Father’s Day @ Everlast

Kevin McBride planning return

Looks like former Mike Tyson-conqueror Kevin McBride (34-6-1, 29 KOs) is on the comeback trail. The 37-year-old “Clones Colossus,” who hasn’t fought since consecutive TKO losses to Mike Mollo in 2006 and Andrew Golota in 2007 is penciled in for an eight-rounder against TBA on July 10 at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. The card, promoted by Brian Burke’s Final Round Promotions, will also feature in a separate eight-rounder the return of Nagy Aguilera (15-3, 10 KOs) coming off his IBF heavyweight title eliminator loss to Sam Peter in March. Featherweight Luis Del Valle (9-0, 7 KOs) faces Pasqual Rouse (20-14, 11 KOs) for the New York State title in the main event. Tickets are on sale.

Calderon risks belt, unbeaten record

By Graham Houston

One of the sport’s best pure boxers, Puerto Rico’s Ivan Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KOs), is on TV on this quiet boxing weekend, defending his junior flyweight title against Jesus Iribe, a strong Mexican fighter who went the full 12 rounds with Brian Viloria and Edgar Sosa in prior world title attempts. The fight, to be televised on Fox Sports Espanol, is something of a showcase for Calderon, but this talented southpaw is 35 years old, which is getting up there in age for a 108-pounder. Calderon, I fear, is getting near the time when he could be ready to lose. Iribe doesn’t look likely to be the one who will push him over the edge, so to speak, but, at this stage of Calderon’s career, one cannot be certain. (more…)

NABF Convention wraps up

Photo: Carlos Baeza WBC/NABF

Ring legend Roy Jones Jr. made an appearance at the NABF Convention currently being held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter. The Award Dinner was a relaxed, southern buffet. The awards were as follows…

Fighter of the Year: Wilbert Uicab
Fight of the Year: Banks-Walker (accepting Tom Loefler – K2)
Most Dramatic Fight: Lee-Bunema (accepting Roland Jankelson)
Promoter of the Year: Square Ring (accepting: Roy Jones, Jr./John Wirt)
Matchmaker: Bobby Goodman
Female Fighter: Irma Sanchez
Female Promoter: Hector Garcia
President’s Award: Gayle Van Hoy
More photos…

Shot of the Day

EMC Events

U. S. Army Helicopter pilot Steven Badgley is ready to make his pro debut at the Garden tonight. Bus loads of fellow Army men and women will be coming from Fort Dix, Camp Drum and West Point to cheer him on.

Martin still unbeaten

By Felipe Leon at ringside

Unbeaten junior lightweight Christopher Martin (18-0, 5 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Adolfo Landeros (19-14-1, 9 KOs) on Friday night at the Four Points Sheraton in San Diego, California. Martin had to work hard against the game Landeros and won by scores of 80-72, 80-72, 79-73.
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Welterweight Luis Grajeda (10-0, 7 KOs) scored a workmanlike six round unanimous decision over Cristian Favela (18-25-6, 9 KOs). Scores were 60-54, 59-55, 58-56.

Weights From San Francisco

Karim Mayfield 146.5 vs Sergio De la torre 147
Sean Wate 138 vs Ben Rivera 138.5
Tony Hirsch 163 vs Jovanni Rubio 167.5
Bruno Escalante 118.4 vs Johnathan Alcantara 120.5
Venue: Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco CA
Promoter: Hard Knox Promotions/Mo’Betta Entertainment

McCloskey retains Euro belt

Unbeaten European light welterweight champion Paul McCloskey (21-0, 11 KOs) scored an eleventh round KO over Italian veteran Giuseppe Lauri (50-7, 29 KOs) to retain his belt on Friday night at King’s Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. McClosley dropped Lauri in round two and laid him out in the eleventh with a right hand.

Lemieux annihilates Ayala

By Dave Spencer & Dave Baggs / Fightnews Canada

David Lemieux proved that he could be one of the hardest punches in the Middleweight division today as he destroyed former IBF Middleweight title challenger Elvin Ayala in less than 3 minutes of work. Less than a minute into the contest, Ayala was on the canvas, the recipient of a left-right hook combination. Ayala regained his feet but not his senses. Another short right hook put Ayala into the ropes and down for a second time. Smiling to his corner, Ayala arose at the count of 8 and was allowed to continue. Lemieux ended his night moments later with a followup barrage for knockdown number 3, ending matters at 2:44 of the first round. Lemieux (23-0, 22 KOs), with the victory, is the new WBC International Middleweight champion. Ayala falls to 20-5-1, 9 KOs.

Brian Vera, a participant of the 2008 boxing reality TV show “The Contender”, scored an impressive 3rd round stoppage over current NABF Super Middleweight champion Sebastien Demers moments ago on the ESPN televised card at the Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Quebec. Vera (17-4, 11KOs) dropped Demers with a beautiful left-right combination early in the 3rd. Demers, cut badly over the nose, arose on shaky legs with plenty of time left to survive. Vera jumped on the former IBF Middleweight title challenger immediately, again dropping Demers for another count. Demers (31-3,11KOs) looked out on his feet but was allowed to continue. Another right hand from Vera convinced the referee to wave off the contest at 1:57 of the round. More results…

Boxing back in Tampa

One Punch Productions has announced that the next installment of the popular Ballroom Brawl series will take place on July 16 in the Grand Ballroom at the Tampa Westshore Doubletree Hotel. The main event of the evening will feature undefeated welterweight contender Raymond Charles (12-0). Charles’ most recent appearance in Tampa was a sixth round knockout of Louis Leija on September 19th of 2009. (more…)

Weights from Mexico

Carlos Armando Torres Bujanda

Julio César “Pingo“ Miranda 112 vs. Richie Mepranum 112
(Vacant WBO flyweight championship)
Rodolfo Hernandez 119 vs. Reynaldo Cajina 119
Mauro Romero 166 vs. Rigoberto Álvarez 166
Venue: Centro de Convenciones, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
TV: Televisa (Mexico)

Foreman on the mend

Yuri Foreman’s surgery was described as a success today in NYC. He expects to return to the ring in February.

Weights from NYC

Photo by Joel a. Colón/Pr Best Boxing/Top Rank

Ivan Calderon 106 vs Jesus Irbie 106
(WBO light flyweight championship)
After he weighed in Calderon sipped from a bowl of hot chicken soup. He drank from a glass bottle of Snapple Light Lemon Tea. Calderon said he brought in food and a chef to prepare his meals throughout fight week.
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Steven Badgley 172 vs Carlito Angel Gonzalez 172 1/2
Badgley is wearing a tattoo on his chest with initials of eight fallen soldiers. “All friends of mine. Some of their families are coming to the fight on Saturday night.” Before the weigh-in Gonzalez said he wants to be introduced as Carlito on Saturday night.
For more details and photos click here…

Shot of the Day

All Star Boxing

WBO junior featherweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. and his Promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. at Yankee Stadium where they are special guests for tonights game and Vazquez, Jr. will throw the first pitch. Special thanks to Doug Jacobs of Integrated Sports for making it happen.

Montiel-Morel purse bid

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Top Rank was the winner of purse bid called by the WBO in New York for the mandatory unified bantamweight world title between the WBO bantamweight champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel and interim champion Eric Morel. The winning bid was $102,500 and Top Rank was the only bidder. Possible venues and dates for the fight are a site in Mexico (July 17), Las Vegas (July 24) or Atlantic City (August 7). One snag may be that there were plans Montiel to defend his title against former WBA interim super flyweight titlist Rafael Concepcion on July 17. Stay tuned…

Cotto is back and ready

Photoc by Enrique “Kike” Vázquez/Promociones Miguel Cotto, Inc.

On a beautiful, sunny day in his hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico at “El Jardín Botánico de Caguas,” WBA super welterweight champion Miguel Cotto talked about his great performance and big win over Yuri Foreman last Saturday at the Yankee Stadium.

“We trained really hard for the fight and I feel that I have the love for the game back and I’m hungrier than ever,” said Cotto. “I fixed the mistakes that I committed in the past. Now starts a new chapter and I’m back for the great challenges and the big names.” Click here for more photos…

WBC Webcast tomorrow

WBCBoxing.tv will present a live professional boxing webcast – free of charge – on Saturday, June 12. Please note: the webcasts are not available in Mexico. WBCBoxing.tv webcast at 10:30 P.M. (22:30 hrs) Central Time: In the 12-round main event at the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, WBC Latino middleweight champion Marco Antonio “El Veneno” Rubio, 46-5-1 with 40 knockouts, of Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, will make his second defense of the title against Samuel “Marivioso” Miller, 20-3 with 17 knockouts, of Arboletes, Colombia. The event is promoted by Promociones del Pueblo. (more…)

Rios to face Peterson

Photo by Ricardo Conde

WBC #5 and current NABF lightweight champion “Bam Bam” Brandon Rios (24-0-1, 18 KOs) of Oxnard, CA, trained by former junior lightweight champ Robert Garcia, began preparations this week at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy for his upcoming bout. Rios will step back into the ring against WBC # 1 lightweight contender Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KOs) of Washington, DC on Saturday, July 24 for the interim WBA lightweight title at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV in the co-feature of HBO’s latest edition of B.A.D. “Boxing After Dark” which will be headlined by WBA featherweight champion “El Ciclon de Guantánamo” Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0, 15 KOs) of Cuba against an opponent yet to be determined. For more details and photos click here…

Ayala faces Lemieux tonight

Former world title challenger Elvin Ayala returns to action Tonight, June 11th against Montreal fan favorite David Lemieux headlining “Boxing Under the Stars” at the spectacular Uniprix Stadium in Montreal.

Presented by Group Yvon Michel in association with TKO Boxing Promotions, the twelve round bout for the vacant WBC International Middleweight Title will be broadcast live on ESPN2 (8:30pm EST, 5:30pm PST). (more…)

Holm-Clampitt in the works

Highly-ranked contender Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt (21-4, 7 KOs), of Canada and Rhode Island,  may be the next opponent for Albuquerque’s Holly Holm (27-1-3, 7 KOs). If it becomes official, the two will fight on August 6 on a Fresquez card in Albuquerque.

Trampler set to be enshrined

Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler, who helped construct and build the careers of superstars and world champions, will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this weekend. He is the fourth from Top Rank who is in the Hall of Fame. Bob Arum, who founded Top Rank, was inducted in 1999. Top Rank’s all-time publicist, Irving Rudd (1999) and legendary matchmaker Teddy Brenner (1993) are also in the Hall of Fame. (more…)

Tale of the Tape

Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic will wrap up Saturday, June 19 when Andre Ward takes on fellow American Allan Green from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. See how these warriors match-up in the Tale of the Tape. (more…)