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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.

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.