Edgar Sosa: I’m back!

Courtesy Alma Montiel

By Robert Coster

“I’m back,” said an elated Edgar Sosa after his impressive two round kayo victory over Roberto “Mako” Leyva, a former titleholder, yesterday in Acapulco. The congenial former Jr flyweight champion (38-6, 22 KOs), with manager Jacques Deschamps by his side, took time to answer a few questions from Fightnews about the bout and future plans. (more…)

Barrera gets ready to return

Photos: Rafael Soto/Top Rank

Marco Antonio Barrera was known as “The Baby Face Assassin” when he started out at the Inglewood Forum in California. Fast forward 20 years later and Barrera is still a recognized name in boxing and will surely end up in the Boxing Hall of Fame on day, but not yet, he still wants one more thing out of boxing. “I want to win a fourth world title and its something that motivates me to train and to fight and to keep going,” said Barrera, a three-time world champion.

The 36 year old, Barrera is coming back into the ring after a 15-month lay-off, as he will take on Adailton De Jesus on Saturday, June 26 at the Alamodome of San Antonio, Texas in the co-main event of “Latin Fury 15” a pay-per-view card presented by Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions. (more…)

Mendoza Jr. out of hospital

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBA Executive vice president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza was released on Sunday afternoon from the Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama, after being admitted on Friday with chest pains. Dr. Themistocles Diaz said Mendoza “suffered a mild heart attack” and should rest at home for least two weeks. It will be eight weeks before he’s completely back to his normal routine.

Johnson decisions Lucero

By Sam DiTusa at ringside

Welterweight Dashon Johnson improved to (10-2-3) Saturday night in Renton, Washington with a decisive six round unanimous decision over rugged Mike Lucero (12-16) on the debut card of GUY PROMOTIONS. The Johnson-Lucero fight was a rematch of a draw the two fought two months ago. (more…)

More on Sylvester/Cunningham

Wende

Sebastian Sylvester defended his IBF middleweight title on Saturday night in Neubrandenburg when he and mandatory challenger Roman Karmazin settled for a draw in front of a wild crowd of 4,500 fans. After 12 close rounds, the scores were 118-111, 111-117 and 114-114. “I am pleased to have defended my title,” Sylvester said. “It was a close, tough fight. Although Karmazin was more active, I landed the clearer shots. I think I was up a few rounds.” (more…)

Boxing Returns to Yankee Stadium

Photos by Tom Briglia/Top Rank

On Saturday night, boxing returned to the famed Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, for the first time since 1976 when Muhammad Ali defeated Ken Norton by a 15-round decision at the original Yankee Stadium. The former home of the Yankees hosted 46 nights of boxing matches, including 30 championship bouts, over its 86-year history. Miguel Cotto’s win over Yuri Foreman was the first event in the new Yankee Stadium located right next to the site of its predecessor. (more…)

TKO hits Lake Tahoe

Advance tickets are now on sale for TKO Championship Boxing, an action packed evening featuring some of the best young stars in the sport, on Saturday, June 26th at The MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Headlined by a WBO World Lightweight Youth Title bout featuring sensational prospect Terence Crawford, tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com) or the MontBleu Box Office (775-588-3515) . . . click here for more

Cotto-Foreman Quick Quotes

By Alex Dombroff
Photo by Ed Mulholland

Miguel Cotto: My jab is back. My movement is back. The punch that finished the fight, the left hook to the body, was back too… I didn’t use my jab much in the fourth round, and that’s the point where Yuri Foreman took advantage… I felt pretty good fighting at 154. Boxing, for me, is a business. If we get offered something better at 147, we can get back to 147.

Yuri Foreman: I felt good. Physically, I felt good. I am going to take some time off and get back in the gym… (on the knee) It’s an old injury from when I was a kid. I fell on my bike when I was 15. I’ve always wore a knee brace to protect it… There was a lot of commotion. Arthur Mercante asked me if I wanted to continue. I said “of course.” I wanted to continue. In my mind, it wasn’t over. I still threw punches. I was trying to think optimistically. For more details and photos click here…

Sosa back with quick KO

Photo by WBC

Former WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (38-6, 22 KOs) scored an explosive second round KO over faded former IBF minimumweight champion Roberto “Mako” Leyva (27-12-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Forum del Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico. It was Sosa’s first fight since his controversial loss to Rodel Mayol that left him with a broken cheekbone last November. Click here for more photos…

Cotto KOs Foreman in 9

By Matt Richardson and Mariano A. Agmi at ringside
Photos by Ed Mulholland

Former two division world champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) has taken over another division, dethroning previously unbeaten WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman (28-1, 8 KOs) in nine rounds on Saturday night in the first fight card at New York City’s famed Yankee Stadium site in 34 years. Now trained by Emanuel Steward, Cotto looked extremely sharp outboxing Foreman over the first six rounds and in the seventh stanza Foreman’s right knee buckled compromising his mobility. Someone at ringside threw in a towel in the eighth round and people entered the ring, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. threw everyone out and resumed the fight. Cotto continued to batter Foreman dropping him with a left to the body in round nine and the bout was then waved off. Time was :42. For more details and photos click here…

Hokmi defeats Baby Doll

Mary Ann Owen

Female super flyweight Nadya Hokmi (16-6-1, 8 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Elena “Baby Doll” Reid (19-6-6, 5 KOs) to win the WBF championship on Saturday night at the Hall Joffre-Lefebvre in Lingolsheim, France. Hokmi totally dominated the fight and boxed beautifully. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 99-91.

Fuentes keeps OPBF 112lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

Busy-punching Filipino, WBC#9 ranked OPBF flyweight champ Rocky Fuentes (24-6-2, 15 KOs), 112, looked very impressive as he kept exchanging solid shots toe-to-toe from the outset, withstood furious retaliations of WBC#15/WBA#15 Shigetaka Ikehara (20-2-2, 16 KOs), 112, and finally halted him with a towel thrown from the Japanese corner at 2:09 of the eleventh round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. (more…)

Sylvester-Karmazin draw

Wende u. Winfried Mausolf

By Karl Freitag

IBF middleweight champion “Hurrikan” Sebastian Sylvester (33-3-1, 16 KOs) and mandatory challenger Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin (40-3-2, 26 KOs) battled to a twelve round split decision draw on Saturday night at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany. As expected, a very close and hard fought fight. The 37-year-old Karmazin was very active, but Sylvester showed good defense, better technical skills and was generally more effective, landing clean right hands throughout the fight. Scores were 118-111 for Sylvester, 117-111 for Karmazin, and 114-114. Sylvester retains his title with the draw. Fightnews scored it 116-113 for Sylvester, but many rounds were close. There was a skirmish at ringside when a member of Team Karmazin objected to the tally of the 114-114 card.

John Hornewer

In a clash for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title, Steve Cunningham (23-2, 12 KOs) recovered from a fourth round knockdown to get a fifth round stoppage over “Contender: Season 4″ winner Troy Ross (23-2, 16 KOs). Referee Bill Clancy waved off the fight due to a deep cut under the left eye of Ross that was ruled to be caused by a punch (a thumb to be precise). It will be the second reign for Cunningham as IBF cruiserweight champion, who was recently signed by Sauerland Event. With the win, Cunningham positions himself for a rematch with stablemate WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck. There is also talk of a Super Six tournament in the cruiserweight divison, in which Cunningham and Huck would particiate. Both attractive propositions. More results, including two big upsets…

Aydin edges JoJo Dan

S. Yamada/ARENA

Unbeaten WBC #2 rated welterweight Selcuk Aydin (20-0, 15 KOs) won a split decision over previously unbeaten WBC #1 rated super lightweight Ionut Dan Ion a.k.a. Jo Jo Dan (26-1, 14 KOs) to claim the WBC Silver welter title on Saturday night at the Abdi Ipekci Spor Salonu in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a hotly contested bout throughout. A first round knockdown made the difference. Scores were 114-113, 114-113, Aydin, 116-111 Dan. (more…)

Hoffmann-Duiven Full Report

By Karl Freitag
Photos by Eroll Popova

“This was a great show here in Aschersleben,” said SES promoter Ulf Steinforth. “Everything fit together – best weather conditions for an “under the stars” event, a straight and a very concentrated world champion Ramona Kue hne, now with three belts. And at least the comeback of the German heavyweight Timo Hoffmann. One year without boxing because of his “family year” with his baby and now a fast win by knockout with excellently prepared hard punches. Timo “The German Oak” is back! I’m proud of my team and of this special event for Germany!” More, plus photos…

Nave destroys Schlienz

By David Robinett at ringside

Twelve years ago, a 37-year old journeyman fighter named Paul Nave made his mark in the boxing world by scoring an upset victory, followed by two more hotly contested rematches, against former light welterweight titleholder Greg Haugen. Nave retired a year later in 1999, capping off a then 14-year career on a high note. Now over a year into his quixotic comeback, the 49-year old “Marin County Assassin” Paul Nave, (19-8-2, 8 KOs), is undefeated in his last four fights, turning in his most impressive performance to date, a devastating third round knockout of Minnesota club fighter Daniel Schlienz, (7-20-1, 4 KOs), in a scheduled six-round welterweight bout Friday night at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California. (more…)

Mussachio defeats Ferrante

Light heavyweight Chuck ‘The Professor’ Mussachio (16-1-2, 5 KOs) dealt previously unbeaten Anthony ‘Boom Boom’ Ferrante (9-1, 4 KOs) his first professional loss on Friday night in a ten-rounder at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City. Mussachio won a unanimous decision by scores of 98-92, 96-94, 97-93. In other action, middleweight Mike ‘Mighty Mike’ Tiberi (13-1, 5 KOs) stopped Brian Bernard (8-7-2, 4 KOs) in three and unbeaten female featherweight Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano (6-0-1, 3 KOs) won a six round unanimous decision against Nydia Feliciano (2-1-2).

Mendoza suffers heart attack

By Gabriel F. Cordero

The WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza Jr. has been hospitalized in Panama after experiencing a mild heart attack. “He has a great heart,” said Dr. Temistocles Diaz, who added that Mendoza is stable and recovering. Sources say Mendoza Jr. will be out of action resting for at least the next 15 days. He is known for his boxing exhibitions with Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Tito Trinidad and John Ruiz during the WBA’s KO to Drugs Festivals. “I thank God I’m alive, my family for support, and the boxing community in general for letting me be part of them. From all experiences we can learn something,” Mendoza Jr. said.

“Nails” in critical condition

New York-based boxing columnist Catherine “Nails” Greene, 71, is fighting for her life at St. Luke’s / Roosevelt Hospital, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side as the Miguel Cotton and Yuri Foreman step into the ring for tonight’s historic fight at the new Yankee Stadium. Greene, known to her readers and friend’s as “Nails,” was admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital on Wednesday, May 12, a day after leaving a nursing home to attend her own birthday party. One of America’s first female boxing writer’s it is believed Greene was the first woman to ever apply for and receive a press pass issued by the boxing department of Madison Square Garden back in the late 1960′s. (more…)

Everlast heat wave!

Fighter of the Decade

Chris Farina/Top Rank

Seven-time world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao poses after winning the “Fighter of the Decade” award at the 85th Annual Boxing Writers Association of America dinner in New York City Friday night. More photos…

Crossroads fight for Cotto

By Graham Houston

Miguel Cotto, surely destined to be ranked with the all-time great Puerto Rican boxers, attempts to become a champion in three weight classes when he challenges junior middle champ Yuri Foreman at the new Yankee Stadium on Saturday, and he will be the crowd favourite even though his opponent lives in Brooklyn. Cotto’s big fights in New York have a Puerto Rican party atmosphere. He generates passionate support. Now Cotto’s career is at a critical stage. If Cotto wins he will continue to play a part on the big-fight front, either as a 154-pounder or as a welterweight. Defeat, though, could mean the end of a glorious career. (more…)

Sylvester-Karmazin collide

By Graham Houston

Germany’s Sebastian Sylvester is one of those hardworking fighters who gets results with conditioning, determination and a solid if unspectacular style of boxing. He keeps his hands up, jabs with authority and, when he feels he has his timing and judgement of distance in place, he begins to come through with the right hand. There is nothing fancy about Sylvester but he has a kind of dogged efficiency.

Sylvester makes a mandatory defence of his middleweight title in Germany on Saturday when he meets Roman Karmazin, the former 154-pound champion from Russia, and it should be a highly entertaining fight for the fans in the arena and those watching live on ARD in Germany. (more…)

WBC webcast twinbill

By Karl Freitag

The WBC’s innovative boxing webcast series on wbcboxing.tv continues tonight with two major fight cards. The first webcast will feature the WBC Silver Championship clash between Selcuck Aydin (19-0, 15 KOs) and JoJo Dan (26-0, 14 KOs) from the Abdi Ipecki Sport Salonu in Istanbul, Turkey at 4:15 ET/1:15 PT. Then former WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (37-6, 21 KOs) meets former IBF champ Roberto Leyva (27-11-1, 21 KOs) at the Forum Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico at 11:30 ET/8:30 PT.