Fightnews.com

Luis “Koreano” Torres 135 vs. Misael “Pichon” Cabrera 135
(WBC Latino lightweight title)

Oscar Alvarez 131.2 vs. Diego Lopez 132.2
Alex Fuentes 126.8 vs. Mario Valenzuela 126.8

Date: March 8
Venue: Palenque De La Expo, in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico
Promoter: Marquez Promotions, Chiquita Gonzalez Promotions, ProBox Promotions
TV: ProBox TV

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

My visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was special for several reasons. In addition to being present at the boxing event in which Badou Jack and Ilunga Makubu fought in a fight of the year candidate and Tommy Fury defeated Jake Paul in a very entertaining match, I had a series of very important meetings with a view to the development of boxing in this part of the world; I spent unforgettable times in the company of beloved champions Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Derek Chisora, Shawn Porter and Devin Haney.

I had the opportunity to experience various memorable social events that taught me the culture of this country, greatly enjoying the similarity of many things that I have lived since I can remember, because of my Syrian-Lebanese roots, and the blood that runs in our veins.

Waking up at five in the morning with the prayers that are heard throughout the city, enjoying sunrise and sunset with unique landscapes, and the delicious food and desserts of the region. Continue reading “Tour of the Middle East – Part 2”

After an injury forced Callum Smith out of his light heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday, Los Angeles’ Diego Pacheco’s WBO International super middleweight title showdown with Jack Cullen and Robbie Davies Jr’s super lightweight fight with Darragh Foley are now co-headlining. DAZN will stream.

The unbeaten Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) looks to impress in his first appearance in the UK, stepping up against “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) in what promises to be an all-action affair.

“Jack Cullen I feel is a good opponent, finally someone that the fans know I guess,” said Pacheco. “If I beat him then it’s going to be like, ‘he beat this guy’, and I hope people are going to start believing in me a little bit more. Continue reading “Pacheco ready for spotlight”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Brock Jarvis (22-1, 19 KOs) made a successful return to the ring as a welterweight on Wednesday when he scored a knockout victory over Filipino Marlon Paniamogan (11-2-2, 5 KOs) at the Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Sydney, NSW televised on Foxtel Cable television network

Jarvis was in trouble in round two but rebounded to take control of the bout and dropped Paniamogan with a body shot in round four and referee John Gauchi crowned the Aussie at 2.56.

Former WBO super middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles media workout at Brickhouse Boxing Club Wednesday in anticipation of his DAZN-streamed light heavyweight showdown against Gabriel “King” Rosado (26-16-1, 15 KOs) on March 18 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.

“I know Gabriel well; he is a great fighter and a great friend. We are friends inside and outside the ring and have been sparring partners. That is why this fight is dangerous; we both know each other very well. I know his weaknesses, and he knows mine. So I have to be on my toes, be better on fight night, and be ready to stop him. At the end of the day, this fight is all business; it’s not personal.” Continue reading “Zurdo targets rematch with Bivol”

WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) says “everything has been on point” as he prepares for this weekend’s WBO interim title clash against Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21KO’s) at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The bout is televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV in Australia and Showtime in the USA.

“I went and researched a little bit about Cristiano Ronaldo,” Tszyu told the Wide World of Sport. “I know he’s not a boxer but the way he approaches life is the way I am approaching life right now – as a true, 100% athlete dedicated to his craft. Everything. Just the way I eat, when I eat, just true professionalism.

“I know when I was growing up my dad was an army sergeant with the way he approached life and I’m 2x to how he was…right now I feel like I could run over anyone and it’s a good position and feeling to have, especially leading up to such a big fight.”

Undefeated former two-time WBC super middleweight champion David “La Bandera Roja’’ Benavidez welcomed a visit from his longtime promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, to his Seattle training camp Tuesday as he finalizes preparations for a showdown against former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“La Bandera Roja has a look in his eyes like I’ve never seen before,” said Lewkowicz. “He is coming to not just beat Caleb Plant, but to destroy him.”

By David Finger

There are seldom sure things in boxing, but perhaps the closest thing to a “can’t miss prospect” you’ll find in the sport might just be the former Cuban amateur standout. Which is why so many boxing fans will be looking to the Persian Gulf this weekend when People’s Fighters Promotion hosts a card in Dubai featuring four young Cuban prospects with legitimate world championship ambitions on March 10th.

In the main event, 20-year old Jadier Herrera (9-0, 7 KOS) of Camaguey, Cuba takes on Filipino Harmonito Dela Torre (22-4, 14 Kos) in the ten round main event. Herrera comes from boxing royalty in Cuba, the grandson of the two time Olympic gold medalist Angel Herrera Vera. However Herrera has shown himself to be a legitimate world class fighter in his own right, scoring impressive wins over Franklin Manzanilla (21-8), Pablo Robles (15-2) and former OPBF bantamweight champion Mark John Yap (30-15) since turning professional in 2021. Continue reading “Cuban prospects look to shine in Dubai”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former IBF 130-pound champion Billy “ The Kid” Dib has been undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment battling stomach cancer for several weeks and was given the news he was hoping for – that he is now cancer-free.

“I received the most beautiful news today,” Billy tweeted. “My scan came back clear of cancer. I am so grateful, blessed, happy and relieved.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Formerly world-rated super lightweight Brock Jarvis (21-1, 18 KOs) returns to action tonight following his knockout loss to WBO#3 Liam Paro. Brock faces Filipino 140-pounder Marlon Paniamogan (11-1-2, 5 KOs) at the Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Sydney, NSW televised on Foxtel Cable television network throughout Australia and promoted by George and Matt Rose.

Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech, who trains Jarvis, told Fox Sports, “I love Liam Paro and mean absolutely no disrespect saying this … but I’d put Brock back in with him today if I could. I still think Brock can beat him every day of the week. Yes, he made a mistake. Got caught.

“And we’ve worked hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Which is why I’ve still got the same confidence in him.”

Promoter Juan Manuel Marquez brings his promotional outfit back to Mexico this Wednesday live on Probox TV. After a successful show in Mexico City last month, Marquez heads to Sonora for the first time. The main event is a local battle between undefeated Luis “Koreano” Torres (17-0, 10 KOs) and Misael “Pinchon” Cabrera (14-1, 10 KOs) for the WBC Latino lightweight title in the main event. Bragging rights at stake as both hail from Obregon, Sonora.

The undercard will feature 6’3 super featherweight Oscar Alvarez (8-0, 7KOs) against Diego Lopez (3-1-1, 2 KOs) of Mexico City in Alvarez’s hometown.

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Watch ProBox TV Events FOR FREE (NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED) on Facebook/YouTube in English and Spanish. OR, you can watch ProBoxTV ad-free on ProBoxTV.com for $1.99/Month.

French Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka will return in a 10-round main event this Saturday, March 11, against former world title challenger Carlos Takam at Zenith Paris in Paris, France. Yoka-Takam and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

Yoka (11-1, 9 KOs) is coming off a majority decision loss to Martin Bakole last May. Gatekeeper Takam recently ended Arslanbek Makhmudov’s knockout streak by forcing him to go 10 rounds for the first time. He has lost two straight.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence has offered to back WBO#4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1,21KO’s) for $10,000 on social media to defeat WBO#1,WBC#1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0,15KO’s) on Sunday (Saturday in USA) for the WBO interim title at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV and Showtime in the USA.

Glenn Jennings who manages Tszyu told Fox Sports.“Errol is one of these guys that spends an enormous amount of time having fights on social media, rather than in the ring. Although now there’s talk he will come up to Tim’s weight class, and we certainly hope he does. I know that’s a fight Tim would like. Continue reading “Errol Spence backs Harrison”

By Robert Coster

on a card held on Saturday in Sosua, Dominican Republic, US boxers had mixed results against local battlers. The main event saw up and coming cruiserweight Richard “Popeye the Sailor Man” Rivera ( 24-1, 18 KOs), 181lbs from Connecticut, made short work- in one round -of Ezequiel Urena,(6-5) 178 lbs; local boy Misael Vazquez (13-4), 130, snapped the unbeaten record of Malik Lewis (7-1 ), 132lbs with a 6 round unanimous decision; Dominican Brainer Vasquez (16-5, 9 KOs), 138lbs, outpointed Courtney Jackson{23-4 } over 8 rounds

Rivalta Boxing (Henry Rivalta) had their first event of 2023 this past Friday at the Double Tree Hotel by the Miami Airport & Convention Center in Miami, Florida.

Highly decorated Cuban national team member Victor Abreu (3-0, 1 KO) of Cienfuegos, Cuba defeated Cristian Perez (10-7, 7 KOs) of Venezuela. Abreu won the vacant North American Boxing Association super bantamweight title by 10 round unanimous decisión.

The 6’3 southpaw and amateur of 250 fights Yordan Barrera (2-0) defeated the more experienced Winston Campos (33-9-6, 19 KOs) of Nicaragua by 10 round unanimous decision. Barrera of Guantanamo, Cuba won the vacant North American Boxing Association super welter title in just his 2nd professional bout.

Local favorite Anthony Martinez (15-2, 13 KOS) of Miami defeated former world title challenger Santander Silgado Gelez(32-15, 26 KOs) of Colombia by 10 round unanimous decisión to win the vacant NABA Silver heavyweight title. Continue reading “Abreu, Barrera, Martinez win in Miami”

Rising prospect Isaiah Johnson remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over veteran upset-specialist Antonio Sanchez in a junior welterweight bout that headlined an entertaining eight-bout card at The Newtown Athletic Club.

The show was promoted by RDR Promotions.

Johnson of New Jersey boxed very well, and had Sanchez in trouble on several different occasions, but the experienced Sanchez was able to hold off the fast and energetic Johnson. Johnson was bever challenged and cruised home with the win by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55. Johnson is now 7-0. Sanchez of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico is 7-16-3. Continue reading “Results from Philadelphia”

Hall of Fame boxing promoter, matchmaker and publicist Robert “Bobby” Goodman passed away in peace and comfort at the hospital in Galloway, N.J. on Sunday, March 5, at the age of 83.

Goodman, who spent 25 years with Don King Productions as Vice President, Boxing Operations, Matchmaker and Director of Public Relations, was the son of another great boxing Hall of Famer, the late Murray Goodman. Bobby and his father were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, the only father-son to have achieved those honors.

Bobby also received the Boxing Writers Association of America’s James J. Walker Memorial Award for long and meritorious service in boxing in 1980. He also was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009, the New York Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018 as well as the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019. Continue reading “Hall of Famer Bobby Goodman passes”

Undefeated WBC interim super welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) will defend his title against Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday, April 8 live on Showtime from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The telecast will also feature undefeated super lightweight contender Brandun Lee (27-0, 23 KOs) taking on Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event, plus undefeated featherweights Luis “The Twist” Núñez (18-0, 13 KOs) and Christian Olivo (20-0-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, go on sale tomorrow.

Inoue to make ambitious invasion in 122lb division against Fulton

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Time will come soon. “The Monster” Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs), Japan, will have an ambitious shot at the WBC, WBO 122-pound belts against also unbeaten Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs), US, at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on May 7. Naoya, formerly undisputed bantam four-belt kingpin, will aim for his fourth division championship after he completely renounced all the 118-pound belts last month in order to have a crack against the ringwise Fulton. It was announced by Ohashi Promotions today (Tuesday) in Tokyo. Inoue, 29, confidently said, “I’m happy to have this event eventually announced publicly. It is a challenge to myself that I’ll invade into the super-bantam category and make myself in a tip-top condition. It truly motivates me that I’ll welcome the big fight at my first fight after moving up to the 122-pound class.”

Inoue described his target Fulton, saying, “He is a taller boxer with a more advantageous reach. It might be hard to finish him, but I’d like to concentrate to be victorious, I believe I am more powerful and faster than Fulton. I don’t know at this moment what game plan I will take against Fulton. Continue reading “Inoue-Fulton Kickoff Press Conference”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1,21KO’s) is confident of victory when he clashes with WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) on Sunday, March 12 (Saturday, March 11 in the USA) for the WBO interim 154lb title at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV in Australia, and Showtime in the USA

“He hasn’t fought a world championship fighter yet,” Harrison told the Wide World of Sports.”I am the first one – and I am probably going to be the last because he’s going to go back to the bottom and has to rebuild this stuff back up. He’s not a weak kid but to say he’s like Kostya Tszyu, I think we’re giving him just a little too much!”

“I do think he’s strong enough to compete at the weight that he’s fighting at, but do I think he’s the strongest? Nah. Do I think he hits harder than Jermell (Charlo)? Nah. Come fight night, he’s got to prove it. He’s got to show us. All the talk is over.”

Naoya “Monster” Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) conquered the bantamweight division. He’s now moving up in weight to capture the biggest fish at 122 pounds. Philadelphia’s WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) will defend his titles against Japan’s pound-for-pound king Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Fulton-Inoue and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in a special early-morning presentation.

By Miguel Maravilla

The Philippines’ Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) and his advisor Sean Gibbons had a lot to say about his defeat to Brandon Figueroa Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas talked about his win unanimous decision over Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) of the Philippines. Figueroa became the interim WBC featherweight champion winning Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California and held court at the post-fight presser.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Mexico’s Jose Armando Reséndiz (14-1, 10 KOs) pulled the upset as he stopped former unified super welterweight world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd (24-3, 16 KOs) in the tenth and final round in the co-feature middleweight bout. Resendiz spoke about his big win at the post-fight press conference.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Undefeated 19-year-old middleweight prospect Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Phoenix talked about his spectacular fourth-round knockout over Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) from Uruguay. Here is what he had to say about his win and his plans moving forward.

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