Unbeaten super lightweight Carlos “Tiburon” Sánchez (21-0, 17 ko’s) blew out Adalberto “Palito” Moreno (12-5, 3 KOs) in the first round on Tuesday night in the main event at the Auditorio Zonkeys in Tijuana, BC, Mexico

In a clash of undefeated featherweights, Miguel Ángel “Mike” Torres (9-0, 5 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Edgar Ulises “Diablo” Espinoza (7-1, 6 KOs) by scores of 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75. Continue reading “Sanchez destroys Moreno, still unbeaten”

By Gilberto Jesus Mendoza
WBA President

Today we named Manny Pacquiao the World Boxing Association (WBA) Centennial Champion. It is a recognition that honors his career. For that reason, he will never lose it and will not defend it in a ring.

This title recognizes the career of a living boxing legend inside and outside the ring. He is the first to be granted this recognition that is part of our 100 years celebration. Thank you Manny for everything you have given to our sport. You deserve this and much more.

U.S. boxing fans will have a choice this Saturday night.

On one hand, ESPN+ presents a junior welterweight clash between former IBF lightweight champ Miguel “Titere” Vazquez (43-10, 17 KOs) and Oliver Flores (30-3-2, 19 KOs) from the Verite Social Venue in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

The other boxing event is a $29.99 PPV celebrity showdown between ex-world champ Paulie Malignaggi and TikToker Corey B at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The main event is Lamar Odom vs. Ojani Noa, possibly with Odom’s original opponent Riddick Bowe as referee. Still not sold? Also fighting on the card is reality star “Wide Neck.”

Earlier, from London on UK Sky Sports, there’s a good twinbill with WBA #1/WBC #3 middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. (30-2, 22 KOs) against WBA #6 Anatoli Muratov (24-2-1, 17 KOs) and European welterweight David Avanesyan (27-3-1, 15 KOs) against Liam Taylor (23-1-1, 11 KOs). Maybe some U.S. carrier will pick up that stream.

This Tuesday a purse bid was held for getting the opportunity to present the WBC light heavyweight fight between the champion Artur Beterbiev and the mandatory challenger Marcus Browne. Top Rank won the rights to promote the fight with a bid of $1,105,000.

Beterbiev´s (16-0, 16 KO) las fight in March when he kayoed Adam Deines after more than a year of inactivity. Browne (24-1, 16 KO), who won the division silver title, comes from a win over Denis Grachev last April.

With originally scheduled headliner Joe Smith out with COVID, WBC #2 super lightweight Jose “Chon” Zepeda (34-2, 21 KOs) will face Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) in the ten round main event on October 30 in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. ESPN+ will stream the entire card.

Zepeda participated in the 2020 Fight of the Year, knocking out Ivan Baranchyk in the fifth round of a bout that featured eight total knockdowns. He returned in May on the Josh Taylor-Ramirez undercard and looked flat in outpointing “Hammerin” Hank Lundy.

The co-feature is a ten round bantamweight tilt between undefeated Puerto Rican knockout artist Carlos “Purin” Caraballo (14-0, 14 KOs) and former world title challenger Jonas Sultan (17-5, 11 KOs). Continue reading “Zepeda-Vargas headline Oct 30 at MSG”

Heavyweight Adam Kownacki has revenge and redemption on his mind as he prepares for his rematch against Robert Helenius, which takes place on the Fury vs. Wilder III PPV next Saturday, October 9 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“A win on October 9 puts me back on the map and would show that the last fight was just an accident,” said Kownacki. “I think that I got a little tired and tried to end the night early, so I rushed in and got caught. But being Brooklyn-born, when someone puts you on your ass, you want to show the kind of character you have, come back and beat them. I come from a hardworking community of mostly immigrants. So I don’t shy away from hard work or tough tests. Continue reading “Kownacki primed for payback”

WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is back in Ukraine. It was confirmed at a press conference that Team Joshua will exercise the rematch clause and that the return match could happen around February of next year.

The champ stated, “You didn’t see the best Usyk. I can be much better.”

As for unifying the titles, Usyk stated, “I don’t want to wait 2-3 years for the WBC belt. That’s a lot. But there can only be talk of unifying the belts after Tyson Fury boxes with Wilder and they determine the champion, and after our rematch with Anthony.

“As a Ukrainian, I also want to punch Tyson Fury in the face.” Continue reading “Usyk: I can be much better”

Union Boxing won the Purse Bid to promote the mandatory bout between the World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight champion, Artem Dalakian, from Ukraine, and the Panamanian challenger Luis “Nica” Concepcion. The bidding took place this Monday, September 27 via zoom and Union Boxing offered the highest figure with USD $301,000.00 to win the rights to promote the 112 lbs. bout.

The promoter gave three possible dates for the fight, November 13, November 20 and November 27, all based in Kiev. The purse will have a 55% split for champion Dalakian, while 45% will go to challenger Concepcion. The winning company has 20 days to send the signed contracts from both boxers for the fight.

Nigerian Olympian Efe Ajagba is completing final preparations for his showdown with Cuban foe Frank Sanchez on October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout will be featured on the all-heavyweight undercard of the Fury vs. Wilder III PPV.

The 6-6 power puncher views Sanchez as a very skilled fighter and he has been working closely with trainer Kay Koroma and his team in preparation their October 9 contest. Ajagba resumed training camp near his Houston-area home last month following the card’s postponement and has moved camp to Las Vegas to complete his final preparation. Continue reading “Efe Ajagba Update”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBC flyweight challenger Hussein “Hussy” Hussein has been hospitalized after being diagnosed with Covid-19 in Sydney. Hussy’s brother Nedal told Fightnews.com® that his brother had suffered pneumonia and his lungs had collapsed but his condition had now stabilized and had not worsened. Continue reading “Hussy Hussein hospitalized with COVID-19”

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) announced that two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division boxing world champion Claressa Shields will compete in her second MMA fight on Wednesday, October 27 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Shields will be facing Abigail Montes (2-0).

The GWOAT is coming off a come-from-behind TKO victory in her MMA debut in June. She should be able to outmuscle the 21-year-old Montes, who will be stepping up from the 135lb division. ESPN will televise.

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

We started last week with an event that went viral worldwide concerning the brawl that broke out during the press conference to promote the fight between WBC, WBO, and WBA champion Saúl Canelo Álvarez vs. IBF champion Caleb Plant.

It isn`t necessary to describe what happened, because surely whoever is reading this column saw it on social networks or on television.

It’s amazing how we just don’t learn in boxing. What happened could have had major consequences and repercussions. One of the most important fights in recent years was put at risk, in which all four super middleweight belts will be contested.

It is like leaving two children alone in a room full of candies. It is logical to assume and to know what will subsequently happen. You cannot leave two fighters face-to-face for so long, especially when they have expressed such a genuine rivalry. Continue reading “Boxing’s top division re-adjusts”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former world WBC super middleweight and WBO middleweight champion Nigel “ Dark Destroyer” Benn (42-5-1,35KO’s) spoke to Peter Maniatis about living in Australia and fights with world title bouts with Doug DeWitt, Iran Barkley, Gerald McClellan, and Chris Eubank also the progress of his son Conor Benn(19-0, 12 KOs), Canelo Alvarez, and promoter Eddie Hearn. Continue reading “Interview: Nigel Benn”

It’s official. Golden Boy has confirmed that middleweight Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBO Intercontinental title on the line against “King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) on November 13. The bout will be a twelve-rounder at a venue to be named and be streamed by DAZN.

Rosado just took down one of Golden Boy’s best prospects, Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev, in June and he’s arguably the best opponent Munguia has faced to date. This should be a good fight. Continue reading “Munguia-Rosado set for Nov 13”

WBA #7 Anatoli Muratov (24-2-1, 17 KOs) replaces Sven Elbir as the opponent for Chris Eubank Jr (30-2, 22 KOs) on October 2 at The SSE Arena in London after Elbir tested positive for Covid-19. The German-based Kazahk was on standby preparing for his own bout on October 9 when he got the call to step in. Sky Sports will televise.

Chris Eubank Jr: “The opponent has changed but my objective remains the same. October 2 is my night and nothing is going to stand in my way!”

Anatoli Muratov: “Anytime, anyplace, I am ready to fight anyone. I’m looking forward to an exciting fight and a great night of boxing in London. I’m coming to win and I will give it my all.”

This past Saturday, undefeated super featherweight prospect, Richard Medina (11-0, 6 KOs), passed one of the toughest tests of his career by defeating veteran Rafael Reyes (19-13, 15 KOs), in the main event of an online PPV that took place from The Event Center in Floresville, Texas. Medina, who is promoted by TMB Promotions and managed by Prince Ranch Boxing, won by way of a unanimous decision with the scores being 78-73, 77-74, and 80-70.

By TMZ.com

Ryan Garcia is back from his hiatus with a plan … telling TMZ Sports he now wants to KO JoJo Diaz Jr. next — and then set up a mega-fight with Gervonta Davis.

The 23-year-old undefeated boxing phenom broke it all down for us at the Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant pre-fight event in L.A. this week … saying he’s in a way better place after taking some time away from the ring to focus on his mental health. Continue reading “Kingry: First KO JoJo Diaz, then take on Tank”

It’s official. The PPV clash between undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) and mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr (19-0, 10 KOs) has been pushed back another 12 days to October 16 and the event will move across town from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

It also looks the Lopez-Kambosos undercard is now set. In the co-feature, super lightweights Petros Ananyan (15-2-2, 7 KOs) and Daniel Gonzalez (20-2-1, 7 KOs) will meet in a ten rounder. Continue reading “Lopez-Kambosos: New date + undercard update”

This Friday, October 1, DAZN has an interesting card promoted by Opi Since 82 and Matchroom at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. In the main event, unbeaten super middleweight Daniele Scardina (19-0, 15 KOs) will face Jurgen Doberstein (26-4-1, 7 KOs) in a ten-rounder for the vacant WBO Intercontinental title. Scardina is world-rated in the top 15 by the WBA, IBF and WBO.

In the co-feature, WBC #13 lightweight Francesco Patera (23-3, 8 KOs) will face 40-year-old veteran Devis Boschiero (48-6-2, 22 KOs) for the vacant WBO Intercontinental 135lb belt. Continue reading “World-rated Scardina and Petera return Friday”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Female super flyweight Adelaida Ruiz (9-0-1, 4 KO’s) of Los Angeles scored a ninth round knockout over Nancy Franco De Alba (19-14-2, 5 KO’s) in winning the vacant WBC Silver super flyweight title Saturday night at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera, California. Ruiz attacked De Alba as referee Raul Caiz Sr. stopped the fight at 1:20 of the ninth.

Super bantamweight Rudy Garcia of Los Angeles (12-0, 2 KO’s) won a six round unanimous decision over Ronaldo Solis (4-2-1). García attacked throughout the fight as he bloodied Solis. All three judges scored it 60-54. Continue reading “Results From Pico Rivera”

Former WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua sounded upbeat when he spoke to reporters after losing his work titles to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night in London.

“Well done to the winner. We’ll be back again. Get back into training. Great twelve rounds, great experience in the ring, and then we progress from this point on once again so we’ll be doing it all again soon.

“I couldn’t see in the ninth round. I couldn’t see anything really. But it was a good experience because in adversity you just gotta learn to control yourself. Stay on top of things. Continue reading “Joshua: We’ll be doing it all again soon”

Newly crowned WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk spoke to reporters after dethroning Anthony Joshua Saturday night in London.

[Does this win top all others in his career?]

No victory in the professionals can be above the Olympic gold.

[Was this his most difficult fight?]

At this point, it was the biggest fight of my career, but it wasn’t the hardest.

[What was?]

I can’t say. Most likely it’s ahead of us.

[Did he ever try to knock out Joshua?]

I tried a few times. I put my speed into it. I punched him a couple of times, but then I was losing my rhythm. My corner was saying ‘hey, you’re trying to knock him down. You have to do your work. You have to throw your jab because if you concentrate on knocking him out, you’re going to lose your rhythm.’ Continue reading “Usyk wants rematch in Ukraine”

Back-to-back pro boxing events concluded last night for Vertex Promotions as super lightweight Adrian “Tonka” Sosa remained undefeated, winning the “Fight Night on the Charles at Mosley’s III” main event, at Mosley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Sosa (12-0, 9 KOs), who hadn’t fought in 28 months, returned to the ring with a fury, albeit showing signs of rust. His hand were quick, as usual, and he was well poised as his veteran Mexican opponent, Danny “Venado” Flores (15-25-1, 8 KOs), continually but unsuccessfully tried to lure Sosa into traps. Sosa was the hunter, stalking a game Flores, who often stayed in the corners or on the ropes baiting Sosa to mix it up. Continue reading “Sosa pitches shutout in ring return”

Former undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) seized the WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight crowns of champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) in a very impressive display of boxing and fighting over twelve see-saw rounds on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The quicker Usyk stayed right in Joshua’s grill from the opening bell. He staggered the champ in round three. Joshua started to connect in round four. AJ rallied in rounds five and six. Usyk had a big round seven. Joshua took back the momentum in round eight. Round nine was close. Usyk was cut over the left eye in round ten and Joshua’s right eye was almost closed. Huge final round for Usyk. Scores were 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 all for Usyk.

There is a rematch clause, so Usyk-Joshua 2 is on the horizon if Joshua wants it.

46-year-old former two-division world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (53-3-2, 30 KOs) defeated former world title challenger Brian Rose (32-6-1, 8 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision in a middleweight bout on Saturday night in Madrid, Spain. Scores were 97-94, 96-94, 96-94. This was the third bout in the comeback of Martinez, who is currently the WBA #3 middleweight.

Earlier, EBU European flyweight champion Angel Moreno (21-4-3, 6 KOs) and Juan Hinostroza (10-9-2, 5 KOs) battled to a twelve round draw. Moreno retains his belt.