Fightnews.com

By Miguel Maravilla

He is back! “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KO’s) of East L.A returns to the ring as he takes on UFC fighter, Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (1-0, 1 KO) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. De La Hoya and Belfort will square off on Saturday, September 11th in headlining ‘LEGENDS II’ at the Staples Center in Los Angeles live on Fite.TV and Triller.

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“I’m doing this for the right reasons. I can’t wait to fight Belfort and get back in that ring,” De La Hoya told Fightnews.com®. “It will be a fun fight and it will be intense. This will be a fight.”

Fight night will also mark the 20th Anniversary of 9-11. De La Hoya talked about fighting on that day.

“It’s going to be intense for a lot of people. It will be emotional, what people went through. Wow, 20 years, we remember. We will always remember.” Continue reading “Oscar: I’m doing this for the right reasons”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with super welterweight and undefeated Golden Boy prospect Alex Rincon (8-0, 6 KOs) who takes on Sanny Duversonne (11-3-2, 8 KOs) on Saturday, Aug 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX, headlined by Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and streamed live on DAZN. Continue reading “Interview: Alex Rincon”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A very bizarre happening was seen in a Japanese national bantamweight title bout for the vacant belt （renounced by Yusuke Suzuki） on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. JBC#1 Kyosuke Sawada (14-2-2, 6 KOs), 118, a prohibitive favorite unbeaten in his last fifteen bouts including a draw, badly decked JBC#2 southpaw Ikuro Sadatsune (11-4-4, 4 KOs), 118, with his opening attack in the first session, but an accidental collision of heads in round two had each so profusely streaming blood from the forehead that the ring physician had to advise the ref Yoshida to inevitably call a halt. Continue reading “Sawada, Sadatsune draw in Japanese 118lb title bout”

The September 18 fight between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant for the undisputed super middleweight title, which was supposed to be practically a done deal, has apparently fallen apart. Plant told ESPN that he agreed to everything but Team Canelo’s “ridiculous requests” became too much.
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Even without Alvarez-Plant, there are still four PPV boxing events scheduled within seven weeks, Pacquiao-Spence (August 21), Paul Woodley (August 29), De La Hoya-Belfort (September 11) and Fury-Wilder (October 9), so fans’ PPV budgets are already stretched thin. If Alvarez-Plant is resurrected on September 18, that would make five PPVs in less than two months.
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All five members of the U.S. Men’s Olympic team are still in the medal hunt. No big-name pros or ex-champions competing in Tokyo this year.

WBA #14 Mike “White Delight” Wilson (21-1, 10 KOs) will face WBA #6 heavyweight Michael “The Bounty” Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KOs) for the WBA Continental Americas title and a WBA title eliminator main event on August 3. The site of the event will be the historic Madison Square Garden (MSG) Theater in New York City. Their original June date in Miami was scrapped when the lightweight championship clash between champion Teofimo Lopez and challenger George Kambosos Jr. was postponed after Lopez tested positive for coronavirus. Continue reading “Wilson aims to upset Hunter at MSG Aug 3”

By Miguel Maravilla

“The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) 8-time world titles in six weight divisions returns to the ring for the first time since 2008 against MMA legend Vitor Belfort.

Oscar De La Hoya: “These exhibitions that we’re seeing are becoming a circus, I want no part of that. And that’s why this fight is a real, sanctioned fight and not an exhibition. Everybody who knows me, I’ve never been in a boring fight. I go out there and fight. An exhibition isn’t us, Vitor and I have too much at stake. When I see Belfort I can see in his eyes how proud he is of his legacy and I feel the same way too and I respect that.” Continue reading “De La Hoya-Belfort Kickoff Press Conference”

Boxing legend ‘The Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya and UFC legend Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort met with the Southern California media Tuesday at the kickoff press conference ahead of their highly anticipated battle set presented by Triller Fight Club on September 11.

Unbeaten heavyweight Michael Coffie (12-0, 9 KOs) will now face Jonathan Rice (13-6-1, 9 KOs) in the main event of Saturday’s FOX telecast from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Coffie was originally scheduled to face former title challenger Gerald Washington, who was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.

Following the FOX broadcast will be an FS1 card topped by veteran contender and Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell (34-2-1, 25 KOs) competing for the second time at light heavyweight as he faces Christopher Brooker (16-7, 6 KOs) in a 10-round fight. Continue reading “Covid KOs Washington, Coffie gets new foe”

Boxeo Telemundo initiates its Summer Series following the coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games on August 13th, live with audience from Osceola Heritage Park Events Center (OHP) in Kissimmee, FL. Rising WBO Latino Super Lightweight Champion Yomar “The Magic” Alamo (19-0-1, 12 KOs) will headline the card, as he puts his undefeated record and title on the line against Mexican challenger Adrian “Chinito” Yung (28-6-2, 22 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa in a 10 round bout. Tickets are officially on sale at ticketmaster.com or visiting the box office at OHP. Continue reading “WBO #9 Alamo faces Yung Aug 13 on Telemundo”

Avni Yildirim (21-3 12 KOs) has brushed off his subpar effort against Canelo Alvarez in February and is ready to campaign at a new weight when he takes on “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen in promoter Eddie Hearn’s backyard this Saturday on DAZN.

“The Canelo fight is old news,” said Yildirim. “I am looking to open a new page on my career down at middleweight. I have a new trainer in Pedro Diaz, it’s a new start and I have a new lease on life, everything feels good. Continue reading “Yildirim: The Canelo fight is old news”

Flyweight Jayson Mama is currently busy with his training camp at the Sanman Gym under the tutelage of coach Ronerex Dalut and strength and conditioning coach Jenny Guevarra as he prepares to challenge IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards on September 11 in London. He has been sparring with stablemates Froilan Saludar and Dave Apolinario.

“This is the biggest fight in my career!,” said Mama.” I can’t afford to let this slip. I am thankful to my promoter and manager for arranging this life-changing fight. I am also lucky to have quality sparring partners at our gym. I can’t explain the excitement I feel now. I am so motivated to grab that belt from Edwards.” Continue reading “Mama says ‘This is the biggest fight in my career’”

Unbeaten heavyweight JD “The Natural” Chapman (30-0, 26 KOs) continues his surprise comeback on Saturday when he takes on spoiler Terrell Jamal Woods (24-49-9, 17 KOs) at the River Valley Combat Academy in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The 38-year-old Chapman returned to boxing on June 5 after a thirteen-year layoff. Before that, he was world-ranked by just about every sanctioning organization.

Despite Woods’ less-than-stellar record, he can sneak up on you, as evidenced by his recent draw with Alexander Ustinov. Continue reading “JD Chapman comeback continues”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Super lightweight and undefeated Golden Boy prospect George Rincon (11-0, 7 KOs) takes on the ever dangerous TBA on Saturday, Aug 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX, headlined by Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and streamed live on DAZN.

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Rincon shared his thoughts on fighting in his first scheduled 10 rounder as he continues to climb up the ladder with the goal of fighting for a title in the next couple of years. Continue reading “Interview: George Rincon”

This past weekend, RDR Promotions staged two nights of boxing at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. On Friday night’s main event, Nahir Albright won the NABA Lightweight title with an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeremy Hill. In the Saturday night headliner, Mark Dawson Jr. won an eight round unanimous decision over Ivan Pandzic in a battle of undefeated welterweights. Continue reading “Late Results from Philly”

Golden Boy Promotions has announced David Tetreault will step into the role of Chief Business Officer and Equity Partner. He joins existing partners Bernard Hopkins and Eric Gomez. Tetreault will strategically drive in all TV and streaming licensing deals, media, entertainment, marketing, communications, corporate development, sponsorships and co-manage all financial aspects of the company.

In addition to Tetreault’s promotion, Golden Boy long-time team member Marco Pelayo has also been promoted. Pelayo, will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer.

Featherweight Leigh Wood (24-2, 14 KOs) believes that Golden Boy, promoter of WBA featherweight champion Xu Can (18-2, 3 KOs), made a mistake by choosing him as their latest defense Saturday on DAZN.

“I’m coming to win,” said Wood. “I’m not just coming to fight for a world title. I don’t want to be remembered as the kid that boxed for a world title. I want to win the world title. People can congratulate me on this fight after I win. Continue reading “Wood: They’ve made a mistake picking me”

Welterweight Adrian Granados (21-8-3, 15 KOs) has vowed to “humble” Conor Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) when they collide for the WBA Continental title on DAZN Saturday in Brentwood, Essex, England.

Granados has by far the better resume, but he has yet to pull off a signature win against an elite fighter. He plans to show Benn that there are levels to this sport.

“I want to beat Conor Benn and get closer towards a world title shot of my own,” said Granados. “I’m not worried about whatever Conor Benn is saying. He’s saying he’s going to stop me. He’s saying he’s going to do this and do that. You know what? I don’t talk, I just show up, and that’s what I’m going to do. Continue reading “Granados: I’m going to have to stop Benn”

WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. opened as a massive 4:1 favorite with BetMGM to retain his belts. Since last week, the money has been pouring in on 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao, who is now only a 2:1 underdog for their August 21 PPV bout in Las Vegas.

“Two years out of the ring allowed my body to rest. My energy stores are overflowing,” said Manny. “I am so grateful to God that I can still fight at this level against the best and to still have these opportunities at age 42. I am still amazed that I have won world titles in each decade, going back to the nineties. My fight with Errol Spence is not just a battle between the two best welterweights but between two of the best fighters. There is no “B side” in this fight. I have just as much to prove in this fight as Errol does. We are going to bring out the best in each other. It is the type of fight that makes boxing so great.” Continue reading “Odds tightening on Pacquiao-Spence”

“Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (19-2-1, 9 KOs) says he will take full advantage of the opportunity when he clashes with former world title challenger Avni Yildirim (21-3, 12 KOs) for the IBF International super middleweight title on DAZN Saturday in promoter Eddie Hearn’s backyard in Brentwood, Essex, England. Yildirim heads into battle on the back of a bad third round loss against Canelo Alvarez in February at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“I don’t feel like I’m an underdog in this one. If anything I’m the favorite,” proclaimed Cullen “He has been in with the best. You’ll see on fight night that I should be up there as well. You can’t really go off Canelo, he’s a superstar, isn’t he? Whoever he fights he beats! All I can take away from it is Yildirim is a tough and strong lad. Continue reading ““Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” set for Canelo foe”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Fame broadcaster Colonel Bob Sheridan spoke to Fightnews.com® about an August 21 boxing promotion in Columbus, Ohio. “We have a pay-per-view promotion on August 21 in Columbus, Ohio,” said the Colonel. “My two adopted black sons, Darrin Daniels and Dennis Brooks, are the promoters. It will be going to China and Russia to an audience of over a billion people live. I have Don King involved and there will be many celebrities there. Continue reading “Colonel announces August 21 boxing card”

Ahead on all three judges’ scorecards at the time, heavyweight Carlos Takam is outraged at what he believes was a premature stoppage by referee Steve Gray in Saturday’s clash with Joe Joyce.

Takam stated, “Joe Joyce was punching at me yes, but I see that he was getting really tired, so I tried to keep my hands up, that was my strategy, to come back after he was tired and put him out. He stopped the fight and I ask [the ref] Why? Why? I used my experience, I know what I am doing, but he stopped the fight.” Continue reading “Takam camp wants rematch with Joyce”

By Joe Koizumi

Shifty southpaw Japanese veteran Yuki Nonaka (35-10-3, 10 KOs), 160, retained his WBO Asia Pacific middleweight belt as he utilized his superior hand speed and footwork in scoring a nearly shutout decision (119-109 twice, 115-113) over Koki Koshikawa (9-3, 6 KOs), 160, over twelve unanimous rounds on Friday in Osaka, Japan.

Nonaka, a 43-year-old multi regional belt collector, gave a lesson to the monotonous comer with fast counters, piling up points steadily. Nonaka sustained slight cuts around the optics in the ninth and tenth, but kept on handling the game but slower challenger. The lefty champ is still willing to have an ambitious shot at any of world 160-pound titlists.

Promoter: Taisei Promotions.

Keeps WBO AP 108lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

It was a very dramatic end on the day of the Olympic Games opening. WBO#5 ranked Japanese southpaw Riku Kano (13-3, 6 KOs), 107.75, impressively kept his WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight belt when he came off the canvas twice and finally halted WBO#14 Takumi Sakae (22-4-1, 16 KOs), 107.5, at 2:12 of the ninth round on Friday in Osaka, Japan. Continue reading “WBO#5 Kano halts #14 Sakae”

IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against unbeaten mandatory challenger Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KOs) on September 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London. Sunny returns just over four months after his dethroning Muruti Mthalane. Mama stepped aside to allow that fight to happen.

Formerly world-rated middleweight and 2012 Olympic medalist Yamaguchi Falcao successfully moved north 40 pounds to win the Brazilian domestic cruiserweight title on Saturday night at the Coliseu Boxe Center, Guarulhos, Brazil. Falcao (17-1-1, 8 KOs) dropped Clebson Tubarao (3-2-1, 2 KOs) three times in the first round to get the win.

All Falcao’s previous pro bouts had been around middleweight. His brother, Esquiva Falcao, is in the top three of the WBC, IBF, and WBO.