Boxing back in Denver!

By Chris Morris / Rocky Mountain Boxing

Promoter Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith and Poor Boys Pro Boxing are making a tradition of the beloved outdoor ‘Battle Under The Stars’ fight card at the Softball Country Arena in Denver, Colorado. This year’s show will be held at the Softball Country Arena on Saturday with the first bell at 7pm sharp. The card will see three six rounders featuring some of Colorado’s finest. (more…)

Q&A: Xiong Zhaozhong!

Photo: Zovi Boxing Team

By Robert Coster

Tomorrow night, WBC #10 Super-Flyweight contender, Xiong Zhaozhong of China will be making history. Xiong will be the first Chinese boxer to challenge for a world title, a daunting task since he will be facing the formidable reigning WBC champion Daisuke Naito who is bigger, taller and much more experienced. The bout is not taking place in Shanghai as originally planned but in Tokyo, so the 26-year-old challenger will also not be able to count on the support of the crowd. But a very determined Xiong is planning to give it his all, hoping to upset the overwhelmingly favored champion. Fightnews was able to reach Xiong on the eve of the biggest day of his life and short (3 years) boxing career. (more…)

IBF/USBA Convention to kick-off!

Marian Muhammad with super featherweights fighting for IBF Latino Junior title Oliver Flores (left) and Gabriel Dorado (right).

Today at a press conference, International Boxing Federation President Marian W. Muhammad and the organization were welcomed to Panama City, Panama, the site for the organization’s 26th Annual convention. The press conference highlighted a fight card promoted by U.S.-based group Universal Boxing Promotions and will feature two IBF Latino Junior title fights. Ms. Muhammad was thanked by the promoter, Porfirio Betegon, and Panamanian Boxing Commissioner Miguel Prado for the sanctioning body’s support of boxing in Panama. Muhammad expressed, “We are happy to be here and more importantly we want to support the talented fighters that the other organizations are not able to.” The IBF Convention officially begins Tuesday, May 26, 2009 and concludes on Sunday, May 31. Several well-known boxing personalities are scheduled to attend. More to come.

Mares joins Espinoza!

World ranked contender Abner Mares (18-0, 11 KOs) has joined forces with award winning manager Frank Espinoza. The 23-year-old Mares, promoted throughout his career by Golden Boy Promotions, is currently world ranked #4 by the IBF and WBO. The 2004 Mexican Olympian made his return from a detached retina injury after an almost one year layoff by stopping Jonathan Perez in the sixth round in Las Vegas on May 2nd. He is tentatively scheduled to return to action on the July 18th undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. /Juan Manuel Marquez event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Espinoza is best known for his outstanding handling of the career of junior featherweight world champion and “Pound for Pound” superstar Israel Vazquez, who incidentally will be announcing his future plans later this week.

Q&A: Ruslan Chagaev!

Photo: Universum Box-Promotion

WBA heavyweight champion (in recess) Ruslan Chagaev has arrived in Helsinki, Finland for Saturday’s showdown with Nikolai Valuev. In an interview with boxing.de, the unbeaten Chagaev spoke about fighting in Helsinki, his preparations, his achilles tendon injury, Valuev reclaiming the WBA belt in his absence, and much more. (more…)

Minto-Seldon for NABO Belt!

Photo: Team Minto

WBO#9 Heavyweight Brian “The Beast” Minto (33-2) will face former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon (40-7) for the interim WBO NABO heavyweight title on Friday August 14th at Pullman Park in Butler, Pennsylvania. A winner of six straight, WBA#15 Minto will also be putting his WBA Fedecentro title on the line. Seldon, a winner of two straight and five of his last six, boasts 36 knockouts in his 40 professional wins. The show will mark the second appearance by Minto at the historic Pullman Park baseball stadium. Last year, Minto Ko’d John Poore (20-2) on ESPN2′s Wednesday Night Fights before thousands of spectators. Promoted by Beatdown Promotions in association with Brian Minto Fighting, the 8 bout card will begin at 7pm. Tickets for the event are priced at $25 (general admission), $35 (box reserved) and $50 (ringside) and available beginning on June 1st at Pullman Park or by calling (724) 287-6797.

Green vs Jones Jr?

Photo: Craig Watt

By Craig Watt

There is a growing feeling in Australia that potentially the biggest fight in Australian boxing history is heading to the “rocks” as both former WBA light-heavyweight champion Danny Green (26-3, 23 KO’s) and former WBA super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine (35-3, 23 KO’s) cannot agree the detail over weight and venue for their proposed re-match. Green now looks likely to try and secure a fight at 175 pounds with American Roy Jones Jnr, later in 2009 and is confident a match can be made. It was confirmed in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday that Danny Green and his team are now looking to a potential match with Roy Jones Jnr as a preferred option, rather than a re-match with his arch rival Mundine. Green stated, “We’ve been in negotiations with Roy and his management team for a while and it looks promising.” (more…)

Mundine predicts stoppage win!

By Craig Watt

Fomer two-time WBA super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine (35-3, 23 KO’s) was in confident mood at the final press conference in Brisbane today for the highly anticipated IBO middleweight title fight with unbeaten champion Daniel Geale (21-0, 13 KO’s) to be held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday. This fight is the biggest bout in Australian boxing in 2009 so far and pitches together two genuine world ranked middleweights with Mundine currently ranked in the mandatory WBA#1 position for Felix Sturm’s title and Geale holding the IBO crown. Mundine is well known for his outspoken views and controversial comments in his build up to most fights, but surprisingly today he was respectful, yet confident. He stated, “I respect him as a fighter. In his career he hasn’t lost many rounds, let alone fights. Daniel will beat most fighters and most contenders but he won’t beat me.” (more…)

Fans Judge Battle In The Ballroom!

Continuing to create new and novel promotions to involve the fight fans, Battle In The Ballroom promoter Roy Englebrecht announced today, that fans attending all future Irvine Marriott Battle In The Ballroom boxing and mixed martial arts shows will have a chance to judge the winner of each bout, and that the winning fighter as selected by the fans will receive a cash bonus right on the spot. Here’s how this “Fans Be The Judge” promotion will work. Immediately following the end of each bout that goes the distance, and while the official scorecards are being tabulated, the ring announcer will go to each corner and will ask all fans in attendance to vote by their applause and cheers who they think won the bout. The fighter that gets the biggest cheer is immediately presented with a $100 bill paid right in their corner. Following the awarding of the $100 to the “Fans Be The Judge” winner, the scorecards will be read and the official winner announced. (more…)

ESPN2 FNF Photo Gallery

Ringside Report by Jason Kotar
Photography by Javiel Centeno

Welterweight Antwone Smith (16-1-1, 8 KOs) scored an impressive unanimous decision over a tough Richard Gutierrez (24-3, 14 KOs) in the main event of last week’s ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. In his highly anticipated professional debut, two-time Olympic gold medalist and former Cuban national team captain Guillermo Rigondeaux (1-0, 1 KO) scored a TKO over Juan Noriego (3-3, 3 KOs) in a junior bantamweight encounter. Click here to read the full reports and view the dynamite photos!

Sturm, Dimitrenko at Formula 1!

Photo: Jürgen Tap

WBA middleweight world champion Felix Sturm and heavyweight contender Alexander Dimitrenko are currently on promotional tour in Monaco at the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo. The two boxers were right in the middle of the action at the invitation of Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and the Red Bull F1 team. Sturm will defend his belt against European champion Khoren Gevor on July 11th in the new Ring Arena on the eve of the Formula 1 race at the Nürburgring Raceway. “Crazy, the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind. The people here get close to the event like nowhere else. I’ve also found that among the motor sport fans, many are also boxing fans. Many want to come to my fight at the Nürburgring and have asked for tickets. That will be a great event.” Dimitrenko, who faces Eddie Chambers on July 4th in Hamburg stated, “It’s unbelievable how loud the Formula 1 is …. on Monday it’s back to the heavy bag and weights instead of the sun and fun. But that’s the way it must be sometimes.”

Salita still unbeaten!

Unbeaten super lightweight Dmitriy Salita (30-0-1, 16 KOs) easily outpointed veteran Raul Munoz (20-12-1, 15 KOs) over ten rounds on Sunday night in at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nevada. Scores were 100-90, 100-90, 99-91. With the win, Salita maintained his status as the WBA’s #1 challenger in line to face the winner of the June 27 clash between WBA world champion Andreas Kotelnik and Amir Khan.

Burgos headlines June 12!

Unbeaten WBC #3 featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos (21-0, 15 KOs) takes on Vyacheslav Gusev (16-1, 3 KOs) on June 12th in the main event at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. The bout will be for the WBC CABOFE title. Burgos is the nephew of former world champion Victor Burgos. In the co-main event, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (10-0, 5 KOs) returns to take on spoiler Luis Alfredo Lugo (10-8-1, 6 KOs) in a ten rounder for the WBC/USNBC welterweight crown. Also featured is featherweight Aaron Garcia (9-1, 2 KOs) against unbeaten Jesus “Pollo” Hernandez (8-0, 2 KOs). Garcia, a former amateur star who won the 2003 US amateur title and two National Golden Gloves championships. Tickets are $75, $45 and $30, call 714-935-0900.

Sinyabi wins in 98 seconds!

By Ron Jackson

In a complete mismatch South African junior featherweight champion Macbute Sinyabi smashed Derek Samuels from the Western Cape to defeat in 98 seconds of the first round at the Nasrec Indoor Arena near Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon. The 22-year-old Sinyabi (54.82kg) was just too big and strong for the smaller Samuels (55.16kg) as he attacked from the opening bell to land with stinging combinations to the head and body. Samuels, 22, never landed a punch on the champion as he was backed up and even turned his back on the champion to avoid the onslaught. After a series of clubbing rights to the head the outclassed Samuels fell to his knees and referee Wally Snowball waved the fight off without picking up the count. (more…)

Gonzalez-Nishioka report & gallery

Ringside report & photos by Chris Cozzone

One colossal punch, thrown with all the might of the Land of the Rising Sun, was enough to defeat, both, a former champion and a country, last night at the Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

Defending his WBC super bantamweight title on foreign turf, the Japanese champion, Toshiaki Nishioka, had no need of three Americano judges and ref in scoring the biggest win of his career-knocking out ex-bantam champ Jhonny Gonzalez, of Mexico City, in front of 12,523 suddenly-silent Mexicans . . . Click here for full story

GYM inks 2 Olympians!

Photo: Francois Couture

By Lee Bates reporting from Colombia

Promoter Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) has inked Olympians Eleider Alavarez (light heavyweight) and Oscar Rivas (heavyweight). Both fighters represented their country of Colombia in 2008. Former world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza, a native of Colombia, was a major factor in having the duo sign with GYM. (left to right: Oscar Rivas, Epifanio Mendoza, trainer Marc Ramsay, Eleider Alvarez)

Kickett, Asiku triumph!

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former world rated jr lightweight William Kickett (15-1, 5 KOs) easily outpointed Filipino Roel Mangan (13-11-1, 3 KOs) in a four round main event on Friday at the Wyong Leagues Club, Wyong, NSW, Australia. Kickett skillfully evaded his aggressive opponent and picked him off with accurate long range combinations. Scores 40-36, 40-36, 40-36.
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IBF #14 featherweight Jackson Asiku (25-3, 13 KOs) swapped bombs as he outscored jr welterweight Filipino Junmar Dulog (5-17-2) in all four action rounds of their contest. Scores 39-37, 39-37, 37-39. Asiku s coming off the biggest win of his career when he became the only boxer to KO former world champion Gairy St Clair who had been the distance with the great Deigo Corrales and Vivian Harris. (more…)

More Aussie Results!

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Australian welterweight champion Oyewale Omotoso (13-0, 11 KOs) knocked out Indonesian Darsim Nanggala (3-8-1) in 1:42 of round one at the Knox Netball Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on Friday. Omotoso is formerly of Nigeria where he established an outstanding amateur career. He has been based in Australia for several months under the expert guidance of respected Murray Thompson. In the ten round main supporting bout, super middleweight Luke Moloney (13-3) outpointed Amir Hossein Ranijar (3-11) in ten one sided rounds, 100-90, 100-90, 100-90. Female super bantamweight Susie Ramadan (9-0) won eight round decision over debutant Leanne Banham (0-1), 80-72, 79-73, 80-71. Middleweight Johannes Mwetupunga (5-2) stopped Andrew Gosden (4-4) in six rounds. Time was 2:46. Light heavyweight Manny Vlamis (4-1) stopped Andrew Banham (0-2) in two rounds. Time 1:21. Super flyweight Omari Kimweri (5-2) won a clear six round decision over Thai importation Thanupetch Singmanasak (0-1). Promoter Murray Thompson.
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Australian super middleweight Wade Foley (3-1-1, 1 KOs) scored the best win of his career when he was awarded a eight round split decision over the experienced William Hadlow (7-15-4) to capture the Queensland State 168 pound title at the Maroochydore Rugby Leagues Club, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia on Friday. Scores were 78-74, 80-74, 75-77. Lightweight Paul Fleming (3-0) was forced to go the distance for the first time in his professional career as he outpointed Flash Villacula (22-21-1) of the Philippines over six one sided rounds by scores of 60-54, 59-54, 59-54. Welterweight Brad Hemming (13-8-1, 5 KOs) stopped Mhelvin Hernandez (1-7) at 2:33 of round two.

Baff stops Tui!

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Former Australian amateur champion Daniel Baff (10-1-1, 9 KOs) scored a second round knockout over Simone Tui (1-1, 1 KO) in a scheduled ten round cruiserweight contest at the Vodafone Arena, Suva Fiji. The 6’2 Baff, who resides in Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia, is chasing a national title bout. In main support light heavyweight Sakeasi Dakua (25-11-3, 16 KOs) outpointed Pita Domoni (4-1, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. Also a jr middleweight bout between Tevita Vakalabure (14-8-1) and Joeli Naieca (7-3-7,6 KOs) was ruled a no contest at the end of round four. Middleweight Opeti Tagi (12-4, 6 KOs) outscored Saimoni Taudomo (1-4-1) over six rounds. Heavyweight Fatu Tuimanono (8-9-1, 7 KOs) knocked out Napoleon Thumoepeau (0-1) in round two.

Sosa-Melo on June 20!

By Robert Coster

In a mega-card at the World Trade Center in Veracruz, Mexico, WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (35-5, 19 KOs), boxing’s busiest titleholder, will make his ninth title defense against WBC #10 Carlos “Shanghai” Melo (19-8, 2 KOs) of Panama. Melo is a slick, dangerous technician with a deceiving record, having lost close fights to the best in the 105lb and 108lb divisions and never being stopped. As the charismatic and popular Sosa is planning to move up to the flyweight division, local favorite Adrian Hernandez and tough Sonny Boy Jaro of the Philippines will square off in a WBC light flyweight eliminator. In another important clash, local hero Tomas “Gusano” Rojas will battle against Thai import David Lookmachanak for the WBC Interim super flyweight title . Also fighting on the card will be former WBO bantamweight champion, Cruz Carbajal.

Nishioka kayos Gonzalez!

Ringside results and photos by Chris Cozzone

From the Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico: Defending his WBC super bantamweight belt, Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka (34-4-3, 21 KOs) hushed more than 12,000 screaming Mexican fans by knocking out former champ Jhonny Gonzalez (40-7, 34 KOs) in the third round. Gonzalez floored Nishioka with a big right hand late in round one. The two went at it cautiously in the second and, in the third, a huge straight left from the southpaw champion floored Gonzalez. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout at 1:20, when Gonzalez, unable to stand, struggled to get up at eight.

In the co-main, staging his long-awaited return, former champ Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KOs) scored a third round knockout of Colombian Jose Francisco Mendoza (21-3-2, 17 KOs). The end came at 2:20 of the third. Marquez showed a bit of rust, but a right hand staggered Mendoza early in the third. Another right hand floored him soon after and Referee Carlos Garcia stopped the fight when Mendoza got up on shaky legs.  

In other results: Javier Castro (20-2, 17 KOs) won an eight-round unanimous decision over Guadalupe Rosales (28-5, 16 KOs), scores of 78-74 twice and 77-76; Michael Medina (20-1-2, 16 KOs) TKO’d Bladimir Hernandez (15-2, 13 KOs) in the second round; Victor Zaleta (9-1, 5 KOs) won a ten-round unanimous decision over Javier Romano (8-3-1, 5 KOs); and Juan Carlos Salgado (20-0-1, 14 KOs) kayoed Angel Reyna (9-2-1, 4 KOs) in one. Look for a full ringside report and photo gallery sometime tomorrow.

WBC title fight moved to Japan!

By Joe Koizumi

Very astoundingly, only three days before, the WBC flyweight title bout was moved from China to Japan. Defending champ Daisuke Naito (34-2-3, 22 KOs), Japan, was slated to defend his belt against WBC#10 Xiong Zhao Zhong (12-1, 8 KOs), China, in Shanghai on Tuesday. But Japan’s Miyata Promotions finally realized that it would be impossible to have it as scheduled because of the local promoter’s failure to properly reserve the arena. Since this event is already scheduled to air on Japanese TBS Television, Hiroyuki Miyata, Naito’s manager/promoter, has urgently decided to move it to the Defi Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan, in order to keep the TV schedule. We have never heard such shameful confusion only prior to the schedule.

Erittu wins Italian title!

By Enrico “Erik” Crociati at ringside
Photos: Marco Chiesa

Click the photo to go to the next photo
Italian cruiserweight Salvatore Erittu (16-0, 6 KOs) won a convincing ten-round unanimous decision over co-challenger Cristian Dolzanelli (15-1-1, 10 KOs) last friday at Local Sport Hall in Rezzato, Italy. With the win Erittu won the Italian title at 200lbs. (more…)

Farley Wins!

By Jose E. Santiago

Friday night at the inaugural opening of “The Pit”, a venue owned and operated by Yahya McClain’s Absoloot Boxing/Promotions, Atlanta’s Will “Young Picasso” Farley (3-0 2KOs) remained undefeated as he was thrown in tough against cross town rival Jamar “Sandman” Saunders (2-3-1 1KO) from Lost Mountain GA in a 6 round Jr. Welterweight contest. (more…)

Same day weights from PA!

By Kurt Wolfheimer

Anthony Cusumano 138.5 vs Nathan Francis 135.5
Isaac Rodriguez 166.5 vs Jose Medina 170
Antonio Espinosa 131 vs Ron Boyd 136
Clinton Douglas 130.5 vs Jean Ramos 131.5
April Richards 154.5 vs Natoya Ervin 151.5
John Lennox 191.5 vs Reshawn Scott 183.5
Promoter: KEA Boxing Promotions
Venue: The Woodlands Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Ballroom Boxing returns June 18

Tickets are now on sale as Chet Koerner’s TKO BOXING Promotions and Scott Wagner’s Ballroom Boxing team up once again to present an evening of world class professional boxing on Thursday, June 18th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Baltimore . . . Click here for more

Sinyabi making first defense!

By Ron Jackson

Macbute Sinyabi makes the first defense of his South African junior featherweight title against Desmond Samuels from the Western Cape at the Nasrec Indoor Arena near Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon. The six-bout bill is presented by Patrick Molefe of Rainbow Promotions. (more…)