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Looking pretty certain now that we’re going to be getting WBA interim heavyweight champion Trevor Bryan against former WBC champ Bermaine Stiverne on Friday night. It also appears that WBA champ Beibut Shumanov is out, so an opponent is needed for WBA #8 cruiser Raphael Murphy.

Title ramifications are uncertain. Promoter Don King is pushing for Bryan-Stiverne to be for the full WBA title currently held by Manuel Charr. This would necessitate Charr being stripped or made ‘champion in recess.’ Stiverne, however, has lost three of his last four, so WBA approval isn’t a certainty.

Not clear whether Murphy’s fight will be for a title.

You can order the PPV stream at donking.com.

A hometown battle between two Dallas, Texas natives will take place on March 20 as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and former world champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) clash in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO international welterweight title. The bout will headline a card that includes the Unites States debut of heavyweight monster Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov and a world title clash between Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada.

Information regarding the venue in Dallas will be announced shortly as it is pending commission approval. The fights will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico and Russia. Continue reading “Details announced on Ortiz-Hooker card”

Former world champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. has agreed to a new contract extension with ESPN, it was announced today. Bradley joined ESPN in 2016. Under the agreement, Bradley will continue to serve as boxing analyst for Top Rank on ESPN and appear on a variety of ESPN platforms including ESPN+. He will also continue to work alongside Mark Kriegel, Bernardo Osuna, Joe Tessitore and Andre Ward, on pre- and post-shows and ringside contributions.

Looks like WBA heavyweight champion Manuel Charr is currently on his way from Germany to Florida for Friday’s showdown with WBA interim titlist Trevor Bryan. Charr will get into town with a bit over 48 hours to spare before the opening bell.

Now we hear Fres Oquendo is seeking an injunction to halt the Charr-Bryan fight. Lots more drama ahead.

As of now, the DKP bout sheet is looking like this:

Manuel Charr vs. Trevor Bryan (WBA heavyweight title)
Beibut Shumenov vs. Raphael Murphy (WBA cruiserweight title)
Bermane Stiverne vs. TBA (heavyweight)
Ronald Johnson vs. Raphael Zumbano (heavyweight)
Johnnie Langston vs. Robert Sims (cruiserweight)

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman – President of the WBC

I have worked on this column for many months, trying to shape how to use this powerful word that applies to countless current issues.

It all started one day when I was on my daily walk, the #wbcwalk, having radically changed my way of life, and it was when this word “patience” came to my mind, which is more than a concept. It`s a virtue, an attitude, should be a verb.

When thinking about how many kilos I still needed to lose to achieve my goal, when thinking about how many kilometers I still had to walk, how many minutes were left to finish that walk, I immediately felt a deep uncertainty. It was that day that I decided to understand that I really needed to work on my patience in order to apply it in all aspects of my life. Continue reading “Patience”

Ordering is now available for Friday’s world title twinbill at DonKing.com. Who specifically will be fighting isn’t mentioned in the latest promo copy.

Return to Greatness: WBA Heavyweight Championship
It’s a new year and the world’s greatest boxing promoter, Don King, is ready to present two world title fights at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL on Friday, Jan. 29. While the boxing card will not be open to a live audience, King will present two world title fights–one for the WBA heavyweight championship and the other for the WBA cruiserweight championship plus three other classic fights of the past on Don King TV live-streamed worldwide for $19.95 (www.donking.com).

The scheduled headliner is WBA heavyweight champion Manuel Charr against WBA interim titleholder Trevor Bryan. The Charr camp claims he has obtained a visa, but as of now he’s apparently still in Germany. If Charr is a no-show, Bryan is expected to face Bermaine Stiverne instead.

The co-feature is WBA cruiser champion Beibut Shumenov vs. Raphael Murphy, although there may be some issues with Shumanov.

So lots of drama behind the scenes in South Florida. Stay tuned…

Julio Cesar Martinez will defend his WBC World Flyweight title against McWilliams Arroyo as the chief support to Canelo Alvarez’s defense of his WBC, WBA super middleweight titles on Saturday February 27 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico).

Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) puts his title on the line for the third time since landing the belt in December 2019 in a stoppage win over Cristofer Rosales, outpointing Jay Harris in Dallas in February and blasting away Moises Calleros in two rounds in Mexico City in October. Continue reading “Martinez-Arroyo tops Canelo undercard”

Granite Chin Promotions will kick-off 2021 with a day-night doubleheader (2 separate admissions) on April 17 at the New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.

The main fight is a clash for the vacant World Boxing Council USNBC silver super middleweight title fight between former New England middleweight champion Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (15-1-2, 11 KOs) and veteran Bryan Vera (28-16, 18 KOs).

More details including ticket prices and how to purchase, will be announced when finalized.

Undefeated IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) defends against former champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs) on FOX Saturday night. The fight will take place without fans in attendance at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

“I’m going to win because I’m the most experienced and the best fighter that Plant has ever faced,” said Truax. “I believe my experience, my pressure, my conditioning and just my determination will be the factor in getting the win and I expect to do so on January 30.

“In a perfect world, it’s a slugfest, a crowd-pleasing fight and I get the win in a 12-round decision. Actually, in a perfect world I go out there and knock him out with the first punch. But we all know that’s not going to happen. He’s a good fighter so I expect to go 12 rounds and just get the job done.”

On December 19, Reymart Gaballo from the Philippines, won the interim bantamweight title of the World Boxing Council, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, defeating Emmanuel Rodríguez, from Puerto Rico by split decision.

After a formal appeal was received by the WBC, a committee of ring officials completed a thorough analysis and review of the match resulting in the order of free negotiations for an immediate rematch between Gaballo and Rodríguez.

Meanwhile, WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali will defend his title in March with the winner to fight mandatory contender Nonito Donaire.

Light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera had a very frustrating 2020 campaign.

He spent most of the year training for a showdown against Sergey Kovalev that failed to materialize because of the coronavirus pandemic and other factors. With Kovalev having since failed a test for PEDs, that fight won’t be a possibility anytime soon.

The promotional free agent is really baffled that he hasn’t been able to make a meaningful fight in the division. Continue reading “Sullivan Barrera dropping to 168lb division”

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated lightweight Wilfredo “El Bravo” Flores (8-0, 4 KOs) to a promotional contract.
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Amado “El Malvado” Vargas, son of former three-time junior middleweight world champion Fernando Vargas, will be the second son of  “El Feroz” to make his professional boxing debut this Friday against Martin Sanchez, (2-4-1), in Hermosillo, Mexico.
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Fernando Vargas Jr. making his triumphant debut last month. Vargas’ third son, 16-year-old Emiliano, is currently an accomplished amateur boxer.
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Darren Tetley (20-1, 9 KOs) will take on Samuel Antwi (12-1, 5 KOs) in a battle for the vacant English welterweight title on February 19 at the University of Bolton Stadium. It will be broadcast live in the US on ESPN+.

By Boxing Bob Newman

As reported on Fightnews.com, former two-time undisputed World Jr. Middleweight Champion Alessandro “Sandro” Mazzinghi passed away on August 22, 2020 at the age of 81. For the Mazzinghi family and many knowledgeable boxing fans, so too did the dream of seeing “Sandro” get inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame while still alive.

Nearly every year at the WBC convention, this writer would be asked by WBC board member Mauro Betti, “What will it take to get Sandro Mazzinghi inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canastota?” “Knowledgeable voters is what it will take Mauro,” I would reply. While that aspect of the dream has passed, the intrepid goal of eternal recognition of their father has not died for David and Simone Mazzinghi, the sons of the late champ. Continue reading “Mazzinghi sons fight for father’s legacy”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBA light middleweight champion Austin Trout (32-5-1, 18 KOs) has called out WBO #2, IBF #3 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (17-0, 13 KOs) and is willing to fight Tszyu in Australia.

“It would be great to come down to Australia and fight Tim Tszyu,” Trout told Peter Maniatis. “Jeff Horn would also be a good fight but the payment will have to be right. Continue reading “Trout targets Tszyu”

Undefeated IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) defends against former champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs) on FOX Saturday night. The fight will take place without fans in attendance at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

“I’m looking to end this fight early,” said Plant. “I don’t see it going 12 rounds, so whether they throw in the white towel, I throw in the white towel for him or the ref steps in to do his job, I’m looking for a stoppage. This ends with me getting my hand raised in spectacular fashion.

“I know what I need to go in there and do. At the end of the day, I can have a game plan but that may not be how the fight is going to go. So I’ll have to make adjustments as needed and I feel that’s one of the things I’m best at. Whatever is needed for the job, I can pull it out of my toolbox and put it to work.”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Former light heavyweight world champion Sergei Kovalev has reportedly failed a second random doping test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). Traces of synthetic testosterone have been found in a second sample taken eight days after the first sample where the prohibited substance was found. Kovalev was scheduled to fight unbeaten prospect Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev this Saturday before being flagged by VADA.

In an off-TV bout, unheralded super bantamweight Sharone Carter (12-3, 3 KOs) upset former IBF super flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo (18-4, 8 KOs) by eight round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Scores were 77-75 across the board. A 2008 Olympian, the once highly regarded Arroyo has now lost four of his last five.
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MMA star Conor McGregor said last week that contracts were being drawn up for a boxing match against Manny Pacquiao. However, that showdown may have lost its luster after McGregor’s KO loss to Dustin Poirier Saturday night at UFC 257.
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Rumors floating around that the February 20 exhibition between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul might be postponed. Stay tuned.
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Speaking of February 20, Showtime finally announced that Adrien Broner is returning on that date against the dreaded TBA. Broner vs. TBA will be going head-to-head against Miguel Berchelt vs. Oscar Valdez over on ESPN.
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A fight between unbeaten welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. and former world champion Maurice Hooker is reportedly in the works for March 20 in Dallas on DAZN.

In a very tough and gritty display of inside fighting, unbeaten Stephen “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton (19-0, 8 KOs) outworked and dethroned reigning WBO junior featherweight champion Angelo Leo (20-1, 9 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Both fighters went right at each other from the opening bell and exchanged large volumes of punishment. In the end, judges scored it 118-110, 119-109, 119-109.

“It feels good,” said Fulton following the biggest win of his professional career. “I told you that I would engage more in this fight. I boxed a little but I engaged more to show him that I’m better than him at what he does best. I’m used to dealing with fighting inside the gym, inside the ring. Everyone I’ve fought tried to bully me. This time I did to them what they try to do to me. And I got the job done. Continue reading “Fulton defeats Leo for WBO superbantam title”

Former world title challenger Marcelo Esteban Coceres (30-2-1, 15 KOs) was upset by fellow Argentine Sebastian Horacio Papeschi (16-3, 6 KOs) by 10 round split decision for the interim Argentina (FAB) super middle title. The event took place at the Polideportivo Municipal Eva Peron, General Madariaga, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The two fought this past November where Coceres earned a hard fought unanimous decision. The rematch was just as tough and again Papeschi was dropped early this time in round 3. However, he would rebound and come on strong down the stretch to pull out the victory. The official scores were 97-93 and 96-93 for Papeshi and 95-94.5 for Coceres. Continue reading “Papeshi upsets Coceres in rematch”