Huck vs. Afolabi III in Berlin

The fight between WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (35-2-1, 25 KOs) and interim titlist Ola Afolabi (33 years, 19-2-4, 9 KOs) will take place on June 8th at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin on June 8. “This will be a home game for me,” said Huck who is looking forward to his third encounter with Afolabi. Huck won a close decision in their first fight in December 2009 and their May 2012 rematch ended in a draw. “Ola Afolabi is indeed a tough one,” added Huck. “But he will not make my life so difficult again. In Berlin, I will set the record straight!”

Haye signs with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport

By Wolfgang Schiffbauer

The speculation about the next opponent for former WBA heavyweight titlelist and undisputed cruiserweight world champion David Haye (32) has come to an end. After he was initially ruled out as an opponent, it has now been confirmed that former WBC title challenger Manuel Charr (28) from Germany will indeed land the June 29 fight in Manchester, England.

Haye’s PR man Elliott Worsell first indicated this in a recent post on Twitter. He wrote: “It’s confirmed: Haye opponent is a real Charrmer.” The German-based Charr has also posted pictures of himself in London, where an official press conference to announce the bout will take place Wednesday, and posted “David you are next!” on his Facebook page. Shortly afterwards, Eddie Hearn, managing director of Matchroom Sport, announced on Twitter that he signed Haye to a long-term promotional contract and confirmed that the former champ will face Charr in Manchester. (more…)

Haye to face Charr on June 29 in Manchester

By Malte Müller-Michaelis

Former WBA heavyweight und unified cruiserweight champion David Haye will take on former WBC heavyweight championship contender Manuel Charr on June 29th in Manchester. The fight will officially be announced at a press conference to be held at the Manchester Arena on Wednesday (May 1st).

Charr has been calling out David Haye for the last twelve months and promised to donate half of his purse for peace projects in his home country Syria should the bout actually take place. The 28-year-old “Diamond Boy” who lives and trains in Cologne, Germany, has won 23 of his 24 pro-bouts with his sole loss coming in the world title fight against Vitali Klitschko last September in Moscow when Charr was controversially stopped by a cut in the fourth. However, Charr came back with two quick stoppage wins over Konstantin Airich and Yakup Saglam to regain his WBC Silver International championship.

David Haye on the other hand is looking for another world title shot and thinks that a victory over WBC no. 8 rated Charr will get him one step closer to this goal. The hard-hitting “Hayemaker” has won 26 of his 28 pro-bouts so far including 24 knockouts.

Sam Soliman suspended for nine months

By Malte Müller-Michaelis

The Bund Deutscher Berufsboxer (BDB) has officially suspended middleweight contender Sam Soliman for nine months. In addition to that, the result of Soliman’s IBF elimination bout against Felix Sturm on February 1st, 2013, was changed into a “no contest”. Soliman has been found guilty of violating the BDB anti-doping rules when the illegal stimulant methylsynephrine was found in his A sample.

According to the BDB, Soliman was notified of the finding but refused to have the B sample opened at the same laboratory which checked the A sample. Therefore, the result of the A sample was confirmed leading to the judgement and suspension. Now it is up to the IBF to decide what happens with the elimination process in the middleweight division.

Ndongeni upsets Nzimande to win SA title

By Ron Jackson

Nine fight novice Xolisani Ndongeni upset the fancied and more experienced Godfrey Nzimande to win the South African junior lightweight title by wide margins over 12 rounds at the Orient Theatre in East London on Sunday afternoon.

The scores were 119-110 and 119-109 twice.

The 22-year-old Ndongeni who improved his record to 10-0; 7 completely dominated the 31 –year-old Nzimande 28-4-1; 21 a former two-time South African and World Boxing Foundation champion junior lightweight champion who was never in the fight from the opening bell. (more…)

Ex-WBC champ Hasegawa stops Veerapol

By Joe Koizumi

Ex-WBC bantam and feather champ, Japanese southpaw Hozumi Hasegawa (32-4, 14 KOs), 124, displayed a quick stoppage in dropping Thai #5 feather Veerapol Sor. Chandrasith (8-3, 2 KOs), 123.75, twice and finally halting him at 2:51 of the third round in a scheduled ten rounder on Friday in his native Kobe city, Japan.

The 32-year-old Japanese, having moved down to the 122-pound category from the 126-pound division, is gunning for his third throne in the super-bantam class and appeared in a tune-up bout prior to a possible world title shot in the nearest future. Hasegawa looked a little tense and nervous as he was too much eager to finish the Thailander to bring home the bacon early. The taller Thailander, 24, showed his retaliation in round two, positively throwing long straight rights time and again though they were averted by Hasegawa’s elusiveness. The third saw the ex-champ quickly swarm over the Thai youngster with a triple southpaw left, flooring him to the deck. Hasegawa accelerated his attack to send him sprawling to the canvas again. It was a matter of time that Hasegawa would floor him for the third time with a fusillade of punches, which prompted the third man to call a halt before the loser’s third visit to the floor. Hasegawa said, “I can be sharper and faster in my next appearance. I’m positively looking forward to my third crown.” His third coronation will depend on his target among the champs of the four organizations, of course, except for Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.

Sato-Srisaket ready for war

By Damrong Simakajornboon
Photos: Nakornloung Boxing Promotion

WBC superflyweight champion Yota Sato has arrived in Thailand on April 27 together with his team from Kyoei Promotion. This is going to be his first time fighting outside his home country, Japan. However, the champion has shown no fear and mentioned to Thai presses about his great determination to win the fight to print his name on the Japanese boxing history. On Sunday afternoon, the Japanese champion and the Thai challenger met to be presence in public on Channel 7 Muaythai stadium in Bangkok. The pre weight-in was also conducted, with the results of ; Yota Sato 120 lbs, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai 121 lbs. For Srisaket, the ABCO 115lb title holder with 5 successful title defenses, this will be his first shot at the world title.

This event will be promoted by Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, the new generation promoter of Nakornloung Boxing Promotion, on May 3 in Sisaket province, the challenger’s hometown. The WBC superflyweight title fight will be broadcast in Thailand on Channel 7 and in Japan on TV Tokyo.

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Lucas Browne defeats James Toney; Kingpin Johnson stops Solomon Haumono

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Photos: Werner Kalin

Australian heavyweight Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (16-0, 14 KOs) dominated James” Lights Out” Toney (74-8-3, 45 KOs) over twelve rounds on Sunday at the Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Browne, 6’4 and 257lbs controlled the contest in all of the rounds against the former world champion Toney, 5’10 and 250lbs. Scores 117-111, 119-108, 120-108.

In the main supporting contest. former world heavyweight challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (29-3-1, 14 KOs) chopped down Solomon Haumono (20-2-2, 18 KOs) in ten rounds of a scheduled twelve. Haumono was the aggressor in most of the rounds but the American was connecting with solid shots on the back move and at 2:53 of round ten, referee Tony Maretta crowned Johnson after Haumono had visited the canvas.

Australian cruiserweight champion Daniel Ammann (28-5-1, 6 KOs) retained the title when he clearly outscored Kane Watts (9-2) over ten rounds by scores 98-91, 97-91, 97-92.

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Deontay Wilder: I will come back and fight Tyson Fury

By James Slater

A beaming Deontay wilder spoke to the press in Sheffield after last night’s quick one-round blitzing of Audley Harrison, and the 28-0 (28) giant was quick to speak about who he may face next “It was a great performance (vs Harrison). I am a beast with God-given talent. Nobody can take my power. As soon as I hit him, his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

“I will come back and fight Tyson Fury, as soon as they want the fight. We’ve also talked about the (David) Price and Tony Thompson rematch, and me fighting the winner. I would love to come back (to the U.K.) “I will be the next heavyweight champion.”

Wilder then took time to pose for photos with well-wishers. Unable to stop smiling, Wilder, who had been booed as he entered the ring minutes earlier, was now quite the hero. Promoter Richard Schaefer was also smiling broadly!

Khan: This fight is what I needed

By James Slater
Photos: Chris Royle – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

A tired yet jubilant Amir Khan finally arrived at the post fight press conference in Sheffield. So too did the narrowly outpointed Julio Diaz. Here’s what both warriors had to say after tonight’s 12 round thriller

Amir Khan: “Julio was tough. We did our homework – I’m pretty sure he did his. He came here to win and he gave 100-percent. I knew it would be a tough fight, but I never knew it would be that tough.

“He caught me with a good left hook and put me down (in the 4th) but this fight is what I needed. We did 12 hard rounds and we know my fitness is good – and this was only my second fight with Virgil. I’m still learning. I still don’t think I am a complete fighter yet. I want more time in the ring, this is my job. It’s never easy at top level. But this was a brilliant fight for me to get my feet wet. (more…)

Gonzalez halts Katagiri in round four

Photos: Promociones del Pueblo

Three division world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (54-8, 45 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Akihiko Katagiri (12-7-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the legendary Arena Mexico in Mexico City. Gonzalez dropped Katagiri twice in the fourth and it was waved off. Time was 1:18.

In a shocker, female super flyweight Riyo Togo scored a spectacular first round KO over female boxing icon Mariana Juarez in a WBC eliminator. Time was 1:58.

In other action, super featherweight Dante “Crazy” Jardon scored an eighth round TKO over Akinori Kanai and super bantamweight Rey Varages KO’d Seizo Kono in round two. photos

Beltran defeats Rodriguez

Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

IBF #4, WBC #6, WBO #9 lightweight contender Raymundo Beltran (28-6, 17 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Alejandro Rodriguez (18-10, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Beltran, Manny Pacquiao’s main sparring partner, was cut over his left eye in round three, but kept punching all night. Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 97-93.

WBA #11 super featherweight Michael Farenas (34-4-4, 25 KOs) crushed journeyman Gerardo Zayas (20-21-2, 12 KOs), putting him down three times before the bout was stopped in round one.

Unbeaten hot super lightweight prospect Jose Ramirez moved to 3-0, 2 KOs after a one-sided four round unanimous decision over Antonio Martinez (1-2-2, 1 KO). Ramirez is considered to be arguably the crown jewel of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. (more…)

Martinez retains title against Murray

Photos: DBE/Sumio Yamada

In a driving rainstorm, defending WBC middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated WBA interim champion Martin Murray (25-1-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night in front of an estimated 50,000 fans at the Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martinez controlled the early rounds as Murray was very defensive. Murray started picking it up in round four. MArtinez was cut over the left eye in round six. Murray dropped Martinez in round eight with a right hand, but he didn’t seem hurt. Open scoring after round eight had Martinez ahead 77-74, 76-75, 76-75. Good round for Martinez in round nine. Murray landed a big right in round ten. Martinez outboxed him over the finsl two rounds to prevail 115-112 on all three cards.

After the fight, Martinez stated, “We have to work to get better. But superstars are like that, we always get better against any odds.” (more…)

Stiverne defeats Arreola, full report and photos

By Miguel Maravilla and Felipe Leon at ringside
Photo: Big Joe Miranda

WBC #2 heavyweight Bermane “B.Ware” Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs) dropped #1 rated Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-3, 30 KOs) in round three and went on to win a twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night in a WBC elimination bout at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Stiverne was the busier man against the tough Arreola in a bloody fight. Scores were 117-110, 117-110 and 118-109. Stiverne is now WBC mandatory challenger for champion Vitali Klitschko. (more…)

Garcia defeats Judah; Quillin stops Guerrero

By Mariano A. Agmi and Arvin Nundloll at ringside
Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

In a grudge match, undefeated unified WBC/WBA super lightweight champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (25-0, 16 KOs) retained his title with a brutal twelve round unanimous decision over former two-division champion Zab Judah (42-7, 29 KO’s) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Garcia and Judah were kept apart at the final press conference and weigh-in, but nothing could keep them from going at it in the ring. The champion punished Judah for much of the fight, dropping him in round eight and opening a huge gash under his left eye. Judah turned the tables in rounds ten and eleven, and both left it all in the ring in round twelve. Scores were 115-112, 114-112, 116-111.

Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (29-0, 21 KOs) successfully defended his WBO Middleweight title with a TKO victory over Fernando Guerrero (25-2, 19 KOs). Quillin knocked down Guerrero in round 7 with a vicious right uppercut and then followed up with a right hook to floor Guerrero once again. The referee, sensingthat Guerrero was unable to continue, called off the fight at 1:30 in round 7. Quillin started the fight strong, beating Guerrero to the punch and perfectly executing his jab. Quillin continued to dominate and eventually dropped Guerrero twice in round 3. Guerrero recovered and turned it into a fight, going toe to toe in a thrilling brawl with Quillin in round 6. Quillin was just too strong and quick for Guerrero and stepped up the pace in round 7 to finish the fight once and for all. (more…)

Braehmer crushes Averlant in two; Culcay, Dirks defeated

By Karl Freitag
Photo by Photo Wende

Euro light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (40-2, 31 KOs) scored an explosive second round annilhation of Tony Averlant (18-8-2, 4 KOs) on Saturday night at the Alsterdorf Sporthalle in Hamburg, Germany. A huge body shot by the former world champion took out Averlant. Time was 2:36. Braehmer is the mandatory challenger for WBO 175lb king king Nathan Cleverly.

“We are not yet where we want to go, but we’re on the way,” said Braehmer afterward. “I had seen that he leaves the liver open. That it worked immediately on the first try, naturally is also good luck. I am always glad to box here in Hamburg. I hope that now I get to fight Cleverly.” (more…)

Amir Khan survives Julio Diaz to win a thriller on points

By James Slater at ringside

round unanimous decision over Julio Diaz (40-8-1, 29 KOs) on Saturday night at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield. Khan and Diaz went to war for twelve great rounds, In the end, after getting decked heavily from a left/right/left combo to the head in the fourth, Khan prevailed by scores of 114-113,0 115-113 and 115-112. Diaz had a badly damaged right eye, yet he tested Khan’s chin a number of times, especially in the late rounds, and in the end a fight of the year candidate was witnessed. Both gave their all.

Unbeaten 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder needed just 70 seconds to destroy 2000 Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison in the first round of a highly anticipated heavyweight clash. Smashing Harrison with a big right hand as Audley backed into a corner, Wilder followed up and clubbed a defenseless looking Harrison to the mat. Harrison showed heart and got up at 8, but ref Terry O’Connor waved it off. Harrison complained but he looked in bad shape. Wilder is now 28-0 all by knockout. Harrison is now 31-7, 22 KOs. (more…)

David Price sees Deontay Wilder KO of Audley Harrison tonight

By James Slater

Liverpool’s David Price has given his prediction on tonight’s heavyweight rumble between the unbeaten Deontay Wilder and A-Force Audley Harrison. And though Price would like to see a victory for the man he destroyed inside a round last year, the once-beaten contender feels Wilder’s power will be too much for Harrison.

“I’d like to see Audley win but there is the fear factor with Audley and he has a big puncher in front of him,” Price told the Liverpool Echo.

“So I go with the popular bet and say he gets stopped inside five rounds.”

Most people agree, it will be some result for Harrison if he is able to score the upset and derail “The Bronze Bomber.”

Full Report: Estrada wins comeback fight

By Sam Geraci at ringside

In the main event of Sammy Merza and Heavy Hitters Promotions International Rumble III, “King” David Estrada (26-6, 16 KOs) of Chicago, IL, made his return to the ring after a two-year absence to score a hard-fought unanimous decision over a game Rahman Mustafa Yusubov (9-10, 7 KOs) of Dallas, TX. Scores were 60-54 and 59-55 (twice). (more…)

Martinez faces Murray in home game

By Graham Houston

Challenging for a championship away from home is never likely to be easy. Martin Murray discovered this when he went to Germany and came away with a draw against Felix Sturm in a fight that, at home in the U.K., he might well have won. Murray faces an even tougher assignment tonight, though, when the 30–year-old from St. Helens in northwest England ducks between the ropes in Buenos Aires to take on one of the elite fighters of the age, Argentina’s Sergio “Maravilla’ Martinez, for the WBC middleweight title, with TV coverage on HBO.

This, quite simply, is about as daunting a task as it gets for British boxer on foreign soil, with a 38,000 crowd at a soccer stadium roaring its support for Martinez.

The last time a British boxer appeared in a championship fight in Buenos Aires the result was humiliation for the visitor, with Welshman Dai Dower going out like a light in the opening round against Argentina’s great flyweight, Pascual Perez, in 1957. (more…)

Toney 250.4, Browne 257

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Photo: Werner Kalin

James Toney 250.4 vs. Lucas Browne 257
Kevin Johnson 248.6 vs. Solomon Haumono 244.7
Daniel Ammann 197.5 vs. Kane Watts 199.6

Venue: Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Promoter: Mick Gatto, Barry Michael, Brian Amatruda

(more…)

Martinez decisions Herrera

By Rocco Morales at ringside
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

Aron Martinez (19-2-1, 4KO) got back on the winning track with a solid majority decision victory over very tough Alberto Herrera (8-9-1, 5KO) in a scheduled eight round welterweight main event bout. Although one judge saw the fight a draw, Martinez was in control of the bout the entire way and Fightnews agreed with one of the judges who scored it 78-74 in favor of Martinez.

This was a rematch of their April 2011 fight that also went in favor of Martinez, a split decision victory. Also, it was the first fight for Martinez since his decision loss to undefeated contender Jessie Vargas last September. (more…)