Fightnews.com

By Ricardo Ibarra

In one of four pro boxing contests featured on Rogue Promotions’ mixed combat sports card at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center in Salem, Oregon this Saturday, Spokane, Washington’s Patrick Ferguson (8-0, 8 KOs) will look to add a ninth consecutive win to his unblemished ledger when he takes on Missouri’s Gary “Freak Train” Tapusoa (9-6-1,8 KOs) in a ten round heavyweight fight. Tapusoa will be stepping in for Raymond Ochieng, who was originally scheduled to fight Ferguson but pulled out late last week. Continue reading “Ferguson faces Tapusoa in Oregon Saturday”

By Robert Coster

Javier Fortuna 133 vs. Ricardo Javier 133
Argenis Lopez 140.5 vs. Pedro Verdu 137
William Encarnacion ?? vs. Jesus Vargas 124
Hector Luis Garcia 129 vs. Alfonso Perez 129
Mitchell Rivera 135.5 vs. Luis Ernesto Jose 132
Jean_Pierre Augustin 228 vs. Francisco Mireles 304
Luis Chalas 134 vs. Jose Galvez 132

Promotor : Manguita Promotion
Venue : Jaragua Renaissance Hotel and Casino

Photos: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and former champ Canelo Alvarez face off in Las Vegas at the final Press Conference for their PPV fight Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Undefeated Featherweight Rafael “Big Bang” Rivera (25-0-2, 16 KOs) will step in to fight 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. (24-0, 13 KOs) in a 12-round WBC title eliminator as the co-main event to the Canelo-Golovkin clash Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Rivera is replacing Jorge Lara, who had to bow out due to reasons that have not been verified.

Rivera was originally supposed to fight Diaz on Saturday’s card, but was forced to step aside for Lara, due to Lara being higher-ranked by the WBC. Rivera has already been training for a fight next week, and is in tip-top shape for his showdown with Diaz. Continue reading “New opponent for JoJo Diaz”

By Marco Bratusch

European light-heavyweight title holder Karo Murat (31-3-1, 20 KOs) will take on countryman Dominic Boesel (24-1, 9 KOs) again on December 16 in Germany as a voluntary defense of his belt. In the meanwhile, Boesel should compete in a minor comeback fight to recover from the loss suffered in the first bout against Murat to become eligible for a voluntary defense, according to the EBU rules. Murat won the vacant belt in a minor upset stopping the formerly undefeated 27-year-old Boesel in round eleven last July in Dresden, Germany, in the final part of a pretty balanced bout. Continue reading “Today’s EBU bids and Updates”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Japanese southpaw Ryosuke Iwasa (24-2, 16 KOs), 121.75, was awarded the IBF 122-pound belt when he dropped defending champ, compatriot Yukinori Oguni (19-2-1, 7 KOs), 121.75, once in the first, twice more in the second, controlled the contest despite the champ’s retaliation and finally halted him due to the ring physician’s advice at 2:16 of the sixth session on Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.

Iwasa was leading on points on all cards—Alan Davis (US) 48-44, Takeshi Shimakawa, Katsuhiro Nakamura (both Japan) both 49-43. Oguni was badly bleeding from the mouth, and he might have had the jaw broken, having absorbed much punishment. He couldn’t see and avert the southpaw’s swift lefts coming at all though he kept on gamely fighting back hard. The ref was Wayne Hedgepatch (US). Continue reading “Iwasa stops Oguni in six, wins IBF 122lb belt”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten WBO junior flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (10-0, 6 KOs), 108, came off the canvas in the first round, fought back hard by utilizing his shifty footwork, dropped back Palangpol CP Freshmart (24-8, 10 KOs), 107.5, and finally halted him at 1:27 of the ninth round on Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.

It was surprising that Tanaka, the prohibitive favorite, hit the deck due to the Thailander’s sharp left-right combination in the end of the opening round. Tanaka, 22, tried to outbox and outpunch the challenger from the second on, hitting him upstairs and downstairs. Palangpol turned loose in the sixth, but Tanaka accelerated his attack and caught him with a beautiful combo followed by a solid right, decking Palaongpol to the canvas in the ninth. The Thailander barely resumed fighting, and Tanaka swarmed over him with a flurry of punches, when referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. (Puerto Rico) declared a well-timed halt. Prior to the stoppage, the official tallies were as follows: Gerard While (US), Jose Roberto Torres (Puerto Rico) both 77-74, William Lerch (US) 76-75, all for the defending champ. Tanaka had the left optic swollen after the first-round visit to the deck and the right eyebrow cut in the fourth, which made it look a tough affair for him. Continue reading “Tanaka keeps WBO 108lb belt”

Willie Monroe Jr is prepared to make Billy Joe Saunders pay for shouting his mouth off. The two southpaws battle it out for Billy Joe’s WBO middleweight crown at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday night, live on BT Sport and BoxNation. Saunders has been shooting from the lip in the build-up, questioning the manner of Monroe’s loss against Gennady Golovkin in May 2015. Saunders says Monroe Jr went down too easy under pressure.

“Billy Joe is a good fighter, but his talking is going to make his ass whipping worse,” warned 30-year-old Monroe Jr. “That was 2015. This is 2017. I’m not here to dwell on the past. I gave a good account of myself, but at that moment he may have been too big of a moment for me. Continue reading “Monroe: I’ll make Saunders pay for mouthing off”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A world title doubleheader will take place today (Wednesday) in Osaka, Japan. IBF junior featherweight champ Yukinori Oguni (19-1-1, 7 KOs) will make his initial defense against mandatory challenger, compatriot Ryosuke Iwasa (23-2, 15 KOs) at the Edion Arena Osaka. Also, WBO junior flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka (9-0, 5 KOs) will take on #13 Palangpol CP Freshmart (24-7, 10 KOs), from Thailand, with his belt on the line.

The weigh-in ceremony took place yesterday. Both Oguni and Iwasa scaled in at 121.75, a quarter pound lighter than the limit. Tanaka weighed in at the 108-pound class limit, and Palangpol 107.5.

The officials are as follows:

IBF 122-pound title bout: referee Wayne Hedgepath (US); judges Alan Davis (US), Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan), Katsuhiro Nakamura (Japan); supervisor Ben Keilty (Australia).

WBO 108-pound title bout: referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. (Puerto Rico); judges William Lerch (US), Gerard White (US), Jose Roberto Torres (Puerto Rico); supervisor Tsuyoshi Yasukochi (Japan). Continue reading “Oguni, Tanaka to defend IBF 122lb, WBO 108lb belts today”

Canelo Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) made their grand arrivals Tuesday at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their highly anticipated PPV clash on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Canelo Alvarez: “I can assure you that I will do my part and I will do my best to give you all a beautiful fight. The most important thing for me is victory. I always prepare myself to give the best. I want this for my people, my team, for my country. And that’s what I’m going to do this Saturday. I’m going to go in there and win the fight. I prepared myself for the knockout. Look, anything can happen in this fight. But that’s what I’ve prepared for–to knock him out.”

Gennady Golovkin: “I am Gennady Golovkin until I walk into the ring. And that’s when I turn into Triple G. It’s not that I’m mean, or angry. I’m just more focused. This is the perfect fight for fans. And the perfect fight for me. I will enjoy it…I’ve wanted him [Alvarez] because of the Cotto fight when he became the mandatory challenger. I’m old school. I think there should just be one champion. All my career I’ve been denied the fights I’ve wanted [Felix Sturm, Sergio Martinez, Miguel Cotto]. That ends Saturday night.”

Photos: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will defend the title against Hughie Fury on September 23 in Manchester and is confident of victory and said he will back himself against any heavyweight in the world including the IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Parker said to Sky Sports “I think everyone wants to fight [Joshua]. He’s a big draw here…if I had the chance to fight him, it would be an exciting fight. I back myself with any heavyweight that I get in the ring with, so if I had the opportunity to fight him, I back myself to knock him out. Continue reading “Parker: I would KO Joshua”

Gennady Golovkin: “This is more than a fight. It’s a real Mexican fight. Abel brings a Mexican style to me. I love fighting Mexican style. I love Mexican food and eat it every day. I love the Mexican tradition. I am surrounded by it. I have many Mexican friends. I have Mexican blood…seriously, just one punch changes a fight…a life. Just one punch. Canelo has power, he has speed. He knows me, I know him. My team has Plan A, B, C, D. And his team has the same. He’s ready for short distance, long distance, decision. I do not know. Who lands the big punch first? It is not a fight. It is a war.”

Billy Joe Saunders defends his WBO Middleweight World title against Willie Monroe Jr on Saturday night Jr at London’s Copper Box Arena. Saunders’ trainer Dominic Ingle believes his man will show this weekend why he’s the man to topple middleweight superstars Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.

Ingle answered an SOS call from promoter Frank Warren three months ago to train Billy Joe whose lifestyle has contributed to lacklustre performances, but still remained unbeaten in 24 fights.

“He came in the camp fat and unfit,” admitted Ingle. Continue reading “Trainer promises a new Saunders”

Photo: Golden Boy Promotions

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

The name of Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran has apparently moved to the top of the list as WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn’s opponent in November. Corcoran is (17-1, 7 KOs) and is currently rated WBO #11. According to Daily Telegraph, Corcoran is the frontrunner ahead of #10 Ray Robinson, #3 Bradley Skeete and #8 Luciano Veron. Skeete was considered the favourite to get the fight last week. Stay tuned.

By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son

While the world was praying for all those involved in the drama of hurricane Irma and also remembering the tragic anniversary of WTC today 9/11, we must be grateful for what we have and appreciate every moment we have while making the best of it.

Friday night a new star was born. David Benavidez conquered the WBC super middleweight championship by split decision against Ronald Gavril in Las Vegas. Benavidez is the youngest to ever win a super middleweight title at the tender age of 20 and has a bright future in the ring.

Saturday night was magical. StubHub Center in Carson, California, home of some classics in the history of boxing, hosted yet another historic event named “Superfly” featuring 4 fights in that division. Brian Viloria is back on track on his road to fight for a world championship after winning by impressive KO, Inoue defended his WBO title with a TKO victory after a dominating and masterful performance and the other two bouts are some of the best of the year and best ever in the lower divisions. Continue reading “The 12th Round: Boxing at its Best”

Gennady Golovkin: This wasn’t like Canelo not being ready. It was Golden Boy not being ready. We have been talking about this fight for three years. Finally Canelo AND Golden Boy are ready for this fight. First step to history. Everyone will remember this fight. It is the biggest fight of all.”

Abel Sanchez: “I have trained a lot of fighters. A lot. But I have never worked with one who was avoided more than Gennady. The special fighters accept challenges or dare to step up and make the challenge. It’s the measure of the man. It is the difference between good and great. Ali stepped up against Liston. Leonard stepped up against Hagler. Holyfield stepped up against Tyson. These are fights and fighters that will always be remembered because they dared to be tested at the highest level regardless of risk. Now, at last, we have Gennady against Canelo, a real Mexican fight. I give Canelo credit because he has always wanted this fight. I am relieved that his promoter finally had the confidence to make it.”

Saturday night at Resorts World Casino NYC in Queens, NY, Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxing presented a thrilling eight-bout card to a capacity crowd of over 2,000 people.

Headlining the event was a battle for the Jr. NABF Middleweight title between Kingston, Jamaica’s Kemahl Russell and Patterson, NJ native Ian Green. In his most impressive outing to date, Russell stopped the very game Green in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout. Russell was in control from the outset as he stalked Green, landing hard shots to the body and head. The assault continued over the next few rounds as Russell continually backed up Green hurting him on several occasions. Green valiantly tried to stand his ground but the ringside doctors had seen enough and stopped the contest in the seventh round. Russell improves to 12-1. 10 KO’s as he wins the Jr. NABF Middleweight title while Green falls to 12-2, 9 KO’s. Continue reading “Results from Queens, NY”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

New Zealand cruiserweight champion Lance Bryant (11-3,5KO’s) forced a second round stoppage over former Australian cruiserweight champion Aaron Russell (10-4,4KO’s) in a scheduled ten round bout in the main event at the Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Queensland on Saturday.The referee crowned Bryant after Russell had visited the canvas and was in no condition to continue.He had been down earlier from a punch behind the head. Continue reading “Bryant and Colomban Victorious”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Unbeaten light-welterweight Deanha Hobbs (4-0) stopped Sarah Dwyer (2-3-1) in round one of scheduled eight round bout for the Australian 140 pound female title in the main event at the famous Fortitude Gym in Brisbane, Queensland on Saturday. Dwyer was hurt by a right hand to the head in round one and the referee called the fight off. Continue reading “Hobbs Captures Aussie Title”

By David Robinett

On an evening where the final chapter may have been written on the illustrious career of former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, two new faces announced themselves to boxing fans around the world. One, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, is a former trash collector from Thailand who left no doubt that he belongs among boxing’s elite and the other, Naoya Inoue, a Japanese prodigy vying to become the latest talent from Asia to develop into a bona fide attraction in the United States.

At the post-fight press conference following HBO Boxing After Dark’s “Superfly” tripleheader from StubHub Center in Carson, California, Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President of HBO Sports, commented on the evening’s results. “This was a wonderful night for fight fans,” said Nelson. “Anyone who wasn’t a boxing fan before watching these fights, I’m sure they became a boxing fan tonight. I’m jealous of that feeling, I remember when it happened to me.” Continue reading “Superflys post fight presser”

By Ricardo Ibarra
Photos by Mike Blair/Boxingprospects.net

Resurging super middleweight prospect Mike “Imagine Me” Gavronski (24-2-1, 15 KOs) turned in an impressive showing on Saturday night, scoring a sixth round stoppage win over Brian Vera (26-12, 16 KOs) at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

Fighting in the main event of Brian Halquist Productions’ Battle at the Boat 112, Gavronski out-boxed Vera for a majority of the fight before landing a series of shots in the sixth that led to the referee stopping it. Continue reading “Gavronski TKOs Vera at The Boat”

By Rocky Morales at ringside
Photos: Sunio Yamada

Headlining “Superfly,” Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (44-4-1, 40KO) annihilated Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2-1, 38KO) by fourth round knockout to retain his WBC super flyweight title on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Srisaket won by controversial decision in their first fight, this time he beat up Chocolatito, dropping him twice in round four to end it. A right hook left Gonzalez out cold. Continue reading “Srisaket beats Chocolatito again, this time by KO”

By Rocky Morales
Photos: Sumio Yamada

The long awaited United States debut of WBO super flyweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (14-0, 12 KOs) of Yokohama, Japan, didn’t disappoint as he tormented top contender Antonio “Carita” Nieves (17-2-2, 9 KOs) for six one-sided rounds.

Inoue controlled every second of the bout and punished the body of Nieves with ripping left hooks that would make Julio Cesar Chavez proud. Inoue dropped Nieves with one of those pulverizing left hooks to the body in the fifth round and, after rising, Nieves went on his bicycle for the remainder of the fight. Continue reading “Inoue brutalizes Nieves in monster performance”

By David Robinett at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

In one of those only-in-boxing moments, former WBA and WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada (36-2, 25 KOs) earned a narrow twelve-round unanimous decision over former WBC super flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras (36-2-1, 27 KOs) after ringside announcer Michael Buffer mistakenly announced the decision for Cuadras, setting off a chorus of boos and confusion in the ring for nearly a minute before announcing the correct result for Estrada.

All three judges at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, scored the bout 114-113 in favor of Estrada, who also earned the right to next face the winner of tonight’s main event between Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and “Chocolatito” Gonzalez for the WBC super flyweight title. Continue reading “Estrada edges Cuadras in WBC eliminator”