Thomas “Cornflake” Lamanna scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Ayi Bruce in a Jr. Middleweight bout that scheduled an 8-bout card at the Veterans Memorial Park in Beach Haven, New Jersey.

The card was promoted by HITM Promotions.

LaManna controlled the bout from the outside as he boxed very nicely as he worked all off his punches off an accurate Jab.

LaManna was able to befuddle Bruce as he mixed in an arsenal of punches as he featured hooks, straight right hands and uppercuts.

LaManna, who is working his way towards campaigning as a Welterweight checked in at 151 lbs. He won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and raised his mark to 18-1.

Bruce, 149 lbs of Accra, Ghana is now 23-11.

In the co-feature, 6-time MMA champion, Brendan Barrett scored a 2nd round stoppage over Santario Holdbrooks in a scheduled 4-round Heavyweight bout.

Barrett scored a knockdown in round one and another in round two. Holdbrooks just barely beat the count on the second knockdown but the bout was stopped at 1:32 of round two.

Barrett of Little Egg Harbor, NJ is 1-0-1 with 1 knockout. Holdbrooks is 0-2.

Ian Green (7-0, 5 KO’s) scored a 4th round stoppage over K Lon Spencer (4-3) in a scheduled six round Middleweight bout.

Dustin Fleischer (4-0, 4 KO’s) scored a 1st round stoppage over Ira Frank (1-1) in a scheduled 4-round Welterweight bout.

O’Shanique Foster (8-0, 5 KO’s) tuned up for a November 6th ShoBox bout with a 1st round stoppage over Darius Jackson (0-2) in a scheduled 4-round Lightweight bout.

Arturo Trujillo (7-0, 4 KO’s) remained perfect by stopping Alex Asbury (0-3) in round 1 of their scheduled 4-round Middleweight bout.

Angel Concepcion (7-0) won a 4-round unanimous decision over pro debuting Sidney Outlaw in a Light Heavyweight bout. Scores were 40-36 and 39-37 twice.

2012 Chinese Olympian Chinese Olympian Meng Fanlong (3-0) opened up the show by pounding out a 4-round unanimous decision over Michael Mitchell (3-6-2) in a Light Heavyweight bout. Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37.

PHOENIX – Featherweight Carlos Castro continued to exhibit poise and possible power in an effective mix that might lead to bigger bouts and major cards, scoring a unanimous decision Saturday night over Jose Silveira at Celebrity Theatre.

Evident potential was the biggest victory in the 21-year-old Castro’s 13th pro bout on an Iron Boy Promotions card.

He displayed plenty.

At 126 pounds, Castro (13-0, 5 KOs) is long and lanky. There’s a lot room to grow.

Against Silveira (15-18, 6 KOs), Castro showed that he could. He staggered the Phoenix brawler in the second, yet was unable to knock him down. Throughtou the next four rounds, he employed footwork and long jab to control tbe pace and keep Silveira off of him.

In the co-feature, junior welterweight Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) of Casa Grande, south of Phoenix, turned Mario Hermosillo’s face into a target for an uninterrupted succession of right hands. After the third round, the trainer for Hermosillo (12-21-4, 2 KOs), a Tijuana fighter, had seen enough. He said no more to referee Richard Soto, who ended it before the bell sounded for what would have been a futile fourth.
News & Notes On An Undercard

Former lightweight contender Raymundo Beltran worked as a second in the corner for Phoenix lightweight Danny Montoya (2-1), who won a unanimous decision over Jayson Thompson (0-5).

Beltran’s suspension for a positive steroid test after a second-round stoppage of Takahiro Oh on May 1 ends in February. That’s when he plans to re-start his career.

“I’d like to make my comeback here (Phoenix),’’ said Beltran, who is living in Phoenix. “I’m staying in shape. I think I could come back at lightweight or maybe junior-welter. We’ll see.’’

World-class trainer Buddy McGirt was in the corner for couple of possible prospects, both from Chicago. Both won. Joshua Greer (1-0, 1 KO) got a second-round TKO over Luis Rangel Guerrero (0-1), a Phoenix fighter whose corner threw in the towel. Welterweight Ernest Muhammad (2-0, had a tougher time, yet prevailed, scoring a majority decision over Clifford Jordan (1-1) of Phoenix. McGirt also handled the bucket in the Ramos’ corner

The Rest: In the card’s biggest crowd-pleaser, Albuquerque featherweight Jamie Gutierrez scored a knockdown en route to a unanimous decision over Mexican Robert Leon (0-1); Phoenix featherweight Paul Romero, a former amateur standout, remained unbeaten as a pro (6-0-1, 1 KO) with a unanimous decision over Gerardo Avila (3-5-2, 1 KO of Nogales; Phoenix junior-lightweight Miseal Chacon (1-12) couldn’t double his win total, despite knocking out Junior Rodriquez (3-0, 2 KOs) mouthpiece in the final seconds of a loss by unanimous decision; Phoenix heavyweight Anetelea Opetaia (2-1, 1 KO) threw concussive shots, launching from redwood-sized thighs, in a head-rocking unanimous decision over Chad Davis (5-14, 1 KO), also of Phoenix; and Canadian Kevin Lavallee (14-0-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Mexican Pablo Batres (8-13-1, 2 KOs).

Heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. remained perfect with an 8-round unanimous decision over Joell Godfrey at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on Leemore, CA

Danny Valdivia scored a 6th round stoppage over Jeremy Ramos in a scheduled 8-round. Jr, Middleweight bout.

Ruiz, 247 lbs won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 25-0. Godfrey, 210 1/2 lbs of Fayetville, NC is 17-15-1.

Valdivia dropped Ramos in round two from a right hand that buckled Ramos and a follow up flurry. Seconds later a second knockdown was registered as Ramos landed a hard right hand that dropped Valdivia.

In round six, Valdivia landed a hard combination that dropped a bloody Ramos in the corner and the fight was stopped at 1:10.

Valdivia, 153 1/4 lbs of Tulare, CA is 10-0 with 7 knockouts. Ramos, 153 1/2 lbs of Colorado Springs, Colorado is 9-2.

Miguel Bechelt scored a 5th round stoppage over Josue Bendana in a scheduled 10-round Lightweight bout.

The time of the stoppage was 1:34 of round five.

Bechelt, 133 lbs of Merida. MX is 27-1 with 24 knockouts. Bendana, 132 1/2 lbs of Managua, NIC is 9-6-4.

Deontay Wilder retained the WBC Heavyweight title with an 11th round stoppage over Johann Duhaupas in Birmingham, Alabama.

Duhaupas began to bleed from his nose in round three and left eye in round four. Wilder continued to pound away on the Frenchman and battered the face of Duhaupas.

In round 11, Wilder drilled Duhaupas with a huge uppercut that had the challenger in big trouble. Wilder jumped on his prey and landed a barrage of power punches until referee Jack Reiss stopped the bout at 55 seconds of round 11.

Wilder of Tuscaloosa, AL is 35-0 with 34 knockouts. Duhaupas of France is 31-3.

Dominic Breazeale remained undefeated by scoring a closer then the scorecards unanimous decision over Fred Kassi in a Heavyweight bout.

Breazeale, a 2012 U.S. Olympian won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93. Most who watched the bout believed the fight was much ccloser. Breazeale is 16-0. Kassi is now 18-4-1.

Charles Martin remained undefeated by stopping Charles Martin in round three of their scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout.

In round two, Martin dropped Sandez with a straight left. In round three, it was deja vu as another left put Sandez on the deck. he got to his feet but he was wobbly and the fight was over at 35 seconds of round three.

Martin, 247.8 of Carson, CA is 22-0-1 with 20 knockouts. Sandez, 248.9 lbs of Baja, MX is 13-5.

By Norm Frauenheim–
PHOENIX – The Arizona boxing market, dormant for a couple of years, continues to heat up Saturday night with an Iron Boy Promotions card featuring unbeaten junior-featherweight Carlos Castro at Celebrity Theatre.

The Iron Boy promotion is the first of four cards in Phoenix within the next four weeks.

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Glendale’s NHL arena in an ESPN show, featuring welterweight Devon Alexander against Aaron Martinez and featherweight Lee Selby versus Fernando Montiel.

Iron Boy, which has led the way in rebuilding the Arizona market, goes back to work on Oct. 17 in a co-promotion with Top Rank in a UniMas show and again on Oct. 23 in a co-promotion with Roy Jones Jr. Both are also scheduled for Celebrity Theater.

This Saturday, Castro (12-0, 5 KOs), of Phoenix, is scheduled for a six-rounder against Jose Silveria (15-17, 6 KOs) of Mexico. In another six rounder, Phoenix junior-welterweight Abel Ramos (13-0-2, 8 KOs) faces Mario Hermosillo (12-20-4, 2 KOs) of Mexico.

Doors open at 5 p.m. (PT).

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Isaac Chielmba and Eleider Alvarez have agreed to meet in a Light Heavyweight elimination bout in November.

“Alvarez and Chilemba are both at the elite level of the light heavyweight division, insuring a spectacularly intense fight that will determine the rest of their respective careers,” Alvarez promoter Yvon Michel said.

Said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Chilemba’s promoter, “Isaac and Main Events are very much looking forward to the fight and very happy to have come to an agreement with our friends at [Groupe Yvon Michel].”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Manny Pacquiao should return to the ring sometime between February and April and his promoter Bob Arum has five names in mind for the comeback fight.

“Manny will be fighting next year,” Arum said. “I think everything will be good for him to fight by February. He can probably start training by the end of this year. We’ll let the doctor tell us when. I thought maybe Manny would fight one or two more times, and when I said that, Manny corrected me. He said he wants to keep fighting.”

“Manny said his shoulder is fine, but that is not good enough for me,” Arum said. “He’s supposed to have an MRI in Manila, I think later this week, and is supposed to have it sent to Dr. ElAttrache to examine it. But Manny said he feels good.”

Said Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser: “Manny is in the Philippines doing charity work and working in Congress. His shoulder is healing well, but he won’t fight again this year. The doctor says nothing this year. But Manny wants to go in late February or March.”

“He’s not going to run for re-election to congress. Instead, he’s running for senate, and in the Philippines, the senate is a national election. So he wants to fight and then concentrate on the campaign. It’s very important to him,” Arum said. “I’ve spoken to Manny a couple of times [recently], and he is more interested in talking politics than boxing.”

The list includes leading candidate Amir Khan, a former unified junior welterweight titlist and top welterweight contender, welterweight titleholder Kell Brook, junior welterweight titlist Terence Crawford, junior welterweight contender Lucas Matthysse and Juan Manuel Marquez, the Mexican great Pacquiao has waged four outstanding fights against, going 2-1-1 but finishing the fourth fight on his face as the result of a gargantuan sixth-round knockout in December 2012.

“If Manny fights Khan, Khan will probably bring 3,000 or 4,000 people over from the U.K. for the fight,” Arum said.

“We won’t deal with Haymon. We deal directly with family about fighting Manny Pacquiao,” said Arum, who was able to work with Haymon to make the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, although it was extremely difficult and before the lawsuit was filed.

“We want to know for sure the status of Juan Manuel Marquez before we make any decisions,” Arum said. “Fernando is meeting with him to see what he wants to do. His knee appears to be 100 percent. Fernando told me he sparred a few rounds recently to test it out. Marquez would be the most lucrative fight, and Manny would be happy to fight him again.”

Said Koncz: “Amir Khan I think is the best choice for the fans, and Brook is the second choice.”

“I like the United States. What are we schlepping around the word for,” Arum said. “We had great deals in Macau before, but you lose so much of the [American] pay-per-view going there [because of the time difference].”

Arum said he has had offers to do a Pacquiao fight in the Middle East, in a location such as Dubai, but “those deals are always built on sand, as they say. We have plenty of interest in Las Vegas.”

Nicholas Hernandez won a 4-round unanimous decision over Rick Nuno in a Super Welterweight bout.

Hernandez, 154.4 lbs of Lebanon, PA won by scores of 40-36 and 40-35 twice and is now 2-1. Nuno, 154. lbs of Bethlehem, PA is 2-1.

Chris Colbert remained undefeated by scoring a 4-round unanimous decision over Jose Carmona in a Featherweight bout.

Colbert, 126.7 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 3-0. Carmona, 126.7 lbs of San Juan, PR is 1-2.

Isamel Serrano won a 4-round unanimous decision over Seifullah Jihad Wise in a Lightweight bout.

Serrano, 134.2 lbs of Bethlehem, PA won by scores of 40-35, 39-36 and 38-37 and is now 4-1. Wise, 135.2 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 2-1.

Yoan Pablo Hernandez has been stripped of the IBF Cruiserweight title and Victor Emilio Ramirez has been upgraded to full champion, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Ramirez (22-2, 17 KOs), 31, who had been the IBF’s interim titleholder, is slated to face Jamaica-born, England-based journeyman Ovill McKenzie (25-12, 13 KOs), 35, who has won four bouts in a row.

Ramirez, 31, initially was scheduled for a mandatory bout on Oct. 2 against Hernandez, 31, a former Cuban amateur star who defected to Germany. Hernandez, however, was still having problems with his surgically repaired right elbow and withdrew from the fight, according to promoter Kalle Sauerland.

“[Hernandez] had a medical exception but got injured again and could not defend the title within the time frame,” Lindsey Tucker of the IBF told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “Interim champion Victor Ramirez has been moved up.”

Jimenez dropped Felix with a short left hook in round one. Felix returned the favor just seconds later when he deposited Jimenez on the canvas from a perfect right hand

Pedro Duran remained undefeated by scoring a 6th round stoppage in the final scheduled round of his Super Featherweight bout with Erick Orozco.

Duran dropped Orozco with a perfect counter right in round six. Seconds later, he ended things when he landed another right that plummeted Orozco to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:32 of round six.

Duran, 131 lbs of Paramount, CA is 12-0 with 8 knockouts. Orozco, 132 1/2 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 5-3-1.

Luis Concepcion won the WBA Interim Super Flyweight title with a 10th round stoppage over David Sanchez in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Concepcion dropped Sanchez in round one with a hard right hand. In round ten, Concepcion battered Sanchez until dropping him for a 2nd time. Concepcion continued the onslaught on a blood Sanchez for the rest of the round. The fight was stopped in between round’s 10 and 11.

Concepcion, 112 3/4 lbs of Panama is 33-4 with 24 knockouts/ Sanchez, 114 3/4 lbs of Hermosillo, MX is now 28-3-2.

Julio Barraza won a 10-round unanimous decision over Adrian Young in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

Barraza, 130 lbs of Hermosillo, MX won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-95 and is now 13-0. Young, 130.4 lbs is now 22-2-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, The Floyd Mayweather – Andre Berto bout from last Saturday did not break 550,000 buys.

Industry sources said it could have done as low as 400,000 buys.

“Being generous, it might hit 550,000 buys,” one source said.

“I think Floyd is a victim of his own success,” said Stephen Espinoza of Showtime. “No matter what we did following that massive May 2 event, it was almost guaranteed to be viewed as a letdown. Was Mayweather-Berto the biggest Mayweather fight ever? No. But we got four very entertaining fights on the pay-per-view card and a historic night in that Floyd announced his retirement. All in all, we’re very happy with the event as a whole.”

As for the low sales, Espinoza offered a supposed cause.

“We know that a large chunk of the audience watches Floyd to see him lose,” he said. “And for those people, the best chance of somebody beating Floyd was Manny Pacquiao. So once Floyd beat Manny, and beat him definitively, a lot of the intrigue was gone. If Manny couldn’t beat him, nobody would beat him. So they didn’t buy the fight. I also think we were suffering a little bit of a hangover over from May 2.”

Espinoza acknowledged that the selection of a better and more dangerous opponent, such as Amir Khan or Keith Thurman, might have come close to the 1 million sales mark Mayweather usually generates.

“In short, the Mayweather deal has far exceeded our expectations financially. In 2½ years, we had six pay-per-view events that generated over 10 million pay-per-view buys and $800 million in gross revenue from domestic pay-per-view. No matter how you slice it, this deal is a huge win for Showtime, CBS and Floyd.”

Espinoza said that at some point he will talk to Mayweather, a five-division champion, about the prospect of returning to the ring.

“We’ll let some time pass before we have that conversation,” Espinoza said. “He’s been absolutely consistent in saying this is his last fight. He seemed very content and at peace with that after the fight. We show some of that in the locker room after the fight on the ‘All Access’ epilogue episode on Saturday night. It was like a farewell. But there will definitely be some texts and phone conversations and attempts to take his temperature on an ongoing basis.

“Personally, I don’t see a return to boxing for him in the near future. He’s been doing it for 19 years, and this countdown to his retirement has been in his head since he signed this deal. He felt a duty to play out all six fights in the timetable he promised he would, and now, he feels he has nothing left to prove. Where he’ll be in a year, nobody knows. But he seems pretty content with his decision.”

Popular Welterweight Sammy Vasquez remained perfect by scoring a 5th round stoppage over Jose Lopez at California University in California, Pennsylvania.

Vasquez dominated the bout and then landed a quick and hard flurry of punches that sent Lopez down in round five and the fight was stopped at 1:08 of round five of the scheduled 10-round bout.

Vasquez, 147 lbs of Monessen, PA is 20-0 with 14 knockouts. Lopez, 146 lbs of Torreon, MX is 25-4-1.

Omar Douglas remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Braulio Santos in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

In the final moment of round one, Douglas landed a huge jab that sent Santos to the canvas. In round two, Douglas landed a big left hook that dropped Santos for a 2nd time. In round five, Douglas was docked a point for hitting behind the head.

In round seven, Santos was deducted a point for low blows.

Douglas, 130 lbs of Wilmington, DE won by scores of 96-90, 99-87 and 97-89 and is now 15-0. Santos, 130 lbs of Carolina, PR is 12-4.

Douglas landed 210-626 punches. Santos was 148-479

Milton Santiago pounded out a 6-round unanimous decision over Alvaro Ortiz in a Super Lightweight bout.

Santiago, 140 lbs of Warminster, PA won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 12-0. Ortiz, 139 lbs of Ciudad, MX is 7-4.

Santiago landed 137 of 411 while Ortiz was 82 of 465.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Daniel Jacobs will defend his Middleweight crown against undefeated Peter Quillin in a much anticipated battle of Brooklyn on December 5 in at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The bout will be televised on Showtime.

“What’s important is that I’m ready for Danny Jacobs,” Quillin said after the knockout of Michael Zerafa on Saturday. “Now it’s time for Brooklyn to see me and Danny Jacobs. We’ve waited for a long time for it. I like Danny because I’m a big fan of his. But business is business, unfortunately.”

“We can do it right here if you want to take off that suit and put on those gloves,” Quillin said.

“Let’s do it right now.”

“But the fight is going to happen. It will get done and it will be a big fight,” staid Lou DiBella, who will promote the fight. “There are a lot of people who have wanted to see this fight for a long time, and it’s going to be a good one.”

“I’m back in camp on Monday. I’m getting ready for Danny Jacobs,” Quillin said. “Right now he’s the champ, I’m the challenger. I like to be in that position. It motivates me. I fight for all the kids who were told they wouldn’t make it.”

“I’m from Brownsville in Brooklyn. I never ran and I never will,” Jacobs said. “Dec. 5 at Barclays Center. I’m the champion and he’s the challenger. I don’t know how it’s going to go down, but it’s going to be a great fight.”

“In the sport of boxing, you can’t make too many friends because you might wind up fighting one of these guys,” Jacobs said. “It will be one of the biggest fights that Brooklyn has had in a long time. I’m a mover, I’m a power puncher, and I have a high boxing IQ. He has trouble with guys that move, and I can think on the fly.

“This [fight] is all the motivation I needed. What other motivation do you need to get your butt in the gym and get prepared? They call me the ‘Miracle Man.’ It’s no secret that I have motivation to be the best I can be. Come Dec. 5, Brooklyn is going to have a new star.”

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. said it was his last dance. If it was, he also got the last laugh.

In what he promised was his farewell fight Saturday night, Mayweather mocked Andre Berto. Beat him. too, for most of 12-one-sided rounds for a unanimous decision that put him alongside Rocky Marciano in the historical ledger at 49-0.

Everything, including his body language, said he would not fight again. He hugged and kissed his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., on the cheek before the start of the 12th and perhaps his final round.

After the 118-110, 117-110 and 120-108 scores were announced, he knelt at the center of the ring, pointed one of his green-gloved hands toward the ceiling and look up as if he were saying a goodbye prayer.

“My career is done,’’ Mayweather said.

After the ninth, he complained to his father about an injury to his left hand.

“It doesn’t matter whether I hurt my left hand or my right hand,’’ said Mayweather. who collected another $32 million guarantee in the sixth and final fight on his Showtime contract. “My career is over.’’

As definitive as his statement was in the wake of his victory over Berto, speculation will continue about whether he will pursue a 50th victory sometime in the spring, perhaps at a brand new Las Vegas arena scheduled to open next spring.

His decision to face Berto had been mocked the day it was announced. In the end, Mayweather managed to mock Berto, if not the mismatch, himself.

Sometimes, he moved robotically as if to mimic a tiring and clueless Berto. Sometimes, he moved as if had been hurt. He wasn’t. Mostly. He just made fun of Berto. At the strta of the 10th, Mayweather talked non-stop at Berto. Finally, referee Kenny Bayless called timeout and warned both.

“Just trash talk,’ said Mayweather, who hasn’t knocked anybody in eight years.

Berto was cheered for just about anything he attempted from the 13,395 in a crowd that began to fill a Grand Garden Arena that about 90 minutes before opening bell appeared to be nearly half empty.

In the early rounds, however, Berto must have felt like he was playing dodge-ball with a target always close enough to hit, yet always elusive enough to make him miss.

“He a great fighter,’’ said Berto, who didn’t call him greatest when as if he thought Mayweather was The Best Ever.
Berto will let history decide that one.

The rematch was supposed to settle the argument. It didn’t.

Instead, Orlando Salido and Roman Martinez have more to fight about after battling to a draw Saturday night in junior-lightweight bout on the Floyd Mayweather Jr .-Andre Berto card at the MGM Grand.

“I won this fight,’’ said Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs), a Puerto Rican who scored a unanimous decision over Salido in April

Salido (42-13-3, 29 KOs) was credited with a knockdown in the third. Martinez complained to no avail. Turns out, Martinez was right and referee Vic Drakulich wrong in ruling it a knockdown. Video replay showed that Salido stepped on Martinez’ foot, knocking him off balance and onto the canvas.

Later in the third, Martinez scored a legit knockdown, landing a big right that sent Salido back on his heels and onto his rear end. Salido was clearly hurt. But he was able to survive and then managed to drag the fight into the kind of bruising exchange he so often wins. He threw 1,037 punches. Martinez threw 691.

“I should have won,’’ Salido said. “That’s not fair.”

Anybody for a trilogy?

Badou Jack scored a first-round knockdown that proved to the key to a split-decision over George Groves in the first defense of his WBC super-middleweight bout.

Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico and Johnny Gonzalez of Mexico opened the PPV part of the card in a super-featherweight bout that began with fireworks and then settled down into a battle of wits, survival and some blood. In the end, Oquendo (254, 16 KOs), prevailed, winning a 10-round majority decision after suffering a knockdown in the first round, knocking down Gonazlez (58-10, 49 KOs) in the second and sustaining a nasty cut on his legs ye;id in the sixth.

The Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto show opened Saturday during the noon hour, or probably before Mayweather rolled out of bed.

In an empty MGM Grand Garden Arena, Atlanta junior-welterweight Trakwon Pettis didn’t waste any time in his pro debut. Pettis stopped Devante Seay (0-1) of Martinsville, Va., at 2:24 of the first round. He was done in time to catch a late lunch.

In the afternoon’s second matinee, London junior-welterweight Ashley Theopane (39-6-1, 11 KOs) outworked Steven Upsher (24-5-1, 6 KOs), winning a one-sided decision over the Philadelphia fighter who lost to Berto last year.

Then, Baltimore lightweight prospect Gervonta Davis (12-0, 11 KOs) took over with a fast and furious beating of Filipino Recky Delay (8-2, 5 KOs), who was down twice in the first and signaled to referee Russell Mora that he was done at 1:34 of the round.

In another afternoon beating, Romanian super-middleweight Ronald Gavril (13-1, 9 KOs) punished Scott Sigmon (25-7-1, 14 KOs) before the ringside physician ended it before the ninth.

A disciplined, patient Vanes Martirosyan waited as if he knew Ishe Smith would leap and lunge. Smith did. Not once, but twice. Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs), a middleweight from Glendale, Calif., capitalized both times, scoring knockdowns with well-timed counters late in the third round and again in the eighth for a majority decision over Smith (27-8, 12 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted fighter.

Dayton middleweight Chris Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) rocked Canadian Janks Trotter (9-2-1. 9 KOs) repeatedly in the sixth and finally floored him in the seventh for a stoppage at 2:59 of the round.

In the last fight before the pay-per-view portion of the card, Uzbekistan junior-welterweight Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (2-0, 1 KO) rocked an overmatched, yet durable Farkhad Sharipov (4-5, 1 KO) of Kazakhstan repeatedly in scoring six-round unanimous decision.

Former world champion Peter Quillin stopped unheralded Michael Zerafa in round five of their scheduled 10-round Middleweight bout at the Foxwoods Casino Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Quillin got the better of the action over the first 4-plus rounds. In round five, Quillin landed a right hand that staggered Zerafa back and a follow-up booming right sent Zerafa crumbling to the canvas and the fight was stopped at

Zerafa was removed from the ring on a stretcher.

Quillin, 160 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 32-0-1 with 23 knockouts. Zerafa, 162 lbs of Melbourne, Australia is 17-22.

The win for Quillin now sets up a match that has brewing for a couple years with WBA Middleweight champion, Danny Jacobs. That bout will take place on December 5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

PETER QUILLIN

“It is hard to celebrate a performance like that, especially when someone is leaving on a stretcher. Unfortunately that is part of the game. I just pray that he gets better and gets home to Australia safe and sound.

“I made a bad mistake in my past when I fought Miranda. I learned that you have to give every guy credit.

“What’s important is that I’m ready for Danny Jacobs. Now it’s time for Brooklyn to see me and Danny Jacobs. We’ve waited for a long time for it.

“I like Danny because I’m a big fan of his. But business is business unfortunately.

“[To Jacobs] We can do it right here if you want to take off that suit and put on those gloves. Lets do it right now.

“I’m back in camp on Monday. I’m getting ready for Danny Jacobs.

“Right now he’s the champ, I’m the challenger. I like to be in that position. It motivates me. I fight for all the kids who were told they wouldn’t make it.”

DANIEL JACOBS, Middleweight World Champion is expected to take on Quillin on December 5.

“I’m from Brownsville in Brooklyn. I never ran and I never will.

“December 5 at Barclays Center. I’m the champion and he’s the challenger.

“I don’t know how it’s going to go down, but it’s going to be a great fight.

“In the sport of boxing, you can’t make too many friends.

“It will be one of the biggest fights that Brooklyn has had in a long time.

“I’m a mover, I’m a power puncher and I have a high boxing IQ. He has trouble with guys that move and I can think on the fly.

“This [fight] is all the motivation I needed…what other motivation do you need to get your butt in the gym and get prepared?

“They call me the ‘Miracle Man’. It’s no secret that I have motivation to be the best I can be. Come December 5, Brooklyn is going to have a new star.”

Jermall Charlo captured the IBF Jr. Middleweight title with an emphatic 3rd round stoppage over Cornelius Bundrage.

In round one, Charlo dropped Bundrage with a perfect counter right. In round two, Charlo sent Bundrage down with all things a jab. Charlo knocked Bundrage down in round three when he landed a right and followed up with a barrage. Charlo finished the deal with a perfect right hand that sent Bundrage down for a fourth and final time an the bout was stopped at 2:33 of round three.

Charlo, 153 lbs of Houton, TX is now 22-0 with 17 knockouts. Bundrage, 153 lbs of Detroits, MI is 34-6.

Charlo landed 33-107 punches.

JERMALL CHARLO

“I’m the champion of the world. It’s all God-given. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I feel good.

“You never put a dog in a pen with a lion. I said I was going to do what I was going to do.

“This is the future. I am the future of boxing.

“I studied and I stayed ready. K-9 got cut and I stayed ready. When I turned pro seven years ago, I didn’t know this would be possible.

“I was ready for 12 rounds, and I knew he was ready for 12 rounds.

“I’ve finally made it to the championship status. To be classified as a world champion, it’s history.

“The fight went exactly how we thought it would. It was getting rough and I was ready for it. It was just a matter of time. It’s the best feeling in the world.

“I want to become even better. I want to defend my title and show everyone how good I am.”

CORNELIUS BUNDRAGE

“You win some, you lose some. The problem was, I’ve been inactive. I was in there with a good fighter who has been active and is hungry.

“I’m older and have to stay active to stay with these young guys. I’m not going anywhere. I have to stay active to see punches coming.”

2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne scored a 1st round stoppage over former champion Gabriel Campillo in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Browne sent Campillo down with a hard left hand and then a body shot. Browne finished off Campillo with a straight left for a 2nd knockdown and the fight was stopped at

Browne, 175 lbs of Staten Island, NY is 16-0 with 12 knockouts. Campillo, 179 lbs of Madrid, Spain is 25-8-1.

MARCUS BROWNE

“My performance was definitely a statement to everyone in the light heavyweight division – watch out. We’re here!

“He was standing straight up and my trainer said to hit him with a nice straight jab. I threw the 1-2 and then I followed up.

“I took my time and just let it come.

“My trainer Gary Stark told me to come around the arms and that’s what I did. You can see it.”

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – It was advertised as Oscar Valdez’ toughest test yet. So much for advertising.

Valdez made it look easy, displaying a potent mix of smarts, timing and power for a fifth-round stoppage of Chris Avalos Friday night at The Cosmopolitan.

“Everything we did in gym, it worked,’’ said Valdez (18-0, 15 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian and a featherweight student whose prospects have looked better. “It was perfect.’’

A counter left was Valdez weapon of choice against Avalos (26-4, 19 KOs), a 25-uear-old Lancaster, Calif., fighter whose biggest mistake was some aggressiveness in the third.

Avalos walked straight into a left that seemed to have a delayed effect. He stumbled forward, caught himself and regained his balance, then fell backwards and onto the canvas.

It was sign of what was to come. Valdez staggered him with a left in the final second of the fourth, then finished it by landing a left that prompted referee Russell Mora to stop it 1:17 of the fifth

Philadelphia super-middleweight prospect Jesse Hart discovered that there’s only one counter to a tactic that includes more grabbing and holding than punching.

“Poise,’’ he said .

Hart (18-0, 15 KOs) relied on it while patiently mixing in an array of solid body blows for a ninth-round TKO of Aaron Pryor Jr. (19-9-1, 12 KOs), the Cincinnati son of the senior Aaron Pryor and a great junior-welterweight known as The Hawk.

Rios, Bradley

Welterweight Timothy Bradley worked as a ringside analyst for the TruTV telecast. At another side of the ring, Brandon Rios sat alongside trainer Robert Garcia. They’ll be sharing a ring on Nov. 7 at Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Rios, who hasn’t fought since a stoppage of Mike Alvarado on Jan. 24.

Bradley, who won a disputed decision over Jessie Vargas on June 26, will have a new corner for the first time in his a decade. He confirmed that Teddy Atlas will be his trainer instead of Joel Diaz.

By Norm Frauenheim

Las Vegas — Floyd Mayweather has his “May-Vinci “ code.

He was talking about Leonardo and not Roberta, of course.

Nobody knew who Roberta was until Friday when the tennis side of the Vinci family put together her own Leonardo Da Vinci-kind-of-masterpiece in a huge upset of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open.

The upset of Williams was an inevitable angle at the weigh-in Friday for the Mayweather-Andre Berto fight Saturday night (Showtime PPV, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Williams’ dominance of women’s tennis is the equivalent of Mayweather’s prize-fighting reign. Williams has looked unbeatable and Mayweather has been.

The question after Berto and Mayweather stepped off the scale was inevitable.

Two huge upsets in successive days?

“Of course,’’ said Berto, who is probably as unknown to tennis fans as Roberta Vinci is to the boxing crowd.

Of course, that’s exactly what Berto would say. But the odds say something else. Berto was a 30-to-1 underdog at the MGM sports book when he stepped off the scale at 145 pounds Friday afternoon. His best shot, perhaps his only one, is the proverbial one-punch knockout. He was a 20-to-1 shot to pull that one off.

Translation: Berto, who will collect $4 million, has no chance at all. Put it this way: Chances are better that Mayweather won’t be controversial. Maybe, historical upsets come in pairs. If they do, Mayweather is headed for sainthood.

The “May-Vinci code, a take off on a popular film starring Tom Hanks, was Mayweather’s way of summing up his defensive genius before his two fights against Marcos Maidana. Nobody could crack it and nobody has. That’s why he is poised to equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 milestone against Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) in the sixth and final fight on a Showtime contract he signed 30 months ago.

There are potential distractions. A story by Thomas Hauser broke Thursday in SB Nation about Mayweather undergoing a banned IV after the weigh-on on the day before his victory over Manny Pacquiao on May 2. There is controversy about Arizona Cardinals assistant coach Jen Welter accepting a Mayweather invitation to the Berto fight because of his history of domestic violence.

But controversy is nothing new in the weeks and days before any Mayweather fight. It’s almost expected. Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) is no stranger to any of it. Perhaps, it’s part of the theater. Or perhaps it’s marketing. Or perhaps it’s just Mayweather being himself. Or maybe it all of the above.

Whatever it is, Mayweather insists he is doing it for the last time despite the chance to surpass Marciano’s record and at putting more money into a bank account that is guaranteed another $32-million for the Berto fight.

“Last time I’m getting off a scale,’’ he said after weighing 146 pounds for what he says his final pro fight.

Really? It might take another Vinci to figure that one out.

NOTES: The televised portion of the pay-per-view card includes three fights before Mayweather-Berto. The televised card begins with Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) at super-featherweight against Jonathan Oquendo (25-4. 16 KOs). Each was at 129 pounds Friday. …Mexican Orlando Salido (42-13-2. 29 KOs) fights for the WBO’s 130-pound title against Roman Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs). Salido was at the junior-lightweight mandatory Friday. Martinez tipped the scales at 129.5. … In a third televised bout, super-middleweight Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) fights for the WBC title against George Groves (22-2, 16 KOs) Jack was at 167.5 pounds. Groves, of Britain, was at 168. A crowd of about 6,000 was at the weigh-in. Many were from the UK. “I was going to say it’s great to be back in London,’’ Groves told his cheering countrymen.

Adonis Stevenson retained his WBC Light Heavyweight title with a 3rd round stoppage over Tommy Karpency in Toronto, Canada.

In Round two, Stevenson landed a crushing left that sent Karpency sprawling to the canvas. Luckily for Karpency it came just before the end of the round and he was able to get out of it. In the opening five seconds of round three, Karpency went down again and upon getting to his feet, the referee stopped the bout at 21 seconds of round three.

Stevenson, 175 lbs of Montreal is 27-1 with 22 knockouts. Karpency, 174 1/2 lbs of Adac, PA is 25-5-1.

Terrific prospect, Errol Spence Jr. remained perfect as he stopped Chris Van Heerden in round eight of their scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout.

In round one, Van Heerden started to swell around his right eye. In round four, Van Heerden began to bleed from his mouth. In the same round, referee Alan Huggins deducted a point from Van Heerden for spitting out his mouthpiece.

In round seven, Spence pounded on Van Heerden along the ropes and dropped him for the first time in his career with a chopping left. Spence scored a 2nd knock down with a flurry. In round eight, Spence pounded away on Van Heerden before Huggins stepped in and stopped the bout at 50 seconds.

Spence, 146 1/2 lbs of DeSoto, TX is 18-0 with 15 knockouts. Van Heerden, 146 1/2 lbs of South Africa is 23-2-1.

Prichard Colon remained undefeated by scoring a 4th round stoppage over former Super Lightweight champion Vivian Harris in a scheduled 6-round Super Welterweight bout.

Colon dropped Harris on stomach in round four and the bout was stopped at 1:03.

Colon of Puerto Rico is now 16-0 with 13 knockouts Harris of Brooklyn, NY is 32-11-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Zab Judah’s Thursday night bout with Hevinson Herrera has been cancelled after a brawl at the weigh in.

The fight was to take place in Westbury, New York.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I think I’ve seen everything there is to see until the next show,” promoter Greg Cohen said. “I’ve seen guys fight at a weigh-in, a press conference, but I’ve never seen a main event fall apart because they fought at a weigh-in. It’s insane. Only in boxing can this nonsense happen.”

“They were next to each other in line, and Herrera, who doesn’t speak a word of English, apparently said something to Judah,” Cohen said. “And it ended up with Herrera kind of head-butting Zab, and then Zab punched him. Although most people think he punched him in the chest, Herrera said he got hit in the head, that his head hurts, and the kid said he can’t fight, so the doctor said he can’t fight.”

“But what are the odds that we’ll be able to find somebody who is ready to fight, on weight and is medically cleared by Thursday morning?” Cohen said. “It’s unlikely. There’s going to be disciplinary hearing for both fighters. Commissioner (Tom) Hoover made it very clear they are not taking this lightly. He was not a happy camper.”

Cohen said the rest of the card would go on as scheduled.

Austin Trout scored a 6th round stoppage over Joey Hernandez in a scheduled 10-round Jr. Middleweight bout at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.

Trout dropped Trout with a hard left to the body and the bout was stopped at 3:00 of round six.

Trout, the former WBA Super Welterweight champion, has a record of 30-2 with 17 knockouts. Hernandez, 157 lbs of Miami, FL is 24-4-1.

Jorge Lara and Jesus Rojas fought to a technical draw after round six of their scheduled 10-round Featherweight bout.

Lara was cut from an accidental headbutt in round three. In round five, he was cut over his left eye from yet another accidental headbutt.

The cut around his right eye really started to affect Lara and the bout was stopped in the corner between round six and seven.

All three judges scored the fight even at 57-57. Lara landed 118 of 388 punches. Rojas was 68 of 340.

Lara, 123 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is 27-0-2. Rojas, 122 lbs of Caguas, PR is 22-1-2.

Ahmed Elbiali scored a 1st round stoppage over Fabiano Pena in a scheduled 8-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Elbiali dropped Pena in round one from a a hard right hand and the fight was stopped at 1:15.

Elbiali, 176 lbs of Miami, FL is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Pena, 175 lbs of Mexico is 12-3-1.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will take on Brandon Rios on November 7 at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

The could be a slight hurdle as Sadam Ali, the WBO top-contender must take a step aside deal in order for the fight be a title fight.

“We’re confident it will all work out in the end and all parties will be satisfied,” said Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com.

“I am excited to get back into the ring on Nov. 7 against a very game and very dangerous Brandon Rios,” Bradley said. “I know that he is dedicated to giving the fans what they pay for. So am I. I guarantee you that the Thomas & Mack Center will once again deliver a great match.”

Said Rios: “We’ve been looking for a big fight and at last we have it. I’ll be ready.”

“This is a great between two of the best welterweights in the world and they both have big names,” said Cameron Dunkin, Rios’ manager and Bradley’s former manager. “They’ve fought everybody. They’re both very experienced. It’s a fight that everybody is talking about and wants to see, so I am really, really excited about the matchup. Brandon is very focused on this.”

“Timothy Bradley has been around for a long time. He fought Pacquiao twice and no matter what happened the first time, if it was controversial or not, he beat him. He won. He got the title,” Rios, who lost a lopsided decision to Pacquiao in 2013 in Macau, China and then tested positive for a banned substance, said of Bradley’s massively disputed split decision win against Pacquiao in 2012. “It’s an honor to get back in the spotlight and fight a great champion.”

“As long as I get a fight, I don’t care,” Rios said. “It’s great to be fighting for a title but I don’t really care. Either way I will train my ass off and take it as a title fight because Bradley is a legit fighter and he will come to fight, especially when you put the pressure on him. When you put pressure on him, like I will do, the fighter in him will come out.”

“I didn’t care who I was going to fight. I was just happy Top Rank got me a fight after Alvarado. I didn’t care who it was,” Rios said. “It was very frustrating. I’m so pissed off, but at the end of the day I can’t let it affect me, and I can’t think about it. But I’m mad and I’m disappointed with Top Rank with the way they came about the business. Bob Arum told me after the Alvarado fight I’d be back in June and then nothing happened. It sucks the way it worked out. I like to stay active, especially after a great performance against Alvarado.”

“Offers for other fights were made to Rios and his team that were declined,” Moretti said. “Now he has as big a fight as there is, which is what his focus is on now, I hope.”

“I will be well prepared again for this big opportunity,” he said. “I’m back to my old days — happy training, hungry. I made a lot of money at a young age out of nowhere and I got a little cocky. Good thing I learned that before it was too late. You’ll see me like against Bradley the way I was against Alvarado in the third fight.”

Former world champion Anthony Dirrell won a 10-round unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Rubio in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Dirrell won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 28-1. Rubio is 59-8-1.

Jamie McDonnell retained his Bantamweight with his 2nd win over former Tomoki Kameda in the last four months.

McDonnell dropped Kameda in round four with a solid 1-2 combination.

McDonnell of England won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 and is now 27-2-1. Kameda of Osaka, Japan is 31-2.

Daniel Rosas scored an 8th round stoppage over Jhon Germino in round eight of their scheduled 10-round Bantamweight bout at Gran Teatro Moliere in Polanco, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Rosas beat down Germino until the fight was stopped at 2:42 of round 8.

Rosas is now 19-2-1 with 12 knockouts. Germino is 12-5-1.

Anabel Ortiz won a 6-round technical decision over Sandra Robles to retain the WBC Female minimumweight title.

Ortiz was cut over her left eye from an accidental headbutt but was ahead on all cards by 59-55 scores.

Ortiz is 18-3. Robles is 11-2.

Ivan Ochoa scored a 2nd round stoppage over Luis Najera in a scheduled 6-round Light Flyweight bout.

Ochoa is 5-2-1 with 3 knokcouts. Najera is 0-3.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Roy Jones Jr. September 12 bout with Tony Moran is off after Jones did not get on his plane from Russia to Liverpool, England.

“I’m extremely disappointed and saddened by the whole thing,” said Steven Vaughan, who was promoting the fight. “We had invested a lot of money and time into this event, as we wanted to make it a great occasion for the fans and the game alike. But sadly, it wasn’t to be and legal advice is to be sought surrounding the circumstances in which it has happened.”

Hollywood, Fl – The main event at the Seminole Hrd Rock Hotel & Casino got off to a fast start and ended fast. Shannon Briggs (55-6-1) put down Michal Marrone (21-4) with a body shot in the second round and Marrone did not beat the count. Both fighters landed but Briggs, although he was cut, was stronger and walked Marrone to the ropes before landing the fight ending shot. Time of stoppage was 2:52 of the second round.

After the fight, Briggs got on the microphone and called out heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschsko before thanking the crowd and the champions who attended the two day event.

The co-main event of the night featured Joshua Tufte (18-1) and Jamal Woods (7-20-3) in another eight rounder. Woods got off to a decent start and looked better 300 dollar loan than what his record would suggest by making the first four rounds close ones. Both fighters fought and landed well throughout the first half of the fight. Starting the fifth, several combinations from Woods bloodied Tufte’s nose in another good round. In round seven, Woods landed several overhand rights one of which buckled Tufte’s knees but the New Yorker stayed on his feet and probably won the last round by being more active. This was a good scrap and the crowd enjoyed it. Judge’s scorecards were 77-75 for Woods overturned by cards of 78-74 and 77-75 for Tufte.

Maurice Harris (26-19-2) and Grover Young (12-16-1) faced off in a bout scheduled for eight rounds. Young was more active and took the fight to the larger Harris and hurt him on a few occasions. In the fifth round, Harris seemed ready to go after several solid shots from Young sent him to the ropes and then hurt him again in the middle of the ring but the New Jersey native made it through. Harris did better in the seventh and both fighters put up a spirited effort in the eighth. In the end, scores were 77-75 for Harris, 77-75 for Young and a 76-76 for a draw that drew boos from the crowd. 15rounds.com had the Young winning 77-75.

For another four rounder, Erik Leander (11-2-0), from Boca Raton, Fl. Met with Antonio Robertson (3-5-1) of Washington D.C. Both fighters showed quick movements but Robertson was more accurate than the “Viking” Leander and managed to consistently land clean overhand rights to take the rounds. Leander put up a good effort in the fourth but by then, Robertson was landing well with both hands. Scores were 39-37 twice for Robertson and 39-37 for Leander. 15rounds.com had the fight 39-37 for Robertson as well.

Ernest Mazyck (8-1-0) and Terrance Marbra (7-3-0) faced off in the fourth bout. Mazyck used his considerable size and reach advantage to press the fight and looked to land hard right hands behind a very decent jab. The quicker Marbra landed a few good shots in the second round to the delight of the crowd but Mazyck’s chin held strong. Again in the third, it was the single pot shots and counter shots from Marbra that made a mark but there appeared not to be enough power behind them to hurt “Zeus” Mazyck. After a similar round four, scores were 38-38 and 40-36 and 39-37 in favor of Terrance Marbra. 15rounds.com had Marbra ahead 39-37 as well scoring only the first round for Mazyck.

Next up were Dieuly Aristilde (9-7-0) and Brandon Spencer (3-11-1) in yet another four round bout. Both fighters swung wildly to little or no effect and wound up in clinches more often than they landed. By the second round the crowd was jeering what looked more like wrestling than boxing. A right hand from Spencer sent Aristilde down early in the fourth and again with about a minute to go. Even with the two knockdowns, the bout was unpleasing to the crowd. Spencer won by scores of 38-36 on all three cards.

The second bout of the night featured undefeated Edwin Alvarez (4-0-0) against Steve Teagle (1-0-0) in another 4 rounder. Both fighters started fast but Alvarez, from Miami, Florida, seemed stronger and better poised. After a few exchanges, a body shot from Alvarez sent Teagal down for the count. Time of stoppage was 1:45.

The night of heavyweights started with local favorite Quadtrine Hill (4-2-0) facing off with Quincey Palmer (9-6-0) in a four round bout. As with the rest of the card, the 10 point-must system was in effect as was the three knockdown rule. An out of shape Palmer chased after Hill who was able to land two and three punch combinations from his southpaw stance. By round two Palmer was cut on the right cheekbone, out of air and had barely landed a significant shot. Palmer landed his best shot of the night at the beginning of round 3 only to have the fight stopped a few seconds later after a good right hand from Hill that rocked him and a follow-up barrage. Time of stoppage was 53 seconds of the third round.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former two-division champion Devon Alexander will take on Aron Martinez on ESPN in Glendale, Arizona.

The card also will feature featherweight titlist Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs), 28, of Wales, who will make his first title defense when he faces Mexico’s Fernando Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs), 36, a former three-division titlist, who has won eight fights in a row.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, two-division world champion Timothy Bradley has split with longtime trainer Joel Diaz.

“After his last fight, I have not heard from Tim at all. He never answered my calls or anything,” Diaz said. “Then last week, he came to the gym. He said he wanted to talk to me. I said, ‘What’s going on?’ What he said was his manager had other plans and I am not part of those plans. He tried to make some excuses, like I was doing something wrong. I said, ‘I’ve known you for a long time, you’re like my brother, but right now it’s out of your control. Your wife took over your career.’

“He said he would think about it. When they were negotiating the [Brandon] Rios fight, I was calling him to see what was going on. I had to go around him and call his father so his father can contact him because I don’t even think he had a phone no more. I sensed something was going on. His wife got so involved. She didn’t want me involved in the camp.”

“He told me the last few fights things were not the same,” Diaz said. “He was upset because I would leave camp for a day or two sometimes to be with my other fighters at fights. That is my job, but I always put Tim first. I said, ‘Tim, that’s not you talking. It’s people in your ear who you live with. If we’re going to work together let me know.’ He said he would think about it, and two days later [on Sunday], he called and left a message and said he would move on and he would find another trainer.

“I couldn’t even call him. I had to go through Monica. It became an issue of his manager taking over everything. She wanted to have control and power over everything. Look, Timothy is a great guy. He has a big heart, but he has people putting things in his head. I trained this kid his whole career. Monica was really cool at first, but the switch came when she became the manager. She’d come to the gym and try to control the training. I was feeling uncomfortable. It was weird. I never had a problem with Monica, never had an argument with her.”

“I told him when he came to the gym [last week], ‘The problem is not you. I know you from the heart. You are overpowered. You gave somebody too much authority of your life,'” Diaz said. “And I said, ‘Good luck, champ.’ Even if I’m not with him I will be at his next fight and I will root for him. I have no hard feelings, but I’m going to move on.”

“It’s my call. Ain’t nobody make me do anything,” Bradley said. “I did it because I felt it needed to be done. A real man wouldn’t even blame a woman or my wife. My wife didn’t speak to Joel. I spoke to Joel. I told him what was going on.

“At the end of the day, I don’t trust him. What’s the point of being with him if you don’t trust him? If there’s no trust, then there’s no relationship.”

“Go back to the Jessie Vargas fight and go see if Joel Diaz is in the ring with me at the end of the fight,” Bradley said. “He left. Right before they announced me as winner, he just left me. He didn’t stick around for me. When we had the conversation, I asked him about it. ‘Dude, you showed me you don’t even care about me.’ The answer was he was pissed off about something else somebody did on the team and decided to leave the ring.

“I was like, ‘We’ve been together for like 10 years and you’re going to just walk away? Stand by me, bro. If it’s so easy for you to leave me like that, then it’s easy to leave anytime.’ I questioned if he cared for me.”

“He blamed my wife, but I’ve been thinking about this since the fight. I’m a loyal guy, but I kept a lot of things in and I accepted a lot of things, but after so long being Mr. Nice Guy, I had to do this because some things were bothering me.”

“I give the OK on everything,” Bradley said. “My wife is there to protect me, but it’s my decision. I make the decisions because I have to live the decisions. I don’t like that he blamed my wife.”

“I’m gonna talk to my wife and see when can we get them out to work with me,” Bradley said of them coming to his hometown of Palm Springs, California. “I’ll be fighting end of the year and I need to get someone in here.”

“Good things come to an end. It’s not a bad thing,” Bradley said. “I’m looking for change. A lot of guys change trainers. It’s nothing bad about Joel. Sometimes you just need a change. We won five world championships together. I would love to remain friends. Don’t want to make this ugly. It’s just business. I really like the guy a lot.”

IBF Welterweight champion Kell Brook will defend his crown against Diego Chaves on October 24 in Sheffield, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m so excited about boxing in my hometown of Sheffield again. London last time out [in May] was a great experience fighting in front of nearly 20,000 but I’m excited to be back there — it is my home,” Brook said. “I’m looking to excite like I always do and light up the Motorpoint Arena on Oct. 24.”

“Chaves is a rough, tough, durable fighter who is very dangerous,” Brook said. “He’s bringing something new to the table. He’s coming off a draw to Tim Bradley, was ahead on the cards against Brandon Rios until he was disqualified and gave Keith Thurman a solid fight, so we know what level he has mixed at and how good he is.

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” Chaves said. “He is a linear fighter, very frontal. He’s not a fast fighter. He is easily bothered by body punches, and that is one of our strengths. And I believe he has problems going backwards. We saw that in his fight against Shawn Porter. When Porter charged forward, Brook had trouble adjusting to that. But we know that he is a great fighter to face, and we are going to test his punching power too, because the opponents he chose so far have not been such great punchers as the ones I have faced lately.

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England. This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine, and as a huge underdog. We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England, and this will give me much more strength. I will be making history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

“It’s been a busy year so far boxing Dan in March and Gavin in May. This will be my third defense in seven months but a busy fighter is a happy fighter and I’m very happy at the moment,” Brook said. “I’m looking forward to the next challenge and I’m feeling sharp after my break.

“I’ve seen some of Chaves’ quotes and it’s interesting to see he thinks he can walk me down and overrun me. I don’t think some fighters realize how big I am and how sharp and accurate I punch and I’m looking to make a major statement against him. If he does what he promises it’s going to be one hell of a fight.”