HEAVYWEIGHTS BRYANT "BY-BY" JENNINGS vs. ARTUR "THE PIN" SZPILKA JANUARY 25 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ARENA LIVE ON HBO

December 15, 2013 - Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions and Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing are happy to announce an agreement has been reached for rising heavyweight contenders Bryant Jennings (17-0, 9 KOs) and Artur Szpilka (16-0, 12 KOs) to meet in a 10-round showdown on January 25 in New York at Madison Square Garden Arena.

The undefeated pair will meet in an HBO-televised doubleheader, headlined by "Mikey" Garcia's first defense of his WBO Super Featherweight Championship. The fight will mark the HBO debuts of both fighters.

Co-promoted by Antonio Leonard Promotions, Philadelphia's Jennings, currently ranked #5 in the WBA and #4 in both the WBC and IBF rankings, will be returning from a seven-month layoff for this fight. Jennings who's managed by James Prince, who also manages Andre Ward, was last seen in June of this year (his only fight of the year) stopping Russia's Andrey Fedosov in round six. After competing five times in 2012, the time off has left Jennings eager to get back into the ring.

"It feels like I've been caged up for so long," said Jennings. "I feel like I have all of this intensity built up inside of me and nowhere to release it. My hunger is so strong that not even killing it in the gym is an escape anymore and the only way to satisfy my hunger is to binge, January 25th will be a buffet. With every minute that passes it's like my hunger grows and that is bad news for Artur Szpilka."

Warsaw, Poland's Szpilka, who's co-promoted by Warriors Boxing and Ulrich Knockout Promotions, is currently rated WBA and WBC #14, was last seen in August, completing a two-fight ESPN-televised series with tough guy Mike Mollo. Szpilka visited the canvas in both fights against Mollo before scoring the KO with his super punching power from the southpaw stance.

"I look forward to the challenge," said the popular Szpilka of the Jennings fight. "I have been improving with every fight and I am ready for anyone in the world. To take away his ratings in the world by beating him will move my career forward, so that is what I will do."

"This is an incredible matchup between two undefeated heavyweights on the rise, they are both prideful countrymen and they are both on the fast track to the top," said Gary Shaw. "Jennings has been on the radar a bit longer, but Szpilka has made a dent over the past year. This fight could steal the show based on the complementary nature of their styles. Bryant could've taken a lesser fighter with a more well-known name, or even one of the fading veterans still hanging around the heavyweight division, but instead he decided to get back in the ring and face a strong test. It's a testament to both his dedication and competitive nature, I think it's also foreshadowing for the kind of champion he will eventually be."

"Artur makes all of his fights exciting by fighting to the level of his opponents, so prepare to see the best Artur Szpilka anyone has yet seen in the ring," said Leon Margules. "He's a tough Polish fighter with a dynamic style and a charismatic personality. A victory over Jennings will go a long way toward making him the star he was born to become."

NUMBER 2 RANKED HEAVYWEIGHT LUIS ORTIZ TAKES ON RAYFORD JOHNSON ON THURSDAYNIGHT LIVE ON PANDAFEED.TV

PLUS 5 UNDEFEATED KNOCKOURT ARTISTS AND LARRY HOLMES' GRANDSON HEAD UP AN 8 BOUT CARD

PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 16, 2013)—THURSDAY NIGHT!!! WBA Number-two ranked Heavyweight Luis Ortiz will headline a bug night of boxing when he takes on Rayford Johnson in an eight round bout that will originate from The Steel Stacks Arts Quest Center in Bethlehem, PA.

The bout can be seen LIVE all over the world (It will be blacked out in the Lehigh Valley) on www.pandafeed.tv for just $9.99 by clicking:http://pandafeed.tv/#!/watch/522653e45ddbb5b54f004fa4

Ortiz, of Miami, Florida via Cuba is 19-0 with sixteen knockouts has risen up the Heavyweight rankings on the strength of wins over Lamar Davis (4-1); Fancisco Alvarez (12-1); former world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza and in his last bout he was involved with a no-contest on Joseph Rabotte.

Johnson of Longview, Texas has a record 8-12 with four knockouts.

Johnson has quality wins over Armin Markanovic (4-1) and former world title challenger Will McIntyre (40-5-1)

Johnson has also faced top fighters such as Alfonso Lopez (7-0); Eric Molina (8-1); Terrance Woods (7-0); Molina (15-1) again; Felix Piedra (7-0-1); Mike Wilson (8-0); Venroy July (13-1-2); Samuel Clarkson (8-2); and in his last bout he dropped a six round split decision to Martin Verdin   

In the six round co-feature, Jovan Francois (6-0-1, 6 KO’s) of Trinidad and Tobago takes on Angel Figueroa (3-0-1 of Lorain, OH in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In four round bouts:

Jeremy Trussell (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD battles Chorles Parker (1-1,1 KO) of Wilson, NC in a Middleweight bout.

Jerrell Harris (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Washington, DC will fight Nasser Abdul Malik (1-1, 1 KO) of Cary, NC in a Welterweight bout.

In a special Super Featherweight bout, the grandson of Heavyweight Legend Larry Holmes, Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes (0-2) of Easton, PA takes on debuting Robert James of Cincinnati, OH.

Super Bantamweight Marquise Pierce (1-2, 1 KO) of Phillipsburg, NJ will fight Jesus Gonzalez (0-2).

Gervonta Davis (4-0, 4 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take on an opponent to be announced in a Featherweight bout.

Rounding out the card will be a Super Middleweight bout featuring undefeated John Magda (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Ruthorford, NJ boxing Terry Van Avery (1-0, 1 KO) of Kalamazoo, MI

Prizefighter: Heavyweights III to Air Thursday on WealthTV The popular eight fighter one night box-off series comes to the USA airwaves

SAN DIEGO, CA –February 27- WealthTV is set to air Prizefighter: Heavyweights III on Thursday February 28^th at 10PM ET.  The event features a unique eight fighter, three round single elimination tournament format.  It will be the third edition of the box-off to air on WealthTV.

This installment of the series will showcase many familiar faces.  Americans Travis Walker (39-9, 31 KO) and Derric Rossy (28-6, 14 KO) are in the tournament field. The United Kingdom is represented by three fighters, Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO) Martin Rogan (16-4, 8 KO) and Ian Lewison (7-2, 4 KO.)  Claus Bertino (15-5, 8 KO), Albert Sosnowski (47-6, 28 KO), and Timo Hoffmann (40-8, 23 KO) fill out the rest of the bracket and hail from Denmark, Poland, and Germany respectively.

“This Prizefighter has the best competition of any edition before.” Said WealthTV director of live events Tommy Morris. “There are  world title challengers in action; Harrison & Sosnowski. We will also see regional title winners Walker, Rossy, Hoffmann and Rogan.  Rogan has won the Prizefighter event in the past.  The three round format creates high action fights which is somethingboxing fans always look forward to.”

All of WealthTV’s fights can be seen on WealthTV nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition.  WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more.  The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com

Don Elbaum & Greg Sorrentino Announce The $500,000 Great American Heavyweight Box-Off

(L-R) Front - Don Elbaum and Greg Sorrentino; Rear - Devan Vargas, Jason Estrada, Alonzo Butler, Emmanuel Nwodo, Daniel Martz and Joey Abell. NEW YORK CITY (January 15, 2013) - Veteran promoter/matchmaker Don Elbaum and financial backer Greg Sorrentino, today during a press conference held at historic Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, officially announced the creation of The $500,000 Great America Heavyweight Box-Off (TGAHBO). The tournament, planned as an annual event, is scheduled to launch in April at a site to soon be determined. Introduced as participants were 2004 U.S. Olympians Jason "Big Six" Estrada (20-4, 6 KOs), of Providence (RI), and Devan Vargas (18-2, 7 KOs), of Toledo (OH), Tennessee (Chattanooga) knockout-artist Alonzo "Big Zo" Butler (28-2-1, 21 KOs), Minnesota (Coon Rapids) heavy-hitter Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-6, 27 KOs), former USBA cruiserweight champion Emmanuel Nwodo (24-5, 20 KOs), fighting out of Baltimore (Maryland), and a 22-year-old sleeper from West Virginia (Clarksburg), "The Mountain" Daniel Martz (7-0, 6 KOs). Talks are ongoing to finalize the remaining two challengers, plus one reserve, in case of injuries. The purse structure will be $25,000 to the winners and $15,000 to the losers in the quarterfinals, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, in the semifinals, leading up to the championship final in which the champion will earn $250,000 with $50,000 going to the runner-up. "The history of boxing is the heavyweight division and America is a big part of it," Elbaum said. "We weren't looking for ex-champions or highly-rated fighters. Not one of the fighters here is. I'll be the matchmaker; I'm picking the fights, no requests. I had this idea seven or eight months ago. Four months ago, I had discussions with some people and one person, Greg Sorrentino, said he'd back me because he believes we need this in the sport. He's a former professional heavyweight and now a very successful businessman." "I've been involved in various aspects of boxing, never on the promotional end before, but I'm excited," Sorrentino explained. "This is the greatest country in the world and we're going to help get an American heavyweight champion to rule the roost again." Elbaum said he has had discussions with several possible venues, including some casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Turning Stone and Madison Square Garden, and that he's close to making a television deal. He also noted that 12 other heavyweights are in the running for the remaining two spots in the field, plus one reserve fighter, and $25,000 of the TGAHBO champion's purse will be donated to the winner's charity of choice. Also attending the press conference was Las Vegas legend Bill Krachenberger, who will set tournament odds on the individual fighters, as well as for all TGAHBO fights, to be offered at several Nevada sports books. The fighter demonstrating the most "heart" in tournament fights, excluding the TGAHBO champion, will be awarded the Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. Award. Pellegrini, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, had a dream to fight at the famed Blue Horizon before being shipped out to Iraq for duty. Elbaum made that happen in 2004 but seven months later Pellegrini was killed in action.   (L-R) Devan Vargas, Jason Estrada, Daniel Martz, Joey Abell and Alonzo Butler   Fighter Press Conference Quotes Joey Abell: "I want to thank everyone for getting me involved in this tournament with world-class athletes. I plan to win the tournament by putting everything into it." Alonzo Butler: "I've been given a great opportunity to be in this heavyweight tournament. I'm ready to get it on and then bring the world heavyweight championship back to the United States." Emmanuel Nwodo: "I'm so glad I'm in the tournament and can't wait. This is something new in the heavyweight division. It's awesome! We'll all show our best. This is an opportunity to prove ourselves and I'm proud to be part of it." Jason Estrada: "I appreciate being in this tournament. Good luck to everybody else....but not as much as me. I'm working hard in training and I expect the winner to be me." Devan Vargas: "I'm very excited about this tournament. These fighters will be out to prove themselves, unlike the top heavyweights who won't fight us and are protected by their promoters. One of us will be the next heavyweight champion." Daniel Martz: "I don't have as much experience as these other guys. They have a lot more fights than me, but this is a great opportunity to prove that I belong here."

HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN BETWEEN MALIK SCOTT AND BOWIE TUPOU ADDED AS NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD BOUT ON "WARD-DAWSON: WORLD CHAMPIONS-MADE IN AMERICA" SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 FROM ORACLE ARENA IN OAKLAND, CA.

Winner Takes Big Step Forward Among World Heavyweight Contenders    ShermanOaks, CA (August 28) - Two of the top up-and-coming American-based heavyweights - both from the Goossen Tutor stable - will appear in a non-televised undercard bout on "WARD VS DAWSON: WORLD CHAMPIONS: MADE IN AMERICA" on Saturday, September 8, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. and live on HBO World Championship Boxing® (9:45 p.m., ET/PT).  Thirty-one year-old Philadelphian Malik Scott (34-0, 11 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against once-beaten Bowie Tupou (26-1, 16 KOs), 30, of Los Angeles, in a bout where the winner stands to move up in the world heavyweight rankings. "It's very unusual to match fighters, especially heavyweights, with a combined 60 victories and only one loss against one another when it's not for the world championship or televised on a major network," offered Dan Goossen, promoter of both fighters.  "Our goal was simple though, have compelling bouts underneath more compelling bouts." After posting 32 straight wins to start his pro career, Scott sustained a biceps injury.  The arduous recovery - along with reevaluating his career - kept him out of the ring for nearly four years.  The time away from fighting convinced Malik to utilize his size, strength and speed more toward his offensive skills once he stepped back into the ring.  It was a decision that came to fruition when he resurfaced in February 2012 on the Paul Williams-Nobuhiro Ishida undercard by earning a one-sided, but offensively entertaining decision, over Kendrick Releford in Corpus Christi, Texas.  He followed that victory with one against Alvaro Morales in Studio City in June.  Against Tupou, Scott is determined to show that his aggressive, flat-footed style of fighting can develop a knockout punch against the top echelon fighters while still controlling the fight. For the Tongan-born Tupou, a former rugby player while living in Australia, the fight with Scott will be his first action of 2012 and mark his second appearance on a show headlined by Andre Ward, having won a hard-fought unanimous decision over 33-1 Donnell Holmes on the Super Six Finals undercard back on December 17, 2011.  Just prior to that, Tupou posted a seventh-round TKO against Manuel Quezada in May at the Home Depot Center.   For Tupou, there are no secrets.  He fights straight-ahead looking to stop his opponent with every big bomb he throws. "Fans always gravitate to heavyweights, and with a top 10 world rating on the line, the winner of this fight jumps right up with the other world challengers and adds to the two highly-anticipated world title bouts headlining on September 8 in Oakland - the Ward-Dawson main event and Antonio DeMarco-John Molina, Jr. co-feature."       "Ward vs. Dawson - World Champions - Made In America'' is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Gary Shaw Production in association with Antonio Leonard Productions and SOG Promotions and sponsored by Corona, City of Oakland, Azad Watches and 95.7 The Game. Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25 (plus fees) are available for purchase at the Oracle Arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

DANIEL CORMIER THRASHES JOSH BARNETT TO CLAIM THE STRIKEFORCE HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Plus, Gilbert Melendez Retains Lightweight Title

In Another Fierce Battle With Josh Thomson

Catch The Replay Sunday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®

SAN JOSE, Calif., (May 20, 2012) – Daniel Cormier, perhaps the freshest face in the heavyweight division, cemented his place among the world’s elite fighters with a brilliant performance against the renowned Josh Barnettat Saturday’s STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament final at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Cormier, fighting out of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose via Lafayette, La., won by clear Unanimous Decision (scores: 49-46 and 50-45 twice) to claim the Grand Prix championship belt and realize a dream that has been years in the making.

“I’ve lost a lot of people in my life and this is for them,” said the emotional champion after the fight. “For my kids, my daughter, my dad; this is for my family.”

Cormier went on to credit his AKA teammates who were in attendance. “Cain (Velazquez), Luke Rockhold, Mike Kyle. Those guys kick my (butt) everyday in practice so I know that I can go with anybody right here in the cage.

“Beating Josh Barnett, this is something a year ago that I never thought I could do.”

With less than 10 professional MMA starts, Cormier was a rising prospect when he entered the Grand Prix tournament as a replacement for Alistair Overeem.  On Saturday, Cormier used a perfect blend of the wrestling he honed at the Oklahoma State University and on the U.S. Olympic team and the sharp striking he’s acquired since joining AKA to defeat one of the most accomplished heavyweights in MMA history.

MORE RESULTS

STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Championship – 5 Rounds

In the pair’s third fierce battle, STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez (21-2) won the thrilling rubber match by narrow Split Decision over Josh Thomson (19-5). Through five championship rounds it was give-and-take as both men traded sharp shooting strikes and shrewd takedowns. Scores were 48-47 Thomson, and 48-47 twice for Melendez.

STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Former Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael Feijao exacted revenge on Mike Kyle in a rematch of their 2009 fight.  Kyle taped to guillotine choke early in round 1.  The emphatic statement by Feijao puts him back in line for a shot at the vacant STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight title later this year. 

STRIKEFORCE Welterweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Chris Spang (5-1) added a third knockout to his short resume by dispatching Nah-Shon Burrell (8-2) early in the first round. Following a lethal left hook to the head of his opponent, Spang unleashed a relentless attack that force Burrell down to the mat and the referee to halt the contest.

Preliminary fights aired live on SHOWTIME Extreme

STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1) defeated JZ Cavalcante (16-4-1, 1 No Contest) by Split Decision. Scores were 29-28 twice for Vallie-Flagg and 29-28 for Cavalcante. 

STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

In a terrific fight, undefeated up-and-coming Brazilian Carlos Inocente (6-0) battered and beat Virgil Zwicker (10-3) for three rounds to take a Unanimous Decision. Several times during the contest, Inocente had Zwicker in trouble—including after a flush head kick in the first round—but he could not finish the dogged veteran.  Inocente won by scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice and looks to the move up the ranks in the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight division.

STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Gian Villante (10-3) earned a hard fought Unanimous Decision by scores of 29-28 and 30-27 twice over Derrick Mehman (12-5).

STRIKEFORCE Welterweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Quinn Mulhern (18-2) handed Yuri Villefort (6-1) his first loss with a Split Decision by scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29. 

Mauro Ranallo called all the action alongside analysts Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich withHeidi Androl serving as cageside reporter. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins Jr.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from immediately after Saturday’s fights, plus highlights and photo galleries, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

JOSH BARNETT & DANIEL CORMIER GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL* WEIGHTS AND PHOTOS *

From Friday, May 18, From HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 18, 2012) – All the fighters taking part in Saturday’s STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament Final fight card (HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME^®, 10p ET/PT) made weight on Friday afternoon at the arena locally known as The Shark Tank.

Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett (31-5), of Fullerton, Calif., tipped the scales at 248 pounds while his undefeated counterpart Daniel Cormier (9-0), of San Jose, weighed in at 238 pounds.

STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez (20-2), of San Francisco and rival Josh Thomson(19-4, 1 NC), of San Jose, both weighed in at 153 pounds for the 155-pound title fight, a rubber match in their three fight series.

FINAL WEIGHTS:

Barnett – 248 Pounds

Cormier – 238 Pounds

Melendez – 153 Pounds

Thomson – 153 Pounds

Rafael Feijao – 206 Pounds

Mike Kyle – 203 Pounds

Nah-Shon Burrell – 170 Pounds

Chris Spang – 169 Pounds

The following preliminary undercard fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)

JZ Cavalcante – 156 Pounds

Isaac Vallie-Flagg – 156 Pounds

Virgil Zwicker – 204 Pounds

Guto Inocente – 205 Pounds

Gian Villante – 205 Pounds

Derrick Mehmen – 205 Pounds

Quinn Mulhern – 170 Pounds

Yuri Villefort – 170 Pounds

Mauro Ranallo will call the action on Saturday alongside analysts Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich with Heidi Androl serving as cageside reporter. The executive producer is David Dinkins Jr.