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Undefeated 28-year-old Joselito Velazquez from Oaxaca, Mexico is ready to shine bright on the undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against Jose Soto. Velazquez, whose record is 14 and 0 with 9 KOs was signed to Espinoza Boxing Club after a stellar amateur career. He was a PanAm Games gold medalist in 2011 and 2015. He also represented Mexico in the 2016 Olympic games.

He’s coming off a unanimous decision win over Gilbert Mendoza and is being groomed for a world title shot in the near future. “Joselito is a talented fighter and he’s getting better and better every time he fights,” stated his long time manager Frank Espinoza. “I’m very pleased with his progress.” Continue reading “Joselito Velazquez set to shine on Canelo undercard”

WBC #9 cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki (14-1, 14 KOs) and WBC #10 rated two-time Olympian Yamil Peralta (13-0, 6 KOs) had their first meeting at the final press conference for Saturday’s WBC International title clash on TyC from the Center 200 Stadium in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Yamil Peralta: “It’s a very interesting fight, a clash of styles. I came to win. I came to get the belt.”

Ryan Rozicki: “I really don’t have much to say. At this point, my fists speak for themselves. You know exactly what I’m here to do.”

Heavyweight Terrell Woods (28-50-9, 20 KOs) scored an upset third round TKO over previously unbeaten Rolando Soto (8-1, 3 KOs) on Thursday night at the Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds in Pasadena, Texas. Woods, who is much better than his record indicates, dropped Soto with a big right hand in round two. Soto got up very wobbly and was saved by the bell. The bout was stopped by the ring doctor at the beginning of round three. Time was :10.

In the co-feature, unbeaten super lightweight Samuel Castaneda (7-0, 6 KOs) stopped Josh Ross (5-17-5, 0 KOs) in round five. Castaneda dropped Ross twice in round four. Ross took a knee in round five and the bout was waved off moments later. Time was 2:17.

With all the press in town for Canelo-Bivol, WBC lightweight world champion Devin Haney and his trainer/father, Bill, conducted a media workout Thursday at the Top Rank Gym. Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) is set to battle unified champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) for the undisputed world title Saturday, June 4, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang (23-0-1, 18 КОs) faces off with new opponent Scott Alexander (16-4-2, 8 КОs) at today’s Canelo-Bivol press conference. Zhang was originally slated to face Filip Hrgovic in an IBF eliminator, but Hrgovic pulled out, grieving for his late father, who passed away last month.

DAZN has announced that 1.5 million viewers watched last Saturday’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano webstream. This would easily be the most-watched boxing card ever headlined by female boxers. The match caught fire and sold out the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York City, and Taylor and Serrano delivered a memorable performance. DAZN subscribers can catch a replay anytime on the platform. In the UK, the fight can be seen tonight on BBC 3 and BBC iPlayer.

The latest event from “the world’s greatest boxing promoter” Don King includes five title fights headlined by the WBA heavyweight championship pitting defending champion Trevor Bryan (22-0, 15 KOs) going up against the number one contender Daniel DuBois (17-1, 16 KOs) from Greenwich, London. The card is set for June 11th at the Casino Miami Jai-Alai in Miami, Florida, and is billed as “The Fight for Freedom and Peace.” Pay-Per-View details and an announcement on ticket availability will be made soon.

In addition to the main event, the NABA Gold heavyweight title fight will feature champion DaCarree Scott (7-0, 6 KOs) of Decatur, GA defending his title against another Georgia slugger in Jonathan Guidry (17-1-2, 5 KOs) from Dulac, GA. Guidry’s lone blemish came at the hands of Bryan. Continue reading “Bryan-Dubois venue, undercard announced”

By Ron Jackson

At long last the story of the fighting Toweel family has been documented and written down by Alida Toweel and Samantha Toweel-Moore in their book A Fistful of Legends. The Toweel family has a strong claim to being the most famous boxing family in the world, with Vic Toweel winning a Universal world title, the only South African boxer in its long boxing history to hold a Universal title.

Jimmy the oldest of the fighting Toweel’s won the South African lightweight title, with Vic winning two South African titles, an Empire title and an undisputed world title, and Willie fighting to a draw in a world title, winning an Empire title and four South African titles.

At the time when Vic was fighting there were only eight weight divisions with eight world champions, not like today where there are multiple world champions from the different sanctioning bodies. Continue reading “The story of the fighting Toweels”

Welterweight John David Martinez will look to thrill his huge fan base when he returns to action on Saturday night at Hialeah Park as part of Una Gran Noche de Boxeo Cubano 2, Martinez of Miami, has a record of 15-2 with 12 knockouts, will be featured in a six-round bout and will take on Sergio Castellano (11-9, 7 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Although not looking past Saturday night, but it feels like big fights are in the near future. “I have not seen anything on my opponent, no video. nothing,” said Martinez. Continue reading “Martinez headlines in Miami Saturday”

Tri-Star Boxing returns to Memphis, TN on May 21 to once again put the spotlight on local talent. This installment of the Memphis Boxing Series presents an eight-bout card headlined by resurgent junior middleweight Dedrick “Damage” Bell (30-32-1, 16 KOs). This “Memphis Bell” is riding a seven-fight winning streak and won a six-round unanimous decision on February 26 to help open this series at Beast Mode Fitness at 199 Cumberland Street, Memphis, TN.

Bell isn’t your typical headliner in the sport of boxing. His introduction to the sport is nothing short of hilarious. With no amateur experience to speak of and not even much interest as a fan, Bell stepped into a boxing gym for the first time almost as a challenge or dare.

“It sounds crazy,” Bell stated. “An ex-girlfriend of mine loved boxing and she thought that I should give it a try.” Continue reading “Boxing back in Memphis May 21”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The youger brother two-time world champion Billy Dib is making a name for himself. Unbeaten super lightweight Youssef Dib (16-0, 7 KOs) talks to Fightnews.com® about his career and future plans. Continue reading “Q&A: Youssef Dib”

Triller Fight Club has announced ‘The Rising,’ a new Monday night fight series debuting on May 9, 2022, and emanating from the Grupo Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico in addition to being broadcast globally on FITE. The eight-bout card kicks off a full fight week of exciting events leading up to Triller Fight Club’s highly anticipated Kovalev vs. Pulev TrillerVerz 5 on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA.

Broadcasters on the event include three-time world champion Israel ‘Magnifico’ Vazquez and Ernesto Amador, a leading boxing commentator for over three decades of No Puedes Jugar Boxeo Promotions.

Headlining the boxing event on May 9 in a ten-round lightweight clash, Antonio Lozado (40-5-1 34 KOs), of Baja California, battles Eduard Leonel (9-2-1, 4 KOs), of Aguascaliente, Mexico. Lozado is best known for his upset knockout victory over then-undefeated fast-rising Puerto Rican star Felix Verdejo in March 2018. Continue reading “New Monday Night Fight series to debut on FITE”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Shurretta Metcalf grinding hard in the gym preparing for her May 14th showdown vs Danielle Bennett for the WBC NABF Female Super Bantam title in Dallas, TX. Presented by Kingdom Boxing Promotions, Metcalf vs Bennett will be the co-main event to the Charles Hatley vs Jamshidbek Najimitdinov WBC (USNBC) welter title feature at The Factory in Deep Ellum.

Digital treatment from today’s media day pics of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol ahead of the Matchroom Boxing card on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Former world title challenger, Anthony Peterson (38-1-1, 24 KOs), the brother of two-time world champion Lamont Peterson, is returning on May 28th in Washington D.C. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. Peterson will fight at super lightweight against Saul Corral (23-18, 13 KOs), in his first 8-round bout partnering up with Team Freeway Boxing headed by street legend, “Freeway” Rick Ross.

“I am excited to return to the ring, as my brother, Lamont Peterson is now my full-time coach along with Sean Johnson and James Baker, who were amateur boxing stars in their own right in the area,” said Peterson. “I am looking forward to making a big bang in 2022, I am taking it one fight at a time right now, but my goals in the sport are massive. I want to thank everyone who stuck by me through the turbulent times, I know it hasn’t been easy – but I am back, and ready to put on a show.”

Undefeated WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) steps into the ring to face tough former title challenger Maciej Sulecki (30-2, 11 KOs)on June 18 live on Showtime from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Jermall Charlo: “I’m excited to get back in the ring in front of my people in Houston and put on a great show fighting on Juneteenth weekend once again. I’m ready to handle my business and give everyone what they’re coming out to see. Sulecki is a tough fighter who’s going to come in hungry. But I’m fighting for something bigger and I won’t be stopped from delivering a special performance on June 18.”

Maciej Sulecki: “I’ve been training for a long time for this fight and I feel strong and ready to get in the ring,” said Sulecki. “Charlo is a great champion and I respect what he can do, but I don’t think he’s any better than the best fighters I’ve faced before. I think I am the stronger fighter mentally and physically. I don’t think he’s a killer. He hasn’t even been able to stop his last two opponents. I’ve fought as the underdog in my opponent’s hometown, so I’m not worried about fighting in Houston at all. We have a huge community of Polish fans in the U.S. and I know they’ll be there supporting me on June 18.”

Continue reading “Charlo-Sulecki Comments”

Three belts and light heavyweight supremacy will be at stake when WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) meets WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. (28-3, 22 KOs) in a highly anticipated unification showdown on June 18 in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Beterbiev, boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, hopes to pick up another strap against “Cinderella Man” Smith, a Long Island native who grew up about 70 miles from Madison Square Garden.

Artur Beterbiev: “I look forward to the challenge ahead of me. Joe Smith Jr. is a worthy champion, but I am coming to Madison Square Garden to add another world title to my collection. This fight will get me one step closer to becoming undisputed champion.”

Joe Smith Jr: “I am extremely excited and focused on this task I have ahead. Facing Beterbiev is huge. It is going to be a fight that fans remember forever, with two of the biggest punchers in boxing today facing off. This opportunity is a dream of mine to accomplish. Fighting with three titles on the line is one step closer to becoming undisputed.” Continue reading “Beterbiev-Smith confirmed for June 18”

By Ron Jackson

Prince Dlomo from Mzimhlophe in Soweto defends his South African junior welterweight title against Xolani Mcotheli of the Eastern Cape on Sunday afternoon in a return match at the Booysens Gym in Johannesburg. Mcotheli (19-6, 12 KOs) lost the title to the 32-year-old Dlomo (14-11-1, 5 KOs) in March last year.

Dlomo has since made a successful defense of the title on a split 12 round points decision against Siseko Makeni in September last year. He then travelled to Russia and lost to Yauheni Dayhaliaves (6-0) on a unanimous ten round point’s decision. Continue reading “Prince Dlomo to defend SA title”

Newly crowned WBA “regular” welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis claims Conor Benn is being protected from facing him and he has laughed off claims a fight between them would not sell many tickets. Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn called Stanionis a “really good fighter” but said he had “zero profile” and they would only sell 5,000 tickets for that contest at a venue in London.

Stanionis, Lithuania’s first ever professional world champion, has responded to those claims by saying: “I heard what Eddie Hearn said. They don’t want the fight and that’s why he said that nobody knows me. I just laughed when I heard it, but he is just protecting his guy, it’s his job. He is promoting a guy for the future, and he knows it would be a very tough fight with me.

“But I was just laughing because there is a big, big community of Lithuanians in England and many people would fly over from my home country for that fight too, so we would sell a lot more than 5,000 tickets. Continue reading “Stanionis targets Benn, Spence”

Puerto Rican world champion Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14 KOs) is set to make the first defense of his WBO junior light flyweight title against Filipino Olympian and former title challenger Mark Anthony “Baby Boy” Barriga (11-1, 2 KOs) in a 12-round main event on Friday, June 24.

The fight, which is presented in association with Tuto Zabala Jr.’s All Star Boxing, Inc., will take place at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida and headlines a night of action that will be streamed globally on ProBox TV.

Ticket and undercard information for the event will be announced shortly. Continue reading “Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez to defend June 24”

By Miguel Maravilla

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The WBO has stipped WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero and elevated interim champion Paul Butler to full champion. Casimero will be rated #1. Here’s what went down:

l. The Committee unanimously recommended to the WBO Executive Committee to strip John Riel Casimero’s WBO world bantamweight championship title for failure to comply with the conditions set forth in its “resolution.”

2. The WBO Executive Committee unanimously voted in favor of adopting the WBO Championship Committee’s recommendation and therefore declared the WBO bantamweight championship title “vacant.”

3. WBO interim bantamweight champion Paul Butler is elevated from interim champion to “full champion status.”

4. The WBO World Championship Committee recommends to the WBO Ratings Committee that John Riel Casimero be rated at the number one (1) position in the WBO bantamweight ratings and subject to complying with the applicable rating criteria.

Evan “Yung Holy” Holyfield (9-0, 6 KOs) from Atlanta GA and son of five-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, is preparing for his May 14 fight at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. TrillerVerz 5 will be streamed live on Triller and Fite.tv.

Evan is training in Colorado Springs. It’s the first time in his career doing high-altitude training and has been there for over a month.

“It’s my first time training in Colorado Springs,” said Holyfield. “It’s fun being around the people that I am around – my trainers Mike Stafford and Bert Wells and fighters Adrian Broner and Rau’shee Warren.

“You’d think Broner would be a loud-mouth, but he’s kind of funny and a real hard worker.” Continue reading “Evan Holyfield poised for Triller debut”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Former world title contender Charles “The Future” Hatley (30-2-1, 21 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday May 14 at the Bomb Factory in his hometown of Dallas against Jamshidbek Najmitdinov (18-2, 14 KOs). Hatley opens up about his career that included a big win against Anthony Mundine in Australia for the WBC Silver Belt and the devastating loss to junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo in his very next fight. Hatley also shared what signing with Don King did to his career plus thoughts on the potential “super fight” between Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and Terence “Bud” Crawford and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive interview.

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