Migaki dethrones Nagashima

By Joe Koizumi

An old boxer’s farewell to the squared circle is always sad and sentimental, and it happened tonight (Saturday) at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. WBC no.10/WBA no.11 OPBF lightweight champ, 34-year-old Japanese veteran Kengo Nagashima (38-4-2, 18 KOs), 135, lost his regional belt when he hit the deck twice and suffered a shocking TKO defeat at the hand of ex-national ruler Ryuji Migaki (14-2, 10 KOs), 134.75, at 2:07 of the tenth round in a scheduled twelve rounder. (more…)

Juanma in demand

Photo: Joel Colón/PR Best Boxing Promotions

Within 24 hours of his arrival to New York WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel ‘Juanma’ López’ (27-0, 24 KOs) presence was in very high demand. López hit the media circuit from talk show radio programs, media round tables, and one on one interviews. López, a devout husband and father, was accompanied to New York by his wife Bárbara who has been nice enough to prepare some home cooked meals for the champ. López, promoted by PR Best Boxing (Ivan & Peter Rivera) and Top Rank will challenge WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs) Saturday January 23rd. The bout will take place at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with HBO televising. Click here for more photos…

Melindo tops Villareal

Unbeaten flyweight Milan “Milenyo” Melindo (20-0, 5 KOs) won a ten round unanimous decision over Anthony “Baby Assassin” Villareal (9-3, 4 KOs) on Thursday night at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, Philippines. Melindo dropped Villareal in round one and went on to wion by scores of 97-93, 96-93, 95-94 to claim Villareal’s WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight title. The card was presented by ALA Promotions.

Shimada defeats Salinas

By Joe Koizumi

WBA no. 15 lightweight Takehiro Shimada (24-5-1, 16 KOs), 134.5, defeated durable and game Mexican Alexis Salinas (11-4-2, 7 KOs), 134.25, by a unanimous decision (99-93, 97-93 and 97-94) over ten hot frames on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Having failed to win the WBA 135-pound belt from Paulus Moses in Namibia last July, Shimada, the oldest active boxer here at 38, made a fine display of left jabs that penetrated the aggressive Mexican’s guard so effectively that he comfortably and continually piled up points. Salinas, sixteen years his junior, turned loose with non-stop combinations including looping rights to be in command in round eight. But Shimada, a cagey veteran, fought back hard to maintain his initiative. Shimda is gunning for a shot at Moses again next time at his home turf as he is a good ticket-seller by himself. For more details and photos click here…

At the scales in Vegas

Photo by Chris Cozzone

From the Hard Rock Hotel’s The Joint in Las Vegas for tomorrow night’s Top Rank-promoted, Fox Sports En Espanol-televised fight card:

Vanes Martirosyan 153 vs. Kassim Ouma 150
For the NABF/NABO welterweight titles

Jose Benavidez 138.5 vs. Steven Cox 139
Diego Magdaleno 130.5 vs. Gerardo Robles 131.5
Anthony Lenk 145 vs. Dusten Guillemin 144
Ismayl Sillakh 183 vs. Julius Jackson 182

NOTE: The scheduled co-main event between Miguel Angel Garcia and Joksan Hernandez has been nixed. Hernandez was unable to enter the U.S. due to visa problems. The pro debut of amateur standout Jose Benavidez and an eight-round featherweight bout between Magdaleno and Robles will be televised in place of Garcia-Hernandez.

Burgos KOs Martinez

Unbeaten WBC #2, WBO #14 featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos (24-0, 17 KOs) scored a twelfth round KO over late sub Juan Carlos Martinez (15-11-1, 5 KOs) on Friday night at the Laredo Civic Center in Laredo, Texas. Burgos domnated the fight, dropping the game Martinez with a barrage in the twelfth and got the stop when referee Jon Schorle stepped in after Burgos connected with a huge follow up shot. Time was 1:07. The uncle of the 22-year-old Burgos is the former IBF junior flyweight world champion Victor Burgos.
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Olympian junior middleweight Demetrius Andrade moved to 9-0 with 7 KOs with a 78-second annihilation of Bernardo Guereca (15-10-1, 3 KOs).
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Super featherweight Yaundale Evans (5-0, 3 KOs) handed Gino Escamilla (5-7-1) his sixth straight loss. Evans dropped Escamilla in rounds one and two before cruising to a six round 60-52, 59-53, 60-52 win.

Nick Charles to return to ShoBox

Popular host and play-by-play boxing announcer Nick Charles will make his return to ringside following a five-month battle with bladder cancer. Charles recently announced that he is 80 percent in remission and doctors have given him the go-ahead to return to work. Charles will rejoin colleagues Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver on Friday, Jan. 29 when ShoBox: The New Generation kicks off the year with a 10-round bantamweight bout—Chris Avalos vs. Jose Nieves—LIVE on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). (more…)

Norton, Dolan draw

‪By Alexey Sukachev

British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Rob Norton (32-4-2, 19 KOs) retained both of his belts with a spirited but ugly draw in a rematch against former amateur standout Daniel Dolan (13-2-1, 5 KOs) over twelve hard-fought rounds at Leisure Centre in Altrincham. The aging champion, who turns 38 next week, applied his trademark clutch-and-grab tactics from round one, waiting for Dolan on his way in and trying to counter his aggressive style with well-timed left hooks, right haymakers and left uppercuts on the occasion.‬ (more…)

Vazquez Jr.-Sonsona PR workout

Photo: José Pérez/Pr Best Boxing Promotions

Un-beatens Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KOs) of Bayamón, Puerto Rico and former WBO super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KOs) of the Philippines each worked out in Puerto Rico as both were on the island for their recent press conference this past Wednesday. The two will square off on February 27 at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The event is titled ‘Making History.’ The bout is being presented by PR Best Boxing (Ivan & Peter Rivera) in association with All Star Boxing and Sampson Boxing LLC. Each fighter is very confident of victory. For more details and photos click here…

Charles returns to the ring

Showtime boxing announcer Nick Charles will make his return on the January 29 ShoBox card in Albuquerque, N.M. Last summer, Charles took a leave of absence from Showtime, due to bladder cancer. After a tough battle, the cancer is now in remission and Charles is ready to pick up where he left off. Charles is also in the process of relocating to Santa Fe, N.M., where he is building a new home.

Boxing Buzz

Looks like Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. will meet after all, despite Jones’ first round KO loss to Danny Green in Australia. Word is that April 17 is the date with Las Vegas the location.
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Prosecutors in Las Vegas have been given the go ahead to put Floyd Mayweather Jr’s trainer Roger Mayweather on trial to face battery charges alleged by a female boxer. Mayweather is expected to plead not guilty.
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Traffic from the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight last November in Las Vegas was credited as the reason Nevada casinos posted a 4.35% increase in gaming earnings, reversing 22 months of decline.

Beltway boxing update

By Gary “Digital” Williams

The 2010 Beltway Boxing season in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia begins quickly with two cards already scheduled to take place with in a three-day period. Ballroom Boxing will have its first card of 2010 on Friday, January 29 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. And yes, the date does fall on a Friday – the first time that has happened in 14 years. Most Ballroom Boxing cards have been held on Thursdays. After a number of recent cards that has brought in strong, young talent from across the country, Ballroom Boxing promoter Scott Wagner has decided to go “back to basics,” by loading this card with popular, local boxers – and no Beltway Boxer has been more popular in the Ballroom than the former USBA cruiserweight champion, Darnell “The Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson who will headline this card and make his 15th appearance on a Ballroom Boxing card. (more…)

Weights from Philadelphia

Victor Vasquez 133 vs Gustavo Dailey 133.5
Coy Evans 128 vs Vineash Rungea 128
Tony Ferrante 175.5 vs Andre Hemphill 176
Tommie Speller 164 vs Dave Cook 164.5
Derrick Webster 159.5 vs Antonio Walls 158
Charles Heyward 191.5 vs Zeferino Albino TBA
Venue: Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Promoter: Power Productions

Kids free of drugs

As part of the program “Kids Free of Drugs,” the World Boxing Organization represented by its International commissioner Luis Perez and WBO representative in Nicaragua Carlos Estrada in cooperation with Tuto Zabala Jr. of All Star Boxing, Inc made donations in Managua, Nicaragua this past week. The first stop was Hogar de Ninas Abusadas Cristo Obrero where a $2,000 donation was given. This center takes care of girls who were sexually abused from the ages of 3 to 18 years old, this is the second year in a row that the WBO helps the center. The second stop was a $3,100 donation in boxing equipment to 3 gyms that were in need, Ciudad Sandino, Condega and Rivas, this was coordinated by the Nicaraguan Boxing Commissioner Coronel Juan Alberto Molinares. The third stop was at the Roger Deshon Gym in Managua were the group donated $2,400 in Everlast boxing equipment for 3 gyms in the city in an event coordinated by Councilman and journalist Enrique Armas. The donation tour will continue this Saturday in Barranquilla, Colombia and Monday in Panama City, Panama. President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel will be present in the final part of the tour. Click here for more photos…

Lyell to rumble with Rumbolz

IBF#14 middleweight contender Billy Lyell (21-7) returns to the ring versus veteran Bruce Rumbolz (22-19) on January 29 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia. A winner of five of his last six, including an upset over previously unbeaten middleweight contender John Duddy (27-1), Lyell looks to stay sharp and busy against the upset-minded Rumboltz. To his credit, Rumboltz upset previously world ranked super middle Shawn Hammack (19-6) less than one year ago. Beginning at 8 pm, the card is being promoted by Simons’ Promotions. In addition to the eight round Lyell/Rumbolz main event, the undercard will showcase several prospects from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

New super heavyweight division?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A new super heavyweight division will be one of the items on the agenda when principal members of the IBF, WBA and WBC meet on Friday in Cancun, Mexico. Those in attendance are to include WBC President José Sulaimán, WBC Executive Secretary Mauricio Sulaimán, WBC legal advsor Gabriel Peñagarícano, IBF President Marian Muhammad, IBF advisor Larry Hazzard, WBA Executive Vice-President GIlberto Jesus Mendoza and WBA ratings director Oliver Gómez. (more…)

Pacquiao to hit LA Sunday

Attention Manny Pacquiao fans. Pacman arrives at LAX at 5:15pm this Sunday evening on Philippine Airlines Flight 112 from Manila.

PBFR official statement

By Alexey Sukachev

During a presser, held yesterday at the ITAR-TASS media centre in Moscow, Igor Mazurov who serves as an executive secretary of the Professional Boxing Federation of Russia ended his speech with the following official statement for reporters in attendance. (more…)

Q&A: Juan Manuel Lopez

Photo: José Pérez/Pr Best Boxing Promotions

WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel ‘Juanma’ Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) is about a week away from his January 23rd challenge against WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs). The bout will take place at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with HBO televising. Having now arrived in New York the PR Best Boxing (Ivan & Peter Rivera) and Top Rank promoted Lopez is ready to handle the task at hand in winning his second world title in as many divisions. Lopez spoke with Fightnews regarding his upcoming bout. (more…)

Moscow presser: full report

Photo: Evgueny Solodov

By Alexey Sukachev

The air was shivering with noise and the room was like a crowded square yesterday at ITAR-TASS media-centre in Moscow during a huge presser, staged there by well-known Russian promoter/manager Vladimir Hryunov and officials of the Professional Boxing Federation of Russia. The reason was obvious from the first look at the shining and gorgeous prize, pending to be awarded to someone in attendance, as well as a number of posters and various papers advertising the certain tournament to be announced in the shortest span of time. (more…)

Escalante to face Roman

Photo: Ruben Ramirez/Golden Boy Promotions

Unbeaten in six fights in his adopted hometown of El Paso, Texas, highly ranked contender Antonio Escalante will look for El Paso win number seven on Friday, February 26, as he tests the waters at 126 pounds against rugged Mexican warrior Miguel “Mickey” Roman in the main event of ESPN’S “Friday Night Fights” at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. This bout, which headlines a high-impact night of professional boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and will be broadcast live on ESPN “Friday Night Fights” beginning at 10:00 pm ET / 8:00 pm MT / 7:00 pm PT on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com. Doors open at 6:00 pm MT., with the first bell ringing at 7:00 pm MT. Click here for more photos…

Golovkin looking to move on

By Wolfgang Schiffbauer

Highly regarded middleweight contender Gennady Golovkin says he will not honor his contract with promoter Universum Box-Promotion/Spotlight Boxing. “Bouts against well-known and interesting opponents were held out in prospect,” Golovkin said. “But I haven’t got such a fight so far. A possible fight against WBC interim champ Sebastian Zbik was rejected because Universum allegedly has other priorities. Even the current offer to fight Felix Sturm for a world title is, in my opinion, nothing but smoke and mirrors. Sturm said over and over again that he would never again box for Universum.” Golovkin won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, ending a truly great amateur career. He turned pro in 2006 under the Universum/Spotlight-banner and is currently undefeated in 18 bouts, with 15 wins coming by way of knockout. His last ring appearance was a second round KO victory over previously unbeaten Mikhail Makarov in November. He is rated no. 1 by the WBC and the WBO, 2 by the WBA and 6 by the IBF. A statement from Universum might follow soon.

Mayweather vs Cintron?

After reading comments made to the Puerto Rican press by the President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya, stating that Kermit Cintron is “a great choice” to take on Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in the spring, Cintron has set out to make sure de la Hoya knows the interest is mutual. Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has been recognized as one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter for several years, but has recently come under scrutiny for not taking on the perceived toughest opposition. However, there will be no such public umbrage over a bout with Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KOs), who has twice held the welterweight crown and whose only losses have come at the hands of Antonio Margarito, a fighter currently under suspension for tampering with his gloves. (more…)

The ‘Dream’ and the ‘Nightmare’

Story and photos by Chris Cozzone

Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan says he does all his talking in the ring.

But, Thursday afternoon at the Hard Rock Hotel’s The Joint in Las Vegas, he just couldn’t resist: “I’m going to turn ‘The Dream’s’ dream into a nightmare,’ he promised . . . Click here for more

Burgos ready for the unexpected

Story by Felipe Leon

Professional boxing is often called the theatre of the unexpected.

Nothing could be more true for WBC #2 ranked undefeated featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos (23-0, 16KO). As the Tijuana-born fighter was preparing to face Carlos Oliveira in his first nationally broadcast bout on ESPN2′s Friday Night Fights on January 15th, the rug was pulled from under him when his south American opponent was scrapped and the tough Juan Carlos Martinez (17-11-1, 7KO) was put in his place . . . Click here for more