On the first televised U.S. card of 2020, unbeaten WBO #13, IBF #15 welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-2-1, 12 KOs) on Friday night at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.

It looked like it would be an early night when Ennis dropped Eyubov twice in round one. Eyubov began doing some damage in round two, although Ennis still dominated. The bout was eventually stopped in round four on the order of Commissioner Larry Hazzard, even though the very tough Eyubov was still game and in no way ready to quit. Time was :34.

Undisputed women’s middleweight champion Claressa Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over former welterweight champion Ivana Habazin (20-4, 7 KOs) in a bout for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound world titles.

Shields was stronger and faster, beating on Habazin like a drum. Shields scored her first career knockdown when Habazin took a knee in round six. Scores were 99-89, 100-90, 100-89. Shields has now won world titles in three divisions.

In a women’s super middleweight unification, IBF champion Erin Cederroos (8-0, 4 KOs) won a close ten round unanimous decision over WBA champion Alicia Napoleon-Espinosa (12-2, 7 KOs).

The much taller Cederroos dropped Napoleon-Espinosa with a left hook in round two and that was the margin of victory. Scores were 95-94 3x.

Heavyweight Apti Davtaev (19-0-1, 18 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Keith Barr (20-13-1, 8 KOs).

Better late than never. Cruiserweights Mairis Briedis (26-1, 19 KOs) and Yuniel Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) will finally clash in the World Boxing Super Series final on March 21 at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia. Briedis has both the semi-final and final taking place in his hometown. In addition to the WBSS Ali Trophy, Dorticos’ IBF title will be on the line. The final will be broadcast live on DAZN in the U.S.

After having no fights in 2019, former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (38-2, 26 KOs) will be aiming to shake off the ring rust and fire his name back into the mix for a world title shot in 2020 when he meets Mark DeLuca (24-1, 13 KOs)  on February 8 at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield, England, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

“I feel great, I feel good. We’re four weeks out, I’m on weight, my training is going great. I’m ready to fight, I’d be ready to fight next week,” said Brook, 33, during a workout at the 12×3 Gym in London. “It feels good to be preparing for a fight again. I’m fighting back in Sheffield, we know what we get from the fans – amazing support. It’s always an amazing atmosphere in the arena. Continue reading “Kell Brook: I want whoever holds a belt”

By John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

North Philly’s Jesse Hart, 26-2, 21 KOs, takes the next step in his quest for a world championship Saturday night when he faces Joe Smith Jr. of Long Island, NY, 24-3, 20 KOs, at Atlantic City’s Mark G. Etess Arena in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The five-bout card is promoted by Top Rank and will be televised live on ESPN (and ESPN+).

Hart’s quest for a belt began at the super middleweight limit, where he campaigned for seven years. However, after two title bout decision losses to WBO champ Gilberto Ramirez, and despite never having the slightest issue making 168 pounds, the charismatic contender decided that the best path for him was to pursue his dream one weight class up, at light heavyweight. Continue reading “Hart seeking revenge against Smith”

WBC featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18 KOs) will defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar (11-0, 9 KOs) February 8 on SHOWTIME from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

“I’m forced to defend my title against another mandatory challenger and I’m going to show on February 8 why none of the other champions want to face me,” said Russell. “I’m the longest current reigning WBC champion but no one has stepped up to the challenge I present. I’m going to take care of business against a strong opponent and display all my skills like I always do.”

The telecast will also see former world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux (19-1, 13 KOs) and Liborio Solís (30-5-1, 14 KOs) battle in their rescheduled vacant WBA bantamweight world title fight in the co-main event, plus a WBA super featherweight title eliminator between Jaime Arboleda (15-1, 13 KOs) and Jayson Veléz (29-5-1, 21 KOs) in a 12-round bout.

WBC, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. has responded to the call out by WBO champion Terence Crawford earlier today.

Spence tweeted, “Fight not going get made on here … it sound good, [but the] only time I hear yo shit is social media…don’t act like a boss now, like he don’t handle yo shit. We told yo handler Bob what it take to make it happen … I don’t choke off smoke dude.”

* Punctuation added for clarity.

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Don King Productions is taking measures to halt the scheduled bout for the WBC cruiserweight title bout between Ilunga “Junior” Makabu and Michal Cieslak on January 25 in The Democratic Republic of The Congo.

According to a “cease and desist” letter sent from DKP attorney Cornelius “Carl” Lewis to the WBC, DKP is Makabu’s exclusive promoter for any and all of Makabu’s professional boxing matches throughout the world and no one, other than DKP, is authorized to engage Makabu’s services. In addition to canceling the bout, DKP demands that the WBC make the cancellation public on their website and notify the organizers of the event that the WBC is not sanctioning the bout and that the bout is to be immediately canceled.

“Please be assured that we take this matter very seriously and intend to protect DKP’s rights,” the letter warns.

Former super bantamweight world champion Jesse Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KO’s). is ready to take on 2020 and beyond. We caught up with the 28-year-old and asked him about his future plans.

What are you hoping for in 2020?

I’m looking for another world title shot. I think I deserve it. 2019 was a good year for me but 2020 will be a great one. I’m looking to become a two-time world champion in 2020. Continue reading “Jesse Magdaleno looking for legendary status”

WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford is calling out WBC, IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. in no uncertain terms.

Via Twitter, Crawford posted, “Keep defending him because I’m tell all y’all now and I mean what I say when that day come when I knock him all I want all y’all to keep that same energy because he gone cry in the car he wasn’t built for this shit I got over here. Just watch me show the world. And stop using the f–king promoters, managers and advisors for that weak ass excuse y’all doing. They work for us. Y’all dumb mf. If you really want a fight you tell them ‘I don’t give two f–ks, that’s who I want to fight.’ Let yo nuts drop. You say you yo own boss @ErrolSpenceJr.”

* Punctuation added for clarity.

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

Bradley Farmer’s Bull Battles Boxing and Family Ties Promotions put on a 5-bout card in the Cincinnati suburb of Harrison, Ohio on Friday night at The Blue Note Events Center. “Freshman Contenders” was headlined by Cincinnati’s undefeated welterweight Quashawn Toler and entered the record books as the first fight card of 2020 anywhere in the world.

Welterweights Quashawn Toler (Cincinnati) and “Cassius” Clay Collard (Las Vegas, by way of Cache City, Utah) saved the night in terms of drama, action, excitement and quality boxing.

Toler was the draw on this night, entering the ring with a gaudy 9-0, 7 KOs record, to Collard’s more pedestrian 4-2-3, 1 KO mark. But records can be deceiving, as the saying goes. Continue reading “First Boxing Results of 2020”