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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.”

Undisputed female lightweight champion Katie Taylor (20-0, 6 KOs) and women’s P4P Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) are set to clash at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 30, live worldwide on DAZN. MSG has hosted thousands of fights through its illustrious years, beginning more than a century ago on July 17, 1882; now, 140 years later, this matchup marks the very first time two female fighters are headlining a combat sports event at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’.

Taylor and Serrano will come face-to-face in the Big Apple on the first leg of a global press tour next Wednesday, February 2. A London press conference will be held in early February.  The fight not only be available worldwide on DAZN, but also through select cable & satellite pay-per-view providers in the U.S.

Presale begins at 12noon ET on Thursday February 3, with tickets on general sale at 12noon ET on Friday February 4 – tickets start at $56. To sign up to the exclusive presale, visit msg.Com/taylorserrano

21-year-old junior lightweight Gabriel Flores Jr. (20-1, 7 KOs) hopes to bounce back from his first career defeat in a 10-round bout against veteran Abraham Montoya (20-2-1, 14 KOs) on Friday, March 4 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The Flores-Montoya clash will take place underneath the junior welterweight main event between former unified champion Jose Ramirez and two-weight world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza.

Flores-Montoya joins an undercard that already includes featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) against Jeo Santisima (21-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder, the six-round heavyweight professional debut of U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., rising junior lightweight Karlos Balderas (11-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder, lightweight prospect Charlie Sheehy (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-rounder, 6’9 heavyweight Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-rounder, and middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (5-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Top Rank middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs), the grandson of Muhammad Ali, will now have a new head trainer guiding his corner when he steps in the ring this Saturday against Jeremiah Yeager (1-1-1, 1 KO). Former heavyweight boxer and Joe Frazier protégé Richard Slone will now serve as chief cornerman for Nico.

“Working with Slone is a blessing to my career”, said Walsh. “Most people recognize Rich Slone as the world’s greatest boxing artist but I’ve known him for many years. I know his extensive background working with Joe Frazier and Emanuel Steward as a professional boxing trainer. Together we will do great things.” Continue reading “Richard Slone to train Nico Ali Walsh”

Looks like heavyweight Agit Kabayel won’t be facing off against former cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck for the vacant European heavyweight championship until sometime in the spring. The bout was ordered by the EBU (European Boxing Union) in the last quarter of 2021 and both camps quickly reached a deal. Promoters agree that the event must take place in front of as many spectators and boxing fans as possible at a prominent location in Germany.

However, under restrictions due to the corona pandemic, large event locations nationwide haven’t been feasible in recent months. Both sides are now looking optimistically towards the beginning of spring in order to finally nail down a fight date and venue.

By Miguel Maravilla

Unbeaten middleweight D’Mitrius “Big Meech” D’Mtrius (21-0-1, 13 KOs) talks about his upcoming fight vs. Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs). They collide February 19 at the iconic Plaza Monumental de Playas (Bullring by the Sea) in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico. The fight will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN, excluding Mexico.

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The World Boxing Association (WBA) approved the rematch between Mexican Light Flyweight world champion Eduard Bermúdez and the number 8 in the ranking, former champion Carlos Cañizalez, due to an injury of the super champion of the category, Hiroto Kyoguchi.

Although the purse bid for the fight between Kyoguchi and Bermúdez was scheduled for January 28th, it was suspended because the Japanese boxer is in the recovery process from an injury and will not be able to fulfill the commitment. Continue reading “WBA approves Bermúdez-Cañizales”

A purse bid for the WBO middleweight championship contest between champion Demetrius “BooBoo” Andrade and mandatory challenger Zhanibek “Kazakh Style” Alimkhanuly is scheduled to be held Friday at WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, Adrdade reportedly now plans to vacate the WBO belt and move up to the super middleweight division. According to SI, Andrade is being lined up for an eliminator with Zach Parker with the winner to become WBO mandatory for undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez.

Mayor William D. Franklin of Warren, Ohio, proclaimed Wednesday, January 26, as “Don King Day” at the final press conference for Don King’s PPV event on Saturday at the W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. In the featured bouts, WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu will defend his world title against #1 Thabiso Mchunu in the main event while WBA heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan will square off against WBA #13-ranked Jonathan Guidry.

Ilunga Makabu: “I hope everybody knows who I am. I’m very thankful for this opportunity to be here today in front of you guys. I’m very thankful to Don King Productions for making this event happen because plenty of events have been disturbed by COVID. I’m very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to defend our title on January 29. I don’t have much to say. I just want to say good luck to my opponent Thabiso Mchunu because this is the second time I’m fighting him now. Thanks to all who come to support us. Thanks to my team. Enjoy the fight on the 29th.”

Thabiso Mchunu: “The hard work has been done. Come fight night, I am ready to go. All the best to everyone who is fighting on Saturday night.”

Trevor Bryan: “I am here to stay, to keep proving myself. I have a strong opponent in front of me in Jonathan Guidry. I appreciate him being out here. This is a big opportunity for him as well. We are going to show it out for you in Ohio and showcase all this talent for the whole world to see. It’s been a long road, a lot of hearsay. I am here to stay. It won’t be long now. I am the journey.”

Jonathan Guidry: “All the hard work is done. I am just glad we got the opportunity. We are just thankful to be out here to shock the world.” Continue reading “Makabu-Mchunu/Bryan-Guidry Final Press Conference”

The World Boxing Council has received once again requests from the teams of Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte, to extend the period of free negotiations. The WBC has granted this final extension and if there is no agreement, a purse bid will be held this coming Friday, January 28.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japan’s 122-pound champ, Gakuya Furuhashi (28-8-2, 16 KOs), 122, barely kept his national belt as he was held to a majority draw (95-95 twice, 96-94 against him) with former titlist Yusaku Kuga (20-5-2, 13 KOs), 122, over ten hard-fought rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a grudge fight since Furuhashi, 34, a game brawler, withstood the then champ Kuga’s assault and finally dethroned him via ninth-round come-from-behind stoppage just a year ago. The muscular ex-champ Kuga, 31, had an upper hand with more accurate attacks in the first half, leading on the open scoring system—49-46, 48-47 twice. Furuhashi, however, turned loose to accelerate his retaliation in the second half to overcome his early deficits on points. Kuga, a prefight favorite, almost regained the belt, but failed to recollect it from the pugnacious champ. Continue reading “Furuhashi barely keeps Japanese 122lb belt”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn is confident he can work out a deal for Haney to take on undisputed WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC franchise lightweight champion George Kambosos in Australia this year.

“It’s not announced, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes,” Hearn told The DAZN show. “It’s not even an offer but I think Kambosos wants to fight, Haney wants to fight. It’s the natural fight. It’s not close to being signed. There’s a deal that’s been discussed that could get this made. From our side, we’ve got a model we think works. Continue reading “Kambosos-Haney talks continue”

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has launched another salvo of insults at heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, and Oleksandr Usyk.

“I’m just gonna keep videoing until one of these cowards decides to fight,” said Fury on social media. “You’re all cowards! Shithouse bums! I don’t care who I fight. AJ, Usyk, Dillian Whyte or any of them. Fight me! I’m the best man that’s ever lived. Yas are all coward bum-dossers. I’ll annihilate the lot of yas and destroy yas, submit yas, tap you bitches out. Come and fight!

“I’ve been asked this question over and over again. I do not know the answers to it. I’m ready to fight this weekend. I’ve been training for eight weeks. How long does a man need to train? Joshua is a coward. Usyk is a pussy. Whyte don’t want to fight. So you can prove me wrong and get to f**king fighting you pair of cowards. You’re all cowards. You’re all bum-dossers! Have a fight or do one you pack of wet lettuces!”

WBC/WBA/IBF female middleweight world champion Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields held a media workout at Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday as she showed off her skills before her February 5 PPV defense against #1 ranked challenger Ema Kozin taking place February 5 live on pay-per-view at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

On adding co-trainer Gerald Tucker to her team, joining longtime coach John David Jackson:

“I just wanted some new eyes in my camp. I’ve always wanted two different coaches with two different styles in my corner. He fits into my team perfectly. Continue reading “Claressa Shields Media Workout”

The long-simmering rivalry between British rivals Amir Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) and Kell Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) will finally come to a head in a 149-pound catchweight battle on February 19, at AO Arena in Manchester, England. Roughly 20,000 fans will be in attendance for this British super fight for the ages, which sold out in 10 minutes when tickets went on sale in December.

Promoted by BOXXER, Khan vs. Brook and select undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. Continue reading “ESPN+ picks up Khan-Brook”

Gallo Estrada out due to COVID, JC Martinez steps in

WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez will face Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California on Saturday March 5, live worldwide on DAZN.

Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) moves up to 115lbs and does so against a legend of the weight in Chocolatito (50-3 41 KOs), with the Mexican stepping in to replace Juan Francisco Estrada, who has been forced out of his trilogy clash with Chocolatito with COVID. Continue reading “New opponent for Chocolatito”

Probellum returns to Dubai on March 18 and 19 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium for two consecutive nights featuring current and former world champions, Olympic medalists and hot prospects.

The main and co-main event for night one will be announced this week. The second night will feature IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (17-0, 4 KOs) defending his title against Muhammad Waseem (12-1, 8 KOs) plus former super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) against Tyrone McKenna (22-2-1, 6 KOs).

By Joe Koizumi

Newly crowned WBC 108-pound champion Masamichi Yabuki (13-3, 12 KOs), 29, will face former titlist Kenshiro Teraji (18-1, 10 KOs), 30, in his initial defense in Kyoto, Japan, on March 19. Yabuki dethroned Teraji by an upset tenth-round TKO victory last September, and it will be his direct rematch with the ex-champ. Teraji (the outboxer) party claimed that Yabuki (the aggressive puncher) committed an intentional headbutt in round nine, which eventually resulted in an unexpected forfeiture of the previously undefeated Teraji. Did Sugar Ray Robinson claim Carmen Basilio’s intentional butt after their first encounter in 1957? As the WBC ordered, their rematch may solve all disputes between the still hostile parties. Time will tell.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is tired of waiting for an opponent. Here is what “The Gypsy King” had to say today:

“Another gym session done. Tuesday morning smash. ‘Tick, tick, effing tick, tock’ is the subject of today. Is Dillian Whyte gonna fight me? Is Anthony Joshua gonna step aside? Let me know because I am sick of looking at these bums! Take a listen to their excuses. Tick, tick, tock. The time has run out the bottle. You’re all getting a good hiding, cowards.”

WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie (17-0, 14 KOs) will defend his world title against former world title challenger Michal Cieslak (21-1, 15 KOs) at The O2 in London on Sunday, February 27, shown live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

“Thank you to Cieslak for accepting the fight,” said Okolie. “I’m sure he is coming to get revenge for Glowacki! He is a good, strong campaigner who should be one of my toughest tests to date.”

On the undercard, featherweight  Karim Guerfi (30-5, 9 KOs) makes the first defense of his EBU European title against ‘The Thrill’ Jordan Gill (26-1-1, 7 KOs).

More additions to be confirmed this week.

Nicaragua has produced great fighters and has a very interesting boxing history. Boxers like Alexis Argüello, Rosendo Álvarez, Eddy Gazo or Ricardo Mayorga are always mentioned when talking about boxing in the Central American country, but there is a current name that also enters the conversation and that is Román “Chocolatito” González.

“Chocolatito” has the opportunity to set another record for his country and it could happen if he gets a win in his next fight against Juan Francisco Estrada. He would become the oldest Nicaraguan fighter to be world champion as he will be 34 years and nine months old by the time of the fight (March 5). Continue reading ““Chocolatito” goes for another boxing record”

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has denied reports of a $20 million USD step-side deal that would allow WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to take a unification fight with WBC champ Tyson Fury.

In a video on social media, Joshua stated “You know what’s bad about all these interviews I see? I see certain interviews that quote what I’ve said, and I think to myself ‘I ain’t done no interviews? Where did this person get this information from?’

“I’m hearing people saying, ‘AJ accepts £15 million to step aside.’ I ain’t signed no contract, I ain’t seen no contract. So as it stands, stop listening to the bullshit until it comes from me.

“I’m the man in control of my destiny, I’m the man who handles my business. I’m a smart individual and I make calculated decisions every step of the way. Don’t listen to the bullshit from other sources, if I tell you something then you know it’s from me.”

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

This Saturday, January 29th, Don King returns to the boxing promotion scene, staging a major card in his home state of Ohio.

The main event stars WBC cruiserweight champion, Ilunga Makabu, from the Congo, in a mandatory title defense against the official challenger Thibiso Mchunu of South Africa. The winner of this fight is contemplated as Saul Canelo Álvarez’s next opponent, as requested by his manager, Eddy Reynoso, during The WBC annual convention.

This column is dedicated to this great promoter. Don King is a living legend and quite a personality; he is even more famous and popular than most boxers today. Continue reading “Don King the legendary promoter”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) gave a deadline of 90 days, until next April 24, to carry out the mandatory bout between WBA super bantamweight super champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev and his mandatory challenger Ronny Rios. Matchroom Boxing won the right to promote the fight on May 24, 2021. However, the fight had to be suspended due to Covid-19 and Akhmadaliev received special permission to defend against Jose Velazquez last November.

Once the voluntary defense was completed, the Championships Committee sent the communication form to the company in charge of organizing the fight with the established deadline to promote the confrontation. Akhmadaliev is the 122lb world champion and Rios occupies the first position in the WBA rankings.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the lightweight world title fight between champion Gervonta Davis and mandatory challenger Rolando “Rolly” Romero. The formal communication was sent to both teams of both fighters, who will have 30 days, which expires next February 24, to reach an agreement.

Pursuant to WBA rules, the president and the Committee have the right to define a mandatory period at their discretion. In Davis’ case, it was conditioned to a nine (9) month mandatory defense period. As this period has expired, he must face Romero.

The fight had been previously ordered but external issues prevented it from taking place at that time. The Davis-Romero showdown marks another step in the WBA’s title reduction plan.