Sharp and Allan draw again

By Brett Bonetti

Boxing returned at Perth Metro City tonight for the first time since June 2003 as Dragonfire Promotions presented “Thunderdome” in front of a packed house and put on a fantastic event for the fans. In the main event for the vacant WA State middleweight title, Luke “Razor” Sharp (5-0-2) and Jeremy “The Anvil” Allan (8-12-4) battled to a majority draw… again. More plus photos…

It’s On: Pascal vs. Bute

DeGale-Brand postponed

Hennessy Sports has announced that the upcoming WBC Silver title fight between James DeGale MBE and Alexander Brand on the 23rd March at Glow, Bluewater in Kent has been postponed. Hennessy Sports would like to apologise to everyone that this unfortunate and unavoidable situation has affected. Hennessy Sports and James DeGale will be issuing a statement in the coming days regarding the rescheduled date and the situation regarding tickets for this exciting encounter between these two world class fighters. Please note that the original tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled date.

Bradley heavily favored over Provodnikov

Unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley is a -800 favorite to retain his world title against challenger Ruslan Provodnikov on Saturday night on HBO according to odds posted at bet365.com. Provodnikov backers can get +500.

The TV opener, a clash of unbeaten welterweights, is much tighter with Jesse Vargas favored at -200, while Wale Omotoso is +163.

Stiverne: Arreola fight is personal

“This fight with Arreola became personal for me after the postponement,” says WBC #2 heavyweight Bermane Stiverne, who finally faces #1 Chris Arreola in a WBC eliminator after several delays. “I’ve been going back and forth for so long waiting for this fight to happen that I’m now taking this personally. Time spent with my friends and family has been taken away from me, so it’s good he and I are finally going to get it on in Southern California on April 27.”

Stiverne admits that Arreola is a tough customer, but says he’s noticed something. “I have noticed that all of his opponents seem to fight the same way. They come into the ring with great intentions before falling into his traps. They have a game plan but they seem to forget. They follow the plan for a few rounds and then they let him take over. I will not do that. I’m bringing my ax to the fight and I’m going to chop the tree down.”

Marquez: No fifth fight with Pacquiao

Welterweight superstar Juan Manuel Marquez says he has ruled out a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao. “There’s no reason for a fifth fight against Pacquiao. It was clear (who is the best), the goal we had we’ve already achieved. There is no longer anything pending, it’s all finalized and for it to happen it would have to be the last option,” Marquez said. He named Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios as possible opponents if he decides not to retire. He also ruled out a move to super welterweight to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September.

Williams annihilates Lugo

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

Boxing returned to Florentine Gardens in Hollywood, California on Thursday night as the Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing started off the 2013 boxing season. In the main event, welterweight Terrell Williams (10-0, 9 KOs) wasted no time in taking out veteran Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-18-1, 5 KOs). Williams landed a devastating left hook that decked Lugo. Shortly after, Williams continued his attack and landed a left uppercut that sent Lugo to the canvas once again as referee Lou Moret stepped in to stop the fight at 1:56 of the opening round. (more…)

Weights from Whippany, NJ

Elvir Muriqi 174.3 vs. Paul Vasquez 174.3
Patrick Farrell 215.2 vs. John Lennox 227.5
Vinny O’Brien 145.2 vs. Anthony Smith 146
Anthony Young 145.9 vs. Ronnie Jordan 141
Ricky Edwards 135.9 vs. Moses Molina 132.7
Danny Gonzalez 143.5 vs. Carlos Nieves 145.5
Glenford Nickey Jr. 133.7 vs. Anolan Rigal 129.8

Venue: Birchwood Manor
Promoters: GH3 Promotions / Greg Cohen Promotions
1st bell : 7:30 pm est

Japan Update

Report and Photo by Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten WBC female 105-pound champ Naoko Fujioka (10-0, 6 KOs), 112, impressively disposed of WBC#15 light-fly Maribel Ramirez (8-5-2, 3 KOs), 109.5, at 1:30 of the fourth session of a non-title eight on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Fujioka, ex-amateur titlist now at 37, had the upper hand on the younger Mexican, whipping her with sharper combinations to drop her with a vicious left hook midway in round four. Fujioka accelerated her attack, floored her to the ropes and then finally halted her with the referee’s intervention. OPBF female lightweight champ Raika Fujin (25-7-1, 10 KOs), 132.25, defeated Mexican Cristina Sanchez (5-4, no KO), 132.5, by a unanimous decision (79-74 twice ad 80-74) over eight. Cristina fought well in the outset, but Raika was in command by a clearer margin down the stretch.

WBA bantam champ Koki Kameda, a Japanese southpaw, was originally slated to defend his belt against #8 Yonfrez Parejo of Venezuela in Osaka on April 7, but Kameda Promotions announced on Tuesday that he would take on #6 Juan Carlos Pajano of Dominican Republic instead because of Parejo’s inconvenience on business. However, it was again reported yesterday (Thursday) that Kameda would face another challenger than Pajano due to his expected visa problem. It is just three weeks away, and who will be the challenger against Koki?

March and April will witness many national title bouts in the Canival of Champions where our champs will be obliged to defend their belts against mandatory challengers. We now realize there are many national titlists in so many categories.

Weights from Minnesota

By Jesse Kelley

Weights from Hinckley, MN
Cerresso Fort 165 vs. Dennis Sharpe 163
RJ Laase 144.5 vs. James Wayka 143
Aaron Green 278 vs. Raymond Ochieng 254
Van Goodman 252 vs. Ray Edwards 255
Winston Anderson 137.5 vs. Branden Cluever 140
David Laque 145 vs. Kurtis Erhorn 145
Venue: Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN
Promoter: RDS Boxing

Weights from Duluth, MN
Al Sands 198 vs. Chris Thomas 196
Brad Herroff 124 vs Bobby Connors (Will weigh in later tonight)
Venue: Grandma’s Sports Garden
Promoter: Jungle Boy Promotions

Boxing Buzz

Derek Chisora, who spat water at Wladimir Klitschko and brawled with David Haye at a press conference, says he has no regrets over his actions last year. More

Former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes has returned home following two days in the hospital for high blood sugar. More

A movement to ban headgear in amateur boxing has begun by the International Boxing Association (AIBA). More

Former champ Rafael Marquez has pulled out of a May 4 fight against Leo Santa Cruz due to gallstone surgery.

Periban-Miller new main event; no TV for Linares

With the pull-out of Pablo Cesar Cano against Manny Perez (as reported yesterday), Saturday’s new FOX Deportes main event will be a clash for the vacant NABF super middleweight belt between unbeaten Marco Antonio Periban (19-0, 12 KOs) and Samuel Miller (25-6, 22 KOs) at the Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Strangely, an undercard bout between former two-division world champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares and Oxnard’s “Dangerous” David Rodela (16-7-3, 7 KOs) didn’t get bumped up to the co-feature, and instead we’ll get a ten-round jr featherweight bout between recent world title challenger Alberto Guevara (16-1, 6 KOs) and late sub Jose Alfredo Tirado (18-10, 11 KOs), who is stepping in to replace Jesus Jimenez after Jimenez was too far off weight.

In other non-televised undercard action, the nephew of former world champion Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (7-0, 5 KOs) faces Aaron Olivares (6-3, 2 KOs), and 2012 United States Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (2-0, 1 KO) will face Alberto Cupido (7-7-2, 6 KO’s) in a six-round junior featherweight match-up.

Weights from Perth Australia

By Brett Bonetti

Jeremy Allan 159.6 vs Luke Sharp 159.0
(WA State middleweight title)
Jeremy Van Diemen 172.6 vs Xavier Lucas 174.2
Matt Garlett 129.9 vs Weng Heya 129.9
Willie Kickett 142.6 vs Manopnoi Singmanasak 139.6
John Squillace 201.9 vs Shaun Collins 201.3
Jamie Weetch 159.4 vs Sam Hogan 157.6
Brandon Ogilvie 141.1 vs Nuengiam Kiatsonsang 138.7
Andrew Green 175.9 vs Kashif Mumtaz 178.8
Mike Reid 146.2 vs Sahlan Coral 146.4

Tickets to Thunderdome are available at http://metrocity.oztix.com.au/?Event=33606

Weights from Vancouver

By Lev Jackson

Adam Trupish 157 vs. Dashon Johnson 160
Jamie Walton 202 vs. Mariusz Zastawny 209
Alisah McPhee 124 vs. Wendy Roy 125

Salinas back in action

By Robert Coster

Rising Cuban featherweight IBF #10 Yoandris Salinas (20-0-1, 13 KOs) will be stepping into the ring for the first time this year when he meets up with Dominican Luis Hinojosa (22-7, 14 KOs) on March 23rd in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The bout will be the 10 round main event of the night and Salinas is expected to be tested by Hinojosa, a boxer who hasn’t lost a fight in 5 years and is currently on a roll of 21 straight victories.

Yoandris, a former Cuban amateur star, had this to say about his upcoming rival: “I’ve heard that Hinojosa is a tough customer plus he will have the crowd in his corner. No problem–I welcome a good fight and I love to beat a guy in his own backyard.”

On the same card, fellow Cuban Inocente Fiz (15-0, 10 KOs) will cross gloves with veteran Jose Vidal Soto (24-13, 14 KOs) in the Jr middleweight division while heavyweight prospect Yasmany Consuegra (12-0) will go against a local opponent. Also on the card promoted by Domini Boxing (Papin Lantigua) will be four Puerto Rican boxers brought over from the neighboring island by Miguel Cotto Promotions.

Weights From Colorado

By Chris Morris/Rocky Mountain Boxing

Hugo Arceo 239 vs. George Ashauer 250
Elan Simon 127 vs. Martin Quezada 127.4
Rudy ‘Phatsoe’ Zapata 239 vs. Juan Ramos 213
Nick Bushman 145 vs. Antonio Diaz 146
Raquel Pennington 135.4 vs. DJ Morrison 132.8
Daniel Calzada 145 vs. Terry Butterbaugh 146

Venue: Denver Athletic Club
Promoter: Poor Boys Pro Boxing
Time: First Bell at 7:30/Tickets: Sold Out
Matchmaker: Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith

Results from Tijuana

By Felipe Leon
Photos: Renzo Novara

Celebrating his thirtieth year as a promoter and sixtieth of life, Guillermo Mayen along with his crew of Mayen Promotions returned to the Las Pulgas nightclub for his second show of the year and was joined by a sold out crowd of slightly over one thousand Tijuana, Mexico, boxing fans last night. In typical Tijuana fashion, the night was shock full of local cross border talent in twelve bouts. In the main event, super bantamweight Baja California state champion Edivaldo “Indio” Ortega (16-0-1, 8KOs) of Tijuana, climbed four pounds north and survived a knockdown to eventually stop via a controversial TKO Mexicali, Mexico’s Jose Guadalupe “Lupillo” Tapia (7-7, 3KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, in a scheduled ten rounder. (more…)

Arreola-Stiverne Ticket Alert

Tickets for the rescheduled April 27 WBC heavyweight eliminator between Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs) and Bermane Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, will be priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus fees, and will go on sale this Saturday, March 16 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena Box-Office (open Monday-Saturday) or online at AXS.com or call AXS at 888-929-7849. The winner guaranteed to immediately fight for the world championship.

Weights from Kissimmee, Florida

Photos: All Star Boxing

Orlando Cruz 126.5 vs. Aalan Martinez 126
(WBO Latin featherweight title)
Alexei Collado 136 vs. Juan Jose Beltran 129
Leonardo Sanchez 124.8 vs. Carlos Lacayo 126.4
Jordan Wiesfeld 146.2 vs. Rikardo Smith 145.6
Phillip Penson 173.4 vs. Adrian Redmond 169.8
Angel Albelo 128.4 vs. Adrian Perez 129.4
Craig Duncan 166.2 vs. John Cochcroft 163
Luis Olivares 140.6 vs. Victor Vega 141.2

Venue: Kissimmee Civic Center Kissimmee, Florida
Promoter: All Star Boxing, Inc., “The New Generation” & Felix “Tuto” Zabala, Jr.
TV: Telemundo Main Event Live @ 11:35 PM (ET)
Time: Doors Open @ 7:30 PM/First Fight 8:00 PM
Matchmaker: Ruben De Jesus
Tickets: 407-935-1412

photos

Viva Mexico media day

Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

Undefeated Mexican fighters Jessie Vargas, Andy Ruiz, Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno pose during media day in Los Angeles for their upcoming feature fights on the undercard of the Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. vs Ruslan Provodnikov. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Banner Promotions, Tecate, Bradley-Provodnikov will take place Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson,Calif. and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

More photos…

Panama world title twinbill Saturday

By Gabriel F. Cordero

This Saturday in Panama City, former two-division world champion Roberto “La Araña” Vasquez (32-5-1, 22 KOs) and Filipino John Mark Apolinario (17-2-2, 4 KOs) will dispute the vacant WBA interim bantamweight world title in a rematch.

“I’m ready to win this fight,” said Apolinario. “The first fight I had slight advantage. This time I hope to win clearly. I’m in good conditions. We’re on another continent but my boxing and confidence will give me the victory.”

Vazquez stated, “In the ring I’m better than Apolinario. I have a lot of experience and I’ve faced the best. This time there’s a lot to gain and we are in my country. I’m ready for big fights and I’m one of the best in this division.”

On the same night IBF light flyweight world champion John Riel Casimero (17-2, 10 KOs) will defend his crown against mandatory challenger Luis Rios (18-1-1, 13 KOs). (more…)

Weights from Twin River

Peter Manfredo Jr. 168.5 vs. Walter Wright 170
Joe Gardner 167 vs. Reynaldo Rodriguez 167
Thomas Falowo 162 vs. Julio Garcia 170
Emmanuel Medina 164 vs. Benny Costantino 164
Paul Gonsalves 173.5 vs. Kevin Cobbs 173.5
Patryk Szymanski 147.5 vs. Antonio Chaves Fernandes 147.5
Vanessa Greco 115.5 vs. Noemi Bosques 113.5

Venue: Twin River Casino, Lincoln, R.I.
Promoter: Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports

Tyson Fury-Steve Cunningham heats up

By Karl Freitag

Heavyweights Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham appeared Thursday at a press conference at Jack Demsey’s Restaurant in New York City to promote their scheduled twelve-round clash on April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City is an official IBF heavyweight voluntary eliminator for the #2 position.

Tyson Fury: This is a heavyweight vs. a light heavyweight. No disrespect to Steve, because he’s probably the best opponent I’ve ever faced, a former world champion and I’ve never faced a world champion before. But, I’m a man on a mission and I mean business…I’m gonna retire you Steve. You lost your last fight to Tomasz Adamek, but let’s face it, Tomasz Adamek ain’t Tyson Fury. You’re both light heavyweights. You’re both small guys compared to me. I think this is a ‘three-hit’ fight. I hit him, he hits the floor, Tyson Fury hits New York….I’m just wondering if the bottom of Steve’s boots have been sponsored, because as there’s gonna be a lot of people watching around the world, I’d like to out my Twitter account on the bottom of them so I can get more fans on Twitter. And I was wondering how much it would cost me to sponsor if they haven’t haven’t already been.

Steve Cunningham: Here’s what we have here. I grew up in Philadelphia right? I grew up right at the cusp of kids, from fist fighting to guns. I was a streetfighter. That’s what I did. I enjoyed fighting way before I stepped in the gym. I started boxing at 19. All of this happened when I was 13, 14. Back then there’s a code and it still runs through the streets today, and that’s the guys who talk a lot, they’re chumps. You can talk all this sponsor shit, Twitter, that ain’t gonna help you on April 20th. You can talk all that you want. The only reason this dude is winning fights is because he’s big. Shrink him down to 6’2, 6’3, 6’4, he’s garbage.

Video streaming by Ustream

Boxing Buzz

According to matchmaker Ron Katz, with ‏Gabe Rosado deciding to take J’Leon Love instead of Delvin Rodriguez, he’s pitching Freddy Hernandez-Rodriguez for ESPN.

Lester Bedford, who has been involved with nearly every major boxing event in Texas over the last few decades, has announced the signing of WBA #3 world ranked jr. middleweight Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (31-3, 21 KOs). “It will be my pleasure to represent him in his quest to become a world champion,” said Bedford.

Bedford also said undefeated Adam Lopez (5-0) getting back into action on March 23 in San Antonio and April 13 in Corpus Christi.

Woodhouse confronts troll on talkshow

Shamed Twitter troll makes humbling apology on live TV to former British lightweight champion Curtis Woodhouse. The troll cyber-bullied Woodhouse for months prompting the fighter to track him down using social media in a way that has made Woodhouse (@woodhousecurtis) a worldwide internet legend.