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The 2025 boxing season kicks off with a bang as KOhen Promotions and Dee Lee Promotions team up to present a card on January 18 at the iconic 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The evening’s main event will feature a heavyweight showdown between Kristian Prenga (16-1-0, 16 KOs) and Juan Torres (11-7-1, 4 KOs). DAZN will stream the action.

Other Bouts:

• Daiyann Butt (19-2-0, 10 KOs) takes on the seasoned Philadelphia warrior “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy (34-14-1, 14 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight clash.
• Greg “Sharpshooter” Outlaw (16-2-0, 9 KOs) squares off against Jeter Burgos (8-2, 6 KOs) at welterweioght.

Unbeaten junior welterweight Richardson Hitchins (18-0, 7 KOs) says he’s ready to dethrone world champion Liam Paro (25-0, 15 KOs), as he closes in on his showdown for the IBF title at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.

“I’m on a different level,” said Hitchins. “I can say that but on Saturday I get the opportunity to get in the ring and prove it. I feel I am a better fighter, a better boxer. I have the better tools and am more experienced. If you look at my boxing journey from the amateurs, the Olympics, to facing ex-world champions and many young undefeated fighters, you will understand. Continue reading “Hitchins: I can really see me getting the KO”

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis went face-to-face with WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach at a press conference in Brooklyn on Tuesday to preview their lightweight world championship clash that headlines a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Gervonta Davis: “I’m gonna chop, chop, bob and weave. I’m gonna end it in the ninth round…we’ll have to test his chin come March 1. He might think my opponents don’t have chins, but we’ll definitely test it. I say leave the kids at home.”

Lamont Roach: “I shouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe I’m gonna win. I’ve hurt everybody that I’ve been in the ring with and this won’t be any different…I don’t care about being the underdog or being the favorite. Either way, I’m gonna win.”

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions kicks off the 2025 season on Friday, January 17 at the famed Commerce Casino Events Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live globally on UFC Fightpass, headlined by undefeated featherweight Omar Trinidad, (17-0-1, 12 KOs) making the third defense of his WBC Continental Americas title against ‘Magic’ Mike Plania, (31-4, 18 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines over ten scheduled rounds. Trinidad is currently ranked #2 by the International Boxing Federation.

The undercard has been finalized for the anticipated clash of power between NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) and undefeated knockout artist and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs). The 12-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

• In the co-main event, the highly ranked, undefeated world title contender Charles “Bad News” Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) will return to the ring in a 10-round super welterweight fight against Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KO’s).
• Making his return, John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) is making a comeback into the ring against Sugar Land, Texas’ undefeated Ephraim Bui (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight fight.
• In a crossroads fight, U.S. Olympic Medalist and former unified world champion Marlen Esparza (14-2, 1 KOs) and former four-time World Champion Arely “Ametralladora” Mucino (32-4-2, 11 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico will battle it out in a 10-round super flyweight bout.
• Opening the DAZN Broadcast with a 10-round super featherweight fight, Victor “El Tornado” Morales (19-0-1, 9 KOs) of Vancouver, Canada and Ensenada, Mexico’s Jose Ortiz (16-2-1, 6 KOs) will kick off the broadcast.

Rising junior middleweight Leo Ruiz steps up against Argentina’s Elias Haedo in the 10-round main event this Friday, Dec. 6, at Sala Urbana in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico. Ruiz, a Southern California-based boxer-puncher, is aiming for his third victory of the year. The card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Ruiz (15-0, 8 KOs), a six-year pro, has gained invaluable experience training at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. He has won seven fights since returning from a 13-month layoff in October 2021. In 2023, he went 3-0, including a split decision over then-unbeaten contender Raul Garcia. He made his 2024 debut in April with a near-shutout decision over Oziel Santoyo. In his last outing, he earned a 10-round unanimous decision over 30-fight veteran Alejandro Davila. Haedo (15-6, 11 KOs) has only been stopped twice and is coming off a second-round stoppage of Ezequiel Nicolas Albarenga in October.

By Boxing Bob Newman

Three time Super Bantamweight champion Israel “Magnifico” Vázquez Castañeda has passed at the age of 46. Vázquez fought his final battle against stage IV Sarcoma, as he did all his battles in the ring- with heart and fearlessness.

An IBF, WBC and Ring Magazine champion at 122 lbs., Vázquez began his ring career at 17, reeling off nine straight wins before suffering a a shocking first round KO loss to Ulises Flores. He would notch another eleven straight victories before losing an NABO title bid to Marcos Licona. Another thirteen wins would come before losing a WBC interim title shot to previous victim Oscar Larios via TKO12. Four fights later, Continue reading “Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez Passes”

Nikolay Shvab 134.5 vs. Andrew Rodgers 136
Chris Howard 144 vs. Ryan Schwartzberg 144.6
Tony Aguilar 138.6 vs. Marcello Williams 138.4
Ryan Shaw 111.8 vs. Rondarius Hunter 111.8
Curtis Harper 267.6 vs. Francois Russell 258.6
Yoelys Leal Molina 147.4 vs. Jashawn Hunter (Will Weigh Tues)
Yoandri Rodriguez 266.4 vs. Julio Mendoza 231.2

Venue: Troubadour Nashville
Promoter: Jimmy Adams Promotions
TV: Triller.TV (Marc Abrams/Mike Rodgers/Albert Haynesworth on the call)
1st Bell 7PM CT (8 PM ET)

Queensberry Promotions has announced a blockbuster February 22 event billed as “The Last Crescendo” headlined by the world championship rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and former WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Other bouts:

IBF world heavyweight championship
Daniel DuBois vs. Josephi Parker

WBC lightweight championship
Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield

WBC middleweight championship
Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz

WBC interim super welterweight championship
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov

WBO interim light heavyweight championship
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith

WBC interim heavyweight championship
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel

By Mauricio Sulaiman
Son of Jose Sulaiman – WBC President

This past week was the celebration of an American tradition called “Thanksgiving Day.” On the last Thursday of November families get together and spend a weekend in the company of their loved ones.

They cook traditional dishes the likes of turkey, garnished with pumpkin puree along with sprinklings of marshmallows, cranberry sauce, pasta, greens … and I’ll stop there, because I’m getting hungry. There are NFL games throughout the day and family members talk, laugh and cry. Friday the day of maximum tempting discounts in the stores with the irresistible Black Friday, is celebrated and on Saturday and Sunday everyone begins their trip back home and get back to normal life with a warm heart.

Coincidentally, this week many things happened for which we can be thankful. Thanks to various people from our WBC family, Israel Vázquez was reunited with his parents and sister who are now with him at his home in California. Thank you also for the medical services that are being administered to him during this difficult, challenging time, and for the company and closeness, for the multiple messages of encouragement for our brave warrior. Dr. Louis Rodriguez, Nancy Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Pelayo, Federico Enriquez, and several more friends have been extremely supportive. Continue reading “Many Reasons To Give Thanks”

The 10 round main event saw former WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel ‘El Alacran’ Berchelt (41-3, 36 KOs) decision Mauro Alex Hasan (16-10-1, 8 KOs) of Argentina . The event took place Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros La Esperanza in Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. The southpaw showed early that he had come to fight as he rocked the former champ with some right hooks. The tide would turn in round seven as Berchelt landed a short left hook that sent Hasan to the canvas. Hasan beat the count but appeared stunned by the punch. Has was deducted a point by the referee in round eight for his mouthpiece falling out of his mouth. Hasan had been warned multiple times by the referee earlier in the fight. Berchelt pushed hard to get the knockout the last two rounds but Hasan was very game. The pair slugged it out hard the last minute of the fight. In the end, the official scorecards read 98-90, and 97-91 twice all in favor of Beltran. Three straight wins now for Berchelt, who is aiming for another title shot.

Unbeaten 2020 Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai (9-0, 7 KOs) won by a one-sided six round beatdown over former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards ((21-2, 4 KOs) on Saturday night to claim the WBC interim flyweight title on Saturday night at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England. Edwards was never in the fight as Yafai overpowered and punished him until the referee waved it off. Time was 1:10 in round six.

After the fight, Edwards announced his retirement.

Former super middleweight champion Callum “Mundo” Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) scored a fifth round KO against Carlos Galvan (20-15-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at BP Pulse Live in Birmingham, England. Smith floored Galvan in round four, then put him on the canvas twice in round five to end it. Time was 1:19. This was Smith’s first fight since his TKO loss to Artur Beterbiev in January.

Flyweight Christian “Chicarito” Gonzalez (16-2-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico scored an exciting come from behind knockout of the local favorite Leroy Estrada (18-5, 8 KOs) of Panaman in the 10 round main event on Friday night at the Coliseo de Combates in Panama City, Panama. The bout did not take long to heat up as Gonzalez came out in round one applying the early pressure. Estrada will match this with his own pressure over the ensuing rounds but Gonzalez stood his ground and fired back. The fight would have its ebs and flows but Gonzalez broke through in round eight and abruptly stopped Estrada in round eight in thrilling fashion. Gonzalez was trailing on points before scoring the KO. Felix Tuto Zabala Jr promoted the event with his son Felix Zabala III matchmaking.

Former world champion Miguel “El Alarcon” Berchelt (40-3, 36 KOs) returns against Mauro Alex Hasan (16-9-1, 8 KOs) on Saturday night at the Plaza de Toros La Esperanza in Mérida, Yucatán, México. At Friday’s weigh-in, Berchelt scaled in at 136.5 pounds, while Hasan was 135.8. Can be seen on ESPN Knockout in Latin America.

Former WBC world title challenger Ronald Gavril (26-3, 21 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over Juan Boada (18-9, 10 KOs) in a clash for the fringe WBF light heavyweight title on Friday night at the Metropolitan Circus in Bucharest, Romania. Gavril, 38, who was born in Romania but now resides in Las Vegas, pressed the action and rocked Boada in round four. Gavril then sent Boada to a knee in round five to end it.

WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis will go face-to-face with WBA super featherweight world champion Lamont Roach at a press conference on Tuesday in Brooklyn to kick off the build-up for their lightweight world championship clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Sunny Edwards 111 vs. Galal Yafai 111.4
(WBC interim flyweight title)

Conah Walker 146.6 vs. Lewis Ritson 146.9
Kieron Conway 159.6 vs. Ryan Kelly 159.3
Cameron Vuong 138.6 vs. Gavin Gwynne 138.6
Hamza Uddin 112.3 vs. Benn Norman 111.4
Troy Jones 173.6 vs. Michael Stephenson 173.4
Aaron Bowen 162.2 vs. James Todd 163
Ibraheem Sulaimaan 131.8 vs. Marvin Solano 133.8
Taylor Bevan 168.9 vs. Greg O’neill 167.9
Callum Smith 179.8 vs. Carlos Galvan 175.6

Venue: BP Pulse LIVE, Birmingham, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards and 2020 Olympic flyweight gold medalist Galal Yafai faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s all-British flyweight showdown at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Sunny Edwards: “If you take a look at any of the wins on my record, it’s always the same way, so probably that way. But at the same time, I am in a stage where I do opt and prefer to stand and trade a little bit more and let my hands go. When I just go on the back foot for 12 rounds, I cant watch the fight back, even I get bored watching it. My favorite fight of my career is the fight I lost because it had the most action in it, so I am looking forward to an action-packed fight against a great competitor, in a great city.”

Galal Yafai: “It’s a big challenge, and all the shit outside it with the brothers having their back and forths, not too much but a little, it’s good for the people watching, the British fans. It’s got people interested and it’s not what I am used to, I’ve been going to America and fighting unknown Mexicans, so fighting someone that everyone rates, everyone knows, and we’ll see who the better man is on Saturday.”

DAZN has picked up the heavyweight title fight between WBA regular world champion Mahmoud “Diamond Boy” Charr (34-4, 20 KOs) and Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (31-3, 14 KOs) taking place Saturday, December 7, at the Arena Sophia in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event is promoted by Epic Sports & Entertainment.

Charr, 40, last fought in December 2022. Charr had previously lost his status as champion in recess in December 2021, after not having fought in the scheduled time and after the impossibility of arranging a fight with Trevor Bryan. However, after two years and a judicial process in between, in August 2023, the WBA Championships Committee reinstated Charr as regular champion as part of a court settlement.

Pulev, 43, is currently rated #7 by the WBA. He last fought in March, defeating Ihor Shevadzutskyi.

2020 Olympic flyweight gold medalist Galal Yafai (8-0, 6 KOs) faces the toughest test of his professional journey so far when he locks horns with former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs) in an all-British clash at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England this Saturday, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

Edwards, who holds a win over Yafai in the amateurs, is determined to become a two-time world champion after suffering the first loss of his career in a blockbuster unification clash with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona last December.

With the interim WBC world title on the line this weekend, the winner will go on to a likely world title shot in their next fight – but Yafai insists he his solely focused on the job at hand and putting his long-standing rivalry with Edwards to bed once and for all. Continue reading “Yafai: I can knock out Edwards”

Launch press conference for “The Last Dance” headlined by Derek Chisora against Otto Wallin on Thursday at the new CO-OP Arena in Manchester, England, announcing their upcoming fight in 2025.

On February 15, 45-year-old former multi-division world champion Felix Sturm will make his comeback. He will headline a card at the 6,500-seat Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm, Germany in front of a gigantic backdrop. Sturm Boxing is cooperating with the Berlin promoter Ingo Volckmann and his AGON Sports.

Felix Sturm: “I am ready to continue writing my story and am looking forward to getting back into the ring to offer my fans another spectacle. Negotiations for my opponent are in the final phase and we will be able to announce him soon. I can already reveal this much: it will be a boxer from Germany!”

A mighty clash of the heavyweights will take place at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday February 8 when 40-year-old, two-time world title challenger Derek Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs) enters into his 49th professional fight against Otto Wallin (27-2, 15 KOs). The bout is billed as ‘The Last Dance’ — Chisora’s final UK fight.

Chisora, fresh from winning a unanimous decision over Joe Joyce in London back in July, gets to tick a wish off his publicized bucket list for the conclusion of his career by fighting in Manchester and he will get to do it at the recently opened largest arena in Europe, situated on the Etihad Campus. Wallin, who resides in New York, is battling his way back into heavyweight contention following his defeat to Anthony Joshua, which featured as part of Riyadh Season in December of last year. Continue reading “Chisora-Wallin collide Feb 8”

Refreshed and back in the United States following a well-deserved post-fight vacation in Zanzibar, Tevin Farmer has plenty of thoughts and reflections in the aftermath of his razor-thin split decision loss against William Zepeda, rated #1 in all four major sanctioning bodies.

“Yes, I thought I won, but overall it was an amazing experience,” said Farmer, the former IBF junior lightweight world champion. “I’m always in the gym, but I spent 10 weeks in training camp preparing for this fight. Zepeda’s team expected me to be a boxer, so I switched it up. Zepeda is an aggressive volume puncher and you can’t let fighters like that apply the pressure. You have to be the bully, the one pressing forward and initiating the action. I’m a helluva fighter on the inside, I just never had to bring it out like that before.”

Continue reading “Tevin Farmer: I thought I won”