Pavlik-Espino Notes

The Honorable Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, will officiate the weigh-in of world middeweight champion Kelly Pavlik of Youngstown, Ohio and challenger Miguel Espino of Los Angeles at Youngstown State University on Friday, Dec. 18. The Governor plans to report to the Beeghly Center at Youngstown State and will be on raised stage when Pavlik and Espino get set to weigh at 1 pm local time. Pavlik will defend his world title against Espino at Youngstown State on Saturday night.

“Ring Stars” postponed to Feb. 6

By Alexey Sukachev

The proposed show, billed as the “Ring Stars” and promoted by Yuri Fedorov Sports Lab, was unexpectedly postponed tonight from its original date (Dec. 19) to the new one (Feb. 6), after its biggest name and major attraction Timur Ibragimov (26-2-1, 14 KOs) suffered a bad injury on his left hand during his last sparring session. The Uzbek fighter was earlier scheduled to face Tanzanian Awadh Tamim (11-1, 6 KOs) for a vacant WBA international heavyweight belt. The rest of the boxing card is unchanged, including Magomed Abdusalamov (6-0, 6 KOs) and Sasha Bakhtin (23-0, 10 KOs), but it’ll occur no earlier than the start of February. All possible witnesses, who had already bought tickets for this event in various agencies, are welcome to visit the new tournament without additional commission.

Mormeck defeats Maddalone

Photo: Mary Ann Owen

By Alexey Sukachev

Former cruiserweight king Jean-Marc Mormeck (34-4, 22 KOs) followed in the footsteps of his successor David Haye and another notable champion Tomasz Adamek by making a successful debut in boxing’s glamour division. Moments ago in Paris, Mormeck outpointed American journeyman Vinny Maddalone (32-6, 23 KOs) over eight hard-fought rounds in his first contest in two years since losing to Haye. Mormeck was more aggressive of two in the first three rounds, often slugging with bigger and stronger Maddalone. After round four, the ex-WBA and WBC titlist utilized his footwork to avoid the slow attack by the American, though the latter had some success in the middle of the bout. However, Mormeck was just too elusive and too fast in the end for Maddalone to get himself untracked. Scores were 77- 75, 79-75, 79-73. For more results and photos click here…

Chavez in Obregon

Photo: Emilio Nieto/Promociones Zanfer

Former world champion Jesus “Matador” Chavez arrived today in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico for his fight against current WBC super featherweight champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto this Saturday night in the CUM arena where local hero Alex Valdez will challenge Nehomar Cermeno for the WBA interim bantamweight crown. “I have not fought in Mexico in nearly nine years and I’m looking forward to this fight because it’s so close to my home state of Chihuahua and friends and family will have a chance to see me fight live,” said Chavez. For more details and photos click here…

Shots from Youngstown

Photo: Chris Farina-Top Rank

World middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik talks with reporters during interviews Thursday for his upcoming world middleweight championship against WBC No. 3-rated middleweight contender Miguel Espino Saturday, December 19 at Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University. This event is produced and distributed live on pay-per-view by Top Rank. Click here for more photos…

George, Popoca headline 1/29

Advance tickets are now on sale for 8 Count Productions’s January 29th at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion featuring Donovan “DA BOMB” George (18-0-1, 16 KOs) and Ivan Popoca (12-0-1, 8 KOs) in the headline bouts. “Chicago fight fans have really shown a passion for both guys and were very proud to have them on the same card,” said promoter Dominic Pesoli. Opponents will be named. Advance tickets start at $31 are available through Ticketmaster, the UIC Pavilion Box Office or by calling 312-226-5800.

Brian Viloria workout

Photo: Ricardo Conde

IBF junior flyweight champion “Hawaiian Punch” Brian Viloria (26-2, 15 KOs) of Waipahu, Hawaii, trained by former junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia at the famed La Colonia Boxing Gym in Oxnard, CA, will be making his second title defense on January 23rd at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City, Philippines against Carlos “El Olimpico” Tamara (20-4, 14 KOs) of Columbia. The “Hawaiian Punch” was originally scheduled to face Omar Nino Romero in December but after negotiations fell through the IBF mandated he face the next highest available contender. Viloria’s last title defense was against Jesus Iribe (16-6, 10 KOs) back in August, which he won via unanimous decision. In the co-main event, WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes (25-1-3, 14 KOs) defends his title against Ivan Meneses (14-5-1, 8 KOs), which will be shown live on PPV and is being promoted by Top Rank. Click here for more photos…

Lebedev stops Ismailov

By Alexey Sukachev

Denis Lebedev (19-0, 14 KOs) scored yet another poster stoppage moments ago at Gladiator fight club in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The highly ranked (WBO #3, IBF #8, WBC #14 and WBA #15) cruiserweight banger overcame a savage resistance of recent world title challenger Ali Ismailov (16-3-1, 12 KOs) from St. Petersburg by way of Azerbaijan and forced him to retire after the sixth round. (more…)

Battle In The Ballroom x 2

By Rocco Morales

Roy Englebrecht of Roy Englebrecht Promotions will close out the 2009 season of the always popular “Battle In The Ballroom” with two nights of boxing (tonight and Friday night) at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. Tonight’s main event features rising female lightweight contender Chika Nakamura (9-0, 3 KOs) battling tough local veteran Gloria Ramirez (10-16-7, 1 KO). Friday night’s 2009 finale features undefeated heavyweight Joe “The Future” Hanks (10-0, 6 KOs) battling Bernard “Bad Ass” Brown (6-5-2, 3 KOs).

Here are the weights for tonight’s show:
Chika Nakamura 134 vs Gloria Ramirez 133.4
Robert Vargas 126.4 vs Carlos Luque 125.4
Aaron Miller 146.6 vs Brian Abram 146.8
Danny Perez 176.6 vs Billy Bailey 174
Ramon Franco 180 vs Carlos Fuentes 179.8
Jessie Roman 131 vs Benjamin Rivera 133.2
(more…)

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! This week’s guests are Tim Bradley and Jim Jeffries biographer James Carney. Call or email your questions 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.

Hasegawa, Perez collide tomorrow

By Joe Koizumi

WBC bantamweight champ Hozumi Hasegawa (27-2, 11 KOs), Japan, will put his belt on the line for the tenth time against Nicaraguan challenger Alvaro Perez (18-1-1-3NC, 12 KOs) tomorrow (Friday) in Kobe, Japan. At the weigh-in ceremony, Hasegawa scaled in at 117.75, while Perez 117. It will be an encounter of southpaws. (more…)

Ready to Rumble in Haiti

Photo: Olivier Monserrat-Robert

By Robert Coster, reporting from Haiti

With all 18 boxers present and members of the international press on hand, Haitian promoter Jacques Deschamps gave the last press conference before his upcoming boxing card on Friday, one in which two regional titles will be disputed. The one fight that has the local fans buzzing involves French-Haitian jr. middleweight Jimmy “Pitbull” Colas (27-6, 11 KOs) who will clash with Dominican Junior Ramos (10-4, 6 KOs), a winner in eight of his last ten, for the WBC Latino (interim) belt.

The other title bout involves two unbeaten boxers: Nicholas” Axman” Walters (12-0,10 KOs) of Jamaica and Dominican Carlos Reyes(13-0, 7 KOs)for the WBA Fedelatin featherweight crown.

Also on the card, WBA #3 and former jr featherweight champion Ricardo Cordoba pitted against Luis Felipe Murillo of Colombia. (more…)

TKO at the scales

Photos courtesy of TKO Boxing

At the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif., for Thursday night’s TKO Boxing Promotions card:

Leo Santa Cruz 121 vs. Juan Jose Beltran 122
Edner Cherry 134 vs. Jovann Jones 133.5
Sharif Bogere 136.25 vs. Christian Favela 135
Fidel Maldonado 135.25 vs. Nicholaus Brannie, 137.25
Ivan Redkac, 131 vs. Napoleon Mathews 132
Joseph Elegele 144 vs. Juan Carlos Diaz 148
Fedor Chudinov 159 vs. Cesar Ibarra 160.5
Dmitry Chudinov 159.5 vs. Flavio Cardoza 161
Hastings Bwayla 147 vs. Anthony McDavitt 148

For more photos: (more…)

Lebedev-Ismailov tonight

By Alexey Sukachev and Andrey Bazdrev

There’s no other way to induce some inspirations and hopes for the future than to end a considerable span of time with something really electrifying. That’s exactly what Jab Promotions is going to do tonight at Gladiator Fight Club in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city. The banner of the event speaks for itself: Denis Lebedev-Ali Ismailov collision is a nice add-on to every boxing card one can possibly imagine. Closing this year strongly, the local promotional company, controlled by Vitaly Supichenko and ex-European bantamweight titleholder Alexander Yagupov, will stage its hugest tournament in 2009 before leading their protégé Dmitry Sukhotsky into the ring on Saturday night against Juergen Braehmer for the WBO light heavyweight title. (more…)

Another honor for Golden Jack

Eroll Popova

Before making his professional debut, amateur world champion “Golden Boy” Jack Culcay has grabbed another title. With the best result in history, the 24-year-old was chosen by respected magazine “Boxsport” as “amateur boxer of 2009,” beating heavyweight Stefan Köber by nearly 2000 votes. “I didn’t think I’d get the title since I’ve turned pro,” said Culcay, who became the first German amateur world champion in 14 years in Milan three months ago. “To me, the honor is a special incentive to also have a good professional career.” (more…)

Gonzalez TKOs Aguilar

Former WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (42-7, 36 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Marlo “Rata” Aguilar (21-9-1, 16 KOs) in a featherweight bout on Wednesday night at the Auditorio Plaza Condesa in Mexico City. Referee Guadalupe Garcia broke off Gonzalez’ vicious assault at 2:52.

Sebastien Hamel passes

By Dave Spencer / Fightnews Canada

It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that Fightnews reports the death of welterweight boxer Sebastien Hamel of Montreal. Hamel who had just turned thirty passed away Tuesday night. Not blessed with a promoter, Hamel was the prototypical “have gloves, will travel” fighter who fought across North America against some of the best fighters on both sides of the border. (more…)

Rigondeaux defeats Addy

Marty Rosengarten/RingsidePhotos.com

By Mariano A. Agmi at ringside

Super middleweight Guillermo Rigondeaux (4-0, 3 KOs), one of the most decorated fighters in the history of amateur boxing, went the distance for the first time in his pro career on Wednesday night at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in the heart of Times Square in New York City. Rigondeaux dropped Lante Addy (6-5-1, 4 KOs) in round one with a bodyshot, but was forced to go the full eight rounds. Scores were 80-71, 80-71, 79-72.
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Heavyweight Tor Hammer moved to 10-0 with eight KOs after a 98 second annihilation of Mazur Ali (6-5, 3 KOs).
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Super featherweightLuis Del Valle (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Noe Lopez (5-5).
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Junior welterweight Gabriel Bracero (8-0) outpointed Carl McNickols (6-3, 6 KOs) over six by scores of 59-54, 60-53, 58-55.
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Junior welterweightChristian Martinez (2-0, 2 KOs) needed just 58 seconds to finish Gabriel Morris (1-5-1).

Tua cancels USA fight

Promoter Cedric Kushner, president of Gotham Boxing, Inc., has announced that WBO #3 rated heavyweight contender David Tua had advised him that, due to family matters, he had to withdraw from his proposed February 6th fight in Atlantic City. “I was really looking forward to coming to America after the holidays but, due to this significant family matter,” Tua explained, “I simply have to remain in New Zealand and continue my preparation for my March 27th event here.” Tua (50-3-1, 43 KOs) has defeated four world champions – Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Oleg Maskaev — during his 17-year pro career. “I really feel sorry for Dave,” Kushner said. “I know how much he was looking forward to the first defense of his WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental titles, but Dave has always considered his family above and beyond everything else.”

Pavlik, Espino Presser Quotes

T-minus three days and counting until World Middleweight Champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, defends his title against the WBC #3 Miguel Espino (20-2-1, 9 KOs), of North Hollywood, Calif., at Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center.  Promoted by Top Rank, the Pavlik-Espino world title tilt will headline a two-country world championship doubleheader produced and distributed live on pay-per-view, beginning at 9 p.m. ET /  6 p.m. PT on Saturday.   The suggested retail price is $39.95. Today, both fighters and their trainers spoke to the media at the final news conference at the Beeghly Center. Here’s what they had to say: (more…)

Weights from Saint Petersburg

Photo: Andrey Bazdrev (PBFR)

By Alexey Sukachev and Andrey Bazdrev at the scale

Denis Lebedev 197.8 vs Ali Ismailov 195
(WBO I/C cruiserweight championship)
Maxim Maslov 222 vs Artur Marabyan 270.4
(Vacant EBU-EE heavyweight title)
Venue: Gladiator Fight Club, Saint Petersburg, Russia
TV: Boets (“Fighter”) Channel
Promoter: Jab Promotions
Click here for more photos…

At the scales in France

Photos by Mary Ann Owen

From Halle Carpentier in Paris, France:

Vinny Maddalone 232 vs. Jean-Marc Mormeck 216
Olivia Gerula 127 vs. Myrian Chomaz 129*
* For the WBC superfeatherweight title

Ballroom Brawl returns in 2010

Terry Trekas of One Punch Productions is pleased to announce that the first 2010 installment of the popular “Ballroom Brawl!” series is Friday, January 22nd at the Tampa Westshore Doubletree Hotel. The main event of the evening feature rising cruiserweight contender Nick “The Showstopper” Iannuzzi (13-1, 8 KOs) battling the undefeated Rommel Rene (11-0, 6 KOs). Iannuzzi is coming off a stunning second round knockout of former Contender star Michael Alexander (November 6th). The co-main event features light heavyweight Adam Jaco (7-3-1, 2 KOs) against Marcus “The Barber” Hall (11-3, 4 KOs). Also on the card are jr. middleweight Manny Woods (2-0, 1 KO), super bantamweight Dwayne Larry Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs), undefeated jr. middleweight brothers Quinton Willis (5-0-1, 3 KOs) and Marcus Willis (3-0-2, 2 KOs), jr. lightweight Cordaro Simpkins (3-0), welterweight Reynaldo Cepeda (1-0. 1 KO) and several others bouts to be announced. Tickets are $20, $35 or $75, and are at all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com. The Tampa Westshore Doubletree Hotel is located at 4500 W. Cypress St. in Tampa. Doors open at 7:00p and the action starts at 7:30p.

Cermeno-Valdez presser

Photo: Rafael Soto/Zanfer Boxing

It’s a show like no other before in this town, and the fact that one of its own, Alejandro “Alex” Valdez will be fighting for a world championship has everyone excited as the card gets closer. Today during the final press conference at a restaurant in downtown Ciudad Obregon, Valdez assures his fans that he is more than ready for the challenge that he has Saturday night. “I have prepared myself the best that I can and will give it my all to win. I don’t expect to lose in front of my hometown fans. I’m well aware of the great champion that I will be facing Saturday, but by the same token I know that I have the ability to beat him,” said Valdez to a full room of media. For more details and photos click here…

ABC investigating Holm-Cisneros

The Association of Boxing Commissions wants answers from the Isleta Boxing Commission in New Mexico regarding the December 4 Holly Holm vs. Victoria Cisneros boxing match. Cisneros stepped in as a late, late replacement for Melissa Hernandez who abruptly pulled out shortly before stepping into the ring to fight Holm. Fightnews.com has obtained a letter sent by the ABC to the Governor of the Isleta Tribe asking for additional information. (more…)

Hyde to manage Rigondeaux

Irish boxing manager Gary Hyde yesterday won a legal judgment in Miami to manage 2-time Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Rigondeaux (3-0, 3 KOs), fighting as a bantamweight, now lives in Los Angeles after defecting from Cuba, where he was a 7-time national champion. The 28-year-old southpaw also won multiple World Championships titles, as well as a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-Am Games, during his incredible 243-4 amateur career. “Rigo” is scheduled to fight tonight (Wed., Dec. 16) in New York City. “I hope this judgment will deter anybody from contemplating interference with any of my fighters,” Hyde said en route from Ireland to New York City. (more…)

Pavlik-Espino presser

Photo: Chris Farina-Top Rank

World middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, Youngstown, Ohio and WBC no. 3-rated middleweight contender Miguel Espino, Los Angeles, Calif. pose during the final press conference Wednesday for their upcoming world middleweight championship Saturday, December 19 at Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University. This event is produced and distributed live on pay-per-view by Top Rank. Click here for more photos…