MAYWEATHER PROMOTIONS SIGNS WORLD-CLASS PROSPECTS JUNIOR "ALL ABOUT THE" BENJAMIN AND KEVIN "THE SECOND COMING" NEWMAN II

BOTH PROSPECTS SET TO MAKE PROFESSIONAL DEBUTS ON "MAYHEM: MAYWEATHER VS. MAIDANA 2" UNDERCARD SEPT. 13 AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS     Junior Benjamin has spent time at the Mayweather Boxing Club for years; Junior pictured upper right with Floyd Mayweather LAS VEGAS (Sept. 5, 2014) - Mayweather Promotions is pleased to announcethe signings of Junior "All About The" Benjamin, one of the United Kingdom's most exhilarating prospects, and one of America's most promising talents Kevin "The Second Coming" Newman II who make their respective professional debuts on"MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2" taking place Saturday, September 13 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. "We couldn't be more thrilled about how Mayweather Promotions is continuing to grow and how top talent from around the world are recognizing our progress and are eager to join the team," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. Benjamin, age 20 of London, England, has commanded the attention of sweet science fanatics and the most recognizable names of the sport alike with his voracious combination of youth, speed and strength. As Benjamin trains arduously under the careful watch of boxing royalty at Las Vegas' iconic Mayweather Boxing Club with his uncle Tunde Ajayi, one need not look far for the source of the British product's extravagant skills. With astounding ring savvy and a work ethic set on nothing short of capturing multiple world titles, only greatness lingers on the horizon for this up-and-coming star. "It's a dream come true to be promoted by Mayweather promotions," said Benjamin. "Anyone that knows me and my uncle knows that it has been our dream from day one. To finally have it happen proves that if you believe in God first, work hard and dedicate yourself to your job, dreams come true. I'm making my pro debut on the biggest boxing stage of the year and I want to thank Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe for giving me this opportunity." As he closes the books on an extraordinary amateur career, the 22-year-old Newman, transitions into a new professional role full of optimism. Training with former title-holder and legend, Jeff Mayweather, from an early age, the Las Vegas resident naturally possesses the Mayweather pedigree of success embedded deep within him. With the undivided support of the Mayweather Boxing Club family, Newman enthusiastically prepares to embark on the journey of a future champion.   "This is a blessing. It's really a dream come true. I'm humbled by it. This is where everyone wants to get to and I'm glad and thankful to be here," said Newman. "MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2," a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather's WBA Welterweight Belt and WBC Welterweight and Super Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O'Reilly Auto Parts, "The Equalizer" in theaters Sept. 26 and The Mexican Tourism Board - Mexico: Live it to Believe It!. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) and is the fourth fight of a six-fight deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc. In the co-main event, Leo Santa Cruz defends his WBC Super Bantamweight Title against Manuel Roman in a 12-round bout and Miguel Vazquez faces Mickey Bey in a 12-round bout for the IBF Lightweight World Championship. In the PPV opener, Alfredo Angulo squares against James De La Rosa in a 10-round middleweight bout (162 lbs.). The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP). Mayweather vs. Maidana will be shown on the big screen in over 500 movie theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com ABOUT MAYWEATHER PROMOTIONS Appropriately based in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions was established in 2007 by 11-time World Champion and currently undefeated boxing icon, Floyd "Money" Mayweather. Mayweather Promotions seamlessly promotes all forms of live entertainment including sporting events, live musical and theatrical events as well as film and television productions. Mayweather Promotions is poised to break more records, generate more revenue, and chase excellence as it incrementally solidifies itself as the past, present & future of sports & entertainment. For more information go towww.mayweatherpromotions.com.

Gunn Jr. Gearing up for Pro Debut!

Hackensack, NJ (February 3, 2014) – As somebody who's been around the sport of boxing since he was an infant, those who know him would already refer to 18-year-old junior middleweight Bobby Gunn Jr. a boxing lifer.

 

The son of a fighter whom he shares a name with, Gunn Jr. showed promising skills the very first time he put on a pair of gloves. However, on September 16, 2006, Gunn Jr’s passion for boxing was at an unstoppable high when he witnessed his father stop 76 fight veteran Shannon Landberg to capture the IBA cruiserweight title.

 

“As much as I wanted to keep him away from the sport, I knew right away that he had a lot of talent,” said the elder Gunn, who fought Thomas Adamek, Glen Johnson, James Toney and Enzo Maccarinelli before retiring in December 2013. “Even after I won my belt and he was heavily obsessed boxing, I tried to gear him towards other sports and hobbies. The problem was he always insisted on coming to the gym with me. A sport like this takes a lot of dedication and kids are always trying new things. To my surprise, he stuck with it and now he’s sparring with the pros and looks like a million bucks in the gym.”

 

Gunn Jr had a good amateur background but knew the pinnacle of his success wouldn't be with headgear on so he decided to focus on getting ready for the paid ranks.

 

To get ready for his first professional bout, Gunn Jr’s been training in Jersey City, NJ under the tutelage of highly-respected Roger Bloodworth. 

 

Bloodworth, who trained four world champions including Tomasz Adamek and Fernando Vargas, is impressed with what he’s seen.

 

“He’s a very young fighter with really good power,” said Bloodworth. “I think he can become a good boxer and he’s a quick learner. I also think he’s mature enough to handle the pressure of having a father that was a good pro. The biggest thing is (to take our time because even in three years) he’s only going to be 21.”

 

In 1989, Bloodworth trained a talented young fighter a fighter that turned pro as a teenager. The fighter went on to win a world title and Bloodworth believes Gunn Jr. has ability to do the same.

 

“I had a kid that came out of the amateurs at 17 named Eddie Hobson that turned pro when he was still in high school. He had all the talent in the world and won a world title when he was 24. Even though they’re different fighters stylistically, I think Bobby Jr. has the same level of potential that Eddie did and he should do great things in the pros.”

 

Gunn Jr., who is managed by his father, will debut in March or April. More information will be available shortly.

Iain Weaver Interview: Talks Pro Debut, Luke Campbell, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Vasyl Lomachenko etc.

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro


This coming Saturday one of the UK’s top amateur stars, European Silver and Commonwealth Boxing Championships Gold medalist, Iain Weaver makes his long awaited professional debut at York Hall in London.

Back in July last year Iain was on the verge of hitting the big time, pro boxing wise, promoter Eddie Hearn had convinced him to sign with his Matchroom Sport concern with the promise of debuting on his September Alexandra Palace mega event, headlined by Darren Barker’s return.

However this failed to materialize, due to the British Boxing Board of Control refusing to license him after his brain scan highlighted a cyst.

Various appeals followed after independent neurosurgeons cleared him as fit to box, as the cyst was genetic, had been there all his life and presented virtually no danger to his health.

One of the neurosurgeons even stated, that during his career he had only seen one similar type of cyst bleed, and that was due to the person received major trauma after being involved in a serious road accident.

Even though Iain had enjoyed ‘elite’ status as an Amateur, fought 115 times and represented his country at the highest level with the cyst, as well as having various top neurosurgeons clear him, the BBBofC still
refused to license him.

Earlier this year Iain successfully applied for a Spanish license, however as soon as it was announced, that he would be fighting in London on the 27th, the BBBofC successfully lobbied the European Boxing Union to assist
in persuading the Spanish Federation to revoke the license.

Never one to give up, Iain successfully applied to a different European sanctioning organization for a professional license and finally makes his professional debut at York Hall in London this coming Saturday.

I met up with Iain at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town as he finalized his preparations for his long awaited pro debut.

Initially I had asked Iain about the ongoing saga, it had only been a few days earlier that he had been informed that he has been successful in his latest license application, but it was clear that the 23 year old from
Ferndale in Dorset felt uncomfortable discussing the whole sorry affair, much preferring to talk boxing in general.


Rio: Finally you get to pro debut this Saturday at York Hall, it’s been a bit of a drama getting here but now you are, so how do you feel with your first fight being just a few days away?

Iain: Yeah, I think it’s great, I can’t wait to get into the ring. It’s been a long time coming, the 27th can’t come quick enough though.


Rio: You’ve had a great amateur career, what would you say are the highlights of your career?

Iain: I think the highlights were really the European Silver medal and the Commonwealth Games, I won the Commonwealth Youth Games and the Commonwealth Seniors, that was a great experience for me.

It was really special to be a part of them and you know traveling the World with all the other GB lads was a great four years of my life.


Rio: The transition from Amateur to Pro is not always an easy move, how have you coped with the different areas in making the move?

Iain: To be honest, I’ve always had a bit of a pro style anyway. I’ve always suited the pros better, I always started slow in the amateurs and tended to lose the first round and got stronger as the fight goes on. I think doing more rounds will suit me better.

I’m really looking forward to my debut as I feel I should have been fighting pro much earlier. If I hadn’t been on the Olympic squad and had a chance of going to London 2012 I probably would have switched earlier.


Rio: Since you bought up the Olympics, your nemesis Luke Campbell is turning pro with Matchroom Sport, so in the near future we could have ‘Groves-DeGale’ type of showdown between you two again, this time on the
pro circuit.

Iain: Definitely, he suited the amateurs, he was hard to beat, he was a good kid for the weight, three threes suited him, but the pros are a different ball game and I think it’ll suit me more than it’ll suit him.


Rio: I’m going to stick with the amateurs – in your opinion who has been the standout amateur boxer, past or present?

Iain: To be honest it’s either (Guillermo) Rigondeaux from Cuba or Lomanchenko from the Ukraine.

I’ve been in tournaments with Vasyl Lomachenko and I’ve seen him first hand and he is a very special talent.

After watching Rigondeaux the other weekend and watching videos of him in the amateurs, I’ve got to say he’s probably one of the best amateurs ever as well as a World class pro.

He’s a southpaw and he’s quick, I watch him and try and get tips so I can do things that he does.


Rio: I Know Rigondeaux is already in the pros and a unified World Champion, but that aside who are your favourite pro boxers?

Iain: Yeah, but Rigondeaux’s got to be right up there, but when I first started making my move to the pros my coach said I reminded him of Pernell Whitaker.

I didn’t really know too much about him, didn’t know who he was, so I looked him up on YouTube and that’s the style I like, the style I like to fight at.

Yeah, Pernell Whitaker is probably my favourite one. Oh and I was born on the same day as Muhammad Ali, so he’s one of my favourites also.


Rio: Thank you for taking some time out from your preparations to talk with me and good luck on the 27th, although I’m sure you don’t need it.

Iain: No problem, I’d like to say to your readers, it’s going to be a great show, there’s even a big title fight headlining. It’s not on TV, so the only way to see this is get down to York Hall on Saturday.


Iain Weaver will be making his debut, against a yet to be named opponent, on the undercard of the Oisin Fagan versus Chris Goodwin WBF Inter-Continental Lightweight title clash, that headlines Dave Murphy’s Thunderdrome Promotions ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on the 27th April 2013.


Tickets, priced £65 (Ringside), £35 (Floor)  and £30 (Balcony) are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person from Iain himself or alternatively at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, London E16 4SA - www.tkoboxinggym.com - or the Ringtone Gym in Euston, London NW1 2PB - www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com - Tel: 07960 850645 or 07557 641597 for further information.