Fightnews.com

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.

_

“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.

The purse bid for the mandatory WBA featherweight bout between the Leo Santa Cruz and the Leigh Wood was called for next August 12 by the WBA Championships Committee. The proceeding will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Panama City headquarters of the WBA and will be made through the Zoom platform.

The split will be 75% for super champion Santa Cruz, while regular champion Wood will keep 25%. The minimum bidding amount will be US $ 150,000.

The fight was ordered as part of the world title reduction plan that the WBA has put in place, and the winner will be left as the sole champion of the category by the WBA.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Association Championships Committee has announced that the bidding for the super lightweight eliminator fight between Ohara Davies and Sandor Martin will be on August 12 at 10:00 a.m. local time in Panama.

The bidding will take place online through the Zoom platform and will be directed by the committee’s director Carlos Chávez. The WBA sent the official communication to the parties on Tuesday. Continue reading “WBA opens Davies-Martin eliminator to purse bid”

How much do they love boxing in the Philipinnes?

When newly crowned IBO flyweight champion Dave “The Doberman” Apolinario (17-0, 12 KOs) arrived back in Manila on Wednesday, he was greeted with a hero’s welcome. Apolinario went straight to Malacanang Palace where he was personally greeted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Mind you, this celebration is for winning an IBO belt, which is not one of the four major sanctioning bodies. Nevertheless, Apolinario is currently the country’s lone current world boxing champion and he’s getting the full treatment.

“I cannot contain my happiness right now,” said Apolinario. “I was ecstatic after winning the belt in South Africa but being greeted and congratulated by my president is another thing. This is the best thing that happened in my life. I promise to work harder and get the other belts.”

Welterweight contenders Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) and Michael “The Problem” McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) hosted a media conference call to promote their upcoming fight on Saturday, August 6. Their 12-round fight will be for Ortiz’s WBO International title at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and will stream live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN.

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “I’m just ready to fight. It’s been like a year. It sucks that a lot of things happened within that year, and it’s taken a full year to come back around, but hopefully, after this fight everything’s back on schedule.”

Michael McKinson: “I have a different style than most people, a style that can expose most things in certain fighters. So I know I’ve got a hard fight ahead of me. I’ve got a big task ahead of me, but I know I’m very mentally capable of pulling it off.”

More Quotes

In probably the most interesting matchup of the weekend, former world champion Maurice “Mo” Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KOs) is a 2:1 favorite against Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-1-1, 10 KOs) in a scheduled ten round welterweight clash on DAZN Saturday from Fort Worth, Texas.

Hooker is coming off a KO loss to Vergil Ortiz Jr. 16 months ago. “I’m ready to show the world I’m still a warrior,” said Hooker. “I’m ready to give them a fight they will always remember.”

Cobbs is making a relatively quick comeback after suffering his first loss via brutal KO against Alexis Rocha in March. The normally talkative Cobbs stated “Blair the Flair is saying absolutely nothing. See you August 6.”

The headliners in this weekend’s TV fights are all double-digit favorites.

Unbeaten welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) is as much as a 20:1 favorite against Michael McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) in the Hooker-Cobbs main event.

Unbeaten super welterweight Dalton Smith (11-0, 9 KOs) is 30:1 against Sam O’maison (17-3-1, 7 KOs) earlier in the day on DAZN from Sheffield, England.

Olympian featherweight Michael Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) is a 12:1 favorite against Miguel Marriaga (30-5, 28 KOs) on ESPN+ from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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

In the history of boxing, there have been fourteen world champions who have won a title while undefeated, all of their victories have been by knockout, and it’s a gift that tips the scales at any time in the ring.

Only two Mexicans are among this list: Alfonso Zamora and Alejandro “Terra” García.

On July 15, 1975, the Thai Saensak Muangsurin won the world championship of the World Boxing Council in the super lightweight division with only three fights, and the same number of knockouts. Continue reading “The Knockout Artist World Champions”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former IBF and WBC 118lb female champion Susie Ramadan (28-3, 12 KOs) returns to the ring on August 20 against former WBO 115lb champion Tomoko Okuda (7-3-1, 1 KO) over eight rounds at the Melbourne Pavilion at Flemington, Victoria, Australia. Ramadan was last in action against Gretel de Paz scoring an eight round points decision in 2020. Okuda is coming off a ten round points loss to Miyo Yoshida in a WBO 115lb title bout in 2021.

By Ron Jackson

John “Section 29” Bopape retained his South African middleweight title for the first time when he stopped the mandatory challenger Snamiso Ntuli from eMnambithi Ladysmith, KwaZulu/Natal, in the eighth round at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Soweto on Sunday.

The big punching 31-year-old Bopape (12-8, 11 KOs), who won the title with an eleventh-round stoppage win over Nkululeko “Bull Dog” Mhlongo from Eshowe in Bloemfontein on 29 April, was in control from the opening round. This was a return fight with Bopape winning on a third knockout in a non-title fight on 6 May 2018.

The 26-year-old Ntuli (6-5, 3 KOs) lasted longer the second time around but it was the strength and experience of the champion that prevailed in the end.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the fight between WBA flyweight champion Artem Dalakian and his mandatory challenger David “Medallita” Jimenez. The Committee gave a period of 30 days to the parties to negotiate that will end on August 30. If no agreement is reached or if any of the parties refuses, an auction may be called. Continue reading “WBA orders Dalakian-Jimenez”

The World Boxing Council has ordered a period of free negotiations for José Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) and Regis Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs) to face each other for the vacant super lightweight world title. If there is no agreement during this period, the WBC will hold an purse bid in accordance with the WBC Rules and Regulations, on Tuesday, August 30th, 2022. Previously, the WBC had ordered a fight between Zepeda and former champion José Ramírez, but the latter will marry his girlfriend in October, so he will not be available to fight.

ProBox TV’s “Last Chance Tournament” 140 lb. semi-finals will take place on Friday at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida and will be streamed live at PROBOXTV.com or the ProBox TV app. The matchups are scheduled for ten rounds and feature Kendo Castañeda (18-5, 8 KOs) vs. Joseph Fernandez (15-4-3, 5 KOs) and Antonio “Toño” Moran (27-5-1, 19 KOs) vs. Michael Dutchover (16-2, 10 KOs).

Kendo Castañeda: “I think Fernandez is a solid fighter. Stand up man. I plan to attack the fight on simply doing what I know best and that’s fight toe to toe until one of us goes night-night. If he can’t trade punches with me until one of us goes to sleep, then he is the one that will go to sleep. Period. Demon Time.”

Joseph Fernandez: “Just be smart and fight my fight. I don’t get into details on the plan, but adjustments will be made during the fight to make it easier fight. I’m about taking advantages, not giving them.”

Antonio “Toño” Moran: “Well, I’m ready to take the victory in the fight, it’s just making the weight and that’s it. I think Dutchover is a boxer who moves a lot and you have to attack him from a distance”

Michael Dutchover: “I think Moran is a good fighter and our styles will make for a great fight the fans will love, I plan to break him down mentally round by round, first bell to last.” Continue reading “Last Chance Tournament Quotes”

Even with the cancellation of the Paul-Rahman PPV, there is still a huge week of great boxing action awaiting us.

THURSDAY
Hollywood Fight Night is back on UFC Fightpass. Super welterweight Callum Walsh (3-0, 3 KOs) again headlines, going for his fourth first round KO in as many bouts at the Quiet Cannon Ballroom in Montebello, California.

FRIDAY
It’s the semi-finals of the innovative “Last Chance” Tournament on ProBox TV. Michael Dutchover (16-2, 10 KOs) meets Antonio Moran (27-5-1, 19 KOs) and fan favorite Kendo Castaneda (18-5, 9 KOs) faces Joseph Fernandez (15-4-3, 5 KOs) at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Both fights are scheduled for 10 rounds in the 140-pound division. .

SATURDAY
ESPN+ has the featherweight clash between Michael Conlan (16-1, 8 KOs) and Miguel Marriaga (30-5, 28 KOs) from the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Conlan returns from his 12th round KO loss to Leigh Wood against a tough customer in three-time world title challenger Marriaga.

DAZN counters with a super welterweight battle between unbeaten Dalton Smith (11-0, 9 KOs) and Sam O’maison (17-3-1, 7 KOs) for the British title at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England.

DAZN then returns later that night from the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, with welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) against Michael McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) plus maybe even a more interesting welter clash between former world champion Mo Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KOs) will face Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-1-1, 10 KOs).

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs) could be making his first defense of the championship against IBF #3 cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith (16-1, 11 KOs), who defeated IBF #8 Isaac Chamberlain on Saturday. Opetaia’s promoter Dean Lonergan was interviewed at ringside about the possibility of the newly crowned world champion defending in England.

“Both these guys make a very good opponent for Jai in the very near future,” said Lonergan. “I imagine Jai is watching this fight and fascinated to hear the outcome. At the end of the day, we don’t have a mandatory and can pick whoever we want to fight – and I’m really impressed on what I’ve seen tonight.

“If everything works, we would come up here in a heartbeat…we are talking to the right people so let’s see what happens.”

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBA bantam champ Tomoki Kameda (39-3, 21 KOs), 126, impressively floored ex-2012 Olympian William Encarnacion (19-4, 15 KOs), 125.25, from Dominican Republic, three times to finish him for the count at 2:35 of the fourth round on Saturday in a scheduled ten in Kobe, Japan.

Currently WBA#2 122-pounder Tomoki, 31, proved too sharp and elusive as well for the 34-year-old Dominican, outspeeding him with fast jabs and utilizing his swift footwork. Kameda, in round three, caught up with Encarnacion with a vicious left hook to the side of the belly, dropping him almost for the count. Barely beating the count, the Dominican fell again with Tomoki’s rapid-fire combos but had a narrow escape. The fatal fourth saw Encarnacion hit the deck in agony again with a wicked body shot to be unable to resume fighting. Despite a seven-month hiatus Tomoki looked sharp and he is willing to have another shot at the 122-pound throne of the WBA. He had failed to win the WBC belt, losing a unanimous nod to Rey Vargas in Carson in 2019.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions

Super welterweight Josh Kelly (12-1-1, 7 KOs) overcame a tough Lucas Bastida (18-2-1, 10 KOs) to enter the world rankings and claim the WBO International title on Saturday night at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England. Kelley scored a ten round unanimous decision, 98-92, 99-92, 96-95

In the co-feature, unbeaten super lightweight Harlem Eubank moved to 15-0, 6 KOs when opponent Eliot Chavez (11-5-1, 6 KOs) was disqualified in the ninth round for hitting on the break. Eubank is a cousin of Chris Eubank Jr.

Jake Paul: “This is another case of a professional boxer, just like Tommy Fury, being scared to fight me.”

Hasim Rahman Jr: “He wanted to drain me down and be a shell of myself when we got in that ring.”

Continue reading “Jake Paul, Hasim Rahman Jr. Statements”

Making his super welterweight debut, two-division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) scored a twelve round majority decision against Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-2-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Benavidez stalked Garcia the whole fight but was constantly outlanded. Scores were 114-114, 116-112, 117-111. The Danny Garcia Show will continue its run at 154.

Garcia became very emotional in discussing his mental health struggles during the post-fight interview, concluding with “Hopefully I don’t become a meme with my crying face like Michael Jordan.”

WBO #10 heavyweight Ali Eren Demirezen (17-1, 12 KOs) scored a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over Adam Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) in the Garcia-Benavidez co-feature on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Kownacki overwhelmed Demirezen with non-stop punches the first two rounds. Demirezen started to turn the tables in round three and he scored the cleaner punches as the bout progressed. Kownacki got a brief second wind in round eight, but Demirezen did more in round nine. Both had their moments in round ten. Scores were 96-94, 97-93, 97-93. Three straight losses for the popular Kownacki.

Unbeaten super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell (16-0, 16 KOs) scored a controversial sixth round TKO against two-division champion Rances Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs). Barthelemy gave Russell all he could handle for five rounds. After Russell dropped Barthelemy in round six, Barthelemy easily beat the count but referee Shada Murdaugh waved it off. Time was :50. The crowd booed and the Barthelemy side was livid.

37-year-old middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs) pressured Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs) for ten rounds and came away with a 99-91, 99-91, 98-92 unanimous decision.

20-year-old welterweight prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (12-1, 8 KOs) was victorious when his bout against Jimmy Williams (18-9-2, 6 KOs) was stopped in the sixth round due to a cut. Time was 2:12.

Unbeaten super middleweight Junior Younan (17-0-1, 11 KOs) blew out Dauren Yeleussinov (10-2, 9 KOs) in the first round.

Jake Paul has canceled his August 6 PPV event against Hasim Rahman Jr. at Madison Square Garden after Rahman was unable to cut his weight to the poundage agreed on. Rahman was slated to be the first professional boxer Paul has fought. Refunds for all ticket and PPV purchases will be provided.

Statement from Most Valuable Promotions

On July 5, Hasim Rahman, Jr. signed a bout agreement to fight Jake Paul on August 6th at Madison Square Garden at a maximum weight of 200 lbs. At the time of signing Rahman provided evidence of his weight to give comfort to Most Valuable Promotions and the New York State Athletic Commission that he would not be losing more than 10% of his weight over the 4 weeks leading up to the fight. Since weighing in at 216 lbs on July 7, Rahman and his camp have offered assurance after assurance publicly and privately that he was on track to make weight at the weigh-in on August 5th, going as far as to provide a letter signed by a recognized nutritionist that his weight cut was progressing without issue per New York State Athletic Commission’s required weekly weight checks. In the last 48 hours, it has become clear that these assurances were not made in good faith. Continue reading “Jake Paul vs. Hasim Rahman Jr is OFF”