NEW YORK — Undefeated World Junior Welterweight Champion and top pound for pound fighter TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD will make his 2017 debut, Saturday, May 20, at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden.  This will also be his debut headlining in the big room — a testament both to his talent and his growing popularity.  Photos by Ed Mulholland.

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Crawford will be defending his unified World Boxing Organization (WBO) / World Boxing Council (WBC) / Ring magazine titles against former Olympic gold medalist and top-rated contender FÉLIX DÍAZ in a marquee all-action fight.  It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

crawford-diaz (6)“Crawford vs. Díaz was made for The Garden and I anticipate a battle between these two warriors worthy of its moniker as the Mecca of Boxing,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

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“Come May 20, I will be ready for whatever Félix Díaz brings to the ring that night,” said Crawford.  “It’s going to be a great experience fighting at Madison Square Garden in the big arena where all the greats have fought.  I’m looking forward to that night.”

crawford-diaz (9)“We’ve got our work cut out for us fighting against another Olympic gold medalist,” said Brian McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer and co-manager.  “It’s an honor to fight in the arena at Madison Square Garden.  It’s a step up going from The Theater into the big room.”
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“First, I would like to thank the man upstairs for making my dream come true.  I would also like to thank Lou DiBella, Al Haymon, HBO and my manager Jose Nuñez for working around the clock to get me to this point,” said Díaz.  “The time has finally come. I will share a ring with one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and I tip my hat to Crawford for accepting me as an opponent on May 20 because I am no pushover. I’m coming to bring my A-game and I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to showcase my skills on HBO and at Madison Square Garden, which is just 15 minutes from where I live.  I will take full advantage of this opportunity.  I respect Crawford and believe he is a great fighter, but every king can be dethroned.”

crawford-diaz (3)“Félix Díaz is an Olympic gold medalist, a seasoned professional and the best fighter Terence Crawford has ever fought.  We have been chasing this fight for a year because Felix and our team believe we can win.  The fans will win when they see a terrific, competitive fight on May 20th,” said Lou DiBella, the promoter of Díaz.

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crawford-diaz (2)“On May 20, unified champ Terence Crawford faces gold medalist Félix Díaz in a fight to light up Madison Square Garden,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports.  “Holding two belts and a place on any top pound for pound list, Terence Crawford looks to have his 2017 debut make a big statement in the Big Apple.  Fans will see both fighters’ mettle tested at the Mecca of Boxing.”

www.boxingscene.boxingscene.com/photos-terence-crawford-felix-diaz-go-face-face-msg–115285?print_friendly=1

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Credit:  Photos by:  Mickey Williams/Top Rank

By:  Ricardo Jimenez, Prensa Top Rank –

El clasificado mundial invicto Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, uno de los boxeadores mexicanos más populares y carismáticos, se enfrentará al estadounidense Derek “The Black Lion” Edwards, intentando defender su título internacional de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), encabezando una explosiva función este viernes en la arena State Farm de Hidalgo, Texas, Estados Unidos, que será televisada en vivo en la cuarta edición de la nueva serie boxística “The MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout en truTV” comenzando a las 10 p.m. (este). La serie es presentada truTV y Top Rank y producida en asociación con HBO Sports. Encuentre truTV en su área: http://trutvishere.com/.

Ramírez (31-0, 24 KOs), de Mazatlán, Sinaloa, expondrá su campeonato internacional de la OMB ante Edwards (27-4-1, 14 KOs), residente en Las Vegas, Nevada, en una duelo pactado a diez giros. En el duelo co estelar de la función que también será televisado, los clasificados mundiales, el estadounidense Diego Magdaleno (27-1, 11 KOs) y el puertorriqueño José “Chelo” González (24-1, 19 KOs) disputarán el título ligero internacional de la OMB que está pactado a doce giros, ya que también será un eliminatorio para disputar el campeonato de peso ligero de la OMB.

Hoy se realizó la última conferencia de prensa en la misma arena State Farm en donde este viernes será la esperada función.

Gilberto Ramírez:
“Estoy muy motivado y muy enfocado en esta pelea porque que tengo un rival duro este viernes y que necesito la victoria para seguir aspirando a cosas mejores en un futuro no muy lejano”, dijo Ramírez

“Yo confió mucho que la gente vera una gran pelea, un pelea explosiva entre dos boxeadores que venimos a darlo todo y quiero dedicarle esta pelea a la gran afición de Texas que siempre me apoyado”, agrego Ramírez.

Derek Edwards:
“La experiencia y la dedicación es muy importante en este deporte y algo que tengo de sobra. Estoy preparado para dejarlo todo sobre el ring y espero que Gilberto también lo haga para darle a los aficionados la pelea que se merecen este viernes”, dijo Edwards, quien es entrenado por Jeff Mayweather.

“Ya el trabajo está hecho, lo único que falta es subir al ring y conseguir esta victoria”, agrego Edwards.

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Diego Magdaleno:
“He trabajado muy fuerte con un nuevo equipo para volver a tener la oportunidad de disputar una corona mundial y un triunfo este viernes me pondrá esa posición y muy hacer todo lo necesario para salir con el brazo en alto este viernes”, dijo Magdaleno que entreno en Indio, California con Joel Díaz.

“Estoy seguro que lograre la victoria y que me llevare este cinturón a casa y con él la oportunidad de disputar el campeonato mundial de las 135 libras” agrego Magdaleno, quien disputara el titulo internacional de la OMB que está vacante.

José “Chelo” González:
“Estamos aquí para aprovechar esta oportunidad que se están dando ante Magdalego y la preparación será clave en esta pelea”, dijo González.

“Yo voy a dar lo mejor de mí mismo este viernes y espero que la pelea sea del agrado del público y así llevarme la victoria a casa “, agrego González.

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La función de este sábado que incluye a uno de los boxeadores más populares de la región Luis Castro y al medallista olímpico Falcao Esquiva de Brasil, quien esta invicto en el boxeo profesional.

Ramírez, de Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México es el clasificado mundial número dos en peso supermediano del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB) y de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) y el número tres de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB) y de la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB).

Edwards, residente de Las Vegas, Nevada, cuenta con un nocaut sobre Badou Jack actual monarca de peso supermediano del CMB y en su más reciente actuación el pasado 19 de diciembre en Quebec, Canadá cayo por puntos ante Andre Dirrell en un duelo eliminatorio de la FIB.

Magdaleno, de Las Vegas, Nevada, ganó sus primeras 23 peleas profesional para alcanzar la clasificación número uno de la OMB en las 130 libras que lo llevo a disputar la corona mundial de peso ligero junior dicha organización y su oportunidad llego el 6 de abril del 2013 ante Román “Rocky” Martínez en Macao, China. En una pelea muy disputada, Martínez retuvo su corona por decisión dividida para propinarle su primera y única derrota profesional a Magdaleno.

González, de Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, ganó sus primeras 22 peleas profesionales, 17 de ellas por la vía rápida. Como clasificado número uno en peso ligero de la OMB, González disputo la corona mundial de la OMB el 11 de mayo del 2013 en Escocia y cayó ante el local Ricky Burns cuando una lesión en la mano lo obligo a retirarse del combate en el noveno asalto cuando estaba arriba en las tres tarjetas de jueces oficiales por puntuaciones idénticas de 87-83.

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http://www.notifight.com/ramirez-y-edwards-magdaleno-y-gonzalez-confiados-en-hidalgo/

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Credit:  Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Ray Beltran from Los Mochis, Mexico winds down training camp as he prepares to take on Takahiro Ao from Chiba, Japan in the main event, a 12-round bout for the vacant WBO Lightweight World Championship , Friday, May 1st. truTV and Top Rank will partner to exclusively televise a live Friday night primetime boxing series beginning Friday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET. The new boxing series, in association with Turner Sports and HBO Sports, will launch on the eve of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view fight with a card featuring two title bouts inside The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

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http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/beltran-poised-for-title-shot-288835

 

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By Keith Idec –

Adonis Stevenson’s resistance thus far hasn’t discouraged Sergey Kovalev from thinking they’ll fight sometime later this year.

Russia’s Kovalev said on a conference call Thursday to promote his March 29 fight against American Cedric Agnew that he believes public pressure eventually will lead to a meeting between the light heavyweight champions.

“He will go to the fight because the public, fans and everybody wants this fight,” Kovalev said. “Everybody will push him if he doesn’t want this fight. In this year, we will fight, I’m sure.”

Among the “everybody” to which Kovalev referred are HBO Sports executives that aren’t likely to continue cutting sizeable checks for broadcast rights to Stevenson’s fights if he doesn’t agree to face Kovalev in what would be one of the most appealing clashes the network could televise this year. They’ll do so at least once more, though, as the Haitian-born, Quebec-bred Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs) appears headed toward a May 24 defense of his WBC title against Chicago’s Andrzej Fonfara (25-2, 15 KOs, 1 NC) at Bell Centre in Montreal.

The 30-year-old Kovalev, meanwhile, wants to stay busy and defend his WBO light heavyweight title while waiting for a showdown with Stevenson.

Jolene Mizzone, matchmaker for Main Events (Kovalev’s promoter), said on the conference call Thursday that the unknown Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs) was the only available, ranked light heavyweight willing to face Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KOs) for the money offered to participate in this HBO “Boxing After Dark” main event at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom in Atlantic City. Chicago’s Agnew, 27, is ranked No. 3 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBO.

Kathy Duva, Main Events’ chief executive officer, added that she shares Kovalev’s confidence regarding an eventual Stevenson showdown.

“As far as Stevenson [goes], I’m very confident we’re going to get that fight made,” Duva said. “Now we have to think about the one that’s in front of us.”

The Kovalev-Agnew fight will mark Kovalev’s third HBO appearance since Aug. 17. Stevenson’s fight against Fonfara will represent his fourth HBO bout in less than a year, a run that began with the strong southpaw’s stunning first-round knockout of former champion Chad Dawson (31-3, 17 KOs, 2 NC) on June 8 in Montreal.

Kovalev and Stevenson appear to be on a collision course, but Kovalev and his handlers are trying to remain patient.

“The bigger name fights take time to make,” Duva said. “That fight will get made. But our goal is for Sergey to stay active and Sergey’s goal is to stay active.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-still-confident-adonis-stevenson-fight-him–74657

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By Keith Idec

Promoter Main Events announced Tuesday that Sergey Kovalev will defend his WBO light heavyweight title against Cedric Agnew on March 29 in Atlantic City.

The scheduled 12-round bout between the Russian knockout artist and Chicago’s Agnew will be broadcast by HBO from Boardwalk Hall. The 30-year-old Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KOs) had hoped after tearing through Ukraine’s Ismayl Sillah (21-2, 17 KOs) on Nov. 30 in Quebec City, Canada, that he could land a unification fight against Adonis Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs), the WBC light heavyweight champion.

Stevenson stopped England’s Tony Bellew (20-2-1, 12 KOs) in the seventh round of the HBO main event that followed Kovalev’s second-round knockout of Sillah on Nov. 30. Stevenson, 36, has since decided to defend his title against Chicago’s Andrzej Fonfara (25-2, 15 KOs, 1 NC) on May 24 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Stevenson’s decision left Main Events executives to seek a less appealing opponent good enough for HBO Sports executives to approve.

The 27-year-old Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs) defeated former light heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack (31-7-2, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the USBA 175-pound crown in his last fight, April 12 in New Buffalo, Mich.

Mostly, however, Agnew has a faced a moderate level of opposition since making his pro debut seven years ago and figures to be a huge underdog in what should amount to a showcase fight for the hard-hitting Kovalev. Agnew is ranked No. 15 by the WBO, but is rated No. 3 by the IBF.

http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-face-agnew-on-march-29-atlantic-city–74559

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By Chris Morris/Rocky Mountain Boxing /
Photos: Michael V. Ornelas –

‘Mile High’ Mike Alvarado welcomed Ruslan Provodnikov to Denver properly with a gift, an authentic Peyton Manning jersey. Provodnikov was thankful but was quick to add “You don’t know but the only number I like is #1″ in reference to the #18 on the Manning Jersey.

Fred Sternburg opened the press conference by thanking everyone for coming and thanking everyone involved. He then turned the floor over to Top Rank president Todd duBoef. DuBoef again thanked everyone before making a joke about Sternburg’s flight. Usually Sternburg has to travel to the press conferences but this one was right here in his hometown. He also joked about the fight negotiation saying that he and Alvarado were arm wrestling at one point. “I don’t know where it came from but he was challenging me and he obviously got more money out of me.”

DuBoef then spoke about the satisfaction of taking a fighter like Alvarado from his pro debut through his whole career and then having him defend his world title in his hometown, calling it ‘magical’, mentioning Miguel Cotto, Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero.

DuBoef went on to introduce ‘the birthday boy’ Peter Nelson, (who turned 32 today) director of programming at HBO Sports. Nelson praised both fighters for their previous performances including fight of the year candidates. “One thing that each of these fighters demonstrably shows each time they go out in the ring is that they are there to show more heart and guts and brawn than most other fighters in the sport ever do. So it’s a great privilege to find one fighter in the sport like this and it’s dumb luck to find two and we couldn’t be more ecstatic that we could actually put a fight like this together. For us it’s an honor to be able to get a fight like this together because we know it’s going to deliver for the fans. It also, for us, had an HBO attachment to it because we are going to be premiering that night as well, a ‘Legendary Nights’ documentary on the Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward trilogy. And while there will never be another Gatti-Ward we felt in large part that pairing that documentary and that programming with this fight is significant. Because we feel that while you’re never going to duplicate a fight like that we felt this fight captures the spirit, honors the spirit in which those two great warriors engaged each other in battle. So for us this was a homerun.”

Artie Pellulo from Banner Promotions added, “Since the moment the fight was mentioned on the internet, everybody knows what these guys are about. This (Alvarado) is a great young fighter and so is he (Provodnikov). They have no quit. They have no back up. It’s the most fan friendly fight in a long long time. And the loser will not lose. It’s a great opportunity for both of them. They are right now at the top of what they do. I met Ruslan in Russia and he said ‘Artie, I want to come to America and win world titles and I want to be a star. Because I need to have something for my family. I want to be what I am. I am a fighter’”.

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Ruslan Provodnikov next took the podium and spoke through his manager and translator, Vadim Kornilov. “It’s not very often a boxer gets a second chance like this. I feel like lately I’ve been having a lot of luck in what I do. I feel like I am getting more and more on my feet. Whether that’s going to continue or it’s going to end, it’s all going to depend on this fight for me. I can confidently say that we’re both going to create a war and I’m pretty sure one of is probably going to remain laying in the ring after the fight. I will pray for both I and Mike, to make sure that we both have a great training camp and we’re both in the ring on October 19th feeling great and 100% ready. I wish him a lot of luck and I hope to see everyone on October 19th.”

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Mike Alvarado’s longtime manager Henry Delgado gave praise to Top Rank for the handling and guiding of Alvarado’s career and gave them credit for much of his success. He also thanked Peter Nelson and HBO for “stepping up and taking Mike on as one of their fighters. ” He then spoke about the fight saying “I want to thank Ruslan for taking the fight. They both only know one way and that’s forward. And when you have two objects coming forward, I mean it’s going to be a crash and I’m going to see that on October the 19th. It feels good to be back home, where it all started.”

Alvarado was introduced to a huge round of applause. He started by saying, “I want to thank God for making this blessing come true. ” He then thanked Top Rank and HBO. “It’s gonna be a great show. It’s a dream come true. Having this fight in my hometown with a warrior like Provodnikov, it’s gonna be a huge blessing for me. Being able to entertain my city and bring it home to all the people who helped support me and are behind me 100%. I want to thank Provodnikov for taking this fight in my hometown. That’s a big thing for somebody to want to come into somebody else’s backyard against a warrior like myself and challenge for a world title. ”

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Alvarado then gave Provodnikov the gift of a Denver Broncos Peyton Manning jersery. “I don’t know if you have an NFL team that you like but you can be a Bronco fan.” To which Provodnikov quipped, “You don’t know but he would like you to know his favorite number is number 1.” This drew cheers and laughs from the fans and media on hand.

Tickets go on sale Friday being priced $200, $150 and $25. The fight will be held at the First Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado on October 19th.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/provodnikov-receives-warm-welcome-from-mile-high-mike-alvarado-219135