TONY LUIS AND STEVE CLAGGETT CLASH IN CLASSIC CROSSROADS FIGHT 

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Cornwall, ON – July 4, 2022 – For Cornwall boxer Tony Luis and Calgary’s Steve Claggett, there’s a bright light beckoning from the horizon. There also is darkness. 

Few things are as intensely motivational as a “crossroads fight” – a showdown likely to rejuvenate the winner, and perhaps end the career of the loser – an accurate description of the August 6th collision between Canadian super lightweights who have been circling each other for years. 

Luis (29-5, 10 knockouts) will be in his hometown arena, the Cornwall Civic Complex, to face Claggett (31-7-2, with 21 KOs) in the main event of a multi-fight card on August 6th, promoted by Liveco Boxing Inc. An action-packed undercard will be announced shortly. 

“Every person I’ve talked to says the same thing: ‘Wow, what a great matchup!’ And it really is,” said promoter Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing. “The winner will get yet-another big opportunity to compete on the world stage, but we may never see the loser in the ring again.” 

The 34-year-old Luis is seeking redemption since suffering a highly controversial decision loss to undefeated John Bauza (now 17-0) at Madison Square Garden back on March 19th of this year. 

“In my last fight against Bauza, I wanted to show what I can still do with a healthy body,” said Luis. “I think I, and the fans, deserved a much better outcome. But the way my style will mesh with Claggett’s, I don’t see any loser here. And the biggest winners will be the fans,” added Luis. 

Claggett has stayed quite active over the past few years, winning a technical decision over David Theroux (16-3) in November 2020, suffering a split-decision loss to Mathieu Germain (18-2-1) in May 2021, and back-to-back knockout wins against Emanuel Lopez (30-13-1) in August 2021 and Sebastien Ezequiel Aguirre this past March. 

“This is a great fight for Canadian boxing – two warriors who have proven their heart and are both still fighting after a decade in one of the toughest sports on earth,” said the 33-year-old, who turned pro in 2008 – the same year as Luis. 

“Now we get to see who has been working harder, who has put in the effort, and who can pull it off when the bell rings,” Claggett added. “This fight has been building for a long time, and there will be no backing down. Let’s see who wants it more.” 

Both fighters favor an aggressive, straight-forward style, likely to result in a memorable war. 

“Claggett and I have had similar career paths – beating the odds, making our way as road warriors, and competing at a world-class level with our backs against the wall,” Luis said. “I think we always knew this day would come; we just never knew when. Now we do.” 

Tickets for the highly anticipated matchup are prices at $65 and $45 (not including taxes and fees) and are on sale now at the Cornwall Civic Complex box-office, by phone at (888) 655-9090, or online at www.ticketpro.ca. 

The event will also be streamed live through Liveco PPV for $14.95. You can buy your virtual ticket now here. 

Two Title Fights: Luis-Estrella and Madera-Uruzquieta Headline Stacked Liveco Boxing Card in Cornwall.

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Cornwall, ON – May 9, 2019 – Lightweight contender Tony Luis, a native of Cornwall, will face the most daunting test of his 11-year professional career on Friday, June 21, when he battles Mexican knockout artist Adrian Estrella in the main event of a multi-fight card at Cornwall Civic Complex.

The WBC Continental Americas championship will be on the line in what promises to be a pyrotechnic collision between two premier, battle-tested 135-pounders, both of whom are angling toward a world title shot.

An equally intriguing co-feature will match Luis’ undefeated stablemate, Will Madera of Albany, N.Y., against another rugged Mexican, Christian Uruzquieta, in a 10-round battle for the WBC International Silver lightweight crown.

Luis (27-3, 10 Kos), the No. 1-ranked lightweight in Canada, will put an eight-fight winning streak on the line against Estrella (29-3, 24 KOs), who doesn’t figure to be intimidated, having faced three consecutive unbeaten opponents.

“He’s younger, has more wins, and has more knockouts than me. He’s a champion for a reason,” said Luis. “On paper he’s supposed to win. Unfortunately for him, I’m not going to let that happen. I believe I am the best lightweight in the world and on June 21st I plan to take his title is devastating fashion.”

Estrella’s most-recent outing was Feb. 9, when we won the WBC Continental Americas lightweight belt by split decision over highly regarded Oscar Duarte (15-0-1). Estrella will be defending that strap in Cornwall. The 27-year-old Monterrey, Mexico slugger knocked out the first 18 opponents he faced in a career that dates back to 2010.

“I am thankful for this opportunity, and I’m ready to fight Luis.”, said Estrella. “I’m coming off a big win in California against an undefeated fighter who nobody thought I would beat, but I did. I’m in great shape, and the people of Cornwall are going to be shocked when they see what I do to Luis. Thanks to Denis Benoit of Liveco Boxing and Manuel Garrido of Miura Boxing for this great opportunity. For my first fight in Canada, I plan to come back home to Texas with the win, my title and feeling grateful for the hospitality of the Canadian people.”

The 28-year-old Madera (14-0-2, 7 KOs) is computer-ranked 15th in the United States among 135-pounders, according to boxrec.com, but the New York native also will be stepping up in competition. His most-recent conquest was a first-round knockout of Daulis Prescott (32-11) in Colombia.

Uruzquieta (18-4-1, 6 KOs), also 28, won the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title in December with a split-decision over previously unbeaten Ray Moylette (11-0). He has faced seven unbeaten opponents in a career that began in 2009.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to fight a guy who brings the action”, said Madera. “I won’t have to look for him, he’ll be right in front of me, and I will punish him to the body and knock him out.”

The two title fights will top a 7-fight show that also promises plenty of fireworks on the undercard, which will be unveiled shortly.

“As a fight fan first, I can’t wait for this event,” said Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing, and promoter of both Luis and Madera. “On paper, both matchups are very intriguing, and both fights promise to be all out wars. Fight fans are in for a real treat. To be the best, you need to beat the best, and I’m confident that Luis and Madera will do what they need to do to get the win.”

Tickets for the June 21st event are priced at $29.00, $39.00, and $59.00, and go on sale Friday, May 10th at 10:00 AM. They can be purchased online at www.ticketpro.ca, by phone (888) 655-9090, or in person at the Cornwall Civic Complex box-office. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bout scheduled for 8:00 PM.

tony-luis-juan-jose-martinez-top-feb-23-card-cornwallLiveco Boxing Inc.

Tony Luis-Juan Jose Martinez Top Feb 23 Card In Cornwall

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Lightweight contender Tony “Lighting” Luis is itching for another shot at the world title. The 30-year-old Cornwall native has won seven consecutive bouts and is intent on making an emphatic statement to the boxing world in 2019.

His journey continues on Saturday, February 23, at the Cornwall Civic Complex, as Luis faces Juan José Martínez of Mexico, a grizzled veteran who sports an impressive 18 knockout victories in 26 wins as a pro in the 10-round main event of the evening.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring on Feb 23 in front of my hometown fans and deliver a stellar performance,” said Luis. “Martinez is a tough and talented guy who packs a serious punch. I need to use my hand speed, boxing ability and experience to get past him and get the win.”

Luis last fought on November 24 in Montreal and scored an impressive sixth round knockout victory over Edgar Ramirez. Before the bout, Luis had been out of the ring for over a year due to fight cancellations and other setbacks. Luis last fought in Cornwall on October 14, 2017 when he outpointed Giovanni Straffon over 10-rounds to retain the WBA-NABA Lightweight Title.

“Martinez has been in there with some of the best lightweights in the world, and he’s a tough challenge for anyone,” said Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing Inc. “Just last year, he lost a close split-decision against Joseph Aguirre, a top-rated prospect who is now 20-0 as a pro. This guy is coming to Cornwall to win and Luis needs to be at his best to get past him.”

Tickets for the Feb 23 event start at $45.00 and go on sale Thursday, January 17 at 10:00 AM. They can be purchased online at www.ticketpro.ca, by phone (888) 655-9090, or in person at the Cornwall Civic Complex box-office. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bout scheduled for 8:00 PM.

The undercard, which will be announced shortly, will consist of four to five bouts featuring several up and coming prospects.

Tony LuisPhoto Credit: Ariane Théberge

Tony Luis Destroys Ramirez, Impressive in Ring Return!

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Sets sights on world title in 2019

Former lightweight title challenger Tony Luis made a triumphant return to the ring on November 24th in front of a packed house at the Casino Montréal, dominating and stopping rugged veteran Edgar Ramirez via sixth-round TKO.

Tony Luis controlled the action from the opening bell, peppering Ramirez with a stiff jab and relentless body attack. In the third round, Luis floored Ramirez with a crisp hook to the top of the head which sent him tumbling to the canvas. In round four, Ramirez’s punch output dropped significantly, and by the sixth round, Luis’s relentless attack had taken its tole. Luis closed the distance between the two, ripping several combinations to the head and body prompting referee Martin Forest to call a halt to the bout at 1:44 of the sixth round.

With the win, Luis’s record improves to 26-3 9 KO’s and marks an impressive seven-fight win streak.

“Tony Luis is a masterful boxer and is amongst the best lightweight in the world,” said Denis Benoit, Luis’s promoter and CEO of Liveco Boxing Inc. “We’re entertaining all offers, but we’re especially interested in fighting George Kambosos Jr., Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, or Ray Beltran. A victory against any of these guys will propel Luis to where he needs to be to get another shot at the title. When this happens, he’ll be ready.” added Benoit.

With the win, Luis improves to 26-3 with 9 KO’s. He is undefeated since 2015 having dropped a highly disputed twelve-round decision against Derry Matthews for the interim WBA Lightweight Title. Since then he has won seven straight fights.

tony-luis-to-battle-cam-oconnell-for-naba-titleLiveco Boxing Inc.

Tony Luis to Battle Cam O’Connell For NABA Title

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Hometown Champ Sets Sights on NABA Belt on June 17th.

Cornwall native Tony “Lightning” Luis is returning to his hometown in an all-Canadian tilt to face undefeated “Irish” Cam O’Connell on June 17 for the vacant NABA lightweight crown.

The Luis-O’Connell matchup will headline another night of boxing at the Cornwall Civic Complex following April’s hugely successful event by promoter Liveco Boxing.

Luis (23-3 8KOs) is currently ranked #2 in Canada. He is returning to the ring in Cornwall after an April hometown debut where he pounced on Mexico’s Noe Nuñez (17-4 13KOs), stopping “El Dengue” in the 6th round. Luis is looking to take the WBA’s North American affiliate’s crown in the lightweight division by going through O’Connell who is the #3-ranked boxer in Canada.

O’Connell (15-0-1 10KOs), from Red Deer, Alberta, has never been beaten. In his last bout, he destroyed tough veteran Oscar Barajas (17-4-1 9KOs) with a 4th-round knockout in March and won a December 2016 unanimous decision in a brawl with Juan Bedolla Orozco.

Luis is familiar with O’Connell. They fought as 19-year-old amateurs in Internationals with Luis coming out on top. “He’s a talented and motivated fighter,” Luis said. “I’m as hungry as he is and this is a competitive match that I welcome. I’m confident in my ability to beat him.”

“I’d like to thank Tony Luis for stepping up and taking this fight, a fight the fans are entitled to see,” said O’Connell. “The two best Lightweights in the Country, fighting for a reputable title and the number one spot. Now that the contracts are signed, and the fight announced, I am sure the Canadian boxing scene will be buzzing. I have waited my entire life for an opportunity like this and have worked extremely hard. Now the time has come, and I’m eager to showcase my skills and heart to the boxing world. I am not taking this fight lightly, and I’m preparing for a war of attrition. Thanks again, Team Luis.”

Liveco Boxing CEO Denis Benoit said, “This is Tony’s opportunity to take the next step onto the world stage. O’Connell is a seasoned fighter and he has a lot of momentum, but Tony will be super-motivated to raise a belt in front of his hometown fans. A big thank you to Mel Lubovac, O’Connell’s promoter, for working with us to make the biggest fight in Canada happen.”

In an 8-round co-feature bout, Canadian Light Heavyweight Champion Tim Cronin (9-1-1 2 KOs), originally from Bellville, ON, will face Louisbert Altidor (5-1 1 KO) of Longueuil, Quebec in what promises to be an all-out war.

Akwesasne native Ronnie “Rocket” Robidoux (3-0 2KOs) will join his stablemate and fellow hometown boxer on the card again on June 17. Robidoux dominated Jesus Ortega in Cornwall in April to keep his record sparkling and plans to light up the arena again in front of a friendly crowd.

Also, returning to Cornwall will be Albany’s “ILL” Will Madera (9-0 4KOs) who dismantled Omar Valenzuela back in April with an impressive array of speed, power, and boxing acumen.

Other bouts for June 17 have yet to set and will be announced shortly by Liveco.

Tickets for this incredible night of boxing go on sale this coming Friday at the Cornwall Civic Complex box-office, online at www.admission.com or by phone at (613) 938-9400.

Tony “Lightning” Luis Set To Strike In Cornwall

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Hometown Boxing Champion Tony Luis to Battle Mexican KO Artist on April 15th.

Cornwall native Tony “Lightning” Luis spent the last nine years globetrotting, racking up wins. Now his local fans will get the opportunity to see him in the ring in person, instead of on a TV screen. On April 15, Tony will put his future on the line against Noe “El Dengue” Nuñez at the Cornwall Civic Complex.

The event, which holds the promise of delivering all the glitz and glamor of a Las Vegas-style event, is being promoted by California-based Liveco Boxing, puts an end to years of anticipation from Cornwall fight fans who have been eager to cheer on their hometown champ in person.

In a pivotal matchup, Luis (22-3, 7 KO’s) will battle the formidable Nunez (17-4- 1, 13 KO’s) in a scheduled 10-round clash pitting Luis’ speed and savvy against the taller, aggressive Mexican lightweight from Sinaloa. Luis faces a must-win scenario to advance his career as a professional boxer.

“Every fight for me is to get one step closer to a world title shot,” Luis said. “I need to keep winning.”

A win in Cornwall, in front of his hometown fans, will propel Luis high into the world rankings and set him up for a title bout in the near future. His record against some of the world’s top talent, including an upset over the formerly undefeated Karl Dargan, puts Luis on the cusp of title contention.

Now he readies to fight a rising Mexican star in the same town where Luis was born and trains with his father.

“Nuñez is a tough, talented guy. He packs a dangerous punch,” Luis said. “I’ve got to showcase my hand speed and abilities to get past him and get the win.”

In a highly-anticipated undercard bout, Akwesasne native son, Ronnie “Rocket” Robidoux (2-0, 2 KO’s) looks to keep his perfect professional record intact, facing the rugged Jesus Ortega of Mexico over 4-rounds. Robidoux, who trains in Cornwall under the tutelage of Jorge Luis, looks to add another knockout win to the record after a stunning knockout victory over Donnis Reed in California last month.

Another pupil of Jorge Luis, Ireland’s “Lethal” Larry Fryers (2-0, 1 KO), now residing in upstate New York, is set to clash against Mexico’s Michel Polina in a 4-round Welterweight bout. Fryers, who seeks to build on last month’s punishing knockout of Rolando Padilla, is one of the most exciting young prospects in boxing. His relentless aggression and fighting style will surely not disappoint.

More undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing, says he’s thrilled to showcase a hometown hero in front of a hometown crowd. “It doesn’t get any better than this. These matches, with Tony as the headliner and Ronnie and Larry on the undercard, will make for an electrifying evening of boxing. We’re looking for fireworks and a ton of excitement out of these fighters. And we’re especially looking forward to seeing Tony take this huge leap forward in his career.”

Tickets for the April 15th event start at only $25.00 and go on sale Wednesday, March 8th at 10:00 AM. They can be purchased online at www.admission.com, by phone (613) 938-9400, or in person at the Cornwall Civic Complex box office. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bout scheduled for 8:00 PM.

Tony Luis Victorious Over Christian Uruzquieta

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Speed and Control Deliver 22nd Win over Lightweight Opponent.

Tonight, Tony “Lightning” Luis closed out his 2016 campaign with a new promoter and a unanimous decision win over Christian Uruzquieta.

The Cornwall, Ontario boxer’s eight-round decision in Mississauga punctuated a string of victories since dropping a narrow decision for the interim WBA Lightweight Title in 2015.

Luis (22-3 7 KO’s) dealt the Mexican lightweight his first defeat in six years, picking up right where he left off after a February unanimous decision win over Samuel Amoako.

He was able to rely on lightning-fast hands to pull away from the crafty Uruzquieta (14-2-1 4 KO’s) who had never lost in Canada– until meeting Luis at the Hershey Centre.

Fighting in front of a friendly crowd, Luis took complete control of the bout in the fifth round, working inside Uruzquieta and hurting him with withering body punches. From there he dictated the fight using his experience and hand speed.

“I knew the body punches really took a toll,” Luis said. “In the fifth round, I took the fight away from him and dominated.”

Luis who signed an exclusive promotional contract with Liveco Boxing shortly before the fight said he’s looking forward to 2017 and the bouts his new promoter arranges for him.

Before November, Luis had never fought professionally in Ontario. He gave his home province a glimpse of its native son outworking Uruzquieta in his first Canadian action since a May 2013 decision over Poland’s Maurycy Gojko in Quebec.

With 2017 on the horizon, Luis said he is anxious to step back in the ring and get a chance to raise a belt. “I’m hoping to get another title shot,” he said. “I’m going to keep winning. I’m training hard so that I’m ready for my next fight.”

Tony “Lightning” Luis Signs with Liveco Boxing

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Luis Brings an Impressive Record to the Liveco Roster.

Thousand Palms, CA — Liveco Boxing Inc. is pleased to announce that Canadian Lightweight contender, Tony “Lightning” Luis, has joined their roster. The 28-year-old, Luis, who hails from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, sports an impressive professional record of 22 wins with only three defeats and is considered among the best lightweights in the world today.

Managed by his father, Jorge Luis, Luis began his professional career in 2008, beating David Aguirre of Mexico by unanimous decision. Five months later the battles would get much harder. Eleven days before he was scheduled to fight Mario Andrade, his mother, whose influence and love encouraged him to fight – even when he was ready to quit, died suddenly. Heartbroken, he entered the ring days after burying his mother and unanimously beat Andrade.

Luis has earned two WBC Continental America Championships. In 2015, as a 7-1 underdog, he dominated and beat previously undefeated Karl Dargan in a stunning upset, propelling him to a top 10 world ranking. However, losses to Ivan Redkach and Derry Matthews (both by disputed decision) hardened Luis into preparing for adversity. Matthews outpointed Luis who was a last-minute replacement in an overseas fight with only four days’ notice.

“Tony represents everything that we look for in a boxer. He has an outstanding record, incredible drive, and high integrity as a person,” says Liveco Boxing CEO, Denis Benoit, on why Liveco wanted to represent Luis.

As to why Luis chose Liveco, “I know that Liveco is looking out for me. They offered me a substantial deal that will advance my career and protect my interests.”

When he’s not fighting, Luis is a substance abuse counselor at a boys’ home in Cornwall. After narrowly missing a chance to represent Canada at the Beijing Olympics, Luis struggled. Now, having regained his health, and with his boxing career back on track, Luis now helps kids who are having a hard time escape from addiction and reclaim their lives. “I identify with their pain and struggle,” Luis says of his work. “I use my empathy to help them overcome their obstacles.”