By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Super lightweight prospect Montana Love (17-0-1, 9 KOs) from Cleveland stopped Carlos Diaz (29-2, 14 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico in three rounds on Saturday night in the Haney-Diaz co-feature at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Love popped the jab in the opening round as Diaz stalked attempting to get inside on Love, there was a light clash of heads but there was not cut. Love scored three knockdowns in round two and finally put him away in the third as a flurry of unanswered punches forced referee Raul Caiz Jr. to stop the fight at 1:22.

Undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill (11-2, 3 KOs) of Chicago retained her titles by crushing Kandi Wyatt (10-4, 3 KO’s) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. McCaskill came out aggressively attacking and connecting with solid with hands snapping Wyatt’s head back. In round two, Wyatt gained her composure and used the jab but McCaskill kept coming working her way inside. Patiently boxing in round three, McCaskill connected Wyatt with a solid one-two combo. Wyatt’s face was busted up in the fourth as McCaskill picked her shots. Connecting precisely in the fifth, McCaskill took it to Wyatt and continued doing a number on her.McCaskill kept the pressure and the referee had finally seen enough stopping the fight at 19 seconds of the seventh.

Undefeated heavyweight Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) stopped Emir Amatovich (10-1, 7 KOs) in three rounds. It was a slow first round but Hrgovic landed big shots on Amatovich. Patiently boxing in round two, Hrgovic dropped Amatovich twice and finished him off in round three as the referee stopped it after another knockdown at 30 seconds.

More Results

In a WBO light heavyweight eliminator, former world title challenger Anthony Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs) impressively knocked out previously unbeaten #1 rated Lyndon Arthur (19-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London. Yarde came out extremely aggressive and didn’t let up. No pacing himself. He punished Arthur for four rounds, getting him out of there with a huge right hand. Time was 1:27. Yarde avenges a split decision loss to Arthur 12 months ago.

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More results

By Ron Jackson

In a closely fought slugfest South Africa’s Roarke Knapp came back from three big knockdowns in the third round to stop Cape Town based Angolan Christiano Ndombassy in the fifth round to win the vacant WBA Pan African middleweight title at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night.

With both boxers coming forward throwing punches in the opening round Knapp (71.90kg) possibly did enough to shade the round and scoring with combination left and rights to the head he also won the second round. Continue reading “Knapp overcomes three knockdowns to win”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

In a nationally televised promotion, IBF #3 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs) stopped Daniel Russell (7-3-2, 4 KOs) in round two on Saturday at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Foxtel television network and Kayo Sports. Opetaia is expected to challenge IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Breidis early in 2022, as has been ordered by the IBF.

Opetaia said, “I can’t wait man. We got this one out of the way, now we can just focus mainly on that world title shot. We’re just going to build fitter, stronger, faster every day.”

In other action, IBF #15 middleweight Issac Hardman (12-0, 10 KOs) stopped late sub Adam Stowe (6-3-2, 4 KOs) in round four of a scheduled ten round bout for the IBF Australasian and Australian title. The corner of Stowe threw the towel into the ring. Afterward, Hardman vowed “I’m going to smash that Michael Zerafa’s head in.”

Former WBA heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (30-3, 26 KOs) scored a come-from-behind seventh round knockout over former Australian champion Faiga Opelu (14-3-1, 10 KOs) in a scheduled ten round bout to capture the WBA Oceana title.

Matchmaker Stuart Duncan, promoter Dean Lonergan.

Fighters competing on the Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz Showtime PPV undercard taking place this Sunday previewed their respective showdowns during a press conference Friday before they enter the ring in a Premier Boxing Champions event from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

The event featured super welterweight star Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora and fellow unbeaten Sergio Garcia, who compete in a WBC super welterweight title eliminator that serves as the co-main event, middleweight contenders Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Carlos Adames, who meet in a 10-round WBC middleweight title eliminator, and featherweight contenders Eduardo Ramirez and Miguel Marriaga, who square-off in a 10-round attraction that opens the pay-per-view telecast. Continue reading “Davis-Cruz undercard presser”

Damian Sosa 154.8 vs. Clay Collard 154.2
Manuel Jaimes 137.6 vs. Moises Flores 142.8
Wade Jones III 140 vs. Edgar Ramirez 143.6
Felix Soria 146 vs. Andres Abarca 146.4
Gabriel Muratalla 118 vs. Victor Torres 120

Non Pay-Per-View Fights
Vincent Avina 116 vs. Alexis Salido 116
Luis Chavez 147 vs. Jose Aguayo 149.6
Irving Xilohua 122.6 vs. Luis Valdez 121
Arturo Popoca 124.2 vs. Richard Esquibel 124.8

Venue: Stockton Civic Auditorium
Promoter: Toscano Promotions
TV: Fite.tv PPV
1st Bell: 4:30 PT

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Three-time world champion Lovemore Ndou talks to Fightnews.com® about his 2016 prediction that newly crowned WBA, WBO, IBF lightweight champion George Kambosos would become a world champion.

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Devin Haney 135 vs. Joseph Diaz 134.4
(WBC lightweight title)

Jessica McCaskill 146.4 vs. Kandi Wyatt 146.2
(undisputed female welterweight title)

Filip Hrgovic 246.8 vs. Emir Ahmatovic 228.4
Montana Love 143.8 vs. Carlos Diaz 139.8
Marc Castro 136.4 vs. Ronaldo Solis 130.8
Austin Williams 160 vs. Quatavious Cash 160
Alexis Espino 167.4 vs. Rodolfo Gomez Jr 168
Amari Jones 160 vs. Timothy Lee 159.4
Ricardo Sandoval 111.8 vs. Carlos Buitrago 113

Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

European super welterweight Kerman “Revolver” Lejarraga (34-2, 26 KOs) retained his title with a spectacular ninth round KO against Jack “Quiet Storm” Flatley (17-2-1, 4 KOs) on Friday night at the Bilbao Arena in Bilbao, Spain. Lejarraga dropped Flatley in round eight, then in the following round a massive Lejarraga right hand laid out Flatley for several minutes. No time announced.

Unbeaten lightweight Campbell Hatton (5-0, 1 KO) got his first KO against Attila Csereklye (10-25, 8 KOs). Rebounding from his controversial win over Sonni Martinez in September, Hatton dropped Csereklye twice in round one and again in round two to end it. Hatton is the son of ring great Ricky Hatton. Nine straight losses for Csereklye.

Keyshawn Davis, the lightweight star who earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, has a golden chance to shine on one of boxing’s biggest platforms. Davis (3-0, 2 KOs), in his first fight since signing a long-term deal with Top Rank, will face Mexican veteran Jose Zaragoza (8-3-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round bout Saturday, Dec. 11 on the undercard of the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey lightweight main event.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (2-0, 2 KOs), grandson of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, will fight fellow unbeaten Reyes Sanchez (6-0, 2 KOs) in the four-round televised opener.

Lomachenko-Commey, an eight-round heavyweight showdown between Jared Anderson and Oleksandr Teslenko, Davis-Zaragoza and Ali Walsh-Reyes will air live on ESPN following the 2021 Heisman Trophy Ceremony. Continue reading “Loma-Commey undercard set”

Golovkin-Murata, Ioka-Ancajas postponed

By Joe Koizumi

The emergent omicron virus has called off a couple of world title bills on Friday here in Japan. Teiken Promotions has announced the greatly anticipated middleweight unification bout of WBA super champion Ryota Murata and IBF titleholder Gennady Golovkin on December 29 is called off due to the government’s ban of any foreigner to enter Japan.

A special permit wasn’t made even for such a big show that all our fight fans are so much eager to watch with greatest expectations. Also, another unification bout between WBO 115-pound ruler Kazuto Ioka and IBF titlist Jerwin Ancajas on New Year Eve will be canceled by the same reason. This morning we experienced a considerably big earthquake in the Tokyo area, but our fistic world also got terribly shaken up with the shocking cancellations.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Fast-rising unbeaten lightweight, IBF#15 Hironori Mishiro (11-0-1, 4 KOs), 133.5, impressively decked a fine TKO victory over formerly world-rated Kazuhiro Nishitani (21-6-1, 12 KOs), 132.75, at 2:01 of the sixth round on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. Having scored an important win over ex-WBO champ Masayuki Ito in his previous bout, Mishiro collected another victim in Nishitani, whom he dropped with a well-timed right in round five and flattened with another vicious right in the fatal session.

In the semi-windup, Chaoz Minowa (7-3, 6 KOs), 111.75, acquired the vacant OPBF female flyweight belt by stopping Yumemi Ikemoto (7-2, no KO), 111, at 1:20 of the second round in a scheduled two-minute eight. Minowa badly decked Ikemoto with a solid left hook in second, and her follow-up prompted the referee’s intervention.

Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.

Attendance: 792 (with the JBC’s regulation at the Korakuen Hall).

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By Ron Jackson

The Golden Gloves Promotions tournament to be held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Saturday night is scheduled to go ahead despite several withdrawals and setbacks due to the Covid 19 virus. This is a box-and-dine event and will be shown live on SS209 Variety Four from 7pm to 11pm.

The main event between Brandon Thysse and Roarke Knapp for the WBA Pan African junior middleweight title was cancelled when Thysse was reported to have tested positive for Covid 19 virus.

However, after hasty and clever negotiations the Golden Gloves Promotions team, brought in the Cape Town-based Christiano Ndombassy (12-5, 9 KOs) from Angola to meet Knapp (12-1-1, 10 KOs) for the vacant WBA Pan African middleweight title. Continue reading “Golden Gloves show goes ahead despite withdrawals”

By Hesiquio Balderas

Golden Boy Promotions executive Robert Diaz is on hand in Las Vegas representing and giving support to his fighter JoJo Diaz who fights Devin Haney for the WBC lightweight title on Saturday night. Fightnews.com® caught up with Díaz.

“Devin Haney is a great champion, but don’t sleep on JoJo, who has the tools, the pedigree and the boxing skills to defeat Haney,” commented Robert Diaz, who is not related to JoJo. “It would not be an upset because of JoJo’s history of taking the best fights, and that’s what we do here at Golden Boy. We work with everyone trying to get the best fights made, the fans deserve the best vs best. Continue reading “Robert Diaz: JoJo has the pedigree to beat Haney”

WBA #2 ranked heavyweight Michael ‘The Bounty’ Hunter II (20-1-2, 14 KOs) and Jerry ‘Slugger’ Forrest (26-4-2, 20 KOs) battled to a hard-fought ten round draw on Thursday night at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Forrest landed the heavier punches and busted up Hunter, but judges scored it 96-94 Hunter, 96-94 Forrest, 95-95. Forrest gets his second straight upset draw.

In a clash between undefeated heavyweights, former NFL player Mike Balogun (18-0, 14 KOs) destroyed Trey Lippe-Morrison (18-1, 17 KOs), the son of former world champion Tommy Morrison, in the first round. Balogun dropped Morrison, then swarmed him and got the referee’s stoppage. Time was 2:41.

In another clash between undefeated heavyweights, ‘Gentleman’ George Arias (17-0, 7 KOs) took a workmanlike ten round split decision over Cassius ‘C.O.G.’Chaney (21-1, 14 KOs). Arias pressed the action while Chaney never got untracked. Scores were 96-94 Chaney, 99-91, 97-93 Arias.

Heavyweight “Mighty” Joe Jones, (13-4, 9 KOs) knocked out Junior ‘Hurricane’ Wright, (18-4-1, 15 KOs) in round two. Jones floored Wright in round one and finished him 13 seconds into round two.

Light heavyweight Khainell Wheeler (6-1, 5 KOs) outscored previously undefeated Frederic “The French Revolution” Julan (12-1, 10 KOs) over six rounds. Wheeler won by scores of 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.

By Miguel Maravilla

Ring legend Floyd Mayweather talks Tank Davis vs. Isaac Cruz, Canelo, and Canelo allegedly ducking Benavidez.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Grab a front row seat to today’s final press conference for Sunday’s Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz clash on Showtime Pay-Per-View.

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Eddie Hearn hosts the final press conference as The Dream Devin Haney and JoJo Diaz come face to face yet again ahead of Saturday’s main event for the WBC lightweight title. Also on the card: Montana Love, Filip Hrgovic, Alexis Espino, Jessica McCaskill, Marc Castro, Austin Williams and more.

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Quotes

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and challenger Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday before their PPV battle this Sunday from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“He can say whatever he wants right now, but it’s different when you get hit in the face.”
– Tank Davis

“My hunger and will to win is unparalleled. He’s going to feel it on Sunday night.”
– Isaac Cruz

More quotes…

WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. (27-3, 21 KOs) will make the long-awaited first defense of his world title against Callum Johnson (20-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. Smith-Johnson kicks off the Top Rank on ESPN 2022 schedule. Smith was supposed to defend his title Oct. 30 in New York City, but a COVID-19 diagnosis delayed his return to 2022.

Joe Smith: “I am glad to be getting back into the ring as quickly as I am to defend my WBO world championship after having COVID. It is not the fight the fans or I expected, but this will be an explosive fight between two huge punchers. I look forward to facing Johnson and defending my belt in front of my fans, as well as putting on a great show for the ones watching at home.”

Callum Johnson: “Joe is a good world champion, and we’re both big punchers. I’m looking forward to it as much as I’m sure he will be. I also would like to thank Frank Warren and the team at Queensberry, who said they would deliver me a world title shot. They’ve done their job, and now it’s time for me to do my job in the ring and become the new WBO light heavyweight champion.” Continue reading “Smith-Johnson lands at Turning Stone”

 

With the big rematch looming on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena, Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde met the media for the final time ahead of the crunch clash this afternoon at the BT Sport studios in Stratford.

Frank Warren: It is a fantastic fight and it should be added that Lyndon is #1 with the WBO, so the winner of this fight will get the winner of Joe Smith v Callum Johnson in January. That is what is on the table, there is more at stake in this fight and, as we know, the first fight took place behind closed doors. It was a good fight but it didn’t spark as I expected it to. It was a close fight that I thought Lyndon won, but this one will be different for many reasons. There is more at stake and it is in front of a live audience. They know each other well enough now, they have shared a ring for 12 rounds, so who has learned the most from that first fight? Who will change tactics from the first fight? Who will adapt? Continue reading “Arthur-Yarde 2 Final Press Conference”

Undisputed junior welterweight world champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and WBO #1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall will meet face-to-face for a two-city press tour to announce their upcoming showdown February 26 at The SSE Hydro  Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. The tour kicks off Tuesday in Taylor’s hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, and moves on to London the following day.

Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since unifying all four belts in May with a convincing decision over the previously undefeated Jose Ramirez. Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs), from Chorley, England, is a former British and WBO Intercontinental champion.

The bout will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports and will stream exclusively on ESPN+ in the United States.

WBA #2 ranked heavyweight Michael ‘The Bounty’ Hunter II, (20-1-1, 14 KOs) will rematch Jerry ‘Slugger’ Forrest, (26-4-1, 20 KOs) tonight in the TrillerVerz IV ten-round main event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Hunter defeated Forrest in 2014 by way of unanimous decision.

Hunter, who is also world ranked #7 by the WBC and #6 by the WBO, is well are of the durability of Forrest. He was extended the full eight round distance for the first time in his career in their first fight. Stopping Forrest this time around would be impressive given Forrest’s ability to bounce back when hurt as shown in his most recent televised performance.

How does it feel to be fighting in New York for the second consecutive time?

I am excited to be back here. I am very comfortable and in the same hotel as last time. The atmosphere here is really good and I am ready to fight.

How have you remained focused as Forrest was not your original opponent?

I am professional and things like this happen in boxing. I have a very good team around me we stayed on track until the opponent was finalized. My weight is good and I am in excellent condition. I have been in training for this date for quite some time so I stayed focused and am well prepared.

What do you most remember about your first fight with Forrest?

I remember he had a very good chin. It was early on in my career and I used my skills en route to the clear decision victory.

Do you feel that since he is seeking revenge he is coming in as a hungry fighter?

I feel that I am entering the fight even hungrier. I trained and fought hard to get to where I am. I am not overlooking him at all. I am actually entering the fight on the B side as he is promoted by the local promoter Lou DiBella. I have been here before. I am coming in extremely motivated to win this fight.

What were your thoughts seeing him in his draw versus unbeaten olympian Zhilei Zhang earlier this year?

It looked like he might get stopped early on but he is very resilient came back on strong. It just shows you that he is a fighter that you cannot count out and will fight you up until the very end.

How big would it be for you stop him tonight?

I think it would make a statement. He has shown that it is no easy feat to stop him inside the distance. I think me stopping him would be meaningful.

What are your immediate goals?

It begins with me winning this fight tonight and fighting for and winning a world title in 2022.

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Tonight’s TrillerVerz IV will be broadcast exclusively on TrillerFightClub.com and FITE through the TrillerVerz subscription package priced at $2.99 per month.

Following boxing, the telecast includes a VERZUZ battle between music legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Three 6 Mafia from the world-famous Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

“Experience will be a key factor in my victory, but my power, speed and boxing ability are important too and I think that they are being underestimated,” says Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz (32-1-1 15KOs),  who challenges Devin Haney (26-0 15 KOs) for the WBC lightweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday on DAZN.

“I’m a 2012 Olympian, I’ve been a world champion, I’ve boxed great fighters and I’ve paid my dues to get here. I’m here for a reason and from my hard work, and that’s going to be the difference. Devin is an elusive and smart defensive fighter, but I don’t feel he has the experience that I have. He has good range, and he uses his jab to keep on the outside, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before, I’ve seen multiple styles in the ring and whatever he brings, I’ll adapt.

“I feel that he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t have confidence in himself and he needs people around him to boost, build and gain his confidence. Me – I am self-confident, self-motivated, I know what I am doing and what I am capable of, and I am going to get him out of there.”

WBA lightweight regular champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis previewed his world title PPV battle with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz taking place this Sunday from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“The change in opponent didn’t affect much in my training,” said Davis. “That’s just the sport of boxing. You have to be ready for anything. I always know that I have to adapt to whatever comes my way. Everyone says he’s going to come forward, but that’s easier said than done. If he does, we’ll give the fans an exciting fight. We know that’s his game plan. I just have to be smart, do what I do best, and put on a perfect performance.

“It’s amazing to be fighting on Sunday. You have football during the day and boxing at night. I have a lot of young fans that watch me and I think this is going to be a great show. I’m excited to be in Los Angeles. I was made for this stage and I can’t wait to put on a great performance Sunday.”