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The Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, will now host this year`s World Boxing Council Convention. The 2021 convention was slated for Thailand, but due to ongoing travel restrictions, it was impossible to proceed there. With the pandemic situation, the separate Women’s boxing convention cannot be held, however, women will have a special place at the Cancun Convention. In the coming weeks, the WBC will release dates, reservation procedures, visa information, registration, restrictions, virtual modality, and other things.

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

This past weekend I experienced a wonderful moment, which inspired me in the creation of this column, namely the kind and caring heart which is strongly beating within the vast majority of boxers in this world.

I went to play baseball with my son in the park and there were many children playing soccer and riding bikes. We had a chat with some of them and we ended up talking about boxing. One immediate question was: “Do you know Canelo?” I even had to show them a photo, because they didn’t believe that I know him.

I proposed to send a message of greetings to the great champion, so everyone jumped with joy and enthusiasm. We recorded a video, which I sent to Saúl on WhatsApp. I immediately received the return message from him to the kids, who were joyfully screaming, leaping and abounding with abiding excitement. Continue reading “The champions and their big heart”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Tim Tszyu 66.34 kg / 152.8 lbs vs. Steve Spark 69.66 kg / 153.5 lbs

Venue: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Promoter: No Limit Boxing
TV: Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View, ESPN+

Tim Tszyu: “You can act like one thing on TV and you can act like something else in person. The way he acts on TV is not how he is out there…[it only finishes] one way. Everyone knows it. I know it, and even he knows it.”

Steve Spark: “It’s been fantastic. I can’t thank everyone enough. I’m going to make everyone proud and win this fight tomorrow night. I’m coming for war tomorrow. I’m coming to take Tim out tomorrow. It’s all business now.”

By Miguel Maravilla

Former super middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs) returns to the ring Friday night as he takes on Cuban light heavyweight Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles live on DAZN. Ramirez will be making his Golden Boy Promotions debut as he has been the Mexican fighter that has gone under the radar these last few years.

“It’s going to be a great night of boxing with fans back in the stands. I’ve always enjoyed fighting here. I expect an explosive fight. We both will come forward. People like seeing explosive fights, and that’s what we are going to deliver. I am doing everything I can in camp to make sure that I win,” Ramirez said. Continue reading “Zurdo Ramirez Makes Golden Boy Debut Friday”

Ring legend Manny Pacquiao began his first U.S. training camp in nearly two years today and it seemed like he picked up right where he left off when he dethroned WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman on July 20, 2019, tagging the defending champion with his first loss. One day removed from arriving from the Philippines,

Manny began the day with a five-mile morning run and 1,000 sit-ups. Before heading to Wild Card Boxing Club, in Hollywood, for his afternoon training session with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Manny was given a random drug test from VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) at his house. Once at Wild Card, Manny and Freddie began the nearly three-hour gym session with nine rounds on the mitts, with each punch exploding like a July 4th firecracker. Continue reading “Pacquiao Begins U.S. Training for Spence”

Undefeated super welterweight Tursynbay Kulakhmet (3-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday against Aleksei Evchenko (19-14-2, 8 KOs) at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the main event on ESPN+.

Kulakhmet won the WBC International title in just his second professional fight, and trainer Jamie Moore says a world title shot is expected to come sooner rather than later. “I’ve been told by his management that the plan is for him to fight for a world title in seven fights, so if that’s the case we need to keep progressing and keep getting him ready.”

Ring legend Manny Pacquiao has arrived in Los Angeles where he will train with Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Gym for his clash against welterweight champion Errol Spence next month. That bout is still on, contrary to the claims of Philippine President Duterte, who proclaimed that the fight is off.
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Pacquiao’s Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles was diverted to Japan, then forced to return to Manila, before finally completing the trans-Pacific flight to Los Angeles.
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Don’t count your chickens. There is still a pending lawsuit from Paradigm Sports seeking to torpedo the Pacquaio-Spence bout. Anything can happen as we saw with the Fury/Joshua/Wilder situation.
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Looks like WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero will face original foe Guillermo Rigondeaux on Showtime on August 14. Casimero was set for a unification fight against WBC champ Nonito Donaire, but the Filipino Flash pulled out due to Casimero’s pre-fight trash talk. Rigo holds the WBA regular bantam belt.

By TMZ.com

Not every boxing superstar hates Logan and Jake Paul … ’cause heavyweight champion Tyson Fury tells TMZ Sports the two brothers have been AWESOME for the sport!!! Remember, Canelo Alvarez felt the exact opposite when he spoke to us about the YouTubers-turned-fighters back in December 2020 … saying they were being “disrespectful” to boxing.

But, the Gypsy King couldn’t be more kind about Logan and Jake … saying, “I’ve been pretty impressed with the Pauls — both of them — to be fair, they’ve been a good breath of fresh air to the boxing scene. Fantastic, guys. Well done if you’re watching.” Continue reading “Fury praises Paul Bros; breath of fresh air”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Steve Spark (12-1, 11 KOs), who stepped in to replace Michael Zerafa, is confident he can upset WBO #1 junior middleweight Tim Tszyu (18-0, 14 KOs) on Wednesday at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia that will be televised on Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View in Australia and ESPN+ in the U.S.

“I know that no one is giving me a chance and I look forward to proving them all wrong. I’m going to show them what I’m made of and why I’m a Viking,” Spark told reporters in Newcastle. “They do talk about me being a knockout artist, but I can also box as well,” Spark says. “If I can upset Tim Tszyu in this fight, I will become the face of Australian boxing so I know what’s at stake. I’m not here to make up the numbers. I’m here to win!”

A new boxing series began Saturday night at the Foro Sur GDL in Jalisco, Mexico. Pomoted by Makina Promotions (Courtney Frye/CEO), this was the first installment of a one year/nine event deal with Televisa and Sky Sports airing the events. The telecast will be aired a week later on each of the networks.

The 10 round co-headliner saw highly touted unbeaten Jesus Saracho (9-0, 8 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico step up in class and dominate Edwing Davilla (21-2, 13 KOs) of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico by way of unanimous decision. The heavy-handed 19-year-old Saracho, who is managed by Ray Frye, dropped Davilla twice with body shots in rounds two and eight in route to victory. The official scores of the bout all favored Saracho 80-71 twice and 79-72. Saracho won the NABA and WBO Latino vacant lightweight titles and now hopes for top 15 world ranking considerations. Continue reading “Saracho dominates Davilla in Mexico”

“I’m number one in the WBA, so you know what time it is. I’m going to follow the plan and see what happens next.” said unbeaten WBA super featherweight champion Chris “Primetime” Colbert after his unanimous decision victory over Tugststogt Nyambayar on Saturday night in Carson, Calif.

“We had a tremendous training camp. We sparred a lot with a bigger guy in Michel Rivera, so I had a lot of practice using my speed and jab in camp. The jab is always a key in this sport.” Continue reading “Colbert: I had to use my Muhammad Ali tactics”

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called ring legend and political rival Manny Pacquiao “a shit” and claimed that Pacman pulled out of his August 21 showdown with Errol Spence because he is “too old for that and failing in his boxing career.” Duterte also slammed Pacquiao for not remaining on the job instead of training. “I expect him to sit in Congress, do not go anywhere…do your job. You asked for it!”

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By Joe Koizumi

Former WBO champ, Japan’s Masayuki Ito (27-3-1, 15 KOs), 135, impressively decked a fine stoppage of ex-Japanese super-light titlist Valentine Hosokawa (25-9-3, 12 KOs), 134, at 1:17 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having forfeited his WBO 130-pound belt to current titleholder Jamel Herring in Florida in 2019, Ito, now a full-fledged 135-pounder, participated in a couple of bouts, losing the latest one to OPBF ruler Hironori Mishiro by an upset majority decision last December.

Ito, however, today demonstrated a fine form by handling the 40-year-old veteran with his superior hand speed, piling up points steadily. Continue reading “Ex-WBO champ Ito halts Hosokawa”

Unbeaten WBA interim super featherweight champion Chris Primetime” Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) scored a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar (12-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Dignity Heath Park in Carson, California. Colbert’s speed was too much for King Tug, who was moving up from featherweight on two weeks’ notice. As the bout progressed, it became more one-sided. Scores were 117-111, 118-110, 118-110.

In a WBA lightweight eliminator, unbeaten WBA #9 Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera (21-0, 14 KOs) scored a spectacular eighth round knockout over WBA #11 Jon Fernández (21-2, 18 KOs) in the Colbert-King Tug co-feature on Saturday night at the Dignity Heath Park in Carson, California. Good fight withs ebbs and flows. Fernandez dropped Rivera in round six, but Rivera came back to knock out Fernandez in round eight. Time was :44.

The World Boxing Association Directorate held its first meeting after the WBA’s centennial celebration to evaluate the current situation of the organization and the future plans for what is considered a new era for the sport.

WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza led the online meeting with the directors and all the senior staff. He gave an overview of the current projects being developed and the direction the body is taking in the face of the changes in boxing today. Continue reading “WBA Directorate Meeting”

Report/Photos by Bob Caico

Exciting Louisville super-featherweight Carlos “RTG” Dixon destroyed former title contender Moises “Chucky” Flores in the first round at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, KY on Friday night. Dixon followed his game plan with a jab, right hand and left hook to the body. He landed the hook so perfectly into the mid-section of Flores that he dropped to the canvas in obvious pain. Referee Kelly Mays did not have to finish the count as Flores was not getting up. Time of the stoppage was 47 seconds. Dixon improved to 12-1 with his ninth stoppage as Flores has to reassess his career dropping to 25-4-1. Continue reading “Dixon crushes Flores in 47 seconds”

Former WBA middleweight champion Hassan N’Dam (38-5, 21 KOs) won by eight round decision over journeyman Gabor Gorbics (26-20-1, 16 KOs) on Friday night at the Restaurant U Nichjaretu in Calvi, Haute-Corse, France. The 37-year-old N’Dam won comfortably 80-73 on the referee’s card to break a two-fight losing streak.

ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates its 20-year anniversary with a three-fight card headlined by undefeated super middleweight prospects Kalvin Henderson (14-0-1,10 KOs) against Isaiah Steen (15-0, 12 KOs) in a ten-round clash on Friday, July 23 live on Showtime from the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.

The co-feature pits Janelson Bocachica (17-0, 11 KOs) against 21-year-old Shinard Bunch (15-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. In a battle of unbeatens, Martino Jules (10-0-2, 2 KOs) faces Aram Avagyan (10-0-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight affair. Continue reading “ShoBox returns July 23”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Legendary former world champions and Hall of Famers Julio Cesar Chavez (107-6-2, 85 KOs) and Roberto ¨Mano de Piedra¨ Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) are considering doing two mega-events, one of them in Mexico and the other in Panama. Chavez turns 59 in ten days, Duran turned 70 on June 16.

Chavez’ exhibition last month against Hector Camacho Jr. was billed as his final ring appearance. Chavez and Duran may do some project other than an exhibition. Stay tuned.

Jesus Eduardo Saracho 134.9 vs. Edwing Davila 133
(WBA/NABA and WBO Latino lightweight titles)

Jonathan Javier Fierro 123.8 vs. Ricardo Rojas Ramirez 130
(WBO youth featherweight title)

James Browning: 125.4 vs. Victor Contreras: 129.4
Luis Gallegos N/A vs. Jorge Ernesto De Lara 125.4
Emilano Moreno: 136.9 vs. Edgar Daniel Gonzalez Cervantes 138
Alarenz Reynolds 171.5 vs. Joel Ivan 169

Venue: Foro Sur GDL in Jalisco, Mexico
Promoter: Courtney Frye (Makina Boxing Promotions)
TV: Televisa and Sky Sports

Photos

By Ron Jackson

One of South Africa’s most talented fighters, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, who won a South Africa title and world titles at three different weights, passed away from the Covid 19 virus on his way to hospital on Friday.

Ledwaba would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday on July 27. Continue reading “Lehlohonolo Ledwaba dies of Covid 19”

By Gilberto Jesús Mendoza

A hundred years ago, on July 2nd, 1921 Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier, along with us, became pioneers when, under the name of the National Boxing Association (NBA), we sanctioned the first world title fight in the history of boxing. It was, undoubtedly, a firm step in the evolution of this sport that, from that moment on, was modernized to become one of the most relevant disciplines on the planet.

But since life is changing and constantly evolving, in 1962 we felt we had to face a new challenge. It was time to go global and we decided to call ourselves the World Boxing Association (WBA) to promote the development of pugilism in all countries and support more athletes. Growth continued and, thus, the ranking system was created, devised by my father Gilberto Mendoza and praised by Bob Arum. We also reduced the number of rounds from 15 to 12, changed the weigh-in ceremony to 24 hours before the fight, and have worked in the constant defense of the boxer. Continue reading “Mendoza: We Are The Pioneers”

Chris Colbert 130 vs. Tugstsogt Nyambayar 129.6
(WBA interim super featherweight title)
*Colbert initially weighed 130.6. After stripping naked he weighed 130.2. He has two hours to lose .2 pounds. He came back later and weighed the division limit of 130.

Michel Rivera 134.4 vs. Jon Fernandez 135
(WBA lightweight eliminator)
Jimmy Lennon introduced Rivera as “Michel La Zarza Ali”

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime

WBA #6 heavyweight Michael “The Bounty” Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KOs) willl face WBA #14 Mike “White Delight” Wilson (21-1, 10 KOs) for the WBA Continental Americans title and a WBA title eliminator main event. The site of the event will be the historic Madison Square Garden (MSG) Theater, New York. The pair were originally set to clash on the undercard of unified lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez’ (16-0, 12 KOs) title defense versus mandatory challenger unbeaten George Kambosos jr. (19-0, 10 KOs) back on June 19th but Lopez had to pull out of the fight due to it being reported that he tested positive for the coronavirus. Continue reading “Hunter-Wilson at MSG August 3rd”