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USA Olympian and hometown hero Nico Hernandez and Hungarian flyweight champion Jozsef “Little Red” Ajtai took completely different paths into the professional ranks.

Hernandez vs, Ajtai is the eight-round main event for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas flyweight title fight, Saturday night, December 2, on the “KO Night Boxing: Gold & Glory” card, at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.

The action will be taped live for future airing on CBS Sports Network. Continue reading “Hernandez-Ajtai Preview”

Former unified light heavyweight world champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs) is energized and reinvigorated as he returns to the ring on Saturday against Vyacheslav Shabranskyy for the vacant WBO world title at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Kovalev is a 10:1 favorite to regain his WBO belt in the HBO-televised fight. He is coming off consecutive losses to Andre Ward who then promptly retired.

“Sergey’s made it very clear that this was all a wake-up call for him,” said promoter Kathy Duva. “He’s decided to get it together. You can’t be the champion of the world and out with your friends.” Continue reading “Kovalev poised to hit reset button Saturday”

On Saturday, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing is bringing fireworks to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. In the co-feature bout, Danny “El Gallo” Gonzalez (Woodhaven NY, 14-0 5KOs) puts his undefeated record on the line against the impressive Danny O’Connor (Framingham, MA 28-3 10KOs) for the vacant WBC Silver Super Lightweight Title. The main event is a title bout between current WBC International and Continental Americas champion Constantin Bejenaru (Brooklyn NY, 12-0 3KOs), defending his WBC International and Continental Americas Cruiserweight Titles vs #1 mandatory challenger from South Africa, Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (Kato Ridge, South Africa 18-3 11KOs). Continue reading “Full Mohegan Sun card announced”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Salvadoran welterweight Francisco “Pantera” Ruiz has been hospitalized since Saturday night with an unfavorable prognosis after his fight for the domestic title of El Salvador at the event “KO a Las Drogas.” Ruiz had to be taken from the ring on a stretcher after being knocked out by compatriot Ricardo Cortés. Ruiz’s injury occurred at the end of the eighth round and he was immediately rushed to the hospital. Ruiz was unbeaten in three fights all of them in 2017 and all had been four rounders.

By Robert Coster

A good crowd showed up at the luxury Jaragua Renaissance Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo to watch Shuan Boxing Promotion’s last card of the year, a marathon event which ended at 2AM. In the main event, WBA #11 jr welterweight Alberto Puello (13-0, 8 KOs) gave the best performance of his young career by annihilating Ricardo Gutierrez (11-2-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico in 1’28” of the first round. The stylish Puello is generally known to take his time but not on this night: a vicious right hook to the body sent the visitor to the canvas on his back for the full count – a quick, spectacular victory for the young Dominican who retains his WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino belts.

The co-main event had former WBA cruiserweight world champion Guillermo Jones (41-3-2, 30 KOs) of Panama battle former amateur star Ytalo Perea (10-3, 6 KOs) of Ecuador for the vacant WBA Fedelatin heavyweight title. The contest was an exciting give-and-take rumble for 11 rounds. Perea – a former Pan American Games gold medalist – started off well but the latter portion of the fight saw the veteran Jones take command. The 45-year-old Jones was awarded a split decision (107-102, 104-105,107-102). Fightnews had Jones winning 106-103. Continue reading “Puello crushes Gutierrez, Jones wins”

By Gary “Digital” Williams at ringside

Washington, DC welterweight Jonathan “Bad Badger” Baxter scored a fourth-round TKO over Joseph “Trouble” Figueroa of the Bronx, NY in the main event of the TAC Promotions/Putney Promotions card at the Merrick Recreation Center in DC.

Badger hammered Figueroa all throughout the contest with head and body shots. Figueroa resembled a punching bag with feet, throwing very little back offensively in return. Baxter made Figueroa drop to one knee with a right to the body in the third round. Early in the fourth, Figueroa fell to his knees again, although it seemed to be more from a tangle than from a Baxter punch. However, referee Sharon Sands had seen enough and waived the bout off at 35 seconds of the round. Badger, who competed in his hometown for the first time as a pro, is now 9-1, eight KO’s. Figueroa, who was knocked out for the first time in more than seven years, falls to 11-63-5, three KO’s. Continue reading “Baxter Scores Knockout In DC”

By Ricardo Ibarra
Photos by Mike Blair/Boxingprospects.net

Adding his fifth consecutive win in fourteen months, Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronski (24-2-1, 15 KOs) annexed the vacant WBA-NABA super middleweight title on Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington, defeating Arizona’s Andrew Hernandez (19-8-1, 9 KOs) with an eight round split technical decision. The fight was the main event of Brian Halquist Productions’ ‘Battle at the Boat 113’ and had been a closely contested battle right up to the eighth round when an injury suffered by Hernandez forced the contest to go to the cards. Continue reading “Gavronski Captures NABA Title”

WBC interim female light flyweight champion Kenia “Jaguarcita” Enriquez (20-1, 9 KOs) pounded out a ten round unanimous decision over Jessia Nery Playa (22-2, 3 KOs) on Saturday night at the CUM in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. Enriquez floored Playa in the last round en route to a 96-93, 97-93, 97-92 win.

In the co-feature, Gilberto “Yaqui” Parra Medina (26-3-0, 21 KOs) claimed the vacant WBC light flyweight silver title with a fourth round TKO over Leyman Benavides (14-6-1, 2 KOs).

Photos: Chris Farina/Mayweather Promotions

Jr middleweight Julian “J-Rock” Williams (24-1-1, 15 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over former IBF jr middleweight world champion Ishe Smith (29-9, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Smith was cut over the left eye by an accidental headbutt in round two. The 27-year-old J-Rock was faster and hit harder, but the crafty Smith, 12 years his senior, put his punches together in relentless combinations. Smith was cut again over the same eye by a seventh round headclash. The fighters battled hard to the end. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, 97-93 for J-Rock.

Light heavyweight Lionell Thompson (19-4, 11 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Earl Newman (10-1-1, 7 KOs). Referee Robert Byrd gave Newman a standing eight-count in round three. Thompson battered Newman to the deck again in round four. Newman, however, persevered until the final bell. Scores were 97-91, 97-91, 96-92.

In a clash between unbeaten featherweight prospects, Tugstsogt Nyambayar (9-0, 8 KOs) recovered from a second round knockdown to defeat Harmonito Dela Torre (19-0, 12 KOs) by eight round unanimous decision. Scores were 79-73, 78-73, 78-73, all for Nyambayar who is a 2012 Olympic silver medalist. photos

By Matt Richardson at ringside

Junior lightweight contender Bryant “Pee Wee” Cruz scored one of the more impressive wins of his career on Saturday night at the Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York when he violently knocked out Angel Luna in the third round of a scheduled eight-round fight.

The bout was the main event of a nine-bout card promoted by legendary former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield’s new promotional company, “Real Deal Boxing.”

After a relatively close two rounds Cruz (18-2, 9 KO’s) dropped Luna hard with a flush right. Luna (12-4-1, 7 KO’s) fell onto his chest and struggled to rise, correctly prompting a stoppage at the 42-second mark of the round.

Luna had recently gone the distance with both Tevin Farmer and Toka Kahn Clary, making his destruction at the hands of Cruz that much more unexpected. Cruz, meantime, was coming off a March 2017 loss at Madison Square Garden, his second in three fights. Continue reading “Cruz stops Luna in three”

By TMZSports.com

Promoter Oscar de la Hoya is putting concerns there won’t be a GGG vs. Canelo Alvarez rematch to bed … he says it’s happening — most likely on Cinco de Mayo — and it’s going to be the biggest thing in boxing.

We got The Golden Boy at his 21st Annual Turkey Giveaway in L.A. Saturday and asked him about the highly anticipated fight (part 2) … and he’s pumped about it too. He says the plan is for the rematch to go down the same place as last time — T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas — on May 5, 2018. As you’ll recall … the first fight was ruled a draw despite one judge insanely scoring it 118 to 110 for Canelo, who’s Oscar’s fighter.

As for Conor McGregor — who Oscar recently boasted he could beat in 2 rounds — the retired former champ doubled down … and took a jab at Floyd Mayweather while he was at it.

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Photos: Sumio Yamada

Former super bantam and featherweight world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (24-1, 14 KOs) scored a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over Horacio “Violento” Garcia (33-4-1, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Rebounding from his first career loss against Leo Santa Cruz in January, Frampton got off to a strong start, but Garcia’s pressure started paying dividends. Garcia dropped Frampton in round seven, but the hometown hero prevailed 98-93, 97-93, 96-93. Canelo Alvarez was in the house in support of Garcia. photos

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Heavyweight Tomasz Adamek (52-5, 30 KOs) outworked “Big” Fred Kassi (18-7-1, 10 KOs) over ten rounds on Saturday night in Czestochowa, Poland. Adamek, the former light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, suffered a cut over his left eye in round two that bled heavily the rest of the way. Despite the blood, Adamek pressed the action and prevailed 97-93, 96-94, 96-94.

Photos: Sumio Yamada

IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (28-1-1, 19 KOs) retained his title by sixth round KO over previously unbeaten Jamie Conlan (19-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ancajas was credited with a knockdown in round one when Conlan took a knee. Ancajas dropped Conlan again in round three with a brutal body attack. Conlan barely survived the round. Amnother knockdown in round four. The ref deducted a point from Ancajas for a low blow, seemingly on the belt line, in round five. The bout was finally stopped after Ancajas dropped Conlan again in round six. Time was :52.

It was Ancajas’ third successful title defense this year since dethroning McJoe Arroyo in September 2016. Conlan is the older brother of Top Rank fighter Michael Conlan. photos

Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete (26-3, 21 KOs) needed just 11 seconds to knock out challenger Siboniso Gonya (11-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Southpaw Tete came out, landed a right hook and it was over. The fight was the quickest world title fight in the history of boxing. photos

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is confident he has the power to knock out both WBA, IBF champion Anthony Joshua and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten the respect of being a world champion, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Parker said. “I feel as a world champion I have achieved something incredible in our country and am very happy with what I have achieved. But I don’t think I get the respect.

“Now I have the WBO, I want the WBC. I want the IBF. I want the WBA. AJ (Joshua) is a fighter who is champion of the world. My goal is to unify. My goal is to grab his belts and to say that I am the real champion. I don’t think I would have problems knocking them [Joshua or Wilder] out.”

Boxing fans will be treated to a clash on HBO Latino beginning at 1:05 a.m. ET/PT (tape delayed) or immediately following live HBO telecast in addition to the previously announced HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader on December 9 from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Featured on the HBO Latino Boxing telecast in a ten-round junior lightweight contest, two-time world title challenger Denis Shafikov, (38-3-1, 20 KOs), of Miass, Russia now fighting out of Big Bear Lake, California will face-off against Managua, Nicaragua native Rene Alvarado (27-8-0, 19 KOs). Continue reading “HBO Latino picks up Shafikov-Alvarado”

By Gary “Digital” Williams

There will be a pro boxing card coming to a new location in Washington, DC. A TAC Promotions/Putney Promotions card will take place tonight at the Merrick Recreation Center.

Headlining the card will be the return of DC welterweight Jonathan “Bad Badger” Baxter who will be in a six-round contest against veteran Joseph “Trouble” Figueroa of the Bronx, NY. Baxter (8-1, seven KO’s) lost his pro debut in November of 2016 but has won eight straight bouts in North Carolina and Georgia. This includes a second-round TKO of Isaiah Robinson on August 19 in Greensboro, NC. Figueroa (11-62-5, three KO’s) will be the most experienced foe Baxter has faced. Figueroa has lost eight in a row but has gone the distance in every bout. Figueroa is coming off a four-round unanimous decision loss to Osnel Charles on April 27 in Durham, NC. Continue reading “Boxing Returns To DC tonight”

17-year-old Top Rank super featherweight Gabriel Flores Jr (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Alexander Acuna (2-1, 1 KO) on Friday night at the Reno Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. Flores scored three knockdowns in the bout.

Former NABF heavyweight champ Daniel “The Mountain” Martz (16-5, 13 KOs) annihilated Tim Washington (6-5, 6 KOs) in the main event on Friday at the Lifestyle Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. After outworking his opponent in the first round, Martz, 6’8 260 pounds, badly hurt Washington, 6’6 265 pounds, with a big, straight right hand midway through the second stanza. Martz proceeded to pummel Washington with a barrage of power punches dropping him with a right hand/left hook combination. A wobbled Washington rose to his feet but then feel back into the ropes prompting referee Ken Miliner to halt the onslaught at 2:31 of the second round.

In the co-feature, cruiser Brian Holstein (13-7, 7 KOs) earned a majority decision over a game Lawrence Blakey (5-8, 2 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 59-55 and 57-57. Continue reading “Martz wallops Washington”

Report/Photos: Bob Ryder

Former WBC super middleweight champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (31-1-1, 24 KOs) returned to the ring following a 10-month layoff to win by six round technical decision over Denis “Momma’s Boy” Douglin (20-6, 13 KOs) on Friday night at the Dort Federal Event Center in Dirrell’s hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Dirrell rocked Douglin in round one. Douglin showed a lot of heart, but Dirrell continued to land big shots. Referee Frank Garza deducted a point from Douglin for pushing Dirrell down in round six. Dirrell was cut over the left eye later in the round by an accidental headbutt and the bout went to the scorecards. Scores were 49-46, 48-47, 48-47. Continue reading “Ex-champ Dirrell beats Douglin by tech decision”

Giovani Santillan (23-0, 13 KOs), the #7 rated welterweight by the WBO, delivered a masterful performance in knocking out Dodzi Kemeh (13-2, 12 KOs) in the fourth round Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. With the knockout win, Santillan successfully defended his WBO NABO Title for the first time. Continue reading “WBO #7 welter Santillan still unbeaten”

Kenia Enríquez 107.8 vs. Jessica Nery Plata 107.8 lbs
(WBC interim world light flyweight title)

Gilberto Parra 107.8 vs. Leyman Benavides 107.8 lbs
(WBC silver light flyweight title)

Promoter: Zanfer, ARA Promotions
Venue: Centro de Usos Múltiples (CUM), Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mx
TV: TV Azteca

Mike Gavronski 167 vs. Andrew Hernandez 167
(WBA-NABA super middleweight championship)

Andre Keys 146 vs. Sean Gee 145
Steve Villalobos 152 vs. Eduardo Torres 150 ­­
Niko McFarland 143 vs. Keith Wolf 141
Cameron Sevilla-Rivera 181 vs. Kian Heidari 174
Austin Springer 143 vs. Jorge Linares 140

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington
Promoter: Brian Halquist Productions