Golden Boy Promotions has added undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (14-0, 11 KOs) of Lynn, Massachusetts and USA national boxing team phenom Niko “Baby Face” Valdes of Miami, Florida as the newest members of its top-notch stable of fighters.
“Golden Boy Promotions is kicking off the New Year by adding new, top talent to our stable with Rashidi Ellis and Niko Valdes,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We are committed to developing top talent to become boxing’s future champions, and will look to do just that with the addition of Ellis and Valdes to the Golden Boy family.”
“I am glad to be part of the Golden Boy Promotions team,” said Rashidi Ellis. “Being part of a such a great organization that prides itself on putting on the best fights in the industry really gives me confidence that they will take my career to the next level. My dream is to become a world champion and with Golden Boy at my side I know that opportunity is now a possibility.”
“It feels great,” said Niko Valdes. “Since I started boxing, all I wanted was to sign with Golden Boy Promotions. The fact that the opportunity presented itself right away, right when I decided to become a professional boxer is crazy to me. They’re the first real promotion that I noticed. They’re very professional, clean-cut and I’ve always wanted to be at the Golden Boy Promotions standard of boxing.”
A swift and ferocious striker, the undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis has repeatedly showcased his skills to audiences, most recently with a fourth-round technical knockout victory in Puerto Rico over Victor “Pambele” Gonzalez in March 2015 to claim the vacant WBA Fedecentro and the WBC Interim Latin Welterweight titles. Ellis won his three previous fights via technical knockout, defeating Joseph De los Santos and Joananthony Vazquez in Puerto Rico and Jose Martinez in the Dominican Republic.
Later in 2015, Ellis played a key part in the training camp of Golden Boy Promotions fighter and now WBC, RING Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez. The 22-year-old Ellis trained with Canelo as a sparring partner in preparation for Alvarez’s November 21 super fight against Miguel Cotto. After “Speedy” put Alvarez to the test with his notoriously fast fists in training camp, Alvarez defeated Cotto via unanimous decision.
A fearless fighter and eager learner, the 22-year-old Valdes quickly ascended the national ranks after he began boxing four and a half years ago. The light heavyweight southpaw won the Florida Golden Gloves state championship four times and claimed bronze at the National Golden Gloves. Valdes also fought in Belgium and rose to become the no. 1 ranked fighter in the country at 178 lbs. In the United States, Valdes is ranked third among amateur light heavyweights, also winning bronze at the USA Boxing National Championships in 2014. While proud of his national accomplishments, “Baby Face” finds himself hungry for more as he makes the jump to the professional level of boxing.
