UNDEFEATED TWO-TIME SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION DAVID BENAVIDEZ MEETS RONALD ELLIS IN WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR SATURDAY, MARCH 13

Two-time world champion David Benavídez
faces dangerous veteran Ronald Ellis in a 12-round WBC super-middleweight
title eliminator *Saturday, March 13 live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m.
PT* from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. in a Premier Boxing
Champions event.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING*®* telecast also features two under-25
lightweight contenders Isaac Cruz and Matías Romero in a 12-round co-main
event bout. A 10-round super welterweight affair between Terrell Gausha and
Jamontay Clark will open the telecast on SHOWTIME. The event is promoted by
TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

“The super middleweight division has quickly become red hot with so much
talent bubbling to the top. David Benavídez is one of the most talented
boxers at 168 pounds, which is proven by the fact that he’s an undefeated
two-time 168-pound world champion,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB
Promotions. “Benavídez is fighting to reclaim his world championship and
Ronald Ellis is fighting to claim his spot among the elite at 168 pounds.
With that kind of motivation on both sides, this promises to be an
explosive match. Isaac Cruz and Matías Romero are fighting to get to the
top of the lightweight division and Terrell Gausha and Jamontay Clark are
fighting to remain at the top of the super welterweight division. The
entire show has intrigue that ripples through some of the best divisions in
the sport.”

“On March 13, David Benavídez will move another step closer to regaining
his beloved green and gold belt and remind the world he is the best super
middleweight in all of boxing,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.
“There will be no doubt in anyone’s mind after another spectacular
performance by David ‘El Bandera Roja’ Benavídez.”

David Benavídez (23-0, 20 KOs), a boxing prodigy from Phoenix, Arizona,
returns to the ring following a stoppage victory over Alexis Angulo at the
“Fight Sphere” at Mohegan Sun last August. Benavídez turned pro at 16 and
captured his first world title at age 20, becoming the youngest 168-pound
world champion in history. An undefeated two-time super middleweight
champion, Benavídez looks to earn another title opportunity at super
middleweight. He was stripped of his WBC crown due to missing weight
against Angulo. With nine of his 20 knockouts coming in the first round,
the 24-year-old possesses one of the most devastating arsenals in all of
boxing. It was on full display when he captured the super middleweight
title for the second time via ninth-round TKO over fellow two-time champion
Anthony Dirrell.

“I’ve had an amazing camp in Big Bear and this is the strongest I have ever
felt so I’m looking to get an early stoppage against Ellis,” said
Benavidez. “I’m glad this is a title eliminator and it’s going to be
another step to being a world champion once again.”

The 31-year-old Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs) has been calling for the biggest
fights at 160 and 168 pounds, and he has landed the toughest challenge of
his professional career against Benavidez. Ellis, a native of Lynn, Mass.,
is fresh off a win over three-time world title challenger Matt Korobov who
was forced to retire due to an injury during their December fight on
SHOWTIME. Ellis has exhibited his slick boxing ability in recent outings
but also possesses ferocious power, as evidenced by eight first round
knockout victories in his career.

“It’s a fight but not just any fight,” said Ellis. “This is the type of
fight I have trained for and wanted since I turned pro. He’s going to bring
his best on March 13 and that will bring out the best in me.”

Cruz (20-1-1, 15 KOs) returns to the ring following the most impressive
performance of his career – an emphatic first-round knockout against former
world title challenger Diego Magdaleno in October. Fighting out of his
hometown of Mexico City, the 22-year-old is quickly climbing the ladder in
the lightweight division in pursuit of a world title. Cruz turned pro in
2015 at the age of 16 and suffered his lone defeat a year later, but his
aggressive ring generalship has kept him unbeaten over the past five
years.

“I’m very excited to be fighting on SHOWTIME on March 13,” said Cruz. “The
lightweight division is the hottest in boxing right now. This fight puts me
one step closer to my dream of winning a world title for my Dad, Isaac
Cruz, Sr. and my country, Mexico.”

Romero (24-0, 8 KOs) will put his perfect record on the line as he attempts
to rise from prospect to contender with a win over Cruz. In his most recent
fight this past November, Romero of Cordoba, Argentina defeated Javier José
Clavero via unanimous decision in a fight at 130 pounds. The 24-year-old
Romero’s most recent knockout came in March 2020 over Gabriel Gustavo
Ovejero when he scored a fifth-round TKO in his last fight at lightweight.
This fight will mark Romero’s U.S. debut and first appearance on SHOWTIME
and Premier Boxing Champions.

“I’ve come so far from Argentina to bring myself one step closer to
reaching my goal of being a world champion,” said Romero. “I know that
Isaac Cruz is a big puncher but he’s never fought anyone with my speed and
heart.”

A decorated amateur who represented the United States at the 2012 London
Games, Gausha (21-2-1, 10 KOs) continues his quest to win a world title.
Following a sensational first round knockout against Joey Hernández in
2018, Gausha fought former world champion Austin Trout to a split draw and
lost a decision against world title challenger Erickson Lubin in
back-to-back bouts. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the 33-year-old now
lives and trains out of Encino, Calif., under the tutelage of accomplished
trainer Manny Robles.

“I’m just blessed to be able to do what I love to do,” said Gausha. “I’m
excited to be back on PBC and SHOWTIME thanks to Al Haymon. On March 13,
I’m ready to go out there and show everybody what Terrell Gausha is made of
and put on a show.”

Clark (15-1-1, 7 KOs) comes into this fight off a unanimous decision
victory against Anthony Lenk last February. Fighting out of his hometown of
Cincinnati, Ohio, the 26-year-old has only lost one professional fight,
which came against former unified super welterweight champion Jeison
Rosario in 2018. This will mark the southpaw’s first fight during the
COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been a while since I was in the ring and I’m just excited to be back
taking on someone like Terrell Gausha, who will bring a good challenge and
let me display all of my talents,” Clark said. “This is the first step in
getting back to regular action and I’m not going to waste this opportunity.
I’m going on a big run after I beat Gausha. As McFadden and Whitehead said,
‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.’”

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer hosts the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo handles
blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and
three-division world champion Abner Mares. Two Hall of Famers round out the
telecast team: boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer and
world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. The executive producer is
four-time Emmy*®* award winner David Dinkins, Jr. The director is Bob
Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy. Former junior
middleweight world champion Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and sportscaster
Alejandro Luna serve as expert analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio
Programming (SAP).

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