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The WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs) is in hostile territory. Hometown kid Alex Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs) is hoping to become only the second Oklahoma City product (following Sean O’Grady, who is also co-promoting this event) to taste world championship glory. Saucedo and Hooker faced off for the first time at Wednesday’s press conference, a precursor to the in-ring hostilities that will occur Friday evening at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Maurice Hooker: “l’ll fight anywhere. Outside your house, in front of your house, in the ring, on the sidewalk. I don’t care where I fight as long as I fight. I’m a fighter. I love to fight. I can outbox him. I can fight you on the inside. Come Friday, we’re going to see a good fight.”

Alex Saucedo: “I grew up just around the corner I always had the dream to bring championship fights back to Oklahoma, and now its here. I’m not going to let this opportunity go. I’m ready. We prepared ourselves in Big Bear for a very good fight. Like I’ve said, I’m ready for anything Maurice brings that night. I’m going to take that belt from him.”

WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol returns to the ring on November 24 when he headlines HBO World Championship Boxing from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Bivol will defend his title against Jean Pascal.

Your last win was solid but not exciting. Do you need to make a statement against Pascal?

“I believe that I have to make a statement in every fight, not only against Pascal. Boxing is a sport that is very unique in the sense that not always everything happens exactly how you plan for it. Many things depend on your opponent — like whether he wants to fight or survive — and other factors. Just like life, boxing is unpredictable, and that is always exciting. Luckily Pascal is the type of fighter who likes to engage, to fight. That is how he became a world champion. So, with our styles, I am confident that I will make a statement because it will be an exciting all-action fight. Pascal is a great competitor and the biggest name I have faced as a world champion. I have trained hard to make this a memorable fight and to stay world champion. Continue reading “Bivol: I have to make a statement in every fight”

Former multiple-division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and former heavyweight title challenger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola will make their ring returns as part the Wilder-Fury undercard on December 1 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Guerrero (33-6-1, 18 KOs) will return the ring for a 10-round welterweight attraction against TBA. Arreola (36-5-1, 31 KOs) meets Maurenzo Smith (20-10-4, 13 KOs).

The PPV undercard features unified super welterweight world champion Jarrett Hurd returning to take on Jason Welborn, heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz facing-off against Travis Kauffman and rising heavyweight Joe Joyce battling Joe Hanks. Continue reading “Guerrero, Arreola on Wilder-Fury undercard”

Middleweight Luis Arias wants to make Gabriel Rosado eat his words and prove he’s not a ‘bitch’ by beating him in at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, KS on Saturday night, live on DAZN. Arias is back in action for the first time since losing out on points to Daniel Jacobs in New York last November, siting a huge blister as the cause of him having to adopt a defensive approach against the now-IBF World champion who handed him a first career loss in his 19th fight.

When ‘Cuba’ and Rosado met in a press conference to announce the fight in the Big Apple, the pair exchanged harsh words on their respective career – with Rosado’s ‘bitch’ jibe a counter to Arias pointing out the number of losses and KO’s the Philadelphian has suffered – and a $10,000 wager being laid on the bout. Continue reading “Arias: I’ll prove I’m no bitch!”

By Bill Green

This Saturday night DAZN and Eddie Hearn put together a stacked card full of compelling undercard matchups including a middleweight grudge match between Luis Arias 18-1 (9) of Milwaukee, WI, and popular blood and guts warrior, Gabriel “King” Rosado 24-11(14), of Philadelphia, PA, 2 x Gold Medalist and undefeated Middleweight female champ Claressa “T-Rex” Shields 6-0 (2), of Flint MI, vs Hannah Rankin 5-2 (1), of Glasgow, Scotland and Brandon “Bam-Bam” Rios 34-4-1 (25), of Oxnard, CA, but born and grew up in the amateur ranks in nearby Garden City, KS, vs Mexican Super Welterweight Ramon Alvarez 27-6-3 (16), brother of Canelo Alvarez. Continue reading “Niko Hernandez: I belong at this level”

Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner will make an official announcement about their upcoming boxing plans during a bi-coastal press tour. The fighters will be available to the New York City press corps on Monday and will visit the media in Los Angeles the following day. The event will be presented by either Showtime Sports or Showtime PPV.

By Ricardo Ibarra

Facing off with his fourth undefeated opponent in eighteen months, rising Jr. lightweight prospect Giovanni Cabrera-Mioletti (13-0, 4 KOs) will risk his own unblemished record on Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, taking on Georgia’s Headley Scott (11-0, 10 KOs) in the main event of Brian Halquist Productions’ 118th edition of the ‘Battle at the Boat’ series. Continue reading “Cabrera-Mioletti vs. Scott Saturday at the Boat”

Boxeo Telemundo Ford in association with Experience Kissimmee Tourism Council kicks off their Fall series this Friday. The main event will feature two-time world title challenger Juan “Pinky” Alejo (24-5-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico vs WBA #4, WBO #5, IBF #9 flyweight Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (21-2-1, 12 KOs) of Puerto Rico.

It will be another classic matchup of the popular Mexico vs Puerto Rico fight series. The bout is scheduled for 10 round and the WBO/NABO flyweight title. The site will be the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida with Felix “Tuto” Zabala’s All Star Boxing promoting. Alejo knows he is the underdog coming in but is confident his preparation will lead him to victory. Continue reading “Alejo eyes upset on Telemundo Friday”

Undefeated heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller prepares for Bogdan Dinu on Saturday live on DAZN.

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IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) will defend his title against four-division world champion and current WBC Lightweight Champion Mikey Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) on a March 16 FOX Sports/PBC Pay-Per-View event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Mikey is moving up two weight classes to challenge Spence. Spence, Garcia, and Lennox Lewis attended a press event on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

By Przemek Garczarczyk

The WBA Championships Committee has suspended WBA “regular” heavyweight champion Manuel Charr on the basis of his positive drug results…although there is a disagreement between Charr’s representatives and VADA regarding notice to Charr of the date and place for the opening and testing of the second drug sample, that test result confirmed the positive result of the first sample test.

Thus the WBA Championships Committee has decided the following:

A. Suspend Manuel Charr for a period of SIX (6) months.

B. Order Manuel Charr to take regular anti-doping tests with VADA.

Any party may request reconsideration of this resolution pursuant to WBA Rule F.5.

Jermall Charlo vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. and Jermell Charlo vs. Tony Harrison, Saturday, December 22, 2018, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Barclays Center, Brooklyn
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Jose Uzcategui vs. Caleb Plant, Sunday, January 13, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FS1. Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles
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Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez, Saturday, January 26, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Barclays Center, Brooklyn
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Leo Santa Cruz vs. Miguel Flores, Saturday, February 16, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Los Angeles
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Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim, Saturday, February 23, 2019, 10:00 PM ET on FS1. The Armory, Minneapolis
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Shawn Porter vs. Yordenis Ugas, Saturday, March 9, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Las Vegas
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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia, Saturday, March 16, 2019, 9:00 PM ET on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View. AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
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Lamont Peterson vs. Sergey Lipinets, Sunday, March 24, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FS1. MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, MD
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Caleb Truax vs. Peter Quillin, Saturday, April 13, 2019, 10:00 PM ET on FS1. The Armory, Minneapolis
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Danny Garcia vs. Adrian Granados, Saturday, April 20, 2019, 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
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FOX Sports PBC Additional Dates (fights TBA)
Saturday, May 11, 2019, FOX
Saturday, May 25, 2019, FS1
Saturday, June 1, 2019, FS1
Sunday, June 23, 2019, FOX
Saturday, July 13, 2019, FS1
Saturday, July 20, 2019, FOX
Saturday, August 3, 2019, FOX
Saturday, August 24, 2019, FS1
Sunday, September 1, 2019, FOX
Saturday, September 21, 2019, FS1
Saturday, November 9, 2019, FS1
Saturday, December 14, 2019 on FOX
Saturday, December 21, 2019 on FS1

FOX Sports and Premier Boxing Champions today announced eight televised world title fights in the first three months of the new deal, featuring eight world champions. The schedule includes five world-class boxing fight nights live on FOX and FOX Deportes, four more on FS1 and FOX Deportes, and the first FOX PBC Pay-Per-View in March.

“We’re thrilled to have Premier Boxing Champions’ brightest stars coming to FOX Sports reaching the biggest audiences on broadcast television,” says Mark Silverman, FOX Sports President, National Networks. “The 2019 PBC schedule kicks off with high-stakes action and excitement, making FOX the premier home for boxing and the continued leader in live sporting events.”

Schedule highlights include world champion twins Jermall and Jermell Charlo defending their titles in separate fights live in primetime on FOX on December 22; followed by welterweight champion Keith Thurman’s ring return on FOX January 26; featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz headlining on FOX February 23; 147-pound Champ Shawn Porter defending his world title March 9 on FOX; and the blockbuster showdown between welterweight Champ Errol Spence Jr. and four-division world champion Mikey Garcia, on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View March 16, live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Continue reading “Spence-Garcia on PPV March 16”

WBO super middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Jesse “Hollywood” Hart will do it again on Friday, December 14 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Zurdo, who will make the fifth defense of his world title, won their first fight by unanimous decision. Ramirez-Hart 2 and a soon-to-be announced co-feature will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States.

“This will be a good fight. I feel better prepared than the first time and even more convinced that I will finish him,” Ramirez said.

22-year-old prospect Antonio Vargas returns home to fight for his first title as a professional this Friday, November 16 at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Vargas (8-0, 3 KOs) a former Rio 2016 US Olympian will face Jorge “El Wero” Perez (12-5-1, 4 KOs) of Covina California for the vacant Jr. NABF Bantamweight title in a bout schedule for 8 rounds. Continue reading “Olympian Vargas to return this Friday”

By Ron Jackson

At the 13th Annual SA Sport Awards held in Bloemfontein on Sunday veteran referee and judge Stanley Christoudoulou received the Steve Tshwete Life Achievers Award. In his acceptance speech, he said that more than 55 years ago he judged his first professional fights, all nine of them, on the card at a tournament in the Sakhile Township near Standerton.

He never dreamt that he would lead South African boxing as an administrator for 29 years and one day referee and judge 242 world title fights and share the ring with legends like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Alexis Arguello and Gennady Golovkin. Continue reading “Christoudoulou honored at SA Sport Awards”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Fast-jabbing Japanese Tomoki Kameda (36-2, 20 KOs), 121.75, acquired the vacant WBC interim 122-pound belt as he kept utilizing his trademark left hand, steadily piled up points, withstood his rival’s last surge and earned a unanimous decision over slow-starting Spaniard, #1 Abigail Medina (19-4-2, 10 KOs), 121.5, over speedy twelve heats on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Mauro Di Fiore (US) and Jose Manzur (Mexico) both tallied 117-111, and Noppharat Sricharoen (Thailand) 116-112, all for the 27-year-old speedster. Referee was Daniel Van de Wiele (Belgium).

Despite the unanimous tallies it wasn’t an easy fight for Tomoki at all since Medina, 30, was a dangerous go-for-broke puncher with either hand—especially in later rounds. Their difference was simply on hand speed as Kameda was much faster than Medina.

Tomoki, former WBO bantam titlist, swept all rounds in the first four as his whiplash jabs looked too fast for the defensive Medina, who only occasionally threw less accurate left-right combinations to the elusive Kameda. The official tallies on the open scoring system, of course, were 40-36 across the board. Continue reading “Kameda-Medina: Full Report”

Story by John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

On Friday night, one of the busiest boxing nights of the year for area fight fans, Millville welterweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna, 25-2-1, 9 KOs, takes on come-backing vet Mike Arnaoutis, 26-11-2, 13 KOs, in an eight round bout for the vacant New Jersey 147-pound title. The fight headlines a ten-bout card staged by LaManna’s Rising Star Promotions at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City. This AC boxing show is one of three local events that will pull boxing fans in different directions on the same night. Additional shows will also take place in Philadelphia and Bethlehem, but the loyal fans of the popular LaManna will have no conflict about where to go to watch boxing this weekend. Continue reading “LaManna vies for NJ title Friday”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Hard-punching Japanese Ryuichi Funai (31-7, 22 KOs), 114.75, seized the right to make a mandatory challenge to the IBF 115-pound titleholder Jerwin Ancajas as #3 Funai scored a quick victory over #7 Victor Emanuel Olivo (15-3-1, 7 KOs), 115, by stopping the Mexican at 2:09 of the second round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Funai, 33, caught Olivo with a vicious right cross and badly dropped him for the compulsory eight count. Though Olivo, 22, resumed fighting, he sank to the deck again with referee Robert Byrd (US) promptly calling a halt at his second visit to the canvas. Continue reading “Funai-Olivo IBF eliminator: Full Report”

The “Red River Rivalry” — the pugilistic version — has kicked off. WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker, from Dallas, Texas, will defend his world title Friday evening against Oklahoma City native Alex Saucedo at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. This will be the first title defense for Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs), who won the belt June 9 when he traveled to Manchester, England, and defeated Terry Flanagan via split decision. Hooker and Saucedo worked out Monday at the Azteca Boxing Club. This is what they had to say.

Maurice Hooker: “This is his first time in a world title fight, so he’s nervous. It’s his first big fight at home. A championship. I know he’s nervous. I’ll tell you this. Don’t blink, because I’m coming.”

Alex Saucedo: “I’m going to show boxing fans the real me on Nov. 16. He can say what he wants about me getting hit a lot, but I don’t have any draws on my record. He says I’ve been hit a lot, but if you have three draws on your record, that means you’re not that hard to hit…I just want to beat him up and become the new WBO junior welterweight champion of the world.”

Promoted by Salita Promotions, undefeated world rated Super Bantamweight Arnold Khegai is finishing preparations for his fight vs Jorge Diaz at Fight Factory Gym in Brooklyn, NY. The fight will be broadcast on ShoBox November 16th

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2x Olympic Gold Medalist and two-division world champion Claressa Shields from Flint, Michigan gets ready to make the first defense of her world titles November 17th live on DAZN

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After six weeks of back-to-back doubleheader action across the globe, the World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal round of Season II came to a conclusion in Chicago on Saturday. The WBSS returns in 2019 with the six semi-final match-ups below. Locations and venues are TBA.

WBSS Bantamweight Semi-Final
Nonito Donaire vs. Zolani Tete
Naoya Inoue vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez

WBSS Super Lightweight Semi-Final
Regis Prograis vs. Kiryl Relikh
Josh Taylor vs. Ivan Baranchyk

WBSS Cruiserweight Semi-Final
Yunier Dorticos vs. Andrew Tabiti
Mairis Briedis vs. Krzysztof Glowacki

Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing, announced the signing of undefeated WBA #7 middleweight David Papot (22-0, 3 KOs) to a long-term promotional agreement.
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DiBella Entertainment (DBE) has signed IBF #12 lightweight Emmanuel “The Gameboy” Tagoe (29-1, 14 KOs) from Accra, Ghana, to an exclusive promotional contract. Peter Kahn, who helped train Tagoe’s uncle Nana Yaw Konadu, a former two-division and three-time world champion in the mid-nineties, has taken on the role as Tagoe’s adviser.

Uzbekistani super lightweight Shohjahon “Shoh” Ergashev showed why he’s the new 140-lb fighter to watch in boxing last Saturday, November 10, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, as he destroyed opponent Zack Ramsey in the first round. The current WBA International Super Lightweight Champion, Ergashev (now 14-0, 13 KOs), tore into Ramsey from the opening bell of their scheduled six-rounder, dropping him within the first 15 seconds with a right hand and finishing it at 1:09 with a thudding body shot.

Fighting on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Tournament doubleheader, it was Ergashev who elicited the “oohs and ahhhs” from the crowd with his brutal display of force. Former unified super lightweight and current welterweight champion Terence Crawford was among the impressed onlookers in the crowd. Continue reading “Ergashev steals the show in Chicago”