Happy Birthday Bob Arum

Photo: Ed Keenan/Top Rank

Fightnews.com wishes Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum a happy 81st birthday! Bob is spending his big day doing what he does best, promoting a megafight in Las Vegas. The Top Rank CEO has been at the pinnacle of the sport ever since he got into it in 1966 by presenting a world heavyweight championship fight featuring ring legend Muhammad Ali in his promotional debut.

Since then, Top Rank, under Arum’s leadership, has promoted roughly 11,500 fight cards around the globe featuring the following fighters: Oscar De la Hoya, George Foreman, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, and of course, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

New Mexican fighter in critical condition

By Chris Cozzone
Photo by Jose Leon Castillo

Albuquerque bantamweight Raymond “Hollewood” Montes (5-3-1, 3 KOs) is in critical condition from injuries sustained in a knockout loss to Tony Valdez (7-3-3, 7 KOs) on the Holly Holm-Diana Prazak card last night in Albuquerque, N.M. After six brutal rounds – a continuation of a slugfest NM “Fight of the Year” in August that resulted in a draw – Montes was knocked unconscious by Valdez and was taken out on a stretcher. He remains hospitalized at a local hospital’s intensive care unit and has been diagnosed with bleeding on the brain. Montes is now conscious and is improving mentally, but it is unknown whether he will require surgery yet. Stay tuned.

Report/gallery: Vargas vs. Gasparyan

Ringside by Anthony Springer Jr.
Photos by Chris Cozzone

In front of a hometown crowd, “The Pride of Sin City” Jessie Vargas hit Vito Gasparyan (14-3-5, 8 KOs) with everything but the kitchen sink in the featured bout. Gasparyan succeeded in making it ugly, but Vargas dominated on the score cards to take a unanimous decision victory.

Gasparyan looked like the Terminator in the opening round, not throwing many punches and plodding through Vargas’ barrage. The Las Vegan relentlessly went to the body, leaving both sides of Gasparyan’s rib cage a shade of light red . . . Click here for more

Late money on Marquez

Manny Pacquiao is 2-0-1 in previous bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez and oddsmakers have the Pacman as a clear favorite to win again. Bettors, however, have been moving toward Marquez in droves this week with the odds on Pacman being bet down from -370 to -260 and the odds on Marquez moving from +280 to +210 in a 24-hour period at the host casino.

With the previous three bouts all being close and controversial, none of the judges from the previous fights have been assigned to this fight. In addition, it an unusual move, all three judges were in attendance at the rules meeting to hear NSAC executive director Keith Kizer explain the scoring criteria to the fighters.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said Friday that he expects there to be a knockout tonight and a definitive end to the Pacquiao-Marquez series.

Abraham aims to stop Bouadla early

Arthur Abraham (35-3, 27 KOs) has entered the ring in Nuremberg, Germany on two previous occasions. However, the December 15 fight against Mehdi Bouadla (26-4, 11 KOs) will be his first time as WBO super middleweight champion. “Mehdi Bouadla is a real fighter,” said Abraham about his challenger, who is rated WBO #13. “He is always looking for one-on-one situations. I am hoping to stop him early in order for him not to land as many hard shots in return. Those could be very dangerous.” As for his plans for the future, King Arthur states, “First, I want to win on December 15. Once the new year has started, I will start thinking about my next steps. I want to hold on to my title for quite a while!”

Holm decisions Prazak in NM

Ringside by Gerardo Martinez
Photo by Jose Leon Castillo 

Tonight in the main event at the Legends Theater inside Route 66 Casino, west of Albuquerque, Holly Holm (32-2-3, 9 KO’s) took care of business by outclassing outsized Australian Diana Prazak (11-2, 7 KO’s) en route to a unanimous decision victory in the Fresquez Productions card. Scores were 100-90 times three.

The co-main event of the night was a continuation of the New Mexico fight of the year candidate between Tony Valdez (7-3-3, 7 KO’s) and Raymond Montes (5-3-1, 3 KOs). This time around Montes ended up on the canvas, knocked out unconscious, and Valdez took the TKO win at 1:41 of the seventh round. Montes was taken away on a stretcher. The undercard: Matthew Baca (2-0, 2 KO’s) KO’d his opponent Derek Perez (0-1) of Belen at 0:32 seconds of the second round; In an impressive professional debut Las Cruces’ Siju Shabazz (1-0, 1 KO) TKO’d Ricky Villafuerte (0-1) of Albuquerque at 2:59 of the second round; Gary, Indiana’s Mary McGee (20-1, 11 KO’s) TKO’d Albuquerque’s Victoria Cisneros (8-14-2, 3 KO’s) at 0:23 seconds of the 4th round; and, starting off the action tonight was Albuquerque’s Jason Sanchez (1-0, 1 KO) who TKO’d Belen’s Gene Perez (1-1) at 2:50 of the first round in an impressive professional debut. Look for a full report and photo gallery tomorrow.

At the scales in Roswell, N.M.

From Roswell for tomorrow night’s School of Hard Knocks Promotion’ “Roswell Versus” six-bout card:

John Herrera 121.4 vs Cristoval Larazolo 119.8
Michael Herrera 152.6 vs Oscar De La Parra 153.4
Lizandro Feliciano 179.8 vs Ricardo Uriquizo 178.4
Bobby Pemberton 144.2 vs Victor Silva 142.6
Steven Serrano 159.8 vs Gerardo Quintana 157.4
Antonio Orozco 133.6 vs Diego Bautista 140

Fights will take place at Eastern New Mexico Fair Grounds in Roswell. Doors open at 5:30, fights start at 7 PM.

Weights from Anaheim

Luis Ramos 139.6 vs. Ricardo Williams 139.8
Jermell Charlo 135.4 vs. Jose Valderama 136.8
Rau’Shee Warren 117.4 vs. David Reyes 118
Thomas Williams 174.4 vs. Ricardo Campillo 176
Jarnel Herring 135.4 vs. Jose Valderama 136.8
Edward Ituarete 129.6 vs. Noe Lucas 129.4
Gerald Washington 246 vs. Marcus Washington 246
Robert Easter 134.2 vs. David Castillo 134

Venue: Business Expo Center, Anaheim, CA
Promoter: Golden Boy
TV: Fox Sports Net/Fox Deportes

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.

Weights from Washington DC

Here is the scale watch for Saturday night’s Keystone Boxing card at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center:

Dusty Harrison 146 1/4 vs. Darrell Jones 144 1/2
Phillip Jackson Benson 174 1/2 vs. Terrance Smith 176/12
Alantez Fox 153 3/4 vs. Jimmy LeBlanc 153 1/2
Kevin Rivers 125 1/2 vs. Alan Beeman 123 3/4
Shadeed Floyd 123 3/4 vs. David Warren Huffman 128 1/4
Dillon Hayman 151 1/2 vs. Ervin Fuller 151 1/2
Jarrett Hurd 154 1/2 vs. Anthony Jones 155
Jerry Odom 170 1/4 vs. Marcus Clay 167 1/2

Vargas wins in ugly fashion

By Anthony Springer at ringside
Photo by Chris Cozzone 

It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. Vito Gasparyan (14-3-5, 8 KOs) but was outboxed by Jessie Vargas (21-0, 9 KOs) in the featured bout. Vargas won a unanimous decision by scores of 98-91, 98-91 and 98-90.

Oscar Valdez (3-0, 2 KOs) proved he is a fighter to keep an eye on with a dominant win over Corben Page (4-5-1). The amateur stand out forced the Oregon fighters corner to frantically throw in the towel at the 2:24 mark in round two.

After a seesaw battle Raul Hirales Jr. (17-2-1, 8 KOs) rebounded from an opening round knockdown to defeat Oscar Gonzalez (17-2, 13 KOs) via unanimous decision. The score cards read 96-94, 95-94 and 97-92.

Heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. (17-0, 11 KOs) finished off Elijah McCall at 2:59 I’m the third with a series of left hooks. In a truly bizarre twist, McCall’s father Oliver remarked, “if [Ruiz] can get past dad, he’s ready for a title shot.” It’s unclear how serious McCall was but the line was repeated several times.

An inadvertent clash of the heads caused a premature end to Lucky Boy Omotoso (23-0-0-1) and Irving Garcia’s (17-8-3-1) welterweight bout. The men butted heads in the second round. The bout was declared a no contest.

In welterweight action, Kenny Abril (14-5-1, 7 KOs) edged Dennis Laurente (40-4-4, 22 KOs) by razor thin split decision. The judges scored the eight round affair 74-77, 77-74, and 76-75.

Trevor McCumby (9-0, 8 KOs) continued his winning ways, besting Eric Watkins via decision. Even with some verbal theatrics, Watkins (7-4, 4 KOs) was outclassed when it matter most: actual punches. The judges scored the light heavyweight bout 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54.

Weights from Philadelphia

Photo: Chris Toney

Bryant Jennings 225.25 vs. Bowie Tupou 253
Jerry Belmontes 129 vs. Eric Hunter 126.5
Jason Sosa 128.5 vs. Isaac Suarez 129.5
Jesse Hart 168 vs. Steven Tyner 170
Angel Luis Ocasio 134 vs. Esteban Rodriguez 135.5
Alex Barbosa 122.5 vs. Joshua Arocho 124
Taneal Goyco 174 vs. Todd Unthank-May 178
Anthony Burgin 129 vs. Kenneth Brown 129.5
Josue Rivera 143.5 vs. Hasan Young 146.75

Venue: Temple University McGonigle Hall, Philadelphia
Promoter: Main Events
TV: NBC Sports Network

Free tickets to Santa Cruz-Guevara

Golden Boy is offering free tickets to see IBF bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz’s title defense against undefeated challenger Alberto Guevara and the professional debut of Los Angeles’ 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph Diaz Jr. on December 15th at the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis at the Sports Arena Box Office (you must have a ticket to enter building). First fight begins at 1PM. This will be the first live boxing event on CBS Television in 15 years.

After the afternoon fights are over, the building will be cleared for the evening card headlined by British superstar Amir “King” Khan making his ring return against Carlos Molina. Fans who present ticket stubs from the afternoon event when purchasing tickets for the evening event will receive a 20% discount on tickets purchased. There is a limit of one discounted purchased ticket per ticket redeemed while supplies last.

Weights from Queens, NY

Vinny Maddalone 231.5 vs Byron Polley 268.5
Angel Garcia 134 vs. Victor Galindo 133
Neuky Santalises 131 vs Micah Branch 132
Rob Garris 171 vs Abdellah Smith 174
Heather Hardy 122 vs. Ivana Coleman 123.5
Bryant Cruz 129.5 vs. Jonathan Caban 130
Frank Galarza 152 vs Roberto Lopez 152
Juan Dominguez 121 vs. Jhon Alberto Molina 120

Venue: Resorts World Casino
Promoters: New Legend Boxing, Old World Boxing, W.O.N Promotions (Main event in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing)
1st bell: 6 pm (more…)

Gallery: Pacquiao-Marquez IV weigh-in

Photos by Chris Cozzone

All the shots from today’s Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV weigh-in at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  (more…)

Pacquaio, Marquez make weight

Photo by Chris Cozzone

Manny Pacquiao 147 vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 143
Yuriorkis Gamboa 130 vs. Michael Farenas 130
(WBA interim super featherweight title)
Miguel Vazquez 135 vs. Mercito Gesta 134
(IBF lightweight championship)
Javier Fortuna 126 vs. Patrick Hyland 126
(WBA interim featherweight title)
Dodie Boy Penalosa 123.5 vs. Jesus Lule Raya 124
Ernie Sanchez 127 vs. Coy Evans 126.5
Jose Ramirez 137 vs. Corey Seigwarth 136
Jazzma Hogue 121 vs. Alexis Hernandez 121
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Promoter: Top Rank
TV: Pay-Per-View

Walters, Prescott make weight

By Robert Coster
Photo: Olivier Monserrat-Robert (FFB)

Nicholas Walters 125 vs. Daulis Prescott 125.2
(WBA featherweight title)
Kina Malpartida 128.2 vs. Marilyn Hernandez ??
(WBA female super-featherweight title)
Alyn Sanchez 122 vs. Ana Maria Villalobos 119
(WBA female super bantamweight title)
Mauricio Reynoso 168 vs. Jaime Barboza 166
Rikardo Smith 148 vs. Sakina Mullings 166

Nicholas Walters: “I want to give Jamaica a great gift tomorrow night: a world title. I am very confident.”

Daulis Prescott: “The real fighting will be done in the ring. I’m bringing the title back to Colombia.”

Venue: Kingston National Indoor Stadium
Promotor: Premium Boxing Promotion and Sportsmax
TV: Sportsmax

Weights from Mexico City

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Josue Portales 112 vs Oscar Trujillo 111.75
Giovanni Delgado 117.70 vs Roberto Pucheta 117.70
Juan Jose Perez 125.85 vs Diego Gonzalez 125.85
Daniel Echevarria 135 vs Daniel Evangelista 124.75

Venue: Centro Banamex
Promoter: Promociones del Pueblo
TV: Cadena 3

photos

WBC Convention closes

Story and photos by Boxing Bob Newman

WBC president Jose Sulaiman officially closed the 50th anniversary convention this afternoon in Cancun, Mexico after the final morning meeting session. More topics, champion introductions, recognitions and awards were undertaken.

A hot topic close to Sulaiman’s heart is the ongoing AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) controversy that still rages on. Robert Lenhardt, WBC legal counsel read the report compiled by a task force which was formed to look into AIBA’s tactics within amateur boxing and entry into professional boxing.

In part, Lenhardt read, “it’s not that the WBC has a quarrel that AIBA wants to enter into professional boxing, but that AIBA is damaging amateur boxing. AIBA is paying salaries to amateur boxers. They are exercising anti-competitive and monopolistic behavior in forcing potential Olympians to sign professional contracts to fight exclusively for AIBA. (more…)

Harrison Headlines in DC

By Gary “Digital” Williams

Undefeated 18-year-old Washington, DC welterweight Dusty Harrison will headline the “Kings of the DMV” (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) boxing card on Saturday, December 8 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. Keystone Boxing is serving as promoter.

Harrison (10-0, six KO’s) will face Darrell Jones of Jacksonville, FL in a six-round encounter. Harrison scored a third-round TKO over Nalo Leal on the last Convention Center card on November 3. This will be Harrison’s seventh appearance at the Convention Center. Jones (3-9-1, one KO) is coming off a four-round unanimous decision win over Jahaad Wingfield on September 15 in Jacksonville. (more…)

Pacquiao-Marquez 4 sells out

The people have spoken and they voted unanimously for Saturday’s welterweight battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez — Act Four of their exciting and fistoric rivalry. Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum announced today that the MGM Grand Garden Arena and its 16,000-plus seats have completely sold out, producing a live gate in excess of $10.5 million. “Manny and Juan Manuel may have unfinished business in the ring, but as far as the live box office, it’s business as usual – another sellout,” said Arum. “I encourage boxing fans in Las Vegas to go to their favorite MGM Resort International property to purchase their closed-circuit seats today because the projections are looking like a sell out there too.”

Pacquiao vs. Márquez 4 will be available via closed circuit at the following MGM Resorts International Las Vegas properties: ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York and Circus Circus. Tickets are priced at $50, not including applicable service charges. All seats will be general admission and will be available at each individual property’s box office.

50 Cent steals show during Pacquiao-Marquez IV fight week

By Anthony Springer Jr.
Photo by Chris Farina/TopRank 

It didn’t take long for 50 Cent to jump head first into boxing promotions.

After severing the promotional company he founded with undefeated pugilist Floyd “Money” Mayweather, 50 hit the ground running with SMS Promotions. This Saturday, the undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa, his fighter, will take center stage in the co-main event of the highly anticipated fourth meeting between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

At the event’s final press conference, 50 vowed that Gamboa’s entrance would be one to remember and make some big promises about the future of boxing. (more…)

Will Walters end Jamaica’s boxing jinx?

By Robert Coster, reporting from Kingston, Jamaica
Photo: Olivier Monserrat-Robert (FFB)

On Saturday night, the beautiful little Caribbean nation of Jamaica will not be watching Pacquiao fight Marquez but rather will be rooting collectively for their native son Nicholas “The Axeman” Walters (21-0,17 KOs) who will be fighting for the vacant WBA world featherweight title against Daulis Prescott (26-1, 19 KOs) of Colombia. Jamaica has its share of track and field, cricket and soccer heroes, but it’s Walters’ intention to be the Caribbean island’s next sport idol and, at the same time, become the first Jamaican to win a boxing crown on native soil. (more…)

Kessler, Magee make weight

Photo: Photo Wende

Weights from Herning, Denmark, ahead of tomorrow’s Nordic Fight Night at Jyske Bank BOXEN. Kessler seeks to defend Denmark’s honor after Magee has previously knocked out Danes Mads Larsen and Rudy Markussen. The bout is available in Denmark on pay-per-view.

Brian Magee 168 vs. Mikkel Kessler 167.8
(WBA super middleweight championship)

Flores TKOs Hicks; Hanks, Thompson win

By Rocco Morales at ringside

In main event action, 22 year old undefeated heavyweight Alexander Flores (11-0, 9KO) was having his way with rugged Matt Hicks (13-8, 12KO) for the first two rounds when Hicks seemed to sprain his knee and fell to the canvas towards the end of the second round. The referee allowed Hicks some time to recover, and to his credit, Hicks did continue for the remainder of the round. Prior to the injury, the 6’4″ Flores , promoted by Roy Englebrecht Promotions, looked impressive, was boxing well and was hitting Hicks with some quick and powerful combinations to the head and body and appeared on the way to a likely impressive knockout victory. Instead, however, after Hicks was examined in the corner, at the advice of the ringside doctor the bout was waved off prior to the beginning of the third round. By way of TKO victory at 3:00 of the second round, Flores remains undefeated.

In a special attraction and last minute addition to the card, undefeated heavyweight contender, Joe “The Future” Hanks (21-0, 14KO) outpointed Maurenzo “T-Diddy” Smith (11-4, 8KO) to win a unanimous decision by scores of 60-54 on all three judges scorecards. The slightly awkward Smith seemed to puzzle Hanks a bit but Hanks clearly won every round but was never able to seriously hurt Smith who was coming off a first round destruction at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr. in his last fight less than three months ago. (more…)