Muwendo tops Napunyi

By Jesse Kelley

Ismail Muwendo moved to 12-0 with an 8 round unanimous decision victory over Anthony Napunyi 14-8 on Saturday night at the Hyatt in Minneapolis. Scores read 79-73, 79-73, 80-72 all in favor of Muwendo. Muwendo controlled the fight and dictated the pace although he did have trouble landing his big shots at times on Napunyi, who was crafty defensively. Muwendo keeps his USA Mid American featherweight title with the win.

Puerta defeats Rodriguez

WBC silver super featherweight beltholder Edgar Puerta (21-4-1, 19 KOs) retained his title with an eighth round TKO over Abraham Rodriguez (24-14-4, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Deportivo del Sindicato del Metro in Mexico City.

Also on the card, WBA female bantamweight titleholder Janeth Perez (17-1-2, 4 KOs) was dethroned by Irma Garcia (6-0-1, 1 KO) via ten round unanimous decision. Scores were 96-94, 96-94, 97-93.

Also flyweight Ganigan Lopez (22-5, 15 KOs), who was originally slated to face WBA interim minimumweight champion Jesus “Negrito” Silvestre in a non-title ten-rounder, instead scored a third round stoppage of late sub Josue Vega (15-10, 12 KOs).

Reiss to ref Geale-Mundine

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Leading USA referee Jack Reiss will be the third man in the ring when IBF middleweight champion Daniel ” Real Deal” Geale defends the title against fellow Australian Anthony ” The Man” Mundine at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia on January 30. Judges are Charlie Lucas (Australia) Ray Reed (Australia) and Tony Maretta (Australia). IBF President Daryl Peoples will be the supervisor. (more…)

Frankel wins technical decision over White

Welterweight Rob “Red Hot” Frankel (32-12-1, 6 KOs) won a fifth round technical decision over Jermaine “Too Sweet” White (17-6, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. The bout was stopped due to an accidental headbutt at 1:55 of the fifth round and sent to the scorecards, where Frankel prevailed 49-44, 49-44, 50-43. Frankel is next expected to face Zahir Raheem, recently signed by promoter Brian Halquist.

Also on the card, pro debuting jr middleweight Zachary Cooper needed just 30 seconds to demolish Rafael Umarov (1-6). Cooper trains out of the Mayweather Boxing Gym in Las Vegas.

Other results:
Dex Montenegro TKO2 Angel Diaz (super welterweight)
Enoch Wilson TKO2 Frankie Orr (light heavyweight)
Cory Vom Baur W4 Juan Martinez (super lightweight)
Ricardo Pinell TKO2 Daryl Gardner (middleweight)
Marcelino Pineda TKO1 Carlos Rodriguez (welterweight)

Inoue finishes Thai champ Ngaoprajan in one

By Joe Koizumi
Photo: Boxing Beat

Should you defeat a Filipino national champ and a Thai titlist in succession in your first two pro bouts, you may be called a prospect. Nineteen-year-old Japanese rookie, OPBF#9 and JBC#6 light-fly Naoya Inoue (2-0, 2 KOs), 110, needed just 110 seconds of the opening session to dispatch Thai national light-fly champ Ngaoprajan Chuwattana (10-11, 9 KOs), 109.75, in a scheduled eight rounder on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue, seven-time national high school champ prior to his entry into the paid ranks, started jabbing sharply, while the 35-year-old Thailander attempted to swarm over the cool youngster. The much shorter Thailander again attacked with a flurry of punches, a single left hook of Inoue exploded at the button of the aggressor. He fell on all hands and knees. He tried to raise himself up and barely stood up. But his rubbery legs apparently denied his availability to go on, so referee Sugiyama mercilessly tolled the fatal ten. As soon as it began, we felt, it was over.

You may laugh if this reporter describes Inoue’s final shot similar to a countering left hook as Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Gene Fullmer in Chicago in 1957. But it was really like that. It’s such a beautiful left hook as if we wonder why such a youngster masters or imitates the classic KO shot. Inoue is a hard-puncher with natural timing and high precision. (more…)

Barthelemy-Usmanee recap

By Robert Coster at ringside
Photo: Marco Perez/Mpsportimages.com

Against game and gritty Arash Usmanee, Miami’s local favorite Rances Barthelemy was taken to the wire Friday night and displayed both the strengths and weaknesses in his arsenal. The young junior lightweight clearly dominated the early rounds, using his height, excellent speed and an awkward left hook that repeatedly snapped back the head of his opponent. Many onlookers believed that Rances was on his way to a quick, impressive stoppage. This was not to be, however, as the sturdy Usmanee learned how to duck under Barthelemy’s hooks and jabs and gradually cutting the distance between the two. (more…)

Golden Rookie Inoue Meets Thai Champ Today

By Joe Koizumi

We should not easily use a word of genius, but people here in Japan cannot help calling Naoya Inoue a genius. Inoue, a 19-year-old rookie, will participate in his second pro bout against Thai 108-pound champ Ngaoprajan Chuwattana today (Saturday). Inoue, seven-time national high school champ, turned pro and dispatched Philippine champ Crison Omayao with a wicked body shot in four rounds of his debut last October. His performance was so tremendously impressive that our boxing fraternity now expects him to break the record of quickest reach to a world throne in his seventh pro bout (now held by WBA light-fly ruler Kazuto Ioka). Inoue, whose amateur mark was 75-6, 48 stoppages, failed to participate in the Olympic Games in London despite great expectations, and promptly declared to enter the paid ranks. Lately did Inoue, a boyish youngster, so one-sidedly beat up ex-WBA super-fly champ Nobuo Nashiro in six sparring sessions that our press people truly realized Inoue’s vast talent. Today we are pleased to watch his progress with great interest.

Mikey Garcia Workout

By Gene Blevins/Top Rank

Undefeated #1 contender Mikey Garcia hits the mitts with trainer and brother Robert Garcia during intense training preparation for his upcoming world title fight against WBO world featherweight champion Orlando Salido, Saturday, Jan 19 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout can be seen live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by Top Rank and K2 Promotions, in association with Tecate and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, are currently available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.thegarden.com.

photos

Weights from Tacoma

Rob Frankel 144 vs. Jermaine White 145
Juan Carlos Rodriguez 147 vs. Marcelino Pineda 144
Daryl Gardner 160 vs. Ricardo Pinell 159.5
Juan Martinez 140 vs. Cory Vom Buar 141.5
Zachary Cooper 154 vs. Rafael Umarov 156.5
Frankie Orr 172 vs. Enoch Wilson 172
Dex Montenegro 153.5 vs. Angel Diaz 153

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA
Promoter: Halquist Productions

Weights from Minneapolis

Ismail Muwendo 132 vs. Anthony Napunyi 128.6
Jamal James 146.6 vs. Patrick Boozer 145
Robert Brant 152.8 vs. Romon Barber 152.8
Jonathan Perez 116.8 vs.Brian Jones 118
Zach Wolff 124.4 vs. Brad Herroff 122.4
Stephen Watt 152.2 vs. Tyler Hultin 155
Dan Kiser 147.8 vs. Donald Williams 148.6
Tomi Archambault 125.8 vs.Robert Da Luz 125.8

Venue: The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis
Promoter: SEG and Fight Area 51

Barthelemy survives Usmanee

In an elimination bout for the IBF’s #2 position between unbeaten super featherweights, #6 rated Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (18-0, 11 KOs) scored a controversial twelve round unanimous decision over over #14 Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs) on Friday night at Stage 305 in the Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida. Hometown favorite Barthelemy got off to a great start over the first few rounds, but Usmanee turned the tables and outpunched Barthelemy much of the rest of the way. Scores were 115-113, 116-112, 116-112 for the locally-based fighter who was very lucky to get the win.

Jr middleweight slugger Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (16-0-1, 13 KOs) scored a ten round majority decision over Derek “Pooh” Ennis (23-4-1, 13 KOs). Gonzalez, who was nine pounds heavy for his last fight, a lackluster effort against Serhiy Dzinziruk, was trained by Chico Rivas for this bout and entered the ring in great shape against Ennis who came in six pounds heavy. Gonzalez was busier but never had Ennis in any trouble en route to a 95-95, 98-92, 97-93 win.

In a four-round featherweight scrap between undefeated prospects, Hairon Socarras (6-0-1, 5 KOs) scored a spectacular third round KO over Josh Bowles (6-1, 1 KO). A right hand finished Bowles at 2:11.

Peterson-Holt set for February 22

ESPN announced today that it will televise IBF jr welterweight champion Lamont Peterson’s mandatory defense against Kendall Holt on February 22 at the Washington, D.C. Armory. It will be Peterson’s first fight in 14 months after his career was put on hold following a positive drug test last January KO’d a rematch with Amir Khan. Peterson was stripped of his WBA, but allowed to keep the IBF belt.

Froch-Stevenson deadline looms

Finally, after much speculation about his next opponent, IBF super middleweight Carl “The Cobra” Froch (30-2-0, 22 KOs) is forced to defend his belt against mandatory contender Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (19-1-0, 16 KOs). In a letter from IBF representative Lindsey Tucker, dated January 2, 2013, sent to the promoters of Froch and Stevenson, both parties were invited to negotiate and Jan. 15 was imposed as the deadline. If at that time the parties were unable to reach an agreement a purse bid would be held in the IBF offices in New Jersey.

If Froch, for whatever reason, decided to withdraw from this process then it would he removed as champion and Stevenson would be invited to fight for the vacant title against the next highest-ranking available IBF challenger. If Stevenson withdrew he would be excluded from the IBF’s top 10 contenders for six months and the highest-ranked available contender would replace him. (more…)

Chocolatito excited by Ioka triumph

Photo: Big Joe Miranda

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Two time undefeated WBA world champion and current WBA Super Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (34-0, 28 KOs) is excited by the prospect of facing two time world champion Kazuto Ioka (11-0, 7 KOs) of Japan as his next mandatory fight. Ioka recently won the WBA light flyweight world title by successfully knocking out inside of 6 rounds Mexican Jose Alfredo Rodriguez. The title at stake was left vacant by Gonzalez’ upgrade to “super champion” by the WBA after 10 successful victories in world title fights. The WBA ordered that the winner of the Ioka vs Rodriguez match must face Gonzalez in a period no greater than 90 days.

“I am really happy with Ioka’s triumph. He is a great champion to have accomplished so much in so few fights. He is currently one of the biggest names in boxing in Japan. I want to congratulate him for the victory and hope to see him inside the ring very soon. It will be a great match up in the lower weight classes which will surely cause much excitement among the boxing community. Fighting in Japan is something I always look forward to,” commented Gonzalez. “At this point in my career there are only two fighters which I really want to face. I want to fulfill my mandatory against Ioka in order to keep my belt and then move up in weight and fight Brian Viloria. I want to prove myself against the very best. I don’t see any willingness from the other champions to unify titles so only Ioka and Viloria exist in my head as possible challengers.”

Caballero to fight in Panama?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Panamanian two-division former world champion Celestino “Pelenchin” Caballero (36-4, 23 KOs) could face Romanian Viorel Simion (16-0, 7 KOs) on March 30 in Panama City in an elimination bout for the WBC featherweight title as well as to claim the vacant WBC featherweight Silver title. Unofficially word is there’s a good possibility that the fight will take place in in the new Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in Panama.

Colorado boxing card announced

Ghost Town Promotions presents a boxing card on February 16 at the Longmont Athletic Club in Longmont, Colorado (about 40 miles north of Denver). Headlining is an eight round welterweight clash between hometown fan favorite Raul “EL Chino” Carrillo (10-1, 6 KOs) and Cesar “The Rattlesnake” Holguin (9-3-1, 3 KOs). The card is co-headlined by a six round welterweight tilt between John Ryan Grimaldo (8-2, 5 KOs) and Juan Santiago (13-9-1, 8 KOs). The undercard will feature separate bouts involving welterweight veteran Marvin Cordova Jr. (21-2-1, 11 KOs), cruiserweight Carlos Raul Ibarra (7-3-1, 4 KOs) and lightweight Daniel Calzada, (5-6-1, 2 KOs). Tickets are priced at $45, $35 and $25, and may be purchased by calling 720-296-6176 or 303-772-4700.

Juanma looks sharp in media workout

Photos/Video: Joel Colon/PR Best

Former two time world champion Juan Manuel ”Juanma” Lopez had a media day today where he showed his great condition in his training for his return to the ring against Aldimar Silva Santos on February 2, 2013, at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, in a PR Best Boxing Promotions presentation. “I’m totally in focus for this fight because I’m going to show that I have a lot of boxing to become a world champion again, Lopez said before his training at the Jose “Cheo” Aponte Gym in Caguas. I’ve been training since August, training hard with my team (Alex Caraballo and Orlando Pinero) at the Cheo Aponte Gym and with Freddy Trinidad in the Caimito Gym, where we are working on something new.” (more…)

Yuri Foreman returns Jan 23 in NYC

Former world champion Yuri Foreman (28-2, 8 KOs) will make his first comeback fight on the DiBella Entertainment promotion taking place January 23 at New York City’s famed BB King Blues Club. Yuri won the WBA World light middleweight title from Daniel Santos in 2009. He lost the title to Miguel Cotto a year later in the new Yankee Stadium and then was stopped by Pawel Wolak in March 2011. Foreman’s opponent is TBA.

Pacman gets Parkinsons warning

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Neurologist Dr Rustico Jimenez, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, appearing on ABS-CBN DZMM Radio in the Philippines, called on Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao to retire, claiming Pacman may be showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease. “Even though his reflexes are quick, I noticed the movement – it’s just another view, my personal view – but it seems like there are early signs,” stated Jimenez, who has never examined Manny in person. Pacquiao, who is coming off a brutal KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December, is expected to face Marquez again later this year in a huge megafight. Parkinsons is a neurodegenerative disorder that Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and all time great Muhammad Ali suffer from.

Best in the Beltway for 2012

By Gary “Digital” Williams

In 2012, professional boxing in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia turned out to be a year of great possibility and missed opportunity.

The year began with the area basking in the glow of Lamont Peterson’s world championship win over Amir Khan last December. The glow, however, faded through the first few months of the year as allegations of a mystery man at the title bout in DC gave way to Peterson testing positive for synthetic testosterone, which forced the cancellation of the Peterson-Khan rematch. The WBA stripped Peterson of their title but the IBF allowed Peterson to keep their belt. Peterson was inactive in 2012 as negotiations for a defense against Zab Judah fell through and one against Kendall Holt were ongoing. (more…)

Heavyweights Headline Jan. 25 in Dover

By Rick Scharmberg

Boxing returns in a big way to Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware on Friday, January 25, when heavyweights top the show. The long running “Friday Night Fights” series continues with big-punching Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (16-0, 12 KOs) taking on veteran Dominique Alexander (23-15-1, 11 KOs) in the ten round main event. In the co-feature, Franklin “Yah-Yah” Lawrence (18-2-2, 13 KOs) takes on Mark “Oak Tree” Brown (15-4, 7 KOs) in an eight round bout. (more…)

Mean Joe Greene returns

Welterweight contender Joe Greene (24-1, 16 KOs) will Headline a big night of boxing on Thursday January 10th at the Cordon Bleu in the Woodhaven section of Queens, New York. Greene of the nearby Jamaica section of Queens will take on Calvin Odom (15-12, 11 KOs) in the eight round main event promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions. In the four round co-feature, former amateur standout Antoine Douglas (2-0, 2 KOs) will see action against TBA. Ticket Prices are $125 (VIP with Dinner) and $40 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Elite Heat Boxing Gym (130 Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Newark, NJ). The doors open at 6pm with first bell at 7:30 pm.

Q&A: Bill Treacy, manager of Daniel Geale

Interview and photo by Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Fightnews talks to leading Australian promoter Bill Treacy, who is the manager of IBF middleweight champion Daniel “Real Deal” Geale. Treacy says Geale next fight against Anthony Mundine will be a stepping stone to a super fight with Sergio Martinez and rates Geale as Australia’s greatest ever. Treacy also says working with top USA promoter Gary Shaw has been very important to Geale’s career.

IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale will defend the title against Anthony Mundine in a rematch on January 30 in Syndney, NSW, Australia. Mundine was awarded twelve round split decision over Geale in an IBO title bout in 2009. Were you happy with the officiating in their 2009 IBO title fight?

Both Mundine and Geale boxed well that night but we knew the referee and judges would lean Mundine’s way. We thought Daniel deserved the decision even though Mundine scored a knockdown – we thought we were hard done by the referee and two of the judges. (more…)

One more time: Golota returns vs. Saleta

By Johnny B’

Longtime Polish heavyweight stars Andrew Golota, 45, and Przemyslaw Saleta, 44, are scheduled to meet February 23 at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland, in a ten round bout. Four-time heavyweight title challenger Golota (41-8-1, 33 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since a KO loss to Tomasz Adamek in October 2009, while former European titleholder Saleta (43-7, 21 KOs) has been inactive since 2006. This could be a flip of the coin bout, but Golota would be the favorite if he comes to into the bout in shape and in the right frame of mind.

Mancini, Polis boxing bios are a good read

By Graham Houston

Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini was one of the gamest crowd-pleasers in recent boxing history and his life and career has been done justice by Mark Kriegel’s excellent biography The Good Son: The Life of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. The book is almost as much about Mancini’s relationship with his father, the former lightweight contender Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini, and their hometown of Youngstown, OH, as it is about the fighter, which I believe lifts it to a level above the standard boxing biography.

Lenny’s presence looms large, while images are evoked of the blue-collar town that the Mancinis called home, with mob figures prevalent and the underlying theme of struggle as factories closed and working people saw an old way of life fading into history. (more…)