Jorge Linares gets split decision victory over Luke Campbell, wants Mikey Garcia next

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 23, 2017) Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) successfully defended his WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine Lightweight Titles with a split decision victory against the English southpaw "Cool Hand" Luke Campbell(17-2, 14 KOs) at Los Angeles' "Fabulous" Forum. Linares dropped Campbell in the second round with a hard right hand and engaged in explosive exchanges in each round to win with scores of 115-112 and 114-113, while one judge scored the fight 115-113 for Campbell.

"I fought very well," said Jorge Linares. "I'm happy with the fight. At the fifth round, we had some trouble but we came out on top. Trust me, I have a great connection with my team and with my trainer, so we worked hard and kept at it. I knew I had to let the dogs out. We want Mikey Garcia next."

"No one can ever doubt my hard work," said Luke Campbell. "Yes, I got off to a rocky start. He [Linares] caught me in the eye. A nice shot that put me on the mat. But I had to fight. I had to get focused. I didn't think he was landing any shots whatsoever in the second half."

Filipino KO artist Romero Duno wins unanimous decision against Juan Sanchez

Opening the international broadcast, Filipino knockout artist Romero Duno (15-1, 13 KOs) scored an eight-round unanimous decision victory against Tabasco, Mexico's Juan Sanchez (29-13, 14 KOs) in a lightweight fight. Duno punished Sanchez to the body and head in each and every round, which earned him the victory with three scores of 78-74.

"I'm satisfied with my performance," said Romero Duno. "Sanchez was a tough competitor, he fights clean and I respect him. I've learned a lot from this fight and am going to take the lessons I've learned onto the next."

Azat "Crazy A" Hovhannisyan (13-2, 10 KOs), the exciting Armenian super bantamweight contender with a spectacular style, earned the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title with a unanimous decision victory against Guadalajara, Mexico's Sergio Frias (19-8-2, 10 KOs). Although the resident of Los Angeles was cut above the left eye in the middle of the fight, Hovhannisyan won with two scores of 100-90 and one score of 98-92.

"We're very happy to get this big belt," said Azat Hovhannisyan. "This has been years in the making and I fought in the ring with basically one hand as I fractured my right hand. The swelling reappeared during the fight. Frias was a tough opponent, but we put in the work to get the win."

Abraham "Chamaco" Lopez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) of La Puente, California scored a fifth-round technical knockout victory against Isao Carranza (15-10-1, 9 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico in a scheduled eight-round super featherweight fight.

"The fight went well," said Abraham Lopez. "I wish I would've finished him earlier, but he was a true warrior. It was a good fight. This fight was something I wanted to do, something I was waiting for. What's next? Whatever the company has in mind. I'll be working on everything; win or lose you always learn something. It doesn't stop. We're not perfect. I know I made mistakes, but we're going to keep working."

In the first fight of the evening, super bantamweight prospect Rafael "El Alikin" Gramajo (9-1-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles scored a tough six-round unanimous victory against Pedro Melo (17-16-2, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.

"I feel good," said Rafael Gramajo. "I feel we started off well. I'm proud of myself. I had not fought in a year, and we fought the fight that we wanted to. In boxing, there is always a punch that could catch you and hurt you, but thank God it didn't hurt. I kept boxing and it was a good fight."

Saul Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin: Canelo, GGG make weights

Saul Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin both make the 160-pound middleweight limit during the official weigh-in on Friday (US time). Both weighed 160 pounds when they hit the scales for their anticipated middleweight championship fight on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

GGG (37-0, 33KOs) came in first onto the scales wearing the usual smile. He looked strong and ready to go. He's been fighting in the middleweight division since his professional boxing debut in 2006. There's no sign that he outgrows the division as he has no problem making the required division limit.

Canelo (49-1-1, 34KOs) came next and registered the same as GGG, 160 pounds. He looked muscular, strong and also ready to go. While in the junior middleweight division Canelo showed signs that he outgrown the division he dominated since 2010.

At the stare-off, the height advantage of GGG is obvious. Well, more on this advantage/disadvantage subject if I have the time to write the preview of this fight.

Meanwhile, many had said that if May-Mac was a show, but Canelo-GGG is a fight! I agree 101 percent.  I'm excited already.

Día de Muertos! Happy Mexican Independence Day.

Niall Kennedy wins controversial decision over Alexis Santos

MASHANTUCKET, CT (September 16, 2017) - Undefeated Irishman Niall "Boom Boom" Kennedy won a controversial 10-round split decision versus defending champion Alexis Santos to capture the New England heavyweight championship in last night's (Saturday) main event of Broadway Boxing held in Fox Theater, at Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, CT.

The Broadway Boxing series is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and presented by Nissan of Queens, Azad Watches, OPTYX, and Christos Steak House. Last night's show, which was streamed by FightNight LIVE on Facebook, was promoted in association with Murphys Boxing.

Kennedy (9-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Galway, Ireland, by way of Boston, battled Santos in a competitive, action-packed brawl to be awarded the N.E. title by scores of 96-93, 96-93, 93-96. The majority of fans in attendance, outside of Kennedy's Irish supporters, and the ringside media felt that Santos, from Lawrence, MA, had the edge and deserved the decision.

Referee Al LoBianco deducted a point from Santos in the ninth round for a highly questionable low blow and failed to rule a knockdown when it appeared the ropes kept Kennedy upright in a tremendous last round surge from the Dominican American.

In the co-featured bout, former world champion Shelly "Shelito's Way" Vincent (20-1, 1 KO), of Providence, RI, defeated former world title challenger Angel "Non-Stop" Gladney (9-13-1, 6 KOs) in a junior lightweight match. The colorful Vincent was the aggressor throughout the fight, effectively cutting off the ring, outboxing and walking down Gladney for a lop-sided eight-round unanimous decision (80-72, 80-71 twice).
Shelly Vincent (L) outclassed Angel Gladney

Rising Connecticut welterweight star "Marvelous" Mykquan Williams improved his record to 8-0 (4 KOs), pitching a complete shutout in an impressive six-round unanimous decision (all 60-54) win over a much more experienced and considerably taller Evincii "Prize Fighter" Dixon (7-20-2, 2 KOs). Williams is a 19-year-old from East Hartford who is a freshman at Manchester Community College.
Mykquan Williams (L) cruised to another victory

2012 Ukrainian Olympian Ievgen "The Ukrainian Lion" Khytrov (15-1, 13 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn, bounced back from his only pro loss with a near shutout eight-round decision victory (80-72 twice, 79-73) over his always tough super middleweight adversary, battle-tested veteran Derrick "Superman" Finley (27-22-1, 18 KOs).

"It was different when I first started training after a loss," Khytrov said after the fight. "I started to think more and work on my defense; to fight much smarter instead of just brawling, throwing punches, like I did before my loss. I came the US four years ago from a small country that's not rich to become a world champion. I feel I'm back on the right track.
Ievgen Khytrov (R) bounced back with a solid win

Hot New England junior welterweight prospect Adrian "Tonka" Sosa (5-0, 4 KOs) stepped up in class against Mexican Francisco "El Mono" Medel (11-10, 7 KOs), and remained undefeated by displaying his overall game, offensively and defensively. Fighting out of Lawrence, MA, the 2014 N.E. amateur champion Sosa dropped Medal with a straight right in the first round, a sneaky body shot in the second and finished him off in the third with a crisp right to the temple as referee Al LoBianco immediately halted the action.

Pro-debuting welterweights Nicky DeQuattro (1-0, 1 KO) and Timothy Wheeler (0-1) engaged in a street fight from the opening bell until DeQuartro, fighting out of Johnson, RI, connected with an overhand right that dropped his New York City rival.  Moments later, DeQuattro unleashed a four-punch combination that dropped Wheeler for a complete 10-count.

The night started with a barnburner as former Irish amateur standout Ray Moylette(6-0, 2 KOs) kept his undefeated pro record intact but it certainly wasn't easy.  Moylette overcame a second-round knockdown, coming back strong in the second half of the fight to take a six-round split decision versus game junior welterweight Donte Bryant (1-3-1, 1 KO).

Canelo vs Golovkin Final Press Conference Quotes

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 13, 2017) - Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) hosted the final press conference ahead of their showdown on Saturday, Sept. 16 presented live on HBO Pay-Per-View® at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. The live stream of the press conference can be viewed here.

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today's final press conference:

CANELO ALVAREZ, Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion:
"I don't like to talk too much. I just want to say that I'm prepared. I know it will be a tough fight. I just want you all to enjoy it like I'm going to enjoy it. I'm really, really excited to get in and fight. The excitement is there. The adrenaline is there. I have nothing to say to him. They know what kind of fighter I am. I'm prepared. I'm ready. All I want to tell him is look, let's give the fans a great fight."

GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN, WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight Champion:
"I am really happy to see everybody in Vegas. I want to thank Golden Boy and GGG Promotions for the great work, our sponsors and HBO. I don't want to talk too much. I am ready. I respect Canelo's team. This is a big day not only for us, but for boxing and this era. This will be a huge historic fight at T-Mobile Arena. I feel comfortable. I see that Canelo is ready. He is ready for serious business, a serious fight. This fight will be the biggest gift to the people."

EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:
"Everything that was said or had to be said has been said. We've had a great preparation, more than 14 years to prepare for this type of fight. We've had a great camp, no injuries, everything went well, and more importantly we are ready to win come Saturday night."

JOSE "CHEPO" REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:
"This is the end of 10 hard weeks of training. Work that was done with a lot of discipline and a lot of responsibility. In Canelo's camp, we declare ourselves ready and confident thatthis Saturday we will win. Canelo is going to come out with his hand raised. I want to close with a dedication to my friend Abel Sanchez. He says Triple G has a Mexican style. But I tell Abel that not only does Canelo have a Mexican style and a Mexican heart, but he IS Mexican!"

ABEL SANCHEZ, Trainer to Gennady Golovkin:
"All the talking and the boasting on both sides is done. We've had a great training camp and sparring. Golovkin is at 100 percent. We are looking forward to a great fight, a dramatic, explosive fight. These guys have the styles that will make for a fight that we will all remember."

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CEO & Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions:
"This is a fight to see who the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet is. I am grateful to everyone in the boxing world who contributed to making this event. This event needs no hype whatsoever. This is a fight that's a can't-miss event. That's the bottom line. It's going to be a great fight because of what is at stake: pride and fighting for your country and boxing fans. This is a fight for the sport of boxing, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The stakes couldn't be higher."

"We have to thank the fighters for agreeing for competing at the very peak of their careers.Saturday night at the T-Mobile arena it will be electrifying, a packed house. This event will take place life at HBO Pay-Per-View for the first time ever at 8:00pm ET in consideration of our east coast fans and our worldwide fanbase. You can also watch the fight atRingTV.com on your phone or table or from wherever you are."

BERNARD HOPKINS, Golden Boy Promotions Business Partner:
"The middleweight division goes all the way back. I thought about this fight when I got here yesterday. The fight that really stands out to me in comparison to Canelo-Golovkin, with the danger in the first couple of rounds, is Marvin Hagler and John Mugabi. One thing, however, is that history doesn't always repeat itself. Thank you to Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin for respecting the division that made me."

TOM LOEFFLER, Promoter of Gennady "GGG" Golovkin:
"We arrived on Monday evening, and as soon as we arrived at the hotel you could feel the excitement in the air. An event like this can only be a superfight between somebody like Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. They are two true world champions. The two best middleweights in the world. Two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and two of the most marketable fighters of the world."

TONY WALKER, Vice President at HBO Sports:
"Congratulations to Tom and Oscar for putting this together. This is truly a momentous event this Saturday. This is the best fight that can be made in boxing. This is potentially fight we think about in years to come. The first fight will be at 5:00 p.m. PT/ 8:00 p.m. ET. The main event is scheduled for 8:00pm PT/11:00 ET. The price is $69.95."

BOB BENNETT, Executive Director of Nevada Athletic State Commission:
"As always, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is humbled, honored and privileged to be able to regulate this sensational fight. We take a great deal of effort in the selection of our officials for our fight. We have Kenny Bayless who will referee the fight. The judges will be Dave Moretti, Adalaide Byrd and Don Trella."

RICHARD STURM, President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International:
"As we welcome back Canelo Alvarez following his May victory over Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., we would also like to welcome Triple G to Las Vegas for his Nevada debut. We are thrilled that these two great champs decided to fight. The event is sold out, but our closed-circuit broadcast will be presented in all MGM Resort properties."

Also, fighters from the Canelo vs. Golovkin undercard hosted a media workout at MGM Resort Hotel and Casino before their upcoming fights this Saturday, Sept. 16 at T-Mobile Arena.