Fightnews.com

Orlando resident and promoter Gonzalo Sapia will host an event Friday, October 21 at the Avanti Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The main event will have Miami-based super featherweight proposect Frank Diaz (9-1, 8 KOs) against veteran Oscar Bravo (25-10, 11 KOs) of Chile. The co-main will feature unbeaten WBA #15 cruiserweight Serik Musadilov (13-0, 11 KOs) of Kazakhstan versus Javier Gomez Rueda (21-17, 15 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.

M&R Boxing Promotions, who promote Musadilo, will also have fighters Mark Bernaldez, Romero Duno, and Hugo Noriega on the undercard in separate bouts. Continue reading “Boxing back in Orlando October 21”

Former world champion Can “Monster” Xu (18-3, 3 KOs) will battle Brandon “Leoncito” Benitez (18-2, 7 KOs) in a ten-round featherweight China versus Mexico donnybrook this Friday in the main event at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. It will be one of four bouts streamed on ProBox TV and on the ProBox TV App.

Xu Can [reacting to Benitez recently saying he will knock Xu out]: “I will not be his stepping stone for bigger opportunities. I am the mountain he cannot climb. I have trained hard for this fight. I am in great condition. My performance against Benitez is the beginning of my comeback and the road back to a world title.” Continue reading “Xu Can: I am the mountain Benitez cannot climb”

Former WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius previewed their WBC heavyweight title eliminator showdown during a virtual press conference Tuesday before they step into the ring on Saturday, October 15 topping a $74.99 pay-per-view from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Deontay Wilder: “I don’t feel any pressure. I’m soaking in my happiness and peace. This reign is about being happy. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’ve done an amazing job in my career, so now I want to do the things that make me happy. Whatever we gain, that’s a plus.”

Robert Helenius: “I like being the underdog. It wakes me up a little bit. I know that I have to concentrate fully and be the best version of myself. Of course, there’s still some pressure, but that’s what comes with being in such an important fight.

More Quotes

By Héctor Villarreal
Photos: Octavio Pinzón (Pandeportes)

Thirty-one years after the legendary Pascual Ciela González Gymnasium was demolished, Panamanian boxers and trainers received an unexpected and motivating announcement: The National Sports Institute (Pandeportes) managed to get their lost privileged location back soon.

In 1991, the boxing family had to vacate the Pascual Ciela Gym, located next to the pier in the humble neighborhood of El Marañón, to make way for the construction of a fish market.

The local boxing community struggled to find a new training center and finally had to stay in a hangar located in a flood-prone area in the Curundú neighborhood, now known as the Pedro Alcázar Gym. Continue reading “Panamanian boxing community recovers original location”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán & President of the WBC

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a fact, based on reports from companies specialized in the professional measurement of ratings, that boxing generates very important numbers in all kinds of competitions and events.

The impact that boxing has in the Olympic Games is much higher than that of most sports. It is one of the most viewed by fans all over the world.

The numbers generated by an important fight in a country where there is an idol are stratospheric and, in reality, there are always a significant number of superstars in the world at any one time.

Right now, for example, there are the following super-idols, who are scoring big on the aforementioned meters: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the U.K.; Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko in Ukraine; Naoya Inoue and Ryota Murata in Japan; George Kambosos Jr. in Australia; Gennady Golovkin in Kazakhstan; Gervonta Davis, Ryan García, Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, and a few more in the United States; and, obviously, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in Mexico and U.S.A. Continue reading “Whatever Happened To Beer?”

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn faced off at the final press conference ahead of their DAZN showdown on Saturday at London’s O2 Arena. Their fathers fought twice in the 1990s.

The IBF has stripped junior lightweight champion Joe Cordina of the 130lb belt he won in June for not defending against mandatory challenger Shavkat Rakhimov. Cordina-Rakhimov had been scheduled for the November 5 Bivol-Zurdo undercard in Abu Dhabi, UAE, but Cordina pulled out with a hand injury that required surgery and will keep him out of the ring until well into 2023.

“Absolutely gutted,” said Cordina on social media. “Worked my whole life to become a world champion and I haven’t even had the chance to defend the title. Feel like I’ve been robbed!!” Continue reading “IBF strips Joe Cordina”

Heavyweight Hughie Fury has pulled out of his WBA eliminator with Michael Hunter again, citing the effects of “long COVID.” The fight had already been rescheduled for October 29 after Fury pulled out of their original July date due to illness.

Hughie Fury: “I am a professional boxer who needs to fight in order to pay my bills and to live. But I have been out for over a year now and, to my frustration, I have been advised by doctors to take total rest at the moment because I’m suffering symptoms of long covid.

“I feel weak with no strength. I’ve had all sorts of checks and they’ve diagnosed me as having long covid symptoms. Continue reading “H Fury pulls out of eliminator with Hunter AGAIN”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBO super welterweight champion Sam Eggington (32-7, 18 KOs) will defend the championship against former three-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan (30-4-1, 7 KOs) on Saturday at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, televised on Foxtel Main Event.

“He’s been European champion, British champion, Commonwealth champion and now he’s the world champion … he’s pretty much done everything,” Hogan said on the Main Event Podcast. “But he’s also lost. And I know I want that belt more than him.”

* * *

Liberian-born and Melbourne-based 154-pounder Victor Nagbe (4-0) will clash with Adrian Rodriguez (13-4-2, 4 KOs) for the vacant Australian title over ten rounds at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane, Queensland on Friday, televised nationally on Foxtel cable television network. Nagbe is coming a win over former IBF middleweight champion Sam Soliman in 2021. Rodriguez was in action last in 2021 suffering a ten round points loss to Tysinn Best. Promoter is Angelo DiCarlo.

The trilogy clash between Juan Francisco Estrada (43-3 28 KOs) and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (51-3 41 KOs) will will take place at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly the Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona on December 3, live worldwide on DAZN. WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) will meet McWilliams Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) as the co-main event.

WBO middleweight world champion Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against two-time British champion Denzel Bentley (17-1-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday, November 12 at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. ESPN+ will stream the whole card.

“Janibek is the top middleweight in the world, and this fight will be the start of a long and accomplished championship reign,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

In the co-feature, undefeated WBA female minimumweight champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (22-0, 9 KOs) will defend her world title against Jazmin Gala Villarino (6-1-2, 1 KO). Continue reading “Alimkhanuly challenger named”

WBO #1 junior lightweight Archie Sharp (22-0, 9 KOs) expects to face WBO #3 Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) for the vacant WBO 130lb world title as #2 Robson Conceicao recently lost to former champion Shakur Stevenson, who is now moving up to lightweight.

“Ideally, me versus Valdez, is what will happen,” Sharp told Probellum.com. “I’m #1, Valdez is #3 and so that fight makes sense. I’m blessed to have a great team and I’m sure Probellum can get what we want over the line. At the minute, I’m just sitting here and waiting. I’m just keeping myself in shape and just being prepared to get the phone call to say there’s a big fight.” Continue reading “Sharp takes aim at Valdez”

Unbeaten light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (9-0, 6 KOs) will face the toughest test of his young career when he takes on former world title challenger Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (27-2, 19 KOs) in a ten-rounder on October 21 on Showtime’s latest edition of ShoBox from Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.

The co-feature matches a pair of undefeated, aggressive prospects in Isaiah Steen (16-0, 12 KOs) clashing with Elvis Figueroa (11-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight contest. The telecast opens with Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) taking on David Stevens (11-0, 8 KOs) in another intriguing eight-round super middleweight matchup between undefeated American prospects. Included in the telecast will be highlights of perennial spoiler Marquis Taylor (12-1-2, 1 KO) taking on undefeated Marlon Harrington (8-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight attraction.

Unbeaten heavyweight Joe Joyce said on social media that he’s ready to fight former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua if a bout between Joshua and WBC champion Tyson Fury doesn’t come together.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #6, IBF #12 cruiserweight David Light (18-0, 11 KOs) will return to the ring against Vikas Singh (11-3-1, 6 KOs) over eight rounds on Saturday at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Broadmeadow, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, televised on Foxtel and KayoSports.

Light, who is based in New Zealand, is coming off a knockout in round one over Anthony Martinez on May 5, at the Hialeah Racing Park and Casino, Florida.

WBC #13 cruiserweight and fomer world title challenger Ryan Rozicki (15-1, 14 KOs) will face unbeaten Mohammed Bekdash (22-0, 19 KOs) of Germany. The pair will square off on December 2 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Fireworks are anticipated as they have a combined 33 knockouts in their 38 career bouts. The event will be promoted by Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) who stated that proceeds from the show will be donated to the Red Cross who is assisting the province of Nova Scotia to deal with hurricane Fiona. Continue reading “Rozicki-Bekdash collide Dec 2 in Nova Scotia”

Big-time boxing is back with a vengeance this weekend. 6’6 all-action super welterweight Sebastian Fundora sees action, plus the sons of Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn carry on the family rivalry for another generation.

FRIDAY
ProBox TV returns with a featherweight clash between former world champion Xu Can (18-3, 3 KOs) and Brandon Benitez (18-2, 7 KOs) from the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

SATURDAY
Big tripleheader on Showtime, topped by all-action WBC interim super welterweight Sebastian Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) and Carlos Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Also, middleweights Carlos Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) and Juan Macias Montiel (23-5-2, 23 KOs) clash for the WBC interim title, and IBF super flyweight champion Fernando Martinez (14-0, 8 KOs) defends against former champ Jerwin Ancajas (33-2-2, 22 KOs) in a direct rematch.

DAZN presents a “Sons of Legends” grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23 KOs) and Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London. The bout will be contested at a 157lb catchweight with Eubank coming from middleweight and Benn coming from welterweight.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Sad to report that legendary former bantamweight and featherweight world champion Éder Jofre passed away today at the age of 86 in São Paulo, Brazil. Jofre is considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight boxer in history. He had a professional record of 75-2-4 with 55 KOs, both his losses were close decisions against Fighting Harada. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. R.I.P.

The welterweight super fight between WBO champion Terence Crawford and WBC/WBA/IBF champion Errol Spence, originally slated for November 19, may be pushed back. The fighters agreed to terms, but the two sides are still haggling over other issues.

* * *

Looks like the clash for the vacant WBC super lightweight title between Regis “Rougarou” Prograis and Jose “Chon” Zepeda is on for November 26 in Los Ángeles, California.

* * *

DAZN has the rubber match between super flyweights Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in the pipeline for December 3 at a site to be named.

* * *

The WBA Championships Committee has ruled that current regular featherweight champion Leigh Wood will be granted no further extensions and must face super champion Leo Santa Cruz in his next fight as part of the WBA world title reduction plan.

The WBA had approved a joint permit requested by Matchroom Boxing and TGB Promotions to allow Wood to make an optional defense against Mauricio Lara, and Santa Cruz to fight Rey Vargas in a unification fight. However, Wood pulled out of the Lara fight with a torn bicep and Santa Cruz-Vargas seems to have fallen apart as well. So when when Wood recovers, he must next face Santa Cruz.

* * *

The WBA Championships Committee also ordered a clash between WBA minimumweight super champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong and regular champion Erick Rosa. They have 30 days to reach a deal or a purse bid will be called. The winner will be the sole WBA minimumweight champion.

Former two-division world champion and current WBC #1 super bantamweight Luis “Pantera” Nery (33-1, 25 KOs) overpowered and stopped David “Severo” Carmona (22-11-5, 9 KOs) in three punishing rounds on Saturday night at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutierrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Nery dropped Carmona once in round two, and twice in round three to end it. Carmona, a three-time world title challenger who has now lost eight of his last ten, came in as a late sub.

In the co-feature, 42-year-old female ring legend “La Princesa Azteca” Jackie Nava (40-4-4, 16 KOs) ended her illustrious career with a ten round unanimous decision over Gloria Elena Yancaqueo (10-12-3, 3 KOs) in a super bantamweight bout. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

In other action, junior middleweight Jorge “Chino” García (24-3, 20 KOs) was victorious when Jorge “Maromerito” Páez (42-15-2, 25 KOs) didn’t come out for the fourth round and junior welterweight Carlos “Tiburón” Sánchez (23-1, 19 KOs) knocked out Elvis Torres (20-3-2, 11 KOs) in the seventh round.

Cruiserweight Joel Shojgreen (14-3, 13 KOs) scored a first round TKO over Lyubomyr Pinchuk (14-4-1, 8 KOs) on Saturday night in the main event of Star Boxing’s “Rockin’ Fights 43” at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York. Shojgreen dropped Pinchuk with a right hand in round one. Pinchuk rose at the count but was hobbled by an injury to his right knee which seemed to buckle and land awkwardly when he fell. Shojgreen went into attack mode, but with Pinchuk both buzzed from the knockdown and unable to put pressure on his leg, referee Al Lobianco stopped the action. Time was 2:48.

In other action, John Gotti III, grandson of mob boss John Gotti, won his pro boxing debut by four round unanimous decision over Albert Tulley (0-2), Scores were 40-36 3x.

Bantamweight Christian Carto (20-1, 13 KOs) outscored Hector Andres Sosa (14-2, 8 KOs) over eight workmanlike rounds in the main event on Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Scores were 78-73, 77-72, 79-72.

In a clash of undefeated light heavyweights, Atif Oberlton (7-0, 6 KOs) destroyed Christian Thomas (11-1, 9 KOs) in two rounds. The 6’3 Oberlton battered Thomas to the deck to end it. Time was 2:24. All of Thomas’ previous fights were in Tijuana.

Junior welterweight Kenny Robles (10-2, 4 KOs) was a TKO victor when Jerome Conquest (11-8, 1 KO) couldn’t continue after round four due to a leg injury.

In a clash between unbeaten welterweight KO artists, Roberto Gomez (5-0, 5 KOs) brutally knocked out hometown favorite Quadir Albright (6-1, 6 KOs) in round five. Gomez laid out Albright face first with a big right hand at 1:59. Best fight of the night and a big upset.

Former cruiserweight world title challenger Junior “Hurricane” Wright (19-4-1, 16 KOs), now competing at heavyweight, knocked out Colby Madison (10-4-2, 6 KOs) in round three. A big right hand put Madison down and out. Time was :27. Continue reading “Results from Philadelphia”

Unbeaten welterweight prospect Panagiotis Tsochataridis (9-0-1, 5 KOs) of Greece kept his 0 intact by unanimous decision over local veteran Milan Delic (13-35, 5 KOs) of Serbia.

Tsochataridis showed superb physical condition and endurance in his first eight round bout, dropping the durable Delic en route to the wide points victory where all three judges scored the bout 80-69 in his favor.

The event took place Saturday night in Pozarevac, Serbia.

By Joe Koizumi

Having competed with Muhammad Ali in a mixed exhibition in 1976, Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki passed away today (Saturday) here in Tokyo, Japan. Inoki, 79, was a well-known personality thanks to his versatile activities in being not only a professional wrestler but also a flamboyant politician, an up-and-down businessman or a celebrity well-known nationwide. Rest in peace.

Luis Nery 128.5 vs. David Carmona 130
Jackie Nava 121 vs. Gloria Yancaqueo 121.7
Jorge García 155 vs. Jorge Páez 154.3
Carlos Sánchez 138.7 vs. Elvis Torres 141.7
David Moreno 139.8 vs. Abimael Cruz 137.8
Ángel García 130.7 vs. Cristian Zacarías 129.2
Francisco Cantabrana 197.3 vs. Rafael Gaytán 199.5
Erik Robles 124.6 vs. José López 127.2

Venue: Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, BC, Mexico
Promotor: Zanfer
TV: TV Azteca