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Highly regarded undefeated lightweight Devin Haney will face the toughest test of his career in veteran Mason Menard in the 10-round main event of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday, May 11 live on SHOWTIME from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

The 19-year-old Haney, who was a seven-time national junior amateur champion, has been considered a blue-chip prospect since turning professional at the age of 16 in Mexico. Haney (18-0, 12 KOs) will face by far the toughest opponent of his career in his ShoBox debut against Menard (33-2, 24 KOs), a two-time ShoBox veteran whose only loss in nearly a decade came to current WBO Lightweight Champion Ray Beltran. Menard is now based in Los Angeles with trainers John Pullman and Buddy McGirt.

By David Finger

Fightnews is sad to report that former featherweight contender Tomas Villa of Midland, Texas died this Tuesday (April 3, 2018). Villa was reportedly involved in a car accident two miles south of Midland. According to the police report A Dodge Durango driven by Villa hit a Kenworth truck tractor on Highway 349 at 5:44 PM. Villa, who according to the police report was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading “Former featherweight contender Tomas Villa passes”

Olympic heavyweight Gold Medalist Tony Yoka enters his second year as a professional boxer and will make his next appearance on Saturday, April 7th at Palais des Sports de Paris, France.

In his first 10-round fight, Yoka will face French fighter Cyril “Aldo” Leonet (13-9-3, 4 KOs). Leonet won the IBF Mediterranean title and was crowned 5-time champion of France. Leonet was French Heavyweight Champion in 2015 and 2017. He won the IBF Mediterranean Champion Belt in 2015 by beating Romanian, Lucian Bot. Tony and Leonet know each other well since he was Tony’s sparring partner last year. Continue reading “Gold medalist Yoka in action Saturday”

According to ESPN, the likely opponent for WBC/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin is little known WBO #6, WBC #8 junior middleweight Jaime Munguia on Cinco de Mayo at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The telecast will apparently remain on HBO Pay-Per-View. The 21-year-old Munguia has a record of 28-0, 24 KOs, but so far has never fought outside Mexico, nor fought any recognizable names.

An official announcement is expected soon. GGG has to find a new dance partner for the PPV telecast on short notice after Canelo Alvarez due to a banned substance found in his system. No undercard bouts have been announced as of yet.

By David Finger

The WBO recently announced that the upcoming 31st annual boxing convention will take place at the Barcelo Hotel in Nicaragua from October 29-November 2. Originally the 2018 convention was slated to take place in Costa Rica but Nicaragua reportedly pulled out the red carpet in an attempt to convince the WBO to host their convention in Managua. Participants can register for the upcoming convention at www.wboboxing.com.

Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that talks are in progress for WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders to face WBA, WBC and IBF Champion Gennady Golovkin in the autumn, should Saunders come through his fight with Martin Murray at London’s 02 Arena on June 23rd.

Golovkin was due to fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on May 5th in Las Vegas, but the Mexican withdrew from the rematch on Tuesday, causing widespread rumors that Saunders would step in as a late replacement. However, Saunders’ promoter has confirmed that Saunders will make the fourth defense of his world title against domestic rival Murray on June 23rd as originally planned.

“I’ve spoken with Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler and Golovkin vs. Saunders is in play for this Autumn,” said Warren. “May 5th was never going to happen because of Bill’s hand injury and Golovkin’s team are going ahead with a fight on that date so couldn’t make a fight in June. Continue reading “Update: No GGG, Saunders facing Martin Murray”

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren says WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders is game to fight WBA/WBC/IBF/ middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin if GGG can wait a month. Warren confirmed to the BBC that “We have had conversations and will speak later today and see where it goes. Provided Golovkin would be willing to fight in June, Bill would be available. I understand they are looking at 5 May in Vegas, but I am not sure if they will find an opponent or sell a show out in such a short space of time. I am hoping they will take the fight, then we can do it here or go to the States, but that will be their call. We need to know soon and not let it drag on. There is a short window to do it and we need to get a decision.”

After three fights in as many months and becoming only the third fighter to ever appear on HBO in consecutive months, Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (21-1 17 KOs) now finds himself in a battle of a different kind. Seldin was diagnosed with a UCL tear and elected to have an alternative to the common “Tommy John” surgery (in which a healthy tendon extracted from an arm or leg to replace a torn ligament) on February 8 at Stony Brook Hospital on Long Island. This surgery conducted by Dr. James Paci, placed an internal brace, ulnar nerve transposition and olecranon osteophyte excision in Seldin’s left arm. By electing to go this route, Seldin has the potential to cut rehabilitation time in half. Continue reading “Cletus Seldin recovering from surgery”

World champions Erislandy Lara and Jarrett Hurd began fight week with a media workout in Las Vegas Wednesday before their 154-pound world title unification that headlines action this Saturday on SHOWTIME from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Erislandy Lara: “All of my opponents are taller than me. His size means nothing to me. I have the experience and I’m the best boxer in the division. He’s never seen anything like me. He has to beat me to get the top spot in this division. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Jarrett Hurd: “No matter what kind of fight he brings; I’m going to stick to my game plan. He has to fight at my pace. No matter what he comes with, I’m going to be in charge in the ring…at the end of the day, you don’t have to worry about Lara running away, because I’m going to be in his face for 12 rounds.”

IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb Truax spoke Wednesday about his rematch with former champion James DeGale this Saturday on SHOWTIME from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

“I think DeGale has been making excuses,” said Truax “He couldn’t stop talking about how great his shoulder felt heading into our first fight. Then right after the fight he said he felt fine. Now I guess he came back too early. He was in a tough fight not too long ago, so we’ll see how he is on Saturday night…as far as I know, I’m still an underdog for this fight. A lot of people think I was a fluke the first time around, so it’s up to me to prove them wrong. I’m ready to silence the critics and silence DeGale.”

Boxing lifers Bob Goodman and his father, the late Murray Goodman, are among 23 members of the Class of 2018 being inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) on April 29.

A legendary boxing publicist, Murray Goodman (Bronx) brought his son into the sweet science when Bob was only eight years old. The rest was historic for the Goodmans, who are both inductees in several Halls of Fame, including the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“This is a great honor for me and my father,” Bob said. “I wish he were alive today to be there. I’m a boxing lifer. Continue reading “Goodmans to be inducted into NYSBHOF”

San Francisco welterweight Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield will return to action this Saturday at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA against Gaku Takahashi, a game and durable southpaw who trains at the prestigious Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, CA.

Mayfield is not just headlining the bout, but also promoting it as well as his Hard Hitta Promotions is working in association with Humboldt Boxing and Roy Englebrecht. For Mayfield, a veteran of the sport who saw most of his prime of career being avoided by top fighters is now looking to change that as he is able to dictate terms on the business side of things. Continue reading “Karim Mayfield ready for return”

Bantamweight Tony Lopez Jr. (13-3, 4 KOs) believes an impressive victory April 20th over his Roy Jones Jr., Boxing Promotions (RJJ) stablemate and unbeaten prospect “Baby-Faced Assassin” Max Ornelas (10-0-1, 4 KOs), will get him back in the mix. Ornelas vs. Lopez, Jr. will air live on beIN Sports from Cox Pavilion on the University of Nevada at Las Vegas campus. The vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) North American Boxing Association (NABA) USA bantamweight title will be on the line in the eight-round main event. Continue reading “Lopez-Ornelas clash April 20 in Vegas”

Dee Lee Promotions, LLC in association with Night Night Promotions Inc, presents a live boxing card at the Hockessin PAL Center in Hockessin, Delaware, on May 12, 2018. Delaware native “Jolt’n” Joey Tiberi Jr. (15-3) headlines the 10 bout show featuring Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania boxers. Tiberi is hoping to restart his winning ways and has been refocusing his efforts through an extremely aggressive training regiment. Only time will tell but, Tiberi seems very determined.

The event also features fighters like cruiserweight Anthony “The Bull” Caputo Smith (15-8), light heavyweight Brandon Mullins(1-0) and heavyweight Dan “Bada Bing” Biddle (9-7-0, 4 KOs).

Mike Segura 156.2 vs Shohei Yamamoto 155.2
Lisa Mauldin 125 vs Amanda Jones 125
Misael Elias Jr 140.8 vs Eric Gome 139.5
Ian Butler 174 vs Cory Hall 170.5
Alejandro Lope Huerta 132.6 vs Jaime Miranda 135

Venue: The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA
Promoter: Roy Englebrecht
Doors at 6:30pm. First Bell at 7:10pm
Tickets at www.socafights.com

Professional boxing’s newest promotional company, Hartford Boxing Promotions, has announced its official formation, as well as tentative plans calling for its inaugural event this summer in Hartford.

Boxing trainer Tony Blanco and his Hartford-based House of Boxing gym partner, Michael Tran, have teamed with their undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (6-0, 5 KOs), to form Hartford Boxing Promotions. Rivera is one of the best and most popular pro fighters in New England. Continue reading “June 16 card coming together in Hartford, CT”