Regulatory board: WBA does not take adequate steps to prevent potential fixed fights |
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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is requiring all Ontario-registered sportsbook [sports gambling] operators to stop offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events, effective immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting. Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned [regional] title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the tenth round.
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Regulatory board: WBA does not take adequate steps to prevent potential fixed fights
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is requiring all Ontario-registered sportsbook [sports gambling] operators to stop offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events, effective immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting. Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned [regional] title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the tenth round.
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Junior Younan signs with Star Boxing |
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Star Boxing has announced the signing of super middleweight Junior Younan to an exclusive promotional contract. Younan, age 28 and from Brooklyn, New York, is 19-0-1 with 11 knockouts. “I am super excited to be part of Star Boxing. As a fighter who was born and raised in New York, I feel like it’s a natural fit. Thank you to Joe DeGuardia for the opportunity and I promise to deliver many special nights of boxing,” said Younan. Younan’s first bout for Star Boxing will be announced in the coming days.
“We are very excited about signing Junior, who is extremely talented and blessed with fast hands and boxing aptitude. We are looking forward to having him on our shows and will announce his next fight within the next couple of days. We plan to keep him busy and by the end of the year feel he will be ready for anyone in the division. The fight we would love to make is with Edgar Berlanga, a true ‘Battle of Brooklyn’, it would be a huge attraction here, and a win would have him in the front of the line for Canelo (Alvarez), (David) Morrell, (David) Benavidez, all of the champions at 168,” said Star Boxing President, Joe DeGuardia
Younan was a decorated amateur boxer who compiled a 90-5 record before turning professional in 2013 at the age of 18. Once dubbed by The New York Times as "a boxing prodigy" as a 10-year-old, Younan was a two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion, the 2011 National Junior Olympic championship, and at one point was the No. 1-rated junior boxer in his weight class by USA Boxing.
Younan turned professional on November 9, 2013, with a first-round stoppage over Kenneth Taylor Schmitz in Brooklyn. On his way to his undefeated record, Younan has amassed some quality wins, including defeats over tough seasoned fighters such as Mike Guy and Dauren Yeleinusinov at the Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY). In his last outing, Younan won a unanimous decision over Ramses Agaton on November 24, 2023, in Cancun, Mexico.
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Junior Younan signs with Star Boxing
Star Boxing has announced the signing of super middleweight Junior Younan to an exclusive promotional contract. Younan, age 28 and from Brooklyn, New York, is 19-0-1 with 11 knockouts. “I am super excited to be part of Star Boxing. As a fighter who was born and raised in New York, I feel like it’s a natural fit. Thank you to Joe DeGuardia for the opportunity and I promise to deliver many special nights of boxing,” said Younan. Younan’s first bout for Star Boxing will be announced in the coming days.
“We are very excited about signing Junior, who is extremely talented and blessed with fast hands and boxing aptitude. We are looking forward to having him on our shows and will announce his next fight within the next couple of days. We plan to keep him busy and by the end of the year feel he will be ready for anyone in the division. The fight we would love to make is with Edgar Berlanga, a true ‘Battle of Brooklyn’, it would be a huge attraction here, and a win would have him in the front of the line for Canelo (Alvarez), (David) Morrell, (David) Benavidez, all of the champions at 168,” said Star Boxing President, Joe DeGuardia
Younan was a decorated amateur boxer who compiled a 90-5 record before turning professional in 2013 at the age of 18. Once dubbed by The New York Times as "a boxing prodigy" as a 10-year-old, Younan was a two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion, the 2011 National Junior Olympic championship, and at one point was the No. 1-rated junior boxer in his weight class by USA Boxing.
Younan turned professional on November 9, 2013, with a first-round stoppage over Kenneth Taylor Schmitz in Brooklyn. On his way to his undefeated record, Younan has amassed some quality wins, including defeats over tough seasoned fighters such as Mike Guy and Dauren Yeleinusinov at the Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY). In his last outing, Younan won a unanimous decision over Ramses Agaton on November 24, 2023, in Cancun, Mexico.
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Marlen Esparza loses title on the scales |
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Marlen Esparza (pictured) lost the WBA flyweight title on the scales. She failed to make the 112-pound weight limit today (Friday). However, she will still step into the ring to face Celeste Alaniz this Saturday but only the Argentinean will have the eligibility to leave the ring as a champion. Esparza weighed in at 114.2 pounds on the scales, considerably above the 112 weight regulations. Alaniz weighed in at 111.4 and will be the only one with the option to fight for the championship. WBA rules dictate that “If the champion does not make the limit weight of the division after the two (2) additional hours granted, [she] will lose the title. If the challenger makes the weight and wins the bout, [she] shall be declared champion. If the champion who did not make the weight is the winner of the bout, the title will be declared vacant.”
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Marlen Esparza loses title on the scales
Marlen Esparza (pictured) lost the WBA flyweight title on the scales. She failed to make the 112-pound weight limit today (Friday). However, she will still step into the ring to face Celeste Alaniz this Saturday but only the Argentinean will have the eligibility to leave the ring as a champion. Esparza weighed in at 114.2 pounds on the scales, considerably above the 112 weight regulations. Alaniz weighed in at 111.4 and will be the only one with the option to fight for the championship. WBA rules dictate that “If the champion does not make the limit weight of the division after the two (2) additional hours granted, [she] will lose the title. If the challenger makes the weight and wins the bout, [she] shall be declared champion. If the champion who did not make the weight is the winner of the bout, the title will be declared vacant.”
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Report: heavyweight Ardi Ndembo dies from ring injury |
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Team Combat League confirmed that heavyweight Ardi Ndembo has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a one-round bout earlier this month. His pro record was 8-0 with his injuries sustained against Nestor Santana (Team Combat League bouts do not count on boxers' official records since they are only one rounders). Team Combat's social media account stated, "the boxing community mourns the loss of Ardi Ndembo. Originally from Brazzaville, Congo, Ardi Ndembo was a 27 year-old father of two. Please take a moment to send your strength, prayers and support to the Ndembo family at this challenging time.
Viva Promotions added, "We at Viva Promotions mourn the loss of Ardi Ndembo, a talented Congolese boxer who tragically passed away after a knockout in a Team Combat League match on April 5th. He remained in an induced coma until his untimely death. RIP Ardi Ndembo!"
Boxingtalk sends it deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ardi Ndembo.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
APRIL 8, 2024: Heavyweight Ardi Ndembo was knocked out by Nestor Santana in Team Combat League action over the weekend and is reportedly fighting for his life. Eric Herrholz, the founder of of Fight.TV, posted the following grim news on social media: "In Team Combat League action, undefeated heavyweight Ardi Ndembo (8-0) was brutally knocked out by Nestor Santana. Ndembo remained on the canvas for over ten minutes motionless. He was eventually carried out on a stretcher. League sources told me that he is currently in a medically induced coma and the prognosis is not great. Hoping for a miracle here. He moved to the USA from Congo, apparently hoping to follow in the footsteps of [MMA champion turned heavyweight boxer] Francis Ngannou."
Team Combat League's website shows an April 5th competition between the Las Vegas Hustle and Miami Assassins taking place in Coral Gables, Florida. Ndembo is listed as 8-0 for his career with his last full fight taking place on March 16th, a sixth-round TKO of Christia Larrondo Garcia in Mexico. Now in its second season, Team Combat League's format has boxers face each other in one-round contests that do not count towards boxers' official records. Ndembo had not fought any recorded bouts for Team Combat League prior to April 5th, the Miami team's season opener.
On its Instagram account, Team Combat League posted the following message: "Team Combat League extends its thoughts and prayers to Ardi Ndembo along with his family and friends. We kindly ask all to respect his family's request for privacy at this time."
Ndembo's homepage had a brief bio posted: "Ardi Ndembo da Sylva) is an undefeated professional boxer hotly tipped as a future contender for the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.Born into humble origins on the banks of the river Congo, as a young boy Ardi grew up to the bedtime storytelling of the legendary Rumble in the Jungle bout. Inspired by role models such as Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, Ardi developed his passion for boxing and began to show exceptional talent as a schoolboy in his native Brazzaville.
"Ardi, together with charitable endeavour, Future Champs, and in collaboration with other charities from around the globe, has launched several successful community gym building programs that have become central to disadvantaged communities and youth development programs within townships in Sub Saharan Africa. An inspiration and role model to younger generations across Africa and beyond, Ardi's Fair Play Initiative and Ardi's Fitness - Mind, Body and Soul not-for-profit community lifestyle programs are successfully challenging conventional government community development initiatives in bringing positive results in youth development and community spirit.
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Report: heavyweight Ardi Ndembo dies from ring injury
Team Combat League confirmed that heavyweight Ardi Ndembo has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a one-round bout earlier this month. His pro record was 8-0 with his injuries sustained against Nestor Santana (Team Combat League bouts do not count on boxers' official records since they are only one rounders). Team Combat's social media account stated, "the boxing community mourns the loss of Ardi Ndembo. Originally from Brazzaville, Congo, Ardi Ndembo was a 27 year-old father of two. Please take a moment to send your strength, prayers and support to the Ndembo family at this challenging time.
Viva Promotions added, "We at Viva Promotions mourn the loss of Ardi Ndembo, a talented Congolese boxer who tragically passed away after a knockout in a Team Combat League match on April 5th. He remained in an induced coma until his untimely death. RIP Ardi Ndembo!"
Boxingtalk sends it deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ardi Ndembo.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
APRIL 8, 2024: Heavyweight Ardi Ndembo was knocked out by Nestor Santana in Team Combat League action over the weekend and is reportedly fighting for his life. Eric Herrholz, the founder of of Fight.TV, posted the following grim news on social media: "In Team Combat League action, undefeated heavyweight Ardi Ndembo (8-0) was brutally knocked out by Nestor Santana. Ndembo remained on the canvas for over ten minutes motionless. He was eventually carried out on a stretcher. League sources told me that he is currently in a medically induced coma and the prognosis is not great. Hoping for a miracle here. He moved to the USA from Congo, apparently hoping to follow in the footsteps of [MMA champion turned heavyweight boxer] Francis Ngannou."
Team Combat League's website shows an April 5th competition between the Las Vegas Hustle and Miami Assassins taking place in Coral Gables, Florida. Ndembo is listed as 8-0 for his career with his last full fight taking place on March 16th, a sixth-round TKO of Christia Larrondo Garcia in Mexico. Now in its second season, Team Combat League's format has boxers face each other in one-round contests that do not count towards boxers' official records. Ndembo had not fought any recorded bouts for Team Combat League prior to April 5th, the Miami team's season opener.
On its Instagram account, Team Combat League posted the following message: "Team Combat League extends its thoughts and prayers to Ardi Ndembo along with his family and friends. We kindly ask all to respect his family's request for privacy at this time."
Ndembo's homepage had a brief bio posted: "Ardi Ndembo da Sylva) is an undefeated professional boxer hotly tipped as a future contender for the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.Born into humble origins on the banks of the river Congo, as a young boy Ardi grew up to the bedtime storytelling of the legendary Rumble in the Jungle bout. Inspired by role models such as Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, Ardi developed his passion for boxing and began to show exceptional talent as a schoolboy in his native Brazzaville.
"Ardi, together with charitable endeavour, Future Champs, and in collaboration with other charities from around the globe, has launched several successful community gym building programs that have become central to disadvantaged communities and youth development programs within townships in Sub Saharan Africa. An inspiration and role model to younger generations across Africa and beyond, Ardi's Fair Play Initiative and Ardi's Fitness - Mind, Body and Soul not-for-profit community lifestyle programs are successfully challenging conventional government community development initiatives in bringing positive results in youth development and community spirit.
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IBA running big pro show in Almaty this weekend |
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Nine matches have been announced for the upcoming IBA Champions’ Night in Almaty, Kazakhstan on April 27th. In the featured bout, home favorite Talgat Shayken faces Saidjamshid Jafarov of Uzbekistan over eight rounds at 156 pounds. Competing at 71kg, the pair headline a mammoth card, with Shayken having a record of 9-0 and and Jafarov coming off a silver medal at the world amateur championships in 2023 and back-to-back Asian titles too. The chief support sees 2019 amateur world champion from the home nation, Bekzad Nurdauletov, take on Luis Antonio Tejeda (9-0-1) from Dominican Republic at light heavyweight. Home boxer Ali Akhmedov, who has won 19 of his 20 professional fights, goes ten rounds with Carlos Rivero (26-3-1) from Venezuela at super middleweight in the first of three matches on the main card.
In the only match of the night not featuring Kazakh boxers, Ecuador’s Abel Mina (17-3-1) and Magomed Madiev (16-1-3) from Russia are to touch gloves at 165 pounds, following on from Kazakhstan’s Farukh Tokhtassunov’s (13-10) middleweight bout against Russian Yuri Osipov (4-0) Asian Games champion Davlat Boltaev from Tajikistan will go six rounds with Kazakhstan’s Sagyndyk Togambay (39-10) in the cruiserweight division.
Kazakh boxer Bekman Soilybayev will box against Davit Azizyan from Armenia at lighweight, while the lightest fight of the night sees Kazakhstan’s 2021 world amatuer championt Temirtas Zhussupov face Anvarzhan Khodzhiev from Kyrgyzstan as both are to make their professional debuts.
An eight-round fight will end the undefeated professional record of either Adlan Selmurzayev of Kazakhstan or Artush Hovhannisyan from Armenia in a light heavyweight contest that opens the evening. Selmurzayev has won all six of his professional bouts in Almaty, while Hovhannisyan has five wins to his name, including four knockouts.All funds raised from the tickets sales will be donated to the victims of floods in Kazakhstan.
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IBA running big pro show in Almaty this weekend
Nine matches have been announced for the upcoming IBA Champions’ Night in Almaty, Kazakhstan on April 27th. In the featured bout, home favorite Talgat Shayken faces Saidjamshid Jafarov of Uzbekistan over eight rounds at 156 pounds. Competing at 71kg, the pair headline a mammoth card, with Shayken having a record of 9-0 and and Jafarov coming off a silver medal at the world amateur championships in 2023 and back-to-back Asian titles too. The chief support sees 2019 amateur world champion from the home nation, Bekzad Nurdauletov, take on Luis Antonio Tejeda (9-0-1) from Dominican Republic at light heavyweight. Home boxer Ali Akhmedov, who has won 19 of his 20 professional fights, goes ten rounds with Carlos Rivero (26-3-1) from Venezuela at super middleweight in the first of three matches on the main card.
In the only match of the night not featuring Kazakh boxers, Ecuador’s Abel Mina (17-3-1) and Magomed Madiev (16-1-3) from Russia are to touch gloves at 165 pounds, following on from Kazakhstan’s Farukh Tokhtassunov’s (13-10) middleweight bout against Russian Yuri Osipov (4-0) Asian Games champion Davlat Boltaev from Tajikistan will go six rounds with Kazakhstan’s Sagyndyk Togambay (39-10) in the cruiserweight division.
Kazakh boxer Bekman Soilybayev will box against Davit Azizyan from Armenia at lighweight, while the lightest fight of the night sees Kazakhstan’s 2021 world amatuer championt Temirtas Zhussupov face Anvarzhan Khodzhiev from Kyrgyzstan as both are to make their professional debuts.
An eight-round fight will end the undefeated professional record of either Adlan Selmurzayev of Kazakhstan or Artush Hovhannisyan from Armenia in a light heavyweight contest that opens the evening. Selmurzayev has won all six of his professional bouts in Almaty, while Hovhannisyan has five wins to his name, including four knockouts.All funds raised from the tickets sales will be donated to the victims of floods in Kazakhstan.
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May 4th undercard presser quotes |
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Fighters competing on the May 4th undercard prior to the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia would super middleweight championship pay-per-view event showed off their skills at a media workout on Thursday. Featured during the workout were Mario “El Azteca” Barrios and Argentine power-puncher Fabian “TNT” Maidana, who duel for Barrios’ interim WBC welterweight title. Also participating were former champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Jessie Magdaleno, who meet for Figueroa’s interim WBC featherweight yitle, and two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre, who battles WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PTHere is what the boxers had to say Thursday from the Pound 4 Pound Gym:
MARIO BARRIOS
“We know he’s coming from the Maidana fighting family, so we know he’s coming with it. He’s trying to step out from his brother’s shadow and I just have to make sure I’m on top of everything. I have no doubt that we’ll come out victorious if I fight my fight.
“I plan to accomplish as much as I can at 147 pounds. This is where I feel comfortable and strong and I’m going to try to stay here as long as I can.
“Having a child on the way makes me really understand when people say that ‘I’m fighting for something extra’.
“Las Vegas is the best place for training camp. I get the best work here. I have quality sparring at all times and it’s really beneficial. Camp has been great and I’m really ready for it to be over.
“We’ve had a long camp and I’m excited for a big opportunity on a big Mexican card. I’m honored to be a part of it and I’m looking forward to giving the fans a great fight.
FABIAN MAIDANA
“I know Mario Barrios and I’m not worried about his height. We’re going to give the fans a great fight and all I’m worried about is walking away with that belt.
“It’s very exciting to be fighting on this card with Canelo. It’s very motivating knowing that he’s watching. I’m ready to put on a show for everyone supporting me.
“I’m very happy to be in this position and I can’t wait to step into the ring in Las Vegas. I’m very familiar with Barrios from being on the same cards as him before. I’m ready for May 4th.”
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“My style is very unique and there’s a reason why I switch stances so much. There’s a method to the madness. People think I just come forward and punch, but there’s a meticulousness to that. I want to confuse my opponent and not give him the same look. I’m a multi-dimensional fighter and that’s why I’m so dangerous.
“These are the moments that every boxer waits for. You put in all the hard work and go through everything in fight week and all the nerves leading up to the fight, it’s amazing. That’s why boxing is a singular sport. At the end of the day, it’s only you in that ring. I love every aspect of it and I’m very excited.
“You have to get out of your comfort zone and I’m out here in Las Vegas away from family and home. I miss my people back home, but I have to do what I have to do. The level of sparring and training here is insane, and that’s what I’m about. I put in the hard work to get results. I can’t wait to put it all together.
“Training camp has been amazing. We’ve been out here getting ready for this big opportunity on the Canelo undercard and we’re excited. I’m very thankful for everyone who welcomed me and my family to Las Vegas.”
JESSIE MAGDALENO
“Training camp has been great. I’ve been putting in a lot of work and staying focused. Just like everybody here, I can’t wait to get in there.
“I took this fight because he’s got the perfect style for what I bring to the ring. It’s definitely going to be an action packed fight.
“I like to pick my shots and create openings. Figueroa is an aggressive fighter who comes forward, so it won’t be hard to find him. I just have to stick to my game plan and be smart in there.
“I plan on taking advantage of whatever stance he uses in the ring. I have to hit him when I get him square. I have to take advantage of my opportunities and that’s what we’ve been working on.
“I learned that I have to use my experience in the ring. We learn from our losses. I always take them as a learning experience. Ultimately it led me to this fight here on May 4.”
GABRIEL MAESTRE
“On May 4th you’re going to see the best Gabriel Maestre that you’ve ever seen. I’m going to put on a show and go to war. You don’t want to miss it.
“Stanionis and I fought in 2015 in the amateurs and it didn’t go the way I wanted, but now I get a chance to redeem myself. I want to give the fans a great fight that they can enjoy. I’m planning to come out on top.
“Stanionis has been inactive and I had two big fights last year where I was able to display my skills and knock out my opponent. I hope it’s an advantage and I hope to show that in the ring on May 4th.
“I’m really happy and couldn’t be more excited to be on this great card headlined by Canelo vs. Munguia. I’m super excited.”
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May 4th undercard presser quotes
Fighters competing on the May 4th undercard prior to the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia would super middleweight championship pay-per-view event showed off their skills at a media workout on Thursday. Featured during the workout were Mario “El Azteca” Barrios and Argentine power-puncher Fabian “TNT” Maidana, who duel for Barrios’ interim WBC welterweight title. Also participating were former champions Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Jessie Magdaleno, who meet for Figueroa’s interim WBC featherweight yitle, and two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre, who battles WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PTHere is what the boxers had to say Thursday from the Pound 4 Pound Gym:
MARIO BARRIOS
“We know he’s coming from the Maidana fighting family, so we know he’s coming with it. He’s trying to step out from his brother’s shadow and I just have to make sure I’m on top of everything. I have no doubt that we’ll come out victorious if I fight my fight.
“I plan to accomplish as much as I can at 147 pounds. This is where I feel comfortable and strong and I’m going to try to stay here as long as I can.
“Having a child on the way makes me really understand when people say that ‘I’m fighting for something extra’.
“Las Vegas is the best place for training camp. I get the best work here. I have quality sparring at all times and it’s really beneficial. Camp has been great and I’m really ready for it to be over.
“We’ve had a long camp and I’m excited for a big opportunity on a big Mexican card. I’m honored to be a part of it and I’m looking forward to giving the fans a great fight.
FABIAN MAIDANA
“I know Mario Barrios and I’m not worried about his height. We’re going to give the fans a great fight and all I’m worried about is walking away with that belt.
“It’s very exciting to be fighting on this card with Canelo. It’s very motivating knowing that he’s watching. I’m ready to put on a show for everyone supporting me.
“I’m very happy to be in this position and I can’t wait to step into the ring in Las Vegas. I’m very familiar with Barrios from being on the same cards as him before. I’m ready for May 4th.”
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“My style is very unique and there’s a reason why I switch stances so much. There’s a method to the madness. People think I just come forward and punch, but there’s a meticulousness to that. I want to confuse my opponent and not give him the same look. I’m a multi-dimensional fighter and that’s why I’m so dangerous.
“These are the moments that every boxer waits for. You put in all the hard work and go through everything in fight week and all the nerves leading up to the fight, it’s amazing. That’s why boxing is a singular sport. At the end of the day, it’s only you in that ring. I love every aspect of it and I’m very excited.
“You have to get out of your comfort zone and I’m out here in Las Vegas away from family and home. I miss my people back home, but I have to do what I have to do. The level of sparring and training here is insane, and that’s what I’m about. I put in the hard work to get results. I can’t wait to put it all together.
“Training camp has been amazing. We’ve been out here getting ready for this big opportunity on the Canelo undercard and we’re excited. I’m very thankful for everyone who welcomed me and my family to Las Vegas.”
JESSIE MAGDALENO
“Training camp has been great. I’ve been putting in a lot of work and staying focused. Just like everybody here, I can’t wait to get in there.
“I took this fight because he’s got the perfect style for what I bring to the ring. It’s definitely going to be an action packed fight.
“I like to pick my shots and create openings. Figueroa is an aggressive fighter who comes forward, so it won’t be hard to find him. I just have to stick to my game plan and be smart in there.
“I plan on taking advantage of whatever stance he uses in the ring. I have to hit him when I get him square. I have to take advantage of my opportunities and that’s what we’ve been working on.
“I learned that I have to use my experience in the ring. We learn from our losses. I always take them as a learning experience. Ultimately it led me to this fight here on May 4.”
GABRIEL MAESTRE
“On May 4th you’re going to see the best Gabriel Maestre that you’ve ever seen. I’m going to put on a show and go to war. You don’t want to miss it.
“Stanionis and I fought in 2015 in the amateurs and it didn’t go the way I wanted, but now I get a chance to redeem myself. I want to give the fans a great fight that they can enjoy. I’m planning to come out on top.
“Stanionis has been inactive and I had two big fights last year where I was able to display my skills and knock out my opponent. I hope it’s an advantage and I hope to show that in the ring on May 4th.
“I’m really happy and couldn’t be more excited to be on this great card headlined by Canelo vs. Munguia. I’m super excited.”
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PPV.com to provide alternate stream for Alvarez vs. Munguia |
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PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, returns to the ring when it live streams in the U.S. and Canada, an action-packed Cinco de Mayo weekend fistic fiesta, featuring the twelve-round world super middleweight championship battle between undisputed champion Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) and the undefeated former junior middleweight title holder Jaime Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs). The all-Mexican match-up takes place Saturday, May 4th beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The Canelo-Munguía world championship event will emanate live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Priced at $89.99, it can be ordered by clicking here.
Canelo vs. Munguía is the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants, harkening back to the great México vs. México matchups of the past including classics such as Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Zárate vs. Alfonso Zamora, and Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez.
“Despite the clear identity logic of this -- Mexican puncher-boxer vs. Mexican master boxer-puncher -- Canelo, for quite a while, projected disinterest. Now that Munguia has boosted his profile with a couple of recent notable wins, Canelo is interested. Canelo's proven chin makes him a solid favorite, but as last Saturday night demonstrated, boxing is still the theater of the unexpected," said Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who will be co-hosting the exclusive viewer chat, in real time, during the PPV.com broadcast of the HD live stream.
Joining Lampley on the live viewer chat will be award-winning journalist Lance Pugmire, and "Inside Boxing Live” podcast hosts Dan Canobbio and former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri. They will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.com's website and social platforms.
Canobbio and Algieri have moved their popular Inside Boxing Live podcast to 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.
PPV.com which does not require a subscription, will offer Canelo vs. Munguía to viewers in the U.S. and Canada. iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.comM, 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.
JIM LAMPLEY
Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class. He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.
LANCE PUGMIRE
Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the BWAA's highest honor. He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, The Athletic, and USA Today. He currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.
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PPV.com to provide alternate stream for Alvarez vs. Munguia
PPV.com, which does not require a subscription, returns to the ring when it live streams in the U.S. and Canada, an action-packed Cinco de Mayo weekend fistic fiesta, featuring the twelve-round world super middleweight championship battle between undisputed champion Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) and the undefeated former junior middleweight title holder Jaime Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs). The all-Mexican match-up takes place Saturday, May 4th beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The Canelo-Munguía world championship event will emanate live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Priced at $89.99, it can be ordered by clicking here.
Canelo vs. Munguía is the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants, harkening back to the great México vs. México matchups of the past including classics such as Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Zárate vs. Alfonso Zamora, and Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez.
“Despite the clear identity logic of this -- Mexican puncher-boxer vs. Mexican master boxer-puncher -- Canelo, for quite a while, projected disinterest. Now that Munguia has boosted his profile with a couple of recent notable wins, Canelo is interested. Canelo's proven chin makes him a solid favorite, but as last Saturday night demonstrated, boxing is still the theater of the unexpected," said Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, who will be co-hosting the exclusive viewer chat, in real time, during the PPV.com broadcast of the HD live stream.
Joining Lampley on the live viewer chat will be award-winning journalist Lance Pugmire, and "Inside Boxing Live” podcast hosts Dan Canobbio and former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri. They will also be providing exclusive fight week commentary and reports from Las Vegas for PPV.com's website and social platforms.
Canobbio and Algieri have moved their popular Inside Boxing Live podcast to 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.
PPV.com which does not require a subscription, will offer Canelo vs. Munguía to viewers in the U.S. and Canada. iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.comM, 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.
JIM LAMPLEY
Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class. He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.
LANCE PUGMIRE
Lance is a recipient of the Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism, the BWAA's highest honor. He brings over 30 years of experience covering the sweet science for the Los Angeles Times, The Athletic, and USA Today. He currently serves as senior U.S. writer for BoxingScene.com.
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Mariana Juarez to take a victory lap in Mexico City |
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This Friday, Mariana Juárez returns to the ring at the Hipódromo de las Américas Forum in Mexico City. For the 44 year-old Juarez (55-13-4), it is the beginning of the closing of a cycle as the former two-division champion announced that this will be her last year as a professional boxer. Juarez will be facing South Africa's Matsidisho ‘The Tiger’ Mokebisi (18-11-2) in the super bantamweight division . For Matsidisho it is an honor to face one of the great icons of women’s boxing; However, her dream is to wear a world title belt, so despite the respect and admiration she has for Juarez, she will fight hard when the bell rings. Today both fighters presented the official weigh-in, with Juárez coming in at 121.9 pounds and Mokebisi at 121.2. The card is presented by Latin KO Promotions, directed by Oswaldo Küchle, in association with Cancún Boxing by Pepe Gómez and Boxing Time by Memo Rocha, and will be broadcast in Mexico through Channel 5 on Box Televisa at 10 o’clock at night.
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Mariana Juarez to take a victory lap in Mexico City
This Friday, Mariana Juárez returns to the ring at the Hipódromo de las Américas Forum in Mexico City. For the 44 year-old Juarez (55-13-4), it is the beginning of the closing of a cycle as the former two-division champion announced that this will be her last year as a professional boxer. Juarez will be facing South Africa's Matsidisho ‘The Tiger’ Mokebisi (18-11-2) in the super bantamweight division . For Matsidisho it is an honor to face one of the great icons of women’s boxing; However, her dream is to wear a world title belt, so despite the respect and admiration she has for Juarez, she will fight hard when the bell rings. Today both fighters presented the official weigh-in, with Juárez coming in at 121.9 pounds and Mokebisi at 121.2. The card is presented by Latin KO Promotions, directed by Oswaldo Küchle, in association with Cancún Boxing by Pepe Gómez and Boxing Time by Memo Rocha, and will be broadcast in Mexico through Channel 5 on Box Televisa at 10 o’clock at night.
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Thailand boxing update |
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Angelina Lukas TKO5 Mamta Singh..... Thailand-based Kazakh Angelina Lukas defeated India's Mamta Singh in Bangkok in a super fylweight bout on Thursday. The 27 year-old Lukas was a level above Singh, and set the tone from the start, punching hard and frequently to both body and head. In round five the outgunned Singh basically raised her hands in surrender at the same time as referee Sipho Ndongeni from South Africa decided he had seen enough, stopping the fight at 1:07 of the round. With the victory, Lukas improved her professional record to 9-1 with 5 KOs, while Singh, also age 27, drops to 5-2 with 2 KOs.
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Thailand boxing update
Angelina Lukas TKO5 Mamta Singh..... Thailand-based Kazakh Angelina Lukas defeated India's Mamta Singh in Bangkok in a super fylweight bout on Thursday. The 27 year-old Lukas was a level above Singh, and set the tone from the start, punching hard and frequently to both body and head. In round five the outgunned Singh basically raised her hands in surrender at the same time as referee Sipho Ndongeni from South Africa decided he had seen enough, stopping the fight at 1:07 of the round. With the victory, Lukas improved her professional record to 9-1 with 5 KOs, while Singh, also age 27, drops to 5-2 with 2 KOs.
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DKP sets date for Broner vs. Cobbs and Mikaeljan vs. Rozicki |
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Hall of Fame boxing promoter Don King and Kris Lawrence’s The Heavyweight Factory will present an evening of boxing featuring Adrien “The Problem” Broner (pictured) vs. Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (16-1-1 with 10 KOs) on Friday, June 7th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This high-stakes matchup marks Cobbs' return to the ring for the first time in nearly two years, facing off against Broner (35-4-1 with 24 KOs), the former four-division champion from Cincinnati.
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DKP sets date for Broner vs. Cobbs and Mikaeljan vs. Rozicki
Hall of Fame boxing promoter Don King and Kris Lawrence’s The Heavyweight Factory will present an evening of boxing featuring Adrien “The Problem” Broner (pictured) vs. Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (16-1-1 with 10 KOs) on Friday, June 7th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This high-stakes matchup marks Cobbs' return to the ring for the first time in nearly two years, facing off against Broner (35-4-1 with 24 KOs), the former four-division champion from Cincinnati.
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Cardenas follows trainer's order perfectly |
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Ramon Cardenas KO9 Eduardo Ramirez... Junior featherweight Ramon Cardenas (25-1) knocked out Eduardo 'Koreano' Ramirez (22-3-2) in the ninth round of a close fight. Cardenas landed a left to the liver to win the ProBox TV main event in Plant City, Florida. The knockout came less than three minutes after Cardenas' trainer Joel Diaz ordered him to "get your ass in there and knock this f*ckin guy out!"
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Cardenas follows trainer's order perfectly
Ramon Cardenas KO9 Eduardo Ramirez... Junior featherweight Ramon Cardenas (25-1) knocked out Eduardo 'Koreano' Ramirez (22-3-2) in the ninth round of a close fight. Cardenas landed a left to the liver to win the ProBox TV main event in Plant City, Florida. The knockout came less than three minutes after Cardenas' trainer Joel Diaz ordered him to "get your ass in there and knock this f*ckin guy out!"
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1968 Olympic champ Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez dies at 78 |
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The WBC reports that former Olympic gold medal winner Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez died at the age of 78. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City Rodriguez represented Venezuela and won the gold medal in the inaugural men's light flyweight competition. In, he won gold at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games and carried the flag for Venezuela at the opening ceremony at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He never turned pro. Boxingtalk joins the WBC in sending its sympathies to the friends and family of Olympic champion Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez.
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1968 Olympic champ Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez dies at 78
The WBC reports that former Olympic gold medal winner Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez died at the age of 78. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City Rodriguez represented Venezuela and won the gold medal in the inaugural men's light flyweight competition. In, he won gold at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games and carried the flag for Venezuela at the opening ceremony at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He never turned pro. Boxingtalk joins the WBC in sending its sympathies to the friends and family of Olympic champion Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez.
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Crawford to challenge Madrimov in bid to become four-division champ |
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His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced a blockbuster world title clash as pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO interim junior middleweight titles on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is gunning to become a four-weight champion as he moves up to 154 pounds after conquering the welterweight division with a stunning KO win over Errol Spence to be crowned the undisputed champion at 147 pounds in July. The Omaha, Nebraska star has already ruled the roost at junior welterweight and lightweight and now the pound-for-pound great is arrowing in on cementing greatness by claiming honors at a fourth weight. WBA 154-pound champion Madrimov (16-1-1 including the World Series of Boxing) is the man that stands in Crawford’s way, and the Uzbek champion makes his first defense of his title against the toughest opposition possible after winning the belt in spectacular fashion in his last outing in Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old took on Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant title in Riyadh in March, and stopped the Russian in five rounds with a dominant performance to continue his impressive unbeaten run in the paid ranks, following a glittering amateur career.
Alalshikh said: “We are delighted for Riyadh Season to host its first overseas event in Los Angeles and this fight in the United States is a special one to mark this moment. We want to give people around the world the opportunity to enjoy their own Riyadh Season experience and this is exactly what we hope to achieve by staging this and also future events around the world.” “I’m proud to partner with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh on their first boxing event in the United States. I cannot wait to get back in the ring in my fourth weight class and remind the world why I’m the best pound for pound fighter in the world,” said Crawford. “Israil Madrimov is a tremendous and entertaining fighter, but on August 3rd, he will be my next victim. This is the Terence Crawford era.” “Terence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and one of the best boxers in the world,” said Madrimov. “I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will Inshallah.” ***
The undercard for the August 3rd show is amazing. The main event sees world welterweight champion Terence Crawford moving up to challenge WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov. The following fights for the same show have been announced by Matchroom: Recently crowned WBA junior welterweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela... Two Amercian heavyweights will do battle with former unified champion Andy Ruiz (pictured) returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.... Former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of Ortiz's fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend... while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a light heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.... Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.
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Crawford to challenge Madrimov in bid to become four-division champ
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced a blockbuster world title clash as pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO interim junior middleweight titles on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is gunning to become a four-weight champion as he moves up to 154 pounds after conquering the welterweight division with a stunning KO win over Errol Spence to be crowned the undisputed champion at 147 pounds in July. The Omaha, Nebraska star has already ruled the roost at junior welterweight and lightweight and now the pound-for-pound great is arrowing in on cementing greatness by claiming honors at a fourth weight. WBA 154-pound champion Madrimov (16-1-1 including the World Series of Boxing) is the man that stands in Crawford’s way, and the Uzbek champion makes his first defense of his title against the toughest opposition possible after winning the belt in spectacular fashion in his last outing in Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old took on Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant title in Riyadh in March, and stopped the Russian in five rounds with a dominant performance to continue his impressive unbeaten run in the paid ranks, following a glittering amateur career.
Alalshikh said: “We are delighted for Riyadh Season to host its first overseas event in Los Angeles and this fight in the United States is a special one to mark this moment. We want to give people around the world the opportunity to enjoy their own Riyadh Season experience and this is exactly what we hope to achieve by staging this and also future events around the world.” “I’m proud to partner with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh on their first boxing event in the United States. I cannot wait to get back in the ring in my fourth weight class and remind the world why I’m the best pound for pound fighter in the world,” said Crawford. “Israil Madrimov is a tremendous and entertaining fighter, but on August 3rd, he will be my next victim. This is the Terence Crawford era.” “Terence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and one of the best boxers in the world,” said Madrimov. “I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will Inshallah.” ***
The undercard for the August 3rd show is amazing. The main event sees world welterweight champion Terence Crawford moving up to challenge WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov. The following fights for the same show have been announced by Matchroom: Recently crowned WBA junior welterweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela... Two Amercian heavyweights will do battle with former unified champion Andy Ruiz (pictured) returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.... Former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of Ortiz's fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend... while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a light heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.... Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.
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Tyler Denny to defend European middleweight title in June |
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Tyler Denny will defend his European middleweight title against former British and Commonwealth Champion Felix Cash at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England on Saturday June 22nd, live worldwide on DAZN. Denny (18-2-3, 1 KO) ripped the EBU title from Mateo Signani in Wolverhampton, England last November, stopping the veteran Italian in eight rounds to extend his winning streak to five fights. Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since he decisioned Portugal’s Celso Neves (9-5-2, 2 KOs) at the Leeds First Direct Arena back in December 2022. The unbeaten Wokingham man, once regarded as the leading middleweight in Britain, has since teamed up with renowned coach Adam Booth in Surrey and plans on making up for lost time as he sets his sights on a World Title shot by the end of the year.
Belfast welterweight Lewis Crocker (19-0, 11 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten run when he meets Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (13-2-1, 5 KOs) over ten rounds, the bitter lightweight grudge match between slick Newcastle boxer Cameron Vuong (4-0, 3 KOs) and Oxford’s Jordan Flynn (10-0-1, 1 KO) gets a new date and Watford’s Shannon Ryan (7-0) and Newark’s Emma Dolan (6-0, 1 KO) will create history when they become the first women to contest the British super flyweight Title, with Dolan’s Commonwealth title also on the line.
“I’m buzzing to be defending my European Title and against such a good fighter in Felix Cash,” said Denny. “Add to the fact it’s in Birmingham so the Black Country army will be out in full force to witness a great fight and one that I’m confident of winning.”
“Tyler Denny is a solid professional, but I have no time to lose,” said Cash. “My plan is to get him out of my way as quickly as possible and move on to world level.”
“I’m to be back out so soon,” said Crocker. “Thanks to Matchroom and Conlan Boxing for keeping me busy. I’m looking forward to this fight as I know Walker is the type of guy who’s going to come and meet me in the middle of the ring. He won’t be able to handle my power in his own back garden. I believe I will knock him out.”
“I’m absolutely buzzing for this fight,” said Walker. “I think it was inevitable that me and Lewis would cross paths. I’m not taking him lightly; I know he’s a phenomenal fighter. There’s a reason why he’s rated at number 2 in the UK. I jumped at the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. A win here puts me another step forwards to where I want to go. I want to be number one in the UK and I want to clean up domestically and then push on for World Titles.”
“I can’t wait to return to the West Midland’s for what promises to be an electric night of boxing at Resorts World Arena Birmingham,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “It’s the long awaited return of former British and Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Felix Cash under the guidance of new coach Adam Booth, and he jumps straight back in at the deep end against European Champion Tyler Denny. Lewis Crocker against Conah Walker can only be an all out war and bitter rivals Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn will finally get it on after all of the trash talk. Shannon Ryan takes another step up when she meets Emma Dolan for the British and Commonwealth Titles. Catch it all live on DAZN.”
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Tyler Denny to defend European middleweight title in June
Tyler Denny will defend his European middleweight title against former British and Commonwealth Champion Felix Cash at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England on Saturday June 22nd, live worldwide on DAZN. Denny (18-2-3, 1 KO) ripped the EBU title from Mateo Signani in Wolverhampton, England last November, stopping the veteran Italian in eight rounds to extend his winning streak to five fights. Cash (16-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since he decisioned Portugal’s Celso Neves (9-5-2, 2 KOs) at the Leeds First Direct Arena back in December 2022. The unbeaten Wokingham man, once regarded as the leading middleweight in Britain, has since teamed up with renowned coach Adam Booth in Surrey and plans on making up for lost time as he sets his sights on a World Title shot by the end of the year.
Belfast welterweight Lewis Crocker (19-0, 11 KOs) looks to extend his unbeaten run when he meets Wolverhampton’s Conah Walker (13-2-1, 5 KOs) over ten rounds, the bitter lightweight grudge match between slick Newcastle boxer Cameron Vuong (4-0, 3 KOs) and Oxford’s Jordan Flynn (10-0-1, 1 KO) gets a new date and Watford’s Shannon Ryan (7-0) and Newark’s Emma Dolan (6-0, 1 KO) will create history when they become the first women to contest the British super flyweight Title, with Dolan’s Commonwealth title also on the line.
“I’m buzzing to be defending my European Title and against such a good fighter in Felix Cash,” said Denny. “Add to the fact it’s in Birmingham so the Black Country army will be out in full force to witness a great fight and one that I’m confident of winning.”
“Tyler Denny is a solid professional, but I have no time to lose,” said Cash. “My plan is to get him out of my way as quickly as possible and move on to world level.”
“I’m to be back out so soon,” said Crocker. “Thanks to Matchroom and Conlan Boxing for keeping me busy. I’m looking forward to this fight as I know Walker is the type of guy who’s going to come and meet me in the middle of the ring. He won’t be able to handle my power in his own back garden. I believe I will knock him out.”
“I’m absolutely buzzing for this fight,” said Walker. “I think it was inevitable that me and Lewis would cross paths. I’m not taking him lightly; I know he’s a phenomenal fighter. There’s a reason why he’s rated at number 2 in the UK. I jumped at the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. A win here puts me another step forwards to where I want to go. I want to be number one in the UK and I want to clean up domestically and then push on for World Titles.”
“I can’t wait to return to the West Midland’s for what promises to be an electric night of boxing at Resorts World Arena Birmingham,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “It’s the long awaited return of former British and Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Felix Cash under the guidance of new coach Adam Booth, and he jumps straight back in at the deep end against European Champion Tyler Denny. Lewis Crocker against Conah Walker can only be an all out war and bitter rivals Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn will finally get it on after all of the trash talk. Shannon Ryan takes another step up when she meets Emma Dolan for the British and Commonwealth Titles. Catch it all live on DAZN.”
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Prime Video debuts Gloves Off: Canelo vs. Munguia |
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Prime Video announced the launch of an all-new, two-episode presentation of Gloves Off for the world super middleweight championship fight between champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and challenger Jamie Munguia. Gloves Off is a series that brings fight fans behind-the-scenes access in the lead-up to highly-anticipated PBC on Prime Video boxing events. Narrated by Barry Pepper, Gloves Off: Canelo vs. Munguia premieres on Prime Video today, and takes fans far beyond the ring. The series blends footage and stories of the two fighters’ lives, families, training camp team members, and training camp activity as the build-up increases to the highly-anticipated Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown in Las Vegas.
Squaring off in the May 4th blockbuster event will be undisputed world super middleweight champion and Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez placing his world title on the line versus rising Mexican star Jaime Munguia, an unbeaten former 154-pound title holder. The episodes illustrate the personal stakes on the line and offers an intimate look at these prizefighters headlining the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants and harkens back to the great Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past.
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Prime Video debuts Gloves Off: Canelo vs. Munguia
Prime Video announced the launch of an all-new, two-episode presentation of Gloves Off for the world super middleweight championship fight between champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and challenger Jamie Munguia. Gloves Off is a series that brings fight fans behind-the-scenes access in the lead-up to highly-anticipated PBC on Prime Video boxing events. Narrated by Barry Pepper, Gloves Off: Canelo vs. Munguia premieres on Prime Video today, and takes fans far beyond the ring. The series blends footage and stories of the two fighters’ lives, families, training camp team members, and training camp activity as the build-up increases to the highly-anticipated Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown in Las Vegas.
Squaring off in the May 4th blockbuster event will be undisputed world super middleweight champion and Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez placing his world title on the line versus rising Mexican star Jaime Munguia, an unbeaten former 154-pound title holder. The episodes illustrate the personal stakes on the line and offers an intimate look at these prizefighters headlining the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants and harkens back to the great Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past.
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Introducing super flyweight Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro |
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Junior bantamweight Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro, a thirteen-time U.S. national amateur champion who turned pro earlier this month with a show-stopping knockout, has signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank. The 20 year-old Navarro, a native of Inglewood, California, is scheduled to make his Top Rank debut in June. “Steven is an exceptional talent who comes from a great boxing family, and I believe he has all the tools to become a world champion,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “I can’t wait to watch his professional journey unfold.”
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Introducing super flyweight Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro
Junior bantamweight Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro, a thirteen-time U.S. national amateur champion who turned pro earlier this month with a show-stopping knockout, has signed a long-term promotional contract with Top Rank. The 20 year-old Navarro, a native of Inglewood, California, is scheduled to make his Top Rank debut in June. “Steven is an exceptional talent who comes from a great boxing family, and I believe he has all the tools to become a world champion,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “I can’t wait to watch his professional journey unfold.”
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Pinchuk moving up to heavyweight this Saturday |
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This Saturday at The Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA, Integrity Fighter Management presents a boxing event headlined by Pittsburgh based Ukrainian Lyubomyr "The Demolition Man" Pinchuk (14-4-2, 8 KO) against Andrew Satterfiel (7-7-1, 4 KOs) of Parkersburgh, WV in an eight-round heavyweight bout. Pinchuk has spent his career at cruiserweight. Pittsburgh favorite Joey Turk (4-1-1, 1 KO) faces pro debuting Skyler Mauller from Ohio in an heavyweight four rounder. Mauller is 2-0 in pro MMA.
Additional Bouts
No one's 0 has t go as 6'7" Brian "Big Beauty" Mowry (1-0, 1 KO) of Butler, PA goes up against 6'5 police officer Daniel Fry (0-2) from Ohio in another four-round heavyweight bout.
In a match-up of undefeated fighters, Ivan Dancha (3-0, 3 KOs) of Ukraine will take on Jerome "Thoroughbred" Baxter (3-0, 1 KO) of Pittsburgh in a six-round junior middleweight contest. Dancha had amateur wins over Olympian Denis Berinchyk, Delante Johnson and Mger Hovhannisyan. He has stopped all three of his opponents in the first round in the professional ranks.
Southpaw Rosalindo Morales (9-1, 2 KOs) of Elwood City, PA returns to action against Marcelo Williams (4-22-1, 1 KO) of Orlando, Florida via Brazil in a six-round junior lightweight contest.
Teddy Mrkonja (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pittsburgh takes on Tyler Pacheco (1-7) from Abilene TX in a four-round lightweight contest.
Steve Cunningham Jr (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pittsburgh will face an opponent to be named in a four-round middleweight bout.
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Pinchuk moving up to heavyweight this Saturday
This Saturday at The Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA, Integrity Fighter Management presents a boxing event headlined by Pittsburgh based Ukrainian Lyubomyr "The Demolition Man" Pinchuk (14-4-2, 8 KO) against Andrew Satterfiel (7-7-1, 4 KOs) of Parkersburgh, WV in an eight-round heavyweight bout. Pinchuk has spent his career at cruiserweight. Pittsburgh favorite Joey Turk (4-1-1, 1 KO) faces pro debuting Skyler Mauller from Ohio in an heavyweight four rounder. Mauller is 2-0 in pro MMA.
Additional Bouts
No one's 0 has t go as 6'7" Brian "Big Beauty" Mowry (1-0, 1 KO) of Butler, PA goes up against 6'5 police officer Daniel Fry (0-2) from Ohio in another four-round heavyweight bout.
In a match-up of undefeated fighters, Ivan Dancha (3-0, 3 KOs) of Ukraine will take on Jerome "Thoroughbred" Baxter (3-0, 1 KO) of Pittsburgh in a six-round junior middleweight contest. Dancha had amateur wins over Olympian Denis Berinchyk, Delante Johnson and Mger Hovhannisyan. He has stopped all three of his opponents in the first round in the professional ranks.
Southpaw Rosalindo Morales (9-1, 2 KOs) of Elwood City, PA returns to action against Marcelo Williams (4-22-1, 1 KO) of Orlando, Florida via Brazil in a six-round junior lightweight contest.
Teddy Mrkonja (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pittsburgh takes on Tyler Pacheco (1-7) from Abilene TX in a four-round lightweight contest.
Steve Cunningham Jr (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pittsburgh will face an opponent to be named in a four-round middleweight bout.
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Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller part of spectacular August 3rd undercard |
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The undercard for the August 3rd show is amazing. The main event sees world welterweight champion Terence Crawford moving up to challenge WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov. The following fights for the same show have been announced by Matchroom: Recently crowned WBA junior welterweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela... Two Amercian heavyweights will do battle with former unified champion Andy Ruiz (pictured) returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.... Former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of Ortiz's fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend... while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a light heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.... Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.
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Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller part of spectacular August 3rd undercard
The undercard for the August 3rd show is amazing. The main event sees world welterweight champion Terence Crawford moving up to challenge WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov. The following fights for the same show have been announced by Matchroom: Recently crowned WBA junior welterweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela... Two Amercian heavyweights will do battle with former unified champion Andy Ruiz (pictured) returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.... Former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr, subject to the outcome of Ortiz's fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend... while David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a light heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.... Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.
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ProBox returns tonight |
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Junior featherweight Ramon Cardenas (24-1, 13 KOs) returns to ProBox TV tonight after his career-best win. This time, he takes on Eduardo 'Koreano' Ramirez (22-3-2, 16 KOs) of Mexico. From San Antonio, Texas, Cardenas looked strong in stopping Israel Picazo in February. A win against the upset-minded Rarmirez may very well be the push he needs to land a world title opportunity in 2024... Local favorite Marques Valle (10-0, 8KOs) looks to continue his career progression as he faces Damian Sosa (24-2, 12KOs) over ten junior middleweight rounds... Nearly two years removed from a failed world title shot, Ronny Rios (33-4, 16 KOs) makes his featherweight debut against Nicolas Polanco (21-5, 12KOs). Polanco is looking to continue his good form, as he knows a win against Rios could ensure a rematch with Robson Conceicao or other top names. And make sure to get to the ProBox Events Center early for the off TV fights, starting at 7pm, featuring Max Ornelas.
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ProBox returns tonight
Junior featherweight Ramon Cardenas (24-1, 13 KOs) returns to ProBox TV tonight after his career-best win. This time, he takes on Eduardo 'Koreano' Ramirez (22-3-2, 16 KOs) of Mexico. From San Antonio, Texas, Cardenas looked strong in stopping Israel Picazo in February. A win against the upset-minded Rarmirez may very well be the push he needs to land a world title opportunity in 2024... Local favorite Marques Valle (10-0, 8KOs) looks to continue his career progression as he faces Damian Sosa (24-2, 12KOs) over ten junior middleweight rounds... Nearly two years removed from a failed world title shot, Ronny Rios (33-4, 16 KOs) makes his featherweight debut against Nicolas Polanco (21-5, 12KOs). Polanco is looking to continue his good form, as he knows a win against Rios could ensure a rematch with Robson Conceicao or other top names. And make sure to get to the ProBox Events Center early for the off TV fights, starting at 7pm, featuring Max Ornelas.
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Munguia speaks about upcoming challenge vs. Canelo |
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Undefeated all-action former 154-pound champion Jaime Munguía held a media workout in Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of his upcoming showdown against pound-for-pound great Saul" "Canelo Álvarez, who puts his putting his undisputed super middleweight world title on the line against Munguía headlining a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo vs. Munguía is the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants and harkens back to the great Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past. Munguía has scored back-to-back victories since moving up to 168 pounds, besting Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a 2023 Fight of the Year contender before stopping John Ryder in January.
In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the show via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets, including PPV.com. Tickets for the live event are on sale now at AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions, TGB Promotions, in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Boxing Promotions. Here is what the workout participants had to say Tuesday from Wild Card Boxing Club:
JAIME MUNGUIA
“Camp is going very well. Hands down, this has been my best training camp. Working with the legend Freddie Roach has really motivated me. He has my confidence very high and has helped me so much.
“When I first got this fight I was excited because I know how big of an opportunity this is. I would just tell everyone that I’m 100% ready for this fight.
“Not only is this big for boxing, but it’s huge for my country. I can’t wait to represent Mexico in the ring on May 4th.
“I’m very happy about this opportunity. I’m excited because there’s no better way to represent the Mexican fans than competing on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
“Training with Freddie has been great. He’s brought a lot of peace and tranquility to my corner. He’s a wise trainer with a lot of experience.
“Any fight at this level is going to be a hard fight, but I really believe that this is going to be an exciting fight and a memorable one.
“I’m going to go in there to do my job. I don’t care what anyone on the outside says. At the end of the day, I have to stay ready and make the most of this opportunity.
“I’ve always kept an eye on Canelo, even when we were in different weight classes. Eventually you have to fight the best in your division and that’s where we are right now.
“I respect Canelo as a fighter, but when you step into that ring with me, I’m gonna do my best to do my job and get my hand raised.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
"Canelo is going to come out guns blazing, but there's a changing of the guard in every era and I think that this is the perfect scenario for Jaime Munguia to take over.
"Jaime is ready to go. He's faced every adversary and every style. Whether they brawl or box, he's taken them out. Now he's ready for the biggest fish in the sea.
“Jaime has the youth, the punch output and the chin. I see all the cards stacked against Canelo.”
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Munguia speaks about upcoming challenge vs. Canelo
Undefeated all-action former 154-pound champion Jaime Munguía held a media workout in Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of his upcoming showdown against pound-for-pound great Saul" "Canelo Álvarez, who puts his putting his undisputed super middleweight world title on the line against Munguía headlining a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo vs. Munguía is the first four-belt undisputed title fight between Mexican combatants and harkens back to the great Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past. Munguía has scored back-to-back victories since moving up to 168 pounds, besting Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a 2023 Fight of the Year contender before stopping John Ryder in January.
In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to purchase the show via DAZN.com. On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets, including PPV.com. Tickets for the live event are on sale now at AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions, TGB Promotions, in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Boxing Promotions. Here is what the workout participants had to say Tuesday from Wild Card Boxing Club:
JAIME MUNGUIA
“Camp is going very well. Hands down, this has been my best training camp. Working with the legend Freddie Roach has really motivated me. He has my confidence very high and has helped me so much.
“When I first got this fight I was excited because I know how big of an opportunity this is. I would just tell everyone that I’m 100% ready for this fight.
“Not only is this big for boxing, but it’s huge for my country. I can’t wait to represent Mexico in the ring on May 4th.
“I’m very happy about this opportunity. I’m excited because there’s no better way to represent the Mexican fans than competing on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
“Training with Freddie has been great. He’s brought a lot of peace and tranquility to my corner. He’s a wise trainer with a lot of experience.
“Any fight at this level is going to be a hard fight, but I really believe that this is going to be an exciting fight and a memorable one.
“I’m going to go in there to do my job. I don’t care what anyone on the outside says. At the end of the day, I have to stay ready and make the most of this opportunity.
“I’ve always kept an eye on Canelo, even when we were in different weight classes. Eventually you have to fight the best in your division and that’s where we are right now.
“I respect Canelo as a fighter, but when you step into that ring with me, I’m gonna do my best to do my job and get my hand raised.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
"Canelo is going to come out guns blazing, but there's a changing of the guard in every era and I think that this is the perfect scenario for Jaime Munguia to take over.
"Jaime is ready to go. He's faced every adversary and every style. Whether they brawl or box, he's taken them out. Now he's ready for the biggest fish in the sea.
“Jaime has the youth, the punch output and the chin. I see all the cards stacked against Canelo.”
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Luis Nery hoping to become 122-pound version of Buster Douglas |
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Former two-division champion Luis Nery of Mexico is aware that the odds are stacked against him, but a major upset in Tokyo wouldn't be the first of its kind. Nery will challenge pound-for-pound king Naoya "Monster" Inoue for the undisputed world junior featherweight championship on Monday, May 6th at the Tokyo Dome. This will be the first boxing event at "The Big Egg" since February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson to capture the undisputed heavyweight crown in one of the sport's biggest upsets. Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.
In the co-feature, Australia’s Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight title against former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs). Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), Naoya's younger brother, will put his WBA bantamweight crown on the line against Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs), and Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) will risk his WBA flyweight title against Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter.
Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) captured the WBC bantamweight title by beating Shinsuke Yamanaka in August 2017, but lost it the following year after failing to make weight for their rematch. He moved up to junior featherweight, where he earned the WBC strap against Aaron Alameda in September 2020. The 29-year-old suffered his first loss against Brandon Figueroa in May 2021. Since that defeat, Nery has gone 4-0 with three knockouts, including a dramatic 11th-round stoppage of Azat Hovhannisyan last February in a Fight of the Year contender. Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), a four-division world champion, looks to defend his undisputed crown after last year’s demolitions of unified world champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales.
Following a recent training session in El Paso, Texas, this is what Nery had to say:
“This is the highest stage one can reach as a fighter. It’s like soccer players who prepare their entire lives for a World Cup. It’s the same. This is bigger than being a world champion. It’s four belts. It’s undisputed."
“I’ve been wanting to fight him for about three years now. Fortunately, the opportunity has come, and we are taking it seriously. He is an elite fighter. He’s among the best fighters. He is fast. He is strong. But he has weaknesses, and he does take some punches."
“I’m the only one who can beat Inoue because I have good power, I can take punches, I have heart, and I’m willing to die in the ring. I’m a fighter who, above all, is a brawler. I like to brawl in the ring. But, I like to counter as well. If the fight allows for it, and if the fighter and the style allow for it, then I do it. I adapt to whatever style of fight I’m in to get the victory."
“I think that Inoue shouldn’t have taken this fight. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t have taken it. He has nothing to win by beating me. In fact, he has everything to lose. I have nothing to lose. I’m not a champion. I’m not at the top like him. I’m going for all the marbles. I'm coming with everything. I will take risks, and I'm willing to die in the ring.
“This is an important fight. It deserves to be in an arena that is just as important like the Tokyo Dome. And I think it’s a sign. If Mike Tyson can lose his unbeaten record there, then so can Naoya Inoue. Now, Mike Tyson was actually a monster. He for sure was an assassin. So, I’m happy that they made the fight at Tokyo Dome.”
“I will win by knockout. There’s no other way. I know that either he or I will be stopped. But I’m sure that he will be stopped.”
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Luis Nery hoping to become 122-pound version of Buster Douglas
Former two-division champion Luis Nery of Mexico is aware that the odds are stacked against him, but a major upset in Tokyo wouldn't be the first of its kind. Nery will challenge pound-for-pound king Naoya "Monster" Inoue for the undisputed world junior featherweight championship on Monday, May 6th at the Tokyo Dome. This will be the first boxing event at "The Big Egg" since February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson to capture the undisputed heavyweight crown in one of the sport's biggest upsets. Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.
In the co-feature, Australia’s Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight title against former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs). Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), Naoya's younger brother, will put his WBA bantamweight crown on the line against Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs), and Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) will risk his WBA flyweight title against Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter.
Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) captured the WBC bantamweight title by beating Shinsuke Yamanaka in August 2017, but lost it the following year after failing to make weight for their rematch. He moved up to junior featherweight, where he earned the WBC strap against Aaron Alameda in September 2020. The 29-year-old suffered his first loss against Brandon Figueroa in May 2021. Since that defeat, Nery has gone 4-0 with three knockouts, including a dramatic 11th-round stoppage of Azat Hovhannisyan last February in a Fight of the Year contender. Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), a four-division world champion, looks to defend his undisputed crown after last year’s demolitions of unified world champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales.
Following a recent training session in El Paso, Texas, this is what Nery had to say:
“This is the highest stage one can reach as a fighter. It’s like soccer players who prepare their entire lives for a World Cup. It’s the same. This is bigger than being a world champion. It’s four belts. It’s undisputed."
“I’ve been wanting to fight him for about three years now. Fortunately, the opportunity has come, and we are taking it seriously. He is an elite fighter. He’s among the best fighters. He is fast. He is strong. But he has weaknesses, and he does take some punches."
“I’m the only one who can beat Inoue because I have good power, I can take punches, I have heart, and I’m willing to die in the ring. I’m a fighter who, above all, is a brawler. I like to brawl in the ring. But, I like to counter as well. If the fight allows for it, and if the fighter and the style allow for it, then I do it. I adapt to whatever style of fight I’m in to get the victory."
“I think that Inoue shouldn’t have taken this fight. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t have taken it. He has nothing to win by beating me. In fact, he has everything to lose. I have nothing to lose. I’m not a champion. I’m not at the top like him. I’m going for all the marbles. I'm coming with everything. I will take risks, and I'm willing to die in the ring.
“This is an important fight. It deserves to be in an arena that is just as important like the Tokyo Dome. And I think it’s a sign. If Mike Tyson can lose his unbeaten record there, then so can Naoya Inoue. Now, Mike Tyson was actually a monster. He for sure was an assassin. So, I’m happy that they made the fight at Tokyo Dome.”
“I will win by knockout. There’s no other way. I know that either he or I will be stopped. But I’m sure that he will be stopped.”
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Boxingtalk salutes the UBO for addressing corrupt Ghana commission |
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Ghana's Bastie Samir and Nigeria's Idowu Rasheed fought each other contested on Saturday April 13th, in Accra, Ghana. At stake was the the vacant UBO Africa light heavyweight title. Boxingtalk does not normally mention regional titles, but the UBO deserves recognition here for standing up for principles of fair play. The fight showed just how unfair a home advantage can be. Rasheed seemingly won the fight by second round knockout, flooring Samir twice with left hooks, the second ending the fight. But it was soon announced that the Ghana Boxing Authority officials at ringside had declared the fight a technical draw, due to a [suposed] illegal blow from Rasheed. After watching several videos of the fight, there did not appear to be any illegal blow.
Promoter Lou DiBella, who had no interest in either boxer, wrote, "The wanton, desperado nature of boxing is worldwide. Check out this African heist. Ref's bias obvious throughout this clip. Now please try to explain away this decision!"
The UBO wrote: "No championship sanctioning organization, including the UBO, has power to overturn an official result, as this is something only the local boxing commission, in this case the Ghana Boxing Authority, can do. But due to the fact that the title remained vacant, the UBO is in a position, and has power, to extraordinarily decide on its ownership. Since we cant see that Rasheed did anything wrong, that he was in fact a victim of a blatant injustice and put on an amazing performance, we feel it is only right that Rasheed is recognized as the UBO Africa light heavyweight champion. We have since been informed in writing by the Ghana Boxing Authority that they indeed intend to overturn the announced result and declare Rasheed the official winner by second round knockout. It is human to make mistakes, and we are glad that the Ghana Boxing Authority has reportedly made the right decision in regards to the official result, and will report this accordingly to all record-keepers and other relevant parties.
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Boxingtalk salutes the UBO for addressing corrupt Ghana commission
Ghana's Bastie Samir and Nigeria's Idowu Rasheed fought each other contested on Saturday April 13th, in Accra, Ghana. At stake was the the vacant UBO Africa light heavyweight title. Boxingtalk does not normally mention regional titles, but the UBO deserves recognition here for standing up for principles of fair play. The fight showed just how unfair a home advantage can be. Rasheed seemingly won the fight by second round knockout, flooring Samir twice with left hooks, the second ending the fight. But it was soon announced that the Ghana Boxing Authority officials at ringside had declared the fight a technical draw, due to a [suposed] illegal blow from Rasheed. After watching several videos of the fight, there did not appear to be any illegal blow.
Promoter Lou DiBella, who had no interest in either boxer, wrote, "The wanton, desperado nature of boxing is worldwide. Check out this African heist. Ref's bias obvious throughout this clip. Now please try to explain away this decision!"
The UBO wrote: "No championship sanctioning organization, including the UBO, has power to overturn an official result, as this is something only the local boxing commission, in this case the Ghana Boxing Authority, can do. But due to the fact that the title remained vacant, the UBO is in a position, and has power, to extraordinarily decide on its ownership. Since we cant see that Rasheed did anything wrong, that he was in fact a victim of a blatant injustice and put on an amazing performance, we feel it is only right that Rasheed is recognized as the UBO Africa light heavyweight champion. We have since been informed in writing by the Ghana Boxing Authority that they indeed intend to overturn the announced result and declare Rasheed the official winner by second round knockout. It is human to make mistakes, and we are glad that the Ghana Boxing Authority has reportedly made the right decision in regards to the official result, and will report this accordingly to all record-keepers and other relevant parties.
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Late results: heavyweights Arias and Lacy fight to a draw |
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George Arias W8 Skylar Lacy ... DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series made a successful debut in Philadelphia, with an entertaining five-bout card on April 18th at the 2300 Arena. In the main event, heavyweights “Gentleman” George Arias and undefeated Skylar “Big Dog” Lacy battled to an eight-round draw in a competitive bout. Arias surged ahead early, bobbing and weaving his way inside to land combinations. The six-foot-seven Lacy then began to create a distance with his size and reach, sneaking in straight rights and clinching whenever Arias moved in too close. That strategy worked down the stretch as he kept the fight at his pace. Scorecards read 77-75 for Arias, and 76-76 (twice). Arias, based out of The Bronx, NY, is now 18-1-1 (7 KOs), while Lacy, of Indianapolis, remains unbeaten at 8-0-2 (6 KOs).
Roney Hines W8 Robert Hall Jr... Cleveland heavyweight Roney “Too Much” Hines pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision win against a game Robert “The Truth” Hall Jr. The six-foot-six southpaw Hines used a consistent jab to keep Hall at bay to land his straight lefts to the head and body. Co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports, Hines won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and his record now reads 14-0-1 (8 KOs). Hall, of Johnson City, TN, is 14-3 (11 KOs). The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Jamaican middleweight southpaw Kestna Davis, based out of Vauxhall, NJ, earned a four-round unanimous decision win against Abdalla Nagy to improve to 6-0. The athletic Davis used his footwork and countershots to offset Nagy’s aggression. A right hook counter from Davis dropped Nagy in round three. All scorecards read 40-35. Davis is mentored by former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis, who was ringside to support his protégé. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He met Lewis in 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt now based out of Albuquerque, NM, returned home with a 1-1 record.
Philadelphia junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz remained undefeated as he stopped Robin “Gravedigger” Ellis in the fourth of a scheduled six-rounder. The bout featured lots of inside exchanges, with Cruz getting great leverage on his hooks and combinations to the head and body. In round four, Cruz created some distance with his jab. He hurt Ellis with a straight right hand to the chin then decked him with a right uppercut-left hook combination moments later. Ellis made it to his feet, but his corner elected for their charge not to continue. The stoppage came at the 1:43 mark of the stanza, improving Cruz’s record to 11-0-1 (5 KOs). Ellis, of Las Vegas, NV, left the ring at 6-4 (5 KOs). Cruz was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.
Erron “Junkyard Dog” Peterson, a Philadelphia middleweight southpaw also trained by Edwards, dominated Raheem Davis en route to a second-round stoppage win. Peterson pressured his way inside the awkward style of Davis and targeted the midsection, scoring knockdowns in the first and second rounds with right hooks to the body. Once Davis arose from the second knockdown, Peterson trapped him against the ropes and landed a right cross upstairs to send his foe to the canvas for the third and final time. The fight was called off at 1:52 of the frame, with Peterson upping his record to 6-0-1 (5 KOs). Davis, of Morgantown, WV, is now 1-3. Peterson was an All-City linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.
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Late results: heavyweights Arias and Lacy fight to a draw
George Arias W8 Skylar Lacy ... DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series made a successful debut in Philadelphia, with an entertaining five-bout card on April 18th at the 2300 Arena. In the main event, heavyweights “Gentleman” George Arias and undefeated Skylar “Big Dog” Lacy battled to an eight-round draw in a competitive bout. Arias surged ahead early, bobbing and weaving his way inside to land combinations. The six-foot-seven Lacy then began to create a distance with his size and reach, sneaking in straight rights and clinching whenever Arias moved in too close. That strategy worked down the stretch as he kept the fight at his pace. Scorecards read 77-75 for Arias, and 76-76 (twice). Arias, based out of The Bronx, NY, is now 18-1-1 (7 KOs), while Lacy, of Indianapolis, remains unbeaten at 8-0-2 (6 KOs).
Roney Hines W8 Robert Hall Jr... Cleveland heavyweight Roney “Too Much” Hines pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision win against a game Robert “The Truth” Hall Jr. The six-foot-six southpaw Hines used a consistent jab to keep Hall at bay to land his straight lefts to the head and body. Co-managed by Robert Diaz and Sheer Sports, Hines won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and his record now reads 14-0-1 (8 KOs). Hall, of Johnson City, TN, is 14-3 (11 KOs). The 28-year-old Hines had an extensive amateur career that included over 90 fights and a win at the National Golden Gloves, before making his professional debut in July 2018.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Jamaican middleweight southpaw Kestna Davis, based out of Vauxhall, NJ, earned a four-round unanimous decision win against Abdalla Nagy to improve to 6-0. The athletic Davis used his footwork and countershots to offset Nagy’s aggression. A right hook counter from Davis dropped Nagy in round three. All scorecards read 40-35. Davis is mentored by former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis, who was ringside to support his protégé. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Davis moved to the U.S. in 2018. He met Lewis in 2016 through the Lennox Lewis League of Champions Foundation. Nagy, born in Egypt now based out of Albuquerque, NM, returned home with a 1-1 record.
Philadelphia junior featherweight Romuel “Cuco” Cruz remained undefeated as he stopped Robin “Gravedigger” Ellis in the fourth of a scheduled six-rounder. The bout featured lots of inside exchanges, with Cruz getting great leverage on his hooks and combinations to the head and body. In round four, Cruz created some distance with his jab. He hurt Ellis with a straight right hand to the chin then decked him with a right uppercut-left hook combination moments later. Ellis made it to his feet, but his corner elected for their charge not to continue. The stoppage came at the 1:43 mark of the stanza, improving Cruz’s record to 11-0-1 (5 KOs). Ellis, of Las Vegas, NV, left the ring at 6-4 (5 KOs). Cruz was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but moved to Philadelphia as a toddler. He began boxing as a teenager and has been under the tutelage of world championship trainer Stephen "Breadman" Edwards since his pro debut in December 2017. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.
Erron “Junkyard Dog” Peterson, a Philadelphia middleweight southpaw also trained by Edwards, dominated Raheem Davis en route to a second-round stoppage win. Peterson pressured his way inside the awkward style of Davis and targeted the midsection, scoring knockdowns in the first and second rounds with right hooks to the body. Once Davis arose from the second knockdown, Peterson trapped him against the ropes and landed a right cross upstairs to send his foe to the canvas for the third and final time. The fight was called off at 1:52 of the frame, with Peterson upping his record to 6-0-1 (5 KOs). Davis, of Morgantown, WV, is now 1-3. Peterson was an All-City linebacker in high school before turning his full attention to boxing at the age of 21. Following a brief-but-successful amateur campaign, Peterson, managed by his father Salah, turned pro in July 2022.
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Dainier Pero set for heavyweight action this week |
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BoxLab Promotions announced that heavyweight Dainier “The Fear” Pero (6-0, 4 KOs) is gearing up for action this Friday, April 26th. Pero will face off against Jose Mario Tamez (4-3, 1 KO) of Monterey, Mexico. Pero vs. Tamez, a bout scheduled for six-rounds will air live on DAZN. Originally from Camaguey, Cuba, Pero now calls Las Vegas home as he trains with Bob Santos, the 2023 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year. Pero, with a vast amateur pedigree, is quickly emerging in the heavyweight division.
"I have big dreams of becoming the next heavyweight star, and every fight brings me one step closer to achieving that goal," Pero remarked. "I'm focused, hungry, and ready to showcase my skills in the ring. This is my time, I’m staying busy, and I won't let anything stand in my way."
“Dainier Pero is something special. He's got the skills, the drive, and the potential to be the best young heavyweight out there,” said Santos, Pero's coach, as he's confident in his abilities. "Pero possesses all the tools necessary to succeed at the highest level of the sport. He has incredible natural talent, a great work ethic, and a hunger for greatness that sets him apart from his peers. I'm proud to be guiding him on this journey and we will be ready this Friday.”
Pero attributes his success to his rigorous training regime. "I've had a great training camp leading up to this fight. I've pushed myself to the limit, surrounded by a team that believes in me and pushes me to be the best. I'm confident in my abilities, and I'm eager to put on a show for the fans."
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Dainier Pero set for heavyweight action this week
BoxLab Promotions announced that heavyweight Dainier “The Fear” Pero (6-0, 4 KOs) is gearing up for action this Friday, April 26th. Pero will face off against Jose Mario Tamez (4-3, 1 KO) of Monterey, Mexico. Pero vs. Tamez, a bout scheduled for six-rounds will air live on DAZN. Originally from Camaguey, Cuba, Pero now calls Las Vegas home as he trains with Bob Santos, the 2023 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year. Pero, with a vast amateur pedigree, is quickly emerging in the heavyweight division.
"I have big dreams of becoming the next heavyweight star, and every fight brings me one step closer to achieving that goal," Pero remarked. "I'm focused, hungry, and ready to showcase my skills in the ring. This is my time, I’m staying busy, and I won't let anything stand in my way."
“Dainier Pero is something special. He's got the skills, the drive, and the potential to be the best young heavyweight out there,” said Santos, Pero's coach, as he's confident in his abilities. "Pero possesses all the tools necessary to succeed at the highest level of the sport. He has incredible natural talent, a great work ethic, and a hunger for greatness that sets him apart from his peers. I'm proud to be guiding him on this journey and we will be ready this Friday.”
Pero attributes his success to his rigorous training regime. "I've had a great training camp leading up to this fight. I've pushed myself to the limit, surrounded by a team that believes in me and pushes me to be the best. I'm confident in my abilities, and I'm eager to put on a show for the fans."
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Brownsville, Texas show on tap for Saturday |
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Marines Boxing Promotions is set to bring an exciting evening of professional boxing to the Rio Grande Valley on April 27th in Brownsville, Texas at the Brownsville Sports Park. "Fight Night 2" features nine bouts. The event is scheduled to be aired on TV Azteca Texas. The main event will see junior welterweight Samuel "El Gallo Fino" Castaneda (11-0-1) of Mercedes, TX against Osvaldo Negrete(6-7-1) of Matamoros, Mexico in a four rounder. "I am coming to make a profound statement," said Castaneda. The co-feature has Roberto Garcia trained Jesse "Panterita" Martinez (6-0-1) of Del Rio, TX versus David Vargas Zamora (8-3-2) of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico in a six-round flyweight showdown. Two other undefeated fighters Caleb "La Maravilla" Zuniga and Jose "El Inicio" Luis Sauceda, trained by Robert Garcia are also set to be in action. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will be the ring announcer. Opening bout set for 7PM. The Brownsville Sports Park is located at 1000 Sports Park Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78526. For tickets contact (956)532-0176 or (956)463-0573.
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Brownsville, Texas show on tap for Saturday
Marines Boxing Promotions is set to bring an exciting evening of professional boxing to the Rio Grande Valley on April 27th in Brownsville, Texas at the Brownsville Sports Park. "Fight Night 2" features nine bouts. The event is scheduled to be aired on TV Azteca Texas. The main event will see junior welterweight Samuel "El Gallo Fino" Castaneda (11-0-1) of Mercedes, TX against Osvaldo Negrete(6-7-1) of Matamoros, Mexico in a four rounder. "I am coming to make a profound statement," said Castaneda. The co-feature has Roberto Garcia trained Jesse "Panterita" Martinez (6-0-1) of Del Rio, TX versus David Vargas Zamora (8-3-2) of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico in a six-round flyweight showdown. Two other undefeated fighters Caleb "La Maravilla" Zuniga and Jose "El Inicio" Luis Sauceda, trained by Robert Garcia are also set to be in action. Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will be the ring announcer. Opening bout set for 7PM. The Brownsville Sports Park is located at 1000 Sports Park Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78526. For tickets contact (956)532-0176 or (956)463-0573.
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Nathan Lugo wins pro debut |
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Nathan Lugo KO1 Richard Lartigue ... Nathan Lugo took out Richard Lartigue inside of a round in their four-round super middleweight bout. Lugo dropped Lartigue with a hard left hook but would not rest on his laurels as he dumped Lartigue again, this time with a hard right hand. The fight was stopped at 1:33. Lugo, fighting in his hometown of Atlanta is 1-0 with one knockout. Lartigue, of San Diego, is 1-2. "This is just the beginning of the start of a very, very promising career. He has not just the ability, but also the charisma to become a star. There will be some very big announcements in the not so distant future regarding Nathan.” said David McWater of Split-T Management
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Nathan Lugo wins pro debut
Nathan Lugo KO1 Richard Lartigue ... Nathan Lugo took out Richard Lartigue inside of a round in their four-round super middleweight bout. Lugo dropped Lartigue with a hard left hook but would not rest on his laurels as he dumped Lartigue again, this time with a hard right hand. The fight was stopped at 1:33. Lugo, fighting in his hometown of Atlanta is 1-0 with one knockout. Lartigue, of San Diego, is 1-2. "This is just the beginning of the start of a very, very promising career. He has not just the ability, but also the charisma to become a star. There will be some very big announcements in the not so distant future regarding Nathan.” said David McWater of Split-T Management
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Yeimi Mercado to defend vs. Triple L on Friday |
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Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (pictured) will defend her WBC super bantamweight world title for the seventh time, facing Peru's "Triple L," Linda Laura Lecca, this Saturday April 27th at the Nuevo Toreo in Tijuana, Mexico. Mercado won the world super bantamweight crown in November 2019, defeating Fatuma Zarika in a rematch. She has defended her belt against Alejandra Guzmán, Isis Vargas, Mariana Juárez, as well as Kudakwashe Chiwandire. Laura Lecca was WBA super flyweight champion between 2014 and 2018. She has already faced and defeated Mexican fighters, among them Diana “Bonita” Fernández. The WBC organized a press conference via zoom and this is what the champion and the challenger commented:
Yamileth Mercado
“Women’s fights are a guarantee of an exciting spectacle. I think it will be a tough fight. She comes with the hunger to be crowned champion, but I am ready to defend my crown. I am happy for the opportunity to unify soon but I can’t talk about those plans until I defeat my rival.”
Laura Lecca
“We are very optimistic. I must win the fight round by round. I am well prepared. I know that we are going to leave our best in the ring to obtain the result and become the new WBC world champion.”
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Yeimi Mercado to defend vs. Triple L on Friday
Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (pictured) will defend her WBC super bantamweight world title for the seventh time, facing Peru's "Triple L," Linda Laura Lecca, this Saturday April 27th at the Nuevo Toreo in Tijuana, Mexico. Mercado won the world super bantamweight crown in November 2019, defeating Fatuma Zarika in a rematch. She has defended her belt against Alejandra Guzmán, Isis Vargas, Mariana Juárez, as well as Kudakwashe Chiwandire. Laura Lecca was WBA super flyweight champion between 2014 and 2018. She has already faced and defeated Mexican fighters, among them Diana “Bonita” Fernández. The WBC organized a press conference via zoom and this is what the champion and the challenger commented:
Yamileth Mercado
“Women’s fights are a guarantee of an exciting spectacle. I think it will be a tough fight. She comes with the hunger to be crowned champion, but I am ready to defend my crown. I am happy for the opportunity to unify soon but I can’t talk about those plans until I defeat my rival.”
Laura Lecca
“We are very optimistic. I must win the fight round by round. I am well prepared. I know that we are going to leave our best in the ring to obtain the result and become the new WBC world champion.”
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Kazuto Ioka to unify vs. Fernando Martinez |
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A 115-pound unification bout was officially announced on Monday: on July 7th in Tokyo, the legendary Kazuto Ioka (pictured) will risk his WBA title against Fernando Martinez and the IBF version. Both fighters were at the press event, which drew a large attendance. Ioka, a four division champ with a record of 31-2-1, will look for the unification against the undefeated Argentinean at home in a fight that looks pretty even and promises action. The fight will take place at the Kokugigan Arena in the Japanese capital. Both Ioka and Martinez talked about what they expect from the fight and their desire to keep both belts. Both have already started their training camps, which they stopped momentarily to fulfill this promotional event and once ready they will continue working to reach one hundred percent for the fight.
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Kazuto Ioka to unify vs. Fernando Martinez
A 115-pound unification bout was officially announced on Monday: on July 7th in Tokyo, the legendary Kazuto Ioka (pictured) will risk his WBA title against Fernando Martinez and the IBF version. Both fighters were at the press event, which drew a large attendance. Ioka, a four division champ with a record of 31-2-1, will look for the unification against the undefeated Argentinean at home in a fight that looks pretty even and promises action. The fight will take place at the Kokugigan Arena in the Japanese capital. Both Ioka and Martinez talked about what they expect from the fight and their desire to keep both belts. Both have already started their training camps, which they stopped momentarily to fulfill this promotional event and once ready they will continue working to reach one hundred percent for the fight.
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Barboza reacts to his unpopular split decision win over McComb |
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Arnold Barboza Jr. W10 Sean McComb... In the wake of Arnold Barboza Jr.'s very unpopular split decision over Sean McComb, Barboza acknowledged the cricitism on social media, saying: "I want to address the fans. Not my best performance but we came out victorious. Going back to the drawing board to continue to work on the craft. Hope you guys enjoyed. Thank you all for the continued support... Having a rough night doesn't define your worth as a fighter. Everyone has off days, but consistent hard work speaks volumes about my dedication and abilities. It's important to recognize that one bad night doesn't overshadow my overall performance and value as a fighter. [My record is still] 30-0... For all the Twitter boxing 'experts', a close fight does not equal a robbery. Next fight I’m make you eat your words."
Fighting in the chief support bout on the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Barboaza, an undefeated junior welterweight from Los Angeles, took on Northern Ireland’s McComb. This bout followed the same pattern for all ten rounds, with Barboza pressuring and McComb countering. Barboza did his best to work his way inside to land hooks to the body. However, McComb, a tall, lanky southpaw reminiscent of former middleweight title holder Andy Lee, appeared to outbox his shorter adversary at nearly every turn. In his second foray inside a U.S. boxing ring, McComb used deft footwork combined with his height and reach advantages to keep Barboza at bay behind a stiff jab, straight lefts and effective counter hooks.
While judge Benoit Roussel had McComb winning 98-92, judges Don Trella and Tom Schreck heavily favored Barboza by tallies of 97-93 and 96-94, respectively. CompuBox stats had McComb outlanding Barboza by a slim margin of 107 to 99. Now 30-0 (11 KOs), Barboza, who is rated #1 by the WBO, will likely be in line for a world title shot in short order. Following a solid effort that seemingly should have been enough to earn him the win, McComb’s resume now stands at 18-2 (5 KOs).
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Barboza reacts to his unpopular split decision win over McComb
Arnold Barboza Jr. W10 Sean McComb... In the wake of Arnold Barboza Jr.'s very unpopular split decision over Sean McComb, Barboza acknowledged the cricitism on social media, saying: "I want to address the fans. Not my best performance but we came out victorious. Going back to the drawing board to continue to work on the craft. Hope you guys enjoyed. Thank you all for the continued support... Having a rough night doesn't define your worth as a fighter. Everyone has off days, but consistent hard work speaks volumes about my dedication and abilities. It's important to recognize that one bad night doesn't overshadow my overall performance and value as a fighter. [My record is still] 30-0... For all the Twitter boxing 'experts', a close fight does not equal a robbery. Next fight I’m make you eat your words."
Fighting in the chief support bout on the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Barboaza, an undefeated junior welterweight from Los Angeles, took on Northern Ireland’s McComb. This bout followed the same pattern for all ten rounds, with Barboza pressuring and McComb countering. Barboza did his best to work his way inside to land hooks to the body. However, McComb, a tall, lanky southpaw reminiscent of former middleweight title holder Andy Lee, appeared to outbox his shorter adversary at nearly every turn. In his second foray inside a U.S. boxing ring, McComb used deft footwork combined with his height and reach advantages to keep Barboza at bay behind a stiff jab, straight lefts and effective counter hooks.
While judge Benoit Roussel had McComb winning 98-92, judges Don Trella and Tom Schreck heavily favored Barboza by tallies of 97-93 and 96-94, respectively. CompuBox stats had McComb outlanding Barboza by a slim margin of 107 to 99. Now 30-0 (11 KOs), Barboza, who is rated #1 by the WBO, will likely be in line for a world title shot in short order. Following a solid effort that seemingly should have been enough to earn him the win, McComb’s resume now stands at 18-2 (5 KOs).
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Habazin wins vacant WBC welterweight title |
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Ivana Habazin W10 Kinga Magyar ... Croatia's Ivana Habazin is the new WBC welterweight champion after defeating Hungary's Kinga Magyar via unanimous decision. The fight was held at the KC Drazen Petrovic in Zagreb, Croatia and to achieve victory, Habazin utilized a firm defense mixed with a constant attack to control the action for most of the fight. Magyar unsuccesfully sought a face-to-face confrontation, but the Judges scored it 97-93, 99-92 and 98-92 for Habazin, who improves her record to 23 wins with 5 losses and 7 knockouts. Habazin also acquires the WBA interim champion and can look towards unification vs. the winner of world champion Jessica McCaskill's defense against Lauren Price next month. Magyar left the ring with a record of 14-5 with 4 KOs.
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Habazin wins vacant WBC welterweight title
Ivana Habazin W10 Kinga Magyar ... Croatia's Ivana Habazin is the new WBC welterweight champion after defeating Hungary's Kinga Magyar via unanimous decision. The fight was held at the KC Drazen Petrovic in Zagreb, Croatia and to achieve victory, Habazin utilized a firm defense mixed with a constant attack to control the action for most of the fight. Magyar unsuccesfully sought a face-to-face confrontation, but the Judges scored it 97-93, 99-92 and 98-92 for Habazin, who improves her record to 23 wins with 5 losses and 7 knockouts. Habazin also acquires the WBA interim champion and can look towards unification vs. the winner of world champion Jessica McCaskill's defense against Lauren Price next month. Magyar left the ring with a record of 14-5 with 4 KOs.
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Late result: David Jimenez claims WBA interim belt at 115 |
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On Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Costa Rica's David “Medallita” Jimenez, 114.8 pounds, upset previously unbeaten John “Scrappy” Ramirez, 114.2 lbs., of Los Angeles to capture the vacant interim WBA super flyweight title. Fighting on the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia undercard, Ramirez attempted to set the pace early on and box from a distance, but was largely ineffective. The action heated up in round seven with Jimenez having closed the gap and both combatants standing shoulder-to-shoulder trading heavy punches. The Costa Rican outworked Ramirez for much of the fight, often targeting the body when on the inside. Ramirez was badly hurt by a barrage of shots near the end of round nine. As the fight ended, Ramirez wore the damage of the previous 36 minutes of combat on his face, with blood streaming from his right eye.
Scorecards read 117-111 (twice) and 116-112, all for Jimenez via unanimous decision. In seizing the title, Jimenez improved to 16-1 (11 KOs) while adding the first loss to Ramirez’s record, now 13-1 (9 KOs). Jimenez’s only defeat came against Artem Dalakian in January 2023, challenging for the WBA world flyweight crown. The full WBA champion is Japan's legendary Kazuto Ioka, who is set for unification with IBF counterpart Fernando Martinez in his next fight.
“I am very happy to become a champion again,” said Jimenez. “I am ready to plan for what’s next. I felt great in the ring, and I felt like I was controlling the fight from the second round. Scrappy has a good punch and is a good boxer. Like all fighters, I want to become undisputed.”
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Late result: David Jimenez claims WBA interim belt at 115
On Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Costa Rica's David “Medallita” Jimenez, 114.8 pounds, upset previously unbeaten John “Scrappy” Ramirez, 114.2 lbs., of Los Angeles to capture the vacant interim WBA super flyweight title. Fighting on the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia undercard, Ramirez attempted to set the pace early on and box from a distance, but was largely ineffective. The action heated up in round seven with Jimenez having closed the gap and both combatants standing shoulder-to-shoulder trading heavy punches. The Costa Rican outworked Ramirez for much of the fight, often targeting the body when on the inside. Ramirez was badly hurt by a barrage of shots near the end of round nine. As the fight ended, Ramirez wore the damage of the previous 36 minutes of combat on his face, with blood streaming from his right eye.
Scorecards read 117-111 (twice) and 116-112, all for Jimenez via unanimous decision. In seizing the title, Jimenez improved to 16-1 (11 KOs) while adding the first loss to Ramirez’s record, now 13-1 (9 KOs). Jimenez’s only defeat came against Artem Dalakian in January 2023, challenging for the WBA world flyweight crown. The full WBA champion is Japan's legendary Kazuto Ioka, who is set for unification with IBF counterpart Fernando Martinez in his next fight.
“I am very happy to become a champion again,” said Jimenez. “I am ready to plan for what’s next. I felt great in the ring, and I felt like I was controlling the fight from the second round. Scrappy has a good punch and is a good boxer. Like all fighters, I want to become undisputed.”
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Late result: Melikuziev wins by TKO despite bad cut |
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Bektemir Melikuziev TKO8 Pierre Hubert Dibombe... Uzbeki super middleweight Bektemir "the Bully" Melikuziev, 167.8 pounds, battled France's Pierre Hubert Dibombe, 166.6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn as part of the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia undercard. Believing in his power, the Uzbeki southpaw plodded forward methodically throwing single thudding shots. Because he would often march straight in with his hands down, Melikuziev was susceptible to countershots and the determined Frenchman was more than willing to engage. As often happens with a southpaw fights an orthodox boxer, a clash of heads in round one left a cut above Dibome’s right eye. Then, Melikuziev suffered a deep gash above his left eye, following another accidental head butt in the fifth. In the same frame, Melikuziev scored a questionable knockdown when a shot landed at the same time as the boxers’ feet got tangled, resulting in Dibombe falling to the mat. With Melikuziev’s cut worsening, the fight was halted at the start of the eighth round on recommendation of the New York State Athletic Commission doctor.
Because the bell had rung, round eight was also scored. The judges tallied 79-73 twice, and 78-74, all for Melikuziev, the winner by technical decision. Melikuziev upped his ledger to 14-1 (10 KOs), his seventh straight victory. Tasting his first defeat, Dibombe returned home with a record of 22-1-1 (12 KOs).
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Late result: Melikuziev wins by TKO despite bad cut
Bektemir Melikuziev TKO8 Pierre Hubert Dibombe... Uzbeki super middleweight Bektemir "the Bully" Melikuziev, 167.8 pounds, battled France's Pierre Hubert Dibombe, 166.6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn as part of the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia undercard. Believing in his power, the Uzbeki southpaw plodded forward methodically throwing single thudding shots. Because he would often march straight in with his hands down, Melikuziev was susceptible to countershots and the determined Frenchman was more than willing to engage. As often happens with a southpaw fights an orthodox boxer, a clash of heads in round one left a cut above Dibome’s right eye. Then, Melikuziev suffered a deep gash above his left eye, following another accidental head butt in the fifth. In the same frame, Melikuziev scored a questionable knockdown when a shot landed at the same time as the boxers’ feet got tangled, resulting in Dibombe falling to the mat. With Melikuziev’s cut worsening, the fight was halted at the start of the eighth round on recommendation of the New York State Athletic Commission doctor.
Because the bell had rung, round eight was also scored. The judges tallied 79-73 twice, and 78-74, all for Melikuziev, the winner by technical decision. Melikuziev upped his ledger to 14-1 (10 KOs), his seventh straight victory. Tasting his first defeat, Dibombe returned home with a record of 22-1-1 (12 KOs).
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Late result: Conwell gets back in junior middleweight mix |
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Charles Conwell TKO6 Nathaniel Gallimore... Ending a 17-month ring absence on Saturday night, 2016 Olympian Charles Conwell, 153 pounds, of Cleveland, OH, shook off any ring rust he may have had with a dominant stoppage win against Nathaniel Gallimore, 153 lbs., of Des Plaines, IL, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Conwell staggered Gallimore in round two and, by the third, it was target practice. Gallimore, who himself was coming off a long layoff, had no legs and no head movement. He returned to his corner at the end of round three bleeding from his nose, mouth and right eye, which soon began to swell shut. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. mercifully stopped the bout 52 seconds into round six. The TKO win improved Conwell’s record to 21-0 including the World Series of Boxing. Having won just two of his last nine fights, Gallimore is now 22-8-1 (17 KOs). Conwell had been ranked #1 by the WBC from June 2023 until this April when he was dropped to #3 to make room for Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.
“I feel good,” said Conwell. “It was the coming back party. Gallimore came with a lot of experience. I don’t think any other fighter has beaten him as bad as I did. He was a tough fighter and I appreciate him for taking the fight. We’re looking to get back in the ring asap, sometime in July or August. I’m back in the gym getting better. The ring rust is off. We’re ready for what’s next.”
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Late result: Conwell gets back in junior middleweight mix
Charles Conwell TKO6 Nathaniel Gallimore... Ending a 17-month ring absence on Saturday night, 2016 Olympian Charles Conwell, 153 pounds, of Cleveland, OH, shook off any ring rust he may have had with a dominant stoppage win against Nathaniel Gallimore, 153 lbs., of Des Plaines, IL, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Conwell staggered Gallimore in round two and, by the third, it was target practice. Gallimore, who himself was coming off a long layoff, had no legs and no head movement. He returned to his corner at the end of round three bleeding from his nose, mouth and right eye, which soon began to swell shut. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. mercifully stopped the bout 52 seconds into round six. The TKO win improved Conwell’s record to 21-0 including the World Series of Boxing. Having won just two of his last nine fights, Gallimore is now 22-8-1 (17 KOs). Conwell had been ranked #1 by the WBC from June 2023 until this April when he was dropped to #3 to make room for Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr.
“I feel good,” said Conwell. “It was the coming back party. Gallimore came with a lot of experience. I don’t think any other fighter has beaten him as bad as I did. He was a tough fighter and I appreciate him for taking the fight. We’re looking to get back in the ring asap, sometime in July or August. I’m back in the gym getting better. The ring rust is off. We’re ready for what’s next.”
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Late results: Derevyanchenko back with a win |
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Sergiy Derevyanchenko W10 Vaughn Alexander... Coming off of his “Fight of the Year” candidate, a loss against Jaime Munguia last June, Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko, 167.4 pounds, of Brooklyn, NY, rebounded with a shutout decision victory against granite-chinned Vaughn Alexander, 167.4, of St. Louis on Saturday night at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY. Using expert-level angles and footwork, the three-time world title challenger outboxed and outfought his veteran adversary over ten one-sided rounds. Seeing Alexander absorb a fusillade of leather round after round, Derevyanchenko switched his attack to the midsection, scoring a body-shot knockdown in the eighth. All three judges tallied 100-89 for Derevyanchenko, who is now 15-5 (10 KOs). Losing his third straight fight of 2024, Alexander left the ring at 18-11-1 (11 KOs).
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
The Haney-Garcia off-TV undercard also featured:
Darius “Destined For Greatness” Fulghum, 167.4 lbs., of Houston, TX, won a fourth-round stoppage win against Mexican Cristian Olivas, 167.4 lbs., of Baja California. Feeling that Olivas had taken too much punishment, the referee intervened with the Mexican still standing at the 0:50 mark of the round. The six-foot-one Fulghum competed as a heavyweight during his amateur days, winning a Golden Gloves title in 2018 and a victory at the 2020 Olympic Trials. He turned professional as a super middleweight in December 2021. Fulghum is now 11-0 (10 KOs). Stopped for only the second time, Olivas is now 22-11 (19 KOs).
Jonathan Canas, 137.6 lbs., of Santa Ana, CA, earned a dominant four-round unanimous decision victory against Markus Bowes, 140 lbs., of Roxboro, NC. Canas hurt Bowes in the second stanza with a left hook and staggered him into the blue corner with a straight right. Canas is now 4-0 (2 KOs), while Bowes goes home at 2-6 (2 KOs).
Hard-hitting middleweight Amari “The Reaper” Jones, 159.2 lbs., of Las Vegas, NV, targeted the body of Germany’s Armel Mbumba-Yassa, 160.4 lbs., with forceful hooks and uppercuts. One of those shots shipped below the belt when Jones switched to southpaw in the second frame. Mbumba-Yassa was aggressive, willing to trade and throwing the occasional combination when Jones was on the backfoot. Jones accelerated his attack in the fourth, still switching between orthodox and southpaw, jabbing upstairs and digging shots to the midsection. After taking a half-step back, Jones landed a straight right-left hook combination to send Mbumba-Yassa to the canvas in the sixth. Jones finished him off with a follow-up barrage moments later, earning the TKO win 39 seconds into the round. Promoted by Devin Haney and trained by Bill Haney, Jones upped his record to 12-0 (11 KOs). Mbumba-Yassa, now 10-2 (7 KOs), suffered his second straight US-based defeat.
Las Vegas light heavyweight Kevin “The Second Coming” Newman II, 173.4 lbs., showed fast hands and deft footwork as he circled the ring pumping his jab against Eric Robles, 177.8 lbs., of Tijuana, Mexico. When he closed the distance, Newman added a straight right-left hook combination behind his jab. In round four, Newman dropped Robles twice to end the contest. The first knockdown was the result of a body shot and then Newman felled his foe once more with an overhand right to the side of the head. Referee Benji Esteves immediately halted the bout at the 1:53 mark of the frame. Earning his fifth straight victory, Newman improved to 16-3-1 (10 KOs), while Robles left the ring at 9-4 (8 KOs).
To open up the event, Shamar Canal, 135 lbs., of Albany, NY, made his debut in his home state earning a six-round unanimous decision against Pedro Penunuri Borgaro, 135.8 lbs., of Sonora, Mexico. All three scorecards read 60-53. Canal improved to 8-0 (4 KOs), while Borgaro dipped to 7-2 (4 KOs).
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Late results: Derevyanchenko back with a win
Sergiy Derevyanchenko W10 Vaughn Alexander... Coming off of his “Fight of the Year” candidate, a loss against Jaime Munguia last June, Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko, 167.4 pounds, of Brooklyn, NY, rebounded with a shutout decision victory against granite-chinned Vaughn Alexander, 167.4, of St. Louis on Saturday night at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY. Using expert-level angles and footwork, the three-time world title challenger outboxed and outfought his veteran adversary over ten one-sided rounds. Seeing Alexander absorb a fusillade of leather round after round, Derevyanchenko switched his attack to the midsection, scoring a body-shot knockdown in the eighth. All three judges tallied 100-89 for Derevyanchenko, who is now 15-5 (10 KOs). Losing his third straight fight of 2024, Alexander left the ring at 18-11-1 (11 KOs).
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
The Haney-Garcia off-TV undercard also featured:
Darius “Destined For Greatness” Fulghum, 167.4 lbs., of Houston, TX, won a fourth-round stoppage win against Mexican Cristian Olivas, 167.4 lbs., of Baja California. Feeling that Olivas had taken too much punishment, the referee intervened with the Mexican still standing at the 0:50 mark of the round. The six-foot-one Fulghum competed as a heavyweight during his amateur days, winning a Golden Gloves title in 2018 and a victory at the 2020 Olympic Trials. He turned professional as a super middleweight in December 2021. Fulghum is now 11-0 (10 KOs). Stopped for only the second time, Olivas is now 22-11 (19 KOs).
Jonathan Canas, 137.6 lbs., of Santa Ana, CA, earned a dominant four-round unanimous decision victory against Markus Bowes, 140 lbs., of Roxboro, NC. Canas hurt Bowes in the second stanza with a left hook and staggered him into the blue corner with a straight right. Canas is now 4-0 (2 KOs), while Bowes goes home at 2-6 (2 KOs).
Hard-hitting middleweight Amari “The Reaper” Jones, 159.2 lbs., of Las Vegas, NV, targeted the body of Germany’s Armel Mbumba-Yassa, 160.4 lbs., with forceful hooks and uppercuts. One of those shots shipped below the belt when Jones switched to southpaw in the second frame. Mbumba-Yassa was aggressive, willing to trade and throwing the occasional combination when Jones was on the backfoot. Jones accelerated his attack in the fourth, still switching between orthodox and southpaw, jabbing upstairs and digging shots to the midsection. After taking a half-step back, Jones landed a straight right-left hook combination to send Mbumba-Yassa to the canvas in the sixth. Jones finished him off with a follow-up barrage moments later, earning the TKO win 39 seconds into the round. Promoted by Devin Haney and trained by Bill Haney, Jones upped his record to 12-0 (11 KOs). Mbumba-Yassa, now 10-2 (7 KOs), suffered his second straight US-based defeat.
Las Vegas light heavyweight Kevin “The Second Coming” Newman II, 173.4 lbs., showed fast hands and deft footwork as he circled the ring pumping his jab against Eric Robles, 177.8 lbs., of Tijuana, Mexico. When he closed the distance, Newman added a straight right-left hook combination behind his jab. In round four, Newman dropped Robles twice to end the contest. The first knockdown was the result of a body shot and then Newman felled his foe once more with an overhand right to the side of the head. Referee Benji Esteves immediately halted the bout at the 1:53 mark of the frame. Earning his fifth straight victory, Newman improved to 16-3-1 (10 KOs), while Robles left the ring at 9-4 (8 KOs).
To open up the event, Shamar Canal, 135 lbs., of Albany, NY, made his debut in his home state earning a six-round unanimous decision against Pedro Penunuri Borgaro, 135.8 lbs., of Sonora, Mexico. All three scorecards read 60-53. Canal improved to 8-0 (4 KOs), while Borgaro dipped to 7-2 (4 KOs).
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IBA results from Russia |
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A hometown welcome for Artur Subkhankulov guided the Russian to a win the main event of IBA Champions’ Night in Ufa, Russia, defeating Romania’s James Chereji in the junior lightweight division. Born and raised in the host city, Subkhankulov used a front-footed offense throughout. Chereji finally showed some fire of his won in the third round, pushing the Russian back and continuing his counterattack in the fourth round. But just as momentum looked to come back towards the Romanian, Subkhankulov dropped Chereji to his knees in his corner, leading to an eight count and wobbly legs for the visitor. Subkhankulov smelled blood and charged his foe with flurries of punches, which Chereji just about survived as he tried to engage clinches. He lasted the distance, but Subkhankulov was named the unanimous victor.
In the penultimate fight of the night, Russian welterweight Danis Gabdrafikov got a win over Bobo-Usmon Baturov from Uzbekistan. Baturov knocked Gabdrafikov to the ground, causing him to roll backwards into the corner, stunnied. While this was contentiously deemed a slip, there was no doubt about a left howitzer from Gabdrafikov in the third round, which took the Uzbek boxer to the mat for a count of eight. Another eight count came in the sixth round for Baturov as a result of another left, effectively guaranteeing victory for Gabdrafikov who recovered from the shaky start to win.
Pavel Sosulin made it a third IBA Champions’ Night victory in his home country, going eight rounds in the middleweight category against Ulugbek Sobirov, representing Uzbekistan. Sobirov took Sosulin to the time limit, becoming the first boxer to last until the last bell against Sosulin at IBA Champions’ Night, but he absorbed lot of punishment. As the Russian Sosulin sent the home crowd into a frenzy with his strong combinations, Sobirov endured, occasionally returning with glimpses of his own offensive ability. There was no doubt who the winner was, as Sosulin once again looked dominant to keep an unbeaten streak at IBA Champions’ Night.
An exciting middleweight affair saw Dmitry Zakharov defeat Kyrgyzstan’s Syrgak Abdyzhapar Uulu. Both boxers were making their pro debuts and used the opening three minutes to test the waters, mostly focusing on evasion than aggression. Abdyzhapar Uulu would become the aggressor throughout the six rounds, but he came up against the Russian, a master in counter attacking. The tird round saw Zakharov fly in with a left hook, followed by a right uppercut that threw the Kyrgyz athlete off his balance slightly. This combination changed the momentum of the bout and later in that third round, the Russian slammed a counter right hand to Uulu. Zakharov looked composed the longer the bout progressed and despite the activity he faced from his opponent, he was largely unscathed and left Ufa with the win.
In the longest match of the night, Leon Antonyan from Russia defeated Azizbek Abdugofurov of Uzbekistan over ten super middleweight rounds. The ninth round was one of the liveliest, with both trading blows and hitting punches from close range. While Abdugofurov was resilient and looked as good as his opponent in the middle portion of the bout, it was ultimately a unanimous decision in favor of Antonyan, who delivered the best strikes throughout.
Gor Khachatryan gave Russia an opening win against Seymur Isayev from Azerbaijan in the junior welterweight division. The Russian knocked his foe down with a left hook in the second round, summoning a count of eight. After getting back up, he took more punishment from Khachatryan and eventually fell to his feet, being counted out. While Isayev looked despondent on the canvas, his opponent celebrated his knockout victory after less than six minutes.
Bekkhan Israilov from Russia would claim the victory in the heavyweight category in a scrappy affair against Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Amanzholov, with judges supporting him by split decision.
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IBA results from Russia
A hometown welcome for Artur Subkhankulov guided the Russian to a win the main event of IBA Champions’ Night in Ufa, Russia, defeating Romania’s James Chereji in the junior lightweight division. Born and raised in the host city, Subkhankulov used a front-footed offense throughout. Chereji finally showed some fire of his won in the third round, pushing the Russian back and continuing his counterattack in the fourth round. But just as momentum looked to come back towards the Romanian, Subkhankulov dropped Chereji to his knees in his corner, leading to an eight count and wobbly legs for the visitor. Subkhankulov smelled blood and charged his foe with flurries of punches, which Chereji just about survived as he tried to engage clinches. He lasted the distance, but Subkhankulov was named the unanimous victor.
In the penultimate fight of the night, Russian welterweight Danis Gabdrafikov got a win over Bobo-Usmon Baturov from Uzbekistan. Baturov knocked Gabdrafikov to the ground, causing him to roll backwards into the corner, stunnied. While this was contentiously deemed a slip, there was no doubt about a left howitzer from Gabdrafikov in the third round, which took the Uzbek boxer to the mat for a count of eight. Another eight count came in the sixth round for Baturov as a result of another left, effectively guaranteeing victory for Gabdrafikov who recovered from the shaky start to win.
Pavel Sosulin made it a third IBA Champions’ Night victory in his home country, going eight rounds in the middleweight category against Ulugbek Sobirov, representing Uzbekistan. Sobirov took Sosulin to the time limit, becoming the first boxer to last until the last bell against Sosulin at IBA Champions’ Night, but he absorbed lot of punishment. As the Russian Sosulin sent the home crowd into a frenzy with his strong combinations, Sobirov endured, occasionally returning with glimpses of his own offensive ability. There was no doubt who the winner was, as Sosulin once again looked dominant to keep an unbeaten streak at IBA Champions’ Night.
An exciting middleweight affair saw Dmitry Zakharov defeat Kyrgyzstan’s Syrgak Abdyzhapar Uulu. Both boxers were making their pro debuts and used the opening three minutes to test the waters, mostly focusing on evasion than aggression. Abdyzhapar Uulu would become the aggressor throughout the six rounds, but he came up against the Russian, a master in counter attacking. The tird round saw Zakharov fly in with a left hook, followed by a right uppercut that threw the Kyrgyz athlete off his balance slightly. This combination changed the momentum of the bout and later in that third round, the Russian slammed a counter right hand to Uulu. Zakharov looked composed the longer the bout progressed and despite the activity he faced from his opponent, he was largely unscathed and left Ufa with the win.
In the longest match of the night, Leon Antonyan from Russia defeated Azizbek Abdugofurov of Uzbekistan over ten super middleweight rounds. The ninth round was one of the liveliest, with both trading blows and hitting punches from close range. While Abdugofurov was resilient and looked as good as his opponent in the middle portion of the bout, it was ultimately a unanimous decision in favor of Antonyan, who delivered the best strikes throughout.
Gor Khachatryan gave Russia an opening win against Seymur Isayev from Azerbaijan in the junior welterweight division. The Russian knocked his foe down with a left hook in the second round, summoning a count of eight. After getting back up, he took more punishment from Khachatryan and eventually fell to his feet, being counted out. While Isayev looked despondent on the canvas, his opponent celebrated his knockout victory after less than six minutes.
Bekkhan Israilov from Russia would claim the victory in the heavyweight category in a scrappy affair against Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Amanzholov, with judges supporting him by split decision.
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Muhsin Cason to fight in Philly this weekend |
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On Friday, cruiserweight Muhsin “The Muslim Boxer” Cason (12-0, 9 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against DeShon Webster (12-7-3, 6 KOs) in a scheduled six-round bout being promoted by Teflon Promotions. The fight will take place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, located at 1776 N Broad St. The first fight is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm. Here is what Cason had to say about his recent training camp, his upcoming fight with Webster and his goals for 2024:
On his recent training camp:
“My recent training camp was amazing. Most of my camp during Ramadan was a new accomplishment for me. I think my mindset has reached a new level.”
On his upcoming matchup with DeShawn Webster:
“DeShawn Webster is a formidable opponent. I think he’s going to come in tough and I think the world is going to see what I’ve been working on for the last year and a half with my coach Rasheem Jefferson. I plan to show skills in this fight so far and continue my journey to become a world champion.”
On what a win will do for his career:
“I think a win for me will solidify my standings in the prospect rankings of becoming the world champion”
On what his goals are for 2024:
“To keep winning and to keep persevering, no matter what the obstacle.”
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Muhsin Cason to fight in Philly this weekend
On Friday, cruiserweight Muhsin “The Muslim Boxer” Cason (12-0, 9 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against DeShon Webster (12-7-3, 6 KOs) in a scheduled six-round bout being promoted by Teflon Promotions. The fight will take place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, located at 1776 N Broad St. The first fight is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm. Here is what Cason had to say about his recent training camp, his upcoming fight with Webster and his goals for 2024:
On his recent training camp:
“My recent training camp was amazing. Most of my camp during Ramadan was a new accomplishment for me. I think my mindset has reached a new level.”
On his upcoming matchup with DeShawn Webster:
“DeShawn Webster is a formidable opponent. I think he’s going to come in tough and I think the world is going to see what I’ve been working on for the last year and a half with my coach Rasheem Jefferson. I plan to show skills in this fight so far and continue my journey to become a world champion.”
On what a win will do for his career:
“I think a win for me will solidify my standings in the prospect rankings of becoming the world champion”
On what his goals are for 2024:
“To keep winning and to keep persevering, no matter what the obstacle.”
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Vergil Ortiz returns this weekend |
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Vergil Ortiz Jr is back for his second fight of the year, live on DAZN on Saturday, April 27th. He will be up against Thomas Dulorme, who has been out of the ring since the summer of 2022. Ortiz’s last fight was in January, when he beat Fredrick Lawson with a first-round knockout. Ortiz is 20-0 and hopefully has put aside the heatlh problems that lept him out of action in 2023. Dulorme is 26-6-1, a record which includes losses to current champions Terence Crawford and Jarron Ennis and former champion Yordenis Ugas. The pair are fighting on the undercard in support of the headline event of Jose Ramirez vs. Rances Barthelemy, two former champions.
Ortiz was inactive due to rhabdomyolysis. According to the Center for Disease Control, rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood. These substances can damage the heart and kidneys and cause permanent disability or even death.
In January, referee Tony Weeks ruined Ortiz's comeback fight with a quick stoppage. Ortiz was dominating Lawson, but not all of his punches were landing cleanly and Lawson barely wobbled when Weeks jumped in. The fans booed lustily, and even Ortiz was upset. Ortiz has been off for nearly a year and a half due to illness. The Final Punchstats after about two and a half minutes of action showed Ortiz outlanding Lawson 24 punches to 4. In Weeks' defense, there were some pre-fight health concerns surrounding Lawson.
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Vergil Ortiz returns this weekend
Vergil Ortiz Jr is back for his second fight of the year, live on DAZN on Saturday, April 27th. He will be up against Thomas Dulorme, who has been out of the ring since the summer of 2022. Ortiz’s last fight was in January, when he beat Fredrick Lawson with a first-round knockout. Ortiz is 20-0 and hopefully has put aside the heatlh problems that lept him out of action in 2023. Dulorme is 26-6-1, a record which includes losses to current champions Terence Crawford and Jarron Ennis and former champion Yordenis Ugas. The pair are fighting on the undercard in support of the headline event of Jose Ramirez vs. Rances Barthelemy, two former champions.
Ortiz was inactive due to rhabdomyolysis. According to the Center for Disease Control, rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood. These substances can damage the heart and kidneys and cause permanent disability or even death.
In January, referee Tony Weeks ruined Ortiz's comeback fight with a quick stoppage. Ortiz was dominating Lawson, but not all of his punches were landing cleanly and Lawson barely wobbled when Weeks jumped in. The fans booed lustily, and even Ortiz was upset. Ortiz has been off for nearly a year and a half due to illness. The Final Punchstats after about two and a half minutes of action showed Ortiz outlanding Lawson 24 punches to 4. In Weeks' defense, there were some pre-fight health concerns surrounding Lawson.
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Garcia's next options: Haney, Davis, Ennis? |
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Devin Haney tweeted the following after Saturday's loss to a 143-pound Ryan Garcia: "Allah is the perfect planner he makes no mistakes... [I] fought like a true champion. [I] got up off the canvas & kept fighting. I am 100 percent OK and would love to do it again while we both make weight."
But Garcia's post-fight press conference comments indicated Garcia-Haney II is unlikely for the next fight. Instead, Garcia talked about being unable to fight at junior welterweight: "I'm moving up. I'm not doing 140. I'm going 147. I can't make f****ng 140. I never even technically fought at 140, I fought every time at 143. My body can't literally go lower than 143. It's impossible. I tried every technique. Can't do it."
Garcia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya spoke about Garcia avenging his lone loss, suffered at the hands of Gervonta "Tank" Davis, but De La Hoya put conditions on a rematch that make it unlikely: "The only way he's gonna fight Tank Davis [in a rematch] is at catchweight, at 145 or 144, just the way they did it to him. Now he's the man, he's the face of boxing now." [Garcia's last fight was at 135 pounds, so the porposed catchweight would be a signficant jump.]
IBF welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis could also be in the mix for a Garcia fight later in the year. In an entertaining exchange in the hallways of Brooklyn's Barclays Center after the fight, Garcia's father Henry cursed out promoter Eddie Hearn, but then immediately apologized and hugged Hearn when Hearn suggested Ennis-Garcia. In a separate tweet, Hearn added: "Wow this sport never ceases to amaze me. Hats off to Ryan Garcia... Devin Haney, heart of a lion. What a fight."
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Garcia's next options: Haney, Davis, Ennis?
Devin Haney tweeted the following after Saturday's loss to a 143-pound Ryan Garcia: "Allah is the perfect planner he makes no mistakes... [I] fought like a true champion. [I] got up off the canvas & kept fighting. I am 100 percent OK and would love to do it again while we both make weight."
But Garcia's post-fight press conference comments indicated Garcia-Haney II is unlikely for the next fight. Instead, Garcia talked about being unable to fight at junior welterweight: "I'm moving up. I'm not doing 140. I'm going 147. I can't make f****ng 140. I never even technically fought at 140, I fought every time at 143. My body can't literally go lower than 143. It's impossible. I tried every technique. Can't do it."
Garcia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya spoke about Garcia avenging his lone loss, suffered at the hands of Gervonta "Tank" Davis, but De La Hoya put conditions on a rematch that make it unlikely: "The only way he's gonna fight Tank Davis [in a rematch] is at catchweight, at 145 or 144, just the way they did it to him. Now he's the man, he's the face of boxing now." [Garcia's last fight was at 135 pounds, so the porposed catchweight would be a signficant jump.]
IBF welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis could also be in the mix for a Garcia fight later in the year. In an entertaining exchange in the hallways of Brooklyn's Barclays Center after the fight, Garcia's father Henry cursed out promoter Eddie Hearn, but then immediately apologized and hugged Hearn when Hearn suggested Ennis-Garcia. In a separate tweet, Hearn added: "Wow this sport never ceases to amaze me. Hats off to Ryan Garcia... Devin Haney, heart of a lion. What a fight."
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Robert Guerrero III wins in Tijuana |
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Robert Guerrero III KO1 Cristian Velazquez... Junior lightweight Robert Guerrero III, son of former multi-division champion, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, fought in Tijuana, Mexico on Friday and posted a victory in his second professional fight. Guerrero III (2-0, 1 KO) faced local opponent Cristian Velazquez (1-7) in a scheduled four-round bout. Guerrero, age 17, sealed the win with a first-round knockout, delivering a powerful left hook-straight right combo to the body of Velazquez that sent him to the canvas. The referee promptly stopped the bout.
"Scoring my first knockout of my career feels incredible,” said Guerrero who goes by the nickname "El Pistolero". “I put in a lot of hard work and dedication into my training, and this knockout victory is a moment I'll never forget.”
Looking ahead, Guerrero III is eager to maintain his momentum and stay active in the boxing world throughout the rest of the year. "I'm already planning my next steps to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I want to stay busy, keep improving, and show the world what I'm capable of. This is just the beginning for me, and I'm ready to make my mark."
"I very pleased with my son’s performance over the weekend,” said Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. “He showed he has the power to take out a fighter, and it's clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in the world of boxing. As his father and mentor, I'll continue to support him every step of the way." The fight, promoted by Bxstrs Promotions, aired live on ESPN Deportes / "ESPN Knockout".
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Robert Guerrero III wins in Tijuana
Robert Guerrero III KO1 Cristian Velazquez... Junior lightweight Robert Guerrero III, son of former multi-division champion, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, fought in Tijuana, Mexico on Friday and posted a victory in his second professional fight. Guerrero III (2-0, 1 KO) faced local opponent Cristian Velazquez (1-7) in a scheduled four-round bout. Guerrero, age 17, sealed the win with a first-round knockout, delivering a powerful left hook-straight right combo to the body of Velazquez that sent him to the canvas. The referee promptly stopped the bout.
"Scoring my first knockout of my career feels incredible,” said Guerrero who goes by the nickname "El Pistolero". “I put in a lot of hard work and dedication into my training, and this knockout victory is a moment I'll never forget.”
Looking ahead, Guerrero III is eager to maintain his momentum and stay active in the boxing world throughout the rest of the year. "I'm already planning my next steps to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I want to stay busy, keep improving, and show the world what I'm capable of. This is just the beginning for me, and I'm ready to make my mark."
"I very pleased with my son’s performance over the weekend,” said Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. “He showed he has the power to take out a fighter, and it's clear that he has a bright future ahead of him in the world of boxing. As his father and mentor, I'll continue to support him every step of the way." The fight, promoted by Bxstrs Promotions, aired live on ESPN Deportes / "ESPN Knockout".
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Yucel, age 20, improves to 15-0 |
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Dilara Yucel TKO5 Judi Waguthii ... Turkish junior middleweight Dilara “She Wolf” Yucel stopped Kenya's Judi Waguthii with a convincing performance on Saturday night at the Steffl Arena in Vienna, Austria. The 20 year-old Yucel stopped Waguthii at 1:56 of the fifth round. Yucel was too fresh, fast and accurate for her veteran opponent and was in control from start to finish, showing composure and focus beyond her age. Turning professional at age seventeen in 2020, Yucel took her unbeaten record to 15-0 with 10 KOs. Waguthii, a pro since 2005, has only been stopped inside the distance once before and falls to 17-11-4 with 5 KOs.
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Yucel, age 20, improves to 15-0
Dilara Yucel TKO5 Judi Waguthii ... Turkish junior middleweight Dilara “She Wolf” Yucel stopped Kenya's Judi Waguthii with a convincing performance on Saturday night at the Steffl Arena in Vienna, Austria. The 20 year-old Yucel stopped Waguthii at 1:56 of the fifth round. Yucel was too fresh, fast and accurate for her veteran opponent and was in control from start to finish, showing composure and focus beyond her age. Turning professional at age seventeen in 2020, Yucel took her unbeaten record to 15-0 with 10 KOs. Waguthii, a pro since 2005, has only been stopped inside the distance once before and falls to 17-11-4 with 5 KOs.
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