12/16 PBC on SHO: David Morrell vs Sena Agbeko / Chris Colbert vs. Jose Valenzuela 2 / Robert Guerrero vs Andre Berto 2

[patscorpio]

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MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In what promises to be a historic night of boxing, local fan favorite David Morrell Jr. will return to The Armory in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 16, to defend his WBA "Regular" Super Middleweight world title against highly regarded knockout artist Sena Agbeko of Ghana.

Morrell (9-0, 8 KOs), a native of Cuba who now calls Minneapolis home, is a big draw at The Armory, one of boxing's premium venues. A win over Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) would solidify his standing as one of the elite boxers in the 168-pound division and put him in line for even bigger opportunities, including a potential mega-fight with unbeaten rival David Benavidez.

The Premier Boxing Champions card will be memorable for another reason: It's the last hurrah for Showtime Championship Boxing. After 37 years of televising pro boxing globally, Showtime plans to exit the sport. The Armory card will be Showtime's last boxing telecast.

"I'm coming home because it's going to be the last Showtime card," Morrell said. "I am blessed that they picked me to be the last fighter fighting on this epic boxing series."

Another motivating factor will be the ringside presence of Morrell's parents, who recently immigrated from Cuba and will be in attendance for the first time in his professional career.
"I'm so happy. It has been a long, long time since I have seen my family. I am very excited that my family is here to share this with me," Morrell said.

Hoping to spoil Morrell's family reunion is Agbeko, who launched his boxing career in Ghana and now fights out of Nashville, Tennessee. In October, "The African Assassin" called out Morrell after stopping Bruno Leonardo Romay (22-11) in Sioux City, Iowa.

Now riding a five-fight winning streak, Agbeko was three-for-three last year. His body of work in 2022 includes an upset win over previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen (16-0 at the time), and stoppage victories against Winfred Harris, Jr. (22-1-1), and Apollo Thompson (19-4).

Agbeko is determined to pull off another upset when he steps into the ring against Morrell, and he's not expecting the fight to go the distance.

"I'm coming into Minnesota. It's his adopted hometown and I know that I am going to have to pull out a stoppage to win," he said. "Everybody knows me to be a power puncher. My plan is to stop him and I am training to stop him. He wants to do the same. He wants to cement himself as the boogeyman in the division. But my prediction is I am going to stop Morrell on Dec. 16."

Morrell is coming off one of his most explosive knockouts as a pro, a first-round blowout of Yamaguchi Falcao (24-1-1) in April at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He vows to score another big win in his return to The Armory, where he launched his pro career in 2019 and has a perfect 5-0 record.

"I just had a big fight in Las Vegas. Vegas is another level, but it's a dream come true fighting again at The Armory," he said.

Morrell says he's unfazed by his opponent's prediction of a knockout.

"That's normal. I am used to it. In the ring, we are going to see who the best is. I am going to do my work and I am going to shut him up like I always do. I am ready. I am going hard. Right now is one of the hardest parts in camp, but I am ready to go," he said.

Supporting the main event is a compelling rematch between super featherweight contenders Chris Colbert (17-1, 6 KOs), of Brooklyn, New York, and Jose Valenzuela (12-2, 8 KOs), a native of Mexico now living in Renton, Washington. In March, Colbert narrowly defeated Valenzuela on the scorecards.

 

[Recca Gatsby]

Finally. Morrell got this easy

 

[patscorpio]

i wish showtime was going out on a bigger bang

Morrell vs Agbeko should be a decent scrap
Martinez vs Cordova might be a surprise...Cordova can scrap and I keep thinking Martinez might not have his head on business like he should
Colbert vs Valenzuela 2 should be fire

i know Kenneth Sims is fighting too...i think...should make it a quadrupleheader IMHO

 

[Megadeus]

FINALLY. Morell back to smack somebody, it's been ages. No one wants to fight dude. I know Agbeoko got paid

 

[UpAndComing]

So the Keith Thurman vs Stanionis fight got cancelled?

 

[Adonis]

So the Keith Thurman vs Stanionis fight got cancelled?

I don't think it was ever on.

 

[patscorpio]

So the Keith Thurman vs Stanionis fight got cancelled?

no its still on...just being moved to another date

 

[patscorpio]

Jose Valenzuela On Chris Colbert Rematch: "He Was Forced Into It"

BY HANS THEMISTODE
Published Sat Dec 02, 2023, 01:59 PM EST
Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela was surprised that Chris Colbert made it to the final bell. Heading into their first showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier this year, the 24-year-old had a strong feeling that he was going to wipe the floor with the loquacious New Yorker.

Ultimately, Valenzuela was almost correct. In the first round, Valenzuela (12-2, 8 KOs) took a small step back and landed a monster right hand. Colbert, immediately after, crumbled to the canvas. He may have dusted himself off and continued to fight, but Valenzuela wasn’t worried about what was coming back in his direction.

For the next 10 rounds, both fighters had their moments. Colbert’s feet were as quick as his mouth as he got inside, landed several combinations, and got out before Valenzuela knew what hit him.

It took Valenzuela some time to get Colbert’s timing down, but once he did, he hurt the 27-year-old time and time again. In the waning seconds of the last round, both men raised their hands in the air believing they did enough to earn the victory. Officially, it was a close call as all three judges scoring from ringside had it 95-94. Valenzuela was somewhat puzzled by the closeness of it, but he wouldn't be cheated out of his moment.

He was wrong.

Valenzuela was apoplectic once the final scores were revealed. The Mexican native was flat-out annoyed as Colbert pranced around the ring sticking his tongue out while waving his WBC medal.

Valenzuela was in no mood to take the humble approach. The once highly touted prospect grabbed the nearest microphone he could find and demanded an immediate rematch. Colbert though, still smiling from ear to ear, shrugged his shoulders and told Valenzuela that he wasn’t interested.

The days that played out soon after were difficult to stomach. His first-round knockdown felt auspicious and the heavy shots he landed throughout led him to believe that a win was essentially a guarantee.

Valenzuela did his best to put his latest loss behind him, but quietly, he was doing his best to set up a rematch. The conclaves that took place between both sides eventually led to a sequel as the pair will get it on in a few more weeks in Minnesota.

Colbert claims that he acquiesced to Valenzuela’s demands for his own peace of mind. He couldn’t stand the thought of someone walking around claiming that he got the better of him. So, in order to shut him up, Colbert, maybe apathetically, agreed to fight him once more.

With that said, Valenzuela isn’t buying what Colbert is selling. From his point of view, Colbert did his best to avoid their rematch. The powers that be, however, wouldn’t allow him to walk away.

“I don't think he wanted to give me a rematch,” said Valenzuela during a recent interview with ESNEWS. “I think he was forced into it.”

Reasoning aside, they are now putting in the work as they look to put an end to their rivalry. If he wanted, Valenzuela could have taken the time to warn Colbert of the beating he plans on dishing out. Ultimately, he didn’t. In addition to playing the role of a nice guy, Valenzuela refused to let the world in on his game plan.

All in all, Valenzuela and Colbert aren’t friends. A relationship between them isn’t likely after their second meeting either. Valenzuela, nevertheless, is asking Colbert for a succinct favor.

“Just show up and I’ll take care of the rest.”

 

[Amare's Right Hook]

So the Keith Thurman vs Stanionis fight got cancelled?

Keif "Another Time" Thurman

 

[patscorpio]

jesus...they really going through with adding guerrero vs berto 2 on the showtime card next week...its the special attraction opener smh

 

[Adonis]

jesus...they really going through with adding guerrero vs berto 2 on the showtime card next week...its the special attraction opener smh

I still remember Berto doing that garbage shoulder roll and Guerrero was punishing him. Maybe we'll see a repeat

 

[patscorpio]

I still remember Berto doing that garbage shoulder roll and Guerrero was punishing him. Maybe we'll see a repeat

i have no expectations from either of these guys anymore...any good ones

 

[Megadeus]

So what round ol boy getting slumped? What we thinking?

Late rounds or before the 7th?
Tryna make some bread

Man there has been ZERO promo for this event

 

[patscorpio]

THREE-FIGHT SHOWTIME BOXING® COUNTDOWN SHOW SET FOR THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 TOPPED BY FORMER WORLD CHAMPION ALBERTO PUELLO BATTLING FELLOW UNBEATEN

ECTOR MADERA



Plus! Middleweights Kyrone Davis and Cruse Stewart

Square Off and Light Heavyweight Contender Lawrence King Takes On Alex Theran in Action Streaming Live On

SHOWTIME SPORTS® Digital Platforms



WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. Faces Hard-Hitting Sena Agbeko in SHOWTIME® Main Event

from The Armory in Minneapolis and Presented by

Premier Boxing Champions

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MINNEAPOLIS – December 13, 2023 – Former world champion Alberto Puello will return to take on fellow unbeaten Ector Madera in an eight-round super lightweight showdown as they headline the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show this Saturday, December 16 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will also feature middleweights Kyrone Davis and Cruse Stewart in an eight-round attraction, plus light heavyweight contender Lawrence King duels Alex Theran in a six-round fight. The streaming presentation will be hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.



These fights precede a four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast headlined by undefeated WBA Super Middleweight Champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. battling knockout artist Sena Agbeko and beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.​

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

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Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) will return to action for the first time since August 2022 when he captured the WBA Super Lightweight World Championship with a victory over Batyr Akhmedov. A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello now resides and trains in Las Vegas. Pueloo first shot up the rankings in July 2019, when he bested the previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso via unanimous decision to capture an interim title. He will return to The Armory in Minneapolis for the second time, after previously scoring a unanimous decision over hometown favorite Veshawn Owens in December 2021. He will face Bakersfield, California’s Madera (11-0, 6 KOs), who now resides in Stockton and who will step up in competition to challenge the former champion Puello. The 27-year-old has fought professionally since 2016, and has put together a pair of three-fight knockout streaks so far. He last fought in 2022, scoring victories over Timothy Parks in August and Alejandro Frias Rodriguez in December.



The 29-year-old Davis (17-3-1, 6 KOs) will look to pick up a second victory in 2023 after previously dominating Cristian Fabian Rios in January to earn a unanimous decision. That victory came after a run that saw Davis battle two-time champion Anthony Dirrell to a draw in February 2021, before stepping in as a late replacement two fights later to drop a hard-fought contest against super middleweight superstar David Benavidez. An amateur standout representing Wilmington, Delaware, Davis trains in Philadelphia under the tutelage of top trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards. He duels the Maple Grove, Minnesota resident Stewart (8-2, 6 KOs) who will look to bounce back from a pair of defeats to unbeaten rising contender Elijah Garcia and then-unbeaten Hakim Lopez in 2022. The 34-year-old turned pro in 2018 before reeling off eight-straight victories.



A native of San Bernardino, California, King (13-1, 11 KOs) is a frequent sparring partner of undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and enters this fight on a nine-bout winning streak. Since a narrow decision defeat in his fifth pro fight, the 27-year-old has stopped eight of his last nine opponents. King has already earned two victories in 2023, including most recently stopping veteran contender Marco Reyes after six rounds in June. He will be opposed by Colombia’s Theran (23-12, 15 KOs), who now trains in Lynn, Massachusetts. The 33-year-old turned pro in 2011 and has fought a slew of contenders including Anthony Yarde, Yunieski Gonzalez and Radivoje Kalajdzic.



Highlighting the non-televised undercard is talented junior middleweight contender Joey Spencer in a six-round bout against Argentina’s Marcelo Bzowski.



The non-televised undercard will also see exciting rising prospect Michael Angeletti (9-0, 7 KOs) step in for an eight-round super bantamweight bout against Mexico’s Angel Contreras (13-7-2, 7 KOs), unbeaten super middleweight Shawn McCalman (14-0, 7 KOs) facing Cristian Olivas (22-9, 19 KOs) in an eight-round duel and unbeaten super lightweight prospect Jose Chollet (2-0, 2 KOs) battling Lyle McFarlane (2-2, 1 KO) in a four-round matchup.



Rounding out the card is a pair of Mayweather Promotions rising prospects as unbeaten super middleweight John Easter steps in for a four-round fight against South Carolina’s Javier Frazier, while lightweight Charles Harris Jr. squares off against Minneapolis’ Marlin Sims in a six-round battle.

 

[patscorpio]

Colbert Vilifies Valenzuela: He’s The Definition Of A Loser; Cry, Complain, Act Like A Little bytch!

BY KEITH IDEC
Published Thu Dec 14, 2023, 09:33 AM EST
Chris Colbert considers Jose Valenzuela “a loser,” and not because Colbert beat him on all three scorecards 8½ months ago.

Colbert views Valenzuela’s behavior immediately following their closely contested fight and thereafter as actions that don’t align with a winner’s mentality. Valenzuela vehemently disputed the official result of their 10-round lightweight bout in the ring March 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Valenzuela later changed trainers, from Jose Benavidez Sr. to his former amateur coach, Mario Rodriguez, who will work Valenzuela’s corner Saturday night for his rematch with Colbert. The second bout between Brooklyn’s Colbert (17-1, 6 KOs) and the Mexican-born, Seattle-based Valenzuela (12-2, 8 KOs) will be the third of four fights Showtime will air as part of the network’s last live boxing broadcast from The Armory in Minneapolis.

“That’s what all losers do,” Colbert told BoxingScene.com. “A loser’s not somebody who take a loss. A loser is somebody like him. He’s a loser, the definition of a loser. Cry, complain, act like a little bytch, act like a girl, and then go leave his team. No, you can’t blame it on your team because they’re not the ones that’s fighting for you. You gotta go in there and fight for yourself.

“They gave you a game plan, you just gotta follow it. It’s that simple. So, that’s what losers do. Me, I didn’t change my team. I mean, I ain’t leave my team. I added [Barry Hunter] on to my team. Listen, we ready. We locked in and loaded, man. We ready to do what we do best.”

Colbert could’ve pursued other opponents after defeating Valenzuela on the David Benavidez-Caleb Plant undercard. He was instead adamant about beating Valenzuela more convincingly than winning by the same score, 95-94, according to judges Glenn Feldman, Lisa Giampa and Don Trella.

“This rematch was super important,” Colbert said. “As y’all can see, I’m a fighter that like to prove myself. Look at my resume. I like to prove myself, especially coming off a loss [to Dominican underdog Hector Luis Garcia in February 2022]. I came back and fought a dog. I ain’t pick no slouch, no bum. I didn’t have to fight him. I could’ve gone and fought anybody else. I chose to fight him, going up in weight, and I feel like it was a great move. They said the fight was close. I mean, that’s what they say, but all three judges scored it the same. I guess all three judges is blind, but hey, it’s time to clear the air.”

Valenzuela’s left hand dropped Colbert less than 30 seconds into their bout, but Colbert got up, fought through that troublesome moment and won his fair share of rounds. Colbert’s jab was especially effective against a strong southpaw who faded in the later rounds.

“To be honest, I said it’s a close fight,” Colbert said. “I told my corner before the decision, I said, ‘It’s close.’ I told them I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave it a draw or for me to win. Anything else, I woulda been mad. I woulda never been a sore loser about it. It is what it is. You take your sh!t how you take your wins. I’d a been mad, too, cuz I knew I coulda did better.

“I woulda been just mad at myself, not nobody else. I woulda never blamed it on nobody else. I woulda never left my team. I woulda never did none of that. I woulda just went back to the drawing board and picked up where I left off at. So, I don’t know what to say about him. But it’s time to clear the air. Imma shut his little punk ass up once and for all, sit him down.”

Colbert-Valenzuela II is the co-feature of the final “Showtime Championship Boxing” telecast of the premium cable channel’s 37-year run in boxing. This four-fight telecast, which will begin at 9 p.m. ET, will feature WBA world super middleweight champ David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs) and challenger Sena Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) in the 12-round main event.