Standing-8

Andre Berto Training Camp Quotes & Photos

Andre Berto Training Camp Quotes & Photos

Two-Time Welterweight World Champion Battles Former Champion Shawn Porter in Welterweight World Title Eliminator Saturday April 22 from Barclays Center
in Brooklyn

& Live on SHOWTIME

Click
HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp

OAKLAND, CA. (April 17, 2017) – Former two-time welterweight world champion
Andre Berto will look to put himself in a position for another 147-pound title when he faces former world champion
Shawn Porter in a world title eliminator that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions event Saturday, April 22 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn and live on SHOWTIME.

Televised coverage of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING begins at

9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo defending against top contender Charles Hatley.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at
$50 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting
www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or
by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays
Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

As Berto wraps up training camp in Oakland with renowned coach Virgil Hunter, he shares some thoughts on camp, his matchup with Porter and more:

ANDRE BERTO

How has training camp gone? Do you feel like you’re still learning and growing with Virgil Hunter?

“We’ve had a tremendous training camp out here in the Bay. I’m focused and I’m in great shape. Training with Virgil is like stepping in to a classroom. I’m always learning and growing as a fighter
when I’m in the gym with him. We’ve been pushing to the limit every day and I’m just ready to go to work.”

What would you say are Shawn’s strengths in the ring? What do you have to prepare for?

“Shawn’s a great fighter but we are fully focused on what we need to do in the ring. My boxing IQ has grown so much and now everything we’re doing has a purpose. I’ve had tremendous sparring this
camp and everyone I’ve been there with has been trying to push me to a whole other level so I will be ready for anything come fight night.

“We are going to be ready for whatever Shawn brings on April 22. We’ve seen him brawl and try to press guys out but he might try do something different in this fight and we’ll be ready for it.
I’m known for my speed, my power, my explosiveness and I’m in fantastic shape so this is definitely going to be a can’t miss fight.”

What does it mean to you to be in camp with the other great fighter’s in Hunter’s stable including Andre Ward, Amir Khan, Andrzej Fonfara and Peter Quillin, amongst others?

“We have a tremendous atmosphere out here and we all feed off of each other. Training with all these great fighters and world champions pushes you to another level. We all support each other and
it definitely adds another level of motivation during training camp for each of our fights.”

What does it mean to you to be in a position to become a three-time world champion?

“Becoming a three-time world champion is great motivation. The WBC belt was the first belt that I won and I want it back. I avenged my loss to Victor Ortiz last year but getting the green belt
back would bring everything full circle. At this point in my career, every fight is big and a potentially career defining fight so I’m taking everything one step at a time and preparing like I need to

Andre Berto vs. Shawn Porter Media Conference Call Highlights & MP3

Click
HERE for MP3

Lou DiBella

We’re going to start with “Showtime” Shawn Porter, out of Las Vegas right now. Former IBF World Champion. Everyone knows he’s trained by his dad, Ken, and he was a tremendous amateur. He has been
a tremendous pro. And I know he’s ready for this important matchup on April 22nd. Shawn?

Shawn Porter

What’s up, everybody? Yes, we’re just at the latter part of camp now, winding down, and we’re still working out hard, and everything is coming together just the way we want it. So, at this point,
the excitement is building up and I can’t wait to get out there and see everybody, and be a part of what’s going on with this fight.

L. DiBella

Have you done anything special to prepare for Berto? I mean, anything different in terms of sparring partners or anything in your usual routine?

S. Porter

I personally have been going 15 rounds up at an altitude of about 8,500 feet yesterday. I think that’s pretty special. We sparred 10 rounds with three different guys, and we pushed ourselves a
few more rounds in the ring, and then also sprint some on the road as well. So, we’re working hard. We swim every chance we have and try to work every chance. We have an oxygen chamber in our training facility for our performance center.

So, everything we’re doing is just always to try to do it bigger and better each fight.

L. DiBella

Andre can you tell us a little bit about your training camp and how you feel about the fight as fight week is less than a week away.

Andre Berto

Training camp has been tremendous. We’ve stepped everything up this camp. Tremendous sparring. I just can’t say enough about how this camp went. I’m in great shape. I’m focused. We have been pushing
ourselves to the limit each and every day. I’m more than excited coming into this fight. I’m ready to get it.

Stephen Espinoza

We are thrilled to be back at Barclays Center and thrilled to be working with DiBella once again. At SHOWTIME, our spring schedule is starting to take shape. This April 22nd event is the start
of a very aggressive lineup of fights over an eight-week span. There’s more to come on that in the very near future.

In terms of our televised fights, we’ve got compelling matchups that provide a little bit of everything for all sorts of boxing fans.

This main event is part of a series of ongoing welterweight fights that will determine – possibly by the end of the year, maybe early next year – who is the top dog, so to speak, in boxing’s glamour
division.

We’ve had a series of phenomenal welterweight fights, including Shawn’s fight last summer on CBS.

Both Andre Berto and Shawn Porter, really gained national exposure early in their careers on SHOWTIME via
ShoBox – no surprise there. Andre was on ShoBox in 2006; Shawn Porter in 2009. And they have progressed in very significant stages of their career on SHOWTIME – Andre four times on SHOWTIME, and Shawn five times on SHOWTIME and once on CBS.

These are two guys that everybody knows. They’re likeable, charismatic, and articulate. They’re guys who respect the sport and represent it well. Perhaps more importantly, they are all action fighters,
and there’s no way that this fight is going to disappoint. So, top to bottom, a lot to offer on this April 22nd card, and we’re very much
looking forward to it.

Do you think that a victory against Shawn would represent maybe the best win of your career?

A. Berto

Yes. I believe so. Looking down at my career, I’ve gone through a lot of physical things and now just coming back from that and just being healthy and a lot stronger, I’m a lot more focused.

Everything is just starting to show like it needs to be, and I believe that this fight right here definitely could be one of the biggest ones in my career, for sure.

I fought a lot of great guys coming up. I’ve fought with Steve Forbes, I’ve fought David Estrada and all those guys, they were big names at their time.

The most satisfying one for me right now, was my last one against Victor Ortiz just because there was so much emotion that went into that fight. So much of a storyline that went into that fight
and how much it meant to me.

Emotionally all around the board, I think probably there’s no more satisfying win right now at this point. I fought Carlos Quintana, Steve Forbes, and all these guys that were very great fighters
of their time, and they were at the top of their division at their time.

Do you think a win against Shawn would surpass that as the most satisfying because you’re a little older, you’ve been off a while and it’s going to put you back into position to fight another world
title if you win?

A. Berto

I’m not sure, man. Like I said, that last fight just had a lot connected to it. And a lot connected to it. This fight here is a big fight as well. Every fight right now at this point in my career
is a big fight and a very big, defining fight. So, I’m just taking each of them, and one step at a time, and just preparing like I need to. I need to just get through them one at a time.

Shawn were you surprised that coming off of a loss that you were able to get a fight that would be a title eliminator to be in a position right back in a world title fight?

S. Porter

You know what? Honestly, that’s kind of the business side that I don’t really think about as much. I didn’t think about how many fights it would take for me to get back to a championship fight.

After that fight, my team went back to the drawing board figuring out what fight we can take to position ourselves to either get a rematch with Thurman or get another title, and that was it. That
was how this fight with Andre Berto came to be.

This was the guy that I was told will be the one to position me to get back to a World Championship fight, and then, boom, we’re at the press conference announcing the fight, and they tell us that
it’s for an eliminator.

I couldn’t have been more surprised. I don’t think there was anything in my life that I’ve ever been more pleased with or surprised other than that.

When DiBella came up and said it would be for a title eliminator for the WBC title, I mean, my heart just – it just glowed with happiness. So, I’m looking forward to this fight. I been looking
forward to this moment for a long time and I hope to just win.

We agreed to the fight with the understanding that, this will lead to something better, but again I didn’t know how long it would be. And then the man comes on the stage and says it’s for an eliminator,
and I’m like, wow.

If you could wave the magic wand, which guy of Thurman and Brook would you rather have a rematch against, and why?

S. Porter

Thurman. I think he’s the better fighter. I think finally being able to beat him, I think would be something on my resume, in my legacy, that would be remembered for a very long time. He’s a very
good fighter; a very good defender of his belt/belts, and I’m looking forward to fighting him in a rematch.

Shawn, I saw some comments you made recently discussing Berto’s fight against Mayweather and how you seemed to suggest that you were going to follow Floyd’s blueprint for his boxing Berto, and
staying on the outside, and you seemed to kind of say that you were going to follow the same strategy. Is that true?

S. Porter

Well, watching the fight, I definitely admired, as any fight that Floyd Mayweather’s in, his boxing ability, but that was something that was very effective against Andre Berto. So, we’ll definitely
pick our spots where we want to box; where we want to use the ring. But at any rate, through the entire fight, we will control the action as well as the ring.

Do you plan on showcasing more of your boxing ability in this fight against Berto?

S. Porter

Well, it depends on the fight. Like you just said, my boxing ability may be a little underrated. I’d say, there are moments in the ring, sometimes you make it more of boxing, sometimes you make
it more of the pressure and the aggression.

So, we’ll build this fight accordingly. We’ll take a look at what’s going on. We’ll make our adjustments during the fight in the corner as well, and we’ll see. You might see more boxing; you might
see more pressure. We’ll see how it plays out.

You mentioned before that you felt that Keith Thurman was a better fighter than Kell Brook. Can you just explain why you feel that way?

S. Porter

I just think overall. His boxing ability, ring IQ, speed, quickness, power, all of it. My personal opinion is it could be a biased opinion, but I feel like Keith Thurman is the better boxer/fighter
than Kell Brook.

Andre, what do you think about Shawn saying that he might use Floyd Mayweather’s template against you in your fight? What’s your reaction to hearing that?

A. Berto

That’s fine. I mean, that’s his business. He can us any game plan however he wants to. Whichever way he wants to maneuver, whatever the situation is, that’s on him.

We’re just preparing for every look. We’re just preparing for every look. What we need to prepare whether he’s boxing brawling.

We’re focused on what we need to do. We don’t really focus on the way he’s trying to beat us. We’re trying to make sure that we’re going to be all right, and we’re going to be focused.

Shawn, he’s shown in the past he can brawl. He can press the guys out. He might try to use something new in this fight. I’m not sure. I’m just focusing on what I got to do. Like I said, we’re in
tremendous shape all around the board. We can box; we can bang; we can do whatever we want to do as well. So it doesn’t matter. We’re going to see what it is. We’re getting a start on that.

Shawn do you think Andre can handle your pace?

S. Porter

That’s my mindset, my team says every time we get in the ring is that our opponent won’t be able to keep up with the pace that I perform at. I do everything that I can, leading up to the fight,
to be ready for a fight like that.

I never go into the ring with the thought that I’m going to throw 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 punches a round. It’s just kind of how the fight flows and how it goes. So, yes, I’m always prepared to fight
at the faster pace – I think at a faster rate than most of the guys that I box.

I think that there is going to be an advantage for myself getting in the ring with Andre Berto, I think that I’ll be able to dictate the pace, and push his heart, and make him work harder.

The skills as well as the power should make this a very good fight. This is why this fight is very anticipated, because you know what I can do and what Andre can do.

But I think I’ve shown out there that there’s nothing that you can doubt when I’m getting into the ring, it’s down to I’m going to perform the way I’ve always performed and the fight will take
care of itself.

Besides Mayweather, do you think you’re the most superior opponent that he’s faced, and if so, why?

S. Porter

Yes, yes, yes. I would say I am. He’s fought some very good boxers. Some punchers and guys that were aggressive. Some counterpunchers. He’s fought them all. I think the thing that separates me
from those guys is that I can do all of it. Very rarely do you have that in another fighter than can do it all in the ring.

Andre, what are your thoughts on what Shawn brings to the ring, and do you agree that with him, that maybe besides Mayweather, that he’s your most difficult opponent?

A. Berto

I can’t really say until I get in there with him. Like I said, I been there with a lot of guys, and I’ve been with a lot of different type of guys from my first 12 or 13 fights.

I’ve been in there with a few world champions. I have to go in there and see. Mayweather, like I said, you’re bringing up Mayweather. Mayweather is Mayweather.

He’s going to go in there and move around, box, he’s going to play, real slippery. I believe that he is definitely one-of-a-kind and showed it throughout the years.

When it comes to Shawn, he does a lot of things wrong and he does a lot of things right. So I can’t say that Shawn’s going to be my most difficult fight, because I haven’t been in there with him
yet. We’ll say that he is definitely a great fighter.

Do you feel that at the time of some of your earlier wins, that you were getting credit, and do you think that you have ever really gotten credit for being a better fighter?

A. Berto

Everybody knows the boxing game, you’re as good as our last performance. Just as they can raise you up high in the next great thing, going through defeat or going through some tough times, they’ll
write you off quick.

They’ll write you off quick in this game. And that’s just how the game goes. I can’t sit there and just be upset at it. I knew what I was getting into.

With all of the buzz surrounding me, coming into the pro game, and me being a world champion myself, I can give myself accolades, but if things don’t go your way, they’ll definitely discredit you.

You have to see it for what it’s worth, man, and end-of-the-day, just know who you are. You can’t let this fight game ultimately define you.

It won’t give you the credit that you feel that you deserve at the end of the day, and that’s what, and I believe. Them retiring. I don’t know too many fighters that have retired satisfied.

They’re satisfied with this fight game, or satisfied with the notoriety of things they’ve got, from the writers, from the critics or the fans. I don’t know too many at all. You just got to go in
there and do what you got to do. Like, just know who you are, and go and make yourself happy.

Andre, just piggybacking on what you said earlier, do you feel that you’ve been written off, going into this fight?

A. Berto

Well, from my first loss moving forward, I’ve been written off. Like I said. going into it, it’s just where the fight game is. It’s just where the fight game is. From my first loss on, it’s been
this and this, this and that. I’ve been through my hard times. I’ve been through everything in this fight game and have been in front of that TV screen.

That’s what you need to understand. I’ve got a chance to fight all over. I was with Lou DiBella and HBO. Everything that I’ve done has been in the eyes of the public. My rise, my fall, going through
my defeats.

Coming back from shoulder surgery, coming back trying to continue to make a statement, make people know I’m still here. I love it, because I love that roller coaster ride. I’ve never seen my career
coming into the game as being perfect. Never. Never.

I’ve always wanted to feel everything that this game had to offer. But it’s just like Muhammad Ali said a long time ago, he was able to feel everything this game had to offer. He got knocked down.
He got stopped. He wasn’t tired. He was the best alive. This and that. He had to experience it all.

When I’m done, I’ll be able to read my story and see that and explains everything this game had to offer.

Andre, he’s obviously he’s the younger fighter and he’s a pretty big favorite in the fight. How much motivation has that given you in this camp?

A. Berto

It’s a tremendous motivation for me. I believe they’ve been able to see a whole different type of determination and motivation in me. And they do see it in these fights as well. So it’s not going
to stop. It’s not going to stop me. They can think of that some other type of way, but everybody right now, at this point, it looks like they’re in the way right now for what I want. That’s it. That’s it. That’s all they’re getting out of my way.

How difficult has it been for you to not be more active since the Broner fight?

S. Porter

That’s a tough one to call. I think more than anything it’s been a little tougher mentally, outside of that, we still work hard and I’m on SHOWTIME for a reason.

I’m a Showtime fighter, so I’m never worried, about any amount of time that I stay out of the ring in the actual fight because we have tons of those before the actual match. So, I’m just excited
about this fight coming in, and I’m looking forward to it.

Do you think maybe for your next fight if you’re able to beat Andre, do you feel like a Thurman rematch because, especially, this is an elimination match for his title that that is a realistic
opportunity for you in your next fight?

S. Porter

I’m hoping so. I know that he has two different belts. He will have two different mandatories, so I understand all that, but I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring with Keith Thurman in
a rematch as soon as we can after this fight with Andre Berto.

Andre, you’re going into this fight with roughly a one-year layoff since your last fight with the second fight with Ortiz. Can you tell us about that layoff and how you think it might affect your
performance in this fight?

A. Berto

The layoff is the layoff. That’s something you got to ask the promoter, the managers on that. But anybody that follows me, they know I’ve been staying busy anyways. within this year I’ve been staying
working out and I’ve been staying in shape.

I’d say we’ve had a nice lengthy camp to make sure to knock off all the rust. And we’re sharp, man. We’re sharp. And all ready to go. So I don’t think it’s going to play too much of a big part
in this as well.

How does that affect you being off for that period of time, because as soon as the bell rings, it may get very heated very quickly.

A. Berto

It’s not going to affect me too much at all. Everybody knows me. When it comes to me, I’ve been scrappy that way my whole career. And plus we’ve been having tremendous sparring. We been having
tremendous, tremendous sparring here at the gym.

So far everybody is trying to push me to a whole other level. I’m here putting real money on my own head to make sure these guys come from the first round. Always trying to see if they can knock
me out.

So all the sparring has been top notch, and it’s definitely been highly, highly competitive. We’re going to be ready to go.

As the more veteran fighter, are there going to be changes in your approach?

A. Berto

Yes, it’s crazy to say; I’m an old vet now. My boxing IQ has changed so much when it comes to everything in general.

We’re doing things for a reason. Not just out there throwing punches because we can. Not just always just being fast because we can, or being strong because we can. Everything is for a purpose
and we’ve just been fine-tuning everything. And everything has been falling in place pretty amazingly.

Shawn, do you think there are going to be any ring rust problems, or how are you going to deal with that?

S. Porter

No, no ring rust at all, man. I’m just looking forward to this fight. I know it’s been a while since you guys have seen me, but I’m always working, and my team is always on me, making sure I’m
in shape, getting in shape, staying in shape. And that I’m controlling my weight, my eating, all that kind of stuff. So, right now, there’s no problem for Shawn Porter

Unbeaten Rising Contender Mario Barrios Battles Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara in Main Event of of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Unbeaten Rising Contender Mario Barrios Battles Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara in Main Event of of Premier Boxing Champions
TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, April 25

From Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotelin Tunica, Mississippi

Plus! 2012 Mexican
Olympian Oscar Molina Takes on Exciting Welterweight Levan Ghvamichava in Co-Main Event

Tickets on Sale Now!

TUNICA, MS
(April 11, 2017) – Undefeated rising contender
Mario Barrios (18-0, 10 KOs) will face Nicaragua’s Nelson Lara (17-7-4, 9 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight attraction that headlines
Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS
on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes Tuesday, April 25 from the
Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features a 10-round matchup of exciting welterweights as once-beaten
Oscar Molina (13-1-1, 10 KOs) takes on Georgia’s Levan Ghvamichava
(17-3-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round showdown.

“I’m excited to be back on FS1 and FOX Deportes for this fight,” said Barrios. “This is a great platform for young fighters to show their talents
and that’s what I plan on doing April 25. Everyone tune-in to see me put on a great performance and for an exciting night of fights from Tunica.”

“I’m very excited to fight once again in the U.S. and on FS1 and FOX Deportes,” said Lara. “I’m grateful to TGB Promotions for the opportunity. Mario Barrios is a very skilled,
young, undefeated prospect, however I have faced much better competition and will be well prepared for victory on April 25.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, start at $20 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased through the Fitz Gift Shop or Ticketmaster at
www.Ticketmaster.com
or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

“This show epitomizes what the Premier Boxing Champions series on FS1 and FOX Deportes is all about – young, hungry boxers making the climb to the top,” said
Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “We’ve watched Mario Barrios grow up in the ring. His fight against tough veteran Nelson Lara represents another big step in his progression. Oscar Molina is shifting from 154 pounds to 147 pounds and will face one of
the toughest challenges of his career when he takes on rugged Levan Ghvamichava. This is a fan-friendly card that promises plenty of excitement.”

Standing more than six feet tall, the 21-year-old Barrios won his first 12-round fight last July when he defeated Devis Boschiero after winning seven times in a busy 2015 campaign.
The San-Antonio native followed up that victory with stoppage wins over Claudio Rosendo Tapia last December and Yardley Suarez in March to run his record to a perfect 18 wins in his first 18 pro starts.

Originally from Nicaragua but now fighting out of Costa Rica, Lara was unbeaten in 17 of his first 18 pro fights after turning pro in 2004. Lara enters this bout having won his
last two contests by stoppage including his most recent triumph in March. Lara will fight in the U.S. for the third time as a pro in a career that has seen him enter the ring in six different countries.

Molina, of Norwalk, Calif., just east of Los Angeles, was a 2012 Mexican Olympian who tore through his opposition after turning professional in
2013, registering knockouts in 10 of his 14 fights. The 27-year-old fought 10-round draw with Dominque Dolton last year before losing an exciting contest against 154-pound world champion Jarrett Hurd. Now fighting at 147-pounds, Molina will look to climb
the ranks in his new division.

Ghvamichava returns to the ring in Tunica after a dropping a split decision to top contender Yordenis Ugas in February. Priot to that, the 31-year-old had delivered a sensational
knockout of Breidis Prescott last July. Trained by Virgil Hunter in California, Ghvamichava is originally from Poti, Georgia. He carried a five-fight winning streak from 2014 to 2015 that included wins over previously

Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. Defends His Belt Against Top Challenger Oscar Escandon Saturday, May 20

Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. Defends His Belt Against Top Challenger Oscar Escandon Saturday, May 20

From MGM National Harbor in Maryland & Live on SHOWTIME

Tickets Now on Sale!

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. (April 7, 2017) – WBC Featherweight World Champion
Gary Russell Jr. will make the second defense of his title when he faces top challenger
Oscar Escandon Saturday, May 20 in themain event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING from the recently opened MGM National Harbor in Maryland live on SHOWTIME.

The Maryland-native Russell Jr. (27-1, 16 KOs) and the WBC Interim Featherweight Champion
Escandon (25-2, 17 KOs) will battle in one of boxing’s most talented divisions that continues to deliver exciting action fight after fight. A lineup of exciting co-featured attractions will be announced next week.

“I’m a gladiator getting ready for a tough battle,” said Russell Jr. “This is going to be a huge night for my family and I’m glad that the time is here. This will be the first time as pros that I get to fight
on the same card as both of my little brothers, (unbeaten bantamweight) Gary Antonio and (2016 U.S. Olympian) Gary Antuanne, plus my brother Gary Allan will work all of our corners. We’re excited to get in the ring and show the fans what we’re capable of doing
in the ring.”

“I’ve had to wait for this opportunity to face Gary Russell Jr. and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said Escandon. “It’s going to be a great fight and I know the fans are going to get their money’s worth.
I feel 100 percent healthy and now that the fight is here I am ready to knock him out.”

Tickets for the live event promoted by TGB Promotions are priced at $200, $150, $100 and $50, and are now on sale. To purchase tickets go to
http://mgmnationalharbor.com/.
The main event is co-promoted by Sampson Boxing. This bout was originally scheduled to take place on March 11 but was rescheduled after Escandon suffered a back injury in training camp. Fans who bought tickets for the March 11 show will have their tickets
honored on May 20.

“This is going to be a great night of boxing,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The featherweight division is very hot right now with the recent wins by Leo Santa
Cruz and Abner Mares. There is something very special going on in the division and this will be another memorable fight. Escandon is a tough warrior who has proven time and again that he doesn’t care about going on the road or where he fights. There are great
boxing fans in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region and they are in-store for an exciting night on May 20.”

A speedy and supremely talented boxer, Russell Jr., was impressive in his fourth-round stoppage
of the battle-tested Jhonny Gonzalez that earned him the title in March 2015. The 2008 U.S. Olympian had scored important victories over Vyacheslav Gusev, Juan Ruiz and Miguel Tamayo before losing a majority decision to
Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBO 126-pound title in June 2014. The southpaw, of Capitol Heights, Md., most recently scored a dominant second-round TKO victory over Patrick Hyland in his first title defense in April 2016.

Fighting out of Ibague, Colombia, Escandon turned pro in 2008 and was undefeated in his first 22 professional bouts. Escandon won an interim world title at super bantamweight in 2014 when he defeated Tyson Cave in his U.S. debut.
He earned his shot at Russell Jr. last March when he survived an early knockdown to score a knockout victory over Robinson Castellanos in the seventh round of their showdown in Washington, D.C

Cruiserweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov & UnbeatenYunier Dorticos Face Off

Cruiserweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov & Unbeaten

Yunier Dorticos Face Off; Plus! Unbeaten Interim Featherweight Champion Carlos Zambrano Battles Once Beaten Contender Claudio Marrero

Saturday, April 29 in
a Special Saturday Night Edition of

Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 & FOX Deportes

Live from Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (April 7, 2017) – Cruiserweight world champion
Beibut Shumenov (17-2, 11 KOs) will meet interim cruiserweight champion
Yunier Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs) in the main event and WBA Interim Featherweight Champion
Carlos Zambrano (26-0, 11 KOs) defends his title against once-beaten contender
Claudio Marrero (21-1, 15 KOs) in a special Saturday night edition of
Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes, April 29 from Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas.

Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT as Shumenov and Dorticos will meet to unify their WBA titles in a long-awaited showdown between the former light heavyweight champion, Shumenov, and the unbeaten knockout artist,
Dorticos.

“I’ve been in the gym working hard since my last fight,” said Shumenov. “I have been ready this entire time to defend my belt against anyone who is willing to step up. Denis Lebedev wanted to fight
anyone but me and Dorticos disappeared after I signed the bout agreement to fight him February 11th in Miami. I am glad that, after
many fight date changes, the fight is finally here on April 29. “

“I have been waiting a long time to reach this level and I’m very excited for this opportunity,” said Dorticos. “I want to thank my team at Caribe Promotions and Warriors Boxing for making this happen. I can’t wait for the whole
world to see me in action. I’ve had a great training camp and my whole team has been working very hard. Shumenov is a great champion and I thank him for stepping in the ring with me. I can’t wait for that bell to ring so I can start fighting.”

“Training to defend my title has been intense,” said Zambrano. “We have a great team who put together a plan for me and I am giving everything I have to them. I have to get in the ring and show what I am capable of. There is only
one result of this fight, I am going to win. Whether it’s by knockout or points, I will leave the ring a champion.”

“I think the fans have been wanting to see this fight for a while, and I am prepared to give the fans an exciting fight,” said Marrero. “I am focused and ready. I’ve been training hard with my team
and I only see this fight going one way, and that’s me leaving with the win.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $75, $50 and $25, and are on sale Monday, April 10 at 12 p.m. PT. Tickets are available online at

www.samstownlv.com/entertain.

“We can’t wait to bring another thrilling night of fights to the great fans in Las Vegas at Sam’s Town Live,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “This main event is going to be a scintillating cruiserweight title
fight on FS1 and FOX Deportes and we are also looking forward to Carlos Zambrano making his Mayweather Promotions debut against a very tough challenger in Claudio Marrero. There will be an action packed undercard featuring a slew of Mayweather Promotions fighters,
so you will want to get there early to enjoy the whole show!”

“This is a true boxing fans show,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “Beibut Shumenov and Yunier Dorticos are two of the best cruiserweights in the sport and they’re stepping into the ring to prove it. Carlos Zambrano
and Claudio Marrero have been circling each other for a while now, which has heightened the anticipation of their finally meeting in the ring. The intensity in both matches means excitement for the fans.”

A native of Shymkent, Kazakhstan and fighting out of Las Vegas, Shumenov looks to build on a strong start to his campaign at cruiserweight after picking up a title against B.J. Flores in July 2015 and defending the belt with a TKO
victory over Junior Wright last year. The 2004 Olympian for Kazakhstan won a world title at light heavyweight by defeating Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas in 2010.

Fighting out of Miami by way of Havana, Cuba, Dorticos is unbeaten since turning pro in 2009 after a decorated amateur career. Dorticos won a regional cruiserweight title over previously unbeaten
Hamilton Ventura in 2014 and continued his ascent to a world title with victories over Edison Miranda, Galen Brown and Fulgencio Zuniga. He won his interim title with a stoppage victory over Youri Kalenga in one of the most exciting fights of 2016.

An unbeaten fighter from Lima, Peru, Zambrano turned pro in 2008 and fought nine of his first 12 bouts in the U.S. He won a South American regional title in 2012 and began moving up the featherweight rankings with a knockout victory
over Devis Perez in 2014. He picked up his interim title with a unanimous decision victory over Daniel Ramirez in 2015 and defended the belt successfully against Jose Sanmartin later that year.

A former title challenger who lost a narrow decision to Jesus Cuellar in 2013, Marrero has won seven-straight bouts since then. Most recently, the 28-year-old knocked down Luis Hinojosa four times before stopping
him in the fourth round in August 2016. A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Marrero was an accomplished amateur who will be fighting in Las Vegas for the second time in his pro career

Shawn Porter Media Workout Quotes & Photos

Shawn Porter Media Workout Quotes & Photos

Former World Champion Faces Andre Berto in Welterweight World Title Eliminator Saturday, April 22 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn & Live on SHOWTIME

Click
HERE for Photos from Ryan Greene/

Premier Boxing Champions

LAS VEGAS (April 5, 2017) – Former world champion
Shawn Porter hosted a media workout in Las Vegas Wednesday as he prepares for his welterweight world title eliminator showdown against
Andre Berto that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions event Saturday, April 22 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn and live on SHOWTIME.

Televised coverage of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING begins at

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features unbeaten super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo defending against top contender Charles Hatley.

Here is what Porter and his father and trainer, Kenny Porter, had to say Wednesday from the Porter Hy-Performance Center:

SHAWN PORTER

“Every time I see this fight in my head, I feel good about it. I feel like my speed and my boxing ability is going to take care of the first half of this fight. Once we get going and establish the pace of the fight, which is what we’re going to do, after that,
we’ll start working in our feints, our head movement, it’s gonna be beautiful. I know that much.

“I’ve seen him in fights where he goes past the fifth and sixth round, and things start to fall apart for him. So if we can get to his body early, and you see everything we do here in the facility, these guys
work me almost to death. We’re ready for the 12 rounds plus. We’re always ready to take more out of our guy’s tank and have a lot more at the end.

“I really think there’s an understanding we both have. He tells me what to do and I listen. Like he always says, as long as I listen, everything will play out the way it’s supposed to. We have that one understanding,
and the rest just carries itself.

“I’ve seen myself hurting him to the body, but haven’t seen myself stopping him. I can see him going down, but I can’t see him not getting up. Maybe that’s too much respect for him, but I know in the moment, in
the fight, I’m going after this dude. I feel like right now, he has the heart of a lion. He’s Haitian, he carries that blood with him, he’s proud of it and I respect that, so I’m ready for a full fight.

“I think my coaches keep me at the peak. My dad keeps me where I need to be. A big part of what we work on is the focus and mentality approaching the fight, as well. I feel like where other guys lack, I have it
all. We’re in better condition than most guys. And we work on the mental fortitude just as much as we do on the physical.

“I think when opportunities like this come up, that’s when I really get going. For me, there’s nothing better than fight night. Everything leading up to it is just part of the process. I can tell you that right
now, we’re talking the fight, I’m excited and I want it.”

KENNY PORTER, Shawn’s Father & Trainer

“I think we got the right sparring partners. We’ve had Brandon Adams, who is like a bigger version of Shawn, in here. He does a good job of emulating Berto. We also now have Hank Lundy in. Lundy is a guy that’s
bringing speed, quickness, power and an attitude every time they spar. He’s saying things to Shawn, popping off at Shawn, and if Shawn lands a good punch on him, he’s coming right back. And we’ve been using Mickey Bey on the back end of our sparring sessions.
It’s working out pretty good. We’re just looking to push Shawn really hard.

“We’re never satisfied about anything. My thing is more than anything else, is we’re asking him to do the things we’ve worked and practiced and put it all together so we can take that to the next fight and the
next camp instead of starting over and restarting. It’s coming together, and we’re liking what we’re seeing. Never satisfied, but I would like to see him out-box him, out-punch him, out-hustle him, then I would like to see him punish him. That would be the
ultimate scenario. You do all these things we worked on, then you punish him.”

SHOTS FIRED: Kovalev Ward 2 Set For June 17

Andre Ward (31-0 15 KO) beat Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1 26 KO) by unanimous decision last November in a very, very close fight. All three judges scored the bout 114-113.

Standing-8 did not score the fight live but had Kovalev by a slight edge; however, after reviewing the tape, had the same score as the judges with Ward winning rounds 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11.
It was a tale of two fights really, with Kovalev basically winning the first half of the fight to include a knock down in Round 2 and Ward adjusting and winning the second half.

Promoters Roc Nation Sports (Ward) and Main Events (Kovalev) announced the rematch today which will be on June 17th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Both fighters exchanged “pleasantries” on social media after the announcement-

In the words of Mills, “Let’s get it on”

As before the first fight, the call here is Ward. As he did in the first fight after the first several rounds, he’ll adjust in the rematch.

With one of the stronger ring I.Q’s in the game, you give him seven months to review tape and he’ll make it easier the second time around. Just more tools in the tool belt. No slight on the Krusher, he’s the goods too but Ward is and will be the wrong opponent for him due to the styles matchup.

Mario Barrios Back In Bay Area Training With Virgil Hunter

RRIOS

Press Release

For Immediate Release

BARRIOS BACK IN BAY AREA TRAINING WITH VIRGIL HUNTER

Photos by Team Barrios

BAY AREA, CA (April 3, 2017) – Unbeaten super-lightweight prospect,
Mario Barrios (18-0, 10 KOs), is back in the Bay Area, CA, training with coach
Virgil Hunter. After scoring a TKO in his last bout on March 4^th, Barrios returns to the gym, motivated to get back in the ring.

“It feels good to be back in the gym training with Virgil.” said Mario Barrios a native of San Antonio, TX. “Seeing all the guys in the gym, getting
ready for their fights, has me fired up. As soon as my team lets me know when I’ll be fighting next, I’ll be ready to get back in the ring and continue my march toward a world title.”

Look for Barrios to get back in the ring shortly. No date is set, but an announcement will be coming soon.

“Although I don’t have a date set, my goal is to be ready at all times.” Barrios continued. “Coming out to California from Texas, to start training
early, will only make me a better fighter. I know all the hard work and sacrifice will pay off in the end

Jermell Charlo vs. Charles Hatley Media Conference Call

Jermell Charlo vs. Charles Hatley Media Conference Call

Transcript & MP3

Click
HERE for MP3

Lou DiBella

Thanks for joining us. This is our call to announce the co-feature for Andre Berto versus Shawn Porter, the WBC welterweight world title eliminator — that’s going to be on SHOWTIME live at 9 pm

ET/6 pm PT from the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, April 22. Tickets for the live event are on sale now. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000, 1-800-745-3000.

The co-feature is a terrific bout for the WBC junior middleweight championship. Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo 28-0, 13 KOs from Houston, Texas against Charles Hatley, 26-1-1, with 18 KOs from Dallas,
Texas. So we got a battle of Texas and Brooklyn on April 22. As most of you know Jermell’s brother is Jermall. They’re one minute apart. Jermell’s one minute younger.

They turned pro in 2007. Jermell had a great record of 56 and 8 as an amateur. Has held a number of small titles. Last year they became the first pair of twins to hold world titles simultaneously
in the same weight class. Since Jermall has moved up to the 160-pound division. But Jermell will be defending his title in a very tough defense against Charles Hatley in Brooklyn at Barclays Center on April 22.

For those who don’t know Charles Hatley is promoted by the illustrious Mr. Don King. Charles, you want to say a couple of words to the press please?

Charles Hatley

Yes, I’m preparing very well for this fight and it’s going to be a great night for us.

L. DiBella

And so Charles’ trainer is his dad, Greg Hatley. Greg, would you like to say a few words?

Greg Hatley

We’re really looking forward to the fight. Looking forward to it. Glad for the opportunity for the fight and looking forward to it.

L. DiBella

Jermell, you want to talk to the press, champ?

Jermell Charlo

Yes, of course. Hello everybody that’s listening. I appreciate you guys for taking the time to just be involved and be active with me and my brother. I’m excited to be in the arena again and I
hope Charles Hatley is excited to obviously get another chance to fight for his title.

I know he hasn’t fought in a while — and this is actually one of my longest layoffs — but this has been one of the best because I been able to prepare myself physically, mentally, spiritually.
And I been able to adapt and get better. so I’m excited to see what I can bring to the table and bring a better performance than I have done all 28 fights that I’ve fought.

Mr. DiBella you’ve been doing a great job promoting our fights and doing what you can for the Charlos. And right now it’s all about us. It’s about being selfish and it’s about taking control of
everything that the opportunities present.

I am the champion. I’ve been here before and I’ve stood my ground before. I’ve been in the ring where I had to put my liberty on my back and that’s what I’m doing right here and I’m doing it again.
Y’all fighting a native from Texas but it’s two completely different worlds. I live nothing like these guys and those guys live nothing like me.

And it’s hard to walk in my shoes. Charles will see that when we get into the ring on the 22nd.

Just a question for both fighters. You’re both from the Texas area. Have you guys ever fought in the amateurs or ever spar or do you guys know each other well before this fight?

J. Charlo

Yes, we never fought in the amateurs. We seen each other fight before. I was a little bit younger than him coming into amateurs and he was older obviously so maybe just one era difference. But
no, we never fought in the amateurs but we did pay attention because closely to what we had in front of us.

Does both of you guys being from Texas add a little extra to this fight?

Jermell Charlo

No. This is my life. This is another victim that’s coming to jeopardize my life and my lifestyle. And so it’s not about where he’s from and Texas, none of that. There’re no robberies, that doesn’t
matter to me.

I can’t stand by myself and say, yes, I am the king of Texas but we all have some great champions in Texas so it’s not even about, it’s not about that. It’s deeper than that.

Can you just tell me if there’s been any sense of anxiousness or frustration of finally finding out when you’d actually fight and finally knowing for sure it’s going to take place April 22?

J. Charlo

Well I’m very humbled to know that everything happens for a reason. I am happy to just to get a chance to get back in the ring, show my skills, knock off the ring rust and have fun. At the same
time and do what I love to do. So that’s the anxiety, just being back in the ring and everything else falls in place.

I set myself up to where I can have a future outside of boxing as well. When things like this do take place you aim to still be comfortable. You know, something…

Do you feel like because your title win was such a long time ago that the somewhat from momentum may be the wearing off?

J. Charlo

No, my focus still there. I’m still fired up, I’m still hungry. I’m hungrier now, obviously, because they made me wait so long. But other than that I’m still hungry, I’m still fired up. I can’t
care about what these people think of me, judging me or how they feel or if I’m not relevant to them anymore.

I know what I’m doing, I know how I’m living, and I know how I’m getting ready to fight. So it’s like nothing else that I can do other than just continue to try to be great in the ring and please
these fans and be satisfying to my peers and my judges and my family.

What did you make of him confronting your brother after his world title victory?

J. Charlo

See that’s once again somebody else’s decision. I don’t care about that what that guy is doing. That’s not something that’s on the back of my mind. I couldn’t care less about that.

You jump in the ring and you almost started something or caused something to be worse than what it is all because you trying to really just put on a front. Put that front on in front of someone
else.

I’m glad nothing erupted and got even crazier because we got different type of people in our life that don’t allow stuff like that to happen. I’m glad that it didn’t get more dangerous or serious
than that. But, he does have to eat a few jabs to the mouth for that.

Did you and your brother ever kind of joke around about it a little bit?

J. Charlo

Well we laughed on the plane and that was it. We were like look at this guy. We’re so used to stuff like that. Different people they don’t know us apart. So I mean I’ve been dealing with that all
my life.

So we kind of had a little laugh and were like okay you didn’t know us apart but at the same time why do you disrespect us. I could say that you’re wrong for it and you got problems. Or I’m going
to make you pay. But I don’t take it that seriously.

How has sparring with Errol Spence Jr. sharpened your skills and upped your game and increased your intensity for this fight?

J. Charlo

Well that’s what I got to come out and show you guys. I’ve been working out with Errol and he’s a great fighter. Errol is very dominant and I love everything he’s doing. We’re both around the same
age and we both teach each other. There are so many fighters in the gym with so many talents. So I believe when it comes down to April 22 I’ll be able to show some of those same things that we taught each other.

How anxious are you to put hands on him?

J. Charlo

I’m just as anxious as any fight. I’m calm, I’m a really patient person. And I’m happy about my opportunities. I’m taking every moment very seriously. Training with Errol brings a lot to my repertoire.

Derrick could you weigh in on that too?

Derrick James

Well you know, it’s funny because I’ve been training Jermell for like almost two years and I like to give everybody their own personal private time when they train. So they never really trained
together.

But for this fight I felt like I wanted Jermell to get to another level, be more focused, and be pushed to where when he’s in the ring with a guy like Charles Hatley, he won’t care about you him.
Hopefully it’ll be a lot easier, a lot different, so. Two different levels of fighters. This being said they’re very anxious.

Not really anxious just waiting for the fight to happen. You have something you just lingering and kind of want to get it over with so you move forward and get ready for the next one or whatever.
So that’s basically my focus and – but Jermell and Errol sparring raises him up to a whole other level.

It’s one thing to be a good fighter but to be one of the best fighters in the world, most technically sound fighter in the world and to help each other get ready is phenomenal.

I understand that Errol has sparred Hatley. Can you characterize how that was?

D. James

Well the first time I saw them spar it was pretty decent. They’ve only sparred three times when I was training Errol. And the first time was pretty decent.

The last two times were…. Well…. you all know what Errol’s motto is. And that was it. We never sparred with him again because it was not so competitive.

C. Hatley

Yes, I heard everything that was being said which wasn’t true. I swear I sparred Errol many times and yes, we worked several times. And he down – he right, whatever he want to say man down, that’s
definitely ain’t true. I got footage of us sparring.

And I have told Derek whenever they’d like to come back they welcome back. But no, they know where I’m at and I never seen them again.

I told him whenever he wants to come back, whenever you want to come back, come over. And I haven’t seen y’all since. So what does that mean?

D. James

It wasn’t worth the time, man. It wasn’t competitive, it’s not…

C. Hatley

Well I have that on tape as well.

D. James

All right, if you say so.

Jermell, how do you rate Hatley as an opponent compared to the other opponents that you’ve had?

J. Charlo

I give everybody a chance. There is nothing overlooked. He has never fought near the competition I’ve fought as a professional. I’m a different individual, I’m a stronger fighter, smarter fighter,
faster fighter.

He knows what he has in front of him. So it’s really about me getting in there, doing what I have to do, and being my best by doing it. I don’t care about who he fought, who he’s sparred, who he’s
stopped, who stopped him. None of that matters to me. Every opponent, every victim, has a different way of coming at you. So we all got our different DNA.

What do you see as your advantages over him?

J. Charlo

I might have several. I really don’t want to speak on the advantages that I have. I have several though.

Okay, and a question for Charles. Could you talk a little bit about the layoff?

C. Hatley

Yes, well the layoff was good for me. I was so busy at the time and I actually needed the layoff. But I actually thought we were going to fight three months after he won the titles.

It just kept going back, pushing and pushing it back further and further. And I was busy training for it. So I was well prepared for it a while back. I never stopped training for it.

How do you compare him with your other opponents that you’ve faced? You consider him to be the toughest fighter you’ve faced?

C. Hatley

No, I can’t say that. He’s a great fighter and he’s coming to win just like I am. But he’s never gotten a test like this. I’m sure he’s fought several fighters that they knew he was going to win
against. But this fight here they don’t know that he’s going to win.

And I’m sure he’s pushing himself right now. I’m coming to the table to do what I got to do and that’s to bring the belt back to my city. I’m well prepared for it and I’m ready to fight. At the
end of the day I’m really about getting in the ring and doing what I said I was going to do.

Do either of you want to make a prediction for the fight? (Jermell) first?

J. Charlo

No, I’m not making any predictions. I’m coming to win.

C. Hatley

He said it clearly. I’m ready and I’m coming to win man. So may the best man win.

Can you give me your perspective on what it was like for you to make that long trip to Australia to fight Mundine?

C. Hatley

Well I went to Australia with everything against me. The crowd and everything were all against me. I’m actually feeling like it’s another Australia fight, you know? I’m focused, I’m ready and I’m
prepared for it. For whatever’s coming.

When you went to Australia, what did it teach you about yourself as far as how you could deal with that kind of atmosphere?

C. Hatley

Well I made it really easy. I stuck to what we had been training for. I knew I was going overseas and I knew he was a great fighter. But I thought I kept everything in training, what we’d been
training. I keep it in and I went in and dominated the fight the whole fight.

Can you explain to me if you’ve had any sort of frustration about having to wait so long to get this fight settled?

C. Hatley

Yes, I don’t really know what the issue was with this fight. But I just know what the rumors were. But yes, I was prepared to fight mid-September and then March. But the whole time I know — it
was September, February, then March. Then back to April which I didn’t care if it was next year, I wanted a fight and I was going to be ready.

When you were at his brother’s fight not that long ago and you went into the ring after the fight, kind of a funny scene because you were confronting the wrong guy. Can you just take me through
what happened with that?

C. Hatley

I’m sure Jermell could tell you as well that this the truth, they tried to make me look like the bad guy. I was in the ring to talk after he came and he looked over to me and he said “Well this
cool”. This guy he pushed me first. And then when he pushed me I pushed him back. And that’s where everybody – they got most of the part when I was pushing him. Everybody felt like I pushed him and he didn’t push me but Jermell) I’m sure can tell you as
well if he’s being honest, he’ll tell you that. His brother pushed me first and then I pushed him back.

They try to make me like the bad guy so I can be the bad guy for this fight. It doesn’t matter. It’s cool. I do whatever I got to do and beat whoever I have to beat. I’ll come back with that
belt that’s what I’m going to do.

Well why were you going into the ring? Were you just trying to kind of hype up your mandatory fight for the title?

C. Hatley

No, no. Everyone probably thought it was staged. But no, I was told to come in to do an interview after Jermell’s fight, but Don King wasn’t there and no one told me to come up and do the interview.
They told me after his brother fought then go up in the ring and do my interview. And that’s where everything took place.

Did you learn anything about Jermell from watching his fight with John Jackson?

C. Hatley

I learn from every fight no matter who’s fighting. I learn from every fight. I mean that’s what I’m here to do is learn, but far as watching what went on in that fight I really wasn’t paying much
attention to it because I was just – I didn’t know who was going to win.

So it wasn’t I had to watch this and watch that on their fight. I’ll just have to be prepared to do what I have to do. I have to worry about me. No one else.

Can you talk about your sparring sessions with Errol?

C. Hatley

When Errol came to spar, man we work. I’m not in there to beat anyone one up when I’m sparring. I’m in to get work.

There’s a lot of hate in these guys. Like I said I been beating Derrick James up since we was amateurs and he knows that. That’s probably why he’s having a fit right now and saying the thing that
he’s saying. But none of it is true.

We come to help each other. Not to hurt each other. But I guess he probably was telling them hey, kill him, hurt him. Kill him, hurt him. When I’m in a ring sparring with the fighter that comes
here I help them no matter who it is. When they come I help them.

How far are you removed mentally from the knockout loss to Tyner

C. Hatley

Weight played a big part of it but I was actually injured. I shouldn’t have even fought. I had just come off from ACL surgery two months before the fight and the doctor told me not to fight for
a whole year. But I knew he wasn’t on my level, so. I couldn’t wait to fight, you know, so I told my dad yes, let’s do it. And that’s what happen when you think you know everything.

I actually tried to fight him several times afterwards. I told my dad I was going to fight him again. I tried to fight him and he didn’t want to fight.

Did you work with John Jackson befor this fight?

C. Hatley

For this fight? Yes, I worked with him a little bit. We did a little work. He’s a great fighter. We worked. It’s not how I’m prepared for this fight. It’s not that much.

So are you concerned about having to move up in weight like your brother without cleaning up the division?

J. Charlo

No. So that was a major business move plus a career move. It was a massive move. I’m dominating at 54, I make 54 easy. I am getting bigger and I’m getting stronger, I’m getting wiser. I know
a lot of people that seen videos of me training over in California. But everything is going great. I’ll be on-weight. It won’t be a struggle, it has never been a struggle.

So I don’t think it ever could be a struggle. Making 154 is easy. Moving up to 160 is what I want my brother to do right now to take the Charlo name and push it up to the top.

I’m glad he’s ranked number two down at WBC. And I’m going to try to unify at this weight-division before I decide to move up.

All I got to do is just train harder than I trained before. Lifting more, learn more, and be great. There’s nothing about anything to do with my brother. So my brother did what he had to do and
it ended the way it did. He trained hard, we are gym rats. We work hard. It’s not just getting up, running in. It’s not the amateurs. You can’t just come in throwing punches like you want to. You pick all your mistakes up.

Everything happens for a reason so. I’m excited for the fight. April 22. I’m excited to be in Brooklyn for the first time, fighting in Brooklyn, not even in the amateurs I fought in Brooklyn.
This’ll be my first time at Barclays Center and I’m happy. I’m excited. It’s big to me. It’s actually in New York. So this is big to me. This is different. And me and my stablemates and my coaches, my trainers, we’re all working together. We’re planning
to have an exciting night.

Charles, are you little anxious in the sense there’s some expediency in your career being that you’re 31?

C. Hatley

Yes, not going to say none of the time hurt me or anything. I needed that break. I hadn’t even reached my prime yet.

I’m a hard worker. Jermell can tell you that. I’m strong. Not many guys could stand up to my power. I’m sure Derrick and Jermell will tell you that. But like he was saying, the fight is I think
the 22nd. I like to do all my talking in the ring.

When you turned pro was it just an easy transition?

C. Hatley

I couldn’t wait to turn pro to be honest. I couldn’t wait. But the guys I fought in the amateurs. The guys I fought in the amateurs can’t be overlooked. I fought all the top guys really. Right
now I fought all them in amateurs. I fought them all. And they can tell you what I did. I’m sure he knows what he’s up against.

L. DiBella

Thank you both for joining us. This is a terrific co-feature on SHOWTIME. The show starts at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Undefeated Heavyweight Contender Luis Ortiz Battles Long Island’s Derric Rossy Saturday, April 22

Undefeated Heavyweight Contender Luis Ortiz Battles Long Island’s Derric Rossy Saturday, April 22 in Premier Boxing Champions Event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Plus! Brooklyn’s Amanda Serrano Looks to Make History When She Fights for a World Title in a Fifth Weight Class

Undefeated Prospects Jose Miguel Borrego & Jonathan Alonso Battle While Unbeaten Julian Sosa &

2016 Haitian Olympian Richardson Hitchins Enter the Ring

Click
HERE for Press Conference Photos from

Rosie Cohe/SHOWTIME

Click
HERE for Press Conference Photos from

Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

BROOKLYN (March 30, 2017) – Unbeaten heavyweight contender Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) will return to the ring to take on Long Island’s Derric Rossy (31-12, 15 KOs) in a 10-round showdown Saturday, April 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event live from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

Also competing in undercard action is four-division world champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano (31-1-1, 23 KOs) who will look to make history by becoming the first woman and the first Puerto Rican fighter to win a fifth world title in five different weight classes. Both the Ortiz vs. Rossy and Serrano bouts were announced at a press conference in New York City on Thursday.

SHOWTIME Boxing coverage of the Ortiz vs. Rossy and Serrano bouts will be announced in the coming days.

The April 22 event is headlined by former world champions Andre
Berto and Shawn Porter battling in a welterweight world title eliminator. Televised coverage of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME and also features unbeaten super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo defending against top contender Charles Hatley.

Additional undercard attractions feature a group of unbeaten prospects as Mexico’s
Jose Miguel Borrego (11-0, 10 KOs) battles 2012 Spanish Olympian Jonathan Alonso (12-0, 4 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight showdown, Julian Sosa
(7-0-1, 2 KOs) entering the ring in a six-round welterweight fight and 2016 Haitian Olympian Richardson Hitchins (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round junior welterweight bout.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at
$50 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or
by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP. The Charlo vs. Hatley fight is co-promoted by TGB Promotions and Don King Promotions.

One of the most feared heavyweights in the world, Ortiz has worked his way into the WBA’s mandatory position to fight the winner of the Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko, who fight for Joshua’s IBF and the vacant WBA Super World Championship. The Cuban-born fighter had previously picked up the interim title in 2015 with a stoppage of Matias Ariel Vidondo and defended the title with a dominant knockout of former title challenger Bryant Jennings later that year. Last year saw Ortiz continue to run through heavyweight contenders as he earned TKO victories over Tony Thompson and David Allen plus a victory over Malik Scott.

Fighting out of Medford, New York, Rossy was a 2004 Golden Gloves champion and a defensive end for Boston College before turning pro in October 2004. Rossy owns victories over Axror Muralimov, Ray Mercer and Carl Drumond in addition to challenges top heavyweights Eddie Chambers, Vyacheslav Glazkov and Bermane Stiverne. This will be the ninth undefeated fighter that Rossy faces in his pro career.

Raised in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, Serrano gravitated toward boxing from watching her older sister Cindy, also a professional fighter. She picked the sport up quickly, amassing a 9-1 record during a brief amateur career in which she won the New York Golden Gloves title in 2008. The 28-year-old would go on to fight all over the world, seizing her first world title in 2011 when she defeated Kimberly Connor to grab a super featherweight belt. In 2014, she went to Argentina and defeated Maria Elena Maderna to become a world champion at lightweight. Her world title climb continued in 2016 as she stopped Olivia Gerula in the first round to capture her featherweight championship and followed that up with a victory over Alexandra Lazar to add a super bantamweight title to her collection. She most recently put on a show at Barclays Center in January when she defeated two-division champion Yazmin Rivas by unanimous decision.

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday from Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Manhattan:

LUIS ORTIZ

“I’m not a man of many words, but yesterday was my birthday, so with that extra year of experience, I’ll speak a little bit more.

“I’m ready to fight right now. I’m waiting for the opportunity to fight the winner of Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko. They better get ready, because ‘King Kong’ will be waiting for them.

“I work very hard to stay in shape. All year round I am in the gym and staying ready. When the time comes and I have a fight offered, I will always be ready.

“My plan is to become the heavyweight champion of the world. I feel like I’m with the right team now that will open those doors for me. Whoever they put in front of me, I will take care of them.

“I love fighting in New York because there are such smart fans here who really love boxing. They love the knockout and I’m excited to be here to do my job.

“I’ve been working hard and waiting to get a victory on April 22. Once I get past this bout, it’s on to bigger and better things. I’ll find out everything about Rossy that I need to know on April 22 and put on a great show.

“Age is nothing to me. So many fighters have competed into their late age. I still have a lot left in the tank.

“I would love to fight Deontay Wilder. We’re both big, tough fighters. These are the kind of fights that people want to see. I know that my time will come.

“We’re looking forward to this new relationship and this first fight on April 22. I can’t wait to get out there in front of the fans and show my skills. I believe it will finally be time for ‘King Kong’ to come out of the jungle.”

DERRIC ROSSY

“When they brought the fight to me, I said let’s do it. We’re doing it right by fighting at Barclays Center.

“This is a real fight. I’m always ready. The fans are who pays us and they want to see a legitimate fight. This is going to be a quality matchup on April 22.

“I think our styles will match up well. He throws his hands well and I think I do the same. I sometimes try to be more evasive and I’m anticipating him bringing it. There might be some bull in a China shop, but then it could turn. We both adapt well in the ring.

“You can’t ask for anything better than this kind of fight. We’re both top-notch heavyweights and we’re going to go at it. It’s a thrill for me to be there regardless, but I think the fans are really going to be the winners.

“I’ve fought a lot of really good heavyweights. I won’t know how he stacks up until I get in there with him. All I know is that he’s tough, rugged and good.

“My situation is that I always have to stay ready in the gym. I happened to be ready when the call came and I said yes as soon as I could.

“I’m going to win this fight and it’s going to set up some big things. I’m in this business to get a world title. I have to go through Luis Ortiz to get there.”

AMANDA SERRANO

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring and put on a show in front of the fans. That’s what I love to do and it’ll be great to do it at Barclays Center.

“I’m motivated to make history. This would be my sixth world title in five weight divisions. This is a goal that my whole team has had. We want me to be the first Puerto Rican fighter to conquer five divisions. I want to be known as the girl who made history.

“I think every fighter wants to be known as the best in the world. If I’m not the best, I want to be one of the best. I want to be remembered and open the door for girls around the world.

“I’m very thankful for everyone who came out here today. This is a great opportunity for me on April 22. I’m going for history. I want this so badly. I train hard and I have a great team taking care of me.

“What better place to make history than at Barclays Center in Brooklyn? No matter who they put in front of me, it’s going to be a night of fireworks. I’m doing this for female boxing. I’m going to show how much talent we have. This is the one that I want more than anything. I always put on a show for my fans in Brooklyn and my eyes are on the prize.”

LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment

“I’m really happy today to announce some great additions to a terrific card on April 22 in Brooklyn and live on SHOWTIME. Everyone knows the main event is a great fight in the welterweight division. We also announced a 154-pound matchup as the co-main event with Jermell Charlo vs. Charles Hatley.

“The biggest announcement is that a very big man, is going to be on this card. All Luis Ortiz has done as a professional fighter is knock guys out. He’s one of the most feared and avoided men in the heavyweight division. Ortiz and his team want the biggest fights out there. He knows that being seen on a card of this magnitude is a tremendous opportunity.

“I know that Luis Ortiz has a big victory in mind on April 22 that will propel him to a bigger fight and eventually to the biggest fights in the world. This guy deserves the opportunity.

“Amanda Serrano is a great champion. She’s one of the best pound-for-pound female fighters I the world today. No female fighter in history has ever won five titles in five weight classes. But it’s even more amazing, given the long history of the sport on the island, that no Puerto Rican fighter has ever become a five-division world champion. On April 22 Amanda Serrano will attempt to make history.

“Amanda has won titles as heavy as 135-pounds and now she’ll be fighting at 118-pounds. That’s an amazing achievement. She’s always fought the best out there and she’s always proven that she is the best. She deserves the attention she’s getting. She may be the best fighter I promote, period. This woman stands should-to-shoulder with any of them.”

“I know that Derric Rossy is going to give a test to Ortiz. But he’s never been predicted to win. Every time I watch his fight against Bermane Stiverne, I saw him winning the fight. This guy is a real professional
and he deserves this opportunity.

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive VP & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“We’re thrilled to be here announcing such a fantastic undercard from top to bottom. Amanda Serrano is looking to become the first woman and Puerto Rican to win world titles in five weight classes. A card this deep, you know that it is a SHOWTIME card.

“These are the kind of cards that SHOWTIME, Lou DiBella and Barclays Center are working on every day. This was a good event and now it is a great event.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment

“It’s been a special start to the year for Brooklyn Boxing. You think about January 14 and March 4 and what great nights those were. Now we have April 22 and it has become a special card. We’re excited about what we’re building in Brooklyn. We’re making great strides.

“I want to welcome Luis Ortiz to Barclays Center for the first time. I’m sure it will be a special night. We’re thrilled to welcome back Amanda Serrano as well for what should be a historic night.

“We’re going to continue to put on the biggest and best events we can. It’s been a great start to the year and we’re looking forward to more to come

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