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In an interview on the ESPN Deportes Friday, Canelo Alvarez stated that he’s through being cordial with WBC/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and that the Golovkin camp are hypocrites who only care about money, not honor.

There is so much bad blood between the two fighters that there will not be a kick-off press conference or press tour and the fighters won’t meet face to face until fight week. They’ll do a split-screen press event on Facebook next week and that’s as close as they’ll get.

* * *

Also both camps released statements…

Canelo Alvarez: “The truth is that this fight means a lot to me because of all that has happened and all that has been said. I will prove with my fists that I am the best, and Golovkin will eat all of his words and speculations. I will demonstrate who is the best when I defeat Golovkin soundly on September 15 during Independence Day Weekend, and I’ll make it clear that Mexican boxing is the best.”

Gennady Golovkin: “I am happy that the deal is done and the rematch is back on. I am ready to get back to work in Big Bear with Abel. This is the biggest fight for boxing, the fight everyone wants. It is a fight to see who is best. It is for boxing history. I am happy to be defending my titles on Mexican Independence Day, a great stage for true Mexican-Style boxing. Canelo can walk to the ring last. Canelo can be introduced last. The important thing is who leaves the ring last, and that will be me, as world champion, the people’s champion. See you at the Big Drama Show.” Continue reading “Canelo: GGG only cares about money”

By Gary “Digital” Williams at ringside

The Shabazz Brotherz Promotions card held Friday night at Martin’s West in Woodlawn, MD proved to be a great night for the family of former undisputed heavyweight champion and Baltimore, MD native Hasim Rahman, Sr.

Heavyweight Hasim “Gold Blooded” Rahman, Jr. knocked out Stephen Tyner of Akron, OH at one second of the second round. Rahman, Jr. was dominant through the first round, battering Tyner from the opening bell. Right at the end of the first, Rahman, Jr. landed a crushing right hand that dropped Tyner to the canvas. Tyner managed to beat referee Brent Bovell’s count and make it to his corner. However, as the bell rang to start the second round, Tyner could not get off of his stool and the bout would be stopped. Rahman, Jr. remains undefeated at 5-0, four KO’s while Tyner falls to 4-16-3, two KO’s.

Rahman, Jr.’s brother, Sharif “C3” Rahman, won a four-round unanimous decision in a light heavyweight bout over Tahlik Taylor of Greensboro, NC. In going the distance for the first time in his young career, Rahman handled the distance easily as he was able to outwork Taylor in the contest. Judge David Braslow scored a shutout for Rahman, 40-36 while judges Kenny Chevalier and John Gradowski saw the bout 39-37 for Rahman, who is now 3-0, two KO’s while Taylor falls to 3-11-1, one KO.

Rahman, Sr.’s brother, Muhsin “The Spartan” Cason, won a cruiserweight bout by four-round unanimous decision over the debuting Charles Johnson of Upper Marlboro, MD. Cason showed a strong jab that kept Johnson off balance throughout the bout. Johnson tried to fight back but Cason’s offense was too strong as he won by shutout across the board, 40-36. Cason’s record is now 2-0. Continue reading “Rahman Family successful in Woodlawn, MD”

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced the officials for tonight’s clash between WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez, from Mexico, and WBO Latino champion and eighth-ranked at 168 pounds Roamer Alexis Angulo, from Colombia. The bout will take place at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, as part of a boxing evening presented by Top Rank.

Gary Ritter of Oklahoma, will be the referee of the fight. Javier Álvarez, of Texas, David Sutherland, of Oklahoma and Levi Martínez, of New Mexico, were appointed judges for the bout. The WBO supervisor will be Richard De Cuir, of Sacramento, California.

Undefeated WBC Super-Lightweight Mandatory Josh ‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor from Edinburgh, Scotland is ready for the 140lb edition of the World Boxing Super Series. Known as the ‘The Tartan Tornado’ for his all-action style 27-year-old Taylor (13-0, 11 KOs) turned professional in 2015 after a successful amateur career culminating with the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the light welterweight division.

In June 2018, Taylor fought former WBC Super-Lightweight World Champion, Viktor Postol of Ukraine and scored a dominant unanimous decision win, meaning that he was placed in the mandatory spot for the WBC World Title.

Three weight classes will feature in Season II of the World Boxing Super Series with two categories, Bantamweight and Super Lightweight, already announced. Continue reading “Josh Taylor joins WBSS tourney”

Tickets for the rematch between WBC/WBA middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) and Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) on September 15 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will go on sale Tuesday, July 3 at 10AM PT. Prices are $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300. There will be a limit of 8 per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels.

But here’s the scoop. You can grab better seats by buying your tickets before the general public. Starting TODAY at 10AM PT, go to www.axs.com and use the secret presale code which you’ll never guess in a million years. The secret code is GGG. We’re told the promo code CANELO also works.

By Boxing Bob Newman

If there is one debate in boxing in which I don’t involve myself, it is arguing who would’ve won between fighters of different eras. The argument can’t ever be proven, at least not based on scientific statistics…and I’m a science guy. Prove me wrong with facts and you win the argument.

Well now, thanks to the efforts of Bob Canobbio and Lee Groves of Compubox, maybe that argument is one in which I could eventually engage. Muhammad Ali: By the Numbers takes a never before seen quantitatively analytical view at the career of “The Greatest.” It’s Modern Science meets the Golden Age of the Sweet Science. Continue reading “Muhammad Ali: By the Numbers”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO #11 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia (16-0, 13 KOs) stopped Kurtis Pegoraro (11-4, 1 KO) in round two of a scheduled ten round IBF and WBO regional title bout at the Pullman hotel, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Friday. Referee Phil Austin called it off at 1:25 of round two when Pegoraro was dropped with a body shot. Opetaia, 22 Years, is a 2011 world amateur champion and a 2012 London Olympian.

Formerly WBA rated welterweight Cameron Hammond (17-1, 9 KOs) stopped Aphichat Koedchatturat (2-26-2, 0 KOs) in round two of a scheduled six. Referee Tony Kettlewell crowned Hammond at 1:50. Hammond is a London 2012 Olympic Representative. Continue reading “WBO #11 Opetaia victorious”

By John DiSanto at ringside
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.

In the main event, Los Angeles flyweight Carlos Maldonado, 11-2, 7 KOs, spoiled the homecoming of North Philly’s Miguel Cartagena, 15-5-1, 6 KOs, by winning a split decision in their eight round bout. After about four years on the road, Miguel returned to the area for this career reboot assignment, and although I had him up by a point after eight rounds, he faded in the final two sessions and let the victory slip away. The fight was very competitive. On my card, the fighters split the first four rounds before Cartagena won the fifth and sixth. However, Maldonado rallied in the final two rounds and punctuated his performance by scoring a knockdown in the eighth. However, Maldonado won the fight by consensus of the three official scorers. Each fighter claimed a 76-75 score, but the tie was broken by the third score of 77-74 for Maldonado. Continue reading “Maldonado surprises Cartagena in Philly”

Unbeaten Boston welterweight contender Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (20-0, 13 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision against rugged Panamanian Alberto “Metralleta” Mosquera (25-3-2, 16 KOs) on Friday night at the Oasis Arena in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Scores were 97-92, 98-91, 98-91. Ellis was deducted a point for a low blow in round nine.

Super bantamweight Francisco “Panchito” Horta (17-3-1, 10 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over a very game David Reyes (17-5-1, 6 KOs). Good action fight. Reyes was deducted a point in round four for a headbutt. Scores were 79-72, 78-73, 80-72.

In an upset, unheralded featherweight Hiram Gallardo (7-2-1, 1 KO) scored a six round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten KO artist Eduardo Nunez (10-1, 10 KOs). Nunez was deducted a point for a low blow and Gallardo closed with a flurry, but Nunez also had a big advantage in power shots. Scores were 57-56, 57-56, 58-55 for Gallardo.

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Gilberto Ramirez 167 vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo 167.2
(WBO super middleweight title)

Alex Saucedo 139.6 vs. Lenny Zappavigna 139.4
Robson Conceicao 130 vs. Guavino Guaman 127.8
Mike Alvarado 142.2 vs. Martin Martinez 143.2
Trey Lippe Morrison 230.8 vs. Byron Polley 276.8
Mikaela Mayer 131.2 vs. Sheena Kaine 130.8
Christopher Zavala 127 vs. Tyler Pacheco 127.2
Aaron Morales 118.2 vs. David Martino 118.4

Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

Photos

Joe Smith Jr. 179 vs. Melvin Russell 177
Kali Reis 144 vs. Paty Ramirez 146.5
Anthony Laureano 138.25 vs. Juan De La Cruz Rodriguez 139.5
Wendy Toussaint 151.5 vs. Andy Gonzalez 150.75
Joe Farina 150 vs. Steve Moore 149
Larry Gleeson 146.25 vs. Anthony Woods 150
Cassius Chaney 246 vs. Elder Hernandez 250
William Foster 131.75 vs. Tyrome Jones 131

Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut
Promoter: Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing

WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder sat down for an exclusive video interview with Brendan Schaub for the SHOWTIME Sports digital talk show Below The Belt where the American champion opens up about the contentious negotiation process for a unification fight with IBF, WBA and WBO Champion Anthony Joshua.

“It’s 50-50 straight across,” Wilder said during the interview that taped Thursday in Los Angeles. “I am not accepting no flat fee… I am done with that.”

Michael Conlan 127.5 vs. Adeilson Dos Santos 126.6
Jack Catterall 139.8 vs. Tyrone McKenna 139.6
Jono Carroll 129.2 vs. Declan Geraghty 129.5
Tyrone McCullagh 121.6 vs. Joe Ham 121.2
Johnny Coyle 141 vs. Lewis Benson 141.3

Venue: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Promoter: Frank Warren
TV: ESPN+ (USA), BT Sport (UK)

Pedro Campa 142 vs. Domicio Rondon 142
Joshua Martinez 117 vs. Daniel Argueta 115
Sergio Sanchez 127 vs. Abel A. Garcia 126.3
Cesar Soriano 137 vs. Arturo Bustamante 136
Dwayne Beamon 115 vs. Joel Córdova 115

Venue: Gimnasio de Trabajadores del Sindicato del Metro, Mexico City
Promoter: Zanfer
TV: TV Azteca (Mexico), beIN Sports Español (USA)

Manny Pacquiao is gunning for one of four world titles at stake against WBA champion Lucas Matthysse in the “Fight of Champions” roadshow that promises to electrify the Kuala Lampur’s Axiata Arena on July 15 from start to finish. Playing the unlikely role as challenger in an inspired bid to win an unprecedented 11th world title, the only eight-weight division boxing champion Pacquiao (59-7-2, 36 KOs), is training to dethrone the dangerous Matthysse of Argentina (39-4, 36 KOs).

The World Boxing Association has recently ordered for Jhack Tepora of the Philippines (21-0, 16 KOs) to fight Edivaldo “Indio” Ortega of Mexico (26-1-1, 12 KOs), for the vacant “regular” WBA featherweight title. Continue reading “Pacquiao-Matthysse full card announced”

We reported this a while back, but today Comosa AG officially announced a date and venue for the spectacular World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final and unification bout between Aleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) and Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), one of the most anticipated boxing match-ups in years, has been confirmed for Saturday July 21 at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow, Russia. The winner will be the first cruiserweight ever to unify the titles in the four-belt era.

Aleksandr Usyk: “I am once again traveling to the territory of the rival. I did it with success in the quarter- and semi-final and now I am going to Moscow to win!”

Murat Gassiev: “I was ready to fight Usyk anywhere in the world. I am sure Usyk and I will make a great fight. The winner takes it all!”

Plans to hold the final of the inaugural season in May had to be revised after Usyk declared that he had sustained an elbow injury during his training camp. The injury was checked by Comosa approved medical staff who agreed with the extent of the injury and recovery timeframe. This meant that the cruiserweight final date, and therefore venue, had to be moved.

The Illinois State Athletic Commission and the World Boxing Organization are conducting a training seminar for professional boxing officials on June 30, 2018 at the Garfield Park – Golden Dome, 100 N. Central Park Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60624 starting at 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Judges Training will be conducted by Glenn Feldman and Mike Fitzgerald. Referees Training will be conducted by Celestino Ruiz and Geno Rodriguez. Topics to be covered in this multidisciplinary and interactive format seminar include refereeing, judging, rules, professionalism and ethics. Space is limited, so to reserve a seat, please email your intent to attend and your contact information to Nancy Illg and Joel Campuzano of the Illinois State Athletic Commission: [email protected] and [email protected].

Promoter Eddie Hearn says the offer is still good for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to fight WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua…in April 2019. “The contract is still live, it’s still valid, it’s sitting on your manager’s desk,” Hearn told Wilder via Sky Sports. “Apparently you only had two minor comments that you couldn’t even send us, so send them now, or sign the contract and we will sign the contract before your ink is dry.”

Hearn continued, “So stop fooling the fans, and ask the fans and the media to put pressure on Deontay Wilder, because if you really want this fight, it’s still there, sign it. April 13th at Wembley Stadium, Deontay Wilder can give the fans what they want, so don’t worry about us, certainly don’t worry about Anthony Joshua, he will fight any man.”

Miguel Cartagena 112.6 vs. Carlos Maldonado 112.8
Anthony Prescott 151.6 vs. Isaiah Wise 155.1
Marcel Rivers 145.2 vs. Mike Crain 143.4
Victor Vasquez 136.6 vs. Vinnie Denierio 138.9
Nyrome Lynch 136.9 vs. Gerardo Martinez 137.5
Aldofo Serrano 131.1 vs. Christofer Burgos 134.6
Kieran Hooks 140.1 vs. Sharif Hones 140.7
Emmanuel Rodriguez 117.2 vs. Ndira Spearman 117.3

Venue: Parx Casino
Promoter: Joe Hand Promotions