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Undefeatd super lightweight “Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (20-0-2, 9 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Luis Feliciano (17-1, 8 KOs) in round six on Wednesday night the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. Williams dropped Feliciano twice in round two but Feliciano survived the round. Williams floored Feliciano again in round six. Feliciano got up wobbly and the bout was halted at 1:43. Williams looked good.

A clash between welterweight knockout artists ended up going the ten round distance with unbeaten Freudis Rojas (13-0, 11 KOs) winning a unanimous decision over Cristian Baez (19-4, 17 KOs). Scores were 98-92, 99-91, 99-91. The bout seemed very close and the crowd reacted to the scoring with boos.

In a clash between unbeaten super featherweights, Jaycob Gomez (9-0-1, 6 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Ezequiel Borrero (6-1, 2 KOs). Gomez dropped Borrero in round one and got a referee’s stoppage with a barrage of punches at 1:40 of round five.

By Jeff Zimmerman

“Iceman” John Scully, a trainer to pound-for-pound great Artur Beterbiev, shared his thoughts on his masterful performance versus Callum Smith last weekend plus his potential showdown with Dmitry Bivol and discussed Canelo and Benavidez too. Scully also talked about guiding Chad Dawson to a world title against the legendary Bernard Hopkins, the greatness of Roy Jones Jr, how he was as a light heavyweight contender and what he thinks of today’s young fighters plus his great work with former fighters in need and much more in this Fightnews.com® exclusive.

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Golden Boy Promotions has assembled the undercard for the January 27 super middleweight clash between Jaime Munguía and John “The Gorilla” Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

In the co-main event, WBO minimumweight champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (8-0, 6 KOs) will defend his title against Reyneris Gutierrez (10-1, 2 KOs). Also, unbeaten super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) will be facing Alantez “SlyAza” Fox (28-5-1, 13 KOs), IBF female flyweight champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) defends against Christina Cruz (6-0, 0 KOs), and unbeaten super bantamweight David Picasso Romero (26-0-1, 15 KOs) will go against Erik Ruiz (17-9-1, 7 KOs). All are ten-rounders.

Unbeaten super lightweights Luis Feliciano (17-0, 8 KOs) and Mykquan Williams (19-0-2, 8 KOs) clash in a ten-round bout tonight on ProBox TV from the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City, Florida. The undercard features a clash of welterweight knockout artists as Freudis Rojas (12-0, 11 KOs) meets Cristian Baez (19-3, 17 KOs) and super featherweight Jaycob Gomez (8-0-1, 5 KOs) faces Ezequiel Borrero (6-0, 2 KOs) in a pair of eight-rounders.

WBC #1 junior welterweight contender Sandor Martin (42-3, 15 KOs) has signed a multi-fight co-promotional pact with Top Rank. Martin’s longtime promoter, OPI Since 82, and Top Rank are joining forces to secure the Spaniard his first world title shot against Devin “The Dream” Haney, the current WBC junior welterweight world champion.

Sandor Martin: “Devin Haney calls himself ‘The Dream,’ but I am his worst nightmare. I will be the next WBC junior welterweight world champion. Whether he wants to lose his title to me in the ring or run up the scales to welterweight, the choice is his. I am excited for the next chapter of my career with OPI Since 82 and Top Rank in my corner.” Continue reading “Top Rank inks WBC #1 Sandor Martin”

WBA #11, WBC #15 super welterweight Abass Baraou (14-1, 9 KOs) and WBA #15 Sam “The Savage” Eggington (34-8, 20 KOs) will battle it out in a twelve-rounder for the vacant European title on Friday, March 1 at the Telford International Centre in Telford, England. The fight will air live on Channel 5 in the UK.

Abass Baraou: “Winning the prestigious European title on March 1 will be a major step on my mission to becoming a world champion and I plan on putting on a performance that sends out a statement to the rest of the division…our clash of styles will make for another thriller but make no mistake, I will emerge victorious.”

Sam Eggington: “March 1 in Telford is the night I write the next chapter in my crazy boxing story. My fans will pack out the arena and roar me on to become a two-weight European champion…Baraou may have international amateur medals, just like Frankie Gavin did when we fought, but he has never faced a fighter like me, over 12 grueling rounds, where I don’t let him breathe for a second.”

Super middleweights Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) and John “The Gorilla” Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) inaugurated the newly built Golden Boy Boxing Gym in downtown Los Angeles with a media workout for their January 27 clash at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Jaime Munguia: “I honestly feel like I can knock John Ryder out. That’s what we are working towards. Obviously, once you step inside the ring anything can change. But we’re training to get inside the ring in optimal condition, and if we can’t get the knockout we will be making sure we get the decision.”

John Ryder: “I want to go in there and make a statement…I’m a different fighter now from when I fought Canelo. I believe I learned a lot about myself.”

1. Former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia was stripped by the IBF for taking a fight on the lucrative “Day of Reckoning” card in Saudi Arabia rather than fighting mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis.
2. Briedis, rated IBF #3, was ordered by the IBF to negotiate with the next leading available contender to fight for the vacant belt.
3. IBF #1 and IBF #2 ratings are vacant.
4. IBF #4 rated Zurdo Ramirez has apparently opted to challenge WBA champion Arsen Goulamirian instead of Briedis.
5. IBF #5 is Opetaia
6. Opetaia will now reportedly fight Briedis on the February 17 Fury-Usyk undercard.
7. In all likelihood, the bout will be sanctioned by the IBF for the vacant world title.
8. This will be a rematch of their fight in June 2022, won by Opetaia via unanimous decision.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
President of the WBC – Son of José Sulaimán

The road to recovery for Julio César Chávez Jr. has begun. It will be long and painful, but I am sure it will be the definitive one to have that young man well again, healthy, and with a long life ahead of him.

Julito has been admitted to a rehabilitation clinic with the expectation that he will be there for several months in order to quell and banish the demons of his addictions.

It is important to understand that his addiction is not to recreational drugs, but to pills, which he had to take for a time to address a medical issue and which caused a terrible addiction.

Our great champion, Julio César Chávez Sr., and his family has the support and affection of all of Mexico and the world of boxing during this process, in which his firstborn will be facing his toughest fight ever. May God lead them to a journey of positive vibes, calmness and heavenly strength. Continue reading “Tribute to my Dad”

The WBA Championships Committee has ordered negotiations for a middleweight world title fight between WBA champion Erislandy Lara and his mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa. Official communications were sent to both parties and that they have until February 15 to reach an agreement. In the event the parties cannot reach an agreement or one of them refuses to do so, the Committee may call for a purse bid with a purse split of 75% for the champion and 25% for the challenger.

Lara, 40, has been champion since May 1, 2021 and according to WBA rules he should have defended against the mandatory opponent after a period of nine months, which expired on February 1, 2022. Lara was allowed an optional defense against Gary O’Sullivan in 2022 and didn’t fight at all in 2023.

Heavyweight contender and Olympic silver medalist Joe “The Juggernaut” Joyce (15-2, 14 KOs) will return to action against Kash Ali (21-2, 12 KOs) on March 16 in Birmingham, England. According to TalkSPORT, the bout will take place on another one of promoter Frank Warren’s “Magnificent Seven” cards.

Reportedly, the full Magnificent Seven line-up is:

Nathan Heaney vs Brad Pauls (middleweight)
Liam Davies vs Erik Robles Ayala (super bantamweight)
Joe Joyce vs Kash Ali (heavyweight)
Sol Dacres vs David Adeleye (heavyweight)
Dennis McCann vs Brad Strand (super bantamweight)
Zach Parker vs Tyron Zeuge (super middleweight)
Eithan James vs Owen Cooper (welterweight)

2020 Olympic Silver medallist Ben “The Surgeon” Whittaker (5-0, 4 KOs) will look to steal the show as he returns to action on the undercard of the huge all-British showdown between unbeaten WBA #1 and #2 world-ranked light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez on Saturday, February 3rd at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. He takes on Swiss-based French fighter Khalid Graidia (10-13-5, 2 KOs) over eight rounds.

In other action, Adam Azim makes the first defense of his EBU European super lightweight title against undefeated former champion Enock Poulsen. Rising female featherweight Francesca Hennessy and heavyweight hope Jeamie TKV are also confirmed.

The WBA hampionships Committee has ordered an eliminator between #1 heavyweight Martin Bakole and highest available contender Cassius Chaney, who is sitting at WBA #7. The formal communication has been to both fighters’ teams, giving them 30 days to sign the bout contract and fight for the opportunity to become the next mandatory WBA challenger.

In the event that the parties do not reach an agreement, or either party refuses to sign the contract, the Championship Committee may open the fight to purse bid with a 50% purse split.

By Robert Coster

Smooth boxing Dominican WBA minimumweight world champion Erick “Mini-Pacman” Rosa (6-0, 2 KOs) has renounced his title as he plans to move up to the junior flyweight class.

The baby-faced 22-year-old Rosa, who won the WBA belt in only his fourth professional fight, said “My body has grown and now my desire is to acquire world title belts in the 108 and 112lb divisions.”

Rosa vacated the “regular” version of the WBA belt, leaving “super” champion Thammanoon Niyomtrongtha as the sole WBA 105lb beltholder.

WBC Statement: As it has been widely publicized, a sample collected from WBC [female] super featherweight world champion Alycia Baumgardner on July 12, 2023 in connection with her July 15, 2023 title defense against Christina Lnardatou in Detroit, Michigan yielded an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance (the “Adverse Finding”). In compliance with the governing WBC Rules & Regulations and WBC CBP Protocol, the WBC undertook an investigation of the specific circumstances, health concerns, and legal precedent surrounding the Finding. The WBC convened its Results Management Unit that included experts in scientific, nutrition, and legal matters to investigate, analyze, and evaluate all the available facts and evidence, and to recommend to the WBC how to proceed in that particular case. Continue reading “WBC puts Baumgardner on probation”

The heavyweight division will take further shape when WBO interim champion Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) defends his world title against former world champion Joseph Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) on the March 8 Joshua-Ngannou undercard at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zhang is coming off two consecutive KO wins over Joe Joyce in 2023, while Parker upset former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in December.

In other bouts:

• WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas (36-1, 22 KOs) will make the first defense of his belt when he takes on #1 contender Nick Ball (19-0, 11 KOs).
• Unbeaten WBA #14, IBF #14, WBO #15 heavyweight Justis Huni (8-0, 4 KOs) will face TBA.
• Unbeaten lightweight Mark Chamberlain (14-0, 10 KOs) will challenge European champion Gavin Gwynne (17-2-1, 5 KOs).
• Cruiserweight Roman Fury (3-0, 1 KO), super welterweight Jack McGann (9-0-1, 6 KOs) and local super lightweight Ziyad Almaayouf (4-0, 1 KO) will also see action.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou faced off at the kickoff press conference in London to announce their upcoming fight in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 8.

Anthony Joshua: “I will be ready to go once the first bell rings. I will approach this mission with laser focus until the job is complete. I am looking forward to returning to Riyadh and I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the passion they have shown to myself and the sport of boxing.”

Francis Ngannou: “People have always doubted me and I always proved them wrong. It is clear I am a trouble for elite boxers and AJ should prepare himself for a battle because I am like nothing he has ever faced. It is going to be another spectacle for boxing fans in Riyadh, only this time I have no intention of leaving it in the hands of the judges.”

John Ryder believes he’s in with another top-level fighter in Jaime Munguia at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27, live worldwide on DAZN – but says that the unbeaten Mexican has weaknesses he can exploit.

Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) is back in action following his courageous effort against Canelo Alvarez in Guadalajara, Mexico in September. He now heads to Phoenix against unbeaten former super welterweight king and defending WBC silver super middleweight champion Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs).

Munguia thrilled fight fans in his last outing with Sergiy Derevyanchenko in June, with a 12th round knockdown proving the difference. Ryder knows Munguia is eyeing up his own clash with Canelo, but ‘The Gorilla’ believes Derevyanchenko exposed flaws in Munguia’s game that he can expose. Continue reading “Ryder: I rate Munguia … but he is vulnerable”

Lightweights Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) and George Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) will reportedly fight for the vacant IBF world title on May 12 at the 15,000-seat RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. ESPN announced that it will carry the fight, which will air on the night of May 11 in the U.S. It was also announced that the Moloney twins, Jason and Andrew, will appear on the undercard.

Unified WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev, boxing’s only undefeated world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio, took care of business against Callum Smith on Saturday night in Quebec City. All eyes are now on an undisputed showdown between Beterbiev and WBA champion Dmitry Bivol.

“Yes, of course {I want the Bivol fight}. I need another belt. It would mean a lot to me,” said Beterbiev after the fight.

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn told reporters this week that Bivol has already signed to fight Beterbiev in Saudi Arabia, but Beterbiev has to agree to his own deal to finalize the fight.

Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum confirmed that a Beterbiev-Bivol clash is in the pipeline.

“It’s not done yet, but absolutely we want to do it,” said Arum. “I’ll be talking to my friend, his Excellency Turki Alalshikh. I know he wants to do it, but Ramadan is coming. Ramadan ends sometime around the middle of April, so about three months after the end of Ramadan we’ll be ready to fight Bivol, probably in Riyadh.”

Unbeaten light heavyweight destroyer Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) defended his unified WBC/WBO/IBF world titles with a brutal seventh round KO against former super middleweight champion Callum “Mundo” Smith (29-2, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Smith boxed smartly but Beterbiev’s powerful punches caused damage whenever they landed. Beterbiev battered Smith in round four but Smith rallied later in the round. Beterbiev continued to punish Smith, who showed a great fighting heart. Beterbiev finally dropped Smith twice in round seven. After the second knockdown trainer Buddy McGirt entered the ring to stop the fight in case Smith would have beat the count. Time was 2:00.

Heavyweight Malik “The Ring King” Titus (10-1, 9 KOs) snapped the six fight win streak of Joey “The Tank” Dawejko (27-11-4, 15 KOs) by taking an eight round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dawejko stalked the 6’5 Titus the whole fight, but Titus stayed out of range and frustrated Dawejko with his long jab. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, 79-73.

Unbeaten NABF bantamweight beltholder Dylan Price (17-0, 11 KOs) was victorious when Gilberto Mendoza (20-18-4, 10 KOs) couldn’t continue after the end of the eighth round.

Other Results:
Rashad Bogar SD6 Fernando Bunch (super lightweight)
Antonio Dunton El Jr W6 Devin Gantt (featherweight)
Francisco Rodriguez KO1 Joseph Cole (lightweight)
Miguel Roman TKO3 Hector Becerra (super bantamweight)
Saud Clark W4 Henry Mendez (middleweight)
William Briscoe KO1 Alvin Davis (middleweight)

WBO bantamweight champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) scored a hotly contested twelve round majority decision over Saul Sanchez (20-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Close rounds with both fighters having their moments. Brutal toe-to-toe exchanges down the stretch. Scores were 114-114, 116-112, 116-112. Great fight!

Unbeaten WBC #1, WBA #1, IBF #3, WBO #5 super middleweight Christian Mbilli (26-0, 22 KOs) impressively scored a sixth round TKO over tough as nails Rohan Murdock (27-3, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, Quebec Canada. It was a firefight from the opening bell with Mbilli steadily breaking down the rugged Murdock. By round five it was target practice for Mbilli. Murdock gamely came out and finished round six before his corner pulled him out of the fight. Another impressive performance for Mbilli, who is knocking on Canelo’s door.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Imam Khataev (6-0, 6 KOs) stopped Michal Ludwiczak (17-13-1, 9 KOs) in round two. Khataev dropped Ludwiczak in the second stanza and got a referee’s stoppage with his follow-up barrage. Time was 2:17. Khataev claimed the NABF title with the win.

Other Results:
Leila Beaudoin W8 Elizabeth Chavez (female super featherweight)
Wilkens Mathieu W4 Jose Arias Alvarez (super middleweight)
Mehmet Unal TKO1 Dragan Lepei (light heavyweight)
Christopher Guerrero W8 Sergio Herrera (welterweight)
Moreno Fendero KO1 Victor Hugo Flores (super middleweight)

4’10 “Tiny” Tina Rupprecht (13-1-1, 3 KOs) outpointed and dethroned previously unbeaten WBC female atomweight champion Fabiana Bytyqi (20-1-2, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision over ten rounds on Saturday night at the Verti Music Hall in Berlin, Germany. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

In what was billed as his final fight, 39-year-old German super welterweight favorite Ronny Gabel (30-8-1, 21 KOs) lost a twelve round majority decision to Ilias Essaoudi (22-2, 15 KOs) in a clash for the vacant WBO European title. Essaoudi won by scores of 114-114, 117-110, 118-110. The bout was a rematch of their clash in May that ended in a no-decision after an accidental headbutt.