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Top Rank is planning to announce that the clash between super featherweight stars Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson will take place on April 30. Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has commented about Valdez-Stevenson going head-to-head with the women’s clash between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on the same night.

“People don’t particularly pay attention to the women’s fights,” Arum told IFL.tv. “ESPN made the schedule and they couldn’t care less. I don’t want to denigrate fights. I don’t want to be accused of being anti-women in sports, but I’m telling you, this is like the Premier league vs. women football.”

Somewhat of an uproar over Arum’s comments on social media.

The trend of boxers taking on YouTubers and celebrities continued Sunday night in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In the main event, 46-year-old former world champion Acelino “Popó” Freitas (41-2, 34 KOs) returned to the ring Sunday night and went eight rounds in an exhibition against YouTuber Whindersson Nunes. Freitas was pretty aggressive at first. He didn’t seem to be pulling his punches while easily avoiding Nunes’ lunging shots. Once Popo’s superiority was established, he started fighting with a big smile but still dominated. Nunes went back to his corner wobbly after round six. The referee stopped the action in round seven and gave Nunes a good look before letting it continue. After that, Freitas eased off for the rest of the fight. The result was announced as a farcical draw. It should have been 80-72 for Freitas.

Unbeaten IBF #1, WBO #3, WBC #8 middleweight Esquiva Falcao (29-0, 20 KOs) knocked out Brazilian reality TV star Yuri Fernandes in an exhibition bout. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist carried Fernandes for five rounds before putting him down and out with an uppercut in round six. The KO might have been an accident as Falcao shrugged and seemed embarrassed afterward, but the gulf in talent is so great between an unbeaten #1 rated pro boxer and a total novice that things like this are bound to happen sometimes.

In a boxing match between MMA fighters, Rogerio Minotouro won an eight round unanimous decision over Leonardo “Leleco” Guimarães.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Veteran lightweight Jose Marrufo (13-10-2, 5 KOs) of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico won a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over previously undefeated prospect Angel “Moreno” Rodriguez (10-1, 7 KOs) of Pico Rivera, California in winning the WBC USNBC silver super lightweight title Saturday night at the Derby Room in Pomona, California.

The fight was off to a fast start as Rodriguez and Marrufo traded in the center. Marrufo outworked Rodriguez in the third round as he kept bringing the pressure despite suffering a nasty cut on his left eye. The pressure continued from Marrufo in the fourth round as he kept backing Rodriguez. Marrufo swarmed Rodriguez much of the fifth round, letting his hands go. It was Marrufo with the pressure in the sixth round, but Rodriguez connected with big punches continuing to fight but Marrufo kept the offense going. Late in the fight, Marrufo kept beating and outworking Rodriguez to the punch. The eighth and final round saw Rodriguez and Marrufo let their hands go, Rodriguez suffered a mouse on his right eye in going the distance.

After eight rounds scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73. Continue reading “Marrufo hands Rodriguez first defeat”

By Joe Koizumi

Boxing isn’t dead in Japan, but just stagnant for a while. Unbeaten WBA, IBF bantamweight champion “Monster” Naoya Inoue was unanimously named Boxer of the Year for 2021 by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and the boxing subcommittee of Tokyo Athletic Writers Club on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. It was the fifth time that Naoya received the honorable award, having tied the records of a couple of former greats—Japan’s first world champ Yoshio Shirai in 1949 through 1953 and ex-WBA 108-pound titleholder Yoko Gushiken who kept it thirteen times to his credit—in 1976 through 1980. Continue reading ““Monster” Inoue named Japan’s Boxer of the Year”

Unbeaten welterweight KO artist Omar “Pollo” Aguilar moved to 23-0 with 22 KOs after knocking out Ricardo “Ricky” Bañuelos (17-7-1, 7 KOs) at 24 seconds of the second round on Saturday night at the Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Bañuelos was down twice in round two, both times from powerful left hooks to the jaw. Bañuelos spent a few minutes on the canvas but seemed to be OK afterward.

Featherweight Erick “Terrible” Robles (10-1, 7 KOs) took the unbeaten record from Néstor López Jr (14-1, 7 KOs) via eight round unanimous decision with scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-76,

Flyweight Gohan Rodríguez (11-1-1, 1 KO) won by eight round unanimous decision over Miguel “Joyita” Herrera (22-4-5, 8 KOs) with scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75.

Super featherweight contender Robson Conceicao commented on his surprisingly one-sided win over previously unbeaten Xavier Martinez:

“I had to train extra hard because I knew the challenge he would pose for me tonight. More importantly, I was able to be dominant this evening because I put in such hard work because I was motivated. I know I should be the champion. I know I beat Oscar Valdez. He has a fight against Shakur Stevenson, and I think Shakur is going to win. But as a fan and a fighter, I want Oscar to win because he owes me a fight. Continue reading “Conceicao: Martinez punches harder than Valdez”

In a rematch, WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) retained his title by twelve round split decision over mandatory challenger Thabiso Mchunu (23-6, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Makabu previously stopped Mchunu in round eleven back in 2015, this time it was a close tactical bout with scores of 115-113, 116-112 Makabu, 115-113 Mchunu. No handshake after this one. Mchunu pushed Makabu away after the fight. Makabu may now defend his title against Canelo Alvarez in May.

“Today I didn’t come for the knockout,” said Makabu. “I just came to show that I can box. I am going to box and knock Canelo out in my next fight, baby.”

WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan (22-0, 15 KOs) scored a harder than expected twelve round split decision against game WBA #13 Jonathan Guidry (17-1-2, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. The much larger Bryan pressed the action and Guidry often gave ground, but there were good exchanges throughout the fight. Bryan finally dropped Guidry in the final seconds of the bout. Scores were 118-109, 116-111 Bryan, 115-112 Guidry.

“Trevor Bryan is here to stay,” said Bryan. “I showed that tonight. I am only going to get better and keep improving my skills. I worked until the final bell. I am taking my talents overseas. I am going to make those fights against the top three, which is Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Oleksandr Usyk. I deserve those fights. This is a steppingstone for me. Shout out to Jonathan Guidry. He was a tough opponent.” Continue reading “Bryan retains WBA heavy title by split decision”

2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) spoiled the Top Rank debut of previously unbeaten Xavier Martinez (17-1, 11 KOs) by winning a one-sided ten round unanimous decision in a WBC super featherweight eliminator on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Slight underdog Conceição, coming off a controversial loss to WBC champion Oscar Valdez, outboxed and outworked Martinez en route to a 99-91, 100-90, 98-92 victory.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Giovanni Cabrera (19-0, 7 KOs) returned from a 27-month layoff to win an eight round unanimous decision over Rene Tellez Giron (16-2, 10 KOs). Scores were 77-75, 78-74, 78-74.

U.S. Olympian welterweight Tiger Johnson (2-0, 1 KO) won a four round unanimous decision over Xavier Madrid (3-1, 1 KO). Scores were 40-36 3x.

Unbeaten heavyweight Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (16-0, 12 KOs) stopped Joey “Tank” Dawejko (21-10-4, 12 KOs) in round eight. Dawejko’s corner stopped the fight. Time was 1:04. Dawejko not happy about the stoppage. Continue reading “Conceição dominates Martinez in WBC eliminator”

Cruiserweight Johnnie Langston (10-3, 4 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Nick Kisner (22-6-1, 6 KOs) to claim the NABA 200lb title. Langston wore down Kisner, then dropped him three times in round four to end it. Time was 1:40.

Heavyweight Dacarree Scott (7-0, 6 KOs) won a ten round split decision over Ahmed Hefny (13-2, 5 KOs) in a bout for the NABA Gold title. 276lb Scott, who outweighed Hefny by 60 pounds, pressed the action and won 96-94, 97-93 on two cards. The third card was 96-94 Hefny. Hefny was cut over the left eye by a headbutt in round four. Continue reading “Undercard Results from Warren, Ohio”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

“We promised to deliver for our man and we did by winning the purse bid for Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title defense against Dillian Whyte,” said Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren to the Daily Star. “It was an offer of $42 million, which just shows our commitment to the Gypsy King. According to the WBC, it was the highest purse bid in their history.

“We back our fighters and this is further proof. We are really happy to be working alongside Top Rank in putting on this huge all-British heavyweight clash. There will be an announcement next week on the date and the venue – but it looks like Fury will be coming home to the UK after conquering America.”

One rumor is that the fight will land at London’s 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium on April 23.

Bill Hutchinson 139 vs. Rondale Hubbert 142
Tika Hemingway 166.5 vs. Jozette Cotton 168.5
Joey Turk 211 vs. Albert Taylor 200
Paul Palombo 154 vs. Leonidas Fowlkes 154
Iman Lee 133.5 vs. Ryan Picou 134
Jerome Baxter 140 vs. Anthony Curtiss 140
John Leonardo 128 vs. Nathan Benichou 131

Promoter: Made Men Promotions
Saturday January 29, 2022
Doors open at 5:00, and first bell is at 7:00. General Admission tickets available at www.mademenpromos.com or the door. Live PPV www.mademenpromotions.com/livestream

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Negotiations between the camps of the undisputed WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC franchise lightweight champion George Kambosos and WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney have reportedly stalled over money. As a result, former world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and Ryan Garcia could be in the mix to challenge Kambosos in Australia in 2022.

“What I’ve been told this week is that talks between Haney and Kambosos are effectively dormant,” said Chris Mannix on the DAZN Boxing Show. “I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re dead because nothing in boxing is truly dead, but the people that I’ve talked to who are involved in these discussions have said that there just isn’t a deal to be had right now. Continue reading “Kambosos-Haney talks stall – or not”

Unbeaten super featherweight Xavier Martinez is a slight -125 favorite over Robson Conceição in their WBC eliminator on ESPN and ESPN+.

WBC cruiserweight champion Junior Makabu is a narrow -140 favorite against Thabiso Mchunu with a potential Canelo date on the line.

The odds on WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan against Jonathan Guidry are all over the place, with Bryan favored from -1600 to -4000 with most online sportsbooks in the -2500 range.

The Makabu-Mchunu and Bryan-Guidry fights are on a $49.99 Don King pay-per-view live stream.

The officials are in place for the two world title fights taking place on PPV tonight at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio.

WBC Cruiserweight Championship
Ilunga Makabu vs. Thabiso Mchunu
Referee: Harvey Dock (New Jersey)
Judges: Steve Weisfeld (NJ), Nathan Palmer (Indiana), Jamie Garayua (Ohio)

WBA Heavyweight Championship
Trevor Bryan vs. Jonathan Guidry
Referee: Lonnie Scott (Ohio)
Judges: Steve Weisfeld (NJ), Nathan Palmer (Indiana), Brian Kennedy (Ohio)

Sad to report that boxing judge Debra Barnes has passed away. She just judged a fight at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City last Saturday. A veteran of 32 years at ringside, Barnes was a fixture at ringside in Atlantic City and judged many world title fights including Manny Pacquiao vs. Lehlo Ledwaba, Winky Wright vs. Fernando Vargas, and Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Hector Camacho among others. She was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame back in 2016.

Robson Conceição 129.6 vs. Xavier Martinez 129.4
(WBC super featherweight title eliminator)

Rene Tellez Giron 137 vs. Giovanni Cabrera 138.6
Note: The original co-feature of Giron vs. Luis Melendez was called off after Giron missed the contract weight of 132 by five pounds. Giovanni Cabrera, who was fighting on the undercard, stepped in to fight Giron.

Tiger Johnson 145 vs. Xavier Madrid 145.6
Stephan Shaw 234.8 vs. Joey Dawejko 258.6
Pink Tyson 130 vs. Carla Torres 129.6
Bruce Carrington 125.8 vs. Steven Brown 125.6
Jeremiah Milton 237 vs. Dell Long 287.8
Nico Ali Walsh 162.4 vs. Jeremiah Yeager 159
Haven Brady Jr. 127.8 vs. Diuhl Olguin 127.4
Dante Benjamin Jr. 172.6 vs. Herman Rendon 175.8

Venue: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

With WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade bolting the division, the WBO has ordered Zhanibek “Kazakh Style” Alimkhanuly and Esquiva Falcao to commence negotiations for a WBO interim middleweight championship contest. If no deal is reached within the time prescribed, purse bid proceedings will be scheduled with a minimum acceptable bid of $200,000.

The WBO has also ordered Andrade and Zach Parker to commence negotiations for a WBO interim super middleweight championship contest. If no deal is reached within the time prescribed, purse bid proceedings will be scheduled with a minimum acceptable bid of $300,000.

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren/Queensberry Promotions won the right to stage the WBC heavyweight title fight between champion Tyson Fury and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte at a purse bid on Friday in Mexico City. Warren’s bid of $41,025,000 far outpaced the $32,222,222 bid by Matchroom Boxing. Warren’s bid was the largest in the history of boxing. The split will be 80/20 for Fury.

So Fury-Whyte is on and there will be no step-aside deal for Anthony Joshua, who is now expected to finalize his rematch with WBA/IBF/WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk.

Ilunga Junior Makabu 197 vs. Thabiso Mchunu 198.5
(WBC cruiserweight title)

Trevor Bryan 268 vs. Jonathan Guidry 246.5
(WBA heavyweight title)

Ahmed Hefny 216 vs. Dacarree Scott 276.5
(NABA gold heavyweight title)
Johnnie Langston 199.5 vs. Nick Kisner 198.5
(NABA cruiserweight title)
Michael Moore 164* vs. Anthony Lenk 159
(NABA middleweight title)
Cody Wilson 145 vs. Tre’Sean Wiggins 145.5
(NABA welterweight title)

Venue: Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio
Promoter: Don King Productions
TV: PPV

WBA #4 middleweight and former world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (55-3-2, 30 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision over Macaulay McGowan (14-3-1, 3 KOs) on Thursday night at the Wizink Center in Madrid, Spain. Martinez dropped McGowan twice and in the final round he nearly got the KO, ultimately settling for a 99-89, 99-89, 98-90 verdict. After the fight, Martinez, who turns 47 next month, declared “I won’t stop until the world title!” This was his fourth win since resuming his career in 2020 after a six-year hiatus.

Former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman discusses why he chose former super lightweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios for his return to the ring on February 5 in a $74.99 FOX Sports pay-per-view from Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

“Mario Barrios had the best record out of the small handful of fighters presented to me,” explained Thurman. “He had an exciting performance against ‘Tank’ Davis, and it just seemed like it’d be a great challenge for both of us. We’re two fighters who are exciting in the world of boxing, talented and coming off their first career losses. It might not sound exciting at first, but if you understand what it is to have a competitive mindset, you know both of us will demand greatness out of ourselves. Continue reading “Thurman: Barrios a great challenge”

Due to the impending snowstorm, and after consultation with town and state officials, this Saturday’s scheduled boxing event at the Castleton in Windham, NH is being postponed for 24 hours. The event will now take place this Sunday, January 30th with doors opening at 6:05 pm and first fight at 7 pm. All tickets with the previous date will be honored at the door.

The main event is a clash between unbeaten super lightweights Kevin Walsh (4-0, 3 KOs) and Nathan Balakin (3-0, 1 KO) and a $19.99 PPV stream will be available.

WBA super featherweight champion Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) and unbeaten rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) each expressed confidence that they will emerge victorious in their February 26 clash during a virtual press conference Thursday, as they previewed their showdown taking place live on Showtime from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Roger Gutierrez: “His best weapon is his mouth. I can’t wait to see him in the ring on February 26.”

Chris Colbert: “I don’t have any losses and I don’t plan on getting any. You’re going to hear ‘and the new’ when this fight is over.”

More Quotes

The 130-pound title picture will crystallize on ESPN Saturday evening from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa as the unbeaten Xavier Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs) battles recent world title challenger Robson Conceição (16-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round WBC title eliminator. The fighters faced off at Thursday’s press conference.

Robson Conceição: “What happened against Valdez was just a small setback. What I learned from that fight is that it was a great fight, but the fans know I won the fight. They know I’m the man. I’m very motivated. After the fight with Valdez, I walked out of the ring very happy with my performance. I went straight to the gym. I had a very good training camp, and now I’m facing a very tough opponent. That makes me even happier. I hope he is ready for a great fight. I’m ready! I always overcome all obstacles. Martinez is a very tough fighter. We will be battling for our lives inside the ring. I trained very hard to come out with a big victory. For me, every fight is a world title fight.”

Xavier Martinez: “I’ve been putting the work in, and I can’t let this opportunity slip by me. I’m not overlooking Conceição. He is a great opponent. He is the main objective right now, but after this, I want a title shot. If it’s not right after, I want to keep active and maybe fight for a title next year.”