Tonight’s King’s Promotions boxing event at The Wind Creek Bethlehem Event Center has been postponed due to health concerns in regards to the coronavirus. The card was sold out and was still a “go” as of yesterday, but the plug was pulled today a few hours before the first bell.

King’s Promotions will announce a makeup date very shortly and all tickets will be honored on that date.

By Karl Freitag

While much of boxing is shutting down during the coronavirus hysteria, UFC is adapting to the situation and moving ahead with its events. Today’s UFC event in Brazil will proceed without spectators. A March 21 UFC card in London will proceed as scheduled (the UK hasn’t shut down boxing or MMA).

A March 28 UFC event in Columbus, Ohio, and an April 11 UFC event in Portland, Oregon, will be relocated to the UFC APEX in Las Vegas on the same dates. Both events will proceed with only essential personnel in attendance and without spectators.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett is working directly with UFC on implementing a process to screen the competing athletes for the coronavirus to ensure their health and safety. Continue reading “Studio shows are likely boxing’s short term answer”

In response to the coronavirus, Latvian authorities have prohibited events with more than 200 people present until April 14. That means next Saturday’s scheduled WBSS cruiserweight final between Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos cannot take place as planned. The new proposed date for the WBSS final in Arena Riga is May 16, dependent on the current restrictions being lifted.

Mairis Briedis: “It is what it is and we will now adapt to the new situation and keep training to wait for the green light.”

Yuniel Dorticos: “I understood the impracticality and therefore l will have have to wait until May to win the tournament.”

Former middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is planning a comeback in Spain this June and he wants a real test, not a tune-up. The name of Marcos Maidana has been proposed and both sides are interested in the possibility, either in June or more likely in the following fight if Martinez looks good in his comeback. Both last fought in 2014. Martinez (45) against Miguel Cotto, and Maidana (37) against Floyd Mayweather.

Due to the global spread of coronavirus, Team Sauerland and Universum Boxpromotion have cancelled their upcoming night of boxing on April 4th at the Work Your Champ Arena in Hamburg, Germany. They have also rejected the idea of holding the event without spectators.

The main event was super welterweight Abass Baraou (9-0, 6 KOs) defending his WBC International title against Nick Klappert (28-3, 15 KOs).

In a major upset, former WBC female lightweight world champion Delfine Persoon (44-2, 18 KOs) was defeated by unheralded amateur boxer Nikoleta Pita in the opening round of today’s Olympic qualifiers at the Copper Box Arena in London. Scores were 29-28 4x for Pita, 29-28 1x for Persoon, who lost a very controversial decision against Katie Taylor for the undisputed women’s lightweight title last year at Madison Square Garden.

According to TMZ, former world champion Adrien Broner was arrested for a DUI late Friday night in Miami Beach. Broner was stopped by police around 8:45PM. Officers believed AB was under the influence and hauled him into a nearby station to sleep it off.

2016 Olympian super welterweight Charles Conwell (12-0, 9 KOs) will take on Madiyar Ashkeyev (14-0, 7 KOs) on an April 10 ShoBox telecast from Grand Island, Nebraska.
—–
Friday night’s boxing card featuring former WBC flyweight world champion Cristofer “Latigo” Rosales at the Manual Artime Community Center & Theater in Miami, Florida, was canceled due to the coronavirus.
—–
In an off-TV bout from Grand Casino Hinckley, welterweight Evincii Dixon (10-25-2, 5 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Joseph Bonas (7-1, 6 K0s) in round two. Bonas down twice.

Photos: Pablo Lozano / All Star Boxing

In a spirited flyweight firefight, Adrian “Gatico” Curiel (15-3, 3 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Hugo “Verdugo” Guarneros (16-3-2, 8 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC Fecombox title on Friday night at the Domo del Sindicato Nacional de los Trabajadores IMSS in Mexico City. Scores were 98-91, 98-92, 96-93.

There was good two-way action throughout the fight. The hard charging Curial pushed the pace and scored a flash knockdown in round four (not called by the referee, but two judges scored a 10-8 round anyway).

More Photos

Undefeated super lightweight power puncher Brandun Lee (19-0, 17 KOs) scored a one-sided third round TKO against overmatched Camilo Prieto (15-3, 10 KOs) on Friday night at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota. Lee was in command all the way and got a stoppage from referee Mark Nelson at 2:34. Lee looked good, but needs to step up the competition.

Undefeated welterweight Brian Norman Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs) won by seven round technical decision over game Flavio Rodriguez (9-2-1, 7 KOs). Tough fight. Rodriguez suffered a bad vertical cut from a seventh round headbutt and the fight was stopped and send to the cards. Scores were 69-64, 68-65, 68-65. Continue reading “Brandun Lee remains undefeated”

Omar Aguilar 140 vs. David Alegria 138
(WBC Youth super lightweight title)
David Picaso 125.4 vs. Jesús Quijada 124.5
(WBC Youth featherweight title)
Dubiel Sánchez 156 vs. Dilan Loza 156.4
Esteban Sánchez 134.7 vs. René Miranda 137
Jesús Ramón Lugo 130 vs. Ángel García 130
Roxana Reyes 130 vs. Kenia Enriquez 130

Venue: Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, BC, Mexico
Promoter: Zanfer
TV: TV Azteca (Mexico)

Quotes from Friday’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Derek Chisora kickoff press conference at the Royal Institute of British Architects ahead of their heavyweight clash at The O2 in London on May 23, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Oleksandr Usyk: “I am very happy to be back here and I really hope that this fight will take place. He’s a really big guy and he hits hard. I will train hard and I will be in the best shape for this fight and I tell you once again, I love boxing very much, I love to box.”

Derek Chisora: “I am fighting one of the best fighters out there! The guy knows how to box and I can’t get sparring partners who can box like him. I will chuck whatever I can chuck. I want to take his golden ticket and I want to take what he has and make it mine. I think the way he wins this fight is by knocking me out but that is not going to happen because I am going to keep coming.”

“Fight Night In Framingham”, scheduled to be held March 20 at Sheraton Framingham Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts, has been postponed indefinitely due to growing safety and health concerns associated with the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading “Framingham, Massachusetts card cancelled”

In the interest of the health and safety of Philadelphia’s fight fans, Raging Babe’s Michelle Rosado has elected to postpone her March 27 event, dubbed Philly Special. The event has been rescheduled for June 19, and will feature the same lineup, including an all-Philly main event between Stevie Ortiz and Damon Allen. Continue reading “March 27 Philly card cancelled”

While boxing in the USA is paralyzed by coronavirus hysteria, Matchroom Boxing held a kick-off press conference in London for the May 23 clash between heavyweights Oleksandr Usyk and Derek Chisora taking place at The O2 Arena.

The show will be shown live on Sky Sports Box office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

There will be no spectators in the seats at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota, but tonight’s ShoBox telecast is one of the few boxing shows that will go on this weekend after most of the scheduled boxing events were cancelled due to the coronavirus.

In the main event, talented undefeated super lightweight prospect Brandun Lee (18-0, 16 KOs) will be facing Camilo Prieto (15-2, 10 KOs) in a ten-rounder.

In the co-featured bout, undefeated welterweight Brian Norman Jr. (16-0, 14 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line as he takes on Flavio Rodriguez (9-1-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round matchup. Undefeated lightweight Alejandro Guerrero (11-0, 9 KOs) meets Jose Angulo (12-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round scrap. And unbeaten featherweight Aram Avagyan (9-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on fellow undefeated Dagoberto Aguero (17-0, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

The fights start at 10PM ET/PT.

The spring series finale of Boxeo Telemundo takes place tonight with a battle of flyweights. Mexican compatriots Adrian “Gatico” Curiel (15-3, 3 KOs) and Hugo “Verdugo” Guarneros (16-3-2, 8 KOs) will square off for the vacant WBC international title. The 10 round main event will take place at the Domo del Sindicato Nacional de los Trabajadores IMSS in Mexico City, Mexico.

Curiel began his professional career winning his first eleven fights. He now heads into his biggest fight to date tonight at just 21 years of age. Though his opponent Guarneros has the edge in experience, Curiel feels his youth will prevail in this matchup. Continue reading ““Gatico” headlines Telemundo finale tonight”

“Son of the Legend” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. isn’t sold on the cononavirus pandemic.

“They say there is coronavirus in Culiacan. True or not true, it’s a pure show to me. Not from China to Culiacan, although there are many Chinese in Culiacan. Good Chinese food!” said Junior on social media.

After close consultation with the New York State Athletic Commission, it has been determined that Saturday’s and Tuesday’s events cannot proceed in light of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. Top Rank will work with the Commission to reschedule the events as soon as it is safe for all involved.

The health and safety of the fighters and their teams, and everyone involved in the promotion of these events, necessitated taking this step.

Brandun Lee 141.75 vs. Camilo Prieto 141.5
Brian Norman Jr. 146.5 vs. Flavio Rodriguez 146.25
Alejandro Guerrero 135.25 vs. Jose Angulo 135.5
Aram Avagyan 125.75 vs. Dagoberto Aguero 125.25

Venue: Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, Minnesota
Promoter: Salita Promotions/D&D Boxing/Rapacz Boxing
TV: Showtime

Adrian “Gato” Curiel 109 vs. Hugo “Verdugo” Guarneros 109
Denilson Jair Valtierra 135 vs. Jose Eduardo Rizo 134
Juan Antonio Rodriguez 139.2 vs. Jose Andres Periban 138
Martin Escamilla 130.5 vs. Carlos Eduardo Reyes 132
Brandon Maximo Nunez 117.5 vs. Aaron Barcenas Reyes 116
Fernando Romero Hilario 124.5 vs. Pedro Jesus Rodriguez 125
Hector Andres Fuentes 147 vs. Raul Yair Garcia 146

Venue: Domo del Sindicato Nacional de los trabajadores IMSS
Promoter: All Star Boxing
TV: Telemundo.

Following the examples of professional and amateur athletic organizations and associations in other states affected by COVID-19, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Athletic Regulation has decided that the Showtime Presents: Grand Friday Night Fights event scheduled for Friday, March 13 at Grand Casino Hinckley will take place as scheduled, but will do so without a live audience. Attendance at the event will be limited to the fighters, their training staff and immediate family. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution, and not because of any specific threat of exposure to COVID-19. Continue reading “Restricted attendance at SHOBOX event”

Promoter Lou DiBella has announced that the Broadway Boxing event scheduled for March 19 at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was to be streamed live on UFC FightPass, has been cancelled. “I urge all of our fighters and boxing fans to stay safe and follow the advice of health officials,” said DiBella.

Queensberry Promotions Statement: In light of press speculation regarding upcoming British boxing fights amid concerns over coronavirus, Queensberry Promotions wish to assure all fans looking forward to the Daniel Dubois v Joe Joyce event at the O2 next month that as matters currently stand it is NOT in jeopardy.

All major public gatherings, including this near sell-out event, are in the hands of the relevant authorities which in this case is the British Boxing Board of Control and the Government. Continue reading “Dubois-Joyce NOT cancelled”

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, this Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions event at MGM National Harbor in Maryland, headlined by James Kirkland vs. Marcos Hernandez and promoted by TGB Promotions, will be postponed until a later date.

“In the interest of public health and after reviewing the current information on COVID-19, we have decided the best course of action is to postpone Saturday’s event,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “We understand how disappointing this is to boxing fans and regret any inconvenience.” Continue reading “Kirkland-Hernandez card cancelled”