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It’s official. WBO jr featherweight world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, one of the most exciting fighters in boxing, will be making his third defense in five months on December 7 at the 10,000+ seat Auditorio GNP Seguros in the city of Puebla (about two hours east of Mexico City). Navarrete (29-1, 25 KOs) will defend against WBO #13 rated Francisco “Panchito” Horta (20-3-1, 10 KOs).

Both fighters attended a kick-off press conference today.

Emanuel Navarrete: I always go for the knockout, I think it’s best to win by knockout and on December 7 the people of Puebla will see a great fight!”

Francisco Horta: ”On December 7th people will know me. Expect a war, we are going for the championship of the world!” Continue reading “Navarrete-Horta announced for Dec 7”

Heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, who challenges WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder in a PPV rematch on November 23, has accused Wilder of using illegal tactics in their first fight. “I think that some of the things that Wilder did and the antics that Wilder does could be dealt with differently this time around, the illegal things,” said Ortiz during a conference call with reporters.

“Blows that he throws with the inside of his fists, punching down from the top of the head down and all kinds of craziness that he does, which makes it very difficult to get settled in any fight and quite frankly should be illegal and BORDERLINE CRIMINAL!”

When asked about Ortiz’s allegations, Wilder stated, “You know I have never heard of that so I think that he is being sarcastic. Only thing that’s criminal is me hitting people with the right hand and almost killing them. That’s the only thing I can go with. Continue reading “Luis Ortiz: Wilder tactics illegal/borderline criminal”

WBA super featherweight world champion Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (21-4-2, 16 KOs) hosted a media workout yesterday at KnuckleHeadz Boxing in Ventura, Calif. ahead of his 12-round title defense against Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (31-8, 20 KOs). The fight will place November 23 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN.

The same day in Las Vegas, Leo Santa Cruz fights Miguel Flores for the WBA super featherweight “super” world title. Cancio doesn’t like it. “I think it’s a bunch of B.S.,” he said. “I got the short end of the stick once again. I’m not a big name to a lot of people like Leo Santa Cruz is. I feel like that’s why they did it. Continue reading “Cancio fighting for world title – and respect”

Former world champions and top-rated contenders clash when the Philippines’ Marlon Tapales (33-2, 16 KOs) and Japan’s Ryosuke Iwasa (26-3, 16 KOs) meet for the IBF interim super bantamweight title on December 7 live on Showtime from Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, NY. The fight was officially announced today.

The telecast is headlined by undefeated WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo defending his title against Dennis Hogan, and also features middleweights Chris Eubank, Jr. and Matt Korobov squaring off in the co-main event for the WBA interim middleweight title. Continue reading “Tapales-Iwasa added to Dec 7 Showtime card”

Former WBA super middleweight champion Rocky Fielding returns Friday for the first time since losing his world title to Canelo Alvarez last December. Fielding (27-2, 15 KOs) faces Abdallah Paziwapazi (26-6-1, 23 KOs) at the Olympia in his hometown of Liverpool, England, topping an ESPN+ televised card.

At the final press conference, Fielding said, “If he wants to trade, he’ll walk onto one of my shots. He has a lot of stoppages but I’ve been training hard for this fight since it got put to me and we’ve been working on a lot of stuff with Jamie (Moore). He’s a game opponent but I think I’m a class above.” Continue reading “Rocky Fielding back in action Friday”

Unbeaten former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has accepted an offer of a boxing match with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. “Stipe says he wants to box me, that would be a good fight for sure. After I get Wilder out of the way, I’ll fight Stipe in a boxing match if he wants it. It would be a big crossover fight like Mayweather and McGregor,” Fury told mtkglobal.com. “I’m open to that fight so he should come and see me. It would be the same outcome for any of them, they’ll all get smashed.”

Photos: Team SES / U. Koch – fotobasis.de

WBA #1 rated Dominic Boesel (29-1, 11 KOs) and #3 rated Sven Fornling (15-1, 7 KOs) faced off today at the final press conference for Saturday’s clash for the WBA interim world title on Saturday at the Messe Arena in Halle/Salle, Germany. Fornling’s IBO title will also be on the line. ESPN+ will show the bout in the USA. MDR airs it in Germany.

Dominic Boesel: “Fornling is very sure of himself, I’m sure of myself. Everyone has his confidence and that’s a good thing! The advantage is with me. I’m a better boxer and I hit harder. In the end I’m going to get my way. Fornling is no KO puncher. My knockout ratio is better!”

Sven Fornling: “I’m relaxed, very relaxed. On Saturday Boesel will see what a top fighter is, I’m after all the world champion! For me, this fight is not “50-50” I’m going to knock out him!” Continue reading “Boesel-Fornling Final Press Conference”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former WBA heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne slammed Australian heavyweight Paul Gallen because the Rugby League Football Legend earns ten times the amount of money the Perth-based Browne earns. “The reason I’m not fighting Gallen is Gallen is getting paid ten times more than I am for fighting someone who isn’t a boxer,” Browne said.

“Gallen won’t fight me, because he’ll pay me f**k all like I’m getting anyway. He’s getting paid more than I was paid for fighting for the world title. Six two minute rounds and he’s getting paid over double what I got paid for my world title. Continue reading “Browne slams Gallen, Aussie purses”

Photos: Emily Harney

The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame induction dinner took place this past Saturday in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The new CBHOF inductees are boxers Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, “Bad” Chad Dawson, Delvin Rodriguez, Eddie Campo and Teddy “Redtop” Davis, as well as referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.

In addition, undefeated New Haven light heavyweight Charles Foster was honored as 2019 Professional Boxer of the Year, Felix Parilla as Amateur Boxer of the Year, Glenn Feldman as Professional Official of the Year, Sherman Cain for Contribution to Boxing, and Kevin and Rona Smith as Amateur Officials of the Year.

Continue reading “Connecticut BHOF induction dinner”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight Paul Gallen (9-0, 5 KOs) and Aussie Rules Football legend Barry Hall will clash in Melbourne, Victoria on Friday. The 42-year-old Hall will be making his professional debut against the 38-year-old Gallen, who is a Rugby League Football legend and one of the best heavyweights in Australia.

Gallen said on Channel Sports Sunday, “I will be ready on Friday to stop Hall in his tracks. I will stop his boxing career before it gets started. Continue reading “Australian football legends clash Friday”

No less than eight boxing cards on tap for this week, and in line with the new broadcast landscape of boxing, only one card will be televised, while ALL EIGHT will be live-streamed.

Thursday, November 14 – DAZN, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Carlos Morales vs. Mercito Gesta, lightweight
Charles Huerta vs. Jonathan Oquendo, super featherweight

Friday, November 15 – ESPN+, 3 a.m. ET/midnight PT
Andrew Moloney vs. Elton Dharry, super flyweight
Jason Moloney vs. Dixon Flores, bantamweight
Paul Gallen vs. Barry Hall, heavyweight

Friday, November 15 – ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET/noon PT
Rocky Fielding vs. Abdallah Paziwapazi, super middleweight
Martin Murray vs. Sladan Janjanin, super middleweight
Terry Flanagan vs. Jayro Duran, super lightweight

Friday, November 15 – UFC Fight Pass, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Junior Fa vs. Devin Vargas, heavyweight
Hemi Ahio vs. Joshua Tufte, heavyweight
Ivan Golub vs. Janer Gonzalez, welterweight

Friday, November 15 – Showtime, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
Erik Vega Ortiz vs. Alberto Palmetta, welterweight
Marcos Escudero vs. Joseph George, light heavyweight
Amilcar Vidal vs. Zach Prieto, middleweight

Saturday, November 16 – ESPN+, 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT
Dominic Boesel vs. Sven Fornling, light heavyweight
Mohammed Rabii vs. Jesus Gurrola, super welterweight
Peter Kadiru vs. Perdo Martinez, heavyweight
Stefan Haertel vs. David Zegarra, super middleweight

Saturday, November 16 – ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET/noon PT
Lee McGregor vs. Kash Farooq, bantamweight
Kieran Smith vs. Vincenzo Bevilacqua, super welterweight

Saturday, November 16 – Facebook Watch, approx 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Roberto Ortiz, super lightweight
Ricardo Sandoval vs. Gilberto Gonzalez, lightweight

The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) today announced the honorees for the 2020 Induction Ceremony to be held June 26-28, 2020. The legendary boxers, trainers, promoters, matchmakers, media, and special contributors being enshrined into the 2020 Hall of Fame includes: Roy Jones, Sergio Martinez, Riddick Bowe, Pernell Whitaker, AL Cole, Ernest Bing, Tony Thornton, Sr., Calvin Grove, Percy Richardson, Tommy Parks, Earl Morton, Steve Weisfeld, Ron Katz, Murad Muhammad, Marc Abrams, Al Bernstein, and Laoma Byrd.

The event takes place at the historic Claridge Radisson Hotel, located on Park Place & the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

WBO jr featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete may headline a December 7 ESPN+ world title doubleheader with IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas defending his belt in the co-feature. According to the network’s website, Navarrete (29-1, 25 KOs) will likely be defending against WBO #13 rated Francisco Horta (20-3-1, 10 KOs), while Ancajas’ opponent is TBA. The location of the event is Puebla, Mexico. Navarrete would be making his fourth title defense in seven months. Ancajas was scheduled to fight Jonathan Rodriguez on November 2 in Carson, California, but that fight was canceled due to a visa issue with Rodriguez.

Super bantamweight prospect Eduardo “KO-reano” Ramirez (13-1-2, 9 KOs) scored a spectacular fourth round KO over game Isaac “Indio” Buitimea (9-6, 5 KOs) last Friday night at the Gimnasio Municipal in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Ramirez laid out Buitimea for the count with a big right hand to the chin. Time was :46.

In other action, super lightweight Ronaldo “Loco” Castillo (21-5, 16 KOs) returned home and scored a fourth round TKO Daniel “Mulato” Valenzuela (36-41-2, 21 KOs) in an entertaining fight. Castillo was coming off two losses in the United States against Gary Antuanne Russell and Abraham Nova.

An intriguing matchup between former world champion Cristofer “El Latigo” (The Whip) Rosales (29-4, 20 KOs) of Nicaragua and Julio Cesar Martinez (14-1, 11 KOs) of Mexico is set. The two will square off for the vacant WBC flyweight title December 20th in Phoenix, Arizona on the undercard of the main event between Daniel Jacobs and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Continue reading “Rosales-Martinez on Jacobs-Chavez Jr. undercard”

Female super bantamweight Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (14-2, 4 KOs) is ready both physically and mentally to become the first female world champion born in the state of Chihuahua. Mercado challenges WBC world champion Fatuma Zarika (32-12-2, 17 KOs) at the Poliforo in the city of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, México. The bout is a rematch. Last year in Kenya, Zarika beat Mercado by split decision. This time the bout is on Mercado’s turf.

Zarika was scheduled to arrive with her team Monday night in Mexico City, where they’ll spend the night and travel to the Chihuahua area in the morning. Both fighters will show their skills in an open workout on Wednesday.

The main support bout will be super featherweight Daniel “Caballo” Lugo (19-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

The 33rd annual Ring 8 Holiday Event and Awards Ceremony will be held Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), December 8, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

Ring 8 has announced its 2019 award winners, headlined by Fighter of the Decade Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano (37-1-1, 27 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Puerto Rico; undefeated heavyweight contender (Fighter of the Year) Adam “Babyface” Kownacki (20-0, 15 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Poland; Legend Award winners three-time, three-division world champion Iran “The Blade” Barkley (43-19,1 27 KOs), of Bronx, and two-time, two-division world champion Junior “Poison” Jones (50-6, 28 KOs), of Brooklyn; and two-time world heavyweight champion “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon (55-13-1, 28 KOs), of Philadelphia, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award winner. Continue reading “33rd Ring 8 Awards on Dec 8 in NYC”

Top Rank and SES Boxing have inked a deal to bring the SES shows in Europe to the U.S. market. The first telecast is Saturday with the WBA interim light heavyweight title fight between Dominic Boesel (29-1, 11 KOs) and Sven Fornling (15-1, 7 KOs) at the Messe Arena in Halle/Saale, Germany. Commentators at ringside will be Sky Sports’ Andy Clarke and Ben Davison, trainer of Tyson Fury.

The telecast also features Rio bronze medalist and amateur world champion Mohammed Rabii (9-0, 5 KOs) against Jesus Gurrola (27-14-3, 14 KOs) in a super welterweight clash, heavyweight hopeful Peter Kadiru (5-0, 1 KO) against Perdo Martinez (7-10, 3 KOs), and super middleweight Stefan Haertel (18-1, 2 KOs) against David Zegarra (34-3, 21 KOs).

The next German show on ESPN+ will be in January.

By Ricardo Ibarra

Regional promoter Pure Combat will stage a mixed combat sports event this Saturday at the Salem Armory in Salem, Oregon, with over twenty total contests scheduled. Boxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, and kickboxing, will all be showcased, with five professional boxing matchups slated for the card. Topping the boxing portion of the lineup will be unbeaten Oregonian Chris Johnson (6-0, 1 KO) squaring off with Seattle area fighter Niko McFarland (4-4-2, 1 KO) in a five-round bout. Continue reading “Boxing back in Salem, Oregon”

By Robert Coster

The co-main event of the Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire battle last Thursday saw WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali retain his title with a convincing decision over the Monster’s younger brother Takuma Inoue.

This victory has no doubt opened the door for a grudge match between both titleholders and Oubaali says “the sooner, the better. Naoya is over-hyped. Let’s unify our titles.” Fightnews.com® reached the WBC monarch to talk about the possible intriguing showdown between the two unbeaten boxers. Continue reading “Oubaali takes aim at Inoue unification clash”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBA #8 middleweight Michael Zerafa is still in shock after his friend and sparring partner, IBF #9 light middleweight Dwight Ritchie, collapsed and died after a body shot during a sparring session in Melbourne on Saturday. Ritchie was helping Zerafa is prepare for a rematch with former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, which is scheduled for December 18 in Brisbane.

“There are simply no words to describe how I am feeling right now,” Zerafa said. “Dwight was one of the most humble people I have ever met. We had known each other since we were teenagers when we were just starting out in the sport. And for the past 10 years, Dwight and I had been supporting each other inside and outside of the ring. Continue reading “Zerafa: My heart bleeds”

By Ricardo Ibarra
Photos by Mike Blair/Boxingprospects.net

Claiming his eleventh consecutive victory, Tacoma’s Andre Keys (12-1, 5 KOs) scored a unanimous decision win over Manuel Monteiro (7-2, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

Headlining the 124th edition of Brian Halquist Productions’ ‘Battle at the Boat’ series, Keys used his superior movement and more accurate punching to out-box the game Monteiro over ten rounds. Continue reading “Keys defeats Monteiro at the Boat”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

In a two-man war, Sydney based super-middleweight Ali “Technician” Elrich ( 6-0-1,4KO’s) outscored New Zealander, Chase “ Hellboy” Haley (6-6-3,2KO’s) over ten action rounds to capture the WBF international title at the Whitlam Centre at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW, Australia on Saturday.

Haley was the aggressor during the contest and continually forced Elrich into the ropes where both super middleweights boxed effectively on the inside. Southpaw Elrich displayed clever footwork that got him out of trouble during the contest and connected with solid head and body shots consistently that kept his opponent off balance.

Scores at the conclusion were split with judge Justin Kennedy 95-94 (Haley) with Kevin Hogan 97-95 (Elrich) and Pat O’Connor 97-93 (Elrich). Continue reading “Elrich beats Haley by split decision”

Leon Bauer (17-0-1, 9 KOs) produced a show stealing performance as he dominated domestic rival Toni Kraft (16-1-1, 4 KOs) in a hotly anticipated grudge match on the same night Patrick Wojcicki (14-0-1, 5 KOs) halted Robert Swierzbinski (21-10-2, 3 KOs) at the Kuppel in Hamburg, Germany. Continue reading “Bauer, Wojcicki victorious in Hamburg”

By Mark Vaz

Local favorite Russell Lamour, Jr, 17-3, 9 KOs, thrilled the sold out crowd at the Portland Civic Center with an exciting 3rd round stoppage over Buenos Aires’ Diego Marocchi, 18-5-1, 14 KOs in the scheduled 8 round main-event middleweight bout Saturday night at the Portland, Maine Expo Center. Continue reading “Results from Portland, Maine”