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Two important WBA eliminators took place on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England.

In a WBA super lightweight eliminator, Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) brutally stopped Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs) in round nine with a body shot. Ritson went down for a count of ten and then some.

In a WBA featherweight final eliminator, Thomas Patrick Ward (33-1-1, 5 KOs) was abused over five rounds by Otabek Kholmatov (11-0, 10 KOs). Ward was on the canvas three times before his corner threw in the towel in round five.

IBF #8, WBO #11, WBA #13 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (23-0, 15 KOs) came off the canvas to score a wild third round kayo over Agron Smakici (19-2, 17 KOs) to begin his second reign as EBU European champion on Saturday night at the Ruhrcongress in Bochum, Germany.

In round two, Smakici rocked Kabayel, who fell into the ropes and receives a count. Smakici tried to finish him unsuccessfully and was staggered himself late in the round. In round three, Kabayel stepped on the gas and dropped Smakici twice to end it.

WBA #4 rated middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (18-0, 8 KOs) will headline in the main event of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing’s “Fire on the Bay” Saturday, April 29 at the Hilton Carillon in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coyle will defend his NABA title against the dreaded TBA in a ten round contest. The card will also be broadcast live on Reyesboxingtv.com.

In the co-feature, lightweight Willian “Babyface” Silva (29-4, 15 KOs) will appear in an eight-rounder against dreaded TBA number 2.

Isaiah Johnson 144.5 vs. Antonio Sanchez 144.5
Oscar Barajas 137.8 vs. Roberto Gomez 144.5
Nimal Farmer 145.3 vs. Boris Nde 141.2
Dominique Mayfield 265.6 vs. Jerome Aiken 227.8
Erron Peterson 160.4 vs. Tariq Green 159.4
Najeem Johns 139 vs. Raekwon Butler 138.5
Soslon Alborov 154 vs. Brendan O’Callaghan 155.4
Jonathan Wiles 229.8 vs. Ali Ellis 211.4

Promoter: RDR Promotions
Venue: Newtown Athletic Club
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 6:30 PM ET

Brandon Figueroa 125.8 vs. Mark Magsayo 126
(WBC featherweight title)

Jarrett Hurd 159.2 vs. Armando Reséndiz 161
Amilcar Vidal 159 vs. Elijah Garcia 158.6
Terrell Gausha 156.6 vs. Brandyn Lynch 155.6
Travon Marshall 145.6 vs. Justin DeLoach Dock 147
Enriko Gogokhia 143 vs. Samuel Teah 141.6

Venue: Toyota Arena in Ontario, California
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime + Showtime YouTube Channel and Facebook page

Angel Fierro 134.4 vs. Eduardo Estela 134.2
(NABO lightweight title)

Eduardo Núñez 130.6 vs. Martin Ceyca 128.8
Misael Rodriguez 162.6 vs. Aaron Guerrero 161.2
Alejandro Young 127.2 vs. Francisco Piña 125.8
Criztec Bazaldua 136.4 vs. Jose Bustamante 135.4

Venue: Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

In a pretty big under-the-radar fight, former unified cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (30-1, 23 KOs) scored a second round knockout against previously unbeaten former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs) to claim the WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title on Friday night at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia. A Gassiev right hand put Balogun down for the count.

Lewis Ritson 139.75 vs. Ohara Davies 139
(WBA super lightweight eliminator)

Thomas Patrick Ward 125.75 vs. Otabek Kholmatov 125
Lee McGregor 132 vs. Alexis Kabore 129

Venue: Utilita Arena Newcastle, England
Promoter: Phil Jeffries
TV: FITE

Agit Kabayel 237.9 vs. Agron Smakici 242.5
(EBU European heavyweight title)

Kevin Saszik 209.7 vs. Toni Visic 215.2
Fedor Michel 168.2 vs. Islam Teffahi TBA
Hamsat Shadalov 135.6 vs. Claudio Lionel Baldomir 134.5
Alexander Frank 213.6 vs. Rufat Hjiyev 235.9
Patrick Schäfer 251.3 vs. Nikola Mrda TBA
Ilja Mezencev 238.1 vs. Sami Enbom TBA

Venue: RuhrCongress, Bochum, Germany
Promoter: SES Boxing
TV: BILD Plus

Anthony Martinez 209 vs. Santander Silgado Gelez 240
(NABA Silver heavyweight title)

Victor Abreu 122 vs. Cristian Perez 122.1
(WBA Gold super bantamweight title )
Yordan Barrera vs. Winston Campos
(WBA Fedlatin title super welterweight title)
Nestor Santana 264 vs. Marcus Maulding ¿?
Billy Rodriguez 112 vs. Richard Morales 106
Brayan Leon 174 vs. Samuel Miller 192

Venue: DoubleTree Hotel near the Miami Airport in Miami, Florida
Promoter: Rivalta Boxing (Henry Rivalta)
TV: PPV (Fite $19.99)
Doors open at 6 pm. First Bell 7pm

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Leading Australian promoter Paul Nasari talks to Fightnews.com® about his amateur and professional boxing career + sparring Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu, promoting undisputed lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos, and working on weekly boxing radio show on 2BACR

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By Héctor Villarreal
Photos: Martín Pérez – Producciones Agua Blanca

Former WBA bantamweight super champion, Panamanian Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (42-6-1) will face an opponent from Mexico or Argentina in the main event of the international boxing card “Tributo 50” scheduled for Thursday, March 30 at the legendary Arena Roberto Duran.

Moreno, currently ranked #8 by WBA in the featherweight division, is also the matchmaker for Laguna Premium Boxing, the promotional company headed by his wife, Rouss Laguna de Moreno. Continue reading ““Chemito” Moreno announces 50th pro fight”

Lightweights Angel Fierro and Eduardo Estela faced off during the final press conference ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on Saturday, March 4th at Polideportivo Juan S. Millan in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. DAZN will televise.

Angel Fierro: “I’m calm, I’m motivated, I’m close to that shot of getting a world title fight. He is confident and I respect him, but it will be a complete war in the ring, and I will be ready to give what I need to give.”

Eduardo Estela: “We’ve studied him, we know he hits hard but can also take a shot, we’re completely ready for it.”

Super welterweight contender Terrell Gausha will top the action in a ten round showdown against once-beaten Brandyn Lynch that streams live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing Facebook page preceding Saturday’s Showtime Championship Boxing telecast from Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The stream kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Also featured in the ring will be rising prospect Travon Marshall against Justin DeLoach Dock in an eight-round welterweight clash, plus unbeaten super lightweight Enriko Gogogkhia faces Samuel Teah in the 8/10-round opener.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with the “Mexican Monster” David Benavidez as he gets ready to face his arch-enemy Caleb Plant on Saturday, March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sat March 25 and shown live on Showtime PPV presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Benavidez talked about the buildup to the fight, his genuine dislike for Plant, his new nickname from Iron Mike, plus his relationship with Abel and Jesus Ramos Jr and so much more in this exclusive interview.

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Felix Zabala III has officially been named Vice President of Miami based All Star Boxing, Inc., third generation of a Boxing Family, Grandfather Felix “Tuto” Zabala RIP was a legendary Promoter with a career that started in 1964 and went on until he suffered a massive stroke and later passed in 2021, and his Father Felix “Tutico” Zabala who has also been in the game for over 40 years and is currently the President.

“Couldn’t be more proud to bring in my son to serve as Vice President, he has grown in the business and is well respected in the boxing world, this is his time, he is ready for the task, the third generation will bring in new ideas and will inject the youth and energy needed to take the company to another level, he will be overseeing the day to day operations” said Felix “Tutico” Zabala. Continue reading “Zabala III named VP of All Star Boxing”

An injury has forced Callum Smith out of his light heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday March 11.

The event will go ahead, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand), with Diego Pacheco’s WBO International super middleweight title showdown with Jack Cullen and Robbie Davies Jr’s super lightweight fight with Darragh Foley now co-headlining.

Refunds for tickets purchased for the March 11 event are available from the original point of purchase.

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa is currently a 3:1 favorite over Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo in advance of Saturday’s clash for the vacant WBC interim featherweight title from Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Both are former world champions. The bout will air on Showtime.

With the opportunity to become Uruguay’s first world professional boxing champion inching closer with every victory, unbeaten WBC #9 middleweight Amilcar “Pety” Vidal (16-0, 12 KOs) is hard at work in the gym with trainer Bob Santos, preparing for his 10-round clash against also unbeaten Elijah Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) on Saturday from Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Vidal and Garcia will meet in the opening bout of the Showtime telecast topped by a high-powered matchup of former world champions, Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Filipino sensation Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo for the vacant WBC interim featherweight title. Continue reading “Vidal poised for breakout fight”

IBF #8, WBO #11, WBA #13 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (22-0, 14 KOs) faced off with Agron Smakici (19-1, 17 KOs) at the final press conference for their EBU European title fight on Saturday night in Bochum, Germany. Broadcast by BILD Plus in Germany.

Agit Kabayel: “I have this great anticipation, this impatience, I notice it in everyone around me. The whole of Bochum is looking forward to this duel for this big title. Now at 30, I’m a full man and a “grown-up” heavyweight. On Saturday, things will finally get down to business in the ring!”

Agron Smakici: “Despite the “victory lap” – the relocation – my preparation was great. I still have a score to settle with Germany. I’l get the European title – and also satisfaction for my bad experiences as a boxer in this country. It will be my comeback in Germany!”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) says WBO#4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21KO’s) will be in dire straits if their bout for the WBO interim title goes past round four on Sunday, March 12 (Saturday, March 11 in the USA) at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV and Showtime in the U.S.

“If it goes past four he’s going to be in trouble,” Tsyzu told Fox Sports. “My aim is to grab him by the neck and pull him down into the ocean and just let him sink – drown him. It will start from round one and we’ll see when he gets some air. He’s going to want to tap, he’s going to wish it was UFC.

“He’s tall but my sparring partners are much taller. He looks fragile. You can just see it, I’ve been sparring big, strong unbreakable blokes and he looks like I could crack him in half.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Sumio Yamada

Former WBO champ Tomoki Kameda (40-3, 22 KOs), 123.5, proved faster and more ferocious than WBA#13 Luis Castillo (30-5, 20 KOs), 123.25, halting him at 1:18 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday (February 25). WBA#2 Tomoki, the youngest of Kameda brothers, scored four wins in a row since he failed to win the WBC 122-pound belt from Rey Vargas on points in Carson CA in July 2019. Having established his own TMK International Promotions (named after Tomoki), it was his first appearance as its main attraction in his native Osaka. Castillo complained of a nose pain after an accidental butt in round two, the nose-bleeding Mexican looked to have lost his fighting spirit, and the third man called a halt when Tomoki battered him from all angles, though some people criticized it as a premature stoppage. WBA#2 Tomoki, nicknamed ‘Mexicanito,’ looked sharp and smart. Continue reading “WBA#2 Tomoki Kameda halts #13 Castillo”

The WBO Championship Committee has ordered welterweight champion Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) to commence negotiations with Alexis Rocha (22-1, 14 KOs) for a mandatory defense. The parties have twenty days to reach an agreement. If an accord is not reached within that timeframe, a purse bid will be ordered. The minimum acceptable bid is $200,000, but the winning bid will likely be in the millions. Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process. The purse split will be no be greater than 75/25 for Crawford using a ratio based upon the average purse of each fighter’s last three fights.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

I have visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a boxing show which was quite extraordinary. I am extremely impressed by the work put together by Skill Challenge Promotions, as they have put together a memorable event. The Middle East Professional Boxing Commission has grown to be a standalone entity fully equipped to supervise world level shows and the people in Saudi Arabia love boxing.

The boxing card was exceptional. For the first time in history, an Arab woman fought in her homeland, there were three amateur fights backing up the Olympic boxing program, six preliminary fights which included local talent, followed by a sensational and dramatic WBC world title fight.

Former two-division world champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack defeated former champion from the Congo Ilunga Makabu by TKO in Round 12, to win the World Boxing Council cruiserweight title. A Cinderella story on its own, Badou Jack is now a three-division world champion (super middle, light heavy, and cruiserweight). Makabu, a true warrior, put a sensational and courageous fight, landing heavy shots in the middle rounds, making the fight dramatic as he seemed to be getting back strong to finish the fight. Badou had to dig deep to hurt Makabu, and finished with a flurry which prompted referee Mark Lyson to stop the fight. Continue reading “Breaking Ground in Saudi Arabia”