Guerrero arrested for gun possession

Update: WABC-TV is reporting that Guerrero was arrested after he attempted to declare the weapon at the Delta Airlines counter.

The New York Daily News is reporting that WBC interim welterweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero was arrested at JFK Airport for trying to bring an unloaded handgun aboard a flight from New York City to Las Vegas. Guerrero was on the East Coast making promotional appearances for his May 4 fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.

Haye to fight on June 29; no opponent named

Unable to land a fight with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, former WBA heavyweight titlist David Haye announced today in London that that he will fight on June 29 fight at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Haye said he wants to fight twice this year to make himself mandatory challenger and force a fight with one of the Klitschkos. Five opponents are being considered and manager Adam Booth will announce the name “in the near future.”

Earlier this week Vitali Klitschko told BBC Ukraine that Haye turned down a fight with him last year and now he must wait. “Last September I gave a proposal to David Haye to fight me in Moscow,” said Klitschko. “David Haye had a contract and didn’t want to do that and instead of fighting me he fought Chisora. How long [should] I have to wait for David Haye? I gave him a proposal and he didn’t take it.” Booth complains that the Klitschko camp ignored his emails.

Abner Mares begins training for Ponce De Leon

By Miguel Maravilla
Photo: Big Joe Miranda

Unbeaten Abner Mares (25-0-1, 13 KOs) of Hawaiian Gardens is in the opening phases of training camp as he prepares for his featherweight title showdown against WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon (44-4, 35 KOs) on May 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I haven’t changed my routine for training camp. I have been doing three-a-days for my last five fights. Run in the morning, gym in the afternoon, and gym in the evening. We know it’s a hard fight so we have to train hard,” Mares told Fightnews.com on his preparation.

Business as always in the gym, Mares and trainer Clemente Medina are working together at the Elite MMA Academy in Santa Fe Springs. Medina who at one time trained Ponce de Leon knows what Mares is up against on May 4. (more…)

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Update

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Looks like former WBC world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is eyeing a comeback fight on June 22 in Mexico City. Possible opponents include Brian Vera and Matthew Macklin, among others. Junior could possibly train in the Otomi Ceremonial Center in the State of Mexico and there’s even a chance that he could continue training with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

Q&A: Azea Augustama

By Phil Doherty

Fresh starts are usually hard to come by. Literally. They usually force themselves upon us due to difficult and unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. Such is the case with the two men at the head of next Saturday’s “The Homecoming” boxing card at Casino Miami Jai Alai. Longtime boxing matchmaker and trainer Al Bonanni re-established his former promotional company Tiburon Promotions last December after being successively fired by boxer Tavoris Cloud and promoter Don King. His first acquisition, twenty-nine year old cruiserweight Azea “The Haitian Hitman” Augustama (13-1, 8 KOs) also found a need to change direction due to managerial changes and inactivity.

Augustama, the 2008 National Golden Gloves winner and Haitian Olympian, took some time out from training for his scheduled ten-round main event against David Lee McNemar to speak with Fightnews. (more…)

Sauerland Events denies Povetkin-Oquendo

WBA #5 heavyweight Fres Oquendo informed media in Puerto Rico that he is fighting WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin on May 17 at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. However, this has been strongly denied by Sauerland Events, Povetkin’s promoter. “This is complete rubbish, Povetkin is a Sauerland fighter and no deal reached. We have an offer but not decided.”

FightNews photojournalist Chris Cozzone wins writing award

FightNews photojournalist Chris Cozzone’s “Requiem for a Hometown Champion,” published in FightNews.com and NewMexicoBoxing.com on June 1, 2012, has received a “Bernie” award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). The column – which tied for second place – praises the life and career of Johnny Tapia, who passed away last year on May 27.

Chris also received an honorable mention for his photography in the feature category. It is the second year that Chris has placed in both writing and photography. He remains the only journalist to do so since the BWAA started their awards in 1972.

The FightNews family extends our congratulations to Chris!

Golovkin: I’m ready to go

Gennady Golovkin is in peak physical condition ahead of the seventh defence of his WBA and IBO middleweight titles in Monte Carlo on Saturday. The unbeaten Kazakhstani yesterday went through his paces during a public 45-minute workout at the suitably grand Monte Carlo Casino. With his shirt off, he looked lean and ripped as he worked the pads with top trainer Abel Sanchez. “I’m ready to go,” said Golovkin. “I had an eight-week camp and all has gone according to plan.”

He defends against Nobuhiro Ishida, a fighter he isn’t underestimating. “We’re expecting a hard fight,” said manager Tom Loeffler. “Ishida is tall and has some power, but Gennady is in tremendous shape.”

Earlier, Ishida worked out and looked sharp and relaxed ahead of the biggest fight of his career. (more…)

Boxing Buzz

Detroit boxer J’Leon Love lost his older brother, Gerald Bernard Love, to a shooting in the Motor City last night.

The British newspapers are reporting that Wladimir Klitschko is engaged to 23-year-old actress Hayden Panettiere. More

Longtime promoter Bobby Hitz is making noise in the Chicagoland area, demanding that Gov. Pat Quinn replace Nancy Illg as head of the Illinois Athletic Commission. More

Vargas-Aguiniga at the Cosmopolitan

Kicking off the Cinco de Mayo celebration and a weekend of legendary boxing, all eyes will be on the battle waged between unbeaten contenders Francisco Vargas and Jose Aguiniga when they collide at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Friday, May 3 for the vacant NABF Super Featherweight title. On the eve of the world-recognized event Mayweather vs. Guerrero, the 10-round championship bout pitting 2008 Olympian Vargas against 33-0 Aguiniga is destined to shake up the 130-pound division. The event will be televised on FOX Sports Networks, FOX Deportes and FUEL TV. Plus, 2012 United States Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. returns to make his second appearance at The Cosmopolitan in a six-round junior featherweight fight. (more…)

Undercard for ESPN FNF at Turning Stone

The undercard for the Friday, March 29 ESPN Friday Night Fights event at Turning Stone Resort Casino will feature local sensation, light heavyweight Ryon McKenzie, who calls Canastota, New York home. Junior middleweight Taras Shelestyuk, of Ukraine, will also be on the card, making his professional debut. Shelestyuk captured the bronze medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. He also won the gold medal at the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships. (more…)

Rodriguez-Takayama collide in Sinaloa on Saturday

By Gabriel F. Cordero

This Saturday, Mario “Dragoncito” Rodriguez will defend his IBF minimumweight crown at home against former world champion Katsunari Takayama in an event called “Operación Dragón” presentated by Promociones del Pueblo, Goossen Tutor and Box Latino Promotions at the Francisco Carranza Limon Baseball Stadium in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. The co-feature will be a bout for the WBC silver light flyweight title between former world champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia and Pedro Guevara. Also 2012 Olympian Oscar Molina reappears just three weeks after his on March 9 in California.

Dawson in training to face Stevenson June 8

By Butch Gottlieb and Mary Ann Owen/boxinginlasvegas.com
Photo: Mary Ann Owen

WBC light heavyweight champion “Bad Chad” Dawson will be defending his title on June 8th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada against Adonis “Superman” Stevenson. Dawson was originally supposed to defend his title in a rematch against Jean Pascal but Pascal pulled out to meet fellow Canadian Lucian Bute for the NABF title. The fight has been confirmed by Dawson’s trainer, former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. “We are working hard and putting in the road work on Mt. Charleston and we are looking for a victory upon fight time,” said Mustafa. His comments on Stevenson? “Very durable. He will have to be able to take a whole lot of punishment because we are going to be dishing it out from round one until the end of the fight!”

“Atomic Bull” McCall and son Elijah will fight in Poland

Text and photo by Przemek Garczarczyk

Former heavyweight WBC champion Oliver “Atomic Bull” McCall (56-12, 37 KOs) will test the skills and chin of young, 26-year-old undefeated Polish heavyweight Krzysztof Zimnoch (14-0, 11 KOs) on May 18 in Legionowo, near Warsaw. Zimnoch, whose biggest amateur success was defeating Deontay Wilder during World Championship is considered as one of the new wave of Polish heavyweights, but McCall was not impressed. “I fought the best, and I’m not talking ancient history here. Francisco Pianeta, who will fight against Wladimir Klitschko, survived the tenth round only because referee did not let me finish him off. And I had only eight days to prepare for him – now I have five weeks to get ready for Zimnoch. What do you think can happen?” The fight card in Poland will be a family affair – on the undercard of Zimnoch-McCall, the 22-year-old son of the former champ, heavyweight Elijah McCall (11-2, 10 KO), will present his skills.

Wilfredo Gomez Hospitalized in P.R.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Puerto Rican ring legend Wilfredo Gomez is in critical but stable condition in Auxilio Mutuo hospital in San Juan after suffering respiratory failure on Tuesday evening. Gomez was admitted after he suffered an infection affecting his breathing. Gomez also suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Wilfredo had just been admitted during the weekend but had been discharged. We only know that Gomez has a respiratory infection, which led to respiratory failure. The next 72 hours will be crucial for his recovery. The former three-division world champion is 56 years of age.

Rios, Alvarado media day

Photos: Mary Ann Owen/boxinginlasvegas.com

Undefeated former world lightweight champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (31-0, 22 KOs) and top-rated contender “Mile High” Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) were at the Rank Gym in Las Vegas Wednesday for a scheduled media workout in advance of Rios-Alvarado II on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. Rios didn’t work out, but did pose for photographers. The WBO interim junior welterweight championship will be at stake.

The HBO telecast will also include undefeated Terence Crawford (19-0, 15 KOs) in an important ten-round junior welterweight clash with Breidis Prescott (26-4, 20 KOs). Former U.S. Olympian Jose Ramírez (1-0, 1 KO) will be featured on the undercard. More photos…

Repeat or Revenge? Price-Thompson II is on

David Price will meet Tony Thompson in a rematch at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday 6th July. Secret negotiations between Price’s promoter Frank Maloney and the Washington DC southpaw have been going on for two weeks. Contracts for the big 12 round international heavyweight return were finally signed late on Tuesday night. When the pair clashed last month, two-time world title challenger Thompson caused a monumental upset stopping the 6ft 8in scouser in the second round.

Maloney said, “There was a rematch clause in the original contract, but it was still far from easy to make it happens. Because it was such a big win for Thompson there was a lot of interest in him from rival promoters, but we got there and he has signed. There were other options for David also, but he and his trainer Franny Smith were adamant they wanted Thompson again. (more…)

Braehmer and Culcay opponents named

Juergen Braehmer (39-2, 30 KOs) and Jack Culcay (14-0, 10 KOs) are looking forward to fighting at the Sporthalle Hamburg, Germany putting their respective titles on the line on April 27. During today´s press conference, the opponents were announced. Braehmer will take on Tony Averlant (18-7-2, 4 KOs) for the European Light Heavyweight Championship while Culcay wants to defend his WBA-Intercontinental Light Middleweight Championship against Guido Nicolas Pitto (17-1, 7 KOs) from Argentina. (more…)

Amir Khan excited to see who the world’s number-one 140-pounder is: looking ahead to Golden Boy tourney

By James Slater

Former WBA/IBF 140-pound king Amir Khan is eagerly looking ahead to the planned mini-tournament Golden Boy have planned for the light-welterweights. Khan, speaking with Sky Sports’ new Toe To Toe podcast, spoke of the in-the-works five man tourney and the fact that, by year’s end, the 140-pound division will have a recognised number-one champion.

Khan, who faces former lightweight champ Julio Diaz on April 27th, says he is set to watch Danny Garcia-Zab Judah unfold (also on April 27th), then Lamont Peterson-Lucas Matthysse on May 18th, with the two winners to then meet at a date TBA, with the winner of that fight to then face Khan himself by the end of 2013. (more…)

Rocky Martinez in good shape for Diego Magdaleno

WBO jr lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez showed today his training in a media day for his upcoming bout on April 6 against unbeaten Diego Magdaleno at the Venetian Casino & Resort in Macao, China in a Top Rank presentation to be broadcasted on HBO2. Martinez (26-1-2, 16 KOs), who won the WBO 130 pounds belt for the second time on September 15, 2012, when he beat Miguel Beltran Jr. by split decision in Las Vegas, trained for the media today at the Dorado Municipal Gym with his trainer Raul “Papo” Torres and also trainer Dennis Pantoja, who will be with them in China. The 30-year-old fighter worked in stretching exercises, shadows and then make five padding rounds with Pantoja, showing his strength with hard and accurate shots, and an excellent stamina. Also, Martinez hit the speed bag and jumped the rope.

“This training camp has been one of the best of my career”. Martinez said. “I think that as I have been active, fighting, that’s helping me and I’m feeling in great condition and ready for this fight.” (more…)

New date/venue for Zhong’s US debut

The anticipated U.S. debut and first defense for WBC minimumweight world champion Xiong Zhao Zhong (20-4-1, 11 KOs) of China will now be May 3rd. The site will be the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The opponent as intially reported on Fightnews.com will still be WBC world ranked Carlos Ortega (8-2, 4 KOs) of Panama. Zhong made history this past November becoming China’s first world champion boxer by decisioning Mexico´s Javier Martinez in China to win the vacant WBC 105lb title.