Walters headed to Jamaica

By Robert Coster

Jamaica’s newfound boxing idol and WBA #1 featherweight contender Nicholas “The Axeman” Walters (21-0, 17 KOs) flies today to his homeland from Panama where he has been training to fight Colombian Daulis Prescott (26-1, 19 KOs) for the vacant WBA featherweight title this coming Saturday in the island’s capital city of Kingston. Walters will headline a WBA “KO to Drugs” mega-card with seven fights and four WBA world titles on the line. The card is dubbed “The Wray and Nephew (a main sponsor) Rumble on the JamRocK” and promoted by Premium Boxing Promotions and SportsMax – which televises the event.

Walters, before leaving Panama, stated: “I’m in the best shape of my life. My stamina is great. I’ve been running uphill for weeks. I want to give Jamaica a Christmas gift for its 50th independence birthday by being the first Jamaican to win a world title on our native soil.”

In the other fights that will accompany the Walters-Prescott bout, Alyn Sanchez (Venezuela) battles Ana Maria Villalobos (Mexico) for the WBA interim female jr Bantamweight title; WBA super featherweight champion Kira Malpartida (Peru) defends her title vs Stacy Reile (USA); former Cuban amateur standout Innocente Fiz clashes with Texan Roberto Garcia for the vacant WBA interim jr middleweight crown. There will also be two WBA Fedelatin title fights as former WBA titleholder Ricardo Cordoba of Panama faces Onalvi Sierra (Colombia) in the featherweight class while Peruvian Mauricio Reynoso goes against Mauro Lucero (Mexico) for the 168lb belt.

Kameda to face Ruiz to unify WBA 118lb belts

By Joe Koizumi

WBA bantam champ Koki Kameda (28-1, 17 KOs), a Japanese southpaw, will attempt to unify the WBA belts with interim ruler Hugo Ruiz (31-1, 28 KOs), a Mexican hard-puncher, today (Tuesday) in Osaka, Japan. Kameda easily passed the weigh-in at the 118-pound class limit, but Ruiz was at first a half pound heavier and later shed the small poundage to make the weight also at 118. Both are twenty-six years of age, but Ruiz is some four inches taller than Kameda, the eldest of his brothers, and the Mexican’s reach is three inches longer than the Japanese champ. The referee will be Gustavo Padilla of Panama, while the judges are as follows: Stanley Christodoulou (South Africa), Lahcen Oumgher (Netherland) and Mihael Lee (Korea). The WBA supervisor is Alan Kim (Korea). It may be a competitive affair of the young champions.

Kyotaro-Haumono for vacant OPBF heavyweight belt

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese heavyweight prospect, WBC#15 Kyotaro Fujimoto (5-0, 3 KOs) will participate in an adventurous OPBF heavyweight elimination bout with more experienced Australian Solomon Haumono (19-1-2, 17 KOs) in Osaka, Japan, on the last day of this year. It will be a supporting event to the WBA 108-pound and 105-pound elimination bouts between Kazuto Ioka and Jose Rodriguez and between Ryo Miyazaki and Pornsawan Porpramook respectively.

Kyotaro, formerly a MMA star who turned into the international style fighting last year, decked an upset victory over WBC rated Chauncy Welliver, a switch-hitting Australian, by a unanimous nod in Tokyo this September. The Japanese heavyweight speedster, eleven years his junior at 26, is shorter by two inches and lighter by more than ten pounds than Haumono, but probably faster on hand and foot. (more…)

Pacman meets Hawaiian congresswomen

Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Superstar and Philippines Congressman Manny Pacquiao meets with US Democratic Congresswoman-elect for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district Tulsi Gabbard after wrapping up training camp today before heading to Las Vegas. Gabbard presented Pacquiao with a US flag that was flown over the Hawaii State Capitol, along with an honorary certificate. Pacquiao in turn gave Gabbard a Flag of the Philippines. As a member of the Hawai‘i National Guard, Tulsi Gabbard served two tours of duty in the Middle East.

Pacquiao appeared in print and radio ads for Gabbard during the weeks leading up to the August primary. “I was impressed with her record of service and her deep ties to the Filipino community,” Pacquiao said. (more…)

Marquez hits ESPN

Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Four-time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez poses with his special Team Marquez bus Monday before heading to Las Vegas for the upcoming 4th fight of his historic rivalry against superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Zanfer Promotions, Márquez Boxing, Tecate, Wonderful Pistachios, Cinemax ‘Banshee,’ Smart Communications, Universal Pictures ‘Django Unchained’ and MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay Per View from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 8.

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Full Report: Muhammad Ali in Cancun

Story and photos by Boxing Bob Newman

In a moving ceremony Monday morning in Cancun, Mexico, Muhammad Ali was crowned “King Of Boxing” during the official opening of the 50th WBC convention. The Arena at the Grand Oasis Hotel held over one thousand delegates who were here for one reason more than any other- to witness the foregone coronation of “The Greatest.” Had Ali not been here on the Mayan Peninsula for the special event, of course the convention attendees would’ve participated in the opening ceremonies, listened to speeches and watched awards being presented. This was different however. This was special. The most recognizable face on earth would show his face here, for a time behind dark sunglasses. The gathering rose almost in unison as the lights dimmed. Ali, with the assistance of his wife Lonnie and an aid, walked across the stage and took his rightful place on a special throne at stage center. (more…)

Bundu keeps Euro 147 lbs. title

By Anna Sgarbi at ringside
Photo:Marco Chiesa

Unbeaten Italian welterweight Leonard Bundu (29-0-2) successfully retained his European title for the third time on Saturday night in Rezzato, Italy. The African-born Bundu impressively stopped former WBA interim champ Ismael El Massoudi (37-5) of France in the opening round of a scheduled twelve. Bundu started cautiously, but stepped up the pace as soon as he realized that his trademark body shots were taking a toll out of El Massoudi. After enjoying success with his body work, the Italian fighter targeted his challenger’s head and knocked out the French contender at 2’42” of the first round after a perfectly timed left hook to the chin. (more…)

Ali crowned “King of Boxing”

Photo: Pepe Rodriguez

“The Greatest” Muhammad Ali arrived last night in Cancun to be part of the 50th WBC Annual Convention where he was named “King of Boxing” on Monday morning at the opening ceremony.

Nieves crushes Porras

Bantamweight Jose “Miau” Nieves (21-2-3, 10 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico ranked #13 WBO destroyed Glenn “The Rock” Porras (28-4, 17 KOs) of M’lang, Cobato, Philippines, #12 WBO on Friday night at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, FL. Nieves dropped Porras in rounds one and two and the bout was stopped in round two.

In the co-feature, former Olympian Yordenis Ugas (13-1, 6 KOs) of Santiago, Cuba outpointed veteran Cosme “Chino” Rivera of Culiacan, Mexico in a ten round jr welterweight bout. Scores were 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.

Kessler team talking knockout

Trainer Jimmy Montoya has predicted that Mikkel Kessler (45-2, 34 KOs) will knock out WBA “regular” super middleweight champion Brian Magee (36-4-1, 25 KOs) in Saturday night’s clash at Jyske Bank BOXEN. “I don’t want to take anything away from Magee, he is a great fighter and very skilled, but Mikkel is just too strong and too good for him,” Montoya said at today’s press training in Herning. “Mikkel is just one of a kind. Magee won’t be there for the tenth round.”

Kessler is confident he will claim another spectacular victory. “The KO over Allan Green was great, now I want to defeat Magee and become world champion again,” he stated. “This is personal now, Magee has knocked out two of my countryman, but now his winning streak in Denmark will come to an end. I’m in great shape and I’m ready to get it on.” (more…)

Jones-Purdy is off

Welterweight Carson Jones’ clash on December 8 in at the London Olympia against Lee Purdy has beed postponed after Purdy came down with a virus. The middleweight clash between Darren Barker and Kerry Hope now tops the bill as a 12-round clash for the IBF Inter-Continental title. Barker boxes for the first time since his brave World title challenge against Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City in October 2011, while Hope is aiming to get back into the title mix after two gruelling European title bouts with Greg Proksa, while Purdy and Jones are set to meet in the New Year. “We are all gutted to lose this fight and will now rearrange the bout for March,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.

Bönte: Wach failed steroid test

By Przemek Garczarczyk

According to Bernd Bönte, manager of heavyweight champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Poland’s Mariusz Wach, Wladimir’s latest challenger, tested positive for anabolic steroids in their last fight, on November 10 in Hamburg. “The President of the Federation of German Professional Boxing Association (BDB), Thomas Putz has informed us about a positive Sample A,” Bönte told the German daily Bild. “That would also explain why Wach has survived all these big hits. Doping is of course is a no-go. It also shows how dangerous doping could be blocking pain.”

Both Wach and his promoter Mariusz Kolodziej from Global Boxing are denying any steroid use before the fight. They have right to ask for the B Sample to be tested, but if both tests come back positive for anabolic steroids, Wach will be banned for one year from fights in Europe and there will be possible sanctions in the U.S.

Pacquiao-Marquez 4 Fight Week Schedule

It’s fight week! And, there’s nothing like the week before a megafight in Las Vegas. As usual there will be a full week of festivities leading up to the big Pacquiao-Marquez showdown on Saturday.

The fighters are scheduled to have their Grand Arrivals on Tuesday in the MGM Grand Hotel Lobby. Fight fans are welcome to come and greet the fighters. Marquez will arrive at noon and Pacman will be there at 12:30PM.

On Wednesday, starting at 2PM in the MGM Grand Hotel Lobby some of the undercard fighters will conduct workouts for the media and the public. First up at 2PM is Patrick Hyland, at 2:20PM is Jose Ramirez, at 3PM is Mercito Gesta and at 3:30PM is Yuriorkis Gamboa.

On Thursday night Top Rank will present a live fight card featuring lightweight Raymundo Beltran against Ji-Hoon Kim at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

On Friday is the official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Doors open at noon and the fighters will be on the scale at 2:30PM. This event is free, open to the public and always exciting.

On Friday night, Top Rank keeps the live action coming with a live card at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Casino featuring welterweight Jessie Vargas vs. Vito Gasparyan.

Jennings to close out busy year at home

By John DiSanto – Philly Boxing History (.com)
Photos: www.phillyboxinghistory.com

Heavyweight Bryant Jennings has had a transformative year. He began 2012 as a 6-round prospect antsy for bigger fights, bigger money, and bigger opportunities. So what else is new? Almost every fighter feels the same way. But Bryant Jennings was struck by a lightning bolt of good fortune, and had the smarts, courage and attitude to seize the opportunity that wound up being the first of many toppling dominoes in his suddenly hot boxing career.

Jennings started the year at 10-0 with a chance of a heavyweight title shot so far in the distance that even he had to squint to see it. But with a little more luck and another good performance, Jennings will end the year at 16-0, and with a world title shot directly in his sights. Jennings takes on Bowie Tupou, 22-2, 16 KOs, in his first USBA heavyweight title defense before a hometown crowd at Temple University’s Pearson / McGonigle Halls on Saturday night, December 8th. The fight will be the feature bout on the latest edition of NBC Sports Network’s live “Fight Night” boxing series. It will be Jennings’ fifth fight of the year. (more…)

Hyland plans to make Irish Boxing history

Patrick Hyland and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

Irish and boxing have been synonymous for more than a century. Undefeated featherweight Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland, one of three prizefighting Hyland brothers, certainly embodies the popular sobriquet, “The Fightin’ Irish.”

Dublin-native Hyland (27-0, 12 KOs) plans to continue making Irish boxing history on December 8, when he fights fellow undefeated challenger Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna for the interim WBA featherweight title, fighting on the HBO Pay-Per-View event headlined by Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marguez 4, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old Hyland, who is promoted by Final Round Promotions and Team Snooki Boxing, made a major commitment to boxing a year ago, moving from Ireland to Marlboro, New York in order to be trained by two-time two-division world champion Tracy Harris Patterson. Rated #6 by the WBA, Hyland already holds the Republic of Ireland boxing record for most consecutive wins to start a professional career (27), and he’d become the second Ireland-born world featherweight champion with a win on Saturday (the first was Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan in 1986). (more…)

Murray, Quigg aim for big 2013

Things night might not have gone to plan for Ricky Hatton on his ring return nine days ago, but the Hatton Promotions CEO was boosted by world class performances from Martin Murray and Scott Quigg. The unbeaten Quigg captured the vacant WBA interim super-bantamweight crown and looked sensational stopping Rendall Munroe in six rounds. Murray also came through in six against Jorge Navarro to claim the vacant WBA interim middleweight championship. And he will now face brilliant WBC 160lb king Sergio Martinez in Argentina on April 27 after proving he belongs in the big time. (more…)

Bojorquez defeats Gonzalez

By Felipe Leon
Photos: Renzo Novara

After some contractual issues with a local promoter, San Diego/Tijuana light welterweight Emilio Bojorquez and his trainer Joe Vargas took matters into their hands and threw their hat into the promotional ring this last Friday with their first fight card at the Tijuana Municipal Auditorium. Instead of headlining the show himself, Emilio passed the baton to his younger brother, super bantamweight Christian “Huevo” Bojorquez (9-0, 2KOs) who had the honor of spear heading the maiden voyage of V&B Promotions. “Huevo” did so with flying colors as he knocked out the easily outmatched Daniel “Flaco” Gonzalez (5-15-1, 2KOs) of Tijuana in the first round of a scheduled six. (more…)

Results from Mississauga

By Heather McIsaac at ringside
Photo Dani Graham

Cruiserweight Denton Daley (8-0 5KO) made short work of over-matched opponent Mauro Adrian Oriales (28-11 26KO) with a second round TKO victory over the Buenos Aires, Argentina veteran. Daley scored two first round knockdowns when Oriales took a knee and finished things for good at :30 of the second where the visitor hit the mat hard thanks to a single powerful right hand. The victory paves the way for what should be a NABF fight in Daley’s next contest, tentatively scheduled for March 6th. CLICK HERE for full photo galleries and report

WBC “50th” Sunday work session report

Report and photos by Boxing Bob Newman

The heavy workload of meetings and opening ceremony preparations for the WBC’s 50th anniversary convention continued today at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. The referee portion of the Ring Officials seminar took place simultaneously with the continuation of the ratings committee and a private meeting of the WBC Board of Governors.

Ring Officials chairman Hubert Minn and Bruce McTavish ran the referee portion of the ring officials seminar in the Arena. More video footage was shown, displaying various scenarios requiring referee intervention and decision making. One such fight was the recent Marcos Maidana – Jesus Soto-Karass clash in which both fighters continued fighting after a call to break by referee Kenny Bayliss. Both fighters were deducted one point in the same round (4) for the same infraction. Upon the conclusion of the referee exercise, certificates of completion were handed out to all who participated in either portion of the two day seminar. (more…)

Magee hits Denmark: “Kessler is next!”

Photo: Team Sauerland

Brian Magee (36-4-1, 25 KOs) has arrived in Denmark. The WBA super-middleweight “regular” world champion and his team flew into Copenhagen Airport from Dublin on Sunday afternoon and continued their trip to Herning by car. “I am happy to be back in Denmark,” Magee said. “I have great memories and I love fighting here. I have knocked out Mads Larsen and Rudy Markussen, so Kessler is the next in line. We had a great preparation in Belfast and will now go to Herning to use the last couple of days to get ready for the big fight. I look forward to facing Kessler, he is one of the all-time greats, I have a lot of respect for him but in the ring we will hate each other and I will defend my title.” Magee and Kessler clash at Jyske Bank BOXEN, Denmark´s biggest indoor arena, on December 8.

Boxing returns to network TV (twice)

The most recent broadcast network presentation of live boxing was The Contender in 2005. However, later this month not one, but two networks will get back in the boxing business.

As previously announced, heavyweight Tomasz Adamek will face Steve Cunningham December 22 on NBC from the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

One week earlier, on December 15 CBS will beat NBC to the punch with a telecast featuring IBF bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KOs) defending against Alberto “Metro” Guevara (16-0, 6 KOs), plus the pro debut of 2012 United States Olympian Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz Jr. The CBS fights will take place in the Los Angeles Sports Arena, where later that same night Amir Khan will face Carlos Molina (on Showtime).

Cotto-Trout postfight quotes

Miguel Cotto: “I’m satisfied with the job I did tonight,” former three-division champion Miguel Cotto said after his loss to Austin Trout on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “I’ll go back to Puerto Rico and think. He came at me with both hands and it was a great fight. He fought until the end.”

Austin Trout: “Miguel Cotto is a great champion. “He’s a great fighter and it was an honor to be in the same ring as him. It’s even more of an honor to be the man to beat him. To have my hand raised against a kingpin like Miguel Cotto is a dream come true. Those shots that Cotto hit me with were strong and I knew he’d be strong, but it reconfirmed that I could take those shots. It was definitely the hardest fight of my career and when you fight someone as big as Miguel Cotto, it motivated me.

Showtime reporter Jim Gray asked Trout if he wanted to fight 154-pound champ Canelo Alvarez, who Cotto was scheduled to face had he dethroned the champion. “Give me Canelo – it’s time to unify this division” Trout said. “There are a lot of good fighters out there and I want to be the best.”

Marquez hits LA

Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank

Three-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez arrives at Los Angeles International Airport from Mexico Saturday night before heading to Las Vegas for the upcoming fourth fight of his historic rivalry against Manny Pacquiao.

Promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions, Zanfer Promotions, Márquez Boxing, Tecate, Wonderful Pistachios, Cinemax ‘Banshee,’ Smart Communications, Universal Pictures ‘Django Unchained’ and MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay Per View from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 8. More photos…

WBC 50th Anniversary Convention starts early

By Boxing Bob Newman

Despite the fact that the WBC 50th Anniversary convention doesn’t officially open until this coming Monday, December 3rd, meetings have already begun and preparations continue at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. Along with the registration of early arriving delegates and members, the ratings and ring officials meetings kicked off simultaneously in day-long sessions.

The ratings committee meeting began at 9 a.m. in the Business Center, headed up by chairman Frank Quill and vice chair Claude Jackson. This year, interested promoters and managers were asked to submit their respective fighters’ records and to lobby for ratings adjustments in writing. The committee members worked diligently to dissect the records, activity, and quality of opposition among the fighters who may be eligible to move up, or in several cases seen today move down based on the aforementioned criteria. (more…)

Ioka to fight for vacant WBA 108lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten ex-WBA minimumweight champ Kazuto Ioka (10-0, 6 KOs), who lately renounced his belt to move up to the 108-pound category, will be awarded an opportunity to fight Mexican Jose Rodriguez (28-1, 17 KOs), in Osaka, Japan, on the last day of the year. The 23-year-old youngster is tremendously popular in his native Osaka, where people expect him to be the first Japanese boxer that will gain the second world belt only in his eleventh pro bout. The previous WBA full champ Roman Gonzalez has been elevated to the super champ in the light-flyweight division thanks to his five successful defenses. Now that another title bout is announced, we will see no less than five world title goes on December 31. It is possible Only In Japan.

Garcia-Judah presser erupts

Photos: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

The February 9 fight between unified super lightweight world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia against former two-division world champion Zab “Super” Judah almost took place Saturday afternoon at a press conference in New York that turned into a brawl when Garcia’s father, Angel, and Judah traded insults and the fighters and their camps had to be separated. “My dad was just stating true facts,” Garcia said during Saturday’s Showtime telecast. “Every time he [Judah] took a tough fight, he failed. Zab got mad, it broke out and there was a little riot at the press conference. My dad motivates me, he talks crap and I got to go back it up. If a fight breaks out, then I got his back.”

During the presser Garcia told Judah, “On February 9th I’ll teach you to respect people older than you. I’m going to punish you. I’m going to leave you lying in the ring.” (more…)

Salgado, Shafikov win in Cozumel

NABF super flyweight champion Jose “Sugar” Salgado (30-2-1, 26 KOs) took a workmanlike twelve round unanimous decision to successfully defend his title against late sub Devis “El Metrallo” Perez (16-8-4, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at the Parque Andres Quintana Roo in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Also, in an IBF eliminator for the #2 position, unbeaten Russian jr welterweight southpaw Denis Shafikov (31-0-1, 17 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Albert “Tornado” Mensah (25-4-1, 10 KOs) to claim Mensah’s IBF International title. Shafikov dropped Mensah twice in the bout.