Fightnews.com

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

In a clash for the WBC interim lightweight title, Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (32-1-1, 15 KOs) moved up to 135lbs and won a twelve round unanimous decision over Javier Fortuna (36-3-1, 25 KOs) on Friday night at at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. Scores were 117-110, 116-111, 115-112.

The two southpaws sized each other as they pawed with the lazy jab in round one, Diaz and Fortuna finished the round with a brief exchange with Fortuna connecting a straight left. Diaz stalked in round two as Fortuna showed flash. Things got rough in round three as Fortuna hit Diaz behind the head, referee Raul Caiz Jr issued s warning. Moments later a clash of heads opened a cut on Diaz’s left eye. In the fourth, Diaz was deducted a point for holding Fortuna’s head down as blood continued to trickle down Diaz’s eye. Díaz continued his attack. Continue reading “Diaz defeats Fortuna for WBC interim title”

By Miguel Maravilla and Rocky Morales at ringside

Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada captured the women’s WBO world light flyweight title with a near shutout victory over five-time world champ, Tenkai Tsunami (28-13-1, 16KO). Estrada landed the cleaner punches all through the bout while Tsunami mostly plodded forward unsuccessfully. Tsunami was staggered in the eighth round but held on until the final bell while Estrada never took her foot off the gas. Judges scored the fight 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92, all in favor of Estrada. With the victory, Estrada is now a 3-0 three division world champion and looks like a true standout in women’s boxing.

Lightweight William Zepeda (23-0, 21KO’s) of Mexico was impressive stopping Hector Tanajara (19-1, 5 KO’s) at the end of six in opening up the DAZN stream. It was a fast-paced opening round as Tanajara showed the flash, Zepeda connected with the solid punches. Trading in the center in round three, Zepeda unloaded combinations connecting and backing Tanajara. Attacking on the inside in the fourth, Zepeda stalked and went to the body following up with some combinations upstairs as Tanajara boxed and could not keep Zepeda off him. Continuing to back Tanajara in the fifth, Zepeda continued to impress with good hand speed and effective punching as Tanajara kept backing away. Zepeda’s relentlessness did it as he attacked Tanajara, at the end of the sixth trainer Robert Garcia stopped the fight as his fighter had enough. Continue reading “Zepeda stops Tanajara; Estrada and Fujioka win”

WBA world cruiserweight champion Ryad Merhy (29-1, 24 KOs) will make the first defense of his title on July 17th in Bruxelles-Capitale, Belgium vs Zhaoxin Zhang (10-1-1) of China. Merhy was elevated from interim champion to regular champion earlier this year. The 12 round main event will be the first fight for Merhy in nearly two years but he is the local favorite with a lot of hometown fan support. Zhang will be looking to make history by becoming China´s first-ever cruiserweight world champion. The event will be promoted by Alain Vanackere of 12 Rounds Promotions and Nicolas Vanackere as the matchmaker. Continue reading “Merhy-Zhang July 17 in Belgium”

Nine months after boxing’s most controversial conclusion of 2020, WBA super flyweight world champion Joshua “El Profesor” Franco and Australia’s former world champion Andrew “The Monster” Moloney will settle the score in the third chapter of their rivalry August 14 at Hard Rock Live at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

In the 10-round co-feature, undefeated WBO International junior welterweight champion Arnold Barboza Jr. will take on Antonio “Tono” Moran. Continue reading “Franco-Maloney III set for Aug 14”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) withdrew the light heavyweight champion status from Jean Pascal after he tested positive for banned substances and suspended him for six months.

Pascal was supposed to defend his title on June 6th against Badou Jack, who was ranked number 9 at the time. However, on May 14th, during testing conducted by the WBA Clean Boxing Program through VADA, Pascal tested positive for epitrenbolone, drostanolone, and drostabolone metabolite. Continue reading “WBA strips and suspends Pascal”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the negotiations for the super middleweight bout between champion David Morrell, and British mandatory challenger John Ryder on Thursday.

Both teams received the corresponding communication stating the beginning of the negotiation period. Continue reading “WBA orders Morrell-Ryder”

Sam Soliman 159.7 lbs (72.45kg) vs. Victor Nagbe 156.3 lbs. (70.90kg)
(WBC Australasian middleweight title)

Venue: Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia
Promoter: Phil Eglezos and Pierre Karam & Peter Maniatis of Punisher Promotions

Four days removed from flying around the world to Los Angeles, eight-division world champion and boxer laureate Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), who hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines, had the headgear on and sparred four rounds with two taller and younger southpaws at Freddie Roach’s world-famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday.

The small audience that observed the session included two people assigned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) to collect a blood sample following his workout – the second time VADA has tested Manny this week. Manny has powered his way through jet lag to train two to three hours daily at Wild Card every afternoon while starting most mornings with runs at either Pan Pacific Park or running straight up the hills of Griffith Park to the iconic Hollywood Sign, followed by a series of 1,000 sit-ups. It is an extraordinary feat for any athlete, but for the 42-year-old amazin’ Manny, it is just a walk in the park. Continue reading “Pacquiao spars with two southpaws”

Lyndon Arthur 174.6 vs. Davide Faraci 174.75
Zachary Parker 167.5 vs. Sherzod Khusanov 167.75
Archie Sharp 129.25 vs. Diego Andrade 129.75
Dennis McCann 120.25 vs. John Chuwa 120.6
Sam Noakes 152.5 vs. Lee Connelly 152
Muhammad Ali 132 vs. Lee Glover 131.5
Karol Itauma 174.5 vs. Tim Ventrella 175.5

Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
Promoter: Queensberry Promotions
TV: BT Sport (UK)

Jose Antonio Sampedro 125.8 vs. Cristian Ramon Cortes Gonzalez 126
Jhonathan Garcia 143 vs. Victor Campos 143
Fabian “Huracan” Diaz 138.4 vs. Jesus M ” Kiligua” Velazco 140
Estefania Garcia 123.2 vs. Laura Ramos 119.4
Angel Morales 138 vs. Rafael Herrerra Amezcua 140
Juan J. “Pikachu”Becerra 120.4 vs. Sigfrid Arles Diego 118.4
Jesus “Chocorol” Garcia 134 vs. Erick “Fantasma” Torres (Will weigh-in today)
Andre Rodriguez Rayon 100 vs. Aldo Rios Herrera (Will weigh-in today)
Erika Sampedro 103.8 vs. Karla Hernandez 107

Promoter: Makina Boxing Promotions LLC (Courtney Frye/CEO)
Venue: Arena Coliseo Demonio Blanco Arena in Puerta Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
TV: beIN Sports

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and other members of his camp have reportedly contracted the COVID-19 virus. It looks like Fury-Wilder III will be postponed, until probably October. No official announcement from Top Rank or PBC yet, but the WBC has confirmed that the fight is off for July 24.

Eight-division world champion and Philippine Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and undefeated unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. kick off the promotional campaign for their August 21 PPV this Sunday when they’ll appear for a live televised press conference on FOX beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Errol Spence: “I’ve been waiting on this kind of major boxing event my entire career. Manny Pacquiao is a boxing legend and future Hall of Famer. To be able to match skills with him and come out with a victory would be the highlight of my career thus far. I’m coming to win and he’s coming to win and that’s what makes for an all-action fight. I can’t wait to step into the ring at T-Mobile Arena on August 21 in what I expect to be an exciting night.’’

Manny Pacquiao: “I am excited to be battling Errol Spence Jr. Like me, Errol has an aggressive, all-action style of fighting. Boxing fans watching at T-Mobile Arena or on pay-per-view are going to be happy with this world championship fight. It is going to be wild!”

Joseph Diaz 134.4 vs. Javier Fortuna 134.8
(WBC interim lightweight title)

Gilberto Ramirez 174.6 vs. Sullivan Barrera 174.6
(non-title ten-rounder)

Tenkai Tsunami 107.2 vs. Seneisa Estrada 108
(WBO female light flyweight title)

Hector Tanajara 135 vs. William Zepeda 134.2
Naoko Fujioka 111.8 vs. Sulem Urbina 112
Bryan Chevalier 126 vs. James Wilkins 125.8
Miguel Gaona 135 vs. Gilberto Aguilar 134
Lamont Roach 130 vs. Daniel Rosas 128.2
Azat Hovhannisyan 122 vs. Jose Gonzalez 121.8
Mihai Nistor 223 vs. Colby Madison 229.5
Sparkinson Castillo 135.6 vs. Miguel Contreras 133.4
Gregory Morales 124 vs. Rodrigo Guerrero 123.6

Venue: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN, Facebook (undercard)

Boxeo Telemundo has its dates and venues for the summer series all set as president and CEO of All Star Boxing, Inc Felix “Tutico” Zabala has announced on Thursday morning that the series will kick off Friday, August 13th live with audience from Osceola Heritage Parks Events Center in Kissimmee FL.

“We arrived in Kissimmee, FL with our first championship boxing show 20 years to the date, when former world champion Oscar “Chololo” Larios faced Angel “Avispa” Chacon from the Civic Center on Telemundo” stated Tutico Zabala “We are happy to have built a great boxing fan base over time, bringing the fans the best fights from world title bills to contenders looking to reach the top. We look to continue building off this momentum in the region.” Continue reading “Boxeo Telemundo Summer Series Dates, Venues”

Friday’s DAZN card from Los Angeles has some pretty good match-ups on it. The fight that could steal the show is the WBC interim lightweight title collision between Jo Jo Diaz and Javier Fortuna. Diaz is a -200 favorite, but Fortuna has to be considered a very live underdog. Another can’t miss fight is the clash between unbeaten lightweights Hector Tanajara and William Zepeda. Sportsbooks have that one dead even. In the main event, light heavy Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez is a 10:1 favorite against Sullivan Barrera.

By Miguel Maravilla

The final press conference took place Wednesday at Banc of California Stadium, home of Friday’s big Golden Boy Promotions card which will be streamed live on DAZN.

In the main event, light heavyweight contenders Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs) and Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) meet in a non-title ten-rounder.

Zurdo Ramirez: “This Friday, we are going to put on a great show. I know Sullivan Barrera very well and he knows me. We know that each of us always comes well prepared and ready to put on a show. But at the end of the day, I’ll be the one to come out with my hands raised in victory. I’m going to come out with a record of 42 wins and 28 knockouts.”

Sullivan Barrera: “Everyone knows what I have done in this division. My experience says a lot. I have some losses, but they were against very tough fighters. My experience will be a big factor. Zurdo Ramirez has a lot of skills. He does of things very well. But I have to do everything necessary to win this fight and earn another title shot. A win will help me get that opportunity.”

Also on hand were the co-feature fighters Joseph Diaz Jr. (31-1-1, 15 KOs) and Javier Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs) who collide for the WBC interim lightweight title.

Joseph Diaz Jr: “I am going to let my actions do the talking. I know that this opportunity is for a reason. I plan on taking the tough challenges. Everyone has been ducking Javier Fortuna and I will go out there and show what I am about.”

Javier Fortuna: “I am motivated for this fight. I am focused for this fight and I have had a good preparation. I like to fight. It’s easy to call out the devil but it’s another matter to come face to face.” Continue reading “Ramirez-Barrera Final Press Conference”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former IBF middleweight champion Sam “King” Soliman (46-15-1, 19 KOs) returns to action on Saturday against unbeaten Liberian-born, Australian-based Victor “Hot Chilli” Nagbe (3-0-0) over ten rounds at the Melbourne Pavillion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia.

Soliman, 47, is coming off an eight round decision loss to former WBC super middleweight champion Sakio Bika in March. Soliman captured the IBF middleweight belt in 2014, defeating Felix Sturm. He lost the title to Jermaine Taylor in the same year. Continue reading “Sam Soliman Returns Saturday”

Makina Boxing Promotions LLC (Courtney Frye/CEO) will present an event this Friday titled “Patas Saladas” in Puerta Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The main event will feature prospect Jose Antonio Sampedro (11-1, 6 KOs) of Queretaro,Queretaro, Mexico taking on countryman and local Cristian Ramon Cortes (6-21-3, 1 KOs) of Puerto Vallarta ,Jalisco, Mexico. Continue reading “Boxing back in Puerta Vallarta Friday”

Unified WBC, WBA and IBF world champion Jermell Charlo and WBO world champion Brian Castaño took part in a virtual press conference Wednesday to preview their battle for the undisputed 154-pound championship which headlines action live on SHOWTIME July 17 from AT&T Center in San Antonio.

“My experience inside and outside of the ring has all led up to this. Now is the time for me to put it all on the line,” – Charlo

“This is the fight of my life…The chance to become undisputed is just ten days away and I can’t wait,” – Castaño

Full Quotes

On Saturday, August 7, the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will host a PBC fight card which will be televised on FOX. The headliner is a showdown between unbeaten super welterweight contenders Gabriel Maestre (3-0, 3 KOs) and Cody Crowley (19-0, 9 KOs). Continue reading “Maestre-Crowley clash headlines on FOX”

Salita Promotions has announced the signing of light heavyweight prospect Ali Izmailov to a promotional contract. The 28-year-old Izmailov is a former amateur standout having won multiple elite international tournaments. As a professional, Izmailov is already rated #10 by the IBF at just 5-0, 3 KOs. He was last seen unleashing an impressive destruction of his 25-2 countryman, Ruslan Fayfer, in nine rounds in November 2020.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1, WBC #3, IBF #3 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (19-0, 15 KOs) scored a brutal third round KO over late sub Stevie Spark (12-2, 11 KOs) in a bout for the WBO Global and vacant Commonwealth titles on Wednesday night at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Spark, who stepped in to replace Michael Zerafa on short notice, was game but seriously outgunned. Body shots put Spark down twice in round three to end it. Time was 2:22.

After the fight, Tszyu mentioned potential future opponents. “There’s Liam Smith, [Magomed] Kurbanov and Danny Garcia, they’re the three boys I’m going for,” said Tszyu “If you’re watching boys, I’m coming for you!” Continue reading “Tszyu destroys Spark in three”

Light heavyweight contenders Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs) and Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) hosted a media workout Tuesday at Banc of California Stadium, home of their July 9 fight which will be streamed live on DAZN.

Zurdo Ramirez: “I see every fight as an opportunity. This is my chance to start my path to becoming a two-division world champion. I know this is a tough fight. It will be very difficult for me. He has a lot of experience, and he’s fought against a lot of good fighters. But he’s never faced anyone like me. This Friday, you will all see the best version of Zurdo Ramirez. I’m here to take all of the belts at light heavyweight. I’m here to take the souls of all the warriors at this division.”

Sullivan Barrera: “I feel good. I feel great. After two years of being away from the ring, it’s great to be able to come back at such a high level. This is a great opportunity to show people what I am made of. Ramirez is a tough challenge. I know the kind of style he’s going to bring. He’s going to want to push me back and throw a lot of punches. But that’s not the kind of fight that I want. I want to be in the center of the ring, and I’m going to be the one pushing him back.”

See it Wednesday on ESPN+ at 5 AM ET, 2 AM PT

By David Finger

It’s been a crazy ride for everyone involved, but It looks like boxing fans in Australia will finally get a chance to see their favorite son throw down in an “All-Australian” battle against a solid, hard punching regional contender who has the skills to test the superstar.

And yet the fact that we are here right now is nothing short of a pugilistic miracle, one that is a testament to promoter Matt Rose’s tenacity and main event fighter Tim Tszyu’s popularity. Continue reading “Tszyu-Spark clash in Australia just hours away”

Unified WBC, WBA and IBF 154-pound world champion Jermell Charlo greeted fans and signed autographs at San Antonio FC game this past Saturday. Charlo takes on WBO champion Brian Castaño in an undisputed super welterweight showdown on Saturday, July 17 from AT&T Center in San Antonio headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event live on SHOWTIME.

“This game was a great opportunity for me to spend some time with the fans here in San Antonio and let them know that I’m going to give them all a great show on July 17,” said Charlo. “Everyone who came out here can see that I’m ready to become the undisputed 154-pound champion and make this a memorable night at AT&T Center.”

Charlo is a -250 favorite in what should be a great fight for all four belts.