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WBO President Gustavo Olivieri has announced that he is recommending an interim title at junior welterweight due to champion Teofimo Lopez who is sidelined due to ongoing battle with promoter Top Rank.

Gustavo Olivieri: “In light of the uncertainty regarding Teofimo Lopez’s career, it is in the best interest of boxing and the 140lb division, recommending to the WBO Championship Committee that Barboza-Catterall be sanctioned for the interim title and mandatory subject to specific conditions and time frame to fight Lopez to terminate the interim champion status and have only one world champion in the 140lb [division]. The show must go on.”

WBC interim light heavyweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez held a Las Vegas media workout on Thursday before his showdown with fellow unbeaten star David Morrell Jr. on Saturday, February 1 on a Prime Video pay-per-view event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

David Benavidez: “I’ve been in big fights since I was 20-years-old, so to be out there representing the Mexican and Mexican-American people on this stage, it’s everything I’ve wanted out of this sport. I have to show people that I’m the real ‘Mexican Monster’…the way I fight, I always try to take my opponents out. It doesn’t mean you always get it, but we’re definitely going to be pushing for it. David Morrell has made it personal for me. I’m glad he’s confident in himself. It’s all speculation until we get in there. On February 1, I’ll show why I’m at this level…right now I’m 100% focused on February 1. After that we can talk about getting all of those light heavyweight belts.”

On November 14, 2024, Vasyl Lomachenko requested and was granted a 60-day medical extension that will expire on January 11, 2025, pursuant to rule 5.D.3 of the IBF rules governing championship contests. On the same day, the IBF received a medical report from Dr. Nelson, N.T on behalf of Lomachenko indicating that he would be unable to compete by the time that his medical extension expires on January 11, 2025. Following, Lomachenko requested a medical exception on January 2, 2025.

The IBF Directors met and determined that Lomachenko’s exception request shall be granted with the following conditions:

1. The IBF will order #2 ranked lightweight contender Zaur Abdulaev to immediately commence negotiations with #4 ranked lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla for the IBF interim lightweight title.
2. Vasyl Lomachenko must defend the IBF lightweight title against the interim champion by October 8, 2025. If the champion is unable to defend the title against the interim champion by the end of the time permitted under the exception, then the interim champion shall become the champion pursuant to Rule 16.E.
3. The IBF will not grant any further requests to delay the mandatory defense of the IBF lightweight title.

Salita Promotions has announced the signing of 6’6 heavyweight Brandon Moore (16-1, 10 KOs). The 2019 Florida Golden Gloves Champion and Bronze medalist at the 2019 Olympic Games trials, will make his Salita Promotions debut against Skylar Lacy (8-0-2, 6 KOs) on Sunday, February 2, in Flint, Michigan, for the vacant USBA title during the “Super Brawl Sunday”, airing live on DAZN. Headlining the card will be hometown hero Claressa Shields colliding against the Danielle Perkins for the undisputed female heavyweight title.

Unbeaten IBF #6, WBC #7 super welterweight ‘King’ Callum Walsh (12-0, 10 KOs), of Cork, Ireland, returns to headline St. Patrick’s Day Weekend at The Theater at Madison Square Garden against ‘Deadly’ Dean Sutherland (19-1, 7 KOs), of Aberdeen, Scotland, in the ten round main event on Sunday, March 16. The 23-year-old Walsh, trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, will be making the third defense of his WBC Continental Americas title. The card can be seen on UFC Fightpass.

IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) retained his title with a devastating fourth round knockout against previously unbeaten David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. The fight was an exciting slugfest with Opetaia breaking through in the fourth to drop Nyika twice. Time was 2:17. Nyika was on the canvas for a long time but eventually did leave the ring under his own power. Next up for Opetaia will likely be a unification clash with WBA/WBO champion Zurdo Ramirez.

Unbeaten WBO #5, IBF #13, WBC #15 heavyweight contender Justis “JPH” Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) destroyed Shaun Potgieter (10-2, 7 KOs). Huni pounded on Potgieter from the opening bell and got a referee’s stoppage 33 seconds into round two.

A pair of showdowns featuring up-and-coming talent will highlight a two-fight PBC on Prime Video lineup on Saturday, February 1 leading up to the PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video headlined by a clash between light heavyweights David “El Monstro” Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The live-streaming of prelims action will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT and be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the PPV card it leads into.

The streaming presentation will feature undefeated Olympian featherweight Mirco Cuello (14-0, 11 KOs) taking on Christian Olivo (22-1-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight matchup, plus WBA #1-ranked middleweight contender Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez (6-0, 6 KOs) stepping in against Angel Ruiz (18-3-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round duel that opens up the live stream.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC

Happy New Year to all. After a cascade of messages full of good wishes, original poems and others only copy/paste and forwarded, toasts, Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and Happy New year messages, calls, letters and all of the above over and over in just a short period of time, a unique, lovely time. The reality of a new cycle arrives to move forward and give the best of oneself, for the family, the companies, the friends, and our communities. Continue reading “A New Year Begins”

Top Rank has announced that WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against 2020 Olympic silver medalist and WBO #1 Keyshawn Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) on Friday, February 14, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ESPN will televise.

Denys Berinchyk: “I’m not going to make any big statements or shower my opponent with compliments. I’ll just say one thing: Don’t relax, dude! It won’t be an easy fight for you!”

Keyshawn Davis: “This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Denys Berinchyk called me out, and I answered. A new era in the lightweight division begins on February 14th. Be there in person or watch it live on ESPN because what I’m going to do must be seen to be believed.”

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In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, WBO #1 contender Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) steps up against fellow unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs). Also, in the 10-round televised opener, middleweight Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (20-1, 12 KOs) looks to upend undefeated, world-ranked contender Connor “The Kid” Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs).

Also seeing action are welterweight Rohan Polanco (14-0, 9 KOs), lightweight Abdullah Mason (16-0, 14 KOs), welterweight Tiger Johnson (14-0, 6 KOs), and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (11-1, 5 KOs) in separate bouts.

Jai Opetaia 199.5 vs. David Nyika 199.5
(IBF cruiserweight title)

Venue: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

By Joe Koizumi

Highly respected by all of the world, Haru Nagano, the business manager of Teiken Promotions, passed away here in Tokyo on New Year’s Day. Nagano, 99, greatly contributed to Teiken Gym by devoting all herself to assisting the late Akira Honda and his son and worldwide influential promoter Akihiko. Having graduated from Jissen College, Haru, the daughter of a court judge, entered the Teiken at the age of twenty-two in 1948 although she didn’t know it was a boxing enterprise. She served as a secretary of Akira, who staged such world title bouts as Davey Moore vs. Kazuo Takayama (twice) and Carlos Ortiz vs. Teruo Kosaka, and Flash Elorde vs. Kosaka in 1960’s—along with weekly boxing show named Dynamic Glove for Nippon Television (NTV). Continue reading ““Mother of Boxing” Haru Nagano, 99, passes”

As undefeated WBA “regular” light heavyweight champion David Morrell Jr. nears his much anticipated clash against WBC interim light heavyweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez, Morrell has declared his intention to take Benavidez’s spot at the top of the sport when they meet in the main event of a Prime Video PPV taking place Saturday, February 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“Benavidez is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in boxing, so when I beat him, everyone will see what I’m capable of,” said Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs). “People call him ‘The Mexican Monster’, but I’m not scared of monsters – I hunt them down! He’s never faced someone like me, and come fight night, he’s going to realize that I’m faster, stronger and smarter than anyone he’s ever stepped in the ring with.” Continue reading “Morrell vows to make Benavidez eat his words”

The official announcement for the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2025 took place on Saturday afternoon at the SJC Boxing Gym in Fort Myers, Florida. The inductees are: Juan LaPorte, Joe “King” Roman, Byron Mitchell, Charles Whittaker, Timur Ibragimov, Freddie Delgado, Laura Ramsey, Tony Morgan, Osmiri “Moro” Fernandez Sr., Stacy McKinley Jr., J Russell Peltz, Mike Silver, Bill Calogero, Tony Spain, Aaron Jacobs, John David Lyons, Roy Jones Sr., Bill Ray, Dr. Tim Carlson.

Special awards will be presented to John “The Beast” Azari (Lifetime Achievement), Efrain Lebron (Boxing Achievement), and William Ramirez (Boxing Achievement).

Induction Weekend will be at the St. Petersburg Hilton Lake Carillon on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 20, 21 and 22, 2025.

Legendary Fort Worth boxing trainer led Donald Curry and Paulie Ayala to world titles

By Jeff Zimmerman

Beloved, legendary boxing trainer Paul Reyes, out of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully at 85 last Saturday, just a few days after Christmas, after recent health challenges.

Reyes, a proud Army veteran and a man of faith is best known for training two homegrown fighters to world titles, Donald Curry and Paulie Ayala, in an era when Fort Worth was a boxing hotbed and known as a “fight town” in the 80’s and 90’s.

Along with Curry and Ayala, Fort Worth produced several world champs during this time, including Stevie Cruz, Troy Dorsey, Gene Hatcher, and Bruce Curry, brother of Donald. Continue reading “Trainer Paul Reyes passes away”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC

Another year is ending, a cycle closing, only to open another one. A 2024 that was marked and distinguished by so many things in my personal, professional, family life and also as a Mexican. I am going to dedicate this column to recount what 2024 was like for me… Continue reading “A Great 2024”

On February 15, 46-year-old former world champion Felix Sturm (44-6-3, 19 KOs) will begin his latest comeback. Sturm will take on 38-year-old Benjamin Blindert (14-1-2, 10 KOs) in a ten-rounder at the Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm, Germany.

Benjamin Blindert: “For Felix, the fight against me is a ‘normal day at the office’. I have followed his career for many years and was a fan of his myself. For him, this is all a small step, but for me it is a big one. And that will be an advantage in terms of motivation and also in preparation. Felix is a flawless boxer, but this is the only way I will be able to give my maximum!”

Felix Sturm: “Benjamin is a calm guy, not one to make a big deal out of. He will look for his chance because it is a great opportunity for him. I think he will put everything on the line and prepare accordingly. Boxers who are very calm beforehand usually come around the corner with a surprise. I will be prepared for anything.”

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In addition, another former world champion, Vincenzo Gualtieri (23-1-1, 8 KOs) will be stepping into the ring.

By Bill Green

Unbeaten WBO #13 super middleweight contender Steven “So Cold” Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) talks about his upcoming January 25 clash against WBO #1, WBC #3, IBF #4 Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) for the WBC USA and WBO int’l titles inside the Chelsea Ballroom at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas live on DAZN.

BG: Hello. Steve, how’s camp and where did you and the B&B team decide to train at?

So Cold: We did some minicamp stuff in Omaha way back in October and then moved things to Vegas. The road work and weather is perfect and we are well connected out here.

BG: Congrats on earning the right for a title eliminator on January 25th against Diego Pacheco. Let’s clear the air on how this bout was made, folks incorrectly stated that you were plan B or even C in terms of being picked by Pacheco.

So Cold: I did read that bogus article somewhere as well. Listen, me and the team pay attention to all opportunities within the division, I have been advocating for a big fight for quite some time but it’s difficult with not being directly connected to a major promoter. However, the facts are I literally tagged Pacheco on a Twitter/X post about wanting the smoke, so in my mind nobody chose me, I sought out him. Continue reading ““So Cold” Nelson: They are sleeping on me”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten formerly thirteen-time national amateur champ, WBA#9 Hayato Tsutsumi (6-0, 3 KOs), 129.75, lopsidedly battered ex-champ Rene Alvarado (34-15, 22 KOs), 128.75, from Nicaragua, and finally decked a fine TKO victory at 1:55 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve.

Despite the cancellation of the main event between WBA 115lb champ Fernando Martinez (who caught a bad flu to be unable to fight as scheduled) and ex-titlist Kazuto Ioka, the show went on and the aforementioned WBA super feather eliminator was a headliner before the sparse crowd at Ota city general purpose gymnasium. This was the final 2024 boxing show held in boxing-abundant Japan. Continue reading “Tsutsumi halts Alvarado in WBA 130lb eliminator”

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions’ Hollywood Fight Nights will return to the beautiful Chumash Casino Resort on Friday, February 21, 2025 and broadcast live globally on UFC Fightpass. Fighting in the ten-round main event on February 21, fast-rising lightweight ‘Sugar’ Cain Sandoval, (14-0, 12 KOs), of Sacramento, CA clashes with Mark ‘The Machete Bernaldez, (25-6, 14 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines.

By Joe Koizumi
Photoｓ by Naoki Fukuda

Pitifully the WBA super flyweight title bout of Fernando Martinez and Kazuto Ioka on New Year’s Eve has been cancelled because the defending champ caught a flu to be unable to fight as scheduled. Kazuki Yoshino, the promoter of Shisei Promotions, has announced this unexpected cancellation before the press people. Reportedly having a fever, Martinez didn’t appear the scheduled public workout on Thursday and also cancelled his appearance at the press conference with Ioka yesterday (Sunday).

The crestfallen Ioka said, “I feel very sorry not to be able to fight Martinez, and wish to fight for the world championship either with him or with another organization’s champion.”

It is true anything can happen in boxing. Continue reading “Martinez-Ioka WBA 115lb title bout cancelled”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions has announced unbeaten Japanese prodigy, former kick-boxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa (5-0, 2 KOs) to participate in a crucial bout in his greatly condensed career against former world champ Jason Moloney (27-3, 19 KOs), Australia, at Ariake Arena, Tokyo, on February 24. Tenshin has technically improved in every fight, having beaten strong opponents such as Luis Robles Pacheco, Jonathan Rodriguez and Gerwin Asillo. But Jason Moloney, as shown by scoring a bad knockdown of current WBO bantam champ Yoshiki Takei in his title-losing bout this May, will be a formidable opposition for the rising star Nasukawa. Continue reading “Nasukawa to collide with Jason Moloney Feb 24”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Detroit, MI- Cruiserweight Derick Miller Jr. (18-0, 10 KOs) made quick work of Fransisco Cordero (46-22, 35 KOs) by winning by TKO at the 1:20 mark of the 1st Round. Miller opened the contest with a steady left jab. Not too long after the bell to start the fight, Miller found a left to the body of Cordero that had him hit the canvas. Referee Steve Daher counted him out.

Antwan Jones landed a beautiful right uppercut on his opponent Alan Campo to win the scheduled 8-Round Light Heavyweight contest in four rounds. The 53-second victory by TKO in the 4th, also, produced another knockdown by Jones in the 3rd. The win improves Jones to (17-0, 10 KOs) and Campo drops to (19-11, 13 KOs). Continue reading “Night of Knockouts XXXII”

By Héctor Villarreal

Year 2024 brought with it many challenges for the boxing community of the Dominican Republic but at the same time, after promoting 39 shows in 12 months and a remarkable presence in important events all around the world, it has left a very positive balance, ending December with three world champions and a promising outlook.

Carlos “Caballo Bronco” Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) prepares to defend his WBC middleweight belt on February 22 in Saudi Arabia, unbeaten Alberto “La Avispa” Puello (23-0,10 KOs) keeps being the superlightweight King, also in WBC and Eric “Mini Pacman” Rosa (8-0, 2 KOs) claimed the vacant WBA light flyweight title on December 19 by unanimous decision over Mexican Neider Valdez (14-2-2, 11 KOs).

At age 24, having only 8 pro fights, “Mini Pacman” had win world championships in two different weight divisions and had overcome very difficult obstacles on and off the ring. Continue reading “Rosa seals a very productive 2024”

The flyweight bout between former world title challenger Jayson Mama (20-2-1, 10 KOs) and Michael Bravo (14-5-1, 7 KOs) ended in a third-round technical draw on Friday night in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. The referee stopped the bout and ruled that a cut suffered by Bravo was caused by a headbutt.

In other action, world-ranked minimumweight Joey Canoy (23-5-2, 14 KOs)secured an eight round unanimous decision victory against Ariston Aton (9-13-1, 5 KOs).

Also, bantamweight RV Deniega (11-1, 6 KOs) delivered an impressive performance, stopping Jelo Bacalso (6-7-2, 4 KOs) in the seventh round.