Fightnews.com

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

Our 60th Convention has ended, and Acapulco achieved the long-awaited goal of providing itself as the unbeatable venue for our annual meeting.

A total of 1,683 registered attendees, plus a significant number of others who were present at some of the events and the traditional who did not register. In addition, 112 countries represented the 170 affiliates, as well as 143 local, national and international communications media, and 84 champions gathered for what turned out to be a highly productive meeting in terms of work and more than emotional with unforgettable moments, in the beautiful port of the state of Guerrero.

Governor Evelyn Salgado was present throughout the opening ceremony that lasted just over three hours, in which she witnessed the greatness of what our sport is. Maestro Zoé Robledo, general director of the IMSS, signed a historic agreement for the sport of fists, a program created with my friend Héctor García that will provide social security for the boxing community, as well as the creation of gyms within the many facilities of the institute at the national level; the first will be in Guerrero and will be named after Eddy Reynoso. Continue reading “A Great Convention in Acapulco”

Due to contracting COVID, Vitor Belfort has had to pull out of Saturday’s boxing match against Hasim Rahman Jr. at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Rahman will now face former UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy.

Hardy stated, “I’m excited man, this is my chance to show that I belong in the boxing world. I know plenty about the Rahman name as boxers, and I know he was preparing for Vitor, but I’m definitely confident and prepared to show people I can box.” In Hardy’s corner will be former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs.

Rahman-Hardy will air on DAZN around the same time as DAZN streams a boxing event from Guadalajara, Mexico, featuring a clash between WBO #1 middleweight Jaime Munguia (40-0, 32 KOs) and Gonzalo “El Mago” Coria (21-5, 8 KOs).

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Looks like ESPN+ will pick up the BT Sport feed of the Euro super bantamweight title fight between Liam Davies (12-0, 5 KOs) and Ionut Baluta (15-3, 3 KOs) from Telford, England. WBO #1 light heavyweight Anthony Yarde (22-2, 21 KOs) will also see action on that card against Stefani Koykov (14-1, 12 KOs).

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Hopefully some U.S. outlet will pick up Saturday’s long awaited clash between WBA cruiserweight champion Arsen Goulamirian (26-0, 18 KOs) against mandatory challenger Aleksei Egorov (11-0, 7 KOs) at La Paletre in Le Cannet, France. If not, Canal+ will air the fight. Goulamirian has been out for almost three years old due to various problems including the pandemic pause and a subsequent Covid-19 infection a week before stepping into the ring last year.

This week’s big fight features WBO #1, WBC #2, WBA #3, IBF #3 middleweight Jaime Munguia (40-0, 32 KOs) against Gonzalo “El Mago” Coria (21-5, 8 KOs) in a 10-rounder at the Arena Astros in historic Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on November 19 and will be broadcast globally on DAZN and TV Azteca in Mexico.

“Everyone has been eagerly awaiting the return of Jaime Munguía to the ring,” said Golden Boy President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “We are excited for him to put on a show for all his fans live in Mexico and around the world on DAZN so he can end the year with a bang and start 2023 hungrier than ever.”

WBA #13 lightweight Chann Thonson (12-0, 9 KOs) lays his undefeated record on the line against Aclio “Biro” Mequita (21-9, 19 KOs) in a ten-round clash on December 2 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, Georgia. ESPN KO will broadcast the show in Latin America.

In other fights, super lightweight Jair “Kaizer” Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs) will battle Esneiker Correa (15-2-1, 13 KOs) in a ten-rounder, unbeaten WBO #9 junior flyweight Gerardo “El Cascabel” Zapata (14-0, 5 KOs), unbeaten bantamweight Oswaldo “Gitano” Garcia (15-0-1, 11 KOs), welterweight Roddricus Livsey (11-1-1, 8 KOs), lightweight Darin Austin (8-0, 7 KOs), welterweight Jahmeer Edwards (1-0, 1 KO), and former amateur light heavyweight star Saundre Simmons will see action against opponents to be named.

The multinational card, which includes boxers from México, Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, Quebec and Ontario Canada, and three fighters from Atlanta, will be presented by Boswell Promotions in association with Tuto Zabala/All Star Boxing Inc. Individual tickets are priced at $50, $75, and $100 and VIP ringside tables are also available.

WBC #13 cruiserweight and fomer world title challenger Ryan Rozicki (15-1, 14 KOs) was to face unbeaten Mohammed Bekdash (22-0, 19 KOs) of Germany on December 2 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. However, due to visa complications, Bekdash will be replaced by former world title challenger Allan Green (34-6, 23 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Boxing fans will recognize Green, who has often appeared in major TV fights including the “Super Six” tournament and once garnered Knockout of the Year recognition for his one round destruction of then-unbeaten Jaidon Codrington.

45-year-old ring legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) carried YouTuber Deji Olatunji for five rounds before turning up the heat and getting a stoppage from referee Kenny Bayless in round six. Easy work, as Floyd likes to say.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Tommy “TNT” Fury (8-0, 4 KOs), the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and late sub Rolly Lambert Fogum (15-1-1, 12 KOs) fought a lackluster six round exhibition with two minute rounds and oversized gloves. Then things really deteriorated.

Jake Paul, who was doing commentary at ringside, had dissed Fury the entire fight. Fury’s 58-year-old father John Fury ripped off his shirt and challenged Jake to fight him in the ring. Paul challenged Tommy to come fight him at ringside. Tommy challenged Paul to fight him inside the ring. It turned into a ‘you come over here,’ ‘no, you come over here,’ ‘no, you come over here’ scenario. Tommy finally tried to get at Paul, but was held back by security.

Fury was originally slated to face New Yorker Paul Bamba in an official fight, but he failed to make weight and no compensation deal could be reached with Bamba.

Unbeaten super lightweight J’Hon Ingram (3-0, 3 KOs) and kickboxer Koji Kouzi fought a spirited three round exhibition.

Unbeaten WBC International super featherweight titleholder Jaider Herrera (9-0, 7 KOs) punished Franklin Manzanilla (21-9, 20 KOs) for five rounds. Herrera dropped Manzanilla in the first 30 seconds of the bout. Manzanilla down again in round two. After two more knockdowns in round five, Manzanilla didn’t come out for round six.

Light heavyweight Anthony Taylor (2-3, 1 KO) beat up actor Jack Fincham for four rounds, however, no decision was rendered. The bout was changed to an exhibition due to the weight difference between the smaller Taylor and Finchem. Taylor previously went the distance with Tommy Fury.

The bout between former WBC female lightweight champion Delfine Persoon (47-3, 19 KOs) and Ikram Kerwat (11-3, 5 KOs) was declared a no contest. Persoon dropped Kerwat in round one, then hit her on the canvas.

46-year-old cruiserweight and former wrestler Bobby Fish won his pro debut against Boateng Prempeh (2-4, 2 KOs) with a second round TKO.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Alimkhanuly-Bentley photo gallery for some incredible shots. Also includes shots from the fights of Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and Emiliano Vargas.

Photos

WBC #12 light heavyweight Igor Mikhalkin (25-3, 11 KOs), fighting on two weeks notice, scored a ten round unanimous decision over Dilmurod Satybaldiev (13-3, 4 KOs) on Saturday at the Soviet Wings Universal Sport Palace in Moscow, Russia. The 37-year-old Mikhalkin claimed the CIS Commonwealth belt.

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Promoter Vick Green and his longtime matchmaker Aaron Rodriguez brought Pulse Boxing & Entertainment to Bert’s Warehouse & Entertainment complex in Detroit. Pulse Boxing was able to show off their top prospects in front of a roaring crowd on Friday night.

Featherweight Cameran Pankey made quick work of DeShawn Kennedy (2-8, 2 KOs). Early in the 1st round, a left body shot thrown by Pankey dropped Kennedy. The knockdown should have been able to be recovered from, but Kennedy spent time trying to pick up his mouthpiece, ignoring the count. Kennedy was counted out, giving the 1:48 KO victory in the 1st Round to Pankey, who improved to (6-0, 4 KOs). Pankey, known as “The Fighting Pride of Pontiac, Michigan” appears to have a bright future in the sport. In his post fight interview, he mentioned how his dad passed away a few years earlier, and how it was his dad’s birthday that night. He asked the crowd to wish his dad a happy birthday, while dedicating his fight to his late father. Continue reading “Results from Detroit”

Yesterday was Hatton-Barrera, today it’s Floyd Mayweather in action against YouTuber “Deji” at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This will be Mayweather’s third PPV exhibition this year. Floyd previously facing former sparring partner Don Moore and MMA fighter Mikuru Asakuru. Deji has a 1-3 record in celebrity fights, including a TKO loss to Jake Paul.

Light heavyweight Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) is slated to face Paul Bamba (5-2, 4 KOs) in the co-feature. Fury, however, missed weight and that bout is reportedly in jeopardy.

The PPV is available in the U.S. for $34.99. DAZN subscribers can get it for $14.99. Start time is 1PM ET, 10AM PT.

IBF #2 super welterweight and former world champion “Golden Jack” Culcay (32-4, 13 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Damiano Falcinelli (15-2, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the AGON Sportpark in Berlin, Germany. Scores were 79-76, 77-75, 78-74.

Unbeaten IBF #1 super middleweight William Scull (20-0, 10 KOs), a late addition to the card, dominated Abel Adriel (26-26-3, 5 KOs) over eight rounds in a stay-busy fight. Scull, coming off a win over Evgeny Shvedenko in an IBF eliminator in July, won 80-72 3x.

Also, unbeaten heavyweight Granit Shala (13-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Luis Jose Marin Garcia (9-4, 6 KOs) over ten rounds, winning 100-90, 98-92, 99-91.

Other Results:
Thomas Piccirillo W8 Nourredine El Goumi (middleweight)
Nathanael Lukoki W8 Jakub Laskowski (welterweight)
Tommy Punch TKO2 Attila Koros (cruiserweight)
Farlin Condori W6 Luca Genovese (super bantamweight)

Unbeaten WBO middleweight champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Denzel Bentley (17-2-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday night inside the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Bentley gave 20:1 favorite Alimkhanuly all he could handle the entire fight. Alimkhanuly finally rocked Bentley in the final round. Scores were 116-112, 116-112, 118-110.

“It’s boxing,” said Alimkhanuly afterward. “Anything can happen in the ring. He came prepared. I respect my opponent because he was prepared. He was 100 percent, but I am a champion and I fought all 12 rounds as a champion…I am ready for any champion, for unifications. I am ready. Let’s fight.” Continue reading “Alimkhanuly struggles, but retains WBO title”

By Joe Koizumi

A dual world title promotion will take place at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan, on January 6. Unbeaten Japanese prospect Ginjiro Shigeoka (8-0, 6 KOs) will have an ambitious shot at the IBF minimumweight belt against Mexico’s defending champion Daniel Valladares (26-3-1, 15 KOs), over twelve rounds. In the main event, WBO 105-pound champ Masataka Taniguchi (16-3, 11 KOs), a Japanese southpaw, will take on WBO#2 Filipino Melvin Jerusalem (19-2, 11 KOs), in his second defense. The winner will be obliged to defend the belt against WBO #1 ex-titlist Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico in the next defense. Shigeoka and Taniguchi both belong to Watanabe Promotions, but the local promoter in Osaka will be former three-class world champ Koki Kameda, who announced the doubleheader on Friday.

WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) will defend his world title against Samuel Carmona (8-0, 4 KOs) on December 3 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, live worldwide on DAZN. Martinez-Carmona will serve as the co-main event for the Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez trilogy clash for the WBC super flyweight title. Martinez was previously set to face long-running rival McWilliams Arroyo in a rematch, but neck and back issues have ruled Arroyo out. This opened the door for 2016 Olympian Carmona to land his first world title shot.

Super lightweight Steve Spark (16-2, 14 KOs) won by sixth round disqualification against previously unbeaten IBF #6, WBO #7 rated Montana Love (18-1-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Sparks dropped Love in round two, but Love was able to recover. Spark was able to rough up Love in round five. A head clash in round six left Love with a cut over his left eye. The ring doctor examined the cut and allowed the fight to continue. Both fighters came at each other aggressively. They wrestled and Spark went over the top rope. Love was then disqualified. Time was :25. Spark won the WBA Intercontinental title.

“Thank you to Cleveland for the hospitality,” said Spark. “My job is to fight, and this has changed my life. I’m devastated how it ended. I got the early knock down and I was fighting with my whole heart, it was growing into a great fight, but we didn’t want it to end this way.”

“He was using dirty rough house tactics all night and I pushed him off me, I didn’t lift him up or throw him out of the ring,” said Love. “We wanted him to tire out and catch him later on, and that’s where it was going. I want to do it again, he can’t outbox me or outfight me, let’s do it again.” Continue reading “Upset: Spark defeats Love by DQ”

Unbeaten WBA female minimumweight champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (23-0, 9 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-3-2, 1 KO) in the Alimkhanuly-Bentley co-feature on Saturday night inside the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Estrada outworked Villarino to win 100-90 3x.

Estrada stated, “It’s been an emotional week for me because it’s been 328 days since I’ve been in the ring. And I just want to tell all girls and all women in sports to always believe in yourself and always believe in what you can do and always go after what you want. I might’ve been slowed down, but I can’t be stopped. This is what I was born to do. This is the talent God has given me, and this is my destiny and you cannot stop destiny.”

“After 11 months, we were prepared for her to come in and win. I’m the best opponent she’s faced, and she wanted to defeat me. I was prepared to go 10 round or get the knockout…I shook the ring rust off and I’m ready to go for unification fights and undisputed fights.” Continue reading “Estrada retains WBA women’s 105lb title”

WBC/WBO female super welterweight champion Natasha Jonas (13-2-1, 8 KOs) took the IBF belt of Marie-Eve Dicaire (18-2, 1 KO) by ten round unanimous decision in a world title unification fight on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Scores were 100-90, 98-92, 97-93.

Unbeaten British super lightweight titlist Dalton Smith (13-0, 10 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision against Kaisee Benjamin (16-2-1, 6 KOs) by scores of 115-114, 117-112 and 116-113.

2020 Olympic super heavyweight bronze medalist Frazer Clarke (4-0, 3 KOs) had to go the full six rounds against journeyman Kamil Sokolowski (11-27-3, 4 KOs), winning 60-54.

Other Results:
Tyler Denny W10 Brad Rea (middleweight)
Viddal Riley TKO3 Ross McGuigan (cruiserweight)

Floyd Mayweather 154.3 vs. Deji 175.25
(Exhibition)

Tommy Fury 181.4 vs. Paul Bamba 174.6
Contract weight 178.5 pounds

Venue: Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, UAE
Promoter: Global Titans
TV: PPV

Lightweight Misael Cabrera (13-1, 10 KOs) was victorious when Jonathan “Perita” Escobedo (10-4-1, 4 KOs) the bout was stopped by the ring physician due to swelling to Escobedo’s left eye on Friday night at the GNP Seguros Arena in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. It was a good action fight that unfortunately had to be stopped prematurely. The bout was for the vacant WBC International title and closed the activities of the WBC 60th Annual Convention.

In the co-feature, unbeaten super middleweight Lester Martinez (14-0, 12 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Cristian Fabian Rios (23-16-3, 7 KOs). The bout ended due to a cut suffered by Rios. Rios insisted he was cut by a headbutt, but the referee ruled the cut was caused by a punch.

Unbeaten WBC #14 featherweight Nick Ball (17-0, 10 KOs) demolished Jesus Ramirez Rubio (20-2-3, 14 KOs) in the first round to retain his WBC silver title on Friday night at the famed York Hall in London. Ball dropped Rubio three times before the bout was waved off at 1:48.

In the co-feature, light heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (15-1, 11 KOs) returned with a seventh round stoppage of Luca Spadaccini (8-5-3, 4 KOs).

Also in action, heavyweight David Adeleye (10-0, 9 KOs) finished Elvis Garcia (9-4, 7 KOs) in round two. Garcia down 3x.

IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs) retained his title with a twelve round unanimous decision over former IBF 108lb champion Felix Alvarado (38-3, 33 KOs) on Friday night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. Alvarado pressed the action, but Edwards was able to successfully stick and move, avoiding Alvarado’s aggressions. Alvarado worked over Edwards for stretches in the second half of the fight, but never quite found an answer for Edwards’ speed and movement. Scores were 115-113, 116-112, 115-113.

After the fight, Edwards said, “If I can sit there and mix it with him, and I showed that I could ride shots, take shots and throw my own shots back, I could do it against anyone. He was a very hard puncher, but I would not be denied. I want the big fights. Martinez, he’s running scared. Bam Rodriguez, you promised me the fight next. Come and get it!”

Janibek Alimkhanuly 159.6 vs. Denzel Bentley 159
(WBO middleweight title)

Seniesa Estrada 103.8 vs. Jazmin Gala Villarino 105
(WBA female minimumweight title)

Raymond Muratalla 135 vs. Miguel Contreras 135.2
Emiliano Vargas 133.8 vs. Julio Cesar Martinez 134
Javier Martinez 162.6 vs. Marco Delgado 162.6
Floyd Diaz 122.4 vs. Edgar Joe Cortes 122.2
Charlie Sheehy 135 vs. Markus Bowes 135.6
Karlos Balderas 135.4 vs. Esteban Sanchez 135.2
Antonio Mireles 269.6 vs. Eric Perry 279.8

Venue: Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN+

Hall of Famer Don King has signed WBC #2 cruiserweight and silver beltholder Noel Mikaelyan (26-2, 11 KOs) to a promotional contract.

“The fantastic WBC silver cruiserweight champion, Noel Mikaelyan, believes that there is no one out there he can’t beat, said King, who also promotes the current WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu. “Both of these two super great WBC super cruiserweight champions feel they are the world’s best. My mission has always been to give the people what they want and pit the best against the best. What a super sensational attraction that would be if these two fighters would eventually meet. Continue reading “Don King inks WBC #2 cruiser Noel Mikaelyan”

Unbeaten WBO top-ten ranked cruiserweights Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (17-0, 14 KOs) and David “The Great White” Light (19-0, 12 KOs) have commented on their December 2 ProBox TV clash on December 2 at the White Sands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

Brandon Glanton: “This guy is my next victim. I have been training pretty hard for him. I take everybody seriously, but I am going to melt this guy. He is a one-two fighter and has decent hand speed – not much foot movement or power but he’s a veteran and knows his way around the ring. He will look to make it a rangy fight, but I am just the opposite. For as long as it lasts it will be a great fight for the fans. I won’t pick what round it will end – it will come down to however way I am feeling. I am going to knock him out and the tougher he is the better. I am going to hurt this guy. I will lay him out cold.”

David Light: “Training is going great – it’s hardest I have ever trained in my life and I am leaving no stone unturned. We have watched Glanton and he’s a very good strong fighter, the sort of guy people avoid but we are up for the challenge and totally believe we have got what it takes to win. We coming to beat him at his own game. We are coming to put him to sleep. After December 2nd everyone is going to know who I am as losing is not an option.”

Continue reading “Glanton: I am going to melt this guy”

Montana Love 140 vs. Steve Spark 140
Richardson Hitchins 140 vs. Yomar Alamo 138.5
Raymond Ford 126 vs. Sakaria Lukas 128
Christian Tapia 129.5 vs. Thomas Mattice 129.5
Raynell Williams 130.5 vs. Ryizeemmion Ford 131
Nikoloz Sekhniashvili 153.5 vs. David Rodriguez 155
Khalil Coe 174 vs. Bradley Olmeda 175.5
Beatriz Ferreira 130.5 vs. Taynna Cardoso 131

Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN