Fightnews.com

By Ron Jackson

South African welterweight champion Thulani Mbenge (18-1, 14 KOs) returns to action after being out of the ring for a year when he faces Idd Pialari (30-7-1, 21 KOs) from Tanzania at The Gallery in Sandton, Johannesburg on Thursday, June 30. Continue reading “Thulani Mbenge returns to action after a year”

341lb heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (24-0-1, 20 KOs) fought for the first time since 2018 defeating local favorite Ariel Esteban Bracamonte (11-8, 6 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision on Thursday night at the WBA KO to Drugs Festival inside the Casino Buenos Aires in Buenas Aires, Argentina.

Bracamontes was inspired fighting in front of the locals and seemed to outwork Miller for the better part of the first three rounds. Miller appeared rusty from the layoff. In round four, Miller hit Bracamontes low and the referee allowed him five minutes to recover. Bracamontes didnt use the full five minutes and came out firing appearing to take round four. Miller outclassed Bracamontes all of round five fighting off the ropes and making him miss. Miller appeared to find his groove in round six and begin to punish Bracamontes with powershots. Round seven saw more the same with Miller connecting reguarly with hard placed punches. Bracamontes did better in round eight but it still appeared to be a winning round for Miller. The final moments of round nine saw Miller pouring it on, raining a variety of thudding punches but Bracamontes again weathered the storm to the see the bell ending the round. Both fighters at seperate moments lost their mouthpieces during the final round. Each fighter slugged it out the final seconds to the final bell to end the bout and round. The official three judges’ scorecards read 97-92 all in favor to Miller.

Heavyweight Ivan Dychko (12-0, 11 KOs) went the distance for the first time, taking a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Kevin Nicolas Espindola (7-4, 2 KOs).

Unbeaten WBA #5, WBC #12 super middleweight Erik Bazinyan 28-0, 21 KOs) scored a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over Marcelo Esteban Coceres (30-4-1, 16 KOs) in a bout for the NABF and NABA 168lb titles on Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This fight was a bellwether for Bazinyan, as Coceres dropped Edgar Berlanga in his previous fight. Bazinyan got the decision, but didn’t particularly impress. Scores were 98-92, 100-90, 100-90.

Former world title challenger Steven Butler (30-3-1, 25 KOs) hammered out a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over Brandon Brewer (25-2-2, 11 KOs) in a bout for the vacant NABF middleweight title. Brewer took a lot of punishment but managed to last the full ten. Scores were 100-90, 100-89, 99-90.

Super lightweight Yves Ulysse Jr (21-2, 12 KOs) scored a third round KO over Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (14-7-2, 7 KOs). Ulysse dropped Arce to a knee and he stayed down for the full ten. Time was 1:59.

Super welterweight Dante “Crazy” Jardon (35-8, 25 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Artem Oganesyan (13-1, 11 KOs) to seize Oganesyan’s NABF 154lb title. Jardon dropped Oganesyan in the first round and outworked him in most rounds. Scores were 98-91, 95-94, 97-92.

Unbeaten female super welterweight Mary Spencer (6-0, 4 KOs) scored a first round KO over Chris Namus (25-8, 8 KOs). Namus down three times. Time was 1:56.

Cameron Krael 158.9 vs. Vincent Floyd 159.5
Edgar Joe Cortes 120.4 vs. Gorwar Karyah 122.4
Jabril Noble 131 vs. Nasir Mickens 131
Tahmir Smalls 150.7 vs. Roque Agustin Junco (will weigh-in Fri)
Ofacio Falcon 136.2 vs. Ken Porter 136.2
Rashan Adams 133 vs. Nathan Benichou 134.9
Nimal Farmer 149.1 vs. Antonio Allen (did not show up at weigh-in)
Larry Fryers 140 vs. Michael Crain 140.7
Edwin Cortes 116 vs. Juan Gutierrez 114.8
Karl Wylie 135.3 vs. Joshua Zimmerman 138.7
Anthony Young 153 vs. Rashiem Cooke 152.6

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

Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez 107.6 vs. Mark “Da Baby Boy” Barriga 106.4
(WBO world light flyweight title – 12 rounds)

Venue: Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida
Promoter: ProBox, All Star Boxing
TV: ProBox TV

Matchroom Boxing has announced that WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s show in San Antonio due to an undisclosed illness. Martinez, who had pulled out of fights with McWilliams Arroyo twice before, will now await a ruling from the WBC to see if he will retain his title.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman commented, “We deeply regret that the WBC confirms that WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez has pulled out of the fight vs interim WBC champion McWilliams Arroyo. Exact details are yet to be disclosed. WBC will be addressing this terrible situation.”

Terrence Crawford opens as a slight favorite over Errol Spence Jr. in a potential welterweight showdown that is said to be in the works, and Tommy Fury opens as a slight favorite over Jake Paul in a cruiserweight bout just announced.

Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr.
Terrence Crawford -130 vs. Errol Spence Jr. +100

Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul
Tommy Fury -130 vs. Jake Paul +100

Odds courtesy of BetOnline (www.BetOnline.ag).

Showtime Sports and Most Valuable Promotions today announced that YouTuber Jake “The Problem Child” Paul  (5-0, 4 KOs) will take on longtime nemesis and undefeated pro boxer Tommy “TNT” Fury (8-0, 4 KOs), the half-brother of WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, in a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 6 live on Showtime PPV. In the co-feature, Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) will defend her unified featherweight world titles against Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal (18-5-1, 9 KOs).

Jake Paul: “I wasn’t sure I was going to say yes to another potential matchup against Tommy after he pulled out of our matchup last year. But ultimately, knocking out a Fury was too appealing to pass up. I’ve proven I am dedicated to boxing in and out of the ring, from promoting fights, championing fighters and fighter pay, to knocking out my opponents. The Furys cannot say the same, they are selfish tossers. On August 6, at the mecca, Madison Square Garden, the world will see why I am on my way to being a world champion. I’m honored to fight under the same lights as some of the greatest professional boxers in history.”

Tommy Fury: “The Paul brothers’ boxing charade is about to come to an end once and for all. I am a boxer. My opponent plays boxing. Jake Paul has been dressed up to look like a boxer against retirees from other sports. On August 6, I will show the world that he does not belong in the ring. Thank you to my promoter Frank Warren, Most Valuable Promotions and Showtime for letting me permanently shut up Jake Paul. I look forward to headlining Madison Square Garden and knocking out this clown.”

Paul and Fury will go face-to-face for the first time at a press conference on Wednesday, June 29 at Madison Square Garden. Serrano will also be in attendance while the challenger Carabajal will remain in Argentina to focus on her training.

Welterweight Paddy “Real Deal” Donovan (8-0, 6 KOs), featherweight Kurt Walker (2-0, 1 KO), and junior middleweight Kieran Molloy (1-0, 1 KO) — will return Saturday, Aug. 6, on the Michael Conlan-Miguel Marriaga undercard at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Donovan will appear in his first scheduled eight-rounder, while Walker and Molloy will see action in separate six-rounders. All three bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. The ESPN+ stream is also scheduled to include Belfast native Padraig McCrory (13-0, 7 KOs) defending his WBC International Silver super middleweight belt in a 10-rounder versus former world title challenger Marco Antonio Periban (26-5-1, 17 KOs).

In a unique setting, boxers participating on Saturday’s DAZN card worked out for fans and media on a river boat anchored along the San Antonio Riverwalk. Those on hand included WBC super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, his challenger former world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, WBA/IBF unified super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, his challenger Ronny Rios, undisputed women’s welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill, and her challenger Alba Ibarra.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez says he will live up to the hype and prove he’s ready to take over the Super-Flyweight division when he comes home to San Antonio and defends his WBC World title against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at the Tech Port Arena on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

Rodriguez (15-0 10 KOs) won the title in stunning fashion, taking on Carlos Cuadras at just six days’ notice and flooring the former ruler in the third round with a devastating upper cut en-route to a wide points win.

“A lot of people have eyes on me now and they are looking at me to take over the division,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve seen a lot on social media saying I am the new Choccy and that’s a lot of motivation and I want to live up to the hype. Continue reading “Bam Rodriguez: I want to live up to the hype”

​Undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and ​unified middleweight champion Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin will clash in their trilogy fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas September 17. The fight, presented by Matchroom, Canelo Promotions and GGG Promotions, will broadcast live on DAZN PPV in the U.S. and Canada as well as around the world on DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin America, and Kazakhstan)​.

The first two bouts between Canelo and GGG took place in the same venue.

The PPV undercard has been announced for the WBC heavyweight eliminator between former champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. and Luis “King Kong” Ortiz on September 4 in a Labor Day Weekend clash from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

In the co-feature, lightweights Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KOs) and Eduardo Ramírez (27-2-3, 12 KOs) collide in a 12-round WBC eliminator.

The action will also see the return of three-division champion Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) in his first action in three years as he battles former title challenger Miguel Flores (24-4, 12 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight attraction, plus unbeaten lightweight José Valenzuela (12-0, 8 KOs) duels former world champion Jezreel Corrales (26-4, 10 KOs) in the 10-round opener.

By Ron Jackson

It has been announced that South Africa’s Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena will have his third bout in the heavyweight division when he meets Mariusz “The Viking” Wach from Krakow, Poland on September 17 at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park.

In his first fight in the top division, he stopped Patrick Ferguson (93.55kg) in the fifth round and then scored a fourth-round knockout win over Bogdan Dinu (113.96kg). Continue reading “Lerena set for third bout at heavyweight”

WBC featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) will take on former world champion Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens that headlines action live on Showtime Saturday, July 9 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The telecast will also feature former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KOs) debuting at 126 pounds taking on Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) in a WBC featherweight title eliminator in the co-main event, plus the Derrick James-trained, unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin (15-0, 11 KOs) against Ricardo Núñez (23-3, 21 KOs) in the 10-round telecast opener.

Additional coverage will include a pair of bouts streamed live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel with unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis (23-0, 14 KOs) facing 2016 Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta (17-1, 12 KOs), in a 10-round duel, plus bantamweight Ramon Cardenas (20-1, 10 KOs) against Michell Banquez (20-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Fast-rising super welterweight “King” Callum Walsh (3-0, 3 KOs) faces his toughest test against veteran southpaw Cleotis ‘Mookie’ Pendarvis, (21-10-2, 9 KOs) in the main event when Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions returns its Hollywood Fight Nights series on Thursday, August 4 from The Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California, and broadcast live internationally on UFC Fightpass.

Walsh has three straight first round KOs and will be headlining his third straight Hollywood Fight Nights event. Pendarvis has lost six straight.

Top talent from Puerto Rico will be featured on the Gonzalez-Barriga undercard on Friday at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, and live on ProBox TV.

As previously announced, Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14 KOs) will defend his WBO junior light flyweight title against Mark Anthony “Baby Boy” Barriga (11-1, 2 KOs) in the 12-round main event.

In the co-main event, Axel “Mini” Vega (15-4-1, 8 KOs) of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico takes on Venezuelan puncher Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (16-0-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO Latino junior flyweight title. Continue reading “Gonzalez-Barriga undercard set”

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

I sit down to write this column with an indescribable feeling, it is Father’s Day, and I received the best possible gift, as my dad visited me, appearing in my dream and I perfectly remember everything that happened, which is unusual for me.

I do not believe in coincidence, Don José was present for various reasons, to celebrate the historic event in Mexico City as a Guinness Record was established, and above all, to be with his children on this Father’s Day, confirming that he will never leave us. Precisely one Sunday my brother Fernando underwent a medical procedure as he was found with heart failure and three stents were placed with great success. Yet another warning on how health is the most important thing in the world.

I hope with all my heart that last Sunday, was special for everyone in the company of their loved ones. Continue reading “What a week in worldwide activity for the WBC”

Ouotes from today’s launch Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 press conference in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ahead of their rematch in the coastal city on Saturday, August 20.

Oleksandr Usyk: “We are doing what we have to do to achieve our goals. I have never made any loud or bright speeches. To become World Champion all I did was work hard in my training camp and gym. That’s what I am going to do until the day of the fight and my boxing will make me happy.”

Anthony Joshua: “Blips happen. Things happen in life but resilience, mental toughness and consistency will always prevail. We’re still on the road, we’re still on the road to Undisputed for sure. It’s just a little blip in the road but I’m focused on the target which is sitting over there (points to Usyk). Continue reading “Usyk-Joshua kickoff press conference”

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday for the heavyweight showdown between former unified champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. and longtime contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz taking place on September 4 during Labor Day Weekend from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and headlining a FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view event.

Pre-sale tickets are available TOMORROW beginning at 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com with the code: BOXING or CRYPTO.

This Friday night in Philadelphia, a marathon fight card will take place when RDR Promotions takes over the 2300 Arena. No less than 14 fights are on tap, scheduled for a whopping 66 rounds of action. The main event features middleweight Cameron Krael (18-22-3, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas against Vincent Floyd (4-12-1, 2 KOs) of Philadelphia in a six round bout.

Continue reading “Marathon Philly boxing card Friday”

Golden Boy returns to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, on Thursday, July 28, with an event headlined by fan-favorite and undefeated lightweight Jousce “Tito” Gonzalez (12-0-1, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Jose Angulo (14-2, 7 KOs). The co-feature is unbeaten bantamweight Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores (12-0, 9 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Daniel Moncada (15-6-2, 5 KOs). The rest of the undercard will be announced shortly. The card will stream live on DAZN and on the Golden Boy Boxing Youtube page.

On Thursday, June 23, at the Casino Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina, unbeaten heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) will return to action for the first time in nearly four years to face Argentinean veteran Ariel Esteban “Chiquito” Bracamonte (11-7, 6 KOs) in a 10-round showdown.

The fight, part of the WBA’s two-day KO Drugs Festival, will also be broadcast live to South America and parts of the United States on TyC Sports.

The 6′ 4″ Brooklyn native Miller prepared for his return by sparring hundreds of rounds with fellow prominent heavyweights, including a beneficial stint as sparring partner for world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Continue reading “Jarrell Miller to return Thursday in Argentina”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

If WBO #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu dethrones undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in Australia or the USA, he says he will “100 percent” make his first defense against IBF #1 Bakhram Murtazaliev.

“Of course it’s a big ask, fighting the top bloke in the division in his backyard, but once you’re in the ring it’s one-on-one. It doesn’t matter what friends or family are there or where it’s at, it doesn’t bother me,” Tszyu told News Corp. “We’re ready, and there’s genuine interest behind it. Murtazaliev, people have got no idea about him. Charlo needs interesting bouts and this one makes sense. Continue reading “Tszyu already thinking about first title defense”

By Miguel Maravilla

Santa Ana super bantamweight Ronny Rios (33-3, 16 KOs) is ready for this weekend’s world title fight as he challenges WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion Muradjon Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) from Uzbekistan. Rios takes on Akhmadaliev this Saturday night at the Techport Arena in San Antonio, Texas, live on DAZN. We caught up with Rios here is what he had to say. Continue reading “Rios to become Santa Ana’s 1st world champion?”