Fightnews.com

By Miguel Maravilla

Following his victory, Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) spoke to the media about his first round TKO over Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-4, 22 KOs) of Ghana. Joining him at the post fight press conference was his promoter Oscar De La Hoya as they spoke about Ortiz’s future and matching him up with WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu.

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Undefeated super welterweight Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returned after 17 months to score a first round stoppage of Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson with an assist from referee Tony Weeks.

“I’m ready for anyone. It felt like I’m back to doing what I usually do,” said Ortiz Jr. afterward. “This is my calling. This is what I was made to do and I want to continue doing this…there’s a lot of fighters that I want to fight, but Tim Tszyu, with all due respect, I want him next. He’s a hell of a fighter and it would be an honor to take him next.”

Ortiz and Tszyu later had a brief exchange on social media.

Tim Tszyu: “Yo Vergil Ortiz. Welcome to the “54 club. I’m always keen for a modern day classic.”

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “I knew you would be man! Let’s do it.”

40-yeqr-old “El Tigre” Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) proved he still has much to give by winning the WBA interim super lightweight title with a first-round demolition of WBA #1 rated Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Barroso was returning after a controversial stoppage loss against Rolly Romero in his previous fight.

“When I started boxing, they told me that I have a lot of power, and with God on my side I have that power,” said Barroso. “When I threw the first punch, I knew I had hurt him. I knew that I had him.

“The public has been calling for the fight with Romero, and I just want to say, I’m right here!”

Golden Boy Promotions has kicked off 2024 with the signing of former U.S. Olympian and former super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs).

“I’m ready to be a two-time world champion, and do it right now as well as stay active this year,” said Ramirez. “I felt Oscar and Golden Boy could deliver both immediately as well as some big fights at this point in my career that I want. This is the most motivated I have been since I turned pro.”

Ramirez was formerly promoted by Top Rank.

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) scored a first round TKO against Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-4, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Now competing at super welterweight following 17 months out of the ring, Ortiz, looked to let out some ring rust, connected early in the first with a short left that staggered Lawson. Continuing to attack, Ortiz followed up with a series of unanswered punches as Lawson shelled up. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in too early, prematurely stopping the fight at 2:43 of the first, drawing a reaction of boos from the crowd. Following the fight, Ortiz went on to call out WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tzsyu.

In the co-feature bout of the evening, Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) scored a first round knockout over Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-3, 18 KOs). A counter left dropped Davies early on. He got up and Barroso sent him to the canvas a second time. He got up once again but was unresponsive forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:53 of the first round. The 40-year-old Barroso wins the WBA interim super lightweight title.

WBO #1 super lightweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (29-0, 11 KOs) of El Monte returned to the ring in his Golden Boy Promotions debut to stop Xolisani Ndongeni (31-4, 18 KOs) of Eastern Cape, South Africa in eight. Continue reading “Ortiz halts Lawson, Barroso destroys Davies”

Unbeaten light heavyweight Dusty Hernandez Harrison (36-0-1, 22 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Norberto Gonzalez (24-15, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Acca Shriners Center in Richmond, Virginia. Harrison began teeing off on Gonzalez in round two and it was target practice until Gonzalez went down in round four. Time was 2:21.

Welterweight Crisanto “Chingon” Lucio (7-1, 4 KOs) halted Vonshetha Miller (1-3, 1 KO) in round five. A body shot in round five took everything out of Miller and the referee stopped the bout. Time was 2:27.

42-year-old welterweight Jared Wells won his pro debut with a four round unanimous decision over Jashawn Hunter (1-7, 1 KO). Scores were 40-36 3x.

Popular 140lb contender Ryan Garcia has switched gears on a fight against WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney, which the two had been talking up in recent weeks. Garcia announced on social media Saturday that he instead plans to challenge WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero.

Ryan Garcia: “I’ve notified my team I’m going a different route. My intent now is to fight Rolando Romero. I pray my team backs me on this decision. Oscar make this fight happen. THATS THE MOVE. BIGGER FIGHT, BIGGER BUSINESS…After what happens to Rollies, the Dev fight will be there and even bigger. Everyone critiquing now will end up seeing it was a better move. Plus he can go fight Richardson Hitchens. Go do your 30k PPV buys. I don’t need you Dev, you need me.”

Devin Haney: “Don’t ever mention my name p*ssy boi.”

Ryan Garcia: “You’ll be back.”

Meanwhile, Romero tweeted a homemade Rolly-Kingry fight poster with the hashtag #Spring2024

By Rick Scharmberg

The First State will hold its first fight card of 2024 on Saturday, January 20, when Strict Biz Promotions will host a 7-bout show at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club in Newark, Delaware. The main event will feature Delaware’s own, Maurice “War Time” Horne (6-1, 4 KOs) taking on 26-fight veteran Greg “Hotshot” Hackett, of Philadelphia in a six round light heavyweight bout. Continue reading “Boxing Returns to Delaware Jan. 20”

By Héctor Villarreal

After a perfect 2023 season, Dominican female featherweight Vivian Bianelis Rodríguez (6-0, 3 KOs) has her sights set on world title fight opportunities. Rodríguez debuted as a professional fighter on February 23, winning all 6 of her fights, including two major victories by unanimous decisions over previously undefeated opponents from her country. Continue reading “Vivian Rodríguez ready for big 2024”

A fight between former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and former MMA champion Francis Ngannou is a done deal. The bout will be a ten round boxing match taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was confirmed on the social media feeds of his Excellency Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. There will be a press conference in London to officially announce the event including the date and other particulars.

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BetOnline.ag was quick to set odds for the bout. Joshua isn’t nearly as big of a favorite as Fury was against the former UFC champion, but he’s still favored, and the odds are on the move.

Fight Odds
Anthony Joshua -500 (1/5)
Francis Ngannou +325 (13/4)

The odds initially opened at Joshua -275 (4/11) and Ngannou +215 (43/20), but all of the early money coming in is on Joshua.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. 156 vs. Fredrick Lawson 152.4

Ohara Davies 140 vs. Ismael Barroso 139.6
(WBA interim super lightweight title)

Arnold Barboza Jr. 139.4 vs. Xolisani Ndongeni 139.2
Raul Curiel 146.8 vs. Elias Diaz 146.2
Emiliano Gandara 161.6 vs. Isaac Matamoros 164

Venue: Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: DAZN

WBA #1 welterweight Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) meets former world title challenger and WBA #6 rated Pablo Cesar Cano (35-8-1, 25 KOs) in a world title eliminator on the undercard of the super middleweight showdown between Edgar Berlanga and Padraig McCrory on February 24 at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, live worldwide on DAZN.

In a second WBA eliminator, WBA #2 bantamweight Antonio Vargas (17-1, 9 KOs) faces #4 Jonathan Rodriguez (17-1-1, 7 KOs). Rodriguez recently demolished former world champion Kal Yafai in less than one round. Continue reading “Berlanga-McCrory undercard”

In the first boxing card of the year in the U.S., unbeaten 6’7, 278-pound heavyweight Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (5-0, 5 KOs) scored a fifth round knockout against Colby Madison (11-7-2, 7 KOs) on Thursday night at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Hovhannisyan upped his output in round four, then dropped Madison for the count in round five. Time was :40. The 40-year-old Madison was coming off two straight decision losses to Joey Dawejko.

In a clash between unbeaten heavyweights, 2020 Olympian Tsotne “Mr. T” Rogava (4-0, 4 KOs) destroyed Dante Williams (4-1, 4 KOs) in the first round. The 6’ 5”, 270-pound Rogava, a former kickboxing champion, punished Williams, 201, until the bout was stopped at 1:53.

Heavyweight Dante “The Inferno” Stone (15-1, 10 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-4-1, 16 KOs). After a slow start, Stone came on to drop Flores in round eight en route to a 78-73, 78-73, 79-72 verdict. Flores was returning from a three-year layoff.

Unbeaten super welterweight and popular Tik-Tokker Elijah Seawright (10-0, 7 KOs) outpointed Henry Rivera (2-3, 1 KO) over six by scores of 59-55, 60-54, 59-55. Seawright has over one-million Tik-Tok followers. Continue reading “Hovhannisyan remains unbeaten”

Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) faced off with Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs) at the final press conference for their 12-round super welterweight fight on Saturday night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and broadcast worldwide on DAZN

Vergil Ortiz Jr: “I put my heart into this sport. But now we’re here. We weigh in tomorrow. If you had any doubts on getting any tickets erase them right now because this fight is happening for sure. And I’m ready. This is honestly the best I’ve ever felt.”

Fredrick Lawson: “We had a very good training camp leading up to this event. We’re prepared. We’ve seen a few scripts going around saying how this fight should go. We have a plan that will surprise everyone. We can’t wait for Saturday.”

While they’re about five years too late (after their first fight was five years too late), a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will apparently take place sometime in 2024. Pacquiao unveiled the fight plans live at RIZIN 45 on December 31, but Mayweather’s camp hasn’t confirmed anything from their side.

Even though Mayweather is 46 and Pacquiao is 45 and they are not active boxers, the event will still draw some attention and PPV purchases. Of course, not even close to the record numbers they did back in May 2015.

BetOnline set odds for the bout this week and they are much closer than they were in 2015. Then, Mayweather went off as a -225 (4/9) favorite while Pacquiao came in as a +175 (7/4) underdog.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 Fight Odds
Floyd Mayweather -130 (10/13)
Manny Pacquiao +100 (1/1)

Odds opened Mayweather -140, Pacquiao +110, so early action has already come in on Pacquiao, moving the odds in his favor. Since this is likely to be an exhibition match, perhaps the oddsmakers and bettors are viewing Pacman as the more motivated fighter.

WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) will defend his world title against Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) on Thursday, February 8, at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Lopez-Ortiz headlines a televised ESPN doubleheader that kicks off Super Bowl weekend three days before the big game hits Sin City for the first time.

Teofimo Lopez: “February 8 at Mandalay Bay, ‘The Takeover’ will entertain inside that squared circle as only I can! To the boxing fans around the world, I look to not only dominate and break down Jamaine Ortiz, but to do it in such a fashion that my division will be put on alert.”

Jamaine Ortiz: “This is the most important fight of my career. It’s my first world title bout. I believe this fight will bring out the very best in me, and I’m looking forward to coming home as the new champion!”

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (9-0, 6 KOs) faces Puerto Rican former two-division world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KOs). Continue reading “Top Rank confirms Feb 8 Super Bowl card”

Former highly decorated amateur Yoenlis Hernandez (2-0, 2 KOs) of Cuba will make his highly anticipated U.S. debut on January 20 in a ten round middleweight main event bout that will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. His opponent will be former world title challenger Vicente Martin Rodriguez (42-14-1, 23 KOs) of Argentina.

Hernandez’ manager is Robert Valle and he is promoted by Kris Lawrence (Heavyweight Factory Promotions) and Leon Margules/Luis De Cubas Sr. (Warriors Boxing). Rodriguez has much more professional experience than Hernandez but Lawrence believes in the talent level of Hernandez. When asked just how good he thinks Hernandez is, he replied. “I honestly believe he is a professional world-level talent right now.” Continue reading “Yoenlis Hernandez headlines Jan 20”

Gurgen Hovhannisyan 278.6 vs. Colby Madison 244.9
Tsotne Rogava 265 vs. Dante Williams 201
Dante Stone 267.6 vs. Alexander Flores 271.5
Nilo Guerrero 129.2 vs. Chancellor Battenberg 128.7
Elijah Seawright 153.2 vs. Henry Rivera 154.5
Dazjhante Frazier 153.2 vs. Nathan Stolen 154.5
Agustin Tovar 133.5 vs. Ezra Rabin 135
Nelson Guerrero 121.6 vs. Gilberto Duran 122.2

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
Promoter: Toro Promotions and Whitfield Haydon Boxing
TV: PPV (bxngtv.com $19.99)

Heavyweight contender Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) has been arrested on charges of 1) carjacking without firearm or weapon and 2) burglary with assault or battery after taking back a vehicle that had been repossessed from him by a South Florida automobile dealership. According to Channel 7 News in Miami, the 330lb Miller allegedly overpowered an employee to get the keys, then fled with the vehicle, a Dodge Ram. Unbeknownst to Big Baby, the dealer had access to the truck’s GPS tracking device and Miller was quickly located and arrested by authorities. As of 9PM, Miller is still listed as an inmate on the website of the Broward County Jail.

Miller, 35, suffered his first loss ten days ago when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois in the twelfth round on the huge “Day of Reckoning” PPV event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Jeff Zimmerman

WBO #1 super lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr makes his Golden Boy debut this Saturday on the Vergil Ortiz Jr return to the ring at 154 this Saturday at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas and shown live on DAZN. Barboza shares his excitement about learning from his promoters, ring legends, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, and potential matchups with Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney down the road in this Fightnews.com® exclusive.

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Popular bantamweight Christian Carto (20-1, 13 KOs) will kick off King’s Promotions year when he headlines against veteran Ardin Diale (35-18-4, 17 KOs) in the eight-round main event on Friday, January 12 at Live! Casino and Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In other eight-round bouts, welterweight Quadir Alright (9-1, 9 KOs) takes on Adam Kipenga (11-4-1, 7 KOs), and Atif Oberlton (8-0, 6 KOs) fights Cleotis Pendarvis (22-19-2, 9 KOs) in a light heavyweight contest.

Undefeated knockout artist Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) is a 25:1 favorite against Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-3, 22 KOs) on DAZN Saturday night at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Formerly a top contender at welterweight, Ortiz is now competing at super welterweight after 17 months out of the ring. During that span, Ortiz had to twice pull out of a challenge against WBA “regular” welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis due to health issues.

In the co-feature, Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) is a 5:1 favorite against Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs) in a clash for the WBA interim super lightweight title.

In other action, WBO #1 super lightweight Arnold Barbosa Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) is a 25:1 favorite against Xolisani Ndongeni (31-3, 18 KOs), and WBC #10 welterweight Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (13-0, 11 KOs) is a 16:1 betting pick against against Elias Diaz (12-1, 7 KOs) in a pair of ten-rounders.

Sad to report the passing of famed boxing manager Cameron Dunkin in Las Vegas at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer. Duncan managed current IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and has worked with the likes of Terence Crawford, Timothy Bradley, Kelly Pavlik, Nonito Donaire, Diego Corrales, Mikey Garcia, Brandon Ríos, Steve Johnston, Freddie Norwood, Steve Luevano, Johnny Tapia, Marc Johnson, Danny Romero and dozens more over a career that spanned 4+ decades. R.I.P.

An eight round heavyweight crossroads fight between 6’3, 260-pound Dante Stone (14-1, 10 KOs) and 6’4, 230lb Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs) will be the first streamed pro boxing match of 2024 this Thursday evening at the famed Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

The 10-round main event is headlined by undefeated 6’7, 275-pound prospect Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (4-0, 4 KOs), who is matched against dangerous Colby Madison (11-6-2, 7 KOs). Hovhannisyan is coming off an impressive sixth-round knockout of Michael Polite Coffie.

Also, 6’5, 270-pound Olympian heavyweight Tsotne Rogava (3-0, 3 KOs) will be showcased in the six-round co-feature against undefeated Dante Williams (4-0, 4 KOs).

The card, presented by Toro Promotions and Whitfield Haydon Boxing, will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com pay per view for $19.99.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis is no longer the “regular” WBA lightweight champion. With Devin Haney giving up the “super” designation, Tank, who recently changed his name to Abdul Wahid, is now the sole WBA 135lb king. He is expected headline PBC’s March PPV card on Amazon Prime.

Martin Bakole is now the WBA’s #1 rated heavyweight. Previous #1 Deontay Wilder has been dropped completely after his loss to Joseph Parker.

The WBA has officially changed the name of the 201-224lb division to bridgerweight. The division was initially dubbed super cruiserweight in the WBA ratings.

Looks like WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney may defend against Ryan Garcia next. Garcia against WBA champ Rolly Romero is on the backburner at the moment.

Referee Kenny Bayless, 73, who announced his retirement last week on Facebook, says he’s still open to working international exhibitions or celebrity matches and maybe become a supervisor or judge with one of the four major boxing organizations.

Happy 2024!