Fightnews.com

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy’s attorney succeeded in getting a favorable decision in a US court ruling in a long court proceeding with the representatives of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. The New York Federal District Court refused Wilder on all counts and awarded Ryabinskiy’s side $4.3 million in funds that were part of the interpleader case after the fight between Alexander Povetkin and Wilder was canceled in May of 2016. The decision can be appealed during the next 30 days, however attorneys have already filed a demand for the return of funds. Continue reading “Ryabinskiy wins $4.3 million court case against Wilder”

Latest odds show money going on welterweight Jessie Vargas, who is now the favorite against Adrien Broner.

Jessie Vargas -130 vs. Adrien Broner +105
(welterweight)

Jermall Charlo -3400 vs. Hugo Centeno +1500
(WBC interim middleweight title)

Gervonta Davis -800 vs. Jesus Cuellar +500
(WBA “regular” junior lightweight title)

Amir Khan -2500 vs. Phil Lo Greco +1000
(welterweight)

Carl Frampton -600 vs. Nonito Donaire +450
(WBO interim featherweight title)

Zolani Tete -5000 vs. Omar Narvaez +1400
(WBO bantamweight title)

Tomasz Adamek -190 vs. Joey Abell +160
(heavyweight)

Otto Wallin -125 vs. Adrian Granat -105
(heavyweight)

Odds from thegreek.com and bovada.com

Light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera is back in training camp armed with a new fight date and a fresh attitude. The former Cuban amateur standout admits that not much went right in his March 3rd loss to Dmitry Bivol but chalks it up to an off night and said that it was a learning experience. Barrera is back with his team but has also added a sports psychologist to his squad in an effort to make sure a repeat of March 3rd doesn’t happen. Continue reading “Barrera planning Summer return”

By Ron Jackson

Simphiwe Vetyeka a former three-time world champion who has just come off an outstanding win over South African lightweight champion Thomson Mokwana on April 6 has been injured in a car crash. Vetyeka was opening the door of his car when a speeding vehicle hit him and left him with two broken legs. The accident occurred in Amalinda Road in East London and the car never stopped. He was admitted to the Frere Hospital in East London and underwent an operation on both his legs.

Unbeaten featherweight Lamont Roach Jr (16-0-1, 6 KOs) and former Olympian and world title challenger Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz (25-6-2, 13 KOs) battled to a ten round draw on Thursday night at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. Scores were 97-93 Roach, 96-94 Cruz, 95-95. Roach, from Washington D.C., seemingly dropped Cruz in round nine. Had that delayed knockdown counted, Roach would have edged out a victory. The WBO international super featherweight title remains vacant.

Lightweight Jose “Wonder Boy” Lopez (25-6-1, 12 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over Miguel Gonzalez (21-5, 18 KOs). Scores were 97-93, 98-91, 99-91.

Middleweight Magdiel Cotto (9-0, 7 KOs) took a six round majority decision over Elie Augustama (6-8, 3 KOs). Scores were 58-56 58-56 57-57.

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Zolani Tete from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape makes the second defense of his WBO bantamweight belt when he meets the veteran former WBO flyweight and junior-bantamweight champion Omar Andres Narvaez of Argentina at the SSF Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday night. Both fight from the southpaw stance with the 30-year-old Tete against the 42-year Narvaez in what could be an even fight despite the age of the Argentinean.

Narvaez (48-2-2, 25 KOs) has had an outstanding career since making his pro debut in December 2000, making numerous defenses of the WBO flyweight and junior bantamweight belts. However, despite this, he is not the same fighter that he was, and was smashed to defeat in two rounds by Japan’s Naoya Inoue in December 2014. Continue reading “Tete defends against 42-year-old Narvaez”

Promoter Tom Loeffler says the May 5 clash between middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and WBC #1 154-pounder Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan is a hot ticket, especially on Cinco de Mayo since GGG is “the ultimate Mexican-style boxer.”

“Gennady is a huge draw in Southern, California,” proclaimed Loeffler. “All three of his Los Angeles area world title fights have sold out. It’s been over two years since Gennady last fought in his adopted hometown. That combined with the event taking place on Cinco De Mayo, has created a tremendous demand for tickets to this fight. Gennady set the attendance record for boxing at StubHub in 2014 and we project to shatter that record on May 5.” Continue reading “Promoter: GGG-Vanes will break StubHub record”

WBA/WBC/IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin will seek an exception from the IBF to sanction his planned fight against Canelo substitute Vanes Martirosyan on May 5. The IBF wants GGG to fight mandatory IBF challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who has been seeking to step in. The Golovkin camp argues that a fight like Golovkin-Derevyanchenko needs a longer time to promote and that Martirosyan has a fanbase in Los Angeles. If the exception isn’t granted, GGG could be stripped of the IBF title, until maybe a step-aside deal is reached with the Derevyanchenko camp. Stay tuned.

Heavyweights converged on Berlin for the final press conference for Saturday’s clash at the luxurious Estrel Berlin. European heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel (17-0, 12 KOs) defends his title against Miljan Rovcanin (18-1, 12 KOs) and world rated Tom Schwarz (20-0, 13 KOs) meets Senad Gashi (16-0, 16 KOs).

Agit Kabayel: I will defend the title and then pursue my goal is to get a world title for Germany!

Miljan Rovcanin: My preparation was in Belgrade with the best boxers of Serbia. My coach worked mainly on my psyche and I even had to read literature like Dostoyevsky.

Tom Schwarz: My plan is to end the fight as quickly as possible!

Senad Gashi hasn’t arrived in Berlin yet.

Photos

Ponytail Promotions hosted a sold out crowd in Norfolk, Virginia Saturday, that saw hometown favorite Jerry “Slugger” Forrest (19-2, 15KO) overwhelm his opponent, Miree Coleman (6-4, 4KO) in a sensational barrage of punches, knocking him out cold and further earning his “Slugger” nickname. The Masonic Temple was packed to the rafters for the main event bout. Forrest is scheduled to return to the Masonic Temple in in September. Continue reading “Late Results from Norfolk, VA”

By Przemek Garczarczyk

“The better man will win on Saturday,” heavyweight Joey Abell said in a Fightnews.com® interview in Czestochowa, Poland. “(I won) previously in Poland by KO, but I knew that Zimnoch was never punched hard before and in this fight I was looking for a knockout – the sooner, the better. Adamek knows how to take punches, how to roll with them. I don’t need to be a bully in this fight – I just have to box. This is just another reason why I decided to take this fight – to find out what I’m capable of. I’m challenging myself.”

Abell (34-9, 32 KO) challenges hometown hero Tomasz Adamek (52-5, 30 KO) this Saturday at Polsat Boxing Night promoted by MB Promotions. The card will be available live in the U.S. on the ipla.tv PPV platform. Continue reading “Abell poised to challenge himself against Adamek”

Mexican Style 2 poster for Gennady “el GGG” Golovkin vs. Vanes “Pesadilla” Martirosyan on Cinco De Mayo.

Lamont Roach 129.4 vs. Orlando Cruz 129.4
Jose Lopez 130 vs. Miguel Angel Gonzalez 130
Magdiel Cotto 159 vs. Elie Augustama 160
Danielito Zorrilla 140 vs. Jimmy Rosario 139
Carlos Caraballo 121 vs. Antonio Rodriguez 122
Bryan Chevalier 131 vs. Luis Diaz 131
Luis Hernandez 156 vs. Juan Carlos Abreu 152
Jean Rivera 146 vs. Jonathan Delgado 146

Venue: Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: ESPN2

Former world champions Carl Frampton and Nonito Donaire took questions from the media at Wednesday’s final press conference at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, Ireland two days ahead of their clash for the interim WBO featherweight title this Saturday. The fight will stream live to U.S. audiences via SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page.

Carl Frampton: “I had a lot of respect for Donaire back when he was a champion and I still do. He’s a quality fighter. In terms of accolades, he’s accomplished more than any other fighter that I’ve ever fought. He’s a future Hall of Famer. Hopefully, I can put myself in that bracket one day. He is the best fighter that I will have ever fought. That includes Leo Santa Cruz and [Scott] Quigg and everyone else. Donaire has accomplished more than anyone. It’s going to be big for me to get a result here on Saturday night.”

Nonito Donaire: “The key factor in this fight is that my wife and I feel that we’re married to Carl because we wake up, we see Carl; we sleep, we see Carl; everything we do we see Carl, so that’s pretty much what it’s all about. I have to say, Carl is an amazing fighter. I have to give it to the guy. For a long time, he was the boogeyman in boxing. He has chosen this fight because it inspires him and I came to Belfast because it inspires me.”

In a short hearing, the Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to suspend Canelo Alvarez for the minimum six months (retroactive to February) after he tested positive for Clenbuterol. He will be eligible to return to the ring in August.

Golden Boy Promotions issued the following statement in response to Canelo Alvarez’s settlement agreement with the NSAC:

“As we have maintained all along, the trace amounts of clenbuterol found in Canelo’s system in February came from meat contamination, and we provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission with a great deal of evidence to support those facts.

Although most professional sports, international anti-doping agencies and United States boxing commissions treat meat contamination differently from other positive tests, Nevada does not. Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions respect the rules of Nevada and are therefore satisfied with the settlement agreement reached today.

“Canelo looks forward to returning to the ring in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend to represent Mexico and boxing in what will be the sport’s biggest event of the year. He is ready to continue his remarkable record of fighting at the highest level.”

When former unified 140-pound champion Amir ‘King’ Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) returns to the ring against Phil ‘The Italian Sensation’ Lo Greco (28-3, 15 KOs) on Saturday in Liverpool, England, he will be fighting for the first time in his home country since 2013. His last fight was against the significantly larger WBC middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez in May 2016.

“I am going to make a big statement on April 21,” Khan said. “I’m not going to make any mistakes. No fight is easy and I’m very focused on beating Phil and beating him well.” Khan’s ring return comes with new trainer Joe Goossen, who has worked with a plethora of world champions. ESPN+ will stream.

Undefeated junior welterweight Shohjahon Ergashev prepares for his WBA Intercontinental title fight April 28th at the Barclays Center in the legendary Kronk Gym in Detroit.

By David Finger

For Australian boxing fans there is arguably no hotter prospect than undefeated bantamweight Jason Moloney (16-0, 13 KOs). Moloney began turning heads when, in only his fifth professional fight, he captured the WBA Oceania super bantamweight title against fellow undefeated prospect Markquil Salvana. Since then he defended the WBA Oceania title five times before moving down to bantamweight, where he quickly won the vacant WBA Oceania bantamweight belt against Julias Kisarawe in October of 2017. Continue reading “Moloney prepares for clash with ex-champ Kono”

By Gary “Digital” Williams

“Seat Pleasant has Kevin Durant and Accokeek has “Swift” Jarrett Hurd!”

Those were the words of Prince George’s County Councilmember Mel Franklin as he and the rest of the council honored IBF/WBA/IBO 154 Pound world champion Jarrett Hurd with a proclamation during a special ceremony at the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro, MD. A strong contingent of fans and family members were on hand to witness the event.

The Accokeek, MD native was honored for his career to date, including Hurd’s12th round split decision victory over Erislandy Lara on April 7th in Las Vegas, NV. During the ceremony, Hurd thanked his team and his parents, Fred and Brenda Hurd for their support.

“My Mom allowed me to follow my dream and my Dad was my biggest fan,” Hurd said. “My fights were always on in our house.” Continue reading “Hurd Honored With Proclamation From Local Govt”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Former world champion Carlos ‘Príncipe’ Cuadras has been suspended temporarily by the WBC. Although Carlos Cuadras didn’t test positive in anti-doping tests before or after his last fight, there is information that Cuadras allegedly used a recreational drug and the matter will be discussed by the Clean Boxing Program Committee. “Cuadras is suspended for the use of banned substances from the World Boxing Council and there is an investigation,” confirmed WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman. Cuadras will have a hearing at the WBC offices on April 25. The WBC Clean Boxing Program randomly tests world ranked boxers and other fighters who have registered voluntarily. Cuadras has not failed an exam.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Elongated Nicaraguan #2 Cristofer Rosales (27-3, 18 KOs), 111.5, impressively captured the WBC flyweight belt as he effectively battered former titlist Daigo Higa (15-1, 15 KOs), 114, with sickle-like uppercuts and Higa’s corner finally signaled a surrender at 1:14 of the ninth round on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan.

From the outset the taller Nicaraguan took the leadoff with solid left uppercuts following left-right combos and hurt the ex-champ who had forfeited his belt on the scale—from all angles. Higa exclusively fought back with body shots, but Rosales looked more effective in the close quarter. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated 39-37 twice for Rosales, 39-37 for Higa. Continue reading “Rosales-Higa Full Report”