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Before a sold-out crowd of 1,242 on Thursday evening, Uzbekistan’s 2012 Olympian Bronze medal winner Murodjon Akhmadaliev stopped Chilean’s Ramon Contreras with a vicious shot to the liver at 1:20 of the first round to win the WBA intercontinental super bantamweight championship on Roy Englebrecht Promotions’ Fight Club OC show in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. In what was a very competitive first minute, Contreras (15-7, 6 KOs) was mixing it up before a big left hook caught the Chilean, who then dropped to the canvas and was counted out by referee Thomas Taylor. Akhmadaliev now goes to 4-0, 3 KOs. Fight Club OC returns to The Hangar on Thursday, October 11th.

By Hesiquio Balderas

Saul Alvarez has been taking his preparation for his tie-breaker fight with Gennady Golovkin very seriously, approaching every detail with responsibility as he always does. Canelo is well known for his discipline, his hard work and his willingness to learn every day in the gym.

“Canelo is focusing in this fight like never before, he’s been doing a tremendous job with Eddy and Chepo Reynoso, he’s been fulfilling his commitment with the media, everything is on schedule,” commented Ramiro Gonzalez PR Director of Golden Boy Promotions to Fightnews.com®.

“Saul knows that every fight now is a huge fight, he knows what’s at stake and this very well could be the fight of the year,” said Gonzalez. Continue reading “Canelo willing and ready”

After being stepped over as Joe Joyce’s next opponent, Philadelphia fan favorite Joey Dawejko is calling out the highly touted UK-based heavyweight for taking the easy road. Since turning professional, Joyce, the outspoken 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight silver medal winner and now Commonwealth (British Empire) heavyweight champion, has made a habit of publicly calling out the division’s top contenders and champions.

Dawejko (19-5-4, 11 KOs) says he was offered and accepted the opportunity to face Joyce (5-0, 5 KOs) on the undercard of former welterweight champions Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter’s Saturday, September 8, showdown at the Barclays Center – only to find out Joyce had instead chosen to face Ohio’s Devin Vargas. Continue reading “Dawejko says Olympian Joe Joyce ducked him”

By Héctor Villarreal

Panamanian World ranked featherweight Bryan “La Roca” De Gracia (24-1-1, 20 KOs) dominated Venezuelan Edinson “El Guapito” Torres Jr. (10-1, 6 KOs) and won by TKO at 1:58 of round four in the main event of the “Poder Fulminante” card presented by Promociones y Eventos del Istmo at Fantastic Casino in Albrook Mall, Panama.

De Gracia, currently ranked by WBC #11, WBA #9 and IBF #13 put pressure on the previously undefeated Torres in every round of the scheduled ten, landing powerful body shots which sent his opponent to the canvas in round three and twice in round four when referee Gustavo Padilla decided to stop the uneven fight.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Undefeated WBC super bantamweight world champion Rey Vargas (32-0, 22 KOs) is on the mend after surgery on his left hand and expects to be back in the ring by the end of the year. Vargas says he’s recovering well and wants to defend his championship as soon as possible. “We are on schedule and that excites me because it means that I will return to the ring as soon as the medical team tells me to,” he said. Vargas is promoted by Promociones del Pueblo and trained by Hall of Famer Nacho Beristain.

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

The stakes are high for WBO lightweight world champion Ray Beltran and challenger José “Sniper” Pedraza, with the winner expected to fight WBA lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko later this year. Beltran and Pedraza met at the final press conference for the next edition of “Top Rank on ESPN”, which will take place Saturday evening at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

In the co-feature, Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe will make the first defense of his WBO junior featherweight title against Japanese challenger Hidenori Otake. And, in a six-round super featherweight special attraction, 2016 U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer will make her long-awaited ESPN network debut against former world title challenger Edina Kiss. Continue reading “Beltran-Pedraza/Dogboe-Otake Final Presser”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

On Thursday in Mexico City, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman unveiled the new special belt that will be presented to the winner of the Golovkin-Alvarez 2 fight on September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The belt was made in Chiapas and has taken about three months to complete. The inscribed words “Majbanéj-Maya,” from the Tzotzil language, meaning “Mayan Warrior.”

Former welterweight champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz meets former title challenger John Molina Jr. on Sunday, September 30 in the 12-round main event on FS1 from Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Ortiz (32-6-3, 25 KOs) is coming off a majority draw against Devon Alexander in February. Molina (30-7, 24 KOs) in his last fight scored a fourth round TKO victory over Ivan Redkach. Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports, go on sale tomorrow, August 24 at 12 p.m. PT.

Tevin Farmer has signed a multi-fight co-promotional deal with DiBella Entertainment and Matchroom Boxing USA. The newly crowned IBF super featherweight champion will make the first defense of his title live on DAZN in a bout to be announced this week. It is believed Farmer’s first defense will take place on October 20 at the TD Garden in Boston. IBF #7 rated James Tennyson (22-2, 18 KOs) is the rumored opponent. Continue reading “Tevin Farmer to defend on DAZN”

Golden Boy Promotions will bring boxing for the second time this year to the Orange County area as former world title challenger Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (18-1, 7 KOs) defends his NABF 118-pound title against Joshua “The Professor” Franco (14-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event of an October 4 ESPN2 show at the Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

In the co-main event, Daniel Zorrilla (7-0, 6 KOs) of the Miguel Cotto Promotions stable, will return in an eight-round 140-pound fight. Jousce “Tito” Gonzalez (8-0, 8 KOs) will participate in a six-round super featherweight fight. Herbert “Ace” Acevedo (15-2, 6 KOs) will participate in an eight-round super lightweight battle.

Kris Lawrence’s Heavyweight Factory Promotions is proud to announce the signing of undefeated welterweight power puncher Derrieck Cuevas (17-0-1, 14 KOs) to a promotional contract. Cuevas, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is managed by Alex Troya, who facilitated the signing with Heavyweight Factory Director of Boxing Operations, Henry Rivalta.

“We are glad to have Derrieck join our family here at THF,” said Lawrence. “I feel he has great power and potential in the welterweight division. We have big plans for him and are happy to have added our first Puerto Rican to our stable since Daniel Santos. I wish him the best of luck and he will have our full support and backing.”

Cuevas’ first fight under the Heavyweight Factory banner is TBA.

After the controversial scoring in their first bout, extra scrutiny was placed on the selection of officials for the September 15 rematch in Las Vegas between Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

This time the Nevada Athletic Commission will only be using one Nevada official, judge Dave Moretti. Moretti also worked GGG-Canelo I, scoring it 115-113 for Golovkin.

The other two judges will be Steve Weisfeld (New Jersey) and Glenn Feldman (Connecticut). The referee will be Benjy Esteves Jr. (New Jersey).

Welterweights Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter collide for the vacant WBC world championship of September 8 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Porter is known for being hyper aggressive and because of that, headbutts have been an issue in his fights. Danny Garcia commented on that.

“I got to go in there and fight my fight,” said Garcia. “I can’t go in there and basically get caught up in his fight. We have the right sparring partners, short guys around 5’6” using the head, who come forward. So me and my father got the perfect game plan to get away from the headbutt. So yes we have some tricks for that…I’m not really worried about his head. I just have to go in there and fight my fight.” Continue reading “Danny Garcia talks about Shawn Porter clash”

By Héctor Villarreal

Bryan De Gracia 125.25 vs Edinson Torres Jr. 125.75
Francisco Fonseca 130 vs Sandro Hernandez 130
Jaime Arboleda 131.75 vs Kenin Bethancourt 131.75
Yokasta Valle 107.75 vs Haydee Zapa 106
Carlos Ortega 106.5 vs Jesus Santos 107.5
Karla Mendoza 121.75 vs Teresa Almengor 122
William Vargas 126.25 vs Gilberth Rodriguez 125
Daniel Lezcano 121.5 vs Arnulfo Bejerano 124

Promoter: Promociones y Eventos del Istmo
Venue: Fantastic Casino Albrook Mall
TV: NEXTV Channel 21

The Real Deal Boxing and Lee Baxter Promotions have announced that the Jose Sulaiman WBC World Invitational Tournament, scheduled to take place this Saturday, August 25th in Toronto, Canada, has been postponed due to visa issues.

“We were forced to make the very difficult decision late last night to postpone the event due to learning that, despite our best efforts, several of the tournament’s international fighters would not be granted visas to enter Canada,” explained Eric Bentley, COO of The Real Deal Boxing.

“While we worked tirelessly to resolve the issue down to the last possible minute, and we could have made arrangements to move forward with revised tournament bouts, it was very important to us that the 4 semi-finalists, Van Heerden, Lawson, Solomon and Santana, not lose the opportunity they rightfully earned by winning in the quarter-finals due to issues out of their control.” Continue reading “Visa issues postpone WBC welter tourney”

Murodjon Akhmadaliev 121.6 vs. Ramon Contreras 120.8
(WBA Intercontinential super bantamweight title)

Ian Butler 170.0 vs. Uinton McCottrell 169.2
Jose Casillas 119 vs. Ming Freeman 119.2
Richie Palomino 160.4 vs. Diego Peree 159.4
Raul Navarette 153.8 vs. Cameron Underhill 155

Venue: The Hangar, Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Roy Englebrecht
Doors at 6:30pm first bout 7:10pm PST
Tickets: www.socafights.com

Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Ray Beltran is returning home to defend his title, Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe is looking to bring some lightning and thunder to the desert, and female prospect Mikaela Mayer is ready for her ESPN network debut. Beltran will defend the WBO lightweight title against former 130-pound champion José Pedraza, Dogboe will make the first defense of his WBO 122-pound world title against Hidenori Otake, and Mayer will face off against Edina Kiss in a six-round special attraction.

Beltran-Pedraza, Dogboe-Otake, and Mayer-Kiss will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The entire undercard will stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m ET. Continue reading “Beltran-Pedraza/Dogboe-Otake Workout”

Gennady Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez discusses the perceived hostility toward him coming from Canelo Alvarez. “First of all, there have been no insults from our side,” Sanchez stated today on a conference call. “I have not insulted them in no way, shape or form. What I’ve said have been facts. I may have stated an opinion as far as me saying that he ran, but everything else is a fact. He tested positive. He is not the champion, Gennady Golovkin is the champion, was the champion going in, was the champion coming out. So everything that I’ve said has been the truth. If I’m lying about what I said, then I would need to explain it, but I have not insulted anybody. They’ve been the one with the insults.

Regarding Canelo calling him a pendejo, Sanchez said, “The insults have not come from our side. The insults have come from them, and it’s an obvious insult to me. They’re the ones that are lowering themselves to doing that way. Have I gotten into his head to be able to respond to me like that? There’s no reason for it, but that’s the character that I’ve been talking about, the man.” Continue reading “Abel Sanchez: There have been no insults from our side”

This Saturday, August 25, three-division world champion Donnie ‘The Snake’ Nietes and #2 world ranked contender ‘Mighty’ Aston Palicte will welcome boxing fans at the Filipino Community Center, 1740 Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Starting at 10AM, Nietes and Palicte will both be available for photos and autographs and will be joined on-site by promoter Tom Loeffler and event host Cynthia Conte. Two weeks later, Nietes and Palicte will battle for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title on Saturday, September 8 at the “Fabulous” Forum and televised on HBO.

By Jeff Zimmerman
Photos: Jeff Zimmerman, Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame

“Sugar” Shane Mosely and Laila Ali led the 2018 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Class this past Saturday night at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that also included living inductees Chris Byrd, Todd duBoef, Kevin Kelley, Don Minor, Shane Mosley, Sen. Harry Reid, Jerry Roth and Earnie Shavers. Alexis Arguello, Henry Armstrong, Jack “Doc” Kearns, Bill Miller and Aaron Pryor were inducted posthumously.

The weekend was jam-packed and first class which included a Meet and Greet with the Champs, a VIP Reception and an amateur boxing event, the WBC Greenbelt Challenge to go along with the Annual Gala in its 6th year led by president Michelle Corrales-Lewis. The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (www.nvbhof.com) is a non-profit that aids fighters and other boxing related causes in Nevada and was founded by longtime broadcaster Rich Marotta. Continue reading “Mosley, Laila inducted into Nevada BHOF”

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced the officials for two WBO world title bouts to be held this Saturday, August 25th in Arizona.

In the main event, WBO Lightweight (135 lbs) world champion Raymundo Beltrán, from México, will face WBO ranked number two José Pedraza, from Puerto Rico. For this bout, which will headline the card presented by Top Rank from the Gila River Arena in Glendale, the referee will be Tony Weeks, from the United States. Arizona’s Rubin Taylor, as well as Lisa Giampa and Robert Hoyle, both from Nevada, were appointed judges for the bout. The WBO Supervisor will be WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, Esq.

In the co-main event of the evening, WBO junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe, from Ghana, will battle WBO ranked number six Hidenori Otake (31-2-3, 14 KOs), from Japan. For this bout, the referee will be Chris Flores, from the United States. Illinois’s Patrick Morley, Texas’s Javier Álvarez and Connecticut’s Glenn Feldman were appointed judges for the bout. The WBO Supervisor will be WBO Vice-President North America/Chairman of North American Boxing Organization Richard de Cuir.

Samuel Vargas says he has the power to knock out Amir Khan when the pair clash at Arena Birmingham on September 8. The 29-year-old Vargas, rated WBA #9, doesn’t believe that Khan managed to shake off any ring rust in his first round destruction of Phil Lo Greco in April and has warned the UK favourite to prepare for a punishing battle.

“If I touch him on the chin, he’s going down,” said Vargas. “That’s a guarantee. I’m sure it’s going to be a hostile territory, but I’ll impose my will on him. He’s an old man. He’s been hurt before and he’s been stopped many times. I just have to land one punch on his chin, left or right hand. His feet will go all over the place and if he’s still there I’ll hit him again and again. It’s there, everyone knows it’s there. Continue reading “Vargas: I just have to land one punch on Khan’s chin”

Middleweight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has responded to Gennady Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez, who says Canelo “ran” during the first fight with Golovkin.

Canelo Alvarez: “Comments from Sanchez don’t really bother me because he actually thinks he’s a great trainer, but he doesn’t know what boxing is. He doesn’t know what it is to have technique. He doesn’t know what it is to box or to move. He doesn’t know what it means to adapt to the circumstances of a fight and not just go forward and throw punches. What I do is box. I find it strange that someone who believes himself to be a great trainer does not know how to distinguish between having technique and what he’s saying [the running]. Continue reading “Canelo: GGG’s trainer is a “pendejo””

Former WBO Euro lightweight beltholder Stephen “The Rock” Ormond (25-5, 13 KOs) is facing a must-win situation in Friday’s clash with WBO #14-ranked George Ashie (28-4-1, 20 KOs) at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena. After dropping consecutive decisions to Craig Evans and Paul Hyland in 2017, Ormond outpointed journeyman Nelson Altamirano in June. World-rated Ashie is a step up.

Stephen Ormond: “I’ve seen Ashie’s fights. He’s got a great record and he’s obviously very tough. He’s highly ranked for a reason but I’m going to take that ranking off him when I face him. It’s clear that Ashie is very durable – he took Kevin Mitchell the full distance when they fought for the Commonwealth title. This will be a fantastic win for me because Ashie is a really high-class opponent.”

On Saturday, September 1st, KlowdTV will present a battle between highly regarded cruiserweights, Thabiso Mchunu and Thomas Oosthuizen in a 12-round bout from The Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. The fight will mark yet another world-class boxing event that KlowdTV is bringing to the fans in the United States.

“This continues a great run of fights that we are excited to bring boxing fans in the United States,” said KlowdTV President, Robert Herring, Sr. “This is another terrific matchup, and we will continue to stream the top fights from around the world. There is a thirst for these fights, and KlowdTV promises to continue to serve up great events.” Continue reading “Mchunu-Oosthuizen to be streamed in the US”