Shot of the Day

Emily Harney

WBO #9 cruiserweight Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (20-1, 10 KOs) held a media workout Monday at Big Six Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. Godfrey challenges WBO cruiserweight world champion Marco “Kapt’n” Huck (29-1, 22 KOs) on August 21 at the Messehalle in Erfurt, Thuringen, Germany.

Shimizu, Serie keep belts

Boxing Beat

By Joe Koizumi

WBA#7/WBC#8 flyweight Tomonobu Shimizu (17-3-1, 8 KOs), 112, kept his national 112-pound belt as he finely outboxed and outpunched crouching and onrushing challenger Kewpie Kanazawa (13-7, 6 KOs), 112, and finally halted him with a towel thrown in by the corner at 0:36 of the sixth round on Monday. Shimizu, an upright stylist, made good use of his footwork and countering rights to the face and the belly, effectively weakening the overmatched challenger. The fifth saw Shimizu come out mixing it up in the close quarter and badly hurt Kanazawa with solid combinations. A towel was fluttering midway in the fatal sixth, as the loser’s corner thought Kanazawa had absorbed too much punishment.

Boxing Beat

WBA#6/WBC#12 super-bantam Masaaki Serie (17-3, 7 KOs), 121.5, was awkward, unorthodox and least technical, as usual, but retained his Japanese 122-pound belt with a well-received surrender of ex-world challenger and ex-OPBF/Japanese champ Manabu Fukushima (36-11-4, 20 KOs), 122, after the seventh round in a scheduled ten. Fukushima, 35 and eight years his senior, was just a shell of his old self when he had an unsuccessful shot at the WBC belt against Oscar Larios via eighth round stoppage in 2002. His timing and sharpness were miserably gone. Fukushima took a solid direct right of the younger champ, hitting the deck in the fourth. Serie, in round seven, accelerated his attack and forced the fading veteran to the ropes with a fusillade of wild and strong shots with Fukushima having a narrow escape. Susumu Hanagata, ex-world flyweight champ, decided not to allow the loser to go and fight for the eighth. Fukushima, after a sad swan song, declared a farewell to the ring after his bad defeat.
Promoter: Kaneko Promotions.

Holyfield-Williams November 5

47-year-old, four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) returns to the ring November 5th against veteran Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) of the Bahamas. The bout will be for Holyfield’s newly acquired WBF title he won in his last bout which was an 8 round TKO of Francois Botha. Site of the fight will be the Joe Louis in Detroit, Michigan.

Shimoda keeps OPBF 122lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

WBC#3/WBA#5 Akifumi Shimoda (22-2-1, 10 KOs), 122, kept his OPBF super-bantam belt as he was awarded a unanimous technical decision (49-47 twice and 49-46) over previously unbeaten OPBF top ranked Korean champ Changhyun Son (12-1-1, 5 KOs), 121.5, at 0:34 into the fifth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Shimoda, a talented southpaw speedster, took the initiative from the start, utilizing his superior speed on hand and foot. Son, also a good speedster, attempted to land direct right to the southpaw champ, but could connect with a single solid shot that once bounced the head back midway in the fourth. In the same round Shimoda sustained a very nasty gash caused by an accidental butt on the left side of the head, so badly streaming blood that the Filipino referee Delbert Peligrino had it examined by the JBC physician twice and finally called a halt. Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

Beck arrives in Australia

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former WBA heavyweight challenger Owen “What The Heck” Beck (29-5, 20 KOs) has arrived in Australia in good shape for his showdown with Australian based Samoan Alex “The Lionheart” Leapai (19-3-3,15KO’s) over ten rounds at the Southport RSL club, Southport, Queensland on Thursday. Noel Thornberry who trains and manages Leapai is confident his charge can defeat the Jamiacan born, Nashville, Tennessee,USA based former world heavyweight contender. ” Beck will be the acid test for Leapai.” said Thornberry. “He has an excellent record and has challenged the giant 7 foot Russian Nikolay Valuev in 2006 for the title. Leapai showed the heart of a champion in his most recent bout in June when he got off the canvas to stop 6.5″ American heavyweight Travis Walker (34-4-1) in four rounds. Walker had given highly regarded Chris Arreola a hell of a fight before being stopped. I am confident of victory on Thursday against Beck. English heavyweight Danny Williams has been in negotiations to fight Leapai in September. Williams holds a stoppage win over Mike Tyson so he has credibility.” Promoter is Jamie Myer and televised on Foxtel Cable Television Network.

Erik Morales prepares for Limond

by Pepe Rodriguez/WBC

The three-time world champion Erik “Terrible” Morales began sparring as to carry out a strong preparation in view of his bout on September 11 at La Monumental Plaza de Toros, Mexico, where he will fight against Willie Limond from Scotland.

Erik “Terrible” Morales, who has won the world super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight championships of the World Boxing Council has watched videos of his Scottish rival Willie Limond.

Munroe fans going to Japan

Rendall Munroe will have an army of fans following him to Japan in October despite facing a 12,000 mile round trip. More than 100 of the Leicester binman’s friends have already booked flights so they can cheer him to victory when he challenges WBC super-bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka in Tokyo on Sunday October 24. The fight is expected to draw a 10,000 sell-out crowd. (more…)

SHOWTIME bantam tourney?

The runaway success of the highly acclaimed SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic has inspired SHOWTIME to look at the possibility of other tournaments. One proposal rumored to be in the works is a possible bantamweight tournament which would feature Yhonny Perez, Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko, Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel, Abner Mares and Christopher Martin (off his upset of Chris Avalos on Friday night). Apparently this would be a single elimination tourney if it comes together.

Hershman comments on Larkin

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Jay Larkin,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “His remarkable enthusiasm, his insatiable zeal for life and esprit de corps that he left behind at SHO Sports will always be with us. He will be missed by the countless people that he met and touched including all of us here at Showtime who’ve had the pleasure to work with him. All our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Jay Larkin remembered

One of the most successful television executives in the world of boxing and entertainment, Jay Larkin, passed away this morning at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY at the age of 59. Larkin had been battling cancer. Services will be held Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at Beth David Cemetery (300 Elmont Road) in Elmont, NY.

Larkin put together a franchise that stood atop the world of boxing and television while at SHOWTIME from 1984 to 2006 with the creation of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION and a pay-per-view business that was second to none with the promotion of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad and many other Hall of Fame greats in the boxing world. Larkin was considered one of the most powerful professionals in the world of boxing. (more…)

Title tripleheader full report

By Brian Grammer and Clint Rosser at ringside
Photos by Scott Foster

By way of a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision, Devon Alexander “The Great” (21-0, 13 KOs) successfully defended his IBF and WBC jr welterweight titles at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri this past Saturday. In the co-main event, IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (21-0, 18 KOs) waged a war to successfully defend his title against three-time former champion Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson (50-14-2, 34 KOs). And in a stunning upset, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (30-4, 18 KOs) scored a controversial fifth round TKO victory over Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks (37-6, 11 KOs) to capture the IBF jr middleweight title. (More)

Jay Larkin passes

Former SHOWTIME boxing chief Jay Larkin sadly has passed away at the age of 59 from brain cancer. Larkin was one of the key architects of the network’s acclaimed boxing programming. “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jay Larkin,” said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. “Although Jay and I worked for different networks, we were truly colleagues. His commitment to his family and to boxing was truly admirable. I considered him a friend and enjoyed the times we spent together. He will be dearly missed.”

Benavides in action Saturday

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Nicaraguan boxing promoter PRODESA presents a card Saturday night at the Alexis Arguello Gym in Managua, Nicaragua. The main event features WBA #10/WBO #12/WBC #14 super featherweight contender Santos Benavides (20-2-2, 15 KOs) against Carlos Guevrara (13-10-1, 10 KOs). In all, there will be eight professional bouts showcasing top local talent. (more…)

Heavyweight Factory inks Solomon

The Heavyweight Factory has signed unbeaten welterweight Brad “The King” Solomon (12-0, 4 KOs) to a promotional contract. Solomon will be the co-feature against Puerto Rican veteran Wilfredo “Papin” Negron (26-14-1, 19 KOs) in a ten rounder for the WBA International and WBC Latino titles. on HF’s August 24th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. In the main event, heavyweight Timur Ibragimov (28-2-1, 15 KOs) will face off with undefeated former Olympian Gurcharan Singh (20-0, 11 KOs) in a ten rounder for the NABA Intercontinental title. This will be Timur’s first defense of the belt. (more…)

Sdunek joins Sturm

Wolfgang Schiffbauer

By Wolfgang Schiffbauer

Trainer Fritz Sdunek joined forces with WBA middleweight world champion Felix Sturm today at Sturm’s training facilities in Cologne, Germany. The well-respected Sdunek, who also works with heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, oberserved a six-round sparring session and work on the heavy bag. Sturm’s conditioning coach Clive Salz was also on hand. The 31-year-old Sturm will be facing Giovanni Lorenzo on September 4 in the Lanxess-Arena in Cologne.

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Giovani Segura workout video

Video: Joel A. Colón

WBA jr flyweight world champion Giovani Segura works out in preparation for his pay-per-view flyweight world championship unification showdown against unbeaten WBO jr flyweight champion Ivan Calderon on August 28 in the Coliseum Mario Quijote Morales in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

York Van Nixon Memorial

By Gary “Digital” Williams

The memorial service for former WBA Vice President and DC Boxing and Wrestling chair York Van Nixon will be held on Saturday, August 14 at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 630 E Street, SW in DC. The repast will be held at 700 7th Street, SW, level B also in DC.

Lindsay added Sept 11

British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay has been added to promoter Frank Maloney’s world title card next month. Nottingham’s Jason Booth heads the bill when he challenges Steve Moiltor for the IBF world super-bantamweight title at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring on Saturday September 11. Belfast’s Lindsay, 28, will keep busy when he boxes an eight round non-title contest against a selected opponent on the undercard of a show being televised live by Sky Sports. (more…)

Gesta back in action

Raymond Rodriguez

Unbeaten Filipino lightweight sensation Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (18-0-1, 8KOs) takes another step towards a title shot when he returns to the airwaves and faces tough Mexico City, MX, journey man Genaro Trazancos (22-11-1, 13KOs) for ten rounds on Friday, August 20th, at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, AZ. The Don Chargin Promotions in association with Jorge Marron Productions and Golden Boy Promotions presented main event will be televised by Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate.” (more…)

Brook blasts Jennings

Furious Kell Brook has hit back at Michael Jennings – and told him “I’m no one’s number two.” The pair meet in a long awaited British blockbuster showdown on September 18 at the LG Arena in Birmingham. Brook’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title will be on the line and it also doubles up as an WBO eliminator for the world title. It forms part of Frank Warren’s Magnificent Seven show live and exclusive on Sky Box Office. Last week, former British champion Jennings declared that Yorkshire rival Brook was second best. (more…)

Michael Grant Teleconference

In preparation for the August 21st Tomasz Adamek vs. Michael Grant “Big Challenge” at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, there was a Media Conference Call with Michael Grant and Eddie Mustafa last Thursday. We brought you some quick highlights immediately after the call ended. Here is a more detailed report of what was said. (more…)

New home for Crown Boxing

Las Vegas fight promoter Crown Boxing is moving from their longtime base at The Orleans to The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Their first card at the new venue will be September 3 in the Crown Theater and Night Club with a show headlined by cruiserweight Henry Namauu. Tickets are on sale now at $25 and $100. Call 702-777-7776.

Meza-Clay vs. Litzau Aug 28

Monty Meza-Clay and Allen “The American Boy” Litzau are set to face off in a super featherweight battle in the main event August 28th at the Rivers Casino in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. In the co-feature, former world champion Derrick “Smoke” Gainer takes on upset minded Angel Hernandez. A full night of undercard action is in store and the event is being presented by TNT Sports Promotions in association with Roy Jones Jr.’s Square Ring. Tickets are $100, $50 and $35 and can be purchased online at ticketalternative.com or by calling 724-513-1416. Free parking at Rivers Casino. All Ages. 1st bell at 7:00 PM. Pre and post event parties at Rivers Casino hosted by 8-time world champion Roy Jones Jr.