Fightnews.com

By Boxing Bob Newman

Former IBF Jr. Lightweight champion Barry Michael took time to speak with Fightnews.com® about his career, his rivalry with compatriot Lester Ellis, his unlikely rise to the world title at 30 years of age, and life after the ring.

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Photo: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and challenger Luis “King Kong” Ortiz made their grand arrivals Tuesday at MGM Grand as they kicked off fight week events ahead of their PPV rematch this Saturday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Deontay Wilder: “We’re all here to see what’s going to happen on Saturday night. Even though I knocked Ortiz out the first time, it was an amazing fight. That was the fight that I was challenged the most during. I understand why none of the other heavyweights want to fight Ortiz. He’s very dangerous and I blessed him with a second chance. Fans always get their money’s worth when I’m on the big stage. Because people know what I’m able to do to another human being inside of that ring. I can’t wait for Saturday night.”

Luis Ortiz: “Deontay Wilder is a throwback fighter like me, and we both want to fight the best. I believe I’m the best and that’s why I’m getting this rematch. I’m focused on this fight and this fight only and doing everything to have my hand raised Saturday night.”

Continue reading “Wilder-Ortiz Grand Arrivals”

This one is personal. Jesse “Hollywood” Hart (26-2, 21 KOs) will take on Joe Smith Jr. (24-3, 20 KOs) on ESPN January 11 from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City. Hart hopes to avenge Philly comrade Bernard Hopkins, who was KO’d by Smith in December 2016.

Jesse Hart: “This is personal. Bernard inspired me to be what I became. I wouldn’t be right if didn’t avenge that defeat. I can’t move forward unless I beat him. This is a Philly thing. It’s more personal than business for me. I want a world title shot at light heavyweight, but I have to get through this guy first.”

Joe Smith: “Jesse Hart might want to make this personal, but I didn’t even know who he was before this fight was brought up. I am ready for this. It is going to be a great night.”

New quotes from middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. and Matt Korobov on their upcoming Showtime-televised showdown for the WBA interim middleweight title on December 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY:

Chris Eubank Jr: “When I dispatch of Korobov, Charlo is definitely the name that’s on my radar. He is seen as one of the elite fighters in the middleweight division and I intend to prove that he is not on my level. It will be satisfying stamping my mark on the division against Charlo after I beat Korobov. I think it will be a great fight for the fans as together our styles would make for a very exciting bout.”

Matt Korobov: “I thought I deserved an immediate rematch against Charlo because many people believed I won. I think when I defeat Eubank Jr. and win this belt, it will force Charlo to give me a rematch. We shall see. I only focus on one fight at a time and right now I am only focused on Chris Eubank Jr.”

The first day of Wilder-Ortiz 2 fight week activities begins this afternoon with the grand arrivals of the PPV fighters taking place at the MGM Grand Lobby. Fight fans are welcome to attend.

2:00 p.m. – Luis Nery & Emmanuel Rodriguez
2:20 p.m. – Brandon Figueroa & Julio Ceja
2:40 p.m. – Leo Santa Cruz & Miguel Flores
3:00 p.m. – Deontay Wilder & Luis Ortiz

Other *open to the public* activities are Wednesday public workouts (Wilder and Ortiz not attending) starting at 11 a.m.  on the MGM Grand Casino Floor (next to TAP and the Race & Sports Book), and the final weigh-ins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Former WBA super welterweight champion Jack Culcay (26-4, 13 KOs) returns to action on Saturday at the Arena Berlin against Jama Saidi (16-0, 7 KOs) in a clash for the WBO Euro belt that will be streamed on PPV in Germany. In the co-feature, unbeaten middleweight Bjoern Schicke (15-0-1,7 KOs) takes on Adasat Rodriguez (18-8-2, 11 KOs) for the EBU EU title. Both bouts are twelve rounders.

By Miguel Maravilla

Former featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez and former two-weight world champion Carl “The Jackal Frampton held an open forum roundtable conference in Los Angeles for their upcoming fights. Valdez and Frampton will be featured in separate bouts Saturday November 30 live on ESPN+ at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“I’m excited for this fight and happy to be back. Andres Gutierrez is a dangerous fighter. I’ve had a good camp and I’m grateful to be working with Eddy (Reynoso). Going up to 130 was the best decision for me,” said Valdez, who will be moving up to super featherweight as he takes on fellow Mexican and former world title challenger Andres Gutierrez. Continue reading “Oscar Valdez/Carl Frampton Roundtable”

“I can fight in March, April because the Senate will be on break during that time,” WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao recently told Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin. The Philippines Senate will be on recess from March 14 to May 3 so Pacman’s return would likely be within that time frame. PBC stablemates Danny Garcia and Mikey Garcia are reportedly considered to be the frontrunners as potential opponents to challenge Pacquiao, who turns 41 on December 17.

WRAM Boxing (William Ramirez) and Nica Boxing (Pablo Osunsa) continue their monthly boxing events this Saturday billed “Septima Carterlera” at the Gimnasio Nicarao in Managua, Nicaragua. The main event will feature former world title challenger Keyvin Lara (26-3-1, 9 KOs) and Nicaraguan countrymen Jose Cordero (12-13-5, 0 KOs) squaring off in the eight round super flyweight contest. Lara was just highly world ranked a short time ago and looks to get back on track with a win over Cordero. Continue reading “Boxing back in Managua Saturday”

By Bob Ryder

Promoter Carlos Llinas returns this Friday with his fan favorite “Night of Knockouts” series at Detroit’s MotorCity Casino-Hotel with a main event featuring Taylor Duerr and Neller Obregon in a battle for the Junior NABF light heavyweight belt. Duerr (9-0-2, 7 KOs) is coming off a hard fought split draw with highly regarded Lyubomyr Pinchuk back in June and is looking to get back in the win column against tough Texan by way of Colombia, Obregon (13-2-1, 8 KOs). The main event is scheduled for eight rounds. Continue reading “Duerr-Obregon headline Friday in Detroit”

Heavyweight slugger Luis “King Kong” Ortiz shared his final thoughts from training camp before he steps in to rematch WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder on PPV this Saturday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. “As I’ve said before, Wilder is the best heavyweight of this decade and until someone beats him, he will remain the top dog. We have a different strategy in place that I believe will be the difference in this rematch. I have plans to end this fight before the final bell, but if we need to go the distance, I’m well prepared to take it all the way.”

Photos

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight and Rugby League great Paul Gallen talks to Fightnews.com® about the controversial draw that was given after his bout with former Golden Gloves champion and Aussie Rules Football great Barry Hall that happened in Melbourne, Australia on Friday in a pay-per-view bout that could break records. He also discussed recent comments by former heavyweight champion Lucas Browne, and a proposed multi-million dollar contest with Sonny Bill Williams who has recently signed $10 million deal with Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League team in Canada. Continue reading “Interview: Paul Gallen”

By Miguel Maravilla

Always exciting three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19 KOs) returns this Saturday night as he takes on Miguel “El Michoacano” Flores, (24-2, 12 KOs) for the WBA Super featherweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fightnews.com caught up with Santa Cruz as he wrapped up his preparation and talked about his next fight.

“I’m excited to be back. I know that Miguel Flores is going to bring everything,” Leo Santa Cruz told Fightnews.com®. “I think I have more to lose in this fight. I won’t let him beat me.”

Santa Cruz will square off against Flores in the co-feature to the heavyweight rematch between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and Luis “King Kong” Ortiz live on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View. Continue reading “Leo Santa Cruz Returns Saturday Night”

Forcetrain Promotions presents “NEXT FIGHTUP” this Saturday night at the Arabia Shrine Center, in Houston, Texas. The eight round main event will feature veteran heavyweight Dominic Guinn (37-13-1, 26 KOs taking on Jamal Woods (23-45-7, 16 KOs).

In a special four round attraction, Evan” Young Holy” Holyfield will have his second professional bout. His famed father and former multi-division world champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield will be the special guest of honor. Continue reading “Evan Holyfield featured Saturday in Houston”

By Ricardo Ibarra
Photos by Mike Blair/Boxingprospects.net

Undefeated Jr. middleweight Chris “The Truth” Johnson (7-0, 1 KO) scored a lop-sided decision win over Auburn, Washington’s Niko McFarland (4-5-2, 1 KO) on Saturday night at the Salem Armory in Salem, Oregon.

Fighting in one of four pro boxing matchups on the mixed combat sports event staged by Pure Combat, Johnson dominated over five rounds, dropping McFarland twice on his way to securing the unanimous nod from the judges. Continue reading “Johnson shuts out McFarland in Oregon”

By Gary “Digital” Williams at ringside

A host of local prizefighters gave winning performances in front of a packed house at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie, MD on Saturday, November 16th. This card was promoted by Shabazz Brotherz.

In the main event, highly-touted Baltimore, MD middleweight prospect Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson won a relatively-easy six-round unanimous decision over Delvecchio “Del Chapo” Savage of Tuscaloosa, AL. Continue reading “Beltway Boxers Earn Victories in Glen Burnie”

Ronson Frank’s Uprising Promotions was back in action Saturday night, with three feature bouts headlining an outdoor card at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica. In the main event of the evening, a battle of two undefeated heavyweights took place, as Vladimir Tereshkin (22-0-1, 12 KOs) was able to earn a six round stoppage win over the hard-hitting Francisco Silvens (23-1, 22 KOs). Continue reading “Tereshkin stops Silvens in Jamaica”

Former world title challenger Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (21-2, 14 KOs) scored a first round TKO over Jose Luis Zuniga (16-6-1, 9 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout on Saturday night at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It was Cook’s first fight since a TKO3 loss to WBO champion Jaime Munguia 18 months ago in Las Vegas.

Female super bantamweight Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (15-2, 4 KOs) made history by dethroning WBC super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika (32-13-2, 17 KOs) via unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Poliforo in Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. Mercado became the first woman from the Mexican state of Chihuahua to become a world champion.

“Yeimi” was in command all the way and won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 to became the thirteenth Mexican female ever to hold a world title belt. Continue reading “Mercado dethrones Zarika for WBC 122lb belt”

Photo: Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

In an all-out Mexican-style shootout, WBC #6 super lightweight Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (34-7-1, 23 KOs) scored a spectacular second round KO over Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (35-5-2, 26 KOs) to successfully retain his WBC International silver super lightweight title on Saturday night at the Plaza De Toros San Miguel De Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Both fighters savagely tore into each other from the opening bell. Ortiz dropped Cano in round one and had him badly hurt, but Cano ended the fight with a brutal barrage that put Ortiz on the deck prompting a referee’s stoppage in the following stanza. Continue reading “Cano KOs Ortiz in instant classic”

By Karl Freitag
Photos: Team SES / P. Gercke

In a clash for the vacant WBA interim light heavyweight title, WBA #1 Dominic Boesel (30-1, 12 KOs) claimed the belt with an eleventh round KO over WBA #3 Sven Fornling (15-2, 7 KOs) at the Messe Arena in Halle/Saale, Germany.

Cagey ring technician Boesel was in command early on. Fornling had better results when he starting bringing pressure in round three. Boesel adjusted to Fornling’s charges midway. Boesel put the earmuffs on in round eight while Fornling flailed away. Fornling continued to rough up Boesel in round nine.

The tide turned again in round ten. Fornling’s face was a mess after Boesel touched him up. Boesel flung a seemingly spent Fornling to the canvas in round eleven. When Fornling got up, Boesel opened up with a savage attack and blasted him to the canvas again to end it. Time was 1:12.

Boesel also picked up Fornling’s IBO title with the win. Continue reading “Boesel KOs Fornling in 11 for WBA interim title”

Super featherweights Alex Dilmaghani (19-1-1, 8 KOs) and Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2, 19 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw in a bout for the vacant IBO title on Saturday night at the famous York Hall in London.

Close fight through eight. Dilmaghani was cut over the left eye by an accidental headbutt in round nine and Fonseca clearly got the better down the stretch. Scores were 115-114 for Fonseca and 114-114, 114-114.

Super featherweight John Joe Nevin (14-0, 4 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Francisco’s brother Freddy Fonseca (27-5-1, 18 KOs) to claim the vacant WBA international title. Nevin dropped Fonseca in round two, then was outboxed the rest of the way. Scores were 99-90, 97-92, 97-92.

Unbeaten bantamweights lit up the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, as Commonwealth champion Lee McGregor (8-0, 6 KOs) took the British title of hometown hero Kash Farooq (13-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night. Scores were 114-113, 115-112 for McGregor and 114-113 for Farooq as McGregor took a split decision. McGregor was deducted a point for holding in round ten.

Unbeaten super welterweight Kieran Smith (16-0, 7 KOs) overcame two nasty cuts over his left eye to outpoint previously unbeaten Vincenzo Bevilacqua (16-1, 0 KOs) over ten in the first defense of his WBC International silver belt. Scores were 98-92, 98-92, 99-91. Continue reading “McGregor beats Farooq by split decision”

Heavyweight Erik Pfeifer (7-0, 5 KOs) recovered from a third round knockdown to win when opponent 42-year-old Adnan Redzovic (21-4, 9 KOs) quit after round five at the Messe Arena in Halle/Saale, Germany. Pfeifer claimed the vacant WBO Euro heavyweight title.

WBO #15 super middleweight Stefan Haertel (19-1, 3 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO against David Zegarra (34-4, 21 KOs) in a bout for the WBO intercontinental title. Zegarra didn’t seem the worse for wear, but his corner pulled him out after five rounds. Continue reading “Undercard Results from Germany”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Photos: Peter McDermott

WBA #12, IBF #12, WBO #13 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia (19-0, 15 KOs) stopped former WBA cruiserweight challenger Mark Flanagan (24-8, 17 KOs) on Saturday at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia.

Opetaia dropped Flanagan in round three and again in round seven and the corner of Flanagan retired their charge at the conclusion of round eight. Continue reading “Opetaia stops Flanagan in eight”