Compiled By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of July 24th to July 31st; covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Superfly 3 Set for September 8th
Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced details of the highly anticipated return of the widely acclaimed SUPERFLY series set for Saturday, September 8 at the ‘Fabulous’ Forum in Los Angeles, CA. The triple-header will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
#SUPERFLY3 will be headlined by a 12 -round super flyweight clash between former world champion JUAN FRANCISCO ‘El Gallo’ ESTRADA, (36-3-0, 25 KO’s), of Sonora, Mexico and two-time world title challenger FELIPE ‘Galito’ ORUCUTA, (36-4-0, 30 KO’s), of Nicolas Romero, Mexico.
Co-featured over 12-rounds for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title, four-time world champion DONNIE ‘The Snake’ NIETES, (41-1-4, 23 KO’s), of Bacolod City, Philippines, moves up one division to challenge countryman ‘Mighty’ ASTON PALICTE, (24-2-0, 20 KO’s) of Bago City, Philippines.
Opening the telecast, three-division world champion KAZUTO IOKA, (22-1-0, 13 KO’s), of Osaka, Japan, battles two-time world title challenger MCWILLIAMS ARROYO, (17-3-0, 14 KO’s), of Fajardo, Puerto Rico in a ten-round super flyweight bout.
Advance tickets for SUPERFLY 3, priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25 will go On-Sale This Friday at 10:00 a.m. PT and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Forum Box Office. The Forum is located at 3900 W. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood CA 90305. Doors on the night of the event will open at 4:00 p.m. PT.
“We’re very excited to make this announcement today for SUPERFLY 3”, said Loeffler. “Our first two Superfly cards were among the most well received international boxing events over the last year.”
“Since our last SUPERFLY card in February, boxing fans and media have continuously asked me when the next card is taking place. The fights that have been presented in this series have provided non-stop action and an unparalleled in-arena atmosphere for boxing.”
“Juan Francisco Estrada and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai battled in one of the best fights this year in February with both fighters proving to be two of the most valiant warriors in boxing. Against the hard-hitting Orucuata, Estrada will be facing a determined challenger seeking his own path to a world title.”
“Fans were also treated to a sensational performance in February by Donnie Nietes winning his third world title and facing his rival countryman Aston Palicte at SUPERFLY 3 will provide fireworks from the opening bell.”
“Having three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan come out of retirement to face Puerto Rico’s McWilliams Arroyo further validates how important the SUPERFLY brand is to these outstanding fighters.”
“The stylistic matchups of these three announced fights will provide the type of non-stop action the SUPERFLY events have become known for and the ‘gold standard’ which fans have become accustomed to.”
“I am very excited to return for a third SUPERFLY event card and look forward to giving the fans another thrilling fight,” said Estrada. “I need to win so I can get a second shot at the WBC Super Flyweight World Title and a rematch against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. I am training in the mountains of Mexico City to be ready for the fight on September 8.”
“Juan Francisco Estrada is a great boxer and one of the best fighters from Mexico. It’s an honor to fight him and I will be well prepared for victory at SUPERFLY 3 on September 8,” said Orucuta.
Long a favorite among Mexican boxing fans, the 28-year-old Juan Francisco Estrada has built a reputation for facing the very best in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions. Fighting on February 24, 2018 at SUPERFLY 2, Estrada battled over 12-rounds in a fearless clash against defending WBC Super Flyweight World Champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai that had the huge crowd at the Forum on their feet cheering loudly for each fighter.
This will be Estrada’s third straight fight at a SUPERFLY event, having defeated former world champion Carlos Cuadras on September 9, 2017 in an epic battle at the series debut in Carson, CA.
Over the course of his illustrious 10-year career, Estrada has fought many other world champions and top contenders including Roman Gonzalez, Hernan Marquez, Giovanni Segura, Richie Mepranum and Milan Melindo.
Estrada won the WBO and WBA Flyweight World Titles on April 6, 2013 by defeating then world champion Brian Viloria, making five defenses before moving up to the super flyweight division.
The 32-year-old Felipe Orucuta has twice challenged for the WBO Super Flyweight World Title, losing in very close decisions to Omar Narvaez in Argentina. On May 25, 2013 in Buenos Aires, Orucuta was on the short end of a 12-round split decision. Fourteen months later, Orucuta returned to Argentina, this time losing a 12-round majority decision to Narvaez in Villa Maria, Argentina.
Currently the heavy handed Orucuta is on a five-bout winning streak; all by knockout including the fourth-round stoppage of Ricardo Roman on May 26, 2018 in Mexico City.
Among the other notable names on Orucuta’s winning side of the ledger are Roberto Castaneda, Fernando Lumacad, Julio David Roque Ler and Enrique Bernache.
The fight against Estrada will be Orucuta’s first in the United States since July 2008.
Fighting in the Los Angeles for the third time in recent years, Donnie Nietes thrilled the local Filipino fans with a seventh-round knockout over Juan Carlos Reveco at SUPERFLY 2 to earn the IBF Flyweight World Title, his tenth straight victory. Incredibly, Nietes has not suffered a loss since September 2004.
One of the Philippines most popular fighters over the last fifteen years, among the victories on Nietes’ ledger are wins over Edgar Sosa, Raul Garcia, Ramon Garcia Hirales, Manuel Vargas, Juan Alejo and Gilberto Parra.
The 27-year-old Aston Palicte will be fighting for the third time in the United States. In his U.S. debut, he won a 10-round decision over then undefeated Oscar Cantu on December 17, 2016 in Las Vegas. Following that up on December 8, 2017, the all-action Palicte knocked out Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in the fifth stanza in Round Rock, Texas.
The boxing pride of Osaka, Japan, Kazuto Ioka retired in November 2017 after making five defenses of his WBA Flyweight World Title earned by defeating then champion Juan Carlos Reveco on April 22, 2015.
Over the course of his nine-year multiple title reign, Ioka defeated world champions and top-rated contenders including Amnat Ruenroeng, Akira Yaegashi, Felix Alvarado, Ekkawit Songnui, Yutthana Kaensa and Nare Yianleang.
With all of his previous bouts coming in Japan, Ioka will be making his long-awaited United States debut at SUPERFLY 3.
A representative of his native Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics, the 32-year-old McWIlliams Arroyo made his Los Angeles debut at the Forum and on HBO by challenging then WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman Gonzalez on April 23, 2016. Although losing a 12-round decision, Arroyo would fight valiantly against the #1 Pound-for-Pound legend, earning the respect from the sold-out crowd.
Most recently Arroyo challenged former super flyweight world champion Carlos Cuadras at SUPERFLY 2, defeating the popular Mexican over ten rounds in an outstanding battle at the Forum that had the huge crowd cheering throughout.
Additional information on this tremendous night of world class professional boxing will be announced shortly.
Boardwalk Boxing and Jersey Boy is Back
Rising star promotions newly created fight series Boardwalk boxing returns with Round 3 on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 at the Bourbon Room located at the Showboat Hotel in beautiful Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Headlining in the Main Event will be Passaic, New Jersey’s Glen Tapia (23-5 15ko) taking on Philadelphia’s war horse Fred Jenkins Jr. (10-5 3ko) in a 8 round Middleweight bout.
“Rising Star continues to put on the best fight cards in Atlantic City and this one might be the top. You have a former title contender versus a hungry Philly fighter trying to make a name and a AC vs. AC rivalry that I personally think will steal the show.” Thomas LaManna, VP of Rising Star said in a brief interview preparing for his August 18th bout at The Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City.
Since turning pro in late 2008, Tapia has been through it all. Before suffering his first defeat to James Kirkland on December 7th, 2013 couple blocks down the Boardwalk at Boardwalk Hall, Tapia won his first 20 fights and quickly became a household New Jersey name, hence his nickname “Jersey Boy”.
Here’s what Tapia had to say, “Fred is a good opponent for where I’m at in my career at the moment. I’ve been training hard and I’ll be ready for whatever comes on the 8th. Can’t wait to put on a show for Jersey along side of Rising Star Promotions”.
Fred Jenkins Jr. isn’t a stranger to the fight game. Born into boxing, Jenkins father (Fred Sr.) was a professional boxer in the late 70’s and compiled a pro record of 2-1 1ko. Jenkins is a stablemate of Super Middleweight Contender Jesse Hart out of the famed old school Philly ABC Gym.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I take every fight serious. It’s just a regular fight and he’s just a guy in the way. I want to put my name on the map and this is how I do it. It’s my life, it’s my journey. I’m excited to be the main event and I’m excited to fight a guy like him. He’s the guy I want to fight. I live up to the challenge, I put my life on the line and just do what I love to do which is boxing. At the end of the day I love boxing and I’m here to stay. Some start a little early and some start late and I’m a little bit of a late bloomer but I’m going to do what I was born to do.” – Fred Jenkins Jr.
Antowyan Aikens and Decarlo Perez square off in the highly anticipated 8 round Atlantic City rivalry match up that has been heating up for years.
“It’s crazy how this matchup came. I was getting back into camp sparring Perez, and one of Aikens trainers is in my corner and he made the deal with Perez trainer to make the fight in a hallway at Pleasantville Rec Center and all I had to do was sort out the financials. Hats off to both Perez and Aikens for taking this fight and all parties agreed in less than 24 hours I had contracts.” – Thomas LaManna
“This fight to me is one of those fights that you dream about but never expect it to happen, but its def happening. This fight will be one to talk about for many years to come and I’m looking forward to putting on a great show in my hometown in front of my family and friends. Words cannot express how happy and excited I am. I can’t wait to put on a great performance that night. I got a great team around me. I’m focused on the task at hand; I’m ready for anything they have to offer.” – Antowyan Aikens
“My thoughts on the fight are just as any other fight. I have to go in, apply my skills and allow the game plan to unfold, plain and simple. Now if someone would ask what the game plan is, it’s simple and that is to win by all means. To me it’s another fight where someone is trying to take the roof over my family’s head away, trying to take food out there mouths and I have to make sure that they can’t. The fact that its for a title puts me in a place where my work ethic is just multiplied by a million and more. I am excited to be fighting in my hometown and can’t wait to put on a great show.” – Decarlo Perez
Aikens vs. Perez will be for the New Jersey State Super Middleweight Championship.
ESPN+ Acquires Rights to Billy Dib-Tevin Farmer Title Bout
Philadelphia native Tevin Farmer will take his world title quest to Australia when he faces Sydney’s Billy Dib for the vacant IBF junior lightweight title on Friday, Aug. 3 at Technology Park in the Sydney suburb of Eveleigh.
Dib-Farmer and undercard action, including top prospect Tim Tszyu (9-0, 7 KOs) defending the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental super welterweight title against Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus (27-15-1, 14 KOs), will be streamed live in the United States beginning at 6:15 a.m. ET on ESPN+ — the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN. The Dib-Farmer bout will start no earlier than 7:30 a.m. ET.
Farmer (25-4-1, 5 KOs), a defensive wizard with fleet feet, has authored one of the great career turnarounds in modern boxing history. He started his career 7-4-1, then reeled off 18 consecutive wins before earning a shot at the vacant IBF junior lightweight title on Dec. 9, 2017 against Kenichi Ogawa. Most ringside observers felt Farmer deserved the victory, but the judges awarded Ogawa a split decision. Ogawa, however, tested positive for a banned substance, and the result was changed to a no contest.
Dib (43-4, 24 KOs) is a former IBF featherweight champion who won the belt on July 29, 2011 with a unanimous decision over Jorge Lacierva. He made two successful title defenses before being dethroned by Evgeny Gradovich via split decision on March 1, 2013. Later that year, he took on Gradovich in a rematch and was knocked out in the ninth round. He challenged Takashi Miura for the WBC super featherweight title on May 1, 2015, with Miura defending the title via third-round TKO. Since the Miura defeat, Dib is 4-0 with a no contest. Against Farmer, he will have the home canvas advantage, as he is 35-0 when fighting in Australia.
Mayweather Boxing Fitness Launches Domestic and International Franchise Program
Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, a best-in-class fitness experience created by the most successful boxer of all time, announced today the launch of its comprehensive domestic franchising and international territory rights program.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather announced the global business venture and its structured franchise model following his highly anticipated “Money Fight” against Conor McGregor in August 2017. Emblematic of Floyd’s passion for family, fitness and community, the new enterprise is grounded in the philosophy that fitness levels shouldn’t be determined by socioeconomic status, and that everyone should have access to, and benefit from, elite fitness resources. Through this holistic offering, Floyd is, for the first time ever, revealing his training and fitness methods that kept him on top of the boxing profession for more than 20 years.
Franchises will be offered to qualified individuals, with options to open a brand-new Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studio for as little as $200K; or to convert an existing fitness business into a Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studio for as little as $70K. To demonstrate his passion to help businesses and support the community, Mayweather will waive the entire franchise fee to help existing qualified gyms convert their business into a Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studio.
“We’re looking for motivated people who share our passion for bringing best-in-class fitness to the world stage,” said Floyd Mayweather. “Our goal is to have Mayweather Boxing & Fitness studios in neighborhoods all over the world, providing fitness programs for anyone who wants to train more effectively.”
Each Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studio will offer class-based boxing and functional training workouts for all levels of fitness, along with advanced tech features, including individual Virtual Reality sessions, heartrate monitoring and daily workout videos. The VR experience features a virtual Floyd coaching individual users through routines that kept him at the top of his game throughout his boxing career, providing an incredibly fun and effective cardio workout.
“Boxing fitness is an on-trend, accessible and highly effective workout,” said James Williams, CEO of Mayweather Boxing & Fitness. “With the launch of our franchise program, we are providing entrepreneurs across the world with a system to capitalize on the rapid increase in demand of boxing group fitness, all under the brand that represents the gold standard in boxing. Our flagship location has experienced tremendous success and became profitable within its first three months of opening. This is a testament to the business infrastructure we have in place, which we are now rolling out through our franchise program.”
The Mayweather Boxing + Fitness flagship studio, located on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, will have its Franchise Grand Opening Event this weekend on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 8:00am PT, with a public event featuring a ribbon cutting, giveaways, classes and more.
For more information, please visit: https://www.mayweather.fit/Franchise
Sharif Bogere Highlights Undercard Action on Miller vs. Galarza Undercard
Once-beaten contender Sharif Bogere will enter the ring for a 10-round super lightweight bout against Chile’s Oscar Bravo in a fight that highlights undercard action Friday, August 3 from Sam’s Town in Las Vegas.
The night is headlined by rising lightweight contender Ladarius Miller facing Dennis Galarza in the Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce main event. The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Cesar Barrionuevo and Abel Ramos, plus unbeaten junior welterweight Juan Heraldez taking on Kevin Watts in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
Tickets for the event, which is being promoted by Mayweather Promotions, begin at $25, are on sale now and will be available at www.samstownlv.com/entertain.
Undercard showdowns include unbeaten welterweight prospect Sanjarbek Rakhmanov battling Marquis Taylor in an eight-round contest while super featherweight contenders Omar Douglas and Lydell Rhodes compete in an eight-round showdown.
The lineup of fights will also see unbeaten Angelo Leo (12-0, 7 KOs) taking on Sharone Carter (9-2, 2 KOs) in eight rounds of super bantamweight action, super middleweight Kevin Newman (7-1-1, 3 KOs) stepping in for a six-round bout against Cesar Ruiz (8-7, 5 KOs) and undefeated prospect Andres Cortes (7-0, 4 KOs) battling Jarret Jeter (7-2-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight showdown.
Rounding out the night are unbeaten lightweight prospect Rolando Romero (4-0, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout against Javier Martinez (4-4, 3 KOs), junior welterweight Kaywann Sistrunk (0-0-1) fighting Sevelle Hasan (1-1, 1 KO) in four rounds of junior welterweight action, unbeaten Efren Lopez (2-0, 1 KO) in a four-round featherweight bout versus Daniel Constantino (2-1-1, 1 KO) and the pro debut of Jose Valenzuela in a four-round featherweight attraction.
The 29-year-old Bogere (31-1, 20 KOs) has won eight-straight fights heading into his August 3 matchup. Born in Uganda but now fighting out of Las Vegas, Bogere lost a close decision to Richar Abril in a vacant title fight in 2013 before putting together his current winning streak in hopes of attaining another title shot. He will be opposed by Chile’s Bravo (22-7, 10 KOs), who most recently lost a narrow decision to unbeaten prospect Saul Rodriguez in a fight that he sent Rodriguez to the canvas.
Originally from Uzbekistan, Rakhmanov (10-0-1, 5 KOs) fights out of Las Vegas and will look to put on a show in his adopted hometown as he enters the ring at Sam’s Town for the second time this year. The 28-year-old’s previous fight this year saw him stop Hylon Williams Jr. in the second round to make it six wins in a row since he fought to a split-draw against Alfonso Olvera in 2016. He will be opposed by the 24-year-old Taylor (9-1), who fights out of Houston and also enters the August 3 bout with a six-fight winning streak.
The 27-year-old Douglas (18-2, 13 KOs) will step into the ring on August 3 looking to put on an impressive performance to get back in the mix for a world title shot. Douglas impressive victories over once-beaten Frank De Alba and Alexei Collado, before dropping decisions to former champion Javier Fortuna and Edner Cherry. The Delaware-native most recently scored a first round knockout of Isaias Martin Cardona in December 2017.
A multi-sport athlete who has competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally, Oklahoma City’s Rhodes (26-2-1, 12 KOs) bounced back from decision losses to former champion Sergey Lipinets and Edner Cherry to score three-straight wins, including an April victory over Mike Fowler. The 30-year-old Rhodes was unbeaten in his first 23 pro fights and will look to make it four in a row on August 3.
Damon Allen to Face Jonathan Allen in Co-Main Event of Rojas vs. Diaz Jr.
The inaugural edition of Golden Boy Fight Night on Facebook Watch promises even more fireworks as Damon “No Smilin'” Allen Jr. (15-0-1, 5 KOs) and Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro (14-0, 7 KOs) face off in a highly competitive battle between two undefeated Golden Boy Promotions prospects in the co-main event of Diaz Jr. vs. Rojas at Avalon Hollywood. The action will be streamed live on Saturday, August 11 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Fans can catch all the fights by clicking here.
This scheduled eight-round super lightweight battle will be the next chapter in a series of Golden Boy Promotions fights where our very best prospects are matched up to see who’s deserving of contender status.
Allen Jr. is a 25-year-old prospect who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The quick-handed pugilist has defeated tough warriors such as Luis “Vampiro” Arceo, Gamaliel “El Platano” Diaz and Martin “El Brochas” Honorio. Though spending his career at lightweight, Allen Jr. will move up to 140 pounds for this matchup.
“This is a step-up fight for both of us because we’re both undefeated Golden Boy prospects,” said Damon Allen Jr. “I feel I have the advantage though because of my amateur experience and because I was taught in the school of Philadelphia boxing. That puts me ahead of a lot of the other prospects, and everyone will see that when I defeat Jonathan Navarro on August 11.”
Navarro, the pride of East Los Angeles, California, has been very busy this year and will return for his third fight of 2018. The 21-year-old is a natural 140-pounder, and he’ll look to use his size advantage on the much quicker opponent in Allen Jr.
“This is what it takes for me to make the next step in my career,” said Jonathan Navarro. “It’s rare to see two young and undefeated fighters facing each other, so I’m excited to be a part of this matchup against Damon Allen Jr. I feel I’m bigger, stronger and better skilled than Allen Jr., and I promise an exciting victory in front of a hometown crowd.”
Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (9-0, 5 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle across a scheduled six rounds of welterweight action. Aaron “Silencer” McKenna (4-0, 3 KOs) of Monaghan, Ireland will participate in a four-round 147-pound fight.
Opponents for these two fighters will be announced shortly.