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Undisputed lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) and three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their PPV clash May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Devin Haney: “I feel like he should have fought me four years ago. But now the time has come. It’s going to be worse for him than it would have been had we fought back then…on paper, this is my toughest test. But I look to make it an easy night. I look to make it as easy as possible and come out victorious.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko: “He is a high-level boxer. He understands boxing. He knows what he needs to do. He can use his reach. He can use his feet. He can create distance. But I have a lot of experience in this sport. It will be very interesting for me.”

WBC #2 ranked super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (18-0, 13 KOs), has signed with Mark Habibi and Wise Owl Boxing for management. The 25-year-old Conwell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian promoted by DiBella Entertainment, is considered to be one of the top talents in the 154lb division and we’re looking forward to seeing him step up the level of competition.

Lightweight Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (16-1-1, 8 KOs) recently signed a multi-fight co-promotional contract with Top Rank, who will work in conjunction with Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing. Ortiz will return in a 10-round clash against an opponent to be named on June 10 on the Taylor-Teofimo card in The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In 2022, Ortiz defeated former world champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring, then gave former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko all he could handle before dropping a unanimous decision.

The WBO has given newly crowned WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney five days to submit a physician’s certification for the broken hand he suffered in Saturday’s bout against Vincent Astrolabio. They also want a recovery prognosis and the physician’s opinion as to when Moloney can return to active training and competition.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will have to defend against WBO interim champion Tim Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) by September 30 per an order from the WBO Championships Committee. Tszyu must win against Carlos Ocampo on June 18 to get opportunity against Charlo.

“It’s massive. It’s the news we’ve been waiting on but again highlights just how big a risk Tim’s fight next month on the Gold Coast is,” Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose told Fox Sports. “If Tim loses, it’s over. No Charlo, no undisputed, no nothing. Continue reading “WBO orders Charlo to defend by Sept 30”

Otar Eranosyan 131.2 vs. Edy Valencia 132
Darrelle Valsaint 164.4 vs. Marcelo Bzowski TBA
Marques Valle 153 vs. Demarcus Layton 152.8
De Von Williams 145 vs. William Davis 144.4

Venue: ProBox Event Center, Plant City, Florida
Promoter: ProBox
TV: ProBox TV

The World Boxing Association (WBA) ordered a purse bid between heavyweight super champion Oleksandr Usyk and his mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, which will take place on May 25 in Houston, Texas. The minimum bid to obtain the rights to the fight will be $1,000,000.00 and the split will be 75% for Usyk and 25% for Dubois.

The bout is part of the WBA’s World Championship Reduction Plan and pits the super champion against the regular champion to define a single monarch in the category.

Undisputed lightweight king Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) and former three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) made their grand arrivals today in Las Vegas ahead of their PPV showdown this Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Devin Haney: “I’m going to put on a dominant victory. I’m going to go in there and impose my will on Loma and show the world how great Devin Haney really is, how versatile, how strong, how young, and how experienced I am in that ring.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko: “I believe that when you say something, you need to prove it. I have a lot of experience in boxing, and anything can happen during a fight. I just think about what I need to do during a fight. And my goal is to become the undisputed champion of the world.”

Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron faced off for the first time at the 3 Arena, Dublin ahead of their upcoming undisputed women’s super lightweight world title fight on Saturday night on DAZN.

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

After a week of continuing to celebrate the great event that took place in Jalisco, with the idol Saul “Canelo” Álvarez appearing before his audience at the Akron Stadium, and with so many pleasant moments of reflection, I’m happy to conclude that Mexico is a great country, and when Mexicans put something in mind, everything can be achieved with hard work, passion, and hospitality.

That Canelo ring walk was spectacular, which was acclaimed by millions of viewers around the world. Televisión Azteca produced the signal that reached all corners of the world through more than a hundred platforms. Rodolfo Vargas has become a very important asset for world boxing, with great management and leadership skills. Continue reading “The Love of Mothers”

On Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Pechanga Resort & Casino’s Summit in Temecula, California, MarvNation Promotions in association with Ringside Ticket Inc., will present a card billed as “An Evening of Fights with Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns.” Leonard and Hearns, serving as honorary hosts for the night and meeting fans, a seven-fight card will be held, featuring Orlando, Florida’s undefeated Jonathan Lopez (10-0, 7 KOs) taking on Mexicali, Mexico’s Eduardo Baez (21-4-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight battle. Continue reading “Leonard, Hearns at Pechanga June 2”

Unbeaten featherweight prospect Dominique Francis (13-0, 9 KOS) of Miami, Florida will take on local favorite Braian Ariel Arguello (6-2, 3 KOs) June 9th at the Casino Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires, Argentina in a scheduled ten rounder. The news was confirmed by advisor Zach Hirsch. This will not be Francis’ first time fighting abroad as a professional. He dominated his heavy handed (11-2, 11 KOs) %100 KO ratio local opponent over 10 rounds in Colombia in his last bout. The Francis-Arguello bout will be featured on the WBA’s annual KO for Drugs show with TyC Sports televising the show.

Undefeated all-action super featherweight Otar “Pitbull” Eranosyan (12-0, 6 KOs) will take on veteran Edy “Dinamita” Valencia (20-10, 7 KOs) in a ten-rounder on Wednesday’s ProBov TV event from the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

In the co-feature, undefeated 2020 Olympian Darrelle Valsaint (7-0, 5 KOs) faces Eric Moon (11-4, 6 KOs) in a six-round middleweight bout. Additionally, Marquez Valle (8-0, 6 KOs) will lay his perfect record on the line against Demarcus Layton (8-4, 5 KOs) in a six-round clash of super middleweights.

A new date has been set for the twice-postponed clash between undefeated Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) and unbeaten WBA regular welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs). The bout was most recently scheduled for April 29, but postponed after Ortiz, Jr. suffered a rhabdomyolysis flare-up due to long COVID. The original date was postponed when Stanionis had emergency appendectomy surgery in January. The 12-round championship showdown will now take place at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on July 8 and will be broadcast worldwide exclusively on DAZN.

Undisputed lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) is between a 2.5 and 3:1 favorite to retain his belt against three division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs). They meet on Saturday in a $59.99 ESPN+ PPV clash from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The three-fight PPV also features a 10-round junior lightweight rematch between former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) and Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) and rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (16-0, 13 KOs) against Jeremia Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-round clash.

The PPV stream will be preceded by a two-fight ESPN telecast featuring the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs). Opening the broadcast will be undefeated middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, against Danny Rosenberger (13-9-4, 4 KOs).

The night will begin with an ESPN+-streamed undercard featuring undefeated prospects Emiliano Fernando Vargas, Abdullah Mason, Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz, and Amari Jones.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Alimkhanuly-Butler photo gallery for some incredible shots. Also includes action from Moloney-Astrolabio.

Photos

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos: Bob Ryder

Vick Green and Pulse Boxing showcased why Toledo is the home of some of the top prospects and stars of the nation. Albert Bell (23-0, 6 KOs) scored his 23rd victory against a chippy opponent, William Encarnacion (20-5, 16 KOs). The talent gap between the two fighters in the main event was wide. Continue reading “Albert Bell remains unbeaten”

By David Finger at ringside

Boxing fans in Odessa, Texas were treated to an exciting night of boxing as New Mexican Jose Luis “Guero” Sanchez scored a upset over undefeated California prospect Rashad Shahid in an eight round WBC JR NABF welterweight fight.

For boxing fans in the Land of Enchantment there was recognition that Sanchez was a scrappy, and deceptively talented, fighter despite his record of 12-3-1. But in Texas he was a little more of an unknown quantity. But after dominating the San Diego native over eight rounds he clearly made a name for himself in Texas as well. Continue reading “Upset in Odessa, Texas”

“Rockin’ Fights” had the sold out Paramount in Huntington, NY, shaking Saturday night as Alex “El Toro” Vargas (13-0, 5 KOs) stopped Mauro “El Rayo” Godoy (37-9-1, 18 KOs). Vargas’ power overwhelmed Godoy, knocking him down in both the second and the fifth round.  Godoy did not come off the stool for the sixth round.

Alo, unbeaten welterweight “The Silent Assassin” Ryan O’Rourke (10-0, 3KOs) stopped Dashaun “Too Sweet” Johns (4-3, 3KOs) in round seven and light heavyweight Harley “Heavy Hands” Burke (8-0, 7 KOs) halted Kam Humphrey (3-2, 2 KOs) after three punishing rounds.

WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero already knows his likely first WBA title challenger. As part of the sanction of Romero-Barroso, the WBA mandated that the winner must face WBA #2 Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) no later than 120 days after May 13.

Due to the controversial circumstances of Saturday’s fight, it’s possible that Barroso could successfully petition the WBA for an immediate rematch. Barring that, however, it looks like Rolly vs. Davies is in the pipeline.

“There’s only two fights I want,” said newly crowned WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero after claiming the vacant WBA world title on Saturday night in Las Vegas. “There’s the rematch with Tank Davis. But I think there’s a much bigger option. I want to go after Ryan Garcia. We can do it on Showtime PPV.”

As for Saturday’s win against WBA #1 contender Ismael Barroso, Romero stated, “I boxed the entire time. I came in a little cold. I got cracked and I got up like a champion and kept going.”

Regarding the stoppage, Romero said, “I’ll be honest, he’s a warrior and he should have been allowed to continue. He wanted to keep going and I wanted him to keep going as well.”

“I think it was an injustice to stop the fight,” said Ismael Barroso after his controversial stoppage loss to Rolly Romero in a bout for the WBA 140ln title on Saturday night in Las Vegas. “I was landing the better shots. It was a push on the first knockdown. It wasn’t a big blow or anything. The referee just stopped the fight, and he didn’t say anything. You can see it clearly. I’m the one who’s hitting him. There was nothing clear that he hit me with. I don’t understand why they stopped the fight.”

Barroso, a late replacement after Alberto Puello, who previously held the WBA 140-pound title, had been stripped of his title because of a failed VADA test, outlanded Romero, 57-40, and threw 297 punches to 230 for Romero and at the time of the stoppage, he was ahead on all three scorecards: 78-73, 77-74, 76-75.

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Kevin Lerena boxed his way to a 12 round unanimous points decision over the fancied Ryad Merhy from the Côte D’Ivoire, at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night, to win the WBC bridgerweight silver title and the eliminator for the WBC bridgerweight world title.

The scores were – Judge Eddie Pappoe 118-110, judge Thabo Spampool 116-112 and judge Daniel van der Welie 115-113. Continue reading “Lerena wins WBC Silver title and eliminator”

In his first bout at super lightweight, Rolando “Rolly” Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) scored a controversial ninth round TKO over WBA #1 rated Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) to claim the vacant WBA title on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Slow start with the 40-year-old Barroso pressing the action. Barroso dropped Romero in round three. The knockdown seemed to wake up Rolly, who became more aggressive in round four, but was back on his bicycle in round five. Barroso continued to be the aggressor. Romero dropped Barroso in round nine (seemed like more of a push). The fight opened up and the fighters began to trade. Suddenly referee Tony Weeks inexplicably stopped the fight. Time was 2:41.

At the time of the stoppage, Barroso was ahead on all three cards 76-75, 77-74, 78-73.

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WOW 👀

Referee Tony Weeks stops the fight and @SignUp4KOs scores a TKO victory over Barroso to become the new WBA Super Lightweight champ 🏆 #RomeroBarroso pic.twitter.com/SseQxDNoQu

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 14, 2023

Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBO middleweight world champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs) demolished Steven Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) in two rounds on Saturday night at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. Alimkhanuly brutally floored Butler three times in round two to end it. Time was 2:25.

Afterward, Alimkhanuly said, “Champions. Boxing superstars! Where are you? I am waiting. Let’s fight. I am the most avoided boxer. I am the middleweight king. Let’s go. Let’s fight. I am ready for anybody. Anytime. Anywhere.”

Photos

Photos: Sumio Yamada

In a clash for the vacant WBO bantamweight world title, Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) scored a twelve round majority decision over Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. Moloney, in his third world title challenge, patiently outboxed Astrolabio in a tactical bout that often elicited boos from the audience. Scores were 114-114, 115-113, 116-112.

Afterward, Moloney said, “I thought I won it going away, but all that matters is the victory. And now I have this belt for the rest of my life. I broke my hand in the third or fourth round. It hurt every time I threw it. But I knew this was my last chance to make my dream come true. Continue reading “Moloney tops Astrolabio for WBA bantam belt”

Former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) scored a workmanlike majority decision over Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez (14-2, 5 KOs) in a ten round super lightweight bout in the Romero-Barroso co-feature on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The experience of the 37-year-old Barthelemy propelled him to a 95-95, 97-93, 98-92 win.

In a WBA super lightweight world title eliminator, Batyr Akhmedov (9-3, 8 KOs) and Kenneth Sims Jr. (20-2-1, 7 KOs) went twelve hard rounds with Sims prevailing by majority decision. Scores were 114-114, 115-113, 116-112. Sims has his right eye closed at the end.

Other Results:
Starling Castillo W10 Esteuri Suero (super lightweight)
Michael Angeletti TKO8 Michell Banquez (bantamweight)
Justin Viloria TKO4 Pedro Pinillo (super featherweight)