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Junior lightweights Luis Melendez (16-1, 13 KOs) and Thomas Mattice (17-2-1, 13 KOs), on less than two weeks’ notice, agreed to face off Friday, November 5 in the eight-round co-feature to the Mikaela Mayer-Maiva Hamadouche title unification tilt at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton.

Melendez-Mattice replaces the Janibek Alimkhanuly-Hassan N’Dam middleweight showdown, which has been postponed to a later date.

Chantelle Cameron 139.6 vs. Mary McGee 139.7
(WBC/IBF female super lightweight titles)

Alen Babic 214.3 vs. Eric Molina 257

Johnny Fisher 242 vs. Alvaro Terrero 222
Craig Richards 175 vs. Marek Matyja 174.5
Youssef Khoumari 129.75 vs. Jorge Castaneda 129
Jordan Thompson 199.2 vs. Piotr Podlucki 195.3

Venue: The O2 in London
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Chantelle Cameron vs. Mary McGee is the main event in Saturday’s DAZN action at The O2 in London, but the clash between heavyweights Alen Babic and Eric Molina arguably could be.

“I want to be knocked out,” proclaimed the entertaining Babic at Thursday’s press conference. “How can you be fearful when I want to be defeated? I crave it, please somebody defeat me, I love it. I want to take the 0 from my record, I don’t like it. F**k you 0. Continue reading “Babic: I want to be knocked out”

The Telemundo Fall Series Finale main event this Friday will feature the classic rivalry between Puerto Rico & Mexico.

Lightweight Victor Betancourt Jr. (27-3-14 KO’s) of Mexicali, Mexico will take on Miguel Angel “El Gallo” Marrero (9-1-1, 4 KOs) of Manati, Puerto Rico.in a ten-rounder for the vacant WBA Fedecentro title.

The site of the event will be the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL with (All Star Boxing) Felix “Tutico” Zabala promoting.

Betancourt Jr. has fought outside of Mexico multiple times so he has no concern for fighting Marrero in front of a pro-Puerto Rico crowd. He is also moving up to a new weight class where there are many high-profile names. An impressive win on Telemundo along with winning the WBA Fedecentro lightweight title would be a good first step toward future opportunities. Continue reading “Betancourt Jr. headlines Telemundo tonight”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

In a historic day for world boxing, the presidents of the four main organizations met within the Annual Congress of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) in Puerto Rico seeking that a single champion per division prevails.

Mauricio Sulaimán from the World Boxing Council (WBC), Gilberto Mendoza from the World Boxing Association (WBA), Daryl Peoples from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and host Francisco Valcárcel from the Organization World Cup (WBO), met making it clear the importance of maintaining relationships for the benefit of the sport.

They will look for the unification fights between the champions. The WBA reaffirmed its plan to try to have only one champion in each division.

By David Finger

Boxing fans in Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas will have the opportunity to watch several of their local prospects in action this Saturday, October 30th…just not at the same venue as they were originally told.

The October 30th “Fright Night” card was supposed to take place at the Las Cruces Convention Center before it was announced that the fight was cancelled. But the event was saved by matchmaker Isidro Castillo, who was able to salvage the card and secure a new venue in the Pan American Center (also in Las Cruces). Continue reading “Southwest prospects featured in Las Cruces, NM”

WBA Welterweight Champion Jamal “Shango” James and unbeaten contender Radzhab Butaev went face-to-face at a final press conference Thursday before they meet in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Thursday’s press conference also featured undefeated rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis and veteran contender Thomas Dulorme, who meet in the co-main event, plus unbeaten lightweight contender Michel Rivera and Matías Romero, who square off to open the telecast.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday: Continue reading “James-Butaev Final Press Conference”

Jeovanis Barraza 153.5 vs. Jorge Martin Garcia 153.5
Anthony Hines 157.5 vs. Fidel Monterrosa 157.5
Dennis Ventura 235 vs. Vercell Webster 236.5
Sean Bey 222.5 vs. Brandon Grundy 266
Gabriel Morales 145 vs. Paulo DeSouza ??
Jonathan De Pina 135 vs. Stacey Anderson 136.5
Alexandro Paulino (137 vs. Christian Danilo Guido??

Venue: Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts
Promoter: Reyes Boxing
TV: throwdownsports.com

Miguel “El Gallo” Marrero 135 vs. Victor Betancourt Jr 134
(WBA Fedecentro lightweight title)

Fanlong “Cold Blood” Meng 174.5 vs. Israel “Bumaye” Duffus 175
Gianni Garcia 118 vs. Savion Morales 118
Luis Cabrera 134 vs. Eduardo Melendez 134

Venue: Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida
Promoter: All Star Boxing
TV: Telemundo

By Héctor Villarreal

Hytan Ramos 114.75 vs Ronal Batista 115

Pablo Vicente 129.5 vs Javier Herrera 129.25
Sebastian Papeschi 161.25 vs Hector Zepeda 160
Jonathan Torres 145.25 vs Alcibiades Ballesteros 145.25
Jesus Guzman 126.75 vs. Juan Lopez 123.5
Alexis Moreno 129 vs. Juan Fong 130

Sampson Boxing
Hotel El Panama
TyC Sports

Uzcategui tests positive for banned substance

Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his homecoming return to Phoenix, Ariz. against 168-pound contender Kyrone Davis (16-2-1, 6 KO) in a 10-round match that headlines live on SHOWTIME Saturday, November 13.

Benavídez was originally scheduled to fight in a WBC eliminator against former world champion Jose Uzcátegui, who was forced to withdraw due to a failed pre-fight drug test.

After two highly successful outdoor Fight Club OC shows in September and October, Fight Club OC will return to the friendly confines of The Hangar for their Thursday, November 11th six bout show.

But with Covid-19 restrictions still in place for indoor events over 1,000 fans, Fight Club OC is going to make it very easy for unvaccinated fans who want to attend. Currently, fans have to show a Vaccination Card or negative Covid test within the past 72 hours to attend on November 11th, but at the Thursday, November 11th show, fans can get a FREE Covid-19 Antigen test with results in 10 minutes.

Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) will take on two-time world title challenger Jose “Chon” Zepeda (34-2, 26 KOs) in an ESPN+ 10-round main event Saturday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The winner of this crossroads battle will be in line for a world title opportunity. Continue reading “Zepeda-Vargas Final Press Conference”

Archie Sharp 129.4 vs. Alexis Boureima Kabore 129.25
(WBO Global super featherweight title)

Tursynbay Kulakhmet 153.5 vs. Juan Carlos Abreu 153.3
(WBC International super welterweight title)

Jordan Reynolds 157 vs. Rodolfo Paterno 151.4
Sam Gilley 157.5 vs. Daniel Lartey 161.25
‘Sugar Shy’ Shiloh Defreitas 145.5 vs. Fonz Alexander 148.25
Pierce O’Leary 141.6 vs. Siar Ozgul 142.2

Venue: York Hall, London
Promoter: MTK Global
TV: ESPN+

WBC interim heavyweight titleholder Dillian Whyte with Eddie Hearn called a press conference to discuss his recent shoulder injury that forced him out of his Otto Wallin showdown. Whyte will now look ahead to his next fight against WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury.

Promoter Eddie Hearn stated he believes the WBC will order Fury vs. Whyte at the upcoming WBC Convention in Mexico City.

Whyte-Wallin will not be rescheduled. Whyte injury looks like it has already improved somewhat.

Jake Paul and Claressa Shields going at it again on Twitter.

Jake Paul: I love karma @Claressashields. Congrats Abigail Montes! Someone get her a Twitter!

The truth hurts but it’s necessary. Clarissa Shields is a loser. In MMA, and even more so with her prima donna attitude. The fake always get exposed. Losses come when anger and hate take over. Just ask Rousey and McGregor. She spent more time berating Jake Paul than learning Jiu Jitsu. She’s never been a big draw and unfortunately for her she never will be. Amanda Serrano (the GWOAT) though, has 30 KOs in 42 fights. 2-0 in MMA, both wins by submission. Congrats Abigail Montes on the win.

Claressa Gwoat Shields: This is funny. You come running when I lose a split decision in a whole new world MMA but never even once said “congrats on all you’ve done and aspire to do.” 2 things that remain Jake, I still fight better than you & you won’t accomplish 10% of what I have in boxing or life

I lost a split decision, I didn’t get my ass whooped. I also improved. All I’m going to do is go back to the drawing board and keep learning. No one said this journey was going To be easy. MMA is new to me, I’m fighting on a world stage after only 9 months of training. #blessed

Unlike Jake I fought a real MMA fighter, he has yet to face a real boxer in boxing but Showtime will still back him though #Amerika.

In a women’s lightweight showcase bout featuring two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist and two-division undisputed pro champ Claressa Shields and little-known Abigail Montes, the upstart Mexican fighter won her United States debut by split decision on the PFL event on Wednesday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Scores were 29-28, 29-18 for Montes, 29-28 for Shields. Montes is now 3-0, Shields falls to 1-1 as an MMA fighter.

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBA #8, IBF #11 light heavyweight Faris Chevalier (12-1, 7 KOs), who returned to boxing after a five year layoff to defeat then-rated WBA #3 Blake Caparello last March, and manager Peter Maniatis checked in with Fightnews.com®. Chevalier hasn’t fought since the big Caparello win, but was recently offered to go into a training camp with IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev for his fight on December 17th vs Marcus Browne in Montreal Canada.

“Covid has made 2021 a slow boxing year. We have had opponents pull out on me all year. I have been training very hard and looking to fight as soon as possible and fight a big fight on the biggest platforms,” said Chevalier. Continue reading “Chevalier looking to return later this year”

The Telemundo Fall Series Finale main event this Friday will feature the classic rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. Miguel Angel “El Gallo” Marrero (9-1-1, 4 KOs) of Manati, Puerto Rico will take on Victor Betancourt Jr. (27-3-14 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, in a ten-rounder for the vacant WBA Fedecentro lightweight title. The site of the event will be the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL with All Star Boxing (Felix “Tutico” Zabala promoting.

Marrero will be making his Telemundo debut and is ready to make a name for himself on the network. He will have local fan support with the large Puerto Rico population in the Kissimmee area. Continue reading “Marrero eyes upset on Telemundo Friday”

Undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant held a virtual media workout Wednesday ahead of his highly anticipated 168-pound title showdown against unified WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez taking place Saturday, November, 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Caleb Plant

“This is personal for me, but every fight is personal for me. I’ve sacrificed a lot for this sport and dedicated myself completely, so anybody who’s getting in the way of my goals makes it personal to me. No matter who it is. Continue reading “Plant: I’m here for those belts”

A rib injury during a sparring session temporarily prevents former world champion José Luis Castillo from exhibiting his skills against Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera in an exhibition that was scheduled on October 29 at the Arena Theater in Houston, Texas.

With insufficient time for full recovery due to medical safety, the promoter Boxing Showcase has postponed the exhibition to a date to be designated. Continue reading “Houston “Big Belt” card postponed”

Unified WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez previewed his highly anticipated undisputed 168-pound championship showdown during a media conference call Wednesday before he takes on undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant on Saturday, November 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo Alvarez 

“I hope he has a good chin because he’s going to need it on fight night.

“I’m always ready. I just can’t wait. I feel strong and fast. With all of the talk, it’s become personal. He crossed a line. But I have to remain focused because this is a very important fight for me. Continue reading “Canelo: Plant crossed a line”

In short two years, after signing a contract with Granite Chin Promotions, veteran New Jersey boxer Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey has gone from journeyman to legitimate opponent with a promising upside.

“Guys like Tyrone have a special spot for me,” Granite Chin Promotions president Chris Traietti commented. “I’ve helped to build up his record, developed trust between us, and we’ll see where we go from here. He’s a big Dallas Cowboy fan and he really wanted to fight in AT & T Arena. He dreamed of fighting there and I got him on the Spence-Garcia card, and he got the biggest purse of his life. Continue reading “Luckey revives career”

Middleweight “King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs), now  training alongside Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, hosted a media workout ahead of his showdown against Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) on November 13th at Anaheim’s Honda Center.

Gabriel Rosado: “This fight means everything, this is the reason why I got with Freddie. It was to take it to the next level. I have always had the skill, have always had the ability, but I knew that for me to take it to that world class level I had to get with a trainer that knows what it takes to get there, guide me there, lead me there. Getting with Freddie is just bringing out the best of me. Continue reading “Rosado aims to make Munguia pay for mistakes”

The WBA Championships Committee has called for the featherweight title fight between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan to go to purse bid next Monday, November 1st. The bidding had been previously scheduled for October 11, but both teams requested an extension and even with that deadline the parties could not agree on the fight.

The minimum bid will be US $120,000, and the disbursement will be 55% for the champion Wood and 45% for the challenger Conlan. Continue reading “WBA calls Wood-Conlan purse bid”