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Lots of interesting heavyweight fights this weekend.

WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is a whopping 10:1 favorite to defeat WBA regular champion Daniel Dubois on Saturday in this week’a big fight at the Stadion Wroclaw in Wrocław, Poland. ESPN+ will show the bout in the U.S.

Meanwhile, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, WBO #5, WBA #7, WBA #7, IBF #15 Jared Anderson is 30:1 to defeat Andriy Rudenko, WBC #14 heavyweight Efe Ajagba versus WBC #9, WBA #14 Zhan Kossobutskiy is a pick-em, and 2020 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov is 50:1 to defeat Onoriode Ehwarieme. ESPN will air these bouts in the U.S.

WBA #5 middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (20-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his NABA title for a third time with an impressive fifth round knockout of Joey Bryant (17-2, 13 KOs) last Saturday at The Bind Tiger in Biloxi, Mississippi. Coyle displayed good skills and outboxed Bryant in the early rounds. In the fifth Coyle dropped Bryant three times, forcing the referee to halt the contest at 2:54.

Unbeaten heavyweight Mark Petrovsky (6-0, 4 KOs) struggled to a six round majority decision over 43-year-old former world title challenger Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (36-22-2, 20 KOs) on Friday night in Moscow. During the weigh-in for this fight, Johnson wore a t-shirt bearing a giant likeness of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Ring legend Erik ‘Terrible’ Morales will no longer be the trainer of former world champion Jaime Munguía, but will remain as an adviser to the Munguía team. After four years working with Munguia, Morales will now dedicate himself to his work as head of the Institute of Sports and Physical Culture of Baja California.

The 26-year-old Munguia could train with Freddie Roach for his next fight, possibly against Edgar Berlanga in November.

Former world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) will make his debut in the cruiserweight division and measure up against former light heavyweight world champion Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) of Long Island, New York on Saturday, October 7. The 12-round clash, presented in association with Star Boxing, will take place live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and live around the world on DAZN.

Former unified junior lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer (18-1, 5 KOs) returns in a 10-round junior welterweight battle against Silvia Bortot (11-2-1, 3 KOs) on Saturday, September 2 at AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Mayer-Bortot will take place on the undercard of the highly anticipated middleweight rematch between bitter rivals Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr.

Promoted by BOXXER, Smith-Eubank II, Mayer-Bortot and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ and be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland.

Shadow Entertainment(Jenny Do) presented another edition of the LEAD event series Sunday night. The event took place at the Saigon Sports Club, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The main event saw hometown favorite Long Trinh (5-0, 4 KOs) of Vietnam defeat Chayanon Phothijun (7-4, 5 KOs) of Thailand by TKO.

Trinh had a sustained a steady body attack from early on in the fight which seemed to wear Phothijun down. Phothijun retired in his corner at the start of round 8. Trinh won the vacant WBC Asian Silver middleweight title. Continue reading “Trinh, Paciones win in Vietnam Sunday”

By Jeff Zimmerman

Fightnews.com® caught up with the grandson of the “GOAT” Muhammad Ali, Biaggio Ali Walsh, who continues his amateur MMA career in the PFL on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Madison Square Garden in NY. Biaggio shared his thoughts of his upcoming fight against Ed Davis, talked about Frances Ngannou teaming up with Mike Tyson to fight Tyson Fury and, Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz. He also shared his thoughts on Claressa Shields calling herself the “GWOAT” and Terence “Bud” Crawford possibly fighting MMA and much more in this exclusive interview.

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In a rare battle of undefeated boxers, Steve “The Savage” Sumpter used his athleticism to defeat James “Pitbull” Perkins in the main event of last night’s “Pandemonium at The Palladium,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at the famed Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Sumpter never stopped moving, Perkins kept charging forward. Sumpter (9-0, 7 KOs), fighting out of Pittsfield (MA), Sumpter won an eight-round majority decision, albeit it on contrasting judges’ scoring – two judges had Sumpter winning each round ( 80-72) but the other had it a draw, 76-76 – for the vacant IBA Americas Super Middleweight Championship. Continue reading “Sumpter defeats Perkins”

2020 Olympics gold medalist Gamal Yafai (5-0, 4 KOs) demolished Tommy Frank (15-4-1, 3 KOs) in the first round of their flyweight clash on Saturday night the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England. Yafai dropped Frank in the first 30 seconds and forced a quick stoppage at 1:40.

Welterweight Conah Walker (12-2-1, 4 KOs) battered previously unbeaten Cyrus Pattinson (6-1, 4 KOs) Walker dropped Pattinson three times and Pattinson’s corner finally kept their man on the stool after round eight.

Unbeaten heavyweight Solomon Dacres (7-0, 2 KOs) outscored Chris Thompson (12-5-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds by scores of 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.

Undisputed welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford said on the Joe Rogan show that he wants to go up three weight divisions to fight the Canelo-Charlo winner. Crawford: “Terence Crawford vs. Canelo. That’s the biggest fight in boxing.”

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The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered a super bantamweight eliminator bout between #1 rated Tomoki Kameda and #2 Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The winner of the bout will be the official challenger for the world title, which is currently held by Marlon Tapales.

Should both contenders fail to reach an agreement within the time limit or should either party refuse to sign the fight, the WBA may call for a purse bid with a 50/50 purse split for each fighter.

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

It was a Japan-China competition with Japan winning 4-2 over China in six bouts. But the level of Chinese boxers remarkably improved to impress the crowd on Thursday at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. Formerly world-rated ex-OPBF champ Hironori Mishiro (13-1-1, 4 KOs), 134.5, withstood the opening attack of China’s previously unbeaten Yong-Chao Sheng (8-1-2, 5 KOs), 134.5, effectively retaliated with good jabs and right crosses and pounded out a unanimous decision (77-75, 78-74, 79-73) over eight scrappy rounds. Mishiro had tasted an upset technical decision loss to Min-Ho Jung in Korea this April, dropping out of the world ratings with his first setback. In his comeback go Mishiro, a tall stylish jabber, was forced to mix it up by the hard-punching Chinese. Mishiro, however, took back the initiative and kept outfighting the game but less skillful Cheng to overcome his early deficits on points. Continue reading “Mishiro defeats China’s Sheng”

Trinh The Long 159 vs Chayanon Phothijun 158
(WBC Asia silver middleweight title)

Arvin Jhon Paciones 107 vs Jonathan Refugio 107
(WBA Asia light flyweight title)

Vo Hong Dat 133 vs Ernie Sanchez 135
(WBA Asia lightweight title)
Avzalbek Kuranbaev 154 vs Adam Diu Abdulhamid 155
(WBA Asia South super welterweight title)
Kellian Sisovic 139 vs Iwan Ngabalin 135
Hamad Nabil 128 vs Trieu Kim Long 123
Lu Huu Thien vs 129 Vo Thanh Tung 123
Doan Gia Thanh 117 vs Pham Quang Khai 117
Doan Gia Dai 112 vs Vo Van Thanh 118
Luigi De Crescenzo 160 vs Dang Ngoc Tuan 156
Tyler Nguyen 124 vs Phan Thanh Nhieu 124
Kayden Tran 117 vs Vo Minh Thien An 108

Venue: Saigon Sports Club, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Promoter: Jenny Do(Shadow Entertainment)

In an exciting 10 round main event unbeaten Christopher Lopez (16-0-2, 10 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and countryman Brandon Gamez (12-2-1, 10 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico fought to an action packed draw. The event took place at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun Mexico and was televised on ESPN KNOCK OUT. The fight had several heated exchanges including a fan pleasing final round. The offical scores were 97-93 for Lopez and 95-95 twice.

By Scott Foster at ringside

Friday night Most Valuable Promotions, in conjunction with Boxlab Promotions, DAZN and the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, presented the second installment of their “Most Valuable Prospects” series. 29-year-old Junior welterweight prospect Nestor Bravo (21-0-1, 15 KOs), hailing from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, headlined the card facing his most dangerous foe to date, Will Madera (17-2-3, 10 KOs), who was fresh off an impressive showing in a points loss to heralded Brandun Lee (26-0, 23 KOs). This 10-round bout was contested for the vacant WBA Continental Latin America title.

Bravo, a switch-hitting puncher with a natural left hook, gave away the opening round before settling into a grove, consistently dictating the distance with his jab and corking left hooks. Madera flashed in the 5th & 7th rounds, but Bravo controlled the remainder of the bout. While the scores varied 99-91 & 96-94 x2, all 3 judges tabbed Bravo as the new WBA Jr. welterweight Continental Latin America champion. Continue reading “Bravo cruises to biggest win of career”

Undefeated super lightweight Kurt Scoby (13-0, 11 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Narciso Carmona (10–1, 6 KOs) out of Sevilla, Spain, in round six on Friday night at the OTE Arena in Atlanta. A barrage of unanswered punches prompted a referee’s stoppage.

Unbeaten super middleweight Shawn McCalman (14-0, 7 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision over Money Powell IV (13-2, 8 KOs). Sores were 79-73, 78-74, 78-74.

Super bantamweight Lorenzo Parra (23-1, 17 KOs) defeated Javon Woodard (12-2, 10 KOs) by split decision. After the scheduled eight rounds the bout was scored a draw. Per OTX rules, they fought an overtime round with Parra winning 86-85, 86-85, 85-86.

The WBC Board of governors has ruled to cancel the order which was issued during the last annual convention calling for a final elimination bout between Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz jr to determine the mandatory challenger of the division.

The WBC will evaluate the current situation in the division in order to review the viable options and if necessary, issue a new ruling during the WBC annual convention to be held in Uzbekistan in November.

The super bantamweight collision between unbeaten Dennis “The Menace” McCann (14-0-1, 8 KOs) and Ionut “Il Capo” Baluta (16-4-1, 3 KOs) ended in a technical draw after a ninth round head clash on Friday night at the historic York Hall in London. Scores were 86-85 McCann, 86-86, 86-86. The WBO Intercontinental title remains vacant.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Officials are set for the August 26 clash between WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and WBA regular champion Daniel Dubois, taking place at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland.

The referee will be Luis Pabón (Puerto Rico). Judges are the venerable Stanley Christodolau (South Africa), Pawlo Kardyna (Poland), and Leszek Jankowiak (Poland).

Usyk is currently running as about a 12:1 favorite.

Galal Yafai 111.8 vs. Tommy Frank 111.5
(WBC International flyweight title)

Solomon Dacres 239.7 vs. Chris Thompson 238.1
Cyrus Pattinson 146.5 vs. Conah Walker 146.9
Aaron Bowen 162.9 vs. Wilmer Baron 165.5
Jordan Flynn 129.6 vs. Kane Baker 129.8
Khaleel Majid 142.6 vs. Alessandro Fersula 141.2

Venue: Utilita Arena, Birmingham, England
Promoter: Matchroom
TV: DAZN

Jeter Promotions is proud to announce the signing of former top-five rated middleweight Immanuwel Aleem to an exclusive promotional Contract.

Aleem, 29 years-old of Richmond, Virginia has a record of 18-3-2 with 11 knockouts.

“I am excited to sign with Jeter Promotions. I have been in the gym with Tony Jeter for the last decade. He has always been great and very hospitable. I see him doing his own shows and he wanted to promote me early on. But now is the right time for that to happen,” said Aleem. Continue reading “Jeter Promotions inks Immanuwel Aleem”

Nestor Bravo 140 vs. Will Madera 139.9
(WBA Continental Latin America super lightweight title)

Damian Lescaille 146 vs. Hugo Noriega 146.6
(WBA Continental Latin America welterweight title)

Krystal Rosado 114.1 vs. Tarrethia Dixon 114.9
Julian Smith 139.3 vs. Julio Rosa 139.4
Elijah Flores 144.8 vs. Elijah Williams 144.1
Lorenzo Medina 233.4 vs. Antonio Torres 255.2
Alexander Rios Vega 140.9 vs. Javier Ailla 136.1
Antraveous Ingram 152.4 vs. Orlennis Licea 152.7

Venue: Caribe Royal, Orlando, Florida
Promoter: Most Valuable Promotions in association with BoxLab Promotions
TV: DAZN

WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs) and IBF middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (21-0-1, 7 KOs) will meet in a world title unification on ESPN, according to the network. The bout, which has also been confirmed by Gualtieri’s promoter AGON, will take place on October 14 in Rosenberg, Texas. This bout would unify half the 160lb division with Jermall Charlo holding the WBC belt and Erislandy Lara holding the WBA strap.

2020 Olympics gold medalist Gamal Yafai (4-0, 3 KOs) and Tommy Frank (15-3-1, 3 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for Saturday’s flyweight clash on DAZN from the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, England.

Galal Yafai: “I want to say he’s underestimating me as a professional fighter. I heard something about how they think I’m a good amateur fighter but not a good professional fighter just yet. We’ll see on Saturday. I think I’m ready for those world level opportunities now but it’s just the experience…Tommy doesn’t have any pressure on him. He’s expected to lose. Every top athlete has to deal with pressure.”

Tommy Frank: “I just believe it’s everything for a reason. I believe I’ve got this opportunity for a reason. Coming off a loss I didn’t think I was going to get it. I did get it and I just believe this is a chance of a lifetime. Ultimately, I want a call back from you (Eddie Hearn) to get on more of these shows.”

Dennis McCann 121.7 vs. Ionut Baluta 121.6
(WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title)

Nathaniel Collins 125.7 vs. Raza Hamza 126
Ryan Garner 128.3 vs. Juan Jesus Antunez 129.3
Raven Chapman 125.7 vs. Lila Furtado 123.6
Umar Khan 128.8 vs. Kevin Trana 127.5
Khalid Ali 155.7 vs. Nikola Stoyanov 153.5
Joel Kodua 151.9 vs. Eligio Palacios 156.6

Venue: York Hall, London
Promoter: Queensberry
TV: TNT Sports (UK)