Fightnews.com

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The promoter of WBO #1 light-middleweight Tim Tszyu has confirmed that Tszyu’s November 17 contest against WBO #7 Takeshi Inoue will go ahead in Sydney and not in Brisbane due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The ongoing uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the impact of hotel quarantine on the health and welfare of our fighters, made it impossible for the fight to continue in Queensland,” No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose told Wide World of Sport. Continue reading “Tszyu-Inoue moved to Sydney”

Boxeo Telemundo returns Friday to kick off their fall series. World-ranked light flyweights will take center stage as WBC #14 Armando “Ichiro Ozeki” Torres (26-19, 19 KOs) challenges WBA Fedecentro champion and WBA #15 Axel “El Mini” Aragon Vega (14-4-1, 8 KOs). The ten round main event will take place at the famed Auditorio BB in Mexico City, Mexico.

Torres surprised many pulling off multiple upsets the past few years. His five-fight win streak came to an end versus world-ranked Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez in his last outing. He feels that at the age of 40 he still can win at the top level.

And what’s the story behind that nickname? Keep reading. Continue reading ““Ichiro Ozeki” Torres on Telemundo Friday”

By Héctor Villarreal

Former WBA bantamweight super champion, Panamanian Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (39-6-1, 12 KOs) and his opponent, Colombian Walberto Ramos (26-10-2, 19 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for the “Poker of Aces” card scheduled for Friday night at the Arena Roberto Durán in Panama City.

Ramos had fight twice in Panama, both of them wins over Javier Tello and former world champion Roberto “La Araña” Vasquez. Continue reading “Moreno-Ramos face-off”

WBO featherweight king Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will make the second defense of his featherweight title against Joet Gonzalez this Friday at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Gonzalez is making his second attempt at a world title, while Navarrete hopes to improve to 10-0 in world title fights.

Emanuel Navarrete

“I feel very strong. I’ve seen changes in my body for the best, and I think this division is the best for me.” Continue reading “Navarrete-Gonzalez Final Press Conference”

IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) will make the maiden defense of his world title against former world champion Kiko Martinez (42-10-2, 29 KOs) at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on November 13. DAZN will carry the stream.

WBC female super featherweight ruler Terri Harper (11-0-1, 6 KOs) faces Alycia Baumgardner (10-1, 6 KOs) in the co-feature. European cruiserweight titlist Chris Billam-Smith (13-1, 10 KOs) will also see action.

Vyacheslave Shabranskyy 175 vs. Ricardo Luna Flores 174.3
Ernesto “Tito” Mecardo 140 vs. Nathan Benichou 139.8
Brady Huang 138.9 vs. Ricky Furar 139
Michael Meyers 142 vs. Matt Gaver 141.7
Derrick Winslow 135.8 vs. James Acosta 136
John Ornelas 140 vs. Keith Carson 140

Venue: The Hangar at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Englebrecht Promotions & Events

Manuel Gallegos 168 vs. Gabriel Lopez 168
Lester Martinez 170 vs. Raiko Santana 170
Luis Torres 134 vs. Jose Guevara Palos 136
Jorgo Lugo Cota 135 vs. Edgar Alameda 136

Venue: Auditorio Benito Juarez, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
Promoter: RJJ Boxing
TV: UFC Fightpass

Mairis Briedis (27-1, 19 KOs) and Artur Mann (17-1, 9 KOs) met today at the final pre-fight press conference ahead of their IBF cruiserweight title contest on Saturday night at the Arena Riga in Latvia.

Promoter Kalle Sauerland revealed that Saturday’s world title showdown would be the last time Latvian fans see their local hero Briedis boxing on home soil.

“This weekend is of course going to be a special event as Mairis Briedis defends his world titles in front of a red-hot atmosphere at the Arena Riga, but it is also going to be an emotional one,” said Sauerland. “I have informed the team that this is going to be Mairis’ last ever appearance in his native Latvia as 2022 will mean us going on the road in order to unify the division.” Continue reading “Briedis-Mann Final Press Conference”

The rematch between light heavyweight contenders Lyndon Arthur (19-0, 13 KOs) and Anthony Yarde (21-2, 20 KOs) will take place at the Copper Box Arena in London on December 4, live on BT Sport. 12 months ago, Arthur beat Yarde by a close split decision.

“The stakes are very high,” said promoter Frank Warren. “The winner will sit in the No.1 spot with the WBO and be firmly in place for a world title shot in 2022.”

WBA welterweight champion Jamal “Shango” James (27-1, 12 KOs) will defend his title against unbeaten contender Radzhab Butaev (13-0, 10 KOs) on Showtime October 30. However, the best welterweight on the card could be in the co-feature where unbeaten Jaron “Boots” Ennis (27-0, 25 KOs) takes on Thomas Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 KOs) in a ten-rounder.

“This is another step towards becoming world champion,” said Ennis, who is rated IBF #4, WBA #5, WBO #5, and WBC #8. “They haven’t seen nothing yet. It’s time for me to continue to shine and be great. I can’t wait to show out and have some fun.”

Kicking off the telecast, unbeaten lightweight Michel Rivera (21-0, 14 KOs) faces Matías Romero (24-1, 8 KOs) in a ten-rounder. The event takes place at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Despite two postponements and a relatively late replace to fight, Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (27-1, 19 KOs) is prepared to capture the inaugural WBC bridgerweight world title on October 22nd, when he takes on undefeated late sub Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (13-0, 13 KOs) at the Montreal Olympia.

“He (Rozicki) is a very aggressive boxer, however, I will be ready for him,” Rivas said. “I have been waiting for this fight for so long that I can’t wait to show the boxing world how improved I am…I know that I will be at my best for this fight, and nothing will stop me from winning. No misunderstandings, I will become the new WBC bridgerweight champion of the world.

Rivas-Rozicki will be broadcast live on ESPN+ in the United States.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF mandatory lightweight contender George Kambosos spoke to Fightnews.com® about challenging undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez with Eddie Hearn becoming the promoter after Triller dropped out.

“The IBF has made their ruling – which is fantastic,” said Kambosos. “Despite all the date changes for the fight with Lopez – I remained in the gym. When you set a date, we want to fight. I don’t think these guys ( Triller) understood that. There is a lot of preparation for a big fight.” Continue reading “Kambosos-Lopez on Nov 13?”

By Joe Koizumi

Former WBA minimumweight champion Keitaro Hoshino (23-10, 6 KOs), 52, passed away on Saturday (October 9) in Okinawa, Japan. It was shocking that he died so young and sadly closed his life alone in Naha city in Okinawa. Keitaro reportedly had been struggling with his unidentified perennial sickness and finally yielded to it abruptly.

Hoshino, a short skillful speedster standing just 5”2.5”, was born in Yokohama in 1969, and experienced amateur boxing in Buso high school. Turning professional under the tutelage of ex-world flyweight ruler Susumu Hanagata in 1988, he was a very mediocre second-rater whose mark in his first six years until 1993 as a pro was just 6-5 with two KO wins and three KO losses.

No one then imagined he would become a world champ in the future. Continue reading “Ex-WBA champ Keitaro Hoshino passes”

At the age of 38, heavyweight David Price (25-7, 20 KOs) has decided to hang up the gloves, and he opened up on the decision behind it. “Well I haven’t officially announced that I’ve retired, but I have,” Price told BT Sport. “I’m not going to be fighting again. That was only officially made up in my mind about six weeks ago.

“I’m 38, and the hunger was no longer there. That’s massive, which is why your elite fighters like Tyson, like Canelo, like AJ, they have got as much money as they will ever need. But that hunger is still there. That’s because they are fighting for glory. The glory had gone in my career. You won’t see me in a boxing ring again, for a fight at least.”

This Saturday, at the Performance Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, light heavyweight Ali Izmailov (5-0, 3 KOs) returns to action against James Ballard (10-3, 3 KOs) in the eight-round main event. Already rated IBF #11, WBC #14, and WBO #15 at just 5-0, the 28-year-old Izmailov recently started working with trainer John David Jackson at his Action Jackson Boxing Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“The sky is the limit for him with his punching power,” said Jackson. “He’s a tremendous puncher, but he’s also got natural boxing skills. As a fighter, I don’t think he realizes his potential. I’m getting him to move his head more and throw more combinations, instead of one power punch at a time. Nothing against his old trainers, but once he learns to throw three or four shots to set them up and camouflage the hard ones, he will be unstoppable.”

Negotiations have fallen through after an agreement seemed to be in place for the mandatory title defense of WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu against Thabiso Mchunu. Therefore the bout will go to purse bid this coming Friday, October 15.

The bid will be conducted by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman via Zoom and only promoters registered in the WBC for the year 2021 are eligible to participate.

WBC/IBF unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs), boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, will defend his world titles against WBC #1 contender and 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne (24-1, 16 KOs) on December 17 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Artur Beterbiev: “I want to thank Bob Arum and Yvon Michel for bringing this event to Montreal. It’s been a dream of mine to defend my titles in front of the fans who have supported me my entire pro career,” Beterbiev said. “I look forward to defending my titles in dominant fashion.”

Marcus Browne: “This is the moment in my life that I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready to take advantage of it. I know exactly what I have to do to take the titles from Beterbiev and that’s what I’m going to do. Continue reading “Beterbiev-Browne lands in Montreal”

By Miguel Maravilla

Featherweight Joet Gonzalez (24-1, 14 KOs) of Glendora, California looks to capitalize on his second world title shot as goes up against WBO featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete (34-1, 29 KOs) of Mexico City this Friday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California live on ESPN. We caught up with Joet Gonzalez during his camp. Here is what he had to say.

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With the cut he suffered in an altercation with Canelo Alvarez still apparent, unbeaten IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant continued to declare his intention on becoming the first undisputed super middleweight world champion in boxing history as he nears his PPV showdown against WBC/WBO/WBA 168-pound champion Álvarez taking place November 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“I don’t think I need to be any more motivated than I already am to fight for the undisputed super middleweight championship of the world. It’s a fight that we both obviously want to win. Maybe Canelo’s emotions boiled over at the press conference and I reacted. Those things happen,” said Plant.

More quotes…

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

Saturday, October 9, produced one of the all-time great fights in history when Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder gave themselves to the world boxing fans with an extraordinary fight that has entered the list of the most dramatic contests in the sport.

The experts are comparing it with those that today are remembered with awe and nostalgia: Ali vs. Frazier, Ali vs. Foreman, or Tyson vs. Holyfield. Continue reading “Thank You Fury, Thank You Wilder”

Fight fans are invited to attend a book signing party for “Thirty Dollars and a Cut Eye” by Hall of Fame boxing promoter/author J Russell Peltz on Thursday, October 21 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Books will be available for purchase. Masks required.

Former four-division world champion Adrien Broner was arrested over the weekend in Covington, Kentucky, on an outstanding warrant due to missing a court date. He was released on bond the same day.

Anthony Joshua has officially exercised his rematch clause for a return fight against conqueror Oleksandr Usyk.

Ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera will face José Luis Castillo in an exhibition on Friday, October 29, at the Arena Theater in Houston, Texas. Barrera-Castillo will take place on the third session of the WBC’s “Big Belt Championship” tournament for four-round fighters. Part of the proceeds will go to support amateur boxing by creating a series of tournaments to boost young fighters’ careers. Continue reading “Barrera-Castillo to clash in exhibition”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #3 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia (20-0, 16 KOs) has been mandated by the IBF to receive a cruiserweight championship opportunity before April 14, 2022, it has been reported by Fox Sports. “This is what I’ve been working towards for my whole life, I’m finally going to tick the box,” Opetaia told the network.

“People are excited about getting a world title shot. But I’m going in there to win, not just participate. I’m bringing the belt home.” Continue reading “IBF #3 Opetaia to get title shot by April”

There were originally two world light flyweight world title fights announced for DAZN’s Mikey Garcia undercard on Saturday, but one of those 108lb encounters is now off.

WBO light flyweight king Elwin Soto (19-1, 13 KOs) is still putting his crown on the line against Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (24-3-1, 14 KOs), however, WBA light flyweight ruler Esteban Bermudez is no longer defending his strap against unbeaten Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. Rodriguez (13-0, 9 KOs) now clashes with Jose Alejandro Burgos (18-4-1 15 KOs). Continue reading “DAZN undercard update”

Former world champion Mikey Garcia (40-1 30 KOs) makes a welcome return to action in a catchweight clash at 145lbs against Sandor Martin (38-2 13 KOs) on Saturday night at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, CA, live worldwide on DAZN. When Garcia steps through the ropes, it will be 596 days since his last fight against Jessie Vargas.

“It’s been a year and a half since my last fight, so I am excited to get back in there,” said Garcia. “I am looking forward to giving my fans a chance to see me again, especially here in Cali, it’s my home state but I haven’t fought much here.

“I want to pursue big fights, title fights, and be recognized as one of the best fighters in the world once again. This is another step in that direction. Continue reading “Mikey Garcia: I want to pursue big fights”