Lazcano wins in Juarez

Photo courtesy of Promociones del Pueblo

Eduardo “Chucky” Lazcano (18-1, 9 KOs) won the WBC Fecombox featherweight belt Saturday night on a Promociones del Pueblo card at the Gimnasio Municipal in Juarez, winning by TKO over Cristian “Veneno” Lopez (14-2-1, 13 KOs). The fight was stopped in round five due to a hand injury sustained by Lopez. Lazcano was ahead on the scorecards. In the co-main event, Mauro “Punos de Oro” Lucero (45-13-1, 31 KOs) scored a first round kayo over Joel “Dinamita” Juarez (23-8-1, 22 KOs), flooring him three times before the final count. Other results: Juarez flyweight Victor “Dragon” Pasillas (1-0-2) and Julio Cesar Cabrera (0-1-2) drew for the second time, in six rounds; Pedro Torres (3-2) defeated Juan Carlos Chavira (2-4) by decision; Francisco Dominguez (7-5, 1 KO) decisioned Arturo “La Sombra” Murillo (5-11-1, 3 KOs) in six; Oscar Uribe (1-0-1) and Mauricio Dominguez (0-0-1) fought a majority draw; and Uriel Gonzalez defeated Nestor Antonio Figueroa (0-2).

ShoBox hits Albuquerque

Preview by Chris Cozzone

Hoping to remain undefeated, two hopefuls face stern tests when Showtime hits Albuquerque, N.M. on Jan. 29 with the year’s first telecast of ShoBox.

In the main event, bantamweight Chris Avalos (14-0, 11 KOs), of Lancaster, Calif., will fight his first 10-rounder, against Puerto Rico’s Jose Nieves (17-1, 8 KOs) . . . Click here for more

Klitschko-Chambers set

IBF/WBO/IBO world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs) defends his titles against Eddie Chambers (35-1, 18 KOs) on March 20th at ESPRIT arena Düsseldorf, Germany. Chambers is the current WBO #1 and the official challenger. On fight night, the arena, homefield of 2. Bundesleague Club Fortuna Düsseldorf, will have a capacity of 51.000 seats. “I am really happy to be back in the ring,” said Klitschko. “I have only good memories of Düsseldorf, my only fight there I won by TKO. This fight is going to take place in a giant stadium. The audience of over 50,000 spectators is a further motivation for me. Chambers is currently the best heavyweight boxer from the US.” (more…)

Shot of the Day

Photo: Henry Bedoy

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao played basketball on Sunday night in Burbank, California. More photos…

Solis vs Ramos is on

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Finally, the fight for the WBA super featherweight interim world title between Colombian champion Likar Ramos and Mexican challenger Jorge “Coloradito” Solís is a go for February 6 in Mexico. The WBA was sanctioned the fight upon verifying that all due payments have been received and that the Championships Committee has accepted Solís in the WBA super featherweight ranking. “The fight is on,” said Ramos’ manager Juan Devia from Barranquilla, Colombia. “Next week the medical checkups will be done.”

Lopez and Gamboa dominate…

By Alex Dombroff

If Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa established themselves as the top two featherweights in the world with impressive wins Saturday night, there seems to be no rush to definitively answer who is number one. It was the second time in four months that Lopez and Gamboa co-headlined a show from the theatre inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden. And for the second time in four months, it was thought to be their penultimate contests en route to a showdown between the two. (more…)

Hot prospects invade McAllen

By John Cannon

Corpus Christi native and Top Rank prospect Jerry Belmontes said that he is proud to call the Valley his home away from home for now. “I have been training here for quite some time now and feel very comfortable in the Valley,“ said Belmontes. “I have fought twice here as a pro and a lot as an amateur and really enjoyed it. I look forward to fighting in front of the Valley fans again and I know they will show their support. This is a great card and I am proud to be a part of it.” (more…)

McClain dominates

Photo: Ozzie Santiago

By Jose E. Santiago

Last night at The Pit in Atlanta GA, Yahya “The Yah-ster” McClain (25-7-2, 17 KOs) took one step closer in getting his eagerly desired title shot in the cruiserweight division as he completely dominated Leo “Busido” Bercier (8-12-1, 4 KOs) of Great Falls, MT for six rounds. In the first round McClain came out un-customarily aggressive; standing his ground and taking the lead with lead jabs followed by straight rights to the body. Known for his great counter-punching an aggressive McClain dominated the round as Bercier had absolutely no answer. For more details and photos click here…

Kassi KOs Droz

By Damien St. Pierre/gulfcoastboxing.com

It took rising heavyweight Fred Kassi a couple of rounds to warm up Saturday night at the Les Bonano promoted event at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, but when he did he made it count. The southpaw stance of Tampa, Florida’s Moises Droz (13-9) took a while to figure out for New Orleans, Louisiana heavyweight Kassi. The opening round saw both fighters in the “feeling out” process, which resulted in multiple stance changes by both fighters. The 2nd round was most of the same but a little more action. Towards the end of round 3 Kassi saw and opening and attacked. Kassi repeatedly snapped the 245lb Droz’s head back with powerful shots. Droz would go down from a flurry of shots. He would then get back up to one knee and take the full 10 count from the official. With the win Kassi moves to 15-1 and has now won 3 straight bouts since his lone setback. (more…)

Diaz defeats Perez

Former two-time world title challenger Gamaliel “Platano” Diaz (24-9-2, 11 KOs) scored a one-sided unanimous decision over light-punching Jorge “Comino” Perez 10-5-1, 0 KOs in a super featherweight bout on Saturday night at the Deportivo Juan Hernandez Albarran in Zinacantepec, Mexico. With the win, Diaz took Perez’ WBC CABOFE super featherweight title.
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Earlier, Mario “El Huracan” Macias (18-4, 10 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Eduardo “Potrillo” Zaragoza to keep his NABF bantamweight championship.

Chaves, Lazarte win in Argentina

Hot Argentinian prospect Diego Chaves (13-0, 12 KOs) won the WBO Latino welteweight title by way of 4th round TKO over Brazilian Daniel Saboia (8-2-1, 3 KOs). Saboia received a standing 8 count by the referee in round 4 after been staggered by a series of punches by Chaves. Moments later Chaves finished off Saboia with a vicious volume of head shots that had the referee wave off the bout in the same round.

Five-time world title challenger Luis Alberto Lazarte (46-9-1, 18 KOs) pounded out a unanimous decision over countryman Raul Eliseo Medina (25-10-3, 10 KOs) by the scores of 100 90, 100 91 100 90, and 99 93 to win the WBC Mundo Hispano flyweight title. The event took place at the Club Once Unidos, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The show was promoted by Mario Margossian.

Lopez, Gamboa stop foes

Photo: Emily Harney

By Mariano A. Agmi and Matt Richardson at ringside

WBO jr. featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) dethroned WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KOs) with an impressibe seventh round TKO on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. Juanma slowly and methodically broke down Luevano, finally flooring him in the seventh. Referee Benji Estevez at the :44 mark, not allowing Luevano to continue.

Photo: Emily Harney

WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa,, (17-0, 15 KOs) destroyed IBF #7/WBO #10 Rogers Mtagwa (26-14-2, 18 KOs) in two rounds. Gamboa simply outclassed Mtagwa, florring him once in the first and twice in the second before the bout was waved off by referee Steve Smoger. Time was 2:35. In the previous fight, Mtagwa nearly upset Juanma Lopez, but he was never in the fight tonight. For more details and photos click here…

Green headed to Super Six

Looks like Allan Green is in as Jermain Taylor’s replacement in SHOWTIME’s highly acclaimed Super Six tournament and Sakio BIka is out. Green and Bika were slated to fight on February 5 in Santa Ynez, California, with the winner to get Taylor’s spot, however, the fight has fallen through due, apparently due to issues on the Bika end, thus paving the way for Green to move directly into Taylor’s April 17 slot against Andre Ward.

Airich-Mazikin draw again

By Alexey Sukachev

In a heated heavyweight rematch, local favorite Konstantin Airich (13-2-2, 10 KOs) failed to avenge his first career draw and seemingly dropped a wide decision to Ukrainian prospect-turned-journeyman Alexey Mazikin (13-4-2, 3 KOs) everywhere except for judges’ scorecards. Mazikin dominated almost the whole fight with his slow yet effective pressure. He was especially successful in landing big overhand rights through Airich’s defense and penetrated his shell with lean left jabs to the stomach as well. Airich had some success in later rounds thanks to his will and probably desperation but it was clearly not enough to earn him a decision. However, two cards played in his favour; the first being a nasty cut over Mazikin’s right eye, and the second one was a deduction of two points from the Ukrainian giant in round three for low blows, which put him on the brink of disqualification. After eight rounds, two judges scored the fight a draw 76-76, while the third one saw it in Airich’s favour 77-75. Fightnews scorecard differed much and looked like 79-73 – for Mazikin. (more…)

Tamara had perfect fight plan

By Dennis Principe

While champion Brian Viloria had the supposed edge fighting in his homecourt, challenger Carlos Tamara was the one on target by employing the most effective fight plan. But more than having an effective strategy, it was Tamara’s determination and excellent conditioning that led the Colombian to a resounding 12th round stoppage of Viloria and crown himself the new International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightflyweight champion Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Philippines. (more…)

Report/gallery: Lopez-Brown

Ringside by Rocco Morales
Photos by “Big” Joe Miranda

Before a sold-out crowd at the Ontario Doubletree Hotel, in an eight-round jr. welterweight main event, contender Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez looked to add a big name to his record with 41 year old, four-time world title challenger, John “The Eastern Beast” Brown.

Brown, despite his credentials, is only 1-7-2 since last challenging for a world title. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan born Lopez entered the ring the winner in six of his last seven bouts . . . . Click here for full report and photos

Namauu defeats Vega

Ringside report and photos by Chris Cozzone

Las Vegas cruiserweight Henry Namauu might’ve been overmatched when he turned pro in 2008, lasting just under a minute against a 5-2-1 Erick “Dynamite” Vega, of Phoenix.

Last night was a different story. Defusing “Dynamite” Vega with a big right hand, Namauu pummeled his way to payback with a unanimous decision victory . . . Click here for more

Lopez defeats Brown

Photo: Big Joe Miranda

By Rocco Morales

Junior welterweight Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez (18-2, 12 KOs) outpointed 41-year-old, four-time world title challenger John “The Eastern Beast” Brown (24-17-2, 11 KOs) over eight mostly dull rounds on Friday night at the sold out Ontario Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. Lopez did his best to press the action and finally caught the cutesy Brown with a vicious body shot with a minute remaining final round, dropping Brown for a 9 count and very nearly knocking him out, attacking until the very last second. Scores were 79-72, 80-71 and 80-71. Click here for more photos…

Saunders edges Davis

Light heavyweight Rayco Saunders (18-12-1) won an eight round split decision over Demetrius Davis (19-18-5) to claim the WBF All Americas title on Friday night at the Hilton Pittsburgh in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.

Other Results:
Rod Salka W6 Mario Hayes (super lightweight)
Andres Taylor W6 William Bailey (cruiserweight)
Rasool Shakoor W6 Kieyon Bussey (featherweight)
Isaac Salter W4 John Farley (super middleweight)
Ronell Green KO2 David Warren Huffman (lightheavy)

The event was promoted by Roy Jones Jr.’s Square Ring and TNT Promotions.

Sylvester to face Lyell

Sebastian Sylvester (32-3, 15 KOs) will now make the first defense of his IBF middleweight title against Billy Lyell after a positive drug test has KOed Pablo Navascues. The Spaniard was tested positive for banned substances during a random training check in January. “We have a zero-tolerance policy as far as doping is concerned and we are proud that our rigid control mechanisms have paid dividends,” Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer said. “Sylvester will now defend his title against Lyell in what will be an exciting fight in front of a sell-out crowd of 4,500 fans in Sebastian´s backyard of Neubrandenburg. With the help of his fans, he will make his first defence a successful one.” (more…)

Mchunu retains titles

By Ron Jackson

Thabiso Mchunu retained his South African and Pan African junior heavyweight titles when he stopped the more experienced Ruben Groenewald in the fourth round at the Bloemfontein City Hall on Friday night. The 32-year-old Groenewald (89.96kg) came out swinging wildly in the first round as the 22-year-old Mchunu (90.36kg) who fights from the southpaw stance outboxed him through rounds two and three before landing five unanswered blows in the fourth when referee Jaap van Nieuwenhuizen stepped in to call the fight off at 1 minute 31 seconds into the round. (more…)

Viloria stable after collapse

Former two time world champion Brian Viloria reportedly collapsed in his dressing room shortly after his TKO loss to Carlos Tamara and was rushed by ambulance to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Manila, Philippines. He is now listed in stable condition and is said to be suffering from exhaustion. He was well enough to be transferred to another hospital where he underwent a battery of tests, including a CT scan which was normal. He will remain hospitalized for observation for the time being.

Cotto in NYC

Chris Farina/Top Rank

Three-time world champion Miguel Cotto arrives in New York to see fellow countryman WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez take on WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Upset: Tamara TKOs Viloria

By Karl Freitag

Mandatory challenger Carlos Tamara (21-4, 15 KOs) dethroned IBF junior flyweight champion Brian Viloria (26-3, 15 KOs) via twelfth round TKO early Saturday afternoon at the Cuneta Astrodome in Manila, Philippines. After three slow rounds, Viloria landed some heavy body shots in round four. The heavier-handed champion had the advantage as the bout progressed. After a big round for Viloria in the eighth, the bout turned when Tamara rallied in the ninth and tenth and rocked the dead-tired Viloria in the eleventh. Tamara continued the assault in the twelfth and got the stop when referee Bruce McTavish stepped in to protect the exhausted and defenseless “Hawaiian Punch.” Time was 1:45. The win by Tamara scuttles a possible showdown between Viloria and unbeaten WBO 108lb champion Ivan Calderon.
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WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes (26-1-3, 15 KOs) scored a tenth round TKO over late sub Jesus Silvestre (15-2, 12 KOs). Nietes floored and almost stopped Silvestre in a dominant round one, but was forced to go into the tenth. The bout ended when Silvestre lost his mouthpiece then spent too much time in his corner getting it replaced and the bout was waved off. Time was 1:37. The WBO wouldn’t accept the unrated Silvestre as a challenger, thus the bout was a non-title affair.
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Lightweight Jimrex Jaca (29-6-2, 14 KOs) returned from a 15 month layoff to score an impressive fifth round knockout against game Ramadhan Weriu (13-3-1, 12 KOs). A big uppercut and followup combination finished Weriu at 2:58.
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Lightweight Jason Pagara (21-1, 10 KOs) won a workmanlike ten round majority decision over Eddy Comaro (22-7-5, 8 KOs). Scores were 95-95, 96-94, 98-92.
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The fight card at the Cuneta Astrodome started at 9am local time to accommodate worldwide television.

Inanuzzi stops Tinsley

Cruiserweight prospect Nick Iannuzzi moved to 14-1 with 9 KOs after a fourth round TKO over Deleon Tinsley (9-6-1, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the Tampa Westshore Doubletree Hotel in Tampa, Florida.
Other Results:
Adam Jaco W6 Marcus Don Hall (light heavyweight)
Reynaldo Cepeda W6 Jones Petit-Homme (welterweight)
Mike Greeson D4 Roy Boykin (heavyweight)
Sherali Dostiev TKO1 over Jorge Vidal (s. bantamweight)

Lundy wins split decision

Emily Harney

Hot lightweight prospect “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy brought a touch of his Philadelphia fighting to Boston last night, defeating former Cuban amateur standout Richard “El Tigre” Abril by a 10-round split decision, in the “Boston Pop” main event at The Roxy. Lundy (17-0-1, 10 KOs) remained unbeaten, even though he suffered a knockdown in the midway through the fight, that appeared to be more of a slip causing his glove to briefly hit the canvas. The judges scored 98-91 and 96-94 in favor of Lundy, 95-94 for Abril (12-2-1, 6 KOs). (more…)

WBA offficials meet in Panama

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Officials from Panama and other countries meet this weekend in Panama City to analyze interim title matches, the status of judging in the world boxing setting, evaluating rounds and more. The event is organized by the World Boxing Association with WBA executive vice president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, and international officials Gustavo Padilla and Julio Cesar Alvarado among those on hand.

Weights from Atlanta

Photo: Jose Santiago

By Jose Santiago

On December 4th Yahya McClain (24-7-2, 17 KOs) took his first step back into the ring after a 10 year hiatus and scored a 3rd round TKO over Shane “Superman” Steele (6-2, 5 KOs). Just seven weeks later the former two-time WBU cruiserweight champ is jumping right back into the fray against experienced Leo Bracier (8-11-1, 4 KOs) in his quest of a title shot in what he deems the diluted cruiserweight division. The fights will be held at The Pit adjacent to the Absoloot Boxing Gym in Atlanta Georgia.

Yahya McClain 193 vs Leo Bracier 197.5
Danta Woods 175 vs Shannon Miller 175
John Willoughby 137 vs Jamar Saunders 138
Omar Bell 156 vs Jose Felix 156

Fight Night Club back in LA

Golden Boy Promotions’ “Fight Night Club” series will return for ten events in 2010 at L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia. To kick off the year, the first event will feature top junior welterweight contender “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, who will take on Hector Alatorre in the series’ 2010 kickoff show on February 25. Top Golden Boy Promotions’ prospect Luis Ramos Jr. will also be on the card.