Julian "J Rock" Williams looking for big outing this Monday against former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez in Boston

For Immediate Release Philadelphia (March 13, 2014)--This Monday night at the House of Blues in Boston, undefeated Jr. Middleweight, Julian "J Rock" Williams (14-0-1, 8 KO's) will headline a card that will be televised live throughout the country on Fox Sports 1 when he takes on former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez in a 10-round bout. Williams of Philadelphia has been on quite a roll since linking up with adviser Al Haymon and boxing fans outside of Philadelphia are beginning to take notice. He is looking forward to the coveted national exposure this Monday night and to do it against Hernandez will be a good measuring stick for the 23-year old Williams. "I know who exactly who Freddy Hernandez is," Williams recently told www.fighthype.com.  "He is a tough game fighter who has been in with the top guys, and even though he has come up short, he has always given a good account of himself.  he held his own against Lara.  Some say Lara is the best in the division and one judge had Lara winning by only 1 point.  I thought he beat Delvin Rodriguez." Besides the aforementioned Lara and Rodriguez, Hernandez fought Andre Berto for the WBC Welterweight title and also has wins over former world champions DeMarcus Colrey and Mike Anchondo.  Hernandez has also fought world champions Luis Collazo and Demetrius Andrade. Williams has been coming into his own under the management of Haymon and the tutelage of trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards as the last three opponents combined record is 81-8 which includes an impressive three-knockdown performance decision over former WBA Super Welterweight champion Joachim Alcine.  In his bout Williams stopped Orlando Lora (29-4) in three rounds on December 7, 2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Williams has also let it be known that he will pay special tribute to the people of Boston on his trunks and his walk-out music.

DANNY O'CONNOR INJURED; JULIAN WILLIAMS VS. FREDDY HERNANDEZ TO BE FEATURED AS TELEVISED MAIN EVENT ON MARCH 17 GOLDEN BOY LIVE! TELECAST ON FOX SPORTS 1 AND FOX DEPORTES

CARD STACKED WITH LOCAL AND IRISH TALENT BRINGING A SPECIAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION TO THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN BOSTON BOSTON, Mass. (Feb. 25) - Due to an injury to his left elbow suffered in training camp, exciting Boston welterweight prospect Danny O'Connor has been forced to withdraw from his St. Patrick's Day showdown against Andrew Farmer at the House of Blues in Boston on Monday, March 17.  Now, undefeated rising middleweight star Julian "J-Rock" Williams will face former IBA Middleweight World Champion Freddy "El Riel" Hernandez in the Golden Boy Live! main event on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes. Also in televised action will be young Irish star Jamie "The Nuisance" Kavanagh taking on Puerto Rico's Andres Navarro (9-4-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight opening bout, undefeated heavyweight Alexis Santos (12-0, 10 KOs) taking on Seattle's Sylvester Barron (8-3, 3 KOs) in the six-round co-main event and Irish Olympian John Joe Nevin (9-2), who is making his U.S. debut after being featured in the World Series of Boxing,will square off against San Juan, Puerto Rico's Alberto Candelaria (3-0-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round bantamweight televised attraction. But that's not all as the local fans in Boston celebrating St. Patrick's Day will have more to cheer about when see local undefeated junior lightweight rising star Ryan Kielczewski (18-0, 4 KOs) take to the ring after the conclusion of the televised fights.  Kielczewski will face Guillermo Sanchez (13-10-1, 5 KOs) of Buffalo, New York in a six-round fight. Plus fans at the House of Blues will also witness five exciting match-ups starting at 6:00 p.m. ETbefore the televised portion of the evening.  In previously announced action, local favorites Billy Traft(3-0, 1 KO) will meet Jose Brewer (0-5) in a four-round super middleweight battle, Greg Vendetti (4-1-1, 2 KOs) will take on Pedro Gonzalez in his professional debut in a four-round welterweight bout,Rashidi Ellis (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Bryan Abraham (6-18-2, 6 KOs) in a four-round welterweight bout and two Maryland-natives will kick the night off beginning with Baltimore native Gervanta Davis (6-0, 6 KOs) facing an opponent to be named in a six-round featherweight bout and Kareem Martin of Clinton, MD who will make his professional debut in a four-round junior middleweight bout. One of boxing's top young talents, 23-year-old Philadelphia native Julian "J-Rock" Williams (14-0-1, 8 KOs) continues to impress with each outing, most recently a third round stoppage over Orlando Lora.  With a win over former World Champion Joachim Alcine already under his belt, Williams will tackle another veteran standout in the former IBA Middleweight World titleholder Hernandez. Mexico City's Freddy "El Riel" Hernandez (30-6, 20 KOs) has faced the best of the best throughout his career, including former World Champion Andre Berto, current Interim WBA Junior Middleweight World Champion Erislandy Lara and current WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Demetrius Andrade.  Best remembered for his wins over former World Champions Luis Collazo, Mike Anchondo and DeMarcus Corley, the hard-hitting 34-year-old has every intention of getting back on the winning track and handing Williams his first professional loss on March 17. Williams vs. Hernandez, a 10-round junior middleweight bout is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Murphy's Boxing U.S.A. and Back East Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Mohegan Sun.  The House of Blues doors open at 5:00 p.m. ET and the first fight starts at 6:00 p.m. ET.  The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.  Tickets, priced at $150 (reserved seating), $100 (reserved seating) and $40 (general admission) are available for purchase now at the House of Blues Box Office, the Orpheum Theater box office or online at http://m.concerts.livenation.com/event/01004C389CC1B5BE, www.murphysboxingusa.com orwww.backeastpromotions.com. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.murphysboxingusa.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/murphysboxing,www.twitter.com/DOC_Boxing and  www.twitter.com/HOBBoston, www.twitter.com/dropkickmurphys,www.twitter.com/kendkm, follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page. Also, visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit FOXSports.com and become a follower on @FOXSports1 and @FOXDeportes.

POPULAR BOSTON WELTERWEIGHT DANNY O'CONNOR TAKES ON ANDREW FARMER IN SPECIAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY GOLDEN BOY LIVE!EVENT ON MONDAY, MARCH 17 AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN BOSTON LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 1 AND FOX DEPORTES

TELECAST TO ALSO FEATURE A STACKED CARD OF IRELAND AND MASSACHUSETTS' FINEST INCLUDING DUBLIN'S JAMIE KAVANAGH, UNDEFEATED HEAYWEIGHT ALEXIS SANTOS FROM LAWRENCE, MA AND IRISH OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST JOHN JOE NEVIN BOSTON (Feb. 10) - Boxing will experience the luck of the Irish when the popular Golden Boy Live! series fittingly heads to Boston for a one-of-a-kind St. Patrick's Day celebratory night of fights on Monday, March 17.  Golden Boy Promotions is teaming up with Murphy's Boxing U.S.A. and Back East Promotions to bring boxing back to Beantown for a stellarfight card at the House of Blues that will air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.  In the welterweight main event scheduled for 10 rounds, local hero Danny O'Connor takes on Virginia's Andrew Farmer and the co-feature will see one of Ireland's favorite sons, Dublin's Jamie Kavanagh face off against an opponent to be named in an eight-round lightweight bout. The card will feature a host of New England's top talent including undefeated heavyweight Alexis Santos in the six-round televised opening bout against an opponent to be determined, debuting 2012 Irish Olympic Silver Medalist John Joe Nevin, as well as Ryan Kielczewski, Billy Traft, Rashidi Ellis and others in non-televised action. "I can't imagine there can be a better place to have a boxing event on St. Patrick's Day than in Boston," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  "We've partnered with Ken Casey and his company and we're going to bring the great boxing fans of this city the fights they want and deserve.  On March 17, the only place to be in Boston is at the House of Blues." "There has been a huge resurgence of boxing in Boston and it's exciting that a global promotional company like Golden Boy Promotions has taken notice and is coming to Boston to partner with us," said Ken Casey, founder of Murphy's Boxing U.S.A. and Back East Promotions, as well as a founding member of the legendary Irish punk band the Dropkick Murphys.  "St. Patrick's Day in Boston is the perfect way to kick off this new partnership and this will hopefully lead to bigger and better fights here in Boston, home to some of boxing's most loyal fans."  Southpaw Danny O'Connor (23-2, 7 KO's) is one of New England's most popular fighters and the 28-year-old is more amped up than ever to put on a show on St. Patrick's Day for his fans.  A professional since 2008, O'Connor has won nine of his last 10 bouts, with the only loss coming via a highly-controversial split decision defeat to former World Champion Vivian Harris last October.  On March 17, O'Connor will look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and live up to the St. Patrick's Day hype in his hometown. Front Royal, Virginia's Andrew Farmer (17-2, 7 KO's) has no problem traveling into O'Connor's backyard and after winning 13 of his last 14 bouts, the 28-year-old has confidence that when the bell sounds, he's got the goods to upset the hometown favorite. Twenty-three-year-old Dublin native Jamie "The Nuisance" Kavanagh (15-1-1, 7 KO's) returns to the ring since suffering the first loss of his career against Daniel Ruiz last December.  Now, he's excited to be back and making his Boston debut on St. Patrick's Day, when his loyal fans will undoubtedly be out in force to cheer him on. In the Golden Boy Live! televised opener, it's a six-round heavyweight bout, with Lawrence, Massachusetts' 24-year-old Alexis Santos (12-0, 10 KO's) looking for his seventh first-round knockout when he meets up with an opponent to be determined. In undercard action, Mullingar, Ireland's John Joe Nevin, a 2012 Olympic silver medal winner for Ireland, makes his highly-anticipated pro debut in a four-round bantamweight bout against San Juan, Puerto Rico's Alberto Candelaria (3-0-1, 2 KO's). A full lineup of Massachusetts's natives will feature Quincy's Ryan Kielczewski (18-0, 4 KO's), who puts his unbeaten record on the line in his six-round junior lightweight meeting with an opponent to be named.  Super middleweights collide in a four-round bout when Dorchester'sBilly Traft (3-0, 1 KO) faces Marion newcomer Mike Schneider.  Somerville's Rashidi Ellis(3-0, 2 KO's) takes on Schenectady, New York's Bryan Abraham (6-18, 6 KO's). Also scheduled for four rounds in the welterweight division Stoneham's Greg Vendetti (4-1-1, 2 KO's) meets Akron's Damon Antoine (11-52-2). O'Connor vs. Farmer, a 10-round welterweight bout is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Murphy's Boxing U.S.A. and Back East Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O'Reilly Auto Parts.  The House of Blues doors open at 5:00 p.m. ET and the first fight starts at 5:30 p.m. ET.  The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $150 (reserved seating), $100 (reserved seating) and $40 (general admission) are available for purchase now at the House of Blues Box Office, the Orpheum Theater box office or online at http://m.concerts.livenation.com/event/01004C389CC1B5BE,www.murphysboxingusa.com or www.backeastpromotions.com. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.murphysboxingusa.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/murphysboxing,www.twitter.com/DOC_Boxing and www.twitter.com/HOBBoston, www.twitter.com/dropkickmurphys, www.twitter.com/kendkm, follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page.  Also, visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.  For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit FOXSports.com and become a follower on @FOXSports1 and @FOXDeportes.

*****OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM FOXWOODS*****

PRESS RELEASE BILLY DIB 125 LBS. VS.    EVGENY GRADOVICH 125 LBS.    Ledyard, CT (2/28/13) - Earlier tonight IBF Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-1NC, 21KO's) and undefeated Russian Challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8KO's) both made weight for their championship bout tomorrow night at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods.  Both Dib and Gradovich looked to be in tremendous shape, with each fighter tipping the scales at 125 lbs.   The event tomorrow is promoted by 50 Cent's SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by SMS Audio.  The championship bout will be televised live tomorrow night on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.  Below are the complete weights for the entire card. IBF Featherweight Championship (12) Billy Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), Champion, Sydney, Australia 125 LBS. Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), Challenger, Igrim, Russia   125 LBS. NABF Super Welterweight Championship (10) Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs), Champion, Cleveland, OH   152 LBS. Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs), Challenger, Los Angeles, CA   154 LBS. Junior Lightweights (8) Ryan Kielczweski (15-0, 3 KOs), Quincy, MA   127 LBS. Gil Garcia (5-3-1, 1 KO), Houston, TX   129 LBS. Super Bantamweights (8) Luis Rosa Jr. (12-0, 6 KOs), New Haven, CT   124 LBS. Jhovany Collado (4-6-2, 1 KO), Jamaica, NY   123 LBS. Junior Welterweights (4) Luis Oliveras (pro debut), Glendale, AZ   140 LBS. Rafael Munoz (1-1), Houston, TX   140 LBS. Female Junior Featherweights (6) Shelly Vincent (7-0), Providence, RI   124 LBS. Mikayla Nevel (0-3), Columbus, OH   122 LBS. Welterweights (4) Jimmy Williams (1-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT   146 LBS. Raynard Younger (0-1), Alpharetta, GA   147 LBS. The 12-round main event on ESPN Friday Night Fights features International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), who is promoted by 50 Cent, defending against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich. NABF Super Welterweight Champion Willie "The Great" Nelson defends his title against Michael "Medina in the 10-round co-feature.             Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.The ESPN Friday Night Fights card will air live at 9 p.m. ET. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio.    ***50 Cent will be performing live on fight night*** Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office. OTHER PHOTOS CO-FEATURE NABF JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP  L-R: Michael Medina,Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Steve Smith (Rumble Time) and Willie Nelson   L-R: GIL GARCIA, LOU DIBELLA & RYAN KIELCZWESKI  L-R: LUIS ROSA & JHOVANY COLLADO  L-R: LUIS OLIVERAS, CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON AND RAFAEL MUNOZ TEAM SMS PROMOTIONS L-R: LUIS OLIVERAS, YURIORKIS GAMBOA, DONTE STRAYHORN  CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON, BILLY DIB & ANDRE DIRRELL ***50 Cent will be performing live on fight night*** PHOTO CREDIT: DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT/ED DILLER

FINAL PRESSER QUOTES DIB & GRADOVICH PROMISE FIREWORKS 50 CENT IN LIVE PERFORMANCE

PRESS RELEASE ESPN Friday Night Fights at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino (L-R) Billy Dib, 50 Cent, Lou DiBella and Evgeny Gradovich (Presser Gallery Below - All pictures by Edward Diller)  NEW YORK (February 27, 2013) - Co-promoters Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, and 50 Cent, of SMS Promotions, hosted the final press conference today at the Strand Hotel in New York City for this week's (Mar. 1) ESPN Friday Night Fights at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. In the 12-round main event, SMS Promotions' IBF Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21KO's) puts his world title on the line against Russia's undefeated IBF #11 rated Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8KO's). In the televised co-feature, former amateur standout and now top-ten rated junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11KO's) squares off against Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19KO's) in a 10-round showdown for Nelson's NABF super welterweight title. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio. Both bouts will air on ESPN's Friday Night Fights beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET. 50 Cent will perform live on fight night. Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office.    PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES LOU DIBELLA: "First and foremost, I want to thank everyone here for coming out and also everyone that is involved in this event, particularly 50 cent, Foxwoods and our great sponsor, SMS Audio.  "We have an outstanding event coming up this Friday and I think it is important for everyone to know that we are not doing this event to make a ton of money.  We are doing this to give the public an opportunity to see a great event and also to give this great champion, Billy Dib, the exposure that he truly deserves here in the US.   "We have a terrific card from top to bottom, including a dynamite co-feature with NABF Junior Middleweight Champion Willie Nelson defending his title against Michael Medina. It is a co-feature that easily could have been a main event on its own, in fact, it was originally, but then we had this great opportunity to put Billy Dib in the main event, defending his world championship live on ESPN and we just couldn't pass that up.  I want to thank Doug Loughrey from ESPN for giving us this opportunity and for working so hard on making this a reality. "There are an awful lot of haters when you start a new business, especially in the boxing world. No one has laid out a red carpet for Curtis "50 Cent' Jackson. Everything that he has achieved thus far he has worked to get.  I am totally impressed by working with him to see his intellect and how hard he actually works.  I only see great things for him in this sport moving forward and just wanted to say it really is an absolute pleasure to work with you and your company."    CURTIS "50 CENT" JACKSON: "I am excited about Friday night. This has been a great partnership I have formed with Lou (DiBella) and it has just been an amazing process for me.  This is the first boxing event that I have been involved with for the entire process, from beginning to end, and it really is going to be a special night for me on Friday night. "To actually be in Billy's camp and to see the sacrifices that he makes day in and day out is really something special.  It makes you realize really what these fighters go through. It gives you a whole new appreciation for them and for this great sport. "The level of the actual talent involved in this promotion is exciting for me and excites me for what the future has to hold for me in this sport. I believe by combining the right elements we can bring back that younger demographic to this sport, and that is something we are going to be working on constantly." BILLY "THE KID" DIB: "I want to thank everyone who was involved with this promotion. March 1st is going to be a great event. The whole team has worked very hard. This is my second coming. I am coming back here to America to showcase my ability. I am a completely different animal right now and you will see that Friday night.  I know Gradovich is going to fight out of his skin, being this is his first world championship opportunity, so I can promise you that this is going to make for fireworks in this fight. We respect Gradovich; we know that he is ready, and these are the type of fights we want."  EVGENY GRADOVICH: "Thank you for this opportunity, I am very excited. I know that this is going to be a great fight. We trained very hard for this fight, and I know it is going to be a very good fight for everyone involved, especially the fans in attendance and those watching at home on ESPN."

MEDINA GOING TO 'WOODS' TO TAKE NABF BELT BACK FROM NELSON

March 1 ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature at MGM Grand at Foxwoods   Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (photo by Chris Farina)  NEW YORK (February 27, 2013) - Former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight champion Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs) challenges present NABF titleholder Willie "The Great" Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) tomorrow in the 10-round co-feature on ESPN Friday Night Fights, airing live from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. "I wasn't active," Medina explained, regarding why he was stripped by the NABF. "Now, I'm getting my belt back. I feel that it's really still my belt. He's the NABF champion but he didn't take my belt from me. I'm looking forward to this fight. He's a strong, young fighter and it'll be awesome to add his name to my resume. A win will take me from this level to a higher one with bigger fights. I'm confident that, after this fight, I'll be getting more fights on television networks." The ESPN Friday Night Fights card, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent's SMS Promotions, will air live at 9 p.m. ET. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio. The 12-round main event on ESPN Friday Night Fights features International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), who is promoted by 50 Cent, defending his title against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), who is rated No. 11 by the IBF. WBC No. 17-ranked Medina captured the NABF belt on December 22, 2011, winning a 10-round decision over veteran Grady Brewer. However, Medina was later stripped of his belt because he failed to defend his title due to him being unable to land fights, not because he turned down opponents. "He didn't have a promoter and Mike just got caught in the middle of things," his manager Steve Feder noted. "I wasn't with him until his last fight which, ironically, was on the same card (Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. PPV, September 15, 2012, in Las Vegas) that Willie Nelson last fought. So, Mike will be fighting for the same belt that he didn't lose in the ring. He signed with Lou (DiBella) and now he's in a fight to get his belt back. He's always wanted to be in these kinds of fights. This is a good fight for both guys. "Mike's a good boxer who adapts well depending on who he's fighting. He gets a lot of different looks sparring at Wild Card Gym. Eric Brown (Medina's trainer) has done a good job with him. Mike likes to mix it up. He's hoping that the two of them stand there and go at it. He's not looking to box and move, which should make for a lot of action." Nelson won the vacant 154-pound title stripped from Medina by way of a 10-round decision in his aforementioned title fight against World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth champion and Virgin Islands Olympian, John "Dah Rock" Jackson (13-1, 12 KOs). Standing 6'4" with an imposing 84-inch reach, WBC No. 5-rated Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) is a freakishly built super welterweight, against whom Medina will be giving away three-and-a-half inches in height, as well as a nine-inch reach advantage. "It's unusual," Medina spoke about fighting such a tall opponent. "I haven't fought guys that tall but I have been sparring with taller guys, middleweights and super middleweights, and I've also been working with good technical boxers like (Nobuhiro) Ishida. He's a good teacher and I'm comfortable that I'll benefit from that. "He's (Nelson) tall but I've watched some tapes of his fights and he likes to fight on the inside. If he does, that will help me because I'm aggressive. His height and reach can only be a factor if he jabs and moves, but we've been working on different strategies for whatever way he fights." Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40 may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office.

SOLID UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR DIB-GRADOVICH

PRESS RELEASE March 1 ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS at MGM Grand at Foxwoods NEW YORK (February 26, 2013) - Co-promoters DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent's SMS Promotions have announced a solid undercard supporting this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights event, featuring International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs) defending his title against undefeated Russian challenger Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), airing live (9 p.m. ET start) from the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The 12-round main event pits Australia-native Dib, promoted by 50 Cent, against Gradovich. In the 10-round ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature, North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight champion Willie "The Great" Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) makes his first title defense against Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs). The Nelson-Medina fight is being promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. The event is sponsored by SMS Audio.  Undefeated prospect Ryan "Polish Prince" Kielczweski (15-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Quincy (MA), takes on Houston's Gil "La Metrealleta" Garcia (5-3-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round junior lightweight bout. Another unbeaten New Englander, New Haven super bantamweight Luis "KO King" Rosa Jr. (12-0, 6 KOs), is matched against New York City-veteran Jhovany Collado (4-5-2, 1 KO) in an eight-rounder. World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 11-rated welterweight Charlie Ota (21-1, 15 KOs), fighting out of Japan by way of Harlem, has been added to the card in a six-round bout against hard-hitting Brandon "The Business" Baue (12-9, 10 KOs). Ota joined the US Navy in 2000 and was stationed in Japan.  Reigning OPBF and Japanese champion Ota was slated to fight this past Thursday in New York City but the fight fell through.  Baue, who lives in Troy, Missouri, lost a six-round decision in his last action to former world champion Yuri Foreman. The fastest rising New England female boxer, New London's (Conn.) undefeated junior featherweight Shelly "Shelito's Way" Vincent (7-0), who is trained by Peter Manfredo Sr. in Rhode Island, faces Mikayla Nebel (0-3) in a six-round fight. Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts are former Southern Connecticut State College football player, New Haven junior middleweight Jimmy Williams (1-0, 1 KO), against Raynard Younger (0-1), from Georgia, and Arizona junior welterweight Luis Olivares makes his professional debut versus Houston's Rafael Munoz (1-1), while Cincinnati lightweight Donte Strayhorn meets Cranston's (RI) Joe Pingitore in a battle of pro-debut fighters.    The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and 50 cent's SMS Promotions and sponsored by SMS Audio. Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40, may be purchased online at foxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in person at the Foxwoods' box office. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.

LIVE UNDERDOG EVGENY GRADOVICH PREPARED TO CASH IN ON 50 CENT'S IBF CHAMP BILLY DIB

March 1 ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS headliner at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods   Evgeny Gradovich   NEW YORK (February 21, 2013) - One of the best kept secrets in boxing, late replacement Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs), will be a live underdog on March 1 as he challenges International Boxing Federation (IBF) Featherweight Champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-1-0-1NC, 21 KOs), in the 12-round main event on ESPNFriday Night Fights, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent's SMS Promotions, airing live at 9 p.m. ET from MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. In the 10-round ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature, North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight champion Willie "The Great" Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) makes his first title defense against Michael "El Magnifico" Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs). The Nelson-Medina fight is being promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. Australia-native Dib, who is promoted by hip-hop superstar 50 Cent, was originally supposed to fight Luis Franco who unexpectedly withdrew from the title fight. Gradovich immediately accepted the challenge without any reservations. "I train most of the time and I'm always in shape," Gradovich said. "To fight for a world title in only my 16th pro fight is quick, but I have good experience and this is a great opportunity for me." Gradovich was discovered by rising Russian manager Egis Klimas, who first heard about his latest star from his most well known boxer, world light heavyweight title contender Sergei Kovalev. "Evgeny had more than 150 amateur fights and he was a member of the Russian National Team," Klimas explained. "I went with Don Turner to scout him at the 2009 Russian National Championships. Evgeny lost but Don said that he was really good and to sign him if I could. All of my Russian fighters are trained in North Carolina by Don (19 world champions) when they first come to America. "I didn't build up his record. I had him fight opponents with equal records. If Evgeny was 5-0, he fought a guy with a similar record and so forth as he developed. Gradovich is a punching machine. He's going to pressure his opponent and throw a lot of punches, especially in good combinations. Being a late replacement won't be a problem. He'll have five weeks of training in Oxnard (CA) with Robert Garcia for this fight and he never blows up in weight between fights like other guys. We're not going to Foxwoods to meet 50 Cent; we're coming to take Dib's world title belt back with us." Called the Mexican-Russian by other fighters in his gym because of their respect for tough style of fighting, Gradovich is living the American dream: promoted by Top Rank, managed by trusted fellow countryman Klimas, trained by Garcia, and fighting for the world title in only his 16th pro fight. "Yes, I am," he agreed. "I like this country a lot. I wouldn't be fighting for the world title now if I had stayed in Russia. Boxing is difficult in Russia but you can move forward in America. I have a good team here that helps motivate me. I've been working with Robert Garcia, who trains a lot of world-class athletes, for the past year and I think he's the best trainer in boxing." Gradovich reports that Klimas, Kovalev and Turner will all be supporting him at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on March 1. Tickets priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40, may be purchased online atfoxwoods.com, by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882, or in personat the Foxwoods' box office.