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ProBox “Last Chance” super lightweight tournament semi-finals
Michael Dutchover 139.6 vs. Antonio “Toño” Moran 139.8

Kendo “Tremendo” Castaneda 139.8 vs. Joseph Fernandez 139.8

Other Bouts:
Jusiyah Shirley,139.8 vs. Eric Womack 140
Daniel “Iceman” Blancas 167 vs. Jolando Taala 171.2
Darelle “Blast” Valsaint 163 vs. Leemont Johnson 168.6
Jaycob Gomez 131.2 vs. Angel Luna 132.4

Venue: ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida
Promoter: ProBox
TV: ProBox TV

Nonito Donaire is targeting huge fights at super flyweight with Kazuto Ioka and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez – before moving back up to chase bantamweight greatness. The former four-weight world champion, who will be 40 in November, has emphatically dismissed any idea of retiring following his brutal stoppage defeat to Naoya Inoue in June. Instead, Donaire intends on dropping down to the 115lbs division to chase fights with WBO champion Ioka and former P4P Chocolatito.

“It’s a really good fight with Chocolatito and people are saying it would be ‘legend versus legend’” Donaire told Probellum.com. “It’s a big fight. But I do like the Ioka fight as well because I want to get that title and become a five-division champion and then move back up to 118 and go for the undisputed crown once everything else is open and I get another opportunity for it.” Continue reading “Donaire targets Ioka, Chocolatito”

Featherweights Michael “Mick” Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) and Miguel Marriaga (30-5, 26 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s showdown at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The bout will air on ESPN+ in the US. and Fite.tv in the UK.

Michael Conlan: “I want to get back in the world title mix as soon as I possibly can, and I thought Miguel Marriaga would be the perfect kind of guy, perfect statement to make that…I believe for me to get back {to title contention}, I didn’t need anybody easy. I wanted someone hard and an opponent who’s going to push me. And I believe Miguel is.”

Miguel Marriaga: “Michael Conlan is an excellent boxer. I’ve also come well-prepared to make an excellent fight. Obviously, the idea is to come here and win the fight, which is the most important thing.”

Unbeaten heavyweight Joe Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) will take on former world champion Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) on September 24 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. This heavyweight collision between #1 and #2 in the WBO rankings, as well as being rated at #2 and #3 by the WBC, will represent a shootout to determine who will be made mandatory challenger for the winner of the forthcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Joe Joyce: “This fight has been a long time in the making. Parker realized he had nowhere else to go and eventually had to take this fight. #1 Vs #2. The winner goes on to fight for the world title. It’s going to be a cracking fight and you will see why he tried so hard to avoid me!”

Joseph Parker: “On Saturday, September 24th, the fans in Manchester will see the very best of me. Joe Joyce will see exactly why I will become the heavyweight champion of the world again with BOXXER…I have waited patiently to get this fight on and let me tell you now, the Juggernaut’s journey ends right here. He has nowhere to run.”

The bout will air exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK. The US outlet is TBA. The event is promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions in association with BOXXER.

Super lightweight prospect Shinard Bunch (19-1-1, 15 KOs) returns to ShoBox: The New Generation in his toughest challenge to date against undefeated Hugo Alberto Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) will on September 9 in the main event of a tripleheader on Showtime from Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.

The co-feature matches undefeated prospect Bernard Angelo Torres (16-0, 7 KOs) against once-beaten Frency Fortunato Saya (13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight attraction. The telecast opens  Janelson Bocachica (17-0-1, 11 KOs), who fought main event headliner Bunch to a split draw in July 2021, taking on once-beaten KO artist Roiman Villa (24-1, 24 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight battle.

The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing and features four fighters new to ShoBox.

Fox has announced not one, but two boxing telecasts leading in to the PPV clash between heavyweights Andy Ruiz Jr. and Luis Ortiz on September 4 during Labor Day Weekend from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

FS1 will air a bout between undefeated super bantamweight contender Ra’eese Aleem (19-0, 12 KOs) against Mike Plania (26-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Then the FOX network will air a ten-rounder between unbeaten super welterweights Joey Spencer (15-0, 10 KOs) and Kevin Salgado (14-0-1, 9 KOs).

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with pound-for-pound great and welterweight champ Terence “Bud” Crawford at the Media Workout for Vergil Ortiz Jr who takes on Michael McKinson this Sat at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, TX and streamed live on DAZN.

Crawford talked about UFC 277 in Dallas last weekend, an update on his mega fight for undisputed with Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr., thoughts on Ortiz Jr and a potential move to fight Jermell Charlo at 154 in this exclusive interview.

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WBA heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has filed a lawsuit against Hall of Fame promoter Don King alleging that he wasn’t paid for his fight with Trevor Bryan on DKP’s June 11 event in Miami.

King responded by saying he’s been requesting banking and wire information from Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren for two months. After not getting a reply, King’s lawyer Tony Gonzalez put the funds in escrow waiting for Warren to respond. DuBois’ lawyer Leon Margules finally sent the wire instructions after Warren and Queensberry Promotions failed to reply to Don King Promotions’ multiple requests for wire instructions. Continue reading “Don King: I’ve never not paid a fighter”

By Jeff Zimmerman

The energetic and flamboyant Blair “The Flair” Cobbs is focused and ready to take on former jr welterweight champ Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker as the co-main event this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, Texas and shown live on DAZN. This is Cobbs first fight after suffering his first loss against Alexis Rocha in March. Cobbs has replaced Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach with Roger Romo, brother to Fernando Vargas and known for his boxing work with UFC superstar TJ Dillashaw.

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Boxing manager Frank Espinoza has been in the boxing game for more than 32 years and there’s nothing else he’d rather be doing. “I truly love this sport. It’s my passion. And I love helping young fighters succeed. I love fighting for them, making sure they get the best deal possible for their work,” he says. “I identify with these young fighters. They’re from humble upbringings like mine and they’re literally fighting to make it.”

Espinoza has not only managed ten world champions he’s also a successful retail businessman and commercial property owner. He signed his first fighter in Isidro “Chino” Garcia who became world champion unexpectedly. He remembers it like it was yesterday. “It was December of 1999 and I was scouting a fighter at an event with Isidro Garcia and the challenger for the main event fell off. So they offered Chino the fight while he was in the audience eating a hot dog and he accepted. Garcia won the fight by decision and I had myself a world champion. It’s not something I expected but it was a terrific surprise.” Continue reading “Espinoza: boxing is my passion”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Sad to report the passing of Australian boxing legend, former WBC featherweight champion Johnny Famechon at the age of 77 years in his hometown of Frankston, Victoria, Australia

Famechon, who was born in Paris, migrated to Australia at the age of five and went on to win a world title in 1969 in an outstanding professional career. John never boxed as an amateur. From a French boxing family his father Andre, was tough-as-nails lightweight and uncle Ray who was a world-rated 1940’s featherweight who challenged Willie Pep for the world crown.

Johnny Famechon (47-4-6, 18 KOs) was a heavy underdog when he traveled to England in 1969 and shocked the boxing world when he outpointed WBC featherweight champion Jose Legra (105-5-4, 36 KOs) at Albert Hall in London, winning a fifteen round points decision. Continue reading “Former champ Johnny Famechon passes”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Vergil Ortiz Jr with trainer Hector Beltran Sr. at Media Workout as they prepare for their fight versus Michael McKinson this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, TX and shown live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Trainer Roger Romo talked about his new prized pupil, the eccentric Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, who faces former jr welterweight champ Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, Texas and shown live on DAZN. Hooker-Cobbs is the co-feature to Ortiz-McKinson.

Romo is the brother of the popular former world champ Fernando Vargas and is known for his “boxing work” with UFC superstar TJ Dillashaw.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Undefeated welterweight Michael “The Problem” McKinson takes on rising star Vergil Ortiz Jr. this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, Texas and shown live on DAZN.

McKinson talks about being in Texas for the first time and how he craves the role as the underdog against the hard-hitting Ortiz Jr. He explained why he is underrated and is fully confident that he can “tame the lion” in his own backyard.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Former junior welterweight champ Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker talks about his fight with Blair “The Flair” Cobbs this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, as the co-main to Ortiz-McKinson. The fight will be streamed live on DAZN.

Hooker, out of Dallas, trains with the Bud-Bomac crew in Omaha, NE. Hooker is looking to bounce back after his loss to Ortiz Jr. in March 2021. Hooker is close to both Crawford and Spence Jr. as he shares his excitement of the potential of this “super fight” happening in the near future.

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Callum Walsh 154 vs. Benjamin Whitaker 154
Omar Cande Trinidad 126 vs. Javier Padilla 123.6
Cem Kilic 163.8 vs. Marco Delgado 165
Chelsey Anderson 134.8 vs. Aida Satybaldinova 135
Eric Priest 161.4 vs. Cory Conner 162.8
Jesus Gonzalez 152.4 vs. Eduardo Diaz 152.4
Jordan Panthen 167.4 vs. Arturo Perez 167.2
Jose Rodriguez 142.2 vs. Armando Vasquez 144.8
Jessica Juarez TBA vs. Elvina White ??

Venue: Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California
Promoter: 360 Promotions
TV: UFC Fightpass

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with new trainer to Vergil Ortiz Jr., Manny Robles, at Ortiz Jr. media workout in Irving, TX. He shared his relationship with the knockout artist from Grand Prairie, Texas, and why Southern California is such a hotbed for boxing. Robles talked about all the great trainers in the area and the experience of taking former heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz Jr. all the way to the mountaintop in this exclusive interview.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. faces Michael McKinson this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, Texas and streamed live on DAZN.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

Trainer Vergil Ortiz Sr. spoke at the media workout as his son, rising welterweight star, Vergil Ortiz Jr., gets back in the ring for the first time in a year against Michael McKinson in the main event this Saturday night at Dickie’s Arena, Fort Worth, Texas, and streamed live on DAZN.

Ortiz Sr. talked about the move from Robert Garcia to Manny Robles, the challenges from the last year and the continued goal to get his son a world title shot and much more in this exclusive Fightnews.com® interview.

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Junior welterweight Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (17-2-1, 5 KOs) will face Christian “Piedrita” Mino (22-5-2, 17 KOs) in the main event of a Bally Sports Presents: Entrobox Championship Boxing card on Sunday, August 21 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL.

In the co-featured bout, junior welterweight phenom Orestes “El Tsunami” Velazquez (4-0, 4 KOs) challenges Emiliano Martin “Pacman” Garcia (17-7, 13 KOs) in a ten round contest.

Also, blue chip welterweight prospect Kevin Hayler Brown makes his highly anticipated pro debut against 38-year-old former world champion Jose Alfaro (31-12-1, 25 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

All three bouts will be televised live on Bally Sports Network and the Bally Sports app. The card is promoted by Boxlab Promotions in association with American Dream Presents.

Welterweight, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-1-1, 10 KOs), who battles Maurice former world champion “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KOs) this Saturday on the undercard of Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson, has a new team in place. Cobbs is now training in Oxnard, CA with Roger Romo and his core team. Hooker vs. Cobbs, a 10-round bout, will take place at The Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Cobbs has his mind set on vengeance after suffering his first loss as a professional. Here is what Cobbs had to say about his fight against Hooker and more.

“Hooker is a tougher opponent than Alexis. A win in this fight puts me in the top 10 rankings. The Rocha fight passed, I’m already on to bigger and better fights while he continues fighting easy setups. Blair “The Flair” remains the people’s champion, with the odds stacked against him. Each fight will be an inspiration to people around the world.” Continue reading “Cobbs: Hooker a tougher opponent than Rocha”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with rising welterweight star Vergil Ortiz Jr (18-0, 18 KOs) who is looking to get back in the ring against the undefeated Michael McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) this Saturday at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, TX and steamed live on DAZN and promoted by Golden Boy.

Ortiz Jr discussed the challenge of his long layoff due to illness, what he knows about McKinson, thoughts on a post boxing music career and a potential mega fight versus Terence “Bud” Crawford for his WBO strap in this exclusive interview.

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“Every contender and champion at junior welterweight better watch out because I am coming to clean out the division.”

The Takeover 2.0 is 10 days away. Teofimo Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs), the former unified lightweight champion, will make his junior welterweight debut against Mexican veteran Pedro Campa (34-1-1, 23 KOs) on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Lopez is back following last November’s split decision shocker to George Kambosos Jr., which knocked him from the top of the lightweight heap. The Brooklyn native is training in New Jersey for Campa, a 30-year-old puncher who is unbeaten in eight fights dating back to 2017.

Following a recent training session, this is what Lopez had to say about his ESPN-televised return. Continue reading “Teofimo Lopez: The Takeover is back!”

Unbeaten KO artist Dalton Smith during today’s fighter workout ahead of this Saturday’s fight for the British super lightweight title against Sam O’Maison in Sheffield, England. All the action will be shown live in the UK and worldwide on DAZN (with the exception of New Zealand and Samoa).

Undefeated Luis “Flechita” Castillo (19-0-1, 12 KOs) will face Abraham “Choko” Rodríguez (28-3-0, 13 KOs), in a WBC strawweight eliminator on Friday the Arena La Paz, in La Paz, Baja California Sur.

For Castillo, it will be his first fight this year. In his last two fights, he beat Carlos Vado and José Ramírez by points, in June and December of last year.

Rodriguez has proved he`s a solid and experienced fighter. Twice he has disputed a world championship, in October 2018 he lost to Ángel Acosta seeking the WBO light flyweight title, and in February 2021 he was defeated by McWilliams Arroyo for the WBC flyweight title.

In his most recent fight, in June 2021, he defeated Alejandro “Pacman” Villaseñor by points over 8 rounds, avenging his first loss in professional boxing, in March 2018.

Fight week kicked off Wednesday with a media workout in Downtown Belfast, and featherweight contender Michael “Mick” Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs), the two-time Irish Olympian and Belfast native, went through the paces in front of an adoring crowd. The fans will pack The SSE Arena Belfast in three days for Conlan’s clash with Miguel Marriaga (30-5, 26 KOs) on ESPN+. Conlan hopes to rebound from his dramatic 12th-round KO defeat to Leigh Wood.