Weights from London

Photos: Eroll Popova / SES Boxing

WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly weighed-in just under the limit at 174 lbs and mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi came lighter at 173 lbs for their big fight tomorrow night at Wembley Arena.

WBO European Lightweight Champion Liam Walsh hit the scales at 134.5 lbs with challenger and former two-time WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison coming in at 134.5 lbs.

Paul Butler was 114.5 lbs for his Commonwealth super flyweight title challenge against the champion Yaqub Kareem who came in at 114 lbs. (more…)

Video: Floyd Mayweather open media workout

Video by Mary Ann Owen

Floyd Mayweather works out with his uncle/trainer Roger Mayweather at the Mayweather Gym during the Las Vegas Media Day.

Weights from San Diego

Report and photos by Felipe Leon

Emmanuel Robles 142 vs. Joshua Marks 140.5
David Barragan 152 vs. Moses Alvizo 151.5
Jonathan Quiroz 110 vs. Javier Barragan 112
Aracely Tinoco 115 vs. Guadalupe Gutierrez 115
Erick Ituarte 128 vs. Pablo Batres 132

Venue: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Promoter: Bobby D. Presents
1st Bell: 7:30pm
Tickets: SanDiegoFights.com or (619) 420-8866 photos

Capparello defeats Olivera

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Photos: Werner Kalin

Classy southpaw light heavyweight Blake Capparello (16-0-1, 6 KOs) scored a shutout twelve round decision over Jorge Rodriguez Olivera (24-7, 12 KOs) at the Croation Club at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on Thursday. The skilful 6.1″ Aussie controlled the action in all the rounds as he connected with accurate right jabs and solid left crosses on the 5.10″Uruguayan opponent to capture the PABA 175 pound title by scores 120-108, 120-108, 120-108. Caparello looks destined for international recognition and holds wins over Americans Arron Pryor Jr, Dante Craig and Kevin Engel.

New Zealand light heavyweight Robert Berridge (18-1-1, 14 KOs) stopped Serge Yannick (15-3, 7 KOs) in round eight. Referee Tony Maretta crowned Berridge at 1.25 of round eight after Yannick visited the canvas twice. Berridge only loss is to Blake Capparello. Yannick was also stopped in 2012 by IBO world super middleweight champion Thomas Oosthuizen. (more…)

Interview: Don Chargin

Video by Jerry Hoffman

Hall of Fame Promoter Don “War a Week” Chargin weighs in on the feud between Top Rank and Golden Boy.

Video: Robert Guerrero open media workout

Video by Mary Ann Owen

Robert The Ghost Guerrero and his trainer/father Rubin at the open media work out in Las Vegas on April 16.

Mijares-Terrazas Press Conference in Mexico City

By Gabriel F. Cordero
Photos: Alma Montiel

Former WBC world champion Cristian “Diamante” Mijares and top contender Victor “Vikingo” Terrazas both sounded confident at Thursday’s press conference in Mexico City in advance of Saturday’s showdown for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title at the New Mexico City Arena. The card is presented by Zanfer Promotions and broadcast on UniMas and TV Azteca.

Mijares: “I know that I have an advantage in terms of my experience. I’m happy to have the possibility of being champion again, but I’m facing a fighter who will bring it and wants to win, so it’ll be a war for both of us and the best man will win,”

Terrazas: “As Cristian already said, it’ll be a war, but this is my time. I’ve overcome a lot to be able to fight for a world title and now that I have that opportunity I’m going to make my dream come true. He has his qualities, but I have mine.”

The undercard is absolutely leaded with Top Rank middleweight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (24-0, 19 KOs) against Dionisio Miranda (22-8-2, 19 KOs), plus a trio of boricuas including former world Juan Manuel “Juanma” López (32-2, 29 KOs), Jonathan ‘Bomba’ González (12-0-1, 11 KOs) and McJoe Arroyo (14-1, 12 KOs) in action in separate bouts. photos

Boxing Buzz

While Juan Manual Marquez is telling the press that he will next face Timothy Bradley, the undefeated Bradley’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, is begging to differ.

What happens when a light-heavyweight champ is given at mini-skirt to wear at a press conference? One with “The Princess” embroidered? Payback via knockout! Nathan Cleverly talks to The Telegraph.

Boxing returns to historic Brooklyn: More

Weights from Philadelphia

Photo: John Disanto / www.phillyboxinghistory.com

Dhafir Smith 175.5 vs. Anthony Caputo Smith 176.25
DeCarlo Perez 155.75 vs. Julius Kennedy 156.5
Damon Allen 137.5 vs. Joseph Ahaamid 137
Julio DeJesus 139.25 vs. Ariel Dura 139
Arthur Parker 125.25 vs. Drew Aguillar 125

Venue: Harrahs Philadelphia
Promoter : Joey Eye Boxing & David Feldman
1st bell: 7:30 pm est

Weights from Hermosillo

Photo: Rafael Soto/Zanfer

Hernán Márquez 115.5 vs. Edgar Jímenez 116.5
Alan Campa 161 vs. Josue Castañeda 161
Fernando Cárcamo 140 vs. Juan González 141.5
Carlos Fontes 115 vs. Ernesto Guerrero 115
Jesús Quijada 126 vs. Alejandro Valenzuela 125
Armando Campa 135 vs. Jesdry López
Jesús ortega 112 vs. Arcadio Sánchez 112
Roberto Sánchez 115 vs. Luis Castro 111
Jonathan Sánchez 116 vs. Alejandro Arellano 117
Ramón Olivas 168 vs. Daniel Yocupicio 169
Venue: Gimnasio del Estado
TV: Azteca América
Promoter: Zanfer and Promoson

Weights from Fort Worth

By Jeff Zimmerman at the scale
Photo: Stacey Verbeek

Luis Yanez 115 vs. Timur Shailezov 114.5
(WBC USA super flyweight title)

Samuel Clarkson 167 vs. Jas Phipps 167.5
Maurice Hooker 140 vs. Adam Ealoms 140.5
Brian Jones 141.75 vs. Michael Connally 139
De Anthony Bonner 131.25 vs. Theodore Walters 133.5
De Shaun Williams 131.25 vs. Terrence Roy 128
Christopher Jones 158 vs. Booker Arthur 158

Promoter: Paulie Ayala Productions
Venue: Cendera Center / Fort Worth, Texas

Weights from Hurst, Texas

By Robert Hughes

Rogelio De La Torre 146.5 vs. Milton Ramos 143.5
Larry Smith 150.5 vs. Jose Orozco 152.75
Julio Rangel 147 vs. Albert Rodriguez 146
James de Herrera 133.5 vs. Abraham Torres 134
Errol Sidney 152.25 vs. Mike Lamelle 150.75

Undefeated junior featherweight Tony Lopez of Fort Worth was scheduled to fight Ivan Cole but Cole chose not to step on the scale, possibly beacuse he was more than six pounds overweight.

Standing 8 Promotions Welterweight Collision Course
Friday, April 19, 2013 at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas

Fortuna loses WBA title on the scale

Photos: Robert Hughes

WBA interim World featherweight champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (21-0, 15 KOs) initially weighed 127. He returned after approximately two hours and weighed 126.8. Fortuna automatically loses his title on the scale due to not making the 126 pound limit for the featherweight division! Mexico’s Miguel “Mikol” Zamudio (25-1-1, 13 KOs) weighed 125.4. Zamudio will win the title if he wins the fight on Friday night at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City.

Other weights:
John Jackson 154.2 vs. Cerresso Fort 155
Jonathan Batista 147.6 vs. Emmanuel Lartei Lartey 144.6
Dean Burrell 137.2 vs. Vernon Alston 135.6
Anthony Young 147 vs. Rafael Montalvo 145.4

Date: Friday, April 19
Promoter: Sampson Boxing
Venue: Tropicana Casino & Resort (Tropicana Showroom)
TV: ESPN Friday Night Fights photos

Caputo Smith eager for Pennsylvania State title opportunity on Friday at Harrah’s Philadelphia

This Friday Anthony Caputo Smith (13-1, 10 KOs) of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania has a big opportunity to advance his career when he takes on Dhafir Smith for the Pennsylvania State light heavyweight title at Harrah’s Philadelphia. That bout will headline a nine bout card that is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing Promotions and David Feldman.

The twenty-seven year old sees this not only a chance to capture his first belt but a gateway to the future. “I want to win this title because it will open up great opportunities for me,” said Caputo Smith. (more…)

Alvarez-Trout Press Conference

WBC champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and WBA champ Austin Trout faced off today at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter during their final press conference for Saturday’s WBC/WBA super welterweight unificationn fight at the Alamodome.

Canelo Alvarez: “I just want to prove that I’m the best and I’m ready!”

Austin Trout: “I am the best fighter at 154 lbs and have no doubt I’ll come out with my hands raised.”

Promoter Oscar de la Hoya: “No matter who wins, the public is the inevitable winner. We just want a good, clean, fair fight.”

WBC President Jose Sulaiman: “No matter what the press have to say, Canelo Alvarez is the absolute best champion.”

Ajose Olusegun back in action Saturday

This Saturday night at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, WBC #3-rated junior welterweight Ajose Olusegun (30-1, 18KO’s) will return to action for the first time since suffering his first pro defeat to Lucas Matthysse in a bout for the interim WBC title in September of last year. Olusegun will take on veteran Rynell Griffin in an eight-round bout. The fight is promoted by Hitz Entertainment, in association with DiBella Entertainment.

“I am so glad that I’m getting back in the ring,” said Olusegun. “This is going to be my first fight after my loss to Matthysse and I can’t wait to do my thing.”

Simphiwe Vetyeka is SA’s 120th world champion

By Ron Jackson
Photo: Jeff Pamungkas

Simphiwe Vetyeka joined a select group of SA boxers when he won the IBO featherweight title at the weekend. By stopping Daud Cino Yordan in the final round of their fight in Jakarta, Indonesia, Vetyeka became one of those who won more than one “world” title. A total of 71 South Africans have now won 120 “world” titles, including 36 IBO belts. Vetyeka won his second IBO title when he took over Yordan’s title. He knocked the champion down in the last round. Yordan beat the count but soon afterwards the referee stopped the fight when the Indonesian was being battered and not fighting back. There was only 48 seconds left when the 12-round bout was stopped.

Vetyeka has had a rather stop-start career, often showing extraordinary talent but disappearing off the radar from time to time. (more…)

Marquez-Bradley on September 14 in LV?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

The scuttlebutt at today’s Terrezas-Mijares press conference in Mexico City is that four-time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez will face current WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on September 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at an event promoted by Top Rank. Marquez will try to win a world championship in a fifth weight category. Word is this fight will be officially announced shortly.

Bizier not fighting Alexander on May 18

Yesterday at noon, IBF issued a statement about Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)-promoted Kevin Bizier being appointed as the new mandatory challenger to IBF world welterweight champion Devon Alexander. Alexander was scheduled to face his mandatory challenger, Kell Brook, of England, May 18 in Atlantic City on Showtime, but Brook was injured during training and had to withdraw. To ensure Bizier’s presence in Atlantic City to fight Alexander, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer also contacted the president of GYM, Yvon Michel, offering a very attractive proposition.

All members of Team Bizier – Kevin, Michel, Marc Ramsay, and Remi Bizier — met yesterday to analyze the entire situation. The unanimous conclusion of this meeting was to refuse the IBF and Golden Boy’s proposal. The current circumstances do not allow Kevin Bizier sufficient training and preparation required to participate in a fight of this magnitude against the established IBF champion. A letter was also sent this morning to the Chairman of the IBF Championships Committee, Lindsey Tucker, for this purpose. (more…)

Mayweather Media Workout Comments/Photos

By Butch Gottlieb/Boxinginlasvegas.com
Photos: Mary Ann Owen

Floyd Mayweather Jr. held his final media workout on Wednesday at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada:

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Comments:

“Focus on your job, don’t break the regimen, don’t change up and don’t worry about the media. That is how you stay on top of your game. I want to thank the fans and of course the media for lending its support to this event.”

“I want to go out there on May 4th and give the fan’s what they want to see.”

“Robert Guerrero moved to the front of the pack by dedicating himself to his craft and we will once again do record breaking numbers for this fight.” (more…)

Darchinyan to make Top Rank debut on May 11

On the heels of Tax Day, two-division world champion Vic “raging Bull” Darchinyan is looking to file a happy return to the ring when he makes his Top Rank and 2013 debut. The former flyweight and super flyweight world champion and current Top-Three contender will take on Tijuana toughman Francisco Javier Gallo in a 10-round super bantamweight rumble, on Saturday, May 11, under the stars at the Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, TX. This marks the inaugural boxing event at Uni-Trade Stadium, the new state-of-the-art home of the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball League.

Darchinyan vs. Gallo will be televised live on UniMás, as the main event of Solo Boxeo Tecate, beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET. The telecast will also feature two-time Méxican Olympian Óscar Valdez in a six-round featherweight battle. Darchinyan and Valdez are managed by Frank Espinoza. (more…)

Ring 8 Meeting April 28

More than 100 members attended this past Tuesday night’s monthly Ring 8 meeting at the Waterfront Crabhouse in Long Island, New York. International matchmaker Don Majeski was the guest speaker.

Ring 8 is the official sponsor of the second annual New York State Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner on Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.n. ET), April 28, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York. (more…)

Povetkin-Wawrzyk officially announced in Moscow

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17 KO) vs. Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-0, 13 KO) heavyweight fight for Povetkin’s WBA “regular” championship was officially announced today during a Moscow press conference. On May 17, boxing fans in Crocus City Hall in Moscow will get another championship event the WBA cruiserweight title fight between Panama’s Guillermo Jones (38-3, 30 KO) and Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KO).

Cleverly, Krasniqi heats up

Photos: Eroll Popova / SES Boxing

WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (25-0, 12 KOs) and Robin Krasniqi (39-2, 15 KOs) faced off at the pre-fight press conference for Saturday night at Wembley Arena in London. Referencing the three times the fight was postponed by the Cleverly Camp, Krasniqi presented Cleverly with a skirt with “Princess” written on it.

Nathan Cleverly: When I’m prepared mentally 100% and physically ready, there’s no way this guy can beat me. I’ll make sure of that on Saturday night. I’m going to take this guy out and move on to bigger and better things,

Robin Krasniqi: I’m not coming to London for a holiday, I’m coming to win the title….I will be flying back to Germany with the belt and the title. photos

Braehmer ready to defend EBU title

Juergen Braehmer (39-2, 30 KOs) is set to defend his European light heavyweight championship on April 27 against Tony Averlant (18-7-2, 4 KOs) at the Sporthalle in Hamburg, Germany. Braehmer not only risks his belt but his WBO mandatory challenger status. “At the end of the day, I know that I will do everything I can to win,” said Braehmer. “I have a clear goal in sight and that is once again to be crowned as the champion of the world.”

Averlant has lost two of his last three, both by split decision. “I have to beat a guy whose style is very uncomfortable,” said Braehmer.

Mexico vs. Japan at Arena Mexico

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Boxing returns to Mexico City’s legendary Arena Mexico, the Cathedral of Mexican Boxing, on April 27 for an event billed as the “Mexico vs. Japan Cup” presented by Promociones del Pueblo and televised on Televisa Deportes. Mexican stars Jhonny Gonzalez, Mariana “la Barby” Juarez, Dante “Crazy” Jardon and Rey Vargas will face Japanese warriors in important bouts.

The lineup includes

Jhonny Gonzalez vs Akihiko Takagiri
(WBC featherweight International title
Mariana Juarez vs Riyo Togo
(WBC super flyweight eliminator)
Dante “Crazy” Jardon vs Akinori Kanai
(WBC super featherweight Continental title)
Rey Vargas vs Seizo Kono
(WBC super bantamweight International title)

Boxing Buzz

Don King Productions has released light heavyweight Ryan “Irish Outlaw” Coyne according to the Riverfront Times. The move came following Coyne’s loss to Marcus Oliveira in a WBA eliminator on April 12 in Las Vegas. The relationship between DKP and Coyne had become increasingly toxic with both parties filing lawsuits against the other.

WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck has extended his contract with Sauerland Event until the end of 2014. It’s a six fight pact that will kick off with a rematch with Ola Afolabi.

Ocasio to face Belasco in lightweight duel

By Kurt Wolfheimer

The National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia, PA will be abuzz on Friday night April 26th, when two fan favorites and rising lightweight prospects battle it out for the USBC lightweight title. Greg Robinson’s Power Productions has put together a card with a potential Philly fight of the year candidate, when popular Philly lightweight sensation Angel Ocasio (7-0-2, 2 KOs) takes on Delaware fan favorite and much more experienced “Rockin” Ryan Belasco (18-5-3, 3 KOs). (more…)