WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder received an offer from Top Rank, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“They made an offer. I wrote back that we received it. We will review it and we will respond,” Wilder manager Shelly Finkel said. “If we are amenable to the offer, we will be able to get something done. If the terms are amenable to us, something will happen. If not, it won’t.”

On Friday, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said that he has been in communication with both sides to see where talks for the rematch stand.

“There will be no further comments until the WBC receives official communication from both sides by Tuesday, Feb. 26th,” Sulaiman said.

Bogdan Dinu will take on Kubrat Pulev on March 23rd at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“After speaking with my co-promoter [Sorin Florea of Kings Promotion] in [Dinu’s native] Romania, it was more of a misunderstanding than them not wanting to fight,” Dinu promoter Greg Cohen said. “It was a language issue. We had been texting with each other. Once we got on the phone we were able to hash it out pretty quickly. We let Top Rank know and signed the contract. Dinu is looking forward to coming back to America to fight Pulev.

“If he beats Pulev, he writes his own ticket because it would be a huge win. I know they fought in the amateurs. Dinu is from Romania, Pulev is from Bulgaria. It’s like if it was New York versus New Jersey in the U.S. They’re very familiar with each other and Dinu is really confident.”

In the wake of signing Tyson Fury, Bob Arum and Top Rank sent an offer to WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to join the ESPN platforms, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We want to speak to Wilder together with his manager and his adviser and we want to do this fight where it belongs, on a big platform, which is ESPN pay-per-view. Wilder himself said (in media interviews) there is no contractual impediment that would prevent it. None. He is not signed in any manner, shape or form to any network. We have been informed that it is not the case (that Showtime has an option on the rematch). Ultimately, that may not be the case but I really believe from what we learned that Wilder is telling the truth and he is not bound to any network for any fight.

“We’re going to reach out and say contact us, please, and bring whomever you want to a meeting, your manager Finkel, your adviser Haymon, your trainer (Jay Deas, also a co-manager). Bring any and all of them to a meeting with us and let’s sit down and put this together.”

“I’m not going to get into specifics about Showtime’s contractual rights and entitlements but I will say we are very confident and very comfortable with our position with Deontay,” Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza told ESPN. “We’ve worked with Deontay and supported Deontay for many, many years and many, many fights and we fully expect for that to continue for the foreseeable future.”

“The idea that we wouldn’t do business with Finkel or Haymon is absurd,” Arum said. “We want to do this fight and we want to do it sensibly and correctly. We’re ready to put up all the money to do the fight. If it can’t happen it can’t happen, but it’s Wilder’s choice subject to advice from his manager and adviser. The one thing we want to make clear is there is no impediment to doing business with Wilder no matter who his manager is, no matter who his adviser is. We’re happy to deal with them. Wilder is going to have to decide what he wants to do in consultation with Finkel and Haymon.”

“ESPN+ will pay significant money for them to fight other fighters and then to do the rematch on pay-per-view in the fall,” Arum said. “That is all open for discussion. It’s certainly not a deal breaker if they want to do the rematch next. Fury is happy either way. He is happy with the tremendous money he will earn for a fight on ESPN+ and I think Wilder will be equally happy with doing a fight on ESPN+ for the money I know we can offer. Wilder has to make that decision. We’re not talking about peanuts. We’re talking about Wilder probably making more against somebody else (in the interim bout) than he made when he fought Fury and then making even more in the rematch in the fall.”

“The amount Wilder would earn for a fight on ESPN+ before a rematch would be far in excess of $4 million,” Arum said.

Arum said the reason for putting potential interim bouts on ESPN+ rather than the linear television network is because part of Top Rank’s long-term deal with ESPN is to assist in “building up the app because it’s something that ESPN is really behind and that’s how we would do it. If they each fought on ESPN+ there would be tremendous programming on ESPN leading up to the ESPN+ shows featuring their fights.”

“ESPN will give him a great platform. Everybody will know him,” Arum said. “He will be the heavyweight most familiar to the public. If Wilder joins us and becomes part of this he will give Fury a run for his money in terms popularity. As a personality, Tyson Fury reminds me of George Foreman — everything but the punching power.”

“Fury is going to be one of the iconic figures in sports because he’ll be so amusing and so much fun that people will tune in to hear him sound off,” Arum said. “He has an unusual personality and he is very fan friendly and will attract huge audiences like George did.”

“That’s the old Tyson Fury,” Arum said. “The new Tyson Fury is fan friendly. He is the George Foreman of the Foreman comeback. He’s not going to demean anyone or say anything about gays or lesbians. He is just an amusing fun character. What he did before, that’s behind him. He had mental problems before. He’s come out of that and become a mensch.”

Kubrat Pulev will headline a Top Rank show on March 23rd in California, according to Dan Rafael of espm.com.

The card will take place at either The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, or the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, but Pulev still needs an opponent.

First, a deal with fringe contender Robert Helenius (28-2, 17 KOs) fell through, and on Wednesday morning the same happened with Romania’s Bogdan Dinu (18-1, 14 KOs), who got destroyed in four rounds by Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in his last fight in November.

Dinu promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN that even though he worked out a deal for the fight with Top Rank, Dinu’s management ultimately turned down the offer and he informed Top Rank chairman Bob Arum that Dinu was not going to fight.

Top Rank signed Pulev to a co-promotional deal with Epic Sports in December, and this will be his first bout under the agreement. Pulev (26-1, 13 KOs), 37, of Bulgaria, is one of the mandatory challengers for three-belt unified world titlist Anthony Joshua.

Vasyl Lomachenko will defend his lightweight titles against former beltholder Anthony Crola on April 12th at Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

We thought Loma would be fighting Richard Commey, but because of his hand surgery, a small procedure on a ligament, the focus obviously moved to Loma fulfilling his mandatory against Crolla once that happened. We’ll look to unify the titles with Commey afterward, in the late summer,” Top Rank Vice-President Carl Moretti told ESPN on Tuesday night, shortly after the deal with Crolla was made.

“Loma wants all the titles at lightweight, and he wants to keep them and defend them,” Moretti said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Anthony Crolla,” Crolla Promoter Eddie Hearn said. “He has earned his stripes, a former world champ who has fought the best. He won the final eliminator against Yordan in November, and I’m happy he gets this chance now. Lomachenko is a great talent, but Anthony is in great shape and ready for this chance.”

Vicente Luque stopped Brian Baberena in round three of a thrilling war.

It was a bloody battle that saw Luque stop Barberena with six seconds remaining in the fight.

Luque is now 15-6-1. Barberena is

Andre Fili won a unanimous decision over Myles Jury in a featherweight bout.

Fili won by scores of 29-28 on all cards, and is now 19-6. Jury is 17-4.

Aljamain Sterling won a unanimous decision over Jimmie Rivera in a bantamweight bout.

Sterling, 136 lbs of Uniondale, NY won by scores of 30-27 on all cards, and is now 17-3. Rivera, 135 lbs of Ramsey, NJ is 22-3.

In a battle of undefeated bantamweights, Manny Bermudez choked out Benito Lopez in the 1st round.

With Bermudez controlling the action on the ground, Bermudez made Lopez tap to a Guillotine at 3:09

Bermudez, 139 lbs (He missed weight by four pounds) of Rockland, MA is 16-0. Lopez, 135.5 lbs of Oroville, CA is 9-1.

Andrea Lee won a unanimous decision over Ashlee Evans Smith in a flyweight bout.

Lee, 125.5 lbs of Shreveport, LA won by scores of 30-27 on all cards and is now 10-2. Smith, 126 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 6-4.

Nik Lentz won a three-round split decision over Scott Holtzaman in a featherweight bout.

In round two, Holtzman began to bleed from the nose. In round three, Lentz was bleeding under his left eye.

Lentz, 155.5 lbs of Coconut Creek, FL won by scores of 29-28 on all cards and is now 30-9-2-1. Holtzman, 156 lbs is 12-3.

Luke Sanders stopped former bantamweight champion Renan Barao in the 2nd round of their bantamweight bout.

Sanders dropped Barao with a booming left to the face. Sanders nailed Barao with 3 more vicious shots, and the bout was stopped at 1:01

Sanders, 135 of Nashville, TN is 13-3. Barao, 138 lbs of Rio De Janeiro, BRA is 36-8-1.

Emily Whitmire choked out Aleksandra Albu 61 seconds into their strawweight bout.

Whitmire is now 4-2. Albu loses for the 1st time and is 3-1.

Omar Figueroa Jr. remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over John Molina Jr. in a welterweight bout.

Figueroa, 144.5 lbs of Weslcao, TX won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 28-0-1. Molina, 144.2 lbs of
Covina, CA is 30-8.

Sebastian Fundora stopped Donnie Marshall in round three of a scheduled eight-round junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Fundora had some blood on his face. In round three, Fundora dropped Marshall with a hard left uppercut. Fundora continued to batter Marshall on the ropes until referee Jerry Cantu stop the bout at 1:08.

Fundora, 153 lbs of Cochella, CA is 12-0 with eight knockouts. Marshall, 153.2 lbs of Buffalo is 10-1.

Rob Brant retained the WBA Middleweight title with a 11th round stoppage over Khasahn Baysangurov in font of a sold-out crowd of 2,225 at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota

In round two, Brant dropped Baysangurov with a right hand. In round three, Brant began to swell around his right eye.

In round seven, Baysangurov was bleeding heavily from his nose. In round 11, Brant dropped Baysangurov with a hard right hand. Baysangurov got to his feet, but ate a big combination and the fight was stopped at 2:33.

Brant of St. Paul. MN is 25-1 with 17 knockouts. Baysangurov of Ukraine is 17-1.

“Today, I feel like a true champion. I was happy with my performance. I had some cramps later in the fight, but this shows I can carry my power later in fights.”

“Middleweight is one of the deepest divisions in boxing. There are fights to be made. We just have to keep pushing forward. Canelo Alvarez is recognized by many as the champion at middleweight, and I’d love a fight with him down the road.”

“{Baysangurov} had a good jab. I started a little sloppy, and my trainer (Eddie Mustafa Muhammad) told me in the corner to relax. I waited for the opportunity to come, and it came in the 11th round.”

Mikaela Mayer remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision Yareli Larios in a super featherweight bout.

Mayer won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74 and is now 10-0. Larios of Mexico is 13-2-1.

“It’s more about strategy in the pros. I was relaxed and took my time in there” Mayer said. “We knew she was going to be tough. She has that Hispanic blood in her.

“I think I’m ready for more belts. I want those belts this year.”

Joshua Greer Jr won his 17th straight fight and notched his 7th consecutive stoppage as he took out Giovanni Escaner in the 8th frame of their scheduled 10 round bantamweight bout.

It was Eascaner who struck first as he dropped Greer with a right on the ropes just as the bell sounded to end the 3rd round.

In round eight, Greer landed a perfect right the body that sent Escaner to the canvas for the 10-count at 2:33

Greer of Chicago is 20-1-1 with 12 knockouts. Escaner of The Philippines is 19-4.\

“I had to wait for him to soften up, but I did what I had to do,” Greer said. “It’s all a learning experience for me. But I’m from Chicago. I had to go take it.”

Tyler Howard won an eight-round split decision over Cristian Olivas in a middleweight bout.

Howard won two cards 79-73 and 77-75 while Olivas took a card 77-75.

Howard of Crpssvill, TN 17-0. Olivas of Mexicali, MEX is 16-4.

“This was my first time going eight rounds,” Howard said. “I felt like I prepared well for this fight. Olivas came to fight. All I can do is go back to camp and continue to work harder and be ready for my next fight. This experience is going to help me moving forward.”

Lennox Allen remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Derrick Webster in a super middleweight fight.

Allen dropped Webster with a right hook in round in round three.

Allen of New York won by scores of 98-91 twice and 97-92 and is now 22-0-1. Webster of Glassboro, NJ is 28-2.

Ismail Muwendo won a six-round unanimous decision over Hevinsom Herrera in a lightweight bout.

Muwendo won by scores of 60-54 on cards and is now 21-1. Herreraa of Colombia is 24-16-1

Steven Nelson remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Felipe Romero in a light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Romero scored a dubious knockdown with a right hand. In round three, Nelson returned the favor by dropping Romero with a combo to the body.

Nelson of Omaha, NEB won by scores of 59-54 twice and 58-54, and is now 13-0. Romero of Mexico is 20-17-1.

“He’s a tough guy who can take a good punch. That’s why we picked him,” Nelson said. “I had him hurt a few times, but we got the job done.”

In a battle of junior welterweights, Joe James won a four-round unanimous decision over Demetrius Wilson.

In round three, James dropped Wilson with a double jab.

James won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 4-0. Wilson is 2-11.

Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and junior middleweight Kell Brook could be fighting next in the United States, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Eddie Hearn said May 18 is the target date, with Chicago as a possible location, for the southpaw Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs), 32, of Ukraine, to face contender Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs), 39, of Russia, in a fight that would mark Usyk’s official entrance into the heavyweight division.

Hearn said he is also hoping to finalize the fight between Brook and Jesse Vargas — weight to be determined but between 147 and 150 pounds — for either late May or early June, at a location on the West Coast to be determined. Brook (38-2, 26 KOs), 32, of England, has won two fights in a row against lesser opponents since losing two fights in a row, by fifth-round knockout to Gennady Golovkin for the middleweight title in 2016 followed by an 11th-round knockout loss to Errol Spence that cost him his welterweight belt in May 207.

Former light heavyweight title challenger Andrzej Fonfara announced his retirement, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m fine physically, but I don’t have my usual desire to give boxing the 100 percent it deserves,” Fonfara said in a statement on Tuesday. “I want to thank all who helped me through this crazy, great ride.”

The Emmanuel Rodriguez – Naoya Inoue WBSS bout is set for May 18th in Glasgow, Scotland, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“My destiny is to win the prestigious (Muhammad) Ali Trophy and prove I am the best bantamweight in the world,” Inoue said. “I cannot wait to box in the United Kingdom in front of their loud fans and I will show them a ‘Monster’ performance.”

“I have been waiting for this moment my entire life,” Rodriguez said. “I always wanted to fight the best, and now I am fighting a boxer considered (one of) the best by the boxing reporters and fans. That’s great motivation for me, my team and Puerto Rico. We got this. I am going to get the victory. Puerto Rico will shine in Scotland and I am confident of going all the way and take home the Ali Trophy.”

An interim WBC Heavyweight title fight between Dominic Brezeale and Dillian Whyte has been ordered, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“It’s great. It’s about time the WBC ordered this fight,” Whyte told ESPN. “Breazeale shouldn’t have been the mandatory in the first place. I’m about to go and claim what is mine, the WBC world heavyweight title. This fight will take me one step closer. Let’s go, baby! Let’s go!”

The purse bid for the WBC Heavyweight title rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury has been postponed again, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Things have gotten delayed a little, but as far as I know there are no issues,” Shelly Finkel, Wilder’s co-manager, told ESPN on Tuesday. “I would hope the fight is completed late this week or early next week.”

“I have been in direct communication with both parties and they have indicated that they are in goodwill negotiations, very close to reaching an agreement,” Said WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told ESPN. “I will monitor this matter personally and if needed will intervene within the next week.”

Like his mentor, Floyd Mayweather, Gervonta Davis could fight Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition in April, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We got an exhibition bout with the guy Tenshin in Japan in April,” Mayweather said.

“I’m proud of Tank, and he’s gonna stay active,” Mayweather said. “April is Tenshin. May is the real fight.”

“We don’t know,” he said when asked who Davis would fight in his second defense. “When I get back, I’ll talk to my staff, my team, sit down with [Mayweather Promotions CEO] Leonard [Ellerbe], [adviser] Al [Haymon], the rest of my staff and see what we come up with.”

Mayweather said that he earned $9 million — plus a $1 million bonus — for the exhibition with Nasukawa and said he would likely participate in future exhibition fights.

“Probably so, most likely,” Mayweather said. “I got about $80 million on the table worth of exhibitions.”

Jose Ramirez defended the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 12-round majority decision over Jose Zepeda in front of over 14,000 fans at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

It was a tactical fight that saw Zepeda box and get off to a good a start.  There were several head clashes for which caused cuts on each fighter.  Ramirez was cut around his right eye in round four.

Ramirez started to come on in the middle rounds as he featured some solid body work.

Zepeda righted himself, and he himself was cut under his left eye in round eight, but he was able to keep the fight close on the score cards.  The fight may have been won in the last 15 seconds, as Ramirez landed a nice flurry to take the final stanza.

Ramirez of Avenel, CA won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114 to raise his mark to 24-0.  Zepeda falls to 30-2.

“He was a very a tough and smart southpaw. He came well prepared,” Ramirez said. “He kept a good range and distance. That made it a tough, close fight, but I think I pulled it off in the championship rounds. I landed the most effective punches.”

Said Zepeda: “Jose Ramirez is a great fighter, and his fans really pushed him and gave him momentum.”

Former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran stopped previously undefeated Hiroki Okada in the 9th round of their scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout.

In round two, Beltran was dropped by a hard right that was preceded by a left.  In round three, Okada was cut over his left eye.  Beltran was cut over his left eye in the fourth round.

In round seven, Beltran began to bleed around his right eye.  In round nine, Beltran dropped Okada with a perfect right to the chin.  Okada was hurt, and Beltran went right after Okada and wobbled him before landing a hard right that sent Okada down, and the bout was stopped at 2:08.

Beltran of Phoenix, AZ is 36-8-1 with 22 knockouts.  Okada of Tokyo is 19-1.

The action was fierce from the opening bell, with the two combatants waging a second round for the ages. Beltran knocked Okada (19-1, 13 KOs) down with a crisp left hook, only for Okada to stun Beltran later in the round.

“I knocked him down in the second round, but he came back and got me good, too,” Beltran said. “We knew his plan was to stay at distance and keep me at bay with the jab. Every time I threw my left hook, he kept covering very well. I saw an opening with the right hand and that’s why I started throwing it, and little by little, I kept shortening the distance until I connected with a big right hand and I stopped him.”

Carlos Castro remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Genesis Servania in a super bantamweight bout.

In round seven, Servania was bleeding from around his right eye.

Castro, 121 lbs of Phoenix, AZ won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 22-0.  Servania, 121 1/2 lbs of Bacolod City, PHL is 32-2.

Gabriel Flores Jr. remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Alex Rynn Torres in a junior lightweight bout.

Flores, 132.4 lbs of Stockton, CA won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 12-0.  Torres, 132.6 lbs of Mexico City is 6-3.

“I’m getting better with each fight. I felt better than ever,” Flores said. “I get more and more experience with each fight. I feel like I’m getting cleaner. I’m getting sharper, and I’m only going to get better. I’m ready for whoever Top Rank puts in front of me. This is what I do all day, every day.”

Andy Vences remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Dardan Zenunaj in a junior lightweight bout.

Vences, 131 lbs of San Jose, CA won by scores of 80-72 and is now 22-0-1. Zenunaj, 131 lbs of Kosovo is 14-6.

“I felt great coming back after that long rest after suffering the injury. It’s been a long time,” Vences said. “I looked sharp, but I knew this was going to be a tough fight. This guy gave a great fight and went the distance against Andrew Cancio, and Cancio just became a world champion last night. I knew that against a guy like that I was going to need to use all my skills, and I did. I dominated the fight.”

Isidro Ochoa stopped Jesus Guzman in round five of their scheduled six-round super bantamweight bout.

Ochoa beat up Guzman until the fight was stopped by the doctor at 1:18.

Ochoa, 121 3/4 lbs of Fresno is 7-0 with three knockouts. Guzman, 122 3/4 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 7-3.

Cristian Coria stopped Joel Diaz Jr. in round three of a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight bout.

In round three, Coria landed a left hook to the jaw that sent Diaz to the deck. Cora dropped Diaz again with a hard left hook, and the bout was stopped at 1:50.

Coria, 140 lbs of Famillia, ARG is 28-7-2 with 13 knockouts. Diaz, 138 1/4 lbs of Palmdale, CA is 24-2.

Guido Vianello stopped Andrew Satterfield in the first-round of the their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout

Vianello dropped Satterfield with vicious five-punch combination to the head. Satterfield got to his feet, only to eat about 11 more flush punches, and the fight was stopped at 1:54.

Vianello, 236 lbs of Rome, ITA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Satterfield, 241 1.2 lbs of Marietta, OH is 4-2.

“I felt more relaxed and composed than my first pro fight,” Vianello said. “I am only going to get better.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former world champion Marcos Maidana will return to the ring after almost a five-year retirement.

“‘El Chino’ returns to the ring. Today we just signed a contract for a very good amount (of money). Very tempting and that brought us here,” Maidana said.

he plan is for Maidana to work himself into shape and return for a tune-up fight in mid or late summer and then have a major fight later in the fall. The PBC roster is loaded with top welterweights, including world titleholders Pacquiao, Thurman, Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter as well as former titlist Danny Garcia.

Andrew Cancio won the WBA Super Featherweight title with a stunning 4th round stoppage over previously undefeated champion Alberto Machado at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round one, Machado dropped Cancio with a hard three punch combination that was punctuated by a left uppercut. In round four, Cancio dropped Machado with a hard right to the body. Cancio jumped on Machado and scored a 2nd knockdown after a flurry of body punches. With Machado clearly hurt, Cancio finished the fight with a couple more flush body shots that put Machado down for a 3rd and final time at 2:16.

Cancio, 129 3/4 lbs of Blyth, CA is 20-4-2 with 15 knockouts. Machado, 130 lbs of San Juan, PR is 21-1.

Rey Vargas survived a hard 2nd round knockdown and three cuts but he retained the WBC Super Bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Franklin Manzanilla

In round two, Manzanilla dropped Vargas with a hard left hook.

In round seven, was deducted a point for hitting on the break. Seconds later a cut was opened up over the right eye of Vargas after an accidental headbutt. In round eight, Manzanilla was docked another point for pushing Vargas’s head down. In round nine, Vargas was cut both above and below his left eye.

Vargas, 121 1/2 lbs of Mexico won by scores of 117-108 on all cards and is now 33-0. Manzanilla, 122 lbs of Venezuela is 18-5

Joseph Diaz Jr. won a 10-round unanimous decision over Charles Huerta in a junior lightweight bout.

Diaz won by scores of 99-91 on all cards and is now 28-1.

Gervonta Davis retained the WBA Super Featherweight title with 1st round stoppage over late replacement Hugo Ruiz at The Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Davis dominated by landing lefts to the body and upstairs.  With the nose of Ruiz already leaking blood, Davis landed a left hook that sent Ruiz to a knee.  When he got to his feet, he was unresponsive to referee Jack Reiss’s questions, and the fight was stopped at 2:59.

Davis, 129.8 lbs of Baltimore is 21-0 with 20 knockouts.  Ruiz, 129.4 lbs of Sinaloa, MEX is 39-5.

With his promoter Floyd Mayweather looking on, Davis made quick work of his late-replacement opponent. “I knew it was coming,” he said. “I wanted to go more rounds, but I knew if I got him out of there early I could fight again sooner. When I touched the jab I saw his arm was in front of his face so if I threw a hook or uppercut it was right in line.”

“As soon as he started landing punches, I could feel them,” Ruiz said. “I have a lot of first round knock outs, today was my turn to lose in the first round. It happens in boxing.”

Next up for Davis could be the winner of the March 2 Ricardo Nunez-Edner Cherry WBA Eliminator on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center. “We could do that,” Davis said. “At the end of the day I’m a fighter. I’m a fighter and I have a great team. One of the best in the sport. I believe in my team and whatever they line up, I’m ready.

Davis told SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray he’s ready for a sweet homecoming for his next fight. “Yes, sir. We’re coming to Baltimore. We’re going home, baby.”

Mario Barrios stopped Richard Zamora in round four of a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout.

In round four, Barrios landed a big right hand that off a big flurry of punches.  Barrios staggered Zamora with a big right to the chin.  That was followed up by a flurry, and the fight was stopped with Zamora still on his feet at 2:16.

Barrios, 142.4 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 22-0 with 15 knockouts.  Zamora, 141.2 lbs of San Lois Potosi, Mexico.

“He wasn’t an easy target at all,” said Barrios, who sparred with Amir Khan and Devin Haney in training camp and is the WBA’s No. 1 ranked fighter at 140 pounds. We just used everything we worked on in camp to find my range.”

He added: “It was an amazing fight. I tip my hat to Zamora – he’s a hell of a warrior. I wish him nothing but the best for the rest of his career. Like he said at the press conference, he wanted a war and I brought it to him. Total respect to him.”

Zamora was making his United States debut. “I came to fight,” he said. “I didn’t come to lay down. I thought I still could have fought more. I don’t want to criticize the referee. He did what he had to do.”

Barrios said he’s ready for the next big step-up in his career. “That’s up to my managerial team,” he said. “Whenever they feel I’m ready I’ll fight for a world title. Any one of them. I am knocking down the door for a world title right now.”

Javier Fortuna won a 10-round unanimous decisions Sharif Bogere in a lightweight bout.

In round six, Bogere was cut over the right eye from a headbutt.  Later in the round he went down from a half punch/half balance shot from Fortuna.

Fortuna, 135 lbs of La Romana, DR won by scores 96-93 on all cards and is now 34-2-1.  Bogere, 135.6 lbs of Las Vegas, NV 32-2.

“(The knock down) was correct,” said Fortuna, who said he would love a future shot against Davis. “I saw his eyes were a little glossy and his legs buckled a bit. When I saw that he was cut, the game plan changed again and we had to work again to attack the cut.”

Originally from Uganda but now living in Las Vegas, Bogere gave himself a seven out of 10 grade. “I think I won the fight,” he said. “Even the knockdown was bull. He kept coming at me with the head. He kept trying to head butt me. The challenge was that there was blood in my eye. The first couple of rounds I was boxing him easily.”

“What I want right now is a contract so I can fight Gervonta Davis wherever. Lomachenko, any of them,” said Fortuna, who had a No Decision against Adrian Granados last June on SHOWTIME after falling out of the ring in the fourth round suffering a head and neck injury.

Erickson Lubin stopped former world champion Ishe Smith after round three of a scheduled 10-round junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Lubin dropped Smith three times.  In round three, it was an uppercut that sent Smith down, and the bout was stopped after the round.

Lubin, 155.8 lbs of Orlando, FL is 20-1 with 15 knockouts.  Smith, 155.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 29-11.

Juan Heraldez stopped Eddie Ramirez in round seven of a scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout.

In round five, Heraldez dropped Ramirez twice with hard combinations. In round seven, Heraldez dropped Ramirez for a 3rd time, and the bout was stopped at 2:30.

Heraldez, 141.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 16-0 with 10 knockouts. Ramirez, 141.8 lbs of Chicago, IL 17-3.

Joseph Diaz, Jr. won a 10-round unanimous decision over Charles Huerta in a super featherweight bout.

Diaz, 129.8 lbs of South El Monte, CA won by scores of 99-91 on all cards, and is now 28-1.  Huerta, 130 lbs of Paramount, CA is 20-6.

Adrian Estrella won a 10-round split decision over previously undefeated Oscar Duarte in a lightweight bout.

Estrella was cut over the right eye in round six.

Estrella won two cards by scores of 98-92 and 96-94. Duarte won a card 97-93.

Estrella, 135 lbs of Nuevo Leon, MEX is now 29-3. Duarte, 135 lbs of Parral, MEX is 15-1-1.

Taureano Johnson and Fernando Castaneda battled to an eight-round draw in a middleweight contest.

Each fighter won a card 77-75 and a 3rd card read even at 76-76.

Jihnson, 163,2 lbs of Nassau, BAH is now 20-2-1.  Catstaneda, 164 lbs of Aguascalientes, MEX is 26-13-1.

Former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan stopped Lolito Sonson in round five of a scheduled ten-round super bantamweight bout.

In round one, Hovhannisyan was deducted a point for a low blow. In round five, Hovhannisyan dropped Sonsona with a right to the body. Hovhannisyan sent Sonsona down again with a follow up flurry, and the bout was stopped at 2:23.

Hovhannisyan, 121.8 lbs of Los Angeles, is 16-3 with 13 knockouts. Sonsona, 122 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 22-3-4.

PHILADELPHIA–Victor Ruiz stunned a sold out 2300 Arena crowd with one perfect left hand as he stopped hometown favorite Christian Carto in round two of their scheduled eight-round bantamweight fight.

Ruiz landed a perfect left hand that sent the back of Carto’s head thumping off the canvas. Carto’s leg momentarily quivered and the bout was immediately halted at 1:56.

Carto was removed from the arena on a stretcher.

Ruiz, 115.5 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 23-10-1 with 16 knockouts. Carto, 118.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 17-1.

Marcel Rivers won a six-round unanimous decision over Derrick Whitley in a battle of undefeated welterweights.

Rivers, 144.7 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 58-56 on all cards and is now 7-0. Whitley, 148.3 lbs of Springfield, MA is 4-1-1.

Alejandro Jimenez and Edgar Cortes battled to a six-round split draw in a bantamweight contest.

Each fighter took a card a card 58-56 while a 3rd card read even at 57-57.

Jimenez, 119.2 lbs of New Hope, PA is 4-0-1. Cortes, 119.5 lbs of Vineland, NJ is 6-4-1.

Darmani Rock stopped Steven Lyons in round four of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round four, Rock opened up with a hard combination to the body that sent Lyons to the canvas in the corner. Lyons sat in the corner until referee Benjy Esteves reached the ten-count at 1:20.

Rock, 273.3 lbs of Philadelphia is 14-0 with nine knockouts. Lyons, 209.7 lbs of Houma, LA is 5-4.

Sonny Conto made a successful pro debut by stopping Jimmie Levins in the 1st round of their scheduled four round haveyweight bout.

Conto seemed to drop Levins four-times in thr opening frame, but for some reason they were all ruled slips. Levins was limping around the ring and upon the 4th time on the canvas, the fight was stopped due to injury at 2:19.

Conto, 215.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 1-0 with one knockout. Levins, 219.2 lbs of Buffalo, NY is 0-5.

Gerardo Martinez won a four-round majority decision over Osnel Charles in a junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Martinez began to bleed from his nose.

Martinez, 136.7 lbs of Coatsviille, PA won by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 and is now 4-1. Charles, 140.3 lbof Atlantic City is 12-19-1.

Jonathan Torres won a four-round unanimous decision over Dallas Holden in a bantamweight bout.

Torres, 118.5 lbs of Bethlehem, PA won by shutout scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is now 2-0. Holden, 119.6 lbs of Atlantic City 1-4.

The WBSS Semifinal bout between Mairis Briedis and Krzystof Glowacki is set for June 15, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The fight will take place on June 15 (DAZN) at the Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia.

“I can’t wait for the opportunity to get to the final,” Briedis said. “We are going to have another boxing celebration in Latvia that will be watched by the whole world and give me a second chance in front of my people to achieve what I missed the first season.”

“I can’t wait to get in the ring in Riga,” Glowacki said. “I’m confident I’ll beat Mairis on June 15 and move on and win the WBSS tournament and the Muhammad Ali Trophy [which is awarded to the winner].”

Miguel Berchelt injured his hand, which will force the March 23 rematch with Francisco Vargas, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We’re going to try to reschedule the fight as soon as possible, as soon as Berchelt can go. Hopefully, we can do it in May,” Top Rank Vice-President Moretti said.

Newly crowned IBF Lightweight champion Richard Commey is waiting for results of an MRI on his knuckle before knowing if he can make the unification bout with Vasyl Lomachenko on April 12, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“There seems to be an issue with a ligament on his right hand, his right knuckle,” Lou DiBella, Commey’s promoter, told ESPN on Tuesday. “Before there is any definitive prognosis, they want him to have an MRI and whatever other imaging they need to do. Richard went to see the hand specialist [on Tuesday]. The doctor sent him for imaging, which he will have done on Wednesday, and on Thursday the doctor will review everything and give us a prognosis about whether he will be able to fight on April 12.

“My perspective is that I’m not going to play doctor. Right now, there is an issue that has to be dealt with, and on Thursday we’ll know the extent of it.”

A purse bid for the rematch between Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury has been pushed back a week, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We have extended [for] one week the free negotiations, per their request,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said.

Shelly Finkel, Wilder’s co-manager, said the discussions are going well.

“We’re in strong negotiations and hopefully we will get things done,” he said. “I don’t think we are going to need a purse bid.”

Abner Mares has to pull out of his fight with Gervonta Davis with a Detached Retina.

“It happened in a sparring session. It happened on Wednesday [Jan. 23]. I got hit in the eye,” said Mares, who wore a patch over his eye during an interview with Kate Abdo that aired on Sunday on “Inside PBC Boxing,” the FS1 news and interview show about Premier Boxing Champions fights and fighters that he co-hosts. “I felt the pain, but I went through it. I still sparred. I came back on Friday [Jan. 25] for another sparring session, I got hit again. It’s a contact sport, and my eye got super red. And it was that Friday and Saturday where I started seeing clouds and just blurred vision, and I told my wife, and my wife was like, ‘You got to get it checked.’ I said, ‘No, I’m good.’

“So, Monday came and I was gonna go to the gym. I had another sparring session ready for Monday. But my wife insisted to go see the doctor. So, she won, and I went to the doctor, a specialist, and he said, ‘Abner, you have a detached retina. You’re not gonna be able to fight.’ … It was really hard for me to hear those words once again. It was devastating.”

“In reality, people didn’t know what I was going through,” said Mares, who pursued the fight, for which he would have to move up another weight class. “They didn’t know the pain I was going through. I’m not that type of person. I’m not that type of fighter. I called out Davis. I wanted him.”

“It’s been a tough week. … I know that I’m going to come back strong after this,” Mares said. “It’s just a matter of healing, resting and doing what the doctors say.”

“My doctor is one of the best, and if he says, ‘Abner, you’re good to go,’ I’m going to up there and continue to become a world champion once again,” Mares said. “And if he says no, I’m ready for retirement. But I honestly feel I’m gonna come back and I’m gonna conquer that and become a world champion once again.”

“I do have a bad elbow, but not that bad to cancel the fight,” Mares said. “I mainly said elbow because I was afraid. I didn’t want people to know about my eye. I said if I tell people about my eye, people are gonna think, ‘That’s it, he’s not fighting anymore, it’s a red flag.’

“I don’t know, I was scared, honestly. I was scared to let the people know that I’m going through this. I don’t want people to see me as handicapped. I don’t want people to feel that I can’t fight anymore, because I know I can. I just wanted to hide it. No one knew. I just recently told my manager and my promoter; no one knew. Only my family members, and it was hard.”

Sergey Kovalev quieted his many nay-Sayers by putting on a boxing clinic, and recapturing the WBO Light Heavyweight decision with a 12-round unanimous decision over Eleider Alvarez in a rematch that took place at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Kovalev boxed very well as he showed consistent boxing with his jab that set up his workrate over the 36 minute fight.  Alvarez only threw 30 punches per round which did not provide him with the opportunities  to the land the big shots that propelled him to a knockout victory over Kovalev last August.

Kovalev took the advice of new trainer Buddy McGirt and took what the Alvarez gave him, which was jabbing through out the rounds and getting in his right hand which kept Alvarez on the defense.

Kovalev doubled up Alvarez on the punches landed, and won by scores of 120-108 and 116-112 to raise his mark to 33-3-1.  Alvarez is 24-1.

“We worked a lot on my jab,” Kovalev said. “Right now, I am working with {trainer} Buddy {McGirt} the way I was when I was an amateur

“After this, I want unification fights.”

Said Alvarez: “I don’t see myself as a loser tonight, but I do give him credit, especially in that 12th round. I think that he went out and proved that he wanted to win.”

Rising star, Teofimo Lopez, beat up, bloodied and battered Diego Magdaleno and stopped him in round seven of a scheduled ten-round lightweight fight.

Magdaleno’s face started chopping up in round two from the hard blows from Lopez.

In round six, Lopez landed a blistering left hook to the chin that Magdaleno to the canvas.’In round seven, Magdaleno landed two of the powerful and concussive left hooks on a beaten Magdaleno that plummeted him to the canvas at 1:08 and the fight was halted.

Lopez, 134.8 lbs of Brooklyn is 12-0 with 10 knockouts.  Magdaleno, 134.7 lbs of Las Vegas is 34-3.

“I take nothing away from Diego Magdaleno. We picked our shots, and we knew that in the later rounds, he’d drown in those deep waters,” Lopez said. “As the competition gets tougher, you will see more of what I can do. I dissected him like a surgeon.”

Oscar Valdez shook off 11 months of ring rust and stopped Carmine Tommasone in round seven to retain the WBO Featherweight title.

In round four, Valdez dropped Tommasone with a right hand.  Tommasone began to bleed from his nose.  Later in the round, Valdez sent Tommasone down with a hard jab.  In round five, Tommasone began to bleed from his mouth.  In round Round six, Valdez sent Tommasone down with a left hook.

Valdez ended things just nine seconds into round seven, Valdez dropped Tommasone with a perfect left uppecut to the chin and Tommasone went to the deck, and the fight was stopped.

Valdez, 125.8 lbs of Nogales. MEX is 25-0 with 20 knockouts.  Tommasone, 125.4 lbs of Italy is 19-1.

“I was very excited. I kind of didn’t want to get too crazy in there. It was tough the first round to get {my rhythm},” Valdez said. “But finally, I got the job done. I congratulate him. He’s a great fighter. I wish him nothing but the best.

“We started 2019 well. The sky’s the limit.”

Richard Commey stopped Isa Chaniev in the 2nd round to win the IBF Lightweight championship.

In round one, Commey landed a perfect right that dropped Chaniev hard to the canvas.  In round two, Commey rushed out and landed a perfect left hook that sent Chaniev to the deck.  Commey was all over Chaniev, and landed power shots.  As referee Laurence Cole stopped the bout, Commey added two more shots and sent Chaniev to the deck at 39 seconds.

Commey, 134.3 lbs of Accra, Ghana now will face WBA/WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko on April 12th with a record of 28-2 with 25 knockouts.  Chaniev, 134 1/2 lbs of Russia is 13-2.

“This is everything for me. This is what I worked so hard for,” Commey said. “Finally being a world champion, I feel like I fulfilled a destiny for me.”

Next up for Commey is a potential showdown with WBA/WBO lightweight champion and pound-for-pound great Vasiliy Lomachenko. He hurt his right knuckle in the opening round, and if receives a clean bill of health, Lomachenko will be next.

“When I hit him in the first round, I hurt my right knuckle,” Commey said. “I’m going to have to get it looked at and see what happens.”

Janibek Alimkhanuly stopped Steven Martinez in round five of a scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

In round three, Alimkhanuly dropped Martinez with a left to the body.  Alimkhanuly continied to pound away on Martinez, who had his nose bloodied in the fourth and finally was pulled out the fight 21 seconds into round five.

Alimkhanuly, 162 lbs of Kazakhstan is 5-0 with two knockouts.  Martinez, 160 1/2 lbs of Bronx, NY is 18-5.

“I showed what I was capable of against a tough opponent,” Alimkhanuly said. “I am close to world title contention. It’s going to be a big year for me in 2019. This is only the beginning of my journey.”

Enriko Gogokhia stopped Vitor Freitas in round three of their six-round junior welterweight bout.

Gogokhia dropped Freitas in the 1st round with a straight left that barely touched Freitas.  Gogikhia was cut on his forehead in round two from an accidental headbutt.  In round three, Gogokhia landed a little left to the body that put Freitas down, and the bout was stopped.

Gogokhia, 142 1/2 lbs of Georgia Republic is 10-0 with five knockouts.  Freitas, 141 lbs of Salvador, BRA is 15-4-1.

Jason Sanchez stopped Daniel Olea in round two of their scheduled eight-round featherweight bout.

Sanchez was dominant and landed a big right hand that dropped Olea and the bout was stopped at 1:35.

Sanchez, 125 1/2 of Albuquerque, NM is 14-0 with seven knockouts.  Olea, 125 1/2 of Mexico is 13-7-2.

“I wanted to be patient in there. I wasn’t necessarily looking for the knockout right away,” Sanchez said. “But the opportunity came, and I took advantage of the opening.”

In an entertaining ten-round junior middleweight scrap, Patrick Day won a unanimous decision over Ismail Iliev.

Day, 153 3/4 lbs of Freeport, NY won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 to raise his mark to 17-2-1.  Iliev, 154 lbs of Russia is 11-1-1.

Bakhram Murtazaliev stopped Elvin Ayala in round nine of their scheduled ten-round junior middleweight bout.

In round two, Murtazaliev was credited a knockdown when he landed a combination that made Ayala stumble into the ropes.

In round nine, Murtazaliev dropped Ayala with a hard right hand.  Seconds later, a follow flurry of hard power punches forced the ref to stop the bout at 2:05.

Murtazailev, 153 1/2 lbs of Russia is 15-0 with 12 knockouts.  Ayala, 154 lbs of New Haven, CT is 29-13-1.

Sergio Garcia won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ted Cheesman to retain the European Super Welterweight title at the O2 Arena in London

It was a high contact fight with Garcia getting much better of the exchanges. His worked showed as Cheesman was bleeding from his nose throughout the fight.

Garcia, 153.4 lbs of Spain won by scores of 119-109 twice and 115-114. Cheesman, 153.3 lbs of England is 15-1.

Craig Richards stopped Jake Ball in round three of a scheduled 10-round light heabyweight bout.

In round one, Richards sent Ball to the canvas with a right hand. In round two, it was a right to the body that sent Ball to a knee. In round three, it was a hook to the head that sent Ball down for a 3rd time. Ball was still hurt, and Richards jumped on him by landing several more hard blows before the fight was stopped at 2:27.

Richards, 174.8 lbs of 14-1 with eight knockouts. Richards, 174.5 lbs of Lightwater is 12-2.

Lawrecnce Okolie remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Tamas Lodi in a cruiserweight fight.

In round two, Okolie dropped Lodi with a perfect left hook.. At the end of the round, Okolie landed a flush right hand that put Lodi down for a second time. In the opening seconds of round three, Okolie sent Lodi down again with a right hand. Lodi went down for a fourth and final time with a short right to the chin, and the fight was stopped at 1:13.

Okolie, 199.8 lbs of Hackney, and is now 11-0 with eight knockouts. Lodi, 199.5 lbs of Hungary is 20-12-2.

It was announced after the fight that Okolie would fight Wadi Camacho on March 23rd.

Felix Cash demolished Rasheed Abolaji in round one of a scheduled 12-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Cash dropped Abolaji with a hard jab. Moments later, Cash dropped Abolaji with a perfect overhand right that sent him on his stomach. Abolaji got to his feet, but stumbled back, and the bout was stopped at 2:45.

Cash, 159.6 lbs of Workingham is 11-0 with seven knockouts. Abolaji, 157.8 lbs of Nigeria is 11-5-1.

Fabio Wardley destroyed Morgan Dessaux in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round heavyweight tilt.

Wardley landed a booming right uppercut that was followed up with a short left that dropped Dessaux, and the fight was stopped at 1:43.

Wardley, 229 lbs of Ipswich is 6-0 with five knockouts. Dessaux, 215 lbs of France is 5-5

Scott Fitzgerald remained undefeated by stopping Radoslav Mitev in round two of their scheduled six-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Fitzgerald dropped Miev with a right to the head. In round two, Fitzgerald had an all-out assault until he dropped Mitev with an uppercut. The fight was stopped upon a bloodied Mitev getting to his fight at 1:27.

Fiztgerald, 159.9 lbs of Preston is 12-0 with nine knockouts. Mitev, 156.9 lbs of Bulgaria is 12-46-2.

John Docherty stopped Przemyslaw Binienda in the 1st round of their scheduled four-round light heavyweight bout.

In round one, Binienda began to bleed from his nose. Docherty landed a hard combination that was punctuated by a straight left that plummeted Binienda into the ropes and the bout was stopped at 1:59.

Docherty, 170.4 lbs of Montrose is 3-0 with three knockouts. Binienda, 173.4 lbs of Poland is 2-23.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Super Middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez will move to light heavyweight.

“I am looking for another belt. That’s why I am moving up. Also, last time I fought it was a little bit hard to make the weight, 168. My body is asking to move up,” Ramirez said Friday before the weigh-in for the rematch between light heavyweight world titlist Eleider “Storm” Alvarez and former two-time titlist Sergey Kovalev, who meet on Saturday night (midnight ET, ESPN+) at the Ford Center at the Star, the practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I am looking for those belts,” Ramirez said. “They are really tough fighters. I want to be the Mexican idol. So I am looking for a challenge and an opportunity.”

“He came to us. He was having trouble maintaining his weight at 168 [pounds] and thought he would be much stronger at 175,” Ramirez promoter Bob Arum said. “So without giving up his 168 title, I think we’re going to put him in a good fight at 175, and then if he comes through that we’ll match him with one of the champions to fight for a title.

“He knows as well as we do who he matches up well with. He has sparred with Gvozdyk so he feels he can handle Gvozdyk. He’s watched Alvarez fight. Our matchmakers think he’s competitive in either fight. With Beterbiev, who knows what you have.”

“Bob told me, ‘Maybe you want to move up, fight, and after, if I don’t give you a really good fight like [one against] Canelo Alvarez or [Gennady] Golovkin or Callum Smith, something like that, then we’re going to look for a title at light heavyweight,'” Ramirez said. “It’s a big challenge for me. I am really motivated to get another belt and be a champion in two divisions.”

“I think he’s a big guy whether at 168 or 175, and if he feels stronger by not having the sacrifice to make the weight he will be a lot better puncher,” Arum said. “He’s a great boxer. The question is if he will develop a good punch. I think going up in weight will help that.”

IBF Junior Welterweight champion, Ivan Baranchyk has withdrawn from the World Boxing Super Series due failure of being paid, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“We are definitely pulling out. Ivan was supposed to fight [Josh] Taylor in Glasgow [Scotland] in late May. That was what I was hearing, but they haven’t spoken to any of us, not me, not [co-promoter] Lou [DiBella], said Baranchyk’s manager David McWater.

“We got the purse for the quarterfinals but we had to wait about two months for the win bonus that Ivan was owed, and we didn’t get it until after we had to threaten them,” McWater said. “They paid us late and now they are refusing to put the money in escrow for the semifinals until the fight. They won’t even put part of the money in escrow.”

“We feel like they are not going to be able to pay us,” McWater said. “They’re not willing to negotiate putting money in escrow in a timely fashion. We don’t believe the fight will happen anyway and we’re burning daylight. Ivan is missing fights. We’re incredibly disappointed because we wanted this tournament to work so badly. We are not pulling out because we have some other plan, but I feel confident somebody will make us an offer.

“Ivan has a world title, so I don’t expect us to sit around. This kid looks at his boxing as a 9-to-5 job. He trains every single day. How do you tell him there are all these delays because they don’t have the money?”

McWater said he would not be surprised if there was litigation over Baranchyk’s withdrawal but “I think we win. We may end up in court. We are the injured party and were more than fair with them. They are the ones in breach of their contract.”

A Comosa AG spokesperson told ESPN, “We have not received any notice of Ivan Baranchyk pulling out of the tournament. Ivan Baranchyk was paid a very large sum to challenge for a vacant title and the WBSS and its shareholders have invested hugely into its brand. Its contracts are watertight and any failure to meet them will be met with the very hardest of consequences. This applies to all fighters and also to promoters, managers and agents alike.”

“I understand the decision that was made by Ivan and Dave McWater. They’re extremely frustrated and had a number of significant concerns about continuing in the WBSS,” DiBella said. “As Ivan’s co-promoter, I reached out to the WBSS to convey their concerns and provide them with an opportunity to give comfort to Ivan and to provide specifics with respect to the next round of the tournament and the final, as well as comfort with respect to the money presently being there to meet their obligations. But a number of phone calls were not returned and a substantive letter sent last week was not replied to.”

DiBella is also junior welterweight semifinalist Regis Prograis’ promoter and said that Prograis’ continued participation in the tournament is up in the air.

“Regis’ future in the tournament has to be determined by Regis and his management, Churchill Boxing,” he said. “As with Ivan, DiBella Entertainment is not in contractual privity with the World Boxing Super Series.”

Oleksandr Usyk has been named the 2018 BWAA Fighter of the Year, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

For the second year in a row, Anatoly Lomachenko, Usyk’s trainer (and Vasiliy Lomachenko’s father) won the Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Trainer of the Year award. He beat out Jay Deas, Robert Garcia and Derrick James.

Egis Klimas, who manages Usyk along with Lomachenko, newly crowned light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk and a slew of other fighters, won the Cus D’Amato Manager of the Year award for the third year in a row, beating out Keith Connolly, Chepo Reynoso and Sam Katkovski.

The other award winners:

Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Fight of the Year went to Jarrett Hurd’s split decision win against Erislandy Lara to unify junior middleweight titles in an all-out slugfest in April. That fight was also awarded ESPN fight of the year honors. Hurd-Lara beat out heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder’s exciting 10th-round knockout of Luis “King Kong” Ortiz in March; Lomachenko’s 10th-round knockout of Jorge Linares to win a lightweight world title in May; junior welterweight Alex Saucedo’s seventh-round stoppage of Lenny Zappavigna in a back-and-forth bloodbath in June; and Canelo Alvarez’s narrow majority decision win over Gennady Golovkin to win the unified middleweight world title in their action-packed rematch in September.

The Sam Taub broadcast award winner was Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza, who has been at the network since 2011 and led its rise to dominance in the premium cable boxing battle with HBO. The other nominees were HBO analyst Roy Jones Jr., Showtime Sports executive producer David Dinkins Jr., HBO senior producer Dave Harmon and Showtime Sports broadcaster Jim Gray.

Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury won the Bill Crawford-John McCain award for courage in overcoming adversity. After winning the unified and lineal title from Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, Fury went on a downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse. He also had mental health issues, blew up to more than 400 pounds and did not fight for 2½ years before getting his life together, slimming down and returning in 2018 for two wins followed by a draw with world titleholder Wilder. The other nominees were late Sen. John McCain, whose name was added to the award title, Main Events promoter Kathy Duva, trainer Jose Santa Cruz and Showtime broadcaster Brian Custer.

International Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley, the voice of HBO boxing for more than 30 years until the network’s exit from the sport in December after 45 years, was voted winner of the Barney Nagler Long and Meritorious Service award. The other finalists were CompuBox founder Bob Canobbio, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti, MGM Resorts International public relations executive director Scott Ghertner and former middleweight and light heavyweight world champion Bernard Hopkins.

There was a three-way tie for the Marvin Kohn Good Guy award between publicist Steve Brener, president of Brener Zwikel & Associates; Ray Stallone of HBO Sports media relations; and four-division world titleholder Nonito Donaire. The other nominee was two-division world titlist Badou Jack.

Two other award winners were previously announced. Unified women’s middleweight world titlist Claressa Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) was named winner of the Christy Martin award for female fighter of the year in a unanimous vote of the BWAA women’s boxing committee and Thom Loverro, a sports columnist for the Washington Times since 1992, who has written extensively about boxing in his decades of writing experience, was voted the 46th winner of the Nat Fleischer award for career excellence in boxing journalism, which is voted on only by past winners.