Fightnews.com

By Bill Green

Long, intense face-off between Crawford and Indongo. Neither would look away. Finally they began pressing foreheads together and were separated.

Terence Crawford 140 vs. Julius Indongo 139
(WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO jr welterweight title)

Oleksandr Gvozdyk 174.4 vs. Craig Baker 174.6
(NABF light heavyweight title)
Shakur Stevenson 126.2 vs. David Paz 125.6

Dillan Whyte 260 vs. Malcolm Tann 238.2
Bryant Jennings 230.8 vs. Daniel Martz 255.4
Cesar Ruiz 175 vs. Steve Nelson 175
Mike Alvarado 148 vs. Sidney Siqueira 145.4
Baltazar Ramirez 133 vs. Kevin Ventura 132.2
(Ventura has one hour to lose .2)
Michael Reed 141 vs. Robert Frankel 139

Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: ESPN

By Bill Green

The undercard bouts for Saturday night’s main event between Crawford-Indongo aren’t your average fill-in or time-managed off-television oriented fights. With a former Olympian and undefeated prospect in Shakur Stevenson 2-0 (1), former Heavyweight challenger Bryant “Bye-Bye” Jennings 19-2 (10), undefeated super-lightweight prospect Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed 22-0 (12), Omaha rising prospects Kevin “Bad Ass” Ventura 7-0 (6) and Steven “So Cold” Nelson 8-0 (7) ….one would be thankful and be in boxing heaven.

However, this is Top Rank and this is history in the making. How can it get any better? How about including former 2 x Super-Lightweight blood and guts warrior, “Mile High” Mike Alvarado 37-4 (25). Continue reading “Mike Alvarado: The Road Back”

By Robert Hughes
Photos: Stacey Verbeek

While Terrance Crawford is 650 miles north in Lincoln, Nebraska fighting for all the other super lightweight belts, Maurice ‘Mighty Mo’ Hooker will be battling Courtney ‘CJ’ Jackson for the NABO Super-Lightweight [Jr. Welterweight] title on Saturday at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Crawford will be watched by millions on ESPN taking on Julius Indongo and raising lots of money for himself. Hooker [22-0-3, 16 KO] will make somewhat less and headline a non-televised black-tie fundraiser for a DFW-area chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Continue reading “Hooker Back in the Ring Saturday”

Super lightweight contender Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (26-0, 17 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC USNBC Super Lightweight title against veteran Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (35-1-2, 26 KOs) in the televised opener and co-feature for the lightweight showdown between Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (42-3, 27 KOs) and Luke Campbell (17-1, 14 KOs) for the WBA Lightweight World Championship on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the ‘Fabulous’ Forum. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

By John DiSanto – PhillyBoxingHistory.com

South Jersey welterweight boxer Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna, 23-2, 9 KOs, approaches his next fight, a self-promoted, ten round bout with George Sosa, 15-9, 15 KOs, on Saturday night, for the WBC Silver Latino welterweight title, at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, with a new testy attitude and a clearer view of his career.

Usually happy-go-lucky, even as a fight nears, the Cornflake 2.0 that is prepping for Sosa is an edgier, angrier, and slightly disillusioned, all new Thomas LaManna. Perhaps this fighter, who’s always felt like every boxing fan’s little brother, has completely grown up.

“In boxing, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and it’s all about politics,” LaManna said. Continue reading “Cornflake LaManna fighting with a chip on his shoulder”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBC #5, IBF #7, WBO #10 Dillian Whyte (20-1, 15 KOs) is confident of victory over Malcolm Tann (24-5, 13 KOs) on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska, which could get him a title shot against WBC champion Deontay Wilder or WBO champion Joseph Parker. “It’s good to make some noise Stateside because we are trying to make some noise to get the Deontay Wilder fight,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “It’s good to come here, put on a show, hopefully get the KO and go home. Continue reading “Whyte targets Wilder or Parker”

Victory Boxing Promotions has found a new home in Philadelphia. The growing promotional outfit will make its return to the City of Brotherly love, and re-launch its Philly Strong series at the 23rd Street Armory in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia on October 21st.

The card will be headlined by Jaron “Boots” Ennis (14-0, 12KO), who has racked up six wins in 2017 alone. It was recently announced that Ennis, who is trained by his father Bozy Ennis, and managed by Cameron Dunkin, will be honored at Philadelphia’s Briscoe Awards for the third time. He will take home 2016 Rookie of the Year honors, just days before he steps into the ring in front of his home town for the first time since June. After stopping veteran Wilfredo Acuna in the first round in that fight, Ennis has fought twice more – once in Durham, North Carolina, and once in Washington D.C. Continue reading “Boots Ennis headlines Oct 21 in Philly”

By Robert Hough

Julius Indongo is big news in his homeland, Namibia, which has about 2.5 million residents. He’s all over the country’s media in the days before his super lightweight unification fight with Terence Crawford.

Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs), who raised eyebrows when he went from his Southern African nation to Moscow in December and pulverized Eduard Troyanovsky with a first-round knockout and won the IBF belt, faces Crawford (31-0, 22 KOs) on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska for all the light-welterweight belts. The 34-year-old, who ventured to Scotland in April and beat Ricky Burns for the WBA belt, carries the hopes of his nation, and the encouragement of the nation’s president.

The 2008 Olympian moves through life with his leader’s words in his mind: “Whatever your travels, be a man and know that you represent the whole of Namibia.” Continue reading “Indongo faces Crawford with a continent on his shoulders”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBA, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua would like to defend the title against Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium rather than defend the championship in Las Vegas. If he defends in Cardiff it will be October 28. The date and venue in Las Vegas would be the T-Mobile Arena on November 11.

“I’m not turning Vegas down, I’d go, but for the people it’s easier,” Joshua, 27, told Press Association Sport.”My heart always tells me the UK, because a lot of people that have supported me since the amateurs are from here, and it gives them a chance to come down and watch a heavyweight title fight without having to travel.”I know people will always make the effort but sometimes you want to make it as easy as possible for them. Continue reading “Joshua wants Cardiff defense Oct 28”

Former world champion Floyd Mayweather said today that his August 26 boxing match against MMA fighter Conor McGregor will absolutely be his last fight.

“I thought Andre Berto was going to be the last weigh-in, the last training camp,” said Mayweather. “Honestly speaking, I thought that was going to be my last everything. You just don’t know what can happen. We’re here with this big event, so… This is my last one ladies and gentleman. I gave my word to Al Haymon, I gave my word to my children. And one thing I don’t want to do is break that. I gave Haymon my word, I gave my children my word, I’m going to stick to my word. This will be my last fight!”

Undefeated two-division world champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward will join ESPN’s coverage of two of the year’s biggest boxing events: the August 19th Top Rank Boxing on ESPN Terence “Bud” Crawford vs Julius Indongo and the August 26th pay-per-view Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor.

Ward, the current Unified Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, will join ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas as a guest analyst for the August 19th Top Rank Boxing on ESPN “Unification” fight, replacing recently retired Timothy Bradley who had been in that role.

Unbeaten rising star David Benavidez and powerful contender Ronald Gavril will battle for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship on Friday, Sept. 8 live on SHOWTIME in the headlining attraction of a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast will feature two additional showdowns in the super middleweight division. Once-beaten J’Leon Love (23-1, 13 KOs) will battle Texas-native Abraham Han (26-3, 16 KOs) in a 10-round bout while unbeaten prospect Caleb Plant (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Alan Campa (16-3, 11 KOs) in 10 rounds of action.

Benavidez (18-0, 17 KOs) has a chance to make history – at just 20-years-old he is aiming to become the youngest super middleweight champion in history and the youngest reigning world champion in the sport today. Gavril (18-1, 14 KOs) will seek to keep the WBC 168-pound title in the Mayweather Promotions family after it was vacated by his stablemate, Badou Jack.

Alberto Machado 130 vs. Carlos Morales 130

Emanuel Rivera 117 vs. Nate Green 117
Juan Carlos Camacho 114 vs. Edwin Rodriguez 114

Venue: Complejo Ferial De Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Promoter Golden Boy
TV: ESPN2

By Bill Green

In one of your championship fights you scored a one punch KO victory and in the next you outboxed Ricky Burns to capture your second title. So are you the puncher or the boxer in this fight?

Indongo: I’m just a boxer, you know. The Troyanovsky KO just happened, it came out of nowhere. I will just be me and let God take care of the rest. I’m excited and blessed for the opportunity to be on such a big stage.

Terence, when your critics said that Postol had a better jab, you took it away and showed yours, when they said Diaz was a pure slick boxer and Olympian…you outclassed and outboxed him. What do you feel Indongo does well and what will you do to neutralize it?

Crawford: I will do exactly that. I will take away what he is confident in doing. He does have good movement and is very confident. I want to test his body and cut off the ring at times. But, you all will have to show up and see how the fight will play out.

Former world champion and top welterweight contender “Showtime” Shawn Porter has pulled out of the welterweight battle against former title challenger Thomas Dulorme that headlines the Mayweather vs. McGregor preliminary bouts on FOX and FOX Deportes on August 26 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Porter withdrew from the match due to personal reasons, which included a death in his family. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Yordenis Ugas (19-3, 9 KOs) will replace Porter and now take on Dulorme (24-2, 18 KOs) in the main preliminary bout on FOX. Continue reading “Shawn Porter pulls out of FOX fight”

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn is confident he will defeat Manny Pacquiao again in their rematch and says he will show his victory over the future Hall of Famer was no fluke.

“Just give us a date, a time and the place to show up so we can get it on,’’ Horn told the Townsville Bulletin. “There was so much backlash on that last fight with judging and then going to a recount. I think I’ll improve from the first time and when I beat him again it won’t be considered a fluke…I’m just happy to take the fight and my main concern is that it is in Australia.”

Middleweights Vitaly Kopylenko (26-1-0, 14 KOs) and Travis Scott (19-3, 5 KOs) will clash in the eight round co-main event on September 15 at “The Dome at the Ballpark” in Rosemont, Illinois and telecast live on CBS Sports Network. The card is headlined by the 10-round main event featuring undefeated and world ranked Mike Lee (19-0, 10 KOs) defending his IBF-USBA light heavyweight title against Anthony “The Quiet Storm” Quattrocchi (10-1-1, 5 KOs).

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee summoned a purse bid for the super middleweight title fight between champion Tyron Zeuge and Nigerian Isaac Ekpo, on August 28th. They already fought on March 23 and Zeuge was given the victory by technical decision in the fifth round. However, it was an intense fight with the 49-46, 48-47 and 49-47 scorecards. The Championships Committee, upon request of team Ekpo, analyzed the fight and ordered a rematch giving them 30 days to negotiate, however, Zeuge was granted a special permit to fight Paul Smith with the condition that the winner of that bout should negotiate with Ekpo. The failure of the parties to reach an agreement forced the Championships Committee to summon the purse bid, which will take place in the WBA offices in Panamá City, presided over by Aurelio Fiengo.

By Miguel Maravilla

Four-division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) of Puerto Rico hosted a media workout Wednesday afternoon at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California ahead of his bout against Japan’s Yoshihiro “El Maestrito” Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs). Cotto will take on Kamegai next Saturday, August 26 at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California live on HBO World Championship Boxing. Cotto and his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach had a full workout here is what they had to say.

“We are one week away from the Kamegai fight. Camp was good and I am ready,” Miguel Cotto told Fightnews.com®. “Kamegai is a tough, strong, fighter that comes forward. He will come ready to prove who he is. There is no doubt that I will come out with the victory.” Continue reading “Miguel Cotto Media Day”

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Ali Funeka hopes to get his career back on track after his stoppage loss against Jeff Horn in December last year when he challenges Samuel Vargas from Colombia for the WBA/NABA welterweight title at the Brampton Powerade Centre in Toronto, Canada on Saturday. The 39-year-old Funeka (39-6-3, 30 KOs) was smashed to defeat in six rounds by Jeff Horn who won the WBO welterweight belt in his next fight when he outpointed Manny Pacquiao. However, Funeka had Horn on the canvas before the stoppage.

Vargas, 28, who fights out of Toronto made his pro debut in February 2010 and has racked up a record of 27-3-1, 14 KOs. Continue reading “Funeka aims to get career back on track”

Shane Shapiro’s No Limits Mindset, LLC has signed lightweight contender, Mason Menard to an exclusive managerial contract. Menard of Rayne, Louisiana has a record of 33-2, 24 KOs. He suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery that has kept him out of action for the remainder of 2017. They are shooting for an early 2018 return, showcasing Memard in 1-2 fights locally in Louisiana before landing a big fight. Continue reading “Menard inks new managerial pact”

This Saturday night, Thomas LaManna will take on George Sosa in a ten-round bout for the WBC Silver Latino Welterweight bout that will headline a big 11 bout card at what is expected to be a sold out Calridge Hotel in Atlantic City.

The show, promoted by Rising Promotions, is the 9th card that will be staged before a capacity crowd. Continue reading “LaManna-Sosa clash Saturday in AC”

Veteran referee Robert Byrd will be the third man in the ring for the August 26 Mayweather-McGregor PPV clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Judges will be Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Guido Cavalleri.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has unanimously approved the clash between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor to be fought with eight-ounce gloves, rather than the ten-ounce mitts normally required for the junior middleweight division and higher. The decision was a one-time exception for this bout only. McGregor normally uses four-ounce gloves in MMA competition.

By Robert Hough

Light welterweights Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo are set to fight Saturday in an ultra-rare, four-belt unification bout. The match, in Lincoln, Nebraska, will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET and streamed live via the ESPN app.

Here’s what they had to say today:

Terence Crawford: “(Indongo) is at the end of his career. He doesn’t have a lot of choices. He can’t wait around for a long time…He has good legs. It seems like he can punch a bit. He doesn’t let his opponent get inside.”

Julius Indongo: “It’s something huge. It’s very big. It’s very meaningful…I am a humble guy but I don’t fear anybody. My focus, my game-plan, everything is in position…Although people never knew me, this is the right time to show the world.”

Continue reading “Crawford, Indongo poised to unify”