Dmitry Yun was knocked down twice, but was still able to edge out a six-round unanimous decision over Javier Martinez in a lightweight bout.
Martinez was docked two points for spitting out his mouthpiece.
Yun, 135.4 lbs of Chelyabinsk, RUS won by scores of 57-54 twice and 56-54, and is now 2-0. Martinez, 134.5 lbs of Austin, TX is 4-7.
According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Jose Napoles has dies at the age of 79.
It is with profound sorrow that we report that Jose Angel ‘Mantequilla’ Napoles died today, and with his the passing, a golden era of the world welterweight championship closes full circle,” the WBC said in a statement. “Typical of the man, who was the bravest, most courageous of fighters, that although he had been affected by various illnesses for some time, he bravely battled on, attending WBC events, always smiling and being greeted by his many friends and fans who admired him as a fighter and as a man. Today that struggle came to an end with his children and grandchildren at his bedside in Mexico City.
“The World Boxing Council is in deep mourning with the departure of one of the very greatest welterweight champions of all time and one of the most beloved people in this sport. A fierce competitor in the ring, he was a kind gentleman outside of it. Rest in peace dear champion.”
Unified Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz is having reservations about his December 7th rematch with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“I know everyone is talking about the fight and all that,” Ruiz said on Tuesday in a live Instagram chat. “But we got the real news coming soon and the fight is gonna happen soon.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn reiterated that the site will be Diriyah.
“Absolutely it will,” Hearn told ESPN on Wednesday. “We have been in constant contact with Ruiz’s promoter (Tom Brown of TGB Promotions) and team about the rematch. Together we have written to all the governing bodies to confirm the date and location of the bout and the press conference will take place at the beginning of September.”
AJ, he’s scared. Hell yeah, why do you think he’s over there, trying to make the fight in Saudi Arabia,” Ruiz said in his Instagram video. “Look, United States of America wants to… never mind, I can’t say nothing. But the fight is gonna happen soon.”
Former world champion Jason Sosa stopped Lydell Rhodes in round seven of a scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
In round five, Sosa scored two knockdowns. the 1st one coming from a lead left hook. The 2nd was from an overhand right. In six, Sosa was cut over the right eye from an accidental headbutt. In round seven.Sosa landed a hard left hand that sent Rhodes to the canvas. After a few more punches, the corner of Rhodes stopped the fight at
Sosa, 129 lbs of Camden, NJ is 23-3-4 with 16 knockouts. Rhodes, 130.9 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is 27-4-1.
Adan Gonzales scored a stunning four-round unanimous decision over two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Robeisy Ramirez in a featherweight bout.
In round one, Gonzales landed a smacking left hook that sent Ramirez to the canvas. Ramirez never mounted any offense, and Gonzales was able to pull the shocking upset.
Gonzales of Denver won by scores of 40-35 and 39-36 Ramirez took a card 38-37. Gonzales is now 5-2-2. Ramirez of Cuba is 0-1.
Edgar Berlanga kept his perfect 1st round stoppage streak alive by taking out Gregory Trenel in their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.
Berlanha sent Trenel to the canvas with a hook to the ear of Trenel. The fight was stopped by referee Benjy Esteves after eating a flurry of punches at 2:24.
Berlanga, 162.3 lbs of Brooklyn is 12-0 with 12 knockouts. Trenel, 162.2 lbs of Dainvile, FRA is 11-5-2.
The much anticipated rematch between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua will take place on December 7th in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
BROOKLYN, NY — Polish-born Brooklyn heavyweight Adam “Babyface” Kownacki upped his perfect record to 20-0, 15KO, earning a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision against former three-time world title challenger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (38-6-1, 33KO) in the main event of a FOX broadcast from the Barclays Center. Judges scores were 118-110 and 117-111 for Kownacki.
The fight was fought at a frantic pace for two big men who tipped the scales at a combined 510¼ pounds (Kownacki, 266¼ & Arreola 244). Combined, the two sluggers threw 2,172 punches, landing 667 of them, both CompuBox records for the heavyweight division.
Kownacki, 30, wasted no time forcing the action, as he came off his stool firing in the bout’s opening round firing loaded shots that immediately had Arreola retreating. The 6’3” Pole continued to stalk Arreola, who tried to jab his way out of harm’s way. Once that task proved too difficult, Arreola made adjustments, and in the ensuing rounds the 38 year-old Californian began to smother Kownacki, continuously leaning on him and forcing the fight in-close.
From round two through twelve, the fight would be fought in-tight, which certainly wore on each fighter as they seemingly gassed midway through each round.
Kownacki seemingly landed at will and was more creative with his punches than Arreola, who possibly broke his right hand in the third round. The Pole, who is trained by Keith Trimble, varied his offense, threw uppercuts, short left hooks, and right crosses around Arreola’s guard.
Arreola’s successes came courtesy of his straight right, which he consistently landed, but perhaps without his usual power.
Credit Arreola, who after fading in the late-middle rounds, dug deep and fought well in the championship rounds, winning both of them on judge Lou Moret’s scorecard, as well as 15Rounds.com’s. 15Rounds scored the fight 115-113, Kownacki.
Tonight marked the seventh time in Kownacki’s last eight fights that he’s fought in front his red and white clad supporters (8,790 of them tonight) at the Barclays Center, which routinely turns into “Little Warsaw” on fight nights.
Kownacki now adds Arreola’s name to a list along with Artur Szpilka and Gerald Washington as former title challengers he holds wins over. Kownacki’s resume also sports a win over former IBF World Champion Charles Martin.
Arreola, in preparation for his fight versus Kownacki, parted ways with longtime trainer Henry Ramirez and linked up with legendary offense-first trainer Joe Goossen. Ramirez, who still maintains a close relationship with Arreola, was still present in Arreola’s corner tonight.
With the win, Kownacki takes another step forward in his quest to become the first Polish born heavyweight champion and positions him nicely to get a crack at WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder.
“I thought it was a good close fight but I knew I pulled it out. I landed a lot of shots and that was enough to win,” Kownacki said afterward.
“I tried to follow up when I had him hurt but I was throwing two punches instead of three or four,” he added. “I just have to keep training hard, getting better and sharpening my skills. We’ll see what the future holds. Hopefully next year I’ll get the title shot.”
Post-fight, Arreola credited Kownacki’s ever-charging approach.
“”Adam is relentless. He just keeps coming. I know I got him with some good punches and he got me with some good ones. I was more than ready to go all 12, but Adam came in and won the fight.”
On whether or not tonight was the last time we’ll see Arreola in the ring, he said, “Retirement is something I need to talk to my family and team about. I gave it my all this fight. I let it all hang out.”
In another stunning upset from the Barclays Center, Jean Pascal (37-6-1, 20KO) turned back the clock and sent “Sir” Marcus Browne (23-1, 16KO) to the canvas three times en route to an eight round technical decision victory (75-74×3) to capture Browne’s interim WBA World LIghtweight title.
Things started according to plan for the former 2012 Olympian Browne, who in the early goings used his height and reach advantage to keep the bull-rushing Pascal at bay. The first two rounds saw the Staten Island southpaw constantly popped his jab and punished the shorter Pascal each time the Quebecer leapt forward to land a charging blow.
In the third Browne became more assertive and started to open up. Midway through the round, a Browne left seemed to momentarily stun Pascal, who had his back against the ropes. Browne then uncorked two violent right hooks, to the head and body that former champ somehow absorbed.
The momentum and complexion of the fight changed suddenly the following round, however, when both fighters landed simultaneous right hands, Browne – a right hook, Pascall – a right cross. It was the former champion Pascal’s cross, though, that exploded upon impact and sent the previously-unbeaten Browne thudding to the mat. Foggy and dazed, Browne beat referee Gary Rosato’s ten count, but then had to figure out how to survive the remaining 1:40 seconds of the round. He did so by clinching at every opportunity until he heard the ding of the bell.
Between rounds four and five, Browne cleared the cobwebs and came out of his corner on steady legs, making a continuous and conscious effort to score to his 36 year-old counterpart’s body.
Similar to the fifth, the sixth likely belonged to Browne, who again kept digging shots to Pascal’s body.
The Canadian roared back in the seventh, though, landing another explosive right cross that sent Browne violently to the mat for the second time. A wobbly Browne beat Rosato’s ensuing ten count, but was sent back to the canvas shortly after when Pascal clipped him with a short right as the round neared end.
Midway through an eighth round that was all-Pascal, the two clashed heads that resulted in a nasty gash over Browne’s left eye. Rosato called a stop to the action and called for ringside physician Dr. Nitin Sethi to exam the cut. Upon doing so, he advised Rosato to halt the contest, which he did at the 1:49 mark of the round.
At the end of seven-plus, all three judges scored the fight 75-74 for Pascal. Browne won all rounds where he remained on his feet.
“Boxing is boxing,” Pascal said afterward. “We clashed heads, but at the end of the day, I was winning the round. I dropped him three times. It was a close fight, but I believe I was winning.
It was a retro performance from Pascal, who many believed his best days were in the rearview. Late last year Pascal came up short against current WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol.
Tonight was the first title defense for Browne since winning his title in January when he outpointed a a crimson-faced Badou Jack.
Omotoso Stops Stevens Inside 3 In Jr. Middleweight Firefight
In the first of three fights broadcast live on FOX, Nigerian junior middleweight Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso (28-4, 22KO) scored three knockdowns en route to a third round TKO against former world title challenger Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (30-7, 22KO) in a contest originally slated for ten.
It was a brief, albeit exciting firefight between the two 34 year-old sluggers, with both fighters willing to eat a shot to land one. But it was Omotoso’s punch resistance — or better yet, Stevens’ lack thereof — that made the difference in the ring.
Omotoso scored his first knockdown — of the flash variety — midway through the first round courtesy of a right hand that landed behind Stevens’ left ear.
The following round, Omotoso again sent Stevens to the canvas, courtesy of a stiff jab that came at the end of an exchange.
In the third round, Stevens tried to turn the tide and came off his stool and charged toward Omotoso, letting his hands fly. The Brooklyn-native backed Omotoso into a neutral corner and started peppering him short hooks and crosses. Omotoso responded quickly though, firing off his own hooks and crosses thwart Stevens’ offensive surge.
As the two circled the ring and neared the opposite neutral corner, Omotoso uncorked a textbook one-two that caught Stevens on the chin, sending him back to the mat. A blurry-eyed Stevens beat referee Johnny Callas’ ten count, but failed to convince him he was able to continue.
The result marked the fourth time Stevens has been stopped inside the distance. Perhaps most memorable was his vicious KO loss against David Lemeiux in 2017.
“I was just letting my hands go. On the second knockdown my confidence grew,” Omotoso said. “I was glad to get the victory by knockout.
“I didn’t expect it to go exactly like that. I was just listening to my coach,” he continued. “The second knockdown was actually with my jab.
Stevens also spoke after the fight. “He hit me with an overhand right in the first round that knocked my equilibrium,” he said. “But that didn’t really affect me too much. I wasn’t stepping enough into my punches, i was reaching. I got caught when I was reaching.”
Brian Howard Viciously KOs Carlos Negron In One
Atlanta heavyweight Brian Howard (15-3, 12KO) needed just 66 seconds to bulldoze past 6’6” Puerto Rican Carlos Negron (20-3, 16KO) and score the biggest win of his career.
A Howard right hurt Negron about thirty seconds into the bout, and from that moment on, it was bombs away for the 39 year-old veteran. Howard was relentless, offering Negron no relief, forcing him into perpetual retreat.
After a few more Howard punches landed through Negron’s shoddy guard, referee Shada Murdaugh took a close look, seemingly ready to stop the fight. The very next Howard right took that decision out of Murdaugh’s hands, however, as it landed flush on the side of Negron’s head, sending the big Puerto Rican crashing hard to the mat and almost out of the ring. The fight was immediately waved off at the 1:06 mark of the first round.
It was the second straight fight Negron was KO’d. He suffered the same fight in December courtesy of two-time world title challenger Dominic Brazeale in this same arena in December.
Jones TKOs Sosa, Hands Him First Taste of Defeat
In a shocking upset, welterweight Brian “Sweet” Jones (15-10, 9KO) scored a seventh round TKO over previously unbeaten Julian Sosa (13-1-1, 5KO).
Sosa looked to be in control through the first three-plus rounds of the fight, but a Jones three-punch combo midway through the fourth flipped the script. The aforementioned combo sent Sosa crashing to the mat, dazed and confused. The 23 year-old Brooklynite beat referee Earl Brown’s ten count and was able to hang on to see the next round.
In the fifth, Jones stepped on the gas and immediately walked a still-fuzzy Sosa into a neutral counter where he began to let his hands go. Sosa bent forward and put a glove to the mat to catch his balance, resulting in a second knockdown.
The fight ended shortly thereafter, at the 2:28 mark of the 5th, when Brown jumped between fighters to stop any more of Jones’ unobstructed punches from reaching Sosa’s head.
It should be noted that Sosa’s trainer and father Aureliano Sosa was not present in his son’s corner tonight. Over the past few years, Aureliano Sosa has amassed a skilled stable of blue-chip New York prospects including Richardson Hitchins and Chris Colbert. For tonight’s fight, however, with the elder Sosa absent, it was the undefeated 22 year-old lightweight, Colbert, operating as the corner’s chief second.
The result marked the first time the 32 year-old Jones has won at the Barclays Center in three tries.
Marsellus Wilder Redeems Himself In Brooklyn, UDs Nicoy Clarke
Cruiserweight Marsellus Wilder (5-1, 2KO), the younger brother of WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, slugged his way past Jamaican Nicoy Clarke (2-4) en route to a four round unanimous decision victory (40-36×2, 39-37).
Various times throughout the fight, the 30 year-old Wilder had Clarke in trouble, but was never able to close the show. The hard-nosed Clarke weathered all storms and had brief moments of success, but not enough to rack up rounds.
Tonight marked the first time Wilder fought at the Barclays Center since being KO’d by journeyman William Deets late in the fourth round of a four round fight he was comfortably winning. That KO remains his only loss.
Helen Joseph Cruises To 6-Round Shutout Over Edina Kiss
Connecticut’s Helen “Iron Lady” Joseph upped her record to 16-3-2, 10KO, earning a six round unanimous decision (60-53×3) against Hungary’s Edina “DNA” Kiss (15-11, 9KO) in a super bantamweight affair.
It was all Joseph from bell to bell. The 30 year-old Nigerian forced the action, pressed forward, and had Kiss uncomfortably fighting off her back foot round after round.
Joseph scored a knockdown in the second courtesy of a looping right that forced Kiss down to a knee.
The 29 year-old Kiss’ remains winless on American soil, having now dropped all eight of her US contests.
Unbeaten Kestna Davis Scores 4-Round UD Over Winless Jaime Meza
New Jersey’s Kestna “Hardball” Davis (4-0) dusted off two years of ring rust to score a four round unanimous decision (40-36×3) over fellow junior middleweight Jaime Meza (0-3).
The 24 year-old Jamaican-born southpaw, Davis, used his height and reach advantage to score the more impactful punches during their twelve minute affair.
Davis’ three prior pro fights all came in 2017.
Cobia Breedy Remains Unbeaten, Scores 10-Round UD Over Ryan Lee Allen
In the night’s second contest, Maryland featherweight Cobia “Soldier” Breedy (14-0, 4KO) out-landed Michigan’s Ryan Lee Allen (9-4-1, 4KO) en route to a ten round unanimous decision (99-91×2, 97-93).
It wasn’t a buttoned-up performance by Breedy, as the wide scorecards might suggest. Allen was able to touch Breedy all fight, but was unable to land anything of significance.
Make no mistake though, it was Breedy who was better on the night. The 27 year-old Barbados-born boxer kept punches coming round after round and continually bested his counterpart.
Arnold Gonzalez Opens Night With 4 Round UD Over De Los Santos
In his hometown debut, welterweight Arnold Gonzalez ran his record to a perfect 2-0, decisioning Texan Jeremiah De Los Santos (0-4) in a four round contest that opened an eleven bout card from the Barclays Center. Scores were 40-36 across the board.
Although born and bred in NYC, the former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, Gonzalez, hones his craft on the west coast, fighting under the watchful eye of the Wild Card Boxing Club’s Julian Chua.
The marathon fight night concludes with a FOX triple header beginning at 8EST, anchored by a battle of big men when heavyweight contenders Adam Kownacki and Chris Arreola meet in a contest that’s scheduled for — but probably won’t go — twelve rounds.
According to Dan Rafael of espn.con, Middleweight champion Canelo was unaware of the deal his promotional company Golden Boy Promotions made with the IBF that ultimately got him stripped of his belt.
“I’m very upset and ashamed with my fans, to be unfairly stripped of my belt by the IBF, but specially when I did not have the knowledge of the agreement that GBP match maker had signed,” Alvarez wrote Friday evening on social media.
Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy, however, backed up Golden Boy Matchmaker Robert Diaz with a post on social media Friday night.
“(Diaz) did nothing wrong,” Gomez wrote. “The IBF has been unfair to Canelo since he won the title in May. Oscar De La Hoya and I stand by Roberto 1000%.”
Lineal Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will take on Otto Wallin on September 14th in Las Vegas, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
The fight, which will headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card, will take place at an MGM property in Las Vegas, meaning the MGM Grand Garden Arena, T-Mobile Arena or Mandalay Bay Events Center, Moretti said.
“The paperwork is being drafted, but there is an agreement,” Moretti said.
“I think it’s great Tyson Fury wants to get right back in the ring and stay active,” Moretti said. “It’s something uncommon nowadays.”
Former welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir was sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter in Argentina, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Baldomir denied the charges. And when he arrived at court for the beginning of his trial, he gave the middle finger to reporters covering it. According to media reports in Argentina, Baldomir’s ex-wife, who is the mother of the child, reported Baldomir to police when she discovered what had happened.
The WBC has stripped WBC Interim Heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte following testing positive for a banned substance prior to his vicory over Oscar Rivas on July 20th, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“An A sample UKAD collected from Mr. Dillian Whyte in relation with his bout against Oscar Rivas yielded an adverse finding,” the WBC said in a statement Tuesday. “In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, the WBC is provisionally suspending the WBC’s recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC interim world heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger of the division.
“The WBC has notified Mr. Whyte and his team of the WBC’s suspension, and that it will afford Mr. Whyte the opportunity to present its position to the WBC at an investigative hearing which will take place at a place and time to be announced in the near future. Throughout its investigation and hearing, the WBC will afford Mr. Whyte and his team the opportunity to present any available information and materials, and any exculpatory evidence they might deem appropriate.”
Whyte’s only public comments on the situation came Friday via social media.
“I am so disappointed with the rubbish that has been said about me over the last few days,” Whyte wrote. “I have lawyers dealing with it and I have been told that I can’t talk about it for good legal reasons. I was cleared to fight and I won that fight fair and square.”
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, will return to the ring on August 10th against Evert Bravo on August 10th in Mexico, According to Dan Rafael of espn.com
Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Sergiy Derevyanchenko are closing in on a deal that would pit them against each other this fall, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev has been reinstated by the California commission after planting an an uwanted kiss on on a female reporter acording to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“It was good hearing. Everybody’s side was heard again and the bottom line is Kubrat Pulev has complied over and above what was requested of him,” Ivaylo Gotzev of Epic Sports, which co-promotes Pulev with Top Rank, told ESPN. “The more important part is Kubrat Pulev wants to do more in the future. The whole world has an opinion on this situation and we want to educate and show by example how things should be handled and how athletes should behave.
“This was a lesson well learned and now we want to help others not make a mistake like this one. Kubrat is a great person and wants to help others. He’s going to educate others how they should act in these situations.”
“Kubrat has been training over the past few months,” Gotzev said. “He is the No. 1 mandatory contender for the IBF belt and now it’s time for us to demand the opportunity to fight for the belt against the current champion Andy Ruiz.”
Gotzev and Epic Sports partner John Wirt are due to meet with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum later on Monday to discuss the next move for Pulev now that he is free to fight again.
“We’re meeting with Arum to talk about different proposals and we’ll see what he’s got,” Wirt told ESPN. “Maybe we will go the IBF route and it could be Ruiz. Maybe a fight with Tyson Fury could be in the mix. You never know.”
David Price stopped Dave Allen after round ten of a scheduled 12-round heavyweight bout.
Allen seemed to hurt his hand the fight was pulled.
Price is 25-6 with 20 knockouts. Allen is 17-5-2.
In a battle of former world title challenger, Dereck Chisora knocked out Artur Szpilka in round two of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.
Chisora landed a perfect right hand that sent Szpilka plummeting down and fight was stopped at 1:01.
Chisora 31-9 with 22 knockouts. Szpilka of Poland is 22-4.
Richard Riakporhe took a close 10-round split decision over Chris Billam-Smith a cruiserweight fight.ro
Riakporhe won by scores of 96-93 twice while Smith took a card 95-94.
Riakporhe is 10-0. Smith is 9-1.
Lawrence Okolie stopped Mariano Angel Guidino After round seven of the scheduled 10-round counterweight fight,
In round three, Okollie dropped Gudino with a right hand.
Okolie dropped Guidino three more times in round seven, and the bout wzs stopped upon the bell.
Okolie is 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Guidino of Argentina 13-3.
Dan Azeez stopped Charley Duffield in round six of their scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout.
Azeez could not miss with his right and closed the left eye of Duffield up. The corner threw in the towel at 2:49.
Azeez is 9-0 with six stoppagees. Duffield is 7-2.
Teofimo Lopez won a 12-round unanimous decision over Mashayomi Nakatani in a lightweight elimination bout at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
With the win, Lopez earned a shot at IBF Lightweight champion Richard Commey.
Lopez, 134.4 lb of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 119-109 and 118-110 twice, ad is now 14-0. Nakatami, 134.4 lbs of Osaka, JAP is 18-1.
NEWARK, NJ –In his first fight as a headliner, Newark’s “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (12-0, 7KO) brought his hometown fans to their feet, scoring a round 3rd round KO against former two-time world title challenger Alberto Guevara (27-5, 12KO) in front of 5,150 fans at the Prudential Center in the main event of a Top Rank fight card broadcast on ESPN+ and ESPN.
It was evident from the early goings that Stevenson’s size and power would overwhelm the smaller Guevara, who’s best days were fought at bantamweight. Because of this, Guevara was reluctant to let his fists fly, knowing that any Stevenson countershot could end his night.
After a relatively quiet first round, the southpaw Stevenson upped the tempo in the second, cracking and landing with both hands. About midway through the round, Stevenson scored a somewhat strange knockdown when Guevara lost his balance and bent forward to try and clinch Stevenson. In a bit of an “ole”/matador maneuver, Stevenson avoided the clinch and planted a left to the body, allowing Guevara’s forward momentum to carry him forward to the canvas. Referee David Fields ruled a knockdown and Guevara beat the count.
As the second round drew to a close, Stevenson again dropped Guevara — this time with authority — courtesy of a straight left that landed flush on the right side of Guevara’s face, dropping him to his knees. Guevara again beat Field’s ten count just as the bell sounded to end the round.
In the third, Stevenson, who is trained by his grandfather Wali Moses, thought he scored another knockdown after a landing a body shot, followed by a left to the head, but Fields correctly ruled that the body shot was low and allotted Guevara time to recover.
The end came shortly after though, as Stevenson unleashed a vicious flurry of pinballing headshots that sent an unsteady Guevara to the mat for the third and final time where he was counted out by Fields at the 2:37 mark of round 3.
It was an impressive win for the former 2016 Beijing Olympic Medalist, who was escorted to the ring by WBO World Welterweight Champion Terence Crawford (35-0, 26KO).
Initially, Stevenson, who retained his NABO Featherweight Title tonight, was slated to face Hairon Socarras (22-0-3, 13KO), who pulled out about a month before the fight. In stepped Venezeulan Franklin Manzanilla (18-5, 17KO) who accepted the challenge, only to also pull out earlier this month. Credit Guevara, Stevenson’s third scheduled opponent for taking the fight on short notice and seeing it through.
To date, Guevara has only lost to top-notch competition, including Stevenson. In his most recent fight before tonight, Guevara dropped a unanimous decision to former WBO/WBA World Bantamweight Champion Hugo Ruiz (39-5, 33KO) in January. His resume also sports losses in two world title fights, to Leo Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19KO) in 2012 and Shinsuke Yamanake in 2013. His other loss came courtesy of Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-1, 12KO), who then went on to capture world bantamweight titles of his own.
What’s next for Stevenson?
We know he wants to move quickly. Much against the wishes of Top Rank brass, Stevenson and his camp pushed for and secured a fight against former title challenger Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz (24-2, 16KO) in April. Stevenson shined in that fight, outclassing his veteran counterpart en route to a wide unanimous decision victory.
He reiterated his desire to get bigger fights after tonight’s match, asking his promotor to find him bigger fights. “Top Rank, you all have to give me better competition I want the IBF and WBO {titles},” he said. “I would love to go to England to fight Josh Warrington.”
On his performance tonight, Stevenson said, “That was a great performance I put on for the city of Newark…I surprised myself today. I was going to the body a lot. I saw him at the weigh-in. He didn’t look like he was in shape.”
More than anything, tonight’s fight served as a showcase fight for Stevenson. It granted the kid from Newark, who for a time lived on Ali Boulevard, an opportunity to put on a show in his home city in front of family and friends. For Top Rank, it also tested Stevenson’s drawing power as a headliner in a Newark market that Main Events and Tomasz Adamek once thrived in.
If it was up to Stevenson, Newark’s boxing fans will get an opportunity to see him in-person a lot more over the next few years.
“I see me bringing big fights to Newark I see me bringing boxing back to Newark. Brick City, I appreciate you all. Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am.”
Joshua Greer Edges Majority Decision Over Nikolai Potapov
In the night’s co-feature, broadcast live on ESPN, Chicago bantamweight Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer, Jr. (21-1-1, 12KO) earned a twelve round majority decision over Brooklyn-based Russian Nikolai Potapov (20-2-1, 11KO) in an IBF title eliminator.
Official scorecards read 115-113 and 116-112, Greer, and 114-114.
It was a technical fight, fought in the pocket and within each fighter’s firing range. It was never a reckless affair, however, and it wasn’t going to be, no matter how many boos the blood-thirsty Jersey crowd rained down.
Both fighters had moments where their punches landed and where they avoided return fire. Quite simply, Greer had a few more of them, and was able to eke out a narrow decision.
The decision victory stretched Greer’s win streak to seventeen in a row, but snapped a seven fight stoppage streak, a run that started almost two years ago to the day, when he retired Leroy Davila (5-2, 3KO).
Greer’s only career defeat remains a 2015 majority decision a loss to Stephon Fulton (16-0, 7KO) in his fifth pro fight.
For the 28 year-old Potapov, tonight marks his first defeat on US soil in four fights. He’d previously compiled a record of 2-0-1. His only other defeat came in 2017 when he was retired by former Argentine world champion Omar Andres Narvaez (49-3-2, 23KO) in Buenos Aires.
He’s very awkward with the Russian style,” Greer said post-fight. “But at the end of the day, this is the pros…I pulled it out.”
“The booing didn’t bother me. I know I won the fight,” he added. “Every time I hit him to the body, I hurt him. I didn’t get the knockout, but I got the win.”
Josue Vargas Stops Manny Lopez In 7
In the final fight streamed on ESPN+, Bronx-based Puerto Rican Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (14-1, 9KO) scored a 7th round TKO against fellow welterweight Manuel “Manny Lo” Lopez (14-4-1, 7KO) in a bout originally slated for eight.
The 20 year-old southpaw, Vargas, controlled the action and dictated the pace of the fight from the opening bell. Vargas invited Lopez’s pressure and peppered him each and every time he got into range.
Not for lack of trying, but the 28 year-old Coloradan, Lopez, was unable to get any offense going. He consistently found himself on the receiving end of Vargas jabs and straight lefts.
In the seventh round, smelling blood in the water, Vargas turned up the heat and let his hands fly. Hurt and winded, Lopez retreated, but was unable to shake Vargas, who kept the fists coming.
Eventually, Vargas pinned Lopez against the ropes and began unloading, at one point landing three consecutive head snapping right uppercuts. Referee Sparkle Lee jumped in to stop the contest at the 2:50 mark of the 7th round.
It was Vargas’ second fight under the Top Rank promotional banner and fifth consecutive win via stoppage. Vargas previously fought under contract with Mayweather Promotions.
For Lopez, tonight marked his first fight east of the Mississippi and the first time in his career he was stopped inside the distance.
17 Year-Old Vito Mielnicki Jr. Rocks “The Rock”, Scores Emphatic KO1 In Debut
In his professional debut, 17 year-old New Jersey native Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki, Jr. (1-0, 1KO) blew the lid off the Prudential Center, scoring a murderous first round KO against Mississippi’s Tamarcus Smith (2-3, 2KO) in front of hundreds of frenzied hometown fans.
The end came emphatically and without notice when Mielnicki caught a retreating Smith with a left hook to the chin-straight right combo that turned out Smith’s lights, collapsing him face down on the mat where referee Shada Murdaugh stopped the bout immediately at the 1:16 mark of the first round.
Mielnicki, a rising senior at nearby West Essex High School, needed a special exemption from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board allowing him to make his debut tonight, ten months before his 18th birthday.
During his amateur career, Mielnicki, who is the son of GH3 CEO, promoter Vito Mielnicki, amassed an impressive record of 147-22. He decided to forego his amateur status and his dreams of becoming an Olympian, however, when it became clear that age restrictions would prevent him from participating in an Olympics before 2024.
Julian Rodriguez Hammers Herrera, Scores KO1
In his first bout in twenty-two months, welterweight Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez (17-0, 11KO) returned to action and scored a statement-making first round KO against veteran Colombian slugger Hevinson Herrera (24-18-1, 17KO) in a bout originally slated for six rounds.
If you blinked you might have missed it as Rodriguez landed a left hook-straight right combo that collapsed Herrera to the mat where he was counted out by referee Sparkle Lee at the :59 mark of the first round.
Prior to tonight, Rodriguez last fought in September 2017 when he outpointed Dario Ferman (17-6, 14KO) in Philadelphia. Following that contest, the 24-year old Rodriguez was sidelined by injury, and required surgery to repair a torn labrum.
He looked no worse for the wear tonight though and came out firing, overwhelming his 34 year-old counterpart and ending it early.
For Rodriguez, tonight marked his first win inside the distance since June 2016.
It was the second straight stoppage loss and third overall for Herrera, who was retired by former two-division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (35-6-1, 20KO) in his last fight in March. He remains winless outside of his native Colombia, 0-14.
“I was very confident in my preparation, so I felt like I had to go in there and do what I had to do,” Rodriguez said.
Speaking about his early KO, he added, “That’s what {the fans} like about me. When they come here, they see a show.”
John Bauza Remains Unbeaten, Scores UD Over Ramirez
In an eight round super lightweight match, North Bergen, New Jersey’s John “El Terrible” Bauza (13-0, 5KO) scored a unanimous decision against Mexico’s Angel Sarinana (10-9-2, 4KO) to remain unbeaten.
All three judges scored the contest a shutout 80-72 for Bauza.
It was bell to bell action, as both fighters willingly engaged round after round trying to impose their will on the other. But it was the 20 year-old southpaw Bauza who consistently besited his 26 year-old counterpart, landing the more impactful punches while eluding most of Sarinana’s power shots.
The result marks the fifth straight unanimous decision win for the Robert Garcia-trained Bauza.
Vijender Singh Scores Stoppage Win In US Debut
In his American debut, two-time Indian Olympian Vijender Singh (11-0, 8KO) scored a 4th round TKO over West Virginia’s Mike Snider (13-6-3, 8KO) in super middleweight contest originally slated for eight.
It was Singh’s first fight since December 2017, and ring rust was evident, as he didn’t look as sharp as one would expect from a boxer with his pedigree. But make no mistake, the 33 year-old Indian controlled the fight from the opening bell, and showcased his power late in the second round when he rocked Snider with a straight right that sent him flailing backwards until his back hit the ropes.
The former Beijing Olympic Bronze Medalist upped the offense in the fourth, throwing a higher volume of punches, ultimately backing his 38 year-old counterpart into the red corner, battering him until referee Shada Murdaugh jumped between fighters at the 1:23 mark to stop the contest.
It was the fourth time in Snider’s career that he’s been stopped before the final bell. He was stopped in his previous outing against Tommy Hughes (9-1, 4KO) in February. He was also stopped by current WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-0, 14KO) in 2016.
“It was excellent getting back in the ring after a long time off,” Singh said after the fight. “It’s great to be here in the USA and to get the win. It was really exciting.”
“It took me about four rounds to get back in the swing of things,” he added. “I expected it to take two or three rounds, but it took me four. I felt good.”
John Bauza Decisions Angel Sarinana To Remain Unbeaten
In an eight round super lightweight match, North Bergen, New Jersey’s John “El Terrible” Bauza (13-0, 5KO) scored a unanimous decision against Mexico’s Angel Sarinana (10-9-2, 4KO) to remain unbeaten.
All three judges scored the contest a shutout 80-72 for Bauza.
It was bell to bell action, as both fighters willingly engaged round after round trying to impose their will on the other. But it was the 20 year-old southpaw Bauza who consistently besited his 26 year-old counterpart, landing the more impactful punches while eluding most of Sarinana’s power shots.
The result marks the fifth straight unanimous decision win for the Robert Garcia-trained Bauza.
Vijender Singh Scores Stoppage Win In US Debut
In his American debut, two-time Indian Olympian Vijender Singh (11-0, 8KO) scored a 4th round TKO over West Virginia’s Mike Snider (13-6-3, 8KO) in super middleweight contest originally slated for eight.
It was Singh’s first fight since December 2017, and ring rust was evident, as he didn’t look as sharp as one would expect from a boxer with his pedigree. But make no mistake, the 33 year-old Indian controlled the fight from the opening bell, and showcased his power late in the second round when he rocked Snider with a straight right that sent him flailing backwards until his back hit the ropes.
The former Beijing Olympic Bronze Medalist upped the offense in the fourth, throwing a higher volume of punches, ultimately backing his 38 year-old counterpart into the red corner, battering him until referee Shada Murdaugh jumped between fighters at the 1:23 mark to stop the contest.
It was the fourth time in Snider’s career that he’s been stopped before the final bell. He was stopped in his previous outing against Tommy Hughes (9-1, 4KO) in February. He was also stopped by current WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-0, 14KO) in 2016.
“It was excellent getting back in the ring after a long time off,” Singh said after the fight. “It’s great to be here in the USA and to get the win. It was really exciting.”
“It took me about four rounds to get back in the swing of things,” he added. “I expected it to take two or three rounds, but it took me four. I felt good.”
Joseph Adorno Blasts Out Adriano Ramirez Inside 2
Highly touted lightweight prospect Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (13-0, 11 KO) scored an emphatic second round stoppage over the Dominican Republic’s Adriano Ramirez (10-4, 6KO) to kick the first of six fights from the Prudential Center to be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Allentown, PA native, who was born just a few miles from Newark in Union City, NJ, was patient and plodding in the first round, waiting for openings to let his hands fly.
Early in the second, Adorno found his opening and fired a crisp left hook that landed flush on the side of Ramirez’s head and floored him. Referee Sparkle Lee offered a generous and elongated ten count, which Ramirez beat, but the fight didn’t last much longer. Adorno battered Ramirez to the ropes, and when the Dominican looked to be on his way to the mat again, Adorno made sure of it, unleashing two right crosses to finish the fight. Lee stopped the contest at the 1:12 mark of round 2.
It was the second fight and second win of 2019 for the Robert Garcia-trained Adorno. He fought six times in 2018.
For Ramirez, the result cements a three-fight losing streak. He last dropped a unanimous decision to Josue Vargas (13-1, 8KO) in March at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater and before that was stopped by Pittsburgh’s Matt Conway (17-0, 7KO) in August 2018.
The Adorno win kicks off an eight fight card that will commence with a two fight showcase on ESPN at 10:30pm ET when Joshua Greer Jr. (20-1-1-, 12KO) takes on fellow bantamweight Nikolai Potapov (20-1-1, 11KO) in a twelve round contest and Newark’s hometown hero Shakur Stevenson (11-0, 6KO) does battle with fellow featherweight Alberto Guevara (27-4, 12KO) in a ten round fight.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. July 12, 2019
#13 WBA Welterweight Derrieck “Pretty Boy” Cuevas 22-0-1(14 KO) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico successfully defended his WBA Fedelatin Title and country’ pride in a classic “Puerto Rico vs Mexico” battle with a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Jesus Alberto “Barretero” Beltran 17-3-2(10KO). 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.
Opening up the action was a four-round featherweight tussle between Miami’s Luis Melendez who improved to 5-1, (3 KO) with a unanimous decision win over Ponce, Puerto Rico’s Eduardo Melendez 5-27(1 KO)
The second bout of the evening had super bantamweight Jorge De Jesus Romero improving to 15-0(11 KO) with TKO win over Mexico City’s Szilveszter Kanalas (14-9, 9 KO), the end came at 2:43 of round 2.
In an exciting eight-round super featherweight blitz, Miami via Cuba’s Jessy “Beast Boy” Cruz 17-7-1(7 KOs) stretched his winning streak to five in an all-action punch-out with Mexico City’s and former Mexican Super bantamweight champion Isao Gonzalo “Kato” Carranza 15-15-1(9 KO). Carranza got off the canvas four times to come back the second half of the fight to turn the tide, but not enough to make up the points of the knockdowns. Excellent Fight!
Super featherweight from Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan Mussa “Warrior” Tursyngaliyev 10-0(6 KO) won a unanimous decision win over Panama City, Panama’s Ricardo “El Matematico” Nunez 29-10 (23 KO) the fight originally scheduled for eight rounds cut short under the advisement of the doctor after an accidental head butt in round 6 at 2:17. The cards read 58-56, 59-55, 60-54.
Two-time Olympic medalist and undefeated heavyweight KO artist Ivan “The Kazakh Giant” Dychko 9-0,(9 KO) of Boca Raton, Florida, via Rudniy, Kazakhstan, made quick work of ESPN 2015 Boxcino Tournament Quarterfinalist Nate Heaven 9-3 (7 KO) of Ocala, Florida. Dychko landed a big overhand right In round 2 that crumbled Heaven and ended the fight.
Popular Fort Lauderdale warrior Blake Davis 3-0(1 KO) knocked Jefferson City, Missouri’s Armando Reeves 2-4 down in the first round en route to a unanimous decision victory. Davis kept the hard-charging Reeves at bay with his long jabs, counter right hands and inside clinches. The final cards came in at 38-37 38-37 39-36
Jermain Franklin Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round split decision over Jerry Forrest in a heavyweight bout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.
It seemed that Forrest may have landed the better shots and deserved the nod, but two judges ruled in favor of Franklin by 97-93 tallies, while Forrest took a card 96-95.
Franklin, 240 1/4 lbs of Saginaw, MI is 19-0. Forrest, 222 3/4 lbs of Newport News, is 25-3.
“I didn’t think it was that close,” said Franklin, widely regarded as the top American heavyweight prospect who was the 2014 National Golden Gloves Champion. “I won more rounds. I think you could give him a couple rounds, but it wasn’t that close. Even when they said split decision I knew it wasn’t that close. I wasn’t worried.”
“My big chance on SHOWTIME was well deserved and I proved I belong in this league,” Forrest said. “I said before the fight that I have already been doing this for years. Now more people know about it. My people knew what was up already.”
Giovanni Cabrera Mioletti remained undefeated by pounding out a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Porozo in a junior lightweight bout.
Mioletti, 129 1/2 lbs of Seattle, WA won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93, and is now 17-0. Porozo, 129 1/2 lbs of Santo Domingo, ECU is 14-1.
“It took me a couple rounds to relax,” said Cabrera Mioletti, who was fighting in Tacoma for the 11th time in 17 career bouts. “My whole strategy was to stay relaxed, but in the first couple rounds, the cameras got to me a bit. But once I started getting my rhythm and working my jab, I started to take control.”
“I didn’t feel his punches, but I felt his head,” said Cabrera Mioletti, who was born in Seattle but currently lives in Chicago. “That guy has a head like a rock. He butted me a bunch of times and that’s what cut open my eye, but I don’t think about that I just focused on what I had to do.
“I started to hear him breathing heavily when I’d hit him to the body, not even that hard and that’s when I knew he wanted to fight a much slower pace. Once my jab started landing a lot, I knew I had him.”
Porozo said he simply ran out of gas in the later stages of the fight. “I lost because I moved too much and didn’t throw enough punches,” said Porozo, who had more than 500 amateur fights. “I give him credit. I felt some of his power shots. I was winning for the first five rounds. After that I got tired. I feel bad. I’m very disappointed. I could have done so much more.”
STATEMENT FROM SALITA PROMOTIONS REGARDING OTTO WALLIN vs. B.J. FLORES HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT
”As part of the licensing process in the state of Washington, the doctor appointed by the boxing commission to oversee tonight’s event reviewed medical tests and determined that B.J. Flores would not be medically cleared to compete. Based on that opinion, Washington State Department of Licensing spokesperson Gigi Zenk notified Salita Promotions this afternoon that they would not issue B.J. Flores a license to fight against Otto Wallin tonight. Due to medical privacy requirements we are unable to provide further information at this time.”
STATEMENT FROM WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING SPOKESPERSON GIGI ZENK:
“Benjamin Flores was not medically cleared to compete.”
Tonight on the un-televised undercard of the SHOWTIME televised “Battle at the Boat 122” at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, cruiserweight contender Constantin Bejenaru (14-0, 4 KOs) got back to business after a year and a half away by pounding out a sixth-round TKO (time 2:02) over Mexican veteran Jose Corral.
The southpaw Bejenaru looked sharp and won every minute of the fight with his crisp, fast hands and excellent work to the head and body.
“It felt good to be back,” said Bejenaru, “I’m happy that I’m back in the title hunt and in good shape. After a year and a half, I felt a little rusty for a little bit in the beginning, but I came back pretty quick.”
Bejenaru says he’d have liked to go the full eight-round distance but did enough to know he won’t be needing another tune-up fight before getting back in the mix.
“I am ready for a big fight next. I kept myself in good shape the whole time I was away. I wasn’t sure if I needed one or two tune-up fights, but I felt really good in the ring. Thank you to my opponent for lasting as long as he did and thank you to my team and my new promoter. I’m hoping for a title fight as soon as possible.”
Bejenaru, from Ungheni, in the Republic of Moldova and now living in Brooklyn, is a former 10-time Romanian champion, a Bronze Medalist at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in 2006, a Finalist in the European Union Championships in both 2006 and 2007, and a Gold Medalist at World Combat Games in 2010.
After turning professional in 2012, Bejenaru has gone on to score wide decision victories on ShoBox: The New Generation over previously undefeated Alexey Zubov (10-0, 6 KOs) and Stivens Bujaj (16-0-1, 11 KOs), and in his most recent fight (broadcast on NESN), a decisive points victory over previous world title challenger Thabiso Mchunu (18-3, 11 KOs).
In his seven-year career, he has held both the WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Title and the WBC International Cruiserweight Championships.
“We hoped he might have to go all eight rounds to make him breathe and to make him feel the ring,” said trainer Ilia Masishchev, “but once he lands a few punches, he tries to finish. That’s how he is.”
Battle at the Boat 122 is presented by Salita Promotions and Brian Halquist Productions.
Former world title challenger Martin Murray won a 10-round decision over Rui Manuel Pavanito in a super middleweight bout.
Murray won by a 99-92 score and is now 38-5-1. Pavanito is 10-9-1.
Gerard Carroll remained undefeated with a decision over Jordan Ellison in a super lightweight fight.
Carroll won by 58-56 tally and is now 11-0. Ellison is 11-23-1.
Natasha Jonas stopped Bec Connolly in round four of their scheduled six-round lightweight bout.
Jonas dropped Connolly twice in the first 20 seconds of the contest.
Jonas continued to pound away at Connolly until a couple of hard boy shots forced a referee stoppage at 1:07.
Jonas, 135.8 lbs of Liverpool is 8-1 with six knockouts. Connolly, 131.8 lbs is 2-6.
Former world champion Terry Flanagan stopped Jonas Segu in five round of a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.
In round one, Flanagan dropped Segu with a crisp 1-2 combination. In round five, a straight left sent Segu down for the count at 1:25.
Flanagan, 139 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 34-2 with 14 knockouts. Segu of Tanzania is 19-9-2.
Ryota Murata regained the WBA Middleweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over the man who beat him Rob Brant in Osaka, Japan.
In round two, Murata hurt Brant with a body shot. The Japanese challenger jumped on Brant and landed a hard barrage of punches that put Brant on the canvas. With Brant clearly hurt, Murata landed a series of hard head shots as well as some body blows that forced referee Luis Pabon to stop the bout at 2:34.
Murata of Japan regained the title that he lost to Brant last October, and now ups his record to 15-2 with 12 knockouts. Brant of Minnesota is 25-2,
Emiliano Marsili remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Bryan Mairena in junior welterweight bout.
Marsili, 138.6 lbs of Italy won by scores of 60-54 twice and 60-54 and is now 38-0-1. Mairena, 136.6 lbs of Nicaragua is 10-12-1.
Mirko Natalizi won a six-round unanimous decision Antonio Gomez in a super lightweight bout.
Natazlizi, 155.8 lbs won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 6-0. Gomez, 155.4 lbs of Amsterdam is 4-4-2.
Vincenzo Bevilacqua won six-round unanimous decision over Novak Radulovic in a super welterweight bout.
Bevilacqua, 156.8 lbs of Rome won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice to stay undefeated at 16-0. Radulovic, 156.8 lbs of Serbia is 9-4-1.
The WBA has ordered a 4-man box-off to determine it’s world title at 154 lbs, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Unified world titleholder Julian “J Rock” Williams is the WBA’s so-called “super” titleholder, having outpointed Jarrett Hurd in an action-packed contender for fight of the year on May 11.
Under the plan, the winner of the fight between France’s Michel Soro (33-2-1, 22 KOs), 31, and Magomed Kurvanov (17-0, 11 KOs), 23, of Russia, who are scheduled to fight on July 20 in Marseille, France, will claim the organization’s vacant secondary world title.
Also, the fight between former longtime world titlist Erislandy Lara (25-3-3, 14 KOs), 36, a Cuban defector fighting out of Houston, and Ramon Alvarez (28-7-3, 16 KOs), 32, of Mexico, has been sanctioned for the organization’s vacant interim belt that Soro used to hold. Lara and Alvarez — middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez’s older brother — are scheduled to meet in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card on Aug. 31 (Fox) at The Armory in Minneapolis.
According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the WBO found some errors in the recent Mairis Briedis – Krszytof Glowacki fight.
Briedis claimed the WBO 200-pound world title from Glowacki by third-round knockout on June 15 in the semifinals of the World Boxing Series tournament in Riga, Latvia, Briedis’ hometown, but the result was highly controversial.
Although it cannot change the result, the WBO, in a ruling issued on Friday, “strongly recommends” that the World Boxing Super Series winner defend the title against Glowacki within 120 days after the completion of the tournament, which is expected to conclude in November. Briedis is due to meet Yunier Dorticos, who won a vacant belt in the June 15 co-feature, to unify their world titles in the final of the eight-man tournament.
The WBO said that Raimond Zeps, representing Briedis, responded to Glowacki’s protest and said that the point deduction for the elbow was “satisfactory” and that Glowacki should also have been subject to a point deduction for the blow behind the head. Also, Zeps said that Briedis should not be punished for fighting after the bell because both men were doing do.
“Mr. Zeps, on behalf of Briedis, affirms and welcomes a rematch against Glowacki after the completion of the WBSS,” the WBO wrote in its ruling.
The WBO said that it lacks jurisdiction to change the result, which can only be done by the Latvia Boxing Federation, but it added that it “acknowledges that a clear misapplication of the rules of boxing occurred” and recommended the WBSS winner fight Glowacki next.
Jon Jones retained the UFC Light Heavyweight title with a split-decision over Thiago Santos at The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Santos fought well early as he landed plenty of leg kicks, but in round two, his left knee started to buckle. Jones won the middle rounds, but not by wide margins. Santos was always dangerous in the fight, but seemed tentative in spots. Maybe that was because of an injury to his knee. Santos landed a couple of big shots in the 5th round, but it was not enough as Jones took two cards 48-47 while Santos took a 48-47 tally.
Between all the leg kicks Santos landed and the injury suffered by Santos, both fighters needed help getting back to the locker room.
Jones, 205 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 25-1-1. Santos, 204.5 lbs of Rio De Janeiro, BRA is 21-7.
Amanda Nunes defended her Bantamweight title in emphatic fashion as she stopped former champion Holly Holm in the 1st round with a perfect kick to the face.
Nunes landed a right kick that plummeted Holm to the deck. Nunes landed three punches to a prone Holm, and the fight was stopped at 4:10.
Nunes, 135 lbs of Coral Springs, FL is 18-5. Holm, 133.5 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 12-5.
Jorge Masvidal scored the fastest stoppage in UFC history as he took out previously undefeated Ben Askren in five-seconds.
Masvidal ran in and landed a flying knee to the head of Askren. Askren was out cold before he even hit the canvas but Masvidal landed two crushing shots to an asleep Askren and the fight was stopped.
Masvidal, 170.5 lbs of Miami is 34-13. Askren, 171 lbs of Hartland is 19-1-1.
Jan Blachowicz stopped former middleweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the 2nd round of their light heavyweight fight.
Blachowicz landed a booming left that sent Rockhold to the canvas. Blachowicz landed two more shots to a prone Rockhold and the fight was stopped at 1:39.
Blachowicz, 205.5 lbs of Warsaw, POl is 24-8. Rockhold, 204.5 lbs of Santa Cruz, CA is 16-5.
In a battle of former Ultimate Fighter winners, Michael Chiesa took a relatively easy unanimous decision over Diego Sanchez in a welterweight bout.
Chiesa spent basically the whole fight on the back of Sanchez. Chiesa mixed up going for chokes and Ground and Pound from letting Sanchez get in any type of offensive rhythm. It was a totally dominant performance from Chiesa. Chiesa landed 125 strikes and had 5 takedowns to Sanchez 42 and one.
Chiesa, 170.5 lbs of Spokane, WA won by scores of 30-26 on all cards and is now 16-4. Sanchez, 169 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 31-12.
Arnold Allen beat down veteran Gilbert Melendez and took a unanimous decision in a featherweight bout.
Allen landed consistent punches and kicks, and dominated the fight from the beginning.
Allen of England won by scores of 30-27 on all cards, and is now 15-1. Melendez of San Francisco is 22-8.
Marlon Vera submitted Nohelin Hernandez in the 2nd round of their bantamweight fight.
In round two, Vera landed a hard kick that sent Hernandez to the canvas. Vera got Hernandez back and made him tap from a Rear-Naked Choke at 3:25.
Vera, 136 lbs of Ecuador is 14-5-1. Hernandez, 136 lbs of Gilroy, CA is 10-3.
Claudia Gadelha won a unanimous decision over Randa Markos in a strawweight bout.
Gadelha, 115 lbs from Rio De Janieiro, BRA won by scores of 30-27 on all cards and is now 17-4. Markos, 116 lbs of Windsor, Ontario, Canada is now 9-8-1.
Markos began to swell from around her left eye in the opening frame.
Song Yadong scored a brutal 1st round knockout of number-13 ranked Alejandro Perez in a bantamweight bout.
Yadong landed a perfect right hand on the chin that knocked Perez down and out at 2:04.
Yandong, 135.5 lbs of China is 15-4-1. Perez, 135.5 lbs of Estrado, Mexico is 22-8-1.
Edmen Shahbazyan choked out Jack Marshman at 1:12 of the 1st round of their middleweight bout.
Shahbazyan landed some hard Ground and Pound that he followed up with a rear-naked choke that made Marshman tap at 1:12.
Shahbazyan, 185 lbs of Glendale, CA is 10-0. Marshman, 185 lbs of South Wales is 23-9.
Chance Rencountre won a unanimous decision over Ismail Naurdiev in a welterweight bout.
Rencountre ,170.5 lbs of Pawhuska, OK won by scores of 30-27, 29-27 and 29-28 and is now 14-3. Naurdiev, 171 lbs of Salzburg, AUS 18-3.
Julia Avila won a unanimous decision over Pannie Kianzad in a bantamweight bout.
In round two, Avila began to bleed from around her right eye. Kianzad was bleeding from around her right eye in round three.
Avila, 135 lbs of Oklahoma City won by scores of 30-27 and 30-26 twice and is now 7-1. Kianzad, 135 lbs of Sweden is 12-5.
Zhankosh Turarov stopped Mauro Godoy in round three of a scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Turarov dropped Gody with hard left hook in the 3rd frame. Godoy got to his feet, but was in no-condition to continue at 2:00.
Turarov, 139.7 lbs of Akko, KAZ is 24-0 with 17 knockouts. Godoy, 139.6 lbs of Argentina is 32-5-1.
Nordine Oubaali retained the WBC Bantamweight title with a stoppage in the 7th round over Arthur Villanueva.
In round six, Oubaali dropped Villanueva with a hard right uppercut. Villanueva continued to take a beating in the 6th round, and the bout was halted at the beginning of round seven.
Oubaali, 117.5 lbs of Bagnolet, FRA made the 1st defense of his crown, and is now 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Villanueva, 117.5 lbs of Balcod City, PHL is 32-4-1.
Viktor Kotochigov won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jairo Lopez in a lightweight contest.
Kotochigov, 134.9 lbs of Amaty, KAZ won by scores of 99-91, 98-93 and 99-93 to stay perfect at 10-0. Lopez, 134 lbs of Apdoca, MEX is 24-11.
In round four, Kotochigov was cut over the right eye.
David Oliver Joyce remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Breilor Teran in a featherweight bout.
Joyce of Ireland won by scores of 100-89, 100-87 and 100-86, and is now 11-0. Teran of Caracas, Venezuela is 27-18-1.
New York, NY (7/2/19) – DiBella Entertainment has added six-foot-six Bahamian Amron “The Sandman” Sands (8-0, 7 KOs), of Orlando, FL, to its roster of heavyweight prospects. Sands is managed by Kevin Dever Sports Management.
In his last bout, on February 16, Sands fought in his first scheduled six-rounder but needed less than one round to stop Hector Hodge at St. Petersburg Coliseum in Florida.
“Amron is a big heavyweight with a lot of power,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “The heavyweight division is hot right now and Sands has the kind of style that will entertain the audience. I’m happy to be working again with my friend Kevin Dever and, together, we will make sure that Amron reaches his full potential.”
“I signed with DiBella Entertainment because Lou is one of the most trustworthy promoters in boxing and he has great relationships in the business to get my name out there,” said Sands. “I know that, with his guidance, I can become heavyweight champion of the world. I can box and I can bang and I’m what the heavyweight division needs. I’m very excited about my future and am ready to put in the work.”
“I have always had a great working relationship with Lou DiBella. He genuinely cares about his fighters,” said Kevin Dever. “DiBella Entertainment knows how to build a fighter to become a world champion and I know that Amron is in good hands.”
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, Sands initially aspired to become a professional basketball player. His natural athleticism and talent were recognized at an early age and led him to receiving a scholarship to attend the sports-oriented high school Save Our Youth Leadership Academy in Tulsa, OK. However, during a senior year basketball game, Sands damaged the ACL and MCL in his right knee, which forced him to withdraw from the school and return home to the Bahamas.
Sands’ boxing journey began when he reconnected with Ronn Rodgers, an old basketball coach from his youth who now owned a local boxing gym in Nassau, Bahamas. While Sands was training at Strikers School of Boxing to aid his recovery from the knee injury and get back in shape, Rodgers saw potential and urged him consider competing in boxing.
It wasn’t until he survived what could have been a fatal motorcycle accident, which left third-degree burns all over the right side of his body, that Sands found the motivation to enter the world of pugilism.
“I was 19 years old, riding my motorcycle and going 110 mph, not wearing a helmet or vest, just shorts and a tank top,” said Sands. “The bike skidded on some dirt when I was trying to get around a car and I lost control. The bike flipped over and I went flying, landing on the pavement maybe 100 feet away while the bike hit a tree. It’s a miracle that I didn’t break any bones; I guess I have a pretty good chin.
“Following an experience like that, where I could have died, I wanted to move my life in a positive direction and decided to heed coach Rodgers’ advice to take up boxing.”
After earning silver at the 2014 Independent Cup in the Dominican Republic, Sands moved with his family to Orlando, FL, and started training out of Orlando Boxing Academy with head coach Buck Mitchell. Accumulating an overall amateur record of 40-3, Sands also won first place at the 2015 Florida State PAL Boxing Championships and 2016 Sugar Bert Promotions Title Belt National Qualifier. His Olympic dreams were dashed when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that he did not yet have enough experience to compete in any qualifying tournaments. That decision prompted Sands to turn pro and he debuted on August 5, 2017, dropping Julio Mendoza twice to score a TKO victory in 86 seconds. With Mitchell in his corner, the heavy-handed Sands has thus far won all but one of his bouts by knockout.
Details on Sands’ next contest will be announced shortly.
HOUSTON, TEXAS–Houston, Texas showed up for Jermall Charlo (28-0) tonight in his WBC middleweight title defense against Tv’s The Contender champion Brandon Adams (21-2) at The NRG Arena.
Charlo dominated in every facet of the fight, which opened with Adams taking a cautious approach and working in timid combinations while Charlo consistently came over the top with a speedy overhand right.
The crowd was clearly in thirst of fireworks and a knockout that unfortunately never came, but it wasn’t by lack of effort from the WBC middleweight titlist. At times it looked almost as if Charlo was punching a fire hydrant in Adams, unloading big power punches only for the smaller man to keep coming forward.
Adams applied a gutsy gameplan and pressed Charlo on the inside in the early 300 dollar loan same day and middle rounds, only to be teed off on by Charlo with body shots and uppecuts, to the pleasure of the Houston crowd. The most significant reaction came in the final seconds of the third round when Charlo landed a picture perfect uppercut on the chin of Adams.
While Adams never really was able to get the better of Charlo in a given round he did have his moments, landing stiff right hands sporadically throughout the late rounds, that however did not seem to slow up Charlo’s effort.
The crowd launched into a “Charlo” chant at a few points in the late rounds, hoping to speak a knockout into existence, but Adams was just too game and finished the fight out on his feet. To the surprise of nobody in attendance the final scores read in favor of Charlo at 119-109 and 120-108 two times.
“I wasn’t frustrated that I didn’t get the knockout,” Charlo told SHOWTIME’s Hall of Fame ringside reporter Jim Gray following the fight. “This is boxing and he came out to box. I came out to fight. It was a good fight. The city of Houston, I’ll be back.
“My hand will be alright. I hurt my hand in like the second round but I kept throwing it. It was obvious my jab wasn’t flowing.”
“I was coming up here to win,” said Adams. “I was coming to try to take him out in his hometown. He did what he was supposed to do. He’s a champ for a reason and I take my hat off to hm.
“He’s a much bigger guy, period. I just tried to put my best foot forward and tried to take him out at the end.”
“Canelo has done a great job of being a champ, Golovkin also,” said Charlo. “Those guys are at the top but there’s always a young underdog and a lion ready to take over. That’s me.”
Erickson Lubin (20-1) looked every bit the star he has been projected to become against French veteran Zakaria Attou (29-6-2).
Lubin stalked the 37 year old with superior hand-speed and peppered in power shots to make an early statement. It was clear that there was blood in the water early on as Attou spent most of the bout on a backstep offering little resistance.
Lubin’s arsenal finally become too much in the middle of the fourth round as he caught Attou in the corner and strafed him with loaded up power shots until Attou fell forward for the knockdown. The Frenchman stumbled to his feet only for his corner to throw the towel prompting the stoppage.
Erickson Lubin moved to 21-1 and acknowledged to Jim Gray his next outing likely will not be for a title, but expressed interest in a marquee name like Austin Trout or Terell Gausha as an opponent.
“I feel like I just came ready,” said Lubin, who has been training with Kevin Cunninham for the last year. “I was just a few steps ahead from the opening bell. I knew I was going to come out here and dominate. After a few shots, he looked hurt. I was going to keep teeing off until he was down or out.
“I don’t think the Jermell Charlo fight was too soon, there was just a few mishaps in camp. My next fight won’t be for a world title but I definitely want to get in there with a top-10 kind of guy. I just want to prove that I’m one of the top fighters.”
“I’m heartbroken about the injury,” said Attou. “My strategy was to start picking up the pressure after the sixth round. I know that Lubin has never been 12 rounds before, so our plan was to come on in the late rounds and take him out.”
Featherweights Eduardo Ramirez (22-1-3) and Claudio Marrero (23-3, 17 KOs) kicked off the televised portion of the card with an evenly matched display of high-speed chess in the early goings of their eliminator showdown.
The slight underdog Marrero picked up the pace in the third round unloading a nice barrage with Ramirez backed up to the ropes before the Mexican native turned the tide and pivoted his way into an offensive onslaught of his own.
The two southpaws continued to trade blows into the middle rounds, with Marrero consistently finding a home for his jab and following up with clean power shots. Ramirez shook off a few stiff power shots and continued to counter with hard shots of his own to the delight of the Houston crowd.
The back and forth action continued into the late rounds with fatigue setting in on both sides. Neither fighter was able to create a clear separation in the later portion of the bout making for some challenging rounds to score.
Both fighters embraced and pled their case to the crowd following the final bell. Despite a game effort from Ramirez the scores read 116-112 115-113 118-110 in favor of the Dominican southpaw Claudio Marrero.
My strategy was to pressure him all night and break him down,” said Marrero. “He was an awkward fighter that was hard to solve, but I thought I did a good job as the fight went on. I could feel that he was weak in the body so I attacked there and did it well.
“I’m ready for anybody. I always step to the plate and fight who’s in front of me. Bring them on. Leo Santa Cruz could definitely get this action next.”
A disappointed Ramirez said he thought he won the fight. “I disagreed with the judges,” said Ramirez. “I thought it was close but that I won. I dominated enough of the fight to earn it.
“I went forward with my typical Mexican style and attacked all night. I wanted to target the body and I thought I did that well. I want the rematch with Claudio Marrero, that’s my goal.”
Alexis Espino continued his undefeated ways by stopping Kirby St. Juste in round two of their scheduled four round middleweight bout.
In round one, Espino landed a vicious combination that backed St. Juste up to the ropes. Espino followed up with two lefts and a right that sagged St. Juste into the ropes, which was ruled a knockdown. In round two, Espino landed a perfect left hook that sent St. Juste hard to the canvas. Espino then landed a hard right that staggered St. Juste that he followed up with two more shots that sent St. Juste down for a 3rd and final time at 1:49.
Espino, 163.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 3-0 with two knockouts. St. Juste, 158.8 lbs of Trenton, NJ was making his pro debut.
Mark DeLuca won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Brandon Brewer in a middleweight battle.
In round two, Brewer was cut over his left eye. In round four, he was cut over his right eye. DeLuca was cut around his right eye in the 5th round.
DeLuca, 157.8 lbs of Whitman, MA won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 24-1. Brewer, 157.4 lbs of Nackawic, CAN is 23-1-1.
Otha Jones III notched his 2nd win in seven days over two continents as he won a six-round unanimous decision over Matias Arriagada in a super featherweight bout.
It was a good action fight that saw Jones land the harder punches against a game Arriagada. Jones, who showed fast hands and good combination work, used a variety of punches that landed which included some solid uppercuts.
Jones, 131.4 lbs of Toledo, Ohio won by shutout tallies of 60-54 on all cards, and is now 3-0, Arriagada, 128.4 lbs of Argentina is 6-5.
Richard Commey retained the IBF Lightweight championship with an 8th round stoppage of former champion Ray Beltran at the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula, California
In the opening seconds, Commey dropped Beltran with a hard right hand. Beltran was hurt, and Commey landed a hard flurry that sent Beltran plummeting to the canvas. Beltan seemed done, but was able to land a hard right that momentarily stopped Commey in his tracks. Commey was able to finish the round with a hard right on the ropes. Beltran went down again, as in round five a right hand got through that put Beltran on his knees.
In round seven, Commey had swelling around the right eye. In round nine, Commey landed a booming left that sent Beltran to the canvas. Beltran was able get up, but the fight was waved off at 54 seconds.
Commey, 134.4 lbs of Accra, GHA is now 29-2 with 26 knockouts. Beltran, who missed the weight at Thursdays weigh-in is now 36-9-1.
“Beltran showed why he was a champion. He’s a great fighter who showed it against me tonight,” Commey said. “I was happy to get the job done and defend my title for the first time.
“It looks like Teofimo Lopez is next, but he has a job to do first.”
Carlos Adames won an 10-round unanimous decision over Patrick Day in a junior middleweight bout.
Adames pulled away down the stretch, and rocked Day throughout the final round. Day was hurt and was fortunate that he did not go down.
Adames, 154 lbs of Santiago, DR won by scores of 97-93 twice and 98-91 and is now 18-0. Day, 153.8 lbs of Freeport, NY is 17-3-1.
“Tonight was about getting work in. I listened to my coach, Robert Garcia,” Adames said. “This was my second fight with him, and it was about getting good rounds, and we did that. In the 10th round, he told me he was ready to go. If I had one more minute I think I would’ve finished him, but in the end, I think it was a very good performance on my behalf.”
Raymond Muratalla stopped Agustine Mauras after round one of their scheduled six-round lightweight bout.
In round one, Muratalla dropped Mauras with a left hook. Muratalla continued to land heavy shots up until the bell, and the corner of Mauras pulled the plug.
Muratalla, 135.2 lbs of Fontana, CA is 8-0 with six knockouts. Mauras, 137.4 lbs of Lawrence, MA is 6-6-3.
Elvis Rodriguez and Joaquin Chavez battled to a no-contest after a headbutt caused the action to be halted in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round lightweight bout.
In round one, the two fighters clashed heads and an ugly cut on the forehead of Chavez forced the fight to be stopped at 2:28
Rodriguez, 139.6 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 2-0. Chavez, 141 lbs of Commerce, CA is 9-18-3.
Miguel Angel Gonzalez scored an upset victory by stopping previously undefeated Saul Rodriguez in round three of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.
Miguel Angel Gonzalez scored an upset victory by stopping previously undefeated Saul Rodriguez in round three of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.
Gonzalez knocked Rodriguez down in the opening seconds of the bout from a left hook. In round two, Gonzalez was cut around the left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round three, Gonzalez landed a booming left that sent Rodriguez hard on his back, and the fight was immediately stopped at 1:23.
Gonzalez, 130.4 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is 25-4 with 22 knockouts. Rodriguez, 130.6 lbs of Riverside, CA is 23-1-1.
Christopher Zavala won a six-round unanimous decision over Prisco Marquez in a super featherweight bout.
Zavala, 129.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by 60-54 tallies on all cards and is now 5-0. Marquez, 129.8 lbs of Austin, TX is 4-1-1.
Dmitry Yun made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Jose Antonio Meza in a lightweight bout.
Yun was deducted a point in the final round for hitting behind the head.
Yun, 135.6 lbs of Baku, AZE won by scores of 39-36 on all cards, and is now 1-0. Meza, 135.2 lbs of Gomez Palcio, MEX is now 6-4.
David Kaminsky remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Osbaldo Gonzalez in a middleweight fight.
Kaminsky, 162 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is now 40-36. Gonzalez, 162.8 lbs of Tulsa, OK is 6-5.
Also featured from the DiBella Entertainment stable, undefeated heavyweight contender Junior Fa(18-0, 10 KOs), of New Zealand, won a 10-round unanimous decision against veteran Dominick Guinn (37-13-1, 26 KOs), of Humble, TX. Fa survived a fourth-round knockdown to win by scores of 98-91 twice, and 97-92. Entering the contest, the 29-year-old Fa was ranked #7 by the WBO.
The WBC stripped Canelo Alvarez of his world title, and made him their “Franchise” champion, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“The franchise champion is a special designation and status which the WBC may bestow to a current WBC world champion, who is also an elite boxer and who has achieved and maintains the highest of statures in the sport,” the WBC said in its explanation.
“We’re very happy and glad that Canelo is being recognized,” Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told ESPN on Thursday. “We think it’s an honor for Canelo to be elevated to franchise champion. It goes to show that he is being recognized for all of his accomplishments.”
“With Canelo’s appointment as franchise champion WBC interim champion Jermall Charlo is now confirmed as WBC middleweight champion of the world,” the WBC added.