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Shakur Stevenson to fight against highest available contender for WBC lightweight title

The World Boxing Council received several requests concerning its lightweight and super lightweight divisions. WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney petitioned to fight WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis. Haney wished to remain as WBC lightweight champion until after his fight with Prograis takes place, at which point he would decide in what division he would remain.

The WBC Board of Governors considered those requests and has arrived at the following:

1. Approved Haney’s petition to fight Prograis for the WBC super lightweight world championship
2. Designated Haney as champion-in-recess in the lightweight division
3. Ordered a lightweight championship bout between lightweight mandatory challenger Shakur Stevenson and the highest available contender in the division
4. After fighting Prograis, Haney will be allowed to choose between remaining at 135 or 140 pounds on a timetable that the WBC would order
5. If Haney decides to return to the lightweight division within that timetable, the WBC will order a fight between Haney and the WBC’s current lightweight champion on a 50-50 basis

The current WBC lightweight rankings are:

1. Vasyl Lomachenko
2. Shakur Stevenson
3. Isaac Cruz Jr.
4. William Zepeda
5. Frank Martin
6. Edwin de los Santos
7. Jamaine Ortiz
8. Artem Harutyunyan
9. Shuichiro Yoshino
10. Raymond Muratalla
11. George Kambosos Jr.
12. Maxi Hughes
13. Francesco Patera
14. Michel Rivera
15. Keyshawn Davis

Who will step up against Shakur?

WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (27-3, 16 KOs) and former 2x champ Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs) announced their all-British WBA featherweight world title fight at a press conference in Leeds today. The bout takes place on neutral ground at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, on Saturday October 7th, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Leigh Wood: “I don’t take confidence from knowing Lara beat Josh and that I beat Lara. I take confidence in the fact that I know I’m the better fighter. It has taken me so long for me to prove this and I’ve waited a long time for this fight to happen.”

Josh Warrington: “There’s mutual respect, We don’t have to be shouting and screaming or chucking tables at each other to have a barnstormer of a fight…I went into the Lopez fight after jaw surgery and I was just too worried about it getting whacked.”

The WBO Championships Committee has denied a request by the management of WBO #1 rated junior welterweight Arnold Barboza to be named mandatory challenger for current champion Teofimo Lopez.

The Committee ruled that Barbosa’s request is premature considering that there is no mandatory title defense to be discharged at this time. No mandatory is due. Lopez is currently in a voluntary period and can defend his title against any of the 15 world-rated contenders in the jr welterweight division. Therefore, the issue is not ripe for intervention.

The Committee also laid out numerous circumstances where a mandatory defense obligation may be extended or modified and strongly recommended that Barboza keep active and compliant with WBO regulations of world championship contests.

For many decades, the Arena Coliseo in downtown Mexico City hosted high quality boxing events. This week, after an eight year hiatus, boxing returns to the famed venue. Former WBC super flyweight world champion Carlos Cuadras will headline this historic card on Friday against an opponent to be named. The event is being promoted by Producciones Joaco Arvizu.

Last week we saw boxing greatness in Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. This week’s highest profile fight is a $59.99 PPV featuring none other than cruiserweight Jake “The Problem Child” Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) against debuting MMA icon Nate Diaz on Saturday from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.

Other fights on the DAZN/ESPN+ stream include:

• Undisputed female featherweight world champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano defends against former world champion Heather “The Heat” Hardy
• Undefeated lightweight H20 Sylve against William “Baby Face” Dos Santos Silva over eight rounds
• Super middleweight Chris Avila faces MMA fighter Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens in an eight-rounder
• Female super middleweight Shadasia Green, the mandatory challenger for the undisputed title, will fight Olivia Curry in a ten-rounder
• Welterweight Alan Sanchez will take on 17-1 Angel Beltran Villa in an eight round bout

Japan’s unified WBC/WBA light flyweight world champion Kenshiro Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs) will defend his titles against South African two-division world champion Hekkie Budler (35-4, 11 KOs) on Monday, September 18, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. In the co-feature, undefeated Japanese southpaw Junto Nakatani (25-0, 19 KOs) makes the first defense of his WBO junior bantamweight world title against Mexican contender Argi Cortes (25-3-2, 10 KOs).

Teraji-Budler, Nakatani-Cortes and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. in the early morning hours on ESPN+. Continue reading “ESPN+ picks up Teraji-Budler/Nakatani-Cortes”

The big question for Terence Crawford after his evisceration of Errol Spence Jr. is who’s next? Spence Jr. has a rematch clause in the contract, but it may take some time for him to heal after that brutal beatdown he took.

BetOnline (BetOnline.ag) has created odds on who Bud will fight next and Jaron Ennis is the favorite followed by Jermell Charlo and Spence.

Terence Crawford Next Opponent
Jaron Ennis 3/2 (+150)
Jermell Charlo 2/1 (+200)
Errol Spence Jr. 5/2 (+250)
Keith Thurman 12/1 (+1200)
Eimantas Stanionis 16/1 (+1600)
Alexis Rocha 18/1 (+1800)
Canelo Alvarez 20/1 (+2000)

Update: Matchroom has confirmed that Wood-Warrington will take place on neutral ground at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, on October 7th, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

The WBA Championships Committee has approved a special permit requested by Matchroom Boxing for featherweight champ Leigh Wood, to fight Josh Warrington. Wood just regained the 126-pound crown in a rematch against Mauricio Lara last May and has a mandatory fight with Othabek Kholmatov. However, the champion’s team requested special permission from the WBA to make an optional fight against Warrington.

After a review of the case, the committee decided to approve the fight on the condition that the winner, or Wood in case of a draw, will fight Kholmatov no later than 120 days after the bout.

While the Wood-Warrington bout is taking place, Kholmatov will be allowed to make an optional fight against an approved opponent.

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated welterweight Gor Yeritsyan, (15-0, 13 KOs) of Armenia to a multi-year promotional contract. The 28-year-old, residing in Los Angeles, is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym. Yeritsyan will debut under the 360 Promotions banner on August 26 against Rogelio Jun Doliguez, (24-4-2, 19 KOs), of the Philippines in a scheduled eight round welterweight clash at the Commerce Casino and broadcast globally on UFC Fightpass.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Coach Red Spikes talks about Bud Crawford’s dominating performance. He also shared his thought on a potential showdown with Canelo and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with former world champ and Showtime broadcaster Raul Marquez walking out of the arena and he shared his thoughts on Bud Crawford’s dominating performance versus Errol Spence Jr.

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WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s title defense against former super middleweight world champion Callum Smith—originally scheduled for Saturday, August 19, at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada—has been postponed due to a bone infection to Beterbiev’s jaw. He underwent surgery earlier today in Montreal, Canada.

Promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, information regarding a rescheduled date will be announced in due course.

Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), who resides in Montreal, is boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio. Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), the WBC’s mandatory challenger, has won two bouts by stoppage since dropping a decision in a 2020 title unification fight against Canelo Alvarez.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Tommy Fury (9-0, 4 KOs), brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, will face YouTube boxer KSI on October 14 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on a DAZN PPV showdown. KSI is officially 2-0, 1 KO, but has a lot of kayos in exhibition bouts.

Tommy Fury: “I’ve already beaten Jake Paul and so all that is left for me to do is send this man to sleep. I’ll do that inside four rounds. This is easy money.”

KSI: “KO after KO has now led me to the toughest fight in the influencer boxing scene. I’m fighting Tommy Fury. The man that defeated the once undefeated Jake Paul is now my opponent and I can’t wait to silence all the doubters that believe I have no chance. After this fight, you’ll understand that I truly am that guy.”

Logan Paul will fight in the other half of the double main event, with his opponent to be revealed in the coming days.

By Miguel Maravilla

Undisputed welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) talks about his spectacular win over Errol “The Truth” Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. There is a rematch clause and Crawford stated he’s open to facing Spence again at 154 pounds.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Former welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) spoke at the post-fight press conference after his defeat to Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Spence could not get anything going as Crawford him down three times in the fight and eventually got a referee’s stoppage. There is a rematch clause, but the question is does Spence even want it following this beatdown?

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By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside
Photos: Emily Harney

WBO welterweight champ Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) out of Omaha, NE blasted out WBC, IBF and WBA titleholder Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) out of Dallas, TX to become the undisputed welterweight king on Saturday night in front of 19,990 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Crawford dropped Spence three times, once in the second and twice in round seven before referee Harvey Dock waived it off in round nine after Crawford landed a barrage of power shots. The time of stoppage was 2:32 of round nine.

This was a fight for the ages, two undefeated, top five pound-for-pound fighters fighting for legacy. Continue reading “Crawford TKOs Spence; now undisputed”

Former world champion Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas (108-18-3, 83 KOs) won by eighth round KO against Juan Carlos Parra (8-24-2, 7 KOs) in a scheduled ten-rounder on Saturday night at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico. 52-year-old Campas returned to the ring for the first time since 2018, then promptly announced his retirement. He turns 53 next week.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a WBC and WBA lightweight title eliminator, Mexico City’s hard hitting WBC #3, WBA #5, IBF #5, WBO #5 Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over previously undefeated WBA #9, IBF #11, WBO #11 Giovanni Cabrera (21-1, 7 KOs) of Seattle in the Spence-Crawford co-main event on Saturday night at the sold out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Cruz pressed the action and landed hard punches that Cabrera was able to take. Cruz was deducted a point in round eight for a headbutt. Scores were 114-113 for Cabrera, 114-113, 115-112 for Cruz. Continue reading “Cruz wins by split decision in eliminator”

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Bantamweight Alexandro Santiago (28-3-5, 14 KOs) hammered out a twelve round unanimous decision over future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC bantamweight title formerly held by Naoya Inoue on Saturday night at the sold out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In round one, Santiago threw punches while Donaire pressed, showing feints, patiently waiting for the big punch. Santiago established the jab in round two, as Donaire continue to come forward. The action picked up as Santiago landed a body shot to close the round. Continue reading “Santiago beats Donaire for WBC bantam title”

By Miguel Maravilla and Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Cuba’s Yones Tellez (6-0, 5 KOs) got things started by scoring a spectacular third-round knockout over a seasoned veteran Sergio Garcia (34-3, 14 KOs) of Spain in opening up the Showtime Pay per View telecast with a statement performnce.

The veteran Garcia began to get rough in the opening round as he hit Tellez behind the head, drawing a warning from referee Robert Hoyle. Garcia had a good round as he imposed his veteran tactics in the second, shoving his forearm on the face of Tellez and drawing another warning from the referee. The Cuban fighter did not let any of the roughhouse tactics bother him as a left hook, right hand combination by Tellez floored Garcia. Rising to his feet, Garcia continued but Tellez did not let him off the hook as he went for the finish forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:02 of the third.

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Undefeated super middleweight contender Steven “So Cold” Nelson (19-0, 15 KOs) dominated late replacement Rowdy Legend Montgomery (10-5-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds to win a unanimous decision and the vacant WBA Continental Americas title.

Nelson found his range midway through round one and it was target practice from there on out. He blasted Montgomery with straight and overhand rights and an occasional left hook all night. Continue reading “Spence-Crawford undercard results”

By Héctor Villarreal

Former super world champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno and his wife Rousse Laguna presented a six fight pro boxing event on Friday night at the Centro de Combates in Panama City, to continue their campaign to rescue the Young local talent.

Super lightweights Fernando “Pantera” Martínez (6-2, 2 KOs) and Samir Cuentas (2-3, 0 KOs) starred a very tactical 6-round fight, with Martínez escaping with a majority decision. Continue reading “Martinez edges Cuentas in Panama”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Estrada-Yudica photo gallery for some incredible shots.

Photos

By Miguel Maravilla

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By Miguel Maravilla

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Report/Photos by Scott Foster

“Night Of Champions IV” Boxlab Promotions, in conjunction with CBS Sports and Warriors Boxing, presented a tripleheader Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL dubbed the “Night Of Champions IV.” The 12-bout card was headlined by once-beaten lightweight contender, Cuban-born Idalberto Umara (11-1, 8 KOs) who faced a late but heralded substitute in former Dominican Olympian William Encarnacion (20-5, 16 KOs). Umara stole the show early with a highlight reel uppercut that had the Olympian out on his feet, crashing face-first into the canvas. After several frightening minutes, Encarnacion regained his senses and was greeted with applause from the audience after returning to his corner. The end came at 1:51 of round two. Continue reading “Umara crushes Encarnacion”