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Fightnews.com® feature writer Miguel Maravilla caught up with middleweight veteran Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) to talk about his upcoming fight against Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) taking place this Saturday night November 13th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California live on DAZN.

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WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade holds a media day leading up to his November 19 title clash against Jason Quigley. The two will headline a Matchroom Boxing show at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Former NBA point guard Deron Williams will take on former NFL running back Frank Gore in a professional bridgerweight boxing match that will take place on the PPV undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury on December 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The four-round bout will be contested with a 215-pound contractual limit as the two make their professional boxing debuts.

Paul-Fury is an eight-round cruiserweight bout contested at a 192-pound catchweight. Seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano will challenge WBA interim lightweight titlist Miriam Gutiérrez in a 10-round co-main event.

ESPN’s platforms will offer an extensive lineup of programming leading up to the highly anticipated showdown between WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford and former two-time champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter. The event will stream exclusively on ESPN+ PPV November 20. Kicking off the two weeks of offerings is the two-part Blood, Sweat & Tears: Crawford vs. Porter.  Part One can be seen tonight at 12:30AM ET/9:30PM PT.

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

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez became last Saturday night the undisputed super middleweight world champion by defeating Caleb Plant in 11 rounds, and with this feat he confirmed himself to be the best fighter pound-for-pound of the moment.

It was not an easy battle for the Mexican, since he faced a champion with excellent technique, with many resources, resistance and exceptional physical condition. However, the fighter of Jalisco, Mexico from the first round went forward, particularly directing his attack to the body of Caleb and it turned out to be a rugged battle with both men fighting a physical battle. Continue reading “Saul Alvarez, the best pound for pound of today”

Heavyweights Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora faced off at the kickoff press conference for their rematch on December 18 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. Parker came off the canvas to win a split decision in May, but the charismatic Chisora definitely won Tuesday’s presser.

“I’m going to say this honest, publicly to the press and yourself Eddie that you need to get a good referee,” said Chisora. “An American referee not a British Board of Control referee because those guys in the past have stuffed me and they’ve messed me around. So if Robert Smith (BBofC general secretary) is listening, I do not want your referee to referee me for this fight. Continue reading “Chisora blasts officials at kickoff presser”

Solid lineup of boxing on Saturday. Every weekend for the rest of the year will be loaded with ring action.

DAZN (9PM ET, 6PM PT)
In Saturday night’s marquee matchup, unbeaten middleweight and former 154lb world champion Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) takes on fan favorite “King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) Anaheim’s Honda Center. Munguia is a 10:1 favorite, but Rosado just kayoed heavily favored and unbeaten Bektemir Melikuziev, so don’t count him out.

Showtime (9PM ET, 6PM PT)
Former WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs), widely considered to be the main threat to undisputed WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO 168lb world champion Canelo Alvarez, will be in action against late sub Kyrone Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Update: Benavidez is a 25:1 favorite.

DAZN (2PM ET, 11AM PT)
IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad (28-1, 17 KOs) defends against former champion Kiko Martinez (42-10-2, 29 KOs) at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. Galahad is a 12:1 favorite.

Probellum will host a world championship doubleheader at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, on December 11 with Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) defending his IBF flyweight title against Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KOs) and John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) puts his WBO bantamweight title on the line against Paul Butler (33-2, 15 KOs). Four-weight world champion Donnie Nietes (43-1-5, 23 knockouts) will also appear on the card, along with unbeaten super featherweight Archie Sharp (21-0, 9 KOs), and former world title challenger Jono Carroll (20-2-1, 5 KOs). Continue reading “Probellum announces Dec 11 world title twinbill”

Photo: Damon Gonzalez

Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and women’s pound-for-pound star Amanda Serrano previewed their December 18 pay-per-view event at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Paul faces “Tommy “TNT” Fury in a sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout contested at a 192-pound catch weight. Serrano moves up to lightweight to prep for Katie Taylor.

Jake Paul: “He has no idea what he’s getting himself into. This is his first time under the big lights and on the big stage, and he’s going to crack under the pressure…I will TKO him in the later rounds. He hasn’t had a fight past four rounds so I think he’ll be gassed. I think this will be the first time he’s getting punched in the face by someone who can actually hit and is the same weight as him. He’s always fought smaller guys with losing records. So I think he’s going to fade. I know he’s going to fade.”

Tommy Fury: “You fought a 40-year-old guy in your last fight. He hit you with one proper punch and you fell through the ropes. When I come for you, I’m knocking you spark out. You fought retired UFC people, a basketball player and that’s it. When you fight me December 18, you’re getting knocked spark out. This is a step too far for you. Stick to YouTube because that’s all you’re good for. I’m going to show you what losing feels like.

The mandatory elimination bout between Raeese Aleem and Azat Hovhannisyan will be auctioned on Friday, November 12 as ordered by the World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee. Aleem is the top-ranked super bantamweight and must face Hovhannisyan, who is ranked fourth, to define the next mandatory challenger of champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Continue reading “Aleem-Hovhannisyan to purse bid this Friday”

Now that Canelo has completed his mission of becoming undisputed super middleweight champion by knocking off three undefeated fighters, including the World Boxing Super Series winner, what’s next?

Other super middleweights

Former WBC champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) seems the main threat. Canelo got the vacant WBC title after Benavidez missed weight for a title defense. Benavidez had a legit excuse, being trapped in a hotel “bubble” without proper facilities during the lockdown days.

Otherwise, the WBA could order Canelo to fight regular champion David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) as part of their title reduction reforms. Thoughts of Canelo versus KO artist Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) have all but evaporated with Berlanga’s stock plummeting in recent fights. Continue reading “Next challenge for Canelo?”

Women’s pound-for-pound best and current unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) will return to the lightweight division when she faces current WBA interim female 135-pound titleholder Miriam Gutiérrez (13-1, 5 KOs) in a ten-rounder that will be the co-feature of the Showtime PPV headlined by Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury facing off in an eight-round cruiserweight bout, on Saturday, December 18 live from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Conqueror of future world champs Kosei Tanaka and Takuma Inoue when amateur, late bloomer JBC#2 Shokichi Iwata (7-0, 5 KOs), 108, acquired the vacant Japanese light-flyweight belt (renounced by current WBC 108-pound ruler Masamichi Yabuki) by halting JBC #1 Rikito Shiba (5-2, 3 KOs), 108, at 0:37 of the ninth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Originally slated in September, Iwata unfortunately tested positive after taking a COVID PCR test at the weigh-in, and it was very abruptly canceled and postponed some two months thereafter. Iwata, 25, floored the speedster with a solid right in round six, took the initiative and finally caught up with the fading foe to prompt the referee’s intervention. Continue reading “Iwata wins vacant Japanese 108lb belt”

The WBA Championships Committee has called a purse bid for November 12 for the bout between light flyweight super champion Hiroto Kyoguchi and regular champion Esteban Bermudez. The auction will be held through the Zoom platform due to the effects of the pandemic. The Kyoguchi-Bermudez bout is part of the WBA’s world title reduction policy and the winner will be the WBA’s only world champion in the 108-pound category. The purse distribution will be 65% for Kyoguchi, while Bermudez will get 35%.

By Robert Coster

Boxing Promoter/ Manager Jacques Deschamps has passed away from a heart attack. Deschamps,  a businessman by profession, was a lover of the sweet science and promoted and managed boxers in Central America and the Caribbean (Haiti, Jamaica, Panama ) over various decades. Jacques fostered the career of three world champions: Edgar Sosa of Mexico, Anselmo Moreno of Panama, and Nicholas Walters of Jamaica. Two other boxers of his, Bunny Grant and Richard Clarke, fought for world titles. In 2019, Deschamps was named best promoter of the Caribbean and Central America at the annual WBC Convention. Jacques Deschamps was 68 years old. May he rest in peace.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #1 lightweight George “Ferocious” Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs) says he’s the face of Australian boxing, but it’s good to see other world-rated Aussie boxers, including Tim Tszyu, Andrew and Jason Moloney, Liam Paro, Jai Opetaia, Demsey McKean, Brock Jarvis, Justis Huni, Faris Chevalier and Jacob Ng make their mark in the fight game.

“It’s good to see Australian boxing is growing by the minute, and I know I am one of the main reasons for that. I’m the leader of the pack,” Kambosos told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. Continue reading “Kambosos: I am the face of Aussie boxing”

Rising welterweight star Conor Benn (19-0, 12 KOs) will face former world champion Chris Algieri (25-3, 9 KOs) at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday December 11, live worldwide on DAZN.

Conor Benn: “We expect Algieri to bring his best, but I want him deep in the trenches with me, I want to use this opportunity to display my skills and ability against a quality fighter to prepare me and take another step closer to a world title. A former world champ vs. a very, very hungry contender, I can’t wait for December 11.”

Chris Algieri: “December 11 will be a masterclass with me utilizing my deep bag of skills and experience. Benn is hungry and tough but this is a huge step up in class for him. I’m coming to show that it’s not his time yet. I still got the goods and the world will see it once again come fight night.”

Full card details will be announced next week.

By Karl Freitag
Photos: Sumio Yamada

Explore the facts and figures of Canelo-Plant.

• According to CompuBox, Canelo landed 117 out of 361 punches, while Plant connected on 101 of 441. Canelo had the edge in power shots 102-59.
• At the time of the stoppage, Canelo was ahead on the scorecards 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
• Attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was 16,586. The live gate and PPV numbers weren’t available at press time.
• Canelo is now 57-1-2, 39 KOs, Plant is 21-1, 12 KOs.
• Canelo will bank $40 million and Plant will earn $10 million.
• Canelo is now one of 6 undisputed champions in the four-belt era, joining Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk and Josh Taylor. Teofimo Lopez has an argument that he’s in that elite club also.

Check out famed boxing photographer Sumio Yamada’s GIANT photo gallery…

After the fight, Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant embraced and spent about a minute talking. Plant then left the ring and Canelo did a postfight interview with Showtime’s Jim Gray, choosing to speak in his native Spanish.

“Caleb is a good fighter,” Alvarez was quoted as saying. “I have a lot of respect for Caleb Plant. He was a difficult opponent with a lot of ability and I do respect him. We are both men at the end of the day. He wanted to fight me and still continue. I told him there’s no shame. We had a great fight tonight…He was making the fight pretty difficult, but Eddy told me to just stick to the gameplan in the last two rounds. In the end, I got him. That’s the way it had to finish. He was already hurt and I went for the kill.”

Canelo, however, wasn’t happy with the translation of Showtime’s Felix DeJesus. Canelo turned to DeJesus and spoke English.

Canelo: No. And then?
DeJesus: And then?
Canelo: And then!
DeJesus: He [Plant] did say sorry about, you know, the ‘motherf**ker’ incident that happened. That he didn’t mean it that way.
Gray: I heard him. He said to you he has no mother himself. He lost his mother at a young age.
Canelo: And I said, ‘We are men. Everything’s OK and keep going.’

Continue reading “Canelo: And then?”

By Miguel Maravilla

Boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) talked about his spectacular eleventh round knockout over previously unbeaten Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) to unify the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO super middleweight titles on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Here is what the champ had to say.

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By Jeff Zimmerman

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By Jeff Zimmerman

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By Miguel Maravilla and Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

Boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) scored a spectacular eleventh round KO over previously unbeaten Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) to unify the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO super middleweight titles on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo stalked while Plant tried to stick and move.

Plant frustrated Alvarez for much of the fight, however, Canelo finally dropped Plant in round eleven, then finished him with a brutal follow-up barrage. Continue reading “Undisputed! Canelo KOs Plant in 11”

By Miguel Maravilla and Jeff Zimmerman at ringside

In the co-feature bout, former two-time super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell (34-2-2, 25 KO’s) scored a fourth round knockout over Marcos Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KO’s). A huge right uppercut by Dirrell did it as Hernandez was out cold. The referee reached a ten count at 22 seconds of the fourth.

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Former world champion Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KO’s) of Mexico City, Mexico won a unanimous decision over Leonardo Baez (21-5, 12 KO’s) of Mexicali, Mexico in a featherweight bout. Vargas came out aggressive in the opening round as he swung for the fences throwing overhand rights on the tough Baez. It was relentless activity from Vargas in the early rounds as he let his hands go, Baez pressed attempting to get inside. In the fourth round, Vargas continued to be active throwing punches from different angles tallying up points. Continuing to let his hands go, Vargas offense was to much but Baez kept coming.

The second half of the fight, Vargas kept his distance and continued to let his hands go but Baez kept pressing. Vargas kept the activity consistent in the seventh but Baez was not going away. Late in the fight, Vargas activity slowed down, Baez suffered a cut on his head as he was bleeding profusely but kept coming. Vargas fought conservatively keeping his distance boxing as Baez proved to be a tough out for the former champion.

After completing the ten rounds the judges scored the bout 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. Continue reading “Canelo-Plant Undercard Results”