Fightnews.com

Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov faced off in advance of their clash for the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title on Saturday evening at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma on ESPN.

Joe Smith Jr: “I was 100 percent ready to go back in February, but it’s OK. I had time to enjoy my wedding day and now I’m just ready to go once again. I know what I’m going up against. He is a busy and aggressive guy with a lot of experience, but I have prepared well and I’m going to give 100 percent of myself to come out victorious. Continue reading “Smith-Vlasov Final Press Conference”

Middleweight contender D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (20-0-1, 13 KOs) will step in to face Jaime Munguia (36-0, 29 KOs) for the WBO Intercontinental title after Maciej Sulecki was forced to pull out of the fight due to an injury. The event will now take place on Friday, April 23 at The University of Texas at El Paso’s Don Haskins Center and will be streamed live on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico.

“D’Mitrius Ballard has been deserving of an opportunity like this for a while now,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This is the chance to finally demonstrate to the world that he’s ready for the top guys in the division. We wish Maciej Sulecki a quick recovery, but we also we want to emphasize that Ballard is no mere replacement. He’s a real threat.”

Welterweights Conor Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) and Samuel Vargas (31-6-2, 14 KOs) squared off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s action at London’s Copper Box Arena, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. Benn is defending his WBA Continental title against Vargas.

Conor Benn: “This is definitely one for the fans. I’m chomping at the bit; this is a fight I’ve been calling for a long time now and this is another fight where I can show my levels and experience.

“You can judge me on my last performance, or the performance before that, but I’m always evolving and learning from previous fights and the mistakes I’ve made. This is the sort of fight where I really do show what I’m capable of. Continue reading “Benn-Vargas Final Press Conference”

Jay Harris (18-1, 9 KOs) will take on Ricardo Sandoval (18-1, 13 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF flyweight title on May 14 at the University of Bolton Stadium in Bolton, England. The card will be broadcast on ESPN+ in the U.S. Harris recently. went the distance with WBC champ Julio Cesar Martinez in a world title bid, while Sandoval enters with five straight knockout wins.

The winner of the bout will be the mandatory challenger for the IBF flyweight title, which is being contested later this month as Moruti Mthalane defends his belt against Sunny Edwards.

Christy Martin Promotions is hosting a black tie boxing fundraiser to bring awareness to domestic violence on Saturday at The Rustica in Vero Beach, Florida. Tix are $250 and the card will be streamed live by ldltv.com. Lots of developing talent on the card, including unbeaten heavyweight Mike Balogun (16-0, 12 KOs) who faces Keith Barr (20-13-1, 8 KOs).

Ring City USA today announced the undercard matchups for its April 22 event from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and live on NBCSN. The co-main is a women’s featherweight world title bout between WBA world champion Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-10-2, 19 KOs) and Erika Cruz Hernandez (12-1, 3 KOs). Also featured are undefeated junior welterweight prospects Juan Pablo ‘El Pivi’ Romero (13-0, 9 KOs) vs. Jonathan ‘Thunder’ Navarro (17-0, 9 KOs). Continue reading “Ring City announces April 22 undercard”

Rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis says he’s ready for former world champion Sergey Lipinets on Showtime Saturday from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

“Whatever he brings, I’m going to be ready for it,” stated Ennis. “We don’t look at anybody as a stepping stone but this fight is going to take me to the next level. I can do a bunch of different things and my opponent doesn’t know how I’m going to come out. He just needs to know I’m ready and this is the hardest I’ve ever worked to get ready for a fight. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a very long time and I finally got a guy with a name and now it’s my time to shine and show the world my talent and show them that I’m not to be played with. I’m a dangerous man and they will see on April 10. Continue reading “Boots Ennis: I’m a dangerous man”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBA #9 middleweight Michael Zerafa’s promoter Brian Amatruda has offered WBO #1, IBF #3 light middleweight Tim Tszyu $1 million (AUD) or $760,000v(USD) to meet in a twelve round contest in Melbourne.

“I’m sick and tired of seeing Tim make excuses and avoid what is Australia’s biggest fight — Tim Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa,” Amatruda said in a statement to Fox Sports. “Tim is a quality fighter but he just fought a 36-year-old fighter who was coming off a brutal knockout and his second loss in a row. Hogan also had a major injury coming into the fight and at one stage was going to withdraw. Continue reading “Zerafa promoter offers Tszyu $1 million”

WBO #12 junior middleweight Carlos “Chema” Ocampo (28-1, 18 KOs) will put his world ranking on the line against Iván “Demolisher” Matute (30-3, 25 KOs) in a ten rounder at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana, BCN, Mexico. The fight will air in Mexico on Azteca 7. You can watch this fight card in the U.S. if you have a VPN service.

The WBA Championships Committee ordered the mandatory fight between WBA super bantamweight super champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev from Uzbekistan and the mandatory challenger Ronny Rios from the United States.

The Committee sent the communication to both teams, who are aware of the mandatory fight. The period for Akhmadaliev’s mandatory defense expired on January 29th, 2021, but the WBA allowed the champion to make the mandatory defense of the IBF, organization of which he is also champion, against Japanese Ryosuke Iwasa last April 3rd. Continue reading “WBA orders Akhmadaliev-Rios”

Hard-punching light heavyweight fan favorite Ahmed Elbiali (20-1, 17 KOs) says he can’t wait to show off the new skills he’s developed while working with trainer and former world super bantamweight champion Clarence “Bones” Adams. Cairo-born Elbiali relocated from his adopted home in Miami three years ago to work with Adams at his private gym in Las Vegas and, at first, things didn’t go as well as hoped. Continue reading “Ahmed Elbiali working with Bones Adams”

For more than a year, the only pro boxing in Las Vegas has been Top Rank’s locked-down bubble shows. But the boxing quarantine for fan-attended events ends in May with two major shows on the schedule.

The first event will be the May 22 undisputed super lightweight title clash between WBC/WBO champion Jose Ramirez and WBA/IBF champion Josh Taylor. The venue and ticket situation hasn’t been announced yet, but we understand it will be at the MGM Grand with a limited seating capacity.

The following week, on May 29, WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney defends against Jorge Linares at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay. Those tickets will go on pre-sale tomorrow starting at $50. Fans will be screened and temperature-checked prior to entry and groups must wear face masks. Capacity will be cut some 50% to maintain social distancing.

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

As the world advances towards recovery from the pandemic, which has caused so much pain and damage in every imaginable way, we have spent Easter holiday in which emotions and feelings welled up in millions of people around the world. There is the hope of being able to move forward and heal the wounds that all of us, in one way or another, have suffered.

How many tears can we bear? Seeing loved ones suffering or going through irreparable losses. The hope that Holy Father Francis has left in his multiple interventions, paves the way for us to move forward and appreciate and cherish what we have today. Continue reading “Boxing Within Holy Week”

Welterweight Samuel Vargas (31-6-2, 14 KOs) has promised to make Conor Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) pay for his “wild” mistakes and says the 24-year-old doesn’t have the experience to deal with him when they meet over twelve rounds for the WBA Continental title this Saturday on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the US.

Vargas is well known on UK shores having floored former world champion Amir Khan before losing on points in a hard-fought battle in September 2018, and the Canadian-Colombian warrior is no stranger to elite-level opposition after sharing the ring with numerous quality operators such as Errol Spence and Danny Garcia. Continue reading “Vargas: I’ll break him down and take his soul”

All the major fights this Saturday have solid betting favorites.

The closest odds are for the WBO light heavyweight title between Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov on ESPN. Smith has moved out to around a 4:1 favorite. On the undercard, Efe Ajagba (25:1), Robson Conceicao (50:1), and Jared Anderson (100:1) are all prohibitive favorites.

On Showtime, welterweight Jaron Ennis is as much as a 17:1 favorite against Sergey Lipinets. On the undercard, IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Acajas (13:1) and Elmantas Staniotis (10:1) are double-digit favorites.

On DAZN, welterweight Conor Benn is a 17:1 favorite over Samuel Vargas.

By Jeff Zimmerman

Heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola talked to Fightnews.com® about his big fight with fellow Mexican-American and former heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz Jr. Saturday, May 1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA and shown live on PBConFOX pay-per-view. He also shared his motivation at age 40, his love for trainer Joe Goossen plus his beloved Dodgers and much more in this exclusive interview.

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Former world title challenger Callum Johnson (18-1, 13KOs) will be back in action on April 24th after more than two years of inactivity. Johnson insists he is on course for a second world title challenge and huge domestic clashes against Queensberry stablemates Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde, but first must shake off the ring rust as he battles 37-year-old Emil Markic (32-2, 24 KOs).

Johnson-Markic will be for the vacant WBO Global light heavyweight title over ten rounds (live on BT Sport). Johnson hasn’t boxed since a stoppage win against Sean Monaghan in March 2019. He challenged IBF world titleholder Artur Beterbiev in October 2018, losing in the fourth round of a brutal war.

This Saturday night, Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. (26-3, 21 KOs) will challenge for the WBO light heavyweight title vacated by Canelo Alvarez in the main event on ESPN against Maxim Vlasov (45-3 26KO’s). The fight was rescheduled from February 13, to April 10, due to Vlasov testing positive for COVID-19.

You beat Andrzej Fonfara as a 18-1 underdog, what was that like for you?

“That was a night I will never forget. The crowd was really loud, and there were a lot of Fonfara fans there, that I was able to make my fans. I knew I could beat him, I really believed it. We realized that [Fonfara] left himself open when he punched, and that’s what I looked for.” Continue reading “Interview: Joe Smith Jr.”

Former world champion Amir Khan has warned Conor Benn about the “dangerous” power of Samuel Vargas “which can cause any fighter problems” and says the 24-year-old is taking a “massive step-up” when he risks his unbeaten record and WBA Continental title this Saturday, live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories.

Khan knows all about the threat posed by Vargas, having been floored when they shared the ring back in September 2018. Khan sent Vargas to the canvas in the second round, only to be dropped himself, and had to respond with another knockdown during a hard-fought points victory. Continue reading “Khan warns Benn over Vargas threat”

By Joe Koizumi

Prohibitive favorite Tsunami Tenkai (28-12-1, 16 KOs), 107.5, impressively kept her WBO female junior flyweight belt as she displayed her superior speed and skills, gave a lesson to Shione Ogata (11-7-1, 3 KOs), 107.5, and scored a shutout decision (identically 100-89) over ten lopsided rounds on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Tenkai, making her third defense, effectively battered the challenger and floored her with quick combinations in round two. Though Ogata fought back hard, Tenkai had them missing with her flexible mobility and scored with accurate counters nearly at will. Continue reading “Tenkai shuts out Ogata, keeps WBO female 108lb belt”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #1, IBF #3 light middleweight Tim Tszyu’s promoter George Rose of No Limit Promotions, wants to bring WBO champion Brian Castano or WBC/WBA/IBF champion Jermell Charlo to defend against Tszyu, and predicts it will cost $10 million (AUD) or $7.63 million (USD)

“It is around that figure; it is just what we have to do to make it happen,” Rose told The Sun-Herald. “The way I see it, the world title has to be out here in Australia. That’s the situation we’re in and that’s what we need to come up with to make it happen. We want the world title and we want it in Australia. Continue reading “Tszyu camp wants Charlo or Castano in Australia”

Late Result: Last Saturday at the Polideportivo Centenario de Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, unbeaten Geovany Bruzon (6-0, 6 KOs) defeated Germán García (7-3, 7 KOs) to win the WBC Latino bridgerweight title. In this entertaining match, Bruzon showed his superiority, and in the eighth round, he technically knocked out Garcia.

This combat was historic as it started the activity in the newly created bridgerweight division, which the WBC calls a necessary bridge to serve the increasing number of boxers who weigh between 200 and 224 pounds.

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

Since its formation in 1963, the WBC has dedicated all available efforts to find avenues and tools to improve all aspects of boxing, and to make it a safer sport for all participants. The WBC has broken previously accepted boxing paradigms to make changes to improve the sport. In the process, the WBC has surmounted many challenges; all in the name of benefiting boxers before, during and after their glory days in the ring.

The WBC introduced the Franchise Boxer concept and Rule a couple of years ago. The Franchise Boxer is a special designation and privileged status which the WBC may bestow to a current WBC World Champion, who is also an elite boxer, and who has achieved and maintains the highest of stature in the sport. Under governing Rule 3.26, in its discretion, the WBC may, upon a 2/3rd vote of the Board of Governors, designate in each weight category one WBC Franchise Boxer. A Franchise Boxer enjoys special status with respect to his or her mandatory obligations, holding multiple titles and competing for titles of other organizations, as the WBC Board of Governors considers petitions from elite boxers to receive the Franchise Boxer designation on a case-by-case basis. Continue reading “The WBC Franchise Boxer”

By Zach Hirsch

Former world champion Zab Judah talks about his new venture, Celebrity Championship Boxing.

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Joe “The Beast” Smith Jr. (26-3, 21 KOs) is currently a -333 favorite to win the vacant WBO light heavyweight world title against Maxim Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs) on Saturday at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

They were originally scheduled to fight February 13, but Vlasov tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the weigh-in, forcing a postponement. Vlasov downplayed the delay, stating, “The postponement was a minor setback, but it will be worth the wait when I have that belt around my waist!”

ESPN will televise.