Promoter Oscar de la Hoya announced on social media that unbeaten lightweight Ryan “Kingry” Garcia is back in action April 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) will be fighting for the first time in 15 months against Emmanuel Tagoe (32-1, 15 KOs), who has fought all but two of his bouts in Ghana. DAZN will stream.

Undefeated welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) will clash with WBO #3 ranked Michael “The Problem” McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs) on March 19 in a 12-round fight for the WBO International title at University of Southern California’s Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles and will stream live, worldwide, exclusively on DAZN.

Ortiz is a 10:1 favorite, but McKinson promoter Eddie Hearn likes his man’s chances. “Michael has got the style to beat Vergil, who for me is already a top five welterweight in the world, a brilliant and powerful fighter. There’s only certain styles that can beat him, and Michael has a style to cause Vergil all sorts of problems.”

Ortiz promoter Oscar De La Hoya stated that Vergil is ready to fight against the elite in the division starting with McKinson.

In a rematch, WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) retained his title by twelve round split decision over mandatory challenger Thabiso Mchunu (23-6, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Makabu previously stopped Mchunu in round eleven back in 2015, this time it was a close tactical bout with scores of 115-113, 116-112 Makabu, 115-113 Mchunu. No handshake after this one. Mchunu pushed Makabu away after the fight. Makabu may now defend his title against Canelo Alvarez in May.

“Today I didn’t come for the knockout,” said Makabu. “I just came to show that I can box. I am going to box and knock Canelo out in my next fight, baby.”

WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (22-0, 15 KOs) scored a harder than expected twelve round split decision against game WBA #13 Jonathan Guidry (17-1-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. The much larger Bryan pressed the action and Guidry often gave ground, but there were good exchanges throughout the fight. Bryan finally dropped Guidry in the final seconds of the bout. Scores were 118-109, 116-111 Bryan, 115-112 Guidry.

“Trevor Bryan is here to stay,” said Bryan. “I showed that tonight. I am only going to get better and keep improving my skills. I worked until the final bell. I am taking my talents overseas. I am going to make those fights against the top three, which is Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Oleksandr Usyk. I deserve those fights. This is a steppingstone for me. Shout out to Jonathan Guidry. He was a tough opponent.” Continue reading “Bryan retains WBA heavy title by split decision”

2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) spoiled the Top Rank debut of previously unbeaten Xavier Martinez (17-1, 11 KOs) by winning a one-sided ten round unanimous decision in a WBC super featherweight eliminator on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Slight underdog Conceição, coming off a controversial loss to WBC champion Oscar Valdez, outboxed and outworked Martinez en route to a 99-91, 100-90, 98-92 victory.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Giovanni Cabrera (19-0, 7 KOs) returned from a 27-month layoff to win an eight round unanimous decision over Rene Tellez Giron (16-2, 10 KOs). Scores were 77-75, 78-74, 78-74.

U.S. Olympian welterweight Tiger Johnson (2-0, 1 KO) won a four round unanimous decision over Xavier Madrid (3-1, 1 KO). Scores were 40-36 3x.

Unbeaten heavyweight Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (16-0, 12 KOs) stopped Joey “Tank” Dawejko (21-10-4, 12 KOs) in round eight. Dawejko’s corner stopped the fight. Time was 1:04. Dawejko not happy about the stoppage. Continue reading “Conceição dominates Martinez in WBC eliminator”

With WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade bolting the division, the WBO has ordered Zhanibek “Kazakh Style” Alimkhanuly and Esquiva Falcao to commence negotiations for a WBO interim middleweight championship contest. If no deal is reached within the time prescribed, purse bid proceedings will be scheduled with a minimum acceptable bid of $200,000.

The WBO has also ordered Andrade and Zach Parker to commence negotiations for a WBO interim super middleweight championship contest. If no deal is reached within the time prescribed, purse bid proceedings will be scheduled with a minimum acceptable bid of $300,000.

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren/Queensberry Promotions won the right to stage the WBC heavyweight title fight between champion Tyson Fury and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte at a purse bid on Friday in Mexico City. Warren’s bid of $41,025,000 far outpaced the $32,222,222 bid by Matchroom Boxing. Warren’s bid was the largest in the history of boxing. The split will be 80/20 for Fury.

So Fury-Whyte is on and there will be no step-aside deal for Anthony Joshua, who is now expected to finalize his rematch with WBA/IBF/WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk.

Undisputed female lightweight champion Katie Taylor (20-0, 6 KOs) and women’s P4P Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) are set to clash at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 30, live worldwide on DAZN. MSG has hosted thousands of fights through its illustrious years, beginning more than a century ago on July 17, 1882; now, 140 years later, this matchup marks the very first time two female fighters are headlining a combat sports event at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’.

Taylor and Serrano will come face-to-face in the Big Apple on the first leg of a global press tour next Wednesday, February 2. A London press conference will be held in early February.  The fight not only be available worldwide on DAZN, but also through select cable & satellite pay-per-view providers in the U.S.

Presale begins at 12noon ET on Thursday February 3, with tickets on general sale at 12noon ET on Friday February 4 – tickets start at $56. To sign up to the exclusive presale, visit msg.Com/taylorserrano

Gallo Estrada out due to COVID, JC Martinez steps in

WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez will face Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California on Saturday March 5, live worldwide on DAZN.

Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) moves up to 115lbs and does so against a legend of the weight in Chocolatito (50-3 41 KOs), with the Mexican stepping in to replace Juan Francisco Estrada, who has been forced out of his trilogy clash with Chocolatito with COVID. Continue reading “New opponent for Chocolatito”

Probellum returns to Dubai on March 18 and 19 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium for two consecutive nights featuring current and former world champions, Olympic medalists and hot prospects.

The main and co-main event for night one will be announced this week. The second night will feature IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (17-0, 4 KOs) defending his title against Muhammad Waseem (12-1, 8 KOs) plus former super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) against Tyrone McKenna (22-2-1, 6 KOs).

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the lightweight world title fight between champion Gervonta Davis and mandatory challenger Rolando “Rolly” Romero. The formal communication was sent to both teams of both fighters, who will have 30 days, which expires next February 24, to reach an agreement.

Pursuant to WBA rules, the president and the Committee have the right to define a mandatory period at their discretion. In Davis’ case, it was conditioned to a nine (9) month mandatory defense period. As this period has expired, he must face Romero.

The fight had been previously ordered but external issues prevented it from taking place at that time. The Davis-Romero showdown marks another step in the WBA’s title reduction plan.

The next Showtime Championship Boxing telecast will be on February 26 from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas when WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) defends against unbeaten former interim champion Chris Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs).

The co-feature will be super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14 KOs) against former world champion Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs).

In the other world title affair, IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) defends against Fernando Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs).

WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) dethroned WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (31-2, 18 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, NJ. Magsayo had some early success. Southpaw Russell injured his right shoulder in round four and essentially fought one-handed the rest of the way, throwing virtually zero jabs. Magsayo outworked and outlanded Russell by a wide margin in power punches 259-140. Scores were 114-114, 115-113, 115-113. Entering the fight, Russell was boxing’s longest-reigning champion.

By Karl Freitag

“It’s a big opportunity for me to show my talent, that I really can fight,” said WBA #13 rated heavyweight Jonathan Guidry during a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday. Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) challenges WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) on January 29 in Warren, Ohio.

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s gonna go the distance,” said Guidry, “but we prepared ourselves for it just in case it happens that way. I don’t think nobody will make it past seven or eight rounds.

“He’s a big guy. He’s got a real good jab, but once we get around the jab, we’ve got to work in on him…I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for my whole life. We’ve been doing two times a day training and I lost easy like 30 pounds. I’m in way better shape. I feel a lot better, a lot stronger and we’re ready. Continue reading “Jonathan Guidry: We’re gonna shock them”

Report/Photos Boxing Bob Newman at ringside

WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr (28-3, 22 KOs) scored a ninth round KO over late sub Steve Geffrard (18-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

Smith had trouble getting through Geffrard’s high guard early on, but he was also far busier. Smith started connecting with his right hand in round three and began teeing off the defensive-minded Geffrard in round four. Smith had Geffrard hurt in round five. Geffrard seemingly went into survival mode after that. Smith battered Geffrard to the canvas in round nine to end it. Time was :37.

“He really brought it today,” said Smith afterward. “It was a great fight. As you can see, he’s a great boxer, a good survivor. I was trying to get him out of there early, but I realized he was very tough and I wasn’t going to be able to do that. I tried to wait until the later rounds and started throwing more combinations to pick him apart.”

Photos

In an IBF super flyweight world title eliminator, undefeated Jade Bornea (17-0, 11 KOs) impressively scored a brutal third round KO over Mohammed Obbadi (22-2, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Auditorio Jacales, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. A body shot put Obbadi down for the count. Time was 2:25. Bornea is now the mandatory challenger to countryman and IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.

Promoter Don King has officially announced the second world title fight on his January 29th card at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Joining the previously announced clash between WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu (28-2, 25 KOs) defending against Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs), WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) risking his title against unbeaten WBA #13 Jonathan Guidry (17-0-2, 10 KOs) of Dulca, Louisiana. Continue reading “Trevor Bryan opponent named”

Promoter Kalle Sauerland has confirmed that on Thursday night heavyweight Tony Yoka (11-0, 9 KOs) formally accepted in writing the challenge to fight Filip Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs) in a final IBF final eliminator for the heavyweight world title. Yoka accepted the fight after Luis Ortiz and Joeseph Parker passed on the opportunity.

Yoka won a split decision over Hrgovic in the 2016 Rio Olympics en route to winning the gold medal. The Yoka-Hrgovic winner will become the mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk, who is slated to meet Anthony Joshua in an April rematch.

WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Top Rank alleging the company was deliberately not building him into a PPV star. Crawford claims in the lawsuit that Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum displays a “revolting racial bias” against black fighters and charges Top Rank with “systemic racism” that runs throughout the company.

Arum told the New York Post that he lost millions on Crawford and called the lawsuit absurd. “My whole career — I may have made mistakes — but one thing I cannot be accused of is being a racist. I have promoted scores of top black boxers,” said Arum.

Read the actual lawsuit:

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Rolly: I am now the symbol of freedom, purity, and love

Lightweight contender Rolly Romero announced on social media that allegations of sexual misconduct against him have been dropped. Romero was slated for a big PPV payday against Tank Davis in December but was forced to withdraw due to the allegations.

“After three and a half months of my name being slandered with false accusations, having to miss out on opportunities, cheated out of my dream, and out of a massive amount of wealth – the investigation into the allegations made against me has been formally closed.

“Charges were not filed because the allegations could not be substantiated because, as I always stated, I am innocent. I am now the symbol of freedom, purity, and love known as “The Boxer Formally Known as Rolly.” Now all you hating mf’ can suck my fat black 🐓.”

WBA regular heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (21-0, 15 KOs) will be featured in a co-main event special attraction on Hall of Fame promoter Don King’s January 29 card at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Bryan’s opponent is TBA.

The previously announced main event will pit WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Junior Makabu (28-2, 25 KOs) against the number one challenger Thabiso Mchunu (23-5, 13 KOs). The winner is hopeful of the opportunity to fight Canelo Alvarez. Continue reading “Trevor Bryan added to Jan 29 DKP card”

DAZN has announced eight boxing events to kick-off 2022.

Saturday, February 05: Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith
Headlining the event is former two-weight World Champion Jessie Vargas vs. former WBO Light-Middleweight champion Liam Smith with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. Carlos Cuadras clashing for the vacant WBC Super-Flyweight title also on the card at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The show will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Thailand).

Saturday, February 12: Daniel Jacobs vs. John Ryder
Super-Middleweight John Ryder looks to step up in 2022, taking on two-time Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs at the famous Alexandra Palace in London. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, February 19: Jaime Munguía vs. D’Mitrius Ballard
Mexican middleweight Jaime Munguía takes on D’Mitrius Ballard in a rescheduled middleweight battle between the pair for the WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico).

Sunday, February 27: Lawrence Okolie vs. Michal Cieslak
WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Lawrence Okolie will defend his belt for the second time at the end of February against Poland’s former World Title challenger Michal Cieslak. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, March 05: Estrada vs. Chocolatito III
Juan Francisco Estrada and Román ‘Chocolatito’ González run it back once more for a highly anticipated trilogy fight for the WBA, WBC Franchise and The Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight titles at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN.

Saturday, March 12: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan
Leigh Wood defends his new WBA belt for the first time after producing a stunning 12th-round knockout against Xu Can at Matchroom Fight Camp in July, now facing WBA ‘Interim’ Featherweight champion Michael Conlan on home soil at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Saturday, March 19: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson
Knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. looks to make it 19-0, taking on flawless British world rated contender Michael McKinson in the first defense his WBO International Welterweight title. The Golden Boy Promotions event will be live worldwide on DAZN.

Saturday, March 26: Kiko Martinez vs. Josh Warrington II
Spanish two-weight World Champion Kiko Martinez puts his newly acquired IBF Featherweight belt on the line against old foe Josh Warrington at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Warrington outpointed Martinez in a close contest at the same venue back in May 2017. The rematch will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

In an IBF heavyweight eliminator, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) scored an exciting come-from-behind sixth round TKO over “Prince” Charles Martin (28-3-1, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Martin, who was IBF heavyweight champion for a minute in 2016, knocked down Ortiz with a shot behind the ear in round one. The 42-year-old Ortiz rebounded to win round two. Ortiz down again at the end of round four from a jab. In round six, Ortiz finally connected with an overhand left that put Martin out on his feet and Martin’s glove got bizarrely trapped between the ropes as he went down. Martin beat the count but Ortiz brutally battered him to the deck again to end it. Time was 1:37.

Unbeaten WBC #5, WBO #5 heavyweight Frank Sanchez (20-0, 13 KOs) outclassed late sub Christian Hammer (26-9, 16 KOs) over ten rounds, but was reluctant to let his hands go en route to a dull unanimous decision. Sanchez was credited with a dubious knockdown after a pushdown in round ten. Scores were 100-89 3x.

In a rematch, heavyweight Jonnie Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs) won a slow-paced ten round unanimous decision over Michael Coffie (12-2, 9 KOs) by scores of 97-93, 97-93, 99-91. Easy win for Rice, despite weighing 15 pounds more than he did in winning their first fight. Continue reading “Ortiz comes off canvas twice to stop Martin”

By Joe Koizumi

Japan’s WBO junior bantamweight champ Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), 115, kept his belt as he earned a unanimous decision (118-110, 116-112, 115-113) over #6 southpaw compatriot “Little Pacquiao” Ryoji Fukunaga (15-5, 14 KOs), 114.75, over twelve fast rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The four-division champ Ioka, making his fourth defense of this belt, demonstrated a safety-first strategy, constantly piling up points without taking a risk by toe-to-toe exchanges of punches. Ioka seldom absorbed the challenger’s less accurate combos but scored with more accurate and more effective combinations upstairs and downstairs. Ioka, 32, would have been able to floor Fukunaga, a carpenter nicknamed “Little Pacquiao” because of his resemblance at 35, with more furious combinations in later rounds, but the champ didn’t accelerate his attacks to the fading foe probably because he was more anxious to safely prepare for a unification bout with IBF counterpart Jerwin Ancajas next rather than go for a year-end knockout that our aficionados had wished for. The ref was Katsuhiro Nakamura.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions.

(More to come)

19-year-old welterweight prospect Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over Nicholas “Nice Nick” DeLomba (16-4, 5 KOs) in the main event of a special FOX-televised Christmas Day boxing card at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Mielnicki launched a major assault in round three but DeLomba survived. After that, it was a methodical performance by Mielnicki until he rocked DeLomba in round ten and DeLomba’s corner pulled their man out. DeLomba complained to no avail. Time was 1:49.

Unbeaten WBA #6 super welterweight Yoelvis Gómez (5-0, 5 KOs) destroyed “Cassius” Clay Collard (9-6-3, 4 KOs) in the first round. Gomez dropped Collard in round one and got a referee’s stoppage after a vicious follow-up barrage. Time was 2:11. Collard created a buzz last year with three straight wins over unbeaten fighters, but he is now firmly entrenched at journeyman status after suffering his fourth straight loss.

Unbeaten middleweight Joey Spencer (13-0, 10 KOs) scored an explosive fifth round knockout against Limberth Ponce (18-5, 11 KOs). A left/right combination finished Ponce after four competitive rounds. Time was 1:24. Continue reading “Mielnicki, Gomez, Spencer stop foes”