IBA president Kremlev moves towards Trump's inner circle |
|
In September 2025 in Istanbul, International Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev welcomed Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the United States' president, onto a stage already graced by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of Muhammad Ali. The occasion was the IBA Sport + Business Forum. Besides being the president of the IBA, Kremlev is described as a Russian oligarch with close ties to president Vladimir Putin. One year later, according to a ProPublica story published this week, Kremlev "secretly bankrolled" Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding, spending "hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island." The story said Kremlev attended the intimate wedding with a large group of other Russian guests. ProPublica also reported that the payments came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai that the boxing sanctioning organization uses for financial transactions.
As ProPublica's story broke, the news immediately raised questions about the son of a sitting U.S. president receiving an expensive gift from someone closely connected to the leader of Russia. ProPublica opined that this "represents an extraordinary development: a member of Putin’s circle financially supporting the president’s son and gaining intimate access to the Trump family. For a decade, Putin’s government, regarded as a chief adversary of the U.S., has been accused of efforts to influence American elections."
Trump Jr.'s new wife, Bettina Trump, acknowledged the gift from "her dear friend" on social media this week. She wrote, "apparently our wedding is making headlines again, so a little clarity seems in order. Don and I got married privately on Friday, surrounded only by our family... Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding. It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful."
Kremlev is no stranger to boxing controversy. He became head of the Russian Boxing Federation in 2017 and has led the IBA (formerly known as AIBA) since 2020, taking over at a time when AIBA scandals nearly led to the boxing competition being thrown out of the Olympics (which would have been an irreparable loss to the sport). Instead of discontinuing boxing, the International Olympic Committee suspended IBA from organizing the 2021 Olympic boxing competition. In 2023, the suspension became an expulsion as, the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of all responsibilities as the organization overseeing the Olympic boxing tournament and qualifying process. The expulsion was triggered by reports of financial corruption, including a heavy financial dependence on Russian state energy firm Gazprom, reports of gold medals being promised to certain countries, and documented incidents of compromised judging integrity. Thankfully for boxing, IBA was replaced by an organization named World Boxing and boxing has remained an Olympic sport. The IBA continues to run its world amateur championship and now promotes professional and paid "amateur" boxing as well as bare-knuckle fighting competitions, mostly in Russia and Central Asia.
The IBA's report on the 2025 event quoted Trump Jr.'s speech on stage as follows: "I probably don’t belong to this incredible family of champions and legends, but my family has been involved in boxing for many years. I grew up watching those great Saturday night fights, learning from the front row about work ethic, discipline, and unity. I remember sitting beside Lennox Lewis, watching and learning not just about the sport but about life. Even after the most brutal fight, two opponents come together with deep respect – that is the best of people. What I saw at the last Olympic Games was truly sad [Trump Jr. was presumably making a reference to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who was accused of being a biological male but competed as a woman and won gold at the 2024 Olympics], especially as the father of a young female athlete. The fairness of sport matters. My daughter has dedicated her life to excellence, and to see those values undermined is unacceptable. What Umar is doing – restoring actual fairness, bringing back the purity of boxing, and giving the youth of today a chance to step away from the computer and into the ring – is extraordinary. This is not just about boxing; it’s about life lessons, discipline, integrity and opportunity. That’s the legacy we need, and I am proud to call Umar not only a leader but a friend."
Kremlev was quoted as follows at the same 2025 event: "I am proud to stand here with my friend Donald Trump Jr., who shares this belief that fairness, respect, and integrity are the foundations of sport. Together, we will protect the transparency of boxing and open the door for the next generation."
The IBA issued a press release in 2025 boasting, "President Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr made it clear – this alliance will not remain symbolic. More joint initiatives will follow, uniting continents, generations, and industries under one bold vision. The world of sports has witnessed the birth of a partnership powerful enough to reshape the global sporting landscape."
|
|
|
|
IBA president Kremlev moves towards Trump's inner circle
In September 2025 in Istanbul, International Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev welcomed Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the United States' president, onto a stage already graced by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of Muhammad Ali. The occasion was the IBA Sport + Business Forum. Besides being the president of the IBA, Kremlev is described as a Russian oligarch with close ties to president Vladimir Putin. One year later, according to a ProPublica story published this week, Kremlev "secretly bankrolled" Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding, spending "hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island." The story said Kremlev attended the intimate wedding with a large group of other Russian guests. ProPublica also reported that the payments came from an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai that the boxing sanctioning organization uses for financial transactions.
As ProPublica's story broke, the news immediately raised questions about the son of a sitting U.S. president receiving an expensive gift from someone closely connected to the leader of Russia. ProPublica opined that this "represents an extraordinary development: a member of Putin’s circle financially supporting the president’s son and gaining intimate access to the Trump family. For a decade, Putin’s government, regarded as a chief adversary of the U.S., has been accused of efforts to influence American elections."
Trump Jr.'s new wife, Bettina Trump, acknowledged the gift from "her dear friend" on social media this week. She wrote, "apparently our wedding is making headlines again, so a little clarity seems in order. Don and I got married privately on Friday, surrounded only by our family... Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding. It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful."
Kremlev is no stranger to boxing controversy. He became head of the Russian Boxing Federation in 2017 and has led the IBA (formerly known as AIBA) since 2020, taking over at a time when AIBA scandals nearly led to the boxing competition being thrown out of the Olympics (which would have been an irreparable loss to the sport). Instead of discontinuing boxing, the International Olympic Committee suspended IBA from organizing the 2021 Olympic boxing competition. In 2023, the suspension became an expulsion as, the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of all responsibilities as the organization overseeing the Olympic boxing tournament and qualifying process. The expulsion was triggered by reports of financial corruption, including a heavy financial dependence on Russian state energy firm Gazprom, reports of gold medals being promised to certain countries, and documented incidents of compromised judging integrity. Thankfully for boxing, IBA was replaced by an organization named World Boxing and boxing has remained an Olympic sport. The IBA continues to run its world amateur championship and now promotes professional and paid "amateur" boxing as well as bare-knuckle fighting competitions, mostly in Russia and Central Asia.
The IBA's report on the 2025 event quoted Trump Jr.'s speech on stage as follows: "I probably don’t belong to this incredible family of champions and legends, but my family has been involved in boxing for many years. I grew up watching those great Saturday night fights, learning from the front row about work ethic, discipline, and unity. I remember sitting beside Lennox Lewis, watching and learning not just about the sport but about life. Even after the most brutal fight, two opponents come together with deep respect – that is the best of people. What I saw at the last Olympic Games was truly sad [Trump Jr. was presumably making a reference to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who was accused of being a biological male but competed as a woman and won gold at the 2024 Olympics], especially as the father of a young female athlete. The fairness of sport matters. My daughter has dedicated her life to excellence, and to see those values undermined is unacceptable. What Umar is doing – restoring actual fairness, bringing back the purity of boxing, and giving the youth of today a chance to step away from the computer and into the ring – is extraordinary. This is not just about boxing; it’s about life lessons, discipline, integrity and opportunity. That’s the legacy we need, and I am proud to call Umar not only a leader but a friend."
Kremlev was quoted as follows at the same 2025 event: "I am proud to stand here with my friend Donald Trump Jr., who shares this belief that fairness, respect, and integrity are the foundations of sport. Together, we will protect the transparency of boxing and open the door for the next generation."
The IBA issued a press release in 2025 boasting, "President Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr made it clear – this alliance will not remain symbolic. More joint initiatives will follow, uniting continents, generations, and industries under one bold vision. The world of sports has witnessed the birth of a partnership powerful enough to reshape the global sporting landscape."
|
Ali Act revisions moving though the U.S. Senate |
|
United States Senator Ted Cruz wrote: "Today, we will mark up the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which now has stronger protections for fighters thanks to our work with Nico Ali Walsh [pro boxer and grandson of the great Muhammad Ali]. Nico cares deeply about protecting fighters and the future of boxing. Originally opposed to the bill, he came before the [Senate] Committee and raised concerns about boxer safety. At that hearing, I made clear that I wanted stakeholders who had concerns to work with me to strengthen the legislation. Nico answered that call. He took time away from his own career to work directly with our offices and push for stronger protections for fighters. His input helped shape meaningful improvements to the bill, and the final product is stronger because of his involvement. I’m grateful for the work Nico put into this and for his commitment to making sure this legislation works for the fighters whose careers and livelihoods are on the line. Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and I are proud to have the support of a fighter who has advocated fiercely for his peers and worked to make sure legislation bearing his grandfather’s name is worthy of that legacy."
|
|
|
|
Ali Act revisions moving though the U.S. Senate
United States Senator Ted Cruz wrote: "Today, we will mark up the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which now has stronger protections for fighters thanks to our work with Nico Ali Walsh [pro boxer and grandson of the great Muhammad Ali]. Nico cares deeply about protecting fighters and the future of boxing. Originally opposed to the bill, he came before the [Senate] Committee and raised concerns about boxer safety. At that hearing, I made clear that I wanted stakeholders who had concerns to work with me to strengthen the legislation. Nico answered that call. He took time away from his own career to work directly with our offices and push for stronger protections for fighters. His input helped shape meaningful improvements to the bill, and the final product is stronger because of his involvement. I’m grateful for the work Nico put into this and for his commitment to making sure this legislation works for the fighters whose careers and livelihoods are on the line. Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and I are proud to have the support of a fighter who has advocated fiercely for his peers and worked to make sure legislation bearing his grandfather’s name is worthy of that legacy."
|
Queensberry wins purse bid for Sheeraz vs. Alimkhanuly |
|
The WBO announced the results of its purse bid for a super middleweighyt title fight/ The oranization wrote: "Congratulations to Queensberry Promotions on successfully winning today’s WBO purse bid for the mandatory super middleweight championship contest between WBO champion Hamzah Sheeraz and [former middleweight champion] Zhanibek Alimkhanuly" Queensberry submitted a winning bid of $1,001,809. Under the WBO's 75/25 purse split, Sheeraz is entitled to a purse of $751,356.75 while Alimkhanuly will earn $250,452.25. The disgraced Alimkhanuly was designated the mandatory challenger for WBO despite a recent suspension for a doping violation. The positive doping test effectively cost Alimkhanuly the IBF and WBO middleweight championships, although the WBO has been very tolerant and protective of Alimkhanuly despite the doping.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
SEPT. 11, 2026: Disgraced ex-champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is moving closer to a world title opportunity despite a recent anti-doping violation. Alimkhanuly is the mandatory challenger to Hamzah Sheeraz for Sheeraz's WBO super middleweight title. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri reported that the WBO has received official confirmation from Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement for Sheeraz-Alimkhanuly within the WBO's prescribed negotiation period.Therefore, the WBO has ordered a purse bid auction for Wednesday, September 16th at the WBO Main Offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
AUG. 14, 2026: Former unified middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been designated the mandatory challenger for WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz, less than a month after the WBO terminated Alimkhanuly's suspension stemming from an anti-doping violation. In an August 7th resolution, the WBO selected Alimkhanuly as the mandatory over Jacob Bank and ordered the Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz camps to begin negotiations for a mandatory title fight. The parties were given twenty days to reach an agreement, after which the WBO will order a purse bid. The decision is notable because Alimkhanuly's recent PED violation figured prominently in the WBO's analysis. The organization acknowledged that Alimkhanuly committed an anti-doping violation and had been suspended, while noting that he was a first-time offender who cooperated with the WBO investigation, submitted medical documentation in his defense and complied with the conditions imposed upon him. His suspension was terminated effective July 10th.
The ruling means that Alimkhanuly will now have an opportunity to become a two-division world champion against Sheeraz. However, the WBO expressly stated that ending the suspension did not erase the underlying disciplinary matter or amount to a finding that the violation had not occurred. Instead, the organization concluded that Alimkhanuly had completed the disciplinary consequences imposed upon him and was therefore once again eligible to compete in WBO-sanctioned activity.
The WBO then considered whether the PED violation and suspension should count against Alimkhanuly in determining the mandatory challenger. It declined to do so, reasoning that his suspension had already "served its disciplinary purpose" and that reducing his championship opportunities after he had completed the suspension would effectively amount to an additional competitive sanction.
That cleared the way for Alimkhanuly's championship résumé to carry the day over Bank. Alimkhanuly previously held the WBO middleweight world title, made five successful defenses and unified the WBO and IBF titles by defeating Vincenzo Gualtieri. The WBO also relied heavily on its history of giving established world champions special consideration when moving into an adjacent weight division.
Bank's petition to become mandatory challenger was denied despite the WBO recognizing his activity and victories over former IBF champion William Scull and also Tyron Zeuge. The Committee ultimately concluded that Alimkhanuly's championship experience and accomplishments presented the stronger claim.
The WBO returned to the PED issue in its conclusion, stating that it "does not minimize" Alimkhanuly's anti-doping violation, but emphasizing his cooperation, first-offender status and completion of the terms of his suspension. The Committee concluded that the prior suspension no longer presented an impediment to his eligibility and that it could not impose an additional competitive penalty after the disciplinary conditions had been satisfied.
JULY 25, 2026: Heavily favored Hamzah Sheeraz stumbled and barely defeated Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision to retain the WBO super middleweight title. The scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 reflect Sheeraz' showing, and it was not the performance many were expecting from Sheeraz. He was expected to finish Zachenhuber early and with ease. Instead, Sheeraz fought down to the level of his competition.
|
|
|
|
Queensberry wins purse bid for Sheeraz vs. Alimkhanuly
The WBO announced the results of its purse bid for a super middleweighyt title fight/ The oranization wrote: "Congratulations to Queensberry Promotions on successfully winning today’s WBO purse bid for the mandatory super middleweight championship contest between WBO champion Hamzah Sheeraz and [former middleweight champion] Zhanibek Alimkhanuly" Queensberry submitted a winning bid of $1,001,809. Under the WBO's 75/25 purse split, Sheeraz is entitled to a purse of $751,356.75 while Alimkhanuly will earn $250,452.25. The disgraced Alimkhanuly was designated the mandatory challenger for WBO despite a recent suspension for a doping violation. The positive doping test effectively cost Alimkhanuly the IBF and WBO middleweight championships, although the WBO has been very tolerant and protective of Alimkhanuly despite the doping.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
SEPT. 11, 2026: Disgraced ex-champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is moving closer to a world title opportunity despite a recent anti-doping violation. Alimkhanuly is the mandatory challenger to Hamzah Sheeraz for Sheeraz's WBO super middleweight title. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri reported that the WBO has received official confirmation from Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement for Sheeraz-Alimkhanuly within the WBO's prescribed negotiation period.Therefore, the WBO has ordered a purse bid auction for Wednesday, September 16th at the WBO Main Offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
AUG. 14, 2026: Former unified middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been designated the mandatory challenger for WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz, less than a month after the WBO terminated Alimkhanuly's suspension stemming from an anti-doping violation. In an August 7th resolution, the WBO selected Alimkhanuly as the mandatory over Jacob Bank and ordered the Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz camps to begin negotiations for a mandatory title fight. The parties were given twenty days to reach an agreement, after which the WBO will order a purse bid. The decision is notable because Alimkhanuly's recent PED violation figured prominently in the WBO's analysis. The organization acknowledged that Alimkhanuly committed an anti-doping violation and had been suspended, while noting that he was a first-time offender who cooperated with the WBO investigation, submitted medical documentation in his defense and complied with the conditions imposed upon him. His suspension was terminated effective July 10th.
The ruling means that Alimkhanuly will now have an opportunity to become a two-division world champion against Sheeraz. However, the WBO expressly stated that ending the suspension did not erase the underlying disciplinary matter or amount to a finding that the violation had not occurred. Instead, the organization concluded that Alimkhanuly had completed the disciplinary consequences imposed upon him and was therefore once again eligible to compete in WBO-sanctioned activity.
The WBO then considered whether the PED violation and suspension should count against Alimkhanuly in determining the mandatory challenger. It declined to do so, reasoning that his suspension had already "served its disciplinary purpose" and that reducing his championship opportunities after he had completed the suspension would effectively amount to an additional competitive sanction.
That cleared the way for Alimkhanuly's championship résumé to carry the day over Bank. Alimkhanuly previously held the WBO middleweight world title, made five successful defenses and unified the WBO and IBF titles by defeating Vincenzo Gualtieri. The WBO also relied heavily on its history of giving established world champions special consideration when moving into an adjacent weight division.
Bank's petition to become mandatory challenger was denied despite the WBO recognizing his activity and victories over former IBF champion William Scull and also Tyron Zeuge. The Committee ultimately concluded that Alimkhanuly's championship experience and accomplishments presented the stronger claim.
The WBO returned to the PED issue in its conclusion, stating that it "does not minimize" Alimkhanuly's anti-doping violation, but emphasizing his cooperation, first-offender status and completion of the terms of his suspension. The Committee concluded that the prior suspension no longer presented an impediment to his eligibility and that it could not impose an additional competitive penalty after the disciplinary conditions had been satisfied.
JULY 25, 2026: Heavily favored Hamzah Sheeraz stumbled and barely defeated Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision to retain the WBO super middleweight title. The scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 reflect Sheeraz' showing, and it was not the performance many were expecting from Sheeraz. He was expected to finish Zachenhuber early and with ease. Instead, Sheeraz fought down to the level of his competition.
|
Open workout quotes for Cruz vs. Bravo |
|
WBC interim junior welterweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Puerto Rican challenger Nestor Bravo held a media workout on Wednesday prior to their battle this Saturday, September 19th on DAZN from Pechanga Arena in San Diego. On a show presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Cruz will return to the ring having recently added trainer Eddy Reynoso to his corner, and will look to deliver another win for Mexico vs. Puerto Rico against Bravo, who only has one split-decision defeat on his record. The media workout also featured WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. and his unbeaten challenger Meiirim Nursultanov, who fight each other on the same show, plus super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas, who faces once-beaten Sergio Jimenez in a ten-round bout, and Mexican Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde, who takes on unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the opening bout of action beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Tickets for the live event are available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Escuela De Boxeo in San Diego:
ISAAC “PITBULL” CRUZ
“This is the start of a new era for Pitbull Cruz. I’m always glad to work with good people, and my camp is about preparation and good vibes.
“Fighting during Mexican Independence Month means a lot to me and all of Mexico. That’s why it’s my duty to put on a show and fight with pride on Saturday night.
“Bravo is an all-out fighter, and Saturday night is going to be an all-out war where I expect nothing but fireworks for the fans.
“Pressure is a privilege. It only motivates me even more. I want people to think ‘I’m about to see an explosive warrior give his all.’
“Fans are the spark that ignite me to give my all from the very first second of the fight. Now it’s up to me to spark them as well.”
NESTOR BRAVO
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes so that we hear ‘and the new’, on Saturday night. This is the opportunity I’ve worked my whole career for.
“I’ve been knocking on the door for the last few years. I’ve just stayed in the gym every day and stayed focused on boxing.
“I’m prepared for everything that Pitbull brings. He likes to fight, just like I do. If he does something different, then it’s my job to take advantage. We’re both going to try to push each other to another level.
“I’m a real 140-pounder that he’s going up against. I just have to be mentally prepared to capitalize when my opportunity is there.”
JESUS RAMOS JR.
“The greats before me were already building a legacy from a young age and I’m trying to bring that back. I want to face everyone in their prime and give fans great fights. That’s what I’m here for. I have the talent and skills to compete with anyone, and I work hard.
“I want to make this explosive. I’m gonna show everything and make this a great night of boxing. I fight for the fans and I hope Nursultanov is just as ready to deliver for them.
“I’m facing a tough opponent. He’s definitely a great fighter and has a good resume. The fighters from Kazakhstan have great technique and lots of experience.
“This is one of those big dates for boxing. I’m very excited to go in there and give a great show for the fans so that I can keep being a part of events like this.
“I learned in my last fight that I’m a bad man. I went into that fight injured and I didn’t care. I fought my heart out for 12 rounds against Shane Mosley Jr. I learned that I can dig deep and overcome obstacles. I’m a warrior.”
MEIIRIM NURSULTANOV
“We feel really good. I respect all my opponents and I know Ramos is a strong fighter. We’re ready to compete on Saturday night.
“I’m going to show the Kazakh style and the will we have to win. We’re warriors and we’re ready to take that title from Ramos.”
DANIEL BLANCAS
“It’s an honor to fight Mexican Independence Month. This is one of the biggest dates in boxing and fighting on this card is a huge opportunity. I want to show the fans what I’m capable of.
“I want everyone to see that I’m an up-and-coming fighter to watch. My style is fan-friendly and I like to bring the action. I like to fight and I’m gonna show that on Saturday.
“I’m going up against a tough veteran with a good record. He hasn’t been knocked out yet, so stopping him would be a way to show what I can do. That’s the goal.
“This division is wide open and I’d like to establish myself as one of the new faces at 168 pounds. When the time comes, I’ll be ready.
“Every fight I’m growing as a fighter and climbing the ranks. I’m excited to keep showing what I’ve working on in the gym.”
MARCO VERDE
“I’m very excited, happy and thrilled to be part of this great fight card. I’m going to put on a show on Saturday night.
“Being part of a fight card alongside ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is very motivating. I’m more than ready to rise to the occasion and give the fans a great night of action.
“Fighting during Mexican Independence Month is a great honor and a source of pride for me. Nothing makes me happier than having the support of the Mexican fans.
“I’m very happy to be working with Eddy Reynoso and his team. They provide me with everything I need, and it’s a pleasure to work with him and everyone who helps me improve every day.”
|
|
|
|
Open workout quotes for Cruz vs. Bravo
WBC interim junior welterweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Puerto Rican challenger Nestor Bravo held a media workout on Wednesday prior to their battle this Saturday, September 19th on DAZN from Pechanga Arena in San Diego. On a show presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Cruz will return to the ring having recently added trainer Eddy Reynoso to his corner, and will look to deliver another win for Mexico vs. Puerto Rico against Bravo, who only has one split-decision defeat on his record. The media workout also featured WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. and his unbeaten challenger Meiirim Nursultanov, who fight each other on the same show, plus super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas, who faces once-beaten Sergio Jimenez in a ten-round bout, and Mexican Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde, who takes on unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the opening bout of action beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Tickets for the live event are available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from Escuela De Boxeo in San Diego:
ISAAC “PITBULL” CRUZ
“This is the start of a new era for Pitbull Cruz. I’m always glad to work with good people, and my camp is about preparation and good vibes.
“Fighting during Mexican Independence Month means a lot to me and all of Mexico. That’s why it’s my duty to put on a show and fight with pride on Saturday night.
“Bravo is an all-out fighter, and Saturday night is going to be an all-out war where I expect nothing but fireworks for the fans.
“Pressure is a privilege. It only motivates me even more. I want people to think ‘I’m about to see an explosive warrior give his all.’
“Fans are the spark that ignite me to give my all from the very first second of the fight. Now it’s up to me to spark them as well.”
NESTOR BRAVO
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes so that we hear ‘and the new’, on Saturday night. This is the opportunity I’ve worked my whole career for.
“I’ve been knocking on the door for the last few years. I’ve just stayed in the gym every day and stayed focused on boxing.
“I’m prepared for everything that Pitbull brings. He likes to fight, just like I do. If he does something different, then it’s my job to take advantage. We’re both going to try to push each other to another level.
“I’m a real 140-pounder that he’s going up against. I just have to be mentally prepared to capitalize when my opportunity is there.”
JESUS RAMOS JR.
“The greats before me were already building a legacy from a young age and I’m trying to bring that back. I want to face everyone in their prime and give fans great fights. That’s what I’m here for. I have the talent and skills to compete with anyone, and I work hard.
“I want to make this explosive. I’m gonna show everything and make this a great night of boxing. I fight for the fans and I hope Nursultanov is just as ready to deliver for them.
“I’m facing a tough opponent. He’s definitely a great fighter and has a good resume. The fighters from Kazakhstan have great technique and lots of experience.
“This is one of those big dates for boxing. I’m very excited to go in there and give a great show for the fans so that I can keep being a part of events like this.
“I learned in my last fight that I’m a bad man. I went into that fight injured and I didn’t care. I fought my heart out for 12 rounds against Shane Mosley Jr. I learned that I can dig deep and overcome obstacles. I’m a warrior.”
MEIIRIM NURSULTANOV
“We feel really good. I respect all my opponents and I know Ramos is a strong fighter. We’re ready to compete on Saturday night.
“I’m going to show the Kazakh style and the will we have to win. We’re warriors and we’re ready to take that title from Ramos.”
DANIEL BLANCAS
“It’s an honor to fight Mexican Independence Month. This is one of the biggest dates in boxing and fighting on this card is a huge opportunity. I want to show the fans what I’m capable of.
“I want everyone to see that I’m an up-and-coming fighter to watch. My style is fan-friendly and I like to bring the action. I like to fight and I’m gonna show that on Saturday.
“I’m going up against a tough veteran with a good record. He hasn’t been knocked out yet, so stopping him would be a way to show what I can do. That’s the goal.
“This division is wide open and I’d like to establish myself as one of the new faces at 168 pounds. When the time comes, I’ll be ready.
“Every fight I’m growing as a fighter and climbing the ranks. I’m excited to keep showing what I’ve working on in the gym.”
MARCO VERDE
“I’m very excited, happy and thrilled to be part of this great fight card. I’m going to put on a show on Saturday night.
“Being part of a fight card alongside ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is very motivating. I’m more than ready to rise to the occasion and give the fans a great night of action.
“Fighting during Mexican Independence Month is a great honor and a source of pride for me. Nothing makes me happier than having the support of the Mexican fans.
“I’m very happy to be working with Eddy Reynoso and his team. They provide me with everything I need, and it’s a pleasure to work with him and everyone who helps me improve every day.”
|
McCall (age 61) and Ibeabuchi (age 53) may fight each other |
|
Former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver “Atomic Bull” McCall and 1990s heavyweight contender Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi are being advertised to meet on November 26th in an unusual battle of veteran heavyweights. Ibeabuchi is 21-1 but his last fight was a low-level loss in 2025. The proposed fight is insane: McCall is 61 years old and his last fight was in 2025, a loss to a boxer with a losing record. McCall (61-14-1) won the WBC heavyweight championship in 1994 by stopping the great Lennox Lewis. Ibeabuchi is 53 years old and defeated Chris Byrd (who would go on to become a heavyweight champion) and David Tua in the 1990s before serving a long prison sentence.
Perhaps equally unusual is the way PrizeFighting.TV is marketing the event. The company is already accepting advance purchases of the $9.95 pay-per-view, telling fans to “Pre-purchase now and be part of the night.” PrizeFighting lists a 2 p.m. New York start time, but no venue is named on the event page. Despite reports elsewhere that the event is contingent upon reaching a specified number of advance purchases, PrizeFighting’s own event page does not state any minimum sales requirement.
|
|
|
|
McCall (age 61) and Ibeabuchi (age 53) may fight each other
Former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver “Atomic Bull” McCall and 1990s heavyweight contender Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi are being advertised to meet on November 26th in an unusual battle of veteran heavyweights. Ibeabuchi is 21-1 but his last fight was a low-level loss in 2025. The proposed fight is insane: McCall is 61 years old and his last fight was in 2025, a loss to a boxer with a losing record. McCall (61-14-1) won the WBC heavyweight championship in 1994 by stopping the great Lennox Lewis. Ibeabuchi is 53 years old and defeated Chris Byrd (who would go on to become a heavyweight champion) and David Tua in the 1990s before serving a long prison sentence.
Perhaps equally unusual is the way PrizeFighting.TV is marketing the event. The company is already accepting advance purchases of the $9.95 pay-per-view, telling fans to “Pre-purchase now and be part of the night.” PrizeFighting lists a 2 p.m. New York start time, but no venue is named on the event page. Despite reports elsewhere that the event is contingent upon reaching a specified number of advance purchases, PrizeFighting’s own event page does not state any minimum sales requirement.
|
More bouts added to Oct. 24th San Antonio show |
|
Two former amateur rivals are set to settle unfinished business with much more on the line than before. Steven Navarro will face unbeaten Emanuel Moreno in a ten-round bantamweight clash on Saturday, Oct. 24th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Navarro and Moreno first met in the semifinals of the USA Youth National Championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 2, 2021, with Navarro earning a split decision. Additionally, junior welterweight contender Frank Martin will face Morocco’s Tarik Zaina (18-3-1) in a ten-rounder. Martin-Zaina and Navarro-Moreno join a bill headlined by the three-belt junior lightweight unification showdown between WBO/IBF champion Emanuel Navarrete and WBC king O’Shaquie Foster. In the ten-round featherweight co-feature, unbeaten Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez takes on Fort Worth native and former title challenger Edward Vazquez. Navarrete-Foster, Gonzalez-Vazquez, Martin-Zaina and Navarro-Moreno will be streamed LIVE on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.
Navarro (9-1, 6 KOs), a 22 year-old from Inglewood, California, was a decorated amateur who reached the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials before turning pro in April 2024. He won his first seven bouts before dropping a technical decision to Jesse Daniel Mendoza in November 2025 after an accidental clash of heads opened a cut over Mendoza’s right eye, prompting the bout to be stopped at the start of the fourth round. Navarro rebounded with a unanimous decision over Mario Hernandez in February and followed with a fifth-round knockout of Delvin McKinley in August.
Navarro said, “Texas! I’m thrilled to fight there and thankful to Top Rank and DAZN for the opportunity to fight on the main card. It’s also my first ten-round bout, and I fully intend to give the fans an exciting show and a statement win.”
Moreno (13-0, 3 KOs), age 22, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was a multiple-time national amateur champion who compiled a 141-15 record before turning pro in November 2022. He scored a third-round knockout of Ira Terry in November 2024, then decisioned Khalid Twaiti and Edwin Tercero in 2025. Moreno opened 2026 with an eight-round decision over Francisco Pedroza Portillo in April.
Moreno said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight on a Top Rank stage. Steven Navarro is a talented fighter and I respect what he brings to the ring. I’ve known him since the amateurs and we actually fought once in the amateurs, but professional boxing is a completely different story, and I’m going to show it. I’m not coming to be another opponent. I’ve worked too hard and sacrificed too much for this moment. On October 24, I’m coming to make a statement and show everyone the level I’m on compared to these other fighters.”
Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs), a Detroit native now training under Buddy McGirt, broke out in 2022 with victories over Romero Duno and then-unbeaten Michel Rivera before challenging Gervonta Davis for a world title in June 2024. Since moving to 140 pounds, he has stopped former world champion Rances Barthelemy and battled Nahir Albright to a ten-round draw in February. Zaina (18-3-1, 12 KOs) returns following an eight-round decision win against Alexis Nahuel Torres in July.
Before the main broadcast, additional undercard action will stream live on DAZN, Top Rank and DAZN’s YouTube channels, and the Top Rank Classics FAST channel on Roku, Tubi, Pluto and Vizio:
Lightweight Deric “Scooter” Davis (12-0, 10 KOs) will lock horns with Joaquin Silva Faccio (18-7-1, 1 KO) in an eight-rounder.
Los Angeles native Sammy Contreras (8-0, 3 KOs) will see action in a six-round lightweight bout against an opponent to be named, while San Antonio’s Daniel Cortez III (13-1, 9 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Oziel Rangel Aradillas(8-5, 6 KOs) in a six-rounder at super bantamweight.
Fort Worth’s Joseph Almajdi (2-1, 2 KOs) will compete in a six-round junior middleweight tilt.
|
|
|
|
More bouts added to Oct. 24th San Antonio show
Two former amateur rivals are set to settle unfinished business with much more on the line than before. Steven Navarro will face unbeaten Emanuel Moreno in a ten-round bantamweight clash on Saturday, Oct. 24th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Navarro and Moreno first met in the semifinals of the USA Youth National Championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 2, 2021, with Navarro earning a split decision. Additionally, junior welterweight contender Frank Martin will face Morocco’s Tarik Zaina (18-3-1) in a ten-rounder. Martin-Zaina and Navarro-Moreno join a bill headlined by the three-belt junior lightweight unification showdown between WBO/IBF champion Emanuel Navarrete and WBC king O’Shaquie Foster. In the ten-round featherweight co-feature, unbeaten Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez takes on Fort Worth native and former title challenger Edward Vazquez. Navarrete-Foster, Gonzalez-Vazquez, Martin-Zaina and Navarro-Moreno will be streamed LIVE on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.
Navarro (9-1, 6 KOs), a 22 year-old from Inglewood, California, was a decorated amateur who reached the finals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials before turning pro in April 2024. He won his first seven bouts before dropping a technical decision to Jesse Daniel Mendoza in November 2025 after an accidental clash of heads opened a cut over Mendoza’s right eye, prompting the bout to be stopped at the start of the fourth round. Navarro rebounded with a unanimous decision over Mario Hernandez in February and followed with a fifth-round knockout of Delvin McKinley in August.
Navarro said, “Texas! I’m thrilled to fight there and thankful to Top Rank and DAZN for the opportunity to fight on the main card. It’s also my first ten-round bout, and I fully intend to give the fans an exciting show and a statement win.”
Moreno (13-0, 3 KOs), age 22, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was a multiple-time national amateur champion who compiled a 141-15 record before turning pro in November 2022. He scored a third-round knockout of Ira Terry in November 2024, then decisioned Khalid Twaiti and Edwin Tercero in 2025. Moreno opened 2026 with an eight-round decision over Francisco Pedroza Portillo in April.
Moreno said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight on a Top Rank stage. Steven Navarro is a talented fighter and I respect what he brings to the ring. I’ve known him since the amateurs and we actually fought once in the amateurs, but professional boxing is a completely different story, and I’m going to show it. I’m not coming to be another opponent. I’ve worked too hard and sacrificed too much for this moment. On October 24, I’m coming to make a statement and show everyone the level I’m on compared to these other fighters.”
Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs), a Detroit native now training under Buddy McGirt, broke out in 2022 with victories over Romero Duno and then-unbeaten Michel Rivera before challenging Gervonta Davis for a world title in June 2024. Since moving to 140 pounds, he has stopped former world champion Rances Barthelemy and battled Nahir Albright to a ten-round draw in February. Zaina (18-3-1, 12 KOs) returns following an eight-round decision win against Alexis Nahuel Torres in July.
Before the main broadcast, additional undercard action will stream live on DAZN, Top Rank and DAZN’s YouTube channels, and the Top Rank Classics FAST channel on Roku, Tubi, Pluto and Vizio:
Lightweight Deric “Scooter” Davis (12-0, 10 KOs) will lock horns with Joaquin Silva Faccio (18-7-1, 1 KO) in an eight-rounder.
Los Angeles native Sammy Contreras (8-0, 3 KOs) will see action in a six-round lightweight bout against an opponent to be named, while San Antonio’s Daniel Cortez III (13-1, 9 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Oziel Rangel Aradillas(8-5, 6 KOs) in a six-rounder at super bantamweight.
Fort Worth’s Joseph Almajdi (2-1, 2 KOs) will compete in a six-round junior middleweight tilt.
|
Cameron Vuong signs with MF Pro |
|
Cameron Vuong has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with MF Pro. The unbeaten lightweight starts his journey under the new banner on Saturday, November 14th as part of DAZN's Saturday Fight Night at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Vuong, age 24, is a former amateur standout and product of the famous Birtley ABC in the North East, who has risen to 9-0-1 as a professional. So far in his young pro career; he has defeated Jordan Flynn in a bitter grudge match as well as shared a pair of epic battles with former European champion Gavin Gwynne.
Vuong said: “I’m really excited to be joining MF PRO; I want to be involved in the biggest nights and fights possible, and I believe I’m at the right place for that to happen.”
MF Pro's Kalle Sauerland, hopes Vuong has all the ingredients to become a new face of British boxing. Kalle Sauerland said: “The lightweight division is officially on notice! We’re thrilled to be joining forces with the unbeaten Cameron Vuong and welcoming him to the MF PRO family, with his journey starting on November 14th in London. Cameron has all the attributes to become a star of British boxing; he’s as skilful as they come, he’s got the amateur pedigree and has already shown he’s got character and heart by the truck load. Add in his personality and you’ve got a fighter who can go all the way in this sport. British boxing is crying out for the next generation of stars, and ’The One’ is ready to answer the call."
Vuong will end a near one-year absence from the ring when he fights on the November 14th. He was last seen, going toe-to-toe with Gwynne in a WBO Intercontinental title fight that ended in a majority draw. Gwynne, a Welsh road warrior, will also be part of the November 14th card, facing Zelfa Barrett in a ten-round fight, with world title ramifications.
Also on the bill, Yaser Al Ghena puts his Commonwealth junior welterweight belt on the line against Ben Marksby, in a battle of unbeaten punchers.At featherweight, Tom Welland and Jack Dillingham will engage in a British title eliminator. More fights are due to be announced soon.
|
|
|
|
Cameron Vuong signs with MF Pro
Cameron Vuong has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with MF Pro. The unbeaten lightweight starts his journey under the new banner on Saturday, November 14th as part of DAZN's Saturday Fight Night at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Vuong, age 24, is a former amateur standout and product of the famous Birtley ABC in the North East, who has risen to 9-0-1 as a professional. So far in his young pro career; he has defeated Jordan Flynn in a bitter grudge match as well as shared a pair of epic battles with former European champion Gavin Gwynne.
Vuong said: “I’m really excited to be joining MF PRO; I want to be involved in the biggest nights and fights possible, and I believe I’m at the right place for that to happen.”
MF Pro's Kalle Sauerland, hopes Vuong has all the ingredients to become a new face of British boxing. Kalle Sauerland said: “The lightweight division is officially on notice! We’re thrilled to be joining forces with the unbeaten Cameron Vuong and welcoming him to the MF PRO family, with his journey starting on November 14th in London. Cameron has all the attributes to become a star of British boxing; he’s as skilful as they come, he’s got the amateur pedigree and has already shown he’s got character and heart by the truck load. Add in his personality and you’ve got a fighter who can go all the way in this sport. British boxing is crying out for the next generation of stars, and ’The One’ is ready to answer the call."
Vuong will end a near one-year absence from the ring when he fights on the November 14th. He was last seen, going toe-to-toe with Gwynne in a WBO Intercontinental title fight that ended in a majority draw. Gwynne, a Welsh road warrior, will also be part of the November 14th card, facing Zelfa Barrett in a ten-round fight, with world title ramifications.
Also on the bill, Yaser Al Ghena puts his Commonwealth junior welterweight belt on the line against Ben Marksby, in a battle of unbeaten punchers.At featherweight, Tom Welland and Jack Dillingham will engage in a British title eliminator. More fights are due to be announced soon.
|
2021 Olympian Alexy de la Cruz looks to make his move |
|
2021 Dominican Olympian Alexy de la Cruz (9-0, 3 KOs) believes he is ready to begin the journey toward a professional world championship. The 30 year-old junior lightweight makes his CES Boxing debut on Saturday, September 26th when he faces Bronx veteran Angel Luna (20-19-1, 12 KOs) in the eight-round main event at Bally’s Lincoln Casino Resort in Rhode Island. Tickets to Fight Night in America are available beginning at just $70. Purchase yours now at CESFights.com. "This is my new beginning," said De la Cruz from his training camp in the Dominican Republic. "It’s a new chapter with a promotional company that has given me an opportunity, and the fans can expect the best from me. I know what I’m made of," said de la Cruz. "I’m made for big things. That’s why I work so hard and why I’m always ready for the opportunity. Right now, I feel like I can fight any of the world champions in my division."
Before turning professional, de la Cruz enjoyed an extensive international amateur career highlighted by representing the Dominican Republic at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It was the realization of a dream that began more than a decade earlier. De la Cruz began boxing at age ten after losing a fistfight with a neighborhood kid who already trained in the sport. His brother suggested he learn how to box. At the time, de la Cruz was playing baseball – the sport most closely associated with Dominican athletes – but everything changed the first time he stepped into a boxing gym. "It’s hard to explain," says de la Cruz of what attracted him to boxing. "From the moment I put those gloves on, I knew that was what I wanted to do."
His Olympic aspirations began shortly thereafter when he watched fellow Dominican Félix Díaz capture gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. "I remember watching that and saying, ‘One day, I’m going to be there,’" said de la Cruz. "And eventually, I was."
At the Tokyo Olympics, Alexy advanced from the round of 32 with a win over Keevin Allicock in the featherweight tournament. He was eliminated in the round of 16 by Albert Batyrgaziev, who went on to win the gold medal. A year later, De la Cruz won a bronze medal at the 2021 IBA amateur world championships and with a successful amateur legacy in place, he decided to turn pro in 2022.
As a professional, De la Cruz quickly built a 9-0 record, culminating with a ten-round split-decision victory over Colombian puncher Luis Ruiz in June 2025. An unusual setback then interrupted his momentum: after Alexy's passport was damaged, he was forced to navigate the process of securing a new visa before he could return to the United States.
While awaiting his return to traditional professional boxing, de la Cruz found another outlet in Team Boxing League (TBL), where he competed in 2026 for the Boston Butchers. De la Cruz imagined a scenario to prepare for the unique format of an all-or-nothing one round fight. "I would tell myself, ‘I'm fighting a twelve-round world championship fight. It’s the final round and I'm losing six rounds to five. I have to win this round,’" he said. "That’s how I put myself in the right mindset every time."
The mental gymnastics worked, as De la Cruz compiled a 14-2 record in TBL competition. His poise and fighting acumen caught the attention of CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr., who is also the General Manager of the Butchers. "Alexy de la Cruz is exactly the kind of fighter we want at CES Boxing," said Burchfield. "He’s an Olympian, he’s undefeated, he has tremendous skills and, most importantly, he’s hungry. This young man believes he can become a world champion, and after watching him compete and getting to know him, I believe it too. September 26th is the beginning of a new chapter for Alexy, and we’re excited to be part of this journey with him."
His first assignment under the CES banner comes against Luna, a fellow Dominican fighting out of the Bronx who has shared the ring with the likes of former champion Tevin Farmer, plus Kevin Walsh and Amado Vargas during his 40-fight professional career. "He’s an experienced fighter, but the biggest difference between us is that he doesn’t have the hunger to win that I have," assessed de la Cruz. "I may not have as much professional experience as he does, but I have Olympic pedigree and everything that came with my amateur career."
For de la Cruz, September 26th represents the first step in what he hopes will be a rapid climb through the super featherweight division. "My dream is to become undisputed world champion," he said emphatically. "Right now, I feel like I can fight any world champion. Put me in there with any of them. I’m that confident that I’m going to win."
Among the fighters on his radar are WBC 130-pound champion O'Shaquie Foster and three-division world champion Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete. "I’m focused on any of the champions," said de la Cruz. "Whoever has a title, they better be ready, because I’m coming for them."
While de la Cruz is supremely confident that he has the talent and work ethic to capture a world title, he also is aware of how quickly a fighter’s trajectory can change if he loses sight of the opponent immediately in front of him. "You can’t try to reach heaven before reaching the moon," says De la Cruz. "So my focus is entirely on Angel Luna on September 26."
The Dominican also realizes that a fighter can have all the talent in the world, but if he doesn’t have the right team behind him, it is very difficult to reach the top. "It’s one thing to have talent, it’s another thing for someone to give you an opportunity," explained de la Cruz. "There are a lot of people who have talent but never get a chance. I’m very thankful that Jimmy Burchfield gave me the opportunity to fight for him and to become part of his company. God willing, I won’t disappoint him."
Beyond the obvious talent and pedigree, it is this combination of faith, responsibility and humility that make De la Cruz a fighter to look out for as he enters the spotlight on September 26th. "Every time I step into the ring, I give everything I have," shares de la Cruz. "I work hard so that when opportunities come, I’m ready to take advantage of them. Every opportunity that God gives me, I’m going to make the most of it."
|
|
|
|
2021 Olympian Alexy de la Cruz looks to make his move
2021 Dominican Olympian Alexy de la Cruz (9-0, 3 KOs) believes he is ready to begin the journey toward a professional world championship. The 30 year-old junior lightweight makes his CES Boxing debut on Saturday, September 26th when he faces Bronx veteran Angel Luna (20-19-1, 12 KOs) in the eight-round main event at Bally’s Lincoln Casino Resort in Rhode Island. Tickets to Fight Night in America are available beginning at just $70. Purchase yours now at CESFights.com. "This is my new beginning," said De la Cruz from his training camp in the Dominican Republic. "It’s a new chapter with a promotional company that has given me an opportunity, and the fans can expect the best from me. I know what I’m made of," said de la Cruz. "I’m made for big things. That’s why I work so hard and why I’m always ready for the opportunity. Right now, I feel like I can fight any of the world champions in my division."
Before turning professional, de la Cruz enjoyed an extensive international amateur career highlighted by representing the Dominican Republic at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It was the realization of a dream that began more than a decade earlier. De la Cruz began boxing at age ten after losing a fistfight with a neighborhood kid who already trained in the sport. His brother suggested he learn how to box. At the time, de la Cruz was playing baseball – the sport most closely associated with Dominican athletes – but everything changed the first time he stepped into a boxing gym. "It’s hard to explain," says de la Cruz of what attracted him to boxing. "From the moment I put those gloves on, I knew that was what I wanted to do."
His Olympic aspirations began shortly thereafter when he watched fellow Dominican Félix Díaz capture gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. "I remember watching that and saying, ‘One day, I’m going to be there,’" said de la Cruz. "And eventually, I was."
At the Tokyo Olympics, Alexy advanced from the round of 32 with a win over Keevin Allicock in the featherweight tournament. He was eliminated in the round of 16 by Albert Batyrgaziev, who went on to win the gold medal. A year later, De la Cruz won a bronze medal at the 2021 IBA amateur world championships and with a successful amateur legacy in place, he decided to turn pro in 2022.
As a professional, De la Cruz quickly built a 9-0 record, culminating with a ten-round split-decision victory over Colombian puncher Luis Ruiz in June 2025. An unusual setback then interrupted his momentum: after Alexy's passport was damaged, he was forced to navigate the process of securing a new visa before he could return to the United States.
While awaiting his return to traditional professional boxing, de la Cruz found another outlet in Team Boxing League (TBL), where he competed in 2026 for the Boston Butchers. De la Cruz imagined a scenario to prepare for the unique format of an all-or-nothing one round fight. "I would tell myself, ‘I'm fighting a twelve-round world championship fight. It’s the final round and I'm losing six rounds to five. I have to win this round,’" he said. "That’s how I put myself in the right mindset every time."
The mental gymnastics worked, as De la Cruz compiled a 14-2 record in TBL competition. His poise and fighting acumen caught the attention of CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr., who is also the General Manager of the Butchers. "Alexy de la Cruz is exactly the kind of fighter we want at CES Boxing," said Burchfield. "He’s an Olympian, he’s undefeated, he has tremendous skills and, most importantly, he’s hungry. This young man believes he can become a world champion, and after watching him compete and getting to know him, I believe it too. September 26th is the beginning of a new chapter for Alexy, and we’re excited to be part of this journey with him."
His first assignment under the CES banner comes against Luna, a fellow Dominican fighting out of the Bronx who has shared the ring with the likes of former champion Tevin Farmer, plus Kevin Walsh and Amado Vargas during his 40-fight professional career. "He’s an experienced fighter, but the biggest difference between us is that he doesn’t have the hunger to win that I have," assessed de la Cruz. "I may not have as much professional experience as he does, but I have Olympic pedigree and everything that came with my amateur career."
For de la Cruz, September 26th represents the first step in what he hopes will be a rapid climb through the super featherweight division. "My dream is to become undisputed world champion," he said emphatically. "Right now, I feel like I can fight any world champion. Put me in there with any of them. I’m that confident that I’m going to win."
Among the fighters on his radar are WBC 130-pound champion O'Shaquie Foster and three-division world champion Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete. "I’m focused on any of the champions," said de la Cruz. "Whoever has a title, they better be ready, because I’m coming for them."
While de la Cruz is supremely confident that he has the talent and work ethic to capture a world title, he also is aware of how quickly a fighter’s trajectory can change if he loses sight of the opponent immediately in front of him. "You can’t try to reach heaven before reaching the moon," says De la Cruz. "So my focus is entirely on Angel Luna on September 26."
The Dominican also realizes that a fighter can have all the talent in the world, but if he doesn’t have the right team behind him, it is very difficult to reach the top. "It’s one thing to have talent, it’s another thing for someone to give you an opportunity," explained de la Cruz. "There are a lot of people who have talent but never get a chance. I’m very thankful that Jimmy Burchfield gave me the opportunity to fight for him and to become part of his company. God willing, I won’t disappoint him."
Beyond the obvious talent and pedigree, it is this combination of faith, responsibility and humility that make De la Cruz a fighter to look out for as he enters the spotlight on September 26th. "Every time I step into the ring, I give everything I have," shares de la Cruz. "I work hard so that when opportunities come, I’m ready to take advantage of them. Every opportunity that God gives me, I’m going to make the most of it."
|
Iceman Blancas fights on DAZN this weekend |
|
Mexican super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas will step in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez for an eight or ten-round showdown ive on DAZN on Saturday, September 19th at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The card is headlined by another Mexican, WBC interim 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending his title against once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo. In the co-feature, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov in a high-stakes tilt. A gym-mate of two-belt cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, Blanco trains under the guidance of Jose Benavidez Sr. and hopes to keep his unbeaten streak going against dangerous Mexican veteran Jimenez.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Blancas (15-0, 7 KOs) made his 2026 debut in May, going the ten-round distance for the first time in dominating Raul Salomon on his way to a unanimous decision. The win followed a three-win 2025 campaign for the 24-year-old, who delivered knockouts against Kwame Ritter and William Townsel following a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Juan Barajas.
“I’m very excited to step back into the ring on September 19 in San Diego,” said Blancas. “It’s an honor to be fighting on a Pitbull Cruz undercard. This fight is particularly special for me because my grandfather will be coming to see me fight live for the first time in my professional career, and I want to make him proud. I’m looking forward to putting on another great performance and bringing the win back for me, my team and Milwaukee!”
A native of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Jimenez (17-1-1, 15 KOs) most recently returned to action in February by stopping Abraham Gomez Tiburcio in three rounds. Now residing in San Pedro, California, Jimenez has fought professionally since 2021, winning fifteen straight outings after a draw in his pro debut. During that streak, Jimenez ended ten bouts within two rounds. His only blemish came in August 2024 as he dropped a decision against veteran Deon Nicholson. “I’m coming to show Blancas he hasn’t seen before, and if he’s not ready, I’m definitely gonna take full advantage of this opportunity,” said Jimenez.
|
|
|
|
Iceman Blancas fights on DAZN this weekend
Mexican super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas will step in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez for an eight or ten-round showdown ive on DAZN on Saturday, September 19th at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The card is headlined by another Mexican, WBC interim 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending his title against once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo. In the co-feature, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov in a high-stakes tilt. A gym-mate of two-belt cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, Blanco trains under the guidance of Jose Benavidez Sr. and hopes to keep his unbeaten streak going against dangerous Mexican veteran Jimenez.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Blancas (15-0, 7 KOs) made his 2026 debut in May, going the ten-round distance for the first time in dominating Raul Salomon on his way to a unanimous decision. The win followed a three-win 2025 campaign for the 24-year-old, who delivered knockouts against Kwame Ritter and William Townsel following a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Juan Barajas.
“I’m very excited to step back into the ring on September 19 in San Diego,” said Blancas. “It’s an honor to be fighting on a Pitbull Cruz undercard. This fight is particularly special for me because my grandfather will be coming to see me fight live for the first time in my professional career, and I want to make him proud. I’m looking forward to putting on another great performance and bringing the win back for me, my team and Milwaukee!”
A native of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Jimenez (17-1-1, 15 KOs) most recently returned to action in February by stopping Abraham Gomez Tiburcio in three rounds. Now residing in San Pedro, California, Jimenez has fought professionally since 2021, winning fifteen straight outings after a draw in his pro debut. During that streak, Jimenez ended ten bouts within two rounds. His only blemish came in August 2024 as he dropped a decision against veteran Deon Nicholson. “I’m coming to show Blancas he hasn’t seen before, and if he’s not ready, I’m definitely gonna take full advantage of this opportunity,” said Jimenez.
|
Yunovidov avenges loss to Thompson |
|
Georgiy Yunovidov TKO7 Chris Thompson ... Fighting in his home nation, Georgiy Yunovidov avenged his previous defeat to South Africa's Chris Thompson with a seventh-round stoppage in a heavyweight bout on the IBA's show in Vologda, Russia. The rematch took place on September 11th. Yunovidov, a former WBA bridgerweight interim title holder, now holds a professional record of 13-3 with 7 KOs (including IBA pro bouts), while Thompson stands at 17-8-1 with 9 KOs (including IBA pro bouts). The two first met in Manila in October 2025, when Thompson earned a unanimous decision victory. This time, Yunovidov turned the tables on the South African, securing the title by technical knockout in the seventh round.
The Russian heavyweight said the result reflected the work undertaken since their first encounter. “We did a huge amount of work on our mistakes after our previous fight. I think everyone has seen how much I have changed since then. We are going to keep developing this style and continue working in the same direction. Hopefully, I will only keep getting better. Keep watching.”
|
|
|
|
Yunovidov avenges loss to Thompson
Georgiy Yunovidov TKO7 Chris Thompson ... Fighting in his home nation, Georgiy Yunovidov avenged his previous defeat to South Africa's Chris Thompson with a seventh-round stoppage in a heavyweight bout on the IBA's show in Vologda, Russia. The rematch took place on September 11th. Yunovidov, a former WBA bridgerweight interim title holder, now holds a professional record of 13-3 with 7 KOs (including IBA pro bouts), while Thompson stands at 17-8-1 with 9 KOs (including IBA pro bouts). The two first met in Manila in October 2025, when Thompson earned a unanimous decision victory. This time, Yunovidov turned the tables on the South African, securing the title by technical knockout in the seventh round.
The Russian heavyweight said the result reflected the work undertaken since their first encounter. “We did a huge amount of work on our mistakes after our previous fight. I think everyone has seen how much I have changed since then. We are going to keep developing this style and continue working in the same direction. Hopefully, I will only keep getting better. Keep watching.”
|
PBC adds more bouts to Saturday's San Diego show |
|
|
Filipino Olympian Eumir Marcial will return to the ring to battle California's Omar Ulisses Huerta in an eight-round middleweight attraction that highlights the non-televised undercard on Saturday, September 19th at Pechanga Arena in San Diego and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The non-televised lineup will also feature an all Tijuana showdown between Lazaro Francisco Lorenzana (21-0, 13 KOs) and Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez (21-2-1, 10 KOs), as they meet in an eight-round middleweight affair. The card also features undefeated Robert Guerrero Jr., the son of former champion Robert Guerrero, dueling Ohio’s Shawn Rall (4-7) in a six-round tilt.
Rounding out the card is a six-round heavyweight clash between Valerii Tadtaev (5-0, 5 KOs) and Ohio’s Juan Silva (3-1, 3 KOs) and San Diego’s Diego Luna (8-1-1, 6 KOs) in a four-round super lightweight matchup against Las Vegas-native Renny Viamonte Mastrapa (4-4-2, 2 KOs).
The event is headlined by a four-fight card streaming live on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT featuring WBC interim junior wleterweight title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending against once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo. In the co-main event, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten Meiirim Nursultanov plus super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas steps in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez and 2024 Mexican Olympic runner-up Marco Verde battles fellow unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the eight-round middleweight opening bout. Tickets for the live event are available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.
A highly-decorated Filipino amateur, highlighted by two trips to the Olympics, an Olympic bronze and a silver at the 2019 World Championships, Marcial (7-1, 4 KOs including the World Series of Boxing) will look to continue his rise in the pro ranks on September 19th. The 30-year old went the ten-round distance for the first time in October, defeating Eddy Colmenares by decision, snapping a three-fight knockout streak. He’ll be opposed by San Ysidro’s Huerta (15-1-1, 13 KOs), who most recently dropped a decision in April to 160-pound contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. The 30-year-old has fought professionally since 2020 and stopped 13 of his first 15 opponents.
|
|
|
|
PBC adds more bouts to Saturday's San Diego show
Filipino Olympian Eumir Marcial will return to the ring to battle California's Omar Ulisses Huerta in an eight-round middleweight attraction that highlights the non-televised undercard on Saturday, September 19th at Pechanga Arena in San Diego and presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The non-televised lineup will also feature an all Tijuana showdown between Lazaro Francisco Lorenzana (21-0, 13 KOs) and Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez (21-2-1, 10 KOs), as they meet in an eight-round middleweight affair. The card also features undefeated Robert Guerrero Jr., the son of former champion Robert Guerrero, dueling Ohio’s Shawn Rall (4-7) in a six-round tilt.
Rounding out the card is a six-round heavyweight clash between Valerii Tadtaev (5-0, 5 KOs) and Ohio’s Juan Silva (3-1, 3 KOs) and San Diego’s Diego Luna (8-1-1, 6 KOs) in a four-round super lightweight matchup against Las Vegas-native Renny Viamonte Mastrapa (4-4-2, 2 KOs).
The event is headlined by a four-fight card streaming live on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT featuring WBC interim junior wleterweight title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending against once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo. In the co-main event, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten Meiirim Nursultanov plus super middleweight Daniel “Iceman” Blancas steps in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez and 2024 Mexican Olympic runner-up Marco Verde battles fellow unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the eight-round middleweight opening bout. Tickets for the live event are available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.
A highly-decorated Filipino amateur, highlighted by two trips to the Olympics, an Olympic bronze and a silver at the 2019 World Championships, Marcial (7-1, 4 KOs including the World Series of Boxing) will look to continue his rise in the pro ranks on September 19th. The 30-year old went the ten-round distance for the first time in October, defeating Eddy Colmenares by decision, snapping a three-fight knockout streak. He’ll be opposed by San Ysidro’s Huerta (15-1-1, 13 KOs), who most recently dropped a decision in April to 160-pound contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. The 30-year-old has fought professionally since 2020 and stopped 13 of his first 15 opponents.
|
Nico Ali Walsh books October return vs. undefeated Treavon Craycraft |
|
BiYu Promotions has announced a two-day boxing event set for October 9th and 10th at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas with the action broadcast live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Headlining on October 10th will be middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (12-2-1, 5 KOs), grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, who will square off against undefeated Treavon Craycraft (9-0-1) in an eight-round middleweight main event. Ali Walsh has spent his professional career carving out his own identity while carrying one of the most recognizable names in sports. “For the past ten months, my biggest fight hasn’t been inside the ring, it’s been in Washington, D.C., working with lawmakers [on revising the Muhammad Ali Act],” said Ali Walsh. “I’m proud to say we’ve made meaningful progress and helped bring about some important changes for fighters. I’m so happy to be back under the lights and doing what I love…boxing. On October 10th I’m going to give the fans of Kansas City a great show and continue building my own legacy while I proudly represent what my grandfather built in this sport.”
On the professional part of the undercard, welterweight Pryce Sparrow (7-0, 4 KOs) will take a significant step up in competition when he faces veteran Rashield Williams (14-3, 11 KOs). Sparrow enters the bout following a dominant eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Oliver Flores on September 11th in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year old will now have an opportunity to get two wins within a month.
BiYu Promotions’ Cuban super flyweight Yusniel Abrahante (8-2, 1 KO) will also return to action, with his opponent to be announced. Abrahante enters the event with momentum after scoring an impressive unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Luis Coria in July, handing the hard-hitting Coria his first professional defeat.
“This is a special event for BiYu Promotions and for boxing in the Midwest,” said Bobby Harrison, President of BiYu Promotions. “Having Nico Ali Walsh headline at Memorial Hall brings a lot of excitement to Kansas City. Everyone knows the history behind the Ali name, but Nico is a young man who is working hard to establish himself and create his own legacy in boxing. We’re excited to have him as the main event and give fans the opportunity to see him perform.”
Harrison is equally excited about the opportunity awaiting Sparrow and Abrahante. “Pryce and Yusniel are two fighters we believe strongly in,” Harrison continued. “Pryce is coming off a great performance in the Dominican Republic, and now he’s stepping into a title fight against an experienced opponent. That’s the type of progression we want for him. Yusniel is also coming off a tremendous win against an undefeated fighter, and we want to keep that momentum going. These are the opportunities that help young fighters develop into contenders.”
The professional portion of the card is also scheduled to feature featherweight Izak Carlos (8-0, 6 KOs) against veteran Deivi Julio (29-18, 18 KOs), Jamar Pemberton (10-1, 6 KOs) against Edwin Gamboa (13-13-2, 6 KOs) in middleweight action, junior welterweight Jorge Carlos (13-0, 11 KOs) against Carlos Manuel Portillo (23-10, 17 KOs), middleweight Ryan Maine (9-0, 6 KOs) against David Lobo Ramirez (20-7, 15 KOs) and lightweight Eric Valencia (7-0, 6 KOs), against Martin Diaz (18-24-2, 8 KOs).
Super middleweight Shomari Wilson (1-0) and lightweight Fernando Angel Molina (12-1-1, 4 KOs) will compete in separate bouts against opponent is to be announced.
For Harrison, the event represents another step in BiYu Promotions’ commitment to creating opportunities for fighters while bringing competitive boxing to markets across the country. “We want this to become an event that fighters and fans look forward to,” Harrison said. “The amateur side represents the future of the sport, while the professional card gives fans a chance to see fighters who are already making their move. Bringing those two worlds together in Kansas City and broadcasting the action worldwide on CombatVisionTV is what the Heart of America Invitational is all about.”
|
|
|
|
Nico Ali Walsh books October return vs. undefeated Treavon Craycraft
BiYu Promotions has announced a two-day boxing event set for October 9th and 10th at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas with the action broadcast live worldwide on CombatVisionTV. Headlining on October 10th will be middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (12-2-1, 5 KOs), grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, who will square off against undefeated Treavon Craycraft (9-0-1) in an eight-round middleweight main event. Ali Walsh has spent his professional career carving out his own identity while carrying one of the most recognizable names in sports. “For the past ten months, my biggest fight hasn’t been inside the ring, it’s been in Washington, D.C., working with lawmakers [on revising the Muhammad Ali Act],” said Ali Walsh. “I’m proud to say we’ve made meaningful progress and helped bring about some important changes for fighters. I’m so happy to be back under the lights and doing what I love…boxing. On October 10th I’m going to give the fans of Kansas City a great show and continue building my own legacy while I proudly represent what my grandfather built in this sport.”
On the professional part of the undercard, welterweight Pryce Sparrow (7-0, 4 KOs) will take a significant step up in competition when he faces veteran Rashield Williams (14-3, 11 KOs). Sparrow enters the bout following a dominant eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Oliver Flores on September 11th in the Dominican Republic. The 19-year old will now have an opportunity to get two wins within a month.
BiYu Promotions’ Cuban super flyweight Yusniel Abrahante (8-2, 1 KO) will also return to action, with his opponent to be announced. Abrahante enters the event with momentum after scoring an impressive unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Luis Coria in July, handing the hard-hitting Coria his first professional defeat.
“This is a special event for BiYu Promotions and for boxing in the Midwest,” said Bobby Harrison, President of BiYu Promotions. “Having Nico Ali Walsh headline at Memorial Hall brings a lot of excitement to Kansas City. Everyone knows the history behind the Ali name, but Nico is a young man who is working hard to establish himself and create his own legacy in boxing. We’re excited to have him as the main event and give fans the opportunity to see him perform.”
Harrison is equally excited about the opportunity awaiting Sparrow and Abrahante. “Pryce and Yusniel are two fighters we believe strongly in,” Harrison continued. “Pryce is coming off a great performance in the Dominican Republic, and now he’s stepping into a title fight against an experienced opponent. That’s the type of progression we want for him. Yusniel is also coming off a tremendous win against an undefeated fighter, and we want to keep that momentum going. These are the opportunities that help young fighters develop into contenders.”
The professional portion of the card is also scheduled to feature featherweight Izak Carlos (8-0, 6 KOs) against veteran Deivi Julio (29-18, 18 KOs), Jamar Pemberton (10-1, 6 KOs) against Edwin Gamboa (13-13-2, 6 KOs) in middleweight action, junior welterweight Jorge Carlos (13-0, 11 KOs) against Carlos Manuel Portillo (23-10, 17 KOs), middleweight Ryan Maine (9-0, 6 KOs) against David Lobo Ramirez (20-7, 15 KOs) and lightweight Eric Valencia (7-0, 6 KOs), against Martin Diaz (18-24-2, 8 KOs).
Super middleweight Shomari Wilson (1-0) and lightweight Fernando Angel Molina (12-1-1, 4 KOs) will compete in separate bouts against opponent is to be announced.
For Harrison, the event represents another step in BiYu Promotions’ commitment to creating opportunities for fighters while bringing competitive boxing to markets across the country. “We want this to become an event that fighters and fans look forward to,” Harrison said. “The amateur side represents the future of the sport, while the professional card gives fans a chance to see fighters who are already making their move. Bringing those two worlds together in Kansas City and broadcasting the action worldwide on CombatVisionTV is what the Heart of America Invitational is all about.”
|
Introducing junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro |
|
Puerto Rico has produced some of boxing’s greatest champions, and junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (9-0, 7 KOs) hopes he has what it takes to become the island’s next great star. The 21-year old Caguas native, who is promoted by Boxlab Promotions, combines speed, power, ring intelligence and an aggressive style to remain perfect through his first nine professional fights. Most recently, De Leon, scored another stoppage victory on August 28th at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, stopping veteran Maxwel Montes to improve to 9-0 with seven knockouts.
“I’m grateful for everything that has happened in my career so far, but I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me,” said De Leon. “Puerto Rico has such a rich history in boxing, and when you think about all the great champions who came before me, it motivates me. I want to earn my place among those names. Nothing is going to be given to me, so I’m going to keep working, keep learning and let my performances speak for themselves.”
De Leon entered the professional ranks with an extensive amateur pedigree. He compiled a 91-4 amateur record, captured multiple Puerto Rican national championships and represented Puerto Rico internationally. He began boxing at just six years old and developed under the guidance of his father, Carlos De Leon Sr.
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, has witnessed De Leon’s development firsthand from the beginning of his professional career and believes the young Puerto Rican is beginning to show the qualities of a future contender. “I’ve watched Carlos grow from his professional debut to where he is today, and the development has been very impressive,” said Piedra. “The talent was always there, but what stands out to me is how much more comfortable and mature he has become as a professional fighter. He’s learning how to control the pace, set up his punches and be patient instead of trying to force things. Every fight we’re seeing another layer of his game, and its inspiring.”
Piedra continued, “Carlos is still only 21 years old, so there’s no reason to rush the process. We believe he has the ability and personality to become a major name in Puerto Rican boxing, but he has to earn it. Our job is to keep developing him, continue raising the level of competition and put him in position to succeed when those bigger opportunities come.”
“Representing Puerto Rico means everything to me,” De Leon continued. “Puerto Rican fans know boxing. They expect their fighters to have heart, skills and pride every time they step into the ring. I accept that responsibility. I’m not going to call myself the next great Puerto Rican champion, that’s something I have to prove. But I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and I’m ready to chase that position.”
De Leon grew up admiring Puerto Rican icon Felix “Tito” Trinidad, while today he studies fighters such as Terence Crawford. His own style is built around technical ability, ring IQ and a strong jab, but his seven knockouts in nine professional victories have demonstrated that he also possesses the power to end fights.
For De Leon, the ultimate goal is clear…win a world championship and establish himself as the next great star in Puerto Rican boxing. “I want to become a world champion and make Puerto Rico proud,” De Leon said. “I know there’s going to be pressure as the fights get bigger, but I welcome it. I’m young, I’m hungry, and I’m willing to fight the best when my time comes. Puerto Rico is ready for its next generation of champions, and I’m working every day to make sure my name is part of that conversation.”
|
|
|
|
Introducing junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro
Puerto Rico has produced some of boxing’s greatest champions, and junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (9-0, 7 KOs) hopes he has what it takes to become the island’s next great star. The 21-year old Caguas native, who is promoted by Boxlab Promotions, combines speed, power, ring intelligence and an aggressive style to remain perfect through his first nine professional fights. Most recently, De Leon, scored another stoppage victory on August 28th at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, stopping veteran Maxwel Montes to improve to 9-0 with seven knockouts.
“I’m grateful for everything that has happened in my career so far, but I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me,” said De Leon. “Puerto Rico has such a rich history in boxing, and when you think about all the great champions who came before me, it motivates me. I want to earn my place among those names. Nothing is going to be given to me, so I’m going to keep working, keep learning and let my performances speak for themselves.”
De Leon entered the professional ranks with an extensive amateur pedigree. He compiled a 91-4 amateur record, captured multiple Puerto Rican national championships and represented Puerto Rico internationally. He began boxing at just six years old and developed under the guidance of his father, Carlos De Leon Sr.
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, has witnessed De Leon’s development firsthand from the beginning of his professional career and believes the young Puerto Rican is beginning to show the qualities of a future contender. “I’ve watched Carlos grow from his professional debut to where he is today, and the development has been very impressive,” said Piedra. “The talent was always there, but what stands out to me is how much more comfortable and mature he has become as a professional fighter. He’s learning how to control the pace, set up his punches and be patient instead of trying to force things. Every fight we’re seeing another layer of his game, and its inspiring.”
Piedra continued, “Carlos is still only 21 years old, so there’s no reason to rush the process. We believe he has the ability and personality to become a major name in Puerto Rican boxing, but he has to earn it. Our job is to keep developing him, continue raising the level of competition and put him in position to succeed when those bigger opportunities come.”
“Representing Puerto Rico means everything to me,” De Leon continued. “Puerto Rican fans know boxing. They expect their fighters to have heart, skills and pride every time they step into the ring. I accept that responsibility. I’m not going to call myself the next great Puerto Rican champion, that’s something I have to prove. But I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and I’m ready to chase that position.”
De Leon grew up admiring Puerto Rican icon Felix “Tito” Trinidad, while today he studies fighters such as Terence Crawford. His own style is built around technical ability, ring IQ and a strong jab, but his seven knockouts in nine professional victories have demonstrated that he also possesses the power to end fights.
For De Leon, the ultimate goal is clear…win a world championship and establish himself as the next great star in Puerto Rican boxing. “I want to become a world champion and make Puerto Rico proud,” De Leon said. “I know there’s going to be pressure as the fights get bigger, but I welcome it. I’m young, I’m hungry, and I’m willing to fight the best when my time comes. Puerto Rico is ready for its next generation of champions, and I’m working every day to make sure my name is part of that conversation.”
|
New champion alert: Michal Cieslak inherits WBC title |
|
|
Poland's Michal Cieslak has ascended to the WBC cruiserweight championship in a bizarre tale of boxing politics. Noel Mikaelian held the WBC's 200-pound title until last weekend, when he was stopped by Jai Opetaia on a Zuffa Boxing show in Las Vegas. Zuffa has previoulsy stated an intention to recognize its own champions rather than the champions of the four traditional sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, WBO and WBA). As a result of this plan, one of Zuffa's biggest stars, Opetaia has become collateral damage. Earlier this year, Opetaia got stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title just before a Zuffa show and now he is being refused recognition by the WBC despite beating its reigning champion, Mikaelian. Instead, the WBC announced it would e-mail its championship to Cieslak, a 28-2 cruiserweight who held the WBC's interim title thanks to his win over faded ex-light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.
The WBC's ruling, issued on Monday, gets even more confusing: the sanctioning body also ordered Cieslak to make a mandatory defense against David Benavidez, who holds the WBA and WBO championships. Benavidez will certainly be a betting favorite against Cieslak. (The IBF title remains vacant as the Australian Opetaia has filed a United States federal lawsuit to get it back). The WBC further ordered that the winner of the Benavidez vs. Cieslak bout (who, assuming the WBO and WBA cooperate, would become a three-belt champion) must then face Opetaia in his next fight.
|
|
|
|
New champion alert: Michal Cieslak inherits WBC title
Poland's Michal Cieslak has ascended to the WBC cruiserweight championship in a bizarre tale of boxing politics. Noel Mikaelian held the WBC's 200-pound title until last weekend, when he was stopped by Jai Opetaia on a Zuffa Boxing show in Las Vegas. Zuffa has previoulsy stated an intention to recognize its own champions rather than the champions of the four traditional sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, WBO and WBA). As a result of this plan, one of Zuffa's biggest stars, Opetaia has become collateral damage. Earlier this year, Opetaia got stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title just before a Zuffa show and now he is being refused recognition by the WBC despite beating its reigning champion, Mikaelian. Instead, the WBC announced it would e-mail its championship to Cieslak, a 28-2 cruiserweight who held the WBC's interim title thanks to his win over faded ex-light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.
The WBC's ruling, issued on Monday, gets even more confusing: the sanctioning body also ordered Cieslak to make a mandatory defense against David Benavidez, who holds the WBA and WBO championships. Benavidez will certainly be a betting favorite against Cieslak. (The IBF title remains vacant as the Australian Opetaia has filed a United States federal lawsuit to get it back). The WBC further ordered that the winner of the Benavidez vs. Cieslak bout (who, assuming the WBO and WBA cooperate, would become a three-belt champion) must then face Opetaia in his next fight.
|
Sandoval to defend flyweight titles vs. Collazo |
|
The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record of 15-0 (12 KOs).
|
|
|
|
Sandoval to defend flyweight titles vs. Collazo
The flyweight division takes center stage on Saturday, October 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago as Mexico’s Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval puts his WBC / WBA unified championship on the line in against undefeated minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, with the action broadcasting live worldwide on DAZN. Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) enters this fight ain his boxing prime. The Mexican warrior reached the summit last July after traveling to Japan and dethroning Kenshiro Teraji on his home turf. Coming in as the favorite thanks to his natural height, reach, and power advantages at 112 pounds, Sandoval aims to prove he remains the man to beat in the division. It won’t be an easy night, however, as standing in his way is Óscar “El Pupilo” Collazo. The Puerto Rican star, a WBO/WBA champion at 105 pounds, is making a daring jump up two weight classes to etch his name into the history books of boxing. He is moving up in weight after attempts to make a big fight at minimumweght fell through. Collazo relies on his speed, refined technique, and sharp precision to offset Sandoval’s physical strength in what promises to be an action-packed tactical battle full of explosive combinations. Collazo enters the ring with an unbeaten record of 15-0 (12 KOs).
|
Featured bouts revealed for Zuffa Boxing 11 |
|
Zuffa Boxing 11 lands at Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, September 26th, headlined by a heavyweight clash between unbeaten British favorite Johnny Fisher and Michael Pirotton. Fisher (14-1) has built his profile through steady progress at heavyweight, and this ten-round main event gives him another opportunity to test that momentum against Pirotton, who is from Belgium and has compiled a 12-1 pro record. The main card also features a notable women's addition to the promotion's schedule: Kayla Allen faces Germany's Lisa Mronsz in a six-round junior welterweight bout. Allen's matchup adds depth to a card that already includes a world-class light heavyweight matchup between Craig Richards and Radivoje Kalajdzic, plus middleweight action featuring Louis Greene vs. Lee Cutler and Cesar Mateo Tapia vs. Leo Ruiz. MAIN CARD
Heavyweight: Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton (ten rounds); PRELIMS
Cruiserweight: Rogelio Romero vs. Aurel Ignat (eight rounds);
|
|
|
|
Featured bouts revealed for Zuffa Boxing 11
Zuffa Boxing 11 lands at Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, September 26th, headlined by a heavyweight clash between unbeaten British favorite Johnny Fisher and Michael Pirotton. Fisher (14-1) has built his profile through steady progress at heavyweight, and this ten-round main event gives him another opportunity to test that momentum against Pirotton, who is from Belgium and has compiled a 12-1 pro record. The main card also features a notable women's addition to the promotion's schedule: Kayla Allen faces Germany's Lisa Mronsz in a six-round junior welterweight bout. Allen's matchup adds depth to a card that already includes a world-class light heavyweight matchup between Craig Richards and Radivoje Kalajdzic, plus middleweight action featuring Louis Greene vs. Lee Cutler and Cesar Mateo Tapia vs. Leo Ruiz. MAIN CARD
Heavyweight: Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton (ten rounds); PRELIMS
Cruiserweight: Rogelio Romero vs. Aurel Ignat (eight rounds);
|
Kendrick Ball Jr. fights on in search of life-changing payday |
|
Kendrick Ball Jr. (23-2-3, 13 KOs) returns to the Rhode Island venue where he has created so many memories on Saturday, September 26th when he takes on Argentina’s Job "The Archangel" Herrera (13-5-1, 6 KOs) at Bally's Lincoln Casino Resort. The bout is the co-main event of CES Boxing’s Fight Night in America, an exciting card that also features a Dominican Olympian. Tickets to Fight Night in America are quickly selling out. Purchase yours now at CESFights.com. For the light heavyweight from Worcester, Massachusetts, the road to a career-defining fight leads back to where his professional career began. "This is where I turned pro," recalls Ball. "I’d say this is like my first home, so I’m really excited to be back. I haven’t fought there in years."
Few fighters are as familiar with Bally’s Event Center as Kendrick Ball. September 26th marks the twelfth time that he fights at the venue where he has compiled a 10-0-1 record with 7 knockouts. Now a veteran of 28 professional bouts, the 33-year old returns in the hopes of landing a career-defining fight and earning the life-changing payday that has eluded him throughout his career. "My goal in boxing is to get a big-money fight," admits Ball Jr. "I’m 23-2-3. I have a good record, and I feel like I’m long overdue. I just need that opportunity presented to me, and when it is, I’m not going to turn it down. I’ll fight any of the top guys."
Ball was introduced to boxing at a young age by his father and longtime trainer, Kendrick Ball Sr. However, while Kendrick Jr. trained and sparred at his local Boys & Girls Club for years, he did not begin competing until he was in high school. After an estimated 30 amateur bouts, Ball turned professional with CES Boxing in 2016. Despite the limited amateur experience, Ball quickly developed into one of New England’s top super middleweights, including a 2021 win against battle-tested Contender Series veteran Brian Vera. With the success, Ball became part of a resurgence alongside the likes of former champion Jose Antonio "El Gallo" Rivera and title challengers Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez and Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz that helped establish Worcester as one of New England’s hottest boxing cities.
While Ball was initially active after the Vera victory, winning six fights and fighting to one draw from 2021 to 2023, he has fought just once a year since 2024. "At the time I was signed with CES, so they were always keeping me busy," reflects Ball. "When we ended up going our separate ways, my activity died down because locally, they make you cover everything when you get on shows, and it’s expensive. Then my grandmother passed away, and I ended up taking a little over a year off."
Despite the challenges and hardships, Ball never completely walked away from boxing. The Worcester native returned in December of last year, winning a shutout six-round decision over Norberto Gonzalez. However, the economic realities of the sport required Ball to supplement his boxing career with a full-time job. "I merchandise beer and do point-of-sale work," says Ball. "I’m at work by 7 a.m. and I get out around 4:30, 5 p.m. Then I go straight to the gym."
His "night shift" consists of grueling training under the tutelage of his father and Edwin Rodriguez, who serves as Ball’s assistant trainer as he prepares for Herrera, a grizzled Argentine veteran who has shared the ring with former middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri. "He’s definitely going to try to come forward because he’s the smaller guy," says Ball of Herrera, who is moving up from super middleweight for this bout. "I’ve got to stay on the outside and use my reach."
Ball acknowledges that Herrera is a tough fighter with world-class experience, but he believes that he has the edge in both strength and boxing ability. "I don’t take anybody lightly, so I’m going in there to get the job done," says Ball. "I just feel like I’m going to frustrate him, and if I can end it early, that’s what I’m looking to do."
At this stage of his career, Ball isn't interested in padding his record or chasing belts simply for the sake of collecting hardware. He wants the opportunity to test himself against one of the division’s biggest names – and finally be compensated for the years he has invested in the sport.
"The Archangel" Herrera stands in the way of those goals, which is why Ball is fully focused on taking care of business on September 26th. "My birthday is on September 17, but I can’t celebrate it," laughs Ball. "I'm going to celebrate it on fight night. I’m looking to give myself a big birthday gift. It’s going to be a good night, and hopefully we get a big opportunity after that."
For Kendrick Ball Jr., there is no better place to begin his run toward that career-changing opportunity than the venue he affectionately calls 'home'.
|
|
|
|
Kendrick Ball Jr. fights on in search of life-changing payday
Kendrick Ball Jr. (23-2-3, 13 KOs) returns to the Rhode Island venue where he has created so many memories on Saturday, September 26th when he takes on Argentina’s Job "The Archangel" Herrera (13-5-1, 6 KOs) at Bally's Lincoln Casino Resort. The bout is the co-main event of CES Boxing’s Fight Night in America, an exciting card that also features a Dominican Olympian. Tickets to Fight Night in America are quickly selling out. Purchase yours now at CESFights.com. For the light heavyweight from Worcester, Massachusetts, the road to a career-defining fight leads back to where his professional career began. "This is where I turned pro," recalls Ball. "I’d say this is like my first home, so I’m really excited to be back. I haven’t fought there in years."
Few fighters are as familiar with Bally’s Event Center as Kendrick Ball. September 26th marks the twelfth time that he fights at the venue where he has compiled a 10-0-1 record with 7 knockouts. Now a veteran of 28 professional bouts, the 33-year old returns in the hopes of landing a career-defining fight and earning the life-changing payday that has eluded him throughout his career. "My goal in boxing is to get a big-money fight," admits Ball Jr. "I’m 23-2-3. I have a good record, and I feel like I’m long overdue. I just need that opportunity presented to me, and when it is, I’m not going to turn it down. I’ll fight any of the top guys."
Ball was introduced to boxing at a young age by his father and longtime trainer, Kendrick Ball Sr. However, while Kendrick Jr. trained and sparred at his local Boys & Girls Club for years, he did not begin competing until he was in high school. After an estimated 30 amateur bouts, Ball turned professional with CES Boxing in 2016. Despite the limited amateur experience, Ball quickly developed into one of New England’s top super middleweights, including a 2021 win against battle-tested Contender Series veteran Brian Vera. With the success, Ball became part of a resurgence alongside the likes of former champion Jose Antonio "El Gallo" Rivera and title challengers Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez and Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz that helped establish Worcester as one of New England’s hottest boxing cities.
While Ball was initially active after the Vera victory, winning six fights and fighting to one draw from 2021 to 2023, he has fought just once a year since 2024. "At the time I was signed with CES, so they were always keeping me busy," reflects Ball. "When we ended up going our separate ways, my activity died down because locally, they make you cover everything when you get on shows, and it’s expensive. Then my grandmother passed away, and I ended up taking a little over a year off."
Despite the challenges and hardships, Ball never completely walked away from boxing. The Worcester native returned in December of last year, winning a shutout six-round decision over Norberto Gonzalez. However, the economic realities of the sport required Ball to supplement his boxing career with a full-time job. "I merchandise beer and do point-of-sale work," says Ball. "I’m at work by 7 a.m. and I get out around 4:30, 5 p.m. Then I go straight to the gym."
His "night shift" consists of grueling training under the tutelage of his father and Edwin Rodriguez, who serves as Ball’s assistant trainer as he prepares for Herrera, a grizzled Argentine veteran who has shared the ring with former middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri. "He’s definitely going to try to come forward because he’s the smaller guy," says Ball of Herrera, who is moving up from super middleweight for this bout. "I’ve got to stay on the outside and use my reach."
Ball acknowledges that Herrera is a tough fighter with world-class experience, but he believes that he has the edge in both strength and boxing ability. "I don’t take anybody lightly, so I’m going in there to get the job done," says Ball. "I just feel like I’m going to frustrate him, and if I can end it early, that’s what I’m looking to do."
At this stage of his career, Ball isn't interested in padding his record or chasing belts simply for the sake of collecting hardware. He wants the opportunity to test himself against one of the division’s biggest names – and finally be compensated for the years he has invested in the sport.
"The Archangel" Herrera stands in the way of those goals, which is why Ball is fully focused on taking care of business on September 26th. "My birthday is on September 17, but I can’t celebrate it," laughs Ball. "I'm going to celebrate it on fight night. I’m looking to give myself a big birthday gift. It’s going to be a good night, and hopefully we get a big opportunity after that."
For Kendrick Ball Jr., there is no better place to begin his run toward that career-changing opportunity than the venue he affectionately calls 'home'.
|
ProBox coming to Phoenix next month |
|
With the packed houses full of flag-waving, enthusiastic crowds that WBC interim champion Lester Martinez has attracted on ProBoxTV broadcasts, Guatemalan boxing fans are quickly becoming known for their nationalistic pride and passionate support for their fighters. And while Martinez will forever hold the distinction as Guatemala’s first boxer to hold any version of a world title belt, another fast-rising Guatemalan American is graduating to main event status, with hopes of becoming the country’s second-ever world champion. Chants of “Viva Guatemala!” and "¡Qué viva Guate!" are expected to ring throughout the venue once again, as unbeaten Guatemalan-American junior middleweight Kevin Anton (14-0 with 12 KOs) faces Cuba’s Yan Marcos (15-0 with 10 KOs), in the main event of ProBoxTV’s Friday, October 16th, live broadcast from the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the co-feature, Justin Pauldo, 20-2, (10 KOs) of Houston will face Rene Tellez Giron, 23-5 (14 KOs) of Mexico, in a ten-round lightweight throwdown between all-action warriors. Tickets to attend live at the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center are on sale now and available through thundertix.com. Viewers from home can watch live on ProBoxTV’s YouTube Channel by signing up for a ProBoxTV monthly membership for just $5 a month.
A barber when not throwing leather in the ring, Anton’s family has roots in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Proud of his heritage, the 28 year-old southpaw calls himself "Americo-Chapin" and frequently walks to the ring for his fights waving the Guatemalan flag. In 2026, the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala officially honored him and Martínez with the Condecoración Soberano Congreso Nacional for representing the country with distinction.
Reminiscent of WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora due to Anton's 6-foot-3 stature and destructive, long-armed punching, the Palmdale, California resident will be making his fourth consecutive appearance on ProBoxTV and fighting in his first main event against Marcos. Anton was last seen handily defeating capable veteran Vladimir Hernandez by near-shutout scores in July.
Once a top international amateur for Team Cuba, Miami via Havana’s Marcos is a highly skilled 5-foot-9 southpaw who is a sharp counterpuncher with excellent movement and above-average punching power. In his most recent ring appearance, Marcos, age 26, overcame some rocky moments to defeat then-undefeated prospect Dwyke Flemmings Jr., climbing off the canvas in round five to take an exciting 10-round split decision victory. A Marcos left hand sent Flemmings to the canvas for the first time as a pro in round four.
This will be the Cuban’s second-consecutive appearance on ProBoxTV.
Pauldo rebounded from his second career loss, a split decision to respected contender Miguel Madueno in February 2024, to score statement-making eighth-round knockout over former champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in February 2025. Now age 32, Pauldo dropped Rakhimov in the first and dominated the rest of the way before landing a devastating straight right hand that sent Rakhimov to the canvas for the second time, prompting the referee to stop the one-sided contest. Pauldo’s most recent appearance was a ProBoxTV-televised seventh-round knockout over hard-punching Colombian Nike Theran last November. This will be Pauldo’s sixth appearance on the network.
A classic, tough-as-nails Mexican slugger, the 27-year-old Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Giron has the kind of TV-friendly style that makes for classic fights. A three-time ProBoxTV alumnus, Tellez Giron is currently riding a three-fight winning streak, including a September 2025, ten-round unanimous decision over Jordan White and a sixth-round stoppage of Maliek Montgomery to win the WBC Latino Silver lightweight title in March. This fight will be Tellez Giron’s fourth ProBoxTV appearance.
The remainder of the October 16th card will be announced soon.
|
|
|
|
ProBox coming to Phoenix next month
With the packed houses full of flag-waving, enthusiastic crowds that WBC interim champion Lester Martinez has attracted on ProBoxTV broadcasts, Guatemalan boxing fans are quickly becoming known for their nationalistic pride and passionate support for their fighters. And while Martinez will forever hold the distinction as Guatemala’s first boxer to hold any version of a world title belt, another fast-rising Guatemalan American is graduating to main event status, with hopes of becoming the country’s second-ever world champion. Chants of “Viva Guatemala!” and "¡Qué viva Guate!" are expected to ring throughout the venue once again, as unbeaten Guatemalan-American junior middleweight Kevin Anton (14-0 with 12 KOs) faces Cuba’s Yan Marcos (15-0 with 10 KOs), in the main event of ProBoxTV’s Friday, October 16th, live broadcast from the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the co-feature, Justin Pauldo, 20-2, (10 KOs) of Houston will face Rene Tellez Giron, 23-5 (14 KOs) of Mexico, in a ten-round lightweight throwdown between all-action warriors. Tickets to attend live at the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center are on sale now and available through thundertix.com. Viewers from home can watch live on ProBoxTV’s YouTube Channel by signing up for a ProBoxTV monthly membership for just $5 a month.
A barber when not throwing leather in the ring, Anton’s family has roots in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Proud of his heritage, the 28 year-old southpaw calls himself "Americo-Chapin" and frequently walks to the ring for his fights waving the Guatemalan flag. In 2026, the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala officially honored him and Martínez with the Condecoración Soberano Congreso Nacional for representing the country with distinction.
Reminiscent of WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora due to Anton's 6-foot-3 stature and destructive, long-armed punching, the Palmdale, California resident will be making his fourth consecutive appearance on ProBoxTV and fighting in his first main event against Marcos. Anton was last seen handily defeating capable veteran Vladimir Hernandez by near-shutout scores in July.
Once a top international amateur for Team Cuba, Miami via Havana’s Marcos is a highly skilled 5-foot-9 southpaw who is a sharp counterpuncher with excellent movement and above-average punching power. In his most recent ring appearance, Marcos, age 26, overcame some rocky moments to defeat then-undefeated prospect Dwyke Flemmings Jr., climbing off the canvas in round five to take an exciting 10-round split decision victory. A Marcos left hand sent Flemmings to the canvas for the first time as a pro in round four.
This will be the Cuban’s second-consecutive appearance on ProBoxTV.
Pauldo rebounded from his second career loss, a split decision to respected contender Miguel Madueno in February 2024, to score statement-making eighth-round knockout over former champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in February 2025. Now age 32, Pauldo dropped Rakhimov in the first and dominated the rest of the way before landing a devastating straight right hand that sent Rakhimov to the canvas for the second time, prompting the referee to stop the one-sided contest. Pauldo’s most recent appearance was a ProBoxTV-televised seventh-round knockout over hard-punching Colombian Nike Theran last November. This will be Pauldo’s sixth appearance on the network.
A classic, tough-as-nails Mexican slugger, the 27-year-old Rene “El Bravo” Tellez Giron has the kind of TV-friendly style that makes for classic fights. A three-time ProBoxTV alumnus, Tellez Giron is currently riding a three-fight winning streak, including a September 2025, ten-round unanimous decision over Jordan White and a sixth-round stoppage of Maliek Montgomery to win the WBC Latino Silver lightweight title in March. This fight will be Tellez Giron’s fourth ProBoxTV appearance.
The remainder of the October 16th card will be announced soon.
|
Welcome to Cruz vs. Bravo fight week |
|
|
On Saturday, Sept. 19th, WBC interim junior welterweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz return to defend his title against once-beaten Puerto Rican Nestor Bravo live on DAZN and presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Also on the show, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov. Both Cruz and Ramos are from Mexico. In addition, unbeaten super middleweight prospect Daniel “Iceman” Blancas will step in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez for an eight or ten-round showdown and 2024 Mexican Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde will battle fellow unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the eight-round middleweight opening bout at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
|
|
|
|
Welcome to Cruz vs. Bravo fight week
On Saturday, Sept. 19th, WBC interim junior welterweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz return to defend his title against once-beaten Puerto Rican Nestor Bravo live on DAZN and presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Also on the show, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesús “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on unbeaten mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov. Both Cruz and Ramos are from Mexico. In addition, unbeaten super middleweight prospect Daniel “Iceman” Blancas will step in against once-beaten Sergio Jimenez for an eight or ten-round showdown and 2024 Mexican Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde will battle fellow unbeaten Guillermo Hernandez in the eight-round middleweight opening bout at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
|
Results from the Dominican Republic |
|
|
Rafael Abreu TKO2 Juan Delgado de Leon... Rafael Abreu stopped Juan Delgado de Leon in the second round of their scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout Friday, September 11th, at Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Abreu ended the fight at 2:59 of the round, improving to 13-0, 12 KOs. Delgado fell to 6-7, 4 KOs.
Eliesel R. Ledesma W8 Jorge Santana... Eliesel Rodriguez Ledesma remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Jorge Santana in their eight-round junior lightweight bout. All three judges scored the fight 77-75 for Ledesma, who improved to 10-0-2, 8 KOs. Santana fell to 16-3, 9 KOs.
Pryce Sparrow W8 Oliver Flores... Pryce Sparrow earned an eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Oliver Flores, who entered the bout with more than 40 professional fights. Sparrow controlled the action on his way to scores of 80-71 (twice) and 79-72, improving to 7-0, 4 KOs. Flores fell to 31-8-3 with 20 KOs.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Yankiel Rivera Figueroa improved to 8-1-1, 4 KOs by stopping Francisco Vargas Martinez (5-11, 3 KOs) in the first round at 2:23.
Houston’s Ty Cassell stopped previously unbeaten Cristofer Peralta at 1:19 of the second round of their scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout. The 19-year-old Cassell improved to 6-0, 4 KOs, while Peralta fell to 3-1-1, 2 KOs.
Angel Rodriguez remained unbeaten with a six-round unanimous decision over Nayer Gonzalez Jimenez in their featherweight bout. Rodriguez won by scores of 59-54 (twice) and 60-53, improving to 6-0, 3 KOs. Gonzalez fell to 3-2, 3 KOs.
Jankelly Rodriguez Paulino handed Starlyn Guzman his first professional defeat, earning a six-round unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 58-56. Rodriguez improved to 6-1, 5 KOs, while Guzman fell to 5-1, 5 KOs.
Feudri Franco improved to 8-0, 7 KOs with a first-round knockout over Junior Desir (7-1-1, 5 KOs) at 2:07.
Miguel Angel Arias improved to 8-0, 8 KOs by stopping Jose Manuel Perez (6-2, 4 KOs) by third-round TKO at 2:15.
Misael Vasquez (19-7-1, 16 KOs) defeated Michael Chaise Nelson (23-5-1, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 79-73.
Jose Luis De Los Santos Feliz improved to 6-0, 5 KOs by knocking out Eliezer Aquino (23-6-1, 16 KOs) in the sixth round at 2:46.
Vivian Bianelis Rodriguez improved to 10-1, 4 KOs by stopping Grecia Novas Mateo (20-34-4, 10 KOs) by third-round TKO at 1:22.
Keuryn Alcantara improved to 3-0, 2 KOs by defeating Markin Quezada Nunez (3-7, 3 KOs) by third-round TKO.
Yan Carlos Perez is now 8-1-2, 5 KOs and the record of Juan Alcantara Sanchez stands at 12-10-3, 8 KOs after they fought to an eight-round majority draw. Two judges scored the bout 76-76, while the third had Perez ahead 78-74.
Carlos Johnson improved to 4-0, 2 KOs with a unanimous decision over Kermin Jimenez (3-1, 3 KOs), with all three judges scoring the six-round bout 57-56.
Luis Rosario Villafane improved to 17-1-1, 11 KOs with a third-round TKO over Jose Rodriguez Lora (11-7, 10 KOs) at 0:57.
Elvis Del Castillo improved to 6-0-1, 5 KOs by stopping Juan Carlos Salazar Jose (3-1, 3 KOs) by fourth-round TKO.
Alexander Rivera improved to 7-2, 4 KOs by knocking out Bladimir Heredia Roa (2-9, 2 KOs) in the sixth and final round at 2:08.
Bryan Santos Mendez improved to 3-0, 2 KOs by defeating Juan Carlos Constanza (0-3) by four-round majority decision, with scores of 38-38, 40-36 and 39-37.
|
|
|
|
Results from the Dominican Republic
Rafael Abreu TKO2 Juan Delgado de Leon... Rafael Abreu stopped Juan Delgado de Leon in the second round of their scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout Friday, September 11th, at Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Abreu ended the fight at 2:59 of the round, improving to 13-0, 12 KOs. Delgado fell to 6-7, 4 KOs.
Eliesel R. Ledesma W8 Jorge Santana... Eliesel Rodriguez Ledesma remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Jorge Santana in their eight-round junior lightweight bout. All three judges scored the fight 77-75 for Ledesma, who improved to 10-0-2, 8 KOs. Santana fell to 16-3, 9 KOs.
Pryce Sparrow W8 Oliver Flores... Pryce Sparrow earned an eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Oliver Flores, who entered the bout with more than 40 professional fights. Sparrow controlled the action on his way to scores of 80-71 (twice) and 79-72, improving to 7-0, 4 KOs. Flores fell to 31-8-3 with 20 KOs.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Yankiel Rivera Figueroa improved to 8-1-1, 4 KOs by stopping Francisco Vargas Martinez (5-11, 3 KOs) in the first round at 2:23.
Houston’s Ty Cassell stopped previously unbeaten Cristofer Peralta at 1:19 of the second round of their scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout. The 19-year-old Cassell improved to 6-0, 4 KOs, while Peralta fell to 3-1-1, 2 KOs.
Angel Rodriguez remained unbeaten with a six-round unanimous decision over Nayer Gonzalez Jimenez in their featherweight bout. Rodriguez won by scores of 59-54 (twice) and 60-53, improving to 6-0, 3 KOs. Gonzalez fell to 3-2, 3 KOs.
Jankelly Rodriguez Paulino handed Starlyn Guzman his first professional defeat, earning a six-round unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 58-56. Rodriguez improved to 6-1, 5 KOs, while Guzman fell to 5-1, 5 KOs.
Feudri Franco improved to 8-0, 7 KOs with a first-round knockout over Junior Desir (7-1-1, 5 KOs) at 2:07.
Miguel Angel Arias improved to 8-0, 8 KOs by stopping Jose Manuel Perez (6-2, 4 KOs) by third-round TKO at 2:15.
Misael Vasquez (19-7-1, 16 KOs) defeated Michael Chaise Nelson (23-5-1, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 79-73.
Jose Luis De Los Santos Feliz improved to 6-0, 5 KOs by knocking out Eliezer Aquino (23-6-1, 16 KOs) in the sixth round at 2:46.
Vivian Bianelis Rodriguez improved to 10-1, 4 KOs by stopping Grecia Novas Mateo (20-34-4, 10 KOs) by third-round TKO at 1:22.
Keuryn Alcantara improved to 3-0, 2 KOs by defeating Markin Quezada Nunez (3-7, 3 KOs) by third-round TKO.
Yan Carlos Perez is now 8-1-2, 5 KOs and the record of Juan Alcantara Sanchez stands at 12-10-3, 8 KOs after they fought to an eight-round majority draw. Two judges scored the bout 76-76, while the third had Perez ahead 78-74.
Carlos Johnson improved to 4-0, 2 KOs with a unanimous decision over Kermin Jimenez (3-1, 3 KOs), with all three judges scoring the six-round bout 57-56.
Luis Rosario Villafane improved to 17-1-1, 11 KOs with a third-round TKO over Jose Rodriguez Lora (11-7, 10 KOs) at 0:57.
Elvis Del Castillo improved to 6-0-1, 5 KOs by stopping Juan Carlos Salazar Jose (3-1, 3 KOs) by fourth-round TKO.
Alexander Rivera improved to 7-2, 4 KOs by knocking out Bladimir Heredia Roa (2-9, 2 KOs) in the sixth and final round at 2:08.
Bryan Santos Mendez improved to 3-0, 2 KOs by defeating Juan Carlos Constanza (0-3) by four-round majority decision, with scores of 38-38, 40-36 and 39-37.
|
Dana White's thoughts on potential Opetaia vs. Benavidez fight |
|
On Saturday's Zuffa Boxing show in Las Vegas, Zuffa cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia became the first fighter to stop WBC champion Noel Mikaelian. According to Zuffa's website, Opetaia "added another world title to his growing collection" but the WBC has yet to confirm whether it will recognize Opetaia as champion. After the fight, Opetaia faced off respectfully with WBA/WBO champion David Benavidez, and the two verbally agreed to face each other further down the line. Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing, admitted it’s a fight he’d love to make in the future. “Yeah, great fight,” he said. “[Opetaia] got rocked in the fight, came back and looked great. And then obviously Benavidez being here… I've made no secret about the fact that I love Benavidez, and obviously that's a great fight to make. So we'll see how this whole thing plays out.”
White later elaborated on a possible Opetaia vs. Benavidez matchup, as he explained, “I think that we've gotten into a better place with the sanctioning organizations. I think we have. We'll see how that all plays out over the next several months. But obviously, Benavidez is somebody that we're very interested in. Jai is interested. Benavidez is interested. So that's most of the battle, right there. And it gets to a point where, when you have a fight between a guy like Jai Opetaia and Benavidez, the belts… I mean, we all know these are the two baddest dudes in the world in that weight class, belts, no belts, or whatever.”
Zuffa's main event saw Conor Benn suffer a second-round defeat to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia on Saturday. White was asked what might be next for Benn. White said he’d give the Englishman time to rest up and decide when he wants to return before they make any concrete plans for him. “The kid goes home, enjoys some time with his family, relax, enjoy the success that he's had this year, and when he's ready to fight again, he calls us, and we'll put something together” White said. “We'll figure him out. He will fight again, and it's just one of those nights. Ryan Garcia is that good. That's how good Ryan Garcia really is, and he proved it here tonight in spectacular fashion. We've been saying leading up to tonight that if he did it, could he be the face of boxing.”
|
|
|
|
Dana White's thoughts on potential Opetaia vs. Benavidez fight
On Saturday's Zuffa Boxing show in Las Vegas, Zuffa cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia became the first fighter to stop WBC champion Noel Mikaelian. According to Zuffa's website, Opetaia "added another world title to his growing collection" but the WBC has yet to confirm whether it will recognize Opetaia as champion. After the fight, Opetaia faced off respectfully with WBA/WBO champion David Benavidez, and the two verbally agreed to face each other further down the line. Dana White, who runs Zuffa Boxing, admitted it’s a fight he’d love to make in the future. “Yeah, great fight,” he said. “[Opetaia] got rocked in the fight, came back and looked great. And then obviously Benavidez being here… I've made no secret about the fact that I love Benavidez, and obviously that's a great fight to make. So we'll see how this whole thing plays out.”
White later elaborated on a possible Opetaia vs. Benavidez matchup, as he explained, “I think that we've gotten into a better place with the sanctioning organizations. I think we have. We'll see how that all plays out over the next several months. But obviously, Benavidez is somebody that we're very interested in. Jai is interested. Benavidez is interested. So that's most of the battle, right there. And it gets to a point where, when you have a fight between a guy like Jai Opetaia and Benavidez, the belts… I mean, we all know these are the two baddest dudes in the world in that weight class, belts, no belts, or whatever.”
Zuffa's main event saw Conor Benn suffer a second-round defeat to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia on Saturday. White was asked what might be next for Benn. White said he’d give the Englishman time to rest up and decide when he wants to return before they make any concrete plans for him. “The kid goes home, enjoys some time with his family, relax, enjoy the success that he's had this year, and when he's ready to fight again, he calls us, and we'll put something together” White said. “We'll figure him out. He will fight again, and it's just one of those nights. Ryan Garcia is that good. That's how good Ryan Garcia really is, and he proved it here tonight in spectacular fashion. We've been saying leading up to tonight that if he did it, could he be the face of boxing.”
|
Baraou wins majority decision in hometown of Santillan |
|
|
Abass Baraou W10 Giovani Santillan... On Friday at Frontwave Arena in San Diego, former WBA junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou outworked hometown favorite Giovani Santillan to win a majority ten-round decision on ProBoxTV’s “Championship Series” live broadcast. Baraou (18-2 with 9 KOs) was too big, too strong and applied too much pressure for the slicker but smaller Santillan (35-2 with 18 KOs) to find a path to victory. From Berlin, Baraou employed a superior work rate to take the first and second rounds, pushing a hesitant Santillan back repeatedly with effective aggression. A fighter who thrives on momentum, Santillan briefly found his rhythm in the third and landed some quality shots while finally advancing, only to have Baraou catch him with a sharp right-hand counter and swing the action back to his favor by round’s end.
Baraou continued to force the issue in workmanlike fashion in round four, backing Santillan up and forcing him to the ropes repeatedly with his busier fists and non-stop forward movement. Southpaw Santillan came alive again in round five, energizing his hometown fans by pinning the bigger Baraou on the ropes for an extended barrage of power punches to the head and body. In round six, Santillan surrendered the momentum he had built the previous round by allowing Baraou to resume coming forward and pushing him around the ring. Baraou was starting and finishing every exchange.
“El Gallo De Oro” Santillan found offensive success in spurts of two-fisted flurries in round seven, but not often enough to sway the advantage from the relentless Baraou. A skilled southpaw and former WBO #1 welterweight contender, Santillan enjoyed a good round eight by switching to a smooth-boxing approach and forcing Baraou to chase him into the traps he set. However, for the second time in the fight, Santillan followed up a round he had probably won by taking another three-minute vacation in round nine. By round’s end, Baraou was taunting his listless foe, trying to bait him into mixing it up more often. Baraou finished the fight by walking down Santillan, taunting him while unleashing the fight’s most extended two-fisted beating on the clearly faded California native.
The scores were 95-95, overruled by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 for Baraou, who returns to the win column in his first fight since losing his 154 lbs title by split decision in a WBO/WBA unification battle against Xander Zayas in late January this year. The majority decision prevented Santillan from winning his fourth consecutive fight since losing to Brian Norman Jr. for the interim WBO welterweight title in May 2024.
“I'm confident everywhere I go, you know? Like if there's a ring, I'm gonna make it work, and get the win,” said a happy Baraou, post-fight.
"This is my road back to a world championship and I'm ready for all the opportunities I can get… Today was the right first step on the way back to become champion again. One year from now, you're gonna be calling me a multiple world champion.” Santillan-Baraou was presented in association with Top Rank.
|
|
|
|
Baraou wins majority decision in hometown of Santillan
Abass Baraou W10 Giovani Santillan... On Friday at Frontwave Arena in San Diego, former WBA junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou outworked hometown favorite Giovani Santillan to win a majority ten-round decision on ProBoxTV’s “Championship Series” live broadcast. Baraou (18-2 with 9 KOs) was too big, too strong and applied too much pressure for the slicker but smaller Santillan (35-2 with 18 KOs) to find a path to victory. From Berlin, Baraou employed a superior work rate to take the first and second rounds, pushing a hesitant Santillan back repeatedly with effective aggression. A fighter who thrives on momentum, Santillan briefly found his rhythm in the third and landed some quality shots while finally advancing, only to have Baraou catch him with a sharp right-hand counter and swing the action back to his favor by round’s end.
Baraou continued to force the issue in workmanlike fashion in round four, backing Santillan up and forcing him to the ropes repeatedly with his busier fists and non-stop forward movement. Southpaw Santillan came alive again in round five, energizing his hometown fans by pinning the bigger Baraou on the ropes for an extended barrage of power punches to the head and body. In round six, Santillan surrendered the momentum he had built the previous round by allowing Baraou to resume coming forward and pushing him around the ring. Baraou was starting and finishing every exchange.
“El Gallo De Oro” Santillan found offensive success in spurts of two-fisted flurries in round seven, but not often enough to sway the advantage from the relentless Baraou. A skilled southpaw and former WBO #1 welterweight contender, Santillan enjoyed a good round eight by switching to a smooth-boxing approach and forcing Baraou to chase him into the traps he set. However, for the second time in the fight, Santillan followed up a round he had probably won by taking another three-minute vacation in round nine. By round’s end, Baraou was taunting his listless foe, trying to bait him into mixing it up more often. Baraou finished the fight by walking down Santillan, taunting him while unleashing the fight’s most extended two-fisted beating on the clearly faded California native.
The scores were 95-95, overruled by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 for Baraou, who returns to the win column in his first fight since losing his 154 lbs title by split decision in a WBO/WBA unification battle against Xander Zayas in late January this year. The majority decision prevented Santillan from winning his fourth consecutive fight since losing to Brian Norman Jr. for the interim WBO welterweight title in May 2024.
“I'm confident everywhere I go, you know? Like if there's a ring, I'm gonna make it work, and get the win,” said a happy Baraou, post-fight.
"This is my road back to a world championship and I'm ready for all the opportunities I can get… Today was the right first step on the way back to become champion again. One year from now, you're gonna be calling me a multiple world champion.” Santillan-Baraou was presented in association with Top Rank.
|
ProBox undercard: Ex-champ Lopez gets early KO |
|
Luis A. Lopez KO3 Daniel Lugo... At Friday's ProBox show in San Diego, former IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez (pictured) enjoyed a successful debut fighting for ProBox Promotions by pummeling veteran Daniel Lugo until dropping and stopping him in round three. Now competing as a junior lightweight, “Venado” Lopez (33-3, 20 KOs) of Baja California, Mexico had fought a total of just four rounds since losing his IBF title to Angelo Leo in August 2024. But Lopez looked sharp while outclassing his countryman Lugo, 28-5-1 with 19 KOs). A pure puncher, Lopez hurt Lugo with a booming left hook late in round two, but Lugo caught a break when Lopez accidentally hit him with a low blow while trying to finish it. Thirty seconds after the action resumed, Lopez landed a legal left hook to the liver that dropped Lugo for a count.
Showing no signs of rust despite his recent inactivity, Lopez pinned Lugo against the ropes immediately in round three and unloaded to the head and body until referee Ray Corona saved Lugo from more damage at 1:18 of the third round. “I was very anxious to return to the ring,” said Lopez after the fight. “I was trying to get a world champion (to face me in this fight), unfortunately, none of them were available. But, hey, I'm happy to be performing here tonight. I want to thank all my fans. I know it's not easy to cross the border. It's getting very difficult, but I promise you, I will be champion once again.”
Dominic Valle W10 Francois Scarboro Jr. ... Undefeated junior lightweight Dominic Valle won an action-packed war against Francois Scarboro Jr. by unanimous ten-round decision. Scarboro Jr, now 14-1 (9 KOs), of Cheverly, Maryland, came out firing from the onset and had Valle (14-0 with 7 KOs), of Lutz, Florida, cut over the right eye from a punch before the first round was half over. Both boxers had their moments in closely fought rounds two and three. Fighting for the first time outside his home state, the taller Valle used his long jab to keep Scarboro Jnr at bay in the first half of round four. The action picked up significantly in the second half of the fourth, with Scarboro Jnr hurting Valle with a series of right hands against the ropes, only to get hurt by powerful shots from Valle to the body and head a minute later. The hostilities continued in rounds five and six, as both landed their share of clubbing haymakers during non-stop, tit-for-tat exchanges. Valle may have gotten the better in round five, Scarboro had the better round six. Valle rediscovered his jab to control round seven, as he used it to set up strong combinations, while forcing a tiring Scarboro Jnr to miss most of his wild attempts at landing return shots. Evenly fought rounds eight and nine saw Scarboro Jnr utilizing explosive bursts to land combinations, while Valle continued to pop his jab and land his own combos during the lulls in Scarboro work. Scarboro Jnr suffered a cut over the right eye in round nine. The final round saw more of the exciting same, with Scarboro Jnr coming out firing wildly in the first minute, Valle taking advantage of his winded foe in the second minute and then more superb back and forth warfare to end the compelling fight. In the end, the judges unanimously favored Valle’s more skillful approach by scores of 96-94, and two surprisingly wide tallies of 98-92 98-92.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In the opening bout of the “Championship Series,” members only, portion of the card, middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa scored an entertaining eighth-round TKO over Jose De Jesus Adame Chio. Standing 6-foot-1, the Brazilian Conceicao Sousa (12-0, 6 KOs enjoyed a big advantage in size over the 5-foot-5 Adame Chio, now 15-1-1 (7 KOs), who is from of Mexicali, Mexico. However, in the first four rounds, Adame Chio’s forward movement and constant aggression was surprisingly effective against 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Conceicao Sousa, who appeared to be reluctant to move forward and control the ring center, instead content to fire single counter punches in spots. With the unheralded 27 year-old Adame Chio looking to be possibly taking over the momentum of the fight from the still bafflingly listless Conceicao Sousa, the 28-year-old Brazilian unexpectedly fired a Mexican liver shot and left hook that wobbled Adame Chio midway through round five. Adame Chio was sent down from the suddenly energized Conceicao Sousa’s follow-up volleys. He rose still wobbly and bleeding from the right eye but managed to make it out of the round. Conceicao Sousa hurt Adame Chio again with another whipping left hook in the sixth and a straight right hand appeared to hurt him again early in the seventh. To his credit, the game Adame Chio, who was having his first fight outside his Mexican homeland, wobbled Conceicao Sousa with an overhand right of his own a minute later to cap an action-packed seventh round.The ringside physician took a long look at Adame Chio’s bleeding right eye early in round eight, and another strong left hook the body deposited him back on the canvas for another count. This time, Conceicao Sousa didn’t let his man off the hook, as he battered Adame Chio with both hands until Referee Ray Corona waved the fight over at 1:46.
In the second and final matchup of the “Future Stars” series portion of the card, hometown junior welterweight Daniel Morales, 10-0 (6 KOs), kept his unbeaten record intact with a second-round knockout over Lorenzo Vazquez Avalos, 4-2 (4 KOs), of Fontana, California. After getting the better of the action in an uneventful opening round, a clubbing overhand right dropped a badly hurt Avalos early in round two. Morales’ follow-up brought a merciful end to the fight, as a strong right to the pit of the stomach dropped the Mexican for a second time. Referee Jonathan Romero waved it off at :59 of round two.
In the televised opener, Top Rank’s 18 year-old junior lightweight Julian “El Naturel” Montalvo, 8-0 (6 KOs), of Las Vegas, stayed undefeated with a fifth-round stoppage of Anthony Cruz Herrera of Eugene, Oregon, now 4-2. The game Oregonian Herrera came out looking to mix it up, but was bleeding from the nose by round two, as Montalvo’s skill and power advantages, in addition to a focused body attack, began to accumulate. Red-faced and bleeding, Herrera was checked by the ringside physician before round five, and then shortly into the round, his corner indicated they’d like to rescue their man from unnecessary punishment. Referee Chris Leben waved it off at :59 of the fifth.
|
|
|
|
ProBox undercard: Ex-champ Lopez gets early KO
Luis A. Lopez KO3 Daniel Lugo... At Friday's ProBox show in San Diego, former IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez (pictured) enjoyed a successful debut fighting for ProBox Promotions by pummeling veteran Daniel Lugo until dropping and stopping him in round three. Now competing as a junior lightweight, “Venado” Lopez (33-3, 20 KOs) of Baja California, Mexico had fought a total of just four rounds since losing his IBF title to Angelo Leo in August 2024. But Lopez looked sharp while outclassing his countryman Lugo, 28-5-1 with 19 KOs). A pure puncher, Lopez hurt Lugo with a booming left hook late in round two, but Lugo caught a break when Lopez accidentally hit him with a low blow while trying to finish it. Thirty seconds after the action resumed, Lopez landed a legal left hook to the liver that dropped Lugo for a count.
Showing no signs of rust despite his recent inactivity, Lopez pinned Lugo against the ropes immediately in round three and unloaded to the head and body until referee Ray Corona saved Lugo from more damage at 1:18 of the third round. “I was very anxious to return to the ring,” said Lopez after the fight. “I was trying to get a world champion (to face me in this fight), unfortunately, none of them were available. But, hey, I'm happy to be performing here tonight. I want to thank all my fans. I know it's not easy to cross the border. It's getting very difficult, but I promise you, I will be champion once again.”
Dominic Valle W10 Francois Scarboro Jr. ... Undefeated junior lightweight Dominic Valle won an action-packed war against Francois Scarboro Jr. by unanimous ten-round decision. Scarboro Jr, now 14-1 (9 KOs), of Cheverly, Maryland, came out firing from the onset and had Valle (14-0 with 7 KOs), of Lutz, Florida, cut over the right eye from a punch before the first round was half over. Both boxers had their moments in closely fought rounds two and three. Fighting for the first time outside his home state, the taller Valle used his long jab to keep Scarboro Jnr at bay in the first half of round four. The action picked up significantly in the second half of the fourth, with Scarboro Jnr hurting Valle with a series of right hands against the ropes, only to get hurt by powerful shots from Valle to the body and head a minute later. The hostilities continued in rounds five and six, as both landed their share of clubbing haymakers during non-stop, tit-for-tat exchanges. Valle may have gotten the better in round five, Scarboro had the better round six. Valle rediscovered his jab to control round seven, as he used it to set up strong combinations, while forcing a tiring Scarboro Jnr to miss most of his wild attempts at landing return shots. Evenly fought rounds eight and nine saw Scarboro Jnr utilizing explosive bursts to land combinations, while Valle continued to pop his jab and land his own combos during the lulls in Scarboro work. Scarboro Jnr suffered a cut over the right eye in round nine. The final round saw more of the exciting same, with Scarboro Jnr coming out firing wildly in the first minute, Valle taking advantage of his winded foe in the second minute and then more superb back and forth warfare to end the compelling fight. In the end, the judges unanimously favored Valle’s more skillful approach by scores of 96-94, and two surprisingly wide tallies of 98-92 98-92.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
In the opening bout of the “Championship Series,” members only, portion of the card, middleweight Hebert Conceicao Sousa scored an entertaining eighth-round TKO over Jose De Jesus Adame Chio. Standing 6-foot-1, the Brazilian Conceicao Sousa (12-0, 6 KOs enjoyed a big advantage in size over the 5-foot-5 Adame Chio, now 15-1-1 (7 KOs), who is from of Mexicali, Mexico. However, in the first four rounds, Adame Chio’s forward movement and constant aggression was surprisingly effective against 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Conceicao Sousa, who appeared to be reluctant to move forward and control the ring center, instead content to fire single counter punches in spots. With the unheralded 27 year-old Adame Chio looking to be possibly taking over the momentum of the fight from the still bafflingly listless Conceicao Sousa, the 28-year-old Brazilian unexpectedly fired a Mexican liver shot and left hook that wobbled Adame Chio midway through round five. Adame Chio was sent down from the suddenly energized Conceicao Sousa’s follow-up volleys. He rose still wobbly and bleeding from the right eye but managed to make it out of the round. Conceicao Sousa hurt Adame Chio again with another whipping left hook in the sixth and a straight right hand appeared to hurt him again early in the seventh. To his credit, the game Adame Chio, who was having his first fight outside his Mexican homeland, wobbled Conceicao Sousa with an overhand right of his own a minute later to cap an action-packed seventh round.The ringside physician took a long look at Adame Chio’s bleeding right eye early in round eight, and another strong left hook the body deposited him back on the canvas for another count. This time, Conceicao Sousa didn’t let his man off the hook, as he battered Adame Chio with both hands until Referee Ray Corona waved the fight over at 1:46.
In the second and final matchup of the “Future Stars” series portion of the card, hometown junior welterweight Daniel Morales, 10-0 (6 KOs), kept his unbeaten record intact with a second-round knockout over Lorenzo Vazquez Avalos, 4-2 (4 KOs), of Fontana, California. After getting the better of the action in an uneventful opening round, a clubbing overhand right dropped a badly hurt Avalos early in round two. Morales’ follow-up brought a merciful end to the fight, as a strong right to the pit of the stomach dropped the Mexican for a second time. Referee Jonathan Romero waved it off at :59 of round two.
In the televised opener, Top Rank’s 18 year-old junior lightweight Julian “El Naturel” Montalvo, 8-0 (6 KOs), of Las Vegas, stayed undefeated with a fifth-round stoppage of Anthony Cruz Herrera of Eugene, Oregon, now 4-2. The game Oregonian Herrera came out looking to mix it up, but was bleeding from the nose by round two, as Montalvo’s skill and power advantages, in addition to a focused body attack, began to accumulate. Red-faced and bleeding, Herrera was checked by the ringside physician before round five, and then shortly into the round, his corner indicated they’d like to rescue their man from unnecessary punishment. Referee Chris Leben waved it off at :59 of the fifth.
|
BKFC results from Miami |
|
Cuban-American heavyweight Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo needed just 14 seconds to claim victory at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 93 on Friday at the sold-out Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Perdomo is now 12-0 after beginning his career with 12 stoppage victories — the first fighter in BKFC history to accomplish both feats — after knocking out Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill (3-2) on Friday. Perdomo, BKFC's #1 contender in its heavyweight division, took aim at BKFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski in his post-fight interview. “I want my title; I want my opportunity,” the fan-favorite Florida fighter said. “Everyone here knows that this is my time!”
BKFC Founder/President David Feldman agreed, sparking an even bigger reaction from the crowd. “The answer is absolutely, 100-percent, yes. We love Miami so much that we’re bringing KnuckleMania to Miami, and it will be Leonardo Perdomo versus Andrei Arlovski for the BKFC heavyweight championship. Let’s go!”
Bryan “Cash Cow” Duran defeated “Felony” Charles Bennett in their hotly anticipated showdown at 145 pounds. Duran picked himself up off the canvas and recorded two knockdowns of his own en route to the 48-44 verdict across all three judges’ scorecards. Duran, who represents Miami, FL, is now 9-1-1 under the BKFC banner, with his only loss coming against undisputed BKFC featherweight champion “King” Kai Stewart. Duran hopes Friday’s victory earns him another shot at Stewart. “Don’t bother me no more unless it’s Kai,” Duran said in his post-fight interview. “Don’t call me no more unless it’s for Kai. Or a million dollars. That’s all I want; I want nothing else.” The Ocala, FL featherweight Bennett is now 1-5 in his BKFC career.
In a rematch with the next shot at the BKFC bantamweight title on the line — Andrew “Legend” Strode climbed to 5-0 with a third-round TKO over Gee “The Cutman” Perez. The Denver product Strode picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the stoppage with just one second left in the third round. Strode and Perez first did battle for the BKFC'a interim flyweight Title in 2025, with Strode earning the win by second-round TKO, also at Hard Rock Live.
Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring is set to defend the BKFC World Bantamweight Title against John “The Magician” Dodson in the Main Event of BKFC 95 on Oct. 17th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App. “I want to be a two-time, two-division world champ,” Strode said in his post-fight interview. “Dodson and Herring, I’m coming!” The Cuban-born Pahokee, FL product Perez is now 7-3 under the BKFC banner.
Celebrities in attendance on Friday included Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, as well as combat sports icons Eddie Alvarez and Tito Ortiz, plus BKFC champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea and Britain Hart.
In the ironweight division, BKFC cruiserweight champion Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez only needed 46 seconds to chop down Steve “Tomahawk” Townsel. The Grand Rapids, MI product sent Townsel to the canvas twice and is now 7-1 on the strength of five straight stoppage victories. Townsel, who represents Miami, FL, is now 6-6.
Broward County, FL’s Matt “Rambo” Russo cruised to 5-1 with his third straight finish in the squared circle against the previously unbeaten Jancarlos “Baby Tank” Rivera in the bantamweight division. Both fighters logged a knockdown in the contest. Rivera’s corner threw in the towel at 1:36 of the penultimate round. Rivera, a product of Fort Myers, FL, is now 3-1.
Miami, FL’s James “Chosen” Rodriguez needed just 91 seconds to knock out Murat “Lord Pitbull” Kazgan in their welterweight matchup. Rodriguez is now 2-1, while the Turkish-born Palm Beach, FL fighter Kazgan falls to 1-2.
Havana, Cuba’s Ernesto “Las Manos Benditas” Suarez upped his record to 3-0 with a hard-fought, split decision over Ronny Hauser in bantamweight action. Both fighters recorded a knockdown in the fight. Two judges scored the contest for Suarez (47-46, 49-45) and one scored it 47-46 for Hauser. The Chicago bantamweight Hauser is now 1-2.
Fort Myers, FL’s Tyler “Rookie” Randall edged out Chris “Dynamite” Garcia for the majority decision victory in their matchup of flyweight contenders. Two judges scored the contest 48-46 for Randall, who logged the sole knockdown of the fight, while one judge scored it a 47-47 draw. Randall is now 5-4 after entering the bout as the No. 5 contender in the 125-pound weight class. Garcia, who hails from Clewiston, FL, is now 6-2 under the BKFC banner.
Broward County, FL’s Chino Blume earned his third straight win with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over Caleb “Panda” Avila in ironweight action. All three judges agreed on the 30-27 verdict, all in favor of Blume, who’s now 3-2 under the BKFC banner. Avila, who hails from San Diego, CA, is now 1-3.
Miami, FL’s Adyam “Pulga” Devillafuerte picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the first-round KO over Miguel “The Survivor” Hinojosa in the lightweight division. Devillafuerte, who’s now 2-0, dropped Hinojosa three times before the referee called a stop to the match with six seconds left in the opening round. Hinojosa, who represents Clewiston, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
Eduardo “Las Manos Benitas” Suarez of Havana, Cuba evened his BKFC record to 1-1 with a second-round TKO at the expense of Jose “Chupacabra” Davila in featherweight action. Suarez recorded three knockdowns before the fight was stopped 34 seconds into the second frame. Davila, who represents Key West, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC 93 Results
(1) Leonardo Perdomo def. Bear Hill via TKO in Round 1 (0:14)
(2) Bryan Duran def. Charles Bennett via Unanimous Decision (48-44x3)
Andrew Strode def. Gee Perez via TKO in Round 3 (1:59)
Esteban Rodriguez def. Steve Townsel via TKO in Round 1 (0:46)
Matt Russo def. Jancarlos Rivera via TKO in Round 4 (1:36)
James Rodriguez def. Murat Kazgan via KO in Round 1 (1:31)
Ernesto Suarez def. Ronny Hauser via Split Decision (47-46, 46-47, 49-45)
(5) Tyler Randall def. Chris Garcia via Majority Decision (48-46x2, 47-47)
Chino Blume def. Caleb Avila via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)
Adyam Devillafuerte def. Miguel Hinojosa via KO in Round 1 (1:54)
Eduardo Suarez def. Jose Davila via TKO in Round 2 (0:34)
|
|
|
|
BKFC results from Miami
Cuban-American heavyweight Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo needed just 14 seconds to claim victory at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 93 on Friday at the sold-out Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Perdomo is now 12-0 after beginning his career with 12 stoppage victories — the first fighter in BKFC history to accomplish both feats — after knocking out Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill (3-2) on Friday. Perdomo, BKFC's #1 contender in its heavyweight division, took aim at BKFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski in his post-fight interview. “I want my title; I want my opportunity,” the fan-favorite Florida fighter said. “Everyone here knows that this is my time!”
BKFC Founder/President David Feldman agreed, sparking an even bigger reaction from the crowd. “The answer is absolutely, 100-percent, yes. We love Miami so much that we’re bringing KnuckleMania to Miami, and it will be Leonardo Perdomo versus Andrei Arlovski for the BKFC heavyweight championship. Let’s go!”
Bryan “Cash Cow” Duran defeated “Felony” Charles Bennett in their hotly anticipated showdown at 145 pounds. Duran picked himself up off the canvas and recorded two knockdowns of his own en route to the 48-44 verdict across all three judges’ scorecards. Duran, who represents Miami, FL, is now 9-1-1 under the BKFC banner, with his only loss coming against undisputed BKFC featherweight champion “King” Kai Stewart. Duran hopes Friday’s victory earns him another shot at Stewart. “Don’t bother me no more unless it’s Kai,” Duran said in his post-fight interview. “Don’t call me no more unless it’s for Kai. Or a million dollars. That’s all I want; I want nothing else.” The Ocala, FL featherweight Bennett is now 1-5 in his BKFC career.
In a rematch with the next shot at the BKFC bantamweight title on the line — Andrew “Legend” Strode climbed to 5-0 with a third-round TKO over Gee “The Cutman” Perez. The Denver product Strode picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the stoppage with just one second left in the third round. Strode and Perez first did battle for the BKFC'a interim flyweight Title in 2025, with Strode earning the win by second-round TKO, also at Hard Rock Live.
Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring is set to defend the BKFC World Bantamweight Title against John “The Magician” Dodson in the Main Event of BKFC 95 on Oct. 17th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App. “I want to be a two-time, two-division world champ,” Strode said in his post-fight interview. “Dodson and Herring, I’m coming!” The Cuban-born Pahokee, FL product Perez is now 7-3 under the BKFC banner.
Celebrities in attendance on Friday included Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, as well as combat sports icons Eddie Alvarez and Tito Ortiz, plus BKFC champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea and Britain Hart.
In the ironweight division, BKFC cruiserweight champion Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez only needed 46 seconds to chop down Steve “Tomahawk” Townsel. The Grand Rapids, MI product sent Townsel to the canvas twice and is now 7-1 on the strength of five straight stoppage victories. Townsel, who represents Miami, FL, is now 6-6.
Broward County, FL’s Matt “Rambo” Russo cruised to 5-1 with his third straight finish in the squared circle against the previously unbeaten Jancarlos “Baby Tank” Rivera in the bantamweight division. Both fighters logged a knockdown in the contest. Rivera’s corner threw in the towel at 1:36 of the penultimate round. Rivera, a product of Fort Myers, FL, is now 3-1.
Miami, FL’s James “Chosen” Rodriguez needed just 91 seconds to knock out Murat “Lord Pitbull” Kazgan in their welterweight matchup. Rodriguez is now 2-1, while the Turkish-born Palm Beach, FL fighter Kazgan falls to 1-2.
Havana, Cuba’s Ernesto “Las Manos Benditas” Suarez upped his record to 3-0 with a hard-fought, split decision over Ronny Hauser in bantamweight action. Both fighters recorded a knockdown in the fight. Two judges scored the contest for Suarez (47-46, 49-45) and one scored it 47-46 for Hauser. The Chicago bantamweight Hauser is now 1-2.
Fort Myers, FL’s Tyler “Rookie” Randall edged out Chris “Dynamite” Garcia for the majority decision victory in their matchup of flyweight contenders. Two judges scored the contest 48-46 for Randall, who logged the sole knockdown of the fight, while one judge scored it a 47-47 draw. Randall is now 5-4 after entering the bout as the No. 5 contender in the 125-pound weight class. Garcia, who hails from Clewiston, FL, is now 6-2 under the BKFC banner.
Broward County, FL’s Chino Blume earned his third straight win with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over Caleb “Panda” Avila in ironweight action. All three judges agreed on the 30-27 verdict, all in favor of Blume, who’s now 3-2 under the BKFC banner. Avila, who hails from San Diego, CA, is now 1-3.
Miami, FL’s Adyam “Pulga” Devillafuerte picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the first-round KO over Miguel “The Survivor” Hinojosa in the lightweight division. Devillafuerte, who’s now 2-0, dropped Hinojosa three times before the referee called a stop to the match with six seconds left in the opening round. Hinojosa, who represents Clewiston, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
Eduardo “Las Manos Benitas” Suarez of Havana, Cuba evened his BKFC record to 1-1 with a second-round TKO at the expense of Jose “Chupacabra” Davila in featherweight action. Suarez recorded three knockdowns before the fight was stopped 34 seconds into the second frame. Davila, who represents Key West, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC 93 Results
(1) Leonardo Perdomo def. Bear Hill via TKO in Round 1 (0:14)
(2) Bryan Duran def. Charles Bennett via Unanimous Decision (48-44x3)
Andrew Strode def. Gee Perez via TKO in Round 3 (1:59)
Esteban Rodriguez def. Steve Townsel via TKO in Round 1 (0:46)
Matt Russo def. Jancarlos Rivera via TKO in Round 4 (1:36)
James Rodriguez def. Murat Kazgan via KO in Round 1 (1:31)
Ernesto Suarez def. Ronny Hauser via Split Decision (47-46, 46-47, 49-45)
(5) Tyler Randall def. Chris Garcia via Majority Decision (48-46x2, 47-47)
Chino Blume def. Caleb Avila via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)
Adyam Devillafuerte def. Miguel Hinojosa via KO in Round 1 (1:54)
Eduardo Suarez def. Jose Davila via TKO in Round 2 (0:34)
|
Matchroom returning to Monaco for seventh annual show |
|
One of the most prestigious events on the boxing calendar officially returns on Saturday, December 12th, as Matchroom Boxing, in partnership with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, stage Monte-Carlo Showdown VII. Taking place at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, no boxers have been named for this year's installment. In the past, this show has seen some of the sport’s biggest names shine under the glitz, glamour and bright lights of the Principality in the past, including the likes of Dmitry Bivol, Gennady Golovkin, Joe Cordina and Derek Chisora. Last year, Shabaz Masoud – who returns to action net week at Manchester’s Co-op Live against Ckari Cani Mansilla, defeated Liverpool’s Peter McGrail for the European super bantamweight belt in the main event.
And this year, Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn says the event will see some huge fights for its seventh instalment. “Our annual Monte-Carlo Showdown is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the sport and we cannot wait to return to the Principality this December,” said Hearn. As always, it will be a special spectacle, with a host of big fights lighting up the card – all live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN. We are immensely grateful to our magnificent hosts at Sporting Monte-Carlo, along with the ever-present Michael Wittstock and the Prince of Monaco, Albert II, who have long championed this incredible event.”
Monte-Carlo Showdown VII takes place on Saturday, December 12th, 2026, at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
|
|
|
|
Matchroom returning to Monaco for seventh annual show
One of the most prestigious events on the boxing calendar officially returns on Saturday, December 12th, as Matchroom Boxing, in partnership with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, stage Monte-Carlo Showdown VII. Taking place at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, no boxers have been named for this year's installment. In the past, this show has seen some of the sport’s biggest names shine under the glitz, glamour and bright lights of the Principality in the past, including the likes of Dmitry Bivol, Gennady Golovkin, Joe Cordina and Derek Chisora. Last year, Shabaz Masoud – who returns to action net week at Manchester’s Co-op Live against Ckari Cani Mansilla, defeated Liverpool’s Peter McGrail for the European super bantamweight belt in the main event.
And this year, Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn says the event will see some huge fights for its seventh instalment. “Our annual Monte-Carlo Showdown is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the sport and we cannot wait to return to the Principality this December,” said Hearn. As always, it will be a special spectacle, with a host of big fights lighting up the card – all live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN. We are immensely grateful to our magnificent hosts at Sporting Monte-Carlo, along with the ever-present Michael Wittstock and the Prince of Monaco, Albert II, who have long championed this incredible event.”
Monte-Carlo Showdown VII takes place on Saturday, December 12th, 2026, at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
|
Legendary heavyweight George Chuvalo passes away |
|
The international boxing community is mourning the passing of heavyweight legend George Chuvalo of Canada. Chuvalo was a multi-time Canadian champion but came along in the greatest era of heavyweights ever. He fought professionally from 1956-1978 and was known for having the greatest chin of his generation, if not ever. Chuvalo lost to champions Muhammad Ali (twice), Joes Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell and Jimmy Ellis. He defeated Yvon Durelle, Jerry Quarry and Cleveland Williams among others. After losing to Ali for the second time, Chuvalo ran off seven straight wins and retired as the reigning Canadian champion with a record of 73-18-2. Although he suffered TKO losses, Chuvalo was never knocked down in his 93 professional bouts.
Born in Toronto in 1937 to Croatian parents, Chuvalo was just 18 when he captured the Canadian amateur heavyweight title while building a 16-0 record, winning all 16 bouts by way of knockout. Turning professional in 1956, he built a historic career that saw him crowned national heavyweight champion five times. Following his retirement from the ring, Chuvalo successfully transitioned into the entertainment and broadcasting industries.
Boxingtalk joins the WBC in sending its sympathies to the friends and family of George Chuvalo.
|
|
|
|
Legendary heavyweight George Chuvalo passes away
The international boxing community is mourning the passing of heavyweight legend George Chuvalo of Canada. Chuvalo was a multi-time Canadian champion but came along in the greatest era of heavyweights ever. He fought professionally from 1956-1978 and was known for having the greatest chin of his generation, if not ever. Chuvalo lost to champions Muhammad Ali (twice), Joes Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell and Jimmy Ellis. He defeated Yvon Durelle, Jerry Quarry and Cleveland Williams among others. After losing to Ali for the second time, Chuvalo ran off seven straight wins and retired as the reigning Canadian champion with a record of 73-18-2. Although he suffered TKO losses, Chuvalo was never knocked down in his 93 professional bouts.
Born in Toronto in 1937 to Croatian parents, Chuvalo was just 18 when he captured the Canadian amateur heavyweight title while building a 16-0 record, winning all 16 bouts by way of knockout. Turning professional in 1956, he built a historic career that saw him crowned national heavyweight champion five times. Following his retirement from the ring, Chuvalo successfully transitioned into the entertainment and broadcasting industries.
Boxingtalk joins the WBC in sending its sympathies to the friends and family of George Chuvalo.
|
Ryan Garcia finally lives up to the hype |
|
Ryan Garcia TKO2 Conor Benn... In a star-making performance, Ryan Garcia defended his WBC welterweight title with a blistering second-round technical of Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ahead of the fight, much was said and written about Garcia’s left hook, but it was Garcia’s right hand that proved the crucial shot as he stunned and dropped the Englishman with a lightning bolt of a right hand, then finished him with a barrage of shots to claim a brilliant victory.
Garcia found a home for his left hand early and sent Benn backward with a stiff left in the opening seconds of the contest. Benn looked to push the pace and close the distance, but Garcia continued to land his left hook as the Englishman walked into range. But, despite being clipped, Benn seemed unruffled, and stepped into the pocket and landed some solid shots of his own, including a big left to the body that briefly forced Garcia to turn away.
Benn started round two aggressively and took a well-timed counter shot that knocked him off balance. Then, as Benn closed in again, Garcia unleashed the shot that effectively won the fight. With Benn advancing, Garcia unleashed a fastball right hand that dropped the Englishman down to the canvas. Benn took the eight-count, then tried to continue. But after the action resumed, Garcia swarmed his man with a relentless barrage of shots that forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in and wave off the contest. It added another spectacular finish to Garcia’s growing highlight reel, as “King Ry” moved to 26-2 with the 21st knockout of his career. And, after putting his rivalry with Benn in the rearview mirror, Garcia immediately turned his attention to two of the other welterweight champions who were ringside -- Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney.
|
|
|
|
Ryan Garcia finally lives up to the hype
Ryan Garcia TKO2 Conor Benn... In a star-making performance, Ryan Garcia defended his WBC welterweight title with a blistering second-round technical of Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ahead of the fight, much was said and written about Garcia’s left hook, but it was Garcia’s right hand that proved the crucial shot as he stunned and dropped the Englishman with a lightning bolt of a right hand, then finished him with a barrage of shots to claim a brilliant victory.
Garcia found a home for his left hand early and sent Benn backward with a stiff left in the opening seconds of the contest. Benn looked to push the pace and close the distance, but Garcia continued to land his left hook as the Englishman walked into range. But, despite being clipped, Benn seemed unruffled, and stepped into the pocket and landed some solid shots of his own, including a big left to the body that briefly forced Garcia to turn away.
Benn started round two aggressively and took a well-timed counter shot that knocked him off balance. Then, as Benn closed in again, Garcia unleashed the shot that effectively won the fight. With Benn advancing, Garcia unleashed a fastball right hand that dropped the Englishman down to the canvas. Benn took the eight-count, then tried to continue. But after the action resumed, Garcia swarmed his man with a relentless barrage of shots that forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in and wave off the contest. It added another spectacular finish to Garcia’s growing highlight reel, as “King Ry” moved to 26-2 with the 21st knockout of his career. And, after putting his rivalry with Benn in the rearview mirror, Garcia immediately turned his attention to two of the other welterweight champions who were ringside -- Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney.
|
Opetaia stops Mikaelian; calls out Benavidez |
|
Jai Opetaia TKO8 Noel Mikaelian... Reigning Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia became the first fighter to stop Noel Mikaelian as he notched the 24th knockout victory of his 31-0 career. The southpaw versus orthodox matchup produced some awkward moments early on, with two big head clashes leaving Opetaia with swelling just to the side of his left eye after the opening round. If boxing were not a corrupt sport, Opetaia would be the WBC and IBF champion. As it stands, however, the WBC is still deciding what to do now that Mikaelian has lost its title, and Opetaia is suing the IBF for stripping him earlier this year. After tonight's victory, Opetaia called for a fight against WBO/WBA David Benavidez, who stepped through the ropes to respectfully accept the fight as the pair verbally agreed to face off in a title unification bout further down the line.
Officially, Opetaia won seven of the eight completed rounds on all three scorecards. After three tight, cagey rounds, Opetaia loaded up in the fourth, and a thumping left upper cut, followed by a left hook, seemed to briefly freeze Mikaelian (28-4). As the bout headed into the middle rounds, the difference between the two fighters became more apparent, with Opetaia’s shots starting to have more of an effect on the sturdy, but slightly slowing, Mikaelian. Openings that weren’t there for Opetaia in the first two or three rounds were presenting themselves through the middle rounds as he started to land cleaner shots more frequently on the German-Armenian champion.
Then Mikaelian had a big moment in the seventh, as a short right cross spun Opetaia’s jaw and appeared to put the Australian in trouble. The Zuffa Boxing champion was forced to hold on to buy time to recover, and duly did so before resuming his work once again.
The bout was scrappy throughout, with referee Harvey Dock almost as busy as the two fighters as he tried to keep the action clean. Then, in the ninth, the referee had to step in and wisely call a stop to the fight. Midway through the round, Opetaia loaded up again and cracked Mikaelian with a hat-trick of huge shots that punched Mikaelian to a standstill. Then a huge right hand sent him falling backward, with only the ropes keeping him up.
Dock stepped in to administer a standing eight-count, but quickly saw that Mikaelian was in no position to continue and waved off the fight. It gave Opetaia a hard-earned ninth-round TKO victory, and took his perfect career record to 31-0, with 24 stoppages.
|
|
|
|
Opetaia stops Mikaelian; calls out Benavidez
Jai Opetaia TKO8 Noel Mikaelian... Reigning Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia became the first fighter to stop Noel Mikaelian as he notched the 24th knockout victory of his 31-0 career. The southpaw versus orthodox matchup produced some awkward moments early on, with two big head clashes leaving Opetaia with swelling just to the side of his left eye after the opening round. If boxing were not a corrupt sport, Opetaia would be the WBC and IBF champion. As it stands, however, the WBC is still deciding what to do now that Mikaelian has lost its title, and Opetaia is suing the IBF for stripping him earlier this year. After tonight's victory, Opetaia called for a fight against WBO/WBA David Benavidez, who stepped through the ropes to respectfully accept the fight as the pair verbally agreed to face off in a title unification bout further down the line.
Officially, Opetaia won seven of the eight completed rounds on all three scorecards. After three tight, cagey rounds, Opetaia loaded up in the fourth, and a thumping left upper cut, followed by a left hook, seemed to briefly freeze Mikaelian (28-4). As the bout headed into the middle rounds, the difference between the two fighters became more apparent, with Opetaia’s shots starting to have more of an effect on the sturdy, but slightly slowing, Mikaelian. Openings that weren’t there for Opetaia in the first two or three rounds were presenting themselves through the middle rounds as he started to land cleaner shots more frequently on the German-Armenian champion.
Then Mikaelian had a big moment in the seventh, as a short right cross spun Opetaia’s jaw and appeared to put the Australian in trouble. The Zuffa Boxing champion was forced to hold on to buy time to recover, and duly did so before resuming his work once again.
The bout was scrappy throughout, with referee Harvey Dock almost as busy as the two fighters as he tried to keep the action clean. Then, in the ninth, the referee had to step in and wisely call a stop to the fight. Midway through the round, Opetaia loaded up again and cracked Mikaelian with a hat-trick of huge shots that punched Mikaelian to a standstill. Then a huge right hand sent him falling backward, with only the ropes keeping him up.
Dock stepped in to administer a standing eight-count, but quickly saw that Mikaelian was in no position to continue and waved off the fight. It gave Opetaia a hard-earned ninth-round TKO victory, and took his perfect career record to 31-0, with 24 stoppages.
|
Two ex-champs lose on Zuffa show |
|
Alexis Rocha W12 Jose C. Ramirez... Former two-belt junior welterweight champion Jose Carlos Ramirez moved up to 147 pounds to take on welterweight contender Alexis Rocha, and it produced ten thrilling rounds of action, with Rocha emerging as the decision victor. Ramirez’s elite experience held sway throughout a well-contested matchup as he established himself in the early rounds. But Rocha raised his game and took the fight to Ramirez through mid-way point of the fight. A clash of heads in round nine left Rocha busted up and bleeding, and after being checked over by the doctor and deemed good to continue, he came storming back and appeared to drop Ramirez, who contested the knockdown. That set things up perfectly for the final round, and both men left everything in the ring as they battled to secure the victory. After the final bell, it was Rocha who earned the decision from the three ringside judges, who returned scores of 98-91 (twice) and 97-92. Andres Cortes W10 Mark Magsayo... Las Vegas native Andres Cortes put on a superb performance, comprehensively outboxing former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo over ten rounds in a lightweight contest. Cortes (26-0) showcased his ability to fight from the outside, as well as up close, as he consistently outstruck Magsayo (29-3), who appeared to be hunting a one-shot knockout in the early rounds. Through the course of the matchup, Cortes forced Magsayo to touch down four times – in the third, in the fourth, and twice more in the seventh – but remarkably, none were officially recorded as knockdowns.
After seven rounds largely dominated by Cortes, Magsayo switched up his approach in round eight as he peppered his opponent with flashy, multi-punch combinations. And in the ninth, a big left hook in the final minute briefly seemed to wobble Cortes as Magsayo enjoyed his biggest success of the fight. But he was unable to capitalize on that moment as Cortes easily reached the end of the round, then boxed his way through to the final bell with no issues to earn a landslide unanimous decision victory, with scores of 97-93 across the board.
With the win, Cortes potentially set up a bout with another fomrer title holder, Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela.
|
|
|
|
Two ex-champs lose on Zuffa show
Alexis Rocha W12 Jose C. Ramirez... Former two-belt junior welterweight champion Jose Carlos Ramirez moved up to 147 pounds to take on welterweight contender Alexis Rocha, and it produced ten thrilling rounds of action, with Rocha emerging as the decision victor. Ramirez’s elite experience held sway throughout a well-contested matchup as he established himself in the early rounds. But Rocha raised his game and took the fight to Ramirez through mid-way point of the fight. A clash of heads in round nine left Rocha busted up and bleeding, and after being checked over by the doctor and deemed good to continue, he came storming back and appeared to drop Ramirez, who contested the knockdown. That set things up perfectly for the final round, and both men left everything in the ring as they battled to secure the victory. After the final bell, it was Rocha who earned the decision from the three ringside judges, who returned scores of 98-91 (twice) and 97-92. Andres Cortes W10 Mark Magsayo... Las Vegas native Andres Cortes put on a superb performance, comprehensively outboxing former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo over ten rounds in a lightweight contest. Cortes (26-0) showcased his ability to fight from the outside, as well as up close, as he consistently outstruck Magsayo (29-3), who appeared to be hunting a one-shot knockout in the early rounds. Through the course of the matchup, Cortes forced Magsayo to touch down four times – in the third, in the fourth, and twice more in the seventh – but remarkably, none were officially recorded as knockdowns.
After seven rounds largely dominated by Cortes, Magsayo switched up his approach in round eight as he peppered his opponent with flashy, multi-punch combinations. And in the ninth, a big left hook in the final minute briefly seemed to wobble Cortes as Magsayo enjoyed his biggest success of the fight. But he was unable to capitalize on that moment as Cortes easily reached the end of the round, then boxed his way through to the final bell with no issues to earn a landslide unanimous decision victory, with scores of 97-93 across the board.
With the win, Cortes potentially set up a bout with another fomrer title holder, Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela.
|
Zuffa undercard results: Vanhouter overcomes shoulder injury |
|
|
Da’Mazion Vanhouter KO1 Raphael Akpejiori... American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter (13-0) continued his rise with a first-round demolition of Nigeria’s Raphael Akpejiori (19-4). Vanhouter needed just one minute, 58 seconds as he wobbled the six-foot-eight former college basketball player with two big right hands early. Then, a cracking straight-right, left-hook combination sent Akpejiori to the canvas. After an eight-count was administered, the action resumed, and Vanhouter resumed his attack. But, as he closed in on Akpejiori, the former Miami Hurricane locked up Vanhouter’s left arm and then leant his weight on it, which appeared to torque Vanhouter’s left shoulder at an unnatural angle. It forced Vanhouter to the canvas, clearly in some discomfort, but he told the referee he was good to continue, and when the action resumed again, Vanhouter detonated a salvo of huge right hands to knock out Akpejiori and claim an attention-grabbing victory.
Vlad Panin TKO4 Dakota Linger ... Junior middleweight Vlad Panin scored a fourth-round TKO stoppage of outgunned Dakota Linger at the Zuffa Boxing event at T-Mobile Arena. Panin (25-2) started fast, and nearly earned a first-round stoppage when he hurt Linger to the body, then unloaded a barrage of shots as Linger covered up in the corner. Linger (17-8-3) managed to weather the storm and survive the round, though the ringside doctor advised he would be keeping “a close eye on” him after a rough end to the first round. Panin continued to build up his punch count. In round four, a pair of solid body shots backed Linger away towards the ropes, and Panin unloaded another heavy combination that forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in and wave off the fight to spare Linger further punishment. It gave Panin his second win under the Zuffa Boxing banner and extended his current knockout streak to four fights as he called for a big step up in competition next time out.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Oswaldo Molina won a battle of the undefeated lightweights as he claimed a unanimous decision victory over Pablo Rubio. Molina came into the bout with fewer fights to his name, but looked half a step ahead of Rubio throughout their six-round contest. The Mexican’s superior footwork and cleaner work saw him edge the rounds as the bout progressed, though neither man was able to land anything that put the other in any real trouble. In the end, the 19-year-old looked a cut above his opponent as he claimed a wide unanimous decision victory. One judge gave the teenager all six rounds, while the other two each gave him five as he moved to 10-0 with a decisive win. Rubio, meanwhile, takes the first L of his career and drops to 15-1.
Undefeated super middleweight Abel Gonzalez bounced back from the first knockdown of his career to claim a unanimous decision victory over Raul Salomon (16-5-1) of Mexico. Salomon sprung a surprise late in the opening round when he stepped in close and dropped Gonzalez with a clubbing short right over the top. The Mexican vet followed up with a solid round in the second, too. But from round three onward, Gonzalez warmed to the task and pushed the pace, scoring consistently while being more defensively responsible against the ropes. And after eight rounds, it was Gonzalez’s work that impressed the judges more as he earned scores of 77-74 across the board for a unanimous decision victory, improving his perfect professional record to 9-0.
Zuffa's preliminary card opened up with Ryan Garcia’s younger brother Sean kicking off the night with a majority decision victory over Abraham Morales in the lightweight division. Garcia (8-1-1) showcased some flashy hands and decent hand speed against Morales (4-2), who applied constant forward pressure throughout the six-round contest. But that pressure was made to count against the 32-year old when a smart counter shot from Garcia dropped him late in the third round. A harsh-looking point deduction for Garcia in the fifth gave Morales some late hope, and he enjoyed his best round of the fight. But, despite that setback, Garcia boxed his way through the final round to secure the majority decision victory on the scorecards, with the judges scoring the bout 56-56 and 58-54 (twice).
|
|
|
|
Zuffa undercard results: Vanhouter overcomes shoulder injury
Da’Mazion Vanhouter KO1 Raphael Akpejiori... American heavyweight Da’Mazion Vanhouter (13-0) continued his rise with a first-round demolition of Nigeria’s Raphael Akpejiori (19-4). Vanhouter needed just one minute, 58 seconds as he wobbled the six-foot-eight former college basketball player with two big right hands early. Then, a cracking straight-right, left-hook combination sent Akpejiori to the canvas. After an eight-count was administered, the action resumed, and Vanhouter resumed his attack. But, as he closed in on Akpejiori, the former Miami Hurricane locked up Vanhouter’s left arm and then leant his weight on it, which appeared to torque Vanhouter’s left shoulder at an unnatural angle. It forced Vanhouter to the canvas, clearly in some discomfort, but he told the referee he was good to continue, and when the action resumed again, Vanhouter detonated a salvo of huge right hands to knock out Akpejiori and claim an attention-grabbing victory.
Vlad Panin TKO4 Dakota Linger ... Junior middleweight Vlad Panin scored a fourth-round TKO stoppage of outgunned Dakota Linger at the Zuffa Boxing event at T-Mobile Arena. Panin (25-2) started fast, and nearly earned a first-round stoppage when he hurt Linger to the body, then unloaded a barrage of shots as Linger covered up in the corner. Linger (17-8-3) managed to weather the storm and survive the round, though the ringside doctor advised he would be keeping “a close eye on” him after a rough end to the first round. Panin continued to build up his punch count. In round four, a pair of solid body shots backed Linger away towards the ropes, and Panin unloaded another heavy combination that forced referee Thomas Taylor to step in and wave off the fight to spare Linger further punishment. It gave Panin his second win under the Zuffa Boxing banner and extended his current knockout streak to four fights as he called for a big step up in competition next time out.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Oswaldo Molina won a battle of the undefeated lightweights as he claimed a unanimous decision victory over Pablo Rubio. Molina came into the bout with fewer fights to his name, but looked half a step ahead of Rubio throughout their six-round contest. The Mexican’s superior footwork and cleaner work saw him edge the rounds as the bout progressed, though neither man was able to land anything that put the other in any real trouble. In the end, the 19-year-old looked a cut above his opponent as he claimed a wide unanimous decision victory. One judge gave the teenager all six rounds, while the other two each gave him five as he moved to 10-0 with a decisive win. Rubio, meanwhile, takes the first L of his career and drops to 15-1.
Undefeated super middleweight Abel Gonzalez bounced back from the first knockdown of his career to claim a unanimous decision victory over Raul Salomon (16-5-1) of Mexico. Salomon sprung a surprise late in the opening round when he stepped in close and dropped Gonzalez with a clubbing short right over the top. The Mexican vet followed up with a solid round in the second, too. But from round three onward, Gonzalez warmed to the task and pushed the pace, scoring consistently while being more defensively responsible against the ropes. And after eight rounds, it was Gonzalez’s work that impressed the judges more as he earned scores of 77-74 across the board for a unanimous decision victory, improving his perfect professional record to 9-0.
Zuffa's preliminary card opened up with Ryan Garcia’s younger brother Sean kicking off the night with a majority decision victory over Abraham Morales in the lightweight division. Garcia (8-1-1) showcased some flashy hands and decent hand speed against Morales (4-2), who applied constant forward pressure throughout the six-round contest. But that pressure was made to count against the 32-year old when a smart counter shot from Garcia dropped him late in the third round. A harsh-looking point deduction for Garcia in the fifth gave Morales some late hope, and he enjoyed his best round of the fight. But, despite that setback, Garcia boxed his way through the final round to secure the majority decision victory on the scorecards, with the judges scoring the bout 56-56 and 58-54 (twice).
|
Corrupt WBC deciding after the fight whether to vacate the cruiserweight title |
|
In a move reeking of corruption and self-dealing, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has left WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian and Jai Opetaia in limbo. Mikaelian and Opetaia fight each other today (Saturday) but the WBC has not said whether it will sanction the fight or strip Mikaelian. Hours before the fight Sulaiman tweeted, "The WBC will not make any comment about the cruiserweight division until Monday Sept 14th with the definite ruling of the division." Mikaelian and Opetaia are rapidly becoming collateral damage in a war to control boxing. Zuffa Boxing, the promoter of the Mikaelian-Opetaia bout, is gaining a strong foothold in the boxing world and its CEO Dana White has repeatedly said his goal is to have Zuffa boxers compete for a Zuffa championship instead of the traditional WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles that currenly rule the sport.
After Opetaia signed with Zuffa, he was stripped of the IBF championship, and that dispute is currently the subject of a federal lawsuit. When Zuffa sought to make a fight between Opetaia and Mikaelian, the WBC quickly ordered Mikaelian to face David Benavidez, who has the WBA and WBO titles. But Mikaelian sought to fight Opetaia, leading to the current standoff. The prediction here is that if Opetaia wins, the WBC will not recognize him as champion, as part of a campaign to injure Zuffa. If Mikaelian wins, we predict the WBC once again trying to force Mikaelian to fight Benavidez.
|
|
|
|
Corrupt WBC deciding after the fight whether to vacate the cruiserweight title
In a move reeking of corruption and self-dealing, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has left WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian and Jai Opetaia in limbo. Mikaelian and Opetaia fight each other today (Saturday) but the WBC has not said whether it will sanction the fight or strip Mikaelian. Hours before the fight Sulaiman tweeted, "The WBC will not make any comment about the cruiserweight division until Monday Sept 14th with the definite ruling of the division." Mikaelian and Opetaia are rapidly becoming collateral damage in a war to control boxing. Zuffa Boxing, the promoter of the Mikaelian-Opetaia bout, is gaining a strong foothold in the boxing world and its CEO Dana White has repeatedly said his goal is to have Zuffa boxers compete for a Zuffa championship instead of the traditional WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles that currenly rule the sport.
After Opetaia signed with Zuffa, he was stripped of the IBF championship, and that dispute is currently the subject of a federal lawsuit. When Zuffa sought to make a fight between Opetaia and Mikaelian, the WBC quickly ordered Mikaelian to face David Benavidez, who has the WBA and WBO titles. But Mikaelian sought to fight Opetaia, leading to the current standoff. The prediction here is that if Opetaia wins, the WBC will not recognize him as champion, as part of a campaign to injure Zuffa. If Mikaelian wins, we predict the WBC once again trying to force Mikaelian to fight Benavidez.
|
Weigh-in report from Las Vegas: Garcia and Benn both below 147 |
|
Below are the boxers' weights for the Zuffa Boxing show taking place Saturday, September 12th. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and streams on Paramount+ in the United States. Ryan Garcia makes the first defense of his WBC welterweight championship against Conor Benn in the main event, while Jai Opetaia faces Noel Mikaelian for the Zuffa cruiserweight championship in the co-feature. Opetaia was recently stripped of the IBF championship for an invalid reason while Mikaelian is the reigning WBC champion but appears to be on the verge of getting stripped because the WBC has not acknowledged this fight. Opetaia and Mikaelian appear to be collateral damage in the sanctioning bodies' hostility to Zuffa.In any event, here are the weights:
Ryan Garcia, 145.5 pounds -vs.- Conor Benn, 146 (welterweight, twelve rounds);
Jai Opetaia, 199 pounds -vs.- Noel Mikaelian, 200 (cruiserweight, twelve rounds);
Da'Mazion Vanhouter, 231.5 pounds -vs.- Raphael Akpejiori, 246 (heavyweight, eight rounds);
Mark Magsayo, 134.5 pounds -vs.- Andres Cortes, 135 (lightweight, ten rounds);
Oswaldo Molina, 131.5 pounds -vs.- Pablo Rubio, 131 (lightweight, six rounds);
Abel Gonzalez, 167.5 pounds -vs.- Raul Salomon, 167 (super middleweight, eight rounds);
Vlad Panin, 151.5 pounds -vs.- Dakota Linger, 150.5 (junior middleweight, six rounds);
Jose Ramirez, 146.5 pounds -vs.- Alexis Rocha, 146.5 (welterweight, ten rounds); and
Sean Garcia, 134 pounds -vs.- Abraham Morales, 134 (lightweight, six rounds).
|
|
|
|
Weigh-in report from Las Vegas: Garcia and Benn both below 147
Below are the boxers' weights for the Zuffa Boxing show taking place Saturday, September 12th. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and streams on Paramount+ in the United States. Ryan Garcia makes the first defense of his WBC welterweight championship against Conor Benn in the main event, while Jai Opetaia faces Noel Mikaelian for the Zuffa cruiserweight championship in the co-feature. Opetaia was recently stripped of the IBF championship for an invalid reason while Mikaelian is the reigning WBC champion but appears to be on the verge of getting stripped because the WBC has not acknowledged this fight. Opetaia and Mikaelian appear to be collateral damage in the sanctioning bodies' hostility to Zuffa.In any event, here are the weights:
Ryan Garcia, 145.5 pounds -vs.- Conor Benn, 146 (welterweight, twelve rounds);
Jai Opetaia, 199 pounds -vs.- Noel Mikaelian, 200 (cruiserweight, twelve rounds);
Da'Mazion Vanhouter, 231.5 pounds -vs.- Raphael Akpejiori, 246 (heavyweight, eight rounds);
Mark Magsayo, 134.5 pounds -vs.- Andres Cortes, 135 (lightweight, ten rounds);
Oswaldo Molina, 131.5 pounds -vs.- Pablo Rubio, 131 (lightweight, six rounds);
Abel Gonzalez, 167.5 pounds -vs.- Raul Salomon, 167 (super middleweight, eight rounds);
Vlad Panin, 151.5 pounds -vs.- Dakota Linger, 150.5 (junior middleweight, six rounds);
Jose Ramirez, 146.5 pounds -vs.- Alexis Rocha, 146.5 (welterweight, ten rounds); and
Sean Garcia, 134 pounds -vs.- Abraham Morales, 134 (lightweight, six rounds).
|
Zelfa Barrett and Gavin Gwynne to get it on in London |
|
|
Lightweights Zelfa Barrett and Gavin Gwynne are out to secure capital gains when they clash in London on Saturday, November 14th, live on DAZN. Barrett, from Manchester, is 35-3 with four lower-level wins in a row. Gwynne, from Wales, is 19-4-2 overall, including 1-0-1 in his last two bouts, both of which were against undefeated boxers. In 2022, Barrett dropped a vacant 130-pound title bid to Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. Presented by MF PRO, the OVO Arena Wembley card also features a Commonwealth junior welterweight title clash between unbeaten punchers Yaser Al Ghena and Ben Marksby. Also, featherweights Tom Welland and Jack Dillingham will scrap it out in an English title eliminator. More bouts will be announced soon.
Barrett said: “Gwynne is a decent fighter, but I believe I’m levels above him and will show that November 14th.”
Gwynne said: “I’m really looking forward to this fight; I know Zelfa is a really good fighter, but I really believe this fight is made for me. I love being the underdog going into fights and this fight is no different from any other. I’m coming off a good win and, on a roll, can’t wait to let my hands go!”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “These are the first announcements for what is going to be a massive night of boxing, live on DAZN on November 14th. When you pit two hungry fighters in a domestic showdown, with world title ramifications, you know it will deliver and Barrett vs. Gwynne has all the ingredients to do exactly that. Zelfa is the former world title challenger who has the bit between his teeth, while Gwynne is the Welsh road warrior with a track record of causing major upsets. Throw in a brilliant looking Commonwealth title fight between Al Ghena and Marksby, as well as a guaranteed firefight between Welland and Dillingham, and the fans watching another electric Saturday Fight Night live on DAZN, are going to love this.”
|
|
|
|
Zelfa Barrett and Gavin Gwynne to get it on in London
Lightweights Zelfa Barrett and Gavin Gwynne are out to secure capital gains when they clash in London on Saturday, November 14th, live on DAZN. Barrett, from Manchester, is 35-3 with four lower-level wins in a row. Gwynne, from Wales, is 19-4-2 overall, including 1-0-1 in his last two bouts, both of which were against undefeated boxers. In 2022, Barrett dropped a vacant 130-pound title bid to Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov. Presented by MF PRO, the OVO Arena Wembley card also features a Commonwealth junior welterweight title clash between unbeaten punchers Yaser Al Ghena and Ben Marksby. Also, featherweights Tom Welland and Jack Dillingham will scrap it out in an English title eliminator. More bouts will be announced soon.
Barrett said: “Gwynne is a decent fighter, but I believe I’m levels above him and will show that November 14th.”
Gwynne said: “I’m really looking forward to this fight; I know Zelfa is a really good fighter, but I really believe this fight is made for me. I love being the underdog going into fights and this fight is no different from any other. I’m coming off a good win and, on a roll, can’t wait to let my hands go!”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “These are the first announcements for what is going to be a massive night of boxing, live on DAZN on November 14th. When you pit two hungry fighters in a domestic showdown, with world title ramifications, you know it will deliver and Barrett vs. Gwynne has all the ingredients to do exactly that. Zelfa is the former world title challenger who has the bit between his teeth, while Gwynne is the Welsh road warrior with a track record of causing major upsets. Throw in a brilliant looking Commonwealth title fight between Al Ghena and Marksby, as well as a guaranteed firefight between Welland and Dillingham, and the fans watching another electric Saturday Fight Night live on DAZN, are going to love this.”
|
Ticket alert: Navarrete vs. Foster |
|
Tickets are on sale now for the three-belt junior lightweight unification battle between WBO/IBF king Emanuel Navarrete and WBC champ O’Shaquie Foster, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com. In the ten-round co-feature, featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez (18-0, 11 KOs) takes on Fort Worth native Edward Vazquez (20-3, 6 KOs). Additionally, junior welterweight Frank Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs) makes his debut with Top Rank in a ten-rounder versus an opponent to be announced shortly. Navarrete-Foster, Gonzalez-Vazquez, Martin’s return, along with an additional fight, will be streamed live on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KOs) enters his second straight unification showdown after a dominant February victory over Eduardo Nuñez to add the IBF crown to his WBO title. Since returning to 130 pounds, he has stopped Oscar Valdez, battled through a tough outing with Charly Suarez and, with a nagging left-hand injury firmly behind him, enters this bout at his peak determined to improve his case in the pound-for-pound conversation.
Foster (25-3, 12 KOs) is a two-time champion riding the strongest stretch of his career. After regaining his title from Robson Conceição in November 2024, the Orange, Texas, native followed with high-quality triumphs over Stephen Fulton and Raymond Ford.
|
|
|
|
Ticket alert: Navarrete vs. Foster
Tickets are on sale now for the three-belt junior lightweight unification battle between WBO/IBF king Emanuel Navarrete and WBC champ O’Shaquie Foster, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com. In the ten-round co-feature, featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez (18-0, 11 KOs) takes on Fort Worth native Edward Vazquez (20-3, 6 KOs). Additionally, junior welterweight Frank Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs) makes his debut with Top Rank in a ten-rounder versus an opponent to be announced shortly. Navarrete-Foster, Gonzalez-Vazquez, Martin’s return, along with an additional fight, will be streamed live on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Navarrete (40-2-1, 33 KOs) enters his second straight unification showdown after a dominant February victory over Eduardo Nuñez to add the IBF crown to his WBO title. Since returning to 130 pounds, he has stopped Oscar Valdez, battled through a tough outing with Charly Suarez and, with a nagging left-hand injury firmly behind him, enters this bout at his peak determined to improve his case in the pound-for-pound conversation.
Foster (25-3, 12 KOs) is a two-time champion riding the strongest stretch of his career. After regaining his title from Robson Conceição in November 2024, the Orange, Texas, native followed with high-quality triumphs over Stephen Fulton and Raymond Ford.
|
Matchroom adds David Adeleye to roster |
|
|
Matchroom Boxing announced the signing of former British heavyweight champion, David Adeleye. The 29-year old from Ladbroke Grove in London has put pen to paper on a multi-fight deal and insists he cannot wait to “get the ball rolling” in his pursuit of his dream of becoming a wolrd champion. Adeleye boasts a record of 14-2 with 13 KOs and trains under the renowned Adam Booth. Adeleye is looking forward to returning to the ring soon, targeting two fights before the end of this year – and he is confident that he will follow in the footsteps of stablemate IBF Super-Welterweight king Josh Kelly and forge his name in greatness.
“This is big news for me,” said Adeleye. “I have signed a multi-fight deal with the plan to get out twice this year, so I cannot wait to get the ball rolling. Why Matchroom? Why not. Matchroom are one of the biggest promotions in the world and they have created many World Champions before. I will definitely be adding my name to that list – and what an exciting journey we are going to have ahead. I’m looking forward to fighting all around the world and mixing it with the biggest names. Of course, there were a lot of offers on the table. But, for me, I want to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Matchroom is the company that can do that for me. They know boxing, they understand fighters and I feel like the professionalism they have already shown me bodes well for what is to come. I just can’t wait to get started...”
Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “Welcome to the team, David. We’re going to have a lot of fun working together. He has a huge personality. He is a real diamond in the rough with a phenomenal punch. I truly believe he has all the tools to go all the way to the top and we are excited to be working with him in his quest to go on and become a future Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
News of David’s Matchroom Boxing debut will be shared in due course.
|
|
|
|
Matchroom adds David Adeleye to roster
Matchroom Boxing announced the signing of former British heavyweight champion, David Adeleye. The 29-year old from Ladbroke Grove in London has put pen to paper on a multi-fight deal and insists he cannot wait to “get the ball rolling” in his pursuit of his dream of becoming a wolrd champion. Adeleye boasts a record of 14-2 with 13 KOs and trains under the renowned Adam Booth. Adeleye is looking forward to returning to the ring soon, targeting two fights before the end of this year – and he is confident that he will follow in the footsteps of stablemate IBF Super-Welterweight king Josh Kelly and forge his name in greatness.
“This is big news for me,” said Adeleye. “I have signed a multi-fight deal with the plan to get out twice this year, so I cannot wait to get the ball rolling. Why Matchroom? Why not. Matchroom are one of the biggest promotions in the world and they have created many World Champions before. I will definitely be adding my name to that list – and what an exciting journey we are going to have ahead. I’m looking forward to fighting all around the world and mixing it with the biggest names. Of course, there were a lot of offers on the table. But, for me, I want to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Matchroom is the company that can do that for me. They know boxing, they understand fighters and I feel like the professionalism they have already shown me bodes well for what is to come. I just can’t wait to get started...”
Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “Welcome to the team, David. We’re going to have a lot of fun working together. He has a huge personality. He is a real diamond in the rough with a phenomenal punch. I truly believe he has all the tools to go all the way to the top and we are excited to be working with him in his quest to go on and become a future Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
News of David’s Matchroom Boxing debut will be shared in due course.
|
Tonight: CombatVisionTV streams huge Dominican show |
|
|
“Dominican Fight Night,” co-promoted by BiYu Promotions and Shuan Boxing, streams live worldwide tonight (Friday) on CombatVisionTV from Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. “This is exactly what CombatVisionTV is about, giving talented fighters a worldwide platform and giving boxing fans access to exciting fights,” said BiYu Promotions president Bobby Harrison. “We have a tremendous group of fighters competing tonight, including some very talented young prospects from the Dominican Republic and the United States. I encourage boxing fans everywhere to tune in, watch these fighters perform, and get familiar with some of the names you’ll be hearing a lot more about in the future.” Here is the full nineteen-bout lineup:
Feudri Franco (7-0, 6 KOs) -vs.- Junior Desir (7-0-1, 5 KOs) (welterweight, eight rounds);
Jorge Santana (16-2, 9 KOs) -vs.- Eliesel Rodriguez (9-0-2, 8 KOs) (junior lightweight, eight rounds);
Juan Delgado (6-6, 4 KOs) -vs.- Rafael Abreu (12-0, 11 KOs) (junior middleweight, eight rounds);
Eliezel Aquino (23-5-1, 16 KOs) -vs.- Jose De Los Santos (5-0, 4 KOs) (super bantamweight, eight rounds);
Keuryn Alcantara (2-0, 1 KO) -vs.- Markin Quezada (3-6, 3 KOs) (super bantamweight, six rounds);
Nayer Gonzalez (3-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Angel Rodriguez (5-0, 3 KOs) (featherweight, six rounds);
Miguel Arias (7-0, 7 KOs) -vs.- Jose Manuel Perez (6-1, 4 KOs) (junior middleweight, eight rounds);
Misael Vasquez (18-7-1, 16 KOs) -vs.- Michael Chaise (23-4-1, 8 KOs) (junior lightweight, eight rounds);
Ty Cassell (5-0, 3 KOs) -vs.- Cristofer Peralta (3-0-1, 2 KOs) (junior welterweight, six rounds);
Yan Carlos Perez (8-1, 5 KOs) -vs.- Juan Alcantara (12-10-2, 8 KOs) (super bantamweight, eight rounds);
Vivian Rodriguez (9-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Grecia Nova (20-33-4, 10 KOs) (featherweight, eight rounds);
Jankelly Rodriguez (5-1, 5 KOs) -vs.- Starlyn Guzman (5-0, 5 KOs) (cruiserweight, six rounds);
Pryce Sparrow (6-0, 4 KOs) -vs.- Oliver Flores (31-7-3, 20 KOs) (welterweight, eight rounds);
Yankiel Rivera (7-1-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Francisco Vargas (5-10, 3 KOs) (flyweight, six rounds);
Elvis Del Castillo (5-0-1, 4 KOs) -vs.- Juan Carlos Salazar (3-0, 3 KOs) (welterweight, six rounds);
Luis Rosario (16-1-1, 10 KOs) -vs.- José Rodriguez (11-6, 10 KOs) (junior lightweight, six rounds);
Bryan Santos (2-0, 2 KOs) -vs.- Juan Carlos Constanza (0-2) (junior lightweight, four rounds);
Kermin Jimenez (3-0, 3 KOs) -vs.- Carlos Johnson (3-0, 2 KOs) (welterweight, six rounds); and
Alexander Rivera (6-2, 3 KOs) -vs.- Bladimir Heredia (2-8, 2 KOs) (super bantamweight, six rounds).
|
|
|
|
Tonight: CombatVisionTV streams huge Dominican show
“Dominican Fight Night,” co-promoted by BiYu Promotions and Shuan Boxing, streams live worldwide tonight (Friday) on CombatVisionTV from Coliseo Carlos Teo Cruz in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. “This is exactly what CombatVisionTV is about, giving talented fighters a worldwide platform and giving boxing fans access to exciting fights,” said BiYu Promotions president Bobby Harrison. “We have a tremendous group of fighters competing tonight, including some very talented young prospects from the Dominican Republic and the United States. I encourage boxing fans everywhere to tune in, watch these fighters perform, and get familiar with some of the names you’ll be hearing a lot more about in the future.” Here is the full nineteen-bout lineup:
Feudri Franco (7-0, 6 KOs) -vs.- Junior Desir (7-0-1, 5 KOs) (welterweight, eight rounds);
Jorge Santana (16-2, 9 KOs) -vs.- Eliesel Rodriguez (9-0-2, 8 KOs) (junior lightweight, eight rounds);
Juan Delgado (6-6, 4 KOs) -vs.- Rafael Abreu (12-0, 11 KOs) (junior middleweight, eight rounds);
Eliezel Aquino (23-5-1, 16 KOs) -vs.- Jose De Los Santos (5-0, 4 KOs) (super bantamweight, eight rounds);
Keuryn Alcantara (2-0, 1 KO) -vs.- Markin Quezada (3-6, 3 KOs) (super bantamweight, six rounds);
Nayer Gonzalez (3-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Angel Rodriguez (5-0, 3 KOs) (featherweight, six rounds);
Miguel Arias (7-0, 7 KOs) -vs.- Jose Manuel Perez (6-1, 4 KOs) (junior middleweight, eight rounds);
Misael Vasquez (18-7-1, 16 KOs) -vs.- Michael Chaise (23-4-1, 8 KOs) (junior lightweight, eight rounds);
Ty Cassell (5-0, 3 KOs) -vs.- Cristofer Peralta (3-0-1, 2 KOs) (junior welterweight, six rounds);
Yan Carlos Perez (8-1, 5 KOs) -vs.- Juan Alcantara (12-10-2, 8 KOs) (super bantamweight, eight rounds);
Vivian Rodriguez (9-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Grecia Nova (20-33-4, 10 KOs) (featherweight, eight rounds);
Jankelly Rodriguez (5-1, 5 KOs) -vs.- Starlyn Guzman (5-0, 5 KOs) (cruiserweight, six rounds);
Pryce Sparrow (6-0, 4 KOs) -vs.- Oliver Flores (31-7-3, 20 KOs) (welterweight, eight rounds);
Yankiel Rivera (7-1-1, 3 KOs) -vs.- Francisco Vargas (5-10, 3 KOs) (flyweight, six rounds);
Elvis Del Castillo (5-0-1, 4 KOs) -vs.- Juan Carlos Salazar (3-0, 3 KOs) (welterweight, six rounds);
Luis Rosario (16-1-1, 10 KOs) -vs.- José Rodriguez (11-6, 10 KOs) (junior lightweight, six rounds);
Bryan Santos (2-0, 2 KOs) -vs.- Juan Carlos Constanza (0-2) (junior lightweight, four rounds);
Kermin Jimenez (3-0, 3 KOs) -vs.- Carlos Johnson (3-0, 2 KOs) (welterweight, six rounds); and
Alexander Rivera (6-2, 3 KOs) -vs.- Bladimir Heredia (2-8, 2 KOs) (super bantamweight, six rounds).
|
Tomoya Tsuboi lands title shot in fifth pro bout |
|
In Tokyo on September 27th, local man Tomoya Tsuboi will attempt to win a vacant world title in just his fifth pro bout. The deserving Tsuboi is 3-0 with 1 NC but he is 30 years old and an amateur world champion from 2021. Tsuboi's second pro fight saw him stop and retire ex-champ Carlos Cuadra. He'll face South Africa’s Ricardo Malajica for the WBC super flyweight championship. That title became available when Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez announced he will be moving up in weight. Tsuboi-Malajica will serve as a co-feature prior to a highly anticipated rematch between Takuma Inoue and Japanese superstar Tenshin Nasukawa for the bantamweight world title, where Inoue looks to repeat his previous triumph.
Tsuboi benefits from an elite amateur career that allowed him to adapt to the pro ranks at lightning speed. Known for his footwork, elegance, and mastery of ring distance, Tsuboi is considered one of the brightest prospects in Japanese boxing.
South Africa’s Malajica (17-2, 12 KOs) brings top-tier experience and raw power. Boasting a solid knockout ratio and proven battle tested on big stages, Malajica looks to leverage his strength and physical presence to silence the home crowd.
|
|
|
|
Tomoya Tsuboi lands title shot in fifth pro bout
In Tokyo on September 27th, local man Tomoya Tsuboi will attempt to win a vacant world title in just his fifth pro bout. The deserving Tsuboi is 3-0 with 1 NC but he is 30 years old and an amateur world champion from 2021. Tsuboi's second pro fight saw him stop and retire ex-champ Carlos Cuadra. He'll face South Africa’s Ricardo Malajica for the WBC super flyweight championship. That title became available when Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez announced he will be moving up in weight. Tsuboi-Malajica will serve as a co-feature prior to a highly anticipated rematch between Takuma Inoue and Japanese superstar Tenshin Nasukawa for the bantamweight world title, where Inoue looks to repeat his previous triumph.
Tsuboi benefits from an elite amateur career that allowed him to adapt to the pro ranks at lightning speed. Known for his footwork, elegance, and mastery of ring distance, Tsuboi is considered one of the brightest prospects in Japanese boxing.
South Africa’s Malajica (17-2, 12 KOs) brings top-tier experience and raw power. Boasting a solid knockout ratio and proven battle tested on big stages, Malajica looks to leverage his strength and physical presence to silence the home crowd.
|
Garcia: "this fight is not going over five rounds" |
|
|
Ryan Garcia’s career has taken more twists and turns than a soap opera in recent years, but “King Ry” arrives in Las Vegas feeling back to his best, and with the WBC welterweight championship belt around his waist. After a turbulent few years, he plans on asserting his dominance on the welterweight division by facing big name after big name. His next test will see him face off against Conor Benn, whose memorable wars at 160 pounds with Chris Eubank Jr. produced two of British boxing’s biggest moments of recent years. This is the first time Garcia will defend a title, and he plans on using the occasion as a springboard to launch him into a succession of big-money unification bouts further down the line.
His quest for gold started back in the amateurs, where his dream was to capture an Olympic gold medal for the United States. The timing just didn’t work out for him, and he made the difficult decision to turn pro rather than wait for the Olympic cycle to come back around. “I wasn't eligible to go to the Olympics because I was 17, so it was either: wait four more years in the amateurs and wear no headgear and get paid nothing, or start my professional journey,” he explained. “That was my dream. I wanted to win a gold medal more than anything, that's why the Luke Campbell victory is so special to me. I know people don't see it, but he was an Olympic champion.”
That victory over Campbell saw Garcia capture an interim belt at lightweight. Now a reigning welterweight champion, Garcia is ready to put his title on the line against Benn, who is crossing the pond with his sights set on his first world championship. Garcia knows Benn will bring his relentless brand of pressure fighting to the matchup on Saturday night, but Garcia said he’s ready to put on a show and deliver an emphatic victory. “I'm gonna put a stamp on this fight. This fight's not gonna be close,” he said. “I understand everybody's all, ‘Oh, Benn this and that,’ but this fight is not going over five [rounds]. It’s five and below. I’d be sad if I don’t knock him out in five and below.”
Benn took aim at Garcia during the bout’s launch press conference and criticized him for going down to one knee and not being able to continue in a loss against Gervonta Davis. Garcia said that he fought that bout severely dehydrated, and warned Benn that now, in top shape, he’ll punish the Brit if he steps close enough to land a body shot on Saturday night. “He just doesn't know the situation, and he doesn't know what I had to go through. Nobody knows that,” explained Garcia. “That's dangerous levels of dehydration I was at, and they didn't let me gain weight. That's crazy… He knows a little bit of what I felt, but here's the thing: if he wants to bring that type of fight right now, I know for a fact he probably will get knocked out quick.”
While Garcia said there were mitigating circumstances around his defeat to Davis, his loss to Rolly Romero was more a case of self-inflicted punishment as his excesses away from the ring came back to haunt him in his most recent loss. “For me, you know, I learned a valuable lesson,” he admitted. “Somehow, sooner or later, I had to pay for my sins, and when I say that, I mean my sins after the [Tank Davis] fight. Destroying my body, not giving a f***, doing whatever I wanted to do, not acting like a professional athlete.”
Now Garcia is back in a better place as he prepares to face Benn in a huge title defense at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. And in Benn, he feels he’s up against a fighter whose style is tailor-made for his own. “I’m just too skilled for him,” he stated. “This guy, he has a style that just fits perfect for me. He attacks – I don’t have to go looking for him. He doesn’t know how to fight any other way. And if he does fight any other way, I win easily… If he does, we’re getting to it. There’s no other way. I’m in this. I’m fully equipped, fully in shape. I have no issues. I could go 15-20 rounds. I’m ready.”
Garcia has always had plenty of confidence, but his title-winning performance against Mario Barrios in his most recent outing has given him even more cause for bullishness. Barrios provided stubborn resistance, and while Garcia wasn’t able to get him out of there early, he used a combination of his fight IQ and his pure boxing talent to box his way to a landslide decision victory. “Barrios didn't go away. Barrios tried every second of the fight. He couldn't keep up my speed. He was always a second behind, two seconds behind,” he explained. “Same thing is going to be for Conor, except Conor's going to be there for me. Mario Barrios is tall and lengthy. He's a tree, and he didn't really want to engage, and would try to counter me like Rolly. They were trying to follow that game plan. ‘When Ryan throws a left hook, throw your left hook,’ and he was too slow… When I'm on point, it's like ‘beep, beep, beep, beep,’ and I was hitting him with four-punch combinations, five-punch combinations, two-punch combinations. I was changing it up, going to his body, going up top, dropped him with the right hand, not just the left hook. I didn't even really throw the left hook in the fight, to be honest. I was not even loading up with it. I told everybody it was gonna be a masterclass. I'm gonna beat him every single round, and I did that.”
Garcia said that blend of blurring hand speed and smart energy management will prove Benn’s undoing on Saturday night. He acknowledged the Englishman’s fighting spirit as witnessed in his two fights with Eubank Jr. but he said sometimes, a fighter can be too brave for their own good and hopes Benn can be saved from himself as the fight unfolds. “I really, really, truly hope he walks out of this fight OK because he has a big heart, and he's gonna keep coming,” he said. “So I really do hope his dad is prepared to just throw that towel in – just throw it because it can only get worse… You can have all that heart, all that ‘Macho Camacho’ s***, but honestly, the body will break down before you do, and you don't want it to break down before you do. Some dangerous s*** could happen there. And I have my killer instinct even more now. [Against] Barrios, I didn't really have it. I was still sharpening my tools, and all right, I'm just gonna beat him. Like I said to myself, ‘Would he ever beat me in the amateurs? No,’ so I more boxed him on a point system. If you watch my fight, I was like, ‘bing, bing, bing.’ This one's even more of a killer. Like, I'm hurting people, and I'm about to hurt him. I'm back to that, and [I’m] sharp.”
Garcia seems determined not just to win, but to do so in emphatic fashion as he looks to embark on a run of fights that he hopes will see him collect all of the welterweight championship belts on offer. “Now that that's clear, I'm unifying,” he said. “I need that Teofimo [Lopez fight]. I need that. Father-versus-father, me versus Teofimo. That’s the one guy I never got to fight in the amateurs, and I know that dad has always talked down on me, saying I have no style, I'm not good. He thinks the worst of me… I cannot wait to put an ass-whooping on. That's why I really don't want to lose. I really need that fight. I'm whooping the s*** out of Conor Benn, training my ass off because I don't want to give him the opportunity to get what I want. I need that in every way.”
And he said that Benn forms the first leg of a hat-trick of massive three-fight series he hopes to complete over the course of the next couple of years as he looks to claim his throne as the biggest star in boxing. Those three fights? Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez, and a rematch with Devin Haney. “That’s how I want it. Bing, bow, boom!” he said. “This is a fighter you’re dealing with. I need it all.”
|
|
|
|
Garcia: "this fight is not going over five rounds"
Ryan Garcia’s career has taken more twists and turns than a soap opera in recent years, but “King Ry” arrives in Las Vegas feeling back to his best, and with the WBC welterweight championship belt around his waist. After a turbulent few years, he plans on asserting his dominance on the welterweight division by facing big name after big name. His next test will see him face off against Conor Benn, whose memorable wars at 160 pounds with Chris Eubank Jr. produced two of British boxing’s biggest moments of recent years. This is the first time Garcia will defend a title, and he plans on using the occasion as a springboard to launch him into a succession of big-money unification bouts further down the line.
His quest for gold started back in the amateurs, where his dream was to capture an Olympic gold medal for the United States. The timing just didn’t work out for him, and he made the difficult decision to turn pro rather than wait for the Olympic cycle to come back around. “I wasn't eligible to go to the Olympics because I was 17, so it was either: wait four more years in the amateurs and wear no headgear and get paid nothing, or start my professional journey,” he explained. “That was my dream. I wanted to win a gold medal more than anything, that's why the Luke Campbell victory is so special to me. I know people don't see it, but he was an Olympic champion.”
That victory over Campbell saw Garcia capture an interim belt at lightweight. Now a reigning welterweight champion, Garcia is ready to put his title on the line against Benn, who is crossing the pond with his sights set on his first world championship. Garcia knows Benn will bring his relentless brand of pressure fighting to the matchup on Saturday night, but Garcia said he’s ready to put on a show and deliver an emphatic victory. “I'm gonna put a stamp on this fight. This fight's not gonna be close,” he said. “I understand everybody's all, ‘Oh, Benn this and that,’ but this fight is not going over five [rounds]. It’s five and below. I’d be sad if I don’t knock him out in five and below.”
Benn took aim at Garcia during the bout’s launch press conference and criticized him for going down to one knee and not being able to continue in a loss against Gervonta Davis. Garcia said that he fought that bout severely dehydrated, and warned Benn that now, in top shape, he’ll punish the Brit if he steps close enough to land a body shot on Saturday night. “He just doesn't know the situation, and he doesn't know what I had to go through. Nobody knows that,” explained Garcia. “That's dangerous levels of dehydration I was at, and they didn't let me gain weight. That's crazy… He knows a little bit of what I felt, but here's the thing: if he wants to bring that type of fight right now, I know for a fact he probably will get knocked out quick.”
While Garcia said there were mitigating circumstances around his defeat to Davis, his loss to Rolly Romero was more a case of self-inflicted punishment as his excesses away from the ring came back to haunt him in his most recent loss. “For me, you know, I learned a valuable lesson,” he admitted. “Somehow, sooner or later, I had to pay for my sins, and when I say that, I mean my sins after the [Tank Davis] fight. Destroying my body, not giving a f***, doing whatever I wanted to do, not acting like a professional athlete.”
Now Garcia is back in a better place as he prepares to face Benn in a huge title defense at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. And in Benn, he feels he’s up against a fighter whose style is tailor-made for his own. “I’m just too skilled for him,” he stated. “This guy, he has a style that just fits perfect for me. He attacks – I don’t have to go looking for him. He doesn’t know how to fight any other way. And if he does fight any other way, I win easily… If he does, we’re getting to it. There’s no other way. I’m in this. I’m fully equipped, fully in shape. I have no issues. I could go 15-20 rounds. I’m ready.”
Garcia has always had plenty of confidence, but his title-winning performance against Mario Barrios in his most recent outing has given him even more cause for bullishness. Barrios provided stubborn resistance, and while Garcia wasn’t able to get him out of there early, he used a combination of his fight IQ and his pure boxing talent to box his way to a landslide decision victory. “Barrios didn't go away. Barrios tried every second of the fight. He couldn't keep up my speed. He was always a second behind, two seconds behind,” he explained. “Same thing is going to be for Conor, except Conor's going to be there for me. Mario Barrios is tall and lengthy. He's a tree, and he didn't really want to engage, and would try to counter me like Rolly. They were trying to follow that game plan. ‘When Ryan throws a left hook, throw your left hook,’ and he was too slow… When I'm on point, it's like ‘beep, beep, beep, beep,’ and I was hitting him with four-punch combinations, five-punch combinations, two-punch combinations. I was changing it up, going to his body, going up top, dropped him with the right hand, not just the left hook. I didn't even really throw the left hook in the fight, to be honest. I was not even loading up with it. I told everybody it was gonna be a masterclass. I'm gonna beat him every single round, and I did that.”
Garcia said that blend of blurring hand speed and smart energy management will prove Benn’s undoing on Saturday night. He acknowledged the Englishman’s fighting spirit as witnessed in his two fights with Eubank Jr. but he said sometimes, a fighter can be too brave for their own good and hopes Benn can be saved from himself as the fight unfolds. “I really, really, truly hope he walks out of this fight OK because he has a big heart, and he's gonna keep coming,” he said. “So I really do hope his dad is prepared to just throw that towel in – just throw it because it can only get worse… You can have all that heart, all that ‘Macho Camacho’ s***, but honestly, the body will break down before you do, and you don't want it to break down before you do. Some dangerous s*** could happen there. And I have my killer instinct even more now. [Against] Barrios, I didn't really have it. I was still sharpening my tools, and all right, I'm just gonna beat him. Like I said to myself, ‘Would he ever beat me in the amateurs? No,’ so I more boxed him on a point system. If you watch my fight, I was like, ‘bing, bing, bing.’ This one's even more of a killer. Like, I'm hurting people, and I'm about to hurt him. I'm back to that, and [I’m] sharp.”
Garcia seems determined not just to win, but to do so in emphatic fashion as he looks to embark on a run of fights that he hopes will see him collect all of the welterweight championship belts on offer. “Now that that's clear, I'm unifying,” he said. “I need that Teofimo [Lopez fight]. I need that. Father-versus-father, me versus Teofimo. That’s the one guy I never got to fight in the amateurs, and I know that dad has always talked down on me, saying I have no style, I'm not good. He thinks the worst of me… I cannot wait to put an ass-whooping on. That's why I really don't want to lose. I really need that fight. I'm whooping the s*** out of Conor Benn, training my ass off because I don't want to give him the opportunity to get what I want. I need that in every way.”
And he said that Benn forms the first leg of a hat-trick of massive three-fight series he hopes to complete over the course of the next couple of years as he looks to claim his throne as the biggest star in boxing. Those three fights? Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez, and a rematch with Devin Haney. “That’s how I want it. Bing, bow, boom!” he said. “This is a fighter you’re dealing with. I need it all.”
|
WBO sends Sheeraz vs. Alimkhanuly to purse bid |
|
|
Disgraced ex-champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is moving closer to a world title opportunity despite a recent anti-doping violation. Alimkhanuly is the mandatory challenger to Hamzah Sheeraz for Sheeraz's WBO super middleweight title. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri reported that the WBO has received official confirmation from Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement for Sheeraz-Alimkhanuly within the WBO's prescribed negotiation period.Therefore, the WBO has ordered a purse bid auction for Wednesday, September 16th at the WBO Main Offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
AUG. 14, 2026: Former unified middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been designated the mandatory challenger for WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz, less than a month after the WBO terminated Alimkhanuly's suspension stemming from an anti-doping violation. In an August 7th resolution, the WBO selected Alimkhanuly as the mandatory over Jacob Bank and ordered the Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz camps to begin negotiations for a mandatory title fight. The parties were given twenty days to reach an agreement, after which the WBO will order a purse bid. The decision is notable because Alimkhanuly's recent PED violation figured prominently in the WBO's analysis. The organization acknowledged that Alimkhanuly committed an anti-doping violation and had been suspended, while noting that he was a first-time offender who cooperated with the WBO investigation, submitted medical documentation in his defense and complied with the conditions imposed upon him. His suspension was terminated effective July 10th.
The ruling means that Alimkhanuly will now have an opportunity to become a two-division world champion against Sheeraz. However, the WBO expressly stated that ending the suspension did not erase the underlying disciplinary matter or amount to a finding that the violation had not occurred. Instead, the organization concluded that Alimkhanuly had completed the disciplinary consequences imposed upon him and was therefore once again eligible to compete in WBO-sanctioned activity.
The WBO then considered whether the PED violation and suspension should count against Alimkhanuly in determining the mandatory challenger. It declined to do so, reasoning that his suspension had already "served its disciplinary purpose" and that reducing his championship opportunities after he had completed the suspension would effectively amount to an additional competitive sanction.
That cleared the way for Alimkhanuly's championship résumé to carry the day over Bank. Alimkhanuly previously held the WBO middleweight world title, made five successful defenses and unified the WBO and IBF titles by defeating Vincenzo Gualtieri. The WBO also relied heavily on its history of giving established world champions special consideration when moving into an adjacent weight division.
Bank's petition to become mandatory challenger was denied despite the WBO recognizing his activity and victories over former IBF champion William Scull and also Tyron Zeuge. The Committee ultimately concluded that Alimkhanuly's championship experience and accomplishments presented the stronger claim.
The WBO returned to the PED issue in its conclusion, stating that it "does not minimize" Alimkhanuly's anti-doping violation, but emphasizing his cooperation, first-offender status and completion of the terms of his suspension. The Committee concluded that the prior suspension no longer presented an impediment to his eligibility and that it could not impose an additional competitive penalty after the disciplinary conditions had been satisfied. JULY 25, 2026 ... Heavily favored Hamzah Sheeraz stumbled and barely defeated Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision to retain the WBO super middleweight title. The scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 reflect Sheeraz' showing, and it was not the performance many were expecting from Sheeraz. He was expected to finish Zachenhuber early and with ease. Instead, Sheeraz fought down to the level of his competition.
|
|
|
|
WBO sends Sheeraz vs. Alimkhanuly to purse bid
Disgraced ex-champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly is moving closer to a world title opportunity despite a recent anti-doping violation. Alimkhanuly is the mandatory challenger to Hamzah Sheeraz for Sheeraz's WBO super middleweight title. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri reported that the WBO has received official confirmation from Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement for Sheeraz-Alimkhanuly within the WBO's prescribed negotiation period.Therefore, the WBO has ordered a purse bid auction for Wednesday, September 16th at the WBO Main Offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
AUG. 14, 2026: Former unified middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has been designated the mandatory challenger for WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz, less than a month after the WBO terminated Alimkhanuly's suspension stemming from an anti-doping violation. In an August 7th resolution, the WBO selected Alimkhanuly as the mandatory over Jacob Bank and ordered the Alimkhanuly and Sheeraz camps to begin negotiations for a mandatory title fight. The parties were given twenty days to reach an agreement, after which the WBO will order a purse bid. The decision is notable because Alimkhanuly's recent PED violation figured prominently in the WBO's analysis. The organization acknowledged that Alimkhanuly committed an anti-doping violation and had been suspended, while noting that he was a first-time offender who cooperated with the WBO investigation, submitted medical documentation in his defense and complied with the conditions imposed upon him. His suspension was terminated effective July 10th.
The ruling means that Alimkhanuly will now have an opportunity to become a two-division world champion against Sheeraz. However, the WBO expressly stated that ending the suspension did not erase the underlying disciplinary matter or amount to a finding that the violation had not occurred. Instead, the organization concluded that Alimkhanuly had completed the disciplinary consequences imposed upon him and was therefore once again eligible to compete in WBO-sanctioned activity.
The WBO then considered whether the PED violation and suspension should count against Alimkhanuly in determining the mandatory challenger. It declined to do so, reasoning that his suspension had already "served its disciplinary purpose" and that reducing his championship opportunities after he had completed the suspension would effectively amount to an additional competitive sanction.
That cleared the way for Alimkhanuly's championship résumé to carry the day over Bank. Alimkhanuly previously held the WBO middleweight world title, made five successful defenses and unified the WBO and IBF titles by defeating Vincenzo Gualtieri. The WBO also relied heavily on its history of giving established world champions special consideration when moving into an adjacent weight division.
Bank's petition to become mandatory challenger was denied despite the WBO recognizing his activity and victories over former IBF champion William Scull and also Tyron Zeuge. The Committee ultimately concluded that Alimkhanuly's championship experience and accomplishments presented the stronger claim.
The WBO returned to the PED issue in its conclusion, stating that it "does not minimize" Alimkhanuly's anti-doping violation, but emphasizing his cooperation, first-offender status and completion of the terms of his suspension. The Committee concluded that the prior suspension no longer presented an impediment to his eligibility and that it could not impose an additional competitive penalty after the disciplinary conditions had been satisfied. JULY 25, 2026 ... Heavily favored Hamzah Sheeraz stumbled and barely defeated Simon Zachenhuber by majority decision to retain the WBO super middleweight title. The scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 reflect Sheeraz' showing, and it was not the performance many were expecting from Sheeraz. He was expected to finish Zachenhuber early and with ease. Instead, Sheeraz fought down to the level of his competition.
|
Ben Whittaker announces next bout |
|
On October 3rd, Britain's Ben Whittaker will engage in a light heavyweight dust-up when he faces Australian southpaw Conor Wallace in Birmingham. Whittaker had a big win in November 2025 with a first-round knockout victory over Benjamin Gavazi. Since then, he has early stoppage wins over Braian Nahuel Suarez and Popeye Rivera to run his record to 13-0-1 including the World Series of Boxing. Meanwhile, Conor Wallace has built a solid professional career, going 17-1 with the only loss coming by majority decision in a six rounder over five years ago.
|
|
|
|
Ben Whittaker announces next bout
On October 3rd, Britain's Ben Whittaker will engage in a light heavyweight dust-up when he faces Australian southpaw Conor Wallace in Birmingham. Whittaker had a big win in November 2025 with a first-round knockout victory over Benjamin Gavazi. Since then, he has early stoppage wins over Braian Nahuel Suarez and Popeye Rivera to run his record to 13-0-1 including the World Series of Boxing. Meanwhile, Conor Wallace has built a solid professional career, going 17-1 with the only loss coming by majority decision in a six rounder over five years ago.
|
