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Both the WBA “super” and WBA “regular” championships will be on the line on the same card as WBA regular ruler Radzhab Butaev (14-0, 11 KOs) meets #1 contender Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs) on the April 16 event that will feature Yordenis Ugas against Errol Spence Jr. in a unification for the WBC, WBA, and IBF belts.

Sad to report the passing of Walter “Butch” Flansburg, the former President of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, at the age of 77. After serving in the US Marine Corps, Walter moved to Florida in the early 80s and got into boxing as a photographer. He then became President of the National Boxing Association (NBA), a position he held from 1997 to 2018. In 2009, he founded the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame which flourished under his leadership to become one of the premier Hall of Fame programs in boxing.

“Butch dedicated a good portion of his life to the sport of boxing,” said Fightnews.com® Editor-in-Chief Karl Freitag. “In addition to the many hours he spent with his FBHOF work, he was passionate about supporting community boxing programs that teach discipline, dedication, respect, personal control, and give our young people something positive to say ‘yes’ to. He was a great man who made things better for everyone around him and it was a privilege to have known him.”

The return of undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor highlights this weekend’s ring action. There’s also a Sunday DAZN card, a Showtime tripleheader and probably a Rigo stream.

THURSDAY
The semifinals of the World Cup Boxing Series’ (WCBS) inaugural “4-Man Lightweight Tournament” Luis “Koreano” Torres (14-0, 9 KOs) vs. Rodolfo “Rudy” Flores (14-5, 6 KOs) and Isai “Gaga” Hernandez (11-2-2, 7 KOs) vs. Irving “Poderoso” Castillo (11-2, 7 KOs) from Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, on UFC Fightpass.

FRIDAY
Two-time Olympian and world rated middleweight contender Kanat “QazaQ” Islam (28-0, 22 KOs) faces former world title challenger Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (25-2, 10 KOs) in Plant City, Florida. There will be a PPV stream for this event.

SATURDAY
Former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs) will fight Vincent Astrolabio (16-3, 12 KOs) in Dubai. No stream announced yet.

Undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) defends against WBO #1 Jack Catterall (26-0, 13 KOs) on ESPN+ from Glasgow, Scotland.

Unbeaten super featherweight Chris “Primetime” Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) takes on late sub Hector Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs) in a WBA ellininator in the SHOWTIME main event at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Also on that card, IBF junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) defends his title against Fernando Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs.

SUNDAY
DAZN presents WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie (17-0, 14 KOs) defending his belt against Michal Cieslak (21-1, 15 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London.

Lightweight contender Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) returned to the ring Sunday night and blew out Rafael Hernandez (32-15-3, 25 KOs) in the first round at the Pabellon de Esgrima, Centro Olimpico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Fortuna, a former WBA featherweight and super featherweight world champion, dropped Hernandez twice in the one-sided bout. It was Fortuna’s first fight since losing to JoJo Diaz last July.

In the co-feature, former WBC/WBA/IBF super welterweight champion Jeison “Banana” Rosario (22-3-1, 16 KOs) smashed Jesus Perez (12-6-1, 9 KOs) in four rounds. Rosario dropped Perez at the end of round two and got the stoppage in round four.

Unbeaten super featherweight Chris “Primetime” Colbert held a media workout in his hometown of Brooklyn last week as he prepares for his WBA title eliminator against undefeated Dominican Olympian Hector Garcia in the SHOWTIME main event on Saturday from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“He’s going to learn firsthand how dangerous I am,” said Colbert. “I’m not worried about anything he brings to the ring. I love when people think that power is going to save them against me.  I don’t really know anything about Garcia. I know he’s got two arms and two legs, and beyond that I expect him to bring his A-game, because he has to against me. There’s no way that I’m letting him come in as a late replacement and beat me. Continue reading “Colbert: I’m all about making adjustments”

Female lightweight Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt (23-5-2, 7 KOs) capped a banner weekend for CES Boxing Saturday night with a unanimous decision win over Kim Wabik (4-2-2, 0 KOs) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island, her first victory in nearly a decade.

The 45-year-old Clampitt, a local resident who came out of retirement last summer two years after being inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, headlined CES Boxing’s 2022 debut and its inaugural event at the Crowne Plaza. Continue reading “Clampitt logs first win since 2013”

Unbeaten middleweight Jaime Munguia and D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard commented on their fight on Saturday night in Tijuana won by Munguia via third round stoppage.

Jaime Munguia: “It was a dream of mine to fight here in from of the people that saw me grow up and develop as a fighter. We came well prepared for this fight and my performance today proved it. I knew that I was going to be the one to apply pressure and I went in there and did my job. D’Mitrius did have some power. That surprised me, but after the second round, Erik Morales advised me to apply more pressure, throw more combinations. It paid off, I dropped him with a good liver shot and decided to just go for it and ended the fight.”

D’Mitrius Ballard: “I felt I prepared well for Munguia today, but his power surprised me. I couldn’t find my rhythm and apply my jab. Now we have to go back to the gym, keep working, and figure out what comes next.”

Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman

Tony & Christen Jeter of Jeter Promotions put on a rocking 10-bout card at Live! Casino in Hanover, Maryland. The card pitted fighters from Baltimore and surrounding Maryland locales against foes from across America as well as Colombia and St. Maarten. Matchmaker Nick Tiberi also outdid himself on this night, as there were split decisions, knockout fighters forced to go the distance and overall competitive bouts across the board. This show should’ve been on television or streamed as it was a shame only the live audience witnessed these bouts!

In the main event, Jordan White of Washington, D.C. edged Brandon Valdes of Baranquilla, Colombia for the vacant WBC USNBC Super Featherweight title over ten rounds. Continue reading “White tops Valdes snags USNBC superfeather title”

Unbeaten heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (14-0, 14 KOs) scored a sixth round KO against 42-year-old former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (36-7, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Cabaret du Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Wach presented some problems to Makhmudov, but Makhmudov finally battered him to the canvas in round six to end it. Time was :39. No spectators were allowed to attend.

Heavyweight Simon “Le Grizzly” Kean (21-1, 20 KOs) had all he could handle with 41-year-old Shawndell ‘Del Boy” Terell Winters (13-7, 12 KOs). Winters and Kean exchanged knockdowns in round six. Kean was rocked several times, but finally dropped Winters twice in round nine to end it. Time was 1:25. Continue reading “Makhmudov KOs Wach in six”

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated middleweight contender and former junior middleweight world champion Jaime Munguía (39-0, 31 KOs) scored an impressive third round TKO against previously unbeaten D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night in the iconic Bullring by the Sea in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico.

Munguia and Ballard exchanged jabs in the opening round. In the second, Munguia landed crisp combinations, while Ballard let his hands go. Attacking in the third round, Munguia backed Ballard to the ropes, shortly after a left hook staggered Ballard, Munguia followed up dropping Ballard. Munguia continued his attack as the referee stopped the fight at 1:47. Continue reading “Munguia stops Ballard in three”

“I knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of time before I was getting him out of there,” former world champion Kell Brook told Sky Sports. “I’m back on top. I took Amir Khan out…I knew from 18 years old I was a better fighter than him. He had the push and the promoters behind him because he won an Olympic medal.

“They tried to get into my head. They tried to push and poke at me. I even had people knocking at my hotel door at 3 or 4 in the morning, trying to disrupt my sleep.”

As for the future, Brook said “I don’t like Eubank. I could fight Eubank. There’s come big fights out there for me.”

Former world champion Amir Khan commented on his loss to archrival Kell Brook in their grudge match Saturday night in Manchester, England. “I’m very upset. I just couldn’t get it going,” Khan told Sky Sports afterward. “I have fallen a little bit short. Obviously, he was the best man today. I was catching Kell with some good shots, but I’m not blaming anyone. I had a great training camp but couldn’t get going. I was falling short and missing a lot. Kell was on his A-game today…The fans came out today and 90% must have been for me. I want to apologize. Obviously, it didn’t go my way today.

“I need to sit down with my family, but it is more towards the end of my career. Obviously, the love of the sport isn’t there anymore. That is a sign for me that I should maybe be calling it a day.”

Kell Brook (40-3, 28 KOs) settled his long-simmering dispute with Amir Khan (34-6, 21 KOs) with a six round beatdown on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Brook staggered Khan in round one and stalked him the entire fight. Khan was outmuscled and outpunched the whole way and referee Victor Loughlin finally stopped the punishment in round six. Time was :51.

Speaking after the fight Brook said: “I’ve sacrificed so much time to train for this fight, they won’t remember all of my fights they’ll just remember me fighting Amir Khan. No disrespect to Amir, but it felt so easy in there, I’m happy the chapter has closed on Amir Khan now.

“This is the icing on the cake in my career, I can feel at peace knowing I’ve beaten him. Do I want to carry on? I’m going to sit down with my family and consider my future in the sport.

“I would’ve wanted more of a clinical knockout, like how Canelo did. But he’s been fantastic for the sport, he’s a two-time world champion for a reason and I’m just happy that we got to fight.” Continue reading “Brook punishes and stops Khan”

In a WBC lightweight eliminator, Zaur Abdullaev (15-1, 9 KOs) scored a twelfth round TKO over former three-division world champion Jorge Linares (47-7, 29 KOs) on Saturday night at the RCC Boxing Academy in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Linares was ahead midway, but Abdullaev slowly got the upper hand as the 36-year-old Linares faded. Abdullaev finally finished Linares in the final stanza dropping him twice and getting a referee’s stoppage. With the win, Abdullaev becomes WBC mandatory to Devin Haney.

In a WBA super featherweight eliminator, Angel Rodriguez (20-1, 10 KOs) won a twelve round split decision over Mark “Canelo” Urvanov (20-3-1, 10 KOs). It was a technical fight from start to finish with both boxing carefully. Scores were 116-112, 115-113 Rodriguez, 116-112 Urvanov.

Unbeaten super lightweight Ivan Kozlovsky (5-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Zoravor Petrosian (12-2, 5 KOs) over ten in a bout for the WBC Asian Boxing Council belt.

Unbeaten lightweight Jamaine Oritz (15-0-1, 8 KOs) pounded out a ten round unanimous decision over Nahir Albright (14-2, 7 KOs) on Friday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Otis was in command all the way, winning 98-92, 97-93, 97-93. Oritz picked up the vacant NABF title.

Unheralded super welterweight Marquis Taylor (12-1-1, 1 KO) and unbeaten former amateur star Paul Kroll (9-0-1, 6 KOs) battled to an eight round draw. Taylor beat Kroll to the punch and outworked him all night but didn’t get any love from two of the judges. Scores were 80-72 Taylor, 77-75 Kroll, 76-76.

By Boxing Bob Newman

Jordan White 129.6 vs Brandon Valdes 129
(USNBC super featherweight title)

Demond Nicholson 168.8 vs Gabriel Pham 168.4
Anthony Leon Williams, Jr. 167.2 vs Brent Oren 167.6
(ABF USA light heavyweight title)
Brandon Chambers 120.4 vs Paul Carroll 122
(ABF USA featherweight title)
Colby Madison 231.6 vs Antonio Robertson 248.2
Tyhler Williams 142.4 vs Maurice Anthony 143.6
Ahmad Muhammad Jones 141 vs Tyree Arnold 141.8
Joseph Veazy 145.6 vs Corey Champion 146.6
Mansaborie Conde 162.2 vs Malcolm Phillips 159.6
Jaqeem Hutcherson 122.2 vs Jalen Woodmore*

Venue: Maryland Live! Casino, Hanover, Maryland
Promoter: Tony & Christen Jeter (Jeter Promotions)
Matchmaker: Nick Tiberi
Doors Open at 6 p.m., First Bell at 6:30

Jaime Munguia 159.6 vs. D’Mitrius Ballard 159.6
(WBO intercontinental title)

William Zepeda 135 vs. Yerel Siezar 135
Diego Torres 140 vs. Jonathan Escobedo 140
Rafael Espinoza 125 vs. Alie Laurel 126

Venue: Plaza Monumental de Playas, Tijuana, Mexico
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

Arslanbek Makhmudov 259.2 vs. Mariusz Wach 260.8
(NABF/NABA heavyweight title)

Simon Kean 248.4 vs. Shawndell Terell Winters 211.2

Venue: Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: Eye of the Tiger
TV: PPV

Zaur Abdullaev 135 vs. Jorge Linares 134
(WBC lightweight eliminator)

Mark Urvanov 129.7 vs. Ángel Rodriguez 129.5
WBA super featherweight eliminator)

Venue: RCC Boxing Academy in Yekaterinburg, Russia
Promoter: RCC Boxing
TV: ESPN+

Former world champions Amir Khan and Kell Brook both made weight for their grudge match at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday, live on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US. Khan weighed 147.3 and Brook weighed 148.3, both within the 149lb catch weight limit.

Other Weights:
Natasha Jonas 149.5 vs. Chris Namus 147.5
(WBO female super welterweight title)
Frazer Clarke 256 vs. Jake Darnell 248.5
Adam Azim 138.4 vs. Jordan Ellison 138.5
Brad Rea 160.5 vs. Craig McCarthy 161.5
Viddal Riley 199 vs. Willbeforce Shihepo 198.5
Charlie Schofield 168 vs. Germaine Brown 168
Abdul Khan 127 vs. Ricky Starkey 128.5
Ibrahim Nadim 123.5 vs. Taka Bembere 129.5
Hassan Azim 150 vs. MJ Hall 148

Kell Brook is a -175 favorite in his grudge showdown with Amir Khan on Saturday night in Manchester, England. The ESPN+ streamed bout is being contested at a 149lb catch weight. There is a six-figure fine for every pound either fighter is over the 149lb limit, which was insisted on by Khan.

Other Odds:

Middleweight Jaime Munguia is a 20:1 favorite over D’Mitrius Ballard on the DAZN stream from Tijuana.

Heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov is 11:1 over Mariusz Wach on the Punching Grace PPV stream from Montreal.

Lightweight Jorge Linares is a slight -120 favorite over local favorite Zaur Abdullaev in a WBC eliminator at Ekaterinburg, Russia. Real crossroads bout there. On the same card, super featherweight Mark Urvanov is a 10:1 favorite over Angel Rodriguez in a WBA eliminator. ESPN+ will stream the card.

WBC champion Oscar Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) and WBO king Shakur Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) will clash on April 30 in a junior lightweight title unification matchup at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Stevenson and Valdez are vying to become the first unified 130lb champion since ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera in 2005.

Oscar Valdez: “I want to make it clear that I am the best 130-pound fighter in the world. We know Shakur Stevenson is very good at fighting, but he’s even better at social media. I’ll let my fists speak for themselves.”

Shakur Stevenson: “I have been chasing this fight for nearly three years since we were both at featherweight. On April 30, I’m going to show him and the world why he ducked me all this time. I’m the best young fighter in the world, and I will become unified champion.”

Bob Arum: “Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson are the world’s best junior lightweights. The fans and the fighters demanded this matchup, and we are proud to deliver it live on ESPN for no extra charge. The winner becomes a superstar, and I know both men will rise to challenge.”

By Boxing Bob Newman

Super Featherweights Jordan White and Brandon Valdez will vie for the WBC USNBC title on a stacked Jeter Promotions card Saturday, February 19 at Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover, MD.

The 11 bout card is co-headlined by Demond Nicholson vs. Gabriel Pham in a scheduled 10 rounder at super middleweight.

Said Tony Jeter, head of Jeter Promotions, “This is going to be a packed show with great, TV quality fights. Beside the USNBC title fight and demons Nicholson, we’ve got undefeated (4-0) Mansaborie Conde who is the real deal at Super Middle.” Several other undefeated prospects are filling out the card, including: Victor Williams (3-0) at Super Welter, Joseph Crazy (5-0) at Super Welter, Tyhler Williams (5-0) at Super Light and Brandon Chambers (6-0-1) at Feather.” Continue reading “White-Valdes headline Saturday in Maryland”

Undefeated middleweight Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs) and D’Mitrus “Big Meech” Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s DAZN-streamed fight at the iconic Plaza Monumental de Playas in Tijuana. Both fighters were civil and respectful. Continue reading “Munguia-Ballard Final Press Conference”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Breidis (28-1, 20 KOs) has contracted COVID-19, forcing a postponement of his world title defense against IBF#3 Jai Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs). The bout was originally planned for April 6 at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, but will now be delayed for three to four weeks.