In the Light Fly Prelims 46-49KG, Nico Hernandez defeated Italy’s Manuel Cappan by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.
After a close first round that two of the judges gave to the Italian, Hernandez settled in and began finding range for his left hook and straight right. Using effective in and out movement, Hernandez kept Cappan off balance and limited his attack . Hernandez’s speed was a notch above which allowed him to comfortably control the deciding two rounds
Press Release For Immediate Release
Undefeated Rising Star David Benavidez Knocks Out Denis Douglin in Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Main Event from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena
Undefeated Lightweight Alejandro Luna BestsNaim Nelson by Unanimous Decision
Click HERE for PhotosCredit: Premier Boxing Champions/Ryan Hafey
Click HERE for Benavidez vs. Douglin Highlights
Click HERE for Luna vs. Nelson Highlights
PHILADELPHIA (August 6, 2016) – Undefeated rising contender David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez (16-0, 15 KOs) knocked out Denis Douglin (20-5, 13 KOs) in the 10-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and ESPN Deportes from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Douglin, who is trained by his mother Saphya, opened the fight very aggressive, stealing the first round on all three judges’ scorecards. Douglin continued to press the action, also winning the second round battle with two of the three judges, but Benavidez would soon settle in and take control of the war.
“I knew it was going to be a tough fight. I knew Douglin wasn’t going to go out without a fight,” said Benavidez. “So I came in here and started slower than I usually do, just using my jab a little bit more.”
The 19-year-old Benavidez made the necessary corrections in round three and never looked back, chipping away throughout the fourth and fifth rounds. In the sixth, Benavidez teed off on Douglin with damaging punches to both Douglin’s body and head.
In the seventh round, Benavidez was still having his way when one of the top turnbuckles gave out, causing the ropes on one side of the ring to collapse, and stopping the fight momentarily. When the action resumed, Douglin came forward with a flurry, but that burst of energy was short-lived.
Benavidez regained control in the eighth round, and in the ninth he scored the only knockdown of the fight. In the tenth and final frame, Benavidez threw a barrage of punches, several of which buckled Douglin, causing referee Gary Rosato to intervene and stop the fight at :35 into the round.
When asked about Douglin’s resilience, Benavidez said, “I hurt him a lot of times, but I kept my cool. I knew I was going to get him out of there sooner or later and that’s exactly what I did tonight. This is a good victory for me. Douglin is a tough veteran. He started fast and swinging wildly, and his offense probably looked better on-camera than it was, but he did what he had to do to survive until the final round.”
Benavidez continued, “It was important to me to get the stoppage and show everybody that I am just as strong in the late rounds as I am early on. I love this. This is what I signed up for. I want tough fights.”
A disappointed Douglin said, “I was in this fight, I just got winded. I was in great shape and everything, but I got winded there towards the end. Benavidez is a tough, young fighter. He was able to make me stay in there longer than I wanted to, but I feel good and I’ll be back.”
Benavidez concluded, “Right now, I would like to say that I don’t think about who’s next. I’m just trying to progress in my career and I’m not trying to call anybody out. But if I do dream about fighting anybody, it would be whoever is the champion at my weight. I’m going to work hard to get to that spot.”
Televised coverage began with exciting undefeated contender Alejandro “El Charro” Luna (21-0, 15 KOs) defeating Philadelphia prospect Naim Nelson (13-2, 1 KO) by unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93) in a ten-round bout fought at a catch weight of 144 lbs.
Nelson, who stepped up to face Luna on only 24-hours notice, tried to bring the fight to Luna in the early rounds and make it a physical contest on the inside.
Despite Luna landing a couple of blistering uppercuts in the second and third rounds, Nelson still came forward. Luna later said, “Nelson was a tough guy and could bang a little bit.”
By the close of the third round, Luna’s left eye appeared to be swelling badly, but luckily for Luna Nelson’s gas tank appeared to drain just in time. Although Nelson was all aggression and wanted to fight in a phone booth early on, he found himself landing fewer punches and looking to create distance in the middle rounds.
Luna soon took over the action, and in the seventh round a cut opened on Nelson’s forward, but was quickly controlled by his corner. Nevertheless, Luna had done enough damage in the middle stages of the scrap and was able coast to a unanimous victory on the scorecards. ”
Obviously we prepared for another opponent, but I felt I had a solid performance against him,” said Luna. “Nelson came to fight and was in shape, and I thought I handled him pretty well, but I know I can still do better.”
When asked about taking the fight on short notice Nelson said, “I make no excuses, but we took this fight at 9 p.m. last night and I knew I was stepping up to face a tough opponent. I didn’t get the decision, but I felt good in there tonight, and I proved I can compete with a world class fighter.
Nelson added, “Luna is a good puncher and he’s strong. I won’t take anything away from him. We fought a hell of a fight, and I look forward to being back soon.”
Luna summed up the night adding, “I’m looking to build on what I did here tonight and get back in the ring soon for another good fight.”
The card was promoted by King’s Promotions.
For information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @KingsBoxing, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Press Release For Immediate Release
Undefeated Prospect Caleb Plant Battles Hard-Hitting Juan De Angel in Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, August 23 From Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
Plus! Unbeaten Light Heavyweight Earl Newman Takes On Detroit’s Leo Hall While Unbeaten Prospects Carlos Gongora & Ronald Mixon Meet in Undercard Attractions
Tickets on Sale Now!
BETHLEHEM, PA. (August 3, 2016) – Undefeated prospect Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (13-0, 10 KOs) will square off against hard-hitting Colombian Juan De Angel (18-4-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup that serves as the main event of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on Tuesday, August 23 from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a pair of undercard bouts as unbeaten prospect Earl Newman (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Detroit’s Leo Hall (8-1, 7 KOs) in eight-rounds of light heavyweight action while Carlos Gongora (5-0, 4 KOs) faces Ronald Mixon (7-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round matchup of undefeated light heavyweight prospects.
“It’s a blessing to be headlining on my own show,” said Plant. “It’s all thanks to my family and my team. I’m happy with how far I’ve come in my career. I’ve had obstacles in front of me my entire life and I have had to rise to the occasion. I know De Angel is a tough guy, but I have too much in my game for him.”
“I had a great camp in Colombia and I’m going to Florida to put the finishing touches on training,” said De Angel. “Plant is strong and he counters well, but he gets hit hard and often. I’ve had experience in big fights and I’m going to do my best to put my hands on him. I’m thankful for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most it.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $108, $83 and $58, not including applicable service charges and taxes and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
A 2011 National Golden Gloves champion, Plant has begun to make his name in the professional ranks since turning pro in 2014. Last year, the 24-year-old picked up six victories including hard fought triumphs over Jamar Freeman in September and Tyrone Brunson in October. Fighting out of Nashville, he kicked off his 2016 campaign by stopping Adasat Rodriguez in January and delivered a fourth-round knockout of Carlos Galvan in June. He takes on an experienced opponent in Barranquilla, Colombia’s De Angel. The 29-year-old has a reputation for knockouts, having delivered victories inside of the distance in seventeen of his eighteen victories.
A former New York Golden Gloves champion, Newman has shown impressive power in stopping seven of his first nine opponents since turning pro in 2014. The 24-year-old out of Brooklyn is coming in off of a stoppage victory over Dustin Craig Echard in April. He faces his toughest opponent to date in the 21-year-old Hall out of Detroit. Hall knocked out seven of his first eight opponents before losing for the first time in December 2015.
A two-time Ecuadorian Olympian, Gongora now trains out of Brooklyn and is undefeated since turning pro in May 2015. The 27-year-old has delivered knockouts in four of his first five pro fights, including three in the first round. He takes on fellow unbeaten Mixon out of Los Angeles. The 27-year-old has delivered two stoppage victories in 2016.
For more information visitwww.premierboxingchampions.com, www.sandseventcenter.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @FS1, @TheSBEC, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxdeportes and www.Facebook.com/theSBEC. Highlights available at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.PBC on FS1 & FOX Deportes is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Standing-8 