Two-Division Champion Badou Jack Battles Undefeated Top Contender Marcus Browne for WBA Interim 175-Pound Title On
Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner SHOWTIME PPV®
 Presented by Premier Boxing Champions Saturday, January 19
From the MGM Grand Garden Arena In Las Vegas
Plus! Former World Champion Rau’shee Warren Meets Unbeaten Nordine Oubaali for Vacant WBC Bantamweight Title &
Unbeaten Featherweight Jhack Tepora Takes on
Former World Champion Hugo Ruiz
LAS VEGAS (December 17, 2018) – Two-division world champion Badou Jack will battle unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title Saturday, January 19 on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner SHOWTIME PPV® event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

 
The pay-per-view undercard will also see former world champion Rau’shee Warren taking on France’s Nordine Oubaali
for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship in a rematch of
their 2012 Olympic matchup that was edged by Oubaali.  In the opening
bout of the four-fight PPV telecast, unbeaten Jhack Tepora will take on former world champion Hugo Ruiz in a 12-round featherweight clash.
In the main event, Senator Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, boxing's only
eight-division world champion, will end his two-year hiatus from a U.S.
boxing ring when he returns to Las Vegas to defend his World Boxing
Association Welterweight World Title against former four-division world
champion and must-see attraction Adrien "The Problem" Broner.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by MP Promotions, Mayweather
Promotions and TGB Promotions in association with About Billions
Promotions, are on sale now and start at $100, not including applicable
service charges, and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by
phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box
office.
“Not only will the fans witness a tremendous main event, they will get
to enjoy three action-packed match-ups that will add another level to
the pay-per-view portion of the card,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of
Mayweather Promotions. “Both Jhack Tepora and Hugo Ruiz are looking to
make a name for themselves in the stacked featherweight division, while
Rau’shee Warren and Nordine Oubaali are in the prime of their careers
and battling for the WBC title. Mayweather Promotions’ Badou Jack has
made an exemplary statement for his career inside and outside of the
ring and is focused on further strengthening his resume, while Marcus
Browne is looking to showcase his talent on boxing’s biggest stage.”
Jack (22-1-3, 13 KOs) has fought twice at light heavyweight since
relinquishing his super middleweight world title to campaign at 175
pounds. The 35-year-old, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden, represented
his father’s Gambia in the 2008 Olympics and now lives in Las Vegas.
Jack won the super middleweight world title with a majority decision
against Anthony Dirrell in 2015 and successfully defended the title
three times before he relinquished the belt following a hard-fought
majority draw against James DeGale in one 2017’s best fights. In his
first bout at 175 pounds, Jack stopped Nathan Cleverly to pick up the
WBA light heavyweight title before fighting to a majority draw against
Adonis Stevenson in his last fight on May 19.
“I’m looking forward to getting back onto another big stage to perform
for my fans across the globe and prove I am one of the best fighters in
the world," said Jack. "I plan to show off my skills with a dominating
performance on January 19. I always want to fight the best, and he’s the
best that’s available right now. I’m always 100 percent ready and I’m
going into this fight stronger, faster and with more experience than
ever before.”
The 28-year-old Browne (22-0, 16 KOs) will be taking a step up to face
an elite opponent when he battles Jack. A member of the 2012 U.S.
Olympic boxing team, Browne moved up the contender ladder in the
175-pound division with brute force and power, scoring three straight
knockout victories against Thomas Williams, Jr., Sean Monaghan and
Francy Ntetu. Browne, who was born and raised in Staten Island, N.Y.,
scored a unanimous decision victory over Lenin Castillo in his last
fight on August 4.
“This is really an honor and a privilege to have an opportunity to
showcase my talents on a big time pay-per-view card featuring Manny
Pacquiao and Adrien Broner,’’ Browne said. “Badou Jack is a
championship-caliber fighter and one of the toughest guys you can fight
in the light heavyweight division. I’m ready for the step up in
competition and focused on being a household name in the sport sooner
rather than later.’’
Warren (16-2, 4 KOs) is looking to return to the world championship
ranks with a victory over Oubaali. The 31-year-old became the first
three-time Olympic boxer from the U.S. when he qualified for consecutive
Olympic teams in 2004, 2008 and 2012. His Olympic run came to an end
against Oubaali when he lost a narrow 19-18 decision in the first round
of the 2012 London Games. A southpaw from Cincinnati, Ohio, Warren won
the WBA Bantamweight World Championship with a majority decision over
Juan Carlos Payano in 2016 and lost the title the next year to Zhanat
Zhakiyanov by split-decision.
“This fight means everything for me and it’s about to be the biggest
moment of my career,’’ Warren said. “Not only am I fighting for the WBC
belt, but it’s on pay-per-view. When I first won the title it was like
winning the gold medal at the Olympics. After I lost the title, it made
me much hungrier and I want to get it back even more. I fought this guy
in the Olympics, so I’m fighting for revenge. This isn’t the Olympics.
This is 12 rounds and I don’t think he’s fought anybody like me. I have
no choice but to put it all on the line on January 19.’’
The 32-year-old Oubaali (14-0, 11 KOs), an unbeaten southpaw from Lens,
Pas-de-Calais, France, has knocked out his last five opponents. His most
recent KO of Luis Melendez on April 17 moved Oubaali up the ranks to
position him for a world title shot. Oubaali, who is the sixth of 18
children born in France to parents who are from Morocco, twice
represented France at the Olympics, qualifying in 2008 and 2012 when he
defeated Warren.
“Many people are waiting for this fight because it’s the second time we
meet,’’ said Oubaali. “I beat Rau’shee Warren at the 2012 London Games
in a great battle. In the meantime, Rau’shee captured a world
championship and lost it. Right now, I’m the WBC No. 1 ranked
bantamweight fighter in the world. It will be a great fight in Las Vegas
on January 19 and I intend to beat Rau’shee again to become the new WBC
world champion.’’
The 25-year-old Tepora (22-0, 17 KOs) has steadily risen up the ranks
since turning pro in 2012 and most recently captured the WBA interim
featherweight crown with a ninth-round stoppage of Edivaldo Ortega in
July. Representing Cebu City, Philippines, Tepora enters his U.S. debut
on January 19 with stoppage wins in 11 of his last 12 contests.
“It has always been a dream to fight in the United States,” said Tepora.
“I never dreamed that my first fight in the U.S. would be on a card
with Senator Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner. I look forward to a
tremendous fight on January 19 and defending my title versus former
world champion Hugo Ruiz. As you all know the best rivalry in boxing is
Filipino vs. Mexican. It’s going to be a great fight.’’
Fighting out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Ruiz (38-4, 33 KOs) will
make his featherweight debut on January 19 after picking up two
victories in 2018. The 30-year-old won a super bantamweight world title
with a first round stoppage of Julio Ceja in 2016, avenging his previous
loss to Ceja in one of 2015’s most exciting fights. He now seeks to
position himself for a world title at 126 pounds with a victory against
Tepora.
“I expect it to be a good fight because Tepora is undefeated and a good
Filipino champion,’’ said Ruiz. “But I’m ready. I don’t think he can
handle my power. I’m going to knock him out. I want to do my best to win
the title. I’ve been watching videos of him and I’ve been training
hard. I’m really focused on how to beat him. I’m still young, but I’ve
got the experience to handle him in this fight.’’
About Showtime Networks Inc. 
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS
Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network's authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME
is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco
providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Google and Samsung. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Channels. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through
SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment
events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through
SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.comAbout Premier Boxing Champions
The Premier Boxing Champions series was created and is produced by
Haymon Sports, LLC. It features the most accomplished and decorated
array of international professional boxing talent across the most
popular weight divisions.

 

About MGM Grand Garden Arena
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and
premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable
seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and
state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date
have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and
Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquaio; and concerts by The Rolling Stones,
Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler,
George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars,
Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium
Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events
including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music
Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship
and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.