TAMPA, FL – Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman was named the Premier Boxing Champions “Fighter of the Year†on Saturday, as voted on by the boxing series TV and cable partners (CBS, ESPN, NBC, Spike, FS1 and Bounce). Announced by NBC Sports on Saturday, Thurman bested his fellow PBC fighters Danny Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz, Shawn Porter and Deontay Wilder for the honor.
He’s the boxer that nobody in the gym wants to get in the ring with and has become the cruiserweight nobody wants to face. With the lure of being a win away from fighting for a title, Murat Gassiev is able to showcase his skills in front of a live nationwide audience. The unbeaten cruiserweight will face Isiah Thomas - a southpaw who is also undefeated – this Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their title eliminator bout will air live as the televised co-feature in the 2015 season finale of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV.
A lesser man would’ve mentally packed in and come to the conclusion that another crack at a world title just wasn’t in his destiny. Denis Shafikov has grown accustomed to dealing with heartbreak and setbacks. It wasn’t easy waiting out postponements and cancellations, but the lightweight contender is finally ready for a second shot at a lasting impression. He faces Rances Barthelemy in a vacant title fight, which headlines the season finale of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV this Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada. “It was a quite frustrating,†Shafikov admitted to BoxingScene.com of the long wait for his second career title fight.
SAN ANTONIO - Hugo Centeno Jr. preserved his unbeaten record with a workmanlike 10-round decision win over Josue Obando in their off-TV middleweight bout Saturday evening at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
By Jake Donovan - Antonio Demarco came out of retirement, trained to no end and fought his heart out, but in the end came up just short in a spirited effort versus Omar Figueroa. Their furiously paced 12 rounds of action saw Figueroa claim a unanimous decision, winning by scores of 115-113 (twice) and 116-112. The bout served as the main event of a primetime edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC, live from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Every aspect of the fight proved to be a surprise - from DeMarco returning to the sport, to the change in weight unbeknownst to the boxing public to a surprisingly competitive bout through all 12 rounds. With both boxers coming in at the heaviest weight of their respective careers, it was anybody's guess what would transpire. Regardless of expectations, the crowd of 5,360 on hand got its money’s worth in a thoroughly entertaining fight, even if at a weight class neither fighter will likely see anytime soon.
Chris Arreola vowed during fight week to be the Grinch who stole Travis Kauffman's Christmas. If crowd reaction was any indication, then it was the judges who played that role as Arreola escaped with a 12-round split decision Saturday evening at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Scores were 114-113 Kauffman and 114-113 (twice) in favor of Arreola, who survived a 3rd round knockdown to rally late in pulling out a close and debatable victory.
Lanell Bellows picked up his eighth straight win, scoring an eight-round unanimous decision over Michael Gbenga (20-24, 20KOs). Scores were 79-72 across the board in favor of Bellows (14-1-1, 7KOs), who fights under the Mayweather Promotions label.
Omar Figueroa looks to preserve his unbeaten record while Antonio DeMarco looks to revive his career, as the two collide Saturday evening at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Both fighters made their contracted weight for the 12-round headliner, which airs live in primetime on NBC. Figueroa tipped the scales at a career-heaviest 151 lbs., a one-time test at the weight. DeMarco came in at 149 lbs.
Jordan White (debut) stopped Jose Roman (0-3) in the opening seconds of the bout with the first 1-2 combination thrown. Roman could not beat the 10-count. The official time of the stoppage was 20 seconds into round 1. Bantamweight prospect White looked sharp and picked up his first win.
The comeback remains intact for Victor Ortiz even if the opponent has once again changed. Gilberto Sanchez-Leon is the latest to be assigned the task of facing the former welterweight champion this weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The bout comes in supporting capacity to a loaded bill topped by Omar Figueroa and Antonio DeMarco in a battle of former lightweight champions, which airs live in primetime on NBC (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. local time).