Stevenson stripped after refusing WBC's demand for $100K |
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Rather than allow Shakur Stevenson a reasonable period of time to decide in which weight class he wants to campaign, the WBC stripped him of his 135-pound title less than three days after he moved up to win the world 140-pound championship from Teofimo Lopez. Stevenson remains the world / WBO junior welterweight champion. Here is what the WBC wrote: "On January 31st, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson gave a brilliant performance to defeat WBO [and] world [junior welterweight] champion Teofimo López. Champion Stevenson is now a four-time world champion, a feat achieved by a few boxers in history. Among those boxers we find Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Terrence Crawford. Throughout his career, Champion Stevenson has maintained a historic and extraordinarily successful relationship with the WBC. His ascent to the top began in January 2019, when he captured [a WBC regional] title, signaling the start of a career destined for greatness. In 2022, Stevenson solidified his elite status by defeating Oscar Valdez to become the WBC [junior lightweight] champion. Subsequently, in 2023, he moved up to the lightweight division to claim the green and gold belt, a title he defended with pride and technical mastery on three consecutive occasions. In light of Champion Stevenson now being the reigning WBO [and] world [junior welterweight] champion and consistent with the WBC Rules & Regulations, the WBC has declared vacant its lightweight world title. The WBC wishes Champion Stevenson continued success in all his future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring. The WBC will provide further information regarding the process to crown a new lightweight world champion in the near future."
Stevenson's social media response quickly made it clear that the WBC acted rashly over a money dispute. The champ wrote: "$100,000 to some crooks who don’t deserve it? Nah Leilani [Stevenson's daughter], I rather give it to u baby girl.. The WBC didn’t even have sh*t to do with this fight and it’s eating them alive... take your belt it don’t make me."
Stevenson is following the example set by his mentor, the great Terence Crawford, who did the same thing two months ago: On September 13, 2025, Crawford became the world super middleweight champion, defeating Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in a brilliant performance. The fight was contested for the WBC, WBO, IBF, and WBA titles. At its convention shortly afterwards, the WBC stripped Crawford of the WBC title over a dispute about sanctioning fees. Crawford responded with a mic-drop video shaming the WBC and its president. His choicest comments were: "Just had to get something off my chest. I got a lot to say... I see Mauricio [Sulaiman, president of the WBC] got a lot to say about me not paying him $300,000... They ain't going to tell me. I ain't [going to] apologize. Like, who the f--- you think I am? Well, you better slap your f-in self. I ain't paying your ass sh*t. What the f-ck you talking about pay you $300,000? What makes you so mother's---ckin better than any other other sanctioning bodies ... You can take the f-ckin belt. It's a trophy anyway... Why should I have to pay to carry your belt? You should be paying me. It irks my nerves how this dude gets on a plane, gets a hotel suite, him and his buddies go out to five star meals and guess who has to pay for it? Us fighters... It's all done on our dime... We getting battered, knocked upside our head but everyone we set foot in the ring, we gotta pay the. We getting taxed, its crazy... Mauricio, I appreciate you because everyone in the word knows you were going for Canelo, and you were mad I beat Canelo. If you were a real fan of the sport you would have said congratulations. But listen, you should have taken the money [I offered] and you should have been grateful... but you wanted to make it about you."
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Stevenson stripped after refusing WBC's demand for $100K
Rather than allow Shakur Stevenson a reasonable period of time to decide in which weight class he wants to campaign, the WBC stripped him of his 135-pound title less than three days after he moved up to win the world 140-pound championship from Teofimo Lopez. Stevenson remains the world / WBO junior welterweight champion. Here is what the WBC wrote: "On January 31st, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson gave a brilliant performance to defeat WBO [and] world [junior welterweight] champion Teofimo López. Champion Stevenson is now a four-time world champion, a feat achieved by a few boxers in history. Among those boxers we find Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Terrence Crawford. Throughout his career, Champion Stevenson has maintained a historic and extraordinarily successful relationship with the WBC. His ascent to the top began in January 2019, when he captured [a WBC regional] title, signaling the start of a career destined for greatness. In 2022, Stevenson solidified his elite status by defeating Oscar Valdez to become the WBC [junior lightweight] champion. Subsequently, in 2023, he moved up to the lightweight division to claim the green and gold belt, a title he defended with pride and technical mastery on three consecutive occasions. In light of Champion Stevenson now being the reigning WBO [and] world [junior welterweight] champion and consistent with the WBC Rules & Regulations, the WBC has declared vacant its lightweight world title. The WBC wishes Champion Stevenson continued success in all his future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring. The WBC will provide further information regarding the process to crown a new lightweight world champion in the near future."
Stevenson's social media response quickly made it clear that the WBC acted rashly over a money dispute. The champ wrote: "$100,000 to some crooks who don’t deserve it? Nah Leilani [Stevenson's daughter], I rather give it to u baby girl.. The WBC didn’t even have sh*t to do with this fight and it’s eating them alive... take your belt it don’t make me."
Stevenson is following the example set by his mentor, the great Terence Crawford, who did the same thing two months ago: On September 13, 2025, Crawford became the world super middleweight champion, defeating Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in a brilliant performance. The fight was contested for the WBC, WBO, IBF, and WBA titles. At its convention shortly afterwards, the WBC stripped Crawford of the WBC title over a dispute about sanctioning fees. Crawford responded with a mic-drop video shaming the WBC and its president. His choicest comments were: "Just had to get something off my chest. I got a lot to say... I see Mauricio [Sulaiman, president of the WBC] got a lot to say about me not paying him $300,000... They ain't going to tell me. I ain't [going to] apologize. Like, who the f--- you think I am? Well, you better slap your f-in self. I ain't paying your ass sh*t. What the f-ck you talking about pay you $300,000? What makes you so mother's---ckin better than any other other sanctioning bodies ... You can take the f-ckin belt. It's a trophy anyway... Why should I have to pay to carry your belt? You should be paying me. It irks my nerves how this dude gets on a plane, gets a hotel suite, him and his buddies go out to five star meals and guess who has to pay for it? Us fighters... It's all done on our dime... We getting battered, knocked upside our head but everyone we set foot in the ring, we gotta pay the. We getting taxed, its crazy... Mauricio, I appreciate you because everyone in the word knows you were going for Canelo, and you were mad I beat Canelo. If you were a real fan of the sport you would have said congratulations. But listen, you should have taken the money [I offered] and you should have been grateful... but you wanted to make it about you."
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Wilder: "I need Chisora more than he needs me" |
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Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) and perennial contender Derek “War” Chisora (pictured, 36-13, 23 KOs) will collide in a DAZN pay-per-view at London's O2 Arena on April 4th, with tickets going on sale on Friday.At the London press conference on Wednesday, Chisora said: "We want to sell this fight a different way. I don’t want to sell this fight on the point of violence. There’s too much violence in the world right now. We want to sell it based on the love between me and my brother here. He’s 40, I’m in my forties. Can you imagine two grown men right now wrestling on the floor? You would be like, ‘What the hell is this?’.. [but] I am taking it seriously. It’s the last fight, number 50,” he said, adding that Wilder might not get such a friendly reception when he returns to the UK for fight week.
Wilder said: “I’m looking forward to the fight. I need this fight. I need Derek more than he needs me because of what he brings to the table. I need to see where I am. I feel like I’m back. I’ve been broken down and built back up all over again and here I am, with a smile on my face and my spirit so high that I can fly. And I’m looking forward to it.
“This is a must-win for me. Not only a win but I need a devastating win. I need a knockout. That’s what people come to see…. We have question marks on our backs because we’re unpredictable as fighters, but his style matches my style and mine matches his.
Event promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “They’re in the twilight of their careers. But when they were talking, I thought ‘What a crime it would be for this generation if they didn’t fight."
Chisora's promoter, Frank Warren said: "As soon as that bell goes, it’s going to be a war. It’s going to be bombs away with the two of them and you are going to be on the edge of your seat.”
Event promoter Amer Adballah said: "We expect this to be a sell-out career at the O2 Arena. April 4th, it is going to be an absolute blockbuster."
Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel said: “It’s a great test. I think my guy wins but I don’t think it’s easy by any means…. It’s something the fans will leave from thinking, ‘Wow, I’m glad I saw that…’ It’s a very dangerous fight and I’m glad I’m part of it.”
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Wilder: "I need Chisora more than he needs me"
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) and perennial contender Derek “War” Chisora (pictured, 36-13, 23 KOs) will collide in a DAZN pay-per-view at London's O2 Arena on April 4th, with tickets going on sale on Friday.At the London press conference on Wednesday, Chisora said: "We want to sell this fight a different way. I don’t want to sell this fight on the point of violence. There’s too much violence in the world right now. We want to sell it based on the love between me and my brother here. He’s 40, I’m in my forties. Can you imagine two grown men right now wrestling on the floor? You would be like, ‘What the hell is this?’.. [but] I am taking it seriously. It’s the last fight, number 50,” he said, adding that Wilder might not get such a friendly reception when he returns to the UK for fight week.
Wilder said: “I’m looking forward to the fight. I need this fight. I need Derek more than he needs me because of what he brings to the table. I need to see where I am. I feel like I’m back. I’ve been broken down and built back up all over again and here I am, with a smile on my face and my spirit so high that I can fly. And I’m looking forward to it.
“This is a must-win for me. Not only a win but I need a devastating win. I need a knockout. That’s what people come to see…. We have question marks on our backs because we’re unpredictable as fighters, but his style matches my style and mine matches his.
Event promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “They’re in the twilight of their careers. But when they were talking, I thought ‘What a crime it would be for this generation if they didn’t fight."
Chisora's promoter, Frank Warren said: "As soon as that bell goes, it’s going to be a war. It’s going to be bombs away with the two of them and you are going to be on the edge of your seat.”
Event promoter Amer Adballah said: "We expect this to be a sell-out career at the O2 Arena. April 4th, it is going to be an absolute blockbuster."
Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel said: “It’s a great test. I think my guy wins but I don’t think it’s easy by any means…. It’s something the fans will leave from thinking, ‘Wow, I’m glad I saw that…’ It’s a very dangerous fight and I’m glad I’m part of it.”
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IBF sends Leo vs. Aleem to purse bid |
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On December 23rd, the IBF ordered its featherweight champion Angelo Leo and its #1 ranked contender Ra’eese Aleem to begin negotiations for a mandatory defense of the title. An agreement was not reached within the timeframe set forth by the IBF, so the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for February 17th. Leo (26-1) is a two-division champion who took the title from Luis Alberto Lopez in 2024 and then defended it last year in Japan against Tomoki Kameda. Aleem (23-1) is on a run of three high quality wins since losing a split decision to Sam Goodman in Australia in 2023.
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IBF sends Leo vs. Aleem to purse bid
On December 23rd, the IBF ordered its featherweight champion Angelo Leo and its #1 ranked contender Ra’eese Aleem to begin negotiations for a mandatory defense of the title. An agreement was not reached within the timeframe set forth by the IBF, so the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for February 17th. Leo (26-1) is a two-division champion who took the title from Luis Alberto Lopez in 2024 and then defended it last year in Japan against Tomoki Kameda. Aleem (23-1) is on a run of three high quality wins since losing a split decision to Sam Goodman in Australia in 2023.
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Spotlight on Fundora vs. Thurman |
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WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will be looking to continue his reign against former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 28th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fundora and Thurman were originally scheduled to meet last October, before Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring. Thurman can boost his potential Hall of Fame credentials by reaching the top of a second weight class. For tickets to the show, public on-sale begins on Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Sebastian Fundora is can’t-miss action every time he steps into the ring, and he’s highly-motivated to put on a show yet again against one of this era’s premier champions in Keith Thurman,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fundora and Thurman have been gearing up to square off for months and will finally go toe-to-toe on March 28 in Las Vegas headlining this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, with the winner in pole position to claim the throne as the super welterweight king. Fundora’s non-stop pressure against Thurman’s heavy hands and skills are perfect ingredients for tense drama right from the opening bell.”
“Sebastian is 100% ready to return to the ring,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “This is a tough fight and Sebastian doesn’t underestimate any opponent, especially not a great former champion like Keith Thurman. I’m looking forward to Sebastian putting on another exciting performance to further establish himself as the best super welterweight in the world today.”
Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) first rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division by dethroning Tim Tszyu via decision in 2024’s bloodiest fight, earning both the WBC and WBO titles. After defending his belts with a knockout of Chordale Booker in March of last year, Fundora put his WBC belt back on the line in a July rematch against Tszyu. This time, Fundora closed the show in style, dropping Tszyu in the first round before forcing an end to the bout after round seven. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. The 28-year-old has defeated a slew of contenders throughout his career, with his only defeat coming to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Standing nearly six-feet, six-inches, Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“Camp is going great,” said Fundora. “Saturday, March 28th is going to be an exciting night for boxing fans with Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora taking over Las Vegas once again.”
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) has assembled an impressive resume, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero in high-profile clashes, unifying the WBA and WBC titles against Garcia in a rare unification bout between undefeated welterweight champions. Thurman’s only blemish came in 2019 against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision. Thurman bounced back against the now reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario Barrios by winning a unanimous decision in February 2022. He was set to face Australian superstar Tim Tszyu in March 2024 before being forced to withdraw due to injury, eventually returning to the ring last March with a third-round stoppage of Brock Jarvis.
“I picked up my first pair of gloves 30 years ago, and somehow I’m still hungry for more,” said Thurman. “On March 28th I have the opportunity to become world champion again and write my comeback story. I may be up against ‘The Towering Inferno’, but every cell in my body knows he’s not on my level. What I plan to do will be historical. This is a classic matchup of old school vs. new school, and it’s one fight fans don’t want to miss. I’m ready to rumble!”
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Spotlight on Fundora vs. Thurman
WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will be looking to continue his reign against former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 28th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fundora and Thurman were originally scheduled to meet last October, before Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring. Thurman can boost his potential Hall of Fame credentials by reaching the top of a second weight class. For tickets to the show, public on-sale begins on Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Sebastian Fundora is can’t-miss action every time he steps into the ring, and he’s highly-motivated to put on a show yet again against one of this era’s premier champions in Keith Thurman,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fundora and Thurman have been gearing up to square off for months and will finally go toe-to-toe on March 28 in Las Vegas headlining this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, with the winner in pole position to claim the throne as the super welterweight king. Fundora’s non-stop pressure against Thurman’s heavy hands and skills are perfect ingredients for tense drama right from the opening bell.”
“Sebastian is 100% ready to return to the ring,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “This is a tough fight and Sebastian doesn’t underestimate any opponent, especially not a great former champion like Keith Thurman. I’m looking forward to Sebastian putting on another exciting performance to further establish himself as the best super welterweight in the world today.”
Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) first rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division by dethroning Tim Tszyu via decision in 2024’s bloodiest fight, earning both the WBC and WBO titles. After defending his belts with a knockout of Chordale Booker in March of last year, Fundora put his WBC belt back on the line in a July rematch against Tszyu. This time, Fundora closed the show in style, dropping Tszyu in the first round before forcing an end to the bout after round seven. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. The 28-year-old has defeated a slew of contenders throughout his career, with his only defeat coming to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Standing nearly six-feet, six-inches, Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“Camp is going great,” said Fundora. “Saturday, March 28th is going to be an exciting night for boxing fans with Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora taking over Las Vegas once again.”
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) has assembled an impressive resume, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero in high-profile clashes, unifying the WBA and WBC titles against Garcia in a rare unification bout between undefeated welterweight champions. Thurman’s only blemish came in 2019 against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision. Thurman bounced back against the now reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario Barrios by winning a unanimous decision in February 2022. He was set to face Australian superstar Tim Tszyu in March 2024 before being forced to withdraw due to injury, eventually returning to the ring last March with a third-round stoppage of Brock Jarvis.
“I picked up my first pair of gloves 30 years ago, and somehow I’m still hungry for more,” said Thurman. “On March 28th I have the opportunity to become world champion again and write my comeback story. I may be up against ‘The Towering Inferno’, but every cell in my body knows he’s not on my level. What I plan to do will be historical. This is a classic matchup of old school vs. new school, and it’s one fight fans don’t want to miss. I’m ready to rumble!”
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Appendicitis forces Ramirez out of interim title defense |
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The WBA light heavyweight interim title fight highly between Venezuela's Albert Ramírez and Britain’s Lerrone Richards has been officially postponed due to a last-minute medical issue affecting the Venezuelan fighter. According to a medical report confirmed by his team, Ramírez was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The bout was scheduled for Thursday, February 5th in Montreal and was set to be Ramírez’s first defense of his interim title. The show has been postponed indefinitely while Ramirez's recovery timeline is assessed.
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Appendicitis forces Ramirez out of interim title defense
The WBA light heavyweight interim title fight highly between Venezuela's Albert Ramírez and Britain’s Lerrone Richards has been officially postponed due to a last-minute medical issue affecting the Venezuelan fighter. According to a medical report confirmed by his team, Ramírez was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The bout was scheduled for Thursday, February 5th in Montreal and was set to be Ramírez’s first defense of his interim title. The show has been postponed indefinitely while Ramirez's recovery timeline is assessed.
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Sumo wrestling returns to New Jersey in April |
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World Elite Sumo (WES) rumbles into Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on Saturday, April 18th. Following the sold-out success of Sumo Fight Club at White Eagle Hall (Jersey City, NJ) , WES continues its national expansion with a globally inspired event designed to thrill both longtime combat sports fans and first-time sumo audiences. “Prudential Center is the perfect stage for what we’re building,” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, founder of WES and world-renowned sumo champion. “We’re honoring the traditions of sumo while presenting it in a fast-paced, modern format that delivers explosive action every single match.” World Elite Sumo brings together top-level athletes from around the world, featuring live taiko drumming, dramatic entrances, and an immersive fight-night production that blends athleticism, intensity, and spectacle. The WES format emphasizes quick, decisive matches with one clear winner every time. WES matches are contested in a best-of-three format, increasing competitive stakes and maintaining a fast, fan-friendly pace.
Athletes compete wearing mandatory fight shorts beneath the traditional mawashi (sumo belt), reflecting modern athletic standards while preserving the heritage of sumo.
“We are thrilled to welcome World Elite Sumo to Prudential Center,” said Dylan Wanagiel, VP of Sports Properties & Special Events for HBSE/Prudential Center. “As this sport’s fans have witnessed for 1,500+ years, sumo wrestling’s unique combination of strength, athleticism, international talent, and high-energy entertainment will make April 18 an unforgettable night for fans in New Jersey and beyond.”
WES founder Shalan has scoured the globe in search of elite athletes with the strength, speed, skill, and power to compete at the highest level. Recent rosters have included fighters from Japan, Egypt, Brazil, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States, creating a truly international showcase of talent.
Tickets go on sale Friday, February 6th at 10 am ET on PruCenter.com or Ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information on WES, visit www.prucenter.com or www.worldelitesumo.com. World Elite Sumo is a professional combat sports league redefining sumo for a global audience. Founded by former top-division sumo wrestler Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, WES combines tradition, discipline, and elite athletic performance with modern production, storytelling, and live entertainment.
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Sumo wrestling returns to New Jersey in April
World Elite Sumo (WES) rumbles into Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on Saturday, April 18th. Following the sold-out success of Sumo Fight Club at White Eagle Hall (Jersey City, NJ) , WES continues its national expansion with a globally inspired event designed to thrill both longtime combat sports fans and first-time sumo audiences. “Prudential Center is the perfect stage for what we’re building,” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, founder of WES and world-renowned sumo champion. “We’re honoring the traditions of sumo while presenting it in a fast-paced, modern format that delivers explosive action every single match.” World Elite Sumo brings together top-level athletes from around the world, featuring live taiko drumming, dramatic entrances, and an immersive fight-night production that blends athleticism, intensity, and spectacle. The WES format emphasizes quick, decisive matches with one clear winner every time. WES matches are contested in a best-of-three format, increasing competitive stakes and maintaining a fast, fan-friendly pace.
Athletes compete wearing mandatory fight shorts beneath the traditional mawashi (sumo belt), reflecting modern athletic standards while preserving the heritage of sumo.
“We are thrilled to welcome World Elite Sumo to Prudential Center,” said Dylan Wanagiel, VP of Sports Properties & Special Events for HBSE/Prudential Center. “As this sport’s fans have witnessed for 1,500+ years, sumo wrestling’s unique combination of strength, athleticism, international talent, and high-energy entertainment will make April 18 an unforgettable night for fans in New Jersey and beyond.”
WES founder Shalan has scoured the globe in search of elite athletes with the strength, speed, skill, and power to compete at the highest level. Recent rosters have included fighters from Japan, Egypt, Brazil, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States, creating a truly international showcase of talent.
Tickets go on sale Friday, February 6th at 10 am ET on PruCenter.com or Ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information on WES, visit www.prucenter.com or www.worldelitesumo.com. World Elite Sumo is a professional combat sports league redefining sumo for a global audience. Founded by former top-division sumo wrestler Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, WES combines tradition, discipline, and elite athletic performance with modern production, storytelling, and live entertainment.
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Watch: De Leon Castro stops Olguin |
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This past weekend at San Juan's Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, Puerto Rican junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 6 KOs) gave his hometown a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7). Olguin is on a 1-16 run, with 14 of those losses coming by decision. “Man, fighting in front of my people in Puerto Rico—there’s no better feeling,” said De Leon Castro, reflecting on the moment. “I could feel their energy pushing me every round. That TKO was for them. I wanted to give them a show they’d never forget.” He also spoke passionately about the career momentum this win brings. “This fight showed what I’m made of. I’m not just climbing the ranks—I’m exploding up them. Every fight is a chance to prove I’m a future world champion. I’m just getting started. I want to be back in the ring as soon as possible. I stay in shape, I stay hungry. Give me a date, and I’ll be ready.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions,said, "Carlos De Leon Castro has the fire, the charisma, and the power to become a household name—especially in Puerto Rico. To deliver that kind of performance in front of his hometown crowd shows maturity beyond his years. These are not just talented fighters…they are the future of the sport.”
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Watch: De Leon Castro stops Olguin
This past weekend at San Juan's Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, Puerto Rican junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 6 KOs) gave his hometown a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7). Olguin is on a 1-16 run, with 14 of those losses coming by decision. “Man, fighting in front of my people in Puerto Rico—there’s no better feeling,” said De Leon Castro, reflecting on the moment. “I could feel their energy pushing me every round. That TKO was for them. I wanted to give them a show they’d never forget.” He also spoke passionately about the career momentum this win brings. “This fight showed what I’m made of. I’m not just climbing the ranks—I’m exploding up them. Every fight is a chance to prove I’m a future world champion. I’m just getting started. I want to be back in the ring as soon as possible. I stay in shape, I stay hungry. Give me a date, and I’ll be ready.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions,said, "Carlos De Leon Castro has the fire, the charisma, and the power to become a household name—especially in Puerto Rico. To deliver that kind of performance in front of his hometown crowd shows maturity beyond his years. These are not just talented fighters…they are the future of the sport.”
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Dubois vs. Harper tops all-women show on April 5th |
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Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney’s undisputed title fight top an all-women’s TV bill on Sunday April 5th live on Sky Sports. The card at London's Olympia will be Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions first UK event. Dubois takes on British rival Harper in a ten-round unification bout for the WBO and WBC lightweight titles. In the co-feature, unified super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney (11-0) will face Mexico's WBA titlist Mayelli Flores (13-1-1), in a ten-round undisputed championship clash contested at 122 pounds. Joining the card will be MVP's former undisputed champion, and the only pro fighter to beat Katie Taylor, Chantelle Cameron (21-1). She fights Czech contender Michaela Kotaskova (11-0-4). Cameron vs Kotaskova will be a ten-round championship bout for the WBO 154-pound world title as Cameron aims to win a world championship in a second weight division.
Also on the card, Mexico's IBF super flyweight champion Irma Garcia (25-5-1), will make a ten-round title defense against England's Emma Dolan (8-0). Ticket details will be announced during the kick-off press conference on Friday.
Dubois fights out of London. The 2021 Olympian made her pro debut in February 2022. In August 2024, she won the WBC interim lightweight title, then was elevated to become the WBC lightweight world champion that December. The 25 year-old southpaw successfully defended her title three times in 2025.
Harper, the WBO lightweight champion, fights out of Doncaster. She won the WBC junior lighteight title in 2020. In 2022, Harper moved up four divisions to 154 pounds to win the WBA crown. In September 2024, she moved down to 135 and claimed the WBO lightweight world title. With that win, she became Britain's first three-division women's world champion. Harper made her first title defense at 135 pounds in May of last year.
Scotney is the youngest woman in British boxing history to fight for undisputed, and if she wins, she will become the youngest UK boxer, male or female, in the four-belt era to become undisputed world champion.
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Dubois vs. Harper tops all-women show on April 5th
Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney’s undisputed title fight top an all-women’s TV bill on Sunday April 5th live on Sky Sports. The card at London's Olympia will be Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions first UK event. Dubois takes on British rival Harper in a ten-round unification bout for the WBO and WBC lightweight titles. In the co-feature, unified super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney (11-0) will face Mexico's WBA titlist Mayelli Flores (13-1-1), in a ten-round undisputed championship clash contested at 122 pounds. Joining the card will be MVP's former undisputed champion, and the only pro fighter to beat Katie Taylor, Chantelle Cameron (21-1). She fights Czech contender Michaela Kotaskova (11-0-4). Cameron vs Kotaskova will be a ten-round championship bout for the WBO 154-pound world title as Cameron aims to win a world championship in a second weight division.
Also on the card, Mexico's IBF super flyweight champion Irma Garcia (25-5-1), will make a ten-round title defense against England's Emma Dolan (8-0). Ticket details will be announced during the kick-off press conference on Friday.
Dubois fights out of London. The 2021 Olympian made her pro debut in February 2022. In August 2024, she won the WBC interim lightweight title, then was elevated to become the WBC lightweight world champion that December. The 25 year-old southpaw successfully defended her title three times in 2025.
Harper, the WBO lightweight champion, fights out of Doncaster. She won the WBC junior lighteight title in 2020. In 2022, Harper moved up four divisions to 154 pounds to win the WBA crown. In September 2024, she moved down to 135 and claimed the WBO lightweight world title. With that win, she became Britain's first three-division women's world champion. Harper made her first title defense at 135 pounds in May of last year.
Scotney is the youngest woman in British boxing history to fight for undisputed, and if she wins, she will become the youngest UK boxer, male or female, in the four-belt era to become undisputed world champion.
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Report: Mayweather sues Showtime claiming it sent his money to Haymon... but he doesn't sue Haymon! |
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TMZ Sports reports that retired great Floyd Mayweather Jr. is suing Showtime and its former executive, Stephen Espinoza for $340 million. The lawsuit alleges that for Mayweather's most lucrative fights, including vs. Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, Showtime and Espinoza directed payments to accounts controlled by Mayweather's advisor Al Haymon, instead of to Mayweather himself. What is suspicious about the lawsuit is that Haymon himself was not sued. Should the lawsuit proceed, Haymon would certainly, at the very least, be deposed as a witness by Showtime, if not outright brought into the lawsuit as a third-party defendant.
There are independent signs that Mayweather is experiencing financial difficulties. KSNV reported in September that Mayweather was sued by Vegas Auto Gallery over his alleged failure to pay $1.2 million for a Mercedes G-Class SUV. Earlier in 2025, Mayweather was sued in Florida by a man named Jayson Winer, who claims to have been the victim of a $4 million dollar fraud for taking payments in exchange for introducing Winer to Elon Musk, but then failing to make the introduction. A third lawsuit in Florida accuses Mayweather of failing to make payments to Leonard Sulaymanov and JLZ Consulting after "systematically steal[ing] and convert[ing over $4 million worth of] watches and jewelry to their own, without paying the full and fair price for same all to Plaintiffs’ extreme financial loss."
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Report: Mayweather sues Showtime claiming it sent his money to Haymon... but he doesn't sue Haymon!
TMZ Sports reports that retired great Floyd Mayweather Jr. is suing Showtime and its former executive, Stephen Espinoza for $340 million. The lawsuit alleges that for Mayweather's most lucrative fights, including vs. Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, Showtime and Espinoza directed payments to accounts controlled by Mayweather's advisor Al Haymon, instead of to Mayweather himself. What is suspicious about the lawsuit is that Haymon himself was not sued. Should the lawsuit proceed, Haymon would certainly, at the very least, be deposed as a witness by Showtime, if not outright brought into the lawsuit as a third-party defendant.
There are independent signs that Mayweather is experiencing financial difficulties. KSNV reported in September that Mayweather was sued by Vegas Auto Gallery over his alleged failure to pay $1.2 million for a Mercedes G-Class SUV. Earlier in 2025, Mayweather was sued in Florida by a man named Jayson Winer, who claims to have been the victim of a $4 million dollar fraud for taking payments in exchange for introducing Winer to Elon Musk, but then failing to make the introduction. A third lawsuit in Florida accuses Mayweather of failing to make payments to Leonard Sulaymanov and JLZ Consulting after "systematically steal[ing] and convert[ing over $4 million worth of] watches and jewelry to their own, without paying the full and fair price for same all to Plaintiffs’ extreme financial loss."
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Stevenson and Roach show mutual respect |
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World junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson (pictured) on X: "Just rewatched my fight, Teo [Teofimo Lopez] is a really good fighter, great boxing skills. I just made him look that way [overmatched] because of my skills but other guys wouldn’t make him look like that! My jab, my defense, my IQ. I’m just on another level out of this world. Also my ability to capture the moment is underrated. A lot of guys get under the bright lights and crumble. But I’m build for moments like that."
WBC interim lightweight champion Lamont Roach: "Obviously the best fight at 135 pounds is me vs Shakur Stevenson! Whether it’s next or not, [it] will be great that night. Salute champ, you a bad man!
Stevenson: "Yesssir bro U is too. Respect for not moving like a goofy for clout... [salute] We gonna make it happen for sure!! May the best man win."
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Stevenson and Roach show mutual respect
World junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson (pictured) on X: "Just rewatched my fight, Teo [Teofimo Lopez] is a really good fighter, great boxing skills. I just made him look that way [overmatched] because of my skills but other guys wouldn’t make him look like that! My jab, my defense, my IQ. I’m just on another level out of this world. Also my ability to capture the moment is underrated. A lot of guys get under the bright lights and crumble. But I’m build for moments like that."
WBC interim lightweight champion Lamont Roach: "Obviously the best fight at 135 pounds is me vs Shakur Stevenson! Whether it’s next or not, [it] will be great that night. Salute champ, you a bad man!
Stevenson: "Yesssir bro U is too. Respect for not moving like a goofy for clout... [salute] We gonna make it happen for sure!! May the best man win."
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Lauren Price books next title defense |
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Lauren Price will defend her world welterweight championship against Stephanie Pineiro Aquino on Saturday, April 4th at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff. This event, presented by Boxxer, will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Also an Olympic champion, Price (9-0, 2 KOs) can already stake her claim as one of Wales’ most decorated athletes of all time having excelled not only in boxing, but also kickboxing and football.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics she became the first boxer from Wales and only the second ever female from Great Britain to win a gold medal, and as a professional Price became Wales’ first ever female world champion when defeating former undisputed champion Jessica McCaskill. Most recently, the 31 year-old Price triumphed over Natasha Jonas in a landmark bout at the Royal Albert Hall to unify the lineal championship plus three of the four major belts. Price has since been calling for a fight with WBO ruler Mikaela Mayer.
Before Price-Mayer is possible, Price must first overcome her mandatory challenger Stephanie Pineiro Aquino (10-0, 3 KOs). Aquino is the reigning WBA interim welterweight titlist. Known as ‘The Medicine’, Aquino has been tipped as the latest boxing star from Puerto Rico following in the footsteps of famous fighting sisters Amanda and Cindy Serrano. Aquino can expect a lively reception in Cardiff as Price fights at home in Wales for the first time since her historic win over McCaskill in 2024.
Lauren Price MBE said: “Defending my world titles at home in Wales means everything to me. I want to repay the support everyone has shown me with another great performance. I never turn down a challenge. Stephanie Pineiro Aquino is a dangerous fighter, but nothing is going to stop me from getting my hand raised on April 4 in Cardiff. Yma o hyd.”
Stephanie Pineiro Aquino said: “I respect everything Lauren Price has achieved, but I have worked all my life for this moment and I am ready to show I am the best in the world. Lauren may have the home fans on her side, but I have a country behind me too. I am coming to take those belts back to Puerto Rico.”
Boxxer founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “Lauren Price is not just a world champion, she is a Welsh sporting icon and one of the greatest athletes the country has ever produced. To bring a huge world title defence home to Cardiff for her, live on BBC Two, is something we’re incredibly proud of. This is a serious test against a top-class opponent but these are exactly the nights Lauren thrives on. April 4 will be another massive moment for her.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said: “Lauren Price has the potential to become one of biggest stars in British sport, and we are excited to showcase another landmark moment in her remarkable journey. The BBC is proud to continue its commitment to showcasing women’s boxing at the very highest level, and this is a huge moment both for Lauren and for the sport. Bringing a world title defence of this magnitude to a free-to-air, national audience on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer underlines our mission to make the very best boxing accessible to everyone.”
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Lauren Price books next title defense
Lauren Price will defend her world welterweight championship against Stephanie Pineiro Aquino on Saturday, April 4th at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff. This event, presented by Boxxer, will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Also an Olympic champion, Price (9-0, 2 KOs) can already stake her claim as one of Wales’ most decorated athletes of all time having excelled not only in boxing, but also kickboxing and football.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics she became the first boxer from Wales and only the second ever female from Great Britain to win a gold medal, and as a professional Price became Wales’ first ever female world champion when defeating former undisputed champion Jessica McCaskill. Most recently, the 31 year-old Price triumphed over Natasha Jonas in a landmark bout at the Royal Albert Hall to unify the lineal championship plus three of the four major belts. Price has since been calling for a fight with WBO ruler Mikaela Mayer.
Before Price-Mayer is possible, Price must first overcome her mandatory challenger Stephanie Pineiro Aquino (10-0, 3 KOs). Aquino is the reigning WBA interim welterweight titlist. Known as ‘The Medicine’, Aquino has been tipped as the latest boxing star from Puerto Rico following in the footsteps of famous fighting sisters Amanda and Cindy Serrano. Aquino can expect a lively reception in Cardiff as Price fights at home in Wales for the first time since her historic win over McCaskill in 2024.
Lauren Price MBE said: “Defending my world titles at home in Wales means everything to me. I want to repay the support everyone has shown me with another great performance. I never turn down a challenge. Stephanie Pineiro Aquino is a dangerous fighter, but nothing is going to stop me from getting my hand raised on April 4 in Cardiff. Yma o hyd.”
Stephanie Pineiro Aquino said: “I respect everything Lauren Price has achieved, but I have worked all my life for this moment and I am ready to show I am the best in the world. Lauren may have the home fans on her side, but I have a country behind me too. I am coming to take those belts back to Puerto Rico.”
Boxxer founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “Lauren Price is not just a world champion, she is a Welsh sporting icon and one of the greatest athletes the country has ever produced. To bring a huge world title defence home to Cardiff for her, live on BBC Two, is something we’re incredibly proud of. This is a serious test against a top-class opponent but these are exactly the nights Lauren thrives on. April 4 will be another massive moment for her.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said: “Lauren Price has the potential to become one of biggest stars in British sport, and we are excited to showcase another landmark moment in her remarkable journey. The BBC is proud to continue its commitment to showcasing women’s boxing at the very highest level, and this is a huge moment both for Lauren and for the sport. Bringing a world title defence of this magnitude to a free-to-air, national audience on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer underlines our mission to make the very best boxing accessible to everyone.”
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Spotlight on Fundora vs. Thurman |
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WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will be looking to continue his reign against former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 28th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fundora and Thurman were originally scheduled to meet last October, before Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring. Thurman can boost his potential Hall of Fame credentials by reaching the top of a second weight class. For tickets to the show, public on-sale begins on Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Sebastian Fundora is can’t-miss action every time he steps into the ring, and he’s highly-motivated to put on a show yet again against one of this era’s premier champions in Keith Thurman,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fundora and Thurman have been gearing up to square off for months and will finally go toe-to-toe on March 28 in Las Vegas headlining this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, with the winner in pole position to claim the throne as the super welterweight king. Fundora’s non-stop pressure against Thurman’s heavy hands and skills are perfect ingredients for tense drama right from the opening bell.”
“Sebastian is 100% ready to return to the ring,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “This is a tough fight and Sebastian doesn’t underestimate any opponent, especially not a great former champion like Keith Thurman. I’m looking forward to Sebastian putting on another exciting performance to further establish himself as the best super welterweight in the world today.”
Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) first rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division by dethroning Tim Tszyu via decision in 2024’s bloodiest fight, earning both the WBC and WBO titles. After defending his belts with a knockout of Chordale Booker in March of last year, Fundora put his WBC belt back on the line in a July rematch against Tszyu. This time, Fundora closed the show in style, dropping Tszyu in the first round before forcing an end to the bout after round seven. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. The 28-year-old has defeated a slew of contenders throughout his career, with his only defeat coming to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Standing nearly six-feet, six-inches, Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“Camp is going great,” said Fundora. “Saturday, March 28th is going to be an exciting night for boxing fans with Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora taking over Las Vegas once again.”
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) has assembled an impressive resume, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero in high-profile clashes, unifying the WBA and WBC titles against Garcia in a rare unification bout between undefeated welterweight champions. Thurman’s only blemish came in 2019 against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision. Thurman bounced back against the now reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario Barrios by winning a unanimous decision in February 2022. He was set to face Australian superstar Tim Tszyu in March 2024 before being forced to withdraw due to injury, eventually returning to the ring last March with a third-round stoppage of Brock Jarvis.
“I picked up my first pair of gloves 30 years ago, and somehow I’m still hungry for more,” said Thurman. “On March 28th I have the opportunity to become world champion again and write my comeback story. I may be up against ‘The Towering Inferno’, but every cell in my body knows he’s not on my level. What I plan to do will be historical. This is a classic matchup of old school vs. new school, and it’s one fight fans don’t want to miss. I’m ready to rumble!”
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Spotlight on Fundora vs. Thurman
WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will be looking to continue his reign against former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a clash that headlines a PBC pay-per-view event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 28th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fundora and Thurman were originally scheduled to meet last October, before Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring. Thurman can boost his potential Hall of Fame credentials by reaching the top of a second weight class. For tickets to the show, public on-sale begins on Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com. In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“Sebastian Fundora is can’t-miss action every time he steps into the ring, and he’s highly-motivated to put on a show yet again against one of this era’s premier champions in Keith Thurman,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fundora and Thurman have been gearing up to square off for months and will finally go toe-to-toe on March 28 in Las Vegas headlining this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, with the winner in pole position to claim the throne as the super welterweight king. Fundora’s non-stop pressure against Thurman’s heavy hands and skills are perfect ingredients for tense drama right from the opening bell.”
“Sebastian is 100% ready to return to the ring,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “This is a tough fight and Sebastian doesn’t underestimate any opponent, especially not a great former champion like Keith Thurman. I’m looking forward to Sebastian putting on another exciting performance to further establish himself as the best super welterweight in the world today.”
Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) first rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division by dethroning Tim Tszyu via decision in 2024’s bloodiest fight, earning both the WBC and WBO titles. After defending his belts with a knockout of Chordale Booker in March of last year, Fundora put his WBC belt back on the line in a July rematch against Tszyu. This time, Fundora closed the show in style, dropping Tszyu in the first round before forcing an end to the bout after round seven. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. The 28-year-old has defeated a slew of contenders throughout his career, with his only defeat coming to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Standing nearly six-feet, six-inches, Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“Camp is going great,” said Fundora. “Saturday, March 28th is going to be an exciting night for boxing fans with Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora taking over Las Vegas once again.”
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) has assembled an impressive resume, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero in high-profile clashes, unifying the WBA and WBC titles against Garcia in a rare unification bout between undefeated welterweight champions. Thurman’s only blemish came in 2019 against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision. Thurman bounced back against the now reigning WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario Barrios by winning a unanimous decision in February 2022. He was set to face Australian superstar Tim Tszyu in March 2024 before being forced to withdraw due to injury, eventually returning to the ring last March with a third-round stoppage of Brock Jarvis.
“I picked up my first pair of gloves 30 years ago, and somehow I’m still hungry for more,” said Thurman. “On March 28th I have the opportunity to become world champion again and write my comeback story. I may be up against ‘The Towering Inferno’, but every cell in my body knows he’s not on my level. What I plan to do will be historical. This is a classic matchup of old school vs. new school, and it’s one fight fans don’t want to miss. I’m ready to rumble!”
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Battle of unbeatens added to Saturday's Rhode Island show |
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Stamford, Connecticut middleweight Douglas “El Uno” Marroquin (8-0, 5 KOs) will step into the spotlight on February 7th when he faces fellow unbeaten Rufus Macauley (4-0, 3 KOs) in the co-feature of CES Boxing’s Winter Brawl 2026 at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Limited tickets to Winter Brawl 2026 remain – purchase yours now at CES Fights. The 27 year-old Marroquin, who trains at Wilmer Mendez Boxing under former pro boxer Wilmer Mendez, has steadily built momentum since turning professional. Marroquin combinines an aggressive inside fighting style with a growing reputation as a fan-friendly boxer. “I try to give people something to remember,” said the half-Mexican, half-Guatemalan Marroquin. “I love performing. I love the drama, and I love to fight.”
At 5-foot-6, Marroquin is often the smaller man at middleweight, a reality that has shaped his pressure-oriented approach. “I’m the shortest middleweight out there,” he said. “So my style is always on the inside, working the body. But I’m not just a brawler — I picked up footwork from sparring with Cuban boxers when I lived in Miami. I bring a little bit of everything.”
Marroquin’s opponent, the 5-foot-11 Macauley, previously competed at super middleweight and light heavyweight before settling in at 160 pounds, creating a clear contrast in size and style when the two undefeated fighters meet.
Unfazed, Marroquin says he prepares for situations rather than specific opponents. “I’ve been in fights where I didn’t know who I was fighting until the weigh-in,” he said. “So I prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually. As a professional, you have to figure things out quickly.”
Marroquin began boxing at 19 after a turbulent upbringing split between Stamford and Guatemala. He credits the sport with providing discipline and direction, highlighted by his Western New England Golden Gloves title in 2023 before turning professional the following year.
Now unbeaten through eight professional bouts, Marroquin believes his development is accelerating. “I watch my first pro fight now and it’s night and day,” he said. “That’s how I know I’m going somewhere.”
The February 7th bout offers local fans a short trip to Rhode Island to see one of Stamford’s rising boxing talents test himself against another unbeaten boxer. “I’m prepared for anything,” Marroquin said. “Now it’s time to perform.”
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Battle of unbeatens added to Saturday's Rhode Island show
Stamford, Connecticut middleweight Douglas “El Uno” Marroquin (8-0, 5 KOs) will step into the spotlight on February 7th when he faces fellow unbeaten Rufus Macauley (4-0, 3 KOs) in the co-feature of CES Boxing’s Winter Brawl 2026 at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Limited tickets to Winter Brawl 2026 remain – purchase yours now at CES Fights. The 27 year-old Marroquin, who trains at Wilmer Mendez Boxing under former pro boxer Wilmer Mendez, has steadily built momentum since turning professional. Marroquin combinines an aggressive inside fighting style with a growing reputation as a fan-friendly boxer. “I try to give people something to remember,” said the half-Mexican, half-Guatemalan Marroquin. “I love performing. I love the drama, and I love to fight.”
At 5-foot-6, Marroquin is often the smaller man at middleweight, a reality that has shaped his pressure-oriented approach. “I’m the shortest middleweight out there,” he said. “So my style is always on the inside, working the body. But I’m not just a brawler — I picked up footwork from sparring with Cuban boxers when I lived in Miami. I bring a little bit of everything.”
Marroquin’s opponent, the 5-foot-11 Macauley, previously competed at super middleweight and light heavyweight before settling in at 160 pounds, creating a clear contrast in size and style when the two undefeated fighters meet.
Unfazed, Marroquin says he prepares for situations rather than specific opponents. “I’ve been in fights where I didn’t know who I was fighting until the weigh-in,” he said. “So I prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually. As a professional, you have to figure things out quickly.”
Marroquin began boxing at 19 after a turbulent upbringing split between Stamford and Guatemala. He credits the sport with providing discipline and direction, highlighted by his Western New England Golden Gloves title in 2023 before turning professional the following year.
Now unbeaten through eight professional bouts, Marroquin believes his development is accelerating. “I watch my first pro fight now and it’s night and day,” he said. “That’s how I know I’m going somewhere.”
The February 7th bout offers local fans a short trip to Rhode Island to see one of Stamford’s rising boxing talents test himself against another unbeaten boxer. “I’m prepared for anything,” Marroquin said. “Now it’s time to perform.”
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A few words with middleweight Euri Cedeno |
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This past weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, middleweight Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic delivered a dominant victory. Cedeno turned in a flawless performance, earning a ten-round unanimous decision win and sweeping the scorecards 100-88 across the board. From the opening bell, Cedeno, who is co-promoted by Boxlab Promotions and King's Promotions, controlled every exchange and left no doubt about the outcome of the bout in the minds of judges or fans.
Speaking after the fight, Cedeno beamed with confidence. “I came in and sent a message to the entire middleweight division. I wanted to prove that I’m not just another fighter—I’m a force at 160 pounds. From start to finish, I controlled the pace and the ring. This fight wasn’t just about adding another win to the record…it was about showing I’m ready to step up and take on the big names.”
On the impact this victory has for his trajectory, Cedeno added, “I feel like this fight proves I belong on the world stage. I'm not just a prospect—I'm a contender in the making. Wins like these open doors, and I'm ready to walk through them.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, added, “Euri Cedeno is the complete package—technically refined, mentally focused, and physically dominant. What he did in that ring was masterclass boxing. He’s not far from making noise on the world level."
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A few words with middleweight Euri Cedeno
This past weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, middleweight Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic delivered a dominant victory. Cedeno turned in a flawless performance, earning a ten-round unanimous decision win and sweeping the scorecards 100-88 across the board. From the opening bell, Cedeno, who is co-promoted by Boxlab Promotions and King's Promotions, controlled every exchange and left no doubt about the outcome of the bout in the minds of judges or fans.
Speaking after the fight, Cedeno beamed with confidence. “I came in and sent a message to the entire middleweight division. I wanted to prove that I’m not just another fighter—I’m a force at 160 pounds. From start to finish, I controlled the pace and the ring. This fight wasn’t just about adding another win to the record…it was about showing I’m ready to step up and take on the big names.”
On the impact this victory has for his trajectory, Cedeno added, “I feel like this fight proves I belong on the world stage. I'm not just a prospect—I'm a contender in the making. Wins like these open doors, and I'm ready to walk through them.”
Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, added, “Euri Cedeno is the complete package—technically refined, mentally focused, and physically dominant. What he did in that ring was masterclass boxing. He’s not far from making noise on the world level."
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard |
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Juan Cruz Uncos W10 Alan Cantero... In a fight packed with three knockdowns, two point deductions and constant swings of momentum, Argentina’s Juan Cruz Uncos (10-3-1) survived the chaos to capture a unanimous decision victory over Alan Cantero (10-2-1). The 122-pound bout, held this weekend in Buenos Aires, turned into a test of durability, discipline and composure for both fighters. Uncos came out firing and appeared on the verge of an early stoppage after a blistering start. Cantero hit the canvas in the second, third and fourth rounds, repeatedly undone by the power and timing of the newly crowned champion. What looked like a one-sided affair, however, evolved into a grueling battle due to Unco’s own rule infractions. Despite his dominance in exchanges, Uncos was docked two points during the fight: the first in the third round, moments after scoring a knockdown, and the second in the tenth. Those penalties allowed Cantero to remain mathematically alive on the scorecards deep into the contest. After ten rounds of high intensity, the judges turned in scores of 93-92, 96-89 and 94-92, all in favor of Uncos.
Samuel Arnold III KO1 Fernando E. Farías... American supoer middleweight Samuel Arnold III triumphed with a dominant first-round knockout of Argentina’s Fernando Ezequiel “Manzana” Farías on Friday in Long Beach, California. Standing at an imposing 6'3", Arnold wasted no time putting his physical advantages to use. After a brief feeling-out process, the Texan unleashed a crushing body shot to the liver that sent Farias (13-4-3) crashing to the canvas. The referee administered the count, but the fight was over, bringing a swift end to the contest. With the victory, Arnold III improves his record to a perfect 15-0, including 10 knockouts.
Prince Patel TKO5 Yahaya Mussa... British globetrotter Prince Patel went to the World Siam Stadium in Bangkok to score a fifth-round technical knockout over Tanzania’s Yahaya Mussa. The junior welterweight Patel, who has spent much of his recent career competing across international venues, figured Mussa out early. From the opening rounds, the Brit steadily broke down his opponent, imposing his rhythm and range. The end came in the fifth, when Patel’s punch volume and accuracy overwhelmed Mussa’s defenses, prompting the referee to step in and halt the contest to prevent further punishment. With the win in Thailand’s capital, Patel improves his professional record to 34-1-2. Mussa, meanwhile, suffered the first loss of his career and now stands at 11-1-1, with 11 knockouts.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard
Juan Cruz Uncos W10 Alan Cantero... In a fight packed with three knockdowns, two point deductions and constant swings of momentum, Argentina’s Juan Cruz Uncos (10-3-1) survived the chaos to capture a unanimous decision victory over Alan Cantero (10-2-1). The 122-pound bout, held this weekend in Buenos Aires, turned into a test of durability, discipline and composure for both fighters. Uncos came out firing and appeared on the verge of an early stoppage after a blistering start. Cantero hit the canvas in the second, third and fourth rounds, repeatedly undone by the power and timing of the newly crowned champion. What looked like a one-sided affair, however, evolved into a grueling battle due to Unco’s own rule infractions. Despite his dominance in exchanges, Uncos was docked two points during the fight: the first in the third round, moments after scoring a knockdown, and the second in the tenth. Those penalties allowed Cantero to remain mathematically alive on the scorecards deep into the contest. After ten rounds of high intensity, the judges turned in scores of 93-92, 96-89 and 94-92, all in favor of Uncos.
Samuel Arnold III KO1 Fernando E. Farías... American supoer middleweight Samuel Arnold III triumphed with a dominant first-round knockout of Argentina’s Fernando Ezequiel “Manzana” Farías on Friday in Long Beach, California. Standing at an imposing 6'3", Arnold wasted no time putting his physical advantages to use. After a brief feeling-out process, the Texan unleashed a crushing body shot to the liver that sent Farias (13-4-3) crashing to the canvas. The referee administered the count, but the fight was over, bringing a swift end to the contest. With the victory, Arnold III improves his record to a perfect 15-0, including 10 knockouts.
Prince Patel TKO5 Yahaya Mussa... British globetrotter Prince Patel went to the World Siam Stadium in Bangkok to score a fifth-round technical knockout over Tanzania’s Yahaya Mussa. The junior welterweight Patel, who has spent much of his recent career competing across international venues, figured Mussa out early. From the opening rounds, the Brit steadily broke down his opponent, imposing his rhythm and range. The end came in the fifth, when Patel’s punch volume and accuracy overwhelmed Mussa’s defenses, prompting the referee to step in and halt the contest to prevent further punishment. With the win in Thailand’s capital, Patel improves his professional record to 34-1-2. Mussa, meanwhile, suffered the first loss of his career and now stands at 11-1-1, with 11 knockouts.
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Mielnicki to fight in Atlantic City in April |
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On Saturday, April 11th, middleweight Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (22-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, New Jersey will enter the ring with Mexican-born Omar Ulises “La Bala” Huerta (15-0-1, 13 KOs) in the opposite corner. Scheduled for ten rounds, Mielnicki - Huerta will be the main event of the Sampson Boxing show at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show will be broadcast live on ProBoxTV (7:00 pm ET). In the ten-round co-feature, Cuban junior middleweight Yan Marcos (14-0, 10 KOs) will take on fellow undefeated Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) of nearby Paterson, New Jersey. Also featured will be a ten-round junior middleweight battle between all-action Raul Garcia (15-2-1, 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic and rugged Quinton Randall (15-3-1, 3 KOs) of Katy, Texas.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office: (609) 348-7512, starting at 12:00 pm (Noon) on Wednesday, February 4th.
Before turning professional in July 2019, Mielnicki was a four-time Junior National Golden Gloves Champion, a USA Junior National Champion and was also on the USA National High-Performance Team. Mielnicki will be returning to fight in his home state after s big win last November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a ninth-round TKO of previously undefeated Samuel Nmomah of Nigeria.
Several more bouts featuring local and international talent will be announced shortly. On fight night, doors open at 5:30 pm and the action starts at 6:00 pm. Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is located at 2301 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Phone: (609) 348-7000.
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Mielnicki to fight in Atlantic City in April
On Saturday, April 11th, middleweight Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (22-1, 13 KOs) of Roseland, New Jersey will enter the ring with Mexican-born Omar Ulises “La Bala” Huerta (15-0-1, 13 KOs) in the opposite corner. Scheduled for ten rounds, Mielnicki - Huerta will be the main event of the Sampson Boxing show at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show will be broadcast live on ProBoxTV (7:00 pm ET). In the ten-round co-feature, Cuban junior middleweight Yan Marcos (14-0, 10 KOs) will take on fellow undefeated Dwyke Flemmings Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) of nearby Paterson, New Jersey. Also featured will be a ten-round junior middleweight battle between all-action Raul Garcia (15-2-1, 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic and rugged Quinton Randall (15-3-1, 3 KOs) of Katy, Texas.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Box Office: (609) 348-7512, starting at 12:00 pm (Noon) on Wednesday, February 4th.
Before turning professional in July 2019, Mielnicki was a four-time Junior National Golden Gloves Champion, a USA Junior National Champion and was also on the USA National High-Performance Team. Mielnicki will be returning to fight in his home state after s big win last November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a ninth-round TKO of previously undefeated Samuel Nmomah of Nigeria.
Several more bouts featuring local and international talent will be announced shortly. On fight night, doors open at 5:30 pm and the action starts at 6:00 pm. Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is located at 2301 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Phone: (609) 348-7000.
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Welcome to Ball vs. Figueroa fight week |
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Nick Ball (pictured) defends his WBA featherweight title this weekend as he faces former two-weight world champion Brandon Figueroa live on DAZN. Ball is chasing a fourth straight title defense against 'The Heartbreaker' who has designs on a third title reign of his own as he heads to Liverpool. Figueroa will enjoy a seven-inch height advantage over Ball, who stands 5'2". But Ball will enjoy the home field advantage. He has turned the city's M&S Bank Arena into a fortress over the past few years - but he will face one of his sternest tests yet against this foe. The main undercard broadcast begins at 2pm Eastern Standard Time, while the headline bout is expected to take place at 5.15pm Eastern Standard Time.
Here is the full line-up for the show:
Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa; for Ball's WBA 126-pound title;
Jack Turner vs. Juan Carlos Martinez Urbina; super flyweights;
Andrew Cain vs. Alejandro Gonzalez; WBC bantamweight eliminator;
Hassan Ishaq vs. Leonardo Baez; featherweights and
Brad Strand vs. Ruben Lezama Gonzalez; bantamweights.
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Welcome to Ball vs. Figueroa fight week
Nick Ball (pictured) defends his WBA featherweight title this weekend as he faces former two-weight world champion Brandon Figueroa live on DAZN. Ball is chasing a fourth straight title defense against 'The Heartbreaker' who has designs on a third title reign of his own as he heads to Liverpool. Figueroa will enjoy a seven-inch height advantage over Ball, who stands 5'2". But Ball will enjoy the home field advantage. He has turned the city's M&S Bank Arena into a fortress over the past few years - but he will face one of his sternest tests yet against this foe. The main undercard broadcast begins at 2pm Eastern Standard Time, while the headline bout is expected to take place at 5.15pm Eastern Standard Time.
Here is the full line-up for the show:
Nick Ball vs. Brandon Figueroa; for Ball's WBA 126-pound title;
Jack Turner vs. Juan Carlos Martinez Urbina; super flyweights;
Andrew Cain vs. Alejandro Gonzalez; WBC bantamweight eliminator;
Hassan Ishaq vs. Leonardo Baez; featherweights and
Brad Strand vs. Ruben Lezama Gonzalez; bantamweights.
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Chisora on Wilder fight: “This is what I live for” |
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Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) and perennial contender Derek “War” Chisora (pictured, 36-13, 23 KOs) came face-to-face in New York City, where they officially announced their high-stakes bout scheduled for April 4th at The O2 Arena in London. The face-off, staged in front of hundreds of fans and a global media presence in Times Square, marked the kickoff by event promoter MF Pro, who is under the leadership of Amer Abdallah and Kalle Sauerland.
Wilder, the hard-hitting American known for his thunderous knockouts and unrelenting fight spirit, didn’t mince words at the event. Wilder, who last fought in June, sees the UK stage as an opportunity to reignite his march toward heavyweight supremacy. “This is more than just a comeback — this is a warning shot to the entire heavyweight division,” said Wilder. “I respect Chisora. He’s tough, he’s gritty, but on April 4th, I remind the world why I’m still the most dangerous man in boxing.”
Never one to back down, Chisora, the UK’s beloved warrior, stood defiant across from Wilder in Times Square. Known for his relentless style and iron chin, Chisora vowed to bring the heat in front of a hometown crowd at The O2. “This is what I live for,” Chisora growled. “The bright lights, the big fights, the doubters — bring them all. April 4th, it’s war in my backyard, and I’m coming to shock the world.”
Abdallah, President of MF Pro and former world kickboxing champion turned boxing executive, framed the moment as a landmark for heavyweight boxing. “You have two of the most exciting fighters in the sport — Wilder with that one-punch equalizer power and Chisora with unmatched heart and pressure. It’s a can’t-miss fight,” said Abdallah, who believes this is a true global heavyweight event. “We wanted to announce this in the world’s biggest media center — Times Square — because this fight is a global blockbuster.”
Sauerland emphasized the significance of bringing this bout to London. “Two massive names, and two legends of the sport meet on one memorable, historic night in the heavyweight division." Sauerland said. “Chisora vs. Wilder will be a true heavyweight shoot-out with one legend departing from the sport and one going on to further glory. We at MF Pro, as well as our partners at DAZN and Queensberry are proud to deliver this to boxing fans exclusively live on DAZN and for those lucky enough to witness the spectacle live from the iconic O2 in London. The world will witness a piece of boxing history being made in a fight which will be watched on repeat for decades to come. The stakes are sky-high; this is all about legacy, it’s history and it’s going to be spine-tingling.
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Chisora on Wilder fight: “This is what I live for”
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) and perennial contender Derek “War” Chisora (pictured, 36-13, 23 KOs) came face-to-face in New York City, where they officially announced their high-stakes bout scheduled for April 4th at The O2 Arena in London. The face-off, staged in front of hundreds of fans and a global media presence in Times Square, marked the kickoff by event promoter MF Pro, who is under the leadership of Amer Abdallah and Kalle Sauerland.
Wilder, the hard-hitting American known for his thunderous knockouts and unrelenting fight spirit, didn’t mince words at the event. Wilder, who last fought in June, sees the UK stage as an opportunity to reignite his march toward heavyweight supremacy. “This is more than just a comeback — this is a warning shot to the entire heavyweight division,” said Wilder. “I respect Chisora. He’s tough, he’s gritty, but on April 4th, I remind the world why I’m still the most dangerous man in boxing.”
Never one to back down, Chisora, the UK’s beloved warrior, stood defiant across from Wilder in Times Square. Known for his relentless style and iron chin, Chisora vowed to bring the heat in front of a hometown crowd at The O2. “This is what I live for,” Chisora growled. “The bright lights, the big fights, the doubters — bring them all. April 4th, it’s war in my backyard, and I’m coming to shock the world.”
Abdallah, President of MF Pro and former world kickboxing champion turned boxing executive, framed the moment as a landmark for heavyweight boxing. “You have two of the most exciting fighters in the sport — Wilder with that one-punch equalizer power and Chisora with unmatched heart and pressure. It’s a can’t-miss fight,” said Abdallah, who believes this is a true global heavyweight event. “We wanted to announce this in the world’s biggest media center — Times Square — because this fight is a global blockbuster.”
Sauerland emphasized the significance of bringing this bout to London. “Two massive names, and two legends of the sport meet on one memorable, historic night in the heavyweight division." Sauerland said. “Chisora vs. Wilder will be a true heavyweight shoot-out with one legend departing from the sport and one going on to further glory. We at MF Pro, as well as our partners at DAZN and Queensberry are proud to deliver this to boxing fans exclusively live on DAZN and for those lucky enough to witness the spectacle live from the iconic O2 in London. The world will witness a piece of boxing history being made in a fight which will be watched on repeat for decades to come. The stakes are sky-high; this is all about legacy, it’s history and it’s going to be spine-tingling.
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Dana White: Zuffa boxing ratings coming soon |
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With two Zuffa Boxing events now in the books, co-founder Dana White said the management team will start to work on establishing an official rankings system for Luffa Boxing, and said that, having dome similar work before for other brands under the TKO banner, he doesn’t anticipate any problems getting them up and running. “That’s something we have to start working on this week,” he revealed. “If you look at other things we’ve done, like the UFC, Power Slap, we created rankings for that. This shouldn’t be too tough.”
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Dana White: Zuffa boxing ratings coming soon
With two Zuffa Boxing events now in the books, co-founder Dana White said the management team will start to work on establishing an official rankings system for Luffa Boxing, and said that, having dome similar work before for other brands under the TKO banner, he doesn’t anticipate any problems getting them up and running. “That’s something we have to start working on this week,” he revealed. “If you look at other things we’ve done, like the UFC, Power Slap, we created rankings for that. This shouldn’t be too tough.”
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Fundora vs. Thurman on for March 28th |
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WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (pictured) and former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will go face-to-face at a press conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles before they headline a PBC pay-per-view on Prime Video taking place Saturday, March 28th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. On October 10th, Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring, forcing a postponement of the event, which was originally scheduled for October 25th. Pre-sale tickets are available starting Wednesday from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com with code: PBC. Public on-sale begins Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT, also through AXS.com.
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Fundora vs. Thurman on for March 28th
WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (pictured) and former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will go face-to-face at a press conference on Wednesday in Los Angeles before they headline a PBC pay-per-view on Prime Video taking place Saturday, March 28th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. On October 10th, Fundora suffered a hand contusion in sparring, forcing a postponement of the event, which was originally scheduled for October 25th. Pre-sale tickets are available starting Wednesday from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com with code: PBC. Public on-sale begins Thursday, February 5th at 10 a.m. PT, also through AXS.com.
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Oliveira vs. Reynoso preview |
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For ‘Prince’ Ray Oliveira Jr. (10-4, 2 KOs), the opportunity arrives on February 7th, when the 35-year-old New Bedford, Massachusetts native headlines ‘Winter Brawl 2026’ against Rhode Island's Victor Reynoso (11-0, 7 KOs) in a New England welterweight showdown. The main event tops a seven-bout card at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Limited tickets remain for fight night – purchase yours now at CES Fights. On paper, Reynoso brings momentum, power, and the sheen of an unblemished record. Oliveira Jr.’s record defines a man who has gained perspective from years of preparation, sacrifice, and hard luck in fights that didn’t always materialize. "I’m just here to handle business," said an introspective Oliveira about the bout. "I miss getting in the ring and doing my thing, and I’m ready to go out there and perform."
Raised in New Bedford and immersed in boxing from birth, Oliveira Jr. carries a name that resonates through New England gyms. His father, former IBU welterweight champion Ray ‘Sucra’ Oliveira, was a mainstay on USA’s popular ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ series. ‘Sucra’ instilled in Ray Jr. an early respect for both the highs and lows of the sport. That upbringing didn’t just teach him how to fight – it taught him how to wait.
"A couple years ago, I actually decided I was gonna retire," admitted Oliveira Jr., who stepped away from the ring in 2021 before returning last February. "I had another child, my wife and I bought a house, and I started a career in construction. I was enjoying my life as a father and a husband."
Ray’s decision wasn’t based on falling out of love with boxing. It was about accepting reality and responsibility. "The biggest thing was my inability to find competitors that wouldn’t back out," reflected Oliveira of the key reason why he stepped away. "I’d go through three or four opponents and still not end up with a fight. You train, sign contracts, do press, live the lifestyle, and then there’s no fight."
That grind, Oliveira explained, is what fans rarely see. "They assume you're getting paid for one day's work, but that’s not the case. There’s so much preparation – mental, physical, spiritual, that happens in a six-to-eight-week camp. You sacrifice time with your loved ones, and when there’s no result, it’s disheartening."
Family ultimately tipped the scales in favor of a civilian life. "I love my children. I love being a family man," he said. "For me, the family is more important than boxing. It didn’t make sense to take all that time away from my family and bring nothing back."
Still, the fight never left him. "It’s in me. It’s always in me," Oliveira confessed. "I’m a fighter. That’s why I came back last year and why I’m challenging myself on February 7th."
Across the ring from Oliveira on February 7th will be Reynoso, a tall, rangy fighter who often enjoys engaging in slugfests. "I’ve got a lot of respect for my opponent for taking this fight," Oliveira said of Reynoso. "He’s undefeated and he likes to go to war. I’m well known for my power, so he’s taking a big risk. I appreciate him agreeing to combat with me."
Fighting close to home, Reynoso carries the confidence, swagger, and momentum of an undefeated prospect. Oliveira represents something different: experience, patience, and an understanding that moments like this are earned, not given.
There’s another layer to fight night as well. Ray 'Sucra' Oliveira will not just be ringside watching the action, but he will be in his son’s corner serving as head trainer. "It makes my heart beat a little fast having my dad there," said Oliveira Jr. "It definitely makes me want to fight harder and come out with the victory."
On February 7th, under the bright lights of the Park Theater, this fight represents more than a regional turf war, it will be a meeting of timelines. A main event where youth meets experience and where Ray Oliveira Jr. looks to claim a moment that he’s waited long enough to enjoy.
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Oliveira vs. Reynoso preview
For ‘Prince’ Ray Oliveira Jr. (10-4, 2 KOs), the opportunity arrives on February 7th, when the 35-year-old New Bedford, Massachusetts native headlines ‘Winter Brawl 2026’ against Rhode Island's Victor Reynoso (11-0, 7 KOs) in a New England welterweight showdown. The main event tops a seven-bout card at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Limited tickets remain for fight night – purchase yours now at CES Fights. On paper, Reynoso brings momentum, power, and the sheen of an unblemished record. Oliveira Jr.’s record defines a man who has gained perspective from years of preparation, sacrifice, and hard luck in fights that didn’t always materialize. "I’m just here to handle business," said an introspective Oliveira about the bout. "I miss getting in the ring and doing my thing, and I’m ready to go out there and perform."
Raised in New Bedford and immersed in boxing from birth, Oliveira Jr. carries a name that resonates through New England gyms. His father, former IBU welterweight champion Ray ‘Sucra’ Oliveira, was a mainstay on USA’s popular ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ series. ‘Sucra’ instilled in Ray Jr. an early respect for both the highs and lows of the sport. That upbringing didn’t just teach him how to fight – it taught him how to wait.
"A couple years ago, I actually decided I was gonna retire," admitted Oliveira Jr., who stepped away from the ring in 2021 before returning last February. "I had another child, my wife and I bought a house, and I started a career in construction. I was enjoying my life as a father and a husband."
Ray’s decision wasn’t based on falling out of love with boxing. It was about accepting reality and responsibility. "The biggest thing was my inability to find competitors that wouldn’t back out," reflected Oliveira of the key reason why he stepped away. "I’d go through three or four opponents and still not end up with a fight. You train, sign contracts, do press, live the lifestyle, and then there’s no fight."
That grind, Oliveira explained, is what fans rarely see. "They assume you're getting paid for one day's work, but that’s not the case. There’s so much preparation – mental, physical, spiritual, that happens in a six-to-eight-week camp. You sacrifice time with your loved ones, and when there’s no result, it’s disheartening."
Family ultimately tipped the scales in favor of a civilian life. "I love my children. I love being a family man," he said. "For me, the family is more important than boxing. It didn’t make sense to take all that time away from my family and bring nothing back."
Still, the fight never left him. "It’s in me. It’s always in me," Oliveira confessed. "I’m a fighter. That’s why I came back last year and why I’m challenging myself on February 7th."
Across the ring from Oliveira on February 7th will be Reynoso, a tall, rangy fighter who often enjoys engaging in slugfests. "I’ve got a lot of respect for my opponent for taking this fight," Oliveira said of Reynoso. "He’s undefeated and he likes to go to war. I’m well known for my power, so he’s taking a big risk. I appreciate him agreeing to combat with me."
Fighting close to home, Reynoso carries the confidence, swagger, and momentum of an undefeated prospect. Oliveira represents something different: experience, patience, and an understanding that moments like this are earned, not given.
There’s another layer to fight night as well. Ray 'Sucra' Oliveira will not just be ringside watching the action, but he will be in his son’s corner serving as head trainer. "It makes my heart beat a little fast having my dad there," said Oliveira Jr. "It definitely makes me want to fight harder and come out with the victory."
On February 7th, under the bright lights of the Park Theater, this fight represents more than a regional turf war, it will be a meeting of timelines. A main event where youth meets experience and where Ray Oliveira Jr. looks to claim a moment that he’s waited long enough to enjoy.
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Thorslund returns from maternity leave with a win |
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Dina Thorslund W10 Almudena Álvarez... Dina Thorslund reaffirmed her status as a top female boxer by capturing the WBC interim featherweight title with a commanding victory over Spanish softie Almudena Álvarez. Fighting before her home crowd at the Sydbank Arena, Thorslund (24-0) showcased her skills from the opening bell. Thorslund commanded the center of the ring, dictating both distance and intensity, forcing her opponent into a defensive retreat for most of the night. Alvarez has a pro record of just 7-4. Despite her attempts to reset with lateral movement and isolated flurries, Thorslund’s relentless pressure and pinpoint accuracy neutralized any counter-offensive, turning the bout into a masterclass of control and power. The technical and physical superiority of the local champion was mirrored in the judges’ scorecards, which delivered an undisputed unanimous decision: 99-91 and 100-90 (twice). Thorslund was previously the undisputed bantamweight champion. She vacated her titles earlier this year due to pregnancy. Following the heartbreaking loss of her baby, the Danish warrior decided to channel her strength back into the sport.
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Thorslund returns from maternity leave with a win
Dina Thorslund W10 Almudena Álvarez... Dina Thorslund reaffirmed her status as a top female boxer by capturing the WBC interim featherweight title with a commanding victory over Spanish softie Almudena Álvarez. Fighting before her home crowd at the Sydbank Arena, Thorslund (24-0) showcased her skills from the opening bell. Thorslund commanded the center of the ring, dictating both distance and intensity, forcing her opponent into a defensive retreat for most of the night. Alvarez has a pro record of just 7-4. Despite her attempts to reset with lateral movement and isolated flurries, Thorslund’s relentless pressure and pinpoint accuracy neutralized any counter-offensive, turning the bout into a masterclass of control and power. The technical and physical superiority of the local champion was mirrored in the judges’ scorecards, which delivered an undisputed unanimous decision: 99-91 and 100-90 (twice). Thorslund was previously the undisputed bantamweight champion. She vacated her titles earlier this year due to pregnancy. Following the heartbreaking loss of her baby, the Danish warrior decided to channel her strength back into the sport.
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BKFC has big show in Philly this weekend |
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BKFC returns to its hometown of Philadelphia on Saturday under the bright lights of the Xfinity Mobile Arena. “Big” Ben Rothwell defends his BKFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski. Both men are former mixed martial arts stars, and Arlovski is the proud owner of a pair of MMA victories over Rothwell. The former UFC champ Arlovski made a smashing first impression in his BKFC premiere, but Rothwell has been exceptional in his first four trips to the squared circle.
Saturday’s chief supporting bout pits BKFC middleweight champion David “Redneck” Mundell against BKFC light heavyweight champion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt in a non-title matchup. Mundell and Hunt boast a combined bare knuckle fighting record of 22-3. Mundell is riding high on an eight-fight winning streak, and he knows a statement victory over the former two-division BKFC champion Hunt would elevate him to BKFC superstar status.
One of the most anticipated rematches in BKFC history takes place on Saturday. Tony “Loco” Soto is dialed in for a shot at redemption against former BKFC lightweight champion Ben “The Bomber” Bonner. The two clashed on BKFC 76 in June in one of the most electric fights in BKFC history.
The undefeated John “Johnny Canoli” Garbarino is chomping at the bit for the opportunity to smash his way to 4-0 at the expense of Kaine “Kaine 9” Tomlinson Jr. Tomlinson Jr., who makes his fifth trip to the squared circle, knocked out Garbarino’s close friend and training partner last year, and their respective teams had to be separated physically at the KnuckleMania VI Launch Press Conference.
Major rankings implications in the fully loaded BKFC heavyweight division are on the line Saturday when Patrick “The Brick” Brady and Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill collide. Brady and Hill both boast 2-0 records, with all four of their victories coming by stoppage. BKFC fans around the world are also eager to see Jade “Evil Smile” Masson-Wong and Crystal “The Rugged Beauty” Pittman do battle in women’s bantamweight action. Among other must-see matchups Saturday is a cruiserweight clash between fan-favorite Zach “Shark Attack” Calmus and the unbeaten Lex “The Grizzly Bear” Ludlow.
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BKFC has big show in Philly this weekend
BKFC returns to its hometown of Philadelphia on Saturday under the bright lights of the Xfinity Mobile Arena. “Big” Ben Rothwell defends his BKFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski. Both men are former mixed martial arts stars, and Arlovski is the proud owner of a pair of MMA victories over Rothwell. The former UFC champ Arlovski made a smashing first impression in his BKFC premiere, but Rothwell has been exceptional in his first four trips to the squared circle.
Saturday’s chief supporting bout pits BKFC middleweight champion David “Redneck” Mundell against BKFC light heavyweight champion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt in a non-title matchup. Mundell and Hunt boast a combined bare knuckle fighting record of 22-3. Mundell is riding high on an eight-fight winning streak, and he knows a statement victory over the former two-division BKFC champion Hunt would elevate him to BKFC superstar status.
One of the most anticipated rematches in BKFC history takes place on Saturday. Tony “Loco” Soto is dialed in for a shot at redemption against former BKFC lightweight champion Ben “The Bomber” Bonner. The two clashed on BKFC 76 in June in one of the most electric fights in BKFC history.
The undefeated John “Johnny Canoli” Garbarino is chomping at the bit for the opportunity to smash his way to 4-0 at the expense of Kaine “Kaine 9” Tomlinson Jr. Tomlinson Jr., who makes his fifth trip to the squared circle, knocked out Garbarino’s close friend and training partner last year, and their respective teams had to be separated physically at the KnuckleMania VI Launch Press Conference.
Major rankings implications in the fully loaded BKFC heavyweight division are on the line Saturday when Patrick “The Brick” Brady and Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill collide. Brady and Hill both boast 2-0 records, with all four of their victories coming by stoppage. BKFC fans around the world are also eager to see Jade “Evil Smile” Masson-Wong and Crystal “The Rugged Beauty” Pittman do battle in women’s bantamweight action. Among other must-see matchups Saturday is a cruiserweight clash between fan-favorite Zach “Shark Attack” Calmus and the unbeaten Lex “The Grizzly Bear” Ludlow.
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Francesca Hennessy remains undefeated... barely |
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Francesca Hennessy W10 Ellie Bouttell,... At the Copper Box Arena in London, Britain’s Francesca Hennessy was pushed to the limit in a far-from-comfortable night. Her opponent, Ellie Bouttell, stubbornly refused to be a mere stepping stone. It was a classic clash of styles: constant pressure and short inside hooks against mobility, the jab, and outside work.The fight turned gritty and rocky early on. In the second round, an accidental clash of heads left both fighters with bleeding cuts, heightening the tension of an already heated contest. The action remained intense and peppery, with high-octane exchanges, which brought the crowd to edge of their seats. The judges’ scorecards read 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94, reflecting the competitive nature of the bout, awarding Hennessy a majority decision victory. While Bouttell landed the heavier shots in several stretches, Hennessy responded with superior volume, footwork, and resilience through the final rounds.
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Francesca Hennessy remains undefeated... barely
Francesca Hennessy W10 Ellie Bouttell,... At the Copper Box Arena in London, Britain’s Francesca Hennessy was pushed to the limit in a far-from-comfortable night. Her opponent, Ellie Bouttell, stubbornly refused to be a mere stepping stone. It was a classic clash of styles: constant pressure and short inside hooks against mobility, the jab, and outside work.The fight turned gritty and rocky early on. In the second round, an accidental clash of heads left both fighters with bleeding cuts, heightening the tension of an already heated contest. The action remained intense and peppery, with high-octane exchanges, which brought the crowd to edge of their seats. The judges’ scorecards read 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94, reflecting the competitive nature of the bout, awarding Hennessy a majority decision victory. While Bouttell landed the heavier shots in several stretches, Hennessy responded with superior volume, footwork, and resilience through the final rounds.
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Ex-champ Valenzuela gets win at lightweight |
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Rayo Valenzuela W10 Diego Torres... In the headline bout at Zuffa Boxing 02 in Las Vegas, former WBA junior welterweight champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela kicked off a new chapter in his career as he dropped to lightweight outpoint hard-hitting Diego “Azabache” Torres over ten rounds. There was no feeling-out process as both men traded big shots early, with Torres making good on his promise to walk down the former world champion and throw non-stop punches. As the early rounds played out, Valenzuela took charge of the exchanges when he kept the fight at range. But when Torres got up close, he appeared to have the better of the action as he ripped Valenzuela hard with short, chopping shots. With the action, and the momentum, swinging back and forth, a left hook from Torres opened up a nasty cut over the corner of Valenzuela’s right eye. But, after some sterling work from the cutman between rounds, the flow of blood was stemmed and Valenzuela came out for the fifth round and continued to sting Torres from range while making “El Azabache” miss.
As the action moved into the second half of the contest, Torres started to slow, and Valenzuela began to separate himself from his opponent, scoring-wise, with sharper footwork and more consistent boxing.
And as the pair battled it out in the closing rounds, it was Valenzuela still landing the cleaner, more impactful shots as he pulled away down the stretch to secure a clear unanimous decision victory, with scores of 99-91 across the board.
After his victory, Valenzuela admitted that he allowed himself to get dragged into a dogfight early on, before eventually reverting to his gameplan and leaning on his boxing to outpoint Torres on the scorecards.
“He came out hot, so I got caught in the fire, and I smelled blood, and I got a little excited,” he said. “I had to just relax and remember the gameplan. Just find my shots (and) be smart … (and) catch him with big shots coming in.”
And when Zuffa Boxing analyst Max Kellerman asked him why he opted to keep boxing in the final round rather than looking to spoil, hold and stay out of trouble, his answer was exactly what fight fans wanted to hear. “Because I’m a fighter,” he stated. "These people pay their hard working money, and that’s what we do here at Zuffa Boxing.”
He also paid tribute to Torres for pushing him so hard over the 10 rounds, saying, “I want to give him thanks. I appreciate him for taking this fight. He’s a dog. He only had one loss, and he showed why he’s so tough today.”
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Ex-champ Valenzuela gets win at lightweight
Rayo Valenzuela W10 Diego Torres... In the headline bout at Zuffa Boxing 02 in Las Vegas, former WBA junior welterweight champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela kicked off a new chapter in his career as he dropped to lightweight outpoint hard-hitting Diego “Azabache” Torres over ten rounds. There was no feeling-out process as both men traded big shots early, with Torres making good on his promise to walk down the former world champion and throw non-stop punches. As the early rounds played out, Valenzuela took charge of the exchanges when he kept the fight at range. But when Torres got up close, he appeared to have the better of the action as he ripped Valenzuela hard with short, chopping shots. With the action, and the momentum, swinging back and forth, a left hook from Torres opened up a nasty cut over the corner of Valenzuela’s right eye. But, after some sterling work from the cutman between rounds, the flow of blood was stemmed and Valenzuela came out for the fifth round and continued to sting Torres from range while making “El Azabache” miss.
As the action moved into the second half of the contest, Torres started to slow, and Valenzuela began to separate himself from his opponent, scoring-wise, with sharper footwork and more consistent boxing.
And as the pair battled it out in the closing rounds, it was Valenzuela still landing the cleaner, more impactful shots as he pulled away down the stretch to secure a clear unanimous decision victory, with scores of 99-91 across the board.
After his victory, Valenzuela admitted that he allowed himself to get dragged into a dogfight early on, before eventually reverting to his gameplan and leaning on his boxing to outpoint Torres on the scorecards.
“He came out hot, so I got caught in the fire, and I smelled blood, and I got a little excited,” he said. “I had to just relax and remember the gameplan. Just find my shots (and) be smart … (and) catch him with big shots coming in.”
And when Zuffa Boxing analyst Max Kellerman asked him why he opted to keep boxing in the final round rather than looking to spoil, hold and stay out of trouble, his answer was exactly what fight fans wanted to hear. “Because I’m a fighter,” he stated. "These people pay their hard working money, and that’s what we do here at Zuffa Boxing.”
He also paid tribute to Torres for pushing him so hard over the 10 rounds, saying, “I want to give him thanks. I appreciate him for taking this fight. He’s a dog. He only had one loss, and he showed why he’s so tough today.”
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Bohachuk defeats Butaev by split decision |
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Serhii Bohachuk W10 Radzhab Butaev... In Zuffa Boxing's chief support on its second show, Ukrainian warrior Serhii Bohachuk battled past Russian rival Radzhab Butaev in a back-and-forth middleweight battle. A former interim champion at junior middleweight, Bohachuk moved up to 160 pounds for a middleweight clash with Butaev and battled all the way to the scorecards to earn a split-decision verdict after ten punishing rounds Butaev seemed determined to command the center of the ring as he planeted his feet and unloaded heavy body shots on Bohachuk early. The Ukrainian took them well and kept firing back, but in the early exchanges it looked like it was the Russian’s shots that carried the greater impact.
Butaev continued his aggressive body-heavy attack, but Bohachuk covered up well and started to work behind his jab as he scored well through the round. A stinging right-hand lead snapped Butaev’s head back as he the Ukrainian started to find his range and timing in the second half of the round.
Round three saw Butaev switch to southpaw, and he had plenty of success from the left-handed stance as he outstruck Bohachuk through the third frame, then continued in the same vein in the fourth as he landed the heavier shots once again.
Bohachuk continued to push forward in a bid to smother Butaev at close range, and, after the Russian reverted back to the orthodox stance, the Ukrainian started to find a home for his punches as he scored with some nasty uppercuts and clubbing hooks from close range. The pace of the fight seemed to wear on Butaev through the middle rounds, and his pace and output gradually started to slow. It opened the door for Bohachuk to push the pace, and the Ukrainian did exactly that as he punched his way back into the fight.
By the time the pair reached the penultimate round, Bohachuk looked to be the man with the momentum, while Butaev looked drained, and even needed a little extra encouragement to get off his stool. It was all the encouragement Bohachuk needed as he finished strongly to take the victory via split decision with scores of 96-94 (twice) and 94-96 and send the vocal Ukrainian contingent in the Meta Apex bleachers into wild celebrations.
The win sees Bohachuk improve his record to 27-3, while Butaev’s defeat sees his career record adjusted to 24-3 including the World Series of Boxing.
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Bohachuk defeats Butaev by split decision
Serhii Bohachuk W10 Radzhab Butaev... In Zuffa Boxing's chief support on its second show, Ukrainian warrior Serhii Bohachuk battled past Russian rival Radzhab Butaev in a back-and-forth middleweight battle. A former interim champion at junior middleweight, Bohachuk moved up to 160 pounds for a middleweight clash with Butaev and battled all the way to the scorecards to earn a split-decision verdict after ten punishing rounds Butaev seemed determined to command the center of the ring as he planeted his feet and unloaded heavy body shots on Bohachuk early. The Ukrainian took them well and kept firing back, but in the early exchanges it looked like it was the Russian’s shots that carried the greater impact.
Butaev continued his aggressive body-heavy attack, but Bohachuk covered up well and started to work behind his jab as he scored well through the round. A stinging right-hand lead snapped Butaev’s head back as he the Ukrainian started to find his range and timing in the second half of the round.
Round three saw Butaev switch to southpaw, and he had plenty of success from the left-handed stance as he outstruck Bohachuk through the third frame, then continued in the same vein in the fourth as he landed the heavier shots once again.
Bohachuk continued to push forward in a bid to smother Butaev at close range, and, after the Russian reverted back to the orthodox stance, the Ukrainian started to find a home for his punches as he scored with some nasty uppercuts and clubbing hooks from close range. The pace of the fight seemed to wear on Butaev through the middle rounds, and his pace and output gradually started to slow. It opened the door for Bohachuk to push the pace, and the Ukrainian did exactly that as he punched his way back into the fight.
By the time the pair reached the penultimate round, Bohachuk looked to be the man with the momentum, while Butaev looked drained, and even needed a little extra encouragement to get off his stool. It was all the encouragement Bohachuk needed as he finished strongly to take the victory via split decision with scores of 96-94 (twice) and 94-96 and send the vocal Ukrainian contingent in the Meta Apex bleachers into wild celebrations.
The win sees Bohachuk improve his record to 27-3, while Butaev’s defeat sees his career record adjusted to 24-3 including the World Series of Boxing.
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More Zuffa results: Kalajdzic gets career-best win |
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Radivoje Kalajdzic KO7 Oleksandr Gvozdyk ... On Zuffa Boxing 02 undercard action, Radivoje Kalajdzic knocked out ex-champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk in their light heavyweight contest. It was a stunning come-from-behind victory for Kalajdzic, who recovered from two knockdowns to knock out Gvosdyk in a dramatic turnaround. Gvozdyk didn’t take long to find a home for his power shots, and a peach of a one-two combination sent Kalajdzic to the canvas mid-way through the opening round. Despite the early breakthrough, Gvozdyk didn’t rush his work and continued to work at his own pace as he picked holes in Kalajdzic’s defenses while “Hot Rod” looked to box from range.
“The Nail” continued to apply controlled pressure through Rounds 2 and 3, before scoring his second knockdown of the fight in Round 4. This time, it was a sustained barrage of punches that forced Kalajdzic to sit down on the ropes for a technical knockdown as the referee applied the required eight count. Then, in the fifth, Kalajdzic almost took another standing eight-count after he crouched down and sat on the bottom rope after more heavy shots from Gvozdyk.
After some inspirational words from his corner team, Kalajdzic came out in the seventh round and promptly stunned Gvozdyk with a straight right hand. The success seemed to transform “Hot Rod”, who started to land his right hand almost at will, and dropped Gvozdyk with 40 seconds to go in the round.
After the eight count, Kalajdzic immediately stepped back into range and unleashed a monster of a right hand to send “The Nail” crashing to the canvas once again. Gvozdyk battled back to his feet, but immediately staggered backward and fell to the canvas again as the referee waved off the fight. It was an incredible turnaround from “Hod Rod”, who claimed the 30th win of his 14-year career by handing Gvozdyk only his third career loss.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
In a 157-pounds bout, Jalil Hackett defeats Roberto Cruz Jr. via majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93) The featured preliminary card bout saw rival 11-1 middleweights go toe to toe as Hackett narrowly edged out Cruz Jr. after ten action-packed rounds. Hackett looked to lead the dance early, but had to content himself with trading shots as Cruz broke his rhythm with his more compact stance and smart counters. The Puerto Rican started to cause more problems for Hackett in the third round, with his consistent jabs to the body and snappy shots, but Hackett adjusted well and, in the fourth round, he found his range and landed big. A two-punch combination stunned Cruz, and Hackett moved in, landing big shots in an attempt to force the stoppage. Remarkably, Cruz took the best of Hackett’s shots, and even came firing back with heavy punches of his own as the round came to a close. WIth Cruz stubbornly refusing to buckle under the pressure, Hackett was instructed by his father and coach Bernard Hackett to switch up his style from full-power head-hunting to a more technical boxing-based approach. And, while it took a couple of rounds for Hackett to adjust, by the final two rounds, the Washington D.C. native was back to working behind his jab, and landing cleaner, more eye-catching shots as a result. The change in style helped ensure that Hackett stayed out of danger through the final two rounds as the bout went the distance. And, when the judges’ scorecards were collated, Hackett claimed the majority decision victory and moved to 12-1 as a pro.
In a lightweight contest, undefeated southpaws Oscar Perez and Justin Viloria went toe to toe at 135 pounds and served up a breathless back-and-forth scrap that went all the way back to the scorecards, with Viloria taking the victory by unanimous decision. The pair put the pedal to the metal from the very first exchange and didn’t let up for a second as they traded shots in a series of rapid-fire exchanges that saw each fighter seemingly always have an answer for the other. It made for a spectacular contest, with Perez opening up looking to rip the body, then move up to the head, while Viloria started off targeted the head, then sprinkled in some solid body work of his own. Eventually, it turned into a fast-paced, high-intensity phone-booth fight that delivered some of the best action we’ve seen in the Zuffa Boxing ring so far. Remarkably, after four rounds of non-stop action, the pace still hadn’t dropped, and neither man had taken a backward step. But, in trying to find a differentiating factor, it seemed the Viloria’s shots were starting to look the heavier and cleaner, though Perez’s relentless salvos ensured that every round was a virtual coin flip. Both men maintained the pace through the full eight-round duration, but when there was a difference to be seen between the pair, it was Vilorian whose work narrowly edged the comparative eye test. In the end, after eight rounds of non-stop action, the judges were called upon to separate the pair, and it was Viloria’s cleaner, crisper work that got the nod, with scores of 79-73, 78-74, 77-75. It meant that Viloria moved on to 12-0, while Perez dropped to 14-1-2.
Damoni Cato-Cain showcased outstanding conditioning and a non-stop work-rate as he returned from a 415-day layoff to comprehensively outpoint undefeated short-notice opponent Christian Morales over eight rounds in an entertaining 150-pound catchweight contest Cato-Cain started fast, switch-hitting and presenting constantly-changing looks for Morales, who struggled to get his shots off in the opening round. The Oakland native’s high output and weighty shots forced Morales to play defense throughout the first three minutes. In Round 2, Morales attempted to work off the back foot and catch Cato-Cain on the way in, but more often than not found himself on the wrong end of multiple shots. But, despite taking more punches than he dished out, the Las Vegas native managed to gain a foothold in the bout, with his straight right finding its mark on more than one occasion during the second stanza.
Morales almost made the breakthrough at the start of the third round as he caught Cato-Cain with a perfectly-timed shot that sent the Oakland man staggering backwards. Roared on by his corner, Morales continued to push forward and land big shots. As the round wore on, Cato-Cain, now settled into his orthodox stance, managed to box his way back into the round, but the confidence in Morales’ work was there for all to see as he happily went punch for punch with his more experienced opponent all the way to the end of the round. That round set the tone for the next four rounds as the pair went back and forth, with Cato-Cain’s volume and activity contrasting with Morales’ more flashy single shots. It took us all the way to the final round, and both men connected with big shots as they looked to finish the fight strong. But, despite their best efforts, the fight went all the way to the final bell. Despite each of the eight rounds being competitively contested, Cato-Cain held the advantage in almost all of them, and the scorecards reflected that fact, as he was declared the victor with scores of 80-72, 79-73, 77-75 to take his professional record to 9-1-2. Morales, meanwhile, falls to the first defeat of his career as he drops to 7-1.
Da'Mazion Vanhouter conceded around 60 pounds in weight to opponent Julian Gomez, but the 21-year-old heavyweight prospect more than made up for it with his boxing as he showcased intelligent shot selection and solid punch power to score a third-round TKO victory. Gomez got to work straight away, throwing big looping overhand rights, with a couple of them finding a home on the top of Vanhouter’s head. It didn’t take long for Vanhouter to find his range, though, and a vicious combination sent Gomez down to the canvas at the mid-way point of the opening round. Gomez took the eight count, got up and came back swinging, but once again Vanhouter avoided the big shots, then set his feet and started clubbing his Mexican opponent, with the American’s uppercuts snapping Gomez’s head backward on a couple of notable occasions. The round ended with Vanhouter teeing off on Gomez, who looked outmatched and outgunned. In round two, Vanhouter invested in his body work as he kept a slowing Gomez at range and hammered him to the midsection with thumping body shots. By the middle of the round Gomez’s punches had noticeably slowed, and Vanhouter continued to stalk his man, landing more heavy shots to the body. After two one-sided rounds, Vanhouter saw the chance to get himself a third-round finish, and after trapping Gomez in the corner, he did exactly that as a powerful salvo of unanswered punches forced the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:27 mark. Vanhouter’s victory extends his perfect professional record to 11-0, with eight knockouts, while Gomez drops to 7-4.
The event kicked off with a second-round finish from cruiserweight Jamar “No Mercy” Talley, who showed off some flashy hands before loading up to claim a stoppage victory over 16-fight veteran Devonte Williams with one perfectly-placed shot. Talley quickly settled into his work and mixed up his shots nicely, moving from head to body and having equal success with both. Williams shook his head at some of the early shots, but those dismissive gestures had stopped by the end of the round, with Talley connecting seemingly at will. The second round saw Talley turn up the power and the frequency as he doubled up on his jab and extended his combinations to dominate the round. Then, as the round approached its final seconds, Talley slipped to the side and connected with a perfectly-timed short right hook that sent Williams to the canvas. Williams couldn’t beat the count, and Talley claimed the fifth knockout of his young career with just one second left on the clock. The 25-year-old’s victory took the protegé of renowned trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre to 6-0, and served as an early warning to the other cruiserweight prospects looking to make a name for themselves in Zuffa Boxing.
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More Zuffa results: Kalajdzic gets career-best win
Radivoje Kalajdzic KO7 Oleksandr Gvozdyk ... On Zuffa Boxing 02 undercard action, Radivoje Kalajdzic knocked out ex-champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk in their light heavyweight contest. It was a stunning come-from-behind victory for Kalajdzic, who recovered from two knockdowns to knock out Gvosdyk in a dramatic turnaround. Gvozdyk didn’t take long to find a home for his power shots, and a peach of a one-two combination sent Kalajdzic to the canvas mid-way through the opening round. Despite the early breakthrough, Gvozdyk didn’t rush his work and continued to work at his own pace as he picked holes in Kalajdzic’s defenses while “Hot Rod” looked to box from range.
“The Nail” continued to apply controlled pressure through Rounds 2 and 3, before scoring his second knockdown of the fight in Round 4. This time, it was a sustained barrage of punches that forced Kalajdzic to sit down on the ropes for a technical knockdown as the referee applied the required eight count. Then, in the fifth, Kalajdzic almost took another standing eight-count after he crouched down and sat on the bottom rope after more heavy shots from Gvozdyk.
After some inspirational words from his corner team, Kalajdzic came out in the seventh round and promptly stunned Gvozdyk with a straight right hand. The success seemed to transform “Hot Rod”, who started to land his right hand almost at will, and dropped Gvozdyk with 40 seconds to go in the round.
After the eight count, Kalajdzic immediately stepped back into range and unleashed a monster of a right hand to send “The Nail” crashing to the canvas once again. Gvozdyk battled back to his feet, but immediately staggered backward and fell to the canvas again as the referee waved off the fight. It was an incredible turnaround from “Hod Rod”, who claimed the 30th win of his 14-year career by handing Gvozdyk only his third career loss.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
In a 157-pounds bout, Jalil Hackett defeats Roberto Cruz Jr. via majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93) The featured preliminary card bout saw rival 11-1 middleweights go toe to toe as Hackett narrowly edged out Cruz Jr. after ten action-packed rounds. Hackett looked to lead the dance early, but had to content himself with trading shots as Cruz broke his rhythm with his more compact stance and smart counters. The Puerto Rican started to cause more problems for Hackett in the third round, with his consistent jabs to the body and snappy shots, but Hackett adjusted well and, in the fourth round, he found his range and landed big. A two-punch combination stunned Cruz, and Hackett moved in, landing big shots in an attempt to force the stoppage. Remarkably, Cruz took the best of Hackett’s shots, and even came firing back with heavy punches of his own as the round came to a close. WIth Cruz stubbornly refusing to buckle under the pressure, Hackett was instructed by his father and coach Bernard Hackett to switch up his style from full-power head-hunting to a more technical boxing-based approach. And, while it took a couple of rounds for Hackett to adjust, by the final two rounds, the Washington D.C. native was back to working behind his jab, and landing cleaner, more eye-catching shots as a result. The change in style helped ensure that Hackett stayed out of danger through the final two rounds as the bout went the distance. And, when the judges’ scorecards were collated, Hackett claimed the majority decision victory and moved to 12-1 as a pro.
In a lightweight contest, undefeated southpaws Oscar Perez and Justin Viloria went toe to toe at 135 pounds and served up a breathless back-and-forth scrap that went all the way back to the scorecards, with Viloria taking the victory by unanimous decision. The pair put the pedal to the metal from the very first exchange and didn’t let up for a second as they traded shots in a series of rapid-fire exchanges that saw each fighter seemingly always have an answer for the other. It made for a spectacular contest, with Perez opening up looking to rip the body, then move up to the head, while Viloria started off targeted the head, then sprinkled in some solid body work of his own. Eventually, it turned into a fast-paced, high-intensity phone-booth fight that delivered some of the best action we’ve seen in the Zuffa Boxing ring so far. Remarkably, after four rounds of non-stop action, the pace still hadn’t dropped, and neither man had taken a backward step. But, in trying to find a differentiating factor, it seemed the Viloria’s shots were starting to look the heavier and cleaner, though Perez’s relentless salvos ensured that every round was a virtual coin flip. Both men maintained the pace through the full eight-round duration, but when there was a difference to be seen between the pair, it was Vilorian whose work narrowly edged the comparative eye test. In the end, after eight rounds of non-stop action, the judges were called upon to separate the pair, and it was Viloria’s cleaner, crisper work that got the nod, with scores of 79-73, 78-74, 77-75. It meant that Viloria moved on to 12-0, while Perez dropped to 14-1-2.
Damoni Cato-Cain showcased outstanding conditioning and a non-stop work-rate as he returned from a 415-day layoff to comprehensively outpoint undefeated short-notice opponent Christian Morales over eight rounds in an entertaining 150-pound catchweight contest Cato-Cain started fast, switch-hitting and presenting constantly-changing looks for Morales, who struggled to get his shots off in the opening round. The Oakland native’s high output and weighty shots forced Morales to play defense throughout the first three minutes. In Round 2, Morales attempted to work off the back foot and catch Cato-Cain on the way in, but more often than not found himself on the wrong end of multiple shots. But, despite taking more punches than he dished out, the Las Vegas native managed to gain a foothold in the bout, with his straight right finding its mark on more than one occasion during the second stanza.
Morales almost made the breakthrough at the start of the third round as he caught Cato-Cain with a perfectly-timed shot that sent the Oakland man staggering backwards. Roared on by his corner, Morales continued to push forward and land big shots. As the round wore on, Cato-Cain, now settled into his orthodox stance, managed to box his way back into the round, but the confidence in Morales’ work was there for all to see as he happily went punch for punch with his more experienced opponent all the way to the end of the round. That round set the tone for the next four rounds as the pair went back and forth, with Cato-Cain’s volume and activity contrasting with Morales’ more flashy single shots. It took us all the way to the final round, and both men connected with big shots as they looked to finish the fight strong. But, despite their best efforts, the fight went all the way to the final bell. Despite each of the eight rounds being competitively contested, Cato-Cain held the advantage in almost all of them, and the scorecards reflected that fact, as he was declared the victor with scores of 80-72, 79-73, 77-75 to take his professional record to 9-1-2. Morales, meanwhile, falls to the first defeat of his career as he drops to 7-1.
Da'Mazion Vanhouter conceded around 60 pounds in weight to opponent Julian Gomez, but the 21-year-old heavyweight prospect more than made up for it with his boxing as he showcased intelligent shot selection and solid punch power to score a third-round TKO victory. Gomez got to work straight away, throwing big looping overhand rights, with a couple of them finding a home on the top of Vanhouter’s head. It didn’t take long for Vanhouter to find his range, though, and a vicious combination sent Gomez down to the canvas at the mid-way point of the opening round. Gomez took the eight count, got up and came back swinging, but once again Vanhouter avoided the big shots, then set his feet and started clubbing his Mexican opponent, with the American’s uppercuts snapping Gomez’s head backward on a couple of notable occasions. The round ended with Vanhouter teeing off on Gomez, who looked outmatched and outgunned. In round two, Vanhouter invested in his body work as he kept a slowing Gomez at range and hammered him to the midsection with thumping body shots. By the middle of the round Gomez’s punches had noticeably slowed, and Vanhouter continued to stalk his man, landing more heavy shots to the body. After two one-sided rounds, Vanhouter saw the chance to get himself a third-round finish, and after trapping Gomez in the corner, he did exactly that as a powerful salvo of unanswered punches forced the referee to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:27 mark. Vanhouter’s victory extends his perfect professional record to 11-0, with eight knockouts, while Gomez drops to 7-4.
The event kicked off with a second-round finish from cruiserweight Jamar “No Mercy” Talley, who showed off some flashy hands before loading up to claim a stoppage victory over 16-fight veteran Devonte Williams with one perfectly-placed shot. Talley quickly settled into his work and mixed up his shots nicely, moving from head to body and having equal success with both. Williams shook his head at some of the early shots, but those dismissive gestures had stopped by the end of the round, with Talley connecting seemingly at will. The second round saw Talley turn up the power and the frequency as he doubled up on his jab and extended his combinations to dominate the round. Then, as the round approached its final seconds, Talley slipped to the side and connected with a perfectly-timed short right hook that sent Williams to the canvas. Williams couldn’t beat the count, and Talley claimed the fifth knockout of his young career with just one second left on the clock. The 25-year-old’s victory took the protegé of renowned trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre to 6-0, and served as an early warning to the other cruiserweight prospects looking to make a name for themselves in Zuffa Boxing.
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Matchroom announces Feb. 21st undercard |
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Nottingham, England's Motorpoint Arena is set to be completely sold out on Saturday, February 21st, when two former champions – and bitter enemies – Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington collide in an eagerly awaited rematch. Super bantamweight Molly McCann, who last year switched to boxing following a successful MMA career, wants to make a big impression earlier in the evening when she steps inside the ropes for the third time – looking to extend her perfect start in the professional ranks following her recent win last November against Ebonie Cotton. “I cannot wait to fight on the Wood-Warrington II undercard,” said Merseyside’s McCann, speaking to Matchroom Boxing. “I know how amazing both sets of fans are. Trust me, the atmosphere at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham is going to be absolutely electric. I’m looking forward to sharing the rest of the card with some incredible fighters. But, mainly, I’m very excited to show how much I have levelled up since my last fight and get this massive year off to a good start. It’s huge for me.”
Ishamel Davis (15-3, 6 KOs) makes the first defense of his British 154-pound crown when he faces Matchroom Boxing’s recent recruit, Bilal Fawaz (10-1-1, 3 KOs). The Londoner overcame Junaid Bostan (10-1-1, 8 KOs) – who also returns to action on February 21st – in a thrilling, tough-fought contest last October in Sheffield and will be determined to upset the odds again. But Davis, who conquered Sam Gilley in an enthralling bout back in November 2025 on the Benn-Eubank II card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will be in no mood to surrender his newly acquired title at the first time of asking.
Popular heavyweight hero Dave Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) is back in action too as he looks to set up some huge fight nights ahead and bounce back to winning ways following his October spirited defeat by Arslanbek Makhmudov.
One of Britain’s very best and Derby’s own Sandy Ryan (8-3-1, 3 KOs) bids to become a two-weight champion when she takes on Mexico’s Karla Ramos Zamora (12-10-2, 4 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title.
And former WBO welterweight queen Ryan is joined on the card by Tiah-Mai Ayton (4-0, 4 KOs) as the teenage bantamweight – dubbed by the great, Katie Taylor as a future undisputed ruler of the world – goes up against Brazil’s Catherine Tacone Ramos (9-3-1, 2 KOs), looking to stretch her flawless record.
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Matchroom announces Feb. 21st undercard
Nottingham, England's Motorpoint Arena is set to be completely sold out on Saturday, February 21st, when two former champions – and bitter enemies – Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington collide in an eagerly awaited rematch. Super bantamweight Molly McCann, who last year switched to boxing following a successful MMA career, wants to make a big impression earlier in the evening when she steps inside the ropes for the third time – looking to extend her perfect start in the professional ranks following her recent win last November against Ebonie Cotton. “I cannot wait to fight on the Wood-Warrington II undercard,” said Merseyside’s McCann, speaking to Matchroom Boxing. “I know how amazing both sets of fans are. Trust me, the atmosphere at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham is going to be absolutely electric. I’m looking forward to sharing the rest of the card with some incredible fighters. But, mainly, I’m very excited to show how much I have levelled up since my last fight and get this massive year off to a good start. It’s huge for me.”
Ishamel Davis (15-3, 6 KOs) makes the first defense of his British 154-pound crown when he faces Matchroom Boxing’s recent recruit, Bilal Fawaz (10-1-1, 3 KOs). The Londoner overcame Junaid Bostan (10-1-1, 8 KOs) – who also returns to action on February 21st – in a thrilling, tough-fought contest last October in Sheffield and will be determined to upset the odds again. But Davis, who conquered Sam Gilley in an enthralling bout back in November 2025 on the Benn-Eubank II card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will be in no mood to surrender his newly acquired title at the first time of asking.
Popular heavyweight hero Dave Allen (24-8-2, 19 KOs) is back in action too as he looks to set up some huge fight nights ahead and bounce back to winning ways following his October spirited defeat by Arslanbek Makhmudov.
One of Britain’s very best and Derby’s own Sandy Ryan (8-3-1, 3 KOs) bids to become a two-weight champion when she takes on Mexico’s Karla Ramos Zamora (12-10-2, 4 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title.
And former WBO welterweight queen Ryan is joined on the card by Tiah-Mai Ayton (4-0, 4 KOs) as the teenage bantamweight – dubbed by the great, Katie Taylor as a future undisputed ruler of the world – goes up against Brazil’s Catherine Tacone Ramos (9-3-1, 2 KOs), looking to stretch her flawless record.
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Josh Padley wins European championship |
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Josh Padley TKO2 Jaouad Belmehdi... Josh Padley moved to claim the vacant European 130-pound championship in emphatic style as he dispatched Jaouad Belmehdi inside two rounds in Newcastle, England on Saturday. Fighting on the Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly undercard, the Doncaster native made short work of his latest opponent to underline his growing status as a key operator. Since losing a WBC lightweight title bid as a late replacement to face Shakur Stevenson nearly a year ago, Padley (18-1) has won three straight against good opposition. Belmehdi returns to France with a record of 23-3-3.
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Josh Padley wins European championship
Josh Padley TKO2 Jaouad Belmehdi... Josh Padley moved to claim the vacant European 130-pound championship in emphatic style as he dispatched Jaouad Belmehdi inside two rounds in Newcastle, England on Saturday. Fighting on the Bakhram Murtazaliev-Josh Kelly undercard, the Doncaster native made short work of his latest opponent to underline his growing status as a key operator. Since losing a WBC lightweight title bid as a late replacement to face Shakur Stevenson nearly a year ago, Padley (18-1) has won three straight against good opposition. Belmehdi returns to France with a record of 23-3-3.
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Boxlab returns to Orlando on Feb. 20th |
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Boxlab Promotions announced “Night of Champions XIV,” set for Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The event will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. The ten-round main event will feature junior middleweight Alex Bray (10-0, 8 KOs), from Melbourne, FL, as he takes on Rodrigo Damian Coria (15-7, 3 KOs) from Argentina. In another ten rounder, heavyweight Dainier Pero (12-0, 9 KOs) will continue his climb toward world-title contention against Donald Haynesworth (19-9-1,17 KOs). A high-stakes women’s showdown will also take place as Gabriela Tellez (6-0, 2 KOs) puts her undefeated record on the line in her lightweight debut, squaring off against Calista Silgado (22-20-4, 16 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout
Bray is eager to headline one of Boxlab’s premier events and make a statement on February 20. “This is the kind of opportunity I’ve been working for,” said Bray. “Night of Champions lives up to its name, and I’m proud to be the main event. I’m undefeated for a reason, and on February 20, I plan to show that I’m ready for the next level and ready to bring that title home.”
“Every fight is another step toward my ultimate goal,” said Pero. “Being featured in the co-main event of Night of Champions is another big moment for me. I want to make a statement, keep building, and show fans why I belong among the best heavyweights in the world.”
A rising star from San Antonio, Texas, Tellez has shown speed, precision and composure, but now faces the toughest test of her career in Silgado, a proven knockout artist known for her durability and experience against top-level opposition. Tellez welcomes both the challenge and the opportunity to compete for her first WBA title. “This is the moment I’ve been working toward for a long time,” said Tellez. “Calista is experienced and dangerous, but I respect her and I’m ready for whatever she brings. Fighting at lightweight for a WBA title means everything to me. I’m focused, motivated, and ready to make a statement.”
Boxlab Promotions President Amaury Piedra emphasized the significance of the event and the talent on display. “Night of Champions XIII represents everything Boxlab Promotions stands for, elite competition, smart matchmaking, and meaningful opportunities for fighters to advance their careers,” said Piedra. “Alex Bray, Dainier Pero, and Gabriela Tellez each bring something special to this card. This event is designed to entertain fans... while showcasing the next generation of champions, and we’re proud to present it on a our platform.”
“Night of Champions XIII” will also feature a deep undercard featuring undefeated prospects, pro debuts, and competitive matchups across multiple weight classes, highlighting Boxlab Promotions’ commitment to developing future stars while delivering entertaining fights.
UNDERCARD BOUTS:
Alex Rios Vega (10-2, 3 KOs) vs. Hebreux Francois (6-1, 2 KOs) — Super Lightweight (6-rounds)
Mandeep Jangra (12-1, 7 KOs) vs. TBA — Super Featherweight
Jobed Collazo (2-0) vs. TBA — Lightweight (4-rounds)
Jusiyah Shirley (8-1, 7 KOs) vs. Jose Valenzuela Alvarado (4-24-4, 2 KOs) — Super Lightweight (6-rounds)
Jayson Martinez (Pro Debut) vs. Terreeon Hammond (2-11, 2 KOs) — Super Bantamweight (4-rounds)
Pedro Veitia (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. TBA — Super Welterweight (6-rounds)
Giovanni Louis (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jose Fernandez (1-1, 1 KO) — Featherweight (4-rounds)
Alan Knight vs. Victor Flores — Heavyweight (Both making pro debuts) (4-rounds)
Diondre Hill vs. Anthony Jones — Super Lightweight (Both making pro debuts) (4-rounds)
Aleksei Dronov (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. TBA — Heavyweight (8-rounds)
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Boxlab returns to Orlando on Feb. 20th
Boxlab Promotions announced “Night of Champions XIV,” set for Friday, February 20th at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The event will be streamed live worldwide on the Boxlab Promotions YouTube channel. The ten-round main event will feature junior middleweight Alex Bray (10-0, 8 KOs), from Melbourne, FL, as he takes on Rodrigo Damian Coria (15-7, 3 KOs) from Argentina. In another ten rounder, heavyweight Dainier Pero (12-0, 9 KOs) will continue his climb toward world-title contention against Donald Haynesworth (19-9-1,17 KOs). A high-stakes women’s showdown will also take place as Gabriela Tellez (6-0, 2 KOs) puts her undefeated record on the line in her lightweight debut, squaring off against Calista Silgado (22-20-4, 16 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout
Bray is eager to headline one of Boxlab’s premier events and make a statement on February 20. “This is the kind of opportunity I’ve been working for,” said Bray. “Night of Champions lives up to its name, and I’m proud to be the main event. I’m undefeated for a reason, and on February 20, I plan to show that I’m ready for the next level and ready to bring that title home.”
“Every fight is another step toward my ultimate goal,” said Pero. “Being featured in the co-main event of Night of Champions is another big moment for me. I want to make a statement, keep building, and show fans why I belong among the best heavyweights in the world.”
A rising star from San Antonio, Texas, Tellez has shown speed, precision and composure, but now faces the toughest test of her career in Silgado, a proven knockout artist known for her durability and experience against top-level opposition. Tellez welcomes both the challenge and the opportunity to compete for her first WBA title. “This is the moment I’ve been working toward for a long time,” said Tellez. “Calista is experienced and dangerous, but I respect her and I’m ready for whatever she brings. Fighting at lightweight for a WBA title means everything to me. I’m focused, motivated, and ready to make a statement.”
Boxlab Promotions President Amaury Piedra emphasized the significance of the event and the talent on display. “Night of Champions XIII represents everything Boxlab Promotions stands for, elite competition, smart matchmaking, and meaningful opportunities for fighters to advance their careers,” said Piedra. “Alex Bray, Dainier Pero, and Gabriela Tellez each bring something special to this card. This event is designed to entertain fans... while showcasing the next generation of champions, and we’re proud to present it on a our platform.”
“Night of Champions XIII” will also feature a deep undercard featuring undefeated prospects, pro debuts, and competitive matchups across multiple weight classes, highlighting Boxlab Promotions’ commitment to developing future stars while delivering entertaining fights.
UNDERCARD BOUTS:
Alex Rios Vega (10-2, 3 KOs) vs. Hebreux Francois (6-1, 2 KOs) — Super Lightweight (6-rounds)
Mandeep Jangra (12-1, 7 KOs) vs. TBA — Super Featherweight
Jobed Collazo (2-0) vs. TBA — Lightweight (4-rounds)
Jusiyah Shirley (8-1, 7 KOs) vs. Jose Valenzuela Alvarado (4-24-4, 2 KOs) — Super Lightweight (6-rounds)
Jayson Martinez (Pro Debut) vs. Terreeon Hammond (2-11, 2 KOs) — Super Bantamweight (4-rounds)
Pedro Veitia (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. TBA — Super Welterweight (6-rounds)
Giovanni Louis (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jose Fernandez (1-1, 1 KO) — Featherweight (4-rounds)
Alan Knight vs. Victor Flores — Heavyweight (Both making pro debuts) (4-rounds)
Diondre Hill vs. Anthony Jones — Super Lightweight (Both making pro debuts) (4-rounds)
Aleksei Dronov (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. TBA — Heavyweight (8-rounds)
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Fight Club OC returns on Feb. 12th |
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Fight Club OC is back on February 12th inside The Hangar at The OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa (Orange County), California. Six bouts are sscheduled, five of them boxing and one mixed martial arts alongside a Hustler Casino Knockout Promotion where fans in attendance can win up to $1,000 cash. The best-known boxer on the show will be California lightweight Johnny Canas (9-0), who faces Mexico's Jose Antonio Meza (9-11), who has never been stopped despite the eleven losses. All tickets available online at www.socafights.com.
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Fight Club OC returns on Feb. 12th
Fight Club OC is back on February 12th inside The Hangar at The OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa (Orange County), California. Six bouts are sscheduled, five of them boxing and one mixed martial arts alongside a Hustler Casino Knockout Promotion where fans in attendance can win up to $1,000 cash. The best-known boxer on the show will be California lightweight Johnny Canas (9-0), who faces Mexico's Jose Antonio Meza (9-11), who has never been stopped despite the eleven losses. All tickets available online at www.socafights.com.
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Atlantic City Hall of Fame names 20 new members |
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The Atlantic City (New Jersey) Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) unveiled twenty honorees for induction into its Hall of Fame. The annual Awards & Induction Weekend is scheduled to take place from Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Here is the list of inductees: boxers: Miguel Cotto, Ray Mancini, Zab Judah, Orlando Canizales, Charles Williams, Harold Knight, Mike Tinley and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde. Contributors: Lou Dibella (promoter), Melvina Lathan (judge), Earl Brown (referee), Craig Johnson (manager) and John Scully (humanitarian/trainer/boxer). Posthumous: James Shuler (boxer), Georgie Navarro (boxer), Wesley Mouzon (trainer) and Chuck Betson (media). Pioneers: Juan Carlos Tapia (international media), John Fitzpatrick (referee) and Al Soifer (promoter).
“We proudly look ahead to the induction of these outstanding individuals selected for the 2026 Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. It is with great excitement that we prepare to celebrate and honor this remarkable group, whose contributions have helped shape Atlantic City into one of the sport’s true boxing meccas.” – Ray McCline, President & Founder, Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
The annual Awards & Induction Weekend will offer boxing enthusiasts a fun filled experience with exceptional programming at this year’s Hall of Fame Festivities. Delight yourselves in our VIP cocktail receptions, engage in meet & greets with legendary figures, and immerse yourself in a fight fan experience showcasing stunning artwork, exhibits, and boxing memorabilia. The pinnacle of the weekend will be the Awards & Induction red-carpet ceremony, set in an award-show atmosphere.
"It is a tremendous honor to be part of the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. This recognition not only celebrates my career, but also the sacrifice of my family, my team, and everyone who believed in me. I carried the pride of Puerto Rico in the ring in each of my fights to all the fans” – Miguel Cotto
“I’m truly honored and excited to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. I want to sincerely thank Commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr., for always being great to me and for taking care of Team Judah. He’s given us the opportunity to showcase ourselves to the world, and I’m very grateful for that. I can’t wait to see everyone—it’s going to be a fabulous night.” - Zab Judah
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame—a place where I truly made my bones as a professional fighter. From my first title fight at Bally’s Park Place in October 1981 through my next two bouts there, Atlantic City always made me feel like a champion. The fans are true fight fans who showed me incredible love and support. Thank you for this great honor. I am truly grateful and deeply touched.” - Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini
A special thanks to our partners, sponsors and supporters: Mayor Marty Small Sr., City of Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Club Boardwalk Resorts-Flagship Hotel, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Sampson Boxing, Visit Atlantic City and Atlantic City Sports Commission, Bare Knuckle Fighting Champions, Irish Pub, D’Arcy Johnson Day Lawyers, Sparbar LTD, Fight Night Apparel, Adams Boxing, WBC, IBF, CM 3D Crystal’s, Chris Guzman Gloves and Patrick Killian Arts.
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Atlantic City Hall of Fame names 20 new members
The Atlantic City (New Jersey) Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) unveiled twenty honorees for induction into its Hall of Fame. The annual Awards & Induction Weekend is scheduled to take place from Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Here is the list of inductees: boxers: Miguel Cotto, Ray Mancini, Zab Judah, Orlando Canizales, Charles Williams, Harold Knight, Mike Tinley and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde. Contributors: Lou Dibella (promoter), Melvina Lathan (judge), Earl Brown (referee), Craig Johnson (manager) and John Scully (humanitarian/trainer/boxer). Posthumous: James Shuler (boxer), Georgie Navarro (boxer), Wesley Mouzon (trainer) and Chuck Betson (media). Pioneers: Juan Carlos Tapia (international media), John Fitzpatrick (referee) and Al Soifer (promoter).
“We proudly look ahead to the induction of these outstanding individuals selected for the 2026 Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. It is with great excitement that we prepare to celebrate and honor this remarkable group, whose contributions have helped shape Atlantic City into one of the sport’s true boxing meccas.” – Ray McCline, President & Founder, Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
The annual Awards & Induction Weekend will offer boxing enthusiasts a fun filled experience with exceptional programming at this year’s Hall of Fame Festivities. Delight yourselves in our VIP cocktail receptions, engage in meet & greets with legendary figures, and immerse yourself in a fight fan experience showcasing stunning artwork, exhibits, and boxing memorabilia. The pinnacle of the weekend will be the Awards & Induction red-carpet ceremony, set in an award-show atmosphere.
"It is a tremendous honor to be part of the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. This recognition not only celebrates my career, but also the sacrifice of my family, my team, and everyone who believed in me. I carried the pride of Puerto Rico in the ring in each of my fights to all the fans” – Miguel Cotto
“I’m truly honored and excited to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. I want to sincerely thank Commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr., for always being great to me and for taking care of Team Judah. He’s given us the opportunity to showcase ourselves to the world, and I’m very grateful for that. I can’t wait to see everyone—it’s going to be a fabulous night.” - Zab Judah
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame—a place where I truly made my bones as a professional fighter. From my first title fight at Bally’s Park Place in October 1981 through my next two bouts there, Atlantic City always made me feel like a champion. The fans are true fight fans who showed me incredible love and support. Thank you for this great honor. I am truly grateful and deeply touched.” - Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini
A special thanks to our partners, sponsors and supporters: Mayor Marty Small Sr., City of Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Club Boardwalk Resorts-Flagship Hotel, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Sampson Boxing, Visit Atlantic City and Atlantic City Sports Commission, Bare Knuckle Fighting Champions, Irish Pub, D’Arcy Johnson Day Lawyers, Sparbar LTD, Fight Night Apparel, Adams Boxing, WBC, IBF, CM 3D Crystal’s, Chris Guzman Gloves and Patrick Killian Arts.
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Stevenson puts on a clinic vs. Lopez |
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Shakur Stevenson W12 Teofimo Lopez... Headlining at Madison Square Garden, undefeated Shakur Stevenson put on a boxing master class, easily routing Teofimo Lopez over twelve one-sided rounds to earn Stevenson's world (and WBO) junior welterweight championship. It was a historic win because Stevenson is now a champion in a fourth weight class. No longer working with Eddy Reynoso, and his father, Teofimo Sr., remaining as head coach, Lopez brought in Stacey McKinley as an assistant trainer to help him prepare for this title defense. Yet the Brooklynite, now residing in Las Vegas, still had no answer for Stevenson’s superior ring generalship. While Lopez aggressively pressed the action in the opener trying to establish his jab, that determination quickly evaporated into a state of befuddlement.
Guided by his grandfather, Wali Moses, and head coach Kay Koroma, Stevenson, 138.5 lbs., delivered a southpaw masterclass based on a “make him miss, make him pay” philosophy. He neutralized Lopez using deft footwork and sharp counters, ranging from stiff jabs to stinging right hooks and overhand lefts. Lopez, 139.5 lbs., soon resorted to throwing wild swings, leaving himself even more susceptible to the faster challenger’s pinpoint accuracy.
Trailing on the scorecards by the midway point, and with his left eye swollen and bleeding, Lopez finally increased his punch output in the later rounds, having a modicum of success targeting his adversary’s body. No matter what Lopez tried, though, Newark, New Jersey’s Stevenson, now based out of Houston, TX, remained in control.
All three judges agreed on a tally of 119-109 for Stevenson, now 25-0 (11 KOs). Punchstat numbers also favored Stevenson by a wide margin, 165-72 in punches landed. Suffering a second loss at the Garden, Lopez, the two-division world champion, fell to 22-2 (13 KOs).
“I picked him apart, and I did what I was supposed to do,” said Stevenson. “This is the art of boxing, hit and don’t get hit. I knew my jab was going to kill him. I told everybody before the fight, ‘They’re going to say I have the best jab in boxing after this fight,’ because I saw where he was weak at and I capitalized off of it.”
During Stevenson’s post-fight interview, Britain’s Conor Benn stepped through the ropes and a verbal altercation ensued between the two regarding a potential clash. Should that fight occur, and it would be a massive sell in the UK, expect Stevenson to have just as easy a time as he had against Lopez.
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Stevenson puts on a clinic vs. Lopez
Shakur Stevenson W12 Teofimo Lopez... Headlining at Madison Square Garden, undefeated Shakur Stevenson put on a boxing master class, easily routing Teofimo Lopez over twelve one-sided rounds to earn Stevenson's world (and WBO) junior welterweight championship. It was a historic win because Stevenson is now a champion in a fourth weight class. No longer working with Eddy Reynoso, and his father, Teofimo Sr., remaining as head coach, Lopez brought in Stacey McKinley as an assistant trainer to help him prepare for this title defense. Yet the Brooklynite, now residing in Las Vegas, still had no answer for Stevenson’s superior ring generalship. While Lopez aggressively pressed the action in the opener trying to establish his jab, that determination quickly evaporated into a state of befuddlement.
Guided by his grandfather, Wali Moses, and head coach Kay Koroma, Stevenson, 138.5 lbs., delivered a southpaw masterclass based on a “make him miss, make him pay” philosophy. He neutralized Lopez using deft footwork and sharp counters, ranging from stiff jabs to stinging right hooks and overhand lefts. Lopez, 139.5 lbs., soon resorted to throwing wild swings, leaving himself even more susceptible to the faster challenger’s pinpoint accuracy.
Trailing on the scorecards by the midway point, and with his left eye swollen and bleeding, Lopez finally increased his punch output in the later rounds, having a modicum of success targeting his adversary’s body. No matter what Lopez tried, though, Newark, New Jersey’s Stevenson, now based out of Houston, TX, remained in control.
All three judges agreed on a tally of 119-109 for Stevenson, now 25-0 (11 KOs). Punchstat numbers also favored Stevenson by a wide margin, 165-72 in punches landed. Suffering a second loss at the Garden, Lopez, the two-division world champion, fell to 22-2 (13 KOs).
“I picked him apart, and I did what I was supposed to do,” said Stevenson. “This is the art of boxing, hit and don’t get hit. I knew my jab was going to kill him. I told everybody before the fight, ‘They’re going to say I have the best jab in boxing after this fight,’ because I saw where he was weak at and I capitalized off of it.”
During Stevenson’s post-fight interview, Britain’s Conor Benn stepped through the ropes and a verbal altercation ensued between the two regarding a potential clash. Should that fight occur, and it would be a massive sell in the UK, expect Stevenson to have just as easy a time as he had against Lopez.
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Zayas now a unified champion at 154 pounds |
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Xander Zayas W12 Abass Baraou... In San Juan, Xander Zayas defeated Abass Baraou of Germany by unanimous decision to become the unified WBO / WBA junior middleweight champion. Fighting in front of his Puerto Rican fan base, Zayas moved backwards for most of the fight but threw tons of punches, a strategy that worked out brilliantly. Although Zayas had the decision locked up going into the final round, he nonetheless delighted the crowd by trading punches with Baraou for three minutes. The scorecards surprisingly showed a split decision, with one reading 116-112 for Baraou, but it was thankfully and correctly overruled by two scores of 116-112 for Zayas. In his post-fight interview, Zayas said he hurt his hand in round nine. With 23 wins at age 23, the undefeated Zayas was congratulated afterwards by Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad and seems to be the face of Puerto Rican boxing right now with a bright future ahead of him.
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Zayas now a unified champion at 154 pounds
Xander Zayas W12 Abass Baraou... In San Juan, Xander Zayas defeated Abass Baraou of Germany by unanimous decision to become the unified WBO / WBA junior middleweight champion. Fighting in front of his Puerto Rican fan base, Zayas moved backwards for most of the fight but threw tons of punches, a strategy that worked out brilliantly. Although Zayas had the decision locked up going into the final round, he nonetheless delighted the crowd by trading punches with Baraou for three minutes. The scorecards surprisingly showed a split decision, with one reading 116-112 for Baraou, but it was thankfully and correctly overruled by two scores of 116-112 for Zayas. In his post-fight interview, Zayas said he hurt his hand in round nine. With 23 wins at age 23, the undefeated Zayas was congratulated afterwards by Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad and seems to be the face of Puerto Rican boxing right now with a bright future ahead of him.
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Back to business: Keyshawn Davis wins by TKO |
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Kewshawn Davis TKO12 Jamaine Ortiz... Ex-WBO lightweight champion Kewshawn "The Businessman" Davis made a successful debut in the junior welterweight division on Saturday in New York City. Davis, who lost that title on the scales before his prior fight, stopped the capable Jamaine Ortiz in round twelve. By way of comparison, Ortiz went the distance vs. two champs-- Vasily Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez. At the beginning of round eleven, Davis connected on a powerful body shot to send Ortiz to the canvas. Ortiz got up and survived a barrage of power shots from Davis to make it to the twelfth round. Ortiz nearly made it to the final bell, but Davis landed another body shot that put Ortiz down again. The referee immediately waved off the fight, just eleven seconds short of the final bell. By then, one of Ortiz's eye was swollen shut. Afterward, Davis called out two-dvision champion Devin Haney.
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Back to business: Keyshawn Davis wins by TKO
Kewshawn Davis TKO12 Jamaine Ortiz... Ex-WBO lightweight champion Kewshawn "The Businessman" Davis made a successful debut in the junior welterweight division on Saturday in New York City. Davis, who lost that title on the scales before his prior fight, stopped the capable Jamaine Ortiz in round twelve. By way of comparison, Ortiz went the distance vs. two champs-- Vasily Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez. At the beginning of round eleven, Davis connected on a powerful body shot to send Ortiz to the canvas. Ortiz got up and survived a barrage of power shots from Davis to make it to the twelfth round. Ortiz nearly made it to the final bell, but Davis landed another body shot that put Ortiz down again. The referee immediately waved off the fight, just eleven seconds short of the final bell. By then, one of Ortiz's eye was swollen shut. Afterward, Davis called out two-dvision champion Devin Haney.
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KO nets Carrington the WBC featherweight title |
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Bruce Carrington KO9 Carlos Castro ... Fighting in his hometown of New York City, Bruce Carrington defeated Carlos Castro by knockout at 1:29 of the ninth round to win the vacant WBC featherweight championship. From the Brownsville, Brooklyn section of New York, Carrington landed a flush right hand and followed it up with a four or five-punch combination. He punctuated the combination by landing one more right that sent Castro down for a ten count and the crowd inside Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Carrington was the WBC interim champion but is now that organization's full champion of the 126-pound division.
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KO nets Carrington the WBC featherweight title
Bruce Carrington KO9 Carlos Castro ... Fighting in his hometown of New York City, Bruce Carrington defeated Carlos Castro by knockout at 1:29 of the ninth round to win the vacant WBC featherweight championship. From the Brownsville, Brooklyn section of New York, Carrington landed a flush right hand and followed it up with a four or five-punch combination. He punctuated the combination by landing one more right that sent Castro down for a ten count and the crowd inside Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Carrington was the WBC interim champion but is now that organization's full champion of the 126-pound division.
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New champion alert: Josh Kelly edges Bakhram Murtazaliev in UK |
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Josh Kelly W12 Bakhram Murtazaliev... Josh Kelly is the new IBF junior middleweight champion following hometown slpit-decision win over Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle, England. Kelly made an excellent start and even dropped his opponent, but that was almost undone when he was floored in round nine before absorbing a tough finish in the championship rounds. Despite Murtazaliev’s efforts in the closing stages, Kelly clung on to win on the scorecards via majority decision with the scores reading 115-111 and 114-113 in favor of Kelly against a card of 113-113. Kelly’s win now makes him Britain’s latest world champion, and he will be keen to land another huge fight against the likes of Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz.
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New champion alert: Josh Kelly edges Bakhram Murtazaliev in UK
Josh Kelly W12 Bakhram Murtazaliev... Josh Kelly is the new IBF junior middleweight champion following hometown slpit-decision win over Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle, England. Kelly made an excellent start and even dropped his opponent, but that was almost undone when he was floored in round nine before absorbing a tough finish in the championship rounds. Despite Murtazaliev’s efforts in the closing stages, Kelly clung on to win on the scorecards via majority decision with the scores reading 115-111 and 114-113 in favor of Kelly against a card of 113-113. Kelly’s win now makes him Britain’s latest world champion, and he will be keen to land another huge fight against the likes of Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz.
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Undercard results from Puerto Rico |
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Juanmita Lopez De Jesus W6 Conner Goade... On the Top Rank undercard in San Juan, second-generation Puerto Rican standout Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs) earned a six-round unanimous decision against Conner Goade (8-5-2, 7 KOs) by three scores of 60-53. The 20 year-old southpaw boxed from the outside, landing single straight left hands or right hooks to the body. Goade pressed the action, but by round three, Juanmita found his rhythm and upped the pressure, nearly finishing him. However, Goade did not crumble under the assault, forcing Juanmita to cruise in the later rounds on the back foot.
Euri Cedeño W10 Etoundi Michel William... Dominican middleweight Euri Cedeño (14-0-1, 12 KOs) punished Etoundi Michel William (16-3, 10 KOs) across ten rounds to earn a lopsided unanimous decision. Cedeño scored two knockdowns in the opening stanza, from which William could not fully recover. The scorecards were a complete whitewash, 100-88 accorss the board for Cedeno.
MORE RESULTS
Junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 5 KOs) registered a sixth-round technical knockout against durable veteran Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7, 10 KOs). Castro build a strong lead in the opening rounds, but a nonstop flurry on a bloody Olguin forced the stoppage at 1:31.
Puerto Rican super flyweight Yadriel Caban (3-0, 3 KOs) blasted out Jeremis Hernandez-Torres (2-3) in one round. Caban, age 20, dropped Hernandez-Torres with a right hand before ending the contest with a left hook to the body. Time of stoppage: 1:46
In his first fight at 154 pounds, San Diego native Giovani Santillan (35-1, 18 KOs) earned a workman like ten-round points verdict over Courtney Pennington (17-12-3, 7 KOs). Official scores were 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
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Undercard results from Puerto Rico
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus W6 Conner Goade... On the Top Rank undercard in San Juan, second-generation Puerto Rican standout Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs) earned a six-round unanimous decision against Conner Goade (8-5-2, 7 KOs) by three scores of 60-53. The 20 year-old southpaw boxed from the outside, landing single straight left hands or right hooks to the body. Goade pressed the action, but by round three, Juanmita found his rhythm and upped the pressure, nearly finishing him. However, Goade did not crumble under the assault, forcing Juanmita to cruise in the later rounds on the back foot.
Euri Cedeño W10 Etoundi Michel William... Dominican middleweight Euri Cedeño (14-0-1, 12 KOs) punished Etoundi Michel William (16-3, 10 KOs) across ten rounds to earn a lopsided unanimous decision. Cedeño scored two knockdowns in the opening stanza, from which William could not fully recover. The scorecards were a complete whitewash, 100-88 accorss the board for Cedeno.
MORE RESULTS
Junior lightweight Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 5 KOs) registered a sixth-round technical knockout against durable veteran Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7, 10 KOs). Castro build a strong lead in the opening rounds, but a nonstop flurry on a bloody Olguin forced the stoppage at 1:31.
Puerto Rican super flyweight Yadriel Caban (3-0, 3 KOs) blasted out Jeremis Hernandez-Torres (2-3) in one round. Caban, age 20, dropped Hernandez-Torres with a right hand before ending the contest with a left hook to the body. Time of stoppage: 1:46
In his first fight at 154 pounds, San Diego native Giovani Santillan (35-1, 18 KOs) earned a workman like ten-round points verdict over Courtney Pennington (17-12-3, 7 KOs). Official scores were 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
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Miller wigs out but beats Ibeh |
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Jarrell Miller W10 Kingsley Ibeh... Perennial fringe contender Jarrell Miller left the ring at Madison Square Garden looking a lot different than when he entered it. Kingsley Ibeh landed an uppercut that knocked Miller's hairpiece loose and resulted in Miller pulling the wig off and fighting the majority of the ten rounds with a bizarre looking tonsure (monk haircut). Ibeh did very well early but couldn't finish the job. But Miller pressed on, and won an ugly fight by unanimous decision. Official scores were 97-93 Miller (twice) and 96-94 (Ibeh). Miller was far too heavy at 317 pounds, but he knows how to use his weight to lean on his opponent and tire him out. That tactic began to pay dividends in round six, as Ibeh began to run out of gas. Miller continued to press forward, leaving Ibeh looking dejected after round seven. The last five rounds were pretty much a clean sweep for Miller as a tired Ibeh could not move fast enough to keep Miller off him.
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Miller wigs out but beats Ibeh
Jarrell Miller W10 Kingsley Ibeh... Perennial fringe contender Jarrell Miller left the ring at Madison Square Garden looking a lot different than when he entered it. Kingsley Ibeh landed an uppercut that knocked Miller's hairpiece loose and resulted in Miller pulling the wig off and fighting the majority of the ten rounds with a bizarre looking tonsure (monk haircut). Ibeh did very well early but couldn't finish the job. But Miller pressed on, and won an ugly fight by unanimous decision. Official scores were 97-93 Miller (twice) and 96-94 (Ibeh). Miller was far too heavy at 317 pounds, but he knows how to use his weight to lean on his opponent and tire him out. That tactic began to pay dividends in round six, as Ibeh began to run out of gas. Miller continued to press forward, leaving Ibeh looking dejected after round seven. The last five rounds were pretty much a clean sweep for Miller as a tired Ibeh could not move fast enough to keep Miller off him.
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Ammo Williams defeats late replacement |
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Austin Williams W10 Wendy Toussaint ... Southpaw Austin “Ammo” Williams, 159.6 lbs., of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, was scheduled to challenge WBC middleweight world champion Carlos Adames tonight at Madison Square Garden, but plans changed when Adames was forced to withdraw on the morning of the weigh-in. Reportedly, he was suffering from dehydration. Local junior middleweight Wendy “Haitian Fire” Toussaint, of Huntington, Long Island, NY, stepped in on short notice to keep Williams on the undercard. Toussaint weighed in at 167.2 lbs. The southpaw Williams, trained by Kevin Cunningham, applied pressure but had trouble landing cleanly in the first few rounds. Toussaint’s best weapon was his counter straight right. By round four, Williams made adjustments and began to target the body with hooks. Near the end of that frame, a right uppercut to the chin deposited Toussaint on the canvas. From that point on, Williams was in control, landing the more effective blows, though Toussaint remained game. Following 10 rounds, scorecards read 99-90 (twice), and 98-91, all for Williams via unanimous decision. Earning his fourth straight victory, Williams improved to 20-1 (13 KOs). Toussaint is now 17-4 (7 KOs).
Kevin Castillo W8 Ziyad Almaayouf... At the weigh-in, Ecuadorian junior welterweight Kevin Castillo, 140.75 lbs., of Miami, FL, said, “How am I going [pull off the upset]? By taking him to war, a war that’s fitting for a venue like Madison Square Garden. After tomorrow, you’re going to know my name. I’ll leave my mark.” In the opening bout of the event, Castillo did just that, defeating Los Angeles-based Ziyad Almaayouf, 141.25 lbs., who is of Saudi Arabian descent, by unanimous decision following an entertaining eight-rounder. Scorecards read 78-73, and 77-74 (twice), all for Castillo, now 6-2-1. Suffering his first defeat, Almaayouf left Madison Square Garden at 7-1-1 (1 KO).
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Ammo Williams defeats late replacement
Austin Williams W10 Wendy Toussaint ... Southpaw Austin “Ammo” Williams, 159.6 lbs., of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, was scheduled to challenge WBC middleweight world champion Carlos Adames tonight at Madison Square Garden, but plans changed when Adames was forced to withdraw on the morning of the weigh-in. Reportedly, he was suffering from dehydration. Local junior middleweight Wendy “Haitian Fire” Toussaint, of Huntington, Long Island, NY, stepped in on short notice to keep Williams on the undercard. Toussaint weighed in at 167.2 lbs. The southpaw Williams, trained by Kevin Cunningham, applied pressure but had trouble landing cleanly in the first few rounds. Toussaint’s best weapon was his counter straight right. By round four, Williams made adjustments and began to target the body with hooks. Near the end of that frame, a right uppercut to the chin deposited Toussaint on the canvas. From that point on, Williams was in control, landing the more effective blows, though Toussaint remained game. Following 10 rounds, scorecards read 99-90 (twice), and 98-91, all for Williams via unanimous decision. Earning his fourth straight victory, Williams improved to 20-1 (13 KOs). Toussaint is now 17-4 (7 KOs).
Kevin Castillo W8 Ziyad Almaayouf... At the weigh-in, Ecuadorian junior welterweight Kevin Castillo, 140.75 lbs., of Miami, FL, said, “How am I going [pull off the upset]? By taking him to war, a war that’s fitting for a venue like Madison Square Garden. After tomorrow, you’re going to know my name. I’ll leave my mark.” In the opening bout of the event, Castillo did just that, defeating Los Angeles-based Ziyad Almaayouf, 141.25 lbs., who is of Saudi Arabian descent, by unanimous decision following an entertaining eight-rounder. Scorecards read 78-73, and 77-74 (twice), all for Castillo, now 6-2-1. Suffering his first defeat, Almaayouf left Madison Square Garden at 7-1-1 (1 KO).
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