and I can attribute that to a great training camp. "I honestly thought I was going to knock him out in the sixth or seventh, but he's tough and he came to fight. I've seen his fights before and he always comes in with a lot of pride." Fighting a southpaw for the first time, it was impressive the outmatched Cruz made it to the final bell with the amount of punishment he was taking. He suffered a cut over his left eye due to accidental headbutt in the second round and another cut over the right eye from a punch in the seventh. "I don't know what went wrong in there. It was hard to see out of that eye from the cut and he kept landing that straight left. I didn't want them to stop the fight because I still thought I had a chance." ShoBox color commentator Steve Farhood couldn't think of anything bad to say about Spence following the impressive performance. "For the entire fight, we had nothing but glowing praise for Spence to the point where I felt compelled to think of a negative and I was stumped," Farhood said. "He's good technically, he's mature, and when you throw 114 punches the first time you've ever seen the 10thround nobody can question his condition either. Spence will be a contender soon and he's a star in the making." In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated middleweight prospect Dominic Wade kept his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision victory over previously once-beatenNick Brinson, scored 96-94, 97-93 twice. Wade (16-0,11 KOs), who went past six rounds for the first time in his career, was relaxed and controlled the pace from the opening bell. His speed and efficiency was the difference, as he kept Brinson (16-2-2, 6 KOs) at a distance and consistently landed power shots and combos with ease. Wade slowed a bit in the later round as he entered previously uncharted waters, but he fought carefully, kept his distance and didn't allow Brinson to disrupt his game plan. "I am happy with the way that I fought tonight," said Wade, who looked tired but unscathed. "I felt good and strong in the ring. I have been training to go the distance and I wasn't looking for a knockout. "Brinson has an awkward style but I executed my routine and plan and it worked out in my favor. I kept my left hand low because I was worried about him coming up on top of me. Overall, I am proud of my performance." After losing his first 10-round fight and coming back from the second-longest layoff of his career (8 months), Brinson was disappointed by the result. "I started a little slow tonight," Brinson said. "He clearly won the first three rounds, but I felt like I came on strong in the middle rounds, especially with the body shots. "I was the aggressor towards the end of the fight. I felt like maybe it was a draw, but the judges' didn't see it that way. I gave it my all and sometimes it just doesn't fall in your favor." While not overly impressed with his performance, Farhood thought it was a valuable learning experience for Wade. "It was a big step up for Wade and I thought that he responded reasonably well," Farhood said. "He shined in the first half of the fight, decelerated a bit in the second half, but going the 10-round distance for the first time is a huge step for someone who had fought as few rounds as he had." In a non-televised bout, undefeated light heavyweight and 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne (11-0, 8 KOs) scored a first-round TKO against Donta Woods (8-3, 7 KOs) in a fight that lasted just 91 seconds. Browne was originally scheduled to oppose Yusaf Mack(31-7, 17 KOs) on the ShoBox telecast but the fight had to be canceled after Mack failed a pre-fight blood test. Highlights of Browne's fight against Woods were shown between rounds of the co-feature fight as Browne was interviewed by Farhood. "We worked hard in this camp and it paid dividends," Browne said. "I'm starting to get comfortable and starting to get in groove. I'm young in the sport of boxing and I'm here to stay for a long time." Erislandy Lara, who faces Canelo Alvarez on SHOWTIME PPV® on Saturday, July 12, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was interviewed before the main event to talk about the biggest fight of his career and the influence that social media had on making the showdown a reality. "I've never been in a big fight like this, but thank God I'm able to control myself and deal with the cameras and the press and everything that comes with it," Lara said. "I used social media to challenge him. I knew the fans and the press would respond to that and that's how I got the fight.  "Supposedly they say he's the best at 154 pounds, but I think I'm the best.  I think it's a good thing that the best are fighting the best." As ShoBox approaches its landmark 200th telecast next month, former IBF light middleweight champion, Ishe Smith, who appeared on the series five times, was interviewed by Farhood and asked about the impact ShoBox has had on his career. "This series means everything to my career," Smith said. "I started in 2002 and it's just been a blessing to main event ShoBox four times. I went 4-1 on the series and watching Errol Spence take on a tough fighter this early in his career reminds me of when I foughtDavid Estrada when I only had 11 or 12 fights." Friday's fights will replay on Tuesday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME and On Demand through July 25.  Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside withFarhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer wasGordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

ERROL SPENCE, JR. VS. RONALD CRUZ & DOMINIC WADE VS. NICK BRINSON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS

ShoBox: The New Generation This Friday, LIVE On SHOWTIME® (9:30 p.m. ET/PT) Immediately Following The Premiere Of ALL ACCESS: Canelo vs. Lara From Hard Rock Hotel & Casino In Las Vegas Click HERE To Download Photos Photo Credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME Click HERE To Download A PDF of the Final Bout Sheet LAS VEGAS (June 26, 2014) - Undefeated welterweight prospect Errol "The Truth" Spence, Jr. weighed in at 146.6 pounds and young veteran Ronald Cruz tipped the scales at the contracted limit of 148 pounds during Thursday's official weigh-in for their 10-round main event showdown tomorrow/Friday, June 27 on ShoBox: The New Generation, live onSHOWTIME® at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Unbeaten middleweight prospect Dominic "Lights Out" Wade measured 161.6 pounds and once-beaten Nick "The Machine Gun" Brinson weighed in at 160.6 pounds for their 10-round co-feature bout from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  Friday's ShoBox telecast will immediately follow the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Canelo vs. Lara, the SHOWTIME Sports EMMY® Award-winning original documentary series that gives viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the biggest boxing event of the summer.  Spence (12-0, 10 KOs), of Dallas, Texas, was a 2012 U.S. Olympian, but he'll be facing his toughest opponent to date in Cruz, (20-3, 15 KOs), of Bethlehem, Pa., an experienced veteran who is coming off a hard fought loss to former world champion Kermit Cintron. Wade (15-0, 11 KOs), of Washington, D.C., is fighting in his first 10-rounder and looking to continue his ascension from prospect to contender status against New York's Brinson (16-1-2, 6 KOs), a more experienced fighter just one fight removed from a career-best win over Jorge Melendez last June on ShoBox.  Here's what the fighters had to say during Thursday's weigh-in at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: ERROL SPENCE JR.: "I think he's probably the toughest guy I've faced.  He's a real tough, durable fighter and he's going to come to fight.  I know he's a pressure fighter and I think he'll be my toughest test to date. "I think everything in this sport is about timing and preparation, and I think I'm taking this fight at the right time in my career.  I'm going to show up tomorrow and it's going to be a great fight. "I'm going to take whatever comes in the ring.  If the knockout comes, then I take the knockout.  But, if I have to go 10, I'm ready to go 10.  I've been sparring 12 rounds in the gym with 30 seconds rest so it's not a problem.  "From the opponents I've watched, I don't think he's faced anyone like me before, anybody with my pedigree.  He's fighting someone new, too, and he's going to see a lot of new things from me.  Kermit Cintron is a slower fighter than me.  Of course he can punch, but he's slower and at the end of his road.  I wouldn't have any problems with a guy like that.  "I think by early next year I'll be ready for a shot at a title.  After this fight I'd like to have probably two more fights this year.  And then, by early next year, I'll be a contender and fighting some top quality names like Shawn Porter or somebody like that.  "I'm excited.  I want to give SHOWTIME a reason to bring me back so I'm definitely looking to make a statement and put on a great show." RONALD CRUZ: "They're obviously taking this fight because they feel like they can beat me.  But the experience I have as a professional will cause problems for him and ultimately win the fight for me. "I've definitely fought much tougher competition.  He has an impressive amateur record, but fighting as a professional is a whole different ballgame.  "I'm not worried that I haven't faced a southpaw before.  I've been sparring with a lot of different southpaw styles and I feel comfortable against them.  He won't bring anything I haven't seen before. "I definitely think I need a knockout to win.  This can't be a close fight.  I'm not saying I'm going to go out there and look for a knockout - if it comes, it comes - but I'm going to go out there and try to cause a lot of damage. "I'm definitely here to make a statement.  I thought my fight against Kermit Cintron was a bad decision, but I respect the judges' decision.  That fight made me a much better fighter.  "I feel like I've never shown the best of me and I feel confident that my best will come outtomorrow.  This is my shot and I need to take advantage of it." DOMINIC WADE: "Training camp been great, I've been working hard.  My brothers have been here with me, pushing me. Everything has gone according to plan. "I've never gone 10 rounds before, but I don't plan to go 10 rounds. You always have a different mindset going into each fight, but, when I train, I train to go 12 rounds, so I'm not really worried about it because I spar 10-12 rounds. "Brinson slings his punches around; besides that, I don't know too much about him. He has a wild-style, he comes forward basically just like a street fighter, with no skill. I'm going to box him, time him and pop my jabs to exploit him. There will be plenty of openings with a fighter like him, so when I see them I'll just take him. "I've been training with Adrian Davis since I was a young boy and he has taught me everything that I know. We had a little break, but that was a personal issue, but other than that everything is great and we get along very well." NICK BRINSON: "Training camp has been good.  They gave me about a month for this fight to prepare so I am in excellent shape. I am a gym rat and everything has been great, everybody is clicking. "A month is enough time to prepare for a fight like this.  In the past when I fought on the big scene I would have about a weeks' notice, so a month is plenty of time. "I don't necessarily need a knockout.  Hopefully, the judges will score the fight fairly and see who wins. If it comes down to a knockout, then so be it. "His team obviously doesn't believe he took this fight too early and I'm not the matchmaker. He has confidence in himself so we'll see what happens tomorrow. "My biggest strength against him is that I am the more experienced fighter and I have gone the distance. I'm sure he has questions in his head about this because I don't think he has ever gone past six rounds. "The experience alone is going to carry me through the fight.  My stamina and mentality is stronger because I've seen those rounds. I don't know what type of condition he is in, but I know I am more prepared mentally.  "Hopefully big things are ahead for me.  We are all here to change our lives; that's why I am in this business. "I do this all for my daughter, this is everything.  I wear her name on my trunks and she's the reason why I have turned around my career.  I've taking boxing much more seriously since she was born. I am trying to give her everything; she is my biggest inspiration and motivation to do bigger and better things." # # # Spence vs. Cruz is a 10-round middleweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona.  Doors open at 2 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 2:30 p.m. PT and the first televised bout starting at 6:30 p.m. PT. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), immediately following the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Canelo vs. Lara. Tickets priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now at The Joint Box Office, online at AXS.com or by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX