Fightnews.com

Danny Dignum 159.4 vs. Grant Dennis 159.9
(WBO European middleweight title)

Lee McGregor 121.5 vs. Diego Ruiz 122.3
Joe Giles 170.3 vs. Lewis van Poetsch 180
Bilal Fawaz 154.5 vs. Vladimir Fleischhauer 153.5
Paul Ryan 155.2 vs. CJ Wood 157.4
George Mitchell 160 vs. Vasif Mamedov 160.3
Jordan Flynn 137.3 vs. Marian Marius Istrate 135.8

Venue: York Hall, London
Promoter: MTK Global
TV: ESPN+

WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) will defend his world title against mandatory challenger Paul Butler (33-2, 15 KOs) on April 22 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Casimero and Butler were originally slated to meet last December, but Casimero pulled out before the fight due to illness.

Former WBA super middleweight champion Rocky Fielding (29-2, 17 KOs) will also see action on the Probellum-promoted card.

DAZN is reportedly looking to lock down an $85 million two-fight deal with Canelo Alvarez. According to ESPN, the proposed fights are May 7 against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and September 17 against Gennadiy Golovkin.

The proposed date for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte is April 23.

Famed super middleweight journeyman Lewis van Poetsch (9-137-2, 2 KOs) will be making a rare televised appearance in a four-rounder on Friday’s ESPN+ card.

The latest Probellum signings are IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards, unbeaten super bantamweight Shabaz Masoud (9-0, 2 KOs), and the McGrail brothers (Peter and Joe).

Wasserman Boxing won the purse bid for the British Middleweight title contest between Linus Udofia (17-0, 9 KOs) and Denzel Bentley (15-1-1, 13 KOs).

The Championships Committee of the World Boxing Association (WBA) ordered the mandatory fight between WBA super flyweight super champion Juan Francisco Estrada and WBA regular champion Joshua Franco. Communication has been sent to the teams of both fighters, who will have 30 days to negotiate the fight from February 9 to March 11, 2022.

The Committee could call a purse bid if the teams do not reach an agreement in the corresponding period or if any of the parties refuses to sign the contract. The ordering of this fight is another move towards the world title reduction plan that the WBA has put in place since August of last year.

Salita Promotions will present another edition of the “Detroit Brawl” series on March 5 in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Heavyweights take center stage in the main event as spoiler Robert Simms (11-3, 3 KOs) faces undefeated Moses “ThunderHands” Johnson (8-0, 7 KOs) in a ten-rounder. Continue reading “Detroit Brawl series returns March 5”

Two-time middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs (37-3, 30 KOs) insists that he still has plenty left to achieve in his career as he prepares to face Islington’s John Ryder in an eliminator for the WBA super middleweight world title this Saturday at Alexandra Palace in London, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia, as usual).

“I’m looking forward to a good scrap,” said Jacobs. “He’s a good fighter from what I’ve seen. I know he’s in his hometown so I’m expecting him to be pumped and excited about it. Also, I’ve heard from him before that this is an important fight for him to get towards title contention. I’m looking forward to seeing exactly everything that he has to bring. Continue reading “Jacobs ready for Ryder”

2020 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov (9-0, 9 KOs) has been added to Probellum’s first event of 2022, which takes place at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 18. Jalolov will face journeyman Kamil Sokolowski (11-24-2, 4 KOs), who dropped an eight round decision to Otto Wallin over the weekend in Cardiff, Wales.

The card will be headlined by female lightweight Estelle Mossely (9-0, 1 KO), who defends her IBO belt against Yanina del Carmen Lescano (10-1, 2 KOs). Super featherweight Jono Carroll (21-2-1, 5 knockouts) faces Serif Gurdijeljac (21-6, 8 KOs) in the co-feature.

By Miguel Maravilla

Undefeated middleweight and former junior middleweight world champion Jaime Munguía (38-0, 30 KOs) of is in the final phases of his preparation as he takes on undefeated D’Mitrius Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KO’s) next Saturday night at the Playas Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico live on DAZN. It will be a homecoming fight for Tijuana-native Munguia.

“The truth is, I am very excited to be back home in Tijuana after 6-7 years. It’s great and I always wanted to come back here to fight,” Munguia told Fightnews.com®.

The last time Munguia fought at home was over four years ago in 2017, as he scored a third-round knockout over Jose Miguel Lopez. Continue reading “Jaime Munguia returns in homecoming fight”

The fight between heavyweight contenders Tony Yoka and Martin Bakole has been rescheduled for May 14 at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. Their originally scheduled January 15 bout was postponed due to COVID restrictions. Yoka has a chance to fight Filip Hrgovic in an IBF heavyweight eliminator, but Bakole protested to the IBF saying he still has a deal to face Yoka and therefore Yoka isn’t available to take the fight with Hrgovic. The IBF ruled in favor of Bakole.

Yoka sent a chilling message to Bakole on Instagram:

“I had a chance for a fight that I have been waiting years for, but thanks to you we will still have to wait. May 14th will be personal.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Unified WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC franchise lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos has responded to WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney’s father Bill Haney’s suggestion that Kambosos should make his first defense of the championship in the USA and not Australia. “I fought in England, Greece, Malaysia, New Zealand, and four times in America to become world champion,” Kambosos tweeted. “I earned my stripes while some of these boys with bigger egos than accolades can’t even go to another American state to fight, let alone 8000 miles down under. How embarrassing.”

* * *

Still no official announcement for the super welterweight clash between Tim Tszyu and Terrell Gausha on the March 19 Charlo-Castano card in Los Angeles. However, Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings dropped a big hint on Australian radio. “Contractually we can’t totally confirm it because PBC, it’s their show, so they are scheduled to make an announcement this week. Obviously, they have other schedules and other fights that they don’t want to muddy the waters on…the guy that Tim’s fighting is a terrific fighter, former Olympian.” He also stated that Tszyu’s fight will be the Charlo-Castano co-feature.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

In an encounter of unbeaten hard-punching prospects, Shu Utsuki (10-0, 8 KOs), 134.75, impressively acquired the vacant Japanese lightweight belt (renounced by world-rated Shuichiro Yoshino) as he effectively whipped ex-national 140-pound titlist Masahiro Suzuki (7-1, 4 KOs), 135, and finally halted him at 0:44 of the ninth round in a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading “Unbeaten Utsuki wins vacant Japanese 135lb belt”

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

Juan Carlos Tapia turned 80 this Saturday. A Panamanian and member of the world boxing community, he has been one of the most influential people in this sport in Latin America.

He just announced that he was going to hang up the gloves on the program that he himself started 48 years ago: “Lo Mejor del Boxeo” (The Best of Boxing). He has the Guinness Record for being the only one who has managed to sustain each weekly broadcast uninterrupted.

For this reason, Juan Carlos Tapia will surely be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. An honorable person, I remember that a few weeks after Rafael “Cobra” Mendoza, agent and representative of boxers, died, Juan Carlos called me to ask for the telephone number of Cobra’s daughter, since he had just received a pending payment from a business, and he needed to send his part to the family. Continue reading “Juan Carlos Tapia, A Person of Great Respect”

Unbeaten WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. and WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas will square off in a welterweight championship unification showdown on Saturday, April 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Presale for tickets begins today at 12 p.m. CT through SeatGeek.com, using the code BOXING. Tickets for the live event go on sale to the public this Friday.

The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions. No TV information announced.

Unbeaten middleweight contenders Felix Cash (14-0, 10 KOs) and Magomed Madiev (15-0-2, 4 KOs) clash for the WBC International title in the Jacobs-Ryder co-feature on DAZN Saturday at London’s Alexandra Palace. Cash is rated WBO #8, IBF #14, while Madiev sits at WBA #3.

Also, heavyweight Johnny Fisher (4-0, 4 KOs) takes on Gabriel Enguema (10-11, 6 KOs) over six rounds, female super bantamweight Ellie Scotney (3-0, 0 KOs) clashes with Jorgelina Guanini (9-3-2, 1 KO) for the WBA International crown, undefeated Texas middleweight Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (9-0, 7 KOs) fights in London for the second time against Javier Francisco Maciel (33-15, 23 KOs) over eight rounds, super bantamweight Hopey Price (6-0, 2 KOs) fights Ricardo Roman (14-12-3, 5 KOs) over six rounds, welterweight Cyrus Pattinson (2-0, 1 KO) fights Evgenii Vazem (9-21, 4 KOs) over six rounds, and welterweight Shiloh Defreitas (2-0, 2 KOs) fights Alexey Tukhtarov (4-23-6, 3 KOs) over six rounds.

BOXXER’s massive Saturday Fight Night, featuring Chris Eubank Jr. v Liam Williams, Claressa Shields v Ema Kozin, Caroline Dubois and more, surpassed one million in-home viewers on Sky Sports. Viewing averaged at 585k throughout the night with a peak of 1.05m which eclipsed the previous record of Anthony Joshua v Gary Cornish in 2015 and Amir Khan v Samuel Vargas in 2018 to set a new record.

Oh Noes. Looks like the exhibition fight between Floyd Mayweather and YouTuber “Money Kicks” is off. They were supposed to fight February 20 on the roof of a Dubai skyscraper.

Good to see former IBF lightweight champ Robert Easter Jr. tweeting from his hospital bed. He wrote: “I appreciate the love. I’m resting up guys. I appreciate you all. I will recover and be ok.”

ESPN has announced a planned March 26 lightweight fight between former world champion Miguel Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs) and Jeremiah Nakathila (22-2, 18 KOs) at a venue to be named.

WBO female bantamweight champion Dina Thorslund (17-0, 7 KOs) will put her title on the line against Niorkis Carreno (22-2, 17 KOs) on April 9 at the Graakjer Arena in Holstebroin, Denmark, on an event promoted by Probellum and TK Promotions.

A new monthly boxing series will kick off on March 26 at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida. EntroBox Championship Boxing will air on Bally Sports. The first show will be a WBA featherweight eliminator for the #2 ranking between Andranik Grigoryan and Otabek Kholmatov.

On February 19th, Jeter Promotions is back at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland, for the first time of 2022 and seventh time overall.

In the main event, super featherweight Jordan White (12-1, 10 KOs) takes on Gadwin Rosa (11-2, 9 KOs) in a ten-rounder bout for the WBC USNBC super featherweight title.

The co-feature is a ten round super middleweight clash between Demond Nicholson (24-4-1, 20 KOs) and Gabriel Pham (15-2, 8 KOs).

Tickets are priced at $65-$150 and can be purchased at AXS.COM. Free parking, all ages allowed.

Former IBF lightweight champion Robert Easter Jr. was reportedly shot three times on Sunday night during a street robbery in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is expected to survive. According to WTOL-TV, Easter Jr. was shot while attempting to flee from a group of thugs who robbed him of two gold chains, three diamond rings and his cell phone.

By Boxing Bob Newman

The IBF is ordering an elimination bout between the two highest-rated available contenders: #3 Evgeny Shvedenko and #10 William Scull for the number one position in the super middleweight division. The Russian-born Shvendenko, 15-0, 6 KOs, is promoted by Fächersport, Karlsruhe, Germany, while the Cuban-born Scull, 18-0, 9 KOs, is promoted by Agonsports, Berlin, Germany. Both fighters have indicated in writing that they are willing to participate in the elimination bout for the mandatory position. Negotiations should be concluded by February 20, 2022. The winner would be in line to face undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.

WBO #4 middleweight Danny Dignum (13-0-1, 7 KOs) hopes that a win over Grant Dennis (17-3, 3 KOs) can help catapult him into some big fights in the division ahead of their meeting on Friday night at York Hall in London, which will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+.

While Dignum has his sights set firmly on Dennis, the undefeated fighter knows he needs to produce the goods in order to secure some exciting clashes later in the year. Continue reading “Dignum: I need to take it to the next level”

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (8-1, 4 KOs) will cross the pond to battle Eric Donovan (14-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight battle on February 26 at OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Ramirez-Donovan will serve as the co-feature to the showdown between undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor and undefeated WBO #1 contender Jack “El Gato” Catterall on ESPN+.

Ramirez has been training in Las Vegas under Ismael Salas and has been unbeaten since a stunning defeat in his August 2019 pro debut. Continue reading “Ramirez primed for Taylor-Catterall co-main”

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano met again today in London at a press conference announcing their undisputed female Lightweight title fight on April 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Serrano suggested going twelve three-minute rounds for equality with men, but Taylor wasn’t interested.

Amanda Serrano: “I’m a woman for equality and we all talk about equality, on this table multiple times, we’re making history at the Garden being the first women to headline. We’re making the biggest payday for both of us, and I think we should just continue to make this iconic, make changes to this game and if Katie Taylor is willing and ready and able to make this an equal fight of twelve rounds of three minutes. If we want to make change, I think we should pave it right now on DAZN. This is all about equality and we should make the change right now.”

Katie Taylor: “I don’t think changing to twelve three-minute rounds will make a difference, this event is already iconic the way it is. The fact the pre-sales are the second best in MSG history says it all really, this fight is more important than we realize, and this proves that the perceptions have changed already. Boxing is boxing regardless, and the fight is already iconic the way it is. “

Probellum has announced the promotional signing of world-ranked middleweight contender Liam Williams (23-4-1, 18 KOs), who suffered a gutsy decision defeat to Chris Eubank Jr in Cardiff on Saturday evening, battling from early knockdowns to take the fight to the final bell. “The result against Eubank was obviously disappointing but sometimes that happens in boxing,” said Williams. “I am confident that with Probellum by my side I’ll be given lots of new opportunities to be back winning again and I’m already focused on returning to the ring later this year.”

Probellum, in association with Bulldog Boxing Promotions, also inked a co-promotional pact with unbeaten heavyweight prospect Ivan Dychko (11-0, 11 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s perennial top contender Kyosuke Sawada (15-2-2, 6 KOs), 117.75, finally acquired the vacant national bantamweight belt when he was awarded a split technical decision (48-47, 48-46; 47-48 against him) over JBC#2 Kenshin Oshima (7-2-1, 3 KOs), 118, upon the victor’s bad bleeding from the head with an accidental headbutt at 0:27 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Sawada, a 33-year-old workman stylist, caught Oshima, 26, with a flurry of punches to down him to the ropes midway in round two. It was a close affair with Sawada’s experience prevailing in the short-range mix-ups, but a second-round knockdown eventually favored him to seize the long-vacant belt. Continue reading “Sawada finally wins vacant Japanese 118lb belt”

World Cup Boxing Series (WCBS), co-founded by CEO Terry Hollan and matchmaker Guy Taylor, has announced it has signed 2-time world title challenger “Mighty” Aston Palicte (28-4-1, 24 KOs) to a multi-year promotional contract. Palcite is presently ranked IBF #9 and WBO #14 at bantamweight.

Palcite joins lightweight prospect Luis “Koreano” Torres (14-0, 9 KOs) in the relatively new WCBS stable.