My people,

See you on September 10th in the first defense of my WBC world title in Tucson, Arizona.

By TMZ.com

Update 2: De la Hoya just posted a video from his hospital bed. ODLH wrote … “Wanted you to hear directly from me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend…preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months, and I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support. I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up. God bless everyone and stay safe.”

Update 1: Our Oscar sources tell us the boxing legend — despite being fully vaccinated — has been hit hard by COVID … and is receiving treatment in the hospital.

Oscar De La Hoya has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his comeback fight with Vitor Belfort, TMZ Sports has learned. 58-year-old Evander Holyfield has agreed to step in and box Belfort on September 11 on Triller, our sources tell us.

The one remaining hurdle is getting Holyfield-Belfort approved by the California State Athletic Commission. If the commission does not sanction the match, we’re told the entire event will still go down … but it’ll be moved to Florida.

At the 2012 Association of Boxing Commission (ABC) meeting in Clearwater, Florida the ABC unanimously voted to adopt (Pascua Yaqui Tribe was present) the World Anti-Doping (WADA) Prohibited List and took an important step in the prevention of abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in combat sports.

President of the ABC Board, Mike Mazzuli has announced the Association of Boxing Commissions concurs with the findings of the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Athletic Commission and its Executive Director Ernie Gallardo in allowing WBC world champion Oscar Valdez to fight on September 10, 2021. Continue reading “ABC supports decision to let Oscar Valdez fight”

Daniel Valladares 108.7 vs. José Javier Torres 109.1
Iván García 110.2 vs. Yahir Frank 110.2
Monserrat Alarcón 102.5 vs. Tania Itzel García 104

Venue: Parque La Ruina, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Promoter: Zanfer, 2M Promotions
TV: TV Azteca (Mexico)

Due to a medical issue concerning his opponent, the previously scheduled main event featuring Cletus Seldin will no longer take place on Saturday night.

Alex Vargas 142.2 vs. Alejandro Munera 143.6
Lou Maietta 173 vs. Perez Aughtry 177
Ayanna Tramont 159.4 vs. Miranda Barber 159.4

Venue: Huntington Hilton, Melville, NY
Promoter: Star Boxing
TV: PPV

The WBC will sanction the September 10 bout between WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez vs. Robson Conceicao. The bout has already been approved by the Pascua Yaqui Athletic Commission, the local commission with jurisdiction, so it looks like Valdez-Conceicao will go on as scheduled, despite Valdez testing positive for a banned substance.

Valdez will be put on probation for a year and any further adverse findings will result in an indefinite suspension. Valdez will also be required to undergo a substantial number of random anti-doping tests in the next six months, plus enroll in the WBC weight management program, and upon completion serve as a WBC Ambassador making a minimum of six personal appearances to promote and educate others on clean boxing, weight management, and WBC social responsibility values. Continue reading “WBC to sanction Valdez-Conceicao with conditions”

Boxing returns to Bakersfield, California as back-to-back nights of action will air on FS1 from the Mechanics Bank Arena on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19. At this point, the fighters are all TBA, but will be announced shortly. Tickets for the live events, which are promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and available at AXS.com.

Matchroom Boxing, in partnership with DiBella Entertainment, have announced a mini-tournament to determine an undisputed female super lightweight champion. WBC champ Chantelle Cameron (14-0, 8 KOs), IBF champ “Merciless” Mary McGee (27-3, 15 KOs), and WBA champ “KO Mequinonoag” Kali Reis (18-7-1, 5 KOs) are all onboard. With the WBO crown currently vacant, Jessica “The Cobra” Camara (8-2, 0 KOs) was added as the fourth combatant.

Dates and venues for Cameron vs. McGee and Reis vs. Camara will be announced shortly. DAZN will air the fights.

WBO #15 world ranked lightweight Jesus Saracho (9-0, 7 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico returns to the ring Saturday in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. The talented local favorite Saracho will take on late replacement Rodolfo Rudy Flores (14-4, 6 KOs) in a 10 round non-title bout. Saracho won the vacant WBA/NABA and WBO Latino lightweight titles this past July 3rd unanimously decisioning countryman Edwing Davilla (21-1, 13 KOs). The event will be promoted by Miguel Angel Ruiz Valencia (Latin Boy Promotions) and Makina Boxing Promotions (Courtney Frye/CEO).

With just over two weeks until his highly anticipated super bantamweight unification fight on Showtime, undefeated WBO 122-pound world champion Stephen “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton Jr. (19-0, 8 KOs) has relocated from Philadelphia to Las Vegas to put the finishing touches on his summer-long training camp. Fulton Jr. will face WBC champion Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs) on September 18 in the Park Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas.

“I am trying to get used to everything in Vegas,” said Fulton Jr. “I wanted to get away from home, be away from everyone and get myself a little uncomfortable to finish up camp.” Continue reading “Fulton shifts train camp to Las Vegas”

The WBC officially announced the start of the “The Big Belt Championship” tournament that will kick-off on September 17th at the Austin Coliseum in Austin, Texas. This tournament will be limited to four-round fighters with six fights or less. All rounds will take place at venues in Texas.

The competition will take place at flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. Women will compete at flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight. The format will be direct elimination with winners advancing until they reach the grand final. The tournament champions will be presented with a green and gold WBC belt. Continue reading “Big Belt Championship for four-round fighters”

Mauricio Lara 125.5 vs. Josh Warrington 125.75

Conor Benn 146.5 vs. Adrian Granados 146.5

Katie Taylor 134.75 vs. Jennifer Han 134.25
(Undisputed female lightweight title)

Jovanni Straffon 134.25 vs. Maxi Hughes 134.25
Ebanie Bridges 118 vs. Mailys Gangloff 116

Hopey Price 121.75 vs. Zahid Hussain 121
Jack Bateson 124 vs. Felix Garcia 123

Venue: Headingley Rugby League Stadium, Leeds, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Mandatory challenger Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KOs) has accused IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) of running from an old man in his title-winning performance. After stepping aside so Edwards could challenge Moruti Mthalane for the title in April, Mama challenges Edwards for the world title at London’s Copper Box Arena on September 11, live on BT Sport.

Mthalane had been unbeaten for more than 12 years, but Mama wasn’t impressed with Edwards’ performance. “Mthalane was old. Edwards was running all night. I hope he doesn’t run when he fights me but I think he will run from me.” Continue reading “Mama says Edwards will run”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune is upset with legendary trainer Freddie Roach over comments Roach made after Pacquiao’s loss to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas.

“Mark my words, I’ll never work with Freddie again,” Fortune told the Philippine Star. “He accused me for Manny’s loss to cover up his own inadequacies and didn’t do it to my face. Freddie made stupid statements, not even factual, about Manny running the hills at Griffith Park six days a week.” Continue reading “Fortune: I’ll never work with Freddie again”

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission has reportedly ruled that WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez can proceed with his September 10 title defense against Robson Conceicao despite Valdez testing positive for trace amounts of the banned substance phentermine. Now that the commission is on board, the WBC still needs to sign off on the sanctioning of the bout. Stay tuned.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Sad to report that female welterweight Jeanette Zacarías Zapata has died from injuries suffered in her knockout loss against Marie Pier Houlento on last Saturday’s fight card in Montreal. She fainted in the ring after the bout was stopped and spent several days in a Montreal hospital in an induced coma. She never regained consciousness. Jeanette hailed from the town of Villa de Puertecitos in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and was just 18 years old. Continue reading “Jeannette Zacarias passes in Canada”

WBC #12, WBA #13 heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (12-0, 12 KOs) will headline against Erkan Teper (21-3, 13 KOs) on a September 23 Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) card at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Also in action will be unbeaten super middleweight Christian Mbilli (18-0, 17 KOs) against Nick “Machine Gun” Brinson (19-5-2, 9 KOs), plus former WBA middleweight title challenger Steven Butler (28-3-1, 24 KOs) will try to snap a two-fight losing streak against TBA.

As many as 4,000 spectators are expected and Quebec authorities are requiring all to have a “vaccine passport” to attend the event.

Heavyweight – Fury vs Wilder 3 October 9 – Las Vegas NV
Bridgerweight – Rivas vs Jennings – October 15 – Montreal Canada
Cruiserweight – Makabu vs Mchunu November 20 – TBD
Light Heavyweight – Beterbiev vs Browne – Free negotiations period
Super Middleweight – Alvarez vs Plant – Nov 6 – Las Vegas NV
Middleweight – Munguia vs Derevyanchenko (final eliminator) – Free negotiations period

ShoBox: The New Generation returns with a three-fight telecast headlined by unbeaten bantamweight prospect Ja’Rico O’Quinn (14-0-1, 8 KOs) against Saul Sanchez (16-1, 9 KOs) on Friday, September 24 live on Showtime from Main Street in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. O’Quinn was recently rated at WBO #10 at super flyweight before moving up to the 118lb division, while Sanchez is currently rated #9 by the WBA and #13 by the WBO.

The co-main event pits undefeated featherweight prospects Jayvon Garnett (10-0, 5 KOs) and Luis Reynaldo Nunez (11-0, 8 KOs) in a ten-round bout, and opening the telecast is undefeated WBA #9 super featherweight Otar Eranosyan (9-0, 6 KOs) against Alejandro Guerrero (12-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

The event is promoted by Salita Promotions.

Former heavyweight contender and world title challenger Cedric “The Boz” Boswell, who went 35-2 with 26 KOs as a pro, has ventured into the promotional realm with Boswell Boxing Promotions. Boswell will stage a show at the Club Revel in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, September 19.

The main event is an eight round bout between local lightweight Deonte Brown (13-0, 9 KOs) taking on undefeated Cuban Prospect Manuel Correa (9-0, 6 KOs. The co-main event features Azerbaijan-born junior middleweight Elvin Ganbarov (15-0, 13 KOs) in an eight-rounder against an opponent to be named. Garbarov owns the WBC International silver title. Continue reading “Cedric Boswell is a promoter now”

Sad to report the passing of Las Vegas boxing personality Joe Farina at the age of 85. Farina was involved in boxing during the 80s and 90s, and for many years produced the Las Vegas radio show “The Boxing Beat” where he regularly had top boxers and celebrities on as guests. His son is award-winning boxing photographer Chris Farina. Rest In Peace.

With Canelo-Plant getting pushed back to November and DAZN’s proposed Mikey Garcia card falling apart, the coveted Mexican Independence Day Weekend fight date will be owned lock, stock, and barrel by Showtime’s attractive title unification clash between unbeaten super bantamweight world champions Brandon “Heartbreaker” Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs) and Stephen “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton Jr. (19-0, 8 KOs) from the Park Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas.

The card also includes undefeated WBA #1 super bantamweight Ra’eese Aleem (18-0, 12 KOs) against Eduardo Baez (19-1-2, 6 KOs) and unbeaten WBA #2 bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs) against Alejandro Barrios (24-2-5, 13 KOs). Click here for a preview including fighter quotes

The EBU has ordered an all-German clash for the vacant European heavyweight championship between unbeaten IBF #6, WBC #7, WBA #8, WBO #12 ranked Agit Kabayel (21-0, 13 KOs) and ex-cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck (45-5-1, 28 KOs). Huck, 36, has been competing in the heavyweight division since mid-2018. Kabayel previously held this same EBU title between 2017 and 2019. Negotiations are now underway for the two camps to agree on the time and place for the fight.

The purse bid for the mandatory bout between WBO Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford and challenger Shawn Porter has been moved to September 14th, following a request from the promoters of both fighters, Top Rank (Crawford) and Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions (Porter).

Both companies requested additional time to continue ongoing negotiations.

The purse bid was originally scheduled for Thursday, September 2nd at 9:00 am EST at the WBO main offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Enjoy this very informative and entertaining roundtable with NABF President Duane Ford and four top referees, Jay Nady, Frank Garza, Vic Drakulich, and Thomas Taylor.

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