Artist Thompson looking to put opponent on canvas

As a painter and artist in his spare time, Newark, New Jersey, boxer John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson IV (11-0, 4 KOs) has created many satisfying works of art. But Thompson will be looking to put his finest work yet on canvas this Friday, May 10, when he takes on Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico’s also-undefeated Giovany Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs). The two middleweights will clash over eight rounds in the co-feature of a ShoBox doubleheader Friday at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

In the main event, Montreal, Quebec, Canada’s undefeated IBF #3-ranked Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs) will take on Los Angeles’ IBF #7-rated southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-2, 6 KOs) in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the mandatory #1 spot at 140 lbs. (more…)

McGee looking for a Holm run in Albuquerque

Story and photos by Jose Leon Castillo III

“Nothing can sour this moment,” states “Merciless” Mary McGee, of Gary, Indiana.

“To be in this fight is a dream come true.”

On Saturday, McGee, 20-1, 11 Kos, will face long-time champion Holly Holm, 32-2-3, 9 Kos, at Route 66 Casino west of Albuquerque. The Fresquez-promoted card will feature Holm in her final boxing bout, for a pair of minor titles at welterweight, as well as Holm’s pound-for-pound supremacy . . . Click here for more

Boxing Buzz

According to arrest records, unbeaten heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder was arrested May 4th in Las Vegas and released on $15,000 bail. The charge: one count of domestic battery by strangulation.

Waldemar Kluch, head of former German boxing powerhouse Universum Box-Promotion, has been arrested on charges of allegedly orchestrating the beating of an unnamed boxing manager according to the Hamburg Abendblatt.

Undefeated jr. welterweight prospect Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (11-0, 9 KOs) is recovering well from surgery on his right shoulder to repair his rotator cuff and labrum. Seldin is in physical therapy, and is scheduled to be back at the Paramount this September. Seldin will attend the next Star Boxing event, “ROCKIN FIGHTS 8″ at The Paramount on Saturday in support of his fellow local boxers. Fans will be able to take photos with him then.

Less than a million buys for Mayweather-Guerrero?

We are hearing rumors that Saturday’s Mayweather-Guerrero fight is projected to have less than one million buys, which would translate to a big financial loss for Showtime with Floyd’s astronomical 30 million+ guarantee. Often when a PPV bombs no official numbers are released, so we’ll see if Showtime issues a press release. In the meantime, Showtime Sports executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza and Showtime Sports Vice President Communications Chris DeBlasio have been hitting the twittersphere to do spin control while neither confirming or denying.

Updated: Bute injury postpones Pascal fight

Lucian Bute suffered an injury to his left hand that has forced the postponement of his May 25th bout vs. Jean Pascal. Lucian will undergo surgery this week to remove bone fragments from his hand and recovery is anticipated to take a few weeks.

Motivated like never before, Lucian Bute was in the middle of the best training camp of his career. “I am very disappointed by this injury. I have never been in better shape. My preparation was ahead of schedule until late last week. The fans that paid high ticket prices to see me in action against Pascal deserve to see both boxers at their best. Unfortunately I would be far from my best in my present state. For my own good, I have to take the advice of my doctor and undergo this operation. I feel very sad for the fans,” declared Bute. (more…)

Andy Lee added to Broadway Boxing card

Next Wednesday, May 15, DiBella Entertainment returns to BB King Blues Club in NYC for the latest edition of its Broadway Boxing series. Moving into the main event slot, in what was already a stacked card, will be WBA and WBC #8-rated middleweight contender “Irish” Andy Lee (29-2, 20KO’s) as he takes on Daryl Cunningham (28-4, 11KO’s) in a 10-round middleweight contest.

As already announced, the fast-rising undefeated middleweight Lamar Russ (12-0, 7KO’s), fellow undefeated middleweight prospect Delen Parsley (10-0, 3KO’s) and heavyweight contender Tor Hamer (19-2, 12KO’s) will appear on the card. All three bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

The bout against Cunningham will be the former Olympian Lee’s second since his defeat to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his first crack at the middleweight world championship last summer. In the fight versus Chavez, Lee got off to a great start and was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards before being stopped on his feet in the seventh frame. (more…)

Jamie McDonnell-Julio Ceja “Making History” Press Conference

By James Slater
Photos: Scott J. Raven

Doncaster’s Jamie McDonnell, 20-2-1(9) will face unbeaten Mexican banger Julio Ceja, 24-0(22) at the Keepmoat Stadium this Saturday night. The Vacant IBF bantamweight title will be on the line in the fight that will go out live on Primetime pay-per-view in the U.K and on Mexico Televisa in Ceja’s homeland.

Trained by the legendary Nacho Beristain, 20-year-old Ceja is being looked at as the next big star to come out of Mexico. 27-year-old McDonnell, who has already won the British/Commonwealth and European titles, has the job of taking away Ceja’s unbeaten record and the IBF crown.

Today at The Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, the two fighters met face-to-face. (more…)

Book review: “Boxing in New Mexico”

Book review by David Finger

Book Review: Boxing in New Mexico 1868-1940
By: Chris Cozzone and Jim Boggio
Publisher: McFarland
Pages: 440 Pages

Boxing fans can be forgiven if the idea of another regional boxing history book doesn’t excite them right off the bat. Most tend to fall into two categories: an over glossed pamphlet that rehashes well known boxing stories or a book long on facts but short on drama. A book that people buy only to look in the index to find what page “Uncle Charlie” appears on. But to lump the newest regional boxing book in that category would be a tremendous mistake. Boxing in New Mexico 1868-1940 isn’t just the best regional boxing history book to come out this century…it may very well be the best boxing history book period. (more…)

Super sparring for Kessler

WBA super-middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) will get the most competitive sparring of his career prior to his May 25 showdown with IBF Champion Carl Froch. The Viking Warrior will train with no less than three unbeaten fighters in his Copenhagen gym this week: WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KOs), WBO #1 super middleweight contender George Groves (18-0, 14 KOs) and WBC youth light heavyweight beltholder Erik Skoglund (16-0, 9 KOs). “It´s great to have them in Copenhagen,” Kessler said. “This is the best preparation I could have asked for. To have three guys like that – a world champion, a youth world champion and a top-ranked contender – is probably as good as it gets in terms of sparring. They are young, hungry and unbeaten and they will push me to the limit. That´s exactly the kind of warm-up I need to beat Carl Froch again.”

Anselmo Moreno update

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A source revealed that Panamanian WBA bantamweight super world champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno could be reappearing in the coming months in Panama City possibly in the month of July. The same source indicates that Moreno may owe Golden Boy another fight under his promotional agreement and two more fights under an alleged new contract. However, there are rumors of uncertainty regarding Moreno’s relationship with Golden Boy. More information will be known this week.

Rigondeaux targets Mares

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Guillermo ‘El Chacal’ Rigondeaux is looking forward to defending his WBA and WBO 122lb world titles in September. Rigondeaux is hoping that his promoters Top Rank and Caribe Promotions can make a fight with Golden Boy’s WBC featherweight champion Abner Mares. Golden Boy, according to the Nevada Athletic Commission, paid Mares $350,000 for his victory over Ponce de Leon on the undercard of Mayweather/Guerrero. “It was an easy night’s work beating the 2012 fighter of the year Nonito Donaire on April 13th but beating Mares will be even easier,” said Rigondeaux. “I have already beaten Mares in the Pan American Games by a wide points margin of 17-7 but with the headgear off and these small gloves I will knock him out. However, if he wants to step up to the big time he should take this challenge. I’m sure my promoters can make it financially worthwhile for him and for Golden Boy. Of course, if he simply wants to be an undercard fighter and not rise to this challenge, that is his right but all will know then that he is afraid to fight me.”

Q&A: Oxandia Castillo

By Robert Coster
Photo: Dario Figueredo

When Dominican Oxandia Castillo won the female WBO jr midlleweight title by stopping favored Hanna Gabriel in Costa Rica on February 28th of this year, she became at 18 boxing’s youngest current world titleholder, male or female. The previously unknown Castillo (12-0-2, 9 KOs) was given a hero’s welcome in her homeland. Many Dominican boxing fans identified with Oxandia, a young girl that overcame poverty and a difficult family situation through effort and determination. Says manager Jose Rafael Lantigua, “There are other girls here that have won world titles but Oxandia, in particular, touched a soft spot with the fans.” Fightnews caught up with the teenage champion flanked by her manager and trainer Alcibiades to know more about her and her Cinderella story. (more…)

Undercard for Monte Carlo “Super Four” announced

The bill for the “Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super Four” final, a partnership between South Africa’s Golden Gloves and the Monte-Carlo SBM Group, was announced in Monaco this morning. The tournament takes place at the glittering Salle des Etoiles on the Monte Carlo beachfront on July 13. Highly-rated Edwin Rodriguez (23-0, 15 KOs) of the US and Denis Grachev (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Russia will meet in the “Super Four” final for a US $1-million purse, to be split 60/40.

Co-headlining this international event will be a world championship fight between WBA and IBO light-welterweight holder Khalid Allakhverdiev (18-0, 8 KOs) and former champion Suleymane M’Baye (40-4-1, 22 KOs).

On the undercard, highly-rated European middleweight champion Max Bursak (26-1-1, 12 KOs) will defend his crown against the UK’s Prince Arron (23-4-1, 5 KOs), while big punchers Ilunga “Junior” Makabu (13-1, 13 KOs) and undefeated Dmytro Kucher (21-0, 15 KOs) will fight for Kucher’s WBC International cruiserweight belt. (more…)

Jose Gonzalez ready for Ricky Burns

Photos: Joel Colon / PR Best

Puerto Rican Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez trained today in Glasgow, Scotland, for his fight against the World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Ricky Burns (35-2, 10 KOs), this Saturday, May 11, at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, in a Matchroom Boxing presentation.

Gonzalez (22-0, 17 KOs), the #1 WBO ranked and WBO Latino champion in the lightweight division, made a hard training today with his team lead by trainer Roberto Nevarez, manager Andres Ortiz and also trainer Jose Cintron at the Morrison’s Gym.

Tomorrow, at 12:00 pm, Gonzalez will have a work out for the media there at the Morrison’s Gym in Glasgow. photos

Boxing Buzz

Handing it to Mayweather: Looks like Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s injured paw has checked out fine. He is expected to return Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I would live to fight him,” Amir Khan is telling anyone who will listen, in regard to the aforementioned pound-for-pound king, Mayweather. More

Holly Holm will be fighting her final boxing match this Saturday night in Albuquerque, against Mary McGee. After hanging up the gloves, Holm will go full-time in the cage as an MMA fighter.

Wao stops Gabisay

By Damrong Simakajornboon
Photos: Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotion

Rex Wao Singwancha (7-0,6 KOs) successfully grabbed the WBC ABCO interim 122lb title as he stopped Danilo Gabisay (reportedly 4-1) on Saturday night at La Trinidad Municipal Gym in Benguet, Philippines. The source reported that Wao survived from a knockdown in round one to aggressively attack Gabisay with flurry of strong and heavier punches on the head and body, finally forcing referee Virgilio Garcia to stop the fight at 1:47 of round two. (more…)

Pacquiao-Rios on November 23 in Macao

Manny Pacquiao will reportedly face Brandon Rios on November 24 (November 23 in the USA) at the Venetian Resort in Macao, China. Promoter Bob Arum confirmed the fight Monday saying fans want to see guys mix it up.

“There’s a school of fan who want to see artistic fights with fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Guillermo Rigondeaux,” Arum told the L.A. Times, “but we felt they also want to see a knock-down, drag-out action fight, and that’s what we’re going to give them.”

Mikey vs. Juanma Update

Top Rank has scheduled a “kick off” press conference on Thursday to officially announce the clash between unbeaten WBO featherweight champion Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) and two-time world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez (33-2 , 30 KOs) on June 15 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. HBO will televise. The event is promoted by Top Rank in association with PR Best Boxing and Foreman Boys Promotions.

WBA clarifies Mayweather status

By Gabriel F. Cordero

WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza has updated Fightnews.com on the status of the super welterweight division. “Floyd (Mayweather) has never been stripped of the title of WBA super champion. This condition is not automatic with unification. We refer to rule #6 definitions, specifically for unified champions, and rule #18 which establishes the powers of the presidency to create these super championships.”

According to Mendoza, Mayweather asked special permission to maintain his status and the Alvarez-Trout was approved under special conditions that the WBA will explain later. More to come…

Two judges disregard Klitschko knockdown

By Karl Freitag

Just looked over the official scorecard for Saturday’s defense by WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko against Francesco Pianeta and thought it was interesting to note that two judges scored round five 10-9 despite Klitschko scoring an official knockdown. It all became academic the following round when Klitschko dropped Pianeta for a third time and the fight was stopped.

Mayweather still “super champion” in WBA ratings, no “super champion” status for WBC/WBA champ Canelo or WBA/WBO champ Rigondeaux

By Karl Freitag

Although WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather recently stated that he had been stripped of his WBA super welterweight “super” title, that appears to not be the case. Mayweather is still listed as super champion in the new WBA ratings released today.

Meanwhile, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was named WBA boxer of the month, but did not receive the “super champion” status the WBA created especially for champions who hold the title of two or more organizations recognized by the WBA. Guillermo Rigondeaux, who unified the WBA and WBO titles against Nonito Donaire, also did not receive super champion status. Both are listed as “unified” champions along with WBA/WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada.

WBA super champions include Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, Floyd Mayweather, Danny Garcia, Chris John, Anselmo Moreno and Roman Gonzalez. Of that group only Klitschko and Garcia currently hold belts from multiple organizations.

Randy Griffin back in action

Atlanta attorney and boxing promoter Adrian Patrick has announced that former world title challenger Randy “The Gentleman” Griffin (25-3, 13 KOs) and undefeated super middleweight prospect Jeffery ‘TNT’ Spencer (3-0, 1 KO) will fight Thursday at a private event (The Real Estate Council Foundation) at The Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. Griffin will battle against undefeated Medzhid Bektemirov (11-0, 9 KOs) for the WBC/USNBC light heavyweight title in a 10 round bout. Spencer from Gary, Indiana will face Jas Phipps (3-0, 1 KO) from Killeen, Texas in a 4 rounder.

“We would like to thank promoter Stephen Crosson for giving us this opportunity” stated Adrian L. Patrick, CEO of KO Kings Promotions “Jeffery Spencer, Randy Griffin, and KO KINGS are committed on making the sacrifices necessary to bring excitement back to boxing, we will energize the crowd on fight night.”

Frank Warren has made an offer to Golden Boy for a Deontay Wilder-Dereck Chisora clash in UK this summer

By James Slater

Like a number of fans, Hall of Fame British promoter Frank Warren wants to see unbeaten “KO King” Deontay Wilder tested. Over the weekend, as he revealed in his regular boxing column, Warren wrote of his recent offer to Wilder’s U.S promotional outfit Golden Boy to try and make a fight between Wilder (28-0, 28 KOs) and former British champ Dereck Chisora (16-4, 10 KOs).

Warren feels an on-his-game Chisora can upset “The Bronze Bomber’s” progress towards stardom.

“Wilder is being hailed across The Pond as the saviour of the division,” Warren wrote. “But he is yet to be seriously tested. There isn’t a real name of substance on his CV, he looks crude and open. I’d heavily back a fit and fired up Dereck Chisora to tame him and have already made the Yanks a substantial offer to return here this summer.” (more…)

Wawrzyk poised to spoil $23 million Klitschko-Povetkin party

By Przemek Garczarczyk
Video: Ringpolska.pl

There’s a near record setting $23 million purse for a heavyweight superfight between WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA regular champ Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17 KOs) later this year in Moscow. However, forgotten by many is the fact that this extravaganza will be possible only if Povetkin beats undefeated Polish fighter Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-0, 13 KOs) on May 17.

The 6’9 Wawrzyk has his owns ideas. “As an amateur, Povetkin won everything, he’s a very good fighter, world champion, but he’s not in a class of Klitschko brothers,” said Wawrzyk. “For the last 2-3 years everybody is hearing about Klitschko versus Povetkin but this fight just could not happen for one reason or another. My role is to make it deosn’t happen again by beating Povetkin in Moscow on May 17. I know that he would like to makes this a brawl and although my best tactics will be not to engage, use my movement and speed, if I have to trade punches, prove myself – I will. I’m not flying to Moscow thinking that I have to knock him out to win. I want to bring WBA belt to Poland, whichever way possible. All my friends, fighters from Ullrich Knockout Promotions will there with me. We will be ready to conquer Moscow,” said Wawrzyk.

His trainer, Fiodor Tapin is also confident that Wawrzyk will be able to “use his speed, movement and youth” to defeat Povetkin.

Huck vs. Afolabi III presser gets heated

Photos: Photo Wende

There is definitely no love lost. Britain´s Ola Afolabi (19-2-4, 9 KOs) did say he would hug and shake hands with his opponent Marco Huck (35-2-1, 25 KOs) after their WBO Title Fight on June 8 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany – but the attending members of the press were not really convinced after the pair´s previous war of words during Monday’s press conference.

Before Afolabi started his attempt to calm things down, current WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco “Captain” Huck and the Interims Titlist were involved in a heated exchange of words. The first one to trade verbal blows was the 28-year-old German. “Afolabi is starting to get on my nerves. I beat him in December 2009. After I fought Alexander Povetkin for the WBA Heavyweight Crown, it was difficult for me to find the right motivation for my rematch with Afolabi in May last year. However, I believe that I actually won that bout, even though it was scored as a majority draw. That won’t happen again. I will win in my own backyard. We won’t be playing cat and mouse anymore. This will be a war – I won’t be holding back.” (more…)

Uchiyama finishes Parra in five

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese Takashi Uchiyama (20-0-1, 17 KOs), 130, kept his WBA super-featherweight belt as he sank previously undefeated challenger Jaider Parra (20-1-1 10 KOs), 129.75, a Venezuelan jabber, in agony with a single body shot at 2:15 of the fifth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. It was Uchiyama’s seventh successful defense with six within the distance. (More to come)

Solis wins WBA 115lb belt from Kono

By Joe Koizumi

Venezuelan Liborio Solis (15-3-1, 7 KOs), 115, unified the WBA super-flyweight belt as he, WBA interim ruler, defeated WBA regular champ Kohei Kono (28-8, 11 KOs), 115, by a majority decision (115-111, 114-112, 113-113) over twelve hard-fought rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Kono floored Solis with a countering right in round two, but the Venezuelan dropped the Japanese back with a vicious left hook in round eight in a give-and-take total war. (More to come)