Turkey Giveaway by Golden Boy!

Photos by Hoganphotos/GoldenBoy

The team from Golden Boy Promotions passed out hundreds of turkeys, fixings and products to the East Los Angeles community yesterday.  (more…)

Erdei, Fragomeni speak

Photo: Eroll Popova

Universum Box-Promotion had three new world champions crowned on Saturday night in Kiel Germany. Former light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei successfully moved up in weight to seize the WBC cruiserweight title from Giacobbe Fragomeni, Olympian medalist Vitali Tajbert dethroned WBC interim super featherweight king Humberto Gutierrez, and super middleweight claimed the vacant WBA belt with a fifth round TKO over Stjepan Bozic. Here’s what they had to say at the post-fight press conference, plus a giant photo gallery of the night’s action. (more…)

Ward-Kessler photogallery

David Robinett and Robert Hough at Ringside;
Photographs by Laura De La Torre

2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) dominated Mikkel Kessler (42-2, 31 KOs) in a stunningly one-sided affair to capture the WBA super middleweight belt and position himself as the favorite for the SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic this past Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. Ward won by technical decision after the fight was stopped in the eleventh round due to cuts over Kessler’s eyes which were caused by accidental head butts, by scores of 97-93, 98-92, 98-92. Click here for the full report and action packed photogallery.

Q&A: Danny Green

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing

Danny Green says his respect for Roy Jones has gone and he is looking forward to their December 2 clash at Acer Arena where Jones will challenge for his IBO cruiserweight belt. Jones is looking to make history as the first boxer to claim world titles in all five weight divisions from middleweight to heavyweight. Green said “I can see it, I have this recurring vision that I’ve got and haven’t had this feeling for a long time,” Green said. “I can envisage an earlier than 12th round stoppage by myself against Roy Jones Jr.” (more…)

Roy Jones Lands in Sydney

By Craig Watt

Roy Jones Junior landed at Sydney airport on Sunday and was greeted by an army of fans and media ahead of his December 2nd challenge at the Acer Arena against Australian Danny Green for the IBO Cruiserweight Title. As soon as he arrived he was ready to talk boxing and showed great confidence in his upcoming fight. He stated, “There is no way this fight is going the distance – no way. I have too much to bring to the table for this fight to go to the scorecards. I will win by knockout and that is for sure. I am glad to be in this great country of Australia and I know how proud they are of Danny Green but I am in the fight zone now and the fight will not go the distance. Speed, power, boxing ability – I just have too much.” (more…)

Q&A: Vitali Klitschko

Bryan Crowe/FightWireImages.com

By Alexey Potapov

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) who is preparing for his upcoming fight against Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KOs) on December, 12th at the Post Finance Arena in Berne, Switzerland sat down with Fightnews for an exclusive interview. (more…)

Griffin Decisions McCreedy

Ringside Report by Mark Vaz and Scott Ploof
Photography by Emily Harney

Stepping up the competition. That’s what it’s all about for a young, developing fighter. Learning, improving and fighting better competition as you yourself progress to be prepared for the day when, hopefully, you’ll get a shot at the big time. For “Irish” Joe McCreedy (11-4-1, 6 KOs), a gutsy 24-year old from Lowell, Massachusetts, that step up was this past Friday night at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island on Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports presented CES Boxing’s “Autumn Classic,” which featured several rising stars on the New England Boxing horizon. Unfortunately for McCreedy, he dropped a unanimous decision victory to “The Next Great Champ” reality show winner Otis Griffin (21-6-2, 8 KOs) in a hard fought battle. 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate Danny O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs) took the fight to a game challenge from his opponent James Hope (4-3, 4 KOs) however in the end it was O’Connor walking away with the shutout six round unanimous decision win. Click here for the entire ringside report and action packed photogallery.

Q&A: Lovemore Ndou

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

IBO welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou recently held onto his crown with a draw against Mathew Hatton in England. Ndou talks to Fightnews about the Hatton fight, why it was not his best performance, his dislike of Mathew Hatton and his respect for Ricky Hatton and also that IBF 147 pound champion Isaac Hlatswayo and former IBF 135 pound champion Phillip Holiday is on his radar. (more…)

Francisco Rodriguez Passes

By Kurt Wolfheimer

We are sad to report that USBA Super Bantamweight challenger Francisco Rodriguez has passed on Sunday night at Hahnemann University Hospital. The 25-year-old Rodriquez fought a give and take epic fight with Teon Kennedy at the Legendary Blue Horizon on Friday night. The fight was waved off in the tenth round while Rodriquez was still on his feet. He was placed on a stool in corner, but within minutes he slumped over and lost consciousness as oxygen was applied. He was immediately rushed from the ring on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to Hahnemann University Hospital where emergency brain surgery was performed. Rodriguez never regained consciousness. (more…)

Porter punishes Ellis

Supported by a large crowd at Fitzgeralds Casino in Tunica, MS, junior middleweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter (11-0, 9 KOs) kept his perfect intact after scoring a fourth round TKO over Jerome Ellis (12-10-2, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at “The Fitz” in Tunica, Mississippi. The 2008 US Olympic Alternate was declared the winner following the fourth round when Ellis refused to leave his stool, forcing Referee Randy Phillips to stop the contest. (more…)

Ward: It Wasn’t Dirty; It’s Sweet

Photo: Laura de la Torre

By Bob Hough

Mikkel Kessler said after his 11th-round, technical-decision loss to Andre Ward that some of the head-clashes were intentional and that Ward, the new WBA super-middleweight champion was a dirty fighter—a charge Ward vehemently denied. Ward consistently out-landed the Dane and avoided his power, though the fighters’ heads collided regularly. Kessler believes the collisions weren’t all accidental. (more…)

More on Sosa-Mayol

By Robert Coster

“I just followed the doctor’s orders who told me to let the fight go on,” says Puerto Rican referee Roberto Ramirez after the controversial end to the WBC light flyweight bout between champion Edgar Sosa and challenger Rondel Mayol yesterday in Tuxla Gutierrez, Mexico. A vicious head-butt at the beginning of the second round spelled the end for the long reigning champion who crumbled to the floor. The head-butt was ruled as intentional and referee Ramirez deducted a point from the Filipino challenger. Sosa got up on unsteady legs but ring physician, Dr. Ibarra, ruled that the fight could continue. The referee accepted the doctor’s advice and Mayol jumped on his defenseless prey. After a second knockdown, Ramirez stopped the fight, putting an end to Sosa’s 28 month reign. The Mexican champion had to be transported to the hospital where he was declared to have a fractured cheekbone that will keep him out of action for about 5-6 months. The Sosa camp has mentioned that it will appeal the outcome of the fight in order to have it declared a no-contest.

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Jones-Green financial success

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing

IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green has commented that his bout with Roy Jones Jr is the biggest fight in Australia’s boxing history. The bout has proven to be a great financial success with Danny looking certain to surpass the AUD $3,000,000 he earned from his bout with Anthony Mundine. It is rumored that Green could earn up to $4,000,000, and quite possibly more, due to a number of contributing factors, including: the fight being beamed into 15 countries, including the US, Canada, England, Malaysia and South Africa. A huge financial lure that the Mundine-Green fight failed to attract. Just 5000 tickets remain for the bout at Homebush, with an 18,000 sell-out guaranteed. Overwhelming demand for ringside seats has allowed ticket holders to auction seats on eBay for up to $1250. Demand for pay-per-view subscription at pubs and clubs is rivalled only by Green’s fight with Mundine in 2006. (more…)

Kiattaweesuk-Rengkung, Thur.

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing

IBF#12 bantamweight Tantong Kiattaweesuk (14-0, 7 KOs) will clash with Indonesian Rivo Rengkung (29-8-5, 11 KOs) on Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand with IBF Pan Pacific title up for grabs. Promoter Jimmy Chaichotchiang said: “I am happy my boxer Kiattaweesuk will have a good test on Thursday when he fights experienced Rengkung who has boxed world class boxers like Michael Domingo and Somsak Sithchawal. I am confident Kiattaweesuk has the skills to beat the best bantamweights in the world-he only needs the opportunity.” The promotion will televised on channel seven television network throughout Thailand.

Bennett outscores Rios

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing

Former world rated welterweight Chad Bennett (23-3-3, 16 KOs) was impressive in clearly outscoring Argentine lightweight champion Aldo Nazareno Rios (46-4, 11 KOs) over ten rounds at the Newcastle Jockey Club, Broadmeadow Racecourse, NSW, Australia on Saturday. The 5’10 Bennett, 36-years, controlled the action in all the rounds as he continually connected with accurate combinations. 5’8 Rios, 35-years, came to fight but could not cope with the Australian boxers superior speed and skills. The visitor had been in the distance with world champions Isaac Hlatshwayo, Artur Grigorian and Steve Johnston. Ricky Hatton stopped Rios in nine rounds. He had defeated Victor Hugo Paz three times and scored knockouts over Jason Cook and Sergio Gonzalez. Bennett will challenge former WBA champion Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai for the IBF Australasian 140 pound title. Bennett is focused on IBF world title shot against IBF junior welterweight champion Juan Urango.

Perales wins belts

By John Cannon/www.canvaswarriors.com

Brownsville native Sergio Perales wanted to give something back to his fans who have supported him during his boxing career. Well, he definitely did that as he put together a stellar performance in front of a raucous crowd at the Jacob Brown Auditorium in Brownsville, defeating Columbia’s Jose Garcia Bernal to capture the IBA and WBF Continental Americas belts Saturday night. “I am happy for Brownsville and the fans who paid good money to come out and see a good show and I feel I gave that to them tonight,” said Perales. “My last couple of fights have been first round knockouts and I felt that I did not give the fans a good show. But I was able to give them 10 good rounds and am grateful for that. I needed the work.” (more…)

Controversy over Mayol win

By Robert Coster

“The only way Rodel Mayol could beat me was by intentionally fouling me. He should have been disqualified,” says disconsolate former champion Edgar Sosa who lost his WBC belt on Saturday in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico by a very controversial TKO in the second round to Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol. Sosa, who was making his 11th defense, is in the hospital with a fractured cheekbone, the result of a clear head-butt on the part Mayol. Although Sosa, now (37-6, 21 KOs), was bleeding and clearly dazed, ring doctor Ibarra allowed the fight to continue and the Filipino boxer took full advantage of the situation, scoring two subsequent knockdowns that forced Referee Robert Ramirez to stop the fight and declare Mayol (26-4-1, 20 KOs) the winner. (more…)

Kessler: I will bounce back

Photo: Tom Casino, Showtime

Mikkel Kessler has vowed to bounce back stronger than ever after his 11th round technical decision defeat against Andre Ward. The Viking Warrior was trailing on all three score-cards when the fight was stopped due to a cut caused by an unintentional head-butt. “I have lost the world title once and won it straight back so I know how to do it,” Kessler said. “With the support of my home fans in Denmark I will beat Carl Froch and become world champion again. That is why this tournament is great–I have the chance to make amends immediately.” Kessler admitted it was tough to fight Ward. “He was very fast and very good. He ruined my style,” he said. “It was not my day. Now I will go home, watch the tape and then bounce back stronger than ever.” (more…)

Erdei-Fragomeni Video

After six years as a light heavyweight champion, Zsolt Erdei moved up in weight to challenge WBC cruiserweight beltholder Giacobbe Fragomeni in front of 4000 fans at the Sparkassen-Arena in Kiel, Germany, on Saturday’s “Universum Champion Night“ in a battle of contrasting styles between the technician Erdei and the brawler Fragomeni. Click here for video highlights

Segura destroys Jaro

WBA mini-flyweight champion Giovanni Segura (22-1, 18 KOs) scored a first round knockout over Sonny Boy Jaro (30-7-5, 19 KOs) on Saturday night in Merida, Yucatán, Mexico. It was a body shot that did in Jaro.

Digital inducted into DC BHOF

Photo: John DeFreitas/The Washington Informer

Fightnews.com feature writer Gary “Digital” Williams receives his Washington, DC Boxing Hall-of-Fame induction plaque from the hall of fame’s membership secretary, Allan Nader. Williams was honored for Outstanding Contributions to Boxing in the nation’s capitol. Williams has covered the boxing scene in DC and the surrounding area for 24 years, 11 of them with Fightnews.com. Among the others inducted in the DC Boxing Hall of Fame this year were former middleweight title contender Andrew Council and five-time women’s world champion Isra Girgrah Wynn, who was the first female pro boxer to be inducted into the DC Boxing Hall-of-Fame.

Sonsona loses belt, perfect record

By Dave Spencer / Fightnews Canada

It turned out to be quite the day for nineteen year-old Marvin Sonsona. In the morning we lost his WBO junior-bantamweight belt on the scales, coming in over two-and-a-half pounds over the 115 pound limit. Things didn’t go much better in the evening as the Philippine fighter escaped with a draw over a determined Alejandro Hernandez (22-7-2 11KO) by score of 115-113, 113-115, 114-114. The WBO title will remain vacant. It was clear that from the early going that these were two fighters operating on different planes, with the former champion waving and smiling to the crowd while a determined Hernandez was trying to make the most of his title opportunity. The talent level favoured the tall lanky Sonsona who was able to bank some early rounds over the Mexican who showed no quit on the evening.

Former super-bantamweight IBF champion Steve Molitor survived a fifth round knockdown and walked away with a 78-73, 79-73, 78-74 decision of Jose Saez of Argentina. Molitor was easily controlling the fight as he towered over his opponent but walked straight left counter that put the Canadian Kid down quickly. Molitor was delivering and landing at a much higher percentage than his Argentine opponent who absorbed the former champion’s shots well. Moliltor seemed highly irritated at the momentary lapse. Molitor controlled the action for the duration, but definitely not in the same confident, aggressive style he had done in the earlier going. (more…)

Maidana retains WBA belt

WBA interim super lightweight champion Marcos Maidana (27-1, 26 KOs) scored a third round knockout over William Gonzalez (22-6-1, 7 KOs) on Saturday night at the Club Deportivo Libertad in Sunchales, Santa Fe, Argentina. Gonzalez was counted out at 2:20 of the round. It was Maidana’s first title defense since winning the title in a shootout against Victor Ortiz in June.

Mayol takes Sosa’s WBC belt

Saturday night in Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiappas, Mexico, Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol (25-4-1, 19 KOs) scored a second round TKO over longtime WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (37-5, 21 KOs), who was making his 11th defense (in 28 months). After Sosa was badly hurt by an unintentional headbutt, he was dropped again when action resumed and the referee waved it off moments later. Mayol was successful in his fifth attempt at a world title.

Ward defeats Kessler

Photo: Laura de la Torre

By David Robinett and Robert Hough at ringside

SHOWTIME’s acclaimed Super Six World Boxing Classic continued Saturday as undefeated Olympic gold medalist Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) scored an eleventh round technical decision over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Ward had the perfect game plan as he surprisingly dominated Kessler, whose face was busted up by unintentional headbutts and punches. Scores were 97-93, 98-92, 98-92.
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Jose Celaya, (31-6, 16 KOs), continued his slow decline from one-time contender, losing a unanimous decision to unheralded Tony Hirsch, (10-3-1, 5 KOs), 40-36 on all three scorecards in a four-round junior middleweight bout.
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Local fighter Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield, (11-0-1, 7 KOs), lived up to his nickname, stopping Francisco Santana, (11-2, 5 KOs), at 2:27 of round five in a scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout.
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Young prospect Stan Martyniouk, (8-0, 1 KO), had an easy time of it with journeyman Anthony Martinez, (21-33-3, 9 KOs), taking a unanimous decision in a four-round lightweight bout, 40-36 on all three scorecards.
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In the evening’s opening bout, junior lightweight Mel Crossty, (4-0-1, 1 KO), cruised to a four-round unanimous decision over Carlos Herrera, (2-3, 1 KO). Scores were 39-36, 40-35, 40-35, with Crossty scoring a knockdown in the opening stanza.

Erdei dethrones Fragomeni

By Karl Freitag / Photos: Eroll Popova

Unbeaten longtime WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (31-0, 17 KOs) dethroned WBC cruiserweight champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-2-1, 10 KOs) by twelve round majority decision on Saturday night at the Sparkassen Arena in Kiel, Germany. Erdei’s speed was evident early on as he landed many sharp combinations. Fragomeni, however, applied intense pressure and connected more and more as the bout progressed. It became a battle attrition as both fighters landed good shots. Fragomeni closed stronger, however in the end scores were 114-114, 115-113, 115-113 for Erdei, who becomes the first Hungarian to win a world title in two weight divisions.

Olympic medalist Vitali Tajbert (19-1, 6 KOs) won the WBC interim super featherweight world championship with a twelve round unanimous decision over reigning titleholder Humberto Gutierrez (26-2-1, 19 KOs). Tajbert was very sharp and in tremendous condition, as he outboxed the taller champion, especially over the second half of the fight. Scores were 116-112, 116-112, 116-113.

In a clash for the vacant WBA super middleweight world championship, Dimitri Sartison (26-1, 17 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Stjepan Bozic (23-4, 14 KOs). The referee stopped the bout on the advice of the ring doctor because the left eye of Bozic was swollen shut.

Unbeaten WBC & WBO #1 rated middleweight Gennady Golovkin (18-0, 15 KOs) dropped previously unbeaten Mikhail Makarov (10-1, 5 KOs) three times in round two to get a stoppage win at 1:24. Golovkin was originally slated to face Ishe Smith, but Smith had to cancel with a foot injury. More results…

Mayweather feeds the homeless

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation team was out today in Las Vegas, doling out 250 hot Thanksgiving meals to the homeless today, at Owens and Main Street. Though the champ was not present, Mayweather’s manager, Leonard Ellerbe, was part of the crew handing out meals. Ellerbe commented on Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations, saying, “Floyd has proved himself the undisputable champion and numbers don’t lie. If the fight happens, he deserves the lion’s share of the purse.” – Chris Cozzone