Lightweight world champion Rances Barthelemy threw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday before the Miami Marlins game faced the Pittsburgh Pirates at Marlins Park in Miami. The Cuban-born world champion will defend his title tonight against former world champion Mickey Bey in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60, and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com,www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Here is what Barthelemy, and his brother Leduan, had to say about the first pitch, their love of baseball and more:
RANCES BARTHELEMY
On throwing first pitch:
“It was more than a dream come true. Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned myself being here one day, I would throw out the ceremonial first pitch in front of thousands of Marlins fans, a lot of them Cuban like myself, in a stadium I saw being built right before my eyes when I still lived in Miami. This experience is still surreal to me.”
On Marlins shortstop and fellow Cuban Adeiny Hechavarria:
“To throw the first pitch to a fellow Cuban like Adeiny Hechevarria and someone who is also living his dreams of being a professional at his craft after having gone through a similarly difficult process just to get here means a lot.
“I know Adeiny personally as we met soon after he landed in Miami after having defected, and before he signed his first professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Soon after, I moved to Las Vegas he got traded to the Miami Marlins but we remained in touch.
“It is a great pleasure to watch Cubans like him and Jose Fernandez representing our country so well in Major League Baseball.”
On baseball vs. boxing:
“As you know baseball and boxing are two of the biggest passions in Cuba. Everyone growing up does one or the other, or both. My brothers and I were did both at an early age.
“I myself loved baseball more and even envisioned myself playing professional baseball one day, but as a young kid in a rough neighborhood you must learn how to fight and defend yourself. After seeing my older brother Yan take off with his boxing, I decided to do the same and have never looked back.”
LEDUAN BARTHELEMY
On his big brother Rances throwing the ceremonial first pitch….
“This was one of those most beautiful things that have happened to me thus far in life. I have always admired my older brothers and have always aimed to follow in their footsteps, and enjoy spending time with them as they are always supporting me in everything I do.
“I am extremely proud of Rances’ growth and accomplishments and happy to be alongside him during these very special moments. I hope that sometime next year or the year after, that I can also throw a ceremonial first pitch and have Rances alongside supporting me.”
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Barthelemy-Bey Weigh-In Results
Rances Barthelemy 134.6 – Mickey Bey 134.2
(IBF Lightweight championship)
Caleb Plant 163.8 – Carlos Galvan 162.4
Emmanuel Ridriguez 119.4 – Alberto Guevara 119.8
Gervonta Davis 135.6 – Mario Macias Rorozco 132.8
Steve Geffard 177.2 – Samuel Miller 181.6
Dyah Davis 172.8 – Leosvy Mayedo 175.8
Courtney Jackson 141.8 – Anthony Woods 142.6
Dat Nguyen 128.6 – Jesus Lule 130.2
Antonio Williams 127.8 – Hector Fernandez 128.6
LaTondria Jones 155 – Latoya Burton 151.2
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60, and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com,www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Lightweight world champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy and former world champion Mickey “The Spirit” Bey went face to face for the first time Wednesday as they participated in the final press conference and media workouts for Premier Boxing Champions on Spike this Friday, June 3 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida.
Action begins on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features exciting bantamweight prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez taking on former title challenger Alberto Guevara in a 10-round bout. Also in attendance Wednesday and competing on the undercard is undefeated Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant, who battles Carlos Galvan on Friday night.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60, and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Fighters spoke to media and posed for cameras at the Paradise Live Theater before moving into the Hard Rock Live Arena for media workouts.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
RANCES BARTHELEMY
“I’m very excited to be fighting here close to Miami. This is a second home for Cubans and I’m really motivated to put on a great performance for the fans.
“Ismael Salas is one of the top trainers in the world and our whole team has been fantastic. We’re ready to get in the ring and fight.
I come prepared with a few strategies. I never stick to one game plan because us Cubans were taught to have a few up your sleeve so that you can adjust according to whatever presents itself to you in the ring.
“If we don’t get the knockout, then we are ready to go the distance. My team is prepared to go the distance if we have to, but also to give an entertaining fight.
“You’re going to see a new Rances Barthelemy in 2016.
“Don’t miss this fight. Get there early, because it might not go five. Get ready for a great night of boxing.”
MICKEY BEY
“I want to give Rances props for stepping up and taking the fight. This is the beautiful thing about boxing, the best fighting the best.
“You have a two-time champion fighting a world champion that never lost his belt in the ring. That says it all right there. We’re two elite fighters. We’re both going for glory.
“No matter what anybody says today, it comes down to the action on Friday.
“I’m in there with the same mindset no matter who I’m fighting. I’m coming in there to do what I do no matter what. It’s just another day for me.
“You’ll see a throwback fighter in there. I’m like the fighters from back in the day. I’m here looking for the victory. I don’t care how I get it and I can’t predict. But we want to have our hand raised.
“I’m coming to get what is rightfully mine. Don’t miss it.”
EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ
“I feel great and ready for Friday. I’m not worried about tomorrow at all, we’re right on weight, so we’re just looking forward to stepping into the ring at this point.
“We’ve been in training camp for six months as we had a tentative fight date scheduled prior to this so I was already in the gym getting ready. We’re in the best shape.
“We have seen footage of him and saw he makes a lot of mistakes. We analyzed those defaults and are using them as a strategy against him. We’ve put those into practice and think we will be able to execute them to come out victorious at the end of the night.
“He’s not your typical Mexican warrior fighter, he’s the total opposite actually so we’re not worried about what he does.”
ALBERTO GUEVARA
“I’m ready for this big opportunity and I’m ready to fight. This is a big card and it’s very exciting.
“I know what I have in front of me. Emmanuel Rodriguez is a good fighter, but he’s just another opponent to me.
“I’m well prepared and I believe I’m going to win this fight.”
CALEB PLANT
“I’m thankful to have this stage to perform on. I’m glad the media could come out and get a sneak peek of what I’m going to bring Friday night.
“The game plan is to go in there and look sharp, be slick, make adjustments and dictate the pace. He’s going to be uncomfortable because we’re going to dictate the pace. We’ll see if he can keep up.
“I’ve seen enough tape on, which wasn’t very much. I let my coaches breakdown the film and let me know what I need to do.
“This is my only job and I do it well. I’m not into getting ready, I stay ready. We’re here to show out.
“I’ve had a great training camp. I worked hard and I’m ready to put on a show this Friday night. I’m going to do what I always do in there.”
