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Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT Navarrete-Wilson photo gallery for some incredible shots. Also includes the official scorecard and shots from the Barboza-Pedraza fight and unbeaten heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr.

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WBO featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) got all he could handle from 14:1 underdog Liam Wilson (11-2, 7 KOs), but scored an exciting ninth round TKO to claim the vacant WBO junior lightweight title formerly held by Shakur Stevenson on Friday night at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Wilson knocked down Navarrete in round four and Navarrete got up reeling but survived the round. In round six, Wilson rocked Navarrete again, but it was his last hurrah. Navarrete came back with quick combinations in rounds seven and eight to keep Wilson on the defense. Navarrete finally dropped Wilson in round nine and got a referee’s stoppage with his brutal follow-up barrage. Time was 1:57.

Navarrete is now a three-division world champion. Next up is likely a showdown between Navarrete and former champion Oscar Valdez.

At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had Navarrete ahead (76-75 and 77-74 2x).

“I’m made of a lot of work, strength, lots of heart, and the Mexican spirit that never lets me down,” Navarrete said. “Liam is a warrior. He was able to land a shot that stunned me a lot. Obviously, we tried to take things calmly. Fortunately, we were able to recover our calmness. We went out to recover a bit. We returned to 100%. And we began to engage. Continue reading “Navarrete comes off canvas to win WBO 130lb title”

Bryan Jimenez 133.8 vs. Eusebio Ojedo 132.4
Aaron Juarez 123..8 vs. Moises Garcia 125
Jerry Simons 131 vs. Carlos Castillo 130.4
Jordan Orozco 115.8 vs. William Cerrato 115.6
Roxana Mendoza 120 vs. Marcela Sanchez 119.6
Emmanuel Huembes 137.8 vs. Josue Mendez 139
Yilmer Gonzales 114.9 vs. Edwin Vallejos 115
Alex Vallecillo 122 vs. Daniel Pastrana 121.5
Ramon Palacio 112.9 vs. Erick Morales 112.8

Venue: Nuevo Gimnasio Nicarao Managua, Nicaragua
Promoter: Gemelo Promotions (Feliz Alvarado) in association with Wram Boxing (William Ramirez)

WBO #4, WBC #8, IBF #12 Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) hammered out a tough, gritty ten round unanimous decision against former two-weight world champion and currently rated WBO #9 Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs) in the Navarrete-Wilson co-feature on Friday night at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Judges had Barboza prevailing 97-93, 96-94, 96-94.

Unbeaten heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs), who captured a silver medal for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, scored a first round TKO over James Bryant (6-3, 4 KOs). Torrez dropped Bryant with an uppercut at the end of round one and Bryant didn’t out for round two.

Unbeaten junior lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Luis Melendez (17-3, 13 KOs). Cortes overcame a bad cut over his left eye for the last five rounds to win by scores of 100-90 3x.

Undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, outscored Eduardo Ayala (9-3-1, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. Walsh dropped Ayala in round two and dominated the fight after that. Scores were 60-53, 59-54, 59-54.

Unbeaten 2016 Olympian junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (17-0, 13 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Clarence Booth (21-7, 13 KOs). Delgado dropped Booth in the final round to punctuate an 80-71, 79-72, 79-72 win.

In a four-round lightweight clash, Emiliano “El General” Vargas (2-0, 2 KOs), son of former junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas, outpointed southpaw Francisco Duque (1-1) by scores of 40-36 3x.

By David Finger

For 26-year-old flyweight Matthew “Diamond Boy” Griego, there is little question that his toughest opponent over his seven-year career has been inactivity. Having turned professional in January of 2016, many boxing fans were excited about the young 19-year-old prospect as he amassed six wins in 2016 alone.

Fast forward to February of 2023 and Griego is sitting on an undefeated record of 12-0, 8 KOs. Impressive, but clearly not at the pace that neither he nor his fans were expecting way back in 2016.

But assuming he gets past the dangerous Bryan Aquino (12-2, 6 KOs) on Saturday (February 4th) in Albuquerque, boxing fans in New Mexico might finally see something that they have been waiting for since the Obama administration: a run for a world title for Diamond Boy. Continue reading “Griego in for tough test in ABQ Saturday”

Undefeated NABA super lightweight beltholder Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (8-0, 8 KOs), has a new opponent for this Saturday. He will now face Jose Angulo (14-4, 7 KOs), of Ecuador. The fight takes place at the LumColor Center in Ontario, CA, with RED Boxing Promotions operating as the promoter. “I am glad Jose Angulo took the fight on short notice and I appreciate him stepping up,” said Mercado, the Olympic Trials silver medalist in 2020. “Angulo is a tough opponent, but my plan is to end this fight early and continue my knockout streak.”

Former world title challenger Hank Lundy was Mercado’s original opponent. Lundy pulled out citing a cut and then accepted an offer to fight Adrien Broner three weeks later. However, Lundy-Broner fell apart when the California Boxing Commission placed Lundy on indefinite suspension.

Amanda Serrano 125.4 vs. Erika Cruz 125.4
(undisputed female featherweight title)

Alycia Baumgardner 129 vs. Elhem Mekhaled 129
(undisputed female super featherweight title)

Richardson Hitchins 139.6 vs. John Bauza 139
Yankiel Rivera 111.4 vs. Fernando Diaz 111.8

Skye Nicolson 125.6 vs. Tania Alvarez 124.8
Ramla Ali 121.4 vs. Avril Mathie 121.4
Shadasia Green 167.2 vs. Elin Cederroos 167.4
Harley Mederos 134.2 vs. Julio Madera 133.6
Aaron Aponte 138.6 vs. Joshua David Rivera 138.8

Venue: Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Undefeated bantamweight contender Dylan Price (15-0, 10 KOs) will take on Joebert Alvarez (20-4-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the WBO Global and WBC Intercontinental titles on February 18 at The Elevations Event Center in Chester, Pennsylvania. Price is ranked in the top 15 by the WBO and WBC. Alvarez is a protégé of Nonito Donaire.

Also on the card will be the pro-debut of lightweight Devin “Baby Boy” Price.

The event is promoted by Price Promotions and will be streamed live on pay-per-view on profetsplus.com for $24.99.

Unbeaten WBA #2, WBO #3, WBC #4, IBF #10 super middleweight Erik Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs) won a hard-fought ten round majority decision over Alantez Fox (28-4-1, 13 KOs) in a clash for the NABF and NABA belts on Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Hard fought competitive fight with Bazinyan prevailing 95-95, 98-92, 98-92.

Super lightweight Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (26-3-1, 16 KOs) destroyed WBC #14 Yves Ulysse Jr (22-3, 12 KOs) in the first round. A crushing Gollaz uppercut dropped Ulysse and he got up very wobbly prompting a referee’s stoppage. Time was :52. One-hitter quitter. First time the 34-year-old Ulysse has been stopped. Valenzuela dropped Montana Love in his previous fight and came up just short on the scorecards.

Unbeaten middleweight Alexandre Gaumont (7-0, 5 KOs) knocked out Carlos Gallego Montijo (8-5, 6 KOs) in the first round. Gaumont dropped Montijo with an uppercut/left hook. Montijo got up, then sank back to the canvas. Time was 2:26.

In a clash between unbeaten welterweights, Christopher Guerrero (6-0, 2 KOs) kayoed Edwin Villareal Flores (3-1-1, 3 KOs) in round three. Guerrero dropped Flores three times in round three to end it. Time was 2:49.

Super featherweight Avery Martin Duval (9-0-1, 5 KOs) stopped Eduardo Mota Garcia (7-2-1, 2 KOs) with a left hook in round three. Garcia went down and got up reeling. He was deemed unable to continue by the referee. Time was 1:51.

Pro debuting super middleweight Wilkens Mathieu blew away Zsolt Birkas (0-1-1) in the first round. Birka’s down three times.

Note: A fight between super welterweights Raphaël Courchesne (9-1, 4 KOs) and Diego Garduno Reyes (10-1-1, 4 KOs) was canceled after doctors determined Courchesne couldn’t fight due to a hand injury.

By Miguel Maravilla

David Benavidez: “I’m going to put his ass in the hospital.”

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Emanuel Navarrete 129.2 vs. Liam Wilson 126.3
(WBO super featherweight title)

Arnold Barboza Jr 139.2 vs. Jose Pedraza 138.7
Richard Torrez Jr 222.2 vs. James Bryant 253.4
Andres Cortes 131.2 vs. Luis Melendez 130.6
Nico Ali Walsh 159.8 vs. Eduardo Ayala 160.9
Lindolfo Delgado 142.1 vs. Clarence Booth 142.4
Emiliano Vargas 133.4 vs. Francisco Duque 136.6

Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Face-offs for Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz and Alycia Baumgardner vs. Elhem Mekhaled took place today at the final press conference ahead of their respective undisputed world title bouts on Saturday at Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, live worldwide on DAZN.

Amanda Serrano: “As a female fighter, I’ve been in this game a long time, I’m probably the longest-reigning world champion in the sport right now. I was always going where the opportunities were and now that I was done chasing the divisions, I said this is my time. I want to go back to where I feel the best, and that’s featherweight. We did that, and to have most of them but one, and come Saturday night, have all of them, it’s going to be truly amazing. One of the greatest journeys of my life and my career.”

Erika Cruz: “It’s an opportunity I’ve been looking for. On Saturday, I’m going to give absolutely everything. As a good Mexican, give absolutely everything to win. And once again, thanks to God.”

Alycia Baumgardner: “I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to really put my hands on somebody. The fight with Mikaela was great but this time I’ve got someone who wants to fight, and I like to fight. I like to throw some bombs in there, so we want to get her out of there, we want to make a statement, and look good doing it. And that’s what I’m best at.”

Elhem Mekhaled: “I’m expecting a wall because Alycia is a puncher, I’m a puncher too. I know how I feel today, and this is going to be a great and a big fight…I’m here to prove that I’m the best.”

Venue: Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden, NYC
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Heavyweight Joe Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) will defend his WBO interim world title against 6’6 Zhilei Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KOs) at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday, April 15, live on BT Sport. It will be the first defense of the belt for the ‘Juggernaut’, who put himself first in line for a shot at the full WBO title with a KO victory over Joseph Parker in September of last year in Manchester.

Joe Joyce: “It is a great fight. He had a tough fight against Hrgovic but I thought he won the fight. Zhang is a big, strong southpaw who is massive, and he has been to the Olympics and all that. So, he has the experience and I think it will be a great fight. He bangs so I will have to watch out for it…it will be a good preparation for Usyk or Fury, plus I haven’t fought a southpaw since I won the Commonwealth title against Lenroy Thomas.”

Zhilei Zhang: “I am always up for the challenge and when the opportunity rings the bell. Joe Joyce and I share a lot in common – we both are Olympic silver medalists, both are big punchers, and are nearly the same size. This is going to be an explosive, epic and tremendous fight.

Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr has two more weeks to exercise his rematch clause to get a return fight with Liam Smith. Smith’s promoter Ben Shalom/BOXXER told Sky Sports “[Liam Smith] wants Golovkin. It’s in Eubank’s hands and we can’t really look past that until the time has elapsed and we expect him to want to rematch. I can’t see a better option for Eubank Jr right now.”

The rematch could take place in late May in Liverpool, Smith’s hometown.

Rising undefeated super featherweight contender Andres Cortes (17-0, 11 KOs) faces the tough Puerto Rican Luis Melendez (17-2, 13 KOs) this Friday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ and shown live on ESPN+. Cortes talked about a future showdown with Emanuel Navarrete and Shakur Stevenson and gave his predictions on Haney-Loma, Benavidez-Plant, KingRy-Tank and the potential super fight of Spence-Crawford and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #14 heavyweight Justis Huni (7-0, 4 KOs) has signed a multi-year promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. The 23-year-old Australian becomes Matchroom’s latest recruit from Down Under. In his most high profile win to date, Huni became the first man to defeat Paul Gallen when he battered the former rugby league star before stopping him in the final round of a PPV clash that attracted worldwide attention in June 2021.

“I’m extremely proud to announce I’ve signed with the world’s premier promoter,” said Huni. “Many thanks to Mick and Fran at Tasman Fighters. Let’s get it!” Continue reading “Matchroom inks Justis Huni”

Two-division world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (36-1, 30 KOs) and Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) faced off Wednesday at the final press conference for Friday’s clash for the vacant WBO 130-pound belt at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Emanuel Navarrete: “For me and my team, being a three-division world champion will be the culmination of yet another goal in my career. We know that it won’t be easy. But, by doing that, I’ll feel that I have done something good in my career, and I’ll be satisfied with what I have achieved in my 10 years as a professional boxer.”

Liam Wilson: “This means everything. This is what me, my team, my promoter, my manager and my trainers have worked for. We’ve taken the risks and challenges, and I know that on fight night I have a tough fight ahead of me. Navarrete is a great champion, but I do plan on giving him the fight of his life. I’m going to win.”

7:1 favorite Amanda Serrano (43-2-1 30 KOs) is poised to complete her collection of featherweight belts against WBA champion Erika Cruz  (15-1, 3 KOs) on DAZN Saturday night at the Hulu Theater inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

“Undisputed means a lot,” said Serrano. “It means you are the best; you have everyone looking to beat you, you are top dog, unquestionably number one in the division. Becoming the first undisputed champion at featherweight would be so cool after being a pro for 14 years. Continue reading “Serrano ready to be undisputed”

2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (7-0, 5 KOs) will face Emmanuel Tagoe (32-2, 15 KOs) in a lightweight ten-rounder on the April 8 Shakur Stevenson-Shuichiro Yoshino card according to ESPN, which will air the card from Newark, New Jersey. Tagoe went the full distance Ryan “Kingry” Garcia in his previous fight, so if Davis can get him out of there it would be a big feather in his cap.

Erik Bazinyan 167 vs. Alantez Fox 167.5
(NABF/NABA super middleweight titles)

Yves Ulysse Jr 140 vs. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela 139
Alexandre Gaumont 160 vs. Carlos Gallego Montijo 161.5
Raphael Courchesne 150 vs. Diego Garduno Reyes 148
Christopher Guerrero 149.5 vs. Edwin Villareal Flores 147
Avery Martin-Duval 132 vs. Eduardo Mota Garcia 129.5
Wilkins Mathieu 164 vs. Zsolt Birkas 162.5

Venue: Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: ESPN+

By Ron Jackson

One of South Africa’s most exciting young fighters Roarke Knapp returns to action on Saturday 18 March at Emperors Place near Kempton Park, when he meets the experienced Frenchman Ahmed El Mousaoui in a ten round junior middleweight bout, on a Golden Gloves Promotion.

The 24-year-old Knapp (15-1-1, 11 KOs) who made his pro debut on 28 May 2016 is possibly one of South Africa’s most exciting young fighters, who is never in a dull fight, as he likes to rumble. Continue reading “Roarke Knapp returns to action at Emperors Palace”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech has predicted WBO #3 super featherweight Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KOs) will upset WBO featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarette (36-1, 30 KOs) when they clash for the vacant WBO 130-pound championship on Friday at the Diamond Desert Arena in Glendale, Arizona televised on ESPN. Navarette is as much as a 20:1 favorite.

“Oh, I think the bookies are making a huge mistake with this one,” Fenech told Fox Sports. “I’m actually shocked by the odds. And I honestly believe there’s a heap of money to be made on Liam Wilson this weekend. Because not only do I think he becomes Australia’s newest world champion, but he gets there by knockout.”

Looks like Alen Babic will have to go to Poland to face Lukasz Rozanski for the vacant WBC bridgerweight championship. Today, during the WBC’s weekly press conference, the official purse bid was held for the rights to organize Babic-Rozanski. Andrzej Wasilewsky of KnockOut Promotions got the rights by offering $425,000 against the $350,000 offer from Matchroom Boxing, who was represented by Tom Dallas. For this fight, the WBC will apply its purse division rule for purse bid fights. The split is 45/45 with 10% of the total bid reserved to be paid as a bonus to the winner.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & WBC President

“The Dallas Cowboys lost” is what most say today, but had the Cowboys won, they would say, “We won.”

Such is life, as fans suffer defeats and enjoy victories. It will be a long drought of emotions until next season, when we will put on our team jerseys again and start the dream all over again. It’s already been 28 years without a Super Bowl, without a championship. Something like this happened with my favorite Mexican soccer team Cruz Azul, and don’t even mention it with my Cincinnati Reds in baseball. Even so, I have never changed allegiance ever since I was a child. My loyalty is unwavering.

Loyalty: Feeling of respect and fidelity to one’s own moral principles, to established commitments or to someone. It is a principle that, basically, consists of never turning your back on a certain person or group that is united by ties of friendship or by some social relationship. That is the fulfillment of honor and gratitude in a relationship which stands the test of time. In a group. It is a fulfillment of what the strength of fidelity and honor require.

Loyalty was always the principle that my dad so valued in life. How easy it is to be loyal, when things are going well, when success is around! And in turn, how easy it is to see how that loyalty disappears and dissolves when everything is not going well, as it once was! Continue reading “Loyalty – What A Sacred and Wonderful Principle”

Undefeated IBF #13 super lightweight Richardson Hitchins and promoter Eddie Hearn pose for a selfie today in New York City. Hitchins (15-0, 7 KOs) takes on fellow unbeaten John Bauza (17-0, 7 KOs) for the IBF North American and USWBC titles on Saturday night’s Matchroom Boxing card at Madison Square Garden. Hitchins is the main male attraction on a card headlined by two undisputed female championship fights.

“It’s been a while since I’ve boxed in my city,” said Hitchins. “It’s a homecoming I’ve craved for some time. That is enough to get you up for it. It’s going to be a special night and it’s the perfect venue and platform to showcase my skills and make a wider statement to the division. Continue reading “Hitchins poised for clash with Bauza”