Adamek-Grant on PPV

Integrated Sports Media, North America’s undisputed champion of major pay-per-view boxing distribution, has announced that it will broadcast the IBF International and NABO heavyweight titles fight on August 21st. “The Big Challenge” main event clashes two-time light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion, and current The Ring Magazine number 5 heavyweight in the world, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (41-1, 27 KO) against former heavyweight contender “Big” Michael Grant (46-3, 34 KO). Additionally, boxing fans around the world will see always dangerous Columbian, Joel Julio (35-4, 31 KO), live from the Prudential Center “The Big Challenge”, presented by Main Events, Ziggy Promotions and X-Cel Worldwide, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9PM EST / 6PM PST on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States and Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada for a suggested retail price of $29.95. (more…)

DKP Conference Call Transcript

Here is a full transcript of last week’s spirited media conference call supporting Don King’s world championship tripleheader at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Aug. 7. The participants included undefeated WBC/IBF 140-pound champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (20-0, 13 KOs), from St. Louis; who will defend against former WBA super lightweight champion Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs), from Lviv Ukraine; and undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (20-0, 18 KOs), from Tallahassee, Fla.; who will defend against former IBF light heavyweight champion Glen “Road Warrior” Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs), from Jamaica now fighting out of Miami. (more…)

Frenkel plans to enjoy UK

European cruiserweight title contender Alexander Frenkel wants to combine a KO win over Enzo Maccarinelli with some sightseeing! The unbeaten 25-year-old will tackle Big Mac on September 18 at the LG Arena, Birmingham. And not only is he intent on taking the title back to Germany, but he plans to take in a few of the UK’s hottest tourist destinations as well. (more…)

Edouard returns Saturday

By Robert Coster

Daniel “The Haitian Sensation” Edouard (23-2-2, 14 KOs) returns to ring action on Saturday, facing former jr middleweight contender Alfonso Mosquera (19-7, 7 KOs) in Colon, Panama. Edouard, WBA #8 ranked middleweight, will be stepping down to the jr middleweight division facing crowd favorite Mosquera for the vacant WBA Fedelatin 154lbs crown. The Haitian-American boxer already holds the WBA middleweight Fedelatin belt. Edouard and Mosquera will be headlining an entertaining 9 bout international card offered by Premium Boxing Promotions that will also feature another regional title fight: WBA #12 featherweight Nicholas Walters (14-0, 11 KOs) defending his WBA Fedelatin crown against hard-punching Eddy Julio (11-2-1, 10 KOs) of Colombia. (more…)

Zbik-Heiland Presser

Photo by Universum Box-Promotion

Universum has loaded up Saturday’s “Universum Champions Night” at the o2 World in Hamburg, closing out a successful eight year run of boxing on ZDF. The card features the WBC interim world championship between Sebastian Zbik and Jorge Sebastian Heiland, the WBA super middleweight world championship between Dimitri Sartison and Khoren Gevor, the European heavyweight champion duel between Alexander Dimitrenko and Jaroslaw Zavorotny, plus Juan Carlos Gomez, Karoly Balzsay and Jack Culcay in separate bouts. All seats in the arena have been priced at 30-Euros with half the preceeds going to a children’s charity.

Here’s what happened at today’s press conference. (more…)

George to face Sierra

Next Friday at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK, highly touted super middleweight Donovan “Da Bomb” George (20-0-1, 17 KOs) will look to continue his unbeaten run against Francisco Sierra (21-3, 20 KOs) in what promises to be an all-out war between heavy-handed punchers in the co-feature on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” telecast. The bout is the co-feature to the welterweight showdown between IBF #3 rated, Delvin Rodriguez (25-4-2, 14 KOs) and Ashley Theophane (26-4-1, 7 KOs).

Dib backs Bika

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing
Photo by Nathan Butler

Former IBO 130 pound champion, Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib (27-1, 15 KOs) and his team jetted out of Sydney on Sunday and were bound for Las Vegas via Los Angeles. The IBF No. 4 rated featherweight (126 lbs) will be working and sparring with fellow world rated, and multiple division champion, Celestino Caballero, who trains under the astute guidance of Jeff Mayweather in Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas, Billy and his trainer Billy Hussein will also support Sakio Bika in his upcoming IBF super middleweight eliminator bout on July 31 against Jean Paul Mendy on the Marquez-Diaz II undercard from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (more…)

Pabon-Zepeda Aug 13th

UPDATE: It will be all-action welterweight Jesus Pabon (14-1, 8 KOs) who will take on Mexico’s Ernesto Zepeda (39-13-4, 34 KOs) for the WBO Latino welterweight title on August 13. The bout will be a 12 round main event and take place at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa, Florida. Also on the card is 2004 Cuban Olympian Luis Franco (5-0, 4 KOs) against veteran Yogli Herrera (25-11, 15 KOs) , Unbeaten Brazilian middleweight Michael Oliveira (12-0, 10 KOs) vs TBA and local 122lb favorite Jenna “Cowboy” Shiver (11-4-1) against Liliana Martinez (8-10, 4 KOs). Felix Tuto Zabala Jr’s All Star Boxing will promote. For tickets call 404-787-7593.

Report/gallery: McEwan-Perez

Ringside by Francisco Salazar
Photography by “Big” Joe Miranda

It may not have been pretty, but middleweight Craig McEwan will take the victory over a hard-nosed challenger.

McEwan won a hard-fought 10 round majority decision over Danny Perez before a boisterous crowd of 2,475 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif., Friday night . . . Click here for more

Report/gallery: Shumenov-Uzelkov

Ringside by David Robinett
Photos by Laura De La Torre

Prior to his first title defense Friday night, against undefeated Vyacheslav Uzelkov, WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov was seeking a measure of redemption, having won the title in a controversial decision in January over Gabriel Campillo. Although Shumenov’s win over Campillo, in just his tenth pro fight, made him the fourth-fastest boxer to win a world title at the start of his career, most ringside observers felt the title was undeserved, leaving Shumenov in a position of having to prove himself all over again . . . Click here for more

Promoter Temuzin Rambing passes

By Jeff Pamungkas

Young and talented Indonesian promoter Temuzin Rambing (30), passed away on Saturday around 6:15PM local time in a hospital in Semarang, Indonesia. He had been hospitalized for almost 3 weeks for a mysterious fever, before finally he could no longer sustain. Four days ago, this writer had a conversation with him via a long distance call, he informed that the recent blood lab showed that he had toxoplasma (wikipedia: toxoplasma gondii). “But the doctors are still analyzing my blood, as there’s another unknown illness,” said Rambing at that time. Temuzin Rambing is the fourth child of Sutan Rambing, one of the most popular boxing trainers in Indonesia. Sutan Rambing who brought Chris John to the WBA featherweight championship in 2003. Rambing, besides a boxing promoter, was also a university lecturer, holding a master degree in economics, a former amateur boxer, and a former professional boxing referee. He was the father of a 4-year old son. Fightnews.com conveys its deepest condolences to Temuzin Rambing’s family. May God bless them all.

Q&A: Nikolay Valuev

By Alexey “Oscar” Potapov

Sauerland Event

In an exclusive interview, former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev (50-2, 34 KOs) spoke about a possible fight against WBC heavyweight Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs), as well as a rematch against David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs). The largest heavyweight champion in boxing history also said he’s staying in shape as he waits to make his next move. (more…)

CBHOF inductees named

The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame’s newest members will include F. Mac Buckley, Desi Clark, Sean Malone Sr., Bob Steele, Joe Tessitore, Micky Ward and Troy Wortham. The CBHOF induction dinner will be held October 30th at the Mohegan Sun. Tickets will be on sale beginning next month.

Kameda Brothers triumph

Former two division world champion Koki Kameda (23-1, 15 KOs) knocked out faded former world title challenger Cecilio “Boga” Santos (24-15-3, 14 KOs) in round four on Sunday at the Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan. With the win, Kameda rebounded from his only loss against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in March. Santos has now dropped seven of his last nine.
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The card also featured Koki’s brother WBA flyweight champion Daiki Kameda (17-2, 11 KOs), who outpointed Rosendo Vega over ten one-sided rounds by scores of 100-90, 100-90, 100-91 in a non-title bout. Daiki is already scheduled to defend against former champion Takefumi Sakata on September 25.

Gonzalez, Ibarra victorious

Former bantamweight world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (45-7, 39 KOs)knocked out Aristides Perez (17-3, 10 KOs) in round two of a featherweight bout on Saturday night at the Gimnasio “Manuel Priego Galera” in Campeche, Mexico. Gonzalez has won five in row since his KO loss to WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka.
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In the co-feature, super flyweight Oscar Ibarra (23-4, 14 KOs) won the WBC silver belt by knocking out Carlos Melo (19-11-1, 2 KOs) in the sixth round.

Marquez pep rally in LA

Photos: Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

Hundreds of fans braved the heat at the famed Placita Olvera in Los Angeles today to welcome and cheer on Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez before he heads to Las Vegas to face Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz in “Fight of the Year: The Rematch” on pay-per-view July 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Over 300 fans showed their support for Mexico’s “Numero Uno” and Marquez reciprocated that support by signing autographs for over two hours in the blazing sun. “I was so happy that all of the fans came out to support me today,” said Marquez. “Arriving in the United States really makes me feel like the fight is almost here. I want to make the Mexican people proud and to be victorious on July 31.”

Report/Gallery from TJ

Ringside report and photos by Felipe Leon

For the fourth and latest installment of the popular “Guante Azteca (Aztec Glove)” tournament, Zanfer Promotions pulled out all the stops when it was made part of the Tecate Box Tour that hit Tijuana, Mexico, this past Wednesday.

Instead of the usual home for the fight card, the six bout night was held at the makeshift arena that was contructed in the parking lot of the Hipodromo Caliente. With over one thousand boxing fans enjoying of the party atmosphere inside the huge tent, a unprecedented result in the tournament was witnessed in the main event when junior welterweights Jesus Gurrola (13-1-2, 5 KOs) and Rafael Cobos (11-4-3, 5 KOs) fought to a six round draw . . . Click here for more

Abis wins EU belt

Italian Luciano Abis (29-1-1, 13 KOs) won the vacant European Union welterweight title against Belgian Kobe Vandekerkove (18-8-2, 6 KOs) on Saturday in Quartu S. Elena in the beautiful island of Sardegna, Italy. Abis won by technical decision in round eight after the referee stopped the contest because Abis was not able to see from his swollen left eye (head butt from Vandekerkove in round two).

On the undercard, 22-year-old and the best Italian prospect at lightweight Luca Giacon (12-0, 12 KOs) stopped Nicaraguan Ronny McField (13-6-2, 10 KOs) in round three. For McField, it was the first loss inside the limit. Super lightweight Michele Di Rocco (28-1-1, 12 KOs) decisioned in six rounds Irish toughguy Peter McDonagh (15-17, 2 KOs).

OPI 2000 (Salvatore and Christian Cherchi) promoted the show with Dahlia TV televising the card live in Italy.

Cunningham Blows Away Echols

By Lindy Lindell at ringside
Photo by Bob Ryder

July 23, Royal Oak Music Hall, Royal Oak, MI: In what must be regarded as a career best performance, super-middleweight Daryl Cunningham, 20-2, turned on the power in the third round and blew away the once tough vet, Anton Echols, now 32-14-4. Echols collapsed under heavy fire and failed to make the count after absorbing a standing-eight earlier in the round. (more…)

Barnett defeats Hendrix

Ty Barnett 18-1-1 (12 KO’s) suffered through a serious injury to his right hand as he pounded out a 8 round unanimous decision over the formidable Tyrese Hendrix 18-2-1 (7 KO’s) Saturday night in front of a standing room only crowd at The Fitz Casino in Tunica, MS. (more…)

Boxing meets Formula 1

Photos by Public Address

Three-belt world champion Susi Kentikian and light heavyweight world champion Jürgen Brähmer are on hand this weekend at the famous Hockenheim Ring racetrack where the two boxers have gotten a close-up taste of Formula 1. For more details and photos click here…

Ambunda retains WBO Africa title

By Ron Jackson

Paulus Ambunda from Namibia retained his WBO Africa bantamweight title on a unanimous points decision against former South African bantamweight champion Klaas Mboyane at the Windhoek Country Club on Friday night. Ambunde 13-0; 7 and Mboyane 13-9-2; 7 fought toe-toe for the first five rounds which were possibly shaded by the champion. However, the South African did well to come back and possibly takes rounds six to eight. The champion who was much bigger and stronger than Mboyane finished strongly earning a well deserved decision. The judges scorecards were widely in favour of the homeboy which was not a true reflection of the fight. The referee was Thabo Spampool of South Africa and the tournament was presented by Nestor Tobias of Sunshine Promotions.

Taliwe keeps SA belt with draw

By Ron Jackson

In a closely fought contest Sipho Taliwe retained his South African junior lightweight title when he fought to a 12 round draw with Godfrey Nzimande at the Nasrec Indoor Arena near Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon. The scores were 114 -114 twice and 115-113 for Nzimande. (more…)