Ryan Garcia misses weight by 3 pounds! |
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In what could be a costly fail, Ryan Garcia missed the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds by a significant amount-- three pounds-- at today's weigh-in in Brooklyn. Although his fight vs. Devin Haney will go on at Barclays Center on Saturday, Garcia is ineligible to win Haney's WBC championship. Garcia was nonchalant on social media, tweeting, "I feel great and I got a three-pound advantage. Let’s gooo hahahahaa. Winners do what they have to do I’m still sharp.. Belts don't feed your family... My balls got too heavy. And [my] back gained too much muscle from carrying the promo[tion]. And my fingers got stronger from all the tweets damn. Why would I force myself to make weight so I can be weak. Nah I’m here to win. That’s it."
Haney confirmed the talk that the contracts for the fight contained a stipulation that an overweight boxer would have to pay half a million dollars for each extra pound to the other boxer-- a clause that would cost Garcia $1.5 million if accurate. Haney tweeted after the weigh-in that "Ryan honored the 500k per pound."
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Ryan Garcia misses weight by 3 pounds!
In what could be a costly fail, Ryan Garcia missed the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds by a significant amount-- three pounds-- at today's weigh-in in Brooklyn. Although his fight vs. Devin Haney will go on at Barclays Center on Saturday, Garcia is ineligible to win Haney's WBC championship. Garcia was nonchalant on social media, tweeting, "I feel great and I got a three-pound advantage. Let’s gooo hahahahaa. Winners do what they have to do I’m still sharp.. Belts don't feed your family... My balls got too heavy. And [my] back gained too much muscle from carrying the promo[tion]. And my fingers got stronger from all the tweets damn. Why would I force myself to make weight so I can be weak. Nah I’m here to win. That’s it."
Haney confirmed the talk that the contracts for the fight contained a stipulation that an overweight boxer would have to pay half a million dollars for each extra pound to the other boxer-- a clause that would cost Garcia $1.5 million if accurate. Haney tweeted after the weigh-in that "Ryan honored the 500k per pound."
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More WBA "regular" title shenanigans: Morrell moves up, Berlanga named as Canelo's mandatory |
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The WBA Championships Committee granted special permission for its regular super middleweight champion David Morrell to move up a division and fight for the regular light heavyweight championship against Radivoje Kalajdzic in June of this year. The WBA approved the request of Morrell's promoter, TGB Promotions, "whose argument was based on the history Morrell has had with the WBA and all the achievements he has made in his career," according to a WBA press release. The approval was made with specific conditions, among which is that Morrell must vacate his super middleweight title if he wins his 175-pound bout. The true WBA champion at 175 pounds is Dmitri Bivol, who will participate in an undisputed, four-belt world championship bout against Artur Beterbiev on June 1st in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the committee decided that with Morrell’s weight move up, Edgar Berlanga will become the mandatory super middleweight challenger for world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. The Puerto Rican has just defeated Padraig McCrory in a final eliminator.
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More WBA "regular" title shenanigans: Morrell moves up, Berlanga named as Canelo's mandatory
The WBA Championships Committee granted special permission for its regular super middleweight champion David Morrell to move up a division and fight for the regular light heavyweight championship against Radivoje Kalajdzic in June of this year. The WBA approved the request of Morrell's promoter, TGB Promotions, "whose argument was based on the history Morrell has had with the WBA and all the achievements he has made in his career," according to a WBA press release. The approval was made with specific conditions, among which is that Morrell must vacate his super middleweight title if he wins his 175-pound bout. The true WBA champion at 175 pounds is Dmitri Bivol, who will participate in an undisputed, four-belt world championship bout against Artur Beterbiev on June 1st in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the committee decided that with Morrell’s weight move up, Edgar Berlanga will become the mandatory super middleweight challenger for world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. The Puerto Rican has just defeated Padraig McCrory in a final eliminator.
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The road to Haney vs. Garcia |
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WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney (pictured) has an undefeated record of 31 victories with 15 KOs and is one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the sport right now. Aged twenty five, Devin has defeated Jorge Linares, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Joseph Diaz, George Kambosos, Regis Prograis and Vasyl Lomachenko, with the latter fight being a very narrow win over a future Hall of Fame. Haney moved to Las Vegas with his father when he was a child. The first time he entered a gym was when he was seven years old. His father took him after a school fight and told him that there he would find more boys who wanted to box. During his time as amateur Devin won seven national championships in the United States and built a record of 130-8, becoming the youngest boxer to win the World Youth Championship in Nevada.
He debuted as pro in an unusual way, since his team decided to get a very early start to his paid career in Mexico. The State of California denied him the license at 17 years old, so he went to fight in Tijuana. On March 4, 2017, Haney defeated Mexico's Maximino Toala by knockout in the fourth round, in a performance which demonstrated his potential.
On May 25, 2019 he stepped up his competition a level with a win over the previously unbeaten Xolisani Ndongeni of South Africa, a bout which Haney dominated.
Haney won the WBC secondary lightweight title over Zaur Abdullaev in September 2019. He defended it four times. Then he captured the true world championship by defeating George Kambosos in 2022. After defending his crown on two occasions, against Kambosos in a rematch and then against Lomachenko, he decided to move up to the 140-pound division, where he defeated the. Title holder Regis Prograis by a wide margin.
Now as a two-time champion, he finds himself on the verge of a great battle against Garcia, a rival whom he already faced 6 times as an amateur.
As for Garcia, his large social media presence made him one of the most followed characters in the boxing industry. The young man from Los Alamitos California, is blessed with charisma, hand speed and and punching power that has positioned him as a fan favorite. After a successful amateur career, Garcia is on the verge of the most important fight of his career, a world title opportunity against Haney, a rival he has already faced 6 times as an amateur dividing 3 and 3 wins each.
Garcia got his first notable pro win at super featherweight in 2018, knocking out Fernando Vargas in the first round. Two months later he defeated Jayson Velez via wide unanimous decision. In 2019, he moved up to the lightweight division to knock out the tough Romero Duno in one round.
García at that time 21-0, then defeated former Olympic champion Luke Campbell by knockout in the seventh round, to win the WBC interim lightweight title in January 2021 in Dallas, Texas. It was not an easy win as Cambell knocked down Garcia in the second round. But Garcia got up and gradually recovered to regain control of the fight.
After two more wins, Garcia stepped up to face Gervonta "Tank" Davis, a former 130-pound champion who has won several secondary belts, in a huge fight that saw him get stopped by Davis in round seven. Garcia returned last December with a solid win over Oscar Duarte at junior welterweight, and now is headed towards Saturday's big opportunity in Brooklyn, New York.
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The road to Haney vs. Garcia
WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney (pictured) has an undefeated record of 31 victories with 15 KOs and is one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the sport right now. Aged twenty five, Devin has defeated Jorge Linares, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Joseph Diaz, George Kambosos, Regis Prograis and Vasyl Lomachenko, with the latter fight being a very narrow win over a future Hall of Fame. Haney moved to Las Vegas with his father when he was a child. The first time he entered a gym was when he was seven years old. His father took him after a school fight and told him that there he would find more boys who wanted to box. During his time as amateur Devin won seven national championships in the United States and built a record of 130-8, becoming the youngest boxer to win the World Youth Championship in Nevada.
He debuted as pro in an unusual way, since his team decided to get a very early start to his paid career in Mexico. The State of California denied him the license at 17 years old, so he went to fight in Tijuana. On March 4, 2017, Haney defeated Mexico's Maximino Toala by knockout in the fourth round, in a performance which demonstrated his potential.
On May 25, 2019 he stepped up his competition a level with a win over the previously unbeaten Xolisani Ndongeni of South Africa, a bout which Haney dominated.
Haney won the WBC secondary lightweight title over Zaur Abdullaev in September 2019. He defended it four times. Then he captured the true world championship by defeating George Kambosos in 2022. After defending his crown on two occasions, against Kambosos in a rematch and then against Lomachenko, he decided to move up to the 140-pound division, where he defeated the. Title holder Regis Prograis by a wide margin.
Now as a two-time champion, he finds himself on the verge of a great battle against Garcia, a rival whom he already faced 6 times as an amateur.
As for Garcia, his large social media presence made him one of the most followed characters in the boxing industry. The young man from Los Alamitos California, is blessed with charisma, hand speed and and punching power that has positioned him as a fan favorite. After a successful amateur career, Garcia is on the verge of the most important fight of his career, a world title opportunity against Haney, a rival he has already faced 6 times as an amateur dividing 3 and 3 wins each.
Garcia got his first notable pro win at super featherweight in 2018, knocking out Fernando Vargas in the first round. Two months later he defeated Jayson Velez via wide unanimous decision. In 2019, he moved up to the lightweight division to knock out the tough Romero Duno in one round.
García at that time 21-0, then defeated former Olympic champion Luke Campbell by knockout in the seventh round, to win the WBC interim lightweight title in January 2021 in Dallas, Texas. It was not an easy win as Cambell knocked down Garcia in the second round. But Garcia got up and gradually recovered to regain control of the fight.
After two more wins, Garcia stepped up to face Gervonta "Tank" Davis, a former 130-pound champion who has won several secondary belts, in a huge fight that saw him get stopped by Davis in round seven. Garcia returned last December with a solid win over Oscar Duarte at junior welterweight, and now is headed towards Saturday's big opportunity in Brooklyn, New York.
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Introducing super middleweight Nathan Lugo |
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Super middleweight Nathan Lugo will make his pro debut today when he takes on Robert Lartigue in a bout scheduled for four rounds. Lugo of Atlanta has signed with Split-T Management and comes into the pro ranks after an amateur career that saw him win 23 titles in the unpaid ranks. Age nineteen, Lugo compiled a record of 223-19 en route to winning the 2022 Elite National title which made him the youngest fighter ever to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Lugo also captured many international tournament gold medals. He is considered to have excellent punching power, which was evidenced by having over 40 stoppage victories. In 2021, Nathan, then 16 and his brother Elijah, 14 will featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section.
Lartigie of Pecos, Texas is 1-1 with one knockout. At the weigh-in, Lugo was 168.4 pounds while Lartigue weighed 168.8. The fight will be part of an Overtime Boxing card in Atlanta that will be streamed live on DAZN at 8 PM ET.
"Nathan Lugo has been on our radar for a long time now. He is a dynamic puncher with thunderous power that will immediately translate to the pros. Quite simply, he is one of those special talents that does not come around often. I can not wait to be part of his journey toward stardom in the sport," said David McWater of Split-T Management.
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Introducing super middleweight Nathan Lugo
Super middleweight Nathan Lugo will make his pro debut today when he takes on Robert Lartigue in a bout scheduled for four rounds. Lugo of Atlanta has signed with Split-T Management and comes into the pro ranks after an amateur career that saw him win 23 titles in the unpaid ranks. Age nineteen, Lugo compiled a record of 223-19 en route to winning the 2022 Elite National title which made him the youngest fighter ever to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Lugo also captured many international tournament gold medals. He is considered to have excellent punching power, which was evidenced by having over 40 stoppage victories. In 2021, Nathan, then 16 and his brother Elijah, 14 will featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section.
Lartigie of Pecos, Texas is 1-1 with one knockout. At the weigh-in, Lugo was 168.4 pounds while Lartigue weighed 168.8. The fight will be part of an Overtime Boxing card in Atlanta that will be streamed live on DAZN at 8 PM ET.
"Nathan Lugo has been on our radar for a long time now. He is a dynamic puncher with thunderous power that will immediately translate to the pros. Quite simply, he is one of those special talents that does not come around often. I can not wait to be part of his journey toward stardom in the sport," said David McWater of Split-T Management.
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Masvidal vs. Diaz presser quotes |
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Mixed martial arts stars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal continued their publicity tour on Wednesday in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami before they meet in the ring on Saturday, June 1st headlining a pay-per-view show presented by Fanmio from The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Two huge personalities, Diaz and Masvidal will square off in a ten-round professional boxing light heavyweight showdown marking the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring. Masvidal is 1-0 as a boxer, having won a very low-level fight in 2005. He defeated Diaz in MMA in 2019. Diaz is 0-1 as a boxer, having lost to Jake Paul on August 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Paul defeated Diaz via unanimous decision over ten rounds via scores of 98–91 (twice) and 97–92.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Pier 5 at Bayside Marketplace:
NATE DIAZ
“If the last fight would of continued and gone to the end, this would be my city.
“He won the first fight, but I’m back for more. So that’s what’s popping. This is a new fight and I’m here to win.
“I expect him to do what he’s gotta do in there. He’s got a good coach and he’s doing what he’s supposed to do training, but I’ve been doing this a long time. We’ll see how it goes for him.
“I’m preparing for a way tougher fight from Jorge than I had against Jake Paul. 100%. Jorge is as experienced as it comes, so I’m ready for what he’s bringing. But having those rounds helped for sure.
“All I know is that we’ve been trying to make this rematch happen for a long time. He was the biggest opportunity in the game.”
JORGE MASVIDAL
“I respect what Nate’s done in his career, but that goes away when we step in that ring. I only have one thing on my mind. I’m gonna put an end to this rivalry.
“I owe it to this city more than anything to go out with a W, and several of them. I’m in a really good place now and have to come back and get those W’s for this place right here. Do or die.
“I want to take the judges and referees and doctors out of it and leave it up to my hands and get him out of there Kimbo Slice style. Dade County style. These people here want that violence.
“It’s a badge of honor to face someone who’s willing to put it all on the line. That being said, I’m gonna end this guy on June 1.
“This BMF belt shows that if you get after it, you can get it done. It doesn’t matter who you are, you just gotta put aside the nonsense.”
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Masvidal vs. Diaz presser quotes
Mixed martial arts stars Nate Diaz and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal continued their publicity tour on Wednesday in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami before they meet in the ring on Saturday, June 1st headlining a pay-per-view show presented by Fanmio from The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Two huge personalities, Diaz and Masvidal will square off in a ten-round professional boxing light heavyweight showdown marking the first time two true MMA stars will go toe-to-toe in a boxing ring. Masvidal is 1-0 as a boxer, having won a very low-level fight in 2005. He defeated Diaz in MMA in 2019. Diaz is 0-1 as a boxer, having lost to Jake Paul on August 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Paul defeated Diaz via unanimous decision over ten rounds via scores of 98–91 (twice) and 97–92.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Pier 5 at Bayside Marketplace:
NATE DIAZ
“If the last fight would of continued and gone to the end, this would be my city.
“He won the first fight, but I’m back for more. So that’s what’s popping. This is a new fight and I’m here to win.
“I expect him to do what he’s gotta do in there. He’s got a good coach and he’s doing what he’s supposed to do training, but I’ve been doing this a long time. We’ll see how it goes for him.
“I’m preparing for a way tougher fight from Jorge than I had against Jake Paul. 100%. Jorge is as experienced as it comes, so I’m ready for what he’s bringing. But having those rounds helped for sure.
“All I know is that we’ve been trying to make this rematch happen for a long time. He was the biggest opportunity in the game.”
JORGE MASVIDAL
“I respect what Nate’s done in his career, but that goes away when we step in that ring. I only have one thing on my mind. I’m gonna put an end to this rivalry.
“I owe it to this city more than anything to go out with a W, and several of them. I’m in a really good place now and have to come back and get those W’s for this place right here. Do or die.
“I want to take the judges and referees and doctors out of it and leave it up to my hands and get him out of there Kimbo Slice style. Dade County style. These people here want that violence.
“It’s a badge of honor to face someone who’s willing to put it all on the line. That being said, I’m gonna end this guy on June 1.
“This BMF belt shows that if you get after it, you can get it done. It doesn’t matter who you are, you just gotta put aside the nonsense.”
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Brandon Adams returns on Friday |
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Brandon Adams, inactive for more than three years, weighed in for his OTX junior middleweight tournament bout against New York City's Ismael Villareal that will take place Friday night at the OTX Arena in Atlanta and live on DAZN. Adams had a career-best win against Serhii Bohachuk in 2021, but while Bohachuk has won six straight including the WBC interim championship since then, Adams has remained on the shelf. Adams (23-3 with 15 KOs) of Los Angeles checked in at 153.6 lbs while Villareal (13-2 with 9 KOs) weighed 154 pounds. Adams who is promoted by Banner Promotions and managed by Mark Habibi's Wise Owl Boxing, will be competing in the tournament that will be streamed on DAZN beginning at 8 PM ET.
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Brandon Adams returns on Friday
Brandon Adams, inactive for more than three years, weighed in for his OTX junior middleweight tournament bout against New York City's Ismael Villareal that will take place Friday night at the OTX Arena in Atlanta and live on DAZN. Adams had a career-best win against Serhii Bohachuk in 2021, but while Bohachuk has won six straight including the WBC interim championship since then, Adams has remained on the shelf. Adams (23-3 with 15 KOs) of Los Angeles checked in at 153.6 lbs while Villareal (13-2 with 9 KOs) weighed 154 pounds. Adams who is promoted by Banner Promotions and managed by Mark Habibi's Wise Owl Boxing, will be competing in the tournament that will be streamed on DAZN beginning at 8 PM ET.
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Rankin books safe opponent for next fight |
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Former 154-pound champion Hannah Rankin returns to the ring on April 26th against Naomi Mannes in Liverpool, United Kingdom. From Scotland, Rankin held the WBA and IBO titles from 2021 through 2022 when she lost to Terri Harper. She gained championship status when she beat Maria Lindberg, then made a successful defense over Alejandra Ayala via technical knockout and was then defeated in an explosive fight Harper. Rankin is now 13-7 with 3 KOs. Mannes, from Germany, is 6-2-1 after starting her career with six straight wins.
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Rankin books safe opponent for next fight
Former 154-pound champion Hannah Rankin returns to the ring on April 26th against Naomi Mannes in Liverpool, United Kingdom. From Scotland, Rankin held the WBA and IBO titles from 2021 through 2022 when she lost to Terri Harper. She gained championship status when she beat Maria Lindberg, then made a successful defense over Alejandra Ayala via technical knockout and was then defeated in an explosive fight Harper. Rankin is now 13-7 with 3 KOs. Mannes, from Germany, is 6-2-1 after starting her career with six straight wins.
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Melikuziev fights in Brooklyn this weekend |
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Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev will battle France's Pierre Dibombe in a super middleweight contest this Saturday at the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, New York. The bout takes place in support of the main event featuring Devin Haney defend his WBC junior welterweight title against Ryan Garcia. Melikuziev (17-3 including the World Series of Boxing) had a tough time getting knocked out by Gabriel Rosado in 2021 but has since recovered and defeated Rosado in a rematch. He went on to defeat Alantez Fox in October. Dibombe (22-1-1) is an experienced fighter who has fought the majority of his career in France but recently has appeared in both Canada and the United States. His first U.S. experience was June 16th of last year when he knocked out Derrick Findley in Atlantic City.
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Melikuziev fights in Brooklyn this weekend
Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev will battle France's Pierre Dibombe in a super middleweight contest this Saturday at the Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, New York. The bout takes place in support of the main event featuring Devin Haney defend his WBC junior welterweight title against Ryan Garcia. Melikuziev (17-3 including the World Series of Boxing) had a tough time getting knocked out by Gabriel Rosado in 2021 but has since recovered and defeated Rosado in a rematch. He went on to defeat Alantez Fox in October. Dibombe (22-1-1) is an experienced fighter who has fought the majority of his career in France but recently has appeared in both Canada and the United States. His first U.S. experience was June 16th of last year when he knocked out Derrick Findley in Atlantic City.
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European title fight headlines on June 22nd in Birmingham, England |
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Tyler Denny will defend his European middleweight title against former British and Commonwealth champion Felix Cash at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England on Saturday June 22nd, live worldwide on DAZN. Denny (18-2-3, 1 KO) ripped the EBU title from Mateo Signani in Wolverhampton last November, stopping the veteran Italian in eight rounds to extend his winning streak to five fights. Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since he decisioned Portugal’s Celso Neves (9-5-2, 2 KOs) back in December 2022. The unbeaten Wokingham man, once regarded as the leading middleweight in Britain, has since teamed up with renowned coach Adam Booth in Surrey and plans on making up for lost time as he sets his sights on a World Title shot by the end of the year.
“I’m buzzing to be defending my European Title and against such a good fighter in Felix Cash,” said Denny. “Add to the fact it’s in Birmingham so the Black Country army will be out in full force to witness a great fight and one that I’m confident of winning.”
“Tyler Denny is a solid professional, but I have no time to lose,” said Cash. “My plan is to get him out of my way as quickly as possible and move on to world level.”
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Belfast welterweight Lewis Crocker (19-0, 11 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten run when he meets Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (13-2-1, 5 KOs) in what should be an explosive match-up over ten rounds. “I’m to be back out so soon,” said Crocker. “Thanks to Matchroom and Conlan Boxing for keeping me busy. I’m looking forward to this fight as I know Walker is the type of guy who’s going to come and meet me in the middle of the ring. He won’t be able to handle my power in his own back garden. I believe I will knock him out.”
“I’m absolutely buzzing for this fight,” said Walker. “I think it was inevitable that me and Lewis would cross paths. I’m not taking him lightly; I know he’s a phenomenal fighter. There’s a reason why he’s rated at number 2 in the UK. I jumped at the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. A win here puts me another step forwards to where I want to go. I want to be number one in the UK and I want to clean up domestically and then push on for World Titles.”
The lightweight grudge match between slick Cameron Vuong (4-0, 3 KOs) of Newcastle and Oxford’s Jordan Flynn (10-0-1, 1 KO) gets a new date and Watford’s Shannon Ryan (7-0) and Newark’s Emma Dolan (6-0, 1 KO) will create history when they become the first women to contest the British super flyweight Title, with Dolan’s Commonwealth Title also on the line.
“I can’t wait to return to the West Midland’s for what promises to be an electric night of boxing at Resorts World Arena Birmingham,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “It’s the long awaited return of former British and Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Felix Cash under the guidance of new coach Adam Booth, and he jumps straight back in at the deep end against European Champion Tyler Denny. Lewis Crocker against Conah Walker can only be an all out war and bitter rivals Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn will finally get it on after all of the trash talk. Shannon Ryan takes another step up when she meets Emma Dolan for the British and Commonwealth Titles. Catch it all live on DAZN.”
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European title fight headlines on June 22nd in Birmingham, England
Tyler Denny will defend his European middleweight title against former British and Commonwealth champion Felix Cash at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England on Saturday June 22nd, live worldwide on DAZN. Denny (18-2-3, 1 KO) ripped the EBU title from Mateo Signani in Wolverhampton last November, stopping the veteran Italian in eight rounds to extend his winning streak to five fights. Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since he decisioned Portugal’s Celso Neves (9-5-2, 2 KOs) back in December 2022. The unbeaten Wokingham man, once regarded as the leading middleweight in Britain, has since teamed up with renowned coach Adam Booth in Surrey and plans on making up for lost time as he sets his sights on a World Title shot by the end of the year.
“I’m buzzing to be defending my European Title and against such a good fighter in Felix Cash,” said Denny. “Add to the fact it’s in Birmingham so the Black Country army will be out in full force to witness a great fight and one that I’m confident of winning.”
“Tyler Denny is a solid professional, but I have no time to lose,” said Cash. “My plan is to get him out of my way as quickly as possible and move on to world level.”
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Belfast welterweight Lewis Crocker (19-0, 11 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten run when he meets Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (13-2-1, 5 KOs) in what should be an explosive match-up over ten rounds. “I’m to be back out so soon,” said Crocker. “Thanks to Matchroom and Conlan Boxing for keeping me busy. I’m looking forward to this fight as I know Walker is the type of guy who’s going to come and meet me in the middle of the ring. He won’t be able to handle my power in his own back garden. I believe I will knock him out.”
“I’m absolutely buzzing for this fight,” said Walker. “I think it was inevitable that me and Lewis would cross paths. I’m not taking him lightly; I know he’s a phenomenal fighter. There’s a reason why he’s rated at number 2 in the UK. I jumped at the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. A win here puts me another step forwards to where I want to go. I want to be number one in the UK and I want to clean up domestically and then push on for World Titles.”
The lightweight grudge match between slick Cameron Vuong (4-0, 3 KOs) of Newcastle and Oxford’s Jordan Flynn (10-0-1, 1 KO) gets a new date and Watford’s Shannon Ryan (7-0) and Newark’s Emma Dolan (6-0, 1 KO) will create history when they become the first women to contest the British super flyweight Title, with Dolan’s Commonwealth Title also on the line.
“I can’t wait to return to the West Midland’s for what promises to be an electric night of boxing at Resorts World Arena Birmingham,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “It’s the long awaited return of former British and Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Felix Cash under the guidance of new coach Adam Booth, and he jumps straight back in at the deep end against European Champion Tyler Denny. Lewis Crocker against Conah Walker can only be an all out war and bitter rivals Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn will finally get it on after all of the trash talk. Shannon Ryan takes another step up when she meets Emma Dolan for the British and Commonwealth Titles. Catch it all live on DAZN.”
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Lennox Lewis to attend Philly show tonight |
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Boxing royalty will be in the house at the 2300 Arena tonight (Thursday) when former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis attends DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing show in Philadelphia. Tickets can be purchased via www.2300arena.com or by calling (267) 273-0945. The 2300 Arena is located at 2300 S Swanson Street in Philadelphia, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. Lewis will be in Philadelphia to cheer on his junior middlewight protégé Kestna Davis (5-0), whom he advises. Davis will take on Abdalla Nagy (1-0) in a four-round bout. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He has been mentored by the former world champion since they met in July 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt and now based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made his pro debut last December, earning a four-round unanimous decision against Kijonti Davis.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Heavyweight "Gentleman” George Arias (18-1, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, headlines Broadway Boxing facing the unbeaten Skylar Lacy (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Indianapolis in an eight-round bout. The 32 year-old Arias has defeated seven previously unbeaten opponents, including world-ranked Cassius Chaney and Alante Green. Arias suffered his lone blemish at the hands of highly regarded Jared Anderson on April 8, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. Lacy, 29, fought to a spirited draw with former National amateur champion, six-foot-nine Antonio Mireles. In his last outing, Lacy stopped Hector Conrado in two rounds on March 16th in Mexico.Junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz (10-0-1, 4 KOs) will take on Robin Ellis (6-3, 5 KOs), of Las Vegas in a six-round bout. Cruz, 30, was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia, PA, as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.
Edwards will also be in the corner of six-foot-tall middleweight southpaw Erron “JYD” Peterson (5-0-1, 4 KOs). The 28-year-old Peterson will take on Raheem Davis (1-2), of Morgantown, West Virginia, in a four-round bout. Peterson was an all-city linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.
The card will also feature a high-powered heavyweight clash between Cleveland’s Roney Hines and Johnson City, Tennessee, native Robert Hall Jr., scheduled for eight rounds. The fight is a step-up for Hines (13-0-1, 8 KOs), who trains with veteran trainer Eric Brown in Los Angeles and is co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports. He is coming off of a unanimous decision win against Jonathan Gruber last November. The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018. Hall Jr. (14-2, 11 KOs), a former WBC USNBC titlist, last entered the ring in September when he faced contender Jerry Forrest, losing a unanimous decision over eight rounds.
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Lennox Lewis to attend Philly show tonight
Boxing royalty will be in the house at the 2300 Arena tonight (Thursday) when former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis attends DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing show in Philadelphia. Tickets can be purchased via www.2300arena.com or by calling (267) 273-0945. The 2300 Arena is located at 2300 S Swanson Street in Philadelphia, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. Lewis will be in Philadelphia to cheer on his junior middlewight protégé Kestna Davis (5-0), whom he advises. Davis will take on Abdalla Nagy (1-0) in a four-round bout. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He has been mentored by the former world champion since they met in July 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt and now based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made his pro debut last December, earning a four-round unanimous decision against Kijonti Davis.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Heavyweight "Gentleman” George Arias (18-1, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, headlines Broadway Boxing facing the unbeaten Skylar Lacy (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Indianapolis in an eight-round bout. The 32 year-old Arias has defeated seven previously unbeaten opponents, including world-ranked Cassius Chaney and Alante Green. Arias suffered his lone blemish at the hands of highly regarded Jared Anderson on April 8, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. Lacy, 29, fought to a spirited draw with former National amateur champion, six-foot-nine Antonio Mireles. In his last outing, Lacy stopped Hector Conrado in two rounds on March 16th in Mexico.Junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz (10-0-1, 4 KOs) will take on Robin Ellis (6-3, 5 KOs), of Las Vegas in a six-round bout. Cruz, 30, was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia, PA, as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.
Edwards will also be in the corner of six-foot-tall middleweight southpaw Erron “JYD” Peterson (5-0-1, 4 KOs). The 28-year-old Peterson will take on Raheem Davis (1-2), of Morgantown, West Virginia, in a four-round bout. Peterson was an all-city linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.
The card will also feature a high-powered heavyweight clash between Cleveland’s Roney Hines and Johnson City, Tennessee, native Robert Hall Jr., scheduled for eight rounds. The fight is a step-up for Hines (13-0-1, 8 KOs), who trains with veteran trainer Eric Brown in Los Angeles and is co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports. He is coming off of a unanimous decision win against Jonathan Gruber last November. The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018. Hall Jr. (14-2, 11 KOs), a former WBC USNBC titlist, last entered the ring in September when he faced contender Jerry Forrest, losing a unanimous decision over eight rounds.
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Zayas to face Teixeira on Puerto Rican Day weekend in NYC |
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Junior middleweight Xander Zayas will kick off New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend against his stiffest challenge yet. Zayas will take on former WBO titleholder Patrick Teixeira of Brazil in a ten-round clash on Saturday, June 8th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In the ten-round featherweight co-feature, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, from Brownsville, Brooklyn, aims to extend his knockout streak against Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas. Zayas-Teixeira and Carrington-Vivas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK & Ireland. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.
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Zayas to face Teixeira on Puerto Rican Day weekend in NYC
Junior middleweight Xander Zayas will kick off New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend against his stiffest challenge yet. Zayas will take on former WBO titleholder Patrick Teixeira of Brazil in a ten-round clash on Saturday, June 8th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In the ten-round featherweight co-feature, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, from Brownsville, Brooklyn, aims to extend his knockout streak against Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas. Zayas-Teixeira and Carrington-Vivas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will broadcast the event in the UK & Ireland. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.
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Shu Shu Carrington to be featured on June 8th show in NYC |
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Top Rank revealed the full undercard for its Puerto Rican day show set for Saturday, June 8th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the main event, junior middleweight Xander Zayas will take on Brazil's former WBO 154-pound title holder Patrick Teixeira of Brazil in a ten-round clash. Brooklyn's Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will face Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas in the co-feature. Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has been working his way up since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral as a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight. Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8th.” The ESPN+-streamed undercard will showcase the following bouts: Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, 5 KOs), from Deer Park, New York, looks to respond following a string of setbacks in an eight-rounder versus Quincy LaVallais (17-4-1, 12 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough out in Nikoloz Sekhniashvili last April, dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July, and fought to a majority draw against Francisco Daniel Veron in December.
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) will see action in an eight-rounder against Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs). After going 4-0 in 2023, the Cleveland native made his 2024 debut with a first-round stoppage victory against Paulo Galdino in February.
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Shu Shu Carrington to be featured on June 8th show in NYC
Top Rank revealed the full undercard for its Puerto Rican day show set for Saturday, June 8th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the main event, junior middleweight Xander Zayas will take on Brazil's former WBO 154-pound title holder Patrick Teixeira of Brazil in a ten-round clash. Brooklyn's Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will face Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas in the co-feature. Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has been working his way up since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral as a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight. Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8th.” The ESPN+-streamed undercard will showcase the following bouts: Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, 5 KOs), from Deer Park, New York, looks to respond following a string of setbacks in an eight-rounder versus Quincy LaVallais (17-4-1, 12 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough out in Nikoloz Sekhniashvili last April, dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July, and fought to a majority draw against Francisco Daniel Veron in December.
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) will see action in an eight-rounder against Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs). After going 4-0 in 2023, the Cleveland native made his 2024 debut with a first-round stoppage victory against Paulo Galdino in February.
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Formal announcement for huge June 1st show in Saudi Arabia |
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His Excellency Turki Alalshikh (pictured), Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), today announced the boxers selected to compete on behalf of long-standing promotional rivals Queensberry and Matchroom in the history-making 5 vs 5 collision set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1st. The "5 vs. 5" between the rival British promoters (Queensberry and Matchroom) has created speculation and interest across the boxing world, featured as part of a blockbuster card headlined by one of the finest fights that can be made in the sport, the undisputed world light heavyweight championship bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol that will take place at the Kingdom Arena. The current WBA light heavyweight champion, the slick and stylish Bivol, 33, holds a record of 22-0 (11 KOs) and has successfully defended his title on 10 occasions over the last six years. Wrecking machine Beterbiev, 39, is the WBC, IBF and WBO champion and has secured all of his 20 professional victories via knockout.
In anticipation of the shootout between the two promotional giants, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh stated: “The Five vs. Five match is one of the standout events on Riyadh’s calendar this year. It will feature ten exciting fighters from Queensberry and Matchroom. The Riyadh calendar looks forward to hosting more major events and establishing partnerships that promise unprecedented entertainment for the audience.”
The nominated fighters for the groundbreaking 5 vs. 5, revealed on Monday at a pre-event media conference at London’s Outernet, are headlined by the heavyweights.
Frank Warren and Queensberry have selected Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs), the young UK powerhouse who was a recent challenger to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, to go up against IBF #1 contender Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) on behalf on Matchroom in a battle [expected to determine the soon-to-be-vacated IBF heavyweight title later this year. These Next Generation heavyweights will also be battling to determine just who will represent the future of the sports marquee division.
Chinese giant “Big Bang” Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) has been chosen to represent Queensberry in the second heavyweight encounter. The 40 year-old southpaw takes on Matchroom pick and former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs), the Bronze Bomber who made ten successful defenses of the title he won by defeating Bermane Stiverne in 2015. The man from Alabama, with the trademark ‘Bomb Squad’ chant, has executed a chilling 42 KOs from his 43 wins.
At featherweight, in what many predict will be a ‘fight of the year’ contender, and arguably should have been a world title unification, Queensberry’s Nick Ball, (19-0-1, 11 KOs), and Matchroom’s American world champion Ray Ford, (15-0-1, 8 KOs), compete for the WBA featherweight championship recently won by Ford in spectacular fashion against Otabek Kholmatov via a stoppage with just seven seconds of the 12 rounds remaining.
In March in Riyadh, ferocious Liverpool firebrand Ball, was unfortunate not to have won the WBC world title following his fight against two-weight world champion Rey Vargas from Mexico. Ball dominated much of the fight and knocked the Mexican down twice, but the judges returned cards declaring a split draw.
A classic middleweight encounter will be guaranteed when Queensberry’s undefeated Hamzah Sheeraz, the WBC Silver and Commonwealth champion with a record of 19-0 (15 KOs), trades blows with Matchroom’s USA product Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, who has impressively assembled a record of 16-0 (11 KOs). This fight will be recognized as a WBC final eliminator. Sheeraz is also rated as the #1 contender with the WBO so a world title opportunity beckons for the winner. Sheeraz, at just 24, is on a run of 13 straight stoppages, the longest consecutive KO streak currently in British boxing.
In the final fight, Queensberry light heavyweight and former World Amateur champion Willy Hutchinson (17-1, 13 KOs),will face Matchroom’s former British champion Craig ‘Spider’ Richards (18-3-1, 11 KOs).
Frank Warren, the Hall of Fame promoter and chairman of Queensberry, added: “The night of June 1st will mark a thrilling and spectacular return to Riyadh, where the pride and reputation of two companies will be at stake in the 5 vs. 5 concept that neither promoter dares to contemplate losing! Thanks to the vision of H.E. Turki Alalshikh we can now look forward to unprecedented events such as this on a regular basis and nights at the Kingdom Arena are now an established and welcome fixture in the world boxing diary. Our five selected champions are ready to rule in Riyadh.”
Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “The best Sport stems from the greatest rivalries. And on June 1, I am confident Matchroom will reign supreme over Queensberry. I have assembled a team of elite world beaters who are ready to do the business. Losing isn’t an option. With the brilliant Dmitry Bivol challenging for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship, this is without doubt one of the best boxing cards of all-time – and we’ve already seen a few contenders in Riyadh, all thanks to the outstanding vision of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I’m sure this unprecedented five-versus-five will be the first of many duels with Frank Warren and his team – and may the best man win!”
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Formal announcement for huge June 1st show in Saudi Arabia
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh (pictured), Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), today announced the boxers selected to compete on behalf of long-standing promotional rivals Queensberry and Matchroom in the history-making 5 vs 5 collision set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1st. The "5 vs. 5" between the rival British promoters (Queensberry and Matchroom) has created speculation and interest across the boxing world, featured as part of a blockbuster card headlined by one of the finest fights that can be made in the sport, the undisputed world light heavyweight championship bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol that will take place at the Kingdom Arena. The current WBA light heavyweight champion, the slick and stylish Bivol, 33, holds a record of 22-0 (11 KOs) and has successfully defended his title on 10 occasions over the last six years. Wrecking machine Beterbiev, 39, is the WBC, IBF and WBO champion and has secured all of his 20 professional victories via knockout.
In anticipation of the shootout between the two promotional giants, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh stated: “The Five vs. Five match is one of the standout events on Riyadh’s calendar this year. It will feature ten exciting fighters from Queensberry and Matchroom. The Riyadh calendar looks forward to hosting more major events and establishing partnerships that promise unprecedented entertainment for the audience.”
The nominated fighters for the groundbreaking 5 vs. 5, revealed on Monday at a pre-event media conference at London’s Outernet, are headlined by the heavyweights.
Frank Warren and Queensberry have selected Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs), the young UK powerhouse who was a recent challenger to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, to go up against IBF #1 contender Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) on behalf on Matchroom in a battle [expected to determine the soon-to-be-vacated IBF heavyweight title later this year. These Next Generation heavyweights will also be battling to determine just who will represent the future of the sports marquee division.
Chinese giant “Big Bang” Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) has been chosen to represent Queensberry in the second heavyweight encounter. The 40 year-old southpaw takes on Matchroom pick and former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs), the Bronze Bomber who made ten successful defenses of the title he won by defeating Bermane Stiverne in 2015. The man from Alabama, with the trademark ‘Bomb Squad’ chant, has executed a chilling 42 KOs from his 43 wins.
At featherweight, in what many predict will be a ‘fight of the year’ contender, and arguably should have been a world title unification, Queensberry’s Nick Ball, (19-0-1, 11 KOs), and Matchroom’s American world champion Ray Ford, (15-0-1, 8 KOs), compete for the WBA featherweight championship recently won by Ford in spectacular fashion against Otabek Kholmatov via a stoppage with just seven seconds of the 12 rounds remaining.
In March in Riyadh, ferocious Liverpool firebrand Ball, was unfortunate not to have won the WBC world title following his fight against two-weight world champion Rey Vargas from Mexico. Ball dominated much of the fight and knocked the Mexican down twice, but the judges returned cards declaring a split draw.
A classic middleweight encounter will be guaranteed when Queensberry’s undefeated Hamzah Sheeraz, the WBC Silver and Commonwealth champion with a record of 19-0 (15 KOs), trades blows with Matchroom’s USA product Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, who has impressively assembled a record of 16-0 (11 KOs). This fight will be recognized as a WBC final eliminator. Sheeraz is also rated as the #1 contender with the WBO so a world title opportunity beckons for the winner. Sheeraz, at just 24, is on a run of 13 straight stoppages, the longest consecutive KO streak currently in British boxing.
In the final fight, Queensberry light heavyweight and former World Amateur champion Willy Hutchinson (17-1, 13 KOs),will face Matchroom’s former British champion Craig ‘Spider’ Richards (18-3-1, 11 KOs).
Frank Warren, the Hall of Fame promoter and chairman of Queensberry, added: “The night of June 1st will mark a thrilling and spectacular return to Riyadh, where the pride and reputation of two companies will be at stake in the 5 vs. 5 concept that neither promoter dares to contemplate losing! Thanks to the vision of H.E. Turki Alalshikh we can now look forward to unprecedented events such as this on a regular basis and nights at the Kingdom Arena are now an established and welcome fixture in the world boxing diary. Our five selected champions are ready to rule in Riyadh.”
Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “The best Sport stems from the greatest rivalries. And on June 1, I am confident Matchroom will reign supreme over Queensberry. I have assembled a team of elite world beaters who are ready to do the business. Losing isn’t an option. With the brilliant Dmitry Bivol challenging for the undisputed light-heavyweight championship, this is without doubt one of the best boxing cards of all-time – and we’ve already seen a few contenders in Riyadh, all thanks to the outstanding vision of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I’m sure this unprecedented five-versus-five will be the first of many duels with Frank Warren and his team – and may the best man win!”
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Inoue vs. Nery lands at the Tokyo Dome |
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Undisputed world 122-pound champion and future Hall of Famer Naoya Inoue will headline the biggest boxing event Japan has witnessed. “The Monster” will defend all the belts against Mexico's Luis “Pantera” Nery on Monday, May 6th at the iconic Tokyo Dome. Inoue, a four-weight champion and undisputed two-weight king, will headline this titanic event at this historic venue. Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two-weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and super bantamweight.
The Tokyo Dome was inaugurated in March 1988. Teiken Promotions, under the direction of Akihiko, presented Mike Tyson vs. Tony Tubbs celebrated on March 21, 1988 which was the boxing inauguration of the Tokyo Dome. The other monumental boxing event at “The Big Egg” took place in February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Tyson in the tenth round to capture the world heavyweight championship.
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Inoue vs. Nery lands at the Tokyo Dome
Undisputed world 122-pound champion and future Hall of Famer Naoya Inoue will headline the biggest boxing event Japan has witnessed. “The Monster” will defend all the belts against Mexico's Luis “Pantera” Nery on Monday, May 6th at the iconic Tokyo Dome. Inoue, a four-weight champion and undisputed two-weight king, will headline this titanic event at this historic venue. Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two-weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and super bantamweight.
The Tokyo Dome was inaugurated in March 1988. Teiken Promotions, under the direction of Akihiko, presented Mike Tyson vs. Tony Tubbs celebrated on March 21, 1988 which was the boxing inauguration of the Tokyo Dome. The other monumental boxing event at “The Big Egg” took place in February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Tyson in the tenth round to capture the world heavyweight championship.
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Boxingtalk salutes the late Willie Limond |
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Former British champion Willie Limond, who fought just last year, passed away at the young age of 45. The Daily Mail reported he suffered a fatal seizure. From Scotland, Limond had a fight scheduled for next month. His final record is 42-6 and he shared the ring with champions Erik Morales, Amir Khan, Ricky Burns and Anrthony Crolla. Promoter Frank Warren wrote: "We were taken aback last week to learn the news about Willie Limond fighting for his life in intensive care. Being the true fighter he is, Willie fought on before ultimately losing his life in the early hours of Monday morning at the age of just 45. We were all shocked and deeply saddened to receive this devastating bulletin. Scottish hero Willie featured on our shows across much of his decorated career and I always found him to be a lovely fella who gave everything in the ring. I now find myself grateful to have had the pleasure of Willie’s company just a matter of weeks ago at my office."
Warren continued, "It was a happy occasion because we discussed signing his young son Drew, who is a young fighter of huge promise and potential. It was lovely to see Willie again and plot out a bright future for a talented boy following in his father’s footsteps. Days later I received a text from Willie saying how happy he is that Drew was likely to team up with Queensberry and how much he was looking forward to the start of his journey as a professional. Having seen Willie in such happy circumstances only increases my shock and sadness over the untimely passing of such a great man. My thoughts are with Willie’s children, Jake, Drew and Macy and my condolences go to them, along with the rest of his family and friends. God bless Willie and rest in peace, my friend."
Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Willie Limond.
The IBA published the following tribute to Limond:
Willie Limond’s legacy in Scottish boxing is indelible. His journey began with notable achievements as an amateur, securing a bronze medal for Team Scotland at the European Cadet Championships in Elazig, Turkey, in 1995. This early success laid the foundation for a distinguished professional career, during which Willie faced off against formidable opponents including future or former World champions like Amir Khan and Erik Morales. His tenacity and skill earned him titles such as the British Light-Welterweight champion and a two-time Commonwealth champion.
However, Willie’s contributions extended far beyond the ring. At Boxing Scotland’s High Performance Centre, he dedicated himself to nurturing the Elite Boxing Group, serving as both a coach and a mentor. His commitment to developing the next generation of Scottish boxers was a testament to his passion for the sport and his desire to give back to the community that supported his career. Amid the tributes, Chris Roberts OBE, Secretary General and CEO of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and former CEO of Boxing Scotland, shared his thoughts: ‘Willie Limond represented the true spirit of Scottish boxing. His dedication to the sport and his unwavering support for young athletes exemplified his character and his commitment to boxing. His passing is a tremendous loss to the sport, but his influence will continue to inspire future generations.’ The legacy of Willie Limond will undoubtedly live on through the many lives he touched, both in and out of the ring. His family along with the broader boxing community, will remember him not just for his accomplishments, but for his enduring spirit and his profound influence on the sport of boxing in Scotland.
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Boxingtalk salutes the late Willie Limond
Former British champion Willie Limond, who fought just last year, passed away at the young age of 45. The Daily Mail reported he suffered a fatal seizure. From Scotland, Limond had a fight scheduled for next month. His final record is 42-6 and he shared the ring with champions Erik Morales, Amir Khan, Ricky Burns and Anrthony Crolla. Promoter Frank Warren wrote: "We were taken aback last week to learn the news about Willie Limond fighting for his life in intensive care. Being the true fighter he is, Willie fought on before ultimately losing his life in the early hours of Monday morning at the age of just 45. We were all shocked and deeply saddened to receive this devastating bulletin. Scottish hero Willie featured on our shows across much of his decorated career and I always found him to be a lovely fella who gave everything in the ring. I now find myself grateful to have had the pleasure of Willie’s company just a matter of weeks ago at my office."
Warren continued, "It was a happy occasion because we discussed signing his young son Drew, who is a young fighter of huge promise and potential. It was lovely to see Willie again and plot out a bright future for a talented boy following in his father’s footsteps. Days later I received a text from Willie saying how happy he is that Drew was likely to team up with Queensberry and how much he was looking forward to the start of his journey as a professional. Having seen Willie in such happy circumstances only increases my shock and sadness over the untimely passing of such a great man. My thoughts are with Willie’s children, Jake, Drew and Macy and my condolences go to them, along with the rest of his family and friends. God bless Willie and rest in peace, my friend."
Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Willie Limond.
The IBA published the following tribute to Limond:
Willie Limond’s legacy in Scottish boxing is indelible. His journey began with notable achievements as an amateur, securing a bronze medal for Team Scotland at the European Cadet Championships in Elazig, Turkey, in 1995. This early success laid the foundation for a distinguished professional career, during which Willie faced off against formidable opponents including future or former World champions like Amir Khan and Erik Morales. His tenacity and skill earned him titles such as the British Light-Welterweight champion and a two-time Commonwealth champion.
However, Willie’s contributions extended far beyond the ring. At Boxing Scotland’s High Performance Centre, he dedicated himself to nurturing the Elite Boxing Group, serving as both a coach and a mentor. His commitment to developing the next generation of Scottish boxers was a testament to his passion for the sport and his desire to give back to the community that supported his career. Amid the tributes, Chris Roberts OBE, Secretary General and CEO of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and former CEO of Boxing Scotland, shared his thoughts: ‘Willie Limond represented the true spirit of Scottish boxing. His dedication to the sport and his unwavering support for young athletes exemplified his character and his commitment to boxing. His passing is a tremendous loss to the sport, but his influence will continue to inspire future generations.’ The legacy of Willie Limond will undoubtedly live on through the many lives he touched, both in and out of the ring. His family along with the broader boxing community, will remember him not just for his accomplishments, but for his enduring spirit and his profound influence on the sport of boxing in Scotland.
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Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5 vs. 5 fights revealed |
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At a press conference in London on Monday, the announcement for the underard upstaged the spectacular main event. Although the top of the bill is a four-belt, world light heavyweight championship unification bout between Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, the big revela was the Queensberry vs. Matchroom five-on-five competition that will precede Beterbiev-Bivol. Those fiive fights, with the Queensberry boxer listed first are:
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Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5 vs. 5 fights revealed
At a press conference in London on Monday, the announcement for the underard upstaged the spectacular main event. Although the top of the bill is a four-belt, world light heavyweight championship unification bout between Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, the big revela was the Queensberry vs. Matchroom five-on-five competition that will precede Beterbiev-Bivol. Those fiive fights, with the Queensberry boxer listed first are:
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Teofimo returns to Box Fan Expo |
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World 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4th at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, scheduled to take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena. Lopez will hold a meet and greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event. The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports' legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite -https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024 Lopez will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will sign gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. He will also have merchandise to sell at his TakeOver Promotions booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as the “The TakeOver”. Lopez joins, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced. About Teofimo Lopez Lopez is an American professional boxer and a two-division world champion. He represented as an amateur, his parent’s native country of Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lopez is the former undisputed world lightweight champion. He held the IBF title from December 2019 to November 2021. Lopez defeated pound for pound great Vasyl Lomachenko on October 17, 2020 to become the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC champion. This monumental victory over Lomachenko, alongside winning two lineal titles by the age of 25, propelled Lopez into a true boxing star, as well as being the youngest four-belt champion in boxing history. Lopez recently moved up five pounds to the junior welterweight division and defeated Pedro Campa on August 13th, 2022 in Las Vergas. On April 8, 2023, it was officially announced that Lopez would attempt to become a two-division world champion by challenging world champion Josh Taylor. The anticipated showdown took place on June 10th at the Hulu Theater in New York City. Lopez won by decision to become a two-division world champion. This achievement, was followed by Lopez retaining his world championship title, versus top contender Jamaine Ortis on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas
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Teofimo returns to Box Fan Expo
World 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 4th at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia, scheduled to take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena. Lopez will hold a meet and greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event. The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports' legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III. Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite -https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024 Lopez will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will sign gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. He will also have merchandise to sell at his TakeOver Promotions booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as the “The TakeOver”. Lopez joins, Lennox Lewis, Devin Haney Mia St. John, Edgar Berlanga, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Roy Jones Jr., Erik Morales, Shawn Porter, Fernando Vargas, Juan Manuel Marquez, Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced. About Teofimo Lopez Lopez is an American professional boxer and a two-division world champion. He represented as an amateur, his parent’s native country of Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Lopez is the former undisputed world lightweight champion. He held the IBF title from December 2019 to November 2021. Lopez defeated pound for pound great Vasyl Lomachenko on October 17, 2020 to become the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC champion. This monumental victory over Lomachenko, alongside winning two lineal titles by the age of 25, propelled Lopez into a true boxing star, as well as being the youngest four-belt champion in boxing history. Lopez recently moved up five pounds to the junior welterweight division and defeated Pedro Campa on August 13th, 2022 in Las Vergas. On April 8, 2023, it was officially announced that Lopez would attempt to become a two-division world champion by challenging world champion Josh Taylor. The anticipated showdown took place on June 10th at the Hulu Theater in New York City. Lopez won by decision to become a two-division world champion. This achievement, was followed by Lopez retaining his world championship title, versus top contender Jamaine Ortis on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas
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Sunny Edwards to face Adrian Curiel in battle of ex-champs |
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Sunny Edwards (pictured) and Adrian Curiel will clash in a twelve-round flyweight battle as the chief support bout for the blockbuster world title clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 29th, live worldwide on DAZN. Both men will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and for Edwards (20-1 4 KOs), it’s an immediate return to the state where he lost to headline star Rodriguez in a unification clash in December. The Briton faced ‘Bam’ in Glendale with his IBF title on the line against the WBO king, but was stopped in the ninth round of the unification battle, leaving the states with a first career defeat. The 28-year old, who also penned a new deal with Matchroom today, will be looking to regain the IBF belt now that Rodriguez has moved up in weigh to challenge Estrada. Edwards originally won the IBF title from Moruti Mthalane in London in April 2021 and successfully defended four times before facing Rodriguez.
Curiel (24-5-1 5 KOs) moves up in weight after two dramatic title clashes with Sivenathi Nontshinga. The Mexican challenged the South African in Monte Carlo for the IBF light flyweight title in November and stunned the champion with a KO of the year contender, a right hand that landed in the second round to rip Nonthshinga's crown away. The pair met again in a rematch in February in Oaxaca, Mexico, but this time it was Nonthshinga that exacted revenge in a thrilling battle with a tenth-round stoppage.
“I’m really excited to get the next chapter of my career underway,” said Edwards. “Agreeing another deal with Matchroom which confirms my future here for the foreseeable future. With the belief I’ve got in me from the promotional team and the events I’ve been involved in, I know I’m in the right place. Me vs Curiel is a hell of a fight. He is a former champion, like myself, and we’re both fighting to get back into world title contention. I’m going to Arizona again and fighting in front of an even bigger crowd this time, filled with passionate Mexican and American boxing fans. 29 June, I’m looking forward to being back.”
“I have a brand-new opportunity for my career,” said Curiel. “When you lose, you learn, and I will prove it against Edwards on June 29th. “If they want to make it 112 pounds, we will take it even though this is not my weight, all because I am thirsty for revenge. Viva Mexico!!”
“This is a great fight between two men desperate to get back to the top,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Sunny was a World champion for a long time and when that feeling goes, you want to get it back as soon as possible, while Adrian only just tasted that for himself for a short time, so both men know that this is a must-win fight to get back into the mix, and comes as the chief support to one of the biggest fights of the year.”
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Sunny Edwards to face Adrian Curiel in battle of ex-champs
Sunny Edwards (pictured) and Adrian Curiel will clash in a twelve-round flyweight battle as the chief support bout for the blockbuster world title clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 29th, live worldwide on DAZN. Both men will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and for Edwards (20-1 4 KOs), it’s an immediate return to the state where he lost to headline star Rodriguez in a unification clash in December. The Briton faced ‘Bam’ in Glendale with his IBF title on the line against the WBO king, but was stopped in the ninth round of the unification battle, leaving the states with a first career defeat. The 28-year old, who also penned a new deal with Matchroom today, will be looking to regain the IBF belt now that Rodriguez has moved up in weigh to challenge Estrada. Edwards originally won the IBF title from Moruti Mthalane in London in April 2021 and successfully defended four times before facing Rodriguez.
Curiel (24-5-1 5 KOs) moves up in weight after two dramatic title clashes with Sivenathi Nontshinga. The Mexican challenged the South African in Monte Carlo for the IBF light flyweight title in November and stunned the champion with a KO of the year contender, a right hand that landed in the second round to rip Nonthshinga's crown away. The pair met again in a rematch in February in Oaxaca, Mexico, but this time it was Nonthshinga that exacted revenge in a thrilling battle with a tenth-round stoppage.
“I’m really excited to get the next chapter of my career underway,” said Edwards. “Agreeing another deal with Matchroom which confirms my future here for the foreseeable future. With the belief I’ve got in me from the promotional team and the events I’ve been involved in, I know I’m in the right place. Me vs Curiel is a hell of a fight. He is a former champion, like myself, and we’re both fighting to get back into world title contention. I’m going to Arizona again and fighting in front of an even bigger crowd this time, filled with passionate Mexican and American boxing fans. 29 June, I’m looking forward to being back.”
“I have a brand-new opportunity for my career,” said Curiel. “When you lose, you learn, and I will prove it against Edwards on June 29th. “If they want to make it 112 pounds, we will take it even though this is not my weight, all because I am thirsty for revenge. Viva Mexico!!”
“This is a great fight between two men desperate to get back to the top,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Sunny was a World champion for a long time and when that feeling goes, you want to get it back as soon as possible, while Adrian only just tasted that for himself for a short time, so both men know that this is a must-win fight to get back into the mix, and comes as the chief support to one of the biggest fights of the year.”
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Beterbiev: "I’m collecting belts and I need one more" |
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WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev (pictured) and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol met face-to-face at today's kickoff presser in London ahead of their undisputed light heavyweight showdown on Saturday, June 1st at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [Although the rest of the show will be a pay-per-view broadcast], this battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast. Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), boxing's only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, stopped Enrico Koelling in his 12th pro fight to win the IBF world title. He added the WBC championship to his collection in 2019 with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and captured the WBO strap in 2022 by stopping Joe Smith Jr. in two rounds. He returns after vanquishing former world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds in January.
Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro who captured the WBA interim title with a decision victory over Felix Valera in 2016. The following year, he was elevated to full champion and has since made 11 defenses with victories over the likes of Jean Pascal, Smith Jr., Sullivan Barrera and Canelo Alvarez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.
At Monday's press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
Artur Beterbiev
“I just see another belt. I’m collecting belts, and I need one more.”
“I don’t know why {it’s taken so long to make this fight}. He knows better. Ask him."
“We’ll see {if this is the biggest challenge}. I’m not thinking about it. I’m preparing for it. I will prepare and try to be at 100 percent.”
Dmitry Bivol
“When I signed a contract to be a pro boxer, I had a goal to become undisputed. Everything that I have gone through has been for that. I did it to achieve my goal. Even the fight against Canelo. It was my ticket for big fights. And now I’m happy that I will have this fight on June 1st for all the belts."
“For every training camp, I think my opponent is the most dangerous opponent in the world. This helps me to be focused and serious in my training. Of course, he’s one of my most dangerous opponents. You see his record and his fights. He is powerful. It makes me more excited to fight against him because I love challenges. I love to be tested. This fight is a huge test for me."
“Every person is different. Not only me. I have good skills. I just believe in my skills. I have been in boxing for 28 years. I’ve been in boxing ever since I can remember. I love this sport, and I think my experience will help me. And my mentality, skills, and camp. I believe I can be undisputed.”
Todd duBoef (Top Rank President, Beterbiev's promoter)
"I’ve always been a fan of destruction. And this guy is destruction. Every time you turn on the television, my phone would ring and friends from all over the world would call me and say, ‘Who is this monster?’ And, I think he gets better with each fight."
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Beterbiev: "I’m collecting belts and I need one more"
WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev (pictured) and WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol met face-to-face at today's kickoff presser in London ahead of their undisputed light heavyweight showdown on Saturday, June 1st at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [Although the rest of the show will be a pay-per-view broadcast], this battle of 175-pound titans will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. as a special one-fight broadcast. Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), boxing's only current world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, stopped Enrico Koelling in his 12th pro fight to win the IBF world title. He added the WBC championship to his collection in 2019 with a 10th-round TKO over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and captured the WBO strap in 2022 by stopping Joe Smith Jr. in two rounds. He returns after vanquishing former world champion Callum Smith in seven rounds in January.
Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is a 10-year pro who captured the WBA interim title with a decision victory over Felix Valera in 2016. The following year, he was elevated to full champion and has since made 11 defenses with victories over the likes of Jean Pascal, Smith Jr., Sullivan Barrera and Canelo Alvarez. Last December, Bivol fought on the historic “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, shutting out British challenger Lyndon Arthur.
At Monday's press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
Artur Beterbiev
“I just see another belt. I’m collecting belts, and I need one more.”
“I don’t know why {it’s taken so long to make this fight}. He knows better. Ask him."
“We’ll see {if this is the biggest challenge}. I’m not thinking about it. I’m preparing for it. I will prepare and try to be at 100 percent.”
Dmitry Bivol
“When I signed a contract to be a pro boxer, I had a goal to become undisputed. Everything that I have gone through has been for that. I did it to achieve my goal. Even the fight against Canelo. It was my ticket for big fights. And now I’m happy that I will have this fight on June 1st for all the belts."
“For every training camp, I think my opponent is the most dangerous opponent in the world. This helps me to be focused and serious in my training. Of course, he’s one of my most dangerous opponents. You see his record and his fights. He is powerful. It makes me more excited to fight against him because I love challenges. I love to be tested. This fight is a huge test for me."
“Every person is different. Not only me. I have good skills. I just believe in my skills. I have been in boxing for 28 years. I’ve been in boxing ever since I can remember. I love this sport, and I think my experience will help me. And my mentality, skills, and camp. I believe I can be undisputed.”
Todd duBoef (Top Rank President, Beterbiev's promoter)
"I’ve always been a fan of destruction. And this guy is destruction. Every time you turn on the television, my phone would ring and friends from all over the world would call me and say, ‘Who is this monster?’ And, I think he gets better with each fight."
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Olympic champ Hasanboy Dusmatov continues to win in the pros |
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Hasanboy Dusmatov W10 Samuel Carmona... The Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan saw the first-ever IBA pro flyweight champion crowned as local favorite Hasanboy Dusmatov secured a victory against Samuel Carmona of Spain by a unanimous decision. DusmatoDusmatov and Carmona delivered an exciting ten-round bout filled with solid exchanges. By the end of the bout, all three judges had scored it in Dusmatov’s favor: 99-91, 100-90, and 97-93. IBA President Umar Kremlev presented Dusmatov affectionately known as “Professor,” with the championship belt.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, defending IBA world champion from Uzbekistan, participated in his first-ever eight-round contest against Fatih Keles of Türkiye. The welterweight outboxed his opponent using speed and movement. Keles relied on closing the distance in a closed stance and launching hooks during the Uzbek’s attacks. However, Muydinkhujaev quickly adapted to this tactic, acting preemptively, skilfully breaking the distance after his own attacks, and frequently delivering strikes that penetrated his opponent’s block. Muydinkhujaev’s performance left no room for Keles to challenge, resulting in a confident unanimous victory.
In an explosive six-round middleweight bout, Uzbekistan's Alokhon Abdullaev consistently landed powerful punches against Mongolia's Otgonjargal Jargal. Abdullaev’s superior footwork allowed him to dodge attacks and counter effectively, culminating in a one-two combination that floored Jargal in the fifth round, leading to a knockout victory.
World amateur championships 2017 silver medalist Ikboljon Kholdorov of Uzbekistan faced Sagadat Rakhmankul from Kazakhstan at middleweight. Despite being pushed to the corners of the ring, Kholdorov’s agility and pressure in the fifth round and further earned him a unanimous decision. Although Boxrec makes it difficult to ascertain certain boxers' records, Kholdorov appears to be 7-1 including the World Series of Boxing.
In the junior welterweight category, Uzbek Mujibullo Tursunov competed against Tanzania's Juma Chocki Ramadhani. Tursunov controlled the fight, managing to unsettle Chocki by the end of the first round. His relentless pressure and mastery of distance culminated in a victory celebrated enthusiastically by the audience.
Lastly, Elnur Abduraimov of Uzbekistan faced Carlos Ornelas from Mexico in the lightweight division. Despite taking a heavy cross from Ornelas, Abduraimov persevered, delivering precise punches that led to a unanimous decision in his favor, much to the delight of the crowd. Abduraimov appears to have a record of 16-3 including the World Series of Boxing.
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Olympic champ Hasanboy Dusmatov continues to win in the pros
Hasanboy Dusmatov W10 Samuel Carmona... The Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan saw the first-ever IBA pro flyweight champion crowned as local favorite Hasanboy Dusmatov secured a victory against Samuel Carmona of Spain by a unanimous decision. DusmatoDusmatov and Carmona delivered an exciting ten-round bout filled with solid exchanges. By the end of the bout, all three judges had scored it in Dusmatov’s favor: 99-91, 100-90, and 97-93. IBA President Umar Kremlev presented Dusmatov affectionately known as “Professor,” with the championship belt.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev, defending IBA world champion from Uzbekistan, participated in his first-ever eight-round contest against Fatih Keles of Türkiye. The welterweight outboxed his opponent using speed and movement. Keles relied on closing the distance in a closed stance and launching hooks during the Uzbek’s attacks. However, Muydinkhujaev quickly adapted to this tactic, acting preemptively, skilfully breaking the distance after his own attacks, and frequently delivering strikes that penetrated his opponent’s block. Muydinkhujaev’s performance left no room for Keles to challenge, resulting in a confident unanimous victory.
In an explosive six-round middleweight bout, Uzbekistan's Alokhon Abdullaev consistently landed powerful punches against Mongolia's Otgonjargal Jargal. Abdullaev’s superior footwork allowed him to dodge attacks and counter effectively, culminating in a one-two combination that floored Jargal in the fifth round, leading to a knockout victory.
World amateur championships 2017 silver medalist Ikboljon Kholdorov of Uzbekistan faced Sagadat Rakhmankul from Kazakhstan at middleweight. Despite being pushed to the corners of the ring, Kholdorov’s agility and pressure in the fifth round and further earned him a unanimous decision. Although Boxrec makes it difficult to ascertain certain boxers' records, Kholdorov appears to be 7-1 including the World Series of Boxing.
In the junior welterweight category, Uzbek Mujibullo Tursunov competed against Tanzania's Juma Chocki Ramadhani. Tursunov controlled the fight, managing to unsettle Chocki by the end of the first round. His relentless pressure and mastery of distance culminated in a victory celebrated enthusiastically by the audience.
Lastly, Elnur Abduraimov of Uzbekistan faced Carlos Ornelas from Mexico in the lightweight division. Despite taking a heavy cross from Ornelas, Abduraimov persevered, delivering precise punches that led to a unanimous decision in his favor, much to the delight of the crowd. Abduraimov appears to have a record of 16-3 including the World Series of Boxing.
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WBA creates yet another interim title: Ramirez vs. Jimenez |
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John "Scrappy" Ramirez and David Jimenez will clash this Saturday, April 20th for the WBA interim super flyweight title at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The WBA Championships Committee granted special permission to champion Kazuto Ioka to hold a unification fight against IBF champion Fernando Martinez. Ramirez, is the WBA mandatory challenger of the category and has the right to fight for the title, so he will fight for the interim title against Jimenez, a #5 ranked opponent approved by the committee. The boxers rated #2 through #4 have apparently been skipped over. The WBA also ordered that winner of the Ioka-Martinez unification bout "must face Ramirez in a period not to exceed 120 days after the unification bout takes place." Ramirez is undefeated in 13 fights, with 9 knockouts, while Jimenez has 15 wins, 1 loss and 11 knockouts.
From Los Angeles, Ramirez is an undefeated fighter who has shown quality in each of his fights and knocked out Ronal Batista in his most recent bout on October 21st.
Jimenez is a strong and experienced fighter who comes in with three wins in a row after his loss to Artem Dalakian for a flyweight title in January 2023. The Costa Rican has adapted well to the new division and returns to the United States where he left a positive impression in 2022 when he defeated Ricardo Sandoval in a great fight.
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WBA creates yet another interim title: Ramirez vs. Jimenez
John "Scrappy" Ramirez and David Jimenez will clash this Saturday, April 20th for the WBA interim super flyweight title at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The WBA Championships Committee granted special permission to champion Kazuto Ioka to hold a unification fight against IBF champion Fernando Martinez. Ramirez, is the WBA mandatory challenger of the category and has the right to fight for the title, so he will fight for the interim title against Jimenez, a #5 ranked opponent approved by the committee. The boxers rated #2 through #4 have apparently been skipped over. The WBA also ordered that winner of the Ioka-Martinez unification bout "must face Ramirez in a period not to exceed 120 days after the unification bout takes place." Ramirez is undefeated in 13 fights, with 9 knockouts, while Jimenez has 15 wins, 1 loss and 11 knockouts.
From Los Angeles, Ramirez is an undefeated fighter who has shown quality in each of his fights and knocked out Ronal Batista in his most recent bout on October 21st.
Jimenez is a strong and experienced fighter who comes in with three wins in a row after his loss to Artem Dalakian for a flyweight title in January 2023. The Costa Rican has adapted well to the new division and returns to the United States where he left a positive impression in 2022 when he defeated Ricardo Sandoval in a great fight.
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Takuma Inoue prepares to defend vs. Sho Ishida |
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WBA bantamweight champion, Takuma Inoue of Japan, held a public workout on Thursday and talked about his next title defense, which will be on May 6th against countryman Sho Ishida (34-3 with 17 KOs) at the Tokyo Dome. Inoue has a record of 19 wins with 1 loss and 5 knockouts in his professional career and will fight in the same evening as his brother, the legendary Naoya Inoue, who will defend his undisputed world super bantamweight championship against Luis Nery in the main event. Takuma's workout took place in Yokohama, where the 118-pound champion has his training camp, and there he had the opportunity to show his physical condition with less than a month left for the fight, in addition to talking to the journalists present.
Without showing too much, Inoue did some warm-up exercises before stepping into the ring. He also worked on the bag in front of the photographers present. Inoue will be making the second defense of his belt, which he won in April 2023 against Venezuelan Liborio Solis and first defended against Filipino Jerwin Ancajas in February of this year. Now he will face veteran Ishida and wants to continue his streak and make another successful defense.
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Takuma Inoue prepares to defend vs. Sho Ishida
WBA bantamweight champion, Takuma Inoue of Japan, held a public workout on Thursday and talked about his next title defense, which will be on May 6th against countryman Sho Ishida (34-3 with 17 KOs) at the Tokyo Dome. Inoue has a record of 19 wins with 1 loss and 5 knockouts in his professional career and will fight in the same evening as his brother, the legendary Naoya Inoue, who will defend his undisputed world super bantamweight championship against Luis Nery in the main event. Takuma's workout took place in Yokohama, where the 118-pound champion has his training camp, and there he had the opportunity to show his physical condition with less than a month left for the fight, in addition to talking to the journalists present.
Without showing too much, Inoue did some warm-up exercises before stepping into the ring. He also worked on the bag in front of the photographers present. Inoue will be making the second defense of his belt, which he won in April 2023 against Venezuelan Liborio Solis and first defended against Filipino Jerwin Ancajas in February of this year. Now he will face veteran Ishida and wants to continue his streak and make another successful defense.
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Helmand Alekozai books fight in Dubai |
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Helmand Alekozai will face India's Digari Mahesh (9-3-1) in an eight-round junior welterweight bout on April 19th. The bout take place in La Perle, Dubai, United Arab Emirates as part of a big event promoted by Rahul Suri. The news was confirmed today by Alekozai's manager Trifon Petrov this morning. Alekozai (12-0, 5 KOs) resides in Toronto. He last fought on January 27th in Dubai, defeating Ibrahim Makubi (10-1-2, 6 KOs) via fifth-round stoppage. In December 2023, Alekozai knocked out previously unbeaten Alonso Ceja in the third round. Alekozai is building momentum after a very serious car accident suffered in November of 2021. He has won five fights over the last twelve months since his comeback to boxing.
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Helmand Alekozai books fight in Dubai
Helmand Alekozai will face India's Digari Mahesh (9-3-1) in an eight-round junior welterweight bout on April 19th. The bout take place in La Perle, Dubai, United Arab Emirates as part of a big event promoted by Rahul Suri. The news was confirmed today by Alekozai's manager Trifon Petrov this morning. Alekozai (12-0, 5 KOs) resides in Toronto. He last fought on January 27th in Dubai, defeating Ibrahim Makubi (10-1-2, 6 KOs) via fifth-round stoppage. In December 2023, Alekozai knocked out previously unbeaten Alonso Ceja in the third round. Alekozai is building momentum after a very serious car accident suffered in November of 2021. He has won five fights over the last twelve months since his comeback to boxing.
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Formal announcement of Beterbiev vs. Bivol: June 1st in Saudi Arabia |
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An undisputed light heavyweight king will soon be crowned in The Kingdom. WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev will battle WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol on Saturday, June 1st at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victor will become the division’s first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999.
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Formal announcement of Beterbiev vs. Bivol: June 1st in Saudi Arabia
An undisputed light heavyweight king will soon be crowned in The Kingdom. WBO/WBC/IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev will battle WBA ruler Dmitry Bivol on Saturday, June 1st at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victor will become the division’s first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999.
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Russia's Artem Suslenkov defeats Michael Hunter |
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Artem Suslenkov W8 Michael Hunter... There were two significant heavyweight bouts on an IBA card that took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday. For reasons unknown to Boxingtalk, Boxrec does not recognize these fights on the boxers' records. In a result that will interest many Amercian fans, Russia's Artem Suslenkov dominated every round against well-known Michael Hunter of the United States and earned an eight-round decision win. Suslenkov pressed forward aggressively, while Hunter attempted counterattacks. However, Suslenkov successfully anticipated and countered Hunter’s strategies and effectively used a body-punch attack. With Boxrec not counting this fight, it appears that the most accurate record for Suslenkov is 12-1. Hunter's only previous pro loss was a cruiserweight title shot to current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, is now 22-2-2.
Jakhongir Zokirov W8 Agron Smakici... The other big heavyweight bout on the show saw Jakhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan, an amateur youth world champion, faced Croatia's Agron Smakici, the man who boasts 20-2 professional record but is beast known for landing a punch that cut Tyson Fury in sparring and caused a delay in Fury's heavyweight unification bout vs. Oleksandr Usyk. Zokirov is only twent years old and is a 6'7" southpaw, similar to countryman Bakhodir Jalolov. Both Zokirov and Smakici began the fight cautiously, and it was evident that the young Uzbek did not want to rush things and was studying his opponent. Both fighters tested each other’s chins with solid strikes, but Zokirov was often more precise. He set the pace of the fight, using his size advantage and preferred fighting from a longer distance. Despite the disparity in age and experience, Zokirov led confidently throughout the bout, securing a unanimous victory by a wide margin. Zokirov is now 2-0 with a noteworth win over Smakici, who is 20-3.
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Russia's Artem Suslenkov defeats Michael Hunter
Artem Suslenkov W8 Michael Hunter... There were two significant heavyweight bouts on an IBA card that took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday. For reasons unknown to Boxingtalk, Boxrec does not recognize these fights on the boxers' records. In a result that will interest many Amercian fans, Russia's Artem Suslenkov dominated every round against well-known Michael Hunter of the United States and earned an eight-round decision win. Suslenkov pressed forward aggressively, while Hunter attempted counterattacks. However, Suslenkov successfully anticipated and countered Hunter’s strategies and effectively used a body-punch attack. With Boxrec not counting this fight, it appears that the most accurate record for Suslenkov is 12-1. Hunter's only previous pro loss was a cruiserweight title shot to current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, is now 22-2-2.
Jakhongir Zokirov W8 Agron Smakici... The other big heavyweight bout on the show saw Jakhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan, an amateur youth world champion, faced Croatia's Agron Smakici, the man who boasts 20-2 professional record but is beast known for landing a punch that cut Tyson Fury in sparring and caused a delay in Fury's heavyweight unification bout vs. Oleksandr Usyk. Zokirov is only twent years old and is a 6'7" southpaw, similar to countryman Bakhodir Jalolov. Both Zokirov and Smakici began the fight cautiously, and it was evident that the young Uzbek did not want to rush things and was studying his opponent. Both fighters tested each other’s chins with solid strikes, but Zokirov was often more precise. He set the pace of the fight, using his size advantage and preferred fighting from a longer distance. Despite the disparity in age and experience, Zokirov led confidently throughout the bout, securing a unanimous victory by a wide margin. Zokirov is now 2-0 with a noteworth win over Smakici, who is 20-3.
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Jakhongir Zokirov is now a name to watch in the heavyweight division |
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Jakhongir Zokirov W8 Agron Smakici... In Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday Jakhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan faced Croatia's Agron Smakici, the man who boasts 20-2 professional record but is beast known for landing a punch that cut Tyson Fury in sparring and caused a delay in Fury's heavyweight unification bout vs. Oleksandr Usyk. Zokirov is only twent years old and is a 6'7" southpaw, similar to countryman Bakhodir Jalolov. Zokirov is also an amateur youth world champion. Both Zokirov and Smakici began the fight cautiously, and it was evident that the young Uzbek did not want to rush things and was studying his opponent. Both fighters tested each other’s chins with solid strikes, but Zokirov was often more precise. He set the pace of the fight, using his size advantage and preferred fighting from a longer distance. Despite the disparity in age and experience, Zokirov led confidently throughout the bout, securing a unanimous victory by a wide margin. Zokirov is now 2-0 with a noteworth win over Smakici, who is 20-3.
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Jakhongir Zokirov is now a name to watch in the heavyweight division
Jakhongir Zokirov W8 Agron Smakici... In Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday Jakhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan faced Croatia's Agron Smakici, the man who boasts 20-2 professional record but is beast known for landing a punch that cut Tyson Fury in sparring and caused a delay in Fury's heavyweight unification bout vs. Oleksandr Usyk. Zokirov is only twent years old and is a 6'7" southpaw, similar to countryman Bakhodir Jalolov. Zokirov is also an amateur youth world champion. Both Zokirov and Smakici began the fight cautiously, and it was evident that the young Uzbek did not want to rush things and was studying his opponent. Both fighters tested each other’s chins with solid strikes, but Zokirov was often more precise. He set the pace of the fight, using his size advantage and preferred fighting from a longer distance. Despite the disparity in age and experience, Zokirov led confidently throughout the bout, securing a unanimous victory by a wide margin. Zokirov is now 2-0 with a noteworth win over Smakici, who is 20-3.
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Welcome to Haney vs. Garcia fight week |
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WBC junior welterweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Ryan García (24-1, 20 KOs) clash on Saturday, April 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Haney (pictured) is a former world lightweight champion and one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters today. He holds a very narrow win against future Hall of Famer Vasiliy Lomachenko. After the Lomachenko fight, Haney debuted at 140 pounds last December with a decisive victory over Regis Prograis to gain Prograis' WBC 140-pound title. Now, Haney will look to make his first defense against Garcia.
García (24-1, 20 KOs) established himself as one of boxing’s main attractions in April of last year in a megafight against Gervonta Davis. García but was down twice and was knocked out in the seventh round by a body blow but the event generated great expectations and excellent pay-per-view sales. Garcia, age 26, returned to 140 pounds in December for an eighth-round knockout of tough Oscar Duarte. That result got him the opportunity to face Haney.
Both fighters already have history with each other. They met six times in amateur boxing, splitting the series 3-3. The last time they fought was in January 2015, in the quarterfinals of the US Junior National Championships. Haney won that three-round bout by unanimous decision when both were 16 years old. Almost ten years later, they will return to the ring but now it will be different, both have had wars and have acquired experience and knowledge in professional boxing.
A resounding victory would catapult Haney into the stratosphere. For Garcia, this is another opportunity to show that he truly is an elite fighter and without a doubt, if he wins, he will reach another level of stardom.
Haney vs. Garcia, which is one of the most anticipated fights of the year and has all the ingredients to become a classic, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions and Matchroom Boxing and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
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Welcome to Haney vs. Garcia fight week
WBC junior welterweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Ryan García (24-1, 20 KOs) clash on Saturday, April 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Haney (pictured) is a former world lightweight champion and one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters today. He holds a very narrow win against future Hall of Famer Vasiliy Lomachenko. After the Lomachenko fight, Haney debuted at 140 pounds last December with a decisive victory over Regis Prograis to gain Prograis' WBC 140-pound title. Now, Haney will look to make his first defense against Garcia.
García (24-1, 20 KOs) established himself as one of boxing’s main attractions in April of last year in a megafight against Gervonta Davis. García but was down twice and was knocked out in the seventh round by a body blow but the event generated great expectations and excellent pay-per-view sales. Garcia, age 26, returned to 140 pounds in December for an eighth-round knockout of tough Oscar Duarte. That result got him the opportunity to face Haney.
Both fighters already have history with each other. They met six times in amateur boxing, splitting the series 3-3. The last time they fought was in January 2015, in the quarterfinals of the US Junior National Championships. Haney won that three-round bout by unanimous decision when both were 16 years old. Almost ten years later, they will return to the ring but now it will be different, both have had wars and have acquired experience and knowledge in professional boxing.
A resounding victory would catapult Haney into the stratosphere. For Garcia, this is another opportunity to show that he truly is an elite fighter and without a doubt, if he wins, he will reach another level of stardom.
Haney vs. Garcia, which is one of the most anticipated fights of the year and has all the ingredients to become a classic, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions and Matchroom Boxing and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
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Ahlin tops Ryba by split decision |
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Oscar Ahlin W10 Michal Ryba... With two big light heavyweight punchers fighting, a stoppage for either man was more or less expected on Saturday in Malmo, Sweden. But it didn't turn out that way, as Sweden's Oscar Ahlin and Michal Ryba from the Czech Republic went the full ten rounds in a close and competitive fight at the Quality Hotel. Judges Ake Johansson and Mika Moisio scored the fight 97-93 and 96-94 for Ahlin, while judge Mikael Hook had it for Ryba by 96-94, making the local man the winner by split decision.
A professional since 2011, this was perhaps the most significant win to date for the 34 year-old Ahlin, who improved his professional record to 26-2. The southpaw Ryba, age 30, had won his last eight going into this fight, and proved that he is much better than his 20-11-1 record suggests. This was only his third defeat in his last seventeen outings. The fight was the main event of a show promoted by Armand Boxing Promotions, headed by former WBO world champion Armand Kranjc.
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Ahlin tops Ryba by split decision
Oscar Ahlin W10 Michal Ryba... With two big light heavyweight punchers fighting, a stoppage for either man was more or less expected on Saturday in Malmo, Sweden. But it didn't turn out that way, as Sweden's Oscar Ahlin and Michal Ryba from the Czech Republic went the full ten rounds in a close and competitive fight at the Quality Hotel. Judges Ake Johansson and Mika Moisio scored the fight 97-93 and 96-94 for Ahlin, while judge Mikael Hook had it for Ryba by 96-94, making the local man the winner by split decision.
A professional since 2011, this was perhaps the most significant win to date for the 34 year-old Ahlin, who improved his professional record to 26-2. The southpaw Ryba, age 30, had won his last eight going into this fight, and proved that he is much better than his 20-11-1 record suggests. This was only his third defeat in his last seventeen outings. The fight was the main event of a show promoted by Armand Boxing Promotions, headed by former WBO world champion Armand Kranjc.
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Anderson defeats Merhy in a snoozer |
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Jared Anderson W10 Ryad Merhy... Jared "The Real Big Baby" Anderson did not have a particularly eager opponent in Ryad Merhy, but the heavyweight hopeful from Toledo, Ohio, got the job done. Anderson faced little resistance and defeated Merhy via 10-round unanimous decision in the main event Saturday evening at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. There was little drama when the scorecards were read, as Anderson prevailed by margins of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91. Merhy (32-3, 26 KOs) showed little interest in engaging, throwing only 144 punches over the course of the ten rounder. Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) kept an active pace for a big man, landing 128 of 662 punches, including 49 power blows.
Anderson said, "Another day, another night in the office. I wanted to give the fans a better show, but what can you do when they show up to fight like him. It’s just another day in the office. We’re going to continue working. I stayed sharp for ten rounds. That’s the biggest takeaway. I got to make some changes. I made some mistakes. I got hit with a few punches. I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all because he didn’t even come here to fight. I want all of the names. If I’m ranked with you and your name is near mine, then we can get it crackin’. We’re coming to knock everybody off."
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Anderson defeats Merhy in a snoozer
Jared Anderson W10 Ryad Merhy... Jared "The Real Big Baby" Anderson did not have a particularly eager opponent in Ryad Merhy, but the heavyweight hopeful from Toledo, Ohio, got the job done. Anderson faced little resistance and defeated Merhy via 10-round unanimous decision in the main event Saturday evening at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. There was little drama when the scorecards were read, as Anderson prevailed by margins of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91. Merhy (32-3, 26 KOs) showed little interest in engaging, throwing only 144 punches over the course of the ten rounder. Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) kept an active pace for a big man, landing 128 of 662 punches, including 49 power blows.
Anderson said, "Another day, another night in the office. I wanted to give the fans a better show, but what can you do when they show up to fight like him. It’s just another day in the office. We’re going to continue working. I stayed sharp for ten rounds. That’s the biggest takeaway. I got to make some changes. I made some mistakes. I got hit with a few punches. I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all because he didn’t even come here to fight. I want all of the names. If I’m ranked with you and your name is near mine, then we can get it crackin’. We’re coming to knock everybody off."
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Ajagba gets debatable nod over Vianello |
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Efe Ajagba W10 Guido Vianello ... Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) won a [debatable] ten-round split decision over Italy's Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs) in a phone booth battle of 2016 Olympians. One judge had it 96-94 for Vianello, which was overruled by two scores of 96-94 for Ajagba. Boxingtalk scored it 96-94 in Vianello's favor. Vianello rocked Ajagba with a right hand in the second stanza and tried to end the fight swiftly, but “The Silent Roller” kept his composure and connected cleanly in the fourth and fifth rounds. The 29-year-old found a consistent home for uppercuts with both hands, though he controlled most of the action behind jabs and straight right hands. Ajagba switched to southpaw in the later rounds. Vianello was perplexed by the change but figured him out by the final round. However, Ajagba had by then done enough on two of the judges scorecards to clinch the victory.
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Ajagba gets debatable nod over Vianello
Efe Ajagba W10 Guido Vianello ... Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) won a [debatable] ten-round split decision over Italy's Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs) in a phone booth battle of 2016 Olympians. One judge had it 96-94 for Vianello, which was overruled by two scores of 96-94 for Ajagba. Boxingtalk scored it 96-94 in Vianello's favor. Vianello rocked Ajagba with a right hand in the second stanza and tried to end the fight swiftly, but “The Silent Roller” kept his composure and connected cleanly in the fourth and fifth rounds. The 29-year-old found a consistent home for uppercuts with both hands, though he controlled most of the action behind jabs and straight right hands. Ajagba switched to southpaw in the later rounds. Vianello was perplexed by the change but figured him out by the final round. However, Ajagba had by then done enough on two of the judges scorecards to clinch the victory.
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Undercard results from Corpus Christi, TX |
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Robson Conceição TKO7 Jose Guardado ... Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs) scored his first victory in two years by stopping Jose Guardado (15-2-1, 5 KOs) in the seventh round. Returning from a majority draw against two-division champion Emanuel Navarrete in November, Conceição was quick to demonstrate the skill disparity with rapid combos in the opening chapters. Conceição continued volume punching in rounds five and six, which prevented Guardado from mounting an attack. And in the seventh, the Brazilian landed a left hook to the body that dropped Guardado, who rose from the canvas, only to be stopped moments later with a flurry at 2:27.
Ruben Villa W10 Cristian Cruz ... Featherweight Ruben Villa IV (22-1, 7 KOs) moved one step closer to a second world title shot by decisioning Cristian Cruz (22-7-1, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Villa, who lost a title shot to Navarrete in 2020, scored in the initial rounds with combinations from the outside, while Cruz found success to the body in rounds four and five. Villa retained control with constant pressure and counters in the final rounds. After ten rounds, the official scores were 98-92 (twice) and 97-93.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Lightweight Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs), age 20, delivered a resounding fourth-round stoppage of Ronal Ron (14-6, 11 KOs). Mason landed a flawless left hand that floored Ron as he was attempting a left hook. A Mason left to the solar plexus dropped Ron for a second time. He stepped on the throttle in the fourth and ended matters at 1:02 of the round.
Middleweight Julian Delgado entered the paid ranks in front of his hometown fans. The 22-year old, who became the first Corpus Christi native to win a national Golden Gloves title in four decades, decisioned Juan Tamez (1-1) across four rounds of sustained action. Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.
Corpus Christi's John Rincon (9-0, 2 KOs) defeated Yainel Alvarez (3-4-2, 1 KO) via six-round majority decision in a welterweight bout. Rincon worked behind a southpaw jab to land early, though he had to overcome Alvarez's erratic offense. Alvarez pressured in the final two rounds, but it was not enough. Scores: 57-57, 58-56, and 59-55.
Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) tallied a workmanlike unanimous points verdict following eight rounds against Louie Coria (15-7, 7 KOs). Coria worked off a good jab and occasionally landed sharp uppercuts, but he was overwhelmed by sudden left hooks and right hands from Suarez. Coria scored a knockdown at the final bell, but it wasn't enough to close the gap. The junior lightweight bout was officially scored 77-74 (twice) and 76-75.
Texas junior lightweight Alejandro Guerrero (13-4, 10 KOs) upset Jalen Walker (12-1-1, 10 KOs) by flooring him twice before forcing Walker's corner to halt the action at 1:36 of the seventh. Guerrero, who snapped a four-fight losing skid, was dropped in the sixth before regaining the momentum in the seventh, He was ahead on all three cards, 56-55, at the time of the stoppage.
Heavyweight: Team USA's Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KOs) made a successful pro debut by dispatching Anthony Woodson III (1-2, 1 KO) in two rounds.
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Undercard results from Corpus Christi, TX
Robson Conceição TKO7 Jose Guardado ... Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs) scored his first victory in two years by stopping Jose Guardado (15-2-1, 5 KOs) in the seventh round. Returning from a majority draw against two-division champion Emanuel Navarrete in November, Conceição was quick to demonstrate the skill disparity with rapid combos in the opening chapters. Conceição continued volume punching in rounds five and six, which prevented Guardado from mounting an attack. And in the seventh, the Brazilian landed a left hook to the body that dropped Guardado, who rose from the canvas, only to be stopped moments later with a flurry at 2:27.
Ruben Villa W10 Cristian Cruz ... Featherweight Ruben Villa IV (22-1, 7 KOs) moved one step closer to a second world title shot by decisioning Cristian Cruz (22-7-1, 11 KOs) over ten rounds. Villa, who lost a title shot to Navarrete in 2020, scored in the initial rounds with combinations from the outside, while Cruz found success to the body in rounds four and five. Villa retained control with constant pressure and counters in the final rounds. After ten rounds, the official scores were 98-92 (twice) and 97-93.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Lightweight Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs), age 20, delivered a resounding fourth-round stoppage of Ronal Ron (14-6, 11 KOs). Mason landed a flawless left hand that floored Ron as he was attempting a left hook. A Mason left to the solar plexus dropped Ron for a second time. He stepped on the throttle in the fourth and ended matters at 1:02 of the round.
Middleweight Julian Delgado entered the paid ranks in front of his hometown fans. The 22-year old, who became the first Corpus Christi native to win a national Golden Gloves title in four decades, decisioned Juan Tamez (1-1) across four rounds of sustained action. Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.
Corpus Christi's John Rincon (9-0, 2 KOs) defeated Yainel Alvarez (3-4-2, 1 KO) via six-round majority decision in a welterweight bout. Rincon worked behind a southpaw jab to land early, though he had to overcome Alvarez's erratic offense. Alvarez pressured in the final two rounds, but it was not enough. Scores: 57-57, 58-56, and 59-55.
Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) tallied a workmanlike unanimous points verdict following eight rounds against Louie Coria (15-7, 7 KOs). Coria worked off a good jab and occasionally landed sharp uppercuts, but he was overwhelmed by sudden left hooks and right hands from Suarez. Coria scored a knockdown at the final bell, but it wasn't enough to close the gap. The junior lightweight bout was officially scored 77-74 (twice) and 76-75.
Texas junior lightweight Alejandro Guerrero (13-4, 10 KOs) upset Jalen Walker (12-1-1, 10 KOs) by flooring him twice before forcing Walker's corner to halt the action at 1:36 of the seventh. Guerrero, who snapped a four-fight losing skid, was dropped in the sixth before regaining the momentum in the seventh, He was ahead on all three cards, 56-55, at the time of the stoppage.
Heavyweight: Team USA's Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KOs) made a successful pro debut by dispatching Anthony Woodson III (1-2, 1 KO) in two rounds.
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Zelfa Barrett stops Jordan Gill in UK |
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Zelfa Barrett TKO10 Jordan Gill... Junior lightweight contender Zelfa Barrett stopped Jordan Gill in the tenth round of a DAZN main event in Manchester, England. Barrett knocked down Gill with a debilitating body shot. Gill bravely got up but had nothing left in the tank, and the fight was soon waved off by the referee. Prior to the stoppage, the fight was close on the scorecards, with Barrett leading 86-85 (twice) and 88-84. Barrett is now 31-2 with one of the losses coming in a failed title bid vs. Shavkatdzhon. Gill, who was coming off a big win over Mick Conlan, falls to 28-3-1.
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Zelfa Barrett stops Jordan Gill in UK
Zelfa Barrett TKO10 Jordan Gill... Junior lightweight contender Zelfa Barrett stopped Jordan Gill in the tenth round of a DAZN main event in Manchester, England. Barrett knocked down Gill with a debilitating body shot. Gill bravely got up but had nothing left in the tank, and the fight was soon waved off by the referee. Prior to the stoppage, the fight was close on the scorecards, with Barrett leading 86-85 (twice) and 88-84. Barrett is now 31-2 with one of the losses coming in a failed title bid vs. Shavkatdzhon. Gill, who was coming off a big win over Mick Conlan, falls to 28-3-1.
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Scotney unifies two titles by defeating Lefebvre |
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Ellie Scotney W10 Segolene Lefebvre... Ellie Scotney is the new WBO/IBF junior featherweight champion after defeating France's Segolene Lefebvre via unanimous decision in Manchester, England on Saturday. Scotney (9-0) came in as the IBF champion and left with Lefebvre's WBO title. The official scorecards read 99-91, 97-93 and 97-94 for Scotney. Lefebvre (19-1) lost her undefeated record asd well as her title.
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Scotney unifies two titles by defeating Lefebvre
Ellie Scotney W10 Segolene Lefebvre... Ellie Scotney is the new WBO/IBF junior featherweight champion after defeating France's Segolene Lefebvre via unanimous decision in Manchester, England on Saturday. Scotney (9-0) came in as the IBF champion and left with Lefebvre's WBO title. The official scorecards read 99-91, 97-93 and 97-94 for Scotney. Lefebvre (19-1) lost her undefeated record asd well as her title.
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New champion alert: Rhiannon Dixon wins vacant lightweight title |
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Rhiannon Dixon W10 Karen Elizabeth Carabajal ... England's Rhiannon Dixon scored a knockdown of Argentina's Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (22-2) on her way to winning the vacant WBO lightweight championship. Dixon prevailed by scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93. The belt became vacant when former world champion Katie Taylor decided to remain at junior welterweight. Dixon (10-0) is trained by Anthony Crolla, who joins an impressive club, having trained a boxer to a world title and having won the WBA lightweight title as a boxer himself.
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New champion alert: Rhiannon Dixon wins vacant lightweight title
Rhiannon Dixon W10 Karen Elizabeth Carabajal ... England's Rhiannon Dixon scored a knockdown of Argentina's Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (22-2) on her way to winning the vacant WBO lightweight championship. Dixon prevailed by scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93. The belt became vacant when former world champion Katie Taylor decided to remain at junior welterweight. Dixon (10-0) is trained by Anthony Crolla, who joins an impressive club, having trained a boxer to a world title and having won the WBA lightweight title as a boxer himself.
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BKFC results from Florida |
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Former Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) champion Mike “The Marine” Richman was victorious in his return to the squared circle in BKFC Fight Night Clearwater on Friday at the sold-out OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Richman, who hails from Minneapolis, ended his nine-month layoff from fighting with a fifth-round TKO over Texas' Erick “El Travieso” Lozano in the light-heavyweight division. Richman sent Lozano to the canvas twice before their fight was stopped 53 seconds into the fifth round. "A lot of things went through my mind when I said I was going to retire, but I knew I still had a lot in me. That's what drew me back; I knew I still had a lot in me. That's why I'm here,” Richman told the Clearwater faithful. Erick Lozano is a beast; he’s a monster. I knew it was going to be a challenging fight … It was very important to show that I’m still a dog. I feel good and healthy again.” Richman’s record is now 6-2, 1 NC; Lozano is now 3-3.
In Friday’s chief support, Elvin "El Bandido" Brito shocked fans with a 40-second TKO over the previously undefeated Ja’Far Fortt “Knox” in their highly anticipated welterweight matchup. The Puerto Rican Brito, a former BKFC World Champion, snapped a three-fight losing skid with his victory and upped his BKFC record to 6-4 with the win. Fortt, who hails from Tampa, FL, sees his record fall to 3-1 with the loss. A fired-up Brito called out BKFC welterweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout after his big win. "Give me Trout. I'm the champ,” he told the sold-out OCC Road House & Museum crowd. “You're not the champ unless you beat me. I'm the champ; I'm at the top of the mountain."
Tyler “The Rookie” Randall, the No. 2 contender in the BKFC flyweight division, edged out No. 1 contender JR “The Lion” Ridge for the split-decision victory in Friday’s Feature Fight. Randall, a product of Hoosick Falls, NY, upped his BKFC record to 3-2 with the win, while the Filipino-born Tampa, FL fighter Ridge fell to 3-4. Two judges scored the bout in favor of Randall (49-46, 48-47), and one judge had it 48-47 for Ridge, a former BKFC World Flyweight Championship challenger.
Abdiel “The Nightmare” Velazquez dropped Travis “The Animal” Thompson twice en route to a 66-second KO victory for the Puerto Rican-born Springhill, FL fighter. Velazquez is now 4-4 in the Squared Circle. Thompson, who entered fight night as the No. 5 contender in the BKFC bantamweight division, falls to 5-6 with the loss.
Saginaw, MI’s Jay “Action” Jackson lived up to his nickname with a big win at the expense of Idrees “Grumpy Bear” Wasi of Sacramento, CA in the light-heavyweight division. The doctor called a halt to the bout at the conclusion of the third round. With the victory, Jackson improves to 4-3 in the Squared Circle, while Wasi drops to 1-3.
Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga of Lakeland, FL smashed her way to 2-0 with a first-round KO over German-born Denver product Katharina “The German Gypsy” Lehner in their women’s featherweight bout. Time of the stoppage was 41 seconds into the first round. Lehner is now 0-1.
Miami’s Leonel “Lionheart” Carerra upped his BKFC record to 1-1 with a TKO against Mike Heckert of St. Petersburg in middleweight action. The ringside doctor stopped the bout at the conclusion of the second round due to Heckert’s eye injury.
Angel “OG” Hernandez made history Friday as the Brandon, FL product notched an eight-second KO over Trinidad, TX’s Rayne “The Guy on the Couch” Wells in their battle of debuting lightweights. The lightning-fast finish is good for the third fastest stoppage victory in BKFC history.
In the first fight of the night, Quentin “GQ” Gaskins of St. Petersburg, FL was victorious in his BKFC debut, scoring a first-round TKO over Lancaster, PA’s Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell. Their back-and-forth featherweight battle was called to a stop by the ringside physician at the conclusion of the first round. Pannell’s record fell to 1-1 with the loss.
BKFC Fight Night Clearwater Results
Mike Richman def. Erick Lozano via TKO in Round 5 (0:53);
Elvin Brito def. Ja’Far Fortt via TKO in Round 1 (0:40);
Tyler Randall def. JR Ridge via Split Decision (49-46, 47-48, 48-47);
Abdiel Velazquez def. Travis Thompson via KO in Round 1 (1:03);
Jay Jackson def. Idrees Wasi via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 3 (2:00);
Jessica Borga def. Katharina Lehner via KO in Round 1 (0:41);
Leonel Carerra def. Mike Heckert via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 2 (2:00);
Angel Hernandez def. Rayne Wells via KO in Round 1 (0:08); and
Quentin Gaskins def. Zach Pannell via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 1 (2:00).
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BKFC results from Florida
Former Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) champion Mike “The Marine” Richman was victorious in his return to the squared circle in BKFC Fight Night Clearwater on Friday at the sold-out OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Richman, who hails from Minneapolis, ended his nine-month layoff from fighting with a fifth-round TKO over Texas' Erick “El Travieso” Lozano in the light-heavyweight division. Richman sent Lozano to the canvas twice before their fight was stopped 53 seconds into the fifth round. "A lot of things went through my mind when I said I was going to retire, but I knew I still had a lot in me. That's what drew me back; I knew I still had a lot in me. That's why I'm here,” Richman told the Clearwater faithful. Erick Lozano is a beast; he’s a monster. I knew it was going to be a challenging fight … It was very important to show that I’m still a dog. I feel good and healthy again.” Richman’s record is now 6-2, 1 NC; Lozano is now 3-3.
In Friday’s chief support, Elvin "El Bandido" Brito shocked fans with a 40-second TKO over the previously undefeated Ja’Far Fortt “Knox” in their highly anticipated welterweight matchup. The Puerto Rican Brito, a former BKFC World Champion, snapped a three-fight losing skid with his victory and upped his BKFC record to 6-4 with the win. Fortt, who hails from Tampa, FL, sees his record fall to 3-1 with the loss. A fired-up Brito called out BKFC welterweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout after his big win. "Give me Trout. I'm the champ,” he told the sold-out OCC Road House & Museum crowd. “You're not the champ unless you beat me. I'm the champ; I'm at the top of the mountain."
Tyler “The Rookie” Randall, the No. 2 contender in the BKFC flyweight division, edged out No. 1 contender JR “The Lion” Ridge for the split-decision victory in Friday’s Feature Fight. Randall, a product of Hoosick Falls, NY, upped his BKFC record to 3-2 with the win, while the Filipino-born Tampa, FL fighter Ridge fell to 3-4. Two judges scored the bout in favor of Randall (49-46, 48-47), and one judge had it 48-47 for Ridge, a former BKFC World Flyweight Championship challenger.
Abdiel “The Nightmare” Velazquez dropped Travis “The Animal” Thompson twice en route to a 66-second KO victory for the Puerto Rican-born Springhill, FL fighter. Velazquez is now 4-4 in the Squared Circle. Thompson, who entered fight night as the No. 5 contender in the BKFC bantamweight division, falls to 5-6 with the loss.
Saginaw, MI’s Jay “Action” Jackson lived up to his nickname with a big win at the expense of Idrees “Grumpy Bear” Wasi of Sacramento, CA in the light-heavyweight division. The doctor called a halt to the bout at the conclusion of the third round. With the victory, Jackson improves to 4-3 in the Squared Circle, while Wasi drops to 1-3.
Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga of Lakeland, FL smashed her way to 2-0 with a first-round KO over German-born Denver product Katharina “The German Gypsy” Lehner in their women’s featherweight bout. Time of the stoppage was 41 seconds into the first round. Lehner is now 0-1.
Miami’s Leonel “Lionheart” Carerra upped his BKFC record to 1-1 with a TKO against Mike Heckert of St. Petersburg in middleweight action. The ringside doctor stopped the bout at the conclusion of the second round due to Heckert’s eye injury.
Angel “OG” Hernandez made history Friday as the Brandon, FL product notched an eight-second KO over Trinidad, TX’s Rayne “The Guy on the Couch” Wells in their battle of debuting lightweights. The lightning-fast finish is good for the third fastest stoppage victory in BKFC history.
In the first fight of the night, Quentin “GQ” Gaskins of St. Petersburg, FL was victorious in his BKFC debut, scoring a first-round TKO over Lancaster, PA’s Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell. Their back-and-forth featherweight battle was called to a stop by the ringside physician at the conclusion of the first round. Pannell’s record fell to 1-1 with the loss.
BKFC Fight Night Clearwater Results
Mike Richman def. Erick Lozano via TKO in Round 5 (0:53);
Elvin Brito def. Ja’Far Fortt via TKO in Round 1 (0:40);
Tyler Randall def. JR Ridge via Split Decision (49-46, 47-48, 48-47);
Abdiel Velazquez def. Travis Thompson via KO in Round 1 (1:03);
Jay Jackson def. Idrees Wasi via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 3 (2:00);
Jessica Borga def. Katharina Lehner via KO in Round 1 (0:41);
Leonel Carerra def. Mike Heckert via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 2 (2:00);
Angel Hernandez def. Rayne Wells via KO in Round 1 (0:08); and
Quentin Gaskins def. Zach Pannell via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 1 (2:00).
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Boxingtalk's Saturday fight predictions |
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Here are Boxingtalk's Saturday fight predictions:
Ellie Scotney (8-0) vs. Segolene Lefebvre (18-0) (WBO / IBF junior featherweight titles) … prediction: Scotney by decision;
Rhiannon Dixon (9-0) vs. Karen Carabajal (22-1) (vacant WBO lightweight title) … prediction: Dixon by decision;
Jared Anderson (16-0) vs. Ryad Merhy (32-2) (heavyweights) … prediction: Anderson by mid-round knockout;
Jordan Gill (28-2-1) vs. Zelfa Barrett (30-2) (junior lightweights) … prediction: Barrett by decision;
Efe Ajagba (19-1) vs. Guido Vianello (12-1-1) (heavyweights) … prediction: Ajagba by mid- to late-round knockout;
Robson Conceicao (17-2-1) vs. Jose Ivan Guardado Ortiz (15-1-1) (super featherweights) … prediction: Conceicao by unanimous decision;
Ruben Villa (21-1) vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon (22-6-1) (featherweights) … prediction: Villa by unanimous decision;
Oleksandr Zakhozhyi (18-0) vs. Granit Shala (15-0) (European heavyweight title) … prediction: Zakhozhyi by mid- to late-round knockout;
Charly Suarez (16-0) vs. Luis Coria (15-6) (super featherweights) … prediction: Suarez by decision; and
Abdullah Mason (12-0) vs. Ronal Ron (14-5) (lightweights) … prediction: Mason by unanimous decision.
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Boxingtalk's Saturday fight predictions
Here are Boxingtalk's Saturday fight predictions:
Ellie Scotney (8-0) vs. Segolene Lefebvre (18-0) (WBO / IBF junior featherweight titles) … prediction: Scotney by decision;
Rhiannon Dixon (9-0) vs. Karen Carabajal (22-1) (vacant WBO lightweight title) … prediction: Dixon by decision;
Jared Anderson (16-0) vs. Ryad Merhy (32-2) (heavyweights) … prediction: Anderson by mid-round knockout;
Jordan Gill (28-2-1) vs. Zelfa Barrett (30-2) (junior lightweights) … prediction: Barrett by decision;
Efe Ajagba (19-1) vs. Guido Vianello (12-1-1) (heavyweights) … prediction: Ajagba by mid- to late-round knockout;
Robson Conceicao (17-2-1) vs. Jose Ivan Guardado Ortiz (15-1-1) (super featherweights) … prediction: Conceicao by unanimous decision;
Ruben Villa (21-1) vs. Cristian Cruz Chacon (22-6-1) (featherweights) … prediction: Villa by unanimous decision;
Oleksandr Zakhozhyi (18-0) vs. Granit Shala (15-0) (European heavyweight title) … prediction: Zakhozhyi by mid- to late-round knockout;
Charly Suarez (16-0) vs. Luis Coria (15-6) (super featherweights) … prediction: Suarez by decision; and
Abdullah Mason (12-0) vs. Ronal Ron (14-5) (lightweights) … prediction: Mason by unanimous decision.
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Today: Scotney vs. Lefebvre unification bout |
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IBF junior featherweight champion Ellie Scotney says her nan will have the best seat in the house when she aims to pick up a second world title against France’s undefeated WBO ruler Segolene Lefebvre at the AO Arena in Manchester, England this Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN. The 26 year-old Catford native, who fights in Manchester for the first time this weekend, won the IBF crown against Australia’s Cherneka Johnson at Wembley Arena last June and proudly raced it around to her super-fan grandmother. Sadly Eileen passed away at the age off 99 at the end of August, but she witnessed her granddaughter achieve her lifetime goal of becoming a champion after walking into the renewed Lynn AC in South London as a small girl. Scotney says her nan will be at the front of her mind as she looks to add to her legacy by becoming a unified champion on Saturday.
“I always had this thing where I’d go down to my nan’s the week before a fight and I still did that for this one,” said Scotney. “I still went down to my nan’s; I still went in the room, and I chatted rubbish to her like I usually do. She always used to tell me that she’d say a prayer for me. I know that she’s got the best seat in the house as always. Nan always told me you’ve got to finish the collection, and we’re onto the second part of that collection and I’ve got to deliver.”
Lefebvre (18-0, 1 KO) will be making the fourth defense of her WBO crown after winning the vacant title against Mexico’s Paulette Cuesta in November 2021 on home soil. ‘Majestic’ will be fighting outside of her homeland for the first time in her career and Scotney acknowledges her 30-year-old opponent will be her toughest test to date.
“Even before the Cherneka Johnson fight, Lefebvre was someone that we targeted,” said Scotney. “We tried to make the fight previously but it just didn’t align. Now I’ve got more to offer on the table and we’re both young, we’re both undefeated and we’re both World Champions. I believe that’s going to make for a great fight.
“I promise you now, whatever I’ve got to go through I’ll go through on that night. I’ll be walking out as unified Champion of the World. I just believe that these are the fights where you’ve got to show that you’re different. She’s 18-0 and I’m 8-0. You’d look at that and think that she’s got the more experience. I just think that it’s quantity versus quality in some respects.
“It’s my hardest fight without a doubt but believe me I’m more than ready to show that I’m there. I really am. I believe that this camp has showed me there’s more to me that I haven’t really even seen myself. I’m not just talking about in that boxing ring – I’m talking out of it. I feel like I’ve really grown as a person. I think it’s happening at the right time for me. Timing is everything and on Saturday night it will be my time.”
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Today: Scotney vs. Lefebvre unification bout
IBF junior featherweight champion Ellie Scotney says her nan will have the best seat in the house when she aims to pick up a second world title against France’s undefeated WBO ruler Segolene Lefebvre at the AO Arena in Manchester, England this Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN. The 26 year-old Catford native, who fights in Manchester for the first time this weekend, won the IBF crown against Australia’s Cherneka Johnson at Wembley Arena last June and proudly raced it around to her super-fan grandmother. Sadly Eileen passed away at the age off 99 at the end of August, but she witnessed her granddaughter achieve her lifetime goal of becoming a champion after walking into the renewed Lynn AC in South London as a small girl. Scotney says her nan will be at the front of her mind as she looks to add to her legacy by becoming a unified champion on Saturday.
“I always had this thing where I’d go down to my nan’s the week before a fight and I still did that for this one,” said Scotney. “I still went down to my nan’s; I still went in the room, and I chatted rubbish to her like I usually do. She always used to tell me that she’d say a prayer for me. I know that she’s got the best seat in the house as always. Nan always told me you’ve got to finish the collection, and we’re onto the second part of that collection and I’ve got to deliver.”
Lefebvre (18-0, 1 KO) will be making the fourth defense of her WBO crown after winning the vacant title against Mexico’s Paulette Cuesta in November 2021 on home soil. ‘Majestic’ will be fighting outside of her homeland for the first time in her career and Scotney acknowledges her 30-year-old opponent will be her toughest test to date.
“Even before the Cherneka Johnson fight, Lefebvre was someone that we targeted,” said Scotney. “We tried to make the fight previously but it just didn’t align. Now I’ve got more to offer on the table and we’re both young, we’re both undefeated and we’re both World Champions. I believe that’s going to make for a great fight.
“I promise you now, whatever I’ve got to go through I’ll go through on that night. I’ll be walking out as unified Champion of the World. I just believe that these are the fights where you’ve got to show that you’re different. She’s 18-0 and I’m 8-0. You’d look at that and think that she’s got the more experience. I just think that it’s quantity versus quality in some respects.
“It’s my hardest fight without a doubt but believe me I’m more than ready to show that I’m there. I really am. I believe that this camp has showed me there’s more to me that I haven’t really even seen myself. I’m not just talking about in that boxing ring – I’m talking out of it. I feel like I’ve really grown as a person. I think it’s happening at the right time for me. Timing is everything and on Saturday night it will be my time.”
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Jordan Gill looks for second straight road win |
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Jordan Gill is aiming to make it two big road wins in a row when he takes on Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in a must-win junior lightweight showdown at the famous AO Arena this Saturday April 13th, live worldwide on DAZN. From Chatteris, England, Gill is a former European and Commonwealth Champion at featherweight. He stunned Irish hero Michael Conlan with a seventh-round stoppage win on away territory at the SSE Arena Belfast in December and immediately called for a world title shot in his post-fight interview.
‘The Thrill’ had been written off by many ahead of his last-chance saloon clash with Conlan, but the 29-year old, who is trained by Barry Smith out of the Ben Davison Performance Centre in Harlow, produced the performance of his career to catapult his name into the title conversation in the 130 pounds division.
“Heading into the Conlan fight in December it was just laughable because everyone tipped him,” said Gill. “I knew how good I am. I knew what I’m capable of. I knew that I had to upset people. I knew I had to have something to prove. I proved people wrong and it was more pleasurable for me to do that. I knew the fight was mine from the first round. I rocked him heavy in the first round, dropped him in the second. From that point you know you have to be patient. Once you hurt someone once you know you’re going to do it again. It’s more about taking your time, tucking up a little bit, letting them burn themselves out and then going to town. That was the plan; it worked a treat.”
Gill came face-to-face with former European junior lightweight champion Barrett earlier this week at Manchester Hall as the pair kicked off fight week proceedings ahead of Saturday’s stacked card that features two world title fights in Ellie Scotney vs. Segolene Lefebvre and Rhiannon Dixon vs. Karen Elizabeth Carabjal.
‘Brown Flash’ has further title aspirations of his own having come up short against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the IBF title in Abu Dhabi back in November 2022, but Gill insists that his time is now and another big win this weekend will put him at the front of the line for a shot at gold.
“I feel the best that I’ve ever felt,” said Gill. “I feel so strong. I feel rejuvenated. I’m not killing myself to make weight. I feel happy. I feel prepared; well prepared. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. I think it’s going to be mouth-watering; it’s one that everyone is talking about. I’m just dead excited. This is the chapter now where we’re going to make it all count.
“He looks well prepared. He looks ready. He looks like he’s got the bit between his teeth. He looks like he wants to hurt me. We’ve got to go in and do our job. I think there’s no way that this fight isn’t an exciting fight. I think I win this fight by knockout. This is what I’ve worked for; this is what I’ve dreamed of since I’ve been a kid.
“I just like upsetting people and I think I get a kick out of people telling me that I can’t win fights. Everyone expected me to lose the Conlan fight, and going in there and pulling it off – for me that’s exciting and that’s what boxing is all about. It’s all about the good fights and this is a really good fight. I’m ready to go to the well.
“For me, all of the pressure is on Zelfa. Everyone is expecting me to lose this fight. I’m coming to the lion’s den again. Everyone is making me the underdog again. No problem, just put all of that pressure on him and we’ll turn up, do what we need to do and come away victorious.
“To be the best you have to beat the best. So, to have a claim to a World Title you have to go through these fights. Zelfa is a very good fighter, he wants a World Title shot and he’s probably at the front of the queue, so I have to beat him to leapfrog him. That’s why we’re here.”
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Jordan Gill looks for second straight road win
Jordan Gill is aiming to make it two big road wins in a row when he takes on Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett in a must-win junior lightweight showdown at the famous AO Arena this Saturday April 13th, live worldwide on DAZN. From Chatteris, England, Gill is a former European and Commonwealth Champion at featherweight. He stunned Irish hero Michael Conlan with a seventh-round stoppage win on away territory at the SSE Arena Belfast in December and immediately called for a world title shot in his post-fight interview.
‘The Thrill’ had been written off by many ahead of his last-chance saloon clash with Conlan, but the 29-year old, who is trained by Barry Smith out of the Ben Davison Performance Centre in Harlow, produced the performance of his career to catapult his name into the title conversation in the 130 pounds division.
“Heading into the Conlan fight in December it was just laughable because everyone tipped him,” said Gill. “I knew how good I am. I knew what I’m capable of. I knew that I had to upset people. I knew I had to have something to prove. I proved people wrong and it was more pleasurable for me to do that. I knew the fight was mine from the first round. I rocked him heavy in the first round, dropped him in the second. From that point you know you have to be patient. Once you hurt someone once you know you’re going to do it again. It’s more about taking your time, tucking up a little bit, letting them burn themselves out and then going to town. That was the plan; it worked a treat.”
Gill came face-to-face with former European junior lightweight champion Barrett earlier this week at Manchester Hall as the pair kicked off fight week proceedings ahead of Saturday’s stacked card that features two world title fights in Ellie Scotney vs. Segolene Lefebvre and Rhiannon Dixon vs. Karen Elizabeth Carabjal.
‘Brown Flash’ has further title aspirations of his own having come up short against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov for the IBF title in Abu Dhabi back in November 2022, but Gill insists that his time is now and another big win this weekend will put him at the front of the line for a shot at gold.
“I feel the best that I’ve ever felt,” said Gill. “I feel so strong. I feel rejuvenated. I’m not killing myself to make weight. I feel happy. I feel prepared; well prepared. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. I think it’s going to be mouth-watering; it’s one that everyone is talking about. I’m just dead excited. This is the chapter now where we’re going to make it all count.
“He looks well prepared. He looks ready. He looks like he’s got the bit between his teeth. He looks like he wants to hurt me. We’ve got to go in and do our job. I think there’s no way that this fight isn’t an exciting fight. I think I win this fight by knockout. This is what I’ve worked for; this is what I’ve dreamed of since I’ve been a kid.
“I just like upsetting people and I think I get a kick out of people telling me that I can’t win fights. Everyone expected me to lose the Conlan fight, and going in there and pulling it off – for me that’s exciting and that’s what boxing is all about. It’s all about the good fights and this is a really good fight. I’m ready to go to the well.
“For me, all of the pressure is on Zelfa. Everyone is expecting me to lose this fight. I’m coming to the lion’s den again. Everyone is making me the underdog again. No problem, just put all of that pressure on him and we’ll turn up, do what we need to do and come away victorious.
“To be the best you have to beat the best. So, to have a claim to a World Title you have to go through these fights. Zelfa is a very good fighter, he wants a World Title shot and he’s probably at the front of the queue, so I have to beat him to leapfrog him. That’s why we’re here.”
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Weigh-in report from Corpus Christi, TX |
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Here are the weigh-in results for Saturday's ESPN show at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas:
Jared Anderson 250.9 pounds -vs.- Ryad Merhy 235.6 (ten rounds);
Efe Ajagba 241.2 -vs.- Guido Vianello 244.5 (ten rounds); and
Robson Conceição 131.6 -vs.- Jose Guardado 131.5 (eight rounds).
The three main bouts will be shown on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
The undercard bouts will be shown on ESPN+, 5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT:
Julian Delgado 159.3 -vs.- Juan Tamez 159 (four rounds);
Ruben Villa 125.6 -vs.- Cristian Cruz 125.1 (ten rounds);
John Rincon 143 -vs.- Yainel Alvarez 143.5 (six rounds);
Abdullah Mason 134.6 -vs.- Ronal Ron 134.7 (eight rounds);
Charly Suarez 131.8 -vs.- Louie Coria 131.7 (eight rounds);
Jalen Walker 131.2 -vs.- Alejandro Guerrero 131.8 (eight rounds); and
Ali Feliz 219.1 -vs.- Anthony Woodson III 280.2 (four rounds).
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Weigh-in report from Corpus Christi, TX
Here are the weigh-in results for Saturday's ESPN show at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas:
Jared Anderson 250.9 pounds -vs.- Ryad Merhy 235.6 (ten rounds);
Efe Ajagba 241.2 -vs.- Guido Vianello 244.5 (ten rounds); and
Robson Conceição 131.6 -vs.- Jose Guardado 131.5 (eight rounds).
The three main bouts will be shown on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
The undercard bouts will be shown on ESPN+, 5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT:
Julian Delgado 159.3 -vs.- Juan Tamez 159 (four rounds);
Ruben Villa 125.6 -vs.- Cristian Cruz 125.1 (ten rounds);
John Rincon 143 -vs.- Yainel Alvarez 143.5 (six rounds);
Abdullah Mason 134.6 -vs.- Ronal Ron 134.7 (eight rounds);
Charly Suarez 131.8 -vs.- Louie Coria 131.7 (eight rounds);
Jalen Walker 131.2 -vs.- Alejandro Guerrero 131.8 (eight rounds); and
Ali Feliz 219.1 -vs.- Anthony Woodson III 280.2 (four rounds).
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Charlie Edwards decisions Georges Ory |
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Charlie Edwards W10 Georges Ory... Former WBC flyweight champion Charlie Edwards defeated Georges Ory at sold-out York Hall in London to officially launch bid to become a two-weight champion. Now fighting as a bantamweight, Edwards defeated his French opponent by scores of 98-92 on all scorecards. Edwards is now 19-1 while Ory's record drops to 17-4-2.
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Charlie Edwards decisions Georges Ory
Charlie Edwards W10 Georges Ory... Former WBC flyweight champion Charlie Edwards defeated Georges Ory at sold-out York Hall in London to officially launch bid to become a two-weight champion. Now fighting as a bantamweight, Edwards defeated his French opponent by scores of 98-92 on all scorecards. Edwards is now 19-1 while Ory's record drops to 17-4-2.
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