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The AIBA has responded to Monday’s column by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, claiming Sulaiman or his WBC associates forged an AIBA document and purposely omitted two paragraphs to mislead the boxing public.

AIBA deplores and refutes in the strongest terms the comments by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman on 10 July 2017 on his boxing blog. In it, Mr Sulaiman refers to a letter from AIBA to its member National Federations which he reproduces in Spanish. At no point has AIBA written such a letter in Spanish, nor would AIBA ever send an unsigned communication to its members, meaning that Mr Sulaiman or his associates have illegally created a forgery and attributed it to AIBA. By also failing to include two paragraphs sent in the original letter (attached), Mr Sulaiman’s sole motivation to misinform the boxing public is abundantly clear. Continue reading “AIBA accuses WBC of forgery”

Profanity Warning: Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather compared MMA fighter Connor McGregor to former world champion Marcos Maidana. “Some guys play it safe and then some like Marcos Maidana go for the kill,” Floyd told the LA press. “I think he’s the Maidana-type. He’s a heavy-hitter so I have to be cautious. It’s going to basically be a toe-to-toe battle.”

Floyd also stated he could beat McGregor no matter where they fight. “I don’t give a fuck if it’s a ring, I don’t give a fuck if it’s an octagon. Put me in there and I’m going to kick ass,” proclaimed Floyd. “I don’t back down from no-mutha-fucking-body. You line them up, and I knock’em down like bowling pins. On August 26, I’m gonna knock this bitch out too…if you want eight oz. gloves, let’s put eight oz. gloves on. If you want four oz. gloves, let’s put four oz. gloves on. Don’t fool the public. Continue reading “Floyd compares McGregor to Maidana”

Unbeaten former champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and UFC star “The Notorious” Conor McGregor went face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday, in a highly anticipated press conference in front of over 11,000 fans at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Floyd Mayweather: “Everyone knows I’ve never backed down from anybody. You line them up, and I knock them down like bowling pins. On August 26, I’m knocking Conor out. I am guaranteeing you this. You are going out on your face or on your back. So which way do you want to go?”

Conor McGregor: “He’s got little legs and little hands. I’m going to knock him out inside of four rounds. Mark my words…Floyd will be unconscious inside of four rounds. The power and ferociousness that I have, he’s never experienced it before. I don’t fear him.”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Newly crowned WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn has arrived in the USA for ESPN Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday but has vowed not to talk to Teddy Atlas who said to him after he defeated Manny Pacquiao “Congratulations – I thought you lost”

“I have nothing to say to Teddy Atlas,” Horn told Grantlee Kieza of the Courier Mail. “I’m not a fan anymore. He kind of annoyed me a little bit after the fight. I’m on a high after winning and he’s tried to drag me down straight away. It’s disappointing.” Continue reading “Horn to brush off Teddy”

Frustration? Amir Mansour never knew the true meaning of the word until he tried to tried to capitalize on his March 17 victory over heavyweight hopeful Travis Kauffman.

Mansour’s unanimous 12-round decision victory in Kauffman’s Reading, PA, backyard was nationally televised (Bounce TV) but it did little to create future opportunities for the left-hander from Salem, NJ.

“You’d think I have the plague, the way the other so-called heavyweight contenders are avoiding me,” Mansour said. “Is it my breath or is it my ability? These guys call themselves fighters but when my name comes up in conversation, they act like they have a hearing problem. Why would anyone be afraid of a 44-year-old man? Continue reading “Mansour calls out heavyweight division”

The Boxeo Telemundo summer series continues this Friday at the Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City, Mexico. In the main event former world title challenger Romulo Koasicha returns to face Josue “Chino” Veraza in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds with the vacant WBO Latin featherweight title at stake. Koasicha, 26, hails from San Luis Potosi, Mexico and is looking for another world title shot after his failed bid against Vasyl Lomanchenko in November of 2015, his record stands at 25-6, 15 KOs. Veraza, 24, is looking for his first belt as a professional and comes in the fight with a record of 18-8-2, 14 KOs. Continue reading “Koasicha-Veraza on Telemundo Friday”

Eddie Hearn, promoter of WBA, IBF heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is headed to Las Vegas to potentially stage the rematch between Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko at the T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay. Klitschko still hasn’t signed off on the fight, which did blockbuster business in London, drawing 90,000 fans to an epic war. All of Joshua’s fights to date have been in the UK. Wlad’s home base is Germany. Vegas is considered neutral ground.

It has been more than eight years since Sullivan Barrera (19-1, 14 KOs) defected from Cuba and left his friends and family behind to pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer in the United States. On Saturday, July 15 he takes on Long Island, New York native Joe Smith Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) for the WBA International Light Heavyweight Title and, for the first time in Sullivan’s life, his father, Rafael Barrera, will be watching him from ringside. After an eight-year separation, father and son were reunited on Thursday when the elder Barrera was finally able to visit from Cuba. Continue reading “Barrera vows to beat Smith for dad”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Jeff Horn promoter Dean Lonergan said the rematch between Horn and Manny Pacquiao, if the former champion agrees to the opportunity to regain the WBO welterweight crown, could land at Brisbane’s 14,500-seat indoor Boondall Arena rather than the 52,500-seat outdoor venue that hosted the first fight. The change would mean ticket prices would be increased.

“First Manny’s got to say yes, and secondly, a case has to be made to make it work at Boondall or another venue,” Lonergan told AAP. “Who knows what happens after that? If you look at Mayweather versus Pacquaio – the highest-grossing fight of all time in boxing – it did $72 million in a 15,000-seat venue. It’s a case of supply and demand. If it can be made to stack up at Boondall I think that’s a real option. If it can’t, then we’ll just have a look around.”

Last Saturday, TKO Promotions and L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, teamed up to put on L’Auberge’s first professional boxing show at their Event Center. The place was sold out days in advance and the fights were action packed from the very first bout of the evening. Continue reading “Late results from Baton Rouge”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

There is turmoil in Pacland. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao has avoided him and barely spoke to him following his loss to Jeff Horn in Brisbane. “I was trying to see where his head was at and I could not even get him to say hi to me. I don’t know if he was upset with me or what,” Roach told Sports Illustrated. “I really don’t know if he’s mad at me. But I can tell you this: I haven’t been paid yet. So who knows?”

Roach added, “Manny wasn’t himself. He didn’t look like the Manny Pacquiao I’ve known for a long time. It was almost over in the ninth. One more round like that and, man … he just couldn’t do it.”

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBO bantam champ Tomoki Kameda (34-2, 20 KOs), 123.25, defeated Mexican Ivan “Nino Maravilla” Morales (31-3, 19 KOs), 122.25, by a nearly shutout decision (100-90 twice, 99-91) over ten speedy rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.

Tomoki displayed good hand speed and work rate in lopsidedly attacking the youngest brother of Erik and Diego, steadily piling up points. Tomoki, 25, had Ivan at bay with solid combinations in round four, but the Mexican, also 25, refused to go down and withstood his furious rallies. Kameda positively threw jabs and combos to have Morales retreating but couldn’t finally catch up with him until the end. Ivan’s strong heart coupled with his excellent defense saved him from going down despite Tomoki’s persistent body bombardment.

Photos

By Przemek Garczarczyk

Always brutally honest trainer Ronnie Shields spoke with Fightnews.com® about this Saturday’s nationally televised all-Polish heavyweight showdown at the Nassau Coliseum between Artur Szpilka (20-2, 15 KO) and Adam Kownacki (15-0, 12 KO).

“Losing on July 15 means that you’re not a heavyweight fighter with a big future in this business,” said Shields. “Losing to Kownacki means that you’re just one of many. I’m not saying that Adam cannot fight – not at all. Kownacki has heart, is aggressive, knows how to finish. He’s not just an opponent from the street to put in front of Szpilka after his 18-month break from boxing. But if you have Artur’s experience, background, talent, all the training options he has and you’re losing to a fighter without all that, the conclusion is a simple one.”

Saturday’s Szpilka-Kownacki clash will be part of the Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes fight card from NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Continue reading “Shields: No future for Szpilka without victory”

Photos/Report by Brad Snyder/The Undercard

Female super middleweight star Claressa Shields (3-0, 1 KO) held her media day workout on Monday at the Kronk Gym in Detroit. Shields is preparing for her WBC and IBF world championship fight against defending champ Nikki Alder (16-0, 9 KOs) on August 4.

Also, at the media workout, WBC Silver champ Shields and promoter Dmitry Salita were presented with the Spirit of Detroit award from the Detroit City Council. Continue reading “Claressa Shields Open Workout”

By David Finger

The WBO has just released the results of their review of the scoring of the Pacquiao-Horn fight and it looks like Jeff Horn has again won a decision over Manny Pacquiao.

After a formal protest and was filed by the Philippines Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on July 3rd, disputing the decision of the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao fight and alleging “errors of the referee and judges who officiated the subject fight”, the WBO agreed in a letter written by President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, to review the decision. Valcarcel stated that as part of the review the WBO had five “anonymous and competent Judges from different countries” watch a replay of the Horn-Pacquiao fight “without sound distractions.” Continue reading “Horn beats Pacquiao again, in WBO Review”

Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Sports & Entertainment is bringing its Real Deal Championship Boxing series to New York City. The first installment is set to take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom, on Friday, August 11th, leading into the city’s Dominican Day weekend, as part of a multi-fight agreement with the Manhattan Center Studios, Inc. The televised portion of the event will be live on CBS Sports Network. Fighters are TBA.

There have been very few boxing events in New York City due to new higher insurance requirements made the economics very onerous, especially for smaller shows. Continue reading “Holyfield to promote card in NYC”

The World Boxing Association will have two world title fights this Saturday, July 15th. The first bout will be between Thai Thammanoon Niyomtrong (15-0, 7KO) and Filipino Rey Loreto (23-13, 15KO), who will fight for the WBA minimumweight title. This will be the third defense of “Knockout CP Freshmart”, who before obtaining the Regular belt was Interim champion at 105 pounds.

The second title will be held at The Forum, Inglewood, California, where the Panamanian Jezreel Corrales (21-1, 8KO) will expose the WBA Super Featherweight Super Championship for the second time. His opponent will be the Mexican Robinson Castellanos (24-12, 14KO), who will fight for a world title for the first time. For his part, the Panamanian was also Interim champion at 130 pounds.

Undoubtedly, these two bouts are very interesting because of the quality of the world champions.

Sampson Boxing has announced the signing of undefeated featherweight Eduardo “Zurdito” Ramirez of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, to an exclusive long-term promotional contract. Ramirez (20-0-2, 7 KOs) is a 24-year-old, highly skilled southpaw with fast hands and good defense. He is managed and trained by Manuel Montiel Jr., brother of the five-time world champion Fernando Montiel.

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, President of the World Boxing Association, will participate in the 24th AIPS America Congress, to be held from July 11th to 15th in Cali, Colombia. Mendoza will talk with sports journalists about the history of boxing, the boxing bodies and where professional boxing is heading at the moment. In addition, he will make the official presentation of the WBA’s 96th World Convention, to be held from October 30th to November 2nd, 2017, in the beautiful city of Medellin. Continue reading “Mendoza to speak at AIPS conference”

By Mauricio Sulaiman
WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son

For the first time since my father climbed a ring to fight in an official bout, 70 years ago, a Sulaiman participated in a boxing match. My nephew Jose Manuel “Chepi,” went into the ring and won 2-1 his first amateur fight. This was a dream that me and my brothers always had, to fight in the ring and Chepi one of the eleven male grandkids of Don Jose did it! It’s during moments like this, that one can really appreciate later what the sport of boxing is. The intimidation before the fight as the opponent had a good group of friends supporting him while Chepi was with his dad and one friend. The nerves to climb and go through the ropes knowing that when that bell rings it’s only you and your opponent. Then the aftermath, my nephew told me that even though he won, the most important moment came when he went to his opponent to shake hands and embrace. Continue reading “The 12th Round: Solid facts for the future of Boxing”

Undefeated 140 pound world champions Terence “Bud” Crawford (WBC, WBO) and Julius Indongo (WBA, IBF) will collide in a world title unification battle August 19 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska. The winner will be undisputed, holding all four major 140lb titles. ESPN will televise.

Tickets go on sale This Saturday, July 15, at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT. Priced at $128, $78, $53, and $28, tickets can be purchased online via www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at the Pinnacle Bank Arena main ticket office.

By Robert Coster

WBA #6 welterweight Carlos Adames (11-0,10 KOs) is being called the Dominican Republic’s hottest young boxer, a relentless, hammering puncher who has battered whoever has stood in his way. On July 26th, the 22-year-old Adames will be facing the toughest test of his young career in former IBF super welterweight world champion Carlos Molina (28-6-2, 8 KOs).

Molina is now fighting in the 147lbs class and ranked WBC #5 and IBF #13. Adames’ manager Jorge Luis Herasme is conscious of the risk presented by a veteran like Molina who has faced high caliber opposition, superior to that of Adames. Continue reading “Welter contenders Adames, Molina collide July 26”

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Colonel Bob Sheridan talks to Fightnews.com® about Jeff Horn’s victory over Manny Pacquiao and how promoter Dean Lonergan has established himself as one of the best in the world of promoting mega boxing events.

The Colonel was inducted into the IBHOF in 2016 for outstanding contribution to boxing as a broadcaster for over fifty years of calling world championship bouts including the Rumble in the Jungle (Ali vs. Foreman) and the Thrilla in Manila (Ali vs. Frazier 3rd). He continues to travel the world calling major world title fights. Continue reading “Interview: Colonel Bob Sheridan”

By Ricardo Ibarra

In the lone pro boxing match to take place on Saturday’s boxing and MMA card at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham, Washington, local Jr. middleweight Kevin Torres (4-0-1, 4 KOs) added his fourth consecutive knockout win as a pro and his third straight in a little over one month, knocking out McMinnville, Oregon’s Justin Hubbard (0-1) in the second round. Continue reading “Results from Bellingham, WA”

WBA cruiserweight “super” champion Denis Lebedev (30-2, 22 KOs) retained his world title with a twelve round unanimous decision over WBA #6 rated Mark Flanagan (22-4, 15 KOs) on Sunday night at the DIVS in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Lebedev dropped Flanagan in round nine with a body shot, en route to a one-sided win. Scores were 119-108, 119-108, 120-107.