Fightnews.com

By Jeff Zimmerman

Light middleweight rising star and 2016 US Olympian Charles “Bad News” Conwell steps back in the ring vs Gerardo Vergara on the Rocha-Curiel undercard Sat, Dec 14, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA and live on DAZN. Conwell talked about his career journey and his tragic fight with Patrick Day which led him to become a mental health advocate. He shared his excitement in signing with Golden Boy Promotions with legends Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins in his corner as he pursues his first world title in 2025 and much more in this Fighntews.com® exclusive interview.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) showed a public workout before Japanese press people this Wednesday at Ohashi gym in Yokohama. “Monster” Inoue is scheduled to make a mandatory defense against also unbeaten IBF#1, WBO#1 Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on Christmas Eve at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Despite very favorable odds for him why has Naoya been training so strenuously? It is because he doen’t take the Aussie lightly as his father/trainer Shingo wisely says, “A boxer, unbeaten in his career, might have something to respect and for us to be cautious about.” Shingo also said, “Goodman is a good boxer who knows how to win. We will never underestimate him.”

Naoya cooly said, “I would like to show why boxing is so interesting to general people who don’t know boxing so well by scoring a spectacular knockout, and also wish to demonstrate a high standard of boxing on speed and skills for knowledgeable fight fans.” Continue reading “Inoue sharp before Christmas Eve defense”

Mahmoud Charr 255.8 vs. Kubrat Pulev 257.5
(WBA “regular” heavyweight title)

Venue: Arena Sophia, Sophia, Bulgaria
Promoter: Epic Sports & Entertainment
TV: DAZN

Ryan Rozicki 198.1 Yamil Peralta 198
(WBC interim cruiserweight title)

Sam Arnold III 167.9 Julian Delgado 166.8
(WBC Youth Intercontinental super middle title)

Antonio Napolitano 168.6 Brandon brewer 170.2
Brett Beaton 167.9 Javon Blackstock 169.1
Dylan Taylor 146.1 Samuel Arnold 145.3
Kharl Abello 145.5 Shawn Archer 146.6

Venue: Centre 200, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Promoter: Dan Otter (Three Lions Promotions)
TV: PPV

Liam Paro 139.6 vs. Richardson Hitchins 139.8
(IBF junior welterweight title)

Henry Lebron 130vs. Christopher Diaz 129.8
Yankiel Rivera 112 vs. Angel Gonzalez 110.8
Marc Castro 137.2 vs. Agustin Ezequiel Quintana ??
William Ortiz 140 vs. Lionell Omar Colon
Jalil Hackett 147 vs. Jose Roman 145.8
Juan Zayas 117.4 vs. Geraldo Valdez 116.6
Stephanie Pineiro 146.4 vs. Kalindra Faria 139.8
Carlos De Leon 128.2 vs. Jose Guevara 127.4

Venue: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Emanuel Navarrete 129.9 vs. Oscar Valdez 130
(WBO junior lightweight title)

Rafael Espinoza 125.7 vs. Robeisy Ramirez 125.6
(WBO featherweight title)

Lindolfo Delgado 139.9 vs. Jackson Marinez 139.2
Richard Torrez Jr. 236.6 vs. Issac Munoz 252.1
Albert Gonzalez 127.2 vs. Gerardo Antonio Perez 127.7
Steven Navarro 115.6 vs. Gabriel Bernardi 115.4
Giovani Santillan 147.9 vs. Fredrick Lawson 146.3
Art Barrera Jr. 149.4 vs. Juan Carlos Campos Medina 149.7
Cesar Morales 136.3 vs. Kevin Mosquera 136.4
DJ Zamora 131.3 vs. Roman Ruben Reynoso 131.9

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

Ari Bonilla 114.2 vs. Nelvis Rodriguez 113.4
(WBA Continental Americas super flyweight title)

Andrey Bonilla 117 vs. Claudio Lavinanza 117.2
(WBA Continental Americas bantamweight title)

Yosdiel Napoles 134.4 vs. Armando Martinez Rabi 134.4
Filip Stankovic 172 vs. Victor Darocha 172
Yoandy Toirac 268 vs. Lateef Kayode 250.8
Jessy Cruz 142 vs. Israel Rojas 138.6
Gavonne Bess 146 vs. Raymond Benavides 138
Evelyn Romo 117.4 vs. Laddy Mejia 118.4
Aaron Aponte 143 vs. Carlos Manuel Portillo 141.4

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Promoter: Kris Lawrence (The Heavyweight Factory)
Matchmaker: Henry Rivalta

Hard stares today as IBF and WBO European super featherweight champion Danny Quartermaine (12-0, 4 KOs) locked eyes with Jack Bateson (20-1, 6 KOs) at the official pre-fight press conference for their clash on Saturday on DAZN from the Canon Medical Centre in Sheffield, England.

Danny Quartermaine: “I’ve said I’m the underdog because that’s my mentality – there’s no favorites here…he’s sounding confident but he’s in for a shock. I’ve had a great training camp and the best man will win on the night – and that’s me.”

Jack Bateson: “I’m a bit fed up with all his talk about him being the underdog. He’s the defending champion, he’s the guy with the belts, he’s the guy with a promotional deal with GBM – all the pressure is on him. I have got nothing to lose.”

Saturday night’s card also features a Commonwealth super featherweight eliminator between Levi Giles and Qais Ashfaq, with the winner going forward to a shot at the belt in his next outing.

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach continued their war of words at an open to the public press conference in Washington, D.C. on Thursday ahead of their lightweight world championship clash that headlines a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Gervonta Davis: “I haven’t been watching his fights too much, but I’ve been in the gym with him and I know how he moves. I’ll get in camp and get up to date on him. I know for sure he’s definitely tough and has sneaky power. He’s had sneaky power since we were kids. We’re gonna figure out what he’s best at, and we’ll take it away from him.”

Lamont Roach: “I can do whatever I want. He’s not doing anything to me. He’s got nothing for me. It’s just me and him. He can’t be worried about these other people.”

Two world title rematches are set to light up The Grand Canyon State, with legacies and redemption on the line.

In the main event, three-division champion Emanuel “El Vaquero” Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) defends his WBO junior lightweight world title against former two-division king Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) in an all-Mexican clash this Saturday on ESPN from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Emanuel Navarrete: “We all know that we both plan to come out and give a war and leave everything in the ring again. And what better way to do it than by having a co-main event that’s gonna eat things up?…we don’t need much. All we need is for the bell to ring for us to go to war.”

Oscar Valdez: “This is not an easy fight. This is a hard task. But nothing in life that is worth it is going to be easy. It’s always going to be hard. So, we trained hard. I’m excited for this. I’m excited to face the great ‘Vaquero’ once again. It’s going to be a great fight.”

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In the co-feature, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBO featherweight world title against Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), the man he unseated one year ago to seize the crown.

Rafael Espinoza: “God’s timing is perfect. We waited a bit for the rematch, but now we are here. And like I’ve said since the first fight, I’ve always wanted a rematch. because it was a war where we both gave everything. So, he deserved it, I deserved it, and the people deserved it…yes, we all know about my height advantage, but I also have another advantage, and that’s my heart. So, I’m going to show my heart by giving everything in the ring this Saturday.”

Robeisy Ramirez: “I think that to mention things from the past right now is unnecessary because it sounds like excuses, and I will never give excuses in this sport. Simply put, I think that I learned how you should fight when you’re not at 100% physically and mentally.”

IBF junior welterweight champion Liam Paro and challenger Richardson Hitchins faced off at the final press conference for their world title fight on Saturday night at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, live worldwide on DAZN.

Liam Paro: “I’ve said this my whole career, ‘fighters fight.’ I want to be a busy champion, and when we didn’t get any other bites, we called on our mandatory. We knew that we would have to take care of [Hitchins] sooner or later and felt that sooner is better than later. So, here we are now, two days away from squaring off and I can’t wait to show the world what we already know.”

Richardson Hitchins: “Liam knows how to box but come Saturday I’ll be prepared for a boxing match too. At the end of the day, when it comes to the sweet science, I know how to do it all. I’m at the world stage for a reason. I’ve been showing that I’m at a world stage since the amateurs. I’ve had to fight 20 different styles in seven days in Russia as an Olympian, so I’m used to all kinds of different styles. Whatever he brings to the table, I’ll be able to adjust…Liam has never been in the ring with an opponent like me. I’m saying it now, and he will be saying it after the fight.”

By Ron Jackson

Exciting all-action juniot middleweight Roarke Knapp (17-2-1, 12 KOs) returns to action when he faces the rugged Adones Cabalquinto (26-3, 16 KOs) of the Philippines at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park, South Africa on Friday night over ten rounds. It has also been reported the former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be in attendance.

The southpaw Cabalquinto at 36 years old has been fighting as a professional since March 2010 and is vastly more experienced than the South African. This could be a tough one for Knapp. Continue reading “Knapp returns to action against Cabalquito”

The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum has announced the newest class of inductees to be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 5-8, 2025 in “Boxing’s Hometown” Canastota, NY.

The Class of 2025 includes Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category; Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category; Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category; referee Kenny Bayless, cut man Al Gavin (posthumous) and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category; broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg in the Observer category; Rodrigo Valdez (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Owen Swift (posthumous) in the Pioneer category.

Salita Promotions has announced the main and co-main opponents for local boxing standouts undefeated Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr., from Flint and once-beaten and highly touted Joey Spencer from Fenton on Thursday night at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan.

Both Holmes (16-0, 6 KOs) and Spencer (18-1, 11 KOs) will face undefeated prospects in 10-round super welterweight and middleweight fights, respectively. In the main event Holmes takes on Edwine Humaine Junior (9-0, 7 KOs). Spencer will be put to the test against Miguel Angel Hernandez (9-0, 7 KOs) also.D

AZN will stream the event.

The 2025 boxing season kicks off with a bang as KOhen Promotions and Dee Lee Promotions team up to present a card on January 18 at the iconic 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The evening’s main event will feature a heavyweight showdown between Kristian Prenga (16-1-0, 16 KOs) and Juan Torres (11-7-1, 4 KOs). DAZN will stream the action.

Other Bouts:

• Daiyann Butt (19-2-0, 10 KOs) takes on the seasoned Philadelphia warrior “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy (34-14-1, 14 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight clash.
• Greg “Sharpshooter” Outlaw (16-2-0, 9 KOs) squares off against Jeter Burgos (8-2, 6 KOs) at welterweioght.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins (18-0, 7 KOs) says he’s ready to dethrone world champion Liam Paro (25-0, 15 KOs), as he closes in on his showdown for the IBF title at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

“I’m on a different level,” said Hitchins. “I can say that but on Saturday I get the opportunity to get in the ring and prove it. I feel I am a better fighter, a better boxer. I have the better tools and am more experienced. If you look at my boxing journey from the amateurs, the Olympics, to facing ex-world champions and many young undefeated fighters, you will understand. Continue reading “Hitchins: I can really see me getting the KO”

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis went face-to-face with WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach at a press conference in Brooklyn on Tuesday to preview their lightweight world championship clash that headlines a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Gervonta Davis: “I’m gonna chop, chop, bob and weave. I’m gonna end it in the ninth round…we’ll have to test his chin come March 1. He might think my opponents don’t have chins, but we’ll definitely test it. I say leave the kids at home.”

Lamont Roach: “I shouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe I’m gonna win. I’ve hurt everybody that I’ve been in the ring with and this won’t be any different…I don’t care about being the underdog or being the favorite. Either way, I’m gonna win.”

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions kicks off the 2025 season on Friday, January 17 at the famed Commerce Casino Events Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live globally on UFC Fightpass, headlined by undefeated featherweight Omar Trinidad, (17-0-1, 12 KOs) making the third defense of his WBC Continental Americas title against ‘Magic’ Mike Plania, (31-4, 18 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines over ten scheduled rounds. Trinidad is currently ranked #2 by the International Boxing Federation.

The undercard has been finalized for the anticipated clash of power between NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) and undefeated knockout artist and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs). The 12-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

• In the co-main event, the highly ranked, undefeated world title contender Charles “Bad News” Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) will return to the ring in a 10-round super welterweight fight against Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KO’s).
• Making his return, John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) is making a comeback into the ring against Sugar Land, Texas’ undefeated Ephraim Bui (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight fight.
• In a crossroads fight, U.S. Olympic Medalist and former unified world champion Marlen Esparza (14-2, 1 KOs) and former four-time World Champion Arely “Ametralladora” Mucino (32-4-2, 11 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico will battle it out in a 10-round super flyweight bout.
• Opening the DAZN Broadcast with a 10-round super featherweight fight, Victor “El Tornado” Morales (19-0-1, 9 KOs) of Vancouver, Canada and Ensenada, Mexico’s Jose Ortiz (16-2-1, 6 KOs) will kick off the broadcast.

Rising junior middleweight Leo Ruiz steps up against Argentina’s Elias Haedo in the 10-round main event this Friday, Dec. 6, at Sala Urbana in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico. Ruiz, a Southern California-based boxer-puncher, is aiming for his third victory of the year. The card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Ruiz (15-0, 8 KOs), a six-year pro, has gained invaluable experience training at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. He has won seven fights since returning from a 13-month layoff in October 2021. In 2023, he went 3-0, including a split decision over then-unbeaten contender Raul Garcia. He made his 2024 debut in April with a near-shutout decision over Oziel Santoyo. In his last outing, he earned a 10-round unanimous decision over 30-fight veteran Alejandro Davila. Haedo (15-6, 11 KOs) has only been stopped twice and is coming off a second-round stoppage of Ezequiel Nicolas Albarenga in October.

By Boxing Bob Newman

Three time Super Bantamweight champion Israel “Magnifico” Vázquez Castañeda has passed at the age of 46. Vázquez fought his final battle against stage IV Sarcoma, as he did all his battles in the ring- with heart and fearlessness.

An IBF, WBC and Ring Magazine champion at 122 lbs., Vázquez began his ring career at 17, reeling off nine straight wins before suffering a a shocking first round KO loss to Ulises Flores. He would notch another eleven straight victories before losing an NABO title bid to Marcos Licona. Another thirteen wins would come before losing a WBC interim title shot to previous victim Oscar Larios via TKO12. Four fights later, Continue reading “Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez Passes”

Nikolay Shvab 134.5 vs. Andrew Rodgers 136
Chris Howard 144 vs. Ryan Schwartzberg 144.6
Tony Aguilar 138.6 vs. Marcello Williams 138.4
Ryan Shaw 111.8 vs. Rondarius Hunter 111.8
Curtis Harper 267.6 vs. Francois Russell 258.6
Yoelys Leal Molina 147.4 vs. Jashawn Hunter (Will Weigh Tues)
Yoandri Rodriguez 266.4 vs. Julio Mendoza 231.2

Venue: Troubadour Nashville
Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
TV: Triller.TV (Marc Abrams/Mike Rodgers/Albert Haynesworth on the call)
1st Bell 7PM CT (8 PM ET)

Queensberry Promotions has announced a blockbuster February 22 event billed as “The Last Crescendo” headlined by the world championship rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and former WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Other bouts:

IBF world heavyweight championship
Daniel DuBois vs. Josephi Parker

WBC lightweight championship
Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield

WBC middleweight championship
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz

WBC interim super welterweight championship
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov

WBO interim light heavyweight championship
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith

WBC interim heavyweight championship
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman – WBC President

This past week was the celebration of an American tradition called “Thanksgiving Day.” On the last Thursday of November families get together and spend a weekend in the company of their loved ones.

They cook traditional dishes the likes of turkey, garnished with pumpkin puree along with sprinklings of marshmallows, cranberry sauce, pasta, greens … and I’ll stop there, because I’m getting hungry. There are NFL games throughout the day and family members talk, laugh and cry. Friday the day of maximum tempting discounts in the stores with the irresistible Black Friday, is celebrated and on Saturday and Sunday everyone begins their trip back home and get back to normal life with a warm heart.

Coincidentally, this week many things happened for which we can be thankful. Thanks to various people from our WBC family, Israel Vázquez was reunited with his parents and sister who are now with him at his home in California. Thank you also for the medical services that are being administered to him during this difficult, challenging time, and for the company and closeness, for the multiple messages of encouragement for our brave warrior. Dr. Louis Rodriguez, Nancy Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Pelayo, Federico Enriquez, and several more friends have been extremely supportive. Continue reading “Many Reasons To Give Thanks”