Trout, Canelo make weight

Photos: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Austin Trout 153.25 vs. Saul Alvarez 153.5
(WBC/WBA super welter unification)

Omar Figueroa 134.5 vs. Abner Cotto 133.5

Julian Williams 156.75 vs. Dashon Johnson 156.75
Jermall Charlo 154.25 vs. Orlando Lora 154.25
Terrell Gausha 164.5 vs. William Walters 163.75

Venue: The Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: Showtime
More weights and photos…

Arthur stops Ciampa

Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian light heavyweight Dennis “King Arthur” Arthur (5-2,4 KOs) stopped Frank Ciampa (10-20) in round five of a scheduled ten round bout at the Tattersalls Club, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Friday. Referee Alan Moore crowned Arthur at 1.03. Arthur, 26 years, is scheduled to clash with Tim Kanofski on July 13 at the Matrix Gym, Southport.

In supporting cruiserweight bout Josh Webb ( 2-2,2 KOs) stopped Shane Wood (1-2) in round two of a scheduled four. Referee Tony Kettlewell crowned Webb at 1.21.

Yao Yi Ma victorious

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian based Taiwanese 154 pound Yao Yi Ma (12-1, 8KOs) scored a second round knockout over Filipino Joel De La Cruz (17-17-2, 7KOs) in a scheduled eight round main event at the Entertainment Centre Hurstville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on Friday. Referee Gary Dean crowned Yao Yi Ma at 2.0 of the second. Both Joel De La Cruz and Yao Yi Ma have been based in Australia for several years.

Super middleweight Kurt Bahram (12-4-1, 5KOs) stopped Marlon Toby (2-26-1) at 2.06 of round three.

Big punching super middleweight Bilal
Akkawy (7-0, 6KOs) outscored Eddie Lenart (0-4) over six rounds.
Scores 60-54, 60-54, 60-54.

Heavyweight Thomas Peato (1-0) scored a six round split decision over David Levi (2-3).
Scores 59-55,59-56 and 56-58.

Former Australian amateur champion Steve Lovett (7-0, 5KOs) scored a shutout four round decision over Torin Rophia (0-1) in a light heavyweight contest by scores 40-36, 40-36, 40-35. Lovett trained by Graham Shaw who also trains IBF middleweight champion
Daniel Geale.

New foe named for Devon Alexander

Promoter Eddie Hearn says IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander will now face Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KOs), who is currently rated IBF #4, on May 18 in Atlantic City. Purdy will step in for stablemate Kell Brook, who pulled out of the fight with an injury. Alexander-Brook had been postponed three times, twice due to injuries to Brook, once due to an injury to Alexander. Hearn also said Brook will remain #1 mandatory challenger with the IBF.

DKP defaults, Sauerland to promote Huck-Afolabi III

It’s official. The WBO have defaulted Don King Productions today and awarded the rights to promote Huck vs. Afolabi III to Sauerland Event. They will announce date and venue shortly. At a WBO purse bid in February, King’s bid of $1,500,000 easily outpriced Huck’s promoter Sauerland ($914,000) and Afolabi’s promoter K2 ($375,000), but as has happened in other fights, such as Arreola-Stiverne, DKP didn’t follow through.

More on Top Rank signing #1 welter Carlos Abregu

On April 16th, Fightnews.com reported that top welterweight Carlos “El Potro” Abregu had signed with Top Rank.

Below is the official announcement:

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum announced today that the WBC #1-rated welterweight contender Carlos “El Potro” Abregu had signed an exclusive contract with Top Rank. Abregu, one of the division’s most exciting fighters, will make his Top Rank and his 2013 debut Next Saturday! April 27. He’ll be facing Top-Five contender Antonin Decarie, in Buenos Aires, in a 12-round welterweight bout for the vacant WBC Silver Championship. The Abregu vs. Decarie rumble will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, as part of a tripleheader which will also feature the Sergio Martinez vs. Martin Murray WBC middleweight title fight, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

“We are delighted to have Carlos as part of our Top Rank group of fighters. He is a good, strong welterweight who will perform at the highest level against top competition,” said Arum.

Abregu (34-1, 28 KOs), from Salta, Argentina, is a two-time South American welterweight champion. He enters this fight riding a two-year, five-bout winning streak with all five victories coming by way of knockout. In his last fight, on October 27, he knocked out previously undefeated contender Thomas Dulorme in the seventh round of their HBO-televised bout.

Decarie (34-1, 28 KOs), of Laval, Québec, Canada, is world-rated #5 by the WBC.

Weights from London

Photos: Eroll Popova / SES Boxing

WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly weighed-in just under the limit at 174 lbs and mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi came lighter at 173 lbs for their big fight tomorrow night at Wembley Arena.

WBO European Lightweight Champion Liam Walsh hit the scales at 134.5 lbs with challenger and former two-time WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison coming in at 134.5 lbs.

Paul Butler was 114.5 lbs for his Commonwealth super flyweight title challenge against the champion Yaqub Kareem who came in at 114 lbs. (more…)

Video: Floyd Mayweather open media workout

Video by Mary Ann Owen

Floyd Mayweather works out with his uncle/trainer Roger Mayweather at the Mayweather Gym during the Las Vegas Media Day.

Weights from San Diego

Report and photos by Felipe Leon

Emmanuel Robles 142 vs. Joshua Marks 140.5
David Barragan 152 vs. Moses Alvizo 151.5
Jonathan Quiroz 110 vs. Javier Barragan 112
Aracely Tinoco 115 vs. Guadalupe Gutierrez 115
Erick Ituarte 128 vs. Pablo Batres 132

Venue: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Promoter: Bobby D. Presents
1st Bell: 7:30pm
Tickets: SanDiegoFights.com or (619) 420-8866 photos

Capparello defeats Olivera

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Photos: Werner Kalin

Classy southpaw light heavyweight Blake Capparello (16-0-1, 6 KOs) scored a shutout twelve round decision over Jorge Rodriguez Olivera (24-7, 12 KOs) at the Croation Club at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on Thursday. The skilful 6.1″ Aussie controlled the action in all the rounds as he connected with accurate right jabs and solid left crosses on the 5.10″Uruguayan opponent to capture the PABA 175 pound title by scores 120-108, 120-108, 120-108. Caparello looks destined for international recognition and holds wins over Americans Arron Pryor Jr, Dante Craig and Kevin Engel.

New Zealand light heavyweight Robert Berridge (18-1-1, 14 KOs) stopped Serge Yannick (15-3, 7 KOs) in round eight. Referee Tony Maretta crowned Berridge at 1.25 of round eight after Yannick visited the canvas twice. Berridge only loss is to Blake Capparello. Yannick was also stopped in 2012 by IBO world super middleweight champion Thomas Oosthuizen. (more…)

Interview: Don Chargin

Video by Jerry Hoffman

Hall of Fame Promoter Don “War a Week” Chargin weighs in on the feud between Top Rank and Golden Boy.

Video: Robert Guerrero open media workout

Video by Mary Ann Owen

Robert The Ghost Guerrero and his trainer/father Rubin at the open media work out in Las Vegas on April 16.

Mijares-Terrazas Press Conference in Mexico City

By Gabriel F. Cordero
Photos: Alma Montiel

Former WBC world champion Cristian “Diamante” Mijares and top contender Victor “Vikingo” Terrazas both sounded confident at Thursday’s press conference in Mexico City in advance of Saturday’s showdown for the vacant WBC super bantamweight title at the New Mexico City Arena. The card is presented by Zanfer Promotions and broadcast on UniMas and TV Azteca.

Mijares: “I know that I have an advantage in terms of my experience. I’m happy to have the possibility of being champion again, but I’m facing a fighter who will bring it and wants to win, so it’ll be a war for both of us and the best man will win,”

Terrazas: “As Cristian already said, it’ll be a war, but this is my time. I’ve overcome a lot to be able to fight for a world title and now that I have that opportunity I’m going to make my dream come true. He has his qualities, but I have mine.”

The undercard is absolutely leaded with Top Rank middleweight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (24-0, 19 KOs) against Dionisio Miranda (22-8-2, 19 KOs), plus a trio of boricuas including former world Juan Manuel “Juanma” López (32-2, 29 KOs), Jonathan ‘Bomba’ González (12-0-1, 11 KOs) and McJoe Arroyo (14-1, 12 KOs) in action in separate bouts. photos

Boxing Buzz

While Juan Manual Marquez is telling the press that he will next face Timothy Bradley, the undefeated Bradley’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, is begging to differ.

What happens when a light-heavyweight champ is given at mini-skirt to wear at a press conference? One with “The Princess” embroidered? Payback via knockout! Nathan Cleverly talks to The Telegraph.

Boxing returns to historic Brooklyn: More

Weights from Philadelphia

Photo: John Disanto / www.phillyboxinghistory.com

Dhafir Smith 175.5 vs. Anthony Caputo Smith 176.25
DeCarlo Perez 155.75 vs. Julius Kennedy 156.5
Damon Allen 137.5 vs. Joseph Ahaamid 137
Julio DeJesus 139.25 vs. Ariel Dura 139
Arthur Parker 125.25 vs. Drew Aguillar 125

Venue: Harrahs Philadelphia
Promoter : Joey Eye Boxing & David Feldman
1st bell: 7:30 pm est

Weights from Hermosillo

Photo: Rafael Soto/Zanfer

Hernán Márquez 115.5 vs. Edgar Jímenez 116.5
Alan Campa 161 vs. Josue Castañeda 161
Fernando Cárcamo 140 vs. Juan González 141.5
Carlos Fontes 115 vs. Ernesto Guerrero 115
Jesús Quijada 126 vs. Alejandro Valenzuela 125
Armando Campa 135 vs. Jesdry López
Jesús ortega 112 vs. Arcadio Sánchez 112
Roberto Sánchez 115 vs. Luis Castro 111
Jonathan Sánchez 116 vs. Alejandro Arellano 117
Ramón Olivas 168 vs. Daniel Yocupicio 169
Venue: Gimnasio del Estado
TV: Azteca América
Promoter: Zanfer and Promoson

Weights from Fort Worth

By Jeff Zimmerman at the scale
Photo: Stacey Verbeek

Luis Yanez 115 vs. Timur Shailezov 114.5
(WBC USA super flyweight title)

Samuel Clarkson 167 vs. Jas Phipps 167.5
Maurice Hooker 140 vs. Adam Ealoms 140.5
Brian Jones 141.75 vs. Michael Connally 139
De Anthony Bonner 131.25 vs. Theodore Walters 133.5
De Shaun Williams 131.25 vs. Terrence Roy 128
Christopher Jones 158 vs. Booker Arthur 158

Promoter: Paulie Ayala Productions
Venue: Cendera Center / Fort Worth, Texas

Weights from Hurst, Texas

By Robert Hughes

Rogelio De La Torre 146.5 vs. Milton Ramos 143.5
Larry Smith 150.5 vs. Jose Orozco 152.75
Julio Rangel 147 vs. Albert Rodriguez 146
James de Herrera 133.5 vs. Abraham Torres 134
Errol Sidney 152.25 vs. Mike Lamelle 150.75

Undefeated junior featherweight Tony Lopez of Fort Worth was scheduled to fight Ivan Cole but Cole chose not to step on the scale, possibly beacuse he was more than six pounds overweight.

Standing 8 Promotions Welterweight Collision Course
Friday, April 19, 2013 at the Hurst Conference Center in Hurst, Texas

Fortuna loses WBA title on the scale

Photos: Robert Hughes

WBA interim World featherweight champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (21-0, 15 KOs) initially weighed 127. He returned after approximately two hours and weighed 126.8. Fortuna automatically loses his title on the scale due to not making the 126 pound limit for the featherweight division! Mexico’s Miguel “Mikol” Zamudio (25-1-1, 13 KOs) weighed 125.4. Zamudio will win the title if he wins the fight on Friday night at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City.

Other weights:
John Jackson 154.2 vs. Cerresso Fort 155
Jonathan Batista 147.6 vs. Emmanuel Lartei Lartey 144.6
Dean Burrell 137.2 vs. Vernon Alston 135.6
Anthony Young 147 vs. Rafael Montalvo 145.4

Date: Friday, April 19
Promoter: Sampson Boxing
Venue: Tropicana Casino & Resort (Tropicana Showroom)
TV: ESPN Friday Night Fights photos

Caputo Smith eager for Pennsylvania State title opportunity on Friday at Harrah’s Philadelphia

This Friday Anthony Caputo Smith (13-1, 10 KOs) of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania has a big opportunity to advance his career when he takes on Dhafir Smith for the Pennsylvania State light heavyweight title at Harrah’s Philadelphia. That bout will headline a nine bout card that is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing Promotions and David Feldman.

The twenty-seven year old sees this not only a chance to capture his first belt but a gateway to the future. “I want to win this title because it will open up great opportunities for me,” said Caputo Smith. (more…)

Alvarez-Trout Press Conference

WBC champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and WBA champ Austin Trout faced off today at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter during their final press conference for Saturday’s WBC/WBA super welterweight unificationn fight at the Alamodome.

Canelo Alvarez: “I just want to prove that I’m the best and I’m ready!”

Austin Trout: “I am the best fighter at 154 lbs and have no doubt I’ll come out with my hands raised.”

Promoter Oscar de la Hoya: “No matter who wins, the public is the inevitable winner. We just want a good, clean, fair fight.”

WBC President Jose Sulaiman: “No matter what the press have to say, Canelo Alvarez is the absolute best champion.”

Ajose Olusegun back in action Saturday

This Saturday night at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, WBC #3-rated junior welterweight Ajose Olusegun (30-1, 18KO’s) will return to action for the first time since suffering his first pro defeat to Lucas Matthysse in a bout for the interim WBC title in September of last year. Olusegun will take on veteran Rynell Griffin in an eight-round bout. The fight is promoted by Hitz Entertainment, in association with DiBella Entertainment.

“I am so glad that I’m getting back in the ring,” said Olusegun. “This is going to be my first fight after my loss to Matthysse and I can’t wait to do my thing.”

Simphiwe Vetyeka is SA’s 120th world champion

By Ron Jackson
Photo: Jeff Pamungkas

Simphiwe Vetyeka joined a select group of SA boxers when he won the IBO featherweight title at the weekend. By stopping Daud Cino Yordan in the final round of their fight in Jakarta, Indonesia, Vetyeka became one of those who won more than one “world” title. A total of 71 South Africans have now won 120 “world” titles, including 36 IBO belts. Vetyeka won his second IBO title when he took over Yordan’s title. He knocked the champion down in the last round. Yordan beat the count but soon afterwards the referee stopped the fight when the Indonesian was being battered and not fighting back. There was only 48 seconds left when the 12-round bout was stopped.

Vetyeka has had a rather stop-start career, often showing extraordinary talent but disappearing off the radar from time to time. (more…)