GIANT NABF Convention Update!

By Boxing Bob Newman
Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

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The 41st annual NABF convention got underway Thursday morning in scenic Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The beautiful RIU Palace de las Americas will be the host hotel for the meetings and officer elections, while the first ever Continental Congress, comprising thirty seven member nations will take place simultaneously. Finally, a block buster fight card featuring two NABF fights, and three former world champions will cap off the convention on Saturday, June 6th. The locale for the show will be the exotic nature preserve of Xcaret about an hour outside of Cancun. (more…)

Invincibles 4 in Bucharest!

By: Boxing Bob Newman
Gankor Promotions of Romania is presenting “Invincibles 4” at the Sala Rapid in Bucharest, Romania, tonight. The main event will pit local hero Ionut “Jo Jo Dan” Ion against Argentina’s Sergio Gomez over 12 rounds for Ion’s WBC Continental Americas and NABA titles at 140 lbs. Already ranked WBC #5, WBA #7 and IBF #11, “Jo Jo Dan” looks to improve his rankings while extending his unbeaten streak which currently stands at 24-0, 13 KOs. Says Gankor’s Chris Ganescu, “When our fighters step into the ring, I want them to feel invincible, that’s why we’ve been naming our series of shows ‘Invincibles.’” Rounding out the card are fellow undefeated Romanian Viorel Simion, 10-0 against Kenya’s David Kiilu for the WBC Mediterranean title at featherweight, Romania’s former Junior amateur world champion in 2003, Bogdan Dinu takes on Bulgaria’s Nikolay Marinov in a scheduled four rounder at heavy and undefeated Romanian Lucian Bot against Ivor Marinchev, also at heavy.

Weights from Westbury, NY!

Polish power puncher Pawel “Raging Bull”Wolak (23-1, 16 KOs) battles Jamaica’s Vinroy Barrett (22-7, 11 KOs) in the main event of tonight’s “Broadway Boxing” event at the Capital One Bank Theater at Westbury (formerly the Westbury Music Fair) in Long Island, NY. The card also features undefeated light heavyweight Will Rosinsky (7-0, 6 KOs), international up-and-comers lightweight Steve Ormond (3-0, 1 KO) of Ireland and jr middleweight Lambros Karalides (2-0, 2 KOs) of Cyprus, plus a lot of fan favorites from the New York City area. Aside from the action-packed fight card, the event also carries forward the promise of giving back to those who serve the community of Long Island. Promoters Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment and Joe Winters of Winters Boxing have made tickets available to the members of the Long Island Fire Department, the Long Island Police Department, as well as to returning Long Island Vets and their families. “I want to share that with all the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for those of us fortunate enough to live on Long Island,” said Winters. For information regarding the tickets made available to the PD, FD and the returning Vets, please contact Jules Feiler at (917) 573-0562 or call DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577.
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Pawel Wolak 154.6 vs Vinroy Barrett 154
Mike Ruiz 153 vs Chris Gray 153.8
Will Rosinsky 172 vs Alex Mancera 171
Steve Ormond 135 vs Sergi Ganjalashvilli 134
Henry White 141.5 vs Chris Algieri 143
Kasim Howard 218 vs Zack Page 200.2
Dameon Marshall 171 vs Brian Hart 170.2
Denis Douglin 160.2 vs Vernon Richardson 160.4
Lambros Karaolides 154.5 vs Troy Nelson 157

Wedding Bells for Daddono!

Former amateur boxer, professional corner man, manager, promoter and currently International Boxing Organization Chairman, John W. Daddono puts his bachelor days behind him as he will officially tie the knot on June 6th in West Palm Beach Florida when he exchanges rings with his fiancé Stefanie Ann Crisuolo.

Tszyu Cup results!

By Alexey Uralets (ringside) and Alexey Sukachev

The second stage of the annual International Kostya Tszyu Cup was held Saturday at the Ice Palace of Tyumen, Russia. The show was promoted by Kira Plotnikova, the pairs were rendered by Stanislav Bukhlov, and the living legend himself found a time to visit the city and open the tournament himself. In what was destined to be a special attraction, light welterweight prospect and former amateur standout ‘King’ Khabib Allakhverdiev (10-0, 5 KOs) looked spectacular in the fifth-round stoppage of Uzbek Abdulaziz Matazimov (8-2, 3 KOs). The first three rounds were pretty even with Allakhverdiev using his sharp jab to constantly bother his opponent and the Uzbek fighter countering him well. However, in the fourth round ‘King’ Khabib increased the tempo and dropped Matazimov at the end of the round. Allakhverdiev decked his opponent again in round five and after another blistering series the referee stopped the one-sided contest. (more…)

Full Kiev Report!

By Anton Gorunov (at ringside) and Alexey Sukachev

Russian junior middleweight Zaurbek Baysangurov (now 21-1 with 16 KOs) scored his second consecutive first-round blowout this past Saturday night at Kiev’s Palace of Sports. In the main event of the show, promoted by the K2 East promotional group, Baysangurov, 24, decked his Italian opponent Christian De Martinis (22-3, 10 KOs) first with a body-punch and then with a wild left hook to the head before knocking him down again after a big right hand, which forced referee to stop the contest without a count. Baysangurov seized the vacant WBA Intercontinental title in the process. Next for the Chechen native is August showdown against the Contender II victor Grady Brewer (25-11, 14 KOs) for the vacant IBO belt in Pala, California. (more…)

Sweet Pea to train Spadafora!

Promoter Michael Acri announced today that four-division world champion and Hall of Fame inductee Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker is the new chief trainer for undefeated former IBF lightweight champion Paul “The Pittsburgh Kid” Spadafora as he prepares for his June 24 homecoming at Pittsburgh’s Amphitheatre at Station Square. Spadafora (41-0-1), will face Ivan Bustos (27-12-3) in a ten-round junior welterweight bout.

Holm, Yankovich weigh in

Weights by Chris Cozzone

From the Isleta Resort & Casino south of Albuquerque, N.M., for tomorrow night’s “Bombshells” card promoted by Fresquez Productions:

Holly Holm 144.5 vs. Duda Yankovich 139.25
* For the WIBA welterweight title
Mike Alderete 192.25 vs. Theo Kruger 195.5
Angelica Chavez 105.25 vs. Gloria Salas 106.25
Michael Brooks 177 vs. Brandon Singleton 172.25
Antonio Zamora 184.5 vs. Dominic Perea 178.5
Israel Rodriguez 157 vs. David Quesada 170.5*
** The 13 1/2 pound weight difference was waived by Rodriguez’ camp.

For photos and more info, visit www.NewMexicoBoxing.com

Popoca-Alatorre meet June 26!

Headlining Dominic Pesoli’s next 8 Count Productions on June 26th at the Chicago’s UIC Pavilion is a junior welterweight showdown between undefeated local fan favorite Ivan Popoca (10-0-1, 7 KOs) and Hector Alatorre (15-7, 5 KOs). The eight round co-feature is a super middleweight title fight between Andrzej Fonfara (12-2, 3 KOs) and Skyler Thompson (11-3, 9 KOs). Tickets start at $31, call 312-226-5800.

Tickets on sale for Brinkley-Paschall

Tickets are on sale for the ten round light heavyweight showdown between The Fighting Pride of Northern Nevada, Jesse Brinkley and Baltimore’s Mike Paschall set for Friday, July 10th at The Reno Events Center, it was announced today by Reno’s “Let Get It On” Promotions and Las Vegas based TKO BOXING Promotions . . . (more…)

Haye camp wants postponement!

Despite yesterday’s announcement that the June 20th heavyweight championship bout between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye has been called off due to an injury Haye suffered during training camp, the Haye Camp is seeking a postponement rather than a cancellation. “Unfortunately David has sustained a back injury which means he is unable to continue training for a short period,” said Adam Booth, Haye’s trainer and manager. “We’re heading back to the UK for some aggressive physiotherapy. It looks like there will be only a three week delay from the original fight date with respect to David’s readiness, which hopefully means that Wladimir will only postpone the fight, rather than cancel it.”

Cruz-Solis presser!

Photo: Zanfer Boxing

IBF featherweight champion Cristobal Cruz (38-11-1, 23 KOs) is training for his much anticipated rematch against Jorge Solis (37-1-2, 27 KOs) on June 27th at the 5,500-seat El Palenque in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.“It will be a hard fight and it has cost me much sacrifice,” said Cruz at the kick-off press conference. “Solis defeated me once by unanimous decision, but I am a world champion now and much stronger than before. In addition, I will be in my house.” Solis responded, “It will be a hard fight, but I am going to repeat what I did to Cruz in our last fight. I will prepare myself very well to go to win at the champion’s hometown.” The undercard will include welterweight Gabriel Martinez, (21-1-1, 13KOs) vs Michel Rosales, (19-3, 17KOs) and Arturo Santos Reyes, the 2008 Mexican Olympic team representative.

Weights from Bucharest, Romania!

Photo: Gankor Promotions

Jo Jo Dan 139.3 vs Walter Sergio Gomez 138.5
Viorel Simion 125.4 vs David Kiilu 125.5
Bogdan Dinu 234.9 vs Nikolay Marinov 213.4
Lucian Bot 221.1 vs Ivor Marinchev 211.7
Corina Carlescu 113.8 vs Svetomira Crystova 121.8
promoter: Gankor Promotions

Frankel gets ten years

By Chris Morris / Rocky Mountain Boxing

Lightweight ‘Red Hot’ Rob Frankel (27-9-1, 4 KOs), was just sentenced in Denver County Court to ten years in prison after a plea bargain involving domestic abuse charges against his wife, who was several months pregnant at the time. Frankel was originally charged with false imprisonment, kidnapping, child abuse and second degree assault. He plead guilty to second degree assault and kidnapping. This was his third domestic charge with his wife with whom he has two children. Frankel was on a six-fight winning streak, including wins over Bobby Pacquiao and Ricardo Dominguez. He recently left his long time trainer and promoter Steve Mestas and Airtight Boxing to pursue opportunities with Delgado Promotions where he was being trained by Mike Alvarado’s trainer Shann Villhauer. Those opportunities are now put on hold, indefinitely.

Calzaghe sues Warren!

Joe Calzaghe’s fight with promoter Frank Warren has entered the next round. The undefeated former world champion boxer won a judgment against Warren’s Sports Network earlier this year for almost £2 million, however Calzaghe has yet to see a penny of the money awarded to him by the High Court. Yesterday Calzaghe commenced legal proceedings against Warren personally, claiming that Warren had conspired to deprive him of his money, had conspired to use unlawful means to damage him and had knowingly assisted in a breach of trust or fiduciary duty by Sports Network. Calzaghe also lodged a complaint to the British Boxing Board of Control alleging misconduct by Warren in relation to the non-payment and the lengths to which Calzaghe says Warren has gone to attempt to ensure that he will never be paid. Calzaghe seeks compensation from Warren for the amount of money due to him and is asking the Board to withdraw or suspend Warren’s promoter’s license until such time as that compensation has been paid. “I’m sickened by the way I’ve been treated,” said Calzaghe. “If Warren thinks I’ll walk away from this, after putting myself and my career record at risk in the ring, he’s mistaken. I’ll pursue him all the way until justice is done.”

Klitschko vs Chagaev?

WBA heavyweight champion (in recess) Ruslan Chagaev could be the new challenger for IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. “Haye is still a possibility but our first priority is Chagaev,” Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente told BBC. Although a number of fighters have expressed interest in stepping in for the injured Haye, Boente says, “At the moment we are only interested in Chagaev, or Haye on June 20 or three weeks later. I hope we will know what we are doing in the next three days.”

Rachman won’t retire, wants rematch!

Photo: Rachman Management

By Jeff Pamungkas

Former IBF strawweight champion Muhammad Rachman (37) says he won’t retire because he feels he still has better skill and stamina than the younger fighters. “If I weren’t hurt, I could knockout Oleydong (Sithsamarchai),” said Rachman, who suffered severe bleeding due to cuts caused by headbutts in rounds three, seven and eleven. “No, I’m still curious to be a world champion once again. I hurt Oleydong in round ten, so I feel I’m still capable of being a world champion again,” replied Rachman when asked about his retirement. “The cut in round eleven is too deep, so it was stopped and went to the scorecards, although I think Oleydong shall be disqualified because he did it on purpose,” added Martinez dos Santos, Rachman’s manager. Team Rachman is now studying how to conduct a rematch, if possible, in Indonesia in Rachman’s homeland.

Darchinyan: I want more titles!

Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

IBF/WBA/WBC super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs) is looking forward to winning the IBF bantamweight title from Joseph Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) when they clash on July 11 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. Darchinyan said. ” Maybe I stay for a year at bantamweight and unify the titles then move up a division – I want to win more world titles. People are talking because I am moving up to bantamweight that my power isn’t going to be enough but that is why I want to go to America and be more focused on my training and show the world my power is more than enough at bantamweight. Everyone knows I have a lot of power in my left. Now with all my sparring – I am more focused on my right and I can feel my right hand is very powerful now, too, and my sparring partners have told me this. My preparation has been very good and there is five and half weeks to go.” Darchinyan will be sparring with WBA featherweight champion Chris John while he is in the USA. If Darchinyan is successful in winning the bantamweight championship he will equal Jeff Fenech as Australia’s three divisional world champion. He has already equalled Kostya Tszyu by holding all the major body belts of IBF/WBC/WBA. Darchinyan is managed by Elias Nasser and promoted by Gary Shaw.

Duda looks like a lady

Story by Chris Cozzone

You’ll get no promises of victory, no proclamations of an upset, from undefeated Duda Yankovich. What you will get, she promises, is a good fight.

On Saturday night, the former 140-pound champion – who is still 140 pounds despite a 147-pound weight limit – will give up weight, height, reach, experience and hometown advantage to six-time world champion Holly Holm . . . Click here for more

Adamek-Gunn presser!

Photos: Marty Rosengarten / RingsidePhotos.com

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Main Events hosted a press conference on Wednesday at the Riverside Manor in Paterson, NJ to kickoff the July 11th showdown between IBF cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (37-1, 25 KOs) against Bobby Gunn (21-3-1, 18 KOs). The card will be at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. “Every fight is important to me,” said Adamek. “I look forward to fighting at Prudential Center on July 11th.” (more…)

Michigan Boxing Beat!

By Bob Ryder

As the weather is heating up in the Great Lakes state so is the boxing game. Within a six week time frame, fans will be treated to no less than five pro shows. Two of the cards will take place in the Detroit area (June 13 and July 17), two have landed in Grand Rapids (June 26 and July 11) and Bay City will host an event on July 25. (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 guests are Juan Diaz and Robert Guerrero. 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.

“Night of Prospects” weights

It is the “Night of Prospects” as promoter Bobby DePhilippis of “Bobby D Presents” showcases some of the best prospects in the San Diego area this Thursday at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. “I am happy to feature these young fighters who have only a few fights or that are making their pro debut,” said DePhilippis. “Promotes need to help these kids get to the next level and the fans want to see the local fighters go from prospect to champion!” Headlining the “Night of Prospects” is local jr welterweight knockout artist Antonio Orozco (2-0, 2 KOs) against Antonio Soria (2-4, 2 KOs) and in a special feature attraction, Amaris “La Reina” Quintana (1-0) battles Melissa McMorrow (3-1) in flyweight contest. Four more bouts with top local prospects are scheduled. Tickets are available at the Four Points Sheraton gift store (858-277-8888). Doors open at 6pm and the first bout is at 7:30pm. Below are the official weights for the “Night of Prospects” participants:
Antonio Orozco 142 vs. Antonio Soria 142
Amaris Quintana 107 vs. Melissa McMorrow 108
Mario Angeles 149.50 vs. Steven Macomber 152
Jesse Isais 141.50 vs. Alan Sanchez 143
Pablo Armenta 127 vs. Danny Pantoja 127
Ryan Davis 184 vs. Lamont Williams 185

“Brawl At The Hall” on June 12th!

Pro boxing returns June 12 to Plymouth as Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) presents a rare pro-am card, “Brawl At The Hall,” at historic Plymouth Memorial Hall. “Brawl At The Hall” is the second of four shows in “The Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor Fight Series,” scheduled in 2009 at Plymouth Memorial Hall and exclusively promoted by CES. Iraqi War veteran Chris Traietti (7-2, 4 KOs), a light heavyweight from Quincy, is in the 6-round main event. Also in action, U.S. Navy veteran and Plymouth firefighter, light heavyweight Benny “The Hornet” Lescarbeau (3-0, 3 KOs), is back fighting in front of his hometown fans in a four round contest. (more…)

Klitschko targets Arreola!

By Alexey Potapov

UPDATE: Chris Arreloa’s promoter Dan Goossen has rejected any possibility of Arreola stepping in for injured David Haye. “Chris isn’t in the type of shape you need to be for fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world,” he told the LA Times. “One thing you don’t do with elite athletes is give them a short window to prepare.”
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IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will fight on June 20th at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. While various heavyweight contenders hope to step in to replace Davis Haye, Wlad has already made it clear that he wants Chris Arreola. “If the fight against David Haye doesn’t take place, I’ll fight against Chris Arreola,” Wlad said on the Alexey Potapov Boxing Diary published on the Russian site Sports.ru.

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Solis wants Wlad also!

After David Haye had to pull out of his showdown with IBF/WBO/IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko due to a hand injury ARENA’s heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis offers to step in for the challenger right away. “I am ready to go”, states Solis. “If Wladimir Klitschko dares to accept me as opponent I promise to expose him and strip his championship belts from him.” The three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist has had an outstanding amateur career winning 227 of his 241 amateur fights. Since turning pro for German based promoter Ahmet Öner in April 2007 (knocking out then reigning German champion Andreas Sidon in one round) “La Sombra” scored 13 wins in as many pro-fights including 9 kos. In his last outing in January 9th reigning WBC international champion Solis gave his US debut on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights outclassing and stopping “Big Man” Kevin Burnett.

Johnson ready to step in!

Undefeated and world ranked heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) has one question for The Klitschko Management Group, “What time does the next flight to Germany leave?” Johnson, coming off an impressive TKO victory over undefeated US Olympic Team Captain Devin Vargas on May 15th looks to prove he is the leading US heavyweight contender and next heavyweight champion. “It’s as simple as picking up the phone and calling Star Boxing,” Johnson stated after learning that David Haye pulled out of his June 20th match with Wladimir Klitschko. “I’m ready to show the entire world what boxing experts already know, the next heavyweight champion of the world is from the United States and his name is Kevin Johnson.”

Ross “The Boss” Thompson Update!

By Bob Caico

Ross “The Boss” Thompson (27-13-2) was released from a Buffalo hospital today two days after being stabbed and shot outside a Buffalo, NY bar. Thompson claims there were up to 30 people who jumped him for no reason. “I got stabbed ten times and I never felt myself getting stabbed. I guess my adrenaline was so high just from, you know, fighting,” Thompson told WKBW television news. Thompson was scheduled to fight Chris Henry on June 4th for the NABA light heavyweight title but that was called off after Henry was arrested last week. Thompson expects to be out for four weeks and plans on continuing his career.

One Punch Productions Returns!

After a one-year hiatus, One Punch Productions is bringing their successful “Ballroom Brawl” series back to the Tampa Bay area. The event is set for Saturday July 25, and will be the first ever boxing event held at the luxurious waterfront Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The event is being co-promoted by Voodoo Management, the management firm founded by former unified lightweight champion and current top jr. welterweight contender Nate Campbell. The main event of the evening will feature rising undefeated Tampa based cruiserweight contender Nick “The Assassin” Iannuzzi (11-0, 7 KOs). (more…)