Bradley wins war against Provodnikov

By David Robinett and Felipe Leon at ringside
Photo: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Lightning struck twice for Tim Bradley, winning a second consecutive unpopular decision before a small but exhilarated crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, Saturday night on HBO World Championship Boxing. Bradley, (30-0, 12 KOs), and his opponent, unheralded Ruslan Provodnikov, (22-2, 15 KOs), put on a show for the ages, going toe-to-toe throughout the fight in between short stretches of high-stakes cat and mouse. The fight ended with Bradley taking a knee under withering pressure from Provodnikov, but having won enough rounds early to earn a unanimous decision by scores of 114-113, 114-113, and an unfairly wide 115-112 (eight rounds to four). Although the decision was roundly booed at ringside, Bradley did win several rounds and the overall result was not unjust.

The story of the fight was written in round one, and repeated in most of the rounds after. The superior boxer Bradley would briefly control the action with his jab from a safe fighting distance. Provodnikov, applying constant pressure, would coax Bradley into violent exchanges where Bradley often landed more punches, but Provodnikov was landing significantly heavier blows. Provodnikov appeared to have Bradley nearly out on his feet in rounds one and two as the the bell sounded. Bradley was able to box more in rounds three through five before Provodnikov battered Bradley along the ropes again in round six. The action lulled a bit in the middle rounds as Bradley found his boxing rhythm before the fighters went toe-to-toe during long stretches in each of the final four rounds, including a breathtaking final 30 seconds that ended with Bradley on his knee as the round came to a close. Although it was technically a short right hand to the head that put Bradley down, it was really 30 seconds of sustained pressure that simply overwhelmed Bradley.

In the end, a close decision victory for Bradley was not a bad result, but for the second consecutive bout Bradley was clearly the more damaged fighter at the final bell, which probably does nothing to diminish the perception of Bradley as an unworthy victor. Unlike the Pacquiao fight however, there was nothing unworthy about either Bradley or Provodnikov’s performance, which hopefully fight fans will savor long after the controversy fades. (more…)

Marroquin stops Escalante in three

By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside
Photos: Robert Hughes/Top Rank

World rated Featherweight Roberto Marroquin (23-2, 16KO) rebounded in dramatic fashion from his previous fight, a loss to WBA Super Bantamweight World Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux last September, with a devastating KO of veteran Antonio Escalante (28-6, 19KO) at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma Saturday night. Marroquin landed a double jab followed by an overhand right that ended the fight at 49 seconds of the 3rd round.

It was a hotly contested fight early on as the taller Marroquin used his jab to walk down the smaller Escalante, but Escalante was having some success to the body and also landed some combinations to the head of Marroquin. The turning point of the fight, however, came late in the 2nd round when Marroquin appeared to have landed a knockdown with a body shot that was ruled a slip by Referee Jay Nady. Marroquin may have not gotten the call, but he knew he hurt Escalante with that punch.

“Absolutely it was a straight shot to his abs and I knew he was hurt. I followed him but Escalante’s is known to knock out his opponents while he’s hurt so I just stayed alert and focused. Like I was saying, I kept using my jab, you noticed all that damage after the 1st round nothing but jabs that landed in his face.” (more…)

Linares, Periban victorious

Former two-division world champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares (33-3, 21 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over Oxnard, California’s “Dangerous” David Rodela (16-7-3, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

In a clash for the vacant NABF super middleweight belt, unbeaten Marco Antonio Periban (20-0, 13 KOs) scored a second round KO over Samuel Miller (25-7, 22 KOs). Miller was down three times.

In a ten-round jr featherweight bout, recent world title challenger Alberto Guevara (17-1, 6 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over late sub Jose Alfredo Tirado (18-11, 11 KOs). Tirado was down in round five. (more…)

Ngumbu upsets Uzelkov in Kiev

Unheralded light heavyweight Doudou Ngumbu (31-4, 11 KOs) of France by way of Congo won the WBO Inter-Continental 175lb title by beating reigning titleholder and WBO #3, IBF #3, WBA #4 rated Vyacheslav Uzelkov (28-3, 17 KOs) of the Ukraine by unanimous decision on Saturday night at th Sport Palace in Kiev, Ukraine. Uzelkov was very aggressive throughout, but Ngumbu used the aggression against Uzelkov by countering him rushing in. Both fighters were cut. Uzelkov above his right eye and Ngumbu on his left. Multiple clinches throughout but overall a good action fight. Scores were 116-113, 115-113, 115-113. Promoter of the event was Alexander Krassyuk (K2 Promotions Ukraine). WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was looking on from ringside.

Ruben Guerrero: Keepin’ it real

By Jerry Hoffman

Ruben Guerrero, father and trainer of Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, is about as real as it gets. Making noise by design or otherwise to boost “Mayday” at the MGM by challenging Floyd Mayweather Sr. While son Robert takes the high road showing no intimidation yet respect for Floyd Jr., father Ruben will have none of it. He takes bravado to another level, and although part of his schtick is gimmick “The Ghost’s” old man is out to make a name for himself, by being himself. Undefeated as a street fighter and as his son’s trainer, Ruben Guerrero pulls no punches as he shows off his confidence and physicality.

Rafael Marquez Update

By Gabriel F. Cordero

According to medical tests, Mexican two-division world champion Rafael Marquez is suffering from gallstones. Marquez was scheduled to fight IBF bantamweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz on the May 4 Mayweather-Guerrero undercard. A source told Fightnews.com that Marquez has signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions. He was planning to train for the Santa Cruz fight at the Romanza Gym in Mexico City after reuniting with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain, with whom he had spent his entire boxing career except for his last five fights.

Williams stops Namauu

Before a sold out, smartly dressed crowd of nearly 500, the Marconi Foundation For Kids Fight Night 15 saw a night of spectacular boxing action and upsets at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, California.

In a Roy Englebrecht Promotions show, the three bout card saw Detroit cruiserweight Mitch Williams take home the Marconi Championship Belt with a big second round knockout out of Vegas’s Henry Namauu. After an opening round of action, Williams caught Namauu with a big right hand that sent the former UNLV football player to the canvas. Up at eight but looking dazed, Namauu tried to finish the round but Williams caught him again against the rope and after five or six unanswered blows referee Raul Caiz Jr wisely waved the fight over. Williams moved to 7-2 with 5kos and Namauu drops to 10-6. (more…)

Johnson shocks Trupish

An upset in Vancouver last night as two-time Olympian and previously undefeated Adam Trupish (11-1 8KO) was stopped at 2:22 of the 7th round, losing to late substitute Dashon Johnson (14-10-3 5KO). The American snapped a six fight losing streak (all by decision) was able to score a knockdown earlier in the fight in the second round and the go on to land a decisive series of right hands over a slumped over Trupish in the 7th, forcing the referee to step in and stop the action.

Heavyweight Jamie Walton (6-4-2) had an easy time with two knockdowns of Mariusz Zastawny (0-2) and scoring a KO victory at 1:56 of the opening round. Alisah McPhee swept a five round matchup with Wendy Roy, winning 50-45 on all three cards.

Filipino Maxian dethrones Saito

Report by Joe Koizumi
Photo by Boxing Beat

Unheralded Filipino Joe Maxian (8-2, 6 KOs), 135, surprisingly captured the WBC youth lightweight belt as he was far behind on points and then scored a fine come-from-behind knockout over defending champ Tsukasa Saito (16-2, 11 KOs), 135, at 2:48 of the seventh round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The light-punching but fast-moving Japanese Saito was controlling the contest with his speed and skills against the slower flat-footed Filipino challenger. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated: all 39-37 in favor of Saito, a year his senior at 22. But Maxian, like a magician, showed a trick with his furious and ferocious retaliation in the fatal session. Saito badly hit the deck to be unable to beat the count. Rex Walker, the chairman of the WBC youth championship committee from Texas, was in attendance at the Hall.
Promoter: Katsumata Promotions.

Bradley planning to pound Provodnikov tonight

By Karl Freitag
Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

The aftertaste of his controversial win over Manny Pacquiao is still bitter for WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley. “I don’t get any credit after the Pacquiao fight, whatsoever,” says Bradley, who will return to the ring tonight for the first time since dethroning Pacman nine months ago when he defends his belt against Ruslan Provodnikov at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Caliiornia.

Timothy feels the fans, the press, the WBO, even his promoter haven’t given him the credit he deserves for beating Pacquiao. “People talk about me, my style, that I’m boring. Some people talk about my wife, my kids. People sent me death threats after the fight because I won undeservingly. I should have given the belt back. A lot of different things went on. I can talk all day about things that people said about me. But it doesn’t matter – none of these people are going to get in the ring with me. People can say whatever they want – it is a free country – so I am going to say whatever I want, when I want to say it and how I want to say it. Those people don’t know me at all. If you get to know me, if you know what I go through, how I train and you still talk crap about me, then you have the problem. No one knows what I go through to prepare for my fights. People need to sell papers I guess. I am the nicest guy you will ever meet on the street, ever!” (more…)

Weights from Lowell, Massachusetts

Joey McCreedy 173 vs. Michael Walchuk 173
Osumanu Adama 160.5 vs. Grady Brewer 158.5
Vivian Harris 146 vs. Shakka Moore 146.5
Chris Traietti 184.5 vs. Tyler Seever 174.5
Eddie Caminero 155 vs. Russell Lamour 160
Boban Simic 228.5 vs. Tyler King TBA

Venue: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA
Promoter: Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion
Tickets: $42, $77 (floor) and $102

Cruz demolishes Martinez in six

Photos: Scott Foster

WBO #1 featherweight Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) impressively took apart Aalan Martinez (14-2-1, 10 KOs) in a sixth round KO win on Friday night at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Southpaw Cruz scored a flash knockdown in round one when Martinez was held up by the ropes after taking a straight left. The much shorter and quicker Cruz battered Martinez to a knee in round four with a barrage of punches and then put him down again in round five with a spectacular uppercut. Martinez got some extra time to recover in the fifth after absorbing a low blow. Cruz finished Martinez with another knockdown in the sixth. Time was 1:19.

The first active boxer ever to declare in public he was “a proud gay man,” Cruz retained his WBO Latino featherweight belt as he continued his path toward a world title shot. (more…)

Manfredo Jr. Defeats Wright

Ringside Report By Scott Ploof
Photo: Emily Harney

Former IBO super middleweight title holder, three time world title challenger, and one of the two finalists in the very first season of “The Contender”, Peter “The Pride of Providence” Manfredo Jr. (39-7, 20 KOs) defeated another “Contender” alum from season two, Walter “2 Guns” Wright (14-4, 7 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision in the main event of “Unfinished Business” on Friday night from the Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, RI. Scores of the bout were 98-93, 97-93, and 100-90. Wright, who took the fight on two weeks notice, was hurt badly in round two when his left eye was almost swollen shut. As the fight progressed, Manfredo Jr. continued to punish the bad eye of Wright. Wright at times was able to effectively counter Manfredo, but those opportunities were few and far between. Wright was able to hang in the fight, but he was only able to see out of only one eye. In the end Manfredo Jr. was able to out-land and out-work Wright, especially in the final rounds of the fight which gave him the nod. (more…)

Gonzalez scores spectacular KO over Bryant

By Phil Doherty at ringside
Photos: Angel Rodriguez-Valdes

Undefeated Cuban light heavyweight Yunieski Gonzalez (11-0, 7 KOs) closed the show in spectacular fashion during his scheduled ten-round main event against Rowland Bryant (16-3, 11 KOs) at The Seminole Hard Rock Live. Gonzalez landed a picture-perfect chopping right hand to separate Bryant from his senses in what had been a thrilling back-and-forth display of power punching between both men. Gonzalez drew first blood in the second round with a thudding left hook to open a cut over Bryant’s right eye. Bryant returned the favor in the third with a straight right that left Gonzalez bleeding profusely from his left eye.

Round seven proved to be the round of the night with furious left hooks scoring from Bryant, one of which reverberated throughout the arena. Gonzalez weathered the shots well and mounted a concerted counterattack to close out the round.

No one expected what happened next. (more…)

Yorgey takes split decision over Kennedy

In a fight reduced from eight to six rounds, middleweight Harry Joe Yorgey (26-2-1, 12) won a split decision against Julius Kennedy (7-4-1, 3 KOs) on Friday night at the Valley Forge Convention Center in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Kennedy pressured and battered Yorgey on the ropes early, but Harry Joe came on strong in the last two rounds. Scores were 58-56 Kennedy, 58-56 for Yorgey and an appalling 60-54, also for Yorgey.

Unbeaten lightweight Naim “The Dream” Nelson (10-0, 1 KO) outboxed Georgi Kevlishvili (12-5, 3 KOs) over eight one-sided rounds. Scores were 80-72, 79-73, 80-72.

Lightweight Tevin Farmer (9-4-1, 1 KOs) won a six rounder over Esteban Rodriguez (6-6-1. 1 KO) by scores of 60-54 on all cards.

Muriqi gets past Vazquez

Former light heavyweight contender Elivr “The Kosovo Kid” Muriqi (40-5, 24 KOs) struggled with seemingly overmatched Paul Vasquez (9-3-1, 3 KOs) taking an unpopular majority decision on Friday night at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany, New Jersey. Not an impressive showing for Muriqi, whose last fight was 15 months ago, as he was punished by Vazquez late. Scores were 76-76, 77-75, 77-75.

Heavyweights John Lennox (11-2, 5 KOs) and Patrick “Paddy Boy” Farrell (8-2-1, 4 KOs) traded shots for six good action rounds with Lennox emerging a split decision winner. Scores were 59-55, 58-56 Lennox, 58-56 Farrell.

Weights from Thackerville, Oklahoma

Photo: Robert Hughes/Top Rank

Robert Marroquin 128.2 vs. Antonio Escalante 128.8
Abie Han 159 vs. Brandon Baue 161.5
Alex Saucedo 149.5 vs. Norman Allen 149
Haskell Rhodes 140.75 vs. Travis Hartman 146.25
Bo Gibbs, Jr. 169 vs. Rich Cherry 177
Tony Lopez 120.75 vs. Manuel Rubalcava 122
Dennis Knifechief 154 vs. Rolando Garcia 152

Venue: WinStar Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: UniMas

Bradley, Provodnikov make weight

Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Timothy Bradley 146.6 vs. Ruslan Provodnikov 146.6
(WBO welterweight championship)
Jessie Vargas 146.6 vs. Wale Omotoso 146.8
Andy Ruiz Jr 246 vs. Matthew Greer 240
Jesse Magdaleno 123.4 vs. Carlos Fulgencio 123.6
Oscar Valdez 128 vs. Jose Morales 137.8
Gabino Saenz 126 vs. Cesar Valenzuela 125

Venue: Home Depot Center, Carson, California
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: HBO

Update: Oscar Valdez will now face Carlos Gonzalez (128), after original opponent Jose Morales was way overweight.

photos

McDermott avenges 2005 loss to Skelton

In a rematch, “Big Bad John” McDermott (28-8, 18 KOs) defeated former world title challenger Matt Skelton (28-8, 23 KOs) in a sloppy ten-round unanimous decision on Friday night at York Hall in London. Scores were 97-93, 97-94, 97-94. With the win, the 33-year-old McDermott claimed the vacant BBBofC English heavyweight title. The 46-year-old Skelton had previously scored a :79 second KO over McDermott in December 2005.

Unbeaten Ahmet Patterson (8-0, 2 KOs) oupointed Max Maxwell (16-16-3, 3 KOs) over eight. The score was 80-72.

Weights from Cancun

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Marco Antonio Periban 165 vs Samuel Miller 165
(Vacant NABF super middleweight title)
Jorge Linares 135 vs David Rodela 135
Arely Valente 111 vs Yesenia Gomez 109
(WBC Youth female flyweight title)

Venue: Oasis Covention Center
Promoter: Cancun Boxing/Pepe Gomez and Golden Boy Promotions
TV: Televisa (Mexico) and Fox Sports (USA)

photos

WBA & IBF meet in Panama City

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza and IBF President Daryl Peoples were both in attendance at the Hard Rock Hotel & Cafe Megapolis in Panama for the weigh-in of Saturday’s world title twinbill featuring fights sanctioned by their respective organizations. Mendoza and Peoples chatted amicably about different future plans for the sport’s growth and sketched some ideas to maintain the sport’s popularity.

Former two-division champ Roberto “La Araña” Vasquez meets John Mark Apolinario for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight belt and IBF light flyweight champ John Riel Casimero faces mandatory challenger Luis Rios.

Weights from Panama City

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Roberto Vasquez 118 vs John Mark Apolinario 117.
(Vacant WBA interim bantamweight title)

Luis Rios 108 vs John Riel Casimero 107.
(IBF light flyweight title)

Azael Cosio 146 vs. Jose David Mosquera 145
Javier Coronado 126 vs. Oscar Escandon 125
Fredy Pengally 118 vs. Julio Escudero 116
Jose Forero 124 vs. Mauricio Martinez 125
Jose Miguel Torres 160 vs. Javier Gonzalez 159
Jhonatan Ricar 165 vs. Julius Jackson 165 1/2
Rodrigo Waldo 165 vs. Israel Duffus 165

Venue: Megapolis Convetion Center
Promoter: Sampson Boxing LLC & Best Box
TV: Sky, TyC Sports and TV Max

Donaire weighs in on Mayweather-Guerrero.

By Jerry Hoffman

Northern California is blessed with two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters in Andre Ward and Nonito Donaire. Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero is hoping to crack that list with a shocking upset over Floyd Mayweather on May 4. Donaire thinks Floyd is in for the shock of his life.

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.