Millions of travelers drive on Interstate-95 each day.  In each direction there are many billboards that are visible for miles. For the better part of the last month, two billboards in particular feature one of the hottest prospects in boxing in undefeated bantamweight Christian Carto.

Carto, who has been featured multiple times by SugarHouse Casino as the 21 year-old has developed a relationship with the casino as he has packed the fight venue on seven previous occasions.

"It's really cool to see me up on these big billboards," said Carto.  "I didin't know they were going up, bit it is very exciting to see it."

Those massive billboards can only enhance Carto's already huge fanbase.

On Friday night, November 9th, Carto will make his eighth appearance at SugarHouse Casino when he takes on 37 fight-veteran Antonio Rodriguez in the six-round main event of a seven bout card promoted by King's Promotions.

Carto has signature victories over Alonso Melendez (14-1) and James Smith (12-1).  Carto is coming off a eight-round unanimous decision over Javier Gallo on August 18th in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Rodriguez of Durango, Mexico is a very capable foe as the 30 year-old has big wins over undefeated opponents Alonso Melendez (11-0); Junior Granados (12-0) and Luis Castro (7-0-2).  Rodriguez also has wins over Jonathan Chavez (6-1-1), Granados (12-2-1).

"I don't know too much about him," continued Carto  I know his is a Mexican fighter who likes to come forward.  We share a common opponent in Alonso Melendez. I have seen that he is tough."

This will be the 4th outing of 2018 for Carto, and with a win he will raise his mark to 2019, but the 21 year-old is continuing his learning process as he heads into the the new year.

"I feel that I started off well in 2018.  I always want to do better, and I am own biggest critic.  I feel that I should have done better in my last two fights.  This training camp, which is my 2nd camp with Billy Briscoe as my head trainer, I learned a lot, so I know I will do better."

With Brisoce manning the corner, Carto sees himself getting better with each fight in 2019. 

"I can definitely see myself fighting for a regional title in 2019, but I am still earning, so there is no rush.  With being with Billy, I would like to go out to a training camp with one of the champions to help them get ready for a big, which will help me even more."

"I just want to thank Billy as well as my brother Frankie who has helped me a lot with the training.  My father who helps with all the tickets and ticket requests.  I also had some great sparring with a Romuel Cruz.  I am ready for a great fight.

In a rematch of a draw that took place on August 10th at SugarHouse Casino, Ricardo Garcia (14-3-1, 9 KOs) of Santo Domingo, DR fights Tyrone Crawley (7-1-1) of Philadelphia in a eight-round junior welterweight fight.

In the a six-round bout, former National Golden Gloves champion Poindexter Knight Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs) takes on Travis Castellon (16-2-1, 12 KOs) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a welterweight bout.

Also in a six-round bout, Frank Trader (10-2-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia will fight 37 fight veteran Pablo Capul of San Diego in a lightweight bout.

In four-round bouts:

James Martin (2-0) of Philadelphia battles Denis Okoth (2-0-1, 1 KO) of Siaya, KY in a welterweight bout.

Pro debuters will square off as Maurice Burke of Philadelphia dukes it out with Brandon Bey of Bronx, NY in a junior welterweight contest.

Mark Dawson (4-0, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Chukka Willis (3-6, 2 KOs) of Emporia, KS in a welterweight bout.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday November 7th at 4 PM ET

The weigh in will take place on Thursday, November 8th at 6 PM ET.

Banner Promotions has announced the signing of two-time Olympian and undefeated light heavyweight Kennedy Katende to a promotional contract.

Katende of Sweden was born in Uganda, and competed in the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games.

Katende has an unblemished professional record of 4-0 with one knockout.

The 33 year-old began fighting at the age of 12 after his mother passed away. 

"We moved to Sweden, and it was hard for me.  I started to gain weight, and my father made me run to get back in shape.  My older brother started boxing and I followed him to the gym.  My father was hard on me to lose the weight, and I started to box, just so I wouldn't have him yell at me while running," said Katende.

Katende then had a very successful amateur career where he win approximately 175 of 200 bouts.

Katende qualified for the 2008 Olympics for his birthplace of Uganda, but lost to current IBF Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.  Katende was the only fighter to go the distance with Beterbiev.  Katende also participated in the 2016 games.

Katende fought in the World Series of Boxing where he had a record of 11-2.

Katende turned professional on November 26, 2016 with a four-round unanimous decision over Tracey Johnson.  Katende has wins over undefeated Lyubomyr Pinchuk (4-0) and his last bout where he defeated hard punching Luther Smith (10-2) on April 21st in Brooklyn.

"I signed with Banner Promotions because I have heard good things.  Artie Pelullo called me, and that meant a lot to me.  I know Banner Promotions is a big promoter that has a lot of success with European boxers.  I know Artie has heard a lot about me, and I know that he can get me to a world title. "

"I have had tough fights.  My last fight I took on two days notice.  That shows that I am willing to fight anyone." 

Katende, who has been fighting at cruiserweight will campaign at light heavyweight.

When describing his style, Katende says he is really fast, and has good reflexes who likes to box from both the orthodox and southpaw stances.

The Articulate Katende is studying to become a Physical Education teacher in Sweden, and is a personal trainer.

Katende has one daughter and raises three more children with his girlfriend in Sweden.

Said Katende's manager Pat Zagarino, "I view this as a great opportunity to manage a potential world champion.  He will be a serious challenger to any of the existing world champions.  He will not be a secret for very long.  I am grateful for this unique opportunity with Banner Promotions.  Banner Promotions has had great success with foreign fighters getting them world title opportunities."

"We are excited to have Kennedy in the fold," said Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo.  "He is a very good prospect with a terrific pedigree.  We look forward to getting him in the ring and have him in meaningful fights and eventually a world championship."

Popular super-featherweight Stephen Tiffney is relishing his chance to shine on Saturday’s World Boxing Super Series card in Glasgow and welcomes the resurgence of boxing in Scotland.

The Newtongrange fighter (9-1-KO1) blasted Johnson Tellez out inside a single round in the same city back in September and now takes on Arturo Lopez at The SSE Hydro on the undercard of Josh Taylor vs. Ryan Martin and Ryan Burnett vs. Nonito Donaire.

With the WBSS in town this weekend and another huge card at Emirates Arena already booked in for November 30, Tiffney is revelling in the wave of interest in the sport.

Tiffney said: “This is a massive night for Scottish boxing. A lot of people know about the World Boxing Super Series for there to be a double-header like that in Glasgow is huge.

“Scotland has missed big boxing nights for quite a while – since the Ricky Burns days. That card on November 30 is massive. There are title fights and then my gym-mate Lewis Benson in another big clash with Tyrone McKenna..

“The atmosphere is going to be electric on Saturday. We already knew Josh would bring big nights like this back to Scotland so there’ll be a lot of people behind him. You’ve also got Burnett and Donaire, which is another massive fight.

“From my own point of view, I’d say it’s about momentum. I had a slow start to the year so it was good to be out in August and now be back in November. Hopefully I can squeeze in another one before the end of the year and just keep winning.

“The plan for myself is to try and keep busy. It’s good to be getting out. I know MTK Global will be putting on good shows and hopefully sometime next year I can have some kind of title shot.”

Tiffney joins MTK Global team-mates Kieran Smith, Siar Ozgul, Michael McGurk and Troy James on a stacked card on Saturday night – streamed live on YouTube.

One of Australian boxing’s brightest young stars Mateo Tapia is keen to book a debut on British soil at the first available opportunity.

 

The 20-year-old (8-0-KO5) blasted Isaac Buckley aside in September to seize the New South Wales State super-middleweight crown and is currently in Vietnam for an exhibition bout on Saturday; his first taste of international boxing since turning professional.

With his reputation in his homeland growing fast, Tapia welcomes the experience of travelling abroad and already has his sights set on fighting in the UK.

Tapia said: “My ideal 6-12 months is to fight somewhere in the UK to finish off the year. That would top off the year, to box in front of the UK crowd. My girlfriend’s family is from there so I’d have people supporting me there.

“I just want tough fights in which I learn. I learn something new in every single fight so I want to stay dedicated and keep active.

“I’m very excited to be part of an event like this one in Vietnam. I haven’t fought internationally since the amateurs so it’s great to be travelling the world doing something you love.

“The spirit of the Australian team is good. Spirits are high. Everyone is in a great place and we’re going to put on a good show for the people of Vietnam.

“Everyone is enjoying the city Ho Chi Minh. Not many of the Australian team have been here before so it’s all new to them and an experience we’ll never forget.

“Our coach Tony Del Vecchio has changed me from a boy to a man. He helps me with his knowledge of the sport and in life. He has my best interests at heart and we get along so well. “