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Hall of Fame boxing promoter, matchmaker and publicist Robert “Bobby” Goodman passed away in peace and comfort at the hospital in Galloway, N.J. on Sunday, March 5, at the age of 83.

Goodman, who spent 25 years with Don King Productions as Vice President, Boxing Operations, Matchmaker and Director of Public Relations, was the son of another great boxing Hall of Famer, the late Murray Goodman. Bobby and his father were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, the only father-son to have achieved those honors.

Bobby also received the Boxing Writers Association of America’s James J. Walker Memorial Award for long and meritorious service in boxing in 1980. He also was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009, the New York Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018 as well as the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019. Continue reading “Hall of Famer Bobby Goodman passes”

Undefeated WBC interim super welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) will defend his title against Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday, April 8 live on Showtime from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The telecast will also feature undefeated super lightweight contender Brandun Lee (27-0, 23 KOs) taking on Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event, plus undefeated featherweights Luis “The Twist” Núñez (18-0, 13 KOs) and Christian Olivo (20-0-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, go on sale tomorrow.

Inoue to make ambitious invasion in 122lb division against Fulton

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Time will come soon. “The Monster” Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs), Japan, will have an ambitious shot at the WBC, WBO 122-pound belts against also unbeaten Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs), US, at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on May 7. Naoya, formerly undisputed bantam four-belt kingpin, will aim for his fourth division championship after he completely renounced all the 118-pound belts last month in order to have a crack against the ringwise Fulton. It was announced by Ohashi Promotions today (Tuesday) in Tokyo. Inoue, 29, confidently said, “I’m happy to have this event eventually announced publicly. It is a challenge to myself that I’ll invade into the super-bantam category and make myself in a tip-top condition. It truly motivates me that I’ll welcome the big fight at my first fight after moving up to the 122-pound class.”

Inoue described his target Fulton, saying, “He is a taller boxer with a more advantageous reach. It might be hard to finish him, but I’d like to concentrate to be victorious, I believe I am more powerful and faster than Fulton. I don’t know at this moment what game plan I will take against Fulton. Continue reading “Inoue-Fulton Kickoff Press Conference”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO #4 super welterweight Tony Harrison (29-3-1,21KO’s) is confident of victory when he clashes with WBO #1, WBC #1 super welterweight Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) on Sunday, March 12 (Saturday, March 11 in the USA) for the WBO interim 154lb title at the Quos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, televised on Foxtel Main Event and Kayo Sports PPV in Australia, and Showtime in the USA

“He hasn’t fought a world championship fighter yet,” Harrison told the Wide World of Sports.”I am the first one – and I am probably going to be the last because he’s going to go back to the bottom and has to rebuild this stuff back up. He’s not a weak kid but to say he’s like Kostya Tszyu, I think we’re giving him just a little too much!”

“I do think he’s strong enough to compete at the weight that he’s fighting at, but do I think he’s the strongest? Nah. Do I think he hits harder than Jermell (Charlo)? Nah. Come fight night, he’s got to prove it. He’s got to show us. All the talk is over.”

Naoya “Monster” Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) conquered the bantamweight division. He’s now moving up in weight to capture the biggest fish at 122 pounds. Philadelphia’s WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) will defend his titles against Japan’s pound-for-pound king Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Fulton-Inoue and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in a special early-morning presentation.

By Miguel Maravilla

The Philippines’ Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) and his advisor Sean Gibbons had a lot to say about his defeat to Brandon Figueroa Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (23-1-1, 18 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas talked about his win unanimous decision over Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) of the Philippines. Figueroa became the interim WBC featherweight champion winning Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California and held court at the post-fight presser.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Mexico’s Jose Armando Reséndiz (14-1, 10 KOs) pulled the upset as he stopped former unified super welterweight world champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd (24-3, 16 KOs) in the tenth and final round in the co-feature middleweight bout. Resendiz spoke about his big win at the post-fight press conference.

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By Miguel Maravilla

Undefeated 19-year-old middleweight prospect Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Phoenix talked about his spectacular fourth-round knockout over Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) from Uruguay. Here is what he had to say about his win and his plans moving forward.

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By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas fought hard in winning a unanimous decision over a very tough Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (24-2, 16 KOs) of the Philippines on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California to win the WBC interim featherweight title in headlining Showtime Championship Boxing.

Off to a fast start, Magsayo connected with a short right hand, Figueroa returned the favor as he landed a huge chopping right. Magsayo attacked in round two, backing Figueroa with a right hand, fighting at close quarters Figueroa connected inside. In round three, Magsayo pressed but Figueroa landed a thudding body shot, moments later Magsayo unloaded a series of punches to score and finished strong to end the round. Staying busy in the fourth, Figueroa and Magsayo fought at close quarters inside, both connecting and having their momentum. Continue reading “Figueroa tops Magsayo for WBC interim 126 belt”

Matchroom Boxing returned to Mexico on Saturday night at the Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. In the main event, WBO #5 rated Angel Fierro (20-1-2, 16 KOs) retained his NABO title with a fine seventh round KO over the very game Eduardo Estela (14-2, 9 KOs). Fierro dropped Estela hard in round four and battered him to the canvas again in round seven to end it. Time was 2:59.

By Rocky Morales at ringside

In an upset, Armando “Toro” Resendiz (14-1, 10KO) stopped former unified world champion, Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (24-3, 16KO) in the final round of a scheduled ten round middleweight bout on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Resendiz pushed the action from the beginning with Hurd content to mostly throw counterpunches that enjoyed early success. It was a rough fight with Resendiz warned for head butts and Hurd twice warned for low blows.

By the middle rounds, the superior activity of Resendiz was the difference maker as Hurd was unable to find the counter punches to keep Resendiz at bay.

The eighth round saw Hurd’s face start swelling up like a balloon and he was bloodied, as well.

The ninth round was all Resendiz as Hurd looked like a shell of his former self. Only after the ninth round did Resendiz finally show some celebratory emotion as if he finally knew he had the fight in the bag.

Just as the tenth round started, the ringside doctor called a halt to the action to examine Hurd. After a few seconds, the doctor informed the referee that Hurd was unable to continue due to a severe laceration on his lip and, with that, the referee waved off the fight.

By way of knockout at 0:05 of the tenth round, Resendiz is the winner and instant middleweight title contender. Resendiz suddenly looks like a logical choice for a Jermall Charlo comeback fight / title defense.

By Miguel Maravilla and Rocky Morales at ringside

Opening the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast on Saturday night at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, undefeated 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) of Phoenix scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) from Uruguay. It was a feel out opening round as Vidal and Garcia starting things off. The southpaw Garcia connected with a solid straight left in round two, snapping Vidal’s head but Vidal kept coming. Garcia continued to fire away as he finished the round strong. Bleeding from the nose in the third, Garcia kept working away as Vidal stood in the pocket chipping away. Jabbing away and staying in close quarters in round four, Garcia rocked Vidal with a as he dropped him forcing referee Jack Reiss to stop the fight at 2:17 of the fourth.

Former world title challenger, Terrell Gausha (23-3-1, 12 KOs) impressively stopped tough but basic Brandyn Lynch (13-1-1, 10 KOs) by way of ninth round knockout in a scheduled 10 round super welterweight bout. The two fighters started out slowly but by the middle rounds it was a battle of Gausha’s skills against Lynch’s aggression. Gausha was just on another level and despite Lynch’s best efforts, it was Gausha who was landing the cleaner punches.

As the rounds progressed, Gausha turned up the intensity and with Lynch’s forward charging efforts, it was a lot of Gausha counterpunches doing the most damage. Early in the ninth round, Gausha landed a perfectly timed and place right cross to the chin that sent Lynch crashing to the canvas. Lynch got up on very unsteady legs to an indecisive referee who seemed torn between stopping it and allowing it to continue.

Although a stoppage would have been justified, the ref allowed action to continue, only for Gausha to land three clubbing right hands that deposited Lynch on the canvas, once again.

A stoppage at this point would again have been justified, but in for a penny – in for a pound, the referee allowed it to continue once again. Gausha again hammered Lynch to the canvas with the referee finally waving off the fight.

Time of the stoppage was 0:50 of the ninth round. With the victory, Gausha rebounds nicely from his loss to Tim Tszyu and puts himself back in title contention. Continue reading “Garcia, Gausha victorious”

Two important WBA eliminators took place on Saturday night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England.

In a WBA super lightweight eliminator, Ohara Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) brutally stopped Lewis Ritson (23-3, 13 KOs) in round nine with a body shot. Ritson went down for a count of ten and then some.

In a WBA featherweight final eliminator, Thomas Patrick Ward (33-1-1, 5 KOs) was abused over five rounds by Otabek Kholmatov (11-0, 10 KOs). Ward was on the canvas three times before his corner threw in the towel in round five.

IBF #8, WBO #11, WBA #13 heavyweight Agit Kabayel (23-0, 15 KOs) came off the canvas to score a wild third round kayo over Agron Smakici (19-2, 17 KOs) to begin his second reign as EBU European champion on Saturday night at the Ruhrcongress in Bochum, Germany.

In round two, Smakici rocked Kabayel, who fell into the ropes and receives a count. Smakici tried to finish him unsuccessfully and was staggered himself late in the round. In round three, Kabayel stepped on the gas and dropped Smakici twice to end it.

WBA #4 rated middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (18-0, 8 KOs) will headline in the main event of Reyes Fire Fist Boxing’s “Fire on the Bay” Saturday, April 29 at the Hilton Carillon in St. Petersburg, Florida. Coyle will defend his NABA title against the dreaded TBA in a ten round contest. The card will also be broadcast live on Reyesboxingtv.com.

In the co-feature, lightweight Willian “Babyface” Silva (29-4, 15 KOs) will appear in an eight-rounder against dreaded TBA number 2.

Isaiah Johnson 144.5 vs. Antonio Sanchez 144.5
Oscar Barajas 137.8 vs. Roberto Gomez 144.5
Nimal Farmer 145.3 vs. Boris Nde 141.2
Dominique Mayfield 265.6 vs. Jerome Aiken 227.8
Erron Peterson 160.4 vs. Tariq Green 159.4
Najeem Johns 139 vs. Raekwon Butler 138.5
Soslon Alborov 154 vs. Brendan O’Callaghan 155.4
Jonathan Wiles 229.8 vs. Ali Ellis 211.4

Promoter: RDR Promotions
Venue: Newtown Athletic Club
Stream: BXNGTV.com
1st Bell: 6:30 PM ET

Brandon Figueroa 125.8 vs. Mark Magsayo 126
(WBC featherweight title)

Jarrett Hurd 159.2 vs. Armando Reséndiz 161
Amilcar Vidal 159 vs. Elijah Garcia 158.6
Terrell Gausha 156.6 vs. Brandyn Lynch 155.6
Travon Marshall 145.6 vs. Justin DeLoach Dock 147
Enriko Gogokhia 143 vs. Samuel Teah 141.6

Venue: Toyota Arena in Ontario, California
Promoter: TGB Promotions
TV: Showtime + Showtime YouTube Channel and Facebook page

Angel Fierro 134.4 vs. Eduardo Estela 134.2
(NABO lightweight title)

Eduardo Núñez 130.6 vs. Martin Ceyca 128.8
Misael Rodriguez 162.6 vs. Aaron Guerrero 161.2
Alejandro Young 127.2 vs. Francisco Piña 125.8
Criztec Bazaldua 136.4 vs. Jose Bustamante 135.4

Venue: Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

In a pretty big under-the-radar fight, former unified cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev (30-1, 23 KOs) scored a second round knockout against previously unbeaten former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs) to claim the WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title on Friday night at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Armenia. A Gassiev right hand put Balogun down for the count.

Lewis Ritson 139.75 vs. Ohara Davies 139
(WBA super lightweight eliminator)

Thomas Patrick Ward 125.75 vs. Otabek Kholmatov 125
Lee McGregor 132 vs. Alexis Kabore 129

Venue: Utilita Arena Newcastle, England
Promoter: Phil Jeffries
TV: FITE

Agit Kabayel 237.9 vs. Agron Smakici 242.5
(EBU European heavyweight title)

Kevin Saszik 209.7 vs. Toni Visic 215.2
Fedor Michel 168.2 vs. Islam Teffahi TBA
Hamsat Shadalov 135.6 vs. Claudio Lionel Baldomir 134.5
Alexander Frank 213.6 vs. Rufat Hjiyev 235.9
Patrick Schäfer 251.3 vs. Nikola Mrda TBA
Ilja Mezencev 238.1 vs. Sami Enbom TBA

Venue: RuhrCongress, Bochum, Germany
Promoter: SES Boxing
TV: BILD Plus

Anthony Martinez 209 vs. Santander Silgado Gelez 240
(NABA Silver heavyweight title)

Victor Abreu 122 vs. Cristian Perez 122.1
(WBA Gold super bantamweight title )
Yordan Barrera vs. Winston Campos
(WBA Fedlatin title super welterweight title)
Nestor Santana 264 vs. Marcus Maulding ¿?
Billy Rodriguez 112 vs. Richard Morales 106
Brayan Leon 174 vs. Samuel Miller 192

Venue: DoubleTree Hotel near the Miami Airport in Miami, Florida
Promoter: Rivalta Boxing (Henry Rivalta)
TV: PPV (Fite $19.99)
Doors open at 6 pm. First Bell 7pm

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Leading Australian promoter Paul Nasari talks to Fightnews.com® about his amateur and professional boxing career + sparring Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu, promoting undisputed lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos, and working on weekly boxing radio show on 2BACR

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By Héctor Villarreal
Photos: Martín Pérez – Producciones Agua Blanca

Former WBA bantamweight super champion, Panamanian Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (42-6-1) will face an opponent from Mexico or Argentina in the main event of the international boxing card “Tributo 50” scheduled for Thursday, March 30 at the legendary Arena Roberto Duran.

Moreno, currently ranked #8 by WBA in the featherweight division, is also the matchmaker for Laguna Premium Boxing, the promotional company headed by his wife, Rouss Laguna de Moreno. Continue reading ““Chemito” Moreno announces 50th pro fight”