IBF lighweight title update

When Joan Guzman defeated Ali Funeka last month, the IBF lightweight title remained vacant as Guzman weighed in over the 135 pound weight limit. The IBF then ordered the two highest rated available lightweights to fight for the vacant title which were #5 Miguel Vazquez of Mexico and #6 rated Ameth Diaz of Panama. However the IBF had already approved an eliminator between #6 Diaz and #8 Ji-Hoon Kim of South Korea. The winner of Diaz vs. Kim will fight the leading available contender for the vacant title.

Zewski on Lucas-Andrade card

Photo courtesy of TKO Boxing

Sensational Canadian prospect Mikael Zewski met the media in his hometown of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada today at a press conference for the highly anticipated showdown between legendary Quebec former world champion Eric Lucas and perennial contender Librado Andrade set for Friday, May 28th at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City . . . Click here for more

No boxing in the rain

Przemek Garczarczyk

By Przemek Garczarczyk

“Good thing it’s not raining more. Although I could show everybody my newly acquired during training camp in Houston experience in long distance swimming,” said Tomasz Adamek (40-1, 28 KOs), when he and Chris Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) arrived for a scheduled open workout in downtown Los Angeles. Instead of putting on gloves and trying NOT to show media and the other team’s “spies” anything they actually want to do this coming Saturday in Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, both heavyweights patiently answered reporters’ questions at the ESPNZone. (more…)

Robert Guerrero media day

Tom Hogan/Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

Former three time world champion in two weight divisions, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, greeted media and fans Tuesday at his open workout which took place at the San Jose Boxing and Fitness gym. Guerrero battles Roberto Arreita on the return of Telefutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” boxing series scheduled for Friday, April 30th at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Here’s what he had to say. (more…)

Everlast ships from Canada

Tszyu hints at boxing return

By Craig Watt

Former undisputed Jr-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu was a special guest on the Long Lunch today in Australia on Fox Sports News. During a twenty minute interview he hinted that he may be enticed into a ring return – if the right opportunity came along. He stated, “I have not officially retired – even after the loss to Ricky Hatton I have never stated that I am retired from the sport completely. I have not ruled out a return to the boxing ring but the opportunity would have to be right. It would have to be something big. It would take me about six months to get myself back into shape to compete again so it would have to be something different. A fight against big named boxers would be the only thing that would excite me to push my body into the pain. Let’s look at this weekend’s boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosely – that would be a good challenge for me to fight the winner. Also Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world and he is in my division. You never know what can happen in boxing but it is these types of fights that could entice me back to the boxing ring.” Tszyu has not fought since his 11th round retirement to Ricky Hatton in Manchester in 2006 and has spent recent years developing boxing gyms for young fighters in his native Russia.

Zbik targets Martinez, Pavlik

“I saw the defeat of Kelly Pavlik. Strangely it didn’t surprise me,” said WBC interim middleweight champion Sabestian Zbik. “The phase he’s gone through you can’t put behind you so easily. Although Martinez is old (35), he’s a very good boxer. Nevertheless, I believe I can beat both. I would fight either Martinez or Pavlik immediately. Let’s see who has the courage to do it. I want to absolutely remove the word ‘interim’ from my life. The boxing fans have a right to know who the best middleweight in the WBC is. For that, I’ll also come to America. I’m watching exactly what you do, guys!” (Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/www.filmograf.de)

Brähmer public workout

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Here’s video of a public workout today in Hamburg featuring WBO light heavyweight world champion Jürgen Brähmer (35-2, 28 KOs), light middleweight Jack Culcay (2-0, 1 KO), the first German Amateur champion in 14 years, 2008 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Rahim Chachkiev (5-0, 5 KOs), undefeated WBA/WBO/WIBF flyweight champion “Killer Queen” Susi Kentikian (26-0, 16 KOs) and undefeated WIBA flyweight titleholder Nadia “The Beauty Beast” Raoui (11-0-1, 3 KOs).

Shane: I’m a clean fighter

By Karl Freitag

During a conference call today, WBA welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley lashed out at a reporter who asked him to compare how he feels now compared to how he felt in 2003 when he allegedly took a performance enhancing substance. “That’s a stupid question that you’re asking me because I never really…I never did that stuff,” said Shane. “I was never on it the way like that. I’ve always been a clean fighter. Actually I feel good and I’ve been feeling good. I’ve been knocking out everybody since 2003 and before 2003. I don’t feel like I should be condemned for something that I never tested positive at all. I just told the truth of what happened because the truth was brought to me by the federal people that took me to court or that brought me up as a witness, that brought me in as a witness and the truth was revealed to me there. So, this man (Victor Conte/BALCO Labs) that I had seen one time in my whole entire life, at the deposition was the second time I’ve seen him, it’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous that now the media wants to make me the ‘poster boy of steroids’ when I don’t even remember [taking] that stuff, so if you guys want to continue to think that or put that out there ‘so be it’ you know, you’ve got to hear the truth.”

Tale of the Tape

On Saturday, the Super Six World Boxing Classic will return to SHOWTIME® with the Group Stage 2 matchup between undefeated WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch of Nottingham, England and former WBA 168-pound champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler of Denmark for Froch’s WBC world title. Click for the tape of the tape and latest fighter quotes…

Floyd-Shane not for WBA belt

If Floyd Mayweather is the winner of his May 1 welterweight super clash against WBA welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley, Floyd will not win the WBA title. If Shane wins, he will retain the WBA championship. If Floyd wins, the title will become vacant.

Aydin in Miami

V. Alyaz/ARENA

Hard-hitting welterweight contender Selcuk Aydin arrived at a training camp in Florida last week to prepare for his first world title fight. On June 5th “Mini-Tyson” will face former WBA champion Luis Collazo for the WBC silver championship in Istanbul, Turkey. For more details and photos click here…

Team Vazquez speaks

Ricardo Conde

By Ricardo Conde

Three time world champion Israel “El Magnifico” Vazquez (44-4, 32 KOs) of Mexico will take on two-division world champion, Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KOs) of Mexico on Saturday, May 22nd at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA on “Once and Four All.” Considered widely by many to be perhaps the greatest boxing trilogy of all time, these two great Mexican warriors will meet again for a fourth time in a 12 round bout in the featherweight division, which will be shown live on SHOWTIME and is being co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Espinoza Boxing Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. For more details and photos click here…

Yoyo and Sidzumo collide

By Ron Jackson

Mzolisi Yoyo and Sikhulile Sidzumo the number one and two ranked contenders meet for the vacant South African junior welterweight title in East London on Sunday afternoon. The title became vacant when Kaizer Mabuza relinquished the title after winning an IBF title eliminator against Kendall Holt in February this year. (more…)

Judah-Demyanenko Update

By Alexey Sukachev

Looks like a proposed fight between former IBF/WBO light welterweight and undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (38-6, 26 KOs) and undefeated WBO #7, WBC #9 and WBA #10 ranked Kazakh prospect Vitaly Demyanenko (18-0, 11 KOs) isn’t as close as Kazakh media has been reporting. “Zab’s response to a challenge from Demayneko’s camp was ‘Vitaly who?,’” said Demyanenko’s agent Yuri Fedorov. “Vitaly is 18-0 and the current regional champion with the WBO/WBC/WBA where he is rated #5, #9 and #10 respectively. And where is Zab Judah – #8 with the WBA… so from the outset he plays a more prominent figure than Zab in the overall scheme of things with the current welterweight ratings.” (more…)

Mayweather prepared for Mosley

Story by Andreas Hale
Photos by Mary Ann Owen / BoxinginLasVegas.com

As the hours and days tick off the clock before Floyd “Money” Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) and “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) clash at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas on May 1st, the two sides continue to exchange verbal jabs before the real ones.

At Mayweather’s recent media day at his gym in Las Vegas, “Money” pulled no punches when discussing his upcoming fight. What many may not know is that this fight has been a long time coming for both fighters. Mayweather has wanted a piece of Mosley since as far back as the year 2000 . . . click here for more

Slimmer Minto Ready for Huck

By Brady Crytzer

Gary Sarti

Over the last two years heavyweight prospect Brian Minto has filled a void. In a sport where “the good old days” seem farther than ever, the undersized heavyweight brawler has satisfied pundits who clamored for the time of Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey. After suffering a TKO loss to prospect Chris Arreola in December, the refocused Minto has dropped down in weight to make a run in the cruiserweight division. His first fight? WBO world champion Marco Huck. With his first career title shot looming in a brand new weight class, the rejuvenated Minto is ready for anything.

“I can see my stomach muscles now,” Minto joked. “I made a commitment to myself to lose this weight. Everything is faster now. My conditioning is the best it’s ever been and training just feels easier.” (more…)

New Faces: Jayson Velez

Team Velez

By Robert Coster

A bright, new face in boxing in Puerto Rico is 22-year-old power-punching junior featherweight Jayson Velez (12-0, 10 KOs). The youngster, signed up with Miguel Cotto Promotions, is rapidly developing a strong fan base on the Island and the reasons are obvious: he has paralyzing KO power, as well as great speed and reach. Only one of Jayson’s opponents has gone the limit with him (another victory was a DQ). For more details and photos click here…

Brähmer ready to defend

WBO light heavyweight world champion Jürgen Brähmer (35-2, 28 KOs) defends his WBO title for the second time against #8 rated Mariano Nicolas Plotinsky (16-3, 8 KOs) and undefeated “Killer Queen” Susi Kentikian (26-0, 16 KOs) will defend her WBA/WBO/WIBF belts against undefeated WIBA titleholder Nadia “The Beauty Beast” Raoui (11-0-1, 3 KOs) on Saturday night’s “Universum Champions Night” at the Sporthalle Hamburg. The fighters, minus Plotinsky who is still in Argentina, appeared at a press conference Monday. Plotincky, well known in Germany for his shock March 2009 knockout of popular Thomas Ulrich in Berlin, is still sitting at home with packed suitcases due to the massive flight cancellations in Europe caused by the Icelandic volcano.

“The world title fight with Jürgen will take place in any case,”
promised Event Director Kay Foitschik. “We have a plan B. The alternate fighter is also in training and in the starting blocks. We usually have a replacement for safety reasons in the background, this is quite normal. The replacement opponent will come from Europe, but we can’t say more at this stage because we expect Mariano.” More details and photos…

Remembering Edwin Valero

By Gabriel F. Cordero

No one knows the proper words to express the pain we feel for Edwin Valero and his wife Jennifer Carolina. Although it was Valero fighting in the ring, the whole country of Venezuela shared the experience with him. Through him many learned what it means to be a fighter. We all knew his victories and knockouts, but Edwin Valero, the great boxer, was still a human being with virtues and vices. I knew the private man, parent, friend and citizen. He was under a lot of pressure to be in big fights and to get an American visa, which were fast becoming his main priority over self-esteem and his family. It’s impossible to understand, explain or justify how or why this tragedy occurred, but no one deserves this disastrous end. We can only feel a deep sadness and tell Jenny and Edwin they’ll find the final answer in God. Friends forever…

Chop Chop opponent named

Former WBO World champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (36-13-1, 21 KOs) will fight 28-year-old Jermain “Too Sweet” White (17-4, 9 KOs) from Las Vegas for the vacant UBO World Light Welterweight title on May 29 at the D.C. Armory in Washington D.C. Titanium Promotions headed by Garcia Staley Sr. will promote the UBO doubleheader which will also feature former WBC world champion Keith Holmes (41-5, 25 KOs) taking on an opponent to be announced for the UBO International Middleweight crown.

Macho Time returns May 14

47-year-old former three-division world champion Hector “Macho” Camacho (79-5-3, 38 KOs) returns to the ring on May 14th for the first time in over a year to take on 37-year-old former world title challenger Saul “Baby” Duran (36-16-2, 30 KOs) in a middleweight bout at a site to be named. Camacho is coming off a draw with former champ Yori Boy Campas last May. Duran enters having dropped 8 of his last 10 fights. The bout will be available on a pay-per-view webcast.