Fightnews.com

By Ron Jackson

Kevin Lerena (26-1, 13 KOs) who made his mark in the cruiserweight class winning the South African title and the IBO belt, has now officially announced that will be fighting in the heavyweight division in the future.

He is scheduled to meet the 35-year-old Bogdan Dinu (20-3, 16 KOs) from Romania on February 26 next year at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park in what is really his second fight in the heavyweight class, having stopped Patrick Ferguson in five rounds in his last fight. Continue reading “Can Kevin Lerena make it at heavyweight?”

19-year-old welterweight prospect Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over Nicholas “Nice Nick” DeLomba (16-4, 5 KOs) in the main event of a special FOX-televised Christmas Day boxing card at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Mielnicki launched a major assault in round three but DeLomba survived. After that, it was a methodical performance by Mielnicki until he rocked DeLomba in round ten and DeLomba’s corner pulled their man out. DeLomba complained to no avail. Time was 1:49.

Unbeaten WBA #6 super welterweight Yoelvis Gómez (5-0, 5 KOs) destroyed “Cassius” Clay Collard (9-6-3, 4 KOs) in the first round. Gomez dropped Collard in round one and got a referee’s stoppage after a vicious follow-up barrage. Time was 2:11. Collard created a buzz last year with three straight wins over unbeaten fighters, but he is now firmly entrenched at journeyman status after suffering his fourth straight loss.

Unbeaten middleweight Joey Spencer (13-0, 10 KOs) scored an explosive fifth round knockout against Limberth Ponce (18-5, 11 KOs). A left/right combination finished Ponce after four competitive rounds. Time was 1:24. Continue reading “Mielnicki, Gomez, Spencer stop foes”

Vito Mielnicki Jr 146.4 vs. Nicholas DeLomba 145.4
Joey Spencer 156.4 vs. Limberth Ponce 155.6
Rajon Chance 125 vs. Elon De Jesús 123.8
Yoelvis Gómez 157.4 vs. Clay Collard 158.8
Malik Nelson 127.6 vs. Prince Martin 126
Kenneth Sims, Jr. 145.8 vs. Keeshawn Williams 146.4
Travon Marshall 149.6 vs. Brian Jones 148.8
Michael Anderson 147 vs. Noe López 146.6
Vincent Gigante 144.8 vs. Robbie Rose 146.8
Dwyke Flemmings 153.2 vs. George Gethers 152.2
Elijah Flores 142.8 vs. Shannon Hawkins 143

Venue: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: FOX, FS1

Forget football and basketball. There’s plenty of live boxing on Christmas Day.

Welterweight Kenneth Sims Jr. (16-2-1, 5 KOs) will take on undefeated prospect Keeshawn Williams (8-0-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round showdown that tops an FS1 boxing telecast from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The FS1 show will begin at 6PM ET/3PM PT and also features unbeaten super welterweight prospect Travon Marshall (3-0, 2 KOs) in a four/six-round fight against Brian Jones (15-12, 9 KOs), plus a six-round welterweight duel between Michael Anderson (21-3-1, 15 KOs) and Noe Lopez (10-4-1, 4 KOs).

Following the FS1 telecast, FOX will air more live boxing from the same venue with welterweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. taking on Nicholas DeLomba in the 10-round main event. The broadcast will also see unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer battling Limberth Ponce for eight-rounds of middleweight action in the co-main event, plus featherweights Rajon Chance and Elon de Jesus duel in a six-round rematch, and unbeaten super welterweight prospect Yoelvis Gomez faces Clay Collard in a six-round attraction.

After two straight losses and nearly three years out of the ring, former Top Rank middleweight Konstantin Ponomarev (35-2, 14 KOs) badly needed a win. He got it on Friday night with a second round knockout over 41-year-old Charlan Takam (1-13, 1 KO) at the EcoTime Sports Complex in Miass, Russia. The mismatch was pretty much one-way traffic, ending with a dazed Takam sitting on the ropes for the count.

In a clash of former world title challengers, WBO #4 light heavyweight Maxim Vlasov (46-4, 26 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over former WBA title challenger Felix Valera (19-5, 16 KOs) on Friday night at Soviet Wings Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia. Rebounding from his narrow WBO world title loss to Joe Smith Jr. in April, Vlasov dropped Valera in round two and twice in round four, however, the very tough Valera managed to hang in for the full ten rounds.

2020 Olympic featherweight gold medalist Albert Batyrgaziev (5-0, 5 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over former world title challenger Franklin Manzanilla (20-8, 19 KOs). Batyrgaziev pressured Manzanilla the whole fight and dropped him twice in round four to end it.

Unbeaten super lightweight Khariton Agrba (7-0, 4 KOs) stopped 38-year-old Petr Petrov (42-7-2, 23 KOs) in three rounds. You might remember Petrov winning ESPN’s Boxcino lightweight tournament in 2014.

Super middleweight Yamaguchi Falcao (19-1-1, 8 KOs) meets Fernando Ezequiel Farias (10-1-2, 4 KOs) in the main event of “Down & Dirty” on February 19 at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts. Originally from Brazil but living and training in Florida, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Falcao won all three of his fights in 2021 while capturing the WBC Latino, WBA Fedecaribe, and ABF Continental Americas titles. Falcao-Farias is scheduled for ten rounds for Falcao’s WBC Latino title.

In the co-featured bout of the evening, rising middleweight Connor Coyle (14-0, 6 KOs) meets Martel Fidel Rios 23-20-4, 13 KOs). Continue reading “Falcao headlines Feb 19”

WBC #13 and WBO #14 light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (6-0, 4 KOs) will return to action against Israel Duffus (20-7, 17 KOs) on the untelevised undercard of the January 7 ShoBox: The New Generation event from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The fight with Duffus will be Izmailov’s second with new trainer John David Jackson.

“I am twice the fighter I was last time you saw me,” said Izmailov through an interpreter. “I have had more time to work with John David Jackson and with all that he is teaching me, I have become a new kind of animal. You will see me destroy to the head and body with non-stop intelligent pressure.” Continue reading “Ali Izmailov returns Jan 7”

Former world champion Felix Sturm, 42, has signed a promotional agreement with Ludger Inholte’s newly founded LIB Boxpromotion and returns to the ring on March 26 in an IBO world super middleweight title eliminator against István Szili at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany.

IBF #1 featherweight contender Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (24-2, 13 KOs) has signed a new multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank.

Probellum has announced the promotional signing of cruiserweight Noel Michelin (25-2, 10 KOs).

Former IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant returned to his hometown of Ashland City, Tennessee, to give out 100 hams to local families.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, site of many legendary boxing matches, will now be called the Crypto.com Arena.

6’6 super welterweight Sebastian “Towering Inferno” Fundora vs. Erickson Lubin is being mooted as the co-feature for Benavidez-Lemieux early next year.

The WBO World Championship Committee has reviewed the medical evidence supplied by John Riel Casimero and ruled that Casimero will retain his WBO bantamweight championship status. Casimero was scheduled to defend against mandatory challenger Paul Butler on December 11, but Casimero pulled out before the fight due to illness. The WBO gave Casimero ten days to deliver proof of his condition, which he has complied with.

Butler was offered a chance to face Joseph Agbeko for an interim title, which Butler declined. The WBO World Championship Committee gave Probellum 15 days to determine whether they will proceed to reschedule the Casimero-Butler mandatory bout.

The Committee also prohibited Casimero from fighting YouTuber Jormiel Labador in a PPV fight on December 28 or taking any other fight before making his mandatory defense.

By Hesiquio Balderas

Coming off his victory over David Zegarra, Julio César Chávez Jr. is ready and eager to step into the ring again ASAP. Fightnews.com® had a conversation with the former middleweight world champion regarding the buzz created for a possible bout with media sensation and YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul.

“Jake Paul and his people contacted me regarding a fight with Paul,” said Chavez Jr. “I said yes, but then again Lupe Valencia, who is with Paul now and used to be with me a few years back, said they offered me one to three million dollars plus PPV. When it’s a fight that can sell millions and can break records because he is popular and I have a name, I’m a former world champion, so I made it clear that it has to be a 50/50 split for me to take the fight. Continue reading “Chavez Jr: I had conversations with Jake Paul, they made an offer”

Everyone at Fightnews.com® wishes a full and speedy recovery to popular DAZN ring announcer David Diamante. The DAZN announcer suffered serious injuries earlier this week in a motorcycle accident in New York City. Diamante, who just worked the Parker-Chisora card in the UK over the weekend, reportedly suffered multiple fractures to his spine, broken ribs, and bad damage to his right knee.

Promoter Lou DiBella reported on social media that Diamante “sounds good, can move everything, and his prognosis, with time and work, is good. Ring announcer Michael Buffer tweeted that Diamante is very optimistic…’David’s a fighter and has met big challenges in his life-this will be another one!’

The fight starts now.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Rugby League football legends Paul Gallen (12-1-1, 7 KOs) and Sonny Bill Williams (8-0, 3 KOs) have each been offered AUD$4 million to fight twice in 2022 by promoter Eddie Hearn. According to Gallen says he’s in, but Sonny Bill has been dodging the deal.

“You would have read in today’s paper, we were offered $4 million each to fight twice next year and it’s not happening,” Gallen told Fox Sports.”Why? It’s unheard of money. That’s ridiculous.

“The ball is in [Williams’] court. I’ve said for years let’s do it but there’s going to come a time where I say no more and I bet you that’s when he says let’s do it. I’ve said that before and will say it again, that’s what he is doing.” Continue reading “Gallen-SBW pondering massive 2-fight offer”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

In a nationally Foxtel Main Event televised promotion Tokyo Olympic lightweight bronze medalist Harry Garside (1-0, 1 KO) made a successful professional debut when he stopped Sachin Mudaliar (9-2, 1 KO) on Wednesday at the Star City Casino in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Garside trapped his opponent on the ropes and connected with several punches that were unanswered at which point the referee crowned the Australian. Garside is trained by Hall of Famer Johnny Lewis.

Unbeaten super bantamweight Sam Goodman (10-0, 6 KOs) stopped former world title challenger Richie Mepranum (36-9-1, 11 KOs) when Mepranum suffered an injured elbow in round six which forced him to retire.

Football legend and Australian heavyweight contender Paul Gallen(12-1-1, 7 KOs) scored a three round stoppage over former rugby league player Darcy Lussick (1-1, 1 KO). Lussick connected with punches on Gallen in round one but the inexperienced heavyweight tired in round two and in round three the referee Les Fear crowned Gallen when Lussick was in trouble.

Sad to report the passing of longtime referee Tony Perez at the age of 86 years old. Perez was the third man in the ring for many high-profile fights including Ali/Frazier 2, Ali/Wepner, Ali/Quarry, Quarry/Neumann, Tiger/Benvenuti, Griffith/Antuofermo, Frazier/Ellis, Alexis Arguello/Cornelius Boza Edwards, Arguello/Ray Mancini, James Scott/Yaqui Lopez behind prison walls, Cooney/Norton, Hagler/Roldan, Julio Cesar Chavez/Rocky Lockridge, Ray Mercer/Bert Cooper, Mercer/Tommy Morrison, Hasim Rahman/Trevor Berbick, Roberto Duran/Hector Camacho, David Tua/John Ruiz, Marlon Starling/Mark Breland… Continue reading “Famed referee Tony Perez passes”

WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. will defend his world title against top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo headlining action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, January 22 from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, NJ.

The Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader also features a 12-round rematch between super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan in the co-main event, plus featherweights Tugstsogt Nyambayar and Vic Pasillas squaring-off in the 10-round telecast opener.

According to ESPN, DAZN will air super middleweight Daniel Jacobs vs. John Ryder on February 12 from London. It was also reported that top welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. will fight Michael McKinson, a 21-0 fighter with just two knockouts.

Undefeated super featherweight Andres Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs) is one of the more attractive promotional free agents on the market. He ended 2021 with two spectacular knockouts on national television and feels he’s ready to step up in competition.

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren is trying to get Tommy Fury locked in again as Jake Paul’s next opponent. Fury pulled out of his bout with Paul on two weeks’ notice citing a severe chest infection and a broken rib.

Ring legend Manny Pacquiao isn’t a shoo-in to become the next president of the Philippines. According to the latest polls, Pacman is currently running far behind Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos.

By Ron Jackson

South African boxing has once again suffered with a limited number of tournaments and some being canceled after fighters have withdrawn from matchups due to the Coranavirus pandemic. One must congratulate the promoters, officials, boxers, and others who helped to keep boxing alive under very difficult circumstances.

Review of the Year

At the end of the year only four South African fighters,  Ayanda Ndulani (IBO minimumweight), Gideon Buthelezi (IBO junior bantamweight), Ludumo Lamati (IBO junior featherweight) and Ayanda Nkosi (WBF lightweight) held world titles, but they were all from lesser organizations. Continue reading “South African boxing roundup for 2021”

Unbeaten Erick “Mini Pacman” Rosa (5-0, 1 KO) dethroned WBA minimumweight champion Victorio “Vic” Saludar (21-5, 11 KOs) by twelve round split decision on Tuesday night at Hotel Catalonia in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Saludar pressed the action, but it was southpaw Rosa who dropped Saludar in round three with a cracking straight left. Saludar continued to stalk. Rosa was credited with another knockdown in round nine, but Saludar floored Rosa in round ten and upped the pressure late. In the end, scores were 116-109, 113-112 Rosa, 113-112 Saludar.

More photos

Thurman: My time is now

The February 5 clash between former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and former super lightweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Both Thurman and Barrios will look to rebound from their first career defeats with statement victories. Thurman will be returning to the ring after a 30-month absence.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale tomorrow at 10AM. Continue reading “Thurman-Barrios lands at Mandalay Bay”

Recent title challenger and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (16-1, 8 KOs) faces Xavier Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs) in a WBC junior lightweight world title eliminator on January 29 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Conceição-Martinez and a co-feature will air live on ESPN while undercard bouts will stream on ESPN+.

“This has all the makings of a special, action-packed main event,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Conceição nearly defeated the great Oscar Valdez for the title, while Martinez is a young kid hoping to make a name in the 130-pound division.”

Conceição is rated WBC #4, while Martinez, who recently signed a multi-fight pact with Top Rank, is WBC #14.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former world champion Andrew “The Monster” Moloney (22-2, 14 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over rugged Froilan Saludar (32-5-1, 22 KOs) in a junior bantamweight bout on Tuesday night at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, Australia. After a close first round, Moloney took over and punished Saludar the rest of the way. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, 98-91.

IBF #11 WBA #14, WBO #15 light heavyweight Faris Chevalier (12-1, 7 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over former IBO world champion Renald Quinlan (13-8, 8 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 100-90, 99-92.

6’7 southpaw heavyweight Jackson Murray (3-0, 3 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over David Tuliloa (2-4, 2 KOs). Mercy stoppage by the referee at 2:50.

After a lengthy glove snafu, junior lightweight Manuer Matet (4-1, 2 KOs) won an entertaining six round unanimous decision over Jye Lane Taylor (3-2, 1 KO). Scores were 60-55, 59-55, 59-55.

Other Results:
Aaron Cocco TKO3 Tim Simona (cruiserweight)
Daniel Harwood KO2 Caleb Sims (featherweight)

A purse bid for the WBO middleweight mandatory championship contest between Demetrius Andrade and Zhanibek Alimkhanuly will be held at noon on January 15 at WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The minimum purse bid will be $200,000 with a 75/25 purse split for Andrade. Andrade is promoted by Matchroom, Alimkhanuly is promoted by Top Rank.

The TV undercard is set for the February 5 FOX PPV featuring the return of former welterweight champion Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) against Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) at a site to be named.

The co-feature is WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) against Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs). Also in action are welterweight Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) against Josesito Lopez (38-8, 21 KOs), and former bantam/super bantam champion Luis Nery (31-1, 24 KOs) against unbeaten Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KOs).

The Thurman-Barrios telecast will be going head-to-head with a clash between former world champions Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) and Jose Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs) at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California, on an ESPN platform to be named.

By Héctor Villarreal

Dominican Erick “Mini Pacman” Rosa (4-0, 1 KO) and WBA minimumweight champion Victorio “Vic” Saludar (21-4, 11 KOs) of the Philippines, both weighed in at 105 pounds for the world championship match on the main event of the international card promoted by Shuan Boxing for Tuesday night at Hotel Catalonia in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Erick Rosa 105 vs Victorio Saludar 105
Frency Fortunato 125.6 vs Alejandro Gonzalez 125.4
Angel Cruz 148.2 vs Luis Romero 148.2
Ernesbadi Begue 178.4 vs Felipe Romero 177
Felix Parada 228.6 vs Francisco Silvens 249
Adrian Morel 124 vs Otabek Kholmatov 126
Jose Manuel Aguirre 138 vs Milner Marcano 135
Yan Santana 133 vs Juan Nicasio 137
Drew Dwelly 162 vs Wilkin Vidal 167