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The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the final featherweight eliminator fight between #1 rated Thomas Patrick Ward and #2 Otabek Kholmatov to determine the mandatory challenger in the 126-pound division. The WBA gave a 30-day negotiation period, which will begin on October 5 and end on November 4. The split will be 50% for each of the fighters according to the rules. If the fighters do not reach an agreement or any of the parties refuses to do so, the WBA may send the fight to a bidding process.

Former super middleweight world champions Caleb “Sweethands” Plant and Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell shared insights into their respective training camps and more during a virtual press conference Wednesday ahead of their upcoming WBC super middleweight title eliminator on Saturday, October 15 in the co-main event of the Wilder-Helenius pay-per-view from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Caleb Plant: “I’m going to put a vicious whooping on him on October 15. I’m going to teach him a life lesson when we get into the ring. He’s retiring after this. He’s done. I’m going to beat him in such a way that he won’t want to be a part of this anymore.”

Anthony Dirrell: “He’s just one of those guys that I want to really f**k up. That’s the task at hand, get in there and f**k him up.”

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Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez, the southpaw fighting pride of Cienfuegos, Cuba, is on the precipice of a featherweight title shot. In order to earn that opportunity, Ramirez (10-1, 6 KOs) will have to take care of business against former world champion Jessie Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder Saturday, Oct. 29 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Ramirez-Magdaleno is the co-feature to the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jamaine Ortiz main event, streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

WBA regular super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. returns to his adopted hometown of Minneapolis on Saturday, November 5, to headline a Showtime-televised card from The Armory. Morrell (7-0, 6 KOs) will defend his world title against unbeaten WBA #1 contender Aidos Yerbossynuly (16-0, 11 KOs).

Welterweight Alexis “Lex” Rocha (20-1, 13 KOs) will return to the ring as the co-feature to Saturday on October 29’s 12-round main event match between former IBF super featherweight champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. (32-2-1, 15 KOs) and undefeated lightweight William “El Camarón” Zepeda (26-0, 23 KOs). Rocha will defend his NABO welterweight title against Jesus “Ricky” Perez (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-round fight to be broadcast worldwide on DAZN and live from the Pechanga Arena San Diego.

Alexis Rocha: “All I care about is stepping into the ring and knocking out my opponents. That is my mindset. As long as I keep knocking opponents out, knocking them down, making them quit, or breaking them down, my opportunities will come and eventually none of the top names will be able to ignore me. That is my mission and that is all I care about. I’m coming for every top fighter.”

Jesus Perez: “This is a great opportunity for me. I know the odds are stacked against me, but I will be more than ready on Oct. 29! Let’s hope my opponent is as well so we can give the fans a show.”

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall have an added incentive to be victorious on October 15. The winner will claim the new WBC ‘Elizabethan Belt.’ The belt is a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after the original fight date was postponed due to a 10-day period of national mourning for the late British monarch following her passing two days before the initial September 10 event at The O2 in London, England.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said, “Queen Elizabeth II will live forever in our hearts and minds. The boxing world unites to render homage to one of the greatest human beings that ever lived, here where boxing was born.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn is not planning to cancel Saturday’s BBBofC-prohibited Eubank-Benn clash without a fight.

“It’s with the lawyers, going backwards and forwards right now,” said Hearn during a public workout today in London. “Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight. The UKAD testing, which is obviously the testing agency the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by, have all been clear and negative and there was an adverse finding on a VADA test previously. So there’s not been an official doping violation. There’s a process that has to be gone through.

“Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. Ultimately, he can’t be because he’s passed all the tests from UKAD. But clearly, the British Boxing Board of Control will take a position on it and we’ll deal with the lawyers. Continue reading “Hearn: No reason the fight should not take place”

BRITISH BOXING BOARD OF CONTROL STATEMENT

On the evening of 4th October 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of Boxing. That was communicated to the Boxers and Promoters involved on the morning of 5th October 2022.

ROBERT W. SMITH
General Secretary
BRITISH BOXING BOARD OF CONTROL

Conor Benn has tested positive for a banned substance, reportedly trace amounts of the banned women’s infertility drug Clomifene. Despite the adverse finding, both camps wish to proceed with Saturday’s big money showdown between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr in London. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has yet to weigh-in on the issue.

Matchroom Boxing/Wasserman Boxing Statement: We have been made aware that a random anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug. The B sample has yet to be tested, meaning that no rule violation has been confirmed. Indeed, Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he is not suspended, and he remains free to fight.

Mr. Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its doping control testing for the bout. Mr. Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD.

Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday.

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.

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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.”

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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”