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Former WBO heavyweight title challenger Hughie Fury (22-2, 12 KOs) knocked out overmatched Chris “The Natural” Norrad (17-1, 8 KOs) in the second round on Saturday at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, England. Coming off his IBF eliminator decision loss to Kubrat Pulev last October, Fury was in soft and he delivered an easy win.

Afterwards, Fury thanked his team of father and trainer Peter, and strength and conditioner Kerry Kayes, for transforming his diet and training. “I felt a lot strong and a lot fitter and I’m ready now to fight anyone. All the experience I’ve had including the losses is all experience, I’m young and making me the final article for the future.”

Report, Photos by Joe Koizumi

Everything is new and epoch-making in FuZhou, China, which is the native place of the father of the newly crowned WBA featherweight champion Xu Can (pronounced as Shu Tsuan). Having made a hero’s return as the very third Chinese world champ after his upset coronation over Jesus Rojas in Houston this January, Xu will celebrate his initial defense before his hometown audience tomorrow (Sunday).

The weigh-in was successfully held at the Grand New Century Hotel this afternoon. Xu Can tipped the beam at 57.05 kilogram (125.75 pounds), while Japanese challenger and former WBA 122-pound ruler Shun Kubo at 57.00 kilogram (also 125.75 pounds).

Another WBA world title will be the main event, and the light-flyweight defending titlist Carlos Canizales scaled in at the class limit of 48.95 kg (108 pounds), while ex-WBO flyweight title-holder Sho Kimura, Japan, at 48.75 kg (107.5 pounds). It will be promoted by Liu Gang’s Max Power Promotions to be telecast live by CC Television in China, and by WOWOW in Japan.

NABO minimumweight beltholder and world-rated WBO #4 Wilfredo Méndez (13-1, 5 KOs) retained his title with a ten round unanimous decision over WBO #8 rated Janiel Rivera (18-4-3, 11 KOs) on Friday night at the Rubén Zayas Montañez Coliseum in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

The judges scored 100-88, 99-89 and 97-91 for Mendez, who outboxed Rivera and send him to the canvas in round one. Rivera was deducted a point in round ten for low blows. Continue reading “Mendez retains NABO minimumweight title”

Unbeaten WBA #5, IBF #14 bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (20-0, 11 KOs) of Nicaragua stopped David Reyes “Zamorita” Cota (21-4-1, 10 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico, in round seven on Friday night at Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida. Lopez came out aggressive from the opening bell. He systematically broke down Cota working both the head and the body. Cota was very game and hung tough. Lopez staggered Cota at the end of round six which was pretty much the beginning of the end. Lopez immediately went on the attack early in round seven. A barrage of unanswered punches by Lopez led the referee to step in an stop the fight at 38 seconds of round seven. Continue reading ““Melo” Lopez TKOs Cota at Miccosukee”

Star Boxing has announced the undercard for the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend card, set to take place at Turning Stone Resort Casino on June 7th. The main event features six-time world champion Zab “Super” Judah (44-9, 30 KOs) against Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (23-1, 19 KOs) in a 12-rounder for the vacant NABA super lightweight title. In the twelve round co-feature, undefeated WBA #8 middleweight David Papot (22-0, 3 KOs) will face veteran James “Buddy” McGirt Jr. (27-3-1, 14 KOs) for the WBA Intercontinental and WBO International titles. McGirt Jr. is the son of Long Island’s first world champion “Buddy” McGirt, who is being inducted to the Hall of Fame during the fight week induction ceremony. Continue reading “IBHOF undercard fights announced”

Jackie Nava 122.5 vs. Marcela Acuña 122.5
Kenia Enríquez 106.9 vs. Mairyn Flores 106.9
Carlos Díaz 140 vs. Emmanuel Herrera 140
Melissa Esquivel 123.5 vs. Marisol Corona 123.5
Jesús Ruiz 123.5 vs. Oscar Trujillo 124.5
René Miranda 135.4 vs. Alejandro René Frías 135.4

Venue: Estadio de Beisbol “Agustín Flores Contreras”
City: Puerto Vallarta, Jal, MX
Promoter: Zanfer, Code Jalisco, Comude Vallarta
TV: TV Azteca

Photos

Robeisy Ramirez, the former Cuban amateur prodigy who captured Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, has signed a multi-year contract with Top Rank and will make his long-awaited professional debut later this year. The 25-year-old Ramirez left the Cuban national team last year while attending a training camp in Mexico, ultimately defecting from his homeland.

A southpaw boxer-puncher now living in Gulfport, Florida, he will train with Rob Mendez and turn pro as a featherweight, the same weight class as former Olympic foes and current promotional stablemates Shakur Stevenson and Michael Conlan. Continue reading “Top Rank inks 2-time Olympic gold medalist”

Austin Trout 155 vs. Terrell Gausha 154.8
Chordale Booker 154 vs. Wale Omotoso 153
Ahmed Elbiali 176 vs. Marlos Simoes 174.2
Efe Apochi 198.4 vs. Earl Newman 202.2
Amon Rashidi 149.6 vs. Alexander Centeno
Habib Ahmed 159.6 vs. Juan De Angel 162
Shawn Simpson 118 vs. Sergio Quiroz 117.8
Burley Brooks 169.2 vs. Francisco Ariri Neto 170
Antonio Tarver Jr. 154 vs. Thomas Hill 153.6
Angel Alejandro 125.6 vs. Angel Carvajal 123
Arnold Alejandro 129.6 vs. Pablo Batres 131
Fernando Garcia 123.6 vs. Dennis Contreras 124
Brandon Glanton 180 vs. Billy Cunningham 177.8

Venue: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, MS
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: FS1, FS2

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Masayuki Ito 129.4 vs. Jamel Herring 129.6
(WBO junior lightweight title)

Jose Pedraza 134.8 vs. Antonio Lozada 134.4
Jeyvier Cintron 114.6 vs. Koki Eto 114.6
Adam Lopez 125.4 vs. Jean Carlos Rivera 126
Steven Nelson 172 vs. Victor Darocha 171.8
Antonio Vargas 117.4 vs. Jose Maria Cardenas 117.6
Edgar Berlanga 161.6 vs. Gyorgy Varju 157.4
Henry Lebron 130.2 vs. Luis Ruiz Lizarraga Jr. 129.2

Venue: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Photos

By Gary “Digital” Williams
Photos: Mike Greenhill

Devin Haney 134.8 vs. Antonio Moran 134
Filip Hrgovic 242 vs. Gregory Corbin 269.4
Michael Hunter 215.6 vs. Fabio Maldonado 241
Jessica McCaskill 138.8 vs. Anahi Sanchez 138
Daniar Yalussinov 150.2 vs. Juan Norabuena 149.4
Lorenzo Simpson 165 vs. Rafael Garcia 169.6
Mack Allison IV 133 vs. Luis Eduardo Perez 136

Venue: MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD
Promoter: Matchroom Boxing
Stream: DAZN

Photos

The next edition of ShoBox: The New Generation is Friday, June 21 live on SHOWTIME from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. Billed as “Someone’s O Must Go,” the card will feature six boxers with a combined record of 91 wins and no defeats. Since the developmental prospect series debuted in 2001, a total of 186 boxers have lost their undefeated record on ShoBox.

In the main event, 6’7 super welterweight Sebastian Fundora (12-0, 8 KOs) faces Hector Zepeda (17-0, 4 KOs) in a 10-round bout. In the co-feature, Michel Rivera (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on Rene Tellez Giron (13-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight bout. In the telecast opener, Jose Romero (21-0, 7 KOs) battles Yeis Solano (14-0, 10 KOs), also in an eight-round lightweight fight.

Roman Zakirov 153.6 Taras Golovaschenko 153.4
(IBO international junior middleweight title)

Venue: Sporthalle, Schleife, Sachsen, Germany
Promoter: Peter Pelk Promotion – Peter Pelk
IBO Supervisor: Andre Van Grootenbruel

Female boxing legends and world champions Jackie “La Princesa Azteca” Nava (35-4-3, 16 KOs) and Marcela “La Tigresa” Acuña (49-7-1, 20 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their long-awaited rematch on Saturday in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Acuña’s IBF super bantamweight title will be on the line.

Jackie Nava: “I thank Zanfer for this great opportunity to headline in a big fight in as nice a place as Puerto Vallarta, and for giving me this fight I wanted so much against Marcela Acuña, who I respect a lot. She beat me ten years ago in a big fight, and she and I have remained at a high level. It’s time to settle this account and now here in Mexico. We will come out with the victory. We had one of the best preparations in my career and you will see the results on Saturday. I feel very strong, very fast, very well conditioned.”

Marcela Acuña: “I am very happy to be in Mexico, but I didn’t come on vacation. This is a country that I have wanted to fight in for a long time, and what could be better than facing the great champion Jackie Nava? I respect very much her career and achievements, but if I defeated her ten years ago, now, with my experience, the evolution of my boxing, and my maturity, I will defeat Jackie again and her promoter. Do not have the slightest doubt!”

Continue reading “Nava-Acuña Final Press Conference”

With the International Olympic Committee voting next month on removing the AIBA from organizing the bouts at the 2020 Tokyo Games, the World Boxing Association, boxing’s oldest governing body, has offered its vast experience to help oversee boxing for Tokyo 2020.

On Thursday, the WBA laid out its case:

WBA Supports Olympic Boxing

Boxing is one sport. Both in its professional and Olympic discipline. That is why the World Boxing Association (WBA) never opposed the participation of professional boxers in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. However, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) questioned the participation of the Fistiana Art for Tokyo 2020, the WBA launched its support for the IOC in its quest to protect athletes.

Thus was born in June 2018 “The Return of Boxing,” the WBA program that was supported by Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic and world heavyweight champion, as well as an ambassador of the oldest body organization governing universal pugilism. Continue reading “WBA poised to help with 2020 Olympic Boxing”

Melvin “Melo” Lopez 116.6 vs. David Reyes “Zamorita” Cota 118.6
(NABA bantamweight title)

Harold “King” Calderon 147 vs. Marcelo Fabian Szowski 146.2
(WBC Fecarbox welterweight title)

Josec “Esorpion” Ruiz 133.8 vs. Nicolas “El Zurdo” Velazquez 135.8
Mark “Machete” Bernaldez 128 vs. David Berna 128.6
Alexi “Hurricane” Collado 126.6 vs. Szilveszter Ajtaj 131.4
Yohannys “Pequeno Gigante” Argilagos 117.2 vs. Juan Centeno 118
Daniel “Raspy” Placeres 135 vs. Demetrius Wilson 141.2
Manuel “Sweet Dreams” Correa 128.6 vs. Devin “D Iron Soldier” Parker ?
Osmel “El Puchi” Mayorga 139.8 vs. Jack Grady 139.2

*Cota overweight and not elgible to win NABA title)

Venue: Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort &Gaming “Dome”
Promoter: M&R Boxing Promotions

In an upset, female super featherweight Simone DaSilva (16-12, 6 KOs) schooled much-hyped prospect Ikram Kerwat (9-2, 5 KOs) on Thursday night at Casino Del Sol’s outdoor AVA Amphitheater in Tucson, Arizona. DaSilva, who had lost eight of her last nine fights, surprisingly took apart Roy Jones Jr. protégé Kerwat, beating her to the punch all night long. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, 100-90.

Unbeaten WBO #11 super bantamweight Max “The Baby Face Assassin” Ornelas (13-0-1, 5 KOs) passed his toughest test stopping Alex “Xhino” Rangel (17-10, 4 KOs). Ornelas dropped Rangel in round two and got the TKO with his follow-up barrage. Time was 1:24.

Super lightweights Alfonso Olvera (11-5-3, 4 KOs) and Carlos “Silk” Villa (14-3-2, 6 KOs) battled to a six round draw. Scores were 58-56 Villa, 58-56 Olvera, 57-57.

Photos: Mike Greenhill

On Saturday evening, undefeated Lightweight sensation Devin Haney (21-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas will make his DAZN debut against Mexico’s Antonio Moran (24-3, 17 KOs) in the scheduled 12-round main event.

The co-feature of the evening will feature Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic (7-0, 5 KOs) taking on Gregory Corbin (15-1, 9 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, in a Heavyweight title scheduled for 10 rounds. Kicking off the action at 9:00 p.m. ET on DAZN, Michael Hunter (16-1, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas will look to extend his unbeaten streak at heavyweight when he faces off against Brazil’s Fabio Maldonado (26-2, 25 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round affair.

Three undercard bouts will air on DAZN beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, prior to the main card at 9:00 p.m. ET. In anticipation of Saturday’s fights, Matchroom Boxing USA’s Eddie Hearn and the main card fighters spoke to a packed room of media in Maryland. Continue reading “Haney-Moran Press Conference”

The tenth annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Boxing Night took place on Wednesday night at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The exclusive star-studded event featured four live fights and raised over $500,000 to benefit the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation.

The live fights featured super bantamweight Rudy Garcia (10-0, 1 KO) defeating Rafael “El Alikin” Gramajo (10-2-2, 2 KOs) by eight round unanimous decision in the main event. Also on the card was super middleweight Chris Ousley (10-0, 8 KOs) beating Derion Chapman (3-4-1, 2 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision, middleweight Brandyn Lynch (10-1, 8 KOs) stopping Donnis Reed (3-3, 2 KOs) in the second round, and heavyweight Amir Easley (2-0, 1 KO) outpointing Ryan Edwards (1-1) over four rounds.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) will continue with its live broadcast agenda through its web portal this Sunday, May 26th, with the streaming of the fight card that will be held in Fuzhou, China, that will feature two WBA world championships, with local fighter Can Xu as the main event of the evening.

After fulfilling two successful broadcasts in Colombia and Panama, the oldest sanctioning body in the world will come to China to promote quality boxing and give fans the chance to see Asian fighters who are gaining more space in the global arena. Continue reading “WBA will broadcast fights in China this Sunday”

On Saturday, June 22, at CSU’s Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, Bigger Than Life Entertainment and Mo Entertainment, in partnership with six-time World Champion Miguel Cotto’s Miguel Cotto Promotions will present “Making A Champion,” the first in a series of shows that will feature top prospects in their toughest challenges.

In the first CBS Sports-televised main event, Goldsboro, North Carolina’s Dewayne “Mr. Stop Running” Beamon (16-1-1, 11 KOs) will face former world title challenger Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar (30-3-1, 21 KOs) from the Philippines in a 12-round showdown for the WBC United States (USNBC) super flyweight championship. Continue reading “New boxing series kicks off June 22”

By Hesiquio Balderas

Former 122-pound champion Jessie Magdaleno will be back in action on August 10. Top Rank plans to seek a title opportunity for Magdaleno at 126 pounds. Magdaleno defeated Rico Ramos by clear unanimous decision in his last outing, the first time Jessie fought after his defeat at the hands of Isaac Dogboe.

After the Dogboe bout, Jessie took a good rest away from boxing and now he is full steam ahead towards the featherweight division. Magdaleno (26-1, 18 KOs) is guided by renown boxing manager Frank “Derecho” Espinoza, who also guides the career of current WBO featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez among others.

Female boxing legends and world champions Jackie “La Princesa Azteca” Nava and Marcela “La Tigresa” Acuña worked out for the public on Wednesday in a ring erected next to the famous arches of the Teatro “Aquiles Serdán” on the boardwalk of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

WBA interim bantamweight champion Nava (35-4-3, 16 KOs) will be challenging for the IBF super bantamweight title of Acuña (49-7-1, 20 KOs) in a long-awaited rematch on Saturday, with the Aztec Princess is looking to avenge a unanimous decision loss on Acuña’s home turf 10 years ago in Buenos Aires.

Acuña stated that she’s there to defeat Nava again in another memorable fight. Nava promised the fans that she will take revenge on Acuña and win whatever the cost.

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WBA regular welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten WBA welterweight super champion Keith Thurman, plus unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant and unbeaten Mike Lee, squared-off for the second day in a row Wednesday, this time at a Los Angeles press conference as they previewed their respective showdowns taking place July 20 in Las Vegas.

Manny Pacquiao: “It’s easy for my opponents to talk before the fight, and I’m used to everything they say. But when we get to the ring, it changes, and it will change on July 20.”

Keith Thurman: “All Manny does is hop around in the ring. I’m not going to lose to a bunny rabbit…I’m destroying the legend of Manny Pacquiao. His legacy ends on July 20 and mine begins.”

Full Quotes

Unbeaten former amateur standouts Roman Zakirov (9-0, 7 KOs) of Azerbaijan and Taras Golovashchenko (3-0, 3 KOs) of the Ukraine square off this Saturday at the Sporthalle in Schleife, Sachsen, Germany. It is a serious fight for both fighters to take at this stage of their careers. The junior middleweight prospects will fight a scheduled 10 round featured bout with the IBO international title at stake. Continue reading “Zakirov-Golovashchenko Saturday in Germany”

By Jason Marchetti
Photos: Emily Harney

WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade and challenger Maciej Sulecki faced off today at a press conference announcing their June 29 fight at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.

Maciej Sulecki: “Special thanks to America and the Polish community. I’m here because I want to win. He [Andrade] never fought a good opponent. This is my dream fight and I’m here because I know I can win.”

Demetrius Andrade: “It’s my time. Providence needs to come out and see me display my skills. The wolf is coming out. It’s time to break some bones and some ribs! I hope Sulecki has a good cut man. See you June 29th.” Continue reading “Andrade-Sulecki Highlight Quotes”