New York, NY (10/20/16) – Three boxers on DiBella Entertainment’s talented roster earned impressive victories over the past week.
Russian welterweight Radzhab Butaev improved to 3-0 (3 KOs) last night with a fourth-round knockout over Jonathan Batista at the Grady Cole Center, in Charlotte, NC. Butaev began pumping a stiff jab early on outboxing Batista, whose roughhouse tactics cost him two points for low blows. In round two, Butaev landed a thudding left hook to the ribs from which his foe never really recovered. A left hook-straight right combination in the fourth felled Batista for a full count, ending matters at the 2:01 mark.
Co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. and now living in Brooklyn, NY, the 22-year-old Butaev was a highly accomplished amateur, having compiled an incredible 304-12 record, with 164 knockouts. He participated in the World Series of Boxing as well, finishing at 9-1. Butaev will return to the ring on the next DiBella Entertainment Broadway Boxing card, on Saturday, November 19, at Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, CT.
“I’m happy to get the victory against Batista and am thankful for the opportunity to fight again in November,” said Butaev. “I want to stay active, keep winning and secure a place in the world rankings. I am just starting my professional career, but I am coming for all of the championship belts. I demand that the world know my name, and no opponent, no matter how great the challenge, will keep me from achieving my dreams.”
Tickets for the November 19 Broadway Boxing event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Teiken Promotions and presented by Cedars Mediterranean Foods, Nissan of Queens, Azad Watches, OPTYX, and Christos Steak House, are priced at $125, $75 and $45. Tickets can be purchased online at Foxwoods.com, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-200-2882, or visiting the Foxwoods box office. Doors open at 6:30pm, with the first fight scheduled for 7:00pm.
(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)
(Photo Credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment)
On Tuesday, October 18, Amanda Serrano, of Brooklyn, NY, demolished Hungarian Alexandra Lazar inside one round to seize the WBO junior featherweight belt and become the second Puerto Rican boxer, male or female, to win world titles in four weight divisions, tying Miguel Cotto’s record. She also joined Argentinean Alejandra Oliveras becoming the second female boxer to do so as well.
Held at the Hotel Caribe Hilton, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the annual WBO Convention, Serrano applied pressure from the start, quickly dropping Lazar in a corner with a blistering combination. Another barrage sent Lazar down a second time prompting the referee to halt the action just 44 seconds into the contest.
Serrano, now 30-1-1 (23 KOs), previously won the IBF world female junior lightweight title in 2011, WBO world female lightweight title in 2014, and WBO world female featherweight title in February. Eleven of Serrano’s 23 knockouts have come in the first round.
“I’m on cloud nine after winning my fourth world title in four divisions,” said Serrano. “A big thank you to my promoter Lou DiBella for believing in me. Tying the record with Miguel Cotto is an incredible feat for me. I won’t stop there because my next goal is to win the 140lb. title. Once that’s accomplished, I’ll decide if I can drop down to bantamweight to win that one too. I want it all in a radical way. If anyone ties my record, they won’t do it in the order that I did. To all my fans, buckle up for this crazy ride.”
Fighting in his hometown of Philadelphia for the first time in three years, junior lightweight contender Tevin Farmer dominated Nicaraguan Orlando Rizo over eight frames in a battle of southpaws at the 2300 Arena on Friday, October 14. Farmer focused on outboxing Rizo for much of the fight, switching his attack downstairs to break down Rizo’s body halfway through and in the final round, en route to winning a unanimous decision with scores of 78-72 twice, and 77-73.
Earning his 16th straight victory, Farmer improved to 23-4-1 (5 KOs). Currently ranked #5 by the WBC and #9 by the IBF, Farmer, a great, great nephew of legendary lightweight champion Joe Gans, will close out the year back in Philadelphia, defending his NABF title on Friday, December 2.
“Rizo was a solid opponent,” said Farmer. “I used that fight to work on my technique, refining certain punches, particularly my jab. I kept my jab on Rizo a lot, walked him down when my trainer told me to then I would switch back to the jab.
“The Rizo fight geared me up for this upcoming bout on December 2. You’re going to see a showcase performance from me. In this fight, I’m going to let it all out defending my NABF title.
“I want to keep climbing the world rankings. I think I’ve earned the right to secure either a title shot or a big money fight next year. I know Lou DiBella works hard to bring me the best opportunities out there. I will continue to prove myself in 2017.”
