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Former two-time super middleweight champion James DeGale and former world title challenger Chris Eubank Jr. faced off at the heated final press conference on Thursday for their 12-round showdown that headlines on Showtime this Saturday from The O2 in London. DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) and Eubank (27-2, 21 KOs) will finally settle their long-running feud.

James DeGale: “I vacated my title for fights like this. Chris Eubank has been calling my name for a long time and finally I get a chance to punch him in his face. I have no respect for him. None. This guy is a diluted idiot. And on Saturday night I can’t wait to deal with him. I’m going to come and give it to him properly. He can’t box. We’ve all heard this before. This is the biggest fight of his career. It’s retirement time. Whoever loses this fight is finished. It’s do or die on Saturday…His retirement fight is here. It’s his last fight, I promise you that. I’m proven. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve won everything. He’s done nothing. And I’m going to retire him.”

Chris Eubank Jr: “This guy is a bum. He talks a good game. He’s going to have a good go, but at the end of the day I’m going to be too much for him. We are both at a stage where we can’t lose. We are both fighting for our careers. He knows he can’t handle me. He’s asking himself, ‘Can I survive?’ And the answer is absolutely not. There’s nothing he can do in that ring that I can’t handle. I’m going to box his head off.”

From his second fight in professional boxing in August 2004, to his most recent in November 2018, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios has faced 15 Mexican opponents. He has defeated all of them.

On Saturday, Rios (35-4-1, 26 KOs) will face the experienced, technical, and former world champion in three divisions Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (68-9-2, 37 KOs) at the Auditorio Municipal in Tijuana.

Against Mexican fighters, Rios is 15-0, 11 knockouts. Soto has only been knocked out twice. In his 17th pro fight in May 2000, Hector Javier Marquez knocked him out in 11 rounds. In June 2012, Lucas Matthysse knocked him out in 5 rounds. Since then, he has a 10-1 mark.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Undefeated world champs Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) and Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) faced each other yesterday for the second time in three days, this time in front of the Dallas media at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, where their upcoming fight will take place Saturday, March 16th and will be the first Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View. For Saturday’s presser in Los Angeles, Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was shown via satellite on the broadcast. This time, Jones, was on hand to promote the event as only he could.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had an event here that has this kind of stature and the combination of two men standing in there on their own, and at the very best stage of their career,” Jones told the media. “This is two champions meeting and that is something very rare for fans.” Continue reading “Jerry Jones: They’re here and the fact that I am here, says this is a pretty important fight”

Undefeated prospect Yomar “The Magic” Alamo of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico arrived in Kissimmee, Florida for his upcoming fight this Friday at the Osceola Heritage Park where he will face Manuel “La Tormenta” Mendez for the vacant WBO NABO jr. welterweight title.

Alamo arrived with his trainers, former world champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon, Alfonso “Ury” Ramos, his father Armando Alamo. They were greeted at the Airport by former world champion and now President of the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission Victor “Luvi” Callejas.

The Alamo-Mendez bout will be televised at 11:35 PM by the Telemundo Network. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBA #11 light-heavyweight Regain Dessaix (16-1, 11 KOs) will clash with WBC #7,WBO #10 Blake Caparello (28-3-1, 12 KOs) on Friday at the Melbourne Pavillion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia. Dessaix said. “Caparello has only had three losses in his career against world class fighters in Sergey Kovalev, Isaac Chilemba and Andre Dirrell. That is nothing to be ashamed of.

“I believe I am a top-level fighter, and I’ve been the underdog many times before including my last fight. This is nothing new to me. It’s about me going in there and proving that I am a top-level light heavyweight which I believe I am. Continue reading “Dessaix-Caparello Clash Friday”

Weston Wilson 145 vs Javier Garcia 145.5
Sergio Gonzalez 134.4 vs Alejandro Huerta 133
Andre Walker 190 vs Chris Herrera 190
Angel Cordon Jr 134 vs Gabriel Serrano 137.8
Emilas Jimene_ 156 vs Diego Perez 156
Arian Sharifi 155.6 vs Cameron Christopher 154

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California
Promoter: Roy Englebrecht Promotions
Doors at 6:30pm, first bout 7pm
Tickets at www.socafights.com

By Héctor Villarreal

After been awarded as the Fighter of the Year by his local Commission in Chiriqui province three weeks ago, super flyweight Ronald Batista (9-1, 6 KOs) traveled to the City of Panama to receive one of the maximum honors on the 2018 Boxing Awards Ceremony.

Despite being originally from a country province of Panama, Batista became a boxing sensation nationwide in 2018 season, by beating Venezuelan favorite Antonio Guzman (19-1, 15 KOs) by TKO in round 9, to claim the International Boxing Association’s super flyweight championship. Continue reading “Ronald Batista gets another award in Panama”

ESPN has announced some new fights on their broadcast schedule:

March 23, ESPN
Venue TBA
Kubrat Pulev vs. TBA
(heavyweight)
—————
Jessie Magdaleno vs. Rico Ramos
(featherweight)

April 12, ESPN+
Staples Center, Los Angeles
Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Anthony Crolla
(WBA/WBO lightweight title)
—————
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez vs. TBA
(light heavyweight)

The network, which recently signed heavyweight Tyson Fury to an exclusive multi-fight pact, is also in the running to land the Fury vs. Deontay Wilder rematch.

By TMZSports.com

WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller shouldn’t worry about that “bitch ass rematch clause” in their fight contract … because after AJ beats him down, Miller won’t want to do it again anyway! The UK boxing superstar was in a GREAT mood in NYC on Wednesday — despite getting pushed around by Miller during their press conference on Tuesday.

When asked if Miller crossed a line when he put his hands on Joshua, the heavyweight champ told Adam Glyn it’s “just playground stuff” … and Miller will get his beating on June 1. “I don’t take that stuff too seriously,” Joshua said. Continue reading “Joshua Says Big Baby Won’t Want Rematch”

Former WBA super welterweight world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will look to reclaim a piece of the 154-pound crown when he challenges WBA “regular” champion Brian Castaño on March 2 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

“Brian Castaño is coming into this fight with an undefeated record, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” said Lara. “This will be my third fight in a row versus an undefeated fighter. I’m taking this very seriously. Stylistically, I feel I’m the superior fighter, but he’s a very strong champion. I will be prepared to take back a title in this great division, then look to the biggest fights that are out there.”

Undefeated heavyweight Joe Joyce and former heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverne sounded off at the final press conference on Wednesday for their 12-round showdown that opens a Showtime Championship Boxing doubleheader this Saturday from The O2 in London. Joyce (7-0, 7 KOs) and Stiverne (25-3-1, 21 KOs) had to be separated as they debated the truth surrounding a 2017 sparring session in Las Vegas.

Joe Joyce: “This is quite a step up for me. I have my eyes set on bigger fights and he is the right step for me. To be honest, I was surprised that he accepted the challenge. I think that he believes that a win over me will help him regain his status as a top heavyweight. He won’t beat me.”

Bermane Stiverne: “I’m glad he thinks I’m here as a gatekeeper or stepping stone…I would have packed it up or hung it up if I wasn’t ready. I’m coming to fight…This is the perfect fight for me. They’re taking me too lightly and it’s a mistake.”

Looks like WBA heavyweight champion Manuel Charr might not be defending his title against Fres Oquendo after all. According to ESPN, the 45-year-old Oquendo failed to sign a contract by the deadline so the WBA-mandated Charr-Oquendo is off. Oquendo won a federal court order for a WBA title fight by virtue of a rematch clause in the contract for his 2014 fight with then-champ Ruslan Chagaev. Numerous attempts to comply with the court order have fallen through due to various injuries or failed drug tests.

Unbeaten Washington State native Patrick Ferguson (14-0-1, 11KOs) will once again make a trip to Ghana. A year ago or so he fought then-unbeaten local Abraham Tabul (14-1-1, 12KOs) there. Tabul got off to a decent start in the bout but began to wilt under the pressure of Ferguson in the second half of the fight. Tabul was also staggering late in the fight. This was highlighted even more because the fight was allegedly shortened from 12 rounds 10 just prior to the beginning of the bout. This left some believing Ferguson may have been able to get Tabul out of there with two additional rounds to work with. In the end the official verdict was a draw. Continue reading “Ferguson-Tabul rematch in Ghana March 8”

By Jonathan King
Photos courtesy Bash Boxing

Bash Boxing, Lights Out Promotions, and PR Sports really put the “HOLLYWOOD” back into the Original Hollywood Fight Night this past Saturday night at Florentine Gardens Nightclub. Multiple Academy Award Winner and Hollywood Legend Dustin Hoffman, 13-time Grammy Winner and Rap King Kendrick Lamar, and several former champions and prospects from the boxing’s past and present joined a capacity crowd to witness the next generation of Southern California boxing prospects.

The newest crop of Top Rank signees were showcased at Hollywood Fight Night with Burbank’s Adam “Blunose” Lopez (12-1, 5KOs) closing the show in a unanimous decision shutout (60-53 on all 3 cards) of Brazilian Aldimar Santos, (21-16, 13KOs). Continue reading “Hollywood Fight Night Results”

By TMZSports.com

Heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller says WBA/IBF/WBO champion Anthony Joshua forced a “bitch ass rematch clause” into their fight contract … telling TMZ Sports, he’s already preparing to knock the dude out TWICE!!! We spoke with “Big Baby” after his clash with Joshua in NYC on Tuesday — where Miller straight SHOVED Joshua while promoting their June 1 championship fight at Madison Square Garden.

Miller knows he’s the underdog in the fight … but says the critics can “kiss my ass” — telling us he’s 100% confident he’ll hand Joshua his first L when they throw down. There’s a lot of trash talk in this clip too — Miller says a bunch of AJ’s wins (from early in his career) were “given to him” by corrupt refs who would stop fights early to ensure a Joshua victory.

In other words, Miller says AJ’s perfect 22-0 record is a sham — and he’s looking to expose Joshua in a big way.

DiBella Entertainment’s long-running Broadway Boxing series hits the road to Columbus, Ohio, for a special edition partnering with Arnold Schwarzenegger to present a heavyweight event at the Arnold Sports Festival in the Voinovich Center on Saturday, March 2. The event will be streamed live on live.dbe1.com.

The main event features WBO #8 rated heavyweight Junior Fa (16-0, 9 KOs), of Otahuhu, New Zealand, in the toughest bout of his career versus former French heavyweight champion Newfel Ouatah (16-2, 9 KOs).

Also featured on the show will be undefeated heavyweights George Arias (12-0, 7 KOs) and Stephan Shaw (10-0, 7 KOs) in separate bouts, as well as a slew of local talent, including Isaiah Steen (11-0, 9 KOs), Ardreal Holmes (8-0, 4 KOs), and Jamie Walker (9-1-1, 3 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Do you remember formerly three-time world/WBA 154-pound champ Koichi Wajima? Wajima (31-6-1, 25 KOs) was called “Man of Fire” due to his furious aggression despite a rather small frame in the 1970s. Koichi dethroned Italian Carmelo Bossi with his unorthodox performance in 1971, regained his belt from his conqueror Oscar “Shotgun” Alvarado in 1974 and recaptured it again from Korean Jae-Do Yuh in 1976.

Now a club owner/manager, Wajima, now 75, might dig up a golden nugget in his pupil WBO #2 Hiroaki Teshigawara (19-2-2, 12 KOs), 122, who successfully kept his newly acquired OPBF 122-pound belt when he battered bloodied compatriot Yuki Iriguchi (9-3-1, 4 KOs), 122, en route to a well-received stoppage at 1:56 of the eighth round on Thursday (February 14) in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Teshigawara halts Iriguchi; keeps OPBF 122lb belt”

Tevin Farmer believes his remarkable story is only going to get better as he prepares to defend his IBF World Jr. Lightweight title against Jono Carroll at the Liacouras Center, Philadelphia on Friday March 15, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Farmer defends his title for the third time against the Irishman, a first World title fight for the ‘American Idol’ on his Philly home patch – something that the 28 year old could not see coming in the summer of 2017 when his career was threatened after he was shot in the hand. Continue reading “Farmer: My story is only going to get better”

The popular series Boxeo TELEMUNDO Ford will kick off its 2019 spring season this Friday, February 22 at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The longest running Boxing series on US Spanish television its also celebrating its 30th anniversary.

In the main event, unbeaten prospect Yomar “The Magic” Alamo of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico will put his undefeated record on the line against rugged contender Manuel “La Tormenta” Mendez of Los Angeles, California in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds for the vacant World Boxing Organization NABO Jr. Welterweight championship. Continue reading “Boxeo Telemundo 2019 Season Opener on Friday”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was a one-punch knockout that stunned the audience at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan on Monday. The haymaker was a sickle-like uppercut that flattened a Japanese home-towner with a thud.

Unbeaten Thailander IBF #6 Apinun Khongsong (15-0, 12 KOs), 139, decked an important victory in the IBF eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger when he scored an eye-catching knockout of IBF #4 Akihiro Kondo (31-8-1, 18 KOs), 139.75, at 1:47 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve. Prior to the trick happening, the tallies were competitive: 38-38 twice, 39-37 for Apinun. Continue reading “Apinun flattens Kondo in IBF 140lb eliminator”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker regards WBC #13 Derek Chisora as a dangerous fighter and their promoters Eddie Hearn and David Higgins are in negotiation for the two heavyweights to clash on April 20 in London. “It’s our priority option,” Parker said to the Sunday Herald. “I said to David that I want to lock in something very soon because if I lock it in tomorrow it will give me nine weeks of training. I need a minimum of seven weeks in Vegas and two weeks in the UK so it’s very close to happening. Continue reading “Parker targets Chisora for April 20”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #9 middleweight Jeff Horn has targeted WBA middleweight champion Rob Brant and the Australian’s promoter Dean Lonergan has already started negotiations with the world champion’s management. ”We thought Jeff went really well at the higher weight (against Mundine). We’ve only just started discussions. Rob won well on the weekend, he won in the eleventh round but dominated the whole fight,” Lonergan told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We think it’s a great style for Jeff and would make for one hell of a fight. He’s an incredibly busy fighter and it just comes down to whether we can make the deal work. In a perfect world, we would do it in Australia but we’ll see what happens. Continue reading “Horn Targets WBA champ Brant”

By Miguel Maravilla

IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol Spence Jr. of Dallas, Texas is set for the biggest fight of his career as he takes on undefeated four-division world champion Mikey Garcia of Riverside, by way of Oxnard, California met Saturday for their kickoff press conference for their showdown.

Spence takes on Garcia one month from now on Saturday, March 16 in the first Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I’m focused and prepared for this challenge. It’s going to be all eyes on me and Mikey in that ring and I can’t wait,” Errol Spence told media “I’m happy that someone is challenging me. I’ve been looking for an opponent like him. He’s established himself in this sport. I’m looking for a skillful Mikey Garcia to bring the best out of me on March 16.” Continue reading “Spence: I Don’t See Garcia as the small fighter”

In 2017, The WBC held its annual convention in Baku, Azerbaijan. Prior to that there was not a lot of pro boxing history aligned with the country. Fast forward a little over a year from that event and there is a local fighter making some noise at a rather rapid pace. Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Roman Zakirov (8-0, 7 KOs) of Azerbaijan was still an amateur when the convention was held in his hometown, but he’s been on the fast track entering his 9th professional fight this Friday in less than a year. Continue reading “Zakirov headlines Friday in Hungary”

Fierce British super middleweight rivals James DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) and Chris Eubank Jr (27-2, 21 KOs) worked out in separate back-to-back media days ahead of their highly anticipated grudge match Saturday on SHOWTIME from The O2 in London.

James DeGale: “Come February 23rd the smile will be wiped off his face. He’s all show. If I’m honest, if his surname was Smith, you wouldn’t know who he was. He’s riding off his dad’s name. There are levels in boxing and I’m on a level above him. Come fight night, it’s going to be a schooling. Eubank Jr is gonna get schooled. I’ve dubbed this a ‘retirement’ fight. When he loses, he’s finished, he’s done. This will be his last fight.”

Chris Eubank Jr: “He’s had some hard fights, that’s for sure. It is one of those things – a fight like this especially against me – could be career ending.”