Billy Chams passes in Colombia

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Sources from Colombia have reported Colombian boxing promoter and agent Billy Chams passed away Sunday in Barranquilla at the age of 63. Chams was admitted to a clinic three days ago with health complications from cancer. Chams was an important part to the Colombia boxing landscape promoting 17 world champions through his company Cuadrilatero, including Rafael Pineda, Ricardo Torres, Fidel Bassa and Tomas Molinares among others. Chams recently was part of the conquest of the IBF world title by Jonathan Romero last February. Services will be held Monday.

Boxing Buzz

Hot ticket: More than 31,000 tickets have been sold for Alvarez-Trout in San Antonio. Promoters are looking to add room at the Alamodome . . . More

The Ohio Athletic Commission is talking safety: More

The “Baby Bull,” Juan Diaz talks to the San Antonio Express News about his April 13 comeback against Pipino Cuevas Jr. More

David Haye says he’ll tone down his trash talk after reality check in the “I’m a Celebrity” jungle. More in The Telegraph.

Rocky Martinez hits China

WBO junior lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez traveled today to China, where he will be facing undefeated Diego Magdaleno on Saturday at the Venetian Casino & Resort in Macao, China in a Top Rank presentation to be broadcasted on HBO2. Martinez (26-1-2, 16 KOs), who is going to defend his belt for the second time, was joined by trainers Raul “Papo” Torres and Dennis Pantoja, also Ivan and Peter Rivera, PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) President and Vice-President, respectively. The group left Puerto Rico this morning for a stopover in New York and from there to Hong Kong to get then to Macao. Magdaleno (23-0, 9 KOs) is the #1 ranked by the WBO in the junior lightweight division.

Alvarado-Rios Scorecard Analysis

By Jeff Reiners

New WBO interim jr welterweight champion Mike Alvarado swept the last four rounds on the card of Bill Lerch (115-113) and took three of the final four rounds on the cards of Dave Moretti (115-113) and Duane Ford (114-113). Alvarado entered the final round ahead by one point on the cards of Lerch and Moretti, while Ford’s card was even. “Mile High” Mike won the last round on all cards to win the fight.

Note: Ford scored round two 10-8 for Brandon Rios.

Former WBO Featherweight Champ Scott Harrison To Face Unbeaten Liam Walsh For WBO European Lightweight Belt

By James Slater

Troubled Scot, Scott Harrison has one more chance to revive his career. The 35-year-old, who served time in jail for assault, and has fought just twice in the last eight years as a result, will meet unbeaten 26-year-old southpaw Liam Walsh for the WBO European lightweight title on April 20th. The intriguing fight will go ahead on the Nathan Cleverly-RobinKrasniqi card set for Wembley Arena.

Harrison, who ultimately wants a shot at fellow Scot, reigning WBO lightweight ruler Ricky Burns, feels a win over Walsh, 13-0(10) will prove he has what it takes:

“Walsh is a good young fighter, he’s fast and he’s ambitious and this is the fight that will show all the doubters that I’m back and I mean business,” Harrison said in a statement released by promoter Frank Warren. (more…)

Roach, Shiming share training tips with students

Two-time Olympic Gold Medallist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou Shiming and his Top Rank trainer Freddie Roach spent the Sunday afternoon interacting with students from various Macau youth boxing training centers in the gym specially set up for “Fists of Gold” boxers at the Venetian Theatre.

Shiming will make his professional debut as a Top Rank fighter on HBO2 on April 6 at the CotaiArena, on a fight card that includes two world championship fights.

Takayama dethrones Dragoncito

Japan’s Katsunari Takayama (25-6, 10 KOs) claimed the IBF strawweight championship by taking a twelve round unanimous decision over reigning titleholder Mario “Dragoncito” Rodriguez (15-7-4, 11 KOs) on Saturday night, disappointing fans at the Estadio Francisco Carranza Limon in ​​Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Scores were 117-111, 119-109 and 115-113.

In the co-feature, Pedro Guevara (19-1-1, 13 KOs) won a split decision against former champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia (33-2-1, 21 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC silver light flyweight belt.

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Alvarado defeats Rios in another classic

By Miguel Maravilla and Jeff Reiners at ringside
Photos: Chris Cozzone

In the second classic between them, Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) won a scintillating twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 22 KOs) to claim the vacant WBO interim jr welterweight title on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 5,418 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

It took about half-a-round before the war was on. Rios rocked Alvarado in round two and had him staggered, but Alvarado returned the favor and rocked Rios in round three. Alvarado shaded the fourth, and Rios had the advantage in the fifth. Alvarado’s face showed plenty of damage entering round six, while Rios was relatively unmarked. Rios had the upper hand in rounds six and seven, but Alvarado landed huge bombs to stagger Rios in the eighth. Alvarado’s movement somewhat neutralized Rios’ pressure in the late rounds, but Rios began to connect again in the eleventh. Alvarado boxed beautifully in the twelfth. Scores were 115-113, 115-113, 114-113.

Rios, who won the first fight by seventh round TKO, immediately called for a third fight. Alvarado said let’s do it, this time in Colorado. Both fighters were taken directly to the hospital after the fight.

Impressive win for unbeaten jr welterweight Terence Crawford (20-0, 15 KOs), who dominated Breidis Prescott (27-4, 20 KOs) over ten rounds. Crawford boxed beautifully to earn a 99-91, 97-93, 100-90 unanimous decision. Crawford took the fight on two weeks notice and moved up a division. (more…)

Akhundov wins WBF featherweight title

By Alex Potapov at ringside

WBF featherweight champion Timur Akhundov (15-2-1, 5 KOs) won by unanimous decision in a spectacular battle against Khavazhy Khatsyhau (10-2, 6 KOs) on Saturday night at the AKKO International in Kiev, Ukraine. Throughout the fight, Akhundov was very fast, working behind a great jab and was always aggressive. Khatsyhau looked to counterpunch and was less mobile in the ring. Scores were 117-111, 117-112 and 119-109 for Akhundov. (more…)

Golovkin demolishes Ishida in three

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Unbeaten WBA/IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KOs) scored a spectaular third round KO over Nobuhiro Ishida (24-9-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Salle d’Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco. 50:1 betting favorite Golovkin took over in round two and knocked out Ishida cold with a massive right hand in round three. Time was 2:20. It was the first time Ishida has ever been stopped.

In a clash of unbeaten super middleweights, Edwin Rodriguez (23-0, 15 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (19-1, 13 KOs). It was a close fight (with a lot of clinching). Rodriguez was deducted a point in round eight for a low blow and another point for a punch behind the head in round nine, however Rodriguez also knocked down Maderna at the end of round nine. Scores were 96-92, 96-92, 95-92. Rodriguez will now face Denis Grachev on July 13 in the “Super 4″ final.

In a light heavyweight bout, Denis Grachev (13-1-1, 8 KOs) won a ten round split decision over previously unbeaten two-division world champion Zsolt Erdei (33-1, 18 KOs). The 38-year-old Erdei schooled Grachev early, but Grachev increased the pressure and came on over the second half of the bout. Scores were 96-94 twice for Grachev, 96-94 for Erdei. (more…)

Report/gallery: Torres stops Sanchez

Ringside report by Chris Cozzone and Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Chris Cozzone

Mark Twain once wrote, “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.”

So went the lesson learned last night at the Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque, N.M., where big hearts and big appetites did not, alas, equate to chomping away at more than one can chew.

Faltering for the first time in their budding careers, young guns Jose Luis Sanchez and Matthew Baca received more than a few scratches, bumps and bruises in their untimely showdowns. With school bells clanging away the rounds, professors “Pittbull” and Hernandez Perez dished out hard-learned lessons before a capacity crowd . . . Click here for more

Walters training for title fight

By Robert Coster
Photo: Premium Boxing Promotions

WBA world featherweight champion Nicholas “The Axeman” Walters ran six miles in the mountains of Port-au-Prince, Haiti this morning following a hard eight-mile hill run yesterday on Good Friday. Walters has been running under the watchful eyes of his manager/promoter Jacques Deschamps for the past week and will return to Panama next week to continue with his training for the first defense of his title on May 11th in Kingston, Jamaica. The name of Walter’s opponent has yet to be known.

Happy Birthday Gilberto Mendoza

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Today is the 70th birthday of Dr. Gilberto Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association since 1982. The WBA, previously previously known as the National Boxing Association (NBA) is the oldest sanctioning institution in boxing. Many hope that Mendoza can be inducted into the Hall of Fame Boxing in Canastota, New York in the near future. He is a champion in life after having beaten cancer in recent years.

Rios and Alvarado plan to make adjustments, but…

By Karl Freitag

Having faced each other in an all-out war just six months ago, junior welterweight sluggers Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado will enter the ring tonight with new strategies and tactics when they collide at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. But fighters both know this match can only unfold one way.

“You can always train differently to try to change things up,” said Alvarado, “but I think our styles and the way we approach the ring, it is automatically going to turn into that kind of fight [a war]. They are the styles we have. We are both warriors. We just fight and whoever comes out on top, that’s just the way it’s going to go…we can train any way we want – but once we get in that ring it’s on us to make adjustments and not get hit like we did, but you never know. There is only one way to find out and that’s when we get in the ring. We’ll see what happens.”

Rios agrees. War is the only option. “We have the same type of style,” he stated. “We both go fight each other. We try to get the job done the only way we know how. We can try to change it up in the gym, but once the bell rings and we get hit we go back to doing what we know how to do. That’s the warrior mentality that comes out of us. Mike Alvarado is Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios is Brandon Rios. We are going to give the fans what they want and we are going to give them a good show.” (more…)

Hitz calls for Bondorovas-Vera rematch

Bobby Hitz, promoter of Donatas Bondorovas has called for a rematch between his fighter and middleweight contender Brian Vera after Vera’s controversial TKO win on Friday night in Verona, NY.

“Referee Charlie Fitch stopped the fight prematurely and many observers feel that Donatas was robbed. I concur. I am so proud of Donatas and effort he put forth tonight. I like Brian Vera and I respect him as a fighter, but I feel we were winning and according to my team it was the language barrier which caused the stoppage, which is unfortunate. While the judges had Vera up when the fight was stopped, I disagree and I am confident that had they been allowed to continue Donatas would have been victorious. Obviously we want a rematch. Donatas deserves a rematch and the fans, many of whom were impressed with his ‘Friday Night Fights’ debut, deserve a rematch. We need to make this happen.”

Vera gets stoppage over Bondorovas

By Boxing Bob Newman at ringside
Photos: Andy Newman

Brian Vera headlined his second straight ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, this time on “regular” ESPN against game, but fragile-faced Donatas Bondorovas, in defense of his WBO/NABO middleweight title. The bout was not without risk for Vera, who’s WBO #1 ranking was on the line. Vera took a tougher-than-expected TKO between rounds seven and eight as Bondarovas’ face couldn’t match his will to win, prompting the stoppage in his corner between rounds.

Lithuanian native, Chicago resident Bondorovas, who prefers to have his surname shortened to “Bondas” when announced in the ring, came into this fight with a huge liability- a horrible scar across the bridge of his nose. Vera wasted no time in targeting the damaged tissue with his jab and right cross in round one. By round two, the scar turned into a cut and fresh blood began to drip from it. “Bondas” hung tough though and seemed to get the crowd on his side at the end of round three. In round four however, Vera sprung a small leak around his left eye, the same optic that was cut in his last ring appearance against former WBO Jr. Middleweight champ Serhiy Dzinziruk two months ago. At the same time, referee Charlie Fitch kept a close eye on Bondas’ worsening nose, which was now dripping blood into his own mouth. In round six, Bondas suffered cut along his left eye, which also bothered him as he periodically shook his head. Late in the round, referee Fitch called time to have the ringside doctor to examine Bondas’ worsening face. Deemed fit to continue, Bondas seemed energized, and finished the last moments of the round with a vengeance. The seventh was to be Bondas’ last hurrah. Again the fans rallied to his cause with cheers, whenever he flurried to Vera’s head. After the end of round seven, the ringside physician recommended to referee Fitch to stop the bout as Bondas’ cuts were deemed too severe to continue. Scoring at the time of the stoppage was as follows: Don Ackerman and John Mackey had it 67-66 for Vera, while Glenn Feldman had it one round wider at 68-65, also for Vera. (more…)

Delphine Persoon: bring on Erica Anabella Farias!

Former European, IBF and WIBF champion Delphine Persoon impressively knocked out Kremena Petkova in 2 rounds tonight in Gent, Belgium in a final WBC eliminator to earn the right to challenge WBC champion Erica Anabella Farias from Argentina. The Belgian female star is eager to get into the ring with the current title holder. Petkova was dropped for the full count near the end of the 2nd round with a vicious left to the body.
Ermano Fegatelli outpointed Karim Chakim. It was quite competitive in the first 5 rounds but once the local boy upted the pace in the last 3 rounds it was quite one-sided. It was scored 3 times 80-72. Fegatelli enters now the WBC World cup.

Shock defeat for “Sugar” Jackson Osei Bonsu when he was stopped in the 2nd round against French champion Frank Haroche Horta. Horta hurt Jackson early in the 2nd and he never recovered. When he was on unsteady legs moments later the referee saved Jackson from more punishment. This defeat probably put on hold his scheduled EBU-EU title defence against Nieto from Spain which was scheduled for May 31 in Antwerp on a open air show. Sugar Jackson, a former EBU champion, and his team will now have to sit down and reconsider about Jackson’s future in boxing. (more…)

Boxing Buzz

Tonight’s ESPN Friday Night Fights card featuring middleweight contender Brian Vera (22-6, 13 KOs) against Donatas Bondorovas (17-3-1, 6 KOs) from the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y., will air live at 9 p.m. ET in a special airing on ESPN (rather than its usual ESPN2 home).

Rios, Alvarado make weight

By Miguel Maravilla/Jeff Reiners
Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Brandon Rios 140 vs. Mike Alvarado 140
(WBO interim jr welterweight title)

Breidis Prescott 140 vs. Terence Crawford 139.5
Jose Ramirez 139.5 vs. Charle Dubray 138.5

Miguel Berchelt 131 vs. Carlos Claudio 131.5
Michael Finney 152.5 vs. Osvaldo Rojas 152
Juan Guajardo 210 vs. Brett Rather 240
Roberto Lopez 144 vs. Juan Heraldez 146
Manuel Lopez 142.5 vs. Jason Tresvan 143.5
Tremaine Williams 123 vs. John Herrera 122.5

Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: HBO

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At the scales in Kiev

Weights & photo by Alex Potapov

Timur Akhundov 125.6 vs Khavazhy Khatsyhau 125.6
(vacant WBF featherweight title)
Daniyar Hanyk 138.9 vs Volodymyr Harabuga 138
Jaba Gatsiashvili 176.3 vs Serhiy Chichikalov 176
Vepkhia Tchilaia 176 vs Konstantin Novikov 167.5
Volodymyr Baranovskyy 136.7 vs Victor Bogodukhov 134.5
Dmytro Zayats 200 vs Alexander Okhrey 202.8
Alexander Benidze 145.5 vs Stanislav Savarin 143.3

Venue: AKKO International, Kiev, Ukraine
Promoter: Global-Box Promotion

Don King Statement regarding Florida Supreme Court ruling

“This is the Greatest Nation in the world…No matter what the outcome of my return to the Fourth District Court of Appeal may be, the victory for the great people of Florida in the future is that the real estate law has been established and upheld. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 6 to 1 that oral agreements modifying written contracts for a real estate sale are invalid. The ambiguity and confusion has been removed. No more ‘He said, I said’ or ‘I believe this one, but I don’t believe that one.’ If it’s important enough to agree to something verbally, it’s important enough to write it down. God Bless America and God Bless the Florida Supreme Court. Thanks to my fantastic lawyers Alvin Davis and Tom Egan of Squire Sanders & Dempsey.”

Shiming, Viloria, Magdaleno & Estrada hit China

Photos: Sean Gibbons

Boxers Zou Shiming, Brian Viloria, Diego Magdaleno, and Juan Estrada formally arrived today for a gala reception at the Venetian Macau for the big April 6th Fists of Gold Fight Night.

Viloria and Estrada will face each other for Viloria’s WBA/WBO flyweight belts, Magdelano will challenge WBO jr lightweight champion Rocky Martinez, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shiming will make his pro debut in the main event. The above bouts will be televised on HBO2.

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Quintero injured; Maicello-Nugaev new FNF headliner

Lightweight contender Marvin Quintero (25-4, 21 KOs) is out of his IBF lightweight final eliminator against Ammeth Diaz (31-11, 22 KOs). Quintero was forced to pull out of the April 5th bout — which was scheduled to be the main event of ESPN Friday Night Fights — after breaking his nose in camp. The main event has been revamped and fans in attendance at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California will get an opportunity to see fast rising lightweight Jonathan Maicello (19-0, 11 KOs) as he squares off with Russian lightweight Rustam Nugaev (22-6-1, 12 KOs) in a 10 round catch weight of 137lbs. The card’s co-feature remains as scheduled with Puerto Rican knockout artist Jorge Maysonet Jr. (11-0, 10KOs) taking on southpaw Gabriel Tolmajyan (13-2-1, 3KOs) in a lightweight contest scheduled for 10 rounds.

Kendall Holt Statement

First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I did not knowingly take any P.E.D., nor do I believe I unknowingly took any P.E.D.

The facts are as follows:

My camp, at my instruction, requested WADA level testing in connection with my bout with Lamont Peterson. Post bout urine samples were sent to the WADA accredited laboratory testing lab in Salt Lake City. We repeatedly attempted to obtain the lab results from the D.C. Commission, with no success until yesterday. We did, however, receive an email from the Commission stating that both fighters had passed their test. Nonetheless we wanted the actual lab results. (more…)

At the scales in Albuquerque, Part II

Weights & photos by Chris Cozzone

From Sadie’s in Albuquerque for Saturday night’s Johnny Tapia Presents card at Crowne Plaza Hotel:

Hector Munoz 147.6 vs. Bernardo Guereca 152.8
Cristian Cabral 143.8 vs. Donald Sanchez 148.6
Ricky Villafuerte 172.4 vs. Adrian Lopez 174.8
Diego Bautista 134.8 vs. Paul Castillo 134.8

At the scales in Albuquerque

Weights & photos by Jose Leon Castillo III

From the YDI Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque, NM for tonight’s “Friday Night Fights WareHouse Rumble III.”

Josh Torres 149.6 vs. Jose Sanchez 148.2
Matthew Baca 138 vs. Yordan Hernandez 140
Amanda Crespin, 126.2 (1.2 over) vs. Nohime Dennisson 123.4
Jason Sanchez 127.6 vs. Suanitu Houge 127

Golovkin, Ishida make weight

Photos: Sumio Yamada

Gennady Golovkin 159.3 vs. Nobuhiro Ishida 158.5
(WBA/IBO Middleweight titles)

Edwin Rodriguez 168 vs. Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna 167.5
Zsolt Erdei 171.2 vs. Denis Grachev 174.8

Venue: Salle d’Etoile, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Promoter: Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves
TV: PPV

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