Fightnews.com

Lightweights Yuriorkis Gamboa and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz have reached an agreement to fight on April 16 in Arlington, Texas, in what will be the co-main event of the card headlined by Errol Spence Jr. or Yordenis Ugás will unify the welterweight titles. For Gamboa, it’s a great opportunity after losses against Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney, Cruz is coming off a close decision loss to Davis last December, after accepting the fight at short notice.

The eagerly anticipated Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Carlos Castaño rematch is postponed due to injury. It was supposed to take place on March 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, but unfortunately will have to be postponed due to a bicep injury that Castaño suffered in training camp.

Jamaine Ortiz 134.25 vs. Nahir Albright 134
Paul Kroll 152.5 vs. Marquis Taylor 151.75

Venue: Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions
TV: Showtime

Bitter rivals Amir ‘King’ Khan and ‘Special’ Kell Brook exchanged words in front of over 100 media attendees at Thursday’s official pre-fight press conference in Manchester, England. On the line this Saturday night are the bragging rights in a rivalry that started when both men were teenage amateurs and will now finally be settled with millions watching around the world, live in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office and in the US on ESPN+.

Amir Khan: “I’m gonna hurt him and he’s gonna be put in his place. I’m going to shut him up for good. Something he’s going to remember for a very long time.”

Kell Brook: “He’s definitely gonna sleep Saturday night when I smash him… After Saturday, nobody’s going to be interested [in Amir Khan].”

More quotes

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas is confident of his charge landing the fight against undisputed IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC franchise lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos in Australia. “I have a very good feeling that the fight is going to happen between Lomachenko and Kambosos,” Klimas told The 3 Knockdown Rule show. “We’re talking right now about a two-fight deal, including if Lomachenko wins, to do a rematch. I know some interest coming from the Australian government. We’ve been talking dates. I don’t know. Hard to say right now. End of May, June, somewhere in that area. Continue reading “Loma-Kambosos talks advance”

Undefeated middleweight Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs) and D’Mitrus “Big Meech” Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) hosted a fight week media workout Wednesday at Azteca San Diego Boxing Club to promote Saturday’s DAZN-streamed fight at the iconic Plaza Monumental de Playas in Tijuana.

Jaime Munguia: “I am very happy to fight in Tijuana, especially in the Plaza Monumental. As a boy I went to a show and it was always my dream to fight there. And now it has come true. You are going to see a great fight. Ballard is a fighter with very good technique, speed, but we prepared thoroughly to knock him out,”

D’Mitrus Ballard: “It’s what you have to do, go to the champion’s house to take away his title. On Saturday I take home the WBO middleweight intercontinental championship.”

Here are the weights for the Sold Out Opening Night Show of the 12th year of Fight Club OC in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Promoter is Englebrecht Promotions & Events.

Doors at 6pm, show starts at 7:05 live on Fite.tv

Felipe Ruvalcaba 138.6 vs Juan Medina 139.8
John Mercurio 184.5 vs Curtis Millender 185
Ricardo Sonny Robledo 143.8 vs Issac Freeman 145
Tayden Beltran 138.4 vs Luis Montellano 136.8
Nick Patea 126.2 vs Ferrin Marcelin 126.2
Victor Sydnor 137 vs Chris Cruz 136.8

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former champ Kimika Miyoshi (16-13-1, 6 KOs), 125.25, regained the Japanese female featherweight belt as she scored a unanimous decision (all 58-56) over defending titlist Yoshie Wakasa (7-3, 2 KOs), 125.5, over a hard-fought six on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.  It was Wakasa that had dethroned the more experienced ruler Miyoshi by an upset decision in November 2020.  Their grudge fight saw Miyoshi, 38, utilize more jabs than Wakasa, 33, scoring with more accurate inside shots to the onrushing champ. Continue reading “Miyoshi regains Japan’s female 126lb belt”

Super middleweight contender Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga went the distance twice last year following 16 first-round stoppages to begin his pro career. After surgery to repair a torn biceps suffered last October against Marcelo Esteban Coceres, Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) will make his 2022 debut March 19 in a 10-rounder against Steve Rolls (21-1, 12 KOs) at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The Brooklyn-born Berlanga is ready to begin a new knockout streak against Rolls, a Canadian veteran who has a pair of knockout wins since a 2019 TKO defeat to Gennadiy Golovkin.

This is what Berlanga had to say at his Las Vegas training camp.

“I think 2022 is going to be a big year for me, and I can’t wait to kick it off in my first main event in New York. I learned a lot from my last fight, and I’ve been working really hard on correcting my mistakes.” Continue reading “Berlanga ready to begin a new knockout streak”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has reminded mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte that he has just three days to sign the contract for their world title fight or lose the opportunity. In a video shot while doing roadwork, Fury stated, “Dillian Whyte you little sucker, you got three days left bitch. Sign the contract pussy!”

Whyte is not happy with the 80/20 purse split, even though he stands to make over eight million dollars. Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum has made it known that Whyte’s not getting any extra money, although he may get a cut if the PPV does well.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Undisputed WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC franchise lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos will be defending the championship on June 5  at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, it was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Former world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is currently considered the most likely opponent.

“I can tell you now, unequivocally, that George’s first defense will be in Australia. You can take that to the bank. We want to make the biggest splash we can and that is on the instructions of the fighter,” promoter Lou DiBella told the newspaper. “Right now, the marching orders from George is to make the biggest fight possible. That’s what we’re working on.”

ProBox Promotions will host its first event of the year as Kanat “QazaQ” Islam (28-0, 22 KOs), the two-time Olympian and WBO #8 rated middleweight contender, faces his toughest test to date against former world title challenger Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (25-2, 10 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the WBO global middleweight title. The event will take place on Friday, February 25 at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida.

In the co-main event, Jose Miguel Borrego (19-3, 16 KOs) faces undefeated “Pistol” Pete Dobson (14-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight fight.

Details regarding streaming information will be announced shortly. Continue reading “Islam-Kelly collide Feb 25”

Today’s scheduled World Boxing Council (WBC) purse bid has been avoided as Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) announced an agreement has been reached with Titov Promotions, which promotes undefeated mandatory challenger Evgeny Romanov (16-0, 11 KOs) for WBC bridgerweight world champion Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas’ first title defense.

Under this agreement, GYM obtained the rights to promote Rivas’ first WBC defense. “We are very happy with this outcome,” GYM President Yvon Michel said. “I would like to thank Mr. Alex Titov for his co-operation. We intend to hold this world championship in June, in Montreal or possibly in Colombia, where discussions are currently taking place. It was important for us that Oscar defends his crown in a familiar environment.” Continue reading “Rivas to defend bridger title against Romanov”

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

This last Friday, February 11th, was the eighth anniversary of my election as President of the World Boxing Council. For some strange reason I never remember that date, until someone calls or writes to congratulate me, perhaps it is because of the mixed feelings that this event generates in me. Not even a month had passed since the death of my beloved father and the WBC Board of Governors unanimously gave me their trust to lead this organization. Continue reading “Eight Years at the Presidency of the WBC”

Targets Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh

Super middleweight James Hagler, Jr. (2-1, 1 KO), the grandson of the late Hall of Famer Marvelous Marvin Hagler, has signed an exclusive managerial contract with Fighter Locker, owned and operated by the nephew of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Boston-based Ryan Roach.

The plan is for Roach to have Hagler fight in Massachusetts, ideally in Brockton, the City of Champions in which Hagler as well as another Hall of Famer, Rocky Marciano, fought out of during their professional careers. Continue reading “Hagler grandson teams with Roach nephew”

For the first time since September of 2017, professional boxing returns to Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady on April 9. Presented by Star Boxing, the seven-fight card includes a battle for the WBC Continental Americas and NABA gold cruiserweight titles featuring Simone Federici (18-2-1, 8 KOs) and Lyubomyr Pinchuk (14-2-1, 8 KOs). Continue reading “Boxing back in Schenectady, NY”

Ring legend Manny Pacquiao is losing big in the Philippines presidential polls, but has vowed to stay in the race. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator, has a commanding lead.

Triller announced that David Tetreault will join Triller Fight Club as President.

Speaking of Triller, it looks like the February 26 Triad Combat II clash between former heavyweight title challenger Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev and former UFC champion Junior dos Santos has suddenly disappeared from their schedule.

Probellum announced the signing of WBO #5 middleweight Danny Dignum (14-0-1, 8 KOs), who retained his WBO Euro title last Friday in London.

Amir Khan and Kell Brook come face to face in a tense rivalry ahead of their fight in Manchester on Saturday, live on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US.

_

Huge boxing weekend coming up, highlighted by the long overdue grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook. Four back-to-back shows on Saturday will keep you busy watching all day and night.

FRIDAY

Showtime, ShoBox Tripleheader (9PM ET/PT)
Caribe Royale Resort, Orlando, Florida
The main event will see undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs) against Nahir Albright (14-1, 7 KOs) in a ten round bout. The co-feature matches unbeaten super middleweights Joe George (11-0, 7 KOs) and Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-rounder. The telecast opens with undefeated welterweight Paul Kroll (9-0, 6 KOs) squaring off against Marquis Taylor (12-1-1, 1 KO) in another eight-round battle.

SATURDAY

ESPN+ (9:30AM ET, 6:30AM PT)
RCC Boxing Academy, Ekaterinburg, Russia
WBC lightweight eliminator between Zaur Abdullaev (14-1, 8 KOs) and Jorge Linares (47-6, 29 KOs). Abdullaev’s only loss is to Devin Haney. Three-division world champion Linares aiming for another title try.

ESPN+ (1PM ET, 10AM PT)
AO Arena in Manchester, England
The long-simmering rivalry between British stars Amir Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) and Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) will finally come to a head in a 149-pound catchweight battle. Tickets sold out in 10 minutes when they went on sale in December.

PPV (6:30PM ET, 3:30PM PT)
Cabaret du Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Unbeaten heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (13-0, 13 KOs) will defend his NABF title against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (36-7, 19 KOs) in a PPV stream. Price: $59.99 Canadian

DAZN (9PM ET, 6PM PT)
Bullring by the Sea, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
Undefeated middleweight and former junior middleweight world champion Jaime Munguía (38-0, 30 KOs) fights in his hometown against fellow unbeaten D’Mitrius Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs).

Undefeated rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert will now square off against unbeaten Dominican Olympian Hector Luis Garcia in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight World Title Eliminator headlining live on SHOWTIME Saturday, February 26 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The southpaw Garcia replaces WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Roger Gutierrez, who was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.

By Miguel Maravilla

Super bantamweight Adrian Alvarado (5-0-1, 3 KO’s) and Sergio Lopez (4-7-4) fought to a six round draw in the main event this past Saturday night at the Commerce Casino, in Commerce, California. It was a battle as both Alvarado and Lopez traded throughout the fight to the final bell as all three judges scored the bout 57-57 a draw. Continue reading “Results From Commerce Casino”

For many people, February 14 is Valentine’s Day. But the date has added significance for the sport of boxing. On February 14, 1963, the World Boxing Council (WBC) was founded at 1:00 pm in Mexico City. In its 59 years of existence, the WBC has changed boxing’s landscape in many ways.

Here is a list of 59 accomplishments…

Junior lightweight Brandon Valdes (14-2, 7 KOs) will step in for Gadwin Rosa to take on Jordan White (12-1, 10 KOs) in the 10-round junior lightweight main event for the WBC USNBC title on Saturday night at The HALL at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland. No reason given for Rosa’s withdrawal.

In his highest profile fight, Valdes was stopped in six-rounds by former two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Robeisy Ramirez. In that fight, Valdes was ahead on one scorecard at the time of the stoppage. In his last bout, Valdes won an eight-round unanimous decision over Adalberto Garcia Covarrubias in Mexico.

Former unified junior welterweight Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) is ready to turn the page. Last May, he lost a competitive decision to Josh Taylor for the undisputed title. The road to redemption begins Friday, March 4, at Fresno’s Save Mart Center in a 12-rounder against former two-weight world champion José Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs).

Here is what Ramirez had to say after a recent training session at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, California. Continue reading “Jose Ramirez: I want my titles back”