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IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez and challenger Michael Conlan faced off at the final press conference before their clash on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The bout can be seen on ESPN+ in the U.S. and BT Sport in the UK.

Luis Alberto Lopez: “I have already beaten up all the prospects and fighters Top Rank have given to me so, on this Saturday night, I want to prove to everyone that I am a true champion and, after beating Michael Conlan, I will go for the next world champs. I am used to this type of environment, I am used to traveling and this is my third time here in the UK. Everybody wants to see me lose but, don’t forget, I am the world champion. Every time they tell me that I am going to lose, that I am going to be knocked out, but when I jump into the ring there are two of us and I am used to it. I am going to be taking the victory.”

Michael Conlan: “I’m just excited, really excited about Saturday night. I thank Luis for coming to Belfast, I appreciate it, but on Saturday night I will be champion. I have experienced a lot of atmospheres throughout my career now, very mad, crazy atmospheres and Saturday night will be no different. I know how to handle it now. He plans to end it quickly, but I know he has changed trainers a few times during this training camp and there are probably things going on with him. I don’t think he truly believes that, he is saying it for the cameras and that is ok, no problem. I respect him as a fighter, I respect his opinion, but on Saturday night I will be champion. I am expecting the best Luis Alberto, he is going to bring everything and try and come in and knock me out. I am prepared for everything he is going to do, I have ticked every box I need to tick and I am very confident going into this fight. It is a pleasure to have this in Belfast, but I know it doesn’t mean too much because Luis travels well. I believe on Saturday night it will be ‘and the new.’”

Unified WBC/WBO/IBF light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) will defend his belts against WBC #1 contender Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday, August 19 at Videotron Centre in Québec City, Canada. The bout will air live on ESPN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Artur Beterbiev: “Québec is my second home, so I’m very happy to finally defend my titles on home turf. When you are world champion, everyone wants the opportunity to take your belt, and that’s especially true in my case, with three titles at stake. I’ve already started my training camp, and I’ll be ready to not only defend my belts, but to also put on an impressive show August 19.”

Callum Smith: “I’m excited to finally get my opportunity to become a two-weight world champion. I’m no stranger to fighting on away soil, having boxed in Saudi Arabia twice, across America, and now heading to Canada on August 19. There was no hesitation from me going to Canada to fight Artur Beterbiev, and I will be returning to Liverpool as a world champion once more.”

The full card for the Beterbiev-Smith event, which will also feature undefeated super middleweight Christian Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs) and heavyweight puncher Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs), will be announced shortly.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that lightweight Adam Kipenga (11-3-1, 7 KOs) will now take on unbeaten Ashton “H2O” Sylve (8-0, 8 KOs) in Most Valuable Prospects’ headlining bout for its inaugural event this Friday night on DAZN from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Kipenga will replace Angel Rebollar who was forced to pull out due to an eye injury.

Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood faced off at the final press conference ahead of their WBA featherweight world title rematch on Saturday night in Manchester, England.

Middleweight Liam Smith has further postponed his rematch with bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr in order to recover from a minor but nagging injury which has dogged his training camp. After their fight in January, the rematch was originally slated for June 17, then postponed to July 1. A new date for the rescheduled Smith-Eubank II bout will be announced shortly.

The July 1 BOXXER card at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, will now be headlined by Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KOs) moving up to challenge undisputed women’s super middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-1, 2 KOs). Every fan in the arena in July 1 will receive a free food and beverage voucher – plus priority access and discount for rescheduled Smith vs Eubank II event.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was at ringside to see former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker score a knockout in the opening round against Faiga Opelu at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“I think it was a great performance,” said Fury to the SMH newspaper. “It just shows how hard Joseph is working in the gym. I’ve always been saying this, there are a lot of levels in boxing, he’s a world heavyweight champion former, and he’s going to get back up there again in my opinion….I’d like to see him fight a rematch with Andy Ruiz or Joe Joyce. Maybe Dillian Whyte or AJ.” Fury has ruled out ever fighting Parker himself due to their friendship.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

As expected, former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs) obliterated Faiga “Django” Opelu (15-4-2, 11 KOs) on Wednesday night at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. With WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury looking on, Parker quickly dropped Opelu and got a referee’s stoppage at 1:29 on round one.

Unbeaten super welterweight Nikita Tszyu (6-0, 5 KOs), son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and younger brother of current WBO interim super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu, stopped Ben Bommber (5-1, 4 KOs) in the first round. Time was 2:09.

Ben Horn (5-6, 0 KOs), brother of former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, upset previously unbeaten Joel Taylor (9-1, 4 KOs) by six round unanimous decision. Taylor down in round one. Scores were 57-56, 57-56, 58-55.

Cruiserweight David Nyika (6-0, 5 KOs), a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, got a referee’s stoppage against Louis Marsters (3-5, 2 KOs) in round four. Nyika previously stopped Marsters in two rounds.

Hall of Fame boxing analyst and trainer Teddy Atlas has again called for the establishment of a federal boxing commission and posted an online petition in its support. Atlas also announced that his team will be presenting the petition and sharing their concerns with several elected officials to advance this issue before Congress.

“Recent nationally televised professional boxing events have shown a spotlight on unacceptable performances inside and around the ring by officials appointed to maintain the integrity and consumer confidence of the sport,” said Atlas. “While I recognize the human element is naturally fallible, I cannot, and I think many who love the sport of boxing agree, that this should be acceptable. The fighters who sacrifice so much in their training and risk their well-being inside the ring, deserve accountability and consequences for the actions, or inaction, by those responsible for the health and safety of the fighters. Officiating in boxing — from the commission to the referees, judges, inspectors, et al. — need to recognize this and step up. It’s time for the entire process to be overhauled and elevated to the same standard of major league sports.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury could be in action in Australia this summer against unbeaten WBO #11, IBF #11 contender Dempsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs) according to Australian promoter Angelo DiCarlo.

“Chats began some time ago for Demsey to fight Tyson Fury in Australia and I think Demsey is the best option for the Gypsy King,” Di Carlo told News Corp. “We’re certainly keen to do the fight. We’ve had a good association with Matchroom (McKean’s promoter) and we have great respect for Eddie Hearn, but I’ll have more talks with Fury’s camp and see where that takes us.

“If Tyson Fury wants to fight in Australia, the logical option is to fight an Aussie fighter and talking to Fury’s people, they don’t want to fight a small heavyweight. Demsey and Justis [Huni] are Australia’s best heavyweights, but Demsey is 6’6 and being a southpaw, he would present a real test for Tyson. We’ve been given a possible date to fight Fury in August, so hopefully we can make it happen.”

We’ve been down this road before, but the latest buzz is WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and WBC/WBA/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. will collide for the undisputed world welterweight title on July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. There will also reportedly be a rematch clause that can be triggered by either fighter. Spence was penciled in to face Keith Thurman at junior middleweight, but that bout would be scuttled if Crawford-Spence is actually happening. Stay tuned.

Full slate of boxing action this Saturday. Here are the current odds:

Hometown hero Michael Conlan is a slight -128 favorite to dethrone current IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez on ESPN+ from the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

WBA featherweight champion Mauricio Lara is a 3:1 favorite to repeat his win over former champ Leigh Wood on DAZN from the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

WBO cruiserweight champion Laurence Okolie is better than a 3:1 pick over #1 rated Chris Billam-Smith on FITE+ from Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England.

WBO #1 welterweight Alexis Rocha is a wide 14:1 pick against WBO #10 rated Anthony Young on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Also on that card, WBO minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem is better than a 2:1 favorite against WBO #1 Oscar Collazo.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Photos: Werner Kalin

Joseph Parker 239.9 vs. Faiga “Django” Opelu 214.8
Nikita Tszyu 153 vs. Benjamin Bommber 155
Cameron Mooney 215.2 vs. Tom Bellchambers 267.2
Joel Taylor 149.7 vs. Ben Horn 150.4
David Nyika 199 vs. Louis Marsters 199.3
Campbell Somerville 153 vs. Isaias Sette 152.4
Jayde Mitchell 175.3 vs. Max Reeves 172.4
Luke Gersbeck 151.7 vs. Jack Moore 151.2

Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Promoter: No Limit
TV: PPV

More Photos

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán – WBC President

This past weekend, the boxing world enjoyed two fights of the highest level of importance, quality and emotion.

On one hand, Katie Taylor, Olympic champion and undisputed lightweight champion, fought for the first time at home, in front her people in Dublin, Ireland, against undisputed super lightweight world champion Chantelle Cameron of England. Two undefeated, undisputed champions and holders of the four belts of both divisions.

On the other hand, at the MGM in Las Vegas, the undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney, from the United States, fought against the two-time Olympic champion and former world champion in three divisions, Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko.

Both fights were in front of completely packed arenas, and they resulted in very close fights, Razor-thin decisions, but with the best possible quality, both technically and emotionally, as well as dramatic. It was up to the judges to determine the winner, and as often happens in our beloved sport, whenever there is a close fight, the decision was controversial and opinions were divided among fans and the world’s media, especially in the Haney vs. Lomachenko.

Boxing is bound to be controversial and come under fire from the press and fans whenever there is a big fight, and it turns out to be close. Continue reading “The complex world of boxing scoring”

WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis (28-1 24 KOs) will now defend his world title against Danielito Zorrilla (17-1 13 KOs) on Saturday June 17 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, live worldwide on DAZN. Zorrilla steps in for injured Liam Paro.

Regis Prograis: “I’m glad that Zorrilla has taken the fight. Nothing changes for me; I am still working hard to go out there and prove that I am the best fighter in the world at 140lbs.”

Unbeaten bantamweight Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores (15-0, 11 KOs) will headline his first-ever Golden Boy Fight Night card on Thursday, June 8 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. He will face Walter Santibanes (11-2, 2 KOs) in a ten-rounder that can be seen worldwide on DAZN.

In the co-main event, female boxing veteran and former two-division world champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-12-4, 19 KOs) will return against Calista “Cali” Silgado (21-16-4, 16 KOs) in a ten round featherweight fight.

By Joe Koizumi

Formerly all-WBO three-division champ Kosei Tanaka (19-1, 11 KOs), 116, scored a fine stoppage of WBC#13 Colombian Pablo Carrillo (28-9-2, 17 KOs), 115.75, at 2:43 of the tenth and final round on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan. Having been halted by compatriot Kazuto Ioka in the eighth with his WBO 115-pound belt at stake in 2020, Tanaka, a Sugar Ray Leonard stylist, registered four victories over as many world contenders to his credit. Tanaka took the initiative, maintained the pressure and finally battered the fading Colombian down the stretch with the referee’s well-timed intervention. Currently ranked #3 by both the WBO and the IBF, Tanaka may have an opportunity of a mandatory shot at the newly crowned WBO ruler Junto Nakatani who seized the vacant WBO 115-pound belt in Las Vegas—almost at the same time because of the time difference. Problem is the taller Nakatani is a very puzzling southpaw that can punch with either hand.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has arrived in Australia and will be in attendance on Wednesday night at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne to support close friend and former world champion Joseph Parker (31-3, 21 KOs), who will clash with Faiga “Django” Opelu (15-3-2, 11 KOs) in a ten-rounder for the Commonwealth heavyweight title.

Fury also revealed that he’s considering fighting in Australia himself.

“Over the next few days we’re going to be traveling around to a few different states and looking at some potential venues for my next fight,” Fury told NCA NewsWire. “Australians are always crazy boxing fans, so it would be great to get the Gypsy King Down Under. We’ll find out more over the coming weeks…I’m trying to fight in the UK. I’m trying to fight here. I want to be a heavyweight champion that fights on different continents, not just at home or in America.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Following his victory Saturday night, undisputed lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney talked about defeating three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.

• “The bodywork is what won me the fight tonight. I knew I had to invest in the body. I was breaking him down. He was fighting in spurts. He had some good moments during the round but he wasn’t finishing the round strong.”
• “At the end of the day, people can say what they want to say, but the only thing that matters is what the judges had.”
• “How much more do y’all want me to prove? I have been at 135 since I was 16 years old. I will probably move up.” Continue reading “Haney Postfight Press Conference”

Photos: Emily Harney

Check out this GIANT Haney-Lomachenko photo gallery for some incredible shots. Also includes action from Nakatani-Moloney and Valdez-Lopez.

Photos

By Miguel Maravilla

At the post-fight press conference, Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) talked about his defeat to undisputed lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In a fight that saw Lomachenko do everything possible and in the end he came up short as Haney pulled out a controversial unanimous decision win.

Here is what Loma had to say at the post fight press conference.

“It is what it is, I want to say thank you. Bob, your company gave me a second chance. See you next time…I know I won the fight. I controlled the fight and every round.”

Promoter Bob Arum added, “Everybody was stunned about the score, but I’m not going to comment on the score. I am the promoter.” Continue reading “Lomachenko Postfight Press Conference”

By Miguel Maravilla

Three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko commented on his razor-thin loss to undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“I don’t want to talk about [the decision]. All the people saw what happened today,” said Loma. “Before, I thought he would be better. He’s a tough fighter. He’s a good fighter. But he’s not a pound-for-pound fighter. I think I showed that I can still be in boxing. I’m in good shape now. And see you next time. Right now I want to go back home and support my country and support my Ukrainian orthodox church.”

Former champion Shakur Stevenson was willing to talk about the decision. “Lomachenko should be undisputed champion. He won that fight. He landed the cleaner punches and he pushed the pace,” he stated.

By Miguel Maravilla

All three judges, Tim Cheatham (115-113), Dave Moretti (116-112), David Sutherland (115-113), scored round twelve for undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney. Had Vassiliy Lomachenko won the final round, the bout would have been a draw on two cards (114-114).

While most observers consider round ten to be Loma’s most dominant round, Moretti (116-112) awarded that round to Haney.

Stats according to CompuBox, favored Lomachenko:

Haney-Lomachenko CompuBox Stats

Haney		Lomachenko
27%	TOTAL PUNCHES	22%
405	THROWN	564
110 (50)	LANDED (BODY)	124 (9)
11%	JABS	12%
188	THROWN	250
20	LANDED	29
41%	POWER PUNCHES	30%
217	THROWN	314
90	LANDED	95

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated and undisputed lightweight king Devin “The Dream” Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) retained all of the belts in a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over former three-weight world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Loma started faster than normal. It was a highly tactical fast-paced bout with both fighters having their moments. Loma came on strong down the stretch with clean left hands. In the end, judges had it 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 for Haney. Continue reading “Haney survives Loma, still undisputed”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a clash for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title, undefeated former WBO flyweight champion Junto Nakatani (25-0, 19 KOs) brutally knocked out former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-3, 16 KOs) in the twelfth round on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Nakatani dropped Moloney in round two, round eleven, and then laid him out with moments left in the fight. Time was 2:42. Continue reading “Nakatani KOs Moloney, wins WBO 115lb title”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a rematch of their 2019 battle, former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) dominated Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-5, 6 KOs) over ten rounds in the Haney-Loma co-feature on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Valdez stalked Lopez and landed the harder shots. Valdez nearly stopped Lopez in round ten. Scores were 98-92, 98-91, 97-93. After the fight, Valdez called out WBO super featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete.

WBO #12 lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) of Fontana scored a spectacular second round stoppage over Jeremia Nakathila (23-3, 19 KOs) of Namibia in opening the pay per view telecast. After a slow first round, Muratalla finished off Nakathila in round two, rocking him with a hard right hand, then finishing him off in a corner with a series of unanswered punches. Referee Robert Hoyle stopped the fight at 2:48. Afterward, Muratalla said he wants Devin Haney.

Muhammad Ali’s grandson, middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0-1, 5 KOs), and Danny Rosenberger (13-9-5, 4 KOs) fought to an eight round draw. Rosenberger gave Ali Walsh a tough task. He boxed much of the fight moving side to side while Ali Walsh did what he could to neutralize Rosenberger’s movement. Judges scored the bout 77-75 for Ali Walsh, 77-75 for Rosenberg, and 76-76.

Lightweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs), the son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, scored a second round knockout over Rafael Jasso (3-1, 1 KO). A hard crunching left hook to the body by Vargas did it as Jasso went down and the referee reached a ten count at 1:41.

Las Vegas junior featherweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (9-0, 3 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Luis Saavedra (9-9, 3 KO’s) of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Off to a fast start, Diaz and Saavedra mixed it up in the opening round. Continue reading “Oscar Valdez wins comeback fight”