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A fight between former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and former MMA champion Francis Ngannou is a done deal. The bout will be a ten round boxing match taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was confirmed on the social media feeds of his Excellency Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. There will be a press conference in London to officially announce the event including the date and other particulars.

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BetOnline.ag was quick to set odds for the bout. Joshua isn’t nearly as big of a favorite as Fury was against the former UFC champion, but he’s still favored, and the odds are on the move.

Fight Odds
Anthony Joshua -500 (1/5)
Francis Ngannou +325 (13/4)

The odds initially opened at Joshua -275 (4/11) and Ngannou +215 (43/20), but all of the early money coming in is on Joshua.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. 156 vs. Fredrick Lawson 152.4

Ohara Davies 140 vs. Ismael Barroso 139.6
(WBA interim super lightweight title)

Arnold Barboza Jr. 139.4 vs. Xolisani Ndongeni 139.2
Raul Curiel 146.8 vs. Elias Diaz 146.2
Emiliano Gandara 161.6 vs. Isaac Matamoros 164

Venue: Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

WBA #1 welterweight Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) meets former world title challenger and WBA #6 rated Pablo Cesar Cano (35-8-1, 25 KOs) in a world title eliminator on the undercard of the super middleweight showdown between Edgar Berlanga and Padraig McCrory on February 24 at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN.

In a second WBA eliminator, WBA #2 bantamweight Antonio Vargas (17-1, 9 KOs) faces #4 Jonathan Rodriguez (17-1-1, 7 KOs). Rodriguez recently demolished former world champion Kal Yafai in less than one round. Continue reading “Berlanga-McCrory undercard”

In the first boxing card of the year in the U.S., unbeaten 6’7, 278-pound heavyweight Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (5-0, 5 KOs) scored a fifth round knockout against Colby Madison (11-7-2, 7 KOs) on Thursday night at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Hovhannisyan upped his output in round four, then dropped Madison for the count in round five. Time was :40. The 40-year-old Madison was coming off two straight decision losses to Joey Dawejko.

In a clash between unbeaten heavyweights, 2020 Olympian Tsotne “Mr. T” Rogava (4-0, 4 KOs) destroyed Dante Williams (4-1, 4 KOs) in the first round. The 6’ 5”, 270-pound Rogava, a former kickboxing champion, punished Williams, 201, until the bout was stopped at 1:53.

Heavyweight Dante “The Inferno” Stone (15-1, 10 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-4-1, 16 KOs). After a slow start, Stone came on to drop Flores in round eight en route to a 78-73, 78-73, 79-72 verdict. Flores was returning from a three-year layoff.

Unbeaten super welterweight and popular Tik-Tokker Elijah Seawright (10-0, 7 KOs) outpointed Henry Rivera (2-3, 1 KO) over six by scores of 59-55, 60-54, 59-55. Seawright has over one-million Tik-Tok followers. Continue reading “Hovhannisyan remains unbeaten”

Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) faced off with Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs) at the final press conference for their 12-round super welterweight fight on Saturday night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and broadcast worldwide on DAZN

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “I put my heart into this sport. But now we’re here. We weigh in tomorrow. If you had any doubts on getting any tickets erase them right now because this fight is happening for sure. And I’m ready. This is honestly the best I’ve ever felt.”

Fredrick Lawson: “We had a very good training camp leading up to this event. We’re prepared. We’ve seen a few scripts going around saying how this fight should go. We have a plan that will surprise everyone. We can’t wait for Saturday.”

While they’re about five years too late (after their first fight was five years too late), a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will apparently take place sometime in 2024. Pacquiao unveiled the fight plans live at RIZIN 45 on December 31, but Mayweather’s camp hasn’t confirmed anything from their side.

Even though Mayweather is 46 and Pacquiao is 45 and they are not active boxers, the event will still draw some attention and PPV purchases. Of course, not even close to the record numbers they did back in May 2015.

BetOnline set odds for the bout this week and they are much closer than they were in 2015. Then, Mayweather went off as a -225 (4/9) favorite while Pacquiao came in as a +175 (7/4) underdog.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 Fight Odds
Floyd Mayweather -130 (10/13)
Manny Pacquiao +100 (1/1)

Odds opened Mayweather -140, Pacquiao +110, so early action has already come in on Pacquiao, moving the odds in his favor. Since this is likely to be an exhibition match, perhaps the oddsmakers and bettors are viewing Pacman as the more motivated fighter.

WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) will defend his world title against Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) on Thursday, February 8, at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Lopez-Ortiz headlines a televised ESPN doubleheader that kicks off Super Bowl weekend three days before the big game hits Sin City for the first time.

Teofimo Lopez: “February 8 at Mandalay Bay, ‘The Takeover’ will entertain inside that squared circle as only I can! To the boxing fans around the world, I look to not only dominate and break down Jamaine Ortiz, but to do it in such a fashion that my division will be put on alert.”

Jamaine Ortiz: “This is the most important fight of my career. It’s my first world title bout. I believe this fight will bring out the very best in me, and I’m looking forward to coming home as the new champion!”

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (9-0, 6 KOs) faces Puerto Rican former two-division world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs). Continue reading “Top Rank confirms Feb 8 Super Bowl card”

Former highly decorated amateur Yoenlis Hernandez (2-0, 2 KOs) of Cuba will make his highly anticipated U.S. debut on January 20 in a ten round middleweight main event bout that will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. His opponent will be former world title challenger Vicente Martin Rodriguez (42-14-1, 23 KOs) of Argentina.

Hernandez’ manager is Robert Valle and he is promoted by Kris Lawrence (Heavyweight Factory Promotions) and Leon Margules/Luis De Cubas Sr. (Warriors Boxing). Rodriguez has much more professional experience than Hernandez but Lawrence believes in the talent level of Hernandez. When asked just how good he thinks Hernandez is, he replied. “I honestly believe he is a professional world-level talent right now.” Continue reading “Yoenlis Hernandez headlines Jan 20”

Gurgen Hovhannisyan 278.6 vs. Colby Madison 244.9
Tsotne Rogava 265 vs. Dante Williams 201
Dante Stone 267.6 vs. Alexander Flores 271.5
Nilo Guerrero 129.2 vs. Chancellor Battenberg 128.7
Elijah Seawright 153.2 vs. Henry Rivera 154.5
Dazjhante Frazier 153.2 vs. Nathan Stolen 154.5
Agustin Tovar 133.5 vs. Ezra Rabin 135
Nelson Guerrero 121.6 vs. Gilberto Duran 122.2

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
Promoter: Toro Promotions and Whitfield Haydon Boxing
TV: PPV (bxngtv.com $19.99)

Heavyweight contender Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) has been arrested on charges of 1) carjacking without firearm or weapon and 2) burglary with assault or battery after taking back a vehicle that had been repossessed from him by a South Florida automobile dealership. According to Channel 7 News in Miami, the 330lb Miller allegedly overpowered an employee to get the keys, then fled with the vehicle, a Dodge Ram. Unbeknownst to Big Baby, the dealer had access to the truck’s GPS tracking device and Miller was quickly located and arrested by authorities. As of 9PM, Miller is still listed as an inmate on the website of the Broward County Jail.

Miller, 35, suffered his first loss ten days ago when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in the twelfth round on the huge “Day of Reckoning” PPV event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Jeff Zimmerman

WBO #1 super lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr makes his Golden Boy debut this Saturday on the Vergil Ortiz Jr return to the ring at 154 this Saturday at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas and shown live on DAZN. Barboza shares his excitement about learning from his promoters, ring legends, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, and potential matchups with Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney down the road in this Fightnews.com® exclusive.

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Popular bantamweight Christian Carto (20-1, 13 KOs) will kick off King’s Promotions year when he headlines against veteran Ardin Diale (35-18-4, 17 KOs) in the eight-round main event on Friday, January 12 at Live! Casino and Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In other eight-round bouts, welterweight Quadir Alright (9-1, 9 KOs) takes on Adam Kipenga (11-4-1, 7 KOs), and Atif Oberlton (8-0, 6 KOs) fights Cleotis Pendarvis (22-19-2, 9 KOs) in a light heavyweight contest.

Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) is a 25:1 favorite against Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs) on DAZN Saturday night at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Formerly a top contender at welterweight, Ortiz is now competing at super welterweight after 17 months out of the ring. During that span, Ortiz had to twice pull out of a challenge against WBA “regular” welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis due to health issues.

In the co-feature, Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) is a 5:1 favorite against Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) in a clash for the WBA interim super lightweight title.

In other action, WBO #1 super lightweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) is a 25:1 favorite against Xolisani Ndongeni (31-3, 18 KOs), and WBC #10 welterweight Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (13-0, 11 KOs) is a 16:1 betting pick against against Elias Diaz (12-1, 7 KOs) in a pair of ten-rounders.

Sad to report the passing of famed boxing manager Cameron Dunkin in Las Vegas at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer. Duncan managed current IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and has worked with the likes of Terence Crawford, Timothy Bradley, Kelly Pavlik, Nonito Donaire, Diego Corrales, Mikey Garcia, Brandon Ríos, Steve Johnston, Freddie Norwood, Steve Luevano, Johnny Tapia, Marc Johnson, Danny Romero and dozens more over a career that spanned 4+ decades. R.I.P.

An eight round heavyweight crossroads fight between 6’3, 260-pound Dante Stone (14-1, 10 KOs) and 6’4, 230lb Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs) will be the first streamed pro boxing match of 2024 this Thursday evening at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

The 10-round main event is headlined by undefeated 6’7, 275-pound prospect Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (4-0, 4 KOs), who is matched against dangerous Colby Madison (11-6-2, 7 KOs). Hovhannisyan is coming off an impressive sixth-round knockout of Michael Polite Coffie.

Also, 6’5, 270-pound Olympian heavyweight Tsotne Rogava (3-0, 3 KOs) will be showcased in the six-round co-feature against undefeated Dante Williams (4-0, 4 KOs).

The card, presented by Toro Promotions and Whitfield Haydon Boxing, will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com pay per view for $19.99.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis is no longer the “regular” WBA lightweight champion. With Devin Haney giving up the “super” designation, Tank, who recently changed his name to Abdul Wahid, is now the sole WBA 135lb king. He is expected headline PBC’s March PPV card on Amazon Prime.

Martin Bakole is now the WBA’s #1 rated heavyweight. Previous #1 Deontay Wilder has been dropped completely after his loss to Joseph Parker.

The WBA has officially changed the name of the 201-224lb division to bridgerweight. The division was initially dubbed super cruiserweight in the WBA ratings.

Looks like WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney may defend against Ryan Garcia next. Garcia against WBA champ Rolly Romero is on the backburner at the moment.

Referee Kenny Bayless, 73, who announced his retirement last week on Facebook, says he’s still open to working international exhibitions or celebrity matches and maybe become a supervisor or judge with one of the four major boxing organizations.

Happy 2024!

WBC mandatory cruiserweight title challenger Ryan Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, is fresh off of his first round knockout of Olanrewaju Durodola last month. That victory now sets the stage for his showdown with current WBC cruiserweight world champion Norair Mikaeljan (27-2, 12 KOs). Fightnews.com® spoke with both Rozicki and his promoter Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions) with regards to his last fight and having earned the right to be next in line to face Mikaelian.

Congratulations on winning your WBC eliminator in your last fight. How surprised were you that you scored the knockout so early into the fight?

Thank you. It could have been King Kong across from me that night and I was getting the knockout. Anyone who steps in the ring with me is a walking dead man as far as I’m concerned and Durodola is lucky the ref stopped when he did because I was ready to fight in there until the death. So no, not surprised, just gave me some reassurance. Continue reading “Rozicki ready for title fight”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

WBA super flyweight champ Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16 KOs), 114.75, displayed his career best performance in finishing Venezuelan Josber Perez (20-4, 18 KOs), 114.75, at 2:44 of the seventh round to keep his WBA belt for the first time on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having dethroned Joshua Franco after renouncing his WBO belt, Ioka impressively made his first defense by dropping WBA#6 Perez on three occasions. Ioka, 34, remained more aggressive than usual from the outset, and had him absorb much punishment especially at the breadbasket. The fifth witnessed Ioka floor him at first with a body bombardment and again with a solid overhand right. Perez, 28, was saved by the bell. Ioka, in the fatal seventh, again accelerated his attack upstairs and downstairs, and finally scored a beautiful right to send him sprawling to the deck. The referee Jerry Guzman, Puerto Rico, tolled the fatal ten.

Ioka is still willing to face Juan Estrada with both WBC and WBA belts at stake. Continue reading “Ioka demolishes Perez, keeps WBA 115lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBC flyweight champ Daigo Higa (22-2-1, 19 KOs), 117.75, exchanged hot rallies with WBC#5 bantam Navaporn Khaikanha (58-4, 48 KOs), 117.5, from the start, put on a give-and-take performance and finished the Thailander with a wicked body shot at 2:29 of the fourth round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. This is a semi-windup to the Ioka-Perez year-end show. Physically Navaporn looked bigger and stronger, but Higa connected with busy combinations to the face and the midsection. Dropping the Thailander twice, Higa finally flattened the more experienced Thailander in the fatal fourth. Continue reading “Ex-WBC champ Higa finishes WBC#5 Navaporn”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Formerly 13-times amateur national champ WBC#12 Hayato Tsutsumi (4-0, 1 KO), 125.75, impressively swarmed over previously unbeaten WBA#15 feather Luis Moncio Ventura (11-1, 9 KOs), 125, Dominican Republic, dropped him with a vicious left hook and decked him again to score a fine TKO victory at 2:14 of the third round in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Tsutsumi, who had scored 88 wins out of 94 amateur contests, had acquired the OPBF 126-pound belt only in his third pro outing, but hadn’t scored even a single stoppage win. Determined Tsutsumi, aggressively attacked the Dominican from the outset, mixed it up with persistent body shots and finally caught up with him with furious combinations in the third. He badly decked Venture twice. It was on the undercard of the Ioka-Perez year-end show. Continue reading “WBC#12 Tsutsumi halts WBA#15 Ventura”

The official announcement of the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will take place on Saturday, January 6 at the SJC Boxing Gym (4220 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, Florida) from 12PM-5PM. The actual announcement will be made at 3 pm and be streamed live on the internet. The public is invited to attend. Plenty of current and former boxing stars will be on hand. There will be book signings, gym workouts, autographs, photographs, hotdogs, hamburgers and more. There is no charge for anything, donations are accepted.

At 1PM there will be special showing of the award-winning documentary “Worth the Fight.” It is a one-hour movie about the SJC Boxing Mentoring Program, which won top honors at both the Fort Myers Film Festival and the prestigious Milan Film Festival in Italy.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Since the negotiation of a unification bout of WBA titlist Kazuto Ioka and WBC champ Juan Estrada couldn’t reach an agreement for a highly expected show on the New Year’s Eve, Shisei Promotions then announced a substitute for Estrada in WBA#6 Josber Perez of Venezuela. The weigh-in results on Saturday were as follows:

WBA super flyweight title bout
Kazuto Ioka 114.75
Josber Perez 114.75

Daigo Higa 117.75
Navapon Khaikanha 117.5

Hayato Tsutsumi 125.75
Luis Ventura 125

Kantaro Juri 114.75
Danai Ngiabphukhiaw 113.75

There are two more swing bouts prepared.

Promoter: Shisei Promotions

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Sad to report the passing of super middleweight Cem Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs) in Los Angeles at the age of 29. Kilic reportedly took his own life. The Wildcard Gym posted the following on social media: “We are so very deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Cem Kilic. Gone far too soon. Our condolences to the Kilic family and to all those affected by his passing. Rest in peace, Cem. You will be greatly missed.”

Former world title challenger and current WBA #4 middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (37-5-1, 16 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO against Nicolas Hernandez (27-8-3, 12 KOs) on Friday night in front of 4,651 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. LaManna was in command all the way. Sudden mercy stoppage by the referee at 2:37 of the seventh.

In the main event, PBC junior welterweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. (17-1, 12 KOs) brutally kayoed Salim Larbi (22-13-3, 8 KOs) in the first round. Vito hit Larbi with a vicious right hand that knocked Larbi out cold. Larbi needed oxygen and a stretcher.

43-year-old welterweight Michael Anderson (24-3-1, 18 KOs) scored a spectacular fifth round KO over 38-year-old Eudy Bernardo (25-7, 18 KOs). Anderson dropped Bernado twice in round five to end it. Time was 2:28.

Popular heavyweight Kristian Prenga (15-1, 15 KOs) scored a first round knockout against Christopher Arnold (5-4, 5 KOs). A right hand laid out Arnold at 2:27.

Welterweight Rickey Edwards (14-5, 3 KOs) scored a six round majority decision over Mike Lee (10-3, 5 KOs). Scores were 57-57, 59-55, 58-56. Edwards is now 2-0 against Lee as this was a rematch.

Unbeaten welterweight Paul Kroll (11-0-2, 7 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO against Weah Archibald (10-16, 5 KOs).

By Ron Jackson

There have been a limited number of International tournaments during the year because of the cost of the rand against the dollar and the British pound, with the result that most of the imported fighters have been from Thailand because it is more economical for local promoters.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

The two standout fighters of the year were Ricardo Malajika who claimed the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title and Kevin Lerena who won the interim WBC bridgerweight title.

PROMOTERS

Among the promoters who staged tournaments despite the high financial cost of the rand against the dollar and pound, were Golden Gloves Promotions – Rodney Berman, Xaba Promotions –Ayanda Matiti, Joyce Kungwana – TLB Boxing and Shereen Hunter of Unleased Combat Sport. Continue reading “South African Boxing Roundup for 2023”