Following his win over former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin, the IBF immediately ordered Luis “King Kong” Ortiz to fight Filip Hrgovic in a final heavyweight eliminator. Ortiz, however, is reportedly rejecting that fight. Ortiz’s manager Jay Jiménez told the Miami Nuevo Herald that Ortiz has a minimal fracture to his left hand and he won’t be ready by the March/April time frame Hrgovic and the IBF want. The IBF will now go down their ratings and select the next available contender (Joseph Parker and Tony Yoka being the next two) to face Hrgovic.

On December 18, despite having been inactive for more than a year and a half, former WBC world champion Jhonny González (69-11, 56 KOs) demonstrated his vintage quality stopping Sergio “Dandy” Puente (28-13, 12 KOs) vía fourth round TKO at the Tuzo Forum in Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico.

Jhonny, 40, who was a special guest at the WBC’s Tuesday Coffee explained that even though in the first rounds he felt out of range, he quickly got back into the groove and was landing on target in this bout fought at super lightweight. Jhonny says he wants to stay busy, planning to fight again in February or March. He`s currently studying offers of fights which include England and Phoenix, Arizona.

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

As the time of festivities is over, where we all become poets sending encouraging and positive messages, as we all were sensitive to welcome the New Year with enthusiasm and hope, here we are now, 2022 is here.

Diet, schedules, new purposes, and old ones too. It is a wonderful feeling to start a new cycle. We are still in time to dream what we want and take action to pursue it and make sure our goals are accomplished.

There are important concepts to maximize our chance of success. Continue reading “Let’s get to work to accomplish our dreams and goals!”

Triller Fight Club has announced that Triad Combat II will take place at the end of February and be headlined by a nine-round heavyweight clash between former heavyweight title challenger Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev and former UFC champion Junior Dos Santos with a venue and date to be announced shortly. Pulev smoked MMA legend Frank Mir in the opening round at Triad Combat I.

Additionally announced is a seven-round cruiserweight fight between former light heavyweight champion ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson and former UFC champion Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort. Dawson is a three-time former light heavyweight boxing champion who last fought in 2019. Belfort scored a first-round knockout over 58-year-old boxing legend Evander Holyfield last September. Continue reading “Pulev-Dos Santos, Dawson-Belfort set for Triad fights”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC #2 bantamweight Jason Moloney (22-2, 18 KOs) has targeted WBC #1 bantamweight Nawaphon Kaikanha (51-1-1, 41 KOs) for a WBC elimination bout to get a shot at WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire.

“I want the WBC title, that’s the dream.“ Moloney said. “So if that means fighting Nonito Donaire then so be it. It’ll be a great fight against a great champion. Firstly I have to get past whoever they put in front of me in an eliminator and that looks to be a 51-1 fighter from Thailand, so that’s my objective as of now, but fighting Donaire was on my Christmas list last year!” Continue reading “Jason Moloney targets WBC title challenge”

The Championships Committee of the World Boxing Association (WBA) sent a new communication to the teams of Hiroto Kyoguchi and Esteban Bermudez granting a period of 10 days to submit the signed bout contracts, the period expires this Friday, January 7. Kyoguchi is the light flyweight super champion, while Bermudez is the regular champion. As part of the WBA’s title reduction plan, the fight will crown one WBA champion in the 108lb division.

The communication was sent last December 29 and the bout must take place before February 9, 2022, since the 90-day term expires on that date since both teams announced to the entity that they had reached an agreement for the fight for the light flyweight title. Continue reading “Final deadline for Kyoguchi-Bermudez”

Southern California featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs), who has twice challenged for a world title, is primed for another run at the brass ring. Gonzalez signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank and will return in a 10-round bout against Filipino former world title challenger Jeo Santisima (21-3, 18 KOs) on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Gonzalez-Santisima will serve as the co-feature to the 12-round junior welterweight showdown between former unified champion Jose Ramirez and Puerto Rican two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza.

Undefeated middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (14-0, 6 KOs) is back in the US and preparing for a big 2022. Coyle trains under Florida Boxing Hall of Famer Jim McLaughlin in St. Petersburg but was in his native Northern Ireland the last two years due to Covid restrictions. He had two fights in 2021, both in Mexico. Coyle will be back in the ring on February 19 against Guido Nicolas Pitto (27-9-2, 8 KOs) in an eight round contest at Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

Light heavyweight Dante “Free Smoke” Benjamin Jr., who won seven national titles as an amateur, has signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank. The 19-year-old will make his professional debut in a four-round bout Saturday, Jan. 29 on the Robson Conceição-Xavier Martinez undercard in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

BOXXER has signed heavyweight prospect Jeamie ‘TKV’ to an exclusive long-term promotional agreement. TKV will be trained by Ben Davidson, trainer of Undisputed world super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor and former trainer of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

BOXXER also signed former WBO global welterweight champion Chris ‘2 Slick’ Kongo (12-1, 7 KOs) to a multi-fight promotional deal. Kongo is managed by Dillian Whyte and will also be trained by Davison.

Granite Chin Promotions has announced its first event of 2022, scheduled on February 26 at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts. The card will mark Granite Chin’s first event in Massachusetts in more than two years, as well as being only the second professional boxing show ever in Framingham, which is located 23 miles west of Boston.

The eight round main event will pit local super lightweight Nelson “Chino” Perez (5-0, 2 KOs) against veteran Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey (15-16-4, 11 KOs). Unbeaten welterweight prospect Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (7-0, 5 KOs) faces Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (1-0) in the six round co-feature.

TOURNAMENTS IN JANUARY 2022

Following advice from the British Boxing Board of Control Medical Panel, Boxing tournaments under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC will be suspended for the month of January.

A further review by the Medical Panel and Stewards will take place prior to the planned reeommencement of Boxing in February.

Robert W. Smith
General Secretary
British Boxing Board of Control

* * *

Unfortunately, this includes the big January 29 PPV card from Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, featuring Chris Eubank Jr against Liam Williams and Claressa Shields against Ema Kozin.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni has registered a positive covid test while training in Los Angeles, throwing into doubt his February 4 national title bout with Joe Goodall. Huni is suffering from a fever and body aches, and his trainer/father Rocki Huni said his son has a cough and sore throat.

“We were super safe over here,” Rocki told Fox Sports. “We’re always wearing masks everywhere we go … we didn’t see this coming.” Team Huni is scheduled to arrive back in Australia on January 14.

Goodall also training in the USA with trainer Kevin Barry in Las Vegas.

This week probably offers the lightest boxing schedule of the year, barring a complete shutdown like we saw in 2020.

The one televised card in the U.S., however, is a good one.

ShoBox: The New Generation will kick off the 2022 boxing calendar with a tripleheader featuring six undefeated fighters on Friday from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

In the main event, lightweight Luis Nunez (15-0, 11 KOs) faces Carlos Arrieta (14-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Lightweight Starling Castillo (16-0, 12 KOs) meets Otar Eranosyan (10-0, 6 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature. In the opener, super featherweight Edwin De Los Santos (13-0, 12 KOs) battles William Foster III (12-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

“I was very focused during this fight,” said heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz after coming off the deck twice to stop Charles Martin in round six. “I was never worried. My trainer just told me to keep working the jab and that’s what I was able to do. It was very difficult going southpaw against southpaw. At the end of the day, my intelligence won the fight.

“I maintained faith the entire time. I knew I had my family and these fans behind me. I told everyone that this fight would be fireworks. He knocked me down, but then I finished him. I respect him a lot and now I’m coming after every heavyweight in line for the title.”

In an IBF heavyweight eliminator, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) scored an exciting come-from-behind sixth round TKO over “Prince” Charles Martin (28-3-1, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Martin, who was IBF heavyweight champion for a minute in 2016, knocked down Ortiz with a shot behind the ear in round one. The 42-year-old Ortiz rebounded to win round two. Ortiz down again at the end of round four from a jab. In round six, Ortiz finally connected with an overhand left that put Martin out on his feet and Martin’s glove got bizarrely trapped between the ropes as he went down. Martin beat the count but Ortiz brutally battered him to the deck again to end it. Time was 1:37.

Unbeaten WBC #5, WBO #5 heavyweight Frank Sanchez (20-0, 13 KOs) outclassed late sub Christian Hammer (26-9, 16 KOs) over ten rounds, but was reluctant to let his hands go en route to a dull unanimous decision. Sanchez was credited with a dubious knockdown after a pushdown in round ten. Scores were 100-89 3x.

In a rematch, heavyweight Jonnie Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) won a slow-paced ten round unanimous decision over Michael Coffie (12-2, 9 KOs) by scores of 97-93, 97-93, 99-91. Easy win for Rice, despite weighing 15 pounds more than he did in winning their first fight. Continue reading “Ortiz comes off canvas twice to stop Martin”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s WBO junior bantamweight champ Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), 115, kept his belt as he earned a unanimous decision over #6 southpaw compatriot “Little Pacquiao” Ryoji Fukunaga (15-5, 14 KOs), 114.75, over twelve fast rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

The official tallies read as follows: Michiaki Someya 118-110, Masakazu Murase 116-112 and Tetsuya Iida 115-113, all Japanese judges in favor of the defending champ. Continue reading “Ioka-Fukunaga Full Report”

Luis Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) vs. Charles Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs)
IBF heavyweight eliminator
Ortiz is about a -350 favorite, down from -500.
Ortiz has been in with much tougher competition, but he’s also (at least) 42 years old. Both his losses are to Deontay Wilder. As for Martin, even though he briefly held the IBF title, this would be by far the biggest win on his resume if he gets it.

Frank Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) vs. Christian Hammer (26-8, 16 KOs)
Sanchez a 30:1 favorite
Unbeaten Sanchez is a ring technician, late sub Hammer is an experienced veteran. Sanchez figures to win a decision unless Hammer is woefully out of shape.

Jonnie Rice (14-6-1, 10 KOs) vs. Michael Coffie (12-1, 9 KOs)
Rice started at +250, but is now -175
Rice upset Coffie in their first fight but came in 15 pounds heavier here at 283.8 pounds. Can he do it again? Or is he just here for the payday? Biggest question mark of the night.

Gerald Washington (20-4-1, 13 KOs) vs. Ali Eren Demirezen (14-1, 11 KOs)
Demirezen a -250 favorite
WBO #14 Demirezen steps up in class. Washington has lost four of six against better competition than Demirezen has faced and he beat Robert Helenius, so can’t count him out.

Viktor Faust (8-0, 6 KOs vs. Iago Kiladze (27-5-1, 19 KOs)
Faust is a 33:1 favorite.
On paper, Kiladze, 1-4-1 in last six, looking like cannon fodder for hot prospect Faust, the Germanized name for Viktor Vykhryst.

* * *

Frank Martin (14-0, 10 KOs) vs. Romero Duno (24-2, 19 KOs)
This lightweight fight on FOX in the lead-in to the pay-per-view could be the most interesting fight of the night. Martin is a hot prospect and 9:1 favorite. But don’t sleep on Duno. Yes, he got blown out in 98 seconds by Kingry, but normally Duno is pretty tough.

Last August, Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association (WBA), promised to begin the title reduction process and has delivered. When the process began, the WBA had 54 champions: 10 interim, 12 gold, 16 champions and 16 super champions. The first measure was to eliminate all interim titles and remove the gold from world championship status and request mandatory bouts or box-offs. There are now seven categories with one champion and 28 champions overall. There is still a long way to go, but Mendoza has affirmed that he will keep his commitment to fulfilling what he has promised.

Luis Ortiz 243.4 vs. Charles Martin 246.2
Frank Sanchez 239.2 vs. Christian Hammer 264.8
Jonnie Rice 283.8 vs. Michael Coffie 278.4
Gerald Washington 253.8 vs. Ali Eren Demirezen 256.2
Viktor Faust 233.3 vs. Iago Kiladze 216.6
Steven Torres 256.8 vs. James Evans 217.8
Frank Martin 137 vs. Romero Duno 135.8
Geovany Bruzon 226.6 vs. Lenier Pero 252.2
Maliek Montgomery 129.2 vs. Angel Luna 130.8
Atif Oberlton 174.2 vs. Ernest Amuzu 174.4
Alayn Limonta 145.8 vs. Ray Barlow 147.4

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: PPV, FOX

By Joe Koizumi

Japan’s WBO junior bantamweight champ Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), 115, kept his belt as he earned a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 115-113) over #6 southpaw compatriot “Little Pacquiao” Ryoji Fukunaga (15-5, 14 KOs), 114.75, over twelve fast rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The four-division champ Ioka, making his fourth defense of this belt, demonstrated a safety-first strategy, constantly piling up points without taking a risk by toe-to-toe exchanges of punches. Ioka seldom absorbed the challenger’s less accurate combos but scored with more accurate and more effective combinations upstairs and downstairs. Ioka, 32, would have been able to floor Fukunaga, a carpenter nicknamed “Little Pacquiao” because of his resemblance at 35, with more furious combinations in later rounds, but the champ didn’t accelerate his attacks to the fading foe probably because he was more anxious to safely prepare for a unification bout with IBF counterpart Jerwin Ancajas next rather than go for a year-end knockout that our aficionados had wished for. The ref was Katsuhiro Nakamura.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions.

(More to come)

If no agreement is reached between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte by January 11, the WBC will hold a purse bid with Fury taking an 80-20 split. The Whyte camp was pushing for a 55/45 split. Promoter Bob Arum stated a 75/25 offer was on the table. If still available after the WBC’s ruling, this seems to be Whyte’s best bet.

By Héctor Villarreal

After a successful year 2021, former WBA bantamweight super champion, Panamanian Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (40-6-1, 13 KOs) is preparing to headline another international boxing card promoted by his wife’s company, Laguna Premium Boxing.

“We got the ok from the president of the World Boxing Association, Gilberto Jesus Mendoza to announce it as a WBA Latin American KO to Drugs Festival to be held on Saturday, March 19 at the Emilo Royo flag football stadium, located just behind the legendary Roberto Duran Arena, with no less than 12 fights to be broadcast on ESPN, involving foreign fighters facing WBA world-rated Panamanian stars who performed well on our two 2021 events, such as former super champion Jezreel Corrales (25-4, 10 KOs) undefeated superbantam Rafael “El General” Pedroza (12-0, 11 KOs), hard puncher. Bryan “La Roca” De Gracia (27-2, 23 KOs) and KO artist Ricardo “El Cientifico” Núñez (23-3, 21 KOs) among others,” said promoter Rouss Laguna de Moreno. “We are sending invitations to the most famous personalities like Floyd Mayweather and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.”

Anselmo Moreno, who successfully won and defended the WBA Fedelatin featherweight belt on 2021, is currently world ranked as #2.

Top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former world champion Charles Martin went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday before they meet in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View this Saturday, January 1 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The press conference also featured rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez and Christian Hammer, who duel in the 10-round co-main event.

Rounding out the heavyweight extravaganza and facing off at Thursday’s event were heavyweight contenders Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie, who meet in a 10-round rematch, former title challenger Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington and Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen, who battle in a 10-round fight, and unbeaten Viktor Faust and Iago Kiladze, who square off in the 10-round pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Hard Rock Live:

LUIS ORTIZ

“I’m very thankful for this great opportunity that my team has set me up with on Saturday night. It’s exciting to be able to give the fans a great show.

“When somebody says they’re going to knock me out, it just makes me laugh and smile. Everybody says that. But you’re facing a fighter who has been through it before, so you can try your best.

“I’m glad that he’s saying that he’s going to knock me out. He’s coming with bad intentions and so am I. Anyone can land the big shot, but it’s going to be me with my hand-raised Saturday night.

“I’m very proud to have made my pro debut here at Hard Rock and to have done it in style. I’m glad that he trained well for this fight, because he’s going to be facing a difficult fighter who knows how to adapt.

“First of all, my mind is 100% and that’s the most important thing. On Saturday night, everyone will see that physically, I’m also completely ready to become world champion.”

CHARLES MARTIN

“I’m so excited for this fight. This is a great opportunity and I’m thankful for this chance that I have. It’s great to be displayed as the headliner. PBC has faith in me and I’m going to go out and show why.

“What you see is what you get. I’ve been working hard in the gym day in and day out. It’s like second nature to me. I’m ready to let my hands speak. I’m going to be very skillful in there.

“This is going to be a great fight. You don’t really see two southpaws too often in the heavyweight division. You’re going to see some really good boxing in this fight.

“You’re going to get a knockout in this fight. We’re not going to go 12 rounds. I know I’m going to knock him out.

“I didn’t get a fair shake in my first run as champion. This is the revenge tour right now. Luis Ortiz is first on my list of these last four fights I want before I retire, which includes two against Anthony Joshua. I want to beat him down twice.

“Me and my trainer Manny Robles have been doing a lot of great work in the gym. People only see what happens in the ring, they don’t see what happens behind closed doors. I have business to take care of on Saturday and we’re ready.

“I’m remaining hopeful about getting another world title fight. I never overlook my opponent or look ahead to another fight though. Ortiz is the only opposition that I see at this moment.”

FRANK SANCHEZ

“After joining with my trainer Eddy Reynoso’s team, I’ve learned so much under his tutelage. It’s put me in position to give a great performance Saturday on pay-per-view.

“We trained hard and we trained to fight anyone who would be stepping in against me. I was ready for Negron, but I’m going to be ready for anyone standing there in front of me.

“Christian Hammer is a good fighter and I’m going to be ready for him. That’s what we train for. The opponent doesn’t matter if you’ve prepared to 100% of your ability.

“If I win on Saturday, I feel like I’m going to keep moving up and facing tougher competition. I believe I’m going to be ready for the world title fight next year.”

CHRISTIAN HAMMER

“I was with my team here in the U.S. already, supporting my teammates Viktor and Ali when I got the call about this fight. I was having a great training camp with them, so I was ready to take this fight.

“It’s my job to take these fights. I’m going to do my job and give everyone a good fight on Saturday. I know Sanchez is a good fighter, but I’ve faced a lot of good fighters. We’ll see what he’s made of.”

JONNIE RICE

“Of course, I feel pressure to repeat my performance from our first fight. A lot of people thought it was a fluke, so now I just have to do the same thing times two. I’m getting paid more this time, so I’m going to do it even quicker in this fight.

“Everyone knows how these things go. I was a big underdog in the first fight, so everyone thinks something must have gone wrong. Something had to be out of the ordinary. Let’s understand something though, it’s going to go down the same way Saturday night.

“I don’t feel like he underestimated me in the first fight. I know his attention had been on Gerald Washington. These things happen.

“I’m more confident now than ever. If he doesn’t bring me down a level, my head is going to keep getting bigger and bigger. He might have to do me a favor because right now I feel like I’m about to take over the whole world.”

MICHAEL COFFIE

“I didn’t touch Rice in the first fight, but I’m definitely going to touch him for sure on Saturday night. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder now.

“I have to prove myself. I didn’t get a chance to show what I can actually do in the first fight. I don’t even care about my record, I just want to show my skills. Everyone is going to see on Saturday.

“This time Rice is my original opponent from the beginning. We prepared specifically for him this time. I’m also a lot healthier for this camp. I’m 100% and I’m ready to go.

“This is not a real beef between us, but it’s intense and it’s part of the game. We’re going to play that game on Saturday and may the best man win. I know that it’s going to be me.”

GERALD WASHINGTON

“I feel great. It’s good to be back. I’ve been in the gym working hard with my team. I’ve learned a lot of great things and I’ve taken advantage of the time I’ve had.

“I’m looking forward to showing off my hard work and getting back into a top position in this division. My opponent is coming in hungry to prove himself, and that should make this a great fight for the fans.”

ALI EREN DEMIREZEN

“I’ve had three fights since the Efe Ajagba fight and I’ve gotten much better since then. My skills have improved and I’m very eager to get in the ring and display them.

“This is my second chance fighting in the U.S. and I want to show that I belong in this position. I have to get by this test against Gerald Washington. That’s the only thing that’s on my mind.”

VIKTOR FAUST

“I’m a very good fighter and I’m going to show everyone on Saturday. I’m planning on displaying my technique, skill and power in this fight against Kiladze.

“It’s exciting to be in this position. I love to compete and Saturday is a big opportunity for me. I know I have to give a great performance.”

IAGO KILADZE

“I work hard and train so much. I’ve had a very long training camp. I’m in great shape now and I will give everyone another great fight on Saturday night. I promise that.

“There are a lot of great fighters on this card and I’m excited to be here with them. I’m going to prove with how I fight on Saturday that this is exactly where I belong.”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with former heavyweight champ Charles Martin before his big showdown with Luis “King Kong” Oritz on Saturday, Jan 1 to kick off the New Year on FOX PBC PPV. Martin shared how he got started in boxing, eventually winning the title before losing to Anthony Joshua in his first defense. Martin discussed where he is now as a fighter working with Manny Robles and the hunger and discipline needed to become champ again in this exclusive interview.

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Ahead of his IBO super middleweight title eliminator against István Szili on March 26 at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany, former five-time world champion Felix Sturm sat down to talk about his motivation to keep fighting, his opinion on superstar Saul “Canelo“ Alvarez and a possible fight between the two, the recent trend of YouTubers-turning boxers, and a look back on his own career. Continue reading “Interview: Felix Sturm”