Former light heavyweight beltholder, Juergahn Brahemer will move down to super middleweight for the first time in a decade to compete in the World Boxing Super Series, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I am looking forward to the tournament,” said Braehmer, a two-time light heavyweight world titleholder. “I am prepared. The change of the weight class is not a challenge for me. I have made more than 30 professionals fights at super middleweight and will now return to my original weight class. I am curious who my opponents will be.”

“Braehmer is one of the most accomplished fighters around,” promoter Richard Schaefer said. “His record of 48 wins with just three losses speaks for itself. The youngsters better watch out for him.”

In a very dubious decision, Jeff Horn captured the WBO Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision on front of 55,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Horn came out with reckless abandon and landed some shots early in round one.  Pacquiao was able to start timing Horn, and in round three, Horn was cut over his left eye.  Pacquiao landed the better and more accurate punches, with exception in round six, when Horn landed a hard right that buckled the Philippine legend.

Over the 2nd half of the fight, Pacquiao was able to find a groove, and in round nine, battered Horn all over the ring,  Horn looked like a bloody mess, and referee Mark Nelson even had Horn on a short leash at the fighters entered the 10th frame.  Pacquiao was cut from both sides of his forehead from headbutts as Horn was coming in without much fluidity.

It seemed like it was a mere formality to have Pacquiao’s hand to be raised, but three judges ruled for Horn, some how 117-111 and 115-113 twice.

Horn is now 17-0-1.  Pacquiao falls to 59-7-2.

Jerwin Ancajas retained the IBF Junior Bantamweight title with a 7th round stoppage over Teiru Kinoshita.

Kinoshita was cut over the right eye on what was  ruled a punch.  Replays would show it was from an elbow.  With his eye closing, Kinoshita ate a perfect body shot that sent him to the canvas in round seven.  Kinoshita got to his feet, but the fight was waved off at 1:53.

Anacjas of Cavite City, PHL is 25-1-1 with 17 knockouts.  Kinoshita of Kobe, JPN is 25-2-1.

Michael Conlan remained perfect by stopping Jarrett Owen in round three of their six round featherweight bout.

Conlan was dominant and started working the body hard until the bout was stopped at 1:56 of round three.

Conlan of Ireland is 3-0 with 3 knockouts.  Owen of Brisbane is 5-5-3.

David Toussaint remained perfect by winning an eight-round split decision over Shane Mosley, Jr in a middleweight bout.

In round two, Toussaint started to bleed over his left eye.  Toussaint was more active and sharper with his punches and won by scores of 77-76 twice and 77-75 for Mosley.

Toussaint of Australia is now 11-0.  Mosley of Pomona, CA is 10-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Cruiserweight champion Oleksandt Usyk has joined the World Boxing Super Series, thus all sitting world champions have entered the tourney.

“I feel happy and inspired with the idea of such a tournament,” Usyk said. “I’ve been dreaming of putting together all the champs to see who is the strongest and becoming the undisputed king of the division. I look forward to gaining three more world championship belts to my collection as well as the Muhammad Ali Trophy.”

“This is a historic moment,” said Roberto Dalmiglio of Comosa AG. “Nobody has ever assembled as many top fighters as the World Boxing Super Series and put them in an elimination tournament to determine the undisputed No. 1. Whoever emerges from a competition that features the four reigning champions, two former champions as well as two rising challengers to be announced shortly will be universally recognized as the greatest cruiserweight out there.”

Robert Easter, Jr. retained the IBF Lightweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov at The Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

It was a hard fought battle that was fought mostly on the inside. Easter’s handspeed was the difference in the bout as he was more adept with quick combinations inside.

Somehow two judges gave Easter every round to the tune of 120-108. A third judge was more in line with what actually happened in the ring and saw it 116-112.

Easter, 134 lbs of Toledo, OH is 20-0. Shafikov, 134 lbs of Miass, RIS is 38-3.

“I’m thankful for my team preparing me for this victory,” said Easter. “I give my performance a B- tonight. I could have done a lot better. I fought on the inside more at the beginning of the fight but my team wanted me to box so I was able to do that late and get the win.”

“I know a lot of guys’ weakness is their gas tank so I wanted to go after him and test him early,” said Easter. “Shafikov proved that’s he’s a tough opponent but we were able to get the job done.”

“I thought that’d I’d be the first guy to be able to break Shafikov down,” said Easter. “I was able to get the win and I’m going to be ready for everybody out there.”

Julian Williams stopped Joshua Conley in round seven over their scheduled ten round super welterweight bout.

In round six, Williams was cut around the right eye.  Williams, who dominated the fight, landed a hard left that sent Conley to a knee.  When the fight resumed, Williams turned it up with a hard flurry of punches, and Conley’s corner threw in the towel at 58 seconds.

Williams, 157 lbs of Philadelphia is 23-1-1 with 15 knockouts.  Conley, 156 lbs of San Bernadino, CA is 14-2-1.

Jamontay Clark won a debatable eight-round unanimous decision over Ivan Golub in a super welterweight bout.

The bout was entertaining with hard shots landed by both fighters.  Golub stunned Clark twice in round three.

Clark, 148.5 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 79-73 and 77-75 twice, and is now 12-0.  Golubm 148.5 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 13-1.

Manny Pacquiao 146 – Jeff Horn 147
(WBO Welterweight championship)
Co-Feature – IBF Super Flyweight World Championship (12 rounds)
Jerwin Ancajas(26-1-1, 17 KOs), Champion, Cavite City, Philippines 114 lbs.
Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), Challenger, Kobe, Japan 115 lbs.

Middleweights (8 rounds)
Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), Pomona, California. USA 160 lbs.
David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), Canberra, Australia 160 lbs.

Featherweights (6 rounds)
Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK 126 lbs.
Jarrett Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), Brisbane, Australia 126 lbs.

Two more high profile championship bouts will be televised on ESPN in August, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

WBO Super Featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko will take on Miguel Marriaga on August 5th in Los Angeles, while Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo will meet for all four major belts in the 140-lb division on August 19th in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“ESPN is thrilled to bring these two new title fights to fans,” Burke Magnus, ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and scheduling, said Thursday. “There is a lot of buzz around boxing right now, and much of it centers around these two great champions — Lomachenko and Crawford. We are excited and proud to showcase these two great events on all of our platforms.”

Top Rank president Todd duBoef, who worked closely with Magnus to finalize the deal, was also excited about the exposure his two champions will get on ESPN.

“Pound for pound, no one can match the talent of Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford,” duBoef said. “They drew the best ratings on premium cable this year, and now everyone will be able to see them when they defend their world titles in all-action fights in August, live on ESPN.”

Lomachenko had hoped to face former two-division titleholder Orlando Salido in a rematch of Salido’s split-decision win in 2014 in Lomachenko’s second pro fight. However, after much discussion, Salido ultimately rejected an offer of $720,000, and Top Rank moved on to Marriaga for Lomachenko’s third title defense.

“When the financial requests were met suddenly there were other issues like a hand problem, which led to a weight problem, which led to Marriaga. Funny how that happens,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said. “So we moved on to trying to secure the best possible opponent at the time, and Miguel Marriaga stepped up to the plate as did [previous Lomachenko opponents] Jason Sosa and Rocky Martinez in the past.”

“If you put Marriaga, Salido and Sosa in a round-robin, I think they’re all excellent fights, and who knows who would win,” Moretti said. “Obviously, Lomachenko is at a different level, but in the ring we know what Marriaga brings — heart, determination, a big right hand, size and no intimidation.”

“Indongo went to Russia to knock out Troyanovsky, and then he went to Scotland and beat Burns. Does he actually have the audacity to come to Nebraska and beat Crawford for the other two titles? We’ll find out Aug. 19.”

“The willingness and cooperation from all four organizations certainly reflects their concern and desire to do what’s right for the sport,” Moretti said.

Nicholas Hernandez won a six-round majority decision over Grayson Blake in a junior middleweight bout.

Hernandez, 154 lbs of Lebanon, PA won by scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 57-57, and is now 7-2. Blake, 153.4 lbs of State College, PA is 6-5-1.

Jesus Lule scored a 2nd round stoppage over Ismael Serrano in a scheduled four round lightweight bout.

Lule swared Serrano and landed a flurry of punches, and the fight was stopped at 2:10.

Lule, 135.7 lbs of Fort Myers, FL is now 11-22-1 with two knockouts. Serrano, 134.5 lbs of Bethlehem, PA is 4-2.

In a featherweight slugfest, Avery Sparrow was able to outlast Isaelin Florian via six-round unanimous decision.

Sparrow decked Florian in round when he landed a hard overhand right and followed it up with two more hard rights. Florian came right back and dropped Sparrow with a left. Early in round two, Sparrow registered a 2nd knockdown when he landed another straight right hand.

Florian fought much of the 2nd half of the fight with an injured left arm, and that hampered him both offensively and defensively as Sparrow was able to hit Florian with regularity.

Sparrow, 127.6 lbs of Philadelphia took all cards 58-54, and is now 7-1. Florian, 126.2 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 6-1

In round four, Florian drilled Sparrow with an overhand left that sent him to the canvas for a 2nd time.

In a battle of Allentown based super lightweights, Jesus Perez won a four round unanimous decision over Christian Molina.

In round one, Perez floored Molina with a right hand. Later in the round, Perez connected with three flush right hands.

Perez, 141 lbs won all cards by 39-37 tallies, and is mow 3-0. Molina, 138.9 lbs is 4-3.

Rick Pyle won a four round unanimous decision over Devin McMaster in a middleweight bout.

Pyle, 150 lbs of Harrisburg, PA won all cards by 40-36 scores, and is now 1-0. McMaster, 156 lbs of Allentown, PA is 1-2.

Dylan Price obliterated Manuel Guerra in round one of their scheduled four round super flyweight bout,

Price drilled Guerra with a perfect right hand that sent him down for the ten count at 1:09.

Price, 117 lbs of Sicklerville, NJ is 3-0 with three knockouts. Guerra, 112 lbs of Reynosa, MX is 1-3-1.

Daniel Franco, who was injured as he suffered a brain injury in a fight on June 10th has been moved to a rehabilitation facility, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Al Franco, Daniel’s father and trainer, said his son was transported on Friday but that the 90-minute drive “was draining on him, and it has taken a few days for him to recover.”

Al Franco added, “Daniel began therapy on Saturday and will continue to have physical therapy every day for three hours per day. They are giving him morphine every few hours because he is having severe headaches and often. So he’s been sleeping more. How long he will be here at the center, we don’t know yet. He needs to get stronger, and the only source of nourishment he is getting is through a tube in his stomach. So please keep him in your prayers.”

Al Franco said Daniel, 25, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been able to walk and that the family hopes to soon take him home to a facility in California in early August. He is making progress, Al Franco said, but it’s going to be a long process.

“His motor skills are slow,” he said. “He struggles making the simplest movements. Reaching or grabbing things is a chore. His speech is slurred as well. But he will improve every day and get stronger. It’s only a matter of time. His mom says that she sees him getting better every day, motor skills improving. Just time and prayers.”

Al Franco said his son’s first full day of therapy was Monday.

“It was exciting to see as well as heartbreaking,” he said. “He is learning to walk, speak, count and do some of the simplest things imaginable.

“I am grateful that he is well enough to be at his point after suffering such a serious injury and going through the type of surgery he did. However, as his father, to have such a world-class athlete struggle like this is heartbreaking. But he is doing an amazing job and the fighter in him makes him push harder than what he should be. He wants to run, not walk, but that’s his character — go big or go home. He is improving.”

Another big name, muliti-time world champion Marco Huck has entered the World Boxing Super Series, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Champions League of Boxing,” Huck said in a news release. “In the great history of the sport there has never been a tournament like this. Eight world-class fighters will enter the competition but just one man can prevail. I cannot wait to show the world that I am best of all those strong champions.”

“There are no weak opponents in the tournament, so I don’t care who I fight,” Huck said. “I want to be the best so I have to beat them all anyway. I don’t mind in which order I defeat them.”

“There is an incredible amount of talent at cruiserweight,” Promoter Kalle Sauerland said in the news release. “The World Boxing Super Series will answer the one question fans have been asking themselves for so many years: Who is the undisputed No. 1 in a division loaded with undefeated champions and great fighters? We’ll find out come May 2018.”

Joseph Parker will defend the WBO Heavyweight title against Hughie Fury on September 23rd in Manchester, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m very much looking forward to this fight,” Parker said. “It’s been a long time coming but the contract is signed thanks to my promoter David Higgins and I am ready to get going. In the contract is what we want and David has worked very hard to get the contract sorted; and now that it’s ready and the date is confirmed, we’re looking forward to going over to the U.K. and making a statement and putting on a great show.”

“The idea of going to the U.K. is something I am looking forward to and, no, I don’t hold any grudges,” Parker said, referring to Fury’s withdrawal from the fight in May that was supposed to be in New Zealand. “I just go in there, respect my opponent and do what I have to do. That’s go in there and win the fight and defend my title and keep it here [in New Zealand]. The crowd against me? I will use it as energy and motivation to put on a great show and fight hard.

“I know there will be a lot of supporters for [Fury] but I know I [will] put on a great show, and hopefully get him out of there.”

“I’ve never had a close fight. I’ve won every round of every single fight,” Fury said. “I’m going to let my fists do the talking and I’m going to take his belt home with me.”

“[Fury] needs to get this warm-up fight out of the way before he faces Parker later in the year,”Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said. “I am confident that the WBO heavyweight belt will once again be in possession of the Fury family come the end of the year.”

The IBF ordered a rematch between super middleweight champion Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui, after their controversial fight on May 20, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“During our review of the fight, the championships chairman and I observed Jose Uzcategui hit Andre Dirrell and knock him to the canvas after the bell had sounded ending the eighth round. The punch that knocked Dirrell down was part of a three-punch combination,” IBF President Darryl Peoples wrote. “Immediately following the knockdown referee Bill Clancy called ‘time out’ and asked Andre Dirrell if he was OK. Andre Dirrell was on his hands and knees and shook his head in the affirmative.

“The referee then called the ringside physician into the ring to examine Andre Dirrell and told the doctor that ‘I need to know if he can continue.’ During the ringside physician’s examination of Dirrell, the referee advised the ringside physician that ‘I’m not going to let him continue, I’m disqualifying [Uzcategui] for knocking him out after the bell.’ The referee then consulted executive director of the Maryland State Athletic Commission Pat Pannella and advised him that, ‘He clearly got hit after the bell. He is unable to continue. I’m disqualifying the other fighter. He knocked him out after the bell.'”

Peoples acknowledged in the letter than the referee is the sole arbiter of determining whether a foul was committed and whether a punch is legal. However, Peoples said Clancy erred in not making a determination whether the punch was accidental or flagrant.

“The referee made it clear that he had ruled the blow to Dirrell after the bell was ‘illegal.’ However, the referee did not determine whether the ‘illegal’ punch was intentional or accidental pursuant to [IBF] guidelines,” Peoples wrote. “Had the referee determined that the ‘illegal’ punch was accidental, the bout would have resulted in a technical decision awarded to Jose Uzcategui, who was ahead on the judges’ scorecards after eight rounds had been scored.

“The IBF has also determined that it was inappropriate for the referee to advise Dirrell of the decision of the bout prior to the official decision being announced. Based on the above … the IBF has ruled that the referee’s conduct was inappropriate and will grant an immediate rematch.”

PHOENIX – BJ Flores continued to test his heavyweight potential Saturday night with a victory that the television analyst then judged with the objectivity employed when he worked fights for NBC

“Solid,’’ Flores said.

So, it was.

Flores (34-3-1, 21 KOs) flashed his familiar hand speed in a bout that kept him busy and in the news with six thorough rounds for a scorecard shutout of Nick Guivas (13-6-2, 9 KOs) on an Iron Boy Promotions card at Celebrity Theatre.

Flores had hope for a stoppage and there might have been one of Guivas had the fight continued a few more rounds. But Guivas was clever enough to elude Flores throughout much of the bout.

Flores, who lives in nearby Chandler, was at his best with a body attack that led to complaints Guivas corner about low blows. There were signs in the fifth that the body punches were beginning to take a toll. Guivas, a Puerto Rican living in Topeka, repeatedly retreated to the ropes and Flores capitalized a couple of times with successive head shots.

“He’s been in with some pretty good guys,’’ said Flores, a 60-54 winner on all three cards. “He knew what he was doing.’’

Flores also used the moment to again call out Lucas Browne, who in 2016 became the first Australian to win a major (WBA) heavyweight title. The belt was subsequently stripped when Browne tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

“I’m ready to fight now,’’ said Flores, a former cruiserweight who emerged from his second straight heavyweight victory unmarked and uninjured. “Let’s do it. I’d be happy to go to Australia. This time I could go and not have to worry about making the cruiserweight limit. Let’s do it in September.’’

ON THE UNDERCARD

The Upset: Denver junior-middleweight Vladimir Hernandez (11-2, 6 KOs) landed head-rocking shots early, got rocked by a few big shots later and stayed aggressive throughout eight rounds for an upset – a 77-75, 78-74, 77-75 decision — of formerly unbeaten Daniel Valdiva (14-1, 10 KOs) of Tulare, Calif.

The Best: Chicago junior-middleweight Vernon Brown (4-0, 3 KOS) has The One stitched on to the belt line of trunks. He had The One, one huge right that struck like lightning in the final second of the second round for a stoppage of Brandon Trujillo (0-1) of Albuquerque.

The Rest: Phoenix junior-featherweight Edgar Ortiz (5-1, 3 KOs) landed a paralyzing liver shot for a first-round stoppage of Steven Lantry (0-2) of Portland; Mesa heavyweight Adam Stewart (4-0-1, 2 KOs) put some rock-and-roll back into the old music venue with a body shot for a second-round stoppage of Michael Smith (0-1) of Las Vegas; welterweight Daniel Payan (0-1-1) of Chandler, Ariz., and Carnizosa Segura (0-1-1) of Phoenix are still searching for a victory after fighting to a majority draw; Mesa featherweight Ryan Riddlell (5-0, 4 KOs) scored at second-round stoppage of Patrick Gutierrez (0-4), a Las Vegas fighter who appeared to injure his right arm.

By Norm Fruenheim

BJ Flores will continue to test himself at heavyweight Saturday night at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix.

Flores (33-3-1, 21 KOs), a former cruiserweight and known for his work as a television analyst, faces Nick Guivas (13-5-2, 9 KOs) in a Flores second straight appearance at Celebrity when scored a dramatic stoppage of Jeremy Bates in his heavyweight debut.

Guivas, of Topeka, is 2-3 over his last five bouts, including a stoppage loss in May to Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller. Flores has talked about fighting Lucas Browne, who in 2016 became the first Australian to win a major (WBA) heavyweight title. The belt was subsequently stripped when Browne tested positive for performance-enhancing drug.

The Flores-featured card is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (PST).

Injured fighter Daniel Franco has been weaned out of a coma that he has been since shortly after his stoppage loss to Jose Haro last Saturday night in Iowa, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Daniel had his breathing tube removed and is breathing on his own,” Al Franco said. “They added an IV to his carotid artery in his neck and removed all other IVs. He’s progressing well and it’s all thanks to the great doctors and you all. Thank you all for your prayers.

“Daniel was moved out of intensive care unit and into a regular room. He’s responding well and is becoming more alert.”

“He gave us two thumbs up when asked if he could hear us,” Al Franco said. “We asked him to wink once for yes and twice for no. He followed instructions and is aware of what is going on. He’s moving slowly which may be due to the sedatives, he’s on but he is improving. He is good for a few minutes, then goes to sleep again.”

“These are all good signs that we are moving in the right direction,” Al Franco said.

“Thank you all so much for the continued support financially and spiritually,” Al Franco said. “Please keep the prayers coming. Please keep sharing. Please say his name in your head or whisper it, any acknowledgment to help keep the positive vibes.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings has signed with Top Rank.

“We can do some decent business with him,” Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum told ESPN on Monday. “We’re going to build him back up, and we think he’s competitive with guys like Joseph Parker, Andy Ruiz and maybe even [world titleholder] Anthony Joshua — although Joshua looked pretty awesome against [Wladimir] Klitschko, even though he was in trouble for a little while. Jennings, when he gets back in the saddle, fits in with guys like that.”

“I’m the best-conditioned heavyweight in boxing, and my ultimate goal is to win a world title for Bob Arum at Top Rank. He deserves it,” said Jennings, who is vegan. “And being with Top Rank means I will get an opportunity to fight for a world title. I have the strength, desire and the smartness in the ring to get that world title. This is such an opportunity for me being with Top Rank.”

“I thought [Jennings] did very well with Klitschko, but more than that, he’s a pleasure to be around,” Arum said. “He’s a real credit to boxing. He’s the kind of guy that I think can do well and do well for boxing. He’s like an all-around guy.”

“James Prince and Josh Dubin understood what we’re going to do for Jennings, and they didn’t gouge us,” Arum said. “We’re looking forward to a long and good relationship with him.”

“With Top Rank, Bryant Jennings will become the face of the American heavyweights. He is that great,” Leonard said. “Bryant’s ultimate goal is to get a world heavyweight championship for Bob Arum and Top Rank”

“I am thrilled that Bryant has a chance to reignite his career with such a talented team at Top Rank,” Dubin said. “They know how to position Bryant for another run at the heavyweight world title. James and I are confident that Bryant will indeed be world champion with Top Rank leading the way.”

Guillermo Rigondeaux’s 1st round stoppage victory over Moises Flores has been reversed to a no-contest, after the knockout blow was ruled to come after the bell, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I have a statement from Vic Drakulich memorializing the events that night, that it was initially communicated to us from HBO from the truck that the punch was thrown before the bell,” said Nevada Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett. “I had specifically asked twice and was told yes, the punch was before the bell. I could have been mistaken, but I don’t think I was. So, based on that, the referee called it a knockout. Subsequent to our communications with the HBO trailer, it was brought to my attention the punch came after the bell. Now we have something that is completely different than what we were told. Once we did the replay and we heard the sound, we knew it was a mistake.”

“I listened to it several times. I had a conversation with Vic on the phone and we went over the fight and it was quite clear to both of us that that the punch was thrown after the bell,” Bennett said.

“Vic drafted a statement that has been provided to chairman Marnell and the other commissioners and they will also be provided with a copy of the fight, and next Monday morning we will have a commission meeting, where the result will be changed in accordance with Nevada code,” Bennett said.

“The evidence to me is quite clear,” Bennett said.

“It was unintentional, but we’ve seen the punch and it landed after the bell,” said Michael Yormark of Rigondeaux promoter Roc Nation Sports. “Both fighters were in a clinch and then were throwing punches at the same time. Rigo’s landed first and flattened him. We understand the commission’s position and respect the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and we’ll accept their decision. We respect Bob Bennett, and we don’t necessarily disagree with what the commission decision will be, and we’ll move on.”

Said Flores promoter Tom Brown of TGB Promotions: “Clearly, the punch landed after the bell, and I have complete faith in the Nevada Athletic Commission to overturn the decision. We’ll send an official protest to the athletic commission and wait for them to make their decision, and I’m sure it will be declared a no-decision. They still have to go through their hoops and then see what the WBA does.”

LAS VEGAS – One righteous right was the beginning of an end to the fight. But there was no end to the controversy. It rages on.

It looked as if the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev rivalry had finally reached a conclusion in the eighth round Saturday night in a HBO pay-per-view fight at Mandalay Bay.

Ward, who calls himself Son Of God, landed a lightning bolt of a right. He came out of a slight crouch with a strike that traveled up-up-up-and-over a drooping left onto the side of an exposed chin that sent Kovalev stumbling across the canvas, on to the ropes and into defeat Saturday night in a light-heavyweight rematch at Mandalay Bay.

Referee Tony Weeks ended it at 2:29 of the round with Kovalev bent over in pain. The Russian looked weary. Looked finished. But he, his manager Egis Klimas and promoter Kathy Duva weren’t. They promised to carry on the fight.

They alleged that Ward got away with low blows. Duva said Ward landed four of them in the eighth, one early in the round and three more in the corner in the seconds before Weeks waved if off.

At the post-fight news conference, Duva promised to file a protest with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. She said she asked the Commission for a video review. The regulatory agency said no, she said. A formal protest would be the next step, she said.

Ward didn’t want to talk much about the latest wave of controversy that has separated the two camps since he won a hotly debated decision over the Russian in November.

“Now, we have quieted all the whining,’’ Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) said before Ward and his camp ignited the low blow controversy during the post-fight news conference.

“If I rob a bank and get away it, I’m a lucky millionaire,’’ Klimas said. “He’s a lucky champion.’’

When asked if Ward is the world’s best light-heavyweight, Kovalev (30-2, 25 KOs) said: “As a dirty fighter, yes, he’s the best at 175.’’

Tension between the two fighters and camps grew and spilled over into interviews and a news conference during the days before Saturday’s opening bell. One insult followed another. It got ugly. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that fight did too. Ward was warned for throwing a low blow in the second round. Kovalev acted as if he had been hit low repeatedly during the next several rounds.

All the while, Ward kept his distance, moved away, then ducked in for a quick exchange and never allowed Kovalev to set his feet long enough for him to gain the kind of leverage he needed to unleash his power. Then, there was the cleanest shot of the night, a thing of beauty and the beginning of painful end for Kovalev, who at the time of the stoppage trailed on two scorecards, 4 rounds to 3. He led on the third, 5 to 3.

In the end, Ward’s big right hand was the fight’s decisive moment. It made him look prophetic. He promised a stoppage. He said cornerman Virgil Hunter had trained him to win by knockout. He promised. He practiced. He delivered.

“A third fight?’’ Ward said when asked the inevitable question. “Nah, I don’t think so.’’

For now, at least, it looks as if this rivalry will resume at a Commission hearing. That means more talk. Ward made it sound as if he has heard enough.

On The Undercard

Wait a Second: Guillermo Rigondeaux wasn’t dull this time. But he was controversial. Or, at least, the Nevada State Athletic Commission was.

It took the Commission 15 minutes to rule Rigondeaux’s knockout punch of Moises Flores (25-1, 17 KOs) landed before the fist round ended.

Rigondeaux (18-0, 12 KOs), the WBA’s 122-pound champion, threw a hook as referee Vic Drakulich stepped in between the super-bantamweights. HBO video shows the blow was thrown after the round ended. But, no, the Commission deliberated, presumably viewed its own video and said the shot landed before the bell, or at 2:59 of the first.

Wonder how long it will take Flores to file a protest?

The Noisiest: San Diego Christopher Martin (30-9-3 10 KOs) got rocked, dropped and beaten, but Trevaine Williams (11-0, 4 KOs) of New Haven couldn’t knock the wind out of him. Martin did plenty of huffing and puffing in profane at referee Kenny Bayless for his decision to stop it at 1:44 of the first round.

The Rest: Russian light-heavyweight prospect Dmitry Bivol (11-0, 8 KOs) pounded Cedric Agnew’s right eye into swollen mess for a fourth-round TKO over the Chicago fighter (29-3, 15 KOs); Cuba middleweight Luis Arias (18-0, 9 KOs) opened the PPV part of the card with a fifth-round TKO of Russian Arif Magamedov (18-2, 11 KOs); New Jersey junior welterweight John Bauza (7-0, 4 KOs) stayed unbeaten with a second round TKO of Mexican Brandon Sanudo (5-5, 2 KOs); welterweight Enriko Gogokia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Central Asia’s Georgia scored a unanimous decision over Johnathan Steele (7-1, 5KOs); Middleweight Bakhram Murtazaliev (9-0, 7 KOs), also of Goergia, blew out Brazilian Alex Sandro Duarte (6-1, 4 KOs) in first round stoppage; and unbeaten St. Louis middleweight Vaughn Alexander (10-0, 7 KOs) pushed his victory total into double digits with a fourth-round TKO of Mexican Fabiano Pena ( 17-8-1, 13 KOs).

Super Middleweight beltholder, George Groves has entered the World Boxing Super Series, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I see the World Boxing Super Series as a chance for me to show everyone that I’m the best in the division,” Groves said. “I believe I am the best super middleweight on the planet and certainly the man to beat at 168 pounds. I am proud to bring my WBA super middleweight title to the tournament. I want to continue to test myself against the best, and I am ready and willing to fight anyone. It will be exciting to see who else has the courage to enter such a brutal competition.”

“The World Boxing Super Series is exactly what fighters and fans need — a simple and straightforward way to determine the best fighter in the division,” Groves said. “I am really keen to be the first super middleweight to lift the Muhammad Ali Trophy.”

“There is never a dull moment in his fights, and that is what makes him a standout participant of the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series,” Richard Schaefer said. “George will now face the challenge of going from the hunter to the hunted. This will be really intriguing considering the lineup we will announce.”

Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement to take on two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor in a boxing match that will take place on August 26th in Las Vegas, according to Mayweather’s social media accounts.

Mayweather posted a poster, captioned by the words, “Its Official!”

The fight, which will headline a boxing card, where rumors have it that there will be at least two world title bouts, will be distributed by Showtime Pay Per View.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Daniel Franco had another surgery on his head to relieve pressure on his brain following an injured he suffered this past Saturday night against Jose Haro.

“Daniel had emergency surgery [Monday] night to repair bleeding in the epidural hematoma region of the brain,” said Al Franco, Daniel’s father and trainer. “His initial surgery was to repair bleeding in the subdural hematoma area.

“The doctors decided to keep part of his skull off this time to help with the pressure. It will remain off for at least six weeks and he will continue to be monitored under strict doctor supervision.”

“Please continue to pray for him,” Al Franco said. “Continue saying his name, just help sending positive vibes out. My family and I appreciate everyone’s love and support in our darkest times. I personally have never felt this much love, fear and pain in my life. I’m lost but I have to maintain as strong as I can be. I will continue to keep everyone posted and please continue sharing his Go Fund Me page. Thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart.”

According to Dan Rafael, the proposed fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor could have a date of August 26th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather Promotions plans to request the date from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the much-anticipated boxing match between Mayweather, the former longtime pound-for-pound king and heavy favorite who plans to exit a 23-month retirement for the bout, and UFC superstar Conor McGregor, a source with knowledge of the plan told ESPN on Monday.

“There are negotiations ongoing, but none of us wants to turn this into the circus that the Mayweather-[Manny] Pacquiao negotiations were, so I think it’s best if we keep all the business discussions private until the deal is done,” Showtime Sports executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza told ESPN on Monday night.

Jose Miguel Borrego remained undefeated by stopping Kevin Watts in round four of a scheduled eight round super lightweight bout.

In round four, Borrego dropped Watts with a left uppercut. Seconds later, Borrego trapped Watts in the corner and unloaded a barrage of punches, and the fight was stopped at 2:42.

Borrego, 140.2 lbs of Aguascalientes, MX is now 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Watts, 139.4 of Lancaster, CA is 11-2.

Welterweight Thomas LaManna won an eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Carlos Winston Velasquez that headlined a card at The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City.

LaManna dominated the action with power shots that he landed behind a long jab throughout the contest. Velasquez was game as he took a lot of shots and landed an occasional power shot. LaManna sealed the deal in the final round when he landed a flush 4-punch combination that put Velasquez on the canvas.

LaManna of Millville, NJ won on all cards by scores of 80-71 to raise his mark to 23-2. Velasquez falls to 24-29-2.

Anthony Young won a eight-round unanimous decision over George Sosa in an entertaining welterweight contest.

Young was extremely active as he landed hard combinations with Sosa landing an occasional hard shot to the head.

Young of Atlantic City won by scores of 80-72 twice and 80-71 to raise his mark to 17-2. Sosa of Reading, PA is 15-9.

Donald Smith remained undefeated by winning a four round unanimous decision over Sidell Blocker in super featherweight bout.

Smith of Philadelphia won on all cards 40-36, and is now 5-0. Blocker of Pleasantville, NJ is 1-8-1.

Chris Thomas and Oscar Valdez battled to a four round majority draw in a middleweight contest.

Thomas of Beachwood, NJ took a card 39-37 while two judges saw it even at 38-38.

Thomas is now 6-0-1. Valdez of Batesvile, ARK is 1-2-1.

Gabriel Pham won a six round unanimous decision over Edgar Perez in a light heavyweight bout.

Pham won on all cards 60-54 and is now 9-1. Perez of Chicago is 7-21.

Tomas Romain won a four round unanimous decision over Lamont White in a lightweight bout.

Romain of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37, and is now 3-1. White of Washington, DC is now 1-8.

Elijah Vines remained perfect with a 3rd round stoppage over Harry Tyrone Paige in a scheduled four round junior middleweight bout.

In round one, Vines dropped Paige with a perfect right hook. In round three, Vines dropped Paige with a right to the body. Paige got to his feet, but his corner pulled the plug at 1:42.

Vines of Philadelphia is 4-0 with 4 knockouts. Paige of Batesville, ARK is 0-5.

Frederick Julan stopped Jose Valderrama in the 6th and final round of their light heavyweight bout.

Julan dropped Vakderrama in round six with a body shot. Julan finished off the when he dropped Valderrama for a 2nd time with a right hook to the head, and the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Julan of Brooklyn, NY is 5-0 with three knockouts. Valderrama if Manati, PR is 5-20.

Dan Pasciolla and LeMarcus battled to a majority draw in a rematch of Heavyweights.

In round one, Pasciolla began to bleed from his nostrils.

Pasciolla took a card 58-56. That was overruled by 57-57 scores.

Pasciolla of Brick, NJ is 9-2-3. Tucker of Batesville, ARK is 4-2-1.

Paul Hyland, Jr. scored a spectacular first round stoppage over Adam Dingsdale to win the IBF European Lightweight title.

In round one, Hyland dropped Dingsdale with a left hook, that was followed by four hard punches. With Dingsdale, hurt, Hyland blitzed his opponent and dropped him with a hard flurry of vicious punches, and the bout was stopped at 1:49.

Hyland is now 16-0 with six knockouts. Dingsdale is 16-4-1.

An incredibly slimmed down Michael Perez needed just 29 seconds in his cruiserweight debut to dispatch previously undefeated Viktor Biscak in a bout scheduled for six-rounds.

Perez landed what looked like an ordinary right hook that sent Biscak down. He got to his feet and was limping, and the fight was stopped.

Perez, the former heavyweight contender is now 22-2-1 with 14 knockouts. Biscak is 10-1.

“I am very happy to be back. Hopefully next time I can fight a little bit longer and show the crowd. I lost some weight and I still have the same power. This has been a very interesting two years, and now I am decing to do something better. I want to keep active. I believe I can win a world title at any weight,” said Perez.

“Mike has a big future at cruiserweight, but he has to be active again. I would like to get him back in two or three weeks,”said Promoter Eddie Hearn

James Tennyson stopped Ryan Doyle after round six of their scheduled ten-round WBA Super Featherweight bout.

Tennyson dominated the action after the third round and started to beat Doyle down and the fight was stopped.

Tennyson, 129.3 lbs is now 19-2 with 15 knockouts. Doyle, 129.3 lbs is now 14-2-1.

In a battle of undefeated junior welterweights, Regis Prograis scored four 2nd round knockdowns to stop Joel Diaz, Jr, in that second round of a scheduled ten round bout at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.

In round two, Prograis landed a left that put Diaz on the canvas. Diaz had a little swelling around the left eye. Moments later, it was another hard left that put Diaz down for a second time. Prograis scored a 3rd knockdown in the round from yet another left. Prograis finished off Diaz with a hard combination that sent Diaz down for a final time and the bout was stopped at 2:55.

Prograis, 139.5 lbs of Houston, TX is 20-0 with 17 knockouts. Diaz, 137 1/4 lbs of Palmdale, CA is 23-1.

Steve Rolls took an eight-round split decision over Demond Nicholson in a middleweight bout

In round one, Rolls landed a hard right that dropped Nicholson. Nicholson was able to gather himself and fight at least evenly over the last seven rounds.

Rolls, 161 lbs of Toronto, CAN won on two cards by 77-74 scores, while Nicholson took a card 77-75.

Rolls in 16-0. Nicholson, 162 1/2 lbs of Laurel, MD is 17-2-1.

Rolls landed 117-412 punches, while Nicholson was 134-390.

Jon Fernandez took out Juan Reyes in round two of their scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Reyes was cut around the left eye. Fernandez continued to pound away and landed a brutal right that sent Reyes down and the fight was immediately stopped at 2:36.

Fernandez, 132 1/2 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 13-0 with 11 knockouts. Reyes, 131 1/2 lbs of Bell Gardens, CA is 14-4-3.

Former world champion Arthur Abraham will meet former world title challenger Chris Eubank, Jr on July 15 in London, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m very happy to be fighting here in England,” Abraham said. “I’m looking forward to it, and I think it will be a good fight.”

“I respect every fighter. Anyone who enters the ring has my respect, but it’s my time now,” Eubank said. “I’m the next generation.”

Former welterweight champion Kell Brook is scheduled to have surgery on his left orbital bone, following the bone bring broke in his May 27 loss to Errol Spence, Jr., according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Brook told ESPN on Wednesday that he will have surgery to repair the injury on June 16.

“That’s all I’m saying for now,” Brook said. “I’m having a rest for a while.”

“I got caught on the left eye in the seventh, and it felt really bad,” Brook said after the Spence fight. “It was the one the worst feelings I ever had — kind of like when GGG hit me and fractured my orbital bone. It was devastating. I just couldn’t see.

“It was a competitive fight. He got some rounds. I won some rounds, too. I felt I was winning, but my eye didn’t allow me to continue. I just couldn’t see. You can’t fight if you can’t see. I got put down, and I got up because I’m a warrior. I got up and kept on fighting, but in the 11th, I just couldn’t see. I had to take the knee.”

Spence (22-0, 19 KOs), a 27-year-old southpaw, could make his first title defense in September to headline a Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox in Dallas, just 22 miles from his hometown of DeSoto, Texas.

“Hopefully I can have a homecoming in Dallas, maybe in September sometime,” Spence told reporters at a recent lunch in New York. “I’ve got to talk to my manager [Al Haymon]. Fighting at home in front of my fans, family and friends, that’s a dream come true, especially me having the title and bringing it back to Dallas, which hasn’t happened in a long time. That would mean a lot to me. That would be a dream of mine, too. Hopefully I can make that happen.”

World Heavyweight chamoion ANthony Joshua got an exception that would clear his path for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The International Boxing Federation on Tuesday evening approved Joshua’s request for an exception to his mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev in order to face Klitschko again with the organization’s title on the line, and it notified both camps.

Joshua-Klitschko II taking place by Dec. 2 should not be an issue, because the working date, although not set in stone, is Oct. 28. There is no set site for the rematch.

DiBella Entertainment has won the purse bid to stage the IBF Middleweight elimination bout, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

DiBella Entertainment, which co-promotes Sergiy Derevyanchenko, won a purse bid for the eliminator between 160-pound contenders Derevyanchenko and Tureano Johnson. Alex Dombroff, promoter Lou DiBella’s attorney, bid $121,100.02 at the purse bid at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey, to gain promotional control of the bout.

Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Johnson, was the only other bidder and offered $62,000.

Trainer Leon Lawson, jr. will go on trial in August for Sucker-Punching Jose Uzcategui after a bout on May 20th in Oxon Hill, Maryland, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Lawson, who has been suspended indefinitely by the Maryland State Athletic Commission as well as multiple sanctioning organizations from working in the corner for any fight, faces a second-degree assault charge, a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, court spokesman John Erzen told ESPN on Monday.

Lawson initially also faced a first-degree assault charge, a felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. However, Erzen told ESPN that the first-degree charge “was dismissed because there was insufficient evidence.”

“Jose Uzcategui wants justice for the cowardly act of getting sucker punched by Leon Lawson Jr.,” Sean Gibbons, Uzcategui’s adviser, told ESPN. “Jose does not control what kind of deal the prosecutor cuts, but I can tell you Mr. Uzcategui will be in court to look Leon Lawson Jr. in the face when justice prevails, something he did not receive after the fight when that coward Leon Lawson Jr. sucker punched him. He wants Leon Lawson Jr. to be made an example of so this never happens again.”