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By Boxing Bob Newman

Wednesday night in Acapulco, Mexico, on the promenade of the Palacio Mundo Imperial hotel, the 60th WBC annual awards banquet was held. Easily, 1000 attendees were on hand, including over 50 champions, male and female.

Awards were as follows, but not limited to:

Couple of the Year: Bismark & Elena Morales
Good Fellow Award: Patrick Cusack
Committee Chairman of the Year: Dean Lohuis
Lady of the Year: Christiane Manzur, Jill Diamond and Lilia Schaefer
WBC Ambassador: Marcos Arienti
Commissioner of the Year: Domingo Matas
Confederation of the Year: British Boxing Board of Control
Working Horse Award: Oksana Semenishina
MVP: Kevin Mooney
Commission of the Year: Middle East Professional Boxing Commission
Woman of the Year: Enza Jacoponi
Confederation of the Year: NABF
Human Equality Award: Charlie Hall
Lifetime Achievement Award: Charlie Giles
Committee Member of the Year: Malte Müller

Continue reading “60th WBC Convention Awards Dinner”

The undercard has been announced for the WBC super lightweight title fight between #1 ranked Jose ‘Chon’ Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) and #2 Regis ‘Rougarou’ Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs) set for November 26 from ‘The War Grounds’, Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Undefeated WBC and WBO female super flyweight champion Evelyn ‘La Princesita’ Bermudez (17-0-1, 6 KOs) defends against Yokasta ‘Yoka’ Valle (26-2, 9 KOs) in the co-feature.

Unbeaten junior middleweight contender Charles ‘Bad News’ Conwell (17-0, 13 KOs) faces Juan Carlos Abreu (25-6-1, 23 KOs) in a ten-rounder.

Unbeaten 6’7 2020 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir ‘The Big Uzbek’ Jalolov (11-0, 11 KOs) meets Curtis Harper (14-8, 9 KOs) in another ten rounder.

Opening the PPV in a super welterweight six rounder is ‘Son of a Legend’ Fernando Vargas Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs) against an opponent to be announced.

Sunny Edwards 111.25 vs. Felix Alvarado 111.1
(IBF flyweight title)

Jack Bateson 120.5 vs. Shabaz Masoud 121.8
(WBA I/C super bantamweight title)
(British title final eliminator)
Hebert Conceição 163.1 vs. Gideon Onyenani 162.5
Thomas Essomba 114.5 vs. Marcel Braithwaite 115.5
(British superfly title final eliminator)
Braithwaite missed weight.
Nicolie Campbell 169.25 vs. Frane Radnic 169
Ishmael Davis 156.5 vs. Dustin Ammann 157.5
Levi Kinsiona 136 vs. Alin Florin Ciorceri 136.5
Lisa Whiteside 120.5 vs. Eva Cantos 122.5
Bradley Cousins 175.25 vs. Genadij Krajevskij 175.25
Khalid Ayub 176.25 vs. Danail Stoyanov 174.25

Venue: Utility Arena, Sheffield, England
Promoter: Probellum
TV: FITE

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBA #1 middleweight Michael Zerafa has revealed that he received police protection after being informed there was a contract hit placed on him related to his last-minute pullout against Tim Tzsyu 16 months ago.

“I’d been told by people that I had a hit out on me. Zerafa told Fox Sports. “Obviously I couldn’t take that lightly so I went to the police, made statements, it was out of control. Nobody knew how true the threat was but the police were involved, Echo was involved … it was chaos. The cops even had me mix things up every day and change my whole routine, even change the way I drove to the gym.” Continue reading “WBA #1 Zerafa says he was under police protection”

By Kam Singh Dhadad

Former IBF light flyweight world champion Felix Alvarado (38-2, 33 KOs) of Nicaragua will look to become a two-division world champion when he challenges unbeaten IBF flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards (18-0, 4 KOs) this Friday at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England.

It has been quite some time since Alvarado has entered the ring as the underdog. Edwards will have the support of the local fans but Alvarado isn’t focused on the local fan support for Edwards or the odds. Fightnews.com® caught up with Alvarado at his hotel just days away from his fight. Continue reading “Alvarado poised to dethrone Edwards Friday”

Ideta, 38, dethrones Japanese 154Lb champ Kawasaki

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was truly a night of upsets where we witnessed four unexpected results with our great surprise on Tuesday night at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Unheralded Isao Aoyama (13-10-1, 4 KOs), 114.5, upset former OPBF, Japanese flyweight champ and two-time world title challenger Takuya Kogawa (32-8-1, 14 KOs), 115, at 1:13 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight.

Less experienced Japanese rookie Katsuya Yasuda (10-1, 7 KOs), 135, upset WBO AP #14 Rachata Khaophimai (12-3, 9 KOs), 133.25, from Thailand, at 2:22 of the second round in a scheduled eight.

Underdog Yuni Takada (10-8-3, 5 KOs), 105, upset JBC#1, WBO AP#2 minimum Katsuki Mori (10-2, 2 KOs), 105, at 2:45 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight. Scheduled to fight for the vacant WBO AP belt early next year, Mori was shockingly flattened with a right counter with a thud, to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

In the main event, JBC#6 Yuichi Ideta (16-16-1, 9 KOs), 153, upset Japanese super-welter champ Makoto Kawasaki (13-9-2, 2 KOs), 154, to halt him at 1:52 of the ninth round to wrest the national belt to our greatest surprise. The reason why his coronation became so sensational in sports media is that Ideta previously suffered no less than eleven consecutive defeats (can you believe?) but kept on fighting until thirty-eight years of age. Who on earth had expected Ideta to be a champion? Continue reading “Night of Upsets”

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

WBC Board member Simon Block, started things off with a song “Never Give Up.” That song was recorded and produced at the famous Abbey Road studios. The song will be produced and sold, with the proceeds going for the construction of a respite home for boxers in the UK.

Tony Gonzalez and Vonda Carson accepted an award for Don King, who was unable to attend this convention.

John H. Stracy, the first WBC world champion crowned under the presidency of the late Jose Sulaiman in 1975, spoke about being a member of the WBC family and the privilege and joy of attending the WBC convention every year.

A panel of multi-division champion Nonito Donaire and former DEA agent Rocky Herron, did a Q&A session regarding the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program. Donaire spoke from the viewpoint of the boxer while Herron spoke from the vantage of law enforcement as well as a father. Continue reading “WBC 60th Annual Convention Day 3”

IBF flyweight champion Sunny “Showtime” Edwards and mandatory challenger Felix Alvarado, a former 108lb world champion, faced off at the final press conference for their showdown on Friday at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. The bout will stream on FITE.

Sunny Edwards: “Alvarado is a great champion from the weight below but I genuinely think I’m past his level, I believe I am at elite level. We’ll find out if this will be my toughest fight. I’ve had ‘tough’ fights, but I’ve made them not look that.”

Felix Alvarado: “The opponents Sunny has fought are different to me and on Friday, he will find this out.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A previous Jaime Munguia victim, durable and determined Takeshi Inoue (19-2-1, 10 KOs), 154, regained the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific 154-pound belt by scoring a fine TKO win over Ryosuke Tenyu Maruki (18-8-2, 13 KOs), 154, at 2:31 of the sixth round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. In a main event of the dual regional title event, Takeshi displayed more straight punches than previously, often connected with left-right combos and finally overwhelmed the perennial contender Maruki to prompt the referee’s stoppage. Continue reading “Inoue stops Maruki, wins vacant OPBF, WBO AP 154lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten OPBF middleweight champ Kazuto Takesako (15-0-1, 14 KOs), 160, Japan, kept his regional belt by halting OPBF#11 Korean Gyung-Mo Yuh (8-8-3, 1 KO), 158.75, with a single right shot to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:51 of the third round in a scheduled twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. For Takesako, 31, it was his initial defense because of the prolonged pandemic since he acquired the belt two years and a half ago. Takesako said, “I’m willing to square off against WBO AP champ Hiroya Nojima (10-1, 5 KOs) for regional unification.” It will materialize next year, hopefully. Continue reading “Unbeaten Takesako stops Yuh, keeps OPBF 160lb belt”

The WBO Championship Committee has sent a letter to the camp of undisputed women’s welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill asking them to “show cause” within the next ten days as to why the WBO women’s welterweight championship should not be declared vacant after McCaskill’s loss to Chantelle Cameron in a bout for the junior welterweight title.

The McCaskill-Cameron clash was sanctioned by the WBO on the condition that 1) if McCaskill won she’d have ten days after the bout to determine which belt (140lb or 147lb) she’ll keep; and 2) if McCaskill lost her WBO welterweight title would be declared vacant. These conditions were agreed and accepted by Matchroom Boxing.

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

Day 2 of the 60th annual WBC convention was packed with presentations, champions in the house and the ever-popular, never-boring ratings meeting.

WBC Continental Americas champion Serhii Bohachuk addressed the panel, thanking them for interior support of Ukraine and Ukrainian fighters.

Marcos Arienti and Eunice Rendon gave a brief talk on the “Don’t Throw the Towel,” program, which works with the prison inmate population.

The “In Memoriam” video segment was then played to pay respect to those in boxing who were lost in the last year. Continue reading “60th annual WBC convention Day 2”

Unbeaten welterweight Panagiotis Tsochataridis (10-0-1, 6 KOs) of Greece kept his 0 intact defeating Marko Dmirovic ( 10-8, 5 KOs) of Gradiska, Bosnia and Herzegovina by fifth round TKO. It was a dominant performance by Tsochataridis and the referee waved the bout off before the start of round five.

Tsochataridis won his first professional title (WBF international title) The event took place in Ub, Serbia.

Super Lightweight Montana Love (18-0-1, 9 KOs) fulfills a dream on Saturday night – headlining for the first time in his hometown of Cleveland as he faces Steve Spark (15-2, 14 KOs) for the WBA Intercontinental title at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday night live worldwide on DAZN.

“The city is showing me love and getting behind me,” said Love. “It’s a proud city and we look after each other and back. It’s a dream come true, being able to headline in the biggest arena in my home. Cleveland means everything to me. We don’t have much, but we stick together and get the job done. Continue reading “Love: I want to win in spectacular fashion”

Montana Love and Stevie Spark face-off in Cleveland, Ohio for their upcoming fight on DAZN Saturday at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

WBO middleweight champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly is a massive 20:1 favorite to retain his title against challenger Denzel Bentley on Saturday’s ESPN+ stream from the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The co-feature between WBA female minimumweight Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and Jazmin Gala Villarino has even steeper odds. Estrada is a 35:1 favorite.

Unbeaten super lightweight Montana Love is a 6:1 favorite to defeat Steve Spark on DAZN Saturday from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

On Friday, IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards is a 7:1 favorite over former 108lb champ Felix Alvarado on FITE from the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.

The announce team is set for the November 26 PPV event headlined by the big WBC super lightweight title clash between WBC #1 ranked Jose “Chon” Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) and #2 ranked Regis ‘Rougarou’ Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs) from “The War Grounds,” a.k.a. Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, just outside of Los Angeles.

The lineup includes Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Marco Antonio Barrera, Raul “El Diamante” Marquez, Cynthia Conte, Corey Erdman, Ernesto Amador, and Mike Rodriguez. The PPV is presented and produced by Legendz Entertainment in association with MarvNation Promotions.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni is in the hospital with what is suspected to be appendicitis after his win last Friday night against Kiki Toa Leutele. “We’re at emergency now,” Huni’s father Rocki told Fox Sports. “And I’m thinking appendicitis. He initially had severe stomach cramps on Sunday. We thought it might have been something he ate.”

NABA middleweight champion Connor “The Kid” Coyle (17-0, 7 KOs) will defend his title against knockout artist Anibal Cleto Francisco (10-0, 9 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens on Sunday, December 11 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. The card takes place during the WBA’s annual Centennial Convention, which is held at the Caribe Royale from December 11-14. Coyle was slated to face Felix Cash October 8 in England but the entire card was cancelled after main event participant Conor Benn failed a drug test. Continue reading “Coyle returns Dec 11 in Orlando”

By Boxing Bob Newman

The 60th annual WBC convention officially opened at the Palacio Mundo Imperial hotel complex today in Acapulco, Mexico. As has been tradition. It was big, bold and full of personalities.

One thing that wasn’t as big, however, was a dias full with the WBC board of governors. Rather, a much smaller panel consisting of a WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, Mexico’s greatest male and female ring legends Julio Cesar Chavez and Jackie Nava, as well as the governor of Guerrero- Evelyn Salgado Piñeda and other dignitaries.

President Sulaiman welcomed the delegation to Acapulco – site of some of his youthful family vacations. Continue reading “WBC 60th Annual Convention Officially Opens”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian 140-pounder Steve Spark (15-2, 14 KOs) will see action against IBF #6, WBC #13 Montana Love (18-0, 9 KOs) over twelve rounds on Saturday at the Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland with the WBA Intercontinental title up for grabs, promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom and televised on DAZN.

“We have been after this opportunity for a very long time,” Spark told the B4 The Fight Boxing Show. “We asked Eddie for this kind of magnitude of fight straight away. We are very excited that he is able to deliver this kind of fight. I am happy to be going into enemy territory and I will be bringing that belt back and world ranking back to Australia. We said to Eddie, ‘get us the best fight you can’ and this is what he has produced. We didn’t want to fight in Australia. We wanted to jump at the big opportunity straight away. Continue reading “Spark: I got the skills to beat Montana Love”

By Boxing Bob Newman

At the opening banquet of the 60th annual WBC convention, Jeff Fenech, the “Thunder From Down Under,” was presented with a WBC belt for the super featherweight championship that many felt he should have won 31 years ago.

And his American debut, Fenech challenged then-champion Azumah Nelson for what would have been a world title in his fourth weight class. Most observers around the world, including the Showtime commentary team, felt a Fenech victory was a foregone conclusion. The official judges, however, had it a three-way split draw. Fenech was never the same fighter after that, losing to Nelson via TKO8 in the much anticipated rematch, as well as to former featherweight champion Calvin Grove and raining lightweight champion Philip Holiday, all via stoppage.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman called a special judging panel together. The fight was watched and re-scored, unanimously for Fenech. On hand to present the belt were legendary champions Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and Miguel Cotto.

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Panagiotis Tsochataridis 145.5 vs, Marko Dmirovic 143.7
(WBF international welterweight title)

Location: Ub, Serbia

This past Saturday, WBA #14 bantamweight Eros Correa (13-1, 8 KOs) defeated Luis Saavedra (9-8, 3 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision at Omega Products International in Sacramento, CA. In the early rounds, Saavedra had his best moments as he was landing his overhand right on multiple occasions. Correa started to make his adjustments in the middle rounds when he started to use his lateral movement. Correa landed some power shots of his own and closed out the show with his superior boxing skills. Scorecards read 99-91, 96-94, and 97-93 all in favor for Correa.

“Saavedra was a tough opponent and I’m glad I got to go some rounds with him,” said Correa. “I started off slow but was in great shape and closed out the fight with some dominating rounds. Fighting in front of my Northern California fans was special, and I want to thank Thompson Boxing for giving me the main event slot. I’m hoping to land a big fight in 2023, so I’ll be right back in the gym waiting for the call.”

Featherweight contender Michael “Mick” Conlan (17-1, 8 KOs) returns against former Euro champ Karim Guerfi (31-6, 9 KOs) on December 10, at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Conlan-Guerfi and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. The card precedes the ESPN+ telecast the same day from Madison Square Garden featuring the junior welterweight main event between former lightweight king Teofimo Lopez and former two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza.

Undercard standouts include a trio of undefeated Top Rank-signed prospects: junior middleweight Kieran Molloy (3-0, 2 KOs) and featherweight Kurt Walker (4-0, 1 KO) will see action in six-rounders, while rising welterweight Paddy Donovan (9-0, 6 KOs) aims for his third victory of the year in an eight-rounder.