Q&A: Kevin Johnson!

Photo: Javiel Centeno

By Matt Richardson 

If talking was fighting, unbeaten heavyweight Kevin Johnson would be the undisputed champion. Johnson (21-0-1, 8 KO’s) is a brash and outspoken American heavyweight.  Fightnews had a chance to catch up with the loquacious fighter before his fight tonight on ESPN 2 against 2004 Olympic Team Captain (and unbeaten heavyweight) Devon Vargas.  Vargas was a last minute replacement for an injured Monte Barrett.  To hear what Johnson had to say about Vargas, Barrett, the current status of the heavyweight division and much more, just read on. (more…)

Weights from Atlantic City!

Kevin Johnson 246 vs. Devin Vargas 225.75
Jorge Teron 136 vs. Aldo Valtierra 135
Bruce Seldon 226 vs. Gabe Brown 359
Chuch Mussachio 177.5 vs. Carl Daniels 177.5
John Lennox 197 vs. Robert Brown 191
Tyyab Beale TBA vs. Kimani Cunningham 224
The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, in association with Harrah’s Resort. Tickets are $90 and $60 and can be purchased by at the Harrah’s Resort box office. ESPN2 will televise.

Ward-Miranda Presser!

Photos: Tom Casino/Showtime

2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward (18-0, 12 KOs) and Colombian knockout artist Edison Miranda (32-3, 28 KOs), who collide this Saturday, May 16, in the main event on a special primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., participated in their final media press conference in Oakland on Thursday. The 12-rounder between the unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Ward and the hard-hitting Miranda highlight the biggest fight card in the Bay Area in years. (more…)

Sulaiman in Far East!

World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman has travelled to Korea to oversee the preparations and facilities for the 47th annual WBC world convention that will be held later this year in Jeju, South Korea. He will also bring to a close a national boxing competition there featuring boxers in four and six-round fights. The WBC has been involved in tournaments like this around the world to find boxing’s new idols, as many of boxing’s great idols are gone or are about to be. (more…)

Gonzalez: ‘Don’t run, Nishioka!’

After hearing that WBC Superbantam Champ Toshiaki Nishioka (33-4-3, 20 KOs), of Japan, holds no fear in coming into Mexico May 23 to face Jhonny Gonzalez (40-6, 34 KOs), the challenger had a thing or two to say in retaliation. “He can say what he wants,” Gonzalez said today. “It is going to be me who is conqueror on May 23. I will be a hurricane during the fight. I just hope he wants to give the fans a good fight, and will exchange with me. I hope that he does not think this is a marathon.”

Q&A: Krzysztof Włodarczyk!

By Piotr Momot/bokser.org and Tomasz S. Galazka 

On May 16, in Rome, former IBF light heavyweight champion Krzysztof “Diablo” Włodarczyk (41-2, 31 KO’s) will face the current WBC champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1, 10 KO’s). In this interview for bokser.org, ”Diablo” assures us of his fine form and of his victorious return from Italy.  (more…)

Q&A: John Molina Jr!

John Molina, Jr., (16-0, 12 KOs) is fast becoming a familiar face to boxing fans who like to watch weekend televised fights. The young pro from Covina, Calif., will fight for the third consecutive time on TV when he climbs into the ring against Frankie Archuleta (25-6-1, 14 KOs) on a special Saturday primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). The Molina-Archuleta fight is an eight-round junior lightweight affair. In the featured telecast, Andre Ward returns to Oakland for a 12-round fight against Edison Miranda at the Oracle Arena for Ward’s NABO and NABF super middleweight titles. SHOWTIME caught up with Molina on Wednesday for his thoughts on Saturday’s bout. (more…)

Mayweather-Marquez press tour!

A “press tour” to official announce the mega-fight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez which will take place July 18th at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and live on HBO Pay-Per-View, kicks off this Sunday, May 17 and will span two continents in six days with stops in Los Angeles, New York and London. The tour will begin in downtown Los Angeles with a rousing fan rally for Marquez at “Placita Olvera” (Olvera Street) on Sunday at noon. The next day the fighters will host an outdoor, open to the public, press conference in front of the Los Angeles Public Library Central Library downtown (2PM) before the tour caravan jets across the country to New York for the tour’s next stop on Tuesday at the Empire State Building (media only). Following New York, the fighters will fly across the Atlantic to London with a press conference (media only) on Thursday and a Mayweather open workout on Friday at the East London Boxing Gym.

Vanes wants to be like Pacman!

USA Olympian Vanes Martirosyan, reunited with chief trainer Freddie Roach, says he’s throwing “every punch faster and with a lot more force.” “Freddie and Michael Moorer have spent a lot of time with me at the Wild Card Gym,” said Martirosyan. “I feel strong and confident. I’m going to throw a lot of punches and with a lot of power. Freddie is teaching me to be more explosive, like Manny Pacquiao.”
Martirosyan, 23-0, of Glendale, Ca. will take on super welterweight Harrison Cuello, 16-9-2, of New York on Top Rank’s fight card on Saturday, May 16, at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nevada. (more…)

Rigondeaux to debut!

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Cuban boxing legend Guillermo Rigondeaux will make his highly anticipated professional debut on the May 22 card at the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. Dominican Augusto Jiménez (5-4) will be offered as the sacrificial lamb. The 28-year-old super bantamweight Rigondeaux won gold medals at the Olympic Games of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 as well as the amateur world championships of 2001 and 2005. He was removed from the Cuban boxing team after trying unsuccessfully to defect in 2007, however he successfully defected in February of this year and signed with Arena Box-Promotion.

Weights from Magdeburg!

Photo: SES Boxing

Timo Hoffmann 254.4 vs Francois Botha 252.4
(WBF heavyweight title)
Robert Stieglitz 167.9 vs Jindrich Velecky 167.9
Jan Zaveck 152.3 vs Arek Malek TBA
Oliver Güttel 146.6 vs Anthony Ukeh 146.6
Rico Müller TBA vs Demir Nanev TBA
Esther Schouten 121.4 vs Marina Kohlgruber 118.3
Cristoph Woditschka TBA vs Richard Zwarg TBA
Tommy Altmann 146.8 vs Pietro d’Alessio 146.3
Venue: Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
Promoter: SES Boxing
TV: DSF (Germany)

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 ESPN’s Teddy Atlas and Showtime’s Nick Charles. 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.

Froch in Bute talks!

Super middleweight champion Carl Froch expects to defend his WBC belt against IBF title holder Lucian Bute some time this September. It is understood that Froch’s promoter Mick Hennessy has already made contact with the Canadian champion’s camp. Froch has made no secret of his desire to unify the super-middleweight division. The Nottingham-born star has set his sights on the IBF and WBA title. Froch told the Steve Bunce Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News that negotiations were underway. (more…)

Titov signs Glazkov!

L-R Vladimir Prodivus, Vyacheslav Glazkov, German Titov and Sergey Yanchishin

By Alexey Sukachev

German Titov, 2008 Russian promoter of the year, added a sound name to his team. It has been confirmed today that Team Titov welcomes 2008 Beijing super heavyweight bronze medalist Vyacheslav Glazkov on board. The Ukrainian boxer, 24, was a huge favorite to clash against future Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle in the finals but pulled out of the semifinal bout with Chinese Zhang Zhilei due to an elbow injury. Interestingly, Cammarelle and Glazkov met earlier in Chicago 2007 world championship’s final, and the Italian fighter proved his superiority by outpointing his opponent with the score 24-14. (more…)

Johnson-Vargas undercard set

On May 15th Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing brings boxing back to Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ with a compelling six bout card. In the main event bout of the evening, the WBA #5, WBC #10, IBF #13 rated heavyweight in the world Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (21-0-1, 8KO) is set to square off against 2004 Olympic Team Captain Devin Vargas (17-0, 7KO) in a ten round heavyweight contest. The winner stakes their claim as the top American heavyweight and takes one step closer to challenging for a world title.
The co-feature bout of the evening sees the Star Boxing debut of Jorge “The Truth’ Teron (22-1-1, 15KO) as he looks to avenge the only loss of his career as a pro when he takes on the always dangerous Aldo Valtierra (25-10, 13KO). Teron vs. Valtierra is scheduled for ten rounds in the lightweight division. Both the co-feature and main event of the evening will be broadcast live on ESPN2′s “Friday Night Fights”. (more…)

Calderon ready for MSG debut!

Photo: Jose Perez/PR Best

By Lee Bates

WBO light flyweight champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon of Puerto Rico (32-0, 6 KOs) will make his Madison Square Garden debut on June 13th against two time world title challenger Rodel Mayol (25-3, 19 KOs) of the Phillipines. Along with this being Calderon’s first fight in the Garden the bout also is on the eve of the annual Puerto Rico holiday parade. Fightnews spoke with Calderon regarding his nearly 10 month layoff, his knowledge of Mayol, and fighting in MSG for the first time. (more…)

Indonesian Updates!

Photo: Jeffrey Pamungkas

By Jeffrey Pamungkas

WBA featherweight champion, Chris John, who is now training at Harry’s Gym in Perth, Australia, is scheduled to leave for his base-camp in California, Los Angeles, three weeks prior to his rematch with Rocky Juarez, June 28, at the Stapples Center, California. John vs Juarez I ended in a draw decision last February in Houston, Texas.
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Indonesian rising star Daud “Cino” Yordan (23-0, 17 KOs) is scheduled to fight Phillipines’ Robert Allanic (17-5-2, 9 KOs) in a 12-round featherweight interim WBO Oriental title in Pontianak, Indonesia, May 23. Pino Bahari said that this will be a tune up bout for Yordan who’s now aiming a world title shot in any sanction body in his next fight.
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Former IBF strawweight champion, Muhammad Rachman, is also aiming for his last chance to become a world champion by challenging the WBC champion of the divison, Oleydong Sithsamarchai, in Thailand, May 29. This fight was already postponed several times. By collecting several of Oleydong’s fight DVD’s from his big fan from Japan, Rachman expressed his optimism to seize the title from the slick and fast champion. Rachman was decisioned by Milan Melindo in Cebu, PI, 3/14.

Kameda squeaks by Pumar!

By Joe Koizimi

WBA#11/WBC#14 Daiki Kameda (14-1, 10 KOs), 114.75, had a tough time coping with a late substitute named WBC#13 Filipino minimumweight Gabriel Pumar (11-4-1, 6 KOs), a durable southpaw, 113.75, and eked out a unanimous but hard-fought decision (98-94 twice and 99-94) over ten on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Kameda, a legitimate 115-pounder, again selected a 105-pound opponent, and tried to overpower the lighter rival with his physical power. But Pumar, fighting under the new nom-de-guerre Boon Boon Toei, utilized his excellent defense and occasionally lifted southpaw right uppercuts to have Kameda continually bleeding from the nostrils. Kameda’s disappointingly lackluster performance revealed his lack of finesse. Promoter: Kameda Promotions.

Martinez to be full champion?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A possibility exists that WBC interim super welterweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez will be officially proclaimed full WBC super welterweight champion. Sources close to Martinez indicate that he has conversed with WBC President José Sulaimán and they expect Martínez to be proclaimed as absolute champion soon. Other sources assure that the executive board of the WBC is meeting to make a decision on the situation of reigning champion Vernon Forest, who has been ordered by the WBC order to face Martínez without an interim fight. Meanwhile a proposed clash between Martínez and Nobuhiro Ishida in Japan fell through, but another possibility is the winner in the May 30 clash between Kermit Cintron and Alfredo Angulo.

Ward: It’s about respect!

Photo: Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor

Unbeaten Olympian super middleweight Andre Ward (18-0, 12 KOs), who faces his sternest challenge as a professional when he meets ultra-confident Colombian knockout artist Edison Miranda (32-3, 28 KOs) in the main event this Saturday, May 16, on a special primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. “To me, this fight is totally about respect,’’ the unbeaten, No. 2-ranked Ward said. “It’s about respect from the media, respect from the entire 168-pound division and just respect in general. There’s always something to prove with each fight. The stakes are higher, absolutely.” (more…)

Woods vs. Jones: Part Two?

By Flattop

FightNews has confirmed that negotiations for a rematch between light heavyweight contender Clinton Woods and living legend Roy Jones Jr. are ongoing. Word inside the Jones camp is that talks between Dennis Hobson of Fight Academy and John Wirt of Square Ring are focusing on a pay-per-view event (this summer) featuring Woods vs. Jones at the Sheffield Arena in the UK. “Woods wants revenge and Jones wants to prove himself against the best,” said the anonymous source. Woods fought Jones in October 2002, but Woods (then 32-1) had not fought a world-class opponent while Jones (then 46-1) had won the middleweight, super middleweight and several versions of the light heavyweight title since turning pro in May 1989. Since that fateful meeting when the corner of Woods threw in the towel in the sixth round, the careers of both fighters have gone up and down. Woods has fought several champions and contenders, including going 1-1-1 with Glen Johnson, the fighter who knocked out Jones in Sept 2004, plus the Englishman has won and lost the IBF light heavyweight title. Woods is now the #2 IBF contender. Jones has had almost another full career after his encounter with Woods, including beating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title, regaining a version of the light heavyweight title and beating Felix Trinidad last year in one of 2008′s highest grossing pay-per-view events. Jones – although unranked – is regarded as a contender at 175-pounds. Supposedly the deal for the rematch is contingent upon British television buying the fight so that there is enough money to pay Jones, whose name and resume does deserve a high-salary. More to follow!

Baby Bull to graduate!

As most boxing fans know, when Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz wasn’t hitting opponents in the boxing ring, he was hitting the books at the University of Houston – Downtown (UHD). The former Three-Time World Champion will close the college chapter of his life on Sunday, May 17th, when he will receive the academic equivalent of a world championship title as he accepts a bachelor’s degree in Political Science during the University’s commencement ceremonies at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. “This feels like I’m becoming a world champion for the first time, it’s that big of an accomplishment to me,” said Diaz. “After going through school all of the years, it feels like a huge burden has lifted off of my back. I’m going to take the rest of this year and next year to focus on boxing and see where it takes me, but I’m also going to take the LSAT review course and apply to Law School so that I always have that as an option in the future.” In addition to receiving his degree, Diaz was honored last week with an academic achievement award from the social sciences department at UHD for students who demonstrated scholastic excellence as well as a commitment to their field of study.

Nishioka: ‘I’ll impose my law!’

WBC Superbantamweight Champion Toshiaki Nishioka (33-4-3, 20 KOs) says he will not only defeat challenger Jhonny Gonzalez (40-6, 34 KOs) on May 23 in Monterrey, Mexico, when he defends his title, but he will make the world take notice of Japanese boxing. “I do not have any problem fighting in Mexico,” says Nishioka, who won his championship by TKOing top Mexican contender Genaro Garcia in January. “I am in great shape and will conquer Gonzalez. I am the champion and I am going to impose my law. It has cost me too much to be champion of the world and I am not going to leave the crown in Mexico.” It will be Nishioka’s fourth fight outside Japan; he is 3-0 in three U.S. outings.

Miranda: Ward has zero chance!

Photo: Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor

Edison Miranda has not been shy about how he feels about Andre Ward, his opponent in Saturday’s colossal super middleweight battle in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, Calif. “I can’t wait to get in the ring and to get into his face because I have no respect for Ward,” said Miranda (32-3, 28 KOs). “No, I wasn’t surprised when he called and wanted to fight me. I’ll fight anybody. I can’t wait for Saturday night to show the world who Edison Miranda is and that I’m going to be the champion.” The 12-round fight at the Oracle Arena for Ward’s NABO and NABF super middleweight titles will be the featured bout on a special Saturday primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). (more…)

‘Beatdown in H-Town’ a hot ticket!

TKO Boxing Promotions inaugural show in Houston, Texas, “The Beatdown in H-Town” is proving a hot ticket as the May 28th card at the Arena Theatre is headed towards a sellout over two weeks from the event. Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO BOXING Promotions “Although we live here, this is our first event in Houston and we’re thrilled with the response. Right now we’re over halfway sold on the Arena Theatre show for May 28th.”

(more…)

Brähmer-Brancalion Presser!

Photos: André Boge/Universum Box-Promotion

Click the photo to go to the next photo
On June 6th, European light heavyweight champion Jürgen Brähmer (32-2, 26 KOs) plans to showcase his skills against mandatory challenger Antonio Brancalion (32-6-2, 8 KOs) as he gears up for another world title shot. The bout will be seen by a huge live TV audience on ZDF as well as a packed house in Oberhausen’s König Pilsener Arena. At today’s press conference in Hamburg, Brähmer said “Brancalion is very difficult to box, but I’ll just adjust to him. I just started this week with sparring. I’m glad to be back in the ring so quickly after my fight in March. This rhythm works very well for me, it’s what I need to move ahead.”

The card also features an excellent battle between world rated heavyweight stablemates as WBA #6 Denis Boytsov (24-0, 19 KOs) puts his undefeated record on the line against WBA #2 rated Taras Bidenko (26-2, 12 KOs). Both contenders had interesting comments. (more…)

Mchunu defending two titles!

By Ron Jackson

Two South African titles and a WBA Pan African title will be at stake on the Rob’s Promotions six-bout card at the Boiketlong Hall in Sasolburg on Friday night. In the main event Thabiso Mchunu, 21, defends his South African and WBA Pan African junior heavyweight title against Soon Botes who will celebrate his 37th birthday on June 5. Also, in a clash of champions, Kgotso Motau defends his South African super middleweight title against national middleweight champion Peter Mashamaite, and former WBF and South African junior welterweight champion Sam Malinga returns to action when meets Namibian Jason Naule in an eight rounder. (more…)

Kennedy foe named!

Undefeated super bantamweight Teon Kennedy, of North Philadelphia, will box Lucian Gonzalez, of Reading, PA, in the scheduled eight-round co-feature Saturday evening, June 6, at Bally’s Atlantic City. Topping the seven-bout card is a scheduled 10-round contest for the NABA welterweight title between champion Mike Jones, of North Philadelphia, and Larry Mosley, of Los Angeles, CA. (more…)