Former world champion Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) and Jose Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their junior welterweights clash on Friday night at Fresno’s Save Mart Center. The winner will likely receive a world title shot next.

Jose Ramirez: “My goal is to stay at the highest level of competition. My goal is to become a world champion again. You have to fight the best to be ready for those fights. I don’t want any easy fights. I don’t want to be fighting fights that are going to be tuneup fights.”

Jose Pedraza: “I definitely recovered a hundred percent {from COVID}. If that wasn’t the case you wouldn’t be seeing me facing Jose Ramirez in this great fight. It would mean a lot becoming champion for a third time. It would put my name along with the legends of Puerto Rico, and it would mean lot for the island, too.”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Stephen Espinoza, President of Showtime Sports, was at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, to kick off the unification battle between WBC, IBF welterweight champ Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr and WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas. The fight will take place Saturday, April 16 at Jerry World and shown live on Showtime PPV. Espinoza talked about this Texas-size mega fight, the amazing comeback of Spence Jr from injuries, thoughts on a Spence-Thurman matchup down the road and the health of boxing overall and much more in this interview!

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By Jeff Zimmerman

WBC, IBF welterweight champ Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr talks to the media after facing off against WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas for the first time at AT&T Stadium, as they prepare to do battle Saturday, April 16 at Jerry World and shown live on Showtime PPV.

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Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol face off for the first time at the Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, California, ahead of their May 7 bout.

Canelo Alvarez: “He’s a tough fighter. It’s gonna be a really good fight for Cinco de Mayo weekend for my people in Las Vegas and I’m really excited. I’m gonna prepare myself really good because this fight is going to be really hard.”

Dmitry Bivol: “I believe in my skills and when I come to the ring I believe in my victory. I’m looking forward to May 7.”

Former junior lightweight world champion Miguel “El Alacrán” Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs) now has his sights squarely on the lightweight division’s top names. Berchelt will battle Jeremiah Nakathila (22-2, 18 KOs) in the 10-round main event March 26 in the debut boxing event at the Resorts World Events Center located at Resorts World Las Vegas, the first resort to be built on The Strip in over a decade.

Miguel Berchelt: “I am ready to turn the page and show the fans I have what it takes to become a two-division world champion. The Valdez fight is in the past, and my focus is on Nakathila and a lightweight world title in 2022. ‘El Alacran’ is back, and I can’t wait to come to Resorts World Las Vegas to put on a show.”

In the 10-round co-feature, featherweights Jose Enrique “El Ejecutor” Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs) and Enrique “El Gemelo” Baez (20-2-2, 7 KOs) will meet in a clash with potential world title implications.

Both bouts will be televised live on ESPN. Tix go on sale tomorrow.

Welterweights Alexis “Lex” Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) and Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will collide in the co-main event to Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson on March 19. The duo will face off in a West Coast vs. East Coast, career-defining, 10-round battle at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Downtown Los Angeles and will be streamed live, worldwide, on DAZN.

Alexis Rocha: “I know what is expected of me at this stage of my career; I’m expected to knock people out. I own and embrace that expectation. I know Blair and have watched him develop. He’s a good fighter, but I am confident I will win in explosive fashion. He’s a southpaw and I’ve sparred with the best southpaws in the world, from Pacquiao to Josh Taylor. I’m ready for this fight.”

Blair Cobbs: “This is my moment to prove that I am a fighter to be feared in the welterweight division. I am ready for this challenge and can assure all my West Coast and East Coast fans that I am here to win and make a name for myself.”

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman / President of the WBC

Russia’s painful invasion of Ukraine is in all the news, social networks and any conversation. The only thing I wish to express is the sorrow that the world boxing community feels for this sad event.

We have so many people who are very dear to us in both countries who have had an incredible relationship for many years, including world champions, promoters, ring officials, and everyone else in the sporting community. God help us to restore peace.

This last Saturday there was a very tough fight between the undisputed super lightweight champion, who holds the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA belts, the Scotsman Josh Taylor, against his challenger, British Jack Catterall. Continue reading “Boxing for peace and social reintegration”

The welterweight title unification clash between WBC and IBF world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) and WBA world champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) will headline a SHOWTIME PPV on April 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spence-Ugas is just the 12th unification fight in the rich history of the welterweight division.

Spence returns to the ring after he was forced to pull out of a summer showdown against Pacquiao due to an eye injury that he has since recovered from. Ugas then stepped in for Spence to defeat Pacquiao by unanimous decision. Continue reading “Showtime PPV lands Spence-Ugas”

Multi-division former world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez wears a surgical mask as he works out for the media ahead of his bout on Saturday at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) of Victorville, CA and Jamestown, Ghana’s Emmanuel “The Gameboy” Tagoe (32-1, 15KOs) hosted their kickoff press conference Tuesday in Los Angeles at Golden Boy Headquarters. Both were on hand to discuss their upcoming 12-round, lightweight battle on April 9. The fight is set to take place at San Antonio’s Alamodome, live, worldwide on DAZN.

Ryan Garcia: “I am definitely not looking past him, whether people think he is a good contender or not, and I respect him and I know this will be a good fight…if it’s a quick or a long fight, I am ready for whatever.”

Emmanuel Tagoe: “I know people don’t know me, but after this fight, people are going to ask, who is this guy!? I know Ryan Garcia, I respect him a lot as a good boxer but he is not my style.”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) had the press all to himself after Dillian Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) was a no-show for the kickoff press conference announcing their April 23 showdown to be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View in the U.S.

Tyson Fury: “I don’t blame him for not being here today because if he were here, I’d have probably stretched him at the press conference. It’s good he’s not here, otherwise I’d be remanded in a London jail cell somewhere. The buildup to this fight will be fantastic because Tyson Fury versus his own shadow sells for sure. I will make sure people are entertained.”

More Quotes

The WBC, WBO and IBF join the sports world in an urgent plea to cease-fire and end the war in Ukraine, with the invasion from Russia.

Effective today, our organizations will not certify any championship fights involving boxers from Russia and Belarus. We will constantly monitor ongoing developments, hoping this situation is resolved soon, to reestablish normal life and activity.

The boxing world is united for peace, the sports world is united for peace and reject any form of war. Innocent lives are being lost and soldiers are dying from Ukraine and Russia.

May God help to bring peace to our world

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten IBF#6 Andy “Da Blade” Hiraoka (19-0, 14 KOs), 140, impressively flattened gallant challenger Cristiano Aoqui (16-9-2, 11 KOs), 140, with a single southpaw left at 2:16 of the tenth round in a scheduled twelve to retain his Japanese national and WBO Asia Pacific 140-pound belts on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. In an ethnic confrontation of Ghanan-blooded Andy and Brazilian descendant Cristiano, it was a very messy fight with too frequent clinches each other for the first nine rounds—prior to a trick happening. Continue reading “Hiraoka flattens Aoqui, keeps Japanese, WBO AP 140lb belts”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten skillful southpaw Masayoshi Hashizume (19-0-2, 11 KOs), 115, acquired the vacant regional belts of the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) and the WBO AP (WBO Asian Pacific) as he smartly outpunched game but less technical IBF#14 Akio Furutani (9-5, 3 KOs), 114.75, and scored a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 115-113) over twelve fast rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Hashizume acquires vacant OPBF, WBO AP 115lb belts”

By Joe Koizumi

Hard-punching flyweight WBC#8 Seigo Yuri Akui (17-2-1, 11 KOs), 111.5, pounded out a shutout decision (all 100-90) over former two-time world challenger Takuya Kogawa (32-7-1, 14 KOs), 112, over ten hard-fought rounds to keep his Japanese 112-pound belt on Sunday in Okayama, Japan. Having an ambitious shots to the WBC and the WBA (interim) belts against Pongsaklek Wongjongkam in 2011 and Yodmongkol CP Freshmart in 2014, though both losing on points in Thailand, Kogawa, 36, desperately mixed it up with the more powerful champ toe-to-toe from the outset and put on a gallant performance. But Akui, making his third defense, covered himself well and connected with more accurate and solid combinations to the face and the midsection, sweeping every round—not easily but steadily. Continue reading “WBC#8 Akui defeats Kogawa, keeps Japanese 112lb belt”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Two-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan (29-4, 8 KOs) will clash with Wade Ryan (20-9, 7 KOs) in a super welterweight bout at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall in Brisbane on Thursday, televised throughout Australia on Foxtel television network and Australian Kayo Sports network.

“This is it,” said Hogan. “I’ve gone all-in on this. I’ve just trained so hard. This has been my best camp since Jaime Munguia. I’ve got a bone to pick with the boxing world after winning the world title and not getting in (against Munguia in 2019). I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. I’m like a man possessed to do that.”

The card also features WBO #6, IBF #13, WBC #13 sure featherweight Joe Noynay (19-2-2, 8 KOs) in action against Liam Wilson (9-1, 6 KOs) in a rematch. Noynay stopped Wilson in five rounds last year.

In addition, the much anticipated professional debut of four-time Australian amateur champion Nikita Tszyu against Aaron Stahl (2-0-1) is on tap.

Promoters Matt and George Rose
Matchmaker Matt Rose

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with world title contender Shuretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (10-3-1, 2 KOs), coming off a big win in her hometown of Dallas one week ago. Metcalf fought to a draw in 2018 with current bantamweight champ Jamie Mitchell and is hoping to fight her again for her belt in the near future. Metcalf also talked about her road to boxing, delivered a message to Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn and Ebanie “Blonde Bomber” Bridges, the impact of Jake Paul for women in boxing, shared her thoughts on Claressa Shields and the potential showdown between Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford and much more in this exclusive interview.

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By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Busy-punching Nanae Suzuki (11-4-1, 1 KO), 101, captured the WBO female 102-pound belt as she kept stalking defending champ Mika Iwakawa (10-6-1, 3 KOs), 101.5, outhustled her and eked out a split decision (96-94 twice, 94-96) over ten hairline rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Suzuki avenged her close defeat by a split nod to Iwakawa in their first encounter in September 2020. The 38-year-old champ, making her second defense, attempted to counter the onrushing challenger, 29, but Suzuki’s aggressiveness paid off to wrest the belt. Continue reading “Suzuki dethrones Iwakawa, wins WBO female 102lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Veteran footworker Ayaka Miyao (21-5-1, 6 KOs), 101.75, managed to win the vacant IBF 102-pound belt when she kept utilizing her feet to-and-fro, outpunched her and earned a majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) over previously unbeaten Eri Matsuda (4-1-1, 1 KO), 102, on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. It was the main event of a female world title twinbill, and Miyao, 38, former WBA titlist having defended five times, showed her experience and skills to the younger southpaw Matsuda, 27. This belt had been renounced by Saemi Hanagata, who married referee Takeru Okaniwa and said a farewell to the ring. Continue reading “Miyao wins vacant IBF female 102lb belt”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) directorate in its support for peace and the cessation of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine held a meeting on Monday in which they unanimously approved the following actions:

1. The WBA will exclude Russian and Belarusian boxers from the next ranking lists. The measure is temporary and will be reviewed month by month. Current world or regional champions will maintain their status, and this will also be subject to review by the respective Committee.

2. Reaffirmed the non-sanctioning of world and/or regional bouts in Russia.

3. Russian and Belarusian officials will also be banned from participating in world and/or regional championship fights, according to a resolution from the WBA Executive Committee.

4. Russian fighters will not be allowed to enter the ring with their flag, their anthem will not be played and the country will not be named. Continue reading “WBA extends measures in pursuit of peace”

Junior middleweight Ray Robinson (25-3-2, 13 KOs) shook off a two-and-a-half year layoff by stopping veteran Silverio Ortiz (37-29) after round three of a scheduled six-round bout in front of a big crowd at the 2300 Arena.

Robinson was very sharp with his punches as he continuously banged shots off the head of Ortiz. Ortiz was able to get in some flush punches of his own. Robinson had a big round three as he had Ortiz in trouble several times. The corner of Ortiz had seen enough and bowed their charge out of the fight. Continue reading “Late Results from Philadelphia”

On a weekend of upsets, late sub Hector “Puma” Garcia’s win was the biggest with Chris Colbert going down in flames as a 33:1 favorite. In other upsets, 20:1 favorite Kanat Islam, 11:1 favorite Guillermo Rigondeaux, and 7:1 favorite Jerwin Ancajas all took unexpected losses.

There was almost another major upset with 13:1 favorite Josh Taylor. Sportsbook Paddy Power called Taylor’s split decision win over Jack Catterall “a robbery” and they refunded bets on Catterall!

Taking a quick look at this weekend’s odds, Jose Ramirez is a 6:1 favorite over Jose Pedraza, and Chocolatito Gonzales is a slight -150 favorite over JC Martinez.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with rising jr. lightweight contender Gabriel Flores Jr. (20-1, 7 KOs) who is looking to bounce back from his first loss against Abraham Montoya on Friday, March 4 on ESPN Plus. Flores Jr. talked about the loss and being sick heading into the fight and what he expects from Montoya who happened to beat Flores Jr. last opponent. Flores Jr. also shared his thoughts on the Taylor-Catterall controversial decision, plus his excitement for Stevenson-Valdez Apr. 30 and much more in this exclusive interview.

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Rather bizarre tactic by IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis, who is chasing a Jake Paul fight. At Sunday’s Okolie-Cieslak card in London, Briedis donned a Super Mario outfit to try to get Paul’s attention after Paul referred to him as “this guy, Mario.”

Briedis told Paul and the DAZN audience, “Jake, now I’m Mario. If you’re afraid of real fighters, let’s play our game and I smash out from you all the coins and the small, small star from your hand.”

Popular ring announcer David Diamante has announced that he’ll be returning to the ring on the DAZN show in San Diego. He suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident last December. Continue reading “David Diamante returns Saturday”