Ticket alert for July 2 TKO show

Advance tickets are now on sale as TKO Boxing Promotions presents ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on Friday, July 2nd.

Starting at $29, tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com. phone 800-745-3000) or the Citizens Business Bank Arena Box Office (909-244-5600). A five dollar discount is available for students, military, police and fire personnel in addition to seniors for tickets purchased in advance with ID at the box office. (One ticket per ID.)  (more…)

Manny Likes Boxeo La Revista

Rafael Soto

Pound-for-Pound King Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao displays one of his favorite boxing magazines “Boxeo La Revista.” The June edition is out and you can read the digital version here. The magazine was available last week at Yankee Stadium at the “Stadium Slugfest” card and will be available throughout the month at all Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions shows in the United States and Mexico.
 
The top stories are Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s return to the ring on June 26 in San Antonio with new trainer Freddie Roach, the successful return of Antonio Margarito on May 8 in Aguascalientes, Mexico and in the popular feature “Where Are They Now?,” former world champion Raul “Jibaro” Perez speaks about his life after boxing in Tijuana, Mexico. (more…)

Boxing back in Pittsburgh

Michael Acri Boxing Promotions brings professional boxing back to the VIP Tent at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with “Summer Brawl” on June 30. The main event will feature Pittsburgh’s “Lightning” Rod Salka (11-0, 3 KOs), in an eight-round lightweight battle against Harold Orji (6-2, 3 KOs), of Laurel, Maryland. The co- feature will pit heavyweights Jason Bergman (11-9-2, 8 KOs), of Pittsburgh, in a six-round rumble against Cleveland’s Ryan Thompson (9-9, 6 KOs). The undercard will feature, in separate bouts, Pittsburgh heavyweight Paul Zalus (4-0, 4 KOs), Pittsburgh middleweight Sam Suska (0-1), lightweight Chris Hazimilhalis (2-0, 2 KOs), and welterweight Jake Giuriceo (6-0-1, 2 KOs), both from Campbell, Ohio. Tickets are $25, $50 and $100.

Leonard returns to Montreal

Dave Spencer

By Dave Spencer/Fightnews Canada

Sugar Ray Leonard was in Montreal this week celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the “Brawl in Montreal” where he suffered his first professional loss to the hands of Roberto Duran. Pictured is Fernand Marcotte who met Leonard in 1979, WBC light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, recent world title welterweight challenger Antonin Decarie and Kevin Lavallee who makes his pro debut this Friday in Montreal.

El Hadak-Kracik II

Rachid El Hadak (19-8-1, 7 KOs) of France and Roman Kracik (31-3-1, 17 KOs) of Czech Republic had their official weigh-in for their rematch scheduled tomorrow at the Stadium P. Maisonniale, Saint-Etienne in Loirre, France. The two fought to a draw back in 2008 in Kracik’s native France. Both weighed in at 199 pounds. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds and is for the vacant European Boxing Association (EBA) cruiserweight title.

Martinez staying sharp

By Ricardo Conde
Photo by Ricardo Conde

As he awaits his next assignment, current WBC middleweight and junior middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs) of Argentina, is keeping himself in great condition at the World Crown Sports Training Center in Oxnard, CA. Martinez was recently stripped of his WBO title, due to one of the organization’s rules, however he won less than 2 months ago. He defeated Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) via unanimous decision this past April in Atlantic City, NJ. Sergio Martinez will be departing tonight for Canastota, New York to attend the 21st annual International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction this weekend; a decision has not been made as to whether his next fight will be at middleweight or junior middleweight. Click here for more photos…

Alfonso Gomez workout

By Ricardo Conde
Photo by Ricardo Conde

WBC continental Americas welterweight champion Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KOs) of Mexico, trained by his father Alfonso Gomez Sr., and being assisted by Robert Garcia in Oxnard, CA, continues his preparations. Gomez will step back into the ring on Saturday, July 17th in Mexico against an opponent yet to be determined and will headline the latest edition of “Top Rank Live” on Fox Sports en Español which is being promoted by Top Rank. In his last outing, Gomez defeated former two-time lightweight champion “El Temible” Jose Luis Castillo (60-10-1, 52 KOs), when Castillo refused to answer the bell for the start of round six on the Pacquiao vs. Clottey “The Event” undercard at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. Click here for more photos…

Calderon vows KO

Joel A. Colón - PR Best Boxing/Top Rank

World champion Ivan ‘Iron Boy’ Calderon told challenger Jesus Irbie – right to his face – ‘You are going down and getting knocked out on Saturday night.” The two were at a Top Rank Media Day at Kingsway Gym on 1 West 28th St. During a staredown pose, Calderon let Irbie have it. “I looked into his eyes and saw a troubled fighter,” Calderon said. “I just wanted to get him squared away.” (more…)

New President goes to work

Johnny B'

By Johnny B’

Daryl J. Peoples, the International Boxing Federation’s new President, is back in East Orange New Jersey at the IBF office and on the job. Returning from the recent IBF annual convention held in Puerto Rico, Peoples faces a heavy workload. Peoples, along with championship chairman Lindsey Tucker and newly appointed ratings chairman William James are anxious to put together a resourceful staff, update boxers ratings and start the chart on rating female professional boxers. The International Boxing Federation looks to increase title bout activity with the addition of female titles. The organization also plans to work diligently with promoters in hopes of truly being a global organization, with championships bouts in parts of the world that may have been overlooked in the past.

Bika-Mendy IBF purse bid

A Purse Bid was held in the IBF Office yesterday for the IBF Super Middleweight Eliminator (#1 position) between Sakio Bika and Jean Paul Mendy. The winning bidder was Golden Boy Promotions with a bid of $30,000. Golden Boy Promotions was the only bidder.

Molitor-Booth in England

IBF #14 super bantamweight Jason Booth will fulfill a boxing dream when he challenges champion Steve Molitor for the IBF world super bantamweight title next month. The Nottingham star (35-5) will meet southpaw Molitor (32-1) on Friday July 23 at a venue in England that promoter Frank Maloney will confirm later this week. Victory for Booth will complete one of the most remarkable comebacks in boxing history having led a rollercoaster life outside of the ring. Booth, 32, is a recovering alcoholic and has also overcome drug problems to turn his career around. (more…)

Q&A: Wilfried Sauerland

Photo: Team Sauerland

After more than 30 years in boxing, Wilfried Sauerland will officially be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York this weekend. Boxing-Online.com has caught up with the German promoter to speak about the biggest honour in boxing, the celebrations and the future of Team Sauerland. (more…)

Chavez Jr. throws first pitch

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Undefeated no. 1 contender and son of the legend, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers-St. Louis Cardinals baseball game Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Chavez is preparing for his upcoming rumble against Ireland’s John Duddy on Top Rank’s “Latin Fury 15″ show ,which will be televised on Top Rank Pay-Per-View, Saturday, June 26 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Click here for more photos…

Uribe in New York City

Photo by Joel A. Colón/PR Best Boxing/Top Rank

World title challenger Jesus Iribe (17-6-4, 10 KOs) of Mexico has arrived in New York City for Saturday’s title shot against unbeaten WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan ‘Iron Boy’ Calderon (33-0-1, 6 KOs) in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. (more…)

Manny in Mexico

Photos by Rafael Soto/Zanfer

The seven-time world Champion, Manny Pacquiao was received this afternoon by Ney González, the governor of the state of Nayarit, in a ceremony also attended by Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran. Pacquiao, who is enjoying a pleasant holiday with his family, said he’s happy to be in Mexico for the first time and appreciates the hospitality the Mexican people have had for him and his family. Manny will return home this week to get ready to assume his post as a congressman in his native Philippines. (more…)

Chavez Jr workout

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Undefeated no. 1 contender and son of the legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., hits the mitts with trainer Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood, Tuesday for his upcoming rumble against Ireland’s John Duddy. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Tecate, “Latin Fury 15″, will be televised on Top Rank Pay-Per-View, Saturday, June 26 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Ward, Green: Ready for Anything

By Robert Hough

Allan Green 29-1, 20 KOs) said Tuesday he thinks Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) flits around the ring, and that’s no criticism. “He’s not the easiest fighter to fight,”Green, who faces Ward on June 19 in Oakland, Calif., to close out the second round of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, said during a teleconference. “He’s like a hummingbird.” More like a hummingbird with hand grenades, Ward believes, or a generally docile canine that will shred internal organs if necessary. “I don’t get respect for the dog in me,” said the 26-year-old WBA Super Middleweight Champion, who joined Green on the call. “I don’t get respect for my bite-down.” Green, who replaced Jermain Taylor and makes his Super Six debut, said he’s ready for anything. “If I have to be slick I’ll be slick,” said Green, 30. “If I have to fight, I’ll fight. If I have to brawl, I’ll brawl.”

Bönte: No Klitschko-Audley talks

“I read the article on Fightnews that Audley and his management write about an interest of us fighting him. I want to confirm that that is not true,” Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of Klitschko Management Group GmbH, informed us today. “Barry Hearn approached me before and after Vitali’s last fight but I told him that there is no interest. Harrison has beaten Sprott, a sparring partner of the brothers, and that’s all. We expressed our interest in fighting Haye who seems to run away again. Haye is a great talker and promoter of his own fights and for months has challenged the Klitschkos but now you don`t hear a word from him …. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes the easy road once again and fights Harrison.”

Nate Campbell medical results

After suffering a one-sided decision loss to Victor Ortiz on May 15, former unified lightweight champion Nate Campbell faced some serious questions about his career. Did he get old? Was it over? Was it time to shut it down? Even in the locker room immediately after the fight, Campbell wasted no time in assessing the situation. “I looked at John David [Jackson] and Terry [Trekas], and I said ‘give it to me straight’” said Campbell. “And both of them looked me in the eye and said ‘It doesn’t look good.’” (more…)

Jo Jo Dan camp rips decision

By Boxing Bob Newman

“I am very disappointed with an unfair decision last Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey,” says Chris Ganescu of Gankor Promotions. “My fighter, Jo Jo Dan replaced Luis Collazo in a WBC interim (silver) welterweight title vs local fighter Selcuk Aydin. We took the fight on 3 weeks notice and prepared very well for this fight. The judges’ decision and the performance of the referee was a huge disappointment. The referee let Aydin get away with countless illegal blows after the break and even after after the bell. One of the blows after the break resulted in an 8 count in the first round against Jo Jo Dan. Also Aydin hit several times with his elbow and got away with it.” (more…)