Fightnews.com

By Hesiquio Balderas

Saul “Canelo” Álvarez was at hand this week in San Diego to kick off his upcoming against Dimitri Bivol on May 7th in Las Vegas. He also commented on Saturday’s fight between Roman “Chocolatito” González and Julio Cesar “Rey” Martinez.

“It’s going to be a very good fight,” said Canelo. “It’s going to be a tough fight for Rey, he is coming up in weight. Chocolatito is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It’s a tough fight like I said but Rey is in top form, great shape and we trust him. We have confidence in him — and plus he doesn’t give a fu**. He is relentless.”

Regarding Kingry, Canelo stated, “I have nothing to say about Ryan. Just check the facts. Eddy [Reynoso] is the best trainer in the world. This kid hasn’t been in the gym so whatever he says, it doesn’t really matter. My opinion is that I don’t like that type of stuff. I don’t like ungrateful people.”

Roman Gonzalez 114.8 vs. Julio Cesar Martinez 116.4
(WBC diamond super flyweight title)
Note: Martinez failed to make the championship limit at the second attempt, title only on the line for Gonzalez.

Mauricio Lara 126 vs. Emilio Sanchez 126
Angel Fierro 134.6 vs. Juan Carlos Burgos 134.2
Souleymane Cissokho 153.8 vs. Roberto Valenzuela Jr 154
Diego Pacheco 170 vs. Genc Pllana 171
Marc Castro 134.8 vs. Julio Madera 134.4
Fernando Angel Molina 139.6 vs. Angel Aispuro 139.8
Skye Nicolson 129 vs. Jessica Juarez 129
Anthony Herrera 118.6 vs. Jose Toribio 118.2

Venue: Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis (28-1, 20 KOs) will defend his world title against undefeated mandatory challenger Jai Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs) on Wednesday May 11 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. The fight was originally scheduled for April 6 but was pushed back after Briedis contracted Covid. This will be the first world title bout to be held in Australia since Jeff Horn defended his crown against Gary Corcoran just over five years ago in Brisbane. Promoter is Dean Lonergan for D and L Events in association with Wasserman Boxing. This will be the first world title bout to be held in Australia since Jeff Horn defended his crown against Gary Corcoran just over five years ago in Brisbane.

Ace boxing photographer Naoki Fukuda was on hand at the press conference announcing the April 9 unification clash between WBA middleweight super champion Ryota Murata and IBF titleholder Gennady Golovkin, taking place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Check out these shots…

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat

WBA middleweight super champion Ryota Murata (16-2, 13 KOs), Japan, and IBF titleholder Gennady Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs), Kazakhstan, will square off for unification in Saitama, Japan, on April 9. Originally their confrontation was scheduled at the same venue on December 29 last, but was inevitably put off because of the Omicron outbreak last year.

The re-scheduled promotion was announced on Thursday by Teiken Promotions in a press conference in Tokyo. Murata, Japan’s national hero and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, jubilantly said, “I’m happy to have this big fight realized after our long patience and anticipation. I wish to be victorious with my best performance.”

Golovkin sent a written message, saying, “I’m also happy to have it finally decided. I’ll demonstrate a show of a big drama.” Continue reading “Murata-GGG Kickoff Press Conference”

WBA #6, WBO #8 super middleweight Erik Bazinyan (27-0, 21 KOs) successfully defended his NABF title with an ninth round TKO against Reinaldo Paniagua (17-2, 16 KOs) on Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bazinyan progressively broke down the rugged Paniagua. In round nine, Bazinyan unleashed a sustained barrage of punches as Paniagua languished on the ropes and the referee waved it off at 1:10.

Former WBA middleweight title challenger Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (29-3-1, 25 KOs) got back in the win column for the first time since 2019 after a third round KO over Hector Manuel Zepeda (20-4, 6 KOs). Butler dropped Zepeda twice in round one, then blasted Zepeda to the canvas again in round three to end it. Time was 2:50.

Super lightweight Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (31-7-2, 21 KOs) was victorious after the corner of Sebastian Ezequiel Aguirre (18-4, 11 KOs) pulled their man out after round nine.

Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez faced off at the final press conference for their clash at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez: “I have an opponent that comes forward but I’m going to come forward, it’s going to be a tremendous fight and I think the fans are going to be really happy with the fight.

Julio Cesar Martinez: “As always, we’re prepared for everything, decision, for it to be a clash, a technical fight. We’re coming in here well trained; I want to make sure the public walks away with a good taste in their mouth.”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Authorities in Puerto Rico entered the home of three-time world champion Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez on Wednesday afternoon and extracted the 65-year-old former fighter after allegations that he was being abused and kept in deplorable conditions by a woman he is currently involved with.

For many months, the family had no communication or access to Gomez and they got a court order to have him transferred to a hospital. In a live broadcast on Telemundo, the unshaven Gomez didn’t look well as he was taken from the house in a wheelchair and then moved onto a gurney and into an ambulance.

Undefeated super welterweight prospect Ardreal Holmes will now face once-beaten Vernon Brown in the 10-round main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, March 11 live on SHOWTIME from Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel in Deadwood, S.D. Mekhrubon Sanginov, who was originally slated to take on Holmes (11-0, 5 KOs) in the main event, was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering an injury in training camp. Brown (13-1-1, 9 KOs), who was previously set to fight the undefeated Hurshidbek Normatov in the co-main event, now steps in to face Holmes. Normatov also suffered an injury in training camp and is unable to fight on March 11.

The previously-announced eight-round lightweight matchup between undefeated Luis Acosta (12-0, 11 KOs) and the power-punching Edwin De Los Santos (13-1, 12 KOs) serves as the co-main event and 2021 National Golden Gloves Champion Giovanni Márquez, the son of former world champion and ShoBox commentator Raul Márquez, makes his professional debut against Dominican Nelson Morales (2-0) in a four-round super lightweight bout that opens the three-fight telecast. Raul Márquez will occupy dual roles during the broadcast, first as his son’s trainer and cornerman and then later as an expert analyst alongside his colleagues ringside.

Jose Pedraza 140 vs. Jose Ramirez 139.8
(WBC super lightweight eliminator)

Richard Torrez Jr. 228.2 vs. Allen Melson 201.8
Joet Gonzalez 125.8 vs. Jeo Santisima 125.2
Gabriel Flores Jr. 131.6 vs. Abraham Montoya 131.8
Hector Tanajara 135 vs. Miguel Contreras 134.2
Karlos Balderas 134.2 vs. Aelio Mesquita 131.2
Javier Martinez 161.8 vs. Donte Stubbs 163
Charlie Sheehy 134.2 vs. Johnny Bernal 135
Antonio Mireles 259.4 vs. Brandon Hughes 282.4

Venue: Save Mart Center, Fresno, California
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN+

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former amateur star Nikita Tszyu (1-0, 1 KO) made a successful professional debut when he scored a second round stoppage over Aaron Stahl (2-1-1, 1 KO) in a super welterweight bout in the main event in Brisbane, Queensland on Thursday televised on Foxtel and Kayo Sport television network. Nikita is the brother of WBO#1 Tim Tszyu and son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.

Three-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan (29-4, 8 KOs) outpointed Wade Ryan (20-9, 7 KOs) over twelve rounds in an IBO super welterweight elimination bout. Hogan edged Ryan in most of the rounds keeping his dream alive of challenging for another world title. Scores were 116-111, 117-110, 120-108.

WBO #6 featherweight Joe Noynay (19-3-2, 8 KOs) was knocked out in round two by Liam Wilson (10-1, 7 KOs) in a rematch. Wilson connected with a solid left hook that dropped his opponent in round two. Noynay attempted to get to his feet but the Filipino’s cornermen waved off the fight and referee Tony Kettlewell crowned the Australian at 2.50. Noynay had scored a five round stoppage over Wilson in 2021. Continue reading “Tszyu, Hogan, Wilson victorious”

Promoter Frank Warren has announced that 85,000 tickets were sold in just three hours for the April 23 clash at London’s massive Wembley Stadium between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte. Warren says he has submitted an application to the local authorities to extend the allowed capacity to 100,000! Fury is returning to the UK after five consecutive bouts in the US. It is his first fight in London in over seven years.

Warren commented: “I always imagined that this fight wouldn’t be a hard sell so I am happy we opted to stage it in the biggest and best venue in the UK. This illustrates just what a big draw Tyson has become, his personality is infectious and he truly is a champion of the people. Continue reading “Fury-Whyte sells 85k tickets in first 3 hours”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (20-0, 15 KOs) confirmed his clash with former 2012 Olympian Terrell Gausha (22-2-1, 11 KOs) will take place on March 26 (March 27 in Australia) in what should prove to be the Australian’s sternest test. They was originally scheduled to fight on the now postponed Charlo-Castaño II card slated for the previous week.

The bout will headline a Showtime-televised PBC tripleheader from The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tickets are already on sale.

The fight is back on! Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) is bringing the Big Drama Show and his IBF world title belt to Japan, where he will face WBA middleweight kingpin Ryōta Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) in a long-awaited title unification fight.

The new date is April 9 after the original date of December 29 was postponed due to the Omicron outbreak. It will be streamed live from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, located just outside of Tokyo, exclusively on DAZN.

A couple of notes: 1) The day before the fight is Golovkin’s 40th birthday. 2) The telecast will air at approximately 7AM ET, 4AM PT in the United States.

Sad to report the passing of Michael Marley Wednesday at his Cape Cod home. He was 72. Marley did a little of everything in boxing. At age 12, he started the Cassius Clay Fan Club. He was an amateur and collegiate boxer. He later became a boxing columnist at The New York Post for 12 years. He was VP of Public Relations for Don King Productions for 5 years. He was a manager for stars like Terry Norris, Shannon Briggs, King Ipitan, and Robert Garcia. On top of that, he was a practicing attorney.

“Mike gave me some good advice during the early days of Fightnews.com®,” said Karl Freitag, our editor-in-chief. “I always appreciated that. He was a good man.”

Rest in peace, Michael Marley.

Former world champion Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) and Jose Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their junior welterweights clash on Friday night at Fresno’s Save Mart Center. The winner will likely receive a world title shot next.

Jose Ramirez: “My goal is to stay at the highest level of competition. My goal is to become a world champion again. You have to fight the best to be ready for those fights. I don’t want any easy fights. I don’t want to be fighting fights that are going to be tuneup fights.”

Jose Pedraza: “I definitely recovered a hundred percent {from COVID}. If that wasn’t the case you wouldn’t be seeing me facing Jose Ramirez in this great fight. It would mean a lot becoming champion for a third time. It would put my name along with the legends of Puerto Rico, and it would mean lot for the island, too.”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Stephen Espinoza, President of Showtime Sports, was at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, to kick off the unification battle between WBC, IBF welterweight champ Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr and WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas. The fight will take place Saturday, April 16 at Jerry World and shown live on Showtime PPV. Espinoza talked about this Texas-size mega fight, the amazing comeback of Spence Jr from injuries, thoughts on a Spence-Thurman matchup down the road and the health of boxing overall and much more in this interview!

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By Jeff Zimmerman

WBC, IBF welterweight champ Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr talks to the media after facing off against WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas for the first time at AT&T Stadium, as they prepare to do battle Saturday, April 16 at Jerry World and shown live on Showtime PPV.

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Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol face off for the first time at the Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, California, ahead of their May 7 bout.

Canelo Alvarez: “He’s a tough fighter. It’s gonna be a really good fight for Cinco de Mayo weekend for my people in Las Vegas and I’m really excited. I’m gonna prepare myself really good because this fight is going to be really hard.”

Dmitry Bivol: “I believe in my skills and when I come to the ring I believe in my victory. I’m looking forward to May 7.”

Former junior lightweight world champion Miguel “El Alacrán” Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs) now has his sights squarely on the lightweight division’s top names. Berchelt will battle Jeremiah Nakathila (22-2, 18 KOs) in the 10-round main event March 26 in the debut boxing event at the Resorts World Events Center located at Resorts World Las Vegas, the first resort to be built on The Strip in over a decade.

Miguel Berchelt: “I am ready to turn the page and show the fans I have what it takes to become a two-division world champion. The Valdez fight is in the past, and my focus is on Nakathila and a lightweight world title in 2022. ‘El Alacran’ is back, and I can’t wait to come to Resorts World Las Vegas to put on a show.”

In the 10-round co-feature, featherweights Jose Enrique “El Ejecutor” Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs) and Enrique “El Gemelo” Baez (20-2-2, 7 KOs) will meet in a clash with potential world title implications.

Both bouts will be televised live on ESPN. Tix go on sale tomorrow.

Welterweights Alexis “Lex” Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) and Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will collide in the co-main event to Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson on March 19. The duo will face off in a West Coast vs. East Coast, career-defining, 10-round battle at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center in Downtown Los Angeles and will be streamed live, worldwide, on DAZN.

Alexis Rocha: “I know what is expected of me at this stage of my career; I’m expected to knock people out. I own and embrace that expectation. I know Blair and have watched him develop. He’s a good fighter, but I am confident I will win in explosive fashion. He’s a southpaw and I’ve sparred with the best southpaws in the world, from Pacquiao to Josh Taylor. I’m ready for this fight.”

Blair Cobbs: “This is my moment to prove that I am a fighter to be feared in the welterweight division. I am ready for this challenge and can assure all my West Coast and East Coast fans that I am here to win and make a name for myself.”

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman / President of the WBC

Russia’s painful invasion of Ukraine is in all the news, social networks and any conversation. The only thing I wish to express is the sorrow that the world boxing community feels for this sad event.

We have so many people who are very dear to us in both countries who have had an incredible relationship for many years, including world champions, promoters, ring officials, and everyone else in the sporting community. God help us to restore peace.

This last Saturday there was a very tough fight between the undisputed super lightweight champion, who holds the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA belts, the Scotsman Josh Taylor, against his challenger, British Jack Catterall. Continue reading “Boxing for peace and social reintegration”

The welterweight title unification clash between WBC and IBF world champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) and WBA world champion Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) will headline a SHOWTIME PPV on April 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spence-Ugas is just the 12th unification fight in the rich history of the welterweight division.

Spence returns to the ring after he was forced to pull out of a summer showdown against Pacquiao due to an eye injury that he has since recovered from. Ugas then stepped in for Spence to defeat Pacquiao by unanimous decision. Continue reading “Showtime PPV lands Spence-Ugas”

Multi-division former world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez wears a surgical mask as he works out for the media ahead of his bout on Saturday at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) of Victorville, CA and Jamestown, Ghana’s Emmanuel “The Gameboy” Tagoe (32-1, 15KOs) hosted their kickoff press conference Tuesday in Los Angeles at Golden Boy Headquarters. Both were on hand to discuss their upcoming 12-round, lightweight battle on April 9. The fight is set to take place at San Antonio’s Alamodome, live, worldwide on DAZN.

Ryan Garcia: “I am definitely not looking past him, whether people think he is a good contender or not, and I respect him and I know this will be a good fight…if it’s a quick or a long fight, I am ready for whatever.”

Emmanuel Tagoe: “I know people don’t know me, but after this fight, people are going to ask, who is this guy!? I know Ryan Garcia, I respect him a lot as a good boxer but he is not my style.”