40-year-old former four-weight world champion Donnie Nietes says he could still be fighting at the age of 45 as he goes in search of his ‘greatest ever victory’ against WBO junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka on Wednesday night in Tokyo, Japan.

“I think I could box for another three to five years,” Nietes told Probellum.com. “I don’t have any vices and I am not that abusive to my body, so I believe I can still be fighting for that long. As a boxer, you need discipline, hard work and consistent training.”

Nietes and Ioka first met in 2018’s clash for the vacant WBO title, with ‘Ahas’ defeating his Japanese rival via a split decision. Nietes later vacated the belt but believes that winning it back on Ioka’s home turf will rank as his finest hour. Continue reading “Nietes aiming for ‘greatest victory’”

Oddsmakers have established Jake Paul as a -225 favorite over Hasim Rahman Jr. (+180) for their August 6 PPV clash at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The funny thing is Paul was an underdog against his original foe Tommy Fury, yet most consider Rahman to be a tougher opponent than Fury. Go figure.

Odds courtesy of BetOnline.ag.

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

We have a new world champion! Rey Vargas, former WBC super bantamweight world champion, managed to conquer the WBC featherweight crown in a great fight, getting up from the canvas to defeat Mark Magsayo of the Philippines by split decision. Congratulations Rey!

Finally, we made the official presentation of the WBC Greatest Fights Opus, in Mexico City.

The launch of the most important book in the history of boxing took place in the beautiful Soumaya Museum, which gave special meaning and significance to this ceremony, attended by legendary Mexican world champions who are part of its history after having been protagonists of some of the very best fights in history. Continue reading “The Most Important Boxing Book in History”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

WBO junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), Japan, 33, has made weight at 115-pound class limit. His challenger WBO #1 ranked Donnie Nietes (43-1-6, 23 KOs), Philippines, 40, tipped the beam at 114.5 pounds, a half-pound under the limit.

The defending champ Ioka is eager to avenge his previous split decision loss to Nietes on New Year’s Eve 2018.

More photos

Middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10 KOs) will battle Joshua Conley (17-3-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout, while rising prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (11-1, 7 KOs) takes on Jimmy Williams (18-8-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight duel, in undercard action on Saturday, July 30 from Barclays Center. The lineup will also feature former unified super welterweight champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) returning in a 10-round middleweight attraction.

The event is topped by a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader headlined by two-division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia making his super welterweight debut against Jose Benavidez Jr. in a 12-round showdown, plus heavyweight Adam Kownacki against Ali Eren Demirezen, and unbeaten  super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy.

The semifinal bouts for ProBox TV’s “Last Chance” Tournament are set for Friday, August 5 at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. In this double main event, Antonio Moran (27-5-1, 19 KOs) will take on Michael Dutchover (16-2, 10 KOs), while Kendo Castañeda (18-5, 9 KOs) will face off against Joseph Fernandez (15-4-3, 5 KOs). Both fights are scheduled for 10 rounds in the 140-pound division.

The event will stream live globally on ProBox TV. Tickets for the event on sale now and start at $50. Additional undercard information will be announced shortly.

Formerly undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs) begins his campaign as a super lightweight against Pedro “Roca” Campa (34-1-1, 23 KOs) in the 10-round main event on August 13 at the Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World Las Vegas. In the eight-round junior middleweight co-feature, 19-yer-old Xander Zayas (13-0, 9 KOs) steps up in class against Elias “Latin Kid” Espadas (22-4, 15 KOs). Lopez-Campa and Zayas-Espadas will be broadcast live on ESPN.

“I’m thankful to be back August 13. I’ve been looking forward to this since my last fight,” Lopez said. “I’ve had a lot of complications, but we’re looking towards the future and are on to bigger and better things. I’m here to take over the 140-pound division just like I did at 135. Like always, I’m going to bring excitement to the sport of boxing. The Takeover is still in full effect. You don’t want to miss it.” Continue reading “Teofimo Lopez poised for 140lb takeover”

Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) says he’s aiming to get his first stoppage win since 2016 against former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (28-2-1, 19 KOs) when they collide in a 12-round super lightweight showdown on Showtime August 20 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

“I’m going in there to try to stop Figueroa,” said Broner. “I’m going to take the fight to him and go ahead and get him out of there. What I expect from him is the same gruesome Figueroa that we always see. He’ll try to make it a rough fight. Every fighter is different, but I don’t think he’ll be hard to hit. So, I’ll see ya’ll on August 20.”

The card will also feature two world title fights.

Top 140-pounders Alberto Puello (20-0, 10 KOs) and Batyr Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) square off for the vacant WBA super lightweight title formerly held by Josh Taylor in the co-main event, plus WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) defends his title against unbeaten Hector Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs) in the telecast opener.

WBC super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) will defend his world title against Israel “Jiga” Gonzalez (28-4-1, 11 KOs) as the co-main event on the undercard of the trilogy clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas September 17. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View in the U.S. and Canada as well as around the world on regular DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin America, and Kazakhstan).

Rodriguez is coming off a stoppage win over former champ Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home turf last month, while Gonzalez is making his fourth world title attempt.

To date, this is the only Canelo-GGG undercard bout to be announced.

Good lineup of boxing matches this week, highlighted by the return of lightweight star “Kingry” Ryan Garcia against Javier Fortuna.

WEDNESDAY
This week’s major action starts in Tokyo where WBO junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka defends against former world champion Donnie Nietes. No U.S. carrier yet, but hopefully some outlet picks it up.

THURSDAY
UFC Fightpass returns with a welterweight clash between Quinton Randall and Ivan Pandzic from Yakima Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington.

FRIDAY
ESPN delivers a Top Rank card featuring the super lightweight clash between Arnold Barboza Jr. and Danielito Zorrilla from the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

FITE presents a $14.99 PPV from Wuppertal, Germany, that includes former world champions Austin Trout and First Arslan (51) in separate bouts.

SATURDAY
DAZN will stream the lightweight clash between unbeaten Ryan Garcia takes on former world champion Javier Fortuna from the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in downtown Los Angeles.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former 2007 WBC lightweight champion David Diaz (36-4-1, 17 KOs) spoke to Peter Maniatis of the KO Show about his career in the amateur and professional ranks when he battled the likes of Zab Judah, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao. Continue reading “Q&A: David Diaz”

During Saturday night’s Showtime telecast, it was announced that former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) will be back in action on August 20 against former WBC lightweight champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (28-2-1, 19 KOs). The bout is expected to land at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Broner-Figueroa will headline a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader to be officially announced this week.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

As expected, knockout artists JBC#3 welterweight Jin Sasaki (12-1-1, 11 KOs), 142, and unbeaten ex-university amateur hard-puncher JBC#18 Kotaro Sekine (3-1, 3 KOs), 141.75, put on a grueling battle, both hit the deck and had the other on the verge of a knockout, and finally fought to a majority draw (56-56 twice, 57-55 for Sasaki) over a give-and-take six on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “KO artists Sasaki, Sekine battle to a grueling draw”

Unbeaten former 122lb champion Rey Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs) dethroned WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-1, 16 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. In a slugfest, Vargas stood his ground and gave Magsayo all he could handle. Magsayo dropped Vargas in round nine, but Vargas was far busier throughout the bout. Scores were 115-112, 115-112 Vargas, 114-113 Magsayo.

After the fight, Vargas set his sights on a potential unification fight against four-division world champion and current WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz, a potentially huge Mexico vs. Mexico clash.

“Now I want the unification bout,” said Vargas. “I want to fight Leo Santa Cruz. We’ve already talked about it with my team and I’m ready.”

Unbeaten super flyweight Nico Hernandez (8-0, 4 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over Delvin McKinley (4-3-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Hernandez dropped McKinley in round four en route to a 60-53 3x verdict.

Unbeaten super lightweight Cesar Francis (11-0, 6 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 41-year-old former world champion Ray Beltran (37-10-1, 23 KOs) in a bout for the NABO title on Saturday night at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The decade younger Francis dropped Beltran in round four and largely outboxed him to win by scores of 95-94, 96-93, 98-91.

In an upset, journeyman heavyweight Curtis Harper (14-8, 9 K0s) won an eight round majority decision over previously unbeaten 6’8 Christian Thun (8-1, 6 K0s). Harper scored a third round knockdown and pretty much took the fight to Thun to win 75-75, 78-72, 76-73.

Unbeaten WBA #8, WBO #15 cruiserweight Brandon Glanton (16-0, 13 KOs), who has pretty much been MIA since defeating Efetobor Apochi (11-0, 11 KOs at the time) on national TV 13 months ago, scored a fifth round KO over Deshon Webster (12-6-3, 6 KOs).  After scoring two knockdowns earlier in the fight, Glanton ended matters at 1:58 of the fifth with a fight-finishing knockdown.

Continue reading “Francis defeats Beltran, Glanton, Harper also win”

Former super bantamweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 KOs), moving up to featherweight, scored a sixth round TKO over Carlos Castro (27-2, 12 KOs) in a WBC eliminator in the Magsayo-Vargas co-feature on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Figueroa dropped Castro in round three, then punished him for the rest of the round. Castro fought his way back into the fight, but in round six Figueroa spun him around on the ropes and unleashed a barrage of shots that prompted a referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:11.

Unbeaten WBA #14 lightweight Frank “The Ghost” Martin (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a tenth round KO over late sub Jackson Marinez (19-3, 7 KOs). Marinez was slick enough to win some rounds, but Martin upped the pressure late to drop Marinez in round nine and finish him with another knockdown in round ten. Time was :30. Continue reading “Figueroa stops Castro in WBC eliminator”

Unbeaten super welterweight Magomed Kurbanov (23-0, 13 KOs), who has dropped out of the world ratings due to inactivity, hammered out a ten round decision over former WBO champion Patrick Teixeira (31-4, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the KRK “Uralets” in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Kurbanov dropped Teixeira in the first round of a one-sided fight.

Kurbanov last fought in May 2021, defeating former world champion Liam Smith. Teixeira has now lost three straight.

In an exciting clash between former heavyweight contenders, hometown hero Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over Kubrat Pulev (29-3, 14 KOs) to claim the WBA international title on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Chisora came out with an aggressive body attack while Pulev operated from outside with combinations. Chisora had a big round seven and Pulev went back to the corner with blood streaming from a cut over his left eye. Pulev staggered Chisora in round eight, but DelBoy, always the most dangerous when he’s hurt, somehow fired back. Toe-to-toe action in round nine with both landing big shots. Pulev outworked Chisora in round eleven, but Chisora landed the most eye-catching shots in round twelve. Scores were 116-112 Pulev, 116-112, 116-114 Chisora. Chisora reversed a three-fight losing streak and avenged a split decision loss to Pulev six years ago.

A rematch and WBA super welterweight eliminator between Israil Madrimov (8-0-1, 6 KOs) and Michel Soro (35-3-2, 24 KOs) ended in a technical draw after Soro was cut by an unintentional headbutt at :5 of round three on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Madrimov rattled Soro in round two, but the premature end prevented a clear conclusion. The cut didn’t seem that bad. This rematch was ordered after Madrimov got a controversial referee’s stoppage in their first fight.

Unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) steamrolled late sub Chris Healey (9-10, 2 KOs) in less than two rounds. Wardley dropped Healy in round one and blasted him to the canvas again 40 seconds into round two to end it. Continue reading “Madrimov-Soro ends in technical draw”

By Ron Jackson

Ronald Malindi retained the South African bantamweight title for the fourth time when he beat the number one contender Rofhiwa Nemushungwa on a 12 round split decision at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on Friday night. Judges Ben Ncapai and Siya Mani scored it 115-114 and 117-115 for Malindi and judge Simon Mokadi handed in a card of 115-114 for Nemushungwa.

There was very little in it through most of the rounds as both fighters threw punches to the head and body. However, some ringsiders were of the opinion that the challenger had done enough to edge it and take the title. Continue reading “Malindi retains SA title on a split decision”

Edward Vazquez 128.8 vs. Jose Argel 127.2
Damon Allen 135.1 vs. Oscar Barajas 136.2
DeAndre Pettus 160.5 vs. Chukka Wills 163
Isaiah Johnson 141.6 vs. Rondale Hubbert 145.7
Boimah Karmo 152.7 vs. Daniel Jiles 151
Famous Wilson 162.7 vs. Vincent Randall 157.9
Najeem Johns 141 vs. Darryl Chamberlain 134.2

Venue: 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
Promoter: RDR Promotions
Stream: BXNGTV.com, 1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Undefeated lightweight Keyshawn Davis has been forced to withdraw from his July 15 co-feature against Jair “Kaiser” Valtierra due to an illness that interrupted his training camp. Davis (5-0, 4 KOs), a U.S. Olympic silver medalist, will return this fall. The new eight-round co-feature will see Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs) step in against Valtierra underneath the Arnold Barboza Jr.-Danielito Zorrilla junior welterweight main event at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. Muratalla was previously scheduled to fight on the undercard.

Showtime PPV released quotes from Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr., son of the legendary former two-time heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman, who clash in an eight round cruiserweight bout on August 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The PPV telacast also features unified female featherweight champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano against Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal, plus unbeaten super welterweight Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) and unbeaten lightweight Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) against opponents to be named.

Jake Paul: “Fury fumbled the bag for the second time in a row and went into hiding, so I’m going to step up, again, and take on a new opponent on short notice. Nothing but respect for Hasim Rahman Jr., a professional heavyweight boxer with a 12-1 record who comes from a legendary boxing family. He’s bigger, he’s stronger and he’s more experienced. But guess what? I’m crazier. I’m raising the stakes and on August 6, I will get my respect under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.”

Hasim Rahman Jr: “Jake Paul and I sparred two years ago and let’s just say I took it easy on the kid. August 6 is not a sparring session. I am going to separate him from God’s conscience. My name is Hasim Rahman Jr., and I am going to knock out Jake Paul. Period.”

After bringing live professional boxing back to Atlantic City last March following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (31-5-1, 13 KOs) is once again returning to the historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on August 20. However, this time, in addition to serving as promoter, Cornflake will also be lacing up the gloves and stepping inside the ring to compete in the eight-round main event (opponent TBD).

“I’m just glad to finally be back. Depression is real and mental health is a SOB. It’s time for me to get back to the top,” said LaManna, who is fighting for the 20th time in the resort town, and second appearance at Boardwalk Hall.

The co-main event will feature undefeated bantamweight Emmanuel “Salserito” Rodriguez (11-0, 5KOs) against Frank “El Castigador” Gonzalez (9-2, 4KOs) for the NABO Latino title.