Delvin Rodriguez battles Erislandy Lara on June 12th on Spike TV

By Boxing News - 06/03/2015 - Comments

New York, June 3 – Star Boxing’s popular super welterweight veteran Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-4, 16 KOs) will square off against WBA World Super Welterweight Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (20-2-2, 12 KOs) in a 12-round title affair at UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Friday night, June 12. SPIKE TV will televise on its Premiere Boxing Champions series at 9:00 PM.

“We’re proud to have Delvin Rodriguez, with whom we have had a long and successful relationship, showcased on Spike TV, our second fighter in three weeks to appear on the network,” said Joe DeGuardia, president of Star Boxing. “Delvin is extremely popular and familiar to TV boxing fans with regular appearances on ESPN’s ‘Friday Night Fights.’ He is a true gentleman and competitor who has had some spectacular outings.”

After last week’s action-packed welterweight contest featuring Star Boxing’s Chris Algieri and Amir Khan averaged over 1 million views, SPIKE TV will present another primetime fight.

“I know I have a tough fight ahead because Lara is a great, slick boxer,” says the Dominican-born Rodriguez. “I’m not going to tell the people what I’m going to do, but they should know I’m in the best shape ever and my mind is set on autopilot to win no matter what it takes.”

During a 39-fight career, Rodriguez has faced off against such champions as Miguel Cotto and Austin Trout, while notching victories against top-caliber fighters like Mike Arnaoutis, Shamone Alvarez and Pawel Wolak.

Lara has wins over Freddy Hernandez, Alfredo Angulo and Austin Trout. The 32-year-old Cuban champion has recently won his 20th match, defeating former world champion Ishe Smith.

For more information visit official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook.com/StarBoxing.

DOMINIC “TROUBLE” BREAZEALE RETURNS TO PBC ON NBC

Upland, California (June 3, 2015) – Top U.S. heavyweight prospect Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (14-0, 13 KO’s) makes his return to the ring this Saturday afternoon, June 6th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Breazeale, takes another step up in competition and faces Cuban heavyweight Yasmany Consuegra (17-0, 14 KO’s) in a battle of undefeated heavyweights. The televised bout will support the Robert Guerrero-Arron Martinez main-event and will open up the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) live telecast on NBC.

Photo c/o Timoteus “FOE” Hernandez
The 2012 U.S. Olympian is coming off of a solid win against heavyweight veteran Victor Bisbal this past March during the inaugural PBC on NBC series. Breazeale showed true heart and resilience after experiencing the first knockdown of his career early in the first round of the bout. Breazeale recovered quickly and dominated Bisbal until the bout was stopped in the fourth round, resulting in Breazeale’s 14th win and 13th by knockout.

Immediately following the bout with Bisbal, Breazeale asked his advisor Al Haymon for another tough-quality opponent and Breazeale was granted his request.

“My last bout with Bisbal was by far the toughest opponent I have ever shared the ring with. He caught me with a good shot and I recovered quickly. I shook it off and ended up stopping him a couple of rounds later. After the bout, I wasn’t happy that I was knocked down although many people told me that I showed resilience and that is what champions are made of. Still, I wanted another tough opponent and Al Haymon gave me the opportunity,” said Breazeale.

In addition to the quality opponent, Breazeale now has the chance to make an impression on many avid and casual boxing fans who will be watching the bout live on NBC Saturday afternoon, an opportunity Breazeale welcomes and is thankful for.

“This is a dream come true for me. Some of my previous bouts have been televised in the past, but not on a prime-time network where millions of people will be tuning in and see an American heavyweight like me. The heavyweight division is the most popular division in boxing because of its excitement and this is a bout between two undefeated heavyweights.”

If this bout turns out as well as Breazeale has worked so hard for, he is looking to transition from a top prospect to a contender. Since turning professional two and a half years ago, Breazeale has been on the fast track to the world heavyweight title and has been learning from every training camp and fight thereafter under the tutelage of trainer John Bray.

“I know I still have some room to
Photo c/o Team Breazeale
grow. I’ve been learning in the gym everyday and with every bout that I have had. In just 14 professional bouts so far, I feel that I have fought tougher opposition at this particular point of my career than the current American world heavyweight champion did in his first fourteen bouts. With the platform I have been provided this Saturday, I intend to make the best of it and will definitely give the fans watching at home an entertaining fight and hope to make a name for myself in the heavyweight division.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and are available for purchase online at AXS.com.

“Here Comes Trouble!”

Lihaug and Ernestsen set for all-Norwegian showdown on June 20 in Copenhagen

In a massive night for Norwegian boxing, the country’s star super middleweight Tim-Robin Lihaug (12-1, 7 KOs) will take on the undefeated Arne Ernestsen (7-0, 3 KOs) in a hotly anticipated domestic dust up on June 20 at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.

With speculation building in the press, the verbal sparring between both camps has already begun. Now confirmed, the war of words has intensified as Lihaug and Ernestsen prepare for their super middleweight showdown.

‘’I’m extremely confident,’’ said Lihaug. ‘’I know exactly what Arne will be bringing to the table and I know exactly what I must do to beat him. I’ve already stopped him as an amateur and now I’m going to beat him as a professional. Arne and his team have already said a lot in the press but I honestly don’t know where they get their confidence from.

‘’It will be a good test for me but I only see one outcome. I’ve been in this kind of situation before. I’ve had tough fights, I’ve fought undefeated fighters and I’ve gone ten rounds. I have all the advantages. On June 20, I will be bringing my best and that will be more than enough to beat Arne.’’

‘’I’m coming to win and I will do whatever it takes to achieve this,’’ said Ernestsen. ‘’I know Tim well from when we used to train together and I know I can beat him. He is going to be in for the toughest fight of his career. It’s an exciting time for Norwegian boxing and I’m pleased to be a part of it. This fight will be another step forward in my boxing career and a chance for me to prove I’m the best in Norway!’’

With only three weeks to go until fight night, Lihaug is currently being put through his paces by coach Ulf Johansen, who having taken control of the Bergen-boxer’s corner in September 2014 has guided him to five consecutive victories, including a memorable win against fellow Norwegian Simen Smaadal. With another domestic showdown on the horizon, Johansen is confident of continuing their unbeaten run.

‘’This is a fight we are looking forward to,’’ said the renowned Norwegian coach. ‘’They have backed themselves into a corner with the comments they have made in the press and now I’m sure they’re regretting it! Arne has never fought at this level before. There is no way Tim can lose. He is the better boxer and the bigger puncher. I don’t see this fight going the distance. Tim has already stopped him once as an amateur and I expect him to stop Arne again.’’

Another man not lost for words is Ernestsen’s manager and trainer Helge Wærøy, who last month laid down the challenge for Lihaug to face his unbeaten protégé. ‘’This is the most interesting fight between two Norwegian fighters in years,’’ said Wærøy. ‘’Lihaug has received a lot of attention in the Norwegian media, while Arne is totally unknown. Lihaug also has the coach with the biggest mouth in Europe, but that is not going to help them in the ring. They do not know what they are facing, and they are probably trembling at the knees at the thought of it, as all humans do when they are facing something unknown and terrifying.’’

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: ‘’This is going to be a fascinating match up and an excellent showpiece for Norwegian boxing. We have two young, hungry fighters ready to go to war to prove they are their country’s number one. They fought as amateurs and used to train together, so they know each other well. It will be interesting to see how they have both developed since then. Whatever the outcome we’re expecting an entertaining fight and an exciting addition to our Nordic Fight Night event at the Ballerup Super Arena.’’

Lihaug and Ernestsen join a star-studded Scandinavian line up for the Nordic Fight Night on June 20. Danish super middleweight Patrick Nielsen (25-1, 12 KOs) defends his WBA International title against Charles Adamu (23-6, 17 KOs), featherweight talent Dennis Ceylan (14-0-1, 7 KOs) takes on Sergio Prado (10-4-1, 4 KOs) and Swedish light welterweight Anthony Yigit (13-0-1, 5 KOs) faces Tony Owen (16-3, 3 KOs). All the action will be shown live on Viasat Sport in Norway. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk.