Australia’s newest promotional outfit DDP Sports have announced the signing of world number eight super middleweight Rohan “No Mercy” Murdock to a promotional deal that will see the Gold Coast-based boxer-puncher fight at least three times a year for the next three years.
“This deal is huge for me,” enthuses Murdock, 22-1 (16 KOs). “It gives me the opportunity to be a busy fighter, secure quality opposition and gain worldwide exposure. A busy fighter is a happy fighter.”
The 26-year-old Murdock, who is ranked number eight in the world by the World Boxing Organization, returned from a year-long injury-induced layoff to fight on DDP Sports’ inaugural boxing show last October. His third round stoppage of Tanzania’s Said Mbelwa caught the eye of DDP Sports’ Danny Dimas.
“The first time I saw Rohan live in action I knew we had a future world champion on our hands,” says Dimas. “You could see from the way he moved around the ring he was a thinking fighter who not only has great power, but knows how to set up his shots.
“On top of that he’s a great kid with a high-achieving team around him, he’s friendly with the fans and it doesn’t hurt that he’s got a million-dollar smile.
“We are rapt to add Rohan to the DDP Sports stable and look forward to guiding him to a world title shot.”
While boxing promoters have in the past earned a reputation for using and abusing their athletes, Murdock says that the key point of difference with DDP Sports is the way they treat their boxers.
“Being backstage and ringside at the Dennis Hogan versus Jimmy Kilrain Kelly fight night last month, I got a taste of the work ethic and genuine care DDP Sports put into all their athletes and that is something I can’t wait to be a part of,” says Murdock.
“I chose to work with DDP Sports as I respect them as not only a great promotional outfit but as likeminded and genuine people.”
It is a sentiment that his long-time trainer Chris Carden shares.
“They are great people with the same morals and goals as us,” says Carden. “They are a company who put their fighters first. They have a new outlook on what the fighter deserves and are willing to back that up.
“We are excited to start our journey with DDP Sports and look forward to winning the world title together.”
The ultimate goal for Murdock and DDP Sports is to secure a shot at WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez. The unbeaten Mexican southpaw brings a formidable record of 37-0 (25 KOs) to the ring but Murdock’s new team are confident that their charge has the skills to beat the highly-touted 26-year-old knockout artist.
“Rohan can box when he wants to and he can pressure his opponents when he needs to,” says Dimas. “He’s very versatile in the ring and can adjust his attack to suit the circumstances. When we get him in the ring with WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez I believe he will not only cause him all sorts of problems, but will win – and win well.”
Murdock, who is expected back in the ring in August, insists he’s not in this game just to make up the numbers. When he gets his world title shot he plans on making it count.
“The plan over the next year is to continually step up the level of opposition. We believe that in approximately 12 months’ time we’ll get the big shot,” says Murdock.
“We are coming to win the title, not simply fight for it.”
Ivana Coleman in the main event of an eight-bout card at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The eight-round bout heads the card promoted by Pretty Girl Promotions.
Rodriguez, 31, of Miami Florida has a record of 5-0 with one knockout. The three-year professional is coming off winning the NABF Bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Noemi Bosques on October 19, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Coleman of Slidell, Louisiana is a 10 fight veteran, who will be facing her 10th undefeated opponent in 11 bouts.
She is coming off four round unanimous decision defeat to Jasmine Rtega on March 9th in Tampa, Florida.
Two special six-round co-main events have been ticketed for "Thursday Night Fights."
In a middleweight bout for the WBB Middleweight title, Santario Martin (3-3, 2 KOs) of Gainesville, Florida takes on Curtis Waller (1-5-1, 1 KO) of Tampa, Florida.
In a battle of undefeated bantamweights, Frank Gonzalez (3-0, 2 KOs) of Miami, Florida fights Andrew Strode (3-0, 1 KO) of Colorado.
In other six-round bouts, Matthew Strode (24-6, 9 KOs) of Greensboro, North Carolina battles Dennis Sharpe (17-25-4, 4 KOs) of Bayonne, New Jersey in a middleweight bout.
Alexander Debovits (4-1-2, 2 KOs) of Buffalo, New York battles Alejandro Esquilin Santiago (0-2) of Tampa, Florida in a heavyweight bout.
Francisco Vazquez Irizarry (2-0, 1 KO) of Ponce, Puerto Rico battles Kevin Cooper (1-14, 1 KO) of South Carolina in a lightweight bout.
In four-round bouts:
Tivan Young of North Carolina will make his pro debut against Hakeem Atkinson (0-3) of Jacksonville, Florida in a super lightweight bout.
Willie Harvey (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Plainfield, New Jersey fights Mose Smith (0-2) of Concord, North Carolina in a heavyweight bout.
Tickets are priced at $75, $50 and $35 and can be purchased at www.prettygirlpromo.com
Rapidly raising junior lightweight phenom Giovanni Cabrera-Mioletti is heading back to the Emerald Queen Casino.
Fresh off the biggest win of his career the undefeated Cabrera-Mioletti will face fellow undefeated fighter Elijah Pierce in a 10-round main event at Battle at the Boat 116 on Tacoma, Wash. on Saturday, June 9.
“Giovanni has star written all over him,” promoter Brian Halquist said. “I have been promoting boxing for more than three decades I can honestly say Gio is without question one of the top young talents I have ever seen live, and the scary part is, he is only going to get better.”
Cabrera-Mioletti has been flawless during the early stages of his professional career, posting a perfect 11-0 record. Pierce has been spotless as well, winning all eight of his fights with seven victories coming by way of knockout.
The six-bout card will also feature two additional undefeated fighters on the undercard in Steven Villalobos and Cris Reyes.
“This card is chalked full of young, exciting talent,” Halquist said. “Years from you now we will look back on this card and notice just how incredible it was because we expect great things from all four of these undefeated fighters.”
Tickets are available through the EQC box office and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Preliminary bouts will start at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Cabrera-Mioletti has been on an absolute tear in 2018. In his last fight on March 17 he put away previously undefeated Ray Lampkin, Jr. by second-round TKO in the main event of Battle at the Boat 115.
That victory came on the heels of his Jan. 13 triumph over former Global Boxing Union world lightweight champion Tyrone Harris.
Over his last five fights, Cabrera-Mioletti has handed three boxers their first career setback as he also bested former undefeated fights Roberto Meza and William Hernandez.
Pierce, who fights out of Oklahoma City, is coming off a fourth-round stoppage of Anthony Napunyi on Nov. 4, 2017. That win marks the seventh KO for the 21-year-old Pierce, who is no stranger to handing an undefeated fighter his first loss as well as he did just that one year ago with his unanimous decision over Alejandro Rochin. Pierce also scored a third-round TKO victory over Divante Jones, who entered their Sept. 2, 2017 fight with a record of 9-1.
Highlighting the undercard will be a 5-round bout between Villalobos (7-0-1) and Jose Leon (6-2-1). There should be no power shortage in the 156-pound fight as Villalobos has knocked out six opponents he has faced while Leon has registered an equally impressive five victories by way of KO.
In a second 5-round bout on the undercard Jorge Linares (3-1-0, 3 KOs) will face Marco Cardenas (6-7-1, 2 KOs) at 139 pounds.
Also looking to stay undefeated will be Reyes, who wowed the crowd at Battle at the Boat 115 with his first-round TKO win over Nicholas Credit. Reyes (2-0-0, KO) will square off against Bryce Gonzales (debut) at 139 pounds.
Battle at the Boat 116 will also feature the professional boxing debut of former MMA fighter Brent Knopp. Knopp, who played football at the University of Washington, has a career mixed martial arts record of 8-2 and is a former CageSport Light Heavyweight champion.
Rounding out the card will be a 122-pound bout between Isaiah Najera (3-3-0, KO) and Sebastian Baltazar (0-1-0).
