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…)

Q&A: Shannon Miller

Shannon Miller admits he will be facing the most dangerous fighter of his career when he steps into the ring in the 10-round main event against two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman at “The Rock Returns” event on June 19 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Niagara Falls, New York. But the opportunity to notch a win over a big-name heavyweight and then parlay it into even bigger fights is potentially too lucrative to pass up. Besides, according to Miller, getting hit hard is completely painless. (more…)

DKP plans world title twinbill

Hall of Fame promoter Don King ia planning a world title twinbill for August 7 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Billed as “Gateway to Greatness… The Homecoming,” the card will feature WBC/IBF 140lb. champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (20-0, 13 KOs) against former champ Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs), plus IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (20-0, 18 KOs) against former IBF light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs). More details to be announced.

Montiel-Morel update

On June 4th, the WBO sent a letter to representatives of WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel and WBO interim bantamweight champion giving them five days to reach an agreement. If an accord is not reached by tomorrow at 2PM ET, a purse bid will take place on Friday in New York City. Minimum bid $100,000. The bout is slated for Top Rank’s big June 29 pay-per-view show in San Antonio.

Klitschko Brothers stamp issued

The Ukrainian National Post Office today issued a postage stamp commemorating current world heavyweight champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Collectors might be interested to know that 170,000 will be printed. The stamp is worth $1.50 in US funds.

Audley vacates European belt

Audley Harrison has vacated his European heavyweight title, opening the door to a showpiece World title fight when he makes his return from injury in October. The 38-year-old had an operation on a pectoral muscle last month to correct the injury that forced him to fight one-handed against Michael Sprott from the fourth round of their European title bout at Alexandra Palace in April. The injury hampered Harrison for the remainder of the fight until he produced a stunning last-gasp knockout victory to land the title he is now surrendering.

Harrison has a number of options available to him for his early winter return, with his promoter Eddie Hearn saying there is potentially Britain’s biggest fight ever against David Haye in the pipeline. (more…)

Boxing Buzz

Former WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman tore the meniscus and stretched ligaments in his right knee when his knee gave out in round seven against Miguel Cotto on Saturday night in Yankee Stadium. He will under go surgery and be out of action for an undisclosed period.
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It has been confirmed that it was Foreman’s trainer Joe Grier who threw the towel in the ring in round eight. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. however ruled Foreman could continue and the bout went on one more round.
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According to East European press reports, WBO #1 Dmitry Pirog (16-0, 13 KOs) and Daniel Jacobs (20-0, 17 KOs) will collide for the vacant WBO middleweight belt former held by Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez. The bout is earmarked for the July 31 card headlined by Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz II in Las Vegas.
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Martinez, who still holds the WBC super welterweight and middleweight championships, will be accompanied by his trainer Gabriel Sarmiento and advisor Sampson Lewkowicz at the 21st Annual International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend, beginning June 10th – 13th. Martinez is keeping himself in top physical condition as he awaits his next opponent to be announced at either super welterweight or middleweight. The Argentina-born world champion is now residing in Oxnard, California.
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Martinez’ countryman, longtime WBO flyweight champion Omar Narvaez (30-0-2, 19 KOs), has relinquished the WBO flyweight belt and will remain as WBO super flyweight champion after moving up to win that vacant title in his last fight. With 16 title defenses at 112lbs, he eclipsed the Argentinian record set by Carlos Monzon.

Camacho Jr. wins easily

Middleweight Hector ‘Machito’ Camacho (52-3-1, 28 KOs) scored a one-sided ten round unanimous decision Denny Dalton (16-9-1, 11 KOs) at poolside on Saturday night at the luxurious new Princess Hotel-Guyana, the first casino to be built in Guyana. Camacho was in command all the way, winning 98-91 on all cards. The fight was originally slated to take place on May 7 at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CT, but Bris ‘O’ Promotions moved the event to Dalton’s native Guyana. Canacho claimed the vacant WBF Intercontinental belt.

The Empire inks Travis Kauffman

Co-Founders Greg Cohen and Barry Honig of The Empire Sports and Entertainment have announced the signing heavyweight Travis Kauffman (20-1, 16 KOs) to a promotional agreement. The 24-year-old Kauffman rebounded nicely from his only career loss (a thrilling and controversial Showtime-televised shootout with fellow contender Tony Grano) by knocking out rChris Koval in less than two rounds on May 22.

Chavez to throw first pitch

Undefeated No. 1 super welterweight contender and son of the legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been tapped to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Tomorrow’s game at Dodger Stadium, between the host Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Chávez will take the mound at approximately 7 P.M. PT. Chávez Jr (40-0-1, 30 KOs) is in deep training with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood for his upcoming PPV rumble against Top-10 middleweight contender “Ireland’s” John Duddy on June 26 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

Calderon workout pix

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

World champion Ivan ‘Iron Boy’ Calderon — 33-0-1 overall and 17-0-1 in world title fights – looked sharp in a workout today in New York as he gets set for a title defense on Saturday in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Calderon will defend against Jesus Irbie of Mexico in a WBO junior flyweight title fight. Calderon, 35, has been a world champion continuously for seven years. He is trained by Jose ‘Che Che’ Sanchez. (more…)

PR Governor welcomes Cotto

Puerto Rico Governor Luis A. Fortuño welcomed WBA super welter champion Miguel Cotto in his residence at “La Fortaleza” in el Viejo San Juan. “Miguel had a great performance in his last fight. He give away joy and happiness to all the Puerto Ricans. We are proud of our champion,” Governor Fortuño said. Cotto commented, “It’s always good to be welcomed in your country. This was a victory for Puerto Rico.”