Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat

INOUE TO LEAVE FOR VEGAS ON OCT. 18

Unbeaten “The Monster” Naoya Inoue, WBA/IBF bantamweight titleholder, will leave for Las Vegas on October 18 to defend his belts against Aussie Jason Moloney there. Naoya will have to go through a two-week quarantine there prior to his participation. His stablemate, unbeaten 140-pounder Andy Hiraoka (15-0, 10 KOs), a flexible 5’11” ex-track & field player, 24, will also appear on the same show by Top Rank. IBF#15 Andy is the son of a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, is handled by Ohashi Promotions like Naoya. Continue reading “JAPAN UPDATE”

Multiple outlets are reporting that the scheduled October 24 Showtime pay-per-view featuring Gervonta Davis against Leo Santa Cruz is being moved to October 31 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Spectators WILL be allowed to attend the fight. The reason for the move is both to avoid a competing UFC pay-per-view the same day and to generate additional revenue from ticket sales.

The move also means Davis-Santa Cruz would be going head-to-head with ESPN’s scheduled telecast of Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney.

Earlier that same day is the heavyweight bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora in DAZN, so it looks to be a full day of action.

WBA Fedecentro featherweight titlist Dennis “El Martillo” (The Hammer) Contreras (22-10-1, 20 KO) defends his belt against unbeaten Carlos “El Stich” Flores (20-0, 11 KO) tonight as the Fall series of Boxeo Telemundo kicks four straight weeks of boxing.

Contreras won his title in his last fight where he upset Colombian Belmar Preciado this past August on the Boxeo Telemundo summer series. It will be a battle of youth versus experience. Flores will enter with a strong winning mentality having never tasted defeat as a professional. Contreras enters as the veteran having as many knockouts (20) as Flores has professional fights. Continue reading “Contreras returns to Telemundo tonight”

Promoter Eddie has announced on Twitter that he tested positive for coronavirus. He is promoting a show this weekend outside London.

“Gutted to just find out I tested positive for Covid-19 today and have to leave the bubble immediately. Thankfully all other tests were negative. Heading home to rest – catch up tomorrow. Thumbs up.”

Otar “Pitbull” Eransoyan 134 vs. Luis “Purin” Valentin 135
Bryan “The Hunter” Polaco 154 vs. Jonathan “The Lion” Burrs 153
Hairon “El Maja” Socarras 130 vs. Julio “El Halconcito” Buitrago 136
Omar Rosario 144 vs. Matt “Thunder” Gavers 146

Venue: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida (no audience)
Promoter: Tuto Zabala, Jr/All Star Boxing, Inc.
TV: Telemundo Live 12 AM

In the co-feature, unbeaten lightweight sensation Gabriel Flores Jr. will take on Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczweski in a 10-rounder.

At Thursday’s final press conference, here’s what the fighters had to say. Continue reading “Zepeda-Baranchyk final press conference”

Matchroom Boxing has transformed the Marshall Arena at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes (about 50 miles northwest of London) ahead of this Sunday’s show on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The testing of all boxers, their teams and support staff began at the start of the week, with individuals being tested for Coronavirus before being allowed entry into the official hotel bio bubble to participate in the media events. Continue reading “Matchroon unveils new bubble outside London”

This weekend’s featured boxing matchup, the WBC super lightweight eliminator between José “Chon” Zepeda (32-2, 25 KOs) and Ivan Baranchyk (20-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday looks to be almost a 50/50 fight. Oddsmakers now have Baranchyk as a slight -165 favorite, while Zepeda backers can get +145. The odds were virtually even earlier in the week. ESPN+ will televise.

The same night, unbeaten WBC #4, IBF #4, WBA #14 featherweight Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (20-0, 14 KOs) is a 45:1 favorite over Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-2-1, 8 KOs) on FS1.

On Sunday, rising light heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) is a 33:1 pick to successfully defend his WBA International title against undefeated Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs) on DAZN.

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / President of the WBC

It is a reality that today violence is an integral part of young people’s lives.

The common thing is to find violence in any recreational activity. Video games are full of it, shots, snipers, blood gushing, splashing and dripping everywhere. Movies and television series are another immediate means to satisfy that bloodlust thirst for caged aggressiveness in society, and how about the news? Just turn the TV on and it is all violence.

Sports also suffer from this phenomenon. I remember how the NHL, the hockey league of the United States, had to modify its rules so that the television audience, as well as the fans in the arenas, would return to that sport. Continue reading “What matters most? Blood and popularity? Or health and integrity of the athletes?”

Thompson Boxing Promotions will present the next installment of its 3.2.1 boxing series on Sunday, November 1st. The free stream will air on Facebook and YouTube and take place at the Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, CA. In the 8-round main event, super lightweight Michael “The West Texas Warrior” Dutchover (14-1, 10 KOs) will face Manuel “La Tormenta” Mendez (16-7-3, 11 KOs).