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Michael Hunter (16-1, 11 KOs) will step up his pursuit of major fights in the heavyweight division as he faces Fabio Maldonado (26-2, 25 KOs) at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on May 25, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Hunter has notched four wins at heavyweight since moving up from cruiserweight, and he is already in the reckoning for major fights amongst the big boys, having found himself in the conversation to face Anthony Joshua on the heavyweight ruler’s American debut at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1. Maldonado has dropped two consecutive fights since stepping up his level of competition this year. Continue reading “Michael “The Bounty” Hunter’s opponent named”

The Moloney twins — undefeated super flyweight contender Andrew (19-0, 12 KOs) and top bantamweight contender Jason (18-1, 15 KOs) — have each signed a multi-year promotional agreement with Top Rank. The 28-year-old Moloneys, who are scheduled to fight in separate 10-round bouts June 15 in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia, will showcase their talents in the United States and on ESPN platforms in 2019. Continue reading “Top Rank inks Moloney Twins”

By Ron Jackson

Ali Funeka, one of South Africa’s most exciting fighters in recent years who has held two versions of a world title, has decided that after a long and successful career at the age of 41 it is time to retire. Continue reading “Ali Funeka announces his retirement”

WBSS super lightweight semi-finalists Josh Taylor and Ivan Baranchyk and bantamweight semi-finalists Naoya Inoue and Emmanuel Rodriguez met at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s showdowns at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I’ve never felt so relaxed and confident heading into a fight,” said Scotland’s Josh ‘Tartan Tornado’ Taylor (14-0, 12 KOs), the WBC Silver champion who fights for his first World title on Saturday.

“I’m ready to do the job. Baranchyk is strong, he comes forward but I see a lot of flaws in him, a lot of mistakes and I’m going to exploit him. I cannot wait to get in and fight him. Continue reading “WBSS Final Press Conference in Glasgow”

By Ron Jackson

At a press conference held at the Smiths Gym in Fourways, Sandton on Tuesday afternoon, Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions announced the bill presented as “KO KINGS” to be held at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday, June 8.

In the main event, South Africa’s popular 27-year-old IBO cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena (22-1, 10 KOs) makes the fourth defense of his belt against Vasil Ducar, 29, from Brno, Czech Republic, who has a record of 7-0-1, 6 KOs. Continue reading “Lerena headlines at Emperors Palace on June 8”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #15, WBA #15 light-middleweight Tim Tszyu (12-0, 10 KOs) clearly outpointed Joel Camilleri (17-5-1, 8 KO’]s) over ten rounds to become the Australian 154 pound champion on Wednesday at the Star City Casino Sydney, NSW, Australia. Tszyu took control of the bout in round three and connected with accurate combinations consistently on the durable Camilleri. Scores 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.

”I’m the best in the country,” Tszyu said afterward. ”I just defeated a champion … all my respect to Joel Camilleri. He’s a tough man, and he gave me a fight. It’s a learning curve for me. I learned more in this fight than my whole career, so thank you to Joel.”

Promoter: Matt Rose, matchmaker: Stuart Duncan, Combat Sports Inspector: Dave Grainger.

IBF Champion Ivan Baranchyk is motivated by fighting in Josh Taylor’s backyard in the WBSS super-lightweight semi-final on Saturday at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I will win, one hundred percent,” said Baranchyk at Tuesday’s media workout ahead of this weekend’s World Boxing Super Series semi-finals. “Either I knock him out or I will put him down so many times that there is no doubt. Taylor has never run into a beast like me. This is going to be a new experience for him, something he’s never seen before. Let’s see how he handles it. I know how I will handle it.” Continue reading “Baranchyk: I will win 100%”

By Thainchai Pisitwuttinan and Damrong Simakajornboon

WBC#6 bantamweight Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai (44-1-1, 34 KOs) is set to face a former WBC world champion Sonny Boy Jaro (45-14-5, 32 KOs) this Saturday at Workpoint Studio, Thailand. The fight will be for Nawaphon’s WBC Asia bantamweight title.

Earlier in his career, Nawaphon fought and got a draw against a former WBC champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai before they became close stablemates later in their careers.

After his only loss against Juan Hernandez Navarrete in a WBC flyweight world title fight, Nawaphon has been on an eight-fight winning streak with six KO wins. His most notable victory was an impressive KO win last year against Amnat Ruenroeng, a former IBF world champion. Nawaphon also beat Richard Claveras, a former world title challenger, by TKO in November last year. Continue reading “WBC #6 Nawaphon vs. ex-champ Jaro Saturday”

Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of highly rated super middleweight contender Vladimir Shishkin. Shishkin, from Serpukhov, Russia, is just 8-0, 5 KOs, but is already rated WBA #15, WBC #11 and IBF #11 and is the current WBA Continental super middleweight champion. Salita says Shishkin will make his US debut in the summer.

Photos: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

Unbeaten WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder kicked off fight week Tuesday night with a media workout at world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn before he defends his title this Saturday night against mandatory challenger Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale live on Showtime from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Deontay Wilder: “Dominic Breazeale is going to get knocked out in dramatic fashion on Saturday. I can’t wait. He’s like a fly in my ear. I’m going to get him out of there in a fashion no one has ever seen…Dominic Breazeale asked for this. I didn’t seek him out. He came for me. This isn’t a gentleman’s sport. We have bad blood and it’ll be in the ring Saturday night. Continue reading “Deontay Wilder: Breazeale is going to get knocked out”

Apparently unbeaten 2008 Olympian heavyweight Onoriode Ehwarieme (17-0, 16 KOs) will now face original foe Rodney Hernandez (12-7-2, 3 KOs) again in an eight-round attraction as part of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, June 1 from Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, California.

The telecast is headlined by former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” taking on exciting Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach in a 10-round battle. Continue reading “Original opponent back for Ehwarieme”

The co-promoter behind WBC #14-rated middleweight Matvey Korobov says Team Korobov will file a protest to Virginia State officials over their fighter’s controversial majority draw last Saturday (May 11) against Virginia-based fighter Immanuwel Aleem. Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing says Korobov is, at the very least, a victim of incompetent officiating after what seemed like a decision win for Korobov was initially announced as a majority decision victory and later changed to a majority draw, due a reported mistake in tabulating the scores.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Ring-crafty South African Moruti Mthalane (38-2, 25 KOs), 112, successfully retained his IBF flyweight belt as he kept battering gutsy Japanese Masayuki Kuroda (30-8-3, 16 KOs), 111.75, winning a unanimous decision over twelve hard-fought rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.

Both optics badly swollen and bloodied, Kuroda recklessly kept swapping punches with the shorter but smarter champ, who made good use of his stinging lefts and scored with accurate rights that gave him good punishment. Mthalane, 36, making his second defense, displayed his finesse and superiority in his tight defense and crisp punching that overwhelmed Kuroda’s gameness. Mark Nelson (US) was the referee that handled the quick-moving affair very well. Continue reading “Full Report: Mthalane-Kuroda”

Michael “Mick” Conlan’s amateur career ended in controversy and a pair of middle fingers. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Conlan appeared to have bested Russian standout Vladimir Nikitin in the 56-kilogram quarterfinals. The judges disagreed, and Conlan responded with a memorable double middle-finger salute. Almost three years to the day since Conlan flashed those digits, the Olympic rivals will run it back in the paid ranks, this time on Irish soil.

Conlan (11-0, 6 KOs) will face Nikitin (3-0, 0 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout on August 3 in a massive outdoor fight at Falls Park in his home city of Belfast. Conlan-Nikitin will take place as part of the annual Féile an Phobail, Europe’s largest community festival. The bout will stream live in the United States on ESPN+.

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has reacted to challenger Dominic Breazeale comments about Saturday night’s Showtime-televised clash from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“I mean that was what every opponent I’ve faced has said. Every one of them. If it’s been ten years, then for ten years they’ve been spewing the same thing for ten years…he’s going to find out. He’s going to realize that he’s never been in a ring with a guy like myself. He’s fought for the world title before and it seemed like he didn’t belong there in the first place.

“Now he’s in there with a real killer. A real one who speaks his piece and I mean what I say. Nobody’s going to stop me. I mean what I say and I say what I mean and come the 18th he’s going to find out. Continue reading “Deontay Wilder: He’s in there with a real killer”

Heavyweight Dominic Breazeale is confident he can take down WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on Saturday night in their Showtime-televised world title clash from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“I don’t see any fundamental skills [in Wilder],” proclaims Breazeale. “I don’t see any successes on his part. He’s been champion for about four years. He hasn’t grown. He hasn’t changed. Yes, he’s got a big right-hand but don’t we all in the heavyweight division? We all have knockout power.

“So I think I’m walking into a fight where I’m the more skilled, more athletic and bigger, stronger guy.” Continue reading “Dominic Breazeale looking for a huge knockout”

Now that Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez has relinquished the title and moved up to light heavyweight, Saturday’s clash in Stevenage, England, between former WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders and Shefat Isufi will be for the vacant WBO super middleweight crown.

“I was always assured by Frank Warren and MTK that the fight would be for the full version of the world title,” said Saunders. “They told me not to get impatient when it was just the interim title. That is what I’ve done and it has happened to work out for the best. Continue reading “Saunders aims to become two-weight champion”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #15, WBA #15 light middleweight Tim Tszyu and Australian light middleweight champion Joel Camileri both made weight for their national 154lb title bout at Star City Casino, Sydney, NSW, Australia on Wednesday, televised on Foxtel Main Event pay-per-view.

Joel Camileri weighed 153.6 and Tszyu was 153.4.
Combat Sports Inspector: Dave Grainger

AGON Sports & Events, the newest German boxing promotional outfit, has announced a June 15 tripleheader at the Sport- und Kongresshalle in Schwerin, Germany featuring former world champions Tyron Zeuge, Jack Culcay and Jürgen Brähmer. MDR will televise in Germany.

40-year-old hometown hero Brähmer (50-3, 36 KOs) will face Nils Schmidt (17-0, 11 KOs), Culcay (25-4, 13 KOs) meets Stefano Castellucci (32-8, 11 KOs), and Zeuge (23-1-1, 13 KOs) the most recent German to hold a world title, faces Adan Silvera (11-1, 5 KOs).

By Gary “Digital” Williams

The month of boxing action called the “Magnificent May Along The Beltway” continues on Saturday, May 18th at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Southeast Washington, DC with a Tricky Entertainment-promoted card.

Headlining the card will be two Beltway members of the DiBella Entertainment promotional camp. One bout features DC super featherweight “The Dark Menace” Tiara Brown who will take on Angel “Non-Stop” Gladney of Columbia, SC in a 10-round contest for the vacant IBF Intercontinental Super Featherweight title. Brown (7-0, five KO’s) comes off a fourth-round TKO over former world champion Dahiana Santana on December 8th in Bowie, MD. Brown, who is a DC Metropolitan Police Officer, was recently named the DC Police Officer Of The Year. Continue reading “Boxing Returns To DC May 18th”

After making a rugged second defense of his IBF flyweight championship title against Masayuki Kuroda in Japan last night, world champion Moruti Mthalane called out rival WBC champion Charlie Edwards for a unification showdown.

Mthalane was able to overcome a hostile crowd who packed out the famous Korakuen Hall, chanting Kuroda’s name throughout a frenzied, ferocious 12 rounds. The Japanese challenger brought his best game and applied pressure from beginning to end. His body-punching was outstanding, but he lacked the accuracy of Mthalane, whose counter-punching was razor-sharp. Time and again he rocked Kuroda on his heels. Continue reading “More on Mthalane-Kuroda”

A certain candidate for Round of the Year went down last Friday night (May 10, 2019) at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Fighting in a supporting bout at Rumble at the Rock V event, super middleweights Irosvani Duvergel (5-0, 3 KOs) of Cuba and Jerhed Fenderson (5-10 (2 KOs) of Las Vegas went to war in unforgettable fashion.

In round three, all hell broke loose. The two fighters trade hard knockdowns during the course of the round and then, shortly before the bell, a boxing rarity occurs… the double knockdown!

–

Rumble at the Rock V was presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory.

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane (38-2, 25 KOs) produced an outstanding performance to retain his IBF flyweight belt for the second time with a unanimous 12 round points decision over a very game #4 ranked Masayuki Kuroda (30-8-3, KOs) of Japan at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Monday.

Judges Neville Hotz and Masakasa Murase both scored it 116-112 and judge Ian Scott had a more realistic score of 117-112. Continue reading “Mthalane retains IBF flyweight title”

The long-awaited rematch between female boxing legends and world champions Jackie “La Princesa Azteca” Nava and Marcela “La Tigresa” Acuña will take place on Saturday, May 25 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. WBA interim bantamweight champion Nava (35-4-3, 16 KOs) will be challenging for the IBF super bantamweight title of Acuña (49-7-1, 20 KOs) in a ten round clash. The Aztec Princess is looking to avenge a unanimous decision loss on Acuña’s home turf that took place 10 years ago at Luna Park Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The undercard will feature a title defense by WBC female flyweight champion Kenia Enriquez and super lightweight contender Carlos “Chuko” Díaz. Azteca 7 will televise in Mexico.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

IBF #15, WBA #15 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (12-0, 10 KOs) will clash with Australian 154-pound champion Joel Camaleri (17-5-1, 8 KOs) next Wednesday at the Star City Casino Sydney, NSW, Australia, on a nationally televised Foxtel Main Event pay-per-view promotion.

Tszyu talked about being recently world rated by the WBA and IBF. ”I thought it was pretty cool,” said Tszyu. “Top 15 means that at any point in time someone can call you up and say you could fight for a world title, so I’ve got to be ready 100 percent, no matter what. Continue reading “Tszyu: A world title shot could happen soon”