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Subriel Matías 139.2 vs. Jeremías Ponce 139.6
(IBF junior welterweight title)

Jamal James 146.8 vs. Alberto Palmetta 147
Elvis Rodríguez 139.8 vs. Joseph Adorno 140
Kudratillo Abdukakhorov 146 vs. VeShawn Owens 147
Derrick Jackson 149 vs. Willie Jones 147.8
Mikkel Spencer 139 vs. Margarito Hernandez 140

Venue: The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing
TV: Showtime, Facebook, YouTube

By Robert Coster

The WBA minimumweight unification title bout between WBA super champion Thamamanoon Niyomtrong( 24-0, 9 KOs) of Thailand and regular champion Erick Rosa (5-0, 1 KO) of the Dominican Republic has been called off. The battle between the two unbeaten titleholders was to be held in Thailand on March 1 as part of the WBA world title reduction plan with the winner becoming the only champion of this weight.

The Dominican corner traveled to the Asian country but was not allowed entry. Dominican promoter Belgica Pena explained that they were not provided the necessary documentation. “We are very disappointed by how we have been treated,” said Pena. “Yes, we will fight Niyomtrong, but in the Dominican Republic.”

Stay tuned.

YouTube boxer Jake Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) clashes with Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) for a WBC cruiserweight ranking on an ESPN+ PPV this Sunday from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here are some press conference highlights:

Jake Paul: “I’m so excited for this fight because I can finally silence the critics who have said, ‘Fiight a professional boxer, fight someone your age.’ I agree. I haven’t proven that. But this is why this fight is so big. This is why I’m so excited. This is why I’ve given this guy multiple chances and paid him so much money to finally show up. And it really seemed like the only time he wanted to get into the ring is when I increased the amount of money. So, thankfully he’s here now.”

Tommy Fury: “You’re getting put to sleep inside four rounds. Let me tell you. I’m not an old man. I’m a fresh, young fighter. I’m going to put you away. You had two very lucky escapes from this fight. You should have taken those escapes. You should not be sitting here right now because this is bad for you. You should have stuck to making easy money fighting old men and celebrities. I’m coming to take your head off.”

While Paul-Fury gets top billing, the actual reigning WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) will defend his title against former two-weight world champion Badou Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) in the co-feature.

Ilunga Makabu: “I just want Badou to keep one thing in mind. I’m going to break your nose. I’m going to break your chin. I’m going to break your ribs. Thank you…I’ve been a world champion for many years. I’m a dangerous boxer. There is no way Badou can take my belt. I’ll go back home with the belt and still be the WBC champion of the world.”

Badou Jack: “I’m here to take his belt, to win. I’m here to become the first Muslim fighter to become a world champion in Saudi. So, I am here to make history. Everybody’s got a plan until they get hit. I’m glad that he is confident…I still feel young. I feel fresh. I want to keep going, and I am here to make history. Some people, they win a title in one weight class. I won in two weight classes. Now, I’m coming for the third. And new!”

Unbeaten WBA #2 super flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez (11-0, 8 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision Luis Padilla (15-3-2, 2 KOs) in a bout for the WBA Continental America title on Thursday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91.

Unbeaten super bantamweight “Gucci” Manny Flores (15-0, 11 KOs) took a hard fought eight round split decision against Franklin Gonzalez (25-2, 25 KOs). Flores floored Gonzalez in round five. Scores were 77-74, 77-74 for Flores, 76-75 for Gonzalez.

Other Results:
Grant Flores KO1 Jorge Lopez 151 (super welterweight)
Katherine Lindenmuth W6 Lorraine Villalobos (female atomweight)
Stefanie Cohen W4 Leanne Calderon (female bantamweight)
Zachary Spiller W4 Kaleel Carter heavyweight)

Former female champion Heather “The Heat” Hardy (24-2, 4 KOs) outworked Taynnaa Cardoso (5-2, 1 KO) over eight rounds on Thursday night at Sony Hall in Times Square, New York City. Hardy, 41, took a majority decision to win 76-76, 78-74, 77-75.

Unbeaten former Olympian Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (5-0, 3 KOs) punished Giovanni Gutierrez (11-4, 6 KOs) for three rounds before getting a referee’s stoppage.

Lightweight Terell Bostic (8-1, 1 KO) outpointed Clay Burns (10-17-2, 4 KOs) over six rounds. Burns down in round three. Scores were 58-55, 57-56, 60-53.

Light heavyweight Frederic “French Revolution” Julan (13-2, 10 KOs) topped Decarlo “3medno” Perez (19-7, 6 KOs) over eight rounds by scores of 78-74, 78-74, 79-73.

Super lightweight Michael Hughes (4-1, 1 KO) topped Nelson Morales (3-4, 0 KOs) 39-37 #x.

Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux 118.8 vs. Jesus “Sargento” Martinez 119.6
Ariel Perez De La Torre 122.2 vs. Yonfrez Parejo 122
Damian Lescaille 153.4 vs. Lucas McDonald 149.8
Yoanki Urrutia 160.8 vs. Luis Eduardo Florez 161.6
Carlos Fromenta Romero 203.6 vs. Armondo Reeves 206.6
Jose Brayan Fonteboa 138.8 vs. Ashton Royal 139.6
Adlay Rodriguez 144.2 vs. Ryan Schwartzberg 139.6
Gustavo Trujillo 235.8 vs. Jawaski Bethly 244.4
Francisco Rodriguez 144.8 vs. Brodyx Gilman 149.8

Venue: Hialeah Park, Hialeah, Florida
Promoter: Warriors Boxing
Stream: BXNGTV.COM

Shadow Entertainment(Jenny Do) presents another edition of the LEAD Event series March 25. The show will take place at the Saigon Sports Club, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The card will feature three WBA Asia title fights. The main event has local unbeaten favorite Dinh Hoang Truong (3-0, 3 KOs) versus Dae Huyun Baek (4-1, 3 KOs) of South Korea. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds with Truong’s WBA Asia super middleweight title at stake. Continue reading “Boxing returns to Vietnam March 25”

Looks like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez won’t be fighting in Las Vegas this Cinco de Mayo weekend. The undisputed super middleweight champion announced through his social networks that he will return to fight in Jalisco, Mexico, the state where he was born. The venue, the exact date and his opponent (expected to be John Ryder) will be announced soon.

Former WBA Super world featherweight champion Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters (26-1-1, 21 KOs) makes his long awaited ring return this Saturday in Santa Marta, Colombia. Walters will take on local Luis Diaz Marmol (19-16, 11 KOs) in a scheduled eight round super lightweight bout. The veteran Marmol brings an aggressive style and upset an unbeaten prospect his last time out. The Jamaican-born Panama-based Walters will be fighting for the first time since 2016 but has been actively training for months. Walters also has enlisted the services of well-respected manager Gabriel Barron.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (11-1, 7 KOs) has won 11 fights since losing in his pro debut in August 2019. He is now ready for his first world title opportunity against former world champion Isaac Dogboe for the vacant WBO featherweight world title on Saturday, April 1, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

“Main event. World championship on the line. This is what I have always wanted and have asked for since I became a professional boxer. I see this fight as the perfect stage from which to present my credentials to the world and make the case that I am the best fighter in the featherweight division,” proclaimed Ramirez. Continue reading “Ramirez ready for Dogboe”

By Bob Ryder

The next installment in one of the country’s longest (if not the longest) continuous running boxing promotions continues Saturday night with Night of Knockouts XXV at the MotorCity Hotel-Casino. Promoter, matchmaker Carlos Llinas, who has headed up the promotion since it’s beginning in 2011, is presenting a scheduled 11 bout card featuring 5 six round and 6 four round contests. In one of the feature 6 round bouts Detroit’s Derick Miller, Jr looks to remain unbeaten when he tangles with Eric Abraham. Miller, currently ranked #6 at cruiserweight in the USA by BoxRec.com will carry a (10-0, 6 KOs) record into the match against Abraham (7-15, 3 KOs). Heavyweight Vernon Webber (6-0, 4 KOs) will face his most experienced opponent in Larry Pryor (15-26, 9 KOs) in another feature contest. Continue reading “Long Running Detroit Boxing Series Continues”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #3 super lightweight Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) has been forced to withdraw from a twelve bout with Robert Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) for the WBO Global 140-pound title that was scheduled for Saturday, March 11 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. Paro has been training in Las Vegas and sustained 3mm facial fracture in sparring. Paro said on social media one week ago he had been sparring with undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney. Paro revealed to Fox Sports he hoped to make a speedy recovery and be back in action soon.

“Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.”

WBC Ruling Regarding Conor Benn Issued by WBC Board of Governors: Conor Benn completed his enrollment process in the WBC Clean Boxing Program in February of 2022. Enrollment in the WBC CBP is mandatory for all fighters rated in the top 15 in the WBC Ratings. Accordingly, he was enrolled in the WBC CBP’s out-of-competition anti-doping testing in July of 2022, when the collection of the samples to which the WBC Ruling being announced herein pertains took place.

On August 23, 2022, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Mr. Benn and the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) that the urine “A Sample” collected from him on July 25, 2022, in connection with his participation in the WBC/VADA anti-doping testing program yielded an adverse analytical finding for Clomiphene and its hydroxymetabolites MI and M2. Continue reading “WBC reinstates Conor Benn”

Unbeaten super middleweight Richard VanSiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) and Manuel Gallegos (20-1-1, 17 KOs) battled to a draw over ten rounds on Wednesday night at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Scores were 96-94 Gallegos, 95-95, 95-95.

Former world title challenger Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (27-3, 10 KOs) closed out the night with an eight round 80-72 3x shut out of Edward Ulloa Diaz (13-5, 10 KOs).

All six bouts on the card went the full distance.

Other Results:
Darrelle Valsaint W6 Lucas de Abreu (super middleweight)
Marques Valle W6 Jarrod Tennant 154 (super welterweight)
Najee Lopez W6 Cristian Fabian Rios (light heavyweight)
Derek Cintron W4 Dario Guerrero (light heavyweight)

Scrappy Ramirez 114.8 vs. Luis Padilla 115
(WBA Continental America super flyweight title)

Manuel Flores 119.6 vs. Franklin Gonzalez 120
Lorraine Villalobos 103 vs. Katherine Lindenmuth 102.2
Grant Flores 149.8 vs. Jorge Lopez 151
Stefanie Cohen 116.6 vs. Leanne Calderon 117.2
Zachary Spiller 265.4 vs. Kaleel Carter 227

Venue: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Heather Hardy 134 vs. Taynnaa Cardoso 133.6
Tsendbaatar Erdenebat 134.4 vs. Giovanni Gutierrez 134.8
Frederic Julan 174.6 vs. Decarlo Perez 174
Michael Hughes 140.2 vs. Nelson Morales 141.8
Terell Bostic 137.6 vs. Clay Burns 135.2

Venue: Sony Hall, Times Square, New York City
Promoter: BoxingInsider
TV: YouTube (free stream)

Abella Boxing Promotions is back with their third show, Bergen County Fight Night 3, set to go down April 1 at The Terrace & Biagio’s Ristorante in Paramus, New Jersey. In the main event, super lightweight Nicky “The Bull” Vitone (9-1-1, 7 KOs) faces an opponent to be named later in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Also featured in six-rounders are super welterweight Mike “The Champ” Lee (9-2, 7 KOs) against southpaw Adam Kipenga (11-3-1, 7 KOs), super bantamweight John “Bodyshot” Leonardo (9-1-1, 4 KOs) against TBA, super featherweight Raymond “The Scientist” Cuadrado (5-0, 1 KO) against Usiel Hernandez (2-1, 0 KOs), and lightweight Terell Bostic (7-1, 1 KO) against TBA. Continue reading “Bergen County Fight Night 3 set for April 1”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

On February 20th, but 30 years ago, the world of boxing experienced one of the most important, spectacular and memorable events in its history when Julio César Chávez, the great Mexican champion, packed Azteca Stadium with 136,274 fans, acquiring the Guinness Record for the boxing card with the highest number of tickets sold in what was an unforgettable day for all of us who were fortunate enough to be there, or to see the complete feat on television.

Chávez TKOd Greg Haugen in five rounds, and here is the link for the exclusive note with a lot of information and special photos: https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-60-30-anos-de-poker-de-ases-chavez-vs-haugen/

This incredible event from 30 years ago inspired me to write my column of today. Continue reading “It’s Now or Never”

ProBox TV have added another big name to their lineup, with former super lightweight champion Chris Algieri coming in alongside Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Manuel Marquez on the newly launched apps broadcasts.

Algieri, who has featured prominently in an analyst role on numerous networks, gave his take on ProBox TV product.

“ProBox TV is exactly what boxing has been missing and desperately needs,” said Algeiri. “Competitive fights between hungry and talented fighters. I grew up only seeing good competitive scraps on TV. Nowadays that is so rare the case that every decent fight is touted as “fight of the year candidate”. From what I’ve seen thus far ProBoxTV only has competitive fights. There ain’t no easy touches here. Continue reading “Chris Algieri joins ProBox TV”

Manuel Gallegos 168.8 vs. Richard VanSiclen 169.4
Darrelle Valsaint 162.8 vs. Lucas de Abreu 163.4
Jimmy ‘Kilrain’ Kelly 161.2 vs. Edward Ulloa Diaz 160
Marques Valle 154 vs. Jarrod Tennant 154
Najee Lopez 173.2 vs. Cristian Fabian Rios 171
Derek Cintron 171 vs. Dario Guerrero 169.4

Venue: ProBox Events Center, Plant City, Florida
Promoter: ProBox
TV: Watch ProBox TV Events for free (no sign-up required) live on Facebook/YouTube in English and Spanish. Enjoy ProBoxTV ad free on ProBoxTV.com for $1.99/month.

Photos: Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Sports

Former world. champion Guillermo Rigondeaux meets the press before his comeback fight on Friday in Miami.

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Former unified female super featherweight beltholder Mikaela Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs) is fighting back in the U.K. for the second time in a row. Mayer will make her lightweight debut against former two-time super lightweight world champion Christina ‘Medusa’ Linardatou (14-2, 6 KOs) on April 15 at Copper Box Arena in London. Mayer-Linardatou will serve as the co-feature to the WBO interim heavyweight title clash between undefeated British knockout artist Joe Joyce and Chinese contender Zhilei Zhang.

Promoted by Queensberry Promotions, the event will be broadcast live in the U.K. on BT Sport and streamed live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

“Mikaela Mayer made such a big hit in the UK that it only made sense to for her to fight across the pond again,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Mikaela is still one of the very best fighters in the world, and she demanded a tough fight for her lightweight debut. Linardatou has proven herself at the world-class level and should give Mikaela a run for her money.”

Former three-time world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-3-1, 13 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time in almost one year when he takes on veteran Jesus Martinez (33-17-1, 16 KOs) in the 10-round bantamweight main event at Hialeah Park on Friday. Rigo, whose last bout was a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Vincent Astrolabio on February 26, 2022 in Dubai, has been sidelined since suffering severe facial burns and eye injuries in a freak kitchen accident at his home in Miami nine months ago. Continue reading “Rigondeaux opponent officially named”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) is worried that WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) could pull out of their bout with a convenient injury. Their fight is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 (Saturday March 11 in USA) for the WBO interim title at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV and Showtime in the USA.

“If anything happens … if Tim pulls out with a hand injury, it’s a fraud,” Harrison said to Fox Sports’ Ben Damon. “He’s a fraud. And I think the world will consider him a fraud. Because we all know that he found a way to wiggle out of fighting Tony Harrison.”

Harrison says if the roles were reversed, this fight wouldn’t be happening. Continue reading “Harrison: Tzsyu could pull out”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs) is having a shoulder operation soon and will be finalizing details of his first world title defense against the IBF mandatory contender Mateusz Masternak (47-5, 31 KOs).

“We have finally pinpointed the problem and now have another surgery to get done,” Opetaia told the Samoan Global News. “It’s very frustrating to be held back by these small things we can’t control but I will be back better and stronger and I will be coming to collect the rest of my belts!!”

Opetaia should be defending the IBF cruiserweight title in June in Australia or the UK. Continue reading “Opetaia facing shoulder operation”