Fightnews.com

By Héctor Villarreal

After winning the Panamanian 140-pound championship on April 4 of this year, unbeaten Jonathan “Alta Gamma” Miniel (5-0, 5 KOs) moves down on weight to face Fernando “Pantera” Martinez (6-2, 2 KOs) for the WBA Fedecentro Lightweight belt, on Friday, June 28, in the 8-round main event of the “Boxeo del Patio” card, promoted by former bantamweight super champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno and his wife Rousse at the Combat Center in Panama City. Continue reading “Miniel-Martinez announced in Panama”

Unbeaten super welterweight prospect Jordan “The Patriot” Panthen (9-0, 8 KOs) scored a spectacular third round TKO against Victor Toney (8-3-1, 6 KOs) on Thursday night at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California. A short left hook in round three put Toney on the canvas. He got up wobbly and the fight was stopped. Time was 1:07.

Undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields and WBC female heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse came face to face today for the second time this week at a press conference at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Claressa Shields: “I believe that on July 27, I will be heavyweight champion of the world. As we can see, I’m not a true heavyweight and that’s ok…people talk about how I don’t have knockout power, but I have to kill myself to make weight too. Now that I don’t, I think I will be putting all that talk to rest. She’s coming big, strong and fast, but I’m coming big, strong and fast too.”

Vanessa Joanisse: “I want the popularity Claressa has. She’s the face of women’s boxing and I want this fight. She has what I want.”

Middleweights Tyler Denny and Felix Cash faced off at their final press conference ahead of their European EBU title fight on Saturday night at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England, shown live worldwide on DAZN

Tyler Denny: “I’m absolutely buzzing for this. It’s a bit of a shame really because I’ve been around Felix for a few days and he seems like an alright character and he’s got a nice story, he’s been out of the ring, but he’s going to get smashed on Saturday and I feel bad for him, but this is the game we’re in…I’m going to break him down and get him out of there, and still.”

Felix Cash: “I don’t think he stands a chance with me on Saturday night. He’s going to come out and try his best, but it’s not going to be good enough…I definitely think I am going to get him out of there inside the distance, but we’ll have a look at him after the first couple of rounds and I don’t think he’ll go the distance. I want to be in the big fights, and I sure will be after this one.”

By TMZ.com

Ryan Garcia has learned his fate — the boxing superstar has agreed to a one-year ban from the sport as part of a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission … and his huge win over Devin Haney is now officially a “no contest.”

The New York State Athletic Commission confirmed the agreement to TMZ Sports on Thursday … saying Garcia’s legal team worked with the NYSAC to reach the solution to his performance-enhancing drug investigation.

Along with the ban, 25-1 Garcia will cough up his $1.1 million purse from the fight … as well as a $10k fine.

The settlement is great news for Haney, as his record is now back to undefeated at 31-0 1 NC. Continue reading “Garcia suspended, Haney fight ruled no contest”

Rafael Espinoza 125.6 vs. Sergio Chirino 125.6
(WBO featherweight title)

Andres Cortes 130.8 vs. Abraham Nova 129.7
Troy Isley 158.9 vs. Javier Martinez 159.8
Floyd Diaz 117.8 vs. Francisco Pedroza 117.5
DJ Zamora 131.5 vs. Jose Antonio Meza 131.2
Steven Navarro 115.7 vs. Juan Pablo Meza 114.8
Bryan Polaco 156 vs. Richard Acevedo 156.3

Venue: Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN+

On June 4, the team of Emmanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete submitted an email communication to the WBO confirming Navarrete’s decision to return to the jr lightweight division and to retain his status as world champion at that weight following his loss to Denis Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight title.

The WBO Championship Committee has ruled that Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete does indeed retain his status as WBO jr lightweight champion, although his “super champion” status will be reviewed in due course.

Meanwhile a rematch has been ordered between Navarrete and WBO interim champion Oscar Valdez with both teams given 20 days to negotiate an agreement to fight for the full WBO jr lightweight title or a purse bid will be ordered.

Navarrete beat Valdez by unanimous decision in August 2023, but has gone 0-1-1 since then.

By Héctor Villarreal

Leroy Estrada 115 vs Ruben Mendoza 113.5
Felix Montenegro 120 Hernan Alarcon 117
Orlando Martinez 129.25 vs Arnulfo Bejerano 128
Luis Ramos Echaide 140 vs Daniel Troya 141.25
Jose Cordoba 139.5 vs Gerardo Cabrera 140
Miguel Navalo 126 vs Enzo Moreno 125.5
Kevin De Mera 165 vs Aldair Salazar 165

Date: Thursday, June 20th
Venue: Combat Center, Panama City, Panama
Promoter: Rogelio Espiño’s Promotions and Events of the Isthmus
First fight: 7:30 pm

The IBF is returning to Atlantic City to celebrate its 40th Annual Convention at Caesar’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino from June 1-5, 2025. Previously, the IBF’s Forming Convention in 1983 and its 31st Annual Convention in 2014 both took place in Atlantic City.

IBF Statement: “Celebrating a milestone convention in Atlantic City, a destination with momentous boxing history and in the organization’s home state, is truly fitting of the occasion. Caesar’s is centrally located on the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk and conveniently located near many things to do in the area. More information regarding the convention will be shared with IBF members and all interested in attending in the coming months.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Unbeaten super welterweight prospect Jordan ‘The Patriot’ Panthen, (8-0, 7 KOs), of Honolulu, Hawaii by way of New York is set to headline tonight against Victor Toney (8-2-1, 6 KO’s) of Youngstown, Ohio in the SOCA Fights main event clash from The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California live on Triller TV.

“I feel great. I’m fighting a tough opponent, I’m looking to go out there and put him away in style,” Panthen told Fightnews.com®.

Panthen held his training camp at the Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood as he prepared for his main event fight. Continue reading ““The Patriot” Headlines Tonight on Triller TV”

Esteban Sital 122 vs Eduardo Sanchez 120
Steven Shareff 147 vs Julian Baez 146.8
Billy Jamal Timmons 136.4 vs Nesly Trezile 136.2
Adam Garcia 154.6 vs Curtis Hill 154.8
Dorian Mendez 139.4 vs Raymond Benavides 139
Jamie Cerna 175 vs Simon Aristeguii 174.8
Jordan Panthen 156 vs Victor Toney 155

Date: Thursday, June 20
Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: SOCA Fights
TV: Triller.tv
Frist bout 7pm PST

Claressa Shields and upcoming opponent Vanessa Joanisse came face to face for the first time Wednesday at a press conference held in Flint, Michigan, to discuss hometown hero Shields’ rise of two weight classes to challenge Quebec, Canada’s Joanisse for her WBC Heavyweight World Championship on July 27 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and live on DAZN.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was in April of the previous year that unbeaten Japanese lightweight prospect Shuichiro Yoshino was dispatched by Shakur Stevenson in a WBC eliminator in Newark. Yoshino underwent a right elbow surgery afterward and has been inactive for fourteen months since. Yoshino (17-1, 13 KOs), 137.5, returned to action, displayed his usual form and made short work of Filipino Jules Victoriano (13-8, 10 KOs), 137.25, at 2:52 of the second round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Former OPBF, WBO AP ruler Yoshino (whose amateur mark was 104-20) decked Victoriano three times before the referee saw it no more as he downed with body shots in agony. Having shown a good performance, he may zoom up again in the Asian 135-pound category. Continue reading “Ex-OPBF champ Yoshino returns, halts Victoriano”

Ring legend Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring “for the first and only time” in Mexico on August 24 at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City. Floyd will face John Gotti III in an exhibition. Floyd previously got a mercy referee’s stoppage against Gotti last year. The sudden ending angered Gotti and led to a wild brawl in the ring. Gotti III is the grandson of mobster John Gotti.

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

Last Saturday the 100th boxing event took place in the venue that, without a doubt, is the most important in world boxing: the famous and legendary MGM Grand Arena.

The MGM Grand Hotel opened at the end of 1993 and was a spectacular attraction, it became the hotel with the largest number of rooms in the world 5005; in addition to having an amusement park.

The first boxing card was promoted by Don King and aired on Showtime on January 29, 1994, and this marked the beginning of the unforgettable nights that have been experienced: Julio César Chávez, the great Mexican champion, then considered invincible, visited the canvas and lost his undefeated status and WBC Super lightweight championship on his 90th fight, against Frankie Randall. Continue reading “100 Nights of Glory of the MGM Grand”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard

​You will not find many relationships in life or business as successful than that of Promoter Carlos Llinas and Motor City Casino Sound Board in Detroit, Michigan. CLIP Promotions celebrates its 30th show at the venue this coming Friday.

A relationship that started in 2011 and has been the most consistent show in the region, and perhaps the United States of America. When asked about his success, Carlos sums it up simply as, “Detroit boxing has supported me being here for 30 boxing shows at just this venue. The boxers have really been great to me over the years. I can’t wait to see the future.” Continue reading “Night of Knockouts Returns”

Former world champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KOs) wants another shot at the title before the end of the year. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez will return against Brandon Leon Benitez (21-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round battle on ESPN, June 29, at James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. Ramirez, the former WBO featherweight king, lost his belt last December via majority decision defeat to Rafael Espinoza.

Ramirez-Benitez will serve as the co-feature to the junior welterweight world title showdown between WBO champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) and Canadian contender Steve Claggett (38-7-2, 26 KOs).

The six-round televised opener will see middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KOs) attempt to avenge his only pro defeat in a rematch against Sona Akale (9-1, 4 KOs). Continue reading “Robeisy Ramirez: My comeback will be legendary”

After the rescheduling of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson to Friday, November 15th, Jake Paul has decided to take an interim fight to prepare for “Iron Mike” by taking on the bare-knuckle champion “Platinum” Mike Perry on July 20 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, live on DAZN pay-per-view.

Amanda Serrano, the unified women’s featherweight champion will be fighting in the co-main event, taking on Stevie Morgan who comes in with a 14-1 record and 13 KOs.

Also on the card is a rematch between Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) and Corey Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs) after the two faced off in a war that resulted in a draw in February.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Eight-time national amateur champion Madoka Wada (2-0, 2 KOs), 104.5, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF female minimumweight belt by dispatching Thailand’s Juthathip Sitthichen (6-2, 4 KOs), 104.25, at 1:19 of the second round in a scheduled eight on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Wada, a tall upright southpaw, overwhelmed her rival from the outset, and dropped her twice before the referee’s intervention. Wada, 29, whose amateur mark was 58-10, looked vastly talented and very promising. The JBC allowed Wada to fight for the regional belt in her just second professional bout, which is very rare but acceptable due to her excellent amateur credentials. Continue reading “Wada wins OPBF 105lb belt in second pro bout”

By Héctor Villarreal

The most important promoter of this century in Panamanian boxing, Rogelio Espiño, finally returns to action on Thursday night, with an international event in the Combat Center, Panama City, Panamá.

Espiño’s Promociones y Eventos del Istmo in association with George Sarantopoulos’ Sparta Promotion, breaks their 52-month inactivity, since their WBA KO to Drugs Festival on February 7, 2020, a few weeks before the official arrival of COVID virus to the country.

“I seriously considered staying retired, dedicated to my hotel business, but when you feel boxing in your blood it’s almost impossible to stay away,” Espiño said. Continue reading “Estrada-Mendoza on Espiño’s Promotion return”

On Tuesday during the WBC’s weekly press conference, a purse bid was held to determine the promotional rights for the mandatory fight in the super lightweight division between Devin Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) and Sandor Martin (42-3, 15 KOs).

Top Rank won the rights to stage the fight with a bid of $2,420,000 USD. A 10% bonus for the winner worth $242,000 will be held by the WBC.

An agreement was reached just a few hours before the scheduled IBF purse for the promotional rights for the IBF-ordered world championship fight between Canelo Alvarez and IBF mandatory and #1 rated William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs).

Scull promoter Ingo Volckmann said, “We are happy that we were able to reach an agreement with TGB. We have agreed to keep the details confidential and cannot announce anything further at this time. However, the Canelo team will publish the relevant information first at the appropriate time.”

By Héctor Villarreal

In the midst of the atmosphere of celebration that surrounds the sports community of the Dominican Republic for the victories of Alberto Puello and Carlos Adames last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, former WBA minimumweight champion Erick “Mini PacMan” Rosa (7-0, 2 Kos) looks forward to play as local, once again, on his next title chance, now as a 108-pounder, with the support of his country’s government.

After Japan´s Kenshiro Teraji vacated the unified WBA and WBC belts a few days ago, Rosa, who also moved up in weight from mínimum to claim the WBA Gold world lightfly belt by outpointing Mexican Yudel Reyes on April 5, became the top-ranked challenger, and awaits for his chance to become the main title holder on his new weight division.

The second ranked fighter is the Venezuelan Carlos Cañizales, who has already stated that he has another commitment so everything now points to the Japanese Shokichi Iwata (12-1, 9 KOs), which indicates that the negotiation will require a joint effort by Shuan Boxing and the government. Continue reading “Erick Rosa aiming to win another title in DR”

It was announced today that the co-main event of the August 17 Mbilli-Derevyanchenko showdown at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, will feature heavyweights Arslanbek ‘The Lion’ Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) and Guido ‘The Gladiator’ Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs) in a ten round clash.

Arslanbek Makhmudov: “Vianello is a tough fighter, but also a very good fighter, as we saw in his last fight. This is an important step for me. I want to show that I belong to the top and to get closer to my goal, I have to prove that I’m better than this guy.”

Guido Vianello: “I’m ready to compete against the top heavyweights in the world. This is only the beginning of my journey. The fight with Arslanbek is exactly what I wanted at this point in my career, and I look forward to a great fight on August 17 in Quebec City.”

* * *

Also in action, unbeaten IBO super middleweight world champion Osleys Iglesias (11-0, 10 KOs) and unbeaten lightweight prodigy Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) will face fighters to be named.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Sad to report to passing of former world bantamweight champion Enrique “Maravilla” Pinder in Panama City at the age of 76. He had suffered from heart problems in recent years.

In 1972, Pinder defeated Rafael Herrera by 15-round unanimous decision to win the WBA and WBC titles (this was prior to the existence of the IBF and WBO). He relinquished the belt in his first defense and retired two fights later with a record of 35-7-2, 13 KOs. RIP.