2016 United States Olympian, Charles Conwell. Regis Prograis & Teofimo Lopez Pick Up wins in New Orleans

New Orleans (July 16, 2018)–Junior welterweight Regis Prograis, considered by many to be No. 1 in the weight class, did nothing to dissuade anyone of that notion as he dominated Juan Jose Velasco on Saturday night.

Prograis knocked him down three times with body shots en route to an eighth-round knockout before 3,615 at Lakefront Arena on the campus of the University of New Orleans.

Fighting for the first time in his hometown, Prograis, who fled New Orleans to Houston in the wake of Hurricane Katrina but has always wanted to return home to fight, got his chance in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card, and with the victory earned a spot in the eight-man World Boxing Super Series tournament that begins this fall.

“It was super special,” Prograis said of fighting at home. “My goal was to bring big-time boxing back to New Orleans, and now you have it.”

Velasco was game, but Prograis (22-0, 19 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw, won handily. He landed numerous combinations, worked the body very well and showed fast hands and good movement to keep Velasco off balance. Velasco landed a few decent shots, but even though Prograis fought for long stretches with his hands down, Velasco couldn’t do much.

“This dude came in unknown and he’s going to go down to be known. I’m not gonna lie. He was one of my toughest opponents,” Prograis said. “I kept dropping him. He was super tough. He was actually really strong, but I pushed through. I couldn’t lose in front of my hometown.”

In the fourth round, Prograis forced Velasco, who was facing his first recognizable opponent, to the ropes and landed a powerful combination that did damage near the end of the round. In the fifth round, Prograis dropped Velasco with a left hand to the body. He barely beat the count but survived the final 45 seconds of the round.

Prograis landed another brutal left hand to the body late in the seventh round to drop Velasco (20-1, 12 KOs), 31, of Argentina, again. He wanted to quit on his stool after the round, but his trainer, Herman Caicedo, talked him into continuing.

He didn’t last much longer. Prograis knocked him down with another left to the body early in the eighth round, but when Velasco got up he got extra recovery time because he had spit out his mouthpiece and referee Laurence Cole called timeout to have it replaced. But when the fight resumed, so to did Prograis’ attack, and about 30 seconds later Caicedo threw in the towel, prompting Cole to wave off the fight at 1 minute, 59 seconds.

Prograis was heavily favored against Velasco and is also the favorite to win the World Boxing Super Series that will also include world titleholder Kiryl Relikh (22-2, 19 KOs), of Belarus, and former world titlist Eduard Troyanovsky (27-1, 24 KOs), of Russia, who will meet in a mandatory bout in one of the quarterfinals; Russia’s Ivan Baranchyk (18-0, 11 KOs) and Anthony Yigit (21-0-1, 7 KOs), of Sweden, who will meet for a vacant world title in another quarterfinal; Scotland’s Josh Taylor (13-0, 11 KOs); and Cleveland’s Ryan Martin (22-0, 12 KOs). There is still one other open slot that could go to former lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan (33-1, 13 KOs), 29, of England. The pairings for the non-mandatory bouts will be unveiled on Friday.

“I’m going in the World Boxing Super Series [but] maybe the [Manny] Pacquiao fight,” Prograis said of what he would like in the future. “I would love to have that fight, or if [pound-for-pound king and lightweight champion Vasiliy] Lomachenko wants to come up to 140, I’ll take that fight also. But as far as right now my plans are to go into the World Boxing Super Series.”

Prograis also would like a chance to fight titlist Jose Ramirez, whom he was mandated to fight but instead gave up the interim title to face Velasco and then go into the tournament as part of a deal their sides made to put the fight off. They said they will revisit the fight if Prograis wins the tournament and Ramirez also keeps winning.

“One day me and Jose Ramirez will probably fight,” Prograis said. “I wanted it now, but we have different paths now. I’m gonna go in the World Boxing Super Series and hopefully pick up two belts.”

2016 United States Olympian, Charles Conwell remains perfect with 2nd round stoppage over Travis Scott in New Orleans
2016 U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell was impressive by stopping Travis Scott in the 2nd round of their junior middleweight bout.
Conwell came out in round by hurting Scott with a flurry of punches on the ropes.  Conwell ended things with a perfect left hook to the body that sent Scott to a knee for the ten count at 1:34.




Conwell, of Cleveland, OH raises his record to 8-0 with 6 knockouts.  Scott,  of Baton Rouge, LA falls to 19-4.
“This win means a lot as it shows that I can not only beat good fighters with experience, but get them out of there,” said Conwell.  “It also shows that I am on a whole other level then guys out there in my weight, and that I am a force to be reckoned with.”

“Charles has remarkable power for somebody his age, and he really has no ceiling.  This was supposed to be his step up fight,” said Split-T Management CEO, David McWater.

Conwell is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank



Teofimo Lopez shines with 6th round stoppage over William Silva in ESPN co-feature
NEW YORK (July 16, 2018)–Teofimo Lopez shined in a major step up bout as he dominated William Silva by scoring a 6th round stoppage in their lightweight bout that was the co-feature on ESPN.
The bout took place on Saturday night at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

In round one, Lopez dumped Silva with a left hook.  Silva was bleeding from the nose,  In round five, Lopez landed several hard hooks to the bloodied Silva, and then dumped Silva to the canvas in the corner.

Lopez came out in round six by landing three left hooks and a right that dropped Silva and the bout was called at 15 seconds.

Silva who came in with a record of 25-1, and is only loss was to Felix Verdejo on HBO, had never been knocked down before the fighter known as “Gordo” dropped him three times.

Lopez is now 10-0 with 8 knockouts.  Silva is 25-2.

“I know everything is set up by the jab,” said Lopez.  “The jab is the most important punch.  I was playing with his mind.  I was setting him up by letting him get comfortable and then to land the big shot.  I hurt my hands, early in the fight but you prepare yourself for the worst possible. I just put everyone on notice that I’m coming for those world title at 135lbs!”

“I can’t remember ever seeing such a dynamic young performer as Teofimo Lopez. He’s going to be the best in the world,” said Split-T Management CEO David McWater.

Lopez is promoted by Top Rank
Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank




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