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Leo Santa Cruz 125.5 vs Rafael Rivera 125.2
WBA Featherweight Title

Omar Figueroa, Jr. 144.5 vs John Molina, Jr. 144.2
SebastiáN Fundora 153 vs Donnie Marshall 153.2
Karlos Balderas 133 vs Jose Cen Torres 131.4
CéSar Juarez 122 vs Ryosuke Iwasa 121.6
Carlos Licona 104.8 vs Deejay Kriel 104.6
Hugo Centeno, Jr. 159.8 vs Oscar Cortez 159.4
Ivan Redkach 140 vs Tyrone Harris 137.6
Jerry Perez 129.6 vs Ivan L. Benitez 131
JuliáN Rodarte 133.4 vs Miguel A. Mendoza 135
Marlon Tanan Tapales 123.4 vs Fernando Vargas 123.6
Shon Mondragon 121.6 vs Julio Martinez 121
Neri Romero 130 vs Thomas Smith 128.4

Venue: Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Fox/Fox Deportes

Sandra Robles 110.2 vs Arely Valente 110.2
Diego Fabián Eligio 130 vs Eddy Valencia 129.5
Aaron Herrera 145 vs Héctor Barraza 146

Venue: Plaza La Coleta, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mx
Promoter: Zanfer
TV: TV Azteca

Connor Coyle 159.2 vs Travis Scott 158.2
Mark Reyes 151.2 vs Rodrigo Tatijewski 151
William Silva 139.4 vs Juan Ramon Solis 141.4
Javonn Barnes 157.6 vs Alphonso Black 159.8
Armon Sand 267.4 vs Hector Hodge 225
Mike Bissett 214.4 vs Alfredo Trevino 249.44
Jasmine Artiga 119.4 vs Ivana Coleman 127

Promoter: Roy Jones Jr Promotions
TV: UFC Fight Pass
Venue: Coliseum in St. Petersbrug, Florida

Mcwilliams Arroyo 111.6 vs Carlos Maldonado 111.8
Luis Feliciano 142 vs Alexander Charneco 145.
Carlos Caraballo 118 vs Christian Esquivel 121
Edwin Valentin 132 vs Israel Suarez 135
Juan C. Camacho 122 Jr. vs Luis Cosme 125
Alberto Nieves 121 vs Hayron Santiago 121
Jedriel Reyes 108 vs Alexis Diaz 109
Angel D. Rodriguez 132 vs Jesus Feliciano 131

Venue: Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico en Ponce
Promoter: Miguel Cotto Promotions
TV: DirectTV Puerto Rico

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC #1/WBO #1 heavyweight Dillian Whyte has predicted that WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua could be an upset loser on June 1st in Madison Square Garden when he faces unbeaten Jarrell ”Big Baby” Miller.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he does beat Joshua,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “Joshua has got very gun-shy, and if Miller can absorb his punishment early, and bring it to him late in the fight, then I wouldn’t be surprised if Miller does beat him. I wouldn’t be shocked. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Miller beat him. Continue reading “Whyte: Big Baby could upset AJ”

Here are this weekend’s boxing odds courtesy of The Greek Sportsbook.

Rob Brant vs Khasan Baysangurov
Rob Brant -550
Khasan Baysangurov +400
Over 9½ rounds -300
Under 9½ rounds +240

Joshua Greer Jr vs Giovanni Escaner
Joshua Greer Jr -1100
Giovanni Escaner +650
Over 7½ rounds -210
Under 7½ rounds +175

Thomas Patrick Ward vs Jesse Angel Hernandez
Thomas Patrick Ward -185
Jesse Angel Hernandez +160
Over 8½ rounds -500
Under 8½ rounds +375

Derrick Webster vs Lennox Allen
Derrick Webster -480
Lennox Allen +360
Over 7½ rounds -340
Under 7½ rounds +270

SATURDAY

Hugo Centeno Jr vs Oscar Cortez
Hugo Centeno Jr -6000
Oscar Cortez +2000
Over 7½ rounds +155
Under 7½ rounds -180

Leo Santa Cruz vs Rafael Rivera
Leo Santa Cruz -6000
Rafael Rivera +2000
Over 9½ rounds -300
Under 9½ rounds +240

Omar Figueroa Jr vs John Molina Jr
Omar Figueroa Jr -550
John Molina Jr +400
Over 7½ rounds -165
Under 7½ rounds +135

Ryosuke Iwasa vs Cesar Juarez
Ryosuke Iwasa -210
Cesar Juarez +175
Over 9½ rounds -210
Under 9½ rounds +170

DeeJay Kriel vs Carlos Licona
DeeJay Kriel -170
Carlos Licona +145
Over 9½ rounds -650
Under 9½ rounds +475

Yves Ngabu vs Micki Nielsen
Yves Ngabu -260
Micki Nielsen +210
Over 9½ rounds -210
Under 9½ rounds +175

Mananquil wins vacant WBO AP 118lb belt; Heno keeps OPBF 108lb title

By Joe Koizumi

A couple of Filipino invaders defeated Japanese counterparts to win/defend regional belts by demonstrating their strength to the crowd.

On Sunday (February 10), Ben Mananquil (17-1-3. 4 KOs), 115.75, acquired the vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt as he floored current WBC youth 122-pound champ Tenta Kiyose (15-3-1, 7 KOs), 117.75, a local favorite, with a southpaw right hook in round eight, and pounded out a unanimous decision (116-111, 116-113, 114-113) over hard-fought twelve heats in Himeji, Japan. Kiyose, with his latest winning streak of eight victories with six inside the distance, was a prefight favorite, but the Filipino lefty showed his cleverness in averting Kiyose’s combinations with his tight defense and good counterpunching. Kiyose may deserve a rematch. Continue reading “Japan Update”

By TMZSports.com

Floyd Mayweather says the exhibition fight business will be VERY good to him in 2019 — with 4 or 5 bouts lined up this year, which will pay him around $80 MILLION!!! Remember, Floyd says he got $9 mil for tuning up Tenshin Nasukawa during a New Year’s Eve exhibition match in Japan … and he’s going BACK to Japan to fight again in July.

This time, Floyd says he’s fighting a former Japanese boxer (he’s not 100% sure who the guy is) — but tells us he’ll cash a $10 million check to go 3 rounds with his mystery opponent. Continue reading “Mayweather says he’s fighting again in July”

By Miguel Maravilla

Former world champion Omar Figueroa (27-0-1, 19 KOs) of Welasco, Texas and exciting veteran slugger John Molina Jr. (30-7, 24 KOs) of Covina, California are ready to lay it all on the line as they will square off this Saturday night in a welterweight bout at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Figueroa and Molina will be the Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes co-feature to the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera fight. Those tuning in early to the prime time telecast will definitely be in for a slugfest as these two fighters are no strangers to action. Continue reading “Figueroa and Molina expect war”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #4 light-welterweight Liam Paro (15-0, 11 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday against Italian champion Masimilamo ”El Loco ” Ballisai (22-5, 12 KOs) over ten rounds at the Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay, Queensland, Australia. The Italian is 34 years of age and stands 5’8” tall and is coming off a ten round decision victory over Lucca Macaroni to defend the national light-welterweight crown successfully in October 2018. Paro is 22 years of age and stands 5’8” tall and is coming off a seven round stoppage of German Robert Tlatlik on October 2018. Paro chasing a shot at WBO champion Maurice Hooker. Promoter Angelo DiCarlo.

Shohjahon Ergashev 142 vs. Mykal Fox 142
Jesse Hernandez 121 vs. Thomas Ward 121.75

Nico Hernandez 112 vs. Victor Trejo Garcia 110.6
Elena Savelyeva 112.4 vs. Tatiana Williams 116
Bakhtiyar Eyubov 142.6 vs. Jose Luis Rodriguez 138
Apti Davtaev 254 vs. Richard Carmack NA
Izim Izbaki 237 vs. Matt Foster NA

Venue: Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas
Promoter: Salita Promotions
TV: Showtime

There was no love lost on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles as fighters competing on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes exchanged words and went face-to-face at the final press conference before their respective showdowns this Saturday night at Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live.

WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz will defend his title against Rafael Rivera in the main event of the show. The telecast will also feature contenders Omar Figueroa and John Molina Jr., plus unbeaten prospects Sebastian Fundora and Donnie Marshall going toe-to-toe.

Leo Santa Cruz: “If I can get this win, we want to unify the belts or make the third fight against Carl Frampton. If not, we will go to 130 pounds and seek a title in a new weight class.”

Rafael Rivera: “I’ve stepped in late before to a big fight. I’m always ready when it comes. Expect a surprise come Saturday night. I know that I have everything it takes to bring this title back to Tijuana.”

Omar Figueroa: “Given our styles, there’s no way this is going to go the distance. I think this is going to be an early night and I’m planning on having my hand raised.”

John Molina Jr: “It’s time to fight. The hard work is done and the time is now. Talk is cheap. On Saturday night, we’ll get down.”

Sebastian Fundora: “Hopefully we’re going to display a lot more boxing and technique in this fight. I think Marshall is going to come inside and attack the body. I think if I’m able to stop him, it will be from the boxing skills that I show.”

Donnie Marshall: “I’m ready to dominate the fight like I always do. That’s the only thing on my mind. I don’t care about his height, record or anything else. I’m coming to dominate.”

Promoter Richard Schaefer: “We are committed to continuing to bring the best and biggest fights to the fans here in Los Angeles because Los Angeles is the fight capital of the world again.”

The World Boxing Council is celebrating their 56th anniversary today. It all started on February 14, 1963 at the Prado Alffer Hotel in Mexico City at a meeting of representatives from 11 different countries.

It was due to the initiative of an amateur boxer, the then-President of Mexico, Adolfo Lopez Mateos, who gave instructions to the President of the Boxing Commission of the Federal District, writer Luis Spota, to create a new group to improve and develop the Noble Art. Representatives came from England, United States, France, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama, Venezuela, the Philippines, and Mexico was the host. Continue reading “WBC celebrates 56th anniversary”

Cruiserweight Andrzej Fonfara’s sudden retirement caused the cancellation of his scheduled match against Edwin Rodriguez that was to be part of PBC’s FOX and FOX Deportes telecast on Saturday, March 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

Stepping in as the replacement co-feature on that card will be a welterweight showdown between Abel Ramos (23-3-2, 18 KOs) and Francisco “Chia” Santana (25-6-1, 12 KOs). The telecast is headlined by WBC welterweight world champion Shawn Porter making his first title defense against mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas.

Rob Brant 158.6 vs. Khasan Baysangurov 158.8
(WBA middleweight title)

Joshua Greer 117.8 vs. Giovanni Escaner 116.2
Mikaela Mayer 129.6 vs. Yareli Larios 129.6
Steven Nelson 172.4 vs. Felipe Romero 179
Ismail Muwendo 134.6 vs. Hevinson Herrera 133.8
Tyler Howard 159.8 vs. Cristian Olivas 159.6
Albert Bell 133 vs. Edward Kakembo 132.6

Venue: Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

By Marco Bratusch

At today’s EBU headquarters, Italy’s OPI Since 82 won the rights to stage the vacant European Union (EU) light-heavyweight title between French fighter Hakim Zoulikha (25-10, 11 KOs) and Italian-Ukrainian rugged puncher Serhiy Demchenko (21-14-1, 14 KOs) submitting an offer of Euros 15,717 edging a MK Events’ bid of Euros 11,050. OPI Since 82 is currently collaborating alongside with leading venture Matchroom Sports to promote quality boxing cards in Italy to be streamed live on DAZN Italia. The Zoulikha-Demchenko fight is a rematch of their previous encounter dated May 2017 at Cirque D’Hiver in Paris, France, where Demchenko earned a fifth round technical decision victory after few entertaining rounds of two-sided brawl. Continue reading “European Boxing Update”

Don King Promotions, representing WBA cruiserweight champion Beibut Shumenov, won Tuesday’s WBA purse bid, bidding $821,000 to win out over Arsen Goulamirian promoter Univent Production, which offered $621,500. The bidding took place in Panama City and was directed by WBA board member Aurelio Fiengo. The team of Don King Promotions presented three possible dates and sites for the contest: April 15th in Monaco, April 30th in Astana, Kazakhstan, and May 13th in New York. Team Shumenov has 15 calendar days from the date of February 13th to submit the signed contract.

Unbeaten IBF welterweight world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. defends his title against undefeated four-division champion Mikey Garcia in a highly anticipated  FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event on March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The four-fight pay-per-view card will also see unbeaten former super middleweight world champion David Benavidez taking on veteran contender J’Leon Love in a 10-round showdown, undefeated former WBC bantamweight champion Luis Nery battling former champion McJoe Arroyo in a 10-round attraction and heavyweight fan-favorite Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola facing unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin for 10-rounds of action.

Tickets for this event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, are on sale now.

Garrett Wilson, a seasoned fighter and one of the last of the old-school Philly fighters, goes against another veteran when he boxes Brian Howard in an 8-round cruiserweight bout in the main event Xcite Fight Night 3 at Parx Casino on Friday evening, March 1.

The event will mark the first of four Joe Hand’s Xcite Fight Night boxing events in 2019 at Parx Casino®. The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a huge crowd. Continue reading “Wilson-Howard all-Philly clash on March 1”

WBA #10 ranked heavyweight and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgović (7-0, 5 KOs) has signed a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and Team Sauerland, with his future fights to be screened exclusively live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

“This will be great for my career and proves I am one of the best prospects in the business,” said Hrgović. “My goal is to become world champion and to hold all the belts in the heavyweight division. I know to be the best, I will have to beat the best, and as I’ve proven so far in my professional career, I am willing to fight any heavyweight out there.”

By Bill Green

The night will belong to the pride of Wichita, Kansas as 2016 US Olympic Bronze Medalist Niko Hernandez (6-0, 4 KOs) headlines Friday’s UFC Fight Pass event at the Kansas Star Arena, in Mulvane, KS.  Hernandez will clash with Mexico’s Victor Trejo Garcia (16-9-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round flyweight contest which will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.  The UFC Fight Pass stream will kickoffs at 7:30p ET.

Earlier this week, Hernandez spoke with Fightnews.com®.

However, prior to those bouts, the night will belong to the pride of Wichita, Kansas, and 2016 US Olympic Bronze Medalist Niko Hernandez (6-0, 4 KOs). Hernandez continues to draw big crowds in his home state of Kansas, which for the 2nd consecutive has lured outside Promoters, such as Salita Promotions, take full advantage of an already established boxing fan base. Continue reading “Hernandez aims to impress on UFC Fight Pass”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBA #3,WBC #4, IBF #7,WBO #11 super flyweight Andrew Moloney (18-0, 11 KOs) is confident of victory when he clashes with WBA #2 Miguel Gonzalez (29-1, 6 KOs) on March 22 at in San Fransico de Mostazal’s Gran Arena Monticello, Chile for the WBA mandatory position. Moloney talked to Fightnews.com®.

“Training has been going well with my trainer Angelo Hyder,” said Moloney. “Angelo has trained some of Australia’s top talent for years and years, so to learn of Angelo and train alongside the likes of my brother Jason, Billel Dib and Bruno Vifuaviwili is improving me as a fighter every day. Continue reading “Moloney-Gonzalez clash March 22”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO #1 light- middleweight Dennis Hogan will next challenge WBO light middleweight champion Jamie Munguia and Brisbane-based promoter Paul Keegan is negotiating with Golden Boy Promotions to have the fight staged in Australia.

“We have started negotiations with Golden Boy as of this week,” said Keegan. “We are hoping to be able to negotiate a deal to lock in the fight before the deadline which is March 2nd when purse bids are due. Continue reading “Munguia-Hogan headed to Australia?”

WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs) will make the first defense of his world title against Doudou Ngumbu (38-8, 14 KOs) on March 30 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. In the 10-round co-feature, Gvozdyk’s stablemate, top welterweight contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (21-0, 17 KOs), will take on Philly native Ray Robinson (24-3, 12 KOs).

Gvozdyk-Ngumbu and Kavaliauskas-Robinson will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The undercard, including the IBF welterweight title eliminator between Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdukakhorov (15-0, 9 KOs) and Keita Obara (20-3-1, 18 KOs) and an appearance by Philadelphia-born heavyweight prospect Sonny Conto (1-0, 1 KO), will stream live on ESPN+.

Boxing returns to Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia this Saturday (February 16) for the 6th annual Cupid’s Knockout. Presented in association with Made Men Promotions, this Valentine’s Day weekend event is always an entertaining night. The 2019 edition is headlined by undefeated Pittsburgh super featherweight Matt “Sweet Child” Conway (15-0, 6 KOs) taking on Jose Antonio Martinez (11-16, 6 KOs). In the co-feature, unbeaten welterweight Dusty Hernandez Harrison (30-0-1, 16 KOs) faces Ulysses Jiminez (23-23-1, 15 KOs). Both bouts are eight-rounders. Ten fights scheduled in all.