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By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Isaac Cruz vs Yuriorkis Gamboa
Lightweight world title contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KOs) out of Mexico City, Mexico, was exactly that, a Pitbull as he dropped former featherweight champ Yuiorkis Gamboa from Cuba (30-5, 18 KOs) four times enroute to a fifth-round knockout of the scheduled ten. Time was 1:32.

Cruz went right after the Cuban Gamboa from the opening bell and looked to end the fight early, but Gamboa showed his veteran savviness and held Cruz to survive the round. Gamboa came out the aggressor in round two and hoped he could catch the young bull off guard. But instead, Cruz quickly turned the tide and finally put Gamboa on the canvas for the first time right before the round ended. The knockdown started with a right to the body, followed by two big blows to the head. Round three was much of the same as Cruz was going for the kill as a left hook to the jaw put Gamboa down again.

In the fourth round, Cruz almost put Gamboa down early, but instead had to wait a little longer to score his third knockdown of the fight by left hook. And finally in the fifth and final round of this back-and-forth scrap, Cruz landed a left, quickly followed by a devastating overhand right that sent Gamboa to the ropes and referee Mark Calo-oy grabbed Gamboa right away and waived it off with Gamboa shaking his head. Continue reading “Undercard Results from Arlington, Texas”

Welterweight Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (21-0, 14 KOs), currently rated #5 by all four major sanctioning bodies, lived up to his nickname by annihilating Chris “The Heat” van Heerden (28-3-1, 12 KOs) in less than two rounds on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Benn hurt southpaw van Heerden with a right hand, then blasted him down to the canvas to end it at :59. Benn, the son of former world champion Nigel Benn, retained his WBA Continental title.

European cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith (15-1, 11 KOs) scored an eight round KO over former champion Tommy McCarthy (18-4, 9 KOs). Last year Billam-Smith beat McCarthy by split decision. This time he left no doubt, laying out McCarthy with a barrage of punches. Time was 1:28. Billam-Smith is rated IBF #3, WBO #3, WBA #5, WBC #8.

Lightweight Campbell Hatton (7-0, 2 KOs), son of former champion Ricky Hatton, outpointed Ezequiel Gregores (3-10, 0 KOs) over six rounds. Scored 60-54.

WBC female super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision against Edith Matthysse (17-12-1, 1 KOs), who failed to make weight. Scores were 100-90 3x.

“Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (20-3-1, 9 KOs), now campaigning as a light heavyweight, won an 80-72 eight round shutout against Vladimir Belujsky (12-3-1, 8 KOs).

Report and photos by Bob Ryder

Lightweight Albert “Prince” Bell scored a comprehensive one-sided eight round decision over Nicaragua’s Martin Diaz in the main event of promoter Vick Green’s Pulse Boxing Promotions at the Glass City Center (formerly the Seagate) in Toledo, Ohio. Bell had not fought in his hometown for 3 1/2 years and he drew a very good crowd to watch him display his boxing skills. “Prince” Bell controlled this contest in every way as Diaz was totally unable to generate any offense. Bell’s left jab was in constant use mixed in with an occasional right hand. Diaz was never in danger of getting stopped or knocked down but had no answer to Bell’s ring generalship and in reality did not throw nearly enough punches to trouble Bell in any way. Scores were 80-72 from all three judges as Bell improves to (21-0, 6 KOs). Diaz traveled a long way to receive a boxing lesson in declining to (18-12-2, 8 KOs). Continue reading “Bell dominant in Toledo ring return”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

After falling short at his shot at a world title, featherweight Ruben “Drac” Villa (19-1, 6 KOs) of Salinas, California returned to the ring in stopping veteran Horacio Garcia (35-6-1, 25 KOs), of Guadalajara, Mexico in nine rounds Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario in the Thompson Boxing Promotions “Path to Glory” main event. Continue reading “Villa stops Garcia in 9”

Undefeated heavyweight Mike Balogun (19-0, 15 KOs) scored a second round KO over 5’7 journeyman Sergio Ramirez Marin (20-8, 12 KOs) in an eight-round contest on Friday night at the Garden Theater in Detroit, Michigan. Balogun, a former collegiate and NFL linebacker, sent Marin to a knee with a short left and Marin was counted out. Time was 1:49.

Bantamweight Ja’Rico O’Quinn (15-1-1, 8 KOs) rebounded from his first loss with a one-sided eight round unanimous decision over Jobert Alvarez (20-3-2, 7 KOs). Scores were 80-72 3x.

In a clash of unbeaten heavyweight prospects, Michael Pirotton (6-0, 3 KOs) punished Jonathan Gruber (3-1, 2 KOs) for five rounds before the bout was waved off. Time was 1:58.

Unbeaten super featherweight Joshafat Ortiz (10-0, 5 KOs) took an eight round unanimous decision over Derrick Murray (15-5, 5 KOs). Scores were 76-75, 77-74, 77-74. Murray was deducted a point in round six for continually losing his mouthpiece.

Lightweight Gavin Gwynne (15-2, 3 KOs) hammered out a twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Luke Willis (11-1, 1 KO) in a clash for the British and Commonwealth titles on Friday night at the iconic York Hall in London. Scores were 117-113, 118-110, 115-112.

Unbeaten super featherweight Sultan Zaurbek (13-0, 9 KOs) won by fifth round KO over Nicolas Nahuel Botelli (11-7, 6 KOs).

In a fight for the English super welterweight title, Sam Gilley (14-1, 7 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Drew Brown 12-1-1, 1 KO) in round nine.

Super lightweight Fonz Alexander came up short against Jimmy Croxson to bring his record to 7-125-1, 4 KOs.

Errol Spence Jr 146.25 vs. Yordenis Ugas 146.75
(WBC, WBA, IBF welterweight titles)

Isaac Cruz 136.5 vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa 134.5
Jose Valenzuela 138.75 vs. Francisco Vargas 134.5
Cody Crowley 144.4 vs. Josesito Lopez 146.5

Radzhab Butaev 146.5 vs. Eimantas Stanionis 146.5
(WBA regular welterweight title)

Brandun Lee 142.5 vs. Zachary Ochoa 141.25

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime, PPV

Former world champion Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta (22-3-1, 21 KOs) will face Janel Rivera (18-8-3, 11 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight fight on May 12 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Also on the card, Victor Morales (15-0-1, 8 KOs) will fight Alberto Torres (11-4-3, 4 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight co-main event. Rudy Garcia (12-0-1, 2 KOs) will take on Diukl Olguin (15-22-5, 10 KOs)  in an 8-round super bantamweight fight. Other prospects on the card include Yahu Blackwell (3-1, 2 KOs) in a scheduled 8-round heavyweight fight, and Eric Tudor (2-0, 2 KOs) will participate in a 6-round super welterweight fight.

Super lightweight Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (5-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated scoring his fourth consecutive first round knockout, this time against veteran Daniel Evangelista Jr. (20-14-2, 16 KOs). The six-round bout, promoted by Englebrecht Promotions & Events on the popular Fight Club OC series, took place at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA. Mercado came out guns blazing as soon as the bell rang and send Evangelista to the canvas in the opening minute of round one, then followed up with two more knockdowns before the referee stopped the bout at the 1:37 mark. Continue reading “Mercado demolishes Evangelista”

Conor Benn 146.5 vs. Chris van Heerden 145.8
Chris Billam-Smith 199.5 vs. Tommy McCarthy 199.5
Alycia Baumgardner 129.4 vs. Soledad Matthysse 133.6
Jack Cullen 171.7 vs. Vladimir Belujsky 172.7
Campbell Hatton ?? vs. Ezequiel Gregores ??
Cyrus Pattinson 148.8 vs. Alexey Tukhtarov 152.1
Jordan Thompson 197 vs. Mariano Angel Gudino 199.9
Thomas Whittaker Hart 175.3 vs. Ben Ridings 174.1
Luke Evans 140.7 vs. Miguel Cesario Antin 141.3
James Metcalf 163.2 vs. Evgenii Vazem 159.2

Venue: AO Arena, Manchester, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Albert Bell 133 vs. Martin Diaz 130
Adrian Wilson 162 vs. Vitalii Gubkin 160

Venue: Seagate Centre
Promoter: Pulse Boxing (Vick Green)

Doors: 7 PM
First Fight: 7:30 PM
Tickets available at the door

Mike Balogun 233 vs. Sergio Ramirez Marin 212
Ja’Rico O’Quinn 116.25 vs. Jobert Alvarez 120
Michael Pirotton-Bamogo 230 vs. Jonathan Gruber 227
Joshafat Ortiz 130.5 vs. Derrick Murray 131
Sean Brewer 127 vs. Dominique Williams 131.25

Venue: Garden Theater, Detroit, MI
Promoter: DeBella Entertainment
TV: UFC Fightpass

Ruben Villa 126.4 vs Horacio Garcia 126.7
Richard Brewart Jr. 161.8 vs Antonio Duarte 161.3
Pedro Valencia 137.8 vs Edgar Palacios 136.6
Esteban Munoz 145 vs Kenny Williams 148.1
Nelson Oliva 157 vs. Manuel Martinez 158
Alejandro Barajas 117.4 vs. Ulises Rosales 117.8

Venue: Doubletree Hotel Ontario, CA
Promoter: Thompson Boxing

Unified WBC and IBF champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and WBA champion Yordenis Ugás faced off at a final press conference on Thursday, two days before they meet in a welterweight title unification clash live on Showtime PPV at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

A confident Spence declared AT&T Stadium “my house” come Saturday and even predicted that if the fight is waged in close quarters, it likely won’t go the distance. Meanwhile, Ugás said he will lean on the resolve that has allowed him to overcome all manner of adversity in his life to power past Spence in the ring.

Errol Spence Jr: “If we get in the clinch and start fighting, I don’t think it’s going 12 rounds.”

Yordenis Ugas: “Spence promises a knockout. I promise a win.”

More quotes…

Welterweights Conor Benn and Chris van Heerden faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s action at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Conor Benn: “I knocked out Algieri out like no one else has. I’m going to knock Van Heerden out like no one else has…it’s not emotion, I just fight with passion. I work extremely hard and it ain’t just me working hard. It’s six years of sacrifice to let a moment like this slip between my fingers.”

Chris van Heerden: “I do believe I am a better boxer than Conor, all around better boxer. He’s an angry, aggressive fighter. He’s a fighter. I’m a boxer. And I do believe that I have the skill to show that I am a better boxer than Conor.”

Hall of Fame promoter Mogens Palle, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2008, is battling cancer and has announced his final boxing event as a promoter on April 21 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sarah Mahfoud vs. Nina Meinke for the IBF featherweight title and Enock Poulsen vs. Franck Petitjean for the official European Championship will be some of the fights to highlight the final fight card produced by the legendary promoter and matchmaker. Continue reading “Mogens Palle announces final card”

Gavin Gwynne 134.5 vs. Luke Willis 134.8
(British & Commonwealth lightweight titles)

Sam Gilley 153.8 vs. Drew Brown 154
Pierce O’Leary 141.9 vs. Nathan Augustine 138.7
Nina Hughes 122.4 vs. Bec Connolly 121.9
Elliot Whale 153.3 vs. Fernando Valencia 156.6
Sultan Zaurbek 131.9 vs. Nicolas Nahuel Botelli 130.8
Carl Fail 156.7 vs. Victor Garcia 156.7
Jimmy Croxson vs. Fonz Alexander ??
Paul Ryan 157.2 vs. Gabor Gorbics 159.3

Venue: York Hall in London
Promoter: MTK Global
TV: ESPN+ will no longer be carrying MTK Global telecasts because of Top Rank’s decision to disassociate themselves from MTK Global due to sanctions made by the US government against Daniel Kinahan, one of MTK Global’s founders, who they say is no longer involved with the company. The fights can still be seen on IFL TV.

MTK Global will comply fully with the sanctions made by the US government against Daniel Kinahan. MTK parted ways with Mr Kinahan in February 2017. He has had no interest in the business since then, and will have no future involvement with us. MTK operates ethically, transparently and lawfully. We will cooperate fully with all authorities and assist with any ongoing investigations.

“MTK Global will take every measure to ensure the company, and those who deal with it are fully compliant with the US sanctions announced this week and take this matter extremely seriously,” stated Bob Yalen, CEO of MTK Global.

Cain Sandoval 136 vs Edgar Garcia Bram 139
Ernesto Mercado 140 vs Daniel Evangelista Jr 139.2
Danny Silva 145.2 vs Geoffrey Mellor 145.4
Sonny Robledo 143.2 vs Michael Meyers 143.1
Steve Mora 134.8 vs Johnny Robles 136.4
Jesus Gonzalez 154.9 vs Hugo Sanchez 156

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Englebrecht Promotions & Events
TV: FITE

Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. said he was focused on scoring a knockout against Yordenis Ugas during a public media workout on Wednesday as Spence-Ugas fight week events officially kicked off for their unification showdown this Saturday on Showtime PPV from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Errol Spence Jr: It’s eat or get ate. That’s all it is on Saturday night. Eat or get ate. Of course, I’m going to win. But I’m going for the knockout. There’s nothing to elaborate on when I said I’m going for the knockout. It’s what I said. So if I get it, I get it. If I don’t, I don’t. I know one hundred percent I’m getting the victory, but I definitely want to knock him out.

Yordenis Ugas: Spence can say whatever he wants. I’ll fight the way I always do, exchanging blows and coming forward.  I’m a competitor, I’m a warrior and I came to fight 12 rounds strong. That’s the most important thing of all. That alone should make Spence uneasy. I know I’m the underdog. I came here to win. I will fight whenever, wherever, in anybody’s backyard.

Professional boxing returns for the second time this year to South Florida’s iconic Hialeah Park Casino on May 7. The card will be highlighted by two title fights, one featuring the undefeated WBA #15 heavyweight Lenier “El Justiciero” Peró (6-0, 3 KOs) against Hector Perez (7-4, 3 KOs) for the NABO title and the other pitting cruiserweight Anthony “White Chocolate” Martinez (12-1, 11 KOs) against #15 IBF contender David Light (17-0, 11 KOs) of New Zealand for the WBO International cruiserweight title. Continue reading “Boxing returns to Hialeah Park on May 7”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold medalist and 2016 Rio Olympian Jason Whateley (10-0, 9 KOs) scored a sensational second round knockout over Fiji’s Savanca Naliva (14-4-1, 10 KOs) to capture the vacant IBF Pan Pacific cruiserweight title on Wednesday at the Fortitude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland. The 6’5” Whateley connected with a right uppercut that dropped Naliva in round two and the referee crowned the Australian at :32.

In other action, unbeaten Venezuelan Ender Luces (17-0, 14 KOs) won a split decision over Australian super featherweight champion Dana Coolwell (7-2, 5 KOs) in a ten round action-packed bout with the visitor capturing the IBF youth world championship via split decision. Scores Paul Williams 97-93, Steve Marshall 96-94 and Phil Austin 93-97.

Matchmaker Stuart Duncan, promoter Dean Lonergan, IBF Supervisor Adam Height.

Triller Fight Club has announced a July 16 pay-per-view event headlining former unified heavyweight champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr., (34-2, 22 KOs) and unbeaten Tyrone Spong, (14-0, 13 KOs). The event will take place at the historic Plaza de Toros in Mexico City.

The 32-year-old Ruiz is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Chris Arreola on May 1, 2021, in Carson, CA.

Spong, 36, is a former world champion kickboxer who has been pursuing boxing since 2015. Eleven of his thirteen knockouts have come within the first two rounds.

Additional fights for event will be announced shortly.

Official Statement: Probellum takes the sanctions made by the US Treasury extremely seriously and the business and its employees will be fully compliant with them. We have retained counsel in the US to ensure that we fully comply with all rules, regulations and requirements related to this matter, including not working with any individual or company that has been placed under US sanctions.

This includes Daniel Kinahan and we can confirm that we will not have any business relationship or communication with him whatsoever.

Bob Arum’s comments implying that Top Rank has ceased a business relationship with Probellum are baseless. Top Rank is a competitor and since Probellum’s inception, Top Rank has never worked directly with us. Any suggestions that Daniel Kinahan is a shareholder or owner of Probellum are false and defamatory.

WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr is a -550 favorite to rip the WBA welterweight belt from the waist of WBA ruler Yordenis Ugas (+400) on Saturday night in Dallas.

Also in the most evenly matched fight on the card is WBA regular welterweight champion Radzhab Butaev faces mandatory challenger Eimantas Stanionis in a virtual pick’em fight. The winner will be in line to fight the Spence-Ugas winner although a clash for undisputed status against WBO champ Terence Crawford may come first.

In other action, lightweight contender Isaac Cruz is a 14:1 favorite over former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, lightweight contender Jose Valenzuela is a 9:1 favorite over Francisco “Bandido” Vargas, welterweight Cody Crowley is a 4:1 favorite over “The Riverside Rocky” Josesito Lopez, and Brandun Lee is a whopping 25:1 pick against Zachary Ochoa.

Butaev-Stanionis and Lee-Ochoa will air on Showtime. The rest of the bouts will be featured on a $74.99 pay-per-view telecast.