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The WBA Championships Committee have approved WBA super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales to unify his belt against the July 25 winner of Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton. They also ordered former champ Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Tomoki Kameda to meet in a final eliminator to determine the division’s mandatory challenger.

Tapales dethroned Akhmadaliev last April 8 to win the crown in a controversial and close fight. Matchroom Boxing made a direct rematch request to the WBA and although there are elements that could support it, it is not feasible to do so at this time. Continue reading “WBA: Tapales to fight Inoue-Fulton winner”

#1 WBO ranked featherweight, Joet González (26-3, 15 KO’s) is officially calling out IBF Champion Luis Alberto “Venado” López {28-2. 16 KOs). López is coming off an impressive tko win over Michael Conlan. “It was a great win for Venado Lopez. He’s the one to beat right now. He’s an exciting, aggressive power puncher,’ acknowledges Gonzalez of the Mexicali, Mexico native. ‘He’s being referred to as some kind of monster in our division. But he hasn’t fought anyone like me. He’s never fought anyone at my level. I want that belt and it’s a fight I know I can win. I’ve spoken to my manager Frank Espinoza and I told him I want this fight.”

Espinoza agrees that this would be an excellent matchup. “I think the styles mesh perfectly,” he said. “Their styles combine for a competitive and exciting fight. I think Joet is more technically sound than “Venado” and I think he defeats him.”

Undefeated WBC #2 super welterweight contender Charles ‘Bad News’ Conwell (18-0, 13 KOs), is petitioning the WBC for a world title fight against undisputed world champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs).

Conwell’s manager Mark Habibi stated, “Our understanding is that the WBC will order a rematch between Brian Mendoza and Sebastian Fundora next. We want the WBC to therefore make Charles the mandatory challenger for Jermell Charlo. Alternatively, the WBC can make him the mandatory challenger for the rematch between Mendoza and Fundora and allow him to take an interim fight. It seems like Charlo is just sitting on the belt and Charles is ready now to fight him, Mendoza or Fundora. Continue reading “Conwell camp targets Charlo”

Boxing is back with a vengeance this weekend with loads of ring action including many big names on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

FRIDAY
A $24.99 PPV features four-time world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner faces William “Hutch” Hutchinson at Casino Miami in Miami, Florida. The event is promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Don King and also includes two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Showtime has a ShoBox telecast featuring top-10 ranked light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (10-0, 7 KOs) against Charles Foster (22-0, 12 KOs) in a ten-rounder.

UFC Fightpass super welterweight “King” Callum Walsh (6-0, 5 KOs) against Carson Jones (43-15-3, 31 KOs) at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

SATURDAY
In the first of two DAZN telecasts, undefeated IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs) defends his belt against Andres Campos (15-0, 4 KOs) at Wembley Arena in London.

DAZN returns later with super middleweight Jaime Munguia (41-0, 32 KOs) against Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

ESPN presents WBO junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) defending against former lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. (18-1, 13 KOs) in the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

A $19.99 PPV offers up former bridgerweight title challenger Ryan Rozicki (17-1, 16 KOs) takes on Jean-Jacques Olivier (15-2-1, 10 KOs) at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

SUNDAY
In a $29.99 PPV, Boxing Hall of Famer Floyd “Money” Mayweather faces John Gotti III, the grandson of famous gangster John Gotti, in an exhibition from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida. In another exhibition, heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller will take on Antonio Zepeda.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Once-beaten ex-university amateur Katsuya Yasuda (11-1, 7 KOs), 134.5, struggled to acquire the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight belt as he defeated previously unbeaten Thailander Apichet Petchmanee (15-1, 5 KOs), 134.5, by a unanimous decision (115-113, 116-111, 118-109) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The climax was seen in round four, when Yasuda decked his muscular rival with a southpaw right hook, while Apichet dropped him back with a well-timed straight right to the button moments later. In the championship rounds Yasuda ran out of gas or mental power, repeating clinches time and again. It was Apichet that was penalized a point for throwing the ever-grabbing Japanese to the canvas in the final stanza, but the audience also criticized Yasuda’s repeated holding. The new champ Yasuda’s face was more grotesquely swollen with his absorption of the Thailander’s less aggressive but more effective shots. Continue reading “Yasuda wins vacant WBO AP 135lb belt”

Undisputed women’s middleweight Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) dominated late sub Maricela Cornejo (16-6, 6 KOs), but didn’t get the knockout she wanted in front of a big crowd on Saturday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Shields came out firing, hitting Cornejo at will and winning every minute of every round. However, Cornejo was never in danger of being stopped. Scores were 100-89, 100-90, 100-90.

“I feel great,” said Shields post-victory. “I was landing my shots. I won every round like I knew I could. I went for the knockout how many times this fight? Maricela is tough. She did a great job. Height doesn’t matter and power doesn’t matter either. It’s all about the skills and will and heart, and I always have more than the other girls.” Continue reading “Shields shuts out Cornejo”

43-year-old former heavyweight title challenger Mariusz “Viking” Wach (37-9, 20 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Jakub Sosiński (8-3-1, 3 KOs) in a tune-up bout on Saturday night in Katy Wroclawskie, Poland. The 6’8 Wach is scheduled to face 2020 Olympic medalist Frazer Clarke in London on June 16.

Unified WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) has signed a multi-fight deal with Saudi Arabian-based promotional company Skill Challenge Promotions (SCP). The outfit was established by Prince Khaled bin AbdulAziz in 2023.  Usyk recently fought in The Kingdom in August 2022 defeating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision to retain his belts in their rematch hosted by Skill Challenge Entertainment and The Ministry of Sport.

“It is great honor and joy for me to return to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Usyk stated during the press announcement in Riyadh. “It’s an excellent opportunity to work with His Highness Prince Khaled and to reach our team’s goal to claim the WBC heavyweight champion title to become the undisputed champion. I haven’t got any big plans, like a samurai I have the way… the way I walk.”

The first order of business is Usyk’s defense against Daniel Dubois in August 2023. After that, the goal is Tyson Fury for the undisputed belt.

Yesterday it was reported that WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis was taken into custody will serve the remainder of his sentence (about 60 days) in jail. Details were rather sparse on what violations Tank had actually made.

According to the Baltimore Banner, the Court had approved the home of Davis’ trainer Calvin Ford as the location of Tank’s house arrest. However accommodations at Ford’s house were a bit tight, so Tank relocated temporarily to the Four Seasons Hotel and then into a $3.4 million high-rise penthouse he recently purchased.

Because Davis changed his location without the court’s permission, the judge revoked Davis’ house arrest and ordered him spend to spend the rest of his sentence in jail.

Super welterweight Rodolfo Orozco (32-3-3, 24 KOs) of Sinaloa, Mexico stopped countryman and local favorite Elian Trejo (8-3, 5 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico by TKO in round four of their scheduled for eight round main event on Friday night at the Salon Villia Flamingos in Mexico City. Trejo came out strong in round one, rocking Orozco multiple times. Orozco settled in over the next few rounds en route to stopping Trejo early in round four.

Jonathan Rodriquez 118 vs. Brian Cannady 118
(WBC US silver bantamweight title)

Francis Oran 212 vs. Raphael Carolina 212
Joel Flores 133 vs. Hakim Smith 134
Thanjhae Teasley 147 vs. Benjamin Lamptey 146

Venue: Parkview Inn in Allentown, PA
Promoter: Jeter Promotions

Claressa Shields 159.6 vs. Maricela Cornejo 155
(undisputed women’s middleweight title)

Ardreal Holmes Jr 153.4 vs. Wendy Toussaint 149.8
Da’velle Smith 160.6 vs. K.J. Woods 159.8
Joseph Hicks 159.4 vs. Antonio Todd 158.2
Marlon Harrington 152.8 vs. Gheith Mohammed 152.2
Joshua James Pagan 139.4 vs. Ronnell Burnett 137.4
Vernon Webber 197.4 vs. Fernando Almeida 197.4
Sarah Liegmann 124.6 vs. Carisse Brown 125.8

Venue: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Promoter: Salita Promotions
TV: DAZN

WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) will battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event on Showtime June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Carlos Adames: “I’ve trained hard for this fight and I’m ready to defend my interim WBC middleweight title against Julian Williams, who we all know is a very tough fighter. I’ve worked tirelessly to earn my way in the sport and I’m ready to prove I belong at the top of the middleweight division.”

Julian Williams: “Training has been going great and I’m extremely well-prepared for this fight,” said Williams. “I’ve just been grinding and making the best of everything that I have. I haven’t seen that much of him, so I’m preparing for anything Adames can bring.”

The Showtime telecast will also feature super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (24-2, 17 KOs) and Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-3-1, 9 KOs) squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Continue reading “Adames, J-Rock Quotes”

Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya has hit back at lightweight star Ryan Garcia on social media.

Oscar De La Hoya: “It’s been almost two months and you’re still crying about the post presser? The blame for your loss is on YOU and your “advisor” Lupe. He is the only one who pushed you to accept that INSANE rehydration clause and THAT is the reason you lost. Man up. Own that.

“Also, you keep saying ‘Tank’s team offered more support for you.’ blah blah blah. Bro they SET YOU UP TO LOSE with that rehydration clause and most importantly…AL HAYMON DIDN’T EVEN SHOW UP THE ENTIRE WEEK. Actually, he NEVER shows up. How’s that for ‘support’???”

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis is now in custody in the city of Baltimore for an alleged violation a 90-day house arrest sentence meted out for a hit and run incident. He will serve the remainder of the sentence (about 60 days) in jail.

Undefeated WBC #2, WBA #2, WBO #2, IBF #8 super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan (30-0, 21 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jose de Jesus Macias (28-12-4, 14 KOs) on Thursday night at Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada. Macias surprisingly gave 9:1 favorite Bazinyan all he could handle. In round seven, he He rocked Bazinyan and nearly finished him. Bazinyan had his moments also and probably did enough to win – but certainly didn’t deliver a performance worthy of the world’s #2 168-pounder. Scores of 97-93, 98-92, 98-92 heavily supported the local fighter.

Junior welterweight Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) scored a third round KO over former world champion Alberto Machado (23-4, 19 KOs). Claggett dropped Machado twice in round three to end it. Time was 2:29. Claggett claimed the NABF 140lb title.

Other Results:
Avery Martin Duval TKO3 Andres Sanchez Ramirez (junior lightweight)
Thomas Chabot W8 Luis Bolanos Lopez (featherweight)
Alexandre Gaumont TKO2 Piotr Bis (middleweight)

Unbeaten light heavyweights Clay Waterman (10-0, 8 KOs) and Kenmon Evans (10-0-1, 3 KOs) will square off in a new SHOBOX: The New Generation eight-round telecast opener as the popular prospect series returns to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y., during International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend on Friday, June 9 live on SHOWTIME. Waterman-Evans replaces a super lightweight clash between Ryan Martin (25-2, 15 KOs) and Mykquan Williams (19-0-1, 8 KOs) after Martin pulled out due to personal reasons.

That means every fighter on the telecast will be unbeaten. Top-10 ranked light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (10-0, 7 KOs) Charles Foster (22-0, 12 KOs) in the main event, super middleweight Richard Vansiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) meets Juan Carrillo (10-0, 8 KOs).

Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

After a very late night of fun and celebration, the closing meeting of the 38th annual IBF convention began and ended in seemingly record time.

With a slated 9:30 a.m. start time, all was said and done by 10:03! President Daryl Peoples began by thanking all who made the journeys from their homes near and far. “We appreciate the commitment required to come the convention every year. But we are a family and that makes it worthwhile.” Peoples also reiterated the appreciation for the tireless work ethic.and dedication behind the scenes of the three women who run the offices of the IBF: Tracey Lundy, Ruth Jimenez and Jeanette Salazar. Salazar took a well deserved seat at the board table, along side Peoples. Continue reading “38th Annual IBF Convention Officially Closes”

Unbeaten heavyweight contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-0-1, 22 KOs) will take on fellow unbeaten 6’6, 270lb Antonio Zepeda (6-0, 6 KOs) on the PPV undercard of Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. John Gotti III (the grandson of famous mob boss John Gotti) on Sunday, June 11 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Miller-Zepeda will be a four round exhibition and therefore both 0s will be preserved.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten formerly 13-time amateur national champ Hayato Tsutsumi (3-0, no KO), 125.75, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF featherweight belt as he outlegged and outpunched hard-punching Filipino Jeo Santisima (22-6, 19 KOs), 124.75, to pound out a unanimous decision (120-108, 119-109, 118-110) over twelve fast rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Hayato, whose amateur mark was 88-6, 26 stoppages, utilized faster and more accurate jabs and his versatile mobility all night to confuse the power-punching Filipino. The final session saw Tsutsumi, 23, lopsidedly batter him to have him in great trouble, though Santisima gamely refused to go down until the end. Tsutsumi is a talented speedster whose future may be bright. Continue reading “Tsutsumi wins OPBF 126lb belt in his third pro bout”

Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

The unofficial end of the IBF 38th annual convention in Chicago came with the annual awards dinner tonight in the International Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel. Scottish ring announcer Craig Stephen conducted the affair with stylish aplomb. The awards were as follows:

Jersey Joe Walcott Award
Naoya Inoue- In spectacular fashion, Inoue unified the Bantamweight division with a second-round knockout win over Nonito Donaire. Naoya won the IBF title in 2019 and defended six times. Accepting the award for Inoue was Masatoshi Ueda.

Female Fighter of the Year
Chantelle Cameron who unified the Female Jr. Welterweight division. Accepting the award for Cameron was Matchroom’s Tom Dallas.

Fight of the Year
IBF– Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Hector Flores (Vacant Jr. Flyweight title)
Female – Katie Taylor vs. Amada Serrano (Undisputed Lightweight title)
Intercontinental – Mark Heffron vs. Lennox Clarke (Super Middleweight)
USBA – Robeisy Ramirez vs. Abraham Nova (Featherweight)

Continue reading “IBF 38th Annual Awards Banquet”

Boxing will be back at The Troubadour Nashville on Tuesday night with Country Box 4. The first three installments have been a huge success as top boxing prospects were been able to ply their trade, while the sold-out crowds have been treated to concerts featuring Country Music heavyweights Leon Evertette, Clayton Q and Adam Warner.

Country Box is the brainchild of longtime boxing manager turned promoter Jimmy Adams, who guided fighters like Oliver McCall, Greg Page, Tony Tucker, Robert Daniels, Steve Cunningham, Bert Cooper and Sharmba Mitchell. Continue reading “Country Box back in Nashville”

“We have always pursued high-profile fighters like Golovkin and Charlo and those fights haven’t materialized due to circumstances that are out of our control.”

Unbeaten former junior middleweight world Champion Jaime Munguia (41-0, 32 KOs) hosted a media workout today to promote his 10-round super middleweight clash against Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs) on June 10 at Toyota Arena, in Ontario, California.

The event was hosted at Munguia’s training gym in Big Bear Lake and was attended by Golden Boy Chairman and CEO, Oscar De La Hoya.

Jaime Munguia: “Derevyanchenko is a tough fighter. He is someone who has gone to the ring and gone the distance with high profile fighters. No one has been able to knock him down and I think this fight and a victory against Derevyanchenko will show everyone that I am ready for any challenge.” Continue reading “Munguia: I am ready for any challenge”

Medical Seminar, Judges Seminar and Ratings Meeting

Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

Day 2 of the seminars at the 38th IBF annual convention in Chicago kicked off with the medical seminar. Doctors Rick Weinstein and Massimiliano Bianco were the presenters.

Dr. Bianco, who practices sports medicine at Catholic University in Rome, Italy, gave a talk entitled “Sudden Death In Athletes.” Continue reading “IBF 38th Annual Convention Day 2 Report”

AN OPEN LETTER FROM SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ TO EDDY REYNOSO

Dear Eddy Reynoso,

Since you have chosen to conduct our negotiations for David Benavidez to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in public, I’m forced to correct a few mistakes you made in claiming you haven’t received any offers.

On Monday May 29 at 4:45 pm, I emailed you what I’m sure would be one of the most lucrative offers of Canelo Alverez’s career to face Benavidez.

Please know that you do indeed have an offer to face Benavidez, a sizeable one, and I must tell you that I’m offended by your claim that I’m “fantasizing” about making this fight happen.

If you are also unable to find this open letter and no one tells you about it, would anyone who knows him please let Eddy know that I will send this same offer any time for him to communicate to Canelo Alvarez.

All he needs to do is provide a working email address, apparently.

Sincerely,
Sampson Lewkowicz