Fightnews.com

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

The fighters sat on a podium atop the floor where the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder play, discussing Saturday’s ESPN-televised card at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The main event will see WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) defending his title against Alexis Angulo (23-0, 20 KOs).

Gilberto Ramirez: “Angulo is going to be a tough opponent. I expect a tough fight from him. He seems like a great fighter. His record proves it. From what I know, he’s a big puncher, and I know that he will try to knock me out. I’m going to try and knock him out, too. He doesn’t have a loss on his record, but he will on Saturday.”

Alexis Angulo: “I don’t feel like he has any advantages. We both have two legs. We both have two arms. We both have two eyes. We are equals, and anything can happen when you get in the ring. It has been my dream to fight for a world title, and now the opportunity is here. Gilberto Ramirez is a great champion, but my time is now.” Continue reading “Zurdo-Angulo Final Press Conference”

Rashidi Ellis 147 vs. Alberto Mosquera 147
Francisco Horta 122 vs. David Reyes 122.8
Eduardo Nunez 127.6 vs. Hiram Gallardo 125.6
Carlos Licona 110.6 vs. Jose Ramirez 110.6
Eric Gamboa 118.8 vs. Jose Lopez 116.2
Luis Salamanca 139.4 vs. Jose Aguilar 139.2
Simon Madsen 158.2 vs. Pascual Mendoza TBA
Calex Castro 128.6 vs. Israel Castillo 127.8

Venue: Gran Oasis Arena, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
TV: ESPN2

Super featherweight Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (18-4-2, 14 KOs) will return to the ring in a 10-round fight against contender Dardan Zenunaj (14-4, 11 KOs) in the main event of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN on Aug. 17 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights. Cancio, who recently re-signed with Golden Boy Promotions, is coming off a TKO victory against then-undefeated prospect Aida Sharibayev. He also has victories against former world title challengers Rocky Juarez and Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes and Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado. Zenunaj is a former NABO Super Featherweight champion.

Popular Japanese slugger Yoshihiro “Corazon de Acero” Kamegai (27-4-2, 24 KOs) will return in the 10-round co-main event in the 154-pound division. Opponent is TBA.

Tomorrow, undefeated super featherweight contender Jon Fernandez (15-0, 13 KOs), of Bilbao, Spain, clashes with battle-tested Nicaraguan veteran Henry Maldonado (20-6, 14 KOs), in a bout scheduled for eight rounds, at Pabellon Camilo Cano, in La Nucia, Spain. Currently riding a 13-bout knockout streak, the all-action Fernandez was brimming with confidence on the eve of the showdown.

“Maldonado has a lot of very good experience. He’s fought a number of great fighters, but we’ve had a terrific training camp and I’m ready for victory,” said the 22-year-old Fernandez.

Fernandez turned heads in the United States last year with two stunning knockouts televised on SHOWTIME and looks to return later this year. Continue reading “Fernandez returns tomorrow night”

After more than a decade of Co-Promoting 2008 US Olympian Demetrius Andrade together, Star Boxing & Banner Promotions have announced that they have officially released Demetrius Andrade from his long-term promotional agreement. Star Boxing and Banner Promotions signed Andrade out of the Olympics 10 years ago and have promoted him since. Under their guidance, Andrade became the first fighter from the 2008 US Olympic team to win a World Championship and ultimately became a two-time, undefeated world champion while being co-promoted by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions. Continue reading “Andrade released from promotional agreement”

Gold-star women’s bantamweight prospect Elena Savelyeva (4-0, 3 KOs) of Russia will return to the ring on Friday, July 13, in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, for an eight-round showdown against current #10 IBF and #11 WBC contender Nina Radovanovic (12-2, 3 KOs) of Serbia.

Formerly one of the most decorated female amateur boxers in the world, Savelyeva is being fast-tracked by her co-promoters, Salita Promotions and Russia-based Alexander Nevskiy Promotion Group. Radovanovic is a two-time world-title challenger, whose only two losses occurred in world-championship fights.

“Even though I only have four professional fights, I want to fight the best and show the boxing world my skills,” said Savelyeva, a former world, European (2X) and Russian (6X) amateur champion, who represented her homeland in the 2012 Summer Olympics and competed in the first-ever women’s Olympic boxing match in history. Continue reading “Savelyeva faces Radovanovic July 13”

Amir Khan will face Samuel Vargas at Arena Birmingham on September 8. Khan is back in action following his blistering return to the ring in April destroying Phil Lo Greco in just 39 seconds after nearly two years out of action.

The former unified super-lightweight ruler is setting his sights on welterweight world honors this year and steps up that pursuit in Birmingham when he meets Canadian based Colombian Vargas, the 29-year-old ranked number 10 in the WBA and having shared the ring with current IBF king Errol Spence and Khan’s old foe Danny Garcia.

“One of my aims this year was to be as active as possible so I’m very happy to get back in the ring again so soon against Samuel Vargas,” said Khan. Continue reading “Amir Khan opponent named: Samuel Vargas”

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has issued an open letter to his fans via social media.

Dear boxing fans

Well, I tried…

I tried to give you guys the biggest fight of your lives. The most exciting fight in world history. The first undisputed, undefeated, WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF unified heavyweight champion of the world since Lewis.

They tried too you know…

They asked for jungle deep numbers just to get out of the fight not knowing we were hustlers so we served ’em (The Money’s In Da Bag).

Just like a game of spades…what he do?

That Nicca Renig!! smdh

Just told a bold face lie, he’s not a stand-up guy.

Instead, he wanted to fight in his country.

“I respect that”

They offered me a “flat fee” crack head money, something that’s equivalent to a pack of peanuts + loaf bread & a jar of honey!! Continue reading “Wilder: They offered me flat-fee crackhead money”

The IBF super lightweight Championship will be contested between Anthony Yigit and his IBF Mandatory Ivan Baranchyk in one of the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series after both fighters entered the tournament.

26-year-old Yigit (21-0-1, 7 KOs) from Sweden competed at the London 2012 Olympics losing by a single point to eventual silver medallist Denys Berinchyk. He is the EBU European Super-Lightweight Champion and IBF Mandatory and is now bringing his explosive and entertaining style to the World Boxing Super Series.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m honored to have been chosen to fight among the best in the division,” said Yigit. Continue reading “WBSS adds Yigit-Baranchyk IBF clash”

IBF #2 heavyweight Kubrat Pulev is ready to face IBF #3 rated contender, Jarrell Miller from Brooklyn, NY. “I’m happy to welcome Jerrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller to Bulgaria. It will be an opportunity to showcase this exciting heavyweight matchup between us in front of grateful boxing fans,” Pulev announced via Twitter.

On June 25, 2017, Epic Sports & Entertainment won the IBF purse bid for the heavyweight elimination bout between Pulev and Miller with a whopping bid of $2,111,111. The next highest bidder, Sauerland Events, placed their offer at $1,000,010, less than 50% of Epic’s bid.

Epic had also won the previous IBF purse bid on May 24, 2018 for the Pulev vs. Dillian Whyte bout with a bid of over $1.5 million, but Whyte and his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, ended up pulling out and signing to fight Joseph Parker. Earlier in the year, on March 12, 2018, the IBF had ordered a heavyweight elimination bout between Pulev and Dominic Breazeale, but Breazeale too ultimately refused to fight Pulev. Continue reading “Pulev Ready for Big Baby”

2016 Rio Olympic super heavyweight bronze medallist Filip Hrgović (5-0, 4 KOs) will box at home for the first time as a professional on September 8 as he headlines at the Arena Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia. Having fought all his previous contests away from home, Hrgović says he is delighted to be fighting in Croatia, and has vowed to make his countrymen proud with his greatest performance yet.

“It will be a special moment when I walk out in front of my home fans at the Arena Zagreb,” says Hrgović. “It is a huge opportunity to box as the main event in your hometown. It will give me a lot of confidence and pride but also a lot of responsibility to place Zagreb on the world boxing map. Continue reading “Heavyweight Hrgovic Headlines at Home”

Undefeated heavyweight LaRon Mitchell (16-0, 14 KOs) defends his Junior NABF championship this Saturday from Omega Products International in Sacramento, Calif. In his second title defense, Mitchell, 38, will face Rodney Hernandez (10-7-2, 2 KOs) in the 8-rounder. Mitchell and Hernandez know each another, having logged numerous sparring sessions through the years. Mitchell hails from San Francisco, while Hernandez represents San Jose. The pair, who are friendly outside of the ring, will be fighting for championship hardware and the unofficial title of best Bay Area heavyweight.

“Defending my title is very important, but we’re also fighting for Bay Area bragging rights,” Mitchell said. “There aren’t too many heavyweights in Northern California so this fight is about making my second successful defense and who’s the best from this area.” Continue reading “Unbeaten LaRon Mitchell returns Saturday”

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

The Azteca Boxing Gym in Oklahoma City hosted a media workout for the biggest fight card to hit the city in years.

In the main event, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) will defend the WBO super middleweight title against fellow unbeaten Alexis Angulo (23-0, 20 KOs). And, in the special co-feature, Oklahoma City native Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo (27-0, 17 KOs) will fight veteran Lenny Zappavigna (37-3, 27 KOs) in a 140-pound slugfest. Continue reading “Zurdo Ramirez Workout”

By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son

It has been a very good year for boxing so far, it is my pleasure to report a disclosure of the WBC administration of each division derived from the convention ruling and happenings during this time.

The WBC goal remains to do everything possible to facilitate and mediate to try to make the best fights possible for the fans. Continue reading “The 12th Round: WBC Mid-year Report”

Boxers have been announced for the reboot of “The Contender,” beginning August 24 on EPIX. The winner gets $250,000. The show is hosted by Andre Ward with two teams of middleweight fighters trained by Freddie Roach and Naazim Richardson.

The fighters are:

Brandon Adams (17-2)
Daniel Valdivia (14-2)
Devaun Lee (10-3-1)
Eric Walker (15-1)
John Thompson (18-3)
Ievgen Khytrov (16-1)
Malcolm McAllister (9-1)
Quatavious Cash (10-0)
Tyrone Brunson (26-6-2)
Shane Mosley Jr. (10-2)
Michael Moore (15-1)
John Jackson (21-3)
Morgan Fitch (18-1-1)
Marcos Hernandez (11-1)
Gerald Sherrell (8-0)
Lamar Russ (17-2)

By TMZSports.com

Floyd Mayweather Sr. is off the hook in his battery case — after a judge found him NOT GUILTY of attacking a woman after the Canelo vs. GGG fight … TMZ Sports has learned. As we previously reported, Floyd Mayweather’s father was arrested after a woman claimed the former boxer grabbed her and then punched her in the leg after the boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas in Sept. 2017.

The 65-year-old had adamantly denied roughing up the woman and pled not guilty in court. Now, we’ve learned the case went to trial in front of a judge — and, on Tuesday, Floyd Sr. was found not guilty.

A rep for Floyd Sr. tells TMZ Sports … “The truth came out. Floyd Sr. is very happy this is behind him. He was never guilty. He’s happy it’s over.” The rep believes the accuser was only out for money — and tells us, “This is what greed does.”

Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr., the former two-division world titleholder, has agreed to a new multiyear contract extension with ESPN, it was announced today. Under the agreement, Bradley will continue to serve as boxing analyst for Top Rank on ESPN, alongside Joe Tessitore and Mark Kriegel.

“Tim’s expertise as a former champion, combined with his passion for the sport, makes him an incredible analyst for Top Rank on ESPN,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president, production and remote events. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his analysis and we look forward to his continued contributions to our telecasts.”

This Saturday, June 30, Bradley will be onsite at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, for ESPN’s telecast of Top Rank on ESPN headlined by WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez who is defending his title against Alexis Angulo.

MARTIN MURRAY DISCIPLINARY POSITION

Martin Murray from the U.K. was involved in an unsportsmanlike conflict during the official weigh-in for his fight against Roberto Garcia for the WBC silver championship in the middleweight division. The WBC Disciplinary Committee has investigated the facts surrounding this incident and WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman established direct contact with Murray.

WBC Statement: The WBC has known Murray for many years and always praised him for his exemplary behavior outside the ring with extensive community work in support of the youth throughout the years. Continue reading “WBC Statement on Martin Murray”

Heavyweight contender Bryant “B.Y.” Jennings was born and bred in Philadelphia, but on Saturday, August 18, he aims to bring some of that Philly firepower to the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Jennings (23-2, 13 KOs) will face off against Alexander “Sascha” Dimitrenko (41-3, 26 KOs) for the WBO International heavyweight title in the 12-round main event at the Ocean Resort Casino’s Ovation Hall. This will be the first boxing event at the Ocean Resort Casino, a state-of-the-art resort property set to open tomorrow, June 28.

In the co-main event, Philadelphia native Jesse “Hollywood” Hart (24-1, 20 KOs) will defend the NABF super middleweight title in a 10-rounder against the battle-tested Mike Gavronski (24-2-1, 15 KOs).

Jennings-Dimitrenko and Hart-Gavronski will be televised LIVE on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and all undercard bouts will be streamed on ESPN+. Continue reading “Jennings-Dimitrenko set for Aug 18 in AC”

The comeback fight of former world champion Jean Pascal (32-5-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday at the Place Bell in Montreal has been postponed until July 20. Pascal is facing MMA fighter Steve Bosse (1-0, 1 KO). Promoter Yvon Michel needs the extra time to sell more tickets.

EXTREME PROFANITY WARNING

Whoa! WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder has unloaded on WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who will be defending his title in September against Alexander Povetkin rather than unifying with Wilder. In a series of tweets Wilder stated…

Bro these MF NEVER EVER WANTED THIS FIGHT PERIOD!! it’s obvious they showed sign of it when they didn’t want me in the ring. Coward ass MF lead the boxing fans on for 3 months. They held this shit up for this very moment. The world have seen the truth they are Fucking Coward.

All they had to do is say they were scared to fight period. But instead made themselves look like what they are not stand up guys and fucking scammers. If you’re scared say you’re scared. He can just be the champ of England fuck them🖕🏿

Stop with the bullshit we did it all! you fuckers didn’t want this work you scared MFers . You talk shit but can’t back nothing up you coward and now the ppl see the truth. I’m so happy it’s over now I’ve done my part the world seen that so stay in England with that BS

Over here we understand and can identify a coward ass bitch. I knew I smelt pussy lmao smdh. I’m so happy the Bullshit is done and p.s. fuck your offer bitch we will have the last laugh I promise you this!!

I knew I smelt pussy but damn @anthonyfjoshua I didn’t know the odor was that strong you coward ass bitch. Had the world waiting for 3 months playing games just for this moment. You’re not a true champion!! you’re just a weak-minded coward that’s holding hard metal. #Facts

“I didn’t come all this way JUST to come all this way” #BombZquad #51-0 #Letsgo

New Orleans-based undefeated heavyweight prospect Jonathan Guidry (10-0, 2 KOs) will face Aaron Chavers (8-4-1, 3 KOs), of Oklahoma City, OK, in a six-round clash Saturday, July 14, at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Presented by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, Guidry vs. Chavers will be a featured undercard fight to the highly anticipated main event between WBC interim super lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis, of New Orleans, and undefeated challenger Juan Jose Velasco, of Argentina, with the WBC Diamond super lightweight belt at stake. Prograis vs. Velasco and Teofimo Lopez vs. William Silva will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while the undercard, including Guidry vs. Chavers, will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that a deal has been reached for IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will defend his world title on October 6 at a site to be named in the USA. Beterbiev, 12-0 with 12 KOs, will be making his first defense. Johnson is 17-0 with 12 KOs and holds the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles. The bout will be streamed on the forthcoming DAZN service, which launches in September.

Manny Pacquiao’s morning workout in Maasim, Sarangani, Philippines.

Story by John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com
Photos by Darryl Cobb Jr. – dcobbjr.com

In boxing, nothing beats a rematch. The pre-fight expectations are especially sky-high when two local fighters are nudged into a second go, because it usually means that their first meeting was either a terrific battle or an upset. In the case of the first fight between Cherry Hill’s Anthony Prescott, 8-8-2, 2 KOs, and North Philly’s Isaiah Wise, 6-2, 3 KOs, their tussle, three months ago, was both.

House fighter Wise, was on a three-fight winning streak that included a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate bout against Fred Jenkins Jr., and was expected to beat Prescott, a familiar face on the scene with a skillset far better than his rocky record suggests. Continue reading “Promising rematch highlights Parx Casino show”