Weights from Chicago

Fres Oquendo 220 vs. Mark Brown 229
(WBC Latino heavyweight title)
Ivan Popoca 138.5 vs. Hector Alatorre 138.5
Andrzej Fonfara 164.5 vs. Skyler Thompson 160.5
(WBF All Americas super middleweight title)
Rita Figueroa 136 vs. Tammie Johnson 133.5
Juan Bailon 125.5 vs. Tommy Atencio 127
Ryan Smedick 141 vs. Gabriel Morris 142
Achour Esho 147 vs. Dontre King 146
Venue: UIC Pavilion
Promoter: 8 Count Productions
Tickets: 312-226-5800 Doors 7PM, First Bell 8PM

Arnaoutis defeats Carrasquillo!

By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside

Jr welterweight contender “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (22-3-2, 10 KOs) is back in the win column after a ten round unanimous decision over Doel Carrasquillo (12-12-1, 10 KOs) on Thursday night at North Bergen, NJ’s Schuetzen Park. Arnaoutis prevailed in a hard fought match by scores of 98-92, 96-94, 96-94. It was Arnaoutis’ first fight since a loss to Victor Ortiz this past March.
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In the co-feature, light heavyweight Booby Rooney (9-2-1) needed just 2:40 to destroy Brian Bernard (8-4-2) in round one.

Weights from Mexico!

Photos: All Star Boxing

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Jesus Jimenez 112 vs Santiago Acosta 112
Juan Carlos Castillo 136 vs Julio Montoya 136
Edgar Jimenez 109 vs Ulises Lara 109
Cristian Palafox 130 vs Cuauhtemoc Moya 127
Tamoki Kameda 120 vs Alejandro Dotor 122
Angel Aguilar 119 vs Jorge Otokani Reynoso 119
Daniel Solis 136 vs Martin Rivas 138
Venue: Marbet Plus Hall, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz #630, Colonia Benito Juarez, Ciudad Neza, Mexico
Promoter: Tuto Zabala/All Star Boxing
TV: Telemundo Main Event Live @ 11:30 PM (ET)

Acosta-Antillon for WBA belt?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

The WBA could soon be recognizing three world champions at lightweight. Venezuelan prospect Miguel “Aguacerito” Acosta (25-3-2, 19 KOs) slated to face unbeaten Mexican strongman Urbano Antillon (26-0, 19 KOs) on July 25 for the WBA interim lightweight championship at the Grand Mayan, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit in Mexico. The WBA lightweight world super champion is Mexican superstar Juan Manuel Marquez and the regular lightweight world champion is Nigerian Paulus Moses.

LIVE NOW: Through the Ropes!

Through The Ropes – the #1 boxing news radio show that is hosted by award winning boxing writer Marc Lichtenfeld – airs LIVE coast to coast each Thursday evening from 9pm thru 10pm ET on 75 affiliates of the Sports Byline USA Broadcast Network, including great radio stations like KSHP 1400 AM in Las Vegas and WNSR 560 AM in Nashville. The one-hour show is also available on the American Forces Network and Sportsbyline.com. Plus Fightnews.com readers can listen LIVE by CLICKING HERE between 9 pm to 10 pm ET this Thursday. Call-in or email your questions to: ttropes@earthlink.net

Escalante targets world title

Story by Chris Cozzone

Returning home as a top ten contender, El Paso’s Antonio Escalante has more at stake July 24 than adding another victory to his record.

Headlining the ESPN2-televised, Golden Boy-promoted card in his El Paso’s Don Haskins Center, Escalante, 20-2, 13 KOs, will take on Detroit’s Cornelius Lock, 18-3-1, 11 KOs, in a ten-round bout of major consequences . . . Click here for full story

Q&A: Shannan Taylor!

Photo: Team Taylor

By Craig Watt

Middleweight Shannan Taylor (49-7-3, 35 KOs) is one of Australia’s most colourful and controversial fighters with his personal story outside the boxing ring which is often seen as a bigger victory than his 59 fight boxing career that has lasted for 17 years. His life story will surely one day be the subject of a film or best selling novel as he has lived life on the edge and faced up to demons of drug addiction, before finding God in 2002 and turning his life around. (more…)

Ortiz, Maidana Quick Quotes!

By Francisco Salazar
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

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Super lightweights Victor Ortiz and Marcos Maidana faced off at a press conference today in advance of their world championship bout on Saturday at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Victor Ortiz: I’m ready and prepared. I came to win and I know that the fight will be very tough, however I trained too hard and too long to leave this belt behind.
Marcos Maidana: I came very well prepared. The loss in my last fight did not affect me. In fact, losing is not on my mind. I respect Victor very much, however, I came to win and I hope to return to Argentina with the title.

Bradley-Campbell presser!

By Francisco Salazar
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

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Although a world title will be on the line, it is the fighters who are garnering most of the attention. Most members of the media, and fight fans, seem to be paying more attention to the fighters in a bout that could be a candidate for fight of the year. Timothy Bradley defends his version of the 140 pound title when he squares off against former world champion Nate Campbell at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, CA. The bout, which takes place on Saturday, August 1st, will be televised on Showtime. Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions will promote the card. (more…)

Abraham-Oral quotes!

IBF middleweight champion “King” Arthur Abraham (29-0, 23 KOs) will put his undefeated record and world title on the line against world ranked Mahir “Lion” Oral (25-1-2, 10 KOs) this Saturday in a special prime time edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (same day, tape delay). With just two days to go until the world championship fight, Abraham and Mahir caught up with SHOWTIME to discuss the fight, their opponents and their plans for the future. The site of the scheduled 12 round world championship fight is Abraham’sninth IBF title defense. Here’s what the fighters had to say… (more…)

Q&A with David Higgins!

Shane Cameron left, David Tua right.

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

David Higgins of Duco Events Ltd is the promoter of the David Tua vs Shane Cameron heavyweight bout that will be held at The Pavilion in Hamilton, New Zealand on October 3rd. Higgins talks to Fightnews and explains why the Tua vs Cameron bout is being billed as the Fight of The Century in New Zealand and will be televised on Sky pay-per-view throughout New Zealand and that Australia should almost certainly have access through Main Event pay-per-view. (more…)

TONIGHT: Through the Ropes!

Boxing fans, get ready to climb “Through the Ropes” with the #1 boxing news radio show hosted by award winning boxing writer Marc Lichtenfeld! This week’s guest is Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko. Call or email your questions to ttropes@earthlink.net. Through The Ropes airs live coast to coast on Thursday nights from 9:00 – 10:00 ET on 75 affiliates of the Sports Byline USA Broadcast Network, including great radio stations like KSHP 1400 AM in Las Vegas and WNSR 560 AM in Nashville. The one-hour show will also be heard on American Forces Network, Sportsbyline.com and Fightnews.com. Fightnews readers can listen live by clicking here tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Mosley: Pacman can earn $20m!

By Dennis Principe

WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley has upped the ante for his wish of fighting Manny Pacquiao. Interviewed by this writer’s daily Philippine radio show “Sports Chat”, Mosley disclosed that Pacquiao stands to earn at least $20 million if the current pound-for-pound king chooses the American champion as his next opponent. “I’m confident he’ll make more money with me than fighting (Miguel) Cotto. That fight is only big if they watch the fight in Puerto Rico, New York and the Philippines,” said Mosley “With me, you have the whole world watching the fight. My fan base is worldwide.” Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has been pushing for a Pacquiao-Cotto bout in November. Several reports disclose that Pacquiao may earn around $10-12 million against Cotto. (more…)

Juanma’s grand arrival!

Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

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WBO world junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel ‘Juanma’ Lopez, made his ‘Grand’ arrival atop New Jersey-bred ‘Imperial Hank’ on the Atlantic City boardwalk Thursday for his upcoming “Latin Fury 9″ world championship fight against undefeated challenger Olivier Lontchi, on Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Top Rank promotes this Pay-Per-View televised event in association with Caesars Atlantic City.

Sampson Boxing inks Campillo!

Fightnews has learned exclusively that newly crowned WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo of Madrid, Spain has inked an exclusive multi year promotional contract with Sampson Boxing LLC. “I have full filled the dream of every boxer of becoming a world champion and now I plan on keeping my accomplishment of being involved with a figure like Sampson Lewkowicz who has guided great champions from the minimum division to the heavyweight division,” Campillo stated. A 10 to 1 underdog, Campillo while being traveled to Sunchales, Santa Fe, Argentina to meet champion Hugo Hernan Garay and captured the title via a twelve round majority decision making him the very first Spaniard to win a world title in the light heavyweight division. “I am very proud of Gabriel for going to Argentina and taking the belt home to Spain,” said Sampson Lewkowicz, president of Sampson Boxing. “He’s now ready to take on all the elite light heavyweight champions. There are many money fights out there for Gabriel and we are very excited to be guiding his career.” Lewkowicz said an announcement about Campillo’s first title defense would be forthcoming shortly.

Spadafora stops Bustos in six!

By Brady Crytzer at ringside
Photos: Gary Sarti

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Along the shores of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, PA, over 2,500 fans gathered at the Amphitheater at Station Square to witness the return of former IBF world lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (42-0-1) as he defeated the durable Argentinean Ivan Bustos (27-13-3) via TKO in the sixth round of a scheduled eight round jr. welterweight attraction. (more…)

Klitschko-Valuev Update!

Bernd Bönte, the managing director of Klitschko Management Group, has commented on reports that WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko could be facing WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in a heavyweight unification fight later this year. “We are at the moment not interested in a fight against Valuev,” Bönte said via email. “Vitali has other options which make more sense and are more intersting for the fans and the media (eg.Haye, Arreola). Valuev had the chance to fight Wladimir last weekend but he declined contrary to Chagaev. Should Valuev beat Ruiz in his mandatory we can maybe think about a fight with Wladimir or Vitali beginning of next year. And the WBA title is not a big deal anymore, because Wladimir beat the WBA champion in recess Chagaev by knockout and Chagaev had beaten Valuev. The win of the Ring Magazine championship belt means way way more to us!”

Bradley-Campbell quotes!

Unbeaten WBO 140-pound champion Timothy “Desert Storm’’ Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) of North Palm Springs, Calif., and challenger and former unified lightweight belt holder Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) participated in the second of back-to-back press conferences on Wednesday to discuss their eagerly awaited showdown on Saturday, Aug. 1, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). (more…)

K-9 likes being the underdog!

By Rick Scharmberg

“The Contender” Season 2 star Cornelius Bundrage (29-4, 17 KOs) returns to the ring this Saturday to face unbeaten Yuri Foreman (27-0, 8 KOs) in an IBF junior middleweight title eliminator at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Bundrage – ranked #2 in the IBF – and Foreman – ranked #3 in the IBF – will battle for the vacant number one spot and a mandatory shot at champion Cory Spinks.(More)

Kato defeats Kumano!

By Joe Koizumi

Japanese top ranked lightweight Yoshitaka Kato (17-2-1, 5 KOs), 135, a short and tough John Brown stylist, eked out a majority decision (78-75, 77-75 and 77-77) over JBC#8 Kazuyoshi Kumano (22-8, 5 KOs), 135, over eight give-and-take rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Kato displayed his trademark left hooks to take the initiative in the first half, almost stunning the taller and durable Kumano in the fourth. Kato’s lack of defense made him a stationary target of Kumano’s retaliation in later rounds. Kato wishes to avenge his previous defeat by Ryuji Migaki, current national 135-pound champ, in a rematch with his belt at stake, but had better improve his defensive skills. Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.

Weights from Panama!

Reynaldo Frutos 111 vs Milton Marin 108
Edgar Ayarza 102 vs Julio Canastuj 105
Euribiades Villar 116 vs Wilfredo Gonzalez 116
Luca Giacon 137 vs Miguel Martinez 140
Julio Escudero 115 vs Javier Carpintero 115
Adir Sanchez 132 vs Gilberto Armuelles 131
Venue: Fantastic Casino La Doña, Panama
Promoter: Héctor Villarreal/Premium Boxing Promotions
Free admission. Fights start at 8pm

Adamek prepares for Gunn!

Quotes and training shots of Tomasz Adamek by award-winning photographer Tom Casino: Click here

Weights from New Jersey!

Mike Arnaoutis 141.5 vs Doel Carrasquillo 143.5
Bobby Rooney 173.5 vs Brian Bernard 173
Jason Escalera 168.5 vs Joe Park 173
Chris Murphy 152 vs La-Take Williams 154
Chris Green 134 vs Mondre Pope 135.5
Patrick Farrell 197 vs Kenneth Farr 201
Venue: Schuetzen Park, North Bergen, New Jersey
Promoter: Pound For Pound Promotions

Bradley-Campbell: first pix!

Photos: Big Joe Miranda

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First images from todays press conference featuring WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) and ex-lightweight champion Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) at the press conference today in Pasadena, Calif. Bradley-Campbell will be live on SHOWTIME Aug 1st beginning at 9 P.M. ET/PT. (delayed on the West Coast)

Prospects at Desert Diamond!

Rising stars Erislandy Lara and Deontay Wilder, along with top prospects Seth Mitchell, Hylon Williams, Jermell Charlo, and Keith Thurman, will look to keep their unbeaten records intact this Friday night when they step into the ring at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona as part of a stacked undercard to the ESPN “Friday Night Fights” main event between Daniel Jacobs and George Walton. In the televised co-feature, Guantanamo, Cuba’s Erislandy Lara takes on Gulfport, Mississippi’s Willie Lee in a junior middleweight eight rounder, and opening the ESPN portion of the show is a heavyweight four rounder between Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder and Lexington, Tennessee’s Kelsey Arnold. (more…)

Brothers Boxing on Same Card!

Troy’s Miller Brothers, the exciting combination of heavyweight Shannon and former All-American and light heavyweight Shawn, will box together on the same card for the first time at Pugnacious Promotions’ annual “Night of Future Champions” summer boxing event at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Friday, July 31st. The fights will be featured on the annual card showcasing young boxing prospects during the first weekend of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Springs’ historic track. Shannon Miller faces Plainfield, N.J. veteran Terrell Nelson (8-7, 6 KOs) and Shawn Miller takes on Valentine Fortenelly (0-3), Atlanta, Ga. New York State Heavyweight Champion Darrel Madison (13-1, 3 KOs), Central Islip, will defend his title against Newburgh’s Nagy Aguilera (13-1, 8 KOs) in the card’s main event. (more…)

Latin Fury 9 presser!

By Lee Bates
Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

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WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel ‘Juanma’ Lopez of Puerto Rico (25-0, 23 KOs) and his next challenger Olivier Lontchi of Canada (18-0-2, 8 KOs) faced off today at their press conference at BB King’s restaraunt in Manhattan, New York. Top Rank & PR Best Boxing (Ivan & Peter Rivera) are promoting Lopez who will be headlining his first pay-per-view this Saturday June 27th at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Both fighters are extremely confident.
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Lopez: “I hope Lontchi has prepared well for this fight. I myself am well prepared. I’m going win and I’m going win by knockout.”
Lontchi: “I’m very aware that this is going to be a very hard fight. However, I know what I have to do to win the title on Saturday.”
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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Caesars Atlantic City, “Latin Fury 9″ will be televiserd live on pay-per-view from the Adrian Phillips Ballroom, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT. Tickets are priced at $200, $100 and $50 and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office or Ticketmaster. The pay-per-view telecast has a suggested retail price of $39.95 and will be available in HDTV for those viewers who can receive HD. For “Latin Fury 9″ fight week updates, log on to www.toprank.com.

Tough test for Joyi!

By Ron Jackson

South Africa’s Nkosinathi Joyi faces the toughest fight of his career when he meets Filipino Florante Condes in an IBF mini flyweight title eliminator at the Orient Theatre in East London on Friday night. The fight will be presented by Branco Sports Productions. Joyi (19-0, 15 KOs) who fights from the southpaw stance is ranked at the number three in the latest IBF rankings (there are no fighters ranked at one and two in terms of the IBF policy) is the current IBO strawweight champion, but will have to relinquish the belt the moment he steps into the ring with Condes (23-4-1, 20 KOs) who is ranked at number four by the IBF. (more…)

Molitor-Ruiz presser!

Former IBF junior featherweight world champion, “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor (28-1, 11 KOs) and Mexico’s Heriberto Ruiz (41-7-2, 23 KOs) met with the media Wednesday for the final time prior to their IBF eliminator for the number two position on Friday night, in the Main Event of Rumble at Rama VIII, set for Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario. Molitor, who is looking to put his last fight, a fourth round TKO loss to Panamanian Celestino Caballero, behind him, stated categorically that fans should expect to see the fighter that defended the IBF world title five times, and not the man who lost it to Caballero. (more…)