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Argentine challenger Jonathan Victor Barros (41-5-1, 22 KOs) arrived this morning in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, with his team from Mendoza, Argentina. He faces WBC super featherweight champion Miguel “Alacrán” Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) this Saturday on ESPN+ in the USA and la Casa del Boxeo Azteca 7 in Mexico.

“I’m excited to be here because life gives me another opportunity to be a world champion and I will not waste it,” stated Barros. “The experience and hunger are on my side. The dream of the Mexican Berchelt will end on Saturday night in front of his own people.”

No official announcement yet, but the president of the Russian Boxing Federation, Umar Kremlev, has confirmed that WBC/WBO cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 КО) and WBA/IBF champion Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 КО) will contest the final leg of the Super World Series of Boxing July 21 in Moscow at the Olympic Stadium sports complex according to XSPORT.

Usyk and Gassiev were scheduled to fight on May 11 in Saudi Arabia, but the fight was postponed due to an injury suffered by Usyk.

By Miguel Maravilla

WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico and undefeated super lightweight Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo (27-0, 17 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma held a media workout Tuesday afternoon at the Hill Street Boxing Gym in Signal Hill, California for their upcoming bout taking place Saturday June 30 at the at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Ramirez will be making the fourth defense of his WBO super middleweight title against Alexis Angulo (23-0, 20 KOs) of Columbia and Saucedo will go up against Australia’s Lenny Zappavigna (37-3, 27 KOs). Continue reading “Ramirez, Saucedo Media Day Quick Quotes”

Unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields and unified 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels spoke to the media at a workout session in Detroit just days before the two clash to decide the IBF & WBA Women’s Middleweight World Championships this Friday on SHOWTIME.

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“It’s been seven weeks of really hard work. A lot of people don’t know and I really don’t like to be open about it, but I got to 183 pounds after my last fight in January and now I’m 160. That’s 23 pounds. I was in camp running and getting ready for the fight and having to focus on weight was very different for me.”

“I expect her to use her gifts. She’s really good on her legs and she’s strong up top. I think she lacks in speed so I expect her to try to counter me and try to force me to make mistakes with her movement. I think she underrates my power.”

HANNA GABRIELS

“You are going to see a very technical and aggressive fighter. That’s the only way that you can fight Claressa because she’s so aggressive herself and so tough, you can’t go in the ring passive against her. You have to put your life on the line in there and that’s what I’m planning to do.”

“I think her strengths are pretty obvious. She has great feet. I don’t know if she punches hard but she’s very explosive. She must have a lot of power and she’s very defensive. She keeps her distance and she’s so big and I’m so small that we will have to risk a lot of things. Her confidence is one of her biggest strengths.”

Top Rank has signed former two-time interim WBA super featherweight champion Bryan Vasquez to a promotional contract, Bob Arum announced today. Vasquez (37-3, 20 KOs), from San Jose, Costa Rica, is 30 years old and has been fighting at the world level for nearly a decade. His debut under the Top Rank banner will be announced soon. Vasquez is currently ranked #8 by the WBA at 130 pounds and is angling for a third world title shot.

“I feel really happy. I feel blessed to be signed by the biggest company in the sport of boxing,” Vasquez said. “I want to rule the 130-pound division. I’m ready for big names, whether it’s Christopher Diaz or Oscar Valdez. They better watch out now that I’m with Top Rank. I will show everyone that Vasiliy Lomachenko is beatable, and in the near future, I want the rematch with Ray Beltran with proper notice now that I have a real promotional company behind me. I’m happy and motivated.” Continue reading “Top Rank inks two-time champ Bryan Vasquez”

The “Common Man,” Long Island light heavyweight Joe Smith, Jr. (23-2, 19 KOs), returns to the ring after being inactive the past 11 months recovering from a broken jaw. The popular Irish-American will face Melvin “The Romantic Redneck” Russell (11-4-2, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

Smith burst onto the boxing scene in 2016 when he defeated, top rated light heavyweight, Andrzej Fonfara on NBC in Chicago, and again later that year, when he knocked living legend Bernard Hopkins clear out of the ring, becoming the first person to ever KO the former multi-division world champion and future Hall of Famer. Continue reading “Smith-Russell undercard annouced”

Triple Olympian Paddy Barnes will challenge Cristofer Rosales for the WBC World Flyweight Title on the undercard of Carl Frampton vs. Luke Jackson at Windsor Park on August 18. Barnes (5-0, 1 KO), who has two Olympic bronze medals to his name, will enjoy home support in Belfast as he bids to conquer the world in just his sixth bout as a professional. Nicaragua’s Rosales (27-3, 18 KOs) has been outpointed by Kal Yafai and Andrew Selby in the past but won the WBC crown with a stunning ninth-round stoppage of Daigo Higa back in April.

By Miguel Maravilla

WBC, WBA middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), of Kazakhstan, held court with media Monday afternoon at the Palm Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. During the press event, “GGG” was awarded and crowned the Ring Magazine title by Ring Magazine’s Doug Fischer. Interestingly that title was previously held by Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) until Canelo was stripped last week.

“I am very happy and excited for this gift. I always felt that this fight was possible. Everybody wants it. I wanted this fight,” Golovkin told Fightnews.com®.

“This is a media lunch to recognize Gennady as the Ring Magazine middleweight champion. It just happens to be that last week we made the deal to fight Canelo Alvarez,” Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler said in opening up the press conference. “We are having clenbuterol-free, VADA-approved steaks for this press conference.” Continue reading “More on Golovkin-Canelo 2 (45/55)”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO #5 Luke Jackson (16-0, 7 KOs) will clash with WBO featherweight champion Carl Frampton (25-1, 14 KOs) at Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 18.

Luke Jackson: “My life will change overnight if I win the title. Carl is a humble fighter who does not trash talk his opponents. As a fighter, I don’t think he does anything great but he does everything very very good. I think to beat him I’m going to have to be at my best. I’m very confident. I’m going to be smart and intelligent. We have come here to win.”

Carl Frampton “I have never disrespected an opponent and I’m not starting against Luke Jackson. I will be ready for this fight. Jackson has been an Olympian and is a undefeated fighter and as he said this fight could change his life. My fight against Nonito Donaire was my most disciplined performance. I done everything I was told.”

Undefeated welterweight Dusty Hernandez-Harrison is now a promotional free agent after being granted his release from promoter Roc Nation Sports. The former USBA, WBC Continental Americas and WBC Youth Champion is eager to get back in the ring after a 22-month hiatus from the sport.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to get back into the ring and fulfill my goal of becoming a World Champion,” Hernandez-Harrison said. “I am in the gym and I am working hard to get back to where I was two years ago.” Continue reading “Roc Nation releases Hernandez-Harrison”

By Marco Bratusch

Last week in Rome, Matchroom Boxing won the scheduled purse bid held at the EBU headquarters to determine which promoter was going to stage European junior lightweight champion James Tennyson (22-2, 18 KOs)’s defense against official challenger Samir Ziani (27-3-1, 5 KOs). The powerful British firm offered 81,000 Euros to top another offer of 70,000 made by Blagnac Boxing Club. The 24-year-old hitter Tennyson won the continental belt at the beginning of May when he stopped the former champion and countryman Martin Joseph Ward in round five, ending a spirited contest where both men visited the canvas. That will be Ziani’s second attempt to the European 130-pound title after his close unanimous decision loss to Guillaume Frenois in 2016. Continue reading “European Boxing Update”

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and unified 168-pound champion Claressa Shields isn’t lacking in confidence as she begins fight week preparing to take on unified 154-pound titleholder Hanna Gabriels for the vacant IBF and WBA Middleweight World Championships this Friday night LIVE on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT).

“As great as she is being a three-time world champion at 154, she’s coming up [in weight],” said Shields, in the video feature. “I’m faster than Hanna Gabriels, I’m bigger. I’m coming down in weight. I’m stronger, I’m taller, and I’m better skilled.”

Shields added: ““I box better than a lot of men… I have to get in there, look good and make them like women’s boxing…I have to perform at Claressa Shields level, and that is GWOAT: Greatest Woman of All-Time.” Continue reading “Claressa Shields: I box better than a lot of men”

By Miguel Maravilla

WBC, WBA middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), of Kazakhstan held court Monday afternoon at the Palm Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles to talk about his rematch with two-division world champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), of Guadalajara, Mexico. The rematch takes place Saturday September 15 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on HBO Pay Per View. Gennady was also presented with the Ring Magazine title.

Here is what “GGG” told Fightnews.com®.

“I always felt that this fight was possible. Everybody wants it. I’m ready and excited I wanted this fight and I’m really hungry. It wasn’t about me being sure or unsure. I have my proposition, take it or leave it. We were gonna go with Billy Joe Sanders if the Canelo fight wouldn’t happen. Continue reading “GGG: I don’t think Canelo can look me in the eye”

Here is the WBC final ruling regarding Luis Nery issued by the WBC Board of Governors:

I. BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS

A. Over the years, the WBC has implemented procedures to facilitate boxer’s methodical weight loss and to prevent sudden weight loss and extreme dehydrations on the eve of WBC-governed bouts. Those procedures which include, but are not limited to, monitoring weigh-ins 30- and 7-days before the bout, and having the official weigh-in ceremony the day before the fight, have yielded very positive results.

B. On August 15, 2017, Luis Nery became WBC World Bantamweight Champion by defeating then reigning Champion Shinsuke Yamanaka via 4th Round technical knockout. Continue reading “WBC issues final Luis Nery ruling”

Former WBA Heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne will look to get back into the winner’s circle when he faces Roger “I Am” Izonritei on July 29th in Sydney. Browne suffered his first loss in March when he was stopped by Dillian Whyte in 6 rounds at the O2 Arena, London. Somewhat ironically both fighters are now based in Perth, Western Australia.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the top of the division and it starts on July 29. I’ve made some adjustments since the fight with Dillian and I’m looking forward to displaying that next month. I can’t afford to overlook anyone and I want to knock Roger out and build some momentum,” said Browne 25-1 (22 KO). Continue reading “Lucas Browne returns July 29”

WBC super featherweight champion Miguel “Alacran” Berchelt looks to be in great physical shape for the third defense of his world title this Saturday at the Poliforum Zamna in his adopted hometown Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The fight can be seen on Azteca 7, La Casa del Boxeo (Mexico) and ESPN+ in the United States. Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) exposes the green belt against experienced former world champion Jonathan Yoni Barros (45-5-1, 22 KOs).

Barros is experiencing some travel problems, but is expected to arrive tonight.

Berchelt arrived in Merida on Saturday night and on Sunday he returned to his roots to workout at the famed San Francisco de Asis Gym. Continue reading “Berchelt hits Merida for third title defense”

PUSSY
CAT‼️
Meow…🐾#BombZquad #UndefeatedInternet#HappyFathersDay pic.twitter.com/72OBkAfZDS

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) June 17, 2018

Former WBO cruiserweight world champion Marco Huck (41-5-1, 28 KOs) had no problems stopping 41-year-old Yakup Saglam (40-5, 37 KOs) on Saturday at the Ballhaus Forum in Munich, Germany. Now campaigning as a heavyweight, Huck dropped Saglam in round four and Saglam’s corner threw in the towel. Huck entered the bout with consecutive losses to cruiserweight champions Oleksandr Usyk and Mairis Briedis.

In another notable heavyweight bout, unbeaten Petar Milas (12-0, 9 KOs) defeated former heavyweight title challenger Francesco Pianeta (35-4-1, 21 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision.

* * *

Also in Germany on Saturday, 47-year-old former WBA cruiserweight champion Firat Arslan (43-8-2, 27 KOs) scored a first round KO against Pablo Matias Magrini (19-5-1, 15 KOs) in the city of Karlsruhe. Arslan claimed the vacant GBU world cruiserweight title for his efforts.

By Ron Jackson

South African flyweight champion Thembelani Nxoshe retained his title when he fought to a 12 round draw against the mandatory challenger Ntlanta Ngamtwini at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday afternoon.

Nxoshe (50.60kg) made a sensational start when he dropped Ngamtwini (50.70kg) with a chopping right to the side of the head in the neutral corner, in the opening round. Ngamtwini (14-1-1, 9 KOs) managed to beat the count and held on until the bell. Continue reading “Nxoshe and Ngamtwini fight to a draw”

Report and Photos by Bob Ryder

Saturday night at the Seagate Convention Center promoter Vick Green (Pulse Boxing) and matchmaker Aaron Rodriguez were able to overcome some late match fallouts to still offer a four bout card to the Glass City boxing faithful that provided some thrills as well as controversy.

In the six round main event, two hometown heavyweights clashed in an attempt to settle local bragging rights. Continue reading “Anderson defeats Valentine in Toledo”

By Gary “Digital” Williams at ringside
Photos: Mike Greenhill

The scheduled 10-round main event bout between Gerome “GQ” Quigley of Montgomery Village, MD and Raymond “Tito” Serrano of Philadelphia, PA at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD ended in a disappointing no-contest after almost two rounds.

In the first round, Serrano surprised the large partisan crowd by landing solid shots to put Quigley on his heels. However, during the round, the two men clashed heads causing a cut on Quigley’s forehead. The cut continued to bleed during the second round and ringside physicians could not stop the bleeding and asked referee Kenny Chevalier to stop the contest at 1:59 of the second. Continue reading “Quigley-Serrano Bout Ends In No-Contest”

By Damon Gonzalez
Photos: Scott Foster

Unbeaten middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (8-0, 3 KOs) from Derry, Ireland stopped a game Danny “El Bebo” Pastrana (6-5, 1 KO) from Orlando, Florida on Saturday night winning the NBA Intercontinental middleweight championship title in front of a sold-out crowd at the St. Pete Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Coyle and Pastrana met in the center of the ring throwing hard blows testing each other’s will early on, Pastrana made a case catches Coyle with a devastating right hook Coyle took the shot well began to establish himself popping a razor hard jab Pastrana just kept on coming after Coyle right through the punches. It was a matter of time in the contest. Coyle showed to be ahead with hard shots, Pastrana showed problems defending himself. Coyle landed a combination sending Pastrana down to the canvas referee Telis Assimenios, having seen enough, waved off the fight at an official time of 2:50 seconds of round six awarding a TKO victory to Coyle. Continue reading “Coyle stops Pastrana in St. Pete”