WBO interim heavyweight champion “Juggernaut” Joe Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) and challenger Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KOs) faced off at the final press conference today for their clash Saturday on ESPN+ from the Copper Box Arena in London.

Joe Joyce: “I’ve got the WBO interim, I don’t know how close I could be to a world title. All the others seem to be running scared or doing their own little things. I want the fight to happen, but I get how things work with the governing bodies and I can only fight what’s put in front of me…I respect Zhang’s power and I won’t be going in there recklessly, and also he’s a southpaw so that’s more of a tricky style than I’m used to.”

Zhilei Zhang: “He’g got a tough chin, great stamina, but I’m the Big Bang right here. I bang everything!”

Joyce is a 10:1 favorite.

Super welterweight Brian Ceballo (13-1, 7 KOs), a five-time New York Golden Gloves champion, will headline against Edward Ulloa Diaz (13-5, 10 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight contest on April 27 at Sony Hall in the heart of Times Square, Manhattan. Ceballo is rebounding from his first defeat, a majority decision setback last October, and figures to get back into the win column against Diaz, who has lost five of his last six. The event will be streamed globally on DAZN.

The undercard will feature two-time Mongolian Olympian Tsendbaatar “Chinggis Khaan” Erdenebat (5-0, 3 KOs) \in an eight-round super featherweight bout against Edy Valencia Mercado (20-9-6, 7 KOs) and former WBO female super flyweight champion Miyo “Miyo Musashi” Yoshida (15-3, 0 KOs) against Indeya Smith (6-6, 1 KO). The event is promoted by BoxingInsider Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

The full undercard is set for this Friday April 14th from Centro de Combates, Pandeportes, Panama City, Panama. In the evening’s new main event WBO #11 Latino jr flyweight champion Rene “El Chulo” Santiago (10-3, 5 KOs) of Humacao, Puerto Rico, steps in to defend his belt against local WBA #12 WBO #15 Carlos “Arañita” Ortega (15-6-3, 6 KOs) of La Chorrera, Panama. The 10-round fight will air live starting at 9:00PM/EST on ESPN+ (USA/Canada) & ESPN Knockout (Latam)

The co-main event is a 10-rounder for the WBA Fedecentro super welterweight title as champion Derrieck Cuevas (24-1-1, 16 KOs) of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico faces challenger Damian Rodriguez (13-1 7 KOs)of Havana, Cuba but living in Panama City. Continue reading “Santiago-Ortega clash Friday on ESPN+”

Fightnews.com® previously reported that M&R Boxing, promoter of former IBF light flyweight world champion Felix Alvarado (38-3, 33 KOs) won a purse bid with a bid of $2,500 for an ordered match with former WBC flyweight world champion Cristofer Rosales (35-6 21 KOs). Matchroom, promoter of Rosales, did not bid. When the two sides were unable to reach an agreement in the allotted time given, the IBF ordered #3 ranked Alvarado to face IBF #4 ranked Seigo Yuri Akui (18-2-1, 11 KOs) of Japan. Akui is promoted by internationally respected promoter Akihiko Honda (Teiken Promotions). The bout is to determine the #1 mandatory challenger to current world champion Sunny Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs).

Alvarado’s manager William Ramirez (WRAM Boxing) gave his thoughts. “I wish the Alvarado versus Rosales fight could have happened. However, we are very happy and pleased With the IBF’S decisión.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO 154 pound interim champion Tim Tszyu’s promoter Matt Rose says WBA #1 middleweight Michael Zerafa rejected an offer to clash with Tszyu in June.

“I can confirm there was a recent approach again for Zerafa to fight Tim for his next fight before Charlo,” Rose told News Corp. ‘Unfortunately, the approach was turned down…this was a world-title opportunity. Tim has the world title after beating Tony Harrison and it would have been a massive fight for Australian boxing. It was in the preliminary stage, we were looking at possible opponents and Zerafa was the one guy on the list. Tim wasn’t aware of the offer but would have taken the fight no problems…how much longer can Zerafa keep avoiding Tim?”

Zerafa’s manager reportedly denied that an offer to fight Tszyu was received.

Former unified super bantamweight world champion Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev has re-watched his fight against mandatory challenger Marlon Tapales from this past Saturday night and is incredulous at the scoring which resulted in him losing his world titles (WBA, IBF). Scores for the split decision was 118-110 for Akhmadaliev, scored by Texas Hall of Fame judge Javier Alvarez, and 115-113 twice for Tapales by Sergio Caiz from California and Jose Roberto Torres from Puerto Rico.

“I came into the dressing room and I felt like I was dead, my body was still moving, but I knew my life was over, everything I worked for my entire life was now over” said Akhmadaliev, (11-1-0, 8 KOs). “I would never have any excuses, I knew that if my hand was not raised, then I lost my titles and the most important fight of my life. But then my team walked in, and my manager and trainers told me, stop crying, take your belts and go home as a champion, ‘you did not lose this fight Champ!’ Continue reading “Akhmadaliev to protest loss to Tapales”

Undefeated WBA super lightweight world champion Alberto “La Avispa” Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) will make the first defense of his world title when he takes on hard-hitting contender Rolando “Rolly” Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) on May 13 live on Showtime from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Alberto Puello: “’Rolly’ has fought at the elite level, so I’m looking forward to testing myself and showing why I am the champion. I’m confident in my skills and I’m coming with everything I’ve got. This is going to be one of the best fights of the year.”

Rolly Romero: “I’m excited to become a world champion on May 13. Everyone knows what I bring to the ring. It’s gonna be an entertaining show. I hope Puello comes in 100% because I’m ready to show that I’m an elite fighter in this division.”

* * *

The telecast also features two additional super lightweight bouts with former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs) dueling Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez  (14-1, 5 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event, plus Batyr Akhmedov (9-2, 8 KOs)  against Kenneth Sims, Jr. (19-2-1, 7 KOs) in a 12-round WBA world title eliminator opening up the telecast.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight), announced that on August 5th, 2023, Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and combat sports icon Nate Diaz will finally settle their growing feud over eight rounds at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Paul v. Diaz will be contested at 185 lbs. with 10-ounce gloves, and will be distributed and co-produced globally by DAZN PPV.

Over the last 18 months, Paul and Diaz have traded scathing public jabs about a potential fight, and now the world will finally see the duo go head-to-head to settle the score. Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) will be out for revenge as he prepares for his first fight since his split-decision defeat against Tommy Fury. Diaz will be making his pro boxing debut.

Jake Paul: “My last fight didn’t end the way I wanted, but the result was the best thing that could have happened to my professional boxing aspirations. Now, the world thinks I am vulnerable, when all I am is more focused than ever. My team wanted me to take an easy fight like KSI next, but that’s not how I am built. Nate Diaz is considered one of the most bad-ass fighters of all time, but he and his team have been running their mouths for too long. People tell me Nate has been training with Andre Ward for years. That he has insane stamina. That he refuses to back down. Good for fu*king Nate. I haven’t forgotten about the slap backstage in Arizona, and on August 5th, a Problem Child is going to piece up and knock out the Stockton G.”

Nate Diaz: “Besides Canelo he’s the biggest thang in boxing. I’m here to conquer that. I’m the king of combat sports and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts. I fu*ked up Conor for acting out and now here I am again, like a super hero of the real fight game, the king of the real fight game.”

Unbeaten junior middleweight Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) is set to fight on the eve of Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Zayas will return in a 10-round re-scheduled battle against Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12, KOs) on June 10 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Zayas-Cruz will serve as the co-feature to the junior welterweight showdown between WBO champion Josh Taylor and former unified lightweight king Teofimo Lopez. Continue reading “Zayas added to Taylor-Teofimo card”

“I’m going to take him out. He’s done. It’s nap time for Gervonta.”

Super lightweight Ryan Garcia showed off his power and hand speed during a media workout from a ring overlooking the picturesque San Fernando Valley in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, vowing to “destroy” Gervonta “Tank” Davis ahead of their clash on Saturday, April 22 headlining live on pay-per-view from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ryan Garcia: “This fight means a lot to me. It means everything. It’s a moment that I’ve been envisioning for so long now. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted for so long, to defeat Gervonta Davis and to destroy him. To end everything that he’s ever worked for, because I know he’s trying to do that for me. I’m going to take him out. He’s done. It’s nap time for Gervonta.

“I’m just going to be focused in the ring, no matter if it’s the first round, second round, third round. Any of the rounds, he can go to sleep. He’s going to have to be careful. That’s what I have to tell him. Be careful. I don’t think he is, and he’s going to walk into one. Or I’m just going to go get him. Either way, I’m going to beat him. Continue reading “Kingry media workout”

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBO 105-pound champ Wilfredo Mendez, Puerto Rico, arrived yesterday (Monday) here in Tokyo, Japan as he will serve as the opponent of Yudai Shigeoka in the forthcoming WBC interim minimumweight title bout on April 16. Mendez, a southpaw technician, once came to Japan and lost his WBO belt to Masataka Taniguchi in December 2021. Wilfredo said, “I have no problem to make the 105-pound limit.”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / President of the WBC

Almost two thousand years ago, the most important man in the history of humanity died. Jesus was crucified under a series of circumstances that would shape everyone’s lives, in one way or another.

Holy Week has just passed and life continues under the motivation of Jesus’ sacrifice, and finding forgiveness for ourselves and mercy and compassion towards others.

In last week’s column, I described what life was like in the year 2000 when I got married, and after a week of vacation in the company of my wife and children, all I would like is to find a way to stop the pervasive evolution that we are experiencing with technological advances that are having serious effects on our way of life, by hampering it. Continue reading “Week of Reflection”

BOXXER has revealed that “a major landmark match” that ensures “immediate prominent placement in the boxing history books on the same day King Charles III is crowned” will be announced this week, ensuring that their May 6 show taking place at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham< England. Involving Kell Brook? We'll see. The card is headlined by newly signed WBA #1 light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) making his BOXXER debut against unbeaten Pawel Stepien (18-0-1, 12 KOs). Also in action is 2020 Olympics silver medallist Ben Whittaker (2-0, 1 KO) returns to the ring following an enforced injury layoff which has seen him sidelined since August last year. For his third outing as a professional light-heavyweight, he faces Jordan ‘The Game’ Grant (6-3, 1 KO).

Looks like undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) will defend her title against 40-year-old WBC female heavyweight champion Hanna Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs) on DAZN June 3 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The bout will be a rematch of their June 2018 match in which Gabriels knocked down Shields in the first round before Claressa ultimately won via unanimous decision.

If the optics of middleweight vs. heavyweight look strange, in the women’s division the WBC designates 168 pounds and up as heavyweight, therefore Gabriels is only moving down one division – plus she weighed 150 two fights ago so weight shouldn’t be an issue.

A world title fight and the grandson of “The Greatest” take center stage on Saturday, May 20 as part of the ESPN-televised prelims to the PPV main event headlined by undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney’s title defense against former three-division champ Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The two-fight telecast is headlined by the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between former WBA champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs). Opening the broadcast will be undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, in a scheduled eight-rounder against a to-be-determined foe. Continue reading “Haney-Loma PPV lead-in fights on ESPN”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #8, WBC #10, WBA #11 super lightweight Steve Spark (16-2, 14 KOs) will return to the ring on May 6 against tough Mexican Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (26-3-1, 16 KOs) over ten rounds at the Estadio Akron, Zakopan, Jalisco, Mexico on the undercard of the Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder IBF, WBC, WBA, WBO 168-pound championship.

Australia-based Spark caused a major upset last year in Cleveland, Ohio, when he defeated previously unbeaten Montana Love by six round disqualification after having him on the canvas in round two. Valenzuela lost a twelve round decision to Love, also in 2022.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former kick-boxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa, 122, successful made an international style debut as he outscored JBC#2 Yuki Yonaha (12-5-1, 8 KOs), 121.75, by a nearly shutout decision (60-53 twice, 59-54) over six rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The second saw Tenshin, a fast-handed southpaw, connect with a right hook to the neck, flooring the more experienced ex-university boxer Yuki. Nasukawa, 24, sometimes had his foe at bay, but couldn’t finish the game and durable rival, 32, who refused to go down again. The talented Nasukawa, sharp and speedy, may become a better boxer with more experience, which we look forward to seeing in the future.

As popular as Monster Naoya Inoue even now, Tenshin compiled a kick-boxing mar of 42-0 without including a first-round annihilation by Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition in 2018. His hand speed, reflexes and smooth footwork may make himself a next superstar to Naoya in the near future. Time will tell. Continue reading “Nasukawa debut Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Southpaw speedster IBF#3 Reiya Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs), 125.75, easily defeated former world champ IBF#7 Kiko Martinez (44-12-2, 31 KOs), 125.25, by winning a unanimous decision (119-109 twice,117-111) over twelve monotonous rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.  Abe, ex-Japanese champ, 30, had the upper hand almost all the way against the slower and sluggish Spaniard, 37, who looked to fail to bring his fighting spirit and zip from Spain.  He was just a shell of the old Kiko, who previous halted our hero Hozumi Hasegawa in 2014.  Kiko kept stalking the Japanese footworker only to absorb his southpaw counters to have the nose bridge bleeding from the fifth on.  Abe wasn’t as sharp as usual, but was an obvious winner since Kiko was least aggressive.  The ref was Albert Earl Brown. Continue reading “Abe-Martinez Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Monster Naoya’s younger brother, Takuma Inoue (18-1, 4 KOs), 118, acquired the vacant WBA bantamweight belt as he earned a unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 118-110) over Venezuelan Liborio Solis (35-7-1, 16 KOs), 117.5, over twelve close rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.  It was the belt his brother had renounced on moving up to the 122-pound category.  Despite the unanimous verdict it wasn’t an easy victory for Takuma, 27, who couldn’t show his usual speed and skills only to mix it up in the close quarter and repeated clinching with the 41-year-old veteran. Continue reading “T Inoue-Solis Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBC, WBA light-flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs), 107.25, impressively kept his belts when he finally caught up with game and durable challenger Anthony Olascuaga (5-1, 3 KOs), 107, US, and chalked up a fine TKO victory at 0:58 of the ninth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Olascuaga was a last-minute substitute for WBO titlist Jonathan Gonzalez who had suffered pneumonia to cancel the highly expected unification bout with Teraji.  Olascuaga was a much better replacement than expected as he showed his power (he is a legitimate flyweight) and fighting spirit.  The third saw the defending champ connect with a solid right to the neck, having Olascuega touch the canvas for the mandatory eight count.   After their see-saw processing in the middle of the contest Teraji accelerated his attack and finally dropped the challenger with a flurry of punches in round nine, when good referee Mark Nelson wisely declared a well-timed halt. Continue reading “Teraji-Olascuaga Full Report”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Up-and-coming hard-puncher WBA#10 Jin Sasaki (15-1-1, 14 KOs), 146.5, successfully kept his WBO Asia Pacific welterweight belt as he put on a give-and-take performance and finally flattened WBO#8 Keita Obara (26-5-1, 23 KOs), 146.75, at 1:13 of the third round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.  In an encounter of the KO artists Sasaki, from the outset, took the initiative to have the veteran Obara on the defensive.  In round two it was Obara that connected with a solid right counter, dropping the wild aggressor to the deck.  The third, however, witnessed Sasaki, fifteen years his junior at 21, explode a vicious left uppercut to the side of the belly, flooring Obara in agony.  Obara barely beat the count, but absorbed a wicked right to the jaw to be flattened so badly that the ref didn’t bother to count at his second knockdown (to be registered as TKO by the JBC). Continue reading “Sasaki-Obara Full Report”

Undefeated former two-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson secured his shot at the WBC lightweight title with a commanding sixth-round TKO against Shuichiro Yoshino on Saturday night.

“He felt my power,” said Stevenson. “I sat down on a couple punches and dropped him. Honestly, I wanted the ref to let it go on a little bit longer. I had just caught my second wind. I was going to put him out.

“Newark’s main name is the Bricks. And tonight, I had bricks in my hands. We did what we were supposed to do. We settled our business. And now we’re going to enjoy it with the family.

“Just tell all those other lightweights to get ready. I’m waiting for them. I can’t wait for them to finish the fights they’ve got going on, and then it’s my turn. Continue reading “Stevenson: I had bricks in my hands”

Rising contender Brian Mendoza scored a spectacular upset win, blasting out the previously unbeaten WBC interim super welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora on Saturday night.

“I never quit,” said Mendoza. “I kept going. You can beat me all you want, but if you don’t kill me, I’m coming back. They didn’t kill me in my career and it’s too late now, I’m getting better each time. I want to thank Fundora for taking this fight. He didn’t need to take it. It was really risky for where he was at.”

Having scored back-to-back knockouts to earn this fight, Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs) connected on a picture-perfect left hook early in round seven that badly hurt Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs), and followed up with a powerful left-right combo that put Fundora down for good. Continue reading “Mendoza: You’ll never see me give up”

“I’m good, for one second I turned off, but I guess that’s boxing, it happens,” said former WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora after his stunning seventh round KO loss to 10:1 underdog Brian Mendoza on Saturday night.

“You just get caught with a punch. I did some punching and then I got caught you know. He was throwing that overhand right all night and I was dodging and dodging, but in boxing the second you fall asleep, you get punished.

“It was a good punch. I didn’t recognize that moment, but I’m fine. I’m healthy now, and I’ll be back. I’ll be back to take over the division and this is a step up and a step down. It happens, but I’ll be back. I’m not sorry I took this fight, this is boxing. We gotta fight and we have to make these good fights. Congratulations to Brian Mendoza, he did his thing, but like I said, I’ll be back.”

Unbeaten heavyweight contender Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) says he’s ready for the top names in the division after crushing George Arias on Saturday night.

“I’m the best heavyweight in the world,” proclaimed Anderson. “I don’t give a f**k what nobody is talking about. You hear me? I made that look easy man because he helped me make it look easy. He wasn’t throwing punches for real. I kept my defense right. My jab was on point. It was an easy night.

“I want those top names. I want those top contenders. Everybody who keeps calling people out, put my name on the list now. I’m not ducking. I’m not running. And you goin’ to catch this smoke.”