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By Boxing Bob Newman

The WBO 35th annual convention teed off (literally) with a golf tournament at El Legado Golf Club in Salinas, Puerto Rico, about an hour outside of San Juan at 7:30 this morning. WBO president Francisco Paco Valcarcel is an avid golfer and has made the sport and integral part of the organization’s convention for the past 23 years. Continue reading “WBO 35th annual convention tees off”

Ring legend Oscar De La Hoya presented a $1 million dollar check to Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital today during a special event hosted by Chavelyta’s Pink Hood. The “Pamper Me” day treated people who have recently been diagnosed, completed treatment, or have lost a loved one to cancer.

The donation, spread out over the next decade, will allow for a significant expansion of breast cancer services for the Boyle Heights community. De La Hoya is a longtime donor to the hospital, where several departments are named in his honor, including the Cecilia Gonzalez De La Hoya Cancer Center, the Oscar De La Hoya Labor & Delivery Center and the Oscar De La Hoya Neonatal Intensive Care Center.

WBO light flyweight champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez is in Tokyo, Japan to make his second title defense against #2 ranked challenger Sokichi Iwata on November 1. The show also features a WBA/WBC Unification fight as Hiroto Kyoguchi faces Kenshiro Teraji in the main event.

“We feel great going into this match with Iwata. Our training camp has been 100% here in Puerto Rico and we are confident of a victory,” stated Gonzalez. “I feel no pressure going overseas to defend my title, it just motivates me more to bring the title back home with me.”

Traveling to Tokyo with Gonzalez is head trainer Luis Espada along with strength & conditioning coach Victor Martinez, assistant trainer and father Luis Gonzalez and promoter Tuto Zabala Jr of All Star Boxing. Continue reading “Bomba Gonzalez ready for Iwata”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

With the help of three American sparring partners, WBO #1 Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) is pulling out all the stops to defeat undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1, 19 KOs) on January 28 in Las Vegas. Hand-picked by Team Tszyu are IBF #4, WBC #5 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (17-0, 13 KOs), middleweight D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs), and 19-year-old amateur star Quincy Williams, the 2022 National Golden Gloves champion.

By Ron Jackson

Promising South African junior bantamweight champion Landile Ngxeke (9-1-1, 4 KOs) lost his unbeaten record when he was smashed to defeat in the second round by Filipino Jayr Raquinel (13-2-1, 10 KOs) in a clash for the vacant WBO Intercontinental junior bantamweight title at the International Convention Centre in East London on Sunday afternoon.

There is was little in it in the first round but the southpaw Raquinel (52.15kg) scored with a good uppercut to possibly shade the round.

Raquinel, 25, came out fast at the bell for round two and pressed the action before scoring with a big left hook that sent the South African flat on his back in the corner. He manged to beat the count as the referee Lulama Mtya gave him plenty of time to recover.

However, the 27-year-old Ngxaka (51.60kg) was in no condition continue and the fight was waved off at 1 minute 41 seconds into the round. Continue reading “South African champion loses in two rounds”

In a bout reduced from ten to eight rounds, 38-year-old heavyweight Robert Simms (12-3-1, 3 KOs) ended the unbeaten run of Kenzie Morrison (20-1-2, 18 KOs), son of former heavyweight champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison, in a “Sons of Legends” card on Saturday night at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

Simms, appearing to be quite overweight, showed good defense, a good jab and a great chin. Morrison landed his share of shots, but Sims’ skills largely frustrated him. Scores were 78-74 3x. Sims claimed the USNBC belt.

Debuting 19-year-old super welterweight Steve Cunningham Jr. bumrushed fellow debutant Andre Scott, 33, and got him out of there in 16 seconds.

Featherweight Jose Luis Castillo Jr. (25-3, 19 KOs) destroyed James Roach (6-6, 5 KOs) in the first round. Castillo dropped Roach twice. Time was 2:11. Impressive demolition by Castillo who showed a lot of charisma in his postfight interview.

Welterweight Jake Robinson (6-2-1, 3 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over Alcibiade “Roberto Duran Jr” Duran (9-3, 7 KOs). Robinson built up an insurmountable lead, then nearly got knocked out by Duran in the final round. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, 60-54.

Light heavyweight Yavontae Christopher (3-0, 2 KOs) took the fight to previously unbeaten Gerald McClellan Jr. (2-1, 1 KO) and won a four round 40-36, 39-37, 40-36 unanimous decision.

In all, three of the five sons were defeated.

WBA #12 featherweight Mauricio Lara (25-2-1, 18 KOs) scored a third round knockout over 40-year-old veteran Jose Sanmartin (33-6-1, 21 KOs) to stay in the featherweight title picture on Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City. Lara dropped the 40-year-old Sanmartin twice in round three. Rime was 1:36.

WBO #4 lightweight Angel Fierro (20-1-2, 16 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO over Jeremy Cuevas (14-2, 10 KOs) in a very exciting fight where both fighters landed big shots, The referee finally waved it off with Fiero landing bomb after bomb. Time was :53.

Super lightweight Reshat “The Albanian Bear” Mati (13-0, 7 KOs) outscored Eduardo Leonel Rodriguez (10-3-1, 5 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 97-93 3x.

Super featherweight Alberto Mora (4-0, 3 KOs), a former amateur star, outpointed Diego Andrade (14-8-2, 1 KO) over eight rounds. Mora dropped Andrade in round eight en route to a 80-71, 79-72, 78-73 verdict.

In a clash of unbeaten light heavyweights, Padraig “Te Hammer” McCrory (15-0, 9 KOs) defeated WBO #8, WBC #11 rated Leon Bunn (18-1, 9 KOs) via sixth round TKO on Saturday night at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany. McCrory dropped Bunn in rounds two and three, then finished him with a third knockdown in round six. Bunn gamely beat the count, but his corner threw in the towel. Time was 1:56. With the win, McCrory claimed the vacant IBO 175lb title. Continue reading “McCrory TKOs Bunn for IBO belt”

Orlando resident and promoter Gonzalo Sapia hosted an event Friday night at the Avanti Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. The main event featured Miami-based super featherweight proposect Frank Diaz (10-1, 8 KOs) who decisioned veteran Oscar Bravo (25-11, 11 KOs) of Chile by majority decisión.

The co-main event saw unbeaten WBA #15 cruiserweight Serik Musadilov (14-0, 12 KOs) of Kazakhstan stopping Javier Gomez Rueda (21-18, 15 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico in round one. Continue reading “Results from Orlando, Florida”

Super middleweight Sena Agbeko (27-2, 21 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Isaiah Steen (16-1, 12 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision on Friday night at Bally’s Atlantic City Casino & Resort. Close fight with Agbeko’s aggression forcing the action. Scores were 97-93, 96-94, 98-92. Steen was a 4:1 favorite.

Crafty super welterweight “Marvelous” Marquis Taylor (13-1-2, 1 KO) outworked previously unbeaten Marlon Harrington (8-1, 7 KOs) and pulled away to a 80-72, 79-73, 79-73.

In a good action clash between unbeaten heavyweights, Moses “Thunder Hands” Johnson (9-0-1, 7 KOs) hammered out an eight round majority decision over Elvis Garcia (12-1, 9 KOs). Scores were 76-76, 77-75, 77-75. Continue reading “Upset: Agbeko defeats Steen”

Isiah Johnson 140.5 vs. William Para-Smith 143.5
Rashan Adams 133.8 vs. Kelvin Smith (Will weigh in tomorrow)
Eliezer Olmeda 149.2 vs. Rahiem Cooke 151.5
Nimal Farmer 147.7 vs. Leonidas Fowlkes 145.6
Marvelous Corbin 142 vs. Joshua Zimmerman 137.6

Venue: Grand Yesha Ballroom in Philadelphia
Promoter: RDR Promotions
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 5 PM for Amateurs; 7:30 PM for Professionals

Mauricio Lara 127.4 vs. Jose Sanmartin 126.6
Angel Fierro 134 vs. Jeremy Cuevas 137.6
Reshat Mati 139.2 vs. Leonel Rodriguez 142.2

Venue: Plaza de Toros Arroyo in Mexico City
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

The rest of the Showtime telecast is set for the November 5 card headlined by unbeaten WBA regular super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. (7-0, 6 KOs) against undefeated mandatory challenger Aidos Yerbossynuly (16-0, 11 KOs) from The Armory in Minneapolis.

In the co-feature, middleweight Yoelvis Gomez (6-0, 5 KOs) faces former unified champion Jeison Rosario (23-3-1, 17 KOs) in a ten-rounder, plus unbeaten middleweight Fiodor Czerkaszyn (20-0, 13 KOs) battles Nathaniel Gallimore (22-5-1, 17 KOs) in the ten-round telecast opener.

Leon Bunn 174.25 vs. Padraig McCrory 174
(IBO light heavyweight title)

Kurt Walker 128.75 vs. Yin Caicedo 126
Bilgenur Aras 119.5 vs. Oksana Romanova 118
Kieran Molloy 154.5 vs. Sandro Jajanidze 158.75
Daniel Dietz 266.75 vs. Gyorgy Kutasi TBA
Allen Bauer 164 vs. Renato Balogh TBA
Ryszard Lewicki 165.5 vs. Merab Turkadze 163.25

Venue: Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany
Promter: Wasserman Boxing
TV: ESPN+ (USA), SPORT1 (Germany)

So much for Crawford-Spence. WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford will reportedly fight David Avanesyan in a $35.95 PPV on December 10 at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The bout will be offered via the BLK Prime streaming service. Crawford told ESPN that Errol Spence, who holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, “didn’t want the fight as bad as I did. I agreed to all of their [B.S.] and they’ve been dragging their ass for months.” With Crawford-Spence on the backburner until 2023, Crawford wanted to get a fight in during 2022. Spence reacted on social media by saying that it was Crawford who has “been stalling for months. I could’ve fought in November.”

Coming off his KO loss to Tyson Fury earlier this year, heavyweight Dillian ‘The Body Snatcher’ Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) will return against undefeated Jermaine Franklin (21-0, 14 KOs) on November 26 in a twelve-rounder at the OVO Arena in London, live worldwide on DAZN.

Dillian Whyte: “I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the world that when push comes to shove I can get right back up in Wembley and remind everyone why I was WBC number one for over four years. As an undefeated heavyweight, Franklin is a dangerous guy but I’m going to teach him quite a few lessons at the OVO on November 26. Most importantly, I’m going to teach him how to lose.”

Jermaine Franklin: “When I beat Dillian I want this victory to be followed with a title shot or a major fight to take me to the title. I’m like Holyfield. I’m a warrior. I’m from the hood. You have to take my heart and that will never happen in the ring. I have speed and power. I have no problem taking a punch to land my own. I am America’s next heavyweight champion.”

The undercard sees unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) clash with Nathan Gorman (19-1, 13 KOs) for the vacant British Title, former WBA light heavyweight world title challenger Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KOs) take on Ricards Bolotniks (19-6-1, 8 KOs) and female super lightweight Sandy Ryan (4-1, 2 KOs) challenge Magali Rodriguez (20-6-2, 9 KOs) for her WBC Silver title.

Golden Boy’s newly-signed lightweight prospect Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (12-0, 10 KOs) annihilated Daniel “Bad Boy” Rosas (22-6-1, 14 KOs) in the first round on Thursday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. The 20-year-old Schofield blitzed Rojas from the opening bell and got Rosas out of there with a left hook. Time was 1:37.

In a women’s light flyweight clash, 36-year-old former world champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (33-5, 4 KOs) took a unanimous decision over Maria Santizo (10-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Scores were 79-73, 78-74, 77-75.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Photos: Johnny Chaichotchuang

Thailand’s Phumiritdet Chonlathondamrongkun (13-1, 12 KOs) captured the vacant IBF Asia Oceania lightweight championship when he forced a fourth round stoppage of Filipino Richard Bulacan (8-2, 6 KOs) on Wednesday at Stadium Nine in Samutprakarn, Thailand. Referee Kriengsak Thonghong crowned Choniathondamrongkun at 2:52.

Thailand’s IBF promoter Jimmy Chaichotchuang said “Chonlathondamrongkun is a young prospect who comes from the Hill Tribe of Thailand. The 135 pound division has many great champions and Chonlathondamrongkun will be ready to fight them in the future.” Continue reading “Chonlathongdamrongkun victorious”

Broadway Boxing returns to New York City on Thanksgiving week and DiBella Entertainment is pulling out all the stops with dinner, full bar, and world-class professional boxing in an intimate environment at the famous Edison Ballroom. The 117th edition of the longest-running grassroots boxing series will be headlined by rising junior welterweight contender “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (18-0-1, 8 KOs) against former world title challenger Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre (22-3-1, 10 KOs), in a crossroads battle that will determine the future of both men.

In the co-feature, undefeated heavyweight Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (17-0, 13 KOs), co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank, will face TBA. Continue reading “Broadway Boxing back in NYC”

Rising featherweight contender Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (10-1, 6 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, will fight Argentina’s Jose Matias Romero (26-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round showdown on October 29 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Romero replaces former world champion Jessie Magdaleno, who was forced to withdraw from the bout with a hand injury.

Ramirez-Matias will serve as the co-feature to the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jamaine Ortiz lightweight main event, streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

“The opponent does not matter. I will put on a show October 29 in New York City,” Ramirez said. “I have the utmost respect for Romero, who took the fight on short notice. But once we get in that ring, I am coming full steam ahead at him for the win. ‘El Tren’ will not be derailed.” Continue reading “New Robeisy Ramirez opponent named”

Frank Diaz 131.6 vs. Oscar Bravo 131.6
Romero Duno 138 vs. Christian Guido 139.2
Hugo Noriega 148.6 vs. Hevinson Herrera 146.6
Jose Nieves 126.4 vs. Micelo Alvarado 121.6
Serik Musadilov 198.4 vs. Javier Rueda 204
Abel Gonzalez 166.6 vs. Earl Henry ??
Mark Bernaldez 131 vs. Marcello Williams 132
Livian Navarro 152 vs. Antonio Hernandez 150.2
Harold Sanchez 113.8 vs. Francisco Zambrano 112

Venue: Avani Palms Resort, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Gonzalo Sapia

Featherweight contender Mauricio Lara has vowed to take his frustrations out on Jose Sanmartin and send a warning to the 126lb world champions on Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros Arroyo in Mexico City, live worldwide on DAZN.

Lara (24-2-1, 17 KOs) had been set to challenge WBA ruler Leigh Wood in Nottingham, England in September but the bout was nixed after the champion suffered a bicep injury in training. The Mexican now looks to keep himself in the picture to face one of the 126lb belt holders at the start of 2023 by putting on a dominant display against Sanmartin (33-5-1, 21 KOs). Continue reading “Lara: I want to be a world champion”

Isaiah Steen 166.2 vs. Sena Agbeko 167.2
Marquis Taylor 154 vs. Marlon Harrington 153.6
Elvis Garcia 232.8 vs. Moses Johnson 259

Joseph Hicks Jr. 160 vs. Luis Solis 159.6
Joshua James Pagan 139.4 vs. Jeremiah Lewis Watts 138.8
David Navarro 127.6 vs. Luis Domingo Hernandez 126.8

Venue: Bally’s Atlantic City Casino & Resort
Promoter: Salita Promotions
TV: Showtime

Good news! ESPN+ will now air the IBO light heavyweight title clash between unbeaten WBO #8, WBC #11 rated Leon Bunn (18-0, 9 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Padraig McCrory (14-0, 8 KOs) on Saturday from the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany. The fighters faced off at today’s final press conference.

Leon Bunn: “I feel very good. I’m very happy to be here in Frankfurt and that Wasserman Boxing made this fight possible for me. We trained hard for the fight. For me, I’m always in training anyway, because I was hoping for this chance. I’ve dreamed of the world title since I was a kid. I’ve given everything with Conny () in the last few weeks and I’m convinced that that’s why we’ll get the win on Saturday. I’ll do anything to make it happen.”

Padraig McCrory: “This is a great opportunity for me. Leon Bunn is a great fighter but I’m coming to Germany to win this title. On Saturday night my Irish fans will make a home game for Leon a home game for me.”

Rising Star Promotions, DHH Promotions and Blue Cork Strategies, in association with Events DC, today announced that Beltway Battles: Round Three (#BBR3), the Washington, DC-based pro boxing series originally slated for October 1, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:00pm at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC.

Undefeated DC fighter Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (34-0-1, 20 KOs) will compete in the eight-round main event against Mexico’s Jose Humberto Corral (20-31, 12 KOs) after the original #BBR3 show was postponed following the death of his father, Buddy Harrison, a highly-respected and well-loved member of the Washington, DC community who was a boxing trainer, ran Old School Boxing gym and was known for helping those less fortunate inside and outside the ring. Continue reading “New date set for DC fight card”