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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

The official Spence-Crawford announcement just dropped.

Who: Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford
What: Undisputed welterweight championship
When: Saturday, July 29
Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
How: Showtime PPV, price is TBA.

– Tickets: Pre-sale tickets are available tomorrow, Thursday, June 1 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: BOXING

– Public on-sale begins Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com.

– The event is promoted by Man Down Promotions, TBC Promotions and TGB Promotions.

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard

Undisputed female middleweight world champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields and #1 rated contender Maricela Cornejo went face-to-face for the first time on Wednesday at the final press conference before they meet in the ring this Saturday, June 3 from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and streamed live on DAZN in the U.S. and Canada.

Maricela Cornejo on why she feels ready for this fight: “We were just about ending the camp for my fight. So, my fight was scheduled three days after this one. It was perfect timing. I couldn’t have said, no.  This is the week that I peak. Everything lined up so perfectly that I couldn’t say no.”

Cornejo on what she thought of the Marshall fight against Shields: “As I was watching the Marshall and Shields fight, I was saying to myself, ‘What is she doing?!’ With the style of fighting (Marshall) took to her, I was confused by that. It wasn’t working. Everything about that fight is going to be completely different with me. What exactly is it? On fight night, you will see.”

Claressa Shields on the theme that motivated her through this camp: “I want a knockout! That’s my motivation. 13-0, 2 KOs should actually be 4 KOs because I beat some of these girls so bad that I can’t believe the refs let some of these fights go on. So, I feel like I should be 13-0, 4 KOs. If I can come out here and dominate these girls, why aren’t they going to sleep? Why? So, that’s how I keep it interesting to me.”

Dmitry Salita on the last minute replacement for Hanna Gabriels as Clarissa’s opponent: “We had to find the best available opponent out there. In boxing, there’s a saying, ‘When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.’ We went to the top of the list with the number one contender, Maricela Cornejo.”

Erik Bazinyan 168 vs. Jose De Jesus Macias 168
(NABA super middleweight title)

Steve Claggett 139.8 vs. Alberto Machado 139.6
(NABF super lightweight title)

Avery Martin Duval 130 vs. Andres Sanchez Ramirez 128.4
Thomas Chabot 159.4 vs. Luis Bolanos Lopez 159.6
Alexandre Gaumont 159.4 vs. Piotr Bis 159.6
Heriberto Santillan 157 vs. Christopher Guerrero 156.4
Wilkens Mathieu 167.8 vs. Jesus Frias Rodriguez 166.2
Jhon Orobio 131 vs. Reymundo Guttierez 136

Venue: Cabaret du Casino, Montréal
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: ESPN+

The WBA Championships Committee has ordered a mandatory defense WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood against Otabek Kholmatov. Wood just defeated Mauricio Lara last Saturday to win the 126-pound belt and now he must face the division’s mandatory challenger. Wood-Kholmatov is due no later than September 26. A 30-day period started on Tuesday, May 30 and will run until next June 29. If no agreement is reached, or if either party expresses unwillingness to negotiate, the Championships Committee may call for a purse bid.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO interim junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu was reportedly back in the gym on Wednesday after being bitten by a dog over the weekend. According to Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu received 26 stitches on his right forearm. The dog was reported to be a bull terrier.

Tszyu (20-0, 16 KOs) is scheduled to fight WBO #11 contender Carlos Ocampo Carlos Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) on June 18 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre at Broadbeach, Queensland televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports Pay-Per-View and Showtime in the USA. Tszyu and his team say the fight is still a go.

“I think this is a tougher fight (than Harrison),” Tszyu told Fox Sports. “It’s going to be a standoff. We’ll see who takes the first back step … it isn’t going to be me.”

Undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields pretty much has this weekend’s boxing spotlight all to herself. Shields takes on late sub Maricela Cornejo this Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and streamed live on DAZN.

Claressa Shields: “No matter who is fighting me…they’re getting their ass kicked. The same thing that was gonna happen to my previous opponent, is what’s gonna happen to Cornejo…the thing is, I just feel like I’m a league above these girls, and I’m gonna show it on Saturday night.”

Hometown favorite Shields is between a 45:1 and 100:1 favorite at online sports books.

* * *

It was announced that hip-hop star Kash Doll will walk Shields to the ring and Motown legends The Four Tops will sing the national anthem. By the way, Duke Fakir, 87, the only living original member, continues to lead the group.

Unbeaten super welterweight prospect Eric Tudor (8-0, 6 KOs) signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year. The 21-year-old Tudor had a stellar amateur career winning several titles. His 6’1 frame is equally complimented with a complete fighter skill set. Fightnews.com® spoke with him on his present and future goals.

Where were you born?

I was born in Romania but moved to the U.S. when I was 5 years old.

When did you first begin boxing?

I went to the gym with a friend who was boxing. I was 8 years old and living in Washington DC at the time. It was something to do and to keep busy. I also liked what I saw immediately and within a year after that, I had my first amateur fight. Continue reading “Q&A Eric Tudor”

Photos/Report: Boxing Bob Newman

The afternoon session saw the referees seminar conducted by Steve Willis and Tony Weeks, both introduced by Melvina Lathan. Willis began with a talk entitled “Preventive Officiating.” Preparation can and will prevent mishaps in the performance of the official on the night. Everything from having your passport ready, to knowing the customs of the country to which one is traveling, who is picking you up at the airport, rules of the local commission, etc.

Willis then introduced referee Tony Weeks who discussed his own pre-fight routine. Specific pre-fight instructions in the locker room, giving the opportunity for the fighters or their corners to ask any questions. Continue reading “IBF 38th Convention Referees Seminar”

Undefeated super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs) returns in a 10-round main event against Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Macias (28-11-4, 14 KOs) this Thursday, June 1 at Casino de Montreal in Montreal, Canada. Bazinyan-Macias and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. In the co-feature, Steve Claggett (34-7-2, 24 KOs) will face former world champion Alberto Machado (23-3, 19 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight battle.

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

The IBF got down to the official business of the 38th annual convention at the Gold Room of the host Fairmont Hotel in Chicago this morning. IBF president Daryl Peoples began with his favorite part of the proceedings- the official self introductions of all board members, referees, judges, promoters, managers and media.

President Peoples then began by declaring 2022 as the Year of the Woman in boxing. “I Think we can all agree that the fight of the year last year, not the women’s fight of the year, but THE fight of the year was Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano.” The IBF sanctioned more female fights in 2022 than male fights.

After discussing the comeback of boxing after COVID, President Peoples introduced, as new vice president, Levi Martinez, who took to the lectern. Martinez first began by asking everyone to turn in all directions and greet their neighbor, in support of each other in boxing. Continue reading “IBF 38th Annual Convention: Opening Session”

Former unified and lineal lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr. makes his Top Rank debut in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator against English southpaw Maxi Hughes on Saturday, July 22, at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. In the 10-round co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis takes a seismic step up in class against Belgian contender and former European champion Francesco Patera.

Kambosos-Hughes and Davis-Patera will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. The ESPN+-streamed undercard will feature the ring returns of welterweight contender Giovani Santillan, Oklahoma-born heavyweight Jeremiah Milton and middleweight prospect Troy Isley. Continue reading “Kambosos-Hughes Undercard”

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

The vast majority of the boxers in the world are born in humble homes and rocked in modest cradles, teething and then cutting their teeth in jagged, fractured pervading social circumstances mired in tough neighborhoods, where many must muster fight to survive throughout brief kerbstone hard childhoods.

On the streets, there are many adverse situations and toxic, rotten temptations that can lead to a life crookedly meandering down the wrong path to easy street or Hogarth’s Gin Lane, soaked, drenched and pervaded with alcohol, drugs, trafficking, delinquency, crime and degradation, jabbed with quick fix gratification, but with a high accompanying risk of going to jail or death or both.

Boxing is a lifeline escape and an opportunity for those who choose a future of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication in search of a better outcome for themselves and their family. It is a difficult sport, necessitating many years of learning, focus, dedication, and discipline, in addition to the need to have physical gifts, a big heart, and a determination to follow a path with no guarantee of ultimate success. Of the many who box, few are fabulously successful. Continue reading “The Bubble”

Report and Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

The IBF’s annual “Meet The Champs” Cocktail reception at their 38th annual convention in Chicago was a rousing success as several of Chicago’s notable champs and contenders from the past, champs from elsewhere in the USA and the world, as well as a newly minted IBF champ were on hand to greet the crowd, say a few words and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the federation.

The first IBF title fight was held 40 years ago, almost to the day- May 27th, 1983, when Middleweight champ Marvelous Marvin Hagler defended against Wilford Scypion, adding the newly formed organization’s title to Hagler’s WBA & WBC collection in Providence, RI. Continue reading “IBF “Meet The Champs” Reception In Chicago”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO interim junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu has undergone emergency surgery after being bitten on the back of his right forearm by a dog. Tszyu was attending a BBQ at a friend’s home over the weekend. Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings told FOX Sports Australia that the bite is superficial and he expects Tszyu to be ready and 100% healthy to fight Carlos Ocampo on June 18.

By Ron Jackson

It has been reported that South Africa’s Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs) is in stable condition after being stopped by England’s Nick Ball (18-0; 11 KOs) in the twelfth round at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday night in a clash for the WBC Silver featherweight title. Lamati was stopped at 2:15 into the last round and after returning to his corner he collapsed in the ring and required oxygen.

The 31-year-old Lamaiti was taken from the ring on a stretcher and transported to a Belfast hospital and on arrival numerous tests and scans were done. The latest reports from the hospital are that his vital signs are stable. Continue reading “Lamati in stable condition”

Report and photos by Boxing Bob Newman

One of the high points of any convention is a tour of the local area where that convention is being held. That is no different regarding the IBF conventions. This year was especially interesting as the convention is held in one of America’s great cities – Chicago. Continue reading “IBF 38th Annual Convention: Chicago Tour”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #14 heavyweight Justis Huni (7-0, 4 KOs) will be in action when he travels to the USA to clash with Andrew Tabiti (20-1, 16 KOs) over ten rounds on the undercard of WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis vs. Danielto Zorrillo at the Smoothie King Centre, New Orleans and televised on DAZN. Huni was last in action outpointing Kiki Toa Leutele last November and Tabiti was last seen stopping James Wilson in five rounds last August.

By Boxing Bob Newman

The International Boxing Federation kicked off its 38th annual convention with a lively cocktail party this evening at Chicago’s Fairmont Hotel at Millennium Park. Due to the covid pandemic, while this is only the 38th convention, the IBF is celebrating 40 years with this year’s convention in the Windy City.

IBF board members, as well as ring officials, promoters, managers and members of the press were all on and to reflect and build on last year’s success, with more of the same in 2023/24. Continue reading “IBF Convention Opening Cocktail Party”

Featherweight contender Michael “Mick” Conlan (18-2, 9 KOs) sent a message to his fans on social media after his brutal KO loss to IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez on Saturday evening at The SSE Arena in Conlan’s hometown of Belfast.

“I’m good folks. Wasn’t at the races tonight, Couldn’t seem to get going and paid the price for it. Congratulations to Venado Lopez on a great performance. I wish you all the best in the future champion. Thank you for the opportunity. Thanks to everyone who reached out and wished me luck. I can’t get back to you all but I appreciate it! I’m gonna take some time away from social media now to enjoy my family and decide what the next steps for me are. Again thank you Belfast for an amazing atmosphere and turn out tonight! Love MC X.”

Fast-tracking WBO #1 minimumweight Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (7-0, 5 KOs) dethroned WBO 105lb champion Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (20-4, 12 KOs) by seventh round TKO on Saturday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Collazo began breaking down Jerusalem midway and Jerusalem was kept on his stool after round seven. Collazo won the world title in just his seventh pro fight.

“We knew we had a solid challenge ahead of us, but thanks to my corner, they helped me stay calm throughout the fight,” said Collazo afterward. “I knew I had to establish the pace with my jab, and by the fourth or fifth round we started to hit the body and he didn’t like it. We chopped the tree and we made history for Villalba. I will see you all in Puerto Rico in August, where I will make my first title defense.”