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Former WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder previewed his long-awaited return to the ring during a media workout in Las Vegas Thursday, as he prepares to take on top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator on October 15 topping a FOX Sports pay-per-view from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

DEONTAY WILDER

On what he expects from Helenius…

“I always want a good matchup. Robert (Helenius) has been on a winning streak and he’s here. I’ve been hearing he’s supposed to be the mandatory for (Oleksandr) Usyk and however that’s laid out, but I know he’s coming with his A+++ game. They always do when they fight me. Continue reading “Deontay Wilder Workout Quotes”

WBC/WBO super featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson failed to make weight for his bout against Robson Conceicao at Thursday’s weigh-in in Newark, New Jersey. Stevenson scaled in at 131.6 pounds and chose not to attempt to lose the 1.6 pounds of excess weight in the time alotted. Conceicao weighed 129.6.

The ESPN-televised bout will go on as scheduled. Conceicao will claim both belts if victorious, otherwise the titles will remain vacant.

“I gave it my all,” stated Stevenson on social media. “I’ve been professional my whole career and made weight, but my body just can’t make 130 anymore. My health has to come first. I’m moving up to 135 in my next fight…it’s showtime. I’m locked in regardless. See y’all soon.”

Other Weights:
Keyshawn Davis 136.2 vs. Omar Tienda 136.4
Andy Vences 129.8 vs. Henry Lebron 130
Bruce Carrington 126.6 vs. Jose Argel 126.8
Pablo Valdez 153.6 vs. Noe Alejandro Lopez 152.2
Jahi Tucker 147.8 vs. Jose Luis Sanchez 148.2
Orlando Gonzalez 127.2 vs. Misael Lopez 126.2
Floyd Diaz 122.8 vs. Juan Hernandez 123
Antoine Cobb 144 vs. Jaylan Phillips 141.8

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN2

A Baltimore judge has rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis over a 2020 hit-and-run incident that resulted in injuries to four people. Davis accepted the deal, which would have avoided jail time. According to The Baltimore Banner, Davis reached settlements with three of the crash victims, but the fourth is holding out for $450,000 in restitution and the case will go to trial on December 12.

Former WBO female featherweight champion Heather “The Heat” Hardy (22-2, 4 KOs) will bring “The Heat” back after 17 months of inactivity versus eight-time world title challenger Calista Silgado (20-15, 15 KOs) in the main event of an October 13 card at Sony Hall, in the heart of Times Square, mid-town Manhattan. Hardy-Silgado will be a six round lightweight bout.

In the co-feature will be IBF #7 welterweight Ivan “The Volk” Golub (20-1, 15 KOs), who will be putting his USBA title on the line in a yet to be determined opponent.

Lightweights Maxi Hughes and Kid Galahad faced off at the final press conference for their DAZN clash for the IBO belt on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England. It will be former IBF featherweight ruler Galahad’s first fight since his shock KO loss to Kiko Martinez 10 months ago.

Maxi Hughes: Only Barry knows if he’s the same after that KO…the form and momentum are with me, but I am underdog again and that’s something I am used to, it’s just how I approach things regardless of what people think, the bookies think. We’re confident as a team in what we’re doing and that’s the most important thing – getting my hand raised and hearing ‘and still.’

Kid Galahad: I think if Maxi got KO’d the way I did, he would have been finished but I am a different gravy to him, and on Saturday we’ll see. It’s not mind games, it’s the truth. I got KO’d by Kiko. He asked his trainer to pull him out of a fight because he had a bloody nose. That’s the truth, I’m not sugar-coating it, I would rather go out on my shield, that’s the difference in our mentalities.

Despite consecutive losses to Jessica McCaskill and her 41st birthday looming next week, former undisputed women’s welterweight champion “The First Lady” Cecilia Braekhus is planning to continue her career in the junior middleweight division.

“I’m very excited to compete in the 154lb. division and want to fight all of the world champions,” proclaimed Braekhus, (36-2, 9 KO’s). “I fought for thirteen years as a welterweight with great success and now I’m looking for the biggest fights at 154. Looking at the best fighters at 154, I’d want to face the world champions; Hannah Rankin, Natasha Jonas or Marie-Eve Dicaire, there’s no time to waste and I’d happily fight them anywhere they wish.” Continue reading “Braekhus, 40, to resume career”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Unbeaten Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni (6-0, 4 KOs) has based himself in the USA under trainer Justin Fortune ahead of his November 4 bout with New Zealand heavyweight Kiki Luetele (8-1-2, 7 KOs) at the Nissan Arena in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Huni will train out of the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles for a month, and also plans to have Fortune in his corner for the showdown with Luetele

“I’ve always idolized Mike Tyson and his style,” Huni told Fox Sports. “Especially that viciousness when he gets into that ring. So my old man and I, we’re now working on getting that style down pat for me. Just the explosiveness. That, and working on the inside with short, sharp punches. Bringing a lot of power. Continue reading “Huni to face Luetele on Nov 4”

World-ranked bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (27-1, 18 KOs) of Nicaragua (now based in Miami) returns to action this Saturday vs TBA in an eight-rounder at the Manual Artime Community Center Theater, Miami, Florida. Lopez is closing fast on a world title opportunity. He is currently ranked #4 by the WBA, #5 WBO, and #8 IBF.

In a separate bout, highly touted unbeaten super flyweight propsect Winston Guerrero (17-0, 11 KOs) of Nicaragua will be making his U.S. debut vs TBA in another eight round affair. The event” will be promoted by M&R Boxing Promotions (Laura Ching). Continue reading ““Melo” Lopez headlines in Miami Saturday”

The final press conference took place Wednesday in Cancun for Friday’s boxing card at the Oasis Resort. In the main event, unbeaten super bantamweight Cristopher “Pollo” Lopez (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will battle Alejandro “El Conejo” Diaz (11-4-2, 6 KOs) for a WBC regional title. The opener will be the professional debut of 16-year-old Tony “Lightning Junior” Curtis, trained by Roy Jones Jr.

Pollo Lopez: “I’m really happy to be here, and it is very exciting that (former) world champions will be calling my fight. This is a big step in my career fighting ProBox TV and it’s going to be a great night of fights. I know it’s going to be a tough fight and I’m very prepared. I’m going to be very smart in my attack and I think my intelligence in the ring will win me the fight on Friday Night.” Continue reading “ProBox TV Final Press Conference”

By Bob Caico

Undefeated welterweight prospect Demontaze “Juicy” Duncan from Louisville, Kentucky, returns to the ring on Tuesday, September 27 in a main event matchup with savvy southpaw Tyrone Crawley Jr. of Philadelphia, PA. The power-punching Duncan (7-0, 7 KOs) and will face the toughest test of his young career when Crawley Jr. (7-1-1, 0 KOs) enters the ring.

Duncan is the former USA Boxing #1 ranked youth boxer at 152lbs and quickly transitioned into the professional ranks after turning pro in January of 2020. Crawley Jr. is the son of former ESPN champion and Philadelphia icon Tyrone “Butterfly” Crawley Sr. Continue reading “Duncan headlines Sept 27 in Louisville”

WBC/WBO junior lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson and challenger Robson Conceição faced off on Wednesday at the final press conference for Friday’s showdown at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. During the event, the City of Newark presented Stevenson with a proclamation declaring September 21, 2022, as Shakur Stevenson Day in the city.

Robson Conceição: “I’m very motivated. I’ve trained all my life for this moment. The world was able to see that I was better than Oscar Valdez. I should have won. So, he’s not really defending two titles because one should have been mine. I’m a champion without a crown, and I’m ready for Friday night…there will only be one champ, and that champ is me.”

Shakur Stevenson: “He’s a good fighter. But I think he lost against Valdez. If you left it in the judges’ hands, then you lost. I fought Valdez, and I beat the s*** out of him. I don’t have any excuses. He’s talking about having COVID or something before his last fight. All I hear are excuses. I’m ready to fight. Tell him to not have any excuses on Friday night. I’m ready to beat him up…I never leave it in the hands of the judges. I go in there and take everything that I want.”

The Floyd Mayweather-Mikuru Askakura pay-per-view press conference was held today in Tokyo, Japan for this Saturday night’s Super RIZIN, presented by Japanese MMA company RIZIN Fighting Federation. Mayweather-Askakura is scheduled for three rounds. This will mark the first boxing match for Askakura, who has a 16-3 MMA record. The event can be seen across North America live on cable and satellite PPV, as well as via PPV streaming. Price is $29.99.

Floyd Mayweather: “I’m happy to be back in Japan. Great place, great people. An unbelievable turnout. This is what I do; I entertain people. I have so much experience doing this. I’m sure I have more experience doing this than anybody up here.”

The Championships Committee of the World Boxing Association (WBA) ordered an eliminator fight for the light flyweight title between Daniel Matellon and Carlos Cañizales. The committee sent the official communication to both teams on Tuesday afternoon, granting them 30 days to negotiate. The period begins on September 20 and will last until October 20. If they do not reach an agreement within the time given or either party refuses to sign the agreement, the WBA may call for a purse bid with a 50% split for each of the fighters.

Matellon was the interim champion before the world title reduction plan was implemented last year and is now the #1 contender. Cañizales, meanwhile, is ranked #3 in the rankings and the two are the two highest-ranked contenders available to contest the fight.

A rematch between 45-year-old Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Conor McGregor, the second highest-grossing boxing pay-per-view in history, is in the works for next year.

“I want to go out there this weekend and have fun [versus MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in a $29.99 pay-per-view on Saturday night]. Then I have another exhibition Dubai in November, and me and Conor McGregor in 2023,” Mayweather told the Daily Mail. “We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. But there’s been talks of both. I would prefer an exhibition.”

Floyd added, “I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment…so, guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard, such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself.”

Undisputed female lightweight champion Katie Taylor (21-0, 6 KOs) will defend her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world titles against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-0, 2 KOs) at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Saturday October 29, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

Also, European featherweight champion Jordan Gill (27-1-1, 8 KOs) puts his title on the line for the first time against Spain’s two-weight world champion Kiko Martinez (43-11-2, 30 KOs) in a fight that also doubles up as an eliminator for the IBF world title held by Josh Warrington.

Stevenson, Conceição is by far the biggest fight on Friday night, but there are alternatives.

ProBox TV returns from the Grand Oasis Arena in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, with a super bantamweight clash between Cristopher “Pollo” Lopez (15-0-1, 8 KOs) and Alejandro “Conejo” Gonzalez (11-4-2, 6 KOs). This will be the first ProBox TV show from Mexico.

Thompson Boxing, which streams all their events through their social media channels, presents a clash between unbeaten welterweights Richard Brewart Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) and Joeshon James (6-0, 3 KOs) in the main event at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.

WBC/WBO junior lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson kicked off fight week Tuesday afternoon at Newark, New Jersey’s Boylan Street Recreation Center, where he met several dozen local children and was greeted by Councilwoman LaMonica McIver and other politicians from Newark and the surrounding areas. Stevenson trained at Boylan as a youngster and always makes a point to return to his roots.

Earlier that day, his challenger Robson Conceição received a hero’s welcome at Mantena Global Care, a Newark-based nonprofit that serves the Latino community in the city. Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood is home to one of the nation’s largest Brazilian populations. Many local dignitaries, including East Ward Council Member Michael J. Silva, were on hand to support Conceição.

Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs), a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, will defend his belts against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) on Friday evening at Prudential Center. ESPN will televise.

A couple of the PPV undercard bouts have just been announced for the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva clash on October 29 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Lightweight prospect Ashton “H20” Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) faces Braulio Rodriguez (20-4, 17 KOs) in an eight-rounder contested at 133 pounds.

Also, MMA fighter Chris Avila (1-1 as a boxer) faces pro-debuting Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer with nearly 23 million followers. Their four-round cruiserweight bout is contracted at 185 pounds.

By Bob Ryder

Sad to report Detroit middleweight Isiah Jones was shot and killed in what is being reported by his trainer as a dispute with a family member that turned deadly. The incident occurred early Monday evening in Detroit.

After winning the 2016 National Golden Gloves, Jones got off to an excellent start as a professional reeling off all wins in his first eight fights culminating with a decision over fellow Motor City boxer Lanardo Tyner. The Tyner fight proved to be Jones’ last fight in his hometown, as he went on the road during the COVID pandemic losing seven of his last eight fights with his last bout in July of this year against Andrew Murphy bringing his final record to (9-7, 3 KOs).

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman – WBC President

The intense rivalry between two great world boxing champions has come to an end. The Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and the Kazakh Gennady “GGG” Golovkin celebrated the trilogy that resulted in a victory for our great champion and Pride of Mexico.

Thirty-six rounds of dedication, courage, passion and glory. Three fights, one draw and two wins for Canelo. That white heat of competition ended when the bell rang, and the greatness of this sport remains whole and intact, by demonstrating humility merging into a heartfelt hug full of respect and recognition for each other. If everything in life was like boxing, it would be a different world that we live in. Continue reading “Viva Mexico, Canelones!”

WBO Statement: Re: Andrade/Parker – Please be advised that due to effects of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico, the purse bid scheduled for today at the WBO offices has been postponed. The new date for the bid will be Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) AST at WBO Offices in Puerto Rico.

Having been postponed by the British Boxing Board of Control due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last week, the long-awaited Claressa ‘GWOAT’ Shields vs. Savannah ‘The Silent Assassin’ Marshall grudge clash for the undisputed female middleweight championship will now take place on October 15 at The O2 in London.

The co-feature between female super featherweight champions Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgarnder and the full undercard for the first-ever all-female card televised in Britain remains the same. The event will air on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US.

All tickets purchased for the original September date remain valid for the new October 15 date and ticket holders do not need to take any action or obtain new tickets to attend the event.

Italy’s leading boxing promoter, OPI Since 82 operated by the Cherchi family and Top Rank will collaborate on on an October 28 show at the at the 3,000-seat Atlantico, one of the most popular concert venues in Rome. In the main event, 2016 Italian Olympian and undefeated heavyweight KO artist Guido Vianello (9-0-1, 9 KOs) will fight Jay McFarlane (13-6, 5 KOs) in a scheduled eight-rounder. All of Vianello’s previous pro fights have taken place in the United States. The card will stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S. and exclusively on Mola TV in Italy. Continue reading “Guido Vianello to fight in Rome”

Oddsmakers are giving Robson Conceição almost no chance to dethrone WBC/WBO super featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson on Friday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Backers of Stevenson have to give anywhere from 20:1 to 30:1 at online sportsbooks.

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On Saturday, heavyweight Joe Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) is a 2:1 favorite over Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) in their clash for the WBO interim title at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. ESPN+ will stream.

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