According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, World Heavyweight champions Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin will meet on October 5th in Moscow.

“I’m very happy that this fight is finally made. The fans around the world are looking forward to this extravaganza between two Olympic champions,” said Klitschko, the 1996 super heavyweight gold medalist for Ukraine. “This is the best fight in the heavyweight division and I’m thrilled that it will be staged in Moscow, where many Russian and Ukrainian fans have a chance to fill the arena. The atmosphere is going to be thrilling.”

“We had long and intense negotiations but both sides were willing to find an agreement and now we can together present the fans around the world one of the best fights that can be made,” said Bernd Boente, who manages Klitschko. “We were all waiting for this bout a long time but finally, here we go. Two gold medal winners, two heavyweight champions, two great athletes — a dream fight.”

Hrunov and business partner Andrej Ryabinsky worked for more than a month to get the terms ironed out but they are happy to finally have the fight set.

“A lot of time and effort went into this, but now finer details have been dealt with, agreements are signed and we are looking forward to October and the historic fight between these titans of boxing,” Ryabinsky said. “We would like to thank our German partners for their cooperation and joint efforts.”

IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith suffered a cut over his right eye that forced the postponement of his July 19th mandatory defense with Carlos Molina according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I suffered an injury [Saturday], a minor setback in my preparation to face off against Molina,” Smith wrote on his Facebook page. “I want to make sure I am properly prepared and in the best form possible to fight him. Not only does he deserve to fight me at my best, but also my family, friends and training team deserve to have me fight at 100 percent.

“It’s very hard to postpone after we have had such a great camp, but the sport of boxing and the fans deserve to watch Molina and I fight at our peak fitness levels, and I just can’t provide that with the untimely injury. With that said, I will be postponing our July 19th fight in order to heal from a cut on my eye.”

“We are very disappointed. Carlos was looking forward to the fight,” Luis DeCubas Sr., Molina’s adviser, told ESPN.com. “We’ll reschedule the fight and Carlos will be ready to go. He is always training. We were ready to go on July 19, but an injury is an injury.”

The Showtime televised show will go on at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas featuring undefeated Super Middleweight Badou Jack taking on Farah Ennis and Lightweight’s Mickey Bey battling former world title challenger John Molina Jr.

The question coming into tonight’s middleweight championship fight between Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin and Matthew Macklin was a simple one: Can Golovkin really be THAT good? Before the first bell, Golovkin could alread lay claim to having the highest KO percentage among active world champions. He also had 7 title defenses, all of them by KO, to lend credibility to his glossy record. But Golovkin has looked so good and been so outstanding in all of his previous fights, that his fight tonight against Macklin took on a different importance. It was not simply about winning, but about winning with such overwhelming dominance that hype could finally be replaced with a true affirmation of talent. And Matthew Macklin provided the perfect measuring stick for just how much of Golovkin’s talent was truly hype, and how much reality. Although not many could be expected to pick Macklin to win, his fights again Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez were enough to make even the most ardent Golovkin supporter feel that perhaps a bit of the “Triple G” mystique could be lost at the end of the night. Thankfully for those of us who love boxing, Golovkin’s performance against Macklin laid to rest any speculation that he’s merely another good fighter. Golovkin is truly unstoppable. He tore through Matthew Macklin with a serene ferocity that was truly remarkable to watch. Not for a moment did he ever look anything but calm; yet all the while he threw punches that were calculatedly brutal. It’s not often that someone watching a prize fight can visibly see fear in either fighter, but Macklin looked legitimately afraid after the first minute of the fight. Golovkin patiently stalked him and unleashed perfectly placed and perfectly leveraged shots to the body and head whenever he was in range. After less than one round, it was apparent the fight was over. Macklin was never truly in the fight and about a minute into the third, Golovkin put two hard shots upstairs then sunk a pinpoint left hook into Macklin’s liver. The shot doubled Macklin over and it would be a full two minutes before he got up off of the canvas. It was a shockingly definitive knockout of a very good fighter and exactly what Golovkin was looking for. He now stands at 27-0 (24 KOs) and should likely be considered the best middleweight in the world. Only a showdown with Sergio Martinez now stands between Golovkin and boxing stardom. For Macklin (now 29-5 20KOs), his career is still very much alive and well. He can still give any elite fighter (not named Gennady Golovkin) a real test and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Felix Sturm in a rematch in the near future. Macklin is truly a good fighter. But after tonight, Golovkin is truly great.

“My perfect position for that body shot,” Golovkin commented. “I want this fight (vs. Sergio Martinez). I felt great in the ring, he never hurt me. It was an easy fight for me. I want to fight against soon. Any top fighter, any champion, any belt holder….anywhere.”

“He’s the best I ever fought,” a game Macklin said. “He never really let me get started. It was a great shot he landed, the left hook to the body is personally one of my favorites. I tip my hat to him; he’s a great champion. He has clubbing, solid power and you can feel the weight of every punch he throws.”

In the HBO co-feature, up and coming super middleweight Thomas Oosthuizen got much more than he expected out of the unbeaten but unheralded Brandon Gonzalez. The fight started with Oosthuizen working his southpaw jab from the outside, but Gonzalez used his quicker feet to slip into position and connect with straight right hands. Gonzalez utilized this strategy to good effect through the first 5 rounds, but Oosthuizen began to find a home for his straight left in round 6. Gonzalez picked back up in round 7, landing some hard shots and gaining back a bit of momentum; but rounds 8-10 were all Oosthuizen. Gonzalez (who was in his first 10 round fight) was visibly tired throughout the last 3 rounds and was no longer able to slip into position to punch. He also had lost enough movement to catch some hard punches from Oosthuizen and had to empty his tank over the last round to stay in the fight. At the end, none of the judges agreed and handed in scores of 98-92 for Gonzalez, 96-94 for Oosthuizen and 95-95 a draw. The resulting split draw allowed both fighters to remain unbeaten: Gonzalez at 17-0-2 10KOs and Oosthuizen at 23-0-2 13KOs.

“I felt sluggish the first two rounds and then I found my rhythm. I thought I won the fight. I’d give him an immediate rematch if he wanted. I want to come back to fight in America soon and I want to fight Mikkel Kessler.”

“I feel good,” Gonzales remarked. “I absolutely won the fight. I landed the harder punches and out-boxed him. I did everything I had to do, unfortunately, the judges didn’t think so. We’ll go back to the drawing board and figure out where to go from there.”

The HBO opener between junior middleweights Willie Nelson and Luciano Cuello was a fight that should probably be shown to anyone new to boxing as an example of how a fight is scored. Nelson was able to win enough rounds to easily take the fight; but was beat up in almost every one of the rounds he lost. Rounds 3, 7 and 10 were rounds in which Cuello landed hard shots that had Nelson staggered on a number of occasions. Nelson won almost all of the others with a higher work rate and put enough rounds in the bank to be assured a victory despite a disastrous 10th round in which he was badly hurt by a Cuello uppercut. Nelson hung on to survive to the bell and took a unanimous decision by scores of 97-93 (twice) and 96-94. He improves to 21-1-1 12KOS while Cuello slips to 32-3 15KOs.

“I feel great,” Nelson said after making his HBO debut. “He’s tougher than I thought but I still think I won convincingly. The cuts (both eyes) bothered me but I fought through it. I want to fight all the top 154-pound fighters and this was another step in that direction.”

Vicente Mosquera scored a seventh round stoppage over late replacement Cosme Rovera in a Jr. Welterweight bout at the Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida.

Rivera was summoned to the fight after former world champion Joan Guzaman weighed in a staggering eight pounds over the limit for what was supposed to be a WBA Interim World title bout.

Mosquera, who will compete for the title in his next bout is now 33-2-1 with 18 knockouts. Rivera is 35-17-3.

Ariel Vega and Jose Rodriguez fought to a majority draw in a Super Flyweight bout.

Vega is now 1-0-1. Rordriguez is 0-1-1.

Daniel Diaz dropped former world title challenger two times en route to a ten round unanimous decision in a Super Featherweight bout at the WinStar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

The two knockdowns proved to be the difference as Diaz, 127 3/4 lbs of Managua, Nicaragua won by scores of 96-92, 96-92 and 95-93 and is now 20-5-1. Marroquin, 129 1/4 lbs of Dallas, TX is now 24-2.

Ivan Najera remained undefeated as he scored a six round unanimous decision over Alexander Lopez.

Scores were 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56 for Najera, 132 3/4 lbs and is now 11-0. Lopez, 132 1/2 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is now 6-5.

2012 U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez scored a first round stoppage over Christopher Williams in a scheduled four round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Ramirez landed a big flurry that had Williams flying all over the ring and referee Jay Nady stopped the bout just ninety seconds into the fight.

Ramirez, 141 1/4 lbs of Avenel, CA is now 4-0 with 3 knockouts. Williams, 139 lbs of Barranquitas, PR is now 1-2,

Yazmin Rivas made the fifth defense of the Female IBF Bantamweight title with a ten round unanimous decision over Kimika Miyoshi in Mexico.

Scores were 100-90 on all cards for Rivas of Torreon, Mexico and is now 28-7. Miyoshi Kawasaki, Japan is now 8-6-1

Friday the Nevada State Athletic Commission reduced the fine to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. from $900,000 to $100,000 and suspended and fined J’Leon Love for banned substance infractions according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

On a 4-0 vote, the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Friday lowered the massive fine it handed out to Chavez after he tested positive for marijuana following his unanimous decision loss to middleweight champion Sergio Martinez on Sept. 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

In another decision made at Friday’s commission meeting, the panel voted 4-0 to suspend middleweight prospect J’Leon Love of Detroit for six months and fine him $10,000 of his $100,000 purse for a positive drug test. He must also submit a clean urine test before he can fight in Nevada again.

Love, who badly struggled to make the 160-pound weight limit, tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, which is often used to assist in weight loss, following his controversial 10-round decision win against Gabriel Rosado on May 4 on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Robert Guerrero undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

“I’m the heart of my family,” Love told the commission. “If I fall apart, they fall apart.”

The California State Athletic Commission sided with promoter Dan Goossen in his dispute filed by world Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’ve enjoyed a very honorable and successful relationship with Andre Ward and I can only hope having to go through this whole legal process will only strengthen our relationship moving forward,” Goossen said. “I’ve said for years that he had the talent — both in and out of the ring — possessed by the other greats before him such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and, of course, Floyd Mayweather.

“Now I look forward to getting back to promoting Andre’s next bout, as well as helping him become the No. 1 fighter in the sport.”

“I want to thank the California State Athletic Commission and the Attorney General’s office for protecting not only their licensed boxers, but their licensed promoters as well,” Goossen said.

“I believe I am in the prime of my professional boxing career,” Ward said before the ruling. “Actions of a California licensed promoter (Goossen) are preventing me from defending my title and pursuing my profession. A boxer has a limited timeframe to earn his livelihood, provide for his family and, let alone, perform at a championship caliber level. Goossen’s actions leave me with the possibility of not stepping in to the ring at all in 2013.”

“It is absolutely crazy to me that this man (Goossen) would stand in the way of Andre’s boxing career and his next title defense, and not respect Andre’s request that his co-promoter and manager be part of those discussions,” said Ward’s manager James Prince. “Understandably, HBO did not want to get in the middle of any dispute between Andre’s co-promoters or Andre and Goossen, but for this man to refuse to attend a meeting because he wanted to be the only one talking with HBO and have sole control over Andre’s career is flat out wrong.

“There are multiple reasons to terminate the promotional agreement with Goossen and we are following proper procedures with our sole objective of always doing what is in the best interests of Andre Ward.”

Said Ward, “Goossen had various opportunities to meet with HBO and to interact with my manager. He refused and otherwise did not respond to my team regarding these important business dealings concerning my career.”

Former WBC Super Welterweight champion Sergio Mora resurrected his career with ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Grzegorz Proksa in a Middleweight bout at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Surprisingly it was Mora who landed the harder punches as well as dictating the pace against Proksa who looked befuddled at times. Mora was very effective with the lead right and fought more aggressively than he has showed in previous fights. Maybe that was the effect of dropping two close decisions to number-one ranked Brian Vera. Whatever the case may be, Mora looked good as he caused swelling under the right eye of Proksa, who looked like he never was comfortable in the bout.

Mora of Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 98-92, 96-94 and 96-94 and is now 24-2-2. Proksa of Poland is now 29-3.

Patrick Tiexiera remained perfect with a ten round unanimous decision over spoiler Marcus Willis in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Tiexeira landed the harder blows and was more active. He rocked Willis several times and had him wobbled in round three. Willis landed some good shots but it was few and far between against the hard charging Tiexeira, who fought most of the fight with a cut over his left eye.

Tiexiera, 154 lbs of Sao Paulo, Brazil won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 20-0. Willis, 154.2 lbs of Fort Myers, FL is now 13-3-2.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the September 14th mega fight between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez will shatter the all-time records for gate receipts for a prize fight.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com the fight will generate a minimum of $18,647,000 in ticket sales and “it could go up to a little shy of $19 million depending on the number of comps that are given out. It’s going to be the record. The MGM is calculating and has to do the ticket settlement, but it will definitely be the record.”

“Everything is gigantic with this fight,” Schaefer said from Atlanta, where he was Thursday for stop No. 5 on an 11-city media tour to promote the fight. “Two months out and you can say within 2 percent what the gate is. The more comps, the less the gross will be but the casino gets a certain number of comps, the fighters get a certain number of comps, Showtime and Showtime Pay-Per-View get some, the sponsors get some. I have to go through the list. The gate number will go up from where we are at now and it’s already the record. I don’t want to have too many comps.”

Said Mayweather: “This sellout doesn’t surprise me because this is what happens when the best fights the best. I want to thank all the fans for their support. They’re going to see a hell of a show on Sept. 14.”

Schaefer said the fight also has set the record for a guarantee on national closed circuit revenue, which is derived from people who pay to watch the fight at bars and restaurants. He said De La Hoya-Mayweather generated a record $3 million guarantee and that the Mayweather-Alvarez closed-circuit rights went for $4 million.

Although Schaefer declined to disclose the exact figure, he said the Mexican television rights for Mayweather-Alvarez that went to Televisa brought “four times as much as they did for De La Hoya-Mayweather. That just shows you how big Canelo is in Mexico.”

“These lofty records, you have to wonder if they will ever be broken. I am always hopeful because records are here to be broken,” said Schaefer, who will be in Miami for stop No. 6 on the media tour. “The gate record has fallen. The closed-circuit record has fallen for the guarantee. I’m really proud of what we have accomplished as a company to set the record and then break the record. I’m going to try to break it again. That’s what motivates me. It shows how healthy the sport is.”

“I’m not going to say the pay-per-view record is going to fall but the more I see the turnout at these tour stops and the passion I have seen day after day from the fans, the more I think we have a shot,” he said.

Undefeated knockout artist Depntay Wilder will take on former WBO Heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich on August 9th on Showtime according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“This is a great test getting in the ring with an experienced fighter,” said Wilder;s promoter Richard Schaefer. “[Liakhovich] is a former champion and he has a lot of experience. He’s clearly the most experienced fighter Deontay will have fought. But we feel he’s ready. It’s time to unleash the beast.”

“This kind of fight is a step in the right direction for Deontay,” said Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez, who made the fight. “With heavyweights it’s a very long process but now Deontay is fighting a former world champion and a guy that’s tough. He’s tough and dangerous and the kind of guy Deontay needs to fight, a guy with experience who will fight back.

“He took a rest after the fight with Jennings,” Tony Cardinale, Liakhovich’s attorney told ESPN.com. “He was really disappointed in how he performed. He believed he took the kid too easy. He was convinced this guy had no experience and wouldn’t be a problem and he was a problem. Sergei wasn’t ready for that kind of fight.

“So he took some time off and then decided he didn’t want to stop fighting. He thinks the conditions of the weight class are such that with one big win anyone is in the mix, and this is his one big fight. He wins this fight and he’s back in the mix and ready for a shot at one of the [champion] Klitschko brothers. You win one good fight on television and hopefully you get a shot at one of them. Sergei is a tough guy and we expect Wilder will bring his ‘A’ game and Sergei brings his ‘A-plus’ game. We are signed, sealed and delivered.”

BROOKLYN—Adrien Broner became a three-division world champion as he won the WBA Welterweight title with a 12 round split decision over Paulie Malignaggi at the Barclays Center

Malignaggi came out landing the jab with a accuracy and volume. The was a solid strategy over the first two rounds. At the end of round two. Broner had a big round three as rocked Malignaggi with a hard left hook and then followed up with a hard combination at the end of the round. Malignaggi kept to a solid game plan as he played to his strengths by throwing five and six punches, focusing on the body in attempt to slow the power punching Broner..

Over the second half of the fight Broner landed some hard shots that bounced off the face of Malignaggi but the two-time champion kept on coming. Broner landed the more descriptive punches of note and there were alot of them but Malignaggi continued to throw a great volume of punches.

Broner took two cards 117-111, 115-113 and Malignaggi took a third card 115-113.

Broner is now 27-0. Malignaggi is now 32-5.

“Paulie fought exactly how I thought he was going to,” said Broner. “He was shadow boxing. My next opponent, I’m going to let you all pick. I’m good. I beat Paulie. I left with his belt.”

“I think I worked him. This was a close fight,” Malignaggi said after the fight. “The fight could have went either way. I don’t think he did enough to take the belt from the champion.”

Seth Mitchell drew even with Jonathon Banks by winning a boring 12 round decision that had little action and a lot of booing from the crowd

After the first five-plus minuted provided nothing but a lot of booing from the crowd, Mitchell landed a little uppercut that sent Banks to the canvas. In round three, Banks turned the tables as he rocked Mitchell on several occasions that had Mitchell hurt and holding on.

Not much happened for the final nine rounds. Mitchell would put out the jab. Banks would offer little in return with a lot of clutching and grabbing in between.

Mitchell of Brandywyne, MD won by scores of 117-109; 115-112 and 114-112 and is now 26-1-1. Banks of Detroit is now 29-2-1.

Sakio Bika won the vacant WBC Super Middleweight championship with a 12 round thrilling majority decision over Marco Antonio Periban

The first few rounds were highlighted by Bika working behind the double jab and firing a right hand behind. Bika was a little more active over the first half of the fight. With each passing round the action picked up incriminately.

Perican came out im round seven with more vigor. In round eight, Bika unintentionally headbutted Periban twice. After the fight was resumed, a wild exchange incurred with Periban getting the better of the exchanges. Periban started being a little more consistent in round’s right through ten. The two battled tooth and nail down the stretch with the 12th being nothing short of a war. Both guys were rocked several times much to the delight of the Barclays Center crowd.

Bika of Sydney, Australia won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114 and is now 32-5-2. Periban of Mexico City is 20-1.

After the fight, Bika said, “I expected the fight to go the distance. He was tough, very tough. It was a great fight and I gave my heart and soul. I worked hard and I dedicated myself to this fight. I want to fight the best. I’ll fight Andre Ward. I’ll fight anyone.”

Warren dropped Fuentas twice in round one and once in round two and the fight was stopped AT 1:04 of round two.

Warren of Cincinnati, OH is 13-0 with 3 knockouts. Fuentes of Bayamon, PR is 5-2.

Julian Williams scored the biggest win of his career as he scored an eight round unanimous decision over former world champion Joachim Alcine in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In round one, Williams landed a huge barrage that was culminated by a left hook that sent Alcine to the canvas. Williams continued the assault as another big flurry sent the former champion down at the end of the frame. Williams drilled Alcine with a perfet left hook to start the the fifth that sent him down for a third time.

In round seven, Alcine showed signs of life by working the body and then a nice three punch combination to the head. Alcine continued to get the better of the action in round’s seven and eight but Williams took the early rounds plus the three knockdowns were enough to get the nod by scores of 77-72 on all cards.

Williams of Philadelphia is now 13-0-1. Alcine of Haiti is now 33-5-1.

2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne needed just over one round in taking Ricardo Campillo in a Light Heavyweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Browne dropped Campillo in round one from hard left hand and then battered him in round two before dumping him on the canvas. The fight was stopped by Campillo’s corner just one minute imto round two.

Browne of Staten Island, NY is now 5-0 with all wins coming early. Campillo of Obregon, MX is now 7-7-1.

Good looking undefeated Jr. Featherweight Juan Dominguez pummeled Bradley Patraw in just ninety-six seconds of their scheduled eight round bout.

Dominguez was all over and dropped Patraw and the fight was stopped.

Dominguez of Brooklyn is now `15-0 with 11 knockouts. Patraw of St. Paul, MN is now 9-6.

Frank Galarza remained undefeated by scoring a fourth round stoppage over Ramon Barber in a scheduled six round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Barber landed a couple of hard shots early that shook Glarza. After a low blow suffered by Barber in round three, they exchanged toe to toe warfare. Galarza stated landing hard shots on the ropes. Galarza landed a big right hand at the bell.

In round four, Galarza featured a relentless body attack that began to wear down Barber and finally dropped him and referee Earl Brown stopped the bout at 1:54 of round four

Galarza of Brooklyn is now 10-0-2 with six knockouts. Barber of Wichita, KS is 4-5.

Robert Easter Jr. scored a third round stoppage over Antoine Knight in a scheduled six round Lightweight fight.

Easter dropped Knight in round two from a hard right hand. He continued to batter Knight until the bout was stopped at 1:46 of round three.

Easter of Toledo, OH is now 5-0 with 5 knockouts. Knight of Merriville, IN is now 2-4.

2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring scored a four round unanimous decision over Calvin Smith in a Lightweight bout.

Scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 40-35 for Herring of Coram, NY and is now 4-0. Smith of Prichard, AL is now 2-4.

Barclays Center was buzzing with celebrities including pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko and his girlfriend, actress Hayden Panettiere, Super Lightweight Champion Danny Garcia, Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin and former World Champion Zab Judah.
Former three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’Shee Warren scored a second round beatdown over Jovany Fuentes in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

Rances Barthelemy scored a one punch body shot knockout over Fahsi Sakkreen in round two of a scheduled twelve round Jr. Lightweight bout.

Barthelemy landed an uppercut to the body that sent Sakkreen down to the canvas for the ten count and the fight was stopped at 1:26 of round two.

Barthelemy of Miami via Cuba is now 19-0. Sakreen of Thailand is now 39-4-1.

Caleb Truax stopped Donovan George in round six of their scheduled ten round Middleweight bout.

Truax dominated the bout from the first round on as he landed a plethora of right hands in round one that rocked George back to the ropes. The dominance continued throughout as Truax landed mostly right hands but began to work the body in round three.

In round six, Truax landed a huge flurry on the ropes that was culminated by a crushing right hand that sent George to the canvas and the fight was stopped after the referee saw that George was not getting up and stopped it after the count reached seven.

Truazx, 162 lbs of Minnesota is now 22-1-1 with 13 knockouts. George, 161.8 lbs of Chicago is now 24-4.

Kenn Glenn scored a four round unanimous decision over Gavin Quinn in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Glenn, 158.8 lbs of Minneapolis, MN and is now 3-0. Quinn, 154 lbs is now 1-1.

Matthew Villanueva scored a ten round unanimous decision over Julian Rivera in a Super Flyweight bout in Mexico City.

Scores were 98-92, 98-92 and 96-94 for Villanueva and is now 10-0-1. Rivera is now 12-3-1.

IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith will make the 1st defense of his crown on July 19th at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas and will be televised on Showtime according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“This is the homecoming I’ve been waiting for my entire career and there is no way that Carlos Molina is leaving Las Vegas with my championship belt,” Smith said. “He’s a tough fighter and a guy no one wants to fight, but that’s why I have no problem fighting him in my first title defense. I’m here to fight the best and show that I’m a true champion.”

“I respect Ishe Smith for stepping up and taking this fight, because not many world champions would,” said Molina, a top contender who has had a hard time getting top opponents to face him. “That being said, this is my opportunity to win the title and it may not come around again, so I have to make the most of it and I will.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBO Light Hevyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will defend the crown against hard punching Sergey Kovalev in a battle of Undefeated fighters on August 17th in Cardiff, Wales and will be televised by HBO>

Cleverly’s sixth title defense will be part of an HBO split-site tripleheader headlined by middleweight titlist Daniel Geale (29-1, 15 KOs) of Australia defending against England’s Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KOs) at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. Also on the Atlantic City portion of the broadcast is likely to be junior featherweight titlist Jonathan Romero (23-0, 12 KOs) of Colombia in a defense against former bantamweight titleholder Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (29-4, 22 KOs) of Ghana.

“Their styles are such that the fight has to be nonstop action from the first bell,” said Main Events chief executive Kathy Duva, who promotes Kovalev. “Cleverly is a very busy fighter. Kovalev starts throwing bombs with both hands as soon as he reaches the center of the ring.

“The arena should be sold out, and we know how vocal crowds are in the U.K. That will just add to the excitement. (Hall of Fame promoter and matchmaker) Russell Peltz taught me to always ask myself, ‘Would I want to watch this fight before making a match?’ The answer in this case is a resounding yes.”

“I’m over the moon that Kovalev has confirmed that he’s fighting me,” Cleverly said. “I’ve wanted Kovalev all along, and I spoke to my promoter, Frank Warren, and said that this is the guy I want to fight. He’s making big waves in America and he’s a fighter that people know. His knockouts are frightening to watch, but that’s when I perform to my best, when the adrenalin is flowing and the odds are stacked against me.

“This will be Kovalev’s thunder against my lightning, and he is going to get a serious shock.”

“My goal has always been to win the world title as soon as possible,” Kovalev said. “So I decided to take the first opportunity that was offered to me. And I have dreamed for many years about fighting on HBO. I look forward to going to Wales to fight with Cleverly, and I congratulate him for accepting this challenge.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com an intriguing August 24th title doubleheader is in the works that will pit WBC Featherweight champion Abner Mares against former champion Jhonny Gonzalez and Leo Santa Cruz battling Victor Terrazas for the latter’s Bantamweight crown in Carson, California that will be broadcasted on Showtime.

“There are no particular outstanding issues with Mares and Gonzalez. Both fighters want to fight and I’m just trying to finalize everything. It’s a helluva fight,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “I expect it to be done in the next few days. I just need to sit down with Stephen and get it all finalized, but Showtime loves the card. I love the card. I think fight fans will love the card.”

“This is the perfect sport for the show,” Schaefer said. “It’s exactly these kind of events which are going to attract a crowd. You have four exciting Mexican fighters and the crowd will get what it expects — exciting fights, so I think we’re going to have another sellout, and we will do what we did (on June 8), which is to price the tickets very attractively.”

“Jhonny Gonzalez is a former world champion and a seasoned fighter,” Espinoza said. “We’re still negotiating the fight, so it’s not a done deal yet, but Abner will fight anybody. Of course, we have to work out certain things but we’re on board with fighting Jhonny Gonzalez. It’s a tough fight but every fight is a tough fight when you’re at this level.”

“This is still a new weight class for Abner and Jhonny has been a featherweight for awhile,” Schaefer said. “There will be Mexican pride at stake. I expect a really exciting battle because you know when you see a Jhonny Gonzalez fight that it won’t be boring and the same can be said and more of Abner Mares, who is on most pound-for-pound lists as well as being one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport.”

“Terrazas beat a good fighter to win a world title and with Leo you have one of the highest volume punchers in the sport, who has developed a fan following and a crowd pleasing style,” Schaefer said. “He is going to bring the fans to their feet.”

DALLAS – If this city’s partisan-Mexican crowd came out Saturday to see one of its own blast away a rugged but overmatched opponent in the last fight of its untelevised undercard, it got its wish when Sonoran Oscar Valdez (6-0, 5 KOs) brought a properly leveraged right cross counter square on the face of Houstonian Gil Garcia (5-5-1, 1 KO) in the second round of their featherweight match, Saturday’s seventh, dropping Garcia on his back and marking as inevitable Valdez’s victory.

Instants after referee Laurence Cole brought the fighters together, Valdez, showing the sort of thrill for combat that pleases fans and makes promoters salivate, swarmed Garcia, striking him with any punch he could land and bringing a merciful stoppage at 2:32 of round 2.

Valdez has an exciting style and desire for contact that should make him a friend of fans in years to come.

MIKAEL ZEWSKI VS. DAMIAN FRIAS
Completing a hat-trick of undefeated Top Rank prospects, in Saturday’s sixth match Canadian Mikael Zewski (20-0, 15 KOs) boxed and slugged and generally outclassed Florida welterweight Damian Frias (19-8-1, 10 KOs), ultimately decisioning him by three scores of 77-74.

Despite applying plenty of commitment to his punches, and throwing them in cleaver and accurate combinations, Zewski never appeared to have Frias imperiled, after dropping the Floridian in the first round. Rounds 2 through 7, in fact, were dull enough affairs to have much of the American Airlines Arena crowd expressing its loud disapproval. All such noise as that stopped in the final round.

Appearing to be winded by his own onslaught in the preceding rounds, Zewski put whatever he had left behind his blows in round 8, opening himself to accurate and surprisingly hard counters from Frias – whose punches appeared to lack commitment most of the night. Despite clipping Zewski a number of times in the eighth, ultimately Frias did not have enough to cast doubt on the outcome, and the decision went the Canadian’s way.

MATT KOROBOV VS. OSSIE DURAN
Saturday’s most pleasant surprise came in its fifth fight when Russian middleweight Matt Korobov (20-0, 12 KOs), once more highly touted than he is now, performed a vicious stoppage of New Jersey’s Ossie Duran (27-11-2, 10 KOs) at 0:51 of round 3. After a slow start that brought nearly unanimous boos from the Dallas crowd, Korobov landed a twisting counter left cross from his southpaw stance in the closing minute of round 2, one that dropped Duran and seemed to surprise both fighters.

Korobov attacked from the very beginning of round 3, showing an intensity of assault unpredicted by his record’s paltry knockout ratio, winging and digging left crosses to Duran’s midsection. Duran dropped quickly, his face showing the wincing hopelessness brought only by a liver shot, and the match was over. And Korobov was on his way back towards important matches in the middleweight division.

VANES MARTIROSYAN VS. RYAN DAVIS
Buried in the third match of a nine-fight card in Texas was likely not where 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (33-0-1, 21 KOs) anticipated his career would be if he came to his 33rd professional fight still undefeated, and yet, that was where he was, dropping and stopping Illinois super welterweight Ryan Davis (24-11-3, 9 KOs).

Martirosyan landed most every punch he threw, including batting-cage right hands with which he was unable to miss the hopeless Davis, and succeeded in looking impressive as he needed to, en route to a corner stoppage at 2:01 of round 2.

UNDERCARD
The knockout of the night came in Saturday’s fourth match, when local super bantamweight Tony Lopez (4-0, 2 KOs) dropped South Carolina’s Jonathan Hernandez (1-3-1, 1 KO) at 0:38 of round 4, and dropped him in a way that brought ringside doctors on the canvas before the 10-count was finished. Hernandez, who had fired back valiantly through the opening three rounds, finally caught the southpaw Lopez’s left cross in a way that ended his night emphatically.

Saturday’s second fight, a welterweight tilt between Puerto Rican welterweight John Karl Sosa (7-0, 5 KOs) and Mexican Ramon Alejandro Pena (7-3 5 KOs), was an overmatched affair in which Pena landed very few right hands and absorbed many more. The end came at 1:54 of round 2, when a Sosa left hook found its mark on Pena’s liver and rendered the Mexican wholly unable to continue.

The evening began on a fine note, with Austin middleweight Kurtiss Colvin (8-1, 7 KOs) stopping Arlington’s Angel Sigala (8-4, 2 KOs) at 0:22 of round 5.

Opening bell rang on a sparsely populated American Airlines Arena at 6:03 PM local time.

Mikey Garcia scored a fourth round stoppage over former 122 lb champion Juan Manuel Lopez in a Featherweight fight at the American Airlines in Dallas, Texas.

Garcia lost his Featherweight title on Friday when he checked in two pounds over the Featherweight limit and had to pay Lopez a reported $150,000 for the fight to commence. Lopez was eligible to win the title.

Garcia boxed and won the first round. In round two, the action heated up and it was culminated by a Garcia right hand that sent Lopez to the canvas. Lopez steadied himself and fought on even terms in round three. In round four, Garcia opened up with a four punch flurry. Garcia then landed an overhand right that was followed by a crunching left that sent Lopez to the canvas. Lopez got to his feet but took a step backwards and the fight was stopped by referee Rafael Ramos.

Garcia, 128 lbs of Moreno Valley, CA will now most likely pursue a world title with a record of 32-0 with 27 knockouts. Lopez, 125 1/4 lbs is now 33-3.

Good looking Lightweight prospect Terrance Crawford scored a sixth round stoppage over Alejandro Sanabria in a scheduled ten round Lightweight bout.

Sanabria fought well over the first two rounds as he worked with with his left hand. Crawford got into the fight in round four as he started working the body and landed a good uppercut. In round six, Crawford came out and landed a flush left hook to the jaw that sent Sanabria to the canvas. When he got to his feet he was unsteady and referee Laurence Cole stopped the bout at the seventeen second mark of round six.

Crawford, 134 1/2 lbs of Omaha, NEB is now 21-0 with 16 knockouts. Sanabria of Mexico is now 34-2-1.

DALLAS – Once considered a model young professional, the quintessence of what a proper boxing pedigree could produce, California featherweight Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia appeared to be another thing entirely at the weigh-in for his Saturday fight with Puerto Rican Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez. Garcia lost his world title on the scale, the least-professional place to lose it.

At American Airlines Center Friday, Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) weighed 128 pounds, two in excess of the featherweight limit, while Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs), about whose weight concerns were openly expressed in previous weeks, made 125 1/4.

A drawn Mikey Garcia took the stage first, and when he raised his hands above his head, like a famished swimmer about to dive in a pool, he did not look well. The number got read by announcer Lupe “El Más Macho” Contreras, and there was no reaction among those gathered, though 128 did seem an odd number, even for a catchweight fight, which this palpably was not but rather an HBO “Boxing After Dark” main event, and the network had paid for a world-title fight. When Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez then marked 125 1/4, the gravity of Garcia’s miss became apparent even to those giving the formalities only partial attention.

Garcia, preceded by part of his team, though notably not his older brother and trainer Robert, and followed by Top Rank ace publicist Lee Samuels, wandered out the arena into the miserable heat of downtown Dallas in June, ostensibly to wriggle or boil two more pounds from his desiccated frame. Lopez conducted a brief interview for the promoter’s streaming-video link, and it provided the first official announcement of Garcia’s miss.

Asked about Garcia’s comments earlier in the week that the Californian was a better professional fighter than him in every way, Lopez, usually an affable type quicker to smile than glower, was uncharacteristically direct and critical.

“Maybe he is the better professional in the ring,” Lopez said, “but he is no one professional on the scale.”

The rest of the weigh-in went along, the co-main fighters – Nebraska lightweight Terence Crawford (20-0, 15 KOs) and Mexican Alejandro Sanabria (34-1-1, 25 KOs) – each made 134 1/2 pounds, and the waiting began, as what crowd had gathered gradually returned to the rest of its Friday afternoon. Forty or so minutes later, nervous Top Rank personnel gathered near the stage began to communicate with hand gestures and head shakes and whispers in promoter Bob Arum’s ear.

Twenty minutes after that, a roughdried Mikey Garcia returned to the concourse from the door he’d exited one hour before. While Top Rank’s Carl Moretti placed a reassuring arm across Garcia’s shoulders and other insiders exchanged knowing glances, Arum discussed loudly and disapprovingly a money issue of some kind on stage.

Lupe Contreras was called to the podium and then returned without making an announcement. Texas commission officials and the WBO supervisor watched as Garcia made his way to the podium, not the scale, and affixed his signature on some contractual item or other. It became apparent Garcia’s first weight, 128, would be his only weight – there would be no reweighing him – and everyone from Top Rank’s Bruce Trampler to HBO’s Peter Nelson appeared uncertain what would come next.

Arum then strode towards the staircase leading from the makeshift stage to the concourse floor, stopped at the podium and approached its microphone like an annoying obstacle between him and the staircase about which he cared thrice as much.

“Card’s going to go on,” Arum announced. “The title fight has been cancelled.”

Then negotiations began in earnest.

Garcia-Lopez will be contested after all. Garcia is no longer the WBO featherweight champion of the world, though Lopez, for making weight, will have an opportunity to claim Garcia’s now-vacant title if he wins their match. Saturday’s opening bell will ring on the American Airlines Center card at 6:00 PM local time.

WEST ORANGE, NJ–Juan Carlos Payano scored seven round stoppage over Jundy Moaroan in a scheduled twelve round Bantamweight bout

It started out fast paced. Payano began to bleed over his right eye as early as round two. Maroan then sent Payano to the canvas midway through round three. They traded shots with Payano slowly gaining the advantage and in round six he landed a right to the body that was followed by a vicious left that dropped Maroan for referee Randy Neumann’s ten count at thirty-nine seconds of round seven

Payano of the Dominican Republic is now 14-0 with eight knockouts. Maroan on the Philippines is now 15-1-1.

Yenifel Vicente scored a fourth round stoppage over Jorge Diaz in a Jr. Featherweight fight that was filled with contact. In round three, Maroan landed a hard left at the bell that sent Payano to the canvas. In round four, Maroan came out and landed some heavy lefts.

In the the first round, the two went to war with Diaz looking stronger but he caught with a couple of hard left hooks. In round two, Diaz started to find a home with the right hand. Vicente came out strong in round three as he landed a barrage of punches that pushed Diaz to the ropes. Diaz responded by landing some terrific body punches. Vicente punctuated the round by landing two hard shots at the bell. Vicente continued in round four with power shots until he blasted a uppercut that sent him to the canvas. Vicente jumped all over Diaz until the fight was stopped by Benji Esteves at 2:02

Vicente, 123 lbs of Dominican Republic is now 25-1-2 with 17 knockouts. Diaz, 122 lbs of New Brunswick, NJ is 17-2.

Anthony Gangemi pounded out a four round majority decision over Anthony Prescott in a Welterweight bout.

Scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 for Gangemi of Mine Hill, NJ and is now 4-0. Prescott of Cherry Hill is now 1-2-1.

Lavarn Harvell scored a six round unanimous decision over Paul Vasquez in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Harvell dropped Vasquez in round one from a hard right and boxed very well en route to the decision which read 60-54 5954 and 58-55.

Harvell of Atlantic City is 13-0. Vasquez of Martinez, CA is now 9-4-1.

Rickey Edwards took out Larry Yanez in round one of a scheduled four round Lightweight bout.

Edwards landed a vicious combination that left Yanez defenseless and the bout was stopped at 2:01 of round one.

Edwards of Paterson, NJ is now 2-0 with two knockots. Yanez of Miami is 3-5-2.

Tyrell Wright recovered from a first round knockdown to stop Moises Marshall in round two of their scheduled four round Heavyweight bout.

Marshall dropped Wright with a hard over hand right in round one. Wright came on in round two and landed a hard left that sent Marshall to the canvas. Wright then dropped Marshall two more times from body shits and referee Randy Neumann stopped the bout at 2:03 of round two.

Wright, 206 1/2 lbs of Bayonne, NJ is 2-0 with one knockout. Marshall, 220 lbs of Springfield, MO is now 1-0-1.

In the opener, Shakur Jackson scored a second round stoppage over Michael Pickett in a scheduled four round Welterweight bout.

Jackson brutalized Pickett’s body with bodt hands and landed many flurries with Pickett showing little offense.

Finally referee Randy Neumann stopped the bout at 2:03 of round two.

Jackson, 147.5 lbs of Newark, NJ is 1-0 with 1 no-contest. Pickett, 152.5 lbs of South Bend, Indiana is now 1-5.

Good looking Middleweight prospect Antoine Douglas dropped Inaheim King in round one and dominated until King was unable to continue after round three of their scheduled four round bout.

Douglas of Burke, VA is now 8-0 with six knockouts. King of Fort Lauderdale, FL is now 11-9,

The Promoters were GH3 Promotions/ Greg Cohen Promotions / Acquinity Sports (Main Event and Co-Feature) / First Round Promotions (Harvell-Vasquez)

The matchmaker was Eric Bottjer.

World ranked Heavyweight Bryant Jennings stopped Andrey Fedosov after round six of a scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Bethlehem, PA.

Fedosov was very aggressive early as he walked in and worked the body. Jennings turned things around when he rocked Fedosov with a huge uppercut. Jennings followed up with a big flurry and the a big right that Fedosov took well. The action was consistent and fast pace with bot guys having moments. Fedosov walked in and worked the body while Jennings mixed up featuring the uppercut.

Jennings had a solid round six and opened up a cut over the left eye of Fedosov and he was deemed unable to continue after round six.

Jennings, 227 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 17-0 with 9 knockouts. Fedosov, 224 1/2 lbs of Russia is now 24-3.

Sergey Kovalev scored an impressive third round stoppage over Cornelius White in a scheduled ten round Light Heavyweight bout.

Kovalev scored three knockdowns in the third as he dropped White with a hard combination for the first knockdown. Kovalev was all over White and ropped him again from a left hook. With White clearly hurt, Kovalev finished the deal with a hard left that dumped White on the canvas and referee Gary Rosado stopped the bout at 1:42 of round three.

Kovalev, 174 1/2 lbs from Chelinsk, RUS is now 21-0-1 with 19 knockouts. White, 173 lbs of Houston, TX is now 21-2.

Ray Narh scored a ten round unanimous decision over Ronald Cruz in a Welterweight bout.

Narj took the fight with his punch volume as he controlled and dictated the pace. Cruz may have landed the better punches but it was the consistency of Narh that propelled to victory. Cruz did have a couple of moments like round in round three when he rocked Narh with a left hook and again in round nine from a perfectly timed overhand right. After absorbing that blow, Narh quick turned the tables by backing Cruz and landing a hard combinations.

Narh, 148 lbs of Accra, Ghana won by scores of 96-94, 98-92 and 100-90 and is now 26-2. Cruz, 148 lbs of Bethlehem, PA now 17-2.

The punch stats 125-716 for Narh while Cruz was 84-403

Arturo Trujillo made short work of Anthony Watson by scoring a first round stoppage in a scheduled four round battle of debuting Jr. Middleweights.

Trujillo dropped Watson twice with vicious combinations and referee Shawn Clark stopped the bout twenty-nine seconds into the fight.

Trujillo, 150 1/2 lbs of Easton, PA is 1-0. Watson, 153 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-1.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, trainer Rudy Perez passed away of Stomach cancer in Mexico City.

Perez trained Marco Antonio Barrera, Israel Vazquez, Marcos Maidana, Pablo Cesar Cano, Hernan Marquez, Adrian Hernandez and Jorge Barrios.

“Rudy was one of those trainers who wasn’t as famous as many others, but he was a very patient trainer,” said Robert Diaz, the Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker, who previously spent years working with Barrera and got to know Perez well. “I would consider him like a second father. He was so kindhearted. He called my kids his grandchildren.

“As a trainer, he was the kind of trainer who went out to run with his fighters, he’d diet with his fighters. He would eat whatever Marco would eat. He wasn’t a trainer who would sit there and eat a steak or a hamburger while the fighter was dieting and eating a salad. He didn’t believe in too many rounds of sparring for his fighters because he wanted them fresh and not hurt going into the fight.”

“We had a great relationship. He was a great man, a great friend and he will be missed,” said Vazquez manager Frank Espinoza. “He was a great trainer and a great motivator. He was the type of guy you wanted in your guy’s corner. I’ll really miss this guy. He was a team player.”

“Team Maidana is deeply sorry to hear about the passing of Rudy Perez, a great trainer and person,” Maidana tweeted.

“I dedicate that win to him,” Maidana said. “Our prayers to Rudy’s family. We’ll always remember him. Rest his soul in peace.”

“That third fight with Marquez was a very, very close fight, and after the 11th round, Rudy literally slapped Israel in the chest in the corner,” Espinoza said. “At that particular time, it motivated Israel. It pissed him off, but that made Israel go forward in that 12th round with so much intensity. He got the [knockdown] against Marquez in that round, won the round and won the fight. I believe after the 11th round that without Rudy Perez’s instruction and what he did by slapping Israel, we wouldn’t have won the fight. I think it gave Israel that little something extra he needed to go out and win the round and the fight. It was a great victory.”

“He knew Israel needed that last round, and he slapped him hard on the chest and said something like, ‘Why don’t you just give Marquez the title?’ The bell rang, and Israel came out like it was the first round,” Diaz said. “I think what Rudy did really made the difference in the fight.”

Perez is survived by his wife, Consuelo, and their son. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday in Mexico City.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Jr. Featherweight Scott Quigg has jumped ship from Hatton Promotions to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sports and will fight in Bolton, England on June 29th.

“I’m delighted to have signed a deal with Matchroom Sport, and it’s great to have a fight so soon,” Quigg said. “I’ve been in training for a long time and (it’s) a new start with a new promoter. I’m always in the gym, I love training. But a fighter always wants to be in the ring fighting. That’s where you learn and you also make your money to pay your bills. I’ve got the same hunger as always, and I just want to get active again and I think Matchroom Sport and (British network) Sky Sports is the place to get that. I can’t wait to get back in there. That’s where I’m at home and I’ve missed it.

“We’re getting the ball rolling in Bolton. I’ve had one fight in a year, so it’s about getting the momentum going and looking to make waves in the division again. No one sees how hard I train, no one sees the effort and dedication that I put in to get to the top. I came into boxing wanting to be a world champion. I don’t want to settle at British or European [level]. I’ve come in to be the best. You might need a bit of luck here and there, but I think I have the ability and I know I have the desire and dedication to make it happen.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Scott Quigg to the team,” Hearn said. “He is on the cusp of challenging for a world title, and with the backing of Matchroom Sport and Sky Sports, we believe he’ll get there and stay there for a long time.”

CARSON, Calif. – They collided like a couple of weather fronts. One from Argentina. The other from Riverside, Calif. Only one would be left standing. That was the only safe prediction.

In the end, the sudden storm belonged to Marcos Maidana, another force of nature from Argentina.

Maidana got up from one knockdown in the fourth round to score one in the sixth for what led to a technical knockout of Josesito Lopez in a dramatic welterweight fight at the StubHub Center.

Maidana (34-3, 31KOs) landed an overhand right that put Lopez on one knee early in the sixth. Stunned yet resilient, Lopez (30-6, 18 KOs) got up amid huge cheers for the Southern California fighter nicknamed The Riverside Rocky. But the loud crowd of 8,629 at the former Home Depot Center couldn’t protect the hometown favorite from Maidana’s next assault. The Argentine winged successive punches at Lopez at a whirlwind rate. Referee Lou Morett interceded with a stoppage at 1:18 of the round.

“My guts got me this victory,’’ said Maidana, whose inexhaustible power puts him alongside fellow Argentine Lucas Matthysse.

In the fourth, Lopez dropped Maidana with some head-rocking power of his own. Lopez’ delivered it with a right that looked as if it might prove to be the fight’s decisive weapon. By then, however, Maidana had felt enough to know he could survive it with smarts and poise.

“In the second round, he hit me in my head and it was like I was paralyzed,’’ said Maidana, who would have been happy if Morett had let the fight continue.

Lopez was unhappy at the stoppage.

“I felt like it was premature,’’ said Lopez, who led by one point on each of two scorecards. “I was stunned, but I was not down for the count. He landed a couple of good punches, but not good enough to end the fight.’’

With the victory, stays in a welterweight race led by Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I just want to fight the best,’’ Maidana said after prevailing in a wild fight with one of them.

In a super-welterweight bout, Alfredo Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs) looked tough, stubborn and on his way to a surprising victory over ErislandyLara (17-1-2, 12 KOs), who was down twice – once in the fourth and again in the ninth. Just as it looked as if Angulo would be the winner, however, he was the loser.

A sudden left-right combination from Lara in the tenth ended the super-welterweight bout abruptly. Angulo turned around and took one step toward his corner. He was finished. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr., ended it at 1:50 of the tenth.

Seconds after the stoppage, a huge welt appeared above Angulo’s left eye. Before Angulo was taken to a nearby hospital, the grotesque swelling was believed to have been caused by either a fracture to the orbital bone or by injury to the back of the eye. Angulo complained that Lara had thumbed him.

Despite suffering two knockdowns, Lara led, 85-84, on scorecards held by judges Max DeLuca and Hoyle cards. Marty Denkinhad Angulo leading, 86-83.

ON THE UNDERCARD
THE BEST: Dublin junior welterweight JamieKavanagh (14-0-1, 6 KOs) had green shamrocks on his black socks and power hidden beneath the gloves he wore. That power didn’t stay hidden for long. Through two rounds, Kavanagh rocked Adolfo Landeros (21-32-2, 10 KOs) of Calexico, Calif., with a stinging succession of body shots punctuated by a head-rocking left hook. Landero’s corner threw in the towel between the second and third rounds.

THE GOOD: Johan Perez (17-1-1, 12 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela allowed Yoshihiro Kamegi (22-1-1, 19 KOs) to walk into his punches for a unanimous decision over the previously-unbeaten welterweight from Sapporo, Japan; junior-lightweight Ronny Rios (21-0 10 KOs) kept his credentials as a prospect intact with sixth-round TKO of Mexican Leonilo Miranda (32-6, 30KOs); Los Angeles bantamweight Edgar Valerio (3-0, 2 KOs) left David Reyes (2-3-1), also of Los Angeles, bloodied and, in the end, beaten by split decision after four rounds of work in the card’s first bout on a warm afternoon under the Southern California sun.

THE FORGETTABLE: Junior-featherweight Manuel Avila ofFairfield, Calif., remained unbeaten (12-0, 4 KOs) with a unanimous decision over Jamal Parram (6-8-1, 4 KOs) of St. Louis; featherweight Joseph Diaz Jr. (6-1, 3 KOs) scored a third-round TKO of Rigoberto Casillas (8-11-1, 6 KOs) and Los Angeles heavyweight Gerald Washington heard boos from a gathering crowd for a unanimous decision over Sherman Williams (35-13-2, 19 KOs) in a fight about as exciting as an afternoon nap.

Juan Carlos Sanchez scored a twelve round unnaimous deicison over previously undefeated Roberto Domingo Sosa at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Sanchez, who was the IBF Super Flyweight champion lost his title on the scales on Friday as he weighed in one-halh and then two-tenths of a pound over the 115 pound weight limit. Had Sosa won the fight he would have been able to become world champion.

Scores were 117-110, 117-110 and 116-111 for Sanchez who is now 16-1-1. Sosa is now 24-1.

Jesus Gutierrez scored a four round unanimous decision over Daniel Calazada in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Gutierrez, 141 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas and is now 8-0. Calzada, 140 1/2 lbs of Denver 7-8-2.

Andrey Klimov scored a ten round majority decision over former world title challenger John Molina Jr. in a Lightweight bout at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington.

Not much happened over the first couple rounds. Klimov started to bleed over the left eye in round three. Molina punctuated that round with a hard right. Molina rocked Klimov in round four with hard a hard left hook that sent Klimov’s mouthpiece flying. Klimov started jabbing well in round five.

Molina upped the pressure to begin round six. Klimov continued to peck with shots while Molina landed some hard rights like he did in round eight But it was the activity of Klimov that won out as he was able to win the majority decision by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95.

Klimob of Russia is now 16-0. Molina, 137 ½ lbs of Covina, CA is now 25-3.

Farah Ennis scored a ten round unanimous decision over Anthony Hanshaw in a Super Middleweight bout.
Ennis looked decent early as he featured his right hand. Hanshaw started to control the middle rounds as he became busier while Ennis only punched in inconsistent spurts. Ennis took over in round nine as he hurt Hanshaw with a couple of right hands. Hanshaw seemed to be losing his legs and it was proven as he was dropped with a left hook as the final round began. Ennis had Hanshaw hurt several times before the end of the fight but was unable to score a knockout.

Ennis, 168.8 lbs of Philadelphia won by scored of 96-93, 96-93 and 95-94 and is now 21-1. Hanshaw is now 23-3-2.

Nick Brinson scored the biggest win of his career when he scored a ten round unanimous decision pver power punching Jorge Melendez in a Middleweight bout at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY

Brinson was very effective early as he came out the aggressor as he landed some hard rights while Melendez was conservative. The two had a nice exchange in round three where it was evident that Brinson had the hand speed advantage. Round four was a memorable round as it was Brinson who struck first with a right to the body then a left-right combination that sent Melendez to the canvas.

Brinson continued to land with the right until later in the round where Melendez landed a huge left hook that rocked and froze Brinson and referee Charlie Fitch administered an eight count to a badly hurt Brinson. Brinson was able to survive the onslaught of Melendez and get out of the round.

Brinson continued to dominate in the center of the ring as he landed some sweet looking combinations and mixing in an body punch. In round eight, Brinson landed a few more combinations for which Melendez had no answer for.

Brinson, 157 ¾ lbs of Albany, NY won by scores of 99-90, 98-91 and 96-92 and is now 15-1-2. Melendez. 158 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 27-2-1.

Jeffrey Fontanez remained undefeated as he narrowly took an eight round split decision over veteran Alejandro Rodriguez in a Lightweight bout.

Fontanez was effective early with the right hand while Rodriguez looked to work the body. Over the first half of the fight, Fontanez had a 67-29 edge in punches landed. Fontanez then took after Rodriguez and worked the body and was racking up the rounds. The fight almost became a disaster for Fontanez as he ate a looping right that sent Fontanez to the deck at the end of round seven. Fontanez did well to steady himself in round eight but Rodriguez took the round but came up a tad short on the decision
.
Fontanez, 132 lbs of Caguas, PR won by scores of 78-73 and 77-74 and is now 12-0. Rodriguez, 132 lbs of Guadalajara, MX took a third card by a 76-75 tally and is now 19-11.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Longtime HBO Boxing executive Kery Davis has decided to leave the network after 16 years.

“Watching some of the best fighters in the world at their peak — to sit ringside and watch Roy Jones and see him lose maybe one round in about seven years, to see Mayweather at his best, Bernard Hopkins, De La Hoya — it’s been quite a run. I had a ringside seat for all of it,” Davis told ESPN.com on Thursday.

It also comes on the heels of Hershman’s failed negotiations to keep Mayweather and his decision to banish Golden Boy Promotions’ fights from the network. Davis is very close to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Mayweather and Al Haymon, Mayweather’s powerful adviser, whom some critics accused Davis of being too cozy with.

“The details of who said what to whom as far as my leaving is irrelevant, but I sat down and talked about it with Ken,” Davis said. “I wanted to make sure that the timing was OK for him as well as for me. Ken has been terrific to me through the process.”

“These last 16 years have been some of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Davis said. “I remember the first day I took the (senior vice president) job, after watching Lou do the job, that I thought I can do this for five years or so, and now it’s 14 years later. I thought it was the right time for a transition.

“I have 10 years left in my working life where I’ll be in the job market and I’m looking forward to accomplishing some other things. The reality of it is I thought I would have stopped doing this a long time ago. If this job wasn’t so fulfilling and rewarding, I probably would have left earlier. I’ve done this longer than anything in my life except for my marriage to Samantha.”

“For more than 15 years, Kery Davis was a major contributor to the HBO boxing franchise, focused on delivering the finest in boxing programming to our subscribers,” Hershman said in a statement given to ESPN.com. “We wish him success with all of his new endeavors.

“To shake hands with Nelson Mandela and sit down and talk to him about Naseem Hamed’s next fight? I’m shaking hands with him and instead of talking about everything he has done, which I would have loved to talk about, he wanted to talk about [former featherweight champion] Naseem Hamed,” Davis said.

“Being part of those big events is going to be something I’ll treasure,” Davis said, naming such fights as Lewis-Evander Holyfield, Lewis-Mike Tyson, Hamed-Kevin Kelley and Mayweather-De La Hoya among his most memorable.

“But it was also about watching the perseverance of the human spirit, like with [Arturo] Gatti and [Micky] Ward or [Erik] Morales and [Marco Antonio] Barrera or [Brandon] Rios and [Mike Alvarado], when they wouldn’t give an inch or quit. The most satisfying thing was finding young, unknown gems and introducing them to our subscribers and watching them grow into stars.

“I remember sitting in London [last month] at the [Carl] Froch-[Mikkel] Kessler fight thinking that if this was going to be my last one, this is a good one to go out on. The job takes its toll and I am ready to move on, but it’s been a privilege for me to work for this company and rewarding to work with this department and people you’d want with you in a foxhole. These are foxhole colleagues.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former two-division world champion Amir Khan will now compete as a Welterweight and will look to face IBF champion Devin Alexander later this year.

“I think I’ll be a lot more comfortable at 147,” Khan told ESPN.com. “I’ve been struggling to make the weight. I’ve been at 140 for a long time (since mid-2009). So I’ll be looking to fight at 147.”

“I’ll be a lot stronger at 147, a lot more confident,” Khan said. “Look at guys like (lightweight titlist) Adrien Broner and (Robert) Guerrero. They moved up two weight classes and fought for world titles and you see their confidence. You can do a lot more in training. You can build your strength and not always be worried about the weight. I think I’ll have a lot more power.”

“There is a possibility that the Khan fight might be in Dubai,” said Golden Boy Promotions Rich Schaefer, regardless of who Khan might fight in December. “But the fight is not done and I am working on different things. We will not know about Dubai until sometime in August.

“If your goal is to fight Floyd at some point, obviously, the action is at 147 and you might as well go up and introduce yourself in that weight class, where he could actually be stronger at the higher weight,” Schaefer said. “Amir feels that will be the case with him. He won’t have to worry about making weight so much and he can focus on training. He is excited to move up to 147. He realizes there are tremendous opportunities.”

“(Golden Boy matchmaker) Robert (Diaz) saw at the weigh-in that he was dry and asked if he had a problem making the weight,” Schaefer said. “He was at 149, 148 (in the days leading up to the fight) and to get down, those last few pounds usually come off easy. But this time he had more of a difficult time getting them off. Robert noticed that and felt like he didn’t look like he usually does. He’s been at 140 since 2007, so obviously it’s time for him to move up.

“Nobody says those rematches can’t happen at 147,” Schaefer said. “Those are great fights and it won’t matter if they are at 140 or 147. People will still want to see them.”

“Part of my punch resistance is due to my weight,” Khan said. “Sometimes you need that extra little bit (of weight) to take that punch. If you’re not making weight properly, you’re not going to take the punches as well. (Trainer) Virgil (Hunter) has seen me spar at 147. I talked to Virgil about moving up and he said, ‘Who you looking to fight?’ I said, ‘Alexander.’ He said, ‘That’s a good fight.'”

“When we are young the dream is to be world champion and now the dream is to fight and beat Floyd Mayweather,” Khan said. “Once you beat Floyd Mayweather you become pound-for-pound and that’s what everyone aims for. But you have to be in that weight division to be noticed. Everywhere I’ve been going people ask me when I’m fighting Floyd. Maybe I got knocked out or didn’t perform well in some fights, but my style would be exciting to watch against him.

“He has five fights left. Five more opponents. Who brings him money, excitement, recognition and global recognition? I’ve been in the U.K., the European, American and Middle Eastern markets. He’ll make a lot of money with Canelo Alvarez, but I can’t think of any other boxer with as big of a following or pull that I have that he can make a fight with.”