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Cruiserweight Roman Fury (2-0, 0 KOs), younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, scored a four round decision over Erik Nazaryan (29-33-4, 22 KOs) on Friday night at London’s historic York Hall. The bout was scored 40-36. With no amateur experience, the 6’2 26-year-old Fury is learning on the job.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undefeated WBO interim jr middleweight beltholder Tim Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) and challenger Carlos Ocampo (34-2, 22 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their Showtime-televised clash this weekend at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

Tim Tszyu: “I’ve had these two words of Spanish going through my mind: ‘No más.’ That’s the type of fight I intend to do. That’s my intention [to make him quit]. Charlo is the #1 priority. That’s the name that I want on my resume. As you play in video games, there’s a big boss and you’ve got to get rid of all these little bosses on the way to the big boss. Ocampo is next, but Charlo is the big boss I’ve got my eyes on.”

Carlos Ocampo: “On June 18 he will understand what it is to meet a Mexican. I will beat Tim Tszyu, make no mistake. This has been the best preparation of my career. The sparring was better than that of many world champions and my work won’t be in vain even though I have to go to the other side of the world…we’ll see a war if Tim wants it. And if he doesn’t, I’ll show him what it’s like to have 10,000 people watching him go down at home.”

Teofimo Lopez’s TAKEOVER of the 140lb weight division was a brief one. WBO President Paco Valcarcel has confirmed that Lopez has given up the WBO junior welterweight world championship he won against Josh Taylor last Saturday. “Just now @TeofimoLopez is texting me that he relinquished his jr welterweight title,” tweeted Valcarcel. “We should respect his decision…if he come back, WBO doors will be always open for him.”

The 25-year-old Lopez shockingly announced his retirement this week.

ProBox TV will travel up the I4 to the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida, on Wednesday, July 26 for a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico battle. Puerto Rican super featherweight Orlando “Capu” Gonzalez (20-2, 12 KOs) faces Mexico’s Ramiro “Demon” Cesena (16-1-1, 13 KOs) in a ten rounder in the main event.

By Boxing Bob Newman

Back on November 2015, the boxing world’s version of the heist of the century took place at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY. Six championship belts were stolen in a brazen late night break in, netting two world title belts belonging to Tony Zale and four of Carmen Basilio’s.

Before long, the case went from the local authorities in Canastota and Madison County to the federal level involving the FBI.

Fast forward seven and a half years- a press conference was held today at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announcing the arrests of nine people in connection with a string of thefts involving art, jewelry and sports memorabilia. Continue reading “Arrests Made In 2015 IBHOF Belts Theft”

WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis and challenger Danielito Zorrilla pose after the final press conference for the Matchroom Boxing card taking place on Saturday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. DAZN will stream.

Prograis has insisted all his focus is on Zorrilla, but he also has Teofimo Lopez on his mind.

“I wanted Josh to win so I could fight him again, but now, I just have got to fight Teofimo,” said Prograis. “I know he’s saying he’s retired but I hope he is not. I think that would be a huge fight and we must do it. Continue reading “Prograis-Zorrilla Final Press Conference”

The DAZN-streamed undercard has been finalized for the July 8 clash between undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) and WBA regular welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) taking place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In the chief supporting role, unbeaten lightweight Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (14-0, 11 KOs) will face Haskell “Hackman” Rhodes (28-4-1, 13 KOs) in a ten-rounder. Also on tap are WBA/WBC female flyweight champion Marlen Esparza (13-1, 1 KO) against WBO ruler Gabriela Alaniz (14-0, 6 KOs) in a ten round unification fight, and lightweight Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (32-4-1, 15 KOs) against TBA. Continue reading “Ortiz-Stanionis undercard shaping up”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Cruiserweight Mateusz Masternak has withdrawn from facing IBF world champion Jai Opetaia. The fight was mandated by the IBF and purse bids were ordered only for Masternak’s team to withdraw from negotiations and cancel the purse bid process.

“What a waste of time,” said Opetaia. “He (Masternak) used to be a good fighter, now he’s a has-been. I would’ve retired him. If you don’t want the smoke, why waste the last few months talking shit?”

Opetaia’s manager Michael Francis was equally as scathing. “They’ve really done nothing but stall, duck and dive. They should be embarrassed. If they didn’t want to face Jai they could’ve told us months ago. They’re going to go a much softer route by facing Chris Billam-Smith and now we will negotiate with Boxxer Promotions about bringing Richard Riakporhe to Australia. That’s our intention and having an Aussie smash a Pom always goes down well here. Continue reading “Opetaia-Masternak implodes. Riakporhe next?”

In a slugfest between heavy-handed bantamweights, Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (19-2, 12 KOs) scored a brutal sixth round knockout over Franklin Gonzalez (25-3, 25 KOs) on Wednesday night at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Sanchez pressed the action, while Gonzalez showed good and boxing skills. Both happily exchanged bombs that landed with a resounding thud. Sanchez broke through with a knockdown in round four coming from a body shot. Sanchez dropped Gonzalez three more times with body shots in round six to end it. Time was 2:03.

Lightweight Jonhatan Cardoso (16-1, 15 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten 19-year-old prodigy Oscar Alvarez Jr.(9-1, 7 KOs), who allegedly had 677 amateur fights. Cardoso was credited with a knockdown in round one when he drove the elongated 6’3 Alvarez into the ropes. Cardoso continued to batter and bust up Alvarez with dozens of clean shots and eventually got a referee’s stoppage at 1:56 of the third.

Unbeaten super featherweight Dominic Valle (6-0, 5 KOs) got a referee’s stoppage with one second remaining in the bout against Carlos Rosario (6-2, 3 KOs). Bout waved off at 2:59 of round six.

Welterweight champions Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford wrapped up their two-day press tour in New York City on Wednesday to promote their PPV clash for the undisputed title on July 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Their press conference streamed live on two giant outdoor LED video displays on billboards overlooking Times Square in Midtown Manhattan.

Errol Spence: “I’m the biggest (fish). He’s not catching me with no damn fishing pole. He better come with a submarine. I’m the biggest shark. You ain’t catching Moby Dick with a fishing pole.”

Terence Crawford: “Fish fillet. I like to go fishing. Everyone knows that’s my hobby. They’ve all been caught before. Every last one of them. I got a big enough hook for Errol. We actually already caught him, and we’re reeling him in right now.”

WBC super lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) is a massive 16:1 favorite to successfully defend his green belt against Danielito Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KOs) at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

“It’s not hard to focus because when you fight someone that people say is lesser than you. Those are the dangerous fights and the hard ones as you don’t know what they have got, and you need to perform against them,” said Prograis.

“People do pull off upsets. I’m not looking past him, but you have in your mind that there’s massive fights out there, but I know that I won’t get to them unless I take care of my business on Saturday. So, until then, I don’t think about anyone else because you might not get there. Continue reading “Prograis a heavy favorite to retain title”

2020 Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Frazer Clarke and former heavyweight title challenger Mariusz Wach put on open workouts in central London on Wednesday, Wach powering punches into his padholder’s mitts while Clarke shadow-boxed in the sweltering heat. They collide at York Hall this Friday on Sky Sports in the UK.

Frazer Clarke: “If it goes the distance, it goes the distance. I take this round by round. I’m confident in my ability and I know what I came to do. I want to let people know that I’m here and I mean business. I want titles.”

Mariusz Wach: “I know it’s going to be a tough task but I’m here to win. I know I’m going to get hit with a few solid shots. But I’m not going to back down. I’m here to put on a hell of a show. I want this fight to be remembered.”

Top Rank has announced the full lineup for the July 28 ESPN+ card headlined by WBC and WBA female minimumweight champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) against Leonela Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) on Friday, July 28 at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, unbeaten Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) will take on Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs). In other action, junior lightweight contender Abraham “El Super” Nova (22-1, 15 KOs) will face former world champion Jonathan Romero (35-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Olympian Rohan “El Rayo” Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs) steps up against Cesar “Rainman” Francis (12-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight fight. 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas (14-1, 12 KOs) faces Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight fight, former amateur standout Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4 KOs) will see action in a six-round lightweight tilt, and Subaru Murata (4-0, 4 KOs) returns in a six-round junior featherweight battle.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten southpaw prospect JBC#2 Suzumi Takayama (6-0, 5 KOs), 114.75, impressively seized the vacant Japanese national super-flyweight belt as he battered JBC#1 Ryusei Kawaura (9-2, 6 KOs), 114.75, from pillar to post to prompt the referee’s well-timed intervention at 1:05 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The newly crowned Takayama is the nephew of former world challenger Yuji Watanabe who had unsuccessful title shots against Genaro Hernandez in 1992 and Wilfredo Vazquez in 1997. Like his uncle Suzume can punch, and looks promising. Continue reading “Takayama halts Kawaura, wins Japanese 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten WBO female junior bantam champ Mizuki Hiruta (5-0, 1 KO), 114.5, scored the fastest victory in world title bouts here as she decked a very quick TKO win over Casey Morton (11-4-3, 3 KOs), 114.5, at 1:03 of the opening session to retain her WBO belt in her initial defense on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Hiruta had Morton down no less than four times in 63 seconds to stun the crowd. Probably Casey was too nervous and stiff to move smoothly, absorbing much punishment from Mizuki’s opening attack. Continue reading “Hiruta keeps WBO female 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Boxing Beat

Last weekend witnessed hot action in Osaka, Japan. In an all-southpaw competition Tyson Koki (16-5-3, 13 KOs), 168, acquired the vacant Japanese super-middleweight belt by a unanimous decision (97-93 twice, 98-92) over 45-year-old veteran Yuki Nonaka (35-12-3, 10 KOs), 168, over ten on Saturday. It was a rather close affair, but the younger Koki, fifteen years his junior at 30, connected a solid shot at a time—more effectively than the more experienced campaigner. In the main event of the show, Japanese heavyweight champ Mitsuro Brandon Tajima (6-0, 5 KOs), 280, failed to finish Venezuelan Luis Marin (10-5, 7 KOs), 267, but won a unanimous decision (77-74, 78-73 twice) over eight.

In the night show at the same arena on the same day, WBO Asia Pacific 130-pound champ Masanori Rikiishi (14-1, 9 KOs), 134, finished Panamanian Ricardo Nunez (23-6, 21 KOs), 134, with a wicked body shot for the count at 2:16 of the third round in a scheduled ten.

Promoter: KWORLD3 Promotions (for both shows).

On Sunday, in Kyoto, 40-year-old former world titlist Katsunari Takayama (33-9, 12 KOs), 107.25, returned to action and emerged victorious by a unanimous nod (77-74 twice, 76-75) over Filipino Joel Lino (12-5-1, 5 KOs), 107.5, over eight heats. The ex-champ took a count in the closing seconds of the sixth, but displayed his superior speed and volume of punches down the stretch.

Promoter: Future Promotions.

2016 Italian Olympian Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (10-1-1, 9 KOs) will take on 2012 Canadian Olympian Simon “The Grizzly” Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight battle on Saturday, August 19 at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. Vianello-Kean will serve as the co-feature to the light heavyweight showdown between WBC/WBO/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev and WBC #1 contender Callum “Mundo” Smith.

Beterbiev-Smith and Vianello-Kean will be broadcast live on ESPN. The card will air live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Franklin Gonzalez 124.8 vs. Saul Sanchez 122.2
Oscar Alvarez Jr. 131.6 vs. Jonhatan Cardoso 133
Dominic Valle 129.6 vs. Carlos Rosario 130
Tristan Gallichand 140 vs. Christopher Wingate 140

Venue: ProBox Events Center in Plant City, FL
Promoter: ProBox TV
TV: ProBox TV

The annual Convention of the World Boxing Council in its 61st edition, will take place from November 12 to 17, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Tashkent, which means “City of Stone”, is a city located in the eastern part of the country, very close to the borders with Kazakhstan, Kitghistan and Tajikistan. More details will follow.

At their first in-person meeting since the fight was announced, Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford finally came face-to-face at the kickoff press conference for their July 29 PPV clash for the undisputed welterweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Errol Spence Jr: “Everybody tune in and come out to the fight, because we’re gonna have a Craw-fish boil. And there’s gonna be enough for everybody. I promise you that…Terence hasn’t fought anybody. Even Shawn Porter said he didn’t train like he should against you. Kell Brook was already broken. I broke Kell Brook’s other eye, that’s how he got broke…this is gonna be a one-sided ass whooping. It’s gonna take a few rounds, because he’s a tough dude. But everyone gets broke and we’re gonna break him down.”

Terence Crawford: “He calls himself the big fish. What happens when you take the fish out the water? You suffocate him…I’m gonna gut him and feed him to everyone that eats fish in here. If he’s a big fish, we’re gonna have enough for everyone, with potatoes on the side. We don’t smoke over here, we go hunting for fish fillet…people after this fight are gonna say that Bud Crawford is special. I can assure you that. He’ll give me my respect after the fight after I whoop that ass.”

By Miguel Maravilla

WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, talks about his highly anticipated showdown with WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) from Omaha, Nebraska, on July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on Showtime Pay-Per-View.

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

Boxing is a unique sport. It is an industry very different from that of other sports because there are no teams or leagues with fixed calendars of games or seasons, and it is about independent boxers who are seeking to be someone in life, based on great effort, dedication, and sacrifice. Without boxers there is no sport, there is no boxing.

It is the trainers who teach young boxers dedication, technique, and strategy. Then they discover their abilities and start their career with four-round fights. They all start fighting in modest bouts, club shows organized by the promoters.

Without promoters, there is no boxing. They are its impetus vitality. They all start in the same way as boxers do, organizing small events, selling tickets, going around the city hanging advertisements in gyms, on the streets, looking for sponsorships and risking their money, hoping that their event will at least cover expenses to break even or earn a little money for their next show. Continue reading “Don King, Boxing Eternal Promoter”

By Miguel Maravilla

WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) from Omaha, Nebraska, spoke about his matchup with WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, on July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on Showtime Pay-Per-View.

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Felix “Tuto” Zabala Jr of All Star Boxing, Inc has announced Tuesday Morning a grudge match between welterweight contenders. World ranked WBA #12, WBO #14 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 main event. The fight will air live on Friday, August 4th at 9PM/EST on ESPN+ (USA & Canada) & ESPN Knockout (Latam) from Coliseo de Combates in Panama City, Panama.

“We are happy to be back in Panama City after a successful show this past April 14th,” stated Zabala Jr. “This series billed “Panama Fight Night II” is something we continue to grow with the return of power puncher Derrieck Cuevas who is making noise in the talent filled welterweight division.” Continue reading “Cuevas-Mosquera collide Aug 4”

By Miguel Maravilla

6’3 Mexican lightweight prospect Oscar Alvarez Jr. of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico will be in action Wednesday night when he takes on Jonhatan Cordoso from Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City Florida, live on ProBox TV.

“I am ready physically and mentally, I’m just anxious to get in the ring,” Alvarez Jr. said. “I assure you it will be a great fight. I will represent Mexico and I’m looking for the KO. We are two fighters that go all out, the winners will be the fans.” Continue reading “6’3 lightweight Oscar Alvarez returns”