Fightnews.com

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Bert’s Warehouse was treated to four fights on Friday evening. The main event featured Cameran Pankey (7-0, 4 KOs), who was in one word, “dominant”. His opponent, Ira Terry had been beat down over the six-round fight. Pankey started the first with a good left hook to the body. Pankey chased Terry all over the ring. Round 2 featured a good jab to Terry’s stomach from Pankey. You can see the power with Pankey, even if Terry blocked the shot, part of the impact was landing. In Round 3, Pankey stalked Terry, while throwing with great precision. Round 4 had Terry landing his best punch. In Rounds 5 and 6 Pankey picked up the pace. The 6th produced a knockdown of Terry (28-25, 16 KOs) with a straight right by Pankey. In the last minute of the fight super bantamweight Pankey threw left after devastating left. All three judges saw it (60-53, 60-53, 60-53), as Pankey won by UD. Continue reading “Pankey defeats Terry in Detroit”

Denzel Whitley 147.6 vs. Kenny Larson 147
Isaiah Cruz 129.6 vs. Akeem Jackson 130.8
Ali Izmailov 182.4 vs. Marcerlo Ruben Molina ??
Carlos Castillo 152.2 vs. Alfred Raymond 150.4
Ian Garcia 142 vs. Ryan Venable 183.2
Carlos Gonzalez 138.8 vs. Richard Barnard 135.8
Liz Humphries 38.8 vs. Sarah Click 138.4

Venue: MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts
Promoter: Granite Chin Promotions
TV: BXNGTV.com

WBO #1 Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) and former champion Toney Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) both made weight for their WBO interim junior middleweight title clash on Sunday morning (Saturday night USA time) at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Both fighters weighed 153.5 pounds.

The referee will be Danrex Tapdasan. Judges are Zoltan Enyedi (Hungary), Katsuhiko Nakamura (Japan), Benoit Roussel (Canada).

The winner of Tszyu-Harrison will become the mandatory challenger to undisputed super welterweight king Jermell Charlo.

Tszyu is a 2½:1 favorite.

The fight will air on Showtime at 10:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. PT.

Thomas LaManna 159 vs. Salim Larbi 157.4
(WBA Fedelatin middleweight title)

Orlando Gonzalez 129.8 vs. Rodrigo Guerreo 127.8
(NBA Intercontinental super featherweight title)

Angel Lopez 138.4 vs. Tayre Jones 140
Elon De Jesus 120.8 vs. John Mark Alimane 121
Carlos Lebron 115.6 vs. Yusniel Abrahante 114.8
Damazion Vanhouter 172.8 vs. Brad Ragan 169.6
Yosdiel Napoles 131 vs. Weusi Johnson 128.4
Kevin Nunez 117.2 vs. Michael Turner 117.6
Don Stewart 123.2 vs. Richard Reyes Diaz 123.4
Ryan Maine 167 vs. Rashad Jones 172.8
Marcello Williams 135 vs. Mason Wickett 132

Venue: Avanti Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Boxlight Promotions

WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has accepted the offer made by WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury earlier today, but there’s a catch.

Usyk said, “Hey greedy belly, I accept your offer – seventy/thirty split to fight on April 29th at Wembley. But you will promise to donate one million pounds to Ukraine immediately after the fight. And for every day you delay, you will pay 1% from your purse to the Ukrainian people. Deal????”

WBA middleweight Gennady Golovkin and his team sent a communication to the organization to announce his decision to relinquish the WBA’s “super” championship, leaving “regular” champion Erislandy Lara as the WBA’s only 160lb world champion. Golovkin and his team explained that GGG is still not clear about his next step in boxing and they prefer to give up the title since the organization had ordered a purse bid for the mandatory fight against Lara. He assured that they prefer the division to continue with movement and not to make Team Lara wait.

The WBA Championships Committee will now study Lara’s situation as champion and determine who he should face in his next fight.

Currently, the WBA’s top five contenders are: 1. Michael Zerafa, 2. Sergio Martinez, 3. Austin Williams, 4. Connor Coyle, and 5. Thomas LaManna, so Lara could wind up facing one of them.

Undefeated #1 rated super welterweight Tim Tszyu and former world champion Tony “Superbad” Harrison met face-to-face in front of the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge and famed Sydney Opera House on Friday at the final press conference ahead of their showdown for the vacant WBO interim 154-pound title. Harrison strolled onto the dais shirtless and looking supremely confident, Tszyu arrived in a blue suit.

Tony Harrison: “I’ve been fighting every single day of my life. I don’t think he’s had to endure half the stuff that I have…I already have visualized how this fight is coming. I think I know how this fight is going to play out, and I think the whole world knows how this fight plays out.”

Tim Tszyu: “I don’t really like Tony right now. I’m ready to fight right now. There’s no kisses and hugs happening. I’m coming to fight. There’s a dog in me right now…this is the opponent I need to show what I can do.”

Tony Yoka 251.1 vs. Carlos Takam 259.3
Dan Azeez 174.4 vs. Thomas Faure 171.3
Lauren Price 147 vs. Naomi Mannes 146.4
Farrhad Saad 166.2 vs. Macaulay McGowan 166.4

Venue: Zenith de Paris-La Villette, Paris, France
Promoter: BOXXER/All Star Promotions
TV: ESPN+/SkySports

Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN will return on Thursday, April 6 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino featuring former WBO light flyweight world champion Angel “Tito” Acosta (23-3, 22 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. An aggressive, forward-pressing KO artist, Acosta trains with Joel Diaz in the Coachella Valley, and will return to the ring after a first-round knockout at Fantasy Springs this past May 2022. “Tito” will participate in a 12-round flyweight bout against unbeaten Angelino “Huracán” Cordova (17-0-1, 12 KOs). The action will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

With talks between the camps of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk seemingly at an impasse, Fury has uploaded a video stating his terms:

“I see all this talk of boxing fights, they want 50%, Usyk sez all this ‘Tyson is being greedy.’ But from where I’m standing, Usyk, you and your team are worth 30%. You either take it or you leave it. And if you don’t want it, go and fight Daniel Dubois at the Copper Box and get a few million dollars.

“If you want to make some real money, come and fight the Gypsy King. But what I will say, for every day from today that you linger and mess around, I’m going to deduct 1% from the 30%. So every day I’m going to deduct 1% till you take it. And if you don’t take it, fight Dubois for $2 million. Not a problem. But how in the world can you offer me a deal? Not possible. Tick tock. Tick tock. Pussies.”

Diego Pacheco 166.10 vs. Jack Cullen 167.8
Robbie Davies Jr 139.12 vs. Darragh Foley 139.6
Johnny Fisher 240.12 vs. Alfonso Damiani 233.13
Peter Mcgrail 123.8 vs. Nicolas Nahuel Botelli 123.12
Rhiannon Dixon 134.12 vs. Vicky Wilkinson 132.1
Aqib Fiaz 134.7 vs. Dean Dodge 132.15
Campbell Hatton 140.5 vs. Michael Gonxhe 136.14
Paddy Lacey 162.14 vs. James Mccarthy 160.15
George Liddard 162.1 vs. Daniel Przewieslik 161.1

Venue: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Tickets are on sale now for “Hardcore Boxing in Dubai,” featuring a heavyweight battle between undefeated Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller and former WBA (regular) champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne on Saturday, March 18, at Agenda Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. WBA #10 Miller (25-0-1, 21 KOs) and WBA #9 Browne (31-3, 27 KOs) will meet in the 10-round main event of a boxing card presented by promoter Anatoly Sulyanov of Hardcore Boxing.

In the night’s 10-round super featherweight co-feature, WBA #5- and IBF #11-rated former world title challenger Jono “King Kong” Carroll (23-2-1, 7 KOs) will face three-time world title challenger Miguel “The Scorpion” Marriaga (30-6, 26 KOs). Also on tap is a 10-round heavyweight battle between fast-tracking former amateur star Soslan “Cobra” Asbarov (3-0, 1 KO) and once-beaten Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (17-1, 14 KOs).

On fight night, there is no smoking and no cameras are permitted in the arena.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat Magazine

Shigeoka brothers to aim for world belts on same day

Unbeaten Japanese minimum prospect Yudai Shigeoka (6-0, 4 KOs) will have a crack at the WBC 105-pound belt against defending champ Panya Pradabsri (39-1, 23 KOs) of Thailand in Tokyo on April 16. On the same bill, his younger brother, also unbeaten Ginjiro Shigeoka (8-0-1NC, 6 KOs), two years his junior at 23, will vie for the IBF interim minimum belt against Filipino Rene Mark Cuarto (21-3-2, 12 KOs). The sensational show will take place at Yoyoki Second Gymnasium under 3150 Promotions, which was announced on Tuesday.

Fukunaga stops Sonkham, makes 12-0

This is a delayed report. Kochi city, Shikoku Island saw bright local prospect WBO AP#10 junior feather Sora Fukunaga (12-0, 6 KOs), 121.75, drop of Thailand’s Chanon Sonkham (6-5, 3 KOs), 121.5, three times and deck a fine stoppage at 2:45 of the third round in a scheduled eight on February 26. Local promoter Junpei Ogawa passed away last year, and his son Ryuji followed his footstep and staged a good promotion before his warm local adherents.

Julian Rodriguez 144.5 vs. Kashon Hutchinson 145.7
Mikenna Tansley 116.2 vs. Amy Salinas 115.5
Jonathan Rodriguez 118.8 vs. Wilmer Soto 117.4
Thanjhae Teasley 147.2 vs. Emmanuel Tennison 147.9
Johnnie Spell 132.2 vs. Antonio Dunton El Jr. 131.7
Francis Oran 212.3 vs. Joseph Bond 245.4
Devon Young 217.2 vs. Lemir Riley 217.4

Venue: Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA
Promoter: King’s Promotions
Stream: bxngtv.com
1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Gervonta “Tank” Davis and “Kingry” Ryan Garcia squared off for the second straight day on Thursday, this time in Los Angeles as they completed back-to-back, coast-to-coast press conferences to preview their highly anticipated 12-round 136lb catchweight showdown that headlines a Showtime PPV production on Saturday, April 22 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After an animated face-off at Wednesday’s event in New York City, Davis and Garcia got up close and personal again on Thursday in Beverly Hills, exchanging heated words and more, with Davis playfully throwing a left hook that whizzed inches from Garcia’s chin and Garcia shadowboxing in close proximity to Davis during the ceremonial stare down.

Gervonta Davis: I’m gonna walk you to the deep waters and I’m gonna drown you. They gonna have to pick you up. I promise you that. This guy keeps talking about how he’s gonna hit me with a hook, but he doesn’t have anything else but a hook. What else have you got? He’s not a complete fighter…I’ve put a lot of guys to sleep and Ryan is next.”

Ryan Garcia: “I’m here to win and I promise you that I have heart and determination like you’ve never seen before. ‘Tank’ likes to fight guys that don’t hit hard, but I hit hard. When I hit you with that left hook, you’re gonna be on the floor. Asleep. Good night…I’m gonna beat him and I’m gonna knock him out. See you on April 22.”

Louie Lopez 147 vs. Angel Beltran145.7
Jesus Gonzalez 148.5 vs. Keon Papillion 150
Marcos Hernandez 167.2 vs. Jeremy Ramos 164.3
Rowdy Montgomery 169.1 vs. Antonio Duarte 164.3

Venue: Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA
Promoter: Thompson Boxing
TV: Thompson Boxing website + their Facebook and YouTube pages

By Miguel Maravilla

Former world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KO’s) of Mazatlan, Mexico held a media workout Wednesday afternoon at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood. Ramirez returns to the ring against seasoned tough veteran Philadelphia’s Gabriel Rosado (26-16-1, 15 KO’s) next Saturday night March 18 at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California live on DAZN. El “Zurdo” suffered his first defeat last November at the hands of WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Now he gets ready to get back into world title contention. Here is what he had to say.

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One of the world’s most famous and beautiful beaches was the backdrop for the Tim Tsyzu vs. Tony “Superbad” Harrison open media workout on Thursday as both fighters met the local Sydney media and went through their paces in a pop-up ring just steps from the golden sand of Bondi Beach.

Just like the undefeated hometown hero Tszyu, Detroit’s former world champion Harrison looked relaxed and poised in the hot Australian sun in advance of their showdown for the vacant Interim WBO 154-pound title live on Showtime Saturday. Harrison was joined in the ring by his brother/trainer L.J. Harrison and his sparring partner and good friend Charles Conwell.

Here is what the fighters had to say just three days out from fight night:

Tim Tszyu: I’ve always wanted to get a big name on the resume and now there’s just one job left to do…[Harrison has been talking a lot, but] wait till he feels the first jab and it’s all going to change. On Sunday, we’ll see. I’m feeling intimidating right now. I need someone in front of me. See that water out there. Well, that water’s going to be in this ring and I’m going to drown him and suck the life out of him.”

Tony Harrison: “My trump card is here, and I don’t brag a lot about people, but whenever I fight an orthodox fighter, my trump card is none other than Charles Conwell. Trust me, give it a couple of years and he’ll be fighting for a belt soon. This is Michigan vs. Ohio State, we all know about that.”

Undefeated light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (9-0, 6 KOs) takes on Ariel Armando Basconcel (13-4-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-round bout this Saturday, March 11 from the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Mass. “Ali is not yet known to the public at large, but in the near future will be a dominant force in the light heavyweight division,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “I believe he has all the tools to become one of the prominent fighters in the sport of boxing.” We’ll see.

Super middleweights Diego Pacheco and “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s action at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

Diego Pacheco: “I’m just really happy to be here and I’m thankful for the opportunity now I get to headline. It’s unfortunate what happened to Callum Smith but I’m just thankful that the show is going on and I’m the one on top. I’m excited for Saturday and I’m looking forward to a great night of fighting.”

Jack Cullen: “I put everything into this training camp. I’ve left no stone unturned. I’ve done everything right and you’ll see on fight night. I have plenty of experience, big bollocks and I want to fight. I’ve put everything into my training. This is my life and I want to keep this going. Stick to the game plan and we’ll get him out of there.”

Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas has been forced to withdraw from his April 1 fight against Ronald “Diablo” Cruz at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa due to an undisclosed training injury. Zayas is expected to return to the ring in June. Zayas-Cruz was scheduled to be the ESPN+ co-feature to the WBO featherweight world title clash between Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez and Isaac Dogboe.

The new co-feature will see two-time world title challenger Joet Gonzalez (25-3, 15 KOs) taking on Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas (22-2, 11 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight tilt.

By Ron Jackson

34-year-old Tommy Oosthuizen continues on the comeback trail when he meets the 29-year-old Ugandan Musa “Hitman” Ntege for the vacant African Boxing Union cruiserweight title at the Carousel Casino in Hammanskraal north of Pretoria on Sunday Afternoon.

Oosthuizen (31-3-2, 18 KOs) who fights from the southpaw stance has had an outstanding career winning multiple titles including the IBO super middleweight and light heavyweight titles, since making his pro debut in February 2008.

He will be having his fourth fight since falling foul of the law and has scored wins over Youssouf Masango Mwanza (PTS 8), Limbano Lano (TKO 6) and Godfrey Paulo Kamala (KO 4). Continue reading “Oosthuizen continues on his comeback trail”

Unbeaten super welterweight ‘King’ Callum Walsh (5-0, 4 KOs) will now face Wesley Tucker, (15-4, 9 KOs) in the ten-round main event on the ‘Eve of St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 16 at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts, and broadcast live on UFC Fightpass. Tucker steps in for Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz who suffered a broken finger in sparring.

By Boxing Bob Newman

After 41 years and 1,206 professional fights as a referee, Bill Clancy has retired as third man in the ring and will start his new job as Regulatory Operations Manager for the Virginia Boxing, MMA & Wrestling Commission. Clancy reffed his final show at Maryland Live Casino on February 18 and was celebrated for his long service with a standing ovation from the crowd.

Clancy has moved from his home in North Carolina to Virginia and starts his new post this Friday, March 10. He has reffed such title fights as Jean Pascal-Badou Jack, Markus Beyer-Danny Green #1, Jessica McCaskill-Anahi Sanchez, Jarrett Hurd-Julian Williams, Andre Dirrell-Jose Uzcategui and Victor Terrazas-Cristian Mijares, just to name a few.

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions’ Hollywood Fight Nights series will move from the Quiet Cannon in Montebello to the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, on Friday, April 14 and broadcast live on UFC Fightpass. The event is headlined by a cross-town rivalry featherweight showdown between Omar Cande Trinidad (11-0-1, 9 KOs) and Adan Ochoa, (12-2, 5 KOs), scheduled for eight rounds.

“The Commerce Casino has been home to many memorable nights of boxing in the Los Angeles area and we’re excited to bring our Hollywood Fight Nights series to their new venue and to partner with UFC Fightpass for the broadcast,” said Loeffler. “Omar Trinidad versus Adan Ochoa is one of the best LA rivalry fights, one that promises fireworks from the opening bell.”