Golovkin-Adama March 30th in France?

Sources say that IBO/WBA Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (25-0, 22 KOs) will defend against Illinois based world ranked contender Osumanu Adama (20-3, 15 KOs). The bout is said to be scheduled for March 30th in France with the venue to be announced later. Adama unsuccessfully challenged current IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale in his last fight in March of 2012 in a competitive decision lost in the champion’s native Australia. While Golovkin successfully defended his titles in his last fight this past January 19 stopping Gabriel Rosado in round 7.

World Championship Boxing returns to Cordoba, Colombia after 22 Years

World Championship boxing will return to Cordoba, Colombia after a 22 years hiatus. On March 9, Miami-based All Star Boxing, Inc will bring a show to the Mario de Leon Coliseum in the city of Cerete (10 miles away from the capital of Monteria). In the main event, WBO #2 Mini-Flyweight contender Luis “Chino” De La Rosa (21-1-1, 12 KOs) of Colombia, will face undefeated WBO #3 challenger Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (21-0, 10 KOs) of Philippines in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds with the interim WBO mini-flyweight title at stake. WBO Champion Moises Fuentes is moving up in weight to challenge WBO jr. flyweight champion Donnie Nietes on March 2nd.

“We very happy to make history in bringing a world title fight to a place that has brought much memories, my wife and Family are from there as well as two world champions that we represented in Happy Lora and Carlos Maussa,” said promoter Tuto Zabala Jr. “We really appreciate the support of Mayor Padilla Petro and this will be the first of many big shows to be stage at this new facility.”

The undercard and ticket information will be announced shortly. Doors open at 7:00 PM with the first bell at 8:00 PM. Six more fights round up the card. The event is being presented by Tuto Zabala, Jr., All Star Boxing, Inc in association with City Hall of Cerete Mayor Francisco Padilla Petro, Billy Cham’s Cuadrilatero, Servinc Colombia and ALA Boxing. The Mario de Leon Coliseum was recently build for the 2012 National Games and is located in Cerete, Cordoba, Colombia.

Golden Boy inks Lamont Peterson

Golden Boy Promotions has announced the signing of IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson, adding another 140-pound titleholder to their roster. “We are thrilled that Lamont Peterson will be joining Golden Boy Promotions’ team,” said President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “We know firsthand what Lamont Peterson can do, as he’s been in the ring with our fighters Amir Khan and Victor Ortiz. We know that he is the kind of individual that will be an asset to our team and great competitor in the 140-pound weight class.”

Ticket Alert: Peterson-Holt

Tickets, priced at $250, $150, $100, $75 and $25, went on sale today at the DC Armory box office and Ticketmaster for IBF jr welterweight champion Lamont Peterson’s first ring appearance in fourteen months when he defends against former world champion Kendall Holt in Washington D.C. on February 22nd. Although Peterson signed a promotional pact with Golden Boy Promotions today, Peterson-Holt will be co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Headbangers Promotions. The fight will be broadcast live by ESPN2′s Friday Night Fights.

Minto targets Green, Lebedev

WBA#14 Brian “The Beast” Minto (37-5) is looking for another world title shot in 2013. A former WBO world title challenger, Minto is targeting WBA champ Denis Lebedev (25-1) and IBO kingpin Danny Green (33-5). Minto states, “After several fights last year and coming from wins, I feel that I am ready for the very best in the cruiserweight division; I match up stylisticly and size-wise very well with Green and Lebedev.” (more…)

Sturm-Soliman come Face-to-Face

Photos: Team Sturm

Former 3-Time Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm and current IBF No. 1 contender Sam Soliman came face-to-face for the first time at today’s final press conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany. The pair will collide on Friday at the ISS Dome in Dusseldorf in an IBF World Middleweight Title Eliminator, with the winner to get a crack at the Daniel Geale vs. Anthony Mundine II victor (scheduled for Wednesday in Australia). Both fighter’s appeared calm, relaxed and smiled a lot. Felix Sturm: “I’m excited about Friday. It’s great to be in Dusseldorf and I am in great shape. I had an excellent camp. Some of my sparring partners were able to clone his fighting style and I’m really prepared to fight a guy as unorthodox as Sam. The fight against him will still be very difficult but I’ll prevent him from getting into his rhythm. I need to dictate the pace and the distance and I’m sure I’ll do just that. Sam is a great challenge and I haven’t looked past him. I’m completely focused on him. I want to become champion again and I’ll make the first step towards that goal on Friday night. The fans are in for a real treat.” (more…)

Salita disappointed over Feb 9 postponement

By James Slater

Former WBA 140-pound title challenger Dmitriy Salita, 35-1-1(18) was all set to face Hector Camacho Junior on the stacked Feb. 9th card at Barclays Centre in New York, and is now very disappointed that the whole card has been delayed to new date April 27th due to Danny Garcia’s injured ribs. The 30-year-old “Star of David” spoke to Fightnews.com about his frustrations and his plans for the future:

“I’m tremendously disappointed that the card has been postponed,” Salita said today. “I had a very good camp, a complete camp and everything was on schedule. I was very sharp and looking for that opportunity [the Camacho Junior fight]. I only found out last night [about the postponement]. Nothing is 100-percent yet what I might do now. As soon as I have all the information from Golden Boy I will let you know. The two main fights will now happen on April 27th, but my fight, I’m not sure until I get all the information. Two-and-a-half months is a long time; I could fight now and then fight on that date also. But right now I can’t say yet what will happen. But I’m going to the gym today (laughs). The Camacho fight is a great fight, I’ve done a lot of southpaw boxing, and I hope it still happens.” (more…)

USBA orders Mack-Agnew clash

The IBF/USBA has notified the camps of USBA light heavyweight champion Yusaf Mack and top rated Cedric Agnew they have 30 days to come to an agreement. At stake is the mandatory defense of Mack’s United States Boxing Assn. title. Both parties have 30 days to come to an agreement or it will order a purse bid. (more…)

O’Connor-Silveira Ringside Report and Photo Gallery

Ringside Report by Scott Ploof
Photogallery by Emily Harney

Irish eyes were smiling on Saturday night at the TD Bank Boston Garden’s “Night at the Fights” in Boston, MA as nearby Framingham native, Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (20-0, 7KOs) defeated Quincy, MA native Derek Silveira (8-1, 4 KOs) by ten round majority decision in a catch weight bout of 145 pounds. Scores of the bout were 100-89 and 97-93 for O’Connor while the third judge scored the fight even 95-95. O’Connor utilized his power and ring generalship to control the tempo of the fight, while Silveira used his speed to try and counter but in most cases get out of trouble and away from his opponent. The fight card was promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing. Click here for the entire ringside report and action packed photogallery.

Geale-Mundine heats up even more

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

At Monday’s press conference at the Star City Casino, former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine accused IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale of being a glorified amateur boxer and claimed that his USA promoter Gary Shaw used his influence with the IBF to help Geale in winning the IBF title against Sebastian Sylvester in 2011 and the WBA title against Felix Sturm in 2012 – ahead of there IBF middleweight title bout to be held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia on Wednesday.

“Because Sturm and Sylvester are robots,” Mundine said. “They haven’t got hands like me, haven’t got feet like me. I’ll hurt Daniel more in our fight than both those guys did. He’s a glorified amateur. This is not about how many punches you can throw, it’s about how you hit and be hit. It’s professional boxing and I’m gonna show him how it’s done. I’m gonna outbox him, outfox him and outfight him. Daniel Geale ain’t me. I told him he was going to be world champion if I wasn’t here. This boy ain’t on my level and I’m gonna take his belt again.”

Geale responded to say: “If this fight was about who talks the most, shit then, yeah, Anthony wins. When we went to Germany, everyone expected us to come back with nothing. But we went out there and did what no one else in Australia has done. So I know Anthony’s just trying to get into my head. You can see it a mile off. He’s just trying to distract me because that’s what he does.” (more…)

Q&A: Sakio Bika

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Fightnews talks to world rated super middleweight Sakio “Scorpion” Bika, who says he will defeat Nikola Sjekloca on February 16 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the WBC 168 pound interim title. He also said he will defeat Lucian Bute if they have a third fight and would also look forward to fights against Aussies Anthony Mundine and Danny Green and talks about his fights with Andre Ward and Joe Calzaghe.

How is training in the USA for your WBC super middleweight title bout on Feb 16 against Nikola Sjekloca? Who are your sparring partners and what’s the name of your gym?

The preparation is going great. Everyday just training hard, running hard focusing on what I have to do. Kevin Cunningham is training me again. My sparring partners are WBA #9 Ben McCulloch from Australia, Fara Ennis from Philadelphia and Sebastien Demers a super middleweight from Canada. St. Charles Boxing club. (more…)

It’s Official: Entire Barclay’s card postponed

Due to a rib injury sustained while training, Danny Garcia will be unable to compete in his scheduled February 9 world title defense against Zab Judah which was to be televised by Showtime from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. As a result, the event, and its undercard bouts, have been postponed until Saturday, April 27 at Barclays Center. All tickets purchased for the February 9 event will be honored on April 27.

Boxing Buzz

A rib injury has sidelined Danny Garcia from his Feb. 9th showdown with Zab Judah. April 27 is looking like the rescheduled date.

The Richard Steele Boxing Gym in Las Vegas may close its doors if a local fundraiser can’t generate donations to keep it open. Las Vegas’ KTNV has more.

An April tune-up for Manny Pacquiao in Manila has been declined by investors in the Philippines. The Manila Standard Today gives the total amount of the package. |more|

Chelsea Clinton recently visited Detroit’s Downtown Boxing Gym as part of “NBC Nightly News” |more|

Report/gallery: Matthysse vs. Dallas

Ringside by Anthony Springer Jr. & Andreas Hale
Photos by Mary Ann Owen / BoxinginLasVegas.com

Interim junior welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse literally punched his side of the ticket to a possible showdown with unified titlist Danny Garcia when he annihilated Mike Dallas Jr. in the first round at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The Argentinean’s last ten victories have been via stoppage and it was assumed that Dallas Jr. would be little more than cannon fodder for Matthysse (33-2, 31 KOs). Turns out that assumption was correct. It also didn’t help that a some mind games by Dallas (19-3-1) and trainer Virgil Hunter perhaps sped up the process. Prior to the first bell, Hunter accused Matthysse of taking a banned substance in his locker room. The Nevada State Athletic Commission got involved but found no issue and allowed the fight to go on. It was all downhill from there . . . click here for more

Sakti dies after fight in Indonesia

By Jeffrey Pamungkas

17-year-old Indoneasian boxer Tubagus Sakti (2-2-3, 1 KO) died yesterday (1/27) after a rough fight with Ichal Tobida. Sakti was retired in round eight of the scheduled twelve round bout for the national junior flyweight title on Saturday night at TVRI Studio, Jakarta. Sakti then fell unconscious and was soon rushed to the Indonesian Christian University Hospital, Jakarta, but the doctors couldn’t save his life. Sakti died at 2:30PM on Sunday due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Garcia-Judah Postponment

By Gary “Digital” Williams

Fightnews.com is hearing word that the WBA/WBO Light Welterweight title bout between champion Danny Garcia and former champ Zab Judah slated for Saturday, February 9 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY will be called off. A source within the Garcia camp tells Fightnews that Garcia hurt his thumb in training. However, other reports list that Garcia may have suffered cracked ribs during training.

As of now no decision has been made on the status of the event, in which two Beltway Boxers are scheduled to appear. Salisbury, MD middleweight Fernando Guerrero was slated to challenge Peter Quillin for Quillin’s WBO Middleweight title in the co-feature bout. Also, Temple Hills, MD super middleweight D’Mitrius Ballard was set to make his pro debut on the card.

We’ll have more on this as it develops.

Sartison beats Solomko

By Malte Müller-Michaelis

Former WBA super middleweight champion Dimitri Sartison (30-2, 18 KOs) won a lopsided unanimous decision over six rounds against Belarussian journeyman Artem Solomko (11-21-1, 4 KOs) in Herleen (Netherlands) on Sunday night. It was Sartison’s first fight since losing in a WBA world championship bout to Karoly Balzsay (25-2, 12 KOs) in April 2012. “It was important for Dmitri to get back into the ring after a rather long lay-off”, manager Waldemar Kluch told German boxing website boxen-heute.de. “He showed an excellent performance and didn’t look rusty at all. We will keep him busy and try to get another title shot for him soon.”

Sartison is expected to return to action on March 9th to fight for the WBC Silver Baltic championship in his adopted hometown Hamburg.

Stieglitz wins; Abraham-Stieglitz II set

WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) is putting his title on the line in Magdeburg, Germany. The 32-year-old takes on Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) in a rematch of their August 25 bout at the o2 World Berlin. Back then Abraham won against Stieglitz by unanimous decision (116:112, 116:112 and 115:113) and consequently took Stieglitz’ WBO belt. Now the two will meet again on March 23 at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg.

“For me it is a question of honor”, said Abraham. “Robert was brave enough to face me in my backyard. Now I am travelling to Magdeburg and have to enter ‘the Lion’s Den’ to fight him.” This will be the second time that the current WBO-Champion steps into the ring of the arena, which has a capacity of 7,000 people. “The first time I fought in Magdeburg was only my ninth pro bout. I won against Branko Sobot by technical KO in round two. Back then the arena was still known as Boerderlandhalle and Sven Ottke won his farewell fight. The fans were fantastic.”

In order for the rematch to take place, the challenger, Robert Stieglitz, had to win his last test ahead of the title shot on Saturday night. The 31-year-old traveled to Barcelona, Spain where he won in convincing fashion against Michal Nieroda by KO in round three. After coming through the bout with no injuries he is now completely focussed on the project of wining back the title. Robert Stieglitz: “Somehow I wasn’t able to fight to my full potential during my first fight against Arthur. After I suffered cuts, I couldn’t get back into it. It just was not my day. But that will not happen again.”

Boxing Buzz

Former champ Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton will be hitting the dance floor on a new series in the UK entitled “Let’s Dance For Comic Relief.” Fifteen contestants will battle it out.

Five-time champ Evander Holyfield is in Vancouver, Canada, promoting an anti-bullying campaign.

Golden Boy has offered up $3 million to Top Rank, to arrange a super showdown between Abner Mares and Nonito Donaire, to take place in June.

Matthysse demolishes Dallas Jr. in one

By Andreas Hale and Anthony Springer Jr. at ringside
Photos: Mary Ann Owen/boxinginlasvegas.com

WBC interim super lightweight world champion Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KOs) showed why he may be the most exciting fighter in boxing as he knocked Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs) out cold in the very first round of their clash on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Matthysse landed a crushing right hand that left Dallas Jr. motionless on the canvas. Time was 2:26.

In an entertaining battle between jr middleweight sluggers, Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KOs) pounded out a ten round majority decision over Selcuk Aydin (23-2, 17 KOs). Scores were 97-93, 97-93, 95-95.

Unbeaten super welterweight Jermell Charlo (20-0, 10 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over Harry Joe Yorgey (25-2-1, 12 KOs). Charlo dropped Yorgey twice in round two and battered Yorgey until Harry Joe took a knee in round eight and referee Kenny Bayless waved it off. Time was 1:09. (more…)

Cazares edges Perez; Knight defeats Vazquez

Former two-division world champion Hugo “Increible” Cazares (38-7-2, 26 KOs) pounded out a narrow twelve round unanimous decision over Rey Perez (17-3, 3 KOs) in a super bantamweight bout on Saturday night at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Scores were 114-113, 114-113 and 114-112. Cazares claimed the WBC silver belt with the win. (Big thanks to Edgar Amaya)

In the most entertaining fight of the evening, WBC female flyweight champion Ava Knight (11-1-3, 5 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Susana Vazquez (8-8-1, 3 KOs). (more…)

Yesica Bopp retains 108lb belt

Photos: Fabio Latorre

WBO/WBA female light flyweight champion Yesica “La Tuti” Bopp (23-0, 10 KOs) retained her titles via ten round unanimous technical decision over Marisa “La Piba” Portillo (13-7-2, 2 KOs) on Saturday night in the Gimnasio Polideportivo Municipal in Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The bout was sent to the scorecards when Portillo suffered a cut after an accidental headbutt. Bopp won by scores of 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 as she successfully made her 11th defense.

In the co-feature, jr middleweight Brian Castano won a six round unanimous decision over Pablo Roldan.

The fight took place in Monte Hermoso due to the efforts of Mayor Marcos Fernandez and the event attracted more than a thousand spectators and well as a national TV audience and worldwide media attention.

(more…)