Nietes, Fuentes make weight

Report and photo by Dennis Principe

Filipino world light flyweight champion Donnie Ahas Nietes and challenger Moises Fuentes of Mexico easily made the limit of their official weigh-in Friday morning held at the SM mall in Cebu. Both Nietes and Fuentes tallied a fit 108-lbs, signifying that this 12-round title fight would be a battle between two superbly conditioned fighter.

According to Nietes, he is not bothered by nearly two-inch height advantage of Fuentes, noting that his last opponent Felipe Salguero also from Mexico was even taller than his latest challenger. Fuentes on the other hand was more cautious with his statement but has guaranteed he is here to snatch the title away from Nietes. (more…)

Andre Ward back in the gym

Super middleweight champion Andre Ward hit an important milestone in his recovery from shoulder surgery yesterday, making his return to his boxing gym. Ward has been doing intensive physical therapy three times a week to get his shoulder back in to fighting shape, and he is happy with his progress and thrilled to get back in to the gym. “It was amazing to be able to say that I was going to a boxing gym and not physical therapy. I just have to respect the markers I’ve been given from the doctor; I couldn’t go crazy. That’s where I have to be careful,” Ward said. “I felt great, I felt fast, and my wind felt great. It was an amazing feeling to be able to work out in my gym.”

Ward received clearance from his physical therapist and his doctor to return to the boxing gym and start shadowboxing and cardio exercise on Thursday. “I definitely had to hold myself back. I could throw my right arm but I can’t over do it. Each week I can do more and more, but I have to respect the markers that my doctor set. In next couple months, I’ll be cleared to do everything, but for now I have to respect the boundaries that are in place.” (more…)

Abril-Bogere Erupts at Final Presser

By Andreas Hale
Photos: Mary Ann Owen/Boxinginlasvegas.com

On Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Richard “The Tiger” Abril and Sharif “The Lion” Bogere will let their fists fly in an effort to prove who is the king of boxing’s four sided jungle. But on Thursday it was their respective trainers that set off fireworks. When Bogere (23-0, 15 KOs) took to the podium, it was all pleasantries as the Ugandan fighter spoke with the usual bravado.

“On Saturday night, I’m going to take care of business,” Bogere said. “I’m 100 percent prepared and ready to go. On Saturday, I’ll become champion of the world.”

It was your usual peaceful press conference until Bogere’s trainer Ken Adams became seemingly annoyed when Richard Abril took to the podium. There were no signs of either side having animosity towards the other but something set Adams off and he launched into a tirade that caught everyone by surprise. (more…)

Rubio returns against Upshaw March 23

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Former world title challenger Marco Antonio “Veneno” Rubio (56-6-1, 49 KOs) will face Floridian Marcus Upshaw (15-8-2, 7 KOs) on March 23 at the Palenque de Uruapan vying for the WBC middleweight Continental Americas belt headlining an event presented by Promociones del Pueblo and broadcast in Mexico by Televisa. Rubio is training in Oxnard, California with renowned trainer Robert Garcia. “I’ll get the victory and take a step closer to a title fight with “Maravillita” or whoever,” says Rubio.

SES Boxing inks two Americans

WBO/WIBF female flyweight champion Melissa McMorrow (8-3-3, 1 KOs) has signed with the SES boxing stable in Magdeburg, Germany. McMorrow, who lives in San Francisco, is in great demand since dethroning Susi Kentikian in May 2012 in Frankfurt (Oder). Most recently, she successfully defended her WBO title against Yahaira Martinez in Kissimmee, Florida. On March 23 McMorrow will be back on the German boxing stage on the undercard of the rematch between Arthur Abraham and Robert Stieglitz. “Germany has brought me good luck. This is a great country for my career,” said Melissa.

SES has also signed another American in super middleweight Dario Bredicean. German heavyweight icon Axel Schulz discovered Bredicean in Florida and brought him back to Germany where he will make his pro debut in Potsdam on Saturday on the card headlined by Ramona Kühne.

Castillo dethrones Hanna Gabriel

By Gabriel F. Cordero

18-year-old Dominican challenger Oxandia “La Loba” Castillo (12-0-2, 9 KOs) claimed the WBO female super welterweight crown on Thursday night with a second round TKO over previously unbeaten Costa Rican champion Hanna Gabriel (13-1-1, 9 KOs). A huge right hand left Gabriel wobbly and unable to continue, stunning the partisan crowd at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica. Gabriel, a huge star in Costa Rica, was returning to the ring after nearly 14 months of inactivity due to back surgery.

Boxing Buzz

“I expect the crowd to be on my side,” says Robert Guerrero on his May 4 showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. “There are so many fans who want to see Floyd lose.” More in the San Jose Mercury News

For the first time in 50 years, boxing will return to Chicago’s White Sox ballpark on August 16. More in the Chicago Sun-Times

Brian Viloria (32-3, 19 Kos) will defend his WBO and WBA flyweight titles April 6 on the Top Rank Macau, China card. Viloria takes on Juan Francisco Estrada (22-2, 18 Kos.)

San Antonio, Texas, is already gearing up for the April 20 showdown between Austin Trout and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. More

Weights from Mexico City

Omar Soto 111 vs. Ulises Lara 112
(Mexican flyweight title)
Carlos Barraza 112 vs. Jesus Flores 110
Pedro Melo 116 vs. Gabriel Aguillon 117
Omar Gonzalez 124 vs. Oscar Gonzalez 126
Jose Zuniga 139 vs. Pablo Arias 138
Nancy Vazquez 116 vs. Guadalupe Guzman 117

Venue: Foro Polanco, Mexico DF, Mexico
Promoter: All Star Boxing, Inc., “The New Generation” & Felix “Tuto” Zabala, Jr., in association with Producciones Deportivas and RB Producciones.
TV: Telemundo

Dib, Gradovich make weight

Billy Dib 125 vs. Evgeny Gradovich 125
(IBF Featherweight Championship)
Willie Nelson 152 vs. Michael Medina 154
(NABF super welterweight title)
Ryan Kielczweski 127 vs. Gil Garcia 129
Luis Rosa Jr. 124 vs. Jhovany Collado 123
Luis Oliveras 140 vs. Rafael Munoz 140
Shelly Vincent 124 vs. Mikayla Nevel 122
Jimmy Williams 146 vs. Raynard Younger 147

Venue: MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Ledyard, CT
Promoter: SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment
TV: ESPN2

Macau supercard to be televised on HBO2

U.S. boxing fans will be able to witness the premiere of world championship boxing in Macau with Zou Shiming: Fists of Gold, featuring two world title fights and the professional debut of the Peoples Republic of China’s two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou Shiming. This brilliant event will be televised to the U.S. on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO2. Calling the action from ringside from the CotaiArena, The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel will be broadcasting icons Tim Ryan and Larry Merchant and two-time heavyweight champion Big George Foreman.

The telecast will also feature two-time WBO junior lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez defending his title against undefeated #1 contender Diego Magdaleno and WBA/WBO flyweight champion Brian “hawaiian Punch” Viloria defending his unified titles against Top-10- contender Juan Francisco Estrada.

“We are delighted that HBO recognizes as we do the historic nature of the Macau event and is making it available on a same-day basis to its subscribers on HBO 2,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. (more…)

MacKinnon upsets world rated Flanagan

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

New Zealand light heavyweight Daniel MacKinnon (21-6-1, 9 KOs) outpointed WBO #15 Mark Flanagan (11-4,6KOs) by split decision over twelve rounds at the Greek Club, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Thursday. Scores Phil Austin 116-111, Cyril Cairns 111-115 and Allan Burford 116-111. The Kiwi 175 pounder displayed good skills to outwork the bigger Australian opponent in most of the rounds. (MacKinnon dropped a decision the current IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale in 2009.) (more…)

Khan-Diaz quotes

Below are quotes from the official press release announcing the April 27 fight at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England between British superstar Amir “King” Khan and former world champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz, which will be fought at a 143 pound catch-weight.

Amir Khan: Julio Diaz is a former world champion and a very dangerous opponent who is coming off of an impressive performance in his last fight. I know he will be coming with guns blazing and I’m ready for whatever he has to throw at me. With my speed and boxing skills, and his power and experience, it makes for a really exciting matchup. He may have other ideas but I’m adamant that my return to the British shores is going to be a very successful one.”

Julio Diaz: “I’m not going to England for the fight to go to the scorecards. I’m fighting for the knockout. I know the knockout is the only thing that will get me the win, so I’m training extra hard already in order to get a victory on Khan’s home turf. I’m a heavy hitter and he can’t take a punch, so to me, that is the perfect combination.”

Chavez Jr. fined and suspended by NSAC

Photo: Robert Hughes

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has suspended Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for nine months and fined him $900,000 for testing positive for marijuana after his fight with Sergio Martinez in September. The commission members grilled Chavez, who was speaking by telephone from Mexico due to visa problems, before deciding on the punishment. The suspension is retroactive to September, when he fought Martinez, so Junior is out until June 15. The fine is 30% of his $3 million purse. He must also test clean before his next fight.

Branco Jr. keeps EU title

Last Friday night in Montalto di Castro, Italy OPI 2000 (Salvatore and Christian Cherchi) promoted their first show of the year. In the main event former 2 time European champion and world title challenger Gianluca Branco (47-3-1, 23 KOs) keep his European Union welterweight title by unanimous decision against Polish Lukasz Maciec (17-2-1, 3 KOs). On the undercard undefeated middleweight Emanuele Blandamura (19-0, 5 KOs) won by TKO (cut) in round 4 against Zoltan Surman (13-10-1, 6 KOs), former WBC female flyweight champion and IBF female super flyweight champion Simona Galassi (18-2-1, 4 KOs) defeated in round 2 overmatched Gabriella Vicze and lightweight Carel Sandon (15-1, 5 KOs) after almost 2 years layoff won a six round decision against Zoltan Horvath. Sportitalia televised the show live in Italy.

WBO announces officials

WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, announced today the referees and judges who will work this week in the world title bouts to be held in Philippines, Namibia and Germany.

This Saturday, March 2, at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines, the WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes (31-1-3, 17 KOs) will make his first defense against the WBO minimum weight champion Moises Fuentes (16-1, 8 KOs), from Mexico. For this fight, an ALA Promotions presentation, the referee will be Jack Reiss from United States. Judges for the Nietes-Fuentes bout are Adalaide Byrd and Patrick Russell from United States, and Danrex Joseph V. Tapdasan from Philippines. WBO supervisor for this fight will be Leon Panoncillo Jr.

Same day in Windhoek, Namibia, WBO bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu (43-1, 28 KOs), from Thailand, will defend for the first time his crown versus Paulus Ambunda (19-0, 10 KOs). Referee for this Nestor “Sunshine” Boxing presentation bout, will be Paul Thomas from United Kingdom. Judges for the Sor Singyu-Ambunda fight are Fernando Laguna and Manuel Oliver Palomo from Spain, and Manfred Kuchler from Germany. WBO supervisor for this fight will be John Duggan.

Also on Saturday, at the MBS Arena in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, the WBO junior lightweight female champion Ramona Kuehne (19-1, 6 KOs) will face in her fourth defense Brazilian Halanna Dos Santos (14-4, 9 KOs). The referee for this fight will be Mickey Vann from United Kingdom. Judges for the Kuehne-Dos Santos bout are Ingo Barrabas from Germany, Noel Monnet from France and Giustino Di Giovanni from Italy. WBO supervisor for this bout will be Edoardo Ceccoli.

Reveco keeps WBA 112lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Boxing Beat

Short but swift Juan Carlos Reveco (30-1, 16 KOs), 112, Argentina, kept his WBA flyweight belt as he pounded out a unanimous decision over taller Japanese Masayuki Kuroda (21-4-2, 13 KOs), 111.75, over twelve lopsided rounds on Wednesday in Kawasaki, Japan. There were no knockdowns, but Reveco was the aggressor all the way.

Ted Gimza (US) and Prommase Chakshuraksha (Thailand) both scored 117-111, and Philippe Verbeke (Belgium) had it 116-112, all in favor of the defending titlist. The referee was Tony Weeks (US). Their tallies were partly inconsistent, but all agreed to render the fifth round to Kuroda.

It was a nearly one-sided affair with Reveco concentrating on double or triple lefts to the face and midsection. Probably seventy or eighty percent of Reveco’s punches were thrown with his left hand as if he had the right hand injured. Reveco, however, said afterward, “I had a swollen left hand.” If so, why didn’t he use his right hand more frequently? (more…)

Abril motivated to defend WBA title

When Richard Abril (17-3-1, 8 KOs) steps into the ring to face undefeated Ugandan Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (23-0, 15 KOs) on Saturday night at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, he will be making the first defense of his WBA lightweight world championship. The WBA recently announced that it had elevated Abril from interim champion to regular champion. “I had no idea it was happening and it was definitely a surprise,” said Abril during Tuesday’s media workout at Long Life Fit Boxing Gym in Las Vegas. “But it was a great surprise. Every fighter has aspirations of becoming a world champion. Anybody who watched absolutely knows I beat Brandon Rios (in a bout on April 14, 2012) and that I deserved the decision. Ever since then, in my heart, I always considered myself the WBA champion. The WBA only made it official. This motivates me even more to put on a good fight for the fans and show them that I’m the real deal.”

50 Cent on Boxing

By Matt Richardson
Photos: Thomas Casulli

If you’ve spent any time watching Floyd Mayweather on TV in the last six years, you’ve seen hip hop artist 50 Cent by his side. Either walking into the ring with Mayweather prior to one of his pay-per-view fights or just goofing off on an episode of HBO’s 24/7, the pair appeared to be inseparable.

The duo even had plans to form a joint promotional company upon Mayweather’s release from jail last year but when “Money” got out, a feud with 50 (whose real name is Curtis Jackson) became real and the plans and, seemingly, the long-time friendship, faded away as well.

But that hasn’t prevented Jackson from making his entrance into the sport anyway and on Friday night he will present the first card he’s been involved with from top to bottom on ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights. (more…)

Linares could return March 16 in Cancun

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A source has revealed that former two-division world champion Jorge Linares (32-3, 20 KOs) may face David Rodela (16-7-3, 7 KOs) in Cancun, Mexico on March 16 in a 10-round lightweight bout on a card presented by Pepe Gomez and Golden Boy Promotions. Linares is currently training with Ismael Salas in Las Vegas.

Boxing Buzz

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has pulled out of the May 4 Floyd Mayweather card to fight Austin Trout April 20 in San Antonio, Texas. The non-PPV show will be televised by Showtime.

Halifax, Canada’s Tyson Cave will take on Argentina’s Jose Saez for the NABA super bantamweight belt on April 20. More

Former world champ Herbie Hide has been questioned in regard to selling drugs in Norfolk. More

Fight Club OC Weights

Photo: Roy Englebrecht Promotions

Below are the weights for Thursday’s Fight Club OC show in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA, presented by Roy Englebrecht Promotions. Doors open at 6:30pm first bout 7:30pm.

Alexander Flores 229 vs Harold Sconiers 214.4
Paul Gemmati 172 vs Curtis Millender 168
Danny Martinez 127.6 vs Edgar Flores 128
German Baltazar 134.2 vs James Acosta 134
Joaquin Chavez 141 vs Luis Hernandez 141
Cassie Trost 121 vs Celene Roman 121.6

The Joet Gonzalez vs Jeremy Longoria four rounder was scrapped as Longoria came in four pounds overweight.