Will Madera & Jamshidbek Najmitdinov Collide in Brooklyn on Oct 16

Albany, N.Y. native Will Madera (16-1, with 3 draws), who suffered his only career loss in July 2020  — a first-round TKO at the hand of former Puerto Rico Olympian Felix Verdejo — is looking to launch himself into the lightweight title sweepstakes Saturday in Brooklyn, N.Y. against highly-regarded southpaw Jamshidbek Najmitdinov.

The event at Barclays Center is headlined by a battle for the vacant World Boxing Association Continental Americas super lightweight championship between Petros Ananyan (15-2-2) and Daniel Gonzalez (20-2-1). The co-feature of the five-bout show matches Cletus Seldin (25-1) against William Silva (28-3) for the NABA super lightweight belt.

For Madera, Saturday’s bout represents his most-formidable test since his fight with Verdejo. The 30-year-old Najmitdinov, a native of Uzbekistan, arrives with a 17-1 record that includes 14 knockouts. He also is riding a seven-fight winning streak that spans nearly four years, the only blemish being a 2017 unanimous-decision loss to former WBC super lightweight champion Viktor Postol.

Likewise, Najmitdinov could be facing his most-dangerous opponent since that loss to Postol in Kiev. The leathery-tough Madera rebounded from the Verdejo disappointment by scoring his ninth career knockout in April over Iram Julian Rodriguez in Monterrey, Mexico. The Madera vs. Najmitdinov bout is presented by Triller Fight Club and Dibella Entertainment, in association with Denis Benoit’s Liveco Boxing Inc. Fans can watch live at 6pm ET via TrillerFightClub.com and FITE TV.

Undefeated Lightweight Prospect Will Madera Destroys Edgar Ramirez In Toronto

Toronto, ON – Undefeated lightweight prospect “Ill” Will Madera showed why he’s the one to watch in boxing tonight, January 28, at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, ON, scoring a stunning second-round knockout over the usually very durable veteran, Edgar Ramirez of Mexico.

Madera tore into Ramirez from the opening bell, ripping him with uppercuts and heavy shots to the body. It was a matter of time before Madera connected with a huge left hook that sent Ramirez sprawling to the canvas.

At the beginning of round two, Madera unloaded with a vicious combination to the body, forcing Ramirez to fall back towards the ropes. Madera then unleashed a fifteen punch barrage that went unanswered, prompting referee Alan Davis to stop the bout.

“Will is one of the best lightweight talents in all of boxing,” said Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing. “He is continually improving as a fighter, and it’s just a matter of time before he gets the opportunity to showcase his skills on the world stage.”

With the win, Madera improves to 15-0 with 8 knockouts.

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

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.

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Will Madera stuns Prescott with first-round KO!

NEW YORK and TORONTO, ON March 30, 2019 – Rising Lightweight prospect, Will Madera (14-0-2 7 KO’s) of Albany, NY, scored an impressive first-round knockout victory over former world title challenger, Daulis Prescott (32-12 24 KO’s) of Barranquilla, Columbia, in a scheduled 8-round co-feature Saturday night from the Jamil Shrine Temple in Columbia, SC. Madera stopped Prescott at 1:23 of the first round with a five-punch combination to the body.

“Will Madera has quickly become a serious prospect in the lightweight division,” said Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing and Madera’s promoter. “In his last fight, he upset previously undefeated Thomas Mattice on ShoBox, and now, with precision, he knocks out a former world title challenger in a little over a minute. It’s been a great year so far, and it’s only going to get better from here,” added Benoit.

Stay tuned. Madera will be back in the ring in April or May.

“ILL” Will Madera Poised to Impress on SHOBOX

NEW YORK and TORONTO, ON January 29, 2019 – The lights will be bright, the crowd will be loud, the stakes will be sky-high for undefeated lightweight Will Madera, who intends to cash in on the biggest opportunity of his pro career Friday night against an opponent hyped as his toughest test yet.

Madera (12-0-2, 6 KOs), a native of Albany, NY, says fans can expect a vastly-improved version of himself against highly-touted Thomas Mattice, 13-0-1 (10 KOs) in the co-feature of a scintillating ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader, which airs at 10 p.m. ET.

The two rising stars, both 28, collide at the historic Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY, on a card headlined by undefeated super middleweight prospect Ronald Ellis, who takes on once-beaten DeAndre Ware.

“I believe one of the reasons (Mattice’s team) chose Madera is because he’s had two draws in his last three fights, but Madera is a different fighter now, and Mattice is in for a nasty surprise on Friday,” said Denis Benoit, CEO of Liveco Boxing and Madera’s promoter. A lot has changed, says Benoit, since Madera battled Wesley Ferrer (12-0 at the time) to a split draw in December 2017, followed by a majority draw last March against Alberto Alejandro Morales Bautista (6-8).

In September, veteran boxing trainer Gunther Fishgold took the reins of Madera’s career, eliminating personal distractions, including a four-nights-a-week work schedule as a residential counselor at an adult nursing facility. Fishgold enabled the fighter to train full-time for the first time ever.

The Madera-Mattice clash was a late add to the televised portion of the ShoBox card, replacing a bout involving 140-pound prospect Logan Yoon, who withdrew with a knee injury from his showdown with Richard Zamora. But Madera had been preparing for a Feb. 23 fight date on another card, and seized on the chance to face Mattice on Showtime at the end of an intense, eight-week training camp — by far the best of his life.

“The timing is perfect. I’m in great shape and I’m prepared for Mattice,” said Madera, whose amateur pedigree included two New York Golden Gloves championships, and whose aunt was Mike Tyson’s high school prom date. “This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for, and I’m going to make the most of it.”

Meanwhile, Mattice, of Cleveland, also is expected to arrive eager to impress after back-to-back wars with Zhora Hamazaryan, both of which ended in disappointment. The first, in July, resulted in a controversial split-decision victory (called “the worst decision in the history of Showtime Boxing” by analyst Steve Farhood). September’s rematch was ruled a split draw, the only blemish on Mattice’s record.

Doors should swing open for the winner of the Madera-Mattice battle, and it will be back to the drawing board for the fighter who comes up short.

In the main event, Ellis (15-0-2, 10 KOs) will battle for three vacant regional belts against Ware (12-1-2, 8 KOs), who will attempt to rebound from the only loss of his career, a unanimous-decision setback at the hand of Cem Kilic in September.

Ware represents a step up in competition for Ellis, whose resume also includes a 2018 draw with undefeated Junior Younan.

In the opener of Friday’s telecast, Albany’s Abraham Nova (14-0, 10 KOs), formerly the No. 1-ranked U.S. amateur, will battle fellow unbeaten Oluwaseun Joshua Wahab (18-0, 11 KOs) of Ghana in a super featherweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.