Unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and undefeated former heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury nearly came to blows at a heated final press conference Thursday as they previewed their rematch on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Tyson Fury: “The 12th round of our first fight was a good round, and credit to Wilder, he got me with two of the best punches I have ever seen thrown in a 12 round heavyweight fight. As we have seen, that has become very famous, the ole’ knockdown of the Gypsy King was very active online and all over the world. But the thing Wilder must be thinking is, I hit that guy with my hardest punch in round 12, and he got up. What do I have to do to keep him down?…The biggest puncher who ever lived should have no problem opening my cut up. He could not keep me down in the 12th round, so now I want to see if he is able to get up off the floor. I don’t think he has the guts to get up.”

Deontay Wilder: “Round 12 has been in his mind since day one, that’s why he ran away from the rematch. In the back of Fury’s mind, he will think about how I gave him a concussion and how he had no idea how he even got on the ground. So, I do believe that round is in his head, and if he says otherwise, he is lying…I don’t believe anything Fury says. I think he is just trying to butter me up and use a lot of mind games. He did that in the first fight to try and steal rounds, so we were lucky that we had experienced judges that weren’t influenced by that. I am not concerned with what he says, I am more focused on what he does. I am a man of action.”

For Opening Night of the 10th Year Anniversary Fight Club OC show Thursday, February 20th. Tickets at www.socafights.com

Andrew Segura 129.6 vs Lucnor Discerne 129.8
Trent Meaux 136 vs Benji Gomes 136
Uriel Villanueva 139.8 vs John Ornalas 139.6
Danny Silva 145.8 vs Dennis Fisher 145
Austin Brooks 124.8 vs Javier Navarro 125.4
Joey Dorado 138.9 vs Keith Carson 139.5

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Roy Englebrecht Promotions

Referee Kenny Bayless will be the third man in the ring for Saturday’s Wilder-Fury rematch in Las Vegas. Judges are Glenn Feldman, Dave Moretti, and Steve Weisfeld.

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has confirmed details of the rematch clause for Saturday’s rematch between his fighter Tyson Fury and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. “The loser has 30 days to call on the rematch and that has to be accepted,” Warren told BBC Radio 5 Live.

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This is interesting. While the betting odds are pretty even, polled heavyweight boxers young and old are overwhelmingly predicting that WBC heavyweight Deontay Wilder will defeat Tyson Fury on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Evander Holyfield – Wilder: “I’m picking Deontay Wilder based on his confidence and the fact that he does all of the right things to remain in great shape, and that he’s committed to his craft. Wilder’s not just a big guy with a right hand, but he’s also become more calculated in his approach. That’s why I’m picking him to win this second fight against Tyson Fury.”

Larry Holmes – Wilder: “Deontay Wilder will knock out Tyson Fury in the seventh or eighth round if he does what I know that he can do, which is stay on the outside, use his jab, throw that right hand over the jab.” Continue reading “Wilder-Fury Notes”

WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury made their grand arrivals Tuesday afternoon at MGM Grand, kicking off fight week events for their heavyweight showdown on Saturday. Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) rolled up in a red Ferrari, while Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) arrived shortly after in a Rolls-Royce SUV.

Deontay Wilder: “I’m going to knock out Tyson Fury in devastating fashion on Saturday night. After I show the world what greatness lies inside of me, I will continue to go even further and do more amazing things in this sport.”

Tyson Fury: “I am knocking that bum out in two rounds. It’s going to be an early night. I’ve done all I can, and I can’t wait for Saturday night to be here. The WBC belt is the only major title I’ve yet to win. Saturday night, it will be mine.”

Boxeo Telemundo kicks off 2020 this Friday. The series returns to the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in Miami, Florida presented by Felix “Tuto” Zabala, All Star Boxing, Inc.

The season opener will feature another chapter in the famed classic “Mexico vs Puerto Rico” boxing rivalry between former world title challengers WBO #15 Saul “Baby” Juarez (25-10-2, 13 KOs) of Mexico City will take on WBO #8, WBA #13 Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (22-3-1, 13 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico in a ten-rounder with the WBO/NABO light flyweight title at stake. Continue reading “Juarez eyes upset on Telemundo Friday”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian light middleweight Daniel Lewis (6-0, 4 KOs) has been made betting underdog in Saturday’s ten round contest against 6’5 Sebastian Fundora (13-0-1, 9 KOs) at the MGM Casino on the Wilder-Fury undercard.

“Everyone says I’m stepping up fast but I feel like it’s a good pace for me,” Lewis told AAP. “I’ve fought 150 amateur fights, all shapes and sizes, so I’ve got to adjust in the early rounds and I see myself taking him out, chopping him down. We’ve watched a few videos and he has the one basic style. He doesn’t use his height to his advantage. He loves to fight inside which suits me. I think he’s at a disadvantage in this fight.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Golden Boy Promotions announced Tuesday the signing of three prospects: lightweight Daillis Kaleiopu of Hawaii, bantamweight Asa Stevens also from Hawaii, and super welterweight Shane Mosley Jr.

Here is what Oscar De La Hoya had to say: “We are excited to be signing three great prospects. We have big plans to keep them busy on DAZN. These are 3 young men that are hardworking and talented. Our objective is to get them a world title.” Continue reading “Golden Boy signs three prospects”

There were some huge surprises during the Golden Contract semi-final draw, with the Golden Ball adding the drama that was expected.

A huge night of action takes place at a sold out York Hall on Friday, live on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing, and on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank.

A Golden Ball was added into the semi-final draw, with the fighting selecting it able to choose their opponent from the three remaining fighters that selected the red balls. Continue reading “Shock Golden Contract Draw”

Boxeo Telemundo returns this Friday to kick off its 31st straight year on air with another chapter in the famed classic “Puerto Rico vs Mexico” as WBO #8 WBA #13 Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez(22-3-1 13 KO’s) of Caguas, PR faces WBC #6 WBO #15 Saul “Baby” Juarez(25-10-2 13 KO’s) of Mexico City, MX. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds in the light flyweight division with the WBO/NABO title in play.

The showdown will mark the return of the series back to the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in Miami, Florida presented by Felix “Tuto” Zabala, All Star Boxing, Inc. Continue reading “Gonzalez-Juarez Clash Friday on Telemundo”

Wilder-Fury 2 fight week kicks off today with the fighter grand arrivals at the MGM Grand’s main lobby. The event is open to the public.

The schedule is as follows:

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. Sebastian Fundora and Daniel Lewis
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. Emanuel Navarrete and Jeo Santisima
1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Charles Martin and Gerald Washington
1:45 – 2:15 p.m. Tyson Fury
2:15 – 2:45 p.m. Deontay Wilder

Former two-time heavyweight champion of the world Shannon Briggs(60-6-1, 53 KOs) is planning to try bare-knuckle fighting.  A May date is being looked at in Miami, Florida which is close to where Briggs resides.  The news was broke to Fightnews.com® by boxing manager and businessman Scott Hirsch, who managed Briggs while he beat the odds and won the WBO world heavyweight title in 2006.

“Shannon was on the fence about trying his hand in the bare-knuckles squared circle after being out of the ring for the last three years. Hearing former UFC heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez called him ‘washed up’ and said he wouldn’t have a chance against him or the other top bare-knuckles fighters lit a fire under the two- time world heavyweight boxing champion,” said Hirsch. Continue reading “Ex-champ Briggs eyes bare-knuckle fight”

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will have a new team in his corner for Saturday’s PPV rematch with WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas. Both Fury and Wilder weigh in on the ramifications.

[Tyson Fury on his new trainer SugarHill Steward] “I had a good defensive coach, Ben Davison. We worked a lot on defense every single day for two years. It was defense, defense, defense. So I needed an aggressive trainer. I worked with SugarHill in the past. I knew he was a good guy. I knew we got along well, which is very important. Communication is key to any good relationship, and that’s what I brought him in, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, ever.” Continue reading “Wilder, Fury talk about Fury’s new team”

By Ron Jackson

Latest S.A. boxing news including Rowan Campbell, Joshua Studdard, Hekkie Budler, Deejay Kriel, Nkosinathi Joyi, Kevin Lerena and more…

Rowan Campbell to fight for vacant IBO belt

South Africa’s Rowan Campbell is scheduled to meet Evgeny Shvedenko of Russia for the vacant IBO super middleweight belt on March 28 at the Palazzohalle in Karlsruhe, Germany. This is a well-deserved reward for the 26-year-old Campbell who made his pro debut on December 1, 2016, and has remained undefeated in compiling a record of 12 wins with 8 coming inside the distance. Continue reading “South African Boxing Update”

WBA #5 welterweight Jamal “Shango” James (26-1, 12 KOs) hopes to bring a world championship to his hometown April 11 when he faces #11 rated Thomas Dulorme (25-3-1,16 KOs) for the WBA interim welterweight title at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The card will air on FOX with a second world title fight expected to be added. Light heavyweight David Morrell Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs will also appear on the card.

Boxing’s busiest champion WBO super bantamweight ruler Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (30-1, 26 KOs) will make his fifth title defense in nine months against Jeo Santisima (19-2, 16 KOs) on Saturday’s Fury-Wilder PPV. 25-year-old Navarrete has won all his defenses so far by knockout (against Isaac Dogboe, Francisco de Vaca, Juan Miguel Elorde and Francisco Horta). He is as much as a 50:1 favorite to handle WBO #4 rated Santisima on Saturday.

23-year-old Santisima lost two of his first four bouts, but has won 17 straight with 15 of those by KO. All Santisima’s bouts until now have been in the Philippines.

With 12 rounds of experience against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he knows how to win in Saturday’s PPV rematch in Las Vegas.

“The biggest mistake I made last time was not making him pay when he was hurt,” said Fury. “I didn’t know what I had in the tank last time. I’d never done 12 rounds {in my comeback}. It’s a long time. This time, I know I can do the distance and we’re not getting hurt. I’ll throw everything but the kitchen sink at him and he won’t know what hit him.

“I learned he can be hit, and he can be hurt quite regularly. That’s the biggest thing that I learned about Deontay Wilder. Nothing I didn’t already know. Before I fought him, obviously I didn’t know what he was like in a boxing ring, and after I fought him, I know what he’s like. And I think there’s nothing to worry about. He’s got a big right hand and that’s it. He’s a one-dimensional fighter, and I’m going to prove that on the 22nd of February.”

Former world champion Tyson Fury has claimed he’s going to come right at WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder when they meet on PPV Saturday in Las Vegas. Wilder was asked whether he thinks Fury is serious or just trying to talk a good game and hype things up.

“I really don’t know what’s their plans are or what he’s going to do or what he’s not going to do. I don’t know what is true about what he’s saying and what is not true. I know one thing, that I’m prepared for anything that he brings to the table,” said Wilder.

“I’m overly prepared for whatever. So if you want to bring the fight, then come on, let’s make it happen, that’ll benefit me more than anything, him coming full at me. So I hope they stick with that game plan and follow it through and aren’t just talking for hype. Actually do what you say you’re going to do. I’m looking forward to it. Continue reading “Wilder: I really feel that Fury’s nervous”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

2016 Olympian Daniel Lewis (6-0, 4 KOs) will clash with 6’5 southpaw light middleweight Sebastian Fundora (13-0-1, 9 KOs) over ten rounds on the undercard of the WBC heavyweight title bout featuring Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury on Saturday at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Daniel is fit and ready to put on a show,” Lewis trainer Graham Shaw told Fightnews.com. “Preparation has been excellent with great sparring in Sydney against Sam Ah See and Billy Cliff. In Las Vegas we had great sparring against 6’3 southpaw light middleweight Andreal Holmes who is 11-0.” Continue reading “2016 Olympian Daniel Lewis in action Saturday”

Former WBC flyweight world champion Cristofer “Latigo” Rosales (29-5, 20 KOs) returns to the ring on March 13th. He will take on Szilveszter Kanalas (14-10, 9 KOs) of Hungary in an 8 round super flyweight main event at the Manual Artime Community Center & Theater in Miami, Florida.

In the co-feature, world-ranked bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (21-1, 12 KOs) will look to rebound from his first professional loss when he takes on Jeno Tonte (9-8, 8 KOs) of Hungary in 8 round bantamweight contest. Continue reading “Melo, Rosales featured in Miami March 13”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unheralded southpaw puncher Ryoji Fukunaga (12-4, 12 KOs), 115, impressively captured the WBO Asia Pacific 115-pound belt when he withstood constant assaults of defending champ Froilan Saludar (31-4-1, 22 KOs), 114.5, and finally caught up with the Filipino sharpshooter to halt him at 1:40 of the seventh session in a scheduled twelve on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a sizzling see-saw battle with split tallies after the sixth: 58-56, 56-58, 57-57. Fukunaga’s persistent body bombardments paid off with Saludar finally sinking to the deck with the referee Someya’s well-received intervention.

Photos

By David Finger

IBF world female featherweight champion Jennifer Han returned to the ring after a lay-off of nearly two years, winning a lopsided eight round unanimous decision over Jeri Sitzes in front of her hometown fans in El Paso Saturday night. All three judges scored it a shutout (80-72) for Han, who improved to 18-3-1, 1 KO. Sitzes, who has never been stopped, falls to 15-11-1, 6 KOs. Golden Eagle Promotions was the promoter.

Lightweight boxer Dat Nguyen scored a wild first round KO over Abdiel Velazquez in a bare-knuckle fight at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It was a furious pace from the opening bell, Nguyen landing first and dropping Velazquez. Velazquez continued to force the fast action and he caught Nguyen, dropping Nguyen to the mat for the first time in his career. As the fighters settled into the later stages of the first round, Nguyen landed a huge left that knocked Velazquez out cold. The referee immediately waved off the fight 1:51 into round one.

WBO light flyweight world champion Elwin “La Pulga” Soto (17-1, 11 KOs) of Mexico knocked out countryman Javier Alejandro Rendon (10-5-3, 4 KOs) in round one of a non-title 10 round flyweight main event on Saturday night at the Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico. Soto delivered a vicious left hook to the body that put Rendon down and out for the full ten count. Official time 2:41 of round one.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) scored a one-sided tenth round TKO over mandatory challenger Vincent Feigenbutz (31-3, 28 KOs) on Saturday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

40:1 favorite Plant dominated from the opening bell and progressively broke down Feigenbutz until the bout was waved off by referee Malik Waleed at 2:23 of round ten.

“I felt great out there,” said Plant. “I was relaxed and sharp. I told you I was going to stop this before the 12th round. I want to dedicate this to my daughter, to my mother, my grandfather and the whole city of Nashville.”

The champion also stated his desire to unify versus unbeaten WBC counterpart and rival, David Benavidez. Continue reading “Plant stops Feigenbutz, retains IBF 168lb title”