Philippines, 15 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


UNDEFEATED RISING STAR SHISHKIN TO FACE RIOJAS IN MAIN EVENT OF INAUGURAL ‘DETROIT BRAWL AT THE LEGENDARY KRONK’

PhilBoxing.com


LIVESTREAMED FROM KRONK GYM EXCLUSIVELY ON UFC FIGHT PASS®
Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 7 PM E.T. / 4 PM P.T.

On Thursday, August 20, 2020, promoter Dmitriy Salita will kick off a very special series of no spectator professional boxing shows entitled “DETROIT BRAWL AT THE LEGENDARY KRONK” at Detroit’s Kronk Gym.

Featuring undefeated WBC #10-rated super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin (10-0, 6 KOs) of Detroit via Serpukhov, Russia, taking on Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico’s battle-tested Oscar “El Monstruo” Riojas (21-13-1, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event, the entire event will be livestreamed exclusively on the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, UFC FIGHT PASS® (7pm ET/4pm PT).

“It’s great to kick off this exciting series from the legendary Kronk Gym in the historic boxing city of Detroit and fulfill the hunger of boxing fans and fighters alike who are craving hard-hitting action,” said Dmitriy Salita. “The main event will be a tough test for world-ranked rising star Vladimir Shishkin, and we have several more high-profile fights that we will be announcing shortly. I am thrilled to be able to showcase these fighters to the fight-savvy UFC FIGHT PASS audience.”

Trained by SugarHill Steward at the Kronk Gym, the 28-year-old Shishkin first made his presence felt in his United States debut in August of last year, registering an eighth-round technical knockout against then once-beaten DeAndre Ware.

A former amateur standout in Russia, the 6’ 1” Shishkin scored 301 wins in 330 fights before turning professional in 2016. Despite having just 10 professional fights, Shishkin has already won the WBA Continental Super Middleweight Championship with a KO win over Gasan Gasanov. Shishkin holds a successful title defense against former world title challenger and world-rated contender, Nadjib Mohammedi, via TKO. Shishkin was last seen scoring a dominant unanimous decision over then-undefeated (15-0-2) Californian Ulises Sierra in January of this year.

“It is an honor to be fighting in the first event at the legendary gym where I train and have learned so much about fighting as a professional,” said Vladimir Shishkin. “And with the reach of UFC FIGHT PASS, my fight can be watched by my fans across the USA and back home in Russia. I will work hard to put on a spectacular performance worthy of this recognition.”

A “boxing businessman,” Oscar Riojas is a hard-nosed slugger who always comes to fight, win or lose, regardless of the opponent’s reputation. The 36-year-old veteran says he uses his fight purses to open a café in Mexico and to support his extended family including his parents. Better than his record, Riojas has been on the controversial end of some of his fights against top competition and says he’s ready for war against who he calls the “untested” Shishkin.

“I always come for war, no matter who I face,” said Riojas. “My Russian opponent is undefeated, but he has never been in the trenches with a true warrior. We are going to see if he is what they say he is on August 20. Tell him to be ready.”

Originally run out of the basement of the oldest recreation center of the City of Detroit, the legendary Kronk Gym rose to prominence under the guidance of hall-of-fame trainer, Emanuel Steward, in the 1980s. Producing such homegrown greats including multiple World Champion and Boxing Hall of Famer Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, lightweight champion Hilmer Kenty, WBC's World Welterweight Champion Milton McCrory, IBF Lightweight king Jimmy Paul, and WBC Junior Middleweight champ Duane Thomas among many others.

Seeking out the Kronk magic, world champions and all-time greats such as Michael Moorer, Héctor Camacho, Julio César Chávez, Naseem Hamed, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis all trained under the eagle-eyed tutelage of Steward.

After Steward's unfortunate death, Kronk Gym relocated to a modern new Detroit facility in 2015, under the guidance of Steward’s nephew, Javan SugarHill Steward. Steward has gone on to forge his own growing legend, working with a new group of fighting champions and contenders, including lineal and unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

“This will be a historic fight because Emanuel was trying to do something just like this before he died,” said Javan SugarHill Steward. “He did amateur shows at the gym but a big pro show like this is something he was working on. To continue his legacy like this is amazing. It’s going to be fire.”

To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com, or download the UFC app.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 15 Jun 2026
  • Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Munsayac, Celones get FMA award
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.