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The verbal haymakers were flying Thursday afternoon as World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight champion Jessie Magdaleno and No. 1 contender Isaac Dogboe faced off at the final press conference for their ESPN-televised world championship main event, Saturday at The Liacouras Center.

Dogboe heated things up when he called Magdaleno “the worst world champion ever” before questioning whether he could make the weight.

“You look worse than me,” Magdaleno responded. “You look like an alien.”

Dogboe mentioned that Magdaleno had blocked him on Facebook when the fight was announced.

“I guess I send shivers into people’s spines,” Dogboe said.

“I can’t beat him any uglier than he already is,” Magdaleno said. “He’s dog ugly. Come Saturday, we’re going to give him the name that he deserves…. the ugly Dogboe.” Continue reading “Dogboe-Magdaleno gets personal”

Report/Photos by Joe Koizumi

Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports & Entertainment in association with the WBC and Louisville’s Top Knotch will promote its inaugural eight-man international tournament tomorrow (Friday) at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY. It is called “The Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Tournament.” The first round of the tourney will feature the following matchups:

Felix Diaz (Dominican Republic; 2012 Olympic gold medalist; 19-2, 9 KOs) 147 vs. Francisco Santana (US, 24-6-1, 12 KOs) 147

Chris van Heerden (South Africa, 25-2-1, 12 KOs) 146 vs. Timo Schwarzkoph (Germany; 18-1, 10 KOs), 147

Fredrick Lawson (Ghana; 26-1, 21 KOs) 147 vs. Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (China; 13-1-1, 6 KOs) 147.5

Brad Solomon (US; 27-1, 9 KOs) 147 vs. Paddy Gallagher (UK; 13-3, 6 KOs) 147.5

Continue reading “Holyfield 147lb Tournament Weights”

Former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora has apparently signed on to compete in what is being billed as the first legal, regulated, and sanctioned bare-knuckle event in the United States since 1889. The 42-year-old Spadafora (49-1-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t fought since 2014. The $29.95 PPV event, held under the auspices of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission, will take place June 2 at the Cheyenne Ice & Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 12 bare-knuckle bouts are scheduled and “The Pittsburgh Kid” is listed as one of the participants.

Other boxers competing include 44-year-old heavyweight Bobby Gunn (21-7-1, 18 KOs), who is coming off a 2017 loss to Roy Jones Jr., and unbeaten Missouri heavyweight Sam Shewmaker (3-0, 0 KOs). Gunn has previous experience as a bare-knuckle fighter, and he lays claim to being the lineal bare-knuckle boxing heavyweight champion.

Boxing’s only undisputed world champion Cecilia Braekhus (32-0, 9 KOs) will defend her female welterweight crown against former WBC middleweight champion Kali Reis (13-6-1, 4 KOs) in the HBO-televised Golovkin-Martirosyan co-feature on May 5 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. This will mark the first time a women’s bout will be shown live on HBO.

The non-televised undercard features undefeated super lightweight Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (21-0, 12 KOs) against Breidis Prescott (31-12, 22 KOs) in a 10-rounder, and former amateur star Brian Ceballo (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round welterweight bout.

“From top to bottom this is a card worthy of Cinco De Mayo and the knowledgeable fight fans who regularly pack StubHub Center,” said promoter Tom Loeffler. “…is it any wonder that everyone is referring to May 5 at StubHub Center as boxing’s Cinco De Mayo headquarters?”

Here is what boxing superstar Vasyl Lomachenko has to say about WBA lightweight champion Jorge ‘El Niño de Oro’ Linares, who he challenges May 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Lomachenko is moving up from 130 pounds to challenge Linares.

On Fighting Jorge Linares…

“I wanted to go up to the next weight category, 135 pounds, and fight only champions. Jorge Linares was available for this moment. That’s why I wanted a fight with him. I was asked if I wanted to fight Linares. It took me less than two seconds to accept the challenge.” Continue reading “Loma: Not a big problem to be smaller”

At a press conference today in Manchester, former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury credited WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder for inspiring his comeback.

“Really, it was Deontay Wilder who spurred me on and gave me the ambition to return,” Fury stated. “He said I couldn’t do it, definitely not, Tyson Fury is done. I was walking along the canal with my dog at the time and I thought ‘I’m a fat pig look at the state of me.’ I felt like jumping in the canal and drowning. I thought I will turn this around and come back and knock him out! …I believe I could tie one hand behind my back and beat AJ and Wilder, as well.”

Fury will return on June 9 in his first bout since defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. No opponent has been named.

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBC super bantamweight champion Rey Vargas (31-0, 22 KOs) discussed his upcoming defense against Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (14-2, 11 KOs) on May 12 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. The 27-year-old champion is currently training at the famed Romanza Gym in Mexico City, Mexico, under the supervision of Hall of Fame Trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristaín, along with Oscar Ortiz and Fabian and Emilio Ramirez.

“I know that Hovhannisyan has some experience fighting against Mexicans, but not all of us are the same. I know how to box and brawl. It’s going to be an interesting fight because he’s a brawler who knows how to move when he decides to. We also can’t take away the fact that he has a lot of power. It’s interesting that we have fought a similar opponent [Ronny Rios]. He knocked him out in six rounds, while I defeated him by unanimous decision. Because of that there may be some doubts, but I’ll make things clear May 12.”

Tony Bellew and David Haye sit down ahead of their grudge heavyweight rematch on the 5th of May.

Deontay Wilder to Anthony Joshua: Mate! “I sent this personally this time just so there’s no miscommunication. Tell Eddie Hearn to let you personally check his email this time. BTW I sent your manager Rob McCracken the email as well. I’m looking forward to our meeting in the ring.” The email reportedly contains a $50 million offer.

.@anthonyfjoshua Mate! I sent this personally this time just so there’s no miscommunication. Tell @EddieHearn to let you personally check his email this time. BTW I sent Your manager Rob McCracken the email as well. I’m looking forward to our meeting in the ring. #KingVsKing pic.twitter.com/WbH8SB5Qm5

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) April 25, 2018

“I’m glad to be back in the ring and giving a fight to my fans,” said WBA, WBC, and for now IBF middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin during a workout this week. “I’m happy that Cinco De Mayo will still have boxing. It’s good for the sport. I want to stay active. I’d like to fight four or five times every year…when my fight with Canelo was canceled I never stopped training. I wanted a fight on Cinco De Mayo. I stayed in Big Bear working hard with Abel hoping I’d still be able to have a fight.

“Canelo? Right now he’s over. Do I want to have the rematch in September? We’ll see. It’s a different deal. The boxing business is crazy. I’ll fight Canelo again. Ask him if he wants to fight me. I no longer think about Canelo. I’m only focused on this fight.”

“I’m still comfortable at 160 pounds. There are no big money fights at 168 pounds and besides, I’m small at 160. I only ask for fights. I want more big fights. Huge fights. Title unification fights. I want to stay champion. It should be a clean sport. That’s important to me.”

Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxing has announced that the highly anticipated opening round of ‘The Jose Sulaiman World Invitational Welterweight Tournament’, set for Friday will be streamed live and free of charge on the SportsLIVE OTT service, available online and via mobile and Roku apps, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. The event will emanate from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY.

The lineup:

Felix Diaz vs. Francisco Santana
Chris Van Heerden vs. Timo Schwarzkopf
Fredrick Lawson vs. Baishanbo Nasiywula
Brad Solomon vs. Paddy Gallagher

All bouts are scheduled for ten rounds.

By Gary “Digital” Williams

WBC Featherweight champion “Mr.” Gary Russell, Jr. and undefeated number one contender Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz met for the first time as they officially announced their championship bout that will be held on Saturday, May 19th at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD.

During the press conference, which was held at the Tap Sports Bar inside the casino, both men were very confident of victory.

First, the champion: “I’m one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet. Speed, power, ring IQ, we can get ugly if we need to. I don’t plan on going 12 rounds. I’m not going the distance with anybody for the remainder of my career. Mark my words.” Continue reading “Russell, Jr., Diaz, Jr. Kickoff Press Conference”

Report/Photos: John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

Anticipation for the biggest Philly fight card in years surged on Tuesday when Bryant Jennings, Joey Dawejko, and others featured on Saturday night’s show held a media day workout for fans and press at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Philadelphia.

Both Jennings and Dawejko train outside Philly – Bryant in Florida and Joey in California – so this was the first chance for the people to catch a glimpse of the heavyweights. Also participating in the media day were super middleweight Jesse Hart, bantamweight Christian Carto and junior lightweight Joseph Adorno. Continue reading “Jennings-Dawejko Media Day in Philly”