Two terrific boxing telecasts this weekend. One on ESPN+ Friday and the other on DAZN Saturday.

FRIDAY
Former world champions Jose Ramirez and Jose “Sniper” Pedraza collide in a twelve-round junior welterweight clash at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The winner will be positioned to fight for a world title later this year. The entire Ramirez-Pedraza card will stream live on ESPN+.

SATURDAY
Future Hall of Famer Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez returns to action just under a year after his controversial loss to rival Juan Francisco Estrada, taking on Julio Cesar Martinez, the WBC world champion at flyweight. Streamed live from the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, on DAZN. This should be an all-out war.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The pro debut of former Australian amateur champion Nikita Tszyu on Wednesday has been postponed because the venue has flooded out. The promoter is looking for another venue hopefully for Thursday.

Nikita Tszyu will compete in the 154-pound division, taking on Aaron Stahl (2-0-1, 0 KOs) in his first paid outing. Nikita’s brother WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu will be at ringside.

“This kid’s a beast, he’s got this killer instinct in him, he’s super skillful, he’s got all the tools,” Tim Tszyu told the Australian newspaper. “I reckon Nikita bashes Michael Zerafa now.”

Granite Chin Promotions successfully kicked-off its 2022 campaign last night with “Showcase,” featuring many of New England’s best and most popular professional boxers, at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts. Continue reading “Results From Framingham, Mass.”

WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie (18-0, 14 KOs) won an ugly, but clearcut, twelve round unanimous decision over WBO #2 rated Michal Cieslak (21-2, 15 KOs) on Sunday night at the O2 Arena in London. It was a messy fight with lots of holding. Okolie rocked Cieslak with a massive right to the head in round one. Okolie floored Cieslak with another big right in round five. Scores were 117-110, 116-111, 115-112.

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai chose a ten-rounder for his pro debut in the Okolie-Cieslak co-feature on Sunday night at the O2 Arena in London. He won the vacant WBC international flyweight title with a fifth round stoppage of Carlos Vado Bautista (10-5-1, 3 KOs).

WBA #6, IBF #8 Jordan “The Thrill” Gill (26-1-1, 7 KOs) claimed the European featherweight title with a spectacular ninth round KO against WBC #9 rated Karim Guerfi (30-5, 9 KOs). Guerfi dropped Gill in round seven then in Guerfi’s follow up barrage the fighters fell to the canvas awkwardly with Gill having his head rammed into the canvas like a wrestling DDT move. Guerfi looked headed to certain victory until Gill suddenly laid him out with a right hand. Time was 2:59.

More Results

In a WBA super featherweight eliminator, unbeaten WBA #5 featherweight Hector Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs) moved up a division on two-and-a-half weeks’ notice and dominated WBA #1 rated Chris “Primetime” Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) over twelve rounds on Saturday night from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Garcia was a replacement for WBA champion Roger Gutierrez, who contracted COVID, but he didn’t look like a sub. He beat Colbert to the punch from the get-go. Garcia dropped Colbert in round seven and punished him for the rest of the fight. Scores were 118-109, 118-109, 119-108.

“In the ninth and 10th rounds I hit him so hard,” said Garcia. “I knew I had him. I knew he wasn’t going to be able to box anymore. I want to fight Gutierrez for the world championship I worked too hard to get into this position today.”

Colbert stated that he wants to get a rematch. “Congratulations to Hector and his team. They deserved this win tonight. I wasn’t feeling myself. At the end the day, I’m still ‘Primetime’ on SHOWTIME.”

On a weekend of boxing upsets, this fight was the biggest with Colbert going down in flames as a 33:1 favorite.

Unbeaten 2016 Olympian super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell (15-0, 15 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over former world champion Viktor Postol (31-4, 12 KOs) in the Colbert-Garcia co-feature at the Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Russell, brother of former WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr., brought the fight to the 38-year-old Postal. He rocked Postol in with 29 seconds left in the bout and referee Mike Ortega very quickly waved it off to preserve Russell’s KO streak. Postol complained about the stoppage.

“The performance speaks for itself,” said Russell. “You see (Postol) went the distance with Terence Crawford, and I just stopped him. I believe I’m ready for another step-up fight.”

Postol fought on Saturday with his wife and their twin five-year-old sons back home in Brovary, Ukraine in harm’s way with the Russian military invading the country.

In a good toe-to-toe scrap, unbeaten junior bantamweight Fernando “Puma” Martinez (14-0, 8 KOs) ended the world title reign of long time IBF 115lb champion Jerwin Ancajas (32-2-2, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Martinez was a buzzsaw and comprehensively outworked the champ compiling a clear twelve round unanimous decision. Scores were 117-111, 118-110, 118-110.

Martinez landed 427 total punches of which 421 were power shots, a new division record.

Ancajas, who confirmed he will exercise a contractual rematch clause, was making his tenth title defense of the belt he won in 2016. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution following the match.

“I don’t think there is any need for a rematch,” said undisputed super lightweight Josh Taylor after his split decision against Jack Catterall. “I won the fight by several rounds. I won in the second half of the fight. I took over and bossed him. He was doing a hell of a lot of holding and spoiling. The ref taking the point off me helped him a little bit, but I still won the fight.

“I started a little slow, but once I grabbed the momentum, I started catching him with the bigger shots. He was trying to spoil a lot. Going down and up a lot and clashing my head. He caught me with a couple of good shots. I’m not gonna lie to you. It wasn’t my best performance. I put a lot of pressure on myself with it being my homecoming. Been three years, first time since lockdown and all that. I put a lot of pressure on myself being the heavy favorite and it showed in the first half of the fight.

“Once I got my rhythm I started catching him with the bigger shots and catching him and catching him. It wasn’t my best performance, but I believe I got the win 100 percent. But Jack did very well. Continue reading “Taylor: No rematch, I took over and bossed him”

Undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) barely retained his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts by twelve round split decision against WBO mandatory challenger Jack Catterall (26-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night before 12,101 at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. For the first eight rounds Catterall largely outboxed and outpunched Taylor, dropping Taylor in round eight. After that Catterall’s workmate went down. Catterall was deducted a point in round ten for holding. Taylor was deducted a point for tapping Catterall after the bell in round eleven. Scores were 113-112 Catterall, 114-111, 113-112 Taylor.

Catterall had a big edge in the punch stats. 120/73 in total punches, 81-57 in power punches, 39-16 in jabs.

Featherweight Robeisy Ramirez (9-1, 5 KOs) scored a third round KO over Eric Donovan (14-2, 8 KOs) in the Taylor-Catterall co-feature on Saturday night at the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy dropped Donovan in round one and finished him in round three. Time was 1:04.

Heavyweight Nick Campbell (5-0, 5 KOs) defeated Jay McFarlane (12-6, 5 KOs) to claim the vacant Scottish title. Campbell dropped the 276lb McFarlane in round seven and got a referee’s stoppage later in the round. Time was 2:18.

Other Results:
Paddy Donovan TKO6 Miroslav Serban (welterweight)
Ebonie Jones D6 Effy Kathopouli (female jr featherweight)
John Docherty KO2 Mike McGoldrick (super middleweight)
Kieran Molloy vs. Damian Esquisabel (jr middleweight)
Kurt Walker TKO1 Jaroslav Hriadel (featherweight)

In a an upset, unheralded bantamweight Vincent Astrolabio (17-3, 12 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over 41-year-old former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-3, 13 KOs) Saturday night in a temporary arena built at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, UAE.

The aggressive Astrolabio was rewarded for pressing the action although he was largely outboxed. Astrolabio finally got to Rigondeaux in round eight, dropping him with a right hand. The knockdown made the difference as Astrolabio won 95-94 on all three cards to take the WBC international title.

Two consecutive close losses now for Rigondeaux.

Unbeaten featherweight prospect Jadier Herrera (6-0, 5 KOs) went the distance for the first time in a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Mark John Yap (30-16, 15 KOs). Yap was credited with a knockdown in the eighth round, but Herrera had Yap in trouble in round nine. Scores were 97-92, 98-91, 99-91. Herrera, the grandson of two-time Olympic gold medalist Angel Herrera, won the WBA Asia title with the win.

The four major boxing governing organizations have joined together to express their position with regards to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Just as the world claims for cease of fire, our organizations have decided to not sanction any boxing championships in Russia. Just as this war has put a stop of boxing in Ukraine, our organizations will not sanction fights in Russia until further assessment of the situation.

May God bless everyone and bring peace to our world.

Daryl Peoples
IBF President

Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President

Francisco Valcarcel
WBO President

Gilberto J. Mendoza
WBA President

WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie and Michal Cieslak both made weight for their clash for the world title on Sunday night at the O2 Arena in London. Taylor weighed 199.4, Michal Cieslak weighed 199.6.

Galal Yafai 111.3 vs. Carlos Vado Bautista 109
Karim Guerfi 125.25 vs. Jordan Gill 126
Anthony Fowler 163.5 vs. Lukasz Maciec 163.6
Fabio Wardley 236 vs. Daniel Martz 266
Campbell Hatton 136 vs. Joe Ducker 136.5
Cheavon Clarke 199.5 vs. Toni Visic 199
John Hedges 183.5 vs. Aleksander Nagolski 182
Demsey McKean 246 vs. Ariel Esteban Bracamonte 293

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Ray Robinson 154 vs. Silverio Ortiz 156.3
Muhsin Cason 195.1 vs. Steven Lyons 198.7
Jerome Conquest 138.4 vs. Oscar Barajas 139.6
Dominick Mayfield 252.9 vs. Darryl Clark 240.9
Isaiah Johnson 139.5 vs. Dieumerci Nzau 144
Robert Sabbagh 227.4 vs. Joel Caudle 283.5
Jabril Noble 134.2 vs. Joseph Santana 139
Edwin Cortes 115.2 vs. Jerrod Miner 119.2

Promoter: RDR Promotions
Venue 2300 Arena
1st Bell: 7 PM ET
Stream: bxngtv.com

In a huge upset, middleweight Jimmy Kilrain Kelly (26-2, 10 KOs) scored a ten round majority decision over previously unbeaten 20:1 favorite and WBO #8 rated Kanat “QazaQ” Islam (28-1, 22 KOs) on Friday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The 37-year-old, two-time Olympian Islam came out flat and never got untracked as Kelly outboxed him all night. Scores were 95-95, 96-94, 97-93. Kelly picked up the vacant WBO global title.

“I thought I won every round,” said Kelly. “I even hurt my hand and could only box with my jab during the last four rounds. Despite that, I still feel I won every round. I felt his pressure, but I didn’t feel his power. Kanat was looking for the counter all night, but I didn’t let him do it.” Continue reading “Stunner: Kelly defeats WBO #8 Islam”

In the interest of peace, the WBC has voted to remove the sanction of any and all WBC boxing in Russia until and unless the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine is resolved in an agreeable manner. The WBC has been in open discussions with other sanctioning organizations and all members of the boxing industry to work towards peace.

The WBA Directorate has scheduled a meeting for next Monday to take a vote on also suspending any world, international or regional title fight in Russian territory until the end of the conflict.

The WBO is considering not to sanction world titles and regional bouts in Russia and not including Russian boxers in its rankings for as long as the invasion of Ukraine lasts.

Pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 30 KOs) has signed a new multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. The first fight will see boxing’s biggest attraction step up in weight to take on Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) in a bid for the WBA Light-Heavyweight title on May 7. The second fight in the multi-fight deal is set for September, possibly against Gennady Golovkin.

The May 7 event will be available to subscribers around the world on DAZN, excluding Latin America and Mexico. In the U.S. & Canada, the event will be offered exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per View (PPV) – newly introduced for very select events to come – and priced at $59.99 for current subscribers and $79.99 for new subscribers (inclusive of a one month subscription to DAZN).

“I am very happy with this fight against Dmitry Bivol,” said Canelo. “It is another great challenge for me and my career — especially as I go up in weight and face an exceptional light heavyweight champion like Bivol.

“I am also very excited that we have this fight slated for Cinco De Mayo Weekend – May 7 – for all the fans to enjoy. We will be ready like we always are.”

Chris “Primetime” Colbert 128.8 vs. Hector Garcia 129.6
(WBA super featherweight world title eliminator)

Jerwin Ancajas 114.6 vs. Fernando Martinez 114.6
(IBF super flyweight title)

Gary Antuanne Russell 139.4 vs. Viktor Postol 140.6

Venue: The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Promoter: Tom Brown
TV: Showtime

Video: Przemek Garczarczyk

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WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie and challenger Michal Cieslak faced off at the final press conference ahead Sunday’s world title action at The O2 in London, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Lawrence Okolie: “I’ve had 17 fights, 14 by KO, on the weekend it’ll be 18 and 15 by KO.”

Michal Cieslak: “I’m not interested on how hard he punches and how strong he is, I’m going to do what I have to on Sunday.”

Continue reading “Okolie-Cieslak Final Press Conference”

After storming the United States with a pair of knockouts over Deontay Wilder, WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) returns home for an all-British battle against WBC interim champion Dillian Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday, April 23 at London’s 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium. Fury-Whyte will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View in the U.S.

Promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank, tickets will be on sale exclusively from Ticketmaster at midday on Wednesday, March 2. News on undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO super lightweight Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall both made weight for their clash for the undisputed 140lb title on Saturday night on ESPN+ from the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Taylor weighed 140, Catterall weighed 139.

Other Weights:
Robeisy Ramirez 126.3 vs. Eric Donovan 126.3
Nick Campbell 254 vs. Jay McFarlane 276
Ebonie Jones 125.3 vs. Efty Kathopouli 124
John Docherty 172 vs. Jordan Grant 176.3
Paddy Donovan 146 vs. Miroslav Serban 145
Kurt Walker 129 vs. Jaroslav Hriadel 127.3
Kieran Molloy 154.3 vs. Damian Esquisabel 154

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn is convinced that Michał Cieślak is by design the most dangerous opponent WBO champ Lawrence Okolie has ever faced (Sunday, live on DAZN) but is also confident in Okolie’s strengths, his options to be great in the cruiserweight and heavyweights divisions.

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By Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

The Tokyo high court on Thursday ruled in favor of the plaintiff Kameda brothers (Koki, Daiki and Tomoki) against the defendant Japan Boxing Commission (JBC). The court ordered the JBC to pay the compensation 100,100,000 Japanese yen ($870,435 USD) for their damages caused by the JBC’s punishment in 2014. It was the second trial as both parties appealed against the first trial’s verdict for a compensation 45,000,000 yen ($391,304 USD) to be paid by the JBC. It shockingly became more than a double since the court admitted Kameda brothers’ damages for more than a couple of bouts, not each one fight in 2014. Continue reading “Kameda Family wins a case over JBC”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been hurling insults on social media toward April 23 opponent Dillian Whyte on almost a daily basis. But now Fury says he will be on radio silence until fight week.

“Hi Tyson Fury here, aka The Gypsy King. I’m about to go off social media completely for the next eight-and-a-half weeks. I’m gonna go into training camp to give Dillian Whyte all the respect in the world…I’ll never underestimate anyone in my life. I want to give this man all the respect he deserves coming as the #1 ranked WBC heavyweight challenger in the world today.

“Please don’t phone me, call me, email me, text me or try to contact me in any single way because I am out of bounds until May. So fantastic time, I will see you all at the press conference and I’ll be training away. Please appreciate my privacy and space.”