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In an exciting clash between former heavyweight contenders, hometown hero Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over Kubrat Pulev (29-3, 14 KOs) to claim the WBA international title on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Chisora came out with an aggressive body attack while Pulev operated from outside with combinations. Chisora had a big round seven and Pulev went back to the corner with blood streaming from a cut over his left eye. Pulev staggered Chisora in round eight, but DelBoy, always the most dangerous when he’s hurt, somehow fired back. Toe-to-toe action in round nine with both landing big shots. Pulev outworked Chisora in round eleven, but Chisora landed the most eye-catching shots in round twelve. Scores were 116-112 Pulev, 116-112, 116-114 Chisora. Chisora reversed a three-fight losing streak and avenged a split decision loss to Pulev six years ago.

A rematch and WBA super welterweight eliminator between Israil Madrimov (8-0-1, 6 KOs) and Michel Soro (35-3-2, 24 KOs) ended in a technical draw after Soro was cut by an unintentional headbutt at :5 of round three on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. Madrimov rattled Soro in round two, but the premature end prevented a clear conclusion. The cut didn’t seem that bad. This rematch was ordered after Madrimov got a controversial referee’s stoppage in their first fight.

Unbeaten heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) steamrolled late sub Chris Healey (9-10, 2 KOs) in less than two rounds. Wardley dropped Healy in round one and blasted him to the canvas again 40 seconds into round two to end it. Continue reading “Madrimov-Soro ends in technical draw”

By Ron Jackson

Ronald Malindi retained the South African bantamweight title for the fourth time when he beat the number one contender Rofhiwa Nemushungwa on a 12 round split decision at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall in Middelburg, Mpumalanga on Friday night. Judges Ben Ncapai and Siya Mani scored it 115-114 and 117-115 for Malindi and judge Simon Mokadi handed in a card of 115-114 for Nemushungwa.

There was very little in it through most of the rounds as both fighters threw punches to the head and body. However, some ringsiders were of the opinion that the challenger had done enough to edge it and take the title. Continue reading “Malindi retains SA title on a split decision”

Edward Vazquez 128.8 vs. Jose Argel 127.2
Damon Allen 135.1 vs. Oscar Barajas 136.2
DeAndre Pettus 160.5 vs. Chukka Wills 163
Isaiah Johnson 141.6 vs. Rondale Hubbert 145.7
Boimah Karmo 152.7 vs. Daniel Jiles 151
Famous Wilson 162.7 vs. Vincent Randall 157.9
Najeem Johns 141 vs. Darryl Chamberlain 134.2

Venue: 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
Promoter: RDR Promotions
Stream: BXNGTV.com, 1st Bell: 7 PM ET

Undefeated lightweight Keyshawn Davis has been forced to withdraw from his July 15 co-feature against Jair “Kaiser” Valtierra due to an illness that interrupted his training camp. Davis (5-0, 4 KOs), a U.S. Olympic silver medalist, will return this fall. The new eight-round co-feature will see Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs) step in against Valtierra underneath the Arnold Barboza Jr.-Danielito Zorrilla junior welterweight main event at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. Muratalla was previously scheduled to fight on the undercard.

Showtime PPV released quotes from Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr., son of the legendary former two-time heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman, who clash in an eight round cruiserweight bout on August 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The PPV telacast also features unified female featherweight champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano against Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal, plus unbeaten super welterweight Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) and unbeaten lightweight Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) against opponents to be named.

Jake Paul: “Fury fumbled the bag for the second time in a row and went into hiding, so I’m going to step up, again, and take on a new opponent on short notice. Nothing but respect for Hasim Rahman Jr., a professional heavyweight boxer with a 12-1 record who comes from a legendary boxing family. He’s bigger, he’s stronger and he’s more experienced. But guess what? I’m crazier. I’m raising the stakes and on August 6, I will get my respect under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.”

Hasim Rahman Jr: “Jake Paul and I sparred two years ago and let’s just say I took it easy on the kid. August 6 is not a sparring session. I am going to separate him from God’s conscience. My name is Hasim Rahman Jr., and I am going to knock out Jake Paul. Period.”

After bringing live professional boxing back to Atlantic City last March following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (31-5-1, 13 KOs) is once again returning to the historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on August 20. However, this time, in addition to serving as promoter, Cornflake will also be lacing up the gloves and stepping inside the ring to compete in the eight-round main event (opponent TBD).

“I’m just glad to finally be back. Depression is real and mental health is a SOB. It’s time for me to get back to the top,” said LaManna, who is fighting for the 20th time in the resort town, and second appearance at Boardwalk Hall.

The co-main event will feature undefeated bantamweight Emmanuel “Salserito” Rodriguez (11-0, 5KOs) against Frank “El Castigador” Gonzalez (9-2, 4KOs) for the NABO Latino title.

Mark Magsayo 125.5 vs. Rey Vargas 125.5
(WBC featherweight title)

Brandon Figueroa 126 vs. Carlos Castro 124.5
(WBC featherweight eliminator)

Frank Martin 137.5 vs. Jackson Marinez 138
Ramon Cardenas 118.25 vs. Michell Banquez 117.5
Rashidi Ellis 153.5 vs. Jose Marrufo 146.25

Venue: The Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime, Facebook/YouTube

Cesar Francis 140 vs. Ray Beltran 138.4
(NABO super lightweight title)

Christian Thun 278.4 vs. Curtis Harper 262.6
Brandon Glanton 200 vs. Deshon Webster 200.4
Julio Solis 134.6 vs. Emiliano Garcia 130
Marques Valle 153.6 vs. Jorge Rodrigo Sosa ??
Dominic Valle 128.6 vs. Manuel Guzman 129.8

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

Dereck Chisora 258.25 vs. Kubrat Pulev 250
(WBA International heavyweight title)
Chisora wore a Boris Johnson mask, in support of the beleaguered British prime minister who resigned yesterday.

Israil Madrimov 153.75 vs. Michel Soro 153.75
(WBA super welterweight eliminator)

Felix Cash 160 vs. Vaughn Alexander 158.75
Fabio Wardley 238 vs. TBA
Caoimhin Agyarko 153.75 vs. Lukasz Maciec 154
Ramla Ali 123 vs. Agustina Rojas 122.25
Yousuf Ibrahim 120.1 vs. Francisco Rodriguez 121.1
Solomon Dacres 230 vs. Kevin Nicolas Espindola ??

Venue: O2 Arena, London, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Formerly undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor, who still holds the IBF and WBO belts, wants a rematch with Jack Catterall after his controversial win over Catterall in February. Taylor told Sky Sports that if the Catterall rematch can’t be made, he’s moving up in weight. “I’m not hanging around,” he said. “I’ll be moving to welterweight and trying to chase fights up there.”

Taylor also stated, that his feat of becoming the first unified champion from the UK wasn’t appreciated. “I became undisputed world champion and it got ignored!” He added that he had a lack of motivation for the Catterall fight and was a shadow of himself in that fight.

On July 29, WBC #13-ranked middleweight Amilcar “El Pety” Vidal (15-0. 12 KOs) will return to his hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay, to defend his WBC Latin title for the second time against Gabriel Omar “El Loco” Díaz (12-3-0, 4 KOs). The ten-rounder will headline card without fans in attendance at Alberto Isabella’s American Box Gym in Montevideo and televised live by TyC Sports (Latin America), TV Ciudad (Uruguay) and Estrella TV (United States).

In the night’s ten-round co-main event, three-time world title challenger David “El Severo” Carmona (22-9-5, 9 KOs) and Alex “El Peque” Santiago (25-3-5, 13 KOs) will meet for the Mexican bantamweight championship. This bout marks the first time a Mexican national title has been disputed outside Mexico.

WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and former world champion Rey Vargas exchanged barbs at Thursday’s final press conference two days before they exchange punches in the main event of action live on Showtime this Saturday, July 9 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Magsayo suggested that Vargas will be in full retreat mode on Saturday, wary of his power, while Vargas evened the score by saying that Magsayo’s growing entourage is proof the champion is more concerned with Vargas than he’s letting on.

The press conference also featured former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and Carlos Castro, who meet in a WBC featherweight title eliminator in the co-main event, plus unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin and Jackson Mariñez, who battle in the 10-round telecast opener. Continue reading “Magsayo-Vargas Final Press Conference Quotes”

Heavyweights Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev faced off at the final press conference ahead of their WBA international title fight on DAZN Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.

In the co-feature, super welterweights Israil Madrimov and Michel Soro collide in a rematch and WBA super welterweight title eliminator.

Super featherweight George “El YuYu” Acosta (12-1, 1 KO), of Whittier, California, will face Isaac “Canelito” Avelar (16-4, 10 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Mexico, on July 22 in an 8-round main event at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. Acosta, who was set to fight on the past Thompson Boxing card last June, saw unforeseen circumstances have his fight canceled at the last minute. That turned into a blessing in disguise as Acosta will now headline this event and doing so at a new 130 lbs. weight class, where he feels more comfortable at.

In the 8-round middleweight co-feature, Richard “Cool Breeze” Brewart Jr. (12-0, 4 KO), of Rancho Cucamonga, California, will face Ramon “Niño de Oro” Ayala (25-6, 13 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico.

This event will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions Facebook and YouTube pages.

Jake Paul has officially announced Hasim Rahman Jr. as his next opponent on PPV August 6 from Madison Square Garden. Rahman steps in for Tommy Fury, who was denied entry into the U.S. due to family ties with mob boss Daniel Kinahan.

Ring legend Manny Pacquiao is joining the exhibition circuit. Pacman is planning to face YouTuber DK Yoo in December.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Boxing Beat

It’s a homecoming show of Shigeoka brothers. The prodigies out of Kumamoto displayed fine stoppages before the hometown crowd. Unbeaten elder brother Yudai Shigeoka (5-0, 3 KOs), 105, successfully retained his WBO Asia Pacific 105-pound belt when he swarmed over Filipino Cris Ganoza (19-4, 9 KOs), 103.75, from the outset and sunk him with a vicious body shot at 0:59 of the third session in a scheduled twelve in the main event on Wednesday in Kumamoto, Japan. This result was registered as TKO by the JBC as the ref didn’t complete the count at the loser’s bad visit to the deck. Yudai, 25, is already WBC#6 and WBO#9 despite his short pro career (amateur mark 81-10). Continue reading “Shigeoka Brothers victorious, defend regional belts”

By Ron Jackson

Ronald Malindi makes the fourth defense of his South African bantamweight title when he meets the number one challenger Rofhiwa “Tsetse Fly” Nemushungwa at the Steve Tshwete Memorial Banquet Hall in Middleburg, Mpumalanga on Friday night.

Malindi (18-0, 9 KOs), who made his pro debut on 26 November 2013, won the vacant South African bantamweight title in September 2018 with a 12-round points victory over Mbulelo Dyanti and then won the vacant African Boxing Union bantamweight title three months later in a clash against Makazole Tete. Continue reading “Malindi to make fourth defense of SA bantam title”

Rivalta Boxing (Henry Rivalta) has signed Cuban amateur standouts Nestor Santana, Fernando Cuza, and Yordan Barrera. Santana is 23 and a massive heavyweight at 6’5 and 270 lbs. He is just 22 years old and had a stellar amateur career with 170 fights. Cuza is a 22 years old heavyweight, 6’5, and 225 lbs. He had 147 amateur fights and was recently called up to the Olympic team as a top heavyweight for Cuba. Barrera is the most experienced of the group. He is 25 years old and had 250 amateur fights. He was ranked #2 in Cuba behind 2-time Olympic gold medalists Roniel Iglesias. He will fight between 147-154 in the professional ranks. Continue reading “Rivalta Boxing inks Cuban trio”

Jeter Promotions has announce the signing of super bantamweight Elijah Pierce to an exclusive promotional contract. Pierce, 25 years-old of Gwinnett City, Georgia by way of Midwest City, Oklahoma has a record of 14-2 with 12 knockouts. He will be back in the ring on Saturday, September 10th in Philadelphia. Pierce is managed by Trifon Petrov and Jesse Tanksley. He is trained by his father Andy Pierce and Aaron Salamome.

“This is a great signing for Jeter Promotions as we feel Elijah is a terrific fighter. He has already shown that he will fight and defeat top fighters at any time and anywhere. That is the stuff that world champions do, and I feel that he will be a world champion. I can’t wait to get him started with us, and continue with Elijah on his journey to being a world champion,” said Tony Jeter of Jeter Promotions.

Unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin (15-0, 11 KOs) will now face slick Dominican sharpshooter Jackson Mariñez (19-2, 7 KOs) in the 10-round telecast opener live on Showtime this Saturday from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Martin was originally scheduled to fight Ricardo Núñez, who was forced to withdraw due to visa issues.

Mariñez is probably best known for a controversial decision loss to Rolly Romero in August 2020. Most recently, he was kayoed by former world champion Richard Commey in February 2021. So Mariñez is looking to halt a two-fight skid against Martin on short notice. Big ask, as they say in the UK.

WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and former world champion Rey Vargas previewed their upcoming battle of unbeatens before they step into the ring this Saturday, July 9 headlining live on Showtime from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Mark Magsayo: “I’m facing a fighter who’s usually going backwards. He’s tall, so that’s always his plan. I’m hoping he doesn’t run too much in this fight. If I’m able to get to the right distance with him, I’m going to get the knockout. I’m prepared for anything he brings. I’ve gotten great sparring with guys who move, guys who go toe-to-toe and everything in between. It doesn’t matter how he fights, I’ll be ready for it.  All of my opponents say they’re going to knock me out. I definitely don’t believe Vargas because I don’t see him pushing for it. Him saying that is just going to motivate me and make me better on July 9.”

Rey Vargas: “My goal is to dominate this fight and bring the title back to Mexico…I’m not overconfident, but I know how hard I worked and what I’m capable of. Magsayo will come out strong with lots of energy, but we will counter that. That’s when we’ll tear his head off.”

Continue reading “Magsayo, Vargas heating up”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) made the official presentation of the Super Champion belt to Jermell Charlo on Tuesday in Houston, Texas. WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza made the presentation. Charlo also received a WBA ring.

Also honored was WBA female flyweight champion Marlen Esparza, who received her WBA championship belt. Continue reading “Charlo gets ‘super belted’ in Houston”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) is in the process of moving their headquarters from Panama City, Panama, to Houston, Texas. The organization, which was founded in the state of Rhode Island in 1921 and recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, later moved its headquarters to Panama, Venezuela, and then back to Panama.

“After 100 years, the pioneer sanctioning body shall be back in America,” said WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. “It’s the right time to settle back in the most influential boxing market of the sport.

“Besides seeking to bond with every single member of the American boxing community, we come to support the systematic development of boxing. It needs to be from its roots. USA has talent in every corner and boxing has proven to be a path of success for many athletes.

“The headquarters will be in the city of Houston, Texas. A great sports town that witnessed great human beings and champions of the world. Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz and Jermell Charlo were motivation to choose the Space City as the WBA’s new hometown.”