Nery to make ring return next week

Nery to make ring return next week
Former two-division champion Luis Nery (pictured) will face Japan's Kyonosuke Kameda on February 22nd in Tijuana. Nery told the WBC that he has had a great preparation and that he is ready to finish off the Japanese fighter before the final bell. He is 35-2 but coming off a 2024 stoppage loss to boxing legend Naoya Inoue. Kameda is 15-3 overall, but 8-0-1 in his last nine contests. He is taking an unusual step for a Japanese boxer, venturing out of his home country for a non-title bout.
 

A few words with Miguel "El Explosivo" Madueño

A few words with Miguel "El Explosivo" Madueño

Camponovo Sports' Miguel "El Explosivo" Madueño (31-1, 28 KOs), is set to take on Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) in a high-stakes showdown on just ten days’ notice. The twelve-round main event will be broadcast live on DAZN from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, this Saturday February 15th. Having just arrived in California, Madueño shares his thoughts on his training camp, the challenge of facing Duarte, stepping in on short notice, and more.

Arriving in California:

"I just arrived in California this past weekend, and from the moment I touched down, it’s been all about getting locked in. The adjustment has been quick, but as I mentioned before, I stay ready at all times. My team and I have been putting in the work, sharpening up the game plan, and making the most of every session. I feel strong and confident heading into fight night."


Matchup with Oscar Duarte:

"Duarte is a tough, aggressive fighter who comes forward with power, but I’m prepared for that style. I also like to come forward, making this a fight the fans will want to see. I respect what he brings to the table, but I know my own strengths and what I’m capable of.  This is going to be a battle of two Mexican warriors, and I’m ready to give the fans an exciting fight."

Taking the fight on ten days’ notice:

"This is the kind of opportunity I train for. Some fighters hesitate when they get a call like this, but I don’t. I stay in shape, I stay ready, and I believe in myself. Short notice or not, I’m stepping in with full confidence that I can get the job done."

What a win would means for his career:

"A victory over Oscar Duarte will be huge for my career. It gets me back in the conversation in the super lightweight division and gives me a shot at even bigger fights. This is my chance to prove myself, and I’m ready to make a statement on fight night."

 

Mary Spencer books first title defense for March 14th

Mary Spencer books first title defense for March 14th

Canada's Mary Spencer will put her WBA junior middleweight title on the line for the first time on Friday, March 14th when she squares off against Ogleidis Suárez of Venezuela. The bout will serve as the chief supporting bout on a card promoted by Eye of the Tiger Management, taking place at Espace St-Denis in Montreal. Headlining the evening will be a clash between Erik Bazinyan (32-1-1) and Steven Butler (35-5-1). Hailing from Wiarton, Ontario, Spencer is gearing up for her first fight of the year after capturing the WBA interim title last September with a unanimous decision victory over Germany’s Naomi Mannes (7-3-1). Shortly after, she was elevated to WBA champion status.

Spencer (9-2, 6 KOs), now 40 years old, boasts an impressive knockout ratio of over 60%. She kicked off 2024 with a first-round KO over American Sonya Dreiling (6-7) but had a setback in her lone fight of 2023, suffering a majority decision loss to Belgium’s Femke Hermans (18-5). Over her last five outings, Spencer has picked up three wins (two by stoppage) and two defeats.

On the other side of the ring, Suárez (31-5-1, 15 KOs) is looking to capitalize on momentum. The 37 year-old Venezuelan enters this title fight fresh off a second-round KO victory over Colombia’s Neisi Torres (13-17-1) earlier this year. A former 122-pound interim title holder who was briefly promoted to full champion in that lower weight class,  Suárez has had mixed results in recent years. Her last North American appearance came in 2022 when she suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to hard-hitting Shadasia Green (15-1) in the United States. Before that, she secured a stoppage win in 2020 against fellow Venezuelan María Pirona (1-7). Suárez has gone 3-2 in her last five fights and will be aiming to reclaim championship gold on Canadian soil.

Fundora books title defense vs. Booker

Fundora books title defense vs. Booker

Fundora books title defense vs. Booker
Unified WBC and WBO 154-pound champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (pictured) will make the first defense of his titles against Chordale Booker headlining PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video action Saturday, March 22nd at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In the co-feature, Mexican junior middleweight Jesus Ramos Jr. will battle all-action Kevin Salgado in a ten-round all-Mexican showdown, plus rising middleweight Elijah Garcia duels veteran Terrell Gausha in the ten-round opening bout. The event will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the action streaming exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to catch the championship card. Known for delivering action every time he steps into the ring, Fundora will compete as a champion for the first time as he takes on Booker in this high-stakes clash with multiple titles on the line. Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, Sampson Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, will go on sale Thursday, February 13 at 10 a.m. PT on AXS.com. Pre-sale tickets are available on Wednesday, February 12th at 10 am PT until 10 pm PT on AXS.com with the code: PBC
 
“Sebastian Fundora sits atop the stacked super welterweight division and will no doubt be looking to put on a show when he defends his world titles against the dangerous highly-rated contender Chordale Booker topping this great event on Prime Video on March 22nd,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is a tremendous style matchup between the forward-charging attack of Fundora and the slick counterpunching of Booker and will make for great back-and-forth. Combined with a surefire action fight between Jesus Ramos Jr. and Kevin Salgado and a toss-up fight between Elijah Garcia and Terrell Gausha, everything is in place for another memorable fight night in Las Vegas.”
 
“Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora will be better than ever in his first fight as a defending unified world champion,” said Fundora's promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. “The whole Fundora family works so hard to be where they are and they deserve their success. Chordale Booker is a good fighter with real skills, but he won’t be able to take Sebastian’s power.”
 
Standing nearly six-foot-six, Fundora leapt into the championship ranks after earning a decision over Tim Tszyu last year. At 21-1-1 with 13 KOs, he rocketed to the top of the 154-pound division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring that helped him emerge victorious from a grueling and bloody battle against Tszyu last March. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a 2022 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 27-year old suffered his only defeat against Brian Mendoza in 2023. 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.
 
“I’m preparing really hard to defend my unified WBC and WBO world titles on March 22nd in Las Vegas,” said Fundora. “Everyone can expect to see me prepared and ready to leave it all in the ring like I always do. ‘The Towering Inferno’ is back, and I’m coming to take out everyone in my way.”
 
Fighting out of his native Stamford, Connecticut, Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) enters this fight on a six-fight winning streak that includes four stoppage victories that have helped him rise up the rankings and earn his first world title opportunity. Since a 2022 loss to Austin Williams, Booker has dominated his competition, including a 2024 campaign that saw him defeat Greg Vendetti in February before stopping Brian Damian Chaves in round three of their June clash. The 33-year old also owns triumphs over Wale Omotoso and VeShawn Owens. Prior to turning pro in 2016, Booker put together an amateur career that included gold medals at the U.S. National and Golden Gloves championships, in addition to a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic trials that earned him an alternate spot for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
 
“I’ve done everything I could to get here, and it’s a testament to what my foundation represents – going the distance,” said Booker. “I’ve gone the distance to make it to this fight. I’ve taken fights on short notice, fought for less and always kept pushing forward. Now, 15 years into my boxing journey, I’m stepping into the biggest fight of my life. This moment means everything and it’s proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.”
 

Keyshawn Davis gets a bit touchy at press event

Keyshawn Davis gets a bit touchy at press event

Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis was all business three days before a career-defining fight that could propel him to champion status. Davis will challenge WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk Friday evening at The Theater at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) and Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) kicked off fight week with a face-off at One World Observatory at One World Trade Center, 102 stories above New York City streets. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. While the two initially exchanged pleasantries, the tension grew after Davis repeatedly touched Berinchyk’s championship belt. The two eventually had to be separated and will meet again tomorrow at the final press conference. No extra security was needed for the co-feature combatants, Puerto Rico's Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs). Berinchyk-Keyshawn, Zayas-Spomer, and a middleweight bout between Vito Mielnicki, Jr. and Conor Coyle will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.  

 

Irish welters Donovan and Crocker to fight in an eliminator

Irish welters Donovan and Crocker to fight in an eliminator
In an excellent All-Ireland contest, Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs) is confident of defeating arch-rival Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KOs) in their March 1st showdown, streaming on DAZN live from The SSE Arena (Odyssey Arena) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. More than Irish bragging rights will be on the line, because the two will be fighting at home in Belfast in an IBF welterweight eliminator. The winner of Crocker-Donovan will be in line for an IBF title fight, against current IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) or current WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs), who are scheduled to fight for the unified IBF and WBA crowns on April 12th in Atlantic City. 
 
“I will best Lewis Crocker because he has never fought anyone as good as me,” Donovan proclaimed. “I have all the tools to beat him. I’ll out-box and out-fight him. I do those things, he can’t, and I’ll show that on fight night. I have visualized the fight in my head many times. I believe that in real time, seeing me punch him to either the head or body.”
 
Donovan, age 26, hasn’t fought since this past May 25th, Crocker, age 28 since last June 22nd. Both are promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Jumaane Camero is their only common pro-opponent with both winning six-round decisions.
 
“If you don't love this matchup, then you don't like boxing,” Donovan’s co-manager Keith Sullivan commented. “Given their power, aggressive styles, and toughness, it is going to be an explosive battle between two top fighters. No boxing fan should miss this. It is going to be an epic fight and has a fight-of-the-year potential.”
 
Sullivan, a New York City attorney and former Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Boxing Commission, co-manages Donovan with former middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is Paddy’s head trainer as well. “I heard Lewis say Paddy was turning this into a North versus South rivalry,” Sullivan continued. “That is not the case at all. This fight will unite, not divide, people from all over Ireland, North and South, as they cheer on their chosen man of the night. I have relations in both the North and South, trust me, this fight is not about divisiveness, it transcends politics or sectarianism. Irish fans are knowledgeable, and they know a great fight when they see one. This fight is about two warriors putting it all on the line for a shot at the title while their native cities cheer them on to victory.  
 
“Obviously, I see Paddy being victorious. I've heard all this talk about Crocker's ‘experience’ and being a past five-time headliner. He was the main event on one card in a venue that seats a thousand. This is Paddy's 15th professional fight, for Crocker's 15th, 16th, and 17th fights he fought guys that had 61 combined losses. So come on, what’s all that chatter about. Paddy has no fear of Crocker’s experience. Paddy got to the level earlier in his career than Crocker did, so now a 20-0 versus a 14-0 is a great pairing for both at this stage of their careers. Don't get me wrong, these are two talented and fierce boxers, but I believe Paddy has the edge in skill and power and he will have his hand raised in victory come March 1st.”
 
Donovan, a gifted southpaw, is dedicating this fight to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity that provides mental health services throughout Ireland. Paddy has lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and also supports those bereaved through suicide.

Cherneka Johnson vs. Nina Hughes II booked for March 22nd

Cherneka Johnson vs. Nina Hughes II booked for March 22nd

Cherneka Johnson vs. Nina Hughes II booked for March 22nd

On Saturday, March 22nd at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6 KOs) defends her WBA bantamweight title in a rematch against Nina Hughes (6-1, 2 KOs), after their first fight was marred in controversy last May. On the same card, WBC featherweight queen Skye Nicolson (12-0, 1 KO) will  be tasked with undefeated, mandatory American rival, Tiara Brown (18-0, 11 KOs). The headlined that night will see ex-world lightweight champ George Kambosos, Jr. vs. Indonesia's Daud Yordan. Britain’s Hughes will be hungry for retribution after she was initially declared as the winner before the ring announcer corrected himself by revealing Johnson as the victor by majority decision to become a two-weight champion.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring on another awesome show here in Australia,” said Johnson. “I have no doubt in my mind that it’s going to be a career-best dominating performance.”

Hughes added: “First and foremost, I have a lot of respect for Cherneka Johnson as an athlete – she’s a tough competitor. But this time around, I’m not leaving anything to chance or in the judges’ hands. I’ve trained harder, I’m sharper, and I’m ready to leave no doubt when I step in that ring.”

The other title fight on the card features Nicolson, who made history last October when she was the first female fighter to retain her title in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the Riyadh Season curtain-raiser, when the southpaw outclassed Raven Chapman to extend her flawless record. “This is my homecoming as world champion – a moment I have dreamed of and manifested: Bringing big world title action Down Under,” said Nicolson. “Australian boxing is entering a golden era, and this is the time to get excited and be part of the journey. I’m taking on an undefeated and dangerous challenger with the support of the nation behind me. My opponent has had a lot to say and doesn’t believe I’m worthy of my status as world champion. On March 22nd, she is going to eat her words in Sydney as I silence the doubters and critics all over again.

Welcome to Berinchyk vs. Davis fight week

Welcome to Berinchyk vs. Davis fight week
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) will challenge Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) for Berinchyk's WBO lightweight title this Friday, Feb. 14th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The 25-year old Davis began his pro career in 2021 and now takes his biggest step yet towards professional stardom. In the ten-round junior middleweight co-feature, Puerto Rico's Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) takes on fellow unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs)... New Jersey-born middleweight Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (20-1, 12 KOs) will open the ESPN broadcast in a ten-rounder versus Connor “The Kid” Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs). Berinchyk-Keyshawn, Zayas-Spomer, and Mielnicki-Coyle will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
 
UNDERCARD:
 
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs. Bryan Santiago, 4 rounds, junior bantamweights;
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes, 8 rounds, lightweights;
Rohan Polanco vs. Jean Carlos Torres, 10 rounds, welterweights;
Keon Davis vs. Ira Johnson, 4 rounds, welterweights;
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias, 10 rounds, heavyweights;
Tiger Johnson vs. Quashawn Toler, 8 rounds, welterweights; and
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Juan Guerra Jr., 6 rounds, middleweights.
 
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING:
 
Before Friday’s event, fight week activities will stream live on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.
 
Tuesday, February 11: Face-Off at One World Observatory
Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk meet face-to-face high above New York City.
Highlights will be featured on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.
 
Wednesday, February 12: Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Final Presser
2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
Streaming live on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.
 
Thursday, February 13: Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Official Weigh-In
12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT
Streaming live on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages.
 
Friday, February 14: Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Fight Night
 
Undercard Stream
5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT
LIVE and exclusively on ESPN+
 
ESPN Broadcast
9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+
 

 

Berlanga to face undefeated Gonzalez-Ortiz

Berlanga to face undefeated Gonzalez-Ortiz
Matchroom tweeted that super middleweight Edgar Berlanga Jr. (pictured) will return to the ring in Orlando, Florida on March 15th against Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1). Berlanga (22-1) is coming off a failed world title bid against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez last year. The co-feature will see Austin "Ammo" Williams (17-1) vs. Patrice Volny (19-1) in a middleweight match-up. The venue will be the Caribe Royale Hotel with DAZN broadcasting.
 

Formal announcement for Kambosos vs. Jordan

Formal announcement for Kambosos vs. Jordan

Formal announcement for Kambosos vs. Jordan

Former world lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. (pictured) gets his long-awaited Australian homecoming on Saturday, March 22nd against Daud Yordan of Indonesia – live worldwide on DAZN. Kambosos will move up to the junior welterweight division on a huge card at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena which features two women’s title bouts with Skye Nicolson and Cherneka ‘Sugar’ Johnson looking to successfully defend their respective crowns on home soil. Ex-Olympic heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana will bid for his seventh successive stoppage.

Kambosos Jr (21-3, 10 KOs) faces former two-weight IBO champion Yordan (43-4, 31 KOs) in the main event, looking to lay down a marker in one of the sport’s most exciting divisions. The 31-year old – who captured world honors by beating Teofimo Lopez in 2021 – has shared the ring with the likes of Devin Haney, Maxi Hughes and Lee Selby and returns to the ring for the first time since his loss last May with the legendary Vasyl Lomachenko.

Yordan promises another stern test for Kambosos and is no stranger to fight fans, having previously held IBO titles at lightweight and featherweight and succumbing to a points defeat by Anthony Crolla in Manchester back in 2018.

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “This a brilliant card, headlined by the ferocious George Kambosos Jr in his hometown of Sydney. He’s a dangerous man and he will be in the mix of World Title conversations soon enough now he’s in the 140-pound division. There are two tremendous women’s world championship fights too, as Skye Nicolson defends her WBC featherweight crown against a tough, mandatory in Tiara Brown, plus Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes get the chance to go again for the WBA bantamweight belt.

“Big, bruising Heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana will be out to put on another knockout performance in front of his home fans, and much more, in what promises to be an unbelievable night of boxing Down Under.”

Kambosos Jr said: “Eight long years on the road, and finally I get to fight back in my hometown of Sydney, Australia.

“Moving up and having my 140-pound debut in front of my fans at a sold-out Sydney arena is the return I have always wanted. This is not just a fight; it’s an opportunity to inspire and give back to my loyal fans and to the community that has stuck by me all these years, the wait is now over. I will be facing a veteran of the sport and a fierce competitor, former two-time IBO champion and WBA title challenger Duad Yordan, ‘The Boxing Senator’, from Indonesia. The Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney will set the stage for me to make a statement return in front of my vocal hometown fans. I see this is as a testament to resilience, a celebration of my homecoming, expect fireworks and see you all March 22nd.”

Lou DiBella, Kambosos' co-promoter added: “I am excited to team up with Matchroom Boxing and TEG Sport to bring ‘Ferocious’ George Kambosos Jr. back to his hometown in Sydney where he will face former world champion Daud Yordan on March 22nd at the Qudos Bank Arena. This is a tremendous style matchup between two come-forward pressure fighters. Yordan is no stranger Down Under with three wins on Australian soil, but George is ready to unleash his warrior spirit once again to put on a sensational performance in his junior welterweight debut."

Canadian super middleweight title on the line on March 29th

Canadian super middleweight title on the line on March 29th
The next generation of Ontario boxers will be showcased March 29th on an event presented by Three Lions Promotion at Collective Arts Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Canadian super middleweight champion John-Michael “J-Money” Bianco (8-1, 4 KOs), of Mississauga, Ontario, will make his first title defense. A celebrated Canadian amateur boxer, the 31 year-old Bianco faces Brett Beaton (6-2, 4 KOs), fighting out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in the eight-round main event. Bianco captured the domestic title in September 2023, when he stopped previously undefeated Samuel Moses in the seventh round. “It’s great to see two Canadians competing for their country’s hardware,” promoter Daniel Otter (Three Lions Promotions) said. “It’s a great fight and may the better man win.”
 
Middleweight Triston Brookes (9-0, 9 KOs) and lightweight Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs), will also be in action, facing opponents to be determined in six-round matches.
 
Brookes, 31, has stopped each of his nine opponents as a pro. Also fighting out of Mississauga, Brookes was an outstanding amateur who won a gold medal at the 2019 Canadian Amateur Championships, in addition to securing silver medals at the 2018 Ontario Silver Gloves and Ontario Golden Gloves.
 
The 26-year-old Basran, who lived in Surrey, British Columbia, was a bronze medalist in the 2018 Gold Coast Tournament who represented Canada in the prestigious AIBA World Championships in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
 
Also fighting on the undercard in six-round matches are Mexican lightweight Meillyn “Cachis” Martinez (3-0, 1 KO), a two-time national amateur champion now living in Toronto, versus Silvia Duran (4-3, 3 KOs), while welterweight Dylan Taylor (3-0, 2 KOs) squares off against Dylan Rushton (3-14).The card is subject to change.
 
“It’s the next generation of our fighters for this March 29th card,” Otter added. “We have a great, growing stable of fighters. They’re looking to break out on the global boxing stage and contend for world titles in the very near future.”

Fulghum vs. Harris is Saturday's co-feature in Anaheim

Fulghum vs. Harris is Saturday's co-feature in Anaheim
Super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) returns on February 15th against Detroit veteran Winfred “Hotboy” Harris, Jr. (22-2-2, 10 KOs). Fulghum vs. Harris is the ten-round, co-feature on a Golden Boy Promotions card, headlined by Oscar Duarte vs. Miguel Madueno, to be streamed on DAZN live from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.  Harris has only been stopped once in 26 pro fights. His last outing ended in an eight-round draw last November. “I’m excited about this great opportunity,” Fulghum said. “I don’t know too much about my opponent and won’t until I get in the ring. He has a good record. I hear that he comes to fight.
 
 
Fulghum continued, “this is an opportunity for me to show what level I’m at in my division. I’m planning a splash performance. My job is to put on a show. There are expectations for me to perform at a high level because of my rating, but this is what I love to do. Overall, I train hard to be the best version of myself.”
 
Fulghum and Harris have one common opponent, Vaughen Alexander, who Fulghum defeated last June by way of a ten-round unanimous decision, while Harris fought Alexander in 2021 to an eight-round draw.
 
Last month, Fulghum gained additional experience as a sparring partner for light heavyweight David Morrell, Jr. for the latter’s recent fight against David Benavidez. “I showed that I belong,” Fulghum remarked about sparring with Morell, “and that I’m one of the top guys at 168.”
 
Fulghum, age 28, was a decorated amateur boxer who was ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, but as a professional he’s fought strictly as a super middleweight. He captured top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, both of these major amateur accomplishments achieved while he was earning a nursing degree from Prairie View A & M University.
 
Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management.

Spotlight on Jonathan Lopez vs. Alex Dilmaghani

Spotlight on Jonathan Lopez vs. Alex Dilmaghani

Spotlight on Jonathan Lopez vs. Alex Dilmaghani
Trained by the renowned Eddy Reynoso (best known for his work with multi-division champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez),  21 year-old Jonathan “La Roca” Lopez has shown skills he hopes will make him a future champion. On March 1st at Braclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, he'll  look to take down another tough test in the experienced UK veteran  Alex Dilmaghani as they tussle in a ten-round junior lightweight clash. The bout will be free-streamed as part of a two-fight PBC on Prime Video show leading up to a pay-per-view event headlined by Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA lightweight championship against unbeaten WBA junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach. 
 
Residing in Orlando, Florida, Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) turned pro in 2020 following a strong amateur career and will enter this fight having stopped 10 of his last 12 opponents. Lopez most recently dominated Richard Medina last September on his way to earning a unanimous decision that he highlighted by scoring a final round knockdown. He earned a then career-best victory in June 2023 and went ten rounds for the first time as he bested former title challenger Eduardo Baez via a wide unanimous decision leading into his three-victory 2024 campaign.
 
“I’m super excited to be back in the ring,” said Lopez. “And I’m very grateful to everyone who made this possible. This is a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my talent and skills on a fight of this magnitude. I have to show everyone that my time is now.”
 
A native of Manchester, United Kingdom, Dilmaghani (20-3-1, 7 KOs) will fight stateside for the second time as a pro on March 1st, after most recently dropping a June 2024 battle to Rene Tellez Giron. The 33-year old has competed professionally since 2009, always taking on tough competition while fighting in Mexico, Canada, France and Denmark, in addition to his native UK. He also owns a majority draw against former world title challenger Francisco Fonseca in November 2019 and has won two of his last three bouts.
 
“I can’t wait to step into the ring on March 1st and show everyone the best version of myself,” said Dilmaghani. “If people are sleeping on me, they’re going to be surprised, because I’m training hard to make sure I steal the show when that bell rings. I’m definitely coming to make the most of this opportunity.”
 

Late results: Two British titles contested on Saturday

Late results: Two British titles contested on Saturday
Jack Rafferty TKO7 Reece MacMillan... On the Manchester, England undercard on Saturday, Jack Rafferty retained his British and Commonwealth junior welterweight weight titles against challenger Reece MacMillan. Rafferty bossed the fight from the start and wore down his opponent with some textbook boxing. The MacMillan corner threw in the towel and referee Mark Bates waved off the contest after 1.37 of the seventh round.
 
Zach Parker W10 Michael Diallo... Zach Parker labored in his light heavyweight match-up against late notice opponent Michael Diallo. The Derbyshire man did have the better of it but was badly marked up and often manhandled by the capable Frenchman. The scorecards were in favor of Parker, reading 98-92, 98-93 and 97-94. Victor Loughlin refereed.
 
Zak Miller W12 Masood Abdulah... Following a cracking clash at featherweight, Zak Miller is the new British and Commonwealth champion after he got the better of the previously unbeaten Masood Abdulah. Miller started the brighter before Abdulah forced his way back into the fight, but the local lad rallied strongly at the finish to secure the belts. The fight was scored 114-114, 115-114 and 115-113. Mark Lyson was the referee.
 
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
 
Earlier in the evening, heavyweight Lewis Williams (40-36 vs. Cristian Uwaka), middleweight Walter Fury (40-36 vs. Joe Hardy), Joe Cooper (40-34 vs. Artjom Spatar) and Jermaine Dhliwayo (40-36 vs. Mark Butler) were all successful in four round contests.
 
 

Boxing show booked for Miccosukee this Saturday

Boxing show booked for Miccosukee this Saturday

M&R Promotions is set to bring a boxing event entitled "Got Talent Season 7" this Saturday night to the Miccosukee Casino and Resort in Miami, Florida.  Eleven professional bouts are scheduled to take place including pro-debuters, undefeated fighters, female boxers and many more.  Nine different nations will be represented on this night.  In the past, the venue has played host to a plethora of top level fighters such as Floyd Mayweather Jr, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Hasim Rahman, Hector Camacho Jr, Bernard Hopkins.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 786.626.9916.  Boxingtalk writer Christian Schmidt will be the ring announcer.

Joe Joyce to soldier on vs. Dillian Whyte

Joe Joyce to soldier on vs. Dillian Whyte

Joe Joyce to soldier on vs. Dillian Whyte
Queensberry Promotions announced that, as part of its new boradcast deal with DAZN, on April 5th, the Co-op Live in Manchester, England will rock to the beat of the heavyweights when the popular Dillian Whyte (31-3, 28 KOs) goes up against the “Juggernaut”, former interim WBO world title holder, Joe Joyce (pictured). Joyce (whose record is listed at 16-3 but he went an additional 14-2 in paid World Series of Boxing action) is coming off a punishing loss to Derek Chisora, and before he gets to Whyte, Joyce must first come through a scheduled March 1st tune-up in Bornemouth, England against Patrick Korte (22-4-1) of Germany over eight rounds.In the April 5th co-feature, two-weight world champion Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16KOs) will take on his big London rival and world cruiserweight title challenger Richard Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs). Both men have graduated to the heavyweight division. The heavyweight tripleheader is completed by English champion David Adeleye (13-1, 12KOs) facing Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva (8-1, 5 KOs). Also, British Olympian Delicious Orie, who will be making his professional debut.
 
 
 
 

Queensberry / DAZN partnership yields main events for Cacace and Taylor

Queensberry / DAZN partnership yields main events for Cacace and Taylor
Queensberry Promotions, the boxing promotion company founded by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, has revealed three shows for its spring schedule with DAZN. On May 10th at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, Anthony Cacace (23-1, 8KOs) will defend his IBO 130-pound championship against local hero and former featherweight champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17KOs). Cacace recently gave up his IBF championship. Another Nottingham favorite, light heavyweight champion Ezra Taylor (10-0, 7 KOs), will be on the card.
 
Then later in May in  Glasgow, new Queensberry signing and former undisputed world junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KOs) makes a move up to welterweight, as he takes on former British champion Ekow Essuman (21-1, 8KOs). Also on the card, Edinburgh’s Lee McGregor (15-1-1, 11KOs) will face fellow Scot Nathaniel Collins (15-0). The Queensberry/DAZN partnership kicks off on April 5th with a heavyweight triple bill topped by Joe Joyce vs. Dillian Whyte.
 
This trio of boxing events will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, available to fans globally, as part of DAZN’s multi-year media rights deal with Queensberry. “We’ve assembled a bumper lineup of cracking fights to celebrate the start of our relationship with DAZN,” said Queensberry Promotions Founder and Chairman, Frank Warren.
 
“We are starting as we mean to go on and, as you might expect, the heavyweights will play a big, big part in 2025 and beyond. Then Nottingham is the place to be the following month for a real banger of a fight between Anto Cacace and Leigh Wood. It is the sort of domestic blockbuster we will be seeing plenty of across the partnership between Queensberry and DAZN.
 
I am also so much looking forward to returning to Scotland with the nation’s biggest star and our latest signing, Josh Taylor, headlining and rebooting his career at welterweight, where I believe he can again do big things, but he will be up against it with Ekow Essuman in the opposite corner.”l=
 
Michael Ridout, EVP New Business at DAZN, said: “This schedule of fights will showcase the best of boxing talent across weight classes. As the global home of boxing, DAZN is committed to bringing the most exciting and nail-biting fights like these to fans around the world who love the sport. This is only the start of DAZN’s landmark partnership with Queensberry, and we look for forward to delivering more high-calibre bouts, while providing an unparalleled viewing experience.”
 

Spotlight on Hurd vs. Gonzalez

Spotlight on Hurd vs. Gonzalez

On March 1st, Jarrett Hurd (pictured), the former two-belt 154-pound champion will step into the ring in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York as part of a two-fight PBC on Prime Video show leading up to the pay-per-view event headlined by Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA lightweight championship against unbeaten WBA junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach. Hurd will be taking on hard-hitting Johan Gonzalez in a ten-round middleweight affair. The live-streaming of prelims action will also feature undefeated junior lightweight Jonathan “La Roca” Lopez against the UK's Alex Dilmaghani in a ten rounder. The prelim stream begins at 6:00 pm ET/3:00 pm PT and will be available via free access to all fans, regardless of Prime membership or purchase of the pay-per-view card it leads into.
 
Acclaimed as an all-action fighter, “Swift” Jarrett Hurd will look for a key victory on his path toward another world title run when he takes on Gonzalez. The 34 year-old Hurd (25-3-1, 17 KOs) unified the WBA and IBF 154-pound titles in 2018, dropping longtime champion Erislandy Lara in the final round to win a close decision in a fight that on of 2018's fights of the year. The Maryland native would go on to lose the titles in one of 2019’s best fights, dropping a decision to Julian Williams. Hurd first became champion in February 2017 when he stopped former champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round, before defending the title against another former champion in Austin Trout. Hurd most recently fought former unified champion Jeison Rosario to a draw last August and will enter the ring at Barclays Center for the fourth time as a pro, having scored three previous victories at the venue.
 
“I’ve been working hard as ever to end my career the right way, back on top where I belong,” said Hurd. “Everyone knows what I bring to the ring, so make sure you tune in March 1st or come out to Barclays Center, because I’m going in there to make a statement.”
 
A native of Valencia, Venezuela who now trains in Las Vegas, Gonzalez (34-4, 33 KOs) will look to bounce back after most recently dropping an October showdown with rising star Yoenis Tellez on Prime Video. He had previously recovered from a May 2024 defeat against top super welterweight contender Jesus Ramos by stopping Ivan Herrera in two rounds in August of last year. Gonzalez made his stateside debut in 2023, earning a pair of victories in the U.S. by first stopping Ricardo Ruben Villalba in August before defeating Guido Emmanuel Schramm in November. The 33-year-old won those fights following a close 2022 decision defeat to former world title challenger Magomed Kurbanov. A pro since 2017, Gonzalez won his first 22 bouts before dropping a split decision in 2018.
 
“I’m very thankful to my team for this opportunity on March 1,” said Gonzalez. “I’m not focusing on my opponent, just on being the best Johan Gonzalez. I have to demonstrate my skills. Nothing else matters.”
 

Ex-British champ Nathan Heaney announces his retirement

Ex-British champ Nathan Heaney announces his retirement

Ex-British champ Nathan Heaney announces his retirement
After a disappointing loss this weekend to Sophiane Khati of France this weekend, popular British middleweight Nathan "Hitman" Heaney as announced his retirement: "Stoke-on-Trent, thank you for everything. I started this journey seven years ago, with no other objective than to give myself three years, and if nothing happens then at least I'll have no regrets' and what happened over that time was every dream I ever had as a kid. To be signed by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, to be part of the biggest sporting nights our city has seen, from our local town hall to the bright lights of TNT Sports and the biggest arenas in the UK, becoming the British champion, it's all been very surreal, and more than I could ever have imagined. I have given my absolute life to the sport, and competed every year for the last 24 years, having had 111 fights in total, 90 as an amateur and 21 as a pro... I really need to think of my next step, but I also need to realize that I must think about my beautiful family, friends, and city for everything they have given to me. Boxing is an unforgiving sport."
 
"Thank you to my sponsors AMB Insurance, Potteries Mechanical Services, Elite Sheet Piling, Terraces, USN & WJ UK. These guys backed their man and allowed me to dedicate every second to the sport with no worries needed. Thank you for TNT sports, and thank you to the promoter I always dreamed about boxing for, Frank Warren. But lastly, and most importantly thank you to YOU. You will know who you are, every person who has been there supporting me every step along the way. I had dreams, but it was only with you that they became a reality. I am forever in debted to you. It's going to be very hard these next few months, but I have to remember I did everything I could to come home... I did absolutely everything. Stoke may never have happened, but the memories along the way certainly did.
 
"I've been a boxer my whole life, it's all I've known. I'm absolutely heartbroken broken. It's a very sobering moment, but again thank you and I hope you all had a great day/night. I'll always been one of your own."
 
Heaney exits with a record of 18-2-1. Boxingtalk salutes Nathan Heaney and wishes him a satisfying retirement from the sport.

Chisora thanks the fans in Manchester

Chisora thanks the fans in Manchester

Derek Chisora thanked his fans after Saturday's lovefest in which the 41 year-old was celebrated for turning back the clock in a win over Otto Wallin. Chisora said, "Manchester you were unbelievable. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. It meant so much to me. I love you all. Fight 49 I will never forget. I’m still buzzing from it. This game of ups and downs, I am enjoying it all. I’ll never get bored of entertaining the British public. I bring it all in for you guys and I am so grateful you let me put on a show for you."

In his 49th pro fight, Chisora found the fountain of youth, outboxing and punishing the younger Wallin, over twelve rounds. It was an entertaining and emotional night for the 41 year-old Chisora, who has been written off many times. En route to a wide unanimous decision, Chisora knocked Wallin (27-3) down twice. The first knockdown, in round nine, was one for the highlight reel as Wallin got caught with an overhand shot and took five steps back before falling down. The second knockdown cae just before the final bell. Wallin never showed any urgency to win, despite being implored to fight more aggressively by his trainer, former champion Joey Gamache. Chisora (36-13) gets extra credit for fighting through a bad cut that poured blood into his right eye. Official scores were 117-109, 116-110 and a way-to-close 114-112. 

John Cooney dies from brain injury one week after TKO loss

John Cooney dies from brain injury one week after TKO loss

Sad news out of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Boxer John Cooney has passed away as a result of a brain injury he suffered last week in the ring. Cooney, a super featherweight who held the Celtic championship, came into his bout with Nathan Howells of Wales undefeated in ten pro fights. Howells stopped him in the ninth round. After the bout, Cooney underwent surgery as a result of a brain bleed, but the surgery was not successful in saving his life. Cooney was just 28 years old.  “It is with complete devastation that we have to announce that after a week of battling for his life John Cooney has sadly passed away,” said promoter Mark Dunlop of MHD Promotions in a statement reported by the Irish news. Boxingtalk sends its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of John Cooney.

41 year-old Chisora gives Wallin a boxing lesson

41 year-old Chisora gives Wallin a boxing lesson

41 year-old Chisora gives Wallin a boxing lesson

Derek Chisora W12 Otto Walin...In his 49th pro fight, Derek Chisora found the fountain of youth, outboxing and punishing a younger and stronger opponent, Otto Wallin, over twelve rounds in Manchester England. It was an entertaining and emotional night for the 41 year-old Chisora, who has been written off many times. En route to a wide unanimous decision, Chisora knocked Wallin down twice. The first knockdown, in round nine, was one for the highlight reel as Wallin got caught with an overhand shot and took five steps back before falling down. The second knockdown cae just before the final bell. Wallin never showed any urgency to win, despite being implored to fight more aggressively by his trainer, former champion Joey Gamache. Chisora (36-13) gets extra credit for fighting through a bad cut that poured blood into his right eye. Official scores were 117-109, 116-110 and a way-to-close 114-112. Wallin's performance was very discouraging, and his record now stands at 27-3.

Cardenas arises from knockdown to edge Acosta

Cardenas arises from knockdown to edge Acosta
Ramon Cardenas W10 Bryan Acosta... San Antonio, Texas' super bantamweight Ramon Cardenas put himself in great position for a world title fight by defeating Bryan Acosta on Saturday at the Boeing Center at Tech Port. Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) won a unanious decision over the previously undefeated Acosta (21-1, 9 KOs). The exciting bout was fought at a very high level from start to finish. Acosta started slowly but knocked Cardenas down in round seven. The knockdown was not enough for Acosta, as Cardenas prevailed by official scores were 97-92 and 95-94 (twice) Compubox had Cardenas barely outlanding Acosta, 144 punches to 139. Cardenas is hoping to land a fight against WBA #1 (and former two-belt champion) Murodjon Akhmadaliev, which could be for the vacant WBA title if the WBA strips world champion Naoya Inoue for avoiding Akhmadaliev.
 
 

Watch: Pauldo ruins ex-champ Rakhimov

Watch: Pauldo ruins ex-champ Rakhimov
Justin Pauldo KO8 Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov... Put some respect on the name Justin Pauldo. In a lightweight bout, Pauldo knocked out former IBF super featherweight champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in round eight. Pauldo punished Rakhimov throughout the fight and the knockout was particularly brutal. Rakhimov left the ring on a stretcher. At a minimum, he needs a long rest and strict medicals before getting back in the ring. What made Pauldo's win so notable was that Rakhimov (17-2-1, 14 KOs) had only one prior loss, and that was a very close decision loss to in a world title fight. Punchstats reflected Pauldo's dominance, 255 punches landed to 72 for Rakhimov. Pauldo's record is now 18-2 with 9 KOs and he has established himself as a contender in the very deep lightweight division.
 

Sophiane Khati rings up another upset for the French

Sophiane Khati rings up another upset for the French

Sophiane Khati rings up another upset for the French
Sophiane Khati TKO7 Nathan Heaney... France's Sophiane Khati got a huge road win, upsetting fan favorite Nathan Heaney in Manchester, England on Saturday. Khati had Heaney bleeding badly and scored a knockdown in round seven. Heaney beat the count and then got an extra long rest as his corner took its sweet time washing off his mouthpiece, which fell out during the trip to the canvas. Despite that Khati jumped on Heaney when the action resumed, and a few solid punches later, he was the winner by technical knockout. Khati is now 18-5 and joins Bruno Surace as the second French middleweight to defeat a hometown favorite in the last few months. (Surace  moved up to super middleweight and shocked ex-champ Jaime Munguia for Munguia's first pro loss). Heaney is now 18-2-1 after winning his first eighteen pro fights. He will need some time off. 
 

A few words with Keyshawn Davis

A few words with Keyshawn Davis
Keyshawn Davis is less than a week away from challenging Denys Berinchyk for the WBO lightweight title in New York City. Following a recent training session in Las Vegas, this is what Davis said: “I’m very excited. Madison Square Garden. New York City, that's my second home. I have family out there, so I’m ready to turn up for them. Madison Square Garden is legendary. And now that I’m fighting for my first world title there, it means even more.” He’s undefeated, and nobody wants to lose their unbeaten record. He’s coming off his biggest win, which was against Emanuel Navarrete. He also has a lot more experience than I do. And this isn’t for a vacant title. I have to take it from him."
 
“I’ve never fought his style of boxing as a professional. It’s something new to me in professional boxing. But, if you liked my last fight, you’ll be in for the same treat, a magnificent performance, a hell of a showdown, and something you can’t miss.”
 
“I feel super strong. I feel motivated. I feel locked in. Nothing can steer me away from my goal of becoming a world champion on February 14th. I feel great, and I’m ready to put on a show.”
 
“I can only think about my world title. But depending on how crazy I knock Berinchyk out, I’m going to be one of those big names that people are going to want to get in the ring with. I’d be putting myself down if I talk about fighting ‘big names’ because I can become one of those big names on February 14th.”
  
 

ProBox TV back tonight with important super bantamweight bout

ProBox TV back tonight with important super bantamweight bout
Ramon Cardenas takes on Bryan Acosta this Saturday in an important super bantamweight collision at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, live on ProBox TV. Cardenas (25-1, 14 KOs), will headline in his home city against fellow 122-pound contender Acosta (21-0, 9 KOs). The winner could fight for a vacant title against current WBA #1 (and former two-belt champion) Murodjon Akhmadaliev should world champion Naoya Inoue choose to avoid him.
 
Also on the show, former IBF super featherweight champion, the all-action Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, returns on ProBox TV after losing his title to Joe Cordina in April 2023. Rakhimov (17-1-1, 14 KOs), will make his lightweight debut against the respected Justin Pauldo (17-2, 8 KOs)... Also on the card, bantamweight Michael Angeletti (12-0, 7 KOs), gets a tough test in the shape of Judy Flores (14-3, 8 KOs)... Figo Ramirez (8-0, 4 KOs) and Rianna Rios (8-0, 1 KO), both feature in six rounders against Jose Lopez (4-3-3) and Nancy Franco (19-21-2, 5 KOs), respectively.
 

Venezuela's Albert Ramirez continues to rise at light heavy

Venezuela's Albert Ramirez continues to rise at light heavy
Albert Ramírez TKO3 Marko Calic ... Surging Venezuelan light heavyweight Albert Ramírez made a successful trip to Canada that ended with a third-round TKO over Marko Calic in Montreal. Ramirez, who extended his undefeated record to 20-0, had a slow start in the opening round. Calic landed a couple of sharp combinations, hinting at a potentially long night ahead. But by the second round, Ramírez found his rhythm, imposing his right hand and seizing control of the fight. From that point on, it was all Ramírez. In the third round, he rocked Calic with a series of punishing right hooks. The Croatian struggled to respond, and after two knockdowns—just as the round was nearing its final minute—Calic’s corner had seen enough, throwing in the towel to prevent further damage. With this victory, Ramírez secured his 17th career knockout, reinforcing his position in the World Boxing Association’s highly competitive light heavyweight rankings. Meanwhile, Calic suffered just the second defeat of his professional career against fifteen wins.
 

Pneumonia delays Joe Smith comeback

Pneumonia delays Joe Smith comeback
Star Boxing has announced the postponement of its Rockin’ Fights event from Thursday, February 13th to Saturday, March 22nd at The Paramount in Huntington (Long Island) New York. “Unfortunately, Joe Smith Jr. has the flu which has progressed to pneumonia so we have rescheduled the date of the event” said Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing. “We wish him a full and quick recovery and look forward to his main event fight against Devonte Williams on the rescheduled date, for our Rockin’ Fights 50th Anniversary Event. The rest of the card remains intact for the new date of March 22nd."
 
In an ironic twist, February 13th is a date that brings déjà vu to Joe Smith becuase his WBO title fight against Maxim Vlasov was originally set for February 13 in Las Vegas but Vlasov was diagnosed with the coronavirus, thus postponing the matchup days before the fight. The fight was rescheduled for two months later, and Smith captured the WBO 175-pound championship defeating Vlasov. So, while February 13th hasn’t been that good for Smith, it did lead to him becoming a champion, which is what he seeks now in the cruiserweight division.
 
The entire undercard will also be moved to the new March 22nd date. In addition to Joe Smith Jr vs Devonte Williams, the March 2nd2 show will feature an exciting undercard, including undefeated Micky Scala vs. Victor Toney, KO ‘King’ David Malul vs. Shaquille Rushing, undefeated Yan Carlos Perez vs. Sean Brewer, and GI Joe Elzey vs. Jordy Gonzalez in a battle of undefeateds.
 
All tickets purchased for Rockin’ Fights 50 will be honored for the new date.
 

Negotiations for Alvarez vs. Paul fall through

Negotiations for Alvarez vs. Paul fall through
Negotiations for world super middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez to face Jake Paul have fallen through, according to a statement released today by Paul's company: "MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco De Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, a massive event for the Mexican, Puerto Rican and American fans, and its disappointing to see how the situation unfolded. MVP operates with integrity, transparency, and respect for the sport, its athletes, and the fans. Unfortunately, not everyone in the boxing world shares those values. This situation is a reminder not to believe everything you read, especially when the current media environment is often controlled by those with hidden agendas, including promoters who have reporters on their payroll.
 
"We remain in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the biggest fights, the most exciting events, and to working with partners who share our values and our commitment to boxing and its fighters. Jake Paul isn’t going anywhere, and neither is MVP. We’ll cfontinue to disrupt boxing, on our terms.
 
-Most Valuable Promotions
San Juan, Puerto Rico
 

Tiara Brown lands a title shot vs. Skye Nicolson

Tiara Brown lands a title shot vs. Skye Nicolson
Florida's Tiara Brown (pictured), undefeated in eighteen pro fights, has not gotten a world title shot yet, which in the women's side of boxing is a very long wait. That will all change soon, however,  when Skye Nicolson will defend her WBC featherweight championship against Brown on March 22nd at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Nicolson and Brown have traded verbal barbs in recent months, and the champion admits it’s a fight she wanted to see happen. “The cat is out of the bag. It’s a homecoming as world champion. I’m really excited. These are the kind of fights I’m excited about,” Skye told DAZN. “I’m really looking forward to it. I feel like Tiara has bought herself into this narrative that I’m given everything for free and effortlessly, that everything has been handed to me on a silver platter. I think my fights speak for themselves, but she’ll find out on March 22 why I’m world champion and she’s not. The plan is to be undisputed champion this year.”
 

Mongolian update: Erdenebat gets homecoming in Ulan Bator

Mongolian update: Erdenebat gets homecoming in Ulan Bator

On February 15th in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, ProBoxing will present an interesting fight between the boxing pride of Mongolia, Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (12-0, 5 KOs including the World Series of Boxing) and Mexican Pedro Bernal (14-1-2, 6 KOs). Erdenebat, a 2021 Olympian, comes into this fight after defeating the Dominican Republic's Frency Fortunato Saya last October by unanimous decision. Bernal is on the heels of a knockout win over Geovani Sanchez Plascencia in the first round in November. The bout will be at lightweight or junior welterweight (WBC press release did not specify).

Boxingtalk salutes former champion Rafael Orono

Boxingtalk salutes former champion Rafael Orono
Forty five years ago, former Venezuelan boxer Rafael Orono wrote his name on the roll call of champions. In 2025, his country's Ministry of Sports celebrated the boxer, full name Jesús Rafael “Pantoño” Orono, for his feat aof winning the WBC super flyweight title. The emotional recognition took place in the Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez Hall of the National Sports Institute together with other Venezuelan boxing notables, who were present to honor the great champion. “I feel happy for the delivery of this belt by the President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán. They make me feel like a young boy. I am here, always moving forward. Right now I am 66 years old, I was world champion when I was only 21 years old. I want to thank all my colleagues who are with me today,” said Orono.
 
Rafael was born on August 30, 1958 in Cumaná, Venezuela. His boxing career began early, at about age 11, when he moved to Caracas in search of new opportunities. As an amateur boxer he had a record of 49 wins and only 8 losses. He also competed as part of the national boxing team, winning two gold medals at the 1977 Bolivarian Games and the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games.
 
Only a year later, in 1979, he jumped into the professional arena, and that same year he won the national bantamweight title. In 1980, the WBC created a new category, super flyweight, and in a show held at the Nuevo Circo in Caracas, Orono won the world title by defeating South Korean Seung-Hoon Lee. 
 
Boxingtalk joins the WBC in saluting Rafael Orono.
 
Present at the tribute were Juan José Rujano, General Director of the National Sports Institute, Cesar Rondón, President of FUNDAEXA, Elvis Joan Sánchez, National Commissioner of Venezuelan Professional Boxing, Edgar Muñoz, President of the Venezuelan Boxing Federation, among other personalities.
 

Prograis injured; Duarte will face Madueno on Feb. 15th

Prograis injured; Duarte will face Madueno on Feb. 15th
In a newly announced main event, Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) will face a new opponent, Miguel “El Explosivo” Madueño (31-3, 28 KOs) in an all Mexican junior welterweight bout. Madueño will step in for former two-time champion Regis Prograis, who sustained a shoulder injury in training. The new main event is scheduled as a twelve rounder for Saturday, February 15th. The event is presented by Golden Boy in association with Cancun Boxing and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN. “It’s a shame that Regis Prograis was injured, as I had said before, I was very happy to face a fighter of that level, a former world champion, and I hope he recovers soon,” said Duarte. “Despite the change of rival, I do not lose motivation, I remain focused and prepare at 100%. I set a goal for myself and I am not going to stop until I achieve it, to be World Champion! I see that Miguel Madueño is a good fighter and very dangerous. I am going to do a very intelligent job to win this fight. I must not lose sight of the fact that he is an experienced boxer, and fights between Mexicans are a guaranteed good show. I am grateful to Golden Boy for this great opportunity!”
 
“As we’ve seen in the past with Mexican warriors, this will be a war inside the ring on February 15th,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “We applaud Miguel Madueño for accepting this challenge against Oscar Duarte. This main event will be even more explosive with two knockout artists and I fully expect both to give the fight of their lives as both have everything to prove inside that ring.” 
 
“In this sport, you never know when that call will come—that’s why I stay ready,” said Madueño. “This isn’t an easy fight, but that’s exactly why I do this. Boxing isn’t just what I do; it’s who I am. I live it, breathe it, and right now, I’m hungry to get back in the win column. Oscar Duarte is a tough challenge, and I respect him for taking me on as a late replacement. But I’m not going to Anaheim to test my luck—I’m going to win. I’m going to fight, to throw with everything I’ve got, and to prove that nothing great happens without taking your best shot.”
 
“We are grateful to Golden Boy and DAZN for this incredible opportunity and extend our best wishes to Regis Prograis for a swift recovery from the injury that sidelined him from this event,” said Alex Camponovo. “Stepping up on short notice, Miguel “El Explosivo” Madueño embraces yet another tough challenge—something that has defined his career through grit, heart, and a relentless pursuit of the toughest tests. I commend him for betting on himself against a formidable opponent like Oscar Duarte. With both fighters possessing explosive knockout power and a passion for toe-to-toe action, fans at the Honda Center and those watching from home can expect nothing less than an electrifying showdown.” 
 
Duarte, from Parral in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, has made his mark in boxing as one of the toughest contenders in the lightweight division. Known for his hunter-killer instincts and defensive skills, he is unafraid to engage any fighter. His only career blemishes are against Adrian Estrella in 2019 – which he followed up with 11 straight knockout victories – and then against  Ryan Garcia in December 2023. His most recent win was on the “Latino Night” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he defeated the resilient Botirzhon Akhmedov. Duarte became a professional in 2013 and has award-winning actor, model, and television host Gabriel Soto co-managing his career along with Cancun Boxing.
 
Madueño, known by his ring name “Explosivo,” is a Mexican professional boxer from Sinaloa. Madueño has built a reputation for his formidable punching power. With an impressive 28 victories coming by way of knockout he has a knockout ratio exceeding 80%. Madueño made his professional debut on January 27, 2017, securing a first-round technical knockout against Luis Fernando Aguilar. Throughout his career, he has competed primarily in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions. Notable victories include wins over opponents such as Juan Huertas, Luis Munoz Duran, and Manuel Martinez. His most recent bout occurred on July 6, 2024, where he faced Keyshawn Davis and suffered a unanimous decision loss. Despite this setback, Madueño continues to train and compete, aiming to further his career in the boxing world.
 

Excellent 122-pound battle in San Antonio on Saturday

Excellent 122-pound battle in San Antonio on Saturday
This Saturday, February 8th, San Antonio, Texas, will host a showdown in which hometown super bantamweight Ramón “Dinamita” Cárdenas (25-1) is up against unbeaten Mexican Bryan Acosta. Cárdenas hashad five quality wins in the last four years, the last of which came in April in 2024 with a ninth-round knockout of Jesús Ramírez Rubio. His lone loss dates back to 2017Acosta, enters the ring at 26 years old with a flawless record in twenty pro fights. Having built his career between Mexico and Canada, this bout marks his U.S. debut, a moment he’s eager to capitalize on.
 
 

Hogan to face Gray on next CES card in Connecticut

Hogan to face Gray on next CES card in Connecticut
CES Boxing's next show will take place at The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut on Saturday, February 22nd. Middleweight Francis "Frank the Tank" Hogan (18-0, 16 KOs) will headline against Khiary "King TooSharp" Gray (19-7, 14 KOs). The 24 year-old Hogan is a Boston native who easily dispatched Elvin Ayala in two rounds last October.  Against Gray, Hogan will face a much younger foe. Gray, from Worcester, MA, is coming off a 6th round knockout of Daniel Sostre in November.
 
On the same show, super featherweight Toka Kahn Clary (29-4, 19 KOs), who will take on Kazakh hopeful Nikolay Shvab (12-0, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Kahn Clary gave lightweight Alejandro Paulino all he could handle in a November loss.  The 32-year-old is expected to give Shvab the toughest test of his young career.
 
Several other New England boxers shecduled to appear include: Jalen Renaud, Victor Reynoso, Jeffrey Torres, Slawomir Bohdziewicz, Douglas Marroquin, Anthony Velasquez, Elijah Peixoto, Anuel Rosa, Melanie Costa, Lamont Powell and Tevin Regis.
 

World Boxing continues its push forward for the 2028 Olympics

World Boxing continues its push forward for the 2028 Olympics
[In a push to get in position to run Olympic boxing in 2028 -- should boxing be a part of the next Olympics--  World Boxing will hold an "Extraordinary Congress" on March 1at to enable members to formally approve a series of new applications from boxing national federations that want to join the international federation. At present, an additional 17 national federations have had their membership applications approved by the Executive Board of World Boxing since the Congress in November 2024, and that number is expected to rise by the time of the Extraordinary Congress.
 
The Extraordinary Congress will be held virtually and overseen by independent, third-party assessors. The 55 national federations that were confirmed as members of World Boxing as of November 3, 2024 will be eligible to participate in the Extraordinary Congress and vote on the new membership applications that have been received since then.
 
The decision to hold an Extraordinary Congress reflects the status of Congress as the highest decision-making body of World Boxing and aims to ensure that all membership applications have been approved by Congress as well as the Executive Board in advance of the forthcoming IOC Session (March 19-21).
 
Boris van der Vorst, president of World Boxing, said: “World Boxing is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and transparency, so the Executive Board has decided to hold this Extraordinary Congress to ensure that there is no ambiguity about the number of National Federations that are confirmed members of World Boxing, when the IOC comes to meet at its next Session in March. “Congress is the highest authority of World Boxing and by ensuring that every application has been assessed and voted on by Congress, we can be unequivocally clear about the precise size and composition of our membership.”
 
World Boxing was launched in April 2023 and is committed to ensuring that boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic movement. On September 26, 2024, World Boxing announced that it had set-up an Olympic Commission, chaired by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Gennadiy Golovkin, to support and assist the process of developing a pathway to ensuring that boxing is restored to the Games.
 

Will Badou Jack fight Ryan Rozicki?

Will Badou Jack fight Ryan Rozicki?
In one sense, the wait is finally over for Canadian cruiserweight contender Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs). His promoter, Three Lions Promotions, won today’s purse bid for a challenge against notoriously inactive WBC cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (pictured). But the question is, will Jack (20-1-1, 19 KOs) actually take the fight?  “We won the rights to promote the WBC cruiserweight world championship,” Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions said. “We look forward to hosting the Jack vs. Rozicki world title fight this April in Canada.”
 
Three Lions Promotions was the lone bidder. The 29 year-old Rozicki, who was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and lives in Hamilton, Ontario, is a heavy-handed Canadian slugger who has knocked out 19 of the 20 different foes (he fought one opponent twice) he defeated for a 95% KO percentage.
 
Rozicki had been the mandatory challenger for then-WBC champion Noel Mikaelyan (27-2, 12 KOs), but Mikaelyan failed to make a title defense, despite the WBC ordering the fight after Mikaelyan  won the vacant title in November 2023 by stopping Ilunga Makabu in the third round. The WBC recently demoted Mikaelyan to champion in recess, swapping places with Jack himself was the WBC champion in recess. Jack got that designation after failing to defend the WBC title he captured February 26, 2023, with a stoppage of Makabu in the 12th round.
 
“It’s my time to win this title,” Rozicki commented. “I have waited long enough. It doesn’t matter where the fight takes place, I’m leaving with that belt.”
 

Alimkhanuly to defend titles on home soil

Alimkhanuly to defend titles on home soil
WBO / IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly is set to make history in his homeland when he becomes the first Kazakh unified champion to defend his titles on home soil. Alimkhanuly will take on unbeaten Congolese challenger Anauel Ngamissengue on Saturday, April 5th at Barys Arena in Astana. Promoted by Nomad Promotions, in association with Top Rank, Janibek-Ngamissengue and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. Janibek, a 2016 Olympian, steamrolled his way to the top of the middleweight division. He mowed down Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam in 2021, stopping both in the eighth, before flattening Danny Dignum in two for the WBO interim title the following year. When Demetrius Andrade vacated that title, Janibek took over as full champion and demolished IBF titleholder Vincenzo Gualtieri in six to unify the belts in October 2023. His latest defense saw him break down Andrei Mikhailovich en route to a ninth-round TKO, setting the stage for his first bout in Kazakhstan since his second pro outing in 2017.
 
Ngamissengue (14-0, 9 KOs) represented his native country at the 2016 Olympics, falling to Ilyas Abbadi in the opening round, one win away from a meeting with Janibek. He turned pro in 2019 and built his resume in France. The 29-year-old notched his most significant victory in August 2023, edging past Fiodor Czerkaszyn via eight-round majority decision in Wroclaw, Poland. Last June, he stopped Sandro Jajanidze in three. Now, Ngamissengue will finally cross paths with Janibek, but this time with two world titles on the line. 
 
Janibek said, “‘Qazaq Style’ is finally coming home. April 5 will be a memorable night as I defend my WBO and IBF world titles against a top opponent. Many fighters turned down this opportunity, so I credit Anauel for accepting the challenge. My goal is to become the undisputed champion, and Anauel in my way. The fans in Kazakhstan and everyone watching worldwide will see something special.”
 
“Thank you for this long-awaited opportunity. After almost a year of fighting for a chance, this is the most important moment of my career,” Ngamissengue said. “I know I’m going into the lion’s den, but I thrive in situations like this. I respect Janibek and everything he’s achieved, but I’m coming to Kazakhstan to crash the party and show the world that I belong at the top. See you on April 5th."
 
“Janibek is a supreme talent and the very best middleweight in the world,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “He has tremendous support in Kazakhstan, and we are pleased that he’ll have the opportunity to defend his world titles in front of his adoring home fans. Anauel is a tough opponent, but Janibek is in a class of his own.”
 
“This is everything fight fans dream of. Two undefeated fighters, two world titles on the line, and one historic night,” said Scott Murray of Nomad Promotions. “Organizing this historic night has been a labor of love for our team. We are committed to developing the sport of boxing in Kazakhstan, and there’s no better way to do that than by hosting a world title fight featuring our very own Janibek Alimkhanuly. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we are honored to be part of this milestone. It is going to be a great, historic moment for both the sport and the country and the first of many events we bring to Kazakhstan.”
 
 
Tickets for "Homecoming" will go on sale Monday, Feb. 10, with exclusive pre-sale access available at www.nomad-promotions.com.
 
 

El Hadri vs. Magnesi lands in Italy after purse bid

El Hadri vs. Magnesi lands in Italy after purse bid
On Tuesday, the WBC held a purse bid to determine the promotional rights to organize a super featherweight regional title fight between Khalil El Hadri from France and Michael Magnesi from Italy. A&B Events was the promoter that won the rights with an offer of $169,086 (US dollars). The event will take place at the end of March in Valmontone, Italy inside the Magic Land amusement park The other offer was from BAM Promotion in the amount of $136,400 USD.The WBC rule will be used in this fight giving 10% of the bid to the winner, which is $16,909.
 
El Hadri (20-2, 10 KOs) comes into this fight after a win in December, defeating William Vargas in eleven rounds. In his most recent appearance, Magnesi (24-2, 13 KOs) defeated Kevin Trana by a wide margin.
 
“It is a great achievement to bring this important title to Italy, a great economic and organizational effort on the part of A&B Events, which, however, is sure to promote the best Michael Magnesi, spearhead of Italian boxing and beyond. Surely one day we will see him with the green and gold belt between his waist. But now our goal is the Silver belt, which Magnesi held until a few months ago. But above all we are convinced of winning it in front of our people,” commented Alessandra Branco, from A&B Events.
 
“I’m waiting for this fight to take back something that belongs to me, I’m ready to put on a great show,” commented Magnesi.