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The World Boxing Association Championships Committee has ordered the teams behind current heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and #1 ranked Luis Ortiz to start negotiations for a fight between them. According to the resolution sent on January 11th, 2017, to both parties, the winner of the Joshua-Klitschko fight had to face Ortiz after 120 days. 95 days have passed and, for this reason, the Championships Committee ordered the fight. Both parties were duly notified that, as of August 3rd, they have 30 days to reach an agreement or the fight will be called to purse bids. Joshua also owes the IBF a defense against IBF #2 Kubrat Pulev.

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Two-division world champion and WBO super featherweight champion Ukraine’s Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) and two-time world title challenger Miguel “Escorpión” Marriaga (25-2, 21 KOs) of Columbia held the press conference Thursday at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles for their fight taking place this Saturday at the Microsoft Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles live on ESPN.

Vasyl Lomachenko: “It’s an interesting fight. Marriaga is a warrior.”

Miguel Marriaga: “I am happy to be back. If they picked me as an opponent there’s a reason. I can show what I can do as a fighter like I did in my last fight. We have trained well and we have prepared to win. A win here would be huge for Colombia.” Continue reading “Lomachenko-Marriaga Final Press Conference”

By TMZSports.com

Heavyweight Shannon Briggs says he’s heartbroken Wladimir Klitschko hung up his gloves before he got the chance to fight him. Briggs famously tormented Klitschko for years … popping up on him in public places and trying to get Wlad to meet him in the ring (the paddle boarding ambush is still classic).

Klitschko just announced he’s retiring, and when TMZ Sports talked with Briggs he told us he wishes the all-time great well — but that doesn’t change the fact that he would’ve knocked him out. “I would’ve knocked him out cold! I’m sad, I’m sad he’s gone, champ!”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has been in talks with Manny Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and said the rematch between WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao will probably be in Australia later this year.

“We’re trying to figure out when will be the recess (in the Senate) is, so we can schedule the fight. We have to first find out what dates are available, then we will decide where we are going to hold the rematch but most probably in Australia again,” Arum told The Manila Times.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, denied that he is unhappy with Top Rank. “I don’t have any problem with Arum. It was the referee and the judges who had problems during the fight. I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” said Pacman.

After a wait of over two months, because of the OC Fair’s 2017 run, it is time once again to crank up the mixed martial arts and boxing action for the next Fight Club OC show on Thursday, August 24th in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Two days before Mayweather vs McGregor, Roy Englebrecht Promotions will present its own boxer vs. MMA fighter clash when pro boxer Juan Bustamante (0-1) from Azusa faces pro MMA fighter Keith Berry from Murrieta in a four-round super middleweight bout. Continue reading “Fight Club OC Returns Aug 24”

Top Rank has released Episode 2 of Camp Life: Vasyl Lomachenko, the champ temporarily pauses training for a much-needed break. Loma working hard on his English. Manager Egis Klimas reveals a secret cholesterol-free meat “better than an avocado.”

To celebrate the tenth annual Briscoe Awards, Philly Boxing History has added a new category to their prestigious boxing awards. For the first time, the upcoming awards event on October 15, 2017, will include a contest to determine the “2016 Philly Boxing Photo of the Year”.

Photographers are asked to submit their photos prior to the event, where they will be exhibited. Fans and everyone attending the Briscoe Awards will be asked to vote on the shots to determine the 2016 Photo of the Year. The photographer of the winning pic will receive a Briscoe Medal at the annual event held at Xfinity Live! in South Philadelphia. Continue reading “Briscoe Awards Update”

Former two-time heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko has retired. “I have achieved everything I dreamed of, and now I want to start my second career after sports,” said the 41-year-old Klitschko in a statement. He had been considering a rematch with WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua later this year after their epic battle before 90,000 fans in London in April. Wlad’s two reigns as heavyweight champion were between 2000-2003 and 2006-2015. He leaves with a record of 64-5, 53 KOs.

By Marco Bratusch

Following the competitive title-bout held in Barcelona, Spain, last July 21 between co-challengers Marc Vidal (10-1-4, 4 KOs) and 42-year-old Sergio Blanco (23-4-1, 6 KOs) with the vacant European featherweight belt at stake, Blanco, who lost the fight by split decision, has now been appointed as mandatory challenger. The reason of such decision is the EBU board accepted the claim of Blanco’s promoter Gallego Prada, who pointed out that, in his view, the fight was extremely close and could have gone either ways. The winner Vidal, however, will be granted a volontary defense before the duty of taking on his official challenger in a rematch.

Italian-Ukrainian Serhyi Demchenko (18-11-1, 12 KOs) has been appointed as the new European mandatory challenger. The puncher and former European Union titlist, will thus take on German Karo Murat (31-3-1, 20 KOs), the current European champion, after a volontary defense Murat is expected to do during next November in a card promoted by SES Boxing. Demchenko and Murat already fought each other in 2009 for a vacant WBO Regional belt, with Murat winning a lopsided unanimous decision in Halle, Germany. Continue reading “EBU updates”

By Bill Green
Photos: Bill Green

For the biggest or most significant fight in his career, #3 P4P World Champion, Terence “Bud” Crawford (31-0, 22 KOs) is preparing for fellow undefeated multi-belt holder Julius Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs), in the Omaha native’s neighboring and adoptive home away from home, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Fightnews will provide several camp updates, interviews, press quotes and all the fight week activities as we are just a few weeks away from the big unification bout scheduled for August 19th, 2017 live on ESPN 10pm ET at the Pinnacle Bank Arena located near Crawford’s hometown, Lincoln, Nebraska. Crawford vs Indongo is scheduled for 12 rounds and will be “for all the belts” something that is simply unheard of in today’s sport. Continue reading “Terence Crawford Camp Update Part 1 of 2”

By TMZSports.com

Floyd Mayweather is expecting to make more than $300 MILLION from his fight with Conor McGregor … which would break down to more than $8 MILLION per minute in the ring. The boxer spelled it all out for Showtime’s “All Access: Mayweather v. McGregor” — explaining why no other professional athlete in the world is more bankable.

“I mean, am I the highest-paid athlete out there? And just coming back? We not talking about no contract. We not talking about no contract for no 4 years, or no contract for no 5 years. I can do it in 36 minutes. $300 (million) or better. In 36 minutes.”

Not a bad deal.

As for Conor, the UFC fighter is expecting to rake in around $100 mil for the August 26 superfight — but it’ll be the largest payday an MMA fighter has ever made … so he’s not complaining either.

Report, Photos by Joe Koizumi

Let’s get ready to rumble again. WBA middleweight champ Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, France, will face #1 ranked 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata again in Tokyo, Japan, on October 22. It was publicly announced with Hassan’s attendance under Teiken Promotions before many press people and television cameras as well. They battled with N’Dam victorious with a disputed split decision here last May, and the WBA ordered a direct rematch due to the controversy. Continue reading “WBA 160lb champ N’Dam, Murata to collide again”

By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos: Bob Ryder

WBC Super Middleweight Champion, Nikki Adler (16-0, 9 KO’s) and 2X Olympic Gold Medalist, Claressa Shields (3-0, 1 KO) held the final press conference at the MGM Grand Detroit, Wednesday afternoon. Along with the WBC belt on the line, the vacant IBF belt will be at stake, as well.

Claressa Shields said at the podium, “This is a dream come true for me. When I was 11 years old, they did not even have women in the Olympics, yet. That was my dream. I wanted to be the first woman to win a Gold medal in boxing.” Continue reading “Adler vs. Shields Press Conference”

In 2009, and after winning two in a row, Light Heavyweight contender Prince Badi Ajamu walked away from the ring at age 37. Ajamu, who was a perennial contender had a record of 27-3-1 with 15 knockouts, but decided that he needed some time away from competitive action. Fast forward eight years, Ajamu steps back in the ring as he takes on Edgar Perez in the six-round co-feature bout this Saturday night at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City.

The card, which will headlined by super middleweight Derrick Webster (23-1, 12 KOs) of Glassboro, New Jersey taking on Lamar Harris (9-13-4, 5 KOs) of Saint Lois, Missouri in a bout scheduled for eight rounds, is promoted by Mis Downing Promotions and Square Ring Promotions. Continue reading “Prince Badi Ajamu, 45, launches comeback”

Top undefeated prospect and NABO junior welterweight champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (22-0, 16 K0s) will make his highly anticipated homecoming on Saturday, August 19th in Dallas, TX in the main event of “A Knock out Affair” Round XXV vs Courtney “Lion Heart” Jackson at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

Promoted by The Undercard Promotions LLC, in association with Roc Nation Sports, Hooker vs Jackson will be a 10 round NABO Jr. Welterweight Championship title fight. Currently ranked #2 with the World Boxing Organization and #4 with the International Boxing Federation, Hooker will be making his 5th title defense vs the undefeated Jackson of Homestead, Florida who brings a very solid record of 17-0, 10 KO’s. Continue reading “Hooker homecoming on Aug 19”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A source has revealed to Fightnews.com® that WBA Headquarters, located in Panama City, could be moving to Medellin, Colombia. The organization has been based in several countries, most recently in Panama, where it moved in 2007 from Venezuela due to the socio-political situation there. Through its renowned “WBA KO Drugs,” program, the WBA has played a key role in the development of boxing in Panama and many other countries in Central America and South America with world champions hailing from Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Peru among others. Still just a rumor at this point, the situation is expected to be addressed next Tuesday.

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Trainer Abel Sanchez has a seemingly difficult task: preparing, two undefeated world champions at the same time for their upcoming bouts. Gennady Golovkin (September 16 vs. Canelo Alvarez) and Murat Gassiev (possibly middle of October vs. Krzysztof Włodarczyk).

“There’s no trainer in the world who would not like to trade places with me now,” Sanchez told Fightnews.com®. “Two guys like Golovkin and Gassiev working with you every day? You forget pain. You are part of a great story. This is my family. GGG motivates Murat, Gassiev does the same to Golovkin. I’m just watching.” Continue reading “Abel Sanchez on training GGG and Gassiev”

Powerful middleweights Sergiy Derevyanchenko (10-0, 8 KOs) and Tureano Johnson (20-1, 14 KOs) will square-off in a middleweight world title eliminator that headlines a special Friday night edition of Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes on August 25 from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

In the co-main event, unbeaten Immanuwel Aleem (17-0-1, 10 KOs) takes on once-beaten Hugo Centeno (25-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight attraction.

By Byron Spurlock

“I want to do what other women fighters have not been able to do before me and that is win a world title in four fights,” said two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (3-0, 1 KO) who fights for her first world championship this Friday against WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Nikki Adler (16-0, 9 KOs) of Germany.

While wrapping up her training, Shields took some time to chat with FightNews about her goals, how she wants to be remembered, and how she would do against some of the legends of women’s boxing. Continue reading “Shields vies for world title in fourth pro fight”

Former lightweight world champion Mickey Bey (22-2-1, 10 KOs) will face once-beaten contender Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight matchup that headlines Premier Boxing Champions TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes August 22 from Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas in Las Vegas.

Televised coverage begins at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT as part of a week of events presented by Mayweather Promotions and leading up to the Mayweather vs. McGregor showdown on Saturday.

“It’s been over a year since I was in the ring and I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my career as a fighter and as a man,” said Bey. “I realize what’s important now and how I can protect my legacy as a fighter. I’ve put in more work fir this fight than I have for any other and I’m ready to let my performance speak for me. I’m focusing on my mental toughness and my ring IQ and I’m looking to put on a perfect performance on August 22.” Continue reading “Ex-champ Mickey Bey returns to the ring”

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said he is “tired of the hostile and aggressive attitudes” of Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez towards the WBC. “If the concern and displeasure of Canelo is over paying the sanctioning fee for disputing a WBC belt, no problem. We understand and respect that because it’s his money. From the beginning of his career we have supported him. What I can’t understand is that he is a Mexican who is putting the name of the sport on high and making a media controversy about this organization.”

The World Boxing Council has reported that in the Golovkin-Alvarez fight, the championship of Golovkin will be in dispute. Canelo has publicly stated that he will only be fighting for the WBA and IBF belts.

According to Sulaiman, Golovkin is the champion and if he wins he will retain the belt. If GGG loses, it will be Canelo’s decision.

Ryan Burnett will face Zhanat Zhakiyanov in an historic unification clash for the IBF and WBA world bantamweight titles at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Saturday October 21, live on Sky Sports.

Burnett ripped the IBF crown from Lee Haskins in impressive style in June at the SSE Arena and puts the title on the line in the first unification fight to be held in Northern Ireland. He faces a stiff examination if he’s to land the WBA strap in the form of Zhakiyanov, the 30 year old Kazakh trained by British legend Ricky Hatton who is fresh from an impressive February win over Rau’shee Warren in his backyard in Ohio to claim the title. Continue reading “Burnett-Zhakiyanov clash in WBA/IBF bantam unification”

Super middleweight Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KOs) spoke about his opening World Boxing Super Series quarter-final matchup against Erik Skoglund (26-0, 12 KOs) on September 16 in his hometown of Liverpool. Smith selected Skoglund as his opponent during the WBSS live Draft Gala on July 8th.

“He is a good all-round fighter who does the basics well,” said Smith. “He fights when he has to and boxes when he has to. But I believe that the stuff that he is good at, I am better. I think I will be a little bit too good for him on the night. I picked him so I need to prove that that was the right decision by doing my job and beating him.”

WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia’s win over Adrien Broner didn’t impress WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, his manager Egis Klimas or his promoter Todd duBoef of Top Rank. Here’s what they had to say…

Vasyl Lomachenko: His trainer Robert Garcia mentioned that Mikey is a fighter A-Class. I hadn’t seen anything during that bout that showed me he was a Class-A outstanding fighter. Yes, he won the fight. Yes, he did everything to win the fight, what he needed to be, but I haven’t seen anything outstanding and I haven’t seen him being an A-Class fighter.

Egis Klimas: I think we are in a different grade. I would love to fight Mikey Garcia. It would give a big name to Vasyl…

Todd duBoef: I don’t even think it’s a big name (laughing) I saw the fight, believe it or not. I didn’t think it was an incredible performance. He outpointed Broner. I didn’t think it was a scintillating fight. I thought he won the fight clearly. I wasn’t thinking ‘Oh my God, the masses are clamoring to see him.’ I am being honest with you. I think he had a nice fight. He fought well. Broner wasn’t throwing a lot of punches and Mikey did a good job, but a big name? A big name is Mikey Garcia now? I don’t see that.

See full comments here.

Most online sportsbooks list WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko as a 100:1 favorite to retain his title against Miguel Marriaga on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Marriaga backers can get 16:1.

Below is a Top Rank-produced behind the scenes look at the fight.