Fightnews.com

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #3 super lightweight Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) has been forced to withdraw from a twelve bout with Robert Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) for the WBO Global 140-pound title that was scheduled for Saturday, March 11 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. Paro has been training in Las Vegas and sustained 3mm facial fracture in sparring. Paro said on social media one week ago he had been sparring with undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney. Paro revealed to Fox Sports he hoped to make a speedy recovery and be back in action soon.

“Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.”

WBC Ruling Regarding Conor Benn Issued by WBC Board of Governors: Conor Benn completed his enrollment process in the WBC Clean Boxing Program in February of 2022. Enrollment in the WBC CBP is mandatory for all fighters rated in the top 15 in the WBC Ratings. Accordingly, he was enrolled in the WBC CBP’s out-of-competition anti-doping testing in July of 2022, when the collection of the samples to which the WBC Ruling being announced herein pertains took place.

On August 23, 2022, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Mr. Benn and the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) that the urine “A Sample” collected from him on July 25, 2022, in connection with his participation in the WBC/VADA anti-doping testing program yielded an adverse analytical finding for Clomiphene and its hydroxymetabolites MI and M2. Continue reading “WBC reinstates Conor Benn”

Unbeaten super middleweight Richard VanSiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) and Manuel Gallegos (20-1-1, 17 KOs) battled to a draw over ten rounds on Wednesday night at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Scores were 96-94 Gallegos, 95-95, 95-95.

Former world title challenger Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (27-3, 10 KOs) closed out the night with an eight round 80-72 3x shut out of Edward Ulloa Diaz (13-5, 10 KOs).

All six bouts on the card went the full distance.

Other Results:
Darrelle Valsaint W6 Lucas de Abreu (super middleweight)
Marques Valle W6 Jarrod Tennant 154 (super welterweight)
Najee Lopez W6 Cristian Fabian Rios (light heavyweight)
Derek Cintron W4 Dario Guerrero (light heavyweight)

Scrappy Ramirez 114.8 vs. Luis Padilla 115
(WBA Continental America super flyweight title)

Manuel Flores 119.6 vs. Franklin Gonzalez 120
Lorraine Villalobos 103 vs. Katherine Lindenmuth 102.2
Grant Flores 149.8 vs. Jorge Lopez 151
Stefanie Cohen 116.6 vs. Leanne Calderon 117.2
Zachary Spiller 265.4 vs. Kaleel Carter 227

Venue: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Heather Hardy 134 vs. Taynnaa Cardoso 133.6
Tsendbaatar Erdenebat 134.4 vs. Giovanni Gutierrez 134.8
Frederic Julan 174.6 vs. Decarlo Perez 174
Michael Hughes 140.2 vs. Nelson Morales 141.8
Terell Bostic 137.6 vs. Clay Burns 135.2

Venue: Sony Hall, Times Square, New York City
Promoter: BoxingInsider
TV: YouTube (free stream)

Abella Boxing Promotions is back with their third show, Bergen County Fight Night 3, set to go down April 1 at The Terrace & Biagio’s Ristorante in Paramus, New Jersey. In the main event, super lightweight Nicky “The Bull” Vitone (9-1-1, 7 KOs) faces an opponent to be named later in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Also featured in six-rounders are super welterweight Mike “The Champ” Lee (9-2, 7 KOs) against southpaw Adam Kipenga (11-3-1, 7 KOs), super bantamweight John “Bodyshot” Leonardo (9-1-1, 4 KOs) against TBA, super featherweight Raymond “The Scientist” Cuadrado (5-0, 1 KO) against Usiel Hernandez (2-1, 0 KOs), and lightweight Terell Bostic (7-1, 1 KO) against TBA. Continue reading “Bergen County Fight Night 3 set for April 1”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

On February 20th, but 30 years ago, the world of boxing experienced one of the most important, spectacular and memorable events in its history when Julio César Chávez, the great Mexican champion, packed Azteca Stadium with 136,274 fans, acquiring the Guinness Record for the boxing card with the highest number of tickets sold in what was an unforgettable day for all of us who were fortunate enough to be there, or to see the complete feat on television.

Chávez TKOd Greg Haugen in five rounds, and here is the link for the exclusive note with a lot of information and special photos: https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-60-30-anos-de-poker-de-ases-chavez-vs-haugen/

This incredible event from 30 years ago inspired me to write my column of today. Continue reading “It’s Now or Never”

ProBox TV have added another big name to their lineup, with former super lightweight champion Chris Algieri coming in alongside Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Manuel Marquez on the newly launched apps broadcasts.

Algieri, who has featured prominently in an analyst role on numerous networks, gave his take on ProBox TV product.

“ProBox TV is exactly what boxing has been missing and desperately needs,” said Algeiri. “Competitive fights between hungry and talented fighters. I grew up only seeing good competitive scraps on TV. Nowadays that is so rare the case that every decent fight is touted as “fight of the year candidate”. From what I’ve seen thus far ProBoxTV only has competitive fights. There ain’t no easy touches here. Continue reading “Chris Algieri joins ProBox TV”

Manuel Gallegos 168.8 vs. Richard VanSiclen 169.4
Darrelle Valsaint 162.8 vs. Lucas de Abreu 163.4
Jimmy ‘Kilrain’ Kelly 161.2 vs. Edward Ulloa Diaz 160
Marques Valle 154 vs. Jarrod Tennant 154
Najee Lopez 173.2 vs. Cristian Fabian Rios 171
Derek Cintron 171 vs. Dario Guerrero 169.4

Venue: ProBox Events Center, Plant City, Florida
Promoter: ProBox
TV: Watch ProBox TV Events for free (no sign-up required) live on Facebook/YouTube in English and Spanish. Enjoy ProBoxTV ad free on ProBoxTV.com for $1.99/month.

Photos: Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Sports

Former world. champion Guillermo Rigondeaux meets the press before his comeback fight on Friday in Miami.

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Former unified female super featherweight beltholder Mikaela Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs) is fighting back in the U.K. for the second time in a row. Mayer will make her lightweight debut against former two-time super lightweight world champion Christina ‘Medusa’ Linardatou (14-2, 6 KOs) on April 15 at Copper Box Arena in London. Mayer-Linardatou will serve as the co-feature to the WBO interim heavyweight title clash between undefeated British knockout artist Joe Joyce and Chinese contender Zhilei Zhang.

Promoted by Queensberry Promotions, the event will be broadcast live in the U.K. on BT Sport and streamed live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

“Mikaela Mayer made such a big hit in the UK that it only made sense to for her to fight across the pond again,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Mikaela is still one of the very best fighters in the world, and she demanded a tough fight for her lightweight debut. Linardatou has proven herself at the world-class level and should give Mikaela a run for her money.”

Former three-time world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-3-1, 13 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time in almost one year when he takes on veteran Jesus Martinez (33-17-1, 16 KOs) in the 10-round bantamweight main event at Hialeah Park on Friday. Rigo, whose last bout was a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Vincent Astrolabio on February 26, 2022 in Dubai, has been sidelined since suffering severe facial burns and eye injuries in a freak kitchen accident at his home in Miami nine months ago. Continue reading “Rigondeaux opponent officially named”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) is worried that WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) could pull out of their bout with a convenient injury. Their fight is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 (Saturday March 11 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.

“If anything happens … if Tim pulls out with a hand injury, it’s a fraud,” Harrison said to Fox Sports’ Ben Damon. “He’s a fraud. And I think the world will consider him a fraud. Because we all know that he found a way to wiggle out of fighting Tony Harrison.”

Harrison says if the roles were reversed, this fight wouldn’t be happening. Continue reading “Harrison: Tzsyu could pull out”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs) is having a shoulder operation soon and will be finalizing details of his first world title defense against the IBF mandatory contender Mateusz Masternak (47-5, 31 KOs).

“We have finally pinpointed the problem and now have another surgery to get done,” Opetaia told the Samoan Global News. “It’s very frustrating to be held back by these small things we can’t control but I will be back better and stronger and I will be coming to collect the rest of my belts!!”

Opetaia should be defending the IBF cruiserweight title in June in Australia or the UK. Continue reading “Opetaia facing shoulder operation”

Wednesday’s ProBox TV card will now stream five fights, four of which feature undefeated boxers taking their biggest steps up in competition. The fifth is middleweight Derek Cintron making his pro debut against Dario Guerrero (1-2), a Harvard graduate that received a scholarship via their Undocumented Immigrant/Dreamers program. The event takes place Wednesday at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida, and will be streamed live on ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox app.

Guererro’s story is interesting. “I am a Harvard graduate,” he said. “I studied filmmaking. I was undocumented so Harvard was the only one to give me a (dreamer) scholarship. My mom got cancer, so I left college for a year, after my freshman year, and took a camera home to document her story then it became my thesis. It’s called ROCIO – you can Google it if you want to see it. I never boxed until I got to Harvard. For this fight I know I have had to prepare to my utmost. I watched his amateur fights. He is fast and has some power, so my objective is to box.”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with Amer Abdallah, the new Head of Boxing for Skill Challenge Entertainment, as he orchestrated the highly anticipated Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury clash this Sunday, February 26 in Saudi Arabia, where Paul will fight a “real boxer” for the first time. Abdallah talks about the fight and the co-main where his fighter, former world champ at super middleweight and light heavyweight, Badou Jack, seeks a world title at cruiserweight vs. Illunga Junior Makabu.

Skill Challenge Entertainment was founded by His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has been responsible for the biggest fights out of the Middle East, primarily out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz II and most recently Oleksander Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II. An announcement is coming in the next week about their strategy to bring some of boxing’s biggest fights to the region.

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Hard-hitting KO artist Subriel Matías plans to defeat unbeaten Jeremias Ponce for the vacant IBF junior welterweight world title this Saturday on SHOWTIME from The Armory in Minneapolis, then take on WBC champion Regis Prograis.

“Ponce is tough and he possesses a unique style,” said Matías. “I would compare him to Marcos Maidana, who’s shocked the boxing world plenty of times. I don’t see a lot of people similar to him in boxing nowadays. Ponce is a great fighter, and I respect both him and Argentina. But my goal is to not let this fight go the distance.

“When I finish this fight with my arm raised high I’ll have only one name in mind: Regis Prograis,” added Matías. “Prograis thinks that he’s the only character in boxing, and I respect him a lot. But I want to show him that there are people in this world that can be even crazier than he is.”

Get ready for five straight nights of boxing action this week.

WEDNESDAY
Boxing returns on ProBoxTV.com and the ProBox app with unbeaten super middleweight Richard Vansiclen (13-0, 6 KOs) against Manuel “El Meno” Gallegos (20-1, 16 KOs) in a ten-rounder from the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

THURSDAY
DAZN has popular super flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez (10-0, 8 KOs) versus Luis “Callado” Padilla (15-3-2, 2 KOs) from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.

FRIDAY
In a $19.99 bxngtv.com pay-per-view, 42-year-old former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-3, 13 KOs) returns against the dreaded TBA from Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, Florida.

SATURDAY
Showtime presents KO artist Subriel Matías (18-1, 18 KOs) against unbeaten Jeremias Ponce (30-0, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF 140-pound world title from the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good fight here.

SUNDAY
In a $49.99 ESPN+ PPV, Jake Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) against Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, with a WBC cruiserweight rating for Paul if he defeats Tyson Fury’s brother. Also, WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2 25 KOs) defends his world title against Badou Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs). Will the Makabu-Jack winner get a big payday against Jake Paul next?

Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing will present a boxing card at the White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey. In the main event, undefeated super welterweight Jahyae “Golden Child” Brown (12-0, 9 KOs) against Denis “Billabong” Okoth (4-5-1 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Okoth previously upset two Star Boxing prospects. Can he do it again?  Continue reading “Boxing back in Jersey City March 4”

Junior welterweight Greg Outlaw Jr, (12-1, 6 KOs) pounded out an eight-round unanimous over Willie Shaw (14-5, 10 KOs) in the headline at The Hall! At Live Casino Hotel Maryland. The 13 fight card was the 10th huge crowd delivered by Jeter Promotions. Outlaw landed solid uppercuts and body shots, and put together eight complete rounds against the durable Shaw. Outlaw of Bowie, Maryland won by scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice. Continue reading “Late Results from Hanover, Maryland”

With four-division world champion Nonito Donaire in his corner, world-rated bantamweight Dylan Price (16-0, 10 KOs) cruised past gritty Jobert Alvarez (20-5-2, 7 KOs) to win the WBO Global and WBC Intercontinental titles in front of a near-capacity crowd on Saturday night at the Elevations Event Center in Chester, Pennsylvania. Scores were 100-90 and 98-92 twice.

The co-feature opener saw the pro debut of Dylan’s 18-year-old brother Devin Price, who stopped Matias Arriagada (6-11, 3 KOs) in the opening round of their junior welterweight fight. Price dropped Arriagada three times with two of them coming on body shots. The fight was halted at 2:07.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The boxing community is mourning the passing of former IBF Board member Al Meier who sadly passed away on Wednesday February 15 surrounded by his family at the age of 93 in his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Al boxed as a professional and an amateur, where he fought as a bantamweight in the National AAU championships during the 1940s. He was a member of the IBF since it was first formed in 1984. He retired as an IBF Board member in 2018. Al is survived by his six children; Rodney, Robert, Ronald, Denise, Deborah and Pam. Continue reading “Former IBF Board Member Al Meier Passes”

In a WBC super bantamweight eliminator, former world champion Luis “Pantera” Nery (34-1, 26 KOs) scored a spectacular eleventh round TKO against Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (21-4, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the Fox Theater in Pomona, California. The bout was a violent slugfest with both fighters rocked multiple times. Nery shots progressively busted up Hovhannisyan’s face. However, midway Hovhannisyan’s bodywork seemed to turn the tide in his favor. In round ten, Nery staggered Hovhannisyan with a left hook, then dropped him. Hovhannisyan barely survived the round. Nery staggered Hovhannisyan again in round eleven and referee Ray Corona waved it off. Time was 1:51.

At the time of the stoppage, Nery was ahead on all three scorecards, 95-94, 96-93, 96-93.

“I knew this was going to be a very difficult fight, Azat is a very tough fighter,” said Nery. “We gave the fans an incredible show. I want the winner between Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton. I feel ready for a world championship.”

“We are disappointed in this outcome, but that’s boxing,” said Hovhannisyan. “There was a lot of back-and-forth action, and we did all that we could.” Continue reading “Nery stops Hovhannisyan in classic”

Featherweight Mauricio “Bronco” Lara (26-2-1, 19 KOs) scored a one-punch seventh round TKO to dethrone WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (26-3, 16 KOs) on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England. Local hero Wood was cut over the left eye from a first round head clash, but was clearly winning the fight. In round seven, both simultaneously landed left hooks. Lara took it. Wood went down. He beat the count, but his trainer Ben Davidson threw in the towel before the bout could resume. Time was 2:54.

After the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn announced that Wood has a rematch clause and he expects him to use it.

Unbeaten British super lightweight beltholder Dalton Smith (14-0, 10 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over Billy Allington (10-2-4, 0 KOs) in the Wood-Lara co-feature on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England. Smith dropped the mobile Allington in round eight and landed the harder punches throughout the bout. Scores were 120-107, 119-108, 119-108. Next up for Dalton is a clash with Sam Maxwell, who fought on the undercard.

Unbeaten lightweight Gary “The Diva” Cully (16-0, 10 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten Wilfredo Flores (10-1-1, 5 KOs) in round two in a bout for the vacant WBA Intercontinental title. Flores cut in round one, dropped twice in round two. Time was 1:52.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke (5-0, 4 KOs) went the distance for the first time against late replacement Israel Duffus (20-9, 17 KOs), Clarke dropped Duffus twice in round six, once in round seven, and once again at the final bell, but the rugged Duffus got up to finish the full ten. Score was 98-88, 98-88, 98-90.

In an upset, unheralded super bantamweight Diego Ruiz (24-6-1, 12 KOs) surprised former European beltholder Gamal Yafai (19-3, 11 KOs). Ruiz dropped Yafai in rounds two, three, and ten en route to a ten round 98-89, 97-90, 97-91 unanimous decision. Ruiz was 0-3-1 in his previous four bouts. Yafai was an 8:1 favorite.

Super lightweight Sam Maxwell (17-1, 11 KOs) shut out Shaun Cooper (13-5, 0 KOs) over six rounds 60-54.