Fightnews.com

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.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu has offered to step in and replace injured WBO light middleweight champion Brian Castano against IBF, WBC, WBA light middleweight champion Jermell Charlo to save the March 19 show in Los Angeles.

“We’re looking to take the place of Castaño,” Tszyu’s promoter George Rose told Fox Sports News. “Tim Tszyu has been in a training camp already for the last seven odd weeks. He’s happy to put his hand up and save the show, to step in against Jermell Charlo.”

Tszyu was scheduled to clash with Terrell Guasha on the Castano-Charlo undercard.

The World Boxing Council has introduced the Union Belt, to be presented as a special trophy to the winner of the fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte. The Union belt extols special elements to celebrate and commemorate the United Kingdom through boxing.

According to some reports, the target date for Fury vs Whyte is Saturday, April 23. The fight is set to take place in the UK, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium eyed as the most likely venue. This is due to the fact it has a roof and so can hold big events year-round. However, other football stadium options may be considered with the spring date opening the possibility of an open-air event.

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.”