Brandon Figueroa training camp report |
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Former two-division champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will look to set himself back onto a championship path, this time with a new trainer in Manny Robles at the helm, as he takes on Joet Gonzalez as part of the PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, July 19th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Following a loss in his last outing, a WBC featherweight championship bout and rematch against Stephen Fulton Jr., Figueroa discussed the thought process of joining forces with the highly-renowned Robles. “I talked to my dad about wanting to get to the next level and said I wanted to get with the right team and grow as a fighter,” said Figueroa. “I’ve been here with Manny ever since and I’m really happy with it and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on…The chemistry with Manny has been great and I trust him. We’re just going to keep getting better and better. If this is what it takes to get to that next level, I’m gonna put in 110 percent.”
After a narrow defeat in their 2021 super bantamweight unification clash, Figueroa gotthe Fulton rematch and lost his WBC 126-pound crown in February via decision. With his new team in tow, Figueroa believes that the changes in training will help him bounce back from the loss. “I worked my butt off for my last fight, but I’ve been going harder now,” said Figueroa. “You need a great team, and it’s not that I didn’t have a great team before, but I needed something new. I don’t have my family here with me and that’s a sacrifice I had to make. I really love boxing and everything this sport represents and how everything is on you. That’s the mentality that I’m bringing into the ring.”
Although he clocks in at a tall for the weight class five-foot-nine, Figueroa stated that his aim is to regain his featherweight world championship before moving up in weight to a third division and beyond. “My goal is to become a featherweight world champion again before moving up in weight again,” said Figueroa. “We’ve been on a mission to keep conquering weight classes. Right now featherweight is where we’re at and I can’t wait until fight night.”
Despite coming in off a loss, Figueroa has taken no easy touch in his return to action, as he’s set to square off against a veteran contender at 126-pounds in Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs). All of Gonzalez’s defeats have come at the hands of world champions, and he most recently turned away fellow contender Arnold Khegai by decision in March. On top of his accomplishments, Figueroa believes that Gonzalez’s style makes him a formidable opponent who should deliver compelling action for fans.
“From what I’ve seen watching his fights, Joet is a come-forward boxer and a pressure fighter,” said Figueroa. “He’s got great work rate and great pace. He fits perfectly for my style, because I won’t have to chase him or figure him out.
“I’m very comfortable fighting on the inside. If you fight me on the inside, it’s gonna be a tough night for you. We’re two good inside fighters and we’ll see who’s better and who can capitalize on each other’s mistakes. I know he’s gonna come hungry and ready on a big card. Neither of us wants to lose on this stage. I’m gonna go out there and give it my all.”
Adding to his motivation heading into July 19th is Figueroa’s excitement to be opening up the card for the Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao. While discussing sharing the stage with a boxing legend, Figueroa recalled his fondness for Pacquiao’s battles with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Antonio Margarito, and detailed the extra onus he feels to be setting the table for Pacquiao.
“I could never have imagined when I started my career that I’d be fighting on Manny Pacquiao’s undercard,” said Figueroa, whose pro debut came one week after the famed Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao mega-event. “He fought at MGM Grand in 1998 and I was 2-years-old. That’s the first year I ever put gloves on. He’ll always be everyone’s favorite fighter at heart. He’s the people’s champ. It’s a blessing that I get to do this and be around great champions.
“The energy is just different in this fight. Everyone wants to perform with a great legend like Manny coming back. It’s historic. It’s my job to open up this card in great fashion. We’re trying to make this Fight of the Night and maybe Fight of the Year.”
To close out his feelings on stepping into the ring July 19, Figueroa believes that the whole card, littered with champions and surefire action fights, will be a celebration of the sport.
“It’s gonna be a great night of boxing,” said Figueroa. “I think this card is gonna show why we love boxing, and it’s gonna start with me. I just can’t wait.”
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Brandon Figueroa training camp report
Former two-division champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will look to set himself back onto a championship path, this time with a new trainer in Manny Robles at the helm, as he takes on Joet Gonzalez as part of the PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, July 19th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Following a loss in his last outing, a WBC featherweight championship bout and rematch against Stephen Fulton Jr., Figueroa discussed the thought process of joining forces with the highly-renowned Robles. “I talked to my dad about wanting to get to the next level and said I wanted to get with the right team and grow as a fighter,” said Figueroa. “I’ve been here with Manny ever since and I’m really happy with it and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on…The chemistry with Manny has been great and I trust him. We’re just going to keep getting better and better. If this is what it takes to get to that next level, I’m gonna put in 110 percent.”
After a narrow defeat in their 2021 super bantamweight unification clash, Figueroa gotthe Fulton rematch and lost his WBC 126-pound crown in February via decision. With his new team in tow, Figueroa believes that the changes in training will help him bounce back from the loss. “I worked my butt off for my last fight, but I’ve been going harder now,” said Figueroa. “You need a great team, and it’s not that I didn’t have a great team before, but I needed something new. I don’t have my family here with me and that’s a sacrifice I had to make. I really love boxing and everything this sport represents and how everything is on you. That’s the mentality that I’m bringing into the ring.”
Although he clocks in at a tall for the weight class five-foot-nine, Figueroa stated that his aim is to regain his featherweight world championship before moving up in weight to a third division and beyond. “My goal is to become a featherweight world champion again before moving up in weight again,” said Figueroa. “We’ve been on a mission to keep conquering weight classes. Right now featherweight is where we’re at and I can’t wait until fight night.”
Despite coming in off a loss, Figueroa has taken no easy touch in his return to action, as he’s set to square off against a veteran contender at 126-pounds in Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs). All of Gonzalez’s defeats have come at the hands of world champions, and he most recently turned away fellow contender Arnold Khegai by decision in March. On top of his accomplishments, Figueroa believes that Gonzalez’s style makes him a formidable opponent who should deliver compelling action for fans.
“From what I’ve seen watching his fights, Joet is a come-forward boxer and a pressure fighter,” said Figueroa. “He’s got great work rate and great pace. He fits perfectly for my style, because I won’t have to chase him or figure him out.
“I’m very comfortable fighting on the inside. If you fight me on the inside, it’s gonna be a tough night for you. We’re two good inside fighters and we’ll see who’s better and who can capitalize on each other’s mistakes. I know he’s gonna come hungry and ready on a big card. Neither of us wants to lose on this stage. I’m gonna go out there and give it my all.”
Adding to his motivation heading into July 19th is Figueroa’s excitement to be opening up the card for the Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao. While discussing sharing the stage with a boxing legend, Figueroa recalled his fondness for Pacquiao’s battles with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Antonio Margarito, and detailed the extra onus he feels to be setting the table for Pacquiao.
“I could never have imagined when I started my career that I’d be fighting on Manny Pacquiao’s undercard,” said Figueroa, whose pro debut came one week after the famed Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao mega-event. “He fought at MGM Grand in 1998 and I was 2-years-old. That’s the first year I ever put gloves on. He’ll always be everyone’s favorite fighter at heart. He’s the people’s champ. It’s a blessing that I get to do this and be around great champions.
“The energy is just different in this fight. Everyone wants to perform with a great legend like Manny coming back. It’s historic. It’s my job to open up this card in great fashion. We’re trying to make this Fight of the Night and maybe Fight of the Year.”
To close out his feelings on stepping into the ring July 19, Figueroa believes that the whole card, littered with champions and surefire action fights, will be a celebration of the sport.
“It’s gonna be a great night of boxing,” said Figueroa. “I think this card is gonna show why we love boxing, and it’s gonna start with me. I just can’t wait.”
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Haney poised to challenge Norman for welterweight title |
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Turki Alalshikh, Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and the most powerful man in boxing, informally announced on social media that WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman will be defending his title vs. Devin Haney (pictured) in a battle on undefeated boxers, with Haney attempting to become a three-division champion. Alalshikh tweeted, "Thank you to [promoter] Bob Arum and [his company] Top Rank for working with us and Riyadh Season to deliver their [WBO welterweight] champion, Brian Norman, in a title defense vs. Devin Haney in November. More to come with Top Rank."
Haney, a former two-division champion, won his last fight vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez but fought very reluctantly and has received criticism for his safety-first style in that bout. Haney's strategy was very understandable in light his prior fight, in which he took a lot of punishment from an illegally enhanced Ryan Garcia. That fight was declared a no contest after Garcia tested positive for perfomrance enhancing substances. While the loss came off Haney's record, the punishment to his body did not. Haney's record as a pro is 32-0 with the one no contest vs. Garcia.
In his last fight, Norman defended his title with a concussive fifth-round knockout of hometown challenger Jin Sasaki at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo. This marked the second successful defense for the 24-year-old Norman (28-0, 22 KOs), an Atlanta native and boxing's youngest male world champion. Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) saw his nine-fight unbeaten streak end at the hands of Norman, who unleashed a powerful left hook that left him on the canvas for several minutes. “It was a wonderful fight. I had a great opponent in front of me. You all seen he got heart. That boy is not a slouch at all. I give nothing but props to him. I love ya’ll over here in Japan. I’d gladly come back," Norman said. “I knew whatever he was bringing to the table, I’m a champion for a reason. As you saw, I showed that.”
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Haney poised to challenge Norman for welterweight title
Turki Alalshikh, Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia and the most powerful man in boxing, informally announced on social media that WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman will be defending his title vs. Devin Haney (pictured) in a battle on undefeated boxers, with Haney attempting to become a three-division champion. Alalshikh tweeted, "Thank you to [promoter] Bob Arum and [his company] Top Rank for working with us and Riyadh Season to deliver their [WBO welterweight] champion, Brian Norman, in a title defense vs. Devin Haney in November. More to come with Top Rank."
Haney, a former two-division champion, won his last fight vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez but fought very reluctantly and has received criticism for his safety-first style in that bout. Haney's strategy was very understandable in light his prior fight, in which he took a lot of punishment from an illegally enhanced Ryan Garcia. That fight was declared a no contest after Garcia tested positive for perfomrance enhancing substances. While the loss came off Haney's record, the punishment to his body did not. Haney's record as a pro is 32-0 with the one no contest vs. Garcia.
In his last fight, Norman defended his title with a concussive fifth-round knockout of hometown challenger Jin Sasaki at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo. This marked the second successful defense for the 24-year-old Norman (28-0, 22 KOs), an Atlanta native and boxing's youngest male world champion. Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) saw his nine-fight unbeaten streak end at the hands of Norman, who unleashed a powerful left hook that left him on the canvas for several minutes. “It was a wonderful fight. I had a great opponent in front of me. You all seen he got heart. That boy is not a slouch at all. I give nothing but props to him. I love ya’ll over here in Japan. I’d gladly come back," Norman said. “I knew whatever he was bringing to the table, I’m a champion for a reason. As you saw, I showed that.”
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Vergil Ortiz rips Jake Paul "circus" |
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Vergil Ortiz (pictured), holder of the WBC interim junior middleweight title tweeted the following in the wake of Jake Paul's victory over a very unaggressive Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.: "Jake Paul is scamming the entire world with his circus fights selling them as real fights but the entire world continues to eat it all up and then have the nerve to be disappointed because the circus fights they pay to watch aren’t real fights. He is single handedly destroying the sport and everyone else is enabling it. You guys are going to continue covering and watching the circuses hoping for the umpeenth time that this circus will be real. What is it called again when you keep doing the same thing expecting different results? You have to applaud Jake Paul for keeping up the charade this long and for having everyone else still believe it."
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Vergil Ortiz rips Jake Paul "circus"
Vergil Ortiz (pictured), holder of the WBC interim junior middleweight title tweeted the following in the wake of Jake Paul's victory over a very unaggressive Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.: "Jake Paul is scamming the entire world with his circus fights selling them as real fights but the entire world continues to eat it all up and then have the nerve to be disappointed because the circus fights they pay to watch aren’t real fights. He is single handedly destroying the sport and everyone else is enabling it. You guys are going to continue covering and watching the circuses hoping for the umpeenth time that this circus will be real. What is it called again when you keep doing the same thing expecting different results? You have to applaud Jake Paul for keeping up the charade this long and for having everyone else still believe it."
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Mercado prepping for July unification bout vs. Scotney |
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Hailing from Ciudad Cuauhtémoc in Chihuahua, Mexico, Yamileth "Yeimi" Mercado (pictured) has held the WBC super bantamweight world title since November 2019, when she dethroned Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika. Since then, she’s racked up seven successful title defenses, highlighted by her most recent win, a unanimous decision in June 2024 over Ramla Ali. With a professional record of 24 wins, 3 losses and 5 KOs, Mercado has solidified her position as a force in Mexican women’s boxing. Her aggressive yet technical style, coupled with her unwavering discipline, has been honed under the tutelage of Zanfer Boxing, one of Latin America’s premier promoters.
“Yeimi’s” story also underscores her sheer determination: due to limited amateur activity in her region, she turned professional at just 16 years old after a brief but impactful stint in amateur boxing. Mercado also pursued a nursing degree, juggling her training sessions with hospital rotations. She even woke up at 3 AM to train before heading to the hospital, allowing her to hit the books and throw punches simultaneously.
Mercado, is now bracing for the biggest challenge of her career: a unification bout against the UK’s Ellie Scotney, the IBF and WBO champion. The fight is slated for Friday, July 11th 2025, at New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. It will be a featured bout on the highly anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III card.
The clash with Scotney, who is undefeated fighter in ten fights, presents a historic opportunity for Mercado to become a unified champion and pave the way for an eventual undisputed championship in a division where Mexico has maintained a strong foothold. [The WBA champion is Mayelli Flores Rosquero of Mexico]. The event, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in association with Matchroom Boxing and Zanfer Boxing, is shaping up to be the year’s most significant date for women’s boxing.
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Mercado prepping for July unification bout vs. Scotney
Hailing from Ciudad Cuauhtémoc in Chihuahua, Mexico, Yamileth "Yeimi" Mercado (pictured) has held the WBC super bantamweight world title since November 2019, when she dethroned Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika. Since then, she’s racked up seven successful title defenses, highlighted by her most recent win, a unanimous decision in June 2024 over Ramla Ali. With a professional record of 24 wins, 3 losses and 5 KOs, Mercado has solidified her position as a force in Mexican women’s boxing. Her aggressive yet technical style, coupled with her unwavering discipline, has been honed under the tutelage of Zanfer Boxing, one of Latin America’s premier promoters.
“Yeimi’s” story also underscores her sheer determination: due to limited amateur activity in her region, she turned professional at just 16 years old after a brief but impactful stint in amateur boxing. Mercado also pursued a nursing degree, juggling her training sessions with hospital rotations. She even woke up at 3 AM to train before heading to the hospital, allowing her to hit the books and throw punches simultaneously.
Mercado, is now bracing for the biggest challenge of her career: a unification bout against the UK’s Ellie Scotney, the IBF and WBO champion. The fight is slated for Friday, July 11th 2025, at New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. It will be a featured bout on the highly anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III card.
The clash with Scotney, who is undefeated fighter in ten fights, presents a historic opportunity for Mercado to become a unified champion and pave the way for an eventual undisputed championship in a division where Mexico has maintained a strong foothold. [The WBA champion is Mayelli Flores Rosquero of Mexico]. The event, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in association with Matchroom Boxing and Zanfer Boxing, is shaping up to be the year’s most significant date for women’s boxing.
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Turkiye vs. Colombia bouts result in 1-1 split |
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Avni Yildirim KO3 Jhon Caicedo... On Thursday at the Sinan Erdem Sports Complex in Istanbul, Avni Yildirim (27-5) defeated Jhon Caicedo in a light heavyweight bout. The previously unbeaten Caicedo was beating the Turk on the scorecards in the first round, but by the second, Caicedo (13-1) no longer had the strength to maintain the advantage. Yildirim, best known for being easy pickings against Canelo Alvarez, quickly turned the fight around by knocking Caicedo out. The Colombian fell twice in the second round and once in the third.
Juan Diego Ortiz TKO2 Serhat Guler... In the main event, another Colombian, Juan Diego Ortiz, defeated local favorite Serhat Guler in a middleweight contest. The fight lasted only two rounds because Ortiz knocked the Guler down twice, with the second one being enough for the referee to stop the fight. Ortiz returns home 10-1, while Guler drops to 8-2.
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Turkiye vs. Colombia bouts result in 1-1 split
Avni Yildirim KO3 Jhon Caicedo... On Thursday at the Sinan Erdem Sports Complex in Istanbul, Avni Yildirim (27-5) defeated Jhon Caicedo in a light heavyweight bout. The previously unbeaten Caicedo was beating the Turk on the scorecards in the first round, but by the second, Caicedo (13-1) no longer had the strength to maintain the advantage. Yildirim, best known for being easy pickings against Canelo Alvarez, quickly turned the fight around by knocking Caicedo out. The Colombian fell twice in the second round and once in the third.
Juan Diego Ortiz TKO2 Serhat Guler... In the main event, another Colombian, Juan Diego Ortiz, defeated local favorite Serhat Guler in a middleweight contest. The fight lasted only two rounds because Ortiz knocked the Guler down twice, with the second one being enough for the referee to stop the fight. Ortiz returns home 10-1, while Guler drops to 8-2.
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South African boxing update |
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Akani Sambu W10 Sabelo Cebekhulu... On Friday in Thohoyandou, South Africa, Akani Sambu fended off the challenge of compatriot Sabelo Cebekhulu, winning a controversial split decision. The 118-pound contest headlined “Survival of the Fittest”, a card promoted by Mama Rocks Boxing Promotions at the Khoroni Hotel Casino. Sambu started strongly, flooring Cebekhulu in round two with a left hook, but it was an even fight midway through and when Cebekhulu took over in the second half and scored a knockdown of his own in round seven, it looked like the decision could go either way. Judge Phumeza Zinakile scored it 95-93 for the challenger, but he was overruled by judges Mike Phiri and Gezani Hlungwane, who had it 95-93 and a much too wide 97-91 for Sambu. Sambu improved his pro record to 7-1-1 with 3 KOs. Cebekhulu falls to 7-2 with 3. KOs.
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South African boxing update
Akani Sambu W10 Sabelo Cebekhulu... On Friday in Thohoyandou, South Africa, Akani Sambu fended off the challenge of compatriot Sabelo Cebekhulu, winning a controversial split decision. The 118-pound contest headlined “Survival of the Fittest”, a card promoted by Mama Rocks Boxing Promotions at the Khoroni Hotel Casino. Sambu started strongly, flooring Cebekhulu in round two with a left hook, but it was an even fight midway through and when Cebekhulu took over in the second half and scored a knockdown of his own in round seven, it looked like the decision could go either way. Judge Phumeza Zinakile scored it 95-93 for the challenger, but he was overruled by judges Mike Phiri and Gezani Hlungwane, who had it 95-93 and a much too wide 97-91 for Sambu. Sambu improved his pro record to 7-1-1 with 3 KOs. Cebekhulu falls to 7-2 with 3. KOs.
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Paul wins by decision over a reluctant Chavez Jr. |
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Jake Paul W10 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr... In Anaheim, California, Jake Paul got in ten rounds of good work but was never seriously challenged by Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Paul won nearly every round but failed to hurt Chavez, a former champion from 2011-2012 who hasn't taken boxing seriously for years. Paul tired over the last two rounds, allowing Chavez to save some face after a generally dismal performance. Still, Paul won a deserved lopsided unanimous decision by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is likely to enter the world rankings of at least one of the major sanctioning bodies. Compubox credited Paul with a 141-60 edge in punches landed. For the first three rounds, Chavez's offense was virtually nonexistent. With the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. screamimng from ringside in frustration, his son finally landed a punch just before the end of round three. Things heated up a bit in the fourth as Chavez began to come forward a little more, but Paul still won the round. Chavez simply would not let his hands go with any regularity, and the couple of times that he did when he was in punching range, Paul wisely tied Chavez up.The packed, pro-Mexican crowd tried to will Chavez forward over the second half of the fight, but Chavez lacked the energy to throw extended combinations. It should be remembered that Chavez is 39 years old and as a former middleweight champion now fighting at cruiserweight, he is 40 pounds over his best weight. The momentum turned in round nine as Paul tired and Chavez landed several good blows. The tenth round featured the best exchanges of the contest, as a tired Paul fought back against a surging, suddenly aggressive Chavez. The late rally was not enough to overcome the first eight rounds.
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Paul wins by decision over a reluctant Chavez Jr.
Jake Paul W10 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr... In Anaheim, California, Jake Paul got in ten rounds of good work but was never seriously challenged by Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Paul won nearly every round but failed to hurt Chavez, a former champion from 2011-2012 who hasn't taken boxing seriously for years. Paul tired over the last two rounds, allowing Chavez to save some face after a generally dismal performance. Still, Paul won a deserved lopsided unanimous decision by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is likely to enter the world rankings of at least one of the major sanctioning bodies. Compubox credited Paul with a 141-60 edge in punches landed. For the first three rounds, Chavez's offense was virtually nonexistent. With the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. screamimng from ringside in frustration, his son finally landed a punch just before the end of round three. Things heated up a bit in the fourth as Chavez began to come forward a little more, but Paul still won the round. Chavez simply would not let his hands go with any regularity, and the couple of times that he did when he was in punching range, Paul wisely tied Chavez up.The packed, pro-Mexican crowd tried to will Chavez forward over the second half of the fight, but Chavez lacked the energy to throw extended combinations. It should be remembered that Chavez is 39 years old and as a former middleweight champion now fighting at cruiserweight, he is 40 pounds over his best weight. The momentum turned in round nine as Paul tired and Chavez landed several good blows. The tenth round featured the best exchanges of the contest, as a tired Paul fought back against a surging, suddenly aggressive Chavez. The late rally was not enough to overcome the first eight rounds.
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Ramirez rallies to defeat Dorticos |
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Gilberto Ramirez W12 Yuniel Dorticos... Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez started slowly but worked his way back into the fight, and wound up retaining his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles by unanimous decision over Yuniel Dorticos in Anaheim, California on Saturday. Official scores were 115-112 (twice) and 117-110 for Ramirez. Doticos, a former champion from Cuba, was penalized a point for repeated low blows. The 39 year-old Dorticos (27-3) lost a lot of steam over the second half of the fight. Ramirez (48-1), who is also a former super middleweight champ, said he hopes his next fight will be a three-belt unification contest vs. IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia of Australia.
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Ramirez rallies to defeat Dorticos
Gilberto Ramirez W12 Yuniel Dorticos... Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez started slowly but worked his way back into the fight, and wound up retaining his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles by unanimous decision over Yuniel Dorticos in Anaheim, California on Saturday. Official scores were 115-112 (twice) and 117-110 for Ramirez. Doticos, a former champion from Cuba, was penalized a point for repeated low blows. The 39 year-old Dorticos (27-3) lost a lot of steam over the second half of the fight. Ramirez (48-1), who is also a former super middleweight champ, said he hopes his next fight will be a three-belt unification contest vs. IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia of Australia.
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Schofield destroys Farmer in one round |
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Floyd Schofield Jr. TKO1 Tevin Farmer.... Floyd Schofield Jr. got a career-best win in Anaheim, California, destroying former 130-pound champion Tevin Farmer in the first round of their lightweight contest. Schofield knocked down Farmer twice and was on the verge of the third knockdown when the referee intervened to save Farmer from further punishment. Schofield shed some tears afterwards. Just 22 years old, Schofield has been tormented on social media for pulling out of a world title shot after initially agreeing to challenge Shakur Stevenson for the WBA title. Schofield also said he was good friends with Farmer. Schofield is now 19-0 and deserves to zoom up the lightweight rankings after looking not-so-great in his last fight, a decision win over Rene Tellez Giron. Farmer (33-9-1) has now lost four in a row, but the last two were very competitive twelve-round fights vs. WBC interim titlist William Zepeda, with Farmer narrowly losing both on the scorecards.
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Schofield destroys Farmer in one round
Floyd Schofield Jr. TKO1 Tevin Farmer.... Floyd Schofield Jr. got a career-best win in Anaheim, California, destroying former 130-pound champion Tevin Farmer in the first round of their lightweight contest. Schofield knocked down Farmer twice and was on the verge of the third knockdown when the referee intervened to save Farmer from further punishment. Schofield shed some tears afterwards. Just 22 years old, Schofield has been tormented on social media for pulling out of a world title shot after initially agreeing to challenge Shakur Stevenson for the WBA title. Schofield also said he was good friends with Farmer. Schofield is now 19-0 and deserves to zoom up the lightweight rankings after looking not-so-great in his last fight, a decision win over Rene Tellez Giron. Farmer (33-9-1) has now lost four in a row, but the last two were very competitive twelve-round fights vs. WBC interim titlist William Zepeda, with Farmer narrowly losing both on the scorecards.
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DAZN undercard results from Anaheim, CA |
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Julian Rodriguez KO10 Avious Griffin... New Jersey welterweight Julian Rodriguez dramatically resurrected his career by knocking out previously undefeated Avious Griffin just a few seconds before the final bell was about to sound. Rodriguez did well in the first half of the fight but had to come back from a seventh-round knockdown. Rodriguez did well in round eight but, according to the DAZN broadcast, two of the official judges had it scored even (85-85) after nine rounds. That meant the fight was up for grabs in round ten, when a big left hook blasted Griffin, putting him on jelly legs with roughly twenty seconds left. A few punches later and Griffin (17-1) was down for the first time in his career. He tried hard to beat the count, but he crumbled back to the canvas at the count of nine. Rodriguez had a great amateur background and a strong start to his pro career, but his career lacked momentum for the last four years after losing to former two-division champ Jose Pedraza.
Raul Curiel TKO4 Victor Rodriguez ... Raul Curiel defeated Victor Rodriguez via fourth-round technical knockout. With Rodriguez's nose appearing to be broken, a crunching uppercut from Curiel sent him crashing to the canvas. A barrage of punches later and the referee stepped in to stop the action. Curiel, from Mexico, is now 16-0 with 14 KOs and seems to be a growing force at welterweight. Rodriguez heads back to Uruguay with a record of 16-1-1. This was his first fight outside of South America, and the difference in his prior low-level of opposition there showed.
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DAZN undercard results from Anaheim, CA
Julian Rodriguez KO10 Avious Griffin... New Jersey welterweight Julian Rodriguez dramatically resurrected his career by knocking out previously undefeated Avious Griffin just a few seconds before the final bell was about to sound. Rodriguez did well in the first half of the fight but had to come back from a seventh-round knockdown. Rodriguez did well in round eight but, according to the DAZN broadcast, two of the official judges had it scored even (85-85) after nine rounds. That meant the fight was up for grabs in round ten, when a big left hook blasted Griffin, putting him on jelly legs with roughly twenty seconds left. A few punches later and Griffin (17-1) was down for the first time in his career. He tried hard to beat the count, but he crumbled back to the canvas at the count of nine. Rodriguez had a great amateur background and a strong start to his pro career, but his career lacked momentum for the last four years after losing to former two-division champ Jose Pedraza.
Raul Curiel TKO4 Victor Rodriguez ... Raul Curiel defeated Victor Rodriguez via fourth-round technical knockout. With Rodriguez's nose appearing to be broken, a crunching uppercut from Curiel sent him crashing to the canvas. A barrage of punches later and the referee stepped in to stop the action. Curiel, from Mexico, is now 16-0 with 14 KOs and seems to be a growing force at welterweight. Rodriguez heads back to Uruguay with a record of 16-1-1. This was his first fight outside of South America, and the difference in his prior low-level of opposition there showed.
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PPV.com back with Barrios vs. Pacquiao |
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PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, returns in the U.S. and Canada for the historic battle between International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (pictured), boxing's only eight-division champion and reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario "El Azteca" Barrios. In a career made up of firsts, Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) from the Philippines, will attempt to become the first IBHOF inductee to end his retirement and win a world title inside the ring, something even the great Sugar Ray Leonard attempted, albeit unsuccessfully. It will be a tall order, literally, inasmuch as Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) from San Antonio, Texas, has a 6 1/2-inch height advantage. The Barrios-Pacquiao rumble will headline a pay-per-view card, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 19th beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. It will be priced at $79.99.
"Manny Pacquiao will likely be the heavy underdog in his July title challenge against Mario Barrios. Four years off and fighting a much younger champion. But, if anyone can go back to the well and pull off one more spectacular performance, it’s the Pac Man! You can never truly count out Manny Pacquiao," said former WBO junior welterweight champion and one-time Pacquiao world title fight opponent Chris Algieri, who will co-host the exclusive and popular viewer chat, in real time, throughout the PPV.com HD live stream.
Joining Chris on the live viewer chat will be award-winning boxing journalist Lance Pugmire and popular podcast host Dan Canobbio. Chris, Lance, and Dan will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.com's website and social platforms.
The Pacquiao vs. Barrios pay-per-view live stream undercard will feature three exciting bouts, including a rematch between WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian "Towering Inferno" Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs), from Coachella, California, in a title defense against former champion Tim Tszyu (25-2, 18 KOs), from Australia, and former WBA 140-pound champion Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs), from Mexico, against Angel Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs), a Mexican native fighting out of Lakeside, California, in a twelve-round redo of their February battle. The PPV.com live stream will open with a ten-round featherweight rumble between former two-division champion Brandon "The Heartbreaker" Figueroa (25-2-1, 19 KOs), from Weslaco, Texas, and Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs), from Los Angeles.
PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, will offer Pacquiao vs. Barrios for $79.99 in the U.S. and Canada. iNDemand, the parent company of PPV.com, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.
The popular podcast, Inside Boxing Live, hosted by Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri, can be found at PPV.com, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats. For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.com, click here Inside Boxing Live - YouTube.
Lance Pugmire is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America's highest honor. He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Athletic. Lance currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.
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PPV.com back with Barrios vs. Pacquiao
PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, returns in the U.S. and Canada for the historic battle between International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (pictured), boxing's only eight-division champion and reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario "El Azteca" Barrios. In a career made up of firsts, Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) from the Philippines, will attempt to become the first IBHOF inductee to end his retirement and win a world title inside the ring, something even the great Sugar Ray Leonard attempted, albeit unsuccessfully. It will be a tall order, literally, inasmuch as Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) from San Antonio, Texas, has a 6 1/2-inch height advantage. The Barrios-Pacquiao rumble will headline a pay-per-view card, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 19th beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. It will be priced at $79.99.
"Manny Pacquiao will likely be the heavy underdog in his July title challenge against Mario Barrios. Four years off and fighting a much younger champion. But, if anyone can go back to the well and pull off one more spectacular performance, it’s the Pac Man! You can never truly count out Manny Pacquiao," said former WBO junior welterweight champion and one-time Pacquiao world title fight opponent Chris Algieri, who will co-host the exclusive and popular viewer chat, in real time, throughout the PPV.com HD live stream.
Joining Chris on the live viewer chat will be award-winning boxing journalist Lance Pugmire and popular podcast host Dan Canobbio. Chris, Lance, and Dan will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.com's website and social platforms.
The Pacquiao vs. Barrios pay-per-view live stream undercard will feature three exciting bouts, including a rematch between WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian "Towering Inferno" Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs), from Coachella, California, in a title defense against former champion Tim Tszyu (25-2, 18 KOs), from Australia, and former WBA 140-pound champion Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs), from Mexico, against Angel Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs), a Mexican native fighting out of Lakeside, California, in a twelve-round redo of their February battle. The PPV.com live stream will open with a ten-round featherweight rumble between former two-division champion Brandon "The Heartbreaker" Figueroa (25-2-1, 19 KOs), from Weslaco, Texas, and Joet Gonzalez (27-4, 15 KOs), from Los Angeles.
PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, will offer Pacquiao vs. Barrios for $79.99 in the U.S. and Canada. iNDemand, the parent company of PPV.com, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.
The popular podcast, Inside Boxing Live, hosted by Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri, can be found at PPV.com, where they produce two fresh episodes weekly, provide onsite coverage during major pay-per-view fight weeks, host their own weekly live chat every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, and join fight night live viewer chats. For the latest episodes of Inside Boxing Live presented by PPV.com, click here Inside Boxing Live - YouTube.
Lance Pugmire is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the Boxing Writers Association of America's highest honor. He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Athletic. Lance currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.
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Weigh-in report for tonight's PPV from Anaheim, CA |
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Jake Paul returns to the ring tonight (Saturday) when he clashes with ex-middleweight title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, live on DAZN pay-per-view. Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) did not get a stoppage win over Mike Tyson in November but did defeat the legend on points. Chavez Jr. (54-6-1 with 1 no contest, 34 KOs) [has not competed diligently for years but] last produced a unanimous decision win over Uriah Hall last July. The undercard also sees a superb contest as Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez and ex-champ Yuniel Dorticos clash, with Zurdo's unified cruiserweight titles on the line. Also on the bill Holly Holm and Yolanda Vega meet, and Floyd Schofield and Tevin Farmer go at it.
Here are the boxers' weights for the featured fights:
WBC / WBO cruiserweight championship
Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez 199.8 pounds vs. Yuniel Dorticos 198.6;
Main event - ten rounds
Jake Paul - 199.4 vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - 198.4;
Floyd Schofield Jr. 134.8 vs. Tevin Farmer 135; and
Raul Curiel 146.4 vs. Victor Rodriguez 145.2.
FROM DAZN: Paul's rise through boxing's landscape from showman novelty to potential contender speaks arguably more to his broad appeal beyond the sport's usual fanbase. But he has frequently proven he can talk the talk, even though his choice of opponents are yet to represent higher-tier tests. His win over a 58 year-old Tyson, regardless of format, is something he will be able to carry with him across the rest of his career, no matter how long it lives on beyond this.
Chavez, who has fought the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs, Brian Vera, Sergio Martinez, Andy Lee and Marco Antonio Rubio, does not see any kind of situation that will have him watching Paul’s hand be raised in victory following 10 rounds of action. So much so that Chavez Jr does not even foresee Paul being able to land his vaunted overhand right. “I don’t think he could catch me with the right hand,” Chavez Jr. said bluntly.
The battle-tested fighter realizes that Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) could land on the WBA and WBC cruiserweight rankings with a convincing win and subsequently chase a world title shot — and he wants to derail those plans, showing ‘The Problem Child’ that there are indeed levels to sweet science mastery. That said, upsetting Paul’s plans is still a lofty ambition.
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Weigh-in report for tonight's PPV from Anaheim, CA
Jake Paul returns to the ring tonight (Saturday) when he clashes with ex-middleweight title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, live on DAZN pay-per-view. Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) did not get a stoppage win over Mike Tyson in November but did defeat the legend on points. Chavez Jr. (54-6-1 with 1 no contest, 34 KOs) [has not competed diligently for years but] last produced a unanimous decision win over Uriah Hall last July. The undercard also sees a superb contest as Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez and ex-champ Yuniel Dorticos clash, with Zurdo's unified cruiserweight titles on the line. Also on the bill Holly Holm and Yolanda Vega meet, and Floyd Schofield and Tevin Farmer go at it.
Here are the boxers' weights for the featured fights:
WBC / WBO cruiserweight championship
Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez 199.8 pounds vs. Yuniel Dorticos 198.6;
Main event - ten rounds
Jake Paul - 199.4 vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - 198.4;
Floyd Schofield Jr. 134.8 vs. Tevin Farmer 135; and
Raul Curiel 146.4 vs. Victor Rodriguez 145.2.
FROM DAZN: Paul's rise through boxing's landscape from showman novelty to potential contender speaks arguably more to his broad appeal beyond the sport's usual fanbase. But he has frequently proven he can talk the talk, even though his choice of opponents are yet to represent higher-tier tests. His win over a 58 year-old Tyson, regardless of format, is something he will be able to carry with him across the rest of his career, no matter how long it lives on beyond this.
Chavez, who has fought the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs, Brian Vera, Sergio Martinez, Andy Lee and Marco Antonio Rubio, does not see any kind of situation that will have him watching Paul’s hand be raised in victory following 10 rounds of action. So much so that Chavez Jr does not even foresee Paul being able to land his vaunted overhand right. “I don’t think he could catch me with the right hand,” Chavez Jr. said bluntly.
The battle-tested fighter realizes that Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) could land on the WBA and WBC cruiserweight rankings with a convincing win and subsequently chase a world title shot — and he wants to derail those plans, showing ‘The Problem Child’ that there are indeed levels to sweet science mastery. That said, upsetting Paul’s plans is still a lofty ambition.
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Mbilli may be the world's best super middleweight |
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Christian Mbilli TKO1 Maciej Sulecki ... Montreal-based powerhouse Christian Mbilli captured the WBC interim super middleweight title on Friday with a first-round technical knockout against Poland's Maciej Sulecki at Videotron Centre in Quebec City. Mbilli (32-0 including the World Series of Boxing) marched forward from the opening bell, backing up Sulecki (33-4, 13 KOs) with short jabs to the head and body. Ninety seconds in, he caught Sulecki with a pair of counter rights. Mbilli pinned him to the ropes again, landing a right and left hook to the body. Sulecki tried to smother him, but Mbilli created space with his lead forearm before a right uppercut sent him to the canvas. Referee Michael Griffin waved it off at 2:28 as Sulecki rose on shaky legs.
Mbilli said, “I feel great. I feel very satisfied with my victory. The emotions are still settling, but I’m very happy. I was expecting everything. I told myself that with every opportunity, he would pay for it. I knew that every time he’d leave an opening, I’d take advantage of it. I’m going home to sit down with my team, and we’ll see what happens next. I think there will be some negotiations for an upcoming fight, but in any case, I’m ready for anyone.”
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Mbilli may be the world's best super middleweight
Christian Mbilli TKO1 Maciej Sulecki ... Montreal-based powerhouse Christian Mbilli captured the WBC interim super middleweight title on Friday with a first-round technical knockout against Poland's Maciej Sulecki at Videotron Centre in Quebec City. Mbilli (32-0 including the World Series of Boxing) marched forward from the opening bell, backing up Sulecki (33-4, 13 KOs) with short jabs to the head and body. Ninety seconds in, he caught Sulecki with a pair of counter rights. Mbilli pinned him to the ropes again, landing a right and left hook to the body. Sulecki tried to smother him, but Mbilli created space with his lead forearm before a right uppercut sent him to the canvas. Referee Michael Griffin waved it off at 2:28 as Sulecki rose on shaky legs.
Mbilli said, “I feel great. I feel very satisfied with my victory. The emotions are still settling, but I’m very happy. I was expecting everything. I told myself that with every opportunity, he would pay for it. I knew that every time he’d leave an opening, I’d take advantage of it. I’m going home to sit down with my team, and we’ll see what happens next. I think there will be some negotiations for an upcoming fight, but in any case, I’m ready for anyone.”
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Wilder needs seven rounds to stop Herndon |
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Deontay Wilder TKO7 Tyrrell Herndon... Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder made a winning comeback in Wichita, Kansas on Friday against a low-level opponent, Tyrrell Herndon. Wilder was fighting for the first time since getting knocked about by Zhilei Zhang a little more than a year ago. Wilder scored a second-round knockdown, although Herndon got up quickly and did not appear to be seriously hurt. In the seventh round, Wilder landed a big punch that moved Herndon backwards. The referee quickly stepped in with Herndon protesting the stoppage immediately.
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Wilder needs seven rounds to stop Herndon
Deontay Wilder TKO7 Tyrrell Herndon... Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder made a winning comeback in Wichita, Kansas on Friday against a low-level opponent, Tyrrell Herndon. Wilder was fighting for the first time since getting knocked about by Zhilei Zhang a little more than a year ago. Wilder scored a second-round knockdown, although Herndon got up quickly and did not appear to be seriously hurt. In the seventh round, Wilder landed a big punch that moved Herndon backwards. The referee quickly stepped in with Herndon protesting the stoppage immediately.
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Undercard results from Quebec: Quick KO for Makhmudov |
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Here are the undercard results from Top Rank's show at Videotron Centre in Quebec City: Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (33-5 including the World Series of Boxing) needed less than two minutes to stop Ricardo Brown (12-1, 11 KOs). Makhmudov was returning from a loss vs. fringe contender Guido Vianello last year...
Super middleweight Steven Butler (36-5-1, 30 KOs) knocked out Jose de Jesus Macias (29-14-4, 15 KOs) in round four...
In the light heavyweight division, Wilkens Mathieu (14-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Adagio McDonald (8-2, 6 KOs) in round three...
In a 140-pound contest, Jhon Orobio (14-0, 12 KOs) ended Zsolt Osadan's night just before the end of the first round. Osadan's record falls to 27-4-1 with 17 KOs...
Welterweight Christopher Guerrero (15-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping Sandy Messaoud (20-9, 1 KO) in round ten...
Junior Lightweight Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs) got a sixth-round TKO win over Elhem Mekhaled (17-4, 3 KOs)...
Lightweight Luis Santana (14-0, 7 KOs) stopped Eduardo Estela (17-5, 12 KOs) in round five and...
In the lone decision on the show, Wyatt Sanford (3-0, 2 KOs) won unaniously over Mark Andrejev (4-2). After four rounds in the welterweight division, Sanford won by scores of 60-54 (twice) and 60-53.
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Undercard results from Quebec: Quick KO for Makhmudov
Here are the undercard results from Top Rank's show at Videotron Centre in Quebec City: Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (33-5 including the World Series of Boxing) needed less than two minutes to stop Ricardo Brown (12-1, 11 KOs). Makhmudov was returning from a loss vs. fringe contender Guido Vianello last year...
Super middleweight Steven Butler (36-5-1, 30 KOs) knocked out Jose de Jesus Macias (29-14-4, 15 KOs) in round four...
In the light heavyweight division, Wilkens Mathieu (14-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Adagio McDonald (8-2, 6 KOs) in round three...
In a 140-pound contest, Jhon Orobio (14-0, 12 KOs) ended Zsolt Osadan's night just before the end of the first round. Osadan's record falls to 27-4-1 with 17 KOs...
Welterweight Christopher Guerrero (15-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping Sandy Messaoud (20-9, 1 KO) in round ten...
Junior Lightweight Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs) got a sixth-round TKO win over Elhem Mekhaled (17-4, 3 KOs)...
Lightweight Luis Santana (14-0, 7 KOs) stopped Eduardo Estela (17-5, 12 KOs) in round five and...
In the lone decision on the show, Wyatt Sanford (3-0, 2 KOs) won unaniously over Mark Andrejev (4-2). After four rounds in the welterweight division, Sanford won by scores of 60-54 (twice) and 60-53.
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Harth vs. Prasovic bridgerweight action today |
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Today (Saturday), Germany’s Leon Harth (22-6-1, 13 KOs) squares off against Montenegro’s Dilan Prasovic (18-5, 15 KOs) in a ten-round bridgerweight clash in Munich. For the 37-year-old Harth, this is more than just another fight—it’s an opportunity to reignite his career. A seasoned orthodox fighter with a steady rhythm and a solid resume at cruiserweight, the German contender is now eyeing a fresh run in the growing bridgerweight division, hoping to carve out his place among the rising names. On the other side stands Prasovic, with legitimate knockout power. The Montenegrin fighter already has world title experience under his belt, having challenged Lawrence Okolie back in 2021. Since then, he’s had a mixed run, but his reputation as an unpredictable threat remains intact. Both men come into this bout with urgency. Harth, fighting on home soil, is looking to shine in front of his fans and claim a regional title that could vault him up the WBA rankings. Prasovic, meanwhile, is aiming for redemption after a recent setback in Cuba, where he was stopped by Olympic great Julio César La Cruz in a WBA bridgerweight eliminator.
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Harth vs. Prasovic bridgerweight action today
Today (Saturday), Germany’s Leon Harth (22-6-1, 13 KOs) squares off against Montenegro’s Dilan Prasovic (18-5, 15 KOs) in a ten-round bridgerweight clash in Munich. For the 37-year-old Harth, this is more than just another fight—it’s an opportunity to reignite his career. A seasoned orthodox fighter with a steady rhythm and a solid resume at cruiserweight, the German contender is now eyeing a fresh run in the growing bridgerweight division, hoping to carve out his place among the rising names. On the other side stands Prasovic, with legitimate knockout power. The Montenegrin fighter already has world title experience under his belt, having challenged Lawrence Okolie back in 2021. Since then, he’s had a mixed run, but his reputation as an unpredictable threat remains intact. Both men come into this bout with urgency. Harth, fighting on home soil, is looking to shine in front of his fans and claim a regional title that could vault him up the WBA rankings. Prasovic, meanwhile, is aiming for redemption after a recent setback in Cuba, where he was stopped by Olympic great Julio César La Cruz in a WBA bridgerweight eliminator.
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Dominican boxing update |
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Today (Saturday), the boxing scene in the Dominican Republic takes center stage at Club Mauricio Báez in Santo Domingo. Two headline bouts will showcase rising talent. In the featherweight main event, Jonathan Cabrera Sánchez (10-0, 8 KOs) will square off against fellow undefeated Juan Mendoza (7-0-1, 3 KOs). Cabrera, age 23, hails from San Juan de la Maguana and has earned a reputation as a fearsome puncher since turning pro in 2023, with recent victories over Maikol Beaumont and Luis Disla Arias. But Mendoza comes in as a live underdog — solid, technical, and hungry to make a name for himself by scoring the upset. The co-feature will be antother a battle of the unbeatens, this one in the light heavyweight division, as Sanderson Díaz (19-0, 14 KOs) takes on Luis Antonio Tejeda (10-0-1, 7 KOs). Díaz, with the edge in both experience and knockout power, enters as the favorite. But Tejeda has shown he’s no pushover, with recent wins over the likes of Richard Rivera and Francisco Ernesto Sánchez.
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Dominican boxing update
Today (Saturday), the boxing scene in the Dominican Republic takes center stage at Club Mauricio Báez in Santo Domingo. Two headline bouts will showcase rising talent. In the featherweight main event, Jonathan Cabrera Sánchez (10-0, 8 KOs) will square off against fellow undefeated Juan Mendoza (7-0-1, 3 KOs). Cabrera, age 23, hails from San Juan de la Maguana and has earned a reputation as a fearsome puncher since turning pro in 2023, with recent victories over Maikol Beaumont and Luis Disla Arias. But Mendoza comes in as a live underdog — solid, technical, and hungry to make a name for himself by scoring the upset. The co-feature will be antother a battle of the unbeatens, this one in the light heavyweight division, as Sanderson Díaz (19-0, 14 KOs) takes on Luis Antonio Tejeda (10-0-1, 7 KOs). Díaz, with the edge in both experience and knockout power, enters as the favorite. But Tejeda has shown he’s no pushover, with recent wins over the likes of Richard Rivera and Francisco Ernesto Sánchez.
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Weigh-in report from Philadelphia |
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Here are the boxers' weights for Friday night's King's Promotions card at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia:
Julian Gonzalez 132.2 pounds -vs.- Jason Sanchez 131;
Shannel Butler 125 -vs.- Cara McLaughlin 123.8;
Brendan O'Callaghan 157.8 -vs.- Travis Floyd 154;
Aleksandre Dokvadze 185.2 -vs.- Mike Diorio 187.4;
Emmanuel Chance 119.6 -vs.- Gorwar Karyah 120.6;
Deatwon Gilbert 149.8 -vs.- Carlos Avelar 148.8;
Ali Ellis 227 -vs.- Lemir Riley 245.8; and
Sardius Simmons 218.4 -vs.- Michael Shaw 228.6.
First bell: 7 PM ET
Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams and Quadir Albright on the call)
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Weigh-in report from Philadelphia
Here are the boxers' weights for Friday night's King's Promotions card at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia:
Julian Gonzalez 132.2 pounds -vs.- Jason Sanchez 131;
Shannel Butler 125 -vs.- Cara McLaughlin 123.8;
Brendan O'Callaghan 157.8 -vs.- Travis Floyd 154;
Aleksandre Dokvadze 185.2 -vs.- Mike Diorio 187.4;
Emmanuel Chance 119.6 -vs.- Gorwar Karyah 120.6;
Deatwon Gilbert 149.8 -vs.- Carlos Avelar 148.8;
Ali Ellis 227 -vs.- Lemir Riley 245.8; and
Sardius Simmons 218.4 -vs.- Michael Shaw 228.6.
First bell: 7 PM ET
Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams and Quadir Albright on the call)
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Pacquiao says he is 100% and no distractions for Barrios challenge |
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International Boxing Hall of Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (pictured) held a media workout in Los Angeles on Wednesday, along with his trainer, fellow Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, as he prepares to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios headlining a PBC pay-per-view event on Saturday, July 19th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Already owning a career that’s seen him earn more accolades than can be listed in print, Pacquiao can etch his name into another chapter of the history books by going straight from his recent induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame to a world championship-winning performance on July 19th. In an era that’s seen superstars in their 40’s such as Tom Brady and LeBron James continue to excel at the highest levels, Pacquiao can break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history with a win over Barrios, after originally setting the mark at 40-years-old in his 2019 triumph over Keith Thurman.
The pay-per-view event on Prime Video includes an undercard featuring WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora vs. former champion Tim Tszyu in a rematch of 2024’s bloodiest fight. Plus, former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz goes toe-to-toe against hard-hitting countryman Angel Fierro for a second time in a twelve-round duel, while former two-division champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Joet Gonzalez kick off the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with a ten-round featherweight showdown.
Here is what Pacquiao had to say Wednesday from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“Boxing is my passion. I’ve missed the sport. These last four years have been good for my body, because I’ve been doing this a long time. I feel like my passion and fire is back and you can see it in my work.
“Being in the Hall of Fame and being inducted this year means a lot to me. It’s an honor. I’m thankful to all the fans and everyone who has supported me. My goal is to be the oldest champion and retire as a champion.
“I’ve made adjustments in training camp to make sure that I’m focused on recovery. I’m back now so I’m taking it one fight at a time and doing everything I can to face the challenge in front of me. I’m not worried about any future plans.
“This fight is very important to me because it’s history. I believe I’d be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title, and I’d also break my own record as the oldest welterweight world champion.
“When I retired in 2021, it wasn’t a good feeling because I had it in my heart and my mind that I can still fight. I’ve always known that I could still work hard and dedicate myself and focus on training. I’ve rested and now I’m back.
“I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I’ve done before in training. If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team.
“I think I have two or three more fights left. I feel like I could do this for another couple of years. But I’m just taking it one at a time.
“I had a lot of distractions and problems before the Yordenis Ugas fight. But right now I’m 100% and there are no distractions. I’m just training and completely focused on the fight.”
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In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.
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Pacquiao says he is 100% and no distractions for Barrios challenge
International Boxing Hall of Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (pictured) held a media workout in Los Angeles on Wednesday, along with his trainer, fellow Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, as he prepares to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios headlining a PBC pay-per-view event on Saturday, July 19th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Already owning a career that’s seen him earn more accolades than can be listed in print, Pacquiao can etch his name into another chapter of the history books by going straight from his recent induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame to a world championship-winning performance on July 19th. In an era that’s seen superstars in their 40’s such as Tom Brady and LeBron James continue to excel at the highest levels, Pacquiao can break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history with a win over Barrios, after originally setting the mark at 40-years-old in his 2019 triumph over Keith Thurman.
The pay-per-view event on Prime Video includes an undercard featuring WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora vs. former champion Tim Tszyu in a rematch of 2024’s bloodiest fight. Plus, former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz goes toe-to-toe against hard-hitting countryman Angel Fierro for a second time in a twelve-round duel, while former two-division champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Joet Gonzalez kick off the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with a ten-round featherweight showdown.
Here is what Pacquiao had to say Wednesday from the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles:
MANNY PACQUIAO
“Boxing is my passion. I’ve missed the sport. These last four years have been good for my body, because I’ve been doing this a long time. I feel like my passion and fire is back and you can see it in my work.
“Being in the Hall of Fame and being inducted this year means a lot to me. It’s an honor. I’m thankful to all the fans and everyone who has supported me. My goal is to be the oldest champion and retire as a champion.
“I’ve made adjustments in training camp to make sure that I’m focused on recovery. I’m back now so I’m taking it one fight at a time and doing everything I can to face the challenge in front of me. I’m not worried about any future plans.
“This fight is very important to me because it’s history. I believe I’d be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title, and I’d also break my own record as the oldest welterweight world champion.
“When I retired in 2021, it wasn’t a good feeling because I had it in my heart and my mind that I can still fight. I’ve always known that I could still work hard and dedicate myself and focus on training. I’ve rested and now I’m back.
“I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I’ve done before in training. If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team.
“I think I have two or three more fights left. I feel like I could do this for another couple of years. But I’m just taking it one at a time.
“I had a lot of distractions and problems before the Yordenis Ugas fight. But right now I’m 100% and there are no distractions. I’m just training and completely focused on the fight.”
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In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.
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Weigh-in report from Quebec City |
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Here are the weigh-in results from Quebec City for the ESPN+ broadcast today (Friday) starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT:
WBC interim super middleweight title — twelve rounds
Christian Mbilli 167.7 pounds vs. Maciej Sulecki 167.7;
Steven Butler 167.6 vs. Jose De Jesus Macias 167.8 (ten rounds);
Arslanbek Makhmudov 265.8 vs. Ricardo Brown 261.4 (ten rounds);
Wilkens Mathieu 171.6 vs. Adagio McDonald 170.7 (eight rounds);
Jhon Orobio 139.5 vs. Zsolt Osadan 138.8 (ten rounds);
Christopher Guerrero 146.7 vs. Sandy Messaoud 145.1 (ten rounds);
Leila Beaudoin 129.4 vs. Elhem Mekhaled 129.1 (ten rounds);
Luis Santana 135.7 vs. Eduardo Estela 135.6 (ten rounds); and
Wyatt Sanford 139.6 vs. Mark Andrejev 139.7 (six rounds).
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Weigh-in report from Quebec City
Here are the weigh-in results from Quebec City for the ESPN+ broadcast today (Friday) starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT:
WBC interim super middleweight title — twelve rounds
Christian Mbilli 167.7 pounds vs. Maciej Sulecki 167.7;
Steven Butler 167.6 vs. Jose De Jesus Macias 167.8 (ten rounds);
Arslanbek Makhmudov 265.8 vs. Ricardo Brown 261.4 (ten rounds);
Wilkens Mathieu 171.6 vs. Adagio McDonald 170.7 (eight rounds);
Jhon Orobio 139.5 vs. Zsolt Osadan 138.8 (ten rounds);
Christopher Guerrero 146.7 vs. Sandy Messaoud 145.1 (ten rounds);
Leila Beaudoin 129.4 vs. Elhem Mekhaled 129.1 (ten rounds);
Luis Santana 135.7 vs. Eduardo Estela 135.6 (ten rounds); and
Wyatt Sanford 139.6 vs. Mark Andrejev 139.7 (six rounds).
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Kuroki defeats Suzuki to retain 105-pound title |
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Yuko Kuroki W10 Nanako Suzuki ... Southpaw Yuko Kuroki remains a force in women’s minimumweight boxing, turning in a strong performance to defeat fellow Japanese contender Nanako Suzuki by unanimous decision on Thursday night at Tokyo’s iconic Korakuen Hall. Kuroki (now 25-8-2, 9 KOs) used every ounce of her experience to control the pace across ten rounds against a younger, aggressive challenger. The scorecards told the story: 97-93, 98-92 and 99-91 — all in favor of the reigning champ. Suzuki (9-4, 3 KOs), 25 years old, came out with urgency, trying to close the distance and turn the fight into a gritty exchange. But Kuroki, ever composed, relied on her sharp right jab and pinpoint countershots to neutralize the pressure and gradually break her opponent’s rhythm. With this victory, the 34-year-old Kuroki successfully defended her WBA minimumweight world title for the first time since claiming the belt in 2024 (she won a title that had become vacant due to the retirement of undisputed world champion Seniesa Estrada.
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Kuroki defeats Suzuki to retain 105-pound title
Yuko Kuroki W10 Nanako Suzuki ... Southpaw Yuko Kuroki remains a force in women’s minimumweight boxing, turning in a strong performance to defeat fellow Japanese contender Nanako Suzuki by unanimous decision on Thursday night at Tokyo’s iconic Korakuen Hall. Kuroki (now 25-8-2, 9 KOs) used every ounce of her experience to control the pace across ten rounds against a younger, aggressive challenger. The scorecards told the story: 97-93, 98-92 and 99-91 — all in favor of the reigning champ. Suzuki (9-4, 3 KOs), 25 years old, came out with urgency, trying to close the distance and turn the fight into a gritty exchange. But Kuroki, ever composed, relied on her sharp right jab and pinpoint countershots to neutralize the pressure and gradually break her opponent’s rhythm. With this victory, the 34-year-old Kuroki successfully defended her WBA minimumweight world title for the first time since claiming the belt in 2024 (she won a title that had become vacant due to the retirement of undisputed world champion Seniesa Estrada.
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Mbilli vs. Sulecki on deck in Quebec City |
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Super middleweight destroyer Christian Mbilli has waited years for this moment and plans to take advantage of it against Polish veteran Maciej Sulecki. Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) will lock horns with Sulecki for the WBC interim super middleweight world title this Friday, June 27th at Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Montreal-based Mbilli, who represented France at the 2016 Olympics, has stopped over 80 percent of his opponents ahead of his first shot at interim gold. Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs), a former middleweight title challenger, is coming off a stunning tenth-round stoppage over Ali Akhmedov on enemy territory in Kazakhstan. In the co-feature, former two-time title challenger Steven Butler (35-5-2, 29 KOs) takes on Mexico's Jose De Jesus Macias (29-13-4, 15 KOs) in a super middleweight rematch. Macias stunned Butler via fifth-round TKO in 2021. Additionally, heavyweight knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-2, 18 KOs) returns in a ten-rounder versus Ontario-based Ricardo Brown (12-0, 11 KOs). Promoted by Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Sulecki, Butler-Macias II, Makhmudov-Brown, and additional undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
This is what the Mbilli and Sulecki said at Wednesday's press conference.
Christian Mbilli
“It's been a long time. We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, but we’ve finally made it. We’re making it happen. And Friday will be a day of glory. The belt will be coming home.”
“I always say that after such a difficult journey, this entire training camp, and all the ups and downs, there has to be someone who will pay the price. And think Sulecki will have to pay for it on Friday.”
"As usual, I expect a spectacular fight, and once again, I’ll be leaving with the victory.”
"I’m not going to say that I will put him out faster than {common opponent} Diego Pacheco did. But I can promise a more spectacular fight, and that, at the end of it, Sulecki will feel more pain than after his fight with Pacheco. That said, if the KO happens, good, because I’m not paid to do overtime."
Maciej Sulecki
“This is a big honor for me. I’m ready for a great fight. I had a good camp, and I had great sparring partners.”
“I know Christian Mbilli is a good fighter. He is very strong and aggressive, and sometimes he’s very wild in the ring. But I know what I have to do in the ring. I’m ready.”
“The most important thing for Mbilli right now is this fight with me. This will be very difficult for him. He can talk all he wants about his plans, but he has to fight me first.”
LIVE on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Christian Mbilli vs. Maciej Sulecki, 12 rounds, vacant WBC interim super middleweight title;
Steven Butler vs. Jose De Jesus Macias II, 10 rounds, Super Middleweight;
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Ricardo Brown, 10 rounds, Heavyweight;
Wilkens Mathieu vs. Adagio McDonald, 8 rounds, Light Heavyweight;
Jhon Orobio vs. Zsolt Osadan, 10 rounds, Junior Welterweight;
Christopher Guerrero vs. Sandy Messaoud, 10 rounds, Welterweight;
Leila Beaudoin vs. Elhem Mekhaled, 10 rounds, Junior Lightweight;
Luis Santana vs. Eduardo Estela, 10 rounds, Lightweight; and
Wyatt Sanford vs. Mark Andrejev, 6 rounds, Junior Welterweight.
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Mbilli vs. Sulecki on deck in Quebec City
Super middleweight destroyer Christian Mbilli has waited years for this moment and plans to take advantage of it against Polish veteran Maciej Sulecki. Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) will lock horns with Sulecki for the WBC interim super middleweight world title this Friday, June 27th at Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Montreal-based Mbilli, who represented France at the 2016 Olympics, has stopped over 80 percent of his opponents ahead of his first shot at interim gold. Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs), a former middleweight title challenger, is coming off a stunning tenth-round stoppage over Ali Akhmedov on enemy territory in Kazakhstan. In the co-feature, former two-time title challenger Steven Butler (35-5-2, 29 KOs) takes on Mexico's Jose De Jesus Macias (29-13-4, 15 KOs) in a super middleweight rematch. Macias stunned Butler via fifth-round TKO in 2021. Additionally, heavyweight knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-2, 18 KOs) returns in a ten-rounder versus Ontario-based Ricardo Brown (12-0, 11 KOs). Promoted by Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Sulecki, Butler-Macias II, Makhmudov-Brown, and additional undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
This is what the Mbilli and Sulecki said at Wednesday's press conference.
Christian Mbilli
“It's been a long time. We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, but we’ve finally made it. We’re making it happen. And Friday will be a day of glory. The belt will be coming home.”
“I always say that after such a difficult journey, this entire training camp, and all the ups and downs, there has to be someone who will pay the price. And think Sulecki will have to pay for it on Friday.”
"As usual, I expect a spectacular fight, and once again, I’ll be leaving with the victory.”
"I’m not going to say that I will put him out faster than {common opponent} Diego Pacheco did. But I can promise a more spectacular fight, and that, at the end of it, Sulecki will feel more pain than after his fight with Pacheco. That said, if the KO happens, good, because I’m not paid to do overtime."
Maciej Sulecki
“This is a big honor for me. I’m ready for a great fight. I had a good camp, and I had great sparring partners.”
“I know Christian Mbilli is a good fighter. He is very strong and aggressive, and sometimes he’s very wild in the ring. But I know what I have to do in the ring. I’m ready.”
“The most important thing for Mbilli right now is this fight with me. This will be very difficult for him. He can talk all he wants about his plans, but he has to fight me first.”
LIVE on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Christian Mbilli vs. Maciej Sulecki, 12 rounds, vacant WBC interim super middleweight title;
Steven Butler vs. Jose De Jesus Macias II, 10 rounds, Super Middleweight;
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Ricardo Brown, 10 rounds, Heavyweight;
Wilkens Mathieu vs. Adagio McDonald, 8 rounds, Light Heavyweight;
Jhon Orobio vs. Zsolt Osadan, 10 rounds, Junior Welterweight;
Christopher Guerrero vs. Sandy Messaoud, 10 rounds, Welterweight;
Leila Beaudoin vs. Elhem Mekhaled, 10 rounds, Junior Lightweight;
Luis Santana vs. Eduardo Estela, 10 rounds, Lightweight; and
Wyatt Sanford vs. Mark Andrejev, 6 rounds, Junior Welterweight.
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Ben Askren hoping for lung transplant |
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Boxingtalk sends its best wishes to former boxer and MMA fighter Ben Askren, who is waiting for a lung transplant according to a Facebook post from Ben's wife Amy. According to the New York Post, Askren was placed on a ventilator after contracting severe pneumonia. He is just 40 years old. Askren was a 2008 Olympian in wrestling and a former Bellator 170-pound champion. He was 19-2 in MMA but is known to boxing fans as a man who came out of retirement to fight Jake Paul in 2021. Paul knocked out Askren in the first round, ending his career. As an MMA fighter, Askren got off to a 19-0 start with one no contest before a July 2019 disastrous five-second loss to Jorge Masvidal. Askren fought once more in 2019, losing by submission to Demian Maia and then announcing his retirement. Askren had hip surgery in 2020 ad then cashed out vs. Paul the following year. Here is what Amy Askren wrote: "As of late last night, Ben is officially on the transplant list. Please pray he can get stronger and stay stable without complications while he waits, and that they find an amazing match for him and he accepts it smoothly... It’s going to be a huge adjustment for Ben, but our family is so thankful that his other organs are ok and that there is a path forward. While he is having more periods of awareness, he’s not able to look at his phone yet and respond to messages. I am hoping he can get there in the next week or two! Also hoping we will get to a place soon where he can talk while [he is] on a trach. Yesterday he kept mouthing something for a while and we finally figured out he was saying coffee! (He cant have it yet lol) What a huge relief to see him asking for something so normal. I’m so thankful his mind is healthy and I can’t wait to have him back. We are also so thankful for the amazing community we have-from close friends, friends We haven’t talked to in 20+ years, to strangers who have reached out to share their similar stories or pray. Thank youthe New York Post.
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Ben Askren hoping for lung transplant
Boxingtalk sends its best wishes to former boxer and MMA fighter Ben Askren, who is waiting for a lung transplant according to a Facebook post from Ben's wife Amy. According to the New York Post, Askren was placed on a ventilator after contracting severe pneumonia. He is just 40 years old. Askren was a 2008 Olympian in wrestling and a former Bellator 170-pound champion. He was 19-2 in MMA but is known to boxing fans as a man who came out of retirement to fight Jake Paul in 2021. Paul knocked out Askren in the first round, ending his career. As an MMA fighter, Askren got off to a 19-0 start with one no contest before a July 2019 disastrous five-second loss to Jorge Masvidal. Askren fought once more in 2019, losing by submission to Demian Maia and then announcing his retirement. Askren had hip surgery in 2020 ad then cashed out vs. Paul the following year. Here is what Amy Askren wrote: "As of late last night, Ben is officially on the transplant list. Please pray he can get stronger and stay stable without complications while he waits, and that they find an amazing match for him and he accepts it smoothly... It’s going to be a huge adjustment for Ben, but our family is so thankful that his other organs are ok and that there is a path forward. While he is having more periods of awareness, he’s not able to look at his phone yet and respond to messages. I am hoping he can get there in the next week or two! Also hoping we will get to a place soon where he can talk while [he is] on a trach. Yesterday he kept mouthing something for a while and we finally figured out he was saying coffee! (He cant have it yet lol) What a huge relief to see him asking for something so normal. I’m so thankful his mind is healthy and I can’t wait to have him back. We are also so thankful for the amazing community we have-from close friends, friends We haven’t talked to in 20+ years, to strangers who have reached out to share their similar stories or pray. Thank youthe New York Post.
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South African boxing analyst Phumlani Msibi dies at age 57 |
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South African boxing has lost a titan in the form of Phumlani Msibi, who recently died at the age of 57. As a television commentator and analyst, he developed a style all his own, at turns understated, informative, engaging and entertaining. And it was a style that fans warmed to, especially when he seemed to enjoy a fight or an individual boxer. His praise would be lavish. At the same time, if a boxer under performed, his criticism would always be calm and measured. He built rather than broke down, always looking to highlight the virtues of boxing. He was a constant ringside presence at Golden Gloves events, SuperSport mic in hand alongside ex-champ Brian Mitchell. The pair established a smooth chemistry, Msibi offering colour and context with Mitchell adding the technical detail and insight. It was like this for over 20 years. With Msibi in the seat, you always knew he would tell the story, and tell it well.
He and Mitchell subsequently worked together on the “Ringside” TV show, again drawing from their expertise to tell the stories that make SA boxing such a vibrant, compelling sport. “He’s the best I ever did commentary with,” said Mitchell, a Hall of Famer at the weekend. “He was very smart, I learned a lot from him. It was an honour to work alongside Phumlani.”
Promoter Rodney Berman knew Msibi well and considered him a friend. The first time he came into Msibi’s orbit was when the late Mzi Mnguni, the late great trainer and a partner of Golden Gloves, hired Msibi as ring announcer. Berman immediately recognized his class. Years later, the dapper commentator joined the travelling Golden Gloves party at a tournament in Monaco where he was never less than stimulating company. He was always friendly and almost always smiling, which reflected his warm, engaging personality. “We spoke just last week,” said Berman. “He was a very special member of the boxing community. No one ever had a bad word to say about him. He was the consummate professional. The best tribute is to say that his words always honoured the fighters.”
Boxingtalk salutes Phumlani Msibi and joins Golden Gloves and the entire South African boxing community in sending its deepest sympathies to his friends and family.
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South African boxing analyst Phumlani Msibi dies at age 57
South African boxing has lost a titan in the form of Phumlani Msibi, who recently died at the age of 57. As a television commentator and analyst, he developed a style all his own, at turns understated, informative, engaging and entertaining. And it was a style that fans warmed to, especially when he seemed to enjoy a fight or an individual boxer. His praise would be lavish. At the same time, if a boxer under performed, his criticism would always be calm and measured. He built rather than broke down, always looking to highlight the virtues of boxing. He was a constant ringside presence at Golden Gloves events, SuperSport mic in hand alongside ex-champ Brian Mitchell. The pair established a smooth chemistry, Msibi offering colour and context with Mitchell adding the technical detail and insight. It was like this for over 20 years. With Msibi in the seat, you always knew he would tell the story, and tell it well.
He and Mitchell subsequently worked together on the “Ringside” TV show, again drawing from their expertise to tell the stories that make SA boxing such a vibrant, compelling sport. “He’s the best I ever did commentary with,” said Mitchell, a Hall of Famer at the weekend. “He was very smart, I learned a lot from him. It was an honour to work alongside Phumlani.”
Promoter Rodney Berman knew Msibi well and considered him a friend. The first time he came into Msibi’s orbit was when the late Mzi Mnguni, the late great trainer and a partner of Golden Gloves, hired Msibi as ring announcer. Berman immediately recognized his class. Years later, the dapper commentator joined the travelling Golden Gloves party at a tournament in Monaco where he was never less than stimulating company. He was always friendly and almost always smiling, which reflected his warm, engaging personality. “We spoke just last week,” said Berman. “He was a very special member of the boxing community. No one ever had a bad word to say about him. He was the consummate professional. The best tribute is to say that his words always honoured the fighters.”
Boxingtalk salutes Phumlani Msibi and joins Golden Gloves and the entire South African boxing community in sending its deepest sympathies to his friends and family.
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Colombians invade Turkiye for double header |
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Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Sport Complex will host a night of international boxing where Turkish talent will face Colombian opponents in two featured bouts.At middleweight, Serhat Güler (8-1, 7 KOs) of Turkey will face Colombia's Juan Diego Ortiz (9-1, 8 KOs). Güler, known for his strong punching and frontal boxing, will look to establish himself as one of the emerging figures in Turkish boxing, while Ortiz arrives on a knockout streak that positions him as a high-risk opponent. A more experienced Turkish boxer, Avni Yildirim (26-5, 15 KOs) will face Colombia's Jhon Caicedo (12-0, 5 KOs) at light heavyweight. Yildirim previously faced Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez for the world super middleweight championship in February 2021 and was no match, succumbing in the third round. Now he is looking to return to the spotlight with a convincing victory, but he will have to overcome a young Colombian who arrives undefeated and hungry for glory.
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Colombians invade Turkiye for double header
Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Sport Complex will host a night of international boxing where Turkish talent will face Colombian opponents in two featured bouts.At middleweight, Serhat Güler (8-1, 7 KOs) of Turkey will face Colombia's Juan Diego Ortiz (9-1, 8 KOs). Güler, known for his strong punching and frontal boxing, will look to establish himself as one of the emerging figures in Turkish boxing, while Ortiz arrives on a knockout streak that positions him as a high-risk opponent. A more experienced Turkish boxer, Avni Yildirim (26-5, 15 KOs) will face Colombia's Jhon Caicedo (12-0, 5 KOs) at light heavyweight. Yildirim previously faced Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez for the world super middleweight championship in February 2021 and was no match, succumbing in the third round. Now he is looking to return to the spotlight with a convincing victory, but he will have to overcome a young Colombian who arrives undefeated and hungry for glory.
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Spotlight on Ramirez vs. Dorticos |
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This Saturday, June 28th, the Honda Center in Anaheim, California\ will host a battle that could reshape the cruiserweight landscape. Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (47-1, 30 KOs), the reigning WBA / WBO champion at 200 pounds, puts his crown on the line against former champion Yuniel “Dr. KO” Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) of Cuba. For the 33 year-old Ramírez (pictured), this is a chance to solidify his hold on the division. Since moving up to cruiserweight, the southpaw has showcased his signature volume punching, methodical pressure, and ring IQ—all proving just as effective against bigger men. His most recent victory over then-WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith was a statement win, unifying titles and making him the first Mexican to claim two belts at cruiserweight. But there’s one thing missing: a knockout in the new weight class. And against a puncher like Dorticos, Ramírez knows that making a statement may matter just as much as getting the win.
His team, led by trainer Julian Chua, isn’t shying away from that expectation. “We want the knockout,” Chua told reporters. “We’re not just here to win on points—we want to leave a mark. Dorticos has power, but he’s got defensive gaps. We’re going to press him, test his gas tank, and push the pace.”
Across the ring stands Dorticos, the 39 year-old former champion known for his explosive power. With 25 of his 27 wins coming by knockout, the Cuban banger has been inactive for over a year, but he enters camp-driven and dangerous, knowing this could be his final shot at glory. He captured the WBA title back in 2017 by flattening Dmitry Kudryashov, and later went to war with Murat Gassiev in a memorable slugfest. Now, he’s aiming to spoil the Zurdo party in Southern California.
The fight promises to be a stylistic chess match wrapped in a powder keg: the measured pressure and southpaw rhythm of Ramírez against the raw power and relentless aggression of Dorticos. It’s method vs. mayhem. Patience vs. urgency.
Tactically, Ramírez may look to wear the Cuban down with body work and control the center of the ring. Dorticos, on the other hand, has no time to waste. The longer the bout stretches, the more it tilts in Zurdo’s favor. That makes the opening rounds critical—Dorticos will need to set the tempo early, and perhaps gamble big to cash in.
The atmosphere at the Honda Center will be electric, with Jake Paul fighting Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the main event. Thousands of Mexican fans are expected to rally behind Ramírez, who’s become a staple on the West Coast fight scene. But make no mistake—Dorticos didn’t travel to compete. He came to knock someone out.
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Spotlight on Ramirez vs. Dorticos
This Saturday, June 28th, the Honda Center in Anaheim, California\ will host a battle that could reshape the cruiserweight landscape. Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (47-1, 30 KOs), the reigning WBA / WBO champion at 200 pounds, puts his crown on the line against former champion Yuniel “Dr. KO” Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) of Cuba. For the 33 year-old Ramírez (pictured), this is a chance to solidify his hold on the division. Since moving up to cruiserweight, the southpaw has showcased his signature volume punching, methodical pressure, and ring IQ—all proving just as effective against bigger men. His most recent victory over then-WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith was a statement win, unifying titles and making him the first Mexican to claim two belts at cruiserweight. But there’s one thing missing: a knockout in the new weight class. And against a puncher like Dorticos, Ramírez knows that making a statement may matter just as much as getting the win.
His team, led by trainer Julian Chua, isn’t shying away from that expectation. “We want the knockout,” Chua told reporters. “We’re not just here to win on points—we want to leave a mark. Dorticos has power, but he’s got defensive gaps. We’re going to press him, test his gas tank, and push the pace.”
Across the ring stands Dorticos, the 39 year-old former champion known for his explosive power. With 25 of his 27 wins coming by knockout, the Cuban banger has been inactive for over a year, but he enters camp-driven and dangerous, knowing this could be his final shot at glory. He captured the WBA title back in 2017 by flattening Dmitry Kudryashov, and later went to war with Murat Gassiev in a memorable slugfest. Now, he’s aiming to spoil the Zurdo party in Southern California.
The fight promises to be a stylistic chess match wrapped in a powder keg: the measured pressure and southpaw rhythm of Ramírez against the raw power and relentless aggression of Dorticos. It’s method vs. mayhem. Patience vs. urgency.
Tactically, Ramírez may look to wear the Cuban down with body work and control the center of the ring. Dorticos, on the other hand, has no time to waste. The longer the bout stretches, the more it tilts in Zurdo’s favor. That makes the opening rounds critical—Dorticos will need to set the tempo early, and perhaps gamble big to cash in.
The atmosphere at the Honda Center will be electric, with Jake Paul fighting Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the main event. Thousands of Mexican fans are expected to rally behind Ramírez, who’s become a staple on the West Coast fight scene. But make no mistake—Dorticos didn’t travel to compete. He came to knock someone out.
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Ex-Olympic coach Joe Byrd Sr. passes away at 89 |
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MLive.com reports that Joe Byrd, Sr. of Flint, Michigan, a former Olympic coach and a man who trained his undersized son to two heavyweight championships, passed away on Monday at age 89. Boxing attorney John Hornewer wrote that "Joe was the patriarch of eight uniquely talented and special children that he had with his lovely wife Rose. Joe was also a formidable boxing coach. He was the head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and followed that by leading his son Chris to two heavyweight championships (this after winning a silver medal at 165 pounds at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona). A number of boxers from Flint owe much to Joe Byrd. More importantly, Joe gave all he had and then some to his family and to those who had the pleasure of working with him and making his acquaintance. To his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, deepest sympathies from me my family. One of the last of his kind."
Former WBC champion Anthony Dirrell, who first trained with Byrd in Flint was quoted by MLive as saying, “Joe Byrd was just an icon in Flint. The whole family was dedicated to the sport of boxing. He was a hell of a coach, a hell of a father and grandfather. If you had him, you definitely would have had one of the best. He worked with a lot of kids.”
Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Joe Byrd, Sr., including former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd.
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Ex-Olympic coach Joe Byrd Sr. passes away at 89
MLive.com reports that Joe Byrd, Sr. of Flint, Michigan, a former Olympic coach and a man who trained his undersized son to two heavyweight championships, passed away on Monday at age 89. Boxing attorney John Hornewer wrote that "Joe was the patriarch of eight uniquely talented and special children that he had with his lovely wife Rose. Joe was also a formidable boxing coach. He was the head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and followed that by leading his son Chris to two heavyweight championships (this after winning a silver medal at 165 pounds at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona). A number of boxers from Flint owe much to Joe Byrd. More importantly, Joe gave all he had and then some to his family and to those who had the pleasure of working with him and making his acquaintance. To his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, deepest sympathies from me my family. One of the last of his kind."
Former WBC champion Anthony Dirrell, who first trained with Byrd in Flint was quoted by MLive as saying, “Joe Byrd was just an icon in Flint. The whole family was dedicated to the sport of boxing. He was a hell of a coach, a hell of a father and grandfather. If you had him, you definitely would have had one of the best. He worked with a lot of kids.”
Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Joe Byrd, Sr., including former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd.
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Kuroki to defend 105-pound title in Tokyo this week |
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On June 26th, the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo will be the stage for a clash of generations as reigning champion Yuko Kuroki (24-8-2, 9 KOs) defends her WBA women’s minimumweight title against Nanako Suzuki (9-3, 3 KOs). Both fighters hail from Japan. Both know Korakuen Hall like the back of their hand. But only one will walk out with the belt. At 34 years old, Kuroki is a seasoned southpaw with championship pedigree. A titleholder under other sanctioning bodies from 2014 to 2017, she brings a wealth of big-fight experience and ring IQ. This marks her first title defense since capturing the WBA strap earlier in 2024, and she’s determined to solidify her reign.
Across the ring will be Suzuki, just 25 years old and riding a wave of momentum. While she lacks Kuroki’s resume, she makes up for it with youth, pressure, and fearless aggression—traits that have carried her to a string of impressive wins over the past year. Suzuki embodies the new wave of Japanese boxing talent, hungry to make her mark on the world stage.
It’s a classic clash of styles: the technical precision and counterpunching of Kuroki versus the pressure and forward drive of Suzuki.
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Kuroki to defend 105-pound title in Tokyo this week
On June 26th, the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo will be the stage for a clash of generations as reigning champion Yuko Kuroki (24-8-2, 9 KOs) defends her WBA women’s minimumweight title against Nanako Suzuki (9-3, 3 KOs). Both fighters hail from Japan. Both know Korakuen Hall like the back of their hand. But only one will walk out with the belt. At 34 years old, Kuroki is a seasoned southpaw with championship pedigree. A titleholder under other sanctioning bodies from 2014 to 2017, she brings a wealth of big-fight experience and ring IQ. This marks her first title defense since capturing the WBA strap earlier in 2024, and she’s determined to solidify her reign.
Across the ring will be Suzuki, just 25 years old and riding a wave of momentum. While she lacks Kuroki’s resume, she makes up for it with youth, pressure, and fearless aggression—traits that have carried her to a string of impressive wins over the past year. Suzuki embodies the new wave of Japanese boxing talent, hungry to make her mark on the world stage.
It’s a classic clash of styles: the technical precision and counterpunching of Kuroki versus the pressure and forward drive of Suzuki.
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Four big fights set for Riyadh on Aug. 16th |
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Boxing returns to the forefront of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, August 16th with four big fights currently scheduled. Top of the bill is a heavyweight showdown between the 20 year-old Moses Itauma taking on former title challenger Dillian Whyte in a major test of his current credentials... Featherweight star Nick Ball, 28, will make a third defense of his WBA world title when he goes up against Sam Goodman... IBO 130-pound champion Anthony Cacace will take on ex-featherweight champ Ray Ford, with the American having moved up a division... Back at heavyweight, another two Queensberry fighters will trade bombs when Filip Hrgovic goes up against the British champion David Adeleye and... Elsewhere on the card, Japanese featherweight talent Hayato Tsutumi will face former British Olympian Qais Ashfaq.
Itauma defeated Mike Balogun last time out in May via a second round stoppage. Whyte, age 37, previously held the WBC interim belt and challenged Tyson Fury for the full world championship at Wembley Stadium in April 2022.
Both the British Ball and the Australian Goodman 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.
Cacace has defended his IBO belt on four occasions - against Damien Wrzesinski, Joe Cordina, Josh Warrington and, most recently in May, Leigh Wood - and now he returns to the scene of his triumph over Cordina, from whom he took the IBF world title from. Ford has fought twice since Ball inflicted a first defeat on his record, with his last appearance coming in April when he defeated Thomas Mattice.
Hrgovic, age 33, defeated Joe Joyce in April over ten rounds to bounce back from his first career defeat against Daniel Dubois, while Adeleye, age 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.
“This is a fantastic card and platform for the Queensberry fighters to shine once again in Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season,” said promoter Frank Warren. “The finest young heavyweight in the world in Moses Itauma taking a gigantic step forward against Dillian Whyte will grab most of the attention and it deserves to, but Nick Ball defending his world title against Sam Goodman is a terrific scrap between two undefeated fighters.
“Anto Cacace against Ray Ford has got all the makings of a true classic and we all know just how good both men are, plus we’ve got a battle between two heavyweight contenders jockeying for position in Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye.”
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Four big fights set for Riyadh on Aug. 16th
Boxing returns to the forefront of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, August 16th with four big fights currently scheduled. Top of the bill is a heavyweight showdown between the 20 year-old Moses Itauma taking on former title challenger Dillian Whyte in a major test of his current credentials... Featherweight star Nick Ball, 28, will make a third defense of his WBA world title when he goes up against Sam Goodman... IBO 130-pound champion Anthony Cacace will take on ex-featherweight champ Ray Ford, with the American having moved up a division... Back at heavyweight, another two Queensberry fighters will trade bombs when Filip Hrgovic goes up against the British champion David Adeleye and... Elsewhere on the card, Japanese featherweight talent Hayato Tsutumi will face former British Olympian Qais Ashfaq.
Itauma defeated Mike Balogun last time out in May via a second round stoppage. Whyte, age 37, previously held the WBC interim belt and challenged Tyson Fury for the full world championship at Wembley Stadium in April 2022.
Both the British Ball and the Australian Goodman 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.
Cacace has defended his IBO belt on four occasions - against Damien Wrzesinski, Joe Cordina, Josh Warrington and, most recently in May, Leigh Wood - and now he returns to the scene of his triumph over Cordina, from whom he took the IBF world title from. Ford has fought twice since Ball inflicted a first defeat on his record, with his last appearance coming in April when he defeated Thomas Mattice.
Hrgovic, age 33, defeated Joe Joyce in April over ten rounds to bounce back from his first career defeat against Daniel Dubois, while Adeleye, age 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.
“This is a fantastic card and platform for the Queensberry fighters to shine once again in Saudi Arabia as part of Riyadh Season,” said promoter Frank Warren. “The finest young heavyweight in the world in Moses Itauma taking a gigantic step forward against Dillian Whyte will grab most of the attention and it deserves to, but Nick Ball defending his world title against Sam Goodman is a terrific scrap between two undefeated fighters.
“Anto Cacace against Ray Ford has got all the makings of a true classic and we all know just how good both men are, plus we’ve got a battle between two heavyweight contenders jockeying for position in Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye.”
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Alvarez vs. Crawford press tour highlights |
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Over the weekend, the two participant's in September's biggest fight faced on a press tour with stops in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and New York City. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (pictured) will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against multi-division champ Terence Crawford on September 13th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But this past weekend, there was a press conference and a face-off, where the highly anticipated fight between two of today’s elite boxers was promoted. The conference began with a lot of respect for each other, with both taking to the microphones to praise each otherl:
Alvarez said, “He’s a great fighter. I’ve been in this situation many times. I’m motivated, I want to make history with this fight. I’m a winner. I always think about winning.”
Crawford said, “I asked for Canelo because he’s a great fighter. He’s fought [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, GGG [Gennady Golovkin] in mega-fights. And this is my mega-fight, it’s my moment, that’s why I asked to face Canelo, He’s one of the best boxers I’ll face in my career. I’m going to prepare for everything.”
But little by little, the tension began to rise when the Mexican recalled that he rejected a fight against Crawford, arguing that he had nothing to gain and that he would win this fight: “He’s not going to beat me. I think this fight will go down in boxing history. I hope he doesn’t run, because people deserve to see a good fight. I hope he puts up a good fight. I know my abilities and I’m very confident about them,” said the 168-pound champion.
Crawford simply said that he would take the belts and assured that he was different from the Mexican’s other rivals: “I’m going to take your belts, I’m going to take them home. They’re on their way, I know it. You’re going to remember, I want you to remember, that’s the intention, for you to remember.”
Tensions exploded in New York when both boxers took offense at each other’s statements. Dana White, the promoter of the fight, asked Crawford if he wanted to wear his belts for the photo, but the American replied that he didn’t because he would soon be carrying “Canelo’s” on his shoulders. This irritated Alvarez who pushed his rival during the confrontation.
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Alvarez vs. Crawford press tour highlights
Over the weekend, the two participant's in September's biggest fight faced on a press tour with stops in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and New York City. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (pictured) will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against multi-division champ Terence Crawford on September 13th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But this past weekend, there was a press conference and a face-off, where the highly anticipated fight between two of today’s elite boxers was promoted. The conference began with a lot of respect for each other, with both taking to the microphones to praise each otherl:
Alvarez said, “He’s a great fighter. I’ve been in this situation many times. I’m motivated, I want to make history with this fight. I’m a winner. I always think about winning.”
Crawford said, “I asked for Canelo because he’s a great fighter. He’s fought [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, GGG [Gennady Golovkin] in mega-fights. And this is my mega-fight, it’s my moment, that’s why I asked to face Canelo, He’s one of the best boxers I’ll face in my career. I’m going to prepare for everything.”
But little by little, the tension began to rise when the Mexican recalled that he rejected a fight against Crawford, arguing that he had nothing to gain and that he would win this fight: “He’s not going to beat me. I think this fight will go down in boxing history. I hope he doesn’t run, because people deserve to see a good fight. I hope he puts up a good fight. I know my abilities and I’m very confident about them,” said the 168-pound champion.
Crawford simply said that he would take the belts and assured that he was different from the Mexican’s other rivals: “I’m going to take your belts, I’m going to take them home. They’re on their way, I know it. You’re going to remember, I want you to remember, that’s the intention, for you to remember.”
Tensions exploded in New York when both boxers took offense at each other’s statements. Dana White, the promoter of the fight, asked Crawford if he wanted to wear his belts for the photo, but the American replied that he didn’t because he would soon be carrying “Canelo’s” on his shoulders. This irritated Alvarez who pushed his rival during the confrontation.
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Welcome to Deontay Wilder comeback week |
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Only two weeks after his last fight, Kansas super middlweight Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (8-0, 7 KOs) returns this Friday night in Wichita to fight on the “Legacy Reloaded” card, presented by Global Combat Collective. The show is headlined by the ring return of former heavyweight champion and 2008 US Olympic bronze medalist Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (pictured). In the ten-round main event, Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) takes on Tyrrell Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs), while Romero faces Hawaii's Andre Amaro (2-0, 2 KOs) in a scheduled six-round bout. “Legacy Reloaded” will air live from the Charles Koch Arena, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and be distributed by BLK Prine and Integrated Sports across the United States and Canada for $24.95. It will also be available for streaming via Digital PPV and BLKPrime.com.
In his fourth fight of 2025, Romero attacked his opponent from the opening bell, displaying another vicious body attack, to register a second-round technical knockout of Nafys Anas Garner (4-2) on June 14th in Portland, Maine. “Any opportunity I have to step in the ring, especially in Kansas, I’m going to give the audience my best,” Romero concluded. “It’s important for me to put on a show to gain new fans in Kansas and from around the world. Anybody who wants to get on the ‘El Tiburon’ train is welcome.”
“Marco is excited to be on this card that is so close to his home, and he is more than ready to notch his ninth victory,” manager/head coach Brown commented. “He’s inching his way to Kansas City, where he will have the opportunity to display his talents in front of a home crown on September 6 in his hometown of Olathe, Kansas.”
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Welcome to Deontay Wilder comeback week
Only two weeks after his last fight, Kansas super middlweight Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (8-0, 7 KOs) returns this Friday night in Wichita to fight on the “Legacy Reloaded” card, presented by Global Combat Collective. The show is headlined by the ring return of former heavyweight champion and 2008 US Olympic bronze medalist Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (pictured). In the ten-round main event, Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) takes on Tyrrell Herndon (24-5, 15 KOs), while Romero faces Hawaii's Andre Amaro (2-0, 2 KOs) in a scheduled six-round bout. “Legacy Reloaded” will air live from the Charles Koch Arena, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and be distributed by BLK Prine and Integrated Sports across the United States and Canada for $24.95. It will also be available for streaming via Digital PPV and BLKPrime.com.
In his fourth fight of 2025, Romero attacked his opponent from the opening bell, displaying another vicious body attack, to register a second-round technical knockout of Nafys Anas Garner (4-2) on June 14th in Portland, Maine. “Any opportunity I have to step in the ring, especially in Kansas, I’m going to give the audience my best,” Romero concluded. “It’s important for me to put on a show to gain new fans in Kansas and from around the world. Anybody who wants to get on the ‘El Tiburon’ train is welcome.”
“Marco is excited to be on this card that is so close to his home, and he is more than ready to notch his ninth victory,” manager/head coach Brown commented. “He’s inching his way to Kansas City, where he will have the opportunity to display his talents in front of a home crown on September 6 in his hometown of Olathe, Kansas.”
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Walsh hopes to fight Vargas on Sept. 13th |
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Callum Walsh TKO5 Elias Espadas... Irish junior middleweight Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) scored a fifth-round technical decision victory over Elias Espadas (23-7-1, 16 KOs) at the Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California. Following an accidental clash of heads that occurred during round two, ring doctor Tony Hicks inspected the cut on Walsh's right eyelid prior to round three and once again prior to round six. The second time saw the fight was halted. The scorecards were consulted and Walsh was the decisive winner with a score of 50-40 across the board.
Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions who is Walsh's promoter, had plastic surgeon Dr. Pearlman Hicks on hand. He sealed the wound with eight stitches. Dr. Hicks has fifty years experience, including sealing the massive cuts Vitali Klitschko suffered in his 2003 fight against WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. That back then took sixty stiches applied to several skin layers. Walsh's cut is nowhere near as severe. However, the California State Athletic Commission automatically rules that Smith will not be able to fight for sixty days while he heals.
Post-fight, Walsh accepted a challenge from also fellow undefeated Fernando Vargas Jr. and the aim is for them to fight on the undercard of the Alvarez-Crawford show in Las Vegas on September 13th.
Loeffler said: ”I was very impressed by the way that Callum came out. He`s a very fast starter. You could see the distinct difference in speed, power and accuracy. This was definitely a good test for him concerning the way Elias Espadas boxed in his last fight fought against undefeated Sadriddin Akhmedov. I expected a very tough and rugged fight and that`s what we were getting, until the clash of heads in the second round. And I was impressed with how Callum retained his composure, purpose and his poise, with the blood streaming down his body, still able to engage and land on Espadas. So it went into the fifth round and the referee called the ring doctor in and they stopped the fight, with Callum winning every round. Callum has been automatically suspended for sixty days. That gives him plenty of time and we are going to try to get him on to the Canelo vs. Crawford Show and it should be fine for him to heal by then. This is the third time that Dr. Pearlman Hicks has sewed up Callum. Twice on his face and once on his hand, so Callum was in good hands from one of the best plastic surgeons I've ever seen."
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Walsh hopes to fight Vargas on Sept. 13th
Callum Walsh TKO5 Elias Espadas... Irish junior middleweight Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) scored a fifth-round technical decision victory over Elias Espadas (23-7-1, 16 KOs) at the Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, California. Following an accidental clash of heads that occurred during round two, ring doctor Tony Hicks inspected the cut on Walsh's right eyelid prior to round three and once again prior to round six. The second time saw the fight was halted. The scorecards were consulted and Walsh was the decisive winner with a score of 50-40 across the board.
Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions who is Walsh's promoter, had plastic surgeon Dr. Pearlman Hicks on hand. He sealed the wound with eight stitches. Dr. Hicks has fifty years experience, including sealing the massive cuts Vitali Klitschko suffered in his 2003 fight against WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. That back then took sixty stiches applied to several skin layers. Walsh's cut is nowhere near as severe. However, the California State Athletic Commission automatically rules that Smith will not be able to fight for sixty days while he heals.
Post-fight, Walsh accepted a challenge from also fellow undefeated Fernando Vargas Jr. and the aim is for them to fight on the undercard of the Alvarez-Crawford show in Las Vegas on September 13th.
Loeffler said: ”I was very impressed by the way that Callum came out. He`s a very fast starter. You could see the distinct difference in speed, power and accuracy. This was definitely a good test for him concerning the way Elias Espadas boxed in his last fight fought against undefeated Sadriddin Akhmedov. I expected a very tough and rugged fight and that`s what we were getting, until the clash of heads in the second round. And I was impressed with how Callum retained his composure, purpose and his poise, with the blood streaming down his body, still able to engage and land on Espadas. So it went into the fifth round and the referee called the ring doctor in and they stopped the fight, with Callum winning every round. Callum has been automatically suspended for sixty days. That gives him plenty of time and we are going to try to get him on to the Canelo vs. Crawford Show and it should be fine for him to heal by then. This is the third time that Dr. Pearlman Hicks has sewed up Callum. Twice on his face and once on his hand, so Callum was in good hands from one of the best plastic surgeons I've ever seen."
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Kingsley Ibeh to face Gerald Washington in El Salvador |
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Toro Promotions, Inc. has announced that it will expand its market on the international scene by promoting its first pro boxing event on September 20th in El Salvador. The show is scheduled to be headlined by a ten-round heavyweight fight between Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (15-2-1, 13 KOs), who has won his last 10 fights in a row, against Gerald Washington (21-6-1, 14 KOs) Also scheduled to be in action are Austin Brooks (13-0-1, 6 KOs) in a twelve-round junior lightweight fight. The show's venue will be Gimnasio Nacional Jose Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, the capital and largest city in El Salvador.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s broader vision includes his country becoming a center for major boxing and MMA events. Its Boxing Federation recently appointed International Boxing & MMA Consultants, Inc. (“IBMC”) as the national athletic commission overseeing professional boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports in El Salvador.
“With El Salvador attracting huge interest and investment to serve as a regional and global hub for boxing and MMA, Toro Promotions is spearheading this endeavor,” Toro’s promoter Azat Torosyan said. “We are proud to promote and organize the first international pro boxing event in El Salvador. Toro Promotions also welcomes the opportunity to work with Mr. Campuzano and his expert team to ensure the highest global standards of safety and fairness for athletes competing under our banner.”
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
JUNE 17, 2025: El Salvador has a goal to become a center for major boxing and MMA events as part of President Nayib Bukele’s broader vision. The Central American nation's boxing federation has appointed International Boxing & MMA Consultants, Inc. (“IBMC”) as the national athletic commission overseeing professional boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports in El Salvador. IBMC has provided consultation, services, training, and assistance for combat sport commissions in countries such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Bermuda. It is led by former Illinois Boxing Commissioner Joel Campuzano, who has decades of experience in boxing and MMA, working with commission officials across the United States, Canada, Central America, as well as serving in South America as a Latin American Liaison for the Association of Boxing Commissioners (ABC).
“We at International Boxing & MMA are gratified that the Salvadorian Boxing Federation has entrusted us with helping to support this new, exciting phase of professional combative sports in the country,” Campuzano said. “We understand that El Salvador is attracting huge interest and investment to serve as a regional and global hub for boxing and MMA. Our experienced team and extensive industry network are ready, under the authority and reporting to the national government authority to support that growth, while emphasizing safety and fairness in the ring, the cage, and on the mat. El Salvador will become the Gold Standard of the region.”
IBMC will be responsible for licensing, regulating, and reporting pending events and results of professional boxing, MMA, and all other professional combat sport events in El Salvador in order to continue attracting attention worldwide as a welcome venue for combat sports.
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Kingsley Ibeh to face Gerald Washington in El Salvador
Toro Promotions, Inc. has announced that it will expand its market on the international scene by promoting its first pro boxing event on September 20th in El Salvador. The show is scheduled to be headlined by a ten-round heavyweight fight between Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (15-2-1, 13 KOs), who has won his last 10 fights in a row, against Gerald Washington (21-6-1, 14 KOs) Also scheduled to be in action are Austin Brooks (13-0-1, 6 KOs) in a twelve-round junior lightweight fight. The show's venue will be Gimnasio Nacional Jose Adolfo Pineda in San Salvador, the capital and largest city in El Salvador.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s broader vision includes his country becoming a center for major boxing and MMA events. Its Boxing Federation recently appointed International Boxing & MMA Consultants, Inc. (“IBMC”) as the national athletic commission overseeing professional boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports in El Salvador.
“With El Salvador attracting huge interest and investment to serve as a regional and global hub for boxing and MMA, Toro Promotions is spearheading this endeavor,” Toro’s promoter Azat Torosyan said. “We are proud to promote and organize the first international pro boxing event in El Salvador. Toro Promotions also welcomes the opportunity to work with Mr. Campuzano and his expert team to ensure the highest global standards of safety and fairness for athletes competing under our banner.”
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
JUNE 17, 2025: El Salvador has a goal to become a center for major boxing and MMA events as part of President Nayib Bukele’s broader vision. The Central American nation's boxing federation has appointed International Boxing & MMA Consultants, Inc. (“IBMC”) as the national athletic commission overseeing professional boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports in El Salvador. IBMC has provided consultation, services, training, and assistance for combat sport commissions in countries such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Bermuda. It is led by former Illinois Boxing Commissioner Joel Campuzano, who has decades of experience in boxing and MMA, working with commission officials across the United States, Canada, Central America, as well as serving in South America as a Latin American Liaison for the Association of Boxing Commissioners (ABC).
“We at International Boxing & MMA are gratified that the Salvadorian Boxing Federation has entrusted us with helping to support this new, exciting phase of professional combative sports in the country,” Campuzano said. “We understand that El Salvador is attracting huge interest and investment to serve as a regional and global hub for boxing and MMA. Our experienced team and extensive industry network are ready, under the authority and reporting to the national government authority to support that growth, while emphasizing safety and fairness in the ring, the cage, and on the mat. El Salvador will become the Gold Standard of the region.”
IBMC will be responsible for licensing, regulating, and reporting pending events and results of professional boxing, MMA, and all other professional combat sport events in El Salvador in order to continue attracting attention worldwide as a welcome venue for combat sports.
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A few words with featherweight Imani Lee |
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Featherweight Iman Lee (14-0, 8 KOs) showed poise, precision, and maturity beyond his years on Saturday, outclassing Mexico's Hector Munguia Calderon (15-1-1, 9 KOs) over six rounds to advance to phase three of the WBC Grand Prix single-elimination tournament. Fighting at the Global Theater in Riyadh’s Boulevard City and live on DAZN, Lee controlled the pace of the bout and neutralized the aggressive Munguia with superb defense, intelligent angles, and sharp counterpunching to earn a unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 (twice) and 58-56. “The fight went pretty much as we expected,” admitted Lee immediately after the victory. “We were prepared for him to be even more aggressive.”
In a classic contrast of styles, Munguia pressed forward from the opening bell, trying to back the American to the ropes while Lee calmly fired accurate counters while gauging timing and distance. The difference in skill became clear in round two, as the Yonkers, New York native began to carve Munguia up from close range, landing a crisp left uppercut on the inside and switching directions to fire sneaky counter shots to the body.
Lee’s defense was on display in round three, as Munguia increased the pressure and began cutting off the ring more effectively. Lee responded by catching shots on his right glove or rolling them off his left shoulder, then firing back with clean combinations to the head and body before spinning out of harm’s way. Munguia turned to plan B in round four, switching to southpaw and letting his hands go with looping lefts and rights. Lee absorbed a few shots but adjusted and avoided most of the incoming, answering with a beautiful counter uppercut that snapped the Mexican’s head back late in the round.
“I think him turning southpaw allowed for more openings with the right hand,” explained Lee. “I didn’t have to make too many adjustments — just not stay on the ropes for too long and if I did, I had to get my shots off, spin him, or grab and place him where I wanted him to be.”
That strategy worked well, as Lee was ahead on all judges scorecards heading into round five. Knowing that the fight was slipping away, Munguia came out swinging over the final two rounds. Lee remained composed, creating distance by landing stiff jabs, picking his moments to counter and slipping out of range when needed down the stretch. “It was a bit different fighting out here the second time around, being that I got my feet wet in the first phase and knew what to expect,” said Lee. “We made the proper adjustments from the previous fight — staying calm and taking advantage of a lot of the openings. I’m looking to continue to improve in phase three.”
With the win, the 25-year-old moves one step closer to the Grand Finale. Phase three takes place in October and will pit the Yonkers native against Brandon Mosqueda, another unbeaten Mexican puncher.
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A few words with featherweight Imani Lee
Featherweight Iman Lee (14-0, 8 KOs) showed poise, precision, and maturity beyond his years on Saturday, outclassing Mexico's Hector Munguia Calderon (15-1-1, 9 KOs) over six rounds to advance to phase three of the WBC Grand Prix single-elimination tournament. Fighting at the Global Theater in Riyadh’s Boulevard City and live on DAZN, Lee controlled the pace of the bout and neutralized the aggressive Munguia with superb defense, intelligent angles, and sharp counterpunching to earn a unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 (twice) and 58-56. “The fight went pretty much as we expected,” admitted Lee immediately after the victory. “We were prepared for him to be even more aggressive.”
In a classic contrast of styles, Munguia pressed forward from the opening bell, trying to back the American to the ropes while Lee calmly fired accurate counters while gauging timing and distance. The difference in skill became clear in round two, as the Yonkers, New York native began to carve Munguia up from close range, landing a crisp left uppercut on the inside and switching directions to fire sneaky counter shots to the body.
Lee’s defense was on display in round three, as Munguia increased the pressure and began cutting off the ring more effectively. Lee responded by catching shots on his right glove or rolling them off his left shoulder, then firing back with clean combinations to the head and body before spinning out of harm’s way. Munguia turned to plan B in round four, switching to southpaw and letting his hands go with looping lefts and rights. Lee absorbed a few shots but adjusted and avoided most of the incoming, answering with a beautiful counter uppercut that snapped the Mexican’s head back late in the round.
“I think him turning southpaw allowed for more openings with the right hand,” explained Lee. “I didn’t have to make too many adjustments — just not stay on the ropes for too long and if I did, I had to get my shots off, spin him, or grab and place him where I wanted him to be.”
That strategy worked well, as Lee was ahead on all judges scorecards heading into round five. Knowing that the fight was slipping away, Munguia came out swinging over the final two rounds. Lee remained composed, creating distance by landing stiff jabs, picking his moments to counter and slipping out of range when needed down the stretch. “It was a bit different fighting out here the second time around, being that I got my feet wet in the first phase and knew what to expect,” said Lee. “We made the proper adjustments from the previous fight — staying calm and taking advantage of a lot of the openings. I’m looking to continue to improve in phase three.”
With the win, the 25-year-old moves one step closer to the Grand Finale. Phase three takes place in October and will pit the Yonkers native against Brandon Mosqueda, another unbeaten Mexican puncher.
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Welcome to Paul vs. Chavez fight week |
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Jake Paul faces another former champion from a bygone era this weekend when he steps into the ring with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. [From 2011 to 2012, Chavez was the WBC middleweight champion. Paul vs. Chavez will be at cruiserweight]. The boasts and promises from ‘The Problem Child’ are consistent as ever heading into battle as he once again vowed to deliver an emphatic victory whoile also maintaining that the day will come when he becomes world champion. For that to happen, this latest path on that quest, must be one that Paul handles impressively, but is he capable of disposing of Chavez Jr in a vicious and simple manner? The answer is simple – he has to if his boxing credentials are ever to be taken seriously.
Paul’s improvements, notable ones that some boxing traditionalists will not admit, have been identified in recent years as his time in the gym under solid tutelage has seen him master some old crafts that have helped in certain situations. At the level he operates at, against fellow novices or boxing neophytes, Paul looks comfortable under pressure, he knows how to smother and spoil, and he is not afraid to let his hands go. That has allowed him to dominate certain fighters, but never enough to make observers fully back him when the going might get tough.
Paul had his backers when he takes on the likes of Mike Tyson, age 58 at the time, and a man who had been inactive for the best part of 20 years. Now with Chavez Jr, a former middleweight ruler now intent on doing as little as possible in the ring, will those supporting his chances of victory at this echelon of the sport consider him a threat against any current ranked contender? Ask plenty in the know and they will tell you that numerous former world champions, inactive for many years, would be too smart and experienced for Paul. Numerous spats with Carl Froch and Tony Bellew have created speculation the retired Brits could one day be opposing Paul in the ring, and there would be many backing the previous world champions.
Take that forward a few spaces and assess the current world champions around the cruiserweight division Paul operates in. Who do you see who Paul could defeat, or even be competitive against?
Jai Opetaia? Zurdo Ramirez? Dmitry Bivol? Artur Beterbiev? A lengthy list of dangerous men sit comfortably in the positions Paul believes he is capable of filling, and they do not appear to be going anywhere just yet. What about the contenders a level below, who are more than capable of getting their hands on a world title anywhere between light-heavyweight and the land of boxing’s giants? Chris Billam-Smith? Anthony Yarde? Viddal Riley? Is this an area where Paul is targeting?
One that could realistically aid his world title hopes, or is his current strategy of targeting marketable greats from yesteryear enough to quench his fighting thirst?
If it is the former, then Paul must start proving that. Tyson, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz have all taken Paul the distance in recent bouts. If the popular Ohioan can end Chavez Jr’s hopes before the final bell, something Canelo Alvarez could not manage, then he will every right to dream bigger.
Paul will always have his doubters in boxing, the toughest of sports, but he also holds the power to convince them his aspirations are genuine and that must start this Saturday night.
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Welcome to Paul vs. Chavez fight week
Jake Paul faces another former champion from a bygone era this weekend when he steps into the ring with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. [From 2011 to 2012, Chavez was the WBC middleweight champion. Paul vs. Chavez will be at cruiserweight]. The boasts and promises from ‘The Problem Child’ are consistent as ever heading into battle as he once again vowed to deliver an emphatic victory whoile also maintaining that the day will come when he becomes world champion. For that to happen, this latest path on that quest, must be one that Paul handles impressively, but is he capable of disposing of Chavez Jr in a vicious and simple manner? The answer is simple – he has to if his boxing credentials are ever to be taken seriously.
Paul’s improvements, notable ones that some boxing traditionalists will not admit, have been identified in recent years as his time in the gym under solid tutelage has seen him master some old crafts that have helped in certain situations. At the level he operates at, against fellow novices or boxing neophytes, Paul looks comfortable under pressure, he knows how to smother and spoil, and he is not afraid to let his hands go. That has allowed him to dominate certain fighters, but never enough to make observers fully back him when the going might get tough.
Paul had his backers when he takes on the likes of Mike Tyson, age 58 at the time, and a man who had been inactive for the best part of 20 years. Now with Chavez Jr, a former middleweight ruler now intent on doing as little as possible in the ring, will those supporting his chances of victory at this echelon of the sport consider him a threat against any current ranked contender? Ask plenty in the know and they will tell you that numerous former world champions, inactive for many years, would be too smart and experienced for Paul. Numerous spats with Carl Froch and Tony Bellew have created speculation the retired Brits could one day be opposing Paul in the ring, and there would be many backing the previous world champions.
Take that forward a few spaces and assess the current world champions around the cruiserweight division Paul operates in. Who do you see who Paul could defeat, or even be competitive against?
Jai Opetaia? Zurdo Ramirez? Dmitry Bivol? Artur Beterbiev? A lengthy list of dangerous men sit comfortably in the positions Paul believes he is capable of filling, and they do not appear to be going anywhere just yet. What about the contenders a level below, who are more than capable of getting their hands on a world title anywhere between light-heavyweight and the land of boxing’s giants? Chris Billam-Smith? Anthony Yarde? Viddal Riley? Is this an area where Paul is targeting?
One that could realistically aid his world title hopes, or is his current strategy of targeting marketable greats from yesteryear enough to quench his fighting thirst?
If it is the former, then Paul must start proving that. Tyson, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz have all taken Paul the distance in recent bouts. If the popular Ohioan can end Chavez Jr’s hopes before the final bell, something Canelo Alvarez could not manage, then he will every right to dream bigger.
Paul will always have his doubters in boxing, the toughest of sports, but he also holds the power to convince them his aspirations are genuine and that must start this Saturday night.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Results from Venezuela |
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This past Saturday, the state of Aragua, Venezuela played host to the ninth edition of the WBA Future of Venezuelan Boxing, held at the Centro Recreacional Yesterday, a venue rich in local boxing history. In the main event, 20-year-old Diego Carbajal (7-0, 4 KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact with an explosive finish, stopping fellow Venezuelan Danny Núñez (3-4-1) in the fifth round... Gleybert Maia (9-0, 3 KOs), just 21 years old, continues to evolve into a polished and technical fighter. He faced off against Yorman Sulbaran (2-3), an aggressive and scrappy opponent, but it was Maia’s discipline and ring generalship that stood out. As the rounds progressed, “Canelito” took control of the center of the ring and landed with growing accuracy and power, securing a unanimous decision victory... Pablo Emilio Molina Gamarro (4-2-2), age 25, was making his first appearance of the year and notched his third straight victory. His clash with Jorge Espinoza (2-2-1) was hard-fought and evenly matched, but in the end, the difference came down to the a two-point deduction Espinoza received for repeatedly spitting out his mouthguard, which tilted the judges’ scorecards in Molina’s favor.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Results from Venezuela
This past Saturday, the state of Aragua, Venezuela played host to the ninth edition of the WBA Future of Venezuelan Boxing, held at the Centro Recreacional Yesterday, a venue rich in local boxing history. In the main event, 20-year-old Diego Carbajal (7-0, 4 KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact with an explosive finish, stopping fellow Venezuelan Danny Núñez (3-4-1) in the fifth round... Gleybert Maia (9-0, 3 KOs), just 21 years old, continues to evolve into a polished and technical fighter. He faced off against Yorman Sulbaran (2-3), an aggressive and scrappy opponent, but it was Maia’s discipline and ring generalship that stood out. As the rounds progressed, “Canelito” took control of the center of the ring and landed with growing accuracy and power, securing a unanimous decision victory... Pablo Emilio Molina Gamarro (4-2-2), age 25, was making his first appearance of the year and notched his third straight victory. His clash with Jorge Espinoza (2-2-1) was hard-fought and evenly matched, but in the end, the difference came down to the a two-point deduction Espinoza received for repeatedly spitting out his mouthguard, which tilted the judges’ scorecards in Molina’s favor.
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Team USA Junior Olympics update |
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The USA Youth High Performance Team earned seven gold medals at the 53rd annual USA Boxing National Junior Olympics and Summer Festival in Las Vegas. Lauryn Elmore (female 65 kg), Joseph Awinongya (male 80 kg), Kayla Moore (80+ kg), and Nnajai Wright (90+ kg) each made their tournament debuts on Saturday and earned gold medals in the process. All four boxers dominated their lone bout of the event, as Elmore, Moore and Wright secured unanimous decision victories, while Awinongya earned an RSC [referee stops contest] in the second round. "With this fight, I was happy to get some ring rust [off] and get the work I needed before Brandenburg," Awinongya stated following his performance. "When it comes to the Brandenburg Cup, I know I will have quickness, those quick-twitch muscles. I saw that all of them performed today. I am glad I will be able to put that in my next fight in Brandenburg."
Also earning gold this afternoon was Salim Ellis-Bey (male, 60 kg), who secured a 3-2 split decision victory over Yahir Diaz Martinez. Bey represents the USA Youth High Performance Team as its captain and displayed dominance and leadership throughout the week in Las Vegas Rounding out Team USA's gold medals are two Hawaii natives, Lorenzo Patricio (male, 50 kg) and Alexis Tangaro (female, 54 kg), who both earned a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win.
Earning two silver medals for the week were Landon Patricio (male 55 kg) and Jose Vasquez (male 70 kg). Both boxers had a successful tournament, as Vasquez earned three victories, while Patricio earned four of his own.
Team USA was represented by 10 members of its Youth High Performance Team, earning seven gold and two silver.
The Youth High Performance Team will now shift its focus to the Brandenburg Cup, which will take place in Germany from July 29th through August 3rd. The 14 team members will arrive at camp on July 6th, at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Team USA Junior Olympics update
The USA Youth High Performance Team earned seven gold medals at the 53rd annual USA Boxing National Junior Olympics and Summer Festival in Las Vegas. Lauryn Elmore (female 65 kg), Joseph Awinongya (male 80 kg), Kayla Moore (80+ kg), and Nnajai Wright (90+ kg) each made their tournament debuts on Saturday and earned gold medals in the process. All four boxers dominated their lone bout of the event, as Elmore, Moore and Wright secured unanimous decision victories, while Awinongya earned an RSC [referee stops contest] in the second round. "With this fight, I was happy to get some ring rust [off] and get the work I needed before Brandenburg," Awinongya stated following his performance. "When it comes to the Brandenburg Cup, I know I will have quickness, those quick-twitch muscles. I saw that all of them performed today. I am glad I will be able to put that in my next fight in Brandenburg."
Also earning gold this afternoon was Salim Ellis-Bey (male, 60 kg), who secured a 3-2 split decision victory over Yahir Diaz Martinez. Bey represents the USA Youth High Performance Team as its captain and displayed dominance and leadership throughout the week in Las Vegas Rounding out Team USA's gold medals are two Hawaii natives, Lorenzo Patricio (male, 50 kg) and Alexis Tangaro (female, 54 kg), who both earned a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win.
Earning two silver medals for the week were Landon Patricio (male 55 kg) and Jose Vasquez (male 70 kg). Both boxers had a successful tournament, as Vasquez earned three victories, while Patricio earned four of his own.
Team USA was represented by 10 members of its Youth High Performance Team, earning seven gold and two silver.
The Youth High Performance Team will now shift its focus to the Brandenburg Cup, which will take place in Germany from July 29th through August 3rd. The 14 team members will arrive at camp on July 6th, at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Results from Massachusetts |
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Shea Willcox KO2 Kadhim Alkhazaali ... The two newest members of Granite Chin Promotions’ (GCP) roster, undefeated junior welterweight “Showtime” Shea Willcox and middleweight Rich Allen both turned in knockout wins for a sold-out crowd on Friday night at the Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Willcox, age 23, has successfully parlayed his rich amateur pedigree as a 2024 New England Golden Gloves champion, in which he was also named the “Most Outstanding Boxer, in addition to capturing top honors at the 2018 Rocky Marciano Tournament Champion, into the pro ranks. His fan base continues to travel well to support him, which has rapidly made him arguably the most popular boxer in New England, based on ticket sales. At the site of his pro debut a year ago last September at the Bridgewater Vets Club, Willcox (3-0, 3 KOs) defeated Kadhim Alkhazaali (0-2). He did get Shea’s attention with a solid shot to the face in the opening round. He came out for the second round with a vengeance. A wicked body shot sent an obviously hurt Alkhazaali to the canvas late in round two and he was unable to continue fighting.
“The kid was tough, fighting as he came forward,” Willcox remarked. “We knew he was a step up as an opponent, but we were ready. He kind of woke me up with that punch in the opening round. We always put in the work and trained to be sharp and ready for anything in the fight.” Willcox will be on Granite Chin’s Aug. 10th show in Revere, which borders Shea’s hometown of Everett.
Rich Allen TKO2 Igor Santos.. Local favorite Rich Allen, a police resources officer at Silver Lake High School, returned to the same venue where he made his pro debut last September. The southpaw battered Igor Santos (0-10) to improve to 2-0, knocking down his opponent four times, three in the second and final round. Allen used every punch in his arsenal – straight left, uppercut, left hook, right jab and more – to completely dominate Santos.
UNDERCARD
In a walkout fight, Charlton (MA) cruiserweight Andreas Enetzelis (1-0, 1 KO) had a memorable pro debut, landing a perfectly placed straight right to the chin that knocked out Bruno Saraiva (0-7) midway through round one.
Irish middleweight Bernie McDonagh, now fighting out of Boston, moved to 2-0 with a dazzling performance against an overmatched Jay Gregory (0-14-1). The 17-year-old McDonagh came out the corner for the opening bell throwing bombs. The former Irish National Champion from Cork, Ireland, trapped his opponent in the corner, throwing 12 straight unanswered punches to close the show midway through the first round.
Former Massachusetts middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi, now fighting as a cruiserweight, stopped Juan Celin Zapata (7-26-2) in the second round, registering two knockdowns in the process.
In a junior middleweight match between Massachusetts fighters, Justin “The Bandit” Laporte, fighting out of Millbury, dropped Boston’s David Rodrigues (0-5) in the opening round with a left hook and soon finished him off with a solid uppercut at the 2:18 mark. A U.S. Marine and 2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Laporte improved to 3-0.
Rhode Island junior middleweight Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (5-12-4) decked veteran Daniel Sostre (13-29-3) in the opening round enroute to a 4-round unanimous decision to open the show.
Bridgewater TV taped the event live to air this coming week
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Results from Massachusetts
Shea Willcox KO2 Kadhim Alkhazaali ... The two newest members of Granite Chin Promotions’ (GCP) roster, undefeated junior welterweight “Showtime” Shea Willcox and middleweight Rich Allen both turned in knockout wins for a sold-out crowd on Friday night at the Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Willcox, age 23, has successfully parlayed his rich amateur pedigree as a 2024 New England Golden Gloves champion, in which he was also named the “Most Outstanding Boxer, in addition to capturing top honors at the 2018 Rocky Marciano Tournament Champion, into the pro ranks. His fan base continues to travel well to support him, which has rapidly made him arguably the most popular boxer in New England, based on ticket sales. At the site of his pro debut a year ago last September at the Bridgewater Vets Club, Willcox (3-0, 3 KOs) defeated Kadhim Alkhazaali (0-2). He did get Shea’s attention with a solid shot to the face in the opening round. He came out for the second round with a vengeance. A wicked body shot sent an obviously hurt Alkhazaali to the canvas late in round two and he was unable to continue fighting.
“The kid was tough, fighting as he came forward,” Willcox remarked. “We knew he was a step up as an opponent, but we were ready. He kind of woke me up with that punch in the opening round. We always put in the work and trained to be sharp and ready for anything in the fight.” Willcox will be on Granite Chin’s Aug. 10th show in Revere, which borders Shea’s hometown of Everett.
Rich Allen TKO2 Igor Santos.. Local favorite Rich Allen, a police resources officer at Silver Lake High School, returned to the same venue where he made his pro debut last September. The southpaw battered Igor Santos (0-10) to improve to 2-0, knocking down his opponent four times, three in the second and final round. Allen used every punch in his arsenal – straight left, uppercut, left hook, right jab and more – to completely dominate Santos.
UNDERCARD
In a walkout fight, Charlton (MA) cruiserweight Andreas Enetzelis (1-0, 1 KO) had a memorable pro debut, landing a perfectly placed straight right to the chin that knocked out Bruno Saraiva (0-7) midway through round one.
Irish middleweight Bernie McDonagh, now fighting out of Boston, moved to 2-0 with a dazzling performance against an overmatched Jay Gregory (0-14-1). The 17-year-old McDonagh came out the corner for the opening bell throwing bombs. The former Irish National Champion from Cork, Ireland, trapped his opponent in the corner, throwing 12 straight unanswered punches to close the show midway through the first round.
Former Massachusetts middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi, now fighting as a cruiserweight, stopped Juan Celin Zapata (7-26-2) in the second round, registering two knockdowns in the process.
In a junior middleweight match between Massachusetts fighters, Justin “The Bandit” Laporte, fighting out of Millbury, dropped Boston’s David Rodrigues (0-5) in the opening round with a left hook and soon finished him off with a solid uppercut at the 2:18 mark. A U.S. Marine and 2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Laporte improved to 3-0.
Rhode Island junior middleweight Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (5-12-4) decked veteran Daniel Sostre (13-29-3) in the opening round enroute to a 4-round unanimous decision to open the show.
Bridgewater TV taped the event live to air this coming week
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IBA dabbling in bare knuckle fights |
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The upcoming IBA Pro Champions’ Night on July 2nd in Istanbul will feature not only professional boxing bouts but also bare-knuckle fights under the IBA banner. One of the main fight card highlights will be a clash between Turkish fighter Murat Kazgan, known as “Lord Pitbull,” and American Will Chope, nicknamed “The Kill.” In bare-knuckle competition, Kazgan, age 39, holds one win and one loss, while Chope, age 34, has three wins and seven losses. In 2022, the American competed in a bare-knuckle bout in Moscow against Martin Juaryan. Both Chope and Kazgan have experience in the BKFC league, as well as extensive records in MMA. Notably, Chope fought Max Holloway at a UFC event in 2014. He has also competed under professional boxing rules, holding a record of four wins, three losses, and one draw. Despite his extensive martial arts experience and international appearances, Kazgan will perform in Türkiye for the very first time, offering a unique opportunity for the local crowd to witness his skills live.
In another bare knuckle fight on the card, Russia’s Mikhail Tarabrin will also compete in Istanbul, with his opponent to be announced shortly.
The main event in Istanbul will be a professional boxing match between 2021 Olympic champion Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) of Russia and James Dickens (35-5, 14 KOs) of Great Britain. Both the WBA interim and IBA Pro junior lightweight titles will be on the line in this twelve-round bout.
In the junior welterweight co-feature, Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkova, a 2021 Olympic bronze medallist and renowned amateur boxer, will face Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev (25-2, 22 KOs).
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IBA dabbling in bare knuckle fights
The upcoming IBA Pro Champions’ Night on July 2nd in Istanbul will feature not only professional boxing bouts but also bare-knuckle fights under the IBA banner. One of the main fight card highlights will be a clash between Turkish fighter Murat Kazgan, known as “Lord Pitbull,” and American Will Chope, nicknamed “The Kill.” In bare-knuckle competition, Kazgan, age 39, holds one win and one loss, while Chope, age 34, has three wins and seven losses. In 2022, the American competed in a bare-knuckle bout in Moscow against Martin Juaryan. Both Chope and Kazgan have experience in the BKFC league, as well as extensive records in MMA. Notably, Chope fought Max Holloway at a UFC event in 2014. He has also competed under professional boxing rules, holding a record of four wins, three losses, and one draw. Despite his extensive martial arts experience and international appearances, Kazgan will perform in Türkiye for the very first time, offering a unique opportunity for the local crowd to witness his skills live.
In another bare knuckle fight on the card, Russia’s Mikhail Tarabrin will also compete in Istanbul, with his opponent to be announced shortly.
The main event in Istanbul will be a professional boxing match between 2021 Olympic champion Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) of Russia and James Dickens (35-5, 14 KOs) of Great Britain. Both the WBA interim and IBA Pro junior lightweight titles will be on the line in this twelve-round bout.
In the junior welterweight co-feature, Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkova, a 2021 Olympic bronze medallist and renowned amateur boxer, will face Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev (25-2, 22 KOs).
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Crawford: "Canelo is my mega-fight" |
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As part of Riyadh Season, the Baker AlShidy Theatre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia hosted the first press conference for the highly anticipated clash between world super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) and multi-division champion Terence Crawford (41-0-0, 31 KOs). On September 13th in Las Vegas, the Mexican Alvarez will defend his undisputed 168-pound laurels against the American Crawford, who will move up two weight divisions. The fight card will be available on Netflix.
In a lavishly organized event, as is customary for fights held in the Middle East, Canelo and Crawford met face-to-face months before the big fight. “Canelo’s resume is brilliant. In the last 20 years, he has fought everyone. I don’t think Canelo will offer him the chance to win. It will be one of the best fights in the last 10 years,” commented Turki Al-Sheikh.
Both fighters are convinced that this will make boxing history. “I asked for Canelo because he’s a great fighter. He has fought [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, GGG [Gennady Golovkin]... all mega-fights. And this is my mega-fight, this is my moment, that’s why I asked to face Canelo,” commented Crawford.
“He’s one of the best boxers I’ll face in my career. I’m going to prepare for everything,” said Alvarez.
With his belts in front of him, Álvarez warned: “He’s not going to beat me. I believe this fight will be in the boxing history books. I hope he doesn’t run, because people deserve to see a good fight. I hope he puts on a good fight. I know my abilities and I am very confident in them.”
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Crawford: "Canelo is my mega-fight"
As part of Riyadh Season, the Baker AlShidy Theatre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia hosted the first press conference for the highly anticipated clash between world super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) and multi-division champion Terence Crawford (41-0-0, 31 KOs). On September 13th in Las Vegas, the Mexican Alvarez will defend his undisputed 168-pound laurels against the American Crawford, who will move up two weight divisions. The fight card will be available on Netflix.
In a lavishly organized event, as is customary for fights held in the Middle East, Canelo and Crawford met face-to-face months before the big fight. “Canelo’s resume is brilliant. In the last 20 years, he has fought everyone. I don’t think Canelo will offer him the chance to win. It will be one of the best fights in the last 10 years,” commented Turki Al-Sheikh.
Both fighters are convinced that this will make boxing history. “I asked for Canelo because he’s a great fighter. He has fought [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, GGG [Gennady Golovkin]... all mega-fights. And this is my mega-fight, this is my moment, that’s why I asked to face Canelo,” commented Crawford.
“He’s one of the best boxers I’ll face in my career. I’m going to prepare for everything,” said Alvarez.
With his belts in front of him, Álvarez warned: “He’s not going to beat me. I believe this fight will be in the boxing history books. I hope he doesn’t run, because people deserve to see a good fight. I hope he puts on a good fight. I know my abilities and I am very confident in them.”
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