Zurdo Ramirez defeats Arsen Goulamirian via unanimous decision

INGLEWOOD, CALIF. (March 30, 2024) - History was made in front of a sold out crowd as Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico became the new WBA Cruiserweight Super World Champion in a clash that went the distance against former long-time champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-1, 19 KOs) of Yerevan, Armenia. Ramirez etches his name among the Mexican pugilist elite, being the first Mexican to become a cruiserweight world titlist and the first of his countrymen to hold both the super middleweight and cruiserweight titles. The back-and-forth action was entertaining from start to finish, Feroz living up to his nickname of ferocious; Zurdo impressing with his bobbing and weaving and slick moves. All three judges scored the momentous 12-rounds 110-118 to name Zurdo Ramirez the new champion and handed Goulamirian his first-ever career defeat.

“Dreams come true. Los sueños se hacen realidad,” said Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. “Thank you to everyone who supported me and believed in me and also those who didn’t give me a chance. Thank you because it gave me great motivation, this is not just my new belt, this is the result of all the hard work of my team. I worked hard every day and I feel so proud of myself, I feel so happy for my family. This is for my dad too! I’m a big boy, I’m strong, and that’s what gave me the confidence. He told me he would break me mentally and physically and I knew that he couldn’t.”

“His punches didn’t really hurt me,” said Arsen Goulamirian. “I give him his props; he is the new champion now. He was slick in there with the movement, and that’s what helped him win. It was a longtime since I had been in the ring, and I definitely had to shake off some rust, but I want to come back very soon.”

Special VIP guests of the night included Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Partner Bernard Hopkins, Comedian Cedric the Entertainer, Actor Anthony Anderson, and British Broadcaster Kate Abdo. The action took place live from YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood and was broadcast live on DAZN.

In the co-main event, Santa Ana’s Alexis “Lex” Rocha (24-2, 16 KOs) made a valiant return with a TKO defeat of Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs). Scheduled as a 10-round welterweight bout, Rocha showed off his ring prowess and power in a fight that made it the conclusion of the seventh round where the referee waved the fight off.

“I want to thank my team, I am just very grateful for everyone,” said Alexis Rocha. Yeah it's my first fight after my loss and not that many people hold their head up like I did after my loss, but I just kept moving forward. I know what type of person and type of fighter I am. You just gotta keep moving forward, and I have great people behind me. I was hitting him with pretty much everything in the kitchen sink but like my coach always says you just have to be patient change combinations, change the speeds, and the knockout will come, don't go looking for it and I feel like I was doing that a little bit too much today.”

Also on the DAZN broadcast, Rialto’s Ricardo Sandoval (24-2, 17 KOs) added another knockout to his record with a solid TKO defeat of Managua, Nicaragua’s Carlos Buitrago (38-13-1, 22 KOs). The super flyweight fight was scheduled for 10-rounds, and the action-packed fight featured a dominant Sandoval who took control of the fight and displayed great ring generalship, slowly breaking down Buitrago who could not keep up. Upon the advice of the physician, the referee stopped the fight at the end of the eighth round.

In a bout that went the distance, Fort Worth, Texas’ Santiago “Somer” Dominguez (27-0, 20 KOs) secured a split decision victory against Jose Sanchez (14-3-1, 4 KOs) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 10-round welterweight fight featured a number of back-and-forth exchanges, the judges ultimately scoring the fight 97-93, 93-97 and 96-94 for Dominguez.

Opening the broadcast, in a scheduled four-round welterweight bout, Joel Iriarte (2-0, 2 KO) of Bakersfield set the crowd ablaze with a highlight-reel stoppage of Kevin Aguirre (5-3, 2 KOs) of Guerrero, Mexico. Iriarte went to work early, landing a flurry of punches that ultimately Aguirre couldn’t handle, causing him to go down at 2:09 in the first round.

On the preliminary card Victorville’s Rowdy Montgomery (11-5-1, 8 KOs) pulled off an upset knockout victory upset against Kareem Hackett (12-1, 6 KOs) of Toronto, Canada and stole Hackett’s WBA Intercontinental Title. Scheduled as a 10-round light heavyweight fight, Montgomery landed a massive blow to the head that Hackett was unable to recover from, the referee stopping the fight at 2:36 in round three when Hackett was unable to respond to the barrage of punches.

Making his professional debut, Ronaldo Mancilla (1-0, 1 KO) of Big Bear dazzled the crowd with a first-round knockout against Rueben Johnson (0-6) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Scheduled for four-rounds of light heavyweight action, the bout only made it to 2:09.

Oscar Valdez knocks out Liam Wilson in the 7th Round

GLENDALE, Arizona (March 29, 2024) — Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) wanted to show that he could become a champion again, and tonight he did it.

The former two-division world champion stopped Australian puncher Liam Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) in the seventh round to capture the WBO Interim junior lightweight world title Friday evening at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

After trying to find his distance in the opening round, Valdez began controlling the action by launching a quick jab, blocking and slipping any counters and looking for left hooks.

Wilson had more success by keeping his distance, but Valdez was able to lure him into punching range. In the sixth round, both stood toe-to-toe, where Valdez connected with left hooks to the body and right hooks to the side of Wilson’s head.

By the following round, Valdez had worn Wilson out, who stopped responding to Valdez’ onslaught and forced referee Mark Nelson to halt the action at 2:48.

Valdez said, “This victory means a lot. I proved a lot of people wrong again. People said ‘You’re thirty-something. You’re done. You got your jaw broken. You got your rib broken.’ But I refused to believe that.

“I told him {Liam} to not give up. I lost as well. It doesn’t mean you’re done in the sport. I’m a good example. He almost got me. He almost got 'Vaquero.' He almost became a world champion. I have nothing but respect for Liam Wilson and his team.”

Wilson said, “That’s how boxing goes. I tried to box in the first few rounds, but my heart got the better of me. These are the kind of fights I dreamed of since I was a kid. But, I’ve got to learn from this and start using my boxing brain.

"Oscar is a true champion, and I’m very proud to have shared the ring with him. It’s still early in my career. I have plenty to go. I’m young. I’ll be back.”

Super Bad To The Bone

The super fight live up to the pre-fight trash talk, and after 10 rounds of sustained action, an undisputed minimumweight world champion was crowned.

Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (26-0, 9 KOs) defeated longtime rival Yokasta Valle (30-3, 9 KOs) via unanimous decision to unify all the belts in the 105-pound division, a first in boxing history.

All judges scored the fight 97-93.

Both took the center of the ring in the opening round, but Estrada’s unorthodox style perplexed an aggressive Valle. A clash of heads in the first round caused a cut above Valle’s right eye, and Estrada had success by switching stances and punching from the outside.

An undeterred Valle stepped up the pace in round four, landing a right hook that appeared to stun Estrada. Valle continued landing in the fifth, and it was evident that she was stronger on the inside.

Estrada made adjustments and began fighting again from the outside, landing with precision and even taunting Valle at times. The Costa Rican rallied late in the final round, but it was not enough.Estrada said, "I feel better. I’m happy. It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time, becoming undisputed. It finally happened, and I accomplished my dreams. I’m beyond overwhelmed and happy.

“I knew she would come in and be aggressive like she always is. That’s her style, and I knew I would take everything away from her that she does best.

“I’m very competitive, and I want to be the best. In this training camp, there were days where it was difficult for me to go to the gym. My body was hurting. My back was hurting. My hand was hurting. But I pushed through because that’s what champions do and because I want to be great."

Valle said, “I did feel {the headbutt that opened the cut} was intentional. I felt that she did that coming towards me in the first round, and I had to struggle through that for the last nine rounds.”

Junior Welterweight: Raymond "Danger" Muratalla (20-0, 16 KOs) cruised to a 10-round unanimous points victory against late-notice replacement Xolisani Ndongeni (31-5, 18 KOs). Muratalla boxed with tranquil confidence, pawing with jabs before unleashing one-twos and sneaky hooks to the body. Ndongeni proved to be very durable, but Muratalla's defense prevented him from making any significant impact. Scores: 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93.

Junior Welterweight: Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (20-0, 15 KOs) may be a slow starter, but he always gets the job done. The 29-year-old contender knocked out countryman Carlos Sanchez (25-3, 19 KOs) in the seventh round. Sanchez connected on Delgado early because Delgado's defensive parries made him open to counters. Nevertheless, Delgado dropped Sanchez with a counter right hand in the fifth and ended matters in the seventh with a right hook. Time of stoppage: 48.

Heavyweight: U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (9-0, 9 KOs) retained his 100 percent knockout ratio with a first-round TKO against Don Haynesworth (18-9-1, 16 KOs). After boxing for the first half of the round, Torrez found an opening and began unleashing a two-fisted barrage, forcing referee Raul Caiz Jr. to halt the action at 2:19.

Middleweight: Phoenix's hometown hero Sergio Rodriguez (11-0-1, 8 KOs) decisioned Sanny Duversonne (12-7-2, 9 KOs) across six-rounds of action. Rodriguez pressed forward and landed, but Duversonne responded immediately each time, which prevented Rodriguez from continuing his momentum. Scores: 60-54 and 59-55 2x.

Lightweight: Emiliano Fernando Vargas (9-0, 7 KOs) had his toughest fight to date as he tallied a hard-earned unanimous decision against Nelson Hampton (10-9, 6 KOs). Vargas had the offensive advantage with speed and power, but Hampton answered back with many counters as Vargas admired his work. Scores: 60-54 3x.

Lightweight: Alan "Kid Kansas" Garcia (12-0, 10 KOs), the unbeaten standout who signed with Top Rank earlier this month, stopped Gonzalo Fuenzalida (12-4, 3 KOs) via TKO in the second round. Time of stoppage: 1:58.

Junior Welterweight: Art Barrera Jr. (4-0, 4 KOs), the Robert Garcia-trained powerhouse from Linwood, California, blasted out Kevin Soto (5-2, 3 KOs) with a left hook in the second round. Time of stoppage: 2:17.

Junior Welterweight: Ricardo Ruvalcaba (12-0-1, 10 KOs) handed Avner Hernandez Molina (4-4) his first stoppage defeat with a fifth-round TKO. Time of stoppage: 1:44.

Moloney-Guevara Co-Features Lomachenko-Kambosos, Cuadras withdrawn

PERTH, Western Australia (March 27, 2024) — The opponent has changed, but the stakes are just as high for Australian standout Andrew Moloney. Pedro Guevara will now fight Moloney for the vacant WBC Interim junior bantamweight world title on Sunday, May 12 at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

 
Guevara replaces former world champion Carlos Cuadras, who was forced to withdraw from the fight due to a torn Achilles suffered in training. Moloney-Guevara will be the co-feature to the vacant IBF lightweight world title showdown between Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. In other world championship action on the bill, WBA bantamweight world champion Nina Hughes looks to turn back the challenge of one-time world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson.

Promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Top Rank, Ferocious Promotions, TEG Sport and Duco Events, Lomachenko-Kambosos, Moloney-Guevara and Hughes-Johnson will be broadcast in prime time in the United States on Saturday, May 11 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

“I’m grateful that Top Rank and my team were able to get such a great opponent so quickly and to still be fighting for the WBC Interim world title,” Moloney said. “Guevara has only lost to world champions, and each of his defeats have come by either split or majority decision. I look forward to being the first person to beat him convincingly and making a massive statement.”

"This is a fantastic opportunity. Moloney is a great fighter, but I want the WBC green belt,” Guevara said. “It’s an honor to be part of the Lomachenko-Kambosos event. I’m very grateful to Top Rank, All Star Boxing and Bxstrs Promotions for making this happen. I will not let my Mexican people down."

Moloney (26-3, 16 KOs) is unbeaten when fighting on Australian soil and looks to continue his climb back up the 115-pound rankings. After suffering a 12th-round stoppage defeat to Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title last May, he returned in December with a convincing decision over Judy Flores in Melbourne, Australia. Guevara (41-4-1, 22 KOs), from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, is a former WBC light flyweight world champion who made two world title defenses in 2015. He challenged Kenshiro Teraji for that title in 2017, dropping a majority decision. Guevara saw his 10-fight winning streak end when he lost a split decision to Cuadras last November for the WBC Interim junior bantamweight world title. In February, he outlasted Lamberto Macias via 10-round decision in Mazatlán.

In other undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, knockout sensation Imam Khataev (6-0, 6 KOs) steps up against Ričards Bolotņiks (20-7-1, 8 KOs). Khataev, who trains in Sydney, Australia, earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. As a professional, he has yet to be pushed past the third round.

Two action-packed heavyweight fights, which will take place after the main event, have been added to the card. Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (31-5, 27 KOs) returns to Australian soil to face New Zealand’s Hemi Ahio (21-1, 16 KOs) in an eight-rounder. The last time Browne fought in Australia, he shocked Junior Fa with a first-round knockout on the first Kambosos-Devin Haney card in Melbourne.

And, in an all-Australian 10-rounder, Faiga Opelu (16-4-2, 12 KOs) will battle former amateur standout Joe Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs). Opelu hopes to notch his second straight win, while Goodall looks to rebound from last November’s stoppage defeat to Nigerian knockout artist Efe Ajagba.

Lomachenko-Kambosos, Moloney-Guevara and Hughes-Johnson final tickets including ringside hospitality on sale now at Ticketek.

The final tickets for this event, which are selling across all categories, are on sale now at Ticketek and VIP NOW for hospitality, and when these are gone, the event will be a sellout.

Liam Wilson: "I'm Ready For A War!"

HENDERSON, Nevada (March 25, 2024) — Liam Wilson is eager to claim his spot among the top fighters in the junior lightweight division.

The Australian former world title challenger will take on former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez in a special 12-round attraction this Friday, March 29 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

In the co-feature, WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine champion Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada and WBO/IBF ruler Yokasta Valle will collide in a highly anticipated showdown for the undisputed minimumweight crown.

Valdez-Wilson & Estrada-Valle headline a stacked card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with No Limit Boxing, tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.

Wilson (13-2, 7 KOs) is a five-year pro who made his U.S. debut by nearly upsetting Emanuel Navarrete in a bid for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title at Desert Diamond Arena last February. The 28-year-old stunned Navarrete with a left hook before flooring him with a flurry of punches in the fourth. Wilson was eventually stopped in the ninth round, but he bounced back with victories over Carlos Alanis in August and Jackson Jon England in December. Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, returns following an August defeat against Navarrete at the same venue.

Following a recent training session in Henderson, Nevada, this is what Wilson had to say:

“I’ve had two fights since the Navarrete fight. I feel much more prepared this time around. I’m going back to the same place. I’m much more familiar with the whole atmosphere there. I’m really looking forward to March 29.”

“I think he’s going to want to prove himself in this fight. He wants to show that he still has what it takes to be a world champion. So, while I’m not sure what to expect, I know he is well rounded. You don’t become a two-division world champion by being one-dimensional.”

“It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen with him. In the past, he’s shown that he likes to go in there and brawl. But he’s also been boxing and moving more in his last couple fights. So, I’m not too sure what to expect from him, but I’m ready for anything.”

“He has been in a lot of wars. I have that tendency as well. If a fight gets rough, I get dragged into it. So, I’m ready for anything. I’m going to use my abilities. I’m going to stick to my game plan. But I’m also ready for a war.”

Denzel Whitley improves to 14-0

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 25, 2024) – Undefeated prospect Dennzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-0, 8 KOs) remained undefeated, winning last Saturday night’s “Pandemonium at The Palladium 3” main event with a second-round stoppage of late replacement Joe Wilson, Jr. (3-7, 0 KOs). “Pandemonium at the Palladium 3,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), was streamed on www.BXNGTV.com live from the famed Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Whitley dropped Wilson at the end of round one with a nifty one-two, but he managed to rise to beat the count. Wilson may have survived but it was only temporarily, as Whitley unloaded a perfect left hook that sent Wilson to the canvas. Referee Gene Del Bianco immediately stopped the fight without counting. The 25-year-old Whitley, fighting out of Holyoke (MA), is the reigning Junior North American Boxing Federation (NABF), Massachusetts and United States Boxing Federation (USBF) welterweight champion. The Sumpter brothers, fighting out of Pittsfield (MA), fought on the same card for the first time in 21 months. IBA Americas Super Middleweight Champion Steve “The Savage” Sumpter (9-0-1, 7 KOs) fought Antonio Louis “Tony The Beast” Hernandez (7-18-3, 4 KOs) to an eight-round majority draw in a non-title fight. Sumpter seemed to be loading up for one big punch during the first few rounds, but in the sixth round, southpaw Sumpter let his hands go, connecting on several occasions. Knowing the fight was close, Sumpter came out in the eighth round on the attack, belting Hernandez with some punishing punches, but he didn’t sustain the pressure, forcing the action only in spurts. Sumpter’s older brother, heavyweight Quintin Sumpter (7-2, 4 KOs), out-punched a game, colorful Zach Calmus (1-1), of Gloucester (MA), in a bombs-away encounter for a four-round unanimous decision. Sumpter dropped the awkward Calmus with a left hook to the top of the head only seconds prior to the end of fourth and final round.  Springfield (MA) super featherweight Carlos “El Gallo” Gonzalez (11-0, 10 KOs), the new Massachusetts Champion, kept his undefeated record intact with another dominant performance, blasting Aldimar Silva (22-25, 14 KOs) from the opening bell until the end. Gonzalez hurt Silva with a shot and then jumped all over him, battering him in a neutral corner with 10-unanswered punches, the last forcing Silva to take a knee. Referee Gene Del Bianco counted to eight, but he didn’t like what he saw in the eyes of the former Brazilian Super Bantamweight Champion and stopped the fight. Gonzalez has stopped all but one of his 11 opponents as a pro fighter. One of New England’s elite fighters, World Boxing Association’s (WBA) No. 14 rated super featherweight William “The Silent Assassin” Foster, III (16-1, 10 KOs), a 2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion and reigning WBA Fedecentro Champion, faced Lucas “El Pibe” Mignoni (14-6, 4 Kos), of Argentina. Fighting out of New Haven (CT), Foster dropped Mignoni with a vicious left hook to the body that dropped the Argentinian to his knees, and he was unable to beat the referee Del Bianco’s count. The newest member of the CGP stable, Dorchester (MA) lightweight Jonathan de Pina (13-2, 6 KOs), knocked out Michael “Titan” Taylor (1-7) in the second round. De Pina, the 2018 New England Golden Gloves Champion, unloaded in the second after a feeling-out first round, trapping Taylor in a neutral corner and pounding him until referee Paul Casey waved off the fight.

(L) – Jonathan de Pina was victorious in his GCP debut   Southpaw Jetter Burgos (8-1, 6 KOs), fighting out of the Bronx, outclassed super welterweight Linwood “Mr. Composure” Dozier (10-36-3, 5 KOs) in the opening fight of the evening, mixing in a steady diet of crisp combinations and powerful body shots en route to a six-round unanimous decision.

Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang reported finalizing deal for June 1 fight in Saudi Arabia

Deontay Wilder could be back in the ring on June 1 against Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia as the deal is in the process of finalizing according to ESPN's Mike Coppinger.

Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are in the process of finalizing a deal for a June 1 fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN. The heavyweight bout will take place on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed title fight. Two monster punchers. pic.twitter.com/yPVaeHXOfC

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 22, 2024

Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had three losses from his last four bouts starting from back-to-back losses against Tyson Fury, a knockout win from Robert Helenius and a one-sided loss against Joseph Parker in his last fight also in Saudi Arabia.

Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) had two losses from his last four bouts starting from a unanimous decision loss against Filip Hrgovic, back-to-back win against Joe Joyce and a loss against Joseph Parker in his last fight this month also in Saudi Arabia.

Both fighters got their respective losses only from the last four bouts of their career wherein Zhang scored back-to-back wins against the same opponent, Joyce, whereas Wilder had back-to-back losses against the same opponent in Fury. Both men also lost to the same opponent in their last fight.

William Zepeda vs Max Hughes Highlight

William Zepeda delivered what's expected as he pummeled the former champion Max Hughes to retirement after 4 rounds of domination. Watch below highlight from DAZN.

The Fighter of the Night is brought to you by @monkeymanmovie, a new action film presented by Universal Pictures available in theaters across the US April 5.#ZepedaHughes pic.twitter.com/4TlvdBBdwx

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 17, 2024

William Zepeda retires Max Hughes after 4 rounds of onslaught

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (March 16, 2024) – In a masterful performance that displayed his impressive and effective volume punching as well as relentless breakdown to the body of his opponent, San Mateo Atenco, Mexico’s undefeated knockout machine William “El Camarón” Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) stopped the valiant former IBO World Champion Maxi “Maximus” Hughes (26-7-2, 5 KOs) of Yorkshire, UK. Zepeda secured a golden ticket to be the first in line for an opportunity to fight for a world championship with his TKO stoppage, as he pummeled Hughes through the first four rounds, causing Hughes to retire in the corner at the conclusion of the fourth round. The Golden Boy Promotions event was a scheduled 12-round IBF and WBA Lightweight World Championship Eliminator that was co-promoted with DiBella Entertainment and took place live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and broadcast around the world on DAZN.

"This was another day in the office," said William Zepeda. "Thirty different camps and thirty different wins and all I can do is thank my team. Early on I knew I had him, the strategy was to work the body and finish at the top. It is not confidence that I feel, but the weight of responsibility to keep giving this level of performances. The rivals who are at my doorstep are much stronger and have a lot more experience and we must continue to work. I will be the next champion from Mexico! I am ready for Shakur, Gervonta - who ever is ready to face me. I want to be a world champion."

In the co-main event, undefeated Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) successfully defended his WBA International Lightweight Title against Las Vegas’ Esteuri “El Puma” Suero (13-2, 10 KOs). Scheduled for 10 rounds, “Kid Austin” suffered an accidental headbutt in the first round. The match featured a slew of non-sportsmanlike antics from Suero including holding, two low blows, and picking up Schofield twice in the fourth round. The referee stopped the fight at 2:07 of the fifth round, disqualifying Suero and awarding the victory to Floyd Schofield.

Representing Kansas City, Eric Priest (13-0, 8 KOs) went the distance against Jose “Matador” Sanchez (21-5-1, 12 KOs) of Reynosa, Mexico, in a 10-round middleweight fight. Priest was aggressive throughout the fight, with the judges awarding him the unanimous decision victory with scores of 99-91, 99-91, and 100-90.

Also on the DAZN Broadcast, Las Vegas’ Tristan “Sweet T” Kalkreuth (13-1, 10 KOs) participated in an eight-round heavyweight fight against Seattle, Washington’s Marquice Weston (15-3-1, 8 KOs). The fight only made it to 1:33 of the second round, with Kalkreuth utilizing the left hook to send Weston to the mat.

Opening fight night and the DAZN broadcast with a spectacular professional debut, 17-time national amateur champion and former Team USA member Joel Iriarte (1-0, 1 KO) of Bakersfield, California, dazzled the crowd with a second-round TKO of Bryan Carguacundo (3-6-2) of Ecuador. The bout was scheduled for four rounds of welterweight action.

Lomachenko-Kambosos Jr. showdown includes Cuadras-Maloney in May

PERTH, Western Australia (March 13, 2024) — Two world title fights featuring Australian challengers have been added to the super card headlined by the vacant IBF lightweight world title showdown between Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. on Sunday, May 12 at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Mexican standout Carlos Cuadras will defend his WBC Interim junior bantamweight world title against former world champion Andrew Moloney.

And, in a bantamweight world title tilt, WBA champion Nina Hughes looks to turn back the challenge of one-time world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson.

Promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Top Rank, Ferocious Promotions, TEG Sport and Duco Events, Lomachenko-Kambosos, Cuadras-Moloney and Hughes-Johnson will be broadcast in prime time in the United States on Saturday, May 11 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Cuadras vs. Moloney is presented in association with Teiken Promotions.

“Not only is this historic event a first for Australia, with three world championship fights on the same bill, it is truly a fight fan’s card with compelling matchups in each of the featured attractions, promising plenty of action. Both Aussies, Andrew Moloney and Cherneka Johnson, will be extra motivated to reclaim past glory in front of their compatriots. Mexican great Carlos Cuadras is never in a bad fight, and it’s impossible not to root for Nina Hughes, a single mom who continues to defy the odds,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.

“I can’t wait to arrive in the beautiful city of Perth for this historic event,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Andrew Moloney is in a fantastic fight against one of Mexico’s great champions, and I expect the Hughes-Johnson title fight to be a competitive, dramatic bantamweight battle.”

Cuadras (42-5-1, 28 KOs), a 16-year-pro and one of the leading lighter weight fighters of this generation, made six defenses of the WBC 115-pound world title from 2014-2016. Since being dethroned by pound-for-pound great Roman Gonzalez in September 2016, he is 7-4, including decision defeats to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Juan Francisco Estrada in bids to regain his WBC world title. Cuadras has won three consecutive fights, most recently traveling to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and edging countryman Pedro Guevara by split decision to win the Interim world title.

“I look forward to the challenge of fighting Andrew Moloney in Australia, and I am coming to prove I am still a force at 115 pounds,” Cuadras said. “There are many great champions in my division, but I can’t overlook Moloney, a hungry fighter who will be encouraged by the Australian fans.”

Moloney (26-3, 16 KOs) briefly held the WBA junior bantamweight world title before going 0-2 with a no contest in an eventful trilogy against Joshua Franco from 2020-2021. He then reeled off four consecutive victories, including three on Australian soil, to earn a shot at the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title last May against Japanese superstar Junto Nakatani. Moloney hung tough, but in the 12th round, Nakatani landed a crunching left hand that ended the fight. He returned to the win column last December, securing a decision over Judy Flores to pick up a regional title.

“I’m absolutely pumped to have this fight locked in. Carlos Cuadras has been in with the best of the best at junior bantamweight, and he is the biggest name available in the division,” Moloney said. “I was there live to watch him fight Juan Francisco Estrada nearly seven years ago, and to be fighting him for the Interim world title in Australia is a huge opportunity. To have both Lomachenko and Cuadras fighting in Australia shows how much Australian boxing is flying now, and I’m thrilled to be part of it all. Bring on May 12!”

Hughes (6-0, 2 KOs) turned pro in December 2021 at 39 years old. She had a decorated amateur career with more than 70 fights and four national titles. Hughes, a single mother of two, set her sights on a professional career during the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the Commonwealth bantamweight title in her third outing and upset Jamie Mitchell by unanimous decision in November 2022 to capture the WBA bantamweight world title. She made her lone title defense last June, turning away Katie Healy via decision. The ageless Hughes now turns her attention to Johnson, the home country favorite.

“I am looking forward to showing the world why I am the WBA bantamweight world champion, and I’m thrilled to be fighting on such a prestigious event in Perth, Western Australia,” Smith said. “Cherneka Johnson is a former world champion, and while it will be a tough assignment, I will not be denied victory. Thank you to DiBella Entertainment and Leon Sudbury at Takeover Sports Management for getting this fight made.”

Johnson (15-2, 6 KOs) was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia as a pre-teen, and she soon established herself as one of Australia’s standout amateurs. In April 2022, six years after turning pro, she snatched the vacant IBF junior featherweight world title with a majority decision over Melissa Esquivel in Melbourne, Australia. She defended the title six months later on the Devin Haney-Kambosos II undercard in Melbourne, overcoming a brutal cut to beat Susie Ramadan. Johnson lost her title last June in London, where she lost a unanimous decision to Ellie Scotney. Nearly a year later, she returns to bantamweight, motivated to become a two-weight queen.

“I am excited to fight for a second world title on this great event alongside boxing legends here in Perth, Western Australia,” Johnson said. “It has been a long journey for me, full of hard work and dedication, and I am determined to become a two-time world champion. It is an honor to fight Nina Hughes, but I am here to win. On fight night, I will show the world what I am made of.”

Anthony Joshua knocks out cold Francis Ngannou [DAZN KO highlight]

It's all "right" (hand)!

Indeed, there was "Knockout Chaos" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as Anthony Joshua flattened Francis Ngannou in Round 2 in their 10-round heavyweight boxing match on Friday night at the Kingdom Arena.

Joshua (28-3-0, 25 KOs) scored a knockdown in Round 1 from a powerful straight right hand that landed on Ngannou's face one minute remaining in the first round. Ngannou was able to get up and with shaky legs survived the round.

The second round was the beginning of the end as Joshua once again scored a big right hand that send Ngannou once again to the canvas. Ngannou (0-2-0, 0 KO) barely survive the count and was in big trouble. As the referee signalled to continue the fight, Joshua unleashed another lethal right hand that knocked the former UFC heavyweight king cold around 32 seconds remaining in the second round.

Enjoy the highlight below and more stories to follow.

USA BOXING: Roscoe Hill grabs second win at 2024 Olympic Games World Qualifier

BUSTO ARSIZIO, Italy – (March 6, 2024) – Roscoe Hill (Spring, Texas) picked up his second win in Busto Arsizio, Italy, during today’s boxing at the 2024 Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament to leave Team USA’s record 6-1 after four days of boxing.

Hill, who faced Trofimus Johannes of Namibia, overcame Johannes's length and height by using his jab and jabs to the body in the opening round, resulting in a 5-0 lead at the end of the bell.

The American flyweight continued to use his quick movement and right hand in the second round to pick up four of the five judges’ cards and extend his lead. Hill closed out the third round by continuing to use his jab and defensive skills for another 5-0 round and secured the unanimous decision victory.

Hill is now in the Sweet 16, where he will fight Jordan’s Huthaifa Eshish on Sunday.

The other American to compete today, Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, N.C.), fell short to Cindy Ngamba of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Team. The battle of these two 75 kg boxers resulted in a unanimous decision win favoring Ngamba.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for Team USA. Five boxers will take to the ring, including Shera Mae Patricio (Waianae, Hawaii) and Jamar Talley (Camden, N.J.), who will make their tournament debuts. Patricio will face Angel Yris Lopez of Puerto Rico, while Talley will face Ayoub Maanni of Morocco.

Joining Patricio and Talley will be Emilio Garcia (Laredo, Texas), Omari Jones (Orlando, Fla.) and Alyssa Mendoza (Caldwell, Idaho), all returning to the ring for their second bouts of the tournament after impressive opening performances.

Eight boxers arrived in Italy representing Team USA, hoping to punch their ticket to this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games under USA Boxing National Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Joining Walsh on the coaching staff are National Resident Coach Timothy Nolan (Rochester, N.Y.), National Development Coach Chad Wigle (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and assistant coaches Adonis Frazier (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Christine Lopez (Rowlett, Texas).

The tournament is one of the largest Olympic qualifiers in boxing history, with over 600 boxers from 113 nations competing at the E-Work Arena, hoping to grab one of the 49 quota places available for this summer’s Games.

Click here to stay updated on Team USA’s journey in Busto Arsizio, including athlete stories, daily schedule, live stream, and more.

Day 4 Results

51 kg: Roscoe Hill, Spring, Texas/USA, vs. Trofimus Johannes/NAM

75 kg: Cindy Ngamba/BRT decision over Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C./USA, 5-0

Day 5 Schedule

54 kg: Shera Mae Patricio, Waianae, Hawaii/USA, vs. Angel Yris Lopez/PUR

57 kg: Alyssa Mendoza, Caldwell, Idaho/USA, vs. Satsuki Yoshizawa/JPN

63.5 kg: Emilio Garcia, Laredo, Texas/USA, vs. Erislandy Alvarez/CUB

71 kg: Omari Jones, Orlando, Fla./USA, vs. Mohamed Rachem/BEL

92 kg: Jamar Talley, Camden, N.J./USA, vs. Ayoub Maanni/MAR

Official: Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery, Tokyo Dome on May 6

TOKYO (March 5, 2024) — Japan’s pound-for-pound hero is set to headline the biggest boxing event his country has ever seen. Undisputed junior featherweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend all the belts against Mexican puncher Luis “Pantera” Nery on Monday, May 6 at the Tokyo Dome.

Inoue, a four-weight world champion and two-weight undisputed king, will headline at the iconic venue for the first time.

Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT. Australia’s WBO bantamweight world champion, Jason “Mayhem” Moloney will defend his belt against rising knockout artist and former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei.

The world title quadruple-header also features WBA bantamweight world champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), younger brother of Naoya, who defends his title against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs). And, in a flyweight world title tilt, newly minted WBA world champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) battles Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 Japanese title bout, which Akui won by 10th-round TKO.

“Naoya Inoue is the world’s best fighter, a young man who amazes me every time he steps in the ring. Luis Nery is a tough challenger, but I fully expect Inoue to get the job done in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “In addition to this incredible main event, we have a spectacular undercard highlighted by Jason Moloney, a road warrior who is coming to Japan determined to show he’s the world’s best bantamweight.”

The Tokyo Dome, which opened in March 1988, has a brief-but-storied boxing history. Four days after the venue’s grand opening, Mike Tyson defended the undisputed heavyweight championship with a second-round TKO over Tony Tubbs in front of 51,000 spectators. The last professional boxing event at “The Big Egg” took place in February 1990. In one of sport’s greatest upsets, James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10th round to capture the undisputed crown.

Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) won his first world title in April 2014 and has been flawless ever since. He sports an astounding 21-0 record in world title fights, including 19 knockouts. He became undisputed champion in two weight classes in 378 days, knocking out Paul Butler in December 2022 to become the bantamweight ruler and stopping Marlon Tapales last December to unify the junior featherweight division. Five months before the Tapales triumph, Inoue stopped the previously undefeated two-belt American champion, Stephen Fulton, in his junior featherweight debut. He was named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.com and Ring Magazine and makes his 2024 debut intent on solidifying his stranglehold over the division.

Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and junior featherweight. Nery lost his bantamweight title after missing weight for his 2018 rematch against Shinsuke Yamanaka, the man he dethroned for the belt the previous year. He won a decision over Aaron Alameda in 2020 to become a two-weight world champion. Nery’s unbeaten run ended the following year with a seventh-round stoppage loss to Brandon Figueroa in a title unification tilt. He has won four straight fights since the Figueroa setback, including a sensational 11th-round knockout over Azat Hovhannisyan last February in one of the year’s best fights.

Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) won world title honors in his third attempt, turning back Filipino veteran Vincent Astrolabio by majority decision last May. He defended his WBO strap in January with a back-and-forth battle against Saul Sanchez in Quebec City, Canada. Moloney retained his title by majority decision and will travel to foreign soil once again. Takei (8-0, 8 KOs) is a southpaw who turned pro in March 2021 and quickly climbed the rankings. He last fought on the Inoue-Tapales undercard, knocking out Mario Diaz Maldonado in the second round. He went 23-2 with 16 knockouts as a kickboxer and held the K-1 Super Bantamweight Championship for nearly three years.

Moloney said, “I’ve always wanted to fight in Japan, and to do it on this huge show in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tokyo Dome is what dreams are made of. I want to be known as a throwback world champion. I won my title in America, defended it in Canada, and now I’m willing to go into enemy territory and defend my title in Japan against the undefeated Yoshiki Takei. I know the Japanese fans will enjoy this fight, and I look forward to making some new fans in Japan and all over the world. On May 6, I will show the world what the ‘Mayhem Era’ is all about!”

Raymond Ford Wins Featherweight Crown With 12th-Round Miracle TKO

VERONA, N,Y. (March 2, 2024) — Raymond “Savage” Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) captured the WBA featherweight world title with a dramatic, come-from-behind 12th-round TKO win against Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov (12-1, 11 KOs).

Trailing on two of three scorecards, Ford dug deep to secure his first world title in the final round, as Kholmatov was ahead with two scores of 106-103, while one judge had it 105-104 for the native of Camden, New Jersey.

Kholmatov started off strong, pressuring and hurting Ford with a left hand in the second round. Ford then began to change the dynamic by pressuring the power puncher, using his high guard to stand in front of Kholmatov to land his offense.

By the seventh round, both men were going toe-to-toe in the center of the ring. Kholmatov fought on the outside in the later rounds, but he was hurt by Ford in the final stanza. Ford quickly capitalized and landed a flurry. Referee Charlie Fitch waved off the contest at 2:53 as Kholmatov staggered into the ropes.

Ford said, “My coach told me to bring that dog out. We knew we were coming into their territory. This wasn’t under our promotion. But we had to dig deep. The whole time in the corner, I kept telling myself, ‘I’m going to stop him.’ I felt him breaking down as the rounds went on.

“I started off a little slow. I felt I didn’t really have the energy and the legs to be the sharper boxer I know I can be. That was due to a tough weight cut. So, this may be my last fight at 126. Then, we’ll go up to 130 and call out the champions there.

“I knew I had to stop him. The rounds were too close. I just had to bring that dog out that my coaches were talking about. I always knew I had it in me. I come from a rough background. There’s nothing that can stop me. Ever.”

Venado Crushes Abe in Round Eight

Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) successfully defended his IBF featherweight crown with an eighth-round TKO win over Japanese contender Reiya Abe (25-4-1, 10 KOs).

Abe struggled with Lopez’s offense as the Mexican warrior launched forward with power shots from odd angles. A left hand from Lopez caused Abe’s right eye to swell. The ringside physician allowed him to continue, as Lopez continued to march forward.

In the eighth round, inspired by the cheers from the crowd, Lopez initiated a flurry of quick strikes, which forced referee Mark Nelson to halt the action at :39.

Lopez said, "I turned and looked at my family, my baby, my wife and my mom and dad, and that was the key to my motivation. I knew I had to finish the fight.

"Abe was a warrior. He was able to continue with his eye shut. He continued fighting with a lot of heart. We know that Japanese fighters have a lot of heart. But I also have a lot of hunger to continue being a world champion, and I had to show that.

“Like I have been saying, it would be great for me to unify. But I would also like to have a fight at 130 pounds. If they put me in against the winner of Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson, that would be stupendous.”

Welterweight: Brian Norman Jr. (25-0, 19 KOs) and Janelson Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs) fought to a no decision. Bocachica suffered a cut in the opening round. He landed a chopping counter right hand in the final seconds that dropped Norman, who himself was cut above his right eye in the second stanza. By round three, Bocachica’s cut prompted the referee to stop the fight at the end of the round.

Junior Welterweight: Hometown hero Bryce Mills (15-1, 5 KOs) defeated Gerffred Ngayot (6-2, 5 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision. An aggressive Mills fought at a high pace, which Ngayot had trouble keeping up with. Mills slowed down in the final two rounds, but landed more on a defensively-minded Ngayot. Scores: 58-57 and 60-54 2x.

Middleweight: U.S. Olympian Troy Isley (12-0, 5 KOs) made a statement in his second fight with new trainer Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre. Isley delivered a seventh-round TKO over Marcos Hernandez (16-7-2, 3 KOs). Isley battled rhythmically throughout the fight, easily mixing in offense and defense, before landing a right hand that dropped Hernandez and forced referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight at 1:30.

Bantamweight: Floyd Diaz (11-0, 3 KOs) tallied a unanimous points win against Puerto Rican veteran Edwin Rodriguez (12-8-2, 5 KOs). Diaz landed his counter right uppercut frequently on a game Rodriguez, whose spirited effort was subdued by Diaz's sharper counters. Scores: 78-74, 79-73 and 80-72.

Junior Welterweight: Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (12-0, 7 KOs) handed Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs) his first loss tonight, battering him from post to post en route to an eight-round unanimous decision. Zaina was crafty on the outside, but Polanco overwhelmed him with constant pressure and counterpunching, dropping him and nearly finishing the job in the final round. Scores: 78-72 and 79-71 2x.

Middleweight: Nico Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KOs) defeated Charles Stanford (7-6, 4 KOs) via six-round unanimous decision. Scores: 59-55 and 60-54 2x. It marked the second straight win for the grandson of "The Greatest," who suffered his lone defeat last August.

Heavyweight: Brandon Moore (14-0, 8 KOs) remained unbeaten with a hard-earned unanimous points verdict against Helaman Olguin (9-7-1, 4 KOs). Scores: 80-72 3x

Weigh-In Results: Kholmatov 125.8, Ford 125.9

The challenger Raymond "Savage" Ford stepped on the scale first and registered in at 125.9 lbs. while Otabek "Bruce Lee" Kholmatov weighed in at 125.8 lbs. for their 12-round clash for the vacant WBA featherweight title this Saturday night, March 2, on ESPN at the Turning Stone Resort Casino, in Verona, New York. The event will be shown live on ESPN+ at 5:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. PT.

Ryan Garcia uploads sparring video between Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney

For whatever reason or simply to get under the skin of Davin Haney, Ryan Garcia shared a footage of a sparring between Davin Haney (his April 20 opponent) and previous opponent Gervonta Davis.

The video was obviously a part of a longer video of the sparring. The video showed Davis, not only dominating but punishing Haney with power shots to the head and body. In my estimate, those punches that Haney took from Davis really hurt and in fairness, Haney was standing.

Stream Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia LIVE with DAZN PPV!

Don't miss the action when Devin Haney takes on Ryan Garcia

Live on DAZN pay-per-view. Get your subscription now!

Buy Haney vs. Garcia on DAZN PPV

I don't know how this action will impact Garcia. Maybe no one will allow him to watch sparring session or share any sparring footage with him :). So, guys you be the judge if this is ethical to leak sparring footage like this.

It's a good policy, in my opinion to don't allow filming in a sparring session. At my first glance, I feel something is wrong about in uploading it. What do you think?