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In a crossroads fight, former WBA cruiserweight champion Ryad Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) hammered out a ten round unanimous decision over 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Tony Yoka (11-3, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. The 6’7 Yoka tried to keep the fight at a distance with his jab against Merhy, who is listed at 5’11. Merhy was the aggressor and was able to get inside at times to land big punches. Yoka’s punch output diminished as the fight progressed with Merhy pulling away 96-94 3x. Three straight losses for Yoka, while Merhy gets back into the mix after a loss to Kevin Lerena.

Chris Billam-Smith 199 vs. Mateusz Masternak 198
(WBO cruiserweight title)

Ben Whittaker 174 vs. Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj 176
Lauren Price 146 vs. Silva Bortot 142
Lee Cutler 153 vs. Kingsley Egbunike 152
Michael Mckinson 146 vs. Musah Lawson 143
Francesca Hennessy 120 vs. Lucrecia Belen Arrieta 119
Lewis Edmondson 180 vs. Dmytro Fedas 181

Date: Sunday, December 10
Venue: International Centre, Bournemouth, England
Promoter: BOXXER
TV: Peacock (USA), Sky Sports (UK)

Super middleweight Omar “The Businessman” Chavez (40-8-1, 27 KOs) returned to the ring Friday night after a little over a year since his last fight. The event took place in his and his father Julio’s native hometown of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Chavez stopped journeyman Javier Carrerra Tinajero (15-11, 12 KOs) in round seven of their scheduled for 10 round main event. Chavez controlled the action and landed the heavier punches. Carrerra was game and actually had a good round six as Chavez seemed to be tiring. Chavez gained a second wind late in round seven and begin to work over Carrerra in the latter’s corner prompting the corner to throw in the towel. The official stoppage time was 2:35 seconds of round seven.

King’s Promotions presented a card featuring some notable names on Friday night at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

In a bout that ended after midnight, former two-time world title challenger and son of Philly ring legend Eugene “Cyclone” Hart Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (30-3, 24 KOs), fighting at cruiserweight, scored a third round KO against Jeyson Minda (14-8-1, 8 KOs). Hart dropped Minda in round three, then finished him with a second knockdown. Seven straight losses for Minda.

Former unified 154lb world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd (25-3, 17 KOs), now campaigning at middleweight, ended a two-fight losing streak with a fourth round TKO over Tyi Edmonds (14-6, 9 KOs). Hurd stalked Edmunds the whole fight, dropped him twice in round four and Edmunds couldn’t continue after the round.

Highly regarded junior middleweight Travon “Sniper” Marshall (9-1, 8 KOs), rebounding from a nationally televised KO loss against Gabriel Maestre in August, took it out on Roudley Lolo (6-2-2, 3 KOs). Marshall dropped Lolo hard in round three, then got the stoppage moments later with his follow up barrage. Time was 2:14.

Undefeated super featherweight Julian Gonzalez (12-0-1, 9 KOs) outpointed Juan Antonio Lopez (17-16-1, 7 KOs) over eight uneventful rounds. Scores were 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.

Denzel Whitley 147 vs. Kenny Larson 147
(NABF welterweight junior title)

Heber Rondon 177 vs. Kendrick Ball, Jr. 180
Joe Bush 147 vs. Jemorean Smith 143.5
Robert Degaetano vs. Devon Grant 145
Khiary Gray 154 vs. Jimmy Williams 153.5
Nathan Benichou 134.5 vs. Carlos Gonzalez 135
Kevin Nagle 293 vs. Tadeu Costa 262
Bryan Goldsby 152 vs. Danny Lafos Poll 154.5
Moises Rivera 154 vs. Keno Luna 154
Tyrone Luckey 144.5 vs. Carlos Marrero III 142.5
Famous Wilson 162 vs. Nata Gomes 167.5
Terrence Richardson 150 vs. Edwine Humaine 153

Venue: The Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts
Promoter: Granite Chin
TV: Bxngtv.com

Mark Magsayo 130.7 vs Isaac Avelar 132.4
George Acosta 130.9 vs Richard Medina 131.4
Brandon Benitez 125.3 vs Rigoberto Hermosillo 125.9
Adelaida Ruiz 115.3 vs Mayela Perez 115.9
Adrian Corona 134.7 vs Erick Benitez Garcia 134.4
Mario Hernandez 117.4 vs Adrian Alavarado 118
Anthony Cuba 134.9 vs Angel Barrera 135
Nelson Guerrero 121.3 vs Arturo Herrera 122
Lienard Sarcon 124.5 vs Frank Gonzalez 123.2

Venue: Thunder Studios, Long Beach, California
Promoter: CBN Promotion
TV: FOX Deportes

Former two division world champion Paul Butler and former light heavyweight world title challenger Callum Johnson both scored quick knockout victories against overmatched opponents on Friday night at The Fuse in Partington, England (a suburb of Manchester).

Butler (36-3, 17 KOs) stopped Nabil Ahmed (2-26-2, 0 KOs) in the second round, while Johnson (21-1, 15 KOs) finished Darryl Sharp (8-121-1, 1 KO) in the very first stanza.

Regis Prograis 139 vs. Devin Haney 140
(WBC super lightweight title)

Liam Paro 140 vs. Montana Love 140

Andy Cruz 134.4 vs. Jovanni Straffon 134

Ebanie Bridges 117.8 vs. Miyo Yoshida 117.6

Amari Jones 159.2 vs. Quilisto Madera 160
Shamar Canal 132 vs. Jose Antonio Mesa 131.8
Beatriz Ferreira 130 vs. Destiny Jones 129.8

Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Robeisy Ramirez 125.6 vs. Rafael Espinoza 125.3
(WBO featherweight title)

Xander Zayas 153.6 vs. Jorge Fortea 153.7

Richard Torrez Jr. 230.8 vs. Curtis Harper 273.9

Bruce Carrington 125.8 vs. Jason Sanchez 125.7
Jahi Tucker 155.2 vs. Francisco Daniel Veron 155.1
Rohan Polanco 142.9 vs. Keith Hunter 139.3
Tiger Johnson 141.6 vs. Jimmer Espinosa 141.2
Damian Knyba 264.1 vs. Michael Coffie 290.9

Venue: Charles F. Dodge Center, Pembroke Pines, Florida
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

The official announcement finally came in for the final boxing telecast from Showtime Sports after 37 years. As previously announced, WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. will battle Sena Agbeko in the main event on December 16 from The Armory in Minneapolis. Other fights include Chris “Primetime” Colbert against Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in a 12-round WBA lightweight title eliminator and WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez defending against unbeaten Angelino Cordova.

Plus, in a special attraction throwback fight, 40-year-old former world champions Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (37-6-1, 20 KOs) and Andre Berto (32-5, 24 KOs) will square off in a 10-round welterweight rematch. Guerrero’s 2012 triumph over Berto saw him drop Berto in rounds one and two on his way to earning the interim WBC welterweight title.

Robert Guerrero: “I won my first world title on ShoBox, so it’s an honor to be fighting on the last Showtime Boxing event. I’m ready to give the fans another great performance. Everyone knows that when I step into the ring, it’s going to be all action. Berto and I already went to war once, and now we’re gonna meet again. At the end of the day, the fans are gonna win.”

Andre Berto: “I’m excited to be performing again and to help close out a legendary chapter of Showtime boxing. This rematch with Robert Guerrero has been looming in my spirit for years. It’s a fight that I always wanted to get back before I left this game. I’m the type of man who loves to right his wrongs, the same way that I did with Victor Ortiz. I’ve had a hell of a camp and I’m looking forward to putting on a hell of a performance on December 16.”

Super welterweights Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) and “El Tigre” Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) will collide at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on January 6 and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN. The fight, which was rescheduled from the original December 2 fight date, is a 12-round match for the WBA interim 140lb title. Davies-Barroso will be the co-feature to Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson.

Also on the card, newly-signed Golden Boy super lightweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) and former middleweight title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-5, 10 KOs) will participate in separate ten round fights. Opponents for both will be announced in the coming weeks.

WBC junior lightweight world champion O’Shaquie “Ice Water” Foster (21-2, 10 KOs) will make his second world title defense against Abraham “El Super” Nova (23-1, 16 KOs) on Friday, February 16 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN.

“O’Shaquie Foster wants to prove he is the best junior lightweight in the world, and he’ll have an opportunity to make that statement February 16 against a determined, powerful challenger in Abraham Nova,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “I look forward to another great fight night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.”

By Miguel Maravilla

WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 KO’s) is set to defend his title this Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, as the champ will be heading into hostile territory to take on the Bay Area’s own former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KO’s) of Oakland live on DAZN Pay Per View.

“It’s not his hometown, he was born there but he is from Henderson, Nevada. I’m not worried about his hometown; his daddy is from there. He never made it out of there, his daddy made it out of there. He grew up privileged and there is nothing wrong with that,” Regis Prograis told Fightnews.com®. Continue reading “Prograis: This Fight Will Put Me on the Map”

Photos: Scott Foster

Days 3 and 4 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Continue reading “2024 USA Boxing Team Trials Days 3, 4 Photos”

By Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Sports

Idalberto Umara 133.4 vs. Fradimil Macayo 135.8
(WBA Fedelatin Lightweight Title)

Kevin Hayler Brown 140 vs. Marcos Leonardo Jimenez 138.4
(WBA Continental Americas Super Lightweight Title)

Jeovanny Estela 155 vs. Juan Egana Ellzaide 152
Israel Rodriguez Picazo 122 vs. Wilner Soto 122
Euri Cedeno 160.4 vs. Yoanki “Diamanté” Urrutia 159
Aaron Aponte 141.6 vs. Roberto Almazan Monreal 141.8
Leonardo “Chispita” Padilla 130.4 vs. Jeremy Hill 130.2
Etoundi Michel William 158 vs. Dormedes Potes 159.2
Juan Guerra Vargas 131.2 vs. Pedro “El Gago”Hernandez 131.2
Abass Baraou 155.4 vs. Hugo Noriega 154
Opeyemi “Sense Boy”Adeyemi 126.6 vs. Jason Vera 127.2

Venue: Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Box-Lab Promotions

Julian Gonzalez 130.8 vs. Juan Antonio Lopez 129,6
Jesse Hart 186.3 vs. Jeyson Minda 195.4
Thnajhae Teasley 147.9 vs. Xavier Madrid 147.9
Jarrett Hurd 162.9 vs. Tyi Edmonds 165.6
Shamara Woods 140.2 vs. Michaele Nogue 139.8
Francis Oran 202.6 vs. Justin Maggi 195.4
Gustavo Morales 147.9 vs. Antonio Allen 151.4
Travon Marshall 150.7 vs. Roudly Lolo 152.1
James Bernadin 133.9 vs. Osvaldo Morales 132.4
Paige Suchit 115.7 vs. Yusniel Abrahante 115.9
Ernie Cuevas 121.3 vs. Roberto Pucheta 122
Elijah Akana 211.8 vs. Kaleb Slaughter 246.1

Venue: Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Promoter: King’s Promotions
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 6:45 PM ET

Emotions were running high during the final press conference for Saturday’s DAZN PPV clash between WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis and former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

Devin Haney: “I’m gonna beat the shit outta this n****r. The n****r’s really a bum for real, for real. He really don’t wanna tell y’all, but he’s really a bum. And on December 9, the world is going to see that I’m levels above this bum-ass n****r.”

Regis Prograis: “I’m gonna hurt this boy. That’s it. I’m gonna hurt him. I’m gonna hurt him bro. I’m gonna hurt him. I’m gonna hurt this n****r bro. I’m gonna hurt him.”

WBO featherweight champon Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) and unbeaten challenger Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (21-0, 18 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s world title fight at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Espinoza had a decided height advantage.

Robeisy Ramirez: “I have never struggled with taller fighters. But with regard to how I will fight, I leave that to my trainer, Ismael Salas.”

Rafael Espinoza: “I always try to use my height advantage. My body has been blessed with this height, and I don’t even struggle to make weight. Obviously, I use it to my advantage, but like all Mexicans, I like coming forward, too.”

The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum, which will be celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2024, has announced the newest class of inductees to be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 6-9, 2024.

The Class of 2024 includes Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Michael “Double M” Moorer, Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon and Diego “Chico” Corrales (posthumous) in the men’s Modern category; Jane “The Fleetwood Assassin” Couch and “La Guerrera” Ana Maria Torres in the Women’s modern category; trainer Kenny Adams, manager Jackie Kallen and publicist Fred Sternburg in the Non-Participant category; journalist Wallace Matthews and broadcaster Nick Charles (posthumous) in the Observer category; Luis Angel Firpo (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Theresa Kibby (posthumous) in the women’s Trailblazer category.

The 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 6-9. Events will take place in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino throughout the four-day celebration including ringside talks, fist casting, fight night, 5K race / fun run, boxing autograph card show, banquet, parade and induction ceremony.

After losing broadcast partner Showtime, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) has announced a new multiyear rights agreement with Amazon Prime Video beginning in 2024. Prime Video, which has been getting into live sports recently, including NFL football, MMA, and other sports, is set to become the home of PBC’s pay-per-view boxing events. The first PPV is expected in March and available for all viewers to purchase, regardless of Prime membership.

Additionally, in the U.S. and select countries, Prime Video will exclusively stream a non-PPV series of championship boxing events. Details on specific cards, dates, and locations will be announced at a later date.

Photos: Scott Foster

Day 2 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Continue reading “2024 USA Boxing Team Trials Day 2 Photos”

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

The WBC believes in choice, which is why we chose to support women’s boxing when no one else did since the late 90s.

The WBC chose to initiate Women’s World Championships back in 2004. We chose to use our entire platform to bring women’s boxing to the level it is today with exciting fights, sold out arenas and worldwide heroes.

The WBC chose to spend money, time, and effort to have continuous medical and scientific research, evaluate and create specific rules for women in boxing.

The WBC chose to support women and not charge a single penny to them in sanction fees.

The WBC chose to organize three World Conventions exclusively for women’s boxing in Cancun, Tijuana, and Manila.

However, the sport itself is not about choice. Continue reading “The WBC believes in CHOICE”

After a six-month break from boxing, heavyweight Victor Faust (11-1, 7 KOs) will be back in the ring next month. Faust is coming off a defeat against Lenier Pero where he was ahead in the fight when he seriously injured his ribs and couldn’t continue.

“Victor is healthy again, his rib and back have healed. He’s already in full swing and will be back in the ring by the end of January at the latest,” said promoter Erol Ceylan. “We renewed our contract and set everything to zero. Victor has signed with EC Boxing again for five years and has proven that he trusts us completely and is happy with us.”

Devin Haney and Regis Prograis faced-off for the first time this fight week at the Golden Gate Bridge ahead of their clash for Prograis’ WBC super lightweight title at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, live on DAZN PPV in North America and on DAZN worldwide.

58-year-old Scot England set a Guinness world record for being the oldest fighter to make his pro boxing debut on Tuesday night at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee. In the fight, 23-year-old opponent Jashawn Hunter (1-6, 1 KO) dropped England hard in the first five seconds. England got up woozy and after about 25 seconds the bout resumed. England took a few more shots before the towel was waved by the corner.

Cruiserweight Dionardo Minor (7-3-2, 2 KOs) took an eight round split decision over Charles Dale (13-3, 10 KOs) in a good scrap. Scores were 77-75 Dale, 77-75, 80-72 Minor.

Unbeaten heavyweight Erick Arellano (10-0, 7 KOs) scored a bizarre fourth round TKO over Armondo Reeves (4-15-2, 1 KO). Reeves’ gloves the canvas after a push which was ruled a knockdown. Reeves complained about the call and the referee then waved off the bout! Time was 2:52. Continue reading “58-year-old destroyed in 46 seconds”