According to Dan Rafael of espn.con, a new promotional company headed by Dino Duva and brothers Terry and Tommy Lane have signed Chinese Heavyweight Zhang Zhilei.

The name of the company is Dynasty Boxing.

“I have a long way to go. I’m a freshman in professional boxing, and there will be a lot of things I have to learn,” Zhang said in translated comments. “I will train hard and hope that me and our team work together to make this come true.”

“He’s the most important heavyweight to come along since the Klitschko brothers, a special athlete and special person,” Duva said. “We are positioned to be a dominant boxing company producing fighters from China.”

“It’s a sincere pleasure to get back into the promotion business, especially with these unique and special Chinese boxers being a major part of it,” said Duva, who spent years working at the family company Main Events before a family feud sent him packing and he founded the now-defunct Duva Boxing. “Of course, we will be looking to promote other great boxers from across the country and world as we go forward. But our major focus right now will be developing the Chinese boxers and market.

“I can’t think of a better way to kick it all off than with the announcement of the signing of this very special big guy, Zhang Zhilei. He has the whole package — size, athleticism, good looks and great personality. And one other thing: He knows how to fight. He has more of a pro style than Olympic style. Mark my words, once boxing fans get a chance to see him, he will be the talk of the heavyweight division and all of boxing. I believe he is going to be the most important heavyweight to come along since [1996 Olympic gold medalist Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko] turned pro in 1996.”

The Lane brothers said in a statement, “The Chinese boxers like Zhang Zhilei are trailblazers. There’s no doubt that they will bring great pride to their country and provinces, and help bring big-time boxing to millions of people. We’re also very excited to partner with Dino Duva on what we think will be an historic venture

“I started to look at some of the greatest fighters in the world after I got involved with boxing,” he said. “Boxing events are only broadcasted on the weekends on CCTV5 [in China]. But I never missed one show. I watched [Muhammad] Ali, [George] Foreman, [Mike] Tyson, [Evander] Holyfield, [Lennox] Lewis, [David] Tua and the Klitschko brothers. They are great fighters and I do like the way they fight. I hope that I can win a golden belt someday, too.”

LAS VEGAS – Canelo Alvarez got the victory. Got the boos, too

Alvarez won the fight, but failed to win back many of his disaffected fans with a 10th-round technical knockout of Alfredo Angulo Saturday night at the MGM Grand.

Canelo’s first fight since a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September was supposed to restore his popularity among Mexican fans, many of whom weren’t sure what to think of him after he had looked so ordinary in such a one-sided defeat.

If an arena full of boos was any indication, some of their ambivalence turned into anger Saturday night.

Fans were as frustrated as Angulo at referee Tony Weeks’ stoppage at 47 seconds of the 10th. Both of Angulo’s eyes were swollen and surrounded by darkening bruises when Weeks stepped in and said no more. Angulo complained loudly. He screamed that he should have been allowed to fight on.

“The ref was wrong,’’ Angulo said.

No, he wasn’t, Canelo said.

“The referee is the marshall,’’ Canelo (43-1-1, 31 KOs). “He stopped the fight, because he knew what was going on. I was still doing my job, working my jab. Sure, I was a little tired. But I was ready to fight on. I could have gone 10 more rounds if I had to.’’

Canelo led on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage. Judge Craig Metcalfe had it 89-82. So did Dave Moretti. On Jerry Roth’s card, it was 88-83.

Going into the fight, there was lot of talk about whether Angulo’s scarred face could withstand sustained punishment. A grotesque welt above one eye result in him losing a 10th-round TKO to Erislandy Lara, whom he knocked down twice.

Sure enough, signs that injury would again stop Angulo were there early against Canelo. In the second round, swelling began to appear above Angulo’s right eye, which Canelo quickly targeted with a jab that landed repeatedly and with a baseball bat’s deadly impact.

Late in the third and again in the fourth, the stubborn Angulo’s persistence began to pay off with occasional bursts that seemed to stun Canelo. For a fleeting moment late in the fourth, there was a look of doubt in Canelo’s eyes. Maybe, he was suffering from the fatigue that has been one of his habitual weaknesses. Or, maybe, he was just surprised to see the sight of Angulo (22-4, 18 KOs) persistently moving forward and straight at him.

Canelo backpedaled in the fifth and again in the sixth. Angulo always followed. No matter what Canelo threw at him, or how much he busted up the right eye and then the left, there was Angulo moving forward and willing to endure more punishment. In the eighth, the crowd went wild when the junior-middleweights, fighting at an official weight of 155 pounds, stood and traded. By the ninth, it was evident Angulo would be there until the end. No matter what Canelo threw at him, there he was, like the incoming tide.

Finally, Weeks did what Canelo couldn’t.

He stopped it, sparing Angulo from further punishment and maybe much more. In time, Angulo might be able to see that and be thankful that he can see at all.

Rest of Pay-Per-View Card

Los Angeles super-bantamweight Leo Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 16 KOs) was methodical and efficient, yet short of sensational, defending his acronym-sanctioned version of the title with a unanimous decision over Mexican Cristian Mijares (48-8-2, 22 KOs), who absorbed a variety of body shots and left Santa Cruz with a bloodied right eye from a fourth-round head butt.

Jorge Linares (36-3, 23 KOs), a Venezuelan living and training in Japan, kept himself in the mix for a shot at a lightweight title with superior speed and punishing blows for a unanimous decision over Nihito Arakawa (24-4-1, 16 KOs), a 135-pound Japanese fighter who endured and had a few moments, yet never a real chance.

The Alvarez family got off to a rough start on the card’s first pay-per-view bout. Canelo’s brother, lightweight Ricardo Alvarez (23-3-3, 13 KOs), suffered two knockdowns in losing a unanimous decision to fellow Mexican Sergio Thompson (29-3, 26 KOs), who took the fight on short notice. A Thompson left in the second sent Alvarez falling into the ropes. If not for the ropes, Alvarez would have fallen into a ringside seat. That was the first knockdown and a sign of things to come. A clean right in the eight floored Alvarez for the second time.

Pre-TV

Junior-lightweight Jerry Belmontes (19-3, 5 KOs) scored a one-sided decision over Australian Will Tomlinson (21-1-1, 12 KOs), who suffered a bloody gash over his right eye in seventh-round head butt; Mexico City junior-lightweight Francisco Vargas (19-0-1, 13 KOs) survived a spirited challenge for a unanimous, 10-round decision over Puerto Rican Abner Cotto (17-2, 8 KOs); former Olympian Joseph Diaz (9-0, 7 KOs) of South El Monte, Calif., cautiously, for four rounds before scoring a fifth-round super-bantamweight TKO of Puerto Rican Jovany Fuentes (5-4, 4 KOs); junior-welterweight Keandre Gibson (9-0-1, 4 KOs) landed a succession of punches that seemed to render Mexican Antonio Wong (11-8—1, 6 KOs) unconscious before he hit the canvas in a fourth-round stoppage; Australian light-heavy Steve Lovett (7-0, 6 KOs) stayed unbeaten with a second-round stoppage of Mexican Francisco Molina (2-3, 2 KOs).

Former multi division world champion Jorge Arce scored a 5th round stoppage over Aldimar Silva in a scheduled 10 round Featherweight bout at Domo de la Macroplaza in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Arce dropped Silva in round 3 three with a perfect right hand. He sent Silva to the canvas for 2nd time in round five from an inside left hook. A follow up flurry from Arce forced a referee stoppage at 41 seconds of round five.

Arce, 126 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 63-7-2 with 48 knockouts. Silva, 126 lbs of Brazil is now 19-8.

In a battle of undefeated Super Bantamweights, Miguel Carrizosa scored a six round unanimous decision over Israel Lopez.

Scores were 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56 for Carrizosa who is now 4-0. Lopez is 3-1.

In a a battle of pro debuting Bantamweights, Jesus Molina scored a 4th round stoppage over Briguel Galidno.

Molina dropped Galindo in the 4th and a follow up flurry ended things at 2:55 of round four.

Rustam Nugaev got a dubious victory after Marvin Quintero injured his left hand and the bout had to be halted at the end of round four of their scheduled ten round Jr. Welterweight bout at the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, California.

Quintero, who was fortunate to be in the fight after missing Friday’s weigh in due to a visa issue coming in from Mexico, was even the fight by using his legs and landing solid shots with both hands. Nugaev was slowly upping his activity rate in round’w three and four. Quintero landed a nice left hand to the forehead of Nugaev just as the 4th round ended and he began to motion that he was in discomfort.

In between round’s, Quintero said he could not continue and Nugaev was ruled the winner.

Nugaev, 143.2 lbs of Russia is now 27-6-1 with 17 knockouts. Quintero, 142 lbs of Mexico is now 25-5.

“I was just getting into a grove when the bout was halted,” said Nugaev. “My body attack was starting to wear down Quintero. I can see that he was starting to slow down as I was coming forward. He was a very tough opponent and he was very effective with his punches but I was never hurt. I feel I was on my way to knocking him out before the fight was stopped. My promoter Gary Shaw has big plans for me this year and I’m ready to fight for a world title. I’m taking on anyone who wants to step in the ring with me. I will be a champion very soon, all I need is an opportunity.”

Roman Morales scored five knockdowns en route to a eight round unanimous decision over Khabir Suleymanov in a Bantamweight bout.

In round two, Morales dropped Suleymanov with a hard right hand. He later landed a hard right that had Suleymanov holding on. Later in the round, Morales scored a 2nd knockdown from left hook. Morales scored another knockdown in round five from a short left hook. Suleymanov began to bleed form the right eye from an accidental headbutt in round seven. Morales dumped Suleymanov in twice in round eight from right hooks.

Morales, 118 1/2 lbs won by scores of 80-67, 79-68 and 79-68 and is now 18-0. Suleymanov, 119 lbs is 16-4.

Dusty Hernandez Harrison remained undefeated as he scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Mike Belasi in a Welterweight bout.

Harrison was the boss throughout the fight with the exception for a brief moment in an eventful 2nd round. Harrison sent Belasi from a barrage of punches that was finished up by a left. With Harrison looking to capitalize on the knockdown, he got caught with a perfect straight left hand that sent him to the canvas. Harrison steadied himself and had very little trouble for the rest of the contest. He scored a 2nd knockdown in round five from a combination that was finished with a series of right hands.. Belasi did well to make it the distance.

Harrison, 147 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 60-53, 59-54 and 59-54 and is now 20-0. Belasi, 147 lbs of Honolulu, HA is now 10-4.

Canelo Alvarez 155 – Alfredo Angulo 154.5
Leo Santa Cruz 122 – Cristian Mijares 122
(WBC Super Bantamweight Title)
Jorge Linares 134.5 – Nihito Arakawa 134.5
Ricardo Alvarez 135 – Sergio Thompson 135

IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Carlos is in a Las Vegas jail due to some outstanding warrants that is putting his title defense with Jermall Charlo in jeopardy that is scheduled for this Saturday in Las Vegas according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’re still working on getting him out of jail,” Warriors Boxing promoter Leon Margules told ESPN.com on Thursday after Molina was a no show at the final news conference. “There is an immigration hold on him and we’re trying to figure everything out. I’m doing my best. Carlos just said, ‘Get me out, I want to fight.'”

Molina, 30, of Chicago, was arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning on an outstanding warrant from 2007 in Wisconsin because he failed to register as a sex offender. But even after the warrant was taken care of Thursday and Molina had been granted bail, his release was denied when Las Vegas police learned that he was also wanted by immigration officials.

“In 2001, when he was 18 years old — and I’m just learning all this this week — he got arrested for statutory rape. She was 16 or 15, two teenagers,” Margules, who is also an attorney, said. “Not knowing how it would impact his life at all, he pled guilty to time served in Appleton, Wis., and did three years probation and never registered as a sex offender. That was what the warrant was for. I worked it out.

“We spoke to Wisconsin and we agreed on a $10,000 bond. We had a bond hearing (Thursday morning in Las Vegas). I posted the bond. He was supposed to be out by 10 or 11 and be at the press conference. Then we found out there was an immigration hold.”

“I thought he was a citizen. He was a permanent resident,” Margules said.

“I’m working on it. Do I think I’m getting him out? I have no idea,” he said. “I thought I was getting him out (Thursday) morning. I’m trying to get to the bottom of what the actual issue is. The first time I heard the word ‘immigration’ was when he was bailing out of jail.”

“It’s a lot frustrating. It’s part of the struggle but I’m here to fight,” Charlo said. “I’m in shape. I had an awesome training camp. I’m ready for whatever Carlos Molina brings or if he don’t bring it, I’m ready to get back in camp and get another fight.

“Stuff happens. My hopes up are. I really feel like the fight is gonna happen. I’m here waiting. I’m anticipating that I’ll fight. I’m gonna weigh in (on Friday) and I’m gonna be on point. If we don’t fight, I’ll take a rest and I’ll get back in camp.”

Donnie Nietes will rematch Moses Fuentes on May 10 for a Jr. Flyweight title according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The rematch is from a draw that took place last March 2nd.

Legendary former world champion Erik Morales was forced to postpone his March 22nd bout with Jorge Paez Jr. due to a hand injury suffered in training according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

In a battle of rormer world title challengers, Fernando Angulo stopped Pablo Cesar Cano in the 9th round of a scheduled ten round Welterweight bout at World Trade Center in Naucalpan, México, Mexico.

It was a close fight with both guys being aggressive. In round nine, Angulo caught Cano with a hard over hand right that opened up a cut between Cano’s eyes. Cano also had a cut in the corner of his right eye.

Angulo, 147 lbs of Ecuador is now 27-9 with 16 knockouts. Cano, 147 lbs of Mexico is 27-4-1.

Zunina Munoz defended the WBC Female Super Flyweight title with a technical decision in round six over Alessia Graf.

The two clashed heads that opened up a nasty cut over the left eye of Graf and the fight was stopped. Munoz was leading 59-55 and 58-56 twice and is now 41-1-2. Graf of Germany is now 26-4.

Ramon Alvarez scored a scary 5th round stoppage over Esau Herrera in a scheduled 10 round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Alvarez dropped Herrera in round one, four and once again in round five with a over hand right that sent Herrera iut for several minuted and had to be helped from the ring.

Alvarez of Guadalajara, MX is the brother Canelo Alvarez is now 18-4-2 with 11 knockouts. Herrera of Mexico City is now 18-7-1.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. registered his 2nd victory over Bryan Vera in 7 months by scoring am entertaining 12 round unanimous decision in a Super Middleweight bout at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Chavez was much better then the lethargic version of himself in September as he started quickly being much more active. He was dominant with body punches and hard right hands to the head. Vera showed an incredible heart and chin as not only did he withstand the Chavez assault but he came back with flurries of his own. It was a fast paced and exciting fight that saw a lot of contact. Vera was docked a point in round eight after being warned by referee Rafael Ramos for different fouls. The point was a dubious deduction as it looked like Vera did not do anything to warrant the point loss but Chavez complained several times and the referee “bought” those complaints. Chavez outlanded Vera in every round and then coasted in the 12th as he refused to engage and stay out of harms way and won by scores of 117-110 twice and 114-113.

Chaveez Jr., 167 1/2 lbs of Culican, MX is now 48-1-1-1. Vera, 167 1/2 lbs of Austin, TX is now 23-8.

Orlando Salido bucked history and scored a 12 round split decision over amateur star Vasyl Lomachenko in a Featherweight bout.

Lomachenko was trying to make history by winning a world title in just his 2nd pro bout. Salido, who was the reigning champion missed weight at Friday’s weigh-in making and then putting on another 19 pounds overnight Lomachenko the only fighter eligible to win the title.

Salido used both his size and experience advantages to the fullest in the fight as he bullied Lomachenko with body shots, which more than a handful strayed extremely low but was not called by referee Laurence Cole. Salido surged ahead in the middle rounds by his activity level and effective body work where Lomechenko was resigned to one shot and holding. Lomachenko made it interesting in the final frame when he hurt Salido with hard left and then a body punch of his own. Salido was able to hold on and by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 while Lomachenko won a card at 115-113.

Salido, 128 1/4 lbs of Ciudad, MX is now 41-12-2-1. Lomachenko, 125 1/4 lbs of Ukraine is now 1-1.

WBA Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin was forced to postpone his April 26 fight with Andy Lee after the death of his father according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“He can’t fight on April 26,” said Golovkin;s promoter Tom Loeffler. “There’s a 40-day mourning period. He will be staying with his family. His two older brothers died (in military action) and he’s now the patriarch of the family. He’s got to take responsibility. It’s very sensitive.”

“Everything is on hold right now,” he said. “We don’t know if it will take two months or how long it will take. It’s hard to say.”

Loeffler and Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez had come to the Alamodome hoping to announce Golovkin-Lee. They also were on hand to watch Saturday night’s super middleweight rematch between former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Bryan Vera.

If Chavez wins, he could face Golovkin (29-0, 26 KOs) later in the year. Loeffler and Chavez promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have discussed the possible HBO PPV fight.

Loeffler said Golovkin would go up to super middleweight to face Chavez if the fight is made, but that everything is on hold because of his father’s death.

“Bob approached me with the idea of the Chavez fight and we’ve always said Gennady would go up to 168 for the right fight,” Loeffler said.

SAN ANTONIO – Houston lightweight Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, a former world champion, found across from him in Saturday’s sixth and final off-television match a motivated opponent with a workable gameplan and little respect for Diaz’s resume. It was no matter – Diaz dispatched of him with time anyway.

Diaz (39-4, 19 KOs) whacked and wore-down Mexican Gerardo Robles (18-13, 9 KOs), snatching his will and decisioning him easily if not quite easily as official scores indicated: 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91.

After a spirited first round from Robles, one in which the rambunctious Mexican alternately countered and led Diaz with surprising effect, Diaz came off his stool in the second and reestablished the proper order of things, lashing Robles with signature hooks and activity, and reducing Robles’ activity considerably. Once order was returned Diaz then went to work on Robles like so many once-strong men before him, breaking the Mexican’s spirit with constant activity and relentless violence.

Though Diaz never managed to imperil Robles – and though Diaz found his own legs stiffened in the seventh, in an exchange that sent the Houstonian to the canvas but was ruled a slip by referee Jon Schorle – Diaz closed space, controlled time, and generally took the fight away from his less-experienced opponent.

Diaz is not what he once was, no, and hasn’t been since his first fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, but he is still entertaining, and still acquitting himself honorably every time he steps in a prizefighting ring.

Saturday’s fifth match saw undefeated Mexican featherweight Oscar Valdez (9-0, 8 KOs) score a controversially concluded technical knockout victory over Dallas’ Samuel Sanchez (5-6-1, 1 KO), a limited opponent there for the beating, a beating that was concluded somewhat prematurely at 2:03 of round 3, much to Texas fans’ bemusement.

Local lightweight Ivan “Bam Bam” Najera acannot help himself, for there are two things in a prizefight he loves to do: Devour opponents’ right hands, and make an intense and intensely suspenseful match with every man he faces.

The fourth bout of Saturday’s eight-fight Alamodome card saw Najera (13-0, 9 KOs) win yet another firefight, this time with a fellow Texan, McAllen’s Angel Hernandez (8-2, 4 KOs), a man Najera dropped with a gorgeous counter left hook in round 1 and then got dropped by with a stiff right cross in round 2. And then after that, it was like every other Najera fight, with both men landing repetitively throughout, and Najera remaining undefeated by unanimous scores of 78-72, 77-73 and 77-73.

Tough and entertaining as he is, Najera continues down a path of making caveman-like spectacles that promise no longevity. He is aware of everything in and around a prizefighting ring, it seems – even taking time to blow a kiss to a ringside female journalist during Saturday’s fourth round – everything that is, except the glove an opponent wears on his right fist. Of right hands, Najera is seemingly oblivious, dropping his own left hand through every fight, and getting cracked continually by most every right thrown his way.

So long as he lasts, though, Najera is the stuff of which local attractions are made.

ALEX SAUCEDO VS. GILBERTO VENEGAS
Undefeated Oklahoma welterweight Alex Saucedo has stalled in his development. Once a darling of insiders, Saucedo has been moved perhaps too prudently and now finds himself getting hit far too hard by journeymen types who do not move backwards or go down when first struck.

Saturday’s second match saw Saucedo (13-0, 9 KOs) win most every minute of his six round match with Illinoisan Gilberto Venegas (12-13 4 KOs), and win a lopsided decision judges scored unanimously, 60-54, 60-54 and 59-55. But those scores tell nothing of the two or three flush Venegas left hands that snapped Saucedo’s head leftwards. This match was a step-up affair for Saucedo – and against a .500-fighter, that is something of an indictment.

UNDERCARD
Saturday’s third fight saw undefeated California welterweight Jose Zepeda (19-0, 17 KOs) go directly through overmatched South Carolinian Johnnie Edwards (15-7-1, 8 KOs), stopping him at 2:10 of round 2, in a fight that showed nothing but questionable merit.

The evening began with a competitive if light-hitting scrap between undefeated Houston featherweight Jerren Cochran (11-0, 4 KOs) and Mexican Aduato Gonzalez (11-10, 4 KOs), a match that saw Gonzalez dropped in round 5 and bleeding throughout though game to the end. Judges scored the match unanimously for Cochran: 59-54, 59-54 and 60-53.

Cochran, whose punches are accurate not hard, showed certain class but remained surprisingly susceptible to looping overhand rights thrown blindly by his limited opponent.

Opening bell rang on a cavernous Alamodome at 5:17 PM local time.

Omar Figueroa will not be able to defend his Lightweight title this Saturday against Ricardo Alvarez on the Canelo Alvarez – Alfredo Angulo Pay Per View card in Las Vegas due to a hand injury according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s the same thing he did to the hand in the last fight against (Nihito) Arakawa,” said Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez. “He injured it and when he woke up (Saturday) morning and it was still swollen and he was in a lot of pain. There was no way he could fight next week.”

“He really wanted to be on this big stage in Las Vegas on a Canelo undercard. This was the biggest fight of both of their careers. So now we have to regroup and eventually the fight will happen. It’s just not going to be next weekend. Now we have to determine when Omar is going to be back, but we have some (Showtime) dates in April and May.”

Terence Crawford won the WBO Lightweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision over reigning champion Ricky Burs in front of a pro-Burns crowd at the Scottish Exhibition Center in Glasgow, Scotland.

Crawford controlled the action with his boxing and won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112.

Crawford, 134 1/4 lbs of Omaha, NE becomes a world champion and is now 23-0. Burns, 134 1/4 lbs of Glasgow, SCOT is now 36-3-1.

2012 Olympic Gold Medal winner Anthony Joshua scored a 1st round stoppage over Hector Avila in a scheduled 6 round Heavyweight bout.

Joshua landed a perfect left hook that sent Avila down to the canvas holding his ear and was counted out at 2:14.

Joshua is now 5-0 with 5 knockouts. Avila is 22-16-1.

Former world title challenger took out John Simpson in round two of a scheduled 10 round Lightweight bout.

Murray, who was much bigger dropped Simpson three times in the 2nd frame and the bout was stopped at 2:58 of round two.

Murray is now 33-2 with 20 knockouts. Simpson is 25-11.

Scotty Cardle remained perfect by scoring a stoppage over Paul Appleby in the eighth and final scheduled round of their Lightweight bout.

It was a close fight with Cardle getting the better until he was all over Appleby in the final frame as he unleashed a fuselage of punches and dropped Appleby with a hard right. Appleby got to his feet but the fight was stopped at 1:17 of round eight.

Cardle is now 14-0 with 3 knockouts. Appleby is 19-6.

2012 Olympic Gold Medal winner Anthony Ogogo scored a 6 round decision over Greg O’Neill

Ogogo won by the referee’s score of 60-54 and is now 5-0. O’Neill is 3-2.

Martin J Ward scored a 4th round stoppage over Craig Woodruff in a scheduled 6 round Super Featherweight bout.

Ward is now 8-0 with 4 knockouts. Woodruff is now 5-3.

Genesis Servania scored a 12th round stoppage over former two-time champion Alexander Munoz in the final scheduled round of their Super Bantamweight bout at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Servania scored knockdowns in round’s 2, 9 and the final came from a left hook in the final frame. Munoz got to his feet but the fight was stopped at 2:22 of the final frame.

Servania, 121 lbs is 24-0 with 10 knockouts. Munoz, 122 lbs of Venezuela is 36-6.

Arthur Villanueva remained undefeated with a 10 round unanimous decision over Fernando Aguilar in a Bantamweight bout.

It was a close fight with Aguilar being cut from a head butt in round three on his cheek. He was later penalized in round nine for a low blow.

Villanueva, 116 lbs of Philippines won by scores of 96-91, 95-92 and 94-93 and is now 25-0. Aguilar, 116 lbs of Mexico City, MX is now 9-7.

SAN ANTONIO – What may well prove to be the most suspenseful moment of Saturday’s Chavez Jr.-Vera II card happened a day early when, framed by a clever prop, Mexico’s former middleweight titlist “Son of the Legend” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. made the super middleweight limit by a half pound. In so doing, Chavez demonstrated an often-absent professionalism, and returned the need to prove one’s professional merits to Austinite Bryan Vera’s corner.

Saturday’s fight, a rematch of Chavez’s controversial decision win in September, may well turn out to be a savage thrashing of a Texan in Texas. Unless Vera’s approach to defending has improved more than Chavez’s approach to weightloss, in the last five months, Vera is likely to need his corner’s help both early and late.

Early Friday afternoon at a makeshift stage outside the host venue Alamodome’s south entrance, an apparently motivated Chavez (47-1-1, 32 KOs) made weight easily, weighing 167 1/2 pounds and confirming, officially, an easy-make of the weight he foreshadowed hours earlier in a photo on his own Instagram page. Austin’s Bryan Vera (23-7, 14 KOs), who made an identical 167 1/2 and enjoyed a considerably larger organic following than Chavez – as opposed to a less-authentic contingent of Chavez fans waving overhead wooden noisemakers and cheering at a volume that belied their collective scarcity – looked on amusedly at a large placard the Chavez camp unveiled as Chavez took the scale.

“Voided” read the red stamp across the fake check that represented what $250,000 fine Chavez was contractually obligated to pay Vera in the event of Chavez’s missing weight, a thing he managed to do a few times before their first fight. “168 LBS. MAX” read the Memo portion in the bottom left corner of the fake check, and Chavez alternately smiled and grimaced ferociously as he enjoyed more of the good-natured banter that has marked the promotion of this rematch. If “Son of the Legend” and Vera share any feelings of mutual animosity, none was displayed Friday.

Less enthusiastic about his visit to the scale was co-main-event Mexican Orlando “Siri” Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs), the WBO featherweight titlist whose main role Saturday was to provide undefeated Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko (1-0, 1 KO) a world title in only his career’s second match. Salido will not be able to serve that role, exactly, as after marking 128 1/4 pounds, more than two pounds over the featherweight limit, and looking dry and gray as a result of his having tried, Salido did not make any effort to lose any further weight, losing his title officially about 30 hours before he could have it beaten out of him by Lomachenko.

Other notables making weight Friday were Houston’s former lightweight world champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (38-4, 19 KOs), who will fight Mexican Gerardo Robles (18-12, 9 KOs), and Oklahoma’s Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo (12-0, 9 KOs), who will in all probability decimate Illinois welterweight Gilberto Venegas (12-12, 4 KOs).

Finally, though, Saturday’s most probable decimation will come in its main event. While Chavez and Vera looked nearly comparable in size Friday afternoon, Chavez’s long frame is expected to add 15 or so pounds to it before opening bell rings on his rematch with Vera. Boxing is ever an unpredictable entity, but one hopes if Chavez is able to body Vera with his left shoulder early, cornering the Austinite and lashing him with overhand rights, Vera’s corner will not be stubborn or proud as its charge – and will stop the fight too early, rather than too late.

First bell is scheduled to ring at Alamodome at 5:00 PM CT. 15rounds.com will have full undercard coverage from ringside.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the gloves that Muhammad Ali used for his fight with Sonny Liston sold for $873,000 at an auction.

“These are the very gloves that Ali wore when he claimed his first heavyweight championship 50 years ago and, given the attention these received from media and fans all over the world, and the spectacular price they achieved, it’s clear that Ali is just as loved and respected today as he’s ever been,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports collectibles at Heritage Auctions.

“Only Jackie Robinson could compete with Ali for the title of most influential figure in American sports history,” Ivy said. “But not even Robinson can compete with Ali in terms of being beloved internationally. Ali is a figure that transcends boxing or America. He belongs to the entire world.”

Former world title challenger Marvin Sonsona scored an explosive 3rd round stoppage over former title holder Akafumi Shimoda in a scheduled 12 round Featherweight bout.

Sonsona landed a perfect uppercut that crumpled Shimoda to the canvas and he was counted out at 1:17 of round three.

Sonsona, of the Philippines is now 18-1-1 with 15 knockouts. Shimoda of Japan is now 28-4-2.

2012 Olympic Gold Medal winner Ryota Murata scored 4th round stoppage over Carlos Nascimento in a scheduled 8 round Middleweight bout.

The the time was 43 seconds of round 4 for Murata, of Japan and is now 3-0 with 3 knockouts. Bascimento, of Brazil is now 29-4.

Rex Tso remained perfect as he registered an 8th round stoppage over Mako Matsuyama in a scheduled 10 round Super Flyweight bout.

The time of the stoppage was 1:27 of round 8 for Tso, of China and is now 12-0 with 8 knockouts. Mastuyama, of Japan is now 7-8-1.

Miguel Vazquez defended his IBF Lightweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision over Denis Shafikov at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian in Macao, China.

Vazquez picked, pecked, got in, got out and held before Shafikov could mount any offense throughout the contest. Shaifov was cut on the forehead and over the right eye.

Vazquez of Mexico won by scores of 119-110, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 34-3. Shafikov, of Russia is 34-2.

Zou Shiming scored his 1st professional stoppage when he took out Youthong Kokietgym in round 7 of their scheduled 8 round Flyweight bout.

Shiming dropped Kokietgym three times in the 7th round which was much to the delight of his hometown fans and the fight was stopped at 2:09 of round 7.

Shiming, 111.75 lbs of China is 4-0 with 1 knockout. Kokietgym, 110.5 lbs of Bangkok, THI is now 15-4.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Hank Lundy scored a 9th round knockdown en route to a 10 round unanimous decision over Angelo Santana in a Lightweight bout at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lundy and Santana fought on even terms through the 1st four rounds but Lundy then took over the middle frames as he fought mostly out of the southpaw stance. In round nine, Lundy landed a hard right hand that sent Santana to the canvas. He was able to make it to the final bell but Lundy was well ahead due to his effective aggressiveness.

Lundy, 135 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 98-91 on all cards and is now 24-3-1. Santana, 134 lbs of Cuba is 14-2.

Good looking Jr. Welterweight prospect Amir Imam scored a devastating 4th round stoppage over Jared Robinson in a bout scheduled for four rounds.

Imam was boxing very well and then landed two jabs that was foloowed up by a crushing right to the jaw that knocked Robinson out of the ring. Robinson got back in the ring at 11 but the fight was waved off at 1:59 of round four.

Imam, 140 lbs of Albany, NY is now 14-0 with 13 knockouts. Robinson, 139.5 lbs of Sumter, SC is n04

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the much anticipated showdown between three-division world champion Miguel Cotto and currant Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is on for June 7th in Madison Square Garden.

The bout will be televised on HBO Pay Per View.

“It’s done. Ready to go,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef, Cotto’s promoter, told ESPN.com. “I think the energy and the passion associated with both these fighters and the passion that their countries have for them is going to make this an incredible event and an incredible fight, maybe unprecedented in my career, which is over 20 years.

“You’re talking about two icons in their countries, two guys who represent so much to their people, and now they are going to get in the ring and do it. You’re talking about two fighters who have electrified fans in the sport for many years, and now they will do it in the same ring together on the same night. It will be an incredible event.”

“I am very happy to be back in my second home, Madison Square Garden in New York, to once again make history in front of my fans,” Cotto said. “I will be ready and prepared to do whatever it takes to bring the WBC middleweight title of the world to my country of Puerto Rico.”

Said duBoef, “I’ve been with Miguel since 2000 and I have seen all of his accomplishments, and I believe this will be another landmark for him. He’s had a Hall of Fame career and will show it again with his ability to move from 140 pounds [where he started] to 160.”

“Cotto and Freddie are the ones who said that this is the fight they want,” duBoef said. “Freddie faced Martinez with [Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.]. He knows what they are facing.”

“It has been my dream to fight in the big room at Madison Square Garden, a place where many great fighters have showcased their talents.” Martinez said. “It is the biggest stage in the world and the world will be watching this fight.”

Said Lou DiBella, Martinez’s promoter, “Styles make fights, and both Sergio and Cotto will be looking for knockouts.”

“Sergio is a proud man, and he will use all of that stuff, all of the disrespect as motivation,” DiBella said. “He told me that when he knocks Cotto out, nobody is going to care what the fight was called.”

“There’s a lot of intrigue in the fight,” duBoef said. “There are a lot of what-ifs, what’s gonna happen? I think Miguel proved to all of us and, more importantly, he proved to himself that with Freddie Roach he is one of the top fighters in the world today and what he was lacking was his preparation. If it wasn’t for Freddie Roach, who changed his strategy and training, we may not have seen that Cotto against Delvin. I think we’ll see that same Miguel against Martinez.”

Manuel Avila scored a 10 round unanimous decision over Enrique Quevedo in Super Bantamweight bout at the Salinas Storm House in Salinas, California.

Avila dominated the action and scored a knockdown in the 10th round and won by scores of 97-92 on all cards.

Avila, 122 lbs of Fairfield, CA is now 14-0. Quevedo, 121.5 lbs of San Pedro, CA is now 15-7-1.

Paul Mendez scored a 3rd round knockout over Raul Casarez in a scheduled 10 round Middleweight bout.

Mendez landed a nice body shot that came back with a hard right hand that sent Casarez to the canvas and the fight was stopped 43 seconds into round 3.

Mendez, 160 lbs of Salinas, CA is now 15-2-2 with 7 knockouts. Casarez, 160 lbs of Edinburg, TX is 20-5.

Diego De La Hoya made it three for three in the knockout department as he stopped Sergio Najera in a scheduled four round Featherweight bout.

De La Hoya was in control from the start with an exception where Najera buckled De La Hoya with a left hook. De La Hoya dropped Najera with how own left hook. Najera got to his feet only to eat a barrage of punches and the fight was stopped at 2:14 of round one.

De La Hoya, 123 1/2 lbs of Mexicali, MX is now 3-0 with 3 knockouts. Najera, 123 1/2 lbs is now 6-13-2.

Andy Vences scored a stoppage after round three of his scheduled six round Lightweight bout with Dominic Coca when Coca could not continue with an injured left hand.

Vences dominated the bout and remained undefeated and is now 7-0 with 3 knockouts. Coca is now 8-7.

Former world title challenger Diego Magdaleno scored a 4th round stoppage over Jorge Pazos in a scheduled 10 round Lightweight fight at the C. Robert Lee Activity Center in Hawaiian Garden, California.

Magdaleno dropped Pazons in round three with a straight left. Magdaleno finished things in the next round by sending Pazos to the canvas for referee Jack Reiss’s ten count from a flurry of punches at 2:27 of round 4.

Magdaleno, 133 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is now 25-1 with 10 knockouts. Pazos, 132 1/2 lbs of Quamachil, MX is now 9-7.

2012 Olympic Silver Medal winner Esquiva Falcao won his professional debut as he stopped Joshua Robertson in round four of a scheduled six round Super Middelweight bout.

Robertson hung tough early but the southpaw Falcao started show his class in round three and in round four, Falcao bloodied Robertson’s nose and the biut was stopped after an accumulation of punches by referee Jerry Cantu at 2:36 of round four.

Falcao, 165 lbs of Vitoria, BRA is now 1-0 with 1 knockout. Robertson, 164 1/2 lbs of Lynchburg, VA is now 5-5.

Jesse Magdaleno scored a 5th round stoppage over Roberto Castaneda in a Featherweight bout scheduled for 8 rounds.

Magdaleno dropped Castaneda in round two from a hook to the side of the head. Moments later, the two had an exchange that saw Magdaleno get the better of and land another hook that sent Magdaleno down for a 2nd time in the round. In round five, the two went to war and Magdaleno landed a hard right hook that sent Castaneda down to a knee and the fight was stooped at 2:48 of round 5.

Magdaleno, 127 1/4 lbs is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Castaneda, 125 lbs is now 20-6-1.

Chris Algieri remained perfect and scored the biggest win of his career by scoring a 10 round unanimous decision over IBF number 6 ranked Jr. Welterweight Emanuel Taylor at the Paramount Theater in Huntington, New York.

Algieri was the busier man as he was urged on by his hometown fans. He was fighting just minuted from his Huntington home.

Algieri, 142 lbs of Huntington, NY won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 19-0. Taylor, 141 lbs of Edgewater, MD is now 17-2.

Former amateur standout Jeremy Bryant resurrected his career with an 8 round unanimous decision over Issouf Kinda in Welterweight bout.

The bout did not have much action with Kinda falling in after most of his shots. Kinda was cut in round four on his right cheek from a clash of heads.

Bryan, 141 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 and is now 17-3. Kinda, 141 ls of Bronx, NY is now 16-2.

Wendy Toussiant remained perfect by scoring a 4 round unanimous decision over Anthony Gangemi in a Welterweight bout.

Toussiant of Huntington, NY won by scores of 39-37 twice and 38-38 and is now 4-0. Gangemi is now 4-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch will rematch George Groves after the two had a controversial fight on November 23rd that saw Froch score a 9th round stoppage. The fight was halted prematurely by most accounts.

“I’m pleased to finally get my next fight confirmed,” Froch said. “We had a number of options but ultimately I listened to the public and gave them what they wanted. I expect this to be one of the biggest fights the country [of England] has ever seen.

“It’s been a difficult period for me following the first fight. I’ve had to listen to his endless whining and appeals when ultimately the referee did him perhaps the biggest favor possible and saved him from a devastating knockout, whilst denying me the right of a clinical finish and a great comeback victory.”

“I feel blessed that I am getting this fantastic opportunity to participate in what could be Britain’s biggest-ever boxing match,” Groves said. “I am still shocked that Froch has agreed to take the fight. I respect him for his bravery. Now I am preparing to get in the greatest physical and mental shape possible to destroy Froch in what can only be a three-round fight. Britain will have its own Hagler-Hearns to talk about for years to come. I am counting down the days until I’m world super middleweight champion.”

“I was poor in the first fight,” Froch said. “I didn’t give him the respect as a fighter and lacked the drive that I had against Lucian Bute and Mikkel Kessler. Well, now he has my attention. But ultimately it’s not going to get any better for George from here. He threw the kitchen sink at me that night and I still found a way back in the fight to win. I love to fight and I can’t wait to get back in there and do a proper job in him.”

“Quite simply, I believe this is the biggest fight in British boxing history,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Taking away the controversy from their first encounter, it was one of the most epic and exhilarating fights I have ever witnessed and I’m delighted the public are going to get a chance to see it all again. The unanswered questions from the first fight may now be answered. Get ready for a whirlwind of a build-up and an event and fight for the ages.”

SAN ANTONIO – Albuquerque welterweight Fidel Maldonado has the bling – sparkly purple trunks, gold trimmed, matching tights and safety-green boots – and occasional flashes of power, but ultimately a Monday Night Boxing main event in a Cowboys Dancehall bullring will likely mark the peak of his televised accomplishments.

If that is the case, Maldonado’s (18-2, 15 KOs) corner stoppage of Puerto Rican John Nater (13-5, 10 KOs), effectively a replacement for the man who replaced Maldonado’s original opponent, Steve “Two Pound” Forbes, should lead the highlight reel of Maldonado’s career, with Monday’s conclusion – referee Jon Schorle stopping the match before the fifth round of a Leija-Battah Promotions main event – being the most of what Maldonado can ask for.

After some foul-filled opening moments Monday, Maldonado clinched Nater then brought savagery his way in round 3, whupping the Puerto Rican in clinches and catching him with a surprisingly effective left-cross counter, thrown from the New Mexican’s southpaw stance, in the round’s final minute. The fourth saw more of the same, including a second trip to the blue mat for Nater, whose corner sagaciously concluded matters before any more damage might be done.

Maldonado appears three parts glittery special effects for every one part fighting prowess, but with his promoter needing to fill Monday night slots, there’s no reason to think he’ll not get a few more moments on Fox Sports 1.

ERROL SPENCE VS. PETER OLOUCH
While the rest of his 2012 Olympic teammates seemingly have stagnated in the professional ranks, Texas welterweight Errol Spence (11-0, 9 KOs) has continued to improve, throwing his punches with greater leverage, bettering his footwork and hitting to hurt, not merely score points. African Peter Olouch (12-7-2, 6 KOs) found out all about Spence’s capacity to hurt, in Monday’s co-main event, getting knocked cold at 1:39 of round 4.

Spence attacked Olouch from the match’s opening round, using well-leveraged punches thrown from his southpaw stance to concuss the lanky African with most each blow that landed. After sending Olouch to his knees in the first minute of the fourth, Spence finished the job with a left hybrid cross-uppercut, surprising as it was concussing for being so concussing. Olouch dropped, and no 10-count was needed, though assistance was needed for Olouch, about three minutes’ worth, before the African regained his feet and left the ring of his own power.

TERRELL GAUSHA VS. GEORGE SOSA
Cleveland middleweight and former U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (13-2, 6 KOs) fought in Monday’s first televised match and looked decisively mediocre while winning a one-sided decision over Pennsylvania journeyman boxer George Sosa (13-6, 13 KOs).

After an opening few rounds in which Gausha did not succeed at imposing or defending himself, in the fourth, after being buckled by Sosa’s aggression more than his accurate punching, Gausha landed a number of stout punches, too, taking advantage of a suddenly squeamish Sosa. The Pennsylvanian,-though, was squeamish for a reason: His left glove had slipped off his fist and had to be refitted and retaped.

Once the men returned to even terms, Gausha was more sound than fury, yelping as he threw power punches that affected Sosa only slowly, and the fight devolved into an attritional affair with Gausha hurling inaccurate punches that occasionally landed, and Sosa looking forward exclusively to the final bell.

Official scores all went to Gausha: 80-72, 80-72 and 79-73.

Gausha appears to have increased his muscle mass and perhaps improved his conditioning, but the fact remains he does not appear to have improved as a prizefighter. He has eschewed the activity he employed effectively in the amateurs to load-up on power punches as a pro. It is not an effective tack for him to have taken, as he lacks the speed and accuracy to deploy such power.

Undefeated since turning professional or otherwise, Terrell Gausha fights more amateurishly today than he did as an amateur.

TRAVELL MAZION VS. JUSTO VALLECILLO
Before that, Austin junior welterweight Travell “Black Magic” Mazion (7-0, 6 KOs), a student of noted trainer Ann Wolfe’s and a man who, standing over six feet tall and weighing round 140 pounds, looks like a young, inexperienced, and perhaps anorexic Thomas Hearns, made decisive work of local opponent Justo Vallecillo (6-16, 3 KOs), stopping the wholly overmatched Texan with a trio of righthands at 1:37 of round 3.

Immediately following Mazion’s victory, he and trainer Wolfe danced a series of celebratory verses in the center of the ring, choosing to celebrate Monday evening before setting to work on Mazion’s habit of floating his chin in retreat, one hopes, on Tuesday morning.

JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ VS. JESUS GARZA
Monday’s fifth match saw local undefeated junior lightweight Joseph “Texas Mongoose” Rodriguez (5-0, 2 KOs) beat in rugged style fellow Texan Jesus Garza (2-4-1), of Dallas, by official scores of 40-36, 40-36 and 40-35. Rodriguez may not punch with particular ferocity, but he brings physicality and activity enough, along with a nifty tendency to throw a pivoted right uppercut when inside, to make fellow San Antonians cheer him without fear of disappointment.

Attendance was stellar in Cowboys Dancehall bullring for a Monday night.

Late replacement Roberto Garcia scored a 10 round split decision over Norberto Gonzalez in a Middleweight bout at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

Each fighter took a scorecard 95-94 while Garcia won the deciding card at 96-93.

Garcia of Texas is now 34-3. Gonzalez of Mexico is now 20-3.

Kamil Laszczyk scored an eight round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Daniel Diaz in a Featherweight bout.

Laszczyk controlled most of the fight as he dropped Diaz at the end of the 1st round. Diaz had some brief moments with the 4th round being his best frame.

Laszczyk, 125 lbs of New Jersey via Poland won by scores of 79-72 twice and 78-73 and is now 16-0. Diaz, 125 lbs of Nicaragua is now 20-6-1.

18-year old prospect Erickson Lubin scored a stoppage after the 1st round when Roberto Acevedo did not come out for the 2nd round.

Lubin won the 1st round but he did not seem to be in any real danger. He complained of a hand injury and the fight was stopped.

Lubin, 147 lbs of Orlando, FL is 3-0 with 3 knockouts. Acevedo of Puerto Rico is now 13-13-3.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former two-division world champion Ricardo Mayorga has been pulled off a February 21st card in Rhode Island due to a promotional dispute with Don King.

“Your actions constitute a knowing, intentional and unjustified tortious interference with the agreement,” King attorney Cornelius “Carl” Lewis wrote to Burchfield in the letter, which was obtained by ESPN.com. “As such and contracts Mayorga has entered into with or for you are void. My client has not and does not give you permission to negotiate on behalf of Mayorga or engage him, directly or indirectly, in any professional fights. You are hearby noticed to immediately cease and desist your actions and to have no further communication and/or business dealings of any kind on behalf of Mayorga.”

“Don’s got some answering to do in court,” said Mayorga’s manager Ivaylo Gotzev told ESPN.com. “The contract is over, according to the contracts I’ve seen. Now it’s up to the courts to see who is right or wrong. You can’t prey on expired contracts. Ricardo Mayorga never retired. The contract ran out. But everything happens for a reason. It’s time for Don to deal with the repercussions of his actions. Mayorga will continue with his career but Don has caused monetary damages and is stopping this man from working and from making a living to support his family.

“Don doesn’t even promote shows anymore. All he does is kill careers. He signs guys and doesn’t promote fights or fighters anymore. He doesn’t live up to his part of the bargain. He has had many breaches of the contract and yet he still claims Mayorga has a deal with him, even though it expired.”

Oswaldo Novoa scored a 5th round stoppage to win the WBA Stawweight title in China.

Featherweight Oacar Gonzalez (23-3, 14 KO’s) has died just two days after being stopped by Jesus Galica in a fight in Mexico according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“These things happen in boxing and nobody expects them to happen in the ring,” Jose “Chepo” Reynoso of Canelo Promotions, which put on the card, told ESPN.com in a statement translated into English. “Even though we weren’t there at the fight we know Oscar did receive the best treatment at the hospital before and after his death. Our lawyer, Anuar Alvarado, took care of the situation and we know we did our best on his behalf.”