Boxing Buzz

Another rave review of “Mike Tyson: Undisputed,” this one in the L.A. Times

“I expect a toe-to-toe battle,” Brian Viloria says of his April 6th showdown with Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada in Macau. More

WBO Lightweight Champ Ricky Burns will most likely be joining Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport Stable despite rival promoter Frank Warren’s insistence that he is still under contract. More

Pendarvis vs Jean in works for final IBF 140 elim.

By James Slater

Looks like unbeaten Canadian Dierry Jean (24-0, 16 KOs) will face Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-2 , 6 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF 140 title currently held by Lamont Peterson, who is scheduled to fight Lucas Matthysse in the summer. Southpaw Pendarvis said the following about the opportunity to face the unbeaten fighter from Quebec, Montreal: “I am excited, humbled and welcoming of this eliminator fight for the mandatory position. Where I find myself today is a culmination of all my tireless years in the gym helping prepare some of the top tier talent to get ready for their fights. This is my time. I am ready. I have been ready and look forward to stepping into the spotlight. Thanks to my manager Warren Wilkerson for his continuous support and efforts on my behalf.”

Wake dethrones OPBF 122lb ruler Oguni

Report by Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat

An upset happened on Sunday afternoon in Kobe, Japan. OPBF#7 Shingo Wake (13-4-2, 6 KOs), a Japanese southpaw speedster and an obvious underdog, 122, stunned the local spectators when he dethroned previously unbeaten OPBF super-bantam champ, WBA#9/WBC#14 Yukinori Oguni (10-1, 2 KOs), 122, via unexpected TKO triumph after the tenth session in a scheduled twelve rounder. Having dethroned Filipino Roli Gasca and defeated world-rated compatriot Masayuki Serie, Oguni, 24, zoomed up as a bright prospect in the 122-pound category with his stylish way of fighting. Making his fourth defense, Oguni might have been a bit too overconfident or careless against the unheralded challenger from Tokyo. The upright stylist Oguni surprisingly hit the deck with Wake’s southpaw left midway in round two, and couldn’t regain his usual rhythm for a while. After the fourth session, the open scoring system indicated: 40-35 twice and 40-36, all in favor of the challenger. (more…)

Weights from Dorchester

Report and photo from Peter Czymbor

Agustine Mauras 134 vs. Johnny Frazier 134.5
Michael McLaughlin 152.5 vs. Jimmy Leblanc 153.4
Greg Vendetti 147.5 vs. Rafael Jusino 145.5

Johnny Frazier (left) and Agustine Mauras (right), will compete in a six round lightweight bout at the Dorchester Armory (70 Victory Road) in Boston on Sunday afternoon at 5PM. The show is promoted by Danny Kelly Promotions. Tickets are available at door. Weights for the pro portion of the card are above. It is a pro-am show.

Boxing Buzz

China’s most celebrated soon-to-be-pro boxer Zou Shiming is already making a big impact in the boxing world while training at the Wild Card in Los Angeles … More

A Grand Rapids, Michigan, boxing training camp is using pros to help elevate the amateurs. More

The Sun on Tyson Fury’s furious tweets and his hefty fine: More

IBO champ Fonfara not impressed

By Przemek Garczarczyk
Photo: Team Fonfara

IBO light heavyweight champion Andrzej Fonfara (23-2, 13 KO) went to Brooklyn to see with his own eyes what the competition in his division is all about. Watching Bernard Hopkins beating Tavoris Cloud from the ringside seats in Barclays Center, the 25-year-old was not impressed. “I wanted to see them both fighting live, so I decided to fly from Chicago and watch Hopkins and Cloud in Brooklyn. Not impressed. I thought that Cloud would win, impose his will and just move Hopkins around. He didn’t do that at all, was very predictable, attacking the same way from round one to round twelve. (more…)

Oliveira stops Estrada in 2

By Robert Coster
Photo: Martin Avilamaria

WBC #13 super welterweight Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (20-1, 15 KOs) retained his WBC Fecarbox title with a second round knockout of Colombian challenger Orlando Estrada (8-3, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the at the Carlos (Teo) Cruz Coliseum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After a round of study, Oliveira decided to go after Estrada’s body and a three punch combination sent the Colombian to the mat for the full count. Oliveira will next fight at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Steve Cunningham on April 20.

Other results on the twelve-bout card: local super bantamweight Norberto Jimenez (15-8, 8 KOs) upset Danny Aquino (15-2, 10 KOs) of Mexico with an eight round decision and IBF #11 middleweight Giovanni Lorenzo (32-5, 24 KOs) kayoed Johnny Valentin (3-27-1, 3 KOs) in the first round. The card was co-promoted by MO Promotions and Shuan Promotions.

B-Hop: I have a history of destroying young champions

“Cloud is a gutsy young champion,” said newly crowned IBF light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins immediately after dethroning Tavoris Cloud. “I told him I would only be around for four or five more years and he will definitely be a champion again. But I’ve got a history. I’ve got a history of destroying young champions and you never see them again!”

Sosa destroys Solis

Photos: Rafael Soto / Zanfer

In a clash of former world champions, Edgar Sosa (48-7, 29 KOs) scored an explosive second round KO over Ulises “Archie” Solis (35-3-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the Centro de Usos Múltiples at the U de G in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. A crushing left hook put Solis down and out. With the win, Sosa retained his WBC silver flyweight belt and became mandatory challenger to WBC world champion Toshiyuki Igarashi. He also gained revenge for two losses to Solis early in his career.

Earlier bantamweight Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr (18-0-2, 12 KOs), back in the ring just three weeks after stopping Hanzel Martinez, scored a fourth round TKO over Alexander Acosta. photos

Hopkins regains light heavyweight title at age 48

By Matt Richardson and Mariano A. Agmi at ringside
Photos: Ed Mulholland

48-year-old former two-division champion Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KOs) broke his own record as the oldest man to win a major world boxing championship with a twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (24-1, 19 KOs) before a crowd of 12,293 on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It was a typical slow-paced, tactical Hopkins fight full of wrestling and holding, which is just the way the sly old fox Hopkins likes it. Cloud was cut over the left eye in round six and it was ruled to be by a head butt by referee Earl Brown, however replays showed the cut came from a punch. The 31-year-old Cloud simply couldn’t figure out a way to do much to Hopkins. Scores were 116-112, 117-111, 116-112.

Unbeaten jr middleweight Keith Thurman (20-0, 18 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over game former world champion Jan Zaveck (32-2, 18 KOs). A beatdown all the way as reflected in the scores of 120-108 on all cards.

Lightweights Michael Perez (18-1-2, 10 KOs) and Lonnie Smith (14-4-3, 10 KOs) fought to a disappointing majority draw after the fight was stopped in the seventh round on an accidental head butt incurred by Perez. Perez knocked down Smith in the second round on a left uppercut but Smith rebounded nicely to tighten up the scorecards. Scores were 67-65 for Perez with two identical scores of 66-66. (more…)

Sabillo TKOs De La Rosa in thriller

Merlito Sabillo (22-0, 6 KOs) of the Philippines stopped Luis De La Rosa (21-2-1, 12 KOs) of Colombia by TKO at 2:58 in round eight to win the interim WBO minimumweight title on Saturday night at the Coliseo Mario De Leon Cerete, Cordoba, Colombia. The bout was all action with each fighter teeing off on each other from round one. De La Rosa was cut in the very first round but it only fueled him to unleash a fury of power punches rocking Sabillo often. Sabillo was resilent and gave as good as he took. The tide changed in the eighth round when the southpaw Sabillo dropped De La Rosa with a right hand. De La Rosa beat the count but physically looked in serious trouble. Sabillo pounced right on him when the action resumed and dropped him again with a straight left. De La Rosa beat the count again but clearly looked disoriented. The referee issued a count but then waved the bout off seeing that De La Rosa was in no condition to continue. Time was 2:58. The large Colombia crowd gave Sabillo and De La Rosa a standing ovation and the local mayor invited Sabillo to come back to fight in the summer against another world ranked Colombian. The event was promoted by All Star Boxing, Inc., “The New Generation” & Felix “Tuto” Zabala, Jr. in association with Promociones Deportivas Cuadrilatero and Alcaldia de Cerete. (more…)

Sato to defend WBC 115lb belt in Thailand

By Joe Koizumi

WBC super-flyweight champ Yota Sato (26-2-1, 12 KOs), a flamboyant Japanese, will make his third defense of his belt against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (17-3-1, 16 KOs) in the challenger’s home turf, Thailand, on May 3. It was announced by Kyoei Promotions handling the Japanese speedster, who is under the option agreement of ex-champ Suriyan Sor Rungvisai that Sato had dethroned here in March of the previous year.

For Japanese boxers, Thailand is the most unfortunate place because of high temperature and uncomfortable humidity. In seventeen previous world title goes with Japanese contestants involved there, the record is 0-16-1. This isn’t a rugby score. No Japanese haven’t won with world belts on the line in Thailand. (more…)

Mendez destroys Salgado in rematch

By Miguel Maravilla
Photo: Big Joe Miranda

In a highly charged rematch, #1 world contender and mandatory challenger Argenis Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) brutally knocked out IBF junior lightweight champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-2-1, 16 KOs) to claim the world 130lb title on Saturday night at “The Hangar” in Coasta Mesa, California. Mendez dropped Salgado in round one with a right hand, and laid him out with a left hook in round four to gain sweet revenge.

The two originally battled for the vacant IBF super featherweight title in September 2011 with Salgado surviving a late knockdown to win a controversial unanimous decision.

2008 U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (13-1, 5KOs) won a unanimous decision over Joseph Elegele (13-2, 10KOs) in an eight round welterweight bout. Molina countered and timed the elusive southpaw throughout the fight as both finished the fight a bloody mess in going the distance. Judges scored it 77-75, 77-75 and 78-72. (more…)

Jamoye brothers win in Herstal, Belgium

WBC #2 Stéphane Jamoye successfully defended his EBU bantamweight title tonight in Herstal stopping Brit Ashley Sexton in 8 rounds. Stéphane Jamoye inproved his record to 25-3-0(15). It is only Sexton’s 2nd defeat in 18 fights with a 14-2-2(5) record and was rated #7 as 5th Brit in the EBU ratings. It was quite even in the first 4 rounds with the local fighter edging the rounds on the scorecards. The visitor won the 5th but was deducted a point in round 6 for holding. Sexton went down at the end of the 7th from a left to the body. Jamoye felt that he could end the fight and continued in round 8th. Sexton was down again from the first punch in round 8 and referee Robin Dolpierre made a well timed stoppage moments later. Jamoye’s will now have to face his official challenger who is Zhanat Zhakiyanov (19-1-0/12) from Kazakhstan.
Brother Steve Jamoye (13-0-0/2) earned a hard fought 10 rounds unanimous points decision against Mexican Luis Solis (11-2-4/9). Steve won the WBC Youth Silver Light Welterweight title. Steve took the initiative from the start winning the first 3 rounds. In round 4 the Mexican visitor hurt the local fighter with a tremendous left to the body. Jamoye survived only just and was lucky to hear the bell moments later. Steve Jamoye went back to business from round 5. Solis looked tired in rounds 6 and 7 but came back to hurt Jamoye again in round 8. The last 3 rounds were hard fought. Jamoye wobbled from a long left at the start of the 10th round. Jamoye runned around and survived. It was scored 97-93, 97-93, 99-92. Referee was Daniel Van de Wiele. Steve Jamoye could be facing compatriot Jean Pierre Bauwens in the near future if the latter wins the EBU-EU title next April 19. It would the 1st all Belgian EBU-EU title fight ever!
Sabrina Giulina inproved to 11-0-0/1 but disappointed and had to go the full distance against Dalia Vasarhelyi from Hungary. The visitor came into the fight with a 3-1 record all over 4×2. Sabrina’s EBU Female Light Welterweight was on the line. Referee was Robert Verwijs.

Undercard:
Michael Recloux WUD08 Jessy Moreaux (Moreaux announced his retirement from boxing)
Alexandru Jur WUD06 Fabrice Clement
Jeremu Becu WKO01 Jean Torac

Promoter was Mirco Giuliani of Promotion BC GMG Visé.

Boxing Commission fines Tyson Fury for tweeting

Heavyweight Tyson Fury fined £3,000 by the BBBoC fine and has been threatened with a lengthy ban if he continues with his ‘colorful’ tweets on the social networking website Twitter. Fury told The Sun’s Pat Sheehan, “I had to go before the Board. I was told to behave myself and if I do it again I will be in bigger trouble.”

Dimitrenko gets past journeyman Perkovic

IBF #10 heavyweight Alexander Dimitrenko (34-2, 21 KOs) wasn’t impressive in eight round unanimous decision over journeyman Ivica Perkovic (19-19, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at the CU Arena in Hamburg, Germany. A left hook by Perkovic caused Dimitrenko to touch both gloves was on the canvas for a knockdown in round five, but the 6’8 Ukrainian prevailed 77-74, 77-74, 78-73.

In other notable action, heavyweight Alexander Petkovic (46-4-4, 25 KOs) scored a second round TKO over previously unbeaten Memnun Hadzic (5-1, 0 KOs).

Jr middleweight Nico Salzmann (14-7-3, 3 KOs) won a ten round split decision over Ali Mammadov (10-2, 2 KOs) to claim the vacant WBC Baltic Silver light middleweight title.

Groves, Barker victorious in London

The Matchroom Boxing debut of super middleweight George Groves (17-0, 13 KOs) was a success as he blew away overmatched Dario Balmaceda (11-7-2, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at Wembley Arena in London. Groves dropped Balmaceda in round two with body shot and finished him in round three with two body shots and a right to the head. Time was :58. Groves, rated WBO #2, WBA #2, WBC #5 and IBF #7, will next fight on the May 25 Froch-Kessler card.

Former middleweight title challenger Darren Barker (25-1, 15 KOs) was victorious when Simone Rotolo (35-4, 15 KOs) didn’t come out after round four citing a hand injury. Barker, rated IBF #8 and WBO #10 at super middleweight, dropped Rotolo in round one and dominated the fight.

IBF #10 welterweight Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KOs) scored a ninth round TKO over late sub Cosme Rivera (35-16-3, 24 KOs). Rivera was down in round one and the bout was eventually stopped in the ninth due to a cut suffered by Rivera. Time was :56.

Journeyman jr welterweight Danny Connor (8-5-1, 0 KOs) surprised Chris Evangelou (9-2, 1 KO) in a ten rounder, winning s 97-93 decision. Evangelou was down twice in the seventh.

Scott Harrison targets Ricky Burns

Scott Harrison has announced he is ready to give Scottish boxing fans the “fight that Scotland wants to see” and has laid down the challenge to Ricky Burns. Amid speculation that WBO lightweight champion Burns has parted company with promoter Frank Warren after the postponement of his unification bout with IBF belt-holder Miguel Vázquez, Harrison has offered to step in after the Mexican was struck down with a viral infection caused by food poisoning.

Former two-time WBO featherweight champion Harrison said: “I will be ready to fight by the end of March. I have had a couple of tune-up bouts and I am ready to give the fans the fight that Scotland wants to see, which is me against Ricky Burns. It would be a good fight and a cracking fight for the fans. (more…)

Hopkins a slight underdog against Cloud

By Karl Freitag

In Brooklyn, unbeaten IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs) is a -163 favorite to successfully defend his world title against 48-year-old former two-division champion Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs) according to bet365.com. Backers of Hopkins can get +125. Looking at recent form, B-Hop was defeated by Chad Dawson in his last fight, while Cloud won a controversial split decision over Gabriel Campillo in his last outing. Historically, Hopkins has excelled in underdog roles and a win here would break his own record as the oldest man to win a major world boxing championship. Can Hopkins do it again at 48, or will youth be served?

In Cloud-Hopkins co-feature, unbeaten jr middleweight Keith Thurman (19-0, 18 KOs) is a huge -1000 favorite to defeat the more experienced former world champ Jan Zaveck (32-2, 18 KOs), who is at +550.

In Costa Mesa, California, challenger Argenis Mendez (20-2, 10 KOs) is a -163 favorite to dethrone world champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-1-1, 16 KOs) in their IBF jr lightweight rematch. Salgado, who won a controversial decision in their first fight, is +125.

Same tight odds are in Guadalajara, Mexico, for the WBC flyweight eliminator between former champions Ulises “Archie” Solis -163 and Edgar Sosa +125. Sosa enters as WBC silver beltholder, but Solis already holds two close wins over Sosa, both occuring a decade ago.

Meryasev set to defend WBC Baltic title

Hard hitting Andrey Meryasev (12-0-0/11) is set to defend his WBC Baltic Middleweight title against Alexey Ribchev (14-4-1/4) on March 23 in Club Phoenix in Sankt Petersburg, Russia. Meryasev won the title on the Klitschko-Charr undercard in Moscow on Sept 8, 2012 and makes now the 2nd defense of his title and is rated #22 by the WBC.

Unbeaten superbantam Vladimir Tikhonov (7-0-0/3) will face Mexican Uriel Cauich Frias who is also unbeaten with a record of 6-0-0(0) over 8 rounds.

Date: March 23
Venue: Club Phoenix, St Petersburg, Russia
Promoter: Igor Shafer from Neva Glove
TV: Russia TV 8

Kameda Brothers both win by KO

By Joe Koizumi

Ex-WBA flyweight champ Daiki Kameda (27-3, 17 KOs), 118.25, easily disposed of Mexican Faustino Capul (25-9-1-2NC, 18 KOs), 120.75, with a left hook at 0:43 of the sixth round on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan. His younger brother Tomoki Kameda (28-0, 19 KOs), 120.25, also demolished Indonesian veteran Nouldy Manakane (24-15-1, 15 KOs), 119.5, with a body shot at 0:36 of the sixth session. Manakane thus suffered four consecutive defeats by Tomoki’s brother Koki, Eita Kikuchi, Kenji Kubo and Tomoki here in Japan.

Promoter: Kameda Promotions.

A Day at the Wildcard Gym

Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

A lot of talent on display at Freddie Roach’s famed Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, California on Friday as two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world amateur champion Zou Shiming, WBA/WBO flyweight champion Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria, top-rated contender Ruslan Provodnikov and undefeated welterweight Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso were all working hard to prepare for important upcoming fights. (more…)

Brizuela tops Chaves

IBF Latino jr lightweight beltholder Daniel “Tatu” Brizuela scored a ten round unanimous decision over Diego “El Matador” Chaves on Friday night at the Estadio Polideportivo Juan Domingo Ribosqui in Maipu, Mendoza, Argentina. Brizuela dropped Chaves in round nine en route to a 97-94, 97-93, 96-93 verdict.

In a 6-round middleweight bout, undefeated prospect Gabriel Ozán (10-0, 5 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Alejandro “Coudet” Domínguez (3-5). Ozan dropped Dominguez in round three and got the win when a wobbly Dominguez indicated he’d had enough.

Garcia defeats Ibarra

Photos: Pepe Rodriguez

In a clash for the WBC Latin super flyweight title, former world title challenger Johnny “Laberinto” Garcia (17-4-1, 9 KOs) scored an eleventh round TKO over former WBC champion Oscar “Ceviche” Ibarra (27-9, 18 KOs) on Friday night at the Plaza Condesa in Mexico City. The one-sided affair was finally waved off by referee Lupe Garcia.

More photos…

Centeno dominates Leatherwood

Photos: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Undefeated jr middleweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (18-0, 9 KOs) scored an uneventful ten round unanimous decision over KeAndrae “Lightning” Leatherwood (17-3, 10 KOs) on Friday night at the Fantasy Springs Casino Resort in Indio, California. In a bout with more holding than punching, especially on Leatherwood’s part, Centeno came away with a 100-89, 99-91, 100-90 win.

Unbeaten jr lightweight Braulio “Unstoppable” Santos (10-0, 9 KOs) needed just 56 seconds to annihilate Kevin Hoskins (7-2, 5 KOs) with a monster left hook. More photos…

Taylor, Abdusalamov get KO wins

Jr welterweight Emmanuel “Tranzforma” Taylor (17-1, 12 KOs) scored an eighth round KO over former world title challenger Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (31-3, 22 KOs) on Friday night at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Taylor rocked Cayo in round two. The bout turned when Cayo dropped Taylor in round five, but Taylor responded and floored Cayo in round eight. Referee Benjy Estevez deemed Cayo unable to continue and waved it off at 1:11. Taylor was behind on two cards, with the third card even at the time of the stoppage.

Unbeaten heavyweight terror Magomed Abdusalamov (17-0, 17 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over former Puerto Rican Olympian Victor Bisbal (21-2, 15 KOs). Game effort by Bisbal in extending Abdusalamov to round five, but ultimately the unbeaten Russian was too strong and battered Bisbal to the canvas at 1:12 of the fifth round.

Jr middleweight Samuel “Rock City Cobra” Rogers (13-0, 7 KOs) outpointed Ivan Ziglar (7-3-1, 4 KOs) over six by scores of 59-55, 60-54, 58-56. Rogers is a nephew of former world champion Julian “The Hawk” Jackson.

Ruslan Provodnikov Workout

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs) is one week away from the biggest fight of his career as he will be taking on undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. (29-0, 12 KOs) of Palm Springs, California, next Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Provodnikov continued his preparation Friday afternoon at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood as he worked out for media.

“Training camp is going great it has been perfect with a lot of hard work now we are just finishing up,” Provodnikov told Fightnews.com. (more…)

Weights from Germany

By Malte Müller-Michaelis

Former European heavyweight champion Alexander Dimitrenko weighed in at 251 lbs. (114 kg) for his fight against Ivica Perkovic (279 lbs. / 126.5 kg) tomorrow night at CU Arena in Hamburg, Germany. The show will be streamed live on www.boxen-heute.tv.

The other fights and weights:
Timur Dugazaev (188.5 lbs / 85.5 kg) vs. Ervin Slonka (tba)
Vincent Feigenbutz (167.5 lbs / 76 kg) vs. Attila Korda (174.5 lbs / 79.2 kg)
Alexander Petkovic (258 lbs / 117.2 kg) vs. Senad Hadzic (253.5 lbs / 115 kg)
Andreas Reimer (151 lbs / 68.6 kg) vs. Predrag Kovacevic (151 lbs / 68.6 kg)
Ali Mammadov (151 / 68.6 kg) vs. Nico Salzmann (151 / 68.6 kg)
(more…)

Weights from Colombia

Luis De La Rosa 104.8 vs. Merlito Sabillo 103.8
(WBO mini-flyweight title)
William Urina 117.1 vs. Jesus Martinez 117.9
Darley Perez 134.8 vs. Julio Camano 133.8
Lely Luz “La Roca” Flores 135 vs. Paola Rojas 134.8
Luis Eduardo Flores 134.6 vs. Oswaldo Miranda 133.4

Venue: Coliseo Mario De Leon Cerete, Cordoba, Colombia
Promoter: All Star Boxing, Inc., “The New Generation” & Felix “Tuto” Zabala, Jr. in Association with Promociones Deportivas Cuadrilatero and Alcaldia de Cerete
Matchmaker: Alberto Agamez
TV: TELECARIBE (Colombia) & Solar Sports (Philippines)