Fightnews.com

By Bill Green

While the fans have waited nearly 5 years for Spence vs Crawford, the fighters themselves have waited their entire boxing careers to position and maneuver themselves to be involved in the most watched/anticipated showdown in 30+ years.

Boxing is a lot like chess. For example, your coaches constantly preach to you the battle of positioning, whether it’s getting your lead foot outside of your opponents, or keeping your chin and hands in the right positions. All important aspects but for B&B-trained athletes there is another key component in positioning and that … .is simply play your best game of chess. Continue reading “B&B Boxing master chess players”

In the latest Puerto Rico vs. Mexico war on Wednesday night at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida, super featherweights Orlando Gonzalez (21-2, 12 KOs) and Ramiro Cesena (16-2-1, 13 KOs) pounded on each other for ten rounds with Gonzalez winning 96-94, 96-94, 97-93. Judges preferred Gonzalez’ shoe-shining over Cesena’s power-punching.

Super lightweight Mohamed Mimoune (22-5, 3 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Steven Galeano (12-0, 9 KOs) in round six. Galeano down at the end of round five and down 3x in round six.

Unbeaten middleweight Darrelle Valsaint (9-0, 7 KOs) halted Daniel Aduku (15-4-1, 11 KOs) in the fourth round. Body shots finished Aduku.

Unbeaten lightweight Mandeep Jangra (5-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Yesner Talavera (15-16-1, 4 KOs) over six rounds.

Sandwiched in between super fights this week, Top Rank has a show headlined by unified WBC/WBA female minimumweight champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) against Leonela Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) this Friday at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Seniesa Estrada: “This is just the beginning. We’re at a time in women’s boxing where all the top women are starting to headline…everyone thinks they’re going to shock the world when they get in the ring me. But then, that bell rings and they see that my style is just different. I’m a different fighter.”

Leonela Yudica: “I’m positive that they have underestimated me. I have had a lot of fights, and I have a lot of experience. I defended my flyweight title 10 times. And while it is a great challenge to be going down in weight, I am ready and prepared to show that I have everything it takes to become world champion again.”

Former WBA super lightweight champion Alberto Puello will be removed from the WBA rankings for the use of banned substances prior to his fight against Rolly Romero, current champion of the category. The WBA Championships Committee announced that it adheres to the decision made by the Nevada Athletic Commission which, after a hearing, determined that Puello should be suspended until October 5, 2023. For this reason, Puello will be able to request his return to the WBA rankings after that date.

Light heavyweight banger Anthony Yarde (23-2, 22 KOs) hits the comeback trail towards his next world title challenge on September 23 with an all-British clash against Ricky Summers (19-3-1, 6 KOs) at the OVO Arena in London on the big Zhilei Zhang-Joe Joyce rematch card, live on TNT Sports (UK).

Yarde, the self-styled “Beast from the East,” won the admiration of the boxing public back in January when he gave unified world light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev a tough fight before being retired by his own corner in the eighth round in front of a packed house at the same venue. Continue reading “Yarde on Zhang-Joyce undercard”

By Joe Koizumi
Photo: Boxing Beat

It is customary in Japan that the winner of the world title bout on the previous night participates in a press conference on the next day. The newly crowned WBC, WBO world 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue responded to questions by our media people today (Wednesday) in Yokohama. Naoya, quite uninjured and unbruised, cooly revealed his future plan.

“I wish to unify all the four world belts within this year (against Marlon Tapales). It may take three years to have myself physically adjust to the super bantam category and then may move up to the featherweight division. After taking a rest for a week, I wish to return to gym work.” Continue reading “Inoue: Even if all belts unified, I’ll stay at 122”

Unbeaten NABA middleweight champion Connor “The Kid” Coyle (19-0, 8 KOs) will make the third defense of his title when he faces Joey Bryant (17-1, 13 KOs) on August 19 at the Blind Tiger in Biloxi, Mississippi. Coyle is ranked #5 by the WBA.

“I’m excited for this fight and Connor will be sharp against a very hungry fighter in Joey Bryant,” said Coyle’s promoter Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions. “Connor has been training extremely hard with (trainer and manager) Jim McLoughlin. This is the biggest fight of Bryant’s career, so we’re expecting a good challenge.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

On the undercard of the sensational superfight of Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue, a highly expected future champ Yoshiki Takei, 119, OPBF super bantam ruler, engaged in a non-title eight rounder and extended his unblemished KO mark to 7-0, 7 KOs, by embalming Filipino bantam titlist Ronnie Baldonado (16-5-1, 9 KOs), 117.5, with a single body shot at 1:08 of the third round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was an important trial for Takei, former K-1 champ who entered the international style ring warfare two years ago, to attempt to fight in the 118-pound category by moving down from the 122-pound division. Since Naoya recently renounced all the world bantam belts, Ohashi Promotions now plans to have Takei fight in quest of one of the 118-pound titles in the future, although Takei will defend his OPBF belt in his mandatory defense in December. WBC#10, IBF#11 Takei, a hard-hitting Hamed stylist, previously stopped world-rated Bruno Tarimo last December. He is worth watching. Continue reading “Takei, 7-0, 7 KOs, sinks Filipino champ Baldonado”

Fight week officially kicked off Tuesday as undefeated welterweight champions Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford made their grand arrivals at MGM Grand before they meet this Saturday, July 29 headlining a Showtime PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Errol Spence: “It would be a dream come true to become the first welterweight undisputed champion of the world in the four-belt era. I watched all the great fighters as a kid. Now, I get to have my moment. I want the bright lights and the glory… He’s in his prime. I’m in my prime. We are the two best fighters in the welterweight division. The winner of the fight on Saturday night will be the best fighter in boxing.”

Terence Crawford: “It’s going to be even sweeter to win the undisputed championship for the second time. That’s why we take the chances we take. That’s why we fight the way we fight. This is a fight that the world’s been craving. My name is already up there with the all-time greatest welterweight fighters. It’s just a matter of going out there on Saturday and putting the cherry on top and furthering my legacy.”

All Star Boxing, Inc presents its 3rd edition of “Panama Fight Night” with an international undercard. In the main event WBA #12, WBO #14 welterweight Derrieck “Pretty Boy” Cuevas (25-1-1, 17 KOs) of Puerto Rico faces local fan favorite Alberto “Metralleta” Mosquera (28-5-2, 16 KOs) in a 10-round contest. The fight will air August 4 on ESPN+ from Coliseo de Combates in Panama City, Panama.

The co-main event will have the vacant WBA gold super middleweight title on the line. #8 ranked contender Uwel Hernandez (15-1 8 KOs) squares off against Rodolfo “Poroto” Juarez (21-8, 15 KOs) of Argentina over 12 rounds. Hernandez, a Cuban residing in Germany will fight abroad for the first time as he aims to capture the most important belt of his young career. Continue reading “Cuevas-Mosquera undercard shaping up”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC- Son of José Sulaimán

The work that the have in life is difficult to measure as it is undoubtedly the most influential element for everything. News keep society informed and educated, commercials and marketing give life and success to products, interviews and segments make histories that create heroes or villains and so on.

Without media coverage, any activity is minimized, and the results of said activity are reflected proportionally.

For example, a product without advertising is unlikely to become a massive success, even though it may be the best on the market.

In a similar way, an event without media coverage will not have the impact or significance it deserves. Continue reading “The media and its evolution”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

“Monster” Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), 121.75, impressively captured the WBC, WBO 122-pound belts when he maintained the pressure from the start, positively threw jabs and combinations and finally caught Stephen Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs), 122, to halt him at 1:14 of the eighth round on Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. It was Naoya’s fourth division belt since he had previously acquired the 108, 115 and 118-pound titles. Inoue, 30, positively kept throwing jabs and stalking the defending champ in every round. Fulton, 29, occasionally attempted counters to the aggressive Japanese, who averted almost all of them and kept stinging lefts to had him bleeding from the nose in round four.

The eighth saw Inoue turn more aggressive, connecting a vicious right to the champ’s face. Stephen almost lost his equilibrium, and Naoya quickly follow it up with a looping left hook. Down he went. Fulton gamely pulled himself up and resumed fighting. Inoue swarmed over him, and cornered him with a flurry of punches. Referee Hector Afu, Panama, declared a halt when Fulton sank again with his back to the corner post. It was his second visit to the deck with the ref coming to his rescue.

The newly crowned champ jubilantly said, “I’m very happy to become the super bantamweight champion. I truly appreciate your supports and contributions to this great event.”

Then, his counterpart WBA, IBF champ Marlon Tapales climbed up to the ring, displaying his belts and facing the new champ Naoya. They will square off soon to unify four belts within this year, hopefully.

Promoter: Ohashi Promotions.

_

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs), 125.75, kept his belt as he whipped Japanese challenger Satoshi Shimizu (11-2, 10 KOs), 125.75, from the outset, accelerated his attack, and dropped him to halt him at 1:08 of the fifth round in a scheduled twelve on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Ramirez, originally from Cuba, previously won the Olympic gold medal twice in 2012 and 2016, and then turned professional afterward. Shimizu, six inches taller at 5’11”, was also an Olympian who acquired the bronze medal in London in 2012.

Ramirez kept battering the slower challenger from all angles, defended himself well with his tight defense and finally accelerated his attack in round five. Robeisy exploded a well-timed left uppercut to the chin, and badly floored him on the deck. Though Shimizu, bleeding from the mouth and nose, barely resumed fighting, the champ swarmed over him to prompt the referee Ramon Pena’s intervention. Continue reading “Ramirez halts Shimizu, keeps WBO 126lb belt”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Hall of Fame Referee Richard Steele broke down Saturday’s Super Fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Steele shared his memories from his Super Fights he refereed back in the day from Hagler-Hearns, Leonard-Hagler and Chavez-Taylor as well as his relationship with the “GOAT” Muhammad Ali. Steele also discussed his undefeated super middleweight from Guatemala, Lester Martinez, who is now trained by Crawford’s trainer BoMac, as well as his Richard Steele Foundation & Boxing Club.

_

Boxing is back HBO, sort of. “The Golden Boy,” a 2-part documentary on ring legend Oscar De La Hoya premieres this week on HBO Max.

_

Golden Boy Promotions announced today the signing of WBA #1 ranked super lightweight Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs), the mandatory WBA challenger to Rolando “Rolly” Romero.

“We are in the business of making world champions, and we will make Ohara Davies one of them under our promotional family,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “He has the grit, determination and bad blood against Romero to fuel him as he campaigns for the WBA world title very soon. Keep an eye out for him!”

Top Rank has announced that IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) will defend his IBF world title against former two-time world title challenger Joet Gonzalez (26-3, 15 KOs) on Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Friday, September 15, at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, hot prospect Xander Zayas (16-0, 10 KOs) takes on Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (21-4, 20 KOs).

Lopez-Gonzalez and Zayas-Valenzuela will be broadcast live on ESPN. The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes an all-Mexico showdown, a U.S. Olympian, and the return of three of Top Rank’s top contenders. Continue reading “Lopez-Gonzalez set for Sept 15”

Star Boxing kept busy over the weekend as top world rated light heavyweight Richie “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (25-1 19 KOs) and cruiserweight Lyubomyr “Demolition Man” Pinchuk (14-4-2, 8 KOs) laced up the gloves in separate shows from different parts of the globe.

In Malambo Colombia, Richie Rivera took on Yuri Mendez (17-9-1, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout, in which Rivera wasted no time slugging away at the outgunned Mendez. A thudding body shot just 54 seconds into round number one, sent Mendez to the canvas, where he remained forcing referee Leonel Mercado to wave off the action. With the TKO victory, Richie Rivera, who is currently rated WBA #6, WBO #6 (at cruiserweight), WBC #8, IBF #11, is looking ahead to landing a world title opportunity in the very near future.

Simultaneously in Washington, Pennsylvania, cruiserweight Lyubomyr Pinchuk and Anthony Holloway (5-4-3, 4 KOs) battled to an eight round draw. Scores were 79-72 Pinchuk, 75-77 Holloway, 76-76 draw.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Stephen Fulton Jr. 122 vs. Naoya Inoue 121.75
(WBO/WBC junior featherweight world titles)

Robeisy Ramirez 125.75 vs. Satoshi Shimizu 125.75
(WBO featherweight world title)

Kanamu Sakama 107.5 vs. Ryu Horikawa 108
Yoshiki Takei 119 vs. Ronnie Baldonado 117.5

Venue: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Promoter: Ohashi Promotions
TV: ESPN+

More Photos

By Miguel Maravilla

It’s been a long time coming for WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud’’ Crawford (39-0, 30 KO’s) from Omaha, Nebraska as he is set to take on WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence (28-0, 22 KO’s) of Dallas, Texas. In a showdown to determine the best welterweight in the world and undisputed champion, Crawford faces Spence Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on Showtime Pay per view.

“This fight is happening at the right time. We’re both prizefighters. All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title,” Terence Crawford said.

After years of waiting for his desired anticipated showdown, Crawford finally gets the opportunity to take on “the Big Fish” Spence. A welterweight matchup reminiscent of the past great fights such as Leonard Hearns, De La Hoya Trinidad, and now it will be Spence vs. Crawford to determine this era’s best welterweight. Continue reading “Crawford: I play to win”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A press conference of the forthcoming WBC, WBO 122-pound title bout between Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue took place on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan, and there happened a controversy on hand-wrapping caused by Fulton’s eloquent trainer Wahid Raheem. He talked long, but people there couldn’t fully understand what he wanted to say. When questioned, Raheem claimed that Inoue’s hand-wrapping should be properly done with fair supervision. Naoya cooly replied, “I fought twenty-four times—all fair and square. They seem a little too nervous and sensitive, and they need not worry about the fairness of this bout.” Hideyuki Ohashi, ex-world champ and Inoue’s manager/promoter” looked frustrated by his comment, and said, “Naoya engaged in nineteen world title bouts, and there were definitely no problems happening.” Continue reading “Handwrap dispute at Fulton-Inoue Press Conference”

Amilcar Vidal Jr bounces back with stoppage win

The pressure was on for Uruguay’s Amilcar Vidal Jr as he returned home to Montevideo following a devastating knockout defeat to Elijah Garcia in March. Last night saw the hometown favorite lock horns with Venezuela’s Domicio Rondon for the vacant South American middleweight title over ten rounds.

Heading into the fight promoter Sampson Lewkowicz made it quite clear that Vidal Jr was under huge pressure to perform following defeat.

“He has to get the win tomorrow night,” Lewkowicz said prior to the fight. “If he can’t beat Rondon then we will have to stop working together, he won’t be able to make it if he can’t win this fight. However, if he can win and look good? We will take him back to America, I still dream of bringing my country its first male world champion.“ Continue reading “Amilcar Vidal Jr bounces back with stoppage win”

Former undisputed lightweight king George Kambosos Jr. and Maxi Hughes spoke about their clash Saturday night in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

George Kambosos: “We won the fight by many rounds. That’s no discredit to Maxi Hughes. He had a couple good rounds. But a couple good rounds don’t win you the fight. We won a majority of the rounds. That’s the reason we chose him. He was a hard test. A lot of guys coming off losses wouldn’t want to take a test like him. This was a hard challenge,. I need to get grittier. He was moving a lot and wasn’t engaging a lot, but that’s the way he fights. We knew he was going to be a tough challenge, but styles make fights. I’ve got to be more gritty with these guys.”

Maxi Hughes: “I’m absolutely devastated. Nobody thought I was supposed to be in George’s league. Tonight, I came and I showed that I should have had my hand raised. I don’t want to take George’s moment. I used my footwork. I made him miss and pay. I landed the cleaner shots. I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, and I will watch it and assess it, but everyone here now knows who Maxi Hughes is.”

WBC #2 super welterweight Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) demolished former world title challenger Patrick Allotey (42-5, 32 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. A Bohachuk right hand put Allotey down face first. He seemed to barely beat the count, but referee Jack Reiss waved it off. Bohachuk retained his WBC Continental Americas title.

Unbeaten featherweight Omar Trinidad (13-0-1, 10 KOs) overpowered Roberto ‘The Ram’ Meza (15-4-1, 8 KOs) over six rounds. Meza down in rounds three and five and Meza’s corner threw in the towel in round six.

In a clash of unbeaten light heavyweights, Umar Dzambekov (6-0, 4 KOs) outpointed Kwame Ritter (10-1, 8 KOs) over eight rounds 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.

Unbeaten super lightweight Cain Sandoval (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped Jose Marruffo (14-12-2, 2 KOs) in round six. Sandoval dropped Marruffo in round two and got a referee’s stoppage in the sixth.

WBA #4 middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (35-5-1, 14 KOs) destroyed Juan Manuel “El Principito” Witt (33-1-2, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. LaManna pressed the action and quickly broke down Witt. The end came in round three. LaManna dropped Witt three times to end it. LaManna claimed the WBA Fedelatin belt. Witt has now lost both fights since returning from a five year layoff. LaManna is also the promoter of this card.

* * *

Heavyweight terror Kristian Prenga (14-1, 14 KOs) needed just 1:22 to lay out Santander Sligado (32-16, 26 KOs) with a right hand in round one.

Unbeaten junior middleweight Justin “Time“ Figueroa (6-0, 5 KOs) pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Jeff “Relentless” Lentz (5-2, 1 KO). Scores were 58-56, 59-55, 59-55.

Super middleweight Nadim Salloum (11-1, 4 KOs) stopped Antonio Ocles (12-13, 3 KOs) in round two.