Get Well Nick Charles!

Photos: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

In August, Nick Charles, the respected television journalist and play-by-play announcer for ShoBox: The New Generation, took a leave of absence to battle cancer. Although Charles is being cared for at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, his friends at tonight’s ShoBox event at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California want their friend to know that they are thinking of him so they stood together in the center of the ring for this photo. “The entire ShoBox crew wishes Nick a full and speedy recovery. We cannot wait for you to get back to the broadcast table,” said Steve Farhood, the on-air analyst for ShoBox and the broadcast partner with Charles. Everyone in the picture is wearing a “Nick” button to show their support and love for Nick Charles.

In July 2001, SHOWTIME tabbed Charles as its blow-by-blow announcer for the debut of their boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation. Charles and Farhood have called the action for nearly every ShoBox telecast since its inception – nearly 135 shows and 275 fights. Tonight will be the first time in years that Charles has not been at ringside for a ShoBox telecast. Former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver will join Farhood and Al Bernstein as a guest commentator for tonight’s ShoBox event.

Notables like Mayol’s chances

By Lee Bates

Though WBO light flyweight Ivan Calderon (32-0-1, 6 KOs) enters his rematch tonight with his challenger Rodel Mayol 25-3-1, 19 KOs) as a decisive favorite some respectable names feel Mayol is a live underdog.
Bob Arum: The first fight was close before the stoppage. If he can duplicate the same performance he is going to have a chance to win the fight.
Michael Koncz( Mayol’s manager): Mayol is going to have to be more agressive in this fight. It must be effective agressiveness with him throwing a large volume of punches. If he does this he can win this fight.
Freddie Roach: He had a good training camp at Wildcard gym. He is definitely going to be in the fight. It’s a tough fight going up against Calderon but he has a chance to pull off the upset.
Manny Pacquiao (Mayol’s promoter): Mayol is very good fighter. I have a lot of confidence in him that he can win this fight.

“Undefeated Champions” is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand and DirecTV for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. For more information about the “Undefeated Champions” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Kessler TKOs Perdomo

Sauerland Event

By Alexey Sukachev

WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) successfully defended his title for second time and, what is probably more important, made a final step towards the Super Six super tournament with the fourth-round TKO over mandatory challenger WBA #1 Gusmyr Perdomo (16-3, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the MCH Messecenter Herning in Herning, Denmark. (more…)

Juanma vs Pelenchin in January?

By Lee Bates

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told Fightnews.com today that things are looking good for a unification showdown between unbeaten WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez (26-0, 24 KOs) and WBA/IBF super bantamweight champion Celestino “Pelenchin” Caballero (33-2, 23 KOs). HBO has already committed to a January 23 date, said Arum, however Junama first has to win his October 10th title defense against Rogers Mtagwa. Nothing has been signed as of yet, but the bout would take place in Puerto Rico.

Pacman in Puerto Rico

Photo: Chris Farina-Top Rank

Manny Pacquiao is Miguel Cotto’s hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico today. Thousands of figt fans are on hand. In interviews before start of the press conference, Pacman stated “”There is going to be a lot of action in the ring. Cotto is big and strong. This will be my hardest fight. Cotto has size, is smart and he’s big – I will train hard.” Trainer Freddy Roach added, “We are about to fight King Kong. That’s how big he is. But we have a game plan. It is a hard fight however.” Click here for more photos…

Cunningham Looks to Extend Streak

By Bob Ryder

The Royal Oak Music Theatre in suburban Detroit is the site for promoters Carlos Llinas (CLIP) and Ron Remus Productions next presentation on Friday, September 18. Darryl Cunningham will be seeking his 9th straight win in the main event against Mustapha Johnson. Cruiserweight hopeful Isiah Thomas puts his unblemished record on the line against Julius Jackson in another feature attraction. Alexis Hloros on a 12 bout unbeaten run will be facing off against Cameron Allen. Undefeated heavyweight Rich “Super” Power had been sidelined with a hand injury but makes his welcome return on the show. Detroit favorites Pete Cantu, Willie Fortune, Sidney Gurley and Chris Hancock are also all part of the scheduled 10 bout card. Tickets are available at the Royal Oak Music Theatre Box Office at 248-399-2980 or at www.royaloakmusictheatre.com. Doors open 7 PM, First bell is 8 PM.

Fightwriter on Kessler-Perdomo

By Graham Houston

As a prelude to Showtime’s “Super Six” tournament in the super middleweight division, Mikkel Kessler defends his WBA title against mandatory challenger Gusmyr Perdomo in Denmark on Saturday while Andre Ward has a virtual exhibition against the outclassed Shelby Pudwill the same evening. Kessler’s fight will be shown on tape delay while viewers will have live coverage of Ward beating up Pudwill in an absolute mismatch . . .  Click here for more

Lorenzo invades Germany

Frank Bleydorn

Giovanni Lorenzo (27-1, 19 KOs) and Sebastian Sylvester (31-3, 15 KOs) will clash for the vacant IBF middleweight title on September 19. Today Lorenzo arrived with his team in Germany. After leaving New York and a stopover in Frankfurt he reached the airport Berlin-Tegel at 7:55 am. The next two days the #1 ranked IBF contender, who was born in the Dominican Republic, will stay in Berlin. Then he will move to Neubrandenburg, where the fight against Sylvester will take place. ”Now it’s my turn and I’m going to come home with the title,“ said the 28-year old Lorenzo. But #2 ranked Sylvester, who yesterday afternoon made his last sparring session for the fight, is also confident to win the title. “I am sure my home fans in Neubrandenburg will help me to leave the ring victorious!”

Oscar: Floyd the best, but…

“I just have this feeling that Marquez is going to pull this one off,” says promoter Oscar De La Hoya. “I went down to Mexico and saw him train with my own eyes. I saw how much he bulked up. I saw how much strength he has gained. I saw how seriously he’s taking this fight, and I’m convinced he will win this fight. He’s looking sharp, he’s looking fast, he’s looking strong. Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter on the planet, and Juan knows that. He knows he’s up for a big challenge, but he’s ready and he knows that he has to put his life on the line and he’s willing to do that. So it’s going to be one tremendous fighter against another tremendous fighter. And so I think – I just have this feeling after watching Marquez, he’s going to pull it off.” Mayweather and Marquez meet next Saturday in a pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas.

Malinga wins in 141 seconds

By Ron Jackson

Patrick Malinga (26-6-2, 23 KOs) retained his SA lightweight title when he stopped Vusumzi Tyatyeka (10-1, 8 KOs) at 2:21 into the first round at the Finetown Multi-Purpose Centre in Lenasia, near Johannesburg, on Friday night. Tyatyeka 60.44 kg attacked from the opening bell and stopped Malinga 61.02 kg in his tracks with a straight left and a solid left hook in the first minute of the bout. However, the stronger champion picked up the pace and began to back up the challenger and dropped him to the canvas with a right hook to the jaw. Tyatyeka was badly hurt and just managed to beat the count. Malinga gave him no time to recover and another solid right dropped Tyatyeka flat on his face. Referee Tony Nyangiwe did not even bother to count as he waved the fight off. (more…)

Maloney: Referee wanted revenge

Chris Royle

Promoter Frank Maloney has accused referee Terry O’Connor of scoring against his fighter John McDermott as revenge because McDermott’s father Stan McDermott had knocked out O’Connor in a bout 32 years ago. O’Connor controversially scored a 98-92 points winner over McDermott at Brentwood Arena in Brentwood, Essex, UK on Friday. Sky TV commentators, 2000 fans packed into the sold out venue and millions of TV viewers were stunned as McDermott appeared a clear winner. (more…)

Lopez chops down Mora

Big Joe Miranda

By Francisco Salazar at ringside

Lightweight Josesito Lopez (26-3, 15 KOs) brutally battered lanky Anthony Mora (15-4, 10 KOs) for three rounds and Mora did not come out for round four on Friday night in the main event at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. In another notable bout, heavy-handed veteran lightweight Ilido Julio (39-15-1, 35 KOs) spectacularly knocked out local favorite Dominic Salcido (17-2, 9 KOs) in round five.

More Pacquiao, Cotto pix

Boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto faced off Thursday at Yankee Stadium in New York City on the first stop of their cross-country, five-city, two-ocean media tour promoting “FIREPOWER” – their November 14 world welterweight championship super fight. (More)

Shot of the Day

Pavel Terekhov

It’s not often that 6’7 WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko meets someone taller than himself. But that was the case recently when 6’10 Lamar Odom of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers visited Vitali before a training session at the Pound4Pound Gym in Los Angeles. Klitschko is gearing up to defend his WBC belt against unbeaten, No. 1-ranked Cristobal Arreola at STAPLES Center.

Uicab defeats Hernandez

WBC #7 flyweight Wilbert “Huracan” Uicab (25-5-1, 16 KOs) pounded out a good action twelve round unanimous decision over WBC #6 Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez (22-6-1, 11 KOs) Vs. on Friday night at the Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez Marbet Plus Hall in Ciudad Neza, Mexico. Uicab applied pressure throughout the bout and prevailed by scores of 115-113, 116-112, 116-113. The bout was for the NABF and Mexican national flyweight titles.
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Lightweight Mauricio Pintor (2-0), son of former world champion Lupe Pintor, took a four round nod over Édgar Bolaños 1-2.

Oliver defeats Gonzalez

Emily Harney

“Machine Gun” Mike Oliver won a hard-fought decision to capture the vacant New England and Eastern Boxing Association junior featherweight titles tonight on the “A Night To Remember” pro boxing cared, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., at historic Plymouth Memorial Hall. Oliver (22-2, 7 KOs) and Gonzalez (9-9, 3 KOs) had previously fought twice with Mike stopping Castulo in the ninth round of their 2006 fight and this past June, in Boston, their fight was halted in the second round and ruled a no contest when Castulo suffered a cut over his eye from an unintentional head-butt. (more…)

Playboy Mansion Weights

Bob Barton/Rumble Time Promotions

Main eventers weighed-in in Los Angeles Friday for the private show on Saturday on the famed Playboy Mansion. Dannie Williams (left) weighed in at 130 lbs. Eloy Peres weighed in at 129. Pictured with the fighters is Steve Smith from Rumble Time Promotions.

Arce, Soto Cancun Presser

Photo: Rafael Soto/Zanfer/Top Rank

Jorge “Travieso” Arce (52 -5-1, 40 KOs) and Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (48-7-2, 31 KOs) met the press Friday in advance of Tuesday night’s big fight card at the Plaza de Toros in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Arce meets Simphiwe Nongqawi in an IBF super flyweight title clash and Soto defends his WBC super featherweight crown against Aristides Perez (15-0-1, 8 KOs). Here’s what they had to say… (more…)

Weights from Sacramento, Calif

Courtesy Jim Jenkins, Sacramento Bee

Weights from Sacramento, Calif., for Saturday night’s first outdoor boxing card at the Red Lion Hotel, promoted by Nasser Niavaroni and Jeff Berger:

IBF No. 3 cruiserweight Matt Godfrey (19-1), 196 1/2, Providence, R.I., vs. Michael Simms (20-11-2), 198, Sacramento, 10-round main event. Otis Griffin (19-6-2), 174, Sacramento, vs. Ernesto Castaneda (11-7-1), 175, Sacramento, 6 rounds. Former 2008 Olympics candidate Stan Martyniouk (6-0), 134 1/2, Antelope, Calif., vs. Jorge Marquez (3-0), 134, Phoenix, Ariz., 6 rounds. Geraldo Lopez (3-0), 151, Vacaville, Calif., vs. Ivan Diaz (2-1), 152, Phoenix, Ariz., 4 rounds.

Weights from Temecula, CA!

Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Andre Ward 171.2 vs Shelby Pudwill 170.5
James Toney 217.5 vs Matthew Greer 240
Francisco Santana 153.2 vs Tony Hirsch 154
Vincent Arroyo 142 vs Mike Dallas, Jr. 141.5
Victor Martinez 122.5 vs Rico Ramos 123
Joshua Zurfluh 146.5 vs Terrel Williams 145
Venue: Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California
Promoter: Goossen Tutor
TV: SHOWTIME’s ShoBox: The Next Generation
Click here for more photos…

Fury edges McDermott

Photo: Chris Royle

By Alexey Sukachev

Rapidly rising British heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury (8-0, 7 KOs) has been seemingly stopped in his tracks by a huge underdog and English champion John McDermott (25-6, 16 KOs) only to be awarded with a highly controversial ten-round decision, which was severely booed by the local crowd at Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, UK. (more…)

Weights from Puerto Rico

Photo: Pr Best Boxing Promotion/Jose Perez

By Lee Bates

Ivan Calderon 107.4 vs Rodel mayol 107.3
(WBO light flyweight championship)
Rocky Martinez 129.4 vs *Feider Viloria 129.2
(WBO jr lightweight championship)
Juan Mercedes 115.2 vs Robert DaLuz 116.5
Carlos Negron 185 vs Larry Carter 184.8
Venue: Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Promoter: PR Best Boxing
For more details and photos click here…

Roger on Floyd layoff

Floyd “Money” Mayweather is coming back after nearly a two year lay off against Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept 19th, but trainer Roger Mayweather doesn’t think Floyd’s inactivity will be a big problem. “Well I know one thing about layoffs and I know about fighters. If a fighter got skills – the greatest fighters in the world where people don’t even know had layoffs. What did you think Sugar Ray Leonard had? He had a five and a half year layoff. He had two eye detached retina surgeries, right. But he still beat the greatest middleweight. He beat Marvin Hagler when he was laid off five and a half years. When Sugar Ray Robinson was laid off three years, that’s the greatest fighter on the globe. Muhammad Ali was laid off three years,” said Roger. (more…)

Weights from Nayarit, MX

Photo: Rafael Soto/Top Rank-Zanfer Promotions

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr 154 vs Jason LeHoullier 154
Fernando Montiel 119 vs Alex Valdez 119
Manuel Vargas 105 vs Donnie Nietes 105
(WBO strawweight championship)
Jose Luis Castillo 145.6 vs Carlos Urias 145
Z Gorres 123 vs Cruz Carbajal 123.5
Brandon Rios 139 vs Daniel Valenzuela 138.4
Jesus Silvestre 105 vs Hugo Olvera 105
Jose Carlos Vargas 118 vs Alexis Gonzalez 118
David Sanchez 115 vs Jose Luis Rosales 115
Armando Mariscal 135 vs Azael Villegas 135
Venue: El Palenque de la Feria, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Promoter: Top Rank and Zanfer
TV: PPV (TV Azteca in Mexico)
Click here for more photos…

Chavez, LeHoullier heats up

Far from the combat to combat pressure on his shoulders, Julio César Chávez Jr., looked relaxed and in excellent physical shape for his upcoming bout against Jason LeHoullier on Saturday in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Chavez (39-0-1, 29 KOs) and LeHoullier (21-1-1, 8 KOs) headline the billboard which is presented by Top Rank, Zanfer Promotions and in coordination with the Government of the State of Nayarit, this function will be transmitted by TV Azteca in Mexico and pay-per-view in the United States. Chavez Jr looks thin and in good spirits, he brought his team to the press conference held at the former Palace Hotel Tepic. “I am very happy to be here, and I apologize to all of my fans in Nayarit for the delay of my fight that was going to be last July 25th. A rib injury prevented me from fighting on that date, but now I am healthy and staying in 100% shape, no excuses for anything, I’m ready for Saturday,” said the young native of Culiacan, Sinaloa. (more…)

Pacman update!

Photo: Chris Farina-Top Rank

Five-time world champion, pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao signs a poster at the HBO building Friday during the cross-country, five-city national media tour to promote his upcoming “FIREPOWER” world welterweight championship fight against the pride of Puerto Rico, three-time world champion Miguel Cotto, Caguas, Puerto Rico. Pacquiao vs Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MGM Grand and Tecate, will take place, Saturday, November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be available live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Calderon planning Matador act

Samuel Collazo

By Lee Bates

A fighter meeting was held this morning at the hotel in San Juan, where both WBO champion Ivan Calderon (32-0-1, 6 KOs) and his challenger Rodel Mayol (25-3-1, 19 KOs both attended prior to their upcoming rematch this Saturday. Both fighters physical appearances showed their hard work put into their individual training camps. The champ stated he planned on delivering his matator to the bull act and Mayol countered with his own response.
Calderon: “He’s saying that he is going to be more agressive this time around and that’s just fine with me. It will be just like the matador and the bull where I will make him miss and the crowd will shout Ole! Ole! and he will be countered punched all night for his trouble.”
Mayol: “He may play the role of the matador but this bull isn’t going to miss the target”.
The official weigh-in is set for 5PM EST.
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#3 Terdsak outpoints Laguna!

By Damrong Simakajornboon

WBO#3/IBF#8/WBC#15 Terdsak Jandaeng (35-3-1,22 KOs) successfully kept his WBO Oriental 130lb title as he excitingly outpointed WBO Asia-Pacific#7 Roel Laguna (reportedly 9-4-2,6 KOs) on Friday at OTOP Trade Centre in Trad, Thailand. Filipino Laguno surprised the Thai crowd as he effectively denied experienced Jandaeng with his more accurate jabs punctuated by right straights, looking a little better in the first four rounds. The bout was a close affair from round five when the champion speeded his assault and landed many tough bodyshots on his contender who still displayed his effective counterpunches. The turning point was occurred in round seven as the Thai fighter landed a big left hook that dropped his foe on the canvas then he mostly attacked his opponent until round nine. From round ten, Laguno tried to turn the situation by aggressively stalking the local fighter but Jandaeng still did well and frustrated his foe with his counter attack tactic until the final round. Scored : 115-112, 115-112 and 117-110. (more…)

Latin Fury 11 Program

Here is a link to the digital official Spanish-language program for Latin Fury 11, featuring Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Jason LeHoullier. The print magazine will be handed out tomorrow at the fight as the official program. The program was created by Jimenez Communications and Rafael Soto Comunicaciones.

Kessler, Perdomo make weight

Tony Brøchner

WBA super middleweight world champion Mikkel Kessler and mandatory challenger Gusmyr Perdomo both made weight for their SHOWTIME-televised world title clash on Saturday night in Denmark. Kessler weighed in at 167.6, while Perdomo scaled in at 167.1.
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Also making weight was WBA/WBC female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (145.9) and challenger Lucia Morelli (142.2).