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IBF #2 super featherweight Zelfa Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs) had no problems dethroning European champion Faroukh Kourbanov (19-4, 3 KOs) in the Ozawa-Cordina co-feature on Saturday night at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Barrett won practically every minute of every round en route to a twelve round 120-108, 119-109, 118-110 unanimous decision.

Unbeaten super lightweight Dalton Smith (11-0, 9 KOs) scored a sixth round stoppage against Mauro Perouene (14-6-1, 7 KOs) to retain the WBC International silver title. Smith dropped Perouene in round six and Perouene’s corner pulled their man out after the round.

Super bantamweight Gamal “The Beast” Yafai (19-2, 11 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Sean Cairns (8-4, 2 KOs). Yafai dropped Cairns in round three and finished him in round four. Time was 1:55.

Female featherweight Skye Nicolson (4-0, 0 KOs) outpointed Gabriela Bouvier (15-11-1, 3 KOs) over eight. Score was 80-72.

Undefeated Dominican heavyweight prospect George Arias (17-0, 7 KOs) will now face unbeaten Alante Green (10-0-1, 7 KOs) in the eight-round heavyweight co-feature of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. Arias replaces Elvis Garcia, who pulled out of the bout against Green.

The previously announced main event will consist of two-time Olympian and 2020 Gold Medalist from Uzbekistan, Bakhodir “Big Uzbek” Jalolov (10-0, 10 KOs) facing “Big” Jack Mulowayi (11-2-1, 7 KOs) from Belgium in an eight-round heavyweight bout.

In the telecast opener, unbeaten lightweight Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin (13-0, 9 KOs) goes against Chann Thonson (10-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Continue reading “Arias replaces Garcia on ShoBox telecast”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former WBA cruiserweight title challenger Kane Watts (21-5, 13 KOs) was unsuccessful in his return to the ring when Daniel Russell (8-3-2, 4 KOs) scored an upset ten round split decision with the WBA Oceana title up for grabs on Saturday at the Melbourne Pavillion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia. Scores 96-93, 95-94 Russell, 96-93 Watts.

It was Kane’s first fight since a fourth round TKO loss to WBA cruiserweight champion Arsen Goulamirian in 2019. IBF #3 cruiserweight Jai Opetai had stopped Russell in three rounds in Russell’s most recent ring outing.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

“This is just a stepping stone for my ultimate unification,” said “Monster” Naoya Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs), WBA, IBF bantamweight champion, at the press conference on Friday in Yokohama, Japan. His grudge rival, WBC ruler Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs), a five-division titlist, also said, “I believe I’m the champion. It is a very important step toward the final unification.”

Naoya defeated Nonito by a hard-fought unanimous decision over a grueling battle last November, which was named “Fight of the Year” by a great many media. Inoue overcame a broken eye socket suffered in round two, finally caught up with Donaire with a vicious body shot to drop him in the eleventh and scored a valuable victory. Their rematch at the Saitama Super Arena next Tuesday is greatly anticipated by all boxing fans in the world. Continue reading “Inoue-Donaire Press Conference”

Angel Gonzalez 122.2 vs. Weusi Johnson 127.2
Luis Yamil Martinez Nieves 135 vs. Wytama Faulk 135.6
Steven Galeano 143.8 vs. Yeifer Valencia 142
Yoanki Urrutia 161.4 vs. Silvero Ortiz 158
Darrell Rivera 141 vs. Raymond Chacon 139.2
Jonathan Cortes 138 vs. Frankie Roberts TBA
Byron Rojas 109 vs. Armando Torres 110
Ramiro De Jesus 152.6 vs. Assuan Jones Chatman 150
Carlos Frometa Romero 207 vs. Joseph Bond 238.4
Daine Smikle 183.8 vs. Daquanti Johnson 185

Venue: Renaissance Hotel Orlando Airport
Promoter: Tuff Promotions
1st Bell: 6 PM ET
Stream: Bxngtv.com

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

George Kambosos Jr 135.36* vs. Devin Haney 135
(WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO lightweight titles)
Kambosos had to strip naked and was still .36 pounds heavy. He has two hours to lose the excess poundage.

Jason Moloney 117.75 vs. Aston Palicte 117
Junior Fa 268.5 vs. Lucas Browne 261
Andrew Moloney 117 vs. Alexander Espinoza 116
Hemi Ahio 255.5 vs. Christian Tsoye 256.25

Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Stephen Fulton 121.5 vs. Danny Roman 121.5
(WBC/WBO super bantamweight titles)

David Morrell 166.5 vs. Kalvin Henderson 167.5
(WBA super middleweight title)

Venue: The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Promoter: TGB Promotions, Warriors Boxing
TV: Showtime

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Bill Haney, father and trainer of Devin Haney, has been granted a last-minute visa and will be permitted to enter Australia to be in the corner when his son challenges George Kambosos for the undisputed lightweight title this weekend in front of 40,000+ at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. The elder Haney had been denied entry into the country due to a 30-year-old drug conviction.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Kenichi Ogawa 129.55 vs. Joe Cordina 129.95
(IBF junior lightweight title)

Venue: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Photos

Most of the trash talk is over. It is nearly time. WBO/IBF/WBA lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) and WBC champion Devin Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) are two days away from their showdown for the undisputed title at Marvel Stadium. The fight, Sunday local time and airing Saturday evening in the United States, is one of the biggest bouts ever on Australian soil.

More than 40,000 fans are expected, as the 23-year-old Haney attempts to make history more than 8,000 miles from home. Kambosos, from Sydney, Australia, is back home and attempting to score his second straight upset following last November’s title-winning thriller over Teofimo Lopez. Continue reading “Kambosos-Haney Final Press Conference”

Unified WBC and WBO 122-pound world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and former unified champion Danny Roman went face to face for the first time Thursday at the final press conference before they meet in the Showtime main event this Saturday, June 4 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

The press conference also featured WBA super middleweight champion and Minneapolis fan-favorite David Morrell Jr. and Kalvin Henderson previewing their co-main event showdown on the Showtime Championship Boxing telecast.

Kicking off the telecast will be the replay of Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero.

Continue reading “Fulton-Roman/Morrell-Henderson Final Presser”

Unbeaten WBC #4, IBF #5, WBO #11, WBA #13 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (17-0, 13 KOs) demolished Abraham “Pitbull” Juarez Ramirez (19-3, 8 KOs) in three rounds on Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Conwell dropped Ramirez twice in round two (landing two punches after Ramirez was down the secons time). The bout was stopped after Conwell floored Jimenez again in round three. Time was 1:13.

Unbeaten super lightweight Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 KOs) outpointed Juan Antonio “El Mozo” Rodriguez 32-9, 28 KOs) over ten to claim the vacant WBC Continental Americas title. Scores were 97-91, 98-90, 98-90. Both fighter were deducted points in the bout.

Super lightweight Mathieu Germain (21-2-1, 9 KOs) took a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Misael Cabrera Arias (12-1, 9 KOs) by scores of 96-94, 97-93, 99-91.

Watch the final presser as Philadelphia’s unified 122-pound champion Stephen Fulton Jr. and former unified champ Danny Romans speak to the media ahead of their Showtime Championship Boxing clash.

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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum spoke to Peter Maniatis of the KO Show about the George Kambosos versus Devin Haney fight on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia. Arum also spoke about Shakur Stevenson, Tim Tszyu, Tyson Fury. and the best prospects from Top Rank.

How big is the George Kambosos v Devin Haney fight in the magnitude of boxing?

It’s a big fight because ESPN is sending over a crew to do this fight live from the Marvel Arena and it will be on in prime time in the United States (Saturday) which will be Sunday afternoon in Melbourne so it’s gaining quite a bit of interest. Continue reading “Q&A: Bob Arum”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

It will be an international cast of officials for the George Kambosos versus Devin Haney unified lightweight title bout on Sunday (Saturday night in the USA) from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

The judges are Zoltan Enyedi (Hungary), Pawel Kardyni (Poland), and Benoit Roussel (Canada). The referee will be Hector Afu of Panama.

IBF super featherweight champion Kenichi Ogawa and challenger Joe Cordina faced off at the final press conference ahead of their world title fight Saturday night on DAZN from the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

Kenichi Ogawa: “He says he’s going to knock me out in our fight, we will find out on Saturday. It will be interesting to see what happens. I plan to be very aggressive in the ring and have an exciting match but at the end of the day it’s up to Joe and how he wants to come out.”

Joe Cordina: “I’m at that world level. I’ve sparred plenty of world champions and I’ve been in with some tough guys…I’ve also got a great boxing brain and that’s one of my strengths. I can think my way around the right and get that win on Saturday night.”

By Joe Koizumi

WBO 115-pound champion Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), 33, has announced today (Friday) that he will defend his belt against mandatory challenger and ex-titlist Donnie Nietes (43-1-5, 23 KOs), 40, Philippines, due to the WBO’s order in Tokyo, Japan, on July 13. Ioka dropped a hairline split decision to Nietes in Macao on New Year’s Eve in 2018, and he wished to avenge his loss to the crafty counterpuncher. It will take place at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo to be promoted by Shisei Promotions.

The weather was somewhat chilly, but WBC lightweight world champion Devin “The Dream” Haney received a surprisingly warm reception from the Australian fans at Thursday’s open workout at Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) will meet Australia’s unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) Sunday afternoon (Saturday evening U.S. time) for the undisputed title in front of 50,000-plus fans at Marvel Stadium.

Despite the plethora of Australian and Greek flags — Kambosos is of Greek descent — the local fans showed respect for the 23-year-old American star, who has been in Melbourne for the better part of two weeks. Kambosos entered the ring to raucous cheers, the Australian and Greek flags draped over his shoulders. Continue reading “Kambosos, Haney sharp in workouts”

Charles Conwell 155.8 vs. Abraham Juarez Ramirez 155.4
Mazlum Akdeniz 140 vs. Juan Antonio Rodriguez 138
Mathieu Germain 142.8 vs. Marcos Cardena 142.1

Venue: Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Promoter: GYM, Probellum
TV: Probellum.com

Unbeaten WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and former title challenger Maciej Sulecki previewed their upcoming championship showdown during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they meet on June 18 live on Showtime from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Jermall Charlo: “This is going to be another war. I’m going to be in the pocket and ready to go. Whatever he does, I’ll make the adjustments. If I hit him with something flush, I’m going to knock him out.”

Maciej Sulecki: “I don’t think Charlo is a better fighter than Andrade or Jacobs. I think they’re all similar fighters. Charlo is still a great fighter with an explosive punch. I’m just ready for this fight. I’m going to make it all happen on June 18 in the ring.”

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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Fame broadcaster Colonel Bob Sheridan spoke to Fightnews.com® about IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC Franchise lightweight champion George “Ferocious” Kambosos defending against WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney on Sunday June 5 (Saturday June 4 in the USA) at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, televised on ESPN and Sky, television network with an expected live gate of over 40,000 fans in attendance

“George Kambosos is the best fighter coming out of Australia in a long time. Haney is a great fighter and favored in their fight but I give Kambosos a puncher’s chance of winning. Continue reading “The Colonel: Kambosos has a puncher’s chance”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with the undefeated, rising lightweight prospect Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin (13-0, 9 KOs) as he takes on another undefeated prospect Chann Thonson (10-0, 7 KOs) on Friday, June 10 during Hall of Fame Weekend at the Turning Stone Casino and broadcast by ShoBox – The Next Generation. Tomlin shares his start in boxing and being from the same hometown as former super middleweight champ Caleb Plant. Tomlin also talks about what he has learned from his promoter and soon to be inducted Hall of Famer Lou Dibella, the stacked 135lb division plus gives his prediction of Kambosos-Haney this weekend and much more in this exclusive interview.

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Juan Avila Medina 138.2 vs Angel Rebollar 137.6
Jesse Gonzalez 153.6 vs Donnis Reed 152.8
Chase Whitmer 135.2 vs Johnny Robles 136.4
Franciso Casillas 126 vs Davaadalai Altangerel 126
Randy Sosa 125.6 vs Miguel Ceja 126
John Ornelas 139.4 vs Keith Carson 139.6

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Englebrecht Promotions & Events
TV: Show at 7pm, Live on fite.tv

WBA #11, IBF #15 super lightweight Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (26-1, 22 KOs) puts his NABA title on the line against undefeated French challenger Rachid Jkitou (28-0, 20 KOs) in a 10 round main event on June 11 at The Paramount in Huntington, NY.

“I am excited to be back home after all these years.” said Seldin. “Nothing can compare to The Paramount crowds and amazing moments that I have built there over the years. This is a great fight against an undefeated fighter and I plan on defending my NABA title to get a big opportunity after this victory.”

Light heavyweight Radivoje Kalajdzic may have a name spelled with the leftover letters from a game of scrabble, but in this case, words can be very deceiving. “Hot Rod,” as he is known locally in St Petersburg, Florida, who once had a firefight with Artur Betebiev, is two weeks removed from his first-round demolition of Ernest Amuzu in his backyard of Tampa Florida on the sold out crossover influencer card dubbed the Creator Clash.

Kalajdzic discussed the status of his career and his hopes for the future. Continue reading “Radivoje Kalajdzic Update”