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WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faced off with Derek Chisora at the final press conference for their clash Saturday night at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of an expected sold-out crowd of roughly 70,000. ESPN+ will stream the fight is the U.S.

Tyson Fury: “I’m doing what I love to do. I’m getting paid to do what I love. I take my career very seriously. I’m looking forward to it. I cannot wait to get out there, put on a show and entertain. Come Saturday night, there’s no friendship. There are no friends in business, and this is a business transaction. So, we’re going to go in there, punch the f**k out of each other, and then afterward we can have a nice little sandwich, a nice cup of tea, whatever he wants. Not a problem. But while we’re in there, we’re in fight mode. We’re going to put on a great show.”

Derek Chisora: “I can’t sit here and try to be more aggressive to Tyson and try to say so many bad words because the man I’m looking at right now is giving me an opportunity when nobody wanted to give me an opportunity. He called me up and he said to me, ‘I want to fight you. I want to give you a big payday.’ And I said, ‘Yes. Let’s make it happen.’ For me to sit here and try to talk shit and say so many bad things about a man who is actually giving me food on the table for my kids, I cannot.”

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum says a unification fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is up next provided that Fury gets past Derek Chisora on Saturday night in London.

“I don’t see any reason why the Uysk fight with Tyson Fury can’t be made speedily without much trouble,” said Arum today. “I know the Usyk people very well. His manager, Egis Klimas, is a really good friend of mine. He manages Lomachenko and Janibek. I’ve dealt with him a whole lot over the years. I know Oleksandr Usyk. I know he wants the fight. I talked with Tyson a little while ago, and he wants the fight. That fight will happen next unless Mr. Chisora lands his punch. Don’t discount Chisora. He is a hell of a fighter. He has a tremendous punch. I remember when he fought Usyk. He gave Uysk life or death. That fight could have gone either way. You can’t, in this business, count your chickens before they hatch.”

While WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is taking heat for fighting Derek Chisora again after previously beating him twice, but the Gypsy King says there are a lack of other name fighters for him to face.

“I hear all these critics talking bullshit. They basically never took a punch in their life,” said Fury. “‘Why are you fighting Derek Chisora because you’ve beaten him twice already?’ The thing is there’s a lack of names in the division. There’s plenty of depth in the division, there are a thousand heavyweights in the world, but there’s a lack of household names. I could have fought somebody 34-0 from some foreign country, and everyone would be like ‘who the f**k is this guy?’ But mention Derek Chisora, they know who Derek is. For good, bad, or indifferent reasons, controversial, whatever, they all know who he is and know we’re gonna put on a good show. And there we are, we sold out 50,000 tickets.” Continue reading “Fury defends Chisora trilogy”

The WBC has commented on admissions by retired referee Carlos Padilla in a recent interview that he intentionally made several calls to help his countryman Manny Pacquiao win a 2000 fight against Australian Nedal Hussein. Padilla stated that 1) he intentionally prolonged a ten-round after Pacquiao was knocked down and 2) ruled that a cut to Hussein was caused by a punch when it was actually caused by a headbutt.

WBC Statement: The World Boxing Council has established a special panel to review the situation about Legendary Referee Carlos Padilla with regards to some comments during an interview published by The WBC a few days ago.

We have received a sensitive letter from Mr. Padilla´s daughter Suzy which is found in this release as she has addressed it to the boxing Community of the world. The letter is self-explanatory and I, as President of The WBC, as well as a human being who has known Mr. Padilla since I was 10 years old, I can certainly empathize with Suzy and the contents of her letter to the boxing Community.

I will personally follow the process in the meantime, The WBC will not make any further public comments.

Sincere regards
Mauricio Sulaiman

Continue reading “WBC Statement on referee Carlos Padilla “

Fightnews.com® caught up with pound-for-pound king Terence “Bud” Crawford as he prepares for his upcoming fight against world title contender David Avanesyan on Sat, Dec.10 back in his hometown of Omaha, NE and shown live on BLK Prime. Crawford shared his thoughts on his upcoming fight, Regis Prograis check bouncing and MMA legend Cris Cyborg as the co-main. He talked about his relationship with Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis as well as addressed the recent IG rant from Jermell Charlo and much more in this exclusive interview.

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Juan Francisco Estrada is ready to step through the ropes to face his old foe Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez for the third time on Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, live on DAZN – and the Mexican ace thinks their fights are so good, that we could even be treated to a fourth installment.

“We’ve had a great training camp and I’m desperate to get in the ring for the trilogy with Román,” said Estrada. “I’m happy and I feel it will be a great fight like the last two. He beat me in 2012 and I beat him in the second fight, so you could say this is the decider. There might be a fourth like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez, who knows? We’ll have our trilogy, and we don’t know whether it will end here or not. We’re going to find out who is the best, who will be leading in fights won and if in the future, God willing, there is a fourth, bring it on. Continue reading “Estrada: We’re going to find out who is the best”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury opened up in a very revealing and at times emotional interview ahead of his fight with Derek Chisora on Saturday.

“I’ve been in love with boxing for such a long time from being a little boy and I am 34 now, probably at the end of my career in the next few years,” said Fury. “It has been a love-hate relationship and it has been toxic at times, but when it is good, it is very good.

“So we are in that relationship and I don’t just abandon things. I try and make things work and that is where we are at the minute. I’ve wanted to leave a lot of times but it always drags me back. It is like a massive drug and an addiction. Continue reading “Fury: Boxing is more addictive than any drug”

The women’s light flyweight unification fight between WBC champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) and WBA champion Jessica Nery Plata (28-2, 3 KOs), scheduled for Thursday in Laval, Canada, will be postponed after Clavel contracted the flu, her promoter confirmed Tuesday night. The fight was to be the first title defense for both champions. Clavel defeated Yesenia Gómez via unanimous decision in July and Plata defeated Yesica Bopp in March.

Clavel’s promoter, Yvon Michel, commented on his social networks: “Following the recommendation of Dr. Francis Fontaine, regarding the state of health of Kim Clavel, we are forced to postpone the unification fight scheduled for Thursday, December 1 in Place Bell. We will announce more details soon.”

Golden Boy Promotions will wrap up 2022 on December 17 with a clash between unbeaten welterweight Raúl “Cugar” Curiel (11-0, 9 KOs) against Brad Solomon (29-5, 9 KOs) at The Commerce Casino and Hotel just south of downtown Los Anngeles. Curiel’s NABF Welterweight title will be on the line and the event will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Providing chief support to the card, Diego De La Hoya (23-1, 11 KOs) will face Jose “El Torito” Gonzalez (23-10-1, 13 KOs) in a ten round featherweight fight. Continue reading “Golden Boy announces Dec 17 DAZN card”

The Top Rank on ESPN 2023 slate kicks off with a heavyweight doubleheader on January 14 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. The 10-round main event is a battle of big-punching Olympians as WBC bridgerweight champion Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (28-1, 19 KOs) faces Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) in a non-title bout.

“I’m proud of my WBC Bridgerweight title and will be defending it soon, but this opportunity Top Rank gave us at heavyweight was too good to pass up,” said Rivas. “I also have a lot of respect for Ajagba, and while I agree with him that it will be spectacular for the fans, my skills and my experience will be the difference.”

In the 10-round co-feature, 2016 Italian Olympian Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs) takes a seismic step up in class against fellow unbeaten Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs). Continue reading “Rivas-Ajagba in non-title tilt on Jan 14”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian-based Tanzanian-born Bruno Tarimo (26-3-2, 5 KOs) will return to action on December 13 against WBC #14 Yoshiki Takei (5-0, 5 KOs) with the OPBF 122-pound title up for grabs at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

“This fight is at my natural weight,” Tarimo said. “I have boxed at a higher weight for the opportunity, but now I have been blessed to box at a weight that is more suited to me and I think people will see the difference on fight night. This will be a hard show to steal, but I’m going to try to as I think at super bantamweight I can be world champion.

“The OBPF is a very special title to win. I want to win it for God, for my family, and for my manager and trainers. They work hard to get me these opportunities, and I want to make sure I do them proud. I believe winning this title puts me on a stage where I can become world champion.”

By Ron Jackson

South Africa has an illustrious history in heavyweight boxing with Gerrie Coetzee (WBA), Fransie Botha (IBF) and Corrie Sanders (WBO) winning versions of the heavyweight title.

In the main supporting bout for Fury versus Chisora, South Africa’s top heavyweight contender, the 30-year-old Kevin Lerena (28-1, 14 KOs) who has won his six fights in the premier division in style, and is listed at #12 by the World Boxing Association, challenges 25-year-old Daniel Dubois (18-1, 17 KOs) from Greenwich, England, for the WBA regular heavyweight title. Continue reading “Will Lerena be SA’s 4th heavyweight champion?”

By Robert Coster

Cuban prospect Ernesbadi “Brownie” Begue is preparing to face his toughest test against Brazilian Lucas De Abreu on December 16 at the Carlos-Teo-Cruz Coliseum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Begue (7-0, 5 KOs), who is Dominican-based, will clash with De Abreu (14-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBA Fedelatin super middleweight belt. De Abreu, a southpaw, is signed up with the Star Boxing stable. Both young boxers had stellar amateur records. Begue has already fought three times this year. De Abreu is the Brazilian national champion. A victory will open the door of the WBA rankings for the winner. The card isbeing promoted by Shuan Boxing Promotions and by Joselo Lantigua.

This Saturday night, RDR Promotions makes its return to Philadelphia’s Grand Yesha Ballroom. In the six-round featured bout, undefeated David Stevens (11-0, 8 KOs) will fight Christopher Brooker (16-12, 6 KOs) in a six-round super middleweight bout. In the co-featured bout, Erron Peterson (2-0, 2 KOs) fights Dewayne Williams (3-5-1, 3 KOs) in a middleweight tussle. Also, welterweight Mark Dawson Jr. (10-1-1, 4 KOs) meets veteran Evencii Dixon (10-30-2, 5 KOs) in a bout scheduled for six rounds. The card will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with MMA legend Cris Cyborg who fights in the co-main event against Gabrielle Holloway when welterweight champ Terence “Bud” Crawford faces contender David Avanesyan on December 10 in Omaha, NE and shown live on BLK Prime. Cyborg shared her journey in MMA and dream to become a champion boxer, thoughts on Claressa Shields transition from boxing to MMA and her relationship with rising star Vergil Ortiz Jr. and dad Vergil Sr. and much more in this exclusive interview.

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By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

The Qatar 2022 Soccer World Cup began, with surprises and uncertainty with incredible results for the experts of the world of soccer or football as known in most countries.

Saudi Arabia beat one of the favorites to win the cup, Argentina. In the same way, Japan subdued Germany, and thus it became very clear that the world is smaller than ever; there are no longer giants, or minnows who arrive with the surety of returning home after the third game.

Mexico began with an encouraging draw against Poland. Memo Ochoa thrilled Mexico with that heroic and brilliant and dramatic save on a penalty kick , saving his team from a painful defeat in the opening game. Saturday arrived, the families got together, the atmosphere was like only a National Team game can generate, with patriotic pride waiting for a win or even a draw against the titan Argentina. A wonderful first half, with a Lionel Messi covered, and totally controlled, without having a field of action and minimal interventions. Then, a space and a half chance which electric he pounced upon and exploited. It highlights his greatness with a superb and unstoppable goal. The rest was history, the Argentinians closed down the game, and the second goal came, completely turning off the atmosphere that had been created in the Lusail Stadium, and in homes and restaurants throughout our Mexico. Continue reading “A weekend of contrasts for Mexico”

Former world title challenger, Thomas LaManna will take on former interim world title challenger Salim Larbi in a 10-round middleweight bout that will headline a seven bout card on December 17 at The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City. LaManna, of nearby Millville, New Jersey, is ranked number-eight by the World Boxing Association (WBA), and has a record of 33-5-1 with 13 knockouts. Larbi of Rahway, New Jersey is 22-11-3 with eight knockouts.

In the eight-round co-feature, popular heavyweight Kristian Prenga takes on an opponent to be named. Prenga of Orosh, Albania and now residing in Niagara Falls, Ontario is 12-1 with 12 knockouts. Continue reading “Cornflake-Larbi collide Dec 17”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who defends his title Saturday in London, explained his short-lived retirement on the MMA Hour podcast. “I need this,” said Fury. “I need this more than I ever thought I’d ever need something and I still have a lot to give.”

The 34-year-old Gypsy King said it took him just four months to realize retirement wasn’t for him.

“I was at home. I did everything I wanted to do. I wanted to spend some time with my family. I wanted to be that father, the kids, the school runs and all that, the dog, I wanted to do all that sort of stuff. Then I realized that’s like for normal people and I’m anything but a normal person. I’m like an abnormal alien. I only thrive when I’m in training camp for a fight. I really don’t know what’s going to happen in the future when that is not an option anymore. I’m pretty f**ked up, I think. Continue reading “Tyson Fury: I still have a lot to give”

BLK Prime has united with Integrated Sports to distribute the December 10 showdown between WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) and David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), taking place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. MMA star Cris Cyborg (1-0, 1 KO) is scheduled to make her U.S. boxing debut in the co-main event.

The $39.99 PPV will stream on BLKPrime.com and PPV.com, plus be will now be distributed across the United States live on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand (Comcast, Charter and all major cable outlets), DIRECTV and DISH. Continue reading “Crawford-Avanesyan on cable/satellite PPV”

The rivalry between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez spans a decade with the pair first meeting in Los Angeles in November 2012 and then rematching in Dallas in March 2021 – with Chocolatito winning the first and Estrada leveling in Texas. Ahead of their trilogy battle, Matchroom sat down with both fighters in camp, and while they both had plenty to say on the fight and their futures, they took time to reflect on their incredible paths from poverty to greatness.

Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez: “I was born in Managua, in the Esperanza neighborhood. I was born in a poor family and God has blessed me, enabling me to provide a life for my family and my children and I feel immensely proud to have come from a poor family and to now be able to show lots of youngsters that if I can do it, so can they. It makes me proud. Really proud to have been born in the Esperanza neighborhood and to have come from the San Judas Gym where I spent almost all my time training and still do today.

“All of my fans, my people know me there and I feel proud to know that I come from a poor family. So, this makes me immensely proud to know that bit by bit, I’ve made a life for my family and flown the flag for my country.”

Juan Francisco Estrada: “I’m from Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. I started out in boxing at nine years of age. Prior to that, when I was seven, my mother died. When I went into boxing I followed my path, training, having fights locally and then municipal, interstate contests. At 14 my father passed away and I carried on boxing, my aunt and uncle looked after me and my siblings. Continue reading “Estrada, Gonzalez tell their stories”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with WBO #6 welterweight contender David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) as he prepares for the biggest fight of his life against pound-for-pound king Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) on Dec. 10 in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, NE and shown live on BLK Prime pay-per-view. Avanesyan has shared the ring with “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Lamont Peterson and “Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas who also shared the ring with Crawford. Avanesyan believes he is ready to shock the world!

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Unbeaten WBO International junior heavyweight champion David “The Great White” Light (19-0, 12 KOs) has arrived in Tampa, Florida, for Friday’s showdown against WBO #10 Brandon “Bulletproof” Glanton (17-0, 14 KOs) at the nearby White Sands Events Center in Plant City. The card will be streamed live on ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox TV app.

“I’m feeling good,” said Light, who hails from Takapuna, New Zealand. “It is good to arrive here in Florida, in Plant City. We are sleeping well. I get to hear all of these accents that I have only heard on TV, like ‘how ya’ll doin, ya’ll? (laughing).’ Seriously, Glanton is the kind of fighter that people avoid, but I am up to the challenge and on Friday I’m going to put him to sleep.”

The 2023 Association of Boxing Commissions’ 35th Annual Conference will be held July 30-August 3 at the Mirage in Las Vegas. The event has been changed to a Sunday through Thursday format, allowing attending boxing commissions can work shows on both the front and back ends of the conference. Officials and Inspectors Training will be held on Sunday and Monday (July 30-31), and the General Session will run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (August 1-3).

If you take advantage of the early booking discount, the registration rate for the conference remains the same as it has been for the last nine years. The link for booking should be on the ABC website by mid-December.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) departed Sydney Airport for Los Angeles on Monday to prepare for his January 28 challenge of WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) in Las Vegas.

“I’m going hunting, it’s hunting season,” Tszyu told Fox Sports. “This the biggest challenge there is right now. It’s going to be a big moment in Australian sporting history. I understand everything that’s involved, everything I’m putting on the line, this is why I’m leaving so much earlier. This is why I’ve been busting my arse in the gym the last four months, non-stop. This is all in.” Continue reading “Tim Tszyu moves training camp to the USA”

This coming Saturday (December 3) brings not one, but TWO boxing trilogies.

The first trilogy matches WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs), returning from a brief retirement, against Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Gypsy King, a 25:1 favorite, is looking to go 3-0 against Chisora, having previously defeated Del Boy in 2011 (W12) and 2014 (TKO10). ESPN+ will stream the fight in the U.S. The fight is PPV in the U.K.

The second trilogy matches Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (43-3, 28 KOs) against Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (51-3, 41 KOs) in a rubber match at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Chocolatito won the first fight by unanimous decision in 2012. Estrada won the second fight by split decision last year. Chocolatito is a 2:1 favorite to win the third fight. The WBC super flyweight title, formerly held by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, will be on the line. DAZN will stream.