ULTIMATE BOXXER, Britain’s first boxing entertainment brand, is delighted to announce that it has agreed a partnership deal with online casino and sportsbook operator MansionBet for its first events of 2019.

The agreement continues a successful partnership from MansionBet’s initial sponsorship of Ultimate Boxxer II: The Light-Heavyweights last November.

This week, Ultimate Boxxer announced a broadcast agreement with BT Sport that will see a minimum of five fights televised live in the UK and Ireland, commencing with Ultimate Boxxer III:

The Middleweights on Friday 10th May at The Indigo and with the next event confirmed for Friday 28th June in Manchester.

MansionBet will benefit from the large content distribution network Ultimate Boxxer has assembled. Ultimate Boxxer is becoming an attractive proposition for casual players who enjoy the tournament’s engaging and easy to understand format; equal matching of fighters; high level of excitement and the unpredictability of picking a winner.

The events attract mainstream sport fans and event goers from across the country. Shelly Suter Hadad, COO & MD at Mansion, said: “This is a tournament that has grown in popularity and being shown on BT Sport on prime time is a testament to that. We are thrilled to be supporting Ultimate Boxxer again and encouraging boxers who can compete and gain exposure on such a massive platform."

Ben, Founder at Ultimate Boxxer, said: We’re delighted to be working with MansionBet for the next shows on BT Sport. They have supported our vision from the very beginning, which has now progressed into new exciting territory.”

Southpaw featherweight Donald Smith, of Southwest Philadelphia, recently signed a contract to join Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc.  Smith, who turns 26 next week, has won all eight of his pro fights, five by knockout. He returns Saturday evening, March 30, on the world championship fight card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia against Jose Antonio Martinez, of Zacatecas, Mexico, in a six-round contest.

 

Martinez, 35, at 11-17, 6 K0s, is the most experienced opponent yet for Smith, who played football and basketball at West Philadelphia High School.

Smith finds time to train despite holding down a series of jobs. He is a Direct Care Worker at an emergency youth shelter (Forget Me Knot Youth Services) and he is an After Care Worker at Birds of a Feather. He also drives after-school buses. As if he weren’t busy enough, Smith just landed another job, this one as a warehouse worker at Coca Cola.

“It's amazing he found time to come into our office to sign a contract,” said Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz.  “In an era when many fighters want to be pampered, Smith is a breath of fresh air.”

As an amateur, Smith was 61-9 and he boxed in the National Golden Gloves, Junior Olympic Nationals, Silver Gloves Nationals and the USA Open Class Nationals.

Smith enjoys playing basketball and singing.

"He threatened to sing the National Anthem before one of his fights," Peltz said, "but I had to turn him down on that one...for now."

A limited amount of Standing-Room-Only tickets went on sale this week at 2300arena.com. The card, which starts at 5.30 pm, is headlined by the World Boxing Council (WBC) light-heavyweight championship fight between champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, of Kharkov, Ukraine, and challenger Doudou Ngumbu, of Kinshasa, Congo.

Statement from AIBA President Mr. Gafur Rahimov: Lausanne, March 22, 2019 

Having dedicated myself to the great sport of Boxing and the Olympic Movement for over 25 year, I have always put the well-being of our sport and our athletes above all else. That is especially true this last year, having spent countless days and nights working hard to ensure that our sport finally broke free of the bad past to become stronger and healthier than ever before.

I am very proud of the work that AIBA has accomplished and the significant progress that was made in a number of areas, including: our improved Governance policies which now puts AIBA among the top half of all Summer IFs. Our commitment to the fight for clean sport which resulted in AIBA being among the first IFs to partner with the ITA and enabled AIBA to become fully compliant with the WADA Code. Our stable financial situation which is the result of the implementation of sound, disciplined budget practices and regained trust from many partners. And last but not least, our successful implementation of a new Refereeing and Judging system which has received praise from our Olympic partners.

I truly believe that the work done this last year has revitalized and energized AIBA and boxing. 

However, despite these efforts, there have been many discussions these last fewmonths about the future of Olympic boxing. A lot of that was mainly focused on politics and not sport. While I had truly hoped and believed that sport and politics could be separated, and that the good work and positive changes being infused into AIBA would be recognized, the politically based discussions have put into question the progress being made throughout the AIBA organization.

Once again, as I have stated before on numerous occasions, I attest and confirm that the allegations against me were fabricated and based on politically motivated lies; I trust that the truth will prevail. Nevertheless, I have always said that I would never put myself above Boxing, and as President, I have a duty to do everything in my power to serve our sport and our athletes.

Therefore, given the current situation, I have informed the AIBA Executive Committee of my intent to step aside as AIBA President in accordance with the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws, which allow the President to renounce to exercise his powers and to be replaced by an Interim President. I have called an AIBA Executive Committee’s teleconference meeting over the weekend to address this matter and initiate the process of appointing an Interim President.

I am convinced that all the good initiatives that have been implemented this last year will serve as a foundation that will continue to strengthen our sport in the future.