Chagaev-Walker weigh-in

Weights from Hamburg, Germany

Photos: Public Adress

Ruslan Chagaev 231.9 vs. Travis Walker 242.5
Jack Culcay 154.5 vs. Alexey Ribchev 156.5
Denis Boytsov 220.5 vs. Mike Sheppard 229.9
Manuel Charr 251.5 vs. Robert Hawkins 238.1
Rachim Tschachkijew 199.3 vs. Chris Thomas 199.3
Marcel Meyerdiercks 128.1 vs. Philippe Frenois 128.7
Karoly Balzsay 171.5 vs. Misa Nikolic 173.1
Venue: Universum Gym
Promoter: Universum Box-Promotion
TV: SPORT1 (Germany)
Note: Jack Culcay’s fight will be streamed live worldwide on bild.de.
Click here for more photos and info

TONIGHT: Through the Ropes!

Boxing fans, get ready to climb “Through the Ropes” with the #1 boxing news radio show hosted by award winning boxing writer Marc Lichtenfeld! It’s a night of Andres on Through the Ropes. Andre Ward and Andre Berto will join us. Also, Eric Parthen of the World Series of Boxing. Call in tonight or email your thoughts to ttropes@earthlink.net. Through The Ropes airs live coast to coast on Thursday nights from 9:00 – 10:00 ET on 75 affiliates of the Sports Byline USA Broadcast Network, including great radio stations like KSHP 1400 AM in Las Vegas and WNSR 560 AM in Nashville. The one-hour show will also be heard on American Forces Network, Sportsbyline.com and Fightnews.com. Fightnews readers can listen live by clicking here tonight at 9PM ET.

Last Chance to bid on Ali Items

It’s time to go for the knockout as time is running out to bid on unique memorabilia hand-signed by Muhammad Ali, as Steiner Sports Collectibles first-ever Catalogue Auction closes Thursday. Bids are now being accepted online for the more than 25 Ali-themed items at http://auction.steinersports.com.

Gloves, prints, posters, trunks, robes and other commemorative items are among the Ali pieces available. One very rare item is a hand-signed photo of Ali, pictured with all four members of the Beatles, log on here for a look at the classic photo.

Mares on target for Darchinyan

Photos and report by Ricardo Conde

Former title challenger and world ranked bantamweight contender Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs) of Norwalk, CA, by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, takes on IBO bantamweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs) on Saturday, December 11th at a site yet to be determined in the co-main event, which also features IBF bantamweight champion Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs) facing Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs) of Ghana in a rematch with both bouts being shown live on SHOWTIME and are being co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Thompson Boxing Promotions and Don King Productions. Abner Mares is quickly becoming one of boxing’s newest stars. In his last outing, the 24 year old Mares battled IBF bantamweight champion Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs) to a majority draw in an exciting back and forth action bout this past May at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Click here for more photos…

Q&A: Jack Culcay

Photo: filmograf.de

Your fight on Friday against the Bulgarian Alexey Ribchev will be your first eight-rounder. How was your training workload affected?

I increased the training units. For example, I have had six rounds of sparring and another four rounds on the heavy bag and after that I went running. It was even more tiring and more intense than before. (more…)

Joyi’s title defense moved

By Ron Jackson

Nkosinathi Joyi’s first defence of his IBF minimumweight belt against Japan’s Katsunari Takayama which was scheduled to take place in East London on November 27 has now been moved to the Nasrec Indoor Arena near Johannesburg. Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Productions was obliged to move the fight venue after he failed to obtain financial backing from both the Buffalo City Municipality and the Eastern Cape Department of Sport. It is also not confirmed whether there will be any television coverage of the fight. More South African boxing news

Oscar in Mexico

Photo by Alma Montiel

Promoter Oscar De a Hoya and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer were in Mexico City Tuesday to announce their alliance with Televisa, with which Golden Boy Promotions will produce a monthly live boxing telecast for Mexican fans.

“It is very important to find those next world champions and make them superstars. My job will be to find those talents and that I will come personally to get them. We want nothing more than to make champions into superstars. The boxing world needs Mexican boxing and we should have a presence in Mexico,” said de la Hoya during a press conference in Mexico City. (more…)

Junior intensifies training

Photo by Rafael Soto/Zanfer

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has stepped up his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach and personal trainer Alex Ariza for his next fight against Alfonso Gomez at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. “I know the importance of my fight,” said Chavez. “I know that Alfonso Gomez is a warrior but I know I’m better than him. This is the biggest fight of my career and I don’t intend to lose…Right now what I’m doing is continuing the work that I’ve already been practicing for a few weeks in Culiacán. I’ll be better than ever. We’re already working on strategy. This fight is dedicated to my dad.”

Big card in Spain

Three promoters join forces to showcase three WBC title bouts on Friday, November 26th at the Plaza de Toros, La Cubierta in Leganes- Madrid, Spain. Rimer Box, Sampson Boxing in association with HG Boxing will present a card billed as SPAIN vs. MEXICO. A WBC Silver belt and two WBC Latino belts will be on the line.

The WBC Silver cruiserweight championship bout will be contested between undefeated David Quinonero (24-0, 23 KOs) and Jesus “Chuy” Ruiz (25-5, 18 KOs).

A WBC Latino middleweight championship bout will be presented between Pablo Navascues (24-1-1, 16 KOs) and Luis “Charal” Rodriguez (26-5, 17 KOs). Navascues is seeking redemption after a controversial draw decision against former two-division champion Javier Castellejo.

Also a WBC Latino lightweight championship bout is slated between Peter Petrov (25-2-2, 10 KOs) and Arturo Uruzquieta (14-3, 4 KOs).

Following a lapse of boxing programming on MARCA TV, this network is giving another opportunity to Spanish boxing fans. In addition this event will also be televised in Mexico by the network Cadena 3.

Muriqi opponent named

This Saturday night at The Aviator Sports Complex, former light heavyweight title challenger Elvir Muriqi (37-5, 23 KOs) will take on Daniel Judah (23-6-3, 10 KOs) in ten rounder that will headline a big night of boxing promoted by Robert Diaz and Havoc Boxing Promotions. Muriqi of New York via Kosovo will be back in the ring after a thirteen month layoff. A previously announced bout featuring IBF #5 super middleweight Curtis “Showtime” Stevens is apparently off. The undercard includes a clash between unbeaten light heavyweights Will Rosinsky (12-0, 7 KOs) and Yasin Rashid (7-0, 2 KOs). Featherweight Joselito Collodo (11-0, 3 KOs) will also see action.

Weights from Los Angeles

Carlos Molina vs. John Figueroa
Ivan Redkach vs. Roni Alvarado
Ramon Valadez vs. Ramon Flores
Manuel Avila vs. Salvador Cifuentes
Salvador Rios vs. Gerardo Melendrez
Fidel Maldonado Jr vs. Luis Sanchez
Venue: Club Nokia, Los Angeles, California
Promoter: Golden Boy

Weights from San Diego

Report by Felipe Leon
Photos by Paul Gallegos

Lester Gonzalez 153.5 vs. Christopher Chatman 152
James Parison 164 vs. Loren Myers 164.5
Pablo Armenta 128 vs. Ronald Hurley 128.2
Takashi Okada 113.7 vs. Daniel Modad 115
Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mission Valley, San Diego, California
Promoter: Bobby D. Presents and Jorge Marron Productions

Martinez-Williams II presser

Photos by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions

This Saturday, November 20, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez will defend his title against Paul “The Punisher” Williams in a rematch of their December 5, 2009 slugfest which had both fighters knocked down in round one and Williams winning by majority decision after twelve back-and-forth rounds. Goossen Tutor Promotions and DiBella Entertainment in association with Caesars Atlantic City are presenting this evening of boxing. Martinez vs. Williams II will be broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT. Tickets, priced at $400, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com. For more details and photos click here…

Baldomir-Funes presser quotes

Photo: Ruben Dario Arano (AranoBox)

Former world champion Carlos Baldomir (45-13-6, 14 KOs) of Argentina and countryman Amilcar Funes (22-9, 13 KOs) faced off today in Argentina at the press conference at the Hotel Del Bono Park de la Capital Sanjuanina. The two will fight this Friday in Funes’ hometown at the Estadio Aldo Cantoni in San Juan, San Juan, Argentina. The bout will be promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions. The bout will air live on the HBO Plus service in Latin America with the telecast beginning at 10:00pm local time (9:00pm ET). In the United States, the TeleFutura broadcast will begin at 11:30pm ET / PT (10:30pm CT). (more…)

Bracero headlines in NYC

New York City’s signature boxing series, Broadway Boxing¸ returns on December 1 to the BB King Blues Club in Times Square. Returning for his second straight Broadway Boxing main event is unbeaten junior welterweight Gabriel Bracero (12-0, 1 KO) against experienced spoiler Hector Alatore (16-11, 5 KOs). In a special attraction in the co-main event, unbeaten Dominican bomber Javier Fortuna (12-0, 9 KOs) faces his toughest test to date in New Jersey slickster Victor Valenzuela (8-0, 1 KO). Also on the undercard are some of the most popular pugilists from the New York boxing scene: heavyweight Tor Hamer (12-1, 9 KOs), welterweight Alex Perez (12-0, 7 KOs), heavyweight Sonya Lamonakis (2-0, 1 KO), junior middleweight Steven Martinez (6-0, 6 KOs), and junior middleweight Delen Parsley, Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs).

Daniel Ponce de Leon workout

Photos and report by Ricardo Conde

Former WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon (40-2, 33KOs) of Mexico returns Saturday, December 4th at the Estadio de Beisbol Beto Avila in Veracruz, Mexico against an opponent yet to be determined, which is being headlined by Mexico’s fastest rising star and current WBC Silver junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (34-0-1, 26 KOs) as he takes on former world champion Lovemore “The Black Panther” N’dou (48-11-2, 31 KOs) in the main event which is being presented by Canelo Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and will be broadcast live on HBO Latino in the United States. (more…)

Kohl on Haye-Chagaev clash

Photo: Universum

Universum promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl has responded to a statement that WBA mandatory title challenger Ruslan Chagaev wouldn’t be allowed to fight in England against WBA champion David Haye due to health reasons. “I read a statement from Wilfried Sauerland’s son Kalle son that annoyed me very much. This is another attempt to avoid our boxer Ruslan Chagaev. We will not tolerate this a second time.

“In 2009 in Helsinki they hid behind the weak Finnish Association. That’s why the rematch didn’t come about between Ruslan Chagaev and Nikolai Valuev. What was incomprehensible for every boxing fan was that the first fight took place in 2007 under identical health conditions for Ruslan. We are firmly opposed to claims that Ruslan is sick. According to the best virologists he’s not contagious. Just like the first fight with Valuev, Wladimir Klitschko was immediately ready to fight Ruslan. Now another campaign is being launched against Ruslan and I will not permit it. For me, this is a sign that David Haye and Sauerland are afraid to lose the belt and thus blow up the big Klitschko payday.”

Jones applauds Margarito

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones today told Antonio Margarito “….you are a great warrior…you fought hard….I admire you…. you have a friend for life.” Jones spoke to Margarito after he was released this morning from Methodist Hospital in Dallas following successful surgery on his right eye on Tuesday. Margarito, with wife Michelle, managers Sergio Diaz, Francisco Espinoza and chief trainer Robert Garcia, are taking a flight home today to Los Angeles. “Jerry told us to ‘call me any time’ when we are in the Dallas area,” Diaz said.

GBP, Televisa ink deal

Golden Boy Promotions and the Televisa network in Mexico have inked a multi-year deal to present monthly telecasts, which will debut in January of 2011, and air live on Saturday nights from sites throughout Mexico. The date and fights for the series debut, and other telecasts taking place in the first quarter of 2011, will be announced shortly.

Segura, Vazquez to headline

Two of Mexico’s top world champions, Giovani “The Aztec Warrior” Segura and Miguel “El Titere” Vazquez will be in action on Saturday, November 27 at the Municipal Auditorium in Tijuana to headline “Total Revolution” a big time professional boxing card presented by Promociones Zanfer and Top Rank Inc as part of the 100 year celebration of the Mexican revolution.

Segura (25-1-1, 21 KO’s) of Guerrero, Mexico is the current WBA and WBA 108-pound world champion and is coming off the biggest win of his career a nine round stoppage of Puerto Rican legend Ivan Calderon. Segura will take on former world champion Manuel “Chango” Vargas (28-6-1, 13 KO’s) of Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico in a 10 round non-title bout at 112 pound as he feels the waters at the flyweight division for a possible encounter with the WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda early next year. (more…)