Fightnews.com

By Gabriel F. Cordero

After his latest volley of inappropriate posts on X/Twitter, the WBC has had enough.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has announced the following: “Exercising my authority as president of the WBC, I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan’s well being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse.”

Heavyweights Johnny Fisher and Alen Babic faced off Thursday at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash at the Copper Box Arena in London, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Johnny Fisher: “It’s just going to be me and you, and I’m big, I’m strong, I’m powerful and fast. There will be a realization when my fist lands on you, it’s not going to be a good thing. I’m going to have 10z gloves on, that’s going to be a jeopardy for you. Just remember, deep waters are coming.”

Alen Babic: “He’s a f***ing giant, I told you the first time, I like to kill giants. I just put my chin on his chest and make it as hard as possible. It’s going to be the loneliest place he’s ever been in and he’s going to feel it. He will feel it after, believe me, after five seconds. He’s going to know he’s in deep waters.”

By Boxing Bob Newman

German-born, Italian-by-blood lightweight prospect Pietro “Power” Loriga wants to make an impact in the boxing world. The well traveled Loriga wants to do it in the United States. The 14-1, 12 KOs Loriga and his brain trusts- trainer Ibn Cason (brother of former Heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman) and manager Beau Ioana have a path mapped out for the ambitious fighter and they all gathered together from the air conditioned confines of Starbucks in sweltering Las Vegas to talk to Fightnews.com® about just that.

Two-time world champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs and Shane Mosley Jr. meet in the 10-round super middleweight co-main event on Saturday night’s Diaz-Masvidal PPV on Saturday in a $49.99 Fanmio PPV from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Daniel Jacobs: “This is about legacy. I’ve never ducked anyone, and this is a prime example of that. He’s a great fighter, but I’m looking forward to showing just how great I am. I can’t wait to put it all together. ”

Shane Mosley Jr: “Jacobs is up against a veteran. I don’t have his accolades yet, but I have my own accomplishments and the experience that comes with them. I appreciated this challenge. You can only get better by going up against adversity. When they said the name Daniel Jacobs, I said yes right away.”

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and top contender Artem Harutyunyan faced off at the final press conference for their clash on ESPN Saturday evening in Newark, New Jersey.

Shakur Stevenson: “I’m going to take him to a level he’s never been on. I’m just going to be myself. I’m going to come out and show my talent and show my levels. I think I’m one of the best in the sport of boxing at hit and don’t get hit. There’s a certain way of doing that, and I want to show the fans that all that moving around is something I don’t really have to do. I can sit in the pocket and beat you up, too.”

Artem Harutyunyan: “It’s a great opportunity. I had a great training camp, and I’m well prepared. I’m ready for this fight. I know Shakur Stevenson is a good fighter. He is a world champion. We both fought at the Olympic games. He is a silver medalist, and I’m a bronze medalist. Now we’re fighting for the world championship.”

WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster will defend his world title against Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição in the co-feature.

O’Shaquie Foster: “I just need to go in there and be me. That’s the biggest thing. I’m fully healthy. So, everyone is going to see a different fighter than what they saw the last time I came out…I’m going to go out and show the world that I’m levels above this guy.”

Robson Conceiçāo: “I don’t look at these challenges as pressure. I look at them as motivation. So, I’m motivated, and I’m looking forward to this fight on Saturday. I’ll be the new world champion. No pressure. Just motivation.”

Lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis will take on Mexican puncher Miguel Madueño in a 10-round special feature.

Keyshawn Davis: “He has a style that I’ve seen so many times, especially in the amateurs. When you travel overseas, you fight a lot of guys like that. Now that we are going 10 rounds, I can take my time and dissect this kid.”

Miguel Madueño: “I’m going to walk away with my hand raised. We’ll be looking for the knockout. He is a great fighter. We’ve been watching and analyzing him. He’s spectacular. But on July 6, we’ll walk away victorious.”

Super lightweight contender Brandun Lee (28-0, 23 KOs) has signed promotional terms with Frank Warren and the undefeated Californian will now fight under the Queensberry banner.

“I am thrilled to have signed with Queensberry Promotions,” said Lee. “July 27th will be the first time I fight overseas professionally and I’m extremely grateful. I’m looking to start a wonderful new campaign with the Warrens and Queensberry as a whole this summer. I know they will provide me with great opportunities in the future. My team is now complete and I’m ready for war.”

IBF #11 heavyweight Otto Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) will return in an eight-rounder on July 26 at the Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Wallin will face 6’7 Onoriode “Godzilla” Ehwarieme (20-4, 19 KOs), a 2008 Olympian.

Also on the show are heavyweight Bruce Seldon Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), son of former heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, unbeaten junior middleweight Justin “Mr. Atlantic City” Figueroa (9-0, 7 KOs) in separate fights against TBAs.

Fans at the show can meet ring legend Micky Ward, who fought 22 times in Atlantic City, including two of his epic battles with Arturo Gatti.

Former WBO interim heavyweight champion Joe Joyce takes on former two-time world title challenger Derek “War” Chisora in an all-British showdown on Saturday, July 27, in the 12-round main event at The O2 in London. The action will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in the afternoon hours.

Joyce (16-2, 15 KOs) suffered his first pro setbacks in 2023 in consecutive stoppage losses against Zhilei Zhang. He rebounded in March with a 10th-round knockout over Kash Ali. Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs) returns following a 10th-round stoppage over former world title challenger Gerald Washington last August.

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

The first half of this historic 2024 ended, with a more than positive balance for world boxing. Never before has there been a situation like the one, we are currently experiencing, in which many fighters claim to hold the famous term best pound for pound. Lets take a look at some of them and see what you think: Continue reading “First half of the year”

Lightweight Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) will take center stage this Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Mason’s eight-round bout against veteran Luis Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) has been elevated to the ESPN-televised main card, a four-fight lineup headlined by WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson returning home to defend his belt against Artem Harutyunyan.

O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC junior lightweight world title against 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição in the co-feature, and lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis will take on heavy puncher Miguel Madueño in a 10-round special feature.

Heavyweights Johnny Fisher and Alen Babic faced off for the first time during Fight week ahead of their showdown on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Jenny Do (Shadow Entertainment) has announced the promotion along with the Vietnam Boxing Commission will host the 2024 WBA Asia Convention. The venue will be the Iconic New World Hotel, located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Center, Vietnam

The convention will begin August 9th and end August 11th. WBA President Gilberto Mendoza is scheduled to appear at the convention. “It will truly be an honor to host the WBA Asia convention and to have President Mendoza in attendance here locally in Vietnam. We will also host a show the week of the convention which full details of that event to be announced in the coming weeks,” said Do. Continue reading “WBA Asia Convention lands in Vietnam”

The undercard has been finalized for Saturday’s clash between lightweights William “El Camarón” Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) and Giovanni Cabrera (22-1, 7 KOs) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

In the co-main event, world title contender Ricardo “El Niño” Sandoval (24-2, 17 KOs) will battle former world champion Angel “Tito” Acosta (24-4, 22 KOs) in a 10-round flyweight fight.

Also on the card, “Gucci Manny” Flores (17-1, 13 KOs) will participate in a 10-round super bantamweight fight against Nohel Arambulet (23-6-2, 13 KOs). Opening the broadcast, former Team USA member Joel Iriarte (2-0, 2 KOs) will fight Yainel Alvarez (3-4-2, 1 KO) in a six-round welterweight fight.

Salita Promotions has announced a pair of world-class super lightweight supporting bouts for its upcoming Claressa “GWOAT” Shields’ vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse event on Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and airing live on DAZN. WBC #13 super lightweight Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera (25-1, 14 KOs) faces Hugo Alberto “Nato” Roldan (22-2-1, 7KOs) and IBF #13, Shohjahon Ergashev (24-1, 21 KOs) will face Julian Smith (8-2, 5 KOs).

Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) defended his WBO junior welterweight world title with a unanimous decision win over Canadian contender Steve Claggett (38-8-2, 6 KOs) Saturday evening at James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.

Teofimo Lopez: “I knew exactly what kind of fighter he was. I knew he would come forward and test my conditioning. And that’s what we had. We went twelve rounds….the will has to be stronger than the skill. And that’s what we showed tonight. If I was tired, I know he was more tired because I worked very hard for this. We knew we had to break him down. The body shots were hurting him…I’m very grateful. He’s a tough fighter. I don’t think anyone should overlook him. I knew that coming into this.”

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Check out this GIANT BAM Rodriguez-Gallo Estrada photo gallery for some incredible shots + the scorecard.

Photos

Jesse “BAM” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) dethroned WBC super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada (44-4, 28 KOs) with a spectacular seventh round KO on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Glendale, Arizona. Great fight. BAM dropped Estrada with a straight left hand in round four. After the round, Estrada went to Rodriguez’ corner. BAM rocked Estrada again in round five. Estrada dropped BAM in round six with a right hand. BAM dropped Estrada with a liver shot to end it in round seven. Time was 3:00. There is a rematch clause and Estrada says he plans to exercise it.

In a flyweight clash between former world champions champions, Sunny Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs) outboxed Adrian Curiel (24-6-1, 5 KOs) to take a nine round technical decision. Curiel was the aggressor, but was largely neutralized by the mobile Edwards. Edwards suffered a bad gash from a head clash in round six. The bout was stopped at the beginning of round nine. Scores were 90-82, 88-84, 87-85.

WBC female super bantamweight champion Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) topped Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 98-92, 98-93, 97-93.

In a clash between unbeaten super bantamweights, Arturo Cardenas (15-0-1, 8 KOs) scored a ten round majority decision over Danny Barrios (15-2, 5 KOs). Scores were 95-95, 97-93, 96-94.

Unbeaten bantamweight Gabriel Muratalla (12-0, 6 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Carlos Fontes (23-4-1, 19 KOs) by scores of 79-73, 78-74, 77-75.

WBO junior welterweight champion “The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KOs) on Saturday night at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. Claggett applied a lot of pressure, while Teofimo landed the sharper punches. Lopez was in command in every round, but he didn’t come close to stopping the rugged Claggett. Scores were 120-108, 120-108, 119-109.

Former world champion Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) won by seventh round KO against Brandon Leon Benitez (21-3, 9 KOs). A Ramirez uppercut toppled Benitez at 2:46. Ramirez could be in line for a rematch against WBO champion Rafael Espinoza, who dethroned him last December.

Middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (11-1, 5 KOs) avenged his only pro defeat in a rematch with a six round unanimous decision over Sona Akale (9-2, 4 KOs). Ali Walsh dropped Akale in round three and overcame a dislocated shoulder to get the win. Scores were 58-55, 57-56, 57-56.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) scored a first round KO over Jose Zaragoza (9-9-2, 3 KOs). Vargas simply teed off on Zaragoza until the bout was stopped.

Junior welterweight Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez (16-1-1, 13 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jino Rodrigo (12-4-2, 10 KOs). Rodrigo dropped Rodriguez in round one, only to have Rodriguez floor him later in the first round. Rodriguez went on to win 98-91, 98-91, 97-92.

Former cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck (43-5-1, 28 KOs), now competing at heavyweight, scored a ten round unanimous decision over Evgenios Lazaridis (19-6, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin, Germany. In his first fight in four years, the 39-year-old Huck outworked the 6’6 Lazaridis in workmanlike fashion. Scores were 97-93 3x.

In a clash between unbeaten cruiserweights, Tahir Kahrovic (22-0, 14 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Miljan Djordjevic (16-1, 8 KOs) in a clash for the WBO Euro belt. Scores were 99-91, 97-93, 100-90.

Local favorite Laureano ‘Dinamita’ Sciuto (15-1, 10 KOs) of Argentina stopped countryman Walter Ezequiel Gauchez (10-6, 3, KOs) in round four of their scheduled for ten round main event Friday night at the Biblioteca Popular Nicolas Avellaneda, Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sciuto wasted no time in dropping Gauchez in round one but Gauchez beat the count and survived the round. Sciuto tried to get Gauchez out of there in rounds two and three but Gauchez was tough. The corner of Gauchez had seen enough and threw in the towel at about the 2 minute mark of round four. TKO 4 win for Sciuto.

Unbeaten super welterweight Fernando Vargas Jr. (15-0, 14 KOs), son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, handed Juan Carlos Cordones (14-5, 9 KOs) his fifth straight KO loss on Friday night at the Southwest University Event Center in El Paso, Texas. Vargas dropped Cordones twice in round one and then got the win when Cordones’ corner threw in the towel later in the round.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Abel “El Zorro” Mendoza (41-0, 30 KOs) took a six round unanimous decision over journeyman German Ivan Meraz (65-70-3, 41 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 59-55, 59-55.

The WBC Board of Governors has approved the extension of two weeks requested by David Benavidez with regard to his decision to confirm his decision on which weight category he will choose to continue his boxing career. Benavidez currently holds both the WBC interim super middleweight and interim light heavyweight championships.

WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-1, 10 KOs) retained hid title with an eighth round TKO over previously unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. Roach dropped McCrory in round three with a short left hook. Roach floored McCrory twice more with body shots in round four. McCrory put up a game effort, but his corner finally waved the towel to end it in round eight. Time was 2:51.

In a step-up fight, unbeaten super middleweight Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 KOs) scored an impressive ten round unanimous decision over well-respected Carlos Gongora (22-3, 17 KOs). One-sided fight with Martinez connecting with big shots the entire way. Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 100-90.

Lightweight Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) punished Alex Dilmaghani (20-3-1, 7 KOs) for seven rounds and the bout was halted before round eight.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez 115 vs. Juan Francisco Estrada 115
(WBC super flyweight title)

Sunny Edwards 112 vs. Adrian Curiel 112
Arturo Cardenas 121 vs. Danny Barrios 121.2
Yamileth Mercado 121 vs. Ramla Ali 122
Gabriel Muratalla 117.6 vs. Carlos Fontes 117

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Teofimo Lopez 139.4 vs. Steve Claggett 139.5
(WBO junior welterweight title)

Robeisy Ramirez 124.8 vs. Brandon Leon Benitez 127.4
Nico Ali Walsh 156.9 vs. Sona Akale 156.3
Emiliano Vargas 139.8 vs. Jose Zaragoza 139.1
Elvis Rodriguez 141.6 vs. Jino Rodrigo 141.2
Lorenzo Medina 235.6 vs. Detrailous Webster 247.7
Rohan Polanco 142.4 vs. Luis Hernandez 143
Yan Santana 127 vs. Brandon Valdes 127
Euri Cedano 161.4 vs. Dormedes Potes 161.7

Venue: James L. Knight Center, Miami, Florida
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN