Report and photos by Joe Koizumi

Is there professional boxing in Vietnam? Yes, there is. The WBA Asia Convention was held for three days from Friday by Vietnam Boxing Commission at Ho Chi Minh city—with the attendance of WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. It was organized by Chris Luu of VBC (Vietnam Boxing Commission) and Shadow Entertainment. The commemorative show was promoted at Saigon Sports Club on Sunday. Continue reading “Report: WBA Asia Convention in Vietnam”

Amateur standout teen twins Andrey and Ari Bonilla will be making their pro debuts in scheduled 10 round bouts. Following decorated international amateur boxing careers, the 19-year-old Bonillas will launch their professional careers August 23 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, Florida. Andrey will fight as a bantamweight and Ari fight at super flyweight.

Fightnews.com® spoke with them as they wound down their training camp in San Antonio, Texas.

“We will also be fighting for WBA regional titles. We are training very hard for our fights and will be ready to go the full 10 rounds if necessary.” Continue reading “Bonilla Twins to debut in ten-rounders”

Heavyweight contender Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0, 14 KOs), representing Uzbekistan, won his second straight Olympic super heavyweight gold medal on Saturday in Paris, France. Jalolov swept through all four of his matches, culminating with a decision over Ayoub Ghadfa.

Uzbek fighters dominated the 2024 Olympic boxing competition, winning five of seven available gold medals. Cuba and Ukraine picked up the other two golds.

Team USA was represented by eight boxers (four male, four female) and secured one medal, a bronze, by welterweight Omari Jones.

Both of the controversial female boxers, Imane Khalif and Lin Yu-Ting, won gold medals. They were under scrutiny due to some previous gender testing results.

Here are all the Olympic medalists…

Unbeaten WBC #2 super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) dethroned WBC interim champion Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. From the opening bell, both fighters went right at each other. Bohachuk was awarded a retroactive flash first round knockdown after a video review. Ortiz often seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. Bohachuk scored another flash knockdown in round eight and Ortiz came back furiously. Ortiz rocked Bohachuk several times down the stretch. Scores were 113-113, 114-112, 114-112. Next up for Ortiz could be a clash with WBA champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.

WBC #3 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) scored a devastating second round knockout against Khiary Gray (18-7, 13 KOs). A body shot put Gray down for the count. Time was 2:32.

WBA #1 super lightweight Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 8 KOs) pounded on game former super bantamweight world champion and late sub Jonathan Romero (35-5, 19 KOs) for five rounds in a good action fight. Romero’s corner stopped it after round five.

Continue reading “Ortiz gets past Bohachuk, Crawford next?”

Former 122-pound king Angelo Leo (25-1, 12 KOs) scored a spectacular tenth round KO to dethrone IBF featherweight world champion Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez (30-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at Tingley Coliseum in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The unorthodox style of Lopez gave Leo some problems, but in round ten Leo flattened Venado with a left hook to end it. Lopez was on his back for the full ten count.

In a clash between undefeated junior welterweights, Lindolfo Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Bryan Flores (26-1-1, 15 KOs). Delgado dropped Flores in round three. Flores was deducted a point in round seven for a phantom low blow. Scores were 95-93, 96-92 Delgado, 96-92 Flores. Mixed reaction from the crowd.

Unbeaten local flyweight Matthew Griego (14-0, 10 KOs) shut out late sub Gilberto Mendoza (23-18-4, 11 KOs) in an eight-round rematch. Scores were 80-72 3x. Griego previously shut out Mendoza via six-round unanimous decision in June 2022.

Junior middleweight contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. (19-1, 12 KOs) won his Top Rank debut by second round disqualification against Laszlo Toth (32-9-2, 20 KOs). Mielnicki dropped Toth in round two prompting Toth’s corner to enter the ring and cause Toth to be disqualified. As a result, Mielnicki doesn’t get the KO on his record.

Avzalbek Kuranbaev 153.5 vs. Dacong Wang 153.9
(WBA Asia Super Welterweight title)

Le Quan Wang 139.8 vs. Anuson Thonglueang 139
(WBA Asia East Super Lightweight title)

Nguyen Thanh Giang 141 vs. Nguyen Tien Long 143
Chien Vinh Tyson 118 vs. Frengky Rohi 118
Lam Phat 131 vs. Arief Blader 134.6
Le Van Cuong 121.1 vs. Le Van Hien 121.6
Tran Duc Khoa 121.7 vs. Dinh Van Lenh 121.6
Son Hung Vi 119.6 vs. Luong Trung Nguyen 121.3
Truong Van Vinh 120.5 vs. Can Minh Thai 118.9

Venue: Saigon Sports Club, Ho Chi Minh City
Promoter: Jenny Do (Shadow Entertainment)

WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza is in Vietnam for the WBA Asia Convention. The event is being hosted by Jenny Do (Shadow Entertainment) and the Vietnam Boxing Commission. “With our support through boxing, the World Boxing Association will do everything possible to support Vietnam to have one of the best champions in the world,” stated Mendoza.

Local promoter Jenny Do (Shadow Entertainment) added, “Hosting the WBA Asia Convention 2024 in Vietnam is a clear indication of our commitment to professional boxing and our readiness to engage with the international boxing community. This convention provides an invaluable platform for us to highlight the progress we have made, share our vision for the future, and forge meaningful partnerships that will drive the sport forward.”

Heavyweight contender Martin Bakole received a hero’s welcome when the BOXXER fighter returned home to the Democratic Republic of the Congo following his stunning KO win over Jared Anderson at last weekend’s historic Riyadh season card in Los Angeles.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Kinshasa as a police-led motorcade paraded Bakole through the Congolese capital to a special celebratory event hosted at (presidential building?) in honour of the champion boxer.

Bakole claimed the WBO International and NABF Heavyweight Titles with a thudding fifth round stoppage win over Anderson, sending the previously unbeaten American to the canvas three times en route to an emphatic victory. Continue reading “Bakole gets hero’s welcome in Congo”

Unbeaten flyweight Angel Ayala (18-0, 8 KOs) knocked out Dave Apolinario (20-1, 14 KOs) in round six to claim the vacant IBF world title on Friday night at the Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico City. Ayala’s bodywork put Apolinario on the canvas in round six. Ayala upped the pressure and dropped Apolinario again with a savage barrage of body shots. Apolinario could not beat the count.

Promoter Don King has announced the return to the ring of WBC cruiserweight champion Noel “The Dark Horse” Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs) as he faces Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday, September 28 at Casino Miami Jai Alai. Mikaelian was originally scheduled to defend his world title against Rozicki on June 7 but the fight was postponed due to a cut Mikaelian suffered in training near his eye.

Noel Mikaelian: “It was disappointing that I wasn’t able to face ‘The Bruiser’ in June, but my injury has healed to perfection and I’m ready to go. I can’t wait for September 28th and to defend my world title during this massive Don King event.”

Ryan Rozicki: “I’m glad we were able to reschedule this fight, and now I will finally get what is rightfully mine. Mikaelian can’t delay my date with destiny any longer and I will put that world title belt around my waist come September 28th.”

Continue reading “Mikaelian-Rozicki back on for Sept 28”

Serhii Bohachuk 153.8 vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr 153.8
(WBC interim super welterweight title)

Charles Conwell 153.8 vs. Khiary Gray 154
Kenneth Sims Jr. ?? vs. Jonathan Romero ??
Gabriela Fundora 109.8 vs. Daniela Asenjo 111.2
Joel Iriarte 146.4 vs. Miguel Ortiz 143.6
Cecilia Braekhus 154.6 vs. Maricela Cornejo 153
Eric Priest 159 vs. Luka Lozo 160
Johnny Cañas 136.8 vs. Joseph Cruz 132

Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Venado Lopez 125.6 vs. Angelo Leo 125.6
(IBF featherweight title)

Lindolfo Delgado 139.9 vs. Bryan Flores 139.9
Matthew Griego 111.9 vs. Gilberto Mendoza 110.7
Vito Mielnicki Jr. 154 vs. Laszlo Toth 153.3
Albert Gonzalez 126.3 vs. Damian Alcala 126.9
Alan Garcia 136.2 vs. Maickol Lopez Villagrana 136.2
Steven Navarro 116.6 vs. Israel Camacho 115.6
Arnold Khegai 125.8 vs. Belmar Preciado 125.9

Venue: Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

Former WBC and WBO title challenger Tommy Karpency (30-8, 19KOs) will face Joe Jones (14-11, 10KOs) this Saturday at Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. After dropping a 12 round decision for the WBO light heavyweight title to undefeated WBO champ Nathan Cleverly, Karpency’s most notable victory came almost 10 years ago when he defeated former WBC champ Chad Dawson (32-3 at the time) on Showtime Championship Boxing.

To his credit, the 29-year-old Joe Jones upset a 9-0 Vernon Webber less than a year ago after Jones previously KO’d former WBA crusierweight title challenger Junior Anthony Wright (18-3 at the time). Continue reading “Karpency Returns on Saturday”

WBC interim super welterweight champion Serhii “Flaco” Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) and WBC #2 Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their clash on Saturday night at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Ortiz Jr. refused to shake hands with Bohachuk after the face-off.

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “I just feel like boxing is what I was made for. We put in all this hard work, it all goes back from that day after kindergarten til now. This Saturday, I will be a world champion.”

Serhii Bohachuk: “Big fight coming up. I’m ready for this fight. I hope Vergil is ready too. This Saturday will be hard, come and see.”

IBF featherweight champion Venado Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) will fight on enemy turf once again as he defends his world title against Angelo Leo (24-1, 11 KOs) on August 10 at Tingley Coliseum in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Venado Lopez: “I’m used to being taken to different parts of the world. London. Leeds. It doesn’t matter where I go. Venado Lopez, the ‘Road Warrior,’ will always do his job. I work hard in the gym to do what I have to do. If we can end the fight early, we’ll do that. Either way, I’m coming back home as a world champion.”

Angelo Leo: “This means the world to me. Fighting back in my hometown is something I’ve always wanted. And what better way to do it than with a title shot…in my last fight, the main goal was to win. I knew everything else would fall into place with a Venado fight.” Continue reading “Lopez-Leo Kickoff Press Conference”

The International Boxing Federation has ordered a bout between IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) and former champion Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs). Date and location will be announced. This bout will likely land in the United States.

H.E. Turki Alalshaikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and currently the boxing’s most important investor, has announced on socil media that a super fight between Terence “Bud” Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is no longer in the cards.

[On the status of Canelo appearing on a big-money Riyadh Season show]

“I heard what Canelo said that he respects me but doesn’t like the way we do business. As for him respecting me, it doesn’t matter to me if he does or not. As for the way I do business, I know why he doesn’t like it, because I only target big fights at fair prices, so of course anyone who likes easy fights won’t like that. And I know how he feels after losing to Bivol, so he’s been looking for easier fights ever since. Also, I’m not the one who’s afraid of fighting Benavidez or Crawford. Therefore, I knew he was wasting our time and making excuses with big amounts of money that can’t be paid. So I’m continuing my way to make big fights that serve the boxing world, and he’s on his way to making easy show-only fights.”

[On upcoming plans in the works]

“Just wrapped up an important meeting now with my team, planning for the upcoming fights that we will make for 2024-2025. I decided to disregard the Canelo fight, as I don’t want it anymore. Instead, I will be focusing for the US market with bigger fights, especially for the legend Crawford. Additionally, I will support making fights for Boots, Haney, Shakur, Ortiz, Anderson, Benavidez, Zepeda and more, regarding Tim Tszyu, there’s something unclear with the communications from his team with our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation. And for the rest of the world, definitely, I am focusing on Riyadh Season card, Wembley edition 21st of September (AJ vs. Dubois) and depending on the results and the results of Riyadh Season’s opening card (Bivol vs. Beterbiev) on the 12th of October, I will build the card for the rematch of Fury vs. Usyk on the 21st of December and another big card on the first quarter of 2025. Stay tuned.”

WBA/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez and undefeated Edgar Berlanga squared off Tuesday at a press conference in Los Angeles to preview their upcoming PPV showdown on Mexican Independence Day weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They also faced off this week in New York City.

Canelo Alvarez: “I respect my opponents, but I like to respond when they talk. I’m going to be at my best on September 14 and I’m not gonna have any compassion for him. I’m going to be different. He needs 20 of him to give me any problems…take it easy man, because your turn is coming. He thinks he has more intelligence than me and everyone I’ve fought. C’mon bro, he’s not gonna be able to touch me. I wanna see him try.”

Edgar Berlanga: “I’m the type of fighter who comes to fight. I won’t be running. Canelo was once in my shoes and now it’s my time to make my name and become a legend in the sport of boxing…he’s fought everybody and he’s seen it all. The difference in this fight isn’t physical. It’s about IQ and intelligence in that ring. That’s gonna make the difference. You could have all the power in the world, but at this level, it’s about intelligence.”

ESPN+ has picked up Friday’s clash between unbeaten flyweights Angel Ayala (17-0, 7 KOs) and Dave Apolinario (20-0, 14 KOs) for the IBF world title vacated by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in March. The bout takes place at Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico City. Ayala is rated IBF #1, while Apolinario is rated IBF #3. Continue reading “ESPN+ picks up Ayala-Apolinario”

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

The news that has flooded the networks and has tarnished the activity at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is regrettable, and is clearly exposing the crisis that amateur / Olympic style boxing is going through.

Two female boxers have been accused of being transgender, of having XY chromosomes (male), or some other condition, which when fighting against a woman, gives them an unfair competitive advantage.

The attacks and posts continue. The vast majority without having the minimum elements to express an informed and salient opinion. The central and most serious factor which should matter, is the integrity, safety and well being of the athletes.

The main conflict has been the media war between the IOC and IBA, which was the International Federation recognized by the same entity. They have taken center stage, by attacking each other, in a clear power struggle that will not solve the core issue.

Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting are the fighters in question. Without definitive evidence, they were apparently born XX (female), they are not trans, and apparently they were not born with Y chromosomes, but they do have a genetic condition that gives them significant physical advantages. Continue reading “The inevitable crisis in Olympic boxing”

Canelo Álvarez and Edgar Berlanga went face-to-face Monday at a press conference in New York to preview their upcoming September 14 showdown in Las Vegas.

Canelo Alvarez: “If he’s dreaming about fighting me, that’s perfect. He’s got it. Dreams coming true for him, but it’s gonna hurt.”

Edgar Berlanga: “I’ve been boxing for 20 years and we’ve been dreaming about this fight. When I first turned pro, Canelo was on my mind. I manifested this fight.”

September 14
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
PPV

Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga
WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight title

Erislandy Lara vs. Danny “Swift” García
WBA middleweight title

Caleb Plant vs. Trevor McCumby
WBA interim super middleweight title

Rolando “Rolly” Romero vs. Manuel Jaimes
Super lightweight (10 rounds)

Additionally, former unified WBC and WBO world champion at 122 lbs Stephen Fulton Jr. will face Carlos Castro in a 10-round featherweight bout that headlines PBC on Prime Video action leading into the pay-per-view.

By Joe Koizumi

WBO#4, IBF#4 ranked light fly Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KOs), 107.5, impressively kept his OPBF 108-pound belt when he kept whipping Filipino hard-puncher John Paul Gabunilas (10-4, 7 KOs), 106.75, with his fast left-right combinations, bloodied him and finally accelerated his attack to have him at bay to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:52 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Thanonsak is a 24-year-old Thailander under the promotional agreement who is gunning for a world title shot in the near future.

Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
BoxRec: Thanongsak Simsri

By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

Fast-rising ex-amateur prospect Shunpei Ohata (3-1, 2 KOs), 130, proved too strong and aggressive for WBO AP#12, OPBF#13 Rhonvex Capuloy (11-3-3, 8 KOs), 129.5, and finally decked a fine TKO victory at 2:48 of the fourth round on Sunday in Fuji city, Japan. Having experienced more than forty amateur contests, Ohata, formerly a silver medalist of national amateur tournaments in 2021, attacked the game but cautious Filipino from the outset, pinned him to the ropes and battered him with a flurry of punches. Staying too long with his back to the ropes, Capuloy was saved from further punishment by the third man midway in round four. Ohata, a graduate from Toyo university being a junior to 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata, looks promising with his hard-punching ability.

Promoter: Suruga Danji Promotions.

Two-division undisputed champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) dethroned WBA super welterweight champion Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) via twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Close, gritty match with Crawford coming on late to win 116-112, 115-113, 115-113. Crawford also picked up the WBO interim belt.

The fight ended Crawford’s 11 straight KO streak. Promoter Turki Alalshikh stated he has an offer in for Crawford to face Canelo early next year.