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Former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora has apparently signed on to compete in what is being billed as the first legal, regulated, and sanctioned bare-knuckle event in the United States since 1889. The 42-year-old Spadafora (49-1-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t fought since 2014. The $29.95 PPV event, held under the auspices of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission, will take place June 2 at the Cheyenne Ice & Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 12 bare-knuckle bouts are scheduled and “The Pittsburgh Kid” is listed as one of the participants.

Other boxers competing include 44-year-old heavyweight Bobby Gunn (21-7-1, 18 KOs), who is coming off a 2017 loss to Roy Jones Jr., and unbeaten Missouri heavyweight Sam Shewmaker (3-0, 0 KOs). Gunn has previous experience as a bare-knuckle fighter, and he lays claim to being the lineal bare-knuckle boxing heavyweight champion.

Boxing’s only undisputed world champion Cecilia Braekhus (32-0, 9 KOs) will defend her female welterweight crown against former WBC middleweight champion Kali Reis (13-6-1, 4 KOs) in the HBO-televised Golovkin-Martirosyan co-feature on May 5 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. This will mark the first time a women’s bout will be shown live on HBO.

The non-televised undercard features undefeated super lightweight Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (21-0, 12 KOs) against Breidis Prescott (31-12, 22 KOs) in a 10-rounder, and former amateur star Brian Ceballo (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round welterweight bout.

“From top to bottom this is a card worthy of Cinco De Mayo and the knowledgeable fight fans who regularly pack StubHub Center,” said promoter Tom Loeffler. “…is it any wonder that everyone is referring to May 5 at StubHub Center as boxing’s Cinco De Mayo headquarters?”

Here is what boxing superstar Vasyl Lomachenko has to say about WBA) lightweight champion Jorge ‘El Niño de Oro’ Linares, who he challenges May 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Lomachenko is moving up from 130 pounds to challenge Linares.

On Fighting Jorge Linares…

“I wanted to go up to the next weight category, 135 pounds, and fight only champions. Jorge Linares was available for this moment. That’s why I wanted a fight with him. I was asked if I wanted to fight Linares. It took me less than two seconds to accept the challenge.”

On Linares’ Size and Strength…

“For me, it’s a big challenge because before this fight, I fought against guys who were the same size or a little bit smaller than me. Now, I want to feel the way Rigondeaux felt when he fought me. He was smaller than I at that point. I’m going to be smaller than my opponents now. I want to show people it’s not a big problem, that five pounds isn’t too big of a difference.”

On Linares’ Pre-Fight Trash Talk…

“I like it. Before the fight, all boxers talk trash, but after the fight, nobody comes to the press conference. After this fight, I want to see Jorge Linares at the press conference, and I want to hear what he has to say.”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBC super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas (31-0, 22 KOs) discussed his upcoming defense against Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (14-2, 11 KOs) on May 12 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. The 27-year-old champion is currently training at the famed Romanza Gym in Mexico City, Mexico, under the supervision of Hall of Fame Trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristaín, along with Oscar Ortiz and Fabian and Emilio Ramirez.

“I know that Hovhannisyan has some experience fighting against Mexicans, but not all of us are the same. I know how to box and brawl. It’s going to be an interesting fight because he’s a brawler who knows how to move when he decides to. We also can’t take away the fact that he has a lot of power. It’s interesting that we have fought a similar opponent [Ronny Rios]. He knocked him out in six rounds, while I defeated him by unanimous decision. Because of that there may be some doubts, but I’ll make things clear May 12.”

Tony Bellew and David Haye sit down ahead of their grudge heavyweight rematch on the 5th of May.

Deontay Wilder to Anthony Joshua: Mate! “I sent this personally this time just so there’s no miscommunication. Tell Eddie Hearn to let you personally check his email this time. BTW I sent your manager Rob McCracken the email as well. I’m looking forward to our meeting in the ring.” The email reportedly contains a $50 million offer.

.@anthonyfjoshua Mate! I sent this personally this time just so there’s no miscommunication. Tell @EddieHearn to let you personally check his email this time. BTW I sent Your manager Rob McCracken the email as well. I’m looking forward to our meeting in the ring. #KingVsKing pic.twitter.com/WbH8SB5Qm5

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) April 25, 2018

By Gary “Digital” Williams

WBC Featherweight champion “Mr.” Gary Russell, Jr. and undefeated number one contender Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz met for the first time as they officially announced their championship bout that will be held on Saturday, May 19th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD.

During the press conference, which was held at the Tap Sports Bar inside the casino, both men were very confident of victory.

First, the champion: “I’m one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet. Speed, power, ring IQ, we can get ugly if we need to. I don’t plan on going 12 rounds. I’m not going the distance with anybody for the remainder of my career. Mark my words.” Continue reading “Russell, Jr., Diaz, Jr. Kickoff Press Conference”

Report/Photos: John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

Anticipation for the biggest Philly fight card in years surged on Tuesday when Bryant Jennings, Joey Dawejko, and others featured on Saturday night’s show held a media day workout for fans and press at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philadelphia.

Both Jennings and Dawejko train outside Philly – Bryant in Florida and Joey in California – so this was the first chance for the people to catch a glimpse of the heavyweights. Also participating in the media day were super middleweight Jesse Hart, bantamweight Christian Carto and junior lightweight Joseph Adorno. Continue reading “Jennings-Dawejko Media Day in Philly”

Former WBC flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras has been temporarily suspended by the WBC and has entered a rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol abuse. Cuadras has voluntarily entered the program with the intention to eradicate once and for all his unfortunate addiction to certain unnamed recreational drugs and alcohol.

Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC President spoke at length with Cuadras and expressed the WBC’s absolute support during this process. “Carlos Cuadras admitted that fame, glory and money, which come from success in the ring, haunted him and he slowly became weak to the temptations and peer pressure from his pseudo friends,” he said. Continue reading “Suspended Cuadras enters rehab”

Ala Promotions has announced “Pinoy Pride 44” taking place June 9 at the Maasin City Gym in Maasin City, Philippines. The headliner is a twelve round WBO Intercontinental jr. featherweight clash between “Prince” Albert Pagara (29-1, 20 KOs) and Laryea Gabriel Odoi (20-3-2, 14 KOs). The co-feature is a WBO Oriental jr. featherweight twelve-rounder between JEO “Santino” Santisima (15-2, 13 KOs) and Likit Chane (16-5, 10 KOs). Jason “El Nino” Pagara (40-3-1, 25 KOs) meets Geisler Ap (12-10-1, 9 KOs) in a ten round welterweight scrap. Continue reading “Pinoy Pride 44 set for June 9 in Maasin City”

By Joe Koizumi

35-year-old southpaw veteran Shin Ono (22-9-3, 5 KOs) surprisingly acquired the vacant Japanese 105-pound belt when he outhustled WBO#9 Ryoki Hirai (10-5-1, 4 KOs) to earn a unanimous decision (97-92, 97-94, 96-95) over ten hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Kobe, Japan.

In a twilight of his long career Ono, formerly two-time world challenger and OPBF minimum ruler, displayed his ringwise performance in outworking the less experienced local favorite, earning a valuable victory. Ono was penalized a point because of headbuts in round eight, but remained aggressive to keep his early accumulations on points, scoring his second coronation after five years.

The new column by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has a ton of news in it. Some of the highlights:

The WBC has ordered a final heavyweight elimination bout between Dillian White and Luis Ortiz for the second mandatory of the division.
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The WBC will support the Golovkin vs. Alvarez middleweight title rematch in the event it’s rescheduled next after the voluntary fight of May 5th. The winner must make the mandatory defense of the division.
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Keith Thurman has relinquished his WBC welterweight title. Thurman will have the right to fight for the WBC title once he has fully recovered and is fit to return. The WBC has ordered Shawn Porter vs Danny Garcia for the WBC world title.
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WBC super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez vs. interim beltholder Regis Prograis for the undisputed WBC title – purse offer May 4 with a 50/50 split.
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WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia will fight the IBF champion (Robert Easter) in a unification bout .
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WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt will make a voluntary defense on June 23 and the winner must make the mandatory defense next.

Knockout artist Adonis Stevenson, the longest reigning light heavyweight world champion, will defend his title against two-division champion Badou Jack on Saturday, May 19 live on SHOWTIME from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Adonis Stevenson: “I’m looking forward to winning this fight by knockout. I’m from the Kronk Gym and we always look for the knockout. Jack is a good, technical boxer. He was a world champion and he has done very well. He’s tough and I won’t underestimate him. I’ll be prepared for anything he brings in the ring. I’m fighting him at home in Canada, so I’m looking to give the fans a good show. I’ve got power and I’ve got the best left hook in boxing. I’ve got 12 rounds and I just need to touch you once to end it. It’s not complicated. I don’t need three or four shots. I just need one shot and you’re not going to recover. I’m going to finish you.”

Badou Jack: “I’ve been asking for this fight for a long time and was willing to fight him anywhere, including his backyard. I know he’s good and very dangerous and that’s the reason I want to fight him. I’m all about the best fighting the best and come May 19th, I’m bringing the WBC belt back to Las Vegas.”

Speaking ahead of his final workout before heading to Philadelphia, PA, hard-hitting super middleweight Demond “D’Bestatit” Nicholson (18-2-1, 17 KOs) could barely contain himself ahead of his rivalry showdown with hometown favorite, Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (23-1-0, 19 KOs) at the Liacouras Center this Saturday night, airing live on ESPN.

“This is the fight I’ve wanted since I was 14 and we were in the amateurs together. I’ve always wanted to fight Jesse, now I’ve got my chance and I’m going into his hometown and knocking him out on Saturday night,” said the 25-year-old Nicholson. “Hart’s been completely babied as a professional whether it’s getting a decision he didn’t deserve against Dashon Johnson or matched soft as butter in his last fight; Awimbono looked asleep before the bell even rang. Continue reading “Nicholson planning to expose Hart”