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In an interesting super middleweight matchup, 38-yeqr-old Ryno “The Lion” Liebenberg (22-8-1, 14 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over 43-year-old former IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream” Ouma (29-17-1, 18 KOs) on the Sturm-Szili undercard at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany. The larger Liebenberg outmuscled and outworked Ouma, who lost his eighth straight bout. No scores were announced.

IBF Youth middleweight titleholder Simon Zachenhuber (16-0, 9 KOs) won by third round referee’s stoppage against Maurice Morio (8-3, 3 KOs).

Heavyweight Oleksandr Zakhozhyi (17-0, 13 KOs) destroyed Evgenios Lazaridis (17-4, 11 KOs) in the first round. Lazaridis down twice.

M&R Boxing Promotions – Laura Ching presented Got talent XVII event at the Manual Artime Community Center Theater, Miami, Florida Friday night. The 10 round lightweight main event saw Cuban prospect Idalberto Umara (5-1, 3 KOs) stop Genaro Mendez (13-5-1, 7 KOs) of Mexico at 2:32 seconds of round one. Umara won the vacant WBA FEDECARIBE title. The event was shown on M&R Boxing Promotions Facebook page.

2012 Olympic bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao made weight for his 168-pound showdown with Argentina’s Damian Bonelli. Falcao (20-1-1, 9 KOs), meets Bonelli (24-10, 20 KOs) in a ten-rounder for the NABA super middleweight belt tonight at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. The Falcao-Bonelli card will air on Bally Sports, the Bally Sports app and Display TV at 8PM ET.

Super welterweight Carlos “Chema” Ocampo (33-1, 21 KOs) took apart hometown favorite Mikael Zewski (35-3, 23 KOs) to win the vacant WBC Continental Americas title on Friday night at the Vidéotron Colisee in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. Ocampo dropped Zewski in round three and punished him until Zewski went down again in round nine. Zewski’s corner then stopped the fight. Time was 1:49. Ocampo’s only loss is against Errol Spence.

Heavyweight Alexis Barriere (6-0, 5 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over rugged Marco Antonio Canedo (4-2, 2 KOs). Barriere dropped Canedo in round four and battered him to the canvas to end it in round five.

Unbeaten super lightweight Movladdin Biyarslanov (10-0, 8 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Roberto Verdugo (10-4-1, 4 KOs). Biyarslanov dropped Verdugo in round three. He then put Verdugo down again in round four. The bout was stopped by the referee soon after.

Welterweights Sebastien Bouchard (19-2-1, 8 KOs) and Ricardo Lara (22-9-1, 10 KOs) battled to a ten round split draw. Lara had a good start, but Bouchard rallied late to equalize.

Female super lightweight Marie Pier Houle (6-0-1, 2 KOs) outpointed Valentina Keri (5-6, 0 KOs) over six one-sided rounds.

Unbeaten super lightweight Cesar “Rainman” Francis (10-0, 6 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Mohamed “The Problem” Mimoune (22-5, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Both fighters traded knockdowns and Francis was deducted a point for a low blow, but in the end scores were 94-93, 95-92, 95-92 for the Rainman.

Unbeaten 6’8 heavyweight Christian Thun (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a first round TKO over Amron Sands (11-2, 9 KOs). Sands rocked Thun early, but Thun recovered and hurt Sands. The bout was waved off due to Sands not answering back. Time was 2:22.

Highly touted cruiserweight prospect Najee Lopez (4-0, 4 KOs) stopped the very tough Anthony Stewart (6-2-2, 4 KOs) in round four. Lopez finally got to the 40-year-old Stewart in round four and dropped him twice, before getting a referee’s stoppage. Time 2:39.

Cruiserweight Eric Abraham (7-13, 3 KOs) won a six round split decision over Marsellos Wilder (5-3, 2 KOs), the younger brother of former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Scores were 58-56, 58-56 for Abraham, 58-56 Wilder. With the win, Abraham snapped a nine fight losing streak. Continue reading “Francis, Thun remain unbeaten”

Super lightweight Lewis Ritson (23-2, 13 KOs) scored a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over former WBC lightweight titleholder Dejan Zlaticanin (24-4, 16 KOs) on Friday night at the Newcastle Arena in Newcastle, England. Scores were 100-90, 100-90, 99-91.

Olympic welterweight silver medalist Pat McCormack won his pro debut by first round KO against Justin Menzie (5-6-1, 1 KO).

British super welterweight Troy Williamson (18-0-1, 13 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Mason Cartwright (17-3-1, 7 KOs). Cartwright dropped Williamson in round two and nearly had him out of there. Williams fought his way back to win it. Scores were 114-113, 116-111, 117-112. The latter two scores from judges Phil Edwards and Terry O’Connor did not reflect the action in the ring.

Other Results:
Mark Dickinson W6 Peter Kramer (super middleweight)
Thomas Patrick Ward W10 Alexis Kabore (featherweight)

Miguel Berchelt 135 vs. Jeremia Nakathila 133.6
Jose Enrique Vivas 126.2 vs. Eduardo Baez 126.6
Carlos Caraballo 120 vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra 120 Tiger Johnson 142 vs. Sebastian Gabriel Chaves 143.2 Josue Vargas 142 vs. Nicolas Pablo Demario 141.6
Haven Brady Jr. 127 vs. Jose Argel 126.6
Dante Benjamin Jr. 173.6 vs. Kevin Johnson 174.4
Arturo Cardenas 122.4 vs. Juan Hernandez Martinez 123.6
Adrian Serrano 134.4 vs. Estevan Partida 133.6

Venue: Resorts World Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Tim_Tszyu 153.4 vs. Terrell Gausha 153.2
Michel Rivera 136.5 vs. Jospeh Adorno 136.75.
Elvis Rodriguez 141.25 vs. Juan Velasco 141.5

Venue: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime

Golden Boy returns to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, CA, on April 21 for a matchup between super lightweights Joel Diaz, Jr. (26-2, 22 KOs) and Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs). The bout will be a 10-rounder streaming live on DAZN worldwide.

“We are so excited to return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino for this event,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya. “It has been Golden Boy’s home in the Coachella Valley, and we are excited to bring a DAZN fight night that they will enjoy for the first time in 2022.” Continue reading “Boxing back at Fantasy Springs”

Cruiserweight Kamshybek Kunkabayev (5-0, 4 KOs), who earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics at super heavyweight, scored a second round TKO against Farrukh Juraev (6-6-1, 2 KOs) on Friday night at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The bout was waved off when Kunkabayev trapped Juraev in a corner and teed off with nothing going back. Kunkabayev lost to Top Rank signee Richard Torrez Jr. in the Olympic semifinals.

In a clash between unbeaten junior welterweights, Ray Seitzhanov (10-0, 6 KOs) won a tight split decision against Jose Macias Enriquez (15-1-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO Youth belt. Scores were 95-94, 95-94 Seitzhanov, 95-94 Enriquez.

Kiko Martinez 125.4 vs. Josh Warrington 125.7
(IBF featherweight title)

Venue: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Canadian promoter Dan Otter/Three Lions Promotions signed unbeaten heavyweight prospect Ardi Ndembo (5-0, 4 KOs) of the Congo. The towering Ndembo fought for his country’s national team as an amateur and has stopped all but one of his foes since turning pro. He is scheduled to make his debut under the Three Lions umbrella on a date to be announced shortly. Continue reading “Three Lions Promotions inks giant heavyweight”

In an entertaining slugfest, super lightweight Salvatore Tapia (14-3-1, 10 KOs) scored an eight round split decision over Emiliano “Letal” Cruz (13-4, 12 KOs) on Thursday night at the Palenque de la Feria in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Scores were 78-75 Cruz, 77-75, 77-75 Tapia.

Light heavyweight Lester Martinez (11-0, 10 KOs) was victorious when Jaime Hernández (9-6, 4 KOs) didn’t come out for round five. Martinez is best known for stopping former world champion Ricardo Mayorga in his pro debut.

Other Results:
Armando Ramírez W8 Edgar Espinosa (super featherweight)
Héctor Pérez Cruz W6 Miguel Hernandez (featherweight)
Marco Cota Moreno W4 Jonathan Perez Zuniga (lightweight)

In an upset, middleweight Joshua “Young Gun” Conley (17-3-1, 11 KOs) defeated former world title challenger “Showtime” Curtis Stevens (30-8, 22 KOs) via six round unanimous decision on Thursday night at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York. In his first fight since 2019, local hero Stevens never got untracked. He was rocked and cut over the left eye in round one and Conley dropped Stevens with a right hand in round four. Scores were 59-54, 58-55, 58-55.

Super middleweight Nadim Salloum (7-1, 3 KOs) outscored previously unbeaten Roger Robidoux (4-1, 2 KOs) over six. Scores were 59-55, 58-56, 58-56.

Unbeaten super bantamweight Domnique Crowder (12-0, 8 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over Wilner Soto (22-10, 12 KOs). Soto didn’t come out for round six. Time was :02 of round six.

Heavyweight Emilio Salas (7-3-1, 3 KOs) outpointed Nkosi Solomon (4-2, 3 KOs) over six rounds. Scores were 59-55, 59-54, 59-54.

On Saturday, Steve Canton’s SJC Boxing Gym will celebrate thirty-three years in Fort Myers, Florida. There will be special Hall of Fame VIP guests, former SJC fighters, book signings, autographs, photographs, workouts, sparring, refreshments, raffles and more. While there, be sure to visit the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Museum, which is separate from the gym, but inside the same building. Admission is free.

12:00pm – 5:00pm, March 26, 2022
SJC Boxing Gym
4220 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, Florida 33901

Marsellos Wilder 194.6 vs. Eric Abraham 196
Jan Paul Rivera-Pizarro 131.8 vs. Richard Barnhard ??
Daniel Blancas 165.6 vs. Andre Graham 167.4
Jacob Gomez 130.2 vs. Pedro Hernandez 127.2
Darrelle Valsaint 161.8 vs. Geronimo Nahuel Sacco 156.8
Jusiyah Shirley 139.4 vs. Javonni Bemett 140.8
Najee Lopez 192.6 vs. Anthony Stewart 192.2
Christian Thun 271.2 vs. Amron Sands 282.2
Mohamed Mimoune 144 vs. Cesar Francis 140.8
mran Haddabah 176.6. vs. Jolando Taala 174.4
Julio Solis 134.8 vs. Alex de Olveira 133.6
Mandeep Jangra 134.8 vs. Brandon Sandoval 137.4

Venue: Whitesands Events Center, Plant City, Florida.
Promoter: Garry Jonas/ProBox Promotions
TV: TBA

Former WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel “El Alacran” Berchelt and Jeremiah Nakathila faced off in advance of their clash Son ESPN Saturday from the Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World Las Vegas. After reigning at 130 pounds for more than four years, Berchelt has set his sights on conquering the lightweight division.

Miguel Berchelt: “I feel better. I feel stronger. I think my body needed to move up in weight. I was a world champion for four years. Now I’m coming for the victory this Saturday…I want to win this Saturday and make it so that the name of Miguel Berchelt is considered among the top of the division. They definitely will have to take me into account.”

Jeremiah Nakathila: “Him being an aggressive fighter is a good thing for me. I can see that he’s awake now. But I want to tell him to be careful because I will put him back to sleep. Expect fireworks. Come Saturday night, I’m going to destroy Miguel Berchelt, and I will be victorious.”

Top super welterweight contender and rising star Tim Tszyu went face-to-face with U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha at the final press conference Thursday before they meet in the main event live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at The Armory in Minneapolis.

Tim Tszyu: “I’m taking it one step at a time, but I’m here to really take over. I believe in what I can do. That’s what’s in my heart and in my destiny. I’m going to do what I always do. The game plan is quite simple. I’m going to make as few mistakes as possible and capitalize on his mistakes.”

Terrell Gausha:  “When I watch Tszyu’s fights, I see that he brings the pressure. That’s just what he does. It’s not something I haven’t seen before. I’m going to go out there and do some things that he hasn’t seen before…I don’t think he’s going to be ready for what I’m going to show him Saturday.”

Cruiserweight rivals Richard Riakporhe and Deion Jumah faced off today at the final press conference for their clash Saturday at Wembley Arena in London.

Richard Riakporhe: Looking into Deion, it’s interesting. He’s been pro for a very long time, only had 14 fights, never had any significant wins. It makes you wonder what is going on with him. He calls himself ‘The Ghost’ – he has been a ghost. It just shows there’s different levels, you know?

Deion Jumah: I’m the superior boxer for sure and if he wants to offload [power] the way he has done in the past, then I’ve got something for him.

Michael Zewski 153.8 vs. Arlos Ocampo Manríquez 153.6
Arthur Byarslanov 148.8 vs. Roberto Verdugo 148.8
Steve Bouchard 148.8 vs. Ricardo Lara 148.8
Marie-Pier Houle 143.8 vs. Valentina Keri 145
Alexis Barriere 222 vs. Marco Antonio Candeo 220.4
Spencer Wilcox 134.6 vs. Armando Lizárraga Osuna 137.2
Petar Gavrilovic 171.4 vs. Greg Weeks 171

Venue: Vidéotron Coliseum in Trois-Rivières, Canada
Promoter: Groupe Yvon Michel
TV: TBA

IBF featherweight champion Kiko Martinez and Josh Warrington faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s world title action at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, shown live worldwide on DAZN, (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Kiko Martinez: “I’m confident because as I said last time, I was going to become World Champion and I did it. I said I was going to beat Kid Galahad within the distance, and I did. The same will happen on Saturday, I will beat Josh Warrington within the distance. Maybe he’s too confident and doesn’t understand he’s facing Kiko Martinez.”

Josh Warrington: “I must have upset him in some way because he’s demanded this fight. I’ve said it in many interviews, it’s how this sport work, it goes in circles. We were meant to be sparring partners for the Lara rematch, it’s funny he’s gone on to win a world title and his first defense is against me. He’s confident and I’m sure he would have trained hard, but I’ll be ready for everything he brings on Saturday night.”

Lewis Ritson 140 vs. Dejan Zlaticanin 139
Pat McCormack TBA vs. Justin Menzie TBA
Troy Williamson 140 vs. Mason Cartwright 139.75
Mark Dickinson 162 vs. Peter Kramer 160
Thomas Patrick Ward 129 vs. Alexis Boureima Kabore 125
Ben Rees TBA vs. Greg O’Neill TBA
Joe Laws 156 vs. Alexey Tukhtarov 153
Robert Ismay TBA vs. Christian Adjoufack TBA
Joe Maphosa 117 vs. Santiago el Eusibio 116
Stephen Sayer 190 vs. Daryl Sharp 194
Alex Farrell TBA vs. Konstantin Alexandrov TBA
Adam Cope TBA vs. Jonny Phillips TBA

Venue: Utilita Arena, Newcastle, England
Promoter: Probellum
TV: FuboTV

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Kevin ”Two Guns” Lerena makes his second venture into the heavyweight division when he meets Romania’s Bogdan Dinu for the vacant WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title in a scheduled 12 rounder at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night.

The tournament will be shown live from 19-00 -23.00 on Supersport Variety 3.

Lerena (26-1, 13 KOs) had an outstanding career in the cruiserweight division winning the South African title and the IBO belt, making six successful defenses.

Prior to this fight, Lerena announced that he was moving up to the heavyweight class. He will be having his second fight at the weight, winning on a fifth-round stoppage against Patrick Ferguson in December last year. Continue reading “Lerena to fight for WBA I/C heavyweight title”

Salvatore Tapia 141 vs. Emiliano “Letal” Cruz 140
Lester Martinez 173 vs. Jaime Hernández López 175
Edgar Espinosa Vargas 132 vs. Armando Ramírez Almanza 132
Héctor Pérez Cruz 125 vs. Víctor Tadeo Rodríguez 126
Marco Cota Moreno 136 vs. Jonathan Zúñiga 131

Venue: Nayarit Festival, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Promoter: RJJ Promotions
TV: UFC Fightpass

Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Ray Seitzhanov (9-0, 6 KOs) will battle fellow unbeaten Jose Macias Enriquez (15-0-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO Youth junior welterweight belt Friday at Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan. ESPN+ will air the card in the U.S.

Also on the card is cruiserweight Kamshybek Kunkabayev (4-0, 3 KOs), who earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He makes his 2022 debut against Uzbekistan’s Farrukh Juraev (6-5-1, 2 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder. Kunkabayev lost to Top Rank signee Richard Torrez Jr. in the Olympic semifinals. Continue reading “ESPN+ picks up Friday card in Kazakhstan”