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Showtime Sports chronicles the buildup to the next Saturday’s pay-per-view clash between WBA “regular” lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and heated rival Rolando “Rolly” Romero by taking viewers inside the fighters’ private lives and training camps. Tank is a 14:1 favorite.

In a clash between former world champions, David Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) spectacularly stopped David Lemieux (43-5, 36 KOs) in round three to claim the WBC interim super middleweight title on Saturday night at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Benavidez almost got Lemieux out of there in the first round, but the bell saved Lemieux. Benavidez dropped Lemieux in round two. Lemieux got up and fought back bravely although Benavidez continued to punish him. The bout was finally stopped by Lemieux’s corner after he took more shots in round three. Time was 1:31.

When the names of Canelo, Charlo, Morrell, and Plant were mentioned as possible opponents, Benavidez stated “I’m waiting for them to sign the contract. Them bitches know what’s up. I’m right here waiting for them. I ain’t scared of nobody. I’m the youngest guy, three-time champion in the 168lb division. I’ll put myself against anybody and I guarantee you I’ll knock everybody out!”

By Scott Foster at ringside

Unbeaten middleweight Connor Coyle (16-0, 7 KOs) won a ten round split decision over Antonio Todd (13-6, 7 KOs) to claim the vacant NABA title on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. Coyle controlled the fight throughout before a scare in the final round, which Todd dominated.

In the co-feature, super featherweight Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz (27-4, 16 KOs) dominated a game Deivi Julio (24-12, 15 KOs) forcing a stoppage between the sixth and seventh rounds.

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WRAM Boxing (William Ramirez) and Nica Boxing (Pablo Osuna) produced another exciting night of fights Saturday at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragua. The 10 round main event saw the return of former IBF light flyweight world champion Felix Alvarado (38-2, 33 KOs) who recently vacated his title and now pursuing world title opportunities at 112. Alvarado was in true world championship form as he stopped Luis Cerrito Hernandez (10-6-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico. Alvarado put on an offensive clinic as he punished Hernandez to the body and head dropping him in round 2 and 4 where the referee waved off the bout. Continue reading “Ex-champ Alvarado KOs Hernandez in Nicaragua”

Middleweight Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs) demolished Danny Dignum (14-1-1, 8 KOs) in less than two rounds to claim the vacant WBO interim world title on Saturday night at Resorts World Las Vegas. Alimkhanuly dropped Dignum in round one, then finished him with a series of flush shots in round two. Time was 2:11.

“I haven’t shown my best punches yet. Maybe in my next fights,” said Alimkhanuly afterward. “I am in the ring right now, and I want to tell every champion in this weight class, I am here waiting for you. I am asking every champion to come and fight me!” Continue reading “Alimkhanuly annihilates Dignum for WBO interim”

Former world champion Victor Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs) survived a tenth round knockdown to take a ten round unanimous decision over game journeyman Todd Manuel (20-20-1, 6 KOs) in an off-TV bout on the Benavidez-Lemieux undercard. Ortiz appeared headed to a wide decision when Manuel dropped him late in the bout. Ortiz beat the count and the bell rang before Manuel could follow up. Scores were 98-91, 98-91, 97-92.

Unbeaten WBA #5 super welterweight Yoelvis Gomez (6-0, 5 KOs) had to go the distance for the first time against Jorge Cota (30-6, 27 KOs). Cota withstood Gomez’ early onslaught, then was content to survive the distance. Scores were 100-90 3x.

In a clash between unbeaten featherweights, Luis Nunez (17-0, 12 KOs) took an entertaining ten round unanimous decision over Jonathan Fierro (13-1, 12 KOs). Good action fight. Scores were 96-94 3x.

Unbeaten super lightweight Richardson Hitchins (14-0, 6 KOs) won by a fourth round stoppage against Angel Rodriguez (12-11-3, 5 KOs).

Unbeaten lightweight Jamaine Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) gave former WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring (23-4, 11 KOs) a rude welcome to the 135lb division in the Alimkhanuly-Dignum co-feature on Saturday night at Resorts World Las Vegas. Ortiz took over the fight midway and won by ten round unanimous decision. Scores were 96-94, 97-93, 97-93. Ortiz wins the NABF and USBA titles.

“He was just quicker on the trigger,” said Herring afterward. “He had a better output. I wasn’t tired or anything. He just beat me to the draw.”

As for his future, Herring stated, “I have to think about it, but tonight, I don’t think I am where I need to be. Jamaine was just the better man. Maybe this is it.” Continue reading “Ortiz beats Herring, remains unbeaten”

Unbeaten IBF #2, WBA #3, WBC #4, WBO #6 light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) took a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over WBA #7, WBC #14 Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at The O2 in London. Competitive bout with Buatsi winning 116-112, 115-113, 115-113.

The knockout streak of WBC #3 bridgerweight Alen “The Savage” Babic (11-0, 10 KOs) came to an end as he went the full ten with rugged WBC #15 rated Adam Balski (16-2, 9 KOs) in claiming the vacant WBC silver title. A Balski left hook dropped the all-action Babic 15 seconds into round one. Babic resumed his relentless attack and progressively busted up the rugged Balski. At the end of round nine, Balski staggered Babic with a shot after the bell. Balski was deducted a point. In the last round, both slugged it out. Scores were 97-91, 97-91, 95-93.

WBC/IBF female super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (16-0, 8 KOs) retained her crowns against former world champion Victoria Noelia Bustos (23-7, 0 KOs) via one-sided ten round unanimous decision. Scores were 100-90 3x.

Super lightweight Robbie Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) scored a ten round split decision over Javier “Intocable” Molina (22-5, 9 KOs) to retain his WBA Continental title. Mostly tactical fight. Molina rocked Davis in round eight, but let him off the hook. Scores were 96-94, 96-94 Davies, 97-94 Molina.

Ring legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather beat up on former sparring partner “Dangerous” Don Moore in an eight round exhibition on Saturday night at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. No decision rendered. The pay-per-view event was originally scheduled for last week on the helipad in a high-rise hotel in Dubai.

MMA legend turned boxer Anderson Silva outclassed MMA fighter Bruno Machado over eight rounds in a boxing exhibition. No decision rendered.

Former two-division world champion Badou Jack (26-3-3, 16 KOs) needed just 46 seconds to lay out Hany “Egyptian Hurricane” Atiyo (16-5, 12 KOs) in a sanctioned fight.

The return of Cuban boxing to professionalism, after 60 years, was historic on Friday night at the Palenque of the San Marcos National Fair in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Of the six participants, all won convincingly, five of them by way of knockout. Among the combatants were three of the four Cuban gold medal winners in the Tokyo Olympics (Julio César la Cruz, Arlen Lopez, and Rionel Iglesias).

Results:
Arlen López KO1 Fernando Galván (light heavyweight)
Rionel Iglesias KO2 Brandón Pérez (super welterweight)
Feliciano Hernández KO4 Juan Carlos Raygoza (super middleweight)
Osvel Caballero KO4 Jhosman Reyes (super featherweight)
Lázaro Álvarez W6 Francisco Mercado (super lightweight)
Julio César la Cruz KO2 Devis Casseres (cruiserweight)

In the main event, former IBF super middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui (32-4, 27 KOs) demolished Felipe Romero (21-20-1, 15 KOs) in two.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In a sensational encounter, former IBF 122-pound champ Yukinori Oguni (21-2-2, 8 KOs), 121.75, returned to action after a three-year hiatus due to a very serious hand injury, looked very sharp and swift, but was held to a technical draw with current OPBF bantam ruler Keita Kurihara (16-6-1, 14 KOs), 121.75, at 2:40 of the fourth round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The 34-year-old ex-champ Oguni was surprisingly as fast and keen as in his prime when he dethroned previously unbeaten IBF 122-pound titlist Yonatan Guzman in 2016. Oguni, an upright stylist, was leading on points: 30-27 twice, 29-28 at the point of stoppage caused by Oguni’s bad bleeding on the forehead after an accidental butt. Kurihara, a KO artist at 29, began to display his power punching, but the battle was abruptly halted with Oguni’s laceration to the crowd’s disappointment. Continue reading “Ex-IBF champ Oguni, OPBF champ Kurihara draw”

Weights from Buckhead Fight Club, Atlanta, GA

Nicky Vitone 146.6 vs Raymond Chacon 139
Steve Moore 141.6 vs Matthew Knauss 141.6
Billy Williams 208.5 vs Jeremiah Cotton 233.2
Joshua Flannagan 133 vs Devonte Stevenson 134.8
Dante Williams 211.6 vs Justin Richwine 267.6
Jamison Shaw 151 vs Marquez Greer 152
Marco Quinones 143.4 vs Joe Gibson 147.2
Keedric White 132.2 vs Gino Montoya 135
Morgan Griggie 151.6 vs Luis Peña 157

Promoter: Jeter Promotions (Tony & Christen Jeter)
Matchmaker: Xavier Toliver

Coming off a two-and-a-half-year layoff, 39-year-old former two-time world champion Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20 KOs) upset previously unbeaten IBF #1 light heavyweight Fanlong Meng (17-1, 10 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Friday night from the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The taller Meng connected cleanly over the first three rounds. Pascal upped the pressure in round four and his wild aggressions began landing more frequently in round five. Pascal dropped Meng at the end of round nine and closed the fight strong. Scores were 115-112, 114-113, 116-111.

Quarterfinals of the ProBox 140lb “Last Chance” tournament

Kendo Castañeda (18-5, 9 KOs) turned in by far the most impressive performance, winning by first round KO over Sonny Frederickson (21-6, 14 KOs). Castañeda laid out Frederickson with a left hook at 2:02.

In a close fight, local hero Joseph Fernandez (13-1, 4 KOs) advanced with an eight round unanimous decision over Zhiming Wang (11-4, 3 KOs). Scores were 77-75, 78-74, 78-74.

Michael Dutchover (15-2, 10 KOs) advanced with an eight round split decision over Clarence Booth (21-4, 13 KOs). Scores were 78-74, 77-75 Dutchover, 77-75 Booth.

In a good action fight, Antonio “Toño” Moran (27-5-1, 19 KOs) advanced with an eight round unanimous decision over Jeffrey Torres (10-2, 6 KOs). Scores were 79-73, 77-75, 77-75.

The semi-finals will be Castañeda vs. Fernandez, and Dutchover vs. Moran.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught with former 130lb champ Jamel Herring on the eve of his comeback fight, after losing the title to Shakur Stevenson, as he faces the undefeated Jamaine Ortiz on the Janibek-Dignum Top Rank card Saturday night at the Resorts World Event Center in Las Vegas and shown live on ESPN. Herring discussed his fight and relationship with the young, phenom Stevenson, the call he received to fight George Kambosos Jr. in case Devin Haney fell through and working with new trainer Manny Robles. And Herring also weighed in on the potential “Super Fight” between his old stablemate Terence “Bud” Crawford and his former Olympic teammate Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and so much more in this exclusive interview.

By Joe Koizumi

May 18 is the memorial day that a miracle happened here in Japan in 1965 as huge underdog Masahiko “Fighting” Harada upset previously unbeaten “Golden Bantam” Eder Jofre to wrest the undisputed world bantamweight belt in Nagoya. It was fifty-seven years ago but this reporter, then an eighteen-year-old boxing-addict who already began writing for The Ring Magazine as a correspondent guided by the editor Nat Fleischer a year earlier, still remembers everything in detail on the historic event. I would like to write an untold story thereon. Continue reading “Jofre-Harada Encounter Remembered”

Zhanibek Alimkhanuly 160 vs. Danny Dignum 159
(WBO interim middleweight title)

Jamel Herring 135 vs. Jamaine Ortiz 135
Tiger Johnson 142.4 vs. Agustin Kucharski 143.2
Adam Lopez 126.8 vs. William Encarnacion 126.2
Karlos Balderas 132 vs. Ruben Cervera 130.8
Jessie Magdaleno 127.2 vs. Edy Valencia 126.8
Duke Ragan 127.6 vs. Victorino Gonzalez 127
Giovanni Cabrera 135.4 vs. Elias Araujo 135.4
Kasir Goldston 141.6 vs. Yaniel Alvarez 141.8
Charlie Sheehy 134.8 vs. Burnell Jenkins 133.6

The Steven Nelson-Louis Rose bout was canceled due to Nelson weighing in 6.6 pounds over the contracted weight of 173

Venue: Resorts World Las Vegas
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

Felix Alvarado 112.6 vs. Luis Hernandez 112.8
Winston Guerrero 116.8 vs. Misael Acevedo 116.2
Josue Morales 113.2 vs. Gerardo Verde 111.2
Kevin Trafia 114.8 vs. Wilmer Blas 114.4
Bryan Jimenez 139.2 vs. Israel Lopez 140.4
Greyvin Mendoza vs. Manuel Gonzalez 134.2
Kevin Vivas 112.6 vs. Edwin Vallejos 113
Erick Rojas 123 vs. Wilbert Pantin 124

Promoter: WRAM Boxing (William Ramirez) and Nica Boxing (Pablo Osuna)
Site: Gymnasio Nicarao in Managua, Nicaragua
Show will be streamed live on the Nica Boxing Facebook page

Super welterweight JJ Metcalf (23-2, 14 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over local hero and WBA #4 rated Kerman Lejarraga (34-3, 26 KOs) in a bout for the vacant WBA Continental title on Friday night at the Bilbao Arena in Bilbao, Spain. After ten tough, torrid rounds, scores were 97-94, 96-94, 96-95.

In a clash for the vacant EBU Euro flyweight title, unbeaten Jairo Noriega (12-0, 3 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over 38-yeqr-old Angel Moreno (21-5-3, 6 KOs). Noriega dropped Moreno in round one and floored Moreno again in round five, but was forced to go the distance. Scores were 116-110, 118-109, 118-109.

Unbeaten welterweight Jon Miguez (17-0, 8 KOs) scored a sixth round KO over James Moorcroft (16-2, 5 KOs).

David Benavidez 166.5 vs. David Lemieux 166.25
(WBC interim super middleweight title)

Yoelvis Gomez 156.5 vs. Jorge Cota 156.5
Luis Nunez 126 vs. Jonathan Fierro 125.5

Venue: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime

By Héctor Villarreal

Panamanian flyweight prospect, Azael “Candelilla” Villar (17-1-3, 13 KOs) and Dominican veteran warrior Jonathan “El Agua” Arias (17-18, 15 KOs) are both in weight and ready for their 8-round clash scheduled for Friday night on the main event of the international card, which is the first one sanctioned by the Colon´s Province Boxing Commission since December 14, 2018.

Azael Villar 110.6 vs Jonathan Arias 11.6
Carlouse Welch 232 vs John Cortez 240
Omir Rodriguez 152.8 vs Addir Sanchez 154
Kendrae Leatherwood 167.8 vs Dionisio Miranda 166
Carlos Ortega 109.2 vs Victor Berrio 109.2
Yunior Menendez 177 vs Robinson Aragon 179.6
Edwin Gamboa 159.5 vs Aristides Quintero 151.8
Nataly Delgado 126 vs Osiris Renteria 126
Samir Cuentas 142 vs Eric Macias 136.2
Tomas Villar 107.4 vs Pedro Muñoz 108.8

Arena Teofilo Alfonso “Panama Al” Brown, Colon City, Panama.

Joshua Buatsi 174.75 vs. Craig Richards 174.25
(WBA light heavyweight eliminator)

Alen Babic 208.4 vs. Adam Balski 210.25
(WBC bridgerweight silver title)

Robbie Davies Jr 139.75 vs. Javier Molina 139.75
(WBA Continental super lightweight title)

Chantelle Cameron 140 vs. Victoria Noelia Bustos 137.3
(WBC/IBF female super lightweight titles)

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

Middleweights Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and Danny Dignum faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s clash for the WBO interim middleweight world title at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Janibek Alimkhanuly: ““I think I’m one of the most avoided fighters. And I think in the future, many are going to continue to step aside. Many will not want to face me in the ring…I’ve been preparing for this fight for a very long time. I’ve learned a lot about him. I’ve learned about all of the mistakes that he does in the ring. I’ve learned what his weaknesses are. I’m going to be playing with him, and I’m going to be showing my ‘Qazaq Style’ of fighting.”

Danny Dignum: “I’m pleased the other fighters didn’t take this fight because otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here now with the opportunity to box for the interim world title. The opportunity came up, and I just said yes straight away. I’ve boxed to try to prove myself, and now I’ve got the opportunity, and I’ve grabbed it with both hands…I’m going to cause a big upset. I’m going to gain a lot of fans. I’m looking forward to that.”

Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez and former world champion David Lemieux went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday as they previewed their 12-round showdown for the vacant WBC interim super middleweight title which headlines live on Showtime this Saturday, May 21 from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

David Benavídez: “The people are paying good money to see a knockout, and that’s what they’re going to get. I’m leaving with the title on Saturday night.”

David Lemieux: “People are going to see that I’m a serious contender in the super middleweight division when I get that belt around me.”

More quotes

After consultation with camps of Ryan “King” Garcia and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, it has been confirmed that both fighters had prior scheduled fights, consequently the process ordered by The WBC has been now cancelled. The door remains open for a possible match in the future between these two sensational fighters.

Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President

By Bob Ryder

Promoter Vick Green (Pulse Boxing) presents hometown favorite Thomas Mattice in a eight round super featherweight main event as he takes on Philippines’ Jessie Cris Rosales at the Civic Center in Cleveland Heights this Saturday night. Mattice currently stands at (17-3-1, 13 KOs) and will be looking to rebound from a loss in his last bout, a close decision loss to Luis Melendez in Las Vegas. Rosales (23-4-1, 10 KOs) won his last contest in his native country and has fought Shakur Stevenson and Jhonny Gonzalez so Mattice will need to be sharp as he seeks to regain his winning form. Continue reading “Boxing Back In Cleveland”