By Boxing Bob Newman

Against all odds, the WBC has marched forward to hold their 59th annual convention on home turf in Mexico City next week.

The event will take place at the elegant Intercontinental Presidente Hotel in the city’s beautiful Polanco district. Arrivals will begin Sunday, November 14th, with the convention closing and departures on Friday November 19th.

While there are a sizable number of delegates expected, roughly 600, a virtual platform will also be available for those who cannot attend. Continue reading “WBC Convention in Mexico City Next Week”

Unbeaten two-time world champion and Phoenix native David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez received a proclamation from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego at his media workout Wednesday, as the Mayor’s office declared this Saturday, November 13 “David Benavídez Day” in his hometown. The 24-year-old Benavidez will take on Kyrone Davis that night live on Showtime at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Continue reading “Benavidez honored in Phoenix”

The PPV lineup is set for the Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz clash on Sunday, December 5 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

6’6 super welterweight contender Sebastian Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) takes on fellow unbeaten Sergio Garcia (33-0, 14 KOs) in a WBC title eliminator

Middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-3, 10 KOs) meets Carlos Adames (20-1, 16 KOs).

Featherweight contender Eduardo Ramirez  (25-2-3, 12 KOs) faces former title challenger Miguel Marriaga (30-4, 26 KOs) in the opener.

“This is a pay-per-view undercard that perfectly fits with what the main event between Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz will deliver – all action from start to finish,’’ said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

Bantamweight contender Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (17-1, 10 KOs) is back in action, headlining December 17 against Jose “Hollywood” Estrella (23-17-1, 16 KOs) in a ten-rounder at the Doubletree Hotel Ontario, California.

“I feel like I am going to the next level as my training with Manny Robles has now gotten me back-to-back first-round knockouts on national TV, with my last one being on ShoBox – which was a huge statement,” said Sanchez, who is promoted by Thompson Boxing. “I am excited to fight back in the L.A. area and put on an entertaining show, as my march toward a world title is in full effect.”

In the eight-round co-feature, hard-hitting Ruben “Ace” Torres (16-0, 13 KOs) will square off against undefeated Francisco “La Roca” Armenta (12-0, 4 KOs) in a battle of two unbeaten super lightweights.

Michael “Lone Wolf” Magnesi 128.2 vs. Eugene “Rambo” Lagos 129.6
Alex “El Toro” Vargas 143 vs. Sebastian Chaves 140.8
“Mighty” Joe Ward 174.8 vs. Leandro “Buscape” Silva 177.2
Lou “Il Martello” Maietta 174.2 vs. Perez Aughtry 174.8
Nadim Salloum 167.2 vs. Delvecchio Savage 169.4
Amanda “Bombola” Galle 120 vs. Jaica Pavilus 122.6

Venue: The Paramount, Huntington, New York
Promoter: Star Boxing
TV: PPV

Lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (12-0, 10 KOs) has a new opponent for his PPV debut on November 20 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. After original foe Steven Ortiz was forced to withdraw due to injury, Muratalla will now fight Argentina’s Elias “El Macho” Araujo (21-3, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder to open the PPV broadcast of the welterweight super fight between undefeated WBO world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and former two-time welterweight world champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter.

The PPV telecast also includes a 12-round IBF middleweight title eliminator featuring unbeaten contenders Esquiva “La Pantera” Falcao and Patrice Volny, and a 10-round middleweight tilt between rising star Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and former world champion Hassan N’Dam.

Probellum has inked former flyweight title challenger Muhammad Waseem (11-1, 8 KOs). He is one of Pakistan’s biggest sports stars and is now set to return to the ring November 26 in Dubai against Rober Barrera.

Irish featherweight Kurt Walker has signed a multi-year contract with Top Rank. Walker, who advanced to quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics, is managed by Michael and Jamie Conlan.

Jake Paul’s girlfriend Julia Rose has reportedly challenged Tommy Fury’s partner Molly-Mae Hague to mud wrestle on the Paul-Fury undercard.

Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions has completed their 2021 schedule and is looking forward to returning in hopefully more normal conditions during 2022.

Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad shows his skills during today’s media workout ahead of his fight against Kiko Martinez this weekend.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has been studying each category in an effort to make decisions that will contribute to the world title reduction plan that has been underway for the past couple of months.

Initial actions such as the elimination of interim titles were the first steps in this plan and that has been joined by different decisions that have been taken while continuing to devise other ways to reduce the number of champions, always based on the rules of the pioneering body.

The panorama of each weight is different but in all of them the same objective is being sought and that is to have a single world champion. Continue reading “WBA world title reduction update”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s father John Fury tells BT Sport that Tyson entered the Deontay Wilder fight injured and out of shape, and has since had surgery.

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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #7 light-middleweight Takeshi Inoue (17-1-1, 10 KOs) is confident he can score a late round stoppage over WBO #1 Tim Tszyu (19-0, 15 KOs) on November 17 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney televised on Foxtel Main Event pay-per-view.

“My condition has gotten better and also my punch is now very, very powerful so I can beat Tim Tszyu,” Inoue told WA Today. “I respect his results because Tim Tszyu has not lost. I respect also his boxing technique and I basically respect everything about him. But towards the end of the fight, I’m thinking of knockout. That’s how I’m practicing.” Continue reading “Inoue vows to stop Tszyu”

Triller Fight Club has announced the full card for the debut of “Triad Combat” set for November 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX and live on pay-per-view. Triad Combat is a new team sport featuring boxers vs. MMA fighters in a triangle ring over two-minute rounds using “crossover gloves” and with holding allowed.

Here is the lineup, boxers listed first:

Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev vs. Frank Mir (heavyweight)
Alexander ‘The Great’ Flores vs. Matt Mitrione (heavyweight)
Sakio ‘The Scorpion’ Bika vs. Mike Perry (light heavyweight)
Brian Vera vs. Derek ‘The Stallion’ Campos (super middleweight)
Scott ‘Cujo’ Sigmon vs. Albert Tumenov (light heavyweight)
Henry ‘The Hitman’ Gigliotti vs. Steven ‘Golden’ Graham (welterweight)
Angelina Hoffschneider vs. Alexa Culp

Fightnews.com® feature writer Miguel Maravilla caught up with middleweight veteran Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) to talk about his upcoming fight against Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) taking place this Saturday night November 13th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California live on DAZN.

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WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade holds a media day leading up to his November 19 title clash against Jason Quigley. The two will headline a Matchroom Boxing show at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Former NBA point guard Deron Williams will take on former NFL running back Frank Gore in a professional bridgerweight boxing match that will take place on the PPV undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury on December 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The four-round bout will be contested with a 215-pound contractual limit as the two make their professional boxing debuts.

Paul-Fury is an eight-round cruiserweight bout contested at a 192-pound catchweight. Seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano will challenge WBA interim lightweight titlist Miriam Gutiérrez in a 10-round co-main event.

ESPN’s platforms will offer an extensive lineup of programming leading up to the highly anticipated showdown between WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and former two-time champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter. The event will stream exclusively on ESPN+ PPV November 20. Kicking off the two weeks of offerings is the two-part Blood, Sweat & Tears: Crawford vs. Porter.  Part One can be seen tonight at 12:30AM ET/9:30PM PT.

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

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez became last Saturday night the undisputed super middleweight world champion by defeating Caleb Plant in 11 rounds, and with this feat he confirmed himself to be the best fighter pound-for-pound of the moment.

It was not an easy battle for the Mexican, since he faced a champion with excellent technique, with many resources, resistance and exceptional physical condition. However, the fighter of Jalisco, Mexico from the first round went forward, particularly directing his attack to the body of Caleb and it turned out to be a rugged battle with both men fighting a physical battle. Continue reading “Saul Alvarez, the best pound for pound of today”

Heavyweights Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora faced off at the kickoff press conference for their rematch on December 18 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Parker came off the canvas to win a split decision in May, but the charismatic Chisora definitely won Tuesday’s presser.

“I’m going to say this honest, publicly to the press and yourself Eddie that you need to get a good referee,” said Chisora. “An American referee not a British Board of Control referee because those guys in the past have stuffed me and they’ve messed me around. So if Robert Smith (BBofC general secretary) is listening, I do not want your referee to referee me for this fight. Continue reading “Chisora blasts officials at kickoff presser”

Solid lineup of boxing on Saturday. Every weekend for the rest of the year will be loaded with ring action.

DAZN (9PM ET, 6PM PT)
In Saturday night’s marquee matchup, unbeaten middleweight and former 154lb world champion Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) takes on fan favorite “King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) Anaheim’s Honda Center. Munguia is a 10:1 favorite, but Rosado just kayoed heavily favored and unbeaten Bektemir Melikuziev, so don’t count him out.

Showtime (9PM ET, 6PM PT)
Former WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs), widely considered to be the main threat to undisputed WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO 168lb world champion Canelo Alvarez, will be in action against late sub Kyrone Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Update: Benavidez is a 25:1 favorite.

DAZN (2PM ET, 11AM PT)
IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) defends against former champion Kiko Martinez (42-10-2, 29 KOs) at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Galahad is a 12:1 favorite.

Probellum will host a world championship doubleheader at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, on December 11 with Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) defending his IBF flyweight title against Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KOs) and John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) puts his WBO bantamweight title on the line against Paul Butler (33-2, 15 KOs). Four-weight world champion Donnie Nietes (43-1-5, 23 knockouts) will also appear on the card, along with unbeaten super featherweight Archie Sharp (21-0, 9 KOs), and former world title challenger Jono Carroll (20-2-1, 5 KOs). Continue reading “Probellum announces Dec 11 world title twinbill”

Photo: Damon Gonzalez

Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and women’s pound-for-pound star Amanda Serrano previewed their December 18 pay-per-view event at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Paul faces “Tommy “TNT” Fury in a sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout contested at a 192-pound catch weight. Serrano moves up to lightweight to prep for Katie Taylor.

Jake Paul: “He has no idea what he’s getting himself into. This is his first time under the big lights and on the big stage, and he’s going to crack under the pressure…I will TKO him in the later rounds. He hasn’t had a fight past four rounds so I think he’ll be gassed. I think this will be the first time he’s getting punched in the face by someone who can actually hit and is the same weight as him. He’s always fought smaller guys with losing records. So I think he’s going to fade. I know he’s going to fade.”

Tommy Fury: “You fought a 40-year-old guy in your last fight. He hit you with one proper punch and you fell through the ropes. When I come for you, I’m knocking you spark out. You fought retired UFC people, a basketball player and that’s it. When you fight me December 18, you’re getting knocked spark out. This is a step too far for you. Stick to YouTube because that’s all you’re good for. I’m going to show you what losing feels like.

The mandatory elimination bout between Raeese Aleem and Azat Hovhannisyan will be auctioned on Friday, November 12 as ordered by the World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee. Aleem is the top-ranked super bantamweight and must face Hovhannisyan, who is ranked fourth, to define the next mandatory challenger of champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Continue reading “Aleem-Hovhannisyan to purse bid this Friday”

Now that Canelo has completed his mission of becoming undisputed super middleweight champion by knocking off three undefeated fighters, including the World Boxing Super Series winner, what’s next?

Other super middleweights

Former WBC champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) seems the main threat. Canelo got the vacant WBC title after Benavidez missed weight for a title defense. Benavidez had a legit excuse, being trapped in a hotel “bubble” without proper facilities during the lockdown days.

Otherwise, the WBA could order Canelo to fight regular champion David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) as part of their title reduction reforms. Thoughts of Canelo versus KO artist Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) have all but evaporated with Berlanga’s stock plummeting in recent fights. Continue reading “Next challenge for Canelo?”

Women’s pound-for-pound best and current unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) will return to the lightweight division when she faces current WBA interim female 135-pound titleholder Miriam Gutiérrez (13-1, 5 KOs) in a ten-rounder that will be the co-feature of the Showtime PPV headlined by Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury facing off in an eight-round cruiserweight bout, on Saturday, December 18 live from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Conqueror of future world champs Kosei Tanaka and Takuma Inoue when amateur, late bloomer JBC#2 Shokichi Iwata (7-0, 5 KOs), 108, acquired the vacant Japanese light-flyweight belt (renounced by current WBC 108-pound ruler Masamichi Yabuki) by halting JBC #1 Rikito Shiba (5-2, 3 KOs), 108, at 0:37 of the ninth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Originally slated in September, Iwata unfortunately tested positive after taking a COVID PCR test at the weigh-in, and it was very abruptly canceled and postponed some two months thereafter. Iwata, 25, floored the speedster with a solid right in round six, took the initiative and finally caught up with the fading foe to prompt the referee’s intervention. Continue reading “Iwata wins vacant Japanese 108lb belt”