Stuart Hall will defend his IBF Bantamweight title against Paul Butler on on June 7 in New Castle, England, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Butler is a very good fighter and his performances have got himself into this position, but he’s also talked himself into this fight by making derogatory comments and I’m really looking forward to making him eat his words,” Hall said. “I’ll be too big, too strong and he’ll regret getting this chance. I’ve worked hard to become world champion and I won’t be losing the title.

“I’ll take care of Butler before moving onto my mandatory challenger [Randy Caballero of Coachella, Calif.] later in the year.”

“It’s the fight I’ve wanted and I know I’ve got the skill and firepower to beat Hall and take the world title from him,” Butler said. “Hall’s a good, strong, fighter. He’s [a] world champion and I respect him for that, but all respect will go out of the window on the night and I will do my job and I’ll go out and smoke his boots. To fight for the world title is every fighter’s dream and I’ll realize that dream on June 7.”

Gamalier Rodriguez scored a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Orlando Cruz in a Featherweight bout at the Bahia Shrine Temple in Orlando, Florida.

Rodriguez controlled the fight with the exception of being knocked down at the end of round five.

Rodriguez, 125 1/2 lbs of Bayamon, PR won by scores of 97-92 twice and 96-93 is now 24-2-3. Cruz, 126 lbs of Maia Rey, PR is now 20-4-1.

Felix Verdejo scored an explosive one-punch knockout over Ivan Zavala in a Jr. Welterweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Verdejo landed a huge overhand right that Zavala down for the ten count at 1:14 of round one.

Verdejo, 134 1/2 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 12-0 with 9 knockouts. Zavala, 139 1/4 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 6-6-1.

Antonio Ortiz scored a 3rd round stoppage over Alexis Pena in a scheduled 6-round Welterweight bout.

Ortiz dropped Pena in round three and he was counted out at 1:05 for round three.

Ortiz, 142 1/2 lbs of Humacao, PR is now 6-0 with 3 knockouts. Pena, 141 3/4 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 7-6.

49 year-old Bernard Hopkins continued to make history as scored a 12 round split decision pver Beibut Shumenov to to retain his IBF and capture the WBA Light Heavyweight title at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.

The 1st three rounds set the pace that Hopkins wanted as next to nothing happend and Shumenov’s offensive pace was set for the evening. Hopkins started to get his trademark lead right hand going in round four. Hopkins became a little more active as each round passed. Hopkins took took all the middle rounds and was building up a solid lead. In round 10, he landed a perfect right hand that sent Shumenov to the canvas. It looked for a minute as if Hopkins would be able to get the stoppage but he did not turn on the gas and continued to land solid shots all be that they were one at a time. Shumenov landed very few punches of note but somehow a score card read 114-113 in his favor. The two other cards were correct at 116-111 for Hopkins.

The ageless wonder will now wait for the winner of the May 24 WBC title fight between Adonis Stevenson and Andrej Fonfara. Hopkins, 172.4 lbs of Philadelphia improves his Hall of Fame mark to 55-6-2. Shumenov, 174.4 lbs of Shymkeent, KAZ is now 14-2.

On his future, Hopkins said, “We are with SHOWTIME until I end my career. Stevenson, I am coming to Canada. I am getting my papers together. I want to be the undisputed light heavyweight world champion this year, period.”
A disappointed Shumenov told Gray, “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about the scorecard. I tried hard. Bernard, but he was the better man tonight. I chose the wrong strategy and used the wrong style. I am angry that I couldn’t get the victory. I am a true warrior and I want to fight only the best. Tonight, obviously it wasn’t my fight.”

Shawn Porter scored an explosive 4th round stoppage over Paulie Malignaggi to retain his IBF Welterweight title.

In round one, Malignaggi was cut from what looked like a jab. In round two, the fight get physical and hurt Malignaggi from a leaping left hook. Porter landed several more power shots during the round.

In round four, Porter came out and landed a right hand that sent Malignaggi to the canvas. Malignaggi was clearly hurt and ate a huge left hook that drove him to the ropes. Porter was all over Malignaggi and landed 2 hard punches in close and Malignaggi was sent to the canvas and the fight was stopped.

In the aftermath, Gray asked Porter what it was that Malignaggi had told him just moments after the bout. “Paulie, wished me the best and I don’t know what he is looking at for himself [in the future] but he said, ‘Make sure they know that I lost to a great champion. Go out there and be great.’ I am going to honor his words and his wishes.”

Speaking about the win, Porter said, “I definitely needed this victory. To get it like that from a guy like this. He touched me in every way possible being in the ring with him. I knew what he was coming with. But I always had questions of my own. I came in and answered those questions tonight.”

When asked what he wants next, Porter said, “I’m going to enjoy this and let my team handle what is next. I’m sure they will all communicate. We’ll come up with the next game plan and we’ll tackle it.”

Gray then asked Malignaggi what it was that he told Porter. “I just said, ‘Don’t make me have lost to an average fighter. Go be great so that I can say that a really great fighter beat me.’ I know that he has that potential.

Regarding retirement, “If I do retire, and I don’t want to make that decision right now while I am emotional, but I don’t want to do it off of an average champion. I want to do it off of a great champion.

Breaking down the fight, Malignaggi said, “He was controlling the distance. I couldn’t get going. He was going away and then bringing the attack. He mixed it up well. He came right at me at times and then, at other times, he moved away.”

When asked about retiring and focusing the rest of his career solely on his commentating work for SHOWTIME, Malignaggi said, “I can’t really think about that right now. If I give you an answer right now I would tell you that I am stopping fighting but maybe I’d change my mind next week. I want to go home and think about it.”

Porter, 146.8 lbs of Akron, OH is now 24-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Malignaggi, 146.2 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 33-6.

Peter Quillin scored a 12 round unanimous decision to retain the WBO Middleweight crown over Lukas Konecny.

Quillin boxed well over the 1st half of the fight and landed shots through the high guard of Konecny. At the end of round six, a right hand wobbled Konecny. Round eight saw some good action as both land hard shots. Quillin got through with a left hook while Konecny landed some left hooks. The fight turned lethargic in round ten and even drew some boos from the crowd at the Armory. Konecny started to bleed from right eye in round ten. There were a couple decent exchanges down the stretch but neither fighter was in any danger.

Quillin, 159.8 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 31-0. Konecny, 158.25 lbs of Usti, CZ is now 50-5

After the fight, Quillin said, “I’m thankful that I was able to get up in here with a tough customer in front of me and get up and fight.”

Sadam Ali made short work of Michael Clark by scoring a 1st round stoppage in their 10-round Welterweight bout.

Ali landed a left hook to the face that sent Clark down for the 10-count at 2:06 of round one.

Ali. 146 1/4 lbs of Brooklyn is now 19-0 with 12 knockouts. Clark, 144 lbs of Columbus, OH is now 44-10-1-1.

Marcus Browne remained undefeated by scoring an 8-round unanimous decision over veteran Otis Griffin.

Browne dominated the action and scored a knockdown from a perfet straight left in round five.

Browne, 174 lbs of Staten Island, NY won by scores of 80-71 on all cards and is now 10-0. Griffin, 176 lbs of Sacramento, CA announced his retirement before the fight finished with a mark of 24-16-2.

Zachary Ochoa scored a 5th round stoppage over Hector Marengo in a scheduled six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Ochoa dominated and scored a knockdown in round round from a roundhouse right hand. He dropped Merango for a 2nd time from a body shot in round five. Just seconds later, Merango’s corner threw in the towel at 1:32 of round five.

Ochoa, 139 1/2 lbs of Brooklyn is now 7-0 with 4 knockouts. Merango, 140 1/4 lbs of Aricibo, PR is now 6-8-4.

Scott Quigg retained the WBA Super Bantamweight title with a 2nd round stoppage over late replacement Tshifiwa Munyai.

Quigg dropped Munya in round round with a perfect left hook to the jab. Munyai was on shaky legs but there was only a few seconds left in the round. It didn’t matter as halfway through round two, Quigg landed a booming right that crumpled Munyai to the canvas again. Quigg finished things with a big flurry of punches and referee Howard Foster stopped the fight at 1:56.

Quigg, 121 1/2 lbs made the 3rd successful defense of his belt and he is now 28-0-2 with 21 knockouts. Munyai is now 24-3.

In what was billed the Battle of Manchester, Anthony Crolla scored a 10th round stoppage over his close friend John Murray in a scheduled 12 round Lightweight bout.

The fight lived up to its billing that saw Murray set a face pace early. Around the 5th round, Crolla started getting into the fight as he landed some shots and began to focus on the body.

Colla seemed more confident and was getting through with shots that cut and eventually closed the left eye of Murray. Crolla wore Murray down and dropped Murray in round 10. Murray showed toughness but ate a flurry of hard punches and was eventually stopped.

Crolla, 134 3/4 lbs is now 28-4-1 with 11 knockouts. Murray, 134 3/4 lbs, who fought Brandon Rios for a Lightweight title is now 33-3.

Josh Warrington scored the biggest win of his career by stopping former world title challenger Rendall Munroe to and retained his Commonwealth Featherweight title after the 7th round of the 12 round bout.

Warrington systematically beatdown Munroe until he stopped the fight in the corner between round’s 7 and 8. Munroe cited a damaged mouth.

Warrington, 125 1/2 lbs is now 17-0 with 2 knockouts. Munroe, 125 lbs is 28-5-1.

An emotional Munroe announced his retirement after the bout.

Good looking Super Middleweight prospect Callum Smith scored a 3rd round stoppage over Francois Bastient in a scheduled six round bout.

Smith dominated the fight while landing shots to the head and especially to the body. It was an uppercut to the body that sent Bastient to the canvas and the bout was stopped by the corner at 1:10 of round three.

Smith 171 1/4 lbs of Liverpool, UK is now 10-0 with 8 knockouts. Bastient, 177 lbs of France is now 43-11-1.

Sam Eggington scored a 6-round decision William Warburton in a Jr/ Middleweight bout.

The score was 59-55 for Eggington is now 10-2. Warburton, 152 lbs is 12-61-3.

Rod Salka scored a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Alexei Collado in a Lightweight bout at The Convention Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.

Salka scored a knockdown in round three from a left hook. Collado was cut over the left eye a round earlier from an accidental headbutt. Salka outworked Collado for most of the fight.

Salka, 132 1/2 lbs of Pittsburgh, PA won by scores of 96-94 and 96-93 twice and is now 19-3. Collado, 131 1/2 lbs of Havana, CUB is now 18-1.

2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner Felix Diaz scored an 8-round split decision over Emanuel Lartey in a Welterweight bout.

Diaz, 139 1/2 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won two cards by scores of 77-75 while Lartey took a card 77-75.

Diaz is now 15-0. Lartey, 142 3/4 lbs of Accra, Ghana is now 16-2-1.

In a battle of undefeated southpaw Welterweights, Sammy Vasquez made short work of Juan Rodriguez in a scheduled 8-round bout.

Vasquez dropped Rodriguez with a left to the head. Rodriguez never full recovered as he sent down for a second time with a body shot. Vasquez finished things with a barrage of punches that sent Rodriguez to the canvas and the fight was stopped by referee Gary Rosado at

Vasquez, 146 3/4 lbs of Monessen, PA is now 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Rodriguez, 148 lbs of Union City, NJ is now 11-1.

Alan Sanchez scored a stunning 6th round stoppage over Jorge Silva in a scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout at The Illusions Theater in San Antonio, Texas.

Sanchez landed a huge right that sent Silva flat on his stomach and the bout was stopped at 42 seconds of round 6.

Sanchez, 146 1/2 lbs of Fairfield, CA is now 13-3-1 with 7 knockouts. Silva, 147 lbs of Tijuana, MX is now 19-6-2.

2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. took out Raymond Charles in round one of their scheduled 10-round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Spence sent Charles down in the 1st from a left to the head. Spence was all over Charles and sent Charles to the canvas at the end of the round and the fight was stopped at 2:52 of round one.

Spence, 147 1/2 lbs of Dallas, TX is now 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Charles, 148 lbs of San Antonio, TX is now 12-3-2.

Good looking Jr. Welterweight prospect Travell Mazion scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Antonio Sanchez in scheduled 6-round bout.

Mazion obliterated Sanchez with an explosive left hook that sent Sanchez to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 2:23 of round one.

Mazion, 138 1/2 lbs of Austin, TX is now 8-0 with 7 knockouts. Sanchez, 139 lbs of Toja Baja, PR is now 5-4-2.

Joseph Rodriguez Jr. remained undefeated by scoring a 4-round unanimous decision over Francisco Arrellano in a Featherweight bout.

Rodriguez Jr., 124 1/2 lbs of San Antonio, TX won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 6-0. Arrellano, 125 lbs of Bay City, TX is now 4-3.

Golden Boy Promotions won the purse bid to stage the WBO Featherweight title by a mere $2500 and the fight will take place on June 21 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Golden Boy won the promotional rights to the fight with a bid of $1,052,250, edging Top Rank’s offer of $1,050,000 at the ceremony in Orlando, Fla., site of a Top Rank card on Saturday night.

The difference of $2,250 was only two-tenths of 1 percent between the bids. The minimum bid was $150,000.

“I’m happy we are going to be promoting the fight. Gary is very happy, Showtime is happy, and it should be an interesting fight,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. “I am having conversations with [Showtime Sports chief] Steven [Espinoza] about it. I should have everything wrapped up shortly. We are going on June 21, most likely in Carson.”

“I won the purse. I have to do nothing with them. All that has to happen is that their fighter has to show up,” he said. “I’ll have my matchmakers take care of the paperwork with Top Rank and that’s it. This fight has nothing to do with Top Rank.”

“I discussed a range with Stephen (Espinoza of Showtime) and agreed on a number,” Schaefer said. “We figured out what we could get in foreign television and then I discussed it with Al, and he gave his blessing. I had four envelopes prepared for the bid and then [Friday] morning I called Raul Jaimes [the Golden Boy employee representing the company at the auction]. He was on his way to the purse bid, and I told him which envelope to use.

“It’s an intriguing fight, and there’s more to the story because of what’s going on between Golden Boy and Top Rank and HBO and Showtime.”

Carl Moretti, the Top Rank vice president who represented the company at the bid, told ESPN.com that Lomachenko will participate in the fight.

“Lomachenko will be there 110 percent ready to win the title,” Moretti said. “It’s two southpaws that should make for a very intriguing fight. We know Lomachenko can go a tough 12 rounds, but we don’t know if that’s the case with Russell. We were told the fight is June 21 with a site to be determined. Let’s hope it’s not at the MGM Grand.”

Nat Heaven remained undefeated by scoring an explosive 1st round stoppage over Donovan Dennis in a scheduled 8-round Heavyweight bout.

Both guys landed heavy shots until Heaven landed a crushing right to the jaw that sent Dennis down. Dennis got to his feet but was wobbly and the fight was stopped at 3:00 of round one.

“I give all hail to god,”said Heaven. “The right hand is my weapon. I saw him on youtube and saw that he gained weight and got slower. My coach said to relax and I would get him.”

Heaven, 233 lbs of Ocala, FL is now 9-0-1 with 7 knockouts. Dennis, 226 lbs of Davenport, IA is now 11-2.

Marcus Hall scored a 4-round unanimous decision over Raphael Luna in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Hall, 153 lbs of Rochester, NY and is now 7-6. Luna, 152.5 lbs of Albany, NY is now 3-8-3.

Simeon Hardy destroyed Rahman Yusubov inside of a round of their scheduled 6-round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Hardy scored three knockdowns with the 1st and 3rd coming from devastating left hooks at 2:36 of round one.

Hardy, 155 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Yusubov, 155 lbs of Dallas is now 9-15.

Cecil McCalla remained perfect by scoring a 6-round unanimous decision over Antonio Chaves Fernandez in a Welterweight bout.

McCalla hurt Fernandes in the 4th and cruised home to the victory by scores of 60-54 on all cards.

McCalla, 149 lbs of Randallstown, MD is now 18-0. Fernades, 150 lbs of Brockton, MA is now 4-17-2.

The rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves could be fought in front of 80,000 spectators as the fight at Wembley Stadium had more seats made available according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

The fihght sold out of the 1st 60,000 available seats in one hour.

“It’s fantastic that we have managed to ensure even more fans will be in Wembley for this monumental occasion,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We have worked hard with the (city) council, Wembley and Transport for London and I am delighted that we have come to an agreement to get as many fans as possible into the stadium to create an incredible atmosphere.”

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, WBO Jr. Lightweight champion Mikey Garcia is suing his promoter Top Rank to get out of his promotional contract.

Junior lightweight titleholder Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia, declaring that his promotional agreement with Top Rank is illegal and also expired, sued the company in California State Court in Riverside County on April 8.

The suit, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.com, says that the reason for the action is because of “Top Rank’s unlawful attempt to exploit, own and permanently control” Garcia’s boxing career “as well as Top Rank’s consistent violation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal statute enacted for the express purpose of protecting professional boxers like Garcia from the exploitive practice of boxing promoters like Top Rank.”

Further, the suit claims that his promotional agreement “improperly provides Top Rank the ability to extend the agreement indefinitely, essentially rendering the contracting fighter an indentured servant of Top Rank.”

“Mikey has no further obligation to Top Rank under the 2009 promotional rights agreement that he signed,” attorney Bryan Freedman, who is representing Garcia, told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “It’s very clear for a number of reasons, but that’s our position. There are a number of reasons why it’s invalid. Even if it hadn’t expired under its own terms, Top Rank acted not only as a promoter but also as a manager under the definition of manager in California and that is against the law. This is an absolute fairness issue.”

The suit uses also claims that Top Rank “violated numerous provisions of both California law and California’s strong public policy to protect California-based boxers from unscrupulous promoters and managers,” while also accusing Top Rank of acting as Garcia’s “unlicensed manager.”

In another claim in the suit, Garcia said Top Rank violated the Ali act by not making federally required disclosures concerning the amount of money the company would make from Garcia’s bouts.

“The act itself has been rarely been litigated but it requires Top Rank to make disclosures to Mikey before his bouts on the amount of money they would be receiving from his bouts. He did not get those disclosures,” Freedman said. “There are a number of different illegalities in this agreement, including how it was extended under different scenarios. If you look at it you’d say he’s done (with the contract) even without any violation of the law.”

The suit claims that Garcia’s contract with Top Rank expired on Feb. 27.

“I’m hopeful that Top Rank will take a look at this and seriously study their agreement. If they do they will agree he doesn’t have an obligation to Top Rank. And if they want to negotiate a new deal they can have a discussion about it. If they don’t it could be a court process. But there is no way you can look at this and say he is still bound to the contract (he signed in 2009).”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Iron Mike Tyson Promotions won the purse bid to stage the rematch with Rannces Barthelemy and Argenis Mendez for the IBF Jr. Lightweight championship.

Mike Tyson’s promotional company Iron Mike Promotions, which represents Mendez, won the auction with an offer of $260,000. Warriors Boxing, Barthelemy’s promoter, was the only other bidder, offering $251,000.

As the 130-pound world titleholder, Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) is entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid ($195,000) and Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs) will receive the remaining 25 percent ($65,000).

The bout is likely to wind up on Showtime and will be a rematch of their controversial fight on Jan. 3 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Although Barthelemy dominated that fight and dropped Mendez late in the second round, he knocked Mendez out moments later with punches that came just after the bell rang to end the round, which was a foul. However, referee Pete Podgorski counted Mendez out and declared Barthelemy the winner despite having scored the knockout on an accidental foul.

Julian Ramirez remained undefeated with an 8-round unanimous decision over Carlos Rodriguez in a Featherweight bout.

Ramirez, 122 1/4 lbs of East Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74 and is now 11-0. Rodriguez, 122 1/2 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 18-14-4.

Jose Arambula scored a six round unanimous decision over David Diaz in a Lightweight bout.

Arambula scored a knockdown in round one from a left to the body. Arambula rocked Diaz again in the 2nd round and was never challenged.

Arambula, 134 1/4 lbs won by scores of 60-53 and 58-55 twice ans is now 7-0. Diaz, 135 1/2 lbs is now 4-1-1.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Canelo ALvarez will take on Erislandy Lara in a Pay Per View bout on Juky 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’ve been working hard to get this done,” said Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “We were able to finalize everything and both fighters were fine with the terms and so now we have a fight — a great fight — between the two best junior middleweights in the world not named Floyd Mayweather.”

The final issue that needed to be resolved was the fact that Lara was already signed to make his first title defense against former titlist Ishe Smith on May 2 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on a Fox Sports 1 card being used to help promote Mayweather’s welterweight unification fight against Marcos Maidana the next night at the MGM Grand.

“We’re good to go. We got a deal in place. We’re happy and we’re ready to fight,” Luis DeCubas Jr., Lara’s co-manager, told ESPN.com. “It’s a fight Lara has wanted. He’s been after it for a few years. Now it’s time to get ready in training. I think he really has earned this fight. This is a fight where the fans win. They’ll see the two best junior middleweights who aren’t Floyd Mayweather.”

“The weight is 155 max, which we have no problem with,” DeCubas said. “It doesn’t matter. We got the fight we wanted.”

“It reminds me a little of the fight Canelo had with Austin Trout,” Schaefer said of the unification fight Alvarez won by decision against Trout last April. “Everybody was saying before we made that fight that Canelo was afraid to fight Trout, but he pushed for the fight even when some people in his camp didn’t want the fight. When Canelo came to the office to meet with me a few weeks ago, he had one name in mind. He wanted Erislandy Lara.

“He said he feels Lara is, next to Mayweather, the best fighter at 154 and he wants to challenge himself against the best. A lot of people felt he wouldn’t fight him, but he wants to show he is not afraid to fight anybody. I tried to mention some other names, but he was very clear: ‘Don’t talk to me about anyone else. I want Lara.’ That’s what he said.”

“You see what Canelo did when he fought Trout and what Lara did to Trout,” Schaefer said. “It will be interesting to see how Canelo will deal with Lara, who is a talented and gifted fighter. He showed that will against Angulo to overcome adversity, and he has superb boxing skills.”

LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t everything Manny Pacquiao promised. But it was enough, more than enough to put his Filipino presidential ambitions on hold.

Pacquiao’s boxing career and his place in the pound-for-pound debate stayed very much alive with a unanimous decision Saturday night over Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand.

A piece of the welterweight title lost in a controversial split decision in 2012 is back in Pacquiao’s possession with the victory over Bradley.

This time, there was no argument. The judges were unanimous. Glenn Trowbridge scored it, 118-110. Michael Pernick and Craig Metcalf had it 116-112 each, all for Pacquiao. There was unanimity on both sides of the ropes.

There was no argument from Bradley, who congratulated Pacquiao in the center of the ring after the scores were announced.

“No excuses, no excuse at all,’’ Bradley said at the post-fight news conference while reporters waited for Pacquiao to appear after getting stitched up for a cut above an eye.

Pacquiao had promised, or perhaps expected, to win by knockout. His trainer, Freddie Roach, predicted one. The compassionate Pacquaio would not answer the opening bell, Roach said. But the KO prophesy was never fulfilled.

“I tried,’’ Pacquiao (56-6-2, 38 KOs) said in the middle of the ring. “I really wanted that knockout.’’

Against the tough Bradley, a knockout was too much to expect. Bradley (31-1, 12 KOs) lost for the first time. Yet, he still has never been stopped.

For Pacquiao, the victory was a step in growing older. Some of his quickness has vanished like grains of sand in an hourglass. But time has turned him into more of a thinking fighter.

“His punches were harder in the first fight than they were this time,’’ Bradley said. “The difference this time was his experience.’’

Pacquiao adjusted in the face of wild, awkward shots from Bradley

“That’s when I knew I had to go down the middle,’’ said Pacquiao, who will collect a $20-million guarantee for his 12 rounds of work in regaining the World Boxing Organization’s title.

After opening the fight with a lot of side-to-side movement, he walked into a head-rocking punch from Bradley in the fourth. It was a sure sign that it was time for an adjustment.

Even without the key adjustment, Bradley’s chances at a victory that would have validated his split decision nearly two years ago might have been eliminated in the first round. After the first three minutes, Bradley told trainer Joel Diaz that he thought he sustained an injury to his right hamstring. For Bradley, it must have felt like déjà vu all over again. On his June 9, 2012 decision over Pacquiao he suffered injuries to both feet. There was no update about the severity of the injury during the post-fight news conference. Bradley didn’t want to talk about it.

“This sort of thing happens in big fights,’’ Diaz said. “But our plan was to dominate Manny. With something like that happening so early in the fight, we just couldn’t do that.’’

No argument about that either.

Roberto Ortiz scored a 5th round stoppage over Ramiro Alcaraz in a scheduled 10 round Jr. Welterweight bout on cust at the Oasis Hotel Complex in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Ortiz scored a knockdown in round four from a right hand. Alcaraz suffered a cut over his left eye in round five and was deemed unable to continue.

The bout was stopped at 1:38. Ortiz, 139 3/4 lbs is now 31-0-1 with 24 knockouts. Alcaraz, 140 lbs is now 14-4-1.

Robert Manzanarez scored a 6th round stoppage over Luis Gonzalez in a scheduled 8 round Lightweight bout.

Manzanarez dropped Gonzalez in round six from a right hand and finished up the fight with a follow up flurry and the bout was stopped at 2:09 of round six.

Manzanrez is now 27-1 with 23 knockouts. Gonzalez is now 16-6-1.

Anabel Ortiz scored a 10 round unanimous decision over Ivoon Rosas in a ladies Light Flyweight bout.

Scores were 100-90 twice and 99-92 for Ortiz, 105 1/2 lbs who is now 14-3. Rosas, 105 1/2 lbs is now 10-7-1.

Gilberto Ramirez scored a 5th round stoppage over former world title challenger Giovanni Lorenzo in a scheduled 10-round bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Ramirez dominated the bout and had Lorenzo in trouble in round three and scored a knockdown off of a furious flurry. Ramirez was dropped twice in the 5th. First from a body shot then from a long left and Lorenzo’s corner stopped the fight at 2:47 of round five.

Ramirez, 168 lbs is now 28-0 with 22 stoppages. Lorenzo, 167 lbs is now 35-7.

Super Middleweight prospect Jesse Hart scored an 8-round unanimous decision over Samuel Clarkson.

Hart scored a knockdown in round four in a fight that had some low blows and hitting behind the head.

Hart, 168 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 80-70 on all cards and is now 13-0. Clarkson, 167 lbs is 10-3.

Gary Salazar scored a 4 round unanimous decision over Jair Quintero in a Super Featherweight bout.

Salazar, 128 lbs is now 3-0. Quintero, 128 lbs is now 0-2-1.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Manny Pacquiao is set to earn a guarantee of at least $20 million with a chance for an upside in his Pay Per View fight this Saturday night against Timothy Bradley.

Their official purses for their rematch on Saturday night (HBO PPV) at the MGM Grand are $6 million apiece, according the contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com on Wednesday that Pacquiao is guaranteed a minimum of $20 million, much of which will be paid out in the weeks after he collects the $6 million check on fight night.

Both boxers, according to Arum, also will earn upside depending on how well the pay-per-view performs, and Arum said he believes it will exceed 1 million buys. He said he is basing that figure on anecdotal information he has received from HBO PPV executives. The first Pacquiao-Bradley fight in June 2012, which Bradley won by extremely controversial decision to claim a welterweight world title, generated 890,000 pay-per-view buys and more than $50 million in revenue.

The other purses for the bouts that will be televised on the pay-per-view broadcast:

• Lightweight Raymundo Beltran will earn $85,000 and last-minute replacement opponent Arash Usmanee will receive $80,000 in the co-feature.

• Junior welterweight titlist Khabib Allakhverdiev will make $250,000 and challenger Jessie Vargas is getting $90,000.

• Interim junior lightweight titleholder Bryan Vasquez will get $55,000 and challenger Jose Felix Jr. will make $40,000.

Canelo Alvarez will be looking for a July 12 Pay Per view dance partner and the man he is targeting is Erislandy Lara according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“When I met with Canelo last week, we discussed the date, the site and different opponents, and two of those have been resolved,” said Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “Canelo feels very comfortable fighting at the MGM. So we have the date and venue locked in and then we had to look at opponents.

“Canelo made it clear that his first choice is Lara because a lot of people, fans and media, feel he would be afraid of fighting somebody with the skills of Erislandy Lara, the same way people thought he wouldn’t fight Austin Trout. And you saw what happened.”

“Canelo thinks Floyd is the champion. Floyd beat Canelo and Canelo thinks Floyd is the champion, so how can Lara be a champion,” Schaefer said. “So Canelo doesn’t want it for a title so it won’t be a title fight, but if Lara wants to defend the title he can pay the sanction fees. But Canelo said he doesn’t want to fight for the title.”

“A lot of people feel Lara is the best at 154 pounds after Floyd,” Schaefer said. “Canelo said, ‘That’s the guy I want.’ I presented other names to him. He didn’t say yes and he didn’t say no. But he kept saying, ‘Get me Lara. That’s what my fans want to see.’ So I have begun negotiations with Team Lara. I’ve been working on it with [Lara adviser] Al [Haymon] and we have made an offer. We are going back and forth and my hope would be the negotiation could be concluded swiftly. We’re a little bit apart but if everyone will give a little bit we can get this done.

“I think it’s a very interesting fight. Lara is very skilled fighter. So is Trout and you saw how Canelo did with Trout, but Lara is a bit better than Trout.”

“Canelo would like to do a media tour,” he said. “When you have more time to promote, you can do a bigger tour. He liked the media tour we did with Mayweather and the big crowds. He loves to embrace his fans and mingle with his fans and so he definitely would like to do a big press tour.”

“We are talking about what we want to do,” Schaefer said. “Would we pull him out to have him ready for the promotion? That’s part of the negotiations and discussions. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen because I don’t have it done. But if you want to put together a major pay-per-view, the dates are a bit too close.”

Craig Metcalfe will replace an ill John Keane as a judge for this Saturday’s much anticipated rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.

“Metcalfe is a good judge. We have no issue whatsoever,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said.

The other two judges on the panel are Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada and Michael Pernick of Florida. The referee will be Kenny Bayless of Nevada.

According to Dan Rafael of espm.com, an intriguing doubleheader has been set for May 24 on HBO that will feature a Heabyweight elimination bout between Bryant Jennings and Mike Perez as well as a Middleweight showdown between former champion Daniel Geale and Matthew Macklin.

“I honestly think Perez is more dangerous that Szpilka because he’s so used to being the bully,” Jennings told ESPN.com from his training camp in Houston. “Both of them are slick but Perez has this type of bully aspect and I always bully the bully. I would hope (Perez trainer) Abel Sanchez makes sure Perez is smart and they take their time to do everything correctly because they are dealing with someone who is well-skilled and well-conditioned and ready to fight. I hope Perez brings his A-game and please do not sleep on Bryant Jennings.”

“I think it’s the best matchup right now. We ain’t ducking nobody. We’re fighting for a position that we would both love to be in,” said Jennings, who turned pro in 2010. “It’s all about the position.”

Said Jennings and Geale promoter Gary Shaw, “This is a real heavyweight fight. It’s a really good fight between two top contenders. I know Jennings is ready. He trains all the time. I think it’s a 50-50 fight. The questions I have is can Jennings use the lateral movement that I believe Perez cannot handle? Will Jennings start off slowly and be a sitting duck for Mike Perez to tee off on, because Jennings is historically a slow starter? Can he start quicker with more movement like he was going into the fourth round not the first? I believe he can.”

“I think it’s a great matchup between two of the top undefeated fighters in the heavyweight division,” said Perez promoter Tom Loeffler said. “I believe the winner of this fight will ultimately go on to win the WBC heavyweight championship. Both fighters have already been featured on HBO and there is a lot of anticipation for this fight now.”

“Stylistically, it’s a great fight and the outcome is doubt. This isn’t one of those fights where you know who the winner is going to be,” said Lou DiBella, Macklin’s promoter. “Neither of these guys is a huge favorite in the fight. These are two guys who like to fight, who like to throw punches and they’ll go at each other. But I have confidence in my guy.

“This is a good, old-fashioned ‘Boxing After Dark’ fight and I think the winner will get a title fight or a fight as economically big or bigger than a title fight.” Geale (30-2, 16 KOs), 33, of Australia, won a world title in 2011, made four successful defenses, including outpointing Felix Sturm in a unification fight, before losing a split decision to Darren Barker in August. Geale has fought once since, scoring a sixth-round knockout of countryman Garth Wood in February.

“I believe Geale is the better fighter, a late bloomer, and will bring it all, no different then what he did in the Barker fight,” said Shaw, Geale’s promoter.

Former 130 lb champion Roman Martinez was forced to withdrawl from this Saturday’s fight with Ray Beltran that was to be part of the Manny Pacquiao – Timothy Bradley Pay Per View card according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Martinez is ill and will be replaced by Arash Usmanee.

“Rocky went to see the doctor twice. That’s what Peter Rivera (Martinez’s co-promoter) told us,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti. “He said Rocky had no energy, low blood sugar and had not been feeling well for four or five days. Maybe he has the flu or something, but whatever it is, he doesn’t feel good and pulled out of the fight. He had missed going to the gym for three or four days in a row and on Friday he pulled out. He is just not going to be ready to fight.”

“I’m finishing the deal with (Usmanee promoter) Greg Cohen. I don’t have the paperwork yet, but that’s what we’re trying to get done,” Moretti said. “I worked things out with Greg on Friday. He said Usmanee had been in the gym training and was going to have some sort of fight soon, so this worked out for them. He’ll be in shape for the fight because he was already training. Greg says (Usmanee) is a gym rat.”

Former world champion Giovani Segura scored a 10th round stoppage over Felipe Salguero in a the final round of their Flyweight bout at Hipódromo Caliente, Arena Tecate in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

It was a terrific two-way action bout that saw Segura drop Salguero in the 4th round and then he statggerd and ultimately drop Salguero in the 10th round and the fight was stopped at 1:55 of round ten.

Segura, 115 1/2 lbs is now 32-3-1 with 28 knockouts. Salguero, 114 3/4 lbs is now 19-6-1.

Francisco Pino scored an upset by scoring a 6-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Rogelio Doliguez in a Featherweight bout.

Pina, 126 3/4 lbs won by scores of 59-55 twice and 57-56 and is now 11-11-5. Doliguez, 127 1/4 lbs is now 18-1-2.

Joebert Alvarez scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Julian Rivera in a Flyweight bout at the Foro Polanco in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Rivera scored a knockdown in round two from a flurry but Alvarez came back to get the better of the exchanges throughout the contest to win by scores of 115-112 and 114-112 twice.

Alvarez, 110 lbs is now 14-0-1. Rivera, 112 lbs is now 13-9-1.

Luis Vara scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Carlos Barraza in a Super Flyweight bout.

Vara, 115 lbs won by scores of 59-55, 59-56 and 58-56 and is now 4-1-2. Barraza, 115 lbs is 7-6-1.

Kathy Duva said, “Jolene Mizzone and J Russell Peltz are the best matchmakers in the business, hands down. That was the bull and the matador. Steve, you get knocked down but you get back up baby!”

Steve said, “With my God I can do anything! Faith is all I have. I was alright. I have been down before and got up and won. He wasn’t built for the ‘USS’ Cunningham. I want to be heavyweight world champion. ‘USS’ Cunningham always finds a way.”

Mansour said, “I can’t complain. He was the better man; the tougher man. I got tired but he got tired too. I just kept stepping on the gas pedal because that is just the fighter in me. You got to be smart in the ring if you want to be successful and tonight he was smarter than me.”

“I’m outraged that my fighter Tureano Johnson was robbed of his ability to finish the fight.” said Gary Shaw. “Johnson clearly could have continued on. Stevens is nothing. Johnson was winning every round. I’m going to protest this premature stoppage and demand an immediate rematch. To rob a fighter like Johnson got robbed tonight is preposterous. With what Johnson gave the fans tonight, he should have at least been able to finish the fight. I’m beside myself with this decision.”

“I wanted to come out tonight and give the fans an all action war.” said Tureano Johnson. “My game plan was to come right at Stevens and bring the fight to him. I did exactly what I wanted to do and I was winning the fight convincingly. I have a great chin. When he landed that left hook in the final round, I was rocked, but I was ready to continue. I was robbed by the referee tonight and the fans should rally behind me to command an instant rematch. My message to Curtis Stevens is…you better not run from the rematch, because if you do, the fans will know you’re a fraud.”

Stevens said, “I didn’t set it up the way I was supposed to set it up. He was smothering me. He did what he was supposed to do. He came in here and smothered me.”

Lee Campbell scored an 8-round majority decision over Roberto Acevedo in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Scores were 78-74, 77-75 and 76-76 for Campbell. 168.4 lbs of Laurenburg, NC and is now 7-0. Acevedo, 170 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 8-2.

Sullivan Barrera scored a six round unanimous decision over Larry Pryor in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Barrera dropped Pryor with a right on the ropes in the 1st round and went on to win 60-53 on all cards.

Barrera, 176 lbs of Cuba is now 11-0. Pryor, 176 lbs is now 7-8.

Edner Cherry scored a 8 round unanimous decision over Robert Osiobe in a Super Featherweight bout.

Cherry, 134.1 lbs of Wauchula, FL won by scored of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 32-6-2. Osioobe, 134.3 lbs of Ugheli, Nigeria is now 14-9-4.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.con, IBF Middleweight champion Felix Sturm will defend his belt against Sam Soliman in a rematch in May 31 in Krefed, Germany.

Soliman, of Australia, got knocked down in the second round but went on to win the world title elimination bout on Sturm’s turf in Dusseldorf, Germany. Soliman won by unanimous decision on scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 114-113, but after the fight he tested positive for a banned substance. The result of the bout was changed to a no decision, and Soliman was suspended for nine months by the German Boxing Federation

“This fight really hurt,” Sturm said of the first meeting with Soliman. “It was heartbreaking. I don’t care that he doped. That’s not an excuse for me. I want to erase all doubts; I want to show the world that I’m by far the superior fighter. I didn’t train like I should have before the first fight. That won’t happen again. I promise I will keep my world title.”

“Getting a world title bout is like climbing Mt. Everest,” he said. “It’s taken me 23 years. You get to base camp and line up at the foot of the summit for your turn to conquer the peak. I’ve paid my dues and I’m ready. I couldn’t have said that five years ago, but now I can. I’m fighting smarter, and I’m jumping out of my skin to hear the referee say, ‘Seconds out.’

“My mission is to bring the IBF middleweight world title back to Australia. This is the title I have been chasing, taking my chances, and earning my No. 1 contender position. A little over 12 months ago I went over to Germany and beat Felix, winning that fight in a unanimous decision. I am under no illusions about the task ahead. I know Felix is going to be more prepared and ready for me this time, but I and my team also learned a lot from our last bout.”

Nonito Donaire will attempt to win a Featherweight title when he takes on Simpiwe Vetyeka on May 31 in Macau on a card that will feature two other Featherweight title bouts according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’re going to increase the number of cards we are going to do in Asia and we can’t have Zou Shiming on every card,” promoter Bob Arum said of the two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist, who has been the central figure in Top Rank’s recent series of cards in Macau. “So now we have to build up interest in other fighters. Donaire (a native of the Philippines) will have a big following since it’s only an hour and five minutes by plane from Manila to Macau and there are regular flights. There’s also a big Filipino population in Macau and in Hong Kong (which is a half-hour ferry away).”

The card will also include two other featherweight world title bouts as Nicholas Walters is due to defend his belt against an opponent to be determined and Evgeny Gradovich will fight mandatory challenger Alexander Miskirtchian, the former European champion. If Donaire wins he is likely to later face one of the winners of the other title bouts, Arum said.

However, Donaire, 31, is already in training in the Philippines, where is father, Nonito Donaire Sr., is preparing him. Father and son reunited before the Darchinyan rematch following a lengthy estrangement, and Nonito Sr. worked the corner as an assistant to head trainer Robert Garcia.

Cameron Dunkin, Donaire’s manager, told ESPN.com that he was not sure what Garcia’s role would be in the training camp, if any, since he is training his other fighters at his Oxnard, Calif., gym, including Gradovich.

“Robert I’m sure will go to the fight, but I’ve got to iron all that out,” Dunkin said. “Nonito thought it was the right thing to train over there [in the Philippines] since the fight is in Asia. He’s really comfortable there and he will already be on the same time zone.”

“This is the guy who knocked out Chris John, which means something after he made 18 defenses,” Arum said. “It’s a very important fight for Donaire, obviously.”

Said Dunkin, “Nonito is really excited and motivated for this fight. It’s the most motivated I have seen him in a long, long time. Before the fight with Rigondeaux, he told he didn’t even know if he wanted to fight anymore. He had his shoulder problems and hand problems. He beat himself up because he was so active (with four fights in 2012). He wasn’t healing between fights and hard training camps.

“He told me he’s motivated for this fight and that he wants to fight and wants to show everyone what he can do and show the people who have given up on him, or think he isn’t what he once was. He wants to show people that he is still one of the best, which he is. I love that attitude. He’s a tremendous fighter and when his mind is right and he’s motivated, he’s terrific.”

“Nonito has a great deal and it will be even better if he wins this fight,” Dunkin said. “But this guy (Vetyeka) is a tough, tough guy, maybe the toughest guy Nonito has ever fought other than Rigondeaux, maybe even tougher than that because of his size. He can punch, he’s long-armed and he’s big.”

After the controversy of their 1st bout, a very important piece of business was taken care of as the official were named for the April 12 rematch between Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

The commission appointed veteran judges Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada, Michael Pernick of Florida and John Keane from Great Britain to score the fight. Kenny Bayless, regarded by many as the best referee in the world, was appointed as the third man in the ring.

“What the commission did was give us a whole list of officials that were being considered — judges and referees — and then we circulated it to both camps and we said knock out anybody that you feel may not be suitable,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters. “Then we had a phone call with (commission chairman Francisco Aguilar and commissioner Bill Brady last week) and said, ‘Here are the officials that both sides have no objection to,’ and out of that they selected three judges and the referee.”

Arum said the list he was initially given included eight or nine judges and five referees.

“Neither camp can complain about the officials selected because these are judges approved by both camps and same with the referee,” Arum said. “I really commend the commission for taking the steps that they did and with all the transparency in this. It’s the fighters who are most affected by this decision and now neither fighter can say anything whatever happens.”

The Nevada commission typically appoints at least two Nevada judges to major fights and also often brings in one out-of-state judge. For this fight, Arum said the commission went along with his request to bring in two judges from outside of Nevada.

“We requested that because there are so many good judges around the world why limit yourself to just Nevada,” Arum said.

Officials were also selected for the other fights on the HBO PPV card.

• Vic Drakulich will referee the regional lightweight title bout between Mexico’s Raymundo Beltran (28-6-1, 17 KOs) and two-time junior lightweight titlist Roman Martinez of Puerto Rico. It’s a particularly significant fight for Beltran, who is the No. 1 contender for the lightweight world title held by Terrence Crawford and could get a title shot with a victory.

The judges assigned to the bout are Burt Clements and Dave Moretti of Nevada and Craig Metcalfe of Canada.

• Tony Weeks was selected to referee the fight between junior welterweight titlist Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-0, 9 KOs) of Russia, who is making his second defense, and challenger Jessie Vargas (23-0, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas. The judges for the fight will be Robert Hoyle and Jerry Roth or Nevada and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.

• Robert Byrd was appointed to referee the fight between interim junior lightweight titlist Bryan Vasquez (32-1, 17 KOs) of Costa Rica and Jose Felix (26-0-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico. The judges will be Dick Houck and Patricia Morse Jarman of Nevada and Levi Martinez of New Mexico.

Charlie Clemente remained undefeated with a 6 round unanimous decision over Omar Soto in a Light Flyweight bout.

Clemente dropped Soto in the final round and he won by scores of 58-55 twice and 57-56.

Clemente is 6-0. Soto is 15-11-1.

Asheley Rivera scored a 3rd round stoppage over Jose Ramos in a Featherweight bout.

Rivera scored a knockdown from a flurry of punches at the 10 count at 2:40 of round three.

Rivera is now 1-1. Ramos was making his pro debut.

Rashidi Ellis won via 2nd round disqualification over Orlando Falcon in a scheduled 6-round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Falcon landed repeated low blows and the fight was stopped 51 seconds into round two.

Ellis is now 5-0. Falcon is 2-5.

Bryan Perez scored a one-punch knockout over Elliot Rios in the 1st round of their scheduled 4-round Bantamweight bout.

Perez landed a crushing right hook from the southpaw stance that sent Rios to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 42 seconds of the opening frame.

Perez, 118 lbs is now 4-1 with 2 knockouts. Rios, 116 lbs was making his pro debut.

ATLANTIC CITY–Sergey Kovalev may not be getting the fight with Adonis Stevenson that he was hoping for, but he was professional in scoring three knockdowns en route to a 7th round stoppage to retain the WBO Light Heavyweight title at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom inside of Boardwalk Hall.

Agnew came out in a southpaw stance and tried to land quick combnations while Kovalev was looking for the right hand. the only action of consequence was a low blow landed by Agnew. At the end if round two, Kovalev landed a hard left hook that dumped Agnew on the canvas. In round three, Kovalev landed a huge four punch combimation that stunned and had Agnew holding on. Round four saw Agnew slip and counter better. Kovalev started to bleed from around his right eye that was ruled from a punch. In round six, Kovalev dropped Agnew for a 2nd time from a body punch. The action was good for the rest of the round, as there was a lot of contact that opened up a cut under Kovalev’s left eye and blood from Agnew’s mouth.

Moments into round seven, Kovalev hit Agnew with what looked like a jab to the body that sent Agnew down for referee Sammy Viruet’s ten count at 58 seconds of round 7.

Kovalev, 174.3 lbs of Russia now 24-0-1 with 22 knockouts. Agnew, 174.4 lbs of Chicago is now 26-1.

After the fight Krusher said, “It was a difficult fight tonight because I got the two cuts. One from his hand and one from his shoulder. I don’t like the floor. He has good defense. I found the key – the left to the body. This is very good for me. I was ready for 12 rounds – just to try. He is not a fighter, he is just a boxer. I tried to box with him. I found the key to the body. I found this open place in his defense and my last punch was more harder.” When asked about Adonis Stevenson Kovalev responded, “Adonis Stevenson is a piece of shit. I will fight any champion in my division. I want to get another title. I am ready for anyone. I will be great boxer.

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “Agnew was far tougher than anyone gave him credit for. Sergey is just incredible. We look forward to a nice long run with the best light heavyweight in the world.

Cedric Agnew said only, “I will be back.”

Thomas Dulorme scored a 10 round unanimous decision over Karim Mayfield in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

A right in the first round buckled Mayfield. Dulorme continued to get home with the right hand one at a time. Mayfield started to be agressive in the 3rd. At the end of the round the two exchanged in a furious fashion with Dulorme landed a left hook at the bell.

Round six saw Mayfield land a nice overhand righy onky to get hit right back with a powerful left hook. Round seven saw some good action with Mayfield striking first with a nice right over the top. Dulorme answered back with a hard left hook that momentarily stunned Mayfield. Mayfield was cut around the left eye from a accidental headbutt. Mayfield fought back in round eight with an overhand right. Dulorme landed two hard low blows that stopped the action briefly. Mayfield tried to make a last stand as he chased Dulorme in between landing a couple of nice overhand rights.

Dulorme, 139.8 lbs of Carolina, PR won by scores of 98-92, 97-94 and 96-93 and is now 21-1. Mayfield, 139.6 lbs of San Francisco, CA is now 18-1-1.

“Tonight I wanted to show the world that I’m a force in the Jr. Welterweight division,” said Dulorme. “Mayfield was an undefeated fighter who punches with a lot of power but he never hurt me. Robert Garcia and Alex Ariza are taking me to another level and I believe I’m the best Jr. Welterweight in the world.”

“My promoter Gary Shaw said he wants to see me in a big fight with a world champion in the near future. I’m ready to fight the best. Shaw and I are ready to take on all comers. I dedicate this fight to my people back home in Puerto Rico.” Dulorme concluded.

“Dulorme showed great poise tonight against a power puncher who likes to brawl,” said Gary Shaw. “He’s now in position to challenge any of the champions at 140lbs and I’ll talk with his team to see what we can put together. This is a great win for Dulorme and I’m proud of his accomplishments thus far. Garcia and Ariza are doing a great job with him and happy they’ve united. He’s on his way to big time fights.”

Light Heavyweights Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson (15-3, 9 KOs) of Buffalo, NY and Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (15-0, 10 KOs) of St. Petersburg, FL met for eight rounds (originally scheduled for ten rounds was cut due to unforeseen delays with the undercard) just prior to the co-feature. “Hot Rod” started strong but tired in the later rounds. Thompson turned it on as Kalajdzic began to wear down but it was not enough to secure the victory. Kalajdzic won via split decision with the judges scoring the bout 78-72 and 76-75 for Kalajdzic and 77-75 for Thompson. The referee Allen Huggins deducted a point from Thompson for spitting out his mouthpiece. Lonnie B said, “I think the score was kind of crazy. I felt like it was close. He is a good fighter. I thought I did enough in the later rounds to win. He fought a tough fight. I am going to go back in the gym, work on my mistakes and come back stronger next time. I thank God that I just came out safe. I am sorry I didn’t get the decision tonight but mark my words I will be back.”

For the first fully international card of the night junior middleweight Puerto Rican Wilky Campfort (17-1, 9 KOs) took on undefeated Khurshid Abdullaev (6-1-1, 3 KOs) of Russia for eight rounds. Campfort knocked Abdullaev down in the first and in the second Campfort threw Abdullaev out of the ring. The Russian came back with a vengeance in the third getting in several key hits. This gutty, gritty brawl was almost too close to call. Campfort won via a very close split decision with the judges scoring the bout 77-74 for Campfort, 76-74 for Abdullaev and 76-75 for Campfort.

Late in round one, Campfort dropped Abdullaev from a right hook. Abdullaev turned the tabled in round two by rocking Campfort and opening up a huge flurry to the point where Campfort threw Abdullaev to the canvas. It was a tough bout throughout as Abdullaev

Heavyweight Adam Kownacki scored a 2nd round stoppage over Excell Holmes in a scheduled 4 round bout.

Kownacki dominated and the fight was stopped after a huge flurry at 41 seconds of round two.

Kowncaki, 254 lbs of Brooklyn is now 6-0 with 6 knockouts. Holmes, 244 lbs of Buffalo is 2-3-1.

Michael Mitchell scored a 2nd round stoppage over Rafael Jastrzbeski in a scheduled four round Super Middleweight bout.

Mitchell scored 2 knockdowns and the fight was stopped at 2:53 of round two.

Mitchell, 163.8 lbs of Paterson, NJ is now 3-3-2 with 1 knockout. Jastrzbeski, 166 lbs of Vineland, NJ is now 4-8-1.

Wellington Romero scored a four round unanimous decision over Gerald Smith in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Romero scored a knockdown in the first when a left hand drove Smith backfirst into the corner pad. Romero land a hard combination on the ropes in round two.

Scores were 40-35 on all cards for Romero, 138.6 lbs and is now 3-0. Smith, 139.2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 3-1.

In a battle of undefeated Middleweights, Ismael Garcia scored a six round unanimous decision over Dushane Crooks.

It was a spirited bout that saw Garcia, 156 lbs of Vineland, NJ win all cards by a 58-56 tally and is now 6-0. Crooks, 153.4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 6-1.

A triple header featuring three of the more exciting fighters will consummate a triple header on April 26 at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California as Keith Thurman will defend his welterweight belt against Julio Diaz, Omar Figueroa will take on Jerry Belmontes in a Lightweight title fight while Lucas Matthysse will take on John Molina Jr. in a Jr. Welterweight bout according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The card will be broadcast on Showtime.

“When you can see Thurman, Matthysse and Figueroa all on one night, it’s pretty exciting I think,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

“Julio Diaz will get up for this kind of fight,” Schaefer said. “You saw how he looked in England against Amir Khan. Julio Diaz always comes to fight, and he we’ll see what happens. All of the other top 147-pounders are fighting, so Keith is going to do this fight. We’ll give Julio Diaz one last chance and see what he can make of it. But for Keith, this is about him getting back in the ring without having to wait for some of those other guys while they are getting their fights done.

“Being on air and fighting is the formula. You look at [middleweight titlist] Gennady Golovkin. He’s not fighting King Kong but he has stayed busy, and that is a key in this sport. If you stay busy, you stay relevant. If you wait for that big fight and sit out like some of these fighters have done, you become irrelevant. Keith is going to stay relevant. And one thing we all know about Julio Diaz is that this guy does not just come to pick up a paycheck. He comes to fight and he knows it’s a must-win fight.”

“Matthysse wants to see how he still feels at 140 pounds. He might move up to 147 and try to inject himself into the Mayweather sweepstakes, but he’ll fight this fight and then make that decision,” Schaefer said. “In the meantime, we were looking for an opponent who comes to fight and with Molina we found that.”

However, Figueroa reinjured his left hand a week before the fight and had to withdraw. According to Schaefer, the injury was not serious, only requiring a few weeks of rest.

“Everything is OK with his hand,” Schaefer said. “He had it checked out. He is ready to go and excited to come back.”

Belmontes, who had lost three out of four fights, is getting the title opportunity because he pulled an upset in his last fight, easily outpointing previously unbeaten contender Will Tomlinson of Australia in a 10-rounder on the Alvarez-Angulo card.

“That was a great win for Belmontes,” Schaefer said. “Tomlinson was undefeated and ranked in the organizations and Belmontes beat him. That was a big win for him, and this is his reward.”