Fightnews.com

Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete 125.8 vs. Eduardo Baez 125.8
(WBO featherweight title)

Giovani Santillan 147.4 vs. Julio Luna 147.4
Nico Ali Walsh 157.8 vs. Reyes Sanchez 157.2
Lindolfo Delgado 142 vs. Omar Aguilar 142
Xavier Martinez 131.6 vs. Alejandro Guerrero 131.8
Miguel Contreras 135.4 vs. Josec Ruiz 135.4
Luis Alberto Lopez 127 vs. Yeison Vargas 125.6
Antonio Mireles 266 vs. Kaleel Carter 237

Venue: Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Omar Figueroa Jr 139.75 vs. Sergey Lipinets 139.75
(WBC super lightweight eliminator)

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime

By Joe Koizumi

Former world female champions Susie Ramadan (28-3, 12 KOs) of Australia and Japan’s Tomoko Okuda (7-3, 1 KO) will collide tomorrow (Saturday) in Melbourne, Australia. Susie makes a comeback after a two-year hiatus, while Tomoko, a school teacher, participates in her first bout since her forfeiture of the WBO 115-pound belt to Miyo Yoshida in a rematch this June. Both contestants made weight today under the stipulated 53 kilogram contract. The sensational show at the Melbourne Pavilion will be presented by Brian Amatruda of Big Time Boxing with PPV live streaming:

https://www.fite.tv/watch/btb-miller-vs-vandenesse/2pbrx/

The curtain raiser will start at 6 PM and the main event around 10 pm, Australian time.

Oleksandr Usyk 221.6 vs. Anthony Joshua 244.5
(WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight titles)

Filip Hrgovic 242.9 vs. Zhilei Zhang 277.1
(IBF heavyweight final eliminator)

Callum Smith 174.7 vs. Mathieu Bauderlique 174.5
(WBC light heavyweight final eliminator)

Badou Jack 199.1 vs. Richard Rivera 194.9

Ramla Ali 122.6 vs. Crystal Garcia Nova 122.9
Andrew Tabiti 216.7 vs. James Wilson 238.5

Venue: King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN, Sky Sports PPV

WBO featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) and challenger Eduardo Baez (21-2-2, 7 KOs) faced off Thursday at the final press conference for their clash Saturday evening at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

Emanuel Navarrete: “I feel really good. We had a great preparation. We’re going to be making a really good return. It is a bit hard to make the weight because of the time that we were away from the ring. But aside from that, there’s nothing that worries me about being able to make this defense of my championship in excellent fashion.”

Eduardo Baez: “It’s an important fight for a world title. We’re coming double prepared. We are so happy to be fighting against a great champion like ‘El Vaquero.’ We thank him for the opportunity. We’ve come very prepared to snatch the title from him. I’ve seen it already. It’s very nice. He better not get careless because I’m going to snatch it away.”

Heavyweight contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz held a media workout in Las Vegas on Thursday as he nears his WBC heavyweight title eliminator against former unified champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. taking place September 4 in Labor Day Weekend action headlining a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Luis Ortiz: “I feel so good both physically and mentally. I’m eagerly awaiting this fight and you’re not going to want to miss it when we get in that ring.

“After I fought Charles Martin, I was back in the gym a week later. Whether I have a fight or not, I’m always active and staying ready.

“I respect Deontay Wilder a lot and I appreciate him picking me in this fight. My intention is to knock out Andy Ruiz. One of us is getting knocked out and I can guarantee this one doesn’t go to the judges. Continue reading “King Kong: My intention is to knock out Andy Ruiz”

Juan Carlos Camacho Jr 115.6 vs. Fernando Diaz 114.8
(NABF super flyweight title)

José Martinez 121 vs. Carlos Buitrago 121
Abdiel Perez 135 vs. Angel Rosado 136
Pedro Marquez 127 vs. Wilner Soto 125
Jan Paul Rivera 129 vs. Felix Sosa 127.8
Harold Laguna 134.2 vs. Carlos Matos 134.2

Venue: Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Promoter: Cotto Promotions
TV: ProBox TV

Former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. acknowledged the difficult test in front of him when he faces former world champion Sergey Lipinets in a 12-round WBC super lightweight title eliminator headlining live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, August 20 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. At Thursday’s press conference, Figueroa admitted he was teeming with excitement and eager to show the fruits of a great training camp, while Lipinets believes he and Figueroa have the styles to produce a fan-friendly clash.

The press conference also featured top 140-pounders Alberto Puello and Batyr Akhmedov, who square off for the vacant WBA super lightweight world championship in the co-main event, WBA super featherweight world champion Roger Gutierrez and unbeaten Hector Garcia ahead of their world title showdown and unbeaten prospect Brandun Lee and Will Madera, who kick off the Showtime telecast. Continue reading “Figueroa-Lipinets Final Press Conference”

As previously announced, WBC super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada defends against Argi Cortes on September 3 from Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico.

The DAZN-streamed Matchroom card will also feature a rematch between WBA female featherweight champion Erika Cruz (14-1, 3 KOs) and Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-11-2, 19 KOs), a clash for the vacant IBF light flyweight title between Hector Flores (20-0-4, 10 KOs) and Sivenathi Nontshinga (10-0, 9 KOs), and super Featherweight terror Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (32-1, 29 KOs) unbeaten Jorge Mata (14-0-2, 10 KOs). Continue reading “Estrada-Cortes DAZN undercard set”

Some good ring action on the agenda for tomorrow night:

ProBox TV ($1.99/mo)
10 Rounds – WBO Latino lightweight championship
Juan Carlos Camacho Jr. vs. Fernando Diaz
Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Mike Goldberg, Claudia Trejos, Alan Obrador calling the action from ringside.

FITE ($19.99 PPV)
8 Rounds – super lightweight
Luis Feliciano vs. Alejandro Frias
Commerce Casino, Los Angeles
Puerto Rico vs. Mexico

Canela.TV (free stream)
8 Rounds – light heavyweight
Manuel “El Meno” Gallegos vs. Jesus “Mazo” Moroyoqui
Centennial Sports Center, Sinaloa, Mexico
Canela’s monthly boxing series returns

TyC Sports (available on some services)
10 Rounds – super middleweight
Marcelo “El Terrible” Cóceres vs. Javier “La Bestia” Maciel
Union Carmena Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cóceres knocked down Berlanga, Maciel had a title shot 11 years ago.

The line-up is set for the Cotto Promotions/ProBox TV debut. The fight card takes place this Friday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan and will be streamed live at PROBOXTV.com and the ProBox TV app. The main event is a ten round WBO Latino lightweight title fight between Juan Carlos Camacho Jr. (13-1, 7 KOs) and Fernando Diaz (11-1-1, 3 KOs). Super bantamweights José Martinez (21-1-3, 14 KOs) and Carlos Buitrago (35-7-1, 20 KOs) clash in the eight round co-feature.

Other Bouts:
Abdiel Perez vs. Angel Rosado (lightweight)
Pedro Marquez vs. Wilner Soto (super featherweight)
Jan Paul Rivera vs. Felix Sosa (featherweight)
Harold Laguna vs. Carlos Matos (lightweight

WBC and WBO female featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) will return to the ring on September 24, when she faces IBF champion Sarah Mahfoud (11-0, 3 KOs) in a unification clash at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The bout will be the co-feature to the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker

This will be Serrano’s first featherweight fight since August of last year, when she defeated Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado by unanimous decision.

Her last two fights were at lightweight, including a split decision loss to undisputed champion Katie Taylor on April 30 at Madison Square Garden, considered by many to be one of the best fights of the year.

“It’s been a long journey for me and as of today it continues,” said former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder upon the announcement of his October PPV clash against Robert Helenius. “I thought so many times about whether I should stay out of the business or come back. Once I got my statue in my hometown and saw so many people arrive and celebrate with me and my family, to see all the emotions, grown men crying in front of their children and saying he is a real true king, made me feel like my job is not done.

“So, here I am once again, looking forward to returning to the ring. I am looking forward to coming to Barclays Center, a place where I have had my most devastating knockouts and a place I consider my second home. So where all my Bombzquad people at? It’s time to put on your war gear. And let’s go to work, baby. Bombzquad is back!”

Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) will take on top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (30-3, 19 KOs) in a 12-round WBC heavyweight title eliminator in the main event of a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on October 15 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

In the co-feature, former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) faces two-time WBC super middleweight champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (34-2, 25 KOs) in a 12-round WBC super middleweight title eliminator.

Two additional pay-per-view undercard bouts will be announced to round out the four-fight lineup.

WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksander Usyk and Anthony Joshua faced off at their final press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua: It’s a ‘must-win’ fight. Preparations have been tough, but I like the pressure. Robert Garcia, Angel Fernandez, members of my previous team as well; they’ve been pushing me, challenging me, ensuring I stay focused, and positioning me to get the job done and emerge victorious come Saturday night.

Oleksandr Usyk: “We learned from each other in the first fight, but this is a continuation and the first round on Saturday will be round 13. We had enough time to study each other. We were born to compete for life, for belts, for everything. The one who does not compete, does not win. All our lives are competitions for something or somebody. That’s why we are competing. We’ve had enough time to study each other and this Saturday will be a great, great fight.”

Avoided heavyweight Filip Hrgovic meets Zhilei Zhang in a final eliminator for the IBF heavyweight world title.

Filip Hrgovic: “I’ve been waiting for this fight for almost two years…we went through the whole list. A lot of fighters didn’t want to fight with me. I’m glad that we found the one that wants that…we are both big guys and we are both big punchers. I think he is a really dangerous guy but he lasts for a few rounds. I’m dangerous for the whole fight. I’m dangerous for 12 rounds. That is the difference.”

Zhilei Zhang: “For my last fight 16 million people in China tuned in to watch that. I believe we will make more history this time. I am expecting 100 million. I have 1.4 billion people behind me and supporting me. Let’s make it happen. I’m fighting for my country. On Saturday everybody is going to witness Chinese power again!”

Former WBA super middleweight champion and World Boxing Super Series winner Callum Smith, now campaigning at light heavyweight will face Mathieu Bauderlique in a final eliminator for the world title currently held by Artur Beterbiev.

Callum Smith: “It’s must-win. I think every fight is must-win at this stage in your career. I’m in a busy division, a packed division where there’s a lot of fighters waiting for a shot at the world title. A loss here puts me at the back of the queue – and it’s a very big queue to go to the back of. A win here puts me at the front of the queue, it puts me next in line to fight for the world title. That’s the goal. I’ve been there before down at 168 and I believe I’m good enough to do it at 175.”

Mathieu Bauderlique: “I am a warrior first and foremost. It’s in my DNA. I’m always here to win and I’m ready for a good fight.”

Former two-weight World Champion Badou Jack fights Richard Rivera in a ten round cruiserweight contest. 

Badou Jack: “I’m here to stay. I feel young, I take care of my body. You’ve got to live a boxer’s life. You can’t just live it when you’re in training camp, it’s a lifestyle – all year round.”

Andrew Tabiti and James Wilson collide in an eight round Heavyweight contest.

Andrew Tabiti: “My original opponent was Tyrone Spong but that fight didn’t go through. I don’t know if I’m going to campaign at heavyweight. I’m going to fight certain fights at heavyweight, smaller heavyweights. I might campaign at cruiserweight and bridgerweight.”

Two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua spoke about Saturday’s revenge match with current WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on DAZN from the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah Saudi Arabia.

You’ve been out here for over a month with the new team, how’s it been?

“Saudi has been good to me. Shout out to everyone in Saudi. I’ve had a good time. Everyone at my hotel has been looking after me, everyone in the gym. It’s been like a second home.”

And good memories from last time?

“Yeah, and I’m about to create new ones.” Continue reading “Joshua: We’re going for a knockout”

By Robert Coster

The vacant WBA super lightweight title is at stake this coming Saturday, pitting the WBA #1 ranked Alberto” La Avispa” (the Wasp) Puello against WBA #2 Batyr Akhmedov at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Puello (20-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic is more experienced in the pro ranks, but Akhmedov of Ukraine (9-1, 8 KOs) is considered the bigger puncher with KO victories over two former world champions (Ismael Barroso, Argenis Mendez).

“I have seen videos of Akhmedov and he is one tough customer,” said Puello. “I have trained like never before. Akhmedov is a hard puncher, gritty, strong, but I believe in my skills and my ring smarts. I’m going back to the Dominican Republic with that world title belt around my waist.” Continue reading “Puello vows to defeat Akhmedov”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Boxing Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu will be in attendance to watch his son Tim Tszyu challenge the undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo on January 28 in Las Vegas. This will be the first time Kostya will attend one of his son’s fights since Tim’s pro dedut in 2016.

“My dad’s planning on coming,” Tim Tszyu told foxsports.com.au. “It’s a big moment in his life. I’d love him to be there. He’ll be up there somewhere in the grandstand. It’s going to be loud, so I won’t be able to hear him.” Continue reading “Tim Tszyu Update”

Former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) arrived at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this afternoon. After spending several months serving with the Belgorod-Dnestrovsky Territorial Defense Battalion in his native Ukraine, Loma is ready to resume his boxing career and will return to the ring later this year against a to-be-determined opponent.

“I pray every day for Ukraine, for the people…. and stop the war. When I came back to Ukraine, I believe it was the second day of war. Your mind changes because you see a different life. It’s a different life. Nobody knows what happened on this day. It’s very bad. It’s very bad for the world,” Lomachenko said. “I’ve prepared for this moment, and I need this chance. I need this fight… undisputed. Undisputed world champion.”

WBC super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) will defend his world 115lb title for the fourth time, when he faces Argi Cortés (23-2, 10 KOs) on September 3 at the Centro de Usos Múltiples in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The bout will air on DAZN in the U.S., Azteca 7 in Mexico, and ESPN Knock Out in Latin America.

The fighters faced off today at the WBC’s “Coffee Tuesday” press conference in Mexico City.

Juan Francisco Estrada: “I am ready to make this defense, fully recovered from any injuries and very focused for this fight, which will be a war. Argi Cortés is a very good fighter, with a very good corner, and we are going to give the fans a great fight, because I am sure that we will both arrive with excellent preparation.”

Argi Cortés: “We are going to arrive with an excellent preparation, we know the quality of ‘Gallo’ Estrada but we also know what we have to do to beat him. I agree that it will be a great fight, I respect Estrada, but on September 3 I will surprise the world of boxing with my victory.”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with former 2 division champ Badou Jack who is in Saudi Arabia to take on the undefeated Richard Rivera this weekend on the huge Usyk-Joshua 2 card shown on DAZN in the U.S. Jack talked about his goal to win a third title at cruiserweight, how he found his way from Sweden to the U.S. and shared his thoughts on the Usyk-Joshua rematch and potential showdown between Spence-Crawford and so much more in this exclusive interview.

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

Next Saturday, August 20, Don King will be turning 91 years old, and that is why I decided to dedicate this column to this icon who is undoubtedly one of the most influential and most important men in the history of the sport of boxing worldwide.

There are books and movies that describe the life of Don King, but there is no official production in which he recounts his life, and perhaps it will never exist, because he refuses to do so as he wishes to continue his boxing promoter career. In almost all of these biographical productions, he is portrayed as a dark and even almost diabolical being. It would be necessary to study who has produced these films, series, etc., and check the interest behind these works because none of them does justice to how much he has achieved for the good of our sport in so many different ways.

The famous Don was born in Cleveland. He grew up in troubled neighborhoods in the midst of a society at a time when racial discrimination was at its peak in the USA. I don’t know his childhood very well, but in his youth, he was dedicated to collecting money from the famous clandestine lottery of that time called “numbers.” He eventually married Henrietta, who was in charge of that business. Continue reading “Don King and his 91 Years of Life”

By Joe Koizumi

Younger brother of former WBC 108-pound champ Masamichi Yabuki, southpaw prospect Masanori Rikiishi (12-1, 7 KOs), 130, kept his OPBF 130-pound belt as he scored a fine TKO victory over Filipino Tomjune Mangubat (15-2, 12 KOs), 130, at 2:45 of the fourth round on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. His left uppercut to the face was the haymaker.

Mitsuro Brandon Tajima (2-0, 2 KOs), 264.75, acquired the vacant Japanese heavyweight belt by pummeling Korean champ Sung-Min Lee (7-3-1, 2 KOs), 246, into submission at 1:09 of the first round in a scheduled ten.

Former WBA 105-pound champ Ryo Miyazaki (26-3-3, 11 KOs), 112, was badly halted by WBC #8 light-fly Azael Villar (19-1-3, 15 KOs), 110.75, at 2:43 of the opening session in a scheduled eight. Miyazaki showed nothing before he was lopsidedly battered by the Panamanian and the ref called a halt.

Formerly WBA#1 ranked feather Hiroshige Osawa was badly dropped by a left hook of Filipino Joe Santisima twice and was declared a TKO loser at 1:56 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight. Osawa, 37, announced his farewell to ring activity.

Promoter: KWORLD3

Sportbooks have unified heavyweight world champion Oleksander Usyk listed as a 2:1 favorite to successfully retain his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles against former champion Anthony Joshua in Saturday’s rematch in Saudi Arabia. The bout will air on DAZN in the U.S. market.