Bivol recovering from back surgery |
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The WBO has requested more information from world light heavyweight champion DmitriiBivol in light of Bivol's statement that underwent back surgery. The WBO learned of the surgery based on a Bivol social media post from last week. The WBO wrote, “we understand he has been dealing with a back injury for ten years and following doctors advice, he took the surgery. Implicating that he will be out of Action due to the recovery that the surgery [requires].“ The WBO has therefore requested that Bivol submit within the next ten days a detailed medical explanation of his injury, along with the doctors' findings, prognosis, and a physician's opinion as to when Bivol will be physically and medically cleared to compete and return to active competition. The WBO added that failure to comply with this order could result in Bivol waving his rights under the WBO rules. Bivol last fought in February, defeating Artur Beterbiev to gain undisputed world champion recognition.
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Bivol recovering from back surgery
The WBO has requested more information from world light heavyweight champion DmitriiBivol in light of Bivol's statement that underwent back surgery. The WBO learned of the surgery based on a Bivol social media post from last week. The WBO wrote, “we understand he has been dealing with a back injury for ten years and following doctors advice, he took the surgery. Implicating that he will be out of Action due to the recovery that the surgery [requires].“ The WBO has therefore requested that Bivol submit within the next ten days a detailed medical explanation of his injury, along with the doctors' findings, prognosis, and a physician's opinion as to when Bivol will be physically and medically cleared to compete and return to active competition. The WBO added that failure to comply with this order could result in Bivol waving his rights under the WBO rules. Bivol last fought in February, defeating Artur Beterbiev to gain undisputed world champion recognition.
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Today: ProBox TV streams Florida show |
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ProBox TV returns to Lakeland, Florida today (August 15th) with a fight card headlined by junior lightweight contenders Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov and William Foster III. The event will take place at the RP Funding Center and will air live on ProBox TV. Yaqubov, 22-1 (12 KOs), of Isfara, Tajikistan is looking for his fifth straight win since his lone defeat, a decision loss in 2022 to current WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster. William Foster, 19-2 (11 KOs), of New Haven, Connecticut is coming off back-to-back decision wins. His biggest wins so far have been a 2022 split decision victory over former title challenger Edwin De Los Santos and a 2018 unanimous decision over the respected Sulaiman Segawa, both of whom were undefeated heading into their bout vs. Foster.
In a crossroads bout, junior welterweights Starling Castillo, 19-1-1 (13 KOs) and Shinard Bunch, 21-2-1 (17 KOs) will end layoffs in a ten-round bout. Castillo of Quina Sueneo, Dominican Republic has beaten Jesus Saracho and Esteuri Suero - who had a combined record of 25-1-1 - in back-to-back fights, while Bunch of Trenton, New Jersey is looking to get his career back on track after returning to his childhood trainer Ronald Harris.
The Valle brothers will be returning to action in separate bouts as middleweight Marques Valle, 10-1 (7 KOs), of Wesley Chapel, Florida faces Luis Georges, 12-0 (10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic, while Dominic Valle, 11-0 (7 KOs) faces Iron Alvarez, 15-3 (11 KOs) of Tampa, Florida in an eight-round junior lightweight bout.
In eight rounders, Gary Antonio Russell, 20-1 (13 KOs), of Washington D.C. faces Colombia’s Dervin Rodriguez, 11-2-1 (8 KOs) ata featherweight, while Filipino middleweight Weljon Mindoro, 14-0-1 (14 KOs) looks to continue his KO streak against Dormedes Potes, 14-7-1 (10 KOs).
In four-round action, another Valle brother will see action as Kenyan Valle makes his pro debut in a junior featherweight fight against Lai Thang, 2-3, of Texas. Opening up the card, Miguel Mendez of New York and Narek Hovhannisyan of Armenia will make their pro debuts against Andrew Flamm, 1-1, and an opponent to be named, respectively.
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Today: ProBox TV streams Florida show
ProBox TV returns to Lakeland, Florida today (August 15th) with a fight card headlined by junior lightweight contenders Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov and William Foster III. The event will take place at the RP Funding Center and will air live on ProBox TV. Yaqubov, 22-1 (12 KOs), of Isfara, Tajikistan is looking for his fifth straight win since his lone defeat, a decision loss in 2022 to current WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster. William Foster, 19-2 (11 KOs), of New Haven, Connecticut is coming off back-to-back decision wins. His biggest wins so far have been a 2022 split decision victory over former title challenger Edwin De Los Santos and a 2018 unanimous decision over the respected Sulaiman Segawa, both of whom were undefeated heading into their bout vs. Foster.
In a crossroads bout, junior welterweights Starling Castillo, 19-1-1 (13 KOs) and Shinard Bunch, 21-2-1 (17 KOs) will end layoffs in a ten-round bout. Castillo of Quina Sueneo, Dominican Republic has beaten Jesus Saracho and Esteuri Suero - who had a combined record of 25-1-1 - in back-to-back fights, while Bunch of Trenton, New Jersey is looking to get his career back on track after returning to his childhood trainer Ronald Harris.
The Valle brothers will be returning to action in separate bouts as middleweight Marques Valle, 10-1 (7 KOs), of Wesley Chapel, Florida faces Luis Georges, 12-0 (10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic, while Dominic Valle, 11-0 (7 KOs) faces Iron Alvarez, 15-3 (11 KOs) of Tampa, Florida in an eight-round junior lightweight bout.
In eight rounders, Gary Antonio Russell, 20-1 (13 KOs), of Washington D.C. faces Colombia’s Dervin Rodriguez, 11-2-1 (8 KOs) ata featherweight, while Filipino middleweight Weljon Mindoro, 14-0-1 (14 KOs) looks to continue his KO streak against Dormedes Potes, 14-7-1 (10 KOs).
In four-round action, another Valle brother will see action as Kenyan Valle makes his pro debut in a junior featherweight fight against Lai Thang, 2-3, of Texas. Opening up the card, Miguel Mendez of New York and Narek Hovhannisyan of Armenia will make their pro debuts against Andrew Flamm, 1-1, and an opponent to be named, respectively.
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BKFC books New Jersey date for Oct. 4th |
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) has announced BKFC-82, set for Saturday, October 4th at the famed Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The show will be headlined by the return of ‘The King of Violence,’ “Platinum” Mike Perry, defending his bare knuckles light heavyweight title against Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens.Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, August 19th at 12:00 p.m. ET and can be purchased online at BKFC.com. BKFC-82 will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries. “It’s been a longtime coming but we’re honored to promote our first event in New Jersey and at a world class venue, Prudential Center,” said David Feldman, founder and president of the Philadelphia-based BKFC. “Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens is truly a bare-knuckle clash between two of the toughest and most popular fighters in combat sports and is the perfect headliner for the biggest event we’ve promoted since our inception in 2018. We’re also going to load up the undercard with many of our best bare-knuckle fighters and I strongly encourage fans to purchase their tickets well in advance as we expect another record setting sellout crowd.”
With an attendance of 17,762 on Saturday, January 25th at the Wells Fargo Center, KnuckleMania V set a modern-day combat sports benchmark for the city of Philadelphia.
Perry said, “a Platinum Performance is set to take place! Everyone in the Prudential Center and those watching on DAZN will feel the impact! Tune into my latest and greatest ‘King of Violence’ battle."
Stephens replied, “Delusions to reality, I said I was going to do it and I did it. Hardest hitting 145 pounder stepping up to 175 to be crowned the new King of Violence. The king of the barbarians is home.”
“As Prudential Center continues to cement itself as New Jersey’s home for marquee combat sports, hosting the inaugural Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in our state opens an exciting new chapter for our company,” said Dylan Wanagiel, a vice president at HBSE/Prudential Center. “We take pride in our diverse lineup of programming. This groundbreaking event in Newark delivers to tri-state area fight fans one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”
Perry, (5-0), made his imprint quickly in BKFC defeating bare-knuckle hardcore veteran Julian Lane over five rounds at KnuckleMania II on February 19, 2022. Following up on August 20, 2022 at London, England’s iconic Wembley Arena, Perry was victorious against hometown MMA Superstar Michael Page in a memorable clash decided by a sixth sudden-death round which instantly became an international viral sensation.
Back in the United States on April 29, 2023, Perry demolished Luke Rockhold over two rounds towards a stoppage victory. Facing off against MMA legend Eddie Alvarez on December 2, 2023, Perry battered his way towards a stoppage at the end of round two. Headlining KnuckleMania V on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA, Perry savagely stopped former BKFC World Champion Thiago Alves in the opening round.
Following a professional MMA career Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens, (3-0 in BKFC) smashed his way into the BKFC upper echelon on January 25, 2025 with a third-round stoppage of hometown legend Eddie Alvarez in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Previously Stephens had defeated Bobby Taylor on September 6, 2024 and stopped Jimmie Rivera in the third round on December 2, 2023.
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BKFC books New Jersey date for Oct. 4th
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) has announced BKFC-82, set for Saturday, October 4th at the famed Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The show will be headlined by the return of ‘The King of Violence,’ “Platinum” Mike Perry, defending his bare knuckles light heavyweight title against Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens.Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, August 19th at 12:00 p.m. ET and can be purchased online at BKFC.com. BKFC-82 will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries. “It’s been a longtime coming but we’re honored to promote our first event in New Jersey and at a world class venue, Prudential Center,” said David Feldman, founder and president of the Philadelphia-based BKFC. “Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens is truly a bare-knuckle clash between two of the toughest and most popular fighters in combat sports and is the perfect headliner for the biggest event we’ve promoted since our inception in 2018. We’re also going to load up the undercard with many of our best bare-knuckle fighters and I strongly encourage fans to purchase their tickets well in advance as we expect another record setting sellout crowd.”
With an attendance of 17,762 on Saturday, January 25th at the Wells Fargo Center, KnuckleMania V set a modern-day combat sports benchmark for the city of Philadelphia.
Perry said, “a Platinum Performance is set to take place! Everyone in the Prudential Center and those watching on DAZN will feel the impact! Tune into my latest and greatest ‘King of Violence’ battle."
Stephens replied, “Delusions to reality, I said I was going to do it and I did it. Hardest hitting 145 pounder stepping up to 175 to be crowned the new King of Violence. The king of the barbarians is home.”
“As Prudential Center continues to cement itself as New Jersey’s home for marquee combat sports, hosting the inaugural Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in our state opens an exciting new chapter for our company,” said Dylan Wanagiel, a vice president at HBSE/Prudential Center. “We take pride in our diverse lineup of programming. This groundbreaking event in Newark delivers to tri-state area fight fans one of the fastest growing sports in the world.”
Perry, (5-0), made his imprint quickly in BKFC defeating bare-knuckle hardcore veteran Julian Lane over five rounds at KnuckleMania II on February 19, 2022. Following up on August 20, 2022 at London, England’s iconic Wembley Arena, Perry was victorious against hometown MMA Superstar Michael Page in a memorable clash decided by a sixth sudden-death round which instantly became an international viral sensation.
Back in the United States on April 29, 2023, Perry demolished Luke Rockhold over two rounds towards a stoppage victory. Facing off against MMA legend Eddie Alvarez on December 2, 2023, Perry battered his way towards a stoppage at the end of round two. Headlining KnuckleMania V on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA, Perry savagely stopped former BKFC World Champion Thiago Alves in the opening round.
Following a professional MMA career Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens, (3-0 in BKFC) smashed his way into the BKFC upper echelon on January 25, 2025 with a third-round stoppage of hometown legend Eddie Alvarez in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Previously Stephens had defeated Bobby Taylor on September 6, 2024 and stopped Jimmie Rivera in the third round on December 2, 2023.
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Opetaia ordered to defend vs. Cinkara |
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On August 7th, the IBF ordered its cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia (pictured), to begin negotiating a mandatory defense against Huseyin Cinkara. On August 14th, Opetaia's representative, Michael Francis of Tasman Fighters, advised that Opetaia would like to proceed to a purse bid. The IBF has now scheduled a purse bid for Tuesday, August 26th. The Australian Opetaia is 28-0 and last fought in June, a fifth-round stoppage of Claudio Squeo. Cinkara, age 40, is Turkish born but fights out of Germany. His record is 23-0 and last fought in April, a win over Juan Diaz, who was coming off a TKO loss at the time.
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Opetaia ordered to defend vs. Cinkara
On August 7th, the IBF ordered its cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia (pictured), to begin negotiating a mandatory defense against Huseyin Cinkara. On August 14th, Opetaia's representative, Michael Francis of Tasman Fighters, advised that Opetaia would like to proceed to a purse bid. The IBF has now scheduled a purse bid for Tuesday, August 26th. The Australian Opetaia is 28-0 and last fought in June, a fifth-round stoppage of Claudio Squeo. Cinkara, age 40, is Turkish born but fights out of Germany. His record is 23-0 and last fought in April, a win over Juan Diaz, who was coming off a TKO loss at the time.
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WBC Grand Prix middleweight results |
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Dylan Biggs W6 Petro Frolov... In the WBC middleweight Grand Prix tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Australia's Dylan Biggs (16-1) secured his ticket to the semifinals by unanimous decision over the Ukraine's Petro Frolov (12-2). Biggs dominated from the first round on. He also knocked down the Ukrainian to clinch the victory. In the first two rounds, Biggs focused on getting ahead on the scorecards. From the third round on, he began to fight in reverse, knowing he was winning. For his part, Frolov was brave and kept coming forward. At the beginning of the fifth round, a clash of heads opened a cut above the Ukrainian’s eyebrow, and he also suffered a knockdown in the same round. Frolov closed out the sixth with everything he had, but it wasn’t enough.
Carlos Sinisterra KO3 Ephrem Bariko... From the beginning, it was clear that the fight would end earlier than the scheduled six rounds. Colombia's Carlos Sinisterra (13-1) came from behind to win by KO. France's Ephrem Bariko (12-1) dominated the first two rounds and the beginning of the third with good, strong, and precise combinations that always landed on target. But with a two-punch combination, Sinisterra turned the fight around, leaving the Frenchman hurt. The fight ended with Sinisterra punishing his opponent on the ropes untill he wend down for the count.
Lancelot Proton de la Chappelle W6 Emiliano Aguillon... Lancelot Proton de la Chappelle (18-1-1) secured his passage to the semifinals with a close decision over Mexico's Emiliano Aguillon (13-1-1). Despite a very close fight, the Frenchman took the victory via the WBC's enhanced scoring system. Aguillon looked good in the first rounds, landing his right cross repeatedly on de la Chappelle’s face. As the fight progressed, the Frenchman adapted better and in the last rounds, he connected with more punches while rarely getting hit.
Derek Pomerleau TKO2 Dmytro Rybalko... In a short but intense fight, Derek Pomerleau (14-0) once again demonstrated great punching power, stopping the Ukraine's Dmytro Rybalko (5-1-1) in the second round. In a fight that started with a lot of caution, Pomerleau surprised everyone by finding the Ukrainian’s jaw in the second round. After a right hook landed, Pomerleau launched a powerful four-punch combination that left his opponent badly hurt. The referee stopped the fight immediately, giving Pomerleau the win by TKO.
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WBC Grand Prix middleweight results
Dylan Biggs W6 Petro Frolov... In the WBC middleweight Grand Prix tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Australia's Dylan Biggs (16-1) secured his ticket to the semifinals by unanimous decision over the Ukraine's Petro Frolov (12-2). Biggs dominated from the first round on. He also knocked down the Ukrainian to clinch the victory. In the first two rounds, Biggs focused on getting ahead on the scorecards. From the third round on, he began to fight in reverse, knowing he was winning. For his part, Frolov was brave and kept coming forward. At the beginning of the fifth round, a clash of heads opened a cut above the Ukrainian’s eyebrow, and he also suffered a knockdown in the same round. Frolov closed out the sixth with everything he had, but it wasn’t enough.
Carlos Sinisterra KO3 Ephrem Bariko... From the beginning, it was clear that the fight would end earlier than the scheduled six rounds. Colombia's Carlos Sinisterra (13-1) came from behind to win by KO. France's Ephrem Bariko (12-1) dominated the first two rounds and the beginning of the third with good, strong, and precise combinations that always landed on target. But with a two-punch combination, Sinisterra turned the fight around, leaving the Frenchman hurt. The fight ended with Sinisterra punishing his opponent on the ropes untill he wend down for the count.
Lancelot Proton de la Chappelle W6 Emiliano Aguillon... Lancelot Proton de la Chappelle (18-1-1) secured his passage to the semifinals with a close decision over Mexico's Emiliano Aguillon (13-1-1). Despite a very close fight, the Frenchman took the victory via the WBC's enhanced scoring system. Aguillon looked good in the first rounds, landing his right cross repeatedly on de la Chappelle’s face. As the fight progressed, the Frenchman adapted better and in the last rounds, he connected with more punches while rarely getting hit.
Derek Pomerleau TKO2 Dmytro Rybalko... In a short but intense fight, Derek Pomerleau (14-0) once again demonstrated great punching power, stopping the Ukraine's Dmytro Rybalko (5-1-1) in the second round. In a fight that started with a lot of caution, Pomerleau surprised everyone by finding the Ukrainian’s jaw in the second round. After a right hook landed, Pomerleau launched a powerful four-punch combination that left his opponent badly hurt. The referee stopped the fight immediately, giving Pomerleau the win by TKO.
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DKP announces date for Pulev vs. Hunter... but will the fight ever happen? |
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Promoter Don King has announced a new date and location for the WBA regular heavyweight championship fight featuring Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev defending against Michael “The Bounty” Hunter. King says the show will take place on October 4th at Miami’s Jai-Alai Fronton Casino, despite the threats of a lawsuit by [Pulev's promoter] Epic Sports and Entertainment who King says continue to spread lies that Hunter is unavailable for this fight. King, who in the spring won the $1.1 million purse bid by the WBA to stage the fight originally scheduled for August 23rd, said he still has a binding three-year contract with Hunter that was signed in February of 2024 and then was victorious in two consecutive appeals to the WBA by Epic Sports and Entertainment to prevent the fight from happening. [Hunter apparently signed to fight Jarrell Miller rather than wait for King to promote a Pulev fight, but as a result of this mess, Miller-Hunter may not ever happen].
“The threats of lawsuits continues against the WBA by Epic Sports and Entertainment,” King said in a statement. “It’s all corruption, fraud, bribery, rigged schemes and crooked scams by Epic Sports appealing to the WBA for reconsideration of the WBA purse bid, for Pulev vs Hunter, which DKP won. Now, Epic Sports is trying to change and to nullify the bout. This clouds the atmosphere with lies and the deception of the truth, fake and false news.”
King continued: “The WBA honorably stood up for their rules and regulations and declared the purse bid valid and legitimate, as held, then Epic Sports and the WBA [regular] champion Kubrat Pulev made an appeal to change the meaning of the WBA rules and regulations…The WBA honorably denied the champion Kubrat Pulev and Epic Sports, then Epic Sports rewrote the purse bid contracts just as though they had won the purse bid, and asked the WBA to dishonorably and illegally grant their appeal.”
King said now that the WBA has made its decision to uphold the purse bid decision regarding Kubrat Pulev, that, upon approval by the WBA, he has announced the October 4th date and Miami location. “However, John Wirt never stops in trying to prevent the bout, for Hunter, not to fight. Now Epic Sports, John Wirt and Ivaylo Gotzev are filing a lawsuit for the arbitrations against the WBA’s decisions of justice and fair play against their Epic Sports and Entertainment Company.
“However, DKP will not wait for that decision to come about. DKP will stand up and support the WBA’s honor and credibility in their decision for fair play and justice regarding the WBA purse bid situation. The credibility of the WBA is at stake.”
King said the October 4th card will also feature DKP fighters Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, former four-division champ Adrien “The Problem” Broner and former WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian.
Last weekend, DKP issued a cease-and-desist letter to SELA and TKO Group Holdings, Inc., after it was reported that there was a fight in the works that would pit Hunter against Jarrell Miller on September 11th during the mega-fight week featuring Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
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DKP announces date for Pulev vs. Hunter... but will the fight ever happen?
Promoter Don King has announced a new date and location for the WBA regular heavyweight championship fight featuring Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev defending against Michael “The Bounty” Hunter. King says the show will take place on October 4th at Miami’s Jai-Alai Fronton Casino, despite the threats of a lawsuit by [Pulev's promoter] Epic Sports and Entertainment who King says continue to spread lies that Hunter is unavailable for this fight. King, who in the spring won the $1.1 million purse bid by the WBA to stage the fight originally scheduled for August 23rd, said he still has a binding three-year contract with Hunter that was signed in February of 2024 and then was victorious in two consecutive appeals to the WBA by Epic Sports and Entertainment to prevent the fight from happening. [Hunter apparently signed to fight Jarrell Miller rather than wait for King to promote a Pulev fight, but as a result of this mess, Miller-Hunter may not ever happen].
“The threats of lawsuits continues against the WBA by Epic Sports and Entertainment,” King said in a statement. “It’s all corruption, fraud, bribery, rigged schemes and crooked scams by Epic Sports appealing to the WBA for reconsideration of the WBA purse bid, for Pulev vs Hunter, which DKP won. Now, Epic Sports is trying to change and to nullify the bout. This clouds the atmosphere with lies and the deception of the truth, fake and false news.”
King continued: “The WBA honorably stood up for their rules and regulations and declared the purse bid valid and legitimate, as held, then Epic Sports and the WBA [regular] champion Kubrat Pulev made an appeal to change the meaning of the WBA rules and regulations…The WBA honorably denied the champion Kubrat Pulev and Epic Sports, then Epic Sports rewrote the purse bid contracts just as though they had won the purse bid, and asked the WBA to dishonorably and illegally grant their appeal.”
King said now that the WBA has made its decision to uphold the purse bid decision regarding Kubrat Pulev, that, upon approval by the WBA, he has announced the October 4th date and Miami location. “However, John Wirt never stops in trying to prevent the bout, for Hunter, not to fight. Now Epic Sports, John Wirt and Ivaylo Gotzev are filing a lawsuit for the arbitrations against the WBA’s decisions of justice and fair play against their Epic Sports and Entertainment Company.
“However, DKP will not wait for that decision to come about. DKP will stand up and support the WBA’s honor and credibility in their decision for fair play and justice regarding the WBA purse bid situation. The credibility of the WBA is at stake.”
King said the October 4th card will also feature DKP fighters Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, former four-division champ Adrien “The Problem” Broner and former WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian.
Last weekend, DKP issued a cease-and-desist letter to SELA and TKO Group Holdings, Inc., after it was reported that there was a fight in the works that would pit Hunter against Jarrell Miller on September 11th during the mega-fight week featuring Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
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WBC Grand Prix junior welterweight results |
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Carlos Utria W6 Spencer Wilcox... Undefeated Colombian Carlos Utria continues to show himself as one of the favorites to win the junior welterweight tournament, achieving a victory by unanimous decision against Canada's Spencer Wilcox (21-1). It was a complete fight for Utria, who took charge from start to finish in Saudi Arabia. He showed a powerful and effective jab, and when he wanted to, he threw combinations of three or more punches, with most of them landing. He also punished Wilcox to the body and, towards the end of the fight, gave a masterclass in defense, a true promise of Colombian boxing.
Mujibillo Tursunov W6 Misael Cabrera... Mujibillo Tursunov and Misael Cabrera put on a real war. The Uzbeki Tursunov (8-0) claimed victory by unanimous decision. From the beginning, both fighters went for an exchange, managing to land good punches on their opponent. In the third round, after three warnings, a point was deducted from the Uzbek for low blows. Fighting at close range, both warriors engaged in an exchange of blows. Tursunov got the better of it by being more precise and landing the best combinations. Cabrera returns to Mexico with a record of 17-3-1.
Danylo Lozan W5 Sanatali Toltayev... Danylo Lozan of the Ukraine was having a very good fight, but it was stopped in the fifth round due to a second accidental headbutt that caused a second cut on the his face. It went to the scorecards where Lozan took the victory over Santali Toltayev (4-1) by majority technical decision. The fight started very fast and intense, with a lot of exchanges at a speed where Lozan (15-0) had the upper hand. Toltayev tried to close the distance to avoid punishment, but, for the first time in his pro career, he was knocked down by a punch. Two accidental headbutts in rounds four and five caused two severe cuts on Lozan’s face. Due to the last one, the fight was stopped in the fifth round.
Ntethelelo Nkosi W6 Fiorenzo Priolo... Ntethelelo Nkosi (10-2) of South Africa prevailed by unanimous decision and punched his ticket to the semifinals by defeating Italy's Fiorenzo Priolo (11-1). Priolo was knocked down in the fourth round. In the beginning, Priolo looked good, landing combinations and dodging punches, but in the fourth round, Nkosi, put him on the canvas with a right hand that landed squarely on the jaw. From there, the South African grew in confidence and took the victory.
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WBC Grand Prix junior welterweight results
Carlos Utria W6 Spencer Wilcox... Undefeated Colombian Carlos Utria continues to show himself as one of the favorites to win the junior welterweight tournament, achieving a victory by unanimous decision against Canada's Spencer Wilcox (21-1). It was a complete fight for Utria, who took charge from start to finish in Saudi Arabia. He showed a powerful and effective jab, and when he wanted to, he threw combinations of three or more punches, with most of them landing. He also punished Wilcox to the body and, towards the end of the fight, gave a masterclass in defense, a true promise of Colombian boxing.
Mujibillo Tursunov W6 Misael Cabrera... Mujibillo Tursunov and Misael Cabrera put on a real war. The Uzbeki Tursunov (8-0) claimed victory by unanimous decision. From the beginning, both fighters went for an exchange, managing to land good punches on their opponent. In the third round, after three warnings, a point was deducted from the Uzbek for low blows. Fighting at close range, both warriors engaged in an exchange of blows. Tursunov got the better of it by being more precise and landing the best combinations. Cabrera returns to Mexico with a record of 17-3-1.
Danylo Lozan W5 Sanatali Toltayev... Danylo Lozan of the Ukraine was having a very good fight, but it was stopped in the fifth round due to a second accidental headbutt that caused a second cut on the his face. It went to the scorecards where Lozan took the victory over Santali Toltayev (4-1) by majority technical decision. The fight started very fast and intense, with a lot of exchanges at a speed where Lozan (15-0) had the upper hand. Toltayev tried to close the distance to avoid punishment, but, for the first time in his pro career, he was knocked down by a punch. Two accidental headbutts in rounds four and five caused two severe cuts on Lozan’s face. Due to the last one, the fight was stopped in the fifth round.
Ntethelelo Nkosi W6 Fiorenzo Priolo... Ntethelelo Nkosi (10-2) of South Africa prevailed by unanimous decision and punched his ticket to the semifinals by defeating Italy's Fiorenzo Priolo (11-1). Priolo was knocked down in the fourth round. In the beginning, Priolo looked good, landing combinations and dodging punches, but in the fourth round, Nkosi, put him on the canvas with a right hand that landed squarely on the jaw. From there, the South African grew in confidence and took the victory.
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Yudai Shigeoka retires to assist his stricken brother |
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According to the Kyodo news agency, the boxing career of Yudai Shigeoka (pictured, right) has come to an end. The former WBC 105-pound champion announced his retirement in order to spend more time helping his younger brother Ginjiro, a former IBF 105-pound champion whose career was ended by a life-altering brain injury suffered in a bout earlier this year. Ginjiro (pictured, left) is reported to be in a three-month long state of unconsciousness following a loss to current IBF champ Pedro Taduran. Yudai's retirement came during an already-tragic time for the Japanese boxing community, which saw two of its boxers die last week from boxing injuries. Yudai was quoted as saying, "It's my duty as an older brother to brighten his [Ginjiro's] life from here on."
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Yudai Shigeoka retires to assist his stricken brother
According to the Kyodo news agency, the boxing career of Yudai Shigeoka (pictured, right) has come to an end. The former WBC 105-pound champion announced his retirement in order to spend more time helping his younger brother Ginjiro, a former IBF 105-pound champion whose career was ended by a life-altering brain injury suffered in a bout earlier this year. Ginjiro (pictured, left) is reported to be in a three-month long state of unconsciousness following a loss to current IBF champ Pedro Taduran. Yudai's retirement came during an already-tragic time for the Japanese boxing community, which saw two of its boxers die last week from boxing injuries. Yudai was quoted as saying, "It's my duty as an older brother to brighten his [Ginjiro's] life from here on."
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WBC Grand Prix featherweight results |
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Yoni Valverde W6 Yusuf Adeniji ... France's Yoni Valverde 16-0 took a victory by unanimous decision vs. Yusuf Adeniji of Nigeria in a difficult fight over six rounds. At the beginning of the first round, Valverde slipped and fell. Both boxers threw a large volume of punches, but not all of them landed. Valverde constantly sought to close the distance. Adeniji (16-1) took advantage of his long reach and tried to keep Valverde out of range. But the Frenchman was skillful and managed to get inside his opponent’s guard. The rhythm of the fight was cut short by the Nigerian’s constant clinching.
Bekizizwe Maitse W6 Iman Joshua Lee ...Bekizizwe Maitse of South Africa defeated Iman Joshua Lee of the United States by majority decision by showing great talent as a counter-puncher. Lee showed fast hands and landed punches, but the defense and counter-punching of Maitse were much better, and the referees had him ahead in the first two rounds. No matter how Lee tried to figure out his opponent, he couldn’t do it. By the fifth round, things were even, with all three judges having them tied. For the sixth round, Maitse was the one who connected more clearly. Maitse is now 9-1 while Lee suffers his first defeat in fifteen pro fights.
Muhamet Qamili W6 Troy Nash... Italy's Muhamet Qamili (17-0) edged Troy Nash of the United States in a nail-biting decision. The fight went to the tie-breaking system, and Qamili won it by the enhanced scoring system used for this tournament. In the penultimate fight of the third phase of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix, Qamili pressured Nash (5-1) throughout the fight, and although the American landed good punches, Qamili was able to get past his opponent’s guard and dictate the pace of the fight, which was a bit messy due to the constant clinching between the boxers.
Brandon Mejia W6 Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov... Brandon Mejia took the victory by unanimous decision over Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov of Uzbekistan. Mejia (11-0) is the only Mexican to advance to the semifinals of the Grand Prix tournament. From the first round, Mejia repeatedly shook Bakhtiyorov (8-1) with bombs. Both exchanged blows, but the Mexican got the better of it. Mejia Mosqueda moved well around the canvas, throwing punches from different angles that Bakhtiyorov couldn’t avoid, and that’s how he took the fight from start to finish.
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WBC Grand Prix featherweight results
Yoni Valverde W6 Yusuf Adeniji ... France's Yoni Valverde 16-0 took a victory by unanimous decision vs. Yusuf Adeniji of Nigeria in a difficult fight over six rounds. At the beginning of the first round, Valverde slipped and fell. Both boxers threw a large volume of punches, but not all of them landed. Valverde constantly sought to close the distance. Adeniji (16-1) took advantage of his long reach and tried to keep Valverde out of range. But the Frenchman was skillful and managed to get inside his opponent’s guard. The rhythm of the fight was cut short by the Nigerian’s constant clinching.
Bekizizwe Maitse W6 Iman Joshua Lee ...Bekizizwe Maitse of South Africa defeated Iman Joshua Lee of the United States by majority decision by showing great talent as a counter-puncher. Lee showed fast hands and landed punches, but the defense and counter-punching of Maitse were much better, and the referees had him ahead in the first two rounds. No matter how Lee tried to figure out his opponent, he couldn’t do it. By the fifth round, things were even, with all three judges having them tied. For the sixth round, Maitse was the one who connected more clearly. Maitse is now 9-1 while Lee suffers his first defeat in fifteen pro fights.
Muhamet Qamili W6 Troy Nash... Italy's Muhamet Qamili (17-0) edged Troy Nash of the United States in a nail-biting decision. The fight went to the tie-breaking system, and Qamili won it by the enhanced scoring system used for this tournament. In the penultimate fight of the third phase of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix, Qamili pressured Nash (5-1) throughout the fight, and although the American landed good punches, Qamili was able to get past his opponent’s guard and dictate the pace of the fight, which was a bit messy due to the constant clinching between the boxers.
Brandon Mejia W6 Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov... Brandon Mejia took the victory by unanimous decision over Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov of Uzbekistan. Mejia (11-0) is the only Mexican to advance to the semifinals of the Grand Prix tournament. From the first round, Mejia repeatedly shook Bakhtiyorov (8-1) with bombs. Both exchanged blows, but the Mexican got the better of it. Mejia Mosqueda moved well around the canvas, throwing punches from different angles that Bakhtiyorov couldn’t avoid, and that’s how he took the fight from start to finish.
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WBC Grand Prix heavyweight results |
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Keaton Gomez TKO1 Devon Young.... South Africa's Keaton Gomez didn’t disappoint and started the WBC Grand Prix quarterfinals with a first-round TKO. From the moment the fight began, Gomez (13-3) started throwing powerful punches to the American’s face that landed clean. After one minute of fighting, Young (9-1) fell to the canvas, only to get back up and receive more punishment. The referee stopped the fight after a powerful right hook.
Ahmed Krnjic W6 Tsotne Rogava ...In a close fight where both men left everything in the ring, Ahmed Krnjic defeated Tstone Rogava by majority decision. The fight started cautiously on both sides, but as the first rounds progressed, both fighters began to loosen up. The Bosnian sought to control the ring with good punches and by cornering his opponent, but Rogava counter-attacked well. As fatigue set in, the Ukrainian slowed down a bit and Krnjic (6-0) took advantage to close out the final rounds better. Rogava suffers his first career loss
Kevin Ramirez W6 Piotr Lacz... In a very close decision, the judges declared Argentina's Kevin Ramirez,\ (11-0-1) the winner after a very tight fight that was tied until the fourth round. It was a very competitive fight from the beginning. Lacz, from Poland, was constantly moving forward, trying to punish Kevin, but although his punches looked more powerful in the first round, as the fight progressed, Ramirez evened the score cards with good combinations and accurate shots. Both closed the last round in a great way, leaving everything in the hands of the judges.
Dante Stone W6 Youness Baalla... Dante Stone (21-1) took the victory by unanimous decision against Youness Baalla (2-2-1) and with that win, he secured his ticket to the semifinals. It was a very close fight in which the American, Dante Stone, showed better defense against the Moroccan, Youness Baalla. In the first rounds, Stone was effective with his fists, and although Baalla kept moving forward, he had a hard time finding his opponent, as the American simply seemed to vanish out of range.
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WBC Grand Prix heavyweight results
Keaton Gomez TKO1 Devon Young.... South Africa's Keaton Gomez didn’t disappoint and started the WBC Grand Prix quarterfinals with a first-round TKO. From the moment the fight began, Gomez (13-3) started throwing powerful punches to the American’s face that landed clean. After one minute of fighting, Young (9-1) fell to the canvas, only to get back up and receive more punishment. The referee stopped the fight after a powerful right hook.
Ahmed Krnjic W6 Tsotne Rogava ...In a close fight where both men left everything in the ring, Ahmed Krnjic defeated Tstone Rogava by majority decision. The fight started cautiously on both sides, but as the first rounds progressed, both fighters began to loosen up. The Bosnian sought to control the ring with good punches and by cornering his opponent, but Rogava counter-attacked well. As fatigue set in, the Ukrainian slowed down a bit and Krnjic (6-0) took advantage to close out the final rounds better. Rogava suffers his first career loss
Kevin Ramirez W6 Piotr Lacz... In a very close decision, the judges declared Argentina's Kevin Ramirez,\ (11-0-1) the winner after a very tight fight that was tied until the fourth round. It was a very competitive fight from the beginning. Lacz, from Poland, was constantly moving forward, trying to punish Kevin, but although his punches looked more powerful in the first round, as the fight progressed, Ramirez evened the score cards with good combinations and accurate shots. Both closed the last round in a great way, leaving everything in the hands of the judges.
Dante Stone W6 Youness Baalla... Dante Stone (21-1) took the victory by unanimous decision against Youness Baalla (2-2-1) and with that win, he secured his ticket to the semifinals. It was a very close fight in which the American, Dante Stone, showed better defense against the Moroccan, Youness Baalla. In the first rounds, Stone was effective with his fists, and although Baalla kept moving forward, he had a hard time finding his opponent, as the American simply seemed to vanish out of range.
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Spotlight on Ball vs. Goodman |
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This Saturday, August 16th, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Britain’s Nick Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) will put his WBA featherweight championship on the line for the third time, facing unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs). Ball, age 28 and from Liverpool, has cemented himself as one of the most relentless and consistent champions in the 126-pound division. His all-action, front-foot style, constant pressure and high-volume punching have made him a nightmare for anyone who shares the ring with him. After capturing the belt from Raymond Ford via split decision, Ball defended it in emphatic fashion against Ronny Ríos and ex-122-pound champ TJ Doheny. Both challengers were stopped in the tenth round. And ball is no stranger to Saudi soil, having fought there twice before.
Goodman, born in Sydney, arrives as the WBA’s mandatory challenger after climbing the ranks with wins over Doheny, Ra’eese Aleem, and Miguel Flores. At age 26, this will be Goodman's first crack at a world title. His most recent outing came on May 14th when he outpointed César Vaca over ten rounds, showcasing sharp movement, distance control, and tactical discipline.
This matchup pits Ball’s bruising, close-quarters assault against Goodman’s slick, ring-savvy approach. The Brit will look to cut off the ring and force exchanges, while the Aussie will aim to keep things at mid-range, pumping the jab and using lateral movement to stay out of harm’s way. For Goodman, avoiding the ropes and extended firefights will be crucial, as Ball is at his most dangerous when dictating pace and trading power shots.
Ball enters as the betting favorite, but Goodman’s adaptability and unblemished record make him a live underdog. For Ball, it’s a chance to further solidify his reign; for Goodman, it’s the moment to turn a promising career into a world championship legacy.
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Spotlight on Ball vs. Goodman
This Saturday, August 16th, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Britain’s Nick Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) will put his WBA featherweight championship on the line for the third time, facing unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs). Ball, age 28 and from Liverpool, has cemented himself as one of the most relentless and consistent champions in the 126-pound division. His all-action, front-foot style, constant pressure and high-volume punching have made him a nightmare for anyone who shares the ring with him. After capturing the belt from Raymond Ford via split decision, Ball defended it in emphatic fashion against Ronny Ríos and ex-122-pound champ TJ Doheny. Both challengers were stopped in the tenth round. And ball is no stranger to Saudi soil, having fought there twice before.
Goodman, born in Sydney, arrives as the WBA’s mandatory challenger after climbing the ranks with wins over Doheny, Ra’eese Aleem, and Miguel Flores. At age 26, this will be Goodman's first crack at a world title. His most recent outing came on May 14th when he outpointed César Vaca over ten rounds, showcasing sharp movement, distance control, and tactical discipline.
This matchup pits Ball’s bruising, close-quarters assault against Goodman’s slick, ring-savvy approach. The Brit will look to cut off the ring and force exchanges, while the Aussie will aim to keep things at mid-range, pumping the jab and using lateral movement to stay out of harm’s way. For Goodman, avoiding the ropes and extended firefights will be crucial, as Ball is at his most dangerous when dictating pace and trading power shots.
Ball enters as the betting favorite, but Goodman’s adaptability and unblemished record make him a live underdog. For Ball, it’s a chance to further solidify his reign; for Goodman, it’s the moment to turn a promising career into a world championship legacy.
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Yokasta Valle joins MVP roster |
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Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions continues to sign the world's top female boxers, adding Costas Rica's Yokasta Valle to its roster. Valle, age 31, last fought in March, defeating former champion Marlen Esparaza in a super flyweight bout, well over her usual 105-pound weight class. MVP wrote from its Twitter account: "We are so excited to welcome pound-for-pound superstar, three-division world champion, and current WBC minimumweight champion Yoka Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) to the Most Valuable Family! Yoka also joins her sister Naomy Valle as a Most Valuable fighter, who MVP signed in March of this year." Naomy, age 21, has compiled a 14-0 record competing as junior flyweight.
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Yokasta Valle joins MVP roster
Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions continues to sign the world's top female boxers, adding Costas Rica's Yokasta Valle to its roster. Valle, age 31, last fought in March, defeating former champion Marlen Esparaza in a super flyweight bout, well over her usual 105-pound weight class. MVP wrote from its Twitter account: "We are so excited to welcome pound-for-pound superstar, three-division world champion, and current WBC minimumweight champion Yoka Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) to the Most Valuable Family! Yoka also joins her sister Naomy Valle as a Most Valuable fighter, who MVP signed in March of this year." Naomy, age 21, has compiled a 14-0 record competing as junior flyweight.
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Kieran Farrell leaves Daniel Dubois' corner |
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Kieran Farrell will no longer train former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel "DDD" Dubois. Farrell worked with Dubois for big wins over Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua as well as Dubois' most recent fight, a KO loss to Oleksandr Usyk in a world championship unification bout. Farrell wrote on social media: "I have made the decision to part ways with Team Dubois. In the 18 months with DDD we’ve achieved so much including an unforgettable night at Wembley [the win over Joshua]. Helping DDD become world champion has been truly rewarding on a number of levels [and] I wish Daniel all the best goin forward."
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Kieran Farrell leaves Daniel Dubois' corner
Kieran Farrell will no longer train former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel "DDD" Dubois. Farrell worked with Dubois for big wins over Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua as well as Dubois' most recent fight, a KO loss to Oleksandr Usyk in a world championship unification bout. Farrell wrote on social media: "I have made the decision to part ways with Team Dubois. In the 18 months with DDD we’ve achieved so much including an unforgettable night at Wembley [the win over Joshua]. Helping DDD become world champion has been truly rewarding on a number of levels [and] I wish Daniel all the best goin forward."
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Today's WBC Grand Prix match-ups |
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Here is the line-up of fights today (Wednesday) for the third stage of the WBC Grand Prix in Boulevard City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. DAZN will televise all sixteen fights, which are six rounders.
HEAVYWEIGHTS:
Devon Young (USA) vs. Keaton Gomes (South Africa)
9-0, 7 KOs 12-3, 10 KOs
Piotr Lacz (POL) vs. Kevin Cristopher Ramirez (ARG)
14-0, 10 KOs 10-0-1, 4 KOs
Ahmed Krnjic (Bosnia) vs. Tsotne Rogava (UKR)
5-0, 4 KOs 12-0, 8 KOs
Dante Stone (USA) vs. Youness Baalla (MAR)
20-1, 13 KOs 2-1-1, 2 KOs
MIDDLEWEIGHTS:
Dmytro Rybalko (UKR) vs. Derek Pomerleau (CAN)
5-0-1, 2 KOs 13-0, 10 KOs
Dylan Biggs (AUS) vs. Petro Frolov (UKR)
15-1, 9 KOs 12-1, 4 KOs
Carlos Sinisterra Palacios (COL) vs. Ephrem Bariko (FRA)
12-1, 9 KOs 12-0, 6 KOs
Emiliano Aguillon Castro (MEX) vs. Lancelot de la Chapelle (FRA)
13-0-1, 7 KOs 17-1-1, 5 KOs
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS:
Sanatali Toltayev (KAZ) vs. Danylo Lozan (UKR)
4-0, 2 KOs 14-0, 9 KOs
Carlos Utria (COL) vs. Spencer Wilcox (CAN)
11-0, 10 KOs. 12-0, 5 KOs
Mujibilo Tursunov (UZB) vs. Misael Cabrera Urias (MEX)
7-0, 2 KOs 17-2-1, 11 KOs
Fiorenzo Priolo (ITA) vs. Ntethelelo Nkosi (South Africa)
11-0, 5 KOs 9-2, 5 KOs
FEATHERWEIGHTS:
Yusuf Adisa Adeniji (NGR) vs. Yoni Valverde Jr (FRA)
16-0, 10 KOs 15-0, 3 KOs
Iman Joshua Lee (USA) vs. Bekizizwe Maitse ((South Africa)
14-0, 8 KOs 8-1, 3 KOs
Muhamet Qamili (ITA) vs. Troy Nash (USA)
16-0, 7 KOs 5-0, 1 KO
Brandon Mejia Mosqueda (MEX) vs. Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov (UZB)
10-0, 9 KOs 8-0, 5 KOs
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Today's WBC Grand Prix match-ups
Here is the line-up of fights today (Wednesday) for the third stage of the WBC Grand Prix in Boulevard City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. DAZN will televise all sixteen fights, which are six rounders.
HEAVYWEIGHTS:
Devon Young (USA) vs. Keaton Gomes (South Africa)
9-0, 7 KOs 12-3, 10 KOs
Piotr Lacz (POL) vs. Kevin Cristopher Ramirez (ARG)
14-0, 10 KOs 10-0-1, 4 KOs
Ahmed Krnjic (Bosnia) vs. Tsotne Rogava (UKR)
5-0, 4 KOs 12-0, 8 KOs
Dante Stone (USA) vs. Youness Baalla (MAR)
20-1, 13 KOs 2-1-1, 2 KOs
MIDDLEWEIGHTS:
Dmytro Rybalko (UKR) vs. Derek Pomerleau (CAN)
5-0-1, 2 KOs 13-0, 10 KOs
Dylan Biggs (AUS) vs. Petro Frolov (UKR)
15-1, 9 KOs 12-1, 4 KOs
Carlos Sinisterra Palacios (COL) vs. Ephrem Bariko (FRA)
12-1, 9 KOs 12-0, 6 KOs
Emiliano Aguillon Castro (MEX) vs. Lancelot de la Chapelle (FRA)
13-0-1, 7 KOs 17-1-1, 5 KOs
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS:
Sanatali Toltayev (KAZ) vs. Danylo Lozan (UKR)
4-0, 2 KOs 14-0, 9 KOs
Carlos Utria (COL) vs. Spencer Wilcox (CAN)
11-0, 10 KOs. 12-0, 5 KOs
Mujibilo Tursunov (UZB) vs. Misael Cabrera Urias (MEX)
7-0, 2 KOs 17-2-1, 11 KOs
Fiorenzo Priolo (ITA) vs. Ntethelelo Nkosi (South Africa)
11-0, 5 KOs 9-2, 5 KOs
FEATHERWEIGHTS:
Yusuf Adisa Adeniji (NGR) vs. Yoni Valverde Jr (FRA)
16-0, 10 KOs 15-0, 3 KOs
Iman Joshua Lee (USA) vs. Bekizizwe Maitse ((South Africa)
14-0, 8 KOs 8-1, 3 KOs
Muhamet Qamili (ITA) vs. Troy Nash (USA)
16-0, 7 KOs 5-0, 1 KO
Brandon Mejia Mosqueda (MEX) vs. Ayubkhon Bakhtiyorov (UZB)
10-0, 9 KOs 8-0, 5 KOs
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San Antonio hosts Figueroa vs. Tennant main event on Aug. 23rd |
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Desi Martinez Promotions and Fighters First Management will present a night of boxing action on Saturday, August 23rd at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The ten-fight card will be headlined by undefeated Justin Figueroa who will duel with Jarrod Tennant in an eight-round junior middleweight matchup. Also stepping into the ring is San Antonio native Javier “Pitbull” Rodriguez who faces Brandon Cruz in eight rounds of lightweight action; lightweight contender Justin Pauldo, who matches up against streaking Said Chino in a ten-round showdown; and Edward Ortiz who takes on fellow San Antonio-resident Jose Sanchez Charles in a six-round super middleweight bout.
Figueroa (12-0, 10 KOs) will look to keep his record perfect as he returns to San Antonio for the second time as a pro, having dominated Christian Aguirre on his way to a unanimous decision in March 2024. Since then, the 26 year-old Atlantic City, New Jersey native has won four straight in his hometown, including most recently stopping Mario Gaston Rios in March. He steps in to face Tennant (9-5, 4 KOs), who’s gone the distance in losses to a pair of rising young fighters in 2025. Originally from Wisconsin and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Tennant dropped a March contest to unbeaten Cristian Cangelosi before going eight rounds with Leonardo Ruiz in June.
Rodriguez (17-3-3, 3 KOs) will compete in his hometown of San Antonio once again, after most recently returning to the Boeing Center to fight Brandon Gutierrez to a split draw in March. Previously the 31-year old had returned from an extended layoff with a unanimous decision over John Herrera in November 2024. Rodriguez first turned pro in 2011 as a teenager with a majority draw in his pro debut before reeling off a dozen consecutive wins. He’ll face San Diego’s Cruz (10-5, 7 KOs), who looks to bounce back after back-to-back defeats in his last two bouts. The 26-year-old had won four of five contests before dropping fights in August 2024 and February 2025.
Pauldo (18-2, 9 KOs) showed his mettle as a 135-pound contender in his last outing as he knocked out former champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in round eight of their February showdown. In earning that career-best victory, Pauldo showed his ability to recover from defeat, getting the big win after a split-decision defeat to Miguel Madueno in February 2024. Prior to Madueno, Pauldo had put together twelve consecutive wins since his first defeat, which came via another split-decision against Efrain Cruz in July 2015. He will be opposed by the 28 year-old Chino (25-12-2, 16 KOs), who enters this fight on a six-bout winning streak that dates back to September 2023. The 28-year-old originally hails from Tanzania and now fights out of Tennessee as he prepares to make his U.S. debut on August 23rd. Most recently, Chino scored a third-round stoppage of the then once-beaten Gael Assumani in February.
Another local aiming to impress his hometown fans, Ortiz (14-2-2, 5 KOs) looks to make it four wins in his last five outings on August 23rd. Most recently, the 33-year old scored a unanimous decision over Alejandro Avalos in May, while his last outing at this arena saw him dominate the previously unbeaten Symari Alexander in May 2023. He’ll meet another San Antonio resident in the 31 year-old Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs). Originally from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Charles has faced several contenders throughout his career, including middleweight Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez, Vito Mielnicki Jr. and former world champion Austin Trout.
Rounding out the card are a series of Texas-based boxers as Del Rio’s Jesus Martinez competes in a six-round bantamweight attraction, Fort Worth’s Joseph Almajdi matches up against Santiago Buendia in a four-round battle of unbeaten junior middleweights and local junior welterweight Isaac Bermea squares off against Pedro Pinillo in a six rounder.
Plus, San Antonio’s Ethan Perez puts his undefeated record on the line in a six-round featherweight battle against Mexico’s Osmar Rodriguez Gamez, Converse’s Ramon Soto competes in a four-round featherweight tilt against Emmanuel Saenz, and undefeated San Antonio heavyweight Oliver Guerrero meets Jerome Aiken for a four-round fight.
“I’m excited to partner once again with Desi Martinez Promotions for our second event together,” said Jolene Mizzone, the president of Fighters First Management. “Desi and his team are truly great to work with—it’s refreshing to collaborate with a promoter who truly ‘gets it.’ I can’t wait to see Justin Figueroa in his first main event title fight, and I believe Justin Pauldo is just one step away from facing the biggest names in the 135-pound division. I’m also looking forward to watching Joseph Aljamdi showcase his skills for the fans—he’s definitely one to watch for in the future. Let’s not forget about all the San Antonio talent that is being showcased on the card as well!”
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San Antonio hosts Figueroa vs. Tennant main event on Aug. 23rd
Desi Martinez Promotions and Fighters First Management will present a night of boxing action on Saturday, August 23rd at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The ten-fight card will be headlined by undefeated Justin Figueroa who will duel with Jarrod Tennant in an eight-round junior middleweight matchup. Also stepping into the ring is San Antonio native Javier “Pitbull” Rodriguez who faces Brandon Cruz in eight rounds of lightweight action; lightweight contender Justin Pauldo, who matches up against streaking Said Chino in a ten-round showdown; and Edward Ortiz who takes on fellow San Antonio-resident Jose Sanchez Charles in a six-round super middleweight bout.
Figueroa (12-0, 10 KOs) will look to keep his record perfect as he returns to San Antonio for the second time as a pro, having dominated Christian Aguirre on his way to a unanimous decision in March 2024. Since then, the 26 year-old Atlantic City, New Jersey native has won four straight in his hometown, including most recently stopping Mario Gaston Rios in March. He steps in to face Tennant (9-5, 4 KOs), who’s gone the distance in losses to a pair of rising young fighters in 2025. Originally from Wisconsin and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Tennant dropped a March contest to unbeaten Cristian Cangelosi before going eight rounds with Leonardo Ruiz in June.
Rodriguez (17-3-3, 3 KOs) will compete in his hometown of San Antonio once again, after most recently returning to the Boeing Center to fight Brandon Gutierrez to a split draw in March. Previously the 31-year old had returned from an extended layoff with a unanimous decision over John Herrera in November 2024. Rodriguez first turned pro in 2011 as a teenager with a majority draw in his pro debut before reeling off a dozen consecutive wins. He’ll face San Diego’s Cruz (10-5, 7 KOs), who looks to bounce back after back-to-back defeats in his last two bouts. The 26-year-old had won four of five contests before dropping fights in August 2024 and February 2025.
Pauldo (18-2, 9 KOs) showed his mettle as a 135-pound contender in his last outing as he knocked out former champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in round eight of their February showdown. In earning that career-best victory, Pauldo showed his ability to recover from defeat, getting the big win after a split-decision defeat to Miguel Madueno in February 2024. Prior to Madueno, Pauldo had put together twelve consecutive wins since his first defeat, which came via another split-decision against Efrain Cruz in July 2015. He will be opposed by the 28 year-old Chino (25-12-2, 16 KOs), who enters this fight on a six-bout winning streak that dates back to September 2023. The 28-year-old originally hails from Tanzania and now fights out of Tennessee as he prepares to make his U.S. debut on August 23rd. Most recently, Chino scored a third-round stoppage of the then once-beaten Gael Assumani in February.
Another local aiming to impress his hometown fans, Ortiz (14-2-2, 5 KOs) looks to make it four wins in his last five outings on August 23rd. Most recently, the 33-year old scored a unanimous decision over Alejandro Avalos in May, while his last outing at this arena saw him dominate the previously unbeaten Symari Alexander in May 2023. He’ll meet another San Antonio resident in the 31 year-old Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs). Originally from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Charles has faced several contenders throughout his career, including middleweight Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez, Vito Mielnicki Jr. and former world champion Austin Trout.
Rounding out the card are a series of Texas-based boxers as Del Rio’s Jesus Martinez competes in a six-round bantamweight attraction, Fort Worth’s Joseph Almajdi matches up against Santiago Buendia in a four-round battle of unbeaten junior middleweights and local junior welterweight Isaac Bermea squares off against Pedro Pinillo in a six rounder.
Plus, San Antonio’s Ethan Perez puts his undefeated record on the line in a six-round featherweight battle against Mexico’s Osmar Rodriguez Gamez, Converse’s Ramon Soto competes in a four-round featherweight tilt against Emmanuel Saenz, and undefeated San Antonio heavyweight Oliver Guerrero meets Jerome Aiken for a four-round fight.
“I’m excited to partner once again with Desi Martinez Promotions for our second event together,” said Jolene Mizzone, the president of Fighters First Management. “Desi and his team are truly great to work with—it’s refreshing to collaborate with a promoter who truly ‘gets it.’ I can’t wait to see Justin Figueroa in his first main event title fight, and I believe Justin Pauldo is just one step away from facing the biggest names in the 135-pound division. I’m also looking forward to watching Joseph Aljamdi showcase his skills for the fans—he’s definitely one to watch for in the future. Let’s not forget about all the San Antonio talent that is being showcased on the card as well!”
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Spotlight on Sept. 20th Fundora vs. Granadino title fight |
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On Saturday, September 20th, to be streamed live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) will look to make a third defense of her undisputed world flyweight championship against Ayelén “Piru” Granadino (12-2-4, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires. The main event that night will see Puerto Rico’s unified WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) defend his titles against Jayson “Striker” Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs) of the Philippines. Fundora’s journey into boxing came naturally. Growing up in a family with a deep boxing background, she was exposed to the sport from an early age. Training at the Olympic Training Center multiple times as an amateur and securing the 2017 National Championship, her eyes were set on becoming a world champion one day. Her brother, Sebastian Fundora, is the current WBC 154-pound champion, and her father, Freddy, has been the foundation behind their careers. With dad and older brother in her corner, Gabriela has developed a tough, disciplined mentality that reflects her upbringing. Making her professional debut in 2021, and with her combination of size, athleticism and technical skills, “Sweet Poison” has rapidly become one of the most exciting fighters in women’s boxing. In October 2023, Fundora encountered Arely Mucino, whom she defeated via knockout in the fifth round to become the new IBF flyweight titleholder.
Since becoming world champion, Fundora’s career keeps elevating to the highest levels. In November 2024, she made history by becoming boxing’s youngest four-belt undisputed champion when facing Gabriela Alaniz in dominant fashion. In her latest performance, Fundora delivered a dominant display against IBF mandatory challenger Marilyn Badillo at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, CA. From the opening bell, she showcased her reach, power and skill, proving there’s a clear gap in levels within the sport. Fundora sealed the victory with a seventh-round knockout, successfully defending her undisputed titles and cementing her role as a leader in a new era of women’s boxing.
“I’m staying 100% focused on defending my belts,” said Fundora. “Our immediate teamwork’s intelligent planning and dedicated commitment is the result of our reality.”
“Nothing is free, I have worked very hard to get here,” said Granadino. “After I beat Micaela Milagros Lujan in a final elimination for the WBA title, I knew my time had come and I am preparing accordingly. Gabriela Fundora is a great fighter and I respect her until we get in the ring. I can’t wait to bring the four championship belts back to Argentina with me.”
“We’re back in the Coachella Valley, and this time, Golden Boy is bringing the heat with a barnburner of a card,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “This action-packed doubleheader features two history-making Golden Boy fighters—Oscar Collazo and Gabriela Fundora—defending their unified and undisputed world titles against mandatory challengers. The undercard will be stacked with the next generation of Golden Boy stars. You won’t want to miss it.”
Granadino has quietly worked her way into world title contention, and now she’s ready for her biggest test yet. A seasoned competitor, Known for her toughness and assertive approach, she has gone toe-to-toe with some of the top names in women’s boxing and now finds herself on the verge of a career-defining opportunity. As she prepares to face the undefeated and undisputed champion Fundora, Granadino brings both hunger and high-level experience into the ring. With national pride on the line and years of hard work behind her, she’s looking to shock the world and bring the belts back to Argentina.
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Spotlight on Sept. 20th Fundora vs. Granadino title fight
On Saturday, September 20th, to be streamed live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) will look to make a third defense of her undisputed world flyweight championship against Ayelén “Piru” Granadino (12-2-4, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires. The main event that night will see Puerto Rico’s unified WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) defend his titles against Jayson “Striker” Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs) of the Philippines. Fundora’s journey into boxing came naturally. Growing up in a family with a deep boxing background, she was exposed to the sport from an early age. Training at the Olympic Training Center multiple times as an amateur and securing the 2017 National Championship, her eyes were set on becoming a world champion one day. Her brother, Sebastian Fundora, is the current WBC 154-pound champion, and her father, Freddy, has been the foundation behind their careers. With dad and older brother in her corner, Gabriela has developed a tough, disciplined mentality that reflects her upbringing. Making her professional debut in 2021, and with her combination of size, athleticism and technical skills, “Sweet Poison” has rapidly become one of the most exciting fighters in women’s boxing. In October 2023, Fundora encountered Arely Mucino, whom she defeated via knockout in the fifth round to become the new IBF flyweight titleholder.
Since becoming world champion, Fundora’s career keeps elevating to the highest levels. In November 2024, she made history by becoming boxing’s youngest four-belt undisputed champion when facing Gabriela Alaniz in dominant fashion. In her latest performance, Fundora delivered a dominant display against IBF mandatory challenger Marilyn Badillo at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, CA. From the opening bell, she showcased her reach, power and skill, proving there’s a clear gap in levels within the sport. Fundora sealed the victory with a seventh-round knockout, successfully defending her undisputed titles and cementing her role as a leader in a new era of women’s boxing.
“I’m staying 100% focused on defending my belts,” said Fundora. “Our immediate teamwork’s intelligent planning and dedicated commitment is the result of our reality.”
“Nothing is free, I have worked very hard to get here,” said Granadino. “After I beat Micaela Milagros Lujan in a final elimination for the WBA title, I knew my time had come and I am preparing accordingly. Gabriela Fundora is a great fighter and I respect her until we get in the ring. I can’t wait to bring the four championship belts back to Argentina with me.”
“We’re back in the Coachella Valley, and this time, Golden Boy is bringing the heat with a barnburner of a card,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “This action-packed doubleheader features two history-making Golden Boy fighters—Oscar Collazo and Gabriela Fundora—defending their unified and undisputed world titles against mandatory challengers. The undercard will be stacked with the next generation of Golden Boy stars. You won’t want to miss it.”
Granadino has quietly worked her way into world title contention, and now she’s ready for her biggest test yet. A seasoned competitor, Known for her toughness and assertive approach, she has gone toe-to-toe with some of the top names in women’s boxing and now finds herself on the verge of a career-defining opportunity. As she prepares to face the undefeated and undisputed champion Fundora, Granadino brings both hunger and high-level experience into the ring. With national pride on the line and years of hard work behind her, she’s looking to shock the world and bring the belts back to Argentina.
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Trinidad to face Parra in featherweight main event |
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Undefeated featherweight Omar Trinidad will face Lorenzo Parra in a ten-round main event on August 15th at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California. The fight will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass. Promoted by 360 Boxing Promotions, this will be Trinidad’s third fight of 2025. He holds a record of 19-0-1 with 13 KOs and is staying active as he looks to secure a world title opportunity. The 29-year-old Los Angeles native fought the same number of times last year and four times in both 2022 and 2023. In his last bout on May 17th at the Commerce Casino, Trinidad defeated Alexander Espinoza by unanimous decision over ten rounds. The judges’ scores were 100-90, 98-92, and 99-91. His opponent, Venezuelan fighter Lorenzo Parra, has a record of 23-1 with 17 KOs and has not fought in two years. His last match was in August 2023, where he secured a split decision victory over Javon Woodard Jr. at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.
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Trinidad to face Parra in featherweight main event
Undefeated featherweight Omar Trinidad will face Lorenzo Parra in a ten-round main event on August 15th at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California. The fight will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass. Promoted by 360 Boxing Promotions, this will be Trinidad’s third fight of 2025. He holds a record of 19-0-1 with 13 KOs and is staying active as he looks to secure a world title opportunity. The 29-year-old Los Angeles native fought the same number of times last year and four times in both 2022 and 2023. In his last bout on May 17th at the Commerce Casino, Trinidad defeated Alexander Espinoza by unanimous decision over ten rounds. The judges’ scores were 100-90, 98-92, and 99-91. His opponent, Venezuelan fighter Lorenzo Parra, has a record of 23-1 with 17 KOs and has not fought in two years. His last match was in August 2023, where he secured a split decision victory over Javon Woodard Jr. at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.
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Oscar Collazo books Sept. 20th title defense vs. Jayson Vayson |
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Golden Boy announced today a championship doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, September 20th, to be streamed live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. In the main event, presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions, Puerto Rico’s unified WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) will defend his titles against Jayson “Striker” Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs) of the Philippines. In the co-feature presented in association with Sampson Boxing, representing the Coachella Valley, boxing’s youngest undisputed champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) will look to make a third defense of her world championship against Ayelén “Piru” Granadino (12-2-4, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires. Tickets will go on-sale Tuesday August 12 at 10:00 a.m. PT, and can be purchased at FantasySpringsResort.com or GoldenBoy.com
“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions for giving me this opportunity to shine and defend my unified titles on September 20th in Indio, California, against a tough Filipino fighter, Jayson Vayson,” said Collazo. “All of my fans—Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Americans, everyone in Southern California—need to show up at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. It will be the perfect opportunity to dazzle and represent Puerto Rico on such a big platform. We will enter the ring very prepared, with a lot of boxing IQ. We know Vayson is a great fighter and that he will be hungry to dethrone me, but he won’t be able to, because I have worked hard to defend what is mine and represent my island with pride.”
“I want to thank everyone who was able to make this happen,” said Vayson. “I am a fighter of few words, but I am ready to show the world that I am the best and am deserving of this opportunity. I will shock the world and represent the Philippines with pride!”
Collazo is making serious noise for the lowest men's weight division in boxing. Nicknamed ‘El Pupilo,’ the 28-year-old added to Puerto Rico’s rich boxing history by becoming the fastest fighter from the island to win a world title with only seven professional fights. He secured the victory with a seventh-round knockout over former WBO champion (and currently reigning WBC champion) Melvin Jerusalem in May 2023. Since then, he’s had five successful title defenses. Now, Collazo is set to defend his belts once again. With world titles on the line and national pride at stake, the bout promises fireworks as Collazo looks to continue his reign and Vayson enters the ring for his first world title shot. Through a series of thrilling performances, ‘El Pupilo’ is firmly carving out a path to greatness with the potential to be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of his era, and a legendary figure in Puerto Rican boxing.
Filipino contender Jayson “Striker” Vayson is set to make the biggest ring walk of his career on September 20th. The bout will mark Vayson’s U.S. debut and his first shot at world championship glory. Vayson enters the fight riding a four-fight win streak, including a second-round knockout of Japan’s Ryuya Yamanaka at 108 pounds. He previously claimed a hard-fought split decision victory over India’s Nutlai Lalbiakkima. In February 2022, Vayson challenged Indonesia’s Tibo Monabesa, dropping Monabesa twice and appearing to control the bout. However, the judges awarded Monabesa a controversial decision win. After reviewing the circumstances – including a panel composed entirely of local officials – the WBC ruled the fight a no-contest and ordered a rematch, which ultimately never occurred. Now the 27-year-old from the Philippines is poised to take on one of boxing’s top champions. Vayson will be moving down to minimumweight for this world title opportunity.
“I’m staying 100% focused on defending my belts,” said Gabriela Fundora. “Our immediate teamwork’s intelligent planning and dedicated commitment is the result of our reality.”
“Nothing is free, I have worked very hard to get here,” said Ayelén Granadino. “After I beat Micaela Milagros Lujan in a final elimination for the WBA title, I knew my time had come and I am preparing accordingly. Gabriela Fundora is a great fighter and I respect her until we get in the ring. I can’t wait to bring the four championship belts back to Argentina with me.”
“We’re back in the Coachella Valley, and this time, Golden Boy is bringing the heat with a barnburner of a card,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “This action-packed doubleheader features two history-making Golden Boy fighters—Oscar Collazo and Gabriela Fundora—defending their unified and undisputed world titles against mandatory challengers. The undercard will be stacked with the next generation of Golden Boy stars. You won’t want to miss it.”
Additional details on the preliminary card will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Oscar Collazo books Sept. 20th title defense vs. Jayson Vayson
Golden Boy announced today a championship doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, September 20th, to be streamed live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. In the main event, presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions, Puerto Rico’s unified WBA / WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs) will defend his titles against Jayson “Striker” Vayson (14-1-1, 8 KOs) of the Philippines. In the co-feature presented in association with Sampson Boxing, representing the Coachella Valley, boxing’s youngest undisputed champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) will look to make a third defense of her world championship against Ayelén “Piru” Granadino (12-2-4, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires. Tickets will go on-sale Tuesday August 12 at 10:00 a.m. PT, and can be purchased at FantasySpringsResort.com or GoldenBoy.com
“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions for giving me this opportunity to shine and defend my unified titles on September 20th in Indio, California, against a tough Filipino fighter, Jayson Vayson,” said Collazo. “All of my fans—Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Americans, everyone in Southern California—need to show up at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. It will be the perfect opportunity to dazzle and represent Puerto Rico on such a big platform. We will enter the ring very prepared, with a lot of boxing IQ. We know Vayson is a great fighter and that he will be hungry to dethrone me, but he won’t be able to, because I have worked hard to defend what is mine and represent my island with pride.”
“I want to thank everyone who was able to make this happen,” said Vayson. “I am a fighter of few words, but I am ready to show the world that I am the best and am deserving of this opportunity. I will shock the world and represent the Philippines with pride!”
Collazo is making serious noise for the lowest men's weight division in boxing. Nicknamed ‘El Pupilo,’ the 28-year-old added to Puerto Rico’s rich boxing history by becoming the fastest fighter from the island to win a world title with only seven professional fights. He secured the victory with a seventh-round knockout over former WBO champion (and currently reigning WBC champion) Melvin Jerusalem in May 2023. Since then, he’s had five successful title defenses. Now, Collazo is set to defend his belts once again. With world titles on the line and national pride at stake, the bout promises fireworks as Collazo looks to continue his reign and Vayson enters the ring for his first world title shot. Through a series of thrilling performances, ‘El Pupilo’ is firmly carving out a path to greatness with the potential to be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of his era, and a legendary figure in Puerto Rican boxing.
Filipino contender Jayson “Striker” Vayson is set to make the biggest ring walk of his career on September 20th. The bout will mark Vayson’s U.S. debut and his first shot at world championship glory. Vayson enters the fight riding a four-fight win streak, including a second-round knockout of Japan’s Ryuya Yamanaka at 108 pounds. He previously claimed a hard-fought split decision victory over India’s Nutlai Lalbiakkima. In February 2022, Vayson challenged Indonesia’s Tibo Monabesa, dropping Monabesa twice and appearing to control the bout. However, the judges awarded Monabesa a controversial decision win. After reviewing the circumstances – including a panel composed entirely of local officials – the WBC ruled the fight a no-contest and ordered a rematch, which ultimately never occurred. Now the 27-year-old from the Philippines is poised to take on one of boxing’s top champions. Vayson will be moving down to minimumweight for this world title opportunity.
“I’m staying 100% focused on defending my belts,” said Gabriela Fundora. “Our immediate teamwork’s intelligent planning and dedicated commitment is the result of our reality.”
“Nothing is free, I have worked very hard to get here,” said Ayelén Granadino. “After I beat Micaela Milagros Lujan in a final elimination for the WBA title, I knew my time had come and I am preparing accordingly. Gabriela Fundora is a great fighter and I respect her until we get in the ring. I can’t wait to bring the four championship belts back to Argentina with me.”
“We’re back in the Coachella Valley, and this time, Golden Boy is bringing the heat with a barnburner of a card,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “This action-packed doubleheader features two history-making Golden Boy fighters—Oscar Collazo and Gabriela Fundora—defending their unified and undisputed world titles against mandatory challengers. The undercard will be stacked with the next generation of Golden Boy stars. You won’t want to miss it.”
Additional details on the preliminary card will be announced in the coming weeks.
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UFC signs massive broadcast deal with Paramount |
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Paramount will become the exclusive U.S. home of Ultimate Fighting Championship under a seven-year media rights deal valued at about $7.7 billion, marking the first major strategic move by the merged media giant under new CEO David Ellison. [Paramount owns a diverse portfolio of television networks, including CBS, Paramount Network, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, and Showtime. Additionally, they own streaming services like Paramount+ and Pluto TV]. Starting next year, Paramount+ will carry the complete U.S. slate of 13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights. UFC, owned by TKO Group Holdings (TKO.N), opens new tab, will also have select numbered cards simulcast on Paramount's CBS broadcast network, the companies announced on Monday. The deal builds on Ellison's commitment to increase investment in high-quality exclusive content, which he had called the "single biggest driver of subscriber growth".
Sports content, has become the cornerstone of media strategy, as cord-cutting accelerates, with rivals such as Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab and Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab also striking similar deals to strengthen their offerings.
Netflix secured a $5 billion, 10-year global deal for WWE Raw from 2025 and added two NFL Christmas Day games. Disney's ESPN extended rights with NFL, NHL, MLB and College Football Playoff. "The addition of UFC's year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win," Ellison said, calling UFC a "global sports powerhouse". Paramount will pay an average of $1.1 billion a year to TKO Group and include events at no extra cost to subscribers, shifting away from UFC's traditional pay-per-view model. It may seek UFC rights in other markets as they come up for bidding.
"They are not playing for near-term earnings outperformance, they are trying to create a long-term imprint on the future of the media industry to 'win,'" LightShed Partners analysts said.
UFC stages about 43 live events a year, reaching roughly 100 million U.S. fans and nearly 950 million households globally. Its slate includes marquee-numbered card events like UFC 300, and weekly Fight Nights.
Paramount and Skydance completed their $8.4 billion merger last week, capping a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns.
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UFC signs massive broadcast deal with Paramount
Paramount will become the exclusive U.S. home of Ultimate Fighting Championship under a seven-year media rights deal valued at about $7.7 billion, marking the first major strategic move by the merged media giant under new CEO David Ellison. [Paramount owns a diverse portfolio of television networks, including CBS, Paramount Network, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, and Showtime. Additionally, they own streaming services like Paramount+ and Pluto TV]. Starting next year, Paramount+ will carry the complete U.S. slate of 13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights. UFC, owned by TKO Group Holdings (TKO.N), opens new tab, will also have select numbered cards simulcast on Paramount's CBS broadcast network, the companies announced on Monday. The deal builds on Ellison's commitment to increase investment in high-quality exclusive content, which he had called the "single biggest driver of subscriber growth".
Sports content, has become the cornerstone of media strategy, as cord-cutting accelerates, with rivals such as Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab and Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab also striking similar deals to strengthen their offerings.
Netflix secured a $5 billion, 10-year global deal for WWE Raw from 2025 and added two NFL Christmas Day games. Disney's ESPN extended rights with NFL, NHL, MLB and College Football Playoff. "The addition of UFC's year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win," Ellison said, calling UFC a "global sports powerhouse". Paramount will pay an average of $1.1 billion a year to TKO Group and include events at no extra cost to subscribers, shifting away from UFC's traditional pay-per-view model. It may seek UFC rights in other markets as they come up for bidding.
"They are not playing for near-term earnings outperformance, they are trying to create a long-term imprint on the future of the media industry to 'win,'" LightShed Partners analysts said.
UFC stages about 43 live events a year, reaching roughly 100 million U.S. fans and nearly 950 million households globally. Its slate includes marquee-numbered card events like UFC 300, and weekly Fight Nights.
Paramount and Skydance completed their $8.4 billion merger last week, capping a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns.
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Welcome to Whyte vs. Itauma fight week |
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Queensberry fighters take starring roles when boxing returns to the forefront of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia this Saturday (August 16th), live Worldwide on DAZN. Top of the bill is a showdown between the 20- year-old Moses Itauma, possibly the future of the heavyweight division, taking on Dillian Whyte in a major test of his current credentials. Itauma defeated Mike Balogun last time out in May via a second-round stoppage. Whyte (pictured), age 37, was previously holder of the WBC interim titlen[after splitting two fights with Alex Povetkin. He has had PED issues but] challenged Tyson Fury for the full world championship at Wembley Stadium in April 2022.
Featherweight star Nick Ball, 28, will make a third defense of his WBA title when he goes up against the Australian Sam Goodman. Both are undefeated, with Ball having defended the belt he won against Ray Ford in June of last year against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny.
Goodman, age 26, was due to take on Naoya Inoue at the beginning of the year, but was forced to withdraw due to suffering a cut in sparring. He now steps up a weight for his maiden world title shot.
Back at heavyweight, another two Queensberry fighters will trade bombs when Filip Hrgovic goes up against the British champion David Adeleye.
Hrgovic, age 33, defeated Joe Joyce in April over ten rounds to bounce back from his first career defeat against Daniel Dubois, while Adeleye, 28, seized the Lonsdale belt with victory over Jeamie Tshikeva in Manchester, having previously won the English title with a first round stoppage of Solomon Dacres.
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Welcome to Whyte vs. Itauma fight week
Queensberry fighters take starring roles when boxing returns to the forefront of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia this Saturday (August 16th), live Worldwide on DAZN. Top of the bill is a showdown between the 20- year-old Moses Itauma, possibly the future of the heavyweight division, taking on Dillian Whyte in a major test of his current credentials. Itauma defeated Mike Balogun last time out in May via a second-round stoppage. Whyte (pictured), age 37, was previously holder of the WBC interim titlen[after splitting two fights with Alex Povetkin. He has had PED issues but] challenged Tyson Fury for the full world championship at Wembley Stadium in April 2022.
Featherweight star Nick Ball, 28, will make a third defense of his WBA title when he goes up against the Australian Sam Goodman. Both are undefeated, with Ball having defended the belt he won against Ray Ford in June of last year against Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny.
Goodman, age 26, was due to take on Naoya Inoue at the beginning of the year, but was forced to withdraw due to suffering a cut in sparring. He now steps up a weight for his maiden world title shot.
Back at heavyweight, another two Queensberry fighters will trade bombs when Filip Hrgovic goes up against the British champion David Adeleye.
Hrgovic, age 33, defeated Joe Joyce in April over ten rounds to bounce back from his first career defeat against Daniel Dubois, while Adeleye, 28, seized the Lonsdale belt with victory over Jeamie Tshikeva in Manchester, having previously won the English title with a first round stoppage of Solomon Dacres.
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Wednesday: round three of WBC Grand Prix |
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Phase 3: The Quarterfinals of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix will take place Wednesday, August 13th at the Cool Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-two fighters remain from 15 different countries in four different weight classes as each man attempts to set themselves apart and break into the world level. All fights will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN on Wednesday. The entire tournament is free to DAZN subscribers.
FIGHTER QUOTES
TROY NASH (USA, Featherweight)
“I’ve learned a lot from my last win, and you’re going to see all of it in my next fight. Each performance is going to be better than the last.
“I think Qamili is a tough opponent, but I don’t care how tough he is — I’m ready to do whatever it takes.
“It would mean a lot to advance to the next stage, but my goal is to be number one. Once I get there, I’ll be happy.”
SPENCER WILCOX (USA, Junior welterweight)
“(On his fiancée). She supports me in an amazing way and gives me space, which is really important. So yeah, the engagement was fun — definitely something special to experience outside of the ring. As fighters, most of our biggest celebrations are boxing-related, so this was different.
“I’ve known Derek and Erick Basran for a long time. Erick is like my best friend in boxing. It’s awesome to be part of the Boxing Grand Prix alongside them.
‘Carlos is a great fighter — I respect him like I respect anyone who steps into the ring. I hope he achieves his goals, but August 13th is my night.”
DEVON YOUNG (USA, Heavyweight)
“I heard the commentator say, ‘He’s not the best.’ I’ve got a lot to prove. I want to show everyone that I’m a great fighter — I work hard every day.
“I think Keaton is a great fighter. He’s at a high level. There’s a lot of pressure in a tournament like this.
“I’m blessed to be in this position. I just want to win it all — and inspire everyone watching to chase their dreams.
“This could launch my career. They say they’re looking for the next heavyweight champion…Hey — I’m right here.”
DANTE STONE (USA, Heavyweight)
“I work 9 to 5, like a lot of boxers starting their careers. Shoutout to all the fighters who juggle work and boxing — I see you.
“I fight everyone like they’re world champions. Like they’re Usyk or Wilder — because that’s my goal: to become a world champion.
“One of my coaches is my dad, and the other is like a grandfather to me. I always listen to them — they’re always on the same page.
“I’m going to do my best, and I hope Balla does his best too. Let’s give the fans a great fight.”
CARLOS UTRIA (Colombia, Junior welterweight)
“I trust my preparation, and I know that there are no small fighters when we step into the ring. We all have that same hunger to win, and you must respect that. I know how hard I’ve worked, I know what I want to achieve in my life, and that’s why I’m so eager. It’s not overconfidence, it’s knowing what I want. Plain and simple.
“Misael Cabrera and I promised each other that we would meet in the final. He’s the only one in the division that I talk to, and we get along really well. We set that goal for both of us, and we must meet in the final.
“I have been achieving great things thanks to the WBC Boxing Grand Prix. I am building my house and bought a car not too long ago. I hope this motivates people and that it allows people to know my story. Everything I have lived through and that I have been achieving little by little with effort and sacrifice. That fills me with joy to keep advancing.”
MISAEL CABRERA (Mexico, Junior welterweight)
“I injured my spine when I was 18…All the doctors told me back then that I would never fight again, and I went home to Ciudad Obregón. I was inactive for two years, recovering with physical therapy, and now here I am. I’m living the dream.
“I haven’t come back home, and I don’t even think about coming back until my mission is complete. I said goodbye to my parents and my siblings telling them that I wasn’t coming back, and I was serious. A lot of fighters celebrate after winning a single fight…I won’t celebrate until I win it all.
“Carlos Utria and I decided that we are going to face each other in the final. We took a picture, did a face off, and why not? We wage war inside the ring and continue being friends outside of it, just as it should be.”
EMILIANO AGUILLÓN (Mexico, Middleweight)
“I want to come back to the kind of boxing style that´s about always moving forward, the clashing that I like and that the fans love to see.
“I feel like I get grittier the more I get hit or the more I fight, going forward and looking to fight even more. I want De la Chapelle to meet me in the middle of the ring or on the ropes, wherever, and go blow by blow with each other.
“I like the new wrinkles that the WBC implemented. I like the 30-second warning before the round is over, because 10 seconds isn´t much. The 30 seconds give you more of an incentive to press forward and try more things.”
BRANDON MOSQUEDA (Mexico, Featherweight)
“The knockout can happen at any point. We are well prepared to go all six rounds and to withstand everything for as long as it´s necessary. However, we will gladly take the knockout if it comes. Why not? I have the power and quality to achieve it.
“I don´t mean to disrespect or overlook anyone, but I would like to fight Troy Nash, the American. First things first, God willing, we will prevail on August 13 and do the same in the semifinal. I may be looking forward to it a bit too much, but I would love to face Troy Nash in the final.”
CARLOS SINISTERRA (Colombia, Middleweight)
“Winning this tournament would be a great source of pride for Colombia, and both Utria and I would be very proud to reach the final and then bring the title home. I´m pretty sure that, God willing, the trophy is coming back with me.”
PIOTR LACZ (Poland, Heavyweight)
“Everything has been perfect. This is the opportunity I had been waiting for. This is a very well-organized event that hasn´t had controversies, very transparent, and a blessing that God has put in front of all of us as participants.
“That last win (in Stage 2) was personal. He dropped me when the ref said “break” — I relaxed, and he hit me. But after the fight, I checked to see if Marko was okay. That’s the sport.
“I’m motivated. I know I can shine. It’s a great opportunity to be part of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix, and I’m really happy to be here.
“I will be ready for Kevin. I’m faster and stronger. No disrespect — I just know how prepared I am. It’s going to be a great fight.”
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Wednesday: round three of WBC Grand Prix
Phase 3: The Quarterfinals of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix will take place Wednesday, August 13th at the Cool Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-two fighters remain from 15 different countries in four different weight classes as each man attempts to set themselves apart and break into the world level. All fights will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN on Wednesday. The entire tournament is free to DAZN subscribers.
FIGHTER QUOTES
TROY NASH (USA, Featherweight)
“I’ve learned a lot from my last win, and you’re going to see all of it in my next fight. Each performance is going to be better than the last.
“I think Qamili is a tough opponent, but I don’t care how tough he is — I’m ready to do whatever it takes.
“It would mean a lot to advance to the next stage, but my goal is to be number one. Once I get there, I’ll be happy.”
SPENCER WILCOX (USA, Junior welterweight)
“(On his fiancée). She supports me in an amazing way and gives me space, which is really important. So yeah, the engagement was fun — definitely something special to experience outside of the ring. As fighters, most of our biggest celebrations are boxing-related, so this was different.
“I’ve known Derek and Erick Basran for a long time. Erick is like my best friend in boxing. It’s awesome to be part of the Boxing Grand Prix alongside them.
‘Carlos is a great fighter — I respect him like I respect anyone who steps into the ring. I hope he achieves his goals, but August 13th is my night.”
DEVON YOUNG (USA, Heavyweight)
“I heard the commentator say, ‘He’s not the best.’ I’ve got a lot to prove. I want to show everyone that I’m a great fighter — I work hard every day.
“I think Keaton is a great fighter. He’s at a high level. There’s a lot of pressure in a tournament like this.
“I’m blessed to be in this position. I just want to win it all — and inspire everyone watching to chase their dreams.
“This could launch my career. They say they’re looking for the next heavyweight champion…Hey — I’m right here.”
DANTE STONE (USA, Heavyweight)
“I work 9 to 5, like a lot of boxers starting their careers. Shoutout to all the fighters who juggle work and boxing — I see you.
“I fight everyone like they’re world champions. Like they’re Usyk or Wilder — because that’s my goal: to become a world champion.
“One of my coaches is my dad, and the other is like a grandfather to me. I always listen to them — they’re always on the same page.
“I’m going to do my best, and I hope Balla does his best too. Let’s give the fans a great fight.”
CARLOS UTRIA (Colombia, Junior welterweight)
“I trust my preparation, and I know that there are no small fighters when we step into the ring. We all have that same hunger to win, and you must respect that. I know how hard I’ve worked, I know what I want to achieve in my life, and that’s why I’m so eager. It’s not overconfidence, it’s knowing what I want. Plain and simple.
“Misael Cabrera and I promised each other that we would meet in the final. He’s the only one in the division that I talk to, and we get along really well. We set that goal for both of us, and we must meet in the final.
“I have been achieving great things thanks to the WBC Boxing Grand Prix. I am building my house and bought a car not too long ago. I hope this motivates people and that it allows people to know my story. Everything I have lived through and that I have been achieving little by little with effort and sacrifice. That fills me with joy to keep advancing.”
MISAEL CABRERA (Mexico, Junior welterweight)
“I injured my spine when I was 18…All the doctors told me back then that I would never fight again, and I went home to Ciudad Obregón. I was inactive for two years, recovering with physical therapy, and now here I am. I’m living the dream.
“I haven’t come back home, and I don’t even think about coming back until my mission is complete. I said goodbye to my parents and my siblings telling them that I wasn’t coming back, and I was serious. A lot of fighters celebrate after winning a single fight…I won’t celebrate until I win it all.
“Carlos Utria and I decided that we are going to face each other in the final. We took a picture, did a face off, and why not? We wage war inside the ring and continue being friends outside of it, just as it should be.”
EMILIANO AGUILLÓN (Mexico, Middleweight)
“I want to come back to the kind of boxing style that´s about always moving forward, the clashing that I like and that the fans love to see.
“I feel like I get grittier the more I get hit or the more I fight, going forward and looking to fight even more. I want De la Chapelle to meet me in the middle of the ring or on the ropes, wherever, and go blow by blow with each other.
“I like the new wrinkles that the WBC implemented. I like the 30-second warning before the round is over, because 10 seconds isn´t much. The 30 seconds give you more of an incentive to press forward and try more things.”
BRANDON MOSQUEDA (Mexico, Featherweight)
“The knockout can happen at any point. We are well prepared to go all six rounds and to withstand everything for as long as it´s necessary. However, we will gladly take the knockout if it comes. Why not? I have the power and quality to achieve it.
“I don´t mean to disrespect or overlook anyone, but I would like to fight Troy Nash, the American. First things first, God willing, we will prevail on August 13 and do the same in the semifinal. I may be looking forward to it a bit too much, but I would love to face Troy Nash in the final.”
CARLOS SINISTERRA (Colombia, Middleweight)
“Winning this tournament would be a great source of pride for Colombia, and both Utria and I would be very proud to reach the final and then bring the title home. I´m pretty sure that, God willing, the trophy is coming back with me.”
PIOTR LACZ (Poland, Heavyweight)
“Everything has been perfect. This is the opportunity I had been waiting for. This is a very well-organized event that hasn´t had controversies, very transparent, and a blessing that God has put in front of all of us as participants.
“That last win (in Stage 2) was personal. He dropped me when the ref said “break” — I relaxed, and he hit me. But after the fight, I checked to see if Marko was okay. That’s the sport.
“I’m motivated. I know I can shine. It’s a great opportunity to be part of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix, and I’m really happy to be here.
“I will be ready for Kevin. I’m faster and stronger. No disrespect — I just know how prepared I am. It’s going to be a great fight.”
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Cuello gets interim title win in Benghazi, Libya |
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Mirco Cuello TKO2 Sergio Ríos Jiménez... Argentina has a new "regular" champion — and he needed less than two rounds to get the job done. Mirco Cuello (16-0, 13 KOs), the 24-year old from Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, captured the WBA interim featherweight title with a second-round technical knockout win over Mexico’s Sergio Ríos Jiménez (19-1, 7 KOs) on Friday night. Cuello's win came on a show at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The bout headlined the KO to Drugs event, marking a historic night for Argentine and Latin American boxing on African soil. Cuello is now the leading contender for WBA Regular Champion Nick Ball, who is set to defend against Sam Goodman on August 16th in Saudi Arabia.
From the opening bell, Cuello came out like a man on a mission. A perfectly timed straight right hand dropped Ríos in the first round, immediately putting the Mexican challenger on notice. In the second, Cuello doubled down — first with a left cross to the jaw, then with a body shot that folded Ríos in half. Referee Roberto Ramírez of Puerto Rico stopped the contest after the second knockdown, sealing the TKO.
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Cuello gets interim title win in Benghazi, Libya
Mirco Cuello TKO2 Sergio Ríos Jiménez... Argentina has a new "regular" champion — and he needed less than two rounds to get the job done. Mirco Cuello (16-0, 13 KOs), the 24-year old from Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, captured the WBA interim featherweight title with a second-round technical knockout win over Mexico’s Sergio Ríos Jiménez (19-1, 7 KOs) on Friday night. Cuello's win came on a show at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The bout headlined the KO to Drugs event, marking a historic night for Argentine and Latin American boxing on African soil. Cuello is now the leading contender for WBA Regular Champion Nick Ball, who is set to defend against Sam Goodman on August 16th in Saudi Arabia.
From the opening bell, Cuello came out like a man on a mission. A perfectly timed straight right hand dropped Ríos in the first round, immediately putting the Mexican challenger on notice. In the second, Cuello doubled down — first with a left cross to the jaw, then with a body shot that folded Ríos in half. Referee Roberto Ramírez of Puerto Rico stopped the contest after the second knockdown, sealing the TKO.
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Sanchez vs. Ajagba purse bid postponed indefinitely |
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UPDATE: The IBF announced that the Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez purse bid has been postponed until further notice.
PRIOR COVERAGE / AUG. 4, 2025: When Filip Hrgovic pulled out of the IBF heavyweight elimination process, the IBF ordered #3 ranked Efe Ajagba and #4 ranked Frank Sanchez to begin negotiations for an eliminator for the vacant #1 position. Derek Chisora sits at #2. Carl Moretti of Top Rank, representing Ajagba, confirmed that Ajagba would like to proceed straight to a purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules. The IBF initially scheduled a purse for Tuesday, August 5th but that has now been pushed back one week until August 12th. Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version.
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Sanchez vs. Ajagba purse bid postponed indefinitely
UPDATE: The IBF announced that the Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez purse bid has been postponed until further notice.
PRIOR COVERAGE / AUG. 4, 2025: When Filip Hrgovic pulled out of the IBF heavyweight elimination process, the IBF ordered #3 ranked Efe Ajagba and #4 ranked Frank Sanchez to begin negotiations for an eliminator for the vacant #1 position. Derek Chisora sits at #2. Carl Moretti of Top Rank, representing Ajagba, confirmed that Ajagba would like to proceed straight to a purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules. The IBF initially scheduled a purse for Tuesday, August 5th but that has now been pushed back one week until August 12th. Oleksandr Usyk owns all four major heavyweight titles, including the IBF version.
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WBA creates a third-string title at light heavyweight |
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Venezuelan light heavyweight Albert Ramírez (22-0, 19 KOs) stopped British-New Zealander Jerome Pampellone (19-3, 12 KOs) via seventh-round TKO at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya on Friday. The bout, originally called an eliminator by the WBA, was converted into a WBA interim title fight at the last minute. With this victory, Ramírez now holds the WBA's third-tier title. World champion Dmitry Bivol currently holds WBA recognition as super champion, while David Benavidez owns the regular belt.
Hailing from El Vigía, Mérida State, Ramírez entered the ring with an 85% knockout ratio, known for his pressure-fighting style. He had already scored two stoppage wins earlier in 2025, including a knockout of Marko Calic in Canada. The fight opened with two cautious rounds, both men probing for range and rhythm. By the fourth, Ramírez shifted gears, digging to the body and tagging Pampellone upstairs. In round six, a right hand shook Pampellone, though he managed to stay upright. The seventh was all Ramírez — a barrage of unanswered shots forced the referee to step in and wave it off.
Pampellone, London-born and based in New Zealand, came in having dropped two of his last three [which should have deterred the WBA from sanctioning this as an interim championship bout]. Battle-tested against names like Blake Caparello and Plaisakda Boonmalert, Pampellone brought grit and determination to Libya but couldn’t withstand the sustained onslaught.
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WBA creates a third-string title at light heavyweight
Venezuelan light heavyweight Albert Ramírez (22-0, 19 KOs) stopped British-New Zealander Jerome Pampellone (19-3, 12 KOs) via seventh-round TKO at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya on Friday. The bout, originally called an eliminator by the WBA, was converted into a WBA interim title fight at the last minute. With this victory, Ramírez now holds the WBA's third-tier title. World champion Dmitry Bivol currently holds WBA recognition as super champion, while David Benavidez owns the regular belt.
Hailing from El Vigía, Mérida State, Ramírez entered the ring with an 85% knockout ratio, known for his pressure-fighting style. He had already scored two stoppage wins earlier in 2025, including a knockout of Marko Calic in Canada. The fight opened with two cautious rounds, both men probing for range and rhythm. By the fourth, Ramírez shifted gears, digging to the body and tagging Pampellone upstairs. In round six, a right hand shook Pampellone, though he managed to stay upright. The seventh was all Ramírez — a barrage of unanswered shots forced the referee to step in and wave it off.
Pampellone, London-born and based in New Zealand, came in having dropped two of his last three [which should have deterred the WBA from sanctioning this as an interim championship bout]. Battle-tested against names like Blake Caparello and Plaisakda Boonmalert, Pampellone brought grit and determination to Libya but couldn’t withstand the sustained onslaught.
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Joshua mulling over a Paul fight |
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According to DAZN sports news, a showdown between two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Josua (pictured) and Youtuber-turned cruiserweight Jake 'The Problem Child' Paul appears to be edging closer. Joshua, who underwent elbow surgery in May, is seeking a return to winning ways after a fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September. Paul (21-1) is coming off a June cruiserweight win over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
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Joshua mulling over a Paul fight
According to DAZN sports news, a showdown between two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Josua (pictured) and Youtuber-turned cruiserweight Jake 'The Problem Child' Paul appears to be edging closer. Joshua, who underwent elbow surgery in May, is seeking a return to winning ways after a fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September. Paul (21-1) is coming off a June cruiserweight win over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
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Don King threatens Sela and TKO over Michael Hunter |
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Promoter Don King, who says he has a legal and binding contract with heavyweight Michael Hunter, has issued a cease and desist order to SELA and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. King won a WBA purse bid to promote the WBA regular heavyweight championship fight between Hunter, and WBA regular champion Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev and then was victorious in two consecutive appeals to the WBA by Pulev's promoter, Epic Sports and Entertainment.
King sent the cease and desist after learning of a fight scheduled for Sept. 11th between Hunter and Jarrell Miller. “They continue to disobey the WBA and it’s clear directive on the Pulev-Hunter championship fight,” said King. “Hunter is under contract to Don King Productions and he’ll be fighting for a [secondary] world championship.”
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Don King threatens Sela and TKO over Michael Hunter
Promoter Don King, who says he has a legal and binding contract with heavyweight Michael Hunter, has issued a cease and desist order to SELA and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. King won a WBA purse bid to promote the WBA regular heavyweight championship fight between Hunter, and WBA regular champion Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev and then was victorious in two consecutive appeals to the WBA by Pulev's promoter, Epic Sports and Entertainment.
King sent the cease and desist after learning of a fight scheduled for Sept. 11th between Hunter and Jarrell Miller. “They continue to disobey the WBA and it’s clear directive on the Pulev-Hunter championship fight,” said King. “Hunter is under contract to Don King Productions and he’ll be fighting for a [secondary] world championship.”
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Edmonton fighters dominate hometown BKFC event |
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) sold out its show on Saturday evening at the River Cree Resort & Casino in Edmonton, Canada. In the main event, local middleweight Drew “Wild Boy” Stuve upped his spotless record to 3-0 with a 97-second KO over Will “The Brown Bomber” Santiago. Stuve sent Santiago to the canvas twice. All of Stuve’s BKFC victories have come by stoppage. Stuve called for his shot on a future BKFC card in the United States in his post-fight interview: “I'm not here to play around. I'm here to win the belt. Get me to the States. I'm 3-0 here at home and you can see the support I have here. Who wants to see 'Wild Boy' in the States?” The Albuquerque, NM fighter Santiago is now 2-2-1 in BKFC's squared circle. Saturday’s action streamed LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
Edmonton product “Super” Chad Lucanas turned heads, stopping Tim “The Chin” Tamaki in the opening round of their lightweight contest. Lucanas logged a pair of knockdowns to the finish with just one second left in the first stanza. Lucanas is now 3-0 under the BKFC banner, with all of his wins coming by first-round stoppage. Lucanas set his sights on undefeated BKFC featherweight champion “King” Kai Stewart in his post-fight interview: “I’m going to go down in weight and play around with the 45ers. I’m coming for you, Kai Stewart. You can’t hide from me for long, my boy. I’m coming for that belt and I’m bringing it back to Edmonton.”
Another undefeated Edmonton lightweight “Hungry” Hasan Al-Ghanim needed only 22 seconds to roll through Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell, winning by lightning-fast TKO in Saturday’s Feature Fight. The Iraqi-born, 155-pounder is now 4-0 in the squared circle, with all but one of his victories coming by stoppage. The Lancaster, PA fighter Pannell is now 1-4 with BKFC. Al-Ghanim took aim at the BKFC lightweight division in his post-fight interview: “I signed a lot of contracts for this fight against top competition, but nobody signed the contract except Zach Pannell, so props to him. C'mon, 155ers. What is this? Do I have to go down to 145 to get a proper fight?”
Ukrainian-born Sherwood Park, AB heavyweight Bohdan “The Iron Hammer” Kotok smashed his way to 2-0 in BKFC with a second straight, first-round finish at the expense of Brady Meister. Kotok recorded four knockdowns in the fight before it was stopped with seven seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Meister, who hails from Great Falls, MT, falls to 2-2 in BKFC action.
Columbus, GA cruiserweight Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer climbed to 4-3 under the BKFC banner with a TKO over Kayden “The Giant” Giroux. The ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the fourth round. Giroux, who was fighting in his hometown, is now 1-1 in his bare knuckle career.
Calgary welterweight Kimani “The King” Crawford improved to 2-0 in his BKFC career with a unanimous decision over Matt “The Hawk” Socholotiuk. Two judges scored the fight 48-46 and one had it 50-44, all for Crawford, who recorded the lone knockdown of the matchup. The Montreal product Socholotiuk is now 2-2 in the Squared Circle.
Edmonton strawweight Alexandra Delgado-Lopez upped her BKFC record to 2-0 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Emma “Eazy E” Murray. Delgado-Lopez sent Murray to the canvas three times, with all three judges agreeing on the 50-42 verdict. Murray, who hails from Columbus, GA, is now 0-2 in the Squared Circle.
Edmonton welterweight Caeden “Prettiest” Scott climbed to 2-0 with a first-round TKO over Justin “The Nigerian Black Panther” Kennedy. The referee called a stop to the bout at 1:26 of the opening frame. Kennedy, a product of Toronto, was making his BKFC debut.
Calgary’s Nick “The Fury” Felber turned heads in his BKFC debut, needing just 36 seconds to knock out James “The Penetanguishene Wolverine” Dalzell in their lightweight matchup. Felber logged two knockdowns in the fight. Dalzell, who represents Penetanguishene, ON, was also making his BKFC debut.
Toronto middleweight Adam “Castle” De Freitas needed just 65 seconds to knock out Skyler Mauller in the opening bout of the night. De Freitas is now 1-2 in the Squared Circle. The Crookville, OH product Mauller falls to 1-1 in his BKFC career.
BKFC Fight Night Edmonton Results
Drew Stuve def. Will Santiago via KO in Round 1 (1:37)
Chad Lucanas def. Tim Tamaki via TKO in Round 1 (1:59)
Hasan Al-Ghanim def. Zach Pannell via TKO in Round 1 (0:22)
Bohdan Kotok def. Brady Meister via KO in Round 1 (1:53)
Joseph Creer def. Kayden Giroux via TKO in Round 4 (2:00)
Kimani Crawford def. Matt Socholotiuk via Unanimous Decision (48-46x2, 50-44)
Alexandra Delgado-Lopez def. Emma Murray via Unanimous Decision (50-42x3)
Caeden Scott def. Justin Kennedy via TKO in Round 1 (1:26)
Nick Felber def. James Dalzell via KO in Round 1 (0:36)
Adam De Freitas def. Skyler Mauller via KO in Round 1 (1:05)
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Edmonton fighters dominate hometown BKFC event
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) sold out its show on Saturday evening at the River Cree Resort & Casino in Edmonton, Canada. In the main event, local middleweight Drew “Wild Boy” Stuve upped his spotless record to 3-0 with a 97-second KO over Will “The Brown Bomber” Santiago. Stuve sent Santiago to the canvas twice. All of Stuve’s BKFC victories have come by stoppage. Stuve called for his shot on a future BKFC card in the United States in his post-fight interview: “I'm not here to play around. I'm here to win the belt. Get me to the States. I'm 3-0 here at home and you can see the support I have here. Who wants to see 'Wild Boy' in the States?” The Albuquerque, NM fighter Santiago is now 2-2-1 in BKFC's squared circle. Saturday’s action streamed LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
Edmonton product “Super” Chad Lucanas turned heads, stopping Tim “The Chin” Tamaki in the opening round of their lightweight contest. Lucanas logged a pair of knockdowns to the finish with just one second left in the first stanza. Lucanas is now 3-0 under the BKFC banner, with all of his wins coming by first-round stoppage. Lucanas set his sights on undefeated BKFC featherweight champion “King” Kai Stewart in his post-fight interview: “I’m going to go down in weight and play around with the 45ers. I’m coming for you, Kai Stewart. You can’t hide from me for long, my boy. I’m coming for that belt and I’m bringing it back to Edmonton.”
Another undefeated Edmonton lightweight “Hungry” Hasan Al-Ghanim needed only 22 seconds to roll through Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell, winning by lightning-fast TKO in Saturday’s Feature Fight. The Iraqi-born, 155-pounder is now 4-0 in the squared circle, with all but one of his victories coming by stoppage. The Lancaster, PA fighter Pannell is now 1-4 with BKFC. Al-Ghanim took aim at the BKFC lightweight division in his post-fight interview: “I signed a lot of contracts for this fight against top competition, but nobody signed the contract except Zach Pannell, so props to him. C'mon, 155ers. What is this? Do I have to go down to 145 to get a proper fight?”
Ukrainian-born Sherwood Park, AB heavyweight Bohdan “The Iron Hammer” Kotok smashed his way to 2-0 in BKFC with a second straight, first-round finish at the expense of Brady Meister. Kotok recorded four knockdowns in the fight before it was stopped with seven seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Meister, who hails from Great Falls, MT, falls to 2-2 in BKFC action.
Columbus, GA cruiserweight Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer climbed to 4-3 under the BKFC banner with a TKO over Kayden “The Giant” Giroux. The ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the fourth round. Giroux, who was fighting in his hometown, is now 1-1 in his bare knuckle career.
Calgary welterweight Kimani “The King” Crawford improved to 2-0 in his BKFC career with a unanimous decision over Matt “The Hawk” Socholotiuk. Two judges scored the fight 48-46 and one had it 50-44, all for Crawford, who recorded the lone knockdown of the matchup. The Montreal product Socholotiuk is now 2-2 in the Squared Circle.
Edmonton strawweight Alexandra Delgado-Lopez upped her BKFC record to 2-0 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Emma “Eazy E” Murray. Delgado-Lopez sent Murray to the canvas three times, with all three judges agreeing on the 50-42 verdict. Murray, who hails from Columbus, GA, is now 0-2 in the Squared Circle.
Edmonton welterweight Caeden “Prettiest” Scott climbed to 2-0 with a first-round TKO over Justin “The Nigerian Black Panther” Kennedy. The referee called a stop to the bout at 1:26 of the opening frame. Kennedy, a product of Toronto, was making his BKFC debut.
Calgary’s Nick “The Fury” Felber turned heads in his BKFC debut, needing just 36 seconds to knock out James “The Penetanguishene Wolverine” Dalzell in their lightweight matchup. Felber logged two knockdowns in the fight. Dalzell, who represents Penetanguishene, ON, was also making his BKFC debut.
Toronto middleweight Adam “Castle” De Freitas needed just 65 seconds to knock out Skyler Mauller in the opening bout of the night. De Freitas is now 1-2 in the Squared Circle. The Crookville, OH product Mauller falls to 1-1 in his BKFC career.
BKFC Fight Night Edmonton Results
Drew Stuve def. Will Santiago via KO in Round 1 (1:37)
Chad Lucanas def. Tim Tamaki via TKO in Round 1 (1:59)
Hasan Al-Ghanim def. Zach Pannell via TKO in Round 1 (0:22)
Bohdan Kotok def. Brady Meister via KO in Round 1 (1:53)
Joseph Creer def. Kayden Giroux via TKO in Round 4 (2:00)
Kimani Crawford def. Matt Socholotiuk via Unanimous Decision (48-46x2, 50-44)
Alexandra Delgado-Lopez def. Emma Murray via Unanimous Decision (50-42x3)
Caeden Scott def. Justin Kennedy via TKO in Round 1 (1:26)
Nick Felber def. James Dalzell via KO in Round 1 (0:36)
Adam De Freitas def. Skyler Mauller via KO in Round 1 (1:05)
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Hiromasa Urakawa dies from injuries sustained in bout |
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The WBO announced the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito on August 2nd at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Urakawa was stopped in the eighth round of a lightweight bout against Yoji Saito (9-4). Urakawa's career record is 10-4 so the bout was evenly matched and this was the first time he was knocked out. Boxingtalk joins the WBO in sending its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Hiromasa Urakawa.
This heartbreaking news is part of a double tragedy as it comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in a fight on the same card. Kotari was matched against Yamato Hata on August 2nd in Tokyo. The fight was declared a draw. Kotari, age 28, lost consciousness after the twelve-round bout for Hata’s OPBF super featherweight title. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency brain surgery suffering a subdural hematoma, which is another term for a brain hemorrhage. Kotari, from Nagoya, had won two consecutive eight-round fights by unanimous decision to earn this title shot. Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Shigetoshi Kotari as well as the entire Japanese boxing community.
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Hiromasa Urakawa dies from injuries sustained in bout
The WBO announced the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito on August 2nd at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Urakawa was stopped in the eighth round of a lightweight bout against Yoji Saito (9-4). Urakawa's career record is 10-4 so the bout was evenly matched and this was the first time he was knocked out. Boxingtalk joins the WBO in sending its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Hiromasa Urakawa.
This heartbreaking news is part of a double tragedy as it comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in a fight on the same card. Kotari was matched against Yamato Hata on August 2nd in Tokyo. The fight was declared a draw. Kotari, age 28, lost consciousness after the twelve-round bout for Hata’s OPBF super featherweight title. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency brain surgery suffering a subdural hematoma, which is another term for a brain hemorrhage. Kotari, from Nagoya, had won two consecutive eight-round fights by unanimous decision to earn this title shot. Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Shigetoshi Kotari as well as the entire Japanese boxing community.
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Nakatani moving up yet another weight class |
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Unbeaten WBC/IBF bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (31‑0, 24 KOs) has confirmed that his next bout will take place in the super bantamweight division (122 pounds). Nakatani made the announcement during a recent taping of WOWOW’s Excite Match SP. "Will I move up to super bantamweight for my next fight? Yes. Will I vacate my bantamweight title? Yes, I believe I will.” The segment is scheduled to air on August 11th and will include a replay of his last fight, a win over Ryosuke Nishida on June 8th in Tokyo, where Nakatani unified two bantamweight titles. Having previously held titles at flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight, Nakatani now sets his sights on becoming a four-division world champion. His latest success extended his knockout streak at bantamweight to five, dating back to his victory over Alexandro Santiago. Looking ahead, Nakatani appears to be on a swooping collision course with undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, in a potential showdown targeted for spring 2026.
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Nakatani moving up yet another weight class
Unbeaten WBC/IBF bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (31‑0, 24 KOs) has confirmed that his next bout will take place in the super bantamweight division (122 pounds). Nakatani made the announcement during a recent taping of WOWOW’s Excite Match SP. "Will I move up to super bantamweight for my next fight? Yes. Will I vacate my bantamweight title? Yes, I believe I will.” The segment is scheduled to air on August 11th and will include a replay of his last fight, a win over Ryosuke Nishida on June 8th in Tokyo, where Nakatani unified two bantamweight titles. Having previously held titles at flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight, Nakatani now sets his sights on becoming a four-division world champion. His latest success extended his knockout streak at bantamweight to five, dating back to his victory over Alexandro Santiago. Looking ahead, Nakatani appears to be on a swooping collision course with undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, in a potential showdown targeted for spring 2026.
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Ex-champ Makabu to host Manyuchi next month |
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On September 5th, Ilunga Junior Makabu and Charles Manyuchi will headline an exciting event at the Stade Des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Makabu (pictured), a former WBC cruiserweight champion, will be fighting in his home country. His pro record is 30-4 with 26 KOs. Makabu won his last fight after back-to-back losses to Badou Jack and Norair Mikaelian (both champions). Manyuchi, from Zimbabwe, holds a record of 30-5-1 with 19 KOs.
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Ex-champ Makabu to host Manyuchi next month
On September 5th, Ilunga Junior Makabu and Charles Manyuchi will headline an exciting event at the Stade Des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Makabu (pictured), a former WBC cruiserweight champion, will be fighting in his home country. His pro record is 30-4 with 26 KOs. Makabu won his last fight after back-to-back losses to Badou Jack and Norair Mikaelian (both champions). Manyuchi, from Zimbabwe, holds a record of 30-5-1 with 19 KOs.
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Team USA names roster for World Boxing Championships |
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The USA Boxing High Performance department has announced its competition roster for the 2025 World Boxing Championships, taking place in Liverpool, England, from September 4th to 14th. Fourteen athletes will travel to the inaugural championships to contend for gold medals across many weight classes. The World Boxing Championships will then take place inside M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Among the United States contingent traveling to the inaugural World Boxing Championships will be seven men and seven women competing for Team USA. Before beginning competition in Liverpool, the 14 athletes will participate in a multinational camp inside Great Britain Boxing’s training facility in Sheffield, England, from August 17 to September 1.
The 2025 USA Boxing High Performance selection procedures state that to retain a position on the High Performance Team, Team members must win a minimum of one (1) medal at an international competition within the first seven (7) months of the year. Following the High Performance procedures, a re-evaluation was conducted by the USA Boxing High Performance Department for the men’s 55-kilogram, men’s 60-kilogram, women’s 70 kilogram and women’s 75-kilogram weight classes.
Following that re-evaluation, Orlando Zamora (men’s 55 kg), Ramon Ordonez (men’s 60 kg), Isabella Winkler (women’s 70 kg) and Naomi Graham (women’s 75 kg) were selected to represent the United States in their respective weight classes in the upcoming World Boxing Championships.
A full list of Team USA’s scheduled competitors at the World Boxing Championships is listed below. The USA Boxing Elite High Performance team is currently in camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., preparing for the upcoming world championships. Athletes will depart for Sheffield, England, on Saturday, August 16, for the multinational camp. Following the two-week camp in Sheffield, the team will travel to Liverpool on Monday, September 1, to attend the competition.
For further information regarding the 2025 World Boxing Championships, including ticket information, spectator guides and event information, fans can navigate to WorldBoxingLiverpool.com.
The USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team is led by head coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Walsh is assisted by National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.) and National Development Coaches Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Nicole Burleson (Bethany, Okla.).
2025 World Boxing Championships | USA Boxing Women’s Roster:
Weight Class Athlete Name Hometown
Women’s 51 kg Jennifer Lozano Laredo, Texas
Women’s 54 kg Yoseline Perez Houston, Texas
Women’s 57 kg Alyssa Mendoza Caldwell, Idaho
Women’s 60 kg Jajaira Gonzalez Glendora, Calif.
Women’s 65 kg Morelle McCane Cleveland, Ohio
Women’s 70 kg Isabella Winkler Seattle, Wash.
Women’s 75 kg Naomi Graham Fayetteville, N.C.
2025 World Boxing Championships | USA Boxing Men’s Roster:
Weight Class Athlete Name Hometown
Men’s 55 kg Orlando Zamora Turlock, Calif.
Men’s 60 kg Ramon Ordonez Newark, N.J.
Men’s 65 kg Rene Camacho Houston, Texas
Men’s 70 kg Carlos Flowers Dover, Del.
Men’s 80 kg Robby Gonzales Las Vegas, Nev.
Men’s 90 kg Malachi Georges Teaneck, N.J.
Men’s 90+ kg Kelvin Watts Chesapeake, Va.
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Team USA names roster for World Boxing Championships
The USA Boxing High Performance department has announced its competition roster for the 2025 World Boxing Championships, taking place in Liverpool, England, from September 4th to 14th. Fourteen athletes will travel to the inaugural championships to contend for gold medals across many weight classes. The World Boxing Championships will then take place inside M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Among the United States contingent traveling to the inaugural World Boxing Championships will be seven men and seven women competing for Team USA. Before beginning competition in Liverpool, the 14 athletes will participate in a multinational camp inside Great Britain Boxing’s training facility in Sheffield, England, from August 17 to September 1.
The 2025 USA Boxing High Performance selection procedures state that to retain a position on the High Performance Team, Team members must win a minimum of one (1) medal at an international competition within the first seven (7) months of the year. Following the High Performance procedures, a re-evaluation was conducted by the USA Boxing High Performance Department for the men’s 55-kilogram, men’s 60-kilogram, women’s 70 kilogram and women’s 75-kilogram weight classes.
Following that re-evaluation, Orlando Zamora (men’s 55 kg), Ramon Ordonez (men’s 60 kg), Isabella Winkler (women’s 70 kg) and Naomi Graham (women’s 75 kg) were selected to represent the United States in their respective weight classes in the upcoming World Boxing Championships.
A full list of Team USA’s scheduled competitors at the World Boxing Championships is listed below. The USA Boxing Elite High Performance team is currently in camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., preparing for the upcoming world championships. Athletes will depart for Sheffield, England, on Saturday, August 16, for the multinational camp. Following the two-week camp in Sheffield, the team will travel to Liverpool on Monday, September 1, to attend the competition.
For further information regarding the 2025 World Boxing Championships, including ticket information, spectator guides and event information, fans can navigate to WorldBoxingLiverpool.com.
The USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team is led by head coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Walsh is assisted by National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.) and National Development Coaches Edward Fonteneaux (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Nicole Burleson (Bethany, Okla.).
2025 World Boxing Championships | USA Boxing Women’s Roster:
Weight Class Athlete Name Hometown
Women’s 51 kg Jennifer Lozano Laredo, Texas
Women’s 54 kg Yoseline Perez Houston, Texas
Women’s 57 kg Alyssa Mendoza Caldwell, Idaho
Women’s 60 kg Jajaira Gonzalez Glendora, Calif.
Women’s 65 kg Morelle McCane Cleveland, Ohio
Women’s 70 kg Isabella Winkler Seattle, Wash.
Women’s 75 kg Naomi Graham Fayetteville, N.C.
2025 World Boxing Championships | USA Boxing Men’s Roster:
Weight Class Athlete Name Hometown
Men’s 55 kg Orlando Zamora Turlock, Calif.
Men’s 60 kg Ramon Ordonez Newark, N.J.
Men’s 65 kg Rene Camacho Houston, Texas
Men’s 70 kg Carlos Flowers Dover, Del.
Men’s 80 kg Robby Gonzales Las Vegas, Nev.
Men’s 90 kg Malachi Georges Teaneck, N.J.
Men’s 90+ kg Kelvin Watts Chesapeake, Va.
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Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari dies from in-bout brain injury |
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Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari has died from a brain injury sustained during his bout with Yamato Hata on August 2nd in Tokyo. The fight was declared a draw. Kotari, age 28, lost consciousness after the twelve-round bout for Hata’s OPBF super featherweight title. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency brain surgery suffering a subdural hematoma, which is another term for a brain hemorrhage. Kotari, from Nagoya, had won two consecutive eight-round fights by unanimous decision to earn this title shot. Boxingtalk joins the WBC and its president Mauricio Sulaimán in mourning this loss. We send our condolnces to Kotari's family and friends during this difficult time.
Rest in Peace…
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Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari dies from in-bout brain injury
Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari has died from a brain injury sustained during his bout with Yamato Hata on August 2nd in Tokyo. The fight was declared a draw. Kotari, age 28, lost consciousness after the twelve-round bout for Hata’s OPBF super featherweight title. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency brain surgery suffering a subdural hematoma, which is another term for a brain hemorrhage. Kotari, from Nagoya, had won two consecutive eight-round fights by unanimous decision to earn this title shot. Boxingtalk joins the WBC and its president Mauricio Sulaimán in mourning this loss. We send our condolnces to Kotari's family and friends during this difficult time.
Rest in Peace…
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Boxxer lands broadcast deal with BBC Sport |
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BBC Sport and Boxxer announced a new broadcast deal that will see live professional boxing return to Saturday night primetime television and BBC iPlayer on a free-to-air basis. Selected undercard fights, features and behind-the-scenes content will also be available across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport social channels. The new deal opens boxing up to all audiences, making the sport more accessible than ever. Full details of the first fight, undercard and BBC Sport presenting team will be announced in the coming weeks.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said: “Bringing professional boxing back to primetime BBC television, free-to-air, and to our extensive digital platforms is an exciting moment for us and for boxing fans. Boxing is a sport that we know deeply resonates with younger audiences and this deal with Boxxer enables us to showcase the next generation of British fighters – delivering top-tier national boxing moments to all audiences, wherever and however they want it.”
Ben Shalom, Founder and CEO of Boxxer, said: “Partnering with the BBC to deliver big-time British boxing on Saturday night TV is a historic moment. We’re proud to bring the most entertaining British fighters to the biggest possible audience. This huge platform will give our fights the exposure they deserve and helps us take the sport to huge new audiences.”
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Boxxer lands broadcast deal with BBC Sport
BBC Sport and Boxxer announced a new broadcast deal that will see live professional boxing return to Saturday night primetime television and BBC iPlayer on a free-to-air basis. Selected undercard fights, features and behind-the-scenes content will also be available across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport social channels. The new deal opens boxing up to all audiences, making the sport more accessible than ever. Full details of the first fight, undercard and BBC Sport presenting team will be announced in the coming weeks.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said: “Bringing professional boxing back to primetime BBC television, free-to-air, and to our extensive digital platforms is an exciting moment for us and for boxing fans. Boxing is a sport that we know deeply resonates with younger audiences and this deal with Boxxer enables us to showcase the next generation of British fighters – delivering top-tier national boxing moments to all audiences, wherever and however they want it.”
Ben Shalom, Founder and CEO of Boxxer, said: “Partnering with the BBC to deliver big-time British boxing on Saturday night TV is a historic moment. We’re proud to bring the most entertaining British fighters to the biggest possible audience. This huge platform will give our fights the exposure they deserve and helps us take the sport to huge new audiences.”
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Topps to issue boxing trading cards |
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Topps has announced it will be issuing a set of boxing trading cards: "Our first boxing set since 1951 is here. Topps Chrome Boxing features legends, rookies and stars, and is the first boxing release in history to be officially licensed by multiple boxing promotions. Available for pre-order on August 11th." So far, Topps has shown cards featuring Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Jake Paul.
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Topps to issue boxing trading cards
Topps has announced it will be issuing a set of boxing trading cards: "Our first boxing set since 1951 is here. Topps Chrome Boxing features legends, rookies and stars, and is the first boxing release in history to be officially licensed by multiple boxing promotions. Available for pre-order on August 11th." So far, Topps has shown cards featuring Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Jake Paul.
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Granite Chin comes to Revere, MA next week |
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An August 16th show, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), takes place at Oceanside Events Center (formerly the Wonderland Ballroom) in Revere, Massachusetts. All the action will be streamed on www.bxngtv.com. Throwback fighters James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-3-1, 9 KOs) and Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (7-4, 3 KOs) will clash in the eight-round light heavyweight main event.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Quincy Firefighters Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unwavering support to firefighters and their families as they face the challenges of occupational cancer, ensuring they receive the care, resources, and assistance they need. Go to www.quincyfirecancerfoundation.com for information. “Promoting in the North Shore has been something that was always in the works, but all the pieces had to be there to put on a great event,” GCP promoter Chris Traiettiexplained. “You only get one chance to make at making a good impression. I am incredibly pleased with how this card turned out. It will be an awesome night of the area’s most popular fighters and Granite Chin will once again be raising money for a great cause, the Quincy Fore Cancer Foundation... Shea Willcox will make his home debut, and the local fight scene will come together to support our local firefighters.”
Perkins vs. Andreozzi is a terrific match-up of entertaining fighters. The 32-year-old Perkins, A gravedigger from nearby Lynn (MA), is a powerfully aggressive puncher who doesn’t mind taking a few punches to land one damaging shot, while former Massachusetts middleweight champion Andreozzi, of Swansea (MA), is a grinder who enjoys exchanging punches from start to finish.
Two of the most popular and promising prospects in New England, Everett (MA) junior welterweight “Showtime” Shea Willcox (3-0, 3 KOs) and Mansfield (MA) junior middleweight James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (19-0, 13 KOs), will fight in separate bouts on the undercard. The 23-year-old Willcox, a member of two Everett High’s Super Bowl, Division One football championship teams, is arguably the most popular pro boxer in the Northeast. A standout amateur boxer, he was also selected as the “Most Outstanding Boxer” at last year’s New England Golden Gloves Championships, in addition to being a 2018 Rocky Marciano Tournament Champion. He will throw down in a four rounder against Aldimar Silva (22-28, 14 KOs), of Brazil.
Perella, 32, was a celebrated amateur career (120-20)who captured 3 New England Golden Gloves titles, as well as a silver medal at the prestigious National PAL Tournament. The gifted fighter with one of the best nicknames will take on Saul “Navajo” Corral (31-24, 20 KOs) in an eight-round junior middleweight attraction.
Fighting on the undercard, all in four rounders, are Hyde Park (MA) junior featherweight Jennifer Perella (2-1, 1 KO), the 2024 New England Golden Gloves silver medalist, vs. Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (2-10-1, 0 KOs); unbeaten Springfield (MA) welterweight Eric “The Gladiator” Goff (7-0, 5 KOs) versus “Jabbin” Joe Wilson, Jr. (3-8, 0 KOs), Lawrence (MA) junior middleweight Dimas “Jimmy” Colon makes his pro debut versus Javonni Bennett (0-2), and South Boston cruiserweight Charlie “The City Point Sicilian” LoGrasso (1-0, 1 KO) meets Erick Alves.
Card subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at www.Granite-Chin-Promotions.ticketleap.com.
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Granite Chin comes to Revere, MA next week
An August 16th show, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), takes place at Oceanside Events Center (formerly the Wonderland Ballroom) in Revere, Massachusetts. All the action will be streamed on www.bxngtv.com. Throwback fighters James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-3-1, 9 KOs) and Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (7-4, 3 KOs) will clash in the eight-round light heavyweight main event.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Quincy Firefighters Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unwavering support to firefighters and their families as they face the challenges of occupational cancer, ensuring they receive the care, resources, and assistance they need. Go to www.quincyfirecancerfoundation.com for information. “Promoting in the North Shore has been something that was always in the works, but all the pieces had to be there to put on a great event,” GCP promoter Chris Traiettiexplained. “You only get one chance to make at making a good impression. I am incredibly pleased with how this card turned out. It will be an awesome night of the area’s most popular fighters and Granite Chin will once again be raising money for a great cause, the Quincy Fore Cancer Foundation... Shea Willcox will make his home debut, and the local fight scene will come together to support our local firefighters.”
Perkins vs. Andreozzi is a terrific match-up of entertaining fighters. The 32-year-old Perkins, A gravedigger from nearby Lynn (MA), is a powerfully aggressive puncher who doesn’t mind taking a few punches to land one damaging shot, while former Massachusetts middleweight champion Andreozzi, of Swansea (MA), is a grinder who enjoys exchanging punches from start to finish.
Two of the most popular and promising prospects in New England, Everett (MA) junior welterweight “Showtime” Shea Willcox (3-0, 3 KOs) and Mansfield (MA) junior middleweight James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (19-0, 13 KOs), will fight in separate bouts on the undercard. The 23-year-old Willcox, a member of two Everett High’s Super Bowl, Division One football championship teams, is arguably the most popular pro boxer in the Northeast. A standout amateur boxer, he was also selected as the “Most Outstanding Boxer” at last year’s New England Golden Gloves Championships, in addition to being a 2018 Rocky Marciano Tournament Champion. He will throw down in a four rounder against Aldimar Silva (22-28, 14 KOs), of Brazil.
Perella, 32, was a celebrated amateur career (120-20)who captured 3 New England Golden Gloves titles, as well as a silver medal at the prestigious National PAL Tournament. The gifted fighter with one of the best nicknames will take on Saul “Navajo” Corral (31-24, 20 KOs) in an eight-round junior middleweight attraction.
Fighting on the undercard, all in four rounders, are Hyde Park (MA) junior featherweight Jennifer Perella (2-1, 1 KO), the 2024 New England Golden Gloves silver medalist, vs. Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (2-10-1, 0 KOs); unbeaten Springfield (MA) welterweight Eric “The Gladiator” Goff (7-0, 5 KOs) versus “Jabbin” Joe Wilson, Jr. (3-8, 0 KOs), Lawrence (MA) junior middleweight Dimas “Jimmy” Colon makes his pro debut versus Javonni Bennett (0-2), and South Boston cruiserweight Charlie “The City Point Sicilian” LoGrasso (1-0, 1 KO) meets Erick Alves.
Card subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at www.Granite-Chin-Promotions.ticketleap.com.
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Boxing / MMA show set for Orange County, CA on Aug. 28th |
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Six different weight divisions-- from cruiserweight to featherweight-- headline a big seven-bout boxing / MMA Fight Club OC show on Thursday, August 28th at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. In the featured boxing match, Santa Ana’s Jesse “Lobito” Gonzalez (7-4-1 with 2 KOs) battles Carson's Christian Seals (4-2-2 with 2 KOs). How about two undefeated cruiserweights to get your attention? Yes, it will be the return of one of Fight Club OC’s favorite MMA fighters, Curtis Millender, who fought for the UFC and Bellator, and now will put on ten-ounce boxing gloves and face Anthony De La Cruz (4-0) out of Ventura.
Other boxing bouts will see the return of Alfredo Quinones (3-0-1) from is big on June 19th as he faces Hawaii's Jovan Alayon (2-0-1). Riverside's Nate Palencia returns to face Noah Davis from Hollywood. Davis is an MMA fighter making his pro boxing debut. Light Heavyweights Patrick Ogbebor and Devon Cooley will both be making their pro debut's on the 28th.
There will be two solid MMA bouts on this hybrid show, as Fullerton’s Jeong-Joo Choi faces Fontana’s Adryen Spinks, and Christopher Cruz faces Robert Duran in a bantamweight match up.
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Boxing / MMA show set for Orange County, CA on Aug. 28th
Six different weight divisions-- from cruiserweight to featherweight-- headline a big seven-bout boxing / MMA Fight Club OC show on Thursday, August 28th at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. In the featured boxing match, Santa Ana’s Jesse “Lobito” Gonzalez (7-4-1 with 2 KOs) battles Carson's Christian Seals (4-2-2 with 2 KOs). How about two undefeated cruiserweights to get your attention? Yes, it will be the return of one of Fight Club OC’s favorite MMA fighters, Curtis Millender, who fought for the UFC and Bellator, and now will put on ten-ounce boxing gloves and face Anthony De La Cruz (4-0) out of Ventura.
Other boxing bouts will see the return of Alfredo Quinones (3-0-1) from is big on June 19th as he faces Hawaii's Jovan Alayon (2-0-1). Riverside's Nate Palencia returns to face Noah Davis from Hollywood. Davis is an MMA fighter making his pro boxing debut. Light Heavyweights Patrick Ogbebor and Devon Cooley will both be making their pro debut's on the 28th.
There will be two solid MMA bouts on this hybrid show, as Fullerton’s Jeong-Joo Choi faces Fontana’s Adryen Spinks, and Christopher Cruz faces Robert Duran in a bantamweight match up.
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Boxing show planned for Zimbabwe |
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Zimbabwean bantamweight Bongani Makovora (7-5 with 3 KOs) is set to headline in Harare on August 30th. (Harare is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe. It is located in the northeastern part of the country). The 27 year-old Makovora will face Musa Kananji (2-1 with 1 KO) from Malawi on a card promoted by Judgement Day Promotions. Makovora turned professional in 2021 and won his first three bouts before running into a rough spell with four straight defeats. He has since rebounded well, winning four of his last five, only losing a decision on away ground to Tanzania's Oscar Duge this past February. If he can emerge victorious on August 30th, he can make the case that his mediocre record is deceiving.
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Boxing show planned for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean bantamweight Bongani Makovora (7-5 with 3 KOs) is set to headline in Harare on August 30th. (Harare is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe. It is located in the northeastern part of the country). The 27 year-old Makovora will face Musa Kananji (2-1 with 1 KO) from Malawi on a card promoted by Judgement Day Promotions. Makovora turned professional in 2021 and won his first three bouts before running into a rough spell with four straight defeats. He has since rebounded well, winning four of his last five, only losing a decision on away ground to Tanzania's Oscar Duge this past February. If he can emerge victorious on August 30th, he can make the case that his mediocre record is deceiving.
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Eubank vs. Benn rematch on track for November |
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According to a Ring Magazine social media post that was retweeted by Turki Alalshikh, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will meet for a rematch on November 15th at Tottenham Stadium in England. The venue will be the same as their earlier encounter, which was won by Eubank. Benn responded to the news by tweeting, "I was ready in September but I’ll be even more ready for November. See you soon, Chris Eubank Jr. #redemption." Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, bankrolled the first fight and is likely doing the same for the rematch.
In April, Eubank triumphed over Benn by unanimous decision after an exciting twelve-round battle. Both men had their moments of success, but in the end it was Eubank who came out victorious by a trio of 116-112 scorecards. It was a worthy third chapter to the family feud that includes two bouts between the boxers' father, Chris Eubank, Sr. and Nigel Benn, both former champions. In those two fights, Eubank got a win and a draw. The sons could be headed for a rematch.
If Benn does get the chance to avenge the loss, he knows exactly what he will need to do to defeat Eubank. "[It was my] first fight at 160. I had Eubank hurt multiple times, three, four times in there," the former welterweight said. "I just couldn’t get a finish. I’ll make sure for next time that a finish is there."
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Eubank vs. Benn rematch on track for November
According to a Ring Magazine social media post that was retweeted by Turki Alalshikh, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will meet for a rematch on November 15th at Tottenham Stadium in England. The venue will be the same as their earlier encounter, which was won by Eubank. Benn responded to the news by tweeting, "I was ready in September but I’ll be even more ready for November. See you soon, Chris Eubank Jr. #redemption." Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, bankrolled the first fight and is likely doing the same for the rematch.
In April, Eubank triumphed over Benn by unanimous decision after an exciting twelve-round battle. Both men had their moments of success, but in the end it was Eubank who came out victorious by a trio of 116-112 scorecards. It was a worthy third chapter to the family feud that includes two bouts between the boxers' father, Chris Eubank, Sr. and Nigel Benn, both former champions. In those two fights, Eubank got a win and a draw. The sons could be headed for a rematch.
If Benn does get the chance to avenge the loss, he knows exactly what he will need to do to defeat Eubank. "[It was my] first fight at 160. I had Eubank hurt multiple times, three, four times in there," the former welterweight said. "I just couldn’t get a finish. I’ll make sure for next time that a finish is there."
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Interim featherweight bout happening in Benghazi |
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Tomorrow (Friday, August 8th), Argentina’s Mirco Cuello (15-0, 12 KOs) will have the biggest fight of his career, squaring off against Mexico’s Sergio Ríos Jiménez (19-0, 7 KOs) for the WBA interim featherweight title. The bout will take place at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, as part of the WBA Future program, an initiative aimed at expanding professional boxing into new territories. Cuello, age 24, hails from Arroyo Seco, is coming off a TKO victory over Christian Olivo in February. A Youth Olympic medalist at Buenos Aires 2018, Cuello has wins in Uruguay and the United States. This will be his seventh straight bout outside Argentina and he now seeks to claim an interim belt on African soil. Nick Ball holds the WBA featherweight championship.
Ríos Jiménez, also unbeaten at 24, is nown for his technical skill. The Mexican is riding a 19-fight win streak and is eager to make a statement in his first fight abroad.
The undercard packs additional international action, including Albert Ramírez (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Jerome Pampellone in a WBA light heavyweight eliminator, Soufiane Oumiha vs. Francisco Fonseca at lightweight, Josué Agüero vs. Diego Alemán at junior lightweight, and Mike Pérez vs. Fernely Feliz Jr. at bridgerweight.
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Interim featherweight bout happening in Benghazi
Tomorrow (Friday, August 8th), Argentina’s Mirco Cuello (15-0, 12 KOs) will have the biggest fight of his career, squaring off against Mexico’s Sergio Ríos Jiménez (19-0, 7 KOs) for the WBA interim featherweight title. The bout will take place at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, as part of the WBA Future program, an initiative aimed at expanding professional boxing into new territories. Cuello, age 24, hails from Arroyo Seco, is coming off a TKO victory over Christian Olivo in February. A Youth Olympic medalist at Buenos Aires 2018, Cuello has wins in Uruguay and the United States. This will be his seventh straight bout outside Argentina and he now seeks to claim an interim belt on African soil. Nick Ball holds the WBA featherweight championship.
Ríos Jiménez, also unbeaten at 24, is nown for his technical skill. The Mexican is riding a 19-fight win streak and is eager to make a statement in his first fight abroad.
The undercard packs additional international action, including Albert Ramírez (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Jerome Pampellone in a WBA light heavyweight eliminator, Soufiane Oumiha vs. Francisco Fonseca at lightweight, Josué Agüero vs. Diego Alemán at junior lightweight, and Mike Pérez vs. Fernely Feliz Jr. at bridgerweight.
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Oscar Valdez to start new title quest next month |
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Former two-time champion Oscar Valdez hopes to kickstart another world title run when he returns to action against San Antonio, Texas native Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in a ten-round junior lightweight main event on Saturday, Sept. 6th at Domo Binacional in Valdez's hometown of Nogales, Mexico. A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez has not fought on home soil since 2013. “Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”
Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) captured the WBO featherweight championship with a knockout win over Matias Rueda and defended it six times. He then moved up to junior lightweight, where he scored a highlight-reel knockout against Miguel Berchelt in February 2021 to claim the WBC crown. The 34-year old suffered his first pro loss in an April 2022 unification showdown against Shakur Stevenson. He returned to form with a decision over Adam Lopez the following May, setting up an all-Mexico clash with Emanuel Navarrete in August 2023. Valdez dropped a unanimous decision to Navarrete, and following a TKO win over Liam Wilson, lost the Navarrete rematch by sixth-round knockout.
Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) went 13-0 with seven knockouts before a decision loss to eventual champion Raymond Ford in June 2022. He rebounded later that year with a first-round stoppage of Steve Garagarza and outpointed Juan Antonio Lopez the following May. Medina suffered back-to-back decision losses, first on enemy turf against SoCal native George Acosta in December 2023, then to unbeaten contender Geo Lopez last September. Medina bounced back in December by dispatching Angel Hernandez Pillado in three.
Promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Top Rank, tickets to Valdez-Medina are available now via www.xticket.mx.
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Oscar Valdez to start new title quest next month
Former two-time champion Oscar Valdez hopes to kickstart another world title run when he returns to action against San Antonio, Texas native Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in a ten-round junior lightweight main event on Saturday, Sept. 6th at Domo Binacional in Valdez's hometown of Nogales, Mexico. A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez has not fought on home soil since 2013. “Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”
Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) captured the WBO featherweight championship with a knockout win over Matias Rueda and defended it six times. He then moved up to junior lightweight, where he scored a highlight-reel knockout against Miguel Berchelt in February 2021 to claim the WBC crown. The 34-year old suffered his first pro loss in an April 2022 unification showdown against Shakur Stevenson. He returned to form with a decision over Adam Lopez the following May, setting up an all-Mexico clash with Emanuel Navarrete in August 2023. Valdez dropped a unanimous decision to Navarrete, and following a TKO win over Liam Wilson, lost the Navarrete rematch by sixth-round knockout.
Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) went 13-0 with seven knockouts before a decision loss to eventual champion Raymond Ford in June 2022. He rebounded later that year with a first-round stoppage of Steve Garagarza and outpointed Juan Antonio Lopez the following May. Medina suffered back-to-back decision losses, first on enemy turf against SoCal native George Acosta in December 2023, then to unbeaten contender Geo Lopez last September. Medina bounced back in December by dispatching Angel Hernandez Pillado in three.
Promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Top Rank, tickets to Valdez-Medina are available now via www.xticket.mx.
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