Heavyweight contender Tony Yoka (9-0, 7 KOs), the 2016 Olympic gold medalist from Paris, has set his sights on his first professional belt. Yoka will battle Joel Tambwe Djeko (17-2-1, 8 KOs) in a 12-rounder for the vacant European Union title Friday at H Arena in Nantes, France.

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, Estelle Yoka Mossely (8-0, 1 KO), Tony’s wife, will fight Verena Kaiser (14-1, 6 KOs).

The Yoka-Djeko card will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ beginning at 2:40 p.m. ET/11:40 a.m. PT.

As previously reported, super lightweight KO artist Brandun Lee (21-0, 19 KOs) faces Samuel Teah (17-3-1, 7 KOs) in a ten-rounder headlining a four-fight ShoBox card on March 10 inside the “Fight Sphere” at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The other fights, all eight-rounders, will see Misael Lopez (11-0, 5 KOs) against Jordan White (10-1, 8 KOs) at super featherweight, Steven Ortiz (11-0, 3 KOs) against Jeremy Hill (14-0, 9 KOs) at lightweight, and Victor Padilla (8-0, 7 KOs) against Thomas Velasquez (10-0-1, 6 KOs) at super featherweight.

The four-fight Showtime telecast is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and D&D Boxing.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBA heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (29-2, 25 KOs) will clash with Australia’s biggest pay-per-view attraction and rugby league football legend Paul Gallen (10-0-1, 5 KOs) at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre, on April 21 televised on Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View.

“I don’t want a decision,” Browne told foxsports.com.au on Monday. “I don’t like putting my fate in the hands of judges, so it’s definitely going to be a knockout, or me going out on my sword. Continue reading “Browne aiming to KO Gallen”

The complete televised lineup for Friday’s $29.95 all-female “SUPERWOMEN” PPV is set.

Of course, in the main event is the undisputed women’s super welterweight championship fight between WBC/WBO titleholder and self-proclaimed WGOAT Claressa Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) and Marie-Eve Dicaire (17-0, 0 KOs), the reigning IBF titleholder. The first-ever WBA “super” title for a women’s fight will also be on the line.

The co-feature is a rematch between heavyweights Danielle Perkins (2-0, 1 KO) and Monika “Lay Em Down” Harrison (2-1, 1 KO) for the WBC silver title. Continue reading “Shields-Dicaire PPV lineup set”

By Boxing Bob Newman

Never one to let a momentous occasion go uncelebrated, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman spoke with Fightnews.com® about the famous March 8, 1971 “Fight of the Century,” between reigning heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and exiled champion Muhammad Ali. Sulaiman dished on the personalities of both Ali and Frazier and how those personas contributed to the fight hype, how the social and political climate of the time also impacted the fight and how the fight itself would shape both boxing and the world itself in its aftermath.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Junior middleweight slugger Serhii Bohachuk, (18-0, 18 KOs), of Ukraine takes his next step up in competition as he will face former world title challenger Brandon Adams, (22-3, 14 KOs) this Thursday, March 4 in Puerto Rico live on NBC Sports Network Ring City USA main event. We caught up with Bohachuk as he wrapped up his camp and talked about his upcoming fight and plans.

“This is the biggest fight of my career. I’m really excited,” Bohachuk told Fightnews.com® “This fight with Adams is crucial,” he added. Continue reading ““Flaco” Bohachuk: I won’t disappoint”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Super welterweight contender John Vera Jr. (19-1, 11 KOs) talks about his fight this week (March 4) on Roy Jones’ UFC Fightpass card at the Biloxi Civic Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

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By Hesiquio Balderas

Manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso had some post-fight remarks regarding the future of Canelo Alvarez:

“We are not responsible for who the number one contender is. I don’t pick and choose that. We made an agreement before we fought Callum Smith that if we came out victorious against Callum, we would fulfill the commitment of facing Avni Yildirim. Callum Smith did the same thing if he were victorious that night.

“I don’t make the rankings. Somebody else does and we are just trying to follow the path that will guide us to collect all the championship belts at 168 pounds. Avni was the mandatory challenger we had to fight him in order to face Saunders in May. Continue reading “Reynoso: We are here to unify all the belts.”

In the main event at the sold-out Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, unbeaten lightweight Carlos “Pote” Vidal (17-0, 16 KOs) stopped Danny Flores (15-21-1, 8 KOs) in round two. Vidal started off pressuring Flores right away making it a fight. Flores very wild with his punches Vidal opening up with landing some hard shots to the head and body breaking down Flores with lethal shots referee Dennis DeBon saw enough, jumping in to end the contest at the official time 2:12 seconds of round two. Continue reading “Vidal stops Flores in Orlando”

By Boxing Bob Newman

In other world title action which was overshadowed by the Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim mega-event in Miami, Florida, unheralded Rene Mark Cuartos snatched the IBF mini flyweight title from defending champion Pedro Taduran over twelve very close rounds at Bula Gym in General Santos City, Philippines. Continue reading “Cuarto snags IBF mini-flyweight title”

“We want to unify the division,” said WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Saul Alvarez after obliterating WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim on Saturday night in Miami, Florida.

“[Billy Joe Saunders] is a world champion, we want to go for it and we need to go for it. He’s a very difficult fighter and has a championship, the WBO. People [like Saunders] talk but I’m a very mature fighter and I know how to control myself. All I need to do is go into the ring, win and make history.” Continue reading “Canelo: I want to make history”

Billy Joe Saunders says he’s the boxer with the style to undo Canelo Alvarez. They will clash in a huge WBC, WBA, WBO super middleweight unification bout on May 8, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico). The site is TBA.

“Canelo, I’m ready to rock and roll,” said Saunders. “You have to dare to be great and you aren’t going to be a great if you don’t beat the greats. I believe I am the only one with the footwork, knowhow, skillset, mindset and brain to unlock that door in Canelo. Continue reading “Saunders: I’ve got the tools to beat Canelo”

Unbeaten super welterweight Alejandro Luis Silva (14-0-1, 10 KOs) remained unbeaten by disqualification over countryman Gabriel Omar Diaz (10-2, 3 KOs). The bout came to an end in round three when Silva had Diaz in a front headlock during a clinch. Apparently, Diaz was frustrated being in the clinch and bit Silva on the inside of his arm. A clear bruise instantly surfaced on the inner arm of Silva who immediately showed it to the referee. The referee disqualified Diaz and Silva retained his Argentina (FAB) title. The event took place at the Polideportivo Municipal Roberto De Vicenzo, in Berazategui Argentina. Continue reading “Silva bitten/wins by DQ over Diaz”